Contents
It Seems To Me The Bicentennial Of the American Revolution
Vermont, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys Benedict Arnold And The Mohawk Valley
History of the Square How Freemasonry Came to California and Hawaii
Insights and Sidelights Of Masonry Moving Westward Westward The World
No Deposit No Return Recommended Masonic Reading
Gourgas Medal Awarded President Ford Chat and Comment
The Antiquity of Freemasonry Royal Arch Research Assistance
Travel in Foreign Countries Old And Yet New
Continents and Thoughts on Russian Freemasonry The Old Charges
On
Items of Masonic Research
The Ballot
John Black Vrooman, F.P.S., Editor
P.O. Box 402
St. Louis, Missouri 63166
OFFICERS
Robert V. Osborne, F.P.S., President
3624 Gifford Road
Franksville, Wisconsin 53126
Eugene S. Hopp, F.P.S., First Vice President
2000 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, California 94109
Dwight L. Smith, F.P.S., Second Vice-President
Masonic Temple, 525 North Illinois St
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Franklin (Andy) Anderson, F.P.S., Executive Secretary
P.O. Box 529,
Trenton, Missouri, 64683
Ronald E. Heaton, F.P.S., Treasurer
728 Haws Avenue
Norristown, Pennsylvania 19401
LIVING PAST PRESIDENTS
Philalethes Society
Lee E. Wells FPS
Alphonse Cerza, F.P.S. (Life)
Dr. Charles Gottshall Reigner, F.P.S.
Judge Robert H. Gollmar, F.P.S.
William R. Denslow, F.P.S.
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Jerry Marsengill, F.P.S., Editor
2714 Park Place
Des Moines, Iowa 50312
Alphonse Cerza, F.P.S. Life., Assoc. Editor
237 Millbridge Road
Riverside, Illinois 60546
Melvin L. Pfankuche, M.P.S.
14267-130th Place, N.E.
Kirkland, Washington 98033
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EMERlTUS
Carl R. Grelsen, F.P.S.
Volume XXVIII, No. 2
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By John Black Vrooman, F.P.S.
THAT a new impetus has been given Freemasonry since the annual gathering in the Nation's Capital during "Masonic Week." Plans have crystalized into action, blueprints have blossomed into actual buildings. The formulae for the observance of the 200th anniversary of the Declaration, which will start this year, are developing and expanding into magnificent panorama. We are on our way!
What makes all this so evident? It is the thoughtful sketching of the best means by which to make ALL Americans - not only Freemasons, but everyone - aware of the importance of our celebration, eager, each to do his part, and willing too, to cooperate with every facility offered by which to celebrate our Independence.
Masonic groups are busy devising ways and means of showing their loyalty, their belief in American customs, in the true patriotic way of life. Each group has its own idea and plan of operation, but each, in turn, is relegating personal and sectarian pride to the common purpose.
In the Philalethes Society, the emphasis that is being placed on good, authentic, accurate Masonic history, woven into a national narrative of National accomplishment, is shown in the series of articles now appearing in the PHILALETHES magazine, telling the story time-wise, looking backward in exact years to the telling of historic facts of the Revolution, is something that will form the basis for an interesting, vaIuabIe and most needful repository of information by which to register and preserve our precious heritage and inspire future researchers to a better interpretation of historical facts and incidents.
We have emphasized before, and we reiterate it again, that hearsay is not a part of history, and only with documented and proven evidence is it possible to justify any statement about persons, places, incidents or events. Masonic Misinformation, an oft-used phrase, and a highly debated topic, is worse than no information at all, and to use facts that cannot be proved is much worse than not mentioning them at all.
The theme of the recent "Masonic Workshop" in Washington - "Masonry Westward-Ho," struck a new note in emphasis of the Craft. While Masonry Westward-Ho cannot be considered a part of our original Colonial Masonry, which fomented and cemented Freedom, yet Masonry Westward-Ho was the result of the struggle of Colonial Masonry, and a healthy and necessary result of it.
Who must do what? This is the paramount question staring all the Bodies of Freemasonry in the face. What can WE do that will not overlap or duplicate what is being done by others? How can one Masonic group cooperate with another or other Masonic groups to bring something new to our interpretation of American Freedom, and the prominent part played by Freemasonry in its accomplishment?
It is not a question of what to do, but what must be done to make a complete and coordinated program for a full year that will demonstrate in vivid emphasis the growth, birth and positive assurance of American Freedom. Let's bend to the task!
Featured in this issue . . .
IT SEEMS TO ME, Editorial by John Black Vrooman
TAKING TICONDEROGA, by James R. Case, F.P.S.
WASHINGTON - 1975
MOVING WEST, by DeMoville P. Jones, M.P.S.
HOW FREEMASONRY CAME TO CALIFORNIA AND HAWAII, by Eugene S. Hopp, F.P.S., a Masterpiece
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN EXPANDING ACTIVITIES, by Allan D. Parsons, M.P.S.
WALTER CALLAWAY GIVEN DOUBLE MASONIC HONORS
INSIGHTS AND SIDELIGHTS OF MASONRY MOVING WESTWARD, by Gordon R. Merrick, M.P.S.
WESTWARD THE WORD, by N. Tracy Walker, M.P.S.
JOHN NOCAS WINNER OF CERTIFICATE OF LITERATURE
MORE ABOUT BACK ISSUES
WE HUMBLY APOLOGIZE
IMPORTANT NEWS FOR OUR MEMBERS
RECOMMENDED MASONIC READING, by Alphonse Cerza, F.P.S., Life
GOURGAS MEDAL AWARDED PRESIDENT FORD
CHAT AND COMMENT, by Jerry Marsengill, F.P.S.
THE ANTIQUITY OF FREEMASONRY, by William E. Parker, M.P.S.
WE WELCOME A LARGE GROUP OF NEW MEMBERS
ROYAL ARCH RESEARCH ASSISTANCE, by John R. Nocas, M.P.S.
TRAVEL IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, by Alphonse Cerza, F.P.S., Life
OLD AND YET NEW, by George Stracke, M.P.S.
COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS ON RUSSIAN FREEMASONRY, by William Weisberger, M.P.S.
NOTES, QUERIES AND INFORMATION, by Melvin L. Pfankuche, M.P.S.
THE BALLOT, by Norman C. Butt, F.P.S.
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The Bicentennial Of the American Revolution
9. Taking Ticonderoga
By James R. Case, F.P.S.
In his "History of Connecticut", Gideon Hollister claims that the movement which resulted in the seizure of Fort Ticonderoga on May the Connecticut treasury. It does appear that a cadre of the task force was sent from Hartford, and that public funds of the colony paid the costs of the 10, 1775 originated in Connecticut and was paid for out of initial effort. The Green Mountain Boys who carried the mission through to a successful conclusion were largely Connecticut born, and their settlement sometimes called New Connecticut.
Early in 1775, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts had delegated one of their number, John Brown of Pittsfield, to go to Canada and sound out popular sentiment there about joining in resistance to the oppressive acts of the British ministry. Brown was a Yale graduate of 1771 who had studied law with a cousin of Benedict Arnold. He reported from Montreal that the Canadians were lukewarm on the issue, but recommended that no time be lost in getting control of the forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, adding that the people in the Hampshire Grants were ready to help.
The Champlain Valley was an old battlefield in the struggle between the French and British for supremacy in North America. The forts were key points on the invasion route and whoever had possession, controlled communications between Montreal and New York. Veterans of the French and Indian wars were well acquainted with the importance of the forts, and aware of the munitions in storage there, and the artillery, some mounted and some in park.
Benedict Arnold *, as Captain of a voluntary company, made up of Yale students and members of the Governor's Foot Guard which he had organized in New Haven, had answered the Lexington Alarm. Upon arrival at Cambridge there seemed to be no prospect of early action for his command. Always an opportunist and a glory hunter, Arnold persuaded the Massachusetts Assembly to commission him a colonel with authority to raise a force of 400 men in western Massachusetts, and to seize the forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. He left Cambridge with Eleazer Oswald as his companion and with the commission in his saddlebag.
While the General Assembly of Connecticut was in session at Hartford late in April, the situation was discussed by a small group who decided to act immediately and on their own responsibility. A dozen of the "principal gentlemen" at the Assembly signed a collective note for $1,000 taken from the public treasury. They were Samuel Wyllys, Jesse Root and Ezekiel Williams of Hartford; Samuel Bishop and Adam Babcock of New Haven; Samuel Holden Parsons * and Thomas Mumford of New London Silas Deane of Wethersfield; William Williams of Lebanon; Charles Webb of Stamford; and Joshua Porter of Salisbury.
Appointed to the leadership of the Connecticut party were Edward Mott of Preston, Noah Phelps * of Simsbury, and Bernard Romans of Hartford. With a half dozen ardent spirits they rode to Salisbury, recruited as many more adventurers, and rode on northward. At Pittsfield James Easton with John Brown and Israel Dickinson and about forty others were ready to go, and went along to Bennington. Besides those already named the Connecticut contingent included the following who were paid for their services - Jeremiah Halsey of Preston; Elijah Babcock, Thomas Barber, John Bigelow *, Epaphras Bull *, William Nichols * of Hartford Simeon Belding * of Wethersfield Elisha Phelps of Simsbury; Chapman Judson of Woodbury; Elias Herrick Gershom Hewitt and John Stevens of Canaan; Levi Allen *, Samuel Blagden, and Josiah Stoddard of Salisbury.
At Bennington, Ethan Allen and Seth Warner *, with a hundred or more of the Green Mountain Boys, were assembled and a council of war was held. Ethan Allen was the popular choice for leader of the group with Easton and Warner next in command. An agent was dispatched to Albany to obtain some needed supplies. Sentries were posted along the eastern shore of the lake to guard all approaches to Ticonderoga. A party of thirty, under Captain Elias Herrick, was detached to go to Skenesboro (now Whitehall) and take over the boats and stores, as well as to secure the Tories there. The party, now approaching 200 in number, proceeded to Castleton. Captain Douglas was sent to Panton to picket the northern approach by water and to collect boats for crossing the lake.
With Ezra Hecock, Noah Phelps had visited the post barber at Ticonderoga on the preceding day and had spied out the general lay of the land. A lad named Nathan Beman, who had often visited the fort to play with the boys there, was taken along as guide for the assault party.
Benedict Arnold came galloping into Castleton with his small party, having learned as he passed through Berkshire county that he had been preceded and forestalled by the party from Connecticut. He displayed his Massachusetts commission and his orders, which made no impression on the independent minded Green Mountain Boys, much less on their
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The author of this article, James R. Case, F.P.S., is the Grand Historian for each of the Masonic Grand Bodies of Connecticut, and is the author of numerous articles of historical significance.
Ethan Allen's own story of the capture of Fort Ticonderoga may be found in his autobiographical "Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen's Captivity", published in several editions. Moore's "Diary of the American Revolution" also contains some contemporary reports. Any biography of Benedict Arnold has the author's account of his participation. All general histories make some reference to the exploit, while Lessing's "Field Book of the American Revolution" has several pages concerning the affair. Readers in depth will find many references cited in Justin Winsor's "Narrative and Critical History . . . " and in the "Harvard Guide."
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leader. However, Arnold was permitted to accompany Allen as the party moved along to Shoreham, and they were "side by side" as they entered the fortress.
As early dawn tinged the eastern sky on the morning of May 10th, not enough boats had been brought in to permit the whole party to cross the lake. About eighty men followed Allen, leaving Warner and the remainder on the Vermont shore. There was little difficulty in surprising and overpowering the lone sentry, or entering through the sally port, and taking the officers and soldiers captive. A total of about fifty military personnel and their families were sent back to Hartford and interned.
Allen's demand for surrender of the fort "in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress" is generally accepted as the exact language he used. Another and more characteristic version is that he said "I want this fort, and By God, I'm going to have it!"
Nearly 120 cannon, embrasure, field and siege pieces, were at the fort, along with a number of carriages, also fifty swivels and a quantity of powder and some shells. The following winter, under direction of Colonel Henry Knox *, a large number of the cannon were sledded over the snow for use in the siege works surrounding Boston. When implaced and brought into play they convincingly hastened the decision of the British to evacuate the city.
Colonel Seth Warner started down the lake the next day with a small force and took over Crown Point, where a sergeant and a dozen men composed the caretaking detachment. Here were still more cannon and supplies. John Brown was sent to Philadelphia to inform Congress of the successful outcome of the undertaking. Congress, uncertain as to just what to do, asked Connecticut to take appropriate steps to assume control.
Arnold sailed down the lake with a select party in a vessel captured at Slenesboro, had no trouble in taking the small garrison at the slight defense works at St. Johns, and sailed back to Ticonderoga in an English sloop. At the request of the New York Provincial Assembly, Connecticut sent Colonel Benjamin Hinman's regiment to assume occupational duties on the lake. Arnold was thus superseded and returned to Cambridge in late June. His bold nature recommended him to Washington for a Continental commission and command of the expedition to be sent through the Maine woods against Quebec.
Connecticut archives show that payment was made to a number of Massachusetts and Vermont individuals for their services in the expedition. Among them were John Brown, James Easton and Israel Dickinson of Pittsfield; Ira Allen *, Ensign Lewis, Josiah Fuller, Dr. Jonas Fay * from Vermont. Ezra Hecock of Sheffield, Mass. and Benedict Arnold and Eleazer Oswald are also listed among those receiving some pay or allowances. Others who seem to have been concerned with supply or later consolidation were Barbabas Deane * of Wethersfield, Asa Eddy and William Bull of Hartford.
The good fortune which attended the leaders in the enterprise against Ticonderoga did not attend them for long. Benedict Arnold's brilliant career is overshadowed by his defection, and the cruel conduct of the raiders he led against Virginia and Connecticut seaside towns. Ethan Allen, during an ill advised foray into Canada, was made a prisoner of war and so immobilized for the rest of the war. John Brown as a Continental Colonel led an expedition against the Indians on the Mohawk and lost his life in an ambush. Seth Warner, worn out by wounds, his title to Vermont lands impaired, came back to his Connecticut birthplace to pass out of a short though eventful life. At his funeral part of the text of the sermon was "How have the mighty fallen!"
* These were Freemasons.
In Our Next Issue
"The Battle of Bunker Hill"
By Justin Winsor
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Vermont, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys
It is appropriate that Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys should derive their name and activity from the basic name of the state of Vermont-VERD-MONT, Green Mountain. From 1777 until 1791 Vermont claimed to be an independent Republic, and we note many disputes on land and territory between New Hampshire, Vermont and New York, which were not settled until Vermont was admitted as the 14th state of the Union in 1791.
