The Working Tools Masonic Magazine March 2012 Issue

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March 2012 Issue #50

Featuring original papers by Brothers: David Browning

60 pages of Masonic Education

Kyle Ferguson Matt Johnson Jacob Lucas John Nagy P.D. Newman Barry Newell Scott Schwartzberg Paul Smith

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WELCOME

Hello Brethren, Welcome to the March 2012 issue of The Working Tools Magazine. Thank you for all the support and Brotherly love displayed throughout these last 50 issues. The reason I spend all these countless hours behind a keyboard putting together this magazine is for you, the reader. Plain and simple! I attended my first Masonic Week in Alexandria, VA which is the most incredible time a Freemason can experience. I urge all of you to try to attend at least once to see it first hand for yourself. The cover story for this issue is a recap of the my experiences during the week. We attended so many great lectures and degrees it would be a shame not to share it with you. Before I forget, I wanted to also share that the February “Special Edition� hard copy was a great success. I was surprised at how many wanted a printed copy. It got me rethinking the hesitation in offering a printed copy every month.

Until next time...

Cory Sigler

Last Months Poll Question

Has Social Media strengthened your interest in Masonry?

Yes- 74.3% No- 25.7% 268 responses

Cory Sigler, PM

Hawthorne Fortitude #200

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/corysigler & facebook.com/twtmag NEW EMAIL - TWTMAG@YAHOO.COM

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General Sections

Featured Writers

This Month in Masonry..............8

Scott Schwartzberg………..15

One Minute Mason.....................9

John Nagy.............................21

FreemasonQuotes.com...........10

Matt Johnson........................26

Old Tyler Talks, Carl Claudy...11 Word of the Month...................12 Poem.........................................13

Paul Smith…………………..28 Kyle Ferguson…………….. 30 David Browning…………….32

“Art of Manliness” Blog...........14

Jacob Lucas………….43 & 50 Strange But True......................15

Barry Newell…..……….…….45 Masons in the News..........……17

P.D. Newman………………..53

Appendant Bodies York Rite……………………………. 41 Scottish Rite……………………….. 49

Click on the page numbers to quickly jump to that page

The Working Tools is published monthly by Corsig Publishing & Cory Sigler, It is not affiliated with any Grand Lodge. Letters or inquiries should be directed to Cory Sigler, Editor, at E-mail: TWTMAG@yahoo.com All letters become the property of the Working Tools. Photographs and articles should be sent to the attention of the Editor. Every effort will be made to return photographs but this cannot be guaranteed. Please include a selfaddressed stamped envelope. The Editor reserves the right to edit all materials received.

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This Months Contributors

Scott Schwartzberg Raised in 2007 at USS New Jersey No. 62 in Cherry Hill, NJ, Scott is currently Marshall of Boynton Lodge No. 236, Boynton Beach, FL. He is one of the founding members of Boynton Lodge Esoteric Research Group (B.L.E.R.G.), a member of the SR Bodies at the Valley of Lake Worth, and YR Bodies of Ft. Lauderdale.

Phillip Daniel. Newman is a member of Tupelo Lodge, No. 318 in Tupelo, MS., New Albany Chapter of R.A.M., No. 49, New Albany Council of R.&S.M., No. 3, Barney Trice Council of R.&.S.M., No. 48 (S.E.M.), New Albany Commandery of K.T., No. 29, Valley of Corinth, Orient of MS (A.&A.S.R., S.J.), MS College (S.R.I.C.F.)

Matt Johnson

Dr. John S. Nagy

Matt is a member of Pioneer Lodge #82 in Peoria, Arizona.

is a Master Mason and author of the “Building Series” of Masonic Education books. His books and his workshops cover aspects of Masonry designed to Build Better Builders. You can find out more about him, his books and his workshops through his website at: http://www.coach.net

He has taught college history courses and comes from a family of Freemasons dating back to the 1700s.

Paul Smith P.M. of Rockingham Lodge No. 76 in Candia, NH the Founding Master of General Court Lodge No. 1784 (America’s only special, legislative lodge) and is the Founding and Current Master of Phoenix Lodge, U.D.; New Hampshire’s first TO lodge. He is a trustee of NH MasoniCare and is currently serving as a Grand Steward. He is a member of The Masonic Society, the Scottish Rite, York Rite, AMD, SRICF, Royal Order of Scotland, SYRCA and Order of Knight Masons.

Kyle James Ferguson JW of Kingsbury Lodge No. 466, Olyphant, PA. He is a plural member of Union Lodge No. 291, F. & A.M. and a regular member of Lackawanna Chapter No. 185 RAM, and the Valley of Scranton AASR NMJ, all of Scranton, PA. He is also a member of The Masonic Society and a Level 1 Masonic Scholar in the PA Academy of Masonic Knowledge. He is an avid writer and authors the blog The Philosophical Freemason (http://philosophicalfreemason.b logspot.com/).

David Browning

Jacob Lucas

David Browning is a Master Mason and is installed as the Senior Deacon of Selma Lodge 320 in Selma, North Carolina. He is a Certified Lecturer and is currently serving as the District Deputy Grand Lecturer for the 16th Masonic District. He resides with his wife and three children in NC.

is interested in the history of the Craft and its ritual. He is an officer in his Symbolic Lodge, as well as his Scottish Rite Valley and York Rite Bodies. He provides Masonic Education at meetings.

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WB Cory, This is another excellent publication! You do a fantastic job!

Mail Bag

Fraternally, WB Stu Warren Lodge 24, Piqua, OH

Greetings Brother, I would like to submit an article or two for consideration to be included in your future issues. Can you advise the process to submit them? Fraternally, David Browning

Hi, Cory. I hope this message finds you doing well. I'm a member of Greening Lodge, No. 53 in Evergreen, Ala., and I just wanted to shoot you a note to say that I have especially enjoyed the February issue of Working Tools Magazine. I'm a newspaper reporter and photographer and have always been a big fan of Rudyard Kipling. Keep up the good work and please let me know if you ever need anything down this way. Best regards, Lee Peacock

Bro. David, Absolutely. Please send all submissions to me at TWTMAG@yahoo.com. Thank you for wanting to add to the magazine. Cory

Would love to have a printed copy for every month. Willing to pay for each copy like this!!! Brian L Estes Crack this code to learn a very important lesson

Send all your comments or questions to TWTMAG@yahoo.com www.twtmag.com

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Observing The Craft “The Pursuit of Excellence in Masonic Labor and Observation”

“One of the most important books that all Freemason’s have to read immediately” - Cory Sigler

Available now on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Observing-Craft-Pursuit-ExcellenceObservance/

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More Services

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This Month in Masonry

March March 3rd- On this date in 1753, George Washington received his Fellow Craft degree in Fredericksburg Lodge in Virginia March 6th - On this date in 1775, several black men, including one named Prince Hall, were initiated into Freemasonry in Boston. This marked the beginning of what became a huge movement or organization in the United States known as Prince Hall Masonry, composed mainly of African Americans. March 9th- On this date in 1822, a national Masonic Congress was held in Washington DC, in the U.S. Capitol building March 17th- On this date in 1848, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington DC was established March 18th- On this date in 1902, the Tall Cedars of Lebanon was incorporated, in Trenton, New Jersey. March 23rd- On this date in 1887, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle received his 3rd degree. March 25th- On this date in 1902, Sir Winston Churchill received his 3rd degree in Studholme Lodge #1591, London

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One Minute Mason Facts

One Minute Mason Blog http://oneminutemason.blogspot.com/ By Bro Steve Harrison

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Freemason Quotes.com

Follow them on Facebook(facebook.com/freemasonquotes) Twitter (@FreemasonQts) “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” —Bro. Benjamin Franklin

“Nobody owes anybody a living, but everybody is entitled to a chance.” –Bro. Jack Dempsey

"Biographies are but the clothes and buttons of the man. The biography of the man himself cannot be written." -Mark Twain Winston Churchill: "Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all."

“Confidence... thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.” –Bro. Franklin D. Roosevelt Benjamin Franklin: "As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence."

"Eating words has never given me indigestion." -Winston Churchill

"And whether you're an honest man, or whether you're a thief, depends on whose solicitor has given me my brief." -Benjamin Franklin Mark Twain: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

"Exercise is bunk. If you are healthy, you don't need it: if you are sick you should not take it." -Henry Ford

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Old Tyler Talks by Carl Claudy

"Darn the luck! I am assigned on a petition again and I am going fishing tomorrow!" The New Brother looked dolefully at his notification slip. "Why not see the applicant the next day?" asked the Old Tiler. "Because he is going out of town. I got to see him tomorrow or else. And I want to go fishing. This committee stuff makes me tired, anyway. Say, if I get the Master to change my name to yours, will you do it for me?" "Why, of course," answered the Old Tiler. "I am always proud to be one of the Keepers of the Door." "Now that," said the New Brother, "sounds both interesting and dangerous. It's interesting, because I don't understand it, and experience has taught me that when I come at you below the belt, as it were, I usually get kicked pronto and unexpectedly. Please explain the door which you like to keep, where the honor is, what me and my committee work have to do with it, and remember that I am a poor orphan child alone in the wild anteroom with a raging Old Tiler, and not to be too hard on me?" The Old Tiler did not smile. "I would laugh," he confessed, "only it's Masonry you are jesting about and it's not a jest. Yes, I will tell you about the door. I wish I could speak the word in capital letter. "Masonry is a structure of brotherly love, relief and truth, cemented with affection, erected on a square to God, and towering miles high above puny humanity, its foibles and its failings. Masonry is a structure of which we, its humble builders, are proud, because we know that we have built better than we knew. We have so built, partly because we have had help from so many men of so many past ages, and partly because we have had help we could neither see nor understand.

many doors in order that any man who desires, and who is fit, may find the door which is easy for him to enter. It is not true that it is 'hard to be as Mason." "We only ask that an applicant be free-born, of age, a man, and of good character. He may be high or low, rich or poor, great or obscure, famous or unknown. If he is a good man we want him to see our temple from the inside as soon as he expresses a desire to do so. "So we have 16,000 lodges -doors- to our temple of Masonry, that no man can say he came not in because he could not find a way. "Certain things a man must do, inside our temple, and in a certain way he must live. If he lives the life, the temple is stronger. If he does not live the life, the temple is weakened. "Hence, Keepers of the Door. Like any other symbol in Masonry, they are three; three brethren to keep each door safe, sacred and undefiled from the footsteps of evil men, self-seekers, the wicked, the blasphemous, the immoral. Those three who keep each door are not assigned to it for any length of time. "Not theirs a service which may become onerous from time-taking and effort. The Master appoints three Keepers of the Door for every man who tries to enter. Today there is you and John and Jim. Tomorrow it will be George and Jack and Will. The next day another three will keep the door, if any man raps upon it. "With due humility, but infinite pride, I am the Guardian of the Locked Door. As Tiler I suffer none to pass within who have not the right. But the open door no one man may guard; it takes three. "You were appointed tonight as one of those three. Some one has rapped at the door and now it stands ajar. To you it has been said, 'Keep thou the door; keep thou the faith; keep thou this thy temple pure and undefiled.' "You do not want to labor. You want to go fishing. You ask me if I will do your work for you and I answer you, gladly, if so the Master shall find me worthy of the honor."

"Some look at our temple of Masonry and wonder. Some look, shrug shoulders and pass by. Some look at our temple of Masonry and see it not; others gaze on it and seek to enter.

"I shan't ask him," he answered low. "I am ashamed. I didn't understand. I am not, I know, worthy of the honor, but as well as I know how, I will keep the door.."

"In this country there are nearly 16,000 doors to our temple of Masonry, through one of which a man must pass who would see it from the inside. There are so

"I thought you might," smiled the Old Tiler. "After all, no one will catch all the fish; there will be some left for you some other time." "Not if it interferes with being Keeper of the Door," answered the New Brother vigorously.

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WORD OF THE MONTH

Masonic Symbolism & Words Brought to you by Www.masonicdictionary.com This Month’s Word is:

Euclid All the old manuscript Constitutions contain the well known legend of Euclid, whose name is presented to us as the Worthy Clerk Euclid in every conceivable variety of corrupted form. The legend as given in the Dowland Manuscript is in the following words:

of worthy works that belongeth to buildings churches temples, castles, towers, and manors. and all other manner of buildings; and he gave them a charge on this manner. Here follow the usual "charges" of a Freemason as given in all the old Constitutions; and then the legend concludes with these words: "And thus was the science grounded there; and that worthy Mr. Ewelyde gave it the name of Geonetrie. And now it is called through all this land Masonry" (see Brother Hughan's Old Charges, edition of 1872, page 26).

This legend, considered historically, is certainly absurd, and the anachronism which makes Euclid the contemporary of Moreover, when Abraham and Sara his wife went into Egypt, there he taught the Seven Sciences to the Egiptians Abraham adds, if possible, to the absurdity. But interpreted as all Masonic legends should be interpreted, as merely and he had a worthy Scoller that height Ewelyde, and he learned right well, and was a master of all the vij Sciences intended to convey a Masonic truth in symbolic language, it liberal. And in his days it befell that the lord and the estates loses its absurdity, and becomes invested with an importance that we should not otherwise attach to it. of the realms had so many sons that they had gotten some by their wives and some by other ladies of the realm, for Euclid is here very appropriately used as a type of geometry, that land is a hot land and a plenteous of generation. And that science of which he was so eminent a teacher; and the they had not competent live lode to find with their children; myth or legend then symbolizes the fact that there was in wherefore they made much care. And then the King of the Egypt a close connection between that science and the great land made a great Counsel and aparllament to witt, how moral and religious system which was among the Egyptians, they might find their children honestly as gentlemen; And as well as other ancient nations, what Freemasonry is at the they could find no manner of good way And then they did present day-a secret institution, established for the cry through all the realms. if their were any man that could inculcation of the same principles, and inculcating them in inform them, that he should come to them, and he should the same symbolic manner. So interpreted this legend be so awarded for his travail that he hold him pleased. corresponds to all the developments of Egyptian history, which teach us how close a connection existed in that After that this cry was made, then came this worthy Clarke Ewclyde and said to the King and to all his great country between the religious and scientific systems. Thus lords: If yee will, take me your children to govern, and to Kenrick (Ancient Egypt i, 383) tells us that "when we read of foreigners in Egypt being obliged to submit to painful and teach them one of the Seven Scyences wherewith they tedious ceremonies of initiation, it was not that they might may live honestly as gentlemen should, under a condicion, that yee will grant me and them a commission learn the secret meaning of the rites of Osiris or Isis but that they might partake of the knowledge of astronomy, physic, that I may have power to rule them after the manner that the science ought to be ruled. And that the King and geometry, and theology." The legend of Euclid belongs to that class of narrations which, in another work, Doctor all his counsel granted to him alone, and sealed their Mackey calls The Mythical Symbols of Freemasonry. communion. And then this worthy Doctor took to him these lords' sons, and taught them the science of - Source: Mackey's Encyclopedia of Geometric in practice, for to work in stones all manner Freemasonry TWT

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Poem

WHAT MAKES A MAN A MASON? By George M. Free

What makes a man a Mason, O brother of mine? It isn’t the due guard, nor is it the sign, It isn’t the jewel which hangs on your breast It isn’t the apron in which you are dressed It isn’t the step, nor the token, nor the grip, Nor lectures that fluently flow from the lip, Nor yet the possession of that mystic word On five points of fellowship duly conferred. Though these are essential, desirable, fine, They don’t make a Mason, O brother of mine. That you to your sworn obligation are true 'Tis that, brother mine, makes a Mason of you. Secure in your heart you must safeguard and trust, With lodge and with brother be honest and just, Assist the deserving who cry in their need, Be chaste in your thought, in your word and your deed. Support he who falters, with hope banish fear, And whisper advice in an erring one’s ear. Then will the Great Lights on your path brightly shine, And you’ll be a Mason, O brother of mine. Your use of life’s hours by the gauge you must try, The gavel of vices with courage apply; Your walk must be upright, as shown by the plumb, On the level, to bourn whence no travelers come, The Book of your faith be the rule and the guide, The compass your passions shut safely inside; The stone which the Architect placed in your care Must pass the strict test of His unerring square. And then you will meet with approval divine, And you’ll be a Mason, O brother of mine.

