SECTION XI.

THE GRAND SWORD BEARER
In 1731, the Duke of Norfolk, being then Grand Master, presented to the Grand Lodge of England " the old trusty sword of Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, that was worn next by his successor in war, the brave Bernard, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, with both their names on the blade, which the Grand Master had ordered Brother George Moody (the King's sword cutler) to adorn richly with the arms of Norfolk in silver on the scabbard, in order to be the Grand Master's sword of state in future. ;J* At
* Ahim. Rez. So. Ca., p. 129, third edit. 1852.
f Anderson, second edit. p. 127. Previous to this donation the Grand Lodge had no sword of state, but used one belonging to a private Lodge. It was borne before the Grand Master by the Master of the Lodge to which it belonged, as appears from the account of the procession in 1720, as given b? Anderson, p. 126, second edit.
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the following feast, Bro. Moody was appointed Sword Bearer, and the office has ever since existed, and is to be found in almost all the Grand Lodges of this country.
The Grand Sword Bearer should be appointed by the Grand Master, and it is his duty to carry the sword of state immediately in front of that officer in all processions of the Grand Lodge.*