The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242
March 2019
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Number 217
From the Editor This month starts with a couple of articles about brethren’s thoughts of the Craft. The first, I’m sure’ will be controversial in many eyes, but these are views that many brethren have and are not uncommon. The second article by a young brother has some interesting points and the emphasis on education and researching the Craft, I believe, are the crux to the future. Of course, history is not everyone’s cup of tea, but learning the lessons of the degrees and placing them in a 21st century context are vital. Every brother may have their own way of looking at our degrees, but the lessons are more relevant today in this often immoral world, particularly the closing charge in the EA degree.
In this issue: 3 4 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 17
Is the Craft Dying Thoughts of a Young Mason MM Certificates The Economist Chamber of Reflection The Ship Tavern Johnstone Bowling Green GL Diploma Masonic News Royal Arch Timeline The Caribbean
I have also included the symbolism of the MM diploma (by Bro. Bob Cooper, Curator at GL) which explains the meanings.
The Cross Keys is a free magazine distributed across the many countries in order to spread the good (and sometimes not so good) qualities of the Craft. All views are of individual brothers and not any organised body. Editor: Bro. N. Grant Macleod PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 PM of The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 Past Provincial Grand Secretary of the Province of Renfrewshire East. Proof Reader: Bro. Allan Stobo PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 Treasurer 242
All Scottish Constitution.
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March Meetings Thursday 14th FC Degree by St. Barchan No.156 Thursday 28th PGL Visitation 7.30pm start
Is the Craft Dying? Further to a number of articles in The Freemason Information website, this addresses some of the points from Bro. Lance Kennedy in his final article. I do not purport to have the answers, but asking some awkward questions might encourage discussion and even some responses which hopefully might be printable! Let’s start with the six points which concluded his article. “What I will now prescribe is the bitter pills of truth that so many refuse to swallow:
termination that the building is a liability on its balance sheet and cut its losses. The Grand Lodge could purchase a smaller structure for its administrative uses and rent a hotel and conference center for its communications. 4. We must demand that our constituent lodges meet certain minimum standards of dress, ritual, and general decorum. Our populations are increasingly professional and urban. They demand a certain level of formality and rigor. For example, Texas’ population is roughly 85 percent urban and 15 percent rural. It is essential that we meet the needs of the areas where we can see the greatest potential growth.
1. We must accept the fact that Freemasonry is in extremely unhealthy condition, losing membership at a rapid pace, and attempting to maintain an ….our condition was infrastructure designed for a much larger memclearly exacerbated by 5. Finally, we must understand the needs of the bership base. In other internal ones men of Generation Z. So words, accept that we are much focus has been dying, though we are not yet dead. Any attempt to soften this conclu- placed on what Millennials want, and rightly so, since they are the largest generation in sion is a practice in euphemism. the United States. However, the oldest mem1. We must make the difficult decision to bers of Generation Z are now eighteen years cut off and remove recognition from any old and are now eligible for membership in and all organizations that do not make Ma- our Fraternity. After hundreds of conversasons or support the initiatic experience, tions with young Masons, my guess is that namely the Order of the Eastern Star, DeMo- the next crop of initiates will want similar lay, Rainbow Girls, and the like. These insti- things out of the Fraternity as Millennial tutions must stand or fall on their own mer- men, namely the mysteries delivered in a it. Other appendant bodies must be evaluat- formal, mystical, and demanding manner. ed on an individual basis. Our Fraternity may be dying because of ex2. We must consolidate lodges in areas ternal factors, but our condition was clearly experiencing rapid decline. Such consolida- exacerbated by internal ones. While we may tion must occur in urban as well as rural be dying, we are not yet dead, and there is a counties. Most counties need only one way out of our present malaise.” lodge. In most areas multiple adjacent lodges saturate the market and create negative Is this an extreme view? I’m sure many brethren see things differently and I’d be decompetition for fewer and fewer initiates. lighted to hear some positive aspects which 3. We must sell off buildings requiring have worked for your lodge or other. millions of dollars to repair, especially those that are used once or twice a year, and when used are filled at half-capacity. For example, if a Grand Lodge’s building is in disrepair and requires $18,000,000 to restore, the Grand Lodge should make the deCross Keys March 2019
