Masonic Matters

Truth and Tolerance

2009-05-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
May 10, 2009
By Ed Halpaus

“Does our ferocity not derive from the fact that our instincts are all too interested in other people? If we attended more to ourselves and became the centre, the object of our murderous inclinations, the sum of our intolerances would diminish.”
E. M. Cioran, Philosopher

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota. The opinion and writings in Masonic Matters are the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus, and are not in any way representative of any opinion or position of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota.

“Intolerance is a form of egotism, and to condemn egotism intolerantly is to share it.” George Santayana, Philosopher

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Thomas G. McCarthy, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“No human trait deserves less tolerance in everyday life, and gets less, than intolerance.” Giacomo Leopardi, Scholar

Truth and Tolerance

Brother W.H Rylands in the late 1800’s once remarked something to the effect that symbolism is the happy hunting ground for the imaginative. However, Masons shouldn’t let a remark like that dissuade them from learning from the symbolism of Masonry.

What do you think of when you see a cross with one upright and two crossbars, such as on the cap of a 33° Mason of the Scottish Rite? It reminds me of two T’s, which gets me thinking of Truth and Tolerance, two very important lessons in Freemasonry.

A community is a society; masonic lodges are a community just as houses of worship are a community; people banded together for a common cause are a community and society of like minded people: Author Harry G. Franfurt in his book “on Truth” says “No society can afford to despise or to disrespect the truth.” He further remarks that a society must provide encouragement and support for capable individuals [Masonic and truth students ] to devote themselves to acquiring and exploiting significant truths. The society of Freemasons has been doing that for centuries.

Freemasonry as a community and society certainly respects and teaches the importance of truth; in fact ‘Truth’ is one the three principle tenets of Freemasonry: What other society has that as a tenet? Freemasons are known as seekers of truth; we are truth students. Seeking the truth and adhering to truth is sacrosanct among Masons. Freemasons are also a tolerant society of men; tolerant people naturally seem to be respecters of truth. Truth and Tolerance go hand-in-hand.

Possibly this is one reason why Freemasons find it so repugnant when we see truth being abused by so many of the anti-this and anti-that in the world. We know all too well about the falsities spread about Freemasonry among members of some religions. It is always surprising to learn that there are clergy and other religious people who deliberately disrespect the truth enough to bend and break it to serve their purposes.

I was nose-to-nose with some men recently who were practicing religious intolerance by bashing the Muslim religion. It was a sad episode. There is always some good that comes from bad situations; the good was I remembered how fortunate I’ve been to be a Freemason, and how thankful I am that the Brothers of my ‘home lodge’ elected me to receive the degrees and then conferred them on me; these were milestone events in my life. You may feel the same sense of thankfulness that I do, and possibly that is a reason why Masons are so reluctant to demit from the ‘home lodge’ when we move throughout the world as our lives progress; our ‘home lodge’ might represent to us our first love of Masonry.

The incident that I referred to above happened, of all places, in a church building over coffee after the church service. Houses of worship are not only for the righteous or the perfect, they are for the rest of us who struggle day by day to live up to the teachings of our various religions. However, when in a house of worship, as in a Masonic Lodge, we should do our best to keep the lessons taught close at hand, so we can learn them, and demonstrate this by being on our best behavior.

This sad episode of Islam bashing happened after church in the fellowship hall of a church Sharon and I were visiting while we were traveling. Had we sat at a different table we would have had a much more enjoyable experience. After the hello’s I could hardly believe what transpired between these other two men; it was obvious that they were not Masons.

The conversation of the two men over coffee reminded me of something my late friend and brother, Most Worshipful Brother Rodney Larson, once said; ‘Masons should always be ready to defend any religion against attacks.’ A statement like that speaks the truth, and I agree with him. I try my best to stay out of disagreements but there are times when the truth needs to be pointed out, (in a kind way, of course,) when false information about a religion is being taught and then used in a mean way, which religion bashing is.

I’m no expert on the Qur'an, which I spell as Koran, but I do read in it from time to time. The Talmud says a wise person learns from everyone; I think there is something to learn from the Koran as well as the Talmud, and the Holy Bible.

The bashing of Islam I heard included, of course, totally false information about Islam and the Koran. These two men were repeating many of the false statements that were circulating about Islam after the September 11th attack by terrorists, of which some of the same falsities resurfaced this past election season here in America.

I read an E-Koran at http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/qr/index.htm. One of the more knowledgeable men I know on the Koran and Islam is our good brother, Worshipful Brother Rashied Bey, who has always been a great resource for questions relating to Islam.

One of the myths about Islam is how the Koran teaches hatred of other religions, in particular Christianity and Judaism. In an email a few years back (June 2005) Brother Rashied answered such a charge by citing two passages from the Koran. The E-Koran I read on http://www.sacred-texts.com is the 1876 translation by J.M. Rodwell.

One of the passages cited by Brother Rashied is Surah 2: verse 62 (Surah 2:62) “Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish, and the Christians, and the Sabians; any who believe in G-d and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” If you go to www.sacred-texts.com to view the E-Koran I read you will see this translation: “Verily, they who believe (Muslims), and they who follow the Jewish religion, and the Christians, and the Sabeites, whoever of these believeth in God and the last day, and doeth that which is right, shall have their reward with their Lord: fear shall not come upon them, neither shall they be grieved.” You will see that while the translations differ slightly they convey the same message; the message is not about hatred but of tolerance and understanding.

The other passage from the Koran Brother Rashied shared in his email is from Surah 2:136 “Say ye: 'We believe in G-d, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses, and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord: we make no difference between one and another of them; and we submit to G-d.”

Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are three distinct and separate religions, but they do have many similarities, and their adherents are all children of the same creator.

As Freemasons, seekers of truth who embrace the tenet of truth and the principle of tolerance, we know that societies that honor truth survive; religions, such as the three I have mentioned, have survived; they each honor and respect truth, and they are tolerant of each other, which is evidenced by the many Interfaith groups throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and many other countries. We as Freemasons need to keep letting our friends and families know that Freemasonry embraces Truth and Tolerance.

“Nothing dies so hard, or rallies so often as intolerance.” Henry Ward Beecher, Preacher

From the Great light of Masonry = “But first I will tell you what is written in the book of truth.” Daniel 10:21 NIV

Words to live by:
Tolerance and celebration of individual differences is the fire that fuels lasting love. Tom Hannah

Some of Ed’s publications can be read on-line at http://www.halpaus.net

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the question for the week of 05-11-09 is: What distinction is attached to the principle of ‘Brotherly Love’ among Freemasons?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

“The greatest problem in the world today is intolerance. Everyone is so intolerant of each other.” Princess of Wales Diana (1961-1997)

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Membership Trends

2009-03-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
February 10, 2009
By Ed Halpaus

“The economy depends about as much on economists as the weather does on weather forecasters.” Jean-Paul Kauffmann

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota. The opinion and writings in Masonic Matters are the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus, and are not in any way representative of any opinion or position of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota.

“Members of groups that do not meet regularly together usually do not feel a strong sense of belonging and do not take ownership for the success of the group.” Unknown

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Jackson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

Membership Trends
By Ed Halpaus, MPS (Life)

Copies of Grand Lodge Proceedings are good references to have on hand for research; because some Grand Lodges are publishing them on their web sites as PDF files they’re available to more Masons than ever before, and are much easier to store than the books ever were. Now is a great time to begin a collection of proceedings of your Grand Lodge in electronic form.

Proceedings are good tools to use to track membership trends. Recently I looked at the number of demits and stricken Masons from 1927 through 1944 in my Grand Lodge. Those 17 years represent a lot of changes; part of the Roaring 20’s, the Great Depression, and World War II. I thought; possibly there might be something to be learned by looking back into that period of membership history.

In 1927 there were 60,769 Master Masons in my jurisdiction: That year 1,423 of them either demitted or resigned (withdrawn) or were stricken from the rolls for non-payment of dues. In 1929 the total withdrawn and stricken went up by 70; but the total number of members increased to 61,917; the last year for an increase in members until 1945.

In 1930 (I was unable to view 1928,) the number of stricken rose to 1,032; then 1,336 in ’31; then 1,802 in ’33; finally topping out at 2,239 in 1934. Overall, the total number of Master Masons went from 60,769 in 1927 to 46,689 in 1942, (slightly more than a 23% total decline.) By 1944, (I could not view 1943,) the total number of Master Masons began to increase slightly; 46,689 in 1942 to 46, 727 in 1944; by 1946 the number grew to; 48,660. It might be safe to say that the Great Depression was devastating to membership, and the period after WWII helped it to recover. It took until 1951 to exceed the number in 1929; in ’51 the number of Master Masons was 62,531.

In 1962 the Grand Master stated: “from 1943 to 1953 there was a net gain of 19,464 members. In 1954, the gain was 895, and each year since then, [to 1962,] the curve of net gain has wavered and dropped down until today we show our first loss.”

Freemasonry has been in a period of membership decline that dates back to 1962 in my jurisdiction for a variety of reasons that we don’t seem to be able to get control of. But this trend is not peculiar to only one jurisdiction, it is similar to many if not all jurisdictions in the U.S., and possibly in other parts of the world as well; it began slowly and has continued for over 40 years, with more noticeable annual declines in recent years. Through the years there have been times of prosperity and recession. Now, however, we are facing the most severe recession since the Great Depression.

Gaining control of the drain on membership can be the difference between survival and closing.

With the present economy occupying the minds of many of us it seems prudent for Freemasonry, and all of its appendant and concordant bodies, to come to grips with the reality of the economy, and its possible effect on our brethren.

It might be prudent for lodge government, (the Master and Wardens,) the appointed officers, along with the lodge membership committee, to research the membership numbers and trends in their lodge, to see what the number of withdrawn and stricken are; then brainstorm ideas to reduce them. Some drains on membership, such as deaths cannot be controlled but, the lodge can have a positive effect on stemming the tide of demits, resignations and NPD’s: It takes work, it’s not easy, but it can be done.

When families watch the household economy, (being uncertain about the future,) they tend to reduce the amount of money expended; they prioritize in order of importance. Individuals & families will continue to put money into things that are important to them. Maybe some questions to ponder are;

1. How important is membership to our members, especially the non-attendees?
2. What can we do to increase the importance?
3. What can we offer to our members to increase the importance and the value of their membership in the eyes of their families?

Many families today view the money they spend as belonging to the family, not just the husband, so they look at value and enjoyment very closely.

Some things that might be worth examining are:

1. Is the lodge friendly and pleasant to come to? Pleasant enough so they want to come back?
2. Why are they members, and what do they hope to derive from being a Mason and being a part of our Lodge, or Masonic group?
3. Do our members need this lodge to enjoy being a Mason? How relevant is the Lodge in the lives of our members?
4. What do, or what can, we offer to help our members to derive what they want from membership?
5. What do they want?
6. Is there another group offering what we offer, are they doing it better than we are?
7. If attending lodge is unimportant, how long until continuing with dues payments becomes unimportant?
8. Is managing our membership important to us, can we survive while continuing to lose members through withdrawals and by striking them?
9. Do we care if our lodge or group survives for the next 20, 30, or 50 years, or do we only care that it survives until we’re out of office?
10. What can we do to manage our weaknesses, (the drain of our membership,) and provide more of what Freemasons are looking for by being a member of our lodge or group?

We may each have opinions on the above thoughts and questions, but the Masons who would best examine them or similar questions would be membership committees and elected and appointed officers. It is my opinion that if a Lodge were to engage in some serious research and soul searching, to see if there is a problem with declining membership; then analyze what part of the decline they could slow down or eliminate; then examine and implement what they could do to attract new, and restored members, and then keep them by adding value; then possibly all their efforts will make a positive difference in their lodge or group; if enough of us do this then maybe the economy we all face will have less of a negative affect on our membership than it otherwise would.

“It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose your own.” M.W. Brother Harry S. Truman, 33° & 33rd President of the United States

From the Great light of Masonry = “Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time.” Proverbs 12:11 NLT

Words to live by: Much effort, much prosperity. Euripides

Some of Ed’s publications can be read on-line at http://www.halpaus.net

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the question for the week of 02-09-09 is: On 12 & 13 April 1861 two Freemasons exchanged cannon fire that started the American Civil War. Who were these Masons, and where did the battle take place?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

“If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death.” Pythagoras

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

The right to Instruction, and the Duty to Instruct

2009-03-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
March 10, 2009
By Ed Halpaus

“Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much, are the three pillars of learning.” Benjamin Disraeli

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota. The opinion and writings in Masonic Matters are the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus, and are not in any way representative of any opinion or position of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota.

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” Chinese Proverb

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Jackson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

The Right to Instruction, and the Duty to Instruct.

It has been said that there are times when people, because they are about to receive something they have wanted, will repeat words, or agree to things, without really listening, or understanding the words they repeat and agree to. A reason for this is that many people tend to only hear what is being said, while some others actually listen to what is being said; there is a difference. Business Consultant Adam Lieberman says; “There is a significant difference between hearing and listening. Hearing means that someone ‘hears’ what’s being said and then translates the message into a meaning for himself. When [a person] ‘listens,’ however, [he] takes an extra moment to think about the person who’s speaking. It is [by listening] that you have a clear understanding of what is trying to be conveyed.”

Freemasons, as thinking individuals, should be taught the difference between simply hearing and actually listening, so they are enabled to better understand and learn what they need to know. This is important for the candidate in the degrees when he is hearing the dialog, the obligation, and the charge of each of his degrees; but it is no less important for the Master Mason about to be installed into a chair in his Lodge.

In my jurisdiction the Mason being installed as Master places his right hand over his heart, repeats after the installing officer and agrees with the following statement: “I solemnly promise, upon the honor of a Mason, that in the office of Master of this Lodge, I will to the best of my ability, strictly comply with the Constitutions, Laws, Rules and Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, the by-laws of this Lodge, and all other ancient Masonic usages, so far as they shall come to my knowledge.”

In other jurisdictions this kind of statement of agreement is also made, (varying slightly in the dialog.) The injunction about complying with the laws, rules, and regulations is a universal theme in Freemasonry, which Masons subscribe and agree to.

One of the things that are important, and a part of the Constitutions and By-laws, is the right of every Freemason to be taught the lessons that Freemasonry has to pass on to its votaries. Sadly there are times when it appears that some Masons consider the learning of the proficiency lectures and the mentoring of new Masons as optional; they aren’t.

In Minnesota, Masonic Law #7 says: “That Masonic instruction is, like charity, a reciprocal right and duty of Masons.” In other words we, as Masons have the right to instruction, and we, as Masons, also have the duty to instruct our Brethren. It’s obvious that our newer Freemasons need a mentor, but I will submit that all Masons will need a mentor as they journey through Freemasonry, and especially when they are placed in positions of responsibility in their Lodge and other Masonic offices.

The right and duty of our newer Brethren to receive instruction from a ritual coach and mentor is reiterated in the Masonic Code of Minnesota; in Section G5.02; it says:

“It is the duty of the Master, when a candidate is initiated or passed, to require that he be instructed immediately in the required proficiency of the Degree, that he pass a satisfactory examination of the same in open Lodge, and that he complete the educational
program for each Degree before he proceeds to the next Degree.” It continues: “It is the duty of the Master, when a candidate has been raised that he be instructed in the proficiency of the Degree, that he pass a satisfactory examination of the same in open Lodge, and that he complete the educational program as soon as possible.” The learning of the proficiency and the portion of the mentoring process for each degree is required before proceeding to the next degree, and in the case of the third degree these need to be done as soon as possible after the degree.

The educational program that part of the Minnesota Masonic Code is speaking of is the ‘Mentor Program’ we have in our jurisdiction. The Mentor Program is something the Lodge Education Officer could help with, since he and the Mentor Program are all about Masonic Education.

Over the years our Grand Lodge has provided fine Masonic Education Programs for its Constituent Lodges to use to educate, or instruct, the new Masons of the Lodge: In the 1920’s & 30’s the Educational Program our Grand Lodge used was named “The Lodge System of Masonic Education.” In the 40’s an excellent Masonic Education Program called the “Councilor’s Program” was introduced. Our current, also excellent, program is called the “Mentor Program.” The wording in the Masonic Code makes it possible to change the name of the program without changing the wording of that section of the Code.

Over the many years of ‘New Mason’ education, each one of our programs has, when used in the Constituent Lodges, been good; our current Mentor Program is no exception: The key, however, is in the use of it.

There are times when a Mason will comment or complain that the new Masons today, and in recent years, aren’t learning what they need to know; if that’s the case it is truly sad, because the tools and programs to teach ‘New Masons’ are, and have been in place for a long time. In addition there are Masons serving our Constituent Lodges who are more than willing to help Lodge officers implement these programs to the Lodge’s best advantage.

If your Lodge is not prepared to help new Brethren by providing instruction in ritual coaching and by mentoring, please contact our Grand Lodge Office , so that your District Representative, Area Deputy, Custodian, the Mentoring Committee, and the Grand L.E.O. can be made aware of the need of their help: These Masons are willing and eager to help whenever they can; they will be pleased to meet with the Lodge officers to help things improve.

The right and privilege of Masonic instruction is also mentioned in Brother Mackey’s list of Ancient Landmarks. Landmark #24 says in part: “The foundation of a Speculative Science upon and Operative Art, and the symbolic use and explanation of the terms of that art, for the purpose of religious and moral teaching, constitute another Landmark of the order.” It is interesting that in the Halliwell Manuscript, dating from 1390, article #13 says; “The Master must instruct his apprentices in everything they are capable of learning.” All this emphasizes that the right and the duty of every Mason to receive and provide instruction to his Brethren has been a part of Masonry for centuries; this right and duty is why many ‘older’ Masons, who were mentored when they were ‘young’ in Masonry, are thought of as knowledgeable about things Masonic; it is a right and duty that is, and should be, taken very seriously.

“By Learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn.” Latin Proverb

From the Great light of Masonry = “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” Proverbs 9:9 NIV

Words to live by: It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning.

Some of Ed’s publications can be read on-line at http://www.halpaus.net

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the question for the week of 03-09-09 is: What is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

“I grow old learning something new every day.” Solon

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Belated Happy Birthday to Prince Hall Freemasonry

2008-07-10T14:44:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters

July 10, 2008

By Ed Halpaus

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do, are in harmony.”
Mahatma Gandhi

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus, and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.” Albert Einstein

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Jackson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Character is habitual action.” Aristotle

Something interesting I learned while I was researching something else: I came across something about a man named Avigdor Miller, who lived for 93 years. He was one of the leading Torah educators in the United States. www.aish.com says; “He was particularly skillful at connecting secular phenomena to the Divine. For example, before eating an apple he exclaimed; ‘Almighty God, look at this magnificent apple that You created: The wisdom of its waterproof enclosure, the beauty of its tantalizing red color, and the temptingly delicious aroma with which it is perfumed. How can I even begin to thank You!”

“In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” Bertrand Russell

I have been asked by quite a few Brethren how I’ve been doing with my health. Since it has been about a year since I last sent out a report on my health it has been suggested that I should do it again.

My 4^th Quarterly check-up with the Oncologist was about the middle of June ’08, and the cancer is still in remission. This is the beginning of the second year with it being in remission, so check-ups now stretch out to every 4 months instead of every 3 months, I hope to see the check-up stretch out to twice a year and then yearly after that. While cancer never leaves you in as good a shape as you would like, or in as good a shape as a person would be in without getting it, I’m in fine shape. I’m optimistic about the future. I’m actually doing much more physically than I have in years, and I’m having a ball doing it.

I want to thank everyone for their good thoughts and prayers on my behalf over these past couple of years; you have made a difference, I’m convinced of that – and I want to thank you for that and for your continued interest in my well being; it is appreciated.

A Belated “Happy Birthday” to Prince Hall Freemasonry!

A few years ago I wrote a column for the American Mason magazine called “I Didn’t Know That!” The Magazine was begun by Brother Andy Boracci. While I never met Brother Andy face to face we did talk on the phone every once-in-a-while and we emailed regularly; I liked him; he was an easy man to like. As it happened I spoke on the phone with Brother Andy while he was in the hospital just before he died: He was expecting to go home the next day. His death was sudden, untimely, and sad for many of us in Freemasonry. His magazine, which was a fine magazine, was published in print and on the web, and unfortunately it stopped when he did.

