May 2020
Arizona Masonry Gregory A. Vasquez Most Worshipful Grand Master
Bryon P. Howe Worshipful Grand Editor
Arizona Masonry is an official publication of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons or Arizona. Unless otherwise noted, articles in this publication express only the private opinion or assertions of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Grand Lodge. The jurisdiction speaks only through the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge Trustees when attested to as official in writing by the Grand Secretary. The Editorial staff invites the contributions in the form of informative articles, reports, news and other timely information (Of about 350 to 800 words in length) that is broadly related to general Masonry. When possible, photographs or graphics that support the submission are appreciated. Pieces submitted become the property of the Grand Lodge, F. & A.M. of Arizona. No compensation is permitted for any article, photograph, or other submitted for publication.
MWGM Gregory A. Vasquez
RWDGM Boyd Robertson
RWSGW Randy Jager
RWJGW Jim Baker
WSGD George Rusk
Permission to reprint articles is automatically granted to recognized Masonic publication with proper credit given. Please direct all articles and correspondence to:
WJGD Michael Dale
Bryon P. Howe 14247 North 25th Avenue Phoenix Arizona 85023 bryon.howe@gmail.com Bro. Chris Douglas For submissions for the next issue of Arizona Masonry or The Copper Post please contact bryon.howe@gmail.com
Front Cover Image Courtesy of: The George Roskruge & S. Barry Casey Memorial Library and Museum
The Grand Lodge of Arizona F&AM Library and Museum
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Thinking about masonry in the operative sense and considering that the apprentice ranks were the men hopeful for work. Once hired they were the men toiling in the quarries, doing the heavy work and only performed work under the watchful eye of the master workmen. One can imagine that there were apprentices who could only dig, rough cut stone, perhaps begin the finishing steps preparing a stone for the final steps which would make it true and so on. Then there were the apprentices who could true a stone, try the perpendiculars and corners, and decide when the stone was ready for the master workman’s inspection and approval. The natural progression would be for the master workmen look at each apprentice and decided what education was needed for the apprentice’s development. When the apprentice was deemed ready, he would be tried by master workmen and if he was found capable, he would be promoted to Master of the Work.
As you think about the Operative process just described, you can see how that is what we do today speculatively. A man comes to the door and knocks. The man is taken in and provided enough information to get him started on his Masonic journey. Then if he is judged ready to progress, he is initiated into the Entered Apprentice ranks and given work and education to help him prove and improve himself. The Entered Apprentice is assigned a mentor who will teach him and judge his work and progress. When deemed ready the Entered Apprentice is tried and judged ready to progress by the master workmen, the Master Masons of the lodge. The process is repeated at each level until the man is judged to be a Master Mason himself. However, this is not the end of the process. This year I focused our efforts on getting back to the basics. Some of us have more experience than others as Master Masons and as such we need to be a mentor to those less experienced. A long time ago I heard and old teacher say that you never really learn and understand a subject until the day you become a teacher of that subject. I would argue that the same applies to a Master Mason and Freemasonry. As this Masonic year comes to a close, I would admonish us all to look to our basic teachings, to become better Masons and mentors, and to improve ourselves in Masonry. After all, isn’t that what we came here to do? Fraternally,
Greg Vasquez Grand Master 2019-2020 ARIZONA MASONRY—A GRAND LODGE OF ARIZONA F&AM PUBLICATION MAY 2020
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This submittal is actually from the presentation that I gave at the Western States Conference in February. With the state of the world right now I think we can actually add to this and work together to figure out ways that we can help our friends, neighbors and our communities in general, not just our wonderful Fraternity. I am open to any ideas for moving forward and what I am seeing some of the brothers doing is absolutely wonderful. Keep working!
