The right to Instruction, and the Duty to Instruct

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.

Free-Will and Accord

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.

Masonic Work

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

Membership Survey

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.

Purpose of a Lodge

Masonic Matters
December 10, 2004

“The world talks to the mind. Parents speak more intimately – they talk to the heart.”
Hiam Ginott

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother, Gerald E. Rhoads, 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.

“Few of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love.”
Mother Teresa

For a long time I have maintained that the purpose of a Lodge is to teach and learn. I have felt this way since I petitioned my Lodge for the degrees of Freemasonry, and which was reinforced when I appeared at the Lodge to take my First Degree.

When I appeared at the Lodge for that degree I was asked some questions by the Senior Steward[i] and one of the questions was; “Do you seriously declare upon your honor, before these gentlemen, that you are prompted to solicit the privileges of Masonry, by a favorable opinion conceived of the institution, a desire of knowledge, and a sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow creatures?” A desire of knowledge – that stuck in my mind, and I was sure that my expecting to learn what Masonry had to teach was a well founded expectation.

Then very soon in the Senior Steward’s talk he mentioned something to the effect that Masonry consists of a course of moral instruction, taught by various methods. There was that word ‘Taught’, I knew then I was in for a great learning experience. Well in my Lodge my expectations were fulfilled, thanks to the Brother who signed my petition[ii], and took me under his wing, so to speak. He introduced me to other knowledgeable Masons, and helped me find in Masonry what I had hoped to find.

How did he know what I had hoped to get out of my Masonic journey? He got to know me better as he coached and mentored me and learned what I was interested in, and then led me to find what I had hoped to find.

If Freemasonry is a course taught according to ancient usages, by types, emblems, allegories and allegorical figures, and if Freemasonry is first and foremost an educational institution, we need to have Masons who are willing and able to teach our Masons the lessons that Masonry has to pass on to them, so that their life might be better for having become a Mason.

There are many things under the heading of “Knowledge” that can be passed on to a Brother and one of those things that seems to be either overlooked, or side stepped, is Self-Knowledge.

A Mason is said to be a good Brother “who has studied and knows himself,” and who has learned the first lesson of Freemasonry; to subdue his unworthy passions and try his best to eliminate all the vices, errors and imperfections from his life.[iii]

Our Past Grand Master Neil Neddermeyer has a saying; “Turn on the Light!” Well that is what a Masonic Lodge is supposed to do for the members of the Lodge, and since a Masonic Lodge is a certain number of Masons duly assembled it is the Lodge members who are to help other members turn on the light for themselves.

To Freemasons Light Means Knowledge and some of the knowledge we as Masons are to obtain is self-knowledge. Every Freemason should study himself, because “he who does not know himself; his moral weaknesses, his desires, his powers of toleration, and his real, not his imaginary, spiritual strength, cannot live as the order requires that he ought to live; in the bonds of the closest fraternal love with the whole brotherhood.” [iv] “He who has thoroughly studied himself, and is susceptible to all good impressions, will be subject to much less evil than others.”[v]



Brother George Oliver in his Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry has a section under the term “knowledge,” titled Know Thyself. In that section he says a Mason will despise no man because of
his country or religion, and who will always be ready to convince the world that Truth, Brotherly Love, and Relief, are the grand principles on which he acts.[vi]

One of the things I hear regularly when I’m lucky enough to visit Masonic Lodges is that Masons want to learn about things Masonic. I have learned that Masons want to have a good program of Masonic Education in their Lodge Communications, and they want to have Schools of Instruction, and practices on the rituals and ceremonies of Masonry. In fact, when Masons are asked what they need as a Lodge of Masons, or as individual Masons, you will invariably hear that there is a great need for Lodges to provide information on things that are strictly Masonic, the kind of information they can only receive in a Masonic Lodge, or from Brother to Brother.

If the Master of a Lodge would like to have a school of instruction for the Masons of his Lodge he should be able to have one, and the best one is a District School of Instruction. Schools of Instruction are ordered by the Grand Master,[vii] but it is the duty of the Custodian of the Work in charge of that area to do what he can to assist the Masters of Lodges[viii] and the District Representatives to have schools and practices in the Lodges and districts. It is the job of the Lodge Education Officer to make sure there is a program[ix] of Masonic information on the symbolism and story behind the allegories of Masonry. Allegory means story, and there is, it seems to me, always more to the story than meets the eye.

Being a new Mason so many years ago, I thought every Mason was experiencing what I had been experiencing, and I honestly believe many were, but as I matured in Masonry I found that not every Mason was getting out of Masonry what he had hoped to get.

As it says in the Minnesota Masonic Manual; “as it is from those, who are capable of giving instruction that we can properly expect to receive it.” We must have Masons who are capable of giving instruction, and those of us who are - need to do what we can to be certain there are Masons in the future who are capable too.

“Self-knowledge is best learned, not by contemplation, but by action. Strive to do your duty and you will soon discover of what stuff you are made.”
Brother Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

At the 59th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Wyoming held at Lander, Wyoming on August 23rd & 24th of 1933 Brother Joseph M. Lowndes gave a report on some jurisdictions from around the world.

Over the years there has in some circles been interest in how the Masons, who were Jewish, were treated in Germany during the Nazi’s elimination policy of the Third Reich.

Right Worshipful Brother Lowndes, as the Grand Secretary, and the one who handled foreign correspondence, in his report included information on Freemasonry in Germany.

“Dissolution of the Masonic Lodges in Germany and their reformation on a ‘purely Christian basis’ was announced in Berlin on April 19 of this year, by the Grand Lodge. The new name will be ‘National Christian Order of Frederick the Great,’ and Jews will be excluded from membership. One million members will be affected. If it is a Christian Order which they have organized on a purely Christian basis, they must teach those things that were taught by the Master Jesus. I wonder where they get the idea that He ever excluded anyone from the religion He taught. If I remember rightly, He said, ‘suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of God.’ I do not find any mention where the Jewish children were exempt.”
“What we need today is God’s church, teaching God’s word, doing things in the name of God and believing in the God whom Jesus taught us to believe in.”

