The District Grand Lodge of Madras:

Coat of Arms

Introduction

The District Grand Lodge of Madras coat of arms has been derived from the dexter (right) half of the

UGLE coat of arms, which in turn represents the Premier Grand Lodge (previously the Modern s

faction of the Free Masons, prior to the unification with the Antients).

The Premier Grand Lodge seal was derived from the London Company of Masons, therefore the

DGLM coat of arms can be said to have its origins in a guild trade of stone masons dating back to the

mid 1300s!

The new rendition of the DGLM coat of arms that has been developed has been based on the

original scanned copy of the DGLM seal that was provided as a reference, in conjunction with

research into heraldic design standards, reference to authoritative texts on Free Masonry and

Heraldry, as well as assumptions based on the actual origins of the coat of arms.

Figure 1. Premier Grand Lodge Seal Figure2. London Company of Masons CoA

Deviations from the scanned reference

Omission of “Pallets”

The field of the escutcheon appears to be marked with three horizontal divisions which may be

‘pallets’ – diminutives of the Ordinary ‘pale’. As the charges appear to be directly derived from the

UGLE CoA, which is a faithful derivative of both the Premier Grand Lodge and London Company of

Masons CoA, the new rendition of the DGLM CoA omits these charges, on the assumption that, on

the scanned seal, the presence of the horizontal lines is an artifact of inaccurate rendering, as none

of the original CoAs contains pallets or any other Ordinary aside from the chevron. Further, the

actual position and sizes of the lines is inconsistent with any diminutive or Ordinary and the term

“pallet” has been used to describe it in this document only because it comes closest in approximate

appearance.

Crown vs. Helm

In the brief provided, the device above the escutcheon bearing the crest is described as a “crown”.

Research indicates that this is unlikely as the crown is an emblem of monarchy and unless the DGLM

constitutes a body that is endorsed by a monarchy, the inclusion of a crown beneath the crest would

be erroneous.

Further, both the Premier Grand Lodge seal and the London Company of Masons CoA feature a helm

below the crest.

Pallets?

Dove?

Sovereign Helm?

Figure 3. District Grand Lodge of Madras scanned seal

In physical appearance, the helm, known as the sovereign or royal helm –“The Sovereign–Helm of

gold, with six bars, set affrontée”(Boutell) - is the one that most resembles the crest in the scanned

seal and has therefore been employed in the new rendition of the DGLM CoA.

However, the same points with regard to the use of a crown are also applicable with regard to the

helm. It is more likely that the “Noblemen—Helm of silver, garnished with gold, set in profile, and

showing five bars” (Boutell), as depicted in the Premier Grand Lodge seal & London Company of

Masons CoA, is the accurate helm to depict. [Advice required from DGLM.]

The Crest

It is apparent that the crest features a bird – though the exact species of the bird is debatable.

However, in accordance with the Premier Grand Lodge seal, which is described in a blazon in the

‘Origin of English Rites of Freemasonry’, Bro. Evans, a historian of the lodge is quoted:

A chevron, charged with a pair of compasses open chevronwise, between three towers embattled.

Crest. Upon the helmet of nobility, a Dove with wings close. Supporters, Two Beavers. Motto,

.

—the bird has been identified as a dove.

The rendition in the Premier Grand Lodge seal (refer Fig. 1), is consistent with the heraldic symbol of

the dove – which includes a tuft on the head (to distinguish it from the wood pigeon). This same bird

has been depicted in the new rendition of the DGLM CoA, though it is likely that the bird may be

some other, as, along with the supporters (beavers in the Premier Grand Lodge), the crest might

have been changed to a bird symbolic of India. [Advice required from DGLM.]

