Question on Masonic Rings
.
given thought to a ring. Some of the questions that I have are about
symbolism. Is there any symbolism to the 'rays' behind the square and
compasses such as in the ring I've indicated below? Is there any
significance to either a red, blue, or black background? Any other
information will be appreciated.
C. Kimball
Acacia Lodge #118
Oregon, USA
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1023787660
Ed King
> I will be starting my 3rd degree next month and therefore have naturally
> given thought to a ring.
Sometimes a wife or parent may choose to buy one for just this occasion.
Drop hints now! <grin>
> Some of the questions that I have are about symbolism. Is there
> any symbolism to the 'rays' behind the square and compasses such
> as in the ring I've indicated below?
Nope. Not in that ring. Just something fanciful. That ring, while
currently at an excellent price, certainly looks to be somewhat beaten up.
I'd question whether the back was solid or not too (hollow backed rings
allow a moisture build-up which can cause a skin problem).
> Is there any significance to either a red, blue, or black background?
Not really. Some people have preferences in color but that's about it. If
you look in any standard jewelry catalog you'll see similar things with
initials, diamonds, etc.
> Any other information will be appreciated.
You just want to be careful to not get a Past Master's emblem. The ring
you've pointed us to has a square and compass. The PM emblem is
distinguished by a "rocker" either in place of or below the square.
Outside of that, do enjoy whatever you get. There's a huge variety out
there both in design and price. There are a bunch of places to buy rings
in addition to e-Bay so do look around.
Fraternally,
Ed King
http://www.masonicinfo.com -- Anti-Masonry: Points of View
Internet newsgroup posting. Copyright 2001. All rights reserved.
Animal Style Gene Goldman.·.
wrote:
>Nope. Not in that ring. Just something fanciful. That ring, while
>currently at an excellent price, certainly looks to be somewhat beaten up.
>I'd question whether the back was solid or not too (hollow backed rings
>allow a moisture build-up which can cause a skin problem).
Personally, I never wear a hollow ring. I do not mind at all the
additional expense, but my hands want to KNOW they are wearing a ring.
Hollow rings just do not feel right to me.
>> Is there any significance to either a red, blue, or black background?
>
>Not really. Some people have preferences in color but that's about it.
<LOL>
There WAS one nut job here who insisted that a Masonic ring be of a
certain color.
<LOL>
--
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Brother Gene .*.
H.M.S.H.
Q.P.H.D.
http://www.blackmountainlodge.net
http://www.freemason.org
http://mastermason.com/BrotherGene
MBBFMN #387
ICQ #503060
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Objects in this post are funnier than they appear
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Be seeing you
jruble
For twenty years, I never wore a Masonic ring. When my father passed, I got his ring (which my mother and I had
given him several years before). Now, my father didn't have hands, he had ham's. The ring fell off my thumb.
When I went to the local jewelry chain to have it sized, they said they had to have me put a value on it for
insurance purposes. My reply, "You put a value on it, (the owner) doesn't have enough money to buy it.
Worn proudly right behind my wedding ring. And if anyone want's it, they will have to cut the finger off,
probably from my dead body.
SCOTTY
proteus222
Greetings Brother,
As each Grand Lodge is independent, I can only speak as a Master
Mason of the Canadian Grand Lodge. But I think what I have to
say is representative. Should you go on to the 14th degree of the
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, there is a ring that has had the same
design for hundreds of years, and which must be worn on the ring
or third finger of the left hand (i.e. the wedding band finger). You
might want to keep that finger free, therefore. Information on this
can be found in Mackenzie's Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. As to rings for
the
Craft or Blue Lodge of Masonry, i.e. the first three degrees, there is
no standard design, other than the Square and the Compasses. You
should probably have the background as Blue rather than Black, because
we are the Blue Lodge. I have sometimes heard the black ring called
"the mechanics lodge." Also make sure of the compass points. You might
also want to be sure that the area behind the symbol on the ring is not
hollow, but has metal filled in, i.e.
so it is a more durable rather than a cheaper ring. Depending on the age
of your Lodge and whether the tassles on your apron are gold or silver,
you might want to go for a silver or gold ring, but this is a purely
personal
decision. There is a rumour or oral tradition that you initially face the
points of the compasses on the ring toward yourself, and only face them the
other way when you have become a Past Master of a Lodge, but we do not
hold to that in our jurisdiction.
Jim Bennie
<prote...@home.com> wrote:
> You
> should probably have the background as Blue rather than Black, because
> we are the Blue Lodge.
Where in the Ontario ritual or Constitution is it called a "Blue
Lodge"?
Jim Bennie,
IPM & DC, No. 44, Vancouver
KLSNOW2
to comply with your daily routine. There are several beautiful rings on the
market in which the symbols are highlighted with enamel. It has been my
experience that this enamel quickly wears off. If your day to day activities
involve wearing a suit in an office setting this might work fine, but if your
activities are more physical you may not want the enamel and settle for
something more durable. I have two Scottish Rite rings, both given to me. The
one I wear day to day is lower profile and has no enamel, the other is much
larger and has enamel. I wear the latter when I am not working, but still, the
enamel has worn off and I must send it in to have it redone. Another note, if
you buy a ring second hand, there is nothing wrong with this, the resizing
process may damage the enamel and you will need to get it re-enameled.
On the topic of wear, I always wear my rings with the symbols pointing outward
as the reason I wear a Masonic ring is to be recognized as a Mason.