of our Lodges and helping them to become better men. I was tasked with doing a study of the age of my Lodge back in 2013. We had 245 members. 206 of those members were 60+. Synopsis: The basis of this presentation is to discuss That is 84% of the how we as brothers should be working with and help- Lodge, talk about ing each other to sustain and grow our Lodges and an eye opener! the fraternity as a whole. How well do you know 3.6% were under your brothers and what are you doing to get to know the age of 50. 5 them better? What about the brothers that you don’t members were under 30 and 3 of them were active know? What does being a Brother actually mean to military and not even in the Country. Fortunately for you and how does this help you lead to self improve- my Lodge over the last several years we have had an ment? What does the Masonic family do in your influx of brothers in that under 50 age group. It is community? obviously absolutely vital for Masonry to continue to attract younger men. And this age group is looking • The decline of the Fraternity – Celestial Lodge, for something. Why not Freemasonry? With the Demit, NPD, most current membership numbers that I have Using Arizona (2018) we currently and my have 6557 members. Lodge, Aztlan At a continued average #1, as a base3% reduction in memline, here are bership we will be at the numbers. half those numbers in Celestial – AZ 23 years. - 326 annual average • Is this really a bad #1 thing? – The 10% - 13 annual rule. Quality vs Quanaverage tity. Demit – AZ – Raised – AZ – 205 198 average. This one is tricky. I think we can reaverage. 17 per month, is that a bad number? Are duce it, but it will never go away due to relocation of they active members, or just card carriers? There are brothers for jobs or moving closer to their family. 60 Lodges in AZ. This is barely 25% participation if The goal is to have them be an active part of Mason- you include all Lodges. We have 2 Lodges that are ry and join a Lodge wherever they move to. 50% re- real member mills. But the numbers for those Lodgduction would be wonderful. es are 158 Demits and 407 NPD’s vs 393 Raised. It NPD – AZ – 250 average. 100% reduction is the has been my experience in my visits to all 60 lodges goal, but may be unrealistic due to us not doing our within the state that the 10% rule applies across the jobs and letting the men know what Masonry was board. Regardless of membership numbers the 10% about before they joined. Are we allowing men into are doing all of the work. Is the answer smaller lodgthe fraternity that really did not meet our standards? es with 80-100% participation than any sized Lodge Or have we failed them in making them a viable part with 10% participation? (cont.) ARIZONA MASONRY—A GRAND LODGE OF ARIZONA F&AM PUBLICATION MAY 2020
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• Do you know your brothers? This is a question for within your own Lodge and across your overall State membership. I am going to give you my own information. So I am going to pick on myself. My Lodge currently has 202 members, and I know 37% of them. Why don’t I know all of them? Why shouldn’t I know at least 75%? They are my brothers. I will touch on this a little more later in my presentation. I know that some do not live in the area or even the state anymore, but we have means of communication that is not just a face to face meeting. Over the last 7 years I have not been as active in my own Lodge due to my duties with the Grand Lodge. But even in that regard if you put all of the brothers that I have met traveling the state into a room I would be thrilled with being able to name 50% of them. Not because I don’t know them, but that I am terrible with names. Name tags are the greatest thing ever!
they have a desire to work in. • Social events– Successful Lodges hold events outside of the Lodge. As I have travelled around Arizona and my limited travel to other jurisdictions I see that most of the successful, growing lodges have events outside of the lodge room or building. Movie nights, cigar nights, B-B-Q’s, or just getting together with families outside of the lodge builds great friendships and brotherhood. Other men that see this might just be interested in joining the fraternity. But this is where we have to be very diligent and informative. Masonry is not for every man, and it is our responsibility to choose wisely. More importantly, we need to really let our potential brothers know what is expected of them and what they will get out of the fraternity. I attend work meetings for a minimum of 10 hours a week, so going to another
• Bring a brother to Lodge – Preferably a degree, not a stated meeting. This is going to be one of my large goals for next year if I am elected as Grand Master. The concept is to contact your brothers that have not been to lodge in a while. Find out why and offer to pick them up and take them for a couple of months. Find out why they have stopped coming to lodge and get them involved again. Get to know them and create a friendship. After a couple of months get them to bring a brother to lodge and you find a new one to bring. My hope is that getting involved with these brothers and getting to know them will help to turn our NPD’s around.
business meeting at least once a month is not really an appealing prospect. We need to make our meetings more about improving ourselves and learning than stating what the last meeting was about and reporting on our monthly bills!
• Putting your brothers to work – Assign them a task, don’t ask them what they want to do. It has been my experience that if you ask a brother what he wants to do you will probably come up with, or get, nothing. If you assign them a task though, and give them a deadline and follow through with them most of the time that task will be accomplished. Once you have the brothers working on tasks and becoming involved with the lodge then, as you get to know them, you can lead them into areas that
• Being a Brother – Fraternal vs Blood. First I am going to ask you a question. Those of you that have brothers, have you always gotten along with them your whole life? Have they never annoyed you or made you mad? Or was there a time that you just did not want to be around them? If you can say no to these questions then you are fortunate! And those of you that honored us with service in our Military, how do you feel about those brothers? (cont.)
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How do you treat them and do you stay in contact with them? So why would it be different with your Brothers in Masonry? You should ultimately treat them the same, they are your Brother. Look out for them. Don’t let them wander too far astray. Listen to them and absolutely be there for them when you are needed. Get to know them and let them be a part of your everyday life. Some of the men joining the Fraternity today are desperately seeking this connection and as they become Brothers it is your responsibility to help take care of them when they need it. And through this process you may actually learn something about yourself or they may teach you something. And ultimately, hopefully, you will be a part of building a stronger Fraternity. • Your community and the Craft – What is the impression of your Lodge in the community? The biggest question is do they even know you exist? How are you going to attract worthy men to join the Fraternity if no one knows who we are or what we do other than the latest conspiracy theory?