One of the items I had in the March 2003 ‘I Didn’t Know That’ column was about Prince Hall Freemasonry. It seems that there is real interest in Prince Hall Freemasonry from a lot of people; it’s not limited to Prince Hall Freemasons by any means.

Back in 2001 Brother Kevin Gem posted something to the Philalethes list server which I enjoyed quite a bit. His piece was called “I am Prince Hall’s Mason.” I later published his piece in the April 7, 2008 issue of Mehr Licht. Sadly at the time I couldn’t remember Brother Kevin’s name, but when I began to go through my notes for this particular article there his name was: If you would like to read his essay titled “I am Prince Hall’s Mason” it can be read in the Mehr Licht section of www.halpaus.net

In his essay Brother Kevin said the reason he considered himself Prince Hall’s Mason rather than a Prince Hall Mason is that he [Prince Hall] set a stellar example for him to model his Masonry after, and is the example he chooses to follow. He promised himself to conduct himself as Prince Hall did, and to practice Freemasonry they way he did too. If a man would like to have a roll model in Freemasonry, Prince Hall is a good one to choose and emulate.

I have had an interest in Prince Hall Freemasonry ever since I first heard about it from a Brother in my Lodge, however, through research I soon found out what my Masonic Brother first told me about it was not as accurate as it could be. Since then I have learned more about it, and my interest in it is still there. I don’t think I’m alone in my interest in Prince Hall Freemasonry because every so often a question will come over the Internet or email about some facet of it. For me it is still a lot of fun to do the research and to learn more about Prince Hall Freemasonry and its history.

Unfortunately there is not an abundance of books and the like written about Prince Hall Freemasonry but with a little searching they can be found. If you would like to study-up on Prince Hall Freemasonry look for books written by Brothers David Gray, William H. Upton, and Joseph Walks Jr.; I think they are the more authoritative of the writings I’ve found, although there are many more places to find information.

Here is something you might find interesting about Prince Hall Freemasonry:

African Lodge #459 was active, and was known to be active by the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns.) Prince Hall and his Brethren on March 2, 1784 applied for a warrant from the Grand Lodge of England, which was issued to them as African Lodge #459 naming Brother Prince Hall as its Master on September 29, 1784. Due to circumstances it was not received by Prince Hall and his Brethren until April 29, 1787 but nevertheless they were issued a warrant to work.

In 1793 the Grand Lodge of England, (Moderns,) renumbered African Lodge #459 to #370.[i] It was the custom of the Grand Lodge to drop Lodges not heard from, or those who did not contribute to the Grand Lodge Charity Fund, and then to renumber the Lodges that remained. Because of this it was not unusual for a Lodge in good standing to receive a new number. This custom of renumbering Lodges causes some confusion in Masonic research but nevertheless Brother Coil, in his Masonic Encyclopedia, says this action on the part of the Grand Lodge indicates that African Lodge was active, in good standing, and a contributing Lodge, because it wasn’t dropped by the Grand Lodge of England, it was renumbered. Brother Coil also says that the Warrant issued for African Lodge #459 was likely the last Warrant issued by the Moderns to a Lodge in the United States.

Another interesting item is that shortly after Prince Hall and the other 14 men who were made Masons, in Irish Military Lodge #441, on March 6, 1775, the 38th Foot (to which Lodge #441 was attached) left Boston, but Brother John Batt,[ii] Master of the Lodge that made these men Masons and raised them, left our 15 Brethren with a permit allowing them to walk on St. John's Day and to bury their dead in Masonic funerals. Coil’s says that "African Lodge No. 1” was born on July 3, 1775.

So we might be able to say that Prince Hall’s African Lodge has had 3 Numbers; the first one being assigned to our 15 Brethren as a time immemorial Lodge; The Second one being with the Warrant issued September 29, 1784, and the third being that African Lodge was renumbered in 1793 to #370.

It might be interesting to note that at the time of African Lodge #459 receiving its warrant from the Moderns the Ancient Grand Lodge was also operating in England: The ancient Lodges were known only by Lodge numbers, whereas the Modern Lodges had names as well as numbers.

Military Lodges generally only made Masons among the military personnel because when the regiment was transferred the problem arose; what about the civilian Masons as members of the Lodge; the Lodge would be moving on, and the charter or warrant went with the Lodge. However, there were military Lodges that did make Masons from among the civilian population as Military Lodge #441 under an Irish Constitution did in the case of Prince Hall and his Brethren. I think that is why the Lodge left our Brethren with a permit or dispensation to celebrate St. John’s Day and to bury their dead when the Lodge and the regiment ‘moved on.’

“Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; take honour from me and my life is done.” Shakespeare

From the Great light of Masonry = “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”Matthew 18:15 NIV

Words to live by: The one who forgives ends the quarrel.

This paper can also be read at http://www.halpaus.net in the Masonic Matters section.

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the question for the week of 07-07-08 is: What is the Symbolism of the Masonic Altar?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

[i] Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia says it was #390. This has proven to be incorrect, no doubt a typographical error. The correct number is #370. The correct information is found in “Negro Masonry’ by M.W. Brother William H. Upton; page 41 section 20 original print edition by The Temple Publishers. I have a new larger and easier to read edition, but I still prefer the original print edition. The renumbered #370 is also verified on page 1660, and twice again in closely following pages in Volume 6 Mackey’s History of Freemasonry, Singleton-Hughan 1906 edition.

[ii] Sergeant and W.B. John Batt served in the British Infantry the 38^th of Foot from 1759 to 1777 when he was discharged at Staten Island (New York.) Inside Prince Hall by David Gray

Escape to Joppa 06/10/08

2008-06-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters

June 10, 2008

By Ed Halpaus

“The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think.” Aristotle

“The man who fears no truths has nothing to fear from lies.” Sir Francis Bacon

I will bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Jackson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Ah yes, truth. Funny how everyone is always asking for it but when they get it they don't believe it because it's not the truth they want to hear.” Helena Cassadine

Escape to Joppa

Many Masons are extremely interested in learning about the ritual of Freemasonry, not necessarily the memorizing of it but, the story behind it[i] and how it came to be a part of Masonry. I am one who thoroughly enjoys this area of study about Freemasonry. I have thought about this particular article for quite some time, before attempting to begin writing about it, thinking it would be too difficult to summarize for a short article, but I’m giving it a try.

[Before going further, I would like to comment on my understanding of the word Masonry, and why I capitalize it, or at least try to remember to do so. Possibly you might have heard someone say that when they hear the word mason or masonry they think of people and companies that work as cement contractors. Indeed when we see an ad or a pick-up truck for a cement contractor we will, in all likelihood, see the word masonry as part of the name of the company, and they do employ masons. It is my belief that the word masonry as it is used in the building trades is not to be capitalized when Masonic Students write about Freemasonry. However, it is my opinion that such students should capitalize Masonry when we’re writing about the Masonic Fraternity.]

Getting back to symbolism and the story or meaning behind some of the ritual of Masonry I am always amazed at how the Masons who devised the ritual of our fraternity included such profound lessons, and how we can study and learn from what they put together so many centuries ago. This study of Freemasonry is truly something we can enjoy studying for a lifetime. These lessons have some basis, which we can trace them to as well. For instance, in a part of the Hiramic Legend we learn that three certain workmen traveled from King Solomon’s Temple to Joppa in an attempt to escape the country. What we may not realize is that this part of the legend is patterned after a story in the Old Testament of the Great Light of Masonry.

In reading in a Masonic Bible[ii] there is a reference as to where to look for information on the flight to Joppa;[iii] there is a note pointing the reader to the book of Jonah: In a portion of the story about Jonah God told him to go to Nineveh, but not wanting to go Jonah ‘rose up to flee unto Tarshish;’ (to escape the country, and not do what he was bid to do.) He did go to Joppa where he found a ship about to sail for Tarshish, and he obtained passage; you know the story, but if you’d like to refresh your recollection of it, just go to the book of Jonah in the Great Light of Masonry. Jonah’s story is not identical to the Hiramic Legend, but that is where the basis of a part of it comes from: In the Biblical Study Notes[iv] regarding this part of Jonah’s story we learn that Tarshish could mean ‘any number of Phoenicia’s western ports. Nineveh was towards the east. Jonah decided to go as far west as he could’ in his escape. The commentary further says that it might have been because of fear, or maybe anger, that made Jonah attempt to run from God, ‘but running got him into worse trouble.’ The similarity to a part of our ritual is easy to relate to.

As Brother Tucker says in his book “The Lost Key” - “there is a wealth of detail in this drama [the Hiramic Legend] which cannot be gone into without practically writing out the legend itself.” Because of this I will take some shortcuts where possible; every Freemason will be able to fill in the blanks where necessary.

In the legend the three ruffians who were guilty of ‘this horrid crime’ represent the false leadership of ignorance. Such false leadership consists of Ignorance; Selfishness and Sensuality: The third, Sensuality, is a reference made by Brother Prentice Tucker regarding Adam and Eve, and the three yielding to temptation.[v] He ties this to our slain Grand Master by saying that he is the ‘conscious touch’ with the spiritual i.e. our divine self. When man’s lower nature (represented by ruffians) kills spiritual consciousness this prevents the consciousness from drawing any more designs.[vi]

The victim in the story symbolized the ‘intuitive’ or ‘conscious touch’ with the divine;[vii] the rubbish of the Temple represents the ills, mistakes, and sins of the personality. In the legend, before the body was found by those searching for truth, the body was removed to another place for re-burial in a deeper and more seclude place to prevent the possibility of its revival; this represents blind obedience to false beliefs. The Acacia or evergreen represents the truth that will prevail. [In a way, similar to a certain text in scripture recited in the lecture of the first degree, it is through seeking that the victim’s remains are found, which represents finding the truth.]

Attempts to raise it from its grave are made; the Entered Apprentice cannot raise the intuitive power, nor is the knowledge of the Fellow Craft sufficient to do the job, because it takes more than mere knowledge of the moral law to accomplish such a task. It is the Lion’s Paw, the zodiacal sign of Leo, the symbol of the heart and love[viii] that raises the murdered intuitive power and divine self. Love is the fulfilling of the law and this is symbolized by the Trowel and the Lion’s Paw: “Nothing will restore man to his pristine condition of purity and intuitive knowledge of the spiritual law except perfect obedience to the law, which is embodied in service.” “It is this service to humanity and to Deity, this service which goes beyond the mere obedience to law that alone can restore the intuition or the touch with the spiritual.”[ix] “Unfortunately it is not often that the body is so raised, for our desire for truth is usually but dim and our service but perfunctory.”[x]

Finally, the ship the three are seeking passage upon represents a mental vehicle by which they can travel to a place to excuse themselves and their actions, (this is indeed a vain hope.) Ethiopia represents their erroneous view of a higher plane of being.

“Tolerance is the eager and glad acceptance of the way along which others seek the truth.”

Sir Walter Besant

From the Great light of Masonry = “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 NASB

“Truth is always exciting. Speak it, then; life is dull without it.” Pearl S. Buck

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the question for the week of 06-09-08 is:

With “Brotherly Love”,

Ed Halpaus

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

[i] The ritual itself is an allegory; the lesson of it is to be found through further study.

[ii] Heirloom Bible Publishers of Wichita, KS - Master Mason edition

[iii] Jonah 1:3

[iv] Tyndale Life Application Study Bible

[v] The Lost key by Prentice Tucker 1927 edition

[vi] ibid

[vii] This has been described by H. Emilie Cady in her book Lessons in Truth as the divine self, as opposed to the human self, which seeks its own gratification at the expense of someone else.

[viii] The Lost key by Prentice Tucker 1927 edition

[ix] ibid

[x] Ibid

Free-Will and Accord

2007-12-12T12:06:00.000-08:00

Masonic Matters
December 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“I’ve been swatting PC irritations ever since (or trying to) since 1978, when I learned that Radio Shack TRS-80’s keyboard had a tenddency to repeat chharcters at random.” Harry McCracken

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus, as well as guest writers, and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“If you’re like me, you live with email. That means you also live with all the dumb things your email program does – like hide your attachments or turn them into gobbledygook, or delete messages without permission.” Steve Bass

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

Dear Brethren, and readers;

On behalf of my Grand Master and all of our Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, I would like to extend to you our best wishes to you and yours for a very happy and enjoyable holiday season.

Winter arrived a bit earlier this year in the area I live in and it came in quick and cold. We have about a foot of snow on the ground now after the snow has settled a bit. Luckily for me the cold isn’t affecting me as bad as it did this time last year, and also fortunately I was able to tune-up each of my snow-throwers when the weather was still nice, I have 3 of them – one to use on the deck, one for small snow falls, and then the big one when that’s called for.

I have had major problems with my computer, and my email program and mailing lists; like Freemasonry there as always something to learn or re-learn about computers. For some reason outlook express along with my address book disappeared from my computer. However a few tears ago, being worried about losing my address book, which contained thousands of email addresses, I bough Plaxo because they keep a back-up copy of my address book, so I am able to access my address list through them.

Because of wanting to access and send emails from locations other than my home I had just a couple of months ago began to use gmail, and I like it a lot, but Plaxo cannot load my address book onto gmail so I need to do it manually and that is a slow process.

I use a mail program through a web hosting company called Mailman to send out my publications: This service has been great up until this week: In trying to find out why it wasn’t sending out the publication I sent to it I learned that there shouldn’t be more than 100 email addresses on any one mailing list, and there were a whole lot more than that on each of the lists. The reason for less than 100 is that mailman will send to the first 100 and not the rest. So now each list needs to be redone by adding other lists with less than 100 email addresses on any one of them. So if you get an email welcoming to a list of mine such as all-g that’s the reason. Computer and email problems are time consuming. in the process of the email list problems it appears that one list of over 500 email addresses is gone from mailman; I just can’t find the list, so I’m going to ask my web hosting company if they can restore it, but I don’t hold out much hope for that; another thing to remember about computers and electronics is that they are machines, and machines are not too forgiving – they live in the world of exact.

If you get some generic looking welcoming message welcoming you to one of my new lists such as all-g or something like it, it’s because I’m working on new lists. Also if you know someone who has subscribed and no longer is receiving the publications please help me spread the word and ask them to send me an email re-subscribing. I will appreciate your help.

All the problems with this computer and now with the address and mailing lists takes up almost as much time as it takes to write the articles, so I will be posting each of these articles on my Web Site at http://www.halpaus.net on the date of publication, and they can be read there. The publication dates are: Masonic Matters the 10th of the month: Mehr Licht each Monday: T.F.S., or 3, 5, & 7, on the 1st and the 20th of the month. As time goes on, and I learn how to do it, I might try to have spots to publish some of the other articles I write that are published elsewhere. In the meantime I’m going to try to re-establish all the lists and continue to send them out; it appears that mailman is going to work better now.

Now on to this Masonic Matters Masonic information article: Happy Holidays - Ed

Free-Will and Accord.

There are a lot of fine guys in Freemasonry; men who are just a lot of fun to know and hang-out with. Most lodges have this kind of men, and all it takes is the interest to get to know these men a little bit to find out how enjoyable it is.

I was at a rehearsal for a second degree which was going to be part of a one-day to Masonry class. I was the Senior Deacon for both sections of the degree. During this rehearsal I happened to be escorting an extremely nice brother who is one of these fun people to be with; (he was acting as the candidate in the rehearsal) he is also a Past Master, and a 33° in the Scottish Rite. During the rehearsal, when we came to the Master’s station, the Master asked if it was of his own free-will and accord, and he answered, (of course,) “No, my dad’s making me do it.” We all had to smile at that answer, and it was good that it was a rehearsal.

One of the outstanding peculiarities of Freemasonry that is unique among practically any and every group that could be named is the rule that no man may be asked, invited, solicited, or pressured in any way, to enter Freemasonry. This is a good rule, which is just the opposite of most other organizations. Possibly this rule is one reason Freemasonry has had the growth it has had throughout the world, and maybe it is the reason why most Freemasons remain in the fraternity for the rest of their lives. Contrast Freemasonry’s prohibition against proselytism; the custom of some religious groups, societies, or groups, to proselyte, invite, and to urge people to come to this or that particular organization or house of worship.

In contrast to those other kinds of groups; Freemasonry, which is a society of over 4,000,000 in the United States alone, all of whom have petitioned of their own free-will and accord, ‘would be regarded as a phenomenon if it had not existed for such a long time, and which has become so familiar to so many people in the communities of the world.’ Also when you think about it; Freemasonry is evidently quite interesting and intriguing to a large number of men, otherwise we would not have as many men petitioning the lodges as we do, nor would it be so interesting to non-Masons, which it obviously is; consider the popularity of the stories portrayed in books and movies based on the Masonic fraternity.

Mackey when commenting on a man coming to Freemasonry of his own free-will and accord said: "This is a settled landmark of the Order," but, he did not include this ‘settled landmark’ among his list of 25 Landmarks. In his article on Proselytism, Mackey states; “Freemasonry is rigorously opposed to proselytism.” He also wrote: “Nay, it boasts as a peculiar beauty of its system, that it is a voluntary institution.” He also says in his article on proselytism that Freemasonry differs from every other association in the world in its rule against proselytism. His article is well worth the time it takes to read it: you can find his article in the Clegg edition of Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry.
Another peculiarity about the principle of requiring petitioners to come of their own free-will and accord is that no one knows when this rule or custom originated. Even so, there are good reasons for a man to come to Freemasonry on his own without being pressured by friends and associates. When he comes to Freemasonry on his own, if for some reason he decides Freemasonry is not for him, he has no one to blame. But if he were pressured in some way to take the degrees of Masonry, and it turned out not to be for him for some reason, it might result in an injured or broken friendship. Brother Mackey also has said that coming of our own free-will and accord means that Freemasonry is, in the most positive way, a truly voluntary association of men, and that this is where the saying ‘Once a Freemason always a Freemason’ comes from, and has meaning.

Interestingly a man who attends a lodge for an open house, or an informational night, or is merely asked the question about why he never got involved with Freemasonry, and then subsequently fills out a petition after he learns he must ask, and that we don’t invite men to join, can truthfully say he did come of his own free-will and accord.

“You mention your name as if I should recognize it, but beyond the obvious facts that you are a bachelor, a solicitor, a Freemason, and an asthmatic, I know nothing whatever about you.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes – The Norwood Builder Brother Doyle was raised in 1893 in Phoenix Lodge #257 - Portsmouth

From the Great light of Masonry = “May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised.” Deuteronomy 1:11 NIV

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com The question for the week of 12-10-07 is: “Why are, 'Worshipful Masters” called Worshipful?”

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

To read this issue of Masonic Matters on the web go to http://www.halpaus.net

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Ancients Grand Lodge

2007-09-10T22:03:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
August 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“To me the ceremonies of Freemasonry in this state of ours, especially these later ones I have taken part in, make me wish that more Americans, in every part of the land, could become connected with our Fraternity.” President and Brother Franklin D. Roosevelt.

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“I shall always feel pleasure when it may be in my power to render service to Lodge no. 39, and in every act of brotherly kindness to the members of it.” President and Brother George Washington

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“It is possible for each of us to go into the world trying to apply in his dealings with his fellows the lessons of Masonry as they are taught in the Lodge, and as they are applied in the Brotherhood.” President and Brother Theodore Roosevelt

Here, within the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota, our Education Committee has what is called the ‘Masonic Monday Question’, which asks interesting questions for Masonic Students to research, for their own enjoyment, and then to submit their findings as an answer to the question. This is a lot of fun for Masons and non-Masons alike who enjoy masonic research and study.

Just this week a question was asked about the ‘Ancients Grand lodge.’ This question prompted some to respond and to also ask some questions, which sent me to my library to do more of my own research. What seemed at first to be a simple question and answer has become something that is very enjoyable to learn more about. Reading all the information relating to the two rival Grand Lodges in England from 1751 to 1813 is extremely interesting for anyone who has an interest in history, freemasonry, and in masonic history in particular.

