Masonic Matters

Belated Happy Birthday to Prince Hall Freemasonry

2008-07-10T14:44:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters

July 10, 2008

By Ed Halpaus

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do, are in harmony.”
Mahatma Gandhi

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

“A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.” Albert Einstein

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Jackson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Character is habitual action.” Aristotle

Something interesting I learned while I was researching something else: I came across something about a man named Avigdor Miller, who lived for 93 years. He was one of the leading Torah educators in the United States. www.aish.com says; “He was particularly skillful at connecting secular phenomena to the Divine. For example, before eating an apple he exclaimed; ‘Almighty God, look at this magnificent apple that You created: The wisdom of its waterproof enclosure, the beauty of its tantalizing red color, and the temptingly delicious aroma with which it is perfumed. How can I even begin to thank You!”

“In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” Bertrand Russell

I have been asked by quite a few Brethren how I’ve been doing with my health. Since it has been about a year since I last sent out a report on my health it has been suggested that I should do it again.

My 4^th Quarterly check-up with the Oncologist was about the middle of June ’08, and the cancer is still in remission. This is the beginning of the second year with it being in remission, so check-ups now stretch out to every 4 months instead of every 3 months, I hope to see the check-up stretch out to twice a year and then yearly after that. While cancer never leaves you in as good a shape as you would like, or in as good a shape as a person would be in without getting it, I’m in fine shape. I’m optimistic about the future. I’m actually doing much more physically than I have in years, and I’m having a ball doing it.

I want to thank everyone for their good thoughts and prayers on my behalf over these past couple of years; you have made a difference, I’m convinced of that – and I want to thank you for that and for your continued interest in my well being; it is appreciated.

A Belated “Happy Birthday” to Prince Hall Freemasonry!

A few years ago I wrote a column for the American Mason magazine called “I Didn’t Know That!” The Magazine was begun by Brother Andy Boracci. While I never met Brother Andy face to face we did talk on the phone every once-in-a-while and we emailed regularly; I liked him; he was an easy man to like. As it happened I spoke on the phone with Brother Andy while he was in the hospital just before he died: He was expecting to go home the next day. His death was sudden, untimely, and sad for many of us in Freemasonry. His magazine, which was a fine magazine, was published in print and on the web, and unfortunately it stopped when he did.

One of the items I had in the March 2003 ‘I Didn’t Know That’ column was about Prince Hall Freemasonry. It seems that there is real interest in Prince Hall Freemasonry from a lot of people; it’s not limited to Prince Hall Freemasons by any means.

Back in 2001 Brother Kevin Gem posted something to the Philalethes list server which I enjoyed quite a bit. His piece was called “I am Prince Hall’s Mason.” I later published his piece in the April 7, 2008 issue of Mehr Licht. Sadly at the time I couldn’t remember Brother Kevin’s name, but when I began to go through my notes for this particular article there his name was: If you would like to read his essay titled “I am Prince Hall’s Mason” it can be read in the Mehr Licht section of www.halpaus.net

In his essay Brother Kevin said the reason he considered himself Prince Hall’s Mason rather than a Prince Hall Mason is that he [Prince Hall] set a stellar example for him to model his Masonry after, and is the example he chooses to follow. He promised himself to conduct himself as Prince Hall did, and to practice Freemasonry they way he did too. If a man would like to have a roll model in Freemasonry, Prince Hall is a good one to choose and emulate.

I have had an interest in Prince Hall Freemasonry ever since I first heard about it from a Brother in my Lodge, however, through research I soon found out what my Masonic Brother first told me about it was not as accurate as it could be. Since then I have learned more about it, and my interest in it is still there. I don’t think I’m alone in my interest in Prince Hall Freemasonry because every so often a question will come over the Internet or email about some facet of it. For me it is still a lot of fun to do the research and to learn more about Prince Hall Freemasonry and its history.

Unfortunately there is not an abundance of books and the like written about Prince Hall Freemasonry but with a little searching they can be found. If you would like to study-up on Prince Hall Freemasonry look for books written by Brothers David Gray, William H. Upton, and Joseph Walks Jr.; I think they are the more authoritative of the writings I’ve found, although there are many more places to find information.

Here is something you might find interesting about Prince Hall Freemasonry:

African Lodge #459 was active, and was known to be active by the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns.) Prince Hall and his Brethren on March 2, 1784 applied for a warrant from the Grand Lodge of England, which was issued to them as African Lodge #459 naming Brother Prince Hall as its Master on September 29, 1784. Due to circumstances it was not received by Prince Hall and his Brethren until April 29, 1787 but nevertheless they were issued a warrant to work.

In 1793 the Grand Lodge of England, (Moderns,) renumbered African Lodge #459 to #370.[i] It was the custom of the Grand Lodge to drop Lodges not heard from, or those who did not contribute to the Grand Lodge Charity Fund, and then to renumber the Lodges that remained. Because of this it was not unusual for a Lodge in good standing to receive a new number. This custom of renumbering Lodges causes some confusion in Masonic research but nevertheless Brother Coil, in his Masonic Encyclopedia, says this action on the part of the Grand Lodge indicates that African Lodge was active, in good standing, and a contributing Lodge, because it wasn’t dropped by the Grand Lodge of England, it was renumbered. Brother Coil also says that the Warrant issued for African Lodge #459 was likely the last Warrant issued by the Moderns to a Lodge in the United States.

Another interesting item is that shortly after Prince Hall and the other 14 men who were made Masons, in Irish Military Lodge #441, on March 6, 1775, the 38th Foot (to which Lodge #441 was attached) left Boston, but Brother John Batt,[ii] Master of the Lodge that made these men Masons and raised them, left our 15 Brethren with a permit allowing them to walk on St. John's Day and to bury their dead in Masonic funerals. Coil’s says that "African Lodge No. 1” was born on July 3, 1775.

So we might be able to say that Prince Hall’s African Lodge has had 3 Numbers; the first one being assigned to our 15 Brethren as a time immemorial Lodge; The Second one being with the Warrant issued September 29, 1784, and the third being that African Lodge was renumbered in 1793 to #370.

It might be interesting to note that at the time of African Lodge #459 receiving its warrant from the Moderns the Ancient Grand Lodge was also operating in England: The ancient Lodges were known only by Lodge numbers, whereas the Modern Lodges had names as well as numbers.

Military Lodges generally only made Masons among the military personnel because when the regiment was transferred the problem arose; what about the civilian Masons as members of the Lodge; the Lodge would be moving on, and the charter or warrant went with the Lodge. However, there were military Lodges that did make Masons from among the civilian population as Military Lodge #441 under an Irish Constitution did in the case of Prince Hall and his Brethren. I think that is why the Lodge left our Brethren with a permit or dispensation to celebrate St. John’s Day and to bury their dead when the Lodge and the regiment ‘moved on.’

“Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; take honour from me and my life is done.” Shakespeare

From the Great light of Masonry = “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”Matthew 18:15 NIV

Words to live by: The one who forgives ends the quarrel.

