Cross Keys October 2018 (Freemasonry)

The Cross Keys October 2018

Cross Keys October 2018

Number 212

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

From the Editor The opening article offers some views from an Irish Freemason about what the Craft means and how it could be thought of. The second article might cause some brethren to disagree, but as long as brethren think about their freemasonry and their role within the whole organisation, it has done its job.

The specialist lodge recently formed in England is typical of many lodges created with a certain theme in mind—this is a great idea to bring not only like minded people together, but also brethren with the same interests. Perhaps Scotland should look at this idea if any more lodges are to be formed.

Occasionally, they might have a limited timespan, but again that’s fine (or at least I think so) as times change and so must lodges.

The front cover is the 18th century wooden plaque above the Royal Arch Bar in Montrose. It depicts the friendship between Scotland and France whose sea captains used the building for masonic meetings which was then a coffee house. It is now listed with Historic Scotland. Great to see it will now be preserved in good condition.

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

All Scottish Constitution.

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In this issue: 3

Selling the Craft

4

Freemasonry is a Secret

6

Format of a Lodge

7

Two Globes Symbolism

8

Hogarth’s Night

9

Two Globes

10 Haiti 13 New Specialist Lodge 15 Masonic Dating 16 150th Anniversary 17 Certificate 19 Mexican Lodge

October Meetings Thursday 11th MM Degree Thursday 25th AGM 7.30pm start

Selling the Craft As Michael Walker, Past Grand Secretary of Ireland, said in his address to the United Grand Lodge of England last year, there is nothing wrong with the content of freemasonry but there is definitely something wrong with the way we package our product.

superb organisation which can only help men become better people. It helps society in general and its charitable contributions are only matched by the National Lottery.

Freemasons have a sense of loyalty to their country and fellow man and this is instilled in them from the very beginning of the EA degree.

“We keep hearing that men today are searching for ‘spirituality’ in their lives free The Craft is a moral code of ethical behavfrom dogma and doctrine. Freemasonry un- iour with no doctrine or dogma which prodoubtedly has an answer to that search be- vides education and training of our intellect cause it is one of the reasons it was founded, constantly forcing us to assess ourselves. but it fails to sell itself There is nothing wrong with on the back of its excelDoes the general public the content, but there is …. lent credentials. The look for more spiritualitruth is that the pack- something wrong with the way ty today? If so then this aging of our product is an area in which the we package the product has become jaded. SociCraft can tap into—with ety is very different to what it was even a our teachings developed from stories of the generation ago but freemasonry has Bible, the degrees form a system to help changed hardly at all. Is it any wonder that brethren attain a better life more in tune we appear irrelevant to our young candi- with modern life using ancient esoteric lesdates and so many of them subsequently sons. leave us? I repeat my conviction that the time has come to talk openly and freely Many people today appear lost—they have about our rituals with anyone who is inter- plenty of money, are incredibly busy and ofested, the only caveat being that we take ten with little time to spend at home. Many care not to dilute the effect the ceremonies are not happy and wonder what it’s all about. will have on future candidates. If as a result The Craft can help—from whence you come ? we inspire our members to make a daily ad- is a question every freemason will be familvance-ment in masonic knowledge and at- iar with and possibly be able to answer to a tract men to join us because of its exciting certain degree. The search for truth will conmessage, we will be able slowly to turn the tinue to the end, but the journey for that Craft in the direction for which it was search is rewarding particularly when you’re founded.” These are the words of Bro. Lord not alone, but search with like minded brethNorthampton. ren. The Craft is ready for the 21st Century, but we need to let the world know what are He is absolutely correct! Freemasonry is a offer.

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T

Freemasonry IS a Secret Society‌...

o state the obvious, we meet behind closed doors, we place a guard on the door, and we swear ourselves to secrecy. All of these actions are the hallmark of a secret society.

There are penalties (albeit symbolic) for violations of these secrets. To question whether Masonry is a secret society is an exercise in futility, as all Masons have taken an oath to keep it a secret society.

The first question being asked here is what is the secret? That is the question of the ages, the question that has been asked by every Mason when on his knees before an altar, surrounded by ancient symbols, and by the light of true flames, he swears to keep that secret.

You cannot answer the first question without answering the second question, and that is, "Is Masonry an esoteric organization?" We define esoteric as "Secret teachings, for a small group, within an inner circle" and not arcane or occult information for a group of people.

