Cross Keys January 2020 (Freemasonry)

The Cross Keys December 2019

Cross Keys December 2019

The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242

Number 223

From the Editor Now that the Christmas season has passed and we head into what many people see as a depressing part of the year, we should look forward to events in 2020 usually starting with Burns Supper all over the country.

I have no doubt at all that many lodges have events coming up and if you would like anything special advertised, then please drop me an email.

Personally I believe the Craft is in a good condition and as far as the Scottish Craft is concerned, definitely heading in the right direction with a great deal to be proud of—a great example is raising over £550,000 for Prostate Scotland which will be reported more fully later in the year.

400 years ago the Mayflower set sail to the US for a new life—let’s make 2020 special!

Grant

Cover—Frontispiece to Batty Langley’s The Builder’s Jewel on P.18

The Cross Keys is a free magazine distributed across the many countries in order to spread the good (and sometimes not so good) qualities of the Craft. All views are of individual brothers and not any organised body.

Editor: Bro. N. Grant Macleod PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 PM of The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 Past Provincial Grand Secretary of the Province of Renfrewshire East.

Proof Reader: Bro. Allan Stobo PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 Treasurer 242

In this issue: 3 4 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Influences on the Ritual The Copiale Manuscript Bro. Tom Vallance RFC William Blake Interesting Letter Lodge in Estonia The GL Diploma St. Andrew Statue Three Chairs Gleanings—St. John’s Day Bro. Chang Woo Gow The Builder’s Jewel Spiritual Alchemy New PGM of Glasgow Platinum Certificate SGRAC Letter Grand Lodge News January Meetings Thursday 9th FC Degree

by OBs

Thursday 23rd MM Degree

by OBs 7.30pm start

All Scottish Constitution.

Cross Keys December 2019

Influences on our Ritual The following are various thoughts about other influences on rituals across Europe.

simple means in the hands of nature to duly reverence , worship , and adore nature's God.

The Freemason, 16th April, 1887: I do not think much of the historical value of this account, but in one point it seems to be of greater interest—I mean the pretended influence of the so-called Rosicrucians on Freemasonry. Connecting our account in this point with Samber's preface to his “Long Livers” with the preface to "The Secret History of the Free-Masons" (London, 1924) and with Bro. Oakly's speech of 1728, we are inclined to agree that during the decade from 1720 to 1730 a kind of Rosicrucian or Hermetic influence must have taken place in the lodges of London and there are indeed some things in the ritual and terminology of Masonry after 1730 that cannot be derived at all from Operative lodges , but are taken from the works of Rosicrucians and Cabbalists. In all cases it is of some importance to have a new proof that at that period people believed in this influence and that Freemasons themselves boasted of their connection with Rosicrucians.

Frances Yates argues that John Dee (Queen Elizabeth 1’s mathematician) was responsible for "the idea of a kind of pre-masonry," which merged English chivalric and alchemical ideas with the Stuart dynasty, a theme that was carried further by the Rosicrucian Freemason, Elias Ashmole.

By Dr. V.V. Begemann, Rostock, Mecklenburg, Germany The Freemasons' Quarterly Review, June 30, 1843 (Page 31): Until the year 1780, there were to be found here and there Freemasons' Lodges in which alchemy was practised. Although it never formed any part of the science , yet there were men to be found, and amongst them Freemasons, who employed themselves as alchemists, who if they could not make gold in the crucible, knew how to swindle it in considerable quantities from their credulous dupes . A Freemason is directed to study the wonderful and stupendous works of nature ; not that he may be enabled to make gold , but that he may prepare himself, by comparing the beautiful effects produced by apparently the most

Cross Keys December 2019

The first alchemical work by John Dee’s son (Arthur) was Fasciculus chemicus: or Chymical collections in 1650 and was published by Bro. Ashmole under the pseudonym James Hasolle. Immediately, attention is drawn to the sun, star and moon at the top—clear similarities with the lodge. A cause for much thought.

The Copiale Manuscript Bro. Part 1 Ciphers, cryptography, secret codes, modes of recognition; these are all some of the more fascinating and genuinely hidden parts of the Masonic tradition. Indeed, much information and misinformation surrounding our fraternity has stemmed from our use of a cipher to communicate and keep record of our ritual.

Freemasons of course are not the only group or society that has used this method of written obfuscation throughout history. Many cryptographic codes and ciphers have eluded translation through the centuries, having lost the necessary oral tradition that is often the key to translating these seemingly obscure texts.

One such complex example is the “Copiale Manuscript.” A 105 page 75,000 word, handwritten tome created in the 1730’s. It is filled with abstract symbols, and what appears to be Greek and Roman characters. In addition to the ciphered text, the book ends with the plain text; “Copiales 3” and “Philipp 1866” written in the cover. Other than alluding to an owner of the book, and “Copiales” loosely translating to “copy No.3,” there were no other clues to the code. Discovered in an East German library around 1970, the Copiale cipher has puzzled many cryptographers over the last 4 decades, and was considered unbreakable, or even a hoax.

In spring of 2011, two cryptographers (Kevin Knight, a local USC specialist in machine translation, and Swedish scientist, Christiane Schaefer) met at a conference on computer learning. Schaefer had received the manuscript some years earlier from a friend as something of a challenge, but like those before her, she had no luck in extracting its se-

Cross Keys December 2019

crets. Seeing Knight’s passion for cryptography and his unique approach to the computer based learning of symbols and languages, Schaefer slipped Knight a copy of the Copiale Cipher along with the note “Here comes the top-secret manuscript!! It seems more suitable for long dark Swedish winter nights than for sunny California days—but then you’ve got your hardworking and patient machines!”

Knight got to work. First, he began the painstaking work of transcribing the key symbols by hand into a format that a computer could read. Next, the machines got to work applying his algorithm. Eventually as he continued to hand transcribe the first 16 pages of the tome into his software, some patterns began to emerge. Finding 10 unique character clusters that repeated through these pages, Knight realized this was not a complex hoax; there was hope of a solution. He continued to work nights on the puzzle, writing down possible cracks in the cipher’s armor. Adding to the complexity was that Knight didn’t know a lick of German, the likely language he was working to decipher. But that detail didn’t matter to the computers or his algorithm.

On March 26th, Knight reviewed his work.

The first phrase had revealed itself: “Der candidat antwortet.”

The Copiale Manuscript Part 1 (ctd) The biggest breakthrough was the realization that the Roman letters scattered throughout the manuscript were not actually meant to be translated. They were indicators of spaces or breaks between words, intended to throw the reader off the scent. With that piece of critical information, and one phrase the brick wall of code began to crumble.

The hidden meaning behind the hidden meaning is a theme throughout our ritual and is exactly what we mean by “esoteric”.

The Copiale manuscript is an amazing example of how we can peel back layers and layers of these historic and esoteric documents to reveal deeper truths.

What was revealed was a substitution cipher.

Not a “one to one” substitution, but rather a homophonic code. Each ciphertext character does represent a clear, plaintext character, but several glyphs or characters could represent the same word, or multiple words. Some singular ciphertext characters might even stand for an entire word. This may sound familiar to some readers of this column.

Part 2 will follow in February which is related to the Scottish Master Degree.

“The Master wears an amulet with a blue eye in the center. Before him, a candidate kneels in the candlelit room, surrounded by microscopes and surgical implements. The Master places a piece of paper in front of the candidate and orders him to put on a pair of eyeglasses.

‘Read.’ says the Master. It is an impossible task.

The page is blank. Told not to panic; there is hope for his vision to improve. The Master wipes the candidate’s eyes with a cloth and orders the surgery to commence. The members on the sidelines raise their candles high, and the master begins to pluck at the eyebrows of the candidate. ‘Try reading again.’ The first page is replaced with another during the procedure, filled with text. Congratulations, my brother. Now you can see.”

This is just a small section of the translated ritual contained in the Copiale cipher, possibly providing a glimpse at one of the many secret societies of the time, and their use of tools to educate their candidates in ways of their order.

Cross Keys December 2019

Bro. Tom Vallance RFC Any brother who attended the Founders’ Trail Night in 242 will know Bro. Tom Vallance of Rangers Football Club. Bro. Tom was a ‘gallant pioneer’ of Rangers and woked tirelessly to see the club become the most successful club in Scotland.

Tom Vallance was born on 27th May 1856 at Succoth Farmhouse in the parish of Cardross. Succoth Lodge which has replaced the original farm building sits just off the Old Renton Road on the top of a hill. In his early years, the Vallance family moved to Shandon, north of Rhu. It has been suggested that it was here that he became friends with the McNeils who are also the founding fathers.

During the 1870's he moved to Glasgow to work as a civil engineer and then became a mechanical engineer working in a number of the Clyde shipyards.

He was accomplished in so many fields. Arguably, the most outstanding Scottish footballer of his era, he also held the Scottish long jump record for many years and was a keen rower.

Tom was a hugely impressive physical man, standing six feet two inches at a time when the average Scottish male was about five feet seven inches in height. He was, though, a gentle giant. He was an accomplished artist with exhibits being accepted on two occasions by the Royal Scottish Academy. He was also a prize-winner for the breeding of birds and dogs.

He started playing football with some fellow rowers on Glasgow Green in order to keep fit.

He quickly became aware of the team started Cross Keys December 2019

Vallance played for Rangers for nine seasons at right back with such distinction that he was made captain in 1876.

He made his first appearance for Scotland in 1877, in a 3-1 victory over England at the Kennington Oval. He would face the “Auld Enemy” on three further occasions, including victories of 7-2 in 1878 and 6-1, in 1881. His Rangers colleagues, George Gillespie and David Hill, played in that match, the latter scoring Scotland’s second goal. Tom also had three victories over the Welsh to think back on in his twilight years.

In February 1882, Tom Vallance made the bold decision to seek out a new career in the tea plantations of the northeastern Indian state of Assam. It was a move that nearly cost Tom his life. Within a few months of arriving in India, the great athlete was struck down by a form of malaria. He made the decision to return to Scotland.

He played three times for Rangers in 1883/84 season but it was clear the illness had taken its toll of Tom’s health. His final game in his beloved light blue was in a 9-2 victory over Abercorn at Kinning Park.

In retrospect, it can be argued that Tom Vallance’s contribution to the fortunes of Rangers was greater off the field of play than on it. During Vallance’s time in India, John Wallace Mackay had come to power in the role of Honorary Match Secretary; power he would wield to the great detriment of the Club. Tom was appointed Club President in 1883, the first of six seasons in the role. His …...

Bro. Tom Vallance RFC (ctd) commitment to the role achieved great support for him in his battle to control the excesses of the greatly unpopular Mackay Tom Vallance has now taken his rightful place at the top of the Marble Staircase alongside his friends and fellow Founders (right). He was a Master Mason of Lodge Govandale 437 and an affiliate member of Lodge Plantation No.581 both still walking distance from Ibrox Stadium.

My thanks to the PGL Glasgow for the information about Bro. Tom.

Provincial Grand Lodge of Edinburgh On behalf of PGLE, Bro. Norman MacLeod PGM had the pleasure of presenting Ian McWhirter from MND Scotland with a cheque for ÂŁ20,500 last month.

The PGM wishes to place on record his

grateful thanks to all brethren and lodges for there continuing support of our chosen charity.

This dreadful disease was brought to

light with Rangers star, Fernando Ricksen’s incredibly brave fight against the disease which eventually took him too.

Also ex Rangers player David Hagen has just be diagnosed with MND. Well done to the Edinburgh brethren.

Cross Keys December 2019

William Blake The painting known as The Ancient of Days by Blake is well known and has appeared in many masonic books. This depicts God with the compasses overseeing the world. However, a less well known painting appeared in his book Jerusalem in 1821, although it dates from approximately 1790, is possibly more relevant (see below right).

The placement of the three figures, with the sun on the left, the moon on the right and the compasses (tongs?), in the middle, we find a composition which exactly reflects early tracing boards in which these emblems are placed, repeatedly, at fixed points (See below left). Furthermore, these three symbols in Blake’s illustration are associated with three figures, which recalls certain Masonic catechism questions from Authentic Key to the Door of Free-Masonry, such as: Q. When you were shown the light, what did you see?

A. Three great Lights.

Q. What do those three great Lights signify?

A. The Sun, the Moon & the Grand-Master of the Lodge.

While there is no evidence that Blake himself was a Freemason, his involvement and engagement with radical Swedenborgianism in the late 1780s could well have brought him into contact with ‘Masonic mystico-religion’ through his friends in the Theosophical Society. It could also be a mathematical connotation at that time; whether he was in the Craft or not is irrelevant, but we can enjoy his painting which may have been influenced from our Craft.

Cross Keys December 2019

An Interesting Letter In a letter sent from Edinburgh on 30th September, 1745, the Duke of Perth wrote to Lord Oglivie about a secret ceremony in Holyrood Palace: It is truly a proud thing to see our Prince again in the Palace of his Fathers, with all the best blood of Scotland around him. He is much beloved of all souls, and we cannot fail to make pestilent England smoke for it… on Tuesday, by appointment, there was a solemn Chapter of the ancient chivalry of the Temple of Jerusalem, held in the audience room—not more than ten Knights were present, for since my Lord of Marr demitted the Office of Grand Master, no general meeting has been called, save in your North Convent. Our noble Prince looked most gallantly in the white robe of the Order, and took the profession like a worthy knight; and…did vow that he would restore the Temple higher than in the days of William the Lyon. Then my Lord Athol did demit as Regent, and his Royal Highness was elected G Master. I wrote you this knowing how you love the Order…

In 1722 Lord Marr had indeed established in Scotland "a new military order of knighthood," which was called "the restoration order." With the approval of James VIII and III, the Order aimed to restore to Scotland "its ancient military spirit" and to reward "the chiefs of the clans" who "act heartily in our service." As a freemason, Marr may have infused Masonic elements into this order. After Marr’s death in 1732, the Grand Masters Maclean and Derwentwater tried to transform their Masonic lodges into an order of chivalry. By 1738 hostile stories appeared in the popular press accusing these "new knights" of attempting to revive the Knights Templar and employing magical and heretical rites to enhance their powers.

Though the authenticity of Perth’s letter to Ogilvie has been disputed by anti-Jacobite Cross Keys December 2019

Masonic writers, the story was evidently carried to Sweden by Magnus Wilhelm Armfelt, a veteran of Culloden, who returned to his Swedish regiment, and by Lord Ogilvie, who fled to Gothenburg, where he was welcomed by the Swedish Masons who also tried to send a rescue mission for "Bonnie Prince Charlie." When he arrived in France, Ogilvie’s new regiment, composed of Scottish exiles and visiting Swedes, practiced special Stuart Masonic rites, which were also carried to Sweden. That Charles Edward did indeed serve as the titular head of the Royal Order of Écossais Masonry, in collaboration with the Duke of Clermont, Grand Master of France, is documented in French and English correspondence in the 1760s and 70s. But nowhere was the belief in his Grand Mastership stronger than in Sweden.

In the 1770s, King Gustaf III and his brothers, the Dukes of Soudermania and of Ostrogothia, who had been moulded as royalist Masons and the Grand Master Carl Scheffer, corresponded with Charles Edward, and they affirmed his role as Chief of the Templar Order.

Lodge at Tatari 23-25 Tallinn, Estonia

Looking to East

The lodge was designed by the Finnish architect by Bro. Antii Ilmari Talvitie and consecrated in May 2012. It took 3 years planning and one year in construction, but worth the wait. It has computer controlled lighting and unbelievable seating—see the master’s chair! Now this will most definitely make a lasting impression on a candidate!

Cross Keys December 2019

Looking to West

The Grand Lodge Diploma Although this has been covered before, it’s worth mentioning again for new candidates. There is much symbolism in the certificate of the high and sublime degree of a MM – the highest degree in Freemasonry. Starting at the top is the title used by GL. You will note the spelling of antient – a ‘t’ not a ‘c’. This is the old spelling first used in the masonic documents known as the Schaw Statutes of 1598 and 1599 which can be viewed at GL. Below the title is the sun and moon with the all seeing eye in the centre; the sun to rule the day, the moon to govern the night and the all seeing eye representing God TGAOTU. The 7 stars represent the 7 liberal arts and sciences indicating that we should strive to make a daily advance in masonic knowledge.

The banner states “Let

there be light and there

was light” taken from

the Book of Genesis, the

first book of the OT. It

alludes to the man who

has left the darkness of

the outside world and

has been initiated into

the light of Freemason-

ry.

Similar to the EATB,

the 3 columns represent

the D, I and C columns

of the SW, the master

and the JW and also W,

S and B. At their bases

are the WT

the

square, level and plumb

rule of the master and

wardens. Between them

is the carpet reminding

us of the opposites that

we encounter in life’s

journey and that we

strive to make the right

choice. On the carpet is

–

the rough ashlar with the tools of an EA and a lambskin apron. On the other side is the prefect ashlar with the FC’s tools. This represents the journey of the young apprentice trying to become a perfected

MM through diligent work. In front of the I pillar are the MM’s tools and plan which we require throughout life.

At the front centre, are the 3 great lights – the VSL with the s and c resting thereon with which you

are very familiar. This symbolic lodge rests on 3 steps alluding to the master and wardens, the 3 degrees, F, H & C and many others. Underneath is the GL seal granted by Lord Lyon, King of Arms in 1986.

Cross Keys December 2019

The minute of 22nd February, 1812 is governed by the Depute Master and signed by the Treasurer Three brethren, including the Laird’s Clerk William Loch, were raised. Interestingly, the lodge is called The Houstoun St. Johnstone Lodge with no number ever mentioned. This is an unusual format for most Scottish lodges which often have the term ‘lodge’ used at the beginning of the name. 242 eventually followed this format for some reason, but it was not the name during this era. Bro. Lock would eventually become master in 1821-23.

The Porter’s Lodge, Stornoway James Matheson bought the Isle of Lewis in 1844 for £190,000 and decided to build a new Seaforth Lodge called Lews Castle.

The famous Glasgow architect, Charles Wilson, was employed .

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone was conducted

by Lodge Seaforth—this is shown on a magnificent painting which still hangs in the lodge in Kenneth Street. The opening to the new castle is shown with The Porter’s Lodge.

Cross Keys December 2019

Amazing 19th Century Chairs In 1828, Bro. Edward Blackburn was commissioned to make three Royal Arch Chapter Principal chairs costing no more than £25 which equates to about £630 per chair. It would appear that they may have been designed with a joint purpose with the lodge’s working tools on them too although the level and plumb appears on two of the chairs.

They are shown from left as the 3rd, 2nd and 1st Principal or the JW, SW and master having the triangle, 5 pointed star and seal of Solomon respectively. The lodge and the chapter meets in Uppermill in the Province of Yorkshire West Riding and is well worth a visit.

Cross Keys December 2019

Abbey RA Chapter No.76 (April 1874) The Abbey Chapter in Paisley, which was only recently resuscitated put two candidates through their “Mark and Excellent Degree,” opened with William Guy (PM 242, shown) acting as First Principal. In fact the only Office Bearer 76 had was the Second Principal—all others were from other chapters.

Mention was made of the deaths and disappearance of many companions for various reasons and that the chapter was struggling, but hoped with the help of others chapters, they would pull through. However, Comp. Guy was congratulated as he was the leading figures in all parts of the ceremonies (as he was in the various Craft degrees around the Province).

A later edition will expand on this well known freemason of the time.

Strange things…..

Ginger bread men and body art—well, what can you say?!!!!!

Cross Keys December 2019

Gleanings—St. John’s Day The striking coincidence of the date of St. John the Evangelist's day with the date of Christmas cannot escape the most casual observation. This coincidence is not an accident. The Lodge festival of Freemasonry in Scotland and the religious festival of Christmas hark back to the same original.

As December progresses and the days grow shorter, the nights longer and cold increases. This process reaches its climax at the end of the month, when the sun, after having been moving steadily toward the south, turns again toward the north, reminding us that Spring is once again on its way. To ancient peoples this meant far more than it does to us. They welcomed the event of the sun's return with rejoicing and thanksgiving.

All European peoples made festivals of the occasion. The best known of these was the Roman Saturnalia. According to the Julian calendar the winter solstice fell on December 25th that it is the shortest day of the year and that date was regarded as the Nativity of the Sun, not the Nativity of the Son. To celebrate such an event the people gave themselves up to all manner of feasting and excesses; and though the Christian Church early tried to abolish so pagan a holiday, the custom was too deeply rooted in the habits of the people; the Church therefore adapted the festival to its own uses, the better to bring it under control and to cause men to forget the old beliefs.

The Goths and Saxons called this festival, Yule.

The old Teutons, seeing in the return of the sun with its light and warmth a likeness to the growth and spreading of a tree, celebrated by decking out a fir, using candles, golden apples, nuts and ornaments to represent the moon, stars and planets.

In medieval England the whole period from December 16th to January 6th was one long festival.

Owing to the excesses that crept in, the puritans,

Cross Keys December 2019

when they secured control, tried to abolish Christmas. The Mass for Christ is thinly disguised in the word Christmas.

In 1643, the Roundhead Parliament enacted a law to forbid its celebration; for twelve years there was no Christmas in England, until with the Restoration came a revival of old customs.

The General Court of Massachusetts, the greatest of the Colonies at the time followed suit in 1659 with a law strictly forbidding that a man should so much as cease work on Christmas. But human nature was not to be outdone. In 1681 this law was repealed, though it was long afterwards before the sterner New Englanders ceased to frown on merrymaking. There is not much likelihood that any moralist would again attempt to ban Christmas, although it is illegal today to celebrate Christmas in Scotland. (That law was repealed in 1958. ed) The old Operative Lodges, which made so much of all Holy Days and festival periods of the year, made more of St. John the Evangelist's Day (December 27th) than any other.

The first Speculative Lodges followed them celebrating the Christmas season on the evening of that day. That day harks back to the very ancient times, when men celebrated it because it marked the Winter Solstice and the return of the sun to its full strength.

The other St. John's Day is June 24th and marks the day of the Summer Solstice. That date goes back to Babylonian days when their calendar consisted of 360 days.

The custom of celebrating June 24th is probably as old as the world; at any rate, the records of early people and ancient religions are full of mention of it. Masons call it St. John the Baptist’s day. The day marks the Summer Solstice, when daylight lasts the longest and the sun has reached the meridian of its power,

Gleanings (ctd) and therefore, in meaning end emotional appeal, stands at the opposite pole to St. John the Evangelist's Day in December, when the day is shortest and the sunlight is weakest.

The early Christian Church in inheriting this festival from the past dedicated it to The Baptist. Why it was that in aftertimes the Operative Masons selected this day for their own calendar remains a mystery; every organized craft was compelled by law to adopt a patron saint and to observe his day; to this the Masons were no exception, but we should have expected them to choose St. Thomas, the patron of architecture.

The writer's guess is that the ceremonies used by Operative Masons antedated the medieval builders craft by many centuries. Form, symbols and furniture of a Lodge bear out that statement, for all allude to the Solar System. Be that as it may, the Operative Masons early adopted the two antiphonal days of the Baptist and the Evangelist as their own and so it is until now.

On St. John's Eve, June 23rd, fire festivals abound from the Scottish hills to Persian uplands and from the Paseo of Madrid to the suburbs of Oslo bonfires are lit that night. Some honour the good St. John. Some are survivors of the worship of Beltane, some of Zoroaster. But Christian or pagan, all go deeper than religion, to the primitive end often inarticulate worship which earthbeings have always paid the sun.

The Indians of the Taos Pueblo, in northern New Mexico hold festival on June 24th, admittedly given in "honour of St. John," and during the day the dancers make it a point to dance for a period before the house of each man named John. The accompanying chant is a hymn in honour of the splendour of the full orbed sun, and of thanks for its light and warmth.

Many Scottish Lodges observe some timehonoured custom in the celebration of what is known as St. John's festival. These customs include midnight torchlight processions, but at Mel-

Cross Keys December 2019

rose all the members proceed to the abbey, after encircling the ancient Mercat Cross three times.

At the abbey certain rites are performed and homage paid to the founders of the Lodge, the band meanwhile, playing Scottish airs. An address is also delivered by the chaplain of the Lodge. At Dunkeld the Lodge members are headed by pipers and march in midnight procession through the town to the cross, where the ancient customs of pledging the prosperity of the city of Dunkeld is carried through by the Masters of the two Lodges. Whatever form the celebration may take the ceremony is as old as the world.

Brother Craighead was a keen Masonic scholar, writing Masonic anecdotes “Gleanings” which were published continuously for 25 years in Lodge notices. He also published two booklets, ‘Freemasonry in Scotland” and “Veiled in Allegory”.

Bro. Craighead was introduced to Masonry in St. George Lodge No.190 in his native city of Aberdeen, Scotland. A charter member of Thistle Lodge No.900, Yonkers, New York, served as Master in 1917, dedicated Secretary from 1922 to his death in September 28, 1949 and appointed Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of New York in 1937.

Bro. Gow Bro. Chang Woo Gow was buried in a coffin measuring 8.5 feet in length. He was considered the world’s tallest man when he came to Britain in 1890. Sadly, his mother lodge is unknown, but he is seen with his master mason’s apron standing at f.

His size can be better appreciated when viewed next to his wife below. He used to light his cigars from the gas street lamps he was so tall! He came from Fy-Chow in China originally, but moved to Bournemouth due to his TB where he had a successful business. He died of TB in 1893.

Congratulations Congratulations to Bro. Daryl Gordon MM 242 who is a serving sergeant in the RAF and has just received an MBE in the New Year Honours List 2020 with the citation below. On behalf of the brethren of 242, very well done bro.

Cross Keys December 2019

The Builder’s Jewel (1741)

It has never been established if Batty Langley (1696-1751), the book’s author, was initiated into the Craft, but it is known that the garden designer, pattern book producer and Gothic architect, possessed an intimate knowledge of Masonic symbolism. Langley, for example, published regularly in the Grub Street Journal under the pseudonym of ‘Hiram’, the legendary architect of Solomon’s Temple, and a key figure in Masonic ritual (one of Langley’s children was also Christened ‘Hiram’). Langley’s commitments to Freemasonry, its values and beliefs, were to find visual expression most fully on the frontispiece to The Builder’s Jewel of 1741, a piece of art which contained much of the known symbolism associated with the first three degrees of Freemasonry. Other titles of Langley’s books influenced by Freemasonry included Practical Geometry (which he dedicated to Lord Paisley, Grand Master of English Freemasons) in 1726, and Ancient Masonry (dedicated to a host of known Freemasons, including Francis, Duke of Lorraine, the first recognised Royal Freemason).

From the bottom, we have the 3 pillars of wisdom, strength and beauty resting on Holy Ground with the 3, 5 & 7 steps with various working tool placed above. Then we have plans or tracing boards with the clock at high twelve while in the background at the number 15 is a sprig of acacia known to all MMs. At the top, we have the sun, the moon and the master.

What is remarkable is that the MM degree originated in the 1720s and possibly less than 20 years later a book for the public is available with connotations of this degree which was not even in general use in many lodges across the country!

Cross Keys December 2019

Christmas Money Left?

If you’re looking for something to read and your kids have not spent everything then have a look: In 1716 four Lodges of Operative Masons met at the Apple Tree Tavern in London and decided to create a “Grand Lodge” to reorganize Freemasonry, which was slowly dying out. After the establishment of the Premier Grand Lodge the next year, 1717, one of the Lodges, the Rummer and Grapes, took a decidedly new direction that resulted in the creation of what would later become known as Speculative Freemasonry, the basis of modern Freemasonry. However, as there is very little documentation from this period, many questions are left unanswered:

•

Why three educated and busy men decided to rewrite the ritual of a stonemasons’ guild, when they were neither stonemasons nor manual workers?

•

Why the first three Grand Masters gave eight years of their life to this cause. Not only that, but why thought it necessary to add a third degree to the ritual?

•

Why the literati and aristocracy of Europe were motivated to join these three men, an antiquarian, a Huguenot priest and a possible alchemist, in a room above a tav ern to study the new degrees?

•

Why there is a “key to the rituals” that Desaguliers referred to in the Constitutions of 1723?

•

Why the first three Grand Masters were interested in “making good men better,” when they were not philanthropists?

•

Why the first three Grand Masters used steganography to hide secrets in the rituals, making them a puzzle for Freemasons to discover?

•

Lastly, and probably most importantly, why the English nobility (and later royalty) believed so strongly in what these three men had conceived that they lent their names to the enterprise by becoming its figurehead, Grand Masters.

