A Thomas
Harper Masonic Companion's
Jewel of the
Royal Arch Degree
The Front
The Back
It is engraved with his name Tho
Harper - London Fleet Street.
This is a most wonderful
sterling silver with 22 kt gilding reversible Companions Jewel dated London
1803 with the makers hallmark -
Thomas Harper. The original
owner was a Companion by the name Felix Palmer. The best we can find out
about him is that he may have been a Provincial Grand Master In Granada.
Thomas Harper was a gold and silversmith as well as an
active Freemason. It
depicts the interlocking triangles of the Seal of Solomon with Wisdom -
Strength - Beauty - Peace - Concord - Truth engraved around the edges. The
symbolism shared with Freemasonry is the Seal of Solomon or the Shield
of David, for under both names the same thing was denoted. A
hexagonal figure consisting of two interlaced triangles, thus forming the
outlines of a six-pointed star. Upon it was inscribed one of the sacred
names of God, from which inscription it was supposed principally to derive its
talismanic powers. These powers were very extensive, for it was believed
that it would extinguish fire, prevent wounds in a conflict, and perform many
other wonders. The Jews called it the Shield of David in
reference to the protection it gave to its possessors. But to the other
Orientalists it was more familiarly known as the Seal of Solomon.
Among these imaginative people, there was a very prevalent belief in the
magical character of the King of Israel. He was esteemed rather as a
great magician than as a great monarch, and by the signet which he wore, on
which this talismanic seal was engraved, he is supposed to have accomplished
the most extraordinary actions, and by it to have enlisted in his service the
labors of the genii for the construction of his celebrated Temple. In
time, with the progress of the new religion, it ceased to be invested with a
magical reputation, although the Hermetic philosophers of the Middle Ages did
employ it as one of their mystical symbols; but true to the theory that
superstitions may be repudiated, but will never be forgotten, it was adopted
by the Christians as one of the emblems of their faith, but with varying
interpretations. The two triangles were sometimes said to be
symbols of fire and water, sometimes of prayer and remission, sometimes of
creation and redemption, or of life and death, or of resurrection and
judgment. But at length the ecclesiologists seem to have settled on the
idea that the figure should be considered as representing the two natures of
our Lord--His Divine and His human nature. It was worn
around the neck on the end of a crimson ribbon. It weights 9.85 grams
and is in exceptionally fine condition.
Thomas Harper
Personal
& Masonic History
R.W. Bro. Thomas Harper Born
1744 London, England.
Initiated in London in 1768.
Then in Charlestown, South
Carolina he became the first Junior Warden of Lodge No.190.
Active in the Holy Royal Arch
during the 1770s.
He was a most influential member
of the Grand Masters lodge No.1 on the Atholl Register, Now No.1 on the
Register of the United Grand Lodge of England.
Honored in September 1785 as a
Grand Lodge Officer under the Atholl Society.
He became Master of this Lodge
in 1793 holding office with distinction for 35 years.
He was actively involved in The
Globe Lodge as Master in 1793.
He joined the Lodge of Antiquity
in 1792 from 1797 until 1801 was Treasurer.
He had a long association with
Nine Muses Lodge first joining in 1800 and in 1814 he was elected Deputy
Master a position he held until his retirement in 1827.
He was one of the assessors who
prepared the Articles of Union and subsequently became one of its signatories
in 1813.
In business Thomas Harper was a
very successful silversmith, first registering his mark at Goldsmiths Hall on
May 27th 1790. It is known that Thomas Harper was in practice while in
America. The South Carolina Gazette in January 1773, carried an advert
describing him as a working jeweler and goldsmith.
"Thank You" to Wor. Bro. Paul McEvoy of Goulburn Menturia Lodge 3478, England
which meets in Bolton in Lancashire UK www.gmlodge3478.co.uk
Wor. Bro. Paul also does a bit of trading on eBay under the name paulmcevoy1
We Thank him for sharing this beautiful Jewel from his private collection with our
museum!
