The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone
April 2014
Walking the Road / Seeking the Light
In this issue: Brother of my Brother Policy The Apron that saved the Day Derelict Lodge 50 Year Celebration Waterloo—masonic influence? Strange Memo from UGLE
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Number 175
Brother of my Brother Policy On 11 May 2013, the Grand Lodge of Turkey decided to allow—subject to the approval of the Grand Mas-ter—visitation to Freemasons be-longing to non-recognized constitutions, provided that their grand juris-diction is regular and is recognized by at least one grand lodge which is recognized by the Grand Lodge of Turkey. With this decision, the Grand Lodge of Turkey officially accepts that the brother of a brother can be given the right to visit Turkish lodges—hence is a brother. This acceptance—which I refer to as the ‘brother of my brother’ policy—breaks the traditional equivalence between right to visit and recognition, by expanding the sphere of brethren who can possibly visit Turkish Lodges from recognized jurisdictions to regular ones.
At this point, it may be useful to re-call that the regularity of a Grand Lodge is the satisfaction of a well-defined list of principles aiming to preserve the traditional values of Freemasonry, hence being an objective concept. On the other hand recognition, a privilege that two grand lodges may or may not grant each other, is subjective. During the last couple of decades, the world panorama of Freemasonry exhibits an ever growing disparity between regularity and recognition. While regularity is necessary for recognition, decisions of recognition typi-ally include additional subjective criteria which mostly contain elements of Masonic or even profane politics. As a result, regular grand lodges who are not in mutual recognition abound. The main application of the ‘brother of my brother’ policy can occur when multiple regular grand lodges who are not in amity exist over the same territory. Italy (with the Grand Orient of Italy and the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy) is a well known example. The ‘brother of my brother’ policy can also contribute to the rapprochement of brethren under two different grand lodges which are not amity due to reasons pertaining to the relationship between those two jurisdictions. As a case in point, the Grand Lodge of Turkey does not recognize the Grand Lodge of Cyprus and has lodges in North Cyprus. The ‘brother of my brother’ policy can support the mobility of brethren in Cyprus which can have a very positive effect on the relationship between the two grand lodges. The ‘brother of my brother’ policy reflects both a position closer to the values of Masonic brotherhood and an acceptance of today’s world reality.
The Grand Lodge of Turkey has adopted the ‘brother of my brother’ policy because the concepts about relations between grand lodges have lost their capability to efficiently shape today’s world. These concepts need to be revisited, and if necessary revised, to enable us—as Freemasons of the world—to approach our desired outcome more efficiently, which is ultimately the brotherhood of all mankind. PTO
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The qualification ‘almost’ is needed, as Turkish Lodges are open to regular Freemasons subject to the fulfilment of certain additional conditions. But the qualification ‘almost’ also seems to be appropriate because these additional conditions are much weaker than recognition.
Of course, one can question this rule of recognizing in one territory only one of the multiple regular grand lodges who are not in amity. The discussion of this rule would be the subject of another article. However, the reader should know that the decision of the Grand Lodge of Turkey is taken, and this article is written, assuming the existence of this rule.
‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’. So, accept the rules of the grand lodge which you are visiting. With a few notable exceptions, most grand lodges approach intervisitation through the ‘when in Rome’ rule.
To prevent such instances occurring would require drastic measures to be taken, such as not allowing Turkish brethren to visit a recognized jurisdiction when a visitor belonging to a non-recognized jurisdiction is present there, and asking visitors to Turkish lodges to declare all their Masonic affiliations. Not only do such measures not make sense but also they cannot be enforced.
John Hamill, Director of Special Projects UGLE
There are many valid (or not depending on your view) points to consider and in the cosmopolitan world we live in, then perhaps discussion should be made with respect to other constitutions not recognised by the GLoS, but recognised by other constitutions we do recognise. A minefield perhaps, but should brethren who practice the same ritual suffer because of their GL? I said many years ago (and I still believe it will happen although maybe not in my lifetime) that regular masons (us), female masons and co-masons would get the opportunity to visit each other. We will always have male lodges, female lodges, but maybe they will all come together in co-masonic lodges. I think this is the way forward.