“The child is the father of the man.” Wordsworth





Here is some information of a Masonic Nature that is not new to most Masons, but it is still interesting. If you are fortunate enough to be traveling to Great Britain with R. W. Brother Andy Rice next June you may want to take some of your time to visit Salisbury Abby because there is evidence there of Freemasonry dated as early as the Square found at Baal’s Bridge in Ireland. However, the Abby at Salisbury, (commonly called Salisbury’s Abby, which is not too far from Stonehenge,) has some words chiseled in the stone above the door to the Abby. The engraving is thought to date from the early 1500’s: “As the compass goes round without deviation from the circumference, so, doubtless, truth and loyalty never deviate. Look well to the end, quoth John Murdo."
“The best way to make children good is to make them happy.” Brother Oscar Wilde

What I Want
By Brother Edgar A Guest

I don’t want a pipe and I don’t want a watch,
I don’t want cigars or a bottle of scotch.
I don’t want a thing your money can buy,
I don’t want a shirt or a four-in-hand-tie.
If you really would make this old heart of mine glad,
I just want to know you’re still fond of your dad.
You women folk say, and believe it I can,
“It’s so terribly hard to buy things for a man!”
And from all that I’ve heard I am sure it must be.
Well, I don’t want you spending your money on me,
The joy that I crave in a store can’t be had.
I just want to know you’re still fond of your dad.
Get on with your shopping: Give others the stuff!
For me just a hug and a kiss are enough!
Just come in at Christmas with love in your eye
And tell me you think I’m a pretty swell guy,
With all that for my gift I can never be sad.
I just want to know you’re still fond of your dad.

From the Great light of Masonry = “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged,
[grandparents,] and parents are the glory of their children.” Proverbs 17:6 (NLT)

Masonic Matters is sent out monthly free of charge by e-mail to anyone who would like to receive it. If you enjoy Masonic Matters please share it with others. To subscribe, or to unsubscribe to Masonic Matters just send an e-mail to ed@halpaus.net with your request in the subject line, and that will do the trick.

“Does Freemasonry have a ‘system of ethics’ peculiarly its own? It does not because no society can have one, any more than one people, or religion, or language can have one. What truthfulness is everywhere else is what truthfulness is in Masonry; its honor differs from no other man’s honor because honor cannot differ.” Brother H.L. Haywood

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

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
[i] W.B. Dallas Olson, who was the Master of Mora Lodge #223 when I was the Senior Warden.
[ii] W.B. Frank G. Johnson.
[iii]M.W. Brother George Oliver, Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry
[iv] Masonry Defined, Johnston 1930 edition
[v] ibid
[vi] Brother George Oliver, Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry
[vii] Minnesota Masonic Code – Section G18.09
[viii] There are knowledgeable Masons who are Monitors of the Work to help Lodges.
[ix] That is why I write and Publish T.F.S. – To subscribe send an e-mail to ed@halpaus.net

Who runs a Masonic Lodge?

Masonic Matters
September 21, 2004

“Perfect wisdom hath four parts, viz., wisdom, the principle of doing things aright; justice, the principle of doing things equally in public and private; fortitude, the principle of not flying danger, but meeting it; and temperance, the principle of subduing desires and living moderately.” Plato

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother, Gerald E. Rhoads, 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.

“Tolerance comes with age; I see no fault committed that I myself could not have committed at some time or other.” Brother Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

As I write this another hurricane is headed for the southern coast states here in the U.S. I think most Grand Lodges are making donations to the M.S.A. for the relief of those affected by these hurricanes. I know the Grand Lodge of Minnesota is, and my Grand Lodge is also collecting donations from Minnesota Masons to send to the M.S.A. If a Mason would like to make a contribution to help the victims of the hurricanes, donations can be sent directly to the Masonic Service Association of North America – Silver Spring Maryland 20910-4785 or to the Grand Lodge of Minnesota at 200 East Plato Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55107 Mark your check “hurricane Relief.” Any contributions received by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota will be forwarded to the M.S.A.

A smile for this time of the day
by Herbert V. Prochnow
“A divinity student named Tweedle
Refused to accept his degree;
He didn’t object to the “Tweedle,”
But hated the “Tweedle, D.D.”

As you may know I have a web site called Masonic Matters, (http://www.masonicmatters.org.) I announced it not too long ago, and as luck would have it we had a rain & lightening storm just about the same time, and my server went down. (That problem is corrected now.) However, it was up again in a day or so, and then my site was working again.

I have had the domain name for about two years now, but I had no idea how to build a site. Well, thanks to a high school student, who built the site for me, the site is up and running. I’m pretty pleased with the site and I think if you visit it you will like it. I have run out of space to put things on it already, but I hope to get more space so that I can load more onto the site. I will be adding interesting Masonic information and education items as time goes by, and space allows. Please visit the site and if you have any suggestions I would like to hear them.

“Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.” Albert Einstein

Who runs a Masonic Lodge?

Who runs a Masonic Lodge? Who is the Mason in charge, or who should be the Mason in charge? Is it the same person?

Some will say that the Master for the time being is in the one who is in charge, and that would be a correct assumption. However, the truth is that no one Mason is the only one in charge of a Masonic Lodge. It’s true the Master is responsible for a lot of things, (if not everything,) that goes on and happens in a Lodge, but he serves as Master because he was elected to do so by the members of his Lodge. The members of the Lodge are in charge of who they wish to represent them in the elected offices.

The other officers were either also elected, or they were appointed by the Master, and they are in charge of the things they are charged to do. The Master is there to help the appointed officers with their jobs should they need his help. Depending on the skills of the Master he may be able to help the other elected officers with their duties as well, but it is expected that they are capable of doing the tasks they are charged with.

One of the nice things about a Masonic Lodge is that there are always Masons who are willing to lend a hand to help any of the officers when they would need it. Many times they will make an actual offer to help, and many times they are asked for their help. The help they are willing to give is always appreciated.

However, it is not good Masonic conduct to just step in and take over a part of a job for one of the officers by any Mason whether he is another officer, a Past Master, or another member of the Lodge. It, in my opinion, is also not good Masonic conduct for an officer to slough off some of his duties to another officer.

