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( Contents . PAGE . The Inauguration Festival Jewel 141 The Palestine Exploration Fund 141 Alasonic Notes and Queries 144 . Correspondence 146 Alasonic Alems 150 CRAFT LODGE AIEEIINGS : —

Jletropolitan 151 Provincial 151 Mark Alasonry 153 Laying the Foundation Stone of the Sheriff Court House and New Hall at Forfar 154 Alasonic Presentation at the Worcester Cathedral 150 laying the Corner Stone of the Alasonic Hall , Carleton , New Brunswick 157

Literature , Science , Music , Drama , ami the Fine Arts 159 Poetry 160 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 160 To Correspondents 160

The Inauguration Festival Jewel.

THE INAUGURATION FESTIVAL JEWEL .

LONDON , SATURDAY , AUGUST 21 , 1869 .

If we may judge by the tone of the letters we have received since the first meeting of the Stewards was held , we fear the result of the labours of Messrs . Wyon , the medallists intrusted with the execution of the Commemoration Medal ,

will not command general approval or satisfaction . We do not propose to give currency to the sweeping complaints uttered by some of our correspondents , with regard to the character of the jewel and its suitability , as such criticism comes

too late , and implies censure where it would be uncalled for , and , we must add , unmerited . Fault is found with the extravagant price paid for the number of medals struck , mounted , and cased ; the sum of three pounds per jewel being considered

an unreasonably high price for the article actually produced , including the cost of the dies . The want of sharpness in the impressions which have been exhibited , and the rough and unfinished condition of the surrounding edge are , however , fair

subjects for criticism ; as are also the great length of the ribbon and the mean character of the silver buckle by . which the jewel is to be suspended . The ribbon should be shorter , and a flat bar would have been better than the thin wire used for the ¦ purpose .

The likeness of the M . W . the Grand Master on the obverse is excellent , and the subject on the reverse side is clearly and well defined ; but the appearance presented by the medal is said to be that of a bad casting in pewter or lead ( leaden dump

like ) , having the central position on each face " struck up " in a medal press . It has been suggested in certain quarters that it is bad taste on the part of those who have to

The Inauguration Festival Jewel.

wear the jewel now to complain about it ; and also that any remarks made as to the jewels not being entirely satisfactory to all concerned , would be a reflection upon the art tasbe of those in the highest places , and be offensive to the Most Worshipful

the Grand Master and his distinguished relatives , who have already expressed their high approval of the jewel . Now , if it is to be thereby implied that it has in that respect been viewed and approved as a work of "high art / ' we think the

desire to make things pleasant by those who so suggest can alone explain what in itself would otherwise be considered a libel upon those we look up to as patrons of art . But we do not understand suchnonsensical sentimentality or squeamish - ness ;—if brethren who have paid their six guineas

as Stewards of the Festival conscientiously think that the jewel is not a really good design , or that it is badly executed , or is not worth the three guineas , it is clearly competent for them to express their opinion : and the Most Worshipful the Grand

Master will not—as some would have us believe—¦ be either annoyed at such criticism or the free and proper expression of opinion relative thereto . For ourselves , we shall await the ceremony of the presentation of the jewels at the next Quarterly

Communication of Grand Lodge , when we shall have an opportunity of seeing them and judging for ourselves . Meanwhile , we consider it rig ht—¦ from an engineering point of view—to allow the rising steam pressure to blow-off freely and at once , instead of to accumulate unnecessarily .

The Palestine Exploration Fund.

THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND .

The following is the quarterly statement of the Palestine Exploration Fund from April 1 to June 30 , 1869 . The Executive Committee desire to express their very strong sense of the activity , intelligence ,

and ability displayed by Bro . Lieut . Warren in the conduct of the works at Jerusalem . It would be difficult to find a man more qualified for the prosecution of such works , requiring as they do , great tact , judgment as to the most likely spots

for excavation , and the most unwearying personal activity and courage . He has now been in Jerusalem for a period of two years and a half . His staff at first consisted only of Sergeant Birtles ; it was then increased by the addition of Corporals

Duncan and Hanson , ancl afterwards by that of Corporals Ellis , Cock , Mackenzie and Turner . Of