The Masonic Collection Forget-Me-Not Masonic Badge/Tie Pin/Lapel Pin/Brooch - Gold, Blue - Gold Plated With Swarovski Stone Masonic Gift For Freemason Men

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It is common knowledge that the ancient wages of a Fellowcraft Mason consisted of corn, wine, and oil. When the Grand Lodge of the Sun was reopened in Bayreuth in 1947, by Past Grand Master Beyer, a little pin in the shape of a Forget Me Not was officially adopted as the emblem of that first annual convention of the brethren who had survived the bitter years of semi-darkness to rekindle the Masonic Light. Forget-me-nots have been featured in many poems, novels and epics. In The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, forget-me-nots were described as something beautiful and unpretending. In Emblems and as State Flower We know of Masons' Marks but lesser known are the 'argots' used by the artisans - in part 2 of a series on the social history of the Operative Masons we learn how the use of secret languages added to the mystery of the Guilds.

They symbolize true love, enduring memory, and faithfulness. It’s where we get the phrase “True Blue.” At the start of its flowering season, flashes of blue display dazzling proof to the world that though it may have appeared dead through the long cold winter, it was only dormant, and come spring it bursts to life, its color begging the world not to overlook this tiny flower. After World War II, the forget-me-not flower was used again as a Masonic emblem in 1948 at the first Annual Convention of the United Grand Lodges of Germany. The badge is now worn in the coat lapel by Freemasons around the world to remember all who suffered in the name of Freemasonry, especially those during the Nazi era. [14]

The Forget-Me-Not and Anti-Freemasonry in Nazi Germany

In 1936 the Winterhilfswerk (a non- Masonic winter charity drive) held a collection and used and distributed the same symbol, again with its obvious charitable connotation. Some of the Masons who remembered the 1926 Communication possibly also wore it later as a sign of recognition. We have no evidence of that and its general signification still was charity, but not specifically Masonic charity. These flowers are just some of the few flowers that can boast a truly blue color, though they can also be seen in white and pink, with yellow centers. Forget-me-nots thrive in moist places, even on waste grounds and roadsides. While the M. sylvatica variety grows in the mountain grasslands and woodlands, the M. scorpioides is commonly found near ponds and streams. In 1926, forget-me-nots were used as a Masonic emblem and eventually made its way into the organization’s badges, which once regarded as the secret identification of membership, and now commonly seen on coat lapels of Freemasons. The Forget-me-not Flower in Use Today Myosotic arvensis– from the Greek, meaning “Mouse’s Ear,” after the shape of its five petals. These little blue flowers are perennials, springing up again year after year. They grow widely in Europe, Asia, America, even as far as New Zealand. In most languages, however, this flower is known by its much more common name; the forget-me-not.

Humility and Resilience – These blossoms grow in marshy lands such as streams and pond edges, yet bear clusters of delicate, blue flowers. In this respect, they symbolize humility and resilience. Extracted from William Harvey's 'The Story of the Royal Arch' - Part 1 describes the Mark Degree, including the Working Tools. Following the First World War, Germany was plunged into a terrible economic crisis. In 1926, at their annual communication, the Grand Lodge of Germany gave its members a forget-me-not pin, to remind the brethren of their charitable obligations. The pin became widely used throughout Germany as a sign to remember the poor and distressed. Thousands of masons wore this pin in the years before world war 2, performing acts of service and charity to their many destitute fellows. This charity was vital during Germany’s depression.

That said it may be safe to assume that the ‘forget me not’ was adopted as a sign to brethren on both sides of the political divide to show cahrity to each other across the gulf of hatred which was created by the Nazi Ideaology. I’ve spent time studying the modes of the organization and one thing is made clear ‘Politics is not disscussed at the lodge’ therefore it may have been impossible to persuade brethren who fell under the banner of the Nazi government at meetings to change their political orientations (The hatred and campaign of terror of the Nazi’s was initiated as a political movement). The Cable Tow: Its Origins, Symbolism, & Significance for Freemasons - Unbinding the significance of the cable tow. The Forget-Me-Not and the Poppy - two symbols to remind us to 'never forget' those who died during the two World Wars.

The genus is largely restricted to western Eurasia, with about 60 confirmed species, [ citation needed] and New Zealand with around 40 endemic species. [5] A few species occur elsewhere, including North America, South America, and Papua New Guinea. [6] Despite this, Myosotis species are now common throughout temperate latitudes because of the introduction of cultivars and alien species. Many are popular in horticulture. They prefer moist habitats. In locales where they are not native, they frequently escape to wetlands and riverbanks. Only those native to the Northern Hemisphere are colloquially called "forget-me-nots". [ citation needed] For human and political reasons as well, those Masons who thought it their duty to rebuild German Freemasonry once the War was over could hardly tell the whole truth to their foreign brethren. I personally believe they might have told the story of those dark years in a different way, but I am ready to admit that it is probably easier to say so in 2009 than it was in the 1950s.Remembrance and Memory – Just as the name implies, forget-me-nots symbolize remembrance. The bloom simply says, “I will never forget you,” and “Do not forget me.” In some contexts, forget-me-nots can represent good memories of a loved one, which will be long remembered. Many believe that forget-me-nots bloomed on the battlefields of Waterloo in 1815, which likely contributed to the meaning of the flower. In France, it’s thought that when you plant forget-me-nots on the grave of your loved ones, the flowers will bloom as long as you live. Units meeting in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Yorkshire, West Craft Lodges Meeting Here Lodge Name In Masonic rituals, Jacob’s ladder is understood as a stairway, a passage from this world to the Heavens. In history of art, the forget-me-not is used to remember loved ones who have died, so is very common in funerary portraits. Lehnebach, Carlos A. (21 August 2012). "Two new species of forget-me-nots ( Myosotis, Boraginaceae) from New Zealand" . PhytoKeys (16): 53–64. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.16.3602. PMC 3492931. PMID 23233811.

It was a symbol that masonry, like the flower itself, was not dead, but had merely gone dormant to weather the decade long winter. It was a symbol to its members not to forget each other, or their masonic vows, until spring had come again and the blue of masonry could flourish once more.That economic situation, contributed to Hitler’s accession to power. Many people depended on charity, some of which was Masonic. Distributing the forget-me-not at the Grand Lodge Communication was meant to remind German Brethren of the charitable activities of the Grand Lodge. Lets keep it at that and let us admit to the Masonic Brotherhood of the blue Forget Me Not and thus did a simple flower blossom forth into a symbol of the fraternity, and become perhaps the most widely worn emblem among Freemasons in Germany.