Many times someone will think that it would be a Past Master or the Lodge Secretary who is really in charge. But here is the bottom line as far as I’m concerned when it comes to a Masonic Lodge. “We are all in charge of ourselves first, foremost, and always, and we are in charge of other things only when we are given the responsibility to be in charge by someone else,[i] if we haven’t been given that responsibility we’re not the one in charge.”[ii]

“It is our responsibilities, not ourselves, that we should take seriously.” Peter Ustinov

Our Deputy Grand Master, Andy Rice, is planning a trip to England next year, which Masons and their wives can go on, so for those who will be going to England I have some information about the Mason’s Company of a few Hundred years ago you might find interesting, and possibly you might be able to take a walking tour and see where their old building was.

“In 1463 the Company obtained a lease for ninety-nine years of some land and buildings in the city [London], between the present day Basinghall Street and Coleman Street; the buildings were converted at that time to become the first Mason’s Hall.” An interesting fact is that at the end of the 99 year lease in 1562 the Company purchased the property “outright” for the sum of £200.[iii]

I’m sure you know of the London Mason’s Company and some of its history. However, I found this bit of information I thought you might like to read about in the book “Grand Lodge 1717-1967.”

“In 1472 the Company was given a Grant of Arms, the highest token of official recognition.” The Company had a motto; “God Is Our Guide,” but after 1600 the motto was changed to; “In the Lord is all our trust.” In 1481 Edward IV gave the members of the Mason’s Company the right to wear a livery, which is regalia. “At the marriage of Edward VIII to Catherine of Aragon in 1509, the Mason’s were listed [with a rank] No.42 and were allocated five yards of space ‘on the rails’ for the procession.”[iv]

“Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it.” Shakespeare

In a book I have there is a section called interesting lives and interesting facts, and in it there is this short story about Queen Victoria.

“Her exalted rank did not give Queen Victoria immunity from the trials of [being] a Grandmother. One of her grandsons, whose recklessness in spending money provoked her strong disapproval, wrote to the Queen reminding her of his approaching birthday, and delicately suggested that money would be the most acceptable gift. In her own hand she answered, sternly reproving the youth for the sin of extravagance and urging upon him the practice of economy. His reply staggered her: ‘Dear Grandma,’ it ran, ‘thank you for your kind letter of advice. I have sold the same for five pounds.”

Just who this Grandson was is unnamed, but many of her grandson’s became Masons.

“The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not “What a lovely sermon,” but “I will do something.” St. Francis De Sales

“For so work the honey-bees
Creatures that by a rule in nature teach
The act of order to a peopled kingdom.
They have a king and officers of sorts;
Where some, like magistrates, correct at home,
Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad,
Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings,
Make boot upon the summer’s velvet buds;
Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent-royal of their emperor:
Who, busied in his majesty, surveys
The singing masons building roofs of gold,
The civil citizens kneading up the honey,
The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate,
The sad-ey’d justice with his surly hum,
Delivering o’er to executors pale
The last yawning drone.”

From Henry V by William Shakespeare

From “The Great Light of Freemasonry: “For though you walk in the midst of trouble, He will revive you; He will stretch forth His hand against the wrath of your enemies, and His right hand will save you.” Psalm 138:7

Masonic Matters is sent out monthly free of charge by e-mail to anyone who would like to receive it. If you enjoy Masonic Matters please share it with others. To subscribe, or to unsubscribe to Masonic Matters just send an e-mail to ed@halpaus.net with your request in the subject line, and that will do the trick. Back issues of Masonic Matters and T.F.S. maybe viewed at http://www.halpaus.net

“The hardest trial of the heart is, whether it can bear a rival’s failure without triumph.” Aitken

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


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

[i] By election or appointment.
[ii] E.R.H.
[iii] Grand Lodge 1717-1967 page 22
[iv] ibid page 23

Brother, or, Mister?

Masonic Matters
January 19, 2004

“If they knew us and what we stand for I’m convinced they will want to be a part of us.”
Reverend Terry L. Tilton, PGM of Minnesota

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother, Neil E. Neddermeyer, 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.

“Nothing on earth consumes a man more quickly than the passion of resentment.”
Frederich Nietzsche

Do you like country music? I do, in fact I’ve liked it all of my life, but then I like all sorts of music. However, Country is the kind I will choose to listen to most of the time. There has been some great music produced by some fine people over the years. Some songs are serious, some are funny, some are whimsical, and some are what one would call mystical.

One song I like from a while ago is about a young man, a musician, hitch hiking to Nashville and getting a ride from a man in a 1952 Cadillac, the upshot of the song / story is the driver lets him off just out side of Nashville and the young musician thanks him for the ride by saying “Thanks Mister” and the driver answers “You don’t have to call me mister, mister, the whole world calls me Hank.” It’s an obvious reference to getting a ride from the ghost, or spirit, of Hank Williams.

I got to thinking about this because I have noticed something happening recently that I hadn’t noticed at all years ago in Masonry, and that is Masons sometimes refer to, and greet each other, as Mister.

When you see your Brethren at a Lodge function how do you address them? When you see them outside of Lodge how do you greet them? If you send them an e-mail or a letter how do you address them in the message? What if you don’t like a Brother Mason, how would you address him then?

The term Freemasons apply to each other is “Brother.” We refer to each other by that title because of the close bond of union which we share by being united by and in a mutual tie and labors. We are Brethren, and when you and I meet and you address me as Brother that is more than a courtesy, it is an honor you give me because you’re telling me that you regard me as more than an acquaintance.

As we move along in Masonry some will become Masters of a Lodge, and some will get involved on a statewide basis and thus gain another title that comes before the word Brother, such as Worshipful, Right Worshipful, or Most Worshipful. But I will suggest that no matter what title we may have there is no better name for one Mason to call another by than Brother.

I don’t think I’m being too sensitive on this issue because I’m known as Mister to almost everyone in the world, but I’m known as Brother to a select group of people, and they are my Brethren in Freemasonry, and my Sisters in the Order of the Eastern Star. Outside of my family there would be nowhere else I can be called brother, and I personally think it is doing a disservice to a Brother Mason to call him Mister.

By the way the word Brethren is the way we are addressed in a group in Freemasonry, the word Brothers would indicate blood bothers – such as the Smothers Brothers – as opposed to the Brethren of the Mystic Tie.

