Pick of the Month - Grand Lodge of Iowa - Frank C. Roundy / Oriental Consistory Match Safe

Masonic Library & Museum Association - MLMA

An International Organization of Librarians, Archivists, Curators, & Directors

Frank Roundy - Oriental Consistory Match Safe

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This recent acquisition by the Iowa Masonic Library and Museums is a match safe issued for the class of April 1909 of Oriental Consistory. This class honored Frank C. Roundy, whose portrait appears in profile on the reverse of the match safe. Match safes were a part of everyday life in the early 20^th century before the advent of cigarette lighters. They were used to keep matches safe and dry, and they even featured a striker on the bottom of the safe. It was made by Whitehead & Hoag of Newark, NJ.

Portrait of Shriners Frank C. Roundy and E. J. Alderman sitting in a carriage in Chicago, Illinois.

NOTES
This photonegative taken by a Chicago Daily News photographer may have been published in the newspaper.

FRANK C. ROUNDY (1858-1955)

Imperial Potentate of the Shrine, 1907 - 1908. Born January 15, 1858 in Lake Geneva, Wis. In his long life, he personally knew every imperial potentate from its founding in 1876 until his death in 1955 (64) and had installed many of them in office. At the time of his death he was the oldest living 33rd degree AASR (NJ). Was potentate of the Medinah Shrine Temple in Chicago, 1899 - 1900. He had organized more Shrine auxiliary units than any other man. He held many offices in both York and Scottish Rites - died February 12, 1955.

Be sure to visit the Museum and Library of the Grand Lodge of Iowa at:

http://showcase.netins.net/web/iowamasons/library.html