All in the Family

All in the Familyby Ymelda Rivera Laxton, Assistant Curator, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Families pass down traditions, treasured heirlooms, and memories from generation to generation. Sometimes objects and images are foundational in forming a family’s legacy. Some families have preserved mementos and memories that speak to a Masonic tradition. In its collection, the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library holds many items that tell the story of different families’ Masonic traditions—some of them are highlighted here.

George and Frank Moxley

Captain George William Moxley (1831-1921), a mariner and fisherman born in Groton, Connecticut, joined Union Lodge No. 31, in New London, Connecticut, in 1868. He served as Junior Warden of the lodge in 1884 and as Master of the lodge in 1887. His son Frank G. Moxley (1854 or 1855-1913) followed in his dad’s Masonic footsteps, joining Union Lodge No. 31 in 1905. This endearing 1910 photograph shows father George pinning a jewel to his son Frank’s jacket lapel. At the bottom of the photo is inscribed “P.M. George W. Moxley presenting his son Frank G. Moxley with a P.M. jewel.” On back of the photograph reads a note, “son Frank died in 1913 at the age of 59.” Frank

George W. Moxley with son Frank G. Moxley, 1910. Schofield, New London, Connecticut. Museum Purchase, 2000.059.11. Moxley, who also went by Francis, served as Junior Warden in 1908, Senior Warden in 1909, and Master of the lodge in 1910.

Alexander and Margaret Pollio

In 1975, Knight Templar and Junior Grand Warden of New York, Alexander Pollio (1916-1995), and his wife, Margaret Pollio (1922-2003), member of Chenango Chapter No. 135, Order of the Eastern Star, developed an idea for a project to benefit the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. Together with the Ladies of Malta Commandery No. 21 in Binghamton, New York, they worked for three years to create this intricately embroidered quilt. The quilt features emblems from the White Shrine, DeMolay, the Triangles, Amaranth, Royal Arch Masons, and Knights Templar. Margaret Pollio first collected symbols of the various Masonic groups on lapel pins, placemats, and other items. She gave her emblems to artist and fellow Eastern Star member Imogene Bowman (1919-1992) of Chenango Forks, New York, who then transferred each drawing to a muslin block. It was then embroidered by members of the Ladies of Malta Commandery No. 21. The quiltmakers completed the project in November 1977 and exhibited it at several Masonic events in 1978. It was donated to the museum the same year.

In a 1978 article in the magazine Knight Templar, Pollio detailed the time and dedication needed to make the quilt, stating, “It required 90 hours to embroider the DeMolay emblem.” This quilt is an example of a unique and creative way in which one Masonic family expressed their commitment to their fraternity.

Embroidered Masonic Quilt, 1975-1978. Imogene Evans Bowman and Ladies of Malta Commandery No. 21, Binghamton, New York. Gift of Lewis L. Walter, SC 79.24. Photograph by David Bohl.

ALL IN THE FAMILY continued

The Rowlands

Freemasonry was a tradition for the Rowlands family of New York state. Five generations of Rowlandses participated in Freemasonry, from Richard Rowlands Sr. (1830-1910), a member of Stella Lodge No. 485 in New York to his great-great-grandson Richard V. Travis, former Executive Director of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library. In the mid-2000s, the museum received a donation from Travis that included scrapbooks, photographs, and ephemera from the Rowlands family documenting the Masonic activities of Richard Allison Rowlands (1890-1955), his wife Gertrude (1890-1973), and their daughter Patricia Rowlands (19232005). One photograph shows the Rowlands family—Richard, Gertrude, and Patricia—at a visitation to the Westchester Putnam District in New York on April 29, 1950.

Richard A. Rowlands, a 33° Scottish Rite Mason, enjoyed a distinguished Masonic career. He served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York from 1950 to 1952. Gertrude and her three daughters—Eloise Shirley (1913-1970), Virginia (1916-2010), and Patricia (1923-2005)—were all members of the Order of the Eastern Star.

One scrapbook that belonged to Patricia Rowlands commemorated her time as Worthy Matron of Corlaer Chapter No. 528 in Oneida, New York in 1952—a post her mother had held in 1950. The album includes cards, illustrations, and heartfelt notes from friends and family, including this sentiment from her parents: “You have been faithful to your ‘star’ and put your trust in Him. You have been a leader kind & true....”

top right Scrapbook of Patricia Rowlands, ca. 1953. New York. Gift of Richard V. Travis, A2012/64/5.

bottom right Rowlands family at Westchester-Putnam District, Photograph Album of Richard A. Rowlands, 1950. New York. Gift of Richard V. Travis, A2012/64/1.

below Grand Master of New York Richard A. Rowlands, ca. 1950. Vang, New York, New York. Gift of Richard V. Travis, 2012.044.4.

Each of these stories helps us to appreciate how Freemasonry has connected generations of families. They also illustrate how Masonic legacies have been created and shared in creative and enduring ways. Do you have objects related to a Masonic legacy or tradition in your family? We want to know about them! Email Ymelda Rivera Laxton at ylaxton@srmml.org.

To see more items from our collection, visit our website, srmml.org, and our Flickr site at www.flickr.com/photos/digitalsrmml/albums