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Valueless or priceless? Only a Mason could know
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In the third section of the first degree of Masonry, candidates learn of the ornaments of a lodge. One is the mosaic pavement. It is “emblematic of human life checkered with good and evil...” It is part and parcel of Masonry’s important symbolism.
The Hezekiah Alexander homesite, today on property owned by the Methodist Church, was built in 1772 to 1774 by the Bigham family of stonemasons of Mecklenburg County, under supervision of Hez himself. From the date of its occupancy it served as a fraternal meeting hall.
A modest piece of oilcloth was part of the house contents as far back as anyone could remember. Whenever docents were asked what it was, the answer was simply, “I don’t know.” It bore a red and white pattern of checkered squares laid in a diagonal pattern. It could usually be found folded and lying on a piece of furniture.
Once ownership of the rock house passed from the Alexander family and its Masonic tradition, there was no chance of the oilcloth being considered anything but valueless.
And so today, if it can be found at all, it floats within the Hezekiah Alexander house in search of someone who appreciates how priceless it is.
It is pictured here along with another mosaic pavement in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and, for that matter, as in thousands of Masonic lodges worldwide.
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Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com
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