Arms of the Grand Lodge of Quebec, A.F. & A.M.

Blazon

Per pale, dexter per fess Gules and Argent, in chief on a chevron between three castles Argent a pair of compasses extended Or, in base a shamrock, a thistle, a red rose and a maple leaf conjoined on one stem proper, sinister quarterly Azure and Or a cross quarterly Argent and Vert between in the first quarter a lion rampant Or, in the second an ox passant Sable, in the third a man statant affronté with hands elevated proper vested Vert his robe Gules lined ermine, and in the fourth an eagle displayed Or;

Symbolism

These arms were created in 1869, the year in which the Grand Lodge of Quebec (G.L.Q.) was founded. Except for the lower left quarter, they are identical to the 1813 arms of the United Grand Lodge of England, which has given its approval for the use of its arms in this grant. The difference is the additional quarter with floral symbols on a single stem representing the mother Grand Lodges of the Lodges that formed the G.L.Q., i.e., those of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Canada. The upper left quarter served as the arms of the premier Grand Lodge of England, and the arms on the right side were those of the Antients Grand Lodge, both created in the early 18th century. The former were those of the mediaeval guild of stonemasons in the City of London, and these arms were initially adopted by the Grand Lodge of London or Premier Grand Lodge founded in 1717 and later known as the "Moderns Grand Lodge". The arms of the Antients Grand Lodge make an allusion to the creatures with the faces of a man, a lion, a bull, and an eagle in the first prophecy in the Book of Ezekiel (Ez. 1:10), which became the respective symbols associated with the four Evangelists.