Author Archive: Fred Milliken

Nebraska: A Predictable Masonic Mess

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Looking at the Masonic mess in Nebraska certain questions come to mind, such as, “How did we get to this point in Freemasonry where something like this can so easily happen? “  A hundred years ago in the Craft would any of the participants acted in this manner?  What is the difference between now and then? The answer to the last question may offer a clue as to why so many stories like this are so prevalent today. It seems like every few months another Masonic mess hits the scene.

nebraska flagParsons’, the outgoing Grand Master, logic is that the rules and regulations in the Constitution and by-laws of Nebraska will not allow a quick enough response for justice to take place.  Watts, the incoming Grand Master, who should be tried and convicted immediately and thus become ineligible to become Grand Master will not happen by following the rules, he thinks. So Parsons with some Past Grand Masters and other members of the Grand Lodge have decided that if the rules are deficient they no longer apply and they must take the law into their own hands. Watts will use his powers as Grand Master to delay his trial until after his term of office is up, they say. He could through controlling parliamentary procedure sidetrack or squash motions to challenge his authority or question his authenticity if he is allowed to assume the Grand East immediately.

It seems to me that here is an instance where the Grand Lodge has been hoisted on its own petard.  Grand Lodges have deliberately allowed the power of the Grand Master over the Craft to reach hither unheard of heights. It was OK when the Grand Master was lording his authority over subordinates but now that it is the Grand Master versus his own Grand Lodge and Grand Master versus Grand Master and Past Grand Masters the tables have been turned and many look aghast at such horror.

It is precisely this trend in the Grand Master’s absolute power with no constrictions –  not voting members of the Grand Lodge or the Constitution of the Grand Lodge –  that has moved Masonic trials from the local Lodge into the chambers of the Grand Lodge chaired by the Grand Master and then ultimately to expulsions with no trial whatsoever. And right along with that goes the power of the Grand Master to revoke subordinate Lodge charters immediately on the spot and at will. So it only follows that a Grand Master can refuse to seat a duly elected successor or in the case of Frank Haas for a Grand Master to expel a Past Grand Master without a trial.

That amount of power has enabled Grand Masters in voting Grand Lodges to control the agenda and refuse to allow certain motions or votes to take place declaring then unconstitutional or not correctly drawn up or ultimately “not in the best interests of the Craft.”

It is not the rulings of the 21st century all powerful Grand Master that are always detrimental.  Many Grand Masters are quite benevolent and operate always with the best interests of the Craft in mind. It is the breakdown of the rule of law, the violations of its own Constitution that doom Freemasonry to chaos and anarchy. In civil society it is precisely the rule of law that separates third world machine gun political nations from those who obey the law even when the rulings are not in their favor.

Freemasonry seems to be going down this same lawless path.  It is the Old Wild West relived where Sheriffs and Judges rule with extraordinary powers and justice is a quick hanging without taking time for the formalities of the law.

The sooner Freemasonry recognizes why it is having all these problems and restores the rule of Masonic law is the sooner Masonic messes disappear from today’s news.

Lewis and CLark

The Lessons Of History

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Thomas Jefferson had long desired to have the lands west of the Mississippi explored with the hopes of finding a waterway passage to the Pacific.  The Lewis & Clark expedition was the brainchild and pet project of Jefferson.  He plucked Meriwether Lewis from his staff and put him in charge of leading this exploration. Lewis picked William Clark to be his co-captain on the journey.

Lewis was a Mason having been made such in Virginia in 1797. It has been thought by Historians that Clark was recruited by Lewis to join the Craft on the expedition. We do know that Clark joined a Lodge in St. Louis at a later date.

Lewis and CLarkThe expedition, 1804-1806, took some 2 ½ years and covered approximately 7,200 miles. Lewis & Clark brought back a large set of journals along with samples providing detailed information on species of animals and plants, geography, cultural observations, Indian tribe information, climate and some 60 maps. While they did not find an all waterway passage to the Pacific they did explore routes and alternatives for a Northwest Passage.

Historians count this expedition which immediately followed the Louisiana Purchase as a very important event in the history of the United States. Among other things it paved the way for westward expansion and the territorial claims of the United States from coast to coast.

Much has been written about the Lewis & Clark Expedition many times over so there is little need for repetition here. Rather the focus of this article will deal with the unknown, or more accurately the little known, its importance to the success of the mission and the historical lesson it has for us.

The expedition was undertaken by some 29 regulars along with 16 others. Much of the travel was in areas never chartered or explored, among the habitation of many different Indian tribes, some of whom were hostile. How is it then that these 45 explorers trekked all those miles, during all that time and meeting many new and strange tribes yet recorded only one fatality that being of Sergeant Charles Floyd who was thought to have died from a ruptured appendix?

That is the story of the video here which in some detail will explain that Lewis brought with him the cutting edge of technology for that time, the Girandoni Air Rifle. My friend, Brother Mason and historian from Canada has supplied us with his take on this rifle.

300px-Girandoni_Air_Rifle“Interesting technology. The gun had some drawbacks – it took 1500 strokes of the air pump to re-charge the air bottle, and the shape at the back was not easy for the human shoulder to “sit” with. In Austrian use each soldier, it is said, carried two spare, already charged, air bottles. Later, again in Austrian service, there was a larger compressor on wheels that accompanied the army.”

“The air bottles themselves were difficult to manufacture with the metal, rivets and brazing technology of the time, and sometimes leaked because of the air pressure of up to 800 psi. Still, the ability to fire about 30 rounds without re-loading, with little noise and no smoke, and with enough power to seriously injure or kill was an enormous advantage.”

“The ammunition was a gravity feed, so the rifle had to be elevated before each round. The fact that Austrian forces issued the weapon and used it in combat makes it the first repeating rifle to be so used in history. “

“Apparently the mechanism was very delicate, and the rifle could easily break down for that reason. It is said certain seals had to be kept moist at all times. I still do not understand how the system regulated the exact charge of compressed air necessary for each shot.”

“I guess its remote descendant was the famous Daisy Air Rifle we all knew as children.”

“For the time, however, it would truly be seen as a wonder weapon, as it was.”

History often has for us some valuable lessons.  If Hitler had studied Napoleon’s disastrous march into Russia, if he had learned from history, perhaps he would not have repeated the same mistake.

The fact that we now know that the success of the Lewis & Clark Expedition can be partially attributed to adopting the latest technology perhaps has something to tell us about modern day Freemasonry.

