091106-170

Weekly Masonic Newsletter 6 November 2009

Number 170

Order your Christmas Tree or Wreaths Proceeds to support Quincy Masonic Building

Whatever happened to Santa?

Mystery Dinner at Quincy Masonic Building

Swansong on 3 December RW Lonnie Piper’s last visit

Rural Lodge AF&AM

1170 Hancock Street, Quincy MA, USA

www.RuralLodge.org Answering service: 781 682 8206

Master 2009-2010 Wor William S McFadden

Rural Lodge

Mystery Dinner The dinner itself is no mystery – succulent roast beef with all the traditional accompaniments.

Delicious!

at “Harrison’s Department Store” aka the Function Hall at Quincy Masonic Building 1170 Hancock Street What really happened to the department store’s Santa?

What secrets is Harrison’s hiding from the world Sunday 13 December at 4:00pm Dress: holiday attire

All are welcome

New Book: Jay Kinney— The Masonic Myth Editor: Last week we printed the interview by TIME Magazine with Jay Kinney Editor: I found this book to be excellent, informative and wellwritten. Certainly it contains information that you might also find in Chris Hodapp’s excellent Freemasons for Dummies, or S Brent Morris’ Complete Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry, but it contains other information besides. To some brethren it might reveal too much about Freemasonry, but it does keep our essential secrets veiled, and I find it not to be objectionable in this regard.

You might think from its somewhat sensational title that it is an expose. Technically it is just that (just as Brent Morris and Chris Hoddapp’s books are) but it is certainly not a ranting and hostile revelation – it is a sympathetic and informative take on the topic. It does not aggressively ‘debunk conspiracy theories” (as in the subtitle) by attacking them head-on, it calmly relates the true histories, and treats them in a temperate, Masonic fashion.

Worth adding to your library!

RW Graeme Marsden

BOOK REVIEW: 'The Masonic Myth': A California Mason and Scholar Debunks Conspiracy Theories About Freemasonry Reviewed By David M Kinchen Huntington News Huntington CA 26 October 2009 This fall is a mini Golden Age for those interested in symbols -- especially those connected with the various forms of Freemasonry.

Dan Brown, author of the mega-best selling "The DaVinci Code" and other books about symbolism and the occult, has just published "The Lost Symbol," bringing back symbologist Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor who figured prominently in "The DaVinci Code." (He was played by Tom Hanks in the movie version). I haven't read the latest Dan Brown novel, but it sounds a lot like the "National Treasure" movies starring Nicolas Cage, with its setting in Washington DC. and the formation of Freemasonry.

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MASONIC MYTH BOOK REVIEW The Discovery Channel has just aired a fascinating two-part series, "The Secret History of Freemasons." It explores Masonic symbols and rituals, including the ritual murder of Hiram Abiff, an ancient Hebrew architect, As Jay Kinney explains in "The Masonic Myth: Unlocking the Truth About the Symbols, the Secret Rites, and the History of Freemasonry" (Harper One, 288 pages, $15.99) it's proper to capitalize the word "Mason" when it refers to a speculative or philosophical Mason; an actual stoneworking one is lower-cased: "mason." This sounds like snobbery to me, but Kinney says its just a way of distinguishing the guys who did the work, the operative masons, as opposed to the mostly soft-handed "accepted" speculative Masons who joined the guilds in their 18th Century beginnings.

Kinney, a Bay Area writer and cartoonist who grew up in the Midwest, joined the Masons in 2001, after years of wondering about it. He writes that Freemasons have been connected to the all-seeing eye on the dollar bill, the French Revolution, the Knights Templar, and the pyramids of Egypt. Masons have been rumored to be everything from a cabal of elite power brokers ruling the world to a covert network of occultists and pagans intent on creating a new world order, to a millennia-old brotherhood perpetuating ancient wisdom through esoteric teachings. Their secret symbols, rituals and organization have remained shrouded for centuries and spawned theory after theory. Kinney says that the truth -- at least as he sees it -- is far more compelling than the myths created both by Masons and the huge throng of anti-Masons.

Despite the fact that many of the nation's founding fathers -- like George Washington, John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin -- were members of Freemasonry lodges, Kinney writes that anti-Masonry has always been a part of the nation's history. Much of the opposition to this secret society stemmed from the belief that Masons practiced occult, pagan, even sexual rituals in their version of a parallel religion. Kinney notes that this anti-Masonry often had elements of anti-Semitism, since Scottish Rite masons accepted Jews and members of other non-Christian religions, at a time -- the early 19th Century -- that Jews were excluded from many organizations. (York Rite Masons are still an essentially Christian organization).

Kinney explains the symbols of the "Craft" -- as some Masons refer to Freemasonry -- and their origin and explores alternative forms of Freemasonry. I was surprised to learn that there are Catholic Freemasons, which was explored in depth in the Discovery Channel series. It's no secret that the Roman Catholic church is definitely on the side of the anti-Masons. In fact, Freemasonry is thriving in much of Europe -- including nominally Catholic countries like France and Italy -- at a time when it is declining in the US, Kinney notes. He adds that most US Masons are eligible for AARP, and even Medicare.

Younger men aren't interested in hanging out with men old enough to be their fathers and grandfathers, he writes, and American Freemasonry has declined mightily from its peak membership in the 1960s. Sounds like newspaper circulation to this reviewer, a veteran journalist! There certainly is a link between older people and print newspaper readers.

Kinney believes that the interest in Freemasonry thrived when religion became increasingly feminized. Guys needed to hang out with other guys and attending a lodge meeting was an early form of Guys' Night Out. In the early days of Freemasonry, he notes, the meetings were held in private rooms in taverns and food and drink -- especially drink -- flowed like, well, like wine.

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MASONIC MYTH BOOK REVIEW This may have influenced anti-Masonry among fundamentalist Christians, who've long been behind prohibition of alcohol. On the other hand, Kinney writes that the Ku Klux Klan -- predominantly fundamentalist Christian in membership -- recruited for members among Masons. The title of Kinney's book is somewhat misleading, because he doesn't really give away any secrets. He includes an extensive bibliography for further reading and explains the various degrees of membership in the Blue Lodge, York and Scottish Rite forms of Freemasonry. He also defends the moral and charitable work of Freemasonry.

I'm not a Mason, although a couple of decades ago, I was approached by a Scottish Rite Mason and invited to join a lodge in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. I'm fascinated by symbolism and ritual, but I'd rather be on the outside looking in than on the inside looking out.

I recommend "The Masonic Myth" to similarly inclined readers.

About the author: Jay Kinney for 15 years was the publisher and editor of Gnosis, a journal exploring esoteric traditions and spiritual paths. He is a member of Mill Valley Lodge #356 and Mission Lodge #169, F&AM, in California. He's a member of both the York and Scottish Rites of Freemasonry.

A SECOND REVIEW Blog Critics

By Regis Schilken Many years ago, I started to caddy at a golf course. As a greenhorn, I worked there for several days, but then one of the veteran caddies told me I couldn’t keep working unless I was initiated. When I asked “Why,” I was told it was a secret. When I asked what initiation was like. I was told, “It’s a secret, I can’t tell you.” When I asked how long initiation had been going on, no one knew; "Years, many years!"

Initiation consisted of stripping naked in the woods, and having my clothing thrown up over tree limbs or into jagged blackberry bushes. After reading The Masonic Myth, my initiation rite into the secret caddy group with its secret or forgotten history reminded me of the Masons with their alleged secret symbols, secret rites, and secret or at least alleged history.

Masonic symbols have fascinated masons and non-masons for centuries. One reason for secrecy is this: a symbol “might” have a basic general meaning or it can have whatever meaning a Mason gives it.

Originally, Masonic symbols stood for the tools stone masons carried during medieval times. These men wore waist aprons where they kept their plumbs, squares, and levels, used to create the magnificent cathedrals and monuments, many of which still stand.

