The Philalethes

He had this to say, "City folks don't really care. They not only don't care . . . they don't know for the most part who their legislators are, how they are nominated and elected, and what they do after they get to the Legislature. They don't know how bills are introduced, amended and passed." Then he referred to a statement made by Dr. Gallup, the pollster, about the ignorance of people regarding the American Constitution, and how the Government is operated. He said this in his statement, "It is absolutely shocking to see how anyone can graduate from college and be so ignorant about economic issues. Apparently college students have never had to distinguish between federal spending and local spending and when we ask college graduates to cite advantages of our economic system over that of the Russians, half of them cannot name even one advantage."

Further in the report he said, "Those who have gone to college read fewer books than graduates did twenty-five years ago; the same is true for high school and grade school graduates . . . ".

Our local columnist, Philip W. Porter, summarizes "Well, fellow citizens, descendants of the founding fathers, are you proud of yourselves? Are you surprised that you get such lousy government at times and that your taxes are so high? Who's to blame? Look in the mirror if you can stand it."

We repeat the above since Freemasons had so much to do with the making of our Constitution, as their fraternal descendants and as citizens of this great Country do now, the alarming conditions just cited should be of great concern to us.

Then too, we see a parallel. We wonder how many of the four million Masons in the country could reply intelligently to questions about the great fraternity in which they are privileged to share membership. Outside of the aura of respectability we seem to enjoy, so many of us know little of its splendid history, its many facets, above all, we have no realization that it is a way of life and have no conception of its tremendous potential as a force for good in the world.

An editor recently said that now is the time to resist mass thinking. He said, "We are moving into a new Society and that Society is applying pressures on us to abandon the old attitudes. I am talking about conformity in thinking, not in behavior. We face today this special problem in the relation of the individual to organized society". He further said, "Don't get me wrong. We must have a mass market. To a degree this is all right but along with it you get this problem. How do you remain an individual?"

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Freemasonry For Everyday Living

by DR. CHARLES G. REIGNER. F.P.S.

THE FUNDAMENTAL AIM of Freemasonry is the constant improvement of character. It seeks to achieve its aim not through sermonizing, but through an elaborate system of allegory and symbolism which has come down to us through the ages.

A man who is made a Mason enters a new world. He hears language and sees drama unlike anything he has heretofore encountered. Far too often he is conducted through the ritual without ever realizing its application to himself in the business of everyday living. Oftentimes there is so much "degree work" to be done that few or no opportunities are provided for the members of the Lodge to learn the real meaning and significance of the aims and purposes of Freemasonry.

A Mason ought, of course, to familiarize himself with those aims and purposes; but the fact is that relatively few Masons do any reading or thinking about the experiences through which they have passed. The result is that, in far too many cases, Freemasonry becomes just one more organization to which the Mason belongs.

In the old days - particularly in Scotland - every Lodge had what were called "Intenders" or, as we should say, instructors - experienced and dedicated Masons who were assigned the happy duty of teaching newly made Masons the history and the philosophy of Freemasonry. Here and there you will find Research Lodges that are engaged in Masonic study and teaching, but they are few and far between and they touch the lives of an infinitesimally small number of Masons.

We all live busy lives. For most of us, Freemasonry is but one small segment of our total lives. Unless a Mason finds or develops a compelling reason for continued interest in Freemasonry, that interest dies out soon after he is "raised" and, like hundreds of thousands of other Masons, he becomes simply a dues-paying member of an organization. He has failed Freemasonry. The other side of the coin is that in too many instances Freemasonry has failed him because it did not "carry through" beyond the conferring of the degrees. The net result is that the typical Mason - let's face it - comes to regard Freemasonry as something abstract. He will tell you that Freemasonry is a "good thing" or "a good organization to belong to." He finds in the pin he wears a kind of satisfying status symbol. But the influence of Freemasonry on his everyday living approaches the vanishing point.

As in every other organization in our society, the activities of Freemasonry are carried on through generations of relatively small groups of Masons. Too often, sad to say, that interest lies in the rote memorization of "the Work." A "bright Mason" is thought of as one who can repeat the ritual accurately. What the ritual means often seems to lie entirely outside of his thinking. You ask him, for example, to tell you something about the historical background and the universal significance of the Hiramic Legend, and it transpires that he does not know what you are talking about even though he himself has participated in conferring the Third Degree - perhaps with verbatim exactness.

What meaning for everyday living should Freemasonry have for a Mason? Or - more important still - what effect should it have on his everyday living? These are questions that too many Masons seldom or never think of asking themselves.

No Mason needs to be told that Freemasonry in all its aspects emphasizes the Fact of an overruling Providence in the affairs of men. The chief cause of the difficulties in which our world finds itself lies in the utter failure of great masses of people to recognize any responsibility to God. It is not so much that they don't believe in God as that they never take God into account in their daily living.

In his Farewell Address, that great soldier, statesman, and Mason, George Washington, said: "Religion and morality are the great impulses of human happiness and the firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

It is a truism to say that our standard of "national morality" has gone down. The "religious principle" about which Washington spoke has far less influence on our lives than was the case in past generations. Masons have a special responsibility in the way of upholding standards of morality. Freemasonry does not advertise itself to the world. Its teachings are made manifest - or should be made manifest - by the attitude and actions of Masons. In a real sense you and I who are Masons represent Freemasonry to those with whom we come in contact.

Freemasonry honors true religion but it does not ally itself with any particular expression of organized religion. In the well-known language of the Constitutions of 1723, Freemasonry obligates Masons "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."

Throughout its ritual Freemasonry teaches reverence and respect for God. How does that teaching affect the everyday living of a Mason? Does it imbue him with a sense of the sacredness of the Name of the living God? Is he characterized by the fact that he never uses that Name in vain - that he never permits himself to utter profanity which dishonors that Name and makes all right-thinking people wince? What, precisely, does he do in his everyday living about the "religious principle" without which, as Washington said, national morality cannot prevail?

The principles of right living which organized religion teaches are also the principles that Freemasonry teaches. We are all human; hence we all err. At the same time it remains true that, with all his human limitations, the Mason who has been truly impressed with this basic principle of Freemasonry - reverence for God - is also the Mason who consciously seeks to carry out that principle in his everyday living.

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They Have Passed The Veil

ROY E. SHAW Massachusetts

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What Is the K.T. Educational Foundation

by EARL T. ARMESY, M.P.S., (Ohio)

THIS WAS INSTITUTED by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America in 1922 when they met in New Orleans, Louisiana, to create this fund. The Grand Encampment transferred One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.) from their permanent Fund as an endowment and augmented by the assessment of One Dollar ($1.00) on each member of the Order, part of which was to be Endowment and part to be used by the Grand and Subordinate Commanderies for Loans to deserving Students, the whole Fund arising from the assessments equal to Nine Dollars ($9.00) for each member having been returned to the Grand and Subordinate Commanderies for Administration and use by them, constitutes a permanent Fund for the purposes for which it was created and no others, and shall be continued under the supervision of the Educational Foundation Committee of the Grand Encampment, provided, that no transfer of such Funds from one jurisdiction to another shall be made without the consent of the Grand or Subordinate Commander upon which the request is made.

The Purpose: We feel that the Grand Encampment can build no greater monument nor inaugurate a more worthwhile movement than to put into effect a plan which will provide Educational advantages for the Youth of our beloved Country, thereby enabling them to become more useful members of society and better Citizens of the Republic.

Loans: May be granted for vocational, professional training, advanced Degree of Post Graduate work, the maximum of Loans to any one Student shall not exceed $1500.00 when one scholastic year is required to complete the course. $750.00 per year when two or more Scholastic years are required to complete the course. Loan bearing interest at the minimum rate of 4% per annum from a time not later than the date of graduation or leaving College. All applications for Loans to furnish the following:

Two Personal references

Two Instructor references

A Personal Statement

A Photograph of the Applicant

Repayment: Minimum repayment shall be

10%, during the first year after date of Graduation

20% during the second year after date of graduation

30% during the third year after date of Graduation

40% during the fourth year after date of Graduation

Together with accrued agreed interest to date of payment on the debit balance.

The Committee on the Educational Foundation of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U.S.A. consists of Paul M. Moore, Grand Master; Wilbur M. Brucker, Deputy Grand Master; James N. Deeter, PGC; Earl T. Armesy, PGC; James B. Enochs, PGC; John Temple Rice, Grand Recorder, Sec'y ( ex-officio), and under the able leadership of James M. Caviness, PGC, as Chairman.

During 1958-59-60 the Divisions of the Grand Encampment made a total of 6,622 Loans aggregating $3,151,531.50. This was the largest amount ever loaned in any one Triennium, since this noble work was begun in 1923 and up to December 31st, 1960 - 51,301 Loans have been made aggregating $14,719,956.64.