Each one of us has answered the question of the ages, not once, but thrice. We, each and every one of us, are seekers of light. Humbly, on our knees, we have answered the question of what it is we seek by answering "light."

Voltaire, a Mason, and a contemporary of Benjamin Franklin made a rather classic statement: "What we find in books is like the fire in our hearths. We fetch it from our neighbors, we kindle it at our home, we communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all." As Masons, what we find in lodge is the fire that brought civilization to the world, and as Masons we kindle it, we share it with our brethren, and it becomes the foundation of freedom. It is not a coincidence that those who chose freedom over tyranny were Masons. Presidents, kings, scientists,

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musicians, composers, astronauts, plumbers, electricians, teachers, soldiers, and mailmen—all have been seekers of light.

Books are the carriers of free thought, the bastions of a free society, and without light, you cannot read. A society kept in the dark is a society that is imprisoned. Masons are the keepers of the light that allows a society to be free. Every brother has exposed himself to free thought, to free expression, and promises temperance, fortitude, prudence, and justice.

The great religions of the world all promise light, as in Genesis: "And God said, let there be light, and there was light"; the Quran 24:35, "Light upon light! God doth guide whom He will to His light"; the Sikh Guru Nanaak, "God is the light of all light"; and the Zohar, "which illuminates the supreme heaven is a light never ceasing".

As Masons, each of us has defined ourselves as seekers of light. Yet, have we truly asked ourselves what this means to us? Within the lodge, light was given to us, yet like light seen through a prism, there are different spectrums that each one of us may be affected by. I would postulate that Masonry is the prism for those that seek light. Through Masonry, we can divide the light into an understanding of the colors that we are seeking.

Within our secret lodge, we can discuss freely the meaning of light, and therefore we are not only seekers of light, but bearers of light for the future.

Masons throughout the years have paid dearly for the goal of seeking light. The Catholic Church, Holland, Spain, Italy, and other European countries outlawed Masonry. From its inception, many Islamic coun-

Freemasonry is a Secret Society……(ctd) tries have threatened death to all Masons.

Communist countries, Nazi Germany, and other dictatorships quickly forbade Masonry under penalty of death. Totalitarian governments cannot coexist with men who seek the light of freedom, to use that light to expose those who lurk in the shadows, and who would dim that light to keep men in darkness.

We meet in our secret lodges not only to protect ourselves from persecution, but to continue to seek the light. Each of our degrees is a symbol of free thinking and brings us closer to "illumination." Jean- Louis De Biasi, writing in Secrets and Practices of Freemasons, defined that illumination as a "contemplation of the divine."

In the First Degree, we declare upon our honor that we seek to become Masons because of a desire of knowledge and to be of service to our fellow creatures, and that we will learn the principles of a correct and upright life. It is here, in the Apron Lecture, where we hear the first explanation of what is expected of a Freemason.

In Second Degree, we discuss the importance of Geometry, and how numberless worlds are around us, and that we, as Masons are repositories of ancient knowledge passed from the instructive tongue to the attentive ear. It is here that we can begin to understand the secrets of our society.

In the Third Degree, we learn about the rebirth of life and that one must pass through a curtain, a fog—almost a miasma of

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thought—in order to become a Master Mason. If we listen closely, we hear the call, feel the pull on our souls to rise up as a new man, one who is ready not only to seek the light, but also to understand what we see by that light.

Use your critical thinking skills to understand that, yes, we are a Secret Society, an esoteric society of men who are the repositories of ages-old information. Each one of us is offered the opportunity to become a torch bearer of freedom for the future. As Albert Pike stated, "The sovereignty of oneself over oneself is called liberty." A Master Mason has that sovereignty.

Thanks to Bro. James Combs of Edgewood Lodge No.82 (New Mexico). The article was written for the Scottish Rite magazine May/June 2018.

Bro. Jim Combs, 32°, with his "secret" lodge (Edgewood No. 82) and the Grand Master of New Mexico

The Form of a Lodge If you were to describe the layout of a typical Masonic Lodge room, what would you say? Most would call it a rectangle or a square. Some lodges have been built as perfect cubes such as Lodge Greenock St. John’s No.175.