These same tools came to have a deeper meaning: a plumb with its cord symbolized that the stone mason should walk proud and upright before the eyes of his fellowman and the all-seeing eye of God. The 90 degree angle of the L-shaped square meant that a man would “square his actions” by demonstrating solid virtue and morality before God and man. The level symbolized that all men are equal in nature, balanced — side by side, so to speak.

These symbols can be seen on the apron worn by Masons today during ritualistic events in their temples. One of the pictures shown here is George Washington, adorned with his apron, giving an address in a Masonic lodge. Masonic symbols are far too many to count. Yet, one can look at almost any one symbol and give it a meaning where truth, honor, justice, and a proper way of life are concerned.

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MASONIC MYTH BOOK REVIEW On one side of a U.S. dollar bill, one can see a pyramid above thirteen stacked layers, probably of stone. Atop it sits a piercing all-seeing eye of God. The bill also reads Novus Ordo Seclorum: A New Order for the Ages. Is this to be interpreted that our founding fathers thought the newly formed United States to be a “New Order?” Or could it simply mean that Freemasonry should be the “New Order” for the ages? In reality, both of these meanings blend together to make good sense.

What about the secret rites and rituals of Masonic gatherings? Once again, according to The Masonic Myth, these activities are probably kept secret because they are very mundane, somewhat uninteresting, and “much ado about nothing.” The ritual for becoming a mason requires the initiate to wear special clothing. He must knock three times on the secret inner chamber door, and then once admitted, he is led around the room blindfolded while tethered to another member.

Next, he is questioned, sometimes repeatedly, for answers to questions about Masonry’s past history which varies considerably in Masonic libraries. In many cases, the candidate must give rather rote answers from a catechism, which is more like a secret unwritten work than anything definitely factual. Finally, the initiate must swear on his bible to uphold the truths and righteous living standards of all Masons everywhere.

Historically, Masonry traces itself back to two main sources: guilds of stonemasons and the Knights Templar of much earlier times. In order to protect their skills and wisdom, the medieval stone masons joined together in loosely formed pacts to protect the secrets of their trade. I used the word "wisdom" because many of the structures built by these remarkable stone masons still stand today. Lodge minutes dating back to 1599 have been uncovered in the British Isles of Scotland.

One can only imagine the innate engineering skill a stonemason had in order to make two towering Gothic columns meet in a central arch far above an aisle, apse, sanctuary, or main body of a church. Of course, they learned by their mistakes. After several structures collapsed, these masons developed the idea of flying buttresses to send the outward force of high archways to the outside perimeter of the building and into the ground.

The other highly speculative source for Masonry places it on Temple Mount, the alleged site of the original Temple of King Solomon. Some even claim that Masons actually built the King’s temple. To this day, many structures built by Freemasons for their ritualistic activities are modeled on a minor scale to represent Solomon’s vast temple network.

Most interesting is this: Freemasonry is not a religion. It does not attempt to indoctrinate a candidate with a particular brand of belief or faith. So what is its critical attribute? After reading The Masonic Myth I would have to answer: Freemasonry is an order of people historically united in spirit by a natural impulse to improve their world.

What has kept it alive down through the ages is its quest for self-knowledge and self-discipline. During the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, mankind began to turn away from a strictly religious interpretation of life. People began to endorse a more scientific outlook, searching to know about the world — what made it tick — and about their own physical and mental make-up. Fear of religious reprisal or interference was waning.

If you read The Masonic Myth, you will learn that Freemasonry’s very secrecy protects its ideals and its members. It is an order for common folks, you and me, who are free to openly express feelings of caring and support for one another. Most religions have strict rituals, statues, prayers. But the rituals of the Freemasons are symbols of personal integrity and an inner spiritual search to build a better world. Their symbols are a constant inner and outer reminder of this noble quest.

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MASONIC MYTH BOOK REVIEW If you are an historian, you will enjoy reading The Masonic Myth. If you are a Mason, you will enjoy the book’s slant on Freemasonry “rumors, accusations, and hoaxes." If you are ignorant like me, suspicious of Masonry, you’ll find this book pleasantly enlightening. If you attend a particular church, you will find Masonry is not an organization or movement to be feared. I would recommend this book to all interested readers because in its own quiet secret way, Freemasonry might be doing a better job of rejuvenating our world than any organized religion.

TN: Fate of Masons home remains up in the air Historic Nashville suggests state to use property

By Angela Patterson The Tennesseean 30 October 2009 The Home for Aged Masons is one of the structures on the Nashville Nine list, which names structures Historic Nashville Inc. says should be saved. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

It's one of two remaining buildings from a campus that once housed hundreds of people.

And after years of little maintenance, the Home for Aged Masons on RS Gass Boulevard in Inglewood is in dire straits.The paint is slowly fading from the columns of the Colonial Revival-style home, which was built by the Tennessee Masons to house widows and orphans of Masonic members. Rust covers exposed metal on the edges of the roof and the downspouts.

And some of the windows that were once boarded have lost their protective coverage, allowing nature and the elements to aid in the deterioration of the home. But the home's structure is still sound, which is one of the reasons it's one of nine properties on Historic Nashville Inc.'s 2009 Nashville Nine list, which highlights properties in the area that could be saved from neglect and, eventually, demolition."We got right at 30 nominations, and one thing we were looking at was having a diverse array of property types, including a mix of private and public," said David Price, Historic Nashville Inc. president. "This building is a representation of the history of the Masons in Nashville, and the architecture is great. We wanted it as a part of Nashville Nine to highlight it."

Because of its rich architectural and social history, staffers at Historic Nashville suggested that the state of Tennessee, which has owned the property since the 1940s, should reuse the building or lease it to an area nonprofit. Since 2005, the owner of a local nonprofit has worked with state and local officials to take over the property. But recently the state said it would be keeping the property as part of a master plan for a state facilities expansion. That plan most likely does not include saving the building in its entirety.

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TN HOME FOR AGED MASONS Once a thriving campus The Free and Associated Masons in 1886 founded a home for widows and orphans, which was built on land given by railroad entrepreneur Jere Baxter. But by 1913, the Grand Lodge purchased an additional five acres near the widows and orphans home to build a home for elderly Masons. The Masons hired local architect Asmus and Norton, who'd also designed the Cathedral of the Incarnation, to design the home. The building is one of the only remaining Asmus-designed hospital/dorm buildings left in Nashville.

The home was completed in 1915, and by 1926 the campus had more than 100 acres and several buildings, including a school, a gym and a dining hall. But in the mid-1920s, local lodges began to provide financial assistance to families so they could stay in their home communities. By 1940, only 13 residents remained at the home. All but two of the buildings had been closed by then.

In April 1941, the almost 200 acres and associated buildings were sold to the state for $125,000. The remaining residents were transferred to a leased property on Antioch Pike. The Widows and Orphans Home Fund continues to operate.In 1941, the home became the Middle Tennessee Tuberculosis Hospital, which would become the site of some of the leading training in thoracic medicine in the South in the 1950s and '60s. In the 1970s, the property was turned over to the Tennessee Department for Public Health for office space. It moved out in the 1990s.

Nonprofit president gets involved By 2005, the Home for Aged Masons had sat empty for more than a decade. But Lisa Spells, president of the LAS Therapy Network and Development Group, thought it would be the perfect place to house her 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which offers speech, hearing and other rehabilitation services.

"The Home for Aged Masons is strategically located and easily accessible to all, especially individuals with disabilities," Spells said. "This facility has been formerly used by the State Department of Health, (and is) therefore recognizable to the industry. The Masons' contributions to architectural design require preservation, use and recognition.'' Between 2005 and now, Spells worked to have the building transferred to her nonprofit.

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TN HOME FOR AGED MASONS Spells has two large binders filled with papers documenting meetings with local and state officials about her plans for the property. Documents show she was allowed to access the premises at any time, sign documents as a contact person and apply for eligibility for cleanup funds through the EPA Region 4 office. She also said she was aided in getting the property put on the National Register of Historic Places, and she worked to secure people willing to donate goods and services to help preserve the structure. Spells not only has documents supporting both these claims, but also suggested that officials were aware of her actions.

