Honor

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
Number 150 – July 01, 2009

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.” Denis Waitley.

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

“You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices.”
Deepak Chopra
Honor

Some time ago a Brother wrote to me asking whether I had written an article on ‘honor,’ and asked, if I had, to please send him a copy. Well, it was a good question because it told me I needed to do something on that topic, as I hadn’t written specifically about ‘honor’ previously. I had given talks at Masonic functions where I did mention honor, because it is important to Freemasonry and to Masons. Honor is one of the things a Mason is admonished to keep uppermost in mind when he is wearing his Masonic apron; (we symbolically wear our apron 7 days a week 24 hours a day as Freemasons – the charge to wear it with honor and pleasure does not end when the Lodge is closed.) The New Mason gets this first important lesson about his apron when he is presented with it in his first degree: When you think about our degrees there is so much wisdom in the life lessons that are woven into them that we could spend the rest of our lives pondering the lessons and living up to them.

The new Mason is told to wear his apron with equal pleasure to himself and honor to the fraternity; actually Honor to the Fraternity also means honor to others and to himself as well. Equal Pleasure to himself and honor to the fraternity is an interesting phrase, because when a man is honorable he is a happy man; it’s acting in less than an honorable fashion that contributes to unhappiness.

One of my favorite authors is Rabbi Zelig Pliskin; his books are not entirely religious, they are more like self-help and books for living than religious books, although religion is a part of self-help and joyful living.

In his book “Harmony with Others” he has a short chapter (all of his chapters are on the short side) called “Who is an Honorable Person?” The question comes from the Talmud, and the Talmud also provides the answer; from Pirkei Avos 4:1 “The one who shows honor and respect to others.” This is not strictly something that is taught only in Judaism – it’s something I was taught all through my youth from my parents, teachers, and ministers, – treat others with dignity and respect. Most religions of the world have something akin to the Golden Rule about treating others as you would like to be treated; The 14th Dalai Lama says he likes to amend it to “Do unto others – more – than you would have them do unto you”

Rabbi Pliskin, in his book, says we all want to be treated with basic respect, and, ‘as we internalize the essential message of the Sages [Pirkei Avos 4:1], we will decrease our concern about how others treat us and we will increase our concern about how we treat others.’

In Rabi Pliskin’s book “Building Your Self-Image – and the Self-Image of Others” is another short chapter called “I am My Choices.” In this chapter he reminds us that in every situation we have the opportunity to make a choice. J. Martin Kohe back in the 1950’s wrote a ‘wonderful’ small book called “Your Greatest Power;” this is a self-help classic and well worth reading if you can get a copy; in it he tells us our greatest power is the power to choose. Rabbi Pliskin reminds us about this great power, one which we use all day long every day, and he tells us that in every instance, especially stressful and disturbing moments, we have the opportunity to use our great power to choose; we can say to ourselves ‘I am My Choices:” This can serve to remind us to make wise choices.

We choose our feelings, because our feelings are created by our choice of thoughts, words, and actions: The essence of who we are, as Rabbi Pliskin says, comes from our choices; choices come from thought, and are manifested through our words and actions. When we say to ourselves ‘I am my choices,’ we are stating a truthful fact, and we are in a position to make wise choices.

There is a lot to study about honor, but unfortunately the subject is not found in many ‘Masonic’ books, so in order to study it we need to look elsewhere. But then, it may come down to our power to choose, to decide, what a Masonic book is. To me a Masonic Book is not only one that talks about symbolism, history, and Masonic Lodges or Masons. It is a book that will help the Mason in his search for truth, one that helps in understanding Masonic values even though they are not labeled as such, one that will help him in his quest to become a better man than he was previously to the learning gleaned from the book, one that will help him mentor and teach his Brother Mason, and help him in his personal quest for truth and improvement.

Information and learning about what Masonry stands for and teaches can be found in a great number of places. All we need to do is broaden our horizons and be open to finding this information in places we might not have thought of before.

Words to live by: There are always two choices, two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it's easy.

“To decide to be at the level of choice is to take responsibility for your life and to be in control of your life.” Arbie M. Dale

From the Great Light of Masonry: “Butter and honey will he eat when he knows to reject the evil and choose the good.” Isaiah 7:15

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 Masonic Monday Question for the week of 07/06/09 is: What are the ornaments of a Freemason?

“For what is the best choice, for each individual is the highest it is possible for him to achieve.” Aristotle

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to 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.

“Of neighborhoods, benevolence is the most beautiful. How can the man be considered wise who when he had the choice does not settle in benevolence.” Confucius

To read some past issues of Ed’s publications on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

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

Seek to mentor a Brother Mason:
It’s good for him, it’s good for you, and it’s good for Freemasonry!

Guarding the Gate

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
Number 148 – June 01, 2009

“Freemasonry is not a fraternity of reformers; we do not take in men who are lacking in morals and values, and then reform them.” ERH

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

“The first step in successfully influencing someone to stop doing wrong and to begin to do good is to sincerely care about this person's well-being. When you have a profound concern for another person then regardless of exactly what you say, that person will experience your sincere caring. However you think and feel, that is the way you will talk. When you are motivated by sincere concern, what you say will be more conducive to effective results.” Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

Guarding the Gate!

Who’s Guarding the West Gate – is something heard in Freemasonry every once in a while; sometimes it’s not so easy to tell if it’s asked as a question we should answer, or if it’s said as a statement. Either way it’s a good phrase to ask ourselves and think about. I like what M.W. Brother Rex Hutchens says; ‘we should change our slogan to – we admit better men and make them really good men.’ In order to admit the ‘good’ or ‘better’ men of society every Freemason takes his turn in guarding the west gate; this is part of the responsibility we have to each other as Masons.

The subject of guarding the west gate generally comes up when a Mason is found to have committed some act of unmasonic conduct. The ways some will come up with to commit unmasonic conduct are too numerous to mention, so we’ll just call these acts, unmasonic.

Thinking of guarding the gate, some may wonder if the Lodge Brothers of our unmasonic Brother didn’t exercise due diligence in the selection process regarding petitions. Some might suggest that these same Brethren have a small stake in the responsibility for the act their Brother committed. This brings up something important about responsibility; we have responsibilities to each other, but not for each other.

While it may be true that some Masons don’t exercise due diligence in the selection process of a petitioner, it may also be possible that a Mason who has completed his degrees, and who was taught the lessons of Freemasonry, didn’t take them to heart. This might happen when men petition for the degrees for the wrong reasons. What seems to be true is that people change over the years, and the changes are not always for the better.

The Lodge can make a significant difference in a Mason’s life, and have a positive influence on his conduct. The responsibility we have to our Brethren and to Freemasonry to mentor, teach, advise, and warn, doesn’t end at the end of a third degree, nor is it in effect only when we’re in Lodge.

We as Masons and as members of our respective Lodges do have a responsibility ‘to’ each other; revisiting the charges and obligations of the degrees helps us in remembering this. Some Lodges in the U.S. will annually ask every member present to meet at the altar, where the obligation of the 3° is again repeated by every member. In the jurisdictions of some other countries the ‘Old Charge’ are read for the edification of everyone present at the end of every degree – both of these practices are very good customs. Our obligation does not end at the attainment of the third degree, or a ‘high’ office. Masons, the really good men, will live up to their obligation every day in every area of their life.

If we shirk our responsibility to ourselves, our Brethren, and to Freemasonry, then whatever Masonic related group we may speak of is at risk; the risk of the culture of the group changing for the worse: The group could begin to accept behavior that is not in keeping with Masonic values and ideals.

