Masonic Material Culture

[Deborah Hyland]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Do browse the rest of the collection at the National Heritage Museum. They have a ton of material culture (not just regalia, but furniture, decorative arts, textiles, glassware, paintings, and more).

[arthurlee]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Can anyone tell me how one would have worn a Masonic patch or pin during a field impression? I have been told but have not seen anything that would denote a brother in the field through casual observation.

Art Maxwell
Shepherd TX
1st Texas Battery K
Trinity Lodge #14 Livingston Texas

[Beaner]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Matt,
As far as my research has taken me, the brothers would have been very discreet in displaying any symbols of the craft. I have seen pictures of watch fobs, swords, and dress glove covers from the war. These have never been authenticated to anyone brother. I see you are a Texacan, I was wondering if you might be able to help a fellow traveller? I reenact the 4th Texas Co. E. We formed in Waco, Texas before heading to Richmond, Virginia. The first Lodge in Waco was formed in the 1850's. I'm trying to get a list of Freemasons who were members of lodge that may have served in our unit. The Lodge is Bosque 92 of Waco. Could please help me uptain this info.
Dave Prince
Walled Lake #528

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Brother Art,
Below is an excerpt froma thread on the AC intitled "Masons in the line" I would suggest that you do a quick search for that thread and give it a read. There is some REALLY good information there!

Anyway,below are some quotes that should give you a good idea of how to wear a S&C as they did 140 years ago. Hope it helps!


Brothers and interested parties,

Here are a few passages from "House Undivided" about how and where Masons wore identifying badges:

Pg 49: “…he pointed to a Masonic pin in Colonel Raynor’s shirt-bosom.”

Pg. 54: “…observed a Masonic pin on the bosom of Colonel Wood….” This I am assuming to also mean on his shirt, as the colonel had been wounded and was being treated by a “enemy” doctor.

Pg 58: “…the coat-sleeve of one of them was torn during the struggle, and her eyes fell upon a breast-pin that he had fastened upon his shirt sleeve, perhaps for concealment and safety.” This is an interesting story about a young lady who, while struggling with Federal soldiers in an attempt to protect her recently captured brother, say the token and then gave the grand hailing sign! The account continues, “During the early part of the evening, there was a meeting of the Masonic members of the company at the captain’s quarters. Where the girl was examined, and found to have passed all the degrees in masonry, to that of Master Mason. Where or how she had acquired these degrees, she declined to say. She and her brother had been in the United States but about ten weeks, having come from Ireland for the purpose of purchasing a farm, intending when they had done so, to send for their mother and younger brother. The boy did not know that his sister was a mason, and only knew that his father, when living, was a Master of a lodge in their native town in Ireland.” Sounds like a poorly tiled Lodge to me!

Pg. 79: “I wore on the lapel of my coat, a small Masonic breast-pin, merely to be fashionable with (other) Masons.…”

Pg. 105. The Major of the 3rd R.I. Infantry, while meeting a Confederate officer under flag of truce, noticed something on the “enemy’s” uniform that caused him to remark, “I suppose by the tools you carry I have the honor of meeting a Craftsman, as well as an enemy in war?”

Pg. 118: “While adding him he noticed a Masonic emblem on the shirt of…”

Pg 125: After the fighting at Antietam, a picket from the 5th N.H. Infantry was called by a wounded Confederate soldier just outside his post. The wounded soldier was “handed a little slip of paper, on which he had evidently with great difficulty, succeeded in marking some mystic sign with a bit of stick wet in blood. The soldier begged to hand the paper to some Freemason as soon as possible, and he took it to….”

And these from “Befriend and Relieve every Brother: Freemasonry during Wartime” by Richard E. Shields, Jr.

Pg. 13: “…he saw that he wore a Masonic emblem on his coat.”

Pg. 24: “The major wore a small Masonic breast-pin which was the fashion of the Masons in the Northern Army at that time.”

Pg. 38: “The Mason spied the square and compass emblem on his attackers breast.”

Pg. 41: “,,,after awhile one of them noticed Bosang’s Masonic ring.”

Pg 43: “…he noticed the Masonic square and compasses on his watch chain.”

Pg 48: “Early in his Masonic career the patient had had painted (tattooed?) on his arm the square and compasses designating his Masonic affiliation.”

Pg. 51: “…noticed a Masonic ring on a portrait of the plantation’s owner’s son.…”

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

And for those wondering what a "Masonic breast-pin" or "Masonic pin" looked like...

These are from the mid nineteenth century. Nothice the "C" clasp on the backs AND the "G" used with both! Each measures about 1/2" to 3/4" across

[sgt sidd]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Dear Brothers I have seen some neat things buttons, and aprons the VA Grand Lodge has some of them, I my self have coppied one, but I changed it a little I use it as my Past Masters apron. There is a Logde in VA which is Civil War Lodge of Research 1865., it meets on different Civil War sites the lodges home is in Richmond VA. I hope That helps Thank you Robert S Lanier

[Beaner]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Brother Craddock thanks for the info. Just start reading "A House Undivided" hoping to get those answers.
Dave Prince
Walled Lake 528

[sgt sidd]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Dear Brothers I made my apron at Macos in Richmond a Masonic supply house, they made it for me based on one I saw at VA Grand Lodge in Richmond. I have seen Masonic sysmbols on buttons on watches on a cantten and on other things. I belong to 347 and 1865 Lodge in Richmond VA. Hope to hear from you Brethen again. Br. Robert S Lanier

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

I have seen Masonic sysmbols on buttons on watches on a cantten and on other things.

Brother Lanier,
If you have (or can get) photos of a period canteen with a Masonic symbol on it, I would LOVE to see it! I've never seen an origonal canteen with anything Masonic on it.

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Here is today's addition to the photo essay...

I have this listed as a ginger beer bottle, but I think it may be a period ink bottle.

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Here is an image from the late 1850s of a Brother wearing his apron.

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Please, everyone, feel free to add to this thread!

Here is a fun one! This auctioned on eBay about three weeks ago. It is a glazed clay marble - about 5/8" in diameter - with a Square & Compass WITH a "G" in the center!

Anyone want to guess what this ONE marble sold for? Anyone?

There must have been more than one collector that wanted this thing as it sold for a bit more than $225.00! Yes, I said more than $225.00 for ONE marble!

Enjoy!

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Here is a Brother with an interesting backdrop - a Master's Carpet - the nineteenth century equevalent of our "slide" presentation.

Enjoy. Thoughts?

[Matthew.Rector]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Attached are a couple period cdv's I recently found on ebay.
M.Rector
Morrison Lodge #76
Elizabethtown, KY

[jgr1974]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Looks like the Master Mason in the 1850's dag is a member of Eastern Star as well!!!

Jeremy