The Philalethes

THAT there is a great deal more thought being given at the present time to declining membership, to Lodge attendance, and to what remedies can be found for these problems than at any time before.

There are two articles appearing elsewhere in this issue, that of Brother Laurids (Larry) Christensen on "Lodge Consolidation," and of Brother Fred S. Hultz on "Declining Membership," each of which not only pinpoints the problem, but offers some very real and adequate remedies for it.

We are well aware of the fact that Lodge members are not satisfied with things as they are. We know too, that we are not as prosperous as we once were, and that the time has come when we must do something about it.

Personally, I am far from a pessimist. I am one who believes that Masonry is good, and that it will, as time progresses, and as its leaders find means to lead it along smoother paths, accomplish those things which make Masonry great - but we must stop to reflect that it will take some deep thinking, and competent leadership to bring this about.

Two things are vitally necessary to assure not only Lodge attendance, but more important - Lodge interest.

The first of these is don't compete with professional entertainment. We cannot hope to get as good entertainment for Lodge occasions as can be found by the simple turn of the dial. Let's face it - no one will take time to fight traffic and find a parking spot just to hear a mediocre quartet or see an ordinary magician.

If we make our meetings Masonic, we will pack the hall. Get Masonic quizzes, Masonic plays, Masonic talks, things that are interesting to Masons, and vour problem is solved.

Something that is often overlooked by the Master of a Lodge is that in order to get a new member's interest, he must become a member of the team. Put him to work, even if it just be by pinning a badge on him and having him greet the members as they enter the hall.

Every man likes recognition and responsibility. When a member is working, he will come back and remain as a part of the team, but to let him sit alone in the corner, unrecognized, unloved - no, he will soon be among those absent. Put the new men to work.

We have often been told that we should "strike while the iron is hot," and this applies in greater importance when pinning down a new member to a specific job and taking advantage of his curiosity, interest and enthusiasm Once he is inspired with a desire to work and a particular job in the Lodge, it will be most difficult to pry him loose from it.

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What is Law ?

by ROSCOE POUND, F.P.S., (Mass.)

In a letter to the Editor, the author says: "Yogi letter come when I was thinking about something growing out of my writing. Today I asked myself whether I could not put mg thinking into the article for which you asked. I reduced: my views to writing this morning and am forwarding my writing to you. What led me to write it was a controversy about the views of Mr. Justice Holmes (of the Supreme Court) as to whether there are absolutes in constitutional law."

(St. Paul and Mr. Justice Holmes on the basis of obligation.)

WHEN THE GENTILES, WHICH HAVE NOT THE LAW do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: " Epistle to the Romans, 2:14.

"If any one thinks [a question of lawmaking policy] can be settled deductively, or once for all, I can say that I think he is theoretically wrong, and that I am certain that his conclusion will not be aceepted inpractice semper ubique et ab omnibus." Holmes, ;."The Path of the Law," 10 Harvard Law Review, 457.

"Nothing is more certain than that in modern society there are no absolutes." Dennis v. United States, 341 U.S. 494, 508.

Today the difficult questions of conduct have become not questions of individual conduct in relations of individual men but of conduct in the relation of organized groups of men with other such groups, in which we no longer have the situation of which St. Paul wrote. The conscience, sense of justice, and reason of the individual man could operate to guide or check individual conduct in the simpler conditions of individual relations and activities before the industrial era.

Group personality is perhaps the most vexed problem of the science of law today.

How far can there be a group conscience, a group reason, a clear group sense of justice in the complicated relations and complex activities of present-day industry? A collective conscience is something much more than the sum of the individual consciences of a million members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters or the thousands of shareholders of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation.

The complicated relationships of these aggregations of capital and of collective activity cannot be treated on the analogy of two neighbors in a simple rural community settling liability for a trespassing cow or bargaining over sale of a horse.

I do not deny that there are absolutes, starting points for reasoning upon the problems of just conduct in the relations with one's fellow men in every day life. But when we rely upon what we take as an absolute we must make sure that we are starting from a principle, not from a rule - from a proposition attaching a definite detailed consequence to a definite detailed state of fact which may or may not be the exact state of fact to which we apply it.

When men seek to formulate universal principles for complex and unwonted relations and situations of fact they have often in effect put a narrowly conceived principle in the form of a rule set in a theological, historical, political or economic strait-jacket.

Two conspicuous examples may be seen in the development of legal doctrine as to liability, that is, obligation to repair injuries suffered by others and obligation to fulfill expectations created in others.

As to the first down to the seventeenth century our common law knew only of injuries due to intentional aggression by one man upon another. The remedy was an action of trespass in which the writ set forth an attack by a plaintiff upon a defendant with "swords, knives, and staves." Accordingly the answer seemed simple. It was a universal proposition of right and justice that a wrongdoer should be required to repair injuries due to his intentional wrongdoing.

In a simple economic order all injuries stemmed from intentional aggression. Knives and staves did not go off half cocked and even arrows shot from bows had a short range.

The advent of gunpowder led to a new theoretical foundation. In 1616 in a skirmishing drill a member of a military company unintentionally wounded another member of the company by careless discharge of his musket. He was held liable as for a battery - intentional violence to another's person. The court would not allow a plea that the injury was due to a chance accident. There the matter stood for a while. But at the end of the eighteenth century a new theory of liability was formulated. When one had been injured, the person through whose fault the injury occurred must repair it. The basis of liability for what in our law we call negligence was so put in the French Civil Code of 1804 and became established doctrine

So long as injuries to the person were either intentionally inflicted or imposed by carelessly subjecting another to an unreasonable risk, the whole matter of liability could be treated on a principle of culpable causing of harm - or requirement of answering for the results of moral wrong. This was the doctrine taught to my generation when I entered law school in 1889.

Liability for fault was taken to mean liability for fault only. In the latter part of the nineteenth century we came to see that we could not stop where we had come by the opening of the century. The every day injuries to life and limb were no longer due to simple culpable conduct of one man inflicting harm on another. The most numerous and serious injuries were incident to industrial undertakings - often of great extent and involving many who were in the nature of the undertaking exposed to risks that were not culpably caused. It came to be felt more and more that the undertaking instead of some determined culpable person ought to respond. The undertaking was generally a corporation, and came generally to be insured, so that a feeling of injustice done to an individual defendant gradually made less appeal. We could talk of "spreading the loss." But rules formulated by the modes of thought of the time when we knew only of intentionally inflicted injury by aggression of one individual upon another still embarrass our Anglo-American law of torts.

A like story may be told of what in a broad sense we may call the law of contract. The condition of consent to be bound to some performance or of assuming specific duties are very different from what they were in pioneer, frontier America.

This has been brought out strikingly in the development of what we are now calling labor law. Adjustment of wages, hours, conditions of employment is no longer a matter of bargain between two individuals on a footing of relative equality. It has become one of reconciling the demands and expectations and needs of huge organized bodies of men conscious of power and confidently seeking economic advantage. The judges at the end of the last century who interpreted due process of law in terms of the farmer and an ambitious hired man looking forward to being himself a farmer and employing a hired man, were just and learned men but are now discredited. But those who discredit them make the same mistake of judging economic and social conditions of today by the analogies of the law of our formative era.

Of no less significance is the development in the present century of standard clauses and what the French call contracts of adhesion. Many of the most important transactions of today are not had between single individuals. They are between single individuals on one hand and great financial organizations on the other. The increasing risks involved in every day life in the crowded, mechanically operated world of our time make insurance a necessity for every one. But few can risk being their own insurers. In procuring insurance, however, the individual is not dealing with another upon an equality. The insurer is a wealthy super-corporation with a well trained force of specialist lawyers, a force of expert investigators, and is able to secure the advice and procure the services and the expert opinions and testimony of the most experienced and skillful medical practitioners. The insurer writes the policy and shapes its terms and conditions skillfully in its own interest. As the number of insurers is limited by economic considerations while almost every one needs some sort of insurance protection, the insurance companies have what in the law of public service we call a virtual monopoly.

Nor is this situation confined to contracts of insurance. It is marked also in contracts for transportation and in marketing of agricultural products.

