Cross Keys October 2014 (Freemasonry)

The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone Walking the Road / Seeking the Light October 2014

In this issue: Ambiguities in Allelgiance Part 2 Cameron of Locheil The Earl of Kilmarnock Fort Jamrud Why the King Joined in Scotland Lead by Example Liberty Bell Masonic Indifference

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Number 178

Freemasonry & the Military—Ambiguities in Allegiance Part 2 Freemasonry and Scottish regiments The development of the cult of ‘Highlandism’ has been well documented and repetition of it here would be unnecessary. Suffice it to say that it was largely a sentimental response to the problems of industrialisation and urbanisation. A significant element in the spread of Highlandism was militarism. Depictions of the Highland Scots as backward, warlike and hostile prevailed through the eighteenth and into the nineteenth century. Warlike Scots opposed to the union were increasingly considered to act as a barrier to ‘progress’ in the eighteenth century. As a result a process of portraying such qualities as essential to aiding imperial ambitions overseas began. Centuries of perpetual Clan warfare had instigated innate martial values, the rugged terrain had fashioned hardy and resourceful people, and the Clan social system had inculcated unthinking loyalty and trustworthiness.

In the nineteenth century certain values associated with Highland military prowess were identified and promoted in this apologue, which served to vindicate the Scots and foster a sense of national identity, while perpetuating the myth that Scots serving in the military were British first and Scots second. The work of Sir Walter Scott did much to redeem the Highland character, increasingly portrayed as valiant, though misguided warriors untainted by the corruption of early capitalist British society. During the Napoleonic Wars the typical representation of Highland qualities in historical accounts implied that without the Union and an imperial mission, such talents were wasted on warfare among the clans. Such martial qualities were seen not only as admirable, but also as useful to British military expansion of the Empire. The Prime Minister William Pitt in 1766 describes Highland soldiers as loyal and trustworthy: "…they served with fidelity, as they fought with valour, and conquered for you in every part of the world” However Henderson argues that the British Government set out to disarm the Highlands by depopulation forcing or persuading them to become part of the British army deployed overseas. In this sense Scots who joined the British army were abandoned and betrayed by a distant Government, who made little attempt to understand their Highland culture. The threat of destitution, having no place to live or work forced many young men into the armed forces to fight overseas. Often a commanding officer was also a feudal landlord.

In men far from home, the masonic lodge gave them a sense of belonging that instilled loyalty, and offered purpose. As the traditional clan system had failed or was failing, freemasonry military style was its natural replacement. The lodge constructed hierarchies where the chain of command could be maintained, arguably reducing desertion. Freemasonry in the military served the interests of the British, creating ideal conditions for a Scots identity to be expressed within the limits set by the interests of an imperial British character. The Highland regiments were showered with affection and praise in the swell of self-congratulation that followed the British victory at Waterloo. In its reporting of the fighting of 17 June 1815, The Times referred to ‘the brave Highlanders’, a great change indeed from how they were described after the Battle of Culloden (1745-6). In recognition of their conduct at Waterloo, three Highland regiments, the Royal Highlanders ‘the Black Watch’, the 79th Cameron Highlanders and the 92nd Gordon Highlanders, received the battle honour ‘Waterloo’, a highly coveted British military honour, and all of whom had masonic lodges chartered originally by the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

20th century case study It is known that Freemasonry arrived in Japan in 1864 when the 20th Regiment of Foot landed in Yokohama, bringing with them their Regimental Lodge ‘The Sphinx’ (also known as Minden Lodge) with a travelling warranted issued by the Grand Lodge of Ireland, dated 1748. By the twentieth century, freemasonry was a global phenomenon, with many countries having their own Grand lodges. Ambulatory or travelling