Perhaps Grand Lodges have only themselves to blame for the steep decline in membership. Maybe there is nothing wrong with the message it’s the messengers. The question posed is this: Where would Freemasonry be today if in the early 90s it had adopted the latest technology to help convey its message? What if the Craft had embraced computer technology that far back and had been keeping abreast of all the changes to date? Where would we be right now if that had been done?  Let’s take a look at three areas.

PUBLICITY &MARKETING

Today we would see huge interactive Grand Lodge websites that would include forums, ask a question and get an answer areas, You Tube videos geared to explaining Freemasonry to the uninitiated, A Grand Lodge Facebook page and a Grand Lodge Twitter account for starters.

EDUCATION & INFORMATION

There might be in place today a complete Grand Lodge library search by computer, scanned books available on line, E-Books also available, videos that provide instruction and information, Masonic courses on line, a Grand Lodge radio show on line, proficiency instruction and proficiency testing on line and many more items.

ADMINISTRATION

Today all Grand Lodge forms and reports would be available on line and filed on line, computerized minutes, interactive calendars, special events, addresses by the Grand Master, memos and even Business meetings could be held on line.  All material could easily be encrypted. Grand Lodges might have their own server system or the latest in cloud technology.

The failure of Freemasonry to keep up with the times, to forge ahead boldly employing the latest technology and to structure the message into the forms of communication that are used by today’s generation is the failure to heed the lessons of history and to profit therein. Kodak declined because it didn’t’t see the merit in digital cameras, IBM an early powerhouse gave way to Microsoft. There are many examples of organizations and companies going under because they refused to adapt. Adapting to new ways of doing things is seen in Freemasonry as changing Freemasonry. It is not. The Drive In Movie is a relic of the past.  But movie making and movie viewing thrive on using different methods of deliverance.  And that’s the way Freemasonry should go.  Be a Meriwether Lewis and be a leader breaking new ground, forging new paths and setting the standard for greater performance.

A Friday Night To Remember

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It was 4:30 PM on a Friday afternoon and I had already left the office to pick up my car in the underground garage.  It was good to get away a little early as Fridays can be so hectic, everybody trying to wrap up all the loose ends so that Monday morning’s challenges contained no leftovers.

I turned out of the garage and headed north, weaving my way in and out of already heavy rush hour traffic. Yesteryear’s rush hour is today’s more than three hour headache of beep and creep or stall and crawl. Hitting the North Toll way, I stayed in the right had lane, exiting 5 miles north and ran the service road. Soon I was pulling into Antonio’s Restaurant, parking and entering at the door to the back, just in time for happy hour.

The whole back end of Antonio’s was one huge function room, beautifully decorated and comfortably furnished. Upon entering you are struck by the rustic loft look with the exposed beams visible across the ceiling.  The floors were all beautiful wide plank oak, the kind you might see in an old factory.  There was only one humongous room but it was really divided into two parts, without walls.  To the right in the middle of that half was a large circular mahogany bar with brass rail foot rests around the exterior bottom. Lined around the bar were captain’s chairs that swiveled 360 degrees and above the bar were the glass racks where every kind of drinking glass hung upside done by its stem. Scattered all around the bar in a wide arc were couches and chairs, some of them leather, with end tables and coffee tables placed here and there.

The left half was all about dining with tables and cushioned chairs arranged according to that group’s preference.  For our group the setup was rectangular tables pushed together into one giant horseshoe with seating around the outside only. The tables were covered with white tablecloths and white linen napkins accompanied the silverware.

I headed straight for the bar and one of those captain’s chairs, promptly ordering a Jack Daniels and soda from the bartender who was dressed in tux with a red shirt.

“Did you sign in on the menu choice book yet?” intoned the bartender as he brought me my libation.

“No, what are the choices for tonight,” I asked.

“Baby back ribs or grilled salmon.”

As I signed into the book at the end of the bar someone put his arm around my shoulder. I turned to see the face of my good friend Paul.

“How are you doing, tonight Fred,” he asked.

“As my son would say I’m just chillin’ out,” I replied.  “Doing fine Paul and glad to be here. I understand we have an excellent speaker on tap for tonight.”

“Who is that?” quipped Jim as he strode into the conversation.

“Dr. G.F. Stewart,” I replied.

“And what is his topic going to be,” queried Paul.

“Salutary Effects Of A System Of Ethics And Morality Upon Human Health,” said I.

“Now this I got to hear,” retorted Jim.

The room that had nary a soul in it when I arrived at a few minutes past 5:00 o’clock had now started to fill up. Antonio only required that we guarantee him 50 people and that everybody paid retail prices, no discounts and he would waive all room charges. The group flat charged each member $40 which included the price of the meal with tip and costs of the guest speaker. Beverages were an additional individual charge. Although that might sound like a hefty charge, each month our numbers grew.

As the hour approached the waiters brought in a salad for each place setting. Precisely at 6:00 PM there was heard three loud raps.

RAP, RAP, RAP

Whereupon we all gathered around the tables standing at our places. One of the group brought into the inside of the horseshoe a small table upon which he place a closed Bible and the square and compasses. And then was heard these time honored words, “Brother Senior Warden, what duty proceeds the opening of a Lodge?”

 

Fred Milliken,Freemason Information,The Beehive

At The Crossroads Of The Many Paths of Freemasonry

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Masonic Relevance In The 21st Century

I am observing many Masonic friends these days going through some deep soul searching as they try to reconcile Freemasonry with their own personal goals and the legacy for society that they would eventually like to leave behind. Many of these soul searchers are Masonic writers or “communicators” of some kind, well versed in the meaning of Masonry. Yet some feel powerless against the rising tide of Masonic irrelevancy as they see it. Others have found some other organization, cause or path that more reflects what they want to do with their life. Still others who revel in the Craft still feel that their active involvement therein robs them of the time that could be spent in other worthwhile pursuits.

We all have our religious, political and moral belief systems to act out in varying degrees of involvement as well as career paths with study in our field of endeavor.  All that to which we subscribe so deeply also has to be matched with our commitment to interpersonal relationships, especially our families. All in all sometimes this requires a very difficult balancing act.

Along comes the Information Age which knocks Freemasonry for a loop. In its early stages Masonic leaders either ignored it or refused to accept it.  When the inevitable came to pass most of official Freemasonry-dom were “Johnnies come lately.” Many the Freemason who has bemoaned the reduction not only of Craft membership but of Lodge attendance. Many fail to realize, however, how much Freemasonry one can imbibe sitting home in front of the computer. Why leave the house, fight the traffic and dress up in a monkey suit when one can sit by the computer in shorts and T shirt with a slice of pizza in one hand and a beer in the other and get as much out of Freemasonry as those not only attending Lodge but those who are even members. I fail to see the difference between a One Day Class and watching the same thing at home on a good HD-TV. And while Grand Lodges sat on their Internet hands, individual Masons on their own were setting up Masonic websites, discussion forums and producing Masonic videos.