“Mankind is made up of inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly and the weakest sometimes wisely.” Lord Chesterfield

Above I asked the question: What if you don’t like a Brother Mason, how would you address him then? A while back in an issue of Masonic Matters I wrote about how there is a difference between loving someone and liking someone, and asked if it was possible to love someone and not like them. This goes to Brotherly Love one of the principal tenets of our fraternity. We are told, by Brotherly Love, Masonry conciliates true friendship among those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance, and it does.

Has a Brother Mason done something you dislike? Has a family member done something you dislike? Have you done something a family member or Brother Mason didn’t like? I know I have a time or two. One of the things I have learned over the years is to hate the sin, but love the sinner. Therefore we may not like what another Masonic Brother or Family Member does, but we love the person nonetheless.

Brother and Doctor Rustom S. Davar, Past Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India has said about Brotherly Love: “Love places the highest possible value on another person – not with a view to personal gain but for its own sake. By Brotherly Love we refer to a brother placing on another man the highest possible valuation as a friend; a companion, or a fellow. For him the brother is willing to sacrifice and considers it a privilege to merely be with him. The relationship is itself the reward. Freemasonry provides opportunities for such fellowship.”

The Brotherly Love we as Masons have for each other should go deep into the core of our being, and it should transcend all of the petty differences we have amongst each other. Sometimes it’s hard, but if we do it we will live a happier life. We all want to live a happy life, and it would be well to know that that’s what every other person wants too. It is also good to keep in mind that everyone is fighting a hard battle, and they can use all the kindness and friendship you can give them.

One of the times I was asked to conduct a Masonic Memorial Service, for a deceased Brother in a town about an hour from here, something came up that was definitely unique.
There is a part in the service I use where there is an opportunity for Friends and Brother Masons to get up and say a little something about our deceased Brother. At this particular time a Brother stood up and began to say how our deceased Brother owned a Tractor Dealership, and that he had bought his equipment from him, and consequently was in there to buy parts etc. from time to time. And on one trip while he was at the Parts counter a mouse darted from a nearby wall around a corner into the parts room. The Mason who was telling the story said he had said to his Brother that he had a mouse in the building and observed that he might like to set a trap or two, but our Brother Replied, “Oh I know he’s here. He’s just trying to make a living, and so far he’s the only one making a good living out of this place.” Our Brother understood that all of God’s creatures are fighting a hard battle, and he thought he could give them a break.

Well that story put a smile on the face of everyone there, thinking about the kind of man our Brother was.

“Out of our beliefs are born deeds. Out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grow our character; and on our character we build our destination. Henry Hancock

THE STAMP OF MANHOOD.
By ALEXANDER McLACHLAN.

Come, let us sing to human worth,
'Tis big hearts that we cherish,
For they're the glory of the earth,
And never wholly perish.
All Nature loves the good and brave,
And show'rs her gifts upon them;
She hates the tyrant and the slave,
For manhood's stamp's not on them.

Thine eyes shall be the index true
Of what thy soul conceiveth;
Thy words shall utter firm and few
The things thy heart believeth;
Thy voice shall have the ring of steel;
The good and brave will own thee;
Where'er thou art each heart shall feel
That manhood's stamp is on thee.

-------------------------------------------------
Well with Computers we’re always learning, and right now I’m learning I don’t know how to get rid of these columns.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
And if stern duties are assign'd,
And no one near to love thee,
Be resolute, nor look behind—
The heav'ns are still above thee.
And follow Truth where'er she leads,
Tho' bigots frown upon thee;
Thy witnesses will be thy deeds,
If manhood's stamp is on thee.

Let hope around thy heart entwine,
Thy loadstars love, and duty,
And ev'ry word and deed of thine
Will be embalm'd in beauty;
And Goodness from her highest throne
Will blessings pour upon thee;
Thee Nature's soul will love to own,
If manhood's stamp is on thee.

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

Refreshment and Labor

Masonic Matters
January 05, 2003

“The Masonic Lodge is a silent partner of the home, the church, and the school house, toiling in behalf of law and order. ” Brother, and Reverend, Joseph Fort Newton.
This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother, Reverend Terry L. Tilton, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, as well as from all of the Masons in the Northeast Area of Minnesota.

On behalf of Grand Master Tilton and the Grand Lodge of Minnesota our very best wishes and congratulations are sent to all newly elected and installed Masters, Wardens, and Officers of Masonic Lodges for 2003. May only the best be yours now, and in the future.

“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the Sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” – Albert Schweitzer

What is meant when a Lodge is at either Refreshment or Labor? And who is in Charge of the Craft during those times? Who do Masons acknowledge as being the officer in charge, and how is this acknowledgement demonstrated?

Some time ago I came across something that is quite interesting. It has to do with the Lodge being at Refreshment. Some seem to think that when the Junior Warden is ordered to call the Lodge from Labor to refreshment that the Lodge is then closed temporarily and that after the Three Great Lights and the Three Lesser Lights are attended to by the Senior Deacon, that the Brethren can disburse as they please. We know that in most cases they then go into the dining room, or have a program where others are invited to be in the Lodge Room, but when the Lodge is at refreshment it is not closed.

I’ve learned that a Lodge after it is opened must be either at Labor or Refreshment. Calling from Labor to Refreshment differs from closing. Besides the ceremony being a quicker one, the Junior Warden assumes control of the craft. The Symbol or Badge of his authority is that he disposes, (erects,) his column on his Pedestal

Mackey’s says; that the mythical history of Masonry tells us that high twelve, (or noon,) was the hour at the temple of Solomon when the craft were permitted to suspend their Labor, which was resumed an hour Later. In reference to this a Lodge is at all times, symbolically, to be called from Labor to Refreshment at high twelve, and be called back to Labor one hour after high twelve.

When a Lodge is at Labor and a Brother needs to enter or leave the Lodge Room he will approach the Altar and salute the Master, or upon the Masters order salute the Senior Warden since the Master is in charge of the craft when Lodge is at Labor, and the Senior Warden assists him in this effort.

There is something that is hardly ever done, at least here in Minnesota. Something that I think ought to be done when the Lodge is called from Labor to Refreshment. On page 131 of the Minnesota Counselors Guide, and on page 26 of the Masonic Service Association book “One Hundred One Questions About Freemasonry” there is this Question: “Why do Brethren entering or leaving a Lodge salute the Master?” Here is some of what the answer is; “Masons entering or leaving a Lodge salute the Master at the Altar if the Lodge is at Labor – they salute the Junior Warden if the Lodge is at refreshment.”