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Blog

http://artofmanliness.com/ The art of Manliness is one of the BIGGEST Men’s Here is an excerpt taken from the homepage that lifestyle blog on the Internet. It’s currently getting thousands describes what AOM is all about. of daily hits and is becoming one of the go to sources for men “Why the Art of Manliness? around the world. It is the creation of Brett McKay who happens to also be a Freemason. My idea for the Art of Manliness came about as I was standing in Borders bookstore looking at the I met Bro. Mckay who is a Fellow Craft soon to be raised men’s magazines. It seemed to me that the content in Master Mason at Masonic Week where he gave a great these magazines were continually going downhill, with lecture on “What it Means to be Manly”. I was extremely more and more articles about sex and how to get six impressed that Brett didn’t go for the hacky approach of pack abs. Was this all there was to being a man? making the male species sound like caveman or a bumbling fool that is all over TV and movies. Instead, he gave a very And as I looked around at the men my age, it seemed to me that many were shirking responsibility insightful description of what it takes these days to be a and refusing to grow up. They had lost the confidence, virtuous and well mannered man . One thing that he said focus, skills, and virtues that men of the past had that night that has stood out in my mind is that “The embodied and were a little lost. The feminism opposite of manhood isn’t womanhood, the opposite of movement did some great things, but it also made men manhood is boyhood”. To me, that was a very strong confused about their role and no longer proud of the statement and made me sit up and listen more intently. virtues of manliness. This, coupled with the fact that After the talk was over, I immediately went to the website many men were raised without the influence of a good father, has left a generation adrift as to what it means to see for myself what was to be found. If there was just a to be an honorable, well-rounded man. fraction of information found online as there was in his speech I would been thrilled. Luckily for us, there was way more Talking about honorable manliness was to me than just a fraction of great info provided. If I’m to stay with a niche seemingly not covered on the web or a Masonic theme here I’ll say it was a Holy Grail’s worth of elsewhere, and I decided to start The Art of treasure to be found. While this is a Male orientated blog it is not sexist or gratuitous. Think of it as all the “how to” articles found in Maxim and FHM magazine but without the half naked babes. Recent articles you’ll find are about things like “100 Must Read Books”, “How to Shave Like Your Grandpa”, “How to Cut a Turkey” and “Rediscovering the Barbershop”. Categories on the website fall into A Mans Life, Dress & Grooming, Health & Sports, Manly Skills, Money & Career, and Relationship & Family.

Manliness to talk about all things manly- both the serious and the fun, but with the ultimate eye toward encouraging readers to be better husbands, fathers, brothers, men.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, nor do I claim that I’m an expert on all things manly. I started this blog not because I had all the answers to being a man, but because I wanted to explore the questions with other men. Thankfully, I’ve found a whole community of men who wish to For a guy like me who doesn’t know the difference between a $30 or $300 pair of shoes this is perfect place to discover the lost art of manliness too.” learn what it takes to be a gentleman in the 21st century and beyond.

TWT www.twtmag.com

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Strange But True

I had heard of the Coral Castle many times in my life. The edifice has been featured television shows, such as In Search Of … and That’s Incredible! I have heard radio programs on this structure, on Coast to Coast AM. When I moved to Florida, I was sure that this incredible, mysterious location was soon going to be one of the first places I visited. What IS the Coral Castle? It is neither a castle, nor built out of coral. It is instead of type of limestone that in places has some coral as part of the structure. This rock is below most of southern Florida, sometimes only a couple inches below the topsoil. The “castle” is a megalithic structure, some stones weighing nearly 30 tons, built by one man, Edward Leedskalnin, and he called it “Rock Gate Park,” charging 10 cents for a tour at the original location, then 25 cents after he moved it. The story behind the Coral Castle is that Ed Leedskalnin, barely 5 feet tall and weighing about 100 pounds, built the entire structure by himself, working at night, when no one could see him, using “the secrets of the Pyramids,” including magnetism, and levitating stones. He built the park as a monument to his lost love, a woman who called off their marriage years earlier, in Latvia, when Ed was 26 and she a decade later. Adding to the mystery, apparently Leedskalnin would stop working whenever an adult would wander over, but if it was a child, he would wave, and then get back to work. Some of the television programs and books written about it have interviews with elderly people, teenagers at the time of the building, talking about how they witnessed Leedskalnin levitating huge stones as if they were hydrogen balloons! Legends would discuss the magnetic field of the earth, ley lines, and an extraterrestrial “black box”

that appears in some photographs of Leedskalnin lifting huge stones with block and tackle equipment, and was not found among his effects after his death. When asked how he created this monumental park, Leedskalnin would reply only that he understood the laws of weight and leverage well. It seemed as if this mystery would go on forever – WAIT A SECOND! There were photographs of Leedskalnin working, using a block and tackle? While the Coral Castle is indeed a wondrous achievement, being built single-handedly by a diminutive man, it is far from the miraculous building I was sort of hoping to encounter. I wanted it to be “special.” What I saw was one man’s understanding of physics, and his obsession. Had Leedskalnin been able to actually levitate the massive stone blocks, as claimed many decades after the fact, it would not have taken him over 20 years to build this site. It would not have taken him 4 years to move from the original site to the current one. It could have been done as quickly as he quarried and carved the rock. Edward Leedskalnin apparently came from a family of stoneworkers in Latvia. When he left Latvia and arrived in the United States, he took on physical labor, such as working in lumber camps. Supposedly Leedskalnin contracted Tuberculosis, and as a result moved to Florida. He purchased an acre of land in Florida City for $12, and proceeded to begin carving his monument to his lost love – his “Sweet Sixteen.” He spent about 15-18 years at the original location, far off the beaten path in those days, charging a dime admission. He moved his belongings about 10 miles away, between about 1936 and 1940. There are (Continued on page 16)

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Strange But True - continued (Continued from page 15) several stories as to why. One is that there was a subdivision being built near his original land, and Ed valued his privacy. The other is that a highway was being built (US 1), and as the owner of a tourist attraction, it would raise more money if the structure was along that road. Ed bought a ten acre plot of land on both sides of the future highway, selling some to give a right of way to the road. The current site is about 3 acres, right on the side of US 1. Leedskalnin continued to quarry stones for his edifice, eventually surrounding it with massive walls, about 8 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 3 feet thick, weighing about 13,000 pounds each. The quarry can be seen as part of the tour, just outside the walls. What I found amazing about this site is that Leedskalnin did do all the quarrying, carving, and placing of massive stones, generally by himself, using hand tools, and parts scavenged from old vehicles. The outside of the walls bear tool marks showing how the stone was separated while still in the ground. Many of the carved rocks are well known. There is a 3 ton rock gate (hence Leedskalnin’s name for his monument) at the entrance, that can be easily turned. It is kept lubricated twice a week by the museum staff, to ensure proper working. There is a metal shaft through the stone, drilled by Leedskalnin, and it rests on a truck bearing. Another gate, the 9 ton gate at the rear of the site was so well balanced that a child could push it with the slightest touch. As the stone covering this gate is a form of limestone, and therefore porous, water did seep in, rusting the bearing, and the shaft has become bent. In 1994, a group of engineers took this gate apart to repair it, but the repair only lasted about a decade, before further repairs were needed.

Okeechobee is situated (and covered in a homemade mortar, to allow the liquid to remain in the porous rock). There is a section of “reading chairs,” facing in all directions, to allow Leedskalnin to sit outside and read, depending on where the sun was at the time, as there was no electricity on the site. There are many other structures on the property as well. Before building his living quarters (a small two story building), Leedskalnin lived in a shack on the property. His workshop was on the lower level, and he lived up on the second floor, which if I remember correctly seems to be about 12 feet by 12 feet. Ed Leedskalnin became ill in December of 1951, and took a bus to the hospital, where he passed away 21 days later (not the three days cited in the pamphlet given out at the museum) of stomach cancer, renal failure, and a stroke. After his death, $3500 was found, his life savings, from giving 10 cent and 25 cent tours of the property, selling his pamphlets, and selling land along highway US 1. Leedskalnin had many ideas, which he wrote down and sold in pamphlet form. One was about his thoughts on “Sweet Sixteen, Domestic and Political Views,” in which he explained that his version of Sweet Sixteen was an ideal, not the reality of the young woman who had left him in about 1913. He also wrote three pamphlets on magnetic current, and one on the cycle of life. There is no direct evidence that Edward Leedskalnin was a member of a Masonic Lodge, and none existed at that time in the general area, however, it is known that he attended a Shrine club. We do not know if he was a member of the Shrine, in which case he had to be a Mason, or if he just attended events at that building. Coral Castle is located at 28655 South Dixie Highway, Homestead, FL, 33033. The phone number is 305-248-6345, and the website for the museum is http://www.coralcastle.com. TWT

There are rocking chairs, surprisingly comfortable, carved from the stone throughout the site. There is a table carved in the shape of the State of Florida, including a bird bath or punch bowl where Lake

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Masons in the News

“Call to reveal Gloucestershire councilor links to "secret societies"” COUNTY councilors have been challenged to reveal their membership of private organizations such as the Freemasons. Shire Hall Lib Dem group leader Jeremy Hilton (Westgate) called on all members to declare their interests publicly after a report about the Cotswold Water Park scandal highlighted the issue. Last month Graham Garbutt, who wrote the report, highlighted failures in the council's systems, including confusion among members over whether to declare their membership to "secret societies".

Each of them has declared the membership on the register of interests, in line with the authority's policy. Mr Tipper said Mr Hilton's suggestion was unnecessary. "I resent the way the Freemasons are being presented as a secret society," he said. "We do a lot of charitable work and we do it in a modest way, so those who benefit don't know who has done it. "All council members are well aware of the rules and I'm sure all of them who are members of such groups have already declared it."

Mr Hilton said connections to networking organizations such as the Freemasons could influence matters of public interest.

Mr Garbutt is the independent author of a report being drawn up about Shire Hall's dealings with the Cotswold Water Park.

"This report has highlighted some serious concerns," he said. "I am, therefore, calling for it to be made a standard procedure that both officers and all elected members have a duty to declare that they are or have been members of secret societies like the Freemasons.

At an audit committee meeting last month he presented an interim verbal report, stating that his final report would include recommendations about declarations of interest relating to secret societies.

"Graham Garbutt's report brings to light the need for more transparency and tighter scrutiny procedures within Shire Hall. In my view, this needs to start happening now." The Freemasons are a worldwide fraternity dedicated to charitable works. However, members usually keep their links to the organization secret and carry out meetings in private in a ritualized format. There are five Freemasons serving on Gloucestershire County Council, all of them are in the Conservative group.

An investigation was called for after the £660,000 fraud carried out by Cotswold Water Park Ltd's chief executive Dennis Grant. Conservatives yesterday accused Mr Hilton of carrying out a stunt to get his name in the paper. Council leader Councilor Mark Hawthorne (C, Moreland) said: "There's nothing confusing about the rules on declaration of councilor's interests. "All councilors are required to publicly declare on their register of interests if they are members of the Freemason's Grand Charity – which Conservatives councilors have always rigorously followed.

They are councilors Brian Tipper (Cam and Dursley), Chaz Fellows (Chalford), Stan Waddington "I think there is cause for concern if the Liberal (Minchinhampton), Terry Glastonbury (West Dean) and Democrats are admitting that they do not understand David Cooksley (Lydney). the rules that apply on this important issue."

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Masons in the News

“Dave Thomas Next on UA’s Wall of Honor” Upper Arlington residents will be familiar with this year’s inductee to the city’s Wall of Honor.

Those selected for inclusion on Upper Arlington’s Wall of R. David Thomas (1932-2002) was selected last week as Honor must have lived in the city at some point during the 2012 inductee to the city’s Wall of Honor. He will be their lives, must be deceased, and must have made a recognized with a permanent bronze plaque in the plaza in significant contribution to the city, state or nation. front of Upper Arlington’s Municipal Services Center. Some of the faces that can be seen on the wall include Thomas was best known as the founder, chairman and OSU football coach Woody Hayes, former Ohio Gov. CEO of Wendy’s International Inc., which as of March James Rhodes, breast cancer research fundraisers Stefanie 2010 is the world’s third- largest hamburger fast-food Spielman and Cindy Dyas, and Arlington founders King chain. Thomas opened his first Wendy’s restaurant in G. Thompson and Benjamin S. Thompson. Columbus on Nov. 15, 1969. The chain now has about The plaque honoring Thomas will be dedicated during a 6,650 locations in 26 countries. ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20. The public is invited Once a high school dropout, Thomas attended and to the ceremony outside the city’s Municipal Services graduated from high school in 1993, “in order to relay a Center, 3600 Tremont Road. message to future generations about the importance of obtaining an education,” according to information provided by the Upper Arlington Historical Society. Thomas was also awarded an honorary membership in Sigma Phi Epsilon from Duke University, and was also a Freemason and a member of the Shriners. Kitty Munger, director of communications for Wendy’s Co., said Thomas would have been proud to receive the recognition. “We are honored that our founder, Dave Thomas, is being included on the Upper Arlington Wall of Honor,” Munger said. “The impact Dave had in the business world, especially the restaurant industry, is significant. But his generosity to the central Ohio community is one of his greatest legacies. We know he would be proud to be remembered in this way.” Along with his career in the business world, Thomas also focused on children’s health-related causes, such as St. Jude’s Research Hospital, and donated millions to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Dave Thomas, the founder, chairman and CEO of Wendy’s International, Inc., will be inducted into the Wall of Honor.