Right about here readers will extrapolate that Internet Freemasonry lacks one crucial ingredient, namely that of personal relationship and bonding and also experiencing Freemasonry “in the flesh.” To that end that Craft keeps blossoming out Side bodies and degree upon degree upon degree to make sure all its members get to really “experience” the Craft. But then how many ways does it take to say the same thing over and over?  In its desire to cement the Brotherhood into a membership of dedicated true believers, Freemasonry makes sure that members experience the Craft again, again and again……………..and in the process is sowing the seeds of its own demise.

One only has to look at today’s culture and the different methods of bonding that the next generation has embraced to know that the tired old ways of application aren’t going to work anymore. It’s Facebook, Twitter and texting that dominates today’s communication and consequently its formation of relationships. More and more married couples are telling us that they first met on the Internet. That’s not to say that the message of Freemasonry is in jeopardy; no, the message is timeless but the application generationally deficient.  How many Grand Masters do you think have a Facebook page and who tweet and text on a regular basis? It’s not such a far out question when you realize that we have a President hip to such methods and who used them to help him campaign.

Yet Freemasonry is being torn apart by competing methods of application. Again to make sure you got it, there is no problem with the message, it’s the messengers.

One faction is Freemasonry as the buddy bonding society. Candidates are whisked through the degrees at lightning speed. Lodge meetings consist of degrees or business but never esoteric lessons. The Craft is one big social arena where fish frys, banquets, bowling leagues and motorcycle clubs abound.

Another faction is Freemasonry as a charitable society heavily geared to the dispensation of massive Institutionalized Charity, so much so that there is minimal time for social activities and even less time for esoteric study.

The third faction is Freemasonry as a research and study society devoted to the pursuit of knowledge in the context of ethical application.  This faction sees Freemasonry as a philosophy and spawns such applications as Research Lodges and esoteric study clubs.

The first three factions follow the tenets of Freemasonry – Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. The fourth does not.

The fourth faction is Freemasonry as a quasi military style society full of rank, privileges, ribbons and medals and the attainment thereof.

Each faction is at war with the other offering the one and only true way for Freemasonry’s salvation.  In some areas Freemasonry tries to incorporate all factions in a hybrid super model that not only requires a good amount of money but also an inordinate amount of time commitment. Depending on where you are in the country and what model your Grand Lodge has chosen to pursue decides what type of Freemasonry you are experiencing.

Where does all this leave our Masonic soul searchers?

To properly answer that question we must sign on to the notion that Freemasonry is not society’s savior nor was it ever intended to be. Freemasonry is not a place of doing it is a place of being. In the modus operandi of your life you live out your path or your destiny on two levels.  (1) First there is the religion or philosophy that guides one to what courses of action to take. (2) There are the courses of action taken based on the values one has chosen.

All the factions trying to redefine Freemasonry only muddies the waters. Long after Masons in human bodies have departed this world and Lodges have ceased to exist, the thought, the philosophy of Freemasonry will live on. It will never disappear.

It is Freemasonry that creates our value system as Masons. The Craft is designed to do no more than that. Expecting Freemasonry to take the next step of action in implementation of its values is asking too much. That’s an individual decision to be made for an individual path.  Like snowflakes no two paths are identical. Therefore, those that feel that Freemasonry is not doing enough are asking from it unintended consequences.

If you want to be a Little League coach, man a soup kitchen, build a playground, visit the elderly in Nursing Homes, be a Boy Scout leader than go do it.  Recognize that it is Freemasonry that got you to the point of going to do such. But don’t castigate Freemasonry because it isn’t doing those very things.  Freemasonry isn’t doing it’s being. Freemasonry is what gave you the values to go do these things, nothing more, nothing less.

Trying to get Freemasonry to be the be all and end all of life is placing a burden upon it that is far too great. Right now Freemasonry is in meltdown because of unrealized expectations. If feelings of worth and usefulness are things most important to you, then don’t become a professional Masonic social climber, pulling rank and showing off all your medals. Keep Freemasonry in your life simple and focused on its calling. Then it won’t disappoint you but will serve your purpose well.

Brother Hando Nahkur Wins Record Of The Year In Europe

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The Beehive did a story on classical pianist Brother Hando Nahkur in December.

This talented Brother has just received notice that he has been awarded the record of the year in Germany for his CD DeusExClavier.

Here is his press release:

Hando Nahkur and his second CD “DeusExClavier” (released in 2010 by ERP – Estonian Record Productions) receives international recognition!

Hando Nahkur’s second CD “DeusExClavier”  reaches the Top Music Charts in Europe and wins “THE RECORD OF THE YEAR – Die Platten des Jahres ” title by “ZEIT-ONLINE” in Germany:

In the end of 2010, “ZEIT-ONLINE” (one of the most important websites in Germany) announced “DeusExClavier” as “The Record of The Year – Die Platten des Jahres” in Germany. Three new CD releases of 2010 from all over the world were selected to receive the title and “DeusExClavier” was one of them. It is remarkable that Hando Nahkur’s “DeusExCalvier” was the only piano music CD to win the recognition amongst P.Vasks’ String Quartets and M.Reger’s Choir Works.

ZEIT-ONLINE: “Hando Nahkur is one of the greatest new surprises of the classical music scene… With this CD he established himself amongst the greatest pianists..”

Here is the link where “DeusExCalvier” was announced as “THE RECORD OF THE YEAR”:
http://www.zeit.de/kultur/musik/2010-12/platten-des-jahres-2010?page=8

“PIANONews”
“DeusExClavier” receives an outstanding review from ”PIANONews” (one of the most popular Classical Music Journals in Germany).

Performance: 6/6, Sound 6/6, Choice of Repertoire  5/6

Hando Nahkur and his second CD “DeusExClavier” are a marvelous discovery! …The “official” culmination of the record is Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes op. 13.

Nahkur’s interpretation rightfully holds its own even against the legendary versions by Wilhelm Kempff or Martha Argerich.
We will—hopefully—hear very much more from this talented pianist.

Please join the Behive in congratulating this talented young Freemason.  You can contact Nahkur on his website: www.handonahkur.com

Healing The Hurt And Moving On

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The Old Guard just doesn’t get it.