This is something that your individual lodges are going to have to figure out. Each community is different, so the answers will all be different as well. In Arizona almost everyone participates in the “Bikes for Books” program, but in my experience there is not a lot of community interaction on this, just the schools. Some lodges are transforming this into getting kids tablets or computers. Another great idea is to go to the schools and participate in reading to the students. Everyone here knows that the parades are a big thing for some of our appendant bodies, maybe get involved with them and walk or ride in the parade. Just figure something out that you enjoy doing and get out there in the community to let them know we are still around and still relevant. In closing Brothers, thank you for taking the time to read this and let us all continue to strive to improve ourselves and Masonry in Arizona. Fraternally
Boyd Robertson Deputy Grand Master 2019-2020
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It is a rare event that brings the whole world together. War usually does the trick. So does famine or disease, like the COVID-19 pandemic we’re facing now. But tragedy isn’t the only thing that unites people. 93 years ago, on May 20th, 1927 - the entire world was captivated by one man - Charles A. Lindbergh, the first man to make a solo flight across the Atlantic. Just months before that famous trip, Lindbergh had embarked on another historic Journey: A Masonic one. In December of 1926, Charles Lindbergh received his Masonic Degrees at Keystone Lodge No. 243 in Missouri. I recently stumbled upon an auction of items which told an amazing story about his visit to Panama in 1928. After touring the United States, the US Government asked Charles Lindbergh to take a goodwill tour of Latin America. In March of 1928, an article titled “The Good Will Tour of Bro. Lindbergh in Central America” appeared in the masonic Journal “The Builder”:
“Bro. Lindbergh, who is a Master Mason and a member of Keystone Lodge, No. 243, of St. Louis, Mo., was fraternally received and entertained by the Grand Lodge of Panama, at an emergent communication on the morning of the 10th of January, 1928; he was enthusiastically greeted by his Panamanian brother Masons, in whose names the Most Worshipful D. Leslie Sasso, Grand Master, presented him with a most significant gift” This is where our auction item comes in. The auction contained 2 photos of this “most significant gift” spoken of by the Grand Master; a handmade Globe of Panama woods, mounted on a wooden bible, which opened up to reveal “..a Panama hat which fitted nicely inside the two hemi-spheres” according to the accompanying letter from the auction. The Letter was sent to a brother in New Jersey 10 years after Lindbergh visited Panama. According to the letter, these photos were merely copies – with the original negatives having been destroyed. The 1928 article from “The Builder” goes on to describe this gift in great detail: “This globe, representing the world, is made of twenty-five pieces of Panama native mahogany…..Over
the lower part of the globe in the inside rests a hatter's block made of light mahogany covered with blue velvet. The interior of the upper half of the globe in its concavity is also covered with blue velvet to which is combined a white silver color hem that unites in the center point at the top. At the right and over the Atlantic Ocean there is a carved shield over which there is in bas-relief the following dedication sentence: To Brother Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, the Masons of Panama. January 1928. The book, which represents the Holy Bible, is made of a variety of selected native woods…; the part representing the leaves of the Holy Bible ….. is in the form of a drawer of singular construction…In this drawer is deposited a sheet of parchment upon which is written in Spanish a few appropriate words of greeting to Bro. Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh from his brother Masons of Panama. The souvenir leaf bears the signatures of the Masons of this jurisdiction that could be located within a short time. The message of greeting on the parchment reads as follows: Souvenir from the Masons of the Republic of Panama, to Brother Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, on the occasion of his visit to this country, on his renown aeroplane SPIRIT OF SAINT LOUIS. Panama, January 9th, 1928.” Inside the globe was placed a very fine Panama hat as an additional gift for Bro. Lindbergh's personal use.
(cont.)