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The Apron that Saved the Day In April 1864, as part of the Red River Expedition, several thousand Union soldiers under the command of Major General Frederick Steele set out from Little Rock, to link up with the other Union force then heading towards Alexandria and Shreveport, then hopefully into Texas. The trek into southwestern Arkansas proved tougher than expected, in large part because of the lack of food for the men and forage for the horses. This problem, and unexpected and heavy resistance from Confederate forces, particularly outside modern-day Prescott, Arkansas, forced the Union command to shift to the southeast, to Camden, Arkansas. At the time Camden was an important town, supposedly holding ample food and supplies. Steele and his men were bitterly disappointed at not finding enough of what they needed. Over April 17 and 18, Steele ordered nearly 200 forage and supply wagons to leave Camden, spread throughout the surrounding areas, then find and take whatever supplies they could find. As Sherman would even more dramatically supervise later, anything and everything else was to be destroyed. But word of Steele's actions leaked out almost at once; the news sped up the activities of Confederate forces in the general area, under the command of General Edmund Kirby-Smith. The news also electrified and thoroughly scared the civilian population, certainly when the intent of Steele's foragers became known. Some miles west of Camden, near to what would soon become the Battle of Poison Springs, was the home of my maternal great-great grandfather, William H. Rushing. Though close to 50 years old, he served with the 15th Arkansas Infantry, until taken prisoner at Fort Donelson in early 1862. He was exchanged due to poor health seven months later, and had been back at home ever since. But when the enemy forces penetrated into southwest Arkansas two years later, Rushing offered his services as a scout for the Confederate forces. Several family members were living at that house at the time, thanks to the war, but his wife, Catherine Rushing, was in charge while he was away. The only male then at the home was Rushing's then-11-year old son, William Milton Rushing. On April 18, word reached the Rushings the Union soldiers were heading toward their home, which was on one of the roads leading back to Camden. At some point before leaving home, Rushing told his family what to do, in case. . . . Following instructions from my great-great-grandfather, the family buried or hid most of the food. Young William took several head of cattle into a nearby ravine, tied them to trees, and covered their heads with blankets, to keep them quiet. He would stay there until the bluecoats left or he and the cattle were found. As it turned out, they were not discovered. A contingent of Union soldiers rode up literally to the front doorstep, with one or two alreadyloaded-down wagons. The Rushings left a little food in plain sight, and a little more where the soldiers could easily find the "vittels". This plan worked; the men did not press too hard to find more food. Then the Union officer in charge told the family he had orders to burn down their home. Catherine Rushing and the others begged him to spare the home, which was refused. Likewise were pleas to let them first take out their personal possessions and the furniture, or at least some of their possessions.
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The Apron that Saved the Day (ctd) The officer agreed to let Catherine Rushing save just one item. (One part of family lore has the saved item being what her husband William told her to save; another version has the selected item was chosen through pure coincidence.) She stepped back into the house as the soldiers prepared and lit their torches. She came back outside with the chosen possession. Catherine Rushing brought out something that struck the Union officer as oddly familiar, and he asked to see it more closely. She unrolled her husband's Masonic apron, made mostly of silk, and supposedly already somewhat old. The Union officer's eyes widened; the next second his attitude had completely changed. In one of the curious coincidences that turn up in history, including Civil War History, the officer was a practicing Freemason, as was great-great-grandfather William Rushing. And, a Mason was--and is--not to knowingly do harm to another Freemason. "Men, we're not burning this house." The soldiers put out their torches and climbed back onto their horses or into the wagons. The bluecoats left at once, much to the amazement and relief of the Rushing women. Their home was the only residence in the area left intact, thanks to the "intervention" of a Masonic apron. Less that two miles east down the road, Confederate forces launched a surprise attack against the by-then-reunited Union forces. The Rushings were close enough to hear the artillery, and some of the small-arms fire. The Union forces were shattered, then routed. In the course of the action, Choctaw Indians fighting for the Confederacy nearly wiped out the 1st Kansas (U.S.) Coloured Infantry. The Confederates also captured the entire wagon train. The setback at Poison Springs forced Steele and what was left of his forces to retreat back to Little Rock, with the Confederates in pursuit for much of the way back. William H. Rushing soon returned home; he and his family struggled through the rest of the war and the following years, recovering to a fair degree of financial and social stability. The Rushing home stood until the 1960s; the family had left it and had had to sell the land at least one generation earlier. The landowners at that time, a timber-lumber company, razed the house. Nothing, not even the Masonic apron, could save the old house from what was euphemistically called "progress", or, perhaps, "good business practices". The apron remained with the Rushing family until my maternal grandmother, Lillie Rushing, married my maternal grandfather, Thomas Victor Wallace, who was also a practicing Mason. Their oldest son Billie Tom Wallace inherited the apron; after he died, the one surviving brother, Victor Wallace, got the apron. He and his daughters ultimately decided to donate the apron , where it could be restored, properly preserved, and exhibited to the public in the Historic Arkansas Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas .
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The Librarian 2—Return to King Solomon’s Mines Flynn Carsen discovers that his father was a member of the Order of the Cryptic Masons being the lineal descendant of one of twenty-four masons, hand picked by King Solomon to build an immense temple to store his wealth. The unusual amulet depicting a triangle inside a square and compasses is shown below and is later used as the key to unlock the treasure room.
Masonic Place Names All over, we see street names after various masonic personalities and Johnstone is no different, especially with past provosts of the town (22 out of 30 were members of 242). The most recent addition to Johnstone was Cassidy Drive after Bro. Willie Cassidy for his football prowess. However, the US has gone further with actual places: Anchor, IL, Beehive, MT, Boaz, AL, Charity, MS, Circle, MT, Cowan, TN, Emblem, WY, Eureka, WV, Faith, SD, False Pass, AK, Fidelity, IL, Five Points, AL, Freeborn, MN, Grand Pass, MS, Hiram, MA, Hope, AK, Jachin, AL, Justice, IL, Lodge, SC, Mason, KY, Masonic Home, KY, Masontown, WV, Square, MT, Steward, IL, Symbol, KY Temperance, MI, Tyler, TX In addition, out in California, not far from Bodie (old mining towns which no longer exist) are the town of Masonic which used to mine Masonic Mountain. Are there others?
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Derelict Lodge, NY The sad pictures show the state of decay in an old German masonic home in Tappan, NY. It comprised of a chapel, sitting rooms, meeting room, kitchen and three residential floors for the Masonic Home, where members were able to live free of charge. When you literally can’t build them like this anymore, it’s sad when you can’t find a purpose for the ones that remain. The photos show a selection of the building today. For fuller details, click on the first picture. The land for the site, 20 acres in all, was purchased by the German Masons in 1872 for $14,500; construction on the Hall began in 1906 and finished in 1909. From then until 1983, the building was a residence hall for Masons and their kin in an attempt to ‚shield the individual against the blasts of an adverse fate,‛ according to a Masonic historian.
In retrospect, the service provided by the German Masonic Hall seems almost unbelievable in today’s age – a full care retirement residence for those simply in need. In fact, a final resting place was also provided for members at the local cemetery.
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Do you agree with advertising? Perhaps not, but some constitutions do, as seen with the Grand Lodge of Queensland in Australia. Has it helped? It would be interesting to hear of the campaign has been successful.
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From the Columns On Monday 3rd March, the lodge conferred the FCD in Lodge Garthland St. Winnoch No.205 with a deputation of 21. It was great to see extra seats had to be brought into the lodge. On Thursday 12th, Robert Michael Fisher was initiated into the lodge by the OBs and the following meeting we had the Annual Visit of PGLRE. This was followed by a very interesting talk by Bro. Bob Cooper, the Curator at the GLoS who spoke about Scottish Freemasons in the US.
1265 raise £6000 Brethren from Lodge Eaglesham No.1265 have raised an amazing total of £6,125 for nonMasonic charities in the past year. The largest single donation for £2,826 to the Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children was handed over recently by IPM Bro. Gordon Hay. The photograph shows him giving the cheque to Dorothy and Michael Kent of the SNAC charity. Members of Lodge also raised£1,360 given to swell the total donated to the PGLRE’s chosen charity last year, the Army Benevolent Fund, and a further £369 was handed over to the Eaglesham Anchor Boys.
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PGL News Sunday 20th April, 2014—PGL Divine service in Stowe Brae Kirk, 82 Causeyside Street, Paisley. PA1 1YP at 3pm. All brethren welcome—regalia to be worn. Monday 28th April, 2014—Tri-Annual Communication of the PGL in Craigends No.1042, Linwood Thursday 1st May, 2014—Rededication Ceremony of War Memorial by PGL followed by a lecture on Military Lodges at 7.30pm. Friday 23rd May, 2014—NEW MEMBERS’ SEMINAR in Lodge Union & CrownNo.307 in Barrhead. All new(ish) members are encouraged to attend to hear more about the structure of the Scottish Craft, where daughter lodges fit in, how you can help your lodge etc.
Foodbank Thanks A recent donation of £200 worth of groceries by PGLRE to the Renfrewshire Foodbank was warmly welcomed by organisers of the charity. Some of the groceries were unused items from the Christmas parcels with these being augmented by additional tins and packets purchased specially. Bro. Willie Fleming SPGM went along to hand over the donations.
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50 Year Celebration On Thursday 20th February, Bro. Bob Black celebrated 50 years service to Sir William Wallace Royal Arch Chapter No.109 in Johnstone. He is also a PP and past Grand Superintendent of Renfrewshire (as well as holding the office in the lodge of Piper for well over 20 years). Bro. Bob was presented with a Quaich and a uniquely decorated cake! The Grand Principal from Supreme GRAC of Scotland was also in attendance. Bro. Bob is seen below right with Bro. Ken Blackie PP.