Thoughts from a Young Mason In 2014, I got a job with Amtrak and moved to St. Louis, and while my schedule was much better, the fact that I was in graduate school at the time made it difficult to carryon with Masonry. A few weeks ago I realized I missed being part of a lodge. My schedule had stabilized, so I found a local lodge and decided to visit. After visiting the lodge, I felt that I should refresh myself in Masonry, and began reading through A Bridge to Light, I was enjoying the reading so much that I even ordered the Master Craftsman course on ritual and history. While looking for something else in boxes from a recent move I ran across the January/ February 2018 edition of the Scottish Rite Journal and the Universe said, "Grab it, and put it in your work bag." So I did. To be honest, before that moment I had usually only flipped through the Journal and not read any articles, but my recent experience reading A Bridge to Light, and reading the Ritual Monitor and Guide for the first quiz of the Master Craftsmen course enticed me to actually pay attention. The Grand Commander’s Message, "Mastering the Craft," in particular hit home for me. In this message he talks about our progression through the Scottish Rite degrees. It seemed peculiar to me that I received so many Congratulations upon completing the 32nd Degree—as best as I could remember, the most challenging part of it was staying awake. The degree teams and our instructors did an excellent job, but the Reunion started early and we had about an hour drive to get from Manhattan to Salina. Then on top of that we were put in a warm dark auditorium; alertness was Cross Keys March 2019
not on our side. But the Grand Commander goes on to say further that "a common theme in our degree instructions is the admonition to further study, reading, contemplation, and reflection." Life being what it is, that never really happened, and over the course of the last few years I began to wonder why I had ever agreed to join. In all honesty, there were times when I considered asking for a demit so that I wouldn’t have to continue paying dues. But just as the Universe told me to grab that edition of the Journal, it told me not to demit, and it is now that I am beginning to understand why. Bridge to Light, when placing emphasis in reading and understanding, is an eyeopening literary experience. As I said, it is the root cause for why I ordered the Master Craftsman course. Those things that I previously missed are now starting to come to light, and the message of the degrees are now starting to make sense. When studying the Master Craftsman course texts, I now find myself reading with a highlighter at the ready. My copy of A Bridge to Light, and the Ritual Monitor and Guide is peppered with bright orange and green markings. The course, I find, is so intriguing and enlightening that it doesn’t feel like I’m studying or learning or doing homework, or whatever you may want to call it. As cheesy at it may sound, the course work is giving me "Masonic Inspiration" to continue to learn the Craft and deeper symbolism it contains. I now find myself constantly
Thoughts from a Young Mason (ctd) wishing that I had ordered it sooner. I will readily admit that being able to put "32°" behind my name for the last few years has been cool, but in truth it didn’t really mean anything to me. People have sometimes asked what I had to do to earn it and my answer was simply, "Stay awake." I realize that seems harsh, but that was the honest way I felt about it. On the same note I now realize the hollowness that came with being a Master of the Royal Secret. In large part, was my fault. I had failed to make the most of the Scottish Rite that I could and should have done. People have asked and wondered "What does it all mean?" I had no good answer to
Anyone for sneakers?
Ah!!!!
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give to them. At the time I started it was all about hanging out with a bunch of guys I really liked, and wearing a funny hat in the process. As I progress through this course I can see that will change. What does it all mean? In totality I still don’t have a full answer; I’m trying to piece that together. But in the meantime I look forward to studying and increasing my knowledge, and attending the October 2018 Reunion in St. Louis so that I can see the degree work in the new light which has been cast upon me. From The Scottish Rite Journal September/October 2018 by Bro. Daniel Hogan. Possibly many young masons have similar thoughts and the message must be: stay with it and through further research and enlightenment, truths will emerge.
Master Mason Certificates Continuing from last month, some more MM diplomas. Clockwise from thre right: Master Mason certificate issued by Solar Lodge, No. 14 in 1854 (Grand Lodge of Maine) Master Mason certificate issued by Union Lodge, No. 31 in 1852 (GL of Connecticut) Master Mason certificate issued by Binghamton Lodge, No. 177 in 1923 (GL of NY) Master Mason certificate issued by Good Samaritan Lodge in 1943 (GL of Massachusetts) Master Mason certificate issued by Harmony Lodge, No. 38 in 1865 (GL of Maine)
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Master Mason Certificates (ctd) On the right, an 19th Century example of a certificate from Union True Blues Lodge No.659 under the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Space is left at the foot for the master, wardens and secretary to sign it. Below right is the certificate that was issued by our lodge in 1847 to Bro. James Allan, Engineer, and hence the reason why it uses the old lodge number of 318. It is likely that the lodge did not have a crest at this point as it uses the family crest of the Houstoun family with their motto In Time. The certificate is completed with a wax seal and ribbon and can bee seen in the foyer of the lodge.
