Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Scottish Rite Masonic Badge, Candidate, Valley of Jersey City
1900-1950
Sommer Badge Co.
USA: New Jersey, Newark
Metal, ribbon
overall: 5"h x 2"w
Gift of Ursula Endress
2006.012.82a-b

Scottish Rite Masonic Badge. White ribbon reads, "Candidate, Valley of Jersey City." Below first word, there is a teutonic cross with a double-headed eagle on it. Above the eagle's heads is the number 32 within a triangle. Pinned on top of the ribbon is a gold badge made up of a pin bar and a suspended Rose Croix Chapter pendant: the pin bar has an eagle with its wings spread open and the text "Jersey City" below; the pendant is shaped as elaborate compasses with a crown on top. Inside the compasses is a cross and a mother pelican feeding her young. Below that is a scroll with the letters, "INRI".

Ribbons and badges have long been ubiquitous at Masonic gatherings. These souvenirs identified participants and their affiliations, commemorated a range of different kinds of meetings, ceremonies, and galas, and were a clear way for members to declare support for their Masonic group.