The young Masons do. There is a cancer in Mainstream Masonry and it is in need of chemotherapy and radiation. The cancer is the capricious use of unbridled power by Grand Masters across the land.  Oh, not all of them govern their Lodges in such a tyrannical manner but enough do to sully the name of Freemasonry.

But the Old Guard is turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to the problem as they tell us: Number one if it is out of their jurisdiction it is none of their business.  Number two bringing problems out in the open and publicizing them only destroys Freemasonry.  And number three there is a process in place in most Grand Lodges to address grievances and the vote of the entire sitting Grand Lodge can overturn bad policies and remove bad Masons.  So what’s the beef?

The Catholic Church has had a problem with pedophile priests. And they used to have the same Old Guard mentality. If molestation occurred in another diocese than it was not the business of congregants to mess in another territory. Bringing the problem out into the open would allow the press to have a field day with the church and destroy it.  And above all the Church must be protected even if doing so causes human suffering. And there was a grievance policy in place to address problems.

Why can’t we just keep it in house, so say the Freemason Old Guard, so say the Catholic Church Old Guard?  Just keep your mouth shut and we will reprimand the abuser and fix the problem.

But what about the people who were abused?  In the case of the Church, what about the children who were traumatized by being violated by those who were supposed to be their protectors? Did the Church provide them therapy to help them return to a normal life?  Did the Church comfort them and counsel them? Did the Church bring the matter to justice and provide the afflicted and families with closure?

NO, NO and NO. The Church could not admit any wrongdoing on the part of its clergy lest the Church come under attack and be diminished or destroyed. Above all, at all costs, the Institution had to be protected against anything that would hurt it. So it was necessary to declare the stories of Priest abuse unbelievable.  Later when overwhelming evidence to the contrary was unmistakable, the Church demanded that there be total silence and would not help those abused for fear of admitting them right. Don’t you dare go to the police or civil courts the molested were told.

Oh the shame, the human suffering that was not attended to.  All those children sexually molested, entire families traumatized, the abused judged as guilty and the abusers left to run free. Oh the shame of it all!

But the course of action by the Church to hush it up and try to handle it internally without allowing the civil police to investigate and attorney generals to prosecute and the press to publicize backfired on it. And when it all came out into the open it was that much harder to deal with and that much costlier to settle with the abused.

Mainstream Masonry is following the same path. It thinks only of the Institution and the good name of Freemasonry not on the unjustly and unfairly expelled Brethren who have been libeled, slandered and abused – and kicked to the curb in the process. What about David Lettelier? What about PGM Frank Haas?  What about Mike McCabe?  What about Derek Gordon? What about the thousands of other Freemasons who are the victims of Grand Lodge abuse? Do they not deserve to have their good name restored, for justice to prevail, to be reinstated wherever they want to continue their Masonic journey? They are human beings with feelings and emotions. Why must they be forgotten and unsupported, left to flounder on their own after having done nothing wrong?  Do we care about human beings in Freemasonry?  Do we care what’s been done to these men?

Oh the shame of it all! Freemasonry is so wrought with rules and regulations that it cannot permit itself to right a wrong.  Yet Justice is one of the four Cardinal Virtues.

Not only will Freemasonry not stoop to aid the abused, it will even criticize those who try to help themselves. It’s, “We can’t mess with somebody else’s problem.” Really?  Is that what the Volume of Sacred Law on our altars tells us? “How dare a Freemason take his case to civil court.” “It is not healthy for Freemasonry to air its dirty laundry in the public venue.” Hush up, be silent.  We don’t care about you we just want to make sure that nothing besmirches the good name of Freemasonry – at all costs.

So what is an unjustly punished man to do?  What course of action has he left? Where can he turn? Who even gives a dam?

And if he should sign on to continue his Masonic journey in unrecognized paths, how is he treated? Is his life not one of scorn and ridicule for finding company with those “irregular,” “clandestine” folks? What Freemasonry wants is for him to pass quietly into the shadows while it regards him as a leper.

Oh the same of it all!

But as the numbers of unjustly and unfairly expelled Masons grows the unrecognized avenues available increase.  All those Masons in power bemoan the continued rise and popularity of so called “bogus” Freemasonry. Yet it is the very same who help create these alternatives by purging their Grand Lodges of everybody but ass kissers.

Well unrecognized Masonry may be taking on a new respectability. In a recent issue of the Phylaxis Magazine we can find these words?

“Within the Craft of today, ‘regularity’ is of the same substance as religious ‘salvation,’ and more dependent on the magical effects of ‘belief’ and ‘faith,’ than objective considerations. No Mason can provide one definition for regularity without setting aside excuses to account for the numerous cases which would fall outside of the definition.

“They are the same ‘mental muscles’ as are required to articulate the anhypostasis-enhypostasis formula, that are employed to concatenate and articulate the formula for ‘regularity.’ The most honest definition for regularity, which would survive and ‘test’ without caveat, would be to admit that regularity is whatever the sovereign in question says it is, and that one sovereign can not pass upon the regularity of any other; they can only either extend or withhold recognition. It requires one to lay aside commonsense notions to rely on some ‘authority,’ which supersedes reason.”

“Due to the fact that all grand lodges are sovereign, there is no outside ‘authority’ to which any GL owes any deference; likewise there is no basis for any one grand lodge holding another accountable to any particular set of rules or regulations. Except ‘political’ and other types of pressure, the only retribution that one GL can enact against another is to withdraw ‘recognition.’ The complaint is often voiced regarding a grand body not following ‘established’ or ‘agreed upon’ rules, but the fact is that there are very few ‘treaties’ or ‘agreements’ actually in place between grand lodges, and thus the notion that there is some ‘established law’ that binds all Masons is fanciful at best. Neither the Regis Manuscript, Anderson’s Constitution, Mackey’s Jurisprudence nor any other expression of ‘Masonic Law’ is binding upon any Mason individually unless his grand lodge has officially accepted such as binding.”

“For example, like in Christianity, where a man does not receive ’salvation’ as a result of any good deeds or service to humanity, but through his faith that Jesus the Christ is ‘the Lord;’ within Prince Hall Masonry, regularity is not achieved through diligently pursuing the Masonic Principles, but that it is through the ‘blessings’ or ‘authority’ of the Grand Lodge of England, (Scotland or Ireland) that regularity is achieved. This formula for regularity is a ‘witch’s brew,’ used as a ‘strong arm tactic’ to abrogate the Doctrine of Assumption, and force any new Masonic organization to require the assistance of other regular bodies in order to achieve a ‘legitimate origin,’ and ergo ‘recognition.’”

