| St. Johns Masonic Lodge No 788 Cairncastle. (Province of Antrim) |
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| The Forget-Me-Not (Das Vergissmeinnicht) The Story Behind This Beloved Emblem Of The Craft in Germany In early 1934, soon after Hitler's rise to power, it became evident that Freemasonry was in danger. In that same year, the "Grand Lodge of the Sun" (one of the pre-war German Grand Lodges, located in Bayreuth) realizing the grave dangers involved, adopted the little blue Forget-Me-Not flower as a substitute for the traditional square and compasses. It was felt the flower would provide brethren with an outward means of identification while lessening the risk of possible recognition in public by the Nazis, who were engaged in wholesale confiscation of all Masonic Lodge properties. Freemasonry went undercover, and this delicate flower assumed its role as a symbol of Masonry surviving throughout the reign of darkness. During the ensuing decade of Nazi power a little blue Forget-Me-Not flower worn in a Brother's lapel served as one method whereby brethren could identify each other in public, and in cities and concentration camps throughout Europe. The Forget-Me-Not distinguished the lapels of countless brethren who staunchly refused to allow the symbolic Light of Masonry to be completely extinguished. 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. At the first Annual Convent of the new United Grand Lodge of Germany AF&AM (VGLvD), in 1948, the pin was adopted as an official Masonic emblem in honor of the thousands of valiant Brethren who carried on their masonic work under adverse conditions. The following year, each delegate to the Conference of Grand Masters in Washington, D.C., received one from Dr. Theodor Vogel, Grand Master of the VGLvD. 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; a pin presented ceremoniously to newly-made Masons in most of the Lodges of the American-Canadian Grand Lodge, AF&AM within the United Grand Lodges of Germany. In the years since adoption, its significance world-wide has been attested to by the tens of thousands of brethren who now display it with meaningful pride. |
| The following is taken from a presentation card issued by the American Canadian Grand Lodge, AF&AM within the United Grand Lodges of Germany. |
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| Thanks to Bro. David Hunter (Canada) & Bro. Rahsaan Cook (Lyons Jr. Lodge No.290 (PHA), Texas) for sending me this article written by Bro. Clyde H. Magee, 32 degree. This article first appeared in the July 1986 issue of the Scottish Rite Journal. |
| "Are you familiar with the Masonic blue slipper? It is a small lapel pin in the shape of a blue slipper. Over the years it has been my habit to ask my wife and my daughters to wear one of these slippers on a coat or dress when traveling alone away from home. What is the meaning of this blue slipper and why should female relatives of Masons wear one? Some 50 or 60 years ago, while I was living at home, a widowed lady who was a cousin of my Dad's, came to visit our home. She vacationed with us for several weeks every summer. She always wore this blue slipper pin. Her late husband was a Mason. The pin that she wore made a lasting impression on me. Through my curiosity and questioning, she told me it was Masonic pin and served to identify her as a Masonic widow. She declared that Masonic men gave her extra attention while traveling, especially on the railroad (conductors, etc.). To find out the meaning of this pin, let us go back in history to Boaz' time - the Book of Ruth. It will be remembered that Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilon, fled to the land of Moab to escape the famine in their homeland of Bethlehem-judah. Things went well for a while. Then life fell apart for them. Elimelech died. The two sons married Moabite girls - Orpha and Ruth. Again tragedy struck. Mahlon and Chilon died. This left Naomi a widow in a foreign land with two widowed daughters-in-law from the land of Moab. In time of trouble, people think of home and more importantly of God. Naomi found out that the famine back home had subsided, and there was grain and food again. So she confided with Orpha and Ruth that she would journey back home and be among her kinsmen. Certain laws, rules, or customs governed her thinking at this time. Of first consideration was the fact that Naomi was too old to bear a son for her her daughters-in-law to marry. Even if she could, the daughters-in-law would not wait for the son to grow up. So the girls should remain among their own people. The girls resisted and started to go with Naomi. Orpha was finally convinced she should stay in Moab. But Ruth remained steadfast and went with Naomi to her homeland. Naomi and Ruth arrived back in Bethlehem-judah at harvest time. The Scripture passage on which this is based is well-known. "And Ruth said, (Ruth Ch. 1 vs 16&17) Entreat me not to leave Thee, or to return to following after Thee: for wither Thou goest, I will go; and where Thou logest, I will lodge: Thy people shall be my people, and Thy God my God: Where Thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part Thee and me." This passage of Scripture is unsurpassed as a declaration of love and devotion of one person for another. It has been said it would make a good marriage vow. But, to me, it is a different type of devotion. Naomi also had to take into consideration another law. When Elemelech died, his next of kin was duty bound to redeem his possessions, and take care of his widow and her family. Since Naomi was getting old, Ruthb tried toearn a livelihood. Whilegleaning in the fields, she was seen by Boaz. And when he found out about her (that she was Naomi's daughter-in-law, etc.), he arranged special treatment for her. She could work with his girls in the field, and the young men were warned not to bother her. Since Boaz was not married and was kin to Naomi, Naomi decided that she should somehow make Boaz understand his duty to Elimelech's family. So Naomi advised Ruth to bathe and anoint herself and go to the threshing floor after dark and lay at the feet of Boaz. Boaz awoke at midnight and discovered her there. So as not to create a scandal, he gave her some barley and asked her to leave before dawn so that watching eyes would not recognise her. Buisness among the tribe of Bethlehem-judah took place at the gate of the city. So Boaz sat down at the gate the next day because he knew there was a kinsman more closely related to Elimelech than he. So when the kinsman came by, Boaz called him aside and asked 10 men of the elders of the city to sit with them. Boaz bargained with his kinsman. The kindsman said he would redeem Elimelech's property. But, when he found out that he would have to take care of Naomi and Ruth, he reneged and told Boaz he would not redeem or protect Elimelech's interest. He would leave it to Boaz. The passage from Scripture for these events is the following. (Ruth Ch.4 v6&7)"and the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem those my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing,for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel." So the kinsman drew off his shoe and gave it to Boaz. Boaz held it up for all in the gate to see. He asked them to be witness that he became Naomi's protector, Ruth's husband, and a redeemer of Elimelech's property. Thus, today, we have the little blue slipper as an emblem of the protective influence of Masons for their wives, widows and daughters." |
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| The Masonic Slipper pin |
| The Forget-me-not |