Antique Authentic Masonic Freemason Top Hat Topper w Box

Description

Masonic Top Hats
The top hat is a type of chapeau worn prominently by men in the latter part of the 18th century up until around the middle part of the 20th century. Commonly seen as a symbol of the upper class, it is perhaps most notably observed as a symbol of Victorian age capitalists.
Mackey, in his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry says of hats, in general:
To uncover the head in the presence of superiors has been, among all Christian nations, held as a mark of respect and reverence. The Eastern nations uncover the feet when they enter a place of worship; the Western uncover the head. The converse of this is also true; and to keep the head covered while all around are uncovered is a token of superiority of rank or office. The king remains covered, the courtiers standing around him take off their hats.
This may be part of the meaning behind the Worshipful Master of the lodge wearing of a top hats.
This hat came from the estate of a deceased Freemason. Actually, it had belonged to his father, also a Freemason.
The shipping label on the lid of the hatbox shows it was shipped by a company that dealt in “lodge paraphernalia.” It was shipped to a lodge on Cornelia Avenue in Chicago. It came from a building on North Central Avenue in Chicago (last image shows the building in a recent state).
The hat company is Ambassador, also of Chicago. Size 7 1/8.
The hat has three initials: RWM.
It of course hasn’t been work in decades.
Contact me with any questions.
Thanks for looking.