Today

[BarryC]

If I remember correctly, Grandpop was a 32nd degree Mason. But he was not active in it in the last few decades of his life.
You mentioning that stuff made me remember this.
In Eastern Star, Grandmom was some kind of Grand Matron or something, I seem to remember.
But I never was familiar with their symbols like what you saw on tombstones.
By the way, if you ever seen the letters D.A.R. on a woman's tombstone, that stands for Daughters of the American Revolution. Any woman who can trace a direct line in her ancestry back to a famous person in the revolution can join. Grandmom can trace a direct line to John Paul Jones. She joined the D.A.R. in the 1930s and is still active in it enough to go their annual dinners and things.
Just some stuff I thought of that may interest someone.
Barry

okay I have a question about the Freemasons symbols, Renee and I saw a Grave Marker, it had the usual symbol on it, but then next to it was an upside down star, we couldn't figure out what that symbolized, does anyone know?
Jersey Jim

Apparently the symbol is for the female's Eastern Star, the counter part, and I believe it is also used in high level (33rd?) initiates of the masonic order.

I did some more research and found many fundamentalist sites that take a strong stand against masonry. It was difficult wading through the muck to find a solid history of the symbol, but I did find one. Disclaimer: this is not reading material that is advisable for all, please read at your own risk. There are some highly controversial topics, so read at YOUR OWN RISK.

Unfortunately, this is a cached page on google.

Hey, Guy, it was easy to make a shorter link! Glad I finally tried it!

http://makeashorterlink.com/?A21E123C6

Renee

 

[bach2yoga]

By the way, if you ever seen the letters D.A.R. on a woman's tombstone, that stands for Daughters of the American Revolution. Any woman who can trace a direct line in her ancestry back to a famous person in the revolution can join. Grandmom can trace a direct line to John Paul Jones. She joined the D.A.R. in the 1930s and is still active in it enough to go their annual dinners and things.
!

Yes, there was a DAR on one of the tombstones there as well, I noticed it.
Renee

 

[bunnymom3]

Barry,

Thats really neat about you grandma being a D.A.R. Can you find out what you need to prove it. I have always wondered.

Nicole

 

[Teegate]

I finally dragged out my great great grandfathers thirty third Mason award and photographed it quickly. Here is a view of it. It has some damage. My mom received a phone call in about 1971 from my grandfathers brothers wife informing us that she had some items she wanted to pass on to my brother and I. My mom and I drove to her house in Haddon Heights and she was standing at the street with this leaning against her, along with many old photos. We didn't even get out of the car. She put them in the car, we said a few things, and were out of there in minutes.

http://home.comcast.net/~teegate/IMG_2899.jpg

His name was George Washington Steed and he received it on 9/14/1886 in Boston. I thought he had to go to Europe but I was incorrect. if you look closely you can see his name and a GPS coordinate. It is most likely a location in the orient and I will have to check on that.

http://home.comcast.net/~teegate/IMG_2901.jpg

Here is the seal.

http://home.comcast.net/~teegate/IMG_2903.jpg

He had to sign the certificate and it is mentioned in the writing to that fact. Here is his signature.

http://home.comcast.net/~teegate/IMG_2904.jpg

And this shows that he was a 33rd and last degree Mason which obviously the highest you can get. I have a photo of him in his uniform with swords included on most likely the day this occurred.

http://home.comcast.net/~teegate/IMG_2905.jpg

Guy

 

[bunnymom3]

oppps forget it I found it Barry

 

[bach2yoga]

I finally dragged out my great great grandfathers thirty third Mason award and photographed it quickly. Here is a view of it.
Guy

That is very cool! Very nice family memento!

I read that the Eastern Stars are supposed to be for the spouses, etc of freemasons. I wonder if it is open exclusively for the spouses.

Renee

 

[BEHR655]

Guy,

You're very lucky to have something like that.

 

[Teegate]

I finally dragged out my great great grandfathers thirty third Mason award and photographed it quickly. Here is a view of it.
Guy

That is very cool! Very nice family memento!

I read that the Eastern Stars are supposed to be for the spouses, etc of freemasons. I wonder if it is open exclusively for the spouses.

Renee

It must not be Renee, because on my moms side, my grandmother and all of her daughters including my mom are in Eastern Star, and my moms dad was not in the Masons.

Guy

 

[Teegate]

Guy,

You're very lucky to have something like that.

Thanks Steve. After my dad died my mom called his brother and gave him all of the photo's that this woman had given my brother and I, leaving us only this item. Earlier this year I called my dads brother and asked for the photo's back and he sent them to me.

Guy