The Journal of The Masonic Society, Issue #8 by The Masonic Society

The Journal

Of The Masonic Society

Spring 2010

Issue 8

TMS • UK—IRELAND 1st ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM To celebrate the 350th anniversar y of the Royal Society in 2010, The Masonic Society, in conjunction with the United Grand Lodge of England’s Librar y and Museum of Freemasonr y, will hold its first UK –Ireland Symposium in London on Friday and Saturday 28th/29th May, featuring authors Michael Baigent and Robert L. D. Cooper. This first Symposium will have as its theme ‘The Royal Society’. The event will begin Friday with a private guided tour of the Librar y and Museum’s exhibition ‘Freemasons and the Royal Society’ (meet in the first floor lounge of London’s Freemasons Hall at 4:00 PM). This will be the last date of the exhibition which is being held between Januar y 11th and May 28th 2010. The evening will end with an informal dinner and drinks at the popular Michael Baigent Robert L. D. Cooper Prince of Wales Tavern on the corner of Great Queen Street. Saturday the symposium will move to the Kensal Community Centre where our talks for the day will be presented, and each session followed by questions and answers. Brother Michael Baigent (Editor of Freemasonry Today magazine and author of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, and The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception ) will present ‘Aspects of the Royal Society’ followed by a complimentar y lunch. Brother Robert L. D. Cooper (The Masonic Magician: The Life and Death of Count Cagliostro and His Egyptian Rite , and The Rosslyn Hoax ) will speak on ‘A Scottish View of the Foundation of the Royal Society.’ The total registration cost for the Saturday event is £10.00 inclusive of lunch. Reser vations for the symposium can be booked by downloading the application form at uksymposium@themasonicsociety.com

Visit the Symposium website at http://masonic-ae.com/tms Organising Committee: Yasha Beresiner (Chairman), David Naughton-Shires (Secretar y), and Martyn Greene (Treasurer).

(ADVERTISEMENT)

reemasonry and the founding of the United States have been intertwined since the very beginning. Now discover the brotherhood of Freemasons at the center of Dan Brown’s novel, The Lost Symbol. Follow fictional symbologist Robert Langdon’s factual trail through the streets and monuments of Washington D.C., and into the innermost lodge rooms and temples of the Masons. Best-selling author of Solomon’s Builders and Freemasons For Dummies Christopher Hodapp has created the definitive guide to the symbols, legends, and mysteries of The Lost Symbol. Take an insider’s trip to uncover the true stories behind the Freemasons and the nation’s capital, and interpret the clues and claims of Brown’s book. From Masonic presidents, secret codes, and esoteric rituals, to curious cornerstones, monuments, and symbols, Deciphering The Lost Symbol is the only key you need to unlock the secrets and the truth behind Dan Brown’s fiction. ISBN: 978-1569757739 Ulysses Press Paperback, 208 pages, US $12.95

2 • SPRING 2010

Spring 2010 THE JOURNAL OF THE

MASONIC SOCIETY Editor in Chief Christopher L. Hodapp Phone: 317-842-1103 editor@themasonicsociety.com

1427 W. 86th Street Suite 248 Indianapolis IN 46260-2103 Editorial Committee Jay Hochberg - Submissions Editor Randy Williams - Assistant Editor Submit articles by email to: articles@themasonicsociety.com Officers Michael R. Poll, President Rex R. Hutchens, 1st Vice President Fred G. Kleyn III, 2nd Vice President Nathan C. Brindle, Secretary/Treasurer Christopher L. Hodapp, Editor-in-Chief Directors Ronald Blaisdell James R. Dillman Jay Hochberg James W. Hogg David Naughton-Shires Mark Tabbert These guidelines apply to the reuse of articles, figures, charts and photos in the Journal of The Masonic Society. Authors need NOT contact the Journal to obtain rights to reuse their own material. They are automatically granted permission to do the following: Reuse the article in print collections of their own writing; Present a work orally in its entirety; Use an article in a thesis and/or dissertation; Reuse a figure, photo and/or table in future commercial and noncommercial works; Post a copy of the article electronically. Please note that Authors must include the following citation when using material that appeared in the Journal: “This article was originally published in The Journal of The Masonic Society. Author(s). Title. Journal Name. Year; Issue:pp-pp. © the Journal of The Masonic Society.” Apart from Author’s use, no material appearing in the Journal of The Masonic Society may be reprinted or electronically distributed without the written permission of the Editor.

Issue 8

Sections

Articles

4 President’s Message

14 The Grand Constitutions and the Scottish Rite War

News of the Society

Conferences, Speeches, Symposia & Gatherings

Masonic News

29 Books, Arts, Styles & Manners

by Michael Poll

19 The Seven Liberal Arts & Scirnces by David E. Amstutz

32 Letters 35 Past President’s Message

Special Report 10 Masonic Week: Let It Snow

20 Masonic History Unfolds at Historic Ft. Buford by Jim Savaloja

by Jay Hochberg & Christopher Hodapp

Poetry 21 The Quest by Steve Osborn

Masonic Treasures 36 National Treasure Pipe

22 Restructuring American Freemasonry Pt. III: The Scottish Rite by Mark Tabbert

26 The Mystery of Pre-European Freemasonry by Ron Hartoebben

Published quarterly by The Masonic Society Inc. 1427 W. 86th Street, Suite 248, Indianapolis IN 46260-2103. Full membership for Master Masons in good standing of a lodge chartered by a grand lodge that is a member of the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons of North America (CGMMNA), or recognized by a CGMMNA member grand lodge. (includes Prince Hall Grand Lodges recognized by their counterpart CGMMNA state Grand Lodge): $39/ yr., ($49 outside US/Canada). Subscription for nonmembers: $39/yr., ($49 outside US/Canada). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Journal of The Masonic Society, 1427 W. 86th Street, Suite 248, Indianapolis IN 46260-2103 © 2010 by The Masonic Society, Inc. All rights reserved. The MS circle and quill logo, and the name “The Masonic Society” are trademarks of The Masonic Society, Inc. and all rights are reserved.

COVER: This issue’s cover features “Solomon Dedicates The Temple At Jerusalem” c. 1896-1902, by James Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902). In the 1890s, Tissot left Paris and traveled extensively in Palestine, where he began a series of what would become over 700 watercolors featuring the Old Testament and the life of Christ. SPRING 2010 • 3

THE JOURNAL OF THE MASONIC SOCIETY

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

If You Build It, They Will Come by Michael R. Poll

little over two years ago, MWBro Roger VanGorden came to me with an idea about forming a new Masonic education/ research society. It was a simple plan for gathering together a group of dedicated researchers, educators and leaders. He told me that we could fill a need in Masonry. We could produce a great publication and provide a means whereby Grand Lodges could use our services to provide Masonic education to their members. It could simply be called “The Masonic Society.” I believe I might have told him that they could count me in before I was actually invited. Over the next few months, our little group of dreamers – composed of Roger VanGorden, Chris Hodapp, Nathan Brindle, Ron Martin and myself – shot countless e-mails back and forth as we assembled the foundation of this new group. Of course, we were completely insane. We were actually talking about putting together an international society from scratch – with, and from, nothing. We were talking about approaching some of the most respected Masons from around the planet and inviting them to take part in our little creation. Who were we kidding? How in the world could we do such a thing? Once we put the foundation together (or, more accurately, before we were completely organized), we sent out mail asking if these esteemed brothers would join us. We were wholly unprepared for what happened next. It was like opening the floodgates — they came and came and came. In the blink of an eye, we went from five guys with an interesting idea to a full-fledged international research society composed of both new Masons and many of the world’s leading Masonic writers, scholars, leaders and educators. The educators and leaders came to us because they saw something in our idea that renewed their hope for teaching and inspiring other Freemasons. The young Masons likely came to us because they saw in the Masonic Society a chance to learn and grow in the Craft. They all came because they saw something very positive and affirming in our new organization. It was a great responsibility. It was a great reward. I can’t tell you what an honor it is to follow my friend and brother, Roger VanGorden, as President of The Masonic Society. Roger was the glue that held the organization together in its tricky formative days. The Society has achieved a standard of excellence in a very short time, in large part because of Roger’s leadership. Roger took the high road in the creation of The Masonic Society. We were never about slamming anyone or doing anything but our work. Roger was determined to turn TMS into everything it could be, but he made great care to step

The Semi-Annual Meeting of the Masonic Society September 24-25, 2010 New Orleans, Louisiana

Details in the next issue of the Journal, and online on the Masonic Society forum.

4 • SPRING 2010

on no one during our rise to the top. In itself, that kind of moral courage is the sign of a great leader. At the same time, Roger talked to all the right people and did everything necessary to move TMS into the perfect position to provide the great service for Freemasons we had all imagined in those early days of planning and dreaming. So, here we are. Now what? Well, to start with, my term is going to be dedicated to what I see as the Big Three: membership, The Journal, and our 2nd Circles. It’s not enough that we have done an amazing job of gathering so many members (over 1,000) in such a short time; we must continue to grow and thrive. We must show everyone what we have to offer and how we can be of service to grand lodges and other Masonic bodies. Not content with resting on his laurels as our first Past President, Roger has agreed to chair our newly created Membership Development Committee. Our original members came to us pretty much because we opened our doors, but now we will start a real membership campaign to let the rest of the Masonic world know that we exist and what we can do for them. Roger is the ideal man for this job. As for The Journal of the Masonic Society, what can really be said about the job that Chris Hodapp has done as Editor in Chief? We have, hands down, the best quality journal of its kind in print. The goal now is to keep the standard going. We want to continue to publish the best articles, make sure the issues are in the hands of our readers on time, and continue to set the standard and raise the bar for all similar publications. The 2nd Circles were designed to be the link between TMS and the various grand Masonic jurisdictions. Our goal is to provide service to grand lodges while also functioning as a vehicle for local members to create educational opportunities – or to simply meet and enjoy each other’s company. If a lodge needs a speaker for an event, then the 2nd Circle chairman will know who to contact to set up a quality presentation. If a grand lodge needs assistance with a particular project or program, then the 2nd Circle chairman is the link between the grand lodge and all of the resources of TMS that can provide that assistance. In all areas, our goal is to advance Masonic education whenever and however possible, and to provide any service we can to grand lodges. Yes, we have great days ahead and a great team assembled to bring all of our plans together. Laissez les bon temps roulez!

THE JOURNAL OF THE MASONIC SOCIETY

News of the Society

n Friday, February 12th, 2010, the annual meeting of the Masonic Society was held at the Hilton Mark Center Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. The following officers of the Masonic Society were elected, and accepted their positions: Michael Poll, President; Rex Hutchens, 1st Vice President; Fred Kleyn, 2nd Vice President The following new directors were elected: David NaughtonShires, Member Director; James Hogg, Fellow Director. They join current directors Mark Tabbert, James Dillman, Jay Hochberg and Ron Blaisdell. Nathan Brindle remains as our Executive Secretary/ Treasurer. The position of Executive Director has been eliminated. Christopher Hodapp continues as Editor in Chief of the Journal. A new and revised set of by-laws were accepted by the officers and directors, and have been posted on the Masonic Society forum, along with being in Issue 8 of the Journal, to be published this spring. The 2010 semi-annual meeting will be held September 24-25, 2010 in New Orleans, home of our new president.

since our beginning, we have gone from zero to 1,100 members or subscribers. Many thanks to Nathan Brindle for putting in the hours for three solid days on the membership table, as well as all of his tireless work on organizing the executive committee and director’s meetings, conference calls, printed materials, reports, and the many other things he does behind the scenes that the rest of us never see. Jim Dillman was our faithful hospitality suite lifeguard. In real life, Jim is a 911 dispatcher for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, so we felt he was uniquely qualified. When all others gave up for the evening, Jim kept the suite cleaned, well-stocked, and hospitable. We were hidden over in the Retreat side of the Hilton this year, at the end of a long, subterranean walk, but many brethren made the arduous trek and were rewarded with fun, friendship and firewater. Next year, it is our hope that the Virginia and Maryland Second Circle members will be able to take over this role. Thanks to everyone who braved the elements!

he media has continued to capitalize on the interest in Freemasonry in the wake of Dan Brown’s novel, The Lost Symbol. U.S. News & World Report has published a special edition, Secrets of the Lost Symbol, which features extensive excerpts from books by TMS brethren: Mark Tabbert’s American Freemasons, and Christopher Hodapp’s Solomon’s Builders. Meanwhile, TIME has published the similarly-themed Secret Societies, which features an interview with brother Jay Kinney, author of Masonic Myth.

rom the very beginning, we have believed that the Society’s designation of ‘Fellow” should encompass those brethren who have provided outstanding service to the Masonic Society, but also to those Masons who labor in the quarries of the fraternity doing work that few other organizations acknowledge. They could be writers, artists, educators, web designers, librarians, administrators, or simply the unsung strong backs who get countless thankless jobs done behind the scenes. With that in mind, sixteen new Fellows of the Masonic Society were named: John A. Bridegroom John R. “Bo” Cline Glen A. Cook Martin Faulks Martyn Greene Timothy W. Hogan Kevin Noel Olson Rashied K. Sharrieff-Al-Bey

Michael A. Chaplin, M.D. Gerald C. “Ted” Connally José O. Díaz Errol Feldman George R. Haynes James W. Hogg Colin A. Peterson Randall Williams

A hearty congratulations to these newest Fellows in recognition of their many contributions to the fraternity.

he Washington D.C. area was buried under almost three feet of snow just as Masonic Week kicked off, and attendance was understandably affected. Most area airports were closed from Tuesday evening until Friday morning, and many brethren who live within easy driving distance were unable to make it out of their driveways. Our First Circle banquet on Friday evening was reduced to 68 attendees. But bear in mind that was almost exactly the same attendance as last year, and this year organizers pre-sold over 90 tickets. The absence of members of our panel discussion meant a little improvisation for our program. The AASR-NJ’s William McNaughton and the General Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons, Emory Ferguson were kept away by the snow, so we were joined by the General Grand Chapter’s Grand Secretary Larry Gray. And Grand Master of Knights Templar in the USA, William H. Koon II was able to make it in for a few minutes at the end of our program, as well. Many thanks to them both. We had our table and display in the vendor’s area, and signed up new members. The Society’s reputation continues to expand and improve, and our membership just keeps growing. In the 22 months

ongratulations to TMS member Richard Gan who has been named as the editor of the UK’s independent Masonic magazine, The Square. Since 1977, The Square has been an outstanding publication with scholarly articles, news, and regular columns. Many of its regular (and prolific) contributors like Brother Gan, Yasha Beresiner, John Belton and others have also submitted articles to the Journal, and we are most appreciative of their willingness to share their knowledge. Cheers to Richard in his new role!

ack issues of the Journal of The Masonic Society are now available online for $5 per issue, and may be paid for via Paypal. Order from the website at http://themasonicsociety.com/cart/

ook for Esoteric Odyssey this spring, from Cornerstone Book Publishers. Originally published in 1790 as The Philosophy of Masons by Thomas Marryat, this new edition has been edited and annotated by TMS Fellows Stephen Dafoe and Randy Williams. The book offers a fascinating snapshot of a brief and volatile era that came between the mid-1700s revival of interest in alchemy and the explosive birth of modern science that would arrive at the century’s end.

SPRING 2010 • 5

THE JOURNAL OF THE MASONIC SOCIETY

Constitution and Bylaws of The Masonic Society as adopted 12 Feb 2010 ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE Section 1 – Name The name of the organization shall be The Masonic Society. It shall be a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana. Section 2 – Purpose The Masonic Society is organized exclusively as a center of union for Freemasons who desire to study and promote Freemasonry, its history, philosophy, rites, customs and practices while promoting the common good and general welfare of its mystic art. ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP Section 1 – Eligibility for Membership Membership shall be open to any Master Mason in good standing in a lodge chartered by a Grand Lodge which is a member of the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America or Grand Lodges recognized by a Grand Lodge which is a member of the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America. The Board of Directors reserves the right to deny membership, or suspend or terminate membership, at anytime. Section 2 – Membership Members are each entitled to one vote at all meetings or deliberations of the Society. Votes must be cast in person; proxy voting is not allowed. Every member in good standing shall be eligible to receive a copy of the Society’s publication(s), participate in the discussion forums, the annual membership meeting and other activities.

Section 2 – Terms of Office Progressive Line Officers: The progressive line is comprised of the President, First Vice-President, and the Second Vice-President. Elections for these officers shall PM be held biennially in even numbered years. None of these officers may6:14 succeed himself. 02/11/10

Appointed Board Officers: The appointed officers shall be the Secretary-Treasurer Accrual Basis and Editor-in-Chief. Appointed officers serve at the will and pleasure of the Board. Directors: There shall be 7 (seven) elected Directors who shall serve on the Board. Four of these Directors shall be Fellows of the Society. Three of these Directors shall be regular members of the Society. Directors shall be elected biennially in even numbered years for a two year term, and may serve for a maximum of six years. Section 3 – Meetings, Notices and Voting Special Meetings: The Board may call a Special Meeting at any time. Special meetings of the Board shall be called upon the request of the President, or any 5 (five) Members of the Board. Board members shall receive notice at least two weeks in advance of any special meeting. Section 4 – Election procedures The Nominating Committee shall nominate prospective Board members. Any member in good standing, if present at the biennial meeting, may nominate a member (who must be in good standing at the time of his nomination) for any office.

The Board of Directors at its sole discretion may develop, implement and employ a membership honors system. The Board of Directors shall be the sole authority in the award of any honor. (Fellow of The Masonic Society is one such honor.)

Section 5 – Quorum of the Board of Directors A Quorum is 7 (seven) Members of the Board who must be physically present or participating in a telephone, video or other media conference, and must include at least four members of the Executive Committee, two of whom must be the President, First Vice President or Second Vice President.)

Section 3 – Subscribers A person not eligible for membership, or an entity (e.g. Lodge) may become a subscriber to the magazine. However in no case shall subscribers be eligible to participate in any other membership activities nor receive any other membership benefit.

Section 6 – Officers and Duties The President: Shall convene and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee. The President shall have a regular vote in all matters before the Board or Executive Committee. In case of a tie vote he may also cast the deciding vote.

Section 4 – Annual Dues & Subscriptions The annual dues of the Society, delivery surcharge and subscriptions shall be determined by the Board of Directors and shall be modified from time to time to cover the costs of operating the Society. In addition, the Board of Directors may consider other types and forms for services, subscriptions, or similar, for which they will determine and set the necessary charges or fees.

First Vice-President: Shall assume the duties of the President in his absence or incapacity.

Section 5 – Resignation and Termination Any member may resign his membership at anytime. A member may have his membership terminated by the Board of Directors at anytime, without notice and at its sole discretion. ARTICLE III – MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY Section 1 – Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting of the Society shall take place in the first quarter of the calendar year during the week commonly known as Allied Masonic Degrees Week or Masonic Week. The Board of Directors reserves the right to change the date, time and location of the meeting if and when necessary. Section 2 – Special Meetings Special Meetings of the Society may be called by the Board of Directors, the President or the Executive Committee. A petition signed by twenty-percent of the Membership in good standing, and properly presented to the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, may also call a special meeting. Section 3 – Notice of Meetings Each meeting shall be announced by a notice to each Member, sent by postal or electronic mail, not less than two weeks prior to the meeting. Section 4 – Quorum The Members present at any properly announced meeting shall constitute a quorum. ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section 1 – Board Role, Size, and Compensation The Society shall be governed by a Board of Directors, subsequently called “The Board.” The Board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the Society and shall delegate responsibility for day-to-day operations to the Staff and Committees. The Board shall consist of: 1. President 2. First Vice-President 3. Second Vice-President 4. Secretary-Treasurer 5. Editor-in-Chief 6. Directors (four members who are Fellows) 7. Directors (three members who are not Fellows)

Second Vice-President: Shall assume the duties prescribed to the First VicePresident in his absence or incapacity. Secretary-Treasurer: Shall be responsible for keeping the records of Board meetings and actions, including taking of minutes at all Board meetings, sending out meeting announcements, distributing copies of minutes and agendas to each Board member and assuring corporate records are maintained. He shall be responsible for all administrative procedures and controls governing the operation of the Society. He shall provide a complete financial report at each Board meeting and shall prepare the annual reports and any reports requested by the Board. He shall prepare an annual budget, help develop financial strategies, and make financial information available to Board members, in accordance with normal fiduciary responsibility of the office. Editor-in-Chief: Shall see the Society’s editorial policy is carried out. He shall also be responsible for the day-to-day work of selecting articles, arranging copy and supervising other editors or related staff as the need may arise. Directors: All Directors are voting Members of the Board of Directors. Each may serve on such committees as the Board or President determine. Section 7 – Vacancies If a vacancy occurs on The Board the Executive Committee shall fill such vacancy. ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES Section 1 – Committees The Board or President may appoint committees as deemed appropriate. There shall at all times be an Audit Committee, a Nomination Committee and an Editorial Committee. ARTICLE VI – DISSOLUTION Upon dissolution, the Society’s remaining assets after all indebtedness is paid shall be given to an organization whose aims and purposes are consonant with those of the Masonic Society. ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS Section 1 – Amendments These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board of Directors. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer a minimum of three weeks prior to a Board Meeting and sent out with the regular Board announcements.