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The emblematical Masonic scope of the gift is, as conceived by its designer, the writer of this article, that the world rests on the Bible; covenant between spirit and matter, in the quality; the material world being in need of the spiritual realm in order to exist.” After his South America tour, Lindbergh had a chance to visit his home lodge. In the 1950 Missouri Grand Lodge Proceedings, Most Worshipful James M. Bradford reminisced about his famous encounter as Master of Keystone Lodge No. 243 in 1928: “One of the outstanding meetings of that year was the occasion of the visit of … Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, after his return from a good-will tour of the South American governments. Hundreds were unable to gain admittance to the Lodge. After the meeting Colonel Lindbergh was taken from the Temple by way of a special exit in order to avoid the crowd that thronged the hallways and the streets about the Masonic Temple” After his worldwide tour, Charles donated many of the gifts he received to a museum in Missouri. With a little bit of research, I was able to confirm that the Panama Globe and the hat inside it currently rest safely at the Missouri Historical Society. According to Curator Sharon Smith, “Yes, that is the one in our collection here at the Missouri Historical Society. It has been on the display in the past and currently is in storage. It is a great piece”. The photos and accompanying letter are now a part of the Arizona Grand Lodge Library & Museum in Phoenix, Arizona (AZMasonicLibrary.org). The gift of the Panama Globe and hat currently reside at the Missouri Historical Society (MOHistory.org) in St. Louis, Missouri. Fraternally submitted
Robert “Bo” Buchanan Master Arizona Lodge No. 2 Phoenix, Arizona
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Brethren, I bring you warm Fraternal greetings from the Grand West (which has been temporarily relocated to the home office of my residence for quarantine purposes). In my last message, I discussed the meaning of inspiration and how important it is in our lives. I also described plans that had been made by the Grand Lodge for the 2020 Lodge Leadership Conference (LLC). I truly believe that event would have been a great source of inspiration to all attendees, but for the protection of the Craft the event was cancelled. However, there were many Brothers instrumental in the planning of the event, and I wanted to take some time to recognize them in this article. Their willingness to assist in the planning and execution of this event would have culminated in an amazing experience. Brothers, you will forever have my sincere respect and gratitude. VRB John Hinck WB Gerry Massey WB Jerry Badinger WB Michael Gatti WB Ron Allen WB Larry Behers
WB Craig Harm MWB Craig Gross WB Craig Carlson WB Sid Leluan WB Dean Millard
It is amazing what deprivation can do to a person. In opposition to the weight I have gained during the last several weeks, I have lost an equal portion of my mind. As such, and at the risk of endless persecution by my peers, I offer to you a rambling of mine during these challenging times.
Where is Freemasonry? Is it in the books held by my bookcase just waiting for me to visit and ponder? Or is it in the wonders of nature lying in wait outside my window for me to wander? Does it rest in the hearts of loving Brothers that call to test my state of mind on this day? Or could it be in the tolerance held by my wife when she looks at me and wonders, “What did he just say?” Could it be in the inspiration I receive when I spend time with honored mentors and guides? Or in the chill I get when I see the dedication that still shows within their eyes? Maybe it is hidden in the wonder I feel when I experience true Brotherhood…even through a computer gaze. Or in the grace I feel when I recognize the blessings from the Great Creator through all my days. Maybe, just maybe my friends, Freemasonry is in all these places and all around and I am the one who has been unfound. Stay safe my Brothers, I look forward to seeing all of you face-to-face once again very soon!
Randy Jager Senior Grand Warden 2019-2020
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Brethren, Our Masonic year of 6020 is a time of challenges and opportunities and how we choose to act will reveal strengths and weakness. We must remember to call upon the Great Architect of the Universe, your book of Holy Writings and our Masonic ritual for strength and guidance. During the Masonic year I have turned to our ritual to reinforce Grand Master Greg’s theme of Back to Basics on my Official Visits to Lodges. We are a diverse group of men with different interests, professions, cultures and customs but the one thing we share in common is our Masonic ritual. Therefore,
In lifetimes, change is in many situations, inevitably. Not once, not twice, but constantly. In an ideal setting, change is a planned and organized process. But how often is planning anything an organized process? A need for a change can come to you after a long term difficulty, or come at you like a cannon shot as the result of immediate difficulty. The interpreter of a need for change could well be one who has been affected by a difficulty, or perhaps a faulty sector of society needing a change in social justice. The change making process may involve debate, personnel changing, perhaps a public vote. The importance of the need, the justification for change, and the authority do do so, is broadly determined and justified.
It has been said that "Fools wonder why, but the wise ask". Some have confused chance with change. No matter how trifling, or of great importance, it is not a chance taking gamble to attempt change. Often said, "Everybody wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change". Anyone know how to change that declaration?
