PATRIARCHS MILITANT UNIFORMED RANKS OF THE IOOF SOCIETY OR LODGE SWORD C E WARD

Description

Made by C. E. WARD COMPANY; NEW LONDON, OHIO. Patriarchs Militant (Uniformed Ranks of the IOOF) society or lodge sword. It comes with the scabbard and is identifiable due to globe-shaped pommel and the motto "Pax aut Bellum" (Peace or War). The Patriarchs Militant fraternal order was first established in the United States circa 1841 and continues to this day. They are a branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) and considered Uniformed Ranks.
Such ceremonial swords were used as signs of membership in Masonic and similar orders, indicated the rank of the member, and are nowadays still often on the market especially in The United States. This piece is newer.