Exhibitions of Masonic Relics. Freemasonry in Spain
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make itself felt. Re-united in one compact body, in order EXHIBITIONS OF MASONIC RELICS. to resist the common enemy, and the persecution that was dealt out to them all in common, the Spanish Free- THE Masonic Exhibition which was opened last week masons gave their allegiance to one Supremo Council, a at Worcester proved even more attractive than its Council that had become one by reason of the difficul t most enthnsiastic advocates could have anticipated, and it circumstances in which Spanish Freemasons was placed, and is more than probable that the success which has attended which had its quarters in Madrid in a bye-street off the this, and the two similar Exhibitions at York, will lead to Oalle Mayor, and under the direct protection of England other collections being organised in various parts of the and English Freemasonry. Among the members of the country, and eventually, perhaps, to a permanent Supreme Council were the Infante Don Francis of Bourbon, museum being erected, where relics associated with Free- the General San Miguel, the Ministers Lopez and masonry, which are now only generally available for a Gonzalez de Ja Serna, Bro. Olozaga, afterwards Spanish few days, and on such occasions as the three we have Ambassador at Paris, the Bros. Magnan, Couder, Mozo, referred to, may find a lasting home, and be at all times and others. In 1849 Don Francis was elected Sovereign accessible for inspection to the brethren and others par- Grand Commander of this sole Supreme Council and ticularly interested. We do not think the general body Grand Master of Grand Orient No. 2, which then of English Masons would offer any objection to the estab- absorbed within itself Grand Orient No. 1. Thus, of the lishment of a permanent museum under the auspices of two Spanish Grand Orients, one founded in 1780 and the Grand Lodge, and if the governing body of the Craft m other in 1809, there remained in 1829 but one, while as to this country would undertake the supervision of such an the two Supreme Councils, founded in 1808 and 1811 Institution, we feel sure that Provincial Grand Lodges, respectively, but united since 1818, it was not till 1829 Private Lodges and individuals, would supply sufficient that the surviving Grand Orient and Supreme Council were funds to enable its Committee to purchase relics which , placed under the rule of one and the same Grand Master, from time to time, might be offered for sale, and whi ch , Don Francis de Bourbon, to whom the ex-Queen Isabella without such an organisation as that we now suggest, and her son Alphonse XII. are indebted for the crown, would in most cases find their way to the United seeing that it was in consequence of his firm attitude that States of America. Should a proposal be made that Grand Ferdinand XII. maintained the abrogation of the Salic Lodge officially take the matter in hand , there would Law, which took away from women the right of succession have to be an annual vote for the expenses attending to the throne. the custody and supervision of the exhibits, which In 1846, during the administration of Marshal Narvaez, should be placed under the care of a regularly-appointed took place the fourth persecution of the Freemasons, which, Curator, part of whose province it would be to search for if not as sanguinary as those of 1751, 1814, and 1824, was additions to the Museum, and to take the charge of such certainly as cruel, and Don Francis, excommunicated by exhibits as might be loaned by Provincial or other Pope Pius IX., was compelled to seek safety in flight. At Committees, who might have it in contemplation the time General E. San Miguel was a member of the to get up a collection of such relics. A permanent Supreme Council. The Infante, on quitting Spain, dele- Museum under the auspices of United Grand Lodge gated his authority as Grand Master and Sovereign Grand of England would have to be located in London, Commander to Bros. Charles Magnan and Pinilla, the and Provincial Committees might be organised for the former as regards the Grand Mastership and Grand Com- purpose of collecting any mementoes of Freemasonry mandersbip, and the latter in respect of the Grand Secre- which might exist in their neighbourhoods. It would, taryship, with the rank of Deputy Graud Master and moreover, be the duty of the Curator to place the claims of Lieutenant Grand Commander. Bro. Pinilla thereupon the central Institution prominently before each local established throughout Spain a formidable politico- exhibitor, and it would be fair to expect that a large addi- Masonic power, constituting in all directions, and to tion to the exhibits of the permanent museum would accrue the