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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
having undergone the most severe proofs . The initiate is introduced into the assembly , two of the members hold naked swords crossed above his head ; two or three drops of his blood , and of the presiding member ' s , are mingled in a draught prepared for tire occasion , and when he has taken a VOAV rather to perish than to betray the secrets of the society or to be unfaithful to its interestsboth drink the contents of the cup . This ceremony
, being finished , the mysteries of the society are explained , as AVCII as those signs by ivhich the brethren recognise each other . The association of Thiar-ti-Avc has many members in the Avestern and southern provinces of China , and amongst the Chinese who reside in the island of Java .
FKEEJIASOXI 1 Y IX AMERICA . It having been recently stated , in one of the leading articles of the Manchester Guardian , that in some parts of the United States the obligations of Freemasonry are held as illegal , and as I have reason to believe that in no portion of the habitable globe arc there so many Freemasons in proportion to the population , I ivill thank any brother to inform me in which of the American States so much ignorance of the benevolent objects of our antient art prevails as to alloiv any law against the practice of holding Lodges and initiating candidates to disgrace its statute book . —GEOHGE iVLiiiicnAM TAA'EDI ) EI , L .
MASONIC ! BADGES . " THE MOIIiA AM ! ON . " Oil the appointment of the then Earl of Moira , Acting Grand Master , to the Governor-generalship of India , the Grand Lodge of England resolved that a jewel of not less value than five hundred guineas should be presented to him , as a token of the respect in which ho ivas held by the Craft . The result of the proposal is a matter of Masonic history . One member of the fraternityIIOAV
-, evcr , thought that in order to do honour to his lordship there was " nothing like leather , " as evinced by the folloAving printed circular , ivhich I find among a collection of Masonic papers now before me : —
TUB MOIRA Araox . —Eight AA'orshipful Aiaster , Officers , find Bretliren , —As our truly amiable and excellent A . G . M ., the Earl of Moira , from his appointment as Governor of India , must for awhile resign that office , ivhich he for more than tiventy years berth filled , Avith the highest degree of dignity tei himself , and to the universal approbation of the fraternity at large , I humbly conceive , therefore , that iu honour to the great obligations Ave all owe him as Masons , and to perpetuate his memory amongst tho brethrenas ivoll as to hand it C I to those ivho
, OAVU may be admitted members of our Order , an apron , on a peculiar construction , ivill prove very acceptable to all the brethren . "The design of this apron is truly unique ; and as words cannot describe it faithfully , I shall state the outline in reference to the figures represented in tho margin . "Fig . 1 , Enoch , tho first excellent G . 31 ., in the ! !!! I attitude of adoration . Fig . 2 , Moses holding the 12 3 tables of the law
aud the measuring rod , Avith 11 ! O !• ' ! Aholiab and Bczaleel . Fig . 3 , St . John with his i 5 G banner ancl the lamb . Fig . 1 , His Koyal Highness ! 2 ' !!! the Prince IIegent , G . M ., the Earl o £ Moira , A . G . 31 ., 7 8 9 and the Duke of Sussex , D . G . At . Fig . 5 , a perfect Alasonic abraxis , surrounded by rays of the iris in a peculiar maimer . Fig . 6 , the G . It . of Scotland , the G . M . of Ireland , and the Earl of Moira in the centre
, pleading for a union of all the Lodges . Fig . 7 , Solomon , K . oi Israel , H . King of Tyre , and H Abiff . Fig . 8 , St . John ivith the Holy Bible . Kg . 9 , Z . H . and J . AH the figures are most beautifully engraved in their respective and appropriate robes , and printed on leather for an apron ; and on paper forming a most elegant picture for a frame . Price only five shillings each . " Should you , AV . 31 ., ivith the officers and brethren of youi Lodge , in honour of the noble Earlthink to clothe
, proper yourselves with this truly comprehensive badge , or to have any of the engravings to put in a frame , you will be pleased to scud directions for them , with a remittance and the number ordered shall be most carefully packed , and sent iu such a wanner as you may direct , by li . AA ' . Master , Officers , and Brethren , your faithful Brother , Signed , " L . HAYISS , KO . 2 , Lower College-street , Bristol , 61813
January , . " Permit me to conclude with two queries—docs any brother possess one of these " truly unique" aprons ? and , when were the badges appropriated to the E . A ., F . C ., M . M ., Provincial Grand Officer , and Grand Officer , first prescribed by the constitutions of the Order ? In Jforthouck ' s Constitution , edited b y Anderson , cd . 1781 , plain white leather aprons onl y appear to be referred toit being 382 artiii
, provided ( p . , . . ) that the Grand Stewards arc allowed " to line their white leather aprons with red silk . " . It is well known that iu Scotland , and elsewhere , the coloured edges and lining of the aprons are not arbitraril y fixed by the Grand Lodge , but , improperl y , as I conceive , vary according to the taste of the members of the various private lodges . A friend yf mine yisiting a lodge in Edinburgh sonic years ago " ibiuid aprons
Masonic Notes And Queries.
of various descriptions ( some as fanciful in desi gn as the Moira apron ) worn by the members , some of whom had made their silk pocket handkerchiefs serve the purpose!—AYII . LIAM KELLY , D . Prov . G . M ., Leicester .