We list for the last three year period the number and amount of loans made by the high 13 Divisions.

Ohio 300 $135,475.00

Texas 228 $ 99,601.50

Pennsylvania 214 $ 78,692.50

New York 152 $ 73,460.00

Mass. & R.I. 122 $ 53.417.50

Illinois 114 $ 72,740.00

Indiana 74 $ 55,150.00

California 51 $ 32,450.00

Georgia 49 $ 26,978.00

Iowa 49 $ 27,081.00

Michigan 46 $ 35,650.00

Missouri 43 $ 26,428.20

Wisconsin 42 $ 33,035.00

What more of us need to know, and in which we can take rightful pride, is that when the Grand Encampment inaugurated this Program in 1922 in New Orleans, we were one of the very earliest, if indeed we were not the earliest, fraternal organizations to start a very needed educational Loan service for the youth of our Nation.

Never has education been as indispensible as it is today. The race is not only to the strong, it is also to the wise. Other nations have embarked on Education Programs which have caused an urgent re-valuation of the Educational Programs in our own Country. We have the resources to make our own Contribution to the total effort. Contact your Local Commandery of Knights Templar for application forms or for any further details. We must meet the challenge, for God still speaks: "Get Wisdom and with thy getting, get understanding."

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President Names New Committee Members

President Elbert Bede, F.P.S., has announced several new committee members for the coming year.

Brother Allen E. Roberts (Va), brilliant author of the Civil War series running in our magazine, has been named chairman of the Committee on Masonic Workshop in Washington, February 1963, with Conrad Hahn, M.P.S. (Conn), Charles K.A. McGaughey, M.P.S. (Ky) Henry Emmerson, M.P.S. (N.Y.) Charles F. Gosnell, M.P.S., (N.Y.), and Levon Oglukian, M.P.S., (No. Car.) as the other members. This assures that the program and activities of the Society for Washington's Masonic Week will be of the best.

William R. Denslow, F.P.S., Editor of the Royal Arch magazine, has been named chairman of the Committee on Certificate of Literature, with William E. Yeager, M.P.S. (Pa.) and Alex Horne, M.P.S. (Calif.) as the other members.

Kenneth F. Curtis, M.P.S., (Florida), has been retained as Chairman of important Membership Committee, and is, as usual, doing a splendid job. Other committee appointments will be named later, we have been informed.

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Masonic Hospitality

R.W. ALBERT E. JAMESON

Grand Lecturer (Colorado)

The committee of two Master Masons appointed by the Master to examine a visitor has a great and important duty to perform. They will do well indeed to regard the examination as a ceremony conducted by THREE Brethren simply to ascertain their mutual brotherhood rather than a proficiency examination or an inquisition in which the visitor must prove himself innocent of being an impostor.

We should remember that a visitor to our lodge has paid us the highest compliment he can short of petitioning for affiliation. His position should be exactly the same as a guest in our home. Notwithstanding the duties of the Senior Deacon "to introduce and accommodate visiting Brethren" the real responsibility of host falls squarely upon the shoulders of the Master. All too often complaints are received of visitors being relegated "to the benches" and left severely alone with never a friendly greeting from either the officers or members. Too often the Master is just "too busy" to attend to the duties of being a gracious host and too often the brethren are too concerned in their own affairs to extend the brotherly welcome which should rightfully be expected in any Masonic Lodge in the world.

The Lodge which carefully devotes itself to the practice of true Masonic hospitality is rendering a service of inestimable value to our Fraternity and its fame will spread far and wide.

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Chat and Comment

News, achievements and items of interest about our

Fellows and Members - Discussion and comment on

Mutual Topics.

- Pfan Mail and Observations -

MOST WORSHIPFUL BROTHER ALLEN CABANISS, M.P.S. Grand Master of Masons in Mississippi, is the author of a book "Son of Charlemagne; A Contemporary Life of Louis the Pious," 182 pages, Syracuse, November 13, 1961. An English translation of a vivid biography by an anonymous member of Louis' Court, 814 to 840 A.D. Something that would make fine reading for our brethren.

SIDNEY L. MULLINS, M.P.S., 17 Grange Road, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey, England, has written - "I would be most proud if any other Brother M.P.S. would like to correspond with me." He has already submitted several articles for publication in the Philalethes magazine.

OUR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT, DR. CHARLES GOTTSHALL REIGNER, F.P.S., has been putting the miles on his pedometer since being incapacitated in February. He made the principal address at a Public Schools Recognition Program, sponsored by the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Savannah, Georgia, April 3, with a large ring of dignitaries and interested Masons present. He well combined Education and Freemasonry in his scholarly address.

Following this meeting, he went to Hampden-Sidney College, Hampden-Sidney, Virginia, for an important educational meeting, then, on April 14, he was keynote speaker at Pennsylvania Educational Association, State Teachers' College, Shippensburg, Pa., and finished up by stopping off at Providence, R.I., for a visit with his son, then on to other speeches and business engagements. A truly busy man.

THE KNIGHT TEMPLAR magazine for March 1962, has a fine article about Rt. Em. Sir Knight G. Wilbur Bell, M.P.S., Grand Captain General of the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar of the United States. He has been extremely active in all phases of Masonic work, and this, his latest honor has brought him into closer contact with his brethren. he was also a visitor at the 101st annual conclave of Knights Templar of the State of Missouri. in St. Louis! May 4 and 5, where he renewed old acquaintances, and. visited with new friends.

We have had many flattering letters from our members, regarding the latest BONUS BOOK of the Society, The Degrees of Masonry, by Dr. Charles Gottshall Reigner, F.P.S., among them one from Homer C. Phillips, M.P.S., (Oregon), who writes in part, as follows:

"I have just received and read with great pleasure the Bonus Book by Brother Reigner. It is well written and should be read by every member, and initiate of the Craft.

"To the student of Masonry it provides a clear statement of ideas and ideals of our venerable Order . . . and. perhaps some new angles which he is pleased to contemplate and to the newly initiated member, or the one who has not yet been inspired by visions of Masonic Light, it will likely be a ladder upon which he may begin his ascent toward the stars." Thanks, Brother Phillips.

BROTHER KENNETH F. CURTIS, M.P.S., Chairman of the Membership Committee of the Society, has written a letter to every member of the society in which he thanks them for the part played in increasing the membership, stimulating activity, and urging them to seek new members. This is a fine shot in the arm, and a generous gesture by Brother Kenneth. Thanks !

FROM BROTHER JERRY ERIKSON, M.P.S., (California), comes this comment:

"I was interested in the Chat and Comment in the August (1961), issue of the magazine, especially referring to 'secret' research projects of our members. American history has been one of my interests since childhood and when I became a Master Mason I converted my interest to Masons who have played a part in the development of this country . . . I would be glad to hear from anyone who is interested in this field." Here's your chance, members.

WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE THE SPLENDID ARTICLE appearing on page 1 of The Masonic Craftsman, Natick, Mass, "Philalethes Society Is a Clearing House for Study, Research and Writing." This is fine publicity, and I feel sure that it will bring some good results from that area. Hope we may have other articles of the same sort elsewhere. How about it, members ?

THE ST. PETERSBURG newspaper reports "in January, St. Petersburg (Florida) citizens had the opportunity of hearing a lecture by Hugh Lynn Cayce, son of the late Edgar Cayce, the celebrated psychic . . . as a witness to testify to the authenticity of the Cayce phenomena it is doubtful if a more creditable one could be found than Dr. William Moseley Brown, who, as professor of psychology at Washington and Lee University back in 1927 had taught Hugh Lynn Cayce . . . " then follows a resume of Dr. Brown's brilliant and outstanding career and activities. We are very happy to have this unusual coincidence and the further evidence of Bill Brown's standing in his community, to which he only came a short few years ago. As a Past President of the Philalethes, he is still filled with interest and zeal for it, and all Masonry.

HARRY GERSHENSON, M.P.S., (Missouri), has again won honors, in his appointment as a Member of the Board of Delegates of the American Bar Association. This is an honor given to few persons, and we are very proud that our Brother has been selected. Sincere congratulations.

THE OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY have emphasized the fact that as we enter the summer season, and activities wane, it is a good time in which to begin laying plans for the FALL. There are projects to be planned - research that must be made; articles for the Philalethes magazine are always an essential thing for the consideration of our members, and more than that, summer is a time in which we can set the trap for the ideas that must be carried into execution when we get ready to resume labor.

Nothing is ever done by haphazard guess and trial and error. All of our activities must be planned - many of them for months or even years ahead, for it takes time to set the wheels in motion, and every member is responsible for the success or failure, by lack of interest, of our work.

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And Now - The Time Has Come to View

Masonry As It Is - Let’s Tell the Truth

by JOHN BLACK VROOMAN, EDITOR.

