How Does Freemasonry Add Value To Our Lives ?
Masons at the Battle of Gettysburg
Grand Lodge of Hawaii Grand Orator 2005
10 Reasons To Become a MasonThe following was put out by the Grand Lodge of Iowa this year (2005) and is worth repeating here. Feel free to copy it and use it in your lodges. TEN REASONS TO BECOME A MASON 1. Masonry is a place where you can confidently trust every person, and entrust your family with them. 2. Masonry is a place where, within moral and civil guidelines; free thought, free speaking and the spiritual growth of man can grow into its fullest potential. 3. Masonry is a place which provides the opportunity to meet, know, and call brother, outstanding individuals from all walks of life that I would not otherwise have met. 4. Masonry is a place to be a part of an organization that has for its principle tenets ---Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. 5. Masonry is a place that provides self-development opportunities, leadership training and experience, and to improve public speaking skills. 6. Masonry is a place you can go to give support as well as seek it. 7. Masonry is a place where moral virtues are taught and through these teachings a regular reinforcement of the moral virtues is experienced. 8. Masonry is a place to spend time with a group of brothers, who, by acting as good men, make me want to be come a better man. Not better than others, but better than I would otherwise have been. 9. Masonry is a place to become better prepared to serve church and community. 10. Masonry is a place to meet with established members of the community and to become a part of the community.
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HOW DOES FREEMASONRY ADD VALUE TO OUR LIVES?
Undoubtedly, the most visible benefit associated with Freemasonry is the friendship, morality, and Brotherly Love we learn simply by attending Lodge and interacting with the members. It is not unusual for Freemasons to develop lifelong friendships and bonds with other Masons. This should not be surprising as the fraternity represents a society consisting of men with common interests, and such commonality is comforting to us all. Aside from this, how does Freemasonry add value to our lives? Frankly, there are several subliminal ways we are affected personally and professionally by our participation in the fraternity; some examples:
Sociologists who have studied Freemasonry have admitted that Freemasonry "takes a good man and makes him better." No, the fraternity is not intended to teach us business skills, but surprisingly it does nevertheless. Nor do I believe anyone joins the fraternity for this purpose. Regardless, these are some of the subliminal perks associated with the fraternity which does, in fact, add value to our lives as well as others we come in contact with. Keep the Faith. Jeff WINTERS
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MASONS AT THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG by Sheldon A. Munn The Battle of Gettysburg was fought in the hot, sticky days of July Ist, 2nd and 3rd, 1863. Confederate General Robert E. Lee had brought his 70,000 soldiers northward for food and supplies; to relieve Virginia from the ravages of war; to influence the powerful northern Peace Party to stop the war, and to gain Confederate recognition and support from Britain and France. Lee also was looking for an opportunity to defeat the Union Army away from its base in Washington, D.C. Twenty-seven months before the Battle of Gettysburg, the first shots of the War Between the States were fired between Masons. Confederate Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard fired on Union Major Robert Anderson, defending Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Beauregard was a Mason and Knight Templar from New Orleans, Louisiana. Anderson was a Mason from Trenton, New Jersey. As the war began with shots fired between Masonic brothers, so did the greatest battle of the war. It was in the morning hours of July 1, 1863, when Lieutenant Marcellus Jones fired the first shot that began the Battle of Gettysburg. Jones, a carpenter and a Mason from Wheaton, Illinois, used a Sharps 52-caliber breech-loading rifle, invented and manufactured by Christian Sharps, a Mason from Philadelphia. The shot that Jones fired was directed at Confederate troops led by Brigadier General Henry Heth, a Mason from Rocky Mountain Lodge in the Utah Territory. In mentioning the Rocky Mountain Lodge, you will find it interesting to know that while it surrendered its charter due to the war, over two hundred Masonic Lodges were created during the war. An even more unusual circumstance unfolds when we learn that John C. Robinson, a Union Brigadier General and immediate Past Master of the Rocky Mountain Lodge, was heavily involved in the first days fighting at Gettysburg. The desperate fighting that day also involved Confederate Major General Henry Heth. Henry Heth had been John Robinson's Senior Warden in the Rocky Mountain Lodge. Later that morning, Union Brigadier General Solomon Meredith, a Mason from Indiana, and Colonel Lucius Fairchild, a Mason from Wisconsin, met and held the Confederates on the bloodied fields and woods between Herr's Ridge and the Seminary for over 8-hours. Among those attacking Meredith's legendary Iron Brigade and Fairchild's hard-fighting 2nd Wisconsin Infantry regiment was Confederate Colonel James Connor, a Past Master of Landmark Lodge in Charleston, South Carolina. Colonel Henry Morrow of the 24th Michigan was with Meredith's Iron Brigade. During the furious fighting, Morrow was struck in the head by a Confederate bullet. Later, a Confederate surgeon, identifying himself as a Mason, decided that Morrow's scalp wound was "too serious" for him to be marched away as a prisoner-of-war. This act of Masonic compassion probably saved Morrow's life. The very first regimental volley of the battle was fired by the men of the 56th Pennsylvania Volunteers, led by Colonel John W. Hofmann, a Mason from Norristown, Pennsylvania. Before the first days battle ended, Hofmann's bloodied regiment would be forced from the fields north of the Chambersburg Road by a gallant charge led by Major William Cox, commander of the 2nd North Carolina infantry. William Cox was a Mason from Raleigh, North Carolina. He was wounded eleven times during the war and would later become a Brigadier General. Cox also became a Congressman and served as the Grand Master of North Carolina for four years. Early in the evening of the 2nd day's battle, on the ridge north of Devils Den, Union Major General Winfield Hancock told Colonel Edward Cross, "Today you'll earn your star" meaning that Cross would win his promotion to Brigadier General for his brilliant service over the past two years. Colonel Cross, a Mason from New Hampshire, had received twelve wounds during his heroic service, however his thirteenth wound would be fatal and he was killed leading his brigade against the attacking Confederates led by Brigadier General George Thomas Anderson, a Mason from Atlanta, Georgia. According to Lieutenant General James Longstreet, Commander of the Confederate First Corps, the most gallant charge of the entire war was led by Brigadier General William Barksdale, a Mason from Jackson, Mississippi. When Longstreet ordered him forward, Barksdale was on the frontline. It was in that position, after forcing the Union lines to collapse and retreat, that he was shot mortally wounded wearing a clean white linen shirt fastened with Masonic studs. Barksdale's courageous charge was directed at the bloody Peach Orchard, defended in part by the men of the 2nd New Hampshire regiment (Co. B) led by Captain Thomas Hubbard, a Mason from Concord, New Hampshire. Hubbard was killed on the battlefield and was buried by Confederate Masons. Consider the significance of this act, when soldiers in the midst of a major battle, take the time and care to bury an enemy soldier! Unusual in every sense of the word, but not so unusual when you consider that it happened between Masons. While the entire southern end of the battlefield erupted with savage fighting at the Peach Orchard, the Wheatfield, and Devil's Den, a hero was born on the rocky, wooded southern slope of Little Round Top. Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, formerly a language professor at Bowdoin College in Maine, was in command of the 20th Maine Infantry defending the critical Union left flank. The determined Confederates launched attack after attack against Chamberlain's shattered line. The gallant defenders held their position heroically despite their fearful losses. Running out of ammunition, and without reinforcements, Chamberlain knew that the next Confederate attack would destroy his line and cause the loss of the Federal armies strong defensive position. It was then that Chamberlain, a man schooled in religion and language, ordered his men to fix bayonets and charge the attacking Confederates in a swinging barn door like maneuver. His unorthodox attack shocked the Rebels, causing them to scatter in hurried retreat. Chamberlain was a Mason, a member of United Lodge in Brunswick, Maine. He would receive a Congressional Medal of Honor in recognition of his courage and heroism at Gettysburg. While Chamberlain was gallantly defending the southern end of the Unions fishhook shaped line, another Mason was desperately trying to overrun the Union army on the opposite end of that line on Culp's Hill. John Brown Gordon, a successful businessman and lawyer from Georgia, had fought with brilliance throughout the two years prior to Gettysburg. Gordon had been severely wounded nine-months earlier at the Battle of Anti-etam (September 17, 1862). A bullet hole in his hat had saved him from drowning in his own blood as he lay unconscious on the battle field. Gordon was a man of extraordinary compassion and care a trait taught at our fraternities holy altars. During Gordon's attack on the first day, which resulted in the Confederates forcing the Union Army to retreat from their position in the fields north of Gettysburg, Union Brigadier General Francis Barlow was severely wounded. A Confederate bullet paralyzed his arms and legs. When Gordon, in the midst of his attack, saw Barlow, he dismounted, gave Barlow water from his canteen and saw that he was cared for. Another instance where a Masons compassion and care for his brother transcended the hostility normally found between enemies. The Battle of Gettysburg was culminated in an attack, the likes of which the world had never seen, nor would ever see again. It was on the afternoon of July 3rd, following a two hour cannonade of volcanic proportions, that three Confederate Generals, all Virginia Masons, led the attack that has become known as Pickett's Charge. Correctly named Longstreet's Assault, Major General George Pickett, Brigadier General James Kemper and Brigadier General Lewis Armistead led their 12,000 men across the mile long rolling fields to crash against the center of the Union line near the clump of trees that became the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy." As the Confederate tide swept closer to the Union line, a sergeant in the 14th Virginia Infantry came upon some Union skirmishers huddled in the tall wheat, who had been cut off from their retreat. The Virginians would have been fully justified in killing the Union soldiers. They were the enemy! But the sergeant recognized a Masonic sign the sign of distress thrown by one of the Yankees and ordered his men to pass them by. Wasn't it fortunate that the Virginia Sergeant, Drewry B. Easley, was a Mason a member of South Boston Lodge, in Halitax County, Virginia. Brigadier General Lewis Armistead was the only officer to pierce the Union line. As Armistead crossed the low stone wall that formed the front of the Union defense line, he shouted, "Give 'em the cold steel boys!" Holding his black hat on the tip of his sword to guide his men, since all his color-bearers had been killed, he led his 150 Virginians amidst the swirling tide of bluecoats. Placing his hand on a hot, smoking Union cannon barrel, he claimed it his, in the name of the Old Dominion. Instantly he was struck by two bullets and fell, giving the sign of distress, ". . . as the son of a widow." At the same time, Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, the general commanding the Union troops defending the line at the center of the Confederate attack saw his old friend and Masonic brother fall. Hancock, a member of Charity Lodge in Norristown, Pennsylvania, who was severely wounded at the same time, ordered his chief of staff, Captain Henry Harrison Bingham, a Mason from Philadelphia, to go to Armistead's aid. Bingham had Armistead taken to the 11th Corps field hospital where he received the best medical care possible. When Armistead died, Hancock saw that his personal belongings were handled according to his wishes. The Armistead Hancock story is most unusual, especially when you consider that they were, in fact, enemies. But it is not unusual when you consider that they were Masons. Again we witness the power of brotherly love, care and concern ... transcending the most severe hatred and hostility associated with battle. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought between 70,000 Confederates and 93,000 Union soldiers. Over 50,000 men became casualties in those three terrible days. The Confederate Army would retreat back into Virginia and the war would continue for another eighteen months. The war began with shots fired between Masonic brothers. The greatest battle of that war was started with shots fired between Masonic brothers. How do you suppose the war ended? Come with me, to that chill, damp, Easter Sunday morning on April 9, 1865, in Appomattox, Virginia, when over 112,000 well fed and well equipped federal soldiers surrounded the 26,765 starving, ragged Confederates all that remained of the once invincible Army of Northern Virginia. It was a time for the Yankees to shout and cheer! It was a time to celebrate. It was the end of the war the bloodiest, in American casualties, that the world had ever seen or would ever see again. 618,000 men became casualties. But, the killing years were finally over! No one would have disputed the Yankees right to scream, shout and cheer. But when Confederate General John Gordon brought his battle hardened Stonewall Brigade on the field to lay down their guns and furl their tattered flags, Union General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain ordered his men to give their former enemies a full military salute. It was an honorable and heartfelt act. It was the first act to heal the wounds of a nation and that greeting was given by a Mason! It was an act that uplifted the spirits of every man present. But then what would you have expected? Remember that both Joshua Chamberlain and John Gordon were Masons, representing a brotherhood that was never divided, now dedicated to a nation indivisible. Let us take pride from the heritage of dedication and heroism demonstrated by our gallant brothers who advanced the principles of freedom, liberty and justice. And let us share that pride with all Americans to the advancernent of our fraternity and the good of America.
