Cross Keys March 2017 (Freemasonry)

March 2017

The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone

In this issue: Continental Masonry John Paul Jones The Masonic Hall, Jerusalem More Certificates Johnstone Street Directory Terror Plot Stopped

Cross Keys March 2017

Number 199

Continental Masonry Many non-Masons, especially those living on the European Continent, are familiar with a type of Masonry that is radically different from that which is generally practiced in the United States.

It a liberal, non-dogmatic, form of Masonry that accepts women as members and openly tries to influence government on issues of interest. Two grand orients in that group have even opened a Masonic liaison to the European Union to counter the influence of organized religion.

During the 1700s several grand lodges or orients formed from previously independent speculative Masonic lodges. Charters of later regular lodges trace back to these early grand lodges. Lodges then formed new grand lodges in open territory so as to spread Freemasonry throughout the world. The difference in name between grand lodge and grand orient is not significant, but seems to have something to do with the relationship between the grand body and local lodges.

The grand lodges and orients worked out a system of amity for recognition of other grand bodies to permit visits by members. Generally the grand lodges must be exclusively male, be religiously tolerant while insisting on a belief in a Supreme Being, and avoid discussions of religion and politics in lodge. Each grand lodge decides on its own which other grand lodges it will accept based on how it interprets these and some other rules or landmarks. Other issues, such as the current feud between the grand lodges of West Virginia and Ohio over one individual, sometimes cause a break in recognition.

The Grand Orient de France, the largest and oldest grand body for France, originally consisted of lodges that had been chartered by British grand lodges. This grand orient is the leading body for something that can be referred to as Continental Masonry.

The Grand Orient de France and the other grand bodies in the Continental system, which follow its lead, such as the Grand Orient de Belgique, interpret some of these rules of operation a bit differently than most Anglo-American grand lodges.

The grand and individual lodges might take political stands and endorse candidates for office. Atheists who are otherwise good and honorable men can be initiated into membership. Some Continental style lodges will even accept women into their membership as they do not want to deny the ben-

Cross Keys March 2017

efits of masonry to about half of the population.

They claim to be more liberal and democratic than traditional Masons.

The differences in style and interpretation evolved over time and reflect to some extent the history and culture of France and the other countries where they exist. Some writers claim that these Continental style Masonic bodies were the core of anti-clerical movements in many countries as well as revolutions against established government. There have been claims that . the liberal lodges are more into the occult than are the traditional lodges For many years, the Grand Orient de France was recognized by most mainstream grand lodges. The language, content of meetings, and ritual may have been different, but that was not significant.

In the 1860s, the Grand Orient de France had recognition problems with some grand lodges in the southern part of United States of America because of its own recognition of a grand lodge with black members operating in Louisiana, which the mainstream grand lodge there considered to be its exclusive territory. Most American grand lodges still exchanged recognition with the Grand Orient de France at that time.

In 1877, the Grand Orient de France adopted a policy that a man’s faith or lack thereof is a matter for his absolute freedom of conscience and is of no concern to the lodge considering him for membership. Quoting the web site of the Grand Orient de France: “To date, this decision maintains the distinctiveness of the Grand Orient which according to some, places the Order at the forefront of Universal Freemasonry and according to others, an outlaw.�

Most grand lodges in the Anglo-American tradition followed the lead of the United Grand Lodge of England and severed fraternal relations with the Grand Orient de France. Some grand lodges and orients on the continent of Europe then followed the lead of the French body and severed relations with the Anglo-American grand lodges.

There was a schism in Freemasonry from that time forward. Eventually a separate, generally recognized grand lodge was established in France through the efforts of the United Grand Lodge of England. In some countries where Continental or liberal Masonry has significant presence, a traditional, recognized grand lodge may, in fact, be the

Continental Masonry Ctd) larger body.

It is not clear just what is involved with the acceptance of women in the lodges. The women may or may not be prepared for initiation in the same manner as men. While the Grand Orient de France had not initiated women until very recently, it did and does have fraternal relations with some other grand lodges that initiate women, such as federations of Le Droit Humain. In the United States the issue of extending fraternal relations for women was resolved with the Eastern Star; although it is regarded by the United Grand Lodge of England as a prohibited mixed organization in which its members should not participate.

