The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal order that has become known for its service work. As one might expect, the patron and namesake of the group is 15th century explorer Christopher Columbus. As a religious service organization, the Knights donate much and often to faith-based charities. One of the main purposes of the group is to foster good Catholic citizenship within the order.
The Knights were instrumental in lobbying for the words “under God” to be added to the Pledge of Allegiance, a change that was made in 1954. More recently, the Knights have been outspoken about social issues, generally adopting a conservative position. For example, many of them are outspoken about pro-life causes. Members of the organization often wear Knights of Columbus rings.
As the largest fraternal organization in the world that permits both men and women, the Order of the Eastern story has a rich history. Started in 1850 by Rob Morris, its teachings are rooted in the Bible. There are about 10,000 different chapters around the world, with roughly one million members who belong to a variety of monotheistic religions.
The emblem of this sacred organization is a five-pointed star, which contains symbols representing lessons taught by the order. The white beam of the star points downward, signifying the manger from the Christian religion. From Eastern Star rings to pendants, the emblem is proudly displayed by members as signification of their devotion to the order.
I am about 2/3rds of the way through this book. This book is a stunning follow up to the global phenomenon “The Da Vinci Code. In his latest work Dan Brown once again demonstrates why he is one of the world’s most popular thriller writer. An example of the 33rd degree ring that Dan Brown writes about can be viewed at Fox Jewelry.
Most of us associate the word “fraternity” with beer drinking and toga parties, but for centuries fraternities have had a much greater significance. Long before the institution of the Greek System in colleges, fraternities have been organizations that are brought together under a common cause.
Fraternities are usually organized on religious or political grounds, such as the Catholic Knights of Columbus. This order is devoted to upholding the tenets of the faith, boasting more than 1.7 million members. Those in the order show their loyalty by donning the emblem on various items, such as Knights of Columbus rings.
My mother is what most working women would refer to as a socialite. Her twice weekly bridge group and tennis team keep her weekdays pretty full. She hardly has anytime to squeeze in her shopping. But when she does, watch out; she has impeccable taste when it comes to clothing and accessories. Her ability to find an outfit and matching shoes that’s been reduced in price is phenomenal.
Though considered a space cadet by many people, she found the ultimate steal for her and her bridge group 3 months ago. She was hosting the final tournament of the season, so she let her girly nature run wild and decided to buy each player a small gift. After what seemed like hours of searching, she stumbled across a timeless accessory she knew all of the girls would love – Masonic pendants. As she gathered each colorfully decorated and handcrafted piece, she knew her presentation at the tournament would be flawless, and she smiled.
After my grandpa passed away last fall, my husband and I found out several weeks later that he had left us his house in his will. A real treasure tucked away in the countryside of Tennessee, it was an olive green, two-bedroom establishment that stood two stories high. Not only did we feel blessed to have inherited the house, but we were excited to see what valuables we could uncover inside.
We began in the attic, thinking we’d work our way down by floor, as we put on our surgical masks and rubber gloves to combat the dust and mold. I started with an old burgundy colored trunk. Dust spewed from the within as I opened its lid. Filled with old newspaper clippings and toupees, I dug my hands to the bottom and felt somethiblue ng small and hard. I gripped it between my fingers and pulled. As my hand resurfaced from the trunk I saw that I was holding one of grandpa’s blue lodge rings. A single tear raced down my check as I reflected upon the memory it unleashed. Then I continued to dig.
“On the 4th of July, 1848, under a clear sky in the presence of the President of the United States and virtually every notable of the government including former first lady Dolley Madison, the cornerstone was set with masonic ceremonies by the Grand Lodge of Masons of the District of Columbia. One of the principle addresses of the occasion was given by Benjamin B. French, Grand Master, who wore the masonic apron that Washington wore at the laying of the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. In his address French referred to the masonic master’s chair used by Washington as Worshipful Master of Washington-Alexandria Lodge, and the gavel used by the first President to set the cornerstone of the Capitol, in the custody of Potomac Lodge #5 of Georgetown, D.C.
A curious piece of the Masonic puzzle is the actual street layout for our Capital city,
Take any good street map of downtown
Many examples of the compass and square can be found on the Masonic Rings sold by Fox Jewelry located in Sioux City, Iowa.
While the exact hierarchy or order of officer positions may vary for different jurisdictions of Freemasonry, most jurisdictions elect lodge officers in progression from lesser roles to more important roles throughout the years. Usually, an officer spends one or two years in each position before he moves on, and is eventually elected as Worshipful Master. Common offices include Tyler, Steward, Deacon, Secretary, Treasurer, Junior Warden and Senior Warden. It is also common for the Master position to be filled by the Senior Warden of the previous year.
The Master is the senior officer of a Masonic lodge. He directs all the business of his lodge, and has considerable powers. He also presides over rituals and ceremonies. A Past Master is a person who has served as the Master of a lodge in the past. Some lower offices are often filled by Past Masters. Masonic jewelers often sell Past Master rings that are perfect for the Past Master in your life
In tough economic times, there are certain products you can skimp on to save money and still get comparable quality, like the store brand of grocery items. However, there are other items where quality just shouldn’t be sacrificed. These include investment items, like cars, furniture and jewelry. If you purchase high-quality items like these, they will last you a lot longer than cheap versions and you’ll eventually save money because you won’t have to buy replacements or pay for repairs.
For example, good quality Masonic watches will last a lot longer than inexpensive watches. They’re less likely to break, and usually a quality jeweler will help you with any repairs that are needed over time. Watches can even double as jewelry if they feature jewels, like diamonds. They always make great gifts, and the recipient will be much more grateful to receive a high quality watch