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Freemasonry & the Military—Ambiguities in Allegiance (ctd) warrants issued by the Irish, English and Scottish Grand lodges were declining in popularity; however freemasonry was still useful to the British military. We now turn to freemasonry and the treatment of allied prisoners captured by the Japanese, in Singapore. In the early 20 th century, the Japanese Government while concerned about the activities of freemasonry, did not interfere provided it was confined to the foreign community and lodges did not appear in public wearing Masonic regalia. This was known as ‘The Gentlemen’s Agreement’ and freemasons are believed to have upheld this edict until the outbreak of the war in the Far East in 1941. The attitude of the Japanese towards Freemasonry in prisoner of war (POW) camps during World War 2 was inconsistent and unpredictable. It ranged from turning ‘a blind eye’ to severe punishment if discovered. Possibly the most notorious camp was the Changi PoW camp on the island of Singapore which housed more than 50,000 British, Australian, Dutch and Indian soldiers who had surrendered to the Japanese in February 1942. Changi comprised four Army Barracks, and the cramped conditions, lack of food and medicines began to result in the loss of legitimacy and authority of the military command structure. In 1942, H.W. Wylie, a former rubber planter and English freemason asked the Commanding General Lt. General A. E. Percival permission to hold masonic meetings which he believed would raise morale. Percival agreed with the proviso that they should avoid talking about religion or politics. General Percival, who was not a mason, is quoted as saying that freemasonry would: ‘…supply yet another means of preventing the deterioration of character and morale which began to show itself in some parts of the large camp and anything which will assist in the preservation of the discipline, for which I believe your craft is universally noted, will undoubtedly prove valuable to me in the enormous difficulties I see already arising.’

Wylie indicated that they used four rings of six lookouts to maintain secrecy and avoid discovery, and as a result Freemasonry in Changi prison camp flourished, meeting the expectations of Percival. Wylie notes that masonic meetings were important to him for other more personal reasons. He states that: ‘The peace and tranquillity of those meetings stood out in great contrast to the turmoil and irritation of the day. All it was hot most of the day, and the men were dressed in rags, ill, hungry, tired and dirty, yet it was possible during those meetings to almost completely forget the normal conditions of their lives as POW’s. To sit quietly among proven friends and listen to the ceremonies took one’s thought very far from a prison camp and lifted the mind above the reach of petty annoyances, restored one’s balance, and demonstrated the possibility of victory of mind over matter – a very important factor at such a time’, (ibid).

The ritual provided comforting familiarity allowing Wylie to transcend his mental and physical hardship.

Masonic tools were made from what materials were available, beds, door frames, and tin cans. Often these were concealed in everyday objects, such as hollowed out bread, or buried in cardboard boxes, many of which survived constant searches by enemy guards. However such was the secrecy that masonic meetings could have been practiced without anyone being aware of them. Midge Gillies informs us that her father: ‘… belonged to a lodge in Dumbarton, was never aware of any masonic activity in the camps he was held in but was shocked when I told him that many groups existed and were attended by members of his own Scottish Lodge”, She adds ‚there is no doubt that belonging to a secret society gave masons added succour.‛ Hoodwinking the enemy would of course give a sense of achievement and while being part of a select group fostered a sense of honour and a rationale for getting smartly dressed, even if the uniforms were threadbare. While freemasonry served the interests of officers and enlisted men, it is difficult to conceive that rigid class boundaries were commonplace in Singapore with little class mobility that would be a feature of British society after this war. While it is common for men of all classes to meet together in a lodge, in the British Cross Keys Oct. 2014