Executive Committee. The five Officers of the Society (President, First VicePresident, Second Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer and Editor-in-Chief) shall constitute an Executive Committee.

CERTIFICATION These bylaws were approved by the Board of Directors February 12, 2010.

Compensation: The Board Members shall not receive any compensation for their services; with the exception of the Secretary-Treasurer and the Editor-inChief, who may receive such stipend or compensation as the Board may deem appropriate. All Board members may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred while discharging the official duties of their office.

<s>Nathan C. Brindle Secretary-Treasurer

6 • SPRING 2010

THE JOURNAL OF THE MASONIC SOCIETY

News of the Society The Masonic Society, Inc.

Profit & Loss

January through December 2009 Jan - Dec 09 Ordinary Income/Expense Income Other Types of Income Back issue sales Cafe Press sales Miscellaneous Revenue Other Types of Income - Other

25.00 28.28 1.00 2.00 56.28

Total Other Types of Income Program Income Journal Advertisements Membership Dues Membership Renewal Subscription Renewal Subscriptions

2,399.00 20,006.43 24,364.00 586.00 966.00

Total Program Income

48,321.43

Special Events Income Uncategorized Income

2,335.00 112.67 50,825.38

Total Income Expense Operations Equipment Hospitality Suite Membership Development Merchant Account Fees Other Operations Paypal transaction fees Postage, Mailing Service Printing and Copying Printing of the Journal Printing and Copying - Other Total Printing and Copying Rental Shipping Supplies Telephone, Telecommunications Website hosting Total Operations Other Types of Expenses Board of Directors Dinner Donations Honoraria Other Costs Other Speaker Expenses Semi-Annual Banquet Semi-Annual Conference Semi-Annual Luncheon Speaker Meals Total Other Types of Expenses Uncategorized Expenses

2,353.47 2,428.08 189.95 319.48 186.00 1,131.90 7,362.25

18,062.01 3,138.51 21,200.52 105.00 10.55 1,607.25 71.50 367.20 37,333.15 406.67 100.00 500.00 75.00 152.00 1,170.00 572.60 217.86 135.09 3,329.22 0.00

Total Expense

40,662.37

Net Ordinary Income

10,163.01

t the 66th Annual Consistory of The Society of Blue Friars, TMS Founding Fellow Thomas W. Jackson (Blue Friar No. 93) presided in the absence of Grand Abbott (and TMS Founding Fellow) Brent Morris, who was snowed in. The newest Blue Friar, No. 99, is Pierre “Pete” Normand, Jr. of Texas, yet another Founding Fellow. The Society of Blue Friars is a fraternity in which membership, according to longstanding tradition, is bestowed upon published authors or other writers and educators. Normand also is Past Master of Sul Ross Lodge No. 1300, Texas; Past Master of St. Alban’s Lodge No. 1455, Texas; editor, (of the former) American Masonic Review; Past Master and Fellow of Texas Lodge of Research; author, The Texas Masons: The Fraternity of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in the History of Texas; editor, The Plumbline, the newsletter of the Scottish Rite Research Society; and a 33° Mason in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. His oration at the meeting covered a subject known well to Masonic Society members: the rebirth of Freemasonry, specifically, things Masons can do to reinvigorate their lodges: excellence in ritual, solemnity and decorum, education, personal charitable efforts, elegance of dress, careful screening of candidates, officer chairs only for the most dedicated, and unforgettable social events. The goal, he explained, is not to reinvent or save the entire Masonic fraternity, but is to restore excellence to needy lodges whose brethren are highly motivated.

asonic Society members in the UK, Ireland and Western Europe, be sure to make your reservations for our symposium to be held in London May 28th and 29th. Guest speakers will be Michael Baigent (editor of Freemasonry Today and co-author of Holy Blood, Holy Grail) and Robert L. D. Cooper (author of The Rosslyn Hoax). Hats off to the UK 2nd Circle committee, Yasha Beresiner, David Naughton-Shires, and Martyn Greene for arranging this outstanding program! See the inside front cover of this issue for details.

he evolution of the Journal is an ongoing process. It gets tinkered with a little bit with each issue, all in the hopes of making it a little better, and responding to the kinds of articles and regular features you find interesting and enjoyable. With this issue, we have created a new section under the banner of The Gentleman Mason: Books, Arts, Styles and Manners. This issue concentrates on book reviews from co-editors Randy Williams and Jay Hochberg, and we welcome Kevin Noel Olsen aboard as a regular, as well. While the intention is to keep the new section relevant to Freemasonry, future columns may discuss where to have custom hats made, how to order a bespoke suit, extoll the virtues of a particularly enjoyable cigar or brand of scotch, or the release of music of interest to brethren. The Editor wishes to apologize for the late arrival of Issue 7, almost two months after it was due in your hands. It was the victim of a perfect storm of weather, circumstance and unforeseen calamities. Our printer was undergoing a merger and complete redesign of its facilities, and our job got caught in their transition. In addition, Masonic Week and Conference of Grand Master travel plans were complicated by the terrible weather on the East Coast, and dominated our attention, when we should have been following up on the issue’s whereabouts. The bad news is that the magazine left the printer a month Page 1 have, and the new printing crew failed to bag later than it should them before shipment. The good news is that bagging and postage services are now under one roof, instead of requiring additional stops before they go in the mailbox, and we should now have faster service at a slightly reduced cost.

SPRING 2010 • 7

THE JOURNAL OF THE MASONIC SOCIETY

News of the Society ith great pride and appreciation, The Masonic Society welcomes the following brethren as our esteemed new members from January 1st through March 31st, 2010. Leonard C Achan Jr. Michael Wayne Albert Matthew James Backus Dr. Martín Baraibar Louis F. Barazotti Robert D. Barclay James W. Bard Daniel J Barenie Vance D Berry Jr. Andrew J. Bilby William Kirk Bobbitt Donald A. Bowerman George Bowness George O. Braatz Eric Brodeur William Brown Dennis H Brydl Wayne Leslie Budgen Richard Bailey Burgess William M. Burris Raymond Harold Canada Jr. Dr. Kenneth M Cardlin Stephen Elijah Clary S Garth Cochran Walter J. Colburn Darrel William Conn Robert E. Cooper David Paul Coss Danny Joe Critchfield Raymond Edward Davies Daniel J. Di Natale Frank John Domizio

Kevin Thomas Doyle Justin A Duffy André Luís Fernandes Dutra Mark W. Elliott Richard J. Elman Brian L Estes Marty Evens Robert A. Everhart, Jr. Esq. Gilberto Figueroa James E. Flemming Omar Huémac Flores Shawn Michael Foles Jake Anthony Foster Timothy Eben Franklin Nirio A Garcia Jr. Jimmie Gazay Coy Douglas Hall Jr. Daniel Wayne Hall Robert A. Hammell Andrew Hammer Kevin J. Hanratty Jesse Louis Hathaway William Alan Herrick Stephen M. Hewitt Michael E Hicks Austin R. Hodge Darwin G Holle Alan Richard Horne Bill Hurst AJ Jenuska III Brandon Ryan Katrena Timo Kettunen

John P Koch Ashley A Kuehn Howard L Lacer Jason M LaFond Sammy Leroy Land Dean R. Larson Ph.D. Aaron Levin Gordon R Loomis M.D. Stephen Joseph Lovasz Michael Edward MacDonald Robert Clem Malot James Edward Markwalder Salim Masri James A McCormick Thomas C. McCort R. Burl McCoy Tim McLean Brian L. McMichael John J. Meek Michael David Meeks Dr. Marwin Meller Charles J. Mellor Sr. Gene Meltser Dr. Kevin P Menard Adam B. Michael Andrew E. Michyeta Rev Robert J. Mickelson II G. Michael Miller Sr. Paul A. Miller Jack R Newell Paul Newhall Timothy C. Newmyer

Stephen E. Nichols Curtis Hugh Nugent James A. Orr Jr. Kenneth C Owen Bobby L. Owens Jr. Grover R. Partee Jr. Dan Patton Jason C. Peck Greg Pentecost Jerry William Pinion Jr. Robert F. Poyton Richard C. Prest Robert E. Price Dylan F. Pyne Phillip E. Reed Jeff Reimert James A. Roach, Jr. Kenneth A. Robertson Denny Robinson Kenneth R. Rogers Eduardo Sanchez Steve Schilling Paul R Schmeck Allen T Schneider Kevin L. Schneider Brad Schoonmaker Buford Calvin Sellers Jr. Prof. Jeffery N. Seymour Robert R. Shaffer Dr. Earle S Sharam Gary Allan Sherritze William Shull

Michael Lewis Shuman Kenneth Dale Smith Michael Smitson Gary W. Soblotne Michael K Steele Kenneth D Stewart James Stoll Ed Strungis Ernest E Suchy Frank D Swallow Sr. Kevin F Sweeney Wes Tapp Roni Taxer Jason Timmer Kenneth W. Toler Joseph Utley Trerice Ivan M. Tribe Lawrence E. Tucker Gerald P. Underwood Valentin Urziceanu Djuro George Vezmar Michael J Walker Benjamin G Wallace Sheldon Maurice Waters Glenn K Webb David M Wetmore Kenneth W Wical Earl F. Wys Mohamad A. Yatim Jon Yocom

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“Even with all of the recent advances in Masonic Education, there still remains no effective means by which you can communicate with a brother who already knows everything.” – Ron Robinson

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Conferences, Speeches, Symposia & Gatherings April 8, 2010 2010 Bernard H. Dupee, P.M. Memorial Lecturer Hosted by Shiloh Lodge No. 558, Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Founding Fellow Yasha Beresiner to speak. To take place at William Penn Inn in Gwynedd, PA. Masons only. April 9, 2010 Symposium: New Perspectives on American Freemasonry and Fraternalism At the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Massachusetts. April 10, 2010 The College of Freemasonry, Rochester, New York Sponsored by the Valley of Rochester. Founding Fellow Christopher Hodapp to be keynote speaker. Other speakers on the program, including a display of Processus Contra Templarios. More information at: www. collegeoffreemasonry.org April 14-16, 2010 National RiteCare Childhood Learning Conference Downtown Sheraton Hotel, New Orleans. April 16, 2010 Atlas-Pythagoras Lodge No. 10, Westfield, New Jersey. Masonic Society Founding Member David Lindez to speak on “Yours in the Mystic Tie: The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry.” April 16-17, 2010 “The Gentleman, the Scholar, and the Mystic: Exploring Modern Masonic Practices in North America,” a conference hosted by Mt. Zion Lodge No. 266 in Kansas. Hotel rooms available. April 16-17, 2010 A&ASR Southern Jurisdiction Leadership Conference, Downtown Sheraton Hotel, New Orleans. April 17, 2010 Northern California Research Lodge presents “Freemasonry Fact & Fiction: The Dan Brown Effect” Downtown Sacramento Masonic Hall, 11:30 a.m. Presenters to include Masonic Society Founding Fellows John L. Cooper III, Shawn Eyer, and W. Bruce Pruitt; and Founding Member William Miklos; and Adam Morrill. April 17, 2010 Peyton Randolph Lodge of Research No. 1774 Meeting at 10 a.m. Meets at Williamsburg Masonic Lodge No. 6, Williamsburg, Virginia. April 17, 2010 The Inaugural Charles A. Sankey Masonic Lecture The lecturer, Dr. Andreas Önnerfors, is Senior Lecturer and Director of the Center for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism at Sheffield University. Lecture will begin at 3 p.m. at Brock University in Ontario, Canada. Tickets are required. Contact: boxoffice@brocku.ca April 17, 2010 Northern Conference, Cheshire, United Kingdom To meet at Hemsley House at the Salford Masonic Hall. Theme: “Modern Day Craft Freemasonry.” Speakers, other details, to be announced. April 23-25, 2010 45th Masonic Spring Workshop: Enlightenment: The Soul of Freemasonry. Delta Lodge, Kananaskis, Alberta. Speakers to include UCLA Professor Margaret Jacob and Founding Fellow Stephen Dafoe. April 24, 2010 James Noah Hillman Lodge of Research, Virginia Will meet at 10 a.m. at Fidelity Lodge No. 173 in Nickelsville. Ends early May 2010 The Masons in Colonial Marblehead The Marblehead Museum & Historical Society salutes 250 years of local Freemasonry with this exhibit of antiques, folk art, and other Masonic items. Marblehead, Massachusetts. May 1, 2010 Bluestone Lodge No. 338 in Hallstead, Pennsylvania. Sesquicentennial celebration. Grand Master to attend this unique, open meeting with dinner and music.

May 7, 2010 Atlas-Pythagoras Lodge No. 10, Westfield, New Jersey. Tim Wallace-Murphy of Robert Burns Lodge Initiated No. 1781 to speak on “Hidden Wisdom: A History of the Western Esoteric Tradition.” May 7-9, 2010 Midwest Conference on Masonic Education At the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri. May 12-15, 2010 Southwest Scottish Rite Regional Reunion Fifth annual event will be hosted by the Valley of Phoenix in Scottsdale, Arizona. A&ASR degrees 4 through 32 will be conferred, and the Scottish Rite Craft degrees will be exemplified for Master Masons. Masonic Society First Vice President Michael Poll to speak. May 15, 2010 Knight of Valor Degree aboard the USS New Jersey The 23° of the AASR-NMJ, also known as “The Four Chaplains Degree,” will be conferred aboard the Battleship New Jersey. 10 a.m. on the Camden waterfront. May 15, 2010 Ohio Lodge of Research. At the Ohio Masonic Home in Springfield. 3 p.m. Dinner to follow. May 18, 2010 Northern California Research Lodge Meets at San Francisco Scottish Rite Center. 2850 19th Ave., San Francisco. 6 p.m. May 21-22, 2010 Chartering of Yellowstone Historic Lodge #88 at Ft. Buford, ND. Festivities to be held at Williston Airport International Inn. May 22, 2010 Missouri Lodge of Research 2010 Spring Truman Lecture. Details to be announced. May 26, 2010 Masonic Lodge of Research of Connecticut Meets at the New Haven Masonic Temple, at 285 Whitney Ave., New Haven. June 12, 2010 Tennessee Lodge of Research At Goodlettsville Lodge No. 271 in Goodlettsville. Lunch at noon. Program at 1 p.m. Business meeting to follow. June 13, 2010 New Jersey Lodge of Masonic Research and Education No.1786. 10 a.m. at the Trenton Masonic Temple. June 24-27, 2010 Grand Lodge of New York’s St. John’s Weekend Masonic Care Community, Utica, New York. July 4, 2010 (U.S. Independence Day) Texas Lodge of Research in the United Kingdom Texas Lodge of Research’s UK branch at the Masonic Hall, Chester-le-Street, Province of Durham, England. For information, contact Alan Bell at abell@criticalstrategy. com July 10, 2010 New Jersey AMD Ingathering Gronning Council No. 83, Allied Masonic Degrees, Freehold, New Jersey. Papers to be presented and St. Lawrence the Martyr Degree to be conferred. July 11-13, 2010 Great Smokies York Rite Gathering Maggie Valley, North Carolina July 12th address by William L. Dill, GM of NC; Masonic Society 2nd VP Rex R. Hutchens and Journal Editor Christopher Hodapp. June 13th address by Founding Fellow Thomas W. Jackson. July 16-17, 2010 Maine Masonic College, Hollywood Slots Hotel, in Bangor, Maine Planning for the Future - Reaching for Humanitas - Building for Humanity. See page 9 for program details.

July 17, 2010 Peyton Randolph Lodge of Research No. 1774 Meeting at 10 a.m. Meets at Williamsburg Masonic Lodge No. 6, Williamsburg, Virginia. July 24, 2010 James Noah Hillman Lodge of Research, Virginia Will meet at 10 a.m. at Preston Lodge No. 47 in Jonesville. August 15-21, 2010 Western Esotericism and its Boundaries: Between Discourses of Identity and Difference At IAHR Quinquennial World Congress, Toronto, Ontario. http://www.religion.utoronto.ca/resources/iahr/Home.htm August 30-31, 2010 Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction Annual Meeting In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. September 11, 2010 New Jersey Lodge of Masonic Research and Education No. 1786. Meets at 10 a.m. at the Trenton Masonic Temple. September 11, 2010 Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research, Indianapolis, Indiana. Meets at 6 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Bro. John Wade, 2009 Prestonian Lecturer of the United Grand Lodge of England, to speak. September 11, 2010 Tennessee Lodge of Research At Powell Lodge No. 582 in Powell. Lunch at noon. Program at 1 p.m. Business meeting to follow. September 15, 2010 St. John’s Lodge No. 1, Ancient York Masons, New York City. Past Prestonian Lecturer Trevor Stewart of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 to speak. September 25, 2010 Columbian Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, New York Bicentennial Celebration at Grand Lodge of New York. September 29, 2010 Masonic Lodge of Research of Connecticut Meets at the New Haven Masonic Temple, at 285 Whitney Ave., New Haven. October 2010 Rose Circle Research Foundation Fall Conference Date and agenda to be announced. Meets at the Grand Lodge of New York. October 20-23, 2010 Masonic Library and Museum Association Annual Meeting. To be co-hosted by the George Washington Masonic Memorial, the House of the Temple, and the Grand Lodge of Virginia’s Allen E. Roberts Library. October 23, 2010 Pennsylvania Academy of Masonic Knowledge Meets at the Elizabethtown campus. Speakers: Journal Editor Christopher Hodapp and R. William Weisberger. October 27, 2010 Masonic Lodge of Research of Connecticut Meets at the New Haven Masonic Temple, at 285 Whitney Ave., New Haven. May 2011 Third International Conference on the History of Freemasonry. George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Virginia. June 1-4, 2011 New Orleans Scottish Rite History and Research Symposium. Sponsored by the A&ASR Southern Jurisdiction, the Valley of New Orleans, and co-hosted with The Masonic Society.