Grants by New Hampshire and New York took land from Vermont, but under the leadership of Ethan Allen, Seth Warner and Remember Baker, obedience was refused, and at the close of 1771 Allen organized a regular military force among the inhabitants, known as "The Green Mountain Boys", with considerable help from Connecticut. This group was exceptionally active in arranging treaties by which land from the "New Hampshire Grants" could be utilized by the colony, and Ethan Allen was the leader in his endeavor to make the colony of Vermont independent of the other colonies, and by which Vermont could take and occupy many tracts of ground.
Ethan Allen was born in Litchfield, Connecticut January 10, 1739, and removed to the New Hampshire Grants about 1769. He was captured by the British September 15, 1775 near Montreal, was a prisoner at Falmouth, England, Halifax and New York, later was exchanged.
A Masonic Lodge was chartered November 16, 1781 to be held at Springfield, Vermont, but met instead at Charlestown, New Hampshire. By agreement, the brethren divided and met at both places. Faithful Lodge, Charlestown, went out of existence during the Anti-Masonic trouble, September 19. 1831, and was resurrected in 1850. Several lodges met October 10-14, 1794 to form the Grand Lodge of Vermont.
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Benedict Arnold And The Mohawk Valley
Benedict Arnold - one of the most brilliant, and yet, the most arrogant leaders of colonial forces, had much of his military activities - triumphs and set backs - in the Hudson Valley area.
His part in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga is well known. He was one of the real leaders of the project. His mental attitude, his arrogance, and unwillingness to subordinate himself to common activity and accomplishment, made him a thorn in the side of Ethan Allen and the others who captured Ticonderoga. His brilliance was often over-balanced by his unwillingness to take a secondary role.
On numerous occasions he had been sent on missions to the Canadians, and his attitude was such that in spite of the apparent willingness on the part of the Canadians to cooperate in a minor way with the colonists, they resented his overbearing attitude, and his efforts were brought to naught.
It must be said, however, that part of the reasons for Arnold's attitude were the unforgiving members of Congress to give him the promotion that he so much deserved and merited. It is known, for instance that at least four - possibly more - General Officers of lower or equal rank to his, were elevated by Congress, not because of their merit, but because of the mistaken theory that there should not be an inordinate number of promotions in any one colony - that the promotions should be "distributed."
This rankled Arnold - naturally - and he tried in every way to do something added that would give him opportunity to be recognized, and elevated in rank.
So it was that Benedict Arnold, once the brilliant and capable leader of American forces, became the traitor we know him to have been - frustrated, baffled and cast aside with little or no regard for his accomplishments.
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Those in attendance during "Masonic Week" in Washington in February, said it was the best ever. Activities started, as in the past, with the "Masonic Workshop" of the Philalethes Society on Friday evening, February 14. A greater attendance was noted than for many years. The Masonic Workshop was preceded early in the afternoon by the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the Philalethes Society.
President Robert V. Osborne, F.P.S., called the meeting to order, and asked Brother Andy Anderson to give the Invocation. The absence of Ronald E. Heaton, F.P.S., our Treasurer, was noted with regret, and all present expressed good wishes for his complete recovery after his recent hospitalization. After the approval of the 1974 Minutes, Brother Osborne gave an impressive Memorial to the memory of our late President, William E. Yeager, who passed away shortly after our last meeting.
The report of the Secretary and the Treasurer were given by Brother Anderson, showing receipts during the year of $9,848.43, and disbursements of $7,016.23, leaving a balance on hand of $5,716.38. One hundred sixty-seven new members were added to our rolls during the year, 49 were lost by death or resignation, and 42 were dropped for non-payment of dues, leaving our net membership as of December 31, 1974 at 1,556. The financial figures of Secretary and Treasurer were in agreement. On motion of Brother Anderson, duly seconded, the reports were adopted.
Dr. Hopp of the Fellows Committee announced the selection of Walter Monroe Callaway, Jr., as the new Fellow-designate. Discussion followed on membership, purposes and activities, and the formation of local Philalethes Chapters. The Budget submitted by Brother Heaton for 1975 was presented, discussed and on motion by Anderson, seconded by Vrooman, was adopted as presented. Vrooman gave a short report on the magazine, plans for the 50th anniversary of the Society in 1978 and other pertinent matters.
It was decided to print 2,500 copies of the magazine in February and April, and 2,000 copies during the balance of the year. Discussion was spirited on the matter of the next Bonus Book, and it was decided to delay the matter for a little while. Without motion, it was agreed that the next meeting of the Executive Committee, and the "Masonic Workshop" would be at the same time and place as the meetings of the Allied Masonic Degrees. (After the meeting it was learned that these meetings will be held in the Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., beginning February 20 and continuing through February 21 and 22, 1976.) The larger meetings have been scheduled for the Benjamin Franklin Hotel, in Philadelphia, the week immediately preceding the meetings of the Allied Masonic Degrees.
President Osborne surprised each member present with a Bicentennial medal of the Wisconsin Masonic bodies, and on motion by Anderson, seconded by Vrooman, he was accorded a rising vote of appreciation. Further plans for the celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Society were thoroughly discussed, and it was decided to leave the final plans to the Editors of the Philalethes magazine, who will present methods and activities in that connection and make a final report at the 1976 meeting. The meeting was then adjourned by order of President Osborne, with the benediction given by Brother Dwight L. Smith.
The annual Masonic Workshop was convened at 7:30 p.m. by President Osborne, who asked the Rev. Canon George A. Stracke to give the Invocation. He then welcomed all present, introduced the officers of the Society, and after a short Memorial Service for our late President, William E. Yeager, turned the meeting over to the Workshop Chairman, DeMoville P. Jones, Grand High Priest, Grand Chapter, R.A.M., of Kentucky and active worker in many fields. The Chairman gave some interesting preliminary remarks on the Workshop theme, after which papers were read by Brothers N. Tracy Walker, of Illinois, Gordon R. Merrick, of Colorado, and Dr. Eugene S. Hopp, of California, each of which is printed in this issue of the magazine.
Following the Masonic Workshop Friday evening, Saturday was taken up with the Allied Masonic groups. Grand College of Rites, Allied Masonic Degrees, the ever-interesting Council of Nine Muses with its special paper, this year's being read by Harold V. B. Voorhis, Knight Masons of the U.S., Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatus, and the Allied Masonic Degrees banquet in the evening to close the first portion of work.
The Masonic Order of the Bath, Order of Corks, and other fun-loving groups met and worked, and the Allied Masonic Degrees' Grand Council concluded its business and elected and installed the new officers, closing the day. Sunday started early with a breakfast for officers and members of Knights of the York Cross of Honour, then the annual Consistory of Blue Friars, with Walter Callaway, the new Friar, a double honor, he having previously been elected a Fellow of the Philalethes Society. The final group to meet was Grand College of America, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests.
Shifting to the Shoreham Hotel, the delegates rode by bus to Alexandria, for the annual meeting of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association. A feature was the dedication by President and Brother Gerald Ford of a plaque in his honor as a Masonic President, to add to those already displayed at the Memorial.
The 56th annual meeting of the Masonic Service Association showed healthy interest in the work of the Association. The standing members of the Executive Commission were unanimously re-elected. Many guests attended the Grand Secretaries banquet to enjoy good fellowship, and the annual Frank S. Land Breakfast, sponsored by the Imperial Council of the Shrine was also well attended.
The theme of the Conference of Grand Masters in North America meetings was, appropriately "Let There Be Masonic Light." The 1975 Conference was chaired by M.W. Elmer D. Strickler, Grand Master of West Virginia. The Address of Welcome was given by William E. Eccleston, of the District of Columbia, and the response made by Ellis W. Howard, of New Hampshire. An interesting Keynote Address was given by William G. Hunt, Grand Master of Rhode Island. The speaker at the Grand Masters' Banquet was Sam A. Shipp, a past Grand Master of Oklahoma.
During the week the delegates were the luncheon guests of Ill. Brother Henry C. Clausen, Grand Commander of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Southern Masonic Jurisdiction at the House of the Temple. The delegates also enjoyed the hospitality of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association, who served lunch at the close of the meeting. Washington, 1975, MASONICALLY, was a huge success.
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Philalethes Committees - 1975
Certificate of Literature
Estel W. Brooks, Chr.
G. Wilbur Bell
Walter M. Callaway, Jr.
Audit Committee
Dr. Eugene S. Hopp
Dwight L. Smith
Publicity and Membership
Allan D. Parsons
Finance
Ronald E. Heaton
International Activities Committee
Stewart M. L. Pollard
Fellows
Conrad Hahn, Chr.
Carl R. Greisen
Dwight L. Smith
Alphonse Cerza
Charles F. Adams
Workshop for 1975
to be announced
Nominating and Ballot Counting
CarI R. Greisen, Chr.
Estel W. Brooks
Frank K. Roy, Jr.
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By DeMoville P. Jones, M.P.S.
(Preliminary remarks at the Masonic Workshop, Washington, D.C., February 14, 1975.)
Settlements thrived on the Eastern Coast of North America. The Great Lakes Area had settlements and Detroit exerted much influence over a large area.
In 1745 the Shawnee Tribes moved North of the Ohio River and crowded the Delaware Tribes. The Cherokees went South of Kentucky Land.
From the Eastern Seaboard men walked the Hills to the West. They came to a fair, lonesome land - "Under the Mountains" - Kentucky. In 1762 men came from Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina.
Pittsburg laid out the town streets.
James Harrod came down the Ohio River to the Bluegrass in 1767.
Simon Kenton walked over the mountains to Limestone - Maysville. He built a house and planted corn and was driven away by the Indians, but he returned nine years later.
In 1771 Judge Richard Henderson, from North Carolina, bargained with the Cherokees for land. This area began at modern Carrollton, Ky., extended South to Middlesboro and West to approximately ten miles from Paducah. Daniel Boone was associated with Judge Henderson.
James Harrod established Harrodsburg June 14, 1774. It is the oldest continuing town in Kentucky.
The question arose: Should the Freeholders of Virginia settle the land or must they pay Judge Henderson under his alleged Lord-Proprietors, British Land Grant.
In 1777 less than 200 men were settled in Kentucky and in the same year the British began to pay bounty to the Indians for scalps of the whites.
The year 1779 brought many far reaching developments. The Bryan Station settled by a family from North Carolina was established five miles from present Main Street in Lexington. Most of the women were Moravians and their high moral standards influenced the others.
In 1779 Vincennes, Indiana was captured and it opened for political control, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The Kentucky Land Law passed by Virginia: Be it enacted, that all surveys of waste and unappropriated lands made prior to January 1, 1778, by any surveyor, commissioned by the Masters of William and Mary College, and found by charter duly proved and certified, and upon entry made before October 26, 1763, and not exceeding 400 acres, shall be and is hereby declared good and valid, but that surveys of such lands made by any person, upon any other pretense whatsoever shall be and are declared void. (Land Law-suits continued until 1925 and some titles are yet cloudy and doubtful.)
To the Fall of 1779 reed corn cost $50.00 a bushel, in the Spring of 1780 after the Great Freeze, the cost was $165.00 a bushel.
1779 Continental paper money to gold 40-1
1780 Continental paper money to gold 75-1
1781 Continental paper money to gold 1,000-1
Grand Lodges were set up as follows:
Grand Lodge of Ohio 1808, Tenn. 1813, Indiana 1818, Illinois 1840.
Abraham Jonas was Grand Master in Kentucky 1833 and Grand Master of Illinois 1841.
In 24 years Masonry was established in Kentucky.
It is the purpose of this panel to make a trip (by words) covering 50 years of people moving to the West Coast with emphasis on Masonic Influence.
I judge this group to number nearly 300. I am certain each of us feel indebted to the three panel speakers. They have wrought exceedingly well.
I am often asked, what does Freemasonry mean to you? I immediately answer – association. I find it here.
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Piny says that Theodorus, a Greek of Samos, invented the square and level, but the square figure is seen in the represented designs of the Tower of Babel, one of the earliest important known structures. The city of Babylon was a perfect square, and the bricks used in the buildings and walls were square; so probably were those in Babel. To form small squares correctly and to introduce them in endless combination into buildings, it needed a guiding instrument of some kind. So the square, as a constructive tool, came into use.
Among the ruins of Babylon, Ninevah and Petra, it is said to have been found represent. There are pictures and sculptures from the ruins of Thebes, in Egypt, showing the square in the hands of the artisan. Evidences of its use are also to be seen in ruins in India, which are thought by some to antedate those the Aztecs, or people before them, in Peru and Brazil, it has also been found; and though tools of stone and flint, such as axes, hatches, hammers, etc., were doubtless the first used by primitive man in these ruins that date back before history, the square is found, and the specimens may be found in the British Museum.
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How Freemasonry Came to California and Hawaii
By Eugene S. Hopp, F.P.S.
A MASTERPIECE
A paper read at the Masonic Workshop, Washington, D.C., February 14, 1975.
Freemasonry came to California and Hawaii by land and by sea. Overland it was carried by no ordinary frontiersmen but by picked adventurers who challenged the wilderness and mastered it. They trapped the beaver, lived on bear and buffalo, fought Indians and caroused away their hard-earned wages. They were known as the mountain men.
When the American frontier moved swiftly from the Mississippi to the Pacific, these men were the leaders, the guides, the scouts, the soldiers the peace officers and the statesmen. As statesmen they displayed the pragmatic wisdom one might expect. For it was the same pragmatic wisdom seen so clearly in Brother Benjamin Franklin's view of morality and politics. It was a morality which deliberately cut free of theology by urging concentration not on abstract thought nor ideal virtue, but on human deeds and their consequences for good or evil.
Most of the mountain men came from Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio with a long tradition of Indian fighting and pioneering behind them. But in the Rockies everything - the savages, the animals, the climate, the country itself - was bigger, wilder, fiercer than anything their fathers had known. Those who survived the constant danger and hardship were toughened to an extraordinary degree of courage, skill and physical fitness.
Among the earliest to bring moral restraint, respect for law and justice and for the rights of each individual human being, attitudes learned at the altar of Freemasonry, was Christopher "Kit" Carson who arrived in California in 1829. He was born December 24, 1809 in Kentucky and became a Mason in Montezuma Lodge No. 109, New Mexico, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Carson carried the first overland mail from Taos, New Mexico to military headquarters at Monterrey, California in 1842. He was with Fremont at the capture of Sonoma, California in 1846. During the Civil War he was a Colonel and later brevetted Brigadier General of the First New Mexico Cavalry.