Hence today legislation prescribes standard insurance policies, standard contracts for an increasing number of transactions, and standard clauses for many forms of special contracts. The complete freedom of contract which was believed fundamental in the nineteenth century has been superseded by a regime of state-prescribed transactions whenever the single individual must deal with highly organized institutions controlling necessary or at least highly convenient transactions. A large measure of state control of business transactions has become a matter of course. Free contract as understood yesterday is no longer an absolute. But is not this because it had ceased to be an actual freedom under changed economic conditions? But did not a better conceived freedom remain as an absolute?

What seemed absolute to the judges who applied the Fourteenth Amendment to labor conditions and business transactions of the last quarter of the nineteenth century we now perceive was too narrowly conceived.

St. Paul saw that there were principles behind the Jewish law that could be and were perceived by intelligent Gentiles who did by the light of natural reason what the Jews did because Moses had so taught them. As he put it the Gentiles show "the work of the law written in their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness."

It took a long time to show the ancient world "the work of the law written in their hearts." It took a long time for this to be achieved for the world of yesterday. We cannot hope it to be achieved over night for the world of today. But the one absolute of which we are assured is the eternal that makes for righteousness.

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Carl R. Greisen

Named as New Executive Secretary

DR. WILLIAM MOSELEY BROWN, F.P.S., President of the Philalethes Society has made the announcement of the appointment of Brother Carl R. Greisen, F.P.S., as the new Executive Secretary of the Society, replacing John Black Vrooman, F.P.S., who has been Executive Secretary pro tem since February 20, 1959. The appointment became effective August 20.

Brother Greisen is presently Grand Secretary-Recorder of the Grand Lodge, A.F.&A.M., Grand Chapter R.A.M., Grand Council, R.&S.M., and Grand Commandery, K.T., of Nebraska, in which position he has served for the past approximately fifteen years.

Active not only in state Masonic activities, but especially in the activities of the small Masonic groups which center about Masonic Week in Washington each February, Brother Greisen is today one of the best-known and most active Masons in the country.

Born in 1896 at Custer, South Dakota, he moved with his family to North Platte, Nebraska, where he received his education, later taking special courses at LaSalle University to perfect himself. He was associated with the Union Pacific Railroad for many years in a variety of capacities, giving up his work to enter the Army during World War I, later returning to the railroad after completing his term of enlistment.

Brother Greisen was raised a Master Mason in Platte Valley Lodge No. 32, North Platte, Nebraska, on July 16, 1918, and became its Master in 1926. He also served as Secretary until he was called to Omaha to assume the duties of Assistant Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska in 1945. He then became Grand Secretary of all the four Grand bodies of Masonry in Nebraska, a position he still holds.

He is a Past Grand High Priest, R.A.M.; Past Grand Master, R.& S.M., of Nebraska and is a Past Patron of the Eastern Star; a member of the Red Cross of Constantine; is this year Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees; is a member of the York Cross of Honour, and served in 1948-49 as Prior of Sir Galahad Priory.

Brother Greisen is a member, and extremely active in a large number of other Masonic groups too numerous to mention; is a Baptist; is now married to the former Mrs. Helen Catherine Calhoon, his first wife having passed awav in 1948. He has two daughters, and five grandchildren.

It is the opinion of all who know him, that the affairs of the Philalethes Society, under the wise and experienced guidance of Brother Greisen, wiIl be prospered and that the work of the Society will be well advanced by his appointment.

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Greisen is Named Fellow of Society

HAVING BEEN nominated in proper manner, and the election conducted by Harold V. B. Voorhis, F.P.S., (Life), Chairman of the Fellows Committee of the Philalethes Society, it is announced that Brother Carl R. Greisen, newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Society has been unanimously elected the fortieth Fellow of the Society.

Brother Greisen's distinguished career is contained elsewhere in this issue, with the story of his appointment as Executive Secretary, but we cannot help taking note of the wide variety of Masonic and civic activities in which he has engaged, which has so solidly justified this, his most recent honor in Freemasonry.

The election of Brother Greisen brings the list of Fellows to the traditional forty, which like those of the "Forty Immortals" of the French Academy, form the "elite" of Freemasonry.

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THE PHILALETHES SOCIETY

Cash Statement

July 31, 1959

January 1, 1959, Cash Balance $ 439.42

1959 Income - 7 months 3,009.25

$3,448.67

1959 Expenditures - 7 months $1,895.29

July1,1959, Cash Balance $1,553.38

Verified by statement First State Bank, Rolla, Missouri

RONALD E. HEATON,

Treasurer

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Chat and Comment

News, achievements and items of interest about our

Fellows and Members - Discussion arid comment on

Mutual Topics.

- Pfan Mail and Observations -

BROTHER ANDREW J. WHITE, JR., M.P.S., and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of Ohio, writes of his election as Grand Secretary of that Grand Lodge, succeeding Brother Harry S. Johnson, M.P.S., who died recently, and of his election as treasurer of the Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America. We are most happy to learn of his preferment, and know that the affairs of both organizations will be in good hands.

HARRY GERSHENSON, M.P.S., St. Louis, was recently elected president of the "Scribes," a national association of writers in the legal field, meeting in conjunction with the American Bar Association convention at Miami Beach, Florida. Brother Gershenson, a 33rd degree Mason, is a former president of the Missouri Bar Association.

RONALD E. HEATON, M.P.S., and Treaurer of the Philalethes Society retired from his position with the Synthane Company, Norristown, Pennsylvania, after many years association with it, and will devote his time to Masonic research.

WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED that the Masonic Service Association's "Short Talk Bulletin" written by Dr. William Moseley Brown, F.P.S., President of the Philalethes Society entitled, "Wind, Dust, Sparks . . . and God," which enjoyed such deserved popularity, has been translated into Spanish by Dr. J.F. Garcia Llaluque, M.P.S. We have no doubt that this very inspiring bulletin will continue to give hope to many thousands who will now be able to read it in its new form.

BROTHER PAUL WENTWORTH REIGNER, son of Brother Charles Gottshall Reigner, F.P.S., and Second Vice President of the Philalethes Society, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Hampton - Sydney College, Hampton - Sydney, Virginia, in token of his exemplary Christian fortitude in conducting "Operation Deep Freeze" in the Antarctic Regions while seriously injured following an accident. This story was related in a recent edition of The Philalethes magazine. Congratulation to Brother Reigner.

BROTHER PAUL R. RIDNER, M.P.S., Ocean Grove, New Jersey, writes that since 1945 he has pursued a fascinating hobby, that of collecting Masonic trestleboards, Lodge notices, summonses, or billets, as they are called in Scotland. Many prominent Masons are included in this collection, also many of them have autographed these notices. Brother Ridner asks that those of our readers who have such trestleboards mail him such notices - his address is Box 216, Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

BROTHER HARRY E. GRANT, M.P.S., one of our most active members. has resigned as Secretary of Pueblo Lodge No. 17, Pueblo, Colorado. He will devote much time to Masonic research and writing, and will continue his Masonic activities.

WE LEARN from the grapevine that Brother Jerome L. Allen, M.P.S., has joined the staff of the New Age magazine, Washington, D.C., the official publication of the Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, S.J. We know that he will well fit into the work of this splendid organization

BROTHER CECIL H. ELLIS, M.P.S., Chicago, writes relative to George Washington's initiation into Masonry before he reached the age of 21, and comments that in colonial days there was no fixed age whereby a youth emerged from nonage to manhood. He became a man when he was physically and/or mentally capable of performing a man's duty, and George Washington was performing a man's duties at the age of sixteen; therefore no Masonic law was violated when he was made a Mason several months before his twenty - first birthday. Perhaps some of our readers would like to comment or elaborate on this topic.

WE HAVE HAD NOTICE of the illness or hospitalization of several of our Fellows and Members, most of whom seem to have fully recovered. Brother Philip H. Coad, F.P.S., fractured his wrist in an accident recently, and Mrs. Coad was kind enough to inform us of his condition. Brother Harold B. Watson, M.P.S., writes, "I'm minus one rib (following the example, no doubt, of Adam), and one lung, but I'm back home and slowly recuperating." Brother Morris E. Gallup, M.P.S., Hutchinson, Kansas, is slowly recovering with leg trouble, but reports indicate that he is out of danger. We hope that all these Brethren will be well and strong by the time that fall Masonic activities get under way.

