Masonic Material Culture

[Greg Barnett]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Brother Hicks,
Thank you for the welcome.
I would be very interested in participating in any activities that you fine fellars in Nashville produce.

I will send my email to you and I look forward seeing you again very soon.

Kindest regards,

[thad gallagher]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

I have really enjoyed all of the posts and information that has been given. I do have a question that I can not seem to find an answer for. Has anyone come across what, if anything, a Freemason might have carried with him in the field. I know it would be very dependent on weight and where they might have been at the time. Would they have brought any books, or even had their apron tucked away in a knapsack?

[Justin Runyon]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Both of those things are entirely possible. Masonic Books, Almanacs, and newspapers were all quite popular in the 1860's.

I also know of one Lieutenants personal effects that were sent home to Illinois that contained an apron, so that fellow certainly carried his.

Craddock will be chiming in here shortly I would imagine

[Jerry Gouge]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Sirs,

I apologize in advance for the intrusion. I am not currently a Mason. It was my impression that the Mason's are a secret society. I have not actually heard a Mason talking about the group in public even though I have been around quite a few and have had relatives that were Masons. I only found out about my uncle being one at his funeral when his Mason brothers showed up to perform a ceremony.

My question is this, is it typical for discussion regarding the Masons to be open like evidenced on this thread?

I acquired Duncan's Ritual of Freemasonry this past week. It appears to be a reproduction of an 1860s book. It sort of looks like it was printed by the same folks that did the Hardee's drill manuals back in the 1860s. It looks very interesting.

Jerry Gouge

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Jerry,

Yes, there are “secrets” that the Masons keep. However, the Masonic Fraternity is not a secret. In fact, all you have to do is drive down any given street in the US and you will see some sort of a sign either hanging on the front of a building or in the front yard of a building, with a big Square & Compass on it, to realize that a Masonic Lodge meets in that location. If the Masons were a secret society that didn’t want “others” to know who was a member, that seems a pretty BAD way to keep that membership a secret!

In the case of your Uncle, and I am only speculating here, he probably fell into the category of many Masons in this county who do (did) not retain/comprehend what the real secrets of Masonry are – and therefore feel they can’t say anything about the fraternity without spilling the secret beans. Many less knowledgeable Masons will take the “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you” approach, simply because they don’t know what they can talk about without divulging any “secrets.”

Please do not confuse this thread as revealing any secrets of Masonry. This is just a thread of the material culture of Masons during the middle part of the 19th century. There is not a legitimate Mason in our hobby, in the Craft in this country, or around the word, who would get on any Internet form and discuss the secrets of Masonry.

You will learn what most people consider the secrets of Freemasonry in the copy of Duncan’s Ritual that you purchased. In fact, a few minutes of Googling will bring numerous sites that document a lot more than almost any regular Mason would care for the uninitiated to have available. However, the true secrets of Freemasonry are not something found in print. It never has been, and never will be, and until a Man knocks on the door of Freemasonry and seeks admittance, those “secrets” will not be known to him.

I hope this has answered some of your questions about the Craft.

[PvtSchultz]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Justin & Thad,

I think what a Mason carried probably would have something to do with whether he was an enlisted or and officer, garrisoned or out on campaign. Some of the accounts I have read listed personal Masonic items as including a Bible and watch. Now if you were to ask if they may have carried a ritual book or not, my intial response would be to say no. While those of us in the craft know of such items now and possible own one or two depending on the Grand Lodge whose jurisdiction we fall under, I believe during the period in question the practice would have been mouth to ear.

Jerry regarding your question about being "open" with our discussion. Fortunately or not, most if not all of the fraternities secrets, mysterious and benefits can be found in libraries and the internet. The discussions taking place are fine for those of us within the craft as long as we keep them within due bounds and by that I mean limit our discsusions to what we know to be "public" areas of our ritual etc. Ask a question and we will answer to the best of our abilities; ask about one of our "secrets" such as ritual work, then we will remain silent. Duncans is a nice reference book for Mason and non-Mason; own one myself along with others. I can only speak for myself when I say, being a Freemason was never about walking in public "bragging" that I belonged to the fraternity. It was about friendship and doing things charitable but doing so in a silent manner. I enjoy doing things for others without ever letting them know it was me. Sort of pay foward mentality, besides I think the recipient of the charity enoys it all the more when it is done that way. I know I do. Charity for the sake of charity and not for bragging I say.


Fraternally Yours,
Rich Schultz, PM
Clifton Lodge #203

[thad gallagher]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Here is some pictures of a pin I recently purchased on e-bay. I was having a hard time getting a decent photo of it and ended up having to scan it. The description had said it was inlaid with onyx. It is a bit larger than dime size. Not sure how period it is, but either way I thought it was a sharp pin and a little different.

Thad

[thad gallagher]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Thank you for the information about my question about items in the field. I had similar thoughts on the matter, but I figured someone else more versed in the matter could confirm these.

Thad

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

I have really enjoyed all of the posts and information that has been given. I do have a question that I can not seem to find an answer for. Has anyone come across what, if anything, a Freemason might have carried with him in the field. I know it would be very dependent on weight and where they might have been at the time. Would they have brought any books, or even had their apron tucked away in a knapsack?