So far as can be determined the first Master Mason to establish permanent residence in California was Abel Stearns who came from Salem, Mass. and settled in the "pueblo" of Los Angeles. Here he prospered and had the distinction of shipping to the Philadelphia mint in 1842, the first gold mined in California. Stearns obtained the gold in his mercantile business from miners who had discovered and worked the mines in Placerita Canyon, near the San Fernando mission in Los Angeles county. It is interesting to note that this discovery of gold in 1840, in amounts sufficient to send to the United States mint caused not a bit of interest beyond the area of discovery, whereas the finding of a few flakes of gold at Sutter's Mill on the American River in 1848 caused a mad rush to the hills of California, the like of which the world has never known.
The first American settler in the Napa valley, famous today for its grapes and its wines, was George Yount, an associate of Kit Carson's. Yount received the degrees of Masonry in Benecia Lodge No. 5 and from 1856 to 1864 served as Grand Bible Bearer of the Grand Lodge of California. History records that he built the first log fort in California.
The first Masonic charter carried to California was brought by the Reverend Saschel Woods, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister and member of Wakanda Lodge No. 52 of Carrollton, Missouri. That charter dated May 10, 1848 was for Western Star Lodge No. 98 of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, to be opened at Benton City, California. Woods traveled to California with Peter Lassen who was named as Junior Warden in that Charter. Lassen in 1848 was the leader of an immigrant train of twelve wagons, whose owners planned to settle on Deer Creek in California. They came to California by a remote and impractical route since named Lassen route. History recounts the trials the party endured until finally rescued.
Between this first charter and 1850 some fifteen other charters and dispensations found their way to California. The following were used to form Masonic Lodges:
California Lodge No. 13 (now No. 1) San Francisco, chartered by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, November 9, 1848
Pacific Lodge (now Benecia No. 5) Benecia, dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Louisiana Ancient York Masons, June 5, 1849
Davy Crockett Lodge (later Davy Crockett No. 7 and San Francisco No. 7) San Francisco, dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Louisiana Ancient York Masons, 1849 (exact date unknown )
Connecticut Lodge No. 75 (now Tehama No. 3) Sacramento, chartered by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, January 31, 1849
New Jersey Lodge (later Jennings Lodge) Sacramento, dispensation from the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, March 1, 1849
Sierra Nevada Lodge (now Madison No. 23 of Grass Valley) Centerville, dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Indiana, May, 1848
Lavely Lodge (later Marysville No. 9 and Corinthian No. 9) Marysville, dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Illinois, October, 1849
Pacific Lodge, Long's Bar, dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Illinois, October, 1848
Lafayette Lodge No. 29 (later Nevada No. 13) Nevada City, California, chartered by the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, April 2O, 1850
Gregory Yale Lodge, Stockton, dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Florida, 1849
Many of the outstanding leaders of early California came from Masonic ranks. Benjamin Wilson arrived in 1841 and became the second Mayor of Los Angeles and a member of Los Angeles Lodge No. 42. Dr. Robert Semple came to California in 1844 and affiliated with Benecia Lodge No. 5. He served as President of the first California State Constitutional Convention held in Monterrey in 1849. Nine of the 48 delegates to that Convention were Master Masons but their influence far outweighed their numbers. They brought California into the Union as a slave free state and adopted a strong public education platform.
As our late Past Grand Master Leon Whitsell points out the first Masons to reach California were seafaring men who traded along the coast from San Diego in the south to the Russian settlements in the north. They were a hardy lot fearing neither man nor the elements. Their trading and whaling took them as far as the Sandwich Islands now better known as our Hawaiian Paradise. The Lodges in Hawaii are today a part of the Grand Jurisdiction of California and one of the most pleasant duties of the Grand Master of California in his annual visitation to the Hawaiian Lodges where hospitality and brotherhood are practiced to a degree excelled nowhere.
The first Masonic Lodge to be formed west of the Missouri River was organized on board the whaling ship Ajax in Honolulu harbor, Sandwich Islands, on April 8, 1842 by Captain M. LeTellier who held a commission dated 1841 from the Supreme Council 33d of France to "set up Lodges in the Pacific Ocean and elsewhere in his voyages; to issue warrants, to call upon the Supreme Council for charters; to make Masons at sight; to forever be given the Grand Honors upon his appearance in any Lodge of his creation." The work was that of the first three degrees in the Scottish Rite, conferred in French. The charter received was dated April 8, 1842 and the Lodge named Le Progles de l'Oceanie No. 124. Among the charter members in addition to LeTellier, were John Meek and Henry Sea. Captain Meek had settled in the Islands in 1809 only Thirty-one years after their discovery by that illustrious English Freemason, Captain James Cook. Meek was born in Marblehead, Mass., November 14, 1797. He is reported by the noted California historian, H. fl. Bancroft, as Captain of the Amethyst engaged in otter hunting under Russian contract along the California coast in 1811 and 1812. Thus Meek is believed to be the first Mason to visit California. Although Meek served as Senior Warden of Le Progres Lodge and at the time of his death was noted in the minutes of the Lodge to have been a member for thirty-two years, no one seems to know where he was made a Mason.
For the first Mason to settle in California, honors again go to a seafaring man, named Robert Jonathan Elwell. Captain Elwell was raised in Lodge St. Andrew at Boston, January 23, 1823. The shipping registry shows him as Master of the Washington in 1828 and some time Iater he is described as taking a cargo of horses to Hawaii. In 1829 he married Senorita Vicenta Sanchez and settled in Santa Barbara where he "engaged in trade" until the time of his death in 1853.
Many other seafaring men who were Freemasons, visited California in the 1830's. One of the most colorful was Captain John Paty a founder and charter member of Le Progres Lodge. He was trusted advisor to the Hawaiian Court. In 1846 King Kamehameha III appointed him official representative of Hawaiian interests in California and Commodore of the Hawaiian Navy. In that latter capacity Paty is said to have worn a resplendent uniform which delighted the natives. Kamehameha III himself became a Mason in Hawaiian Lodge. His handwritten application for the degrees may be seen in photocopy of the original in the library of the Grand Lodge of California in San Francisco.
And so Freemasonry came to California by sea and by land, car a fed by men whose lives were influenced by its teachings and who in turn were influential in the development of the great Hawaii and California we enjoy today.
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Membership Chairman Expanding
Activities of His Committee
Allan R. Parsons, M.P.S., chairman of the Membership and Public relations Committee is gradually expanding, energizing and activating more and more Freemasons in each state of the Union and abroad. It is his hope that every part of America in which there are members of the Society, as well as in foreign countries, where there has recently been an increase of interest, may have chairmen and co-chairmen who will work hard to get earnest Freemasons to join and become active in our Society. It is important that we not only get interested Freemasons, but that we also get those who will participate in and help stimulate the activities of our Society in their vicinity.
Brother Parsons has named several as Chairmen and co-chairmen within the past few weeks, and hopes to have more become active before the printing of the next issue of our magazine.
A step forward is noted in the naming of MICHEL L. BRODSKY, rue due Drabe 27, B-1440 Braine Le Chateau, Belgium, as Chairman for Belgium, France and The Netherlands. He has also added one State Chairman - Norman A. Jenne, 347 Guthrie Street, Ashland, Oregon, as State Chairman for Oregon, and Ronald K. Smith, 135 S. Fourth Street, Clinton, Indiana, as Indiana State Co-chairman. Other appointments will be announced soon.
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Walter Callaway Given Double Masonic Honors
Walter M. Callaway, Jr., F.P.S. (yes, that's right - he was just made a Fellow at the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the Philalethes Society in Washington, on February 14), was honored at the annual Consistory of the Society of Blue Friars, Saturday morning, February 15, 1975, thus giving Walter a double honor for his hard work in the field of Masonic journalism. We extend our sincere congratulations and good wishes to one who has long demonstrated his ability and zeal.
Editor of the "Georgia Masonic Messenger", official publication of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A. M.; a 33rd degree member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, as well as an honoree of many Masonic and civic awards, Walt has made a distinct name for himself in the Craft.
For further information and background of Walt's accomplishments, we suggest that you read Jerry Marsengill's write-up in "Chat & Comment", found elsewhere in this issue. We need more hard working Freemasons like Walter Callaway!
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Insights and Sidelights Of Masonry Moving Westward
By Gordon R. Derrick, M.P.S.,
Education Committee, M.W. Grand Lodge of Colorado, A.F. & A.M.
Presented before the Philalethes Society in Washington, D.C., February 14, 1975.
"Jefferson's Folly" was the derisive name given to the Louisiana Purchase of 1804.
And later the eloquent DanieI Webster was to proclaim, "What do we want with the vast worthless area, this region of savages and wild beasts, of deserts and shifting sands and whirlwinds of dust, of cactus? Mr. President, I will never vote one cent from the public treasury to place the Pacific Coast one inch nearer to Boston than it is now."
But our concern is not with the physical or climatic conditions of the West. Rather it is with the character of the pioneers of the ever-expanding frontier. They brought civilization to the area, so much progress resulting in one century that our late Fellow of this Society, Ray V. Denslow, commented a half-century ago "This area became the home of the most contented people in the world." (1)
This progress occurred despite his contention that "Civilization's outposts have generally inherited the refuse of the human race." One of the greatest forces causing the triumphs over the derelicts and sinister influence was Freemasonry which had influenced the lives of many of the early adventurers.
J. Fairbairn Smith, another Philalethes Fellow, tells us the craft was brought to the Midwest region, via Detroit, in 1764 "a scant thirty years after the establishment by warrant of the first lodge on this continent." (2)
Probably both French and English Masons were present at the Detroit military outpost. But the 1764 lodge was warranted by the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York under authority of the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns.) A 1767 certificate of membership written in both French and English, and issued to one Thomas Robinson, still survives. (3)
When France established military posts from the Great Lakes down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, it opened a new territory for Masonry. Refugees fleeing from persecution in the West Indies brought the first Freemasonry to Louisiana. Its first lodge under French parentage was chartered in 1793.
Due to French and Spanish influences, the existing church was not a haven for most of the settlers. "Many were compelled to secure much of their religious solace from reading the family Bible and attendance at the local lodge, causing many to regard the fraternity as a religion, rather than as a guide to religion.
"Not every pioneer was of the fraternity . . . but of the outstanding men of the territory fully eighty-five percent had assumed the Mystic Tie and travelled the road which leads from the darkness of ignorance to the light of truth. The great chain of brotherhood forged at the rude altar of the little lodge at the edge of the great wilderness was such as to withstand the storms and furies which lashed back and forth. (4)
"Those who treked to colonize the new horizons . . . were not all ignorant farmers or ranchers looking for free lands. An extraordinary proportion were college graduates and men of broad culture. Some came because of climate and health, others as self-appointed missionaries, and some seeking to form an ideal social order built on liberal culture." (5)
Another Philalethes Fellow, the erudite and thorough researcher Dr. James D. Carter, informs us "In the first constitutional government of the Republic of Texas, Masons occupied forty-one percent of seats in the Senate, forty-seven percent of the house seats, eighty-eight percent of the chief executive offices and sixty percent of the chief judicial offices.
"All the presidents and vice-presidents of the Republic were Masons. The percentage of executives in the Republic was never less than eighty-five percent and in the last administration all were members of the craft." (6)
Establishing a right to academic freedom was one of the great accomplishments of the Lone Star State Masons who had to combat ecclesiastical authority from Louisiana on the east and Mexico on the southwest.
The services of Masonic lodges in conducting schools and furnishing buildings possibly was greater than those of any single religious denomination. (7)
The constitution of Missouri was specific in limiting secular power. "No person while he continues to exercise the functions of a bishop, priest, clergyman, or teacher of any religious persuasion, denomination, society, or sect whatever, shall be entitled to a seat in either branch of the legislature, or to be appointed to any place of profit within the state, the office of the justice of the peace excepted." (8)
In Iowa the fraternity was concerned with another form of education - that of its own members. At its second grand communication in 1845 the munificent sum of $5 was appropriated to start the Iowa Masonic Library, now one of the finest of its kind. Its proponent, Grand Secretary Theodore S. Parvin, contended: "The only true method of disseminating light and knowledge and having the principles of our order properly appreciated is to create an interest in the study of the same." (9)
The Hawkeye Grand Lodge also endorsed early teaching and the work by schools of instruction rather than by "flying visits of the Grand Master."
Being an active participant during the formative year of Western Masonry required strength and fortitude.
John McClellan of Louisiana Lodge No. 32 delivered the charter of Holland, Texas Lodge No. 1 to Dr. Anson Jones, its first Worshipful Master on the prairie just before the battle of San Jacinto. Jones then carried the charter in his saddle bags during the battle. (10)
The moving spirit for a lodge at St. Augustine, Texas, was an Irishman, John Gillespie. He was captured by the Mexican Army, tried, and condemned to death. Gillespie was forced to dig his own grave, and while kneeling before it blindfolded waiting to die, he thought of, and gave, the hailing sign of distress. The officer of the firing squad recognized it, dismissed the detail, supplied Gillespie with $30 in money and assisted him out of the country. (11)
General Santa Anna was also captured after the battle of San Jacinto. He is said to have "filled the air'" with Masonic signs and upon being brought before General Sam Houston, to have greeted him with a Masonic grip. Houston refused to allow him to be killed. Most, if not all those who guarded Santa Anna were Masons. (12)
Missouri Masons started the lodge at St. Genevieve due to difficulties of crossing the Mississippi River to attend Western Star Lodge at Kaskaskia. The return crossing had to be made at night and often during high water and ice floes. (13)
Th e organizational meeting of Smithton No. 1 of Kansas was held on a high hill, a Missouri river bluff. It was tiIed by a horse-mounted brother who rode around the crest to ward off cowans and evesdroppers. The great lights were placed on burroak stump.
Subsequent meetings were held in the dugout abode of the Master and in the log house of the local Indian agent. After chartering they met in a warehouse on the river front. (14)
Not all activities compiled with Masonic rules and regulations. The Master of Lawrence Lodge No. 56 in Kansas many years after the event told of his transgressions."