“The Doctrine of assumption is a convention within the natural law which codifies the concept of ‘free will’ and the right of self determination which are inherent within humanity. It was through this doctrine that the first grand lodges, England, Scotland and Ireland were formed. Simply stated, this doctrine would permit any group of men to form any type of lodge or grand lodge whenever and wherever they should so choose. It is this same doctrine which validates African Lodge No. 459’s actions in ‘copying’ its English charter to be shared with other lodges, and for eventually declaring sovereignty in 1827 to ‘legally’ issue charters to lodges thereafter. The only legitimate question that any GL can put to another after it is formed is whether to extend or withhold recognition.”

“Once you consider all the of the ‘hoops’ an organization must jump through in order to get ‘recognition’ without the imprimatur of England, Scotland or Ireland, only an irrational ‘faith’ or ‘belief’ could support any expectation of achieving the designation. For these reasons, many non-Prince Hall African American bodies, several of them over 100 years old and still in existence, have ‘by any means necessary’ fabricated histories which could cause an unsuspecting prospective member to ‘believe’ them ‘recognized.’ Still many others have resigned to ignore or otherwise forego the coveted distinction, and relying instead on the Doctrine of Assumption and the merits of their practice, have formed ‘spurious’ Masonic organizations.  Although the ability to claim regularity is a ‘big deal’ within Masonry, it is difficult to state any actual benefits that flow with the designation besides ‘bragging rights’ and the fettered right to visit other regular lodges.” (1)

So we have across the nation thousands of expelled Masons, many of whom were treated unjustly and unfairly. Yet Freemasonry proposes to do nothing about stopping the continuing Masonic purges nor offer any solace for the expelled. Not only will it not stop the injustices but it even refuses to speak out against Grand Lodges who are acting un-Masonically. Mainstream Freemasonry refuses to police itself.

What it does do through the Rite of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction and by other means is to maintain a Mainstream monopoly on Freemasonry in each state. Monopolies in business are notorious offenders. Keeping out competition is the essence of maintaining control and being able to operate without being responsible or answerable or held accountable to anyone, most especially the little people.  What better way to do this than to declare all other formations of Freemasonry in that jurisdiction clandestine and irregular and thus refuse to recognize them. But the day is coming when the government will step in to regulate Freemasonry and the public, especially prospective candidates, will not care about such distinctions.  What they will care about is how well an organization they choose to belong to operates and whether it does so in a legal and moral manner.

(1)  Prince Hall The Christ, by the Ruffians, The Phylaxis Magazine, Third Quarter 2010, pages 14-15.

Fred Milliken,Freemason Information,The Beehive

The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry Inc.

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It had to happen sooner or later.  It was only a matter of time.  All the racism, homophobia, regulations reminiscent of the US Army, the jockeying for power, the behind the scenes maneuvering, “the smoke filled rooms,’ elections that are a sham, dictatorial tyranny, expulsions without a Masonic trial, pulling of Lodge charters and closing down Lodges for no good reason, refusal to Recognize, withdrawals of Recognition, muzzling of Masonic intercourse, charges of irregularity and clandestine activity, Grand Lodges stealing local Lodge’s property and assets,  the blackballing of expelled Masons from every Grand Lodge in the world, secret ballots that kept out blacks but let in the KKK, Freemasonry hijacked by Christian only Masons in some quarters and by secular Masons in other quarters. It seems to mimic our civil politics where one special interest group vies for control and funds versus other special interest groups and where they all proclaim – “It has to be done this way and this way only!”

Why?

That’s the question that Stephen Quest is asking.  Why does it have to be done only one way?  If we are a fraternity of diversity in makeup why can we not be a fraternity in diversity of practice? If some Masons want to form a Christian only Lodge and others want to form an atheist Lodge, as long as they are adhering to the principles of Freemasonry and actually practicing Freemasonry, why can’t they both go ahead and do what they want? If another group of Masons wants to operate a men’s only Lodge and yet still another group wants to admit women while a third Lodge wants to be women only, why not?

Now no matter what was and what is it is ever changing.  And to say that no changes from the Ancient Charges have ever been made or ever can be made is just foolish. One only has to look at “Revolutionary Brotherhood” by scholar Steven Bullock to see how Freemasonry can evolve. The plain fact is that Freemasonry’s violation of civil and gender rights will not forever be permitted by our civil government.  Sooner or later the strong arm of the law will intervene and literally meet Governor Faubus at the school house door, to make an analogy, and override Masonic code. You know it, I know it and Stephen Quest knows it.

Initiated 19 August 1981, Passed 30 September 1981, and Raised 28 October 1981 in Gray Lodge Houston TX, Quest became a member of the Houston Scottish Rite Bodies,  Ruthven Commandery, Arabia Shrine Temple and Bluebell Chapter OES.  Subsequent dual memberships in various lodges around the country notably Glacier Lodge Anchorage, AK and Central Arizona Lodge Sedona, AZ.  He was a founding member of Scientia Coronati Research Lodge.

In 2008 Quest withdrew all memberships to affiliate with The Grand Orient of the United States of America.

Quest has withdrawn from the GOUSA after finding the same “Grand Lodge mentality” that has so much characterized Mainstream Masonry.

“Freemasonry doesn’t work anymore,” proclaims Quest. “It’s time for a new paradigm,” he adds.  “I don’t buy into this anymore. It’s got to devolve back to local Lodge control.”

And this is precisely the problem in Freemasonry today.  It has evolved from a bottom up organization to a top down one that feeds on power and control. At a much earlier time in the history of the Craft, Grand Lodges sat at the will and pleasure of local Lodges wherein the power was concentrated. Today local Lodges sit at the will and pleasure of the Grand Master and owe their very existence to him. One might say we have entered a Masonic era of the cult of personality rather than the assimilation and practice of a philosophy.

This is why Freemasonry is dying, Quest admonishes us. Today’s younger generation are not joining Masonry in large numbers.  Many come, he says, to pay their dues and get their ring never to show up again inside a Lodge building. Perhaps it’s because today’s young will not be dictated to. They will not be treated like children. They will not associate with racists or become part of an organization that refuses to open its doors to Black African Americans.

Quest has had two major mentors in his Masonic journey. First in his investigation of Freemasonry prior to joining he fell in love with the works of Manley P. Hall and the words of this author have imprinted onto his spirit a certain guidance system. Later on Dave Daugherty and his organization the “Knights Of Freemasonry Universal,” (KOFU) served as inspiration and a model for the path he has chosen. Daugherty went on to form the “Masonic Peace Institute,” whose mission finds it intertwined into the thoughts of Quest.