This paper can also be read at http://www.halpaus.net in the Masonic Matters section.

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the question for the week of 07-07-08 is: What is the Symbolism of the Masonic Altar?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus

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

[i] Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia says it was #390. This has proven to be incorrect, no doubt a typographical error. The correct number is #370. The correct information is found in “Negro Masonry’ by M.W. Brother William H. Upton; page 41 section 20 original print edition by The Temple Publishers. I have a new larger and easier to read edition, but I still prefer the original print edition. The renumbered #370 is also verified on page 1660, and twice again in closely following pages in Volume 6 Mackey’s History of Freemasonry, Singleton-Hughan 1906 edition.

[ii] Sergeant and W.B. John Batt served in the British Infantry the 38^th of Foot from 1759 to 1777 when he was discharged at Staten Island (New York.) Inside Prince Hall by David Gray

Escape to Joppa 06/10/08

2008-06-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters

June 10, 2008

By Ed Halpaus

“The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think.” Aristotle

“The man who fears no truths has nothing to fear from lies.” Sir Francis Bacon

I will bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Jackson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Ah yes, truth. Funny how everyone is always asking for it but when they get it they don't believe it because it's not the truth they want to hear.” Helena Cassadine

Escape to Joppa

Many Masons are extremely interested in learning about the ritual of Freemasonry, not necessarily the memorizing of it but, the story behind it[i] and how it came to be a part of Masonry. I am one who thoroughly enjoys this area of study about Freemasonry. I have thought about this particular article for quite some time, before attempting to begin writing about it, thinking it would be too difficult to summarize for a short article, but I’m giving it a try.

[Before going further, I would like to comment on my understanding of the word Masonry, and why I capitalize it, or at least try to remember to do so. Possibly you might have heard someone say that when they hear the word mason or masonry they think of people and companies that work as cement contractors. Indeed when we see an ad or a pick-up truck for a cement contractor we will, in all likelihood, see the word masonry as part of the name of the company, and they do employ masons. It is my belief that the word masonry as it is used in the building trades is not to be capitalized when Masonic Students write about Freemasonry. However, it is my opinion that such students should capitalize Masonry when we’re writing about the Masonic Fraternity.]

Getting back to symbolism and the story or meaning behind some of the ritual of Masonry I am always amazed at how the Masons who devised the ritual of our fraternity included such profound lessons, and how we can study and learn from what they put together so many centuries ago. This study of Freemasonry is truly something we can enjoy studying for a lifetime. These lessons have some basis, which we can trace them to as well. For instance, in a part of the Hiramic Legend we learn that three certain workmen traveled from King Solomon’s Temple to Joppa in an attempt to escape the country. What we may not realize is that this part of the legend is patterned after a story in the Old Testament of the Great Light of Masonry.

In reading in a Masonic Bible[ii] there is a reference as to where to look for information on the flight to Joppa;[iii] there is a note pointing the reader to the book of Jonah: In a portion of the story about Jonah God told him to go to Nineveh, but not wanting to go Jonah ‘rose up to flee unto Tarshish;’ (to escape the country, and not do what he was bid to do.) He did go to Joppa where he found a ship about to sail for Tarshish, and he obtained passage; you know the story, but if you’d like to refresh your recollection of it, just go to the book of Jonah in the Great Light of Masonry. Jonah’s story is not identical to the Hiramic Legend, but that is where the basis of a part of it comes from: In the Biblical Study Notes[iv] regarding this part of Jonah’s story we learn that Tarshish could mean ‘any number of Phoenicia’s western ports. Nineveh was towards the east. Jonah decided to go as far west as he could’ in his escape. The commentary further says that it might have been because of fear, or maybe anger, that made Jonah attempt to run from God, ‘but running got him into worse trouble.’ The similarity to a part of our ritual is easy to relate to.

As Brother Tucker says in his book “The Lost Key” - “there is a wealth of detail in this drama [the Hiramic Legend] which cannot be gone into without practically writing out the legend itself.” Because of this I will take some shortcuts where possible; every Freemason will be able to fill in the blanks where necessary.

In the legend the three ruffians who were guilty of ‘this horrid crime’ represent the false leadership of ignorance. Such false leadership consists of Ignorance; Selfishness and Sensuality: The third, Sensuality, is a reference made by Brother Prentice Tucker regarding Adam and Eve, and the three yielding to temptation.[v] He ties this to our slain Grand Master by saying that he is the ‘conscious touch’ with the spiritual i.e. our divine self. When man’s lower nature (represented by ruffians) kills spiritual consciousness this prevents the consciousness from drawing any more designs.[vi]

The victim in the story symbolized the ‘intuitive’ or ‘conscious touch’ with the divine;[vii] the rubbish of the Temple represents the ills, mistakes, and sins of the personality. In the legend, before the body was found by those searching for truth, the body was removed to another place for re-burial in a deeper and more seclude place to prevent the possibility of its revival; this represents blind obedience to false beliefs. The Acacia or evergreen represents the truth that will prevail. [In a way, similar to a certain text in scripture recited in the lecture of the first degree, it is through seeking that the victim’s remains are found, which represents finding the truth.]

Attempts to raise it from its grave are made; the Entered Apprentice cannot raise the intuitive power, nor is the knowledge of the Fellow Craft sufficient to do the job, because it takes more than mere knowledge of the moral law to accomplish such a task. It is the Lion’s Paw, the zodiacal sign of Leo, the symbol of the heart and love[viii] that raises the murdered intuitive power and divine self. Love is the fulfilling of the law and this is symbolized by the Trowel and the Lion’s Paw: “Nothing will restore man to his pristine condition of purity and intuitive knowledge of the spiritual law except perfect obedience to the law, which is embodied in service.” “It is this service to humanity and to Deity, this service which goes beyond the mere obedience to law that alone can restore the intuition or the touch with the spiritual.”[ix] “Unfortunately it is not often that the body is so raised, for our desire for truth is usually but dim and our service but perfunctory.”[x]

Finally, the ship the three are seeking passage upon represents a mental vehicle by which they can travel to a place to excuse themselves and their actions, (this is indeed a vain hope.) Ethiopia represents their erroneous view of a higher plane of being.

“Tolerance is the eager and glad acceptance of the way along which others seek the truth.”

Sir Walter Besant

From the Great light of Masonry = “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 NASB

“Truth is always exciting. Speak it, then; life is dull without it.” Pearl S. Buck

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the question for the week of 06-09-08 is:

With “Brotherly Love”,

Ed Halpaus

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

[i] The ritual itself is an allegory; the lesson of it is to be found through further study.

[ii] Heirloom Bible Publishers of Wichita, KS - Master Mason edition

[iii] Jonah 1:3

[iv] Tyndale Life Application Study Bible

[v] The Lost key by Prentice Tucker 1927 edition

[vi] ibid

[vii] This has been described by H. Emilie Cady in her book Lessons in Truth as the divine self, as opposed to the human self, which seeks its own gratification at the expense of someone else.

