The R.W. Grand Master's Lodge
Past Acting Master's Jewel
.
Obverse of the Jewel
A superb quality Gold Compass and Square Past Acting Master's neck Jewel.
REVERSE OF JEWEL
The reverse of the Jewel bears the inscription :
"W. Bro........................
R.W. Acting Master
of the R.W. Grand Master's Lodge
for the Years ......... & ........."
The Maker's Mark on the reverse of Jewel is "JEL".
The reverse of the Jewel bears the inscription :
"W. Bro........................
R.W. Acting Master
of the R.W. Grand Master's Lodge
for the Years ......... & ........."
The Maker's Mark on the reverse of Jewel is "JEL".
History of the R.W. Grand Master's Lodge
Resolution of Grand Lodge, 3rd January, 1749 (Spratt, 1751)
"It may be justly said, that within these last three years-Masonry has approved to the highest Perfection it ever was in Ireland, as is observed by many old Brothers who had neglected the Lodge, and lain rusty some Years past, now re-entered among their harmonious Brethren, and joining in Concord to strengthen their Cement. Lodges, who were become to numerous for one private Assembly, like the industrious Bees, forming themselves into new Regular Bodies, for more convenient Ease; many worthy Brethren, from several Parts of the Kingdom, applying to the Grand Master for his Lordship's Sanction to hold their Communities. One Instance more noble than any other, and more deserving perpetuation, I cannot forbear to mention, which I shall do in the Words of the Transaction, for the information of those Brethren who have not till now, perhaps, had the Opportunity of knowing it."
"Wednesday 3rd of January 1749. Grand Lodge in due Form, The Deputy Grand Master Putland acquainted the Grand Lodge that our late Right Worshipful Grand Master Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Bart., together with the Right Worshipful and Right Honourable the Lord Kingsborough our present Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens, and many other Gentlemen of Distinction, have formed themselves into a regular Lodge to consult the Good of the Craft, and, as far as in their Power lies, promote the Welfare of the Fraternity in general - Ordered.That a Registry be opened in the Front of the Grand Register Book for the said Lodge, and that the same shall henceforth be distinguished and known by the Denomination of THE GRAND MASTER'S LODGE; and that all, or any of the Members thereof, who does at any Time think proper to visit the Grand Lodge, shall take place of every other Lodge on the Registry, or Roll Books of this Kingdom..." [Constitutions, 1751, p. 134.]
The Lodge thus formed has ever enjoyed special privileges and honour.
Extract of minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Grand Lodge, held at the Taylor's Hall, in the City of Dublin, on Thursday, the 5th day of May, 1808, The R.W. and Hon Abraham Hely Hutchinson, D.G.M. in the Chair -
"The D.G.M. having, for reasons alleged on the last monthly meeting, requested Bro. John Cuthbert, of the G.M.L., to act as Secretary at that Meeting - he took his seat accordingly, when he was directed to read the proceedings of the meeting of the 7th April, and also addresses to the G.L. from the following Lodges, viz.:- The following are the Addresses:-
"To the Rt. Hon. and M.W., Richard, Earl of Donoughmore, G.M. of Ireland.
We, the Masters and Past Masters of the Lodges in the City of Dublin, request your Lordship to call a Meeting of the G.M.L., previous to the 5th May next, for the purpose of putting into nomination G. Officers for the ensuing 12 months, from 24th June next, according to ancient custom....." "
"G.M.L" is both an ordinary and an extraordinary Lodge. As with most other lodges under the Irish constitution, GML initiates candidates and carries out all the routine business of a Lodge. But due to its unique history, G.M.L has a number or traditions, rights and privileges that stem from its origins in the 18th Century.
The R.W. The Grand Master's Lodge, unlike it's English counterpart (Lodge no. 1) has neither a number nor a Warrant. The R.W. The Grand Master's Lodge holds it's stated communications under the authority of a "Constitution" dated the 3rd of January, 1749 which document created the Grand Master’s Lodge .It is this Constitution dated 3rd January, 1749 which confirms and perpetuates the succession of the Grand Master’s Lodge.
Up to the year 1837 every Master Mason raised in The R.W. The Grand Master's Lodge had a seat and vote in Grand Lodge ipso facto. This privilege was voluntarily surrendered as regards Master Masons registered after the 9th June, 1837.
