THREE AMERICAN SILVER MASONIC BADGES, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

the first oval engraved on both sides with symbols and with initials WSB; the second compass-form Past Master's jewel from St. Johns Lodge No. 1 of Portsmouth, NH for Benjamin Brierly; the third openwork oval from Lafayette Lodge No. 373, New York, circa 1830. Together with a heart-shaped shield engraved both sides with emblems and H.C. Hull 1822 Salina Chap. No 70 from Onondaga County. 4 pieces.

all in good condition
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1. Obverse of oval badge. “H.A.” alludes to the Biblical character Hiram Abiff, Grand Architect at the building of King Solomon’s Temple, whose fidelity to his trust and murder constitutes the Hiramic Legend and is the pivotal character in the Third Degree of Master Mason. “J.J.J.” alludes to Jubela, Jubelo, and Jubelum, three Fellowcrafts known as the three Tyrians (or Ruffians or Assassins) who murdered Hiram Abiff in an attempt to extort from him the secrets of a Master Mason. “B.S.J. T.M.C.” likely alludes to the first letters of the “secret” masonic words and passwords associated with the various grips and pass-grips of each lodge degree, not to be put in writing nor told to non-Masons. Exception is the letter “C” which I am uncertain what this is referencing. It may allude to the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons whose Royal Arch Degree was attached to the Third Degree in the Act of Union of 1813 which ended the schism and unified the Antient and Modern Grand Lodges of England. It is surprising to see these engraved on any masonic badge, especially of that era, as this would nearly constitute disclosure of masonic “secrets.”

Reverse of oval badge. The beehive is a symbol of industry and appears surrounded by six busy and one errant bee, perhaps alluding to the ritual a “drone in the hive of society.” The acronym “G.R.L.A.G.M.A.” alludes to the seven liberal arts and sciences, Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, and Astronomy, ritualistically studied by Masons to enrich their minds. The numerals “3-5-7-11” allude to a “flight of winding stairs consisting of three, five, and seven steps,” used to illustrate various principles in the Second Degree of Fellowcraft. As to what the prime number “11” is doing here in sequence is uncertain; it has no masonic symbolic meaning to the best of my knowledge—most odd. “XII” inscribed on the rectangular form likely alludes to Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, (Verses 1-7), “Remember now thy Creator...” used as the perambulation prayer in the Third Degree of Master Mason which seeks to remind the candidate of his mortality. The small oblique rectangular form may represent a coffin or tomb. “H.S.F.T.S.” alludes to the five human senses: Hearing, Seeing, Feeling, Tasting, and Smelling.

2. Obverse of Past Master’s jewel. Features classic 60-degree radius symbol intersecting points of the compasses, with setting sun device bisected by radius. Ordinarily on a Past Master’s jewel the sun is centered, in full circumference, and with an optional square beneath it. Unusual use of setting sun symbol here cleverly alludes to the converse of masonic ritual describing the duties of the Worshipful Master, “As the sun rises in the East to open and govern the day, so rises the Worshipful Master in the East to open and govern his lodge, set the craft to work, and give them proper instruction.” The juxtaposition here suggests the most profound sentimentality from the members toward this particular outgoing Master.

Reverse of Past Master’s jewel. Inscribed “St. John’s Lodge No. 1 Portsmouth, N.H.” at apex of compasses. This is the first masonic lodge in New Hampshire and was one of two founding lodges of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. It was founded either in 1734 or in 1736, and claims to be the oldest continuously operating Masonic lodge in the Americas, a title also claimed by Solomon’s Lodge in Savannah, Georgia, founded in 1734. The lodge has an extensive list of prominent members dating to the Colonial era and the American Revolution, including patriot Nathan Hale, and William Whipple, signatory of the Declaration of Independence, as well as several governors, and mayors of Portsmouth. Inscribed “to the P. W. Master Benjamin Brierly” along the radius. He presided in 1807 and 1810. Birth and death dates are not yet known. A Benjamin Brierly is listed as a pastor of the First Baptist Church of Great Falls, organized in 1833.

3. Obverse of oval badge. Surmounting and behind the masonic device at center are representations of two cutlasses or cavalry swords, possibly alluding to the military background of the lodge’s namesake, General LaFayette. Intertwined with the swords is a representation of a tasseled cord or cable-tow, used to symbolically “bind” the candidate during the degrees. The cable-tow forms a heart shape at middle in a simple yet profoundly sincere symbol of Brotherly Love, one of the three tenets of the Masonic Fraternity together with Friendship and Morality. An arc below the center device encloses a trowel symbol and is inscribed, “Lafayette Lodge No. 373” alluding to the lodge chartered at New York City in 1824 in honor of the visit by Lafayette, later re-numbered No. 64 and since defunct.

4. Obverse of heart-style badge. Inscribed within circular personal mark of Hiram Abiff is an oblique image of a keystone. Above inscribed “Salina Chap. No. 70”. This chapter was chartered February 9, 1821, at Onondaga County, and went dark during the Morgan Affair which occurred nearby in the LeRoy/Batavia region, and revived as Syracuse Chapter No. 70 on February 6, 1849, as stated in the proceedings of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of New York.

Reverse of shield-style badge. Inscribed “H.C. Hull 1822” and “Salina Lodge No. 327”. This lodge was chartered in June 1819 near Syracuse at Onondaga County, and was associated with Salina Chapter No. 70, Royal Arch Masons, as indicated on the obverse of the badge.