Arizona Masonry Boyd Wayne Robertson Most Worshipful Grand Master
Bryon Patrick 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. Permission to reprint articles is automatically granted to recognized Masonic publication with proper credit given.
MWGM Boyd Robertson
RWDGM Randy Jagar
RWSGW Jim H Baker
RWJGW George Rusk
WSGD Michael Dale
WJGD Leigh Creighton
WSGS Roger Biede III Please direct all articles and correspondence to: Bryon P. Howe 14247 North 25th Avenue Phoenix Arizona 85023 bryon.howe@gmail.com For submissions for the next issue of Arizona Masonry or The Copper Post please contact Azgl.editor@gmail.com
WJGS Eric DuPree
Front and Back Cover Image Courtesy of: WB Mustafa Karamuijc
Paradise Valley Silver Trowel Lodge #29, F & A.M. in Phoenix AZ ARIZONA MASONRY—A GRAND LODGE OF ARIZONA F&AM PUBLICATION Q1 2021
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The First degree gives us the instruction to divide our day into three parts. We each know what those designations are for, but where do all of the other daily tasks that encompass our lives fall? How do you get everything done within a twenty-four hour day? This is why we have to be efficient at managing our time. Some days it feels like you don’t accomplish any of the goals that you have set for that day. I certainly hope you are setting daily goals for yourself. Your usual vocation will take up a minimum of eight hours of your day. The medical field states that you should get 8 hours of sleep each night. (That rarely happens for me, maybe one night a month!) So now that last eight hours which are to be spent in service to God and distressed brothers also includes everything else that has to be accomplished within the day. A large part of this time should be spent with your family. If you only spend three hours with your family you are now down to five hours for everything else. This all needs to be taken into account as you manage your time.
on-line is very easy. But what of our Brothers that do not have a social presence? How do we check up on them and make sure that they are OK? A challenge that we all probably fall short on. Each and every one of us should work on this daily.
What about everything else that has to be done during those last five hours? Honey do lists, shopping for groceries/clothes/necessities, maintenance around your home, maintenance of your vehicles, care of your pets, self improvement, study, self reflection, Lodge/York Rite/Scottish Rite/Shrine/OES/Amaranth/Youth Groups or any other Masonic family event, helping your children with school/homework/athletics. These are just some of the things that occur on a daily basis. Now throw in the fact that the average American spends 5 hours a day watching TV. There Taking small amounts of time to check in on your goes that last five hours! How in the world do we Brothers or short moments to thank God for all of get all of this accomplished? Managing our time the blessings that you have should be easy to do is a challenge that we all face every day and probright? But how often during the daily stress of our ably don’t put much thought into it. How do we lives do we even consider our blessings, let alone accomplish this daunting task without really conthank God for them. This is easily done and takes sidering it? And where within those five hours do no time at all so each of us should remember this we have time to decompress or relax? every single day! With social media and our online presence checking on Brothers that are also
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I personally must have some time outside to reflect, relax and basically unwind each evening. This is how I recharge myself to be ready for the next day. That is probably the one thing every day that happens regardless of the day, the weather, or other events happening in my life. I have been told that it is a man thing, but I can sit for 10 minutes and not think about anything. In closing my Brothers, our everyday challenges can be learning and improvement opportunities for us if we accept them and actually learn from them. And most importantly, figure out how to manage our time efficiently. Fraternally,
Boyd Robertson Grand Master 2020-2021
Ties and Shirts are a fundraiser for our youth groups. #30 each. Ties can be purchased from the MWGM and the shirts are available on the Grand Lodge Website.
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Brethren, I bring you warm Fraternal greetings from the Grand North East.
Wrestling with this dilemma, I found “The
Eight Degrees of CharRecently, I was faced with a personal dilemma con- ity” by Rabbi Moses cerning charity. This has always been a difficult subject for me, and I thought discussing my dilemma with the Craft might help others on their daily path of letting their L.I.G.H.T. shine bright. The need for charity surrounds us every day, and the importance of charity has been discussed seemingly since the beginning of time. In the King James version of the Bible, the specific word “charity” is mentioned 28 separate times. For Freemasons, charity (or relief) is such an integral part of our teachings that it is reinforced in all three Blue Lodge Degrees and by every Body of the Fraternity. The Scottish Rite guides us to have “fervent” charity. Clearly, a Mason should not struggle with charity. My personal dilemma is when the recipient of charity has the ability to improve their own situation but refuses to do so. They continue to rely on the charity of others to exist day-to-day but will not take initiative to change their life to reduce those needs. I acknowledge that this is a short-coming on my part. I should be willing to give charity without conditions. But should we not all be expected to participate in our own welfare?