My research has not been exhaustive on the subject; there has been so much written on this subject I think one could spend months searching out all the books and articles relating to this period in masonic history, not to mention reading and understanding all of it. However, my library, like many lodge libraries, contains quite a few books with information on this subject which is sometimes called a schism. The word ‘schism’ is controversial to use because while some masonic scholars will call it that others say there really was no schism at all. A schism would imply that masons under one jurisdiction were seceders who broke away to form new lodges and a new grand lodge, while those who say that there was no schism point out that the masons who formed the “Grand Lodge of the Old Institution” in 1751 were “Irish Freemasons who settled in London.[i]” Brother Henry Sadler who has been referred to as “A most painstaking, patient and persevering investigator,” while he was the Grand Tyler of the United Grand Lodge of England, wrote a book called ‘Masonic Facts and Fiction’ (1889), in which he disposed of the theory that the founders of the Ancient’s [sometimes spelled Antient’s] Grand Lodge had seceded from that of the Moderns, because “they had, in fact, been initiated under the Irish Constitution.[ii]”

My purpose with this article is to merely report on and about what I have learned from the reading, study, and the understanding I have of this period; from the formation of the Ancients Grand Lodge in 1751 to the union with the Grand Lodge of England to form the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813. By the use of endnotes, which will include my sources and additional information, my hope is that the information and the references will serve as a source for other masonic students to be able to find more information and consequently improve their own enjoyment in freemasonry through masonic study.

The first Grand Secretary of the ‘Ancients’ was Brother John Morgan: He said that the title used by his Grand Lodge in 1751 was; “The Most Ancient and Honorable society of Free and Accepted Masons.[iii]” Mackey[iv] begins his article on the ‘Ancients’ with the origin date of 1753, which can cause some confusion because other writers say it was in 1751. Mackey’s contention is that with the records he had available it was not possible to “determine the exact year in which the Grand Lodge of Ancients assumed a positive existence.” In explaining the why of this he says that prior to its actual organization the brethren of various lodges formed a Grand Committee[v], (1751,) which became the Grand Lodge of the Ancients.

The earliest transaction of this committee was on July 17, 1751 at the Turk’s Head Tavern, in Greek Street, Soho. There the Masters of seven Lodges, namely; “Nos. [Numbers] 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 were authorized, (as and by the Grand Committee,) to grant dispensations and Warrants and to act as a Grand Master:” This is the date given by some Masonic scholars for the origin of the Grand Lodge. The first result of the committee’s actions was the first Warrant issued to a Lodge by the Ancients to the lodge which met at the “Temple and Sun” Shire Lane, Temple Bar, and which became #8 of the Grand Lodge of the Ancients. Evidence of this Grand Committee having the authority of a Grand Master was that the Warrant was signed by the Master’s of Lodges numbered; 3, 4, 5, and 6. As Mackey says; “This would imply that the authority and prerogatives of a Grand Master were conferred not upon each Master, individually, but upon the whole of them collectively or at least upon a majority of them.”[vi]

In all the reading I have done on this subject I have not found where the lodges that formed the Ancients Grand Lodge we referred to in any other way than as numbers. Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia says Brother Gould listed the Lodges who were a part of the formation, however in reading Gould’s History of Freemasonry he, when quoting the minutes from the Grand Committee and the Grand lodge, listed them only by number not by name or even by location.

You will notice that in the list of lodge numbers, which formed the Grand Committee there was no Lodge #1. An explanation for this can be found in Brother Sadler’s book “Masonic Facts and Fiction,” in it he says: “At the outset the ‘Antients’[vii] had not a No. 1 Lodge on their list, that number being probably reserved for a ‘Grand Master’s Lodge,’ when they should arrive at the dignity of having an official of that calibre to preside over them. This from our present standpoint may seem a rather strange proceeding, but as a matter of fact they were in a manner copying the example of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, wherein the following order had been made on the 3rd of January 1749, the Grand Officers having recently formed a Lodge for themselves.”[viii]

The dissention that led up to the formation of the Ancient Grand Lodge began in 1739 during the Grand Mastership of Lord Raymond, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England, when there were considerable complaints made about the irregular making of Masons. It has been reported that during this period the Grand Lodge of England made a few changes in the ritual by transposing certain significant words in the first two degrees and inventing a new one for the third degree; this was said to have been done to exclude independent freemasons from their lodges.[ix] However, while there was some dissention all this did not cause a schism at that time[x]; over the years more problems would arise, which finally in 1751 led to the formation of a competing grand lodge.
Whatever the progression was to the formation of the Ancients Grand Lodge, it was slow to come about. However, Brother Clegg observes that over the years some so-called unruly brethren continued to hold their lodges independently of any supreme authority; he mentions that Brother Preston said that brethren who defied authority “held meetings in various places for the purpose of initiating persons into Freemasonry contrary to the laws of the Grand Lodge.”[xi]”

From 1738 on there were many, now historical and important, events that happened which would impact Masonry, and not all of them were positive. For instance, in 1738 Pope Clement XII issued his Bull, (In Eminenti,) against the Freemasons. Possibly some of the changes in making masons and in the ritual that followed the next year might have been viewed by some as changing masonry because of outside pressures: In any event 1738, 1739, and the years that followed were trying times for freemasons in England. 1738 was also the year our Brother Dr. Anderson published his Constitutions of 1738 of which, as Brother Coil says, the most important part was the reconstructed minutes of the Grand Lodge for the years 1717 through 1723.[xii] The year 1747 was the time when the Scald Miserable Masons held their mock masonic processions through the streets of London; this event caused the Grand Lodge of England to order the discontinuance of the custom of masons having processions on the days of the grand feasts.

Whether the Grand Committee was in fact the organization of the Grand Lodge of the ‘Ancients’ or not - the ‘Ancients’ did have a Grand Secretary, in Brother John Morgan; he served for one year (1751), but resigned because he went back to sea.[xiii] In 1752 Brother Laurence Dermott became the Grand Secretary. Worshipful Brother Dermott was at the time a journeyman painter.[xiv]

Many times, in today’s freemasonry, it is said there is rapid advancement in many lodges, actually some will say ‘too rapid;’ sadly when this is said it is directed against some very well qualified brethren when they are elected master of their lodge, and/or appointed to a grand lodge position. Many of our well known and sometimes revered Masons were those who were rapidly advanced; Worshipful Brother Laurence Dermott, for example: He was born in Ireland in 1720; he was initiated into Freemasonry, (in Ireland,) in 1740; he was installed as Master of his Lodge, Lodge #26 in Dublin, on June 24, 1746, (During those years he served his lodge as secretary, and warden, as well as other positions;) that same year he became a Royal Arch Mason. Rapid advancement, but he evidently was worthy of it.

In Ireland[xv] the first records of established lodges are well after 1717, but even so there is evidence that freemasonry was known in Ireland as early as 1688, and the square found at Baal’s-Bridge near Limerick is curios - it has the inscription; “I will strive to live with love and care upon the level and by the square, 1507.”[xvi] If this is to be taken seriously, and it is, it indicates freemasonry in Ireland at a very early period. Anyway, after his degrees and mastership under the Irish constitution Brother Dermott relocated to England, (thought to be 1747 or 1748,) and in 1748 affiliated with a lodge there, which was a part of the Grand Lodge of England. Later he shifted his allegiance from the Grand Lodge of England and became a member of lodge #9, of the Ancients, which he soon left and joined Lodge #10, Even in these years there were Lodges who were known as, and called themselves, Ancients. While it is commonly held that Brother Dermott coined what are called ‘epithets,’[xvii] Brother Bernard Jones in his book says “We must be careful not to father too much on Laurence Dermott, for we learn from an advertisement in 1726 relating to ‘ante-diluvian Masonry’ that even in those days a distinction was being drawn between ‘Ancient Masonry’ and ‘the Moderns.” After Brother Dermott became a member of Lodge #10 he immediately began working on a set of by-laws for private Lodges, which came to be called in 1756 ‘Ahiman Rezon.’[xviii]

There were many charges or accusations made against the Grand Lodge of England,[xix] however, one that was not a charge but a feeling among some Masons was that the ‘Moderns,’ in their lodges and grand lodge, had become a place where working men were not welcome. Possibly this had as much to do with forming a new grand lodge as any of the other reasons.

Definitely there was a feud that was brewing for quite some time between the ‘Moderns’ and the ‘Ancients:’ “Notwithstanding [this], on the whole bitter feud between the rival Grand Lodges of England, the lodges on the two rolls worked together, with greater love and harmony than might have been expected. Sometimes in a so-called ancient lodge the business was modern and oftener still, lodges under the older system, followed the method of working in vogue among the ‘ancients.’[xx] While there may have been harmony among the Masons and their individual Lodges the Grand Lodge of England took a dim view of a lodge of theirs working as ‘Ancients.’ In 1754, while James, the Marquis of Carnarvon was Grand Master, there were 21 ‘country lodges’ erased from the rolls because they were in violation of Grand Lodge Regulation #94, which prohibited a lodge meeting as ‘Ancient Masons.’[xxi]

Eventually the name of the ‘Ancients’ became officially: “The Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, According to the Old Institutions.” The ‘Moderns’ in the second half of the 1700’s was known as: “The Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, Under the Constitution of England.” [xxii] It is interesting to note that the names of these two rival grand lodges indicated that one was a fraternity and the other was a society.

The most well know Grand Masters of the Ancients were the Dukes of Atholl; they were grand masters who were so well liked the grand lodges was sometimes referred to, and still is today at times, as the Atholl Grand Lodge. However, the first Grand Master of the Ancients was Worshipful Brother Robert Tucker, Master of Lodge #13 – he was installed December 05, 1753[xxiii] The 3rd Duke of Atholl became Grand Master in 1771, and his son the 4th Duke of Atholl followed him to the Grand East in 1775; he served in the office until 1781, and then was elected again to the office of Grand Master in 1791 and served until the Duke of Kent became Grand Master in December 1813; 28 years in all.

What followed seems to be a well known part of masonic history: the Dukes of Atholl were followed by others, and over the years negotiations, (which the 4th Duke of Atholl was a part,) began that resulted in the union of the two Grand Lodges in December of 1813. The Duke of Kent, who was the 4th Duke of Atholl’s Deputy Grand Master, was installed as Grand Master of the Ancients on December 1, 1813, which was some days after the Articles of Union were signed. His brother, and Masonic brother, the Duke of Sussex, who was the Grand Master of the Moderns was made an Ancient Mason, in an adjoining room, so he could be present at the installation of his brother as Grand Master. On December 27, 1813 the two brothers, both Grand Masters, were in Freemason’s Hall to consummate the union of the two Grand Lodges. The two Grand Masters proceeded to the East; the Duke of Kent then nominated the Duke of Sussex[xxiv] for election as Grand Master of the new United Grand Lodge of England; the Duke of Sussex was unanimously elected: he served as grand Master of the moderns and the united grand Lodge for 31 years.

“If it has pleased the supreme architect of the universe to make me an humble instrument to promote the welfare and happiness of my fellowmen, my exertions have been abundantly recompensed by the kind partiality with which they have been received; and the assurance that you give me of your belief that I have acted upon the square in my public capacity, will be among my principle enjoyments in this Terrestrial Lodge.” President and Brother George Washington

From the Great light of Masonry = “The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"! And the head cannot say to the feet, "I have no need of you!" On the contrary, those parts of body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable, we treat with special honor; all the parts that are un-presentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
1st Corinthians 12:21-26 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

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With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
[i] Mackey’s Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry Vol. 1 page 76 Brother R. I. Clegg Editor and author 1929 Edition
[ii] A Reference Book for Freemasons by Brother Frederick Smyth; published by Q.C. Correspondence Circle 1998 edition. Page 261
[iii] Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium, by Brother Bernard E. Jones: 2006 Edition by Cumberland House. Page 197
[iv] Mackey’s History of Masonry Vol. 4 page 1106 – 1906 edition
[v] Mackey’s footnote #1: From Robert Freke Gould in his work on “The Atholl Lodges page 2. Gould thinks that this “Grand Committee,” which subsequently was developed into a Grand Lodge, was no doubt originally the senior private lodge of the Ancients.
[vi] Mackey’s History of Masonry Vol. 4 page 1110 – 1906 edition
[vii] This word is proper to spell either way. The masons of the time spelled it both ways including brethren who were members of that Grand Lodge. On page 238 of Coil’s it says that the question of spelling the word ‘Ancients’ or ‘Antients’ was settled by Brother Ivor Grantham in AQC on pages 76-78 for the year 1953 in which he wrote that the Ancient Grand Lodge and Grand Secretary Laurence Dermott almost always spelled the word ‘Ancient,’ and that the Moderns used the spelling ‘Antient’ more than their rivals.
[viii] Mackey’s Revised History of Freemasonry by Robert Ingram Clegg vol. 4 page 1188 – 1921 edition
[ix] Ibid 1183
[x] Ibid page 1181 Brother Clegg says that Brother Northouck, (a chronicler of the events that led up to the formation of the Grand Lodge of the Ancients,) evidently confused the ‘irregular makings’ by private lodges, which began about the year 1739 with the establishment of the Grand Lodge of the Ancients.
[xi] Ibid – page 1182
[xii] Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia 1995 edition page 235
[xiii] Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium, by Brother Bernard E. Jones: 2006 Edition by Cumberland House. Page 197
[xiv] Ibid page 198
[xv] Irish Freemasonry is interesting to read about. See Coils Masonic Encyclopedia page 331. “There is a Freemason’s Stone in Dublin, which presumably dates from 1602.
[xvi] Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia 1995 edition page 332
[xvii] Ancients and Moderns
[xviii] Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium, by Brother Bernard E. Jones: 2006 Edition by Cumberland House. Page 198
[xix] To see a list of them view pages 201 & 202 of Freemason’s Guide and compendium
[xx] History of Freemasonry, by Robert Freke Gould-4 volume set-volume 3 page 214
[xxi] Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia 1995 edition page 236
[xxii] Ibid page 238
[xxiii] Ibid
[xxiv] If I follow the family tree of the Royals correctly, (the House of Hanover,) the Duke of Kent was Edward Duke of Kent (1767-1820) he was the father of Queen Victoria. The Duke of Sussex was Augustus Frederick (1773-1843.) It appears he served as Grand Master until his death in 1843, and then the Earl of Zetland was elected as Grand Master.

The Three Graces

2007-09-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
September 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“Hope is a song in a weary throat.” Rev. Pauli Murray 1910-1985

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Great men cultivate love.” Booker T. Washington

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

The Three Graces
By Ed Halpaus, Grand LEO

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 Authorized, or King James, Version

The Three Graces can be traced to ancient Greek religion where they were goddesses of fertility; the name Graces refers to the ‘pleasing’ or ‘charming’ appearance of a fertile field or garden. The number of the Graces would vary in different legends, but there usually were three of them, namely: Aglaia, meaning brightness; Euphrosyne, meaning joyfulness; and Thilia, meaning bloom. They were said at various times to be the daughters of Zeus and Hera or of Helios and Aegle.

In works of art the Three Graces were, in early times, depicted being draped with cloth, and later as nude female figures. In Freemasonry the Three Graces; Faith, Hope, and Charity, are depicted in art wearing fine clothing.

In a copy of a painting I have in a book, Faith is shown standing between two Corinthian Pillars looking at a lamp, which she is holding in her hand. [The lamp, by the way is the kind of lamp we now know as the lamp of knowledge.] Hope is depicted standing in front of a window, holding flowers in her arms and with flowers near her feet. Charity is shown standing with the clouded canopy of heaven behind her, holding a small child in one arm, and her other arm caressing two slightly older children who are clinging to her.

If you would like to see a copy of this painting you might have a copy available in your Lodge library. Most lodge libraries, no matter how large or small they may be, are likely to have at least one set of books called Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, and the edition that is called Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and its Kindred Sciences; the New and Revised Edition, by William J, Hughan and Edward L. Hawkins will have, in volume 1 next to the title page, the artwork depicting the Three Graces. There are two other editions of Mackey’s Encyclopedia I am aware of; the original edition which would be very rare and valuable, and a revised edition by Robert Ingham Clegg, which is the edition I prefer to use for research.

The Three Graces are familiar to all Freemasons: We first learn about them in the third section of the lecture of the First Degree. A short synopsis of what that lecture has to say can be found in the Minnesota Masonic Manual. In it there is a section, (on page 29,) called ‘The Badge of a Mason,’ which has a portion of the Entered Apprentice lecture telling about Jacob and his vision. The section continues with information about the Three Graces: It begins by talking about Wisdom Strength and Beauty, and that Freemasonry’s dimensions are unlimited, and that its covering is no less than the canopy of heaven. Leading into the subject of the Three Graces, it says: “To this object the Mason’s mind is continually directed, and thither he hopes at last to arrive by the aid of that theological ladder, which Jacob, in his vision, saw ascending from earth to heaven; the three principal rounds of which are denominated Faith, Hope, and Charity, and which admonish us to have faith in God, hope in immortality, and charity to all mankind.”

The degrees of Freemasonry are meant only to pass on truths in a way that we can understand them: Freemasonry is not a course in history, mythology, religion, theology, or a study of the Holy Bible, (although many Masons will study the Holy Bible because they enjoy it;) it is simply a fraternity of men, who have the best interests of their fraternal brothers and fellowman in their hearts and minds.

When we hear the Entered Apprentice lecture and the portion about the Three Graces we may or may not realize that the words allude to two different sets of scripture; One from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament; Genesis 28:12 and 1 Corinthians 13:13 You can look up those pieces of scripture to read for yourself in their entire context; each of them are well worth the time it takes to read and study them.

In Freemasonry, with Faith being represented by the first or lowest rung of Jacob’s Ladder, Faith is synonymous with confidence, or trust, one of the first things a candidate for Masonry must have; as Brother Mackey says: [The] “first and essential qualification of a candidate for initiation, is that he should trust in God.”

We have learned that our “Faith may be lost in sight; Hope ends in fruition; but Charity extends beyond the grave, through the boundless realms of eternity.” Brother Mackey explains why this is said: Faith is the evidence of things not seen – ‘when we see - we no longer believe by faith but through demonstration; Hope lives only in the expectation of possession, it ceases to exist when the object once hoped for is at length enjoyed;’ ‘Charity,’ [which originally meant Love,] ‘is exercised on earth in acts of mutual kindness and forbearance, [it] is still found in the world to come, in the sublime form of mercy from God to his erring creatures.’

After the first round of Jacob’s ladder is explained in the lecture we advance to the second round where Hope is represented; Hope is symbolic of the hope all Freemasons have in the immortality of the soul. There is further symbolism found in Faith and Hope in the fact that having proceeded from the first to the second round of the ladder the Mason is led by his belief in God’s wisdom and goodness.

Without the hope of the immortality of the human soul, human virtue would not be as stimulating as it is, or ought to be, and vice would not be as fearful to man as it is, or, again, as it ought to be. Without hope life would be devoid of happiness. Thus the grave would be, as some legends say; ‘still more gloomy, if it were not for the sprig of acacia blooming at the head of the grave, which reminds us of that imperishable part of man which survives the grave; the immortality of the soul.’

Brother Mackey tells us “the ancients represented Hope by a nymph or maiden holding in her hand a bouquet of opening flowers, indicative of the coming fruit; but in modern and Masonic iconology, the science of craft illustrations and likenesses, it is represented by a virgin leaning on an anchor, the anchor itself being a symbol of hope.”

In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, (1st Corinthians,) he admonishes them to be cautious and not to blend with the world and accept its values and lifestyles. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 he compares Faith and Hope with Charity, (Masonically the third round of Jacob’s ladder,) St. Paul calls charity the greatest of the three. As Brother Clegg writes: “We must not fall into the too common error that charity is only that sentiment of commiseration which leads us to assist the poor with pecuniary donations. Its Masonic, as well as its Christian application is more noble and more extensive. The word used by the Apostle is, in he original, àyáπή, or Love, a word denoting that kindly state of mind which renders a person full of good-will and affectionate regard toward others.”

John Wesley, who was profoundly influenced by the Moravians, and who is the founder of Methodism, which evolved from the Methodist Societies into the Methodist Church, wrote about Charity that he regretted that the original translation of the Holy Bible was not done correctly as regards the word Charity. Had it been translated correctly the Three Graces, as they are known, would have been known as Faith, Hope, and Love not Faith Hope and Charity. Then, as Brother Mackey says “we have understood the comparison made by Saint Paul, when he said, ‘Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing."

