Sterling
Silver Spoon from the
Masonic Temple in Wichita, Kansas
Here
is a beautiful sterling silver and enameled spoon found by its owner in an
antique shop in 1989. The bowl is
inscribed: "Masonic Temple, Wichita, Kans" with
a wonderful etching of their temple in high relief. The handle reflects the
many appendant bodies that meet there including the Scottish Rite with its
double headed eagle -- its 33rd degree crown in
red enamel but a 32nd degree emblem on its breastplate;
three York Rite emblems, to wit: the black enameled Commandery emblem with its
Latin motto "In Hoc Signo Vinces", the white enameled Chapter
Keystone with the letters "K,S,H,T,W,S,S,T" and the Council
All-Seeing Eye in a Triangle. The Blue Lodge
Square and Compasses is in blue enamel, a Star of David (known in Masonry as
"King Solomon's Seal"), a silver trowel, and a level with very small
24 inch gauge and common gavel behind it.
The rear handle (top to bottom) depicts a Lodge room and includes an
All-Seeing Eye, the Sun, Moon, and 7 Stars (representing the seven liberal
arts and sciences), the two Pillars of Boaz and Jachin, the hourglass (a
reminder of our mortality), the blue lodge
Square and Compasses again, and an altar with three burning tapers (also known
as the three lesser lights), and finally an armed Knight Templar with the
letters "SK" (Sir Knight) on his shield. The only manufacturer mark
on this piece is the word
"Sterling" below the knight. This is certain a wonderful spoon with
more emblems and enameling on one piece than usual.
A
special "Thanks" to Worshipful Brother Marc Williams of Aurora Lodge
No. 15 in Anchorage, Alaska. Brother Marc is a Masonic collector and
trades on eBay under the name "akraven1" and on Yahoo as
"Alaska Raven".