David Woodland Oriental Lodge No. 20 Scottsdale Lodge No. 43
let us turn to the 1st degree lecture and the reference to the three principal tenets of Masonry, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. We are taught that by the exercise of Brotherly Love to regard the whole human species as one family, created by one Almighty parent and inhabitants of the same planet, are to aid, support and protect each other. This Masonic principal unites men of every country, sect and opinion and causes true friendship to exist among those who might have remained at a perpetual distance. To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men especially Masons. To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries and to restore peace to their troubled minds. Truth is a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue. To be good and true is the first lesson we are taught and by it we endeavor to regulate our conduct. By adhering to this principal, hypocrisy and deceit should be unknown among us, sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us and with a compassionate heart and a gentle tongue and an attentive ear we join in promoting each other’s welfare and rejoice in each other’s prosperity. I hope all of you are doing well and supporting each other. I am sure that some of you have lost loved ones or personal friends and acquaintances to this pandemic and my condolences and Brotherly Love go out to you. We all can help our fellow man in some way, so go forth in an appropriate manner and do good deeds. Fraternally,
Jim Baker Junior Grand Warden 2019-2020
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Part Four of a four-part series designed to help individuals and lodges manage themselves to be prosperous and healthy.
In this series we have talked about balance, individual interests and getting a job in the lodge. Successful management of a lodge depends on the will and efforts of all members of a lodge. There are many options and many resources available. It also helps to have a plan that has achievable goals, clear assignments, a timeline, transparency and goal reaching celebrations. The main point is do something. Start the wheels moving with the plan. Use the Master Architect Award requirements as a checklist. Assign officers and other members tasks. Even the smallest of tasks will have an impact. Encourage your committees to come up with ideas and action items. And keep the lodge members informed. Eventually members hearing of all the exciting activities going on will desire to get involved. Although the current situation has slowed things down considerably, we should not forget our responsibilities and take advantage of this time to try new things, use the technologies available to stay connected, practice our tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Consider the remark recently made by a Marine Corp company commander regarding how the pandemic affects performing burial ceremonies and oth-
er duties: “We adapt and stick to our mission.” We too will adapt and stick to our mission. I hope to see you in person soon but until then I will see you in a WebEx, Google Meet or Zoom meeting, maybe on a Facebook post, IM, phone call or text. I attended some virtual meetings that have helped improve my moral. If you have an opportunity, join one as soon as you can. Visit the Grand Lodge website for other information, like us on Facebook and go to GoFundMe.com/ AZMasons and contribute to the Arizona Food Bank Network. Also check out this website for a history of Masonic Charity. Of special interest is the paragraph referencing the 1918 Flu epidemic. https:// pagrandlodge.org/brief-history-masonic-charity/. Stay well and see you in Lodge! Fraternally,
George Rusk Senior Grand Deacon 2019-2020
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During any Masonic Model Student Assistance (Children At Risk Program) Training provided by the Arizona Masonic Foundation for Children, we refer to schools as “Islands of Safety” for our at-risk children. What happens to those at-risk children when the “island” is not available to them? What happens when the consistent policies and procedures they rely on are taken away? What happens when the teams of dedicated educators we have trained over the past 25+ years are not physically available to intervene in their lives? Time and again, during the past 25 years of conducting our Children at Risk Program, we have listened at the workshop to the At Risk Children Experts we bring on to conduct the 3 day Workshop and the Educators who attend, discussing the “Backpack Phenomenon”. Many times, an “at-risk” child will come to school in the morning with a symbolic “Backpack” on. This “Backpack” is filled with combinations of fear, pain, uncertainty, rejection, confusion, doubt, thoughts of substance abuse, bullying, violence, suicide, dropping out, and attitudes which will result in poor school performance and hinder that child’s development. Educators say it takes 30 – 45 minutes for them to take these “Backpacks” off before they truly enter the safe and supportive environment the school building offers them. An environment which becomes safer and more supportive when one of our trained intervention teams are placed in the school, or an existing intervention entity gains the additional benefit of our workshop. Then at the other end of the day the reverse process occurs. Educator say it takes 30 – 45 minutes for them put on the “Backpack” before leaving for the hell they left in the morning and a very different homecoming. Statistics tell us that every time we conduct a workshop, each Educator will affect in a positive way 6-9 at risk children the 1st year they are out of the class and each year thereafter. With each at
risk child affected we lessen the load of their “Backpack” and increase the value of the safe and supportive environment the school building offers them, thus moving them towards the child development process they deserve, and we desire. QUESTION: During this time of severe quarantines, where do they put their “Backpacks”, or are they carrying them around all the time thereby further damaging their lives and development Whenever the pandemic has eased its’ grip on us, and we go back to what will be a new “normal” those children will be back in our schools and classrooms. Will we be ready for them? The Masonic Model Student Assistance Program stands ready to meet that challenge. We are in the process right now of modifying our training model to help educators deal with the added trauma some of our children currently face. We are also acutely aware of the trauma and stress many of our teachers are dealing with. Our “new” training model will take each of these factors into account. In order to help others, we need to be as strong and healthy as we can be. Once the “Islands of Safety” opens once again our teams will be better equipped to handle this unprecedented challenge. MMSAP has always adapted to meet the needs of our participants. We will continue to promote “Strength Based Intervention”. We will continue to view life’s challenges in a comprehensive fashion. We do not believe in band-aids. We believe in being proactive and not reactive. Meanwhile, please keep all children in your prayers, especially the at-risk children in this time of trouble!