When we look at the obligations, and the degree charges, we can also look at the “Old Charges” from the premiere Grand Lodge as written by Brother Anderson, in particular article 6 [VI] ‘Of Behavior,’ and in the section #’s 2, 3, 4, 5, and the paragraph after the numbers. (The ‘Old Charges’ are available in many books and on the Internet.) #3 has to do with ‘Behavior when Brethren meet without strangers, but not in a Lodge formed.’

#3 says: “You are to salute one another in a courteous manner, as you will be instructed, calling each other Brother, freely giving mutual instruction as shall be thought expedient, without being overseen or overheard, and without encroaching upon each other, or derogating from that respect which is due to any Brother, were he not a Mason; for though all Masons are as Brethren upon the same level, yet Masonry takes no honor from a man that he had before; nay, rather it adds to his honor, especially if he has deserved well of the Brotherhood, who must give honor to whom it is due, and avoid all ill manners.” [Underlining is mine.] Freely giving mutual instruction also means to be supportive of laudable undertakings and to warn of approaching danger when a Brother is headed for unwholesome, dangerous, or unmasonic conduct.

#4 has to do with: ‘Behavior in presence of strangers not Masons,’ it says: “You shall be cautious in your words and carriage, that the most penetrating stranger shall not be able to discover or find out what is not proper to be intimated; and sometimes you shall divert a discourse and manage it prudently for the honor of the worshipful Fraternity.” [Underlining mine.]

There is much to ponder in these two passages in the ‘Old Charges.’ Regarding #4: We might at first be of the impression that this means we are to be watchful in our thoughts, words, and actions, so that none of the secrets of Masonry may be revealed or discovered, but I think there is much more to it than that: ‘Discourse’ has to do with communication of thought, this is generally thought to involve words, talk, conversation, and writing, but I submit that thoughts can also be conveyed through actions. If possible, Masons should divert unmasonic actions. ‘Intimate’ (in-ti-mate) means to make known or formally announce: Do we at times by our manifested thoughts, through words, and actions make known to the uninitiated a false impression of what Freemasonry stands for, and how Freemasons behave? When we hear of Masons who have behaved in an unmasonic manner, is this not exactly what they have been doing? – giving a false impression of Masons and Masonry.

In the fraternity of Freemasons, every member of a lodge is guarding the west gate. I’m convinced that we all want to guard it well. I’m also convinced that by living up to the obligations, charges of the degrees, and the ‘Old Charges,’ Freemasons can change for the better. Masons are expected to be more resistant to changes that lean toward the base, and unwholesome; we are also expected to encourage each other to stay away from such things. We warn each other of what we are about to do, so that we may ward off all approaching danger; There are many dangers that can ruin a Mason’s life; his family relationships, his health, his reputation, and our fraternity. As Freemasons we hold ourselves to a high standard.

Our responsibilities to our brethren don’t end at the attainment of the third degree, or at any other time; we have responsibilities to each other for as long as we are freemasons. ‘Once a Freemason always a Freemason!’

If we see a brother doing something, or about to do something that is unmasonic we know we should warn him about the danger. The question is; how seriously do we take our obligation? Do we whisper good council in his ear, and say as King Solomon does in Proverbs 6:20-35, to warn him of approaching danger, or does apathy or even acceptance take the lead?

Certain segments of society would like us to believe that what it puts forth is desirable and acceptable. A Masonic Lodge is not a microcosm of society; society and its influences should stop at the door of the Lodge, the Lodge is a respite from what society tells us. A good example of that is Brother Kipling’s poem called “The Mother Lodge;” if you don’t recall the poem, or if you haven’t read it lately, you might enjoy looking it up in a book, or on the Internet, and reading it again.

Freemasonry should be different from society because, what it stands for is not what society professes. It is in Lodge, and from a Brother that you should hear the truth; one who cares about you enough to tell you when you are making a mistake. A mistake we Masons will make at times is to allow a Brother to engage in what appears to be very pleasant, but could easily cause great discomfort later. Friends and Brothers are people who share values; Freemasons share values, and they care enough about one another to remind their brethren about Masonic values.

Masons are also the kind of men who will be vigilant in making certain that any change in the culture of a Lodge, or in any other Masonic affiliated group, will be in keeping with the values of Masonry.

Every freemason is a guard at the west gate: The design of the Masonic institution is that Masons take turns in guarding the west gate; (think of the charge of the first degree.) Masons, when not able to attend Lodge, trust that their Brethren, (who are in attendance,) will do the best they can in the selection process on petitions. Because we take turns we are all guarding the west gate. Here’s something to think about – we Masons who don’t ballot on petitions, because we can’t be at Lodge, or because we are not a member of the Lodge where the petition is presented, do ‘vote’ by having confidence in the Brethren who are eligible to ballot that they will cast a ballot that is good for the order.

Words to live by: Too many people confine their exercise to jumping to conclusions, running up bills, stretching the truth, bending over backward, lying down on the job, sidestepping responsibility, and pushing their luck.

“It is wrong to think that misfortunes come from the east or from the west; they originate within one's own mind. Therefore, it is foolish to guard against misfortunes from the external world and leave the inner mind uncontrolled.” Buddha

From the Great Light of Masonry: “He commanded them, saying, ‘this is what you are to do: You are in three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath – a third of you guarding the royal palace, a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple.” 2 Kings 11:5-6

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 Masonic Monday Question for the week of 06/01/09 is: What does the title of ‘Master’ of the Lodge signify?

“Let the wise guard their thoughts, which are difficult to perceive, extremely subtle, and wander at will. Thought which is well guarded is the bearer of happiness.” Buddha
More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to 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.

“However much we guard ourselves against it, we tend to shape ourselves in the image others have of us. It is not so much the example of others we imitate, as the reflection of ourselves in their eyes and the echo of ourselves in their words.” Eric Hoffer

To read some past issues of Ed’s publications on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

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

Seek to mentor a Brother Mason:
It’s good for him, it’s good for you, and it’s good for Freemasonry!

Leave a Legacy

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
Number 147 – May 20, 2009

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
Anthony J. D'Angelo

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

Masonic education and mentoring: Learning for the pure enjoyment of it!

Leave a Legacy

Mentoring a Brother is one of the acts of Brotherly Love we as Masons are in a position to offer, and by so doing we can help our Lodge and Freemasonry in general.

Mentoring is extremely important; it is something that is done fraternity-wide by many masons. Mentors don’t need to be only those who are officially appointed. In the strictest sense, masons who mentor their brethren are masonic educators; just as all masons are, in the strictest sense, masonic students.

When you think of it every mason is interested in masonic education to one degree or another, and every mason has the ability to be a mentor to another mason. Mentoring is a great way to help a brother attain the hopes he had when he petitioned the lodge for the degrees of Masonry. Masons love learning about freemasonry. Masonic study and research is pure joy for those of us who are engaged in this lifelong pursuit of learning.

A masonic mentor can mentor more than one mason at a time, but even if he mentors only one at a time there is no telling how many masons his mentoring will influence through his student as the years go by. Through one young mason his efforts can influence the mentoring of dozens of new masons over the years because, there is no telling how many masons the one you mentor today will mentor over his masonic career.

Mentoring is important; it helps with member satisfaction. Nothing can replace one-on-one mentoring, which is the developing friendship of one brother helping another learn about Freemasonry.

The mason, who is a mentor, or a lodge education officer, should understand and never underestimate the importance of his role to his lodge, grand lodge, and to the craft in general. He should know that his efforts will impact his lodge and those he mentors, and that the lasting effects could very well continue long after he has gone to the celestial lodge above. Countless masons have benefited from one-on-one mentoring from a dear friend and brother; just the thought of this brother will bring a smile to the face of the mason he mentored so many years ago. Countless masons have also benefited from the mentoring of masonic educators through their delivery of masonic information over the years. Mentors and educators teach us what we need to know to enjoy our journey into freemasonry, and our life as a freemason.

