Dinner gong consists of a British Bofors, shell suspended from a wooden stand with a metal Square and Compass, the shell is made of brass with various military markings including the size of the shell 40MM and the “Broad arrow” of which a pheon is a variant, is stylised representation of a metal arrowhead, comprising a tang and two barbs meeting at a point. It is a symbol traditionally used in heraldry and later by the British Government to mark property particularly associated with the Board of Ordinance.
The Bofors 40mm Automatic gun is an anti-aircraft cannon designed in 1930 by Swedish manufacturer AB Bofors. It was used throughout World War Two and was in service in over 18 countries and was the most popular and widespread of the medium-weight anti-aircraft guns, and is still in use today.
The gong is used at the Festive Board at Hansard Lodge to signify the toast to absent brethren by striking the gong 10 times as the toast is usually given as close to 10pm. This is traditionally, regarded as the “Nine O’clock Toast” elsewhere it is done at 9pm, when “The hands are on the square.” It is good to feel that at a particular moment, Brethren pause to think of one another, especially those who cannot be present for one reason or another. In practice, it is not always possible to arrange for the toast to be taken precisely at 9pm. It must not, for example, precede the toasts to the King and to the Grand Master. In many Lodges, this toast can be a moving and memorable moment, particularly for example, when well-loved Brethren may be absent through serious illness.