In 1992, he founded the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which provides grants to national and regional adoption agencies to make adopting children easier and less expensive. Thomas was also a veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Korean War before being honorably discharged in 1953 with the rank of staff sergeant.

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/upperarlingt on/news/2012/01/31/dave-thomas-next-on-uas-wall-ofhonor.html

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Masons in the News

“Former Rossendale MP is new Grand Master of Freemasons” A FORMER Rossendale MP has been appointed as the highest ranking Freemason in East Lancashire at a ceremony King George’s Hall. More than 1,000 people were expected to watch Sir David Trippier receive the title of The Provincial Grand Master, which will see him lead the area’s 6,000 Freemasons. Freemasonry is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values who meet regularly at Masonic Halls to raise money for charity and organise events. Speaking before the appointment, Helmshore-based Sir David said that he hoped to encourage more men to join the Freemasons. “My aim is to try and raise the profile of the Freemasons and hopefully further improve the number of members we have in the East Lancashire province. “In the past Freemasons were quite secretive and closed off which may have put people off joining. “During the past 30 years it has changed beyond all recognition. Now you only need look on the internet or in the library and you will be able to find out about all the Freemasonry and we are actively encouraged to talk about it. “ Sir David was Conservative MP for Rossendale from 1979-83 and for the Darwen and Rossendale constituency from 1983-92 when he was also a junior minister for Trade, Industry and

Employment and later Environment and Countryside minister. He was deputy chairman of the Conservative Party in 1990 and appointed High Sheriff for Lancashire in 1997. A member of the Stock Exchange since 1968 and Sir David is also a director of Granada TV, a founder of Rossendale Enterprise Trust and Rossendale Groundwork Trust and has been honorary Colonel of the Royal Marines Reserve Merseyside since 1996. He was initiated into the Freemasons when he was 21 in 1968, following in his father’s footsteps. He worked his way up through the Freemasonry ranks from Master of the Lodge to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden then to Grand Officer in the acting rank of Assistant Grand Sword Bearer. He added: “I respected and looked up to my father and his friends who were all Freemasons and thought that is how I wanted to live my life. “If it wasn’t for being a Freemason then I wouldn’t have met my wife Ruth, who I have been married to for 37 years. “My father was friends with her father and I had been asked around to her house for a lodge meeting rehearsal and saw her photograph. I deliberately got it all wrong so I could go back to the house again in the hope of meeting her. “I owe a lot to being a Freemason so it was a privilege to be asked to be The Provincial Grand Master for East Lancashire.” The chapter covers a vast area including the current six boroughs of East Lancashire and historic ‘Lancashire’ including large parts of modern-day Greater Manchester. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/9547583

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Masons in the News

“Party like it’s 1799 in George Washington’s” Alexandria The George Washington Masonic Memorial Alexandria’s cobblestone streets were once George Washington’s stomping ground. Visit Old Town this month, walk in Washington’s footsteps and learn more about the life of our first president when he went off the plantation. First get to know George Washington from a different perspective by touring the memorial built in his honor by a grateful brotherhood of Freemasons. This is a rare opportunity to look inside an organization that’s traditionally cloaked in secrecy, and to understand the reverence it holds for Brother Washington.

from the Revolutionary War, tools from the cornerstone ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Building, a few strands of his hair and a transcript of his will as it appeared in the local newspaper. Next you’ll visit rooms that feel more like chambers, the first of which is sponsored by the Royal Arch Chapter. Borrowing heavily from Egyptian and Hebrew cultures, décor of biblical inspiration enhances the walls and a beautiful simulation of the Ark of the Covenant takes center stage. Think Indiana Jones. The Knights Templar Room is Medieval French Gothic and was dedicated in 1957 by then Vice President Richard Nixon. It features four enormous stained glass windows — the most significant of which depicts the three degrees of Freemasonry — as well as two suits of armor and the sword of a Crusader.

Whether you believe the Freemasons are a benign organization akin to the Kiwanis or an ancient order hell-bent on world domination, you will enjoy a rare peek behind the scenes at the George Washington Masonic Memorial (101 Callahan Drive). Inspired by the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt, the memorial honors Washington as a guiding light for his country and fraternal organization. The architecture combines Greek and Roman styles in a structure made of, not surprisingly, stone. Exhibits introduce Washington as a Freemason and Charter Master of Alexandria-Washington Masonic Lodge No. 22.

Tucked away on the ninth floor is a reconstruction of the interior of the temple of King Solomon — including throne, large copper bowl, oil lamp holders and a tree of life — sponsored by the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, a chapter best known for its fundraising efforts in the fight against Muscular Dystrophy.

An observation deck circles the top of the tower and boasts a 360-degree view — 400 feet above sea level. The Capitol Building, Washington Monument, National Harbor and Visitors enter on the main level and are welcome to wander other points of interest are easily spotted, and Alexandria is there and on the lower level. Five dollars gains access to the laid out below like a model railroad village. tower and observatory, with a tour lead by a Freemason who will answer questions — at least most of them — and Back on the main level a colossal bronze statue of Washington in full Masonic regalia — all 17 feet and seven bring you to the museum and several other rooms tons of him — graces the entry hall, and murals on each sponsored by Masonic chapters. side depict important events in his life as a Mason. The ride up in the lush, wood-paneled elevator is quick and Parking for the George Washington Masonic Memorial is cozy, and every trip seems to include at least one visitor free in the lot on Callahan Drive. The memorial is open who knows his Dan Brown inside-out. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon The museum on the fourth floor enlightens visitors about to 4 p.m. Sunday. the many hats that Washington wore: soldier, farmer, http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/ president and Freemason. Artifacts include his field trunk

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The initial Entered Apprentice Work is encapsulated by two maxims found at Apollo’s Temple at Delphi. Upon that Temple was inscribed the following: “Know Thyself” and “Nothing Too Much.” Within these maxims are the initial First Degree Work focuses. Each maxim has specific Work that Masons must engage in to better their efforts to Master (Part 3 – Perfecting Ashlars) themselves. Beyond these two maxims is other first Degree Work. This additional Work focuses upon strengthening In the previous two articles, some foundational concepts were the time management and self-discipline of the individual doing the Work. Let’s look at the initial Work first. conveyed to you in an effort to assist you toward better understanding what is to follow. Know Thyself As a result of the two previous To deal adequately with this first maxim is to engage readings, you should recognize yourself in a searching and fearless quest for selfthe two lines flanking the knowledge. This Work involves fully understanding a) Circumpunct to be symbolic for the Work of the first two degrees. It should also be seen that the presence, length and what you truly value, b) how you both protect and share those values and c) how you deal with change as you Strength of each line is directly proportional to the Work experience the field of time. that each Mason does to progress toward Mastery.

Part 1-6 of this series was first published in the Living Stones Magazine.

This Work should not be confused with the proficiencies demanded of Masons by their membership within the organization of Freemasons. Organizational work is designed to permanently impression upon Masons the mechanics of the first three Degrees they experienced. The actual Masonic Work of those Degrees is encoded within those impressions. It is your responsibility to remember, decode and execute it. What is the Work of the first Degree? The Entered Apprentice Work is directed toward better understanding your inner world – the goal of which is selfMastery. This is juxtaposition with the Work of the Fellow Craft, which is directed toward better understanding your outer world – the goal of which is Mastery of your worldly efforts and dealings. We shall review the inner Work in this article.

To facilitate understanding what you truly value, it is important to clearly identify what you do to deal with life’s challenges. Your actions are by far the greatest indicators of what you value than any other aspect of you. How you treat yourself speaks much about your values too. How you treat others – all those whom you believe are subservient to you, equal to you and all those whom are supervisory to you –

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. Such Work cannot be done in one day and it cannot be done in a month. This Work takes time, commitment and activity that far too many men never do. 2. Others cannot do this Work for you. The individual desiring the benefits of that Work must do each aspect of it himself. There is no way around this constraint. Anyone thinking otherwise is deluded and will eventually take actions counter-productive to the very thing they desire most.

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(Continued from page 21) speaks even further about your values. How you wield your authority and how you comply with authority are direct reflections of your value system. All of these are direct reflections of your core values as a human being. Perfected Ashlars know why they value what they value and without waver. Superfluities & Vices It not acknowledged by many of our Brethren but there are far too many Masons who do know the answer to a simple question that all Fellow Crafts and above should know. This reflects very poorly not upon them but those who coached them Past the first Degree level. Let me first say that, for the record, I’m very tuned in to this corruption of the Masonic path and do what I can to put things back on track, for those Brothers who are interested. To aid in improving the awareness of this corruption, I ask Masons that I encounter this question every time I have opportunity to stress an important point. That question is: What is a Superfluity? Without a doubt, there are a handful of Masons who actually do know the answer to this question. When Brothers prove that they do know, my immediate follow up question is “Would you kindly provide to me an example of a Superfluity in which you have divested yourself?” This question usually causes a head scratch or two. Unfortunately, this action occurs all too regularly when I ask it. At a recent encounter of over fifty Brothers, only a handful were able to answer the first question. Many of these Brothers who didn’t know were in the Fraternity for over three decades. Fortunately, all these Brothers were very invested in Masonic Education and it was clear to me that asking this question rattled a few of them – in a good way. Because of that encounter, I’m convinced that these Masons were soon afterward combing through Ritual in an effort to find other words that they have yet to investigate fully. If you are one such interested Mason, another question that deserves an effort to investigate is: How are vices and superfluities similar and different to each other? This is a question that, once answered, gives you tremendous insight into what Entered Apprentices should be divesting themselves of in their efforts to Perfect their Ashlars. Part of Entered Apprentice Work is to investigate and understand what Vices and Superfluities they may have in

their lives. A list of them should be tabulated by those doing the Work. Included in this is an action plan manifested in earnest. Such activities should assist those Working upon their Ashlars toward divesting

themselves of unnecessary burdens. It helps to have a Coach and Mentor that can share how he went about his own Work. Such guiding Light is more valuable than any offered instruction manual. Brothers who were successful in this activity show Entered Apprentices that such Work is both possible and highly probable. If you’re wondering where the “Divestiture” focus comes from, you have no further to look than the second maxim shared previously – nothing in excess. Perfected Ashlars are not burdened by excess. Time & Energies Time and energy involvements also reflect outwardly, what you hold dear in your inner world. What you invest your time and energies toward and what you allow to go unattended also reflect your values. The directed use of your time tells the world what you believe is most important. How you divide or portion your time does this too. Where you spend your time and why you spend your time in any one direction is a beacon for those who wish to know in what you are most invested. The energies, yea those “emotions”, which you put toward any one issue, situation, project or person, tell the world in what you are devoted. Who gets your attention and support reveals immediately who you value most. What energies come up for you during these moments tell others how you perceive your world. What you Desire most is shown through your constant employment in any direction. How you regulate that employment reflects Standards and Boundaries that further reflect what you value most. These Standards and Boundaries are direct reflections of how you elect to protect and share what you value. Perfected Ashlars Establish and maintain Standards and Boundaries that enhance their lives and the lives of others. How you deal with discomforts and direct yourself toward comforts reveals your Temperance. Your Passions drive you to deal with discomforts. They must be known by you, understood by you and directed by you in ways that will deal with them appropriately or they will be used by others to enslave and control you.

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(Continued from page 22) The same should be done with your Desires. Your Desires drive you to deal with your comfort issues. The same actions taken with your Passions must occur for your Desires too. The roads that men take driven by their Desires should take them toward Virtuous ends. If you do not know what they are, do not understand them and do not direct them appropriately, you set yourself up to be puppeted by those who do. Subduing and Circumscription of all aspects of these two divergent energies, Passions and Desires, are part of successful first Degree Work. How well this occurs for you is directly proportional to a) how you define them, b) know them and c) execute your plans to deal with them effectively when they become the focus of your activities. Know this too: emotions are always driving your activities. Perfected Ashlars have their emotions circumscribed and subdued appropriately. What’s more, if you have a difficult time dealing with changes in your life, this too reveals to all those you encounter what you truly value and your investments of energies. Perfected Ashlars do not get stuck in change, but rather, they embrace change and come to acceptance quickly.

Morality While consolidating your values list and how you continually choose and decide life directions, your concurrent task is to clarify what this says, to others and yourself, about your Morality. Are your values and your actions consistent with what you profess to be your Morality? Are there expressed values and actions that are inconsistent with what you profess? Answering these questions honestly reveals much about both your overall Morality and your Moral Integrity. Answering them dishonestly reveals equally as much. Such character is very difficult to hide. Perfected Ashlars have a good grasp on their Morality and their Moral Integrity is uncorrupted. Virtues Virtues are characteristics that express themselves through our actions and inactions. They are also traits that can be manifested through conscious effort. Part of your first Degree Work is to bring to the forefront how you go about making choices and decisions. Each are selecting processes and knowing the difference between them helps you guide your life profoundly.

The Virtues shared within Ritual are usually four and three in number. It should be noted that these seven are not all the Virtues that an Entered Apprentice could Work upon. They are the bare minimum that should be developed and manifested for you to become Passable toward your next Degree. Other Virtues are disclosed in some Jurisdiction Rituals and it is worthwhile exploring others as your Work progresses. Perfected Ashlars have Strengthened themselves, despite any flaws they may possess. Perfection It should be noted that the goal of the Entered Apprentice Work is to Perfect the Ashlar that is the Man and Mason. This Perfection has nothing to do with flawlessness. Flawlessness is only one meaning that may be assigned to this word “perfection.” The “Perfection” that Builders focus upon deals with suitability. In that vein, Perfection has to do with maturing the Ashlar toward Suitability. Should the Ashlar not be matured through completing the Work prescribed by the first Degree, then it remains unsuitable for the Builder’s Use. Furthermore, unfinished first Degree Work creates Ashlars that are Burdened either by Vice and Superfluity and/or Weakened for lacking those Virtues necessary to support that House not made by hands. The former Ashlar, if installed within that House, will cause undue drain and strain upon other Perfected Ashlars. The latter Ashlar, if installed within that House, will crumble when most needed for support. Only the Work Perfected Ashlar is Suitable to be Passed to the next Work stage – the Fellow Craft Work. Recap If you notice what I have done with this article, you realize there might be some unfinished Work to which you should attend. You might also notice that the Work that you have focused upon with the Rough Ashlars put in your charge, requires much more than what you may have been shown by your Coach and Mentor. In either case, you now have enough Light to make whatever changes are necessary to your current plans to Build yourself and future generations toward a better Builder Suitability. I hope though that what you have noticed is that I’ve created a Suitable framework by which you can further explore what Work Ritual espouses. Included in this article are some helpful hints that can assist you toward Perfecting any Ashlars, be it yours or those who depend upon you for Light support. All this Work represents only one leg of the journey of which you cannot take a single step without.

