Page 29 - August 2018

MASONIC GRAVE EMBLEM
MADE BY A MASON FOR A MASON TO A MASON
John Robinson & Dave Hodges of Doric lodge 53
I was looking back on my own bloodline and came across bronze sculptures. After reading both, I realized I would
a picture of my parent's gravestone. I soon realized that the need to condense if possible as the process is very lengthy.
stone was lacking a Masonic symbol. Right away I decided So what follows is Dave Hodges own words of the process.
to fi nd a way to have one put on my father's gravestone. I "Lost Wax" Bronze Process
am a Montana Registrar Genealogist and National Offi cer
with the Sons of the American Revolution and was quickly The "lost wax" bronze casting process is complicated
able to contact the cemetery for assistance. I approached and involves many steps. In a nutshell: An original model
the Daytona Memorial Park in Daytona Beach Florida and is created by the artist in clay, this is molded with a rubber
spoke to Ros Leite. She informed me that they did not have mold from which wax duplicates are taken, these are called
a Masonic symbol as they are usually cut in stone at tome of "second wax," one wax is required for each bronze to be
burial. So I told her I would research sources for a Masonic cast. The rubber mold is reusable. Each second is covered
symbol that could be attached to the gravestone. Having with another mold created by dipping the second wax into
no idea at the time of the remarkable Masonic Brotherhood liquid ceramic, which when dried creates the mold for the
that would unfold, with a Masonic Symbol that is just upcoming bronze. The ceramic mold can only be used
astonishing once. When ready, the ceramic is placed into a furnace
My father, William Jay Robinson died 13 August 1999 and wax is melted out creating an empty cavity. Hence the
in Ormand Beach Florida. He is buried in Daytona Beach term "lost wax." Molten bronze is poured into the ceramic
Florida. At the time of this death, I was not a Mason. But mold. After the bronze had cooled, the ceramic shell is
dad is buried with an180-year-old hand painted Masonic broken off , exposing the bronze. The rough cast bronze
Apron as of 1999 (there are no known photos of the apron). needs cleanup work, colored with a chemical patina, and
The apron has been in our family for many years. The apron fi nally sealed with a wax lacquer.
was examined at the George Washington Masonic Temple
in Alexander Virginia in 1979. They could not identify the
hand-painted symbols and that there was no letter G in
the Compass and Square. They guessed apron was made
about 1820. My great great grandfather Nicholas Robinson
1825-1912 died in 1912, and his wife Catherine gave the
apron to my grandmother and told her to give to the next
Mason in the family. The next Mason was my grandfather
Leon Robinson 1888-1954. When he died in 1954, my
grandmother gave the apron to my father. So had been in Figure 1. Four stages of the bronze by Dave Hodges Doric
a drawer for 87 years, when my dad died the apron. At the Lodge 53. Left to right Rubber Mold, Second Wax, Bronze
time of his death, I felt that I was honoring my dad and his ready for Patina , Finished Bronze.
Masonic heritage. My Dad completed the Craft Degrees in
32 days in 1945. Entered Apprentice degree on January 31,
1945, Fellowcraft degree on 13 February 1945 and raised
on 02 March 1846 in Kensington-Bethesda Lodge No. 198,
Kensington, Maryland. He also belonged to the Almas
Shrine in, Washington D C. He was at the White House
to maintain Electrical Power during WW II. When he
enlisted after Pearl Harbor the enlistment offi cer told him
that President Roosevelt had appointed him and others at Figure 2. Completed Bronze Masonic Symbol by Brian James
the Potomac Electric Power Company in Washington D. C. of Doric Lodge 53.
They were to remain in Washington DC at his direction. He
had recently completed Bliss Electrical School which was
the only school of that type in 1934 as men from around the
country were his classmates.

So one night while attending Lodge at the Hall of Doric
Lodge 53, I was telling Dave Hodges about my quest. He
said that he could make one for me. I asked of what? He
said of Bronze Sculpture. I said OK. So began the process
of creating a Bronze Sculpture. Dave has written a book
called " The Book of Bronze' copyrighted 2002. He has
also written magazine articles on the process of making Figure 3. Masonic Symbol on grave of William J. Robinson by
Ros Leite of Daytona Memorial Park.
Volume 94 Number 6 Montana Freemason Page 29