During the twentieth century there was a period when the Grand Orient de France was recognized by some North American grand lodges. This seems to have been related to the re-establishment of Freemasonry in Europe after World War I and World War II. The differences eventually again became too much to continue mutual recognition.

Even though we do not visit their lodges and their members cannot visit our lodges, we have some idea as to what the policies of these Continental style grand orients are. The Grand Orient de France and the Grand Orient de Belgique have web sites and there have been published presentations with their views. The web site is available in several languages, including English. Some of the other grand orients and grand lodges in its camp may or may not have web sites, but they generally are relatively small and follow the Grand Orient de France. Continental Masonry has spread to Latin America, probably through the Portuguese and Spanish.

The following is a quote from the website of the Grand Orient de France: “Somehow they consider themselves as guardians and avant-gardes of the republican regime, the sole champion of individual prosperity in Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.�

They consider themselves to be a politically significant organization, even though they are but a small portion of the French population.

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The total population of France is around ten times that of Illinois The Grand Orient de France, has about a third fewer members than the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois and has about twice the number of lodges. Probably the other grand lodges affiliated with it together don’t amount to much more. There are about 50 to 60 grand lodges or orients in the liberal or Continental tradition.

There are about 200 traditional grand lodges among those that more or less consider each other regular and might share recognition by following the traditions coming from the British grand lodges rather than the liberal French traditions. While some of the many members are into politics, their lodges do not get involved with political issues. The Prince Hall grand lodges are included in this group.

It has been estimated that there are anywhere about 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 members of mainstream, traditional Masonic lodges; although I have also heard somewhat lower numbers.

In addition, there are also about another 400 organizations that call themselves Masonic grand lodges, but are not in either group and often may be totally bogus. Some have split from legitimate groups, perhaps because of political or personality differences.

By Bro. Hilton Kaufman PM

Bro. John Paul Jones A museum is to be set up in memory of the

the memory alive, there will also be a statue

naval commander who founded the American

commissioned in the nearby naval fortress

navy and went on to achieve a historic victory

in Kronstadt. Sadly he was detested in Scot-

for the Russian fleet under the Empress Cath-

land after he attacked Whitehaven and Kirk-

erine the Great. Although he was seen as a

cudbright in 1778, and the following year

pirate in his own country, for mounting raids

sailed up the Firth of Forth to within cannon

on Scotland during the American War of Inde-

range of Leith, before a storm swept his ship

pendence, Jones was feted in Russia for de-

back to sea. In Russia, Jones served under

feating the Turks during the Black Sea cam-

Prince Potemkin against the Turks in the

paign.

Black Sea campaign. He thwarted the Turkish fleet at the Battle of Liman in 1788, kill-

The Scots naval officer served as a rear admi-

ing about 3,000 Turks, destroying 15 vessels

ral in the Russian navy between 1788 and

at a cost to his squadron of one frigate and

1789. The Admiral John Paul Jones Society

18 killed.

Charity Fund, based in St Petersburg, has contacted Scottish museums and the Freemasons’ Grand Lodge in Scotland for information and artefacts related to the fearless Scottish

seafarer. Jones, born near Kirkcudbright, Galloway, in 1747, joined in 1770 when he joined Lodge St Bernard’s, in Kirkcudbright, and later joined another Scottish Masonic Lodge when he arrived in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Jones also visited the only Scottish Masonic Lodge in Russia.

In addition to a book being published to keep

Cross Keys March 2017

Read more from the full article at The Scotman

Gong Collectors One of the most lamentable spectacles in Freemasonry is the Brother whose designation heads this article. He is to be found in almost every Lodge. Whilst a neophyte in the Order, his Masonic devotion knew no limits.

At every meeting, he was sure to be there and when he received the honours of office his enthusiasm seemed to grow with his advancement. He it was who toiled at the Lodge of Instruction, at least when its programme was ritual only, who was always ready to fill the place of an absentee and to rail at him because he was not on hand, and above all, he was prime mover in every proposition to run another higher degree.