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(Continued from page 23) Points to Perpend: 1) What are your Values and how do they compare with those Values which Ritual espouses? Are they compatible or not? 2) On a scale from one to ten, with ten indicating total Integrity, how would you and others rate your Moral Integrity? What must occur for you to have Moral Integrity? 3) What conditions exist when you mismanage time the most? What is lacking in your time management? What should be Perfected in your time management realm? 4) What Vices and Superfluities have you yet to

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divest yourself of? Why? 5) What Virtues do you manifest daily? Which personal Virtues need to be exercised more? 6) What conditions trigger a loss in circumscription or subduing? What must occur for you to better subdue and circumscribe when these trigger conditions occur? 7) What must you do to Perfect your Ashlar? What’s your plan to do this?

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FEATURED WRITER- MATT JOHNSON

“Freemasonry Reloaded” by Matt Johnson (Dedicated to the memory of Brother Bill Coleman, a man who strived for quality in the lodge.) What if we were able to dramatically improve the state of Freemasonry by setting aside just 15 minutes a day? Would you do it? All for free, no book to buy or new meeting to attend...would you do it? If not, why not? Read on.

Freemasons have had something for centuries called the “Art of Memory”. Not all Freemasons practice it, but they should. When they do, their rituals are extremely impressive and moving. When they don’t, the experience loses the power it should have. Here are some tips on how to increase your ability to memorize pages of material, much like an actor. ANYONE can do this. If an actor can do it (and not all of them are known for being geniuses) then YOU can do it.

Read a line out loud while walking around or alone in your car. Read it ten times. Then cover it up and read it out loud ten times from memory until you have it down perfectly. Do this 15 minutes a day. Every day For the last couple of decades, Freemasons have you come back to it, read everything you have done a variety of different things to “save” already memorized FROM memory and then start Freemasonry: The One Day Journey, the Traditional with the new material doing the same thing as before. Observance Lodge, etc etc. Every year, there seems THAT’S IT. It is not rocket science. I am sure you to be a new book or a new idea on what to do about have memorized ALL the lines to your favorite Freemasonry and its aging population. No new movies or whole albums of songs. You CAN do it if Freemasons means, eventually, no more you want to. Freemasonry. 2. Put together a calendar at the beginning of the I know some brothers see this as a good thing. They year so brothers can sign up to do Masonic see it as a refining. Some see it as terrible. I am here education. Have a stack of articles ready to be to offer another view. I think both camps have read in the event the brother scheduled to something to offer. I think Freemasonry is a vital teach is not there so that no matter WHAT force for good in this world. I also think it is clearly there is interesting Masonic education at each not for everyone and should not change its ways to meeting and not just business. appease the rest of the world. 3. Do one degree per candidate at a time. Make I also read and hear Masons complain and whine, it his night. Make that person feel but offer no real solution. I think there is another IMPORTANT. way that will help both camps to get what they want for the future of Freemasonry. We can have it all. 4. Set up a free website using blogger.com if you We can even become “relevant” to the rest of don’t have one. Set up a Face book page. I did society, Mason or not. this for my lodge. Check out pioneerlodge82.blogspot.com. It’s easy, Here is what I propose. It is all free….FREE….and simple and looks good. takes a few minutes a day: 5. Post something interesting daily on the 1. Have at least 12 to 20 brothers per lodge website or Face book page for your lodge and committed to memorizing a specific part using a also send it via email simple technique that takes just 15 minutes a day. These brothers will be responsible for doing rituals. (Continued on page 27) www.twtmag.com

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FEATURED WRITER- MATT JOHNSON (Continued from page 26) One more thing….we need a story. Chevalier Ramsay knew this. I have met more men who said they learned about Freemasonry and got excited to join because of seeing the movies “The Man Who Would be King” or “National Treasure”. Gen Xers and Millennials grew up on Star Wars, Harry Potter and Assassin’s Creed. They want something ancient and bigger than themselves. They want to learn how to be men, not boys. We have that.

to your lodge brothers. You can steal what I send out on pioneerlodge82.blogspot.com or from other Masonic websites. This keeps up interest, supplements education and puts more Masonry in Masons. Assign this task to someone who can do it and is interested in doing it. 6. If you are a secretary, type up the notes in lodge on a laptop (or you could still write them up and then type them later), email them out before the next meeting so they can be read by all and approved or modified if need be without taking up large amounts of time in the stated meeting.

I know some brothers who are currently working on Masonic fiction. I think Masonic fiction and the simple, FREE steps above will improve our fraternity without making any massive changes in dues, culture or starting new groups. It requires no one to change their ways, just to take a few extra minutes a day to do a few free and easy things. We don’t even need every Mason to do this although that would certainly be great if it happened. No book to buy. Simple. I believe, if this plan is adopted, this will ultimately not just benefit the Blue lodge, but also the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, the Shrine and everyone else in the “Masonic family” of organizations. If you like this idea, pass it on. As the secretary of my lodge, I have started doing a lot of this on my own already and my lodge brothers are starting to notice the improvement. Excitement breeds excitement! Get exited about Freemasonry again!

7. Send out the article “Believe the Best” to everyone you know. Have everyone in the lodge do this. This is a short article on critical thinking and self improvement. We started the Enlightenment and America. We need to be in the “further light” business again and not just for ourselves. We have a great message. The world should view us as a source of wisdom and a place for men to become great. 8. NEVER CHANGE. No apologies to the rest of the world for who we are. No change in ritual and keep it a fraternity! One of our most attractive qualities is that we are ancient and authentic. If we tinker with our traditions, we lose all of that.

TWT

.

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If we do all these things, we will grow deep and wide. Our meetings will be more fun and interesting. Men will want to join. When they read “Believe the Best” (believethebestblog.blogspot.com) and realize Freemasonry is about making the world a better place, one person at a time and not some obsolete men’s club, they will be attracted. The guys who are concerned about numbers will see more men come to the lodge and the guys concerned about quality will be satisfied. All that is required is for as many Masons and lodges as possible to get on board with this plan. That will be the hardest part.

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Rotary International is a service organization formed in February of 1905. Established by Paul Harris of Wallingford, Vermont, it was created as a professional club with the goal to capture the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small New England towns that we are all familiar with. It was called Rotary because of its rotating meeting among the members’ offices. By the early 1920s, the focus of Rotary had expanded beyond the membership’s professional and social interests; it had become focused on service to communities. In 1932, Rotarian Herbert Taylor drafted a code of ethics for Rotarians which was adopted by Rotary International called the Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do…or quite simply, the Four-Way Test as it is stated aloud at every meeting. This test is a fourquestion response that each Rotarian is supposed to ask themselves in their interactions with mankind. It asks: is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Rotary International came a long time after Freemasonry and its mission, while noble, is not the same. They seek to do much for humanity, but it is a professional organization where membership becomes difficult if you cannot get the time off to attend the weekly meetings, if you are in a skilled trade or do not have some financial means as much money is spent in the organization. A small cadre of volunteers travel each year on humanitarian trips; some to developing countries for clean water or dentists and doctors heading to treat people in need of their services, but for most members, they are businessmen and women who donate money and time to making the community better. It is a worthwhile and worthy organization, but it has few similarities to our great fraternity. Our fraternity admits men of any station and means in life, provided they are just and upright. Not only

must they meet that requirement, but we expect them to grow into being even better than they are when they first come from profanity. We aid the community insofar that we do it to make lives better, there is no reward sought nor expected; nor indeed is there anything but simply a handshake will we take. Our humanitarian efforts come in the way of caring for the lives of our departed brethrens’ families, for the children born with maladies, and looking after children (as our original Masonic Home in New Hampshire was an orphanage). We do what we can, when we can and how we can…for the love of mankind. A brother making 14 dollars an hour may become Grand Master while a brother making $300,000 won’t become a Steward…opportunity abounds for many races, religions, and backgrounds in our great society, a fact of which I am immensely proud. All that being said, I want to briefly discuss this four-way test. While Rotary International and the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free & Accepted Masons do not really have much in common, the four-way test is something that SHOULD be universal among our organizations. Let us think about the individual questions within the test.

First, is it the truth? Should we as Free & Accepted Masons always think, say or do anything with this question about truth in mind? Of course we should, on our Volume of Sacred Law we pledge before God to be truthful in our minds and actions. While in lodge, we accept reports of investigation and petitions based on trust…applications must be truthful, otherwise what is their significance? Why would any of us have reason to doubt a man’s truthfulness in applying for Freemasonry?

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(Continued from page 28) We trust a man to be of integrity in order to become a Mason, and if he is found later not to be, shame on him and us. Second, is it fair to all concerned? A very good question, indeed a dilemma I dealt with myself in my first year as Master of my lodge. A Brother who was to become Senior Deacon did not attend the installation, with no notice. Further, he did not show up for many months. I therefore did not install him, and in the following year, I left him out of the line entirely. While he was aggrieved and felt betrayed, this question resonated with me…if he had assumed another chair, advanced or otherwise was in a position of power in the lodge, would it have been fair to all the Brethren in the lodge? I thought and still think not. For the Master this question should always be important on any given subject…from proposing a member to a change in the bylaws, this thought should be stirring. For any Master Mason the question should similarly resonate; is my motion, is my vote, is my suggestion (etc.) fair to all concerned? Third, will it build good will and better friendships? Will the motion I stand up to make achieve these goals? Will the charity I am asking the lodge to support create better friendships in the community? Will signing the petition for Mr. Jones make me a better friend and bring me closer to the first line signer as well? A Mason has an obligation to care for a brother (his widow and orphans), keep a brother’s secret as his own (murder and treason excepted), and the like…friendship should be inherent in Freemasonry. When opening a lodge a Master dictates, “Let all private animosities if any unhappily exist, give place to affection and brother love.” We all know that piques and quarrels arise from time to time within our ranks, but it is these arguments we must diffuse in our efforts to be better men and Masons.

Grand Secretary’s amendment be beneficial to all concerned? I concluded yes, as communication amongst Brethren is an invaluable tool for the betterment of the fraternity and will foster long-term relationships to the benefit of all concerned. Freemasonry is not just an organization; it is a lifestyle that I have chosen to dedicate myself to for my own betterment, and for the betterment of the world around me. While Freemasonry does not have the monopoly on this thinking, it is unique in the world in the way it operates from bottom to top. While I am not a Rotarian, I have benefited from Rotary International. In 2009, I was a Rotary International Group Study Exchange Team Member to the United Kingdom, and this opportunity allowed me to attend a Lodge meeting, visit a Provincial Grand Lodge headquarters, visit several lodge buildings and the United Grand Lodge of England building-as well as meet many Masons who are now very dear to me. All that being said, while Freemasonry has its landmarks and usages, its constitutions and bylaws, its manuals and rituals, I believe that this little card with the Rotary International Four-Way Test on it should be made available to all Masons where so ever dispersed to aid in their individual paths to being better men and Masons; for the questions it asks you are universal in nature and important to your lives.

TWT

Finally, will it be beneficial to all concerned? I think this is an extremely important question and I want to take it a step further, will it be beneficial to the future? Freemasonry in its form now has existed for the past three centuries, but in its operative sense from time immemorial, and by the grace of God it will continue on down through millennia, and it is with this future in mind we should always be asking ourselves will the things we do be beneficial to all concerned? It is with that in mind that I stood up a few years ago in a Grand Lodge session and opposed an amendment to remove a program which was designed for this very purpose (he wanted to eliminate the Grand Representative program). I asked myself, will standing up against a

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Featured Writer- Bro. Kyle Ferguson

“How Well Do We Know Freemasonry� By

Kyle James Ferguson

Check out Kyle’s blog at http://philosophicalfreemason.blogspot.com/ I haven't written here in a while because I kind of had writer's block and didn't really have much to say. I figured it would be best not to force stuff into a blog just for the sake of writing so I took a break. I decided that, at some point, something would ignite the spark and I would have something worth writing about. I wasn't sure if it would be worth reading (as that is the decision of all who happen upon these musings) but at worst, it was worth the time to scribble down. Well, that time happened while I was at church with my wife on Saturday night. Now, just for clarification, I am a Christian but more in the Qabbalistic sense of the Divine Trinity. I was born and raised Roman Catholic and so was my wife so I still attend church with her there even though I am more of a universalist than a Roman Catholic. And hell, we all know how they feel about us Freemasons anyway. Back to my story.... The priest ascended the pulpit and began reading the gospel. I forgot the specific passage but the gist was something along the lines of the Apostle Mark saying that he needs to preach the gospel. Not simply because he was told to, but because in order for him to instill a part of him in the gospel, and the gospel to instill itself in him, he needed to not only preach it to everyone, but live through its teachings. He needed to truly know the gospel on a level deeper than simply reciting the words.

The priest then descended the pulpit and walked to the center area in the front of the sanctuary area and began addressing the congregation. He began with a corny joke as do many priests when beginning their homilies. I wasn't sure if I was going to be interested. But I was wrong. He began talking about a scene in a play in which there were two people, a man and a woman, sitting in a waiting room. They began a jovial conversation about each other and laughing at commonalities like where they were born and where they live now. It starts to get strange to each person when one says they have a child named Alice. The other says they do to. Then one says the specific apartment building they live in and the other says the same. Then one says the apartment number and the other says the same! They were husband and wife! The point the playwright was trying to make here is that to people can live together and call themselves the spouse of the other and not even truly know that person. The priest related this story to each parishioners relationship with Christ. I began to relate it to Freemasonry. It made me think: We spend every day of our lives telling people we are Masons. We wear rings on our fingers, stickers and license plates on our cars. We write checks to charities worth millions of dollars and tell everyone we can that we did it. But......do we truly know Freemasonry? (Continued on page 31)

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Featured Writer- Bro. Kyle Ferguson (Continued from page 30) We can call Freemasonry a charity or a men's club or another name we want to assign to it, but do we really KNOW it? Are we any different than the man and the woman in the waiting room? Do we truly know Freemasonry as the journey to the center that it really is or are we simply asking it jovial questions in a waiting room, without any idea that we are obligated to it for life? To truly know Freemasonry is to completely embrace brotherly love or charity, relief, and truth. To live every action with temperance, diligence, fortitude, and justice. To understand grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. To know these words means no more than knowing the basic information of the woman in the waiting room. But to study the subjects these words represent with the diligence that our Craft instructs us to is to use them on a path of self enlightenment and truth. Freemasonry is an individual journey to your spiritual center. It is a path for self improvement and a plan to live your life in union with your divine presence. Anything else that Freemasonry does it not Freemasonry, but simply an end result of it. These words are more than mere suggestions. They are directions. If totally embraced, no Mason can go wrong. When all are totally applied and working in balance with each other, the Mason is at his center, and, as ritual says, this is the point from which he cannot err. If we want the change in the Craft that so many desire, seek to truly know Freemasonry. By deeply knowing our companion Craft, the bond between the Mason and the Fraternity will become more than simply the possession of a dues card. No moment will come to pass without the philosophy of the Fraternity being at the forefront of his thought.

introduced to the true teachings of the Craft. His forgets this not because he is embarrassed, but because he cannot figure out how he was ever so selfish. He becomes comfortable in his own skin and his confidence in himself rises because he has learned not to repress negative memories and events, but to learn from them. He now knows that they are simply the black squares of the pavement and are to be learned from just the same as the white. Spirituality is no longer foreign to him. He does not shy away from it for fear of being thought of as one who does not understand it. He no longer has to try to speak from his spiritual center. It flows from him in his normal dialect. Once all of these things take effect inside of himself, he begins to recognize this beauty in everyone else, whether they see it or not. He now becomes concerned with the betterment of his community. Other people become his focus because that is now the only way for him to feel the best about himself. He has reached a level of unified consciousness with humanity.