“This practice assures the Master that the Brother knows on what degree the Lodge is open. A Brother making the wrong sign can be instructed immediately. It informs the Master that the Brother is a Mason of the degreeon which the Lodge is open; if he makes an inferior sigh, and cannot, on request, give the right one, the Master can then use other means to ascertain that no Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft is present in a Master Mason Lodge. The Salute is a silent assurance to the Master and the Brethren: "I remember my obligations.""Brethren salute on retiring to get permission to leave. No one can enter or leave a Lodge room while the Lodge is at Labor without permission. If the Master does not wish the Brother who salutes to retire, he tells him so,instead of responding to the salute.""At refreshment the Lodge is in charge of the Junior Warden and the same salutes are given him as are usually given to the Master, and for the same reasons. In some Grand Jurisdictions, on busy evenings, during a visitationor other Masonic function, the Master will instruct the Tiler to ask the Brethren to salute the West, instead of the East, in order to not have his own labors in the East interrupted."

So there it is, a Lodge of Masons is either opened or it’s closed. If it is open it is either at Labor or Refreshment, and salutes are required unless the Master has ordered them not to be used when guests are in the Lodge Room. When it is closed no salutes are necessary.

“If the power to do hard work is not talent, it is the best possible substitute for it.”
Brother James A. Garfield – Former President of the United States

I have been able to purchase a copy of the book Freemasonry in Manitoba, by William Douglas, covering the years 1864 to 1925 and in that book is some real interesting information about the one and only Military Lodge granted Dispensation by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota we have been talking about and reporting on in the past few issues of Masonic Matters. I think you will find this next installment on that Lodge interesting.

It was reported that the Lodge at Pembina was named after all, and the name was Northern Light Lodge and our good Brother James Acker provided us with some fine information about the origin of the name. We also know that when the Masons who obtained the Dispensation from Grand Master A.T.C. Pierson were moved to a different location they left the dispensation with the Brothers who were raised in the Lodge rather than leave them without a Lodge. Grand Master Pierson approved this and gave those Brothers remaining a Warrant for Northern Light Lodge.

The Lodge was moved to Fort Garry, Red River Settlement. This settlement was at the junction of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers where “Verandrye established Fort Rouge in 1738,” later in 1804 The North-West Company built Fort Gibraltar. Shortly afterwards the Hudson’s Bay Company built Fort Douglas, named after Thomas Douglas, the 5th Earl of Selkirk and founder of the Red River Settlement. “The building of the 1st Fort Garry took place in 1821 and was named after Nicholas Garry, a director of the Hudson’s Bay Company.” In 1835 construction of a new Fort was started. The first one was made of wood the second was made of stone. This new Fort was the center for business, education, government, etc. for more than 30 years and became the nucleus of the present city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Freemasonry entered Manitoba through and by Northern Light Lodge warranted by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota in 1864. This lodge had the unique distinction of being first, and only, Military Lodge under Dispensation and Warrant in a territory of the United States by the GL of Minnesota, and then the Grand Lodge of Minnesota issued a Warrant for the same Lodge but this time in the “Red River Settlement,” British Possession. The book says, “It is doubtful that if any other Lodge in the British Empire had the distinction of being first warranted by any Grand Lodge of the United States.”

On March 17, 1864 the following appeared in the newspaper for the Settlement called the “The Nor-Wester.”
“A party from this settlement proceeded to Pembina a few weeks since to join the Masonic Order, through the Lodge established there. They took the necessary degrees to qualify them to open a Lodge here, which it is their intention to do on receipt of a dispensation from the Grand Lodge, application for which has already been made.
We will be glad to see Masonry fully established in our midst, for in its organization and teachings it is admirably adapted to do good in every community, irrespective of class, creed, or nationality. It has its secrets – the secrets of the ages – and what others have been so well kept?
Pretended revelations have been made by those who know the public was always eager to find out a secret, and would be willing to pay well to satisfy their curiosity; but they knew little, for the working of the order is as much a mystery to outsiders now as it was in the far distant past from whence it dates its origin.”

It might be interesting to you to know that Dr. John Schultz and his partner William Coldwell at the time jointly owned this newspaper, the “Nor-Wester,” they were the First Master and Secretary of the Lodge. (Respectively.) It is also of importance that this newspaper account establishes the fact of the introduction of Freemasonry into the Province of Manitoba.

A few weeks prior to the departure of the Officers and Members then composing Northern Light Lodge at Fort Pembina, the following petition was written by Brother A.G.B. Bannatyne and sent to the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
To the M.W. Grand Lodge
Of the State of Minnesota:

The undersigned petitioners being Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, having the prosperity of the fraternity at heart, and willing to exert their best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Masonry, respectfully represent that they are desirous of forming a new Lodge in the Red River Settlement, Rupert’s Land, to be named Northern Light Lodge; they further pray for letters of dispensation or a warrant of constitution, to empower them to assemble as a legal Lodge to discharge the duties of Masonry in a regular and constitutional manner, according to the original forms of the order, and the regulations of the Grand Lodge.
They have nominated and recommended Brother John Schultz, to be the first Master, Andrew G.B. Bannatyne, to be the first Senior Warden, and William Inkster, to be the first Junior Warden of said Lodge.
If prayer of the petition is granted, they promise a strict conformity to the constitution, laws, and regulations, of the Grand Lodge.
Signed by --- Andrew G.B. Bannatyne, William Inkster, Charles Curtis, W.B. Hall, Robert Morgan, William Coldwell, John Schultz, Matthew Connar, at Assinbonia, British America, April 27, 1864

The petition was received by Grand Master A.T.C. Pierson and granted on May 20, 1864. The Grand Master mentioned this dispensation in his annual address to the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, held in St. Paul, on October 25, 1864.
“During the year, I renewed the dispensation of Northern Light Lodge, removing it to the Red River Settlement, application for a charter will be made during the present session.”