To paraphrase Henry Drummond, in his essay ‘The Greatest Thing in the World,’ on First Corinthians chapter 13, Brother Mackey says that “guided by this sentiment, the true Freemason will suffer long and be kind; he will be slow to anger and easy to forgive; he will stay his falling Brother by gentle admonition, and warn him with kindness of approaching danger; he will not open his ear to the slanderers, and will close his lips against all reproach; his faults and his follies will be locked in his breast, and the prayer for mercy will ascend to Jehovah [The Great Architect of the Universe] for his Brother's sins.” Brother Clegg adds some fine sentiments about Charity, which I like, and they remind me something a Minnesota Past Grand Master, Phil Soderberg, is fond of saying when he greets Masons in his travels; “I extend to you the right hand of fellowship.”

Here is what Brother Clegg added to Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Masonry on Charity:
“My Brother: With this right hand I welcome you to the fellowship of our Lodge and to the ranks of our ancient and honorable Fraternity whose cornerstone is Charity: Charity is the brightest jewel in the Masonic crown; Charity is the Corinthian pillar whose entablature adds strength, beauty and grace to the Masonic fabric; Charity is the radiant spark emanating from God, the inexhaustible source of love; the Charity that is swift of foot, ready of hand, in the cause of a common humanity; the Charity that writes a Brother's vices in water and his virtues in enduring brass; the Charity of which He who spake as never man spake was the illustrious exemplar; let this, the Mason's Charity, burn upon the altar of your heart a living fire.”

The Three Graces of Freemasonry: Faith, Hope, Charity; if we were to think of Charity as Love maybe it would give us a whole different outlook on our Freemasonry.

Doing Masonic Research in books that are readily available in Lodge and Scottish Rite libraries and from our Grand Lodge bookstore, as well as information on the Internet is well worth taking the time to do, it actually is fun: It can help a Mason learn more about the lessons of Freemasonry, and thus we can understand these lessons better.

“And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

From the Great light of Masonry = “Do not seek revenge, or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com This week’s Masonic Monday question is: Masons meet on the level, act on the plumb and part on the square; what is the symbolism of meeting on the level?

To read this issue of Masonic Matters in PDF click on this link: http://www.halpaus.net/MM0907.pdf

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Anti-Masonry April 10, 2007

2007-06-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
April 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, -- though the cants of hypocrites may be worst, -- the cant of criticism is the most tormenting.” Laurence Sterne 1713-1768

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“I do not resent criticism, even when, for the sake of emphasis, it parts for the time with reality.” Brother Winston Churchill

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Steven R. Johnson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“This shows how much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.” Brother Benjamin Disraeli

Every once in a while I get questions from, or I am told there are, Masons who have been approached mostly by well meaning people who repeat something they heard from someone else about the supposed evils of Freemasonry. Most of these charges and accusations can be traced back to an anti-Mason, and sometimes a Mason is openly verbally accosted by an anti-Mason, which many times will catch some of us off guard.

When this sort of thing happens we might automatically think this person is uneducated about Masonry, and that might be true if by that we mean he is not getting factual information from a knowledgeable Mason. Unfortunately he most likely does not think he is uneducated and he isn’t, if educated means he is receiving information about Masonry from someone who he trusts and thinks is knowledgeable. The person may very well have received information about Freemasonry from only one side. If he is willing to receive information from the other side, so he can make up his own mind, decide for himself, on the question of Freemasonry being a cult, or simply a fraternity of good men who believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, then you should be able to have a good informative conversation with him.

Devout Fundamentalist Christians, and I’ve been told devout fundamentalists of other religions too, believe what they are told from the Synod, or whatever the parent organization is, that tells them about a certain something; in this case Freemasonry. So there are times when you can talk till the cows come home and give them all the information you can think of, but if they have a closed mind and intend only to believe their clergyman who only believes what his seminary and superiors tell him you’re then dealing with a closed mind, and a closed mind is very difficult to open.

The admonishment in the charge of the First Degree about arguing with those who through ignorance ridicule Freemasonry etc. does not mean we cannot have a decent friendly conversation or debate with someone who is willing to listen or debate with us. So in my mind it is fine to try to open a man’s mind with the truth, but while it can be frustrating don’t let it get to you if he just won’t believe what you have to refute the false charges floating around about Freemasonry. And don’t be surprised. Some people believe what they believe and don’t even want to hear the facts let alone be confused by them.

Having said that I think one of the best books on this subject is “Workman Unashamed” by Brother Christopher ‘Kit’ Haffner, published by Lewis Masonic some years ago, but recently updated and republished again by Lewis Masonic.

Another book, (booklet,) that I like and is cheaper and easier to get is “Conscience and the Craft – Questions on Religion and Freemasonry” by Brother Jim Tresner. My copy is well marked up and highlighted, in fact many of my books are like that. This booklet might be available on line as was another book called “Is it true what the say about Freemasonry,” which is another good book about anti-Masonry. If they are not available on line I think they can be purchased from most Masonic book suppliers at a very reasonable price.

People who are vocal anti-Masons are knowledgeable about Freemasonry. They may have a wrong view of the Craft in our opinion, but that doesn’t mean they’re ignorant about it. So I think a Mason needs to be ready, and by ready I mean he needs to know his subject well, as well as know what their opinion is and where it comes from. To do this we read books, like the ones I’ve mentioned. We need also to know about why the term The Great Architect of the Universe to them is a name for another god, and why they say we regard all gods as equal to the God of Abraham. Also know that saying that the term was used by John Calvin an early theologian whose writings were used in founding a Christian Church really doesn’t mean much to a fundamentalist, because they don’t put much stock in Calvinism.

Also reading books from anti-Masons about Masonry is a good pastime if you can stay objective, and realize you are learning some of what you need to know to be able to debate or have a conversation with an anti-Mason. Many will not want to do this, because it is a big job to become very knowledgeable. But the anti-Mason is knowledgeable and many times more knowledgeable than the Mason he’s talking with. The Anti-Mason knows about our ritual, and they offer their own meanings to our symbols and allegories. Many a Mason has been surprised how knowledgeable an anti-Mason can be. One good thing to remember, since the anti-Mason has a penchant for quoting Brother Albert Pike from his book ‘Morals and Dogma’ is the preface to Morals and Dogma; in it Pike says in part: “The teachings of these readings are not sacramental, so far as they go beyond the realm of morality into those of other domains of thought and truth.” “Everyone is free to reject and dissent from whatsoever herein may seem to him to be untrue or unsound.” Page iv (middle of the page.) So even Brother Pike himself is saying that what he wrote in Morals and Dogma is not the dictum of Freemasonry our critics and enemies say it is. Pike knew he wrote only for himself and his opinions - not for Freemasonry.

I will suggest, also, that it is good to know what Leo Taxil’s Hoax’s are all about. Know about the myth about the Great Seal of the United States, know about the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and be somewhat familiar with the Holy Bible, and about the information in the Bible that our Hiramic Legend was formed from. Be knowledgeable about where in the ritual of the Third Degree the drama ends, and the officer portraying King Solomon ends. The drama ends when he again resumes the role of the Master of the Lodge. Many people, including Masons, have the mistaken idea that the candidate represents the legendary Hiram right up until the end of the degree; he doesn’t. The drama ends when the Mason portraying King Solomon takes the candidate by the strong grip of a Master Mason. When the candidate hears the word he is the candidate and the Mason saying the word is the Master. The reason I think this is important is because some think we teach that Hiram was raised from the dead, which would be reminiscent of the legend of Osiris, and of course we teach no such thing. In fact, in the 2nd section of the lecture of the third degree it tells us that Hiram’s body was carried to King Solomon’s Temple and buried. However, many anti-Masons will challenge a Mason on that.

The fact is, there are so many challenges and accusations an Anti-Mason can say to and about us it is hard to stay up with them. A number of years ago now the Grand Lodge of Minnesota changed their work to mention the penalties are reprimand, suspension or expulsion and then called the other penalties the ancient and symbolic penalties, which of course they always have been. I’m not saying this change was either good or bad, what I will say is that if it was done to answer or satisfy our critics and enemies then what do you do the next time our enemies tell us about something else that in their opinion is wrong with Freemasonry. They will never be satisfied until we cease to exist.

Awhile back I spoke with a Mason who commented how he liked the piece I sent out in Mehr Licht about the Masonic ring. Then he mentioned he’s noticed that many Masons don’t wear their rings or pins as much any more, (He was a 50 + year Mason,) and he surmised that one reason might be that they had been accosted by an anti-Mason and didn’t know what to say, so to avoid the embarrassment they tend not to use much Masonic jewelry on their person except for attending Lodge or Masonic functions. He may be on to something.

The enemies of Freemasonry won’t be satisfied with any changes we make in ritual, use of symbols, or whatever, they want to see Freemasonry disappear.

I don’t mean to worry anyone, I just want to be clear that in any discussion with an anti-Mason, and even with a well meaning friend repeating what they heard from an anti-Mason, be well prepared, because it is always easier for someone to ask questions than give the answer, and it is always easier to repeat a charge or myth than to explain or answer it.

Brother Leon Zeldis wrote an excellent article that was published in volume 7 of Heredom, (page 89.) Heredom is the annual book sent out to members of the Scottish Rite Research Society, and in my mind is one of the best bargains in Masonic Education. Today Brother Zeldis’ article can be read on the web at: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/zeldisfr.html and it is very interesting to read.

I always wonder about some of my fellow Christians wanting to take the same stand dictators do when it comes to Freemasonry, especially when you consider what Hitler did to clergymen, churches, and Freemasons in Germany during his eliminationist period, and to the millions of Jews who were killed in his ‘final solution’ and on his orders. A good book on this is “Hitler’s Cross” published by Moody Press.

Anti-Masons now say that it is the Masons of the ‘high degrees’ that are keeping the rest of us in the dark about what Freemasonry is really about, and that of course we would not know about it if we haven’t been in the inner circle of our Grand Lodge or are not a 33°, which is most of us. They tell our friends and family that we may be good Christians, good men all around, but we are being duped by the Masons of the ‘higher degrees’ who have a plan of world domination and worship the devil. This is the theme of Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which is what Brother Zeldis exposes and explains in his paper I mentioned earlier, do yourself a favor and take a look at it. Chick Publications, on the other hand, repeats the hoax of Leo Taxil, and this is explained in great detail in the book ‘Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry,’ this is a book every Mason ought to have and read. The charges and falsehoods of the anti-Mason are ridiculous, but that’s what they believe. They say the individual Mason is o.k. it’s the organization that’s bad, and that we’ve been brainwashed so much we just don’t know how bad it is or we’d leave it, and it’s part of their calling in life to tell us everything we’re not able to figure out or understand for ourselves.

Another good place to begin learning about anti-Masonry is on the web site for the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and the Yukon at: http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/index.html There are many helpful articles on this site, one of which is called ‘Responding to Critics,’ which is very helpful.

If you plan to talk to any anti-Mason be prepared. If you’re not as prepared as you would like to be, a good thing to do is to ask questions. When they say something like we’re a cult, or we worship the devil – remain calm, and ask them “can you tell me why you think that?” or “Why do you feel that way?” then write down their answer in your little notebook, (I always have one in my shirt or jacket pocket, so I think everyone does,) and then check it out with research on your own or ask a Brother for help, and get back to our critic if he’s amenable to listening. Anti-Masons, I’m convinced, like to ambush Masons, their wives, children and friends; I think there are too many family members who might believe some of this trash they hear from anti-Masons if the Mason in their lives either doesn’t know himself what is and isn’t true or he is so secretive he won’t talk to them even when they are interested. So when it comes to knowing about the charges of an anti-Mason and providing good honest information to refute them it is important, especially, so that we can educate our family and friends when they have a question.

Remember Freemasonry can stand up to scrutiny; it’s the false charges of the anti-Masons that fold like a house of cards when you do the research. And believe it or not ‘Research is Fun’ because you learn something in the process.

“He wreathed the rod of criticism with roses.” Issac D’israeli 1766-1848

From the Great light of Masonry = “Do not speak against another, brethren. He who speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor.” James 4: 11-12

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

The Masonic Monday Question of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota is posted each week now at http://www.lodgebuilder.org When you get there click on Forums and then click on Lodge Education Forum [near the bottom of the page] and take a look at the question posted there by Brother Glenn Kiecker. These questions are fun to answer.

To read this issue of Masonic Matters in PDF click here: http://www.halpaus.net/MM407.pdf

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Masonic Memorial Service - May 10, 2007

2007-06-10T09:03:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
May 10, 2007

“Men’s evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water.”
Shakespeare

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“He was a man (then boldly dare to say) in whose rich soul the virtues well did suit, in whom so mixed the elements all lay, that none to one could sovereignty impute, as all did govern yet all did obey; he of a temper was so absolute, as that it seemed when Nature him began, she meant to shew all, that might be in man.”
Michael Drayton 1563-1631

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“The Greatest offence against virtue is to speak ill of it.” William Hazlitt 1778-1830

Many years ago when I was a young Mason I attended a Masonic Memorial service that was being conducted for a Brother. I didn’t know the Brother, but I knew he was a Mason and my Mentor told me that even if I hadn’t met him I should attend, because he was my Lodge Brother. Over the years since then I have had occasion to attend many Masonic Memorial Services, and also to conduct some of them. Sometimes I knew the Brother sometimes I didn’t. However, I knew each one was my Masonic Brother, and I’m glad I took the time to attend, because it seems I always get something out of the Masonic Memorial Service.

I went there with my Mentor, and I learned something at that service that I will always remember: I learned that Freemasonry is a fraternity that honors work. We are a fraternity of workers. At the service my Mentor wanted me to attend, our deceased Brother, or his family, selected a poem by John Oxenham to put in the funeral booklet, and I have liked it ever since I first read it. To me it says what Masonry is about:

“Lord, when thou seeist that my work is done,
Let me not linger on, with failing powers,
Adown the weary hours – a workless worker
In a world of work.
But, with a word, just bid me home,
And I will come – right gladly -
Yea, right gladly I will come.”

I don’t know if John Oxenham was a Mason or not, but I do think his poem is Masonic in nature.

When I think of the Masonic Memorial Service my Mentor made sure I attended, because it was a service for my Masonic Brother, I think of the meaning of the word and title each of us has – Brother.

Recently in a conversation with a Brother, who is young in Masonry, as I was back then when my Mentor told me what I needed to hear, my Brother mentioned to me about how he’s noticed that many Masons seem to clamor for the titles Masonry has to bestow on some Masons. I asked what titles he meant, and he told me. However, what he listed were not titles to me, they were job names. I can’t say I’ve noticed too many Masons clamoring to do things for Masonry, but I have noticed many Masons who are willing to help, willing to take on jobs, and handle responsibility.

When a Mason takes on some kind of responsibility that means he assumes a job, and usually that job has a name. It might be Committee Chairman or member, Junior or Senior Steward, or Master, but it is a job name not a title. There is one exception, at least here in Minnesota, and that is the title of ‘Most Worshipful Brother’ given to a Grand Master, which he retains as a Past Grand Master. The members of our Grand Lodge, who knows how long ago, decided the Grand Master’s title should from then on be ‘Most Worshipful Brother’, and for all that our Grand Masters do for Masonry they deserve it. However, having said that, the one title that each and every one of us was given when we were made a Mason is the only one we ever need in Freemasonry and that title is Brother. I still remember it; that sacred appellation by which I was addressed by the Master of my Lodge, who as it turned out became my friend and my mentor. Mentor – another important job in a Masonic Lodge.

Some of us over the years will help our Brethren and our Lodges by doing jobs in our Lodge and maybe in our Grand Lodge, and maybe in an affiliated body, but even in these affiliated bodies we are referred to as Brother, the only title a Mason needs.

The jobs we hold at one time or another is not our title, it is the name of the job we have. The job may be Master of the Lodge, and we can then and forever be referred to as worshipful Brother. The word worshipful may be added to Brother if the Brother speaking wishes to recognize that we held the job of Master of a Lodge, it is an honorific term a Brother may use to show respect for the job a Brother has done for his Lodge, but he addresses us as Brother. Whether addressed as Worshipful Brother, or not, most Past Masters I know are pleased to be called brother, and they are equally proud of being your Brother. At present I hold the job of Grand Lodge Education Officer – that is not my title, it is the name of job I hold, it describes what I do for our Grand Lodge; there were other Grand Lodge Education Officers before me, and there will be more after me, the same is true when I was Master of my Lodge, I was one of many who held the job, more followed me into that job, and there will be many more Masters in the future.

When we think of the many positions, or jobs, Masons may hold in Lodge, Grand Lodge, and the Rites, the Order of the Eastern Star, or the Shrine, we are Brother Masons. There are exceptions I can think of such as the Grotto and the Shrine, where they call each other Prophets or Nobles. However, in the Shrine they also say, and are very proud or being, Shrine Masons, and the best title a Shriner can have is Brother, because he is a Mason.

So whether our jobs are Grand Lodge Education Officer, Master, Potentate, Grand Patron, Grand Master, Senior Warden, Deacon, Steward, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Marshal, or any number of jobs you might care to list, they are job names and the Masons who hold them for the time being are still your Lodge Brothers. There is no higher degree than Master Mason.

“The virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarcely worth the sentinel.”
Oliver Goldsmith 1728-1774

From the Great light of Masonry = “For you were once darkness, but you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and to find out what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want. Check out the Masonic Monday Question on the Education page of the Web Site3 of the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org or at www.lodgebuilder.org

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

To read this paper in PDF click on this link: http://www.halpaus.net/MM507.pdf

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Freemasonry and Elections June 10, 2006

2007-06-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
June 10, 2006

“When you know a thing to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing to know that you do not, this is knowledge.” Confucius

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Steven R. Johnson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Experience indicates that knowledge cannot be imparted. It can only be acquired.” Norman G. Shidle

Ed’s Masonic Musings

A number of years ago I was at our Grand Lodge booth at the Minnesota State Fair; back in those days we didn’t have the Child’s I.D. program, so even though there were about 2 or 3 Masons in the booth at any one time the time did kind of drag, because most people at the state fair would rather just pass by the booth than talk with us. Now with the Kids I.D. it’s much different and much better. The Masons who are at the Grand Lodge Booth now have great times interacting with all the people who stop by; from the little tikes to the parents and grandparents.

Speaking of the Kids I.D; this was overheard in a bait shop in the Walleye Capitol of the World. A walleye fisherman bought some bait that is guaranteed to catch fish, or die trying, and as he presented his personal check for the sure fire fish getters the helpful clerk and fishing advisor behind the counter said; “you got an I.D.?” And the man answered “I dee bout whut?”

Back to what I wanted to tell you about: Back before we had the Kids I.D. Program some people did stop to ask questions and to visit from time to time. It was always a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet these people. One man I remember was a friendly sort of fellow, but he was not for the Masons; he told me that even though he wasn’t in favor of our fraternity there was one good thing about it, and that is that the Masons stick together. He went on to explain that any time there is a Mason running for office; whether local, state or national, and especially for President of the United States, the Masons always make sure that their Brother Mason gets elected. (This was long before Brother Bob Dole ran for President.)

Luckily for me I have always liked history, so I wasn’t going to be bamboozled by a statement like that. Also luckily this man was willing to talk, as I said he was a friendly guy. I asked him if he knew much about the election of 1824. There have been other times when Masons lost Presidential Elections but this election was particularly interesting in how the Freemason lost the election and how the president was chosen.

In that election there were two primary or serious candidates running who were Masons, both Past Grand Masters. And there was another primary candidate that could be called a devout anti-Mason by the name of John Quincy Adams, who was the one who was the one chosen for President. Three serious candidates in that election.

That was the election where no candidate received enough electoral votes to win in the
general election, so the election was ‘thrown,’ (as they say,) into the House of Representatives to decide who would be the next president. The Candidates who had the larger number of electoral votes and thus the most support in the house were John Quincy Adams and Brother Andrew Jackson. Brother Henry Clay had the smaller number of votes and support in the house, but his support was as loyal as the others, and his supporters were enough to sway the choice in the house.

