Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of New Zealand
New Zealand heraldry portal
This page is part of the  |
 |
|
Civic heraldry:
|
Other heraldry: |
GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF NEW ZEALAND
| English | blazon wanted |
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted in 1984.
On the “Dexter” side is a copy of the arms of the “Moderns Grand Lodge” (the first Grand Lodge of England) founded on 1717. This pays homage to the first Grand Lodge founded officially and recognises the descent of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand from the masonic bodies of the British Isles. Their arms are divided by a “chevron” (the inverted V) on which are placed an open pair of compasses, this representing the square and compasses, two of the Great Lights in Freemasonry. Three towers are placed about the chevron, two above and one below. In heraldry a tower is a symbol of a castle or building and therefore it is very suitable to express the trade of the operative stone-mason from which freemasonry takes so much of its imagery. Three is a significant number in Freemasonry-particularly in the first degree.
On the “Sinister” side of the shield is the southern Cross which applies these arms specifically to New Zealand.
The bordure is indented (toothed), thus recalling the indented or tessellated border around the blazing star on the pavement of a lodge.
The supporters are the Lion of England and the Kiwi of New Zealand. Around the necks of both supporters is suspended a square, the master’s jewel.
The crest shows the square and compasses in the same position they have in a lodge of master masons, and enclosing the all seeing eye – a symbol of the all- knowing power of the Great Architect of the Universe.
On the compartment there are depictions with the fern, rose, thistle and shamrock – to represent the Grand Lodges of England, Scotland and Ireland ( all three of which still have a small number of lodges within New Zealand ) together with the fern of New Zealand – to represent the Grand Lodge of New Zealand which is recognised, as the territorial authority in New Zealand, by Freemasonry throughout the world.
The motto is ‘In the Lord is all our Trust’ which speaks to the universality of Freemasonry.
Contact and Support
Partners:
Your logo here ?
Contact us
© since 1995, Heraldry of the World, Ralf Hartemink 
Index of the site
Literature : http://freemasonsnz.org/blog/explanation-of-our-coat-of-arms