An extract from the Minutes of Grand Lodge dated 7th December, 1837 concerning GML shows -
"G.M. Lodge 7 December, 1837 – Read a Letter from the Secretary of the Grand Masters Lodge to the Deputy Grand Secretary enclosing one respectfully addressed to the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Which Communication from the Grand Masters Lodge being also read.
Brother G. Sanders moved and Brother G. Gillington seconded the following resolution, viz.
That so much of the resolutions of the last as respect the rights of Members of the Grand Master’s Lodge to votes in the Grand Lodge be rescinded which was carried unanimously.
Brother Sanders moved and Brother Gillington seconded the following resolution, viz.
"Resolved that every Brother of the Grand Master’s Lodge who has received the Third Degree prior to the 9th of June, 1837, shall have power to vote in the Grand Lodge and be considered a Member for life; but of those who since that date have received, or who shall hereafter receive that degree in the Grand Master’s Lodge, none shall have the power to vote in Grand Lodge except the Acting Master for the time being, the Acting Wardens and Past Masters of that Lodge".
Carried without a division."
"It may be justly said, that within these last three years-Masonry has approved to the highest Perfection it ever was in Ireland, as is observed by many old Brothers who had neglected the Lodge, and lain rusty some Years past, now re-entered among their harmonious Brethren, and joining in Concord to strengthen their Cement. Lodges, who were become to numerous for one private Assembly, like the industrious Bees, forming themselves into new Regular Bodies, for more convenient Ease; many worthy Brethren, from several Parts of the Kingdom, applying to the Grand Master for his Lordship's Sanction to hold their Communities. One Instance more noble than any other, and more deserving perpetuation, I cannot forbear to mention, which I shall do in the Words of the Transaction, for the information of those Brethren who have not till now, perhaps, had the Opportunity of knowing it."
"Wednesday 3rd of January 1749. Grand Lodge in due Form, The Deputy Grand Master Putland acquainted the Grand Lodge that our late Right Worshipful Grand Master Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Bart., together with the Right Worshipful and Right Honourable the Lord Kingsborough our present Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens, and many other Gentlemen of Distinction, have formed themselves into a regular Lodge to consult the Good of the Craft, and, as far as in their Power lies, promote the Welfare of the Fraternity in general - Ordered.That a Registry be opened in the Front of the Grand Register Book for the said Lodge, and that the same shall henceforth be distinguished and known by the Denomination of THE GRAND MASTER'S LODGE; and that all, or any of the Members thereof, who does at any Time think proper to visit the Grand Lodge, shall take place of every other Lodge on the Registry, or Roll Books of this Kingdom..." [Constitutions, 1751, p. 134.]
The Lodge thus formed has ever enjoyed special privileges and honour.
Extract of minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Grand Lodge, held at the Taylor's Hall, in the City of Dublin, on Thursday, the 5th day of May, 1808, The R.W. and Hon Abraham Hely Hutchinson, D.G.M. in the Chair -
"The D.G.M. having, for reasons alleged on the last monthly meeting, requested Bro. John Cuthbert, of the G.M.L., to act as Secretary at that Meeting - he took his seat accordingly, when he was directed to read the proceedings of the meeting of the 7th April, and also addresses to the G.L. from the following Lodges, viz.:- The following are the Addresses:-
"To the Rt. Hon. and M.W., Richard, Earl of Donoughmore, G.M. of Ireland.
We, the Masters and Past Masters of the Lodges in the City of Dublin, request your Lordship to call a Meeting of the G.M.L., previous to the 5th May next, for the purpose of putting into nomination G. Officers for the ensuing 12 months, from 24th June next, according to ancient custom....." "
"G.M.L" is both an ordinary and an extraordinary Lodge. As with most other lodges under the Irish constitution, GML initiates candidates and carries out all the routine business of a Lodge. But due to its unique history, G.M.L has a number or traditions, rights and privileges that stem from its origins in the 18th Century.
The R.W. The Grand Master's Lodge, unlike it's English counterpart (Lodge no. 1) has neither a number nor a Warrant. The R.W. The Grand Master's Lodge holds it's stated communications under the authority of a "Constitution" dated the 3rd of January, 1749 which document created the Grand Master’s Lodge .It is this Constitution dated 3rd January, 1749 which confirms and perpetuates the succession of the Grand Master’s Lodge.
Up to the year 1837 every Master Mason raised in The R.W. The Grand Master's Lodge had a seat and vote in Grand Lodge ipso facto. This privilege was voluntarily surrendered as regards Master Masons registered after the 9th June, 1837.
