Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Silver Box with Piece of Stone from Solomon's Temple
1860
Maker not marked
USA: Massachusetts, Boston (probably)
a: silver, silk; b: stone
a: 1-1/2"h x 2-3/4"w x 2"d; b: 5/8"h x 1"w x 1-3/8"d
Loaned by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts
GL2004.4583a-b

a: Silver octangonal box with hinged lid. Scroll feet. The front of the box has an applied open book with square and compass on top. The box is lined with dark blue velvet. The box lid is engraved on top, "Solomon's Temple / This piece of Magnesian lime stone was broken off / from the side of one of the large foundation stones on / which stood the renowned Temple of Solomon. / It was procured by myself with considerable / difficulty, the place being guarded by an armed Turkish / soldier, in the spring of 1851 in the ancient City of Jerusalem, / & it is affectionately presented to Hammatt Lodge, East / Boston, as a memorial - / J.V.C. Smith / Deputy Grand Master of the / Grand Lodge of Massachusetts / Boston. Feb. 22, 1860." (b): A piece of white limestone.

For further information, see Newell, Aimee, et.al., "Curiosities of the Craft: Treasures from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Collection", 2013, p. 66-67; and blog posts, July 29, 2014 http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2014/07/souvenirs-from-solomons-temple.html and February 5, 2021, https://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2021/02/masonic-souvenirs-from-jerusalem-.html