Please send notices of your event to Jay Hochberg at articles@themasonicsociety.com SPRING 2010 • 9

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Masonic Week 2010: Let it Snow By Jay Hochberg & Christopher Hodapp

espite nearly three feet of freshly fallen snow and the near arctic winds that delayed or prevented many expected participants from arriving, the events of Masonic Week 2010 proceeded as scheduled, albeit with lower attendance. The paralysis of the entire Washington, DC area in the face of a couple of snowstorms baffled those brethren from colder climes (and in fact didn’t deter a carload of New Yorkers), but the weather foiled the travel plans of those from near and far alike. Blue Friars Grand Abbott S. Brent Morris could not get out of his driveway in Maryland, while brethren from San Francisco to Scotland waited while their flights were first delayed, delayed again, then cancelled. Also lamented was the inability to enjoy fellowship and cigars outside on the hotel grounds, something savored during the mild weather of recent Masonic Weeks. The Art of Initiation event of February 10th, not officially part of the Masonic Week itinerary, was cancelled due to the closure of roads leading to the George Washington Masonic Memorial. It was to have included a demonstration of the English “Bristol Working” that few Masons outside of the U.K. have ever seen. The event will hopefully be resurrected for next year’s Masonic Week. But the program of meetings and banquets inside the Alexandria Mark Hilton from February 11th through the 13th continued on schedule. The Grand Council of Knight Masons of the United States met February 12th. Its new officer line includes: M.E. Great Chief Edward P. Fagan, Jr. R.E. Deputy Great Chief C. Michael Watson R.E. Grand Senior Knight Kevin B. Sample R.E. Grand Junior Knight Kenneth B. Fischer R.E. Grand Scribe Douglas L. Jordan R.E. Grand Treasurer Malcolm R. Holley, Jr. At the Grand College of Rites, the new edition of Collectanea was unveiled. The 2009 book (Vol. 20, Part 2), contains the 19º to 45º of the Egyptian Masonic Rite of Memphis. If you are not familiar with the GCR, it is the keeper of numerous rituals from defunct Masonic bodies. Each year, an edition of Collectanea is published that shares the degrees, jurisprudence, or other defining literature of obscure and forgotten rites. The College’s officers for 2010 are: M. Ill. Grand Chancellor Franklin C. Boner R. Ill. Senior Vice Chancellor Martin P. Starr R. Ill. Junior Vice Chancellor David L. Hargett, Jr. R. Ill. Grand Registrar Craig C. Stimpert, KGC R. Ill. Grand Treasurer and Grand Registrar Emeritus Gary D. Hermann, KGC, PGC R. Ill. Grand Registrar Emeritus Herbert A. Fisher, KGC, HPGC R. Ill. Grand High Prelate Pierre G. (Pete) Normand R. Ill. Grand Archivist Arturo de Hoyos, The Premier KGC, HPGC R. Ill. Grand Redactor Lawrence N. Jolma, Jr. R. Ill. Grand Mareschal Lawrence E. Tucker R. Ill. Grand Seneschal Sid C. Dorris, III In a very pleasant surprise, TMS Founding Fellow Aaron Shoemaker was called to the podium to deliver his annual report as the GCR’s webmaster, but before he could resume his seat, the Grand Chancellor bestowed on him the College’s Knight Grand Cross for his years of outstanding service. Scheduled speaker Brent Morris was unable to attend the Scottish Rite Research Society luncheon on Saturday. As a result, Illus. Sean D. Graystone was interviewed by Illus. Martin P. Starr. Brother Graystone’s expertise in the restoration of the Sante Fe, New Mexico Scottish Rite building (the “Pink Palace”), and now at Washington’s House of the Temple, is just a small part of this brother’s incredible knowledge and skill at the construction and engineering side of architecture, as well as financial and tax ramifications of non-profit buildings. He is a 10 • SPRING 2010

tremendous asset to the fraternity. At the Allied Masonic Degrees meetings, the annual paper of Nine Muses Council was presented by TMS Founding Fellow and Board Member Fred Kleyn of California, who spoke on the start and early history of Freemasonry in the Golden State. It was interesting to note that a Grand Orient of France lodge in Hawaii, called Le Progres de l’Océanie, sparked the Light of Masonry in California as far back as 1812, nearly four decades before lodges chartered by the grand lodges of Connecticut, Missouri, and Washington, DC formed the Grand Lodge of California. Later, at Grand Masters Council, 33 Masons were made members of the Allied Masonic Degrees, including brethren from Togo in west Africa, undeterred by the record snowfall. Afterward, at the 118th annual communication of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees, C. Michael Watson was elected and installed Sovereign Grand Master. It was announced that Togo and the Philippine Islands are to become the next nations to receive AMD charters for local councils. The Committee on Jurisprudence recommended, and the brethren approved, a constitutional amendment to allow accepting Prince Hall companions into AMD councils in states where the “mainstream” and Prince Hall Grand Chapters of Royal Arch Masons are in amity. Appointments to the recently created positions of Grand Superintendent for each state continue to be filled, and TMS Member Paul M. Ferreira was tapped to serve the brethren in New Jersey in that capacity. The English team that was coming to confer the degrees of the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord arrived late in the day Friday, and the degrees went on. It was announced that the Scarlet Cord, the three-grade rite worked within the Order of Secret Monitor, will become a sovereign order unto itself in the United Kingdom on July 21st. On Sunday, 48 candidates were on hand for the conferral of the first two degrees of the Operatives (the Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers and Bricklayers), including brethren visiting from Hawaii. The three Grand Master Masons of the Order were in attendance from England: Rt W Bro Arthur Craddock, VII°, First Grand Master Mason; Rt W Bro David Kibble-Rees, VII°, Second Grand Master Mason; and Rt W Bro James W. Turner, VII°, Third Grand Master Mason. A number of the regular vendors who usually offer Masonic regalia and supplies outside the meeting rooms were absent, but were suitably represented by two newcomers to the scene. Toye USA is the new American subsidiary of Toye, Kenning, and Spencer Ltd., the maker of regalia and jewelry for England’s royal family since 1685. Its display tables, manned by Charles Toye himself and Michael Seay, greeted the brethren with aprons and sashes and jewels and cuff links and more, representing nearly every degree and rite anyone is likely to know, and others as well. Toye USA aims to compete with the Masonic supply companies most of us have patronized for years, offering its Britishmade wares at prices consistent with what the American market bears. This manufacturer already is well known to lodges and grand lodges in the United States. The brethren of St. John’s Lodge No. 1 in New York City wear Toye’s regalia; at Lodge Vitruvian No. 767, the brethren wear custom made aprons and collars. The grand lodges of Utah and Kentucky are new customers too. Also debuting at Masonic Week was Cejalvo, court jeweler to the royal family of Spain, ably represented by John von Blauch of the Grande Loge Nationale Française. Differentiating the two suppliers was the latter’s wonderful displays of unique items varying from antiques to commemoratives to other one-of-a-kind pieces, including a diamond studded gold Royal Arch jewel. Masonic Week 2011 will be held at the same hotel in Alexandria, Virginia from February 9-12.

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Masonic News

he Maine Masonic College, an education program sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Maine, has announced its 2010 annual convocation: Planning for the Future - Reaching for Humanitas Building for Humanity, July 16-17, 2010, at the Hollywood Slots Hotel, in Bangor, Maine. Speakers for the weekend include: • Mark Tabbert, TMS Founding Fellow, George Washington National Masonic Memorial & Author of American Freemasons: “The tenet of Truth: how has it been interpreted over the last 250 years and how is it interpreted today” • Robert T. Conley, PGM of Michigan, Director, Membership Services: “Masonic Relevance in the 21st Century” • Robert G. Davis, TMS Founding Fellow, Masonic Educator ~ Author of Understanding Manhood in America: “The New American Mason: Generations Together in Private Conclaves of Manhood” • Richard Fletcher PGM(VT), Masonic Service Association of North America: “Issues We Sweep Under The Table” • Prof. William D. Moore, Author of Masonic Temples: Freemasonry, Ritual Architecture, and Masculine Archetypes: “Freemasonry and the problem of the Ph.D.” • Wayne T. Adams, PGM, Author of Hiram’s Handbook and many more: “Planning for the Future Roundtable Leader” • Prof. Michael Howard. Professor of Philosophy, University of Maine, “The legacy of the Enlightenment: challenges and responses” • Edward L. “Ed” King, TMS Founding Fellow, www. MasonicInfo.com: “Whither are we educating?” • Eric W. Kuntz, M.D., Child Psychiatrist & Medical Director: “Translating our Masonic learning into practice” • And led by Walter M. Macdougall, PGM, Author of “Settling the Maine Wilderness”and “Epilogue of Freemasonry: the Vital Exploration” Full schedule and registration forms online at

www.MaineMasonicCollege.com

he Canadian government will be contributing C$425,000 to support a conservation project at the Masonic Memorial Temple, in Montreal, Quebec, which is considered one of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts style in Canada. It is the home of the Grand Lodge of Quebec, and includes meeting rooms for lodges and appendant organizations, the grand lodge library, and a series of historic murals. The Temple was designed by Scottish-born architect John Smith Archibald. Dedicated and officially opened June 22, 1929, it was added to the register of National Historic Sites of Canada in 2006. The investment in the Temple is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which includes major contributions to national historic sites to encourage growth in tourism. The announcement was made by Senator W. David Angus, on behalf of Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. According to a release on the Parks Canada website, the National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program is a contribution program that can pay up to 50% of eligible costs incurred by the owner to conserve a national historic site and present it to Canadians for their enjoyment and appreciation. Eligible recipients include other levels of government, not-for-profit organizations and not-

for-profit aboriginal organizations.

he Grand Lodge of Colorado met in January in Pueblo for their annual communication. Grand Master Brian L. Cotter was enthusiastically quoted in an article in the Pueblo Chieftan (“Masons rebuilding ranks”): “We’re in a great place right now,” Cotter said. “The beauty of it is they’re coming back because we haven’t changed anything we’ve taught in 300 years.” According to the article, in 2008, just 67 people contacted the Colorado Freemasons through its website, seeking information on joining the fraternity. In 2009, that number jumped to 497. It could be that Freemasonry has turned a corner. It could be the “Dan Brown effect,” the explosion of social media, or just an unprecedented amount of exposure in media to Masonry that has resulted in these kinds of increased contacts. Maybe the Grand Lodge of Colorado simply improved its website last year. But whatever the reason, initiations are up all over the country. At the same session, the Grand Lodge overturned Colorado’s laws on liquor in Masonic buildings. Colorado Masonic Temple Boards and building societies are now given the freedom to rent rooms in their buildings to any group serving alcohol, even if a lodge meeting is occurring elsewhere in the building at the same time.

n Tuesday, January 12th, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the island country of Haiti. It was the worst such disaster in Haiti’s history. The epicenter was within 10 miles of nation’s densely-populated capital, where around one million people live. Brother David Lindez reported on his blog that “The original Grand Orient d’Haiti building has been completely devastated along with the nearby Cathedral, the home of the Bishop, the foreign embassies and other government buildings on Rue de Magasin.” The following message was immediately issued by the Masonic Service Association of North America: APPEAL FOR RELIEF FROM THE MASONIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA You’ve seen the destruction vividly portrayed by TV coverage. Much of Haiti is in ruins. All Haitians need assistance. Our Brothers in the Grand Orient D’Haiti desperately need assistance as they work with their communities in trying to rebuild their shattered lives. Please forward to the MSA such funds as you feel appropriate to help our devastated Brethren and their families in this stricken jurisdiction. Please make checks payable to the MSA Disaster Relief Fund and send to 8120 Fenton Street, Ste. 203, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4785. Thank you very much for your help! Most sincerely and fraternally, RICHARD E. FLETCHER, PGM Executive Secretary Phone: 301-588-4010 SPRING 2010 • 11

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Masonic News derstand the effects it had on society, as well as how it has adapted to suit the different cultures and times in which it Glen A. Cook, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Utah, has resided. He argued for the study of hasW. posted the Masonic of the UtahUnited has announced Bro.that Trevor StewartFoundation was back in States this fall, a new “historiography” of Masonry: a a US$10,000 grant to the Red Cross for Haitian Relief. greater understanding and examination The United Grand Lodge of England’s Grand Charity imof the political, philosophical, religious mediately issued £30,000 in grants for the Haitian Red Cross and and sociological backgrounds of the the European Union’s Humanitarian Relief office, and authorized 18th and 19th century Masons. another £10,000 to assist in providing survivors safe housing. For further information about the grants, contact Siobhan McCarthy George Malcolm Davies was via email at smccarthy@the-grand-charity.org or telephone 020 named as the special chair of Free7395 9385. masonry at the University of Leiden in the Hague in January of 2008. Although born in Crewe in the county of Cheshire, England, he had lived in the Netherlands for 20 years. ost Worshipful Brother Charles E. Jones, He was trained as a musicologist, and he studied at Trinity College Grand Master of the Most Worshipful of Music in London and the University of Southampton, before Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri F&AM, moving to The Hague’s Royal Conservatory of Frans Brüggen. He passed to the celestial lodge on January 29th, received his Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht on The Masonic 2010. MWB Jones lived in Hayti, Missouri. Muse. Songs, Music and Musicians Associated with Dutch FreeIn his message on the grand lodge’s webmasonry: 1730-1806. site, he said, “If we are to advance our society, His paper delivered at the 2007 International Conference on we must all become engaged and participate. Our the History of Freemasonry was “The Mystical Muse: Early Madestiny is largely in our own hands. If we are to sonic Operas, Cantatas and Dramas.” In 2008, he organized a two find we must seek. Our reach must be beyond our day symposium in The Hague, where seventeen researchers from grasp. We must rekindle the spirit of our ancestors; European and American universities lectured on the theme “The the belief that there is dignity in work. Local comExpression of Freemasonry: Its ritual, oratory, poetry, music, litmunities should develop their talents from within. erature, art and architecture.” Dead at the age of 57. RIP A life of service to other’s is a life that matters and counts and full of rewards.” His column is broken, and his brethren mourn. RIP.

eclaring “We have been here for the first 100 years, and today we rededicate ourselves to be here for the next 100,” Worshipful Brother Andrew Hammer, Master of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, announced an historic $100,000 donation to the George Washington Masonic Memorial on February 23rd, 2010, at the Lodge’s annual celebration of George Washington’s birthday. The Lodge initiated the building of the Memorial in 1910, inviting representatives of Grand Lodges to meet in its Lodge room to formally begin the project. Worshipful Master Charles H. Callahan bought the first plots of land one year earlier in 1909. Stating that other grand Masonic buildings throughout the nation had been lost, sold and even razed, Hammer vowed, “We must never let this building fall, either structurally or out of the hands of our fraternity, and I give you the word of a Mason that Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 will do whatever it can to help maintain it. We have taken this first step today, and I challenge the Grand Lodges of this nation to match or exceed this donation.” The Memorial is in need of over 10 million dollars of renovations and repairs. AW22 will give its $100,000 gift to the GW Memorial in $20,000 installments over the next five years. If one lodge can do this, surely grand lodges can step up and equal or exceed this kind of commitment.

reemason and scholar Malcolm Davies passed away February 9th. Brother Davies maintained that the academic study of Freemasonry had to be very broad based so that we might un-

12 • SPRING 2010

he Canonbury Masonic Research Centre CMRC) in London is pleased to announce a Call for Papers for its twelfth annual conference on the theme of ‘Anti-Masonry’ scheduled for October 30–31, 2010. Soon after its emergence in early Hanoverian London, organized Freemasonry earned the enmity of both religious institutions and governments alike, and by the summer of 1738 the association had been proscribed by the Magistrate in The Hague, the French government of Cardinal Fleury, and by Pope Clement XII, in what was to be the first of many Papal Bulls issued against the order. In the wake of the French revolution of 1789, polemicists such as the Catholic priest, Abbé Barruel, accused the Freemasons of helping to bring about these momentous events, and within a few years a Jewish component had been introduced to this heady tale. It was an elaboration that was to have disastrous consequences. During the nineteenth century Freemasonry also found itself accused of fomenting the European revolutions of 1848 and a highly successful anti-masonic party was established in the United States. By the close of century, the story that Freemasonry was somehow intertwined with Jewish interests (what American historian Gabriel Jackson termed ‘The Black Legend’) had metamorphosed into one of the most outlandish conspiracy tales of all time – The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion. This notorious forgery of the Tsarist Secret Police – an imagined blueprint for Judeo-Masonic world domination – was eagerly embraced by the European Fascist regimes, and it helped prepare the ground for the Holocaust as well as the imprisonment and execution of thousands of Freemasons, along with the targeted theft of vast masonic archives, many of which are still being restituted to their original owners today. In post-war Europe the publication and appeal of the Protocols dwindled, although in the case of Spain General Franco con-

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Masonic News tinued to maintain a belief in the existence an imaginary BolshevikMasonic complot until his death in 1975. And today, this infamous document is still viewed as genuine in many parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East where it is typically used to justify an over-arching anti-Western rhetoric. But while the anti-Jewish or anti-Zionist aspects of this phenomenon are frequently discussed by academics, the anti-masonic element is all too often ignored. Consequently, this international conference aims to address this neglected topic in all its aspects. Scholars of all disciplines are therefore invited to submit proposals for papers on a sociological, political, cultural, religious or biographical aspect of this curious phenomenon. Papers can be wide ranging in content or more narrowly focused, however, all should be fully documented as the CMRC plans to publish a volume of post conference transactions. Proposals for papers must consist of no more than 300 words and should be sent in writing to the conference organizer at the Canonbury Masonic Research Centre, Canonbury Tower, Canonbury Place, London N1 2NQ. Please be sure to enclose both your contact details and a CV with your proposal. The deadline for all such submissions is May 20, 2010. For further information please email: conference@canonbury.ac.uk or telephone 00 44 (0)20 7226 6256

he world of Anglo-Saxon derived Freemasonry is generally perplexed by the anti-Masonic allegation that Freemasons are attempting to somehow create a one-world government, or influence governments or politicians from behind the scenes. The notion that an English, US, Canadian, or Australian grand lodge today would try to exert political power, issue official position papers on church vs. state topics, arrange meetings with politicians to lobby for law changes, or other similar activities would be an anathema to most Freemasons in the overwhelming majority of jurisdictions. Not so with the Grand Orients of France and Belgium. The largest obedience of Masons in France is unrecognized and considered irregular by the overwhelming majority of the Masonic world, and news in February provides ample explanation why. The European press widely reported that “the Masons” are hoping to open a bureau in Brussels “to lobby against the rising influence of religious organisations in the European Union institutions.” A story on www.Lesoir.be (“La reconquista des francs-maçons“) reported that the Grand Orients of France and Belgium, and mixed gender Le Droit Humain Freemasons are attempting to exert direct influence on government in the European Union: “In 2008, Marcel Conradt, Freemason and parliamentary assistant to the Socialist MEP Veronique De Keyser, denounced the assault of “religious lobbies and sects” on Europe. Their objective: influence legislation and decision makers, especially MEPs. Around 80% of the national legislation of member states is developed at the European level. The author described the influence of the churches, but also cults such as Scientology or the Raelian movement, and urged the secularists to maintain a Europe that would leave God out of politics.” In an interview, Conradt makes the statement that Freemasons, “must impose the universalist conception of the Enlightenment...” That’s quite a jump from Anderson’s Constitutions exhorting Masons to leave “their particular Opinions to themselves; that is, to be good Men and true, or Men of Honour and Honesty, by

whatever Denominations or Persuasions they may be distinguish’d.” Nowhere in regular, recognized Freemasonry is it incumbent on the fraternity to impose anything on anyone, not the least of which a “universalist conception of the Enlightenment.” Grand Orient Freemasonry has a long reputation of getting entangled with governments, especially in French colonies when administrations were made up of G.O. Masons. Unfortunately, few outsiders make the distinction between Grand Orient Freemasonry, and the rest of the Masonic world, and we all get tarred by the same brush.

he state of Arkansas has joined many other states in issuing a Freemason license plate, with the extra fees supporting a Masonic charity. However, the Grand Lodge of Arkansas F&AM has issued an edict that no mainstream Masons may purchase the plates. It seems the current plate was negotiated by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Jurisdiction of Arkansas, F.&A.M., and the proceeds of the plate fees go to support their college scholarship program. The two grand lodges do not recognize each other at this time.

obert G. Davis is now the President of the Masonic Restoration Foundation, and says the MRF is looking to become a resource for lodges seeking to incorporate “traditional practices” into their lodges. The MRF will still promote its vision of Traditional Observance lodges, but will also provide information for lodges that wish to pick and choose only certain aspects of these practices.

he brethren of Lodge Arrow Kilwinning No. 86 in Arrowtown, New Zealand were poking around under a remodeling job done back in the 1950s, yanked off some paneling, and discovered incredible artwork that was painted 110 years ago. The building was completed and consecrated on January 23, 1888. According to an article in The Southland Times: A large set square and compass motif hand painted on to a chimney flue was revealed behind stone that the pinex board had covered. A tessellated pavement, which is a freemason’s lodge floor feature was discovered beneath pinex floorboards. A frieze of billowing curtains painted around the ceiling was also uncovered. . .The tessellated pavement is a square laid into the lodge floor that is believed to be painted on the remains of a tent used in Arrowtown’s early goldmining days. SPRING 2010 • 13

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HISTORY

The Grand Constitutions and the Scottish Rite War by Michael R. Poll Few Masonic documents have been debated, praised, maligned, studied and misunderstand more than the collection known as the Grand Constitutions of 1786. There are actually two collections with that name, one known as the French version and the other as the Latin version. But what are they, why are they important, and why all the fuss about them?

he Grand Constitutions of 1786 are directly associated with the 33-degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and are its original rules and regulations. The first Scottish Rite Supreme Council was created in Charleston, South Carolina on May 31, 1801 and used the Grand Constitutions both as authority to exist and laws for governance. The Grand Constitutions of 1786 provided the first Supreme Council with a blueprint, and it gave them guidance in the organization, structure and management of the new system. In the early days of the Scottish Rite, the Grand Constitutions were perceived to be of great importance to the young Supreme Council, but were of no value to Grand Lodges who often viewed the new system as mere side degrees. For the Scottish Rite, they were not only central to the government of the system, but could also be used as evidence of legitimacy. In fact, the original Charleston Supreme Council (today officially known as “The Supreme Council [Mother Council of the World] of the Inspectors General Knights Commander of the House of the Temple of Solomon of the Thirty-third degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America” – but more commonly known simply as the “Southern Jurisdiction”) did use the Grand Constitutions as evidence of legitimacy in what would become a “Scottish Rite war” spanning most of the 19th century. John Mitchell was the first Grand Commander of the Charleston Council (i.e., the “Southern Jurisdiction”). Mitchell had been a Deputy Inspector General (25º) of an older Masonic system known as the Order of the Royal Secret, more commonly known as the Rite of Perfection. In 1807, when Joseph Cerneau, another Deputy Inspector General of the Order of the Royal Secret, created bodies in New York that would evolve into a second Supreme Council in the United States, the young Charleston Council used the Grand Constitutions to argue that this second council was unauthorized and irregular. In 1813, Emanuel de la Motta, an Active Member of the Charleston Council, traveled to New York and – with or without the knowledge or approval of the Charleston Council – created a second Supreme Council in New York on August 23, 1813, to usurp the Cerneau creation. This council would become the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction known today as the partner to the Southern Jurisdiction. Interestingly enough, the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (NMJ) and the Southern Jurisdiction (SJ) have historically disagreed over which version of the Grand Constitutions of 1786 they accept. The NMJ accepts the French version, and the SJ the Latin version. But why should there be different versions of a document that would seem to be crucial to the Scottish Rite? What and where is the original? The Grand Constitutions of 1786 contain 18 Articles, or laws, and it was reported to be approved and signed in Berlin by Frederic the Great on May 1, 1786. Unfortunately, the original document is not known to exist. When the Charleston Council demanded the Cerneau Council produce documentation showing it was authorized to exist, the Cerneau Council produced nothing. The Charleston Council labeled Cerneau unauthorized and irregular. When the Cerneau Council demanded that the Charleston Council prove that they were authorized to exist, the Charleston Council pointed to its copy of the