Freemasonry & the Military—Ambiguities in Allegiance (ctd) armed forces segregation often operated on strict class based hierarchies. Wartime was often the first exposure to men of another race, colour, creed, and political persuasion adding complexity to traditional boundaries of class and religion. By mixing ranks and social classes, even religions, freemasonry was useful to Percival who recognised that freemasonry inculcated loyalty while fostering imperial unity. Under article 31 of the Geneva Convention of 1929, axis powers clearly states that prisoners should not carry out work that might have a direct connection with the operations of the war. Specifically prisoners should not be put to work in the manufacture or transport of arms or munitions of any kind, or on the transport of any material destined for combatant units. However a refusal could often result in a transfer to a camp with a harsh regime. As a result, by the beginning of 1943, almost all officers were working and in many cases sharing lodgings with lower ranks in Japanese prison camps. All prisoners admit that despair, loss of hope and boredom are among the greatest enemies while in captivity and so it is not surprising the members of the Craft eagerly grasped every opportunity to identify other masons. Freemasonry provided prisoners with a ready-made set of values while mutual support enabled them to cope with their captivity. Also the binding and secretive nature of Freemasonry lent itself to the conduct of clandestine activity that would be necessary in a prisoner-of-war camp. While it is easy to see the advantage of being a mason, it is not so obvious why masons took such risk in meeting illicitly, at great risk to themselves, while accumulating documents, making regalia and masonic jewels that would certainly have made their discovery easier, and punishment, even death more likely were they to be discovered by the Japanese. The Changi masons had to stop their activities when the Kempeitai (the Japanese equivalent of the German Gestapo) began to show and interest in their activities in early 1944.

Conclusion We have reasoned that freemasonry in the military promoted a sense of belonging and identity in men far from home, providing fellowship, hospitality and assistance. Using several examples, the belief that being a mason would result in some benefits should one be captured by an enemy, is borne out by some evidence, albeit circumstantial. In the 18th and 19th century examples Freemasonry allowed brethren to seek and often receive some assistance to improve their lot. The 20 th century example drawing on the experiences of survivors of Changi prison camp indicates that the ritual itself was important in two key aspects, to maintain the chain of command and rigid class boundaries between officers and enlisted men which prison life had eroded, and to help those exposed to a brutal prison regime transcend their physical and mental anguish demonstrating as Wylie states ‘the possibility of victory of mind over matter’. While the chronicles we have visited on our tour of the ambiguity in allegiance and obligation have demonstrated where such points converge and diverge, we are left with the distinct possibility that fostering a belief that being a mason offered favours not afforded to other men engaged in battle. Freemasonry was considered useful to the British military, maintaining discipline in men who often had little loyalty to their commanding officer, their regiment, or even the country they were fighting for. Some writers describe masonic conduct in battle as gallant and heroic, and yet for those engaged in warfare who were not freemasons, who is culpable for their absence of aid?

This modified paper was presented at the ICHF in 2013 by Bros Iain McPhee SPGM RE & Grant Macleod PG Sec RE.

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Cameron of Locheil The first signed minute of Lodge Dunblane No. IX dated 28th January 1696 was signed by William, Lord Strathallan, who was the son of the first Viscount. Among other signatories (for a considerable time afterwards it was the custom for all present to sign the minute) were Duncan Cameron of Locheil, Warden; Allan Cameron cousin to Locheil; Alexander Drummond of Balhaldie, Warden, a strong Royal Stuart supporter, who was descended from and became Clan Chief of the MacGregors, the family taking the name of Drummond when the name of McGregor was proscribed in Scotland, and was Cameron of Locheil's son-in-law. IThe lodge at this point was very Jacobite in its outlook. n 1743, Lord John Drummond, brother of the Duke of Perth, was nominated Master. He was a colonel in the French army and commanded the left wing of the Highlanders at the battle of Falkirk. After the collapse of the army at Culloden he, with his brother, fled to France where he was killed in service of the French monarch.

Clan Cameron lost about half their strength at Culloden, and Lochiel himself was badly wounded; he eventually made it to safety in France along with the Prince in October. Despite attempting to persuade Louis XV of France to mount a second landing, he never returned to Scotland. He took command of the French Regiment of Albany in 1747, and died and was buried in Bergues on 26 October 1748.

It is notable that one of his acts whilst in charge of Edinburgh was to order that there be no reprisals against the Whigs for their opposition to the Prince. He had previously given orders to care for the prisoners after Prestonpans, and later he would ensure that Glasgow did not suffer any reprisals for its loyalty to George II. Such acts contributed to his reputation for humanity; he became known to both friends and foes as the "Gentle Lochiel", a name that carried into the romantic myths which would grow up around the Rising. Certainly acts which typify a freemason.