Below is the diploma from Glasgow Kilwinning No.4 dated 1767.
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The Economist The following is the conclusion from an article in The Economist in February, 2018. This was written with English masonry in mind and not Scottish which is a different entity in terms of the brethren. The rapid spread of freemasonry in the 18th century—first in England and then abroad— fitted within a broader expansion in club membership as cities grew. Masonic lodges resembled other clubs in some respects: members met for lectures and dined together. But freemasonry was exceptional. Its rituals were more secretive and elaborate than those of other clubs. It was also secular, nonpartisan and egalitarian, at least in theory. Lodges should “conciliate true friendship among persons that must else have remain’d at a perpetual distance”, explained one manual from 1723. Sectarian affiliation did not determine membership, and political talk was forbidden. “Real worth and personal merit only” granted entry, which had to be unanimously agreed upon by other lodge members. Enlightenment ideals of cosmopolitanism, progress and perfectibility animated early masonic literature. Knowledge, it was believed, could ease divisions of class and nationality while ensuring universal solidarity. Freemasonry was not so inclusive as envisioned, remaining largely inaccessible to women and the working class. Still, lodges permitted a degree of commingling between the aristocracy and educated professionals
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rarely seen before. They also offered places for upper-middle-class men to enact abstract Enlightenment values about equality, secularism and merit. Margaret Jacob, a historian, has argued that lodges became “schools of government” and laboratories for civic participation. Masons paid dues, swore oaths of loyalty, voted, debated and elected officers. Today, at 1.1m, lodge membership in America is at its lowest ever, down from 4.1m in 1959. This decline mirrors weak participation in civic groups more broadly. In his study of contemporary freemasonry, J. Scott Kenney, a sociologist, tells of masons joining the group in search of greater meaning. One called it the antidote to today’s “Jerry Springer morality”. Perhaps this non-mason has hit the nail on the head. We live in a world of reality TV (synonymous with rubbish), people famous for being famous with no skills, people desperate to be famous, no depth to anything, politicians that cannot be trusted and so on. There is a sizeable group (and increasing) of people looking for more and looking to escape this mundane world of anti-social media. The Craft, without doubt, can fill this void. The lodge provides a place to escape this humdrum and sit with like minded men who see more in the esoteric symbols in that search for truth. Let’s get them!
Chamber of Reflection Below is the “Chamber of reflection" at the temple of the Grand Lodge of Turkey. It's all in the basement, below the ground level. First, the candidates spend 30-40 minutes in this reception filled with only chairs for them. Then they are led by booths (6 available) which contain an hourglass and a triangular mirror (the same mirror arises in a 2 degree ritual). The candidate writes a "philosophical will" on a triangular sheet of paper, and it seems that its sizes match the dimensions of the mirror. The are three questions: 1. What are the duties of a man to taming his passions?
2.
What are the duties of man towards his family and homeland?
3.
What are the duties of man towards humanity?
The alchemical motto for vitriol as shown in the bottom photo is “Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem,” “Visit the interior of the earth and rectifying (purifying) you will find the hidden stone.” This should encourage the candidate to reflect upon the nature of death.
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The Ship Tavern The Ship Tavern at the corner of Gate Street and Little Turnstile in London. The Ship Tavern was established in 1549 & has been at the heart of Holborn's social scene for over 500 years. The original Tavern was then only half the size as it is today and constructed mostly from timber. Its main purpose was to quench the thirst of exhausted labourers who were tending to the nearby fields, now partly Lincoln's Inn Fields. As well as being a public house, The Ship Tavern has served many purposes in its lifetime. Notably during the despotic reign of Henry VIII, Catholics would sneak into the Ship Tavern to attend mass, conducted by outlawed priests who would conduct mass from behind the bar. Lookouts would be posted around the neighbourhood, and a pre-arranged signal would warn the congregation when the king's zealous officials came in to view. The warning would, hopefully, give the priest time to escape into one of the several 'hidey-holes' (some of which still exist today) and allow the congregation time to take up their tankards and become just another group of regulars in a pub. Some priests were not so lucky and were discovered hiding in a tunnel in the cellar and were executed on the spot. It was here that on the last Monday in every month from the 1700s that freemasons would meet and in 1786 Lodge 234 was consecrated here by the Grand Master, the Earl of Antrim.
