Commemorative medal celebrating the semi-centennial (50th anniversary) of the Grand Lodge of Illinois (1840-1889). Features Abraham Jonas (first Grand Master) and John C. Smith (current Grand Master). The medal also commemorates Jonas as the first Grand Master in Illinois. Jonas was the first Jew to settle west of the Alleghenies (1819), served in the state legislatures of Kentucky and Illinois, was the first Jewish resident of Quincy, and served as postmaster (1849-1853). A friend of Abraham Lincoln, Jonas was appointed postmaster again from 1861 until his death in 1864. John C. (Corson) Smith was an American general, state treasurer, and lieutenant governor of Illinois. The medal includes a ribbon.
Subject: Masonic orders
No additional authority information available for Masonic orders.
This black trade card advertises I. Bedichimer, a jeweler located at 616 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The front of the card is decorated with various society emblems and designs, including a stylized Masonic compass and square and a crescent moon, suggesting that Bedichimer specialized in jewelry for fraternal organizations or those who wished to display their affiliation with these groups. The card has a simple design and layout. The back of the card is blank.