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The Earl of Kilmarnock GMM In 1717 the 3rd Earl died and was succeeded by young William, who was still only 13 years old. William was the 4th and last Earl of Kilmarnock. He married Lady Anne Livingstone, daughter and heiress of the Earl of Linlithgow and Callander. Her father was a strong Jacobite who had supported the 1715 uprising. However Boyd's estates were dwindling, his business ventures were failing, and, short of money, he suffered the catastrophic loss of his family home, Dean Castle, in an accidental fire in 1735.

William was initiated into the Lodge of Falkirk in 1739, and while serving as master initiated Sir Archibald Primrose. He became Grand Master Mason of Scotland in 1742 which would undoubtedly have been a great honour for the lodge. Possibly his lack of funds or possibly out of support for his wife's family (although she herself urged him not to), William made a last desperate gamble to regain some of the ground lost by his family, by throwing in his lot with Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) and the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. A very unusual step for any lowland Presbyterian, especially one whose family had shown keen support in the past for the Hanoverian Government and had two sons, James and William, already with commissions within the Government army. His youngest son Charles joined his father and the Stuart cause.

William Boyd served Prince Charles faithfully and with distinction, both as commander of a small regiment and as a member of his privy council during the campaign, but it was an association which was ultimately to bring the Boyd house of cards crashing to earth and with it the aspirations of a family who had helped shape events in Scotland for the past 400 years. In the rout that followed the disastrous defeat of the Jacobite forces at Culloden, it is reported that William mistook kilted Scots Dragoons serving in the Government army to be Highlanders on the Jacobite side, turned the wrong way and was captured. In a bizarre twist of fate, his son James served in the Scots Fusiliers on the Government side at Culloden and as his father was brought, dishevelled and bareheaded, into the Government camp, he was recognised by James, who broke rank and placed his own hat upon his father's head. This was the last time that father and son would meet. His youngest son Charles managed to escape from Culloden Moor with the Prince and went into exile in France. After a brief imprisonment, where William wrote several letters of a calm and dignified nature to his family (some of which are retained in the collections at Dean Castle today), he was put on trial for treason in Westminster Hall on 28th June, 1746.

His

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appearance

at

the

trial

was

described

by

Horace

Walpole:

The Earl of Kilmarnock GMM (ctd) "Lord Kilmarnock is tall and slender with an extreme fine person; his behaviour a most just mixture between dignity and submission; if in anything to be reprehended, a little affected, and his hair too exactly dressed for a man in his situation; but, when I say that, it is not to find fault with him but to show how little fault there is to be found".

William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock was declared guilty by his peers and executed in London at Tower Hill (now with a plaque) on the 18th August 1746. The Boyd titles were confiscated, but James, William's eldest son, was able to reclaim the Kilmarnock estate as he had fought with the Government forces during the troubles. He had also inherited his father's debt and the ruined shell of Dean Castle. James sold off the Castle and estate soon after to a family friend, the Earl of Glencairn, and through his mother he succeeded to the title Earl of Errol and took her family name 'Hay'. The title of Lord Kilmarnock is still retained within that family, but it spelled the end for the Boyds of Kilmarnock.

However, in 1749, his three sons were elected into office, James, Lord Boyd as Master (1749 -1753), Hon. Charles Boyd as SW and Hon. William Boyd as JW. James became Grand Master Mason of Scotland in 1751. A truly masonic family adding to the rich heritage of Scottish masonic history for which we should be very proud.

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Fort Jamrud In 1936, Lodge Jamrud No. 4327 met under Active Service Conditions. Fort Jamrud, where the lodge met, is at the northernmost end of the Khyber Pass, right on the frontier with the Afghan border. That year, the garrison were out fighting a rebel Mohammed tribe and were laying siege to the village when it was realised that the Lodge meeting was due. They ceased fighting, laid out a field with black and white squares of cloth. The three dais were earth mounds, tools were provided by the Engineers, the VSL by the Chaplain and, just by chance, Col. G Reeves-Brown PAGCD and DistGSec had with him a set of portable tracing boards! The field was tyled by a detachment of the Black Watch.

