A Masonic Patent

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor
Gregory J. Knott 33° 

When the term patent is used in Freemasonry, most will think of a certificate of membership in one of the Masonic bodies. It is used as proof of membership, especially when a brother may travel from one jurisdiction to another.

Figure 1 Courtesy of Library of Congress

But did you know that the United States Patent Office can grant you a Masonic patent? Not for membership in a Masonic body, but if invent something that is deemed worthy of a government patent. Many years ago, especially in the golden age of fraternalism, several patents were issued for inventions that were related to freemasonry. 

Patent number US 133236 was granted on November 19, 1872 to Royal H. Lyon for an “Improvement in apparatus for the display of masonic emblems”. This device was an early day picture projector that could show various slides for use in the Masonic lectures.

Figure 2 Google Patent Search

James McCoy of Ypsilanti, Michigan filed a patent for “Improvement in masonic badges” on March 25, 1876 and was granted patent US183318A. His patent would allow a square and compass badge to be moved up and down a pin, with the badge position being used to indicate the position the member held in the lodge.

Figure 3 Google Patent Search

Perhaps you have an idea for a new Masonic neck ornament as Charles S. Cowell did on January 31, 1956 when he was granted US patent USD176756S for his design of masonic jewelry.

Figure 4 Google Patent Search

Our Masonic brethren have always been creative and builders of ideas. So the next time you are sitting in a lodge meeting and you find your mind wandering during another thrilling session of the reading of the minutes and paying of the bills, you might think of an invention that would be the next greatest advancement for the fraternity. 

~GJK



Gregory J. Knott, 33° is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. He is a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D., and serves as its Secretary. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters.

Busy, Like A Bee

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Robert H. Johnson

There I was, staring at the ceiling, it was sometime early in the morning, too late to go back to bed since I had to get up with my son to get him ready for the school bus. It was also a little too early to actually sit up and look out the window. I had a lot to do that day, it was the day before I was installed as Worshipful Master of my lodge. My wife, being super awesome was basically handling everything. I remember a feeling of excitement, but also dread. 

On top of all the other Masonic stuff I do, I'd now be the Master of a lodge. Then, I really started to think, "Man, am I busy...maybe too busy." And as I closed my eyes, in the split second before I fell back asleep  and the alarm going off, you know the place, I'm sure. Some call it twilight. My mentor showed up and was flipping through slides on a projector. He was silent, no words he spoke but he was saying something. I couldn't quiet see what he was pointing at.

It was a special dream because Curtis, my mentor, had gone on to that undiscovered country. Here he was, nonetheless showing me something. As I tried to see what it was, his voice started to come through, he was singing "Keep the Car Running" by Arcade Fire, which was just bizarre. Then just before I woke up, I saw it. It was the bee hive. That icon or symbol which teaches all Masons to be busy, be industrious and to be always working for the better good of humanity. 

When I opened my eyes, I reached over and shut of my alarm, which was the cause of Curtis' singing. That was the song my alarm was playing. But that is also the moment, I realized that this amount of busy, is par for the course of an active Freemason. The Brothers who read, who study, who teach, who run programs and set up charity drives are devout officers to their lodges and are at every function that they can possibly be, this was par for the course indeed. Brothers we are just busy, busy bees. 

It's time to just quit thinking about it and get back to work.

~RHJ

Bro. Robert Johnson, 32° is the Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the First North-East District of Illinois. He belongs to Waukegan Lodge No. 78. He is also a member of the York Rite bodies Royal Arch, Cryptic Council, Knights Templar, AMD, The Illinois Lodge of Research and a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago as well as a charter member of the Society of King Solomon, a charity organization run by the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts a weekly Podcast (internet radio program) Whence Came You? which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. In addition, he produces video shorts focusing on driving interest in the Fraternity and writes original Masonic papers from time to time. He is a husband and father of three. He works full time in the safety industry and is also a photographer on the side as well as an avid home brewer. He is currently working on a book of Masonic essays.