Following on so many visits to the Museums and Libraries in our Provinces whilst writing these articles for Freemasonry Today, I felt on friendly and familiar ground when I joined twenty-four librarians and curators at the Masonic Library & Museum Group’s bi-annual meeting in Leicester. As I entered Freemasons’ Hall on the main London Road, at about 11.00 am, I could sense a buzz of excitement and anticipation. The present Chairman, Warwickshire’s Mike Brooks, opened the meeting.
    The introduction of the members of the fourteen Provinces present was striking both in the wide spectrum of the importance of the Museums represented and in the rather surprising fact that no less than twelve of our Provinces do not have a Provincial Museum of any kind. At best some of the individual Masonic Halls in the Province will display objects, mostly jewels, in cabinets along the corridors and in the Lodge rooms. Thus the theme for this meeting, and the usefulness and importance of this gathering were brought to the fore from the beginning. We were first to enjoy an agenda of events that culminated in the Open Forum in the afternoon, which turned out to be the raison d’être of the Group.
    First Barry Bayliss (Warwickshire) and Bruce Littley (Worcestershire) presented equally excellent talks on Lodge Certificates and Masonic Bookplates respectively. The two subjects are classified under masonic ephemera and while they are not high on the list of the masonic artefacts, every museum has a representative collection of certificates. Barry was able to show that, through the development and content of a lodge certificate, the history and origins of a lodge can often be traced where only sparse material is available from existing minutes. Furthermore, as in the case of the certificates of the Antient and Primitive Rite, interesting autographs, such as that of John Yarker, may be encountered.
    Bruce Littley, who shared Barry’s enthusiasm and ready knowledge, illustrated his talk by emphasising the social connotations in having a bookplate in the first place. The implication was that the bookplate owner was a lover of books, possessor of a library, of a status that allowed the commissioning of an artist and conveyed information. Laurence Dermott’s bookplate identifies him as a painter, whilst Thomas Dunckerley’s design of the royal coat of arms identifies him as member of the nobility.
    Each speaker was deservedly congratulated on a talk which proved of value to the curators and librarians present. We were next treated to an interesting explanation of the unique ceiling of the main temple in the Leicester Masonic Hall, which was completed in 1909. Walter Glover, who was effectively our host as Curator and Librarian at Leicester, explained the unusual circumstances and architectural aspects of the splendid ceiling in the main Temple. It had been pre-fabricated and assembled in nine sections before being hoisted and suspended from the roof.
    After lunch we returned to the room for the question and answer and open forum sessions. It was here that interesting and practical revelations began to come to light. Quite naturally Diane Clements, Director of the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London, accompanied by Mark Dennis, Curator, was given priority. Listening to her gave an exceptional insight into the thinking and planning that goes on behind the scenes in the higher echelons of Freemasons’ Hall in London.

The Importance of Support

The Museum of Freemasonry in London serves a function far beyond the supply of information to masonic students. The collection and preservation of the artefacts, as well as the services of the Library, are intended as much for the non-masonic public as for Freemasons themselves, and serve both equally. The new policy of regular and extended exhibits will often now select themes on the periphery of Freemasonry, thus placing the perception of the Craft within an overall global picture, and exposing its precepts to the public at large. This function is now being better served by modern technology, as a result of which the Museum is now on line and serving a worldwide community of Freemasons and neophytes alike. As a registered established charity, funds are not always readily available and every penny has to be fought for. The quality of the service given, however, ensures greater promise of higher income.
    This is not, of course, the case with the remainder of the museums in the Provinces. Finance is the greater struggle encountered by the majority of museums and libraries. There appears however to be a number of common factors among the museums. In those Provinces, where the support of the hierarchy is forthcoming, a levy, often only symbolic, is imposed on every lodge whose collected contributions are then handed to the museum administrators. In some instances, the museum finances itself by the sale of regalia and other masonic paraphernalia. The differentiation between administrative funds and funds for acquisitions is always emphasised and many of the acquisitions come from donations.
    It is in those Provinces where no masonic museum or library is yet extant that the major financial problems arise. It is the perennial chicken and egg dilemma: sufficient funds are needed to start the project, but sufficient funds cannot be allocated until after the project has started! The solution in historical terms has come either from a major donation of a collection, which necessitated and vindicated the establishment of a dedicated museum, or the continued perseverance of a number of dedicated Brethren who finally achieve their goal. That is a situation that has not changed with time. Several such dedicated Brethren were present at our meeting. They sought advice, and will now continue in their pursuit to persuade their superiors of the viability and importance of a museum. Their pleas are often listened to with sympathy, but it takes concerted efforts to have the true decision-makers listen. Amongst those decision-makers is the Provincial Grand Master himself.
    If there is a message to be conveyed resulting from this very successful and enjoyable meeting, it is to be directed at those Provincial Grand Masters whose Provinces lack a museum, a Library, or both: The general consensus is that if a Provincial Grand Master is persuaded of the value of such an enterprise, the greater part of the battle is won. Do we need reminding that our artefacts are the backbone of our history and that the education of the individual Mason will assure the prosperity and healthy continuity of our wonderful Craft?
    The open forum discussion continued in the same vein and Diane Clements in particular spoke freely and openly, guiding her attentive listeners through recent events and planned exhibits. In practical terms, the exhibition on John Pine, due to run from 5th July until 15th September was emphasised. She was happy to respond candidly to a multitude of questions and emphasised the ‘hands-on’ sessions and demonstrations her staff are happy to undertake at these meetings.
    The width of the spectrum I mentioned above came into evidence when Peter Laurence from Oxford commented on the struggle in his Province to persuade his superiors on the benefits of a Provincial museum. This was in striking contrast to our London Museum of Freemasonry and its international standing. It was surprising to discover, as the open discussion continued, that several large, important Provinces, such Essex, Staffordshire and Oxfordshire, as well as the numerous smaller ones, had not in the past valued the importance to the Craft of accessible museums and libraries. The Group is supporting the establishment of new museums and libraries, and the guidance given to those present by the more experienced members was revealing and encouraging.
    The Masonic Library & Museum Group has gone a long way since it was started on 26 September 1998, largely at the instigation of Peter Marks from Dorset. He took on the Chairmanship with Robin White of Berkshire as the acting Secretary.
    The Society now consists of representatives of some sixteen provinces and nearly fifty members. It is efficiently run by the Secretary, Vic Brown, who may be contacted for any questions and queries on: Telephone: 01525 753539, email: vic.brown@tesco.net.