"During the year 1856 owing to the troubles (the conflict between the adherents and opponents of slavery) our lodge seldom met . . . it was almost impossible to get the companions together. I often went along the streets, saw the officers or some of the members, told them I would appoint them to such and such an office. Then I would write up the records as though we had a regular meeting with all the officers in their places when in reality there was no one present but myself. This I did for months to save our charter." (15)
During the first two years of the war between the States, eighty-nine lodges in Missouri, another border state, ceased functioning. Twenty-three lost their halls, furniture, and records from burning by the warring factions. Fifteen lodges disappeared, leaving no trace. Fifty-one failed to make returns or pay any dues. (16)
Still, brotherhood sometimes was literally a vital factor. A Kansas farmer, a Union sympathizer narrated two experiences: "West of me, at Lecompton, was headquarters for the Confederacy . . . I never went out, even to milk the cows, without a revolver in my belt. I became acquainted with Sheriff Jones. While we differed politically, we knew each other as Masons.
"One day a group of rebels assembled to make a raid on my stock . . . Sheriff Jones told them 'If you attempt to touch that man or his stock, you will do it over my dead body.' Many times Sheriff Jones and I met on the high hills and warned each other of approaching danger.
"I knew another neighbor, Smith, a Rebel, as a Mason. One day he came to me stating his family was sick and the medicines wanted could not be obtained at Lecompton. I escorted him to Lawrence (a Union community) holding his horse in front of the store while he bought what he needed. Everyone noticed he was a stranger, but as he was with me, they were sure he was a freestate man." (17)
The first Nebraska lodge opened at Bellvue in the second story of a trading post. The altar was a bale of Indian blankets. Other blankets were hung around the room to prevent anyone from looking through the wide cracks.
It seems reasonable to conclude that all the ritual, not just an important secret, must have been uttered in a low breath!
The Grand Chaplain of Nebraska went to the Colorado Gold Country as the presiding elder of the Methodist church. He carried blank dispensations in his coat pocket. As a result, Nebraska was responsible for two of three charter lodges of Colorado. (18)
Speaking of charters, the State of Oklahoma was formed from two territories and its Grand Lodge from the Grand Lodges of each, the Grand Lodge of Indian Territory and the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma Territory. This was 88 years after the chartering of the adjacent state of Arkansas in 1819.
By hand labor nearly one hundred brethren in Colorado leveled the ground for the first lodge hall at Gregory Gold Diggings near Central City. Teams of oxen dragged in the logs for the Temple walls and roof.
At the first general meeting therein, four brothers armed with rifles and revolvers stood on guard, one at each corner of the Temple and one at the outer door also . . . Over 200 names were entered in the Roll of Visitors. (19)
Soon after, the War between the States brought a vexatious issue before the Colorado craftsmen. Denver Lodge No. 5 was composed of those friendly to the South. Many newly-arriving brothers were partial to the North. While desiring to participate in Masonic fellowship and labor, the latter did not feel comfortable at No. 5's functions.
The Grand Lodge met in a two-day annual communication. Between sessions a harmonious solution was presented. The Grand Lodge decided to forego the formality of testing it under dispensation and a new lodge was chartered "from the floor" so the Northerners would have a Masonic home. Aptly enough, it was named Union Lodge! (20)
One of the most active of Western Masons, Paris Pfouts was first master of a lodge in St. Joe, Mo., starting point of the Pony Express; then master of Denver Lodge No. 5; and finally master of the lodge at Virginia City, Montana. At the latter place he was also mayor but achieved greatest fame as head of the Vigilantes, the group that took enforcement of the law into their own hands to subdue crime in the riotous community. Twelve of the thirteen Vigilantes were members of the craft.
One social custom that was widely practiced, even by brethren, through the first half of the nineteenth century but that does not harmonize with Masonic principles, was dueling. The first regulation adopted by the Grand Lodge of Nevada chastised this practice. The regulation read:
"The practice of dueling being repugnant to the principles of Freemasonry, in all cases where the two brothers resort to this method of settling their disputes, it shall be the duty of the lodge or lodges of which they are members or within whose jurisdiction they may reside, forthwith to expel them from all the rights a n d privileges of Masonry; and no brother who may fall in a duel shall be buried with Masonic honors." (21)
It hardly seems correct to close a paper on activities of the craft without a reference to symbolism. The famed meeting when twenty travelers on the Oregon trail gathered atop Independence Rock, Wyoming to fraternize in Masonic amity on the Fourth of July, 1862, affords that opportunity.
The altar was originally composed of twelve stones which could symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel as well as other things.
But one brother in attendance was more interested in patriotic rather than Masonic symbolism. He reminded the brethren that they were celebrating Independence Day and added another stone so to honor the thirteen original colonies. (22)
Masonry has laws, rules, and regulations. Masonry has usages, customs, and landmarks. And in addition, it has members. As has been said, mankind constitutes the workmen of the Grand Architect. Freemasons, because of the training and equipment provided us, should be Master' Workmen. (23)
REFERENCES
1. Territorial Masonry, Ray Vaughn Denslow, The Masonic Service Association, 1923, p. 4.
2. Freemasonry in Michigan, Smith-Fey, M.W. Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of Michigan, 1963, p, 23.
3. Ibid., p. 30.
4. Territorial Masonry, p. 30.
5. Education and Masonry in Texas, Frederick Eby, Committee on Masonic Education and Service for the Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F.&A.M., 1963, p. xxv.
6. Masonry in Texas James David Carter, Committee on Masonic Education and Service for the Grand Lodge of Texans, A.F.&A.M., 1955, p. 296.
7. The Development of Education in Texas, Frederick Eby, p. 129.
8. Territorial Masonry, p. 267.
9. History, Grand Lodge of lowa, A.F.&A.M., William F. Cleveland, Vol. 11, p. 209.
10. Masonry in Texas, p. 244.
11. Ibid., p. 312.
12. Ibid., p.p. 284-85.
13. Territorial Masonry, p. 118.
14. Semi-Centennial, Grand Lodge A.F.&A.M. of Kansas, 1906, p. 13.
15. Ibid., p. 56.
16. Centennial History of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, William Frederick Kahn, 1921, p. 117.
17. Semi-Centennial, Grand Lodge of Kansas, pp. 59-60.
18. Centennial Celebration Commemorative Volume, Grand Lodge A.F. &A.M. of Colorado, 1961, p. 7.
19. Ibid., p. 6.
20. Ibid., pp. 8-9.
21. Fifty Years of Masonry in Nevada, Lloyd B. Thompson, 1914, pp. 3-4
22. History of Freemasonry in Wyoming, 1874-1924, Alfred James Mokler, p. 235.
23. Masonry and the Flag, John W. Berry, The Masonic Service Association, 1924, p. 64.
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By N. Tracy Walker, M.P.S.
A paper presented at the Masonic Workshop, Washington, D.C., February 14, 1975
By the turn of the nineteenth century, the infant United States was firmly established on the Atlantic littoral, secure between the comforting shields of the sea to the east and the mountainous spine of the Appalachians to the west. Like the several states, Freemasonry had affirmed the integrity of its several Grand Lodge jurisdictions abiding in peace and harmony with one another. The shock of severing the umbilical cord had been surmounted Masonically as well as politically, and the challenge of evolving a viable and effective American methodology now faced the several institutions embodied in the new nation.
Behind the western mountain wall, an abundance of the earth's potentially most fertile land beckoned alike to the restless settlers of the coastal states and to the oppressed and dissatisfied of the Old World. The fruitful promise of these alluring acres was the more irresistible through their ready accessibility.
The lands which the fledgling country was destined to weld into a rich and powerful transcontinental nation were then fractioned under several political hegemonies - American, British, Spanish, French - and they were occupied by the redman. Deep perimeter penetrations had long since been made, by the French in the north and by the Spanish in the south and west, but they had little lasting effect in the immediate hinterland of the new coastal nation. And so, while scarcely out of its national swaddling clothes, America began to populate its western wilderness.
As frontiers moved westward the remoteness of settlements taxed the effectiveness of state government, from which evolved the unique American system of an orderly multiplication of decentralized political structures within an undiluted national government.
In parallel fashion, American Freemasonry evolved its unique contribution to Masonic organizational structure - the concept of Territorial jurisdiction. From a base of established Grand Lodges, and under their authority, Freemasonry would gradually become organized in frontier territories. As the Masonic population grew, and its organization and structure became sufficiently sophisticated, the several lodges would associate themselves into a Grand Lodge, assert their exclusive jurisdiction over an area generally coterminous with the state, and petition for recognition from their sister Grand Lodges, which usually granted with alacrity. Recognition implied an acknowledgment of legitimacy of origin, acceptable practices and standards of work, and sanctity of territorial sovereignty.
Expansion to the Mississippi was relatively straight-forward south of the Ohio River. Kentucky and Tennessee fractioned off from Virginia and North Carolina respectively, and both were admitted to the Union before 1800. The early lodges in each were chartered by the home Grand Lodges, and formed their own Grand Lodges in 1800 and 1813. Both then warranted Iodges in Mississippi, which erected its Grand Lodge in 1818. In Tennessee the Grand Lodge was chartered by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina - the only instance in the United States in which this was done.
Louisiana's early Masonic history is highlighted by that amalgam of influences which provides a refreshing splash of Creole color to all social and cultural institutions of the delightful deltaland. In 1793 a group of French refugees from the Santo Domingo Revolution petitioned South Carolina for a charter, then proceeded to work under a Rose Croix patent. When the charter arrived a year later, a second lodge was organized under its authority. Meantime, another group petitioned the Provincial Grand Lodge of Marseilles for a charter, which arrived in 1798, and was reconstituted by the Grand Orient of France in 1804. A number of South Carolina Masons resident in Louisiana sought a Pennsylvania charter, which was granted in 1801, and was replaced by another charter from that source a year later. Another group of Santo Domingo refugees secured a charter from the Grand Orient in 1806, but surrendered it in favor of a Pennsylvania charter in 1808.
Now comes upon the scene the Grand Lodge of New York to introduce a new element in the bayou lands - the first English speaking lodge chartered in 1807. Meantime, two Pennsylvania charters originally domiciled in Santo Dotningo were translated to Louisiana when their members fled thence, and two additional charters emanated from that authority in 1810, one working in English. At the same time Pennsylvania instructed its lodges to cease relations with the French Rite, and reconstituted the early Grand Orient charter in 1811.
When Louisiana was admitted to the Union in 1812, seven lodges were working, all in the York Rite, but only two of these were English speaking. They met to form a Grand Lodge, but the two English lodges withdrew, so the five French lodges formed the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. But a rough and rugged road lay before the Grand Lodge. By 1818 the Grand Orient had invaded its territory, and the two English speaking lodges in New Orleans had fallen on dark days, although the French lodges were prospering.
In 1820 the French Rite and the Scottish Rite were introduced, and all three workings were formally recognized by the Grand Lodge in 1823. By that time three Grand Orient charters were functioning in the jurisdiction, along with seven upstate English speaking lodges. These chaotic circumstances persisted for decades, leading to a succession of territorial invasions, ruptures of fraternal amity, intra-jurisdictional disputes, and structural reorganizations. However, by 1858 the Grand Lodge had finally surmounted these problems, and when the Grand Orient posed its final challenge in 1867, the threat was defeated through the support of an encompassing American Grand Lodge solidarity.
Freemasonry entered Alabama with a Kentucky charter in 1811, and in ten years formed a Grand Lodge with subordinate lodges holding charters issued by Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina. The original constitution contained very cumbersome quorum provisions, and these operated adversely to the Grand Lodge during the excitement following the Morgan incident. It did not meet in 1832, by which time it had lost about one-third of its charters. It barely achieved a quorum in 1833, but failed to do so in 1834 and 1835. By 1836 there were twelve lodges on the roll, but only six answered the roll call - still short of a quorum. Therefore the Grand Lodge was declared extinct by failure to meet for three consecutive years, and the six lodges present formed a successor Grand Lodge with more liberal quorum provisions.
In the region north of the Ohio River, several of the Grand Lodges show routine development. Indiana's pioneer lodges sprung almost entirely from Kentucky, and had sufficient strength and numbers to associate into a Grand Lodge in 1818. Wisconsin derived its early charters from Illinois, Missouri, and New York, and formed its Grand Lodge in 1843. West Virginia was a part of the Commonwealth of Virginia, both politically and Masonically, but divided off for political reasons in 1863. At that time it was a developed and settled region, with a strong Masonic structure. As a consequence of the political separation the lodges felt constrained to establish an independent Grand Lodge structure in 1865.
Ohio's first organized Freemasonry dates from 1790 when the charter of the celebrated military lodge "American Union" was reactivated at Marietta. Its Master, Jonathan Heart, and a Past Master, General Rufus Putnam, were then residents of the area, and the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which had issued the charter, supported by New York and Pennsylvania, affirmed its regularity. The lodge operated there until it finally became subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Ohio which had reserved the coveted No. 1 for it. New Jersey chartered a lodge near Cincinnati, which was succeeded by a Kentucky charter. Other lodges were chartered by Pennsylvania and Connecticut, along with additional charters emanating from Massachusetts. Finally, in 1809, the several lodges joined in the formation of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
Michigan's Grand Lodge structure was very long in the building. Its early history goes back farther than any state west of the mountains because of its compelling strategic location astride the dominating natural trade route to the interior. Its first lodge at Detroit was warranted in 1764 by the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York - or more accurately by the Provincial Grand Master of that colony. It was joined during the remainder of the century by a succession of temporary Iodges, mainly military, deriving authority from a variety of sources - European American, Canadian, and West Indian. The more permanent lodges began to be established in numbers following the turn of the century, and were mainly chartered by New York.
Finally a Grand Lodge was erected in 1826, with Lewis Cass, a Past Grand Master of Ohio, as its first Grand Master. No sooner was the Grand Lodge formed than the jurisdiction sustained the onslaught of the anti-Masonic fervor of the thirties, and it became dormant. Only one lodge in Michigan continued to work through this period, but by 1843 seven Iodges were operating, and after sundry fits and starts, the second Grand Lodge of Michigan was formed in 1844. Appropriately enough, its Grand Master was installed by Lewis Cass.
The only remaining territory east of the Mississippi to be considered is Illinois, and its story rivals Louisiana for color and confusion. Illinois had long been known to the white man because of its strategic location as the easily traversed watershed between the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes and the Mississippi systems. Its first permanent settlement was at Kaskaskia in the seventeenth century, and its first college was opened there in 1721. Fittingly enough, Kaskaskia was also the gateway through Freemasonry entered Illinois in 1805 by a Pennsylvania charter. This lodge was followed by charters from Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and three from Missouri, and these seven lodges met to form a Grand Lodge in 1823. The first Grand Master was also the first Governor of the state, Shadrach Bond.