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Pearl Harbor Lodge was chartered on September 25, 1924 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California, Grand Master Arthur C. Crites presiding. The founders of Pearl Harbor Lodge were Brothers Fred George Walton Cooper, Nathan Thomas Russell, Walter Eugene Thornton, William Thomas Hart, and Henry John Mulhall. The charter members numbered 25. Fred James Maser was the first Master of Pearl Harbor Lodge. The Lodge was established to serve not only the Masons of the Navy but also to bring in new members from the Naval ranks. A tentative name was adopted for the Lodge on May 21, 1924 - Au Moku (Hawaiian for fleet). On June 26, 1924, the name was changed to Naval Lodge. Our name changed again when on October 16, 1924, the paperwork arrived from the Grand Lodge of California showing the name of Pearl Harbor Lodge No. 598. Today the members of the lodge come from all walks of life and professions. Our Stated Meeting is the second Monday of each Month. Degree Work and practices are held on the other Mondays. Pearl Harbor Lodge received its Charter from the Grand Lodge of Hawaii on 5/20/1989. Pearl Harbor members Stuart M. Cowan, A. Lee Skinner and Bruce H. Bonnell are past Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Hawaii. A. Lee Skinner, Abraham Akina, & Marvin Weissman are Past Potentates of Aloha Shriners. Peter A. Larson is the current Potentate. Abraham Akina was the first mason to be raised in the newly formed Grand Lodge of Hawaii. The Lodge is proud of their Child ID program which is offered free of charge to the public. The program is designed to assist the authorities if a child is missing. Computer driven, each parent is given a sheet of paper which has a picture of the child and the child's thumb prints. The parent completes their child's information. The parent also attaches a piece of the child's hair or finger nail clipping to the sheet for a DNA sample. We have been offering this program for the past three years.
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Taken mostly from "The Truth is Stranger than Fiction," Bro. Alphonse Cerza, masonic Service Association, 1934. At one time, Golden Lodge #5, Stanstead, Canada occupied a lodge room, which straddled the boundary between Canada and the United States. There were entrances on both sides of the border. Washington Chapter #3 of Portsmouth, NH announced its meetings via the town crier, who received from 6 to 25 cents for his work. In 1872 the commissioner of Patents held that the Masonic emblem could not be used in a trademark or trade name for commercial purposes. In Hammer v. State, 173 Indiana, 199 (1909), the Supreme Court ruled that it was a criminal offense to wear the emblem of any society or organization of which one is not a member. The court based its decision on the fact that the membership in such societies is the result of fitness and selection and that the wearing of such emblems by non-members is a deceit and false pretense. In Robinson v. Yates City Lodge, 86 Illinois, 598 (1877), a court ruled that an expelled Mason was not entitled to the return of his degree fees. The court held that the plaintiff voluntarily paid the fees and the expulsion under the provisions of the rules of the organization does not constitute the rescission of a contract under which the fees were paid. Frederick A Bartholdi, a freemason, designed the statue of Liberty in NY harbor. Grand Lodge of NY laid the corner stone on August 5, 1885. Bernard Pierre Mangam, Marshall of France and Senator was appointed Grand Master of the Grand Orient of France and served from 1862 to 1865. This is unusual because he was not a Mason. He was appointed by Emperor Napoleon III. The letters of the English word GOD are the first three letters of Hebrew words for beauty, strength, and wisdom. G in Gomez, O in Oz, D in Dabar. In 1860 in Limerick, Ireland, there as found a stone in a small chapel, dated 1517, with the following inscription: "I will serve to live with love & care, upon the level, and by the square." Francis Stephens, the Duke of Lorraine, received the first two Masonic degrees in 1731 in a special lodge convened at The Hague, Holland, becoming the first known royal freemason. Later he received the third degree in England. In 1735 renounced his title. Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotine was a member of Concorde Fraternelle Lodge of Paris and a member of the French Assembly. He obviously invented the device that bears his name and was later executed with one. The Rev. William Dodd, first Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of England, was hanged for forgery on June 2nd, 1777. In 1839 the Mormons left Missouri and settled in the area of Nauvoo, IL. On October 15, 1841, the IL Grand Master issued a dispensation to form a lodge at Nauvoo. On March 15th, 1842, Joseph Smith received his first degree and the others shortly after. Certain irregularities were reported - in five months the lodge initiated 256 candidates and 243 were raised. After investigation, the grand master revoked the dispensation, but the lodge continued to work. On April 5, 1844, the Mormon masons dedicated a Masonic Temple. IL Masons got in trouble for taking part in the ceremony. Opposition to the group and internal dissension led to the assassination of Joseph Smith and the removal of the Mormons from IL. Operative Lodge #150 in Aberdeen, Scotland is unusual in that it is only open to operative stonemasons. Dr. Edward Jenner, in 1789 discovered the vaccination process against smallpox. He was worshipful master of Faith and Friendship Lodge #270 in Berkeley, England at the time. In July 1863, Confederate raiders rode into Versailles, IN, capturing the local militia and stealing the county treasury. The next day, General John Morgan (CSA), learned that his men had also made off with the jewels of the local lodge. They were returned the following day. Morgan was from Daviess Lodge #22, Lexington, KY. Wheelock Commandery No. 5 in Texas had all 55 of its members killed serving in the Confederate Army. The Commandery ceased to exist. Missouri's first Confederate Capitol was the Masonic Building in Neosho, MS. From here the legislature passed the Act of Secession. USA General Thomas Benton, also grand master of Iowa, ordered federal troops to protect Albert Pike's home and prevent the library from being burned, when his troops took Little Rock, AR. July 2, 1751, Ferdinand VI of Spain issued an edict against Freemasonry. Father Jose Torrubia secured a special dispensation from the Pope, joined