Gateshead Fell Lodge No. 4349.
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Gateshead Fell Lodge No. 4349.
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Soon after the end of the First World War, in 1919 the United Grand Lodge of England decided to establish a memorial to the Brethren who had given their lives during the First World War. It was further decided that this memorial should be the erection of a new headquarters for the Craft and an appeal was made to every member for contributions to a fund which became known as the Masonic Million Memorial Fund. Members' contributions to this fund were entirely voluntary and were recognised by special commemorative jewels. Personal jewels being awarded to any member of a Lodge subscribing ten guineas or more; a Lodge jewel to be worn by successive Masters of lodges contributing on average ten guineas per member, such lodges to be known as Hall Stone Lodges. Thus giving the jewel its name. 1,321 Lodges were thus qualified and their names and numbers are inscribed at Freemasons' Hall in London. Gateshead Fell Lodge received their Jewel on 2nd December 1925 Building work on the Masonic Peace Memorial, as it was at first called - later to become known as Freemasons' Hall - commenced in 1927 and was completed in 1933 when the Hall was dedicated. At the June 1938 Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge the Special Committee presented its final report recording that the building had been handed over to the Board of General Purposes free from debt and that well over one million pounds had been subscribed to the Fund. The Fund itself was closed on the 31st December 1938 “The jewel is in the form of a cross, symbolising Sacrifice, with a perfect square at the four ends, on the left and right squares being the dates 1914-1918, the years in which the supreme sacrifice was made. Between these is a winged figure of Peace presenting the representation of a Temple with special Masonic allusion in the Pillars, Porch and Steps. The medal is suspended by the Square and Compasses, attached to a ribband, the whole thus symbolising the Craft’s gift of a Temple in memory of those brethren who gave all for King and Country, Peace and Victory, Liberty and Brotherhood. The Memorial at Freemasons' Hall, London has the Hall Stone Jewel as its Centrepiece .
Front of the Jewel |
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