When Quest finally came to the decision that the only course of action left was a complete break with traditional Freemasonry, he blended the philosophy of Hall with the vision and mission of the Knights of Freemasonry Universal and the Masonic Peace Institute to form the Foundation Of Universal Freemasonry (FOUF).

FOUF is a Confederation of Independent Masonic Lodges. Quest calls it the ultimate Masonic paradigm.

“Universal Freemasonry has previously been considered an abstract philosophical concept, The Masonic Ideal to possibly be achieved by future generations. The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry, Inc. has created a new dynamic devolving Masonic authority back down to the Lodge level from whence it came. Gone is the former quagmire of jurisdiction, recognition and regularity. Here now is Fellowship, Equality and Freedom.”

Quest now in Machesney Park, Illinois and working in Wisconsin has formed a 501c(10) corporation for the purpose of chartering Independent Masonic Lodges. “I’m not going to wait for my grandchildren to solve this problem,” says Quest.  “We need a new dynamic to recharge Freemasonry into a 21st century revitalization, one that respects the individual Mason.”

The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry makes few demands on Lodges it charters.  It requires that a minimum of three Master Masons apply for a charter. Once granted the new Lodge must submit its ritual, by-laws and yearly dues of $52. It also must agree that in any matter of disputes as a Lodge that it must submit to a conflict resolution arbitration process provided by FOUF. It must also submit a yearly report. That’s it. Each chartered Lodge can operate under the nonprofit umbrella of the 501c(10) of FOUF.

In forming this Confederation Quest has tried to make it very clear, very plain and very simple that this is not to be a battle or feud with traditional Freemasonry.  We are not at war, he would say, we are at peace. Quest would endorse the words of Abraham Lincoln:

“With malice toward none, with charity for all, …let us strive on to finish the work we are in, …to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations (Grand Lodges).”

He makes that very plain in his statement of Principles:

The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry hereby unilaterally declares itself and its members to be in a state of amity and solidarity with all Freemasons whithersoever dispersed around the globe, regardless of reciprocation.

The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry, while renouncing all previous systems of jurisdiction, recognition and regularity as being archaic and harmful to the full expression of the Masonic Ideal, hereby unilaterally declares itself and its members to be in a state of harmony and peaceful co-existence with all present and future Masonic organizations, regardless of reciprocation.

Today’s Freemasonry operates much like civilly our states did before the Federal Union. In the early years of our country states would affix a tariff on goods coming in from other states. Of course the formation of the United States did away with operating in this manner. Now Quest wants to break down barriers in Freemasonry that serve no particular purpose other than to insulate those in power from responsibility, accountability and the observance of individual Masonic freedom and Rights. The politics of Freemasonry and its method of governance is not Freemasonry.  Rather it is the principles of Freemasonry and its philosophy and daily practice in the world that really is Freemasonry and Quest’s quest is a free expression thereof without hierarchical hindrance that will truly make Freemasonry universal.  And the result will be a truly free Freemasonry with a national American identity not Freemasonry owing allegiance to 51 different fiefdoms.

Statement of Principles

The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry, Inc.

A Confederation of Independent Masonic Lodges

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the Masonic family is the foundation of Universal Freemasonry, and

Whereas disregard and contempt for these rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of our Fraternity, and the advent of a world in which all Freemasons shall enjoy freedom of speech, belief and association has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the Masonic Ideal, and

Whereas it is essential, if a Freemason is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that freedom of speech, belief and association should be protected by a common unifying influence, and

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between all members of the Masonic family, and

Whereas the members of The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry have in their founding documents reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of fellowship in larger freedom, and

Whereas the members of The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry have pledged themselves to achieve the promotion of Universal Freemasonry and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now therefore, The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry proclaims this Statement of Principles as a common standard of achievement for all Freemasons, to the end that every individual Freemason and every Masonic Lodge, keeping this statement constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the members of this organization and among Freemasons of all Obediences.

Article 1. The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry hereby unilaterally declares itself and its members to be in a state of amity and solidarity with all Freemasons whithersoever dispersed around the globe, regardless of reciprocation.

Article 2. The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry, while renouncing all previous systems of jurisdiction, recognition and regularity as being archaic and harmful to the full expression of the Masonic Ideal, hereby unilaterally declares itself and its members to be in a state of harmony and peaceful co-existence with all present and future Masonic organizations, regardless of reciprocation.

Article 3. All Freemasons are created equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of love, peace and harmony.

Article 4. All Freemasons are entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Statement of Principles, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Article 5. All Freemasons have the right of freedom of association, freedom of visitation and freedom of membership in any and all organizations as their interests guide them.

Article 6. All Freemasons have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his or her religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his or her religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 7. All Freemasons have the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 8. All Freemasons are entitled in full equality to a fair hearing by an independent mediator, in the determination of his or her rights and obligations and of any charge against them.

Article 9. The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry shall issue Warrants of Dispensation to form Chapters upon application by any one Master Mason.

Article 10. The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry shall issue Charters to form Lodges and make Masons upon application by any three Master Masons.

Article 11. As the Lodge is the fundamental organizational unit of Freemasonry, Lodges chartered by The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry shall operate according to their own adopted By-Laws free from interference.

Article 12. Lodges chartered by The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry shall be religious, secular, masculine, feminine or mixed-gender according to the desires of its members.

Article 13. Lodges chartered by The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry shall be free to adopt its own Masonic Ritual and work in any language.

Article 14. Members of Lodges chartered by The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry agree to submit to a conflict resolution process to be established by an impartial mediation panel. The services of the mediation panel will be available to all Freemasons regardless of their Jurisdiction, Obedience, or Constitution.

Article 15. All Freemasons are encouraged to participate in the social and cultural life of the community and all Lodges chartered by The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry shall adopt at least one project per year that benefits the community as a whole outside of Lodge activities.

Article 16. Lodges chartered by The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry shall be open to visitation by all Master Masons regardless of their Jurisdiction, Obedience, or Constitution, subject to a pledge of silence regarding the workings of the Lodge.

Article 17. There shall be an Annual Communication of The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry which will rotate geographically. At least one day of the meeting shall be open to the public for recognition and participation of all interested Masonic visitors.

Article 18. The Annual Communication of The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry shall have an Altar upon which will be placed A Blank Book and The World Scriptures.

Article 19. The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry hereby adopts The Declaration of the Masonic Peace Institute as a part of this document.