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Grand Constitutions of 1786. The Cerneau Council dismissed this document as a forgery and accused the rival group of hypocrisy. The Cerneau Council claimed it had the same right and authority to exist as did the Charleston Council, and that the standards of legitimacy should be the same for both. Another claim made by the Charleston Council was that any additional Supreme Council created in the United States needed its approval, which it did not give to Cerneau. So, who, if anyone, was correct? Is it possible that the Grand Constitutions of 1786 are a forgery and they were never approved by Frederic? Let’s have a look at the two versions of the Grand Constitutions of 1786. Of the French version, Albert Pike tells us: “If I were satisfied that there never were any other Constitutions than those contained in the French version, I should not hesitate to admit that they were a clumsy forgery, and that there was nothing in the world to prove them authentic.”1 Those are very strong words! But why would Pike write such a strong denunciation of this French version? Past SJ Sovereign Grand Commander Henry Clausen explains that “Pike’s [Latin] version is obviously a truer copy of the original because it supplies omissions and corrections that were apparent in the French version.” Following are a few examples from Pike’s pen showing the disparity between the French and the Latin versions: The French Constitutions neither provide for nor describe any Jewel or Cordon of the Degree. The Seal is described as ‘a large BLACK Eagle with two heads, the beak of gold, the wings displayed, and holding in its claws a naked sword; upon a ribbon displayed below is written DUES MEUMQUE JUS, and above the Eagle, SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE 33rd DEGREE. [Official Bulletin, Vol. V, No.2, p. 548] The French Constitutions provide for one Council of the Degree in each Nation or Kingdom in Europe; for two in the United States of America; for one in the British West Indies; and one in the French West India Islands. But none is provided for Canada; none for the Province of Louisiana, or the Spanish Possessions in North America; and none for South America. [Official Bulletin, Vol. VII, No. 1, p. 486] Their Article VI provides that ‘the power of the Supreme Council does not interfere in any Degree below the 17th;’ and Article VII that only Councils or individuals above the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem may bring their appeal to the Supreme Council. This was necessary, in 1801, at Charleston, to prevent hostility on the part of the Grand Lodge of Perfection and Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, then and theretofore existing in South Carolina. Why was it necessary in 1786, in Prussia, where no Lodge of Perfection or Council of Princes of Jerusalem existed? [Ibid., p.487] The fees for the 33rd Degree and for the Patent of it are expressed to be payable, not in German, but in French coin. [Ibid., p.487] 2 Pike’s rational and categorical reproof of the French version makes it difficult to understand how one could, with any understanding of Pike’s argument and its implications, reasonably defend the French version. Yet, this is the very version that the NMJ accepts. Why? Even more interesting is the fact that Pike himself used the French version to support his position in a Masonic debate. In the 1860s, the Supreme Councils of the NMJ and SJ entered into a debate over territory. Josiah Drummond, the Grand Commander of the NMJ, and Albert Pike, the Grand Commander of the SJ, debated jurisdictional questions over certain states. Drummond wrote to Pike in 1868:

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“I hold that under the Constitutions of 1786, the Northern Jurisdiction and the Southern Jurisdiction are, in every respect and for all purposes, as distinct as if they were separate nations: that we, as well as you, derive our rights of jurisdiction from those Constitutions; that those Constitutions create two separate Jurisdictions. On the other hand, I perceive, that you have held that your Supreme Council had jurisdiction throughout North America, and that we get our territory by cession from you; and if by cession, consequently we get only such territory as you choose to cede: and as necessary, that there could have been no Supreme Council in this Jurisdiction unless you had chosen to cede us territory.”3 How did Pike answer Drummond? He wrote (arguing the meaning of certain phrases in the French version): “I do not agree that the Constitutions created the two Jurisdictions. For the United States composed a single Jurisdiction until 1813 or 1815, and might have continued to be as such until today. The provision is restrictive — that there shall not be more than two Supreme Councils established in the United States. That is the real meaning of it; not that there shall be two. But the point is of no practical importance, and I pass it…. If Illustrious Brother Drummond were right in holding that the Northern part of the United States did not belong to the Jurisdiction of the Southern Council, prior to 1813 or 1815, but was to vest, whether it willed it or not, in a Northern Council, whenever one should be created there, a consequence which he does not foresee might follow. That hypothesis would make the Northern states to have been unoccupied territory, in which any Inspector General could establish a Supreme Council; and it might thus make legitimate the Cerneau Council, and annihilate that created in 1813 or 1815 by De la Motta. It certainly would destroy the principal ground on which the legitimacy of Cerneau’s Council was always impeached; to-wit, that the Council at Charleston had jurisdiction over the whole United States, and that no other Council could be created any where in them, except with its consent.” 4

Pike himself had translated in 1859. Pike used the French version in his debate with Drummond simply because it was more open to interpretation. The “consequence” that Pike claimed would follow if Drummond’s interpretation was accepted, is clearly present in the Latin version — Cerneau, it seems, might have had reason, based on the version of the Grand Constitutions accepted by the SJ, to believe that he had rightfully established his Council. The problem for Drummond was that Pike had skillfully painted him into a corner with his masterful use of Drummond’s preferred French version. The territorial debate ended with Drummond yielding to Pike’s demands. The view held by Drummond, however, was not only based on his interpretation of Article Five of the French version, but also on the “birth certificate” of the Northern Council itself, which reads in part: “And whereas the Grand Constitutions of the 33º specifies particularly, that there shall be two Grand & Supreme Councils of the 33d Degree for the Jurisdiction of the United States of America, one for the South and the other for the North.”8 It is obvious why Drummond interpreted Article V of the French version as he did. The NMJ was created on the premise that the constitutions provided for two councils in the United States. Its only contention could have been if Cerneau was not a legitimate Sovereign Grand Inspector General; after all, if he was legitimate, the Cerneau Council was perfectly legal and the NMJ was – by its own stated reason for being created – unauthorized! Pike’s opinions concerning the meaning of the original French interpretation were clearly not shared by Emanuel de la Motta, who created the NMJ and was an active Member of the original Charleston Council. It is, likewise, evident why Pike’s “threats” might well have been taken seriously. Clearly the only available attack that could reasonably be made on Cerneau, from the NMJ perspective, was to discredit his legitimacy as a SGIG – but great care had to be taken in this course of action as there is no reason to believe Cerneau and John Mitchell obtained the degree in any different manner.9 To discredit Cerneau’s 33rd might also discredit Mitchell’s.

Nineteenth-century defenders of Cerneau typically argued the lack of authenticity of the Grand Constitutions, with the apparent belief that if the Grand Constitutions could be discredited then all charges against Cerneau would likewise be dismissed. Pike and Drummond were debating the meaning of Article Five of the French version, which determined the number of Supreme Councils allowed in the US. This debate resulted in Pike producing quite lengthy arguments concerning French and English grammar and the reasons for his position concerning the meaning of Article Five of the French version. Pike even changed a portion of the English translation in his Grand Constitutions to reflect his opinion of the rendition.5 In his 1868 Allocution, Pike very skillfully debated this interpretation of Article Five of the French version at length and he did likewise in his Grand Constitutions. But why should Pike bother to painstakingly argue a point concerning a document that he had dismissed as a “clumsy forgery”? Pike should have, for the sake of clearly articulating his true position, debated the Latin version — which he claimed to be legitimate. Why didn’t he? Simply put, Pike could not debate this portion of the Latin version. The same portion of Article Five of the Latin version (the version Pike refers to as the “law of the Rite”)6 reads: “In each great nation of Europe, and in each Kingdom or Empire, there shall be but one single Supreme Council of this Degree. In all those States and Provinces, as well of the mainland as of the islands, whereof North America is composed, there shall be two Councils, one at as great a distance as may be from the other.” 7 Pike strongly contended that the meaning of Article Five (French version) was that the US was not required to be divided into two jurisdictions, yet that is exactly the meaning of the Latin version, which

It would seem apparent that Pike was unaware of the existence of a handwritten copy of the French version of the Grand Constitutions that had been made by Frederick Dalcho, the first Lt. Grand Commander of the Charleston Council and its second Grand Commander following John Mitchell; the document was not discovered until the 20th century.10 (This copy now resides in the Kloss Collection in the Grand Lodge Library, The Netherlands, which also includes a manuscript of the Ritual of the Thirty-third Degree.) Pike boldly proclaimed the French version a fraud, and offered very lucid support for his position, while clearly having no idea of the pernicious wording of the “birth certificate” of the NMJ. An additional problem for Pike was that the Latin version was unknown before 1832. To make matters worse, it was none other than a Cerneau Council that made the Latin version available to the world.11 Customarily, papers discussing Joseph Cerneau include arguments concerning the Grand Constitutions of 1786. Cerneau is routinely accused of acting in violation of these Constitutions. Nineteenthcentury defenders of Cerneau typically argued the lack of authenticity of the Grand Constitutions, with the apparent belief that if the Grand Constitutions could be discredited then all charges against Cerneau would likewise be dismissed. One claim that was often made was that Frederic the Great had been in very poor heath at the time the Constitutions were said to be approved, and that he was physically unable to have given them consent. Albert Pike went to great lengths to examine the charge that Frederic was not physically able to have SPRING 2010 • 15

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executed such a document. Pike meticulously traced the reported events and laid out a detailed report on his position that it was possible for Frederic to have executed the Grand Constitutions. Scottish Rite historian Samuel Baynard of the NMJ writes of Pike’s conclusions: “Though we admit that our Illustrious Brother did in a masterly manner fully convince us that Frederick on May 1, 1786, was physically able and mentally capable of drafting, signing and promulgating these Grand Constitutions, we have utterly failed to find that he discovered or pointed out to us one scintilla of evidence that Frederick actually did have aught to do with them.”12 Pike was obviously aware that his lengthy account did not answer the actual question of whether Frederic signed or approved the Grand Constitutions. Addressing this point in a most interesting manner, Pike writes: “[T]here is not one particle of proof, of any sort, circumstantial or historical or by argument from improbability, that they are not genuine and authentic.”13 As remarkable as it sounds, Pike is actually asking us to prove a negative. Regardless of Pike’s request, Baynard goes on to write: “We conclude therefore: 1. That the Grand Constitutions were not promulgated by Frederic the Great; 2. That they were not framed, drawn up or signed in Berlin; 3. That there did not exist in Berlin or even France in 1786, any “Grand Supreme Universal Inspectors, in constituted Supreme Council”; 4. That the real date of the Constitutions is subsequent to 1786.”14 But if the Grand Constitutions are a forgery, then who forged them?

If the Grand Constitutions are forged documents, but the original Charleston Council did not forge them, then how did they come into possession of them? Pike theorizes: “This very imperfect French copy, which consists merely of so many Articles, without preface, formality of enactment by any body in Power, or authentication of any sort, contains no list of the degrees, nor even the name of the Rite. It is most probable that de Grasse procured it, in or from Europe, and created the Supreme Council. By Article V of these Constitutions, it requires three persons to constitute a quorum and compose a Supreme Council; and therefore Colonel Mitchell and Dr. Dalcho alone could not have been, by themselves, such a body. Brother de Grasse intended establishing a Supreme Council at Santo Domingo for the French West India Islands; and no other person had any interest to make the Constitutions read so as to allow such a Council, except his father-in-law, Jean Baptiste Delahogue, who also resided in Charleston in 1796, 1799 and 1801, and was also a 33rd, and appointed to be Lieutenant Grand Commander for the French West Indies. It was for this reason, evidently, that neither of them was placed on the roll of members of the body at Charleston.”18 We now have enough material to analyze. Baynard held the opinion that the entire story of the Grand Constitutions was a fabrication. He based his opinion on the total lack of factual evidence supporting the account and the improbability of the reported events. Pike soundly denounced the French version as a fraud, but held to the possibility of legitimacy for the Latin version. Pike pointed out that the original Charleston Council did not have possession or knowledge of the Latin version and had based their actions on the fraudulent French version. Pike also stated that it was Alexander de Grasse-Tilly who had brought the forged French version to Charleston, and implied that it was de Grasse-Tilly who might actually have forged them. Pike, with some indignation, rejected the possibility that Mitchell or Dalcho might have had anything to do with forgery.

But if the Grand Constitutions are a forgery, then who forged them? The question did not escape Baynard: “It is only natural that the next question should be, Well, then, who did frame them? We do not know. Neither are we unduly disturbed because we do not know. We have our opinion, but it is not substantiated by any evidence that we can call positive or direct, and, therefore, we do not express it as a conclusion.”15 To summarize the situation, Pike had already proclaimed the French version of the Grand Constitutions a forgery. He was debating the merits of why the Latin version should be considered legitimate. Baynard rejected both versions of the Grand Constitutions. Regarding the possibility that the Latin version might also be a forgery, Pike tells us: “The odious charge has been again and again repeated, that these Latin Constitutions were forged at Charleston. It is quite certain that this is not true, because the Supreme Council at Charleston never had them, until it received copies of the editions published by the Grand Commander. If they were forged anywhere, it was not at Charleston: and if anything was forged there, it was the French copy, as it afterwards appeared in the Recueil des Actes.”16 And elsewhere: “The gentlemen of South Carolina, in that day, did not commit forgery. Whatever the origin of the Grand Constitutions, they came from Europe to Charleston, and were accepted and received by the honorable gentlemen and clergymen who were of the first Supreme Council, in perfect good faith”17 16 • SPRING 2010

There are two logical scenarios that we can explore: The first would be that Mitchell and Dalcho received the Grand Constitutions sincerely believing they were legitimate; the second would be that Mitchell and Dalcho took part in the creation of the Grand Constitutions or knew that they were a forgery. If Mitchell and Dalcho believed that the Grand Constitutions were legitimate, we can look at the series of events with this mindset. If Mitchell and Dalcho believed that they were propagating a European system created some 15 years prior to the creation of the Charleston Council, then they could have reasonably assumed that other Supreme Councils of the 33º existed in Europe. Clearly, the Grand Constitutions speak of such a Council in Berlin. On August 23, 1813 John Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho wrote to Emanuel de la Motta concerning de la Motta’s report to them of Cerneau. Mitchell wrote in part: “I am truly surprised and astonished at the conduct of the man you say is called Mr. Joseph Cerneau. No person ever had the degree but the Count de Grasse, and perhaps, but I am not sure, Mr. Delahogue.”19 We must stop for a moment to try and understand this comment by Mitchell. If Mitchell received a copy of the Grand Constitutions and he accepted them as legitimate and authoritative, how could he be so sure that no one else “had the degree”? What of the Supreme Council in Berlin mentioned in the Grand Constitutions? The copy of the Grand Constitutions of 1786 that Mitchell had available to him opens as follows:

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“Made and approved in the Supreme Council of the 33rd duly same in English, entirely in the handwriting of Frederick Dalcho. and lawfully established and Congregated in the Grand East of It is the English equivalent of Delahogue’s French copy. It is Berlin on the 1st of May Anno Lucis 5786 and of the Christian believed to have been the Charleston copy from which Delahogue Era 1786. At which Council was present in person – His Most made his translation into French.”25 August Majesty, Frederic 2nd, King of Prussia, Sovereign Grand Delahogue made his translation into French? But Pike said that the Commander.” oldest known copy of the Grand Constitutions was the forged French Was the “Supreme Council of the 33rd” in Berlin composed version. In a reproof of this version, Pike rigidly defended Mitchell of members who did not have the 33rd degree? If no one else had and Dalcho based on his position that this forged copy came into their the degree, who gave it to Mitchell – someone who did not possess hands, presumably through de Grasse and/or Delahouge, and they it himself? Mitchell writes that de Grasse was the only other person simply accepted it as legitimate. The “French version” would have had whom he was certain “had” the degree. (This is possibly where Pike to have been translated from French into English, not the other way conceived the theory that de Grasse was the one who brought the around for Pike’s argument to be sound. Is there some support for forged copy to the United States.) If no one else had the degree before Harris’ position that the French Delahouge copy was made from the de Grasse, then who gave it to de Grasse? If de Grasse gave Mitchell the English Dalcho copy? Yes. Harris tells us that the Delahogue copy of 33rd at some time earlier than the creation of the Charleston Council the Grand Constitutions carries the note: “translated from the English in 1801, why does the “1802 Manifesto” (the “birth certificate” of the by me [Delahogue].”26 st SJ) state that de Grasse received the 33º from Mitchell on the “21 of For Pike’s theory to be correct, de Grasse would have translated February, 5802” [1802]? 20 his forged French Constitutions into English for Mitchell and Dalcho. Let’s now look at part of the letter Frederick Dalcho wrote to Dalcho would then have copied that English translation into his own de la Motta on the same day as Mitchell’s letter and also concerning hand. Then, we are asked to believe that de Grasse’s father-in-law the new Cerneau creation. It again should be noted that the date of did not make a French-to-French copy of the Constitutions from de Dalcho’s letter was August 23, 1813. Emanuel de la Motta established Grasse’s copy, but instead used Dalcho’s English copy to translate it the Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction 13 days earlier on back into French for his own personal copy. That makes no sense at all! August 10, 1813, and he certainly would have been reported this fact Why would Delahogue go to all that trouble if his son-in-law possessed to Mitchell and Dalcho in the letter that prompted their response. the original French version? Dalcho wrote: This writer is wholly in agreement with “It is well known to those who have Samuel Baynard in his rejection of the legitimacy lawfully received the 33rd degree, that of the Grand Constitutions. Likewise, there there can be but one Council in a nation is little room to argue the perfectly logical or kingdom; and that the Council for assessment that Albert Pike made of the French the U.S. was lawfully established in this version of the Grand Constitutions. Pike clearly City, May 31st, 1801; consequently any did not realize that what he so soundly proved other assuming its prerogatives must be to be a “clumsy forgery” came directly from the surreptitious.”21 hand of Frederick Dalcho. What does Dalcho mean by this statement? In the absence of any other reasonable The copy of the Grand Constitutions of explanation, we must conclude that John 1786 which exists in his own hand says that Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho fabricated the there “shall” be two in the United States. story of the Grand Constitutions of 1786, either And what of de la Motta’s creation? Is there in whole or in part. We cannot, as Pike suggested, some suggestion that Dalcho might not have attempt to prove or disprove a negative. We also approved of the de la Motta Council any more cannot embrace fanciful theories that make than the Cerneau one? The “birth certificate” the story end as we might wish. The course of of the NMJ, created by de la Motta, states that events simply does not make sense if we take “there shall be two Grand & Supreme Councils the position that Mitchell and Dalcho received of the 33d Degree for the Jurisdiction of the the Grand Constitutions, accepted them as United States of America, one for the South legitimate, and created the Charleston Council. Albert Pike and the other for the North.” The known facts simply do not support such conclusions. Pike stated that the earliest known copy of the Grand Constitutions was the “forged” French version as appeared in a French This writer holds the opinion that Mitchell, Dalcho, and possibly Masonic publication titled Recueil des Actes in 1817. 22 Pike stated that a few others held reasonable concern in regard to the failing and chaotic Mitchell and Dalcho could not have forged the Constitutions because state of the “Scottish Rite” order (Order of the Royal Secret or Rite of they were both “honorable” men and neither “the kind of man to put Perfection). “To bring “order” to the “chaos,” the new 33-degree AASR his hand to that kind of work.” Pike also stated that it was not “probable system was created. The “cream of the crop” of the degrees and rituals that either of them could write Latin or French.” 23 Pike theorized were selected for this new system, an inspired creation for which, one that de Grasse along with his father-in-law, Jean Baptiste Delahogue, can imagine, a concern developed over whether it would be accepted acquired or forged the French version and then, presumably, translated by Freemasonry. A royal endorsement would add value to any new it into English so that Mitchell and Dalcho could understand it. Pike Masonic system, and one attached to a set of governing laws might did not know of the handwritten Dalcho copy, but could have, by this bestow greater value. line of reasoning, assumed that Dalcho copied it from a de Grasse or If we examine the situation from the standpoint that the Charleston Delahogue copy which they had translated from French into English. Council received the constitutions and accepted them as legitimate, Could this be the copy that was used to fool Mitchell and Dalcho? then we arrive at one contradiction after another. If, however, we We learn from past SJ Grand Historian Ray Baker Harris that the consider the entire story and creation came from the Charleston Delahogue documents in the Kloss Collection are “an undoubted Council, a very logical scenario develops. It is this writer’s conclusion copy of the Thirty-Third Degree and the Constitution, Statutes and that the original Charleston Council was created alongside a set of Regulations, in use in Charleston in 1801-1802 when the Supreme governing laws attributed to Frederic II. This writer has not seen one Council was established.”24 scrap of sound evidence to support the position that Frederic actually approved – or even knew of – any Grand Constitutions in Berlin on Harris also tells us: May 1, 1786. There is, however, abundant evidence to attribute the “This assumption is further confirmed by a manuscript copy of the creation of the constitutions to the original members of the Charleston SPRING 2010 • 17

