1890/22
Jewel & Medal Collection - Worcestershire Museum of Freemasonry
The Freemasons’ Hall Medal. 1780. Silver.
Date:- 1780 - Classification:- Building; Other
Country of Origin:- England - Province/Region/District:- Grand Lodge
Order:- Craft (& Freemasonry General)
Description
Presented by Grand Lodge to brethren and lodges subscribing £25 or more, as a loan without interest towards liquidating the “Hall Debt.” It is described and illustrated in Bro. Hughan’s “Masonic Register,” see also “Preston’s Illustrations,” pp. 236 and 255. It is Marvin’s 329, and Merzdorf’s 4. This impression bears the name of Hugh Dixon, Esq., and must therefore be the medal once in the Pythagoras Lodge Collection, Brooklyn, N.Y., as Marvin says that one bore this name. Eighty-two brethren subscribed;fifteen Metropolitan lodges, and eleven from the Provinces also qualified. There are now thirteen and four lodges respectively on the roIl whose Masters have the privilege of wearing the “F.M.H. Medal,” snspended from the arms of the square. Those in theProvinces being—41 Bath, 75 Falmouth, 154 Wakefield, and 237 Swansea. The personal medals are very rare and valuable.
Obverse.—A pillar, on the right of which stands a winged female; in her left hand a trumpet and an architect’s plan, on which is the outline of a building; with her right she writes upon the column, over which is a radiant triangle. In the distance on the left is a building, nearly completed, surrounded by a staging. In exergue MDCCLXXX.
Reverse—The legend “Grand Lodge of Freemasons in England,” surrounding the inscription—-” To Hugh Dixon l Esq l, In Grateful Testimony l of a Liberal l Subscription Towards l Compleating Their Hall,”—in nine lines.
