Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

"A Meeting of Free Masons for the Admission of Masters" Plate 3
1812
Thomas Palser, publisher (active 1799-1843)
England: London
Ink on paper
overall: 12-1/4"h x 19-3/8"w
Loaned by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts
GL2004.3826

Colored engraving showing a Masonic Lodge room. At the right is drapery around a chair with a man seated. There is a floorcloth at center (a tracing board) and three sets of three candlestands. Fifteen additional men are arranged around the room. All wear Masonic aprons and eighteenth century style clothing. Three men stand behind the man in the chair at right. Seven men stand on one side of the floorcloth. One man stands guard on the left. Two men are at the end of the floorcloth opposite the man in the chair. The final man stands at the side of the floorcloth with his back facing out. A fireplace is visible in the background. Each man in the print has a number above his head. These numbers correspond to a column beneath the image on the left and the right with a key. The left column reads, "1 The master / 2 Orator / 3 Secretary / 4.5.6 Brothers." The right column reads, "7 Senior Warden / 8 Junior Warden / 9 Treasurer / 10 Tyler." At center is the title of the print in cursive style, "Plate 3 A Meeting of Free Masons for the Admission of Masters / The Junior Warden making a Sign to the Master that he is going to introduce a Candidate who is in / attendance outside the Lodge." Beneath the title, it reads, "Published, March 1, 1812, by Thos. Palser. Surry side Westminster Bridge." Currently matted in a hinged cream mat.

Part of a series of engravings, this print was originally published to "expose" the secrets of Freemasonry. In it, two lodge officers exchange "secret" signs as the Warden alerts the Master that he will escort an initiate into the lodge room. For further information, see Newell, Aimee, et.al., "Curiosities of the Craft: Treasures from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Collection", 2013, p. 82-83.