1890/115

Silver Medal. Struck to commemorate one of the most singular incidents in Masonic History.

Date:- 1835 - Classification:- Event; Person

Country of Origin:- Germany -

Description

In 1818, Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, National Grand Master, presented to the Lodges of the Hague and of Delft, two ancient documents

1. A manuscript in cypher on parchment signed by 19 Master Masons at Cologne, June 23, 1535. 2. A few sheets of the minutes of the Lodge Frederick Kreederthrall, at the Hague, professing to bear dates from 1637 to Feb. 2, 1638. The Prince received these documents in 1816, accompanied by a letter in a female hand, signed “C., child of V. J.,” in which the writer professed to have discovered them amongst her father’s papers, who, it was said, had received them from Mr. Von Bortzelaar. This letter was attributed to a daughter of Van Jayliger, who, in 1795, succeeded Van Bortzelaar in the Grand Mastership. The documents excited at once the profoundest interest among the Masonic writers of Europe. Twenty-six different works were published to establish or overthrow them. A. commission of five learned brothers was appointed to settle these doubts. The “Charter of Cologne,” the name by which it is known, is now generally believed to be a fabricated document of modern date. However, the Lodge, “La Bien Aimee,” assuming its correctness, celebrated the 300th anniversary of its origin, June 24th, 1835, and struck the medal described, in commemoration of the event. This was done under the care of Schouberg at Utrecht.

Obverse.—Within a circle of nineteen stars, “Conventum Fratr.. Lib.: Cemeatar.: Col:. Agrip:. Ao MDXXXV. Habitum Grati Celebrant Fratres Neerlandici Ordinis in Patria Sua Restavrati Festum Seculare Agentes Ao MDCCCXXXV.,” in ten lines. (The Netherland Brethren, keeping the centennial feast of the restoration of the Order to their fatherland, gratefully celebrate the assembly of the Masonic brotherhood, held at Cologne in 1535). Tn small letters below, “J. P. Schouberg, F.” Reverse.—A radiant triangle, around which are the words, “Charta Fratr.. Col Agrip.. D xxiv. Jun:. MDXXX V.” Within the triangle are the words, “Principia Nostrorum Actuum Hisce Drobus Praeceptis Enunciantur: Omnes, Homines, Veluti Fratres Et Propinquos Ama Et Dilige: Deo, Quod, Dei: Imperatori Quod Imporatoris Est Tribuito,” in nine lines. (The principles of our acts are declared in these two maxims: Love and esteem all man as brothers and neighbours. Render to God the things that are God’s, and to the Emperor the things that are the Emperor’s.)

Engraved in M., Plate 4, Fig. 15; in Z., Book 1, Plate 4; and in A. Q. R., 1859, Page 338

Properties

51 mm. Silver