Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • April 2, 1864
  • Page 13
Current:

The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, April 2, 1864: Page 13

  • Back to The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, April 2, 1864
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 13

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Notes And Queries.

top or hd . The coffin lies upon two Hack painted stools , and stands before a bed—the " grotto-room " being used as a sleeping apartment . In the same room , in a shell-covered frame , was the following curious notice written in a neat ornamental style : —

" This room was done by my own hand ; The shells I got from many a strand ; For all the labour that you see , Seven white shillings was raj fee . The outside work , Across the Bridge , both rich and good , a gable nice ; " " was seven shillings for such a job for each rood . £ 2 the price . The work I ' m sure was almost lost , When , as above , was all the cost .

Austruther Wester , 1836 . ALEX . BACTHLOK , slater . " A photographic portrait of " Bacthlor" exhibited the happy countenance of a man of about threescore and ten , with a fur cap upon his head . He had been twice at the hymeneal altar ; and the strangely ornamented coffin of his own workmanship was " shown

off " by his second wife , to whom he had been married only a few weeks before the time of my visit . "Whether "Bacthlor " is still alive I am not aware ; hut , as above seen , he was a slater by trade , and he contrived to eke out a living by ornamenting houses in the way above noticedof which there were several

, examples both in Easter and Wester Austruther . Although the idea of having one ' s coffin made during life is not uncommon , I have never before heard of it being made for public exhibition . —A . J .

VISITATION OE LONDON LODGES . In Anderson ' s " Book of Constitutions " one ofthe old regulations sets forth the duty of the Grand Master , or his Deputy , to visit all the London lodges annually . As the number now precludes the idea of such a duty being carried outwould it not be possible

, to appoint two Grand Visitors , who should undertake this between them and report on their general state , so as to bring the whole more immediately under the supervision of the Grand Master ?—YIATOE .

BEADING . SOCIETIES . "What Avere the Masonic Beading Societies we so frequently hear of during the last century ?—P . A . — [ Where are they so frequently mentioned ? "We know of none except those inaugurated under the German Union , of Avhich traces may be seen in Professor Bobison ' s " Proofs of a Conspiracy , " under the headings "Illuminati " and " German "Dmon . " ]

THE GOLDEN ELEECE , BT BEO . E . WEBBEE , 33 ° . In the E . A . degree . the candidate is presented with a lamb-skin , which he is told " is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Soman Fagle—more honourable than the Star and Garter , Sfe . " I have visited many lodges in various parts of the United States and have

seen the degrees conferred several times , but never yet heard any explanation given of these so pompously oft-repeated words . Consequently the initiate is left to his own imagination or industry to find out what it all means . HaA'ing often out of curiosity asked Masters and Past Masters what the Golden Fleece was , and always with the one answer , " I don't know , " I thought the little I might be able to say on the subject

would stimulate other brethren , who are well read m the classics , to enlig hten us more fully on the subject . From mythology we learn that there are a great many legends connected Avith it . One of them is related thus : — Athamas was directed by the Oracle of Delphi to sacrifice his sonwhich he was about to put into

exe-, cution , AA'hen Nephele snatched away his son and daughter , and gave them a golden-fleeced ram , which Mercury had given her , which ram carried them through the air over sea and land . The ram w as afterwards sacrificed to Jupiter , who gave the fleece to iEtes , who nailed it to an oak in the grove of Mans .

This is the legend as related by Appollodorus . But the Order of the Golden Fleece is one of the most honourable of the Orders of Chivalry existing in Europe , being second only to the British Order of the Garter . It is conferred in Spain and Austria . It was instituted on the 10 th of January , 1429 at

, Bruges , in Flanders , by Philip , the Good , Duke of Burgundy and Brabant , that being the day of his marriage with his third wife , Isabella of Portugal . It was founded in honour of the Holy Virgin and Saint Andrew , for the purpose of strengthening the Catholic Church , religion , virtue , and good manners .