K. Snow
Illinois #263
Ross Schacher
>As to rings for the Craft or Blue Lodge of Masonry, i.e. the first three degrees, there is
>no standard design, other than the Square and the Compasses. You
>should probably have the background as Blue rather than Black, because
>we are the Blue Lodge. I have sometimes heard the black ring called
>"the mechanics lodge."
>
When I was raised, my wife bought a ring and asked the Master to present
it to me that night in Lodge; it has a red stone with the square and
compasses engraved in it. A brother who was also York Rite told me that
that color was reserved for Knights Templar and that I should join.
That's the only time I'd ever heard it, though... and I'm still not sure
that he wasn't just looking for a recruit. As far as I know, color has
no symbolism at all, it's just esthetics.
>There is a rumour or oral tradition that you initially face the points of the compasses on the ring toward yourself, and only face them the other way when you have become a Past Master of a Lodge, but we do not
>hold to that in our jurisdiction.
>
I've run into this once or twice; there is a rationale behind it: you
orient the ring the way you last saw the square & compasses in lodge.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <.>
>Subject: Question on Masonic Rings
>
>>I will be starting my 3rd degree next month and therefore have naturally
>>given thought to a ring. Some of the questions that I have are about
>>symbolism. Is there any symbolism to the 'rays' behind the square and
>>compasses such as in the ring I've indicated below
>>
None.
>>Is there any significance to either a red, blue, or black background? Any other
>>information will be appreciated.
>>
Just don't get a ring that looks like it's got a sun & moon (or a
diamond) in the center of the square & compasses instead of a letter G;
that's a Past Master's ring (in most jurisdictions, anyway).
>>
>>C. Kimball
>>Acacia Lodge #118
>>
Ross Schacher
Secretary,
Franklin Lodge AF&AM
Grafton, MA
Ross Schacher
>Another point when purchasing a ring is to make sure that it is durable enough
>to comply with your daily routine. There are several beautiful rings on the
>market in which the symbols are highlighted with enamel. It has been my
>experience that this enamel quickly wears off.
>
I've had to get my "good" ring repaired once already.
So I bought a silver ring at a Gem & Jewelry Show, with a turquoise
stone background, for "work" days from H&I Rock Shop in Syracuse, NY.
Some of the brothers in my lodge have bought a stainless steel ring from
http://www.gordonsmasonicrings.com/ and
http://pages.eohio.net/davidson/; these rings look like they could stand
up to some serious abuse and not show it.
Ross Schacher
Secretary,
Franklin Lodge AF&AM
Grafton, MA.
Http://mastermason.com/franklinlodge
Animal Style Gene Goldman.·.
wrote:
>
>Greetings Brother,
>
>As each Grand Lodge is independent, I can only speak as a Master
>Mason of the Canadian Grand Lodge. But I think what I have to
>say is representative. Should you go on to the 14th degree of the
>Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, there is a ring that has had the same
>design for hundreds of years, and which must be worn on the ring
>or third finger of the left hand (i.e. the wedding band finger). You
>might want to keep that finger free, therefore.
Interesting. When I took my AASR Degrees, I was told that my 14th
Degree ring may be worn on whatever finger I preferred.
> Depending on the age
>of your Lodge and whether the tassles on your apron are gold or silver,
>you might want to go for a silver or gold ring, but this is a purely
>personal decision.
No tassels on Master Mason aprons in California Masonry.
jruble
through. I wear my seldom, in fact I have two. The other one is in my safety
deposit box awaiting whichever of my grandsons qualifies to wear it. I think it
will fit the younest one very well, as he is built exactly like my father. Mine
will go to my eldest grandson, when he qualifies. I can't wait.
I wear my father's Masonic ring proudly, and I can't get it off. It's behind my
wedding ring which was purchased 45 years and 40 lbs ago.
Whatever ring you wear, just wear it proudly.
SCOTTY
Jim Bennie
Style" Gene Goldman.·.) wrote:
> On Sun, 04 Nov 2001 12:41:14 GMT, "proteus222" <prote...@home.com>
> wrote:
> > Depending on the age
> > of your Lodge and whether the tassles on your apron are gold or silver,
> > you might want to go for a silver or gold ring, but this is a purely
> > personal decision.
> No tassels on Master Mason aprons in California Masonry.
And you don't have a skirret in Lodges down there, either, Gene.
The things you are missing!
James Foster
> The things you are missing!
Oh yeah? Well where's your Trowel? Hmm?
Animal Style Gene Goldman.·.
Bennie) wrote:
>> No tassels on Master Mason aprons in California Masonry.
>
>And you don't have a skirret in Lodges down there, either, Gene.
>The things you are missing!
Maybe, but we have Double Doubles and fish tacos. More than makes up
for it.
<s>
--
|O| Be well. Travel with a light heart.
Brother Gene .*.
Zippy Burgernose
Jim Bennie
Style" Gene Goldman.·.) wrote:
> Bennie) wrote:
> >> No tassels on Master Mason aprons in California Masonry.
> >
> >And you don't have a skirret in Lodges down there, either, Gene.
> >The things you are missing!
> Maybe, but we have Double Doubles and fish tacos. More than makes up
> for it. <s>
Yes, Gene. In calories.
Jim Bennie
It is the jewel of the Charity Steward. So there!
Jim Bennie,
IPM & DC No. 44, Secy, No. 100, Vancouver
PS .. OK, we only have a Charity Steward in one of my Lodges (it
uses the 'Emulation' ritual). Another uses the American ritual, so
it has a trowel, but the third uses the 'New South Wales' ritual and
does not.