Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

"A Free Mason Form'd out of the Materials of his Lodge"
1754
A. Slade (dates unknown); William Tringham (1723-ca. 1770)
England: London
Engraving with watercolor on paper
mat: 19-1/4"h x 14-1/4"w; sheet: 15-1/8"h x 12"w
Loaned by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts
GL2004.0141

Caricature of a Freemason with sun as face, level as neck, squares as arms, Bible as chest, pillars as legs; wearing apron standing on checkered pavement with ornate floral border; caption within reads: "A Free Mason / Form'd out of the Materials of his Lodge / Behold a Master Mason rare, / Whose mistic Portrait does declare, / The secrets of FreeMasonry / Fair for all to read and see; / But few there are to whom they're known / Tho they plainly here are shown." At bottom reads: "A. Slate delin. / Published according to Act of Parliment August 15th 1754, By W. Tringham No. 36, Hosier Lane, West Smithfield / Price 6d, coloured 1 shilling."

Freemasonry relies on a series of symbols to teach initiates its lessons and values. This engraving employs many of the most common Masonic symbols to depict a member Mason. Putting the symbols together visually like this to form a bigger picture also helps the Mason reflect on the connection between the values symbolized. In the 1700s Americans who sought to depict Masonic symbols often relied on English models for their own work. An English engraver, A. Slade, cleverly formed this figure of a Mason out of Masonic symbols, each of which has a specific meaning. For example, the figure’s face, a sun, is in the shape of the emblem of a lodge master. The figure’s neck is a level, a symbol of equality; his arms are made of two squares that represent virtue. The verse at the bottom of the image reminds the viewer that the different symbols, though drawn clearly, hold special meaning for Freemasons that might be hidden to the uninitiated. The fanciful Freemason wears a plain apron, much like the kind a workman might have used. The hole at the center of the apron flap would have allowed the wearer to secure the apron to a coat button. This attachment would have helped keep clothing free from dust or debris. For further information, see Newell, Aimee, et.al., "Curiosities of the Craft: Treasures from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Collection," 2013, p. 72-73; Burgess, Richard B., et al., "A Sublime Brotherhood: Two Hundred Years of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction," 2013, p. 24; and blog post, November 30, 2016 http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2016/11/new-to-the-collection-a-free-mason-composed-of-the-materials-of-his-lodge.html