DWIGHT L. SMITH, P.G.M., Editor of The Indiana. Freemason, writing in the January 1962 issue of that splendid publication, says:

"I have heard such fantastic tales about the number of Freemasons who signed the Declaration of Independence, and the number of brethren who were Generals in Washington's Army, and the number who signed the Constitution of the United States, that I wince whenever a speaker gets within fifty years of the American Revolution."

The Chairman of the Committee on Public Relations of a National Masonic body recently sent out a news-release in which, among other things, he stated that - "The early leaders in the Revolution were all Masons;" "the thirteen Governors of the thirteen original states were all Masons;" "The Boston Tea Party was planned in the residence of a Mason;" "of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence, fifty were Masons;" "of the fifty-five men forming the Constitutional Convention, fifty were Masons;" "of the twenty-nine Major Generals in Washington's Army, twenty were Masons;" "of the sixty Brigadier Generals in Washington's Army, fifty-nine were Masons."

When I wrote this Brother to tell him that he had many serious misstatements, he replied:

"The statement contained in my message was taken from information furnished me many years ago by Jesse E. Ames, the Secretary of St. Andrews Royal Arch Chapter, and Recorder of Boston Commandery No. 1 (Knights Templar) ...."

Masonic research to be accurate must be up-to-date, and in this case we find a well-meaning Brother trying to gather information from obsolete and out of date sources. The result has been a grave misrepresentation of Masonic facts which unless corrected, will lead to greater and more serious warping of Masonic information.

Concentrating our attention for a little while on Colonial Masonry and the American Revolutions let us examine some of the more recent and up to date documents which will shed light on Masonry at that time.

The Masonic Service Association of the United States has always been among the most accurate and informative sources of Masonic information in this country. The Digests and Short Talk Bulletins published by this Association, have been, since their inception, recognized and relied upon as the most up to date and accurate sources of authentic and informative information on Masonic tradition possible to obtain.

In the field of Masonic activity during the Colonial and Revolution background, several important and far-reaching Digests have been written to show the Masonic background and activity of the Masonic leaders of the period. Briefly listing them, we find five Digests which are absolutely the last word on Colonial and Revolutionary period information. They are, (a) "Masonic Membership of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence" published December 15, 1958, and written by Dr. William Moseley Brown, F.P.S., P.G.M. of Virginia, and W. Eugene Rice, P.M. of Virginia.

A second Digest is (b) "Masonic Membership of General Officers of the Continental Army," published February 1, 1960, and written by Ronald E. Heaton F.P.S. The third is (c) "Masonic Membership of Washington's Aides and Military Secretaries," published May 15, 1960, and also written by Ronald E. Heaton, F.P.S. The fourth Digest is (d) "Masonic Membership of the Signers of the Articles of Association," published September 15, 1961 and written by Ronald E. Heaton, F.P.S. The last Digest is (e) "Masonic Membership of the Signers of the Articles of Confederation," published on March 12, 1962, and written by Ronald E Heaton, F.P.S.

Another Digest, "Freemasons Depicted in the National History Series of Colonel John Turnbull's Paintings," published June 15, 1959, and written by James R. Case, F.P.S. Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, adds further information about Colonial Masons.

On the 175th Anniversary of the Signing of the Constitution, this coming September, the Masonic Service Association will publish Ronald E. Heaton's Digest, "Masonic Membership of the Signers of the Constitution of the United States."

These are all Digests of the Masonic Service Association, and it addition, there is a splendid article in the November 1960 issue of the Philalethes magazine by James R Case, F.P.S., documenting the Masonic Governors of the original Thirteen Colonies, which will, I believe dispel for all time the trite statemen that "all the Governors of the Original Thirteen Colonies were Masons.'

Let's be realistic. Let's be accurate Let's get all the facts from source that are accurate and true. Nothing else will suffice!

Conrad Hahn, M.P.S., Editor of the Masonic Service Association, writes that "much of the mis-information used by Masonic writers and speakers today comes from chauvinistic speeches and essays of the 1840's and 1850's, when Masonic legends and "fairly tales" were given wide circulation 'to boost' the Fraternity at a time when it was trying to overcome the harmful effects of the Morgan Affair."

Reviewing Masons of the Colonial and Revolutionary period, as has been outlined in the several Digests mentioned, we find that:

Of the Masonic membership of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, but Eight are authentically known to have been Masons, with an additional twenty-four who may have been Masons. The other twentyfour are definitely not Masons.

Of the Masonic membership of the General Officers of the Continental Army, thirty-three are definitely known to have been Masons. Fifteen are claimed on the basis of traditional and unverified evidence, and twenty-six are definitely not Masons.

Six of Washington's Aides and Military Secretaries are positively known to have been Masons; one may have been a Mason, and twenty-two can be written off as not being Masons.

Of the fifty-three who signed the Articles of Association, ten are positively known to have been Masons, nine give evidence that they may have been Masons, and the remaining thirty-four are positively not Masons.

Of the forty-eight who signed the Articles of Confederation, there is absolute proof that only seven were Masons, while eight may have been Masons, and thirty-three definitely were not Masons.

In his article in the Philalethes magazine, Brother James R. Case shows that in the period from 4 July, 1776 to 10 April 1789, there were but ten Governors of the original Thirteen Colonies who could be claimed as Masons. There were, he says, approximately thirty-four men who were Governors of the Thirteen Original Colonies during the time mentioned.

This is the story. Let us heed it, and write fact, not fiction. We have briefly outlined these facts, but read the story yourself as written in these Digests, which may be obtained from the Masonic Service Association, 700 Tenth Street, N.W., Washington, 1, D.C. The story by Brother Case, written in the Philalethes magazine, November 1960, may be obtained by writing the Editor, P.O. Box 402, St. Louis 66. Missouri

MASONIC DATA AT YOUR FINGER'S TIPS

Known Masons Possible Masons Not Masons Total

Signers of Declaration of Independence 8 24 24 56

General Officers of the Continental Army 33 15 26 74

Washington's Aides and Military Secretaries 6 1 22 29

Signers of Articles of Association 10 9 34 53

Signers of Articles of Confederation 7 8 33 48

Colonial Governors who were Masons 10 24 34

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Masonry Under Two Flags

by ALLEN E. ROBERTS, M.P.S.

7. BROTHERHOOD IN PRACTICE

IT IS OF INESTIMABLE BENEFIT to both parties in the present civil war, that our Masonic relations should still continue in the same healthful condition as at present. I may go still further, and say that every honorable means should be used which would have a tendency to strengthen the fraternal bond between the Masons of the North and those of the South." So spoke the Grand Master of New York, John J. Crane, on June 2, 1863.

On the same day the Grand Lodge of Iowa met with its Grand Master absent. Thomas H. Benton was a colonel in the army of the United States. When he occupied Little Rock, Arkansas, two months later he placed a guard about the home of the Confederate General Albert Pike to save it from being looted and burned.

When Grand Master Samuel Mathers of Texas addressed his Grand Lodge on June 8th, only forty-nine Lodges were represented. He recited a verse of poetry to illustrate how happy he would be when peace reigned once again;

"All hail to the morning that bids us rejoice

The Cap Stone completed, exalt high each voice,

The Temple is finished, our labors are o'er,

And War with its horrors shall hail us no more."

The citizens of St. Francisville, Louisiana, were amazed when they saw a small boat from the USS Albatross approaching the shore under a flag of truce. The guns of that ship had been firing into the town at will. They were even more surprised later to witness Northern and Southern men dressed in Masonic regalia escort the body of the commander of the gunboat to the cemetery of Grace Episcopal Church - the church and cemetery which were pock-marked with exploded shells from the guns of the deceased.

Under a brilliant Southern sun on June 13, 1863, the ancient funeral rites of Masonry were held for Lt. Comdr. John E. Hart, a member of St. George's Lodge No. 6, New York. The acting Master was William W. Leake, Senior Warden of Feliciana Lodge No. 31, Louisiana. He was also a captain in the Confederate army. When informed of the request for a Masonic funeral for his enemy, Leake state: "As a Mason I know it be my duty to accord Masonic burial to the remains of a Brother Mason, without taking into account the nature of his relations in the outer world."

The war stood still in that part of the world while the magic rays of the brotherhood of Freemasonry flashed in all their brilliance through the dark clouds of bitterness to illuminate all those around. The rays continued to spread warmth; ninety-three years later the Grand Lodge of Louisiana placed a permanent marker over Hart's grave with the beautiful phrase: "This monument is dedicated in loving tribute to the universality of Freemasonry."

Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved into the North during the latter part of June, and on the first day of July General Henry Heth, the last Senior Warden of Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 205, leading the Confederate advance met the lead forces of General Meade and pushed them back through the streets of Gettysburg. The Federal troops were rallied by General Winfield S. Hancock, a member of Charity Lodge No. 190, Pennsylvania, on the heights near Evergreen Cemetery.

