May 2011 Issue #41
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Letter FromWelcome the Editor
“TRYING SOMETHING NEW” I was kind of nervous, as I often am, when I do something new and present my latest project. I released the first video adaptation of the Working Tools for the April 2011 edition on March 26 to see what kind of feedback I would get. Less than a week later I had almost 2,000 downloads!!! Not sure if you know this but some videos on Youtube don’t get that many views in their lifetime let alone after 6 days. The flood of emails of encouragement was also overwhelming, so I thank you immensely. My hope is to make a product that you can take into Lodge and use as a lodge meeting tool. One of my biggest pet peeve is the lack of education found in our meetings. Maybe this will make it easier for us to do it. Ok– enough about that. Onto the topic at hand. I tried putting together another issue of the best stuff I could find for you. Your submissions make my job a lot easier. Keep sending me your papers and pointing me to the coolest things out there. I can’t do it without your help. I’m looking forward to hearing from you! Until next time...
Cory Sigler, PM
Hawthorne Fortitude #200
Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/corysigler & facebook.com/twtmag
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TWT MAG presents:
The video “Working Tools” Featuring highlights from the current magazine. Including music and video segments
Download and show in Lodge for a quick 10 minute presentation that all the brethren will enjoy!!! Find on Facebook.com/twtmag or http://blip.tv/file/4936985 to download. May 2011 video now uploaded 4
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INTRODUCING THE NEW “TWT MAG” FAN PAGE ON FACEBOOK
Get all the issue updates and news first Show your appreciation by searching under “The Working Tools” and liking the page.
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Contents
This Month’s Issue Includes:
Pg 20 GL of Pennsylvania Temple/Museum
Pg 42 Masonophobia– Anti-Masonic behavior
Pg 30 Biography: Carl Claudy
This Issue: “Proclamation #357” - Pg.9 Old Tyler Talks- “hand Picked” -
Pg.11
“The Masonic Crime”- Pg.13 Masonic Service Association - Pg.15 Masonic Computer Games- Pg.23 High Twelve International - Pg. 29 In The News - Pg.33
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: Corsig3@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 self-addressed stamped envelope. The Editor reserves the right to edit all materials received.
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This Month in History
May 1st- On this date in 1865, William McKinley (U.S. President 1898-1901) received his 1st degree in Hiram Lodge #21, Winchester, Virginia. 3rd- On this date in 1886, Rudyard Kipling received is 2nd degree. 4th- On this date in 1821, the Grand Lodge of Missouri was formed and in 1821, the Grand Lodge of Illinois was founded. 5th- On this date in 1851, Andrew Johnson (U.S. President 1865-1869) received his 1st degree in Greenville Lodge #119, Tennessee 8th- On this date in 1843, a national Masonic Congress was begun in Baltimore, sometimes referred to as the Baltimore Convention, to attempt to establish a uniform ritual for United States Grand Lodges. 11th- On this date in 1865, the Grand Lodge of West Virginia was formed, and in 1932, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, in Alexandria, Virginia, was dedicated. 16th- On this date in 1866, the Grand Lodge of West Virginia was founded. 17th- On this date in 1921, High Twelve International was organized. (see page 30) 24th- On this date in 1901, Sir Winston Churchill received his 1st degree in Studholme Lodge #1591, London. 27th- On this date in 1957, Carl H. Claudy, Masonic author and playwright, D.C. Grand Master in 1943, Executive Secretary of MSA, died
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This Month in ―The Worldwide Exemplification of Freemasonry‖
May Lectures ―The Worldwide Exemplification of Freemasonry‖
05-07-11 Female Freemasonry. Dr. Andreas Onnerfors 05-14-11 Why Brothers Killed Brothers in the American Revolution. Prof. Steven Bullock 05-21-11 Why Ancients & Moderns. Aubrey Newman, PM 05-28-11 Veiled in Allegory and Illustrated by Symbols. Chris McClintock, PM
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New Proclamation
Proclamation #357 I hereby proclaim that everyday at 3:57 PM shall now and forever be considered “Freemason Time� The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Man The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Mason The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Husband
The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Father The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Son The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Friend The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Neighbor The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Employee
The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Christian The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Catholic The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Jew The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Buddhist The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Muslim The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Hindu The time to think about how you could make yourself a better Human Cory Sigler 9
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Scottish Rite of NJ Awards At the recent annual statewide Scottish Rite meeting (aka: Council of Deliberation) held in Collingswood on March 26th, several of the annual awards and honors were announced by RW J. Robert Deissler, Awards Committee Chairman, as follows: Meritorious Service Awards (MSA):
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Valley of Northern NJ: Gordon M. Fleming Richard T. Jackson
Valley of Northern NJ: Ill. Gilbert W. Maymon, 33rd Valley of Central Jersey: F. Gerry Spence
Valley of Central Jersey: William J. Morelli William F. Walling Richard U. Maren
Valley of Southern NJ: Robert L. Jones, MSA
Valley of Southern NJ: Peter W. Saunders John R. Bradshaw Family of Freemasonry Award: Valley of Northern NJ: Monica Glattly Valley of Central Jersey: Alice Plummer Valley of Southern NJ: Maureen Krause
Please congratulate these very worthy recipients. These awards will be presented at each Valley's respective awards night. Thank you! Dave Glattly Deputy for NJ, AASR Clifton Lodge #203 10
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Claudy- ―Old Tyler Talks‖
“Hand-Picked” "I have been thinking," announced the New Brother to the Old Tiler. "Interesting, if true," murmured the Old Tiler, crossing his legs and leaning his sword against the wall. "Sometimes people think they are thinking when they only think they think."
"But I think you have only been thinking you thought." "Ah, but I am not through!" countered the New Brother. "All that being so we stultify ourselves by that unwritten law. If it was the law that no man might apply for Masonry, and that only those who are asked could join, and we were careful whom we asked, what a wonderful personnel we could have!" "Who, for instance, would you ask?" responded the Old Tiler.
"I know a lot of fellows I would ask!" was the immediate answer. "Dr. Bell, the famous eye "Huh?" said the New Brother. man, and Jordan, the English professor, and Dr. Goodspeed, the eminent divine, and Tomlinson, "I said, in other words, give me a cigar," anthe philanthropist; and that explorer fellow who swered the Old Tiler. "If you are thinking, or did such wonderful missionary work...can't think even if you only think you think and are about to of his name...and...and...oh, a whole lot of wontell me about it, I should have some nicotine as derful men! Think of the benefit to us all by havsupport." ing men like that in the fraternity." "I have been thinking," went on the New Brother, holding out his cigar case, "that the Masonic fraternity writes one of its unwritten laws upside down. I understand it is un-Masonic for me to ask the best man I know to become a Mason. But if a man against whom I know nothing, except that he is only a fair, average sort of chap, wants to come into my lodge, it is equally against Masonic principles to blackball him, just because he isn't the best educated man in the world!" "All that you say is true," responded the Old Tiler. 11
"It would be wonderful, wouldn't it?" answered the Old Tiler. "Of course it would! Well, why don't we?" "Oh, that's simple enough. It wouldn't be Masonic." "But why?" "My son," answered the Old Tiler, "can you educate a man calling himself educated? Can you make a
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Claudy- ―Old Tyler Talks‖ lives to humanity. Masonry is for all who want her blessings and can show that they deserve them. To restrict it to just a few, and those few brick into gold be calling it gold? Can you make picked by men with selfish interests at heart, ina silk purse out of a sow's ear by naming it a silk stead of the interests of their candidates, would purse?" be un-Masonic, unnatural, and the death knell of the fraternity. "Of course not," was the ready answer. "But we...we Masons make things Masonic or not Ma- "There are plenty of clubs, associations, organisonic by the way we look at them." zations, which hand-pick their members. They are useful, good to know and belong to. But they "Oh, no, we don't!" cried the Old Tiler. "I have do no such work as do Masons. As well say no just been leading you on to see what you would man may join the church of God or hear His minsay. Now I'll tell you what you want to know. isters preach His word, save those who are inWe can't make a thing Masonic by calling it so vited and say, 'Let us have no candidates except because the principles of Masonry are fixed and those we choose.' unalterable. We agreed they were unalterable when we became Masons. Therefore, we can't "After men apply for the degrees, then, indeed alter them. While it would do you and me good if we can choose. But our choice should be dictated these fine men conceived a regard for the frater- by the man's character, not his wealth or educanity and became members, it would do us no tion or services. If he is a good man, able to afgood to make them Masons on our initiative. ford the fees and dues, unlikely to become a Then would then be above the fraternity, not charge on the lodge, and seeking Masonry, we humble members, glad of the blessings of the or- want him. To give the blessings of Masonry only der. If we picked the men at our own pleasure we to those who need them least, would be unmight get a higher type of personnel, but they Masonic." wouldn't be Masons. They would be hand-picked "I guess you were right," answered the New men. We would deny its blessings to the men Brother. who need Masonry to shower them upon men who need them least. "Were right? I *am* right!" answered the Old Tiler. "There is no man who cannot be ennobled by Masonic influence. No matter how good a man "I mean, I guess you were right when you said I is, his faith and his morality and his righteousonly thought I thought!" smiled the New Brother. ness may be strengthened by Masonic influence. But good men need Masonry much less than others not so good. I do not mean that Masonry should take in bad men, but men like you and me, the average man, the banker, doctor, lawyer, merchant, clerk, laborer, the everyday fellow, needs Masonry in his heart and in his life much more than the eminent men who devote their (Continued from page 11)
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The Masonic Crime “The Masonic Crime- A true story.” I admit it! I committed the crime to end all crimes last week. If you’ve read Edgar Allen Poe’s ―The Tale-Tell Heart,‖ I feel just like the narrator. I’m almost embarrassed to tell you what I did, but I need to get this off my chest and clear my conscience. As a result of my actions my wife hasn’t talked to me in a couple of days. When I asked her if what I did was really that bad she just gave me that ―look.‖ Apparently what I did was that bad. So now I sleep with one eye open and listen for the footsteps. I guess the couch isn’t too uncomfortable. After much deliberation and soul searching I went to the police to confess. I explained what I did, and how I know I was wrong. I pleaded with the officer that if he only gave me one more chance I would promise to never do anything that heinous again. I guess he must have been busy because he said, ―Mister, I’m way too busy for this nonsense, please leave‖. Thinking he must not have heard me confess to a crime my wife felt had no good punishment I repeated my case that I should be locked up and the key thrown away for good. ―Mister, you better get the heck out of here right now before you really get in trouble‖, the red faced policeman yelled. Not believing my good fortune of escaping from a life of imprisonment, I went for a walk to clear my head and stopped in front of a church. Figuring I had nothing to lose I asked the priest who happened to be outside, ―Father, you must help me,‖ I said with tears in my eyes. ―Yes my son, what do you need?‖ ―I did something that equals the horrors of wars past, the atrocities no man should duplicate.‖ (Continued on page 14)
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The Masonic Crime (Continued from page 13)
―Come inside,‖ he pleaded. ―You must at once give me all the details of what you have done.‖ A minute later he kicked me out of his office and screamed that he has never been so insulted in his life. He accused me of playing a joke. So I end up going to where everybody knows my name and grabbed a beer at my favorite bar. The bartender saw that I was visibly upset so he came over to offer me an ear. What’s up?‖ he asked. ―Oh, I’ve really done it this time,‖ I pleaded. Knowing that the last two people I spoken too didn’t offer me the justice I sought. I thought twice about telling him. ―Well I am known in these parts for helping a friend in need,‖ he said. ―Ok, but I’m really scratching my head because I really want to make amends. I’ve confessed to several people who according to my wife should have really given me a good earful.‖ ―Nothing can be that bad,‖ he said concerned. Finally able to speak between my tears I blurted out the truth, what has been haunting me all week. The thing I did that has stopped the world from spinning on its’ axis.
