Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Tray from Masonic Scottish Rite Silver Set
1916
R. W.& S
Place made not marked
Silver, glass, silver plate
a:: 1"h x 20"w (handles) x 18-1/4"d
Gift of the Supreme Council, 33º, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.
SC74.125a

Masonic Scottish Rite Silver Set; appears to be for ritual service; most pieces have Hebrew symbol for life, ornate leaf design and predominant triangular shape; a: tray: round; double-headed eagle on both handles; central etched design of Maltese cross, multi-pointed star, and double-headed eagle; inscription on reverse reads "DEUS MEUMQUE JUS/ Made for the Supreme Council of/ Sovereign Grand Inspectors General/ of the Thirty Third and Last Degree/ of the Ancient Accepted Scottish/ Rite of Freemasonry for the/ Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. of the United States of America/ From the designs of Ill. Edwin/ D. Washburne. 33 under the/ direction of Ill. Barton Smith, 33/ Most Puissant Sovereign Grand/ Commander/ Nineteen hundred and Sixteen";

Scottish Rite member Edwin D. Washburne (1846-1923) designed the silver set in which this object is included for ritual use by the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction’s Supreme Council. At the time that craftsmen made the silver, Sovereign Grand Commander Barton Smith (1852-1935) was actively planning a 1917 celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Jurisdiction’s Union of 1867.