a lodge, secured the names of its members, and proceeded to have them arrested. Hundreds were arrested, persecuted, and imprisoned. When Mussolini gained control of Italy, Masonic lodges were declared illegal and the grand master was arrested, tried, and imprisoned, where he died. Mussolini also ordered all Masonic references removed, including the emblems on the base of Garibaldi's monument in Rome. After the restoration of the republic, fascist emblems were removed and the Masonic emblems restored. In Fascist Spain under Franco, it was a crime to be a freemason. Masons convicted had to serve prison terms equal in years to the number of Masonic degrees possessed. Master Mason =3D 3 years. Winnedumah Lodge #287 of Bishop, CA holds its meetings at 270 feet below sea level, the lowest lodge in North America. In 1954 Martin's Station Lodge No. 188 of VA was opened 952 feet below the surface of Cumberland Mountain in Cudjo's Cave, which lies between Cumberland Gap, Tenn. and Middleburo, KY. 345 Masons were present and a MM degree was conferred. Chicago, IL has three American Legion Posts whose memberships are entirely Masonic. All four Presidents of the Republic of Texas, David Burnett, Sam Houston, Mirabeau Lamar, and Anson Jones, were masons. Between 1737 and 1779 two sailing ships of interest operated off the U.S. eastern seaboard, Freemason and Master Mason. The Freemason caught fire and sank in Marblehead Harbor, Mass in 1779. On November 10, 1928, the grand lodge of California held a special communication at Culver City, to lay the corner stone of the Masonic temple. The lodge room was so crowded that the grand lodge officers were unable to enter. They retired to the Ladies' powder room to open the grand lodge for the ceremony. In 1801, Czar Alexander I of Russia banned the craft. In 1803 he rescinded the order and became a Freemason. But in 1822 he again ordered Freemasonry banned in Russia. In May, 1843, a group of representatives from fourteen grand lodges met in Baltimore, MD, with the view of adopting uniform ritual. The mtg. was presided over by John Dove of VA; Charles W. Moore of Mass prepared the proposed ritual. The convention's work was not generally accepted. In 1799, Barton Lodge in Upper Canada accepted "good merchantable wheat" in payment of lodge dues. Lodge St. George in Bermuda has rented an old state house since 1816 from the Governor for the sum of "one peppercorn per year." Abraham Jones served as Grand Master of Kentucky 1933-34 and grand master of Illinois, 1840-41. Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Jimenez was grand master of the grand lodge of Venezuela in 1947. In 1957 he became the grand master of the grand lodge of Japan. In 1892, the tallest building in the world was the Masonic Temple at Randolph and State Streets, Chicago, IL Brother William Brockmeier (1866-1947) of St. Louis conducted 5586 Masonic funeral services. Thomas Jacob Shryock served as grand master of Maryland for 32 years. He died after being elected to serve his 33rd. The largest Master's chair is in Ophir Lodge #33 Murphys, CA. It is 15 feet long and can seat the Master, living Past Masters, and visiting dignitaries. On June 7, 1921, Mystic Lodge #21 of Red Bank, NJ conferred half of the MM degree on brother Lyman C. Van when the power went out. He didn't receive the rest of the degree for several weeks, making him for a time, a "two and half degree" mason. When the great Obelisk of Alexandria (Cleopatra's Needle) was moved to New York in 1880, there were discovered certain emblems on the original foundation and pedestal. One is clearly a square, causing some to conclude that Masonry existed in ancient Egypt. This issue is still open to debate. The two structures in the U.S that have elevators which move sideways, in addition to up and down are the Arch in St. Louis and the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria. The Grand Master of Mass. commanded rebels at Bunker Hill while the grand master of England commanded English forces. The G.M of Mass was killed. On August 23, 1879, Lodge #239 of France held a meeting in a balloon flying over Paris, at which time a brother was initiated. On his famous solo flight across the Atlantic, Charles Lindbergh wore a square and compasses on his jacket as a good luck piece. He was a mason. Richard E. Byrd and his pilot Bernt Balchen, both brothers, dropped Masonic flags over the north and south poles. Brother Balchen also tossed his shrine fez on the South Pole. Gordon Cooper, in his Mercury capsule, carried a Masonic coin and a blue Masonic flag on his 22 orbit flight, which he later presented to his mother lodge. Montana's first livestock brand was a square and compasses and is still in use. It was registered by Pointdexter Orr of Beaverhead County, MT in 1872. Andrew McNair, a Philadelphia Mason, rang the Liberty bell in Independence Hall of July 8, 1776 to call the people together to hearing the reading of the Declaration of Independence. The bell developed a crack when it was rung for the death of Chief Justice Marshall, Past Grand Master of Virginia. Grand Masters generally have the power to make "masons at sight," which means the Master can do away with the formalities such as filing of petitions, waiting periods, etc. Some famous Masons who were made include: William H. Taft, General George Marshall, and General Douglas MacArthur. In the 1800's several grand lodges established Masonic colleges. The most successful of which was in Hannibal, MS in 1847. Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Georgia all tried it but all were eventually closed due to lack of support. In the spring of 1966, brother Dallas Coleman of Denison Lodge #373 of Kansas was digging a pond when he came across an overturned gravestone marked with square and compasses. Research lead to determination that it belonged to brother Henry Craig (1832-1862) of Valley Falls Lodge #21. The brethren of the lodge reset and cleaned the monument and erected a fence around it to keep livestock away. And continue to maintain it. Lyndon Johnson took the first degree of October 30, 1937 but never progressed any further. Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the House took his first degree on August 7, 1922. He died in 1961 without receiving the second. Warren G. Harding was initiated on June 28, 1901 and it took him 19 years to complete the other two. Lodges in Mass. have no numbers In Penn. there are 11 lodges that have numbers but no names. In Georgia there are two lodges with the number 1. In Maryland, Tennessee and Penn. there is no lodge with the number 1 Masonic Places in the US: Anchor, IL Beehive, MT Boaz, AL Charity, MS Circle, MT Cowan, TN Emblem, WY Eureka, WV Faith, SD False Pass, AK Fidelity, IL Five Points, AL Freeborn, MN Grand Pass, MS Hiram, MA Hope, AK Jachin, AL Justice, IL Lodge, SC Mason, KY Masonic Home, KY Masontown, WV Square, MT Steward, IL Symbol, KY Temperance, MI Tyler, TX Hiram Abiff Boaz, born Dec. 18 1866 in Murray, KY. Received his degrees in 1922 before an usually large crowd and served as Grand Chaplin (TX) in 1953. Joseph A. Gilmore (1811-1867), former governor of N.H. was made a Mason at sight on April 28, 1863. He received Scottish Rite degrees and was awarded 33rd degree on May 7, 1863 - only 9 days later. Between 1890 (when it became a state) and 1951, every governor of Wyoming, except one, was a Mason. The one, Mrs. William A. Ross, was the wife of a mason and a member of Eastern Star. Every President from Tenn. was a Mason (Jackson, Johnson, Polk) President FDR raised two of his sons on the same night, Nov 7, 1935 - Architect Lodge #519 in NY. In 1951, while President, Harry Truman served as Master of his lodge. Sacramento Chapter #3, Royal Arch Masons has supplied 4 governors of CA. (J. Neeley Johnson, Lantham, Pacheo, Hiram Johnson) William Hesketh Lever Lodge #2916, England was the only lodge named for a non- mason, the first Viscount of Leverhulm (the soap manufacturer). Paul Revere was a Mason, as was his cohort, Robert Newman, who hung the lantern in the old north church. Angelo Soliman, was born in Africa in 1721 and brought to Europe as a slave at the age of ten. He was educated, married, and became a favorite in the royal court in Vienna. Somewhere before 1771 he became a mason. When he died 1776, the Emperor had his body stuffed and mounted in the natural history museum, becoming not only the first black of African birth to become a mason, but the also the first mason to be stuffed, mounted, and displayed. John Aasen of Highland Park Lodge No. 382 in Los Angeles, CA was the largest known MM ever raised. At the time he was 8.5 feet tall and weighed 536 pounds. Charles Stratton, a.k.a. Tom Thumb, was 24 inches high and weighed 16 pounds when raised in 1862. Theodore Parvin was Grand Secretary for Iowa from 1844 to 1901, except for 1852- 53 when he was Grand Master. When asked of Masonry, President William McKinley explained: "After the battle of Opequam, I went with the surgeon of our Ohio regiment to the field where 5,000 confederate prisoners were under guard. As soon as we passed the guard, the doctor shook hands with a number of prisoners and began passing out his roll of bills. On the way back to camp I asked him, 'Did you know those men?' 'No' 'But you gave them a lot of money, do you expect to get it back?' 'If they are able to pay me back, they will. It makes no difference to me; they are brother masons in trouble and I am only doing my duty.' I said to my self, 'If that is Masonry, I will take some of it myself.'"
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My Brother, Masonry means much more Then the wearing of a pin. Or carrying a paid-up dues receipt So the Lodge will let you in. You may wear an emblem on your coat From your finger flash a ring. But if you're not sincere at heart This doesn't mean a thing. It's merely an outward sign to show The world that you belong To this great fraternal brotherhood That teaches right from wrong. What really counts lies buried deep Within the human breast Till Masonic teaching brings it out And puts it to the test. If you practice out of Lodge The things that you learn within Be just and upright to yourself And to your fellowmen. Console a brother when he's sick And assist him when in need Without a thought of personal reward For any act or deed. Walk and act in such a way That the world without can see That only the best can meet the test Laid down by Masonry. Be always faithful to your trust And do the best that you can Then you can proudly tell the world You're a Mason
It is in our hearts, dear sisters, While the Mason's chain is bright, To give our warmest welcome To the best beloved, tonight; To the wife, so fondly cherished, To the daughter, sister, true, To the faithful, tenderhearted -- Shall I say the word? -- to you. We acknowledge countless blessings From the Bounteous Hand above; Our bond was first cemented By Divine assent and love; We are grateful, truly grateful, For all gifts He doth bestow, But our warmest thanks are given -- Shall I say the word? -- for you. The woes of life are many, Thronging dark on every side, In tears, and sighs, and broken hearts, And sorrows far and wide; The Mason's hand is generous, But most freely we bestow, When the appeal is made us -- Shall I say the word? -- by you. Our brotherhood is countless, From the East unto the West; In every land, and clime, and tongue, They range among the best; And every man a hundred miles On frosty sod will go, To give you help, or win a smile -- Shall I say the word? -- from you. Then hail! Adoptive Masonry, That brings us here together; May manly arms 'round lovely forms Protect from stormy weather; And when, adown the hill of life, Our tottering feet shall go, May our weary steps be comforted -- Shall I say the word? -- by you.
Brother, let us often ponder What we Masons pledged to do, When, prepared at yonder's altar, We assumed the Mason's vow; Foot and knee, breast, hand and cheek, Let these oft our duties speak. Breast to breast: in holy casket At life's center strongly held, Every sacred thing intrusted, Sealed by faith's unbroken seal; What you promised God to shield Suffer, die, but never yield. Never yield whate'er the trial; Never yield whate'er the number; Never yield through foully threatened, Even at the stroke of death. Hand to back: A brother falling -- His misfortune is too great, Stretch the generous hand, sustain him, Quick, before it is too late. Like a strong, unfaltering prop, Hold the faltering brother up. Hold him up; stand like a column; Hold him up: there's good stuff in him; Hold him with his head toward Heaven; Hold him with the lion's grip. Cheek to cheek: O, when the tempter Comes, a brother's soul to win, With a timely whisper warn him Of the dark and deadly sin. Extricate him from the snare, Save him with fraternal care. Save him - Heavenly powers invoke you- Save him -- man is worth the saving Save him -- breathe your spirit in him As you'd have your God save you. This completes the obligation; Brother, lest you let it slip, Fasten on tenacious memory All our points of Fellowship; Foot and knee, breast, hand, and cheek Foot and knee, breast, hand, and cheek.
