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great many of them have passed to the realm beyond such a ring, fashioned by direction of Most Worshipful
this life; and in the upbuilding of this commonwealth, Brother Samuel Word, who stood in 1886 in the East
in the establishment of those institutions that speak of this Grand Lodge, where you and I stand today.
so eloquently of its development and advancement, In 1887 he placed it upon the hand of his successor,
many, sir, of those men once in possession of this Grand Master J. W. Hathaway, and in an address that
ring, have contributed largely and signally. It shall be brought tears to the eyes of every member of the Grand
my pleasure, it shall be my aim, and it shall be my Lodge present, enjoined that every Grand Master in
ambition simply to walk in the footsteps of those men, the future should possess it for the span of his term in
not perhaps in the rendition of signal services, because offi ce, as an emblem of the kindly leadership exercised
for that I appreciate my incompetency, but to imitate by him as chief among equals. In accordance with that
their eminent virtues; and if I do that, I can with the precedent of nearly two score years ago, it has been
same assurance that you have given new now, transmit worn, never dishonored, never tarnished by a single
to my successor this valuable ring. I shall accept it in member of that long, long line of gracious, kindly men
that spirit, and, permeated with that purpose and that (thirty-three Grand Masters). Many of those illustrious
desire, it shall be my aim and my object to regulate Brethren, Brother Spotswood, have passed into the
my conduct during the years of my incumbency in presence of the Supreme Grand Master, in the Grand
this offi ce, that I shall be able to say that, at least so Lodge on High; a little group, the greater number of
far as my ability is concerned, this ring will not have those who have worn the symbol, await with calmest
suff ered pollution in my hands." confi dence, the summons of the Junior Warden, calling
them forever from labor to refreshment.
M.W.P.G.M. Henry C. Smith stated the following As Masons, convinced beyond the cavil of the
as he passed the Grand Masters ring to Grand Master continuance of the personality of man throughout the
Claude McAllister. endless cycles of eternity, may we not borrow from
"In granting you the temporary possession of this the world-old philosophy of Solomon the King, and
historic ring, it is not necessary for me to go into believe that those sainted predecessors of yours and
the details of its signifi cance and history, which are mine, are looking down upon us, keenly desirous for
too well understood to need repeating. This emblem the perpetuation of the pure principles of Freemasonry,
is placed into your keeping with the full assurance and that with the transfer of this sacred talisman to
that you will be remiss in no eff ort necessary for your fi nger, there passes to you the silent, unseen
the carrying out the high purposes of the donor to a guardianship of those who served the Craft in earlier
glorious consummation. years, to aid and comfort and support you, to give you
There is almost no limit to what you can achieve if greater store of wisdom, patience and Fraternal love,
you govern your actions and make all your exertions upon which you may draw to the utmost during this,
contribute to the fulfi llment of the great purposes of the most important year of your Masonic life, which
life as laid down in the principles of our beloved Order. dawns today."
Let our aim be high, and resolve that when you
pass this ring on to your successor, you may have the At the close of the Annual Communication in 1927,
proud consciousness that no one has ever worn it more Past Grand Master James Charteris presented the
worthily and that you have kept faith with the fi ne new Grand Master William Marshall saying: "I don't
traditions that the wearer must pass it on untarnished think the donor of this ring intended it should be worn
to his successor." merely as an ornament, nor do I think that he intended
it should be worn as kings or princes wore their signet
In 1925, M.W.P.G.M. Hart expressed his feelings of rings as emblems of royal dignity or of a despotic
the Signet Ring it this way: power over their fellowman, nor as an emblem of any
“Brother Spotswood, for scores of centuries the supernatural power exerting an infl uence for good or
leaders of mankind have worn upon their hands a ring, evil.
in token of their leadership or fi rst among equals and To me, the principal idea of the ring is the lion's paw.
power over the circles and chains of their fellows. The lion has always been regarded as the strongest of
Picturesque Oriental legend abounds with tales of the beasts, but his power has nearly always been looked
ring of Solomon, reputed fi rst Grand Master of this upon as a destructive power. Masonry, however, has
great Fraternity in whose service we are met today. It seen fi t to use the lion's paw as an emblem of that power
has been said that power and wisdom fl owed to him by with which we raise a fallen brother. It is an emblem
virtue of that ring, from countless unseen guides and of the power which each one of us has to reach out a
teachers in the world of spirit. For thirty-eight years helping hand to a wayward brother, to reach out and
the Grand Masters of Masons in Montana have worn give comfort and support to the widow and the orphan,
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