The philosophy of the Craft is not something outside of himself any longer. It is him and he is it. He lives the way he does because of Freemasonry and Freemasonry continues to live because of him. To truly understand this is to truly know Freemasonry and to truly know Freemasonry, is to truly know yourself. So, if this is true, then to truly cause change for the better in ourselves is to cause change for the better in the Craft. This is a very powerful premise as it means that the only change in Freemasonry that needs to be made is not in the Craft itself, but in the individual Masons that belong to it. Once we can see this, we will have no doubt who the woman in the waiting room is and we will know why we married her in the first place.

TWT

Once this is realized, life is now changed for this Mason. He forgets what life was like before he was

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Featured Writer- Bro. David Browning

“Why We Should Keep the Catechism?”

Since joining the Fraternity I have often heard brethren discussing the catechism and its relevance. I have heard both pros and cons of requiring the candidate to return a catechism prior to advancing to the degrees of Fellow Craft and Master Mason and would like to share my thoughts on the subject and the reasons why I am huge proponent of its value and continue to believe it is an essential element to the new Mason’s assimilation into our Craft. In the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, where I reside, we have a requirement for both Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft to learn a catechism and be examined in open lodge prior to advancing to the next degree. In addition, a Master Mason must return their catechism in order to become a Line Officer. These catechisms are taught and learned via mouth to ear and the new Mason is not allowed to possess or use the Official Standard of Work (OSW) until they have been raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. The catechism, first and foremost, puts Masonry front and center in the candidates mind. A large portion of the catechism focuses on the ritual that the candidate has recently went through. In many cases we know that the candidate is so nervous during the degree and the lecture that they scarcely remember what they have gone through. Learning the catechism forces them to think about what they have been through and understand its meaning and relevance. In addition, they are likely to have many questions and the coach can share additional insight that the candidate might find interesting and valuable. The catechism allows the new Mason an opportunity to form a lifelong bond with an experienced Brother. Since the catechism is taught mouth to ear, it requires the new Mason to spend a substantial amount of time with a well-informed brother. As naturally occurs, there is a lot more that is accomplished during the coaching sessions than strictly the study of the catechism. One of the outcomes is that the new Mason will learn about his coach and how Masonry has had an impact on his life. In addition, the coach will learn about the new Mason and be able to provide not only encouragement, but also help form a tie that will hopefully inspire the new Mason to work hard and continue to come back to the lodge through the remaining degrees and ultimately become an active and faithful member for many years to come.

The catechism teaches lessons that will be used throughout one’s Masonic career. Since the catechism teaches portions of the degree work and the opening and closing ceremonies, learning it once and learning it well will make it easier whenever one progresses through the chairs and takes part in degree work. It will also be invaluable in the future when coaching candidates. The catechism forces one to learn the obligation in its entirety and reflect upon its meaning to oneself. Learning this portion of the catechism results in the new Mason giving serious thought to what is expected of an Entered Apprentice, a Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason as well as the symbolic penalties. Since the obligations are taken upon the Volume of Sacred Law each of us should give serious thought to their meaning and what we have solemnly swore to keep and perform before God and our brethren. The catechism provides us this opportunity. The catechism offers one final thing that I think is missing in a lot of organizations and that is commitment, or as I like to call it, skin in the game. Since the degrees are progressive, you must return the catechism of the Entered Apprentice degree to advance to the Fellow Craft Degree and then return the catechism of the Fellow Craft Degree to be raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason, it requires the candidate to invest time and effort in order to advance. This means that the candidate must work for their advancement; nothing is given to him for free. This results in some ownership and it also weeds out those who are not willing to labor in the quarries. In my opinion, if a candidate is not going to invest the time and effort required to properly learn and return the catechism, they most likely will not invest the time and effort to be an active member of the Lodge. It is important to note that not all jurisdictions have catechisms and in some jurisdictions other forms of proficiency are used and many of the reasons outlined above are applicable to these other forms as well. I hope that you have found this information useful and I sincerely hope that the Grand Lodge of North Carolina will continue to have this requirement for our new members due to the advantages outlined above.

TWT www.twtmag.com

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A significant group of passionate Masons have joined together to create what is now the fastest growing research society in Freemasonry. Called simply The Masonic Society, we are brothers who have a deep and abiding desire to seek knowledge, explore history, discover symbolism, debate philosophies, and in short, who are at the forefront of charting a path for the future of Freemasonry. As a student of Freemasonry, you are invited to join with us in this exciting organization. Membership in The Masonic Society is $39 per year ($49 outside of the U.S. & Canada). Benefits include: • Commemorative pin, patent of membership, and dues card. • The quarterly Journal of The Masonic Society presents articles that enlighten our past, and explore solutions to the challenges facing Freemasonry today and tomorrow. Each Journal features articles by the best-known authors in Freemasonry, as well as the brethren from the lodges in your neighborhood. • Members-only access to the Masonic Society online Internet forum. • Annual First Circle gatherings – Each year, The Masonic Society is an active participant in the Allied Masonic Degrees "Masonic Week," held in February in Alexandria, Virginia, which includes our annual First Circle gathering. • Second Circles - Masonic Society members are automatically members of state-wide or regional groups called Second Circles. These groups organize more localized seminars, speeches, dinners and other gathering, and members are encouraged to meet and work with brethren in their areas. • Programs are negotiated with publishers and other businesses for members-only discounts on books, clothing, jewelry, regalia, and other items.

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Cover- Masonic Week 2012 Recap

Masonic Week 2012 Recap

By Cory Sigler Thursday February 9, 2012 2:15 PM. Our journey to Alexandria, VA has begun. My travel companion and Lodge Brother Bob Howard and I board the Amtrak train in beautiful downtown Newark NJ. The 4 ½ hour trip flew by thanks to the two of us talking about shop the whole time. 6:45 PM. The first thing we saw as we left the train station was the majestic George Washington Masonic Memorial. What a beautiful sight, especially at night when its all lit up. A short cab ride later we arrived at our hotel, unpacked and went for a walk to where all the attendees were congregating. This was our first time traveling to Masonic Week so we were both very eager to get going. 9:00 PM. The very first program we signed up for

was “The Masonic Order of the Bath” (http://bath.albertpikedemolay.org/). This “Degree” is a satirical and humorous take on a regular Masonic degree. It is as goofy and fun as a Master Mason degree is serious and straight. It was founded and first performed in Mystic Lodge No. 21 (Red Bank NJ). It has been considered a fan favorite and can’t miss event for years. Immediately after the ceremony starts you know you’re in for something different. I should note that a good sense of humor is a must have to enjoy this fine presentation. You’ll know why I say this after you go through it for yourself. I’ll just say for now “LOOK AT BELOW…” 10:30 PM. Down to the hotel watering hole for some conversation and fun. Overall I would say that our first day was most excellent. We’re both exhausted but agreed it was worth the long trip down. (Continued on page 35) www.twtmag.com

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Cover- Masonic Week 2012 Recap (Continued from page 34)

"The Society of Blue Friars" was formed in 1932, explicitly "to recognize Masonic Authors." It is Friday February 10, 2012 probably the smallest, and certainly one of the oddest, concordant bodies in Masonry. It has no fixed ritual or 7:00 AM. The Philalethes Society Breakfast. ceremonies, no dues or fees, and very few records. The name was chosen, presumably, because "Friar" is Guest Speaker: Richard Gan. Editor of “The related to the French word for "Brother," and is Square” (http://thesquaremagazine.com) . therefore appropriate for a Masonic group; but it Of all the speakers and topics I was going to listen would also call to mind the monks of the Middle Ages, to this whole trip I was most excited for this one. the ones who wrote most of the books in those days. Brother Richard’s talk was titled “Masonic Publishing The regulations (at least in their present form) state and the Jigsaw of Freemasonry”. As the current editor that "One new Friar shall be appointed each year," of one of England’s leading Masonic Magazines, Bro. but that "additional Friars may be appointed to fill Gan was more than qualified to talk on this subject and vacancies caused by demise or resignation when the WOW did he not disappoint. total membership is not over twenty." The lecture followed the path Masonic publishing has taken throughout the years starting around 1709 Bro. Brent Morris when Freemasonry was referenced in “The Tattler” a did a great job British newspaper all the way to 2012 and the Internet. introducing the audience to the Blue What made this so memorable was that Bro. Friar committee and Richard stayed after his speech and talked to me for explaining what the about an hour after I mentioned that I am the editor of group does throughout TWT. We discussed what it takes to create a magazine the year. He then and swapped ideas. He was so genuine, engaging and appointed Bro. Chris S. Brent Morris interesting. I will value this meeting forever. Hoddap as this years inductee to the group. Chris then took the podium to deliver a talk about Masonic symbolism found in DC, it was both very funny and topical. As you may know, Chris who has had some serious health issues lately looked great. It was really nice seeing him there to deliver this speech.

12:00 PM. Knight Mason Luncheon. (http://www.knight-masons.org)

Richard Gan 11:00 AM. The Society of Blue Friars. (http://www.societyofbluefriars.org/)

Guest Speaker: Chris Hodapp. Moderator: S. Brent Morris, Grand Abbott As I wasn’t aware of who or what the Society of Blue Friars were I am going to give you a brief description found on their website.

Guest Speaker: Trevor Stewart, Past Prestonian lecturer, UGLE. The Order of Knight Masons is an invitational and honorary body. I would like to note that I am not a member of the Knight Masons but the event was open to all and the speaker for the luncheon came very recommended. For those who do not know about the Knight Masons here is a short Mission Statement: (Continued on page 36) www.twtmag.com

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Cover- Masonic Week 2012 Recap (Continued from page 35) The Grand Council of Knight Masons of the United States of America, in consideration of its origin strives to: 1. Perpetuate the ancient rituals of the Irish Masonic Canon, (the "Green" degrees) by promoting their frequent and regular conferral inits constituent councils, and by its expectation that such conferral will be executed with an accuracy, a precision, and a dramatic power congruent with the highest traditions of the Masonic institution. 2. Elevate to membership in its constituent councils only those Freemasons who in their character and persons have amply and thoroughly demonstrated in their Masonic lives, by means of a faithful attachment to the institution, a true and honorable record of service to its goals, and a genuine dedication to its high ideals. 3. Foster in its constituent councils the regular exploration and study of the Masonic Tradition and Heritage by means of an aggressive program of scholarly inquiry and research, and to pursue that Masonic learning in the spirit of our Celtic forbears who kept the light of faith burning in times of darkness.

The second part discussed why Masons are so fascinated by Knighthood degrees and all the adornments that come with them. It was all tongue in cheek and very lighthearted. Whoever recommended this speaker was right on, it was educational, funny, and warm. Everything that Trevor said came off as sincere and I was upset when his talk ended. He’s someone you can listen to for hours and enjoy every minute of it.

6:00 PM. Masonic Society Dinner. (http://www.themasonicsociety.com/)

Guest Speaker: Brett Mckay, Publisher of the popular blog, “The Art of Manliness” (see page 14 of this issue for more on the blog.) The Masonic Society is something I really believe in and their publication is top notch, If you aren’t a member yet you really are missing out on a fantastic Masonic education.

4. Encourage its constituent councils to discover in the pleasures and diversions of the festive board that warm fellowship and that joyous fraternity, which have ever characterized and actuated the great spirit of this Ancient Craft. 5. Promote the charitable dimension so central to, and inherent in, Masonic life and tradition by obliging its constituent councils to contribute with customary Masonic liberality to those institutions, both Masonic and nonMasonic, which serve the needs of the greater community.

Trevor Stewart

The topic of this afternoons talk was ‘American Citizens Knighted by England”.

Bob Howard and Chris Hodapp

It’s no surprise then to me that the Masonic Society put on a first rate dinner for us.

When I heard that the topic was “The Art of Manliness” I was a little worried. I thought maybe it was a speaker that had nothing to do with Masonry but might be there for strictly an entertainment value. I was wrong. Brett McKay is a Mason who uses the virtues found in Masonry to teach males to be Men. You really need to visit the blog and read his books to fully understand what that means. I urge you to do so with my fullest endorsement.

Saturday February 11, 2012 7:00 AM. AMD Breakfast. (http://www.allied-

The first part of this absolutely great lecture talked about masonicdegrees.org/) American’s who were Knighted by England. This list includes: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Bill Gates, Rudi Guiliani, The day starts off with breakfast hosted by the Allied Billy Graham, Alan Greenspan, J Edgar Hoover, Bob Hope, Masonic Degrees Grand Council. Henry Kissinger, Andre Previn, Norman Swarzkopf Jr., (Continued on page 37) Steven Spielberg.

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Cover- Masonic Week 2012 Recap (Continued from page 36) While the food was good, it was the unexpected conversation that took place at our table that made the breakfast so nourishing. At the table was Myself , Bob Howard , Roger Quintana (all 3 from NJ), Joseph Gadea (VA) Oscar Alleyne, and Ben Clark. (Both NY)

universe. Esoterically, he feels in order to be a fuller Freemason he has to not only know what it means to be masculine he also needs to know its opposite. This, my brethren is what I can total dedication.

Ok so if you thought that was enough there’s more intrigue with these guys. Both Oscar and Ben unknowingly Looking back, I’m not 100% positive how we got on joined clandestine lodges. Through a series of events they the topic but we started talking about the One Day Class came to realize that something was wrong when they and the value it has in Masonry. Pros and Cons were thrown couldn’t get straight answers from their “Grand Lodge”. around all having very valid points that furthered the Eventually the puzzle pieces came together and they left the discussion. Each Grand Lodge has their own way of Lodge to join a Regular Free and Accepted Lodge. running the ODC so we all learned from each other on the Their Masonic journey was so important to them that differences. they both retook all three degrees as if they were brand new candidates. I wonder how many of us would be that willing to redo that much work?

10:00 AM. Nine Muses Council No. 13 Guest Speaker: Ed Fowler Note- I am not a member of this Council, all Masons were invited for the lecture. The first order of business consisted of appointing Arturo de Hoyos and S. Brent Morris to the officer line.