[viii] The Lost key by Prentice Tucker 1927 edition

[ix] ibid

[x] Ibid

Free-Will and Accord

2007-12-12T12:06:00.000-08:00

Masonic Matters
December 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“I’ve been swatting PC irritations ever since (or trying to) since 1978, when I learned that Radio Shack TRS-80’s keyboard had a tenddency to repeat chharcters at random.” Harry McCracken

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

“If you’re like me, you live with email. That means you also live with all the dumb things your email program does – like hide your attachments or turn them into gobbledygook, or delete messages without permission.” Steve Bass

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

Dear Brethren, and readers;

On behalf of my Grand Master and all of our Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, I would like to extend to you our best wishes to you and yours for a very happy and enjoyable holiday season.

Winter arrived a bit earlier this year in the area I live in and it came in quick and cold. We have about a foot of snow on the ground now after the snow has settled a bit. Luckily for me the cold isn’t affecting me as bad as it did this time last year, and also fortunately I was able to tune-up each of my snow-throwers when the weather was still nice, I have 3 of them – one to use on the deck, one for small snow falls, and then the big one when that’s called for.

I have had major problems with my computer, and my email program and mailing lists; like Freemasonry there as always something to learn or re-learn about computers. For some reason outlook express along with my address book disappeared from my computer. However a few tears ago, being worried about losing my address book, which contained thousands of email addresses, I bough Plaxo because they keep a back-up copy of my address book, so I am able to access my address list through them.

Because of wanting to access and send emails from locations other than my home I had just a couple of months ago began to use gmail, and I like it a lot, but Plaxo cannot load my address book onto gmail so I need to do it manually and that is a slow process.

I use a mail program through a web hosting company called Mailman to send out my publications: This service has been great up until this week: In trying to find out why it wasn’t sending out the publication I sent to it I learned that there shouldn’t be more than 100 email addresses on any one mailing list, and there were a whole lot more than that on each of the lists. The reason for less than 100 is that mailman will send to the first 100 and not the rest. So now each list needs to be redone by adding other lists with less than 100 email addresses on any one of them. So if you get an email welcoming to a list of mine such as all-g that’s the reason. Computer and email problems are time consuming. in the process of the email list problems it appears that one list of over 500 email addresses is gone from mailman; I just can’t find the list, so I’m going to ask my web hosting company if they can restore it, but I don’t hold out much hope for that; another thing to remember about computers and electronics is that they are machines, and machines are not too forgiving – they live in the world of exact.

If you get some generic looking welcoming message welcoming you to one of my new lists such as all-g or something like it, it’s because I’m working on new lists. Also if you know someone who has subscribed and no longer is receiving the publications please help me spread the word and ask them to send me an email re-subscribing. I will appreciate your help.

All the problems with this computer and now with the address and mailing lists takes up almost as much time as it takes to write the articles, so I will be posting each of these articles on my Web Site at http://www.halpaus.net on the date of publication, and they can be read there. The publication dates are: Masonic Matters the 10th of the month: Mehr Licht each Monday: T.F.S., or 3, 5, & 7, on the 1st and the 20th of the month. As time goes on, and I learn how to do it, I might try to have spots to publish some of the other articles I write that are published elsewhere. In the meantime I’m going to try to re-establish all the lists and continue to send them out; it appears that mailman is going to work better now.

Now on to this Masonic Matters Masonic information article: Happy Holidays - Ed

Free-Will and Accord.

There are a lot of fine guys in Freemasonry; men who are just a lot of fun to know and hang-out with. Most lodges have this kind of men, and all it takes is the interest to get to know these men a little bit to find out how enjoyable it is.

I was at a rehearsal for a second degree which was going to be part of a one-day to Masonry class. I was the Senior Deacon for both sections of the degree. During this rehearsal I happened to be escorting an extremely nice brother who is one of these fun people to be with; (he was acting as the candidate in the rehearsal) he is also a Past Master, and a 33° in the Scottish Rite. During the rehearsal, when we came to the Master’s station, the Master asked if it was of his own free-will and accord, and he answered, (of course,) “No, my dad’s making me do it.” We all had to smile at that answer, and it was good that it was a rehearsal.

One of the outstanding peculiarities of Freemasonry that is unique among practically any and every group that could be named is the rule that no man may be asked, invited, solicited, or pressured in any way, to enter Freemasonry. This is a good rule, which is just the opposite of most other organizations. Possibly this rule is one reason Freemasonry has had the growth it has had throughout the world, and maybe it is the reason why most Freemasons remain in the fraternity for the rest of their lives. Contrast Freemasonry’s prohibition against proselytism; the custom of some religious groups, societies, or groups, to proselyte, invite, and to urge people to come to this or that particular organization or house of worship.

In contrast to those other kinds of groups; Freemasonry, which is a society of over 4,000,000 in the United States alone, all of whom have petitioned of their own free-will and accord, ‘would be regarded as a phenomenon if it had not existed for such a long time, and which has become so familiar to so many people in the communities of the world.’ Also when you think about it; Freemasonry is evidently quite interesting and intriguing to a large number of men, otherwise we would not have as many men petitioning the lodges as we do, nor would it be so interesting to non-Masons, which it obviously is; consider the popularity of the stories portrayed in books and movies based on the Masonic fraternity.

Mackey when commenting on a man coming to Freemasonry of his own free-will and accord said: "This is a settled landmark of the Order," but, he did not include this ‘settled landmark’ among his list of 25 Landmarks. In his article on Proselytism, Mackey states; “Freemasonry is rigorously opposed to proselytism.” He also wrote: “Nay, it boasts as a peculiar beauty of its system, that it is a voluntary institution.” He also says in his article on proselytism that Freemasonry differs from every other association in the world in its rule against proselytism. His article is well worth the time it takes to read it: you can find his article in the Clegg edition of Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry.
Another peculiarity about the principle of requiring petitioners to come of their own free-will and accord is that no one knows when this rule or custom originated. Even so, there are good reasons for a man to come to Freemasonry on his own without being pressured by friends and associates. When he comes to Freemasonry on his own, if for some reason he decides Freemasonry is not for him, he has no one to blame. But if he were pressured in some way to take the degrees of Masonry, and it turned out not to be for him for some reason, it might result in an injured or broken friendship. Brother Mackey also has said that coming of our own free-will and accord means that Freemasonry is, in the most positive way, a truly voluntary association of men, and that this is where the saying ‘Once a Freemason always a Freemason’ comes from, and has meaning.

Interestingly a man who attends a lodge for an open house, or an informational night, or is merely asked the question about why he never got involved with Freemasonry, and then subsequently fills out a petition after he learns he must ask, and that we don’t invite men to join, can truthfully say he did come of his own free-will and accord.