But the time came when he was accorded the highest honor that the Lodge has in its power to bestow, and then came the beginning of the end. At his Installation he made great promises, and doubtless meant to fulfil them, but when he had passed through his year of office, with more or less eclat, and had entered on the "otium cum dignitate" of the I.P.M.'s collar, he began to mysteriously talk of "the burden and heat of the day" and of the necessity of "giving a chance to younger hands" and his place at the left of the Master

was often vacant, especially at regular meetings when there was no degree on. And when the I.P.M.'s collar had been transferred to other shoulders, the fall from grace came on apace.

Regular as well as working meetings saw a vacant chair on the dais, and the master was often at a loss when he looked for someone to relieve him of a Charge or a Tracing Board, or help him in point of ruling. "Facilis est descensus Arverni", and soon the Wor. Brother is only on hand when an Installation or Ball gives him the opportunity of showing the crowd his dingy apron. He is for all practical Masonic purposes dead as a door-nail, and although he pays his dues with commendable regularity, at least when the Treasurer looks him up, the Lodge forgets him as a factor in its existence.

Such is the story of many a Masonic fossil, literally "on the shelf' and more is the pity of it all. If Masonry is worth anything at all it is worth cultivating to the end of one's active mental life, and he who drops out of it directly has nor acquired the potentiality of being truly useful, has never properly imbibed its sublime teachings. The P.M. on the shelf is a sorry spectacle and a blot on the Masonic escutcheon. Beware of falling into a similar state of dry rot - rather, be ready, honours or no honours, to do your Masonic duty so long as the Great Architect of the Universe gives you strength to put on an apron or frame a sentence of ritual.

By Bro. Ed Halpaus, Short Talk Bulletin

Cross Keys March 2017

The Masonic Hall, Jerusalem Charles Warren was a keen Freemason, having already at the age of 23 been the Master of a Lodge in Gibraltar. Before my visit to Jerusalem I had learned that Warren had been involved in a Masonic ritual in a cavern, somewhere deep underneath the Old City. There were two possible candidates for the site: one called ‘The Masonic Hall’, the other ‘King Solomon’s Quarry.’ A recent book on Warren’s Freemasonry appears to claim that these two sites were one and the same – hence my need to clarify the issue. The site known as the ‘Masonic Hall’ is a chamber that Warren tunneled his way into in February 1869.

It was half-filled with rubble and soil, but rising out of the centre of the earth floor was a smooth pillar with a broken top. The scene reminded Warren of a traditional Masonic myth and so he named the chamber the ‘Masonic Hall’ (Figs 1 & 2). The famous war artist William Simpson, also a senior Freemason, was visiting Jerusalem a month later and he sketched the scene. As can be seen from Simpson’s sketch, the column was originally the support for twin arches that lined the roof.

Warren ordered the clearing of the rubble, which, when he first entered the chamber, reached up to the mark on the column. By the time Simpson made his sketch, the hall had been partially cleared of rubble.

The ‘Masonic Hall’ today, part of the ‘Western Walls’ archaeological complex. Warren broke in through the hole in the roof – the dark patch against the back wall, right of centre. The earth at that time was two-thirds of the way up the column.

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Certificates Framed Master Mason Masonic Certificate on Vellum, New York, 1809, the certificate affirming the status of Richard Hitchings as a Master Mason, from the Morton Lodge No. 20, New York City, dated August 12, 5809 (1809), with silk ribbon and impressed wax seal.

There is a genealogy is affixed to the reverse, it relates that Richard Hitchins was born in Cornwall, England in 1777 and married the widow Mary Gates in New York in 1804. Richard died in Canada on February 18, 1845 and is buried with a Masonic emblem on his tombstone.

Estimate $300-500 at Skinner’s Auctioneers!!!

Master Mason certificate issued by Loge St. Louis de la Martinique to Chauron du Malo, dated January 28, 1766.

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Over the following months, there will be a series of excerpts of old minutes. It is important we know from whence we come.

In the 1830s, the lodge met in both the Black Bull Inn (now the chemist at the corner of the Higher Street and George Street) and the Buck’s Head Inn at 14 High Street which is where Lidl is situated. In 1832, Johnstone had overcrowding and slums due to having an increase in population of over 5000. During that year, the lodge refused to pay for the diploma plate costing £7.15 and four brethren were summoned to the Sheriff Small Debt Court in Paisley. This was the plate used to produce its own diplomas as Grand Lodge did not issue certificates at that time.