Evidently our typewriter worked more quickly than our mind in writing several items in the last edition.

We wrote in the June issue of the magazine that Brother Ray V. Denslow, F.P.S., (Life) had been elected as a Fellow of the American Lodge of Research, but Harold V.B. Voorhis, F.P.S. (Life), informs us that he was nominated, but not yet elected. We have no doubt that by the time this is received, he will have been formally elected. Our apologies please.

ANOTHER ERROR that passed us by - in proofreading - was that in CHAT AND COMMENT, for June (page 33, line 47, third column), we stated that Brother Alex Horne, M.P.S., "had been hospitalized." What was meant was that "Brother Alex Horne, M.P.S., was present at the April meeting of the American Lodge of Research" - one line was transposed - we apologize to Brother Horne.

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AMERICA'S FIRST MASON

Who was the first Mason in America? The honor goes to John Skene of Burlington, the Deputy Governor of West Jersey, who had received his Masonic work in Aberdeen, Scotland, during or before 1682 in which year he settled in America.

The first native - born American to be made a Mason was Jonathan Belcher, governor of Massachusetts 1728-41. He wrote a letter in 1741 stating that "It is now thirty-seven years since I was admitted into the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons." This takes the date back to 1704. It is known that he lived in Europe from 1699 to 1705.

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Lodge Consolidation; a Practical Approach

by LAURIDS CHRISTENSEN, (M.P.S.)

705 Oakdale Avenue

Chicago, Illinois

The author, Worshipful Brother Laurids (Larry) Christensen, is currently Worshipful Master of Equity Lodge No. 878, of Chicago, which was host to "a gross-roots conference of Masonic leaders," at the Central Masonic Temple, Chicago, April 20, 1959. His concept of meeting to talk and act, is a far-sighted and statesman-like act, the results of which may well be for the benefit of all Masonry, if followed by positive action. We are most happy to bring Brother Christensen's resume of the results of this Conference.

CHANGING TIMES AND TENSIONS increasing costs, population movements and TV offers a challenge to organized fraternalism.

Churches in many instances are successfully meeting this problem with mergers.

Business, industry and even agriculture has resorted to mergers or consolidations for profitable survival. (Did you know that in 1954, 27.4 per cent of all farm families in this rich country had annual cash incomes of less than a thousand dollars?) (1)

Freemasonry has never been static. It has had reverses but has ever been progressive and adaptable to a changing world. Its principles are eternal but its forms have developed. The need for the individual to be identified with a group remains fundamental in human society.

Once again the time has come when we need to consolidate our Masonic resources and go forth with the greater strength and unity and enthusiasm that may be derived from stronger, better-officered and better - financed Lodges. It might also be well for us to lend an attentive ear to suggestions of some Masonic students and philosophers that change be made in some of our lectures.

Consolidation of Lodges has long been advocated by Grand Lodges in the United States, to add vitality and fiscal soundness where needed. (2) There has been, however, a great reluctance on the part of most Lodges to make the necessary compromises to effect needed consolidations.

Lodges wish to retain their name, number, by-laws as well as meeting place and time. In some instances Past Masters who have enjoyed power and prestige over the years are reluctant to jeopardize their special position in a consolidation. Some officers who are in a hurry to get to the East wish to postpone even a necessary consolidation. These motives are not usually expressed.

It was my philosophy that subjective attitudes could be changed if active Masons were given the opportunity to express themselves publicly and thus get the objections as well as the advantages of consolidations into the open. To implement this, many Lodges in our area were invited to send their Consolidation Committee or a delegation to a dinner and Grass Roots Conference on Consolidation, sponsored by our Lodge. The invitation read in part as follows:

"The subject to be discussed will be "Consolidations or Mergers." This is a vital and timely subject that should be objectively discussed at the grass roots level of our great Fraternity.

"When our problems are anticipated, carefully thought out and our ideas openly exchanged, we move closer to solutions.

"The give and take of group thinking may well prepare us all for some compromises in effecting good end results. Also it is a very good thing that we get better acquainted.

"We expect representatives from many Lodges but all delegations will be given the opportunity to be heard. District Deputies will be present to briefly answer questions and help work out any consolidations that may result in their districts."

Thirty-four Lodges sent delegations to our meeting. There were more than two hundred Master Masons present and most of them were Past Masters or officers. As Master of the host Lodge, I introduced the subject as follows:

On October 20, 1935, the Masonic Service Association published a digest of the laws and practices of the forty-nine Grand Jurisdictions of the United States on consolidations of Lodges. As a part of this survey, all Grand Secretaries were asked the following question, "Will you give brief particulars of any recent consolidations, especially as to success or failure to build new strong Lodges? "This is the only published literature on the subject I have found. Allow me to quote a few significant replies.

ALABAMA: "We have long had too many Lodges and every year there are more or less consolidations. Wet are encouraging consolidations and they have so far as we can determine, always been good for the Craft."

ARKANSAS: "Merger has wbrked very successfully with several of our Lodges and this year we note an increased interest among weaker Lodges. They see the desirability of same and matters of sentiment are being overcome and mergers are under way."

ILLINOIS: "We have had seven consolidations during the past year. In each case the members have become more active and interested."

LOUISIANA: "No consolidations in the past three years; at that time it was a failure, due mostly to the excess of unpaid dues owed by the Lodge that lost its identity. Nothing can be accomplished unless the assets of the Lodge losing its identity are sufficient to warrant a healthy growth after consolidation."

TENNESSEE: "Improved highways and transportation facilities make it hard to justify the existance of small weak Lodges, especially when a strong Lodge can be formed by consolidation. Recent consolidations in Tennessee have proved very satisfactory."

VIRGINIA: "So far all consolidations have been successful."

We find in this report that for the very most part consolidations have been successful. We may also learn that a consolidation can come too late. There is little hope for a Lodge that has become bankrupt both in resources and qualities. This later finding points up the fact that there is some urgency in bringing about good consolidations. The matter should be examined periodically by every Lodge which is having problems because when a consolidation is indicated delay can be harmful.

Now let me give you a specific example. I don't say it is typical but it may well be just that. Our Lodge (Equity Lodge No. 878, Chicago), is not now and never has been in financial difficulties and has always had a good line of officers, but in the past ten years we have suffered a twenty per cent loss in membership. We also have too large a percentage of aged members to face the future with equanimity. I have prepared a large chart with graphs showing the vital statistics and finances of our Lodge for the past generation. As you see these graphs can be projected into oblivion. We are an average Lodge rather than one that is headed for a unique and desperate crisis. To a greater or less extent this is also a picture of your Lodge and probably many of the big city Lodges in the United States.

This Lodge was constituted fifty-five years ago. Today 30% of our members are 70 years of age or older, 50% are 62 or more, 76% are 50 or over and 81% are past 40. We now have members living in almost every ward in the city as well as in most of the suburbs. Is this a familiar pattern? No doubt this population shift is true in most of our large cities. Let us take a look at our financial picture and it will not be too different from that of vour Lodge.

Our Secretary reported to the Grand Lodge that last year we spent $18.28 per member while our dues are only $15. We usually operate within our income but this includes fees as well as dues. In fact we spend all our income to support a limited budget. We pay only $1,000 a year in salaries and can give only $200 a year, directly, to Masonic institutions and charities. Our social activities are limited to a minimum because of our budget. These social activities are the lifeblood of our Fraternity as they bring in petitions for membership. We are getting to the point we just can't afford them. We are and have been at the point of diminishing returns for some time. How about your Lodge?

May I again suggest a Lodge should be operated in a businesslike manner. It takes money for refreshments, entertainment, flowers, funerals and charities. It costs more money this year than it did last year. Rent is higher. It takes money for a proper public installation of officers, Past Master's Night, Ladies Night, a childrens party or picnic, etc. As a business budgets important money for good public relations so should we be in a position to budget more money for the entertainment of our members, their families and prospective members. This is how we maintain our strength and sometimes even grow.

Business consolidates to cut down overhead and to get good officers. Many businesses have been bought and big ones at that, to get the services of good executives. To get a good Secretary might well be a valid reason for a Lodge to consolidate.