Inconsistencies with formal heraldry:

1. The first rule of heraldic design, 'rule of tincture' has been violated - both on the UGLE coat

of arms as well as the DGLM’s - this rule states that "metal should not be put on metal, nor

colour on colour" (Humphrey Llwyd, 1568). The gold/yellow compass on the silver/white

chevron violates this rule. As such, this violation would classify the arms as armes fausses

(false arms), however, a possible loophole to exploit would be to amend the blazon (see

below, section The Blazon) to declare the compasses as ‘Proper’, not ‘Or’ (gold); (proper: a

charge coloured as it normally is in nature, in this case, the colour of brass;)

2. While the shape of the shield, or to give it it's right name, escutcheon, is deemed as

irrelevant by all authorities, the shape of the DGLM escutcheon is not in keeping with the

standard escutcheon shapes. While this inconsistency does not violate any rule of heraldic

design, the ornate shield shape with gold (Or) border (again, not as per heraldic design rules

- the "bordure" is generally 1/6th the width of the entire escutcheon - see UGLE bordure),

can be said to be a deviant from heraldic standards. The DGLM might choose to embrace

this deviation - there are several instances in heraldry, where even a single coat of arms,

with no precedent, has been recognized and adopted as acceptable heraldic practice.

3. The presentation of flames running along the dexter, middle and sinister base of the

escutcheon in the DGLM coat of arms appears to be highly irregular. Research indicates that

this may be a variant of a "line of partition" being used as a charge - a practice that is highly

unusual and non-traditional in heraldic design. Alternatively, the flames may be an

inanimate charge issuing from the base. Again, involvement of the middle base is very

unusual, though some examples can be found of flames issuant from /located at the base as

in

It is noteworthy that there are no examples in English heraldry to support this presentation.

Please also note that the new rendering of the coat depicts the flames as a charge issuing

from the base and not as a line of partition.

The Blazon

Every coat of arms has a blazon (a formally worded description of the coat of arms). The blazon is a

very precise description that helps an artist render a coat of arms. The difficulty with this project has

been the absence of such a blazon – it is advisable that the UGLE or some other authority be

contacted regarding this – there must be a blazon for the DGLM coat of arms recorded somewhere.

The DGLM CoA can be redeveloped once the official blazon is located.

Figure 5. Coat of arms of Bois-d'Arcy, Yvelines, France

Figure4. Coat of arms of Charly-Oradour, Moselle, France

Figure 6. Coat of arms of Dobročovice

municipality, Prague-East District, Czech Republic

Till such time, the new rendition of the DGLM CoA can be blazoned as:

Gules, on a chevron Argent, a pair of compasses extended Or, between three castles, two and one, of

the second, with flames issuant from the base Proper; for a Crest, upon the sovereign helm of the

third, a dove with wings close Proper; for Supporters, on either side a Bengal Tiger rampant, with tail

extended, also Proper. Motto, ‘Fædere et Religione Tenemur’.

The above attempt is amateur at best and requires vetting by a professional.

In more understandable terms:

A red field with a silver chevron on which a pair of gold compasses is extended, lying between three

silver castles, two above and one below, with natural coloured flames issuing from the base. The

crest consists of a golden sovereign helm on which a dove of natural colouring is perched. The whole

is supported on either side by two natural coloured Bengal tigers rearing up and in profile with their

tails extended.

Special Note: The presentation of the tigers’ tails in the DGLM CoA is an extremely rare one and

heraldic authorities state that the tail in extended position needs to be specifically mentioned when

describing the attitude of a charge or supporter in a blazon.

DGLM CoA Symbolism

The dominant colours in the DGLM CoA are red, gold and silver. These colours symbolize:

Military strength and magnanimity (red), Peace and sincerity (silver) and Generosity and

elevation of the mind (gold).

The chevron is symbolic of protection.

The paired compass is a Masonic emblem, denoting (broadly) restraint and temperance.

The castles stand for safety, vigilance and solidity.

The flames denote zealousness.

The sovereign helm stands for royalty.

The dove represents loving constancy and peace, as well as the Holy Spirit.

The tiger stands for fierceness and valour.

The District Grand Lodge of Madras Coat of Arms

A partial list of references:

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, Vol. 82

The Handbook to English Heraldry by Charles Boutell

Complete Guide to Heraldry (1909) by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies

Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry by William James Hughan

Illustrations of Masonry by William Preston, Esq.

Blazon Project, Inkscape

Wikimedia Commons : Heraldry

http://www.heraldryandcrests.com/heraldic_symbols.htm

http://www.digiserve.com/heraldry/symbols.htm

http://www.fleurdelis.com/meanings.htm