Oscar pleading his case while Ben looks on. After the One Day Class discussion winded down we learned that Oscar formed a new AMD council in NY. It was named “KMT” which is the name that the ancient Egyptians called themselves. They were known as preservers of knowledge and enlightenment. I shortly realized that this name was so appropriate for Oscar and Ben. They might be the two smartest Brothers I have ever met . They are like the Dynamic Duo of Masonry. As a huge Batman fan I do not say that lightly. Ben, it turns out joined the Order of Eastern Star as a way of learning more about the Feminine side of the

I’m sure its a great honor to have these two outstanding Brothers added to the line as it is to be asked to join it. Sovereign Master of this Council Bro. Ed Fowler presented a lecture on the “Royal Order of Scotland”. It was a very interesting account of The Order mixing in the history, important times and of course, Robert the Bruce. Much of the lecture focused on the 63 Knights that fought with Robert and their possible connection to what became of the Knights Templar.

12:00 PM. THE TRIP TO THE HOUSE OF THE TEMPLE (http://scottishrite.org/) This was our one and only field trip. I would have loved to have seen more of Washington, DC but the time didn’t allow for it. Next time we will plan more trips.

(Continued on page 38)

“While the food was good, it was the unexpected conversation that made the breakfast so nourishing.” www.twtmag.com

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Cover- Masonic Week 2012 Recap (Continued from page 37)

On the TWT facebook page there are over 60 pictures loaded for complete viewing of our trip. Go to (www.facebook.com/twtmag) and “Like” the page to see them all.

A brief history- “The House of the Temple is located at 1733 Sixteenth Street, NW, in the District of Columbia. Designed by famous architect John Russell Pope, this monumental building has served as the national The Temple is nothing short of magnificent. Every headquarters of the Supreme Council since 1915. The beautiful inch of it is a treasure trove of history and art. Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia laid the cornerstone in 1911, and the building was completed in 1915. Its architecture is an adaptation of the famous Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” Pope is well known for his other works in the District of Columbia, including the National Gallery of Art, National Archives and the Jefferson Memorial. The House of the Temple was his first major commission in the District of Columbia. He was only 36 years old at the time he signed his contract for the building. Elliott Woods was chosen as an assistant and professional advisor. In 1917, Pope’s peers awarded him the Gold Medal of the Architectural League of New York for the design. French Architect Jacques Greber in his L’Architecture aux Etats-Unis of 1920 described it as “a monument of remarkable sumptuousness …the ensemble is an admirable study of antique architecture stamped with a powerful dignity.” There have been few architectural alterations since the construction of the building. The House of the Temple has been open to the public for guided tours since it opened in 1915.”

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Cover- Masonic Week 2012 Recap

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Cover- Masonic Week 2012 Recap 6:00 PM. Ye Antiente Order of Corks (http://www.alliedmasonicdegrees.org/cork.htm) The last event Bob and I attended was the “Order of the Cork”. This “Degree” is in the same vein as the “Order of the Bath”. It’s a fun and light hearted degree that has been around for years in England and in the US. Here’s a brief historyYe Antient Order of Noble Corks also known as The Cork, is an informal degree allied to Freemasonry. It is described as "fun". Distinctly nautical in form, its membership is open to Master Masons in good standing who are either a companion in the Holy Royal Arch or a Warden, Master or Past Master of a craft Lodge. The Cork or Corks is derived from the organization's emblem of a cork with a corkscrew inserted at an angle. Membership is not onerous—the only costs on top of membership being dining fees, drinks, etc. The idea and aim being to raise money for children's charities, and with Corkies having fun in so doing. Origins and Degree of The Cork The origins of the degree are unknown, the ritual is satirical and based around the era of Noah and the great flood. Candidates can be proposed and initiated on the same night. Compared with Masonic meetings, dress is informal - as meetings tend to be boisterous affairs, in good spirits. The ritual and initiation part takes up the first part of the evening, followed by festivities that are “closer to a Scottish Harmony than an English Festive Board”. Hats are worn during the meeting, with headgear style being of personal choice - the sillier, the better.

Little Less Worshipful Doctor, Barely Worshipful Cook, Mainly Worshipful Bosun, Particularly Worthy Screw, Almost Worthy Carpenter, Particularly Worthy Shipmate The Cork tradition is stronger in Scotland than elsewhere and there the Cork Lodges come under the supervision of Royal Arch Masonry. In the US, it forms an informal part of the Allied Masonic Degrees. In England there is no formal organization.

I would say that this degree was a perfect way to wind down the conference. If you like to have fun and aren’t afraid to make fun of yourself you’ll cherish the ritual of the Cork.

Sunday February 12, 2012 10:00 AM. - Check out from the hotel. Bob and I agree that we had the greatest time these past few days and learned so much more about Masonry. We met tons of new friends and reinforced old ones. Kudos' to the AMD for hosting this week and all the brethren who put it together. I cam imagine how much work went into it. I’m counting down the days till next year.

TWT

All lodge officers have naval titles, roughly equating to the Officers in a craft Lodge, with jewels of the office being borne on strings of corks: Rather Worshipful Admiral, Uncommonly Worshipful Mate, Highly Worshipful Purser, Hardly Worshipful Lookout, Nearly Rather Worshipful Vice Admiral, Undoubtedly Ship's Writer, Me and Reed Fanning www.twtmag.com

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York Rite News & Information

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York Rite News & Information

General The Prince Hall Fraternity embraces all the high degrees of the York Rite. In these higher degrees the Capitular Rite is worked in the Chapters of the Royal Arch, the Cryptic Rite in Councils of Royal and Select Masters, and the Chivalric Rite in the Commandery of Knights Templar. The history of tracing the development of these three branches within the Prince Hall family is made difficult because of the lack of early records.

The Royal Arch and Templar Degrees One Masonic historian (Grimshaw, 1903) states that a group of black Masons who had been arched abroad, received a Royal Arch charter from Prov. G.M. George Harrison (A.) in 1776. The charter was not used until 1820 when Union Chapter was established in Philadelphia where Caesar Thomas was elected High Priest. Grimshaw also states that the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master of England gave a deputation to Passey Benjamine, a West Indian black mason, to establish Commanderies in the West Indies and the United States. Benjamine organized St. George Commandery in Philadelphia also in 1820. St George's membership was composed of black masons who had received their Templar degrees in Europe and the West Indies. While this information has not been verified, it is known that England had Templar bodies (independent of craft lodges) in Jamaica (1794), Bermuda (1802), Haiti (1811), and St. Kitts (1812).

In the same year and same city, the First African Grand Encampment was organized. After these two grand bodies were organized, the capitular and chivalric degrees spread to every Prince Hall jurisdiction in the United States.

The Royal and Select Master Degrees

The Cryptic degrees were slower to take root in the Prince Hall Fraternity. It was not until August 14, 1916 that the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for Ohio, at its session at Dayton, sanctioned the establishment of Councils of Royal and Select Masters. Three Councils were authorized: Adoniram No. 1 in Cleveland, Zabud No. 2 in Toledo, and Herald No. 3 in Columbus. On August 13, 1917, a convention of delegates from these three councils organized a Grand Council at Cincinnati, and is body was incorporated under the laws of Ohio on December 21, 1920. Councils were soon organized in Dayton, Oberlin, Boston, Zanesville, Chicago, Newark, Portsmouth, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Springfield. Deputies were appointed for Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It wasn't until after the Great Depression of 1929 that Council spread to other Prince Hall jurisdictions.

This article was edited from A History of Freemasonry Among Negroes in America by Harry E. Davis, 1946

In 1844, three Philadelphia Royal Arch Chapters, Union (1820), Jerusalem (1826) and Friendship (1844), met and organized the First African Independent Grand Chapter. The minutes indicate that Jacob Jenkins was elected Grand High Priest.

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York Rite News & Information - Featured Writer- Bro. Jacob Lucas

This month, I will finish the discussion of the Symbolic Degrees of Freemasonry, begun in the January issue dealt, with both the Preston-Webb and Scottish Rite derived versions of the Entered Apprentice Degree. The February issue had two articles on the Fellow Craft Degree, one for each of the versions with which I am familiar, and now the preliminary discussion will be complete with the two articles in this issue, and future articles will deal with higher degrees.

sublime, only by the Creator. A sublime ritual, then, would be one that inspires a feeling within the Candidate of bringing him closer to Deity, and a reminder to be worthy of the Spiritual Temple we are always constructing.

The Entered Apprentice Degree prepared a new Brother for his lifelong labor in the quarries, by grooming him to learn, subduing his passions. In most jurisdictions, he is required to recite a portion of the preceding Degree, from memory, in open Lodge. In other jurisdictions, he may prepare a paper, and present that in Lodge. The Fellow Craft Degree was devoted to activation of the brain, and the newly Passed Brother encouraged to study the 7 Liberal Arts and Sciences. He must then, again, become proficient in the work of this Degree in order to be allowed to advance to the Master Mason Degree. In the time of Operative Masons, the Fellow Craft would have to prepare a “Master Piece,” demonstrating that he was qualified to be declared a Master of the Craft.

I have seen three versions of the Master Mason Degree in three Jurisdictions. They were all quite similar, close enough to be able to follow along in each of the different states. Some Lodges perform the second half of the Degree in costume, others do not. In my opinion, it does not matter to the Candidate either way, as he is hoodwinked during this portion of the ritual until the end. Costumes may be employed to help the participants get into “character” more easily, or perhaps it is to help those on the sidelines maintain interest.

In the ritual of the Master Mason Degree, a Brother is termed “Raised” to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason, for reasons that are abundantly clear to anyone who has undergone the ritual as a Candidate 1. I wondered about the adjective “Sublime,” and decided to investigate why that word was used. It should be a surprise to no one that very specific words are used throughout our ritual, and although some may be confusing, there is a reason for the choice 2. “Sublime” refers to a quality of greatness, but of such a magnitude that it is beyond calculation, measurement, or imitation. British philosophers first contrasted the sublime with the beautiful, as the beautiful could be created by Man, but the

The Candidate is more comfortable during this Degree than in the preceding Degrees. After all, he has gone through a very similar ritual two times already, right?

The second part of the Master Mason Degree is a solemn ritual, and not a place for frivolity or the attempt to injure a Brother. It is intended to impress on the mind and conscience of the newly Raised Brother those attributes that were possessed by our ancient Grand Master, and which he should himself labor to obtain and develop. The ritual for this Degree in each of the jurisdictions in which I have seen or participated in it have been fairly similar. Of course, there were differences in the wording, but the mood was the same, and I was easily able to follow along, or to participate when asked to.

We are encouraged to emulate our early G M , H A , and not to divulge that which should not be divulged to those unworthy of receiving it. In the second part of this Degree, there is, as W. Madhavan puts it, “…betrayal, violent death, martyrdom, and revenge.” (Continued on page 44) www.twtmag.com

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York Rite News & Information - Featured Writer- Bro. Jacob Lucas (Continued from page 43) In this reenactment part of the ritual, we are taught not to fear death. One of the Landmarks of Freemasonry, in my current state, is the belief in the immortality of the soul. Though G M H A has been slain, his work will live on past his own life. Revenge comes into play when K S sends the Craftsmen out, and they return with those who perpetrated the crime. Justice is swift, and may be called terrible, but the guilty parties did call for their own penalties to be carried out upon them.

Footnotes 1. I realize that the person going through the ritual is more properly referred to as a Brother than a Candidate, but as I am used to thinking of him as a Candidate as he is not yet a Master Mason. Nor do I know that he ever will be. He is a Candidate for this Degree, but he is also our Brother.

2. An example of this is the term “superficies,” used in the lecture for the Fellow Craft Degree. A derivative of this word, superficial, is familiar to most, but I wondered why this specific term was used, rather than the similar “plane,” to describe a geometric shape of length and width, but no thickness. A superficies, I learned, was a Roman legal term that encompassed the land on which a building stood. It had no thickness, but would also not necessarily be flat, as a plane is. In Roman law, the superficies was anything that was erected upon the ground, and could be owned separately from the land itself. The connection to builders then makes sense when used in a Masonic lecture.

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Sources Preston, William. Ilustrations of Masonry. The Ninth Edition: with Considerable Additions. 1796. Gale ECCO print edition. Webb, Thomas Smith. The Freemason’s Monitor, or Illustrations of Masonry: In Two Parts. 1797. Gale ECCO print edition. Cross, Jeremy Ladd. The True Masonic Chart: or Hieroglyphic Monitor; Containing All the Emblems Explained in the Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, Royal Arch, Royal Master and Select Master, Fourth Edition. 1826. Nabu Public Domain Reprint. The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of New Jersey. Ritual Cipher. 1967, reprinted 2006. The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida. Florida Masonic Code; Containing Instruction in the Entered Apprentice Degree, the Fellow Craft Degree, and the Master Mason Degree. First Edition 1995, correction 4 2008. Duncan, Malcolm C. Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor. 1866. Bessel, Paul. Web site of Masonic Information, http://bessel.org. Accessed on December 8, 2011. Madhavan, W. Bro. Chakravarthy Sampath, “The Hiramic Legend: Whence and Wherefore”. Lodge Jyothi #253, Salem, Grand Lodge of India, from http://www.freemasonsfreemasonry.com/MADHAVAN_HiramicLegend.html

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York Rite News & Information - Featured Writer- Bro. Barry Newell

http://travelingtemplar.blogspot.com/

Simplistic in its design, but unique with its many meanings, the Beauceant was and is the standard of the Knights Templar. The Beauceant consisted of a black section above a white one. Note that some say it was hung from a perpendicular pole near the top of the vertical one so that both of the colors could be seen without any wind while the picture to the right shows it as if there was some wind animating it. The etymology of "Beauceant" is not known, an unknown pilgrim around the 12th or 13th century, while visiting Jerusalem, stated: “When they go to war, a standard of two colors called 'balzaus' is borne before them. “ John J. Robinson, author of Born in Blood, believed that 'beau' meant 'beautiful', and in medieval times it is said to have translated as 'glorious' or 'magnificent'. So in a battle cry 'beauceant' could mean 'be noble' or 'be glorious'. The Beauceant is composed of two colors and divided between two sections of equal width; the upper half of this standard is black, the lower half white. These colors hold some strong symbolic representation, and I am immediately reminded of the 1st Degree Lecture where it talks about the

Mosaic Pavement on the ground floor of King Solomon's Temple where we are told: “The mosaic pavement is a representation of the ground floor of King Solomon's Temple and is emblematic of human life, checkered with good and evil.” The colors of the Beauceant also remind us to be good and true to our friends and terrify the enemies of Christ. The black section can also depict the sins of the secular world that the Templar knights had chosen to leave while the second section was white depicting the purity that the order offered them, a sort of transformation of darkness to light. To symbolize duality through the colors of black and white is quite ancient as most cultures see white and black as symbolic of good and evil. It has also been used as a comparison between the physical and spiritual world, male and female, and the sky and the earth. The Beauceant was a rallying point during battles so they could easily regroup when separated. Knights were also not allowed to retreat or stop fighting while the Beauceant was flying. As the Beauceant was such an important symbol that the Marshall would select a group of Templars to protect it, to be led by the Confanonier, or Standard Bearer. The Standard Bearer is still an officer in the modern Masonic Templars and whose duty it is to protect the Standards of our Order. (Continued on page 46) www.twtmag.com

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York Rite News & Information - Featured Writer- Bro. Barry Newell (Continued from page 45) Historically the duties of the Standard Bearer included being the paymaster and ensuring the equipment (to include the horses) were kept in working order. It should be noted that although he was referred to as the Standard Bearer he never carried the banner, but led the procession which carried and protected it. The standard and its bearer are even relevant in today's military. In the Fall of 2003, I was a Private First Class (PFC), I was assigned as appointed as the Standard, or rather Guidon, Bearer of my Company. As such I was supposed to be one of the most knowledgeable in Drill & Ceremony and protect the banner. The First Sergeant (1SG) was considered to be the Keeper of the Guidon and can be compared to the Marshall of the medieval Templars. I had the honor of being the Bearer while we deployed and took part in the change of command ceremony where I handed off the Guidon to the 1SG who passed it to the outgoing Commander who handed it to the Brigade Commanding officer who passed it to the incoming Commander, back to the 1SG, and finally back to me, accepting it under the Command. This personal experience has given me a great appreciation for the office of Standard Bearer as well as the Standard itself. The jewel of the Standard Bearer (to the right) in the Masonic Knights Templar is a Plumb surmounted by the banner of the Order. The plumb is one of the earliest and simplest instruments used in construction, the plumb and its line was an essential tool of the stone mason...to insure perpendicularity and right angles to that surface. And so it is that this tool was taken from the operative mason to the speculative mason as a symbol of the best of conduct, unequivocal uprightness, and constant integrity required to build a spiritual temple reflective of the best of one’s efforts. A symbolic meaning of the Standard Bearer’s jewel then, might be that as Masonic Templars engaged in the struggle between good and evil (represented by the banner), our conduct and integrity must be such as to stand the test of the Great Architect’s plumb.

