1819 Certificate

Paper certificate of membership into the Order of the Temple (Knights Templar) issued to John Coulter by Laughaughery Lodge No. 109, Ireland, 1819. As was a frequent custom of the times (and by design), attached to the Craft lodges were Royal Arch chapters and Knights Templar preceptories.

The certificate is decorated with depictions of a royal arch, square and compasses, skull and crossed bones, plumb, level, and other Masonic symbols. Three seals corresponding to the Craft lodge, Royal Arch degree, and Knights Templar are stamped with ink upon the certificate. Three ribbons of blue (Craft), red (Holy Royal Arch), and black (Knights Templar) are woven into the certificate on the left side. What is left of a wax seal covers a portion of the three ribbons.

Thanks to the Henry Coil Library & Museum in San Francisco.

A brief history of the lodge can be read on the link. Sadly the building was vacated and the lodge moved to Lodge 175 and now meet in the Masonic Club in Kelly Street on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays (ex May to August).

Where is this?

This lovely mural from last month can be viewed in Lodge St. George No.503 in Helensburgh. The mural displays some of Helensburgh's churches with the winding stair leading from the lodge building and apparently it was painted by a PM. The lodge meets every 2nd and 4th Monday (except the summer) and visitors are always welcome.