Ben Maimonides, 1135 AD. It lists the Eight Degrees as follows: The First – and lowest degree is to give, but with reluctance or regret. This is the gift of the hand, but not of the hearth. The Second – is to give cheerfully, but not proportionately to the distress of the sufferer. The Third – is to give cheerfully, and proportionately but not until solicited. The Fourth – is to give cheerfully, proportionately, and even unsolicited, but to put it in the poor man’s hand, thereby exciting in him the painful emotion of shame. The Fifth – is to give charity in such a way that the distressed may receive the bounty, and know their benefactor, without their being known to him. The Sixth – which rises still higher, is to know the objects of our bounty but remain unknown to them. The Seventh – is still more meritorious, namely to bestow charity in such a way that the benefactor may not know the relieved per-
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sons, nor they the names of their benefactors. The Eighth – and the most meritorious of all, is to anticipate charity by preventing poverty; namely, to assist the reduced fellow-man either by a considerable gift, or a sum of money, or by teaching him a trade, or by putting him in the way of business, so that he may earn an honest livelihood, and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his hand for charity. Clearly, the Mason should be setting his sites on the charity described by the Eighth Degree. However, even the guidance offered by Rabbi Maimonides, nearly nine centuries ago, does not absolve the recipient from responsibility. So where does that leave me in my dilemma? How do I balance my charity with the expectations I (maybe unjustly) place on the recipients to try and improve their own situation? I defaulted back to my Masonic ritual. While it is not a direct correlation to our teachings regarding charity, the phrase “so far as I can do so without serious injury to myself or family” became prevalent in my mind. If I give charity to others beyond the point of injury to my own family, I would be endangering my ability to provide for my own family and thereby possibly placing them in need. By my own measurement, I would be not taking responsibility for my own family’s welfare. I felt as though this provided me with the limit of my charity but still did not address my worthiness of the recipient dilemma.
Then I realized I was failing to consider the words “injury to myself” within the phrase. I decided that “injury to myself” should include the personal distress that I was experiencing when the recipient was not worthy in my opinion. We are guided to “give cheerfully” but not blindly. Expecting that the recipient will personally work toward improving their own situation is not unreasonable, and I should not let this feeling agonize me when deciding whether to give. I clearly know my personal boundaries, and I must provide charity within them in order to continue giving cheerfully. And so, I resolved my dilemma through my research and contemplation. By continuing to give generously within my own reasonable personal boundaries, I can feel the goodness of charity without dilemma or stress… I am being faithful to my obligations, my family, and myself. Of course, every Mason must answer questions such as this for himself. I only offer this as an example of how we must all measure ourselves daily to continue (L)iving (I)n (G)race, (H)onor, (T)ruth. Let your L.I.G.H.T. shine bright, my Brothers! I look forward to sitting in Lodge again with all of you very soon!
Randy Jager Deputy Grand Master 2020-2021
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Masonicon Arizona 2021 Brethren, Spring time in southern Arizona is right around the corner and I am looking toward a renewal of Masonic communication with my brethren that has been curtailed the last 12 to 14 months. The majority of our lodges are meeting in person for Stated and Special communications and following safety and health guidelines. There are a few lodges meeting virtually and some lodges have limited attendance due to health concerns. We as brothers understand and support each individual brothers' decision to attend or not. The health and wellbeing of our families, lodges and fraternity is a top priority now and always. The month of March is the time of year in my part of the world that brings new growth and hopes of an abundance of beautiful wildflowers, shrubs, trees, grasses and feed for the wildlife and livestock that depend on a productive spring. Of course, a little more moisture from above would help with our extended drought.
It is hoped, nay, it is presumed that Masonicon Arizona 2021 will provide a social and educational environment to nurture that growth through the interaction with Brothers from around the state of Arizona. From the youngest or newest Master Mason to the seasoned and well-traveled Master Mason we can all share and learn from each other through the small group discussion panels designed to insure participation and selfdiscovery necessary for sustainable growth. Brothers, all of the responses from the discussion panels will be compiled and shared with the attendees by email after the event so that each may gain from the findings of the other discussion panels. In addition, the Grand Lodge Education Committee will sort and categorize the responses for distribution among our lodges as educational topics for further discussion during the year.