As the lodge had not ordered it, the court decided that the lodge pay £6 for the plate while the printer paid for printing costs AND court costs. An example of the certificate still hangs on the foyer wall on the left hand side and shows the original number of the lodge—318.

Changes in 242 The lodge is now looking at meeting monthly rather than twice a month which is more in line with most constitutions. This is through necessity due to a lack of suitable candidates and falling attendances.

This was also the year of the first minuted mention of an obligation, two brethren refusing office, missing office-bearers being written to so they explain their absence and one being fined for absence. The lodge was a very different place altogether. Meetings were quarterly and the average attendance was approximately 15-20 although many were below 10.

Or are there enough brethren willing to support the lodge whether it’s an exemplification, a walk through or a lecture?

The next few meetings will probably decide where we want the lodge to go.

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Many brethren will disagree, but doing something is better than nothing. If the brethren feel we need an extra meeting then a special can be requested from PGL. Is there a desire to see exemplifications, walk through degrees, lectures, etc? Most brethren appear to enjoy these in small doses, but get bored with too many. Unfortunately, the days of the mass produced degree factory have long gone and brethren need to accept the change or let their lodge go…….

Now is the time the lodge needs you.

Johnstone Street Directory Freemasonry is a secret society?

Brethren often talk about it as a society with secrets which is probably more accurate. Today, masonic lodges can be seen in most large towns and are not disguised, but usually there is a sign or name to indicate that it is a lodge. So why all the secrecy discussions recently?

In Europe, the Craft did have to hide from persecution of the Nazis and often in communist countries or Muslim countries issues have arisen and a low key approach is the best practice. Rituals and constitutions have always been available and more so today with Google.

However, even in the mid 19th Century, it was not a secret society as can be seen with the image from the Fowler’s Directory for Johnstone.

The main office bearers of the lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter and the Free Gardeners’ Lodge are given including the address of the secretary. All three used the Masonic Hall in the Cross Keys Hotel in the High Street.

As no records of the Gardeners’ Lodge exist now, the directories have been useful to show that many members of the Gardeners were also Freemasons. The Royal Arch continues to meet on the third Thursday, but the lodge changed from one Friday to two Thursday nights.

This might change again in the near future depending on the views of the brethren, The JW went on to become the founding master of Lodge Craigends No.1042.

Cross Keys March 2017

Special Jewel In 1734 a charter was issued by the United Grand Lodge of England authorizing the formation of Solomon's Lodge No.1 in South Carolina. On October 28th 1735 the first meeting was held in Shepard's Tavern and 66 years later, May 31st 1801, the Supreme Council 33 ° Mother Supreme Council of the World Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction was formed in the same "Shepard's Tavern" known then at "City Tavern". Solomon's Lodge No.1 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina is the second oldest chartered lodge in the United States.

During the American Revolution, the charter was stored by the Grand Lodge while brothers and Officers were fighting in the resistance.

Hence why Solomon's Lodge No.1 in Savannah Georgia is the second oldest "Continually Operating" Lodge in the United States. In 1843 Albert Gallatin Mackey, a wellknown masonic author, was elected and installed as the Master of Solomon's Lodge No.1 in Charleston. Hard to believe that was almost 175 years ago.

Pictured below is the crown "jewel" of Solomon's Lodge No. 1 of Charleston, Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina which belonged to Bro. Albert Mackey in 1843. Every year when the ensuing year's officers are installed, the current Master receives his past master's apron, and an exact replica of the Mackey Jewel. The picture does not show relative size but its approximately 3 1/2 inches across the quadrant and 4 inches tall.

Thus when the Solomon's Past Masters wear their jewels, it is done with pride and distinction coming from the Lodge of Brother Mackey as well as many other celebrated brothers famous in the Charleston area.

Solomon's Lodge No.1 still owns the original Mackey Jewel and today it is displayed on special occasions as well as use its likeness on coins and certificates.

Masonic Cycling Lodges have had bowling, golf and fishing competitions for many years. However, one that fell away was the Masonic Cycling Club around the early 1900s. When the club folded is not known, but looking at the members, it must have been well run and popular club. Perhaps today, in order to attract young members, we should have a Masonic PlayStation Club.

