STABILITY IN HERTFORDSHIRE LODGE

famouse lodge jewelers as follows
hughes
murphy

For the jewel design it was decided to hold an open competition with a £75 prize for the winner, and at the Grand Lodge meeting in June 1921 it was announced that the design selected was that submitted by Cyril Saunders Spackman, R.B.A., R.M.S., Cyril Saunders Spackman was a man of many talents – architect, painter, sculptor, teacher, and writer. He was initiated into Panmure Lodge No. 720 on 21 January 1918 when 30 years old and the Hall Stone Jewel was exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1922. It was described at the time in these terms:

.THE HALL STONE JEWEL
 The following is a short explanation to supplement the usual address given at
Installation meetings of these lodges when the Hall Stone Jewel and collaret is transferred
from the Master to his successor.
In June 1919, Grand Lodge held an especial meeting at the Royal Albert Hall to
celebrate peace to the world after the Great War. The Grand Master, The Duke of
Connaught expressed a wish that a memorial be erected as a fitting honour to the
many brethren who made the supreme sacrifice during the four years of hostilities.
Such a memorial would be a new central home to accommodate the continued growth
of Freemasonry to be erected “in this Metropolis of the Empire dedicated to the Most
High and worthy of the great traditions of the United Grand Lodge of England…”
The Masonic Million Memorial Fund was then launched, and all brethren in the
English Constitution were encouraged to contribute the one million pounds necessary
to build and furnish the new ‘Masonic Peace Memorial’ in Great Queen Street, which
was eventually opened 14 years later in 1933. Contributions from brethren and lodges
at home and overseas were to be recognised by the presentation of a commemorative
jewel, to be called the Hall Stone Jewel. Bro. Cyril Spackman won a competition for
its design. The jewel is in the form of a cross, symbolising sacrifice and on the sides
are inscribed the dates 1914 – 1918, four years in which that sacrifice was made. In
the centre, is a winged figure representing peace, supporting a Temple. The medal is
suspended by the square and compasses: two of the great emblematical lights in
Freemasonry.
The medals were produced in three sizes. The smallest was a breast jewel suspended
on a dark blue ribbon. 10 guineas or more purchased a silver one, 100 guineas or more
purchased a gold one. A combined total of 53,244 such medals were issued to
individuals. The jewels awarded to lodges were of gilt finished silver appended to a
light blue collaret and are worn by masters of lodges that contributed an average of 10
guineas per member. Such lodges are known as ‘Hall Stone Lodges’ and of 1321 that
originally qualified, 88 were overseas. These lodges have their names and numbers
inscribed on the marble wall panels in the Vestibule at Freemasons’ Hall.
The largest Hall Stone Jewel is of 18 ct. gold and coloured enamels. Only 3 were ever
awarded. Two Districts, Japan and Burma, and one Province, Buckinghamshire,
qualified by contributing an average of 500 guineas per lodge. In further recognition
of their achievement, rooms 11, 12 & 17 in Freemasons’ Hall were named after them.
Lodges which have attained the Hall Stone distinction have amply
contributed to an enduring legacy, and Masters of those lodges
should consider it an honour to wear that permanent reminder of
their lodge’s contribution which financed the rebuilding of
Freemasons’ Hall in “the Metropolis of the Empire”.