However, the correct answer (originally) is "an oblong square." In early geometry, a "square" was defined as any object composed of right angles. Thus, the two shapes we call a rectangle and a square were one in the same to operative masons. To differentiate the two, the craftsman began to refer to one as a "perfect square" and the other as an "oblong square."

The Sun, the Moon and the Master is represented by large candles placed in a triangular form upon the lodge. The lodge ‌ is commonly made with white tape nailed to the floor round, as you see the letters E for East and S for South etc, are made of thin silver or tin very thin, and likewise the letter G at the top. In the new constituted lodges is a Quadrant, a Square, a pair of Compasses and plum line placed at the top of the Lodge. The officers of the Lodge stand upright in their proper places with their right foot making a square upon their left, their left hand hanging down in a perpendicular line, their right hand upon their left breast making a square with their fingers and thumb, with their white aprons on and gloves stitched on their right side. This is the Posture and great sign that will fetch any mason from the top of a house and is called the Posture of a Mason.

From the Dialogue between Simon & Philip, 1740 Exposure

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Hogarth’s Night William Hogarth, known for his satire, produced a set of four paintings and one has become a very common image in masonic literature. The series was called Four Times of the Day depicting London in the morning, noon, evening and night and was completed in 1736. Unfortunately, it does not show the Craft in a great light despite the man in the picture being a member of Hogarth’s mother lodge and perhaps that’s the reason why!

Rummer & Grapes pub Earl of Cardigan pub

Publican watering down wine

Li

Charles I Statue

nk Mop

de Veil WM

Tyler

The scene is Charing Cross identified by Charles I statue, now known as Whitehall. It is typical of London in those days with a link boy (who used burning lamps to help pedestrians before street lighting), a barber surgeon who has just cut his customer (only separated 9 years later as the Society of Surgeons), a coach on its side (not uncommon on the roads much like ours today!) and a homeless family under a shelf (again similar….).

However, what is of interest is the drunken freemason who is the central character. Not just a freemason, but the master of the lodge still wearing his apron and jewel of office being assisted by the tyler. Possibly too drunk to notice the chamber pot being emptied on his head!

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Hogarth’s Night(ctd) The freemason is traditionally identified as Sir Thomas de Veil (shown to the right of the picture), who was a member of Hogarth's mother Lodge and Henry Fielding's predecessor as the Bow Street Magistrate. He was an unpopular man due to hard sentencing of gin sellers which was thought to be hypocritical as he was a heavy drinker himself. Both have blood on their heads indicating that they might have been involved in a fight earlier.

The pubs shown were used by masonic lodges at the time. The overturned coach below the Earl of Cardigan sign has been suggested as a slight mockery of the 4th Earl of Cardigan (also 1st Duke of Montagu) who was Grand Master and renowned for poor driving.

It is interesting to see another mason on the right carrying a mop and perhaps going to help the occupants of the carriage The mop was used to clear away chalk drawings on the floor which today have become tracing boards.

Miniatures To the left are lodge, Royal Arch, Mark, Knight templar and Rose Croix jewels presumably worn by a brother (or knight or frater) in the lodge or chapter. This was not uncommon a 100 years ago, but today is taboo. However, under UGLS lodges, the RA jewel can be worn in a lodge.

A question to ponder—military wear miniatures indoors (ie. mess functions, etc) and large jewels at parades outside.

Therefore, should we wear miniatures in lodge or chapter? It would be cheaper!!

With the number of brethren today with PM jewels, anniversary jewels, etc. it might make sense and not look as clumsy. Any thoughts brethren?

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The Globes "The globes are two artificial spherical bodies, on the convex surface of which are represented the countries, seas, and various parts of the earth, the face of the heavens, the planetary revolutions, and several other particulars of equal importance. The sphere with the parts of the earth delineated op its surface, is called the terrestrial globe; and that with the constellations and other heavenly bodies, the celestial globe.

Their principal use, besides serving as maps to distinguish the outward parts of the earth, and the situation of the fixed stars, is to illustrate and explain the phenomena arising from the annual revolution and the diurnal rotation of the earth round its own axis. They are the noblest instruments for improving the mind and giving it the most clear and distinct ideas of any problem or proposition, as well as enabling it to solve the fame. While we are employed in contemplating these bodies, we are not only inspired with a due reverence for the Deity and his works, but are also induced to apply with more diligence and attention to astronomy, geography, navigation, and other arts, dependent on them, which are equally useful to society."

