Goldtone Shoe made for a Masonic Ladies Night
This
is a wonderful, small gold, ladies shoe. I’m guessing it was given away at a
dinner or ladies event.
On bottom of shoe is, cast into the shoe, “Westchester Lodge F&AM
No. 322, Dec 2, 1912.”
Piece is 4” long from heel
to toe, 2” tall from base of heel to top of shoe, and ¾” wide.
Among the ancient Israelites, the
shoe was made use of in several significant ways. To put off the
shoes, imported reverence, and was done in the presence of God, or on
entering the dwelling of a superior. To unloose one's shoe and give it to
another was a way of confirming a contract. Thus we read in the book of
Ruth, that Boaz having proposed to the nearest kinsman of Ruth to exercise his
legal right by redeeming the land of Naomi, which was offered for sale, and
marrying her daughter-in-law, the kinsman, being able to do so, resigned his
right of purchase to Boaz; and the narrative goes on to say (Ruth iv, 7 and 8),
"Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and
concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and
gave it to his neighbor; and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the
kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe." The
reference to the shoe in the First Degree is therefore really as a symbol of a
Covenant to be entered into. In the Third Degree the symbolism is altogether
different. This this degree the ceremony of taking off the shoes, as a token of
respect, whenever we are on or about to approach holy ground. It is referred to
in Exodus (iii, 5), where the angel of the Lord, at the burning bush, exclaims
to Moses: "Draw not nigh hither; put off they shoes from off thy feet, for the
place whereon thou standest is holy ground." The Rite, in fact, always was, and
still is, used among the Jews and other Islamic and Oriental nations when
entering their Temples, Mosques and other sacred edifaces. It does not seem to
have been derived from the command given to Moses; but rather to have existed as
a religious custom from time immemorial, and to have been borrowed by the
Gentiles, through tradition, from the patriarchs. The direction of Pythagoras
to his disciples was, "Offer sacrifice and worship with thy shoes off."
A special "Thank You" to Brother
Fred Lowstetter for sharing pictures of the wonderful piece with our museum!