Cross Keys March 2017

Over the last few years, I have been asked by a number of brethren regarding what they should use to sign the minutes, especially if they are done electronically. First thing is that the paper should be good quality—the obvious comparison is the thick paper of the Minute Books bought from Grand Lodge.

However, a pen is very much a personal preference, but the one I tend to opt for is the Parker IM Fountain pen (in photo). Not too expensive, but gives good quality writing. They cost ÂŁ18.99 and come in a huge variety of colours.

One of the best companies in terms of cost and service is: Executive Pens Direct

Masonic Record?

An historic evening took place at he me of last year where Bro. John Muir PM concluded visiting every Lodge in Scotland at Lodge Ruchill No. 1436, his final Lodge on the journey.

Bro. Muir was presented with a certificate to commemorate this special event and can be seen seated centre. An excellent FC Degree was also carried out by Lodge Dalry Blair No. 290.

John was also humbled by the distinguished Brethren that took time to support him on the evening including Depute Grand Master Ramsay McGhee, Bro Robert Little PGM of Ayrshire, Bro Bill Perry PGM Lanarkshire Middle Ward, Bro Moises Gomez PG Historian from the GL of New Jersey as well as other distinguished Brethren and friends. Bro. John has been a long time reader and contributor to the Cross Keys and on behalf of everyone here, very many congratulations on a landmark event that cannot be beaten!

Cross Keys March 2017

Famous Freemasons It is common to hear of famous freemasons, but rare to see many in actual regalia. Often it might be due to the brother not being particularly active or it was not commonplace to take photographs. However, the images below show two former Presidents of the USA, one is only a sketch of Bro. Teddy Roosevelt while the other is the 330 collar of Bro Truman who was also a Grand Master.

March Events in 242 Thursday 9th—EA Walk Though (first showing) Thursday 23rd—PGLRE Visitation & Open Forum Visit to Craigends No.1042 on Thursday 2nd March—MMM degree.

Visit to Lodge Garthland St. Winnoch No.205 on Monday 6th March—FC degree.

Cross Keys March 2017

In a very tight market, regalia makers are possibly struggling due to diminishing numbers.

However, one Scottish company from Livingston is expanding: VSL Regalia at https:// www.vslregalia.co.uk/ The brethren who run the shop provide the full range of regalia, jewellery, gifts, etc. Their after sales service is superb which is not always the case when dealing with some other non-Scottish companies.

If you are thinking of buying regalia, PM jewels or the like then give Bro Alan a call or email and get a quote. You won’t be disappointed.

Is this Unique?

On September 15th 1861 a man named Samuel Adams and his wife were the proprietors of General Store in the small town of Monticello Minnesota. When Mrs. Adams went into labour with their first son, Mr. Adams took her to the second floor of their building for her privacy and to wait for the town doctor. The second floor was the meeting place of Monticello Masonic Lodge No.16 and the doctor was the Junior Warden of the Lodge. The boy was delivered in the Lodge Room and was named Henry Rice Adams. Twenty three years Henry was made a Mason in the room in which he was born. He later transferred his membership to Minnesota Lodge No. 224 in Bloomington, Minnesota and eventually he became the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota in 1903. In 1928, Bro. Adams died of an apparent heart attack while attending a stated communication of his Lodge. Bro. Adams was born in a Masonic Lodge and died in a Masonic Lodge. A freemason to the end!

Cross Keys March 2017

Terror Plot Stopped Milwaukee’s terror suspect, Samy Hamzeh, was plotting to kill at least 30 people at the Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center in downtown Milwaukee.

The door there is now locked 24 hours a day along with other Masonic facilities around the state. Hamzeh had taken a tour of the 1883-built building earlier in the month to understand its floorplan. He was arrested last Monday after buying two automatic weapons and a silencer from undercover agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin said in a statement which was planned in defence of Islam.

Chillingly he said “One of us will stay a the door at the entrance and lock the door down, he will be at the main door down, two will get to the lift up, they will enter the room, and spray everyone in the room.

The one who is standing downstairs will spray anyone he finds. We will shoot them, kill them and get out.” The Federal Grand Jury has indicted him and a date has not yet been set for trial. He could face 20 years in prison due to the firearms charges alone.

