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Masons are tough, Berkeley California Chapter Masonic Penny, April 18 1906
WillieBoyd2
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This is a "Masonic Penny", made for members of the Berkeley, California RAM Masonic lodge.
Masonic Penny, Berkeley, California, RAM Chapter 92
Obverse:
BERKELEY CHAPTER No 92 R.A.M. / CALIFORNIA
University of California Greek Theatre
Reverse:
HTWSSTKS emblem ("Hiram of Tyre, Widow's Son, Sent To King Solomon")
CHARTERED APRIL 18, 1906 / ONE PENNY
Bronze, 32mm
I bought this item on Ebay because I lived in Berkeley while attending the University of California.
The RAM (Royal Arch Masons) are a specialized Masonic lodge, and most make these tokens for members.
I was curious about the date on the token, April 18, 1906, and found an old book about the 1906 California State convention
which was now on the Internet.
The book had a long title:
Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of California at its
Fifty-Second Annual Convocation
Held at the Masonic Temple, City of San Francisco Tuesday, April 17, A. D. 1906
And terminated on Wednesday, April 18, A. D. 1906
The Berkeley RAM chapter was founded in 1905, but the charter date was set as the second and last day of the convention.
The convention was a business meeting and not a "secret" lodge meeting.
The first day of the convention proceeded normally.
The second day...
(Written by William A. Davies, the Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter, who lived in Alameda)
It is the unexpected that always happens; certainly so far as the events of April 18, 1906, in San Francisco are considered.
The unexpected announced itself at 5:13 a. m., as the drowsiness was passing at the conclusion of the night's rest.
The earthquake and its horrors have been too often described for repetition here.
It passed, and, after a somewhat hurried breakfast, the undersigned commenced that never-to-be-forgotten circumambulation,
with the Masonic Temple as the objective point.
With no street cars running, the only resource was an express wagon to the Creek Route boat, (a ferry from Alameda to San Francisco)
and after an anxious passage we were landed, although far north of the boat's accustomed slip.
By this time, 10:30, the fires were burning in a hundred localities; a Santa Fe train of cars was burning on the Belt Railroad,
within five hundred yards of the Ferry Building.
Our only chance to reach the Temple was by going around the line of fire, north or south.
Taking the southern route, we pressed forward, reaching Valencia street before pressing west to Laguna;
thence north to Geary street; down Geary to the Starr King Building, where our offices were located.
It was then 2:30 p. m., and by that time martial law had been virtually declared; lines formed, guards stationed,
and all access to Masonic Temple prohibited.
The San Francisco Masonic Temple was built in 1861 and was located at Post and Montgomery streets.
Some of the other officers did make it to the Masonic Temple meeting at 10:00am and held a short meeting,
until they were asked to leave by the military, as the building was heavily damaged.
The Temple was destroyed in the fire which followed the earthquake.
The convention members held a short meeting at the Starr King building at 1:30pm which the secretary missed,
then the military authorities asked them to vacate that building as nearby buildings were burning.
The Berkeley RAM chapter closed in April 1968 and merged with the Oakland RAM chapter, probably due to declining membership.
And to keep this coin-related:
This double eagle was minted in San Francisco that year.
Masonic Penny, Berkeley, California, RAM Chapter 92
Obverse:
BERKELEY CHAPTER No 92 R.A.M. / CALIFORNIA
University of California Greek Theatre
Reverse:
HTWSSTKS emblem ("Hiram of Tyre, Widow's Son, Sent To King Solomon")
CHARTERED APRIL 18, 1906 / ONE PENNY
Bronze, 32mm
I bought this item on Ebay because I lived in Berkeley while attending the University of California.
The RAM (Royal Arch Masons) are a specialized Masonic lodge, and most make these tokens for members.
I was curious about the date on the token, April 18, 1906, and found an old book about the 1906 California State convention
which was now on the Internet.
The book had a long title:
Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of California at its
Fifty-Second Annual Convocation
Held at the Masonic Temple, City of San Francisco Tuesday, April 17, A. D. 1906
And terminated on Wednesday, April 18, A. D. 1906
The Berkeley RAM chapter was founded in 1905, but the charter date was set as the second and last day of the convention.
The convention was a business meeting and not a "secret" lodge meeting.
The first day of the convention proceeded normally.
The second day...
(Written by William A. Davies, the Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter, who lived in Alameda)
It is the unexpected that always happens; certainly so far as the events of April 18, 1906, in San Francisco are considered.
The unexpected announced itself at 5:13 a. m., as the drowsiness was passing at the conclusion of the night's rest.
The earthquake and its horrors have been too often described for repetition here.
It passed, and, after a somewhat hurried breakfast, the undersigned commenced that never-to-be-forgotten circumambulation,
with the Masonic Temple as the objective point.
With no street cars running, the only resource was an express wagon to the Creek Route boat, (a ferry from Alameda to San Francisco)
and after an anxious passage we were landed, although far north of the boat's accustomed slip.
By this time, 10:30, the fires were burning in a hundred localities; a Santa Fe train of cars was burning on the Belt Railroad,
within five hundred yards of the Ferry Building.
Our only chance to reach the Temple was by going around the line of fire, north or south.
Taking the southern route, we pressed forward, reaching Valencia street before pressing west to Laguna;
thence north to Geary street; down Geary to the Starr King Building, where our offices were located.
It was then 2:30 p. m., and by that time martial law had been virtually declared; lines formed, guards stationed,
and all access to Masonic Temple prohibited.
The San Francisco Masonic Temple was built in 1861 and was located at Post and Montgomery streets.
Some of the other officers did make it to the Masonic Temple meeting at 10:00am and held a short meeting,
until they were asked to leave by the military, as the building was heavily damaged.
The Temple was destroyed in the fire which followed the earthquake.
The convention members held a short meeting at the Starr King building at 1:30pm which the secretary missed,
then the military authorities asked them to vacate that building as nearby buildings were burning.
The Berkeley RAM chapter closed in April 1968 and merged with the Oakland RAM chapter, probably due to declining membership.
And to keep this coin-related:
This double eagle was minted in San Francisco that year.
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Comments
<< <i>Interesting...what does the HTWSSTKS emblem mean?? Or is that part of the secret mumbo jumbo....if so, it is meaningless anyway (at least IMHO).. Cheers, RickO >>
we could tell you but first you must drink blood from a skull and swear not to tell anyone lest you want your throat cut with a sword.
<< <i>Interesting...what does the HTWSSTKS emblem mean?? Or is that part of the secret mumbo jumbo....if so, it is meaningless anyway (at least IMHO).. Cheers, RickO >>
From the interwebs...
HTWSSTKS
Hiram
The
Widow's
Son
Sent
To
King
Solomon
Edit to note - I have no idea what this may or may not mean. just like all my other posts in this forum.
"HIRAM, TYRIAN, WIDOW'S SON,
SENDETH TO KING SOLOMON."
Hiram, the King of Trye (in Lebanon) (c. 1000 BC - 947 BC) was a contemporary with King David and later King Solomon of Israel. They formed an alliance which greatly increased the trade of the area. (also from the internet)
Stewart Huckaby
mailto:stewarth@HA.com
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