Despite these auspicious beginnings, trouble plagued the infant Grand Lodge from the start. Before it would issue Illinois charters, the Grand Lodge insisted that the subordinate lodges pay all indebtedness that was due their parent Grand Lodges. Unfortunately it was a time of one of those recurring currency crises which plagued the frontier, and although the lodges strove valiantly to meet the obligations the worthless and discounted paper in which they were forced to deal, thwarted all their efforts. The Grand Lodge itself was not immune to the special problem, and when to these obstacles was added the anti-Masonic frenzy following the Morgan episode, the Grand Lodge and all seven of its subordinate lodges quietly laid down and died.
The vacated territory was reactivated in 1835 when Kentucky chartered a lodge at Quincy, followed by three additional charters in succeeding years. Missouri followed suit and issued eight charters or dispensations, so that by 1840 there were twelve lodges operating in the state. Six of these met to erect the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1840, but difficulties arose immediately. Missouri declined to withdraw any charters unless the lodge specifically requested that action, with the result that the last Missouri charter was not transferred to Illinois until 1846, and one of the former Kentucky charters operated independently of any Grand Lodge until 1845.
But these problems were minor compared to that posed by the Mormons. Joseph Smith and his band of followers fled a Missouri mob in 1839, and settled about fifty miles north of Quincy at a land speculator's paper town called Commerce. Smith renamed the place Nauvoo, set his flock to work, and by 1842 had created a beautiful and thriving community of 10,000 inhabitants. By 1845 it was second and only to St. Louis as the metropolis of the Northwest. Bodley Lodge at Quincy was asked to sponsor a lodge at Nauvoo in 1841, but refused. Nevertheless, in 1842 Grand Master Abraham Jonas personally instituted a lodge there, initiating Joseph Smith on that occasion, and raising him the following day. Bodley Lodge protested the conduct of the Grand Master as irregular, and five months after instituting the lodge its dispensation was arrested. Subsequent investigation revealed that Nauvoo Lodge U.D., with Joseph Smith's brother Hyrum as Senior Warden, had been one active lodge; in five months of operation it had initiated 286 candidates, and passed and raised 256. On one ballot, probably in the interests of time in view of its workload, it elected 63 petitioners. The investigating committee which reported these startling facts, along with other minor irregularities, apparently reached the conclusion that they were attributable to misapplied zeal and so recommended that the dispensation be continued for another year.
During that year the Grand Master saw fit to issue four additional dispensations for Mormon lodges, two at Nauvoo, one at Keokuk, Iowa, and another at Montrose. But at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge (this was in 1843), it was ordered that all these lodges be dissolved except Rising Sun at Montrose, and it in turn was ordered to show cause why it should not be dissolved. The Mormon lodges declined to accept the order of dissolution, and in 1844 publicly dedicated a new Masonic Hall in Nauvoo. Therefore at its 1844 communication the Grand Lodge declared the Mormon lodges clandestine and suspended all their members.
At this point other problems took over to moot the intra-fraternal struggle. Internal problems within the Mormon church erupted into violence in Nauvoo, causing Joseph and Hyrum Smith to flee the city, but they soon returned, submitted to arrest, and were incarcerated at Carthage, from whose jail they were sieved and lynched in late June, 1844. Within two years all the Mormons had vanished from Illinois, following their new leader Brigham Young on their great trek to the shores of the Great Salt Lake. So, having successfully negotiated these perilous rocks on the coast, the Grand Lodge of Illinois at length found smooth waters and fair winds.
Thus, by the outbreak of the Mexican liver, we find the substantial completion of what we may term the Phase I occupation and settlement of America's west - the region between the Appalachians and the Mississippi.
The expansion had been rapid, but had been characterized by comparative regularity and order, and had been accompanied by an effective development of political organization. In like manner, Freemasonry had evolved an appropriate and effective methodology by which it concurrently occupied and settled the wilderness. In this half-century our young country had performed a prodigy of development, and our survey demonstrates that the fraternity had kept pace, that its forms and structures are accurate mirrors of the cultural forces at play in American society. As a result of these expansionist efforts, America was transformed from a nation of transplanted Europeans into a nation of Americans, and so was our Freemasonry transformed from a transplanted European Freemasonry to an American Freemasonry.
As these states were established they stood ready to act as the base from which which trans-Mississippi America would be occupied and settled. just as the seaboard had been their base. In like manner, the Grand Lodges we have discussed would now become "the establishment" upon which the Phase II expansion of Freemasonry in the American West would be founded.
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Prizes and Awards for Writing and Painting
A motion picture producer and publisher of Masonic books are searching for articles and paintings. They need an article that will be suitabIe for a script for a youth oriented motion picture. They want to show our youth that Freemasonry has in its teachings what they are seeking.
What does Freemasonry have to offer the youth of today? Are its principles, teachings, and precepts what today's youth are seeking? Can Freemasonry halt the tide that is flowing away from God? If you believe the answer to the last two questions is "Yes" - and can put the first question into a dramatic article - you may win an award of from ten to one hundred dollars. If your writing is published in any form, the award will be duplicated. And your name will appear as the author.
Articles should be about 2,500 words in length, typewritten, and double spaced. Those submitted will become the sole property of Imagination Unlimited! A panel of judges from the staff of Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company, and The Masonic Service Association will determine the awards. The contest will close June 30, 1975.
Original paintings of historical, Masonic, or religious subjects that can be used in books and documentary films are needed. You will be paid from five to twenty-five dollars for those submitted, if they are suitable for publication. Those purchased will be eligible for an additional award of up to one hundred dollars. These may be used immediately in a documentary film being produced for The Masonic Service Association.
Send all entries, or enquiries, to: Imagination Unlimited!, Drawer 70A, Highland Springs, Va. 23075, Attention: Allen E. Roberts.
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John Nocas
Winner of the
Certificate of Literature
John R. Nocas, M.P.S., brilliant Masonic Craftsman, Grand King, Grand Chapter, R.A.M., of California, and prolific Masonic writer, was announced as the 1974 winner of the coveted Masonic Certificate of Literature of the Philalethes Society.
Active in many fields, Brother Nocas has demonstrated his ability in multiple doses. His article - "Josephus 'The Great Jewish Historian' ", printed in the February 1974 issue of the Philalethes, was adjudged best for the year by the special Certificate of Literature Committee, composed of Louis V. Sylvester, Chairman, Estel W. Brooks, and G. Wilbur Bell.
John has done a monumental amount of work in organizing activities for the Philalethes Society in his state, as well as activating interest among the Craft wherever his articles are read.
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More About
Our Back Issues
As previously stated in this magazine, there has been considerable interest shown by our readers in back issues of the Philalethes. We have already had a number of orders for almost-complete sets, which is most gratifying. In order that those who want them may know more about the procedure by which to get them, we give a short resume of that matter. First, we have only a limited number of copies of the magazine prior to the year 1950. Issues prior to that date may be secured by using the information contained in the box appended to this article, by which these issues may be photocopied by the King County Masonic Library, as listed in this box. We have been informed by Brother Albert L. Woody, F.P.S., that the Library has a COMPLETE FILE of EACH ISSUE of the magazine, and those who desire the photocopying of issues prior to 1950 are urged to write the Library, requesting that issues prior to 1950 be photocopied and mailed. The cost is only 10 c per page, plus a nominal fee of 10 c for postage. This will enable each one who wants back copies to get it without further difficulty.
To those who wish copies of the magazine AFTER 1949 (with a very few exceptions of those now out of print), we ask that you write the editor, and they will be mailed at a cost of one dollar ($1.00) each, postpaid. For your information, we list
========================================================
Photocopies From
BACK COPIES OF
THE PHILALETHES
ARE NOW AVAILABLE
The King County Masonic Library, Seattle, will furnish photocopies of any articles listed in The Philalethes Index at cost, 10c per page, plus only 10c postage.
Address requests to:
King County Masonic Library
805 East Pine Street
Seattle, Washington 98122
=======================================================
Important News For Our Members
Brother Harry Carr, a Past Master and Editor of Quatuor Coronati Lodge, is coming to the United States on a lecture tour that will bring him to the following places:
May 7th before the American Lodge of Research, in New York City;
May 10th at Indianapolis, Indiana to address the Grand Lodge of Indiana;
May 15th, at the Chicago Scottish Rite Cathedral, 935 No. Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois;
May 16th, at the Masonic Temple in Westchester, Illinois;
May 29th at the Connecticut Lodge of Research meeting.
The subject of his talk at each of the above meetings will be 600 Years of Craft Ritual. All Master Masons are invited to hear this outstanding researcher of the Craft considered by many as the greatest living Masonic historian.
=======================================================
the source of needed copies, so that you may take advantage of this offer.
FOR INDIVIDUAL COPIES OF THE MAGAZINE write to:
JOHN BLACK VROOMAN,
Editor,
P.O. Box 402,
St. Louis, Missouri 63166
FOR PHOTOCOPIES OF ANY ISSUE OF THE MAGAZINE, write:
The King County
Masonic Library,
whose address is to be found
in the attached BOX.
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From the DeMolay "Cordon," we find the following most Inspirational article. Could it apply to Freemasonry? - We think so.
"No deposit - no return" is a phrase that might make you think of ecology or of pop bottles, but it says a lot in referring to your DeMolay membership.
How many members have you seen in the Order who made no "deposit" of time, effort, or services to the organization, and thus received nothing in return from their membership? If a total could be made, it would indicate far too many. These members who make no deposit, soon fade from the local scene.
The time to insure that your new members begin making proper deposits is right after their initiation. Insure participation by your new members by being sure that they are given an assignment in the chapter, some responsibility, some method of their feeling that they do indeed belong to a brotherhood.
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We Humbly Apologize!
It is with deep regret that we apologize to our dear friend and Brother M.W. Edward H. Siems, M.P.S. for the omission of his name in our latest Roster of the Society, late in 1974. Brother Ed is and has been, a devoted and hard-working member, has contributed much to our work, and we deeply regret our error. His dues card is up to date, his enthusiasm is bubbling over, and we want him to know that we eagerly welcome him "back" into our ranks. "There’s many a slip ‘twist the cup and the lip." And in this slip we really went overboard. Excuse us, please, Brother Ed.
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Accuracy Is Essential In Masonic Research
It would appear that, from time to time, a number of would be Masonic authors prop up their feet, light their pipes and from the smoke of those pipes, obtain the inspiration for Masonic articles. A publication devoted to Masonic research has one job, to locate and print articles of Masonic value. Regardless of how important it appears to one man, an article entitled "Why I became a Freemason", regardIess of how exalted a position the man occupies, is not a suitable topic for a research magazine.
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LET'S EACH ONE GET A NEW MEMBER
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By Alphonse Cerza, F.P.S., (Life), lllinois
With the approach of the Bicentennial of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, Masonic students will welcome a book entitled "Freemasonry in Connecticut," which has the sub-title "Connecticut Masons in the American Revolution", written by James R. Case F.P.S., Grand Historian of the state. The contents of this book took years of painstaking research to gather and is a valuable tool for anyone doing research on Masons who were active in the War of Independence.
Available at $6.50 a copy from the Bicentennial Committee, Grand Lodge of Connecticut, P.O. Box 250, Wallingford, Conn. 06492.
* * *
One of the finest state Masonic histories to appear for many years is "History of Kansas Masonry," written by Ben W. Graybill, and edited by Forrest D. Haggard, both being members of our Society. The pages of this book are eight and a half inches by eleven inches, and contain many photographs, charts, lists, and other material of interest. The time and effort needed to compile all the important facts contained in this volume must have been enormous. All the proceedings of state have been summarized and there is an adequate biographical sketch of every Grand Master serving the state. The reward in reading the book is the occasional heart-warming statements such as the report of how one Grand Master carried on from 1861 to 1865, while the war between the states was in progress; how he had stated what he would like to be his epitaph, and it is stated in this book at the end of his biographical sketch: "Jacob Saqui, he was a good man and a true Mason." All important Masonic activities taking place in the state are covered with skill.
Available from Albert O. Arnold, Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge A.F. A.M. of Kansas, Box 1217, Topeka, Kansas 66601 at a cost of $6.00 postpaid.
* * *
For years each new member of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction was presented with a copy of Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma, a massive volume which is difficult to read. Brother Henry Clausen, Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, has captured the essence of the messages contained in the Pike volume and has added his own observations on the lessons taught by the Scottish Rite degrees in a new volume - "Clausen's Commentaries on Morals and Dogma." Containing many fine symbolical illustrations and written in a fine easy-to-read style, with many pertinent observations, this volume ought to be in the library of eatery Mason.
Available at $4.00 a copy, from the Supreme Council, 33d, 1733 Sixteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009
* * *
Several years ago Brother George Draffen, of Scotland, compiled a list of all Grand Lodges, extinct and existing, listed according to the various countries. He has now done the same thing in a fine booklet entitled "A Register of Supreme Councils Active and Extinct" covering the Scottish Rite.
A small number of booklets have been printed, and so long as the supply lasts, a copy may be secured without cost, from the Supreme Council, 330, P. O. Box 519, Lexington, Mass. 02173.
* * *
It is not often that there is published a Masonic book on a subject that is new, is well researched, skillfully presented, and answer some pertinent questions. Such a volume is "A Documentary Notebook on the Latin Craft," by Brother Norman D. Peterson. The title does not do justice to the book because there is a second phase covered that is not disclosed in the title. This carefully researched book is an explanation of the first three degrees of the Scottish Rite.
Anyone who has ever given any thought to the Scottish Rite knows that the Rite has Thirty-Three degrees, but that the first three degrees are never conferred in countries where the Blue Lodge is functioning. Scottish Rite Masons secretly wonder about the contents of these first three degrees but seldom mention them for fear that it encroaches on the Blue Lodge work. We now have an explanation and consideration of these first three degrees of the Scottish Rite; since they arrived first in many of the countries of South America it was proper to discuss their use there.
With the price of printing rising rapidly in recent years, this volume is a good illustration of what can be done to present a subject and keep the cost within reasonable limits. The material was typed on letter size sheets (8 ½ x 11), reproduced by a photographic process, and then bound and sewed to a hard bound cover for permanent use.
Available at $15.95 a copy postpaid, from the author, at 3660 N. E. 133rd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97230.
* * *
On several occasions we have mentioned a new book to be published by MACOY Publishing Company, written by Brother Allen E. Roberts, F.P.S., entitled "The Craft and Its Symbols." We are advised that the book is at the bindery and will be available soon. Those who have ordered a copy from the publisher, at 3011 Dumbartorn Road, Richmond Virginia 23228. ought to be getting their copy before too lone.