After much debate and horse trading in what my old history teacher called ‘smoke filled rooms,’ Brother Clay released his supporters to vote for John Quincy Adams. Brother Clay had wanted an appointment for his support and he got it from Adams; he was to be appointed Secretary of State in the Adams administration for his help in the election. He did get the appointment, and Brother Jackson lost the election due to another Mason swinging his support and votes to an anti-Mason.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with politics and political alliances, but it does show that it’s not always the Mason another Mason will support when it comes to politics. Being in the same fraternity doesn’t mean Masons throw everything else to the wind and go with a Brother Mason. Well, my new friend didn’t have time for other less historic examples of Masons losing elections, but he did know something more about Masons than when we first met.

“My hat’s in the ring. The fight is on, and I’m stripped to the buff.
Brother Theodore Roosevelt - 1912

I remember traveling through a small town many years ago and stopping at a local restaurant for some coffee and a snack. When I walked into the café I noticed a rack for the local paper so I bought one to learn a little about the town. To my surprise, the front page had a story about the local Masonic Lodge with a photo of one of the Past Masters and an interview with him, so I began to read and enjoy. But I stopped in disbelief when it quoted him in the article saying “all the Presidents of the United States up to John Kennedy were Masons.” I couldn’t believe it, and I wondered what President John Quincy Adams might have had to say about that.

What this pointed out to me is that not everything a Mason thinks he knows is accurate and I realized I needed to study more so that I wouldn’t say something in the future that couldn’t be backed up by research and fact.

“It ain’t the things you don’t know that gets you into trouble; it’s the things you know for sure that just ain’t so.” Herman Schimmelplatzer

“One cannot know everything.” Horace

An anonymous Brother wrote in the M.S.A. Short Talk Bulletin for August 1958 a piece on the myth that “Freemasons form a political pressure group.”

He said: “It is difficult to say of one false charge against the Ancient Craft that it is more ridiculous than another, but no accusation of wrong-doing by Masons is more unjust than this one.

“Freemasonry has existed in the United States since 1730. Enough years have passed since our earliest American brethren met in Pennsylvania to demonstrate the "political activities" of the Fraternity, if such existed.

“Politics — meaning partisan politics — are strictly forbidden to be discussed in lodges, and have been, since the publication of Anderson's Constitutions in 1723. If Masons were a "political pressure group", obviously they would need a cause, an idea, a program for which to exert their pressure. No one has as yet been able to name such an aim.

“Freemasons, as a general rule, elect a new leadership every year; a few Grand Lodges re-elect a Grand Master for a second term, one usually for a third term. Each year every one of the Grand Lodges of the forty-nine in the United States publishes its Proceedings, which contain the annual addresses of the Grand Masters. In none of these, for any year, at any time in the history of Freemasonry in the United States, is there to be found any political objective, any aim to be obtained by pressure, any indication of the Fraternity's taking any part in partisan politics.

“If Freemasonry is a ‘pressure group’, it must have something to ‘press’ for. It must have a political leader; he must apply that pressure. Since not the slightest scintilla of evidence for such activity exists, it is obvious that this charge is the nonsense of ignorance.”

“Times glory is to calm contending Kings, to unmask falsehood, and to bring truth to light.” Shakespeare (The rape of Lucrece, preface.)

From the Great light of Masonry = “For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” 2Peter 1: 5-7 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Masonic Bible June 10, 2007

2007-06-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
June 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“It is what we think we know that often prevents us from learning.” Claude Bernard

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“If you can’t teach me, don’t criticize me.” Sonja Carson

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“In order to be a truly knowledgeable person, one has to be engaged in serious systematic learning.” Benjamin Payton

I don’t know how many Masonic Bibles you own, but I have three. The first one I got was right after my Third Degree, and I really liked that Bible. I read in it every day for years, and I carried it with me in my car and brief case when I was on the road for my company for about 20 years until my retirement. This Bible is in its 30th year with me and it looks it. I have another small Master Mason edition, (which should look better longer now that I’m not on the road every week,) and a large Family Masonic Bible too. (I like to read in each of them fairly often along with my Study Bibles, which I do use more.) The Bible portion of a Masonic Bible is the standard King James or Authorized Version of the Bible, but what makes it a Masonic Bible is the information in the front of the book that tells about Masonry and has a good question and answer section. A Mason can spend a great deal of quality time reading in his Masonic Bible. But then if you have a Masonic Bible you know what I mean, and if you don’t have one you really ought to look into getting one.

I still read and study the Bible, and in my old Masonic Bible too, and I always find something interesting: for instance, in the Bible I got in 1977 in the Questions and Answers section is a section called “Doors of Masonic Knowledge,” and then comes the question; “What is one of the lamentable weaknesses of Masonry?”

Here is the answer it gives: “That the newly initiated candidate is left to shift for himself, and not instructed that there is more to Masonry than just a few grips, signs, and passwords. He has received the key, the degrees, and it is necessary, if he desires to leave the rut of ritualistic routine, and inform himself on the nature and character of the institution, that he enter the recesses of its caverns with Masonic pick and shovel, in search of the jewels hidden there, and invest himself with the rich fruits of Masonic knowledge all the days of his life.” Please note the section above I’ve underlined; that he is left to shift for himself.

This definitely is a weakness in Freemasonry, and this weakness is a kind of weakness that will continue to grow to gigantic proportions unless there is a concerted effort to do something different to bring knowledge into the forefront of Masonry. Many Lodges do not use the mentor or intender program their Grand Lodge has in place. Possibly this is because the program is perceived as being something that is not necessary or required, (but in my jurisdiction it is,) or maybe it might be perceived as something that is so old it isn’t any good any more. Well one Brother helping another Brother learn more about Freemasonry, so that he can enjoy being a Freemason more, never gets too old or goes out of style.

Another section and question in that first Masonic Bible of mine asks “What is the Philosophical basis of Masonry?” the answer has to do with what was just mentioned: The philosophical basis of Freemasonry has to do with the history of the origin of our fraternity. It involves an inquiry “into the ideas that lie at its base, an investigation of its peculiar form, an analytical study of its several degrees, and a development of the ideas which are illuminated by its ritualistic emblems, myths, and veiled allegories and which speak through its sublime system of symbols.”

By the way a veiled allegory is synonymous with a parable. They each are a way of saying one thing and meaning another. From my 1977 Masonic Bible by A.J. Holman company: “In the New Testament we find the teachings of Jesus in veiled allegory. The same is used in Freemasonry, to conceal from those, except to whom the teachings rightly belong, the mysteries of Speculative Science; and then only to them that has the desire to enter its caverns in search of the jewels hidden there.” That’s one of the things about Mentoring and Masonic Education; [Look at the underlined words again please.] We all are interested in it, [Mentoring and Masonic Education,] but to varying degrees. Some are really interested and some are mildly interested, while some are not to interested at all, but a Lodge needs to assign a Mentor and provide Masonic information and education to everyone in order to make sure those who want it receive it. In my mind every Mason needs a Mentor, (one or more over the years,) because also to me, another name for Mentor is an interested and somewhat knowledgeable friend who is also a Freemason; and none of us have too many friends.

Near the beginning of this article it was mention about a weakness in Freemasonry. Unless we have a concerted effort to provide Mentors and Masonic information and education it can be a great weakness in our fraternity; but it is a weakness that can be prevented and corrected. We don’t want a weakness to grow and grow. We need Lodge leaders who will be able to help the rest of us learn the things Freemasonry has to pass on to us, and every Master of every Lodge is important when it comes to providing this information to the members of his Lodge.

“Why should a Master of a Lodge be well informed?” From the Masonic Bible I’ve been referring to: “Because if Masonry be as it is defined, ‘ a science of morality, clothed in allegory and illustrated by symbols,’ it is evident that a successful teacher (and a Master is, in an emphatic sense a teacher) must qualify himself by a diligent investigation of these symbols and veiled allegories – the myths and legends of Masonry – their mystical application, and the whole design of the institution in this, its most important feature, must constitute his study.” I will add that the interest and the training of the Master of the Lodge begins with his Mentor as a new Mason and continues from his first appointment as an appointed officer right up to and through his year as Master of his Lodge: it does not begin when he is elected Master. Lodge officers need to be trained and helped in many areas and it takes Mentors to give this help; each of us are capable and able to be a Mentor and a friend to our Brothers; to help them be all they can be to help our Lodge and our Fraternity.

“Never get to the point where you will be ashamed to ask anybody for information. The ignorant man will always be ignorant if he fears that by asking another for information he will display ignorance. Better once display your ignorance of a certain subject than always know nothing of it.” Booker T. Washington

From the Great light of Masonry = “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life; doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young – let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance – for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.” Proverbs 1: 1-7

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org/ and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at http://www.mn-masons.org/ under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com This weeks question is: “Of what is the substitute word a symbol?”

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

To read this paper in PDF click here: http://www.halpaus.net/MM0607.pdf

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Unsubstantiated Charges - November 10, 2006

2006-12-27T13:58:00.002-08:00

Masonic Matters
November 10, 2006

“Even the Lion has to defend himself against flies.” German Proverb

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Unsubstantiated, universal gossip – as long as it is stimulating and titillating – always has an elemental appeal to the uncritical.” Mervin B. Hogan

We seem to be living in an age of unsubstantiated charges. Good examples of unsubstantiated charges are running wild in election campaigns, and they also run unbridled when it comes to the unsubstantiated charges made by the anti-Masons. It seems odd to me that we don’t have another name for these people. For the most part the movers and shakers of the anti-Masonic movement around the world are the enemies of Freemasonry, yet we use the name Masons in their name; anti-Masons. I wonder if this gives them some sort of pleasure or prestige to have claim to another version of the name, Mason.

The Internet is a great tool that is used by many Masons, including yours truly, to communicate with other Masons about things Masonic in a number of ways; private E-mails, postings to list servers and bulletin boards, as well as e-mail lists, which I personally have made extensive use of. It hasn’t been a secret about how great this Internet and E-mail is to get information out to those you would like to receive it, and now our enemies, the anti-Masons, are using it to send their messages of mis-information directly to Masons.

In one instance of this in particular, an anti-Mason gleaned many E-mail addressees of Freemasons from what appears to be a Grand Lodge Web Site. Having E-mail addresses published on a Grand Lodge Web Site is a desirable thing, and it does make it easy to be contacted by E-mail – even the e-mails we’d rather not get. However, developing a list of E-mail addresses for Masons who are active within a Grand Lodge does not seem to be a good audience for the diatribe circulated by the Anti-Masons. Even so I’m glad they send them because it’s good to know where they’re coming from and what their strategy is. Recently an E-mail was sent out by an anti-Mason to many Masons in one jurisdiction, and that is my reason for this article.

Many times the attack of an anti-Mason will begin in a very friendly manner, asking for information before telling the Mason about all the perceived evils of Masonry from the anti-Masons point of view. I once read, somewhere, some instructions to Christians in witnessing about the evils of Freemasonry; that they should not knock or attack an individual Mason, because that would be counter productive to the mission, but instead to attack the institution – the fraternity – as a whole. The philosophy is that most Masons don’t know as much about Freemasonry as the witnessing Christian. They think the Mason doesn’t know about the evils of being a Freemason, because those that run the fraternity don’t tell the average Mason what they are involved with. They think the average Mason has been duped by his Masonic Brothers.

Knowing this, I believe it is important to convey as much information to Masons, their families and friends, as we can about what Freemasonry is and isn’t, so that they will know a bunch of malarkey spread by anti-Masons when they hear it. I mention families, because it is my opinion that the wives and adult children of many Masons are extremely ignorant about things Masonic, and when they hear that there is so much to it that is evil and that their dad or husband has been kept in the dark by the world wide leaders of the Masonic conspiracy they might think what they’re hearing could be correct. And so they, with and for all the right reasons, will go to work on dad to leave the fraternity. And if dad is not active in his Lodge any longer, and for the most part pays his dues and has little to no contact with his Lodge Brothers, even though he doubts the veracity of what his family is saying, he might, and I stress might, demit from the Lodge to keep peace in the family. This action on his part really doesn’t change his life much, but it does get the family off his back about him being a Mason. He may not tell them what he knows about being prepared to be a Mason in his heart, and once made a Mason he will always be a Mason, and that his Lodge Brothers will not treat him any differently if he demits from his Lodge.

O.K. having said all of that, when an anti-Mason recently sent out his E-mail to Grand Lodge types he picked on the wrong crowd to tell about his perceived evils of the Craft. E-mail’s such as the one I am going to tell you about, (when you click on the link below,) show that anti-Masonry is alive and well in the world, and it is something we as individual Masons and as a fraternity need to be aware of, and pay attention to. The goal of the anti-Masons is to see the Freemasonry die, to cease to exist; it is not a game to them, they are very serious.

It is my opinion that if we continue to just smile and turn away, thinking ‘this too shall pass,’ we will be making a serious error; all we need to do is to look at the history in Europe over the past decades to know how serious and deadly the enemies of Freemasonry can be when the Freemasons are perceived as being in the way and hindering what they have in mind.

We dare not underestimate the anti-Masonic movement. The real pushes behind it are well versed in Masonry, albeit that they apply their own interpretation on our rituals and symbols, and there are times when they come off as knowing more about Freemasonry than the average Mason does. Where they make the most head-way is through the spouses, adult children, and good friends of our brethren; if the wife is against something the husband doesn’t continue with it for very long, if the adult kids start beating on dad about how bad the Masons are he many times, to keep peace in the family, will drop out; and if a Mason thinks he might lose a friend because of Freemasonry, if he’s not all that active, who knows what might end, the friendship or paying dues to something he’s not that active in. So the anti-Masonry of today is something serious, and we can’t afford to ignore it.

Many devout well know Christian Church Leaders have been and are Masons, and they saw no problem with being a Christian and a Mason.

Freemasons advocate tolerance, but there are some people involved in the fundamentalist sects of Christianity, as well as other religions, that are not tolerant of others, and because of that they have no time for people of other religions or of the Freemasons. These are the kind of people we are dealing with in the enemies of Freemasonry.

In a way we should be glad, I suppose, for anti-Masons; they keep us on our toes. They also prove that there is great interest in Masonry; otherwise they wouldn’t have an audience. We need to gear more of our information to the general public with good honest information to those who want information on Freemasonry, and to offset all the malarkey being spread by our enemies. We need Freemasons who are willing to do research on the charges of the anti-Masons so that they can write articles telling the truth about the charges; speak in Lodges about what the anti-Masons are saying and why it is not true, and to provide good information on Lodge and Grand Lodge Web Sites for Masons and non-Masons alike to learn what Masonry is all about from Freemasons.

I have written answers to the charges leveled by an anti-mason’s E-mail, and if you would like to read it just click on this link: http://www.halpaus.net/Anti1106.pdf

I am not attaching or including it in this issue of Masonic Matters because of its length. If you decide to read it I suggest that you might want to print it out and read it in sections as you have the time.

“Men will wrangle for religion; write for it; die for it; anything but – live it.” Colton

From the Great light of Masonry = “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

Thanks to Brother Kevin Kautzman, my friend and Brother, who designed and set up my web site. The website and the e-mail connected to it are up and working again. All the gremlins have been shooed away. Thank goodness for helpful Brethren who help the rest of us with computer problems. Here is a shameless plug for Brother Kevin: kevin@kevinkautzman.com http://www.kevinkautzman.com/ If you would like help with a web site he can help you.

For fun, relaxation and edification visit these web sites: http://www.lodgebuilder.org/ http://www.mn-masons.org/gleo http://www.halpaus.net/ www.mn-masons.org/gleo

If you would like to read this issue of Masonic Matters in pdf click on this link: http://www.halpaus.net/MM1106.pdf

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Anti-Masonry November 10, 2006

2006-12-27T13:58:00.001-08:00

The Three C's - December 10, 2006

2006-12-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

Masonic Matters
December 10, 2006

“It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.”
President Calvin Coolidge-1922

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“I love a hand that meets my own with a grasp that causes some sensation.” F.S. Osgood

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Steven R. Johnson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

To all our friends and Brothers who are celebrating holidays in December and January I extend my best wishes to you and yours; may everything that is good and wholesome come to you and yours in the coming year.

“The pleasantest things in the world are pleasant thoughts, and the great art in life is to have as many of them as possible.” C.N. Bovee

Masonic Musings

One of my favorite magazines is Positive Thinking; it is published in Pawling New York, and I think it is a magazine that descended from Brother Norman Vincent Peal’s ministry. In any event there is always something in the magazine I like to read. In a recent issue was a recipe for Pomegranate-Cranberry Sauce by Chef Kyle Shadix. He says that “Some scholars believe the Pomegranate was the fruit of the tree of life, Jewish tradition holds that its seeds match the number of Mitzvot, or good deeds, in the Torah.” I think that’s interesting, and after reading this I will look at the Pomegranate’s a little differently when the explanation of the pillars is delivered in the Second degree. Here’s the Chef’s Recipe in case you would like to try it this holiday season:

2 Cups (16 fluid ounces) of 100% Pomegranate Juice
1 Cup sugar
1 12-ounce bag (about 3 cups) of fresh or frozen Cranberries, and the zest of 1 Orange
1 11-ounce can of Mandarin Oranges, rinsed and drained
½ Cup Pomegranate seeds – this is optional – and something I’m going to skip. Those seeds are tough on the old guys who have dentures – I like to be nice to old people.
1. Bring the Pomegranate juice and Sugar to a boil.
2. Add Cranberries and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the berries just pop, takes about 10 or 12 minutes.
3. Stir in zest, Orange segments, and the Pomegranate seeds if you’re using them.
4. Cool for 24 hours. You need to plan ahead for this dish.
5. Serve it with Turkey or Chicken.
This recipe has 41 calories for a 2-tablespoon serving. 10g of carbs & 1g fiber everything else is zero

“Cookery is become an art, a noble science: Cooks are gentlemen.” Robert Burton

Freedom, Fervency and Zeal - Chalk, Charcoal & Clay - The three C’s of Freemasonry

The symbolism relating to Freedom Fervency and Zeal in our lectures today can also be found in the earliest known records of degree work in the eighteenth century. These three qualities of the Entered Apprentice are said to distinguish the servitude of the Apprentice:[i] The word ‘Servitude’ being used here is, to me, interesting especially when we explore the meaning of the three C’s.

The first C: Chalk = Freedom. Okay, servitude and why it’s interesting to me. One definition of freedom is to be a state of exemption from the control or power of another. Another definition would be not bound or not in any captivity; it is a rule in Freemasonry that no man can be initiated into any degree of Freemasonry who is at that time restrained or deprived of any of his liberties.

So servitude as it is used by Brother Mackey does not mean the Apprentice is in any respect in the position of being deprived of his freedom as a bondsman, serf or slave. As far as Freedom, Fervency and Zeal are concerned it means that the Apprentice’s work should be done freely and in Freedom; meaning willingly, generously, readily and without restraint. So the word freedom is not taken in this part of the ritual as meaning liberty. It is, rather, meant in the earlier Anglo-Saxon meaning of frankness and a generous willingness to work or perform one’s duty.

The second C: Charcoal = Fervency. As Charcoal symbolizes Fervency the Apprentice will show his fervency in his warmth, friendliness and earnestness, in his eagerness and willingness to learn the lessons of Freemasonry and in his willingness to help his Lodge as opportunities arise. A quality of Charcoal is also durability; it is so resistant and enduring that from the time when no man remembers when, surveyors would place a shovel full of Charcoal near a place or other marker, so that if the landmark were to be removed the charcoal would remain there for centuries until it is dug up by another surveyor. Charcoal will not be consumed or cease to exist until it has a source of oxygen and has been touched by fire. When applying the symbolism of Charcoal to the Mason - his devotion to duty, his willingness and eagerness, his fervor for learning and working in Freemasonry will not be short lived.

The Third C: Clay = Zeal. Clay is an interesting symbol to represent Zeal, because Zeal is represented by enthusiasm, diligence and an ardent affection.

So to be zealous means to be ardently active, devoted and diligent in devotion to a task, or in this case to the fraternity. Clay is also interesting to me because, if you have ever tried farming or gardening in clay soil you know how ardent you need to be in working clay ground. Clay in this case represents mother earth which is always employed for man’s use. This also reminds me of the use each freemason can be to the Craft, and also to each other as friends and Brothers.

“The discovery of that which is true, and the practice of that which is good, are the two most important objects of philosophy.” Brother Voltaire

Things that aren’t so or things that appear to be something they are not.

