City Lodge No. 686
Past Master's Jewel 1958.
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Obverse of Jewel
A silver Past Master's Jewel suspended from a sky blue ribbon
by two silver bars with shamrocks on either end.
A silver Past Master's Jewel suspended from a sky blue ribbon
by two silver bars with shamrocks on either end.
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On the ribbon is a silver crest which represents the Coat of Arms of the City of Belfast which were granted to the City in 1890. The Motto reads "Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus" - (For so much what shall we give in return). |
The Jewel itself is made of a silver Compass, Square and letter "G" mounted on a silver disc, the circumference of which bears the legend "City Masonic Lodge 686" |
Reverse of Jewel
The reverse of the Jewel bears the inscription: "Presented to W.Bro. Wm. Moreland by the Officers & Brethren City Masonic Lodge No. 686 1958" |
Short History of Warrant No. 686.
Warrant No. 686 issued to brethren to form `St. George's Lodge' in the 64th Foot, the 1st Battalion North Staffordshire on the 17th April, 1788.Warrant No. 686 was Cancelled on the 7th August, 1817.
[The above represents the barest of facts relating to Warrant No. 686 before same reissued to City Lodge No. 686 - the IRISH MASONIC RECORDS cd-rom gives a very full account of the Lodges who held Warrant No. 686 for the years set out above]
[The above represents the barest of facts relating to Warrant No. 686 before same reissued to City Lodge No. 686 - the IRISH MASONIC RECORDS cd-rom gives a very full account of the Lodges who held Warrant No. 686 for the years set out above]
History of City Lodge No. 686.
The Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes dated 3rd June 1889 show concerning Warrant No. 686 -
"3 June, 1889 – Read Memorial from Bro. J. Page, Joseph Armstrong, A. Langemann and eight others praying for a Warrant to hold a Lodge in Ballymacarrett, Co. Down, to be called the“City” Lodge. Recommended by Lodges 240, 685 and 114 and by the Prov. Gd. Master of Down. Regular fee enclosed. The Board recommended that the prayer of the Memorialists be granted and that a Warrant to be numbered 686 be issued to them."
The Recommendation of The Board was followed,as is shown in the Grand Lodge Minutes of 6th June 1889as "Approved"
Warrant No. 686 reissued to James Page (Lodge 514), Joseph Armstrong (Lodge 51) and August Langemann (Lodge 665) to form `City Lodge' in Freemasons' Hall, BALLYMACARRETT, BELFAST on the 29th June, 1889.
Series three Vol. 10 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows:-
"Warrant No. 686 to Ballymacarrett, Co. Down as “City Lodge” 29 June, 1889 - James Page(314); Joseph Armstrong (51) and August Longemam (665) registered along with eight others from various lodges, 29 June, 1889."
The Minute of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down dated the 13th August, 1889 shows in regard to the Constitution of City Lodge No. 686 -
"A letter was read from Bro. J. Armstrong, Secretary of ‘City’ Lodge No. 686, Ballymacarrett, for which a Warrant has recently been issued by Grand Lodge, regretting that it would be most inconvenient for the members of said Lodge to attend the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge today. The Constitution of the Lodge was therefore postponed for the present."
City Lodge No. 686 was subsequently Constituted on the 29th August, 1889 by V.W. Bro. Michael Frazer, P.J.G.W. assisted by W. Bro. Lewis Ryans, P.G.I.G. (Antrim).
As you can see from the above Jewel, City Lodge No. 686 has as its Crest the Coat-of-Arms of the City of Belfast and the City motto "Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus", freely translated "What return shall we make for so much". [see Footnote]
The precise meaning of the various symbols are rather vague, but the following comment has been made by the Ulster Museum and Art Gallery:-
"In the Charter of Belfast dated 1613 it is stated that the town may have `one Common seale in such forms and as shall seem best unto them.' This seal had the original design of the Belfast Arms and was probably the one used until 1842. Unfortunately, neither the Charter nor the Town Book contains descriptions of the Arms, nor is there any record in the office of Ulster's King of Arms.
"However, in the 17th century we find the merchants using on their tokens, symbols that are now embodied in our Coat of Arms. The bell, the ship, the sea-horse and chained wolf can all be seen on the money of Belfast merchants of those days. So it is likely that either the arms were composed from the merchants' signs or merchants took parts of the arms for their coinage.
