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refeired to ; Abraham , nay Noah is often called a Mason , and yet many of us do not even know with anything like certainty who our forefathers were ouly some 150 years ago , and what they then taught . Lodges no doubt exist of undoubted antiquity , many of them working still in the very localities where they worked centuries ago , and they are in so far of course to be called duly authorised ; others can refer to their patents or charters , granted by the modern Grand Lodge of England ; but no where

have I found satisfactory reference to the source . Whence this modern Grand Lodge derived its knowledge ; its authority as a representative body we all know , dates from 1 * 717 ; but what became of the lodges which continued to work under the name of "ancient lodges" up to the last quarter of tho last century , and of their doctrine few ask . In like manner we find continental and American Lodgesworking after the most varied

, rituals , bearing a certain sort of resemblance in the three St . John degrees , then diverging into almost innumerable higher degrees , most of them not knowing whence they have what they practice , beyond perhaps some patent or charter signed by some unknown person . It is true that in such branches of the Order as have written rituals , the ritual itself'is or should be enough , as containg evidences of the antiquity and continuity of the system ,

that is , its own story ; yet even with regard to such systems , the antiquarian who wishes to have something like an uuhroken chain of outward evidence , has much to do to get hold of the true links .

Of such links there is one which attracted my special attention— -I well remember it—many years ago , when I still served merely in the outer courts of our temple . It was the well authenticated description of a medal , struck in Florence , in the year 1733 , in honour of Charles , Lord Sackville , Duke ot Middlesex , son of Lionel Cranfield Sackville , Duke of Dorset , who founded the first lodge in Florence . On the obverse of the medal is Sackville ' s bustwith the inscription : Carolus

Sack-, ville , Magister Florentimis ; on the reverse is the God of Silence , ( Harpocrates ) , with a flower over the forehead , the forefinger of the right hand vesting ou the lips ; the left hand holds the horn of plenty , filled with flowers and fruit , and the figure leans against a broken column , at the foot of which are seen to the right a cube and several Masonic tools , to the left the mysterious Eleusinian Casket , the Snake , the Hyrsus of Bacchus , anil a

pickhammer . The inscription at the top is " aborigine . " What questions did not this medal suggest to me ! How came it to pass that iu the earlier part of list century , at the very time when in bis own country the dissensions between two rival divisions of the Order had risen to such a height , that most valuable documents were destroyed rather than that they should bo profanedan English nobleman should be found in Florence ,

, establishing a lodg <> , the first in Italy ? On this modal I saw symbols testifying to a much more ancient system of teaching than any that England has known , under the guidance of its modern Grand Lodge ; the very name of the Waster , in honour ol whom the medal was struck , was sufficient to connect him with Thomas Sackville , who in 15 ( 11 , during the reign of Queen Elizabeth , was Grand Master at York .

Subsequent studies have satisfied me that my youthful fancies were not very wide of the mark , and the importance of the medal was not very long ago confirmed , when I had the opportunity of inspecting another one , corresponding with the one above described in so far , that the reverse was exactly the same , though the obverse had on it , instead of Sackville's bust , three figures surrounding an altar , fasces ou each side , above the inscription : "Deprhua silere , " and below , " Tres ad unum . " This medal was moreover hollow , and contained within it ten allegorical woodcuts , ( mark the numbers ) , seven separate ones , and three hanging together .

I would therefore call the attention of my brethren , who may have greater opportunities of research than I have , to the interest attaching to a few points in connection with this Charles Sackville . For instance , can it be ascertained to what English lodge he belonged before be left for Italy : to what system dirt that lodge belong , ancient or modern ; are any family records of the Sackvilles in existence , bearing on the connection which other members of that family may have had with Freemasonry ? And

though I may perhaps be addressing those ta whom what I have mentioned is nothing new , I do not think I can do wrong in concluding this paper by expressing my strong conviction ot the necessity of systematic researches into what I may call the profane or outer history of our Order , as of the utmost consequence in times like the present , when mere traditions have

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ceased to be looked on with respect , and when nothing can claim serious attention unless supported by external as well as internal evidence . By turning "backwards" we shall also follow the indications given in certain of our ceremonies , aud best find out how old things have become new , and new things again old , during that wonderful continuance from the remotest ages , which we may perhaps some day be able fully to establish as

the characteristic of our Order . ( To he Continued . )