Angel Millar notes that there is a long history of Jihadist anti-Masonic attempts to attack Masonic buildings. “The most successful attack so far came in 2004, when two Jihadist terrorists entered a Masonic building in Istanbul, Turkey, and sprayed it with bullets. They then exploded several devices that they had strapped to their bodies […] Six people were injured, and a waiter was killed, along with one of the terrorists,” a CNN source details. According to Istanbul’s governor Muammer Guler, eighteen suspects were questioned after the attack, ten of which had been formally charged at the time of his announcement. The bombers had been trained in Pakistan and Afghanistan. “We don’t know if they are al Qaeda camps,” Guler said, “but the influence of al Qaeda in those camps is obvious.”

In 2009, Syed Haris Ahmed was found guilty of mak-

Cross Keys March 2017

ing “casing videos” of potential terror targets in the USA. One of the targets was a Masonic building in northern Virginia. Masonic author, Angel Millar details how he “was met with nervous-looking security guards at the entrance [of a Masonic building in 2002], and had to be escorted around inside.” When he asked ‘why?’ He was told that “three ‘Muslim gentlemen’ had been found wandering the building, taking photos, and talking on a cellphone. The call was later traced, by police […] to a shop selling Islamist anti-Masonic propaganda videos.”

A Canadian intelligence service 2009 report noted that between 2008 and 2009, al-Qaeda in Yemen called for attacks against the embassies of Western nations, claiming that they “facilitated the spread of factions that run counter to Islam, including Freemasonry.” The Fall 2010 edition of the online alQaeda magazine Inspire carried an article listing numerous attacks against Jews, Americans, Russians, and Freemasons that the author considered praiseworthy. An excerpt from the article reads: “in Jordan, an outstanding group consisting of four men created a cell to assassinate Freemasons in Amman, and succeeded in executing a number of them. They were subsequently arrested after clashing with the police, and some of them died as martyrs.”

Perhaps all lodges should be more aware of the world we live in and the open policy used by many is no longer safe.

242 On Tour This month has been busy for the master and it might be worth starting the old idea of “242 on Tour” where a group of brethren visit various lodges out with the normal routine. Recently, brethren have joined with the brethren of St. Barchan No.156 to visit the Good Companions Lodge No.6759 in Birkenhead, England. To the right, rear row we have Bros. Iain Rogers IPM, John Flanagan PM, Graham Scott 242 Master and far right Leigh Gibney 156 Master with front row left the new PGM of Renfrewshire East Bro. Neil Fraser.

In the photo below, it’s good to see Lodge 6759 proudly displayed on their top table a framed stamp sheet of 242’s 200th Anniversary presented by Bro. John Flanagan a few years before.

Another visit was to our good friends of Wallace Masonic Lodge No.146 in Hollywood, Northern Ireland. The master Bro. Graeme can be seen withy their new master W. Bro. Tony Donan PM and one of our very good friends W. Bro. Vic Welsh PM (far left) looking in good form.

Thus both home constitutions have been visited in the last few weeks—a very good effort.

Cross Keys March 2017

242 On Tour

Congratulations once again to Bro. Dougie Dick MM 242 as master of Lodge St. Aethan’s No. 1227 in Burghead in the Province of Moray and Nairn. Dougie is shown above with the OBs of the PGL and his installing masters Bros. Danny Burrell PM 242 and Allan Stobo PM 242.

Below is the group photo with the brethren of 242 who were able to attend: Front—Graham Scott, Master, Danny, Dougie, Allan and Brian Smolarek JW. Rear: Dougie Ennis and John Flanagan PM.

Cross Keys March 2017

Masonic Lodges Worldwide Silver City Lodge in Idaho, US has an amazing old building. The lodge used the Silver City Hall which after many year became unsuitable and moved into their own premises about 50 years ago. The lodge room upstairs has been left to the ravages of time. However, the old building has an air of tradition about it!

Cross Keys March 2017

The blog above has a huge number of articles about currents events in the Craft as a whole. It is well worth bookmarking and if you have some information you would like made available, bro.