I went to a Masonic event two days in a row!!! 14
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Masonic Publications Cory Approved
The Masonic Service Association of North America “Short Talk Bulletins” www.msana.com Since 1923 the MSA has published a monthly bulletin discussing a wide array of topics having to do with everything Masonic. They are the quintessential resource and grandfather of Lodge Education. I personally owe them the world of thanks for having the talks as research guides. For only $9.00 a year you can subscribe to get 12 STB’s (one a month) mailed to you.
The Short Talk Bulletins are published monthly and are available in the following categories: Leadership Entered Apprentice Fellowcraft Master Mason About Individuals Body of the Craft Bypaths Civic and Patriotic Historical Inspiration & Charity In the Lodge Literature Philosophy Religion & Ethics Symbols & Symbolism The War and After A full catalog of every bulletin as well as the order form can be found at http://msana.com/stb.asp Brethren, I strongly suggest investing in this small amount for such great a reward. Ask your Lodges to purchase them for their library so you can read them aloud in the meetings.
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Masonic Author
“Masonic Influence on Brain Transformation” By Bro. Dr. John S. Nagy Not many Masons know that the training of Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts is designed to transform their brains. Yeah, I know this might sound ―pretty scary‖ but it‘s true. What‘s even scarier though is that I was a Mason who didn‘t know this up until this year. What changed my understanding of this was asking a simple question. As a result on my asking this question, seeking an answer and knocking on whatever door I could find, a flood of information was opened up to me that bordered upon overwhelm. Admittedly, it was an innocent enough question; one of many that seem to pop into my head from time to time when I‘m involved in Masonic adventures. The focus of my exploration this time was the Fellow Craft degree. More specifically, it was the last Seven Steps of the Winding Staircase that were talked about in the Fellow Craft Lecture. What was my question? What does studying these seven topics do to the brains of people studying them? I had no idea where this question would lead me, but there was one thing for sure, I was ready, willing and able to go to any length to know the answer. The Quest Soon after I asked it, the question led me toward some information regarding brain function. It appears that over the last century, brain neuroscientists have mapped the function of the brain, specifically, the cerebral cortex. They discovered some very interesting aspects that fit very nicely into affirming what Masons have focused upon for some time. It‘s clear from research that the functions associated with the lobes of the cerebral cortex are affected positively – as in ―strengthened‖ – by studying the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences. Let me explain. Our brains are created with natural affinities. Being natural, these affinities are already wired into our being. This means that our brains naturally will do what they have affinities toward. The problem though with these natural affinities is that what may come natural is not always nurtured to maximize its potentials. This is where specific study comes into play. By studying targeted subjects such as those comprising the Trivium and Quadrivium, precise areas of the brain are exposed to patterns that enhance the brain‘s natural abilities in that region. Simply put, exposure to Light brings Order to the Chaos of that area. Trivial Brain Function Let me share an example of this. The back of the brain known as the Occipital Lobe is wired for sight. In that wiring are tendencies to recognize objects such as ―horizontals, verticals and diagonals.‖ When this region is exposed to specific patterns, it ―learns‖ to recognize these patterns and even associates them with what they mean. When those who are instructed properly are exposed to visual numbers and letters, this region of their brain eventually imprints upon the shapes of those visual patterns and associates these patterns with numbers and letters. Of course, this recognition also works in conjunction with the sound of such letters and numbers, along with the words that they spell out and language memory. These are associated with functions of other lobe areas. (Continued on page 17)
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Masonic Author’s (Continued from page 16)
Those latter parts of the brain are associated with the left Temporal lobe and this associated region stretches from the area from just in front of the ear, all the way back past the interface of that lobe and through to the left area of the Occipital lobe and the lower portion of the left side of the Parietal lobe. This whole region is associated with Grammar. When exposed to Grammatical training, the natural affinity of this brain region Orders itself to recognize Lexicon and the Rules that govern that Lexicon – Grammar! Additionally, if we examine how exposure to Logic affects brain Ordering, we would find that the upper part of the Frontal lobe is affected. Logic training exposes this region to the Logical patterns which Order it toward recognizing when proper Logic occurs and when what is presented is obviously faulty or flawed. Finally, training that exposes the brain to Rhetoric shows that this specific training accesses, integrates and further Orders these just mentioned regions, most all of which are left Brain activities. Furthermore, this activity includes the lower parts of the Frontal lobes along with the front parts of the Temporal lobes; some of which are right brain activities. You might now ask yourself what these just mentioned regions have to do with Rhetoric and you‘d be right in doing so. It is not enough to say that it accesses, integrates and further Orders these regions. One should know the basis of such claims. Let‘s connect the dots. Integrating the Entered Apprentice Work The lower parts of the Frontal lobes are associated with we call “morality.” Their function controls whether we say and do or not say or do. This is but one of two areas that Rhetoric study accesses and helps integrate. The other areas are the two front parts of the Temporal lobes. These are the emotional memory areas of the brain. These, together with the lower portion of the Frontal lobes, control our morality. Of course, study of the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences only reinforces the functions of these just mentioned moral influence areas. These areas should have already been Ordered through the Work of the Entered Apprentice prior to being Passed on to Fellow Craft. You may quickly ask: What Entered Apprentice Work Orders the morality areas? The answer may surprise you: All of it! Let‘s review it quickly. The recognition and divesting of Vices and Superfluities frees the Entered Apprentice from unnecessary and harmful Burdens. In conjunction with these divestitures, Strengthening takes place in the form of establishment and practice of Virtue within the daily activities and choices of the Entered Apprentice. This takes discipline and such activities are continually recognized and affirmed by Fellow Crafts and above before Entered Apprentices are Passed. Should such Work not be completed, the Ordering of these area will not be completed either and the Brain of the Mason shall be Burdened and it will be weaker than it should be while progressing through higher degrees. Such a condition is best exemplified by the Hebrew word ―sibolet‖, which means ―burden.‖ Quadrivium Work The follow up Fellow Craft studies that Order mostly the right side of their brains are Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy. Arithmetic Orders the Right side of the Occipital lobe in conjunction with the back part of the (Continued on page 18)
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Masonic Author’s (Continued from page 17)
Parietal lobes. It structures our understanding and recognition of numeric lexicon and the proper use of operators in dealing with them. Geometry Orders the back part of the Parietal lobe and Right Temporal lobes. It structures our understanding and recognition of numbers as they relate to space. Music Orders the right Temporal lobe. It structures our understanding and recognition of numbers as they relate to time. Something that intrigued me was how the study of Astronomy acts like a capstone to all this study. The answer that was revealed was amazing. Astronomy integrates the left and right brain functions dealing with time and space and the manner to which we use language to convey our understanding of time and space discoveries. In doing this, Astronomy further Orders, accesses and integrates all lobes mentioned throughout this writing. Integration Aside from all the interesting and wonderful things that occur to the brain to transform it so that its natural affinities are honed to a sharp edge, there is an underlying reason such abilities are desired by Masons. If you examine history, you will find that the study of the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences was required as preparation for higher learning targeted at Scholasticism – reconciling Theology and Philosophy. A person would not dare enter into such serious study without having a firm foundation in these Liberal Arts and Sciences. Such lacking would inevitably lead to problematic evaluation, translation, interpretation and conclusions. That understanding continues today. The primary reason for such specific Liberal Arts and Sciences study remains the same – to prepare for further, more serious study of Theology and Philosophy. Masons should keep this in mind should they attempt to dismiss the relevance of such studies. Let me provide an example of how this works. Example The Jewish observance of Passover occurs upon the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. Sacred Lore is interpreted by some to reveal that the name ―Passover‖ comes from the belief that the Lord ―passed over‖ houses whose doorposts and lintels were sprinkled with the blood of a specific type of lamb. Study of the events and the timing of the celebration reveal many interesting aspects of the celebration that are not so obvious to those who do not have Liberal Arts and Sciences training. The first fact of interest lay in the timing of the event. The Passover celebration always starts when the first full moon after the spring equinox. This is the 14th day of Nisan which begins on the night of a full moon after the vernal equinox. In ancient times though, the start of spring was not always astronomically guided. There were more practical signs that needed to be considered. The tradition in ancient Israel held that the first day of Nisan would not start until the barley was ripe, being the test for the onset of spring. Since at least the 12th century, knowledge of Astronomy and mathematics reveal that the spring equinox is the point in which the sun position above the rotating earth provides an equal amount of light during the day with the darkness in the night. Any day soon after this moment could be considered a day that showed the sun had ―passed over‖ this equality point of day and night length. Knowing this, the question still remains as to why this observance comes during the first full moon and not immediately after that tipping point. (Continued on page 19)
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Masonic Author’s (Continued from page 18)
Upon further examination of the cultural records of the time it becomes clear that the reference to the lamb is also quite revealing. At the time this celebration was immortalized in the practice of the Jewish people, many tended flocks of animals as a matter of daily activity. Part of that activity was to make sure that these flocks were both fed and kept secure. When the season changed from winter to spring, the passing over of the sun was a sign to those tending their flocks that the feeding grounds to the North were about to be producing food. This meant that their flocks would have to be moved toward these pasture lands so they could feed on the new growth. These moves were problematic if they were not planned for and executed properly. Two conditions that had to be considered deserve some reflection. The first condition was that all newborn animals would slow the flock‘s progress to an unacceptable pace; this placed an unnecessary sibolet upon the entire flock. The second condition was that darkness created additional dangers involving terrain and predators. To move flocks during the darkened hours of night would place them in danger, especially if that movement were done under star light alone. To minimize the possibility of newborns within the flock slowing them down, sacrifices would occur. This meant ―spilling‖ blood. Such sacrifices were seen as necessary and were accepted without question to assure the safety of these flocks. Not doing so jeopardized the flock‘s very survival. To minimize nighttime threats, flocks were moved during those times when the moon‘s brightest light lit the skies. This occurred on a regular bases and all that was required was a bit of Astronomical know-how to get the timing correct. Since the first full moon after the spring equinox proved the perfect time to move the flocks to the North, this became the day in which that activity occurred year after year. As you can imagine, most people within the Jewish faith do not tend flocks any longer. There is no need to make journeys from one pasture to another and not minimize travel time by sacrificing those creatures that would slow that transit. It is clear though that the memory of such activities have been dutifully and faithfully carried forth year after year as sacred lore in honor of their ancestor‘s diligent activities. Masonry’s Beacon To participate in serious Theological and Philosophical studies, one must have the capacity to decode the records of the past. Specific study provides a firm foundation for cultivating this capacity. Without such firm foundation, assumption about these records might lead one to conclude falsely what these records and events reveal. It‘s truly a marvel how specific studies transform the brain and bring Order to chaos. Masons might want to assure that those Masons who come up through the degrees do the Work that Ritual points to, otherwise men are Raised into positions that they are not properly prepared for. ————— About this submission: This article is based upon the research behind the book ―Building Athens – Uncommon Catechism for Uncommon Masonic Education - Volume 3‖ by Dr. John S. Nagy and is part of the ―Building Series‖ of Masonic Education books. Volume 3 was published in May 2010. Go to web link http://www.coach.net/BuildingBuilders.htm for further information on this series. About the Author: Dr. John S. Nagy is a Master Mason, a perpetual member of Tampa Bay Lodge No. 252 in Tampa Bay Florida and a Life Member of the Florida Lodge of Research No. 999. He is the Lodge Musician for both Lodges and occasional Masonic Education provider.