Jerry Badinger Chairman Children at Risk 2019-2020
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What is one of the oldest ceremonies of Freemasonry and perhaps the most overlooked? It is an inherent part of almost every Masonic degree and plays a critical role in the three degrees of the Symbolic Lodge. Have you ever examined this ritual or its symbolism? It is among the most universal and widely practiced religious rites in the world. The Druids practiced it. The Buddhists have practiced it for centuries. Even the Islamic faith has a similar ceremony that all must perform at least once in their lifetime. Albert Mackey tells us that that the Greeks and Romans used it as part of their sacrificial rites. He even tells us that the ancient pagans practiced a form of Freemasonry which was tailored to fit their spiritual beliefs.
that they are our guide, and that one day we will be more worthy of the refinements they offer to us. This contemplation of the holy place (alter), or holy object, will help us overcome our attachment to material things, concern with outward appearances, and achieve brotherly love (overcome hatred). Three circuits around the holy object should also remind us Ancient man imitated that which he respected, that there are three remedies to overcome our attachvenerated or feared. Although ancient man could ments and passions; they are right thinking, right imitate the sun by a fire on the altar, he could imitate speaking, and right viewing (we should look for the the sun's movement only on his good in all things). Therefore, we own. In the Northern Hemishould also contemplate how to sphere, the sun appears to rise in acquire right mind, right speech, the East, move across the sky to and right views. the South, and then disappear in the West. Therefore, in his worIn Japanese Buddhist ritual, ship, early man traveled about recitation of sutras (a collection of his fire on the altar from East to precepts) and the scattering of petWest by way of the South, and als usually accompany the moveWest to East by way of the ment around the sacred object. North, in imitation of the greatIslamic tradition has a walk est representation of the God he around the Ka'ba in Mecca, the knew. Rock of Mount Moriah in JerusaFrom India, there is a religious practice consisting of lem, and in many mausoleums and shrines where the walking around a sacred place as a sign of veneration sages of Islam are revered. and piety. "Walking the Way" is a form of deep venThe Masonic ritualistic explanation is simple enough eration with origins dating to ancient India, where to and of course, the act does permit inspection of the walk around three times was a means of honoring a candidate by the brethren. However, this explanation greatly respected person. was obviously made to fit into the lodge and was In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism religions, composed by men who had lost the authentic the holy object(s) is always on the right side. Thereknowledge of the real meaning of the ceremony of fore, they go around the holy place three times keep- circling the alter, so that now few brethren remember ing it on their right side, which is walking around that the simple ritualistic explanation conveys all the from the left to the right. While going around, we are truth. (cont.) reminding ourselves that holy things are precious, ARIZONA MASONRY—A GRAND LODGE OF ARIZONA F&AM PUBLICATION MAY 2020
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The Arts of…(cont) Whether in a Masonic lodge, in another culture or in a church, circumambulation is a humble imitation of the form of worship of those ancient men to whom the sun in the sky and fire on the stone altar were representations of God. From that ancient past to this day, men have circled about or within their holy place from east to west by way of the south, though many if not most forget the reason for their movements. Astronomy has long been a part of every religion. The movement of the stars and constellations is seen as a representation of God. The act of admiring his creation is among the purist forms of worship. Therefore it is no surprise that circumambulation appears in our lodges. The act of replicating the movement of the heavens around the lodge – which is representative of the universe – is among the most time-honored methods of appreciating God’s great creation.
Michael Dale Junior Grand Deacon 2019-20202
Brethren All, We send greetings from your Grand Lodge Service Center. Mike, Jim, Jim and George are working to keep all the Lodges updated and helping resolve your situations and concerns. We are also working on the new Grandview Membership Data System. When everything is ready to roll out we will communicate with all the Lodges the process that will be used to bring each Lodge on board. We will hold regional sessions as needed to assist every Lodge to become comfortable to the new system. Many things will change from the way we have been doing Lodge reporting and record keeping. We ask that each Lodge be supportive of the change and help us help you become masters of the new system. We would like to request that all Lodge Secretaries get in touch with any Brother that you do not have current phone numbers or email address for. There are many blank phone and email records in the Grand Lodge data base. If there are out of state Brothers please send them a letter or post card requesting the information. For the Brothers that are reading this article please check with your Lodge Secretary to see if your information is correct and current. Sincerely and Fraternally,
Your Grand Lodge Support Team ARIZONA MASONRY—A GRAND LODGE OF ARIZONA F&AM PUBLICATION MAY 2020
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Candidates are told in the charges given to them as part of the Entered Apprentice and Master Mason degrees about the ancient landmarks of the fraternity. To quote the Entered Apprentice degree: “manifest your fidelity to your principles by a strict observance of the Constitution of the Fraternity, by adhering to the Ancient Landmarks of the Order…”. The Master Mason charge includes the words “Our ancient landmarks you are carefully to preserve and never to suffer them on any pretense to be infringed…”. So, what are these ancient landmarks?