The cause of its institution is differently related , but it appears most probable that , having determined to establish an Order of Knighthood , Philip chose for the badge the staple material ofthe country , which was the Fleece . And this emblem was the more agreeable from its connection Avith mythology , when the Argonautic Expedition was undertaken to obtain

it under the guidance of Jason , the one-sandled adventurer . "When the Order ivas established , the Grand Mastership was inalienably attached to the Earldom of Flanders , the birth-place and seat of European commerce . The second festival of the Order Avas held on Nov . 20 , 1431 . The Statutes then

proA'ided that if the male line of the House of Burgundy should become extinct , the husband of the daughter ancl heiress of the last sovereign should be the chief of the Order ; and in this way it passed to the House of Austria , by the marriage of the only daughter of the Grand Master to Maximilian , Archduke of Austria , and afterwards Emperor of Germany . The Order was re-established hy the Emperor

Charles , at Vienna , in 1713 , and Philip the Fifth , in Spain , in 1721 , both monarchs claiming the Grand Mastership , since which time it has been conferred in both countries upon persons distinguished for their public services . So honourable is the Order of the Golden Fleece ,

that its Knights rank above all persons but Princes of blood , are exempt from all taxes , and are permitted to set covered in the presence of the king , ivith other privileges . Ali Knignts of the Order must be Eoman Catholics , and it can be conferred on a Protestant only by

a dispensation from the Pope . The badge ofthe Order is a Golden Fleece or Lamb with a gold flint stone enamelled blue , on which is engraved the motto ofthe Order . The collar ofthe Order is composed of double steels , interwoven with flint stones , emitting sparks of fire , enamelled in their proper colours , at the ends of which hangs the Golden Fleece . On days of ceremony the knights wear a splendid costume : —A robe of red velvet , lined Avith white silk , and a long purple

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1864-04-02, Page 13” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 7 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_02041864/page/13/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
MOTHER KILWINNING. Article 1
MASONIC SAYINGS AND DOINGS ABROAD. Article 4
MASONIC SAYINGS AND DOINGS ABROAD. Article 6
VANDYCK IN ENGLAND. Article 8
MASONIC ECLECTICISM. Article 9
GOETHE AS A FREEMASON. Article 10
MASONIC INCIDENTS. Article 11
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 12
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 14
METROPOLITAN. Article 14
PROVINCIAL. Article 15
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 16
ROYAL ARCH. Article 17
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 17
MARK MASONRY. Article 17
IRELAND. Article 18
CHANNEL ISLANDS. Article 18
Untitled Article 19
Obituary. Article 20
FINE ARTS. Article 20
Untitled Article 20
Obituary. Article 20
THE PARTING. Article 20
TO SHAKESPEARE. Article 21
THE WEEK. Article 21
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 22
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

1 Article
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

3 Articles
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

3 Articles
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

2 Articles
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

2 Articles
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

3 Articles
Page 15

Page 15

2 Articles
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

4 Articles
Page 18

Page 18

2 Articles
Page 19

Page 19

3 Articles
Page 20

Page 20

5 Articles
Page 21

Page 21

2 Articles
Page 22

Page 22

3 Articles
Page 13

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Notes And Queries.

top or hd . The coffin lies upon two Hack painted stools , and stands before a bed—the " grotto-room " being used as a sleeping apartment . In the same room , in a shell-covered frame , was the following curious notice written in a neat ornamental style : —

" This room was done by my own hand ; The shells I got from many a strand ; For all the labour that you see , Seven white shillings was raj fee . The outside work , Across the Bridge , both rich and good , a gable nice ; " " was seven shillings for such a job for each rood . £ 2 the price . The work I ' m sure was almost lost , When , as above , was all the cost .

Austruther Wester , 1836 . ALEX . BACTHLOK , slater . " A photographic portrait of " Bacthlor" exhibited the happy countenance of a man of about threescore and ten , with a fur cap upon his head . He had been twice at the hymeneal altar ; and the strangely ornamented coffin of his own workmanship was " shown

off " by his second wife , to whom he had been married only a few weeks before the time of my visit . "Whether "Bacthlor " is still alive I am not aware ; hut , as above seen , he was a slater by trade , and he contrived to eke out a living by ornamenting houses in the way above noticedof which there were several

, examples both in Easter and Wester Austruther . Although the idea of having one ' s coffin made during life is not uncommon , I have never before heard of it being made for public exhibition . —A . J .