References 1. Templar Studies : The Beauceant. (2009, February 20). Retrieved from Order of the Grail: http://orderofthegrail.blogspot.com/2009/02/templar-studiesbeauceant.html 2. Beauséant. (n.d.). Retrieved from English Freemasonry on the Island of Malta: http://englishfreemasonryonmalta.org/html/templarbeauseant.html 3. Connor, G. C. (n.d.). Shibboleth: A Templar Monitor. Retrieved from Sacred Texts: http://www.sacredtexts.com/mas/shib/shib15.htm 4. Dafoe, S. (2006, August). Templar Punishment. The Working Tools magazine, p. 44. 5. Dafoe, S. (2006, December). The Templar Beauséant. The Working Tools magazine, pp. 36-37. 6. Dafoe, S. (n.d.). The Beauseant – Mackey’s Article. Retrieved from TemplarHistory: http://blog.templarhistory.com/2010/03/the-beauseantmackeys-article/ 7. Dafoe, S. (n.d.). The Templar Beauseant. Retrieved from TemplarHistory: http://blog.templarhistory.com/2010/03/thetemplar-beauseant/ 8. Denslow, R. V. (n.d.). A Templar Encyclopedia. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/templar_encyclopedia. htm 9. George L. Marshall, J. (2011, April). Some Symbolic Interpretations of the Commandery Jewels of Office. Knights Templar magazine, pp. 22-23. 10. Knights Templars-Ranks and Organization. (n.d.). Retrieved from History, Fantasy, and Swords: http://getasword.com/blog/608-knights-templars-ranksand-organization/ 11. Lemmons, D. G. (2006, February 04). The Lesson of the Beauseant. Retrieved from http://www.knightstemplar.org/articles/0107/beauseant. pdf 12.Guidon (United States). (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guidon_%28United_States%29 13.Knights Templar. (n.d.). Retrieved from MasterMason.com: http://www.mastermason.com/hiramdiscovered/Knightstempla r.html

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York Rite News & Information

The York Rite Sovereign College of North America DESCRIPTION The York Rite Sovereign College of North America exists primarily to be of service to the York Rite of Freemasonry. Constituent colleges must declare fealty to the Grand Lodge of their respective jurisdictions. The pre-requisite for membership, which is by invitation only, is good-standing in all four York Rite bodies: Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commander or Preceptory (Canada.)

each one in every way to make laws for the state of these nations. There they sought by their wisdom bow they might govern it; there they found out fifteen articles, and there they made fifteen points."----Regius Manuscript, circa 1390---Regius Manuscript, circa 1390

THE YORK RITE

"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave: even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve." Matt.20:26-27-28

The York Rite takes its name from the Ancient English city of York, around whose minster, or cathedral, cluster many Masonic traditions. Here , these traditions tell us, Athelstan, who reigned more than a thousand years ago and who was the first king of all England, granted the first charter to the Masonic guilds. Here, in 1705, a Grand Lodge in London, to whose constitution the Grand Lodge of England later appealed as the true source of authentic Freemasonry. Though early disappearing from the Masonic scene, this Grand Lodge left an indelible impression upon the institution, and its name --- York --- will survive as long as Freemasonry continues.

LEGEND OF YORK

ORIGIN OF THE COLLEGE

"This craft came into England, as I tell you, in the time of good king Athelstan's reign; he made then both hall, and also bower and lofty temples of great honor, to take his recreation in both day and night, and to worship his God with all his might. This good lord loved this craft full well, and purposed to strengthen it in every part on account of various defects that he had discovered in the craft. He sent about into all the land, after all the masons of the craft, to come straight to him, to amend all these defects by good counsel, if it might so happen, He then permitted an assembly to be made of divers lords in their ranks, dukes, earls, and barons, also knights, squires and many more, and the great burgesses of that city, they were all there in their degree; these were there,

The York Rite Sovereign College of North America came into being in the City of Detroit, Michigan on January 6, 1957. It was the result of a meeting called by Richard W. Lewis, Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Michigan, and attended by the heads of the four Michigan York Rite grand Bodies and a number of distinguished Masonic leaders from other States. These founders, responding to a need which had long been recognized in the York Rite, outlined the structure and purpose of the new organization and arranged for its incorporation.

The Reference for the following information is a pamphlet published by the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.

PURPOSES The purpose of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America, as set forth (Continued on page 48) www.twtmag.com

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York Rite News & Information (Continued from page 47) in its Constitution and By-Laws, are as follows: (1) To foster a spirit of cooperation an coordination among each of the Bodies of York Rite Masonry. (2) To assist in worthy efforts to improve the ritualistic and dramatic presentation of York Rite work. (3) To conduct an education program in order to inculcate a greater appreciation of the principles, ideals and programs of York Rite Masonry. (4) To strengthen York Rite Masonry in every possible manner. (5) To build up a love of country and to aid and support genuine Americanism. (6) To reward outstanding service to York Rite Masonry by awards, honors and other methods of proper recognition. (7) To support Charitable and Benevolent Endeavors of Freemasonry.

YORK RITE COLLEGES The first York Rite College was constituted on June 15, 1957 in the City of Jackson, Michigan. From here, the new organization spread rapidly from coast to coast and from north to south and by 1970 Colleges had been established in fourteen States and one Province of Canada. Membership in a College is by invitation, and is restricted to those who hold membership in all of the other York Rite bodies. Since the primary object of every College is to foster a spirit of service and to promote and support the York Rite in every way possible, it is no surprise to find

many of the leaders of the Craft numbered among its ranks. Here they find a common ground from which the can act for the welfare of all York Rite bodies without special favor to any. Colleges have been active in the organization of York Rite Festivals, degree teams, drill corps, and many other functions which serve to assist, coordinate, and unify the Rite.

THE SOVEREIGN COLLEGE The York Rite Sovereign College of North America is the supreme governing body for all Colleges within its jurisdiction. As such, it endeavors to promote all those activities which favor the accomplishing of its stated purpose. Among these is the awarding of certain honors for outstanding service. The Gold Honor Award may be given to any Mason for unselfish and faithful service in any branch of the York Rite. The recipient need not to be a member of a College, nor is it required that he be a member of all the other York Rite bodies

The Order of the Purple Cross of York, the highest honor of the College, is conferred upon those members of the College who have distinguished themselves by their service to humanity or to the Rite, The recipients are designated Associate Regents of the Sovereign College, and from their ranks are chosen the Regents or active members of that body. The Sovereign College meets in General Assembly once each year, generally in late July or early August.

http://www.yrscna.org

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Scottish Rite News & Information

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Scottish Rite News & Information

- Featured Writer- Jacob Lucas

The purpose of this article is to explore the Master Mason Degree of Freemasonry of the Scottish Rite, primarily worked in the Caribbean and in continental Europe. Earlier in this issue of the magazine, there is an exploration of the Degree as worked in most of the mainstream Grand Lodges in the United States. There are many other versions of this Degree, in other rites, though since I am not as acquainted with these, I will not be discussing them.

Worshipful Master of this development. At this point in the Scottish Rite version, it becomes clear that a crime seems to have been committed, the Worshipful Master believing that the Candidate must have been involved, as he seems to be in possession of the Word of Pass.

As in the preceding Degree, the first notable difference that I found in this Degree compared with the mainstream Preston-Webb version that I was familiar with is that the Brother going through the first part of the ceremony is not blindfolded, although he is for the second part. As in the preceding Degrees, the Lodge has a different layout than that of a mainstream U.S. Lodge. The layout would be familiar to a member of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, as that of the Lodge of Perfection. Again, as in both of the earlier Degrees, the Senior Warden is the Officer charged with attending the alarm at the door. This time, the Master Expert give the Fellow Craft knock, indicating that the Candidate is a Fellow Craft, who wishes to advance in Masonry. In The Porch and Middle Chamber, Pike has the Worshipful Master declare, in a stern voice, that all Fellow Crafts are under suspicion of a terrible crime which has been committed, and perhaps the guilty party is returning to the scene of the crime. It is my belief that this part of the ritual makes more sense in our Preston-Webb derived version – the Senior Deacon (Master Expert in the Scottish Rite version) meets the Candidate at the door and asks the questions of him before he enters. In the Scottish Rite version, the Senior Warden ends up asking the Candidate the same questions two times, once at the door, and again at his station. The Candidate seeks to enter the Lodge by the benefit of the Word of Pass. This causes the Senior Warden to react, and inform the

The Senior Warden retires to examine the Candidate twice, one time looking for blood on his hands or clothing, returning with the apron, and the second time, looking for clues regarding the G M . He then finds out that the Candidate is not in possession of the Word of Pass, but that the Master Expert, his friend and conductor, has it for him, and will communicate it for him at the proper time and place. The Candidate is then received into the Lodge of Master Masons as he is received into our own Lodge, the difference being that the Senior Warden receives him at his station, with the Candidate facing West. The Worshipful Master gives a short monologue on Death, with the Candidate having his attention directed to a coffin. The Worshipful Master then asks several questions designed to verify the innocence of the Candidate, before being allowed to face East. The Worshipful Master then approaches the Candidate with a Bible, the symbol of morality, and a Skull, the symbol of mortality, asking the Candidate for assistance in a search for the fallen, and the recovery of the Lost Word. The voyages in this Degree are the same number as in our ritual, although in the Scottish Rite ritual, each voyage consists of three circumambulations. It is indirectly shown that the first voyage is that of the Entered Apprentice; it is stated that this voyage is that of Youth, and the Candidate gives the Entered Apprentice Sign and Due-Guard to each of the three principal officers. The second voyage is that of Manhood, and on the third circuit around the Lodge, the Candidate gives the Fellow Craft Sign and Due-Guard. The final voyage is that of Old Age, and as the Candidate is not yet in (Continued on page 51)

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Scottish Rite News & Information (Continued from page 50) possession of the Master Mason Sign and DueGuard, no salute is given on this voyage. The Orator, acting in a role similar to our Chaplain, intones Ecclesiates 12:1-7 as in our ritual, although apparently from a different version of the Holy Bible. The reading in one of the Pike versions is different – it discusses Light, the Vedas, Zoroastrianism and how the ancients strove to perfect the soul. Another version has the same reading as in our Lodge, although this is done during the first three of seven symbolic circuits about the Lodge, followed by a lecture from the Worshipful Master on various topics, including philosophy, astronomy, symbolism, patriotism, and sin, which continues after the completion of the circuits. The symbol of seven, divided into three and four, is later explained as the triangle and square, the cube surmounted by a pyramid. Immediately prior to the Obligation, the Worshipful Master calls on the Candidate to live a life that is worthy of reflection as he nears the end of it. He offers advice on living a good and happy life, even though parts may be tumultuous. In Albert Pike’s version, the Candidate is guided to the head of the coffin on the steps of the Entered Apprentice, followed by the steps of the Fellow Craft, and then, in three distinct jumps over the coffin, he is to reach the foot, with his feet forward, heels touching each other. After the Obligation in the Scottish Rite version of the Degree, the Worshipful Master approaches the Brother on the Steps, and under the Due-Guards and Penal Signs of each of the three Degrees, in order, explaining those for the Master Mason Degree. Another difference in the ritual has to do with the Pass Word. In the Scottish Rite version, the Word of Pass is explained as being the name of the instructor of every artificer in brass and iron. As the Master Expert instructs the Brother on how to wear his Apron as a Master Mason, he informs him that the Apron is worn this way to designate the Master Mason as an overseer of the work. Duncan’s Ritual has identical wording to this section of the Scottish

- Featured Writer- Jacob Lucas Rite ritual, which is slightly extended from that Preston-Webb derived ritual worked in my jurisdiction. The working tools of a Master Mason are not elaborated in the Scottish Rite version – it is merely mentioned that the new Brother should be presented with the proper tools for work. Duncan’s Ritual has identical wording for this section with that of our ritual. There is a second section of the Scottish Rite Master Mason Degree, as there is in the PrestonWebb ritual. The newly obligated Brother assumes the same role, with a similar enactment of the following events. The three ruffians call upon themselves terrible imprecations for violating each of the Obligations. Rather than these doleful tones being overheard from the cleft of a rock by the Fellow Crafts, the Master Expert is the one who overhears these curses, related in increasingly lamentable voices. Nine Fellow Crafts come before M E K S to confess their role in the crime which has apparently occurred, with the three who actually committed the crime making up a total of 12. The Master Expert aligns the Craft into three columns, three Fellow Crafts accompanying himself, M E K S , and H , K of T . The Master Expert travels with his column, and stumbling across a mound with the appearance of a grave, he measures the mound, and plants a sprig of Acacia to mark the spot. H , K of T travels with his column, and digs down to find the body, removing the jewel of office from around its neck. All nine Fellow Crafts and the three Officers then form a funeral procession and circle the grave. The Grand Hailing Sign of Distress is given, and the words accompanying it are spoken by M E K S . Another difference between the versions in which I preferred the Scottish Rite version is that the manner of raising from a level to a perpendicular was explained in more detail. Why was this manner chosen to be the only way that the Word could be communicated? The Worshipful Master gives an explanation of how our G M H A , who stood for Truth, Fidelity, and Justice, was waylaid by Ignorance, Falsehood, and Ambition, in the form of three assassins. These calamities (Continued on page 52)

