Masonic Material Culture

[mrgrzeskowiak]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Don’t exactly know the date on this S&C but it has a “C” clasp attachement. Picked this little gem up at a local antique mall when I was looking for pre WWII Navy Chief Petty Officer memorabilia/insignias.



Bro. Justin, why don’t you share that sterling silver S&C lapel/tie fob you picked up at the Nashville CW Show?

I have a replica of this pin, without the G in the middle. correct to wea on a coat or vest? I just put up for sale my 'mainstream' masonic patches. Any other brothers wish to share how they identify themselves as a mason.. ? any pictures? Thanks!

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Brother Hadley,
Yes, I think I would still term that a signet (pinky) ring. However, I cannot say with absolute authority with this ring as there was no good description on the Dug Relics Forum.


Brother McCullen,
When I do an eBay search I simply enter "masonic antique." You will have to cut through two or three pages of stuff but it is more likely to narrow down what you are interested in than simply searching "masonic" and getting 20+ pages of stuff! Hope this helps


Brother Grzeskowiak,
I think a replica of that pin would be much more appropriate than the patch.

Many of the Brothers I know will identify themselves in very subtle ways. Most of us in the Widows' Sons Mess wear a small silver S&C fob on our watch chains. Others have stitched a small S&C somewhere on or in our uniform coat (see the interior patch pocket pictures I added earlier in this thread). Still others will wear a small S&C on the center knot of a bow tie. I've seen really nicely done small stick pins with an engraved S&C. And finally, a few wear small period correct signet rings with the S&C engraved in a period manner.

The one thing that everyone should get out of the above description is the word SMALL. The vast number of originals that I have seen and photos I've seen of soldiers wearing a Masonic device show a SMALL emblem. In fact, about the largest device I have seen is the dug 1857(?) quarter - pictured on page 12 of this thread.

I will try and add photos of many of these suggestions in a following post.

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

I Any other brothers wish to share how they identify themselves as a mason.. ? any pictures? Thanks!

Brother Mike,

I can't speak for the other Brothers, but below are photos of different emblems I use to identify myself to the Brethren. Of course I do not wear all of these at one time, but often I will wear two of the above. Notice the size of all of these.

Please feel free to ask questions.

Image #1: This is a small silver signet ring. I found a trade silver merchant at a Colonial Trade Fair and asked him to tweak one he had to met what I was wanting.

Image #2: This is a small breast pin that I attached to the center of a bow tie.

Image #3: This is a small breast pin that I will wear on a bow tie or the lapel of my vest.

Image #4: This is my watch, chain and fob.

Image #5: This is a close up of the Fob worn by those of the Widows' Sons Mess.

[jgr1974]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Where does the Widow's Son mess get their fobs?

The Mad Mick!!!

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Brother Richards,

Sorry, but the fobs worn by the Widow's Sons Mess were a special order that aren't available to the public. I beieve they are are distributed now.

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Here are some more photos from the dug relic forum. The first is my favorite!

Image #1: Solid silver dug in Louisiana. The person who found it didn't say it was from a CW camp, but did say it was from an area with white inhabitants back to 1660 (I think). Still, I think this is a doozy of a cool S&C!

Image #2: This small unusual breast pin was dug in a TX Confederate camp. The digger didn't say, however, where that camp was.

[sgt sidd]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Hello all , I have made a repo apron, the Grand Lodge of VA has a Museum there and they have some in a case. They are neat to look at, What I can tell some where handed down through families. Some of the ones there are hand painted or sewn. The shape could change some but look the same. As today there is rules to go by. They used the aprons in the Lodge. and they were of great pride. If this helps let me know Robert S Lanier

[sgt sidd]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Hello I am having a apron made from a friend I know, I had one made at a shop that sells Masonic items in Richmond VA. they can make it, If you want to make a copy you will or should find and have a photo or how you want it made like. The Grand Lodge of VA has some that you can see and look at. Thank you Robert S Lanier:)

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

I've heard a few members of the Widows' Sons Mess have their own reproduction aprons. Maybe some will share pictures of them.

Maybe we'll see some of them at Rememberance Day!

[PvtSchultz]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Hey speaking of Rememberance Day, maybe we should all try to get together somewhere or sometime over the weekend? Would be nice to meet the Brethren on the level!

W. Bro Rich Schultz, PM
Clifton #203
Pvt, 6th NHV Co C

[BrianHicks]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

For those not familiar with the Gettysburg Widows Sons Mess sponsored Widow's and Orphans Fund Table which will be at 9 Steinwehr Ave. on Sat 17 Nov. (Remembrance Day) here's an image from our efforts at the WIG's event at Shakers Village in Sept of last year:

[BrianHicks]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

I've heard a few members of the Widows' Sons Mess have their own reproduction aprons. Maybe some will share pictures of them.

Here's an image or two:

[BrianHicks]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

And this is an image of an original mid 19th century apron:

[C.R. Henderson]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

I wish my scanner worked right now but,
in looking through EOG Union, I came across a lapel pin containing what appears to be a shield with the S&C INSIDE the G. Look at page 104 on Lt. Col. Augustus W. Corliss' frock coat just under the strap of his field glass case. Thought I'd bring this to y'all's attention.

Chris

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Masonic Material Culture

Chris,

...and me with ALL my books packet up at the moment! I will feel quite foolish as many times as I've thumbed through that book if it IS a S&C! Man! Talking about right before your eyes!

Ok, here is today material culture post. I pulled these pics off eBay just this past wekeend. This is a gutta percha ambrotype case dating from c1860.

Now, who still wants to have the argument that "they didn't use the "G" inside the square and compasses before the War"?