All Our Masonic Stuff

What do we do with it?

Wandering through an antique store today I ran across quite a nice framed photograph of a Scottish Rite class. There wasn’t a date, but from the clothing the men were wearing I’d guess late 1950’s to early 1960’s. The massive size of the class would tend to indicate that as well.

I didn’t recognize the very fancy looking Scottish Rite Theater the men were posed in, but I suppose it could be located here in Washington. We no longer have our historic Scottish Rite temples in Seattle, Tacoma, or Olympia, and haven’t had since long before I became a Mason.

Photo by Matthew Williams on Unsplash

It brought up a question that has vexed me for as long as I’ve been a Mason.

What do we do with our stuff?

How do we preserve our material Masonic history when our Lodges merge or our buildings are sold?

Generally speaking, for as long as I’ve been a Mason, I’ve bought the Masonic stuff I encounter that is for sale. And I take and redistribute those things that come my way without cost. Primarily Masonic books. I get Books into the hands of Brothers who want them.

But, I have to draw the line somewhere, lest Melinda divorce me for bringing so much stuff home.

So, I only buy Craft Lodge stuff. Nothing from either of the Rites, not the Shrine, or any other Concordant/Appendant body. I’d like to save it all, but I can’t save it all.

So, the photograph is still at the antique store.

There is a wonderful practice I have seen from time to time of gifting the ring or other jewelry of a Mason who has passed away to a new Mason on his Raising. I actually saw this again just the other day when I was helping a Lodge with a Master Mason Degree.

I think that is a wonderful and profound way to keep Masonic jewelry within our Craft.

Here in Washington, we have a memorial, a crypt of sorts into which we honorably place the Aprons of Masons who have passed. That as well is a superb way of ensuring that an Apron worn honorably by a Mason doesn’t end up in a refuse pile or an antique store.

But, what on earth do we do with all the rest of it?

Honestly I’d much rather see it honorably destroyed than sent to a junk store.

There isn’t much worse to my mind than seeing our material history, these things of such importance to the Masons who went before us, discarded as trinkets for people who will never be Masons or understand Freemasonry.

I’ve never figured it out, other than books and jewelry, so I hope that we can discuss it today.

When our Lodge merges or our building sells, how do we preserve those items that make up our material culture?

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Changing gears entirely here, and moving away from Masonry:

While in the Antique store I saw one of these:

Tan Filson Tin Cloth Brush Hat

Brand spankin’ new. Tags still attached.

It’s old though. Which is what people want. Made in Seattle.

$65 plus tax.

Size Small.

I’d be an owner now if I didn’t need a size large.

If you want it, ship me an email and I’ll snag it for you. Ensure that Small will work for you though, Filson small is small.