wm5806

St Barbara Although nicely detailed, this enamel isn't in the same league as that of say the St Michael ribbon emblem (post no. 3), which dated from 1937, only 7 years before this one. It may have been due to the exigencies of wartime Britain, I believe that the enameller's finest work is (usually) from before the 1939-45 war and cite these example in support of that. Perhaps of more interest to viewers from other boards on this site, St Barbara became the patron of artillery and mining. In the Spanish language, the word "santabarbara" means the magazine of a ship or fortress. It was customary to have the statue of Saint Barbara at the magazine to protect the ship or fortress from suddenly exploding. Incidentally, the Order of Saint Barbara is a military honor society of the US for both the US Army and the US Marine Corps field artillery. (Source: Wikipedia) [attachmentid=26031]

St George - again! A 1935 Past Master's jewel from the Lodge of St George in the East (No. 1526), meeting in Bengal. [attachmentid=26025]

St Barnabas From two different Lodges named after St Barnabas, No. 3771 from London, and No.5050 from Birmingham (Warks), in 1916 and 1928, respectively. A recent yearbook shows two other Lodges with St Barnabas connections, one in Buckinghamshire, the other in West Kent. [attachmentid=26021]

Very nice one Warlord, from the Province of Cambridgeshire. Great to see that it has been 'recycled', too, by re-presenting it to another Past Master some 50 years after the original presentation. The only sad thing is that sometimes when these are re-presented, the original presentation engraving is removed to make way for the later presentee's details. Two of the more innovative ideas I have seen have been the addition of a brass plaque on the reverse of the ribbon, so that subsequent presentee's names may be recorded, OR the addition of a further square that hangs behind (or is hinged to) the original, which can then be engraved. By grinding off the original recipient's name we are ERASING our history! It's bad enough with the legacy of perceived secrecy that we have to suffer, without trying to hide our history from subsequent generations of masons. I may have said in a previous post that a friend and Brother has a list of about six names written under the flap of his apron - all the former owners - to which he will add his name when he passes it on to his first Initiate (soon). Just how proud would that make you? Sorry, rant over, scanner now warmed up and I shall posta few more.... WM5806

And a last one for this evening from St Michael's Lodge (no. 4353) of Leeds Good night all! [attachmentid=25927]

Another for St John's Lodge (no. 3972) from Northampton [attachmentid=25926]

Lodges are frequently named after saints, perhaps because of a church or cathedral nearby, or because the saint is patron of something dear to the Lodge Founders. An enamel of the saint is then often found as the ribbon emblem, some of them having very extravagant detail and being miniature works of art in their own right. Here's one for St Margaret Westminster Lodge (no. 4518) from London [attachmentid=25925]

Not just that, but potentially disastrous! Kgard kind of held this area together, certainly in the last month or so that I've been a member, giving it a good prod when things went quiet. In order to prove to the Chairman that there is a future to this Board we desperately need to plug the gaps that Kgard would have done. Judging by the stats, there are a lot of viewers (unless we all have short memories and keep re-reading posts) who may be able to just provide one post a week. If for no other purpose, we have to keep Kgard's good work going. WM5806

Some sad news for you all: Kgard - the other Club Host - has decided to withdraw from this and the other Boards in the GMIC; he has also requested that the Chairman remove his previous posts, so regular viewers will notice a lot of gaps and, indeed, missing threads. Kgard was one of the stalwarts of this section, getting it going and seeing that it kept ticking over with new threads, as well as contributing valuably and authoratively on a wide range of Masonic threads started by others. I shall certainly miss his breadth of knowledge and Masonic experience and, I am sure you all will too. I hope he might find he can re-join us in the future, but even if he can't I know that collectively we wish him well in all that he does in the futre, thanking him for his great contribution to this board.

There was a Grand Lodge of India formed in 1961 and many of the Lodges on the UGLE roll were transferred across. However, a few chose to stay with UGLE and (referring to the 2000 Yearbook) there are still several District Grand Lodges over there: Bengal (24 Lodges) Bombay and Northern India (29 Lodges) Madras (18 Lodges) Pakistan (13 Lodges) Sri Lanka (9 Lodges) I know that includes Districts that are not strictly speaking India, but included them for an idea of the region, before anyone corrects me! Kind regards WM5806

Indeed they do. I think they both meet at the 'Big House' in Great Queen St

Just as Britain turned much of the map red during its heady days of empire and colonies in the 19th century, everywhere it went, Freemasonry followed in its wake. Here's a Past Grand Secretary's collar jewel from the District Grand Lodge of Bengal, and much bigger than today's versions. Regards, WM5806 [attachmentid=25905]

Here's a couple of jewels from 'foreign' Lodges (for want of a better term), or Lodges in Britain for foreign nationals, might be a better alternative! The first is from the Polish National Lodge (No. 534), warranted in 1840 and is, I think, a member's jewel. The eagle is beautifully crafted in 3-d and it's a shame that a scan does not do it true justice. The second is a Past Master's jewel of Loggia Italia (No. 2687), warranted in 1897. I seem to recall that both Lodges work in their respective languages - must make it fun if you're their visiting Grand Officer.... Kind regards to all, WM5806 [attachmentid=25902] [attachmentid=25903]

