Some Rare Certificates.

and several group of figures . In the four outer corners of the Certificate are the letters S , F , D , B . The upper part of the oval is inscribed DEWE AUX VUAIS BONS PRU . LES DB L ' AIMAISI . E TOUR DE U . F RANCE :: " beneath which are the letters V . T . whilst at tho bottom of the design is " J :: M :: J :: " G .

It appears to be a clearance Certificate , as the legend runs—» L" R- F - Tournier Dauphine La Fidelitb compag " Pass , s Charpentiers R * a auxerre le 19 mars mil huit cent cinquante Deux Retire avec honnour cc 9 Fevrier 1860 . "

The triangular seal is inscribed SOCIETE DES COMPAONONS | PASSAXTS C IIARI ' ENTIERS | CAYENNE ii re PARIS , " with what I take to be a figure of St . Joseph in the centre . I should be much obliged for any information as to this Society .

No . 4 is also not Masonic , but I give it because it contains the autograph of our distinguished American Brother , George Washington . It is that of the " Society of the Cincinnati , " founded in 17 S 3 , after the close of the War of Independence , to serve as a bond of

union between the officers who had fought against the English , whether Americans or their French allies . The Diploma is 21 inches long by H ' i wide , aud was drawn by Any . la Belle and engraved b y " S " T . ' le Vcaux " (? very indistinct ) . At the top is an eagle , garlanded , ascending to Heaven , and surrounded by a " glory . " At the left lower corner is an armed

knight , holding the American Standard , and with his foot planted on a broken shield , sword , and three broken English flags . Beside him is an eagle hurling thunderbolts at the British Lion and at Britannia herself , who is holding a tottering crown on her head as she hastens

down to a p lank , resting on a boat , ready to fly to the English fleet , which is seen all along the lower part of the design . Beneath the eagle is a circular medallion , inscribed OMNIA RBLINQUIT SKRVAHI'J REiMI'UBLICAM , and showing fhe messenger arriving I" summon Cincinnafus from his farm fo the deliverance of his

country . In the right lower corner is an-angel blowing a trnmpet , from which hangs it pennant inscribed " Palani niineiate libeitns An . D . 1770 | Fu'dus sociule cum Gallia An . 1 ) . 177 ( i | Pax libertas pacta An . D . 1783 . " In his right hand he holds a chain , from which hangs another medallion , inscribed " SOCIETAS CI . V ' . 'IX . NATOIU ' . M IXSTITUTA

AN . i > . Miicci . xxxni , and bearing a device of Cincinnatus returned to Ids pastoral pursuits after gaining the victory . Above him flies an angel , bearing a trumpet and a scroll inscribed "Virtutis prueniiuni , " i'lal at the bottom is another scroll inscribed " Esto perpetua . " The document reads as follows : —¦

BE IT KNOWN- that Louis Vicomtc de la Couldre de la Ih efonniere , Capitaine tie Vaisseau , Commandant la Marine a Cherbourg | is a member of fhe Society of the CiltCiltlintti ' , instituted b y the Ollicers of the American Army , at the period of Us dissolution , as well | to commemorate the great event which gave Independence to NORTH AMERICA , as for the laudable Purpose of

Some Rare Certificates.

inculcating the Duty | of laying down in Peace arms assumed for public Defence , and of uniting in acts of brotherl y Affection and Bonds of perpetual Friendshi p | the Membors constituting the same IN TESTIMONY whereof , I , the President of the

said Societ y , have hereunto set my Hand at the City of New York | in the State of- New York this Seventh day of August , in the | year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninet y , and in the Fifteenth | year of the Independence of the United States . By Order .

/ . Knox , Secretary . G Washington , President . " No . 5 is a very rare French Certificate . Bro . W . J . Hughan , who has kindl y allowed me to describe it , says he knows nothing else of tho kind of so early a date , and it must certainl y be classed amongst the oldest Masonic Certificates in existence , being dated 176 S . It is

in the old French "legal hand , " and therefore very difficult to read , but Bro . G . W . Speth has courteousl y deciphered it for me , except the first two words of the heading , and the meaning of the long series of initial letters . If any Brother who reads this article can suggest a meaning , I shall be very glad to hear from him . The parchment is 19 inches long by 1 ( H inches wide , and reads thus : —

( LE LUX (?) DOMUS TUAE COM EDIT ME .

To all our Brothers worthy of so being domiciled and travelling , spread over the surface of the earth . Honour , Alliance and Amity .

Q L . G . A . 0 . l ' u V . m LE A Q n T T C

( Que ( May ) T . G . A . 0 . TU you ? ? ? 5- ? Pt ? ?)* We , chief of enlightened men , Officers , Dignitaries , Masters , Fellows , and Apprentices of the Lodge of St . John of Jerusalem , the fortunate meeting in Paris , called Zeal , founded in March , 77 G 7 by the late Very Worship ful Brother Count de Bissy , who living was Colonel of

fhe Hegiinent of Engiiien , under the authority and m the name of fhe Very Illustrious Brother Grand Master of all the Lodges of France , as his special immediate deputy and ail hoc , certify to all our Brothers in the Universe that Worshipful Brother Louis Jacques Bondoi , pleader before Parliament , formerly domiciled in the Rue

Beti' / . y , at present in the country , is an Apprentice , Fellow and Master : that after having loyally assisted us in our lahouis , he was initiated into our mysteries , and that he is worthy of the confidence of our very Worship ful Order : we have granted him ( he present Certificate , as much to give him a guarantee of our satisfaction and

love as to authorise him , as we hereby do authorise him , to tender to all the Lodges which he may visit our sentiments of respect , y . enl , and friendship towards all our dear Brothers , whom we beg to receive him wilh love , cordialit y , and honours , as we will receive all whom we know to be sent by their worthy , noble and precious selves Given at Paris , the 21 th day of the third month of the Masonic year