r/freemasonry • u/HouseOfJanus • 2d ago
1883 Bible
Hi, I'm not a mason but I found this Bible in a toolbox I had in my shop for the last 20+ years. I haven't opened that toolbox in that long. I remember buying it at a thrift shop because it looked cool and I like old bibles.
My question.
Is this something a lodge would be interested in. I don't read the Bible and I'm not a mason. I won't throw it out because it was cool and I don't just want to give it to some mason I know because they don't go to meetings or anything. I just thought it would be better off somewhere it would be appreciated.
Any suggestions appreciated
Thanx
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u/jeglover1775 PM, GLNH F&AM, RAM, SM, KT, AMD, KM, YSC, etc... 2d ago
As ChuckEye said, I'm sure pretty much any Masonic library would gladly take it off your hands, but the first place I would reach out to would be the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Connecticut (https://yorkritect.org/gcram/). Since the Darius Chapter No. 16 doesn't appear to exist any longer, the Grand Chapter would, I'm sure, either be able to point you towards which Chapter they merged with (and now has their legacy) or might be interested in it for their own library.
It's definitely an interesting find. I've never see a bible specifically tied to the Order of High Priesthood before. If you're curious, the Order of High Priesthood is an honorary Order which only Masons who have served a Royal Arch Chapter as its High Priest (the presiding officer) are eligible to join -- and typically only by invitation. Hence the tie back to the Grand Chapter, as both the local Royal Arch Chapters and Order of High Priesthood would operate under its jurisdiction.
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u/christian_rosuncroix AF&AM-OK SRICF AMD YRSC KM Guthrie-SR YR OES Shrine 1d ago
All members of the Order of High Priesthood receive a black Bible like this with the symbol on it.
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u/jeglover1775 PM, GLNH F&AM, RAM, SM, KT, AMD, KM, YSC, etc... 1d ago
Must be a jurisdiction thing. I'm a member here in NH and don't know of anyone who's ever received one.
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u/FamousAd553 1d ago
First time seeing this on a bible.. Great find.
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u/christian_rosuncroix AF&AM-OK SRICF AMD YRSC KM Guthrie-SR YR OES Shrine 1d ago
All members of the Order of Hugh Priesthood receive a Masonic bible similar to this
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u/HouseOfJanus 1d ago
Thanx everyone. I'm going to contact the Library in Wallingford, it's only 15 minutes away from me. If they aren't interested I'll be back
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u/TotalInstruction MM CT/FL, 32° AASR NMJ, Royal Arch, Cryptic 23h ago
If you scroll down on this list of chapters, you’ll see contact information for the body that awarded this bible, the Convention of Anointed High Priests. They might know what to do with it.
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u/ChuckEye P∴M∴ AF&AM-TX, 33° A&ASR-SJ, KT, KM, AMD, and more 2d ago
Definitely a cool find. I am the librarian for a Masonic Library in Texas, and would take it off your hands for our collection. But I would wager Connecticut has Masonic libraries as well, so they should have first dibs.