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(This poem, written in August, 1854.)
There's a fine old Mason in the land, he's genial, wise and true, His list of brothers comprehends, hear brothers, me and you; So warm his heart the snow blast fails to chill his generous blood, And his hand is like a giant's when outstretched to man or God; -- Reproach nor blame, nor any shame, has checked his course or dimmed his fame -- All honor to his name! This fine old Mason is but one of a large family: In every lodge you'll find his kin, you'll find them two or three; You'll know them when you see them, for they have their father's face, A generous knack of speaking truth and doing good always; -- Reproach nor blame, nor any shame, has checked their course or dimmed their fame -- Freemason is their name! Ah, many an orphan smiles upon the kindred as they pass; And many a widow's prayers confess the sympathizing grace; The Father of this Brotherhood himself is joyed to see; Their works -- they're numbered all in Heaven, those deeds of charity! Reproach nor blame, nor any shame, there check their course or dim their fame -- All honor to their name!
Brother, hearken, while I tell you What we Masons pledged to do When, prepared at yonder altar, We assumed the Mason's vow! Foot and knee, breast, hand and cheek -- Hearken while I make them speak! Foot to foot, on mercy's errand, When we hear a brother's cry, Hungry, thirsty, barefoot, naked, With God's mercy let us fly. This of all our thoughts the chief, How to give him quick relief. Knee to knee, in earnest praying, None but God to hear or heed, All our woes and sins confessing, Let us for each other plead; By the spirit of our call, Let us pray for brothers all. Breast to breast, in sacred casket, At life's center let us seal Every truth to us entrusted, Nor one holy thing reveal! What a Mason vows to shield, Let him die, but never yield. Hand to back, a brother's falling, Look, his burdens are too great. Stretch the generous hand and hold him Up before it is too late. The right arm's a friendly prop, Made to hold a brother up. Cheek to cheek, in timely whisper When the temper strives to win. Urge the brother's bounden duty, Show him the approaching sin. Point to him the deadly snare, Save him with a brother's care.
Joyful task it is, dear brothers Thus to take upon the lip With full heart, and fitting gesture, All our points of fellowship. Foot and knee, breast, hand, and cheek Each a measured part shall speak: Speak of answering mercy's call; Speak of prayer for Masons all; Speak of keeping secrets duly; Speak of stretching strong hand truly; Speak of whispering the unruly. Foot to foot: 'tis mercy's mandate, When is heard the plaintive sigh, Hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, On the wings of aid to fly; Hasten, mitigate the grief -- Hasten, bear him quick relief! Quick with bread to feed the hungry; Quick with raiment for the naked; Quick with shelter for the homeless; Quick with heart's deep sympathy. Knee to knee: in silence praying, Lord, give listening ear this day! Every earthly stain confessing, For all tempted Masons pray! Perish envy, perish hate, For all Masons supplicate. Bless them, Lord upon the ocean; Bless them perishing in the desert; Bless them falling 'neath temptation Bless them when about to die!
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Written by Jeff Naylor Saturday, 04 December 2004 A not entirely accurate account of my attending a modern Masonic lodge with R.W. Benjamin Franklin
"Brother Ben, I really wish you weren't so insistent on attending this meeting. I'm afraid you might not get just exactly what you're expecting." "Nonsense, nothing would please me more than to see all the progress Freemasonry has made in the last 225 years. Why, as influential as Freemasonry was in England, France and the Colonies in 1776, I'm sure that by 2004 Masonic philosophy has come to be the preeminent force for good the world over. Now, where did you say we're going again?" "We're going to visit Rural Lodge #456 this evening, Brother Ben. I frequently travel here to help them with their degree work. The last brother they had who knew the Middle Chamber lecture died six years ago, and I've had to do it for them since then." "And no one else has been able to learn this ‘Middle Chamber lecture' in six years? It seems that a proper application of discipline would have enabled an intelligent man to learn a lecture in six years, and why are you memorizing these lectures anyway? Why, in the Nine Sisters' Lodge..." "I'll explain the lecture thing on the way home, Ben. Oh, and I know you're quite deservedly proud of having served as Master of the Lodge of the Nine Muses in Paris, but you might be better off to keep that to yourself while you're here." "To myself? For what reason?" "Well, a couple come to mind... Most importantly, French Freemasonry is not thought terribly highly of in America these days. The Lodge of the Nine Muses is a Grand Orient lodge, and our Grand Lodge does not recognize the Grand Orient." "Does not RECOGNIZE? For what earthly reason would one Mason intentionally not recognize another?" "It's a long story, Ben. I'll explain that one to you on the way home, too. Anyway, we're here." When no one greeted us at the door, Brother Franklin thought we might be early. No, I assured him, we're right on time. We made our way down the dark basement steps, through the dense cigarette smoke, and approached the Worshipful Master of Rural Lodge, Brother Bob Jenkins, who is serving his fifth term in the East. "Welcome, Brother Jeff," the Master greeted me. "Hey, we've got a Fellow Craft Thursday night, you're going to be able to do the stair lecture aren't you?" "Thursday?" I hate it when he does this. He set this date three weeks ago and he's asking me two days before the degree if I can be his Senior Deacon? "I don't know Bob, it's awfully short notice to do a Middle Chamber lecture, and I already told..." "Come on, Jeff. You always do our stair lecture, you're not going to let me down, are you?" "I don't always do your stair lecture, Bob. Somebody had to be doing it while I was suspended." "Naw, we didn't have any candidates that year. Hey, who's your friend?" "Bob Jenkins, this is Right Worshipful Brother Benjamin Franklin, Past Provincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania." "Hey, good to meet ya, Ben," said the Master. "By the looks of your hair and the way you're dressed I figured you for one of those professor friends of Jeff's from Ball State. You should have told me you was bringing a Grand Lodge officer, Jeff. That's about the last thing I ever expected to see again. I figured you'd quit runnin' with them kind." "The honor is mine, Worshipful Sir," said Ben, ignoring the Master's references to my public disgrace. "I am pleased to be in the company of Freemasons again, it has been quite some time. Speaking of dress, please do not let me detain you. I gather you will wish to change from your work clothing into something more suitable prior to opening lodge." "More suitable for what? There ain't no degree tonight if that's what you thought. Hey, it