Dbckmbeb 8, 1921 



The Florists' Review 



33 



THE RETAIL STORE 



A PAGE OF HINTS AND HELPS 

 FOR THE RETAIL FLORIST 



MAKING MASONIC EMBLEMS. 



Approved Designs and Colors. 



Of course, the Masons do have a great 

 many secrets. But they are willing to 

 disclose to everyone the nature and 

 colors of the designs which are the ap- 

 proved emblems of the various phases 

 ol" the Masonic order. And that is just 

 tlio part of Masonry that interests flo- 

 rists. Each and every division of the 

 Masonic brotherhood has a separate and 

 distinct emblem, which florists are often 

 called upon to reproduce in a floral piece. 



Unless the florist is familiar with the 

 desired emblem, he is facing a problem 

 when called upon to make up the dis- 

 play. Perhaps a slight understanding 

 (if the meaning of that emblem would 

 lu'lp him to produce a more appropriate 

 lloral piece. If the florist is a Mason, 

 lie knows tlie connection of the cherished 

 socrots with the emblems. If ho is not, 

 tliis article is to tell him a few of the 

 tilings about them that he is allowed to 

 know. 



The Masonic order is composed of dis- 

 tinct steps, called degrees. Three de- 

 grees are necessary to be 

 an accredited Mason and 

 entitle the member to be 

 in the fold of what is 

 popularly called the Blue 

 Lodge. The degrees fol- 

 lowing the third may be 

 taken by either of two 

 routes, the Scottish Eite 

 or the so-called York Eite. 

 TIk' Scottish Kite (the Con- 

 sistory) consists of the de- 

 grees from the fourth to 

 the thirty-second. The 

 York Rite is composed of 

 tiic Royal Arch Chapters, 

 the Councils and th^ Com- 

 nianderies of Knights 

 Templar. The thirty-third 

 degree is an honorary de- 

 gree conferred by the Su- 

 preme Council of the Scot- 

 tish Rite. 



niitted. The Eastern Star is composed 

 of female relatives of Masons. 



These are only the broad outlines of 

 the most common phases, the emblems 

 of which florists are most likely to be 

 called upon to reproduce. Knowing these 

 few facts may enable the florist who 

 knows nothing more about Masonry to 

 talk intelligently to some customer who 

 desires a floral piece, but does not know 

 just the appropriate design. The de- 

 signs for these various divisions are 

 shown in connection with this article. 

 In most of these emblems there is no 

 fast and set rule restricting designs 

 and colors which florists must follow. 

 There is a latitude allowed which will 

 enable the artists to use judgment in 

 making up a simple and attractive de- 

 sign. 



The Square and Compasses. 



The emblem of the Blue Lodge is the 

 crossed square and compasses, with the 

 letter "G" in the center. As this is 

 intended to represent steel instruments, 

 probably white would best reproduce 

 the desired effect. There is no ruling 

 as to the required colors; so each florist 



More Orders. 



The order of the Mvstic 

 ^lirinc really has no tech- 

 nical connection with the 

 Masonic rites. However, 

 as an offspring of Masonic 

 fratornalism, it is, prac- 

 tically, as much a part of 

 *he Masonic order as any 

 I'f the conferred degrees, 

 i'le Shrine is a body insti- 

 iiitcd for social purposes 

 "iHl is composed of onlv 

 the men who have gone 

 jUrough cither the Consis- 

 'oi-y or the Commandery. 

 .^l>e order of the Grotto 

 '■5 conducted on the same 

 principle as the Shrine, ex- 

 '■ept that it is necessary 

 TO have only the first three 

 "fgrees in order to be ad- 



"Bluc Loilite.' 



lioyal Aicli Cliaptt'is. 



Commandery, or KnlRhts Templar. 



Ordor 



Kastorn Star. 



Consistory. 



Sliriners. 



Accepted Emblems of Principal Masonic Bodies. 



may use his ingenuity to make it an 

 attractive piece. However, as it is the 

 emblem of the Blue Lodge, a touch of 

 blue somewhere on the design would 

 be appropriate. The letter "G," the 

 square, the compasses, the background 

 or even the whole design might be made 

 of blue flowers, if obtainable. There 

 is no standard rule to follow. Only one 

 thing is necessary to watch; that is, 

 that the compasses are over tlic square. 

 If the legs of the compasses are behind 

 the sides of the square, the design is 

 wrong. 



The emblem of the Royal Arch Chap- 

 ters is a keystone, with a circle con- 

 taining the letters "HTWSSTKS," 

 with the letter "H" always at the top 

 of the circle. The keystone design shown 

 in the illustration may be varied. There 

 is another common way of making up 

 this emblem; tliat of substituting a 

 notched top for the curved top. There 

 is no required color, although white is 

 generally used. With this emblem, too, 

 each florist may use his own ideas, the 

 only necessary points being to get in the 

 keystone, with the circle and letters. 

 The emblem of the Consistory is the 

 double-headed eagle, hold- 

 ing in its claws a sword 

 and a ribbon either with 

 the words, "Deus Meum- 

 que Jus," which is the 

 motto of the thirty-third 

 degree, or " Spes Moa in 

 Deo Est," the motto of 

 the thirty-second degree. 

 However, the ribbon and 

 the words niav be omit- 

 ted. Here, too, the florist 

 lias a chance to use a 

 broad range of colors. Ho 

 may use any colors he 

 chooses. Roinetimes tho 

 iiiimh(>r of the degree is rc- 

 ijuircd by an insistent cus- 

 tomer, as the thirty-third 

 or the thirty-second. In 

 this case, the number may 

 be ])lac('(l wlicrever the 

 florist desires. Sometimes 

 it is jilacod in a triangle 

 over the eagle's head and 

 sonu'tinies in its body. 



Graceful Simplicity. 



One of the main points 

 in making this design, as 

 in making all of the de- 

 signs, is to get away as 

 niiicli as jiossiblc from 

 anything fancy or comjili- 

 eated. The simpler the flo- 

 rist makes the design, the 

 easier it is to put it out 

 and the more attractive 

 the finished product will 

 1)0. An eagle is a hard 

 thing to reproduce, and 

 each added frill and deco- 

 ration will make it that 

 much more difficult, and 

 make the finished eagle 

 that much more difficult to 