Those who have led and encouraged us to pursue the study of freemasonry have given us a great gift; a gift of immense enjoyment, which is available to every Mason: This gift is one we can enjoy anytime we have time to engage in study, and it lasts a lifetime.

I mention this to you because, to help - and thus see our fraternity grow, to see our fellows enjoy masonry to its fullest, is one of the great legacies we can leave behind for our individual lodges and grand lodges. I mention mentoring and education because we who are involved in this great love of learning about freemasonry have a duty, an obligation, to pass on what we have learned to others who either are or might become an active masonic student, and who will also carry forward the tradition through mentoring and teaching in the future.

Masons who become great family men, bosses, employees, leaders, relatives, friends, and fraternity brothers, find ways to pass on to others what they have learned and found interesting. Many advertisements we see in various places echo what we all know to be true; they tell us to be mentors, to teach others.

January of each year is National Mentoring Month here in the U.S., but a lodge, grand lodge, or even a brother, could designate any month or even a year to mentoring. The master of a lodge could say this is the year of the mentor for his lodge. An individual mason could make a resolution that he will mentor one mason a year for the next so many years. Many new masons are not assigned mentors – all it takes is to ask a new brother if he has a mentor to talk with. Mentoring, like the beginning of a friendship, does not need to be a formal arrangement.

We all know about tithing, why not tithe our talents to help our brethren learn more about freemasonry. Who was it who dedicated some of his time to mentor each of us, who are now established masons? Was it one mason or was it more than one who helped each of us become interested in studying freemasonry? We can carry on the tradition; we can each help lead another into this fascinating part of masonic life. As my good friend and brother R.W. Brother Tom Hendrickson says; “Freemasonry Is a Way of Life! And it is a great life.

Words to live by: “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”
Chinese Proverb

“That's what learning is. You suddenly understand something you understood all your life, but in a new way.” Doris Lessing

From the Great Light of Masonry: “Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
Isaiah 1:17 (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. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the Masonic Monday Question for the week of 05/25/09 is: According to M.W. Brother E. Dean Osborn, PGM of the Grand Lodge of Kansas - What are the Masonic Beliefs?

“That one is learned who has reduced his learning to practice.” Hitopadesa

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email 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.

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

To read some past issues of Ed’s publications on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

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

Seek to mentor a Brother Mason:
It’s good for him, it’s good for you, and it’s good for Freemasonry!

Morals and Dogma

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
Number 146 – May 01, 2009

“Travel teaches tolerance.” Benjamin Disraeli

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

“The highest result of education is tolerance.” Helen Keller

It has been a maxim for a very long time that if a person is unhappy in that person’s present situation to make a change for the better. Making a change for the better can be done in various ways: One man has commented that if you don’t like where you are – move. Another suggests that when you are faced with a problem the best advice is to either go around it, tunnel through it, or turn a mountainous problem into a gold mine. Still another puts it simply: Bloom where you are planted.

What is your philosophy, what is your attitude about problems; especially problems in your Masonic Lodge? I hope there are no real problems in your Lodge. It’s a real pleasure to be a member of a Lodge where Brethren genuinely like each other enough to work together for the common good of the Lodge, and sincerely enjoy seeing each other in Lodge.

Unfortunately there are some Lodges where friendliness and mutual respect is sometimes hard to find. That’s, (also unfortunately,) nothing new in Freemasonry; in fact, in a way Brother Albert Like wrote about that problem in Morals and Dogma. If you don’t have a copy of Morals and Dogma of your own I urge you to get a copy, or get one to read; there is a lot to learn in that book.

Some Masons think Morals and Dogma is hard to read, or they will think it only has value for the Masonic scholar, or only for a Scottish Rite Mason: Sadly these misconceptions sometimes are passed from Brother to Brother for such a long period of time Masons think it’s true, but it isn’t. Reading Morals and Dogma is not as hard as you may have been lead to think. The book is something the average Mason can read, so it is not only for the serious Masonic student it is a book every Mason can get something out of, even the Mason who’s not in the Scottish Rite. As a Scottish Rite Mason I think it is a good body to join and take the degrees, (a Mason can learn a lot about Freemasonry and himself in each one of the degrees of the Rites and, of course, the Blue Lodge,) but you don’t need to be in the Scottish Rite to learn from the writings of Brother Albert Pike.

There is a particular part of Morals and Dogma I would recommend to every Mason to read if he is concerned about peace and harmony in his Lodge, and peace of mind for himself. What I’m recommending is short, only 6 pages long; it is Chapter 6 in Morals and Dogma and has to do with Brother Pike’s commentary on the 6th degree or the degree of Intimate Secretary. I think it should be a ‘must read’ for every Mason. If you don’t own a copy of Morals and Dogma there may be a copy in your Lodge library for you to read, or if you prefer you could read it on-line at: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/ This is a great web site that has a lot of Masonic E-books on it; this is one web site I hope never goes away.

Here is just a small portion of what Brother Pike wrote in the chapter about the 6th degree:
“Masons must be kind and affectionate one to another. Frequenting the same temples, kneeling at the same altars, they should feel that respect and that kindness for each other, which their common relation and common approach to one God should inspire. There needs to be much more of the spirit of the ancient fellow-ship among us; more tenderness for each other's faults, more forgiveness, more solicitude for each other's improvement and good fortune; somewhat of brotherly feeling, that it be not shame to use the word ‘brother.’
“Nothing should be allowed to interfere with that kindness and affection: neither the spirit of business, absorbing, eager, and overreaching, ungenerous and hard in its dealings, keen and bitter in its competitions, low and sordid in its purposes; nor that of ambition, selfish, mercenary, restless, circumventing, living only in the opinion of others, envious of the good fortune of others, miserably vain of its own success, unjust, unscrupulous, and slanderous.”

Pretty easy to read and understand isn’t it? The whole 6 pages in this chapter are that easy to read too. The entire chapter has to do with peace and harmony and how and what Masons can do to help achieve that.

Much of what is and has been written by Masons over the centuries has to do with Tolerance; (Pike is no exception) tolerance of each other and tolerance with ourselves; The degrees of Freemasonry teach us about tolerance, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded about tolerance from a mentor from long ago through his writings.

By reading in Morals and Dogma we can learn from one of the most knowledgeable Masons who ever lived. That does not mean we would or should agree with everything he has written, but we ought to read it and consider what he wrote because, it might be we can use his thoughts and knowledge to help us in some way to become better men, and in the process become better Masons and enjoy Freemasonry more.

Words to live by: We are all one people; we all want to be peaceful.

“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” John F. Kennedy

From the Great Light of Masonry: [Love] “It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5

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 Masonic Monday Question for the week of 05/04/09 is: What is the covenant of Masons [Freemasonry]?

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

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email 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.

“Wherever there is strife and hatred among the Brethren, there is no Masonry; for Masonry is peace, and Brotherly Love and Concord.” Albert Pike

To read some past issues of Ed’s publications on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

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

Seek to mentor a Brother Mason:
It’s good for him, it’s good for you, and it’s good for Freemasonry!

Information on George Washington

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.
Number 141 – February 20, 2009

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

Dear Masonic Student,

Due to numerous requests for information and talks about our Worshipful Brother George Washington, this issue of T.F.S. is being sent early in the hope that some of it will be of use to Masons in their efforts to provide talks and information for Washington’s Birthday events.

The following is an undated letter from Brother Washington to an unknown friend: This was sent to me by Worshipful Brother Ken Roberts.

