Masonic Relics Of Dr. Benjamin Franklin.

MASONIC RELICS OF DR . BENJAMIN FRANKLIN .

ALTHOUGH it has been one hundred and fifty-three years since Dr . Benjamin Franklin was made a Mason , in the city of Philadelphia , and ninety-four years since he died , in the same city , some of tho relics illustrating his Masonic career are still extant . One of hia

descendants , Bro . A . D . Bache , Paymaster U . S . N ., of this city , possesses some valued ones , and his brother , Dr . T . Hewson Bache , recently had others . On Saturday last , Bro . Bache did us the favour to show us Franklin ' s " Masonic Trowel . " Ifc came to Bro . Bache through General Hartman Bache

and Bro . B . F . Bache , Franklin ' s grandson , who accompanied him to France , and by whom he was . educated abroad . This trowel has the Franklin crest upon it , and was long supposed to be a fish knife . It is of solid silver , has an ebony handle , and is extremely interesting . Its

owner , Paymaster Bache ( who was made a Mason in Yokohama Lodge , No . 1092 , Japan , in 1869 ) , rightly values it highly . A few years ago Dr . T . Hewson Bache , of Philadelphia , possessed Franklin ' s Masonio Apron , which he received from Dr . Fox . He kept it for a long

period in one' of his book-cases , behind the books , but upon looking for it several years ago , it had disappeared . He supposes it to have been stolen . Both of these Masonic relics were of primary importance , and one of them , fortunately , still remains . Bro . Bache also showed us a

peculiar and characteristic portrait of Dr . Franklin , being the copy presented to him while he was in France on Feb . 14 , 1780 . Its design is original and striking . It represents Diogenes with his lantern , which he holds over a medallion-framed portrait of Franklin . Underneath is

the Latin inscription , Stupete Gentes , reperit virum Diogenes— " Be astonished , 0 ye nations . Diogenes finds a man ; " and also beneath that " Benjamin Franklin , Ministre Plenipotentiaire a la Oour de France pour la Republiqne des provinces de l'Amerique Septentrionale . "

Iu this connection , we may mention the Stevens collection of Franklin ' s papers , recently sold by Henry Stevens , of Vermont , to the U . S . Government for 35 , 000 dollars

and now in the Department of State at Washington , and about to be edited , in part , by Edward Everett Hale , who will give new details , gathered from them , concerning Franklin ' s career in France . So novel and valuable are

these papers that it has been said that their discovery requires that the history of the American Revolution shonld be written anew , so far as regards the policy and action of the governments of France and England towards this country , and the secrefc history of the war . These

papers were found in an old tailor ' s shop , in St . James '* , London , in 1840 . The finder kept them in his possession for some ten years , offering them for sale successively to the British Museum , to Lord Palmerston , and to successive American Ministers to the Court of St . James

Mr . Abbott Lawrence put him in correspondence with Mr . Henry Stephens , who purchased the collection in 1851 . It included 2938 documents , 2310 of them having never been printed , and all of which are of primary importance . Mr . Theodore F . Dwight , Librarian of the State

Department at "Washington , reported to James G . Blaine , Sec . of State , upon their historical value , whereupon Secretary Blaine recommended Congress to appropriate the amount necessary for their purchase , £ 7 , 000 , which was done , and the unique collection is now the property of the U . S .

Government , the purchase having been consummated in London , July 11 th , 1881 . We have before ns , by the courtesy of Bro . A . D . Bache , the full official catalogue of this Stevens collection of the Franklin papers . It covers one hundred closely printed pages . We have

reason to believe that they may contain some references to Masonic events , for Franklin was present in the Lodge of the Nine Sister Muses , Paris , when Voltaire was made a Mason ; afterwards officiated as one of the officers of the Lodge of Sorrow , held in his honour , and was elected

an honorary member of a Lodge in Rouen . We observe that there is in the collection a printed copy of the Eulogy on Franklin delivered by Bro . William Smith , D . D . ( who was Grand Secretary of the Provincial Grand Lodge of

Pennsylvania ) , before the American Philosophical Societ y and both Houses of Congress , at Philadelphia , in March , 1791 ; the original draft of Dr . Franklin's letter to General Washington , introducing Gen Lafayette ( all of whom were Masons ) ; and a printed copy of the Pro .