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Council. It has been more than 200 years since the creation of the Charleston Council. The value and worth of the AASR is well proven. It is clear this Masonic system is of tremendous importance to the whole of Masonry, and it is not a disservice to acknowledge all of its history. The creators of the AASR were human, after all, and humans sometimes make mistakes in judgment. NOTES: 1. Albert Pike, The Grand Constitutions of Freemasonry (New York: The Supreme Council, 33º Southern Jurisdiction, USA, 1872), 282283. 2. Henry C. Clausen, Authentics of Fundamental Law for Scottish Rite Freemasonry (San Diego: The Supreme Council, 33º Southern Jurisdiction, USA, 1979), 9-10. 3. Transactions of the Supreme Council of the 33D for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States (New York: Masonic Publishing Company, 1869), 19. 4. Ibid., 22-23. 5. Pike, The Grand Constitutions of Freemasonry 289. Pike altered the English translation of the French version of Article five to: “...but two in the United States of America...” in order to emphasize his point concerning his interpretation of the meaning of this phrase. 6. Ibid., 283. 7. Albert Pike, The True Secret Institutes and Fundamental Bases of the Order of Ancient Free and Associated Masons and the Grand Constitutions of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the Year 1786. (New Orleans: The Supreme Council, 33º Southern Jurisdiction, USA 1859), 163-165. In Pike’s 1872 (A.M. 5632) The Grand Constitutions of Freemasonry, he altered the original translation of the Latin version to read as follows: “In each great nation of Europe, and in each Kingdom or Empire, there shall be a single Council of the said degree. In the States and Provinces, as well on the Continent as in the Islands, whereof North America consists, there will be two Councils, one at as great a distance from the other as may be possible.” Pike, the master linguist, replaced the word “shall” with “will” in his 1872 edition, which, while having the same meaning, was not such an obvious problem to inattentive readers. The edited edition carries the note, “Re-translated from the Latin by Albert Pike, 33º, Sov. Gr. Commander. A.M., 5632” p. 213. Pike maintained the accuracy of his 1859 translation, at least, until 1868, as the questioned portion of Article Five is reproduced in the 1868 Transactions of the SC SJ exactly as they appeared in the 1859 translation on page 28. 8. Samuel Harrison Baynard, Jr., History of the Supreme Council, 33º Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America and its Antecedents (Boston: The Supreme Council, 33º Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, USA, 1938), Vol. I, 175-179. This quotation is taken from the facsimile reproduction of the 1813 “birth certificate” for the Northern Jurisdiction (reproduced on page 176). In addition to the facsimile is a printed transcript of the “birth certificate” provided to us by Ill. Brother Baynard. Interestingly, the printed transcription omits a number of words and phrases that appear in the facsimile. The phrase, for example, “one for the South and one for the North” (line 26 of the facsimile), does not appear in the printed transcription. 9. The question of where and when John Mitchell and Joseph Cerneau received their 33rd degrees has not escaped the notice of Masonic researchers. In the case of Cerneau, he is usually dismissed quickly due to the total lack of evidence that anyone ever actually gave him the 33rd degree. Emanuel de la Motta, upon first meeting Cerneau, attempted to obtain certain information about Cerneau’s 33rd including having a look at his Patent, but was unable to satisfy himself in any way (see: Charles S. Lobingier, The Supreme Council 33º [Louisville, Kentucky: The Supreme Council, 33º, SJ., 1964], 18 • SPRING 2010

p. 102.). But what of John Mitchell? There has never been a Patent discovered showing that Mitchell received the 33rd from anyone. We know that Mitchell gave Dalcho the 33rd as a Patent for this event exists. Mitchell was the first Sovereign Grand Commander of the SJ, so how did he receive the 33rd? Who gave it to him? Prior to Mitchell’s role in the creation of the AASR, he was a Deputy Inspector General (25º) of the so-called “Rite of Perfection”. We often see those senior to Mitchell in this system being credited with giving him the 33rd (usually Barend Spitzer). How could a 25th degree Mason from another system give the 33rd degree of the AASR to someone? We can also see an account of some “unknown” Prussian or German giving him the degree with Mitchell signing an obligation for it in French. (See: Baynard, History of the Supreme Council, 33º, Vol. 1, p. 89.) If someone gave Mitchell the 33rd, who gave it to him? Why didn’t this unknown SGIG play a role in the creation of the Charleston Council? Since this unknown SGIG was senior to Mitchell, why wasn’t he the first Charleston Sovereign Grand Commander? The questions can go on forever. One thing we must never do is judge past events by today’s standards. How we do things today, may not have been the norm in the past. We can find evidence of an old practice that might shed some light on the Mitchell/Cerneau 33rd degree question. Evidence exists (see: Henry Wilson Coil, Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia [New York: Macoy Pub. & Masonic Supply Co., 1961], p. 121 and Pike, The Grand Constitutions of Freemasonry, p. 117.) that a Deputy Inspector General of the old so-called “Rite of Perfection” (as were both Mitchell and Cerneau) could “slide over” to the 32nd degree of the new 33 degree AASR. In addition, if a 32nd of the AASR was the senior (or only) 32nd in an unoccupied area, he could advance himself to the 33rd degree of the AASR in order to give the degree to others and create a Supreme Council. Both Mitchell and Cerneau gave the 33rd to others and created supreme councils. Regardless of the historic disapproval of Cerneau, it is possible that according to the custom of that time, he received the 33rd degree in the same manner as did Mitchell. A sound argument could be made that he was just as legitimate a SGIG as was Mitchell. 10. See: R. Baker Harris and James D. Carter, History of the Supreme Council, 33º (1801-1861) (Washington, D.C.: The Supreme Council, 33º Southern Jurisdiction, USA, 1964), 98. 11. Ibid., 216. 12. Baynard, History of the Supreme Council, 33º, 101. 13. Pike, The Grand Constitutions of Freemasonry, 170. 14. Baynard, History of the Supreme Council, 33º, 115. 15. Ibid., 116. 16. Pike, The Grand Constitutions of Freemasonry 126. 17. Ibid., 195. 18. Ibid., 134. 19. Harris/Carter, History of the Supreme Council, 33º (1801-1861), 117. 20. Ibid., 323. 21. Ibid., 118. 22. Pike, The Grand Constitutions of Freemasonry, 126. 23. Ibid., 134. 24. Harris/Carter, History of the Supreme Council, 33º (1801-1861), 92. 25. Ibid., 92. 26. Ibid., 92. Michael R. Poll is the owner of Cornerstone Book Publishers. He is a Fellow and the President of The Masonic Society, a Fellow of the Philalethes Society, and a Fellow of the Maine Lodge of Research. He has published numerous Masonic books and papers with special focus on the early history of the AASR.

PHILOSOPHY

The Seven Liberal Arts & Sciences by David E. Amstutz

n an undated pamphlet given to all Fellowcraft Masons under the Grand Lodge of Maryland, the brother is instructed “to make the seven liberal arts and sciences his future study so as to be enabled to discharge his duties as a Mason and to better understand the wonderful works of the Almighty.” The Maryland pamphlet credits the statement to an unnamed ritual of the degree used in England. As the times have changed, so has the attention we give to our attainment of general knowledge, our individual concerns for education and, to some extent, our own spiritual and intellectual development. Perhaps the time has come to restore our concerns and appreciation for science and culture. How might we accomplish this? One way may be to examine some very special works that exemplify the liberal arts and sciences. Three described here were written long, long ago. In the mid-first century BCE, Marcus Tullius Cicero explained how the heavenly bodies generated sounds as they orbited the earth. The sound generated by each was different. When these sounds, with all of their tones, were harmoniously combined, they produced the “music of the spheres.” Cicero explained that the most distant objects, the stars, produced a “shrill and acute sound,” while the moon, being nearest to earth, produced a “very flat sound.” Cicero reasoned motions so fast and great had to produce sounds, as do flying arrows and birds, and it was assumed the atmosphere extended from earth to the stars. But if this were so, why then did no one hear this music? Cicero explained that just as all those living near the cataracts of the Nile are deafened to the constant, excessive roar of the water, so were all deafened to the music of the spheres. In his beautifully written work, Cicero demonstrated an application of four of the liberal arts and sciences: grammar, logic, music, and astronomy. Our second example, from the mid-first century CE, may one day be recognized as one of the most precious writings of all time. The work is by John of Patmos, author of the Book of Revelation. Though held by some to be the work of a deranged mind, such is certainly not the case. The author was, among other things, an astral prophet. As has been shown recently, Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation is a writing of two stories at once. In fewer than 500 words, the author composed a Jewish-Christian narrative depicting the bringing to existence of the Son of God before time, and a thorough report of the discovery of the planet we call Uranus. The veiled story indicates that the object he saw was a planet and gives its location with respect to four constellations, its distance traveled in one year and in seven years, quantifies the planet’s time in conjunction with the sun and its time in direct versus retrograde motion. John of Patmos made use of the “music of the spheres” to indicate that Uranus is located farthest from earth (nearest to heaven) and identified the occurrence of a 30-minute period of silence in heaven, to reveal a time when all of the luminaries (including Uranus) were set. The author made use of all seven of the liberal arts and sciences. The third example makes use of five of the liberal arts and sciences –

grammar, rhetoric, logic, geometry, and astronomy – and is a statement of but seven words penned in a notebook at about the time Columbus discovered the New World. It reads, “The sun has never seen any shadow.” A second brief statement found in another of the author’s notebooks reads, “The sun does not move.” The author of these statements was, like John of Patmos, a man with exceptional vision. For example, he was able to discern that the downward motion of a dove’s wings was more rapid than the upward motion, being the opposite of that of the crow. This author is Leonardo DaVinci. Our brief essay closes with a paraphrase of a portion of the Charge given to a Brother when he is passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft: “The study of the liberal arts and sciences is earnestly recommended to you, for it tends so effectively to polish and adorn the mind.”

REFERENCES Amstutz, David E. (2008) “The Book of Revelation: An Adventure in Discovery.” Heredom 16 (2008): 137-84. Cicero, Marcus Tullius. On the Republic, Book VI (Scipio’s Dream). http:www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/Cicero-republic6.html. Grand Lodge of Ancient and Accepted Masons of Maryland. Maryland Masonic Manual of Ancient Craft Masonry, 1935. Grand Lodge of Maryland, Committee on Library and Education. The Fellow Craft, unknown date. Richter, Irma A. The Notebooks of Leonardo DaVinci. Oxford World’s Classics/Oxford University Press, 1998. David E. Amstutz, a Mason for 43 years, is a member of Seat Pleasant Lodge No. 218, AF&AM in Maryland, and is a 32° Scottish Rite Mason and KCCH with the Valley of Richmond in Virginia and the Valley of Guthrie in Oklahoma. He has a Ph.D. in physical oceanography from Oregon State University, and is employed part-time as a Senior Scientist with SAIC in McLean, Virginia. David and his wife, Mary Ann, live on and operate a small farm in Spotsylvania, Virginia.

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EVENTS

Masonic History Unfolds at Historic Ft. Buford, North Dakota by Jim Savaloja, PGM Excerpted by permission from the North Dakota Mason, September 2009. t. Buford, located at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers in North Dakota, has long been a major historical location whose story has never been completely told. It was a military garrison that provided security for the traders and homesteaders who traveled along the river routes to the western horizons. Lewis and Clark camped at the confluence of the two rivers. Ft. Buford was the supply depot for the 7th Cavalry and the point at which the steamer Far West brought back the sad news from the massacre at Little Big Horn. It was here that Sitting Bull and his decimated and starving band of followers surrendered, handing over his rifle rather than see his people suffer and die upon the open prairie. Ft. Buford was also the home of Yellowstone Lodge 88, chartered by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota on January 10, 1872. Yellowstone Lodge No. 88 was the first chartered lodge in that part of Dakota Territory, which later became North Dakota. It had a membership of 50 Brothers who were members of the 6th and 7th Infantry, local businessmen and others. These Brothers built an 80’ by 100’ two-story Lodge Hall at the western edge of the Fort. The upper story was the Lodge room and the lower section was the social event center for the Fort and the surrounding community. This Lodge was active until 1874 when the Fort became dormant, and the Charter was returned to the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. The Lodge building was sold and later dismantled. The Grand Lodge of North Dakota, through the Masonic Foundation, purchased the original Yellowstone Lodge site along with 1.7 acres of land in 1959. On May 15, 1960, a formal dedication of the Ft. Buford Masonic Historical site was held, and to this day the site has been open for visitation by anyone who visits the Fort. But this is only half of the story! Through Grand Lodge officer discussions this past winter, a suggestion was made to hold a 50th Anniversary rededication of the Ft. Buford Masonic Site. While this thought was being entertained, a search was being made for any additional information about Yellowstone Lodge 88. A call to the Grand Secretary’s office at the Grand Lodge of Minnesota struck gold. A day or two after the call for possible information, Grand Secretary Brother Douglas Campbell found the original Charter and the annual returns from Ft. Buford tucked away in basement files! It was the very information that our Grand Lodge and the North

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Dakota State Historical Society had been wishing to see for many years. All fifty members were listed, along with their Military rank, occupations, Masonic degree dates, places of birth and where they hailed from. With this information, we now have the complete history of Yellowstone Lodge No. 88, and it will soon be available to all the Masons worldwide on our North Dakota Grand Lodge website. But there is yet more to the story! For all these years there have been rumors of a Black Lodge, or Prince Hall lodge, that operated at Ft. Buford, as well. Two Prince Hall Grand jurisdictions, Texas and Missouri, had chartered a number of Black Military Lodges, and in fact, in some cases there were two of these Lodges in one location at the same time. A call was placed to the Grand Secretary of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri. We were told that a disastrous fire many years ago destroyed many of the historical records of these Lodges and that it was possible that we might never know the factual history of Prince Hall Masonry at Ft. Buford. We were directed to contact Brother Robert Campbell, Grand Historian for the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri, and also an active officer with the Phylaxis Society, which is the Prince Hall Masonic research organization. Within several weeks, he informed us that he had found the records of Ft. Buford within the minutes of the Grand Lodge from that period, and that there was indeed a Prince Hall Lodge located there. Eureka Lodge No. 135 was first chartered at Ft. Apache, Arizona Territory in 1891. At that time there were four all-black military units, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, sanctioned by the Department of the Army. They were the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry. We believe that all four had soldiers who were Brothers of Eureka Lodge No. 135 during the activities at Ft. Buford, It appears that the Charter for Eureka No. 135 was carried by soldiers of the 25th Infantry or the 10th Cavalry. When they left the Geronimo Campaign on the Mexican-Arizona border and were ordered to Ft. Buford they brought the Charter with them in 1892. This move meant that Ft. Buford also holds the position of having the first chartered Prince Hall Masonic lodge in Dakota Territory. Annual returns from Eureka Lodge No. 135 at Ft. Buford indicate there were approximately 20 members. The Lodge remained at Ft. Buford until 1896 when the Fort closed for the final time, and the soldiers were transferred to Ft. Assiniboine, Havre, Montana.

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Now, the Masons of North Dakota and the Prince Hall Masons of Missouri hold the keys to unlock all the mysteries concerning the history of Freemasonry at Ft. Buford. Not only are the historical records and membership lists within our possession, but so is the property on which the actual lodge was erected and the original Charter for Yellowstone Lodge No. 88. A special group of North Dakota Brothers, and Brother Campbell, have been selected by Grand Master Bakken to lead this project forward as members of the North Dakota Masonic Foundation Site committee for Ft. Buford. The Ft. Buford Committee has also been charged with the duty of restoring Yellowstone Lodge No. 88. During the rededication ceremony this spring, Yellowstone Historical Lodge No. 88 will once again receive its Charter which was relinquished 135 years ago. Membership will be open to all Masons in good standing around the world for a one time membership fee. The objective of this Historical Lodge will be to preserve the history and assist in the preservation of its home at Ft. Buford, along with that of Eureka Lodge No. 135. During the rededication at Ft. Buford on May 22, 2010, the MWPHGL of Missouri is going to dedicate Eureka Lodge No. 135 as a Historical Lodge and will be placing a monument on the Masonic Site in remembrance of this Lodge. Arrangements are also being made for the care and preservation of the Masonic Site at the Fort. This also includes all-weather displays and historical information to be placed in the same manner as is currently used by the State Historical Society in various locations around the compound. Two Historical Lodges will be dedicated that day on the North Dakota Masonic Foundation Historical Site, making it one of the most unique Masonic locations in North America. We believe that this is the only place in the United States outside of Boston Harbor where both Regular and Prince Hall Masonic Lodges were located as the First Chartered Lodges in that state. These Chartered Lodges were located at a very important Military Installation during the Indian Wars which culminated in major conflicts such as the Little Big Horn and The Battle of the Big Hole. It is the desire of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri to ensure that any visitor, Mason or non-Mason, will leave this place with the factual knowledge of how these Masons affected the movement of the western frontier. The information will also depict the living conditions, family hardships and deaths which were included in the personal lives of our Brothers as they served and protected those who carried their dreams into the land of the setting sun. Planning for the 50th Anniversary Rededication of the Ft. Buford Masonic Site is under way. The dates will be Friday evening, May 21 and Saturday, May 22, 2010. It is expected that representation from at least seven Grand Jurisdictions and many other Masonic Bodies will be in attendance. All events will be held either at Ft. Buford or in Williston. In doing so, Masonry will once again meet on the level at the confluence of these two great western rivers. For the first time ever, Masons will assemble at the site of the two initial Chartered Lodges of Masonry in North Dakota. They will honor the memories of their Brothers who guarded the western frontier, and the souls of those who never returned home again. And, with the assistance of the Brethren, they will raise up from the grass of the prairies another Lodge to carry on this mission into the future.

POETRY

The Quest

by Steve Osborn We meet upon the level and part upon the square, In search of what we hope may still be there. Solomon had it once, and in the greatest measure, Doling it out as if it was his greatest treasure. Our search leads us on, from outside to within Mayhap we shall find it, when far from the din.

Samson’s pride was grown with his long flowing locks. Then, shorn through misguided love, he wound up on the rocks. Renewed in time through thankless toil in durance vile, Ever growing unnoticed as he ground the grain and hid his bile. Nursing his strength and biding his time for years he waited, Giving no sign to any of those he so hated. Then when chained to the Temple to be derided by all He prayed to his God and pulled down the Hall. Born anew in the bright sunlight,

Evanescent, it calls to the yearning heart. Attracted by love, often at first sight Unwitting target of Eros’ fatal dart. Thus all of nature wends its way, Youth and Love will have its day.