Literature.
Literature .
REVIEWS . A Description of the Paintings in the Debating Room of the ( h j \ , rd Union Society . ¦ Compiled from various sources . By the Hey . J . S . SiBEisoTitAM , M . A ., Chaplain of Neiv College , Oxford , and City Lecturer . Oxford : T . and G . Shrimpton . THE above pamphlet presents us Avith a succinct account ofthe
rise and progress ofthe Oxford Union Society . It mentions the names of some of the eminent men who wore among its earliest members , and introduces us to the use and intent of the association . From its steady success it was found necessary , in 1850 , to add to the premises a large room for the purposes of reading and debating , and a building committee was formed of some of the most distinguished sons of this alma materAvhose names arc
, appended , as well as the dimensions of the building itself . To decorate this room the eminent sculptor , Alexander Munro , furnished a carving in stone , representing the institution of the Order of the Round Table . The ceiling was painted by Mr . Morris , B . A ., Exeter College , Ilcv . 11 . St . John Tyrwliitt , M . A ., Christ Church , and Mr . Swan , of Trinity College , Dublin . On the sides of the room are ten paintings representing the deeds of
King Arthur and his knights , and these are by Messrs . Riviere ,, Rosetti , Prinsep , Pollen , ALA ., late FCIIOAV of Morton , Morris B . A ., of Exeter College , Jones , B . A . , of Exeter College , Spenser Stanhope , M . A ., Christ Church , and Hughes . Our brother , the Key . J . S . Sidcbotham , has undertaken to dc
scribe by the pen those events which the foregoing artists have delineated with the pencil , and he tells us , truly , in the Introduction , that " the difficulty of making a connected story out of ten scenes in a life which occupies three octavo volumes , as well as of writing , in the ordinary language of modern Avorks , an abridgment of a history related in old and quaint English , ivill be readily acknowledged by those to whom the Morte d' Arthur is known .
"The works chiefly consulted in the compilation of the folloAVing brief account , AA'hich from its nature can lay no claim to originality , are Sir Thomas Malory ' s Morte d' Arthur ( the work above alluded to ); La Vita di Medina , Venice , 1539 ; The Life of Merlin , London , 1011 ; La Romanza iliMeiiino , Paris , 1797 ; ' Ellis ' s Early English Metrical Romances , and Lady Elizabeth * Guest's 2 lubinogion . "
Bro . Sidcbotham goes through the whole of the pictures in order , bringing to bear on each , although told briefly , a fund of no inconsiderable learning . The first is "The Institution by Arthur ofthe Order of the Round Table" ( the sculpture by Munro ) . The scenes in the life and exploits of Arthur and his knights commence with " The Education of Arthur by Merlin , " ( painted by Riviere ) , and to SIIOAV our readers the wholesome quality of the information as well as to give them a taste of Bro . Sidebothani ' s style , wc extract this description entire , which will serve as an index to the rest . Bro . Sidcbotham writes thus : —
" Among the heroes of romance , whether of ancient or modern times , none is more celebrated than the personage commonly known as Arthur-King of the Britons . His true origin is a mystery little likely to be solved , even in these days of successful research . He has been claimed as a countryman by the Cornish men , the AVelsh , and the people of Brittany . According to the best authorities , he AA'as the son of Utlier-Pendragoii , King of England , ancl Igrayne , Duchess of Corinvall . IU * birth Avas foretold bMerlinas being indeed his OAVU especial desire .
y , ' And when it is borne , ' he added , ' let it be delivered to me for to nourish , as I will bave it , for it shall bee your worship and the clidde ' s availe as much as the childe is worth . ' ' I will Avell , ' said the king , ' as thou wilt have it . ' Merlin , being himself not only a magician , but the son of a fallen angel , or , as he described himself , 'tho son of a devil of great power , though fortunately rescued by an expeditious baptism from tinvicious disposition of his paternal relations , ' f was well qualified for the he thus undertook the not
charge , viz ., that of instructing young prince only in such arts as were necessary for the education of a prince and a knight , but in such lore as Avas theu especially in vogue with many ot noble or royal birth . He declared that 'he coulcl prove his preternatural descent by revealing all things , past , present , and future . ' He is here represented as engaged in the instruction of Prince Arthur , who was' fair and Avell ngi-e And was a child of great noblay , * It should have beeu Lady Charlotte Guest , t Ellis ' s " Early English Metrical RomtmceB , "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
having undergone the most severe proofs . The initiate is introduced into the assembly , two of the members hold naked swords crossed above his head ; two or three drops of his blood , and of the presiding member ' s , are mingled in a draught prepared for tire occasion , and when he has taken a VOAV rather to perish than to betray the secrets of the society or to be unfaithful to its interestsboth drink the contents of the cup . This ceremony
, being finished , the mysteries of the society are explained , as AVCII as those signs by ivhich the brethren recognise each other . The association of Thiar-ti-Avc has many members in the Avestern and southern provinces of China , and amongst the Chinese who reside in the island of Java .