VISITATION OE LONDON LODGES . In Anderson ' s " Book of Constitutions " one ofthe old regulations sets forth the duty of the Grand Master , or his Deputy , to visit all the London lodges annually . As the number now precludes the idea of such a duty being carried outwould it not be possible

, to appoint two Grand Visitors , who should undertake this between them and report on their general state , so as to bring the whole more immediately under the supervision of the Grand Master ?—YIATOE .

BEADING . SOCIETIES . "What Avere the Masonic Beading Societies we so frequently hear of during the last century ?—P . A . — [ Where are they so frequently mentioned ? "We know of none except those inaugurated under the German Union , of Avhich traces may be seen in Professor Bobison ' s " Proofs of a Conspiracy , " under the headings "Illuminati " and " German "Dmon . " ]

THE GOLDEN ELEECE , BT BEO . E . WEBBEE , 33 ° . In the E . A . degree . the candidate is presented with a lamb-skin , which he is told " is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Soman Fagle—more honourable than the Star and Garter , Sfe . " I have visited many lodges in various parts of the United States and have

seen the degrees conferred several times , but never yet heard any explanation given of these so pompously oft-repeated words . Consequently the initiate is left to his own imagination or industry to find out what it all means . HaA'ing often out of curiosity asked Masters and Past Masters what the Golden Fleece was , and always with the one answer , " I don't know , " I thought the little I might be able to say on the subject

would stimulate other brethren , who are well read m the classics , to enlig hten us more fully on the subject . From mythology we learn that there are a great many legends connected Avith it . One of them is related thus : — Athamas was directed by the Oracle of Delphi to sacrifice his sonwhich he was about to put into

exe-, cution , AA'hen Nephele snatched away his son and daughter , and gave them a golden-fleeced ram , which Mercury had given her , which ram carried them through the air over sea and land . The ram w as afterwards sacrificed to Jupiter , who gave the fleece to iEtes , who nailed it to an oak in the grove of Mans .

This is the legend as related by Appollodorus . But the Order of the Golden Fleece is one of the most honourable of the Orders of Chivalry existing in Europe , being second only to the British Order of the Garter . It is conferred in Spain and Austria . It was instituted on the 10 th of January , 1429 at

, Bruges , in Flanders , by Philip , the Good , Duke of Burgundy and Brabant , that being the day of his marriage with his third wife , Isabella of Portugal . It was founded in honour of the Holy Virgin and Saint Andrew , for the purpose of strengthening the Catholic Church , religion , virtue , and good manners .

The cause of its institution is differently related , but it appears most probable that , having determined to establish an Order of Knighthood , Philip chose for the badge the staple material ofthe country , which was the Fleece . And this emblem was the more agreeable from its connection Avith mythology , when the Argonautic Expedition was undertaken to obtain

it under the guidance of Jason , the one-sandled adventurer . "When the Order ivas established , the Grand Mastership was inalienably attached to the Earldom of Flanders , the birth-place and seat of European commerce . The second festival of the Order Avas held on Nov . 20 , 1431 . The Statutes then

proA'ided that if the male line of the House of Burgundy should become extinct , the husband of the daughter ancl heiress of the last sovereign should be the chief of the Order ; and in this way it passed to the House of Austria , by the marriage of the only daughter of the Grand Master to Maximilian , Archduke of Austria , and afterwards Emperor of Germany . The Order was re-established hy the Emperor

Charles , at Vienna , in 1713 , and Philip the Fifth , in Spain , in 1721 , both monarchs claiming the Grand Mastership , since which time it has been conferred in both countries upon persons distinguished for their public services . So honourable is the Order of the Golden Fleece ,

that its Knights rank above all persons but Princes of blood , are exempt from all taxes , and are permitted to set covered in the presence of the king , ivith other privileges . Ali Knignts of the Order must be Eoman Catholics , and it can be conferred on a Protestant only by

a dispensation from the Pope . The badge ofthe Order is a Golden Fleece or Lamb with a gold flint stone enamelled blue , on which is engraved the motto ofthe Order . The collar ofthe Order is composed of double steels , interwoven with flint stones , emitting sparks of fire , enamelled in their proper colours , at the ends of which hangs the Golden Fleece . On days of ceremony the knights wear a splendid costume : —A robe of red velvet , lined Avith white silk , and a long purple

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 12
  • You're on page13
  • 14
  • 22
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy