Float like a butterfly, sting like a Bee!
Welcome to The Beehive and 21st Century Masonry. The Bee Hive is to be inspiring, provocative, and controversial. It will also be a place of sharing Brotherly Love and Affection. This is where we forge ahead full speed and damn the torpedoes.
Fred is a Past Master of Plymouth Lodge, Plymouth Massachusetts, and Past Master of Paul Revere Lodge, Brockton, Massachusetts. Presently, he is a member of Pride of Mt. Pisgah No. 135, Prince Hall Texas, where is he is also a Prince Hall Knight Templar . Fred is a Fellow of the Phylaxis Society and Executive Director of the Phoenix Masonry website and museum.
Read an interview with Fred from 2014 – Recognition, History and the Masonic Path Least Traveled with the Man and Freemason
The magic of the Internet. Suddenly on my page, The Beehive appears. A story on 5 reasons NOT to become a Mason, and one reason to become a Mason. I read the story and found it interesting. Some myths were solved. AS a Mason, I understand. But, it was the author’s name that really caught my eye, once I got to the end the story. And that is Mr. Milliken Well, Mr. Milliken, my last name is my father’s. My mother’s maiden name is Millikan. Yes, you are probably aware it is spelled that way too. And there are lots of my relatives all over the US and I have never met them. So, do you know if you have any Southern roots, of any kind?
Dear Bro:. Milliken,
I am a Master Mason raised at King Hiram Lodge No. 12 in Shelton, CT in 1989 and a retired journalist and published author. I have labored in France (where I was born), Israel, Barbados, Grenada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. I was unanimously inducted into the Grand Lodge of Honduras for humanitarian work I did on behalf of homeless children and persecuted indigenous minorities. Currently living in southern California, we were planning to retire in Arkansas where the cost of living harmonizes with our very modest means. Your article about Freemasonry in that state is alarming and bears witness to a recent and shocking experience.
I contacted a lodge (I won’t mention names) and was very warmly greeted until I mentioned, in passing, that I was a Holocaust survivor. The Worshipful Master and Secretary’s demeanor turned from Brotherly Love to cold indifference. I have not heard from them since. Given Arkansas’ violent racism and xenophobia, I am no longer sure I want to live there.
Anything you might be willing to add or clarify would be immensely useful. I thank you in advance.
Fraternally,
W. (Willy) E. Gutman
weg27@att.net