Please consider joining us on this historic occasion. Jim Savalojais a Past Grand Master and Associate Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota

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ORGANIZATION

Restructuring American Freemasonry, Part III: The Scottish Rite by Mark Tabbert, 33°

art I of this series in the Autumn 2009 issue of the P Journal focused on reforming Craft Freemasonry, while Part II in the Winter 2010 issue offered recommendations to the York Rite bodies of the Royal Arch, Cryptic Masons, and the Masonic Knights Templar. This final installment explores possible changes for the Scottish Rite as it is practiced in the United States.

n the opening scene of the movie Patton, George C. Scott, starring as the general, says, “Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser.” Yet a few moments later he tells his troops, “An army is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap.” Here is the central conflict of the movie and, for this paper’s purposes, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. On the one hand, Americans love “a winner,” but on the other, individuality “is a bunch of crap.” Patton wanted desperately to be the one big star, and he demanded uniformity from his army. While this trait made him a great general, it caused his superiors to distrust him and his subordinates to despise him. Patton needed a team only so his huge ego could outshine it. The Scottish Rite reflects this very American trait. It employs such elite titles as Grand Commander, Inspector General, Commanderin-Chief and Knight, even though vast teams of men are required to properly stage its 29 degrees. It was created as an aristocratic top-down fraternity, yet nearly all its members achieve their Consistory’s highest rank (32°) upon joining, and receive their jurisdiction’s top honors (the Southern Jurisdiction’s Knight Commander Court of Honor; the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction’s Meritorious Service Award; and the 33° of both) in recognition of labors that other jurisdictions around the world reward with modest acknowledgement. In its ritual, the Scottish Rite strongly delineates between those who lead and those who serve, yet in practice it builds one big family of equals. The previous two parts of this series, published in Issues #6 and 7 of The Journal, offered radical recommendations to reorganize Craft Masonry and the York Rite; this entry’s focus is on the Scottish Rite. All three represent my attempt to answer the nagging question, “How can Freemasonry achieve greater goals than initiating men and retaining them for a few years, and actually improve the brethren intellectually, morality and spiritually?” Healthy group retention and individual improvement in Freemasonry must resolve four major problems, which I refer to as Private versus Public, Elite versus Popular, Local versus National, and Static versus Evolving. The Scottish Rite exhibits these problems more starkly than any other Masonic organization. 1) Private versus Public: The Scottish Rite is the largest Masonic organization in North America, yet it has perhaps the fewest local or subordinate units. The Southern Jurisdiction (SJ) has more than 200 Valleys in 35 states plus U.S. possessions; the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (NMJ) has 103 Valleys in 15 states. Most folks have heard of “32° Freemasons,” and perhaps Rite Care or Learning Centers for Children, but few are familiar with the name Scottish Rite. While Shriners march in parades and Craft Masons dedicate building cornerstones, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry rarely has a public presence. 2) Elite versus Popular: The Scottish Rite has the most exalted titles and exclusive honors. Of its approximately 500,000 members, only 5,000 receive the 33°. The NMJ’s Meritorious Service Award and Distinguished Service Medal complement the SJ’s Knight Commander Court of Honor and Grand Cross. The NMJ

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Supreme Council may seat up to 66 Active (voting) members, while the SJ is limited to 33 Sovereign Grand Inspectors General. On the other hand, the Scottish Rite is the most popular of all Masonic organizations. In 1900 it had about 40,000 members; by 1930 than were more than 580,000; and by 1965, membership had surpassed one million men. 3) Local versus National: Because most Scottish Rite valleys were established before 1930 in major urban centers, each accumulated its own wealth, built its own temple (or “cathedral”), and developed its own hierarchy. For decades, the NMJ Valleys of Pittsburgh and Indianapolis competed to gain the largest membership, each boasting as many as 20,000 members. Adding go the confusion, Scottish Rite Masonry in Georgia is very different than in Wyoming or California. However, the Scottish Rite’s motto – Ordo ab Chao – practically demands a Supreme Council to bring national order from local chaos. When the SJ proclaimed itself to the world in 1801, it assumed authority over all the “high degrees” to curtail spurious “degree peddlers.” Indeed this need for national order is the very reason that the SJ chartered the NMJ in New York City in 1813. 4) Static versus Evolving: Between 1900 and 1940, no volunteer association was more dynamic than the Scottish Rite, yet none clings as tightly to its 19th-century hierarchy. Of the many aspects that demonstrate this dilemma, consider how the Rite confers its degrees. Originally, individual members were empowered to confer degrees up to the 32° (in contrast to the York Rite, wherein degrees are conferred ritually within chapters). Indeed, this is how Albert Pike received the AASR degrees from Albert Mackey in 1853. After the Civil War, the SJ, under Pike’s leadership, more closely followed the York Rite. Its degrees were conferred sequentially – and unabridged – through its lodges, chapters, councils and consistories. Most men took several years to complete all the degrees and be in a position to afford dues for each body. By 1920, however, the Scottish Rite was indeed “the theater of

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the fraternity,” with hundreds of candidates witnessing the degrees and achieving the 4° through the 32° over a weekend, if not a single day. Throughout these changes, the Supreme Councils’ governance, titles, regalia, and reverence for Albert Pike and John James Joseph Gourgas – the two jurisdictions’ 19th-century heroes – remained fixed. Although the two Supreme Councils are similar in most things, they approach the above problems in different ways. Their solutions reflect the larger American society in which they developed. The Southern Jurisdiction is similar to an aristocracy while the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction is like a corporation. The SJ is characterized by sophisticated rituals, grand titles and abundant regalia. Its leaders are marked by charm, hospitality and supporting esoteric pursuits. The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction is straight from 1950s Detroit. It is characterized by subdued, almost taciturn, members, rituals that are continually revised to efficiently provide the best moral lessons, and understated regalia. Its leaders often come from the rank and file, having worked up from bit players in degree teams. The following recommendations are designed to wed the better Masonic impulses and qualities of the two supreme councils so that the Scottish Rite may again become a dynamic and deeply meaningful fraternity. It is my hope that the Rite may reflect the best attributes of the nation and its membership by having all the charm of the South, the work ethic of the North, the intellect of the East and the charity of the West. It might even resolve Gen. Patton’s dilemma by encouraging individual achievement that can coalesce into winning teams.

Orients would have two Active members, with the senior serving as Sovereign Grand Inspector General. The five largest Orients would have three Active members, with the senior member serving as SGIG for his last two years in office. * The House of the Temple would be kept, but the Supreme Council would move. The NMJ would sell its headquarters in Massachusetts, using the proceeds to buy property in the middle part of the country, such as Kentucky, Indiana, or Missouri. The House of the Temple would become the world-wide library, museum and research center for Scottish Rite Masonry. * A United Supreme Council would have one powerful charity, one magazine, one website – and great educations programs!

LOCAL VALLEYS s mentioned before, Scottish Rite subordinate bodies were, for the most part, chartered between 1880 and the 1920s, a reflection of the demographics of America’s great ages of industrialization and urbanization. Since 1960, with the decline of central cities and manufacturing, and with the sprawl of suburbia, valleys seem illogically placed. In fact many have moved so far from their original locations they no longer truly represent the cities for which they were named. The Valley of Buffalo ought to be named the Valley of Cheektowaga, and the Valley of Chicago named the Valley of Schaumburg. Others were created in towns whose populations have

Although the two Supreme Councils are similar in most things, they approach problems in different ways. Their solutions reflect the larger American society in which they developed. The Southern Jurisdiction is similar to an aristocracy while the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction is like a corporation. THE 800 POUND GORRILLA: CHANGE es, you guessed it: The first and foremost recommendation is the merger of the two supreme councils. Of course, there will be jurisprudence snags, as well as difficult finance and real estate issues, but a merger certainly can and ought to be achieved. In 1980, each jurisdiction had more than 500,000 members, but 30 years later, they have fewer than that combined. With technological advances in travel and communications, the common man enjoys a global reach that fundamentally annuls the original need for redundant government.

Let’s explore how this goal could be accomplished: * The SJ would remain “the Mother Supreme Council,” but its membership would expand to 66, the same number of the NMJ’s council. With 66 members, each state would receive a seat (for a total of 51, including the District of Columbia), with 15 more seats allocated to the states with the largest memberships, such as Ohio, Texas, Florida and New York. The top ten would get one extra seat apiece, with the top five each receiving a third seat. Achieving “due and just proportions,” Delaware would have one seat, Michigan might have two, and California would have three. * The Supreme Council would meet biannually, as it does in the SJ, but in different locations, as is done in the NMJ. * The Sovereign Grand Commander would be elected to serve up to five two-year terms, for a potential total of up to 10 years total service. * Active members of the United Supreme Council would be elected once, for a six-year term. This would be true for 41 orients. Five

shrunk so severely they ought to be consolidated, such as Oil City, Pennsylvania; Salem, Massachusetts; and Corning, New York. In the South and West there ought to be more valleys to reflect population growth. But when was the last new valley chartered? Central to the merger of the two supreme councils would be a complete reconfiguration of the valleys. Valley size and location must be based on up-to-date demographic data. While this realignment may mean closing smaller bodies and vacating large temples, it would create more convenient locations while affording some struggling groups a graceful escape from the operating costs that cripple many valleys. At the very least, each valley should be home only to the subordinate bodies it can support. If a four-body valley (Lodge, Council, Chapter, and Consistory) does not have sufficient membership to support all four bodies, then some paring must take place. The “roll of the workmen” must be called, and where it is obvious that comprehensive degree work cannot be performed competently, determinations must be made to see which of the four bodies can remain chartered at that given location.

SUBORDINATE BODIES AND DEGREE STRUCTURE he subordinate bodies of the two supreme councils differ. For example, the SJ has its 15° and 16° conferred in its Rose Croix chapters, whereas the NMJ places both degrees in its Princes of Jerusalem councils. Also, the SJ has Kadosh Councils working degrees 19 through 30 inclusively, while the NMJ places all those degrees, plus the 31° and 32°, in its Consistories. With unification, I recommend the following restructuring:

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CURRENT DEGREES SJ NMJ Lodge of Perfection 4° - 14° 4° - 14° Council of Princes 15° - 16° Rose Croix Chapters 15° - 18° 17° – 18° Kadosh Council 19° - 30° Consistory 31° - 32° 19° – 32°

11 Degrees 2 Degrees 4 / 2 Degrees 12 Degrees 2 / 14 Degrees

UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL DEGREE STRUCTURE Lodge of Perfection 4-14° 11 Degrees Rose Croix Chapter 15-23° 9 Degrees Kadosh Council 24-29° 6 Degrees Consistory 30-32° 3 Degrees The Lodge of Perfection stays unchanged. The NMJ’s Council Princes of Jerusalem is dropped. The SJ Rose Croix chapter expands from four to nine degrees. The Kadosh Council drops from twelve to six degrees. The SJ Consistory gains a degree, while in the NMJ it loses eleven degrees. CONFERRING DEGREES he Scottish Rite achieved its fame and fortune through dramatic, theatrical presentations of its degrees to large classes of candidates, but that is not how it was always done. During Albert Pike’s term as Sovereign Grand Commander of the SJ, the degrees were conferred individually within tyled meetings. While the grand pageant method was highly successful, that era is past. The Rite ought to return to conferring its degrees individually or for a maximum of five candidates at a time. The degrees could be still performed in costume and with other theatrical effects, but each degree within a body should be conferred at most once per year. Brothers may advance through each degree within a body, but must pass an exam to graduate to the higher body. The exams would be written (perhaps open-book) , with an original oral presentation. Officers would certify “proficiency” before advancing a brother. In short, the Scottish Rite could confer degrees at the same speed as local York Rite bodies.

UNIFICATION OF DEGREES CONFERRED he divergent degrees of the two jurisdictions could be a major block to unification. The simplest solution is for the United Supreme Council to establish a committee of the ablest and most knowledgeable brethren, similar to what was done during the unification of England’s Moderns and Antients in 1813. The committee would determine which degrees to keep, which to modify and which to discard. All decisions, however, must start with historic records to determine what specifically constitutes “ancient” and “accepted” work, and to clarify the Rite’s very purpose. A consensus between the jurisdictions could be easier than many suspect, as long as there is a foundation of the old, such as Rose Croix, while retaining something of the new, such as the “George Washington degree,” for cultural appreciation or contemporary relevance. As a unified degree system is adopted, each subordinate body would retool. A gradual acceptance of the new system should allow each valley to respectfully dispose of obsolete regalia, ritual furnishings, and other equipment, some of which may deserve placement in Scottish Rite and other Masonic museums. The Rite may well be rejuvenated by this process, and the challenges of higher quality will spark greater membership retention.

COUNCILS OF DELIBERATION ach state/orient would hold an annual Council of Deliberation. They are open to all Scottish Rite Masons from the 4° to the 32°, and presided over by the SGIG of the state. Beyond discussing budgets, dues, by-laws and acknowledging members, they will conduct training sessions and mutual help groups to inspire members and aid them in improving overall quality. Degrees would be exemplified and awards given to the best degree teams / casts in a state.

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SCOTTISH RITE VALLEY OFFICERS o serve as a Scottish Rite body’s officer, a brother must complete all the degrees worked by that body. Officer lines would consist of no more than three stations, with terms of offices not to exceed two years, for a maximum of six years in office. Brethren would not serve in more than one officer line at a time, but may continue to advance in degrees. The Commander–inChief of a Consistory is the senior officers in a valley, and the heads of the lower three bodies are subordinate to him. To serve as Commanderin-Chief of a Consistory, a brother must be a past presiding officer of one of the three junior bodies.

HONORS, AWARDS AND THE 33º urrently, the NMJ’s Meritorious Service Award (MSA) is awarded to 4º–33º Masons. The SJ’s Member Court of Honor (MCH) is awarded to 4º–32º Masons. The SJ’s Knight Commander Court of Honor (KCCH) is bestowed only to 32º Masons. The SJ’s Grand Cross Court of Honor (GC) is awarded only to 33º Masons. Neither the MSA, nor MCH, nor the KCCH is a prerequisite for the 33º. There is no “32 ½º” in either jurisdiction; the Court of Honor is a means to recognize faithful service and not to identify leaders. The Scottish Rite must delineate between service (Court of Honor) and leadership (SGIG), so those who work are acknowledged but not confused with leaders. The 33rd Degree is only awarded to past-presiding officers of a body. This degree is given to acknowledge past leadership and inspire greater service and higher leadership. Those who are coroneted truly become Sovereign Grand Inspectors General. The degree is not honorary but membership on the Supreme Council is, unless elected to active membership. The 33rd degree is conferred only at the bi-annual Supreme Council session and by the Sovereign Grand Commander and the other active SGIG’s. It is not conferred by a degree team at the local or orient level. The Rite is a paramilitary organization and ought to reflect a similar reward system. Consider this truth about the United States Army: A private may earn the Distinguished Service Cross for valor, but the medal does not commission him a lieutenant. Conversely, a captain is ineligible for the Good Conduct Medal; by virtue of his being an officer, he already is expected to embody all that medal honors. When a faithful brother who manages props twice a year and another faithful brother who serves on committees for ten years and who served as Thrice Potent Master are both awarded the 33º, that high honor is misapplied. One man has served faithfully, but never worked toward greater responsibility as the other brother did. Yes, the brother in charge of props ought to be considered for the MSA or MCH or even KCCH (if he holds the 32º) for his service, but not for the 33º. That honor must be reserved for those who provide executive leadership that will benefit the valley’s future by encouraging subsequent service as, say, a commander-in-chief, or SGIG, or even Sovereign Grand Commander. If a brother can receive the 33º for dutifully tending to his prop department chores twice a year, why would he show up more than twice a year? In the reformed Scottish Rite Masonry outlined here, the 33º would be conferred only to our past presiding officers in acknowledgment of past leadership and in hope of greater service and higher leadership to come. Those who are coroneted truly become Sovereign Grand Inspectors General. The degree is not honorary, but membership on the Supreme Council is – unless one is elected to Active membership. The 33º would be conferred only at the supreme council’s biannual meeting, and by the Sovereign Grand Commander and other Active SGIGs – not by a degree team working at the local orient of valley level.

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SUPREME COUNCIL s reviewed above, a “United Supreme Council of America” would consist of 66 Active 33º Sovereign Grand Inspectors General. Numbering 51, they would represent 51 orients (the 50 states, plus Washington, DC). The remaining 15 seats would be allocated to those orients with the largest memberships. Our 66 Actives would elect the Sovereign Grand Commander and other top officers. There would be no progressive line at the Supreme Council level; the Grand Commander would serve no longer than the maximum ten years, and all other Actives would serve no more than six years. This vigorous turnover should enhance the Rite’s ability to find more dynamic leaders among the ranks of its young, accomplished members.

CONCLUSION

nlike my previous two essays on Craft Masonry and the York Rite, the above suggestions must come from the top. The Scottish Rite is a top-down organization that cherishes its powerful and charismatic leaders, such as Melvin Johnson and George Newbury in the NMJ, and John H. Cowles and Henry Clausen in the SJ. Millions of Master Masons flocked to the Scottish Rite during these leaders’ tenures in the last century. The culture of teamwork, degrees with pageantry, grand titles, and spectacular buildings proved to be an unbeatable combination. Not even the Shrine’s great philanthropy, local, state and national social gatherings, and myriad units, clubs and committees could outpace the Rite’s successes. But those days are over. It will never be 1920, 1950 or even 1980

character of its members. Again, such change must start at the top by defining a high standard and enforcing it as only a Sovereign Grand Commander can. Becoming elitist, the Rite escapes the membership race that has consumed Freemasonry for more than 70 years. A “United Supreme Council” would resolve the Local versus National question. The primary reason for establishing the NMJ in 1813 was that the SJ realized it did not have the means to govern all of the (then 18) states. One-hundred years later, two jurisdictions were properly aligned to grow the Rite throughout the densely populated East and industrial North, and throughout the rural South and sparsely populated West. A “United Supreme Council” is a consolidated and better managed Rite for a country that grows ever smaller thanks to unprecedented communications and transportation abilities. Static versus Evolving is the trickiest of the four dichotomies. On the one hand, the Scottish Rite presents timeless moral and spiritual lessons. On the other, it must attract and retain new members today and tomorrow. But this challenge is not unique in the world. Consider Rolex, the Swiss maker of luxury watches. Its timepieces have not changed fundamentally in 100 years, yet they are prized by discerning and capable consumers despite the best efforts of Timex, Seiko and other well-known makers of wristwatches. I believe the Static versus Evolving issue could be resolved easily by Scottish Rite leaders focusing on the long-term mission while the brethren in the supporting ranks continuously evolve and improve the quality of the Masonry provided at the local valley. Finally, Freemasonry exists only when men voluntarily open a lodge. For too long, both the ambitious and the lazy Freemason have expected others to initiate the candidates, pay the dues and support the charities. For too long, the average dedicated brother accepted lower standards, vague goals and predictable fraternal events. The result is 50

The Scottish Rite must delineate between service (Court of Honor) and leadership (SGIG), so those who work are acknowledged but not confused with leaders. again. Even if the Supreme Councils refocused all their efforts on retooling the degrees, the great membership levels of the past would not return. The financial resources might be had, but the theatrical talent, valley leadership and overall enthusiasm are simply not there. The Scottish Rite must escape the “number-ship” treadmill. The first decision must be to unify the two supreme councils and salvage the best of each. With this restructuring, many of the older or more passive members may drop out, but the younger or most energetic will step forward and embrace the new order’s meritocracy. By finding new ways to challenge Freemasons within the 29-degree structure, the Scottish Rite could resolve the four problems of Private versus Public, Elite versus Popular, Local versus National, and Static versus Evolving. First, it must become a private order – deeply private – until it is strong and confident enough to operate in public again. Today, when a Scottish Rite member states publicly that the Rite teaches great universal truths in 29 degrees that can be had for $250 in just a weekend, people in non-Masonic society – and most especially young men – are dumb-founded. The Rite must reconcile what it does with what it says before it can contemplate a revived public role. The Scottish Rite was created by elite French intellectuals and aristocrats. In the 19th century, such men as Albert Pike and Killian Van Rensselaer recruited only the most affluent and intellectually curious Freemasons in major American cities. The Rite should not be ashamed of its 200 years of elitism. It should embrace its history to once again build a great fraternity that is founded on the quality and

years of Masonic decline with the ambitious keeping their perks, the lazy staying lazy, and millions of dedicated Masons dying or demitting. All of the recommendations offered here and in the previous articles exist for one purpose: to bring the volunteer back to the fraternity. In World War II, General Patton led an army comprised mostly of draftees. To defeat Nazi Germany, Patton had to forge his men into a team through discipline. As he once said, “War is not run on sentiment.” He was a winner because he could build great teams even as he recognized individual achievement and valor. Freemasonry, conversely, is run entirely by sentimental volunteers. Past Scottish Rite leaders tried to be like Patton by disciplining volunteers, but lavishing awards on those who met the minimum standards. These efforts lost. It is not Patton that Scottish Rite Freemasons should emulate, but his leadership methods. Today’s leaders must meet Americans’ deep need for individual success within the joy and security of fraternity. If the Scottish Rite inspires a man to improve himself as he serves his lodge, his family, his neighbor and his God, then it is the whole world that wins. Mark A. Tabbert, 33º, is a Founding Fellow of The Masonic Society. He is a member of Mystic Valley Lodge AF&AM in Arlington, Massachusetts, and the Valley of Boston. He is the author of ‘American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communities.’