* * *
As we approach the Bicentennial of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the question will be coming up from time to time on how many signers of that famous document were members of the Craft. A fine article on this subject appeared in the December. 1974 issue of the New Age magazine, entitled "Masonic Signers of the Declaration of Independence," written by Brother E. Van Krugel, M.P.S. It is a fine general discussion of the subject and considers what others have said on the subject and has a chart summarizing the subject. In later issues articles will appear devoted to the specific individuals who signed the document and were members of the Craft.
Subscription rates for the magazine are $2 a year and $5 for three years and should be sent to 1733 Sixteenth St., N. W., Washington, D. C. 20009.
* * *
There has also been published lately in the Italian language, a History of Masonry in Italy, written by Carlo Francovich, which tells the story from its beginning to the French Revolution.
Available from La Nuova Italia Firenze, Italy postpaid for 5,000 lire, which is equivalent to about $7.00 in United States money.
* * *
I am happy to report that Nevada Research Lodge No. 1 was constituted, and that the officers were installed on September 15, 1974, at Carson City, Nevada. The occasion was an important one for Nevada and many of the Grand Lodge officers, three Past Grand Masters, and two representatives from Oregon Research Lodge No. 198 were among the many Masons present. Brother Darrell Cauch was installed as the first Worshipful Master. Anyone interested should communicate with him at 274 E. Nye Lane, Carson City, Nevada 89701 or with Valdo Sei, 1620 G Street, Sparks, Nevada 89431.
* * *
Several years ago Father Jose A. Ferrer Benimeli, a Jesuit, wrote a book in Spanish entitled Freemasonry after the Council, in which he took a conciliatory attitude towards Freemasonry. He has now written another book entitled "Bibliografia de la Masoneria," which has been published by the Dep. Historia Contemporanea, Universitad de Zaragoza, Spain. The price postpaid is $7.50 a volume. While the bibliography in all likelihood will consist primarily of non-English volumes it should be of interest to our readers who know Spanish and. those who reside on the European continent or the British Isles.
* * *
I am happy to report that Brother Jerry Erikson, F.P.S., who has been ill for some time, is well on the way to a complete recovery. He will be remembered as that hard worker digging to find famous athletes, etc., who are or were members of the Craft and giving us the benefit of his work. For years he has worked on the list of Congressmen who have been members of the Craft. We look forward to his resuming his work in the literary fields of the Craft.
* * *
One of the important functions of each lodge is communicating with its members. Lodges which have no monthly bulletin that is sent to their members are rendering a disservice to their members. If the expense involved is the excuse, I call attention to the fine mimeographed bulletin that. has been sent out each month by Brother Lorenzo Carr, Secretary of Mizpah Lodge, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It contains the usual reports of what has happened at lodge, what programs are being presented in the future, some items of general interest that may be classified as Masonic education, and copies of letters sent and received by the members. Occasionally a member will send a poem to the secretary and this is inserted in the News Letter. Quotes from speeches appear from time to time. Inspirational message are often reproduced. What a fine warm item each member gets from his lodge each month!
* * *
Brother William Weisberger, M.P.S., has called my attention to the following book which may be of interest: Alan Spitzer, Old Hatred and Young Hopes: The French Carbonari Against the Bourbon Restoration, published by Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., in 1971, and has Masonic references to the Craft during the period of the French Revolution.
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Gourgas Medal Awarded President Ford
President Gerald R. Ford, a Thirty-third Degree Mason, has become the sixteenth recipient of the Gourgas Medal of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in ceremonies at the White House. The rarely-conferred honor was presented to President Ford by George A. Newbury of Buffalo, N.Y., Sovereign Grand Commander of Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States. Present also for the award ceremony were other top officers and members of the governing board of the Northern Supreme Council, which includes the fifteen states north of the Mason-Dixon Line and east of the Mississippi River.
The Gourgas Medal, awarded "in recognition of notably distinguished service in the cause of Freemasonry, humanity or country," previously was presented to: President Harry S Truman; the late Melvin Maynard Johnson, Boston Masonic leader; the late King Gustav V of Sweden; the late Kaufman T. Keller, Detroit industralist; the late Dean Roscoe Pound, American legal authority; the late Dr. Winfred Overholser, Washington, D.C., psychiatrist; General Mark W. Clark; the late George E. Bushnell Detroit Masonic leader; the late Christian A. Herter, former Massachusetts Governor and United Slates Secretary of State, the late Edward W. Wheeler, Maine Masonic leader; Bishop Fred P. Corson of Cornwall, Pennsylvania, former president of the World Methodist Council, Dr. Richard A. Kern, Pennsylvania Masonic leader; the present Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Supreme Council, George A. Newbury, former Senator John W. Bricker of Ohio, long-time officer of the Supreme Council, and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale of New York City, nationally-known clergyman, author and speaker.
John James Joseph Gourgas, in whose name the medal was created in 1938, was one of the founders of the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A. Gourgas was Grand Secretary General from its organization in 1813 until 1832, when he became Sovereign Grand Commander, an office he held until 1851. He was known as the "Conservator of Scottish Rite."
President Ford is the fourteenth President of the United States to be a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He became a member of Malta Lodge No. 465, F. & A. M., of Grand Rapids in 1949 and received the Scottish Rite degrees from the fourth through the thirty-second at Grand Rapids in 1957. The Thirty-third Decree was conferred upon him in 1962. As a member of the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, President Ford has followed in the footsteps of his late father, Ill.’. Gerald R. Ford, Sr., 33d, of Grand Rapids.
Earlier on this day observing Washington's Birthday, President Ford addressed the annual meeting of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial at Alexandria, Virginia, and was present for the unveiling and dedication of a bronze plaque honoring him as the fourteenth Masonic President of the United States. Raymond C. Ellis, 33d. of New York City, President of the MemoriaI Association, assisted by Secretary-Treasurer Marvin E. Fowler, 33d, of Alexandria, welcomed President Ford to the landmark structure dedicated to the memory of the nation's first President.
In rolling years a parable I see:
However dark the night, the sun will shine,
The clouds will fit, the skies will brighter be,
The frozen earth, in Nature's grand design,
Will deck herself afresh in verdant hue -
A tale as old as time, yet ever new.
And, looking deeper still, I see a time
When war and hate shall cease, and brotherhood
Triumphant rise in every race and clime
To be the crest and crowning of all good.
That universal hope, though crushed to earth,
Through agonizing pain shall come to birth.
Between two worlds we live - the one not dead,
The other waiting, waiting to be born.
The light of peace and brotherhood shall spread
Throughout the earth to comfort those who mourn.
Then comes the recompense of all the pain;
Then shall they say, "We have not died in vain."
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News, achievements and items of interest about our
Fellows and Members - Discussion and comment on
- Pfan Mail and Observations -
Mutual Topics.
This page conducted by Jerry Marsengill, F.P.S., 2602 Terrace Road, Des Moines. Iowa 50312.
Mel Pfankuche, who has edited our "Notes and Queries" column so well, has asked to he relieved from those duties effective in April. Consequently "Notes and Queries," is going to be handled as an integral part of this column. If you have any questions of Masonic research, or you want to obtain some particular item, printed matter, or book, drop me a line at 2602 Terrace Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50312, and we will do our best to answer you.
* * *
Before I end this item, you are going to assume that I am doing a lot of hero worshipping, and that I have a one track mind. I plead guilty to both counts. I am going to brag about the Chief of Staff of the Army of the Confederacy, Walter M. (The South shall rise again) Callaway.
At the 1972 Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, an award was created which bore the name of one of the most beloved Freemasons in Georgia's history. This is the "Dewey Wollstein Award" and is declared to be the highest award that the Grand Lodge of Georgia could bestow on any brother. It can be presented at five year intervals and the recipient is named by a committee of seven members appointed for this purpose by the Grand Master.
On October 22, 1974 at the 188th communication of the Grand Lodge this award was presented for the first tinge and was presented to Walter M. Callaway. Walt's qualifications are so well known to most of the Philalethes members that it would serve little purpose for me to list them here. However the thing I like, and I am going to quote it verbatim from the Masonic Messenger of Georgia, which Walt edits: "Realizing Brother Callaway's aversion to any mention of himself appearing in the publication that he edits, immediately after presenting the award, the Grand Master issued a verbal edict directing that a suitable article concerning the presentation of the award be prepared by the writer of this article and that it be printed in the Masonic Messenger with no alterations whatever by the editor of that publication. Sorry about that, Brother Walt, but the Freemasons of Georgia are proud of you and we want the whole world to know it! Carl J. Woletjen, First Grand Steward."
A fine tribute to a deserving Mason and Brother Carl's writing made my task easier. I plagerized most of this column. However, when he states that the organ played "LaPaloma," which is Walt's favorite song, I received a shock. I thought it would be "The Bonnie Blue Flag" or "Dixie."
* * *
Let's brag a little more about the same guy. At the annual consistory of the "Blue Friars" a prestigious organization which annually elects one Masonic writer to be honored by becoming a member, the selection for 1975 was one Walter M. (Save your Confederate money, boys) Callaway.
Connie Hahn, F.P.S., is the Grand Abbot of the Blue Friars and in his introduction of Walt gave some of the less known (and more printable) facts about him. If you would like the rest of the dope about Walt, send me the top of your head and a ten dollar gold piece to cover mailing and handling and it will be rushed to you in a plain brown wrapper. I don't know how the Blue Friars could have made a better, or a more deserving selection. If Walt Callaway isn't the best informed Mason in the country, he is among the top group. It's great to see honors given where they are so richly deserved.
And finally, saving this until the end of my Callaway column, Walter M. Callaway was named a Fellow of the Philalethes Society at the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the Society.
* * *
The Philalethes Society is being noted. Notice the December issue of the New Age page 44 where E. Van Krugel is listed as M.P.S. 32d. Also in the same issue on pages 37 and 38 there is a fine article about our Brother Alex Home's receiving his Fellows certificate from Dr. Eugene Hopp, F.P.S. our first V.P.
* * *
On November 8th, 1974, the International Film and TV Festival of New York was held at the Americana Hotel in New York. In the competition had been entered the Royal Arch Film "The Saga of the Holy Royal Arch of Freemasonry." Allen E. Roberts, F.P.S., producer of the film was awarded the Silver Award for this film. If you haven't yet seen this film, I can't urge you more strongly to do so. The work which Allen is doing, not only for the Royal Arch, but for the Craft and for the MSA by utilizing his talents to make films and cassettes, etc., is the most exciting work which is happening in Freemasonry today.
Boy, did we catch hell! We received a letter dated March 3, 1975 from London. It reads as follows The Editor (etc.) "Dear Sir, I notice on p. 23 of your February 1975 issue that you make reference to a certain Bill Weisberger and whilst not in any way wishing to deprive him of any credit for his Masonic studies, I feel I must point out that I was the one who wrote the article about the Lodge of the Nine Muses, published by Phoenix Lodge, Paris, and there is no item by him on this subject. I think you will find this confirmed by the article on pp. 21 and 22 of the same issue of the magazine in which I gave my very good friend Bro. W. E. Parker my permission to give a brief resume of my work. I shall be very interested to know why you gave credit for this to the said Bill Weisberger who is quite unknown to me. Yours faithfully, /s/ Cyril N. Batham."
We would also like to know why. Like they say in Arkansas "Iffen we'da knowed why, we wudden't a done it." The truth is we fouled up. I don't know if they ever do this in England or not. (When I was in the Army I didn't, either, we had a more descriptive term.) We receive these notes on what people are doing from one source or another, and merely run them as news items. Apparently this one was wrong. We apologize to Brother Batham.
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By William E. Parker
Often clouded in myth and fantasy, the legends surrounding the growth and origin of Freemasonry are numerous. Some historians trace its origin back to the tenth century B.C., to the building of King Solomon's Temple, to ancient Egypt or Greece or even to earlier periods. Other writers give credence to a more modern EngIish or Continental origin citing the "Hiramic Legend" and other ceremonies as allegorical in nature designed to impart moral truths.
Freemasonry inculcates many of the tenets or doctrines of all ages. In a system drawing as it does upon symbolism as a means of imparting instruction, it is not surprising that there should be similar references both in Freemasonry and in other ancient systems, such as the classical "Mysteries," these similarities often being the subject for speculation.
The list of organizations claimed to have been the forerunners of Freemasonry is impressive; the Druids, the Rosicrucians, the Essenes, the Collegia, the Comancine Masters, the Steinmetzen of Germany and the Compagonnage of France to list but a few.
No historical proof has yet been unearthed to definitely link the Craft with any of these organizations and exhaustive modern research tends to indicate that no such links exist. As history is not composed of isolated incidents, however, but is in reality a series of interrelated events, it is likely that the development of these groups influenced in some measure the development of Freemasonry.
Fact and legend are both so closely interwoven into the historical fabric of the Craft it is often difficult to separate the two. However, thanks to diligent research Freemasonry, as we know it today, is well documented not only for the past 250 years but clear evidence exists of a form of craft ritual and organization reaching back 600 years.
Detailed records were often times not kept hundreds of years ago. Those that were kept are often incomplete fragments or have been destroyed or lost altogether. The absence of such records is a great loss indeed when attempting to trace the Craft's history. There are, fortunately, several important manuscripts and other records preserved in various Grand Lodges - particularly those of England and Scotland - which simplifies the task of the historian to some degree.
What are referred to as the "Old Charges" exist in different versions and set forth the legendary history of the Craft, a code of regulations for members and indications on the procedure for admission of new members. The oldest is the Regius Manuscript written by some unknown author in England about 1390. Nearly six centuries old, yet this document makes reference to a still earlier form of Masonic organization.
At the time the document was written, all masons were operatives; that is, they were workers engaged on buildings. There were several kinds of masons but the evidence indicates that those builders who designed, supervised and erected the great cathedrals and other marvelous structures in the Gothic styIe of architecture were a superior type of mason known as free masons.
When a number of masons worked together on a building over a period of years, they formed lodges - or meeting places - which met either in a temporary building or in one of the rooms of the uncompleted structure. There, they might exchange information, study building plans and enjoy fellowship.
The first Gothic structure was begun in France, where the style was developed, in 1135 with the style flourishing for about 400 years. Construction time was lengthy with some edifices requiring a century or more for completion. Hence, the lodges, serving as they did as activity centers, naturally assumed particular importance in the lives of the workers.
Some historians believe it is because these cathedral builders of the middIe ages were free to travel throughout the British Isles and Europe employing their skills, unlike members of other gilds who were confined to one area, that they were called "free masons."
Others contend the name has an operative origin, applied to those who worked in and sculptured free stone, a fine "rained sandstone or limestone suitable for use in Gothic architecture. Hence the term masons of free stone, then free stone masons and finally free masons.