The fighting raged furiously for three days and culminated in an infantry charge the likes of which the world had never seen. Three Confederate generals who were Virginia Masons played an important role in the charge up Cemetery Ridge: George E. Pickett of Petersburg No. 15, Lewis A. Armistead of Alexandria Washington Lodge No. 22, and James L. Kemper, a Past Master of Linn Banks Lodge No. 126. Through a hail of death they and their thousands of men charged to die or straggle back. The Union lines held. The three day battle was over.

General Armistead reached the top only to fall mortally wounded. His friend, General Hancock, sent another Mason, Colonel (later General) Henry H. Bingham, to his assistance. But during the nigh Armistead died.

Lieutenant Stephen F. Brown of Seventy-Six Lodge No. 14, Vermont, fought throughout Pickett's Charge with a small camp hatchet. His side arms had been taken from him when General George J. Stannard, a member of Franklin Lodge No. 4, Vermont, ordered him placed under arrest. Brown had left his regiment during a forced march to the battlefield to fill several canteens with water for his fainting men. He had violated the general's order not to break ranks for any reason. When they reached Gettysburg the lieutenant was released to fight and the hatchet was the only weapon readily available.

On the day the crippled Army of Northern Virginia headed back toward the swollen Potomac River, this letter was written:

Hd. qrs 37th Ills

Below Vicksburg, Miss

July 4th 1863

Dear Mother

Vicksburg surrendered at 10 o'c this A.M. Glory, Glory, Glory! This is the beginning of the end. All is well. All are well.

Will is doing finely has not been touched. My arm is doing well. Not a man of Co "K" 37th Ills - is touched. Glory for the Stars & Stripes, & for old U.S. Grant.

Charles

P.S. Although constantly under the hottest fire, doing more than a fair proportion of work, & always in the front, but one (1) man of the entire rgt. has been wounded, he but slightly.

Charles

The author of the letter was Colonel (later General) John Charles Black (maternal grandfather of John Black Vrooman, Editor of the Philalethes), and a member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, Illinois. He had enlisted when Sumter fell and fought in the part of Virginia now known as West Virginia on July 11, 1861. During the Battle of Pea Ridge he was severely wounded. He fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862, and for his bravery he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Although he was once more severely wounded, he recovered to continue fighting until the war had ended.

T. Douglas Harrington, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada, told his members he had been invited to attend a national Masonic convention in New York. He had declined the invitation because his "attendance might have been looked upon as an unauthorized interference in a domestic quarrel with which Canada has nothing to do; and - secondly, because no Southern Brethren could have an opportunity of giving an expression to their feelings."

General John Hunt Morgan, a member of Daviess Lodge No. 22, Kentucky, kept the hopes of the South alive after the disasters at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. But not for long, for on July 26th he and many of his men were captured in Ohio. Morgan and sixty-nine of his officers and men were sent to the state penitentiary at Columbus. While there, a master Confederate spy named Thomas H. Hines, who had resigned from the staff of the Masonic University at LaGrange, Kentucky, at the outbreak of the war, planned a means of escape. For over twenty days they dug a tunnel and on the night of November 27th Morgan, Hines, and four others managed to leave their prison behind.

The others captured with Morgan were sent to Johnson's Island, situated at the mouth of Sandusky Bay, overlooking Lake Erie. Among the Masons in the group was Major James Wilson. He reported the Masons were well treated while there; thy had their own "Masonic mess"; every two weeks a Lodge meeting was held; they never knew what it was to be hungry, perhaps because the officer of the prison was also a Mason.

In the early 1900's the United Daughters of the Confederacy asked several Grand Lodges to contribute money to save from "desecration the Confederate grave-yard at Johnson's Island, Ohio, where lie 206 brave American soldiers in sadly neglected graves. " It was estimated that one hundred fifty-two of that number had been members of the Craft.

Mrs. Marie Merval was heartily thanked by the Masonic Monthly, a Massachusetts publication, for the work she and other "Union-loving ladies" of New Orleans did for Northern Masons. "She was the wife of a Mason whose sympathies were with the South, though he was not of the number of venomous rebels who defied and ill-treated Union soldiers in the streets."

Guerrillas under the command of Quantrell ransacked the buildings and stripped the people of their valuables at Lawrence, Kansas, on August 21st. Jacob Saqui told the Grand Lodge of Kansas in October the invaders made the village "a ruin, red with the blood of her unoffending citizens; and among the victims were a number of our brothers and fellows." He had requested the Lodges in Kansas to send aid to Lawrence. They responded whole-heartedly, even though many in the southern portion of the state had suffered in the same manner.

Union Lodge No. 7 was born because of a conflict of opinions among the members of Denver Lodge No. 5. Northern and Southern sympathizers appeared to be evenly divided, so Denver Lodge agreed to recommend to the Grand Lodge of Colorado that a charter be granted to the petitioners of Union Lodge. The charter was granted - and not a single member of the older Lodge demitted to join the new one. They had discovered it was not necessary for all Masons to think alike to maintain peace and harmony.

In December the Grand Lodge of Virginia was informed that thirteen Military Lodges had been issued warrants. A special committee reported five Lodges had been ransacked by Union troops and one by Confederates. But, even so, "in no portion of the world had the Masonic fraternity been so closely united as in this," the committee claimed. Although a bitter war was being fought, Masonry North and South was still united.

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was still alarmed over the number of Grand Lodges that had not sent it their Proceedings. What reports it had received indicated "the vindictiveness and unmasonic bitterness which upon occasions were shown during the first outburst of the Rebellion, and led us to think that some of our brethren had forgotten the teachings of the altar, have for the most part passed away."

The year 1863 drew to a close and found the Confederacy in dire straits. Money was practically worthless; food was scarce, as were all of the necessities of life. The Confederate States were cut off from all outside intercourse except for a rare blockade-runner managing to escape the United States naval vessels.

In every Grand Lodge and most subordinate Lodges prayers continued for the restoration of peace. Masons from the North and South were no longer ashamed or afraid to fraternize with each other when the rules of war would permit. Assistance was more freely extended to each other. With the fighting becoming more fierce - brotherly love was being practiced - not merely with words, but by deeds.

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The President's Corner

NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD has there been greater need for clear headed men, men with stamina and backbone, men with initiative, men ready to meet obstacles and over-come them, men who refuse to admit a thing can't be done, brave men, true men, stalwart men, men ready to fight the good fight. There is unlimited opportunity for that kind of men - the kind of men that Freemasons should be - the kind of men Freemasons of the past have been - the kind of men Freemasons of the present and of the future have the opportunity to be.

Today many in this great land of the free and home of the brave look with apprehension upon subversive attacks upon our free institutions, upon the equally dangerous power of vice lords in many cities and sections of the country and particularly upon apparent passive submission by these who should be militantly active in battling those things which threaten the heritage bequeathed to us by our fathers.

We as Freemasons must not permit ourselves to become discouraged. If Freemasons should tire of the struggle against those who attempt to destroy a great nation and its free institutions; if Freemasons should tire of the struggle to uproot illegal activities that sap the wealth of millions; if Freemasons should tire of the struggle to restore lost morals and to activate the morals of the people, well might it be asked what is to become of this great, splendid America of ours, despite all it faults the hope and refuge of the world.

It is generally held that we can not organize Freemasons to combat the things which we as Freemasons oppose, or to promote the things in which we believe, but Freemasons certainly can join in an organization outside the Fraternity as a tremendous force for good and as a threat to evil.

Let us not hesitate as individuals to show our colors.

We need new members who are interested in what Philalethes has to offer - Brethren who seek more light or have light to impart. Each member of Philalethes undoubtedly has in mind one or two who, he believes meet one or two of these qualifications. He has intended to nominate him or them for membership, but for reasons which to him may or may not seem satisfactory, has failed to do so. I urgently suggest that these members act now and send such nomination or nominations to the Chairman of our Membership Committee, Kenneth F. Curtis, 2455 Raeford Road. Orlando, Fla.

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These Were Stars

by JAMES S. SCOFIELD, M.P.S. (Fla.)

IN THE WHIRLING world of sports where fame fleets and glory goes as fast as the flipping pages of the calendar, a few exploits and names are remembered and revered through the years.

The uncommon deeds of three sports stars who were Master Masons are among those still recalled, long after the men themselves have departed from the fields of friendly strife.

They are the late Glenn S. "Pop" Warner, whose mighty contributions are evident whenever a football game is played; Carl O. "King" Hubbell, the brainy baseball pitcher who could strike out the greatest, and the late Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb, the sterling outfielder and champion batsman.

Warner, who mentored the Carlisle Indians from 1897 to 1915, and later coached at Pittsburgh, Stanford and Temple, not only coached the fabulous Jim Thorpe at Carlisle and Ernie Nevers at Stanford. He also originated two of the offensive football formations that have helped revolutionize football, changing it from a roughhouse battle into a game of science and deception. They are the Double Wingback and Single Wingback formations.

