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Masonic Royal Arch High Priest Jewel for Julius O. Christensen with Case
1920
Maker not marked
USA
A: Metal, glass, enamel; B: Leather, silk, velvet
Gift of Robert C. Baker
2006.015.5a-b

a: Gold-tone Masonic Royal Arch High Priest jewel with horizontal pin back. Front of pin is rectangular and engraved "Julius O. Christensen 1920 / Kansas City Chapter No. 28." Along the top is a scrolling vine. At bottom center is a scrolling vine with a flower; the flower's center is a clear stone. Suspended by two chains is a medal shaped like three triangles that meet at their top points. Each triangle has black Hebrew characters along the bottom arm. In the center is a High Priest breastplate with four rows of three colored stones. b: Black leather folding case with one snap for closure. One side flap has an inner envelope compartment. The top and bottom flaps are lined with purple silk. The bottom is lined with purple velvet. One side flap is stamped in gold on the inside, "Barr Jewelry Co. / 914 Grand Ave. / Kansas City, Mo."


Originally owned by the donor's grandfather, Julius O. Christensen (1875-1947) of Kansas City, Missouri. Christensen immigrated to the United States from Odense, Denmark, coming through Ellis Island in 1893. After attending Beloit College in Wisconsin, he married Elizabeth Strack in 1900 at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Batavia, Wisconsin. The couple moved to Kansas City, where Julius was employed by the Independent Electric Machinery Company. They had one daughter (the donor's mother), Vera (Christensen) Baker. Julius Christensen petitoned Ivanhoe Lodge in Kansas City in 1906 and was raised on January 17, 1907. He was Worshipful Master in 1912. In 1917, he was named Secretary of the Ivanhoe Masonic Temple Company (the Temple was completed in 1921). Christensen was also active in the York Rite and a member of Ararat Temple of the Shrine. In 1920 he became High Priest. In December 1933 he was Secretary of Ivanhoe Lodge and Kansas City Royal Arch Chapter and Recorder of the Kansas City Commandery of the Knights Templar. Julius O. Christensen died in 1947.