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Scottish Rite News & Information (Continued from page 51) still cause the ruins of nations, and the three assassins remain at large. Their fate will be discovered as the Brother continues his work, advancing in the Scottish Rite, at least in the Southern Jurisdiction (and will be discussed here in approximately five months). In the ritual of opening the Lodge in the Master Mason Degree, in both the Pike version and the New Orleans version, the Senior Warden is asked if he is a Master Mason. He replies that he “knows the Acacia.” He explains where the Acacia is found, and what it symbolizes. He explains that he has come to the Lodge to recover the Master’s Word – by passing from the Square to the Compasses, over the tomb, by the aid of a branch of Acacia. As he has advanced to the third Degree in Masonry, the Brother is informed that he has passed from the Square to the Compasses, from the worldly to the spiritual. This is clearly symbolically stated as well, as, when doing the step of the Master Mason over the coffin, he is literally stepping from the Square (placed at the head) to the Compasses (placed at the foot). In the chapter of Morals and Dogma for this Degree, Pike clearly states that to understand symbols literally is to “willfully close our eyes to the Light.” We are not able to precisely communicate what a particular symbol means to us, as words are themselves symbols, and can be misunderstood and misused as are more material symbols. This group of three Degrees – so similar to and so different from the ritual used in my Lodge – serves as an introduction to the teachings of the Scottish Rite. Again, I am reminded of what Albert Pike wrote in The Porch and the Middle Chamber: The Book of the Lodge, on page 14: This Ritual is intended for instruction only, in the States of the Southern Jurisdiction, where there are not Lodges working in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; to be studied and understood before investiture with the Fourth Degree. For, without it, the system of that Rite is incomplete, and even like a fabric without foundation

- Featured Writer- Jacob Lucas Sources De Hoyos, Art, 33°, G C . Scottish Rite Monitor and Guide, 2nd Edition – Revised and Enlarged, 2009. Hutchens, Rex R., 33°, G C . A Bridge to Light, 3rd Edition, 2006. Washington, DC. The Supreme Council, 33° Pike, Albert. The Porch and the Middle Chamber: Book of the Lodge. 1872. De Hoyos, Arturo, 33°, G C . Masonic Formulas and Rituals Transcribed by Albert Pike in 1854 and 1855. 2010. Ritual of the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason Degrees for Exclusive Use of the Scottish Rite Blue Lodges Working Under the Jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana. Revised 1963. Blaisdell, W Ron. The Rituals of American Freemasonry. 2001.

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Email Bro. Jacob with any questions or comments about this or any other of his articles. (Online browsing only)

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Scottish Rite News & Information

- Featured Writer- P.D. Newman

Bro. P.D. Newman, 32° The very first lesson impressed upon the mind of the Candidate for Masonic Initiation upon his entry into an Entered Apprentice Lodge is that of secrecy. In modern times secrecy has come to be regarded as something of a negative trait, as though the individual in possession of the secret had committed some unknown and unlawful deed for which he is guilty or ashamed. For the Freemason, on the other hand, secrecy is a virtue indispensable. Whether they are the secrets of the Degree or the secrets of another Brother, a Mason’s ability to keep secret that which has been entrusted to him as such is of paramount importance. On one level, the purpose for this secrecy is purely practical. It prevents non-Masons from learning the means of recognition or secrets of the Degrees which would admit them into the Lodge and therefore permit them to eves drop on Lodge Work or Business. On another level, this secrecy among Masons exists for the purpose of preserving a nonMason’s right to ignorance. This may sound curious at first, or even apathetic, but it is a man’s own choice whether he strive for the Light of Knowledge or remain in the darkness of ignorance, and regardless of the compassion felt by a Brother for the continual suffering of a non-Mason, suffering which oftentimes is the result of a false world view or philosophical misconception, a Brother is nonetheless expected to respect a non-Mason’s right to that ignorance. In the Degree of Secret Master, the fourth Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the importance of secrecy is impressed upon the mind of the Candidate further still. As Ill Bro Rex Hutchens points out in his A Bridge to Light, “[t]he placement of the candidate’s right hand upon his lips [in this Degree] is a symbol of silence or secrecy. This position is derived from statues of the Greek child-deity Harpocrates, who was adopted from the Egyptian deity Horus, also represented on the apron of the 21st Degree. The son of Osiris and Isis, Horus was the victor of the battle against Set (or Typhon as

he was called by the Greeks and Pike) who was the principal agent of evil in the Egyptian pantheon. Thus, silence is one of the virtues through which good triumphs over evil.” The placement of the Candidate’s finger upon his lips in the manner described above also has a historical precedent in the Jewish Talmud, wherein it is said that God sends to the womb of every pregnant mother an angel whose task it is to teach in its entirety the Torah to the forming infant. Before the child is born, the angel then returns to the infant and places his finger upon his lips, thereby causing him to forget, and in effect silencing all that he has learned regarding the Torah. This, the Talmud says, is how the philtrum, which in humans is the cleft above the upper lip and below the nose, is formed. Harpocrates Another indication of secrecy in the Secret Master Degree is the presence of the ivory key engraved with the letter ‘Z’ which serves as the jewel of the Degree in question. This key, as is suggested by the initials C.a.M. which are embroidered upon the ribbon from which the jewel is suspended, is the Clavis ad Mysterium or Key to the Mysteries. It will open eventually, the Candidate is told, the barricade which blocks him from the Sanctum Sanctorum or Holy of Holies of King Solomon’s Temple. This function of ‘opening a barricade’ or ‘removing an obstacle’ that blocks one from spiritual progress or attainment is implied by the very substance of which the key is made, for ivory (Continued on page 54) www.twtmag.com

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Scottish Rite News & Information

- Featured Writer- P.D. Newman

(Continued from page 53) comes of course from elephants. Mythologically, elephants are associated with the Hindu deity Ganesha who is conveniently known as the Remover of Obstacles. The elephant is also a symbol of secrecy itself, as is evident from the idiom there is an elephant in the room, which has come to mean that something which

may or may not be widely known is going unsaid among a given group. Secrecy, or at least silence, we are told by Eliphas Levi in his Dogma and Ritual of High Magic, was considered by the ancient Magi to be the last of the “four indispensable conditions.” “To attain the SANCTUM REGNUM” he says, “there are four indispensable conditions--an intelligence illuminated by study, an intrepidity which nothing can check, a will which cannot be broken, and a prudence which nothing can corrupt and nothing intoxicate. TO KNOW, TO DARE, TO WILL, TO KEEP SILENCE--such are the four words of the Magus, inscribed upon the four symbolical forms of the sphinx.” In his The Great Secret, Levi says further that “[t]he great secret of magic, the unique and incommunicable Arcana, has for its purpose the placing of supernatural power at the service of the human will in some way. To attain such an achievement it is necessary to KNOW what has to be done, to WILL what is required, to DARE what must be attempted and to KEEP SILENT with discernment…When one does not know, one should will to learn. To the extent that one does not know it is foolhardy to dare, but it is always well to keep silent.” Interestingly, these four virtues are referenced directly in the lecture of the Secret Master Degree, as well as that of the Prince of the Tabernacle in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

Annotated Edition of Morals and Dogma, “the disciplina arcani[...]was an early Christian mystery tradition which imposed obligations of secrecy regarding certain doctrines which were withheld from the general membership.” Ill Bro De Hoyos later says that “[t]he early Church Fathers stated that certain beliefs and practices came from the Apostles, who prescribed that they be preserved only by oral tradition. St. Basil referred to symbolic gestures, washings, and anointings as among the “unpublished and secret teachings which our fathers guarded in a silence out of the reach of curious meddling and inquisitive investigation.” [St. Basil] added that “the lawful dignity of the mysteries is best preserved by silence.”” Even in the Book of Revelation, the record of the visions suffered by John the Evangelist during his exile on the isle of Patmos, the characteristic of silence is associated with the opening of the seventh and final seal which holds shut the book resting in the right hand of “him that sat on the throne.” In verse one of chapter eight John of Patmos recalls that at the opening thereof “there was silence in heaven for the space of half an hour.” In this case, silence would seem to be an indication of peace rather than secrecy, thus drawing an important distinction between what is potentially implied by the use of the words secrecy and silence in the ancient Mysteries.

In the Major Arcana of the Tarot, the characteristic of silence is associated with the Hermit card which, in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, was actually Among the early Christians, secrecy played an known as Prudence. If the reader will recall, the idea important role as the doctrine of disciplina arcani or of silence was equated with that of prudence by Levi the Discipline of the Secret. As Ill Bro Arturos de when he referred to “a prudence which nothing can Hoyos points out in his introduction the 2011 corrupt and nothing (Continued on page 55) www.twtmag.com

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Scottish Rite News & Information

- Featured Writer- P.D. Newman

(Continued from page 54) intoxicate.” As every TO DARE,” and most importantly, “TO KEEP Entered Apprentice knows, Prudence is the Cardinal SILENCE.” Virtue associated with the Perfect Point of Entrance located in the hands. Coincidentally, hand is the literal translation of the Hebrew word-letter Yod which, according to the Hermetic Order of the REFERENCES Golden Dawn, corresponds to the Hermit card. Additionally, the principal characteristics of the Hermit card are the lamp, cloak and staff, all three of which are referred to in the Prince of the Tabernacle Degree as the “Lamp of Trismegistus, the Cloak of Apollonius, and the Staff of the Patriarchs.” If the reader will recall, this is the same Degree which, along with that of Secret Master, charges the Candidate “to Know, to Will, to Dare, to be Silent.” Employing the analytical literary techniques of Kabbalah, the Wisdom Tradition of the ancient Hebrews, James A. Eshelman carries the association of the idea of silence or secrecy with the word hand further still in his analysis of the word Yesod as “Yod-Sod” or “the secret hand.” Yesod, he suggests, is the compliment to the Path of Yod on the Tree of Life. According to Eshelman, these two hands ‘launch’ “the arrow of aspiration up the Middle Pillar[…]commonly called the Path of the Arrow. This arrow of aspiration, or Samekh, is launched from Yesod[…]or Yod-Sod, [which] may be read as the secret hand…” This demonstrates also that even in Kabbalah can be found, albeit via a complex process of word analysis, the equation of the idea of secrecy or silence with spiritual progress or attainment. Thus we see the importance that has come to be laid upon the virtues of secrecy and silence in the Mystery Traditions, both ancient and modern. As pointed out above, these virtues are absolutely indispensable to the Freemason, and the Degree of Secret Master impresses this fact upon the mind of the Candidate to such an extent that it becomes virtually impossible for him to ignore. Through persistent study and contemplation of the symbols present in the Degree, it is hoped that the importance of such a requirement will eventually become evident to the Candidate that he may begin to inculcate those four “indispensable conditions” which will one day lead him to attain the “SANCTUM REGNUM”: “TO KNOW, TO WILL,

Case, Paul Foster. The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages De Hoyos, Arturos. Morals and Dogma: Annotated Edition De Hoyos, Arturos. Scottish Rite Ritual: Monitor & Guide Eshelman, James A. The Black Pearl, Vol. 1 No. 2 Hutchens, Rex. A Bridge to Light Levi, Eliphas. Dogma and Ritual of High Magic Levi, Eliphas. The Great Secret Oxford English Dictionary Regardie, Israel. The Golden Dawn Subramuniyaswami, Satguru Sivaya. Loving Ganesa The Holy Bible: Master Mason Edition The Jewish Talmud Westcott, William Wynn. The Sepher Yetzirah or Book of Creation

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Scottish Rite News & Information

‘The History of Scottish Rite Masonry in Tucson� http://www.tucsonscottishrite.org/history.asp

The first organizational meeting was held on April 18, 1875. Meetings were held at the Cosmopolitan Hotel (formerly the Orndorf) where ceremonies were held on the second floor, which subsequently became known as the Masonic Hall.

in 1886. Those who wished to become Scottish Rite Masons had to travel to San Francisco or Texas. During this same period, the Tucson Masonic Club was founded with Edward Nye Fish serving as Chairman and George Roskruge as Secretary. Following closely on its heels was the formation of the Masonic Relief organization in October of 1879. This group, involving basically the same men, evolved into a permanent organization and became the foundation of Tucson Lodge No. 4 in 1881, Sam Hughes was its first initiate.

Santa Rita Lodge of Perfection No. 1, Territory of Arizona, held its first class of 7 initiates on June 3, 1875. On December 3, 1882, the S.G.I.G. of California invested another 12 initiates, one of The formation of a Scottish Rite floundered until whom was George J. Roskruge. 1903 when once again new interest was Famed Mason Albert Pike presided at the generated. The Phoenix group wanted to move meeting held on April 23, 1883 and the Lodge of the Tucson body to Phoenix but Roskruge said Perfection was chartered on April 25, 1883. Below no. The Lodge then came alive under the is the original charter and is signed by Albert leadership of General George J. Roskruge with a Pike. Albert Pike himself attended the chartering class of 24 initiates. The Lodge of Perfection was ceremonies and it had been said that he was formed again, this time to stay, and it flourished. looking out the second floor window towards the mountains and asked what the name of the range was. When the reply was "the Santa Rita Mountains," that is what he named the first Lodge of Perfection here. Among those original members, Albert Stanfield, of Stanfields Department Stores. Morris Goldwater, and George Roskruge rode their horses from Prescott to be in attendance for the ceremonies. New life was instilled into the Lodge by George Roskruge who was serving as a Surveyor for the U.S. Government at the time. Unfortunately, the Lodge failed to function and they turned in their charter

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Scottish Rite News & Information (Continued from page 56)

Harry "Arizona" Drachman (the first Anglo-Saxon to be born in Tucson) was appointed Deputy of Roskruge was named Venerable Master. The the Tucson Scottish Rite in 1912 (now referred to Lodge moved to a new building where A.V. as the Personal Representative) and remained Grossetta built the Opera House taking over the such until 1952. Nelson Charles Bledsoe was entire second floor. This was where the now State appointed Deputy January 15, 1952 and served theater is located. until his death. The design and construction of the current Tucson Scottish Rite Cathedral began sometime before Arizona Statehood and the building's cornerstone was laid December 8, 1915. The building was officially dedicated in 1916.

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Below is a photo of Tucson Scottish Rite members in front of the Cathedral. Completed in 1951, the "Ochoa Addition" also known as the "Peter E Howell Addition" who was the Venerable Master in 1911-1912, was added at a then cost of $310,000. The building was then rededicated by then Grand Master of Arizona, Fred W. Moore of Mesa. A combined choir of the Job's Daughters, Rainbow Girls, and DeMolay sang at the dedication. The property where the addition was built has historical significance as it was the only place in Arizona at the time where a President of the United States had stayed, then President Rutherford B. Hayes. In 1979 the entire building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places.

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Final Words

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