En: Irish masonic medals

Irish masonic medals

Some of the most interesting artefacts associated with Irish Freemasonry are the various medals struck to commemorate special events in the history of our Masonic Lodges. Here we have details of a number of examples which were issued by Lodges under the Irish Constitution.

Source: Irish Masonry

MEDALS OF THE IRISH CRAFT

Introduction

It is my intention in this short address to place on record my thoughts on the collection and classification of Irish Masonic Medals and to provide examples of same with some details of their purpose, design and distribution.

Medal

Piece of metal, usually in the form of a coin, struck or cast with an inscription, armorial illustration or device to commemorate an anniversary or event. Produced to order, by many companies including The Royal Mint, they cannot be used as coin of the realm. Larger medals go under the name of Medallions. In Craft Lodges we normally see medals used to show membership of a particular Lodge, commemorate the foundation of a Lodge, a special event in its history or the achievement of a significant anniversary. Medals are also issued to commemorate the opening of new buildings and occasionally personalities.

Medals in the Early Days

The first references to Masonic medals in the Irish Constitution date from the earliest surviving records of Irish Craft Masonry, which are to be found in the columns of “The Dublin Weekly Journal” for the 26th June 1725. Most of you will know that this is the first written record ( so far found ) of the existence of The Grand Lodge of Ireland and details the Installation of “The Earl of Rosse” as Grand Master for the ensuing year. Our interest in this event stems from one part of the newspaper report which reads as follows : “ The Brothers of one Lodge wore fine badges painted full of crosses and squares, with this motto – Spes Mea in Deo Est.”

This medal comprises the portrait of the Earl of Rosse, Grand Master on the obverse with the dates 1725 – 2000, and on the reverse, the coat of arms of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. The medal was manufactured in silver or with an antique bronze finish and was suspended on a white ribbon with a red St Patrick’s Cross emblazoned thereon, or alternatively it could be purchased as a medalet in an antique bronze finish. The silver jewels, five hundred in total were individually numbered and have the millennium assay stamp from Dublin for the year 2000. I was fortunate to acquire No 280, the number of my Mother Lodge.

I wonder how many of you recognise the motto – “My Hope is in God”. However this written report is indisputably the first record of medals being worn at a Masonic meeting. Many of you will know that this event was commemorated by Grand Lodge with the issue of a medal in the year 2000 to commemorate the 275th anniversary of the investiture of our first recorded Grand Master.

Sadly, our next piece – The Sackville medal is not so plentiful. Struck in 1733, the Sackville medal has been the cause of much debate over the years as to its authenticity. However independent research carried out at the end of the 19th century by Bro W Begemann for his paper published in AQC (Volume 12 page 204) and Rt Wor Bro Chetwode Crawley, LLD ( Notes on Irish Freemasonry Vol 5 ) both clearly confirm that this is the earliest known Irish Masonic medal.

The medal has a bust of Charles Sackville, Earl of Middlesex with his head to the right. Hair short. Mantel fastened on right shoulder with a brooch. Legend “CAROLVS SACKVILLE MAGISTER.FL” ( Charles Sackville Master Florence ). Under the bust is the signature “ L.N. 1733 ” which stands for L.Natter a medallist born at Biberach, Suabia in 1705, and eventually died in St Petersburg in 1767. Natter is said to have taken the Rite of Strict Observance from the city of Stockholm to St Petersburg.

On the reverse of the medal is the figure of Hippocrates, the God of Silence, leaning upon a broken fluted column, on his head are some lotus or laurel leaves; in his left hand is a cornucopia : at his feet to the left, is a perfect ashlar on which a hammer and gavel are lying : against its side a plumb, rule and square are resting: on the ground are a pair of compasses, the 24 inch gauge and some chisels crossed saltireways: to his left a coil Of rope, and leaning against it, a pick and serpent: in the rear are some tools, which are difficult to decipher. In exergue, in two lines “L. NATTER. F./ FLORENT” ( L. Natter Fecit (made) Florence ). “AB ORIGINE” ( In the Beginning. This is a fascinating medal struck to commemorate the foundation of an Irish Lodge in Florence by Charles Sackville. We know that Charles Sackville was born in 1711, the eldest son of Lionel Cranfield Sackville 7th Earl and 1st Duke of Dorset. Charles held the title of Lord Buckhurst until 1720, when as a result of his fathers Dukedom, he became Earl of Middlesex. On the death of his father in 1765 he became the second Duke of Dorset.