The sixth and seventh landmarks pertain to the authority of the Grand Master which is not particularly relevant to the behaviors of a newly made Mason. The next two, Landmarks Fourteen and Fifteen are pertinent to new brethren, My research using Masonic World and the Masonic Service Association leads me to conclude that and of course, to all Masons as well. we in Arizona adhere to 25 landmarks. In this article The right of every I would like to delve into just a few and ascertain if freemason to visit and sit in every regular Lodge is an we are indeed adhering to them as we should. unquestionable Landmark of the Order listed as The sixth landmark: The prerogative of the grand fourteenth. In Arizona Entered Apprentices can atmaster to grant dispensatend lodges other than their own if accompanied by a tions for conferring deMaster Mason and vouched for by them. This right grees at irregular times. of visitation has ancient roots, allowing free travel This allows lodges to conaround the world and was extremely valuable for opfer degrees outside their erative Masons of the past. Indeed, this right is what regular meeting dates and induces one to become a Mason, that he might travel location. Such was the in foreign countries, work and receive Master Mason case when the excellent Lost Dutchman degree was held in March – this re- wages etc. This landmark is incorporated into our ritual as the stated meeting regular order of business quired a dispensation from the Grand Master for item number 2 which mandates introduction of first three separate lodges to hold the degree. This distime visitors. pensation is one often used in Arizona for the outdoor degrees including the annual Fain Ranch and The fifteenth landmark: That no visitor, unthe Southeast Arizona degree. known to the brethren present, or to some one of Similarly, the seventh landmark: the prerogative of them as a Freemason, can enter a Lodge without first passing an examination according to ancient usage. the grand master to give dispensations for opening and holding Lodges. “He may grant, in virtue of this, Of course, if the visitor is known to any brother preto a sufficient number of Freemasons, the privilege of sent to be a Mason in good standing, and if that meeting together and conferring degrees. The Lodg- brother will vouch for his qualifications, the examinaes thus established are called "Lodges under Dispen- tion may be dispensed with, as the Landmark refers sation." They are strictly creatures of the Grand Mas- only to the cases of strangers, who are not to be recter, created by his authority, existing only during his ognized unless after strict trial, due examination, or will and pleasure, and liable at any moment to be dis- lawful information. In Arizona that usually involves solved at his command. They may be continued for a presentation of a current dues card from a recogday, a month, or six months; but whatever be the pe- nized jurisdiction and often the administration of the riod of their existence, they are indebted for that ex- Tyler’s Oath by an examining committee. Fraternally, istence solely to the grace of the Grand Master.” (Masonic World) This dispensation is also often used in Arizona as we continue to charter new lodges almost every year.
Leigh Creighton Senior Grand Steward 2019/2020
ARIZONA MASONRY—A GRAND LODGE OF ARIZONA F&AM PUBLICATION MAY 2020
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Authors in the Middles Ages often used allegories to explain and teach biblical and classical traditions to the general public. The population in the Middle Ages intentionally drew from this new understanding of the cultural legacies of the ancient world in shaping their institutions and ideas, suggesting that allegories in medieval literature and medieval art was a prime reason for the transformation between the ancient world and the "new" Christian world. This new learning would have the greatest impact on shaping what would later be widely recognized as medieval culture.
Currently streaming on Netflix is an entertaining British series call “Broadchurch”. A particularly tense moment in the show has one of the attorneys working a case describing how a prosecutor goes about building a Freemasonry is often described in ritual as a beautiful case in court using or peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and an analogy. (An illustrated by symbols. It was written to help us grow analogy being similar to an allegory in a narrower our inner selves, or Rough Ashlars into something sense, analogy is an inference or an argument from better, truer. Striving to be get closer to that Perfect one particular to another particular, as opposed to an Ashlar if you will. It is hoped that taking the time to allegory which uses deduction.) She explains that it is read the ritual for those hidden lessons helps transtheir job is to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that form an individual to a better ideal. the defendant did what they were accused of by building a wall. This proceeds brick by brick until their wall, or case, is insurmountable. Some bricks are more important than other bricks, and those more important brick being the cornerstones. We as Freemasons are well aware of cornerstones and their meanings. As a Mason, are you building upon your inner founding cornerstone? Are you making those walls so insurmountable that the world has no other option but to be convinced that upon you becoming a From that very ritual we learn that the cornerstone Master Mason, you have become a better Man? is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference It is hoped that you are, for you… and the entire Frato this stone, thus determining the position of the en- ternity will be better for it. tire structure. Masonic ritual teaches that it usually is placed in the northeast corner and is the basis on Fraternally, which the superstructure of Freemasonry is based. It is also alludes to the fact that it is the superstructure of our inner-selves and building the foundation to the Junior Grand Steward 2019-2020 better ego, or I.
