Some Rare Certificates.

Some Rare Certificates .

BY FRED J . W . CROWE , P . M . 328 , 2076 , 2806 , P . Prov . CO ., & e * .

IPPlllillNCE I last contributed a paper to the Christmas IfvplIJi Freemason on this subject I have added many ll ^^^^ ffl s P ccimens to my store ' and I venture to hope that ijN ^ l | J a description of some few specially interesting & fea &^ z &\ items will not be unacceptable to your readers . For

the illustrations I have to thank my friend Bro . * . J . Taylor , P . M ., 1402 , P . Prov . G . Reg . Devon , who , in spite of the unpropitious weather , has secured an admirable * series of negatives .

The lirst specimen is that of the Lodge of Perfect Union at Namur , which was founded by thc Grand Lodge of Scotland , about 1770 , as No . 160 , and became defunct , as far as I can

gather , before the end of the century . The Lodge is named in the list of the 1 S 4 8 Book of Constitutions , but no date is given of its erection or erasion , so that the years named can only be approximated by the dates of the lodges preceding and following : it . The wording is as follows : —

"De l'Oricnt d ' un Lieu tres-St . . . tres-Fort . ^ . . & tres-Eclaire . . . ou regnent le Silence , la Paix , & l'Egalite . A tous les Respectables Grands-Maitres Salut ' . ¦ ' ¦ •' .

NOUS VENERAHl . E-MAlTRE de la Loge de St . Jean , sous le titre de la PARI-AITE-UNION a l'Oricnt de Namur ( Loge Icgitimement constitute par la Metropole Loge d'Edimbourg au grand Orient D'ECOSSE ) accompagne de nos chers Freres faisant

nombre competant pour composer un Loge reguhere , juste , & parfaite , savoir faisons , certifions & atlestons que NOTRE CHER FRERE GERARD -J PYMAN , de Dcventer Age de 25 ans , OITicier au Hegimcnt du Prince FREDERIC D'ORANGE duement initio aux Mysteres des deux premiers Grades de notre Ordre vie via

apres un scrupuleux hxamen etc sa Conciuite , CY *> urs , taut en Loge que hors de Loge . a etc par NOUS eleve au Grade de Maitre selon les Us ' & Coutumcs pratiques ^ de tout terns . En foi de ejuoi lui avons fait expe'dicr ces Presentes ; signees de notre main , du Passe-Maitre , des Surveillants & principaux Oflicie : rs : conlresigne ' es de notre Secretaire , & scellees de nos Sceaux ordinaires .

Si Mandons a tons les VEN'ERABLES des Loges rcguliercs repandues sur la surface de la terrc , de la reconnoitre pour tel , el lui faire hon accueil ; leur pronmttant d ' en user de memo envers tous le-s Maeons , qui se pn ' senteront , munis de leurs Patentes . Donne en pleine Loge le 5 de May de l'Ere Mae ; one 57190 Maliv Par la tivs—Respectable Loge . XormnI Secretaire .

Malslan defoos S . Pr . C . passe Mai / re . G . 7 . I'yma 11 . D ' aiilrebnnde /) ' ait / ree S : R : C : el A : d : /' .- /' . * A ' . * premier Surv . A .. ] I a , 11 in S . R : C . A . d . T : P : E . Tresorier .

Kollingner , Oral cur . G . S . liny Sn . " S' el ( irand Kiln ' de / ., ' . It is curious that the : whole certi / icate , with the : exception of the date and the signatures , is in print , including the name "" of

Some Rare Certificates.

the recipient , Bro . Pyman , and the facl that he received the first two grades only . If the certificate was printed specially for him why was not the date printed also ? The date 57 80 is evidently according to the Scottish custom of adding 4004 to the vulgar era , for on the top left-hand corner is an interesting MS .

endorsement— " Exhibe " : & vu en Loge La Bien Aimec a Amsterdam ce 11 " jour de Scptb 10 de fan de Lumii : re 577 6 . Ant : Myhus . Secret . " Two seals are appended . That on the left is attached to a little bunch of ribbons of red , blue , yellow , green and black . The impression is very bad , but I can just

distinguish a double-headed eagle on a Maltese Cross , sword handles , and the motto " Nee plus ultra . " Another motto at the bottom is undecipherable . The other seal is on yellow and blue

ribbons . In the centre are the arms of the Grand Lodge of Scotland surrounded by an heraldic mantle and the motto , " " Nostrum Dominus Dcus Prcesidium . " The use of the "High Grades" seal and motto on a Craft certificate of this date is

unusual to me . I should be glad to know if any brother knows of any other certificate of a Scottish lodge of this date , as it is the oldest I am acquainted with . No . 2 is a MS . certificate to the same brother , and from the

same lodge , of the degree of Master Mason . The date is May 31 , 5779 , and the four signatures of Mahy , Mamin , D'Antrce , and Mormal only ( W . AI ., S . W ., J . ., and Sec ) , are attached . There arc two seals on light blue ribbon . That on

the left shows a celestial crown , sun , moon , seven stars , palm branches , ancl rainbow surmounted by what is , presumably , a dove . The motto reads " Nui ' ncn ? ^ nvS ^ Lumen . " The other is a large and handsome seal , in tin box , with the

crest and arms of the G . L . . Scotland , and motto , " Nostrum Dominus Dcus Pr . esidium . " Perhaps some brother learned in Hebrew will translate Alcph , Lamed , He , Nun . No . 3 is the old certificate of the Lodge of Edinburgh ,