"Apart from the origin it is now generally accepted that the sea-horse, as the crest and one of the supporters, was selected to indicate the maritime importance of the rising town and port. The ship at the base of the shield has exactly the same significance. The wolf, as the dexter supporter, was probably taken as a compliment to Sir Arthur Chichester, as both supporters on his arms of the same type."
The Grant of Arms to the City of Belfast was by the Ulster King of Arms on the 30th June, 1890.
A total of 117 brethren registered up to 5th July, 1900. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown.
The Minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes of Down dated 14th November 1893 show concerning Lodge No. 686 -
"....The Board further reported that, in accordance with instructions received from G.L. they had carefully considered an application made by Lodge No. 686, Ballymacarrett, to be transferred from the Province of Down to that of Antrim; that they had examined several witnesses in reference thereto, including the W.M. of 686; and that they were entirely opposed to the granting of the transfer: when, on the motion of Bro. W.T. Henry, seconded by Bro. Alex. Dickson, and by an overwhelming majority resolved “That the request be refused to Lodge 686 for a transfer of the Warrant from Down to Antrim.”
The Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes dated 4th December, 1893 show concerning Lodge No. 686 -
"4 December, 1893 – Read petition from Lodge 686 Ballymacarrett for leave to remove to the city of Belfast. As the P.G. Lodge of Down objects to the transfer the Board cannot recommend the change."
The Recommendation of The Board was followed,as is shown in the Grand Lodge Minutes of 7th December, 1893 as "Approved"
Series four Vol. 15 of the extant Grand Lodge Register commences with 57 brethren transcribed from the previous register.
A total of 155 brethren registered up to 29th January, 1923. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Nine members of City Lodge No. 686 served in the 1914-18War and all returned.
Series five Vol. 20 shown as Vol. 5 of the extant Grand Lodge Register commences with the registration of William L. Cresswell, Clothing Cutter, registered 4th December, 1924.
A total of 102 brethren registered up to 5th December, 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 James A. Davison, Caulker, registered 23rd May, 1953.
A total of 100 brethren registered up to 2nd December, 1982. 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 CITY LODGE No. 686 is 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.
"3 June, 1889 – Read Memorial from Bro. J. Page, Joseph Armstrong, A. Langemann and eight others praying for a Warrant to hold a Lodge in Ballymacarrett, Co. Down, to be called the“City” Lodge. Recommended by Lodges 240, 685 and 114 and by the Prov. Gd. Master of Down. Regular fee enclosed. The Board recommended that the prayer of the Memorialists be granted and that a Warrant to be numbered 686 be issued to them."
The Recommendation of The Board was followed,as is shown in the Grand Lodge Minutes of 6th June 1889as "Approved"
Warrant No. 686 reissued to James Page (Lodge 514), Joseph Armstrong (Lodge 51) and August Langemann (Lodge 665) to form `City Lodge' in Freemasons' Hall, BALLYMACARRETT, BELFAST on the 29th June, 1889.
Series three Vol. 10 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows:-
"Warrant No. 686 to Ballymacarrett, Co. Down as “City Lodge” 29 June, 1889 - James Page(314); Joseph Armstrong (51) and August Longemam (665) registered along with eight others from various lodges, 29 June, 1889."
The Minute of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down dated the 13th August, 1889 shows in regard to the Constitution of City Lodge No. 686 -
"A letter was read from Bro. J. Armstrong, Secretary of ‘City’ Lodge No. 686, Ballymacarrett, for which a Warrant has recently been issued by Grand Lodge, regretting that it would be most inconvenient for the members of said Lodge to attend the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge today. The Constitution of the Lodge was therefore postponed for the present."
City Lodge No. 686 was subsequently Constituted on the 29th August, 1889 by V.W. Bro. Michael Frazer, P.J.G.W. assisted by W. Bro. Lewis Ryans, P.G.I.G. (Antrim).
