Masons are tough, Berkeley California Chapter Masonic Penny, April 18 1906

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
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.

I am not a Mason.

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 state RAM convention which had been copied and placed on the internet.

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 last day of the convention.

The first day of the convention proceeded normally, this was a business meeting and not a "secret" lodge meeting.

The second day...

------------------------------------------------

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, 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 on Post and Montgomery, built in 1861, was one of thousands of buildings destroyed in the earthquake.

The convention members held a short meeting at the Starr King building, then the military authorities asked them to vacate the building as nearby buildings were burning.

The Berkeley RAM chapter closed in April 1968 and merged with the Oakland chapter, probably due to loss of members.

And to keep this coin-related:

This double eagle was minted in San Francisco that year.


United States $20 1906-S

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I was satisfied with the Mason coin and story, very interesting.

 

Great post!

 

Nice post. This little Barber also was minted during the earthquake year.

 

Go Bears!!!!

Erik

 

Nice post. Great read.

 

I never really thought about this until reading the article but I wonder how many members here are Masons or Fraternity men? I am a fraternity man and that is actually what my other main collection consists of, articles, jewelry, and books from our early history.

Anyone else do something similar, or members of a 'secret society'?

 

I'm pretty sure an online forum isn't the place for this type of disclosure... I think they have Lodge's for these types of discussions :smile Cool coins none the less!

Erik

 

Actually its not a big deal to let someone know you are a member of an organization. There is in fact a forum specifically for Greek-Lettered-Organizations that i check from time to time, and there are plenty of people on the other forum i frequent who gladly divulge their respective memberships. The only issue would be if the 'lodge, house, organization, etc' explicitly required secret membership and issued some sort of 'gag' order on being a member, other than that its ok.

 

ok, that is interesting to know. my Father-in-law was/is a brother of TKE at the University of California Berkeley, he played football there from '71 to '73... They called him "The Pyle-driver"

Erik

 

hram elite chap 9 jersey city , my ram token was stolen from me in 06

 

TKE is a good organization, theyve been around for a long time. I am a Lambda Chi, ive always had my eyes open for a Lambda Chi coins (other than the cheap challenge coins) but ive never come across anything. I have seen many compass and square pennies from the Masons tho