MEDALS, MAsonc. This term is applied to pieces of metal, of various forms, but generally similar to coins, not intended for circulation as money, or means of exchange, struck and distributed in commemoration of some important event. The study and a thorough knowledge of medals recognized by the Craft, especially those bearing emblems and perpetuating valuable Masonic historical eras or events, are indispensable to prevent our ancient legends, traditions and history from falling into decay or passing into oblivion. So far as our investigations have extended in Masonic medals or numismatics, there is nothing extant in this department earlier than the eighteenth century. This may be explained from the fact that before that period the ancient or operative form of the institution existed; then Masons made their medals of mighty blocks of stone; their symbols were wrought in the ground-plans of extensive and beautiful edifices; their marks were deeply cut upon the living rocks "with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever." The first Masonic medal of which we have any account (an impression of which will be seen in the accompanying engraving) was struck about A. D. 1733. Its history is substantially as follows: In 1733 a Lodge was established at Florence, by Lord Charles Sackville, son of Lionel Granville Sackville, great grandson of Thomas Sackville, who, in 1561, was Grand Master of the Masons acknowledging the jurisdic tion of the Grand Lodge at York. This Lodge was not founded by regular author ity; certainly there was no order for it by the Grand Lodge of England, then gov erned by James Lyon, Earl of Strathmore. The forma
tion of the Lodge, however, was the origin of this medal, a copy of which exists in the valuable collection of Ma sonic medals in possession of the Lodge Minerva of the Three Palms, at Leipsic. The obverse, not given here, has a bust of Lord Sackville, with the inscription, " Carolvs Sackville, Magister, Fl." The reverse exhibits Harpocrates, the god of silence, who, as the son of Isis and Osiris, stood at the entrance of most Egyptian and Roman temples, in his well-known attitude, leaning upon a broken column, with the fore-finger of his right hand, the emblem of silence, upon his lips, and holding in his left arm the cornucopia, filled with the rich fruits of the earth. The cubic block, around which are grouped the stone-hammer, the compas.3es, the square, the level, the chisel, the plumb and mallet, is at his feet. The thyrsus, staff and the serpent, rest behind him. The motto is Ab Origine, " from the beginning." An immensely large number of Masonic medals have been struck, for as many memorable occasions, during the past century; a brief notice of which would be very far beyond our limits to give. Medals are frequently given to brothers as a reward for efficient official services and distinguished Masonic virtues.