Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Corn, Wine and Oil in Box
ca. 1887
Maker not marked
Israel: Jerusalem
Wood, glass, ink on paper, cotton
overall (closed): 1-1/2"h x 6-1/2'w x 4-1/2"d
Gift of Alvin Frank Appel
85.90

Wooden box marked "Jerusalem" containing wine, oil, wheat, bottles with square and compasses design; accompanying letter reads "U.S. Consulate/ Jerusalem, Palestine/ 19 January 1887/ I certify that the wine and oil forwarded to John Worthington Esq. U.S. Consul at Malta/ were made in Jerusalem, that the wheat was raised here, and that the leather bottles are such as used here and were made in this country. The wine is known as Jerusalem wine and is seven years old./ Henry Gillman,/ U.S. Consul."

Many public buildings have ceremonial cornerstones that memorialize their construction. Known for their ties to the builders of cathedrals, Freemasons perform a special ceremony for laying cornerstones, upon request. In it, they use tools to check that the cornerstone is square, straight and level. Then they consecrate the cornerstone with corn or grain, wine and oil, Masonic symbols of prosperity, health and peace. Finally, the stone is symbolically tapped in place with a gavel. This souvenir box contains wine, wheat and oil from Jerusalem, authenticated by a card from the U.S. Consul in Jerusalem, Henry Gillman (b. 1833). For more information, see blog post, Feb. 5, 2021, https://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2021/02/masonic-souvenirs-from-jerusalem-.html