          This file is copyright (c) 1995 The Philalethes Society and
          all rights including any redistribution rights are reserved by
          the copyright holder. Permission to quote from, redistribute
          or to otherwise use these materials must be obtained from
          the copyright holder directly by contacting The Philalethes,
          Nelson King, FPS, Editor, 2 Knockbolt Crescent, Agincourt
          Ontario Canada, M1S 2P6. Tel: 416-293-8071 Fax:
          416-293-8634 or CIS: 71202,22
          
          THE HAND-ME-DOWN
          MASONIC MEMORABILIA COLLECTION
          By:  George T. Halteman, MPS
          
          
           The Hand-Me-Down Masonic Memorabilia Collection is
          truly a collection which has been handed down from
          Masonic Brother to Masonic Brother.  The original collector
          is not known.  I received,  in 1978,  what had begun as a
          collection of Michigan Masonic lapel pins,  from the
          ILLUSTRIOUS LLEWELLYN S. HUGHES, 33RD Degree,
          NMJ.  Brother Hughes had added his own pins and medals
          from his 55 years of Masonic service.  This is the second
          Masonic collection of my forty years as a Freemason.  The
          first collection was lost in a burglary.  It was a very deep
          personal loss.
          The Hand-Me-Down Collection now contains brass and
          glass; cups and plates; steins; wooden, hand-carved ash
          trays; wooden plaques; aprons; belt buckles; lamps; rings;
          watches; watch fobs; and nineteen century certificates.  And 
          . . .  there is one gold knife (Circa 1940) in the collection
          which has been handed down from the Illustrious Henry
          Ford, 33RD Degree, Scottish Rite.
          The first five years I had this collection,  I, like the Brothers
          who originally started the collection, kept it locked away.  In
          1984 I started collecting books for the purpose of
          researching the history of pins and other items in the
          collection.  Finding details of Michigan pins was fairly easy. 
          The next research involved the lapel pins with only names
          and numbers with no hint of their origins.  I started visiting
          any place that sold used articles that might help.  I also
          made many inquiries to the Grand Secretaries of various
          jurisdictions, many of which were not always answered. 
          This lack of responses added to my difficulties.
          I recently read an article somewhat critical of Brothers who
          came into Masonry " . . .  and after receiving the Master
          Mason's degree,  looked like walking jewelry stores."  The
          author was comparing a solid Masonic education to the
          Brother who simply wanted the world to know HE was a
          member.  I have found collecting Masonic Jewelry to be an
          excellent way to receive a worthwhile education in
          Freemasonry.  I have two lapel pins I wear; a small Past
          Master's Pin and a Philalethes Society Pin.  The rest stay in
          the collection for the viewing pleasure of my friends and
          Brothers.  Of course,  in addition to just collecting,  I have
          also done extensive research and had the pleasure of
          reading many fine articles on Brothers who are represented
          in the Hand-Me-Down Collection.  
          One particular Lodge pin has sent me scurrying through
          history books for the past four months.  I have read where
          the great Shawnee Chief Tecumseh was a Mason.  I have
          not yet found the record of where the Chief was made a
          Mason.  If I could speculate,  I would say,  "Southern Illinois, 
          and shortly after receiving his title as Chief at the young age
          of 23 years."  Yet,  I believe there should be no room for
          speculation.  I will not leave this collection with loose ends! 
          Perhaps continued research will yield the answers.
          When I became heir apparent of this collection,  I really had
          no intention of collecting from other branches (appendant
          bodies) of Freemasonry.  When I decided to get very
          serious about adding to the Hand-Me-Down Collection, 
          however,  one thought was,  "How beautiful it would be to
          have one pin from each of the Shrine Temples."
          I called the Shrine Temple and asked for the name of the
          Recorder of each Temple in several states.  I sent a letter to
          each.  With no response sixty days later,  I mailed a second
          letter.  Again,  no response.  The next time I was in the city
          where my Shrine Temple was located,  I spoke to the
          Temple Manager.  He could offer no solution,  but did
          present me eight Potentates' lapel pins.  These are a
          treasure!  They are all different and have the temple name
          and a motto.