Masonic Relics Of Dr. Benjamin Franklin.

ceedings in the House of Representatives of tho United States , on tho presentation of the sword of Washington and the staff of Franklin , Fob . 7 , 1843 . Tbe government of the United States may well be proud of the possession

of this unique collection of historical papers , almost miraculously preserved from destruction , and when they are completely examined , edited and published , we think it more than likely there may be discovered some interesting and valuable references to Dr . Franklin ' s career as a Freemason while in France , and also in Pennsylvania . — Keystone .

The Grand Festival will take place on Wednesday next . Several important changes will be made with regard to what are considered the permanent offices , bnt we have no desire to forestal the appointments , by giving details .

Doubtless those who are anxious for enlightenment on this point will find no difficulty in gratifying their curiosity . For ourselves we are content to await the result , which will be officially declared at so short an interval .

At the North London Chapter of Improvement , on Thursday last , at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' s Road , Canonbury , Comps . Hubbard filled the chair of Z ., Strugnell H ., Knight J ., Foster Shaw P . S ., Radcliffe S . N . The ceremony was carefully rehearsed .

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FUNERALS . Bros . W . K . I . & G . A . HUT TON , COFFIN MAKERS & UNDERTAKERS , 17 KEWCASTIH STREET , . STRAND , W . C Aud nt 3 » FOREST HIC . 1 i ROAD , PECK HAM BTE , S . E .

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MAY ELECTION 188 4 . To the Governors and Subscribers of the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution . YOUR TOTES and INTEREST are earnestly solicited on behalf of WILLIAM HENRY MAIN , AGED 64 YEARS . W . H . MAIW was initiated iu 1861 in New Concord Lodge , No . 813 , served all offices ; joined tho Fitzroy Lodge in 1863 ; was exalted in New Concord Chapter , 813 ; served as Steward for the Benevolent Institution in 1872 , and is a Life Governor of all tho Charities . Owing to defective sight and rheumatism he is unable to follow his business as a decorator , and is dependent upon his relatives for maintenance . The case is strongly recommended by : THE NEW CONCORD LODGE , 813 . Bro . H . T . TIDDBJUS W . M . 813 , Bro . JNO . BERTRAM P . M . 742 , 813 , P . Z . 50 Finsbury Square . 25 , V . P . Institution , Newport Villa , Bro . R . R . HARPER P . M . 813 , 86 Clifton Upper Norwood , S . E . I Street , Finsbury . Bro . J . LUTZKII , P . M . 751 , 1237 , 1 B 79 , Bro . J . SMITH W . M . 193 , 21 Russia P . P . G . D . C . Middlesex , P . Z . 1237 , Lane , Victoria Park . Talbot House , Tottenham . Bro . A . TRANTER , 66 Modland Street , Bro . J . W . LosoP . M . 569 , 212 , P . Z . 22 , Ratcliff . 31 Finsbury Square . Bro . H . PITCHER 860 , 2 and 3 Warwick Bro . H . J . GABB P . M . 813 , P . Z . 813 , Lane , City . 28 Holywell Row , Finsbury . Bro . F . W . SWAI / ES 813 , 01 Spencer Bro . T . HAMMOSD P . M . 212 , 232 Coble Road , Heme Hill . Street , E . Bro . S . S . PHILLIPS P . M . 173 , 10 Baker Bro . H . COCKISO , 31 Camden Square . 1 Street , Povtman Square . By •whom Proxies will be thankfully received , and by the Petitioner , 9 Little Trinity Lane , E . C .

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