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MASONIC MYSTERIES

The Mystery of Pre-European Freemasonry by Ron Hartoebben

everal years ago, when the lodge in Fredericktown, Missouri, was preparing to remodel their building, they discovered what appeared to be American Indian headdresses and paraphernalia in the attic. Because some of the members knew of my association with the National Congress of American Indians, they asked me to help identify the items. We were able to determine that the artifacts were regalia of the fraternal Improved Order of Redmen. (An ironic fact is that American Indians were not permitted to join that organization until the 1950s.) While working on the identification, I met Brother Nelson Morgan, author of How Old is Masonry?, and was inspired to delve further into the mystery of whether Freemasonry may have existed prior to the European colonization of North America. I found a recent observation in The Smithsonian Magazine which provides a sound approach for this sort of exploration and discovery. According to Gregory F. Treverton, in his article entitled “Risks and Riddles”:

“American Indian.” American Indians are usually identified with respect to their geographical dispersion, but a better perspective is gained by identifying the major linguistic groups among native peoples. Some of these languages, such as the Athabaskan and Muskogean dialects, and several of the Central and South American languages, have a great deal in common with their Asian origins; as just one example, the Iowa Lodge of Research trilogy on The American Indian and Freemasonry documents similarities between native languages and Japanese. In total, there are seven distinct linguistic groups that have evolved into more than 200 languages. Nelson Morgan’s book How Old is Masonry? references the August 1949 issue of Readers’ Digest, which featured an article entitled “The Village Evacuated by Fear.” The village, of Toltec origin, was uncovered by researchers from the University of Arizona. The history of the tribe itself was later discovered near Marshall, Missouri, preserved on tablets that had been wrapped in deerskin. These Puzzles can be solved; they have answers. documents were inventoried in 1880 by Ernest D. But a mystery offers no such comfort… A Martin, a Scottish Rite Mason who later became mystery cannot be answered; it can only be a Missouri state senator; he was an acquaintance framed, by identifying the critical factors of and possibly an attorney for MWBro Harry and applying some sense of how they have Truman. At that time, the Tribal leader, who was interacted in the past and might interact named Morock, was moving to Indian Territory in in the future. A mystery is an attempt to what is now Oklahoma, and he was required to have define ambiguities. Puzzles may be more certification that his possessions belonged to him satisfying, but the world increasingly offers legally. Morock spoke seven languages, according us mysteries. Treating them as puzzles to Martin, and had records of many generations is like trying to solve the unsolvable – an of Masonic history, including Masonic offices held impossible challenge. But approaching them by his ancestors. Brother Martin personally noted as mysteries may make us more comfortable the Square and Compasses, Cube, Rule and other with the uncertainties of our age. familiar symbols on the tablets, and his observations are preserved in a sworn affidavit. One tablet showed Such may be the case with what we know a landing on this continent 12,858 years ago, as Freemasonry. I would like to present for your near what is now San Diego, California. Another consideration some interesting discoveries, and see described the immigrants as highly educated in the if you agree with me that they fall into a recognizable Arts, Astronomy, Astrology, Geography, Surveying, pattern when viewed as parts of a mystery. Mathematics, Geometry, Medicine, Metallurgy, Little of what is presented here originates with Navigation, Telepathy, and Spirituality; it further me. However, as is true with all of us, my findings asserted that they worshipped one God and were have been influenced by my perspective. I suspect linked together by the fraternal brotherhood that this may be true of all writings – that the Newark Decalogue Stone, discovered in of man and the fatherhood of God. The record author’s frame of reference becomes part of his 1860 in Newark, Ohio by David Wyrick. states that they were forced to immigrate to this Photo courtesy J. Huston McCulloch. perception of truth. Almost all Masonic writing continent because of a natural disaster that had traces the Craft’s origins in terms of European destroyed their country of origin, which was history, usually connecting the dots back to the believed to be in the South Pacific. Grand Lodge of England. To the Freemason of European ancestry, Earlier I mentioned the writings of Mencius. He wrote, “All this lineage probably feels like the natural order of things. To those of things are already complete in us. There is no greater delight than on us whose predominant origins are from elsewhere, it seems possible self-examination to be conscious of sincerity.” In the journal entry that further research is in order. My own study of American Indian written by Meriwether Lewis on August 13, 1805, there appeared an and Masonic experiences would seem to indicate that Masonry and its interesting discussion of the same subject. Remember that Lewis was a ideals existed long before European settlement. Freemason, but did not want to reveal anything inappropriately. He did not speak the Indian languages, and did not know whether he would he story of mankind has been one of perpetual conflict, with be greeted with hostility or otherwise. Part of his text reads: “They the victors typically writing the history. Yet the need to resolve seated themselves in a circle around us and pulled off their mockersons difference without violence has long been recognized by many [sic] before they would receive or smoke the pipe. This is a custom societies. The symbology used in our order, particularly the square among them, as I afterwards learned indicative of a sacred obligation of and compasses, has been used by several societies. In the ancient sincerity in their profession of friendship given by the act of receiving Chinese writings of Confucius and Mencius, verses have been found and smoking the pipe of a stranger.” admonishing people to “act upon the square” and emphasizing the virtue of sincerity. In American Indian tribal societies, the same symbols During the First Degree Master’s lecture in my jurisdiction, we and virtuous practices have been found. I’ll get into the specifics later, hear of a lesson from the Book of Ruth concerning the manner of but first we need to understand exactly to whom I refer when I say

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redeeming and changing. Does that sound familiar to you? While the Bible gives no details of Christian missionaries involved in travel such as that described above, it is interesting to note that the ome very famous American Indians are known to have been apostle Paul was involved in the wreck of a ship carrying 276 men Freemasons. One of them, Pushmataha, was my own ancestor (Acts 27:37). After the Dark Ages, we see a decrease in vessel size and and a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army who led a brigade in geographic knowledge – the famous voyage of Columbus consisted the Battle of New Orleans at the end of the War of 1812; he also of just three ships whose total crew comprised only 90 men – but had a county named after him in Oklahoma. In the Missouri Lodge the technology for world travel certainly existed in the time of Paul. of Research article “Freemasonry and the American Indian,” he is Hundreds of years before the time of Paul, King Solomon had a fleet described as one of the leaders who brought Freemasonry with him of trading ships which engaged in three-year voyages (1 Kings 10:22, to the Indian Territory, although he died before the Indian Removal 2 Chronicles 9:21). These ships were manned by the Phoenicians, Act of 1830. In fact, he marched in a parade with Lafayette in 1824, who were known for their abilities in the fields of seafaring and contracted pneumonia, died and was buried in the Congressional metalworking. And indeed, there have been other ancient Hebrew Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia with full military honors. The artifacts (from a later period) found in Ohio, including one known relevance to this paper is that Tecumseh, another famous Indian leader as “the keystone.” In November of 1860, David Wyrick of Newark, who was commissioned a Brigadier General by the British in the war of Ohio found the inscribed stone in a burial mound about ten miles 1812, planned to revolt against the American government and wanted south of the town. According to historian J. Huston McCulloch, Pushmataha to join him. Because both were Freemasons, Pushmataha “The stone is inscribed on all sides with a condensed version of the granted Tecumseh an audience, listened to his proposal, rejected it, Ten Commandments or Decalogue, in a peculiar form of post-Exilic but permitted safe passage to Tecumseh because Masonic brothers are square Hebrew letters” and “the robed and bearded figure on the safe when meeting with each other. It is said that Tecumseh would front is identified, in letters fanning over his head, as Moses.” halt a battle if he learned that Freemasons were among his battlefield opponents. He once stopped the torture of a According to the Discovery Channel News, prisoner when he heard the man cry out the “scientific evidence, including DNA analysis words that accompany the sign of distress. conducted at one of the world’s foremost Ironically, Tecumseh was shot and killed by molecular genetics laboratories, as well as studies another military Freemason before he could by leading scholars, suggests a 2,000-yearidentify himself as a member of the fraternity. old Jerusalem tomb could have once held the remains of Jesus of Nazareth and his family.” The We also have historical evidence of DNA findings, alongside statistical conclusions common symbols, common beliefs, and made about the artifacts (which were originally practices in existence long before European excavated in 1980), open a potentially significant settlement. Even Christopher Columbus, chapter in Biblical archaeological history. But for for whom no European Masonic evidence Freemasons, the real “mystery” is why no one on exists, bears a Square and Compasses on his the Discovery Channel program that aired on grave in Cuba. Perhaps he became a Mason March 4, 2007, discussed the significance of the here! Another clue is found at Redbird Rock huge carving above the tomb – which appears in Clay County, Kentucky, where petroglyphs to be a Compasses containing a circle within it. discovered on a stone near the river give strong evidence that ancient navigators could – and Here’s another mystery: According to did – navigate to many other areas served the August 5, 1947, edition of The San Diego by that river. The Red Bird River flows into Union, explorers had unearthed the mummified the Ohio River, which eventually reaches remains of strangely costumed giants – which the Mississippi, which in turn allows access the discoverers dated to approximately 80,000 to most of the area that now comprises the years ago – near the Arizona-Nevada-California United States. Not only are the alphabets line. The Union reported that a Howard E. Hill of historical interest, the content of the text of Los Angeles was recounting the work of Dr. is of considerable religious significance. F. Bruce Russell, a retired Cincinnati physician Two opposing religions – Judeo-Christian who had originally located the first of several and Pagan Sun Worship – are represented. tunnels near Death Valley in 1931, but had not According to an article in the Clay County been able to return to the area until 1947. With Pushmataha (176?-1824), the “Indian News, all eight of the “Old World” alphabets General,” led the Choctaws to fight on the the help of Dr. Daniel S. Bovee, who with Hill’s carved on the stone (which were first-century side of the United States in the War of 1812. father had once helped open up New Mexico’s Greek and Hebrew, Old Libyan, Old Arabic, Portrait by Charles Bird King. cliff dwellings, Russell had recovered the Ogham, Germanic Runes, Tiffinag-Numidian, remains of several men of eight to nine feet in and Iberian-Punic that probably dates from height. “These giants,” said Hill, “are clothed in the 9th century BCE) were extinct long before Christopher Columbus garments consisting of a medium length jacket and trouser extending arrived in the “New World” in 1492. The same article asks: slightly below the knees. The texture of the material is said to resemble gray, dyed sheepskin, but obviously it was taken from an animal Why would so many diverse ancient peoples stop at this point unknown today.” According to the Union, Hill also said that the ritual and carve on the stone? This stone is located on an Indian path hall of these ancient people, together with devices and markings similar known as the Warrior’s Trail. It’s a good place to set up camp to those now used by the Masonic order, had been found in another and rest. The trail starts around the Great Lakes in Michigan cavern nearby. and goes down to Portsmith, Ohio where it crosses the Ohio When I first encountered this article, which I found in the journal River. It then goes up Licking River and crosses over to the of a Past Grand Matron of the Missouri Eastern Star, I thought it Kentucky River Watershed. It continues on to Oneida, where it might be some kind of a hoax. Then I discovered the story of Jesse goes upstream to the headwaters of the Red Bird River and on L. Nusbaum, an archeologist with ample experience and first-hand into Bell County, Kentucky, then across the Cumberland Gap knowledge of archeological sites throughout the Southwest and to the Tennessee River Valley. It continues to head south to the Central America. He became the first archeologist employed by the Gulf of Mexico. In ancient times, people coming into North Department of the Interior and received many honors and awards in America over the Bering Straight used this trail to go from that capacity. I found an official record of his files on these mummies north to south and vice versa. Other peoples, already in North in his library and further discovered that in his obituary he is referred America, picked up the trail at different points along the way. to as a 32º Mason.

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The Talpiot Tomb, the purported “Lost Tomb of Jesus.” Photo courtesy Discovery.

Black Elk Speaks is a famous book written by John G. Neihardt, based on extensive interviews with the Oglala Sioux elder and spiritual leader. There is a passage in the book with direct relevance to our “mystery”: We made these little gray houses of logs that you see, and they are square. It is a bad way to live, for there can be no power in the square. Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The life of a man is a circle, from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves. On a similar subject, The Scottish Rite Journal published an article written by William S. Burkle, 32°, and entitled “The Point Within a Circle: More Than Just an Allusion?” Burkle writes: As Masons we are all introduced during the Entered Apprentice lecture to the Masonic symbol of the point within a circle and instructed in its symbolic allusion. The most interesting thing to me during my own introduction was that the figure representing this symbol contained not only a point within a circle, but also two straight vertical lines touching the sides of the circle. It was explained during the ensuing lecture that these lines represented the two Holy Saints John: John the Baptist, and John the Evangelist. This struck me as anomalous to say the least, and I have been trying to figure out this peculiarity ever since. He then goes on to examine the detail of the pieces of the illustration as if they were the pieces of a puzzle. It’s a great article, a wonderful demonstration of principles of geometry, but to me the question is: If viewed as a symbol of a mystery, should we infer – as Black Elk did – that the object in the center of the circle is protected from the dangers external to it? et’s think about the Square and Compasses, the symbols most often referred to in our ritual. If we see them as a unified symbol, we might be misled into believing that they are merely tools of the operative mason. However, when we see the circle as a spiritual representation emphasized in the Compasses (as implied by the carving over the tomb and by Black Elk) and understand the veiled progression depicted in our ritual – in which the Compasses progressively rise to a level above the Square – we may develop a somewhat enlightened perception. A recent discovery here in Missouri is again evidence of this view. According to RWBro Celil Isaac, DDGL for the 28th District, the two pillars at the entrance to the first known Masonic lodge hall in Missouri have the Compasses on one and the Square on the other, emphasizing their separation. Again, your perspective may determine your conclusions. Finally, let’s look at the terms “operative” versus “speculative.” In many of our Masonic studies, we are urged to believe that the origins

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of our Fraternity came from the operative masons who built the great cathedrals in Europe. Also, we are taught that our organization has been handed down to us just as it was created by the Grand Lodge of England. If we treat our study of the Craft’s origins as a simple process of assembling the pieces of a well-constructed puzzle, that story would appear to make sense. However, if we see our pursuit as one of solving a mystery in which the path before us has been made to appear rough and rugged, fraught with obstacles and veiled with allegories designed to conceal hidden meanings, an entirely different picture may appear. Based upon the different perspectives presented in this paper, I believe that we can reasonably conclude that our speculative origins far preceded those of the operative stonemasons. We have compelling evidence based on solid scientific study indicating that good men with strong basic instincts for survival and preservation of the species bonded together in ancient times; that the highest of these survival instincts have been viewed as spiritual; and that for as long as there have been communities, men the world over have organized into the brotherhood we now call Freemasonry. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bergon, Frank, ed. The Journals of Lewis and Clark. New York: Viking Penguin, 1989. Burkle, William S. “The Point Within a Circle: More Than Just an Allusion?” The Scottish Rite Journal, September/October 2007. Denslow, William R. “Freemasonry and the American Indian.” Transactions of the Missouri Lodge of Research 32, 1983. Discovery Channel News. “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.” http://dsc. discovery.com/convergence/tomb/tomb.html Hilligoss, Leland. Indians of Greater Saint Louis in History and Prehistory. St. Louis: American Indian Society, 1983. Lambert, Susie. “New Discoveries Related to Red Bird Petroglyph.” Clay County News, July 7, 2007. Legge, James, ed. The Works of Mencius. New York: Dover, 1970. McCulloch, J. Huston. “An Annotated Transcription of the Ohio Decalogue Stone.” Epigraphic Society Occasional Papers 21 (1992): 56-71. http://www.econ.ohio-state.edu/jhm/arch/decalog.html Morgan, Nelson. How Old is Masonry? St. Louis: Missouri Lodge of Research, 1988. Neihart, John G. Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988. Treverton, Gregory F. “Risks and Riddles.” Smithsonian Magazine, June 2007. VonDamm, Albert, Bliss Kelly, and J. Fred Latham. The American Indian and Freemasonry: A Trilogy Comparison of Tenets and Traditions. Des Moines: Iowa Lodge of Research No. 2, 1974. Ronald H. Hartoebben is Past Master of Herculaneum Lodge No. 338, A.F. & A.M., Executive Secretary of the Scottish Rite Valley of Saint Louis, and a member of the York Rite, the Grotto, and the Missouri Lodge of Research, where this paper was first delivered. He is a member of the National Congress of American Indians, holds a BSc from Washington University and an MA from Webstser University. He has been married for 49 years to Joyce Hartoebben, Past Grand Matron of the Order of Eastern Star of Missouri, and has been a Freemason for 47 years.

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THE GENTLEMAN MASON

Books, Arts, Styles & Manners BOOKS

Morgan: The Scandal That Shook Freemasonry By Stephen Dafoe Paperback: 484 pages Publisher: Cornerstone Book Publishers Language: English ISBN: 978-1-93493-554-5

Reviewed by Kevin Noel Olson

n brief, the “Morgan Affair” refers to events that occurred after the September 11, 1826 disappearance of William Morgan. Morgan was in the process of producing an exposure of the alleged secrets of Freemasonry, and the implication thus led to suspicion of a group of Masons interested in protecting the fraternity. The Morgan affair has carried with it many claims, often based in ill-informed “fact.” Stephen Dafoe’s book tells the full story of this event that cast an ignominious pall over the institution of Freemasonry for years. In delivering a clear portrait of the events and people involved, Dafoe crafts a realistic tale of the events. Pulling no punches, he offers a portrait of the man, William Morgan, that neither demonizes the subject nor lays claims to his heroic stature. The book portrays Morgan as he undoubtedly was: a human, with all the loves, fears, hopes and fallibilities that such an experience might inevitably include. In examining the records, Dafoe paints a picture of a small group of misguided, yet well-meaning Masons attempting to protect something that need not necessarily be protected by kidnapping Morgan (note: a comparison of Morgan’s exposure to earlier published exposures proves that Morgan had very little to reveal that had not been previously and publically available). Stephen Dafoe crafts an excellent and truthful tale in Morgan, neither vilifying Freemasonry nor attempting to unfairly protect the brotherhood from the truth concerning the matter. With this honesty, Dafoe and the evidence he details offer no weight to the widespread conspiracy theories of those who would hope to use the “Morgan Affair” against Freemasonry. The facts are backed by extensive documentation at the back of the book, and reasoned conclusions are drawn to reach a likely culmination to the scenario. Brother Dafoe brings to Freemasonry something we ought never fear; the truth, in all its beautiful and ugly glory. Highly recommended! Kevin Noel Olson is Past Master of Butte Lodge #22 A.F.&A.M. in Butte, Montana, a York and Scottish Rite member, and a proud Fellow of The Masonic Society. Olson is a writer by profession and is best-known for his retro-fiction and children’s books.