Flying overhead was a Wapiti aircraft on patrol. The pilot, a young officer newly out from home and a recent Initiate at R.A.F. Halton saw the layout below and landed in the nearest field. He was immediately surrounded by the Black Watch to whom he proved himself and was then admitted to the Lodge as a visitor, and later became a joining member of the Lodge.

At another meeting, a British army major told of a 1935 meeting in what is now Pakistan, near the Khyber Pass. Members of Lodge Jamrud No. 4372 met in the compound of a Mohammedan village, screened by the mud walls of the buildings. Mud heaps provided seats and pedestals; tent mallets were gavels; pick handles were rods. No degree was worked, but lodge was opened on the first degree and closed before dusk.

In 1923, Lodge Jamrud left its Fortress home and met in Khyber's Temple at Peahawar by Dispensation and in 1947, it returned to England.

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Why The King Joined in Scotland Perhaps one of the main reasons for the choice of Lodge Glamis (now known by its older name as The Lodge of Glammis) No. 99 was that his fatherin- law, Claude (George) Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, was a member and Past Master.

The proposed affiliation was announced at the Quarterly Communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire held in Dundee on 29 April 1936, as reported in the following day’s edition of the Dundee Courier and Advertiser. The affiliation took place on 2 June 1936 in the presence of several senior officers of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and of the Provincial Grand Lodge, as evidenced by a photograph of a group of 18 brethren.

The then Grand Master Mason, Sir Iain Colquhoun of Luss and Colquhoun, 7th Baronet, nominated The Duke of York as the next Grand Master Mason at the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge held on 6 August 1936, and it was he who installed the Duke on 30 November 1936.

Following his accession to the throne a mere eleven days after his Installation, it was not until 8 March 1937 that the King wrote a letter of resignation from Buckingham Palace, addressed to Sir Iain Colquhoun at his London address, so in theory he remained Grand Master Mason of Scotland for 88 days after becoming George VI.

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Grumpy Past Masters—Never?

Surely an unknown phenomenon in the 21st Century?

Did You Know?

The word journeyman comes from the French word journée, which means a day's work or a day's travel. The title refers to the journeyman's right to charge a fee for each day's work. A journeyman has completed an apprenticeship but is employed by another such as a master craftsman, but would live apart and might have a family of their own. A journeyman could not employ others. In contrast, an apprentice would be bound to a master, usually for a fixed term of seven years, and lived with the master as a member of the household, receiving most or all compensation in the form of food and lodging.

In parts of Europe, as in later medieval Germany, spending time as a wandering journeyman (Wandergeselle), moving from one town to another to gain experience of different workshops, was an important part of the training of an aspirant master. Carpenters in Germany have retained the tradition of travelling journeymen even today, although only a few still practice it. In France, wandering journeymen were known as compagnons.

The Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717. However, it wasn’t until 1760 that the VSL was considered one of the three great lights. Yet, we often hear that freemasonry hasn’t changed EVER!!!! Some of our experienced brethren should learn more about from whence we come before making these statements.

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GL News Sunday 7th December, 2014—Grand Lodge Christmas Concert in Freemasons’ Hall at 2.30pm, tickets are only £10 and includes a complimentary refreshment. Available to book directly by phoning GL on 0131 225 5577.

All proceeds to Prostrate Scotland.

PGL News Monday 13th October, 2014—PG Committee in Lodge 458 Busby Friday 31st October, 2014—Tri-Annual Communication of the PGL in Barrhead Intender Training Programme—November Saturday 29th or Sunday 30th

A very interesting video on vimeo about masons out west— definitely worth a look. Click on the above image.