It is likely a combination of both theories is closer to being the answer These stone masons were the great artists of the middle ages. It is to them we owe the preservation of so much of our cultural heritage in the form of their lasting handiwork, the product of their complex building skills of operative masonry passed down from generation to generation.
We have documents indicating the existence of lodges as far back as the 1500's. But, these early lodges were not organized in quite the same manner which we know today and were, by and large, mostly independent of each other and of any central authority.
By the 17th century, cathedral building was on the decline and, consequently, the number of free masons began to decline too. In all effort to augment their membership, the "operative" or "freemasons" began to accept as members those who were not of the masons craft calling them "speculative" or "accepted" masons.
Although few at first, in time this new group of members came to outnumber the "operatives" and became far more influential in management of the lodges. Ultimately, the "operatives" disappeared altogether.
Early in the 18th century, a step was taken destined to revolutionize the Craft. In 1717, four masonic lodges meeting in London, England, formed the first Grand Lodge. Within a few years of the date, the Craft had completed the transformation of an Operative Body into a Speculative Fraternity, the word "speculative" being used in a moral or symbolic sense, and adopted the organizational structure we know today together with the system of three degrees.
All modern Freemasonry traces its beginning under the Grand Lodge system of government to this Grand Lodge, the "Mother Grand Lodge of the World."
There are now more than 100 Grand Lodges in free countries of the world with a membership of 6,000,000. There are approximately 4,000,000 Freemasons in the 49 Jurisdictions of the United States. Hawaii is a part of the Jurisdiction of California, Alaska is part of the Jurisdiction of Washington and the District of Columbia has its own Jurisdiction.
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We Welcome a Large Group of New Members
CARL MOODY HOGAN, 186 Tremont Street, Room 705, Boston, Mass. 02111. Recommended by J. Philip Berquist, M.P.S.
LEROY NED SAMPSON, 1504 S. Summit Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D. 57105. Recommended by Roger S. Brown, M.P.S.
LAWRENCE MARTIN JONES, 6831 E. Hawthorne Circle, Tucson, Ariz. 85710. Recommended by John Hallberg Jones, M.P.S.
LEON ALFRED GERVAIS, Sea Bird M.H.P., Space 57, Poulsbo, Wash. 98730. Recommended by Albert L. Woody, F.P.S.
LAWRENCE HAY, 2245 Haymaker Road, Monroeville, Pa. 15146. Recommended by J. B. Vrooman, F.P.S.
OLIN R. MARTH. 1040 Grandell Ave., Reading, Pa. 19605. Recommended by B. Franklin Reber, M.P.S.
WILLIAM EDWARD HEPLEY, 932 Ballantine Str., Bloomington, Ind. 47401. Recommended by Charles R. Brown, M.P.S.
ROBERT E. KYES, 2116-17th Avenue, Central City, Nebr. 68826. Recommended by Ralph W. Gerry, M.P.S.
GARY BRENT CULL, 1290 Overlook Terrace, Titusville, Fla. 32780. Recommended by Joel U. McFarland, M.P.S.
LUCION ANDERSON BENNETT, SR., P. O. Box 341, Kingsport, Tenn. 37660. Recommended by James P. Wagner, M.P.S.
LEE SHERMAN BROOKS, RFD 2, Box 321, Rte. 380, Jamestown, New York 14701. Recommended by Alphonse Cerza, F.P.S.
JERRY EMANUEL PUTNAM, 413 East Liberty Street, York, S.C. 29745. Recommended by James D. Penley, Jr., M.P.S.
HAROLD E. FERNALD, 19 Philbrook Terr.. Hampton, N.H. 03841. Recommended by Gerald Foss, M.P.S.
L.W. WHITE, P.O. Box 620, Somerton, Ariz. 85350. Recommended by Estel W. Brooks, M.P.S.
ROBERT BENJAMIN ARMISTEAD, 43 Gillis Road, Portsmouth, Va. 23702. Recommended by James A. Cates, Sr., M.P.S.
MURRAY L. SEPALS, 10 South Juniper Street, Hampton, Va. 23669. Recommended by WiIbur A. Spain, M.P.S.
EBENEZER GEORGE SMITH, Box 217, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada K9A 4K5. Recommended by Executive Committee.
WALTER H. WINCHESTER, 241 Scotland Street, Dunedin, Fla. 33528. Recommended by Franklin J. Anderson, F.P.S.
ROBERTO JUAN VENTURA CERVANTES ESCOBAR, 116 North May, Mesa, Ariz. 85201. Recommended by Harold S. Charters, M.P.S.
ANDREW COPES GRAMLING, Rt. 2, Box 54, Williston, S.C. 29853. Recommended by Samuel H. J. Womack, M.P.S.
LLOYD WALTER STUBBLEFIELD, Church Hill, Tennessee 37642. Recommended by James P. Wagner, M.P.S.
PETER DONALD STILWELL, 1611 Cook Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44109. Recommended by Reinhold N. Schultz, M.P.S. and Fred A. Rader, M.P.S.
WILLIAM OWEN PAYNE P.O. Box 506, Pickens, S.C. 29671. Recommended by Ernest C. Kegley, M.P.S.
DAVID HENRY HIGINBOTHAM, 650 Marshall Str., Holliston, Mass. 01746.
GEORGE HUGH BALLINGER. 237 Edgewood Avenue, Spartanburg, S.C. 29303. Recommended by J. E. Marsengill, F.P.S.
WILLIAM MATTES, III, 13 Crestview Terr., Whippany, New Jersey 07981. Recommended by Stanley P. Matthews, M.P.S.
ROBERT WILLIAM MILLER, 19 Gibson Road, Hampton, Va. 23669. Recommended by Wilbur A. Spain, M.P.S.
ROBERT CLAIRBORNE WILSON, 413 Pennington Blvd., Portsmouth, Va. 23701. Recommended by Wilbur A. Spain, M.P.S. and Walter M. McCracken, M.P.S.
WILLIAM B. CRAIG, 6026 N. 27th Str., Hampton, Va. 22207. Recommended by Joseph C. Richmond, M.P.S.
EDWARD EVERETT ATKINSON, 1752 Vinton Avenue, Memphis, Tenn. 38104. Recommended by John B. Arp, Jr., M.P.S.
GLENDON K. JEFFRIES, P. O. Box 742, Ashland, Ore. 97520. Recommended by Norman A. Jenne, M.P.S.
HAROLD LEE FENTON, 24 Baker Street, Monroeville, Ohio 44847. Recommended by Edgar L. Ott, M.P.S.
WAYNE R. PAULSEN, 1590 Peachy Road, Ashland, Ore. 97520. Recommended by Norman A. Jenne, M.P.S.
KEDAR DAVIS PYATT, 1906 E. Beech Street, Goldsboro, N.C. 27530. Recommended by Allan D. Parsons, M.P.S.
ROBERT W. BOON, 703 West 10th Street, Grand Island, Nebr. 68801. Recommended by L.V. Sylvester, M.P.S. and Ralph W. Gerry, M.P.S.
VERNON CRAWFORD HUDSON, 305 Revere Street, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422. Recommended by Robert C. Coe, M.P.S.
JOSEPH BLAINE WHITE, 1500 Kenmore Dr., Kingsport, Tenn. 37664. Recommended by James P. Wagner, M.P.S.
CHARLES O. RIDDLE, 1409 E. Main Street, Plainfield, Ind. 46168, Recommended by Charles R. Brown, M.P.S.
DAVID SINCLAIR BOUSCHOR, 124 No. 24th Ave. E., Duluth, Minn. 55812. Recommended by John H. Jones, M.P.S.
CARL JOHN WOELTJEN, 602 East 49th Street, Savannah, Georgia 31405. Recommended by Walter M. Callaway, Jr., M.P.S.
JAMES THURMAN LUTTRELL, JR., HQS Co SPT GP NI, APO, N.Y. 09221. Recommended by Alphonse Cerza, F.P.S.
LEONARD WESLEY BACON. 708 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91501. Recommended by John R. Nocas, M P.S.
EARL ROY LITTLE, 2722 Hudson Pl., New Orleans, La. 70114. Recommended by George Ricks, M.P.S.
VERNON R. PARKS, Box 2201, College Station, Pullman, Wash. 99163. Recommended by Robert P. Monroe, M.P.S.
NORRIS W. LALLMAN. 3515 So. 102nd Street, Omaha, Nebr. 68124. Recommended by L. V. Sylvester, M.P.S.
ERDMUND JAMES FISHER, 5106-47th Street, Lloydminster, Sask., Canada T9V OG2. Recommended by J. E. Marsengill, F.P.S.
WILLIAM ROBERT PATTON, SR., P. O. Box 631, Erwin, Tenn. 37650. Recommended by Frank C. White, M.P.S.
CARL ERICK STROM, 909 FIorida Blvd., Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701. Recommended by Alphonse Cerza, F.P.S.
HARRIS BULLOCK, 981 Oakdale Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30307. Recommended by Walter M. Callaway, Jr., F.P.S.
BRUCE ALLEN FINDLAY, Box 704, Adelaide St. P.O., Toronto, Ont., Canada M5C 2J1. Recommended by Executive Committee.
THURMAN CLEVELAND PACE, JR., 518 St. Marks Ave., Westfield, New Jersey 07090. Recommended by Wallace W. Gage, M.P.S.
ROBERT ANDREW TILKEY, 396 Upton Place, Railway, New Jersey 07065. Recommended by Jerry R. Korstad, M.P.S.
TOM C. DAVIS, 4507 Columbia Str., Portsmouth, Va. 23707. Recommended by James A. Cates, Sr., M.P.S.
ROY BENJAMIN ALLISON, 3019 Knox Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minn. 55411. Recommended by John Hallberg Jones, M.P.S.
CLARENCE KLUTZ JONES. 1775 Circle Dr., Reno, Nev. 89502. Recommended by Gordon R. Merrick, M.P.S.
ROBERT HORACE MILLER 320 West Maple Grove Ave., Fort Wayne, Ind. 46807. Recommended by Charles R. Brown, M.P.S.
DR. ELVIN G. WARFEL Sellersville Rd., Chalfont, Pa. 18914. Recommended by Harry E. Hahn, M.P.S.
CARL FRANCIS LESTER JR., 811 Mulberry Ave., Macon, Ca. 31204. Recommended by Walter M. Callaway. Jr., F.P.S.
ARTHUR ROY CHASE, 3956 Port Road, Chesapeake, Va. 23321. Recommended by James A. Cates, Sr., M.P.S.
ROBERT C. SEEL, 553 Seminary Ave., Rahway, New Jersey 07065. Recommended by George A. Stracke, M.P.S.
CARLTON ENOCH KIGHT, 131 Westonia Rd., Chesapeake, Va. 23323. Recommended by James A. Cates, Sr., M.P.S.
SAMUEL SPENCER DONALD, 46 Oakridge Road, Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003. Recommended by Wilfred W. Minton, M.P.S.
T.F. BAYARD SAMWORTH, R.D. 2, Malvern, Pa. 19355. Recommended by James M. Alter. M.P.S.
JAMES FRANKLIN BROWNLEE, 5025 Wayneland Dr. M-6, Jackson, Miss. 39211. Recommended by T. Oln Gore, Jr.. M.P.S.
EDWARD OSCAR WEISSER, 2337 Brownsville Rd., Langhorne, Pa. 19047. Recommended by Harry E. Hahn, M.P.S.
WALTER S. CORK, 2458 El Rancho Rd., Sidney, Nebr. 69162. Recommended by Louis V. Sylvester, M.P.S.
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Royal Arch Research Assistance
"A new Masonic philanthropy to assist children suffering from Sensory Perception difficulties."
By John R. Nocas, M.P.S.
William Preston, the great Masonic ritualist, said in his "Illustrations of Masonry" (1772) - "Charity is the chief of every social virtue, and the distinguishing characteristic of our Order. To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent of all men, but particularly on Masons."
It was true then, and it's true today! Masons can be justifiably proud of their concern and contributions to the welfare of their fellowmen. Our hearts swell with pride when we think of the many Masonic Orphanages and Homes for the Aged, the Shrine Hospitals for Crippled Children and Burns Institutes, the Knight Templar Eye Foundation, the Scottish Rite Aphasia project, the Grotto Cerebral Palsy program, the Knights of the York Cross of Honor Leukemia Research contributions, and many more. Our Masonically-related ladies organizations sponsor many charities and even our Youth Groups with their limited income, have charitable projects.
The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, International, is pleased to announce another Masonic contribution to the well-being of mankind - The Royal Arch Research Assistance philanthropy. It's in an area where medical research is desperately needed - to assist children suffering from Sensory Perception difficulties to use their normal intelligence.
Dr. Jack Willeford heads scientists at the Colorado State University who believe this problem is usually due to damage at birth to those brain cells which process sounds received from the ear and transmitted to the brain. This results in "poor hearing processing" - an inability to sort out sounds. The children appear to be retarded. But, and this is of the utmost importance, all are not retarded but have mentalities which can be reclaimed and utilized.
"Ninety percent of juvenile delinquents have clinically diagnosable learning problems." This statement will amaze you, but it was made by Dr. Chester Poremba, Chief Psychologist at Children's Hospital in Denver, and Chairman of the Juvenile Delinquency Committee of the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities. Authorities estimate, and this statement will startle you too, that perhaps 25% of school children have this problem to some degree. These are the "poor learners" and discipline problems because they cannot use sound as the average child does. They are on their way to becoming drop-outs, misfits and discontents. If help is not given these children, many will find themselves in trouble with the law.
Is the situation hopeless? Not at all. Preliminary research at the Colorado State University indicates remedies are possible but much research and testing is necessary. Sadly, no public funds are available.
This is where the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International, has stepped in. After close consultation with American Medical Association officials it has established the Royal Arch Research Assistance philanthropy. Initial contributions will be given to the Auditory Perception Research Program at Colorado State University.
Contributions marked "Royal Arch Research Assistance", can be sent to the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, International, Box 5320, Lexington, Kentucky 40505. A Supporting Endowment Fund is also being established and to recognize supporters of this, a Red certificate is being given to all donors of $25, a Silver certificate for gifts totaling $50 and a Gold certificate for contributions of $100 or more. Gifts are "tax deductible."
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Candidate
An applicant for admission into Freemasonry is known as a candidate. Candidatus means clothed in white. He who sought office in the city of Rome wore a white robe of peculiar make, flowing open in front, so as to expose the wounds he had received in his breast. From the color of his robe he was called "candidates," whence the word candidate.
