FOUNDER'S JEWEL 1947
CATEGORIES OF JEWELS
MATABELELAND LODGE No. 720
FOUNDER'S JEWEL 1947
CONTENTS:-
[TO JUMP DIRECTLY TO A SECTION CLICK ON NUMBER ]
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1. DESCRIPTION OF JEWEL.
2. SHORT HISTORY OF WARRANT No. 720.
3. HISTORY OF MATABELELAND LODGE No. 720, 1947 - TO DATE
4. DETAILS OF WHEN MATABELELAND LODGE NO. 720 MEETS
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OBVERSE OF JEWEL
An silver Founders Jewel suspended from a single silver blue enamel bar with the word "Founder" thereon and a sky blue ribbon.
On the centre of the ribbon is a large green enamel shamrock.
The Jewel is silver , the centre of which depicts a native shield with crossed spears behind, both surrounded by two sprigs of four shamrocks, all set in sky blue enamel. On the circumference of the Jewel is the name of the Lodge "Matabeleland Lodge No. 720 I.C." .
Below the shield is a hand and Trowel, a Masonic symbol widely used in Irish Freemasonry and was taken from the Coat of Arms of Operative Stonemasons.
REVERSE OF JEWEL
The reverse of the Jewel bears the inscription :
"N. Iljon"
The Maker's Mark on the reverse of Jewel is "T&Co..".
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2. SHORT HISTORY OF WARRANT No. 720.
Warrant No. 720 issued to brethren in FIVEMILETOWN, Co. Tyrone on the 3rd June 1790. Warrant No. 720 was Cancelled in 1835.
[The above represents the barest of facts relating to Warrant No. 720 before same reissued to Matabeleland Lodge No. 720 - the IRISH MASONIC RECORDS cd-rom gives a very full account of the Lodges who held Warrant No. 720 for the years setout above]
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3. HISTORY OF MATABELELAND LODGE No. 720.
The Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes dated 17th September 1947 show concerning Warrant No. 720 -
"17 September, 1947 - Read Memorial from various brethren praying for a warrant to establish a Lodge in Bulawayo, Rhodesia to be called the Matabeleland. Recommended."
The Recommendation of The Board was followed,as is shown in the Grand Lodge Minutes of 4th October 1947 as "Confirmed"
Warrant No. 720 reissued to `Matabeleland Lodge' in BULAWAYO, Rhodesia on the 10th October 1947.
Series five Vol. 20 shown as Vol. 5 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows -
"Warrant No. 720 to Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia as “Matabeleland Lodge”, 10 October, 1947 - Arthur G. Eacher, Station Foreman (619); Robert E. Hardman, Park Curator (569) and Walter E. Coates, Minister of Religion (3215 EC) registered along with twenty-three others from various lodges and Constitutions, 10 October, 1947."
The Register continues with the registration of a further fourteen brethren from various lodges and Constitutions up to June 1948.
A total of 83 brethren registered up to 7th February 1952. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Series six Vol. 23 of the extant Grand Lodge Register commences with the registration of John Keyworth, Director, registered 6th March 1952.
A total of 159 brethren registered up to 8th February 1984. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
From 1984 the registration of members of MATABELELAND LODGE No. 720is held, in alphabetical order, in a computerised register by Grand Lodge, Freemasons’ Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The Registration of the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Secretary of Lodges are held in separate Registers, the first Volume covering the period 1983 to 1994 inclusive and the second Volume covering from 1995 to date.
The last registration of Officers is shown under date 1996.
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4. DETAILS OF WHEN MATABELELAND LODGE No. 720 MEETS.
MATABELELAND LODGE No. 720 MEETS ON THE 2nd WED. AT 7.30p.m. (EXCEPT 6,7 & 8) AT BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE.
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EMAIL
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