FKEEJIASOXI 1 Y IX AMERICA . It having been recently stated , in one of the leading articles of the Manchester Guardian , that in some parts of the United States the obligations of Freemasonry are held as illegal , and as I have reason to believe that in no portion of the habitable globe arc there so many Freemasons in proportion to the population , I ivill thank any brother to inform me in which of the American States so much ignorance of the benevolent objects of our antient art prevails as to alloiv any law against the practice of holding Lodges and initiating candidates to disgrace its statute book . —GEOHGE iVLiiiicnAM TAA'EDI ) EI , L .
MASONIC ! BADGES . " THE MOIIiA AM ! ON . " Oil the appointment of the then Earl of Moira , Acting Grand Master , to the Governor-generalship of India , the Grand Lodge of England resolved that a jewel of not less value than five hundred guineas should be presented to him , as a token of the respect in which ho ivas held by the Craft . The result of the proposal is a matter of Masonic history . One member of the fraternityIIOAV
-, evcr , thought that in order to do honour to his lordship there was " nothing like leather , " as evinced by the folloAving printed circular , ivhich I find among a collection of Masonic papers now before me : —
TUB MOIRA Araox . —Eight AA'orshipful Aiaster , Officers , find Bretliren , —As our truly amiable and excellent A . G . M ., the Earl of Moira , from his appointment as Governor of India , must for awhile resign that office , ivhich he for more than tiventy years berth filled , Avith the highest degree of dignity tei himself , and to the universal approbation of the fraternity at large , I humbly conceive , therefore , that iu honour to the great obligations Ave all owe him as Masons , and to perpetuate his memory amongst tho brethrenas ivoll as to hand it C I to those ivho
, OAVU may be admitted members of our Order , an apron , on a peculiar construction , ivill prove very acceptable to all the brethren . "The design of this apron is truly unique ; and as words cannot describe it faithfully , I shall state the outline in reference to the figures represented in tho margin . "Fig . 1 , Enoch , tho first excellent G . 31 ., in the ! !!! I attitude of adoration . Fig . 2 , Moses holding the 12 3 tables of the law
aud the measuring rod , Avith 11 ! O !• ' ! Aholiab and Bczaleel . Fig . 3 , St . John with his i 5 G banner ancl the lamb . Fig . 1 , His Koyal Highness ! 2 ' !!! the Prince IIegent , G . M ., the Earl o £ Moira , A . G . 31 ., 7 8 9 and the Duke of Sussex , D . G . At . Fig . 5 , a perfect Alasonic abraxis , surrounded by rays of the iris in a peculiar maimer . Fig . 6 , the G . It . of Scotland , the G . M . of Ireland , and the Earl of Moira in the centre
, pleading for a union of all the Lodges . Fig . 7 , Solomon , K . oi Israel , H . King of Tyre , and H Abiff . Fig . 8 , St . John ivith the Holy Bible . Kg . 9 , Z . H . and J . AH the figures are most beautifully engraved in their respective and appropriate robes , and printed on leather for an apron ; and on paper forming a most elegant picture for a frame . Price only five shillings each . " Should you , AV . 31 ., ivith the officers and brethren of youi Lodge , in honour of the noble Earlthink to clothe
, proper yourselves with this truly comprehensive badge , or to have any of the engravings to put in a frame , you will be pleased to scud directions for them , with a remittance and the number ordered shall be most carefully packed , and sent iu such a wanner as you may direct , by li . AA ' . Master , Officers , and Brethren , your faithful Brother , Signed , " L . HAYISS , KO . 2 , Lower College-street , Bristol , 61813
January , . " Permit me to conclude with two queries—docs any brother possess one of these " truly unique" aprons ? and , when were the badges appropriated to the E . A ., F . C ., M . M ., Provincial Grand Officer , and Grand Officer , first prescribed by the constitutions of the Order ? In Jforthouck ' s Constitution , edited b y Anderson , cd . 1781 , plain white leather aprons onl y appear to be referred toit being 382 artiii
, provided ( p . , . . ) that the Grand Stewards arc allowed " to line their white leather aprons with red silk . " . It is well known that iu Scotland , and elsewhere , the coloured edges and lining of the aprons are not arbitraril y fixed by the Grand Lodge , but , improperl y , as I conceive , vary according to the taste of the members of the various private lodges . A friend yf mine yisiting a lodge in Edinburgh sonic years ago " ibiuid aprons
Masonic Notes And Queries.
of various descriptions ( some as fanciful in desi gn as the Moira apron ) worn by the members , some of whom had made their silk pocket handkerchiefs serve the purpose!—AYII . LIAM KELLY , D . Prov . G . M ., Leicester .