“You mention your name as if I should recognize it, but beyond the obvious facts that you are a bachelor, a solicitor, a Freemason, and an asthmatic, I know nothing whatever about you.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes – The Norwood Builder Brother Doyle was raised in 1893 in Phoenix Lodge #257 - Portsmouth

From the Great light of Masonry = “May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised.” Deuteronomy 1:11 NIV

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com The question for the week of 12-10-07 is: “Why are, 'Worshipful Masters” called Worshipful?”

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

To read this issue of Masonic Matters on the web go to http://www.halpaus.net

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus

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

Ancients Grand Lodge

2007-09-10T22:03:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
August 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“To me the ceremonies of Freemasonry in this state of ours, especially these later ones I have taken part in, make me wish that more Americans, in every part of the land, could become connected with our Fraternity.” President and Brother Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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

“I shall always feel pleasure when it may be in my power to render service to Lodge no. 39, and in every act of brotherly kindness to the members of it.” President and Brother George Washington

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“It is possible for each of us to go into the world trying to apply in his dealings with his fellows the lessons of Masonry as they are taught in the Lodge, and as they are applied in the Brotherhood.” President and Brother Theodore Roosevelt

Here, within the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota, our Education Committee has what is called the ‘Masonic Monday Question’, which asks interesting questions for Masonic Students to research, for their own enjoyment, and then to submit their findings as an answer to the question. This is a lot of fun for Masons and non-Masons alike who enjoy masonic research and study.

Just this week a question was asked about the ‘Ancients Grand lodge.’ This question prompted some to respond and to also ask some questions, which sent me to my library to do more of my own research. What seemed at first to be a simple question and answer has become something that is very enjoyable to learn more about. Reading all the information relating to the two rival Grand Lodges in England from 1751 to 1813 is extremely interesting for anyone who has an interest in history, freemasonry, and in masonic history in particular.

My research has not been exhaustive on the subject; there has been so much written on this subject I think one could spend months searching out all the books and articles relating to this period in masonic history, not to mention reading and understanding all of it. However, my library, like many lodge libraries, contains quite a few books with information on this subject which is sometimes called a schism. The word ‘schism’ is controversial to use because while some masonic scholars will call it that others say there really was no schism at all. A schism would imply that masons under one jurisdiction were seceders who broke away to form new lodges and a new grand lodge, while those who say that there was no schism point out that the masons who formed the “Grand Lodge of the Old Institution” in 1751 were “Irish Freemasons who settled in London.[i]” Brother Henry Sadler who has been referred to as “A most painstaking, patient and persevering investigator,” while he was the Grand Tyler of the United Grand Lodge of England, wrote a book called ‘Masonic Facts and Fiction’ (1889), in which he disposed of the theory that the founders of the Ancient’s [sometimes spelled Antient’s] Grand Lodge had seceded from that of the Moderns, because “they had, in fact, been initiated under the Irish Constitution.[ii]”

My purpose with this article is to merely report on and about what I have learned from the reading, study, and the understanding I have of this period; from the formation of the Ancients Grand Lodge in 1751 to the union with the Grand Lodge of England to form the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813. By the use of endnotes, which will include my sources and additional information, my hope is that the information and the references will serve as a source for other masonic students to be able to find more information and consequently improve their own enjoyment in freemasonry through masonic study.

The first Grand Secretary of the ‘Ancients’ was Brother John Morgan: He said that the title used by his Grand Lodge in 1751 was; “The Most Ancient and Honorable society of Free and Accepted Masons.[iii]” Mackey[iv] begins his article on the ‘Ancients’ with the origin date of 1753, which can cause some confusion because other writers say it was in 1751. Mackey’s contention is that with the records he had available it was not possible to “determine the exact year in which the Grand Lodge of Ancients assumed a positive existence.” In explaining the why of this he says that prior to its actual organization the brethren of various lodges formed a Grand Committee[v], (1751,) which became the Grand Lodge of the Ancients.

The earliest transaction of this committee was on July 17, 1751 at the Turk’s Head Tavern, in Greek Street, Soho. There the Masters of seven Lodges, namely; “Nos. [Numbers] 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 were authorized, (as and by the Grand Committee,) to grant dispensations and Warrants and to act as a Grand Master:” This is the date given by some Masonic scholars for the origin of the Grand Lodge. The first result of the committee’s actions was the first Warrant issued to a Lodge by the Ancients to the lodge which met at the “Temple and Sun” Shire Lane, Temple Bar, and which became #8 of the Grand Lodge of the Ancients. Evidence of this Grand Committee having the authority of a Grand Master was that the Warrant was signed by the Master’s of Lodges numbered; 3, 4, 5, and 6. As Mackey says; “This would imply that the authority and prerogatives of a Grand Master were conferred not upon each Master, individually, but upon the whole of them collectively or at least upon a majority of them.”[vi]

In all the reading I have done on this subject I have not found where the lodges that formed the Ancients Grand Lodge we referred to in any other way than as numbers. Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia says Brother Gould listed the Lodges who were a part of the formation, however in reading Gould’s History of Freemasonry he, when quoting the minutes from the Grand Committee and the Grand lodge, listed them only by number not by name or even by location.

You will notice that in the list of lodge numbers, which formed the Grand Committee there was no Lodge #1. An explanation for this can be found in Brother Sadler’s book “Masonic Facts and Fiction,” in it he says: “At the outset the ‘Antients’[vii] had not a No. 1 Lodge on their list, that number being probably reserved for a ‘Grand Master’s Lodge,’ when they should arrive at the dignity of having an official of that calibre to preside over them. This from our present standpoint may seem a rather strange proceeding, but as a matter of fact they were in a manner copying the example of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, wherein the following order had been made on the 3rd of January 1749, the Grand Officers having recently formed a Lodge for themselves.”[viii]

The dissention that led up to the formation of the Ancient Grand Lodge began in 1739 during the Grand Mastership of Lord Raymond, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England, when there were considerable complaints made about the irregular making of Masons. It has been reported that during this period the Grand Lodge of England made a few changes in the ritual by transposing certain significant words in the first two degrees and inventing a new one for the third degree; this was said to have been done to exclude independent freemasons from their lodges.[ix] However, while there was some dissention all this did not cause a schism at that time[x]; over the years more problems would arise, which finally in 1751 led to the formation of a competing grand lodge.
Whatever the progression was to the formation of the Ancients Grand Lodge, it was slow to come about. However, Brother Clegg observes that over the years some so-called unruly brethren continued to hold their lodges independently of any supreme authority; he mentions that Brother Preston said that brethren who defied authority “held meetings in various places for the purpose of initiating persons into Freemasonry contrary to the laws of the Grand Lodge.”[xi]”

From 1738 on there were many, now historical and important, events that happened which would impact Masonry, and not all of them were positive. For instance, in 1738 Pope Clement XII issued his Bull, (In Eminenti,) against the Freemasons. Possibly some of the changes in making masons and in the ritual that followed the next year might have been viewed by some as changing masonry because of outside pressures: In any event 1738, 1739, and the years that followed were trying times for freemasons in England. 1738 was also the year our Brother Dr. Anderson published his Constitutions of 1738 of which, as Brother Coil says, the most important part was the reconstructed minutes of the Grand Lodge for the years 1717 through 1723.[xii] The year 1747 was the time when the Scald Miserable Masons held their mock masonic processions through the streets of London; this event caused the Grand Lodge of England to order the discontinuance of the custom of masons having processions on the days of the grand feasts.