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Traveling
The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania http://www.pagrandlodge.org/ 1 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone Number: (215) 988-1900 One of my favorites places to visit when I travel to Philadelphia is the Grand Lodge of PA and it’s museum. It is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever had the privilege to be in. The amount of detail found in the different Lodge rooms is second to none. The fact that Benjamin Franklin had a hand in creating the building also adds to my love of it (I love learning about him). I think you’ll love it as much as I did when you see it first hand. That’s why I’m excited to share with you this architectural masterpiece.
The History of the Temple On July 1, 1867, The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction Thereunto Belonging purchased the site for the Temple. The plot, 149 by 245 feet, includes a complete block bounded by Broad, Filbert, Juniper and Cuthbert Streets, and was purchased for $156,793.16 (Records of the Building Committee of the New Masonic Temple). Brother James H. Windrim, a Member of Philadelphia Lodge No. 72, was the architect. The Temple cost $1,600,000.00 exclusive of decorations and furnishings. The Cornerstone was laid on Saint John the Baptist's Day, June 24, 1868, (Continued on page 21)
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Traveling (Continued from page 20)
in the northeast corner of the foundation wall by Brother Richard Vaux, Right Worshipful Grand Master. The granite Cornerstone, from the Havre-de-Grace quarries, is five feet 6 1/2 inches long, two feet 4 1/2 inches deep, and four feet 9 1/2 inches wide. It weighs between nine and ten tons. The Gavel used on this occasion was the one Brother George Washington used to lay, with Masonic ceremony, the Cornerstone of the Nation's Capitol at Washington, D.C., on September 18, 1793. The Temple was Dedicated on Friday, September 26, 1873, the eightyseventh anniversary of the independence of The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, by Brother Samuel C. Perkins, Right Worshipful Grand Master. A Masonic parade, divided into twentysix divisions and including 14,000 marchers, was held in honor of the Dedication. The exterior of the building at Broad and Filbert Streets is of Cape Ann syenite, which takes its name from Syne in Upper Egypt, where it was quarried for monuments by the ancient Egyptians. The Juniper and Cuthbert Street exteriors are of Fox Island granite from the coast of Maine. In accordance with Masonic tradition, the stones were cut, squared, marked and numbered at the quarries and brought to the Temple ready for use The two Grand Towers are extremely prominent and are known as the Northwest and Southwest Towers. The height of the Southwest Tower at Broad and Filbert Streets is 250 feet. It was necessary to lay the foundation thirty-one feet below street level. Inside, on the north side of the building are the private suite of the Right Worshipful Grand Master, the Grand Banquet Hall, and Oriental Hall. On the south side are the offices of the Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, and the administrative staff of the Grand Lodge. More offices are upstairs on the third floor, also on the south side: those of the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter, Grand Commandery of Knights Templar and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite's Valley of Philadelphia. On the second floor of the Temple are Corinthian, Renaissance, Ionic, Egyptian and Norman Halls. Gothic Hall is on the third floor. From the (Continued on page 22)
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Traveling (Continued from page 21)
eastern end of the second floor corridor, two curved cantilevered stairways lead to the third floor, whose corridor has many panel decorations representing varied types of ancient architecture and embellishments. The stairwell walls are decorated with murals--depictions of celebrated masterpieces of ancient Egypt, 2000 B.C.; Assyria, 900 B.C.; Athens, 600 B.C.; Rome, 500 B.C.; Jerusalem, 700 A.D.; Roslyn Chapel, 1200 A.D.; Temple of the Dioscuri and Temple of Vesta. At the other end of this magnificent stairway, in the basement, are seven committee rooms, offices, four banquet rooms, a large kitchen, shop and other mechanical equipment. Corinthian and Renaissance Halls, what is now the Benjamin Franklin Room, the Grand Banquet Hall and the Grand Master's suite were completed under the direction of the Committee on Temple. Gothic Hall, in the beginning, was decorated largely by contributions collected by Commanderies meeting in Philadelphia. In addition to Grand Lodge, the Masonic Bodies meeting in the Temple include Blue Lodges, Mark Lodges, Chapters, Councils, Commanderies, Schools of Instruction, Masonic Veterans, Masonic Ancients and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Philadelphia. The Masonic Library and Museum Founded in 1908, the Museum was dedicated by Brother John Wanamaker, a prominent Philadelphia merchant who served as the first Chairman of the Library Committee. The Museum's collection consists of more than thirty thousand items. Some prominent pieces on display are the George Washington's Masonic apron and Brother Benjamin Franklin's 1779 Masonic sash. There are also hundreds of portraits and various other works of art, including statuary, antique glass, porcelain, china, antiquities, jewelry, regalia, timepieces, curiosa and Masonic history.
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Masonic Games
“Masonic Mystery & Templar Secret” by Abroy.com http://www.abroy.com/play/escape-games/masonic-mystery/ http://www.abroy.com/play/escape-games/templar-secret/ These links were sent to me by a bunch of brothers who know I’m a gamer (Xbox mostly). They fall under the “Escape” genre which means the whole idea of the game is about figuring out the increasingly complex puzzles in order to proceed further and escape the room. There are many variations of these puzzles, basically it’s the same concept with a different background. The “Masonic Mystery” & “Templar Secret” games having NOTHING to do with the Craft other than it’s visuals (Letter “G”, Pyramid, Templar Sword...). The graphics itself were pretty good, above average I dare say for a free on-line game. The Abroy.com website has a ton of these games plus many other under different genres (adventure, puzzle..etc) for free so it’s hard to really complain about them too much. My biggest complain is that you start with no knowledge on what to do first. Perhaps that’s the whole idea and adds to the challenge. I will say that without the “walkthrough” video it would have been nearly impossible to finish either of these two games. Actually watching the videos on how to solve the puzzles were more fun than playing them at times. Several times I said to myself that I never would have know that. With that said, I will give the games a thumbs up for being a challenge and having decent visuals. Hey– for the price how can you argue??
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Masonic Seminar
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Book Review BOOK REVIEW: 'The Transformation of Freemasonry' shows how historical upheavals affected the 'Craft'
temporarily. It also contributed to the formation in 1828 in upstate New York of the Anti-Mason Party, a singleissue political party that opposed the Craft and its alleged influence on the nation. It was America's first third party.
David Harrison, the British historian whose "The Genesis of Freemasonry" I reviewed on this site last April, continues his history of the controversial society up to modern times with "The Transformation of Freemasonry: The Revolution of the World" (Arima Publishing, 264 pages, $24.00).
Perhaps Harrison, in a future book or article, can explore the influence of the U.S. Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and the influence of these controversial acts -- passed under the Federalists and which led to the election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800 -- on movements like Freemasonry. The link between Freemasonry and the Mormon movement would also be a fascinating topic to explore. There's a connection with upstate New York, the home region of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon movement, and many religious and communal movements in the U.S. Smith's 1830 book "The Book of Mormon" was considered anti-Mason, but Smith, following in the footsteps of his Freemason father, became a Mason, founding a lodge in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1842.
I use the word "controversial" because Freemasonry: "the secret society that is also a society of secrets" as some have characterized it, was greatly affected by the political upheaval of the French Revolution at the end of the 18th Century, leading to the Unlawful Societies Act of 1799, which required lodges to provide names of members. In fact, as Harrison reveals at the beginning of I wasn't particularly surprised to learn his latest book, the original draft of from Harrison's well researched and well the act would have banned Freemawritten account that there were Masons sonry entirely. Only the intervention of people in very high places -- and Freemasonry has always had such pro- on both sides of the slavery debate, abolitionists and suptectors -- saved the Craft, as many Masons refer to their porters alike. Masonry had morphed from an operative society of actual stone workers to a philosophical movemovement. ment much like it is today, and it included merchants, Harrison's book deals with Great Britain and its colonies, lawyers and aristocrats on both sides of the slavery debate, especially in Liverpool and the textile manufacturincluding Canada, but he touches on the U.S. with dising towns of the Midlands that depended on cotton procussions of Freemasonry during the American Revoluduced in the Southern states of the U.S. tion, the slave trade period and the Civil War. After achieving independence from Great Britain, the U.S. continued trade with the former mother country and U.S. It would help for a reader of Harrison's latest book to Freemasonry continued its links with England and Scot- first read "The Genesis of Freemasonry," but it's not absolutely necessary: Harrison supplies enough material land. from his earlier book to make the transition to the new In the U.S., Freemasonry continued to be controversial, book easier, including discussions like the one on Page 16 detailing charity and education as integral parts of especially after the 1826 disappearance and presumed death of Capt. William Morgan, a Mason who threatened British Freemasonry, dating back to the foundation of the "Premier" or "Modern" Grand Lodge in London in to reveal secrets of the Craft. The backlash from the incident, especially by those who assumed his disappear- 1717. ance (his body was never found) was the work of a Ma(Continued on page 26) sonic conspiracy, slowed the growth of the Craft, at least 25
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Book Review (Continued from page 25)
Along with delving into Masonic links with the slave trade, especially in Liverpool and the Trans-Atlantic links with the USA, Harrison discusses the mysterious Liverpool Masonic Rebellion and the Wigan Grand Lodge, subjects that will probably appeal much more to Masons than those who aren't members. Harrison also looks at how Freemasonry transformed itself during the 19th century, and how the Craft began to appeal to Victorian Occultists.
still going strong in areas which have strong Jewish communities, such as Southern Liverpool, parts of Manchester and of course London. It could be a topic I cover for future editions..."