This book answers these questions, and more! It might even be worth a lodge buying a copy for its members. If any brother has come across a good masonic book then please let me

know.

Cross Keys December 2019

Installation of PGM of Glasgow The installation of Bro. Andrew Mushet as the new Provincial Grand Master of Glasgow took place at

the end of November in Partick by the Grand Master Mason Bro. Ramsay McGhee, a well known mason in our Province.

The Depute Provincial Grand Master, Brother Alan Cuthill, was also installed as were the Substitute Provincial Grand Masters, Brothers James McMillan, William Newlands, Gordon Heggie, Robert Shaw,

Michael Macdonald, Richard Anderson and Colin Grant. The remaining Commissioned Office Bearers, Brother David Quinn, Provincial Grand Secretary and Bro. Rev. Robert Craig as PGL Chaplain.

It was also good to see Bro. Bobby Shaw (right) installed as SPGM well known to many Craftsmen in the Incorporation of Masons.

The ceremony and meal were extremely well attended and the Provincial Grand Master presented the Grand Master Mason with a donation of £15,000 for Prostate Scotland, the nominated charity of Grand Lodge. This brought the total raised for that Charity by the Freemasons of Scotland to an abso-

lutely amazing

£551,000!!

Now this is what the Craft is about when we work as a team. I would love to see the prostate lapel

badge with S&C on it now with more money to the charity—JM, what do you think?

Cross Keys December 2019

New Newsletter This is the front cover of a masonic newsletter under the Grand Lodge of Serbia. Issue 1 is available although it is not in English! The title “Slava Znanju� means To the glory of the knowledge emphasising the learning aspect important to all Serbian masons. The electronic magazine is from the Masonic Spiritual Academy for the Balkans and was first published on 10th December, 2019.

Platinum Certificate On Monday 2nd December 2019 a large number of brethren attended Lodge Saint Patrick No 1309. Included in this number was a deputation from the Grand Lodge of Scotland headed by the Grand Master Mason Bro. W. Ramsay McGhee and a deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Dunbartonshire headed by the Provincial Grand Master Bro. James Forrest.

The brethren all having been welcomed into the lodge by the Master Bro. Richard Beattie the lodge director of ceremonies presented Bro. Angus Neil MacInnes, a Past Master 1309, Past Provincial Grand Master, Past Substitute Grand Master and Founder & Editor of The Ashlar to the brethren after which Bro. Beattie outlined the service given by Bro. MacInnes over the past 70 years to the many orders and organisations of which he is a member.

Thereafter the GMM presented Bro. MacInnes with a 70 year Diploma (bottom left) and then the PGM presented him with a 70 year jewel. Bro MacInnes made suitable reply and thereafter the brethren enjoyed an excellent harmony and meal interspersed by toasts and replies.

Congratulations Angus!

Cross Keys December 2019

Letter from SRAC of Scotland

Cross Keys December 2019

Visitations by the Grand Master Mason 11th January, 2020 - Lodge St. Nicholas No.93, Aberdeen (the new university lodge).

18th January—consecration of new temple of Lodge St. Andrew No.215 in Strathaven.

1st February— 250th Anniversary of Lodge Perth Royal Arch No.122 4th February—Attending Incorporation of Masons Candlemas Social Event in Trades House, Glasgow.

14th February—visit to a lodge in Ayrshire (TBC later) 15th February— PGL Stirlingshire 275th Anniversary

Renfrewshire East Dates 11th January, 2020 - the final installation of the province is Lodge ‘St. Conval’ Giffnock No.1359 on at 2pm.

Saturday 25th January - PGL Installation in Lodge Prince of Wales No. 426 at 2.30pm.

Saturday 22nd February - PGL Burns Supper in Lodge St John Busby No. 458, 7pm for 7.30pm Saturday 29th February - PGL Fundraising Coffee Morning in Lodge Nitshill No. 1478 at 10am.

Saturday 28th March - PGL Fundraising Coffee Morning in Lodge Prince of Wales No. 426 at 10am.

To submit an article or want added to the mail list or Facebook group, contact the Editor, Grant Macleod: E-Mail:

sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk

Website: http://lodge242.bravesites.com/

Cross Keys December 2019