Following these remarks and after quoting our Grand Master's policy toward Lodge consolidations, each delegation was introduced and its spokesman was given the opportunity to be heard. There were of course some expressions of wishful thinking. One good Brother who has labored long and hard in the vineyard of Masonry said with some emotion that although his Lodge was down to one hundred sixty odd members and that although they did have money and officer problems, he was sure that they would make out some way without a consolidation. But before sitting down he added that last year his two sons asked for petitions and he had told them they had better wait a while because, "Papa's Lodge is in trouble."

I am happy to report that this Lodge has since effected a good consolidation and is no longer in trouble. This is probably as good an example as any of the emotional objections to consolidations. It is quite possible that this good Brother who could deceive himself but not his sons, about the condition of his Lodge, got his thinking clarified while talking to us.

As an indication of the interest in this subject, every Brother who spoke had an attentive audience and although the meeting ran late, few if any of the Brethren left before its conclusion.

Now several months after this conference, our District Deputy has said that at least twelve consolidations have taken place or are under way as a direct result of our get-together. We know of course that our Grand Master, and his Grand Lodge officers initiated this program and have been diligent in this good work of reorganizing strong and vital Lodges. If we have in some small way contributed to the future of Masonry in our area it has been by calling out a "Town Meeting" of Masons or should we say by simply arranging a time and place for a "Grass Roots Mason's Forum."

1. "The Affluent Society," by John Kenneth Golbroith (Houghton Mifflin) p. 324.

2. "Consolidation of Lodges," The Masonic Service Association, Washington, D.C., October 20, 1935.

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Cornerstone of Capitol Laid with Masonic Rites

(Editor's note: The story, complete and unabridged, of the laying of the cornerstone, is contained in the Congressional Record, July 13, 1959.)

On July 4, 1959, in the presence of a large group of citizens and persons of prominence in national affairs, the cornerstone of the Extension of the East Front of the United States Capitol was laid with Masonic rites.

The Hon. J. George Stewart, architect of the Capitol, acting as master of ceremonies, presented the distinguished guests, then asked the Rev. Frederick Brown Harris, D.D., Chaplain of the United States Senate to give the invocation.

The Hon. Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and chairman of the Commission for the Extension of the United States Capitol, gave a brief resume of the events which led up to the building of the Capitol, its first cornerstone being laid by George Washington, and its second cornerstone by President Millard Fillmore, and at this, the third occasion for cornerstone ceremonies, President Dwight D. Eisenhower performed the service.

In this connection it should be stated that on all three occasions, the trowel which was used by the three Presidents, was the famous trowel belonging to AlexandriaWashington Lodge No. 22, A.F.& A.M., of Alexandria, Virginia.

The Bibles used in the ceremronies were those owned by St. John's Lodge, A.Y.M., New York City, one of which was the one on which George Washington took the oath of office when he became President for the first time, April 30, 1789, and which President Dwight D. Eisenhower used when he took the oath of office, January 20, 1953.

The gavel used by George Washington on the first cornerstone ceremony of 1793, and also by President Fillmore in 1851, was also used in this third ceremony by President Eisenhower. This famous Masonic memento is owned by Potomac Lodge No. 5 D.C., the lineal descendant of Lodge No. 9 of Maryland which participated in the original ceremony in 1793.

Mr. Rayburn then introduced the President of the United States, who gave a very sharp and interesting history of the Capitol, its erection and preservation, after which, with the assistance of Senator Dirksen, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Mr. Stewart, proceeded to spread the cement on the cornerstone, which was lowered into place by a huge derrick. The President then retired from the Capitol.

Following the convocation of the Grand Lodge F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia, it went to the Capitol, where the usual ceremonies practiced by Masons were exemplified in full and ancient form.

A large number of historical documents and articles were deposited in the cornerstone, among them being a history of Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, A.F.&A.M. George Washington's "Mother Lodge," written by Dr. William Moseley Brown, F.P.S., President of the Philalethes Society, Past Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, and noted Masonic author.

With the Grand Master, Reuben A. Bogley, Jr., of the District of Columbia, and his officers, were also S. Dexter Forbes, Grand Master, M:W: Grand Lodge A.F. &A.M. of Virginia; A Wayne Reed, Grand Master, M:W: Grand Lodge of Maryland, A.F. &A.M. and Horace S. Allen, Past Grand Master, M:W: Grand Lodge, of Delaware, A.F.&A.M., who participated in the traditional ceremonies.

In connection with this ceremony of cornerstone - laying, it might be well to recognize the significance of this Masonic rite, and trace its history.

A cornerstone, a foundation, a beginning, seems definitely linked with the primitive idea of man's littleness and unimportance. Man soon began to think his buildings needed supernatural protection. As gods were far stronger than men, that which was sacrificed to the gods must be the best! It must be a human sacrifice. Human victims were either walled-up in the cornerstone, there to smother or starve, or, more mercifully, to be crushed to death beneath it.

In primitive times two essential reasons were uppermost in man's explanation of the origin and continuation of foundation sacrifices - first, that it was necessary to protect a building from enemies. The angry ghost haunting the structure drove away those who would injure it; second, that it would propitiate the gods, especially Mother Earth, because of the heavy load thus to be placed upon her.

The familiar child's game "London Bridge is Falling Down," has been traced to a legend that a human sacrifice was consummated when it was built. The first record of a cornerstone laying by a Masonic body is found in Mist's Weekly Journal, May 26, 1722, the affair being in connection with the building of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields at London, England.

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King Solomon built Solomon's Temple, and was the father of Masons. He had seven hundred wives and three hundred lady friends, and that's why there are so many Masons in the world.

- A Childs Essay

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Masonry's Religious Background

by CHARLES S. McGINNESS, M.P.S. (Kans.)

ALMOST EVERY Masonic speaker offers the trite remark that "while Masonry is not a religion, it is religious in character."

Most any speaker will also expound the theory that in Masonry "all sects and beliefs can find one common belief and bond in the Fatherhood of God, and the Brotherhood of Man."

We can subscribe to everything contained in the above; but let us examine our religious characteristics a little more closely.

The Kansas Code or Constitution states in the very beginning: "This Grand Lodge recognizes one Supreme Authority - the Almighty God, the Grand Architect of the Universe."

The Charges of 1721 start with - "I. Concerning God and Religion. A Mason is obligated by his tenure to obey the moral law; and if he rightly understand the art, he will never be a stupid atheist nor an irreligious libertine.... it is now thought more expedient only to obligate them to that religion in which all men agree, leaving their particular opinions to themselves; that is to be good men and true, or men of honor and honesty by whatever denominations or persuasions they may be distinguished; whereby Masonry becomes the Center of union, . . . Thus in 1721 emphasis was placed on the "moral law," and a Mason was charged to obey it.

Mackey's Jurisprudence says "moral law," in a strictly theological sense, "signifies the Ten Commandments which were given to the Jewish nation." The author then says: "I am disposed to give a wider latitude to the definition, and to suppose that the 'moral law' denotes the rule of good and evil, or of right and wrong...."

When Kansas adopted the Mackey Landmarks in 1945, we obligated every Kansas Mason to four propositions set out in the 19th-22d landmarks as follows:

XIX. That Every Man must believe in the existence of God as the Grand Architect of the Universe.

XX. That every Mason must believe in the resurrection to a future life.

XXI. That a book of the low of God must constitute an indispensable part of the furniture of every Lodge.

XXII. That all men in the sight of God are equal, and meet in the Lodge on one common level.

Those four landmarks are the only ones that deal with the fundamentals of Freemasonry so far as religious foundation or belief is concerned. The others deal mostly with the management and operation of the Fraternity.

We believe that Masonry teaches more than respect for God, or that men meet on a common level. We believe in the Fatherhood of God, for we are first taught that we have the right to speak to him directly, and without the need for any intermediary, whether that intermediary be priest, past or, saint or friend. We believe that God is our God, Our Heavenly Father, that He has created every vood thing for our benefit and enjoyment, and that He desires us to use it to our benefit, profit and pleasure.

We are taught that when our strength and wisdom fail, there is an inexhaustable supply yielded to us through the power of prayer to our God.