Despite the inroads of other styles of attack in recent years, the Single Wingback, especially, is highly popular and is included in the repertoire of most championship squads.

Hubbell, who topped all National League pitchers in 1936 and 1937 with records of 26-6 and 22-8, was a stalwart of the New York Giants for many years. His famed "screwball" pitch terrorized the sluggers of both major leagues.

His greatest pitching performance came in the 1934 All-Star Game when he struck out five American League aces in succession, the vaunted array of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin.

When Hubbell ended his illustrious career in 1943 after 16 big seasons, he possessed a magnificent 253-154 record in regular season hurling in addition to a fine World Series mark.

Cobb, the "Georgia Peach," dominated baseball for nearly a quarter of a century. Perhaps the greatest batter who ever played the diamond game, he recorded a lifetime average of .367 over 23 straight years. He was the undisputed champion of the American League from 1907 through 1915 while starring with Detroit. His .371 was not enough in 1916, but he bounced back to win again the next two years.

Only in his first season as a major leaguer did his batting fall below .300. Three times he batted over .400, reaching .420 in 1911, in the era of the "dead ball."

Cobb was a terror on the base paths. He stole 892 bases during his long career - 96 in the 1915 season. Three times he made a single accomplish the work of a home run by reaching first base and then stealing second, third and home. And all with effortless ease.

Cobb was a fighter who never knew what it meant to quit. By most of those who have watched the best in baseball come and go, Cobb is ranked the Greatest of Them All! (Both he and Hubbel have been elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame).

This trio of athletic standouts really took to heart the Masonic tradition of laboring well at their chosen task.

MASONIC AFFILIATIONS

Warner was initiated in Springville Lodge No. 351, Springville, N.Y., and in 1910 became a member of Live Oak Lodge No. 61, Oakland, Calif.

Hubbell was a member of Meeker Lodge No. 479, Meeker, Okla.

Cobb was a member of Royston Lodge No. 52, Royston, Georgia.

Affiliation Source: Brother Jerry R. Erikson MPS, of Pico, California.

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WARNING

From time to time Members of the Society are solicited by persons and organizations to buy various books that are claimed to be outstanding Masonic books. Before buying from said sources it is suggested that our Members investigate the truth of the statements that they are in fact Masonic books. Too many books advertise with that label are not worthy of consideration.

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RECOMMENDED MASONIC READING

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

NEWEST OF THE PAPER-BACKS OF INTEREST to Masons is "The Cathedral Builders," by Jean Gimpel. Originally published in French, and translated into English by Carl F. Barnes, Jr., it has been published as Evergreen Profile Book No. 21 by Grove Press, 64 University Place, New York) and sells for $1.35 a copy. The booklet is profusely illustrated and consists of 192 pages.

Of Masonic interest is the fact that the author salutes Quatuor Coronati Lodge, of London, for its researches and places much stress on the work of Knoop, Jones, and Hammer. The book contains a picture of what purports to be a present day lodge in France; its physical characteristics will be of interest to Masons for she sake of comparison with lodges in English speaking countries.

The author attributes the collapse of the building spree on the English and European cathedrals to inflation, the "Hundred Years war", and the impressment of workmen into the army. There is a picture of a number of craftsmen's marks. The habits of the travelling Masons are explained. The lodge is described as the place where the workmen did their work when the weather did not permit outside work. He observes that the cost of transporting the stone from the quarries to the building site made it imperative to select the skilled workmen with care so that the stone would not be spoiled. He explains that advancement and success was possible for the lowliest of the skilled artisans. There are many other interesting sidelights discussed in this booklet. Of special interest are the habits and customs of the various workmen who were operative and how they did take in non-operative members.

One of the most enlightening and interesting books to be published this year is "Crime and Immorality in the Catholic Church," by Emmett McLoughlin. The author studied in Roman Catholic schools for 21 years, he was a teacher for 15 years, and was a parish priest in Phoenix, Arizona for 14 years. With this background he is eminently well qualified to deal with this subject. He left the church when his superiors sought to compel him to abandon his humanitarian work when it interferred with his priestly duties. He then decided that he could best serve God by serving his fellow men in operating the hospital on a full-time basis.

His first book was "People's Padre," published in 1954, by Beacon Press, 25 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. It became a best seller though ignored by professional book reviewers and many newspapers afraid of being victims of the hatred of the Roman Catholic. It has been reprinted a dozen times, is still available at $3.50 a copy, and is most revealing in its biographical exploration of the soul of one who loves God and Man with a fervor that is seldom encountered.

His second book was "American Culture and Catholic Schools," published in 1960 by Lyle Stuart, 225 Lafayette Street, New York, New York. The price is $4.95. It deals with comparison of the church schools and the public school, the teaching system of the Roman Catholic Church, and casts much needed light on the preservation of one of the most important pillars of American life.

This latest book examines the public record, the Roman Catholic system of classification of sin, its emphasis on sex, and the resulting crime within and without the church of Rome. No American can afford not to read this book for its revealing information on an important subject. The author is now a Mason, and here and there he gives due credit to the Masons who have helped him gather information or rendered assistance to him in his programs. The present day explanation of the confessional and the use of indulgences occupies no small part of the book. This is not a sensational recitation of imagined incidents but is based on public records, personal experience, and vertifiable facts told in an objective manner.

The book sells for $4.95 and is available from the publisher Lyle Stuart 225 Lafayette Street, New York, New York.

The "Inquisition of the Middle Ages," is another recent paper-back, issued by the Citadel Press, for $1.75. It is the reproduction of a number of important chapters of the great work of Henry Charles Idea, which has been out of print for many years.

In recent months there has also been printed a one-volume summary of Lea's book. The original three-volume work, published in 1887, was the result of many years of the most careful and tireless research. It was translated into French, German, and Italian. So comprehensive was its scope that no one since has tackled the subject or found anything new of any value warranting a re-evaluation of the subject.

Many years ago Sir James George Fraser did much research on the history of early societies with emphasis on their customs and religious beliefs. His one-volume "The Golden Bough" has been very popular for many years as a summary of his work. Recently two of his original volumes have been published in one volume under the title "Adonis-Attis-Osiris." Masons interested in the Ancient Mysteries and what ceremonies may have been reflected in modern Masonry from these groups will find this book of interest. There have been students of Masonry who have claimed that the Ancient Mysteries may be considered one of the ancestors of the Craft. They have always lacked the missing links bringing the matter up to date. But it is a subject perennially of interest to exploring Masons checking the past for clews.

The Masonic Service Association of the United States, 700 Tenth Street, Washington, D.C. has issued a Digest which gives a summary of various pension plans in existence among Masonic bodies.

On March 15, 1962 the Association also published a Digest entitled "Masonic Membership of the Signers of the Articles of Confederation," by Brother Ronald E. Heaton, F.P.S. Treasurer of the Philalethes Society. This is one of a series of authoritative brochures on our early history. Every Masonic student should secure a copy of each of these literary masterpieces which contain detailed and documented information.

Some months back Will Durant's "The Age of Reason Begins" made its appearance. It is the seventh volume of his work, The Story of Civilization. It covers the period from 1558 to 1648. Of special interest to Masons is the description of the work of the Inquisition, the Jesuits, St. Bartholomew's Massacre, the burning at the stake of Giordano Bruno, and the opposition of the Roman Catholic Church to the work of Galileo. As in the prior volumes, the author has done a fine job of describing the social, economic and religious items during the period.

It appears that Brother Dwight Smith, Grand Secretary of Indiana, has come out of literary hiding. The past few issues of the Indiana Freemason has contained interesting items written by him and there are indications that more articles are on the way.

The January, 1962 issue had a fine article on Masonic speakers. It looks at the Masonic speaker from the standpoint of the audience and gives some sound advice. Emphasis is on keeping the facts accurate keeping the stories clean, that factual as well as inspirational talks are desired, and that the Masonic field is so broad that there is adequate material on Masonry without resorting to outside fields.

In February, 1962, Brother Smith gives us the first of a proposed series on the subject "Whither Are We Travelling?" The first article was thought-provoking and was so "homey" in its style that one felt he was having a friendly visit with the author.

In the March, 1962 issue, Brother Smith discusses the matter of leadership among lodge officers and makes some very pertinent observations and suggestions.

We will look forward with interest to the succeeding articles and trust that the entire series may be published later in booklet form so that it may be made available to many Masons who are not readers of this excellent magazine.

The Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite has published an interesting little booklet entitled "The Facts Of Scottish Rite." It contains many fine pictures and contains many interesting facts relating to this important appendant body. Copies are made available free from local Scottish Rite bodies.