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Q & A—the letter C CHARGE Q. What is a Masonic charge? This is a lecture following each degree in Freemasonry in which the candidate is admonished concerning the principles and practices of the order now binding upon him – an ‚epitome of duty.‛ COFFIN Q. What is the symbolism of the coffin in the third degree? It symbolises ‚death to the old life,‛ this death is necessary before one can take part in the mysteries of Freemasonry and enter upon its duties. The resurrection to a new life is inferred. COMMUNICATION Q. Why is the meeting of Grand Lodge called a communication? The use of this term dates back to the early meaning of the word - the having of things in common, the fellowship of men engaged in a common purpose, governed by a common principle, and participation in common interests and activities.
April Events in 242
Thursday 10th—FC by OBs of St. Barchan No.156 Thursday 24th—MM by 242 OBs Visits: Thursday 3rd—Lodge Craigends No.1042 to confer the MMD Tuesday 15th—Lodge Union & Crown No.307 to confer the EAD.
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Re-Print of Old Book
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Waterloo—Masonic Influence? A very interesting point was muted 12 years ago in an Irish lodge by Bro. Humphrey Thompson of Wicklow. Most brethren will be familiar with the Battle of Waterloo, some less so that Wellington cam from a great masonic family of the Wellesleys with two members being Grand aster of Ireland (in 1776 and 1782) and perhaps fewer that Wellington himself was a member of Lodge 494 (IC). Perhaps even fewer are aware that his ally, Marshall Blucher from Prussia, was also a freemason. Early on, Wellington realised that he needed Blucher and his Prussians to strengthen his army against the French otherwise they would be outmanoeuvred and defeated. Therefore, Wellington visited Blucher personally to ask for his assistance. Both men gave their word—one that he would fight Napoleon at Waterloo, the other that he would support him. Others in their command feared that one might not live up to their word and the venture would be disastrous for the other. Both leaders were confident in the other. On the morning of the battle, Blucher did not arrive, the weather was very heavy rain, but Wellington held on despite his position was becoming more and more desperate. However, in the afternoon, Blucher having been held up with the progress on the wet ground appeared and Wellington gave his famous order to attack. The French army fled and the rest is history. Later that evening both men met (see below) and shook hands—did Wellington know that Blucher would arrive without fail? Did they give each other the grip knowing that their agreement could not be broken due to their obligations as freemasons? We will never know, but Wellington’s trust in Blucher was well founded.
The meeting of Wellington (1769-1852) and Blucher (1742-1819) at La Belle Alliance after the Battle of Waterloo
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UGLE Memo! The excerpt below was taken from the minute book of The City of London Lodge No. 901. The notice from GL would be disturbing had it not been 1914. Even at that, you would hope that brethren would rise above the politics similar to many that served on opposite sides during the American Civil War.
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Special Event
Who is that? The well known brother from a local lodge is clearly competing with Bro. Graham Scott PM 242 for the title of Yorkshire Ripper. Graham has held this undisputed for many years, but maybe . . . As if one is not bad enough! Who is he?
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242 ADVERT 242 was 200 years old in 2011 and commissioned a stamp sheet from the Royal Mail (http://www.smilers-info.com/ RBCS-011.htm). These are currently available from them at £37 OR from the lodge at £10 (see or email Bro. Grant Macleod). The A4 sheet depicts images of the lodge and is legal tender.
Thought of the Month
“Can Freemasonry survive and prosper in the 21st century? It can and it will. Freemasonry is as relevant today as it was 250 years ago. But we need to make Masons, not members.”
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Minecraft
Kids (and adults) love playing Minecraft—I wonder if they have ever built a room like the one above!!
In Memoriam The dead are like the stars by day … withdrawn from mortal eye… yet not extinct that hold their way In glory through the sky… .Spirits of bondage thus set free… .Vanish amidst immensity… While human thought… .Like human sight… .Fail to pursue…. Their trackless flight.
It is with deep sadness and much regret that we have to inform you of a loss sustained to the craft in Renfrewshire in the passing to the Grand Lodge above of the following Brothers: Bro. Bobby Wenn PM 242 Bro. Tommy Shanks PM 426 (Renfrew)
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To submit an article, contact the Editor: Grant Macleod E-Mail:
sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk
Lodge Website
www.lodge242.co.uk
Thanks to Bro. Allan Stobo RWM for proof reading.
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