Many Masons ask: "When we pray to God should we make our supplication in the name of Christ?" This is prompted by a feeling that if such prayer is uttered in the Lodge it may offend some who do not accept the Christian religion or its belief.

Believe it or not, that question was formally raised in Kansas over a half century ago, and while all may not entirely agree with the answer given by Grand Master John C. Postlewaite in 1890, here it is:

An objection to the use of the name of Christ in prayer by a Chaplain of a Lodge is not good and should be ruled out of order.

The Holy Bible is the rule and guide in the Mason's faith and is the Great Light in Masonry. It is broad enough to accommodote every creed or sect acknowledging the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.

Mackey's Jurisprudence of Freemasonry quotes a prayer to be said at the making of a Brother as taken from the Constitutions printed in Dublin in 1730, which is also revealing. It is:

Most Holy and Glorious Lord God, thou Great Architect of Heaven and Earth, who art the Giver of all good Gifts and Graces; and host promised that where two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt be in the midst of them; in Thy Name we assemble and meet tegother, most humbly beseeching Thee to bless us in all our undertakings to give us Thy Holy Spirit, to enlighten our minds with Wisdom and Understanding, that we may know, and serve Thee aright that all our doings may tend to Thy Glory, and the Salvation of our souls.

And we beseech Thee, O Lord God, to bless this our present undertaking, and grant that this, our new Brother, may dedicate his life to thy Service, and be a true and faithful Brother among us endue him with Divine Wisdom, that he may, with the Secrets of Masonry, be able to unfold the Mysteries of Godliness and Christianity.

This we humbly beg in the Name and for the Sake of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

It is also said that this same prayer is in the Ahiman Rezon of Laurence Dermott, 1764, page 44.

Our Kansas Past Grand Master Richard L. Becker in speaking recently on this subject suggested that in our present-day situation, a proper approach to prayer in the Lodge, would be to permit the person offering the prayer to pray to his God.

He said: "Shouldn't the Brother who is offering the prayer, do so according to the dictates of his conscience? For example, I am a Christian, and to me I should pray in the name of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, our Lord. The best prayer of a Jew would perhaps be made in the name of Jehovah or the God of Abraham. The best prayer of a Mohammedan should be made in the name of Allah. Which is to say, that one offering a prayer in the Lodge should pray to his God. If I want to say 'So mote it be' to me God. I will."

That this is not universally accepted can be definitely established right in our own Grand Lodge for not all well-read Masons agree with Grand Master Postlewaite. Past Grand Master Arthur H. Strickland, speaks his feelings with conviction. He says:

We have a great many members in the Masonic Order who do not subscribe to the theory of the Trinity, and certainly, out of consideration for their feelings, it seems to me any minister could pray in the name of the Grand Architect of the Universe. Those of us who are Knights Templar, however, would certainly be in order at any Commandery meeting to pray in the name of Jesus Christ. It seems to me it is a matter of common courtesy.

All of this discussion perhaps raises another question: what about the petition of a Roman Catholic? A letter dated May 9, 1958, from Grand Secretary and Past Grand Master Earle K. Haling of Connecticut confirms that the following is contained in their Rules and Regulations, Chapter IX, Section 944:

A petitioner for the degrees of Masonry who is a Roman Catholic should be informed that the policy and rules of his church prohibit him taking such a step; that the vows of Masonry will not permit him to divulge Masonic secrets at confession or elsewhere; if he is then willing to promise allegiance to the Order, "religious belief" does not constitute a basis for his rejection

The whole subject of Masonry and Religion seems to be fairly well summarized in this statement, also credited to Mackey:

Freemasonry is undoubtedly a religious institution - its religion being of that universal kind in which all men agree, and which, handed down through a long succession of ages from that ancient priesthood which first taught it, embroces the great tenets of the existence of God, and the immortality of the soul - tenets, which by its peculiar symbolic language, it has preserved from its foundution, and still continues in the some beautiful way, to teach. Beyond this for its religious faith, we must, and cannot go.

Perhaps the most comprehensive statement regarding the whole subject is the final paragraph in Henry W. Coil's recent book (1954) wherein he seeks to define Masonry in the following language:

Freemasonry in its broadest and most comprehensive sense, is a system of morality and social ethics, a primitive religion, and a philosophy of life, all of simple and fundamental character, incorporoting a brood humanitarianism, and though treating life as a practical experience, subordinates the material to the spiritual; it is a religion without a creed, being of no sect but finding truth in all it is moral but not Pharisaic; it demands sanity rather than sanctity; it is tolerant but not supine, it seeks truth, but does not define truth, it urges its votaries to think, but does not tell them what to think, it despises ignorance, but does not proscribe the ignorant; it fosters education, but proposes no curriculum; it espouses political liberty and the dignity of man, but has no platform or propaganda; it believes in the nobility and usefulness of life; it is modest and not militant; it is moderate, universal, and so liberal as to permit each individual to form and express his own opinion, even as to what Freemasonry is or ought to be, and invites him to improve it if he can.

None of these expressions is in discord with a definition of Freemasonry quoted in Dr. Joseph Fort Newton's The Builders, and credited to Winwood Reade. Perhaps the religious aspects of the definition are nonexistent, yet the end result is so near the teachings of all of the great prophets, and of Jesus Christ, that it is difficult to distinguish between the technical or theological and the practical applications of our Masonic purpose or our Masonic creed. He said:

That word, which the Puritans tronslsted CHARITY, but which is really LOVE, is the keystone which supports the entire edifice of this mystic science.

Love one another, teach one another, help one another.

That is all our doctrine, all our science, all our law.

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Now We Can Look Forward and Go to Work

by DR. WILLIAM MOSELEY BROWN, F.P.S.

President, The Philalethes Society

IN THIS MESSAGE to the members of the Philalethes Society it is my purpose to comment on some of the changes in the personnel of our official family which have taken place during the past twelve months.

At his own earnest request I accepted the resignation of our Treasurer, Colonel James R. Case, effective January 1, 1959. Brother Case is a noted Masonic scholar and is currently serving as Grand Historian of both the Grand Lodge and the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Connecticut. He is also a recognized authority on the Masonic Signers of the Declaration of Independence and other well known Masons of the Colonial and Revolutionary Period of our American history. Although relinquishing his office Brother Case continues very active, both Masonically and otherwise. Our sincere thanks go to him for the outstanding service he has rendered to the Society during the year in which he served as Treasurer.

As the successor to Brother Case I appointed Brother Ronald E. Heaton of Norristown, Pennsylvania, an experienced financial expert and a business man of long experience. We are indeed fortunate that we have obtained the services of Brother Heaton to take over the office of Treasurer from Brother Case, who is also a man of large experience in the educational and business world. Brother Heaton is likewise deeply interested in Masonic research, especially in the field of Revolutionary Masonry. He is doing a wonderful job for the Society in handling its finances at the present time.

Due to the pressure of personal matters Brother G. Andrew McComb found it necessary in February of this year to relinquish the office of Executive Secretary. Since his resignation Brother McComb has been hospitalized for a major operation but we are informed that his health is now much better and that he is rapidly resuming his normal life. For all of his services during the year in which he served as Executive Secretary we are sincerely grateful to Brother McComb.

At its meeting in Washington last February the Executive Committee of the Society accepted Brother McComb's, resignation and, at the same time, appointed Brother John Black Vrooman as Executive Secretary pro tem. Brother Vrooman, as all of our members know, has served a full term of three years as our Executive Secretary and has been Editor of The Philalethes magazine for the past five years. His has been a labor of love from the beginning and, although Brother Vrooman was already overburdened with work, he agreed at the solicitation of the Executive Committee to take over the Executive Secretary's office until a permanent successor to Brother McComb could be found. Brother Vrooman, working closely with Brother Heaton, our Treasurer, during the past six months, has done a remarkable job and I know of no one who could have accomplished more for our Society in the circumstances than Brother Vrooman has done. Having followed his activities closely during these six months, I am quite familiar with the load which he has carried so ably and satisfactorily during that period and I take pleasure in registering once more the thanks of all our members and especially of myself personally for the excellent manner in which the Executive Secretary's work has been carried on. Brother Vrooman, our deepest appreciation comes to you at this time.