is time to open, though. Come on upstairs and I'll introduce you." My time-traveling friend looked quizzically at me, but turned and followed the Master and other members up the stairs and into the lodge room where Brother Franklin saw a lodge opening unlike any he had ever seen before. "Did I just hear that brother end his prayer, ‘In Jesus' name'?" "Some chaplains do it that way, Ben. Non-Christian Masons have mostly learned to ignore it." "Why are they opening on the Master Mason degree? Does that not exclude Apprentices and Fellows from the proceedings?" "It certainly does exclude them, Ben. Some of us have tried to get the Grand Lodge to change it with no success." "Well, so far you've excluded Apprentices, Fellows and all of France from your assemblies. It's no wonder the meeting is so sparsely attended, everyone who might be remotely interested is excluded from your company." "You're preaching to the choir, Brother Franklin." Attention returned to the East. "Brother Jeff brought a friend with him tonight, this is Brother Ben Franklin who's some kind of grand officer from Pennsylvania. Jeff, we don't have to clap for him, do we?" "Worshipful Master, I think a hearty welcome and an invitation to make a few remarks would be appropriate." Brother Ben stood, accepted the greetings, and began thanking the Master for the warm welcome to this unfamiliar lodge when a few grumbling voices came from the Southeast corner of the lodge - Buzzard's Row, the Past Masters. "Typical grand officer, in love with the sound of his own voice." "I hope he's not typical and knows when to shut up." "You'd think a grand officer would know the right way to stand up and address the Master." "He's from Pennsylvania, Earl. I went to lodge in Pittsburgh one time when I was in the army; they do everything all wrong there." "Well, he ain't in Pennsylvania now." "I thought they threw Naylor out." "They did, they let him back in." "Just proves two wrongs don't make a right, I guess." "Turn your hearing aid down, Earl. That screech is making me buggy." "What?" "Never mind, that hippie grand lodge guy Naylor brought finally sat down, it's time for the meeting." A typical modern Masonic meeting ensued. There was the reading of the minutes of the last time the lodge met, together with the important additions and corrections: Jim didn't hear his name read and he was there, George was Senior Deacon, not Senior Warden. There was the financial report, followed by the Trustees recommendation that they finally replace the leaky roof and that the lodge had the money. "Worshipful Master, I move that we see if we can patch the roof instead of replacing it. What will we do if we need that money later?" came the predictable call from the Southeast. "This roof has always leaked, and as long as Earl dumps the buckets occasionally we've always been fine. Ain't no reason to spend all that money now." "It's almost wintertime anyway, we won't see no leaks until spring now. Let's table that until the next Master takes over." The gavel banged, the young trustee rolled his eyes and I knew he wouldn't make the next meeting. There were communications from Grand Lodge that the secretary announced you could read later if you were interested and that nobody would be, followed by the reading and approval of the same bills the lodge has paid every month for the past twenty-five years. The same Past Master who has voted against paying the bills every month for the past twenty-five years kept his string intact that night, too. There was no new business, and of course there were no petitions. Finally the secretary read the list of the sick, the dying and the dead. The Master ordered that the charter remain draped for this month's dead and that cards be sent to the sick and dying. The Southeast erupted. "Worshipful Master, Mark Douglas ain't a member of this lodge no more, he moved his membership when he went to Florida. I make a motion that we don't send him a card." "Second." The few young faces in the room remained silent as the Master actually called for a vote on this motion and as it actually passed. I'm fairly certain I saw a tear in Brother Franklin's eye through the tear in my own. Finally, blessedly, the meeting came to an end, and we all went back to the dining room. "I'm quite famished," announced Brother Benjamin, "What is on the menu for the feast tonight?" "Feast?" asked Master Bob. "Damn, you grand lodge guys really are all the same, ain't ya? You all think we owe you dinner. Well, Brother Franklin, tonight's ‘feast' is gonna be ham sammiches, potato chips and cookies." "Sammich?" Ben whispered to me."He means a ham sandwich, Ben. Sliced ham between two pieces of white bread topped with yellow mustard to give it any flavor whatsoever. You're probably also not familiar with potato chips, they are thinly sliced potatoes fried in oil and salted heavily enough to raise your blood pressure a few points," I replied. "Well, it would be impolite to turn it down," he whispered back to me. Turning back to the Master, he asked, "Who will be speaking tonight, what is the subject?" "Who's speaking?" asked Worshipful Bob. "Well, probably Earl since he don't ever shut up. There better not be much talking anyway, I.U. is about to play." "I you? Playing? What do we play?" Brother Franklin was clearly moving from being perplexed by modern Freemasonry to being perturbed by it. "I.U. is BASKETBALL, Mr. Pennsylvania grand lodge guy. That's why we cut the meeting so short, so we could watch the game." "Basketball? And that was a short meeting? Thank God I chose tonight to attend and not the evening of a lengthy communication. Worshipful Brother Naylor, my good friend, would you be so kind as to ask one of these brethren to fetch me something to drink? I believe I need to sit and collect myself for a time." The helpful Junior Warden chirped, "Sure Ben, what would you like?" "Thank you, my brother, a pint of ale would be simply superb." "Ale? You mean BEER? There ain't no beer at a Masonic lodge!" "Wine?" "No!" "Rum?" "NO!" "WHISKY?" "There ain't no alcohol of no kind in Masonic lodges from time immemorial, Brother Franklin. I don't know what Masonic education they tell you in Pennsylvania, but if you come to Indiana thinking you're gonna get drunk at a Masonic lodge you got another thing coming." "Now see here, young man," Franklin bellowed, "I have no intention of becoming intoxicated. This is the first Masonic lodge I've ever attended that was not HELD in a tavern, the first that did not serve a proper meal, and certainly the first one that would not serve me an ale as if I were a boy or a drunkard! What HAVE you to drink then if not a decent ale?" "Coffee." "Coffee? Not even tea?" "Coffee. I think there's probably still some Sam's Club cola in the refrigerator from the fish fry if you'd rather have that." "What the devil is a Sam's Club cola? And if you fry fish, why isn't there any of it here tonight? At my lodge in Paris we would never consider treating a visiting..." "PARIS? I thought you said you was from Pennsylvania. No wonder you don't know nothing about real Masons, you're in some clandestine lodge in gay Paree." "Now