sound principles, that one of them at least is in

The Strong Man Lodge

lists of 1738, 1764, and

existence at this very day. was numbered 68 in the 1767, and was established according to the former authorities, 2nd February 1733, and by the latter, February 17th, 1734.31 Its origin is somewhat extraordinary, and worth hearing.

"About the year 1730, or it might be a year or two later, the attention of Brother Desaguliers was attracted by reports of the great strength and muscular power of a man named Thomas Topham, who kept the Red Lion public-house, nearly opposite the old hospital of St. Luke, and was called, by way of eminence, the STRONG MAN. It appears that he settled down in this locality from its vicinity to the famous ring in Moorfields, where athletic exercises were performed, such as boxing, wrestling, swordplay, and cudgelling, under the superintendence of

31 It appears by the Records of Grand Lodge, that a warrant, bearing date the 2nd day of February, 1734, was issued under the seal of Masonry, enabling certain Brethren therein named to open and hold a Lodge of Freemasons at the Ship Coffee House, Hermitage Bridge, London, to be called "The Strong Man Lodge," which was numbered 110; but by the general closing up of the list of Lodges in the year 1740, it became No. 98. By the closing up of the list of Lodges in the year 1756, it became No. 68. In the year 1770 the said Lodge became 57. By the closing up of the list of Lodges in the year 1781, it became No. 44; and by the same process in the year 1792, it became No. 41. In consequence of the union of the two Fraternities of Freemasons on the 27th day of December, 1813, it became, and is now registered in the books of the United Grand Lodge, No. 61; and meets at the Swan Tavern, Mansel Street, Goodman's Fields, London.

Old Vinegar, whom I remember well. As was his name so was his nature. A most truculent-looking fellow, with a flat nose, swelled cheeks, low forehead, broad across the back, shoulder-of-mutton fists, and the strength of a giant; and yet Topham found no difficulty in lowering his pride; and he overthrew him in the ring as if he had been made of cork, amidst the shouts and halloos of the fancy, and to the supreme delight of those whom the potency of Old Vinegar had hitherto forced to succumb.

"The first public feat which Bro. Desaguliers saw Topham perform for the purpose of actually testing his strength was this. A powerful cart-horse was harnessed and placed on one side of the low wall which then divided the upper from the lower Moorfields, and Topham on the other. Taking hold of the end of the traces, the fellow planted his feet firmly against the wall, and told the spectators to flog the horse, which they did, without producing any effect; for the biped proved to be the most powerful animal of the two. He afterwards pulled against a pair of horses; and Dr. Desaguliers was firmly persuaded that 'if placed in a proper position, he would have sustained the efforts of four horses without the least inconvenience.' I have witnessed several other instances of his personal strength," continued the Square, "but the repetition of them will not be interesting to you.

"Poor Topham! With all his strength he was as meek as a lamb, and a perfect slave at home, for his termagant helpmate led him a very unquiet life;

and in the end ruined him, and forced him from his dwelling. It was at this point of time that Dr. Desaguliers became his friend and patron; for, as a Professor of Experimental Philosophy he took great interest in his performances. He placed him in another public-house at the Hermitage, with the sign of the Ship; and, after making him a Mason, established a Lodge at his house as a means of increasing his business by the introduction of his friends. And I must say the Lodge was well conducted, with Bro. Desaguliers at its head as the Master; and increased rapidly in numbers and respectability. Its cognizance was the redoubtable Thomas Topham matching his strength against that of a horse, with his feet propped by the fragment of a wall; and its name, THE STRONG MAN Lodge. Topham, however, unfortunately took to drinking, and the business fell into other hands; but the Lodge prospered, and was considered a crack establishment when the poor fellow and his patron were no more."

CHAPTER III.

PROCESSIONS.-MARTIN CLARE, A. M.

1740-1747.

"Regard not who it is that speaketh, but weigh only what is spoken."-HOOKER.

"All such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know."-SOLOMON.

"You shall understand, my dear friends, that amongst the excellent acts of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection and institution of an Order, or Society, which we call Solomon's House, the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon earth, and the lantern of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the works and creatures of God."-LORD BACON.

"THE Brother, whose property I had now become,” continued the Square, "was Master of the Lodge No. 2, at the Horn Tavern, New Palace Yard, Westminster, the old Lodge which formerly met at the Rummer and Grapes, and he was an expert ruler. He

He—” (Here the Square communicated several particulars about the method of conducting a Lodge in those times, which, though very curious and important, I am bound to hold sacred, as I cannot make them public without incurring the penalty of the unfortunate Prichard. It appears that the Master was a strict disciplinarian, and, under his instructions, the Brethren made a rapid progress in the knowledge of Masonry, although he entertained some

absurdities which he communicated only to a few select Brothers in private; one of which, not being of any great importance to Masonry, I may mention without violating a sacred pledge. For instance, he taught them that Adam, our first parent, constructed a stone in the form of an oblong square, or double cube, and placed it over the grave of his beloved son Abel, who had been slain by his brother, inscribed with the history of the transaction in hieroglyphical characters; and this, he told them, was the origin of the same custom amongst the Egyptians! I had great difficulty here to restrain myself from uttering an exclamation. The principal symbol which it contained, was the Mark placed on the forehead of Cain by the finger of God, viz., the TAU CROSS,-the emblem of life. And thus this protective landmark was communicated to mankind, that no one might violate the divine command by depriving him of existence. And our imaginative Master was bold enough to add, that this mark was the talisman used by Moses to protect the Israelites from the devastations of the destroying angel in the wilderness of Arabia.)

"Although the Master was inflexibly rigid," my companion continued, "in the discharge of his duty, and in exacting from others the same rule of conduct which he imposed on himself, yet, when the Lodge was closed, and supper placed on the table-hey presto! he was quite another man. No one was

more jocose or full of spirits than he was.

He sang

a good song, cracked his joke, and was the life of