William Preston, Illustrations of Masonry, 2nd edition. (London, 1775)

The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 On Friday 4th October, the installation of the lodge will take place and the Master Elect Bro. Thomas Trotter will present a talk on: Freemasonry and the Great War The meeting will take place in the Masonic Hall, West Stewart Street in Greenock.

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Haiti In colonial Saint-Domingue (today Haiti)— where Freemasonry arrived with French merchants and soldiers—it became one of the few European institutions that admitted black members. The New World’s chaotic and cosmopolitan ports, in general, proved fertile ground for an order devoted not merely to helping unmoored men build fraternal ties helpful to business, but to mining the deep human past—our esoteric heritage of runes and pyramids and signs—to divine a universal knowledge. Elsewhere in the Americas, racism kept blacks from joining lodges or embarking on the series of initiations, or “degrees,” around which Masonic rites revolve. (One result was the Prince Hall Lodges to which many African Americans and West Indians still belong today.)

But in French Saint-Domingue, Masonic ideas held great interest for the colony’s freedmen of color—the forerunners of Haiti’s political elite—and Freemasonry also seems to have overlapped, in untraceable but fascinating ways, with warrior societies brought here by slaves from Kongo and Dahomey, who won their freedom by force.

The leaders of Haiti’s Revolution were familiar with “the Craft”—Dessalines had his sword and scabbard engraved with a square and compass. Haiti’s very name—which its black founders borrowed from an indigenous Taino word for their “land of high mountains”—may even reflect a Masonic interest in Native American languages and lore. Vodou, a system of belief and rituals born from varied African roots by people who needed a shared way to articulate their common ties to Guinée and to one another, has long incorporated Masonic elements. In Haiti today, Freemasonry continues to thrive among the paragons of middle-class respectability—Haiti’s own accountants and dentists—who are less often documented than Haiti’s poor. And Masonic imagery and language, far beyond these Masons’ lodges, still pervades visual culture in a country Cross Keys October 2018

where most signage is still made by humans.

This handhewn quality is evinced in this show in a wooden coffincover on which Michel Lafleur, whose paintings of famous fades adorn barber shops across Port-au-Prince, has affixed a red and gold skull and masons’ squares. Coffins are key to the third degree of Masonic initiation, and one also features in Andre Eugene’s contribution, a typically spooky piece involving a doll’s head and scrap metal. Eugene and Lafleur’s associate Molej Zamour, a woodworker, has fabricated three Masonic columns modeled on a similar trio from the eighteenth century that Lafleur has painted with three principles—“Foi” (faith), “Esperance” (hope), and “Charite” (charity)—and their associated Masonic symbols. It’s hard to go far in Haiti today without seeing one of these words painted on a storage depot or tap-tap.

“Vernacular Universalism” also includes a pair of sequined flags by the vodou flag artist Yves Delva—they hail Ti Jean Petwo (as John the Baptist, the patron saint of Free-

Haiti (ctd) masons, is known to vodouisants)—and a wall of “Solomonic pentacle drawings” by Ernest Dominique, an artist and writer who has been initiated to the thirtieth degree as a Mason.

But the show’s core comprises twenty of Gordon’s photographs of Freemasons and their gathering spaces that took years of trustbuilding to enter.

Grouping these images into four assemblages of five, Gordon has arranged each set of pictures in the shape of a cross—a form as resonant to Freemasons and in the cosmologies of vodou as it is to orthodox Christians. Blackand-white and color images, saturated with the reds and blues of Haiti’s national flag, are juxtaposed, creating intriguing visual dialogues and rhymes. Illuminating a world usually hidden from outsiders, these images, as the scholar Katherine Smith observes in a text

accompanying them here, reveal “unexpected couplings: mysticism and civil society; secrecy and spectacle; solemnity and celebration; patriarchy and grace.”

Long before our current ignoramus-inchief dubbed their country a “shithole,” Haitians had become used to Haiti being viewed as a place outside the West. But as these images remind us, Haiti’s past—its glorious revolution and its history of impoverishment alike—is inextricable from our own. This is a place, like the United States, where the fruits and failings of Enlightenment thought are everywhere you look.

Lodge Name The name of the lodge has always been an conundrum and the minutes provide no insight as to why St. Johnstone was used. Only that it was named after the Houstoun family and nothing to do with the town of Houston.

