ARMS OF FREEMASONRY. The armorial bearings of the order have undergone some changes in the lapse of ages, varying more or less from the original, in consonance with the country or the times. They are described in several works on heraldry as follows: " The Company of Masons, being oth erwise termed Freemasons of ancient standing, and good reckoning, by means of affable and kind meetings, at divers times did frequent this mutual assembly in the time of King Henry IV., viz: the 12th of his reign. Their arms, azure on a chevron, between three castles, argent, a pair of com passes somewhat extended of the first, were granted by Wil liam Hawkslow, Clarencieux King of Arms."—GUILLAM. The Arms of the Operative or Stone Masons. Azure on a chevron between three castles argent, a pair of compasses somewhat extended of the first. Crest, an arm extended, grasping a trowel, proper. Supporters, two beavers, proper. -DERMOTT. The arms of the Grand Lodge of England, and used by several of the Grand Lodges of this country, are similar to those adopted by Royal Arch Masons, which are described as follows: Party per cross vest, voided or; in the first quarter azure, a lion rampant or, for the tribe of Judah, in the second or, an ox passant sable, for Ephraim; in the third or, a man erect proper, for Reuben; in the fourth azure, a spread eagle or, for Dan. Crest, an ark of the cov
enant; supporters, two cherubim, all proper; motto, Holiness to the Lord. The banners which adorn the Royal Arch Chap ters of England, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, are as follows: Scarlet, a lion couchant, for Judah; blue, an ass crouching beneath its burden, for Issachar; purple, a ship, for Zebulon; yellow, a sword, for Simeon; white, a troop of horsemen, for Gad; green, an ox, for Ephraim; flesh-color, a vine, by the side of a wall, for Manasseh; green, a wolf, for Benjamin; purple, a cup, for Asher; blue, a hind, for Naph tali; green, an eagle, for Dan.