"Dear Friend,
My first desire to become a Mason was due to the fact that many of Virginia's noblest sons were Members of the Fraternity.
Therefore, it was not without forethought, that on Saturday evening, November 4, 1752, in the village of Fredericksburg, I was made an Entered Apprentice Mason. The Masonic lessons I learned on my admission to Masonry and my contact and conversations with prominent Masons thereafter were of greatest encouragement in after years when I encountered and underwent severe trials, especially those at the commencement of the Revolution.
It was at this time that friendly council reached my ears to the effect that some of the men regarded me as a slave owner and an aristocrat and that they abhorred my Episcopacy. I declared at once to dispel such thoughts from my comrades' minds, and, on one occasion, sat in a Masonic Lodge at Cambridge of which an Orderly Sergeant was Master. I made it a point to meet upon the level and part upon the square, with all my comrades, regardless
of rank or position, and my reward was the loyalty and friendship of all, far beyond my expectations.
There is no doubt in my mind that Masonry and its lessons were helpful throughout the Revolution, both upon the Battlefield and in the Legislative Assembly.
G. Washington."

The Saint John’s Bible and G. Washington & B. Franklin
By Ed Halpaus, MPS (life)

Every four years, when a new U.S. President is sworn into office, Masons speak of the Bible from St. John’s Lodge in New York City; the Bible Brother Washington used when he took the oath of office as President of the United States of America. Brother Alan Boudreau. In his paper “George Washington and New York City,” gives us some interesting information about that Bible and Washington’s inaugural ceremony.

The “Presidential Bible” was presented to St. John’s Lodge by Jonathan Hampton in 1770; it is a King James Bible complete with the apocrypha. The Bible was held by M.W. Brother Robert R. Livingston, Chancellor of New York State, and Grand Master of Masons in New York when he administered the oath of office.

Brother Washington placed his right hand on the open Holy Bible, at the conclusion of the oath Washington bent forward as he spoke saying “I solemnly swear,” and kissed the Bible. The Chancellor replied “it is done,” and proclaimed to the gathered audience “Long live George Washington, President of the United States.”

In the history of the U.S, and world there have been many who tirelessly worked together towards the goal of liberty and freedom. They may not have all had a real affection for each other, but many if not most of them did: Two who did truly like each other were W. Brother Washington and M.W. Brother Benjamin Franklin.

It has always been a tradition in Masonic Lodges in the U.S. to commemorate Washington’s birth-date, at a communication near the 22nd of February, with some traditional food and some information about our Brother and first President of the United States. There has been quite a bit written about Brother Washington, and I would say that it might be possible to have a library composed of only books and articles about him. I read once that more has been written about him than any other single American.

Rather than write something new about him here, (as if one could,) I would like to share something with you that I have in a rare book. These are letters from Brother Benjamin Franklin to Brother George Washington and Brother Washington’s letter in return to Brother Franklin.

These letters demonstrate the affection these two Masons had for each other, as well as the patriotism both had for their country. The United States owes a lot to these two men, and as Masons we can all be proud of all they did for freedom.

To: George Washington from Benjamin Franklin. Philadelphia, 16 September, 1789.

“Dear Sir;
My malady renders my sitting up to write rather painful to me; but I cannot let my son-in-law, Mr. Bache, part for New York, without congratulating you by him on the recovery of your health, so precious to us all, and on the growing strength of our new government under your administration. For my own personal ease, I should have died two years ago; though those years have been spent in excruciating pain, I am pleased that I have lived them, since they have brought me to see our present situation. I am now finishing my eighty-fourth year, and probably with it my career in this life; but in whatever state of existence I am placed in hereafter, if I retain any memory of what has passed here, I shall with it retain the esteem, respect, and affection, with which I have long been, my dear friend, yours most sincerely.
B. Franklin.”

From George Washington: To Benjamin Franklin. New York, 23 September, 1789.

“Dear Sir,
The affectionate congratulations on the recovery of my health, and the warm expressions of personal friendship, which were contained in your letter of the16th instant, claim my gratitude. And the consideration, that it was written when you were afflicted with a painful malady, greatly increases my obligation for it.
Would to God, my dear Sir, that I could congratulate you upon the removal of that excruciating pain, under which you labor, and that your existence might close with as much ease to yourself, as its continuance has been beneficial to our country and useful to mankind; or, if the united wishes of a free people, joined with the earnest prayers of every friend to science and humanity, could relieve the body from pains or infirmities, that you could claim an exemption on this score. But this cannot be, and you have within yourself the only resource to which we can confidently apply for relief, a philosophic mind.
If to be venerated for benevolence, if to be admired for talents, if to be esteemed for patriotism, if to be beloved for philanthropy, can gratify the human mind, you must have the pleasing consolation to know, that you have not lived in vain. And I flatter myself that it will not be ranked among the least grateful occurrences of your life to be assured, that, so long as I retain my memory, you will be recollected with respect, veneration, and affection by your sincere friend,
George Washington.”

Finally, an English Freemason, Samuel Lightfoote, in “Brother Lightfoote’s Journal” on July 4, 1781, wrote about fighting for freedom; he cited the war of 1187 where Saladin defeated King Guy, he wrote: “This decisive battle led, ultimately, to the return of the Holy Land to the people who lived there.” [Referring to the date of his paper] “The Fourth of July is also, as every schoolboy knows, the date upon which the rebellious American colonists declared themselves independent of the British Motherland. One must be careful saying it these days, but I rather admire Brother Washington’s initiative in securing the government of that great country for its citizens. Nobody likes being ruled by outsiders, as both the Arab and the American have proved.”

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 Masonic Monday Question for the week of 02/16/09 is: “What are a few of the connecting links of Eastern Free Masonry -which lie deeply imbedded in the Chinese Culture and Moralisms - which seem to have parallel in Western Masonry?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email 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.

To read some past issues of Ed’s publications on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

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

Seek to mentor a Brother Mason:
It’s good for him, it’s good for you, and it’s good for Freemasonry!

Masonic Vision and Mission Statements

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.
Number 142 – March 01, 2009

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

“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.” Carl Jung

Masonic Vision and Mission Statements
By Ed Halpaus

“Do not miss a day’s enjoyment or forgo your share of innocent pleasure.”
Ecclesiasticus 14:14

The above quote, from the Apocrypha, is good advice for a happy life. A truism is that a happy life doesn’t happen by accident; it comes about because of a person’s values, life-goals, and choices; knowing and acting on what is important in life. Having a personal vision and mission statement is very helpful in planning for a happy personal and family life.

One very active Freemason, years ago, became disenchanted with his activities in Freemasonry; this caused him to evaluate what was important to him in his Masonic life. He secluded himself for this process of evaluation, so he could write out what made him happy in Freemasonry and what did not. The result was he wrote out his personal Masonic vision and mission statements.

Personal statements such as these are worthwhile to construct in many areas of life: A Personal Masonic vision statement answers the questions, ‘Where do I want to go?’ ‘What can I do to enjoy Freemasonry more?’ It talks about the future, and helps clarify hopes and plans; it’s a reminder of what one is trying to accomplish: A personal Masonic mission statement answers the questions, ‘Why am I a Freemason?’ ‘What is it that I enjoy in and about Freemasonry?’

Personal statements like these differ from statements for groups; a group vision statement is never shared with the public, while a group mission statement is. Personal vision and mission statements are just that; personal, so they are never shared. A vision statement focuses on the future; a mission statement focuses on the present.

Writing a personal Masonic vision and mission statement helps us focus on values and priorities as they apply to us as Freemasons, and how Freemasonry affects our personal life. Since writing his, our friend says he enjoys his Masonic life more now than he did decades ago.