It is a matter of record that Charles Sackville was too young to be an English Mason in 1733, as the minimum age for entry in England, at that time was 25. Extensive checks of English Grand Lodge records can find no mention of the Earl of Middlesex.

The story in Ireland is somewhat different. One only had to be 21 to become an Irish Mason. The Sackville family have had a long involvement with Ireland over the years. In 1731 his father Cranfield was appointed Viceroy and it took his Grace three weeks to travel from London to Dublin with his father. Charles was entered into Trinity College, Dublin where he studied for a short time, before going on to Christ Church in Oxford. It is a matter of record that Charles went to Florence in October 1732. He found the place so pleasant that he extended his visit until June 1733, before rushing home to accompany his father back to Dublin. This time round they made the trip in 13 days. In those days Dublin was further from London than Australia is today.

Finally we can show that the Earl of Middlesex was a keen Irish Mason in that he had no sooner returned to Dublin than he attended a Meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and his visit was recorded in the Faulkner’s Dublin Journal for Saturday the 24th November 1733. On that occasion the Lord Viscount Kingsland, Grand Master was in the chair. Others present on that occasion included Thomas Griffith the comic actor and past Grand Secretary and John Pennell – Grand Secretary and author of our first book of Irish Constitutions.

Bro James Brush, Sen ( 1774-1812 ), a Dublin jeweller and engraver was one of the first Masonic manufacturers. His premises were located at 7 St Andrews Street, and he was treasurer of Royal Arch Lodge No 190. In 1792 he played a leading part in the establishment of a society for the relief and support of the orphan children of distressed Masons, formed by the members of Lodge 190. This society was adopted by Grand Lodge in 1798 and went on to become the Masonic Female Orphans School. As a result of his earlier work, Bro Brush was appointed first Treasurer of the new Grand Lodge School. Bro Brush developed a standard medal which had Craft symbols on one face and could have either Royal Arch or High Knight Templar symbolism on the other. These medals became quite popular at the time and a number of them survive to this day.

The Craft face has two Corinthian columns adorned with pomegranates, the blazing sun with sixteen flames, an open book bearing the square and compasses, standing on a dais of three steps: above a crescent moon and a group of seven stars, surmounted by an irradiated eye. On the left are a maul, trowel, gauge and a sprig of acacia: and on the right three candlesticks a hand holding a poniard and a ladder of three rungs leaning against one of the columns. Below in exergue the square, level and plumbrule with the signature “BRUSH”.

The High Knight Templar face has a seven pointed star thereon having a Christian cross in the centre, with the motto “IN HOC SIGNO VINCES” ( In this sign we conquer ) within two concentric circles around. Mounted on the circles is a skull resting on crossed bones. In the spaces between the arms of the star are a series of symbols such as the paschal lamb, the cross pattee, triangle with twelve burning tapers, the cockerel, the hourglass, the coffin and the scythe. Below the whole is the signature “BRUSH”.

The Royal Arch face has an arch lacking a keystone supported by an arcade of Corinthian columns. Within the arch is an altar of six steps with a breastplate and ewer at the sides, and above the letter “G” between three crowns: through the broken arch a hand appears and above it the blazing sun among clouds. Within the arcading, on the left is a burning bush, rod and serpent: on the right a kneeling figure holding up the tables of the law, interlaced triangles below. At the base a scroll is lying: and near the edge is the signature “BRUSH”.

The next Irish medallist that we shall consider in this paper is William Mossop Sen ( 1751 -1805 ) who made one outstanding medal for Irish Freemasonry. This medal, known as “The Prince Masons Medal” was originally produced as a prize medal by the Masonic Female Orphans School in Dublin in the year 1799. The obverse has a female figure surrounded by three children seated on a cross and anchor representing Faith, Hope & Charity. In exergue, on the left in very small writing the name “MOSSOP.F” On the reverse are the square and compasses, crossed enclosing an equilateral triangle on which is the letter “G” ; to the lower angle of the square is suspended an interlaced double triangle forming a six pointed star : above is a radiant All Seeing Eye. The medal is oval shaped size 64mm x 52mm usually found in bronze. Occasionally it is found with a loop for a ring which was attached to the planchet of some. This medal was designed by the celebrated Irish sculptor Smyth. The original wax impression was once in the possession of a Doctor William Frazer of Dublin, who presented it to The Royal Dublin Society in the early 1900’s.