The 1st public announcement of a Masonic Lodge meeting held in the Red River Settlement was in the Advertising Column of “The Nor’Wester” in the November 2nd issue.
MASONIC
The members of
NORTHERN LIGHT LODGE
Of F. & A. M.
Will meet in the Lodge Room in the
Building of A.G.B. Bannatyne, Esq.
On
Thursday, 8th November, at 7 P.M.
By order of the W.M.
The minutes of Northern Light Lodge on the occasion of the first communication of the Lodge in the Red River Settlement are reproduced in the book, Freemasonry in Manitoba 1864-1925. Here are some of the Minutes.
The Grand Lodge of Minnesota having issued a warrant empowering the opening of a Lodge, U.D. at Fort Garry, Red River Settlement, and having, for the better carrying out its views, appointed John Schultz, Esq., W.M., A.G.B. Bannatyne, Esq., S.W., and W. Inkster, Esq., J.W. of said Lodge, A meeting of Master Masons was convened in the Lodge Rooms, in the building of A.G.B. Bannatyne, Esq., on Tuesday evening, November 8th, A.D. 1864, at which the following officers were elected to serve during the year.
On motion of Brother A.G.B. Bannatyne, seconded by Brother C. Curtis, Brother W. Coldwell was elected Secretary. Brother Curtis, seconded by Brother R. Morgan moved that Brother W.B. Hall be the Senior Deacon. Carried Unanimously. Brother W.B. Hall, seconded by Brother W. Inkster, nominated Brother C. Curtis as Junior Deacon. Carried Unanimously. Brother A.G. B. Bannatyne, seconded by Brother W. Coldwell, nominated Brother J.E. Sheal as Treasurer. Carried Unanimously. Brother W. Inkster, seconded by Brother W.B. Hall, nominated Brother R. Morgan as Tyler. Carried unanimously.
The petition of Rev. T.T. Smith to be made a Mason, accompanied by the required fee, and recommended by Bros. John Schultz and A.G.B. Bannatyne, was presented, read, and referred to a committee.
The Petition of Mr. William McMurray to be made a Mason, accompanied by the required fee, and recommended by Bros. Bannatyne and Coldwell, was presented, read, and referred to a committee.
The petition of Rev. W.H. Taylor to be made a Mason, accompanied by the required fee, and recommended by Bros. Hall and Morgan, was presented, read, and referred to a committee.
The Treasurer reported the receipt of an invoice from Brother Curry of St. Cloud, containing charges, amounting to $158.00 for outfitting furnished Northern Light Lodge. The box containing the articles on account of which the charges had been made, not having yet arrived, Brothers Schultz, Bannatyne, and Sheal were appointed a committee to take steps to procure the box as speedily as possible.
At the suggestion of the W.M., the subject of fixing the admission fee for the Lodge was taken up, and it was moved by Brother Inkster, seconded by Brother Sheal, that the fee be fixed at £5 sterling.
Brother Bannatyne, seconded by Brother Curtis, moved in amendment that the fee be £4:10/ - sterling.
The amendment was then put, and lost, and the original motion carried.
On motion of Brother Curtis, seconded by Brother Hall, the nights of the regular communication were arranged to be on every alternate Monday, commencing 14th inst. (November 1864).
Brothers Bannatyne, Inkster, Sheal, and Coldwell, were appointed a committee to look after the necessary ornaments, fixtures Etc., needed for the Lodge.
The Lodge was closed until the next regular communication, peace and harmony prevailing. John Schultz, W.M., W. Coldwell, Secy.

In the issue of “The Nor’-Wester” on November 9, 1864 the notice of the first “Regular Communication” was inserted in the Advertising Column. The notices in the paper are important, because by them it can be determined the dates of the first, and the first regular meeting of a Masonic Lodge in the jurisdiction of the Red River Settlement, now the Province of Manitoba, and more exactly in the city of Winnipeg.

On November 21, 1864 Rev. Thomas Thistlewaite Smith and rev. W.H. Taylor received their 1st Degree. One week later Rev Archdeacon J. Hunter was initiated as a Freemason. The Lodge at that time met every alternate Monday for the transaction of regular business, and also on the intervening Monday Nights in Special Communication, and in the records there have been found instances where two degrees were conferred on the same candidate on the same evening.

It being remembered that the Master of the Lodge U.D. at Fort Pembina was W.B. Charles W. Nash, the Brothers of Northern Light Lodge at the Communication of January 9th, 1865 elected Brother Nash as an honorary member of the Lodge.

On January 30th a discussion was taking place to obtain a Charter from some source other than the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. A committee of Brothers Bannatyne, Rev. T.T. Smith, and William Coldwell to take the necessary action forward, and if possible, to accomplish this by making application for a Charter to the Grand Lodge of England. No further record of this is found in the Lodge records and the Grand Lodge of England has no record that any such request had ever been made.

At the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, held October 24, 1865, Grand Master George Washington Prescott made this special reference to Northern Light Lodge: “Whereas, they have been informed that Northern Light Lodge, U.D., at Fort Garry, is working under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, and with a commendable degree of diligence and success, for the best interests of Masonry, and said Lodge desires a renewal of their dispensation until the next annual communication of this Grand Lodge, your committee would, therefore, recommend that a renewal of their dispensation be granted to them in accordance with their request.”

Northern Light Lodge went dark for the summer months as of May, 1865 and resumed again on Nov. 27, 1865 The desire to obtain a charter from the Grand Lodge of Canada occupied the minds of the members of the Lodge in a meeting held April 18, 1866, when it was resolved that Brother Schultz be authorized to procure a Charter from the Grand Lodge of Canada, and to be assisted in this by Brother T. Bunn. The Minutes of this particular meeting contain this statement – “That this meeting be the last regular meeting for this season.” It was approved by all the members present. This is the last written record that can be found of the old Lodge, if Minutes were later taken they were not written in the original Minute Book. However, there were mention of the Lodge from other sources, one of them being the Nor’-Wester. The Following was in the December 20, 1865 edition of the Nor’-Wester:
MASONIC
The Masons of Northern Light Lodge U.D., will meet at their Lodge Room, Town of Winnipeg, on the second Monday of the New Year.
By order of the W.M. H. McKenzie, Secretary

From the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota it is learned that $22. was remitted “on account of dues had been received by the Grand Secretary, but the remark is added – no returns had been sent in by the Lodge.”