Every once in a while a person will come face to face with the fact that what we know to be true just isn’t true after all. When this happens it can lead to an expression of an “Aha Moment,” like a light being turned on and finally the meaning of something is clear. Or it can lead to skepticism and demanding proof, because the belief held is so firm that no matter what - that persistent belief in a mistaken idea needs more than just an explanation to change.

A persistent belief in a mistaken idea is placed in a person’s mind by another; consistently repeating things that are not true and speaking as one who knows what he is talking about.
This is evident in some of the myths that have been promoted against some groups of people over the centuries by others who wanted to suppress or even eliminate them. This continues even today in many parts of the world, and also with the anti-Masons.

There is an interesting book that gives a good account of them called ‘Enemies Within – The Culture of Conspiracy in Modern America.[ii]’ When we study specialized history, such as this book does, we will find that almost every group might have at one time or another been the prey of another stronger group, which, I think, can be summed up as someone who is different from his neighbors, who is not known very well and is thus suspect in his beliefs and motives.
For a taste of what this book is about you could read the Short Talk Bulletin Volume 80 – October 2002 – No. 10 which is written by the book’s author Robert Alan Goldberg, and it makes for a good topic for a Lodge Education piece.

If you are still looking for a book to give to a Brother Mason this holiday season this book, while it is not a Masonic book, is a good book for Masons to read.

“All theory, dear friend, is grey, but the golden tree of actual life springs ever green.”
Brother Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749-1832

From the Great light of Masonry = “Early in the morning of the twenty fifth day of the ninth month, which is month of Chislev, in the one hundred fortieth year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering that they had built. At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles[iii] had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them. So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and joyfully offered burnt offerings; they offered a sacrifice of well-being and a thanksgiving offering. They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and fitted them with doors. There was very great joy among the people, and the disgrace brought by the Gentiles was removed. Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness for eight days, beginning with the twenty fifth day of the month of Chislev.[iv]” 1 Maccabees 4:52-59 in the Apocryphal / Deuterocanonical Books-The new Oxford Annotated Bible.

From the Study Notes: “Judas set the rededication of the Temple exactly three years after its pollution and three and a half years after Antiochus’ capture of Jerusalem, (see Daniel 7:25 and 2 Maccabees 10:3.) The Hanukkah[v] festival, celebrated for eight days like Solomon’s dedication of the first Temple (1 Kings 8:65-66,) and Hezekiah’s reconstruction (2 Chronicles 29:17,) commemorates this event.”

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

To read this issue of Masonic Matters in PDF click on this link: http://www.halpaus.net/MM1206.pdf

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
[i] Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry; Clegg 1929 edition.
[ii] By Robert Alan Goldberg – Yale University Press – ISBN 0-300-09000-5
[iii] Gentile literally means ‘other nations,’ In this quotation Gentile refers to the Greek Nation which had prevented the Jews from observing their religious practice in or out of their temple, which followed Antiochus’ capture of Jerusalem.
[iv] Special Thanks to Brother Stan Shapiro of Albert Pike Lodge for his help in understanding Biblical history.
[v] Hanukkah means ‘dedication.’

Masonic Jurisprudence - April 10, 2006 -

2006-04-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
April 10, 2006

“He who decides a case without hearing the other side, though he decide justly, cannot be considered just.” Seneca

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

It is my pleasure to bring you greetings from our newly installed Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Steven R. Johnson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty councils. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat.” President Woodrow Wilson, in speech – 1916.

A Quick Look at Masonic Jurisprudence

Sir William Blackstone has defined a crime as “a breach and violation of public rights and duties, which affect the whole community, considered as a community.” Brother Albert Mackey adds that the whole community could be read as “the Order” when read by Masons, and to read it as it might apply to Freemasonry.

Often a feeling of sadness comes to me when I hear about crimes on the nightly news, and especially when I hear in Lodge about a Brother Mason being reprimanded, suspended or expelled as punishment for unmasonic conduct.

Brother Albert Bebe in commenting on how brothers can abide by all the Landmarks of Freemasonry, when he might not even be able to tell what they are, says that if a Mason abides by the obligations he agreed to and the charges of the three degrees, he will be living in compliance with the Landmarks.

My guess is that almost every Mason will remember the content of his obligations; what he agreed to be obliged to - in respect to Freemasonry, his Brothers and mankind. However, I’m not sure every Mason will remember what is contained in the Charge of each degree or in the Charge at Closing of the Lodge; if you are a little rusty on the charges it might be a worthwhile project to read them again and see the wisdom contained in them.

To me it is interesting that in civil law there is a distinction “between juris prœcepta, or precepts of the law, which are without any temporal punishment, and the juris regulœ, or rules of law, which are accompanied with a penalty.” Similarly the laws of Freemasonry can be divided into directive precepts and penal regulations.

Directive precepts are accompanied with no specific punishment, and they can be found in the Old Constitutions as well as in the ritual. They are the kind of thing that tell the Mason the things that mark a good and true Mason. The directive precepts have more to do with the ethics of Freemasonry than with the law.

In the Old Constitutions the first class of offenses that are laid down are offences against the moral law. In the Constitutions of 1723 the first general heading begins with; “Every Mason is obliged by his tenure to obey the moral law.” This moral law alludes to the law of nature, (lex naturœ.) The law of nature has been defined in ‘System of Moral Philosophy’ and quoted by Brother Mackey to be ‘the will of God, relating to human actions, grounded on the moral difference of things; and because it is discoverable by natural light, is obligatory upon all mankind.’

The moral law of nature has three characteristics:

First it is said to be eternal, having always existed.

Second it is universal; all mankind, of every country and religion, are subject to it.

Third it is immutable, which immutability necessarily arises from the immutability of God, who is the author of the law.

The precept in the first general heading after saying a Mason should obey the moral law continues by saying; “And if he rightly understands the Art, he will never be a stupid Atheist, nor an irreligious libertine.” In the language of the day when the Premier Grand Lodge was beginning, an Irreligious Libertine was a person who denied all moral responsibility. It is a well known fact that a man must believe in a Supreme Being, (God,) to be made a Mason. Because of that we, as Masons, know that our new Brother recognizes his moral responsibility to God. Likewise, if a Brother after being made a Mason adopts the view of the Atheist the question that might arise is whether he can in good conscience remain a member of the Freemasons.

“Cruelty to one’s inferiors and dependents, uncharitable-ness to the poor and needy, and a general neglect of our duty as men to our fellow-beings, exhibiting itself in extreme selfishness and indifference to the comfort and happiness of all others, are offences against the moral law,” which is referred to in the Charges of a Freemasons.

Next come the penal regulations, which are always subject to the possibility of a Masonic penalty, and are also transgressions of the municipal law, or the law of the land. Wrongful acts such as these are divided into two classes; mala en se and mala prohibita. A malum en se is universally acknowledged to be a crime, an evil in itself, by all civilized men. A malum prohibitum is a prohibited act, and is one which has been made a crime by the enactment of a law; this means that what is a malum prohibitum in one country may not be in another. So mala prohibitum offenses are Masonic crimes only to the extent of the relationship to Masonic Laws and to Laws of the land. Mala en se, however, are always considered Masonic offenses because these are violations of the moral law.

Obedience to the laws of the land is one of the first lessons taught to the new Mason through the charge of the first degree, and it is also stressed in the Charges of a Freemason; it is good if the new Mason’s mentor makes him aware of these charges. If a Mason violates the laws where he lives he also commits a Masonic offense, because by his actions he not only transgresses the Masonic law of obedience to civil authority he also brings shame upon the Craft.

According to Brother Mackey in his Jurisprudence of Freemasonry the rule in Masonry is “that where a crime is not against the moral, as well as the municipal law, the Order [Fraternity] will not exercise jurisdiction over the offender, unless it is required for the vindication of the character of the institution, affected through the wrongdoing of one of its members.”

It should also be noted that an acquittal of charges against a Freemason by a civil court may not relieve a Freemason from a Masonic trial for the same offense.

The reference for this was primarily ‘Mackey’s Jurisprudence of Freemasonry.’ This is a good book to read and study if you have an interest in the Charges of a Freemason, the Landmarks, and Masonic Law. In my case I would have said I had no interest in Masonic Jurisprudence, but when I began to read this book I did become interested in what it contained, which led me to other books on the subject for reference as well as to page after page of Brother Mackey’s book.

“Four things belong to a Judge; to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.” Socrates

From the Great light of Masonry = “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”
Deuteronomy 5:29 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer
Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Masonic Musings March 10, 2006

2006-03-10T22:25:00.000-08:00

Masonic Matters
March 10, 2006

“Better to trust the man who is frequently in error than in the one who is never in doubt.”
Eric Sevareid

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Andrew J. Rice, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“What we learn with pleasure we never forget.” Alfred Mercier

Masonic Musings

The first account of a corner-stone ceremony appeared in Mist's Weekly on 26 May 1722, in conjunction with the building of St. Martin in the Field Church. The first stone was laid by the Bishop of Salisbury, and the official account was as follows:

“That it being a royal parish church, King George I sent his Lord Almoner and Surveyor General attended by Brother Gib, (the architect of that great pile), with many freemasons in solemn procession from the palace to level the foot stone of the southeast corner by giving it three great knocks with a mallet in the King's name, and laying upon it a purse of one hundred guineas. When the trumpeters sounded all joined in joyful acclimations and the Craftsmen went to the Tavern to drink a toast to the King and the Craft.”

Reference: History and Evolution of Freemasonry by D.D. Darrah

“The work of an unknown good man is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground greener.” Thomas Carlyle

From the Minneapolis Journal – reported in the Masonic Veteran’s Association in 1922

Masons belonging to the regiments stationed at Fort Snelling have formed the Fort Snelling Masonic Club, with 60 members.

Captain J. Bernays Lowry of the infantry is President; First Sergeant M. Davidson, First V.P.; First Sergeant Richard T. Clark, Second V.P.; Warrant Officer C.D. Fisher, Secretary; and First Sergeant Walter T. Aitken, Treasurer.

“How often misused words generate misleading thoughts.” Herbert Spenser

Masonry and Freemasonry – we use the words interchangeably in our fraternity. Sometimes we will say we are Masons, and sometimes we call ourselves Freemasons. According to Brother Albert Mackey and the general acceptation of the word masonry is an art founded on the principle of geometry; what we Freemasons would call Operative Masonry.

Freemasonry on the other hand embraces a wider range and has a nobler object, which is the cultivation and improvement of the human mind. Freemasonry may also be called a science in that it inculcates the principles of morality through the lessons it teaches which are veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.[i]

“We all know a fool when we see one – but not when we are one.” Arnold H. Glasow

In the last M.S.A. Short Talk Bulletin I received there was the most recent copy of “Your Masonic Hospital Visitor,” which is a newsletter about and for the MSA Veteran’s Hospital Visitation Program, and in it is a copy of a letter from Edward A Powell, President and CEO of the USO world headquarters. This letter is addressed to The Grand Masters of North America, and it is a very good letter. He says in part: “On behalf of the USO and our service members around the world, I would like to thank the Freemasons of North America for your tremendous support of USO Operation Phone Home. America’s Freemasons have a long history of association with the military, and many of your members have also served our country. We are proud to welcome such a well-known and such a widespread organization to join us in raising funds so that America’s finest may stay in touch with their loved ones.”

The M.S.A. is a fine organization that does a fine job in serving Freemasonry in many areas; education through the Short Talk bulletins; Masonic Veterans in Military Hospitals through the Hospital Visitation Program; Veterans currently serving in the military through Operation Phone Home; relief in the form of funds for victims of natural disaster, most recently in the current hurricane disasters in the southern United States; and also in the case of other disasters such as monetary relief to the survivors and surviving family members of those who died in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

If you do not receive the short talk bulletin, and would like to see the copy of the letter in “Your Masonic Hospital Visitor” just ask your Lodge Education Officer to see his copy, (our Grand Lodge pays for the L.E.O. to get a subscription,) and he will let you read it. Also you L.E.O. will be able to give you information on how you can subscribe to the Short Talk Bulletin if you would like to, (it is only 6 dollars a year in the U.S.)

If you are looking for a place to make a donation out of the goodness of your heart please consider a donation to the M.S.A. for one or more of their programs. The address is Masonic Service Association of North America – Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-4785 their web Site is: http://www.msana.com/

“We need society, and we need solitude also, as we need summer and winter, day and night, exercise and rest.” Philip Gilbert Hamerton

A Lodge is filled with Brother Masons who promote each other’s welfare and rejoice in each other’s prosperity, or at least we’re told that’s what Masons do. I hope your Lodge is that kind of Lodge; I understand that there are some that aren’t.

One way for a Lodge to promote each other’s welfare is to feed the self esteem of our brethren. This can be done in various ways by every one of us by letting our brethren know we appreciate them and are glad that we’re associated with them through our Lodge. It can also be done in various ways as a Lodge by the Master giving awards when they are deserved, such as: Mason of the year Awards; awards for meritorious service to the Lodge in some respect; and Longevity Awards.

We’re all familiar with 50 year awards given by our Grand Lodge through the recipients individual Lodge and they are sure enjoyable to attend and be a part of. Unfortunately sometimes other Longevity awards are missed, overlooked, or just not thought of.

Recognizing Brethren with longevity awards when they hit successive 5 year marks not only on the 50 year mark go a long way to foster good feelings. Our Grand Lodge has longevity certificates for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, years and beyond. Presenting awards such as these lets the Brethren know we appreciate them.

In order for a Brother to get a 50 year award a couple of things are necessary: he needs to have joined at a young enough age where he is likely to be around 50 years later, and he needs to live for 50 years after receiving his third degree. Not all Masons were made Masons in their 20’s and unfortunately not all Masons live for 50 years after their third degree. However most Masons do remain Masons for the rest of their lives.

Having been one who has been involved with presenting longevity awards for a wide variety of years as a Mason I can tell you that the 25 year award and pin; the 40 year award; the 10 year award and all the rest mean as much to the Mason receiving it as the 50, 60 year and longer awards mean to those Brethren who receive those.

If you want to help a brother rejoice in his prosperity urge the Master of your Lodge to begin a program of recognizing the brethren with awards for genuine praise. The recipients will be thrilled with the thought and the award, and we will be very happy to join with them in their happy moment.

“Whatever a man’s age may be, he can reduce it several years by putting a bright-colored flower in his button hole.” Brother Mark Twain

For years I have heard it said, in various forms, that young men think of Freemasonry as an ‘old man’s’ organization, and that is why it has been difficult for our membership as a fraternity, to grow. This, to me, is interesting and I don’t really think it has much validity if and when we think about such a statement.

Over our lifetimes we will be members of many organizations. In some of them we will be very active members, maybe officers, and in others we will be participants or maybe just dues payers and newsletter readers. Over the years in the organizations I’ve belonged to I would be found in many of those member categories.

Many of the organizations I belonged to as a younger man I no longer am a member of. Some because I’m no longer in business; no longer working in a job to earn a living; so professional organizations or unions are no longer part of my life, unless you consider AARP a union.

My point is that we will join, pay dues, contribute, and actively promote and lead in many organizations over our lifetime, but some of them we outgrow because they are for specific ages; some are geared to working and careers; some we belong to because of a need to network for different reasons; and some we no longer belong to because we are no longer active or maybe don’t have an interest in an old hobby. There are very few organizations a man will join as a young man and remain a member of it for the rest of his life: Freemasonry is one of them.

So when I hear someone say something about a younger man not wanting to join because it has old men in it my answer is; “Sure it has old men in it, that’s the good news not the bad news.”

These old men who come to Lodge; participate in degree work; hold offices; and can be found doing umpteen things in and around the Blue Lodge, York and Scottish Rites, the Shrine, etc. for the most part were young men when they became members and they love Freemasonry as much or more today as they did then. So young man if you want to fall in love with something bigger than yourself that you can love and be active in for the rest of your life, don’t let the grey hair of the Freemasons you see dissuade you - look at it as a goal for you to achieve.

“I speak the truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare; and I dare a little more, as I grow older.” Montaigne

From the Great light of Masonry = “For your Love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.” Psalm 26:3 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

[i] Masonry Defined 1930 edition, edited by Johnstone #379 pages 241 & 242

Angelo Solimon February 10, 2006

2006-02-10T23:33:00.000-08:00

Masonic Matters
February 10, 2006

“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz; Malcolm X

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Andrew J. Rice, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race.” Brother Booker T. Washington

The night before I began writing this was the weekly date-night for my wife and me. Because of where we went for the evening we got back late, just in time for the 10 O’clock news. (There was a time when 10 O’clock wasn’t late for us, but now it is.) There was a very short item on the news about the “Body World’ exhibit that is coming to the Twin Cities. You may have heard of this exhibit, but last night was the first I heard of it.

This exhibit uses preserved human cadavers artistically posed as though in every-day situations, such as giving a talk, playing chess and other poses. The show also includes transparent body slices to show the difference between healthy and unhealthy organs, tissue etc. The process of doing this has something to do with preserving cadavers with plastic and was developed by a German Doctor and Inventor. For the study of anatomy, medicine, or to learn something more about the human body this exhibit is of value.

A while ago I had bought a book called “Mozart and Masonry;” I began reading the book after Sharon and I returned from our ‘date night.’ It is a good book, and in reading it I noticed a name I had heard before, and I new just a little bit about the history of this Brother. A passage in the book talked about Zur wahren Eintracht (“True Harmony Lodge,”) and the Masons who were members of it. The year referred to had Brother Ignaz von Born as the Master of the Lodge, and it is said there were a large number of other important intellectuals who were members of the Lodge.

As members it listed some intellectuals, scholars, a Catholic priest, professors, teachers, a sculptor, physician, engraver, famous members, and a physicist. Finally it mentioned “Of considerable importance also was Angelo Solimon, the ‘Noble Negro,’ an African Prince who played an important part in the social life of Vienna and his never missing from the roll of the Lodge.”

When I read that name, Angelo Solimon, I immediately remembered why I knew his name, and I also had a flash in my memory of the news story I saw a couple of hours earlier about those cadavers posed in life like scenes. Once you hear the story of Brother Angelo Solimon, (if you don’t know his story already,) I’m certain you’ll never forget it, or his name. The story of his life and what happened to his body after his death is something macabre and stays in a person’s memory.
Angelo Solimon was a free man who lived in Vienna; he was married and had a family.[i] Brother Solimon and his wife were married in St. Stephen's Cathedral, which is the same church where Brother Mozart and his wife Constanze were married. Mozart’s Second degree of Freemasonry was conducted in True Harmony Lodge where Brother Solimon was a member, and there are references in existing Lodge record books, kept over the years, which indicate that Brother Angelo Soliman and Brother Wolfgang Mozart frequently sat in Lodge together.

While Brother Solimon was a free man with a wife and family living a good and happy life in Vienna his life wasn’t always pleasant. Our Brother was born in North Africa in, what is believed, the early part of the 18th century. He was sold into slavery as a child, transported to Europe and educated by a succession of wealthy European slave-owners, and as a result he tutored the children of many aristocratic families in Vienna. He was finally freed after many years in slavery after which he married, eventually taking the degrees of Freemasonry, and over the years he became Master of his Lodge.[ii] This to me points out one of the main qualifications of a petitioner; that he be a free man – free to make his own decisions, to enter into agreements and free to follow through on promises.

It is said that Brother Solimon was a brilliant Chess Player, and a valued member of his Lodge. Before World War II there was in the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna, and still may be there today, portraits of our Brother Angelo Solimon, his daughter, and grandson; Baron Edward von Feuchtersleben.[iii]

The information and succession of the Emperors in Austria, referred to in the book, ‘Mozart and Masonry’ is both interesting and shocking at the same time. After the death of Emperor Joseph and his brother Leopold who succeeded him, and also after Brother Mozart died, the Austrian Empire was under the ‘infamous rule’ of Emperor Franz I. It appears that he really wasn’t a very nice person, and it was as the patron of Metternich that Franz I presided over the imprisonment of our Brother the Marquis de Lafayette. Franz I also presided over the trials and executions of some of the republicans in Mozart's circle.[iv]

However, even if Franz I had been a nice person in all his dealings with others, and if he had never imprisoned or executed anyone as emperor, what he did to Brother Angelo Solimon and his family would put him in the notorious bad person category, as far as I’m concerned, forever.