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Johnstone Bowling Green The municipal bowling green and tennis courts were formally declared open at a ceremony on 25 August 1892, which was presided over by Bro. Provost Stewart Armour. He was pre-
sented with gold-mounted bowls which he threw to open the green. A banquet was held after the ceremony. The turf for the bowling green was obtained free of charge from Gleniffer Braes, which was then under the ownership of Bro. Captain Speirs. A large number of people had already joined the bowling club by the time of the opening date, and it was expected that the membership would soon reach over one hundred. During the afternoon of 25 August 1892 there was a match on the tennis courts between members of the Johnstone Club and the Queen's Park Tennis Club, Glasgow. One of only two winning players from Johnstone was Bro. Sir William B. Lang (of Langs well known for lathes). Bro. Sir William went on to become Minister of Munitions in the first World War.
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The Grand Lodge Diploma There is much symbolism in the certificate of the high and sublime degree of a MM – the highest degree in Freemasonry. Starting at the top is the title used by GL. You will note the
spelling of antient – a t not a c. This is the old spelling first used in the masonic documents known as the Schaw Statutes of 1598 and 1599 which can be viewed at GL. Below the title is the sun and moon with the all seeing eye in the centre; the sun to rule the
day, the moon to govern the night and the all seeing eye representing God TGAOTU. The 7 stars represent the 7 liberal arts and sciences indicating that we should strive to make a daily advance in masonic knowledge.
The banner states “Let there be light and there was light” taken from the Book of Genesis, the first book of the OT. It alludes to the man who has left the darkness of the outside world and has been initiated into the light of Freemasonry.
Similar to the EATB, the 3 columns represent the D, I and C columns of the SW, the master and the JW and also W, S and B. At their bases are the WT – the square, level and plumb rule of the master and wardens. Between them is the carpet reminding us of the opposites that we encounter in life’s journey and that we strive to make the right choice. On the carpet is the rough ashlar with the tools of an EA and a lambskin apron. On the other side is the prefect ashlar with the FC’s tools. This represents the journey of the young apprentice trying to become a perfected MM through diligent work. In front of the I pillar are the MM’s tools and plan which we require throughout life. At the front centre, are the 3 great lights – the VSL with the s and c resting thereon with which you are very familiar. This symbolic lodge rests on 3 steps alluding to the master and wardens, the 3 degrees, F, H & C and many others. Underneath is the GL seal granted by Lord Lyon, King of Arms in 1986. Bro. Bob Cooper, Curator at GL
It’s a real shame that this diploma is not treated the way it should and often ends in a drawer
never to be seen again until family members empty it on the brother’s death! Maybe lodges should make more of its presentation or perhaps PGL could have a short ceremony with dinner etc. Worth a thought?
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Congratulations Congratulations to Bro. Ramsay McGhee, Grand Master Mason of Scotland, who has just received his Jubilee Certificate for 50 years in the Scottish Craft. He is seen with Bro. Eddie Findlay, master of Lodge St. Barchan No.156 which is Bro. Ramsay’s mother lodge. St. Barchan will visit 242 on 14th to confer the FCD.
King Solomon’s Temple An amazing model of King Solomon’s Temple has been made and is used in the Masonic Centre, in Battle Creek, Michigan. Is this the only model used by a lodge? One exists in England which is mobile and travels about showing brethren the construction—242 had the demo during its 200th Anniversary and the photo is in the RWM’s Room.
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A Royal Arch Time Line C1250BC Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt towards Canaan. (Book of Exodus)
C1250BC The Israelites conquer the Canaanites destroying Jericho.
C970—931BC King Solomon reigns over the kingdom of Israel for 40 years. (Book of Kings)
C970—931BC Extensive building programme including a city wall and of course his temple. His kingdom is divided into Israel (capital Samaria) and Judah (capital Jerusalem).
C597—587BC King Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonians capture Jerusalem and installs Zedekiah as King of Judah who revolts against Nebuchadnezzar.
C597—587BC Nebuchadnezzar then destroys Jerusalem and the temple before driving the Jews into exile.
C539BC The Persians, under King Cyrus, conquer Babylonia (covers Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel).
C539BC Cyrus issues a decree to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem where they concentrate the second temple in 516.