Stuart would be delighted to add this. The website can be found by clicking on the image or here: http://www.thefraternity.info/

No.3 bis Complaint In modern times, it has been the practice of many of the Royal Arch Chapters to give the Mark Master's and Chair Master's Ceremonial as separate Degrees, classing them after the Master's Degree; this is contrary to the practice of the Ancient Craft Lodges, who class the former with the Fellow-craft, and the latter with the Master Mason Degree. Dr Oliver, in referring to the Mark Master in his Landmarks, remarks, "that this is usually classed after the Master's Degree, but in strict propriety it ought to precede it, for the Mark Master is but the Master of a Lodge of Fellow-crafts." This difference of opinion was decided by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, in so far as it affected the Lodges under her jurisdiction, at the Quarterly Communication held in November, 1858.

On that occasion a representation was made by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow, that the Lodge of Glasgow St John was practising the Mark and Chair Master Degrees; which Degrees, said the Memorialists, were neither recognised nor practised by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. In defence, it was stated that the Lodge of Glasgow St John did not recognise them as separate Degrees, but as portions of the Fellow-craft and Master's Degrees, sanctioned by the Laws and Constitutions of the Grand Lodge. After mature deliberation, the Grand Lodge, without a division, found that the Lodge of Glasgow St John was in perfect order, and dismissed the complaint.

From the lodge’s history by Bro. Cruikshank.

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A Warning to all!

The masonic centre in Charlotte, North Carolina has been sold to developers and will be demolished to make way for houses or shops. Sadly, this is happening all over English speaking countries which is a real cause for concern. Diminishing numbers and apathy amongst the remaining members means that many lodges are in the situation where they can no longer afford their buildings.

242 has a lodge and social club that needs support and now is the time for its members to do something otherwise the situation just mentioned might not be too far away, as pointed out by Bro. Secretary. Unfortunately, it’s not an ideal threat—the figures show clearly what is going on.

Masonic Week

Last month was Masonic Week for some of the other orders in Washington DC to advertise for members. This annual event consists of elections, speeches, banquets within the York Rite bodies and some other organisations such as the Grand Council of Engineers, The Masonic Society, etc. The plethora of orders is astounding and I am not sure I know what they all are. In Scotland, we do not have enough

brethren to support this sheer volume of orders.

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UGLE Special Events Two events in the calendar of the United Grand Lodge of England will take place next month.

These will become popular attractions in the future and should serve as a source of pride for all freemasons. 

On 18th April, the Masonic memorial Garden will be opened officially at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. This will commemorate the freemasons who gave their lives in the service of our country.



On 25th April, the Victoria Cross Memorial will be unveiled by the Grand Master.

This has been placed in the front of the Tower Entrance of Freemasons’ Hall in London and will take the form of a number of paving stones. The memorial will contain the names of 63 UGLE freemasons who won the VC during World War 1.

Hopefully, the Cross Keys will report on these, no doubt, successful events in the coming months. If any brother is in attendance would like to send photos, it would be greatly appreciated. Email address on the last page.

Masonic Outing

Every lodge has had an outing. This was more popular in the past, but this one is different.

This photo shows a group a masons from Kerry in the Republic of Ireland on a trip in regalia!

Perhaps they close tyled the hill?

Cross Keys March 2017

A Unique Rugby Shirt

Well?

Would you wear this?..........

BB Swimming Gala The lodge has been ambassadors to the Boys’ Brigade Swimming Competition for a number of years. Bro Peter Smolarek PM (on the left) once again went along to the gala to present the prizes.

Perhaps it’s time to resurrect the old lodge tournament of the various companies of local BB to participate in this again. It would be interesting to see if they can must sufficient interest.

New Lodge 242 website http://lodge242.bravesites.com/ After two months, if any brother thinks the website should be amended, we would be delighted to hear. The idea of General Committee was to have a website with the minimal information as past sites had too much. Hence the reason for a home page (with next meeting), a contact page, the Cross Keys page, a short history page and most importantly the syllabus which now changes on a regular basis depending on candidates.

This will be updated after each meeting so the website is current and brethren are encouraged to check regularly as well.

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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/

Thanks to Bro. Allan Stobo PM for proof reading.

Don’t forget to support The Ashlar magazine— Scotland’s only Masonic magazine.

Just click on the magazine to find out more.

Cross Keys March 2017