The Midnight Freemasons: Unclaimed Relics

Unclaimed Relics

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Brian Schimian

My time in L.A. has been anything but dull, to say the least. One of the things that my Lady & I like to do is to pack up the kiddos and walk around the local “swap meet” for a few hours on the weekends that we have them. The weather is usually beautiful and it is fun to get out for a bit. Usually you can find some fruit at good prices and a trinket here or there. Usually the people watching is the best on Sundays and the kids like to ride the ponies around the parking lot on the way out.

One day, as I was pushing one of the strollers, following my Lady up and down the isles of “stuff” we made a left turn and for some reason I looked right. Out of the

countless tables and heaps of items, something caught my eye. Could it be? I was a little bit away, but I swear I saw a Shriner’s Fez. My half left turn became a b-line for this fellow and his tables. Sure enough, he had a small sampling of Masonic items laid out for sale. A short conversation later revealed that he had purchased a storage locker that was in default and these were inside. Well, being me, I couldn’t let these items sit on a table at a sap meet. They hold too much meaning for me, and they weren’t even mine. I have to say, it wasn’t until I caught back up with my Lady and we stopped for some fruit, that I got a chance to actually study the items I picked up. I was immediately blown away with what I had found, simply by chance.

The first thing I grabbed out of the hat case was a challenge coin. I almost couldn’t believe the writing… Okinawa Military Lodge #68. Was I really holding a challenge coin from a Military Lodge in Japan!?!? I flipped the coin over and and on the bottom it had F&AM (PHA). Not only is this from the other side of the world, but it was PHA. I grabbed the other coin out of the box and it was a 40th anniversary coin from Tori Lodge #46, also from PHA from Japan.

As much as I loved spending time with the family, I couldn’t wait to get home and do some research. The Fez was adorned with jewels that spelled out Obelisk No. 187. Sure enough, a PHA Shrine Temple in Okinawa, Japan. That only leads me to believe that this Brother was also a member of the PHA Scottish Rite there as well.

I will never understand what made me look right when I was going left, but I am so thankful that I did and that I was able to preserve these items. They will be locked away in my private collection for sometime… most likely forever, unless the right opportunity presents itself and I feel I should let them go.

~BJS

Bro. Brian Schimian is Life of Member A.O. Fay #676 in Highland Park Illinois and the Medinah Shriners - Lake County Shrine Club. He was also the Past Master Counselor of DeMolay - Lakes Chapter in 1995. Most recently, Brian became a Companion of the York Rite, joining Waukegan Chapter #41 R.A.M. Brian is a father of two children. "Start Square, Finish Level"

1 comment:

jredFebruary 26, 2015 at 6:12 PM
We have a beautiful, 100yo Lodge building, with most of the 6 floors just laying dormant. It's my hope to one day have a museum of sorts, a place for all the found relics to reside.
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WB Darin A. Lahners

WB Darin A. Lahners is our Managing Editor. He is a host and producer of the "Meet, Act and Part" podcast as well as a co-host of an all-things-paranormal podcast, "Beyond the 4th Veil." He is currently serving the Grand Lodge of Illinois Ancient Free and Accepted Masons as a member of the Committee on Masonic Education He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph. He is also a plural member of Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL), where he is also a Past Master. He’s also a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282, Salt Fork Shrine Club under the Ansar Shrine, and a grade one (Zelator) in the S.C.R.I.F. Prairieland College in Illinois. He is also a Fellow of the Illinois Lodge of Research. He was presented with the Torok Award from the Illinois Lodge of Research in 2021.

RWB Robert H. Johnson

RWB Johnson is an Emeritus managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He is the current V:. Sovereign Grand Inspector for AMD in IL. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry", “The Master’s Word: A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self – Annotated Edition” and author of "How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide. More books are on the way

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Todd E. Creason, 33° is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog, and an award-winning author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. Todd started the Midnight Freemason blog in 2006, and in 2012 he opened it up as a contributor blog The Midnight Freemasons (plural). Todd has written more than 1,000 pieces for the blog since it began. He is a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL) where he currently serves as Secretary. He is a Past Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research (FMLR). He is a charter member of Admiration Chapter No. 282 and is a Past EHP. You can contact him at webmaster@toddcreason.org

Gregory J. Knott, 33°

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WB Bill Hosler

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