Nothing in writing And while she spent time and effort doing this work, Spells said there was never a written document promising transition of the property. Because of her first conversation with state officials, which was referenced in a letter to Assistant Commissioner Dottie Hagood dated Jan. 28, 2009, Spells believed her "sweat equity" could result in transferring the property to her nonprofit. But such a deal was never put in writing.

Spells received a letter from Hagood on April 22, 2009, stating that the property was part of a master plan for the expansion of state facilities, which was approved by the state building commission in 2001. Therefore, her request for transition of the property was denied.

The master plan is actually one color-coded map of the 221 acres, bordered by Ellington Parkway, Hart Lane and the Seaboard Systems Railroad, where state facilities are located. The map shows the buildings on the site, which include the TBI headquarters and the postmortem facility, and the 12 buildings that are proposed for that site. Lola Potter, public information officer for the state Department of Finance and Administration, said the old home was a prime location for a new or renovated facility, but it was her understanding that the building was not suitable for renovation.

'Demolition by neglect' The master plan actually proposes demolition of the building because of costs and adaptability, according to correspondence sent to Spells by Hagood. "We have been hesitant to demolish the building without a specific purpose for a couple of reasons," Potter said. "The building is on the National Historical Register and therefore has historic value. However, the cost to demolish the facility will be significant, considering the environmental concerns. Given the state's financial position for the past couple of years and the immediate future, it is not a high priority at this time. "Saving the building, from the historic preservation concept, is admirable, but funding such an effort is not in the state's immediate future."

Dan Brown, Tennessee Preservation Trust executive director, could see the Home for Aged Masons being reworked to house another facility, but he said he's concerned the state will not properly maintain it. After an extended period of neglect, officials will claim it is unsalvageable and move to demolish it, he said. "We call this 'demolition by neglect,' and it's a nationwide problem for empty historic buildings owned by government," Brown said. "It is an all-too-common problem in Tennessee that we have seen too many times, and that we address each year in our 'Ten in Tennessee Most Endangered Historic Sites' listing. This building is in real peril, and unnecessarily so. Hopefully, the state will move quickly to save this National Register treasure

Letters to the Editor of the New York Times ‘The Lost Symbol’ 30 October 2009

While I enjoyed Maureen Dowd’s sendup of “The Lost Symbol,” by Dan Brown, I think she is off base in characterizing the Masons as “the ultimate elite private boys’ club.” My father, a poor immigrant Jew, was a Mason — to help him be one of the boys at work, he said. And although there are plenty of elaborate and imposing Scottish Rite temples, around here (Charleston SC) there are far more plain, whitewashed cinder-block buildings whose members, in the local custom, are probably black. I see far more Masonic symbols on old Buicks than on new Mercedeses. My impression is that Masonry has served a useful function as a social club for working-class folk, whatever other adherents it may have among the elite of our nation’s capital.

OK: Masonic Lodge raises $9,000 for kidney transplant fund Alva Review-Courier 29 October 2009 Exchanging batter for dough. - Gilbert Michaelis, master of the Alva Masonic Lodge, presents a check for $9,120 to Bailey Rhodes and her parents, Earnest and Mary Rhodes. Members of the Masonic Lodge and the Cedar Grove “Friends of Bailey” are from left: Earl Fleming, Norm Lancaster, Russell Erikson, Linda Erikson, Angela Rose, Bobby Warfield, Phil Burrow, Barbara Faulkner and Max Faulkner

Al Alva Masonic Lodge hosted a benefit pancake and sausage supper for Bailey Rhodes, a 12-year-old Alva Middle School student in need of a kidney transplant.

“Friends of Bailey Rhodes” from the Cedar Grove community assisted with the supper which raised $9,120 to help defray costs of Bailey’s medical expenses. Bailey and her mother, Mary Rhodes, travel to Oklahoma City three times a week for dialysis.

'The Lost Symbol'

By Harold K. Bush Jr. St Louis POST-DISPATCH 1 November 2009 Brown's novel… should give us all deep concern about the state of our nation and, perhaps, of ourselves.

Harold K Bush Jr is a professor of English at St. Louis University and the author of "Mark Twain and the Spiritual Crisis of His Age." Dan Brown's latest blockbuster, "The Lost Symbol," reveals a lot about our current cultural milieu. Within the meandering plotline of this mediocre work, produced by one of the best-selling novelists in American history, there are revelations to be found about contemporary American spirituality. To ignore Brown is to ignore America's occult foundations: our lengthy fascination with various supernaturally inclined secret societies like the Masons and the Rosicrucians, our paranoid fears regarding said secret groups and our common predilection for gnostic approaches to belief.

Occult is a strong word, of course, but it is apropos for the eclectic epistemologies that remain hidden, secret knowledge known only to a few initiates. Christianity is just too darned simple. And so, besides the flagrantly occultic and flat-out weird beliefs of this novel's chief villain, as well as lengthy accounts of Freemasonry, Brown presents encyclopedic passages explaining with a straight face the supposed findings of "noetic science": the alleged scientific evidence suggesting the mind's power to alter reality, evidence that becomes crucial to the plot. Like his other fictions, which include "The DaVinci Code," "The Lost Symbol" attests to America's strong interest in the occult and New Ageisms, a growing disenchantment with traditional faiths, and a warmed-over humanism.

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PROF BUSH’S COMMENTS ON THE LOST SYMBOL For another, and related to this, Brown's novels are perhaps at their best when illuminating the desperation characterizing broad segments of American popular phenomena. Brown's worlds are haunted by paranoid fears of sinister unseen groups with hidden agendas. These cabals, says Brown, have undertaken all sorts of mayhem and manipulation in their attempts to control the present and the future, to domineer over the master narratives of our history (controlling the future is another major theme of the occult). In Brown's previous books, these authoritarian regimes have included the Catholic church and various historical entities such as the Knights Templar and the Illuminati, made up of world class geniuses like DaVinci or Isaac Newton (who makes a return appearance here).

In "The Lost Symbol," such figures are supplanted by American heroes such as George Washington. But the chief source of fear is Mal'akh, a deeply disturbed antagonist tattooed over his entire body, a weight lifter and a mystic all in one. Creepy indeed, but credible in our contemporary culture of no-holds-barred criminal pathologies. Brown insists on the individual's ability to decode and therefore interpret a vast array of strange and foreboding signs to discover ancient, profound truths. Thus does his view of the transcendent self comport well with therapeutic models of contemporary America, where self-esteem reigns.

Interpretation is difficult, to be sure; and yet, if we can prove ourselves worthy, his stories assure us, we will find the hidden enlightenment of long-lost truths. For this latest book, the so-called "lost word" is central, along with the long-lost pyramid of the Masons, with its solid-gold capstone — two artifacts that together reveal the entrance into a legendary spiral staircase descending into the bowels of Washington, where the "ancient mysteries" might be found.

Finally, there are within the pages of "The Lost Symbol" some pretty slick (and often wildly incorrect) depictions of both the American past and its overarching Christian and/or esoteric belief systems (by now, a standard feature of Brown novels), meaning that readers should be prepared to handle all sorts of nonsensical conceptions. It's like watching certain films by Oliver Stone: One must be careful about deciding which facts are "true" to history, and which are nothing but microwaved piles of balderdash. Thus do I urge that we approach "The Lost Symbol" and the other novels of Brown with tongue firmly in cheek. They all speak to a general historical fuzziness in American popular culture, a fuzziness, by the way, that does not seem particularly troublesome to most readers these days.