The issue of Catholicism and Freemasonry has always intrigued me, especially since the Roman Catholic Church has long been formally opposed to Freemasonry. This led to another e-mail exchange between this reviewer and Harrison: "In England during the 19th century there was still a stigma concerning Roman Catholics, and though Freemasonry officially was open to all religions, at local level there is evidence that certain From the first, as Harrison notes in "The Genesis of lodges were reluctant to be associated with Catholics, Freemasonry" and emphasizes in the present book, Free- especially with their leaders, hence the example of a masonry attracted writers, including American Mark lodge in Liverpool changing its name from De Grey and Twain and Brits including Rudyard Kipling, H. Rider Ripon after Earl De Grey and Ripon -- the Grand Master Haggard and the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur -- married a Catholic." Conan Doyle, who was attracted by the occult aspect of Harrison continued: "Though today, despite varithe Craft. I was surprised to read that Mark Twain ous Popes being against Freemasonry in the (Samuel L. Clemens) was a Mason, inducted into the 18th century, in many Catholic countries Freemasonry Polar Star Lodge No. 79, A.F. & A.M. in St. Louis, MO is flourishing, I'm on Facebook and have around 3,000 in 1861. Surprised because I've always considered Twain followers, many from Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Italy, to be resistant to higher powers and religion, and becom- so it seems that while Freemasonry is struggling in Enging a Mason requires a belief in a higher power. Twain land, it's booming in other countries." was technically a Presbyterian. Speaking of Facebook, "the social network," FreemaOne claim of Masonry that has always intrigued me was sonry was perhaps the original social network, bringing its declaration of equality, with class distinctions being members of diverse classes and professions together and left at the door of the lodge. This needs to be taken with inspiring the formation of groups like Odd Fellows and the proverbial grain of salt, especially in class-conscious Foresters, who often copied Masonic garb and rituals. I Britain. There may have been a modicum of equality was familiar with the Odd Fellows, but I had to look up among members, but Masonry from the first excluded Foresters, mentioned in "The Transformation of Freemablacks and, often, Jews, despite drawing upon Old Testa- sonry." It's a fraternal organization, based in Toronto, ment matter for most of its rites, including the story of with the official name of the Independent Order of ForHiram Abiff and the building of Solomon's Temple. esters (IOF). Harrison discusses the formation of Prince Hall Lodges for black Masons, an event precipitated by English Freemasonry. The first Masonic lodge that admitted blacks was founded in Boston by a black man named Prince Hall, with its charter granted by the English Grand Lodge "as American lodges did not permit black membership" (page 112). In a reply to my e-mail query, Harrison said that some Masonic lodges rejected Jews as members, which led to the formation of Jewish lodges: "There are indeed a number of Jewish lodges in the UK, these seemed to have flourished in the early-mid 20th century and are 26
If you're a Mason, "The Transformation of Freemasonry" is a must read book; if you're not and are interested in history and social movements, it's also a must. About the author David Harrison is a lecturer in history at the University of Liverpool, where he earned his doctorate. He is also a Mason.
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Submission
I Have Thoughts……. By Bro. Lance Ten Eyck There are many differences in lodges that I’ve no- Lodge‖ of our own, as well as gather all the inforticed during the past years and that is a good mation he had experienced at the event. Since then many lodges have asked me for the informathing. tion I’d gathered so, they may have like events. Those differences help bring many lodges, yes, some lodges in different states to come together for various events. I remember that a Brother was assuming the position of Master of our lodge and had expressed a wish to bring something back to the lodge that hadn’t been there in many years. This event is a ―Table Lodge.‖ So, while ―surfing the web,‖ I noticed that a lodge in a bordering state, was having such an event that sounded interesting. I informed the now Master of our lodge about the event and he said that he’d last attended such an event while he was in the Army in Germany. After that I got in touch with Olive Branch Lodge in Massachusetts and spoke to a Brother, whose name, I’m so sorry, I can’t call to mind but, was so very helpful. I asked if the Master of my lodge could be in touch about attending this event. This was the first step in the visiting out of state lodge’s events.
Our first ―Table Lodge‖ had a lot to get together in preparation: getting an OK from Grand Lodge for a dispensation, get a date for the event, scripts for all those officers participating, toasting Cannons, seating chart and menu. Well, it was a great success and planning went forward for the next one. We had guests from other lodges in our Temple, who wanted to plan their own. During the rest of the year I checked out other Lodges events around New England. One lodge that really stuck out as being quite imaginative in the art of ―Table Lodges‖ was Moosup Lodge # 113, of Moosup, Connecticut. This lodge is a very impressive lodge in so many ways, not only their themed ―Table Lodges but, holding “The Quarry Rite”
Upon his return from Olive Branch’s Table Lodge, he wanted to have one at our lodge. So, I returned to my computer for weeks of research on everything we needed to do to have a ―Table
“The Quarry Rite, held on or near either the Summer solstice or the Autumnal equinox, is a one-of-a-kind degree performed outdoors, by (Continued on page 28)
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Submission (Continued from page 27)
tia!‖ (This is all from their website)
torchlight, in an operative quarry. Under the stars, standard Connecticut ritual is augmented by soliloquies written specially for the event. Seating is unlimited, and reservations are not necessary. Dress is extremely casual -- this degree is in an operative quarry -- bring a lawn chair and appropriate outdoor gear.
Unfortunately, I understand this rite is no more due to the sale of the quarry. However, if I got the wrong information please correct me, I would welcome the correction. This event really puts such pageantry into your heart, even watching the event tends to span the centuries from the first ritual to today's.
Typically, if performed at the Autumnal equinox, Lodge opens at Moosup Lodge, and all official recognition and reception is performed there. If performed at the Summer solstice, Lodge is opened at the Quarry. Either way, before travelling to the Quarry a supper is held in the Lodge dining hall preceding the degree. Once fed, the candidates are taken to a remote quarry site and prepared. The craft follows about 10 minutes later, and lodge begins labor at the quarry. As the degree progresses, the only light shed is by 15 oil-burning torches placed about the quarry pit. Under the flickering light and the near-autumn skies, candidates are brought to light in an operative quarry.
This lodge is responsible for so much fine work that many other lodges have added/adopted their wonderful work to their Tresleboards. I am personally thankful for all their help in creating our own ―Table Lodge,‖ now to us celebrating our 6th event.
Lodge closes at the quarry and the craft is invited back to Moosup Lodge for refreshments. Begun in 1996 as an EA Degree, The Quarry Rite has now been performed as both an EA and an MM degree, and has been visited by brothers from the neighboring jurisdictions of Rhode Island, ―Upstate
We’ve been invited to attend their events and each year more Brothers from my lodge join in the drive to these events, as well as many Brothers from MA,RI, NY,NJ and many other lands. These Brothers know how to do it up right. This to me is the epitome of bring normally regional lodges to become inter-state lodges of sorts. Finally, if anyone out there knows of some interesting loge events let me know.
New York,‖ Massachusetts, as well as by brothers from as far away as the Philippines and Nova Sco28
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Masonic Groups
High Twelve International’s founder, former minister, E. C. "Wallie" Wolcott, who was the YMCA’s General Secretary at the time and eight of his business associates who were also Master Masons, met in Sioux City, IA, for fellowship and camaraderie and chartered the first High Twelve International club. It was Founders #1, chartered May 17, 1921. "High Twelve is an organization of Master Masons who support Masonic causes with special emphasis on youth support and patriotic events. There are approximately 9,000 members in over 250 clubs nationwide and in foreign countries. Although only Master Masons can join High Twelve, anyone is welcome at the meetings. A typical meeting is brief in its business, full of fellowship, and includes a program usually a speaker, on a limitless range of subjects. Some clubs have ladies at all of the meetings, while others have ladies on special occasions. High Twelve is an association dedicated to the unification of Master Masons, independent of the formal ritual of Lodge, but dedicated to service to the fraternity. Just a few or our accomplishments have been to develop long lasting friendships, encourage and support our public school systems and participate in constructive community activities and to preserve the principles of good government based on the rights of the individual. High Twelve, which is a social extension of the Masonic experience, is so named because long ago, noon was known as ―high twelve‖ and the time to call off from labor for refreshment. Accordingly, many High Twelve clubs – but not all – meet at noon. There is no ritual; but it strongly encourages its members to be active in their lodges and their communities. High Twelve International affords valuable assistance to the Blue Lodges in whatever manner it is most needed. High Twelve International is Masonry in Action in the community where each Club holds its meetings and in the State where the several clubs are banded together in common purpose. High Twelvians adhere strictly to Masonic Law of that jurisdiction. High Twelve International’s clubs combine fellowship with helping others in their quality of life pursuits, particularly young adults and youth. The club’s two philanthropic objectives are youth and education, strongly supporting the Order of DeMolay, Rainbow Girls, Job’s Daughters and the Wolcott Foundation that was established to provide scholarships for students at George Washington University who seek public service careers in government."
http://high12.org
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Masonic Biographies
Biography:
Carl H. Claudy For students of Masonic literature, one name sticks out over everyone else for longevity and the shear amount of work produced. Brother Carl H. Claudy is best known for his 350+ Short talk bulletins published by the Masonic Service Association between 1923-1957 and for the ―Introduction to Freemasonry‖ books that are handed out to newly raised brothers.