Do you have a personal vision and mission statement for your Masonic life, as it relates to your personal life? These statements are a good way to determine what really matters to an individual in his life. Knowing what matters makes it easier to answer yes or no to the various opportunities that arise in Freemasonry, and its appendant and concordant bodies; based on their relationship to a Mason’s vision and values.

These statements should represent a person’s basic and true values: To be most effective a vision / mission statement should deal with four basic human needs: Economic; Social; psychological; and spiritual.

Economic: This involves the amount of money one is willing to commit to all areas of the Masonic Fraternity. The cause of stress for some people has been called the ‘3 T’s of membership; time, talent, and treasure. A Mason may want to consider how much he is willing to commit in dues, (and in what Masonic groups,) so they will bring him the most enjoyment, (fulfillment,) in his various Masonic involvements.


Social: The social aspect involves the tithing of time, not just for the Mason but also for his immediate family. A Mason might consider where he and his wife feel the most welcome and enjoy themselves the most. He also might consider social activities that include his children; are there social activities that include them as well? Do they have a good time in a safe environment?

Psychological: This is where growth comes in. Growth involves learning the lessons Masonry has for its votaries, so they can be wiser, better, and happier. A question more and more Masons ask themselves is; does my Lodge teach them to those who want to know?

A motto, (or favorite saying) of Freemasonry is; ‘We take in good men and make them better.’ One Brother maintains that some Lodges, struggling with membership, attendance, and finances, aren’t doing that; there are Lodges that don’t do what they advertise and claim to do.

Spiritual: This involves being involved; being able to contribute our talents. Freemasons tend to be men who like meaningful participation; being able to use their talents in a way that will be helpful to the groups they are members of.

Some groups, both within and without Freemasonry, are very closed in the operations of the group: Such a group might like the member’s treasure, and not be interested in his time and talent. Some Masons, when in such a group, will eventually find a group that is more open to involving all of the 3 T’s of membership.

Vision and mission statements, with the principles and values (the compass and constitution) a person holds as valuable, are essential to happiness in the involvements in so many areas of life, because it helps him clarify what really matters. It’s easier to say ‘no’ when there is a bigger ‘yes’ waiting in the future.

“A personal mission and vision statement does help a Mason in the enjoyment of his Masonic life.” ERH

Words to live by: Vision without action is a daydream. Action with without vision is a nightmare.

“In the light of his vision he has found his freedom: his thoughts are peace, his words are peace and his work is peace.” Dhammapada

From the Great Light of Masonry: “For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say to him, ‘read this, please,’ he will answer, ‘I can’t; it is sealed.’

“Leaders must invoke an alchemy of great vision.” Henry Kissinger

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 Masonic Monday Question for the week of 03/02/09 is: “What was the name of the Master Mason who was shot and killed in a shoot-out with terrorists in front of ‘Blair House’ in Washington D.C.?”

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email 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.

To read some past issues of Ed’s publications on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

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

Seek to mentor a Brother Mason:
It’s good for him, it’s good for you, and it’s good for Freemasonry!

Deontology

T.F.S.

Three, five, and seven

3 5 7

By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.

Number 128 – August 01, 2008

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

“Ethics and equity and the principles of justice do not change with the calendar.”

D. H. Lawrence

Deontology

This past spring the Midwest conference on Masonic Education met in Omaha, Nebraska. It was an exceptional conference, and everyone who was at the conference was glad he took the time to attend.

One of the workshops at the conference, “Virtue Ethics,” was conducted by Brother and Dr. Nelson Stone. This workshop was all too short, (just 30 minutes,) but then this is one of my favorite subjects, Brother Stone had a very difficult task to delve into ethics and philosophy as they can be applied to Masonry in so short a time, but he was able to do it, and he made it extremely interesting. Delving into ethics and philosophy and how they apply to Freemasonry is a very worthwhile thing to do. I like these subjects not because I am so well versed in it, but because I want to understand it better.[i]

Virtue Ethics is a peculiar kind of ethics in that it tells you things like ‘be a good person’ or ‘maintain relationships and are for other people’ without providing a clear idea of how to do it.[ii] “”This is a problem that philosophers refer to as ‘contextualism.’ Virtue ethics does not make universal claims. E.g.[iii] the ethics of the right thing to do varies from context to context.

When I mention about understanding as it relates to virtue ethics and philosophy and Masonry I remember something Rabi Benjamin Blech says in one of his lectures about the people receiving the Torah from God; he says their response was “We will do and we will hear.” Meaning that they first committed to do first and then to begin to understand. Remembering that reminds me of the ritual of Freemasonry; the candidate in the degree is told that in order to join in the great and good work of Freemasonry it is necessary for him to make a statement and promises of future actions, as all Masons before him have also done, before he begins to understand; every Freemason has been willing to do that; Masonry is a fraternity of action: After the action of our promises we then begin our journey of understanding.

One of the topics mentioned in the workshop on Virtue Ethics was Deontology, which is different than virtue ethics: [Deon-tology] this is the theory of moral obligation or commitment, which applies very well to the obligations of the degrees in Freemasonry. If you were to study deontology much of what you will learn will have a special significance to you as a Freemason. The word ‘deontology’ comes from the Greek word ‘Deont,’ which means that which is binding or needful. The word is also influenced by the words ‘Dien,’ and ‘Logy;’ ‘Dien’- bind; ‘Logy’ – discourse or expression.

Deontology is about duty. The term ‘deontological’ means ‘duty based.’ Any moral theory that is deontological is one that focuses on duty; it doesn’t matter who or what that duty is to, so it applies very well to Masons being duty bound to fulfill their promises no matter who they are made to, even to themselves. The Philosopher Emmanuel Kant is one who was a proponent of deontological theories. According to Kant deontology was all about following absolute rules; to do one’s duty. A definition of duty is; something you are required to do whether you want to or not.[iv]

Following rules is an interesting subject in itself, which you may want to study. In the obligation of the Masonic degrees there are things a Mason promises to do, and not to do. Rabi Benjamin Blech[v] says in referring to the many Mitzvot in the Torah that the don’ts are more important than the do’s: he explains that the ‘don’ts’ prevent us from making grievous errors, while the do’s guide us down a proper path of conduct. The Masonic obligations also contain various do’s and don’ts. For our own enjoyment each of us might enjoy reviewing the obligations, and maybe the charges, of the three degrees of the Blue Lodge, just to refresh our memories about the do’s and don’ts of Freemasonry.

When we think of deontological theory we might also want to learn about ‘motivist’ and ‘consequence’ theories: To explain briefly the ‘motivist ethical theory’ says that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends, in its entirety, on the motive from which the action was done. e.g. why was the action taken? The ‘consequence ethical theory’ says the rightness or wrongness of an action depends entirely on the effects that the action has; e.g. what are the results of the action?[vi]

Philosophers who hold to the deontological ethical theory say that it differs from the motivist and the consequence theories in that “the rightness or wrongness of an act depends neither on the motive from which an act was done nor upon the consequences of the act – but solely upon what kind of act it was.” Because of the stress on obligation and duty deontological theories are also called ‘Duty Ethics.’