Whether the Grand Committee was in fact the organization of the Grand Lodge of the ‘Ancients’ or not - the ‘Ancients’ did have a Grand Secretary, in Brother John Morgan; he served for one year (1751), but resigned because he went back to sea.[xiii] In 1752 Brother Laurence Dermott became the Grand Secretary. Worshipful Brother Dermott was at the time a journeyman painter.[xiv]

Many times, in today’s freemasonry, it is said there is rapid advancement in many lodges, actually some will say ‘too rapid;’ sadly when this is said it is directed against some very well qualified brethren when they are elected master of their lodge, and/or appointed to a grand lodge position. Many of our well known and sometimes revered Masons were those who were rapidly advanced; Worshipful Brother Laurence Dermott, for example: He was born in Ireland in 1720; he was initiated into Freemasonry, (in Ireland,) in 1740; he was installed as Master of his Lodge, Lodge #26 in Dublin, on June 24, 1746, (During those years he served his lodge as secretary, and warden, as well as other positions;) that same year he became a Royal Arch Mason. Rapid advancement, but he evidently was worthy of it.

In Ireland[xv] the first records of established lodges are well after 1717, but even so there is evidence that freemasonry was known in Ireland as early as 1688, and the square found at Baal’s-Bridge near Limerick is curios - it has the inscription; “I will strive to live with love and care upon the level and by the square, 1507.”[xvi] If this is to be taken seriously, and it is, it indicates freemasonry in Ireland at a very early period. Anyway, after his degrees and mastership under the Irish constitution Brother Dermott relocated to England, (thought to be 1747 or 1748,) and in 1748 affiliated with a lodge there, which was a part of the Grand Lodge of England. Later he shifted his allegiance from the Grand Lodge of England and became a member of lodge #9, of the Ancients, which he soon left and joined Lodge #10, Even in these years there were Lodges who were known as, and called themselves, Ancients. While it is commonly held that Brother Dermott coined what are called ‘epithets,’[xvii] Brother Bernard Jones in his book says “We must be careful not to father too much on Laurence Dermott, for we learn from an advertisement in 1726 relating to ‘ante-diluvian Masonry’ that even in those days a distinction was being drawn between ‘Ancient Masonry’ and ‘the Moderns.” After Brother Dermott became a member of Lodge #10 he immediately began working on a set of by-laws for private Lodges, which came to be called in 1756 ‘Ahiman Rezon.’[xviii]

There were many charges or accusations made against the Grand Lodge of England,[xix] however, one that was not a charge but a feeling among some Masons was that the ‘Moderns,’ in their lodges and grand lodge, had become a place where working men were not welcome. Possibly this had as much to do with forming a new grand lodge as any of the other reasons.

Definitely there was a feud that was brewing for quite some time between the ‘Moderns’ and the ‘Ancients:’ “Notwithstanding [this], on the whole bitter feud between the rival Grand Lodges of England, the lodges on the two rolls worked together, with greater love and harmony than might have been expected. Sometimes in a so-called ancient lodge the business was modern and oftener still, lodges under the older system, followed the method of working in vogue among the ‘ancients.’[xx] While there may have been harmony among the Masons and their individual Lodges the Grand Lodge of England took a dim view of a lodge of theirs working as ‘Ancients.’ In 1754, while James, the Marquis of Carnarvon was Grand Master, there were 21 ‘country lodges’ erased from the rolls because they were in violation of Grand Lodge Regulation #94, which prohibited a lodge meeting as ‘Ancient Masons.’[xxi]

Eventually the name of the ‘Ancients’ became officially: “The Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, According to the Old Institutions.” The ‘Moderns’ in the second half of the 1700’s was known as: “The Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, Under the Constitution of England.” [xxii] It is interesting to note that the names of these two rival grand lodges indicated that one was a fraternity and the other was a society.

The most well know Grand Masters of the Ancients were the Dukes of Atholl; they were grand masters who were so well liked the grand lodges was sometimes referred to, and still is today at times, as the Atholl Grand Lodge. However, the first Grand Master of the Ancients was Worshipful Brother Robert Tucker, Master of Lodge #13 – he was installed December 05, 1753[xxiii] The 3rd Duke of Atholl became Grand Master in 1771, and his son the 4th Duke of Atholl followed him to the Grand East in 1775; he served in the office until 1781, and then was elected again to the office of Grand Master in 1791 and served until the Duke of Kent became Grand Master in December 1813; 28 years in all.

What followed seems to be a well known part of masonic history: the Dukes of Atholl were followed by others, and over the years negotiations, (which the 4th Duke of Atholl was a part,) began that resulted in the union of the two Grand Lodges in December of 1813. The Duke of Kent, who was the 4th Duke of Atholl’s Deputy Grand Master, was installed as Grand Master of the Ancients on December 1, 1813, which was some days after the Articles of Union were signed. His brother, and Masonic brother, the Duke of Sussex, who was the Grand Master of the Moderns was made an Ancient Mason, in an adjoining room, so he could be present at the installation of his brother as Grand Master. On December 27, 1813 the two brothers, both Grand Masters, were in Freemason’s Hall to consummate the union of the two Grand Lodges. The two Grand Masters proceeded to the East; the Duke of Kent then nominated the Duke of Sussex[xxiv] for election as Grand Master of the new United Grand Lodge of England; the Duke of Sussex was unanimously elected: he served as grand Master of the moderns and the united grand Lodge for 31 years.

“If it has pleased the supreme architect of the universe to make me an humble instrument to promote the welfare and happiness of my fellowmen, my exertions have been abundantly recompensed by the kind partiality with which they have been received; and the assurance that you give me of your belief that I have acted upon the square in my public capacity, will be among my principle enjoyments in this Terrestrial Lodge.” President and Brother George Washington

From the Great light of Masonry = “The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"! And the head cannot say to the feet, "I have no need of you!" On the contrary, those parts of body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable, we treat with special honor; all the parts that are un-presentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
1st Corinthians 12:21-26 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