          Later,  I was invited to display my collection to the next
          ceremonial of my Shrine Temple.  The oldest pin in the
          collection was a Representative's Medal to the 1909 Shrine
          Convention at Kosair Temple;  Louisville, Kentucky. 
          Another outstanding medal was the one from Moslem
          Temple;  Detroit, Michigan.  It was originally a gift from the
          temple to the individual signing the most candidates for one
          ceremonial.  The Nobles in attendance appeared to
          appreciate the showing.
          One Noble informed me that the temple was trying to collect
          a fez from each of the Shrine Temples.  I donated the six
          fezzes which I had at the time.  It was a pleasure to be able
          to be a party to this collection.
          Keeping additional items coming to the collection is a
          challenge.  It has been suggested, by a well-meaning
          Brother,  that I place an ad in a national Masonic magazine, 
          asking for donations to the collection.  While I certainly do
          accept gratis additions to the collection,  if  the item is
          already represented in the collection,  the Brother making
          the offer is politely informed of that fact and the donation
          declined.  Becoming greedy would not seem to be in
          accordance with Masonic principles or the intent of the
          collection.  It is necessary,  however,  to "harvest" many
          sources for the collection and to be very diligent in the task.
          For example,  I recently wrote to a Grand Lodge in Europe, 
          requesting information on anything they might have for their
          150th Anniversary.  I received a very prompt answer from
          that Grand Lodge,  directing me to a particular Brother.  I
          wrote this Brother and sent him a Texas Sesquicentennial
          pin,  as a token of friendship.  Even after the second letter, 
          there is yet no response.  Responses, though, can come
          when least expected and be pleasant surprises.  
          I recall one instance,  in 1989,  when I sent a letter to the
          Grand Chapter of North Dakota.  Three years later I
          received a beautiful pin from the Grand Secretary,  in
          commemoration of their 100th Anniversary.  This was a
          bonus for me and intended to be gratis.  After reading about
          this Grand Chapter I decided they could use a donation. 
          The Brethren of North Dakota appear to be very generous in
          all of their laudable undertakings.
          Many items come to me through Masonic and
          Masonic-related associations that have heard why I'm
          building this collection,  and where its eventual home will be. 
          The purpose of the Hand-Me-Down Collection is to inform
          and educate the Masonic Brethren of the absolute wealth of
          Masonic memorabilia that exists outside their home
          jurisdiction.  When I can no longer take care of the
          collection,  I plan to donate it to the Grand Lodge of Texas.
          I have found when one collecting source dries up.  It is
          necessary to look for an alternative.  For example,  I
          originally collected only a few coins which were Masonic
          related;  such as the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of
          Independence,  the Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, 
          and the 100th Anniversary of the Baltimore Convention. 
          Adding to these,  I have now collected 109 coins with a
          Masonic connection.
          One particularly interesting coin bears the face of Carter
          Henry Harrison.  There seemed to be not a clue as to his
          Masonic connection.  This coin became a thorn in my side.  I
          read four different books referencing this individual.  He
          served two terms in Congress as a representative from
          Chicago and served five terms as Chicago mayor.  Finally,
          in the TEXAS MASONIC JOURNAL for 1886,  I found that
          Carter Henry Harrison had attended a 1885 Scottish Rite
          Ceremonial and Banquet at the Oriental Consistory,  Valley
          of Chicago.  (Also attending was Lt. Governor John C.
          Smith.)  Mayor Harrison was assassinated in 1893 at the
          end of the Chicago World's Fair.
          Texas is now my home.  The Grand Lodge has only recently
          started allowing certain pins to be issued,  and these are
          controlled by the Grand Lodge.  As I travel around the state, 
          showing the Michigan pins,  I keep hoping that the idea of
          individual Lodges issuing their own pins might "catch on."  
          So far,  the only comment I have received is,  "We don't
          have these in Texas."   But Texas,  as large as it is,  is only
          ONE state.
          Twenty-three states are represented,  so far,  in the
          Hand-Me-Down Masonic Memorabilia Collection.  It is my
          goal to collect items from each of the other twenty-seven
          states so that all fifty states of the United States of America
          will be represented.  And,  if God is willing,  maybe there will
          be items from many more countries throughout the world!
          