Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Library And Museum Of The Grand Lodge Of England.
Grand Masters and other Masonic celebrities , a reduced copy of one of which , Charles , second Duke of Richmond , Grandson of King Charles II ., has been reproduced as an example for this paper . The facsimile of his signature is from the Grand Lodge minutes of the period . This nobleman , who was Grand Master in 1724-25 , was the first , as far
( I'lw / o Elite 1 ' ortrail Co . ) TITLE PACiK OF THK ACADEMY OP ARMORY AX 1 ) BLAZON . Rtdnecd favtimilc , original * ize in inehet 10 ;; x 7 . its we know , to make a present to the Grand Lodge , and as a portion of his gift has been preserved down to our own time , it may fairly be considered the oldest relic ( apart
from books and manuscripts ) in the museum . The presentation is recorded in Latin on a silver plate on the lid of the case , but is not mentioned in the Grand Lodge minutes . It consisted of a small shagreen covered case , the actual size of which is shown in the photograph in the last issue of this journal . It is lined with red velvet and iitted so as to contain , without touching each other , a small Square , Level , Plumb ,
( Plwlo Elite Part mil Co . ) SPECIAL CKNTENAUY JBWKL OP LODGK STAR IN THE EAST , No . ( 17 , CALCUTTA . Vreyenti-il by Jf , T . Liuub . and Compasses . How long the contents remained in the possession of the Grand Lodge it is impossible to say , but as there is no record of their being sold , we must conclude that they were stolen , as , doubtless , were several other valuables
subsequently presented by other Grand Masters . We fervently hope and trust that whoever appropriated them had his reward in the next world if he missed it in this . OLD MASOXIC J EWELS , MEDALS , ETC . The museum contains a large and valuable collection of masonic jewels and emblems of all sorts , ages , and degrees ,
not the least attractive of which is the unique collection of founder ' s jewels presented to Sir Edward Letchworth at various consecrations at which he has presided , consisting of nearly 150 specimens . The large and varied assortment collected by the late Major Irwin , and presented to the
Grand Lodge by his widow in 18 93 , has also many admirers . There is likewise a nearly complete series of original special centenary jewels , mostly presented by the several Lodges they represent , two only out of the 42 being wanting . Amongst the most handsome of these is the jewel of the
Lodge Star in the East , Calcutta , the gift of Bro . H . T . Lamb . The jewels of the Albion Lodge , Quebec , and the Britannia Lodge , Sheffield , we hope to receive at no distant period .
( Photo Elile Portrait Co . )
( I'lioto Elite PortruilCo . ) CHARLES XV ., KlX ( i OF SWEDKX AX )) NORWAY , ( JRAXD MASTKIt Our masonic medals and tokens struck from dies may be counted by hundreds , nearly every civilized nation , where Freemasonry is practised , being represented , amongst them
are many line and rare pieces dating from 1733 downwards . A notable feature in this connection is the beautiful series of Swedish Masonic medals , struck from dies in the Royal Mint at Stockholm , for the Grand Lodge Museum , by permission of His Majesty , King Oscar , an illustration of
one of the finest of which is given with this article . It is that of the late King of Sweden and Norway , Charles XV ., at whose hands His Majesty , King Edward VII ., when Prince of Wales , received the light of Masonry in 1868 . The oldest Masonic medal in the museum is a very line
specimen of the " Sackville Medal , " said to have been struck in commemoration of the founding a Lodge of Freemasons at Florence , by Lord Charles Sackville , in 1733 . This is not only the earliest , but may be numbered amongst the rarest of Masonic medals , only three or four genuine
specimens being known to be in existence . We now come to what is believed to be actually the rarest Masonic medal . It is known as the "Minden Lodge Centenary Medal , " and was struck about the year 18 4 8 . This Lodge was No . 63 on the Registry of Ireland , and was held in the XXth Foot ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Library And Museum Of The Grand Lodge Of England.
Grand Masters and other Masonic celebrities , a reduced copy of one of which , Charles , second Duke of Richmond , Grandson of King Charles II ., has been reproduced as an example for this paper . The facsimile of his signature is from the Grand Lodge minutes of the period . This nobleman , who was Grand Master in 1724-25 , was the first , as far
( I'lw / o Elite 1 ' ortrail Co . ) TITLE PACiK OF THK ACADEMY OP ARMORY AX 1 ) BLAZON . Rtdnecd favtimilc , original * ize in inehet 10 ;; x 7 . its we know , to make a present to the Grand Lodge , and as a portion of his gift has been preserved down to our own time , it may fairly be considered the oldest relic ( apart
from books and manuscripts ) in the museum . The presentation is recorded in Latin on a silver plate on the lid of the case , but is not mentioned in the Grand Lodge minutes . It consisted of a small shagreen covered case , the actual size of which is shown in the photograph in the last issue of this journal . It is lined with red velvet and iitted so as to contain , without touching each other , a small Square , Level , Plumb ,
( Plwlo Elite Part mil Co . ) SPECIAL CKNTENAUY JBWKL OP LODGK STAR IN THE EAST , No . ( 17 , CALCUTTA . Vreyenti-il by Jf , T . Liuub . and Compasses . How long the contents remained in the possession of the Grand Lodge it is impossible to say , but as there is no record of their being sold , we must conclude that they were stolen , as , doubtless , were several other valuables
subsequently presented by other Grand Masters . We fervently hope and trust that whoever appropriated them had his reward in the next world if he missed it in this . OLD MASOXIC J EWELS , MEDALS , ETC . The museum contains a large and valuable collection of masonic jewels and emblems of all sorts , ages , and degrees ,
not the least attractive of which is the unique collection of founder ' s jewels presented to Sir Edward Letchworth at various consecrations at which he has presided , consisting of nearly 150 specimens . The large and varied assortment collected by the late Major Irwin , and presented to the
Grand Lodge by his widow in 18 93 , has also many admirers . There is likewise a nearly complete series of original special centenary jewels , mostly presented by the several Lodges they represent , two only out of the 42 being wanting . Amongst the most handsome of these is the jewel of the
Lodge Star in the East , Calcutta , the gift of Bro . H . T . Lamb . The jewels of the Albion Lodge , Quebec , and the Britannia Lodge , Sheffield , we hope to receive at no distant period .
( Photo Elile Portrait Co . )
( I'lioto Elite PortruilCo . ) CHARLES XV ., KlX ( i OF SWEDKX AX )) NORWAY , ( JRAXD MASTKIt Our masonic medals and tokens struck from dies may be counted by hundreds , nearly every civilized nation , where Freemasonry is practised , being represented , amongst them
are many line and rare pieces dating from 1733 downwards . A notable feature in this connection is the beautiful series of Swedish Masonic medals , struck from dies in the Royal Mint at Stockholm , for the Grand Lodge Museum , by permission of His Majesty , King Oscar , an illustration of
one of the finest of which is given with this article . It is that of the late King of Sweden and Norway , Charles XV ., at whose hands His Majesty , King Edward VII ., when Prince of Wales , received the light of Masonry in 1868 . The oldest Masonic medal in the museum is a very line
specimen of the " Sackville Medal , " said to have been struck in commemoration of the founding a Lodge of Freemasons at Florence , by Lord Charles Sackville , in 1733 . This is not only the earliest , but may be numbered amongst the rarest of Masonic medals , only three or four genuine
specimens being known to be in existence . We now come to what is believed to be actually the rarest Masonic medal . It is known as the "Minden Lodge Centenary Medal , " and was struck about the year 18 4 8 . This Lodge was No . 63 on the Registry of Ireland , and was held in the XXth Foot ,