Philosopher Emanuel Kant’s ideas on deontological ethics and morality have been summed up to just a few simple items which include; always tell the truth, and always keep your promises. “Kant also believed that the only thing that is totally and completely good without exception is a good will.” What Kant meant by ‘good will’ was that our desires, the things we wish and hope for, must be good.[vii] He believed that only the ‘good will’ is absolutely good, thus “just because a wrong or evil act might turn out good in the end [I’m sure you can think of examples of this kind of action] doesn’t mean that the act becomes good. “The moral of this is that you can’t just look at behaviors or outcomes to see if an act is right or wrong.” Deontology, according to Kant, “totally rejects out comes as a way of judging acts; because things can turn out well even when we don’t intend them to, and things can turn out terribly, even when we mean well!”[viii]

“A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world.” Brother Manly Hall

From the Great Light of Masonry: “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me – to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” Genesis 14:22-24 NIV

Words to live by: “The Ten Commandments aren’t the ten ‘suggestions.’ They are meant to be binding, whether we agree or not, and in every situation.” Rabbi Benjamin Blech

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 Masonic Monday Question for the week of 07/28/08 is: “Why do Brethren entering and leaving a Lodge salute the Master?”

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email 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.

To read this paper, (or past issues,) on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

With “Brotherly Love”,

Ed Halpaus

Grand Lodge Education Officer

“Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.” Yoda

---

[i] Why study ethics and philosophy and apply them to what we can learn in Freemasonry? One book [a] says “instead of letting philosophers do all the thinking for us – speculating on what is good and right from their lofty ivory towers – we should be figuring it out for ourselves.” The second portion of the paragraph on this subject is very similar to what Masonry says about interpreting symbols; each of us is free to interpret the meaning of symbols for ourselves. This should sound familiar: “But our understanding will be rational only to the degree that our conversation is truly fair, and everyone has roughly the same opportunities, incentives, and capacities for informed, reasoned discussion.”

a. The Complete Idiot’s guide to Understanding Ethics [0-02-864325-9]

[ii] ibid

[iii] I.e short for Latin id est meaning ‘that is.’ E.g. short for Latin exempli gratia meaning ‘for example.’

[iv] The Complete Idiot’s guide to Understanding Ethics

[v] Understanding Judaism – the basics of Deed and Creed

[vi] Philosophy Made Easy [ISBN0-385-42533-3]

[vii] The Complete Idiot’s guide to Understanding Ethics

[viii] Ibid

Forget-Me-Not

T.F.S.

Three, five, and seven

3 5 7

By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.

Number 127 – July 20, 2008

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

“The sweet forget-me-nots that grow for happy lovers.”

Lord Alfred Tennyson - The Brook

I recently heard about a government official who was taking the degrees of Freemasonry, the Brother who told me about it asked that this official’s name and where he hails from should be kept mum, for his Masonic membership was not to be publicized.

He’s not alone in wanting to keep his membership in the Craft to himself. We don’t need to look very far into the history of the world to see some of the reasons a Mason might want to keep is being a Mason on the private side. Masons have been shunned, ostracized, put on trial, incarcerated, and even put to death because of their Masonic affiliation by dictators and despots. Sadly these kinds of things were happening as recently as the mid 1900’s in Europe and in Spain: The Masons of Europe were persecuted, along with millions of other people, because of their being Freemasons. Fortunately in the free world Freemasons have not faced such persecution. However, there are some Masons who have been chastised and discriminated against, in various ways, because of their affiliation with the Sons of Light. Thankfully this kind of thing does not happen very often, and it is non-violent, (unlike the treatment of Mason by dictators throughout history,) but it is, nevertheless, hurtful to the Mason and detrimental to the Craft.

It is each individual Mason’s own decision whether or not he will reveal himself as being a Freemason, and every other Freemason should respect the decisions of our Brethren. Men petition a Lodge and take the degrees of Masonry for perfectly personal reasons; not for any publicity, but for personal growth and bonding with other, like minded, men.

In North America it seems many, if not most, Masons display their Masonic affiliation in some manner by wearing some Masonic jewelry, or placing an emblem on their car or home, but some prefer to refrain from that.

Displaying a Masonic emblem of some kind on our person, home, or automobile, is referred to, by our Brethren affiliated with Prince Hall Freemasonry, as ‘wearing light.’ When some of us ‘wear light’ we do so with the familiar Square and Compasses, while others might display an emblem that is less familiar to the general public, such as the an emblem depicting the name of a historic and Biblical character from Genesis 4:22, or a Scottish or York Rite emblem, maybe the 14^th or 32^nd degree S.R. Ring, or maybe a simple flower; the Forget-Me-Not. The Forget-Me-Not is worn and loved by Masons world wide as an emblem of their affiliation with the Fraternity. It is also a way to express the remembrance of the persecution many of our Masonic Brethren have suffered for being Freemasons.

The story of this very simple and pretty flower and how it became an emblem of Freemasonry is an interesting one: Briefly, during the Nazi Party’s rise to power in Germany many groups of people were eventually arrested and put into concentration camps where millions of them were murdered. Freemasons, being termed ‘political prisoners’ were also kept in concentration camps; political prisoners wore a inverted red triangle on their prison garments, in contrast to the Jews who were identified by a yellow Star of David on their garments.

The Forget-Me-Not was first used by one of the Grand Lodges operating in Germany in 1926 as a Masonic emblem. However, in 1938 a similar pin of the Forget-Me-Not was used by a Nazi ‘charitable group’ to raise funds that would permit other ‘state funds’ to be used for rearmament.

This “Coincidence” of the Blue Forget-Me-Not being used first by a Grand Lodge and later by the Nazi Government permitted the Masons to wear that pin, or the actual flower, as an emblem or sign understood by other Masons, as to their affiliation with the Sons of Light.

However, once the Freemasons who had been arrested and incarcerated were in prison garb it is highly unlikely that they were allowed to posses any jewelry at all - let alone to wear it on the clothes of a prisoner. If you have seen photos of the grounds of the concentration camps you might have noticed that it was unlikely there was much growing there, but being the ‘forget-me-not’ is a wild flower it is possible a Masonic political prisoner might have plucked one when available to put on his person if he could.

The name of the Forget-Me-Not in German is Vergessmein-nicht, and simply translated, as Worshipful Brother Roger Firestone was kind enough to do for me, means "forget mine not," which he commented is “not much difference from the name for the flower in English.”

That brings to mind something interesting about the flower’s ‘English’ name: One Encyclopedic Dictionary says that the flower was given its English name by the 19th century poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his poem “The Keepsake.” The dictionary gives us this information: [Coleridge] gave this Eurasian and North American wildflower its common English name. In his poem 'the keepsake', published in 1802, he described it as “This is the common forget-me-not Myosotis arvensis.”

I looked for quite a while for this poem and I finally found it, so I thought I would reproduce it here, for your reading enjoyment. This poem is a bit over 200 years old now, and it could be called a part of the history of the flower, and lapel pin many of us wear as a sign of our being a Freemason.

The keepsake

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The tedded hay, the first fruits of the soil,

The tedded hay and corn sheaves in one field,

Show summer gone, ere come. The foxglove tall.

Sheds its loose purple bells, or in the gust,

Or when it bends beneath the uprising lark,

Or mountain-finch alighting. And the rose

(In vain the darling of successful love)

Stands, like some boasted beauty of past years;

The thorns remaining, and the flowers all gone.

Nor can I find, amid my lonely walk

By rivulet, or spring, or wet road-side,

That blue and bright-eyed floweret of the brook,

Hope’s gentle gem, the sweet forget-me-not!

So will not fade the flowers which Emmeline

With delicate fingers on the snow-white silk

Has worked, (the flowers which most she knew I loved,)

And more beloved than they, her auburn hair.

In the cool morning twilight, early walked

By her full bosom’s joyous restlessness,

Softly she rose, and lightly stole along,

Down the slope coppice to the woodbine bower,

Whose rich flowers, swinging in the morning breeze,

Over their dim fast-moving shadows hung,

Making a quiet time of disquiet

In a smooth scarcely moving river pool.

There, in that bower where she first she owned her love,

And let me kiss my own warm tear of joy

From off her glowing cheek, she sate and stretched

The silk upon the frame, and worked her name

Between the moss-rose and forget-me-not –

Her own dear name, with her own auburn hair!

