In November 1814, a meeting of the lodge was called to choose office-bearers for the ensuing year—today it would be our AGM. The only offices to be elected were: master, wardens, secretary, treasurer, deacons and steward. The Depute Master was agreed on the night of installation. In 1815, only seven meetings of the lodge took place. This may have been the turmoil in which the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France ended in 1815 although the US Wars of Independence continued.
The Royal Arch Jewel—Follow Up This is the only degree in Freemasonry in which we find any reference to the signs of the Zodiac, though, in the Chapters of today not directly, but by symbols substituted for them. Bro. J. T. Thorpe stated “these twelve signs of the Zodiac were at one time much more important in Masonic teaching than they are today, although they still form an interesting link between the Brethren of today, and their forefathers of thousands of years ago.” In the 18th Century, the original 12 points of masonry referred to the 12 tribes of Israel which were represented by the 12 signs of the Zodiac. The zodiac is a prominent feature of the Scottish RA, but not the Thomas Harper RA jewels made in London in 1816. This is a very fine example of a RA jewel showing common features, but the craftsmanship is second to none. Thomas Harper was a well known masonic jeweler at the time and it has been proposed that the triple tau (T over the H) actually represented his initials! However, that was more tongue in cheek.
Cross Keys April 2020
