My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Master Mason Pocket Certificate

Winter

Premium Member
Many years ago a close friend and Brother from the UK showed me the Master Mason certificate he received. It folded up into a small hard cover booklet. I have always thought that was one of the most interesting things I had seen. I just came across this Ebay auction as an excellent example. It looks like at one point in time they were used here as well. How neat would that be to bring these back.
s-l500 (1).jpg
s-l500 (2).jpg
 

MarkR

Premium Member
Replaced in the US by dues cards. That certificate doesn't tell whether someone is dues-current.

People used to carry their Scottish Rite patents around in a case like that, and get brothers to sign around margins. Now mostly they are framed.
 

Winter

Premium Member
Replaced in the US by dues cards. That certificate doesn't tell whether someone is dues-current.

People used to carry their Scottish Rite patents around in a case like that, and get brothers to sign around margins. Now mostly they are framed.
True. But it could be revived for those who are perpetual members for jurisdictions that have that.
 

usar123

Registered User
That’s true brother! But think years ago society was different people could be trusted we live in a different generation with checks and balances my grandfather who was an operative Mason told me one time over a conversation that all you had to do is mention a man’s name and everyone knew the character of that man so saying all of this I can see why the certificate has evolved to a dues card !
 
Last edited:

SivadSemaj

Registered User
Many years ago a close friend and Brother from the UK showed me the Master Mason certificate he received. It folded up into a small hard cover booklet. I have always thought that was one of the most interesting things I had seen. I just came across this Ebay auction as an excellent example. It looks like at one point in time they were used here as well. How neat would that be to bring these back.View attachment 6901View attachment 6902
This would be a wonderful idea.
 

Chris H

Registered User
I’m in England and got mine about 20 years ago. Unfortunately it came in an ordinary brown manilla envelope! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hardback one. I agree it would be a cool thing to have, although it probably won’t be long before the paper / velum certificates are replaced with a barcode on our phones.
 

Winter

Premium Member
I’m in England and got mine about 20 years ago. Unfortunately it came in an ordinary brown manilla envelope! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hardback one. I agree it would be a cool thing to have, although it probably won’t be long before the paper / velum certificates are replaced with a barcode on our phones.

It'll be a neck tat and the Tyler's sword will be replaced with a hand scanner.
cfef51cbfc3da06d3206be9d589adb62.jpg


Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk
 

Mike Martin

Eternal Apprentice
Premium Member
I’m in England and got mine about 20 years ago. Unfortunately it came in an ordinary brown manilla envelope! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hardback one. I agree it would be a cool thing to have, although it probably won’t be long before the paper / velum certificates are replaced with a barcode on our phones.
:)
 

Nickel City Dude

Registered User
The Grand Lodge of New York use to issue "Traveling Papers". It had all your masonic information on it in several languages. It was a very large piece of paper that I think looked like parchment. If I can find it and scan it into my computer I will post a copy.
 

Chris H

Registered User
It looks similar to the ones UGLE still issues, although they have less information on them and three columns. I think those are printed on vellum, at least they used to be.
 

Matt L

Site Benefactor
My U.G.L.E. certificate hangs on my wall. If I need proof, the secretary emails me a clearance certificate, which shows I'm in good standing.
 

Winter

Premium Member
My U.G.L.E. certificate hangs on my wall. If I need proof, the secretary emails me a clearance certificate, which shows I'm in good standing.
The "coolness" factor of the pocket certificates far outweighs the bland proof of membership you get from a Secretary.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
The "coolness" factor of the pocket certificates far outweighs the bland proof of membership you get from a Secretary.
Agree.

However, I will comments that I saw a travel letter this week, which was unusually very good looking. In colour and well designed, and to it were affixed both the GL Seal (Blue) and Lodge Seal (red) and the text was worded in a lovely way.. it had our standard template wording, but also the Sec is from Lodge of Research and had added some extra wording. The reality is, the mini MM Certificate is cool, but for function, what our GSec really wants to see is a Letter of Good Standing or Introduction to show you are current with dues (we don't use dues cards, so Letters of Good Standing are common). What are also often cool are the Patents for representative to Foreign GLs. I have one - and it was really plain, basically a letter which was not even sealed.... not like the Illuminated ones you still see about on occasion.
 

Winter

Premium Member
I love seeing things like that. We've lost a lot of the beauty that was put into Masonic books and documents of previous centuries. It needs to make a comback.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Agree.

However, I will comments that I saw a travel letter this week, which was unusually very good looking. In colour and well designed, and to it were affixed both the GL Seal (Blue) and Lodge Seal (red) and the text was worded in a lovely way.. it had our standard template wording, but also the Sec is from Lodge of Research and had added some extra wording. The reality is, the mini MM Certificate is cool, but for function, what our GSec really wants to see is a Letter of Good Standing or Introduction to show you are current with dues (we don't use dues cards, so Letters of Good Standing are common). What are also often cool are the Patents for representative to Foreign GLs. I have one - and it was really plain, basically a letter which was not even sealed.... not like the Illuminated ones you still see about on occasion.
We should probably have a separate thread, but this is one of my fanciest patents:

1670725235247.jpeg
 
Top