The February, 1962 issue of The New Age contains several articles of interest. "The Faith to Be Free," being a reproduction of a talk by Brother J. Edgar Hoover, discusses some burning questions of the hour. The serious crime situation, the lack of law-abiding citizens to come to the front in this battle, the threats of the enemy within our gates, and the present-day attitude towards liberty and government are set forth with courage and clarity.

In the same issue Brother Norman S. Meese, M.P.S., clarifies the controversy that has been publicized but not with clarity relating to the use of the McGuffeg Readers in some schools. These Readers were first published in 1836 and were used in our schools for many years. Brother Meese explains some of the questions that have arisen in the minds of many in recent months as to the storm regarding the use of these Readers which were in wide use for some seventy-five years. Apparently they tell simple stories in the teaching process and the virtues portrayed are no longer popular; some of these virtues are honesty, punctuality, thrift, kindness, and the like, together with numerous proverbs and quotations. Brother Meese observes that we cannot measure the amount of good these books have done and concludes that we might be well advised to give these books some close attention.

The United States Chamber of Commerce has rendered a unique service to the country. It has published a series of booklets and materials designed for group study of the subject of Communism. The material is entitled "Freedom vs. Communism" and is recommended to all interested in forming discussion groups. A free descriptive circular is available by writing the Chamber at 1615 H. Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.

The March, 1962 issue of the New Age (pp. 6-7) contains a brief explanation of a movement on foot to teach the evils of Communism in the public schools of Florida.

The United States Government printing office has been publishing many inexpensive booklets on the subject of light on Communism. Those interested should write the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C., for descriptive leaflets which are mailed free.

It is also reported that the New Age magazine for one of the fall issues will be devoted entirely to the subject of Communism. We will look forward to this issue as it joins those landmarks issues: The Road to Freedom, Our Public Schools, Church and State, and Our U.S.A.

The Spring, 1962 issue of The Royal Arch Mason contains the first of two proposed articles on "Speakers of the House," by Brother Jerry Erikson, of Pico-Rivera, California. He has searched the record for all facts relating to the Speakers of the House of Representatives with the view of presenting to Masons the facts of interest. He has discovered, for example, that 22 of the 45 speakers have been Masons, and then proceeds to give us the details. Displaying a great talent for details, and presented in a most interesting manner, Masonic students of history will welcome these two articles.

The Supreme Council, 33d, 1733 Sixteenth Street, N. W., Washington 9, D.C., has re-issued two editions of Humanum Genus, that nefarious Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, who is so much admired by Pope John XXIII. Here is a clear expression of this church against Freemasonry, democracy, separation of church and state, and the public school system. Copies of the Latin and English text are available at 25 cents a copy; the English text with Albert Pike's reply are available at 20 cents a copy.

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MORE ABOUT PRINCE HALL:

NOTES AND DOCUMENTS

by JOHN M. SHERMAN, M.P.S., (Mass).

So much has been written about Prince Hall, legendary character of Negro Masonry, that we are happy to be able to print additional material illustrative of his life and activities. The author has dug deep into the historical records, and what he writes is of extreme interest. As a matter of fact, the world is trying to get the records, not attempting to interpret recognition or anything else.

THE INSCRIPTION on the head-stone of the grave of Prince Hall's wife, Sarah Ritchery, in the Copp's Hill Burying Ground, Boston, was given under item 1317, page 71, in "The Graveyards of Boston, First Volume, Copp's Hill Epitaphs," by William H. Whitmore, Boston Record. Commissioner, published in 1878. It was shown as follows:

"1317. Here lies ye Body of Sarah Ritchery wife of Prince Hall died Feb the 26th 1769 aged 24 years" In writing about Prince Hall, Davis states: (pages 16)

"The date of his first marriage is not known, yet it is established that his first wife was one Sarah Ritchery." And he quotes the previously mentioned epitaph as the proof. But this marriage is recorded in the official records of the City of Boston, Document No. 101 - 1902, Boston Marriages, 1752-1809, page 422, as follows:

"Prince, neg. svt. William Hall & Sarah, neg. svt. Francis Richie. - Nov. 2, 1763."

Can there be any doubt but that this was the Masonic Prince Hall and that his wife was the Sarah Ritchery mentioned in the epitaph? William Hall, whose servant he appears to have been, was a leatherdresser, and died August 16, 1771. His occupation of leather-dresser is given on the headstone of his grave in the Old Granary Burying Ground, and is confirmed by his obituary in the MASSACHUSETTS GAZETTE and BOSTON POST BOY AND THE ADVERTISER, Monday, August 19, 1771, page 3:

"DIED: Mr. William Hall, Leatherdresser, aged 75 years; His remains to be interred this afternoon."

Six months before his death, on June 13, 1807, Prince Hall testified that he was "a leather-dresser and labourer aged about seventy years," and that he had been received in November 1762 in the meeting-house in School Street, Boston, where the Rev. Andrew Croswell preached. (Congregational) - see (Vol. 221 - p. 10 Suffolk Registry of Deeds)

In the same paragraph of Davis's book, Grimshaw is quoted as having said that "Prince Hall married Phoebe Baker in 1784, after the Revolutionary War. Phoebe was his second wife." But this was incorrect, as Phoebe was the wife of one Primus Trask Hall. She died December 18, 1808, age 47. (Source: Boston Registry of Deaths ). Primus Hall died March 22, 1842, in Boston, Mass. By occupation, he was a soapboiler.

When Prince Hall died, December 4, 1807, he was survived by his widow, Sylvia Hall, who was appointed administratrix of his estate, August 8, 1808. (Suffolk Registry of Probate, vol. 106, p. 394). The record of Prince Hall's marriage to Sylvia Johnson, on June 28, 1804, appears on page 254, of reference. Sylvia Hall died in Boston, December 3, 1836, age 88 years.

Six Boston newspapers carried the notice of Prince Hall's death and funeral. They all agreed that he was aged 72 years, that he was Master of African Lodge and that a Masonic ceremony was held. But they do not tell where his remains were interred, nor do the official City Records.

The epitaph to Prince Hall, which is on the reverse side of the headstone of Sarah Ritchery's grave, reads as follows:

"Here lies ye body of PRINCE HALL first Grand Master of the colored Grand Lodge of Masons in Mass. Died Dec. 7, 1807." (See cut.)

How could Whitmore have missed this unusual inscription when he compiled his book of epitaphs, published in 1878, and which was considered to be so complete and accurate in detail? In 1879, Elwarl MacDonall, Superintendent of Copp's Hill, published a guide book to the cemetery and vicinity, which described the objects of greatest interest, but Prince Hall's epitaph was not mentioned in this either. However, in the second edition of MacDonald's guide book, revised in 1882, and subsequent issues, the statement is made, "About five feet from the Edes tomb lies the remains of Prince Hall, first Grand Master of the colored Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts." Could some one have added this inscription around 1880 when the Prince Hall Masons were beginning to think about having a Centennial Anniversary of African Lodge, No. 459, in 1884? At any rate, they were very careless in inscribing the date of Prince Hall's interment on the stone and giving it as the date of his death. The official city Death Records and the newspaper death notices all give his death as December 4, 1807.

The monument depicting a broken column which was erected by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge in 1895 shows 1748 as the year of Prince Hall's birth, which is also inconsistent with the records. Both the official death records of Boston and the newspaper accounts of his death state that he was aged 72 in 1807 when he died. Furthermore, in his deposition dated June 13, 1807, he testified that he was then "aged about seventy years." According to those documents he must have been born about 1735.

How could the writers and historians have made so many errors in trying to reconstruct the life of Prince Hall? One can only conclude that their research has been superficial and careless, and that they have been too ready to accept unproved claims as facts. Careful research has disclosed that the name of Prince Hall was used by several different individuals who living during the second half of the eighteen century. Consequently it would have been easy to draw erroneous conclusions from the records if they were not careful in their interpretations. And that is what appears to have been the case.

As an illustration, the Massachusetts Archives have three separate records of Revolutionary War service under the name of Prince Hall. But they are indicated to be records of three different men, - two of them from Medford, and one from Dartmouth. And yet the Prince Hall Masons have jumped to the conclusion that all three of these records apply to the Masonic Prince Hall of Boston. They have ascribed to him all three of these military careers, and they have accepted the description of one of the Medford men, his age and stature, as belonging to the Masonic Prince Hall. A photograph of the signature of this Medford Prince Hall has been obtained from the Mass. State Archives, and this signature differs substantially from the signature of the Masonic Prince Hall of Boston.

