Photo of a Brother?

[Bushrod Carter]

I picked this up at the CW show in Nashville in December. So, do you think this may be a Brother? Do you know of any other organization that used a trowel as a symbol/fraternal pin?

Oh, it is backmarked: "Hinds, 161 Middle Street, Portland" Can anyone ID the uniform he is wearing?

[PvtSchultz]

Brother Pat,

While doing a little research to followup on my PM sent to you, I came across this article (link below) that addresses your question. I hope it sheds some light on this for you.

"Many Fraternal Groups Grew From Masonic Seed (Part 1 -- 1730-1860)" by Barbara Franco.

http://www.linshaw.com/omtp/vol4no11.html

BARBARA FRANCO is assistant director for museum programs at the Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, Mass. Her previous research has appeared in two earlier museum catalogues.

This is the first of a two-part series outlining the role of fraternal organizations in america and their relationship to Freemasonry. Barbara Franco has provided us with the results of her research while she was preparing for the museum's 10th anniversary exhibit, "Fraternally Yours: A Decade of Collecting." Part 2, covering the period from 1860-1920, will appear in the November issue.


Fraternally Yours,
Bro Rich Schultz, PM
Clifton Lodge #203 F&AM

[Bushrod Carter]

Brother Schultz,
I agree. There were many that were sprung fom our Caft. However, I do not think there were any that used the trowel specifically as a symble.


I saw this image at the CW show and decided NOT to buy it because I was looking for a S&C. I said to myself "Why would I assume this dude is a Mason because of a trowel?"

Then, after about another two hours of wondering around the show, I came to the table of American Digger and saw this magazine cover. I RAN back to this photo a bought it.

I've been in contact with the dude who dug this pin and he said his find is only about a half inch long (without the handle). It was dug in an early war Virginia winter camp associated with the 12th Mississippi Infantry.

So, I suppose the question should become: Do we limit ourselves by ONLY weearing a device in the form of a S&C?

[PvtSchultz]

I think this calls for more research Brother Pat! :D

[MELowe]

So, I suppose the question should become: Do we limit ourselves by ONLY wearing a device in the form of a S&C?

Masonic accessories have usually only been limited by the symbolism of the order, the imagination of the maker, and the purse of the Brother. While the S&C is the universal symbol for the Symbolic Lodge, some pieces of jewelry bore various different symbols, or many symbols all at once (I refer to the jewels (http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/old_masonic_jewel.htm) of the late 18C, usually silver, eliptical, and engraved).

Original pieces with other symbols, while seemingly limited, do exist. Slippers (http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/ivory_shoe_or_slipper.htm)even make appearances, eventually.

Now what of the Appendant bodies? Everyone that belongs to these is first and foremost a Mason (or relative), no? The first Rosary of the OSE doesn't appear until 1865, and the AAONMS was not founded until 1872. They're out. But the other degrees and orders appear almost as early as the Craft itself. The keystone (or simply just the mark (http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/RAM_1800s_Jewel.htm)) appears in 18C jewelry. There are early pieces in the collections of the Library and Museum at Great Queen St., London, Museum of our National Heritage, the House of the Temple and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial bearing the Maltese cross/Cross and Crown, the Delta, the Kadosh, etc.

Will we find images of them? Perhaps. The question then becomes: "Are we looking for them?"

[1stMaine]

Patrick,

The fellow, I am almost certain, is from Maine, as there is a CDV I know with the back mark of :

Union Card Picture, Made by George F. Ayer, Photographer, 161 Middle Street, Portland.

I'll see if I can locate anything about a "Hinds" in one of the Cavalry or Artillery units from Maine, although "Hinds" may also have been an assistant of Ayer. I'll see what I can locate.

[MELowe]

Bro. Pat:

In keeping with the conversation about the image at the beginning of this thread, I'll mention this here, rather than over in material culture.

While trolling ebay.com, I came across a rather curious item. If you have not already viewed it, might I suggest that you (and all our brethren) check out this 'Victorian' trowel pin (http://cgi.ebay.com/Victorian-Gold-Masonic-Trowel-Pin_W0QQitemZ110223494966QQihZ001QQcategoryZ518QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).

Fraternally,

[Bushrod Carter]

Brother Lowe,

That is COOL!

For everyone else, here is a pic of what is being offered on eBay.

Look familiar?