Intro ―There was a time, an age before television, video rentals, and pro sports, when Freemasons read. An age when sitting before a fire with a book of Masonic lore or history was regarded as an evening well spent. Emerging from that time is the name of an author unparalleled in his contributions to Masonic literature. Anyone who has read just a little of Carl H. Claudy's works cannot help but be charmed by the story told and the manner of expression. Foreign Countries, Old Tiler Talks, The Old Past Master, A Master's Wages, These Were Brethren, Where Your Treasure Is, The Lion's Paw, and Masonic Harvest, are but a few of his more well known Masonic works. Carl H. Claudy was born in 1879, and died in 1957. The preceding year he had been named Honorary Passed Grand Master of North Dakota. An author of 32 books and a galaxy of essays and short stories numbering more than 1,600, his literary life began inauspiciously enough. His formal education concluded after only a year of high school whereupon he found himself in the hardscrabble workaday world of the late 19th century. At age 19 he headed to the Alaskan gold fields. Finding no gold after six months, he returned to the States and took up employment with an emery wheel manufacturer. After several years he left that job to move back to Washington, DC, where he became the editor of a popular science paper. This was his springboard. Despite the lack of a formal education Claudy began to read and to write. In fact, the first story he ever wrote appeared in The Washington Post. He freelanced for The New York Herald, eventually joining its staff in 1908 with a special assignment covering the then infant aeronautical industry. During this time he wrote a number of articles on the subject and published a book titled, Beginners Book of Model Airplanes. But he was also a photographer. His photos of early flights were given to Alexander Graham Bell who placed in the Smithsonian where they remain today. At the end of World War I, Claudy went overseas as a correspondent for Scientific American. An avid athlete and outdoors man, his hobbies included camping, mountaineering, boxing, rowing crew, tennis, and football. His love of the outdoors brought him frequently to Montana and inspired (Continued on page 31)
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Masonic Biographies (Continued from page 30)
many short stories written for various Boy Scout publications.‖ From ―Carl H. Claudy, Father of the Short Talk‖ Claudy's association with Freemasonry began in 1908, when, at the age of 29, he was raised a Master Mason in Harmony 17 in Washington, DC. He served as its master and eventually served as grand master of Masons in the District of Columbia in 1943. His Masonic writing career began in earnest when he became associated with the Masonic Service Association in 1923, serving as associate editor of its magazine, The Master Mason until 1931. He became executive secretary of the Masonic Service Association in 1929 — a position held until his death in 1957. Under his single handed leadership the Masonic Service Association was brought to a place of preeminence through his authorship and distribution of the "Short Talk Bulletin" which made his name familiar to virtually every lodge in the country. Claudy can personally lay claim to authorship of approximately 350 Short Talk Bulletins. In addition to the bulletins themselves he wrote and distributed innumerable digests, special bulletins, and portfolios of historical and factual nature all designed to promote the Craft. One of his finest works of this nature is the "Little Masonic Library," a collection of 20 pocket size volumes by noted authors. In 1930 he published serially in The Master Mason his delightful novel, The Lion's Paw, shortly followed by several others, including the timeless Master's Book, in which are set out the principles and practices of a successful lodge master. Another classic written during this time, his primer for new Masons entitled Introduction to Freemasonry, enjoyed international popularity. In 1934 he penned the first of his series of 12 Masonic plays while in his Washington office. The succeeding plays were all drafted on the road, so to speak. Nine of them were written in a log cabin in Montana in the sight of Emigrant Peak — a blue lodge in the Gallatins as Claudy called it. The plays have, in the past, had a powerful impact on the fraternity and formerly were performed countless times in nearly every grand lodge jurisdiction. In consequence of his long service, Masonic recognition was mighty. He was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, recipient of the Henry Price medal and honorary member of many Grand Lodges and lodges. (MSA)
Books Authored By: Here is but a small sample of the work by Claudy. It would take me forever to compile a master list.
Introduction to Freemasonry 1. Entered Apprentice 2. Fellowcraft 3. Master Mason (Vol. I, II, & III) Blue Grotto Terror (Adventures in the Unknown ) Foreign Countries: A Gateway to the Interpretation & Development of Certain Symbols of Freemasonry
Do You Study Geometry? The Ideal Mason The Masonry You Make Ancient Landmarks
The Master's Wages
A Mason's Christmas
These Were Brethren: 24 Masonic Short Stories
Old Tiler Talks
"Where Your Treasure is..." 12 Masonic Plays
Essential Masonic Writings (Continued on page 32)
Lions Paw
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Masonic Biographies (Continued from page 31)
What You Probably Didn’t Know: Outside of Masonry, he also wrote science fiction adventure serials for American Boy magazine, some of which were also published as novels; and DC Comic's early super-hero title, All-American Comics. He served as editor for a number of special-interest publications: American Inventor from 1900-04; Prism, 1908-09; Cathedral Calendar, 1921-27. He wrote books about aviation, photography, and baseball. (http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Carl_H._Claudy)
Comics written by Claudy: All-American Comics Vol 1 16 All-American Comics Vol 1 18 All-American Comics Vol 1 1 All-American Comics Vol 1 25 All-American Comics Vol 1 2 All-American Comics Vol 1 3 All-American Comics Vol 1 4 All-American Comics Vol 1 23
Poetry I’ve read many of Claudy’s stories and as you know I used his ―Old Tyler Talks‖ every month in TWT. They are too good not to share with you. What I wasn’t very aware of was just how good his poetry was as well. This one in particular talks to me in ways that most poems do not.
Conclusion Claudy’s work has done so much for Freemasonry. His books are some of the first a new Mason reads, it’s only fitting this was a man who once wrote for DC Comics the home of Superman for he is that to the Craft a Super Man. I value each and every piece of literature he wrote and am grateful of his gifts to us. CS
The Book On The Altar At the Meuzzin's call for prayer The kneeling faithful thronged the square; Amid a monastery's weeds, An old Franciscan told his beads, While on Pushkara's lofty height A dark priest chanted Brahma's might, While to the synagogue there came A Jew, to praise Jehovah's Name. The One Great God looked down and smiled And counted each His loving child; For Turk and Brahmin, monk and Jew Had reached Him through the gods they knew. If we reach Him in Masonry, it makes little difference by what sacred name we arrive.
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The Working Tools News May 2011 Masonic News
“Bishop denies rites for Freemason” Refusal to allow Catholic burial 'in accordance with Canon Law'
D'Jay Lazaro, Manila
A Filipino Catholic bishop has denied funeral rites to a parishioner who was a Freemason. Bishop Florentino Cinense of the Diocese of Tarlac in the northern Philippines said that his refusal to allow Christian rites for Dr. Manuel Yu of the parish of Saint Jude was in accordance with Church law. Bishop Cinense said all churches in the diocese have been advised not to give Church rites to Yu, who was laid to rest today at Paniqui Memorial Park. A Mass was, however, held in the family’s residence hours before Yu was buried. It is not the first time the Philippine Catholic Church denied funeral rites to a Freemason. The late Governor Rafael Nantes of Quezon province, a known Freemason and ―born-again Christian,‖ was also denied Catholic funeral rites by Bishop Emilio Marquez of the Diocese of Lucena. Bishop Marquez, a known critic of Nantes, said the Church’s Code of Canon Law denies Catholic burial rites for the likes of Nantes ―unless some signs of repentance before death had been shown.‖ The bishop said the governor’s death in a helicopter crash in May last year was sudden and unexpected and there was no way for the Church to determine whether he had repented. ―We did not in any way forbid prayers for the eternal repose of his soul or to bless the mortal remains of the governor,‖ Bishop Marquez said. He said the Church did not prohibit the celebration of Mass for the late provincial executive ―as long as his (Nantes) body was not there.‖
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The Working Tools News Shriner News
“Moolah Shrine Circus Entertains Shriner’s Hospital Children” The circus came to the kids that could not go to the circus.
―The kids and staff look forward to it,‖ she said. ―It’s one of the big events that we have every year, and we love seeing the kids’ reaction to all the acts, seeing them laugh and enjoy themselves during a hospital stay that could be scary, and they get to let go of their fears.‖ For those children who have just come out of surgery and could not come down and see the circus, some of the clowns visit them in their rooms and get them to laugh a bit.
http://ladue-frontenac.patch.com/articles/moolah-shrinecircus-entertains-shriners-hospital-children#photo-5426699
A mini-version of the Moolah Shrine Circus came to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd., to entertain approximate 50 children who would otherwise be unable to see the show. The kids, some in wheelchairs, some with IV bags attached, some in beds, saw circus acts that they would otherwise be unable to see. Sisters contorted and twisted their way into a small box. A father unicycled around the floor while carrying his young son on his shoulders. In another act, a young girl springboarded off a platform onto a teeter-totter that catapulted her up, twisting and turning, into her father’s arms. Then there were the clowns. These characters kept the kids in stiches between acts by bantering with the ringmaster or just committing mayhem – all to the music of a real big top band. One clown called himself ―Shamrock,‖ but upon persisting inquiring, he confessed to being Ernie Boulicault who has been ―clowning‖ for eight years. ―When you walk in this hospital and the kids are sore, in pain and miserable, and you give them 40 minutes of your time, and they start laughing and giggling, that’s what it’s all about,‖ he said. Tammy Robbins, director for public and community relations for Shriner’s, said every year, when the Shriner’s have their circus, they bring a ―mini-circus‖ to the hospital for the patients who can’t get away and see it. 34
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The Working Tools News Scottish Rite News
“Northfield Masons' center helps children battle dyslexia� http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic/northfield -masons-center-helps-children-battle-dyslexia/article_53b300f03bea-11e0-8a05-001cc4c002e0.html By DIANE D'AMICO
NORTHFIELD - The best Valentine's Day gift Michael Maiuro, 9, of Northfield, gave his mother, Kim, was him reading her holiday card. "He is so severely dyslexic," Kim Maiuro said. "He couldn't read at all before." Michael was getting help in school, but his teacher recommended he apply for specialized one-on-one tutoring in what is called the Orton-Gillingham method, provided free twice a week through a program sponsored by the Scottish Right Northern Masons at the Northfield Community School.
such centers in the state, opened in 2003 offering free tutoring to students, and free training for teachers, in the Orton-Gillingham reading system. Dyslexia is a neurological disorder that makes it difficult to process sounds into letters and words. The Orton-Gillingham method stresses phonics and the linking of sounds to letters, using a multisensory program that includes "tapping" out sounds and a lot of repetition. The method is effective, but time-consuming, and all five centers have waiting lists, said Ken Larsen, Masonic coordinator for the program in New Jersey. Twenty-five students are being tutored this year at the Northfield center.
It took a year for Michael to get a spot, but his reading "We could use 20 centers," Larsen said. "But we have has improved dramatically. to raise the money." "For him to be in fourth grade and finally able to read He said it costs more than $600,000 a year to run the is just phenomenal," Maiuro said. five centers. One in Newark closed due to lack of support. The mother of a son with dyslexia recently apMichael is pretty thrilled as well, listing all the ways pealed to Gov. Chris Christie for help at a town-hall he uses his new reading skills. meeting, saying the Newark school system told her they could not help her son. "I can read tests by myself now," Michael said. "Before, someone would read to me. And I get 100s on spelling tests. And I can read road signs."
Other Masonic Learning Centers are in Burlington, Hasbrouck Heights, Scotch Plains and Tenafly.
"That's what he does now," his mom said. "He reads everything."
Fairleigh Dickinson University's Center for Dyslexia Studies has trained teachers in the Orton-Gillingham method for 20 years and has worked with the Masons for the past 12 years. About 475 teachers have re-
The Masons' Northfield Learning Center, one of five 35
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The Working Tools News ceived the training. FDU center Director Mary Farrell said awareness of the method is growing, but since it is still not integrated into regular teaching programs, most teachers know little about it. The center offers training in eight school districts: Jersey City, Wycoff, North Brunswick, Cranford, Irvington, Manalapan, Pompton Lakes and Mahwah.
quencing also can be effective with struggling readers. Some public schools have integrated those programs into their reading curriculum. Those interviewed supported a law passed last year to form a state Reading Disabilities Task Force to raise awareness of those programs and how they work.