Assisting Brothers Vrooman and Heaton in effecting the transfer of our books, archives, and records from Brother G. A. McComb was M.W. Brother William L. Pringle, of Cleveland, Past Grand Master of Masons in Ohio. Brother Pringle happened to be in Washington last February at the time of your Executive Committee's meeting and, at the invitation of the commlittee, was present for a part of its session. He rendered yeoman service to the Society in handling certain matters entrusted to him by the Executive Committee and gave much of his time and energy to the discharge of the commissions entrusted to him. Our deepest thanks go to M.W. Brother Pringle for his kindness in this connection.

As announced elsewhere in this issue of our magazine, R.W. Brother Carl R. Greisen, Grand Secretary of Nebraska, has been appointed Executive Secretary of our Society and has accepted the office, effective August 20th of this year. We are extremely fortunate in Brother Greisen's acceptance and are certain that his wide Masonic background and experience in the administrative field of a great Grand Lodge will inure greatly to the benefit of our Society. In Brother Greisen's acceptance of our Executive Secretaryship we are highly honored indeed and we extend to him the assurance of our complete cooperation in the great work which he is already doing for the advancement of the objectives of the Philalethes Society.

We bespeak for Brother Greisen the assistance of every one of our Brethren who have a part in our Society's great work. We suggest that each Philalethes Brother send Brother Greisen a word of assurance and interest as he begins his work as our Executive Secretary.

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Welcome to New Members

Richard E. James, Box 11, Brownfield, Texas.

Robert Mesick, 514 Brynhaven Street, Elk Village, Illinois.

Edward G. Dovey, 1430 Erwin Street, Elkhart, Indiana

Charles S. McGinness, 320 West 8th Street, Topeka, Kansas.

Richard A. Jolly, 445 Washington Drive, Niles, California.

Gerard H. Schuhmacher, 624 - 12th Street, New Westminster, B.C., Canada.

Fermin Vale-Amesty, P. O. Box 2641, Caracas, Venezuela.

Alfred F. Breslauer, 2942 Claremont Blvd., Berkeley, California.

Eugene S. Johnson, 1735 Flamingo Drive, Orlando, Florida.

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The Order of DeMolay

Builder of Character

by JOHN BLACK VROOMAN, F.P.S.

"We cannot look, however imperfectly, upon a great man without gaining something by him. He is a living light-fountain, which it is good to be near . . . a flowing light-fountain of native original insight, of manhood, and heroic nobleness"....

- Thomas Carlyle, in

HEROES AND HERO WORSHIP

It is not strange that when Frank S. Land gathered together a group of thirty boys, back in 1919, for the purpose of forming a young mans' social club, that the name of Jacques DeMolay, last Grand Master of Knights Templar, the Crusader who was betrayed by Philip the Fair, and burned at the stake near Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 1314, was selected as the hero whose name and deeds were the ideal of the new organization.

It was in February 1919 that Louis Lower (the first DeMolay), and eight of his friends met at the Scottish Rite Temlple with Frank S. Land for the purpose of forming a boy's organization Little did they dream, least of all Frank Land, that in forty years the movement would be active in fourteen countries and would have initiated nearly three million boys.

Frank Land would be the first to deny that the Order of DeMolay is Masonic, in its ordinary interpretation. Freemasonry is interested in good citizenship, in clean living, and in building character, and in this sense only is Freemasonry's sponsorship of the Order of DeMolay justified.

The youth of today is the man of tomorrow, and as such, needs and deserves the moral support and guidance that will assure the world that DeMolay is "building better citizens."

Freemasonry's interest in, and Freemason's sponsorship of the youth of DeMolay is something vitally necessary to assure the continuance and perpetuation of Masonic ideals, under whatever name they may be found.

The Order of DeMolay is a nonprofit organization, whose international office is located in its own four-story building in Kansas City, Missouri.

Under the guidance of Frank S. Land, philanthropist, leader and humanitarian, it maintains a central office of record, and promotes its growth and organization. Frank S. Land is currently Secretary-General of DeMolay.

DeMolay membership is open to any boy of good character who is between the ages of 14 and 21. Although DeMolay Chapters are sponsored only by Masonic bodies or individual Masons, it is not necessary that a boy be a son or a relative of a Mason to belong to DeMolay.

In the tradition of Knights Templar, ritual was to become a fundamental cornerstone of DeMolay. In November 1919 Frank Marshall, a leading Mason and editorial writer of the Kansas City Journal, was asked to write a ritual.

It is one that follows the precepts of Freemasonry, and which exemplifies the tenets of the Order of DeMolay, and characterizes the purposes and ideals for which the Order was founded.

The ritual revolves about the DeMolay altar on which rests the Holy Bible, and at which a DeMolay obligates himself to be a better son and man; to honor his parents, to love and serve God, his country and fellow men; to uphold the public schools; to slander no one; and to exercise tolerance in opinions of others.

DeMolay has a three-way program designated to benefit the individual DeMolay, the Chapter and the community. Various awards are given to individuals for achievement, merit bars awarded, special keys given for obtaining new members, and the Degree of Chevalier, given for outstanding service to Chapter and fellow - DeMolays, is DeMolay's top honor.

DeMolay has never attempted to take the place of the home, or the Church, but rather to supplement them. The organization's purpose is to offer the teen-age boy of today (1) a wholesome occupation for his spare time; (2) worthwhile associates; (3) the best environment: and, (4) an interesting and complete program of all-around youth development.

By meeting these goals, DeMolay leaders believe that the youths learn to become better citizens and leaders, thereby providing a better world tomorrow.

The success and prorrrinence of former DeMolays found in all walks of life today serve as a living tribute to the achievement of the organization's goals and purposes.

Much has been written and said about the sponsorship of DeMolay Chapters. DeMolay has often been criticized for undue lack of discipline and failure to abide by the rules of the organization sponsoring it.

My own opinion is that it is more the fault of the sponsor than of the boys, if lax supervision and lack of understanding of the enthusiasm of youth seem to be combined to cause "incidents" which cause misunderstanding. Boys are impetuous, and a real Masonic "Dad," enthusiastic about his DeMolay Chapter, will not have trouble keeping order and decorum.

This year - 1959 - marks the fortieth anniversary of the founding of DeMolay. It is significant that the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, through an edict of R:W: Brother Sanford M. Chilcote, Grand Master, decreed that the subordinate Lodges of that Jurisdiction be permitted to sponsor a Chapter or Chapters of DeMolay, and that financial assistance may be given by the Lodges, "which will afford," reads the edict, "every Lodge in every community actively and directly participate in an activity which will improve the South of Pennsylvania....

DeMolay is active. DeMolay is stable. DeMolay is taking its proper place in the program, long-neglected, by which youth may be given proper and adequate training and help in becoming the trained and dedicated men of tomorrow.

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RECOMMENDED MASONIC READING

by ALPHONSE CERZA, F.P.S. (Ill.)

THE SHRINE in recent months has been the subject of two good books. On July 6th there was published by William Morrow & Co., a book entitled Parade to Glory; the Story of the Shriners and Their Hospitals for Crippled Children, by Fred Van Deventer, the Imperial Historian of the Shrine. This full-length history has been reviewed by an official committee and has been approved as authentic. The book contains eight colored pictures and seventy-five black and white pictures. It can be purchased at all Shrine Temples for $6. The second book that tells about the Shrine is the full-scale biography of the founder of the Shrine. The author Alexander Ueland, has written William Jermyn Florence, Shriner and Humanitarian. Published by The Christopher Publishing House, 1140 Columbia Avenue, Boston 20, Massachusetts, the book sells for $2.75. It deals with much of Shrine history in the early formative days.

Vigilante Days and Ways, by N.P. Langford. This book was originally published in 1890; it was long out of print. It recently came to my attention that in 1957 a new one-volume edition was published by the Montana State University Press, of Missoula, Montana, at a price of $6.20 postpaid. The book is partly personal experience and partly the result of original research. It tells the story of the rough early days of lawlessness in the Montana area. The author is reliable and was a leader of his day in the area. It is history that reads like a novel. It tells of the hard cruel days of the pioneer with desperadoes running wild, how at a Masonic funeral was born the idea of organizing the good folks to protect them against the bad. From this little seed the vigilante movement started in Montnna to destroy the bandits and to establish law and order.

