A Museum and Library for the masonic Province of Warwickshire was first created in 1908. It enjoyed a period of prosperity but when war broke out in 1939, the entire collection had to be housed in protective boxes which were then stored in the Congregational Church School in Manchester. It was not until the current purpose-built premises in Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, were finally opened in 1971 that the collection of books and artefacts was finally able to be displayed and gain the recognition it deserved.
    The main hall of this new building was dedicated to the Museum and a side-room was allocated to the Library. Then, some years later, the Museum was moved to its present site on the first floor balcony thus creating an impressive backdrop to the main entrance. The Lodge rooms lead off this balcony so all masons arriving for meetings have the pleasure of studying the antiques on display.
    It reminded me, in its concept and construction, of my visit to the Sydney Masonic Hall in New South Wales, Australia. Indeed, throughout Australasia, masonic halls serve dual functions, encouraging the public use of the premises and in the process allowing open access to the collections on display. Such is the case in Birmingham where the Grand Temple is on the ground floor patio of the purpose-built hall. From there, as you gaze upwards you can catch a glimpse of the paintings of the Provincial Grand Masters which surround the Museum.
    The Librarian and current Chairman of the Masonic Libraries and Museums Group (UK), Mike Brooks, and Museum curator and Chairman of the Warwickshire Provincial Museum Committee, Barry Bayliss, introduced us to the collections. The Library houses some two thousand volumes all of which are duly catalogued on CD ROM. The Library itself, like every other available room in the building, is frequently hired out for non-masonic functions. Nevertheless, there are several outstanding items in the shelves crammed with books and bound copies of masonic magazines.
    Mike takes pride in several rare items: a 1599 copy of the Geneva Bible, first published in 1560 and known as the Breeches Bible is an essential reference source on the history of Protestantism in England; an outstanding and beautifully bound copy of Dr. Robert Plot’s Natural History of Staffordshire, Oxford, 1686 in which explicit references to Freemasonry appear; a good copy of James Anderson’s first Constitutions of 1723 and an important selection of Engraved Lists of Lodges, two editions being unique.
    The Provincial document and print collection is also kept in the Library. A very rare set of the Gabanon prints are preserved in excellent condition. These constitute the earliest illustrations depicting masonic ritual and are classified as exposures because they give a detailed insight into the working of the various degrees in 1742 when the first were printed.
    The plates have been dedicated to the French anti-mason, Leonard Gabanon, and are thus popularly referred to under his name and so often mistakenly held to be French when actually they are German. In 1813 the same plates were copied and published in a slightly smaller format by J. Palser. The depictions in this more readily available set are reversed but otherwise identical but for the costumes and ambiance - they are now set in English surroundings. The ceremonies are depicted as taking place in a grand room of a private home, a frequent practice in the days when Lodges met in taverns, venues considered unworthy perhaps by some of the dignitaries who were joining the Craft.

The Museum

The Museum is open to the public and has excellent display units dispersed throughout the first floor balcony. Glass cabinets are interspersed with mobile wall units and benches allowing the visitor a comfortable and relaxed view of the collection. Striking amongst the attractive collection of ceramic utensils are a number of very large, early three-gallon jugs. One of these originates in Liverpool which was the site of several pottery and porcelain factories from 1716 to 1785. The pieces are decorated with masonic emblems; one dated circa 1780 shows the arms of both the Antients and the Moderns Grand Lodges - a good sales ploy, no doubt.
    In the large glass section, which includes all kinds of drinking vessels, are a number of unusual items: there are three, thirty-six inch, horn shaped, ‘yard of ale’ glasses with a bulbous base and the masonic square and compasses etched on the rims. These unusual and classical English vessels were never intended for normal drinking. They are historically associated with festive events, merry-making and the display of drinking prowess.
    The moveable display cabinets house an exceptional collection of Royal Arch jewels, both pierced and solid, all dating prior to 1818. Several are attributed to Thomas Harper and carry his personal hallmark. The display also allows an interesting comparison to be made between an original Hogarth Grand Stewards’ jewel and some later similar designs.
    The Hogarth jewel, now a very rare item, is striking. As one of the founders of the Stewards’ Lodge in 1735, William Hogarth would have made a special effort in his design. It has been reported that the original artwork for the jewel was attached to the first book of minutes of the Lodge and removed, perhaps stolen, long ago. The later hallmarked silver jewels date from between 1817 and 1824 and have the design reversed, the square and plumb-rule facing away from each other and there are no brilliants decorating the borders, but in spite of their much later date they have been mistakenly attributed to Hogarth.
    Additional display cabinets exhibit a wide range of masonic objects. Curator, Barry Bayliss has a display from his own philatelic collection next to a cabinet housing several pocket watches. Uniquely, most of these show the inner workings of the watches and it is fascinating to see that even these were constructed with intricate and elaborate masonic symbolism.
    In other cabinets are treasures: some very unusual gavel-shaped wine bottles and a curious set of solid glass blocks bearing masonic symbols and intended for use as gavels. There are tumblers with dice embedded in the base which are said to have been produced to keep diners entertained while waiting for the wine-waiter. There are attractive champagne flutes and highly decorative glass and silver candlesticks, all bearing masonic emblems and all reminiscent of the opulent dining and drinking during the feasts of former times.
    The Province of Warwickshire, through the open public access to the Masonic Museum, admirably promotes a better understanding of our antiquity which is so visibly manifest in the artefacts and literature of our exceptional Craft.

THE ‘AUTOGRAPH’ BOOK
A truly unique item in the Library is the personalised ‘autograph book’ of William F. Tolladay, Master of Forward Lodge, No. 1180, in 1889. The contents of the book were bound and inscribed in manuscript on 16th August 1892 and presented to him, with love, by his daughters. Items were still being added up to July 1905.
    The contents are an extraordinary collection of the photographs and autographs of the masonic dignitaries of the period. The book opens with a late portrait of Queen Victoria with her signature attached to the base. There follows a listing of the members of Grand Lodge and for each member there is a photograph and signature. They include an autographed portrait of H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales, Grand Master from 1874, wearing the chain of his office; H.R.H. Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Provincial Grand Master of Sussex from 1886; Lord Leigh, Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire from 1852; the Earl of Lathom, appointed Pro Grand Master in 1891; Earl Amhurst, Pro Grand Master in 1899; the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, Deputy Grand Master in 1891; the Grand Secretary from 1892, Edward Letchworth and many others from various Orders. Three of the portraits are of Tolladay himself in full regalia as Master of his Lodge, First Principal of his Royal Arch Chapter and as a Knight Templar. The entire book is beautifully decorated - presumably by his daughters - and is an excellent record of a brief period in the history of the Province.

THE ENGRAVED LISTS OF LODGES
These are the legitimate predecessors of the masonic Almanacs which first appeared in 1756 and which were replaced by the Grand Lodge Calendars in 1777 and finally, since 1908, the familiar Masonic Yearbook of today. They are known as ‘engraved’ lists because every entry was engraved onto a copper plate before being printed. The lists incorporate an array of miniature images of the signs and names of the taverns where lodges met. Inclusion in the engraved list for any year showed regularity of constitution of the lodge and, after 1730, it also indicated the seniority of the lodge. There were a total of fifty-six engraved lists published between 1723 and 1778. The 1778 copy in the Warwickshire Museum is, so far as is known, the only one in existence. A second equally rare copy is the 1737 edition. Both copies were engraved by John Pine.

The Warwickshire Masonic Museum is open to the public daily, except weekends, between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. Those wishing to visit the Library can do so by contacting Mike Brooks on 0154 301 543.