It is often spelled wrongly even by PGL and was often seen as Houstoun Street, Johnstone. However, in the Freemasons’ Magazine and Masonic Mirror of March 1869 reporting on the funeral of Bro. Capt. Spiers PPGM of Glasgow, it is stated as St Johnstone, Houston!!

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Christmas Eve 1813—lodge controlled again by a Grand Master!! The candidates receive the three degrees that night (again very common), but Robert Stevenson was the publican of the Black Bull Inn. Possibly the brethren were thinking about future meeting places.

242 Frontage A photo from about 1914/15 showing Collier Street. The front fencing of the lodge are shown with the old metal lights on top of the two pillars at the main gate, long since gone.

The house to the right of the lodge was Bro. James Galbraith’s which was left to the lodge when he died—hence the reason we have the car park as this was the adjacent fue under the original street plan of George Houstoun from the 18th Century.

The house to the left is unchanged.

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New Specialist Lodge Hampshire Freemasons have formed a new lodge for those involved or interested in air travel as it attempts to attract members. It is the latest specialist lodge in the province following the creation of a scouting lodge, football lodge, rugby lodge, sailing lodge and two motorsports lodges. They are proving highly popular and have been credited in a rise in interest in freemasonry.

The Samuel Cody Aviation Lodge is named after the early 19th century flying pioneer.

Among its number are members and former members of the RAF, members and former members of civil flight and ground crew, those from air traffic control as well as aeroplane enthusiasts. It is run in the same way as any other lodge and its first master is Roger Bricknell who spent 25 years as a Concorde flight engineer – clocking up 14,000 flying hours. Samuel Cody was a Wild West showman who became a flying pioneer and made the first ever flight in the UK in Farnborough in 1908.

This idea of the specialist lodge is becoming more and more popular. Research lodges have existed for a long time which functions for brethren who want to know more about the Craft.

Military lodges have a long history, lodges for poets, writers, media, scouts or other organisations have existed too. Perhaps this is the way forward today where many lodges in towns or cities are struggling.

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The Church of Rome (March 1874) The following was printed after regulations for Lent were read in Marlborough Street in Dublin.

After discussing the rules, the Cardinal then spoke about secret societies including Freemasons, Fenians, Ribbon Men and Good Templars all of whom were “denounced as sources of evil.” As pointed out in the article, not only are thousands of Roman Catholic members of the Craft, but the present Pope is also (Pope Pius IX signed the books of a lodge in Monte Video in Italy).

The article continues by saying that most

New Lapel Badge The lapel badge has been made with November 2018 approaching and is available from Poppy Scotland

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Catholics are capable of deciding for themselves whether the Craft “merits the animadversion bestowed by the worthy Cardinal…...the conduct of the officiating Priest upon that occasion deserved considerably more sacerdotal censure than the harmless sin of our lodge meetings.”

“The principles of Freemasonry encourage charity, brotherly love and every Christian virtue; and it is perfectly consistent (with reasonable men) to enjoy the lessons of Freemasonry, without allowing their religious exercises to be in any way interfered with.”

Masonic Dating Masonic dating can be a challenge to keep track of. A number of young members have asked about 4004 on the Grand Lodge certificate. Here's a quick run down of the most well known Masonic dating systems.

der." The Order was traditionally established in A.D. 1118. From the Christian Era, subtract 1118, thus 2018 becomes A.O. 900.

Scottish Rite Masonry uses the Jewish chronology, Anno Mundi (A.M.), "in the year of Craft Lodges commence their era with the the world." Add 3,750 to the common "traditional" creation of the world, calling it era. Thus 2018 becomes A.M. 5778. After Anno Lucis (A.L.), "in September, add anthe year of light." Add other year.

4004 or 4,000 years to the common The last one of the era. Thus 2018 beYear of the Order comes A.L. 6022 or which is used in the 6018.

Red Cross of Constantine when 313 Chapters of Royal is subtracted which Arch Masons date denoted the date of from the year the second temple was com- the Emperor’s vision before a famous battle. menced by Zerubbabel, calling it Anno Bene- Therefore, 2018 become A.O. 1705. ficio (A.B.), "in the year of the discovery." Add 530 years to the common era. Thus 2018 becomes A.B. 2548.