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

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
[i] Mackey’s Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry Vol. 1 page 76 Brother R. I. Clegg Editor and author 1929 Edition
[ii] A Reference Book for Freemasons by Brother Frederick Smyth; published by Q.C. Correspondence Circle 1998 edition. Page 261
[iii] Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium, by Brother Bernard E. Jones: 2006 Edition by Cumberland House. Page 197
[iv] Mackey’s History of Masonry Vol. 4 page 1106 – 1906 edition
[v] Mackey’s footnote #1: From Robert Freke Gould in his work on “The Atholl Lodges page 2. Gould thinks that this “Grand Committee,” which subsequently was developed into a Grand Lodge, was no doubt originally the senior private lodge of the Ancients.
[vi] Mackey’s History of Masonry Vol. 4 page 1110 – 1906 edition
[vii] This word is proper to spell either way. The masons of the time spelled it both ways including brethren who were members of that Grand Lodge. On page 238 of Coil’s it says that the question of spelling the word ‘Ancients’ or ‘Antients’ was settled by Brother Ivor Grantham in AQC on pages 76-78 for the year 1953 in which he wrote that the Ancient Grand Lodge and Grand Secretary Laurence Dermott almost always spelled the word ‘Ancient,’ and that the Moderns used the spelling ‘Antient’ more than their rivals.
[viii] Mackey’s Revised History of Freemasonry by Robert Ingram Clegg vol. 4 page 1188 – 1921 edition
[ix] Ibid 1183
[x] Ibid page 1181 Brother Clegg says that Brother Northouck, (a chronicler of the events that led up to the formation of the Grand Lodge of the Ancients,) evidently confused the ‘irregular makings’ by private lodges, which began about the year 1739 with the establishment of the Grand Lodge of the Ancients.
[xi] Ibid – page 1182
[xii] Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia 1995 edition page 235
[xiii] Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium, by Brother Bernard E. Jones: 2006 Edition by Cumberland House. Page 197
[xiv] Ibid page 198
[xv] Irish Freemasonry is interesting to read about. See Coils Masonic Encyclopedia page 331. “There is a Freemason’s Stone in Dublin, which presumably dates from 1602.
[xvi] Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia 1995 edition page 332
[xvii] Ancients and Moderns
[xviii] Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium, by Brother Bernard E. Jones: 2006 Edition by Cumberland House. Page 198
[xix] To see a list of them view pages 201 & 202 of Freemason’s Guide and compendium
[xx] History of Freemasonry, by Robert Freke Gould-4 volume set-volume 3 page 214
[xxi] Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia 1995 edition page 236
[xxii] Ibid page 238
[xxiii] Ibid
[xxiv] If I follow the family tree of the Royals correctly, (the House of Hanover,) the Duke of Kent was Edward Duke of Kent (1767-1820) he was the father of Queen Victoria. The Duke of Sussex was Augustus Frederick (1773-1843.) It appears he served as Grand Master until his death in 1843, and then the Earl of Zetland was elected as Grand Master.

The Three Graces

2007-09-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
September 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“Hope is a song in a weary throat.” Rev. Pauli Murray 1910-1985

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

“Great men cultivate love.” Booker T. Washington

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

The Three Graces
By Ed Halpaus, Grand LEO

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 Authorized, or King James, Version

The Three Graces can be traced to ancient Greek religion where they were goddesses of fertility; the name Graces refers to the ‘pleasing’ or ‘charming’ appearance of a fertile field or garden. The number of the Graces would vary in different legends, but there usually were three of them, namely: Aglaia, meaning brightness; Euphrosyne, meaning joyfulness; and Thilia, meaning bloom. They were said at various times to be the daughters of Zeus and Hera or of Helios and Aegle.

In works of art the Three Graces were, in early times, depicted being draped with cloth, and later as nude female figures. In Freemasonry the Three Graces; Faith, Hope, and Charity, are depicted in art wearing fine clothing.

In a copy of a painting I have in a book, Faith is shown standing between two Corinthian Pillars looking at a lamp, which she is holding in her hand. [The lamp, by the way is the kind of lamp we now know as the lamp of knowledge.] Hope is depicted standing in front of a window, holding flowers in her arms and with flowers near her feet. Charity is shown standing with the clouded canopy of heaven behind her, holding a small child in one arm, and her other arm caressing two slightly older children who are clinging to her.

If you would like to see a copy of this painting you might have a copy available in your Lodge library. Most lodge libraries, no matter how large or small they may be, are likely to have at least one set of books called Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, and the edition that is called Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and its Kindred Sciences; the New and Revised Edition, by William J, Hughan and Edward L. Hawkins will have, in volume 1 next to the title page, the artwork depicting the Three Graces. There are two other editions of Mackey’s Encyclopedia I am aware of; the original edition which would be very rare and valuable, and a revised edition by Robert Ingham Clegg, which is the edition I prefer to use for research.

The Three Graces are familiar to all Freemasons: We first learn about them in the third section of the lecture of the First Degree. A short synopsis of what that lecture has to say can be found in the Minnesota Masonic Manual. In it there is a section, (on page 29,) called ‘The Badge of a Mason,’ which has a portion of the Entered Apprentice lecture telling about Jacob and his vision. The section continues with information about the Three Graces: It begins by talking about Wisdom Strength and Beauty, and that Freemasonry’s dimensions are unlimited, and that its covering is no less than the canopy of heaven. Leading into the subject of the Three Graces, it says: “To this object the Mason’s mind is continually directed, and thither he hopes at last to arrive by the aid of that theological ladder, which Jacob, in his vision, saw ascending from earth to heaven; the three principal rounds of which are denominated Faith, Hope, and Charity, and which admonish us to have faith in God, hope in immortality, and charity to all mankind.”

The degrees of Freemasonry are meant only to pass on truths in a way that we can understand them: Freemasonry is not a course in history, mythology, religion, theology, or a study of the Holy Bible, (although many Masons will study the Holy Bible because they enjoy it;) it is simply a fraternity of men, who have the best interests of their fraternal brothers and fellowman in their hearts and minds.

When we hear the Entered Apprentice lecture and the portion about the Three Graces we may or may not realize that the words allude to two different sets of scripture; One from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament; Genesis 28:12 and 1 Corinthians 13:13 You can look up those pieces of scripture to read for yourself in their entire context; each of them are well worth the time it takes to read and study them.

In Freemasonry, with Faith being represented by the first or lowest rung of Jacob’s Ladder, Faith is synonymous with confidence, or trust, one of the first things a candidate for Masonry must have; as Brother Mackey says: [The] “first and essential qualification of a candidate for initiation, is that he should trust in God.”

We have learned that our “Faith may be lost in sight; Hope ends in fruition; but Charity extends beyond the grave, through the boundless realms of eternity.” Brother Mackey explains why this is said: Faith is the evidence of things not seen – ‘when we see - we no longer believe by faith but through demonstration; Hope lives only in the expectation of possession, it ceases to exist when the object once hoped for is at length enjoyed;’ ‘Charity,’ [which originally meant Love,] ‘is exercised on earth in acts of mutual kindness and forbearance, [it] is still found in the world to come, in the sublime form of mercy from God to his erring creatures.’

After the first round of Jacob’s ladder is explained in the lecture we advance to the second round where Hope is represented; Hope is symbolic of the hope all Freemasons have in the immortality of the soul. There is further symbolism found in Faith and Hope in the fact that having proceeded from the first to the second round of the ladder the Mason is led by his belief in God’s wisdom and goodness.

