© Palatine Lodge - 1893 - 2023 - In se ipso totus teres -
The background to the master’s jewel is the five pointed
star, it is an ancient symbol for the whole, harmonious human
being, which Masons transmitted from the oldest occult
tradition into the visual symbols of freedom, it is worth noting
that the stars on the 33-star flag that we use in our
demonstration of The Empty Chair all have five points as do all
the American flags since, reaffirming the masonic connection
to the Stars and Stripes.
The New English Dictionary defines the word motto as
being originally a word, sentence, or phrase attached as a
legend to an impressa or emblematical design, and serving to
explain or emphasize its symbolic import
The moto engraved on our Masters jewel reads…
"In se ipso totus teres" The literal translation from Latin is “Quite rounded in itself" but in this case “itself” is
masculine so taking the whole motto in this context it translates as “complete in himself”
The Roman poet Horace first coined the phrase in his Satires, Volume II vii. 86, he says that a man indifferent to
desires and honours is “in se ipso, totus, teres, atque rotundus,” that is, whole in himself, smoothed, and rounded meaning
perfect in himself, polished, and rounded (i.e., a well-rounded man)
The Lea-Smith family of Grappenhall also use the same motto, their Crest comprises of a unicorn with various
adornments, there are several other branches of the family and at least two different Crests, one of which comprises of an
ostrich head holding a horseshoe in its mouth, the source for this is Fairbairn's Book of Crests, 1905 edition.
The jewel contains several other heraldic symbols all with their own particular meanings; The lozenge, or black and
white diamond pattern in the centre of the jewel means honesty and reliability, and is also held to be a token of noble
birth. There are also two dogs, “rampant”. Animals are used widely in heraldry, and the rampant position of the front legs is
always the same. The dog is the symbol of courage loyalty and vigilance.
The swan means a lover of poetry and harmony, and the blue background denotes steadfastness strength truth and
loyalty. The colour blue used by ancient Egyptians was symbolic of the sky and of water. In a cosmic sense, this extended
its symbolism to the heavens and to the primeval floods, blue took on the meaning of life and fertility, rebirth and the
power of creation. The colour blue was also associated with the creator god Amun he was often depicted with a blue face.
According to myth, the hair of the gods was made of precious Lapis Lazuli. A number of Pharaohs imitated the god and
were depicted in art with blue faces or hair.
All craft Lodges are known as “blue Lodges”, The ancient Babylonians also associated the colour blue with the gods. In
Medieval times, Christians saw blue as the symbol of perfection and hope, and immortality and fidelity. It would seem
reasonable to assume that blue was adopted as a Masonic colour for the foregoing reasons, although the actual reason
may be of some conjecture.
The fleur-de-lis is essentially a graphic theme found in ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs, Mycenean potteries, Sassanid
textiles, Gaulish coins, Mameluk coins, Indonesian clothes, Japanese emblems and Dogon totems. The essential point is
that it is a very stylised figure, probably a flower, that has been used as an ornament or an emblem by almost all
civilisations of the old and new worlds.
The other symbols on the jewel are a man holding a crown and I think there are arrows in the background. A crown is
often an emblem of a sovereign state, a monarch's government, or items endorsed by it; although Palatine Lodge was
originally named after the Palatine Hotel in Manchester, which now sadly no longer exists, the crown may have been
symbolically included to represent the connection to the King or Queen of the country. Palatine literally means “of the
palace”.
The inclusion of the figure of a man does not appear to have a specific meaning and is not often included in any coat of
arms, however the arrows symbolise readiness to do battle. Both the man and the swan are sitting on a wreath of twisted
cloth. In heraldry It normally has six twists of material, as does ours, with the metal and colour alternating and with the
metal first. The writing within the scroll itself reads Palatine Lodge 2447 and 1893, the date of the Lodge formation