In these and other ways, "The Lost Symbol," like those endless commercials for wonder drugs or those insipid "debates" on cable "news" channels, can tell us a lot about what we Americans obsess over and what we value. It's Oprah meets Joe McCarthy, with a dash of dazzling Harvardesque psychobabble thrown in for good measure. As such, "The Lost Symbol" documents a deeply confused culture, handcuffed by fears and paranoia, shackled by unseen forces beyond its control, and yet ultimately believing that truth does in fact exist (but probably in some esoteric form that only worthy souls can discover), and that humans are divine, when rightly understood.

Brown's novel, in short, should give us all deep concern about the state of our nation and, perhaps, of ourselves.

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.

Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.

Henry David Thoreau

hosted by: Pot of Gold Court, Order of the Amaranth November 14th at 6:00 PM Braintree Masonic Building Dinner includes salad, beef stew, vegetarian chili and dessert $15 pp / $25 per couple

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Wreaths are decorated two sides and are perfect for hanging in a window where they can be viewed from both sides.

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The Birth of Free-Masonry; the Creation of a Myth Part 5 of 6 Bro Eric Ward, AQC This study is concerned with the age of our society.

It is not an attempt to make it seem older than it is, for an unquestionably great history does not need to be given an artificial patina.

Eric Ward, Ars Quatuor Coronatorum vol. 91 (for 1978) pp. 77-86 ISBN: 0 9502001 6 6.

The observation by Anderson (1723 Constitutions, p. 40 will be recalled that 'in the reign of King James II, though some Roman buildings were carried on, the lodges of Free-Masons in London much dwindled into ignorance by not being duly frequented and cultivated'. Remove the words in my italics, modernize the word ignorance which now means apathy and we have a situation which really existed. And not only was it true but it now provides a problem which, although of profound significance to the history of the Craft, Is outside the scope of this paper. All the 17th century lodges, e.g. London (Acception), Warrington and Chester, of which we have any knowledge seem to have disappeared by 1717 and, of the four old lodges which came together to establish the premier Grand Lodge of London and Westminster, there is no acceptable record of their being directly descended from those earlier ones. Thus there can be no doubt that in the second decade of the 18th century there was a revival, but only of the movement which had begun in the previous century.

THE MASON WORD AND ITS APPENDAGES Those scholars willing to concede that the historical evidence points unmistakably towards Free and Accepted Masonry being created independently of, rather than as a development from, the building trade are inclined to shudder at the further proposition that secret signs, tokens and words had no place in the repertoire of the English operative mason at any period.

There exists in English archives an incredibly vast body of antiquarian documents, manuscript records of building works and information concerning the customs of the crafts through the centuries. Yet we do not know of a single document indicating that a mason word, etc., was ever an operative institution in England south of the border counties.

The earliest (English) printed reference as yet known is dated 1672 and comes from a passing comment in Andrew Marvell's Rehearsal Transprosed 'as those that have the masons word secretly discern one another.' From the context in which it was used, this observation obviously applied to a contemporary custom and at that late date could only refer either to English accepted/ adopted masons or to Scottish operatives. The English building industry had by then developed on lines closer to those obtaining now than in medieval times.

Arms of the London Company of Masons

The original function of secret modes of recognition among operative masons appears to have been to distinguish between skilled craftsmen who belonged to their fraternity and ambitious semi-skilled 'foreigners' who did not. It served a useful purpose in 17th and early 18th century Scotland only because it suited the conditions which obtained there, the industry differing greatly from that in England. It was also very much smaller and thereby compact enough to permit overall regulation by an authority higher than the local lodge. Without some such supervision, the mason word and its appendages would have been of little value as an operative institution.

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In England, with a population many times that of Scotland, had it at any time been customary for secret modes of recognition to prevail among working masons, an effective administrative organization capable of exercizing authority and preserving uniformity would have had to be set up on a nationwide scale. Furthermore, it would have had to have been maintained over a long period. It is inconceivable that any such administration could have existed without any trace of it surviving.

Impressment was common by the aAmy and Navy in Britain.

Eric Ward points out that it occurred in the Operative Masons.

The stark fact that in 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and even 17th century England impressment was a common method of recruiting masons for important works, such as those for the King, is evidence in itself that skill rather than the possession of secret words was the key factor in determining a workman's suitability for employment. Evidence that this did not apply only to Royal works Is supplied by the York Fabric Rolls. When additional personnel were needed for the rebuilding of the choir at York Minster in 1370, Robert of Patrington the master mason and twelve other masons were called before their employers and required on oath to observe the conditions of engagement. The first of these was that each mason be given one week's trial in order to demonstrate his skill and assiduity. It was customary for one of the King's officers to tour the district enlisting suitable masons, taking with him a master mason evidently as the technical examiner. Henry Yevele was one in 1381.

The existence over centuries of the ad-hoc impressment system supports the contention that no national regulating body was set up by the masons for had there been one it would surely have acted as the channel for supplying labour. In the 17th century such a function was indeed taken on by the London Masons' Company for dealing with works in and about the capital.

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Victoria: Masons in merger The Bendigo Advertiser 27 October 2009 A historic and rare event took place in Bendigo over the weekend as three Masonic Lodges merged.

The amalgamation between Zenith Lodge No. 52, Eaglehawk Lodge No. 55, and Sandhurst Lodge No. 194 took place on Saturday at the McIvor Road lodge.

The three lodges date back to the 1800s, and the new Sir John Quick Lodge is the first new one to be created in many years in Bendigo. Sir John Quick was selected as the title because of his historical connections and significance to Bendigo and Australia. Sir John Quick was a Freemason, who, in 1899, became the Master of the Zenith Lodge, and, in 1914, became the Deputy Grand Master or the United Grand Lodge of Victoria. During his younger years he worked at the Bendigo Evening News and at the Bendigo Independent Newspaper as an assistant and junior reporter.

Sir John Quick Lodge No. 933 was consecrated and Alex Trantor was installed as the first Master of the Lodge - the ceremonies were followed by a banquet at the Bendigo Club, attended by 180 people.

Mr Trantor said both ceremonies were conducted by the Most Worshipful Past Grand Master and a team of Grand Lodge Officers from Melbourne.

MO: Inside the AASR Temple

By Jeff Martin The Examiner Blue Springs MO 29 October 2009 Kansas City, MO For an alleged secret society, the fraternal order of Freemasonry appears to be anything but nowadays.

The subject of books and movies, Freemasons are enjoying (or tolerating, depending on whom you ask) a level of worldwide scrutiny and interest that is part public relations campaign designed to refute rumors and hoaxes, and part strategic maneuver to recruit new members.

David Phillips, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason who lives in North Kansas City, said he and other members are trying to reintroduce the fraternity to the public in whatever way they can – mostly by talking casually about the organization, which through the centuries has been considered secretive and even dangerous.“ Someone said it best on a program I was watching recently,” he said. “’If we’re a secret society, we’re not doing a good job.’ And that’s a true to an extent, but this is as far as a non-Mason will get, standing here in the hall.”

The Scottish Rite Temple at 1330 Linwood Blvd. in Kansas City. Opened in 1929 the building is of classic Greek design of the Ionic Order by the ancient mausoleum at Halicarnassus in Caria with 32 exterior columns, 10 on each side and 12 across the front.

Accompanied by friends, including Hector Lugo, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason from Blue Springs, Phillips took a good long look and regarded the grand auditorium of the Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple with a quiet reverence. It is here, among the plush seating and marble architecture, that many of the ceremonies are held. “This is a special place,” Phillips said. “I love David Phillips, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason talks coming here.” about the library of the The Scottish Rite Temple at 1330 Linwood Blvd. in Kansas City while giving a tour of the building.

Opened in 1929 the Kansas City temple is of classic Greek design of the Ionic Order, its architecture inspired by the ancient mausoleum at Halicarnassus in Caria. It contains 32 columns on its exterior, 10 on each side and 12 across the front. One of the main reasons why the facility was constructed where it was, according to Phillips, was its geographic location. “It’s the highest point geographically in this area,” he said. “Many, if not most, of the Masonic buildings were built according to a set of sacred dimensions.”

