The Grand Lodge Heraldic Insignia

ON THE EVE of the annual Communication, the Grand Lodge of Indiana blossomed forth for the first time with Arms, or heraldic insignia.

With the Grand Master's approval, a rough design was prepared by the Grand Secretary. The art work was done by Vincent T. Adams, of the Indian¬apolis firm of Rhoades, Humphreys & Adams.

The Arms are delineated on a shield w h o s e border features the leaves and blossoms of the tulip tree, official tree of the State of Indiana.

The quarterings on the shield are as follows:

On the left, three castles and a chevron, on the latter of which is an open compass. These are derived from the Arms of the United Grand Lodge of Eng¬land, all taken, with some amount of adaptation, from the original Arms of the London Company of Free¬masons in 1472.

On the right, the four quarterings illustrate the Masonic genealogical lines from England to the American colonies and thence to Indiana, thus:

• Lower left, St. Andrew's cross, from the Arms of the Grand Lodge of Scotland
• Lower right, the effulgent sun, from the seal of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania;
• Upper left, Indian and star, from the seal of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts;
• Upper right, beehive, plumb, gauge and level, from the seal of the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

In this manner, then, we see how Freemasonry came to Indiana:

• From England to Pennsylvania, then to Ohio and Indiana;
• From England and Scotland to Massachusetts, then to Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio and Indiana;
• From England and Scotland to Virginia, then to Kentucky and Indiana.

The Arms will serve the useful purpose of pro¬viding something of a semi-official nature to use as an insignia or ornament without having to resort to the Grand Lodge Seal, the purpose of which is to attest official documents.