Barbara McAuliffe, director of the Northfield learning They are disappointed the governor has not named center, said students with dyslexia may not get the people to the task force and that the state Department specialized help they need in school. of Education said it was unnecessary. "Most of the students we see are in a special education classroom," she said. "They get support, such as more time on tests or someone to read to them, but they are not actually taught to read."
"If it wasn't necessary, we wouldn't have waiting lists in all our centers," Larsen said. "The state and schools don't want to recognize dyslexia because then they would have to provide the specialized programs."
Farrell said if the state would focus on dyslexia as a targeted reading issue, it could reduce the number of children who need long-term special education services and reduce the number of children put into separate special education classes. An estimated 15 percent to 20 percent of the population has some level of reading disability.
William Ziemer, director of operations for the Masonic Learning Centers for Children, said schools often say they cannot afford the intensive one-on-one tutoring or the specialized teacher training. The Masons operate 53 centers in 13 states and estimate it costs about $5,000 per year per student. He said they are working on how to raise awareness and get more training into schools.
"If more teachers knew this method, we might not have to classify as many struggling readers (as having "There are fewer resources now, and school districts a disability)," Farrell said. "The classroom teachers have to be more selective in how they spend their would know how to help them." money," he said. "We are becoming more of a community resource, but we work solely on donations." McAuliffe said students must be evaluated to make Larsen said he would love to locate a center in Atlansure they get the program best suited to their reading tic City but has not gotten enough local support. The disability. Reading programs such as Wilson are based Masons run golf tournaments, dinners and walkathons on the Orton-Gillingham method, and other programs to raise money but also try to get support from local such as Project Read and Lindamood Phoneme Sebusinesses and school districts. In Northfield, the
http://www.thegardeningguru.com/ The horticultural help you have been looking for is here just for the asking. I am the Gardening Guru速, here to answer your most perplexing gardening questions, and to teach you how fun and enjoyable gardening can be! Brother David Daehnke 36
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The Working Tools News (Continued from page 36)
can help others.
school district donates the use of the Community School twice a week for the tutoring sessions. Superintendent Janice Fipp said the district gets far more in return through access to the tutoring for their students and training for the teachers.
"I could see a difference within the first couple of months," she said. "It was like learning to read all over again. We just kept going over the sounds and letters, over and over until I understood."
"We feel lucky to have them here," Fipp said. "What they have done for children is just marvelous." Orton Gillingham teacher training takes two years and costs about $8,000. Teachers who sign up to train at a Masonic Learning Center get scholarships to cover the costs and work as supervised tutors with students while they are training. The centers are recruiting teachers for next year.
Parents of children in the program call their children's progress phenomenal. "I can see her becoming more fluid already," Agnes Arsenis, of Northfield, said of her 8-year-old daughter, Stacy, a third-grader. Stacey Milam travels from Vineland to Northfield twice a week but said it is worth it to see the progress her 9-year-old son, Franklin, a third-grader, has made. She said he was not improving in school with a private tutor. Now, he is almost reading at his grade level.
Carolyn Williams teaches business at Egg Harbor Township High School and got interested in the training because she had a student who could not read. She "I wish we had one of these centers everywhere," she said she has changed the way she teaches so she can said. "He loves to come because he can see he's getreach all students. ting better. I really was worried before about how he was going to function as he got older." "There was a sophomore, and I didn't know how to help him," she said. "It really bothered me. He's here now (at the center). The one-on-one tutoring makes a big difference." McAuliffe said she especially tries to recruit high school students because most people have given up on them. Jaclyn Gray, of the Erma section of Lower Township, struggled with reading all her life but did not start getting tutored at the Northfield Learning Center until high school, when her mother learned about the center. When she started, she said, she was at a fourthgrade spelling level. By the time she graduated high school, she was reading at a high school level.
For more info on the Children’s Dyslexia Center please visit: http://www.childrensdyslexiacen ters.org/home.html
She now attends Neumann University in Pennsylvania, majoring in political science and education. She uses books on tape to supplement her reading skills and plans to get the Orton-Gillingham training so she 37
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The Working Tools News Masonic News
Walter Breuning, believed to be world’s oldest man, 114
■ Work as long as you can (―That money‘s going to come in handy.‘‘) ■ Help others (―The more you do for others, the better shape you‘re in.‘‘)
Then there was the hardest part, a lesson Mr. Breunhttp://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/201 ing learned from his grandfather: Accept death. 1/04/16/walter_breuning_believed_to_be_worlds_oldest_ ―We‘re going to die,‘‘ he said. ―Some people are man_114/?page=full scared of dying. Never be afraid to die, because you‘re born to die.‘‘ GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Walter Mr. Breuning died of natural causes in a Great Falls Breuning‘s earli- hospital where he was a patient for much of April with an undisclosed illness. He had been living in a est memories retirement home. stretched back 111 years, before He was the oldest man in the world and the secondhome entertainment came with a oldest person, according to Gerontology Research twist of the radio Group, based in Los Angeles. Besse Cooper of Monroe, Ga., born 26 days earlier, is the world‘s dial. They were oldest person. of his grandfather‘s stories of killing Southern- In an interview last October, Mr. Breuning recounted the past century — and what its revelations ers in the Civil and advances meant to him — with the wit and plain War. -spokenness that defined him. His life story is, in a way, a slice of the story of the country itself over Mr. Breuning was 3 and horrified: ―I thought that more than a century. was a hell of a thing to say.‘‘ But the stories stuck, becoming the first building blocks into what would develop into a deceptively simple philosophy that Mr. Breuning, the world‘s oldest man at 114 before he died Thursday, credited to his longevity.
At the beginning of the new century — that‘s the 20th century — Mr. Breuning moved with his family from Melrose, Minn., to De Smet, S.D., where his father had taken a job as an engineer.
That first decade of the 1900s was literally a dark age for his family. They had no electricity or runHere is the world‘s oldest man‘s secret to a long ning water. A bath for young Walter would require life: his mother to fetch water from the well outside and ■ Embrace change, even when the change slaps you heat it on the coal-burning stove. When they wanted to get around, they had three options: train, horse in the face. (―Every change is good.‘‘) and foot. ■ Eat two meals a day (―That‘s all you need.‘‘) 38
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The Working Tools News had some seniority, so rather than losing his job, he was transferred to Butte.
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His parents split up, and Mr. Breuning moved back to Minnesota in 1912. The following year, as Henry Ford was creating his first assembly line, the teenager got a low-level job with the Great Northern Railway in Melrose.
It was there he met his future wife, Agnes.
In 1918, his boss was promoted to a position in Great Falls, and he asked Mr. Breuning to come along.
Mr. Breuning was optimistic. He and his wife bought property for $15 and planned to build a house.
There was not a lot keeping Mr. Breuning in Minnesota. His mother had died the year before at age 46, and his father died in 1915 at age 50. The Montana job came with a nice raise, $90 a month for working seven days a week, ―a lot of money at that time,‘‘ he said. World War I was still raging in Europe, and Mr. Breuning, who had just turned 20, signed up for military service, but was not called up. ―So I never got into the war,‘‘ Mr. Breuning said. ―The war ended too quick for me.‘‘
Then it all went off the tracks. The Great Depression struck.
Mr. Breuning remembered driving around town and spooking the horses that still crowded the dirt streets. ―We had more damn runaways back in those days,‘‘
By that time, Mr. Breuning was in his 40s and too old to be drafted, so he kept working on the railroad. For Walter Breuning, the 1950s were marked by the death of his wife. Agnes died in 1957 after 35 years of marriage.
Their friendship turned into a two-year courtship, and then they got married and returned to Great Falls. Great Falls gave Montana its first licensed radio station in 1922. The following year, Jack That was the beginning of a 50-year career on the Dempsey and Tommy Gibbons fought for the world railroad. He was a clerk for most of that time, work- heavyweight championship east of Great Falls in ing seven days a week. Shelby.
―Everybody got laid off in the ‘30s,‘‘ Mr. Breuning said of his neighbors. ―Nobody had any money at all. In 1933, they built the civic center over here. Sixty-five cents an hour, you know. That was the wage — big wage.‘‘
His seniority paid off again; he held onto his job. But he and his wife never built their house. They sold the lot for $25, making a tidy $10 profit. He The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote was a renter for the rest of his life. in 1919, and the nation was riding a postwar wave into the Roaring Twenties. World War II lifted the nation out of its economic slump. Industry went into overdrive to support the Walter Breuning bought his first car that year. It was war. With the men headed overseas to fight, the a secondhand Ford and cost just $150. women took their places in factories.
Mr. Breuning said. ―Horses are just scared of cars.‘‘ Mr. Breuning never remarried. The railroad started laying off people. Mr. Breuning 39
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The Working Tools News Mosaic #125 AF&AM @ Dubuque, Iowa
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―Thought about it, that‘s about it.‘‘ Brother Walter had been a Master Mason for 85 Years, 333 Days. He was also a proud member of He did what he always did. He kept working. the Scottish Rite and Shrine. Brother Walter received his degrees in Great Falls Lodge No. 118, ―Don‘t retire until you‘re darn sure that you can‘t Great Falls, Montana. He was Initiated on March work anymore,‘‘ he said. ―Keep on working as long 7, 1925, Passed on April 4, 1925 and raised to the as you can work, and you‘ll find that it‘s good for sublime degree of a Master Mason on May 16, you.‘‘ 1925. He affiliated with Cascade Lodge No. 34, The same year the Beatles released their first album, Great Falls, Montana on January 1, 1992. He had served as Secretary of Great Falls Lodge NO. 118 Mr. Breuning decided it was time for him to retire from the railroad at age 67. It was 1963, and he had from January 1, 1946 through December 31, 1968. W. Brother Breuning received the Meritorious Serput in 50 years as a railroad worker. vice Medal on June 24, 1993.
But he stuck by his philosophy and kept working. He became the manager and secretary for the local chapter of the Shriners, a position he held until he was 99. But he remained a fiercely loyal railroad man, so loyal that he only took an airplane once in his life, to attend the funeral of a relative in Minneapolis
See next page for Video on Bro Walter’s life.