As you can see from the above Jewel, City Lodge No. 686 has as its Crest the Coat-of-Arms of the City of Belfast and the City motto "Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus", freely translated "What return shall we make for so much". [see Footnote]
The precise meaning of the various symbols are rather vague, but the following comment has been made by the Ulster Museum and Art Gallery:-
"In the Charter of Belfast dated 1613 it is stated that the town may have `one Common seale in such forms and as shall seem best unto them.' This seal had the original design of the Belfast Arms and was probably the one used until 1842. Unfortunately, neither the Charter nor the Town Book contains descriptions of the Arms, nor is there any record in the office of Ulster's King of Arms.
"However, in the 17th century we find the merchants using on their tokens, symbols that are now embodied in our Coat of Arms. The bell, the ship, the sea-horse and chained wolf can all be seen on the money of Belfast merchants of those days. So it is likely that either the arms were composed from the merchants' signs or merchants took parts of the arms for their coinage.
"Apart from the origin it is now generally accepted that the sea-horse, as the crest and one of the supporters, was selected to indicate the maritime importance of the rising town and port. The ship at the base of the shield has exactly the same significance. The wolf, as the dexter supporter, was probably taken as a compliment to Sir Arthur Chichester, as both supporters on his arms of the same type."
The Grant of Arms to the City of Belfast was by the Ulster King of Arms on the 30th June, 1890.
A total of 117 brethren registered up to 5th July, 1900. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown.
The Minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes of Down dated 14th November 1893 show concerning Lodge No. 686 -
"....The Board further reported that, in accordance with instructions received from G.L. they had carefully considered an application made by Lodge No. 686, Ballymacarrett, to be transferred from the Province of Down to that of Antrim; that they had examined several witnesses in reference thereto, including the W.M. of 686; and that they were entirely opposed to the granting of the transfer: when, on the motion of Bro. W.T. Henry, seconded by Bro. Alex. Dickson, and by an overwhelming majority resolved “That the request be refused to Lodge 686 for a transfer of the Warrant from Down to Antrim.”
The Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes dated 4th December, 1893 show concerning Lodge No. 686 -
"4 December, 1893 – Read petition from Lodge 686 Ballymacarrett for leave to remove to the city of Belfast. As the P.G. Lodge of Down objects to the transfer the Board cannot recommend the change."
The Recommendation of The Board was followed,as is shown in the Grand Lodge Minutes of 7th December, 1893 as "Approved"
Series four Vol. 15 of the extant Grand Lodge Register commences with 57 brethren transcribed from the previous register.
A total of 155 brethren registered up to 29th January, 1923. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Nine members of City Lodge No. 686 served in the 1914-18War and all returned.
Series five Vol. 20 shown as Vol. 5 of the extant Grand Lodge Register commences with the registration of William L. Cresswell, Clothing Cutter, registered 4th December, 1924.
A total of 102 brethren registered up to 5th December, 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 James A. Davison, Caulker, registered 23rd May, 1953.
A total of 100 brethren registered up to 2nd December, 1982. 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 CITY LODGE No. 686 is 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.
Details of when City Lodge No. 686 meets.
City Lodge No. 686 meets on the 1st. Thurs. AT 7.30p.m. (Except 6, 7 & 8) at Ballymacarrett, Newtownards Road, Belfast, County Down.
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Footnote
Belfast Coat of Arms
The present Belfast Coat of Arms dates from the 30th June, 1890 when the Ulster King of Arms made a Grant of Arms to the new city of Belfast.
The motto ‘Pro tanto quid retribuamus’ comes from Psalm CXVI (116), verse 12 of the Bible.
Translated from the Latin, it means ‘For so much what shall we give in return’.
The precise origins and meanings of the symbols contained on the Coat of Arms are unknown.
However, images such as the bell, the seahorse, the ship and the chained wolf were all used by 17th century Belfast merchants on their signs and coinage.
The seahorse, which is used twice, shows the maritime importance of Belfast, as does the ship at the base of the shield.
The motto ‘Pro tanto quid retribuamus’ comes from Psalm CXVI (116), verse 12 of the Bible.
Translated from the Latin, it means ‘For so much what shall we give in return’.
The precise origins and meanings of the symbols contained on the Coat of Arms are unknown.
However, images such as the bell, the seahorse, the ship and the chained wolf were all used by 17th century Belfast merchants on their signs and coinage.
The seahorse, which is used twice, shows the maritime importance of Belfast, as does the ship at the base of the shield.