The Masonic Service Association in July 1959 issued its annual chart showing what Foreign Grand Lodges are recognized by the forty-nine Grand Lodges of the United States. Prepared on one large sheet it graphically portrays the subject so that the eye can readily get the entire picture.

The June 1959 issue of The Masonic World, Detroit's outstanding Masonic periodical, contained a fine article by J. Fairbairn Smith, F.P.S., entitled "The York Rite Story." It is a brief and interesting historical account of this Masonic organization from its beginnings to the present time.

On June 15, 1959, the Masonic Service Association, issued "Freemasons Depicted in the National History Series of Colonel John Trumbull's Paintings," by James R. Case, F.P.S. John Trumbull is the outstanding artist of the Revolutionary Period. Eight of his pictures are reproduced in the Digest; most of them are well known and familiar pictures. Accompanying the pictures is a chart showing the names of the persons in the picture. Short biographical sketches are given of the leading persons in the pictures. More than onethird are shown to have been Freemasons. This Digest of the Masonic Service Association is a worthy contribution to Masonic literature.

"Rails, Spikes . . . and the Mystic Tie" appeared in The Indiana Freemason of July 1959. It is a short early history of railroad building with mention of some Masonic incidents in that exciting story interestingly written and well illustrated. The article was concluded in the August 1959 issue of the same magazine.

"Our Public Schools" is the subject of the August 1959 issue of the New Age magazine (official publication of the Supreme Council, Scottish Rite Bodies, S.J.). The entire issue of the magazine is devoted to the historical background of the public school in the United States. The authors describe the ideal of our early fathers, the early schools started in the colonies to make this ideal a reality, how the children were taught, the early textbooks, and the attitude of Washington, Jefferson, and other leaders on the subject of education.

The Supreme Council is to be congratulated on this special issue of its splendid magazine. There is much need to uphold the principle of public schools in the United States. It is the very foundation of our form of government. Since our government insures freedoms of all kinds and that every individual should have the opportunity to develop his native talents, we must make this a reality by preserving our public schools. This issue of the New Age is the best short history of the public school which I have ever read. It is clear, concise, authentic, and makes good reading. Every reader of this magazine should secure a copy for his library.

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THE GUIDING LIGHT

by Conrad Hahn

Through murky fumes of worldly desolation

Still gleams a phantom of celestial light.

Through threatening gloom of greed and peculation,

Still shines within the reverent heart, a bright,

A holy dedication.

The fear of bestial mon's demented grasping

Makes crawlers in the dust of faithless men.

But you are chosen ones, a vision clasping;

Your valiant strength must be the strength of ten,

Without faint-hearted gasping!

Yours is the secret in an age barbaric,

To hove a stormy courage that will win,

Yes, even when the heart in joust terrific

Must break against the lance of envy's twin,

Man's hate, now grown prolific.

Amid the tumbling clouds across the volley,

In which life's decadence before us spreads.

There gleams the fitful flame whereto we rally,

The light celestial, which the truth still sheds

To those who dare to sally!

Go, therefore, go and find the path

That leads to love, our aftermath!

----o----

Religion should be to every man not merely a creed, but an experience; not a restraint, but an inspiration; not an insurance for the next world, but a program for the present world. - Stalker.

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Midwest Masonic Conference Slated for Cedar Rapids

THE TENTH ANNUAL Midwest Conference on Masonic Education, one of the outstanding gatherings of the Masonic year, will be held at the Iowa Masonic Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, beginning Friday, November 13, and completing its work the next day.

A day of preliminary visiting and consultation among the delegates from the twelve Jurisdictions which participate in the meetings, will be held on Thursday, November 11, and form the background for a thorough discussion of matters of Masonic importance.

Brother Forrest P. Hagan, M.P.S., Secretary of the Midwest Conference, states that an ususual program has been prepared.

Of great interest, is this year's dedication of the H. L. Haywood Memorial Table, representing as it does, a tribute by all Masonic students to one of the prime movers and organizers of the Midwest Conference.

The general theme of the sessions will be centered about the topic, "A Workshop of Ways and Means for Advancing Masonic Education," with practical and informational data relative to how each of the groups participating carry on this work in their own Jurisdictions.

Among the interesting topics to be discussed will be that of "Masonry and Youth," with a paper directed to that theme by M:W: Brother Norman J. Doolittle, Grand Master of South Dakota.

"A Close Look at Lodge Operations" will be discussed by Brother Edward Stegner, D.G.M. of Wisconsin; "A Masonic Map Program," introduced by Albert L. Woody, of Illinois; a banquet in the evening, with a fine speaker; and after a panel discusses a "Review of Masonic Books, Periodicals and Literature," the meeting will make plans for the 1961 session, and adjourn.

Year-by-year this meeting grows in interest and influence, and year-by-year it contributes more and more to Masonic thinking and activity.

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What is the Matter ?

by Cecil H. Ellis, M.P.S. (III.)

WHAT is the matter with Masonry? Why are many of our Lodges and other bodies deteriorating? The answer is that there is nothing wrong with our Masonic bodies except the human element! There is nothing wrong with our Lodge, Chapter, Council or Commandery that you cannot right. Masonry,whether it be structural (operative) or speculative needs must have action. Machines, human, mechanical or fraternal will rust out in far less time than they will wear out. If your fraternal machine is rusting out, only the members are to blame. Many Lodges (and other bodies) have curtailed such activities that would hold the interest of members and attract petitions in favor of building a substantial treasury. They have builded bank accounts, but have allowed the fraternal structure to fall.

Roman Legions, left behind to rule a defeated Spain, built an aqueduct in Segovia in A.D. 109, which rendered service to the inhabitants for 1,800 years, carrying sparkling water from the mountains to the hot and dusty Segovians, summer and winter. About 1900, the Spaniards decided that the age-old masonry deserved rest from its labors that it might be preserved for posterity. They laid modern pipelines to carry the water that had flowed through the aqueduct for more than sixty generations. Shortly thereafter the aqueduct began to fall apart! The blazing sun dried the mortar and the stones fell in ruins. What ages of service could not destroy, idleness rapidly disintegrated.

Think it over! Our fraternal ancestors thought, lived and talked Masonry. They made our Lodges and other Masonic bodies, places of interest; they created interest that brought the members together; they were not ashamed to wear an emblem on their lapels; they lived Masonry in their homes and their sons looked forward to the time when they, too, could follow in the fathers' footsteps; they talked and lived Masonry in the highways and byways of life and their friends and associates eagerly sought the privilege of petitioning for membership. What are you doing to preserve Masonry in your Lodge, your home, your world?

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Buffalo Host to 1959 Supreme Council Meeting

BUFFALO MASONS were hosts September 17-24 to the Supreme Council, 33d, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States.

Thirty-third degree Masons from the fifteen states comprising the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction attended, including government, professional and industrial leaders and nationally famed clergymen.

Attendance of Supreme Council members, their wives and guests totaled more than 2,200.

Sovereign Grand Commander George E. Bushnell of Detroit, retired Michigan Supreme Court Justice, presided over all sessions of the Supreme Council.

Areas covered in reports to the Council included the progress of Freemasonry throughout the world, Scottish Rite's unique research in the field of mental illness, and the Scottish Rite's scholarship programs for journalism students and those preparing for international service.

Headquarters were in the Statler Hilton Hotel, with executive sessions opening on September 17th and general sessions on the 22d, 23d and 24th.

----o----

I breathed a song into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where:

For who has sight so keen and strong

That it can follow the flight of a song

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A Comment on Declining Membership

by FRED S. HULTZ, M.P.S.

President, North Dakota State

Agricultural College

Fargo, North Dakota

BROTHER ALPHONSE CERZA in his column "Recommended Reading" mentions two items which discuss the declining membership in Masonic Orders. While one should not have the temerity to comment on publications he has not read, I cannot refrain from an observation or two at this point. The items referred to are a paper by Brother Paul W. Grosenbach in the Iowa Grand Lodge Bulletin for last May, and the book The Status Seekers, by Vance Packard.