Brother Thad,

In a nut shell, without getting too deep into specific individual instances, I agree with Bro. Runyon – aprons, pins, and books would have been the extend for individual Brothers to have carried during the war. Of these a Masonic device of some sort would have been the most prominent. A Square & Compass, of some shape or form, would have been the most commonly found “equipment” of a Freemason. Small and lightweight, easy to show or conceal, a small S&C pin could be worn on the breast of a uniform or attached to the inside if discretion was desired. A S&C could also be embroidered on or inside a jacket or on the sleeve or bib of a shirt.

The “Lt” that Brother Runyon was referring to, I think, was Capt. Kellog. He died during the war and all of his personal effects were sent home in a trunk and placed in an attic. Just recently this truck was found and a description of the contents became a series of articles in the Camp Chase Gazette. One thing that was misidentified was what the author termed a “dinning bib.” However, and Mason that read the article and the description of the “bib” immediately recognized it as a plain white Masonic apron. I have also seen two images of Federal soldiers wearing Masonic aprons while in uniform. One is in a private collection and the other is published in Dr. Gordon Dammon’s “Medical Instruments of the Civil War, Vol. II”. The image in Dammon’s book is misidentified as hospital stewards. They are obviously a group of 5 (I think) Federal soldiers wearing Masonic aprons.

Also, with the number traveling military Lodges operating under dispensation during the war, the number of Brothers serving in the armed forces of each nation would indicate that there would have been a need to carry their own aprons with them. Here is a breakdown by state with the number of traveling Lodges operating under dispensation from that Grand Jurisdiction:

United States:

Connecticut 1
District of Columbia 4
Illinois 18
Indiana 38
Maryland 1
Massachusetts 11
Minnesota 1
Nebraska 1
New Hampshire 5
New York 9
Ohio 8
Rhode Island 1

TOTAL: 98

Confederate States:

Alabama 19
Arkansas 16
Florida 3
Georgia 19
Louisiana 2
Mississippi 29
North Carolina 6
Texas 33
Virginia 26

TOTAL: 153

GRAND TOTAL: 251

This number only illustrates those States whose Grand Lodge actually issued dispensations for traveling Lodges. You will notice that Tennessee isn’t listed. That is because the Grand Lodge of Tennessee didn’t grant any dispensation for traveling Lodges. However, it is obvious that thousands of Tennessee Masons took up arms and went to war, and I’m sure that those Brothers WANTED to be identified and enjoy the benefits of the craft should they be found needing them.

Ok, all that was said to argue that, yes, I think Masons would have carried their aprons with them. This is NOT to say that ALL Masons carried their aprons along, but I do feel that aprons are something that should be represented within our hobby.

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Thad,

Here is why it took me a caouple days to reply. I've been working on this 1790s apron for a fellow in Indiana. It is copied from an original in my collection (third photo). I still have to color it in before it is finished, though.

What to you think?

[jgr1974]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

To parallel what Bro Bushrod says, almost all can be learned of Masonry as long as one is willing to pursue whether seeking the information in books, or knocking upon the door of a lodge to see the Great Light. If you are that curious and want to find out you can. I have spoken with Men who shown an interest in the Fraternity, I told them if they really wanted join but were skeptical of Freemasonry then to go to the library first. Usually after they do so, they gain a greater interest to see the Light. Masons are bound by oathes to not reveal the secrets of the Fraternity, but not to discuss general information of the Fraternity. I welcome all new Brothers, and all good men of interest to the Fraternity! There is a saying in Masonry to be one ask one (2B1ask1). For many years Masons were prohibitted from actively recruiting members. The desicion to join was of the man himself. As of the past few years many states have change the by laws to allow recruiting. My stat is one. Though it is frowned upon!!!!

Hope my 2 cents helps!!!
Bro Jeremy G Richardson
Watson Il Lodge 602

aka The Mad MIck!!!

[Scott Gutzke]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Brother Craddock,

A brother found this "Masonic War Certificate" while researching a doctor who served with an Illinois regiment. It was issued by the Grand Lodge of IL, AF&AM to serve as a set of credentials for brethern serving in the military. I would imagine that other Grand Lodges did the same thing, but have never seen another example.

[Jerry Gouge]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Patrick,

"I hope this has answered some of your questions about the Craft."

Thanks for the clarification. I have known three Masons as close personal friends. All were considerably older than myself. As I said they did not talk about it. I did one point ask two of them (within the last 10 years) about Masons and they gave me a very small tid bit of information. Basically something about learning how to live a good life (good as in honorable and Christ like gist), nothing in the way of secrets of course.

I have bought a few books to see what more I can learn. What interests me is if there are secrets to be learned sort of like zen or taoism or ghnosticism or are they just organizational secrets. If they are of the former type then I think being a Mason would be quite rewarding. The quest to attain a moral and spiritual framwork in which to live is a very admirable endeavor. I guess I should go ahead and read the books rather than let them just gather dust and then I might learn something.

Thanks again for the clarification.

Jerry Gouge

[Jerry Gouge]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Rich,

"It was about friendship and doing things charitable but doing so in a silent manner."

Thanks for your response. I agree charitable giving absent the possibility for received gratitude is the purist form of giving. Then one is only doing it for the receiver and the gratification for the giver comes from enhancing their opinion of themself for doing what is right. Giving with strings attached is poor form.

Thanks again,

Jerry Gouge

[TATTOOS1]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Greetings from bonnie Scotland.
bro Thad

The brothers in the field might have carried a copy of Macoy`s Masonic Manual
this manual shown here might have been used I picked it up on one of my visits to the states

Also brothers the pin is under construction i will keep you informed.

Bill
FRIENDSHIP 1712 EDINBURGH,SCOLAND
W S MESS