The Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library

04/15/2026

03/30/2026

We warmly welcome you to explore our latest video!

https://nymasoniclibrary.org/youtube-channel/

A special thanks to the M∴W∴ Steve Rubin for his initiative and R∴W∴ Jason Short for video production.

A fascinating artifact at the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library of Grand Lodge is a Past Master's Jewel belonging to Levi Andrews, a member of St. John's Lodge No. 2 (now No. 3) of North Carolina. Engraved with his mark—an eagle and American flag with its pole resting on a heart—and the Latin motto "Pro Patria Bono" ("For the Homeland"), this jewel commemorates his receipt of the Past Master Degree from his lodge in 1793.
The Grand Lodge's Committee of Antiquities noted a Past Master's Certificate issued by St. John's Lodge, No. 2, of New Bern, N.C., to Brother Levi Andrews, dated February 12, 1793. This certificate is believed to contain the earliest documented evidence of Capitular Degrees in North Carolina, possibly even the United States.

Intriguingly, Levi Andrews never served as Master of his lodge, yet his jewel designates him as a "Worshipful Brother," a title typically reserved for those elected, invested, and installed as Master.

This predates the formation of Grand Chapters, when Royal Arch Degrees were conferred within symbolic lodges. Traditionally, the conferral of the Most Excellent Master Degree (preceding the Holy Royal Arch Degree) required prior service as Master of a Lodge and investiture with the secrets of the Chair.

As it became more challenging to gather candidates for the Royal Arch Degree, the practice of conferring the Past Master Degree (sometimes called the "Virtual Past Master Degree," though its proper name is simply Past Master Degree) developed. While recipients of this degree do not gain the privileges or designation of an elected, invested, and installed Master, they do receive the secrets of the Chair.

This jewel, however, represents a time before these practices were standardized. It stands as a relic of a less defined era, honoring Levi Andrews as a "Worshipful Brother" despite never having served as Master of his lodge.

See our website for more information, and please check us out on social media!
www.facebook.com/livingstonlibrary
www.instagram.com/nymasoniclibrary/
www.nymasoniclibrary.org/events/

Night At The Museum! April 14 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library 71 West 23rd St, 14th floor, New York, NY, United States

02/27/2026

Welcome to a Double Feature at the Livingston Masonic Library!

A great lecture by R∴W∴Oscar Alleyne - Mark My Word! Building a New City

https://youtu.be/yHnb4H6XQe4

And the latest Artifact of the Month!

Masonic Grandfather Clock

https://youtu.be/jR8tcnHGxxA

See our website for more information, and please check us out on social media!

www.facebook.com/livingstonlibrary

www.instagram.com/nymasoniclibrary/

https://nymasoniclibrary.org/youtube-channel/

12/23/2025

Happy Holidays from the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library! May this season bring you warmth, light, and happiness.

Trustees
R∴W∴ Rodney Couto, President
R∴W∴ Walter E. Cook IV, 1st Vice President
R∴W∴ Carl Klossner, 2nd Vice President
R∴W∴ Lawrence B. Wolff, Treasurer
R∴W∴ Demetrios G. Melis, Secretary
R∴W∴ Aram Adishian
R∴W∴ Philip S. Arony
R∴W∴ S. Marlon Gayadeen
R∴W∴ C.F. William Maurer
R∴W∴ David A Pearlmutter
R∴W∴ Frank C. Rice II
R∴W∴ Andrew O. Roberts
R∴W∴ David F. Velkas
R∴W∴ Jeffrey G. Santorello
R∴W∴ Ronald J. Seifried

Staff
Executive Director: R∴W∴ Michael LaRocco
Director of Collection Services: Bro. Alexander Vastola
Museum Technician: Ratirat Osiri

Ex-Officio Trustees
M∴W∴ Steven Adam Rubin, Grand Master
R∴W∴ Robert L. Hogan, Jr., Deputy Grand Master
R∴W∴ Richard T. Schulz, Grand Secretary

Trustees Emeriti
R∴W∴ Stephen S. King
R∴W∴ Edward A. Chiani
R∴W∴ Pierre F. de Ravel d’Esclapon
R∴W∴ Andrew B. Hengst, Jr.
R∴W∴ Barry Mallah
R∴W∴ R. Curtiss Montgomery II
R∴W∴ Scott D. Peat
R∴W∴ Richard J. Powell
R∴W∴ W. Bruce Renner
R∴W∴ Richard W. Ward

12/22/2025

We warmly welcome you to explore our latest video!

https://youtu.be/2ARGWQYR67g?si=qzIFn-l3yODZStLP

A special thanks to the M∴W∴ Steve Rubin for his initiative and R∴W∴ Jason Short for video production.

10/08/2025

"A funny thing happened on the way to a Royal Arch meeting—and it led to the rediscovery of a hidden 350-year-old treasure. While giving a ride to Right Worshipful Michael Lipschitz, the guest speaker for the evening, he dropped a casual mention of a book in our very own Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library of Grand Lodge: an extremely early edition of the Rosicrucians, the Fama Fraternitatis. I was stunned; I didn't even know we had it! The very next morning, I raced back to the library, searched the shelves, and there it was, literally tucked between two other books like it was nothing. This was a 1681 German edition, a profound piece of history sitting right on our bookshelf. This fascinating find, made possible only by a chance conversation, sparked immediate interest. Right Worshipful Walter Cook (1st VP, Trustee of the Library and Alex Vastola (Dir Collection Services) quickly saw the potential, turning this surprising discovery into a preservation project.

Join us on this journey as we explore a treasure we had all along and realize that the most profound finds of the Library and Museum are often yet to be fully uncovered."

Sincerely and fraternally,

R∴W∴ Michael LaRocco
Executive Director

Link to the Blog post -

Artifact of the Month! The Fama Fraternitatis October 7, 2025 Alexander Vastola The Library is currently working on a rare books survey – going through the back stacks of the Library’s collections to find rare books and manuscripts. During this survey work, it was discovered that the Library’s...