That forced to wander till sweet spring returns,

I yet might ne’er forget her smile, her look,

Her voice, (that even in her mirthful mood

Has made me wish to steal away and weep,)

Nor yet the entrancement of that maiden kiss

With which she promised, that when spring returned,

She would resign one half of that dear name,

And own thenceforth no other name but mine!

“One of the names (and meriting to be the only one) of the Myosotis Scorpioides Palustris, a flower from six to twelve inches high, with blue blossom and bright yellow eye. It has the same name over the whole Empire of Germany (Vergissmein Nicht), and, I believe, in Denmark and Sweden.”

“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon - 1834-1892, Baptist Minister

From the Great Light of Masonry: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

Words to live by: Live your life so you don’t need to hide your diary.

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 Masonic Monday Question for the week of 07/21/08 is: “Define each of the following and give its relationship to Freemasonry: a) Jacobean; b) Jacobin; c) Jacobite; d) Jacobian”

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email 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.

To read this paper, (or past issues,) on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

With “Brotherly Love”,

Ed Halpaus

Grand Lodge Education Officer

“Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.” Yoda

Justice 06/01/08

T.F.S.

Three, five, and seven

3 5 7

By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.

Number 124 – June 01, 2008

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

“Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as you go along.” Unknown

Justice

“Justice is that standard or boundary of right, which enables us to render to every man his just due without distinction. This virtue is not only consistent with Divine and human law it is the very cement and support of civil society; and as justice in a great measure constitutes the real good man, so should it be the invariable practice of every Mason never to deviate from the minutest principles thereof.”

There is an important lesson hidden in that paragraph from the degree work of he First Degree of Freemasonry; it’s in plain sight, but sometimes overlooked.

Recently in a phone conversation one of my Lodge Brothers[i] mentioned a rhetorical question about justice; since then the cardinal virtues, and especially the virtue of justice has been on my mind. Because of this I began some enjoyable research for personal satisfaction, but as I got into it - the germ of an idea, to do more research, and following up with an article about it, began to grow. Hopefully what follows will give us all a reason to study and ponder justice a little more than we have in the past. The following is some information, and my ideas on the cardinal virtue of justice; I hope it is helpful to you in clarifying what you understand about the cardinal virtue of justice.

One of the first places to look for information on justice is in the ‘Great Light’ of Masonry; The Holy Bible: Isaiah 28:17 says something that might catch the eye of every Freemason; “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line.”[ii] One Bible Commentary says about that scripture, since Isaiah is quoting God; God will test men’s response by the standard of justice and righteousness.[iii] There are numerous passages of scripture in the Great Light of Masonry where references to justice can be found: An enjoyable time might be had if one will take the time to look them up and read the commentaries relating to them; a good study bible is helpful, (I like the Life Application Study Bible,) but ‘on-line’ www.searchgodsword.com is a very good place to go for comprehensive study bibles, concordances and bible dictionaries.

Another place to look for information, in addition to the ritual of Freemasonry, is the dictionary. Cardinal (with a small ‘c’) is described as meaning; prime importance, chief, principle, or fundamental, as in the cardinal virtues; looking further for the word virtue, as found in one old dictionary, the four cardinal virtues are listed in this order; justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude, these are followed by the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.[iv] Looking still further under the word justice we find it includes the quality of being just, which includes, the qualities of righteousness, equitableness, moral rightness, and lawfulness. Also included in the definition are truth, correctness or propriety, and the moral principle determining just conduct.[v]

The study of this cardinal virtue is enjoyable. Many times, when people think of ‘justice’, they will connect it with judgment followed by consequences; I, however, look at it differently: To me the cardinal virtue of justice is different from the bar of justice, and while it is in the make-up of our human nature to be critical and to use good judgment in the various situations in our life, it seems, to me at least, that it is not possible to talk about justice, as a cardinal virtue, without also considering ‘giving and receiving.’

It is advisable in the study of this virtue to consider the tenets of Freemasonry; Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. To render, (as in the Masonic paragraph about justice, above,) is to give; to give back or to restore. To render justice means to give, or give back, to everyone what is his[vi] just due without distinction, which means without division or separation: That is, Masons won’t see their fellowman receive his just due differently, because of the Mason’s personal opinion or who the recipient appears to be. Whether friends, acquaintances, or strangers, Masons employ the virtue of justice equally, with brotherly love towards all. It is similar to the teaching of “Give and it shall be given unto you,”[vii] meaning if we are critical instead of being compassionate we will be likely to also receive criticism from others when receiving our due. If this kind of attitude were to prevail in Freemasonry then maybe our fraternity would not be the kind of fraternity that it is. Justice is, most certainly, a standard and boundary of right; when we read some of the definitions of it - we will notice that justice is not separate from the tenets of Freemasonry; Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth: they are interconnected.

“Experience is the hardest kind of teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterwards.” Unknown

From the Great Light of Masonry: “Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and posses the land your Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 16:19-20 NIV

Juris præcepta sunt hæc, honesta vivere, alterum non lædere, suum cuique tribuere = (Latin) = These are the precepts of the law, to live honestly, to harm no one, to render to each his due.

“Experience is a good school, but it’s not very strong on vacations.” Unknown

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 Masonic Monday Question for the week of 06/02/08 is: The Trowel – we are told in symbolic Lodges that we, as Freemasons, are to use it to spread the cement of brotherly love and affection. How is this to be done? What is the significance of this metaphor?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email 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.

Some past issues of Ed’s publications can be read on the Web at: http://www.halpaus.net some past issues of T.F.S. can be viewed on the web site for the Grand Lodge of Minnesota at: http://www.mn-masons.org

With “Brotherly Love”,

Ed Halpaus

Grand Lodge Education Officer

“Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.” Yoda

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[i] Brother Elliott Saxton, a member of our G.L. Education Committee and avid Masonic Student

[ii] New International Version [NIV]

[iii] The Interpreter’s one-volume Commentary on the Bible – page 348

[iv] New Century dictionary 1948 edition Volume 2 page 2152

[v] Ibid Volume 1 page 888

[vi] This is the generic his – meaning both male and female.

[vii] From the Holy Bible – Luke 6:38 the commentary connected with this verse and the one preceding it says we are to love others and not judge them.

Charge at Closing 06/20/08

T.F.S.

Three, five, and seven

3 5 7

By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.

Number 125 – June 20, 2008

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

“Masonry is not ‘speculative,’ nor theoretical, but experimental; not sentimental, but practical. It requires self-renunciation and self-control.” Brother Albert Pike

A while back I had an article in my publication Mehr Licht called “A Moment in time” by R.W.B. Paul Alexander of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.[i] I received a lot of feedback on that issue; both in agreement with what was written and in opposition to what was written.[ii] If you don’t recall the particular article by Brother Alexander here is a part of what he wrote: “He explained that he had been thinking of dropping out of Lodge for several years. Not for financial reasons, but that a problem had been bothering him for a good while. He went on to explain that while in lodge everything was so serious and proper with teachings from the Bible and the Masonic code of conduct, then as soon as lodge was closed we went out for fellowship, then he would hear FOUL language and off color jokes, and since he was a Christian this type of fellowship did not appeal. So he thought his money would be better spent in supporting his church, so therefore he would not be paying his dues any longer. What a moment in time that was for me.” What Brother Alexander was referring to was the reason a Mason was resigning from his Lodge.

I think it is good for a Brother to ask another why he no longer attends Lodge, but when we do, we may not like to hear the reason. Also by asking the question we also assume a responsibility to try to correct a problem, (perceived or actual,) that we hear as the reason for his inactivity. For these reasons, many times, it is easier not to ask.