Without the hope of the immortality of the human soul, human virtue would not be as stimulating as it is, or ought to be, and vice would not be as fearful to man as it is, or, again, as it ought to be. Without hope life would be devoid of happiness. Thus the grave would be, as some legends say; ‘still more gloomy, if it were not for the sprig of acacia blooming at the head of the grave, which reminds us of that imperishable part of man which survives the grave; the immortality of the soul.’

Brother Mackey tells us “the ancients represented Hope by a nymph or maiden holding in her hand a bouquet of opening flowers, indicative of the coming fruit; but in modern and Masonic iconology, the science of craft illustrations and likenesses, it is represented by a virgin leaning on an anchor, the anchor itself being a symbol of hope.”

In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, (1st Corinthians,) he admonishes them to be cautious and not to blend with the world and accept its values and lifestyles. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 he compares Faith and Hope with Charity, (Masonically the third round of Jacob’s ladder,) St. Paul calls charity the greatest of the three. As Brother Clegg writes: “We must not fall into the too common error that charity is only that sentiment of commiseration which leads us to assist the poor with pecuniary donations. Its Masonic, as well as its Christian application is more noble and more extensive. The word used by the Apostle is, in he original, àyáπή, or Love, a word denoting that kindly state of mind which renders a person full of good-will and affectionate regard toward others.”

John Wesley, who was profoundly influenced by the Moravians, and who is the founder of Methodism, which evolved from the Methodist Societies into the Methodist Church, wrote about Charity that he regretted that the original translation of the Holy Bible was not done correctly as regards the word Charity. Had it been translated correctly the Three Graces, as they are known, would have been known as Faith, Hope, and Love not Faith Hope and Charity. Then, as Brother Mackey says “we have understood the comparison made by Saint Paul, when he said, ‘Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing."

To paraphrase Henry Drummond, in his essay ‘The Greatest Thing in the World,’ on First Corinthians chapter 13, Brother Mackey says that “guided by this sentiment, the true Freemason will suffer long and be kind; he will be slow to anger and easy to forgive; he will stay his falling Brother by gentle admonition, and warn him with kindness of approaching danger; he will not open his ear to the slanderers, and will close his lips against all reproach; his faults and his follies will be locked in his breast, and the prayer for mercy will ascend to Jehovah [The Great Architect of the Universe] for his Brother's sins.” Brother Clegg adds some fine sentiments about Charity, which I like, and they remind me something a Minnesota Past Grand Master, Phil Soderberg, is fond of saying when he greets Masons in his travels; “I extend to you the right hand of fellowship.”

Here is what Brother Clegg added to Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Masonry on Charity:
“My Brother: With this right hand I welcome you to the fellowship of our Lodge and to the ranks of our ancient and honorable Fraternity whose cornerstone is Charity: Charity is the brightest jewel in the Masonic crown; Charity is the Corinthian pillar whose entablature adds strength, beauty and grace to the Masonic fabric; Charity is the radiant spark emanating from God, the inexhaustible source of love; the Charity that is swift of foot, ready of hand, in the cause of a common humanity; the Charity that writes a Brother's vices in water and his virtues in enduring brass; the Charity of which He who spake as never man spake was the illustrious exemplar; let this, the Mason's Charity, burn upon the altar of your heart a living fire.”

The Three Graces of Freemasonry: Faith, Hope, Charity; if we were to think of Charity as Love maybe it would give us a whole different outlook on our Freemasonry.

Doing Masonic Research in books that are readily available in Lodge and Scottish Rite libraries and from our Grand Lodge bookstore, as well as information on the Internet is well worth taking the time to do, it actually is fun: It can help a Mason learn more about the lessons of Freemasonry, and thus we can understand these lessons better.

“And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

From the Great light of Masonry = “Do not seek revenge, or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com This week’s Masonic Monday question is: Masons meet on the level, act on the plumb and part on the square; what is the symbolism of meeting on the level?

To read this issue of Masonic Matters in PDF click on this link: http://www.halpaus.net/MM0907.pdf

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

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

Anti-Masonry April 10, 2007

2007-06-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

Masonic Matters
April 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, -- though the cants of hypocrites may be worst, -- the cant of criticism is the most tormenting.” Laurence Sterne 1713-1768

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

“I do not resent criticism, even when, for the sake of emphasis, it parts for the time with reality.” Brother Winston Churchill

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Steven R. Johnson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“This shows how much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.” Brother Benjamin Disraeli

Every once in a while I get questions from, or I am told there are, Masons who have been approached mostly by well meaning people who repeat something they heard from someone else about the supposed evils of Freemasonry. Most of these charges and accusations can be traced back to an anti-Mason, and sometimes a Mason is openly verbally accosted by an anti-Mason, which many times will catch some of us off guard.

When this sort of thing happens we might automatically think this person is uneducated about Masonry, and that might be true if by that we mean he is not getting factual information from a knowledgeable Mason. Unfortunately he most likely does not think he is uneducated and he isn’t, if educated means he is receiving information about Masonry from someone who he trusts and thinks is knowledgeable. The person may very well have received information about Freemasonry from only one side. If he is willing to receive information from the other side, so he can make up his own mind, decide for himself, on the question of Freemasonry being a cult, or simply a fraternity of good men who believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, then you should be able to have a good informative conversation with him.

Devout Fundamentalist Christians, and I’ve been told devout fundamentalists of other religions too, believe what they are told from the Synod, or whatever the parent organization is, that tells them about a certain something; in this case Freemasonry. So there are times when you can talk till the cows come home and give them all the information you can think of, but if they have a closed mind and intend only to believe their clergyman who only believes what his seminary and superiors tell him you’re then dealing with a closed mind, and a closed mind is very difficult to open.

The admonishment in the charge of the First Degree about arguing with those who through ignorance ridicule Freemasonry etc. does not mean we cannot have a decent friendly conversation or debate with someone who is willing to listen or debate with us. So in my mind it is fine to try to open a man’s mind with the truth, but while it can be frustrating don’t let it get to you if he just won’t believe what you have to refute the false charges floating around about Freemasonry. And don’t be surprised. Some people believe what they believe and don’t even want to hear the facts let alone be confused by them.

Having said that I think one of the best books on this subject is “Workman Unashamed” by Brother Christopher ‘Kit’ Haffner, published by Lewis Masonic some years ago, but recently updated and republished again by Lewis Masonic.

Another book, (booklet,) that I like and is cheaper and easier to get is “Conscience and the Craft – Questions on Religion and Freemasonry” by Brother Jim Tresner. My copy is well marked up and highlighted, in fact many of my books are like that. This booklet might be available on line as was another book called “Is it true what the say about Freemasonry,” which is another good book about anti-Masonry. If they are not available on line I think they can be purchased from most Masonic book suppliers at a very reasonable price.