Like the physical habitat we live in, our spiritual and mental environment benefits from a revival of See you at Masonicon Arizona 2021, March 26, 27, sunshine, warmth, water and clean air. The nour- 28, 2021 in Prescott, Arizona ishment we feed our minds and bodies helps determine our growth as Men and Masons in the life Senior Grand Warden 2020-2021 long journey as a Master Mason.
Jim H Baker
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In my correspondence this year I promised I would discuss how to help run your lodge efficiently, is Freemasonry visible in your community, and Education for growth.
an extremely rewarding community involvement program. Many lodges get involved with local schools, providing In the last issue I emphasized how to help make your bikes for readers, or lodge run efficiently. Now let us look at getting insupporting science fairs volved in our local communities. as judges and hosting Our Most Worshipful Grand Master’s message this Ma- teacher recognition. Many times a simple sonic year has been “Brothers Being Brothers”. The Grand Line has been promoting his message in our arti- phone call to a nearby cles and our travels. The main topics include getting to school will open many know our brothers better, bringing a brother to lodge, opportunities to help them. putting brothers to work, holding social events, and getting involved in your community. These are just a If your lodge does not have a specific community supfew ways to help sustain and grow our lodges and the port program maybe you can encourage the Master of fraternity. What have you done that has helped your your lodge to pick a favorite charity or local community lodge? Send me your ideas and successes so we can event to support during his year. share them with the rest of the craft. While all this may seem obvious to some, it is imOne of the most successful ways to help improve and portant to be reminded of the many options available grow your lodge is to support local community activi- to a lodge when looking for ways to be visible in their ties. One opportunity to make Freemasonry visible in local communities. So, the next step is up to you. Get your community is to join the local parades that are involved in your community. scheduled during the year. Parada del Sol in Scottsdale, Fraternally, Veteran’s Day Parade in Phoenix and Mesa, Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix and the Christmas Parade in Florence are just a few. What is scheduled for your area? Do you have an event committee that investiJunior Grand Warden 2020-2021 gates and arranges for these activities?
George Rusk
Supporting local charities is another way to make your lodge visible in the community. Is there a Child Crisis center near you that needs donations? Or a food bank, half-way house, or outreach programs? Contacts for these groups can be easily found by a Google search. Reach out and ask them what their needs may be. Monetary donations are helpful but sometimes they need drivers or other kinds of help. Sponsoring a local little league baseball or Pop Warner football team, scout troop or other youth activities is
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The Fellow Craft Degree, as we all know, is the middle degree that often does not receive the attention it deserves. Scholars of ritual have scrutinized it. This degree is as rich in color and design as a Persian rug and has a vital place in the three steps of the Master’s Carpet.
grip with his existence. Its joys, wonders, and agonies.
This degree has its emphasis upon the academic. The Fellow Craft Degree is about the human and personal experience. It is not cold and austere. The lecture is concerned with the “middle years” of manhood. The Middle Chamber is the goal. The flight of winding stairs is the way. Manhood is the stakes. This lecture is a presentation that has more to do with the mature human being as seen through the history of civilized society in general. We are not dealing with any chronological age, but simply the period in life when a man comes to
Finally. Do not lose sight of the meaning within the very name of this degree, which is so much in the middle and in the midst of our Masonic lives. You should find a living example of this fellowship dwelling within your home lodge.