Thought of the Month Season ticket for Albion Rovers £140 Annual cost for most lodges £30/40 Strange!!!!!!

We’re not even Rovers standard?

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Bro. Tex Banwell Tex Banwell joined the British Army in 1931, serving with the Coldstream Guards with whom he saw action against the Pathans and Kashmiries in the mountains on the North-West Frontier. His career during the Second World War progressed to most every style of special forces unit in existence, beginning in 1942 when he joined the Long Range Desert Group, a unit which was not intended to commit sabotage like the SAS that it evolved into, but to spy on enemy troop formations extremely deep into enemy territory. Dressed like Arabs, the Group operated from the most inhospitable desert regions, where even the natives did not go. In 1942 Banwell was captured at Tobruk, but soon escaped in a German half-track. Sometime later he joined the Commandos and was again captured in an operation on Crete, but once again he succeeded in escaping, this time with a fishing boat which he sailed to North Africa. He joined the 10th Battalion when the 4th Para Brigade began the process of assembling in the Middle East, and was posted to No.4 Platoon of A Company. He was captured by the Germans but escaped with the resistance. He was caught again and being unwilling to reveal any names, they put him in front of a firing squad. He continued to be unresponsive and was again placed in front of the firing squad which then fired blanks. He was the taken to Auschwitz and released by the Russians after which he joined 11 Para (TA). His claim to fame was being Montgomery's double, but found this boring so returned to active duty.

Tex joined Kensington Battalion Lodge No. 3624 in 1984 and then became a founding member of Pegasus Forces Lodge No.9373 in 1990. A true member of the airborne brotherhood.

Lapel Pin Bro. Bill Thomas, Grand Master of the GL of NY and one of the readers of the CK, had a lapel pin made for his term. The theme is T - E - A - M, or Together Everybody Achieves More. Bro. Bill is working hard and we wish him the very best for his term of office.

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Lead by Example ‚An incident is told of the first American war, about an officer who set his men to fell some trees which were needed to make a bridge. There were not nearly enough men, and work was getting on very slowly. Up rode a commanding-looking man and spoke to the officer in charge, who was urging on his men but doing nothing himself.

‚You haven’t enough men for the job, have you?‛ ‚No, sir. We need some help.‛ ‚Why don’t you lend a hand yourself?‛ asked the man on the horseback. ‚Me, sir? Why, I am a corporal,‛ replied the officer, looking rather affronted at the suggestion. ‚Ah, true,‛ quietly replied the other, and getting off his horse he laboured with the men until the job was done. Then he mounted again, and as he rode off he said to the officer, ‚corporal, the next time you have a job to put through and too few men to do it you had better send for the Commander-in-Chief, and I will come again.‛

It was Brother General George Washington!

October Events in 242

Thursday 89h—MM by PMs Thursday 23rd—AGM INSTALLATION— Friday 14th November at 7pm

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Liberty Bell The Liberty Bell got its name from being rung July 8, 1776, to call the citizens of Philadelphia together to hear the Declaration of Independence read out loud for the first time. The Liberty Bell, weighing over 2,000 pounds, was cast in England in August of 1752.

The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered it to commemorate the 50th anniversary of William Penn founding the Colony in 1701, writing his Charter of Privileges. In 1751, the colony's Assembly declared a "Year of Jubilee" and commissioned a bell to be put in the Philadelphia State House.

Isaac Norris, Speaker of Pennsylvania's Assembly, read Leviticus chapter 25 verse 10: "And ye shall make hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof; it shall be a jubilee."

Inscribed on the Liberty Bell is: "Proclaim Liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."

During the Revolution, as the British were invading Philadelphia in 1777, the Liberty Bell was rushed out of the city to prevent it from being melted down into musket balls. The Liberty Bell was hid in Zion Reformed Church in Allentown till the British departed Philadelphia and it was returned in June of 1778.

The Liberty Bell was rung every anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence and it reportedly cracked July 8, 1835, while being rung at the funeral of Chief Justice and Bro. John Marshall (Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, from 17931795).