People who are vocal anti-Masons are knowledgeable about Freemasonry. They may have a wrong view of the Craft in our opinion, but that doesn’t mean they’re ignorant about it. So I think a Mason needs to be ready, and by ready I mean he needs to know his subject well, as well as know what their opinion is and where it comes from. To do this we read books, like the ones I’ve mentioned. We need also to know about why the term The Great Architect of the Universe to them is a name for another god, and why they say we regard all gods as equal to the God of Abraham. Also know that saying that the term was used by John Calvin an early theologian whose writings were used in founding a Christian Church really doesn’t mean much to a fundamentalist, because they don’t put much stock in Calvinism.

Also reading books from anti-Masons about Masonry is a good pastime if you can stay objective, and realize you are learning some of what you need to know to be able to debate or have a conversation with an anti-Mason. Many will not want to do this, because it is a big job to become very knowledgeable. But the anti-Mason is knowledgeable and many times more knowledgeable than the Mason he’s talking with. The Anti-Mason knows about our ritual, and they offer their own meanings to our symbols and allegories. Many a Mason has been surprised how knowledgeable an anti-Mason can be. One good thing to remember, since the anti-Mason has a penchant for quoting Brother Albert Pike from his book ‘Morals and Dogma’ is the preface to Morals and Dogma; in it Pike says in part: “The teachings of these readings are not sacramental, so far as they go beyond the realm of morality into those of other domains of thought and truth.” “Everyone is free to reject and dissent from whatsoever herein may seem to him to be untrue or unsound.” Page iv (middle of the page.) So even Brother Pike himself is saying that what he wrote in Morals and Dogma is not the dictum of Freemasonry our critics and enemies say it is. Pike knew he wrote only for himself and his opinions - not for Freemasonry.

I will suggest, also, that it is good to know what Leo Taxil’s Hoax’s are all about. Know about the myth about the Great Seal of the United States, know about the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and be somewhat familiar with the Holy Bible, and about the information in the Bible that our Hiramic Legend was formed from. Be knowledgeable about where in the ritual of the Third Degree the drama ends, and the officer portraying King Solomon ends. The drama ends when he again resumes the role of the Master of the Lodge. Many people, including Masons, have the mistaken idea that the candidate represents the legendary Hiram right up until the end of the degree; he doesn’t. The drama ends when the Mason portraying King Solomon takes the candidate by the strong grip of a Master Mason. When the candidate hears the word he is the candidate and the Mason saying the word is the Master. The reason I think this is important is because some think we teach that Hiram was raised from the dead, which would be reminiscent of the legend of Osiris, and of course we teach no such thing. In fact, in the 2nd section of the lecture of the third degree it tells us that Hiram’s body was carried to King Solomon’s Temple and buried. However, many anti-Masons will challenge a Mason on that.

The fact is, there are so many challenges and accusations an Anti-Mason can say to and about us it is hard to stay up with them. A number of years ago now the Grand Lodge of Minnesota changed their work to mention the penalties are reprimand, suspension or expulsion and then called the other penalties the ancient and symbolic penalties, which of course they always have been. I’m not saying this change was either good or bad, what I will say is that if it was done to answer or satisfy our critics and enemies then what do you do the next time our enemies tell us about something else that in their opinion is wrong with Freemasonry. They will never be satisfied until we cease to exist.

Awhile back I spoke with a Mason who commented how he liked the piece I sent out in Mehr Licht about the Masonic ring. Then he mentioned he’s noticed that many Masons don’t wear their rings or pins as much any more, (He was a 50 + year Mason,) and he surmised that one reason might be that they had been accosted by an anti-Mason and didn’t know what to say, so to avoid the embarrassment they tend not to use much Masonic jewelry on their person except for attending Lodge or Masonic functions. He may be on to something.

The enemies of Freemasonry won’t be satisfied with any changes we make in ritual, use of symbols, or whatever, they want to see Freemasonry disappear.

I don’t mean to worry anyone, I just want to be clear that in any discussion with an anti-Mason, and even with a well meaning friend repeating what they heard from an anti-Mason, be well prepared, because it is always easier for someone to ask questions than give the answer, and it is always easier to repeat a charge or myth than to explain or answer it.

Brother Leon Zeldis wrote an excellent article that was published in volume 7 of Heredom, (page 89.) Heredom is the annual book sent out to members of the Scottish Rite Research Society, and in my mind is one of the best bargains in Masonic Education. Today Brother Zeldis’ article can be read on the web at: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/zeldisfr.html and it is very interesting to read.

I always wonder about some of my fellow Christians wanting to take the same stand dictators do when it comes to Freemasonry, especially when you consider what Hitler did to clergymen, churches, and Freemasons in Germany during his eliminationist period, and to the millions of Jews who were killed in his ‘final solution’ and on his orders. A good book on this is “Hitler’s Cross” published by Moody Press.

Anti-Masons now say that it is the Masons of the ‘high degrees’ that are keeping the rest of us in the dark about what Freemasonry is really about, and that of course we would not know about it if we haven’t been in the inner circle of our Grand Lodge or are not a 33°, which is most of us. They tell our friends and family that we may be good Christians, good men all around, but we are being duped by the Masons of the ‘higher degrees’ who have a plan of world domination and worship the devil. This is the theme of Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which is what Brother Zeldis exposes and explains in his paper I mentioned earlier, do yourself a favor and take a look at it. Chick Publications, on the other hand, repeats the hoax of Leo Taxil, and this is explained in great detail in the book ‘Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry,’ this is a book every Mason ought to have and read. The charges and falsehoods of the anti-Mason are ridiculous, but that’s what they believe. They say the individual Mason is o.k. it’s the organization that’s bad, and that we’ve been brainwashed so much we just don’t know how bad it is or we’d leave it, and it’s part of their calling in life to tell us everything we’re not able to figure out or understand for ourselves.

Another good place to begin learning about anti-Masonry is on the web site for the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and the Yukon at: http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/index.html There are many helpful articles on this site, one of which is called ‘Responding to Critics,’ which is very helpful.

If you plan to talk to any anti-Mason be prepared. If you’re not as prepared as you would like to be, a good thing to do is to ask questions. When they say something like we’re a cult, or we worship the devil – remain calm, and ask them “can you tell me why you think that?” or “Why do you feel that way?” then write down their answer in your little notebook, (I always have one in my shirt or jacket pocket, so I think everyone does,) and then check it out with research on your own or ask a Brother for help, and get back to our critic if he’s amenable to listening. Anti-Masons, I’m convinced, like to ambush Masons, their wives, children and friends; I think there are too many family members who might believe some of this trash they hear from anti-Masons if the Mason in their lives either doesn’t know himself what is and isn’t true or he is so secretive he won’t talk to them even when they are interested. So when it comes to knowing about the charges of an anti-Mason and providing good honest information to refute them it is important, especially, so that we can educate our family and friends when they have a question.

Remember Freemasonry can stand up to scrutiny; it’s the false charges of the anti-Masons that fold like a house of cards when you do the research. And believe it or not ‘Research is Fun’ because you learn something in the process.

“He wreathed the rod of criticism with roses.” Issac D’israeli 1766-1848

From the Great light of Masonry = “Do not speak against another, brethren. He who speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor.” James 4: 11-12

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

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