The quest for Masonic manhood is extremely This degree samples the experience of the builder: His important as well as awe, his inherent capabilities and his undaunted lust to for the individual as imitate the divine plan. This plan starts from the rude for the well being of beginnings of civilization to the present. From the pre- the Craft. The “middle sent to that time when the intellect of man joined with degree” makes meancompassion and virtue shall erect the high spires of wis- ingful the God cendom beneath which man will dwell with the blessings of tered moral lessons of the Entered Apprentice Degree peace and plenty. while preparing the way to the significance of the Master Mason Degree. Man’s quest for knowledge and wisdom is the goal of the Fellow Craft Degree. This goal is demonstrated by The Middle Chamber lies within Solomon’s Temple. The the sanctuary of the Middle Chamber. A Flight of Wind- Temple itself was not any more magnificent in early ing Stairs reaches this chamber, which represents noth- trappings, not built on a grander scale than any other ing less than a liberal and moral education. The ritual temple built along the Nile and the Euphrates. What is presents only the briefest view of the development of it about the Temple that has so stirred man’s mind? Is it the arts and sciences and of their place in the story of because God’s very presence dwelt in that sanctuary the builder. The ritual sets the stage for further inquiry. and among the people? If this is so, then we have found We neither expected nor desire the ritual to be cast a special significance for the Temple motif in Freemaaside while a course in analytic geometry id conducted sonry. Without the presence of the Supreme Intellect, in order to convince the candidate that truly geometry order in the universe, our aspirations and our hopes are “is the root of the mathematics,” or a survey of modern but ripples in the void of blind chance soon to disapatomic physics is resented to illustrate how form and pear in the meaninglessness of chaos. Without God’s structure permeates the world of nature. All we can do presence in the Middle Chamber as a symbol of wisin trying to explain this degree is to open the door for dom, the darkness will follow our climb up the Winding the new Fellow Craft to glimpse nature, which spreads Stairs. Moreover, at the turning, we shall meet only out on every side of the “Middle Degree.” despair.
Fraternally,
Michael Dale Senior Grand Deacon 2020-2021
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There are a number of excellent books available in lodge libraries, the Grand Lodge Library and certainly on line. MWB Greg Vasquez last year recommended 41 Million Men, the Importance of the Millennial Generation to Freemasonry published by Macoy Publishing and edited by Steve McCall which contains essays by 5 brothers from different jurisdictions. The essays all point to actions to take at Lodge and Grand Lodge level to improve membership numbers and retention. Another book along the same lines is Island Freemasonry, The Final Bastion of the Observant Lodge written by John Bizzack, Ph.D. also from Macoy Publishing. This book gives a detailed history of Freemasonry in America outlining the eras of expansion and contraction, the Anti-Masonic Party and hysteria following the Morgan affair in upstate New York. It too offers suggestions for Lodge and Grand Lodge actions to improve membership numbers and retention. In between reading these educational tomes I found in my home lodge library a great novel by Ken Follett called The Pillars of the Earth which is based in 12th century medieval England and presents the trials and tribulations of life then. The lives and politics of kings, nobles, peasants, monks and church officials are intertwined in a story of the building, by operative Masons, of the great cathedrals of Europe – a fun, entertaining and interesting read.
Mackey’s article published in 1875 in the periodical The Master Mason called “Reading Masons and Masons who do not Read”. I highly recommend that everyone reading this article get online and look up the full text, it is only two pages, but will try here to summarize Mackey’s main points. He divides Masons into three classes, the first: those who made their application for initiation not from a desire for knowledge, but from some accidental motive, not always honorable. The second class is more uplifting “consisting of men who are the moral and Masonic antipodes of the first. These make their application for admission, being prompted, as the ritual requires, "by a favorable opinion conceived of the Institution, and a desire of (sic) knowledge.” Obviously, Mackey holds the second class in high esteem and the first in low. Then he inserts an intermediate class between the two: “This third class consists of Masons who joined the Society with unobjectionable motives, and with, perhaps the best intentions. But they have failed to carry these intentions into effect.” Mackey describes at length the attributes of each class he created but focusses mainly on that last intermediate group, the brothers we know who pay dues but never attend lodge, never learn anything about Masonry beyond the required proficiency catechism, are anxious to join appendant bodies solely for social or business benefit.
Another book on my reading list which I just finished is The Craft, How the Freemasons Made the World by John Dickie, a non-Mason, and published by Public Affairs, Hachette Book Group. Originally published in England it discusses Masonry throughout the world. The book jacket claims “The Craft is an enthralling exploration of the world’s most famous and misunderstood secret brotherhood, a movement that Brethren, please take a few minutes to ask yourself not only helped to forge modern society but also has in which class you belong. substantial contemporary influence, with 400,000 Fraternally, members in Brittan, over 1 million in the USA, and around 6 million across the world.” For a history book, written by a historian, the reading was easy Junior Grand Deacon 2020-2021 and interesting and an eye-opener for me. I highly recommend this one.