Bro. John Marshall was the longest-serving Chief Justice who increased the power of the Supreme Court by using an expansive reading of the enumerated powers, thereby establishing the supremacy of the Supreme Court through "judicial review."

At the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge stated: "People at home and abroad consider Independence Hall as hallowed ground and revere the Liberty Bell as a sacred relic. That pile of bricks and mortar, that mass of metal, might appear as only the outgrown meeting place and the shattered bell ... But to those who know, they have become consecrated. They are the framework of a spiritual event. The world looks upon them because of their associations of 150 years ago, as it looks upon the Holy Land because of what took place there nineteen hundred years ago."

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Masonic Indifference The following article was published in November 1872.

This accusation is solely chargeable to brethren. A number of masons exist at the moment who believe the Craft is not up to the mark. The following outlines some problems: Masonry is in a kor satisfactory condition in large towns than small towns, both with teect to working, and a knowledge and observance of its principles. This arises from the masters in large towns being more intelligent and energetic, and brethren showing greater readiness to attend. A large proportion of OBs throughout the country have no extensive knowledge of Masonry beyond the ritual. OBs should only accept office if they attend regularly and attend to all duties including extensive visiting. If they do not, lodges should see fit not to elect them into office the following year.

Once it is understood that Masonry is more than mere ceremonies, then masonic indifference in uncultivated minds and inhuman hearts. We are aware that much of their indifference is attributable to the want of instruction. But let us ask, how many evince any genuine desire for instruction? Very few. Instructors are appointed, but whether capable or not, are seldom taken advantage of, thus showing that many get admission into our ranks who are not Masons at heart. Of these, we have many who are in the better ranks of society and after receiving their degrees never attend lodge again.

None of these brethren are Masons except by name and would have been better not admitted into Masonry. The genius of Masonry is lost on them.

Considering how long ago this article was written, it is comparable to the Craft today in many aspects. Problems with OBs not understanding what they recite is clearly common, and we do not appear to be anywhere closer to a solution. It will be interesting to see how the mentoring/intendering programme takes off. It didn’t work then, but with a new breed of brethren, who knows. The other side of the coin is that to be a Freemason, a brother does not need to be able to recite the ritual although in this country, this is the only qualification to be seen to be a ‘respected’ freemason, namely being a PM. Sadly, as we all know, being a PM and being a true freemason, do not go hand in hand. Being a brother who sits in the wings and attending his meetings does not preclude him from being an excellent freemason despite what many of the gong collectors might say.

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A Recent Ceremony for a Long Departed Brother The remains of two missing airmen have been accounted for 70 years after they disappeared when their plane went down over Papua New Guinea during World War II, U.S. military officials said 1st Lt. William Bernier (a Montana Mason)..."

The Grand Lodge AF&AM of Montana will be conducting Masonic Funeral Rites for Brother William Daniel Bernier who was a member of Augusta Lodge No. 54, Augusta, Montana. Brother Bernier was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on June 16, 1937 in Augusta Lodge No. 54. 1st Lt Bernier was shot down and killed in action on April 10, 1944.

Masonic Funeral Service will be held Friday, September 19th at 2 p.m. at the Augusta Cemetery, followed by full Military service and Honours. We would like to encourage all Masons who are able to attend this service.

The remains of two missing airmen have been accounted for 70 years after they disappeared when their plane went down over Papua New Guinea during World War II, U.S. military officials said. 1st Lts. William Bernier (a Montana Mason) and Bryant Poulsen were identified through DNA and other evidence collected from the crash site in a forest on the Pacific island nation. Bernier was from Augusta and Poulsen from Salt Lake City, Utah. On April 10, 1944, their B-24-D Liberator nicknamed "Hot Garters" took off from an air base in eastern Papua New Guinea. It was one of 60 B-24s tasked with bombing antiaircraft positions around Japanese airfields, Poulsen piloted the 28-ton bomber while Bernier was the bombardier, stationed in a glass cockpit in the aircraft's nose and responsible for sighting and releasing its bombs. Their plane went down after being hit by antiaircraft fire over the city of Madang. Four of the 12-member crew exited the aircraft after it had been hit. The remaining crew, including Poulsen and Bernier, went down with the aircraft. They we part of the 5th Air Force 90th Bombardment Group 321st Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed the ‚Hot Garters‛ flying the B-24 Liberator.

