Have a few questions about this fob, can anyone add more to it. Measures across 25mm, 14K+ (by test no stamp) the diamonds are rough cut to me indicating late 1800s??? The Latin “IN HOC SIGNO VINCES” (In this sign we conquer). I take it this is the Knights of Columbus?. The letters mean under the panel I have found, mean Royal Arch body of freemasonry which is part of the York Rite and the letter HTWSSTKS is secretive and is explained to one who takes the Mark Master degree anyone explain more on that? . Between the eagles there is the No 32, I found a Scottish mason motto referring to 32, also 30 & 33, what are these? The visor on the helmet opens & closes and also the main body hinged to fob. A very nice item indeed in hand.
I think this is a Mason fob, not KofC, the Mason have 32nd degree Masons. I don't really know much about them other than I have checked out fobs like yours before. One neat thing about many of the Masons fobs is they had secret openings in them & some that if you peered through a small hole in the fob there would be other markings or symbols in the hole.
I see those fobs like yours for sale often on ebay.
Tom
Posts: 5107 | Location: New Mexico in the USA | Registered: January 27, 2007
Chris-I have the case to (maybe ) go with some of this...Your first pic' of the cross is "The Royal Black Institute" or "The Imperial Grand Chapter Of The British Common wealth" (A Protestant Fraternal Society) My case has the cross and crown surrounded by design; a star and S.W.C.CO. gold filled 20 year on inside back cover.
Hello all, The second fob you have pictured is very interesting. I believe it belongs with two distinct groups. The top is the Double headed eagle of Lagash it is usually associated with the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.The second you have identified correctly as the Knights Templar of the York Rite. Both are synonymous with the fourth to thirty second degrees of Masonry. John
Posts: 299 | Location: Mount Brydges, Ontario, Canada | Registered: November 10, 2005
As you probably know, this is another Mason symbol, I am not sure what the birds mean but the cross & the rose have several meanings, the rose can stand for the blood of Christ, resurrection & other things.
Posts: 5107 | Location: New Mexico in the USA | Registered: January 27, 2007
Chris, as others have said the top fob does represent the Knights Templar, the 2nd is indeed Scottish Rite and is the symbol for the 32nd degree, the 3rd is the symbol for the York Rite which is no way related to the Scottish Rite, York Rite is Christian based, and the last is the symbol for the Rose Croix which is the 18th degree of the Scottish Rite, the bird on the last is a pelican and seven hatchlings, if any of you are ever in Indianapolis I highly suggest taking a tour of the Scottish Rite Catherdral,it is one of the most beautiful buildins you will ever see, hope this helps. and one other thing all these other degrees are appendant degrees because there is no other higher in Freemasonry than that of a Master Mason. Jeff
Chris, I dread being wrong,perhaps has something to do with age or the frailty of the mind. The second fob, I think there is no mistake as to the identity of the the Double Headed Eagle of Lagash, however I believe the second part of the fob belongs to the Consistory, 19th to 32nd degree. What makes this easy to miss is that the numbers "32" are missing from the center disc. It also makes little sense to make a fob which has York Rite and Scottish Rite mixed together. Rose Croix is from 15th to 18th degrees. What is missing is the Lodge of Perfection 4th to 14th degrees.The symbol for this is the Hebrew character "Yod" (~). I apologize to the group for being wrong about the fob. As Mr. Hann points out there is non higher than the 3rd degree (Craft Lodge or Masonic Lodge). John
Posts: 299 | Location: Mount Brydges, Ontario, Canada | Registered: November 10, 2005
I find all this fascinating, if I only had the time to study it all & the mason history. Here to save confusion are the second fob front and back pictures.