An extract from the Minutes of Grand Lodge dated 7th December, 1837 concerning GML shows -
"G.M. Lodge 7 December, 1837 – Read a Letter from the Secretary of the Grand Masters Lodge to the Deputy Grand Secretary enclosing one respectfully addressed to the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Which Communication from the Grand Masters Lodge being also read.
Brother G. Sanders moved and Brother G. Gillington seconded the following resolution, viz.
That so much of the resolutions of the last as respect the rights of Members of the Grand Master’s Lodge to votes in the Grand Lodge be rescinded which was carried unanimously.
Brother Sanders moved and Brother Gillington seconded the following resolution, viz.
"Resolved that every Brother of the Grand Master’s Lodge who has received the Third Degree prior to the 9th of June, 1837, shall have power to vote in the Grand Lodge and be considered a Member for life; but of those who since that date have received, or who shall hereafter receive that degree in the Grand Master’s Lodge, none shall have the power to vote in Grand Lodge except the Acting Master for the time being, the Acting Wardens and Past Masters of that Lodge".
Carried without a division."
W.Bro. Herbert Wilson, R∴W∴ Acting Master
The R∴W∴ Grand Master's Lodge, 1892. |
The Lodge had the right of recommending to The M.W. the Grand Lodge who the new Grand Master should be and these recommendations were usually acted upon. This was the case for many years, in fact up till 1856, when the 3rd Duke of Leinster, The M.W. The Grand Master advised the surrender of the privilege. Members of the Lodge,of or above the rank of Master Mason are still, as always, entitled to wear Grand Officers' clothing - the apron of a member of the R.W. The Grand Master's Lodge is that of a Grand Warden with the Letters "GML" embroidered in gold on the fall of the apron. |
The actual Master of The R.W. The Grand Master's Lodge is The M.W. The Grand Master. The following Officers of the M.W. Grand Lodge, namely, the R.W. Grand Treasurer, the R.W. Grand Secretary and the R.W. Wardens hold that office in the R.W. Grand Master's Lodge. However in the absence of the these brethren there are permanent acting officers, namely The R.W. Acting Master, who occupies the chair of solomon in the absence of The M.W. The Grand Master and the other offices are occupied by the R.W. Acting Treasurer, R.W. Acting Secretary, R.W. Acting Senior Warden and R.W. Acting Junior Warden respectively - the remaining officers do not have the title "acting" and the title R.W. Acting applies to the office not the individual - accordingly the The R.W. Acting Master is referred to as "Worshipful Brother..... The R.W. Acting Master". Once The R.W. Acting Master has passed through the Chair he is known as a Past Acting Master (PAM).
You will also note from the extract from the Laws and Constitutions set out below that Past Acting Masters are entitled to wear Past Master's Jewels of gold. This honour is exercised only by Past Acting Masters of The R.W. Grand Master's Lodge.
Also all members of the Lodge, including Master Masons, are entitled to the salute of a Grand Lodge Officer, namely a Fire of eleven.
The R.W. Grand Master's Lodge is one of the largest Lodges in the Irish Constitution, with many overseas members and an enthusiastic membership who excel at their commitment to the craft and the benevolent institutions.
Why do Past Acting Masters wear a Gold Jewel?
"The question of permission to wear Past Masters' Jewels of gold was considered by Grand Lodge on 6th June, 1918, when it was decided that such practice was not in accordance with Grand Lodge Regulations as to jewels of Office." (Page 70 - Laws and Constitutions - 1993 edition)
"The Jewels of Office worn by the Masters and Wardens of Subordinate Lodges shall be of Silver, the Grand Officers, Past Grand Officers, Provincial and Past Provincial Grand Officers and Officers of the Grand Master's Lodge are entitled to wear Jewels of Gold." (Law 12, Page 8 - Laws and Constitutions - 1993 edition)
"The Jewels of Office worn by the Masters and Wardens of Subordinate Lodges shall be of Silver, the Grand Officers, Past Grand Officers, Provincial and Past Provincial Grand Officers and Officers of the Grand Master's Lodge are entitled to wear Jewels of Gold." (Law 12, Page 8 - Laws and Constitutions - 1993 edition)
Details of when “G.M.L.” meets.
The R.W. Grand Master's Lodge meets on the 2nd Friday at 7.00pm (EXCEPT 7,8 & 9 at Freemasons’ Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.