M.W. Brother Thomas Tweed, a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba received in 1895 a letter from W. Bro. Dr. John Schultz.
“…and a novelty it was indeed in this country at that time. It was spoken of far and wide, and the description, which did not decrease in detail, or increase in accuracy as to what was done therein, was listened to with much curiosity, and in some cases with awesome wonder, which was enhanced by the jocoseness of Brother Bannatyne’s clerks, who pointed out from the room below, (to wit, the trading house,) exactly in what part of the upstairs room the W.M. hung his hat while the Lodge was at work.
The Lodge Room itself was made as tasteful as circumstances of that day would admit, and it may interest the curious to know the exact cost of some of the furniture as given in a memorandum which I happen to have near me, in the sterling money of the day, namely:
Tables £1:19:6; Inner Door 1/-; Altar 19/6; Wallpaper 39/-; 24 Black Beads, 1/6; 24 white beads, 1/-; 100 copies of by-laws, 40/-, and it may be inferred that the craft was not always at work, for I find on the same list, 15 tin plates, 15 iron tablespoons, 15 teaspoons, 12 cups and saucers, 1 tin pan, 4 cans pickled oysters, 1 pound butter, and 2 pounds sugar, which would seem to show that there were intervals for refreshment. The jewels were borrowed from the Pembina Lodge, and were used until the following January (the Lodge commenced work in November 1864) when these were replaced by fine ones from Chicago through the good offices of N.W. Kittson. W.Bro. John Schultz was the first W.M.. Brother A.G.B. Bannatyne, Senior Warden; Brother William Inkster, was Junior Warden. These three principle officers remained in their respective offices until the 23rd day of December, 1867 when Bro. Bannatyne was elected W.M., Bro. Thomas Bunn, Senior Warden; Bro. John Bunn, Junior warden, but am unable to find any record of their installation.

In the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota for 1867 Grand Master Charles W. Nash reported: “I also renewed the Dispensation without additional fee, for Northern Light Lodge, Fort Garry, British North America, 21st November 1866.” M.W. Brother Nash added, “Northern Light Lodge is located at Fort Garry, British America. The long distance to be traveled rendered it difficult to have a representative in Grand Lodge.” A further reference is found in the proceedings that Northern Light Lodge having made their return and settled accounts was Granted a Charter on October 24, 1867, and Northern Light Lodge received number “68” on the register of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

There was no Communication of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota in 1868. At the G.L. Communication in October of 1867 it was decided to change the month of the Grand Lodge Communication to January of each year, so the next Grand Lodge Communication would be held in January 1869. That’s why there was no G.L. Communication in 1868 for the G.L. of Minnesota.

In the proceeding of 1869 it is mentioned that due to the distance it was impracticable for the Charter to be delivered to Northern Light Lodge #68, and that the Charter remained in the possession of the Grand Secretary. It was also reported that no returns had been received from Northern Light Lodge. There is no more record of Northern Light Lodge in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota except to say that much later there is a closing record that says, “Charter Revoked, 1870.”

In 1880 there was a booklet written by Very Worshipful Brother Joseph Hurssell and in it he says that in 1867 Brother A.G.B. Bannatyne was elected Master of Northern Light Lodge, and it ceased to work a short time thereafter, “prior to the insurrection, probably better remembered as the Red River Rebellion, and loaned their jewels to the late Thomas Bunn, in view of the opening of a new Lodge at Lower Fort Garry, to be known as Lisgar Lodge ……. When Northern Light Lodge became extinct, it numbered about 23 members, who have since scattered in various directions.”

In 1879 there was a new “Northern Light Lodge, #10 on the rolls of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba, and W.B. Bannatyne was a signatory for the Dispensation. An interesting item on this is that in both books about Freemasonry in Manitoba I have, which show the History of that Grand Lodge up to 1974, Northern Light Lodge #10 is listed as being active in both books.

Thus ends the saga of the Lodge at Pembina. At first it was a Military Lodge not having a Name, its first Master became a Grand Master of Minnesota, he named it Northern Light Lodge and arranged for the Masons raised in the Lodge to continue it in a new location with a second Dispensation for the same lodge from the same Grand Lodge. It was the only Military lodge Created under the Grand Lodge of Minnesota and was the only Lodge operating in the British Empire that was Chartered by a Grand Lodge in the United States.

I will mention that it was the first Master of the Lodge, Brother Charles W. Nash, who in 1870 as M.W. Brother Nash, Grand master of Masons in Minnesota, had the sad duty to revoke the Charter of his Northern Light Lodge, which he had been Master in 1863 and was elected an honorary member after it was established in what is now Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

In the book Freemasonry in Manitoba 1925 to 1974 – part II – by Robert E. Emmett, (which was given to me by M.W. Brother Rod Larson P.G.M. of MN, Thanks Brother Rod,) it has a little information about Northern Light Lodge too.

In 1955 M.W. Brother W.L. Hillyer, on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, presented to the Grand Lodge of Manitoba the “Original Petition” from Northern Light Lodge U.D., in the Red River Settlement, dated April 27, 1864. Also in 1964 the Grand Lodge of Minnesota presented to the Grand Lodge of Manitoba a replica, “correct in every detail,” of the Charter issued by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota to Northern Light Lodge #68 on October 24, 1867.

This research on this information is thanks to our late Brother William Douglas of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba. He compiled all this information in his book “Freemasonry in Manitoba” for the years 1864 to 1925. I did find out in reading the book “Freemasonry in Manitoba – part II” by Brother Robert Emmett, that the Grand Lodge of Manitoba has established an award called the “William Douglas Medal” and each year a Manitoba Mason is honored with a presentation of the Medal. In addition to all of that Brother Douglas is honored by having William Douglas Lodge #176 named after him.