This was sent to me via email– I’m adding it as extra info regarding Brother Breuning Masonic career. Below is from the Grand Lodge of Montana. Not only was Bro. Breuning, a Minnesota native , the oldest man in the world (and 2nd oldest person, a woman in Georgia just a few days older), he was undoubtedly the longest tenured Mason being just shy of 86 years of membership. For my Masonic railroad friends, he was also the oldest former railroader having started in Minnesota with the Great Northern in 1916!! (with 50 years in before retiring; he transferred to MT in 1918). Gerald Edgar, 40
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Masonic Video’s
This month’s feature film is titled “Bro. Walter Bruening”
Run time– 5:10 minutes
Click Here
Click on the “Movie Screen” to start the video Video also will be posted on our Facebook fan page 41
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Cover – ―Masonophobia ‖
I scour everyday articles, views, you mation to include The Working Tools. that no matter what search engine someAnti-Mason point of view. have such a profound, sinfear of an organization built ter” and donating not only their money to communities around the
the web looking for news, intername it for inforin every issue of It strikes me funny keyword I use in the thing is found from an What drives these people to cere and in their minds a real around “Making Good Men Betfree time but their hard earned world?
I won’t pretend that this Anti-Masonic or “Masonophobia” as it’s becoming known is not a real phenomena. I am grateful that in my day to day life I’ve only run across it a couple of times and it all cases it was non threaten- ing (actually one time I did get really scared for my safety). For many years I frequented a message board that was dedicated to conspiracies of all kinds. I can tell you that thousands of people flock to these sites all the time to tell their “stories”. When one forum member left two more took his place and there doesn’t seem to be an end. In many cases I felt the majority of forum visitors who came to the “New World Order/Cults and Secret Society” section in which I hung around were there to lurk and see what others were saying, some had a legitimate interest, some were there because a family member was a Mason and wanted to know more about it. However, there was a very loyal and vocal population in these groups who “Trolled” around and made it their mission to teach the world about the “Truth”. They were diehard members who without a doubt in their mind felt that Masonry was evil and had “proof” of it. The problem is, these folks had an agenda and the burden of proof was always on our hands to prove it otherwise. For the average reader of the message boards, its much more fun to hear a story of corruption or deceit than it is to hear the rebuttal of a 60 year old man wearing an apron. For the person who came there to causally view the board for simple information is now walking away with the negativity because everyone knows what you read on the web must be true!
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This is not something we haven’t heard before. It’s not new nor is it about to go away anytime soon. To be fair, it wasn’t until only a couple of years ago did we actually speak up for ourselves and try to protect our image. The old philosophy was to ignore them and maybe they would go away. Some of the fault lies with ourselves but a lot of it was out of our control.
Anti-Masonic behavior has been around for a very long time. Most likely stemming from a complete silence and underground mentality the Craft has held since its inception. This stance is our prerogative, by the way, and our right to hold. Before we dig into Brother Coopers Book “The Red Triangle” I want to revisit some of the most well known periods of Anti-Masonic history and give you a refresher course on the background.
Leaflet Dated 1698 “TO ALL GODLY PEOPLE, In the Citie of London. Having thought it needful to warn you of the Mischiefs and Evils practiced in the Sight of God by those called Freed Masons, I say take Care lest their Ceremonies and secret Swearings take hold of you; and be wary that none cause you to err from Godliness. For this devllish Sect of Men are Meeters in secret which swear agains all without ther Following. They are the Anti Christ which was to come leading Men from Fear of God. For how should Men meet in secret Places and with secret Signs taking Care that none observed them to do the Work of GOD; are not these the Ways of Evil-doers? Knowing how that God observeth privilly them that sit in Darkness they shall be smitten and the Secrets of their Hearts layed bare. Mingle not among this corrupt People lest you be found so at the World's Conflagration” [1]
Léo Taxil
(March 21, 1854–March 31, 1907)
A French writer and journalist who became known for his strong anti-Catholic and anti-clerical views. Taxil first became known for writing anti-Catholic books, notably La Bible amusante (The Amusing Bible) and La Vie de Jesus (The Amusing Gospel) in which Taxil satirically pointed out what he considered to be inconsistencies, errors, and false beliefs presented in these religious works. In his other books Les Debauches d'un confesseur (with Karl Milo), Les Pornographes sacrés: la confession et les confesseurs, and Les Maîtresses du Pape, Taxil portrays leaders of the Catholic Church as hedonistic creatures exploring their fetishes in the manner of the Marquis de Sade. In 1879 he was tried at the Seine Assizes for writing a pamphlet A Bas la Calotte ("Down with the Cloth"), which was accused of insulting a religion recognized by the state, but he was acquitted. In 1885 he professed conversion to Catholicism, was solemnly received into the church, and renounced his earlier works. In the 1890s he wrote a series of pamphlets and books denouncing Freemasonry, charging their lodges with worshiping the devil and alleging that Diana Vaughan had written for him her confessions of the Satanic "Palladism" cult. That book had great sales among Catholics, although Diana Vaughan never appeared in (Continued on page 44)
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public. In 1892 Taxil also began to publish a paper La France chrétienne anti-maçonnique. In 1887 he had an audience with Pope Leo XIII, who rebuked the bishop of Charleston for denouncing the anti-Masonic confessions as a fraud and in 1896 sent his blessing to an anti-Masonic Congress in Trent. Doubts about Vaughan's veracity and even her existence began to grow, and finally Taxil promised to produce her at a lecture to be delivered by him on April 19, 1897. To the amazement of the audience (which included a number of priests), he announced that Diana was one of a series of hoaxes. He had begun, he said, by persuading the commandant of Marseille that the harbour was infested with sharks, and a ship was sent to destroy them. Next he invented an underwater city in Lake Geneva, drawing tourists and archaeologists to the spot. He thanked the bishops and Catholic newspapers for facilitating his crowning hoax, namely his conversion, which had exposed the anti-Masonic fanaticism of many Catholics. Diana Vaughan was revealed to be a simple typist in his employ, who laughingly allowed her name to be used by him. The audience received these revelations with indignation and contempt, and Taxil was mobbed on leaving the hall so that policemen had to escort him to a neighboring café. He then moved away from Paris. He died in Sceaux in 1907. (2)
Papal Ban of Freemasonry The Vatican has long been an outspoken critic of Freemasonry, and has prohibited Catholics from joining the fraternity since 1738. Over subsequent years the Vatican has issued several papal bulls forbidding Catholics from becoming Freemasons under threat of excommunication. Today, the Church's stance is that "The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion." In 1736, the Inquisition investigated a Masonic Lodge in Florence, Italy, which it condemned in June 1737. The Lodge had originally been founded in 1733 by the English Freemason Charles Sackville,[but accepted Italian members, such as the lodge's secretary Tommaso Crudeli. This investigation led, in 1738, to Pope Clement XII, himself Florentine, issuing Eminenti Apostolatus Specula, the first papal prohibition on Freemasonry. The reasons for the prohibition were stated as: “Now it has come to Our ears, and common gossip has made clear, that certain Societies, Companies, Assemblies, Meetings, Congregations or Conventicles called in the popular tongue Liberi Muratori or Francs Massons or by other names according to the various languages, are spreading far and wide and daily growing in strength; and men of any Religion or sect, satisfied with the appearance of natural probity, are joined together, according to their laws and the statutes laid down for them, by a strict and unbreakable bond which obliges them, both by an oath upon the Holy Bible and by a host of grievous punishment, to an inviolable silence about all that they do in secret together. But it is in the nature of crime to betray itself and to show itself by its attendant clamor. Thus these aforesaid Societies or Conventicles have caused in the minds of the faithful the greatest suspicion, and all prudent and upright men have passed the same judgment on them as being depraved and perverted. For if they were not doing evil they would not have so great a hatred of the light. Indeed, this rumor has grown to such proportions that in several countries these societies have been forbidden by the civil authorities as being against the public security, and for some time past have appeared to be prudently eliminated “ (3)
Anti-Masonic Political Party The Anti-Masonic Party (also known as the Anti-Masonic Movement) was the first "third party" in the United States. It strongly opposed Freemasonry and was founded as a single-issue party aspiring to become a major (Continued on page 45)
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party. It was formed in Upstate NY in 1828. It’s first candidate for office was William Wirt, who ironically was a Freemason!!!. Some people feared the Freemasons, believing they were a powerful secret society that was trying to rule the country in defiance of republican principles. These opponents came together to form a political party after the Morgan affair convinced them the Masons were murdering their opponents. This key episode was the mysterious disappearance, in 1826, of William Morgan (1774-1826?), a Freemason of Batavia, New York, who had become dissatisfied with his lodge and intended to publish a book detailing the secrets of the freemasons. When his intentions became known to the lodge, an attempt was made to burn down the publishing house. Finally in September 1826 Morgan was arrested on charges of petty larceny. Someone paid his debt and upon his release he was seized by parties and taken to Fort Niagara, after which he disappeared.