Freemasons in Kansas City haven’t been at the temple since its opening. They left in 1939 and moved to other locations, moving back to the building on Linwood in 1971.

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The entry vestibule of the Scottish Rite Temple at 1330 Linwood Blvd. in Kansas City is decorated with Pavonazzo, Kasota Belgium, Tennessee and Verde antique marble.

KANSAS CITY MASONS Since then, the building has undergone significant changes, including $2 million worth of improvements during the past two years. “Most of it has been cosmetic,” Phillips said. “One room on one of the upper floors has been restored back to its original look. It was in bad shape when they came back in 1971.”

Entrance vestibules within the temple are decorated with bronze grille work set in Pavonazzo marble, and the main foyer floor is of Kasota Belguim, Tennessee and Verde antique marble – almost a testament to the organization’s lasting power, influence and skill of its members.

One of four stained glass windows adorned with maMembership at the Kansas City temple is about 3,000, Phillips sonic symbols that hang in the ballroom of the Scotsaid. The number has fallen, he said, but of those who are ac- tish Rite Temple in Kansas City. tive members, they frequently engage in civic activities. They help with speech therapy, and the temple itself serves as a concert and events hall. People can also rent it for weddings. In Eastern Jackson County, there are active lodges, but numbers are falling there, too. In Blue Springs, Lodge 337 is inactive. But Lodge 76 in Independence, to which Lugo belongs, is still active. “We have our growing pains, too,” he said. “It’s changed a lot through the years.”

According to the Masonic Service Association, as many as 3 million men were Freemasons in 1924. Membership reached its peak in 1959 with 4.1 million. In 2008, 1.4 million men were registered Freemasons.“We’re contending with a lot of factors,” Phillips said. Himself a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, One of four stained glass windows adorned with mahe is hoping to become a Junior Warden in 2012 for the Parksonic symbols that hang in the ballroom of the Scotville Lodge. “People are busier and there are more diversions, tish Rite Temple in Kansas City. like television and video games.”Also, whereas traditional Freemasons encouraged and required memorization of texts and related materials, such emphasis is losing appeal.

“And I don’t generally disagree with that,” Phillips said.

“People change. Our minds work differently than they did years ago. We’re stimulated by so much more in our surroundings.”

Although there are many beliefs, the origin of Freemasonry goes back nearly 2,000 years ago. While some believe the organization was founded by Dr. James Anderson in 1717, most believe the real founder was King Herod Agrippa. Its original name was The Mysterious Force, but that was changed to Freemasons in 1717.

Famous Freemasons include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Harry S. Truman, who visited the Scottish Rite Temple frequently.In spite of the grandiosity of some meeting halls, the society’s aim is almost simple and modest: to form solid citizens, forge social networks, mend social divisions, and support philanthropic causes.

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David Phillips, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason wears a ring bearing a Masonic emblem on his left hand.

KANSAS CITY MASONS To begin the process of becoming a Freemason, applicants must ask to join and are then vetted and voted upon. Requirements include the belief in a supreme being and having a good solid character.

Lugo, who joined the Independence Lodge 76 in 1988, said he joined based on stories he’d heard while in Europe. At that time, he was working in intelligence for the United States military.

“Many Masons are or were in the military,” he said. Yet there Four stained glass windows adorned with masonic are additional reasons for Lugo. A member of the 10th Dimension Paranormal Group, Hugo and other members often visit the symbols hang in the ballroom of the Scottish Rite Kansas City temple to explore its interior, searching for super- Temple in Kansas City. natural activity – an activity that complements Freemasonry, Phillips said.“ Our existence is a pretty complex one,” Phillips said. “There is more to the world than what the five senses can perceive.”

Hector Lugo, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason from Blue Springs and fellow Scottish Rite Mason Mike Lockwood talk in the grand auditorium of the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City.

MA: Recent Exhibit at National Heritage Museum The Grand Lodge Of Masons In Massachusetts: Celebrating 275 Years Of Brotherhood Frances McQueeney-Jones Mascolo Antiques and Arts Online 16 June 2009 The 1790 Liverpool pitcher decorated with an image of an Independent Boston Fusilier was one of 100 given to each member of that company by Charlestown Mason Samuel Jenks, and it is decorated with Masonic elements.

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which was St John's Lodge, convened originally at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston, moving later to the colonial hotspot, the 1643 Green Dragon Tavern, which the lodge purchased in 1764 and used until 1818. The Green Dragon was also the unofficial headquarters of the American Revolution. Samuel Adams, Joseph Warren, Paul Revere, the Committee of Correspondence and the Sons of Liberty all met there. The participants in the Boston Tea Party set forth from the Green Dragon, and Revere set out on his midnight ride from there.

Editor: St John's Grand Lodge was founded at a meeting at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in 1733, and remained on of its several venues. St Andrew’s Grand Lodge owned the Green Dragon.

The lower floor was the tavern; an upper floor was for meetings and events for Freemasons and others; the top floor provided sleeping accommodations for travelers. While many of the leading lights of the Revolution were members of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, British soldiers occupying Boston were also among the brethren.

The tavern was marked by a large and ferocious-looking copper dragon, which had oxidized to green. When the building was torn down to make way for the widening of the street in 1828, the dragon disappeared mysteriously and the Lodge of St Andrew commissioned a sandstone replacement, which was installed in the new building in 1855. That dragon is on view in the exhibit.

"The Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts" tracks the history of American Freemasonry through the impressive collection of artifacts and documents gathered over the existence of the lodge. In 2004, the Grand Lodge and the National Heritage Museum entered into a partnership under the terms of which they would share objects and documents. As a result, some 12,000 objects came from the lodge to the museum. Another 70,000 historic pieces remain at the lodge and are yet to be cataloged.

The exhibit is arranged chronologically, yet it allows each object to tell its own story.

The Masonic apron was made from an engraving by Edward Horsman in about 1814.

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MUSEUM EXHIBIT The objects are decorated with Masonic symbols, which are based on the tools used by stonemasons, and refer to careful construction and the analogous development of good character and morality. Such images include, but are not limited to, the all-seeing eye, the beehive, the compass and square, the serpent of astral light, pillars and the temple and the checkerboard floor, the extended hand and the bible or other sacred text. The various stonemasons' tools speak to the careful workmanship necessary to one's labors and personal, fraternal and community life.

The all-seeing eye represents the supreme being and is drawn from the ancient Hebrews and Egyptians, for whom the eye signified divine watchfulness. The beehive refers to the lodge and its precise and intricate construction, as well as to the industry within. It is used less regularly today than in the Nineteenth Century.

The compass and square allude to virtue and rectitude and revelation, righteousness and redemption. The pillars signifying King Solomon's Temple indicate strength and stability and stand on three stone steps that represent the three ages: youth, manhood and old age and the corresponding degrees of masonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft Mason and Master Mason. The letter "G" is an integral part of Masonic symbology and is said to have been originally a reference to geometry, key to Masonic craft, but is thought to have gained wider meaning as a reference to God. Freemason Paul Revere made wise use of his Masonic fraternity. He produced Masonic medals and officers' jewels and the circa 1765 silver punch ladle. He also engraved and sold Masonic summonses and certificates.

A gold urn on view in the exhibition was commissioned from colonial silversmith Paul Revere by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Created in the midst of the national mourning of the death of fellow Mason George Washington, it holds a lock of the president's hair. The lodge continues to use the urn for events such as the installation of a Grand Master.

Masonic aprons have been traditionally embellished with fraternal symbols derived from the stonemason's trade. A white lambskin apron, denoting innocence, is presented to each newly raised master Mason. It is not worn because of its fragility; members instead rely on cloth aprons, also decorated with symbols. The apron itself refers to the work aprons worn by stonemasons of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries.