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Echoes From the Civil War

by HENRY L. ZELCHENKO, 32d

1516 Bonair Street

Clearwater, Florida

READING the history of the Civil War, one cannot help noticing how bitterly this fratricidal war was fought and how atrociously prisoners were treated. Outstanding among the cases of brutality in treating war captives was, by far, Camp Andersonville as told by McKinlay Kantor in his book, "Andersonville." McKinlay Kantor, however, did not mention the role Freemasonry played in the Civil War. This job was left for Roy Meredith to accomplish. His book "This Was Andersonville" is an edited copy of a diary kept by John McElroy, one of the Union soldiers who himself was in inmate of the infamous camp. The diary was first published in book form in 1879. This book is a horrible indictment of human depravity, showing how low human nature can sink when passions run high and reason takes leave.

But in the midst of this sombre narrative a ray of light penetrates the pitch darkness of that time. It is when the author, John McElroy, not a Mason himself, tells us of the role our southern Brethren played in those days. The heroic acts of mercy and brotherly love which the southern Freemasons exercised towards the northern prisoners at the risk of their own lives tend to absolve the population of the South of the brutalities committed against the northern soldiers by some of the southern leaders like the superintendent of the camp, John Winder, and his assistant, Henry Wirtz, who kept more than forty thousand Federal soldiers starving and rotting to death within the confines of a stockade that measured one thousand feet long and eight hundred feet wide. Henry Wirtz had the dubious distinction of becoming the first war criminal in modern history. He was later hanged in Washington.

Here is what John McElroy, the Federal prisoner at Andersonville, tells us about the work of the Freemasons of the South in giving succor to the unfortunate prisoners:

. . . A comrade writes to remind me of the beneficent work of the Masonic Order. I mention it most gladly, as it was the sole recognition on the part of any of our foes of our claims to human kinship.

The churches of all denominations ignored us as wholly as if we were dumb beasts. Lay humanitarians were equally indifferent, and the only interest manifested by any rebel in the welfare of any prisoner was by the Masonic Brotherhood.

The rebel Masons interested themselves in securing details outside the stockade in the cook-house, the commissary and elsewhere for the Brethren among the prisoners who would accept such favors. Such as did not feel inclined to go outside on parole received frequent presents in the way of food, especially of vegetables, which were literally beyond price. Materials were sent inside to build tents for the Masons and I think such as made themselves known before death received burial according to the rites of the Order.

Dr. White and some of the other surgeons belonged to the Fraternity, and the wearing of a Masonic emblem by a new prisoner was pretty sure to catch their eyes and be the means of securing for the wearer the tender of good offices, such as a detail in the hospital as a nurse or wardmaster.

I was not fortunate to be one of the mystic brethren, and so missed all share in any of these benefits as well as any others."

By bringing this excerpt from McElroy's book, I have in mind to point out the deep seated principles of charity and brotherly love that Freemasonry is able to inculcate in the hearts and minds of the Brethren.

One must read McElroy's book to form a conception of the horrors that the Civil War brought to the entire population of the USA - north and south alike. But a Mason who reads this book will do himself proud to know under what conditions our southern Brethren actually lived up to their principles of Friendship and Brotherly Love.

As in all wars, so it was also during the Civil War: any compassionate attitude toward, or any human treatment of a prisoner of war, could be interpreted as an act of treason. Nevertheless our southern Brethren very often risked their own lives in order to seek out and help a brother Mason who at that time happened to be in the ranks of the enemy. What is also significant is the fact that such members of our Fraternity who accepted these favors found it possible to do so without compromising their own self-respect, just remembering that they all belonged to the same Sublime Order of Free and Accepted Masons - a ray of light that penetrated the darkest clouds of the Civil War.

Then there is:

THE STORY OF

THE WHITE APRON

I don't remember the source, but this is approximately how the story goes (in my own words, but the gist is the same):

A southern farmer went off to war in the Confederate army, leaving his wife and small children on his isolated farm. There came a time when on that farm all food was gone and the cattle and horses strayed or were stolen. Death from starvation stared hard in the faces of the woman and her brood. The Northern forces were closing in. All hope was gone.

One bleak winter morning there was a knock on the door. With the equanimity that despair breeds, the woman opened the door to confront a group of Yankee solders under the leadership of a sergeant. For a while the sergeant looked around the house. The children, cold and famished, were huddled on the only piece of furniture that remained in the house, the bed. The rest of the furniture was long since used up for fuel, because the woman was too weak from hunger to go out and gather wood. The cupboard was empty.

It did not take long that at the command of the sergeant a hot fire was dancing in the fireplace and the entire family was seated at a healthy meal. "Who nailed that white apron to the outside of the door?" the sergeant asked the woman. "My husband, before he went off to war," she replied. "He was a Mason, and he told me to pray that if at any Lime Yankees would come to the house, there should be a Mason among them. 'They will not harm you if there be even one Mason amongst them,' he said." "Where is your husband now?" the sergeant asked. "Killed at Missionary Ridge," she replied, swallowing her tears.

Before continuing on their way, the Yanks left a huge pile of firewood in the yard and stocked her larder so as to keep the family in food till spring. The sergeant, of course, was a Mason.

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Welcome to

New Members

Since the last issue of the magazine, we welcome the following new members of the Society:

RUSSELL BALOU TANDY, 636 Neely's Bend Road, Madison, Tenn.

Dr. FRANKLIN HERBERT HICKS, Canadian Embassy, Medical Section, Tuchlauben, Vienna, 1, AUSTRIA.

HAROLD N. PAINTER, R.R. No. 2, Sedalia, Missouri.

ROYAL CHARLES SCOFIELD, 228 West Maryland Avenue, Sebring, Ohio.

CALVIN CATLIN CHUNN, 7167th ATSq, (Sp Msn) Box No. 207, A.P.O. 57, New York City. New York.

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The Reasonableness of Pope John

by ALPHONSE CERZA, F.P.S.

(Life), III.

THE ACTIVITIES o f Pope John XXIII apparently are designed to create an image of one who is interested in getting along with everyone and that he desires to talk things over. The impression is received that a new era of reasonableness is about to dawn in the area of the Roman Catholic Church.

During the past two years Pope John has held informal conferences with leading Protestants. In 1960 Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Church of England, visited Pope John. In 1961 Bishop Arthur Lichtenberger, head of the Episcopal Church of the United States, visited him. During the present year Pope John has been visited by Dr. A.C. Craig, head of the Church of Scotland, and also by Dr. J.H. Jackson, head of the National Baptist Convention, a negro organization of the United States.

Some months ago Pope John announced that the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council was to be called. The last such council was held about a hundred years ago. Many hopeful Christians welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm interpreting it to mean that this was the beginning of talks that might lead to a united Christian Church. This was soon clarified by official Vatican spokesmen who explained that the Council was for the purpose of clarifying internal problems and beliefs. At first it was stated that no outsiders were to be invited to attend. Later it was stated that leading Christian groups would be invited to attend but only as observers.

Is there any basis for hoping that these various activities augur well for humanity? In the light of the jovial image presented with regularity of Pope John, the asking of such a question might appear unnecessary. But let us examine the matter closely.

In his talks with the above Protestant leaders the Roman Catholic Hierarchy has made it clear that they have no intentions of changing in any way. It is made clear that this church believes it is the one true church, that the other Christian groups have strayed away, that the others are completely wrong, and that if there are any talks it is solely for the purpose of finding a way for the prodigals to return gracefully. This attitude is clearly presented by one of the leading Roman Catholics in America, Gustave Weigel, S.J., who took part in presenting the Roman Catholic point of view in "An American Dialogue," several years ago. The Protestant point of view was that there should be talks to see if there could be a compromise which would lead to one united church. The Roman Catholic point of view was that it is well that we talk together but do not expect compromise from them. The following excerpts from Dr. Weigel's part of the book illustrate the Roman Catholic viewpoint:

"No man can be genuinely religious if this motive is Americanism." (Page 207)

"Our faith is not in Christ, and him crucified, but in our goodness and power. We are the chosen people and this is God's country. We are saved because we are Americans living in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Near the Catholic altar stands the American flag and you find it next to the altar in the Protestant churches. Is the flag protecting the altar or is the altar speaking sternly to the flag?" (Page 208)

"The ever spreading religion of Americanism is a genteel secularism. Unlike all other forms of secularism, it has not fought religion. It has done much worse; it has absorbed it. The great Christian slogans have been kept. But charity now means humanitarian giving; faith means trust in American ideals and effort. God is not our judge but our leader and helper. We do his will when we advance the American way." (Page 208)

"Once you persuade the Catholic Church to enter into a genuine ecclesiologican union with some other unconverted church, you have no Catholic problem because Catholicism would be dead. If Catholicism drops the Catholic principle which includes the dogma of her own exclusive function to mediate between God and man, she would not necessarily be Protestant, but she certainly would no longer be Catholic. In like manner if a Protestant accepts the Catholic principle consistently, he will cease to be a Protestant." (Pages 196-197)

"For ecumenical work the Catholic can follow only one tactic. He must ask the Protestant to be converted to Catholicism. He has absolutely no other choice." (Page 199)

Undoubtedly this clearly sets forth the Roman Catholic point of view. It shows that while talks may be useful for removing tensions they can never lead to one united Christian Church unless everyone surrenders to the Roman Catholic view. But there is some harm done by these talks because there are always those who assume that there is hope that some good may come of them. These false hopes later lead to bitterness among the hopefuls. But the propaganda benefit will have been received by the hierarchy.