William Wirt
The event created great excitement and led many to believe that not just the local lodge but all Freemasonry was in conflict with good citizenship. Because judges, businessmen, bankers, and politicians were often Masons, ordinary citizens began to think of it as an elitist group. Moreover, many claimed that the lodges' secret oaths bound the brethren to favor each other against outsiders, in the courts as well as elsewhere. Because the trial of the Morgan conspirators was mishandled, and the Masons resisted further inquiries, many New Yorkers concluded that Masons "controlled key offices and used their official authority to promote the goals of the fraternity. When a member sought to reveal its 'secrets', so ran the conclusion, they had done away with him, and because they controlled the officials, were capable of obstructing the investigation. If good government was to be restored all Masons must be purged from public office".[3] They considered the Masons to be an exclusive organization taking unfair advantage of common folk and violating the essential principles of democracy. True Americans, they said, had to organize and defeat this conspiracy. (4)
British Political Anti-Masonry (1990-Current) Since 1997, several members of the British Government have attempted to pass laws requiring Freemasons who join the police or judiciary to declare their membership publicly to the government amid accusations of Freemasons performing acts of mutual advancement and favor-swapping. This movement was initially led by Jack Straw, Home Secretary from 1997 until 2001. In 1999, the Welsh Assembly became the only body in the United Kingdom to place a legal requirement on membership declaration for Freemasons. Currently, existing members of the police and judiciary in England are asked to voluntarily admit to being Freemasons. However, all first time successful judiciary candidates "must declare their freemasonry status" before appointment. Conversely, new members of the police are not required to declare their status. In 2004, Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly, said that he blocked Gerard Elias' appointment to counsel general because of links to hunting and freemasonry, although it was claimed by non-Labour politicians that the real reason was in order to have a Labour supporter, Malcolm Bishop, in the role. (5)
Adolph Hitler/Nazi Germany The Nazis claimed that high degree Masons were willing members of "the Jewish conspiracy" and that Freemasonry was one of the causes of Germany's loss of the First World War. In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote that Freemasonry has "succumbed" to the Jews and has become an "excellent instrument" to fight for their (Continued on page 46)
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aims and to use their "strings" to pull the upper strata of society into their alleged designs. He continued, "The general pacifistic paralysis of the national instinct of self-preservation begun by Freemasonry" is then transmitted to the masses of society by the pressIn 1933 Hermann Göring, the Reichstag President and one of the key figures in the process of Gleichschaltung ("synchronization"), stated "...in National Socialist Germany, there is no place for Freemasonry." The Enabling Act (Ermächtigungsgesetz in German) was passed by Germany's parliament (the Reichstag) on March 23, 1933. Using the "Act", on January 8, 1934 the German Ministry of the Interior ordered the disbandment of Freemasonry, and confiscation of the property of all Lodges; stating that those who had been members of Lodges when Hitler came to power, in January 1933, were prohibited from holding office in the Nazi party or its paramilitary arms, and were ineligible for appointment in public service. Consistently considered an ideological foe of Nazism in their world perception (Weltauffassung), special sections of the Security Service (SD) and later the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA) were established to deal with the Freemasonry. Freemasonic concentration camp inmates were graded as “Political” prisoners, and wore an inverted (point down) red triangle. In March 1935 According to Joseph Goebbels, the Soviet Union's recent inclusion in the League of Nations was engineered by 300 "members of the Jewish race and conspirators of Freemasonry." On August 8, 1935, as Führer and Chancellor, Adolf Hitler announced in the Nazi Party newspaper, Voelkischer Beobachter, the final dissolution of all Masonic Lodges in Germany. The article accused a conspiracy of the Fraternity and “World Jewry” of seeking to create a “World Republic”. In 1937 Joseph Goebbels inaugurated an "Anti-Masonic Exposition" to display objects seized by the state. The Ministry of Defense forbid officers from becoming Freemasons, with officers who remained as Masons being sidelined. During the war, Freemasonry was banned by edict in all countries that were either allied with the Nazis or under Nazi control, including Norway and France. Anti-Masonic exhibitions were held in many occupied countries. Field-Marshal Friedrich Paulus was denounced as a "High-grade Freemason" when he surrendered to the Soviet Union in 1943. The preserved records of the RSHA - Reichssicherheitshauptamt Office of the High Command of Security Service pursuing the racial objectives of the SS through Race and Resettlement Office, show the persecution of the Freemasons. The number of Freemasons from Nazi occupied countries who were killed is not accurately known, but it is estimated that between 80,000 and 200,000 Freemasons were murdered under the Nazi regime. (6)
First off, an introduction of who Robert Cooper is. In 1994 he was appointed as the curator of The Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library. The Author of several books including: “The Rosslyn Hoax”, Cracking the Freemason’s Code“ and “The Masonic Magician: The Life and Death of Count Cagliostro and His Egyptian Rite”. His website has all the information at http://www.robertldcooper.com and blog that is updated on a fairly regular basis at: www.robertldcooper.com/?page_id=52 (Continued on page 47)
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It was such a great privilege and honor to get a call from Scotland and speak with Robert one on one to discuss what makes these Masonophobic people tick. We talked in depth about the causes, how to address them, and what needs to be done about it. We talked about his new book and what he hopes to teach us through it. The following is taken from the Product Description on Amazon.com “For at least two hundred years, Freemasonry has been subjected to witch-hunts. Conspiracy theories abound in which Freemasons manipulate whole governments, incite revolution, control the world banking system, and will engage in any activity, even murder, to advance their aims. Even today, Freemasonry is still seen a legitimate group to attack on the grounds of politics, religion and conspiracy theories. The Red Triangle uncovers the reality of this persecution of Freemasons from its first manifestation soon after people became aware of their existence in the seventeenth century. Attacks and persecution took place in many countries as Freemasonry spread around the world—there was even an anti-Masonic political party in nineteenth-century America that stood against Masonic politicians. In complete contrast, Freemasonry and the American Civil War provides a fascinating inside view of the ethos of Freemasons in extreme, lifethreatening, situations when Freemasons offered assistance to their fellow Freemasons on opposite sides during the war. “ If you have read any other of Brother Cooper’s books you know he is a very well educated and scholarly Mason. You can rest assure that much research has gone into this and all of his work.
During our conversation I learned so much that I didn’t know before about certain events that have triggered Anti-Masonic situations and why they came about. I asked Robert if he would be willing to answer some questions that would help all of us understand this a lot better.
What made you decide to use Anti-Masonry as the topic for your new book? When I began researching for an earlier book The Masonic Magician I discovered that Freemasons had been sent to the gas chambers of Nazi Germany simply because they were Freemasons. I was very surprised to learn of this unknown part of our history and even stranger is the fact that in all the material relating to the Holocaust this is rarely mentioned. I wondered why that was and that led to the book The Red Triangle.
Have you run into any discrimination personally, if so, how did you deal with it Yes, unfortunately I have. A few years ago I was being interviewed by the BBC about the Scots who helped build the White House (Washington DC) when the presenter asked ‗but we are not talking about Freemasonry here are we?‘ and when I said yes I was cut off in mid sentence! The studio said that there must have been a technical problem. I have never be invited back by the BBC. On another occasion I was in a cab with another Freemason and we discussing Masonic matters. The cab driver obviously was listening in and when I got out he called me a F****** Parasite. (Continued on page 48)
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On the first occasion I could not do much. On the second occasion the cab driver declined to get out of his cab. There have been several other incidents but these two stick in my mind.
What is the root cause of the fear these people have? Masonophobic people are essentially conspiracy theorists. Like those who believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone and that the CIA/Mafia/Castro/KGB etc. were involved with the assassination of JFK some have decided that Freemasons are responsible for X, Y and Z. Pick a disaster, revolution, terrorist attack, assassination and then explain the real cause was the Freemasons. Many people find comfort in explaining the unexplainable (unexplainable because there is no way to get the facts - Oswald is dead etc.) by finding a reason why something happened. On a personal level too people like to divert blame. We live in a society where people are constantly told that nothing is their fault. Had an accident? you can sue those responsible on a no win no fee basis. The fact that you were blind drunk at the time does not matter. Spilt a cup of coffee from McDonald‘s in your lap? Not a problem. Sue McDonalds. Did not get the promotion you were expecting? And the promotion went to a co-worker? Well it must be because he is a Freemason. The fact that he is not a Freemason and has better qualifications than you is irrelevant. So a comfort zone is created by some people to help them cope with the disappointments of life. Freemasonry is a convenient and handy patsy for all possible ills of the world. There have been quite a few academic studies on the psychology of conspiracy theories. It seems that belief in them stems from the human need to understand the world in which we live. When there is no obvious explanation (or the true explanation is weak or unsatisfactory) people create an explanation to fit the facts. We are back to the likes of the JFK conspiracy again – Oswald going it all by him self is just not good enough. However, there are other events that are more closely allied to our problem. Examples include the witch hunts of the 16th – 17th centuries, the Nazi persecution 1933 – 1945 and the Dunblane Massacre of 1996. These ‗waves‘ of conspiracy theories psychologists call moral panics or mass hysteria.
Masons have dealt with this throughout history. Some periods were worse than others like (Continued on page 49)
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Cover – ―Masonophobia‖ (Continued from page 48)
the Anti-Masonic party of 1828, Perceived involvement with Jack the Ripper in 1888, Hitler’s persecution in 1933, even today the Masons were thought to have involvement with 9/11. What do you think was the most harmful time period for us? The Red Triangle explains that Masonophobia has been around almost as long as Freemasonry. Freemasons have therefore lived with this perception of the Craft for centuries yet it has survived. This shows two things. 1) Freemasonry has never been proved to have been responsible for the events it is claimed they caused otherwise the government(s) would have banned it as soon as proof was forthcoming and 2) when a group attains power (e.g. Nazis) and they believe their own propaganda then proof is not needed and can lead to the ultimate persecution of Freemasons – death.
Anti-Masonic comments comes in several flavors the most popular being falsely accusing of being a religion and/or satanic, wanting to rule the world, there are more than 33 degrees but we don’t know about it because we aren’t that high up and we are possibly reptiles. Could you expand on these (the Reptiles one I know is true so you don’t need to answer that)? I think that it is important to understand that the people who attack us are never going to be convinced by rational arguments. They have already decided that we are to blame and anything we say is twisted to suit their prejudices. The 33 degree argument is a classic example. Only 33 degree Masons know the real truth and all other Masons are their dupes. This neatly avoids having to discuss anything with anyone who is not a 33 degree Mason. However, the argument reveals it own contradictions – for example if a Master Mason or a 32 degree Mason does not know the truth (about the 33 degree Masons) then how can a non-Mason?!!!! If all the Masonophobes out there ‗know‘ that we are to blame for all the ills of the world then I wonder if there is any point in try to have dialogue with them? Are we in fact simply supplying them with more ammunition to fire at us? Perhaps our forebears knew that it was pointless in trying to have a dialogue with the deaf and was simply a waste of time – time we could better use in dealing with other problems.
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Cover – ―Masonophobia‖ (Continued from page 49)
What/who is the target audience for your book. People who are Masonophobic or Mason’s who want to learn why it exists? The Red Triangle is intended primary for Freemasons as I don‘t think that an anti-Mason would read a book proving that they are wrong about the Craft. History can teach us important lessons. In the case of Masonophobia it is that attacks on the Craft are never likely to stop but we can learn how previous generations dealt with the same problem. Hopefully that could allow us to put in place a ‗response system‘ to deal with future attacks.
What was the most shocking thing you learned while researching for “The Red Triangle” It has to be that ordinary human beings who happened to be Freemasons were put to death simply because they were Freemasons. Although many died because of Nazi ideology other countries also persecuted Freemasons such as Spain, Vichy France, Russia, Italy even benign and democratic Switzerland!
What’s the number one point you want us to take away from your book. We should stop being so defensive. It is time we reclaimed the moral high ground and stop trying to explain that we are not important, not powerful, not a threat – that is all so negative. Be proud to be a Freemason and make sure that everyone knows it. When talking to those who attack us I now simply say something like ‗I have something special and unique that can never be taken away from me and it is something that you will never understand. I am happy and proud to be a Freemason and that is all that matters‘.
Bigotry and hatred are not going away anytime soon, throw into the fire some secrecy and non responses and there’s no end in sight. As they say “History repeats itself”. Maybe just understanding why people think this way can help Mason’s react differently and end this cycle.
Footnotes [1] (Morris, S. Brent; The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry, Alpha books, 2006, p,203). [2,3,4,5,6 Wikipedia]
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Masonic Tattoo’s
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Masonic Tattoo’s
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Masonic Tattoo’s
Can you guess what I’m thinking of doing this summer? 53
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Final Words
I hope you enjoy reading ― The Working Tools‖ and find enlightenment in each and every new issue. Please spread the word about us to all your Lodge brothers and let them know how to find TWT on the web.
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Keep on Traveling
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