Declaration of the Masonic Peace Institute

To: All Inhabitants on Earth

We, the members and supporters of the Masonic Peace Institute,
are committed to the peaceful coexistence of all peoples
no matter where dispersed

To this end we will toil spreading the cement of love and affection throughout humanity
We will work with any like-minded individuals and/or groups, no matter their nationality, culture, color, sex, language, rank, race, residence, or religion

We furthermore, affirm and promote:

The equal dignity and rights of all people
The pursuit of peace, liberty, justice, and compassion for all

The right to the values of enlightenment, through
education and unbiased information

Peaceful conflict resolution

Truth as expressed in all cultures
and recognized by all human beings

Taking responsibility for the consequence of all action,
processes and understanding

The truth as expressed in all religions, philosophy and cultures,
but proselytizing none

The men & women, of all times and from all nations, who have promoted
or do now, promote peaceful civilization

The principles of equality found in the theories of democracy,
without proselytizing any political agenda, action or system

To these ends we will act to:

Establish relations with other national and international peace
organizations

Participate in worldwide events representing the humanitarian
vision of democracy and peace

Conduct surveys or research and disseminate information

Become involved in peace processes where possible, proposing,
participating in, and supporting peace talks and conflict resolution

Support like minded individuals and organizations

May Love, Peace and Harmony Prevail

Article 20. The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry, Inc. has been formed as a 501(c)10

Non-Profit Corporation under the laws of the State of Wisconsin and of the United States of America, dedicated to the cause of Universal Freemasonry and service to the community.

Article 21. This Statement of Principles shall be incorporated into all founding documents including Warrants of Dispensation and Lodge Charters and shall forever stand as written.

Dated this 11th day of February 2011 at Madison Wisconsin, United States of America.

I have a good friend and Brother in Canada heavily ensconced in its Grand Lodge system, who after reviewing the mess in Arkansas and West Virginia had this to say:

Looking at a lot of the complaints against this or that Grand Lodge, and the rising tides of frustration, it becomes increasingly persuasive to consider ditching the Grand Lodge System entirely, and having like-minded Masons simply create independent, individually Masonically sovereign lodges, as was the case before the formation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717.

The ancient, “immemorial right” would be exercised. In fact, there is US precedent: George Washington’s lodge, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, was I believe an independent lodge…

Imagine Masonic life and lodges with no Grand anyone, no Grand Lodge rules to follow, and no levies or dues to Grand Lodge. Imagine a Masonic lodge entirely self-governing in ritual, business, regalia, membership and all other Masonic activities….

The concept could also be applied nationally, in which case one would create an Independent United States Lodge, and it would meet, say once every two months, in different locations around the country.

Now, there is a truly revolutionary concept. To coin a phrase, “If this be treason, make the most of it!”

Maybe just maybe if it is time for Mubarak in Egypt to go it is time for 51 power hungry Grand Lodges to go. For under its present constitution today, Freemasonry will not take its philosophy seriously nor will it allow its bonding to become universal. But the Foundation Of Universal Freemasonry will.

We leave you with a charge.  Isn’t that how all great Masonic gatherings are ended?  This charge by Stephen Quest himself will hopefully inspire you to open new doors in the practice of this ancient and beautiful Craft we call Freemasonry.

 

The Building Of King Solomon’s Third Temple

by Stephen Quest

The Temple is in rubble, the Crafts are in confusion, and all hope appears to
have been lost. For those Craftspersons who have been traveling the road to
Jerusalem for any length of time at all, it is not that difficult to understand
the reason why.  Freemasonry was never intended to be practiced from the
top down or bottom up, and as a result neither of those methods have ever
been successful in bringing the Fraternity to realize its full potential, nor will
they ever be.  Freemasonry is not about rules and regulations; it is a matter
of the heart.  Freemasonry was intended to be practiced upon the level.

Before the Third Temple of King Solomon can be built the foundation must
be laid, and before the foundation can be laid the ground must be leveled.
All any true Freemason desires is to have the freedom to practice what is
felt in the heart and to have a place to do it. We stand at the threshold of a
dream. Although our principals are timeless, if we do not step boldly into the
future, the full potential of our beloved Freemasonry may be relegated to the
dust bin of historic lore. While the world is quickly moving forward our Crafts
are being left behind. However all hope has not been lost. The system that
appears to be a stumbling block to our progress is actually the stepping
stone into our future. There exists the prerogative to introduce Freemasonry
to its destiny by fiat. Who among you having Freemasonry in your heart, will
also have the courage of your convictions? Who among you will be the FIRST
to put down the setting maul and pick up the trowel?

Fred Milliken,Freemason Information,The Beehive

The Masonic Funeral Service Done Well

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Question, what is the most important function of a Masonic Lodge?  Is it initiating new members, taking care of widows and orphans, community charity, providing scholarships, marching in parades, esoteric study, brotherly bonding?

The answer is none of the above.  The most important function of a Masonic Lodge is to bury its dead. The Masonic funeral service is the most important act of compassion and service that a Masonic Lodge can perform for a Freemason and his family.

Yet too often not enough preparation, practice and elocution go into its performance. It’s often just one more chore, one more duty in the awesome responsibilities of a Worshipful Master.

Obtaining permission to ceremoniously bury members of the Black community in the 1770’s was a major concern of Prince Hall and prompted him to seek out Freemasonry to help him accomplish this end. It has been said by many scholars that way back in the operation of early English and Scottish Lodges, before the formation of the Grand Lodge of England, a funeral ceremony was part of their modus operandi.

If so then the best way for us to honor our grieving Brother’s family and the best way to honor our commitment to God and the best way to follow through with who we really are is to do justice to the ceremony of honoring and saying goodbye to a Brother who has been called to the Celestial Lodge above.

As you watch this video, see in it the fulfillment of that Masonic obligation well done.  And think about in your own Lodge of perhaps forming a Masonic Funeral Team who will memorize the service and deliver it with the feeling and the sincerity that befits a Mason and that will do justice to the departing Brother and to God who sits and reins in the heavenly Grand East forever and forever.

lion of the tribe of judah, Jesus, lion statue

The Lion’s Paw

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Brother Wayne Anderson of Canada sends out a weekly Newsletter on Sundays to anybody who wants to be put on his mailing list. He often sends out some works by H.L. Haywood, one of his favorites.  If you would like to be put on Brother Anderson’s newsletter mailing list please do not hesitate to contact him.

Wayne Anderson, FCF, MPS

This weeks newsletter was on a subject that I have always found fascinating and demonstrates how interwoven with history Freemasonry is.

lion of the tribe of judah, Jesus, lion statue

A lion of Judah sculpture at a synagogue in Florida.