Leigh Creighton
Which brings me to the real reason for writing this article which is the discussion in Bizzack’s book about Albert G. Mackey and his writings. Specifically, ARIZONA MASONRY—A GRAND LODGE OF ARIZONA F&AM PUBLICATION Q1 2021
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Is the age of technology advancing faster then ever before? Moore’s law says that every 18 or so months, computer processing speed doubles. The observation is named after Gordon Moore, the former CEO and cofounder of Intel, who in 1965 postulated a doubling every year in the number of components per integrated circuit. Last time I looked the number of transistors that fit into a microprocessor reached over 10 billion in 2017.
When he can look out over the rivers, the hills and the far horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope and courage.
The world is currently moving forward faster than it ever has and access to knowledge has never been easier for someone looking for it. With the internet people can find the answer to most questions within a matter of clicks. Does this mean that Freemasonry is any less relevant? Is Freemasonry a relic from past generations?
When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sorrows, yea, even in their sins-knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds.
We are taught that Freemasonry is progressive moral science taught by Degrees to better oneself. Initially Masonry sought to bring together like minded Men to discuss and interpret the orders of architecture, the senses of human nature, and even the liberal arts and sciences, and really brought enlightenment to the masses. Later surges in Masonry added a Fraternal and Charitable aspect to our Fraternity that remain to this day.
When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life.
Can anyone not find information on all those topics on the internet these days? Individual exploration and interpretation of these ideas are imperative to one’s growth but the Fraternal aspect of discussion and interaction with like-minded men is the key to Masonry’s worth. Spirited discussion, true mentorship, and a variety of views is what helps us as Masons grow and improve. For these reasons, those that we surround ourselves with is of utmost importance. This is not meant as an elitism comment, as Masonry does not regard men on their worldly wealth or honors, but as of goodness of heart and intentions quality. A 1917 advertisement titled “When is a Man Qualified to be a Shriner?” offered some of these qualifications:
When he has learned how to make friends and to keep them, and above all how to keep friends with himself.
When star-crowned trees, and the glint of sunlight on flowing water, subdue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead. When he finds in every faith that which helps any moan to lay hold of higher things, and to see majestic meaning in life, whatever the name of that faith may be. When he knows how to pray, how to love and how to hope. When he has kept faith with himself, with his fellow man, with his God; in his hand a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of song; glad to live, but not afraid to die.
In such a man, whether he be rich or poor, scholarly or unlearned, famous or obscure, Masonry has wrought her sweet ministry.
Fraternally,
Roger Biede III Senior Grand Steward 2020-2021
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While thinking about the article for this quarter, I was thinking of topics that could be useful for all masons to make use of given the current events we face today. In the last quarter I wrote on the 24 -inch gauge, it being a gentle reminder to always make time for the great architect of the universe, your family, and your worthy brothers. In this quarter I would like to touch on the rough and perfect ashlars. While there are many esoteric lessons contained within them, I would like to focus on the exoteric.
we should start seeing the defining parts of our own ashlars developing into perfect stones. This may take many years and no man will ever be perfect, but it is something we should strive for as masons.
Learning to have reIn the first degree we learn about the immovable spect for our fellow man seems to have been lost jewels of the lodge. The rough ashlar, perfect ash- recently in our society, but we have an opportunity lar and the trestle board. The rough ashlar is a to change the narrative. We start with ourselves stone taken from the quarry in its rude and natural and continue working our own stone and others state. As entered apprentice masons we were all will take notice. Being a good and tolerant man is chosen by our brothers the same way a stone contagious and the reason many men join our frawould be chosen by an operative mason to begin ternity when they see the example. We can never perfecting. The chosen stone is one that can be lose sight of that state of perfection at which we all made perfect otherwise it would have never been hope to arrive. We must continue our education, picked from the quarry. our own endeavors, and always look to the great Architect. The Grand Master recently sent out a policy reFraternally, garding social media and how we should conduct ourselves as masons when on different outlets and Eric DuPree public forums when the perception of who we are Junior Grand Steward 2020-2021 will be judged by the profane. Using the gavel to knock off the rough parts of our own stones is never easy. I know at times for me that help may be needed from a close brother to help remind me of those parts that still need to be made smooth and free from rough edges. Keeping in mind the point within the circle and subduing our passions is a way to begin the process. As we advance thru the degrees of masonry,
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