An Eighteenth Century Liverpool creamware pitcher on view is one of 100 commissioned in about 1790 by Captain Samuel Jenks, a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a Mason, and presented to the Boston Fusiliers. It is polychromed and decorated with transfer ware images of a fusilier and Masonic imagery. A border proclaims, "Success to the Independent Boston Fusiliers, Incorporated July 4th, 1787."

The ritual and symbolism of Freemasonry gave rise to fervid anti-Freemasonry sentiment and conspiracy theorists in the Nineteenth Century. Several cartoons and other images on view are published examples. What had been trade secrets, passed from stonemason to stonemason, when adopted by Freemasons, assumed the proportions of sorcery, leaving nonmembers to imagine the worst. Regalia and ceremonial objects emblazoned with Masonic symbols confounded many and outraged the uninitiated.

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MUSEUM EXHIBIT Early colonial Freemasons included — in addition to Grand Master Price and Revere, who was the Deputy Grand Master — John Hancock, Samuel Adams and William Dawes. Others of note were Washington and Benjamin Franklin, who served as the Grand Master of Pennsylvania; 15 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons; of the 40 signers of the Constitution, 28 were members or had Masonic affiliation.

The Chinese Export porcelain punch bowl is decorated with Masonic symbols of columns, a square and compass and beehives.

George Washington was sworn in as president by Robert Livingston, Grand Master of the New York lodge; many of his generals were also Masons. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall was also a Mason.

American presidents who were Freemasons along with Washington were James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, James Polk, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, James Garfield, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Taft, Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Gerald Ford. Abraham Lincoln applied for membership but withdrew the application lest it be viewed as a means of gathering votes.

Lyndon Johnson received his first degree; however, his political duties prevented him from pursuing additional degrees. Ronald Reagan was an Honorary Mason.

Save the date!

Last Official Visit of the District Deputy Grand Master of the 8th Masonic District

RW Lonnie Piper Rural Lodge Thursday 3 December 2009 Quincy Masonic Building Dinner reservations to the JW of Rural Lodge Bro Matt Piper (Lonnie’s son)

Center for Research into Freemasonry & Fraternalism at Sheffield University CRFF Newsletter 43 October 2009 Dear colleagues and friends, October has been a busy month with a number of interesting events taking place in the UK and elsewhere.

With a slight delay we hope that you will appreciate following news. Look out for new publications among our Working Papers, as two are about to be published very soon. Our book on Freemasonry in Eighteenth century Russia is selling well, so make sure you order your copy right away!

All the best, Andreas Önnerfors 11 November ‘Masonic Conspiracy online’ PhD-candidate Dorothe Sommer will be lecturing as part of our Sheffield lecture series “Perceptions of Freemasonry” on the idea of Masonic conspiracy as represented on the Internet.

1 Upper Hanover Street S3 7RA Sheffield Events available on audio Our event on Dan Brown’s new novel “The Lost Symbol” was recorded and accessible in audio-format via our website under “News and Events”.

Prof Margaret C Jacob’s lecture on the paradoxes of modernity as represented in masonic sources from Bordeaux is also now available.

Study day on Freemasonry and the Jacobites at the Sorbonne, Saturday 5th December Jean-Pierre Brach and Jean-Pierre Laurant of the University of Paris, Paris IV Sorbonne as well as the journal Politica Hermetica (see www.politicahermetica.com/) are co-organising a study day on Jacobites and Freemasonry in Paris on the first weekend of December. We will post the final program on our website as soon as it has been made available. Two excellent British speakers, Dr. Steve Murdoch from the University of St. Andrews as well as Dr. Robert Collis from the CRFF in Sheffield will participate and we look forward to the outcome of this event.

Successful Canonbury conference on The Origins of Freemasonry The annual Canonbury Masonic Research Centre conference (co-organised by the CRFF), which this year centred on the topic of ‘The Origins of Freemasonry’, gathered an impressive line-up of eminent scholars in the field, such as professors Benimeli, Jacob, Stevenson and Prescott, as well as representatives of a new generation of scholarship, including the post-doctoral researchers Robert Péter, Robert Collis and Natalie Bayer and PhD-candidates, such as the promising Frank Albo from Peterhouse College, Cambridge.

A novelty in the conference programme was the organisation of a screening of the documentary “The Scottish Key”, hosted by Dr. Andrew Pink at the University College of London, which was followed by a discussion in the presence of the co-producer Tristan Boulard. The conference clearly witnessed a larger number of delegates than in previous years. Academics praised the scholarly quality of the presentations, whilst freemasons expressed contentment at the clear focus of the conference on the history of the craft.

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CENTER FOR RESEACH INTO FREEMASONRY A conference dinner at the newly refurbished The Canonbury, with world-class entertainment by the violinist Eugene Sarbu, provided an excellent forum for relaxed discussions between conference speakers and delegates. The conference touched upon the most relevant questions related to the origins of freemasonry, its religious roots, its significance for the early Enlightenment generation, its place in the identity formation within British pre-industrial artisan culture, as well as of late eighteenth-century Russian intellectuals. The phenomenon of English accepted freemasonry was treated, Rosicrucian myths were deconstructed and the place of freemasonry in the gothic revival of English architecture in the nineteenth-century were highlighted. These are just a few examples of the papers delivered and the most fascinating experience of conference participation were creative crossovers between various topics. The conference proceedings are now under preparation and the volume will constitute a major work of reference in the future.

German Quatuor Coronati is pushing the limits The German research lodge Quatuor Coronati No 808, under the United Grand Lodges of Germany (see www.quatuor-coronati.org/2.html), organised its 36th annual workshop between October 9th-11th on ‘Religion and Religious Enlightenment in Freemasonry’ in Espenau outside Cassel in Hesse.

The director of the CRFF attended and was elected a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the research lodge. Over a number of years Quatuor Coronati has taken the wise decision to open up its conferences to academic topics and participants. Papers presented included: Appearances of the religious; Esoteric religiosity and its importance for freemasonry; Religion and religiosity in early freemasonry; Church service and Masonic ritual: overlaps, differences, opposites; The importance of religion in contemporary German society; religious discourse in German freemasonry. The Master of QC lodge, Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Grün, stated: “We have to open up Masonic research to impulses in the academic world and our open conferences create an important interface for revitalisation and exchanges of knowledge”. Professor Monika Neugbauer-Wölk presented a much-praised overview of the hermetic origins of Masonic religiosity as represented in Anderson’s Constitutions. German research into freemasonry is developing a fruitful interaction between academic and Masonic world, the platform freimaurerforschung.de being a significant tool for networks between the German-speaking research community.

Sheffield Academic assumes the Chair of Quatuor Coronati Lodge in London We are pleased to announce that Dr. John Wade will be installed as Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076 on Thursday 12th November and we look forward to fruitful cooperation between the CRFF and the premier research lodge of the UGLE.

Seldom or never do we employ in our lodge meetings for that purpose for which (quite as much as for ceremonial purposes) they were intended (viz. for “expatiating on the mysteries of the Craft”) and perhaps our neglect to do so is because we have ourselves imperfectly realized what the mysteries are.

WL Wilmshurst

MA: NYC Excursion from Cape Cod Brother Israel Callahan from Fraternal Lodge in Centerville is scheduling a trip to New York City on Saturday December 5th.

This is an OPEN event so invite whomever you may know. The wives love it for shopping, the kids will want to see The Lion King on Broadway, and the Brothers can visit the Grand Lodge for a free tour. Get your picture taken at the Top of the Rock ( Rockefeller Center) or go see Ground Zero and pay your respects.

Location: Departure: Arrival: Destination: Return: Arrival: Cost: Contact:

Fraternal Lodge 1989 Falmouth Road, Centerville MA 02632 7am 11:30am New York City 7pm 11:30pm $45 per person Israel Callahan 508-360-7041 Fraternallodge@yahoo.com

All times are approximate and subject to change. Passengers under 18 MUST be accompanied by a legal guardian or responsible adult with written consent and emergency contact/health insurance information.