At the death of our Brother Soliman the emperor, for some unknown but speculated reason, ordered Brother Solimon’s body seized and taken from his family while they were mourning, and before they could bury it. The Archbishop of Vienna,[v] Brother Masons and his family all protested, but their protests went unheeded and unanswered. The emperor evidently had the power to do what he wanted to do without answering to anyone.

Emperor Franz I then had the body of Brother Angelo Soliman ‘flayed,’ stuffed and mounted; much as some people today will do with the carcasses of birds, fish and animals taken in hunting and fishing trips, and then the emperor had this work of taxidermy ‘proudly’ displayed among his trophies.

Brother Angelo Solimon’s stuffed effigy remained in the emperor’s museum until the Austrian Revolution of 1848. During the revolution, in a battle at and for the emperor’s palace a soldier threw a ‘grenade’ through a window and into the palace library & museum; as luck would have it landed near the effigy of Brother Solimon, and it was mercifully destroyed.[vi]

Some may rightly say, as Brother Benjamin Franklin did, that when the body no longer serves what it was intended for it is a kind and beneficent favor that there is a means to dispose of it, and that way is death. We know that our body is really just a home for our soul, our real self while we live here on earth and that after death we will be taken to our eternal home by The Great Architect of the Universe.

However, it is my opinion that the body of a human being should be treated with respect. The body we see may not be the soul, the character, the real person we love and admire, but it is the symbol of all that the person really is. When we think of those we love; our spouse, children, parents, siblings, Lodge Brothers and friends, we see in our minds eye the image of them, the symbol of what we have come to recognize and love. So that is to me just one more reason that what Franz I did was wrong.

“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz; Malcolm X

From the Great light of Masonry = “And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds.” 2 Samuel 3:39

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
[i] He married Frau Von Christiani, widow of a Dutch general
[ii] http://www.geocities.com/moorishorthodoxchurch/SAINTANGELO.html
[iii] Estonian Institute
[iv] http://www.schillerinstitute.org/
[v] Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Vienna
[vi] http://www.geocities.com/moorishorthodoxchurch/SAINTANGELO.html

Investigating Committee January 10, 2006

2006-01-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Masonic Matters
January 10, 2006

“Many individuals have, like uncut diamonds, shining qualities beneath a rough exterior.” Juvenal

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Andrew J. Rice, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen.” Samuel Johnson March 1776

Dear Brother___________,

I am appointing you as a member of the investigating committee for the enclosed petitioner. All the paperwork you need is enclosed in this large envelope. When you have completed the investigation please either mail or give the completed investigation form to me, so that the petition for this man and your investigation report can be read at our next stated communication.

Being on an Investigation Committee is an honor, but it is also a responsibility; I am confident that you will make sure that your duties as an investigator are carried out in a friendly but thorough way, and that you will leave the petitioner and his family a good impression of yourself and our Lodge.

A man’s journey into Freemasonry begins with his petition, and it continues by meeting Masons who are on this committee who will do their best to get to know him and help him get to know us. His journey may continue on through the three degrees and for the rest of his life if he is elected to receive the degrees by the brethren of the Lodge, or it may end quickly; we will find this out when his petition is voted on at our next Stated Communication. It is at this beginning stage, when you are visiting with him, that some questions are asked and answered both by you as the investigator, and by the petitioner and his wife.

A very basic, important duty and privilege the Master of a Lodge has is to be the one who selects and appoints the committee to investigate petitioners for the degrees and also for membership. The importance in selecting the Brothers who will project the tenets and virtues that we Masons are dedicated to by a proper, dignified and friendly representation of our Lodge and the Brethren cannot be overemphasized, and that is the reason I’m appointing you as an investigator. In addition to the brothers who signed the petition for this man it is you and the other two brethren on the investigating committee that deliver the first impression the petitioner and his wife have of our Lodge. It is from this first impression that he will base his opinion, and will also be investigating us, to know how we act and to learn what may be expected of him in regards to his actions should we elected him to be with us in Freemasonry. Therefore, the brethren who are appointed to be an investigator need to do their utmost to conduct themselves in a manner that is above reproach, and I have complete confidence in you to do that.

Those I have appointed to be on the investigation committee are known only to me, you are not to be known to each other. You are to call and make an appointment as an individual member of this Lodge. Should the petitioner mention another Mason, coming to call, resist the temptation to be there at that time too, instead make your meeting with him for just you and he and his wife. Investigators are not to complete the investigation as a team.

The following are suggestions that I offer to each and every Mason I appoint as an investigator should they be needed and wanted.

Phone to set up an appointment well in advance of the meeting, and try to set it up at the petitioner’s home.

Later phone to confirm the appointment, and suggest that his wife’s presence would be nice.

Dress appropriately, you will be a guest in the petitioner’s home and you should behave as a guest, and that begins with arriving on time. Being a good guest helps make a good first impression.

You should introduce yourself and give the position you hold, or have held in Lodge, or in our Grand Lodge.

If an alcoholic drink is offered, refuse it. This is not merely a social call; it is to respond to this man’s request, through his petition to our Lodge for the degrees of Masonry.

When the time is appropriate present the enclosed information about Masonry, which includes the dates and times of our Stated Communications; the amount of the annual dues; the commitment a petitioner needs to make when he is receiving the degrees, including the education and proficiency that is required here in Minnesota.

Ask him what he expects to gain by joining the fraternity.

Find out the extent of his involvement in his church.

Confirm that he isn't an atheist.

Be attentive to the reactions of his wife and family and be ready to answer their questions.

Discuss other organizations related to Freemasonry, which may interest others in the family, such as DeMolay, Job’s Daughters, and the Order of the Eastern Star.”

Additionally you as an investigator will want to make sure he is a man of good morals, and that he does not consistently use foul language in his conversation;

You should, if it comes up, tell the petitioner that Freemasonry is not a religion with a plan of personal salvation; but a philosophy that is in keeping with religious devotion, and good morals. That our fraternity is not a political organization; it does not permit partisan political discussions within its Lodges, but it does instill patriotism and expects its adherents to be good citizens; it does not tell a man what to think or believe, it teaches men to think for themselves.

Make your meeting as brief as possible, don't overstay your welcome, but make sure all questions are answered satisfactorily before you leave. And if you don't know the answer to a question, be big enough to say so; write the question down, find the answer, or come to me for my help, and give the answer to the petitioner as soon as you are able.

At the end of your visit you may want to leave him with some information, such as some booklets from the Masonic Information Center, which are enclosed with this letter. I recommend “What is a Mason?” “Who are the Masons and what do they do?” “There’s no Sin in Symbols;” “Friend to Friend pamphlet;” and “Freemasonry - A Way of Life.” Use any or all of them as you see fit.

If possible, invite the petitioner to an upcoming open Lodge function so he can see our building and meet some of our members and families. If you do this please know you will be one who helps in introducing him to others at the function, and to act as a good host.

Sincerely and fraternally,

I. M. Friendly
Master of Pleasant Outlook Lodge #1

“Come; give us a taste of your quality.” Shakespeare – Hamlet.

From the Great light of Masonry = “Give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:12 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Symbolism of Hands - Novemeber 10, 2005

2005-11-10T22:09:00.000-08:00

Masonic Matters
November 10, 2005

“Forsooth, brothers, fellowship is heaven, and lack of fellowship is hell: Fellowship is life, and lack of fellowship is death; and the deeds that ye do upon the earth, it is for fellowship’s sake that ye do them.” William Morris [1834-1896] from ‘The Dream of John Ball.’

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not meant as the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Andrew J. Rice, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Why should your fellowship a trouble be, since man’s chief pleasure is society?
Sir John Davies [1569-1626] in Nosce Teipsum Chap 32

Have you ever thought about the hands and the symbolism attached to them in Freemasonry? One of the first uses of the hands comes just after the candidate is received in his First Degree, when the Senior Deacon takes him by the hand to be his guide in the degree. Later in the degree, during the second section of the lecture, it is explained to him that when he was taken by the right hand after his first prayer in Lodge he arose and feared nothing because he was in the hands of a trusty friend.

In the Bible, (The Great Light of Masonry,) there are many references of the hands, and if we were to want to find a Biblical reference to hands we could look at the book of Proverbs. In speaking of Wisdom, King Solomon said: “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honors.” Proverbs 3:13-16 NIV.

When we think of the hands, the right and left, the left is a symbol of equity and justice because unlike the right the left is impartial. This is illustrated in a filmstrip I use for the third section of the lecture for the first degree; in that filmstrip Justice is illustrated with the scales of Justice in her left hand and a sword in her right. This is because the left hand symbolizes the passive and the right active things.

The right hand is used to confirm and oath, as well as to give as a token of Brotherly Love and Friendship. The right had has in all ages and in many cultures been deemed to represent the virtue of fidelity. Among the people of Israel during the time of the ministry of the apostles of Jesus the right hand was considered as a token of friendship and fidelity. This can be seen in Galatians 2:9 where Paul wrote that James, Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship. [NASB]

I have a friend, a sterling example of a Mason and a Past Grand Master, who will reference that Bible passage at Masonic gatherings by putting out his right hand saying something like; “let me extend to you the right hand of fellowship,” Sometimes he will say; “right hand of Friendship.” Either way I like that phrase and gesture. Both examples are appropriate in a Masonic Lodge, and the word ‘friendship’ makes it appropriate everywhere; but when your mind is on all the troubles of the day it is hard to remember to use his example.

In general the hand is a symbol of power; the right hand of power skillfully directed.

It is said that among the ancient Egyptians that “the hand was a symbol of a builder, or one who is fond of building, because all labor proceeds from the hand.”

“Brother clasps the hand of brother, stepping fearlessly through the night.”
Sabine Baring-Gould [1834-1924]

In the second section of the lecture of the first degree; part of the explanation of the degree says that we enter upon the weaker part of Masonry. It is not the first degree that is weak. The first degree is the foundation of our Masonic instruction, just as the first grade in school provides the foundation for the second and following grades, it is called the lowest grade not because it is less important than those that follow, but because it deals with the things that must be learned first in order for any progress in knowledge to be made.

The information and the lessons of the First Degree are of the utmost importance to the new Mason who is a beginner in Masonry and is just beginning his quest for truth. He is a novice laying the foundation for his Masonic life; he has been prepared to become a Mason in his heart before he knocked at the door of the Lodge. The heart is on the left side of man, and the first degree deals with the things of the heart, which are the very fundamentals of Freemasonry.

Masonry is a progressive science, but the first degree must never be laid aside as we progress in Masonry. The first degree and the second degree remain with us as we attain the sublime degree, and then proceed with our Masonic studies to improve ourselves in Masonry.

From the Great Light of Masonry = “After he left there, he came upon Jehonadab son of Recab, who was on his way to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, ‘are you in accord with me as I am with you?’ ‘I am’ Jehonadab answered. ‘If so,’ said Jehu, give me your hand.’ So he did, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot.” 2 Kings 10:15 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or all 3, in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

References for this issue of Masonic Matters:

Masonic Concordance of the Holy Bible by Brother C.C. Hunt re-published in 1984 by the Masonic Book Club
The Lost Key by Brother Prentiss Tucker, published in 1927
Mackey’s Revised Encyclopedia Revised by Brother Robert Clegg 1929 edition

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

3 Lights - Greater and Lesser - October 10, 2005

2005-10-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
October 10, 2005

“Virtue could see to do what virtue would by her own radiant light, though sun and moon were in the flat sea sunk. And wisdom’s self oft seeks to sweet retired solitude, where with her best nurse Contemplation she plumes her feathers, and lets grow her wings that in the various bustle of resort were all to-ruffled, and sometimes impair’d. He that has light within his own clear breast may sit I’ th’ centre and enjoy the bright day; but he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts benighted walks under the midday sun.” John Milton [1608-1674]

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not meant as the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Andrew J. Rice, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

The Three Great Lights and the Three Lesser Lights of Freemasonry

The new Mason has sworn fealty to his own higher-self at the Altar of his own idealistic longing for a better life. Then he begins to see the Light by which Masons work and the meaning of the Three Great Lights by the light of the Three Lesser Lights, which are explained to him. At this time he, the then candidate, has little appreciation or understanding of all the symbolism and lessons that are represented by the three Greater and Lesser Lights.[i]

We study the symbolism of Freemasonry for only one purpose; to find out exactly what it means. In studying we are not trying to read into Masonry anything which was not originally intended to be placed there. We do not attempt to change the meaning of Masonry.[ii]

To understand the allegory and lesson behind the Three Lesser Lights we need to understand the lesson of the allegory of the Three Great Lights; they need to be considered together. The lesson of the Greater and Lesser lights is that our higher-self should be in control and ought to govern us, (our entire being.) The Greater Lights, (our higher-self,) is to be seen by the Lesser Lights, (our lower-self.[iii]) By ‘seen’ it is meant that our lower-self, (represented by the three lesser lights,) is to recognize and obey the lessons of the Greater Lights, and especially the Great Light of Masonry - that library of wisdom, which points out the whole duty of man.

This is not always easy to do, and there is a Biblical passage that points out the difficulty we as humans have in doing what is right. This passage also might illustrate the difference between our higher-self and our lower-self. In Romans 7:15 Saint Paul wrote: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (NIV.) The New Living Translation, (NLT,) says the same thing, but phrases it differently: “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.” [iv]

What Paul wrote about himself could also be written by many of us regarding ourselves. We sometimes are governed by our lower-selves when we would rather be governed by our higher-selves; sometimes we allow our ego[v], our personality, to come to the forefront instead of our spirit.[vi]

Brother Benjamin Franklin gives a good reference to human beings not being the bodies we see, but rather that human beings are spirits. He wrote in his essay on death; “We are spirits. That bodies should be lent to us to us, while they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge, or in doing good to our fellow creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God.”[vii] (Our bodies are not us. We have an immortal soul that survives after the body is put into the grave, that is what is symbolized by the Acacia plant; the immortality of the soul.)
What Saint Paul Wrote in Romans 7:15 has this explanation according to the 1917 edition of the Scofield Reference notes: “The ‘I’ which is Saul of Tarsus, and the ‘I’ which is Paul the apostle are at strife, and "Paul" is in defeat.”

Many a man is unable to ‘see’ the Great Lights except in a very dim and partial fashion, because the lesser lights within the individual are either asleep or hostile, and their light is turned away from the Great Lights[viii] and are thus not recognized. So the candidate is told he sees the Three Great Lights of Masonry by the light of the Three Lesser, but this is true only because his own lesser lights are awakened to view the higher-self he can become. The higher-self is represented by the Divine Law, and it is important then that our lesser lights are not only able to ‘see’ the Divine Law but also to get a correct impression from it.

It is important that our own lesser lights, our lower-selves, be divested of all vices and superfluities, so that our lesser lights, (our lower-selves,) are not hampered in any way from being able to move to the higher-self that we aspire to be. The symbolism of these Greater and Lesser Lights, (the lesson if-you-will,) is thought control and self control. Masonry is a progressive science and every step we take in learning and understanding the lessons behind the allegories of Freemasonry brings out information that help us see more and more clearly what Freemasonry has to teach us.

“Life itself is but the shadow of death, and souls departed but the shadows of the living. All things fall under this name. The sun itself is but the dark simulacrum, and light but the shadow of God.”
Sir Thomas Brown [1605-1682]

I have long maintained that the Three Great Lights of Masonry should only be lighted by the Three Lesser Lights. This to me is evident because of the wording in the ritual of the first degree. However, here in Minnesota at least, each Lodge that either has or has had an Eastern Star Chapter meeting in the Lodge Room will have a light directly above the Altar. I belong to two Lodges, and my plural Lodge has a spot light directly above the Altar, and my home Lodge has a large light directly above the Altar, in each Lodge room the light above the Altar is there because it is part of the Eastern Star ceremonies and the lights are on a separate light switch so that it can be turned on when the Bible is opened and turned off when the Bible is closed; that is for the Eastern Star Ceremonies. But in most every Lodge I’ve been at the spot light is many times on while the other lights are off in a certain part of our degree work, so the effect is that the candidate sees the Three Great Lights by the light of the three Lesser Lights and the spot light above the Altar.

Not to beat this subject to death, but there is no part in the degree work that says anything about a spotlight shining on the Three Great Lights. The only mention of the Spot Light is in the ceremony for the Lodge of Sorrow here in Minnesota, and that was added in the 1990’s because most Lodges have such a thing, so the Masons reviewing the Lodge of Sorrow ceremony put something in to use it.

I admit I am a purist when it comes to the ritual of Freemasonry. I like to see it done well, and that the symbolism is kept pure, and communicated to the Brethren watching the degree as well as taking part in it. For the correct effect to go along with our ritual the spotlight is not necessary.

“The Light of Lights looks always on the motive, not the deed: The Shadow of Shadows on the deed alone.” William Butler Yeats [1865-1939]

From the Great light of Masonry = “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:2 AV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
[i] The Lost Key of Freemasonry by Brother Prentiss Tucker #136 & 137
[ii] The Lost Key #138
[iii] The Lost Key # 148
[iv] You may also want to see Galatians 5:17
[v] Our lower-self
[vi] Our higher-self
[vii] This is from a letter he wrote to his brother’s step-daughter at the death of his brother. If you would like a copy of this letter just let me know and I’ll send you a copy by e-mail.
[viii] The Lost Key #153

Masonic Work

2005-09-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
September 10, 2005

“There were those who thought that the power of Masonry lay in her secrecy; some think so still, not knowing that its real power lies in the sanctity of its truth, the simplicity of its faith, the sweetness of its spirit, and its service to mankind, and that if all its rites were made public today it would still hold the hearts of men.”
Brother Joseph Fort Newton

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not meant as the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Andrew J. Rice, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

It has been said that the purpose of Freemasonry, as a fraternity, is not to get more men into Masonry but rather to get more Masonry into men.[i] While I believe that is a true statement, I also believe that getting more Masonry into our members does not need to be exclusive of bringing more men into Freemasonry. Freemasonry is an important and worthwhile institution and I think every man who would like to be a Freemason should have the opportunity to petition a Lodge.

Some time ago I met a Mason who said that the purpose of Freemasonry was to make more Masons. He said we were expected to bring in new members; that was the work we were here to do.

As I listened to what he was saying I couldn’t help but remember an old story, I’m sure you’ve heard it too, about a new Mason who had seen nothing but degree work since he had been made a Mason. One day he met with the Master of his Lodge and asked him when he would begin learning the work of a Mason. He said, “Since I’ve taken my degrees, I’ve seen quite a few other men take their degrees, that’s all we’ve been doing in Lodge since I joined, and I’ve been wondering when I will begin the work of a Freemason?” “Well,” the Master said, “this is the work of a Freemason, taking part in the degrees and bringing more men into Masonry.” The new Mason said “I thought there was more to the work of a Mason.”

Have you heard that before? I think I first heard that story when I was a very young Mason, and the point of the story, when it was told to me, was that there was more to Masonry than degree work. In fact, there has been over the years a feeling that learning the proficiency was not that important when it comes to learning about Freemasonry, and I have heard it suggested that the degree work is not that important, and that it could be read out of a book just to satisfy the formality of degree work and after going through the degrees, the new Mason could then get down to the task of learning about Freemasonry.

From the beginning of the ritual of the First Degree the Candidate is told that Masonry is a Course of hieroglyphical and moral instruction. It is true that “Masonry teaches in signs and symbols, in pictures and parables”. We were told in the charge of the First Degree that if we are to improve in Masonic Knowledge we are to converse with well-informed Brethren, who will be always as ready to give as we will be ready to receive instruction, to keep sacred and inviolable the mysteries of the fraternity, as these are to distinguish us from the rest of the community, and to mark our consequence among Masons.[ii] Consequence in this context means “The act, or fact, of following as an effect or result upon something antecedent.”[iii] That implies that we as Masons need to lead and to teach our new brethren in the explanations of the allegories of Masonry. When we joined Masonry we did so to learn, to improve ourselves, and to subdue our passions. We Freemasons, I would say, no matter how long we’ve been in the craft, still have an eager and receptive mind when it comes to learning what Freemasonry has to teach us.