Roger Biede III
ARIZONA MASONRY—A GRAND LODGE OF ARIZONA F&AM PUBLICATION MAY 2020
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Upon ones first arrival in town of Tombstone Arizona driving along Freemont Street, there is a building that seems to jump out. Sitting on Fourth and Freemont there can be found Schieffelin Hall.
rived just before Tombstone began to grow in population. He would serve as the second master of King Solomon Lodge Number Five in 1882, the first being Wells Spicer. The lodge still exists in Schieffelin Hall This tall standing building built of adobe has a to this day. rich history. The hall was built for entertainment and William Arthur Harwood was instrumental social gatherings. Housing what is known to be the along Albert Shieffelin while the hall was being erectmost elaborate theater between San Francisco, Califor- ed. The first mayor of Tombstone played a big part in nia and El Paso, Texas for its time. A fact widely building the hall not far from the lot where the famous known to the public, however behind the curtains of guntime is hidden a fact not so widely known to the pub- fight lic. The fact that Schieffelin Hall was built by a freema- took son, one who later would serve as master of the lodge that still meets there today. Schieffelin Hall was built by William Arthur Harwood and Albert Schieffelin in 1881. The building was finished and opened its doors June 8, 1881. The building being predominately adobe is one of the oldest adobe structures still standing in the American Southwest. Schieffelin Hall saw stage life come to life and as such still does to this day from time to time. It place. Brother Harwood in fact owned the said lot which is bordered by the “Harwood House” and C. S. is also used by Tombstone citizens for city council Fly’s boarding house. meetings and various other events. The second floor of the building, home to Many times, over the years Schieffelin Hall has King Solomon Lodge Number Five, even has windows been repaired. The building went through restoration that onlook where the gunfight took place. These winin 1964 and was later donated to the city of Tombdows make it possible to witness the entire ordeal had any brothers been present at the time. Schiefflelin Hall served to hide Wells Spicer during the trial for the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. This being possible because he was master of the lodge at the time and could hide out upstairs.
The next time you are venturing past or even visiting inside, remember the rich history Schieffelin Hall has played its part in. More importantly that a Freemason was there to help provide our beloved town with such an auspicious social gathering locale. stone in December of 1979. Even in 1999 much of the adobe walls had to see repairs in order to remain standing.
King Solomon Lodge No. 5 TL History Committee
William Arthur Harwood, born in 1849, arARIZONA MASONRY—A GRAND LODGE OF ARIZONA F&AM PUBLICATION MAY 2020
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Of all the styles of architecture, the Gothic is that which is most intimately connected with the history of Freemasonry, having been the system peculiarly practiced by the Freemasons of the Middle Ages. To what country or people it owes its origin has never been satisfactorily determined; although it has generally been conjectured that it was of Arabic or Saracenic extraction, and that it was introduced into Europe by persons returning from the Crusades. The Christians who had been in the Holy Wars received there an idea of the Saracenic works, which they imitated on their return to the West, and refined on them as they proceeded in the building of churches. The Italians, Germans, French, and Flemings, with Greek refugees, united in a fraternity of architects and ranged from country to country, and erected buildings according to the Gothic style, which they had learned during their visits to the East, and whose fundamental principles they improved by the addition of other details derived from their own architectural taste and judgment. Hence Sir Christopher Wren thinks that this style of the Medieval Freemasons should be rather called the Saracenic than the Gothic. This style, which was distinguished by its pointed arches, and especially by the perpendicularly of its lines, from the rounded arch and horizontal lines of previous styles, was altogether in the hands of those architects who were known, from the tenth to the sixteenth centuries, as Freemasons, and who kept their system of building as a secret, and thus obtained an entire monopoly of both domestic and ecclesiastical architecture. At length, when the gilds or fraternities of Freemasons, "who alone," says Hope, "held the secrets of Gothic art," were dissolved, the style itself was lost, and was succeeded by what Paley says (Manual of Gothic Architecture, page 15) was "a worse than brazen era of architecture