Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Order of DeMolay Merit Badge, Manamooskeagan Chapter, Abington, MA
1964-70
Maker not marked
USA
Metal, enamel
4-11/16"h x 3-5/8"w x 1/4"d
Gift of Gregory S. Manoogian
2005.003

Order of DeMolay Merit Badge, Manamooskeagan Chapter, Abington, MA. OBVERSE: Rectangular gold-colored metal pin bar features rounded top and raised decorative scrollwork around edges. Within scrollwork is the raised text, "MERIT / ORDER of DEMOLAY". Suspended from pin bar via six round eyelets are three columns of individual merit bars with raised gold text surrounded by colored enamel infill. Merit bars along PR column, from top to bottom, bear the text "JOURNALISM" with light green enamel infill, "VISITATION" with orange enamel infill, "MERIT" with white enamel infill, "JOURNALISM" with light green enamel infill, and "MERIT" with white enamel infill. Center column, top to bottom: "ATTENDANCE" with light blue enamel infill, "MERIT" with white enamel infill, "RITUAL" with dark green enamel infill, and "MERIT" with white enamel infill; from this is suspended a DeMolay jewel of cast gold-colored metal in shape of crown (infilled with red enamel) with crossed swords behind and knight's helmet above, a white 5-arm Maltese cross at center with a black circle within it which contains a crescent moon surrounded by 10 stars. PL column, top to bottom: "SCHOLASTICS" with orange enamel infill, "MERIT" with white enamel infill, "ATTENDANCE" with light blue enamel infill, "MERIT" with white enamel infill, and "MERIT" with white enamel infill. Each merit bar has two round eyelets on either long side and is attached to bar above and below with a single o-ring; DeMolay jewel in center attached via two 1/2" gold-colored metal chains to central eyelet at top of jewel. REVERSE: Pin bar has hinge on PL end and locking swivel mechanism PR end.