All profits will be donated to the Fraternal Lodge building for the purpose of much needed repairs and maintenance.

The Fraternal Lodge building houses the following charitable organizations: Fraternal Lodge Chapter Amaranth DeMolay for Boys Council Rainbow for Girls Commandery Widows Sons Grotto Please help keep a roof over their meetings by attending this fun excursion.

New Book about UGLE Ritual

By Reverend Brother Neville Barker Cryer This book is developed from a series of lectures that Rev Neville Barker Cryer has been giving at Masonic lodges throughout the country over the years. There is a demand from lodge members for a straightforward yet learned book that will guide the candidate through the various aspects of Masonic Ritual, including its meaning and origins, during the presentation of the particular ceremonies.

In this book Neville Barker Cryer gives the reader commentaries on the First, Second and Third Degrees as well as Royal Arch, elucidating for the candidate what can often be an obscure ceremony as well as putting it into a practical context. As always, these are written in the author’s inimitable style which has proved popular and which will encourage, inform and entertain the reader.

Book Review at Pietre-Stones Past Grand Chaplain UGLE; Prestonian Lecturer (1974); Batham Lecturer (1996/8). The Rev Neville Barker Cryer is a well-known Masonic author and international lecturer. He is a member of the oldest Lodge in York and a Past Master and Secretary of Lodge Quatuor Coronati, and thus has had every incentive and opportunity to learn about the distinctive contribution York Masonry has made in building the Craft and English Freemasonry. Neville Cryer is also a senior member of the SRIA, The Royal Order, the Operatives and the Order of Eri. His books include: The Arch & the Rainbow, Masonic Halls of England & Wales, I Just Didn’t Know That, and Cornwallis – the Family History, and York Mysteries Revealed.

Focus on the dot in the center for a while.

Then move your head forwards and backwards.

Are the circles moving?

India: Masonic property under siege Ajanta Chakraborty Times of India 28 October 2009 KOLKATA (Calcutta) DaVinci, Swami Vivekananda, Motilal Nehru, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, W C Bonnerjee, the Nawab of Pataudi. A society that has had such luminaries on its roll of members is being assailed by "trespassers" in the heart of Kolkata.

Wedged between Park Hotel and Karnani Mansion, the 123-acre sprawling property on 19 Park Street is owned by the Bengal Freemason Trust Association (BFTA), part of a worldwide fraternal organization that rose in medieval Europe. BFTA claims that its Park Street property has been overrun by a group of agitators. Branding them "anti-social", BFTA lodged several police complaints over the past few months.

Things came to a head during the Pujas when the agitators, under the banner of the Citu-backed Kolkata Sanstha O Dokan Karmochari Samity, allegedly stopped BFTA members from entering their office. The imbroglio has continued since. The agitators have set up a podium beside the sprawling lawns and are crying themselves hoarse on microphones.

Swami Vivekananda

The demonstrators claimed they were employed by a decorating firm, S Enterprise. According to BFTA, the decorator was asked to vacate the property after the contract expired in March, 2009. But the protesters refused to budge, demanding an alternative livelihood from the philanthropic organisation.

They have compared their plight to that of villagers left in the lurch by the Nano pullout. BFTA chairman Iqbal Ahmed, a mason since 1965, said, "It's very sad that a city which swears by its rich heritage should turn a blind eye to the assault on this great historical institution. Even the law-keepers (police, administration and Kolkata Municipal Corporation) have chosen to be apathetic."

About 10 days ago, Park Street police station and policemen from DC (south)'s office escorted BFTA members Sudip Dutta and D Sen back to the Park Street mansion after they were allegedly thrown out. K A Hasmi, officer-in-charge of Park Street police station, said, "We have had to intervene off and on to let the members in.

The dispute has been going on for some time." After the decorator's contract expired, trouble broke out in April. Ahmed said, "We had allowed S Enterprise to use part of the premises for some time. They were letting out the lawns for marriage receptions. We informed the agency well before the lease expired on March 31.

But they refused to budge. On March 31, a crowd led by the agency's men gathered here and threatened our office-bearers. They said if S Enterprise was not allowed to continue its operations, our members would be beaten up and this heritage property damaged."

What started on March 31,continued at regular intervals. On September 29, BFTA members had to rush to Park Street police station again. Ahmed said, "Since the decorator has lost the legal battle, he is now trying to intimidate us through these hired agitators." Dipak Dutta, proprietor of S Enterprise, said, "These men are our employees but we are not backing them." He did seem to be supporting their cause, though." hese people have worked with us for more than 10 years. If we were asked to leave now, they will be out of work, The workers' group is backed by Citu. We have nothing to do with their demonstrations," Dutta said.

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NDIAN MASONS UNDER SIEGE Kali Ghosh, Citu general secretary, said, "We have no knowledge of this agitation." He however, added, "If people are losing jobs, they have every right to demonstrate. The onus is on the management (S Enterprise) to find them an alternate livelihood."

Defending his own company, Dutta said, "The lease may have expired in March, but we can't just be asked to leave without having realised the funds we invested here." The agency has been making around Rs 1.9 lakh per ceremony and paid BFTA Rs 21.5 lakh in 2009. Ahmed scoffed at Dutta's logic, saying, "There are bigger vested interests here. Landsharks have been eyeing this property for a long time and they just might succeed unless the authorities help us gain control of this heritage structure." CPM leader and former MP Md Salim was aware of the crisis. He said, "This is a heritage property and the organisation is a non-profit one. We must ensure that such a valuable piece of history is not treated like any real estate."

The Nawab of Pataudi in 1962 (right) at his favorite pastime.

It was to the Greeks AND to the Romans…

Lorem Ipsum is greeking.

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip So great is the power of text that when you are meant to be looking at a graphic layout, you will find yourself reading instead of observing the text and its quality. Graphic artists therefore use “greeking” or some form of gobbledygook. When hand drawn, there are different forms of scribbling, but nowadays graphic artists can import a ready-made greeking. The one that everybody uses nowadays is a Latin text that many will recognize “Lorem ipsum…”

Since most people nowadays don’t read Latin, then this extended quotation works well.

Lorem Ipsum has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters that will serve as plain text.

The dummy text Lorem Ipsum used in graphic arts has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer used it for a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularized in the 1960s with the release of Letraset rub-on lettering sheets, and has survived into the era of desktop publishing, in software like PageMaker.

Lorem Ipsum has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters that will serve as plain text. Contrary to popu-

lar belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BCE, making it over 2000 years old. It comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of "De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero.This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics that was very popular during the Renaissance.

The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below…

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

It is a slightly modified form of Cicero…

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" … which translates as…

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Candid camera.

This is apparently a real shot… probably the last shot for the camera, though.

8th Masonic District Calendar District Deputy Grand Master of the 8th Masonic District: RW Lonnie Piper.

It’s not just for candidates!

Master of the 8th Lodge of Instruction: Wor Bob Whitehouse.

8th District Calendar online http://district8th.angelfire.com/Calendar.html 8th District Lodge of Instruction is held on the first Wednesday of each month at Quincy Masonic Building, 1170 Hancock Street.

Dinner Reservations Make personal reservations with your lodge JW. Lodge Junior Wardens: make a list of these names and give them to the JW of the LOI, Wor Arthur Dunham Each reservation needs to be by name and lodge.

Those with named reservations can purchase a dinner ticket at the LOI. Those without reservations will be able to purchase a ticket only if extra food is available, after all with reservations have been served.

6:00

Candidate instruction 4 classes are held in different rooms: EA, FC, MM1 and MM2 6:45 Buffet Dinner. Reservations to the JW 7:30 LOI opening Roll call Introduction of candidates Upcoming lodge and district events Introduction of the DDGM 7:45pm Program of the evening 8:30pm Closing Cipher Class for all Lodges The District Ambassador, RW Graeme Marsden holds Cipher Class most Monday nights from 6:30 – 7:30pm in the Library at QMB. All are welcome from whatever lodge. The cycle follows Rural Lodge degree cycle, and occasionally we miss a Monday because I’m scheduled elsewhere.