Literature.
Literature .
REVIEWS . A Description of the Paintings in the Debating Room of the ( h j \ , rd Union Society . ¦ Compiled from various sources . By the Hey . J . S . SiBEisoTitAM , M . A ., Chaplain of Neiv College , Oxford , and City Lecturer . Oxford : T . and G . Shrimpton . THE above pamphlet presents us Avith a succinct account ofthe
rise and progress ofthe Oxford Union Society . It mentions the names of some of the eminent men who wore among its earliest members , and introduces us to the use and intent of the association . From its steady success it was found necessary , in 1850 , to add to the premises a large room for the purposes of reading and debating , and a building committee was formed of some of the most distinguished sons of this alma materAvhose names arc
, appended , as well as the dimensions of the building itself . To decorate this room the eminent sculptor , Alexander Munro , furnished a carving in stone , representing the institution of the Order of the Round Table . The ceiling was painted by Mr . Morris , B . A ., Exeter College , Ilcv . 11 . St . John Tyrwliitt , M . A ., Christ Church , and Mr . Swan , of Trinity College , Dublin . On the sides of the room are ten paintings representing the deeds of
King Arthur and his knights , and these are by Messrs . Riviere ,, Rosetti , Prinsep , Pollen , ALA ., late FCIIOAV of Morton , Morris B . A ., of Exeter College , Jones , B . A . , of Exeter College , Spenser Stanhope , M . A ., Christ Church , and Hughes . Our brother , the Key . J . S . Sidcbotham , has undertaken to dc
scribe by the pen those events which the foregoing artists have delineated with the pencil , and he tells us , truly , in the Introduction , that " the difficulty of making a connected story out of ten scenes in a life which occupies three octavo volumes , as well as of writing , in the ordinary language of modern Avorks , an abridgment of a history related in old and quaint English , ivill be readily acknowledged by those to whom the Morte d' Arthur is known .
"The works chiefly consulted in the compilation of the folloAVing brief account , AA'hich from its nature can lay no claim to originality , are Sir Thomas Malory ' s Morte d' Arthur ( the work above alluded to ); La Vita di Medina , Venice , 1539 ; The Life of Merlin , London , 1011 ; La Romanza iliMeiiino , Paris , 1797 ; ' Ellis ' s Early English Metrical Romances , and Lady Elizabeth * Guest's 2 lubinogion . "
Bro . Sidcbotham goes through the whole of the pictures in order , bringing to bear on each , although told briefly , a fund of no inconsiderable learning . The first is "The Institution by Arthur ofthe Order of the Round Table" ( the sculpture by Munro ) . The scenes in the life and exploits of Arthur and his knights commence with " The Education of Arthur by Merlin , " ( painted by Riviere ) , and to SIIOAV our readers the wholesome quality of the information as well as to give them a taste of Bro . Sidebothani ' s style , wc extract this description entire , which will serve as an index to the rest . Bro . Sidcbotham writes thus : —
" Among the heroes of romance , whether of ancient or modern times , none is more celebrated than the personage commonly known as Arthur-King of the Britons . His true origin is a mystery little likely to be solved , even in these days of successful research . He has been claimed as a countryman by the Cornish men , the AVelsh , and the people of Brittany . According to the best authorities , he AA'as the son of Utlier-Pendragoii , King of England , ancl Igrayne , Duchess of Corinvall . IU * birth Avas foretold bMerlinas being indeed his OAVU especial desire .
y , ' And when it is borne , ' he added , ' let it be delivered to me for to nourish , as I will bave it , for it shall bee your worship and the clidde ' s availe as much as the childe is worth . ' ' I will Avell , ' said the king , ' as thou wilt have it . ' Merlin , being himself not only a magician , but the son of a fallen angel , or , as he described himself , 'tho son of a devil of great power , though fortunately rescued by an expeditious baptism from tinvicious disposition of his paternal relations , ' f was well qualified for the he thus undertook the not
charge , viz ., that of instructing young prince only in such arts as were necessary for the education of a prince and a knight , but in such lore as Avas theu especially in vogue with many ot noble or royal birth . He declared that 'he coulcl prove his preternatural descent by revealing all things , past , present , and future . ' He is here represented as engaged in the instruction of Prince Arthur , who was' fair and Avell ngi-e And was a child of great noblay , * It should have beeu Lady Charlotte Guest , t Ellis ' s " Early English Metrical RomtmceB , "