A picture of Masonic ring found at the crash site.

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Tallest Mason Robert Wadlow was a Freemason. In 1939, he petitioned Franklin Lodge No.252 in Alton, Illinois, and by late November of that year was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Wadlow's freemason ring was the largest ever made.

A life-size statue of Wadlow stands on College Avenue in Alton, opposite the Alton Museum of History and Art. The statue was erected in 1986 in honour of the hometown native. Another statue of him stands in The Guinness Museum in Niagara Falls.

He is still affectionately known as the "Gentle Giant.‛

The Mason as a Citizen It is written in the Ancient Charges of Freemasonry that ‚Every mason must be obedient to the laws of the country in which he resides.‛ throughout the lectures and ritual of Masonry, there is indelibly impressed upon the mind of the mason the obligation that is his to be a responsible citizen.

In Masonry, we have naught to do with politics. However, the Mason’s influence must be felt in all matters that affect society. This is achieved by the way the Mason lives his life, by his moral integrity, by his strength of character.

So clearly written into Masonry is the duty of citizenship that there can be no misunderstanding of its vital importance. Masonry then not only makes the violation of the law of the land a masonic offence, but at the same time offers the opportunity for every mason to be an agent in keeping alive the ideals of God, of country, of freedom of conscience and of individual liberty.

The successful pursuance of these ideals depends upon what we are, what we stand for, and the courage we have to stand by our convictions, even when we stand alone.

From The Masonic Record , London, May 1970

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Jubilee Certificates

Bro. Fraser McDonald and Bro. Received their 50 Year Jubilee Certificates from the master Bro. Allan Stobo.

Congratulations are in Order

Congratulations to Bro. John Stobo PM SD who has just been re-united with his blood brother after many years and a recent search. The above was an article in The Sun newspaper about Bro. John’s recent encounter with his ‘new’ brother. Obviously, he has Bro. Alex Stobo PM JD as his brother as well as all us lodge brothers!!! I wonder if Mark is in the Craft and if not, how long will it take for a form to be completed!

Cross Keys Oct. 2014

Freemasonry & Serbia An exhibition last June showed a long tradition of Freemasonry in Serbia. Visitors were able to get acquainted with the origin and history of Freemasonry and its basic principles.

A considerable part of the exhibition is devoted to renowned Serbian Freemasons of the past, including industrialist Djordje Vajfert, author, philosopher and ‘enlightener of the people’ Dositej Obradovic, Serbia’s greatest linguist and language reformer Vuk Karadzic, King Petar I, scientist of great historical significance Mihajlo Pupin, King Aleksandar, politician Slobodan Jovanovic, Prince Pavle, Montenegrin ruler and poet Petar Petrovic Njegos and author Branislav Nusic.

The exhibition demonstrates Serbian Freemasons’ achievements and their contribution to the development of the Serbian state and progress of the Serbian nation, the RVLS said in a statement.

The visitors may find a collection of Masonic regalia used in Masonic temples, parts of Masonic equipment (aprons, medals and the like), and a setting representing a Masonic Temple, the space in which Freemasons gather and conduct Masonic works, to be the exhibition’s central attraction.

Special segments of the exhibition feature part of the 1941 Grand Anti-Masonic Exhibition staged in Belgrade during German occupation in World War II and a story of the great persecution of Freemasons, Jews, Roma and communists by the Nazis, the statement said.

Cross Keys Oct. 2014

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Thanks to Bro. Allan Stobo RWM for proof reading.

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Cross Keys Oct. 2014