Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Past Master's Jewel for St. John's Lodge on Collar
1812
Maker not marked
USA: Massachusetts, Boston
a: silver; b: silver, linen
a: 4-3/4"h x 3-5/8"w x 3/8"d
Loaned by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts
GL2004.0145a-b

Masonic Past Master's Jewel for St. John's Lodge with Collar. Silver jewel suspended from silver-bullion woven collar with linen backing. a: Jewel is silver openwork in shape of compasses; points extend to quadrant arc at bottom; in center is full sun with face; loop at top. On reverse, engraved into back of sun and continued on arc: "St. John's Lodge Boston to / Br. James Dickson P.M. 1812"; at top of compasses is red bordered circular sticker label with hand-written "72". b: Collar is silver bullion woven with zig-zag design, white linen backing extends to hook clasps at top.

This jewel was presented to Brother James Dickson (1774-1853), Past Master of St. John's Lodge in Boston, in 1812. Dickson was born in London in 1774. He came to Philadelphia and then to Boston by 1796 when he began an acting career. He later became a merchant and imported English fancy goods. Dickson joined St. John's Lodge in 1804. In addition to serving in various offices in that lodge, he was also Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Dickson died in 1853. While the style varied widely, the sun symbol inside the compasses and above the quadrant is generally understood to symbolize the Past Master's jewel. Unlike the jewels worn by lodge officers, Past Master jewels were usually purchased by the lodge and then presented to the outgoing Master in appreciation of his service as leader. For further information, see Newell, Aimee, et.al., "Curiosities of the Craft: Treasures from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Collection", 2013, p. 86-87; and blog post, September 17, 2009 http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2009/09/a-masonic-past-masters-jewel.html