The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
| The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada |
|
Arms of the Heraldry Society
of Canadaby R.G.M. Machperson
Heraldry in Canada, September 1972By Letters Patent dated 6th March, 1972, under the hands and the seals of Garter King of Arms, Clarenceux King of Arms, and Norroy & Ulster King of Arms, Armorial Bearings were granted to The Heraldry Society of Canada - La Société héradique du Canada.
For a Society whose aim is to promote greater interest in Heraldry among Canadians, it is only fitting that such a society should be armigerous and by this legal instrument recorded at the College of Arms, the following Armorial Bearings were granted:
ARMS: Quarterly per fess embattled Gules and Argent the first quarter an Inescutcheon Argent charged with a Maple Leaf gules.CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours Issuant from Maple Leaves Gules a demi Lion Or holding a staff proper flying to the sinister therefrom a Banner of the Arms fringed Or.
SUPPORTERS: On the dexter side a Beaver sejant Or collared and dependent by a Ring therefrom Gules a representation of the Badge and on the sinister side a Narwhal (Monodon Monocerus) haurient Argent armed Or charged on the shoulder with a representation of the Badge the whole set upon a Compartment per pale of a Grassy Mound and waves of the sea proper.
MOTTO: "Et Petribus et Posteritati" (Both for Forefathers and Posterity)
BADGE: Within an Annulet of eight points on the outer edge Or a Roundel throughout quarterly Gules and Argent charged with a Circlet ensigned by Maple Leaves Or.
The task of selecting a design of Arms for the Society was entirely a group project and so an Arms Committee was formed and the members of the Society invited to submit designs and suggestions. It speaks well for the members of the Committee that they were able to arrive at a decision with commendable unanimity as this is not always easy, especially when selecting a coat of arms where so much is a matter of personal taste. The objective was a coat of arms that
said "Heraldry" and "Canada" and the members of the Arms Committee were George M. Beley, Thomas C. Pullen, Alan B. Beddoe, Hans D. Birk, Harold A. Diceman, Norman A. Nunn, Phillips M. Till and the writer.
The Shield of Arms is divided "Quarterly Gules and Argent", the Colours of Canada, with the fess partition line "embattled" to suggest "standing on guard for good heraldic practice in Canada". The first quarter
continued on page 35
contains an inescutcheon or small shield, emblematic of Heraldry, and this is charged with a red Maple Leaf, our national symbol. The Maple Leaf shield, as you will recall, formed part of the temporary device used by the Society since its inception. The Shield of Arms, which is reminiscent of the simplicity of 13th and 14th century heraldry, is in the best traditions of heraldic design.
The demi Lion Crest was chosen first because the lion is the most typical heraldic beast and is indeed suggestive of "Heraldry" inself: and second, the lion appears both as a Crest and as a Supporter in the Arms of Canada; and third, it formed part of the temporary device of the Society. The Lion holds a Banner of the Arms, giving expression to another important aspect of heraldic emblazonment, and is placed with a circlet of red Maple Leaves. The Maple Leaves are "red" as this is the colour of the leaves in the Arms of Canada.
The Supporters were chosen because of their Canadian symbolism.
The Beaver is recognized as the most typical Canadian heraldic animal and, indeed, it was the Beaver that was instrumental in bringing the first white settlers to our shores. The Narwahl lives in Arctic waters and may be considered uniquely Canadian. The twisted horn of the Narwhal is rather suggestive of the Unicorn and in fact this horn may have given rise to the legends of that fabled creature. Norse seamen of old are reported to have taken these ivory tusks to Europe for trade and they were highly prized in mediaeval times.
The Badge design is relatively simple. The quarterly red and white background is based on our Shield of Arms and the central charge is a "Circlet ensigned with Maple Leaves Or". A Canadian invention, this "Maple Leaf Coronet" was selected to represent Canadian Heraldry and the "Annulet of eight points" which surrounds the device is intended to signify the points of the Compass in allusion to "the true North strong and free". The Badge will be used to identify members of the Heraldry Society of Canada.
Note: The above artice is reproduced from its original publication in the September 1972 issue of "Heraldry in Canada".