“Education is not preparation for life; Education is life itself.” John Dewey

One final thought is about Masonic Books and Education groups. A good source for good used Masonic Books is Brother Harold Davidson of Billings Montana. He has a web site http://www.lostword.com/billings.shtml so if you would like to see what good used Masonic Books are available check out his web site, or e-mail him at: brodave@wtp.net

Brother Davidson is also the Librarian for the Philalethes Society, which is a great outfit to join if you are interested at all in Masonic Education and information. It’s easy to join, and the dues are reasonable just send $40. (that’s $30 dues + $10 joining fee) to Brother Ken Roberts, 5266 Mary Ball Road, Lancaster, VA 22503 or contact him with questions by e-mail at kroberts@freemasonry.org You can also visit the Philalethes Web Site at:
http://www.freemasonry.org/ Members of the Philalethes receive monthly issues of “The Philalethes” a fine magazine with some real good Masonic information and Education articles.

“Half of the failures in life arise from pulling in one’s Horse as he is leaping.” Julius & Augustus Hare.
Here’s something I like: It’s called “Anyway”
People are unreasonably illogical and self-centered, love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish motives, do good anyway.
If you are successful you will win false friends and true enemies, succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow, do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable, be honest and frank anyway.
People favor the underdog, but follow the top dog, fight for the underdog anyway.
What you spend years in building may be destroyed overnight, build anyway.
People really need help, but may attack you if you help, help them anyway.
Give the world the best that you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best that you have anyway.

Well that’s it for this issue. If you like Masonic Matters please share it with others. To subscribe just send an e-mail to erhmasonic@ncis.com with the subject “Subscribe.”

With Brotherly Love,
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Area Deputy
Northeast Minnesota

Emblems & Symbols

March 6, 2001

District # 8 Masonic Matters

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
Of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota.

Dear Brother,

It’s amazing how time flies when you’re enjoying life. Here it is March already, and
some of our snow is melting, our Grand Lodge communication is approaching fast; it will
be held on March 30 & 31 at the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester, Minnesota.
The Lodges in our District are Busy:
There is going to be Table Lodge to raise money for the scholarship program at Helios
Lodge in Cambridge, on March 10th. The donation is $30 per plate call Brother Roger
McNear at 763-689-3602 for reservations. Table Lodges are really something to attend
this is your chance.

There will be a First Degree coming up at Mora Lodge on March 26th Supper will be at
6:30 P.M. and Lodge will open on the 1° at 7:30 P.M.

There will be a Second Degree coming up on April 10th at Helios Lodge in Cambridge.

There will be 3 or so candidates. This will be a Degree you will surely want to see.
Supper will be at 6 P.M. and Lodge opens at 7 P.M.

Fraternal Lodge # 92 is right now hosting a Children’s I.D. Program in the Milaca School
System.

Chisago Lodge # 232 will be celebrating their 101st anniversary this year. And Master

Charlie Hult has many worthwhile projects in mind for this year.
Mora Lodge is planning a Children’s I.D. program for the Mora and Ogilvie schools
coming up in April.

There will be a 50 year awards supper and presentation at Helios Lodge for W.B. Earl
Anderson and W.B. Harvey Hanson on Tuesday March 20th. Supper will be at 6:30 and
the award presentation and program will be in the dining room during supper. Lodge will
open at 7:30 P.M. Come to this event and relive some of the "Old times" with brothers
Earl and Harvey, and congratulate them on this important milestone in their lives.
This year at our Grand Lodge Annual Communication our good friend and Brother Right
Worshipful Brother Roger Taylor, if tradition prevails, will be elected and installed
Grand Master of our Grand Lodge.

The Masters and Wardens of each Lodge in Minnesota are members of the Grand Lodge,
and I look forward to seeing all of those fine Masons at the Grand Lodge
Communication.

This election and Installation of R.W. Brother Roger will be an historic event for District
#8 and a very historic and important event in the life of our Brother. In 1924 M.W.
Brother James Markham of Jasper Lodge #164 was sworn in as Grand Master of Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota. Now 77 years later another of our Brothers,
Right Worshipful Brother Roger J. Taylor, (of Fraternal Lodge #92 and North Star Lodge
#23) from District #8 will be elevated to Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons of Minnesota, the highest office in Minnesota Freemasonry.

Lets all do our best to help our Brother, in his year, so that Minnesota Masonry prospers
and all of our Lodges enjoy the prosperity too.

If you are unable to be in Rochester Minnesota for the Grand Lodge Session and the
Installation of the Grand Lodge Officers you may want to send a note of congratulations
to our Brother Roger. His Address is:
R.W. Brother Roger J. Taylor

Take time TO PLAY
It is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time TO READ
It is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time TO PRAY
It is the greatest power on earth.
Take time TO LOVE AND BE LOVED
It is a God-given privilege.
Take time TO LAUGH
It is the music of the soul.
Take time TO GIVE
It is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time TO WORK
It is the price of success.
Take time TO BE A MASON.
Anonymous

In the last issue of Masonic Matters I asked the question: "Emblem," What is an
Emblem? And is there a difference between an Emblem and a Symbol?
Some may have thought that I had forgotten that I had asked that question. Well here’s an
answer to the question.

An Emblem is a representation of something unknown or concealed by a sign or a thing
that is known. For instance the Square in Freemasonry is an Emblem of morality, the
Plumb Rule an Emblem for uprightness of conduct, and the Level an Emblem for
Equality.

Although the words Emblem and Symbol are many times used synonymously, the words
don’t express exactly the same meaning.

A Symbol is more extensive in it’s application, it includes every representation of an idea
by an image. So what makes something a Symbol? They are Symbols because they stand
for something else or remind us of something. For instance the Octagon shape of a stop
sign is a Symbol we all recognize. The American Flag is a Symbol of the United States
of America. So Symbols are kind of like a quick way to remind us of something.
We could say that while all Emblems are Symbols, all Symbols are not Emblems.
The death of Harold Stassen, former Governor of Minnesota has been reported in the
national news this week, (he died Sunday March 4th). You might want to know that the
former Governor was our Brother; he was a member of Fellowship Shekinah Lodge #257
of St. Paul, MN

Masonic tradition tells us that our Brother Prince Hall was initiated on March 6th 1775
into the mysteries of Freemasonry in Lodge # 441 which was a Military Lodge working
in Massachusetts under the Grand Lodge of Ireland and attached to the 38th foot under
General Gage, of the British Army. The Master of the Lodge was Brother John B. Batt.
Grand Honors? What are private Grand honors? What are public Grand Honors? We’ll
discuss this in the next issue of Masonic Matters.

With Brotherly Love,
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge District Representative #8