The qualifications of a candidate in Masonry are somewhat peculiar. He must be free-born, of at least twenty-one years of age, in the possession of sound senses, free from any physical defect, and of irreproachable manners, or as it is technically termed, "under the tongue of good report."
- Exchange.
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By Alphonse Cerza, F.P.S., (Life), Illinois
With more and more of our members traveling to foreign countries each year I am sure that many of them have often thought of visiting one or more Masonic Lodges while on their travels. Recently while attending the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education, in Minneapolis, Minnesota I asked Brother Robert L. Murphy, M.P.S., of Ann Arbor, Michigan if he had any suggestions on the subject. I asked him as he is a Naval Reserve Officer and has had occasion to visit England, Germany and other countries while on his official duties.
He gives the following advice: Before leaving secure a copy of the booklet listing all regular lodges which can be found in every lodge in the United States. If you know what countries you are visiting you can, of course, copy the names of the regular lodges at the places where you are going to visit. Bring with you adequate identification and evidence of your membership in good standing in your lodge.
If you intend to visit a London lodge he suggests that you call at Freemasons' Hall on Great Queen Street, introduce yourself, ascertain what lodges are meeting, and secure a letter of introduction. Then present yourself at the lodge on the day of the meeting. Since the lodges in other countries often are more formal than lodges in the United States Brother Murphy suggests that you bring with you your Masonic apron (if you are a Past Master your Past Master's apron would be in order) plus a pair of white gloves. If you have any Masonic jewels he suggests that you bring them along not only so that you may wear them (this is considered proper and is encouraged in most places) but it will also afford the members an opportunity to see items from another country and will make your visit there memorable for them.
Brother Murphy states that in many places on the continent the lodges keep their existence under the proverbial bushel. The members do not wear Masonic pins as they do in the United States and they are hard to locate. He suggests that the best place to start is to look in the telephone directory of the city that you are visiting. You may have to look in a number of places to locate the name and address of the lodge. Brother Murphy has suggested that travel agencies such as the American Express are most helpful as they have on hand many directories in their offices and will render whatever assistance they can. In Germany, for example, he states that the dodges are usually listed in the phone book under the word "Loge" and that there are a number of lodges meeting in that country which have charters from American Grand Lodges and work in the English language. In Paris, France, for example, there is Phoenix Lodge, a research lodge which works in the English language.
Good travelling to you.
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Rev. and Canon George Stracke,
M.P.S.
"The attentive ear receives the sound from the instructive tongue, and the mysteries of Masonry are safely lodged in the repository of faithful breast. Tools and implements of architecture are selected by the fraternity to imprint on the memory the wise and serious truths: and thus, through a succession of ages, are transmitted unimpaired the excellent tenets of our institution."
As you read the above, how aware are you of the truth therein contained? You have heard this statement in one of the lectures as you passed on your way to becoming the Mason you are today. But did you realize then, or now having perhaps heard it again and again, its full meaning?
Masonic teachings are the heritage of the wisdom of the ages, gleaned from the experiences of those who saw beyond the harsh realities of daily life, and found meaning in man's search for the freedom of his soul.
The teachings of Masonry are the distillation of the findings of the sages, ancient beyond the memory, and yet applicable to life today. A Lodge is not a mere fellowship of like-minded men, interested only in the companionship of their peers. Groups with no more aim than such as that, have flourished and died.
A Lodge is, rather, a place for the meeting of the minds of men who are reaching for meaning and purpose in life. It is a refuge where a man may find solace from the vicissitudes of daily toil, and an understanding of God's relation to man.
To return to the quotation at the beginning of this treatise - it is indicative of the unchanging nature of Masonic thought, as well as an indication of the modernity of its teachings, that this quotation is taken verbatim from the Thomas Smith Webb Monitor as compiled by Rob Morris, and published in 1873, nearly one hundred years ago. With only the addition of five words which do not add greatly to the sense, it is otherwise unchanged in our monitorial work today.
" . . . I will give thee the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That thou mayest know that I am the Lord,
Who call thee by name, even the God of Israel."
Isaiah 45:3
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The Shock of Entrance
Shock is defined as a striking of the hands and feet, so as to produce a sudden noise. This is, of course, the Masonic definition. There is a ceremony called the "shock," which was in use in the reception of an Apprentice in the beginning of the nineteenth century, and still used by some Lodges in what is called the "Shock of Entrance," and by all in the "Shock of Enlightenment." An old ritual of 1780 has the following passage: "The Brethren ranging themselves on each side, and making a confused noise, by striking on the attributes of the Order, which they carry in their hands."
Of the Shock of Entrance as well as the Shock of Enlightenment, there are many references in the earlier rituals, and there is no doubt that it was an old ceremony, the gradual disuse of which is an innovation.
Sandusky Masonic Bulletin
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Continents and Thoughts on Russian Freemasonry
During the Reigns of Catherine II and Alexander I
By William Weisberger, M.P.S.
Comments should be made about the excellent article on "Ivan Yelaguin and the Russian Bear" by Dr. Stephen R. Greenberg. This article has given to the members of the Philalethes Society clear insight into the status of Russian Masonry during the reign of Catherine II and has described well major events connected with the fascinating career of Yelaguin. Dr. Greenberg has further confirmed my belief that Russian Masonry is an intriguing topic to study, since there are so many interesting "bears" and themes associated with Masonic History in Russia. In light of this splendid article, some other ideas about Russian Masonry might be considered.
It is interesting to note that the Swedish ritual and the Strict Observance Rite reflected the romantic ideas prevalent in European literature and philosophy during the late 18th Century. After the Wilhelmsbad Convention of 1782, Professor Schwartz, the eminent Mason originally from Transylvania, returned to Moscow to inform his Masonic colleagues that Russia could now establish her own provincial grand lodge. Schwartz also played an active part in Russian cultural life and Masonry, since he and Novikov directed the activities of the Friendly Learned Society. Sponsored by Moscow Masons during the 1770s and 1780s, this society was designed to translate major works in European literature, philosophy, and history into Russian.
The activities of the FriendIy Learned Society consequently represented the ability and the interest of dedicated Masons to assist in the education of the Russian nobility and to make Moscow the cultural hub of the 18th Century Russian Renaissance. Novikov and Schwartz attracted to the ranks of this society Karamzin, Turgenev, and Petrov. These three Russian nobles and many others were to translate the major works of Shakespeare, Goethe, Lessing, Boehme, and St. Martin; further, they were to write reviews of outstanding plays, novels, and histories appearing during this time in Europe. Novikov and his Moscow Masonic circle succeeded in exposing the Russian nobility to western European culture and more especially to the ideas of romanticism and mysticism. Novikov and the members of the Friendly Learned Society further believed that education enabled the inner light of man to shine and allowed each man to prepare himself for the world above. It is apparent that Novikov and his Moscow Masonic friends were imbued with the ideas representing the major schools of western European culture: romanticism, mysticism, and sentimentalism.
Westernization, mysticism, and revolution appeared as major themes during the reign of Alexander I. These three themes and others were closely related to early 19th Century Freemasonry. After ascending to the throne, Alexander appointed to his secret and powerful Unofficial Committee Stroganov and Kochubey, two nobles who were also purported to be corresponding members of the French Lodge of the Nine Sisters. Stroganov and Kochubey supported the reform program developed by Speransky. This tarist minister, also active in Masonry, proposed major executive, legislative, and administrative reforms, attempting to transform the Russian Empire into a responsible constitutional monarchy. Since conservative ministers exerted great pressure on Alexander, Speransky was dismissed, having failed in his effort to reform Russia.
After the dismissal of Speransky, conservatives and mystics influenced Alexander until his death in 1825. Mysticism too was to influence Russian Freemasonry and the Russian Bible Society. This society was established in 1813 being under the direction of Kochubey and Prince Golicyn, two Russian nobles also active in Masonry. The Russian Bible Society was created to spread the teachings of the Gospels to the Russian masses. If the Bible were circulated throughout Russia and Russian dominated territories in the Balkans, Golicyn believed that the Russian Empire would become morally regenerated. The activities of the Bible Society and affiliated bodies unfortunately were suppressed, since Admiral Siskov, Fotius, and ranking clergy of the Russian Orthodox operations of this society.
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From 1350 A.D. (circa) until the founding of the first Grand Lodge at London in 1717 A. D. the Lodges worked independently of each other without a national body or any central authority yet they nevertheless comprised a single fraternity because each lodge used a copy of the Old Charges as its guide and warrant; and while each copy was made by hand, thereby giving the scribes an opportunity to introduce small changes in the text, and while occasionally a Lodge would revise the paragraphs of the Rules and Regulations to conform to some local regulation of its own, the original version had become altered but little by the time of the first Grand Lodge. There are between 150 and 200 copies now in existence; this means that since so many have survived loss and destruction hundreds of copies must have been made during the centuries before 1717 A. D.
The Grand Lodge itself collected as many of those copies as it could, and turned them over to a Committee to collate and study in order that it could have a version suitable for its own purpose; the result was the Book of Constitutions, of which the first edition was published in 1723 A. D. and the second ( and revised ) edition in 1733 A. D. As each new Grand Lodge came into existence it prepared a Book of Constitutions of its own based on the Book issued in 1723 A. D. which in turn had been a version - or, rather, a conversion - of the original version of about 1350 A. D., and which in its own turn had been a writing down of rules, regulations, principles, and usages which had been in practice for centuries before.
From Masonic Edition of the Holy Bible: The Masonic History Co., Publishers.
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MORE NEW MEMBERS
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Notes, Queries and information On Items of Masonic Research
BY MELVIN L. PFANKUCHE, M.P.S.
14267-130th Place, N.E., Kirkland, Washington 98033;
1975 - No. 2
THE NUMBER OF LETTERS CONTAINING QUESTIONS which relate to matters of fact in Masonic history biography and tradition justify their treatment in a column apart from other portions of the magazine.
Our readers and members ore invited to send such material appropriate for use in this column, especially information concerning research currently under way.
The Editor will assist the Sponsor of this column which is supervised and run by Brother Melvin L. Pfankuche, M.P.S.
It must be noted that this page is for EXCHANGE of information and opinion, and does not pretend to provide the final answer to any query.
362 - Eighteen (18) Year Old Masons. (June-December 1974). Brother George W. Dunn, Jr., M.P.S., El Canto No. 221-A, 2820 East 6th Street, Tucson, Ariz. 85716 tells me that Iowa has voted to permit 18 year old Masons. He also understands that Kansas, Idaho, North Dakota and Minnesota do so also. Nebraska and Wyoming admit 19 year olds as Masons.
370 - Daylight Lodges. (February 1975). James R. Case, F.P.S., 39 Highland Avenue, Bethel, Conn. 06801 says that Putnam Lodge quarterly starting in March and Saturdays on or before full moon otherwise.
St. Paul's and St. Luke's meet by the moon.
Daytime Lodge at 9:30 a.m. except July or August. The names of the four Lodges named above are self explanatory to those aware of Masonic Lodge names.
372 - Lewis Masons. Brother W. Dunn, Jr., M.P.S., El Encanato No. 221-A, 2820 East 6th St., Tucson, Ariz. 85716 asks for a detailed origin of the name "Lewis." Further, with the changing of "due age" to 18, will this change the title "Lewis" to a historical curiosity?
Editorial Note: See page 67, Philalethes magazine for October, 1962, (Vol. XV, No. 5), for an article on "The Lewis Freemason" by Bro. Norman C. Dutt, F.P.S.
373 - Commemorative Postage Stamps and Masonic Charity. It has been called to my attention that the Grand Chapter, R.A.M. of Mass. is collecting used Commemorative U.S. postage stamps to be sold and proceeds placed into the Raymond T. Sewall Fund and contributed to the Crotchet Mountain Foundation in Greenfield, N.H. As you know, Commemorative Postage Stamps are the large sized ones issued by the Post Office Department. To be used, they must be intact, not torn, bent or mutilated. The address of the Grand Chapter, R.A.M. is 186 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass. 02111.
374 - Keystone and Arch. Brother Ralston J. James, M.P.S., 918 Hickman Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50314 asks: "When, where and by what people was the stone arch, utilizing the key-stone, first used as an architectural device?" He says he fails to find it in use as far back as King Solomon's time (circa 1,000 B.C.). Brother James notes the wide use of the Arch in the York Rite and would appreciate further light on this subject.
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Born A Freemason
Being born a Freemason is an honor that belongs to only one man in the world, according to a news dispatch from Belfast, Ireland. The man so favored was James Megraw, who died recently at Bangor, County Down, at the age of 74. It happened that on the day the stork called at the Megraw home, the father, a Masonic Worshipful Master, was conducting a Lodge meeting in his home, and during the meeting word was sent of the safe arrival of a son in an adjacent room. Before Lodge adjourned, Megraw senior was permitted to display his child for the approval of the brethren assembled. The infant was given an enthusiastic reception and lived to become a prominent Irish Freemason.
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By Norman C. Butt, F.P.S.
The Ballot Box is Freemasonry's sentinel and the guardian of its soul. It stands at the portals of the Craft, ever ready to keep out those who are not qualified to enter. There will be peace and harmony within the walls of a Lodge so long as it remains faithful to its duties as a sentinel. It being the keystone in the arch of this ancient and honorable institution of Freemasons.
The Ballot Box gives decisive and practical expression to the principles of qualification. Freemasonry, does not, never has, and never will solicit members. Petitioners must come of their own choice and free-will. Of all those who seek the mysteries, only such as have certain necessary qualifications are eligible for membership. The initial use of the Ballot being to decide whether in action and truth a given petitioner possesses those attributes prerequisite to becoming a member.
Does a petitioner have, or does he not have the required qualifications? This is the question to be decided by the Ballot. A black ball is not a mark of disgrace, it is not a judgement of a man's character or his personality, but purely a technical method of deciding whether or not he is the type for a place in the fraternity.
The Ballot must be unanimous and the petition must be acceptable to every member of the Lodge.
The tally of a Ballot must be kept secret and inviolable. It is a violation of the Constitutions of Freemasonry and the regulations of the Grand Lodge for a member to tell how he voted, or to discuss the petitioner.
Every member of the Lodge must vote if he be present when the ballot is taken. That means the Tiler if a member and he should be properly relieved to cast his vote. This means that the Ballot Box is a duty rather than a privilege.
The Ballot is independent, and in voting every member has exercised his best judgement in the performance of duty, he is not answerable to any man, to the Lodge, or to Grand Lodge for his action, whether it is favorable or unfavorable to the prospective candidate.