The Lions Paw

By H. L. Haywood

The Mackey Encyclopædia article on this subject is very brief, as may be seen from the following: “A mode of recognition so called because of the rude resemblance made by the hand and fingers to a lion’s paw. It refers to the ‘Lion of the tribe of Judah.'” This is true as far as it goes, but it doesn’t go far enough, for it leaves unanswered the questions of origin and interpretation. Nor does the companion article on the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” give us much more information. If Mackey refrained from saying more because he knew no more we can sympathize with him, seeing that at this late day there is still very little known about the matter. But we have learned something since Mackey wrote, enough maybe, to set us on the track toward a satisfactory understanding of the matter.

Owing to its appeal to the imagination, and to the fear and reverence it has ever aroused, the lion has often been a favorite with symbolists, especially religious symbolists. Our modern anthropologists and folk-lore experts have furnished us with numberless examples of this, even among primitive folk now living, who are sometimes found worshiping the animal. Among the early peoples of India the lion was often used, and generally with the same significance, as standing for “the divine spirit in man.” Among the early Egyptians it was still more venerated, as may be learned from their monuments, their temples, and especially their sphinxes; if we may trust our authorities in the matter, the Nile dwellers used it as a symbol of the life-giving power of the sun and the sun’s ability to bring about the resurrection of vegetation in the spring time. In some of the sculpture left by the Egyptians to illustrate the rites of the Egyptian Mysteries the candidate is shown lying on a couch shaped like a lion from which he is being raised from the dead level to a living perpendicular. The bas-reliefs at Denderah make this very plain, though they represent the god Osiris being raised instead of a human candidate. “Here,” writes J. E. Harrison in her very interesting little book on “Ancient Art and Ritual,” “the God is represented first as a mummy swathed and lying flat on his bier. Bit by bit he is seen raising himself up in a series of gymnastically impossible positions, till he rises . . . all but erect, between the outstretched wings of Isis, while before him a male figure holds the Crux Ansata, the ‘cross with a handle,’ the Egyptian symbol of life.”

The crux ansata was, as Miss Harrison truly says, the symbol of life. Originally a stick, with a cross-piece at the top for a handle, it was used to measure the overflow of the Nile: but inasmuch as it was this overflow that carried fertility into Egypt, the idea of a life-giving power gradually became transferred to the instrument itself, in the same manner that we attribute to a writer’s “pen” his ability to use words. A few of our Masonic expositors, among whom Albert Pike may be numbered, have seen in the crux ansata the first form of that Lion’s Paw by which the Masonic Horus is raised. If this be the case, the Lion’s Paw is a symbol of life-giving power, an interpretation which fits in very well with our own position as outlined in the two preceding sections.

But it is also possible to trace the Lion’s Paw symbolism to another source. Among the Jews the lion was sometimes used as the emblem of the Tribe of Judah; as the Messiah was expected to spring from that Tribe the Lion was also made to refer to him, as may be seen in the fifth verse of the fifth chapter of the Book of Revelation, where Jesus Christ is called the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” It was from this source, doubtless, that the Comacines, the great Cathedral Builders of the Middle Ages, who were always so loyal to the Scriptures, derived their habitual use of the lion in their sculptures. Of this, Leader Scott, the great authority on the Comacines, writes that, “My own observations have led me to the opinion that in Romanesque or Transition architecture, i.e., between A.D. 1000 and 1200, the lion is to be found between the columns and the arch—the arch resting upon it. In Italian Gothic, i.e., from A.D. 1200 to 1500, it is placed beneath the column. In either position its significance is evident. In the first, it points to Christ as the door of the church; in the second, to Christ, the pillar of faith, springing from the tribe of Judah.” Since the cathedral builders were in all probability among the ancestors of Freemasons it is possible that the Lion symbolism was inherited from the Comacines.

During the cathedral building period, when symbolism was flowering out on all sides in mediæval life, the lion was one of the most popular figures in the common animal mythology, as may be learned from the Physiologus, the old book in which that mythology has been preserved. According to this record, the people believed that the whelps of the lioness were born dead and that at the end of three days she would howl above them until they were awakened into life. In this the childlike people saw a symbol of Christ’s resurrection after He had lain dead three days in the tomb; from this it naturally resulted that the lion came to be used as a symbol of the Resurrection, and such is the significance of the picture of a lion howling above the whelps, so often found in the old churches and cathedrals.

The early Freemasons, so the records show, read both these meanings,—Christ and Resurrection,—into the symbol as they used it. And when we consider that most of Freemasonry was Christian in belief down at least to the Grand Lodge era, it is reasonable to suppose that the Lion symbol may have been one of the vestiges of that early belief carried over into the modern system. If this be the case the Lion’s Paw has the same meaning, whether we interpret it, with Pike, as an Egyptian symbol, or with Leader Scott, as a Christian emblem, since it stands for the life-giving power, a meaning that perfectly accords with its use in the Third Degree. This also brings it into harmony with our interpretation of Eternal Life for in both its Egyptian and its Christian usages it refers to a raising up to life in this world, and not to a raising in the world to come.

10,000 French Masons Seek to Defect to Grand Lodge of Spain

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symbols2-sSuch is the headline from the online Spanish newspaper El Confidencial.

Freemasons in the Grand Lodge of France (GLNF) are livid with French Grand Master Francois Stifani for entering the political arena and are threatening to desert to the Grand Lodge of Spain (GLE).

GM Stifani wrote in a letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy:

“I will help you everything you need in your projects, as Masons do my obedience to you. You are the first president with whom we fully agree. And you can count on our order to carry out its future reforms.”

In a rough translation from El Confidencial Sarkozy reportedly wrote back:

“I trust you certify and support given to me, comfort me in my determination to continue the reform movement initiated to bring our country to new emergencies and give it a place in the evolution of the world.”

The issue in the GLNF resulted in GM Sifani refusing to call Grand Lodge into Session to debate the issue, his resignation as President of GLNF while keeping his Presidency of the organization or foundation.

Now the French Masons are in court to bring the issue to a head (shades of Frank Haas).

Meanwhile some GLNF members have contacted the Spanish GLE as to the likelihood of joining the Spanish Grand Lodge.

Spain has recently emerged from its own Masonic problems with current Grand Master Oscar Alfonso cleaning up the mess left by the previous Grand Master Jose Carretero.

I wonder what this all has to say about the Right of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction that some American scholars have written originated in Europe?