see here, sir! The Grand Orient of France is..." Oh crap, not France... It was clearly time to get while the getting was good. "Brother Ben, I think we'd better be leaving. We'll get something for you to eat after we leave. Good night, brethren." "Night, Jeff. Hey, on the square between us brothers, you'd better tell your buddy Ben how Masonry works. And if he's from France instead of Pennsylvania, you probably better steer clear. You're in enough trouble as it is without communicating Masonically with a clandestine Mason." "Uh... thanks Bob. I'll have a talk with him after we leave." It was a very quiet ride for the first few miles. I finally broke the silence by asking my friend what he thought of Masonry 225 years later. "You were right, Brother Jeffrey. It was not what I expected. You do not belong to the Freemasonry I joined. In my time, we gathered around the feasting table for our lodge. We ate magnificent foods and drank magnificent wines until all hours of the morning, discussing every great and small thing. My brethren wanted to eat and drink with their good friends, we wanted to do great things, to learn, to teach, to change the world. My God, we did change the world. What happened to this fraternity? And why are men such as myself no longer welcome in it?" I was silent until I came up with the only good answer I could give. I asked him if he would consider proposing me for membership in his lodge. He smiled and reminded me that the newest member had the honor of paying for his initiatory feast, and then we stopped at a small restaurant and ate, drank, discussed every great and small thing, and talked about changing the world. I was pleased to be in the company of Freemasons again, for it had been a very long time.
Fraternally, Jeff
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Grand Lodge of Hawaii Grand Orator 2005 By Worshipful John B. Connell This speech was given during the Grand Lodge visitation to Pearl Harbor Lodge on May 9, 2005. The Most Worshipful Grand Master has asked me to say a few words about one of the best kept "secrets" in the world. Those who were custodians of the secret kept it buried in darkness for centuries. But now, an increasing number of "blabbermouths" have been blatantly telling the secret to anyone who will listen. That secret is that Freemasonry is NOT a SECRET ORGANIZATION! How can the oldest and largest fraternity in the world, whose membership numbers about ten million, including leaders in government, education, the arts, military service, religion, and almost every worthwhile field of endeavor..... how can such an organization be "secret?" These blabbermouths have had the audacity to show by word and deed, that Freemasonry is a moral science, taught by degrees, to help make good men better, and to make this world a better place in which to live. They have actually gone "public" and used the mass media, computers, public ceremonies, books, movies, charities, etc. to let the world know that Freemasonry is a force for good in the world and that any man who wants to share in this work, should look into the possibility of joining. Brethren, it is no "secret" that, in the recent past, Freemasonry had experienced a decline in interest and membership. A few dedicated and hard-working individuals have kept the flame alive through the hard times, and now the fire is beginning to spread around the world, including Hawaii. Today there is a renewed interest in patriotism and morality. Movies such as National Treasure, books like The Da Vinci Code, events like the reenactment of the Boston Tea Party and Keiki ID Program, charities such as the Shrine Hospitals and Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Children's reading clinics, etc. have focused a new and generally favorable light on the fraternity, and, although not always the most accurate, they have peaked people's interest and left them wanting to learn more. This is where the "blabbermouths" come in. It is important that we take advantage of this renewed interest and do all in our power to inform the public and assist all who may want to join in this worthwhile endeavor. We must make full advantage of the mass media. Newspapers, community papers such as Mid-Week, radio public service and talk shows, business publications and newsletters, etc. Be sure to include who, what, when, where, why, how, and the name of a contact person to answer any questions. Good pictures are also helpful. Tell them about elections, awards, charities, community activities, and use the opportunity to also tell them about the purpose and teachings of Freemasonry, such as brotherly love, relief and truth, temperance, fortitude, and justice. Events such as the State Fair, K-Bay Fest, parades, booths at community shopping centers, etc. are excellent ways to get the fraternity in front of the public eye. Get people's interest, get their names and numbers, and then follow-up afterwards. Ko'olau Lodge has been working at the K-Bay Fest for several years and learning more each year. Last year they received over sixty names of people on the windward side, interested in learning more about Masonry. We invited them to a prospect party, and have received so many applications that we do not have time to put on all of the degrees and have to ask Pearl Harbor Lodge and Honolulu Lodge to allow us to use their facilities. Believe it or not, a Masonic Funeral, in addition to providing comfort to the family of a departed brother, is also a wonderful opportunity to put the fraternity in a good light before the public. Then don't just forget the family, but involve them in lodge activities afterward. Don't forget to tell your family that you want a Masonic Funeral in additional to a funeral from your church. Work hard on your ritual and do the best job possible. If you make a good impression in the initiation ceremonies, that will stick with the candidate. Make the extra effort to show that Masonry is something special, it is not just another social club. If you do impressive ritual, the new members will want to participate actively in the degrees for the next candidate. But if they see people reading their parts, or giggling, or sloppy in appearance, they will think that we don't care, and Masonry is not important enough to bother about. Educate your members, so they know more about the fraternity themselves and know what to tell a prospective member. Masonry is the oldest fraternity in the world and can trace its roots back ot King Athlestan in 926 AD and before. Prospect. Write down names of people at work, in the neighborhood, at church, or even in yoru own family. Ask them personally if they ever thought about joining Freemasonry, or send them a letter inviting them to an informatoin session or layman's night. Give them pamphlets and lend them the video "Friend to Friend." Then communicate! Use Lodge "Trestleboards", letters, telephone trees, e-mails, etc. The new Grand Lodge website is great, and is getting better all the time. Brethren, other than a few signs and words, Freemasonry is NOT a SECRET. Spread the news. BE A BLABBERMOUTH!
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