One cannot deny that declining Masonic membership is a worrisome subject. Although our concern is not mitigated by the knowledge that other fraternal and civic societies face similar declines, there is both solace on the one hand, and a call to action on the other, in knowing that our problem is a universal one rather than entirely Masonic.

At the outset one might conjecture over acceptance of Packard's somewhat glib classification of our source of Masonic membership into upper, upper-middle and lower-middle "classes," and a suggested shift in Masonic membership from the former to the two latter since about 1920. Perhaps I misunderstand Packard's connotation of the word "class," but in the Blue Lodge where I was raised many years ago the then Master was a journeyman carpenter and the Secretary of the Lodge was a postal clerk, and this was well in advance of 1920. To go back somewhat further historically, many signers of the Declaration of Independence, most of them being Masons, were about as middle class a group as one could assemble in that day and age.

One might also challenge Packard's contention that, "today's exclusive clubs have become substitutes for Masonic membership." Perhaps in the large centers of population, those highly urban regions, this contention might have some validity. But the great strength of Masonry in the United States always has resided in the rural and smaller community areas where the Masonic Fraternity certainly has not lost one whit of prestige. In my opinion any declining trend in Masonic membership cannot be brushed off as due to changes in economic or social attitudes which could be described under the term "class."

Brother Grosenbach in his paper blames declining interest on two factors: The usurpation of our world by women, and the distraction of competing community and other civic activities. The first factor mentioned seems highly gratuitous and it is even probably that this Brother may have had tongue in cheek for the moment. It is his second factor which seems to convey conviction. One cannot deny his position that the remedy lies in a dedication to the principles of Masonry in everyday life, "thereby reestablishing the Fraternity as a shining light in man's world."

To accept this theme, and facing up to the day-to-day propaganda about space missiles, foreign aid, labor strikes, inflation, cold war, and the like, it has seemed to me that Masonry offers some very clear guide lines to the immediate future. To recognize them, whether one agrees or disagrees with their probable influence on Masonic membership, could be very important in our decisions and planning for the days ahead.

For instance, it seems definite that we are saddled with the so-called cold war for a long time to come. Frankly, the people whose leadership we must trust seem to be doing quite well in upholding our position.

As a side issue, however, as tempers grow shorter and accusations by the Russians and their satellites become more contentious and unreasonable, we too seem to be losing our dignity and aplomb, not only with our enemies but, also, with each other. In the past a great deal of our strength as a nation has stemmed from a reverence for our religion, a firmly grounded patriotism a respect for social institutions, the placing of country above politics, and withal some forebearance with each other's personal foibles.

It will be noted that most of these characteristics are exactly opposite of those practiced in the communist countries. It would be a catastrophe if, in trying to save our democracy, we forfeit the very attributes which have made this democracy a success. It now becomes a sacred duty for those of us having daily contact with many people to take the time to point out the danger which lies in becoming like those we despise, as we battle to fend them off.

As for the introduction of social or economic class as a factor in this situation, it seems apparent that Masonry is not a social institution, although its social aspects are unlimited, it is not based on economic opportunity for its members, although many such may accrue; it cannot guarantee the golden rule relationship among all members, although this is sought and often results; its continuing growth is desirable for obvious reasons, but mere size alone cannot guarantee strength nor the accomplishment of Masonic ideals. As for the distractions of modern living, and they are myriad, none yet has demonstrated the right to substitute for mankind's finest brotherhood, Masonry, nor is likely to as its tenets continue to become known to the presently un-initiate.

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Modern psychology teaches that God is necessary to the healthful working of the human mind. We can, therefore, serve society by increasing respect for God in the mind of the common man.

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Notes, Queries and Information
On Items of Masonic Research

by JAMES R. CASE, F.P.S.

1959 - No. 4

THE NUMBER OF LETTERS CONTAINING QUESTIONS which relate to matters of fact in Masonic history and biography, seem to justify their treatment in a column separate from the Editor's CHAT & COMMENT, where they have previously appeared.

Our members and readers are invited to send in material appropriate for use in this new column, especially information concerning research currently under way. The Editor will assist the sponsor of this column, which will be supervised and run by Brother James R. Case, F.P.S., but ALL COMMUNICATIONS should be addressed to the mailing address of the magazine.

41 - James Cushman, 80 - John Barney, 81 - John Hanmer ,It is suggested by Ray V. Denslow that the official three-volume history of Royal Arch Masonry contains much biographical material on the subjects named. This reference set should be in the hands of every Masonic student. The above queries, however, were made to enlarge already published information.

11 - DeKalb (October 1957)

16 - DeKalb (February 1958) The Masonic Casket for February 1861 gives a fanciful account of "Gen. DeKalb and Lord Cornwallis" with credit to the Masonic Union. Who can locate the original story? Cornwallis has never been proven to be a Freemason. (See No. 60, October 1958.)

48 - Kavanaugh (August 1958, October 1958) We learn from Edmund R. Sadowski of Chicago that Benjamin T. Kavanaugh of Iowa was a student at Rush Medical College in Chicago 1847-8 and presumably received his M. D. there.

65 - Anti-Masonic Lecturers (February 1959) Jarvis F. Hanks is identified by Edmund R. Sadowski of Chicago as . . . one-time High Priest of Webb Chapter, R.A.M. of Cleveland . . . a Presbyterian . . . and editor of the antiMasonic Investigator published in New York City.

73 - Montgomery - (April 1958 and June 1959) Wilton G. Boswell of Brooksville, Maryland, informs us that Albion Lodge (26) of New York City "assisted in the ceremonies" of General Montromery's second burial in St. Paul's Chapel 1818. Will some New York Brother look into that and tell us the nature of the "assistance"?

81 - Hanmer (August 1959) From Edmund R. Sadowski of the Temple Library in Chicago comes a list of references which will go to the querist. The date of Hanmer's death was not given.

82 - Medals (August 1959) The Masonic Service Association Digest of May 15, 1957, is entitled "Masonic Honor Medals" and should give the necessary information or further references.

83 - Iron Worker (August 1959) Edward T. Sherwood of Brooklyn, New York, suggests that a brochure from Macoy Publishing Company entitled "Tubal Cain the Iron Worker and King Solomon" has many references that might help the querist. In the Masonic Casket for April 1861 appears a story of "King Solomon's Blacksmith," but with no credit line. Where did the tradition originate?

84 - Gibbs. Who can identify . . Gibbs, an American officer born Philadelphia at a date unknown and died 1829 at a place not stated. He was a one-time visitor to Palermo, Italy, and one time "Governor" of Newport. S.T.C., N.Y. (There was governor of Rhode Island named Gibbs in the early 1800s. J.R.C.)

85 - London Charters. S.M.F. of Nova Scotia inquires whether or not any Lodge in the United States still has in its possession an original charter from the Grand Lodge at London? For that matter, how about a charter from Scotland or Ireland?

86 - Drake. Was the driller of the first oil well at Titusville, Pennsylvania, one hundred years ago, Col. Edwin L. Drake, a member of the Fraternity?

87 - Cornerstones. When was the first occasion of a Masonic cornerstone laying ceremony in the United States? V.A.L., Conn.

88 - Knights Templar. The Philalethes for February 1955 says on page 4, "Templarism is not Freemasonry but its orders are conferred...." In the August 1955 issue on page 14 we read, "The four bodies (of the American Rite) and the Scottish Rite are the only legitimate Masonry recognized in this country." J.H.S. of New York comments, "Not being a Knight Templar I am at a loss to know whether this body of the American Rite is Freemasonry or not! Can someone enlighten me? If Freemasonry is nonsectarian, how can a Christian body be classified as Masonic?"

89 - Melancthon Hoyt, born Norwalk, Connecticut, 1809, graduated from Yale 1830, from General Theological Seminary 1834, Episcopal minister, petitioned for Lodge charter at Watertown, Wisconsin, 1852, Grand Chaplain Wisconsin 1852-6, etc., etc., became charter Master of the first Dakota Lodge, St. Johns (1) of Yankton, South Dakota (then 166 of Iowa), in 1862. Where did he receive his Blue Lodge degrees? D.G., SoDakLoRe.