The Province Of Oxfordshire.

the first of its . kind . In a local Masonic History ( by the respected Masonic student , Bro . E . L . Hawkins , M . A ., P . M . 357 , & c ) , it is stated that the petition , addressed to His Grace the Duke of Beaufort , Grand Master , was signed by

BRO . JE . J . McINTYRE , G . R ., PROV . G . M . IN CHARGE , 1871 TO lH . d . Bros . Hercules Durham ( First W . M . ) , and the Reverends Dr . Robert Markham ( ist S . W . ) , James Wood , M . A . ( ist J . W . ) , John Napleton , M . A . ; Giles Haddon , M . A . ; and John

Willis , M . A . The old Minute Book , happily , is still preserved , and the By-Laws are also extant . The latter provide that" No person who is a member of this University shall be proposed to be a member of this lodge unless he be a Master of Arts or a Bachelor of Arts , or have

claim to rank as a nobleman in the University . No person exercising any trade within the University shall be proposed to be a member of this lodge . " This rule was modified subsequently , but not as respects " the exercise of trades in the Town or County of Oxford . "

Another regulation prohibited the visitation of any other Lodge in Oxford " without the leave of this Lodge . " In 1774 it was agreed that " the sum of nine guineas be annually subscribed to the Radcliffe Infirmary . " In 1771 the place of meeting was changed to the "New Inn , " Fish Street , where it continued to assemble until its erasure on 10 th February , 1790 .

Bro . Marvin in his " Masonic Medals , " 1880 , noted under CCCCL ., a medal having a " Bust in profile to left , wearing a Coronet , with alternate strawberry leaves and fleurs-de-lis ; on the shoulders a narrow collar of ermine . Legend , Jiouiimis . llhtminalio . Men . Reverse , a shield , quarterly ; 1 and 4 an open bookhaving six seals attached to the left

, , cover , between three crowns , two above and one below , 2 and 3 on a chevron between three castles , a pair of compasses extended . The colors are not indicated . Crest , the Sun in splendor . Legend , Sit . Lux . Ft . Lux . Fuil . " ( Size 26 . ) ' I know of only two impressions of this medal in America ,

and have not seen it mentioned b y any English writer . I helieve it to be rare . It is mentioned by Merzdorf , by the legend only , as being in the Rostock collection . " Bro . Marvin thought it likely to have been " struck for the Alfred Lodge , of Oxford , England , chartered in 1814 , " and

sent on the particulars to Bro . Hughan , of Torquay , who communicated with the late Bro . the Rev . J . Horclen Jukes , who made investigations for his friend , as he surmised ( and correctl y ) it was struck for the original " Lodge of Alfred , " formed in 1769 . Ultimately the minute was traced of 22 nd October , 1772 .

" Bro . Treasurer laid before the lodge a copy of the dye of a medal , which was approved of , and ordered that forty be struck for the use of the Lodge of Alfred . "

At the sale of Bro . Marvin's collection of medals , Bro . Hughan was fortunate to become the purchaser of one of these very rare pieces in silver on behalf of the "Apollo University Lodge , " whose members doubtless warmly appreciate the favour . It is No . 43 in "The Medals of

British Freemasonry , " 1 9 ( Haiuburgiselie Zirkel-Correspondenz and the " Quatuor Coronati Lodge . " ) Possibly this medal being struck for the Lodge , led to its change of name from "Alfred" to the " Royal Alfred , " in 1777 or earlier , but no vote of the members is recorded

in justification of the more distinguished title . An emergency meeting was held at the Council Chamber , Oxford , on March 9 th , 1776 , but for what purpose is not stated . A number of distinguished visitors attended , including the R . W . Bros . Rowland Holt , D . G . M . ; Thomas Parker , S . G . W . ; John Hull , J . G . W . ; and also the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary , who , Bro . Hawkins states

" were all made members by Diploma , without ballot , " on 21 st of the same month . Doubtless meant to be the compliment of honorary membership . Bro . James Heseltine , Grand Secretary , presented a copy of the " Book of Constitutions , " 1767 , with the valuable Appendix of 1776 , to the Lodge in 177 8 . The members

were very generously inclined , for in 1776 , the sum of eighteen guineas was subscribed towards the Grand Lodge F . M . Hall Fund . At the Dedication of this Building on 23 rd May , 1776 , to MASONRY , VIRTUE , UNIVERSAL CHARITY AND BENEVOLENCE , the Right Hon . Lord Petre , Grand

Master , officiated , and was supported b y several Provincial Grand Masters . In the formal Procession which entered the Hall , according to the " Book of Constitutions , 1784 , " appeared—¦ " The brethren from the Lodge of Alfred in Oxford , in their academical dress , two and two , "

II . H . ll . TIIH nUKI . OF ALISANY , l'HOV . G . M . 1 H 7 I 1 TO I . S 81 . and an ODE was written by a member of the same Lodge , set to music b y Dr . Fisher , and " performed " prior to the Grand Lodge being closed in ample form .