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Masonic Trivia
Where Did All the
Scallops Go?

by Thomas J. Berry, M. P. S.

Included in the Crest of most Grand
Lodges is the crest of the first Grand
Lodge of England--the Moderns. This
crest was taken from that of the existing
Company of Masons, the Guild of the
Masons of London. This crest consists of
a black shield with three silver towers,
between which is a chevron (not a
square) containing a pair of compasses.
The chevron is shown as having straight
edges. The earliest portrayal of the crest
dates from 1633.

However, in 1871, a Mr. Ebenezar
West bought several parchments which
were being offered for sale by the British
Museum. Among them was the original
grant of arms of the Masons company of
London. It was then purchased by the
Masons Company which returned it to
the British Museum, with the right to
have access to it as needed. This grant of
arms is dated 12 Edward IV, 1472.

The startling item is that the chevron is
shown on this original patent as having
a scalloped edged (properly called en-
grailed). Where and when this was
changed to a straight edge is lost in the
mists of time. The next appearance of the
crest was in 1610 on the Harleian Manu-
script where the chevron has a scalloped
edge. However, by 1740, the scalloped
edge was gone and the three castles were
altered to three towers, each having three
turrets.

There is no motto on the crest, but the
motto used by the Masons Company was
and is "God is Our Guide. "

Reference: Condor, Records of the Hole Craft and

Fellowship of Masons. Masonic Book Club.