Let us return to the consideration of the ways of Pope John and what we can expect from him.

On May 15, 1961, Pope John issued the Encyclical entitled "Mater and Magistra" (Mother and Teacher), and it was officially released for publication two months later. The title is taken from the first idea presented which reads as follows: "The Catholic Church has been established by Jesus Christ as mother and teacher of all nations . . . " He then informs us that he has leaned heavily on the thinking of Pope Leo XIII. No less than eleven times is Leo XIII mentioned in this Encyclical; he is described as of "immortal memory," and the "most wise pontiff." He also mentions Pope Pius XI to illustrate the re-affirmance of the ideas of Leo XIII. The declared purpose of the present Encyclical is to "confirm and explain more fully what our predecessors taught."

Who is this Leo XIII and what did he teach that warrants so much re-affirmation and attention? The answer to this question will show that Pope John is not interested in being more reasonable than his predecessors have been and that the hopeful impression is misleading.

Pope Leo XIII occupied that post from 1878 to 1903. During this period he issued many Encyclicals. Even a volume of selected ones compiled by the Reverend John J. Wynn covers 500 pages. This was the Pope who formed the Anti-Masonic Bureau; this is the Pope who was made the laughing stock of the world by swallowing the yarns of that infamous Leo Taxil. And this is the Pope who, on April 20, 1884, issued the last, the longest, and the most complete Encyclical against Freemasonry entitled Humanum Genus. In this Encyclical he found fault not only with Freemasonry but also with the American Way of Life, the public school system, the separation of church and state, democracy, free speech, and freedom of conscience.

The strong love which Pope John has for the principles announced by Pope Leo XIII clearly show that he is not basically a "reasonable" person and that the image being created in the public mind is erroneous. In his latest Encyclical he was careful to approve the doctrines of Leo XIII but did not go into many of the details. He did not state that there is a change of view on the items that are not mentioned.

The Protestant churches have been holding conversations. There is hope that with time many will be united in the cause of love and peace. But we can expect no hope from the leaders of the Roman to their Church.

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LIBRARY REQUESTS BOOKS

One of our Masonic Libraries is searching for following two books:

Official History of Freemasonry (P.H.) by William H. Grimshow (1903)

A History of Freemasonry Among Negroes in America - by Harry E. Davis (1946)

Will Purchase - Please Contact Editor If You Have Either Or Both.

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Medical Report

All Chapters like all humans are subject to illness, some chronic and some temporary. The Secretary of a Chapter and the High Priest recently put out a Medical Report on the condition, symptoms, and suggested Prescription.

Symptoms: Listlessness, very low red blood count. Patient seems not too interested in work, due to parts of the body not functioning. Patient seems to be affected with more than a normal amount of laze. On 2nd and 4th Thursday nights appears to have severe attacks of home work or T.V. It is, sometimes accompanied by tenpins and bowling ball. Patient will probably become worse if membership continues its lack of interest in bringing more light to their less informed Brethren.

Prescription: Every member of Chapter attend his Chapter at least once a month. Minimum dose - six times a year, and each member secure at least one petition. Upon consultation, is believed that if each member will attend at least six times a year the patient will soon become strong and healthy. - Exchange

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Kilwinning

Kilwinning is a small town in Scotland, of no great importance but which fills a large place in Masonic history. As Kilwinning, however, was the seat of a monastery, founded in 1140, it is not unlikely that a Lodge of Masons might have been organized there at that time, a fact. Thory says: "Robert Bruce, although there is no authentic record existing showing this to be King of Scotland, under the title of Rober I., erected the Order of St. Andrew of Chardon, after the battle of Bannockburn, which was fought June 24, 1314. To this Order was afterwards united that of Heroden, for the sake of the Scotch Masons, who formed a part of the 30,000 troops with whom he had fought an army of 100,000 Englishmen. Robert Bruce reserved the title of Grand Master to himself and his successors forever, and founded the Royal Grand Lodge of Heroden at Kilwinning." The whole subject of the connection of Kilwinning with the Lodge in Scotland was opened at Kilhistory of Freemasonry is involved in great obscurity, but it is generally believed by Masons that the first winning at the time of the building of the Abbey. (New Zealand Craftsman.)

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REFRESHMENT OR LABOR

The story is told about the prospector, who when seeking gold, was cleaning out some old pits, where he found a rusty pick with its point sticking firmly in the soil. Throwing it aside, he continued digging until he struck a rich vein of gold. He could not escape thinking about the old pick and one day he heard the story of how it came to be there.

Years before, an adventurous prospector staked out his claim in this locality and started to work. Day after day, with an aching back and blistering hands he dug. Gradually his hope ebbed until in desperation he drove the pick into the rock earth and walked away. The tragedy of not carrying on was not revealed until his successor found, years later, a rich vein of gold a few feet beyond the old pick.

Human beings are so constituted that their value to the world depends not upon the things they start, but upon the things they complete. Purposes and ideals need constant cultivation if they are to succeed. It is in this realm that religion has been a vital force in people's lives.

Men and women have found in their religious faith a power that lifted them when purposes began to ebb. - Exchange

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Notes, Queries and Information On Items of Masonic Research

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

1962 - No. 3

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 hove previously appeared.

Our members and readers ore invited to send in material appropriate for use in the 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.

124 - Dual Grand Mastership (February 1961 - June 1961 - August 1961) We learn from the Texas Grand Lodge Magazine for March 1962 that "Anthony Butler, at about the age of twenty five, was elected and served two consecutive terms as Grand Master of Masons in Kentucky. On December 8, 1840 he became the fourth Grand Master of Masons in Texas." This makes a total of six Americans brought to light with the unusual distinction of service as Grand Master in two Jurisdictions.

140 - Winding Stairs (April 1962) In I Kings, chapter 6, verse 8 we read "The door of the middle chamber was in the right side of the house; and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third. That passage "locates" them. Will some of our readers who are students of the development of the ritual inform us when the winding stairs appeared therein?

141 - James Kilbourne. Under date of March 8, 1815 the Grand Chapter of Maryland and District of Columbia granted a charter to Companion Kilbourne for a Royal Arch Chapter at Worthington, Ohio, which he organized the following September when he returned home from Congress.

Kilbourne was made a Mason in Connecticut but there is no record of his membership or attendance in any chapter in that state. He was a member of Congress from Ohio for four years beginning March 4, 1813.

Edward M. Selby, P.G.H.P. of Ohio, is accumulating material for a history of Royal Arch Masonry in that state, and wishes to ascertain where and when Kilbourne was exalted.

Some of our readers in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia who may have access to chapter records of 1814-15 are requested to seek the through them and possibly uncover the correct date.

142 - Visiting Grand Masters. "Has a Grand Master of England ever visited the United States officially?" reads a query from J.B.S.

(Grand Masters of England have visited the United States while holding that office and appeared here in that capacity. Perhaps our readers will cite enough instances to compile a complete list of such visits.)

John Campbell, Earl of Loudon (1705-1782), was appointed general in chief of His Majesty's forces in America in 1756, during the French and Indian Wars. Twenty years before he had served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge at London. In anticipation of his visit to Boston, St. Johns Provincial Grand Lodge postponed their observance of the Festival of St. John the Evangelist for more than a month. Finally, on January 31, 1757 a special working lodge was opened and four members of the general's staff were made Masons. At the table lodge which followed "the day was spent in a very agreeable manner."

The Loudon Papers are understood to be in the Huntington Library at San Marino, California. Some of our California members might like to look through the calendar and see if the collection contains any documents with Masonic references.

143 - Lodge Chaplain. K.S.L. of Connecticut wishes to know when the practice of naming a lodge chaplain began. What is the earliest date any of our readers can find for such an appointment in a Particular lodge? For that matter, what is the earliest record of a Grand Chaplain having been appointed for a Grand Lodge?

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One Solitary Life

by James A. Francis, D. D.

HERE IS A MAN who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of His divine manhood. While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying, and that was His coat. When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that One Solitary life.

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USE OF FORCE

The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment; but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again: and a notion is not governed, which is perpetually to be conquered. - Edmund Burke

	Known Masons	Possible Masons	Not Masons	Total
Signers of Declaration of Independence	8	24	24	56
General Officers of the Continental Army	33	15	26	74
Washington's Aides and Military Secretaries	6	1	22	29
Signers of Articles of Association	10	9	34	53
Signers of Articles of Confederation	7	8	33	48
Colonial Governors who were Masons	10		24	34