number of 350, Lodges consisting of only seven after each temporary one held in the country, the one Masters, each new initiate on his reception into a acting as a source of supply for the other. For this Lodge being presented with a musket and a hundred ball- reason also, if not for others, we think it would be desirable cartridges. Success attended this plan up to the year to arrange for the occasional loan from the London centre of 1854, when Queen Isabella's Consort, King Francis rare relics to all properly organised exhibitions held in the d'Assissi, father of Alphonso XII., became Honorary W. Provinces. However, the question is one which need not Master ( Venerable) of a Lodge held in the palace, the be hurriedly considered , and in the meantime we may take titular W.M. of which was General San Miguel, while the the opportunity of congratulating Sir E. Lechmere and S.W. was the Matador Pucheta. The official favours now the Mayor of Worcester on their liberal encouragement shown to our institution, which hitherto had been accus- and support of the recent display at Worcester. We tomed to little else than war a outroMce and without quarter, Would also be glad to hear the opinions of brethren on the introduced elements of corruption, and Spanish Free^ snhiect. masonry led a very tame existence until 1865, when once again she became the heart and soul of those liberal aspi- rations which made themselves felt throughout the length FREEMASONRY IN SPAIN. and breadth of Spain. Then followed a period of anarchy, and after a succession of conspiracies against her life and from (Continued page 139.) throne, Isabella was expelled her kingdom on the 28th I T was at this time, however, that English influence, September 1868. -*- which in spite of the severance of its English ties, At this time the recognised chief of Spanish Freemasonry nad never wholly deserted Grand Orient No. 1, began to residing in Spain was Bro. C. C. Magnan. The revolu- tionary measnres of the day had prently excited Brother IN YORK IN Calatrava, a Masonic vetern n , who had sought rest, hut FREEMASONRY THE had found it only for a brief poriocl. Influenced by the EIGHTEENTH CENTURY . prayers of a certain Bro. Castillo, a traveller in the wine AS TOLD BY AN OLD NEWSPAPER FILE. trade, Calatrava took the initiative in resuscitating the famous National Grand Orient of Spain, which had been BY BRO. T. B. WHYTEHEAD, YORK, established in 1840 nt Bordeaux, out of the remains of a 139). Spanish society founded in 1812 , and bearing the title of (Continued from page " Los Comuneros "—the communists. These " Couvunevos " flTIIEEINGTON'S York Chronicle of Friday, 3rd so called s Padilla, Bravo, in memory of the brave Spaniard -*-J January 1777, has a paragraph registering a meeting and to protest against Maldonado, who had been the first of tho Grand Lodge : — tho Flemish tyranny of Charles V., adopted in 1812 the last being St. Johu'a Day there was a very same method found favour with the Car- " Friday respectable which in 1820 meeting of Free and Accepted Masons of the Most Antient Grand bonari. Their Lodges were named " Toms," thoir Lodge of AH England at the York Tavern and at the Provincial Chapters " Chateav " their chambers " Louvres," their Grand Lodge at Nioholson's Coffee House in this city. The brethren consistory of Princes oF the Royal Secret tho " Grand of both lodges attended Divine Service, the former at St. Helens and where discourses suitable Encampment of Villalar," a plnco celebrated for the the latter at St. Martin's, Coney-street, to of Charles V. the occasion were delivered by the Eev. Brethren John Parker and massacre of the " Comuneros " by the Walloons James Lawson. The brothren dined together at their respective It was, however, the illustrious patriot Arguelles, who, in Lodges and the day was spent with that harmony and decorum the moments of difficulty taking for his guide the maxim of his distinguishing characteristics of the Society." enemies that " the end justifies the means," hurled these Tho York Tavern was selected by Grand Master Siddall essentially political and revolutionary bodies against the ' as his place of meeting on 24th June 1778, and on the positions held by the deadly enemies of liberty. Thus re- same day Sir Thomas Tancred Provincial Grand Master suscitated by Bro. Calatrava, the National Grand Orient of summoned his brethren to meet at Nicholson's Coffee S pain took its place am ong the governing bodies of House, in Coney Street. "William Siddall was a York Masonry in Spain in 1869 , when liberties of every kind and woollen draper. He was made a Mason m 1770 and without a single exception had become veritable rights. served the office of Sheri ff of York in 1765, and was In April of this year was held , in No.