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Registered in the Grand Lodge of England
and in the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Consecrated 1882
​
The Royal Connection and The Connaught Jewel
Rule 241 of the Book of Constitutions precludes the wearing of any jewel that has not been approved by the Grand Master. As far as is known, the only jewels that may be worn by members of Private Lodges on all Masonic occasions are the Connaught jewels worn by members of Aldershot Army and Navy Lodge and two other Lodges. M.W. Bro. H.R.H. F.M. the Duke of Connaught GM issued the Warrant authorising this privilege in 1903. He can be seen wearing his Connaught jewel in the portrait below.
M.W. Bro. H.R.H. Prince Arthur,
Duke of Connaught and Strathearne W.M.,
wearing his regalia as G.M.
How did this come about?
At the Lodge Consecration meeting, W. Bro. Capt. (Q.M.) G. Douglas P.P.G.SwdB., G.FireBde proposed R.W.Bro. Maj.Gen. H.R.H. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn K.G., etc., P.G.W. as a joining member. He was duly elected with acclaim at the first regular meeting. At that time he was commanding the 3rd Guards Division in Aldershot. In July 1897, the Lodge Director of Ceremonies, W.Bro. Surg. Maj. Henry Grier A.M.D. proposed that the Duke should be approached and requested to honour the Lodge by accepting the Office of Master. In September, an affirmative reply was received from the Duke’s Equerry and he was duly elected. The Duke stipulated that a Deputy Master be appointed to act in his absence. The following year it was announced that the Duke had agreed to continue to act as Master-in-perpetuity, which he did until his death in 1942. As a consequence, 42 Brethren (W.Bro. Maj. Hugh Foster Hants holding the Office twice) acted as Deputy Masters.
In September 1902, a committee was set up to design a special Lodge jewel and 12 months later, a suitable device having been agreed (see top left of this document), the Deputy Master, W.Bro Maj. Reginald Ford D.S.O., A.S.C., made an approach to the Grand Master for his approval. This was granted by a special Warrant issued in July 1903, which the Lodge still proudly displays at all meetings.