It is fairly well known in education circles that a receptive mind is affected by suggestion and repetition. The rituals and the degree work of Freemasonry provide constant repetition of the ‘most beautiful and dramatic lessons in Moral Science - provided, and this is important, provided that the Mason seeing the degrees and ceremonies knows what the symbolism of those ceremonies mean.’[iv] “Where the meaning of the symbolism is not known, Masonry is but little more than a mere fraternal organization and her transcendently beautiful, dramatic lessons are almost if not entirely wasted.” [v]

When the meanings of the ceremonies, symbols and degree work are being learned and are known by Freemasons this constitutes ‘Masonic Work.’ The constant training and learning, by watching and participating in the degree work and rituals of Freemasonry, along with instruction and learning, of what all of that along with the symbolism contained in them, is the Masonic Work being taught by suggestion and repetition. Understanding and contemplation of our rituals helps the Freemason to be able to translate the actions and the words of our degree work into those real teachings which he can use to affect his own life. When that happens he is in possession of that ‘Masonic Light by which Masons work and then, and not until then, is he able to do real Masonic Work,’[vi] which is the changing and alteration of his subjective mind by the understanding and intelligent repetition of the lessons to be learned in that Course of Hieroglyphical and Moral instruction, taught according to types, emblems, and allegorical figures.

The mysteries and the secrets of our “Gentle Craft” are hidden rightly enough - they’re hidden in plain sight. Where better to hide something than in plain view where it will be overlooked by most, even those who should know. Masons are searching and aching for leadership to lead the way and explain the lessons and mysteries to them, so that they may improve themselves and their lives.

“The Mason on the sidelines must understand what he sees, or it cannot produce any impression which could sink down into his subjective mind there to add itself to other previous and similar impressions and, so become part of his character.”
Brother Prentiss Tucker

From the Great light of Masonry = “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” Deuteronomy 4:6 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title in the subject line, or just put ‘All 3,’ and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
[i] Paraphrase of what the late PGM Ed Waldon used to say.
[ii] Charge of the First Degree Minnesota
[iii] New Century Dictionary
[iv] The Lost Key by Prentiss Tucker 1927 Edition
[v] ibid
[vi] ibid

Oaths & Obligations

2005-08-10T22:18:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
August 10, 2005

“A serving-man, proud in heart and mind; that curled my hair, wore gloves in my cap, served the lusts of my mistresses heart, and did the act of darkness with her; swore as many oaths as I spake words, and broke them in the sweet face of heaven; one that slept in the contriving of lust and waked to do it.” Shakespeare [King Lear]

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Andrew J. Rice, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Swear me, Kate, like a lady as thou art, a good mouth filling oath.” Shakespeare [Henry IV]

Oaths and Obligations

An Obligation is the act of binding one’s self by a promise, such as in the case of a moral or legal duty: It is a binding requirement as to action or a duty imposed. An Oath, however, is different. It is a solemn appeal to God in attestation of the truth of a statement, or the binding character of a promise: To take an oath upon a Bible means that a statement or promise is strengthened by such an appeal.[i]

In the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded in the book of Matthew Chapters 5, 6, & 7 in the Great Light of Masonry, there are many things that Christians, Masons, and especially Christian Masons will recognize and take to heart, and maybe even find a little troubling too. If you haven’t read these chapters of the book of Matthew lately you may want to take a look at them again.

It is in the Sermon on the Mount where we will find the Lord’s Prayer[ii], the scripture that is referenced in the First Degree about Ask, Seek and Knock[iii], The Beatitudes,[iv] the Golden Rule,[v] and many other scripture sayings that we most likely are familiar with. Plus it is in the Sermon on the Mount where we will find the scripture that many find troubling about Masonry; the scripture about “Swear not at all,” or oaths[vi].

In my opinion, The Sermon on the Mount is a wonderful Sermon or set of Scriptures for the Christian Mason to read. This sermon was given at the beginning of the Ministry of Jesus and most of the expressions in the sermon were meant to be strong statements for the purpose of emphasis and to hold the attention of the listeners. When reading commentaries on many parts of the Sermon on the Mount we will find that not everything said can or should be taken literally. A good example of this is of all the commentaries and explanations written in books and study Bibles on all the various scriptures in the New Testament, and on this scripture in particular.

Those who are against a man becoming a freemason will talk about blood oaths and the scripture from the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says that a believer should not swear at all. Here is that passage: “But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven for it is the throne of God: Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king: Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.” Matthew 34-37 - Douay-Rheims Bible[vii]

There is a lot to learn from and about the Sermon on the Mount, and this particular part of it in the many different Study Bibles and Commentaries written on this subject. To me something to keep in mind when looking at this scripture is that Jesus did not say that more than a yes or no is evil, but “that which is over and above these, is of evil.” It is because of evil that there may be more than this. “It is made necessary because of the evil that is in the world.”[viii]

One of the commentaries from a Study Bible may be of interest to you. The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible has this to say about Matthew 5:34: But I say unto you, swear not at all. This should not be understood in the strictest sense, as though it was not lawful to take an oath upon any occasion, in an affair of moment, in a solemn serious manner, and in the name of God; which may be safely done: but of rash swearing, about trivial matters.[ix] [Paraphrased]

In this scripture the meaning is that many people of those days did not consider a promise binding unless it was supported by an oath.[x] It is interesting, when we pursue this idea of swearing to a statement or promise we read in the Authorized Version of the New Testament many instances where Jesus adds to his Yea or Nay by the use of the word Verily, which according to the Oxford English Dictionary was a word frequently used as an emphatic affirmation of the truth of a statement.

Also in Hebrews 5:6 and 7:17 the New Testament tells us that Jesus is to be a Priest in the order of Melchizedek and in 7:20 through verse 24 when speaking of Jesus being made a Priest in the order of Melchizedek: “And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind; you are a priest forever.”[xi]

My purpose in writing about this is not to attempt to poke holes in scripture, but to shed some light on the meaning behind the words in the scriptures. Sometimes scripture is used by some people, (even though well meaning,) to dissuade a Christian from becoming a petitioner, or for an established Mason to quit the fraternity, because they are told the Masonic oath is evil or wrong. I think the learned Mason should be able to speak up and not only tell, but show, that taking an oath in a solemn engagement is not wrong at all - and far from evil.

Too many times a Christian fundamentalist will attack Freemasonry by a charge that this or that in Freemasonry is wrong, anti-Christian, or evil and that charge will go un-answered, even when we know they are wrong. The trouble is, many of us don’t study the Great Light of Masonry enough to be confident in telling them they are wrong and why.

There are many examples I could continue to use here to illustrate that the oath we Freemasons have taken does not conflict with Christianity, but I’m not sure any more than what I have shown is necessary now.

Be confident that there is nothing wrong in Freemasonry; there is nothing to be ashamed of, or to hide from our houses of worship; and nothing to apologize for. Also you should know that any charges against us can be understood and explained honestly and truthfully - by learning and in the case of attack about being not compatible with Christianity; that is not true, and we can prove it.

“I take the official oath to-day with no mental reservations, and no purpose to construe the Constitution or laws by any hypercritical rules.” Abraham Lincoln [1st inaugural address 3-4-1861]

From the Great light of Masonry = “Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.” Hebrews 6:16-17 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

[i] The New Century Dictionary Vol. 1
[ii] Matthew 6:9-13
[iii] ibid 7:7-8
[iv] ibid 5:3-11
[v] ibid 7:12
[vi] ibid 5:33-37
[vii] http://www.searchgodsword.org
[viii] Masonic Concordance of the Holy Bible #2226B
[ix] The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible http://www.searchgodsword.org
[x] See Matthew 23:16-22
[xi] For more information read Hebrews Chapter 7

Membership Survey

2005-07-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
July 10, 2005

“Every Problem can be solved if you take some quiet time to reflect, seek guidance, and put things into perspective.” Ken Blanchard and Brother Norman Vincent Peale.

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Andrew J. Rice, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

As one who has been quite active in freemasonry over the years, and also as one who for a time was not able to be active in his Lodge I can tell you that there are times, because of other obligations, it can be difficult for a brother to attend Lodge and participate in Lodge activities. The number of conflicting obligations that can keep a brother from attending Lodge are really too numerous to mention, but those conflicting obligations are legitimate and important. However, while this is true, it is also true that there are times when there are no conflicting obligations and yet a brother decides for some reason to not attend Lodge or participate in Lodge activities.

To me some good questions to ask ourselves about these brothers are: Does he enjoy attending Lodge when he does, or doesn’t he? Isn’t it important enough to him, so that he can take it or leave it? Does it bother him if he misses Lodge night? Many times it doesn’t bother a brother to not attend his Lodge. Why is that? Doesn’t he miss being there with his Lodge Brothers? Well I think Brother Dudley Davis has a reasonable answer that might shed some light on the above questions. Brother Davis in book number 3 of “A Workbook for Developing a Strategic Plan for Membership Development” says; “Men who are active in their Masonic Lodge are satisfied with what they find in Lodge. Men who are not active in [their] Masonic Lodge may be satisfied to be a Mason, but they are unsatisfied with what they find in Lodge.”

If a Mason does not attend his Lodge what might he not miss, what isn’t he finding there? I will suggest to you - if what he does not find in his Lodge is important to him he will find it somewhere else. It might be in another Masonic organization, it might be in his church, or it might be in another organization altogether. Something that is true, and that many are not aware of, is that it is easy to say no to something when there is a bigger yes somewhere else.

There are many things a Mason would hope to find in his Lodge: Friends; ritual; learning the lessons of Freemasonry; fellowship; Lodge administration; being given something worthwhile to do.

When polls are taken about what a Mason most likes about Freemasonry it is fellowship that far outpaces the other areas mentioned above. If a Mason doesn’t find fellowship in his Lodge after a certain length of time the Lodge runs the risk of him becoming an inactive member, or worse a demitted Mason or one who becomes arrears in his dues. This is as true of the Mason who has been around for a while as it is of the new Mason who is just learning about masonry and his Lodge. If the fellowship, the friendliness of the other Masons isn’t there or it goes away, the one missing the fellowship will go away too. Where will he go? He will go where he can find what he is looking for. And what is he looking for? He is looking for a place where he can feel good and be happy. He wants to feel good about his activities and the places he frequents. He wants to be happy with the men he interacts with.

Are there one or more cliques in your Lodge? In your Lodge are there any Masons who are attempting to run the Lodge from behind the scenes? Are there some members who feel excluded from what is going on in your Lodge? Are there members of your Lodge who don’t attend your Lodge, but can be found visiting other Lodge Communications, and Masonic functions[i] elsewhere? If any of these things exist does your Lodge leadership know about it, and care?

I would suggest that we all came into Masonry wide eyed and eager, some of us have remained so, and some of us haven’t – why?

Membership in Freemasonry in general and in a specific Lodge is very important, too important to let members drop away without trying to find out how to save them. Trying to add new members through petitions, restorations, and affiliations while we have members demitting, dying, being dropped for non-payment of dues, and suspension is like trying to fill up a pail at the pump when that pail has three or more holes in the bottom of it.

Six years ago the Grand Lodge of Minnesota announced the results of a survey taken of Masons who were no longer active within 60 months of receiving their third degree. The number of months it took for these brothers to become inactive varied from Brother to Brother, but their reasons for losing interest in their Lodges fell into some common areas. This information was from fairly new Masons, but from my observation of Masons over my 28 years in the craft is that these same reasons are also why some older Masons are no longer active.

What the survey indicated was that men joined Freemasonry because:

A friend or acquaintance was a Mason
To involve themselves in community service activities
to meet new friends

These three items possibly could all be summed up under the topic of fellowship. In a very unscientific poll I’ve conducted on a website, was this question: “What is most important to you in Freemasonry?” over half of the respondents have said fellowship was what they enjoyed the most. The rest of the responses were about evenly split between education and ritual; education just ahead of ritual. This isn’t too surprising to me, because I have long though that most men will enjoy the fellowship and friendship found in a Masonic Lodge. In fact, the survey results above show that fellowship is the reason why most Masons petitioned the Lodge in the first place – for the sense of belonging, which Abraham Maslow says is at the top of the pyramid of human desires.

In the Minnesota Survey one thing that was indicated was that, the expectations of brotherhood and fellowship needs to be met.

The survey also indicated the kind of things that would be likely to attract these brethren to attend their Lodge or a function of the Lodge.

Participating in Lodge charitable fund raising causes
Receiving a call reminding them of a Lodge function
Participating in Lodge civic activities
Attending a Lodge dinner
To hear a special Masonic program speaker
Attending a Lodge picnic
Involving their family in Lodge activities
Participating in Lodge recreational activities
Attending a major sporting event with Lodge Members

I will add that Masons like to see the opening and closing ceremonies done as well as our Brothers are capable of doing them. The ceremonies and degree work in a Masonic Lodge should, in my opinion, be taken seriously, and done in the manner our earlier brethren intended them to be conducted. Regardless of our abilities no one will criticize us for doing our best.

In “A Strategic Planning Guide for Masonic Lodges,” in book 1 it is mentioned what needs Masons have that need to be met in order to make them feel like participating and attending.

A sense of belonging, real fellowship with other men;
The need to be recognized and not embarrassed;
The need to know what is expected, no surprises;
The need to not waste time;
The need to feel proud about membership;
The need for his organization to be concerned with his family and the community;
The expectation of being well led by men with skill;
The opportunity to excel;
The need to grow both morally and ethically.

M.W. Brother Ed Waldon, PGM of Minnesota, once said that every Masonic Lodge has the only mission statement they will ever need, and it is communicated to the candidate just before he is made a Mason. However, there are times when Masons will come up with a Mission statement anyhow, and there is one in book 1 of the strategic planning guide developed by Masons participating in a conference in Tulsa Oklahoma. Their Mission statement being unanimously adopted at their conference was presented at the next gathering of the Conference of Grand Masters of North America. Here is the mission statement.

“The mission of freemasonry is to promote a way of
life that binds like minded men in a worldwide
brotherhood that transcends all religious, ethnic,
cultural, social and educational differences; by
teaching the great principles of Brotherly Love, Relief,
and Truth; and, by the outward expression of these,
through its fellowship, its compassion and its concern,
to find ways in which to serve God, family, country, neighbors and self.”

There is a poem I like, which I think applies to the membership problems of Masonic Lodges, which ultimately is the membership problem of Grand Lodges.

Friends Old and New
Anonymous

Make new friends, but keep the old, --
Those are silver, these are gold;
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.

Friendships that have stood the test of
Time and change – are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray,
Friendship never knows decay.

For ‘mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more our youth renew;
But old friends alas may die,
New friends must their place supply.

Cherish friendship in your breast;
New is good, but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old, --
Those are silver, these are gold.

I am concerned about the membership of Freemasonry, and I know there are many other Masons who love our fraternity who are concerned too. If you are in a position of leadership in your Lodge, and know of some of your members who live close enough to your Lodge meeting place to attend – but don’t, why not go to that Brother and ask him why he is not attending, to see if you can help him start to attend again. If you are a Brother who no longer attends your Lodge, because you aren’t satisfied with what you find in Lodge – talk to the Master of your Lodge – tell him your concerns, possibly you and he can figure out a way for you to be happier and thus you might feel good attending your Lodge again.

To solve the drain on our membership it takes Masons who care about each other and who care about their Lodge too. I truly believe if this is missing in a Lodge, that Lodge is headed for some serious trouble.

“If we take care in the beginning, the end will take care of itself.”
Brother Norman Vincent Peale and Ken Blanchard.

From the Great light of Masonry = “Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel 5:12 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
[i] By Masonic Functions I also include activities of the Rites and the Shrine.

Four Crowned Martyrs

2005-06-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
June 10, 2005

“Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.” Brother Robert Burns

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Andrew J. Rice, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Be still, be still, my soul; it is but for a season: Let us endure an hour to see injustice done.”
A.E. Houseman (1859-1936)

“Grant we beseech thee O Almighty God, that as we have been informed of the constancy of the glorious martyrs in the profession of Thy faith, so we may experience their kindness in recommending to us Thy mercy.” Prayer offered on November 8th yearly to commemorate the actions of the Four Crowned Martyrs.

Quatuor Coronati

The word Quaternion means a set of four, and it can refer to people as well as to things or objects. The set of four can be groups of people. For instance, that’s why there is a maximum of 40 members of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge #2076 in London, chartered by the United Grand Lodge of England.

The Quattuor Coronati means “The Four Crowned Ones.” There is a difference in the spelling when you look in the Regius Poem: At the beginning of the part of the poem that has to do with the Four Crowned Martyrs; in the Old English version it is titled “ARS Quatuor Coronatorum and in the new English version that section is titled “The Art of the Four Crowned Ones.[i]” It is thought that the reason for the transactions of Quatuor Coronati Lodge #2076 being titled ARS Quatuor Coronatorum is because of the spelling in the Regius Poem rather than the Latin spelling of ‘Quattuor.’ By the way Quattuor-Decim is Latin for Fourteen, and Quattuor-Viri Ōrum, means a commission of four members.[ii]

It was mentioned above about the Four Crowned Ones, or the Four Crowned Martyrs, which is an interesting story about some men who would not compromise on their beliefs and thus were put to death. When you read about them you will find there is more than one group of four who could be called Martyrs. The first ones I’ll refer to were killed by the Emperor Diocletian for refusing to sculpt a statue of a pagan god.[iii] These four really were five men, (Claudius, Nicostratus, Symphorianus, Castor, and Simplicius,) because the four had converted another operative mason, (Simplicius,) from being a pagan to being a Christian, and he joined his four friends in refusing to work on a statue of a pagan god, so the five were sealed alive in leaden coffins and tossed into a river[iv] to die.

There were other Operative Masons who completed the statue the five had refused to work on, and when it was completed it was to be dedicated. It was ordered that there be offerings of incense to the god, but four Master Masons Severus, Severianus, Carpoforus, and Victorianus[v]who were also Corniculari,[vi] which means ‘Wing Leader in the City Militia,” refused to offer incense because they were Christians. They too were executed, but the method of their execution was to be beaten to death in front of the statue with whips weighted with leaden balls, called a plumbata.[vii]

The significance to us as Freemasons of this Quattuor Coronati is that these two groups of Operative Masons were and still are regarded as patron saints among the stone-cutters and marble workers, and by extension to Masons.[viii] However, here in the U.S., at least, these Four Crowned Martyrs have been replaced in the ritual of Freemasonry by the Saints John.[ix]

The date of the Festival of the Four Crowned Martyrs is November 8th of each year, since they were drowned in their leaden coffins on November 8, 298 A.D. or in the Common Era, (C.E.) that is also the date of the meeting of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 which meets at Freemasons Hall in London, England each year.

A little known fact, that should be very well known, is that any Master Mason from a Grand Lodge Recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England can become a member of the Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle, (Q.C.C.C.) The cost to belong to the Correspondence Circle is reasonable and members get the proceedings mailed to them each year. The proceedings contain all the papers presented in that year. To join write to ‘The Secretary, QCCC Limited, 20 Great Queen Street, London WC2B5BE, for an application, or by the Internet just go to their web site at: http://www.qccc.co.uk and print out the application right from the site.

“The Cuban Flag was designed by Narciso Lopez, a member of ‘Lodge Estrella Solitaria Del Oriente De Louisiana.’ He drew upon Masonic symbolism in proposing that the flag include a 5 pointed star within a triangle.” Brother Wes Cook, in the book “Did You Know.”

From the Great light of Masonry = “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:7 NIV

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With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
[i] The Regius Poem published by The Masonic Service Association
[ii] Langenscheidt Latin-English / English-Latin Dictionary by Barnes & Noble
[iii] One source, (Catholic Encyclopedia,) says it was Ǽsculapius the god of medicine and Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry says it was the god Apollo.
[iv] Here again there is conflicting information: The Catholic Encyclopedia says it was the river Save; Mackey’s says it was the river Danube; and A Reference Book for Freemasons by Frederick Smyth of the QCCC says it was the River Tiber.
[v] Listed as Secundus, Severianus, Carpoforus, and Victorius in the Catholic Encyclopedia
[vi] Corncularius means Promoted Soldier
[vii] A Reference Book for Freemasons by Frederick Smyth of the QCCC
[viii] ibid
[ix] St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist