W.Bro. Frederick Broadsmith Master 1893 (F) Bro. Hubert James Owen Master 1894 (F) Bro. William James Fawcus Master 1895 (F) W.Bro. George Samuel Smith (F) W.Bro. William Ramsden (F) Bro. John Joseph Tinker (F) W.Bro. Claire Edgar Towell (F) W.Bro. George Alfred Myers (F) W.Bro. John Hardwicke Marsh (F) Bro. George Graham Master 1896 (F) Bro. John Newton Master 1897 (F) Bro. John Edwin Sharples Master 1898 Bro. William Spencer Master 1899 (F)

Presented to Palatine Lodge N° 2447 By Mrs Meldrum 15th Nov 1925 During which year her Husband was Worshipful Master

The chain was designed and made by William James Dingley, he was born in 1857 in Birmingham and he died on the 21st August 1932. He established and built up the business of a Masonic jeweller and medallist in Warstone Lane, Birmingham, making jewels and chains for a large number of prominent Masons. He was regarded as an authority on the subject of heraldry, of which he had an extensive knowledge. He was a Past Master of The Faithful Lodge and a Provincial Officer of Warwickshire. His business was founded in 1885. In May 1961 the business was merged with Toye, Kenning & Spencer Limited. Sadly the Dingley name was dropped in July 1982. The firm continues today, as Toye, Kenning & Spencer (Birmingham) Limited. The silver makers mark 'W.J.D' is in an oblong format and is shown here, the letter ‘A’ dating to 1925, the Lion Passant for silver, and the Birmingham assay office mark.

The chain is finished with a heavy jewel (which is described here) and concluded with a silver square as shown. The square is significant in that on the reverse is listed the founder members who became Master of the Lodge and also the dedication by Mrs Meldrum in 1925. The square is two equal flat pieces of steel fixed to form a perfect right-angle, of 90 degrees. The square is critical in stone masonry, it allows craftsmen to draw and delineate perfect square corners, ensuring that buildings are perfectly square, sound and structurally strong. In Freemasonry, the square is used to teach lessons of morality, being “square” in your actions implies honesty and fairness.

The square is shown enlarged, rotated and cropped to reveal the detail.

The Founder members listed in green all went on to be master of the Lodge in the years shown, it’s a little bit difficult to make out some of the engraving, those in white did not become Master and are not included in the engraving even though they were founder members.