Here’s the schedule: 23 Nov: MM 30 Nov: MM No need to make a reservation – just turn up!

NOVEMBER

Monday 2

FC Cipher class, QMB 6:30-7:30 all welcome

Thursday 5 Wednesday 11

Rural Lodge Regular Communication: MM Degree. Master: Wor Bill McFadden Norfolk Union Regular Communication. Master: Wor John Milson

Thursday 12 Friday 13 Monday 16 Tuesday 17

St Paul’s-Algonquin Regular Communication. Master: Wor Alex Nicoll Milton Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Paul Ricciardi MM Cipher class, QMB 6:30-7:30 all welcome

Wednesday 4 8th District LOI New England Patriots football

Thursday 12

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

Thursday 19

Weymouth United Lodge Official Visit. Master: Wor Brian Hughes Due to the death of MW David Whitcomb Lovering and his funeral service, this official is moved to 17 November.

Euclid Lodge Official Visit.Master: Wor Lance Powers

Friday 20 Monday 23

MOVPER Taleb Grotto MM Cipher class, QMB 6:30-7:30 all welcome

Tuesday 24 Monday 30

Delta Lodge Official Regular Communication. Master: Wor Jack Inglis MM Cipher class, QMB 6:30-7:30 all welcome

Tuesday 24

Macedonian Lodge Official Visit. Master Wor Ned Bean

DECEMBER 2009 Monday 1 “Men in Tuxes” Masons from across the state answer the phones for WGBH-TV 6:00-10:00pm.

Wednesday 2 8th District LOI Toys for Tots program Thursday 3

Rural Lodge Official Visit. Master Wor Bill McFadden. No ritual work.

Last Official of RW Lonnie Piper

Wednesday 9

Norfolk Union Regular Communication. Master: Wor John Milson

Thursday 10

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

Thursday 10 Friday 11 Sunday 13 Tuesday 15 Thursday 17 Tuesday 22 Tuesday 22

St Paul’s-Algonquin Regular Communication. Master: Wor Alex Nicoll Milton Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Paul Ricciardi Rural Lodge Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Weymouth United Regular Communication. Master: Wor Brian Hughes Euclid Lodge Regular Communication. Master: Wor Lance Powers Macedonian Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Ned Bean Delta Lodge Official Regular Communication. Master: Wor Jack Inglis

JANUARY 2010

Wednesday 6 FEMA projects Tim Lynch

8th District LOI

Thursday 7

Rural Lodge Regular Communication.

Master: Wor Bill McFadden. EA Degree Milton Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Paul Ricciardi Norfolk Union Regular Communication. Master: Wor John Milson

Friday 8 Wednesday13

Thursday 14

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

Thursday 14 Tuesday 19 Thursday 21 Friday 15

St Paul’s-Algonquin Regular Communication. Master: Wor Alex Nicoll Weymouth United Regular Communication. Master: Wor Brian Hughes Euclid Lodge Regular Communication. Master: Wor Lance Powers MOVPER Taleb Grotto

Tuesday 26 Tuesday 26

Thursday 28

Macedonian Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Ned Bean Delta Lodge Official Regular Communication. Master: Wor Jack Inglis

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

FEBRUARY 2010

Wednesday 3 8th District LOI Consistory performing the Lincoln Degree RW Peter Smith, Director Thursday 4 Wednesday 10

Rural Lodge Regular Communication.

Master: Wor Bill McFadden. FC Degree Norfolk Union Regular Communication. Master: Wor John Milson

Thursday 11

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

Thursday 11 Friday 12 Tuesday 16 Thursday 18 Friday 19 Tuesday 23 Tuesday 23

St Paul’s-Algonquin Regular Communication. Master: Wor Alex Nicoll Milton Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Paul Ricciardi Weymouth United Regular Communication. Master: Wor Brian Hughes Euclid Lodge Regular Communication. Master: Wor Lance Powers MOVPER Taleb Grotto Macedonian Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Ned Bean Delta Lodge Official Regular Communication. Master: Wor Jack Inglis

Thursday 25

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

MARCH 2010

Wednesday 3 8th District LOI Civil War and Masonry RW Philip A Drouin Thursday 4 Wednesday 10

Rural Lodge Regular Communication.

Master: Wor Bill McFadden. MM Degree Norfolk Union Regular Communication. Master: Wor John Milson

Thursday 11

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

Thursday 11 Friday 12 Tuesday 16 Thursday 18 Friday 19 Tuesday 23 Tuesday 23

St Paul’s-Algonquin Regular Communication. Master: Wor Alex Nicoll Milton Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Paul Ricciardi Weymouth United Regular Communication. Master: Wor Brian Hughes Euclid Lodge Regular Communication. Master: Wor Lance Powers MOVPER Taleb Grotto Macedonian Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Ned Bean Delta Lodge Official Regular Communication. Master: Wor Jack Inglis

Thursday 25 APRIL 2010 Thursday 1

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

Rural Lodge Regular Communication. Master: Wor Bill McFadden. EA Degree

Wednesday 7 8th District LOI Fire Safety Ken McHugh, Chief of Braintree FD Thursday 8 Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich Thursday 8 Friday 9 Wednesday 14 Thursday 15 Friday 16

St Paul’s-Algonquin Regular Communication. Master: Wor Alex Nicoll Milton Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Paul Ricciardi Norfolk Union Regular Communication. Master: Wor John Milson Euclid Lodge Regular Communication. Master: Wor Lance Powers MOVPER Taleb Grotto

Tuesday 20

Weymouth United Regular Communication. Master: Wor Brian Hughes

Tuesday 27 Tuesday 27

Macedonian Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Ned Bean Delta Lodge Official Regular Communication. Master: Wor Jack Inglis

Thursday 22

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

MAY 2010

Wednesday 5 8th District LOI National Heritage Museum Aimee Newell, Curator Thursday 6 Wednesday 12

Rural Lodge Regular Communication.

Master: Wor Bill McFadden. FC Degree Norfolk Union Regular Communication. Master: Wor John Milson

Thursday 13

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

Thursday 13 Friday 14 Tuesday 18 Thursday 20 Friday 21 Tuesday 25 Tuesday 25

St Paul’s-Algonquin Regular Communication. Master: Wor Alex Nicoll Milton Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Paul Ricciardi Weymouth United Regular Communication. Master: Wor Brian Hughes Euclid Lodge Regular Communication. Master: Wor Lance Powers MOVPER Taleb Grotto Macedonian Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Ned Bean Delta Lodge Official Regular Communication. Master: Wor Jack Inglis

Thursday 27

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

JUNE 2010

Wednesday 2 8th District LOI RW Roger W Pageau Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts Thursday 3 Wednesday 9

Rural Lodge Regular Communication.

Master: Wor Bill McFadden. MM Degree Norfolk Union Regular Communication. Master: Wor John Milson

Thursday 10

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

Thursday 10 Friday 11 Tuesday 15 Thursday 17 Tuesday 22 Tuesday 22

St Paul’s-Algonquin Regular Communication. Master: Wor Alex Nicoll Milton Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Paul Ricciardi Weymouth United Regular Communication. Master: Wor Brian Hughes Euclid Lodge Regular Communication. Master: Wor Lance Powers Macedonian Lodge Regular Communication. Master Wor Ned Bean Delta Lodge Official Regular Communication. Master: Wor Jack Inglis

Thursday 24

Old Colony DeMolay. Master Councilor: Jacob Yanovich

A child's education should begin at least one hundred years before he is born.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr , poet, novelist, essayist, and physician (1809-1894)

Graeme Marsden is District Ambassador for the 8th Masonic District of Massachusetts, editor of this Rural Lodge Newsletter and the lodge website.

Your thoughts and comments are welcome.

Please let him know if you have news, however brief. graeme0marsden@gmail.com

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