C444BC The Jewish leader Nehemiah, having been released from captivity, returns to Jerusalem to help rebuild the city walls.
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Many of the events and names here are important in the Royal Arch and Cryptic degrees.
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Norwegian Apron Freemasonry has existed in Norway since the 1740s when the English Grand Master, Lord Byron, appointed a Provincial Grand Master of Denmark and Norway (one kingdom until 1814). This first lodge called St. Olaus met in the Grand Palace in Christiana before amalgamating with Swedish lodges in 1818.
The apron shown is dated 1746 and was worn by a member of St. Olaus. It is strange in that apart from the master’s symbols, the secretary and treasurer’s symbols are also shown.
The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Advert Is your son eligible to become a Freemason? If so, sponsor him for next year’s One Day Class. After he has been raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason you can present him a complimentary Lewis Jewel! The One Day Class will quickly be upon us – March 9, 2019 is the big day. All brethren joining our remarkable worldwide fraternity that day who are the sons of a Master Mason in good standing will receive a Lewis Jewel, compliments of the Grand Master! What is a Lewis Jewel? It is a pocket jewel, only to be worn by the son of a Master Mason, to honour his father who was a Mason before him. It is a special honor signifying the Masonic progression within a family. Each father who sponsors one of our newest Master Masons will receive a One Day Class pin with a special attachment designating you as a Lewis Jewel sponsor! This ‘course’ is part of Massachusetts freemasonry—would it work in Scotland? Should fathers try to encourage their sons into the Craft?
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The Caribbean Freemasonry arrived in the Caribbean in the 18th century. It came by water, carried on the ships that sailed from Spain, England, the Netherlands, and France. Military men established many of the first lodges, although the practice was subsequently spread and maintained by colonial governments, merchants, and traveling businessmen. In the mid-to-late 18th century, the "Craft" would see alternating periods of rapid growth, and stagnation. Lodges opened and closed in quick succession as the European powers battled both amongst their Caribbean colonies, as well as back at home. The French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and others would all have an impact on the practice of freemasonry in the Caribbean. The earliest record of an English-speaking lodge in the Caribbean is Antigua’s Parham Lodge No. 154 — consecrated in 1738. It was around the same time that other pioneer lodges began springing up in St. Kitts (St. Christopher’s Lodge No. 174) and Jamaica (Great Lodge of St. John No. 192, and Port Royal Lodge No. 193). Meanwhile, provincial grand lodges were appeared soon after both in Barbados (1740) and
Bermuda (1745). In 1788, Irish Freemasonry would follow the English and Scottish rites, to establish the Union Lodge No. 690 in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as a significant presence in both Jamaica and Bermuda. It’s interesting to note that in the Spanish colonies, however, freemasonry took much longer to establish itself. The influence of the Roman Catholic Church was largely the cause for this, due to the anti-masonic position taken by the Vatican ever since the papal ban in 1738. Trinidad and Tobago wouldn’t embrace freemasonry openly then, until the islands passed from Spanish to British rule in 1797. In the Spanish controlled Dominican Republic, freemasonry was not permitted to spread until after the 1844 Dominican War of Independence. The Grand Lodge of the Dominican Republic was founded shortly after, in 1858. In Cuba, likewise,
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The Caribbean (ctd) freemasonry would not begin to flourish until 1898, when the island’s battle for independence would earn sympathy from the US, and escalate into the brief yet bloody SpanishAmerican War. Lodges are predominantly smaller but very colourful as shown top. The above lodge shows an interesting version of the square and compasses with an anchor rather than a G perhaps indicating that many of its members are involved with the sea.
Silver Jewel
The above jewel is dated 1819 and must have been made for one member as opposed to a few made for brethren. In the front, the various symbols are shown like a tracing board whereas the reverse has the brother’s name and rank with possibly a family crest. Aove the crest is a typical Royal Arch symbol. The phrase with the cross is Kodes La Adonai meaning Holiness to the Lord and possibly this side was to show that he was a RA Mason.
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Hall Hire
The Masonic Hall is available for hire for various functions. Above is an example of a recent Christening when an outside company prepared the hall. If you would like to use the hall, please contact the lodge Secretary at thesec242@gmail.com
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To submit an article or want added to the mail list or Facebook group, contact the Editor, Grant Macleod: E-Mail:
sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://lodge242.bravesites.com/
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