Masonic Jewelry

Conspiracy theorists love to hate Freemasonry because they allegedly run the world. In actuality, Freemasons are ordinary working men who have a strong commitment to their communities. Active lodges raise lots of money for charities and perform community service. My grandfather was recently honored by his lodge for his lifetime commitment to service.

My grandfather worked hard in the family clothing store for most of his adult life, but always made time for community service. He organized clothing and food drives, volunteered at shelters, and helped raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children. When he retired he spent his days volunteering with special needs kids in the local public schools. As a gift, I bought him a yellow-gold Masonic pendant to wear on his suit at the dinner in his honor. I only hope that I can live up to the example he has set.

The Order of the Amaranth is a sister organization to the Freemasons. Founded in 1873 it derives its name from the name of Queen Christina of Sweden’s Court. It was originally founded by the Queen for the ladies and knights of her court. Then, in 1860, James Taylor of New Jersey drew upon this and founded the Masonic-affiliated Order of the Amaranth.

Rich in history and tradition, the Order requires that its members be at least 18 years of age, men who join must be Masons and women who join must be related to Masons. Originally conceived to be an Adoptive Rite of Masonry, the Order now encourages and reminds members of their duties to God and to their communities. Emphasizing God, country and fellow beings, members are urged to reflect the precept of The Golden Rule in their daily lives. Order of the Amaranth Rings are a great way to remind yourself of your devotion and make great gifts.

Every high powered, successful businessman and businesswoman knows that appearance plays a role in success. Appearance isn’t everything, but it certainly helps you make a good impression during an interview, and it also helps enforce the idea that you’re a professional and serious worker. If you show up to work, however, in jeans and a tee shirt, and there is a dress code at your office, it can make you seem like you’re less than interested in your job.

Knowing how important this outward impression can be, make sure that one of your first investments into your business success is a wardrobe fully of high quality, conservative apparel. And don’t forget that the right accessories can also add another level of elegance and professionalism to your outfit. To create the right impression, avoid overly flashy or sparkly jewelry. Items like Masonic pendants are always acceptable, but avoid gaudy pieces in a professional setting.

Originally discovered by Henri Moissan in 1893, moissonite is a hard, transparent mineral also known as silicon carbide (SiC). Moissan and other scientists initially believed that moissanite could only be found in meteorites, but in the 1950s, deposits were found in diamond mines and rock formations in the US. Still, moissanite in its natural form is extremely rare.

Registering a 9.5 on the Mohs scale, moissanite is an extremely hard and durable mineral. Although it’s primarily used in moissanite jewelry, its hardness lends itself well to high-pressure experimentation. Since moissanite can be created synthetically relatively cheaply, and its thermal conductivity is comparable to that of diamonds, it’s an ideal alternative to diamonds in these situations.

Despite the fact that the Freemasons have been around for over 400 years, most of the inner workings of the organization remain shrouded in mystery—which is exactly the way they like it. In the past century, the public has been able to glean a fair amount of information on the religiously based group, but aside from the basic tenants of their philosophy and structure of their hierarchy, it’s difficult to find any substantive information. The Freemasons now have an estimated six million members from a variety of different “Grand Lodges” around the globe.

The stonemason symbols, which have become synonymous with the freemasons, have several connotations. Since the organization is religiously affiliated, there are obvious allegories to building relationships with God, through both yourself and the community. The square and compass with the “G” in the middle can be fond on everything from Masonic lapel pins to shirts and apparel.

The title of Past Master is one of the most prestigious in the Mason community. Past Master is the fifth degree and is bestowed upon those who have completed a term as Worshipful Master of a Lodge. It is an indication that an individual is prepared to preside over a Lodge of Master Masons.

As can be imagined, the title of Past Master is a source of honor for any Mason. To that end, symbols, such as the color purple, are used to distinguish these individuals. They may also don other identifying garments or accessories, including Past Master rings and other jewelry.

Although he is rarely at liberty to discuss it, my brother has been involved with the Freemasons for numerous years. Most of the people in our family only have a vague understanding of the ideology and practices of the organization, but it is evident that Masonry is an integral part of my brother’s life. As such, we all make a point to treat the topic with tact and respect.

For his birthday this year, I wanted to get him something that portrayed his devotion to the group. Since my knowledge of his particular sect and involvement is minimal, I wanted the gift to be somewhat generic while still being personal. I finally settled on a Masonic watch, and judging by his reaction when he opened, I know that he’ll cherish it for years to come.

When many people think of the term mason, they conjure up images of bricklayers and rock workers. While this is certainly one of the connotations of the word, Freemasonry is just as prevalent. There are several different forms of the Freemason group, and there are members throughout the world.

The Freemasons use the tools of traditional stonemasons in the symbols that are engraved on their Masonic rings and crests. Although the fraternity is broken down into smaller groups known as Grand Lodges, which have their own jurisdiction, all of the groups maintain the basic Freemason religious beliefs—that there is a Supreme Being or “Great Architect.” Although Freemasonry is well-known today than in previous generations, the group is still shrouded in mystery.

Without prevarication my favorite novel is War and Peace. While many people assume that I like the book simply because it is in the canon of great literature and is a bullet-stopping tome, I appreciate the in-depth characters development and historical context of Tolstoy’s magnum opus. There are dozens of memorable characters, but Pierre stands out among the rest.

Many have suggested that Pierre is a personification of Tolstoy himself, as he struggles with religious, ethical and emotional dilemmas throughout the novel. In the middle stages of the book, Pierre joins the Freemasons and piously adopts their ideology. This serves to be just one stop on his journey of personal growth, and Pierre quickly abandons his Masonic jewelry in favor of other pursuits.

Originally founded by Henri Moissan at the turn of the 20th century, moissanite is a rare mineral with the chemical formula SiC. The mineral is extremely scarce and is only found in the remnants of meteorites. Once the compound was researched, scientists were able to reconstruct the mineral synthetically, as it is simply silicon carbide. Since the mineral is incredibly rare, virtually all of the moissanite used today is synthesized.

Today the mineral is most commonly utilized in its crystal form for jewelry. Ranking in with a 9.5 on the Mohs scale, moissanite jewelry is extremely hard and resembles diamonds. The mineral is often used as a substitute for diamonds in moissanite rings and pendants.