Councils of Cryptic Masons date from the year in which the Temple of Solomon was completed, calling it Anno Depositionis (A.Dep.), "in the year of deposit." Add 1,000 to the common era. Thus 2018 becomes A. Dep. 3018.

Knights Templar commence their era with the organization of the ancient order, calling it Anno Ordinis (A.O.), "in the year of the Or-

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150th Anniversary The District Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador under the Grand Lodge of Scotland is celebrating 150 years of Freemasonry in that part of Canada. The huge sign below has been placed at Masonic Park, Mount Pearl—a masonic complex for seniors. The District has also been involved with the Kids Eat Smart programme for over 20 years. It is great to see Scottish masonry flourish in another part of the world.

Below was a pamphlet for a farewell service to brthren in 1914 who were leaving with their regiment to join the British Forces in France.

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Membership Certificate The membership certificate (prior to Grand Lodge certificates) issued to a brother of Montgomery Lodge, in Broadalbin, New York, January 26, 1806. Last month showed a life certificate from Livingstone, but this one is much more colourful and elaborate. Perhaps the lodge was more affluent and could afford to design a professional certificate.

The Beehive Extend no token to the ruthless hand of ignorance. Labour at a safe distance from those who desire unearned wages and any who daub with mortar untempered. Sincerity and plain dealing distinguish the true EA, the arts and sciences the engaged FC, and unfeigned piety the honest and worthy MM. Seek those qualities out, and be cautious when you do not see them in an individual who wears our apron. Reflect further that, where silence and circumspection are not, those things that silence and circumspection are intended to preserve and guard will never be found.

Though we are all imperfect ashlars, endeavour to befriend brothers who will truly meet you on the Level and who strive to make their lives actually reflect the teachings of Freemasonry. Do not become overly entangled in the machinations of those who have elected not to take the wise truths of our Art seriously. Have compassion for them, and know that ones like this have always gathered near us—for even the earliest brethren wrote admonitions regarding them, both in their literature and in the very ceremonies themselves.

Wish all men well, but remember the hourglass, and focus resolutely on that which you came here to do. There is no shortage of work in this Temple. Our labour is not to be concerned with the recumbent drone, but to gather what is scattered so that the hive will have honey, and the lodge greater Light.

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Unique?

The building to the right may well be unique and certainly today, it’s probably unique. The Town Council building and the lodge in the same building with both advertised on the frontage. It can be found in Seaton, Deton in Devon and still survives today.

Unfortunately today, the “Masonic Lodge” (and Council Offices) have been removed, but otherwise it is exactly the same. The lodge now meets in its own premises in the town.

New Aprons

Four fine examples of new masonic aprons. Unfortunately, not for the Scottish brethren but many American brethren are able to wear these individually hand painted aprons in a similar manner to our ancient brethren who often designed their own aprons with symbols that meant more to them.

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Mexican Lodge Science and Virtue Lodge No.74 in Mexico has an amazing mural in the E of their lodge—King Solomon’s temple is the full height of the wall. The layout is very simple but very effective and a candidate cannot fail to be impressed.

Russian RA Jewel Although a fairly standard RA jewel for members, this is a superb example of craftsmanship with fine detail. The jewel is larger than the RA jewel in Scotland, but nonetheless I’m sure any companion would be proud to wear this jewel.

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Pennsylvanian Royal Arch Masons The Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania is the oldest Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in the United States, having been established in 1795. In the early days, the Grand Lodge and the Grand Chapter were inseparable, with the officers of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania also serving as the officers of the Grand Chapter. This system remained in place until the 1820's, when the organizations officially split. But, to this day, it's common to find Brothers who serve both organizations. [Currently this system is followed by England with senior officers].

The Grand Chapter of PA remains independent and not part of the General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons International.

Rosicrucian Thought

Sacred geometry has the potential to be a powerful working tool in the hand of each Freemason. Through its lens, the relationship between the visible and invisible aspects of the divine become clearer and even visceral. In seeking a means to participate in that harmony which it teaches, we find our place in the Temple, and through it, realize that the Temple is everywhere and nowhere, and there is no place that God is naught.

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In Memoriam It is with deep sadness and much regret that we have to inform you of a loss sustained to the craft in Renfrewshire in the passing to the Grand Lodge above of the following Brother: Bro. Archie Gemmell Bro. Bennie Harvey

Bro. Dougie Pratt MM 242 PM 877

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/

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