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

ROBERT BURNS LODOE ( No . 25 ) . —This prosperous lodge , so well known for its admirable working , met at Freemason's Hall , Great Queen-street , on the 3 rd ult . The AA ' . M ., Bro . Herbert Dicketts in the chair , supported by Bros . C . A . Long , S . W ., Adams , J . A \ . ; Thomas Arnold , S . D . ; Thomas Wiugham , J . D . ; E . W . Lomr , I . G . j AV . AVatson , P . M ., W . S . ; John Dyte , R . M . ; W . S . ; J . W . Lyon , P . M ., Sec ; John E . AVelsh , P . M ., Treas . ; and C . BennettP . M . The AV . M . passed Bro . Froggatt and

, raised Bro . Potter . John Saivard was balloted for , accepted , and initiated in the Order . Amongst the visitors we noticed : — Bros . Grant , 235 ; Long , 18 S ; Jones , 71 S ; Terry , 221 ; and Dawson , 188 . The manner in which the ceremonies were performed by the AA . M ., elicited the admiration of the brethren . Five guineas was voted to the Masonic Lifeboat , and five guineas to a brother . The lodge being closed , the brethren sat down to a

banquet served in the style which lias often carried the highest praise for the Freemason ' s Tavern Company . After the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , the AA ' . M . gave " The Visitors , " which was responded to by Bros . Long , No . ISS ; Dawson , ISS ; Terry , 22 S ; Grant , 235 ; and Jones , 715 ; who all spoke in tonus of high commendation respecting the working by the W . M . and his officers . The musical arrangements were under the management of Bros . Dawson and Bayne , and gave the utmost satisfaction . Bro . Moss , and several of the brethren , also contributed to the harmony of the evening .

PERFECT ASHLAR LODGE ( No . 1 , 178 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was In-lit at the Gregorian Arms Inn , 96 , Jamaica-road , Bermondsey , on Thursday , the (> th inst ., the W . M ., Bro . F . H . Ebsworth , taking his place at five o ' clock precisely . The business was not of a very heavy character , but the ceremonies that were gone through were performed in the usual faultless manner by the respected W . M . The lodge being closed , the usual

banquet followed . GOLDEN RULE LODGE ( NO . 1 , 261 ) . — Consecration . —This lodge was consecrated on Thursday , the 6 th inst-, at the Great AA ' estem Hotel , Craven-road , Haddington , in the presence of some very eminent members of tho Craft . Bro . . Aluggcridge , P . M ., the well known ' Preceptor of the Stability Lodge of Instructionand P . Mof several lodgeswas appointed hy ihe

, . , M . AV . G . M . as consecrating officer . There was a numerous attendance of brethren from different lodges , amongst whom wo noticed Bros . Henry -Aluggeridge , Frederick Bigg , John Sunley , A . G . Sharpe , J . . 1 . Harris , E . Addis , S . Cornish , 1 ) . Newshain , A . AVilliams , 11 . Cross , X . D ., G . Beaman , U . D ., William Smith , CE ., P . G . S . ; E . H . Fennell , 969 ; J . H . Cox , 19 ; Newton Jennings , AV . M . -152 ; S . P ' uleoek , 90 ; P . Matthews ,

509 ; AV . Biidseye , 715 ; C . AVycke , 715 ; C . Jenkins , 27 ; A . Partridge , 22 ; P . Gowland , 569 ; C . A . Long , 136 ; M . AA ' olfsky , 286 ; H . Birdseye , 715 ; C . Collard , 190 ; AV . Jones , M . D ., 701 ; K . Patten , P . G . S . B . ; J . Emmons , P . G . I . ; Fred . Adhrd , P . G . S . ; T . P . Griffin , W . M . 20 ; J . Hervey , G . S . ; C . Thompson ; AV . K . Storier , 715 ; J . Gale , 715 ; J . Miles , S . AV . 49 ; C . Moutric , P . M . 11-Soon alter half-past three o'clock , the brethren were assembled ,

and a procession was formed , the juniors proceeding first , headed hy the Dir , of Cers . The lodge was then opened in the three degrees , and the usual formal inquiries aud documents were read , and the assent of the brethren obtained to the new officers named in the warrant , viz ., Bros . Joseph Eglese , W . M . designate ; John Sunley , S . W . ; A . G . Sharpe , J . AV . Bro . Muggcridge , the prodding officerthen delivered a impressive orationwhich

, very , was listened to with the deepest attention . Bro . Jennings , at the harmonium , assisted by Bro . Long , and other non-professional singers then sung the anthem , " Behold bow pleasant and how good , " after which Bro . Joseph Eglese , AV . M . dosiguate , was presented to the presiding officer . The rest of the