The Invisible History of the Rosicrucians: The World’s Most Mysterious Secret Society By Tobias Churton Paperback: 576 pages Publisher: Inner Traditions Language: English ISBN: 978-1-59477-255-9

Reviewed by Randy Williams

he Invisible History of the Rosicrucians is author Tobias Churton’s ambitious attempt to create the definitive book on a complex and oft-misunderstood subject. Churton, perhaps best known for his works on Gnostic writings and philosophy, is a lecturer at the Exeter University (UK) master’s program in Western Esotericism and is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on hidden wisdom and secret societies. He has touched on the Rosicrucians in his writing before, most notably in 2002’s excellent prehistory of Freemasonry, The Golden Builders. That book, however, only hinted at the exhaustive scope and detail to be found in The Invisible History of the Rosicrucians, which at nearly 600 pages outdoes even

Churton’s similarly weighty tome on the Craft, 2007’s Freemasonry: The Reality. The reason why the Rosicrucians are (according to the book’s subtitle) the world’s most mysterious secret society, and why their history continues to be so widely misunderstood, is because the fraternal Brothers of the Rosy Cross were never actually meant to exist. The earliest Rosicrucian documents -- Fama Fraternitatis, Confession Fraternitatis, and The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz (originating from 1607) -- were written anonymously but can be traced to Germany and the pen of a young Lutheran seminary student named Johannes Valentinus Andreae. Churton asserts that the documents were written as a sort of a youthful university prank or “game,” using the allegory of a fictional mystic named Christian Rosenkreutz and his equally fictional fraternity of followers as a means of critiquing the prevailing stodginess of the 17th-century religious and educational establishments. Andreae, who became a member of the Lutheran clergy, took pains to distance himself from both the Fama and the Confession; he admitted to writing only The Chymical Wedding. According to Churton, Andreae was horrified to discover that his anonymous, youthful manifestos had been published several years after they were written, and he later became angry when other writers, claiming to be leading members of the fictional fraternity, began to steer what was purported to be “Rosicrucian thought” in new directions, encompassing ever-heavier doses of magic, alchemy and astrology. Andreae’s later writing under his own name openly ridicules alchemists; his original manifestos had a much stronger connection to medical sciences, advocating that Brothers of the Rosy Cross should care for the sick and infirm free of charge. Once published, the manifestos took on a life of their own as they spread throughout Europe. New Rosicrucian books began appearing almost immediately, all written by authors claiming to be members of the non-existent order. Several of the authors faced persecution (after all, the Inquisition was still active in many parts of Europe); a great many others sought to set themselves up as the heads of “real” Rosicrucian orders. Churton chronicles more than three centuries of attempts by writers, would-be prophets, and creators of fraternal ritual to manufacture authentic ties to the mythical brotherhood, a pursuit which has seen the creation of a great many forged documents and outlandish tale tales that stretch credulity to the breaking point. Some of these writers went so far as to claim that Christian Rosenkreutz was not even the founder of the order, but that the “true” beginnings of the brotherhood could be traced back to ancient Egypt (this was a popular claim in fringe Masonic degrees of the era as well). Most of these authors added their own spin and agendas, resulting in a body of “Rosicrucian” work that bears little relation to the original documents by Johannes Valentinus Andreae. It is Churton’s assertion that Andreae would likely disapprove of much, if not all of what has been done in the name of his fictional Christian Rosenkreutz. (In one section, Churton even states that the system of Christian mysticism based upon the writings of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin and known as Martinism is closer to Andreae’s original ideas than is most of what is now called Rosicrucianism.) Even so, many modern-day seekers proudly call themselves Rosicrucians -- finding illumination in the works of the latter-day Rosicrucian writers and participating in the flesh-and-blood fraternal orders they have inspired. If there is a fault to be found with the book, it is that its structure feels somewhat unbalanced. The earliest sections of the story, which take place during Andreae’s lifetime and the century immediately following the “accidental” publication of his manifestos, consume almost 400 of the book’s pages and are almost too detailed. Churton occasionally gets bogged down in minutiae of dates and events and lets his narrative sag. By contrast, the latter sections which deal with the pseudo-Rosicrucian groups that have formed over the last three centuries (quite a few of which are still in existence) speed by in fewer than 200 pages and sometimes feel as if they skimp on detail. When one considers that this section of the story features such colourful characters as Arthur Edward Waite, Rudolf Steiner, Max Heindel, and even Aleister Crowley, this reader could not help but feel disappointed that it was not more fully developed. As well, the extent to which Rosicrucian

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ideas have influenced fraternal ritual, whether Masonic (most notably in the Scottish Rite degrees) or quasi-Masonic (the various “Societas Rosicruciana” groups that are open only to Freemasons) gets relatively short shrift. These are, however, minor quibbles. Churton’s book is a remarkable achievement -- an encyclopedic overview spanning 400 years of Rosicrucian history and philosophy that is written in an accessible, engaging, even warm and humorous tone that takes the subject seriously but never fails to spot the many ironies inherent in the unusual story. As the author succinctly states, “What began as a game became a religion.” The Invisible History of the Rosicrucians is certain to be the go-to source for information on this fascinating subject for many years to come. PLEASE NOTE: This book was published simultaneously in the UK and Ireland by Lewis Masonic under the similar title Invisibles: The True History of the Rosicrucians (ISBN 978-0-85318-309-9). RANDY WILLIAMS, Fellow of the Masonic Society, is the co-editor (with Stephen Dafoe) of Esoteric Odyssey: Thomas Marryat’s Philosophy of Masons, new this spring from Cornerstone Book Publishers.

The Masonic Myth: Unlocking the Truth about the Symbols, the Secret Rites, and the History of Freemasonry By Jay Kinney Paperback: 265 pages Publisher: HarperOne, New York, NY ISBN 978-0-06-082256-9

Reviewed by Jay Hochberg

n terms of book publishing alone, the past five years have been amazing for Freemasons and their fraternity. The quality even of “introductory” books (Cooper’s Cracking the Freemasons Code, Hodapp’s Freemasons for Dummies, Morris’ The Complete Idiot’s Guide, et al.) truly is outstanding for their outpouring of sober-minded facts, and causes one to ponder what might have been had these titles been around twenty years ago. And joining their ranks is another splendid book by TMS Member Jay Kinney titled The Masonic Myth: Unlocking the Truth about the Symbols, the Secret Rites, and the History of Freemasonry. Kinney’s approach has a subtle difference. Where previous authors rendered a dizzyingly confusing topic approachable even to those who are not Masons, Kinney announces from the beginning in his title that misconceptions that have misinformed Masons and others for generations need to be demolished. The Masonic Myth strips the varnish off the fraternity’s history, legends, rituals, and even treasured “famous Masons.” These confusions include many simple points of history that are misunderstood even by Masons today considered well educated. The rise of the second English grand lodge, nicknamed the Antients, often is described as being created in a schismatic departure from the Premiere Grand Lodge. Not so. While there was interaction and intervisitation, etc. on the part of individual brethren from both camps, the lodges of Antient Masons were not part of the Londonbased Grand Lodge of England, and when they elected to form their own grand lodge, they did so on their own. No schism, just a rival startup group, Kinney rightly says. In 1737, a Scotsman living in France named Andrew Ramsay prepared a speech to deliver before the Grand Lodge of France. Known as “Ramsay’s Oration,” this piece of literature is the basis for Freemasonry’s “high grades” of knighthoods, and the inexplicable belief held by so many even today that the medieval Knights Templar are the ancestors of Freemasonry. Kinney explains that not only is the content of this oration laden with factual inaccuracies, but it also isn’t even an oration because Ramsay never delivered it orally. You see, Ramsay was a Roman Catholic convert, and when Cardinal Fleury, the cardinal minister to King Louis XV, used the police to ban all meetings of Freemasons, our dauntless hero Ramsay went as far as to withdraw from the Craft. In Kinney’s telling, Ramsay’s stay in France coincided with the exile of the Stuarts, the royal family of Catholics succeeded on the English throne by the Hanovers from Protestant Germany, and so Ramsay had

30 • SPRING 2010

hoped to build a coalition of Freemasons, Jacobites, and the Catholic Church. “An attractive marketing angle,” writes Kinney. Fleury “was having none of it” and his ban on Masonic meetings predates even Pope Clement XII’s infamous bull that proscribed Masonic membership for Roman Catholics. Of course these obstacles did not prevent the births of numerous rites and degrees in France. “Eccosais (Scottish) Masonry became synonymous with degrees and rites that purported to be the oldest or the highest. Whether such degrees actually originated in Scotland is something else again,” Kinney writes. Indeed he distills to two sentences the growth of Masonry from Britain to Europe: “Espousing universal brotherhood is one thing, but practicing it is something else again, and it is difficult to imagine the bewigged brethren of the French aristocracy and intelligentsia sitting in lodge with anyone too far beneath them in social standing. Indeed, Masonry on the Continent rapidly expanded from merely honoring the symbolic meaning of stonecutters’ tools and customs into a whole new universe of armchair chivalry, “higher” degrees soaked in mystical and esoteric symbolism, and grandiose titles accompanied by ornate regalia and jewelry.” I love the term “armchair chivalry.” It is tempting to walk you all the way through Kinney’s plainspoken Masonic history, but that may deprive you the pleasure of reading his book. And if you are unacquainted with Brother Kinney, please do not think he is immune to the mystique of genuine symbolism and esoterica; in fact he is world renowned for his scholarship, and he is esteemed as having been the publisher of the sorely missed Gnosis magazine, the journal of Western inner traditions, published biannually, then quarterly, from 1985 to 1999. Most issues are available at www.gnosismagazine.com In 2005 he was made a Fellow in the Scottish Rite Research Society and was awarded that prestigious group’s Albert Gallatin Mackey Award for excellence in Masonic scholarship. He knows of what he speaks. And writes. Kinney’s mission is not to denude Freemasonry of the respect it has earned; he wants to help all concerned to understand that the best way to honor Freemasonry is to learn the truth about it. Legendary histories and misunderstandings of rituals, no matter how time-tested they may be, still obscure truth. This book serves like the focus ring on a camera lens: It eliminates blur while allowing the viewer to choose depths of field. As one example of a close-up, the author explains autobiographically: “It was my good fortune to join a lodge that prided itself on performing excellent ritual, and there was something very touching in realizing that these men, some of whom had been Masons for as long as fifty years, had gone to the trouble of practicing these rituals and delivering whole lectures from memory, all for the sake of giving candidates – including me – a memorable initiation. Further, the realization that generation after generation of Masons had been doing this for some three hundred years or more established a palpable link with the past, a sense of roots that is scarce in today’s attention-deficient culture.” Bringing Masonry’s future into view, Kinney lauds the power and success of the internet. “The growth of the Web enabled both individual lodges and grand lodges to hang out their shingles, and thousands of Masonic Web sites rapidly appeared. This increased Masonic visibility tenfold. Meanwhile, the growing public interest in certain threads of ‘alternative spirituality,’ such as Gnosticism, the Divine Feminine, the mysteries of Egypt, secret societies, and the Knights Templar, has pulled Freemasonry into the mix, feeding romantic notions of Masonic significance. This, in turn, has caused a new generation of men to come knocking at Masonry’s door, curious to see whether it might be worth their time and interest.” How does one define what’s worthy? Kinney bluntly dismisses that potential for romantic fancy: “the potential for ‘more light’ and initiatory growth,” adding “if the inertia in the older lodges is just too great to provide what younger men are looking for, the fraternity should constitute new lodges with space for new (or self-consciously ‘traditional’) approaches and let them flow forth as a parallel stream.” JAY HOCHBERG is a Fellow of the Masonic Society, and the Submissions Editor of the Journal.

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he scene amidst which C

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LETTERS

A Scottish Response to Restructuring American Freemasonry To the Editors: I would like to make some comments on Bro. Mark Tabbert’s thoughtprovoking article in Issue 6 (Restructuring American Freemasonry, Part I, Autumn 2009). Some of his ideas have been tried in Scottish lodges, so I will attempt to mention some pros and cons, always remembering that what does not work in one area does not necessarily mean it will not work in another. Everything is worth discussing, and very often the discussion is all a lodge needs to become proactive. First, I like the idea of elevating the Master Mason Degree to where it really should be: the ultimate in a Craft lodge. To many brethren in Scotland, it is the high and sublime degree, and all side orders are just ‘nice add-ons’ that develop the Masonic story. Returning to the idea of the Third Degree, my lodge confers a special MM° by Past Masters, but recently, due to fewer ritualists, many degrees rely increasingly on the PMs, making our MM° no longer special. However, as a way of regaining that difference, we are going to alter the ritual using MacBride’s version. Luckily, we do not need permission from Grand Lodge to make changes to ritual and this is the reason why most Scottish lodges have their own unique ways of conferring degrees. Bro. Tabbert mentions the speed of advancement, and he is absolutely correct. To have all the degrees in less than a year is unbelievable to Scottish Masons. For example, the 18° is special itself, and it took me a few years as a PM before being invited to receive it. I believe this is the reason it is so popular (typically averaging 120-130 per meeting) and the members generally are active in the Craft. In direct contrast, the Royal Arch is virtually automatic to every Mark Mason (the degree is conferred in the Craft lodge, usually annually after the MM degree) and it is dying on its feet. It often seems that the harder (or more expensive) a degree is to attain, the better chance there is of keeping interest! In Scotland, many lodges would love to have 150 active members. My own lodge has about 140 (out of more than 300 members), and is very strong, with an active social club where we socialize on weekends. However, we still have a problem retaining candidates after three years. Perhaps this is a failing on our part, from a lack of further education, but having an upper limit on membership might alleviate this natural drop-off. One big plus for the lodge is that because we are the only lodge in town, we all know each other, we are very proud of the lodge and we are known in our community. Having better representation at Grand Lodge is more meaningful, unless of course Grand Lodge offered one representative per 50 members, which we know is not likely to be. I agree with Bro. Tabbert, who appears to advocate a more flexible syllabus where lodges must meet at least four times a year, or as often as once a week. In researching my own lodge’s history for our bicentenary in 2011, the 19th century lodges did exactly that. The brethren met when necessary. Today, we are governed by filling in a syllabus as if it was written in tablets of stone. Grand Lodge wants lodges to have regular meetings to enforce control, but this has caused undue strain on many lodges which must fill these dates with something – often with a business meeting that attracts no one. The brethren might do better visiting another lodge rather than listening to minutes of the previous business meeting where nothing happened! One format he describes is commonplace in Scotland: closing in the degree being worked, which does save time. A meeting that has only a degree is an interesting idea, which some lodges in Europe seem to apply successfully. It is certainly worth trying. On the subject of ritual, American lodges appear to have their hands tied behind their backs. As previously mentioned, Scottish lodges can change their rituals any time they choose without the sanction of Grand Lodge. As long as the principles are present, there is no problem. What is important is getting the message over to the candidate. Having secret ciphers locked in timed safes does seem a bit antiquated in the 21st century, when most secrets are on the internet. Mentoring also is an excellent idea, but it needs dedicated brothers who can relate to new members. It is a difficult responsibility 32 • SPRING 2010

to do well, but it would allow a better progression between degrees. Candidates would be more proficient and more likely to get involved with the philosophical or historical aspects of the Craft. I think it would develop a thirst for more knowledge. Unfortunately, not every lodge will have such a brother, but it is worth giving a real go. Scotland has just introduced the rule that 18-year-olds can join by special dispensation from the Grand Master Mason. Without the actual statistics, it is difficult to comment, but I suspect this is not a large number. I preferred the previous ruling whereby only a Lewis (the son of a Master Mason) could join at age 18. At least, there was a parent to guide him in what is a mature concept and way of life that many 18-year-olds would find a million miles from their own lives. The length of time served as Master must be difficult to dictate. Many Scottish Masters will take more than 10 years to reach the Chair (although often less in struggling lodges) and have gained a great deal of experience. My own lodge’s progression is from Senior Warden to “Substitute Master,” then Master in order to understand the workings of the lodge and social club. This extra year is spent observing while learning more ritual. I congratulate Bro. Tabbert on his article. It is worthy of further consideration, and although some points will work in some lodges but may not work in others, the main point is that lodges should think about planning their futures. As is often said, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” The Craft deserves better. Bro. N. Grant Macleod PM Sec Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242 (SC) PM The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 (SC) MM Civil War Lodge of Research No.1865 (Virginia) Scotland, United Kingdom

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PAST PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

“Here’s Your Hat. What’s Your Hurry?” By Roger S. VanGorden

Dear Brothers, As you may have already read we had the biennial elections of officers for The Masonic Society. There was this pesky clause in the by-laws which said officers could not succeed themselves. Drat! I guess it was time to show me the door. I think the hint was when Mike Poll said, “Roger, here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?” Then I felt a gentle nudge on my back. Well, this is not completely true, but this is how I will tell it anyway. We created 16 new fellows as the Class of 2010. We should be proud of them for they are truly workers in the quarries who seek no honor or reward. I congratulate and thank you new fellows. First, the Society’s leadership is in great hands. Our Secretary will give you a complete tab on the “who’s on first” information. However, Mike Poll was elected president and he will continue our goal of expanding the love of Masonic Education and brotherhood. I am excited for the brothers who will be new to our board. They will prove very valuable to us. Those brothers who according to our by-laws remain on the board demonstrated their dedication and zeal for our Society over the last several days. We are blessed to have them serving us. Let me boast for a moment, I leave the President’s office with these three things, 1) a growing membership, 2) a positive cash flow, and 3) money in the bank. How many times do you get to hear this at the end of a term? Let me take a moment to thank several deserving brothers. In February 2008 Duane Vaught and I spend a plane ride from Washington to Indianapolis discussing a new type of Masonic study group. We discussed the need for a group which focuses on inspiriting the edifying the individual Mason working in his lodge by providing him news of the Craft, concise information-filled and inspiring articles, informative conferences, and a sense of brotherhood. It was Duane Vaught, the current Grand Captain General of the Grand Encampment, K.T. U.S.A. who coined the name, “The Masonic Society”. Duane thought we should demonstrate the courage and vision of those who founded The Royal Society in our pursuit of a new Masonic study society. A hearty thank you goes to my great friend and brother, Chris Hodapp. I remember Chris and me making a trip around an altar one evening. He was missing a shoe. Chris is a blessing to me and his friendship is priceless. How could we find a better editor? We can’t. This brings me to Nathan Brindle, our long-suffering SecretaryTreasurer. Nathan is a born lodge secretary! The man is a machine. He and Chris came to me as a package. I would not lose either of them. Nathan, quietly working in the background, makes our Society hum. If you, as a presiding officer, were ever graced with an outstanding secretary/recorder, you know my sentiment. Then to have one of my best friends in the role made it even sweeter. Mike Poll is a Masonic scholar, researcher, and author who I have held in high esteem for a number of years. He and Chris were the first calls I placed after Duane’s and my return home that cold February a couple of years ago. Mike will be a great leader for our Society. I am excited for his advancement. An early call went out to Ron Martin. Ron jumped on the project with incredible zeal and determination. Most of my phone calls with Ron ended with, “Ron, my cell phone battery is dying.” If you personally know Ron, you know it is funny because it is true! Ron spent hours and hours on things like our bylaws, organizing forums, building forum content, answering e-mails, etc. Hours and hours Ron spent serving the Society. Unfortunately, the time commitment became too much of a toll on his personal and professional life, as well as his pursuit toward

finishing the requirements for his Ph.D. Mark Tabbert is a blessing to our board, as well. Mark’s energy for our Fraternity is only exceeded by the number of opportunities he finds for enhancing it. It was Mark who gave us the opportunity to jointly build a web site with the George Washington Masonic Memorial and the Masonic Service Association to answer questions regarding Dan Brown’s book, The Lost Symbol. In future issues of The Journal you will be reading of another opportunity Mark brings to us. Thank you to Rex Hutchins, who is our new 1st Vice President. Rex’s insight and advice was very valuable and necessary. A hearty thank you is given to Fred Kleyn. I have had the pleasure of knowing Fred for nearly twenty years now. We met at a Masonic conference around 1990 and immediately made a friendship. Fred will be an excellent leader of our Society because he is an excellent leader. He has already made a great impact on our operations. Jim Hogg served as a member director and now will continue on our board as a fellow director. Jim, an attorney by profession as well as other disciplines, gave us much time, attention, and needed advice. Ron Blaisdell’s tech savvy and business background was instrumental as we “bounced” ideas around. Jim Dillman is another of my best friends forever, who never fails to lend a hand, give advice when asked, clean up other people’s messes, and bear the heaviest load. Jay Hochberg is another brother who upon meeting for the first time I knew he would become a great friend as well. Jay was instrumental in the development of The Journal. Jay is our first contact for article submission and assists with the editorial work. I hope he is part of the editorial work for our Society for a very long time. Randy Williams, Michael Chaplin, Tim Bonney, and Jeff Kaplan have added much to our success. Randy’s work on The Journal has helped us keep on track and provide what is one of the finest Masonic publications available. Michael Chaplin’s and Tim Bonney’s valuable assistance on the discussion forum has created what some thought a toy but has proved to be a working tool. They have made the difference between “nice to have” and “must have”. Jeff Kaplan was handed the chore of getting the second circles organized. He has met the challenge and Mike Poll is sure to give him more opportunities. Thank you to those whose participation makes this forum the benefit to not only the Society, but also to Freemasonry, which it is. Also, a hearty thank you goes to the authors of the articles in The Journal. Some say The Journal is our lifeblood. I hope these wells never run dry. Whew! Hey, you can never say thank you enough. Especially to a group of brothers who have “borne the heat and burden of the day”. The reason we had a successful first term of our gentle society is because of the caliber of brothers, not only on our board, but as our members. You brothers are simply wonderful. The officers and board cannot be successful without you. You are the reason for the Society’s existence and why it thrives. So long as the leadership of our gentle Society never forgets to serve, inspire, and edify the hard laboring brother working in his lodge to improve himself in Masonry, this Society will never falter! Fraternally, Roger S. VanGorden, P.G.M. Past President The Masonic Society

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Masonic Treasures

The 2004 film National Treasure featured Freemasons and an 18th century Meerschaum pipe as a central plot element. The pipe was a creation of art director Geoff Hubbard, and contains a scene of crusading Knights Templar. The removable shank is carved so that, when rolled in ink (or blood, as in the movie) and then across paper, it reveals the words, “The legend writ, the stain affected. The key in Silence undetected. Fifty-five in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can’t offend,” along with the square and compasses, and symbols of the Knights Templar and Royal Arch. A third National Treasure movie is currently in preproduction. CLH