Witnessing what we could say would be conduct unbecoming a Freemason is, to say the least, sad; we are Freemasons and should act as such, but Freemasons assembled together in a Lodge are first men, and products of our environment as well as our past; possibly we bring too much of that part of ourselves into our Lodges with us. Brother Pike wrote in Morals and Dogma: “Many a man earnestly desires to be a good Mason. He says so, and is sincere. But if you require him to resist a certain passion, to sacrifice a certain indulgence, to control his appetite at a particular feast, or to keep his temper in a dispute, you will find he does not wish to be a good Mason, in that particular case; or, wishing, is not able to resist his worst impulses.”[iii] ‘His worst impulses,’ to me, implies what we have all learned outside of Masonry and our houses of worship, and which we don’t shed when we walk into a Masonic Lodge.

The beautiful ceremonies and lectures of our fraternity, and especially the opening ceremony of the Lodge, are to help each of us to put behind us those parts of our nature that are not in Harmony with what we learn in Masonry and in our houses of worship. It is the hope that what we learn in studying the lessons of Freemasonry will help us to be better men and Masons in all aspects of our life.

You may notice I include the lessons and values learned in both Masonry and in houses of worship: It seems nearly impossible to separate the two when it comes to the lessons we, as Masons, would want to learn to become better men.

One thing that can be done in our Lodges, (which seems to be done on a sporadic basis,) that would help us in remembering the lessons we have learned in Masonry, similar to the purposes of the opening ceremony, is to include in the closing ceremony of the Lodge – the Charge at Closing. Possibly, if we hear that charge often enough, (i.e. at the close of every communication of our Lodge,) take it to heart, and then study it some, we might all notice an improvement in the conduct of Masons in Lodge and elsewhere, and if we do notice something from time to time we will ourselves be more inclined to not contribute to an infraction, but to truly whisper good counsel in a Brotherly fashion.

One of the best ways for a Masonic Lodge to assure its members of the purity of life and conduct expected of us, as Freemasons, is to include the ‘Charge at Closing’ as often as possible in our Lodges. Most Masons are familiar with this Charge; in the book ‘The Freemason at Work,’ by Brother Harry Carr, there is a small section about the ‘Charge at Closing.’ The various charges in Freemasonry are always worth hearing, learning from, and studying. It seems we don’t hear them often enough to keep them fresh in our minds: For this reason, the charge at closing is actually looked forward to and enjoyed, and having this Charge read doesn’t add significant time to the Lodge Communication.

In Brother Carr’s commentary about the Charge at Closing he mentions a question in the [iv]proceedings of the ARS Quatuor Coronatorum, (AQC,) volume 82 (1969.) The answer to the question was supplied by Brother R.H. Brown, who was at the time the editor of the Transactions of the American Lodge of Research, saying the earliest copy of the Charge at Closing he knew of was from 1792. He included a copy of it along with the information he had about it. I will reproduce the information he had here: “. . . The earliest appearance of it, I find, is in Thaddeus Mason Harris's Constitutions, published under the sanction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, in 1792. Coil's Encyclopedia calls Harris a writer of 'high but not wide reputation'. The Constitutions is monitorial in form and contains a great deal of material from Anderson. Entick and Preston, with some original work by Harris himself. It includes a 'Charge at the Closing of a Lodge" which is credited as 'by Brother T.M.H.' (Also, the quotation in the penultimate paragraph is here credited to Isaiah xlix, 4[v]; this does not appear in later printings.) This, I believe, is the first appearance of this piece of work. Slightly amended, it was included in Frederick Dalcho's Ahiman Rezon (Charleston, S.C., U.S.A., 1807). and Dalcho's version appears in many later American monitors; Cole's Ahiman Rezon, Baltimore 1817, Sickels's Ahiman Rezon NY. 1864; (Ahiman Rezon was a popular American title for monitors in the 19th century—no debt to Dermott, save the name...). When I became a Mason in 1921, the Simons-Macoy Monitor was a popular book, and the 'Charge' appears therein. It is still included in some Grand Lodge monitors, including Florida, Pennsylvania, and the State of Washington, so it has been far-flung. ... it has never been used in New York during the fifty years I have been a Mason and so far as I am aware it is never obligatory' in any of the jurisdictions where it is allowed.”

I thought you might like to know a little bit of the history of the Charge. Some will ask if the Charge at Closing is part of the official ritual in a Grand Lodge, and the answer is, as far as I know, no. In most jurisdictions I am aware of the Charge is not printed as part of the closing of a Lodge, but it may be included at the discretion of the Master.

As far as having it read during the closing of a Lodge is concerned, the Master of the Lodge, if he wishes, could have it read by a Past Master of his Lodge. In one Lodge I am familiar with, the Master; wanting to involve as Many Masons as possible, asks a Past Master to deliver the Charge at Closing at each Lodge Communication.

A CHARGE AT THE CLOSING OF A LODGE - By Brother T.M.H.

Brethren, you are now about to quit this sacred retreat of friendship and virtue, to mix again with the world. Amidst its concerns and employments, forget not the duties you have heard so frequently inculcated, and forcibly recommended in this Lodge. Be. therefore, diligent, prudent, temperate, discreet. And remember also, that around this altar you have solemnly and repeatedly promised to befriend and relieve, with unhesitating cordiality, so far as shall be in your power, every Brother who shall need your assistance: That you have promised to remind him, in the most tender manner, of his failings, and aid his reformation: To vindicate his character when wrongfully traduced; and to suggest in his behalf the most candid, favorable, and palliating circumstances, even when his conduct is justly reprehended. That the world may observe how Masons love one another.

And these generous principles are to extend farther. Every human being has a claim upon your kind offices. So that we enjoin it upon you to "to do good unto all', while we recommend it more 'especially to the household of the faithful'.

By diligence in the duties of your respective callings, by liberal benevolence, and diffusive charity, by constancy and fidelity in your friendships, by uniformly just, amiable, and virtuous deportment, discover the beneficial and happy effects of this ancient and honorable institution.

Let it not be supposed that you have here "Labored in vain, and spent your

strength for naught; for your work is with the Lord, and your recompense with your

God.'* (*Isaiah 49:4)

Finally, Brethren, be ye all of one mind, live in peace, and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with, and to bless you.

When you hear this charge in your Lodge, or in one you happen to visit, know that you are hearing a reminder that has been important to Freemasons for over two hundred years.

“Most men have sentiments, but not principles. The former are temporary sensations, the latter permanent and controlling impressions of goodness and virtue.” Brother Albert Pike

From the Great Light of Masonry: “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32

Words to live by: “Masonry is action not inertness. It requires its Initiates to work, actively and earnestly, for the benefit of their Brethren, their country, and mankind.” Brother Albert Pike

“A man has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.” Walter Lippmann

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 Masonic Monday Question for the week of 06/16/08 is: What does the term ‘Masonic Father’ mean to you? Do you have one? If so how did he become your Masonic Father? Are you someone’s Masonic Father? If so, what makes you a Masonic Father?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email 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.

Some past issues of Ed’s publications can be read on the Web at: http://www.halpaus.net

To read this paper in PDF click here: http://www.halpaus.net/TFS125.pdf

With “Brotherly Love”,

Ed Halpaus

Grand Lodge Education Officer

“Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.” Yoda

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[i] Mehr Licht #173 May 22, 2008

[ii] If you would like to read that issue of More Light in PDF here is the link: http://www.halpaus.net/ML173.pdf

[iii] Morals & Dogma page 151L

[iv] Thaddeus Mason Harris is the TMH listed as the author of the reproduced Charge at Closing.

[v] Isaiah 49:4