Here are a couple of unusual jewels. The first is a Past Master's jewel from Brent Lodge, near Exeter - unusual in that it doesn't have a ribbon, but two chains that suspend the Lodge crest from the top bar. The second is a Steward's jewel for the Ladies' Festival of St Martin's Le Grand Lodge in 1896 - I didn't know that Lodges produced jewels for this sort of event until I saw this one! Hope you enjoy them, WM5806 [attachmentid=25837] [attachmentid=25838]

My best guesses for the PrGD (Warks) jewels: 1 Past Master's jewel - which Lodge? 2 Past Master's jewel - which Lodge? 3 4 5 Past Master's jewel - which Lodge? 6 Combined Charity jewel ('Duke of Sussex') 7 8 Possibly a PM jewel - which Lodge? 9 Royal Masonic Institute for Girls - Festival Steward 1904 10 11 Knights' Templar Centenary jewel 12 13 Royal Masonic Institute for Boys - Festival Steward 1902 14 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution - Festival Steward 1903 15 Royal Masonic Institute for Girls - Festival Steward 1901 16 Royal Masonic Institute for Boys - Festival Steward 1905 17 Royal Masonic Institute for Boys - Festival Steward 1898 18 HM Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee jewel (1897) 19 Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle Hope you can fill in the blanks? [attachmentid=25667]

Very nice Mike, thank you for submitting these. I don't have any myself, although SWMBO would like one I have seen others that form a pyramid when closed - does anyone have some pics of one of those? Finally, I think I have only ever seen these with Craft symbolism, I wondered whether they were ever made for other degrees? WM5806

Well, here's another one (although it may have been posted in another part of this forum), a Provincial Grand Deacon from Warwickshire. See how many jewels you can identify... Just love the detail on his collar! [attachmentid=25610] [attachmentid=25611]

After some messages regarding the last portrait photograph I posted, I thought you might enjoy another! This distinguished and senior Brother is wearing the regalia of a Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in the old Province of Kent (before it split into East and West Kent, I think in 1981). My only information is that it dates from around or after 1897, as he's wearing a jewel for HM Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (which also has the bar for the special meeting in the Royal Albert Hall. The Festival Steward's jewel of 1892 for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution is also at the very bottom of his collection. There is also a Royal Arch Past Principal's breast jewel top-right. The jewel at the top of his collection is one of the 'special', pre-regulation Centenary jewels for Union Lodge of Margate. If anyone recognises his other jewels I would love to hear from them. [attachmentid=25573] [attachmentid=25574]

As this is mainly for our museum, I may want to include a few fields that those cataloging a personal collection may not need, but these are the sort of things I thought about including: ID Degree Type of jewel Lodge Name Lodge No Province Town Constitution Date awarded Description Inscription Material HM Assay Office HM date Maker Height (mm) Width (mm) Date acquired Acquired from Date disposed Disposed to Approx value Bought for Sold for Stock value Which might appear rather over-doing it, but I would rather get it righ first time by over-doing it, than miss things off and have to go back over everything, adding information. Can anyone think of anything I have missed, please? What sort of reports should I be able to produce (details)? Thanks in anticipation, WM5806

Not sure of the symbolism, but I think it's fairly safe to assume that the Lodge being consecrated in 1867 was named after the then new Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Albert Hudson Royds (1866-78). There is a prominent Rochdale banker of the same name and active in a similar period, but I do not know if they are one and the same (perhaps unlikely). I wonder if the symbolism depicts some feature of either Worcester Cathedral or Malvern Priory? WM5806

Greetings 156Jim Welcome to the Forum! Hope you enjoy it here and, as I know you from another arena, am certain we will benefit from your knowledge of Anglo-American Masonry. As far as the frog goes, I think its the device that attaches the sword scabbard to the belt. If I am wrong I am sure someone will correct me. Fraternal regards WM5806

And this one is definitely to test you.... [attachmentid=25319]

Great to be back after the weekend! Here's an interesting jewel, probably from around the end of the 19th century as it gives the maker as "Kenning, London", before his son came into the firm circa 1906. Although its not Masonic but from the Oddfellows, I say interesting because it bears amazing resemblence in design to the Royal Arch jewels of the period, especially the twisted wire ribbon hangers and buckle, as well as the six-pointed star with the engraving. Have a great week all, WM5806 [attachmentid=25318]

Here's an unusual Past Master's jewel from Royds Lodge (1204) which meets at Malvern, Worcs. I say 'unusual' in that whilst it does have an illustration of the Master's square and 47th preposition of Euclid (what we all call the 'problem'), they are rather atypically incorporated into the design, rather than hanging from the bottom. Also, no fancy enamel plaque, which was the norm around then. The jewel has a bar for a second term as WM. Hope you like it, WM5806 [attachmentid=25145]

Yes, Mike, Sounds very much like a KT jewel - the English ones tend to have a white and red ribbon, although I have often see the US ones with a black ribbon. Regards WM5806