Difference between revisions of "Masonic charity jewels"
(Keep opening paragraph readable beside the illustration on narrow screens) |
(Tighten memorial-jewel summary and cite the museum’s design history) |
||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
The [[Royal Masonic Hospital]] appeal used a jewel showing the allegorical figure of Humanity assisting the sick, with a blue ribbon and a star above the badge.<ref>Museum of Freemasonry, [https://museumfreemasonry.org.uk/node/826 Nurses and Queens].</ref> | The [[Royal Masonic Hospital]] appeal used a jewel showing the allegorical figure of Humanity assisting the sick, with a blue ribbon and a star above the badge.<ref>Museum of Freemasonry, [https://museumfreemasonry.org.uk/node/826 Nurses and Queens].</ref> | ||
| − | + | [[The Masonic Million Memorial Fund]] issued Hall Stone jewels for contributions to the new London headquarters and war memorial. Individual, lodge and provincial or district awards were supplemented by a separate Special Collector's jewel.<ref>Museum of Freemasonry, [https://museumfreemasonry.org.uk/stories/hall-stone-story The Hall Stone story].</ref> | |
== Related articles == | == Related articles == | ||
Revision as of 15:31, 30 September 2026
Masonic charity jewels are badges associated with donations, fundraising service or particular charitable appeals. In Masonic usage, a jewel is a badge or insignia; the word does not necessarily mean a gemstone. Charity jewels form one part of the wider history of Masonic regalia.[1][2]
Festival badges
Museum collections preserve badges for particular Masonic charity festivals, sometimes marked Steward or with another fundraising title. The Worcestershire catalogue records examples for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys from the nineteenth century onwards. Dates, institutional names and provincial associations help distinguish one appeal's badge from another.[2]
The illustrated 1923 jewel has a ship attached to a pale blue ribbon and an enamelled pendant naming the boys' institution. Its pendant and ship match a museum example catalogued for the Essex festival of that year. The photographed example lacks the upper Steward bar shown on the museum specimen.[3]
Modern appeals also use jewels to recognise support. Warwickshire's 2023 Festival booklet offered individual awards named Steward, Vice-Patron, Patron and Grand Patron, alongside separate lodge certificates. These were fundraising distinctions within that appeal, rather than degrees or appointments to lodge office.[4]
Other fundraising jewels
The Royal Masonic Hospital appeal used a jewel showing the allegorical figure of Humanity assisting the sick, with a blue ribbon and a star above the badge.[5]
The Masonic Million Memorial Fund issued Hall Stone jewels for contributions to the new London headquarters and war memorial. Individual, lodge and provincial or district awards were supplemented by a separate Special Collector's jewel.[6]
Related articles
- Masonic charity festivals
- History of Masonic regalia
- Charitable Support
- Masonic museums and libraries
References
- ↑ Museum of Freemasonry, Bejewelled: Badges, Brotherhood and Identity, exhibition, 20 September–21 December 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Worcestershire Museum of Freemasonry, RMIB Jewels, object catalogue.
- ↑ Worcestershire Museum of Freemasonry, object 1932/69.161, catalogue record and photograph; Wikimedia Commons photograph by AndyScott.
- ↑ Masonic Charitable Foundation and Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire, Warwickshire 2023 Festival Appeal, printed pp. 8–10.
- ↑ Museum of Freemasonry, Nurses and Queens.
- ↑ Museum of Freemasonry, The Hall Stone story.
| Explore the Freemasonry Wiki: Full article index · All articles · All categories · Random article |