Issuu

VOICE OF FREEMASONRY A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Brethren, other than my Grand Master's report at ourAnnua1Grand Lodge Communication in December, this will be my last opportunity to address each of you. After I was installed as Grand Master in December 1997, on many occasions I was told that my year would be over before I knew it. How true those statements have proven to be. By the time you receive this copy of the "Voice" I will have about one month to go before I yield the Oriental Chair to the "Little Redhead." This past year has certainly been the highlight of my 41 plus years in Masonry. Working with this Grand Lodge has been a challenge. I would not be telling the truth if I said there were no problems. The problems I encountered were mostly minor ones and I hope that I resolved them to the satisfaction of the Brethren involved and this Grand Lodge. I will truthfully say that the good things which happened during the year far outweighed the problems. The highlight of my year, I must say, was a non-Masonic event which took place on October 17,1998, and that is when my son Michael got married. This was a joyous occasion which made Joyce and me very proud. The next highlight will be a Masonic event which I hope will be consumated by the time you read this. I refer to my raising of my son Michael to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in the Grand Master's Class. There have been many honors bestowed upon me this year for which I am very grateful. To the Brethren of this jurisdiction I say thanks for everything. I want to also express my appreciation to the Grand Lodge Officers, without whom we could not have accomplished many of the things that were done; to the Past Grand Masters, whose advice and counsel I treasure; to the Grand Lodge staff, whose store of experience keep things moving on time and in the right direction. I am particularly appreciative of the support that has been afforded me by my Lodge, William R. Singleton-Hope-LebanonLodge No. 7 (the greatest), and by those Masons who hold membership therein. I will be forever indebted for the many kindnesses that have been extended over the 41 years of our association. I want to sincerely thank the Grand Secretary, Most Worshipful Brother Stewart W. Miner, P.G.M. His advice and counsel is deeply appreciated, and I have truly enjoyed working with him. Lastly, and most importantly, I want to express my appreciation to my wife, Joyce. Without her none of my achievementswould have been possible. I'm sure that she joins me in looking forward to December 20th. To my successors I wish the best of everything as they carry on the work of this fraternity. They have my full support and I pray for the success of their every venture.

~ M n Master d Onthecover: The Grand Master, EldonJ. Brown presidesoverwm. R. Singleton-Hope-Lebanon Lodge No. 7 for the final Grand Visitation of the vear while the Worshioful Master. Kevin P.Jav looks on

Grand Lodge Annual Communication and Installation

Thc rhiril Stared Communic;l!ion of the Gmnd W g t ill he h h l OI Suurday, b r n k r 19, 1998 at 530 p.m 111 rhc Sctwish Itile Temple. 2800 1 P Slrtx~NW, Washington, I).(:.. l a act on the rqmn of the Jurisprudmx I'c)~iirn~l~cc. av. d tke Distinguished Service MednI. and intlall the o f i m of rhe Grand Lodge for 1999, All ii

MASTER MASONS, THEIR FAMILIES. AND GUESTS are cordially invited ro attrad ik insrallarion ceremony. starring at 6:M p.m, and ro s h the rwrpiion in rhe rckcrory fo tlowing the inuallation oroficers.

Rd.

k e r n h e r 12 - Business Suit Llmmber 19 -'tirxedo

A Serious Attackon Freemasonry summarized by W. Kirk MacNulty, PM

I t is a sad fact that American Masons are all too familiar with unjustified attacks on our Craft. In America these attacks usually come from the "religious right"; and while they are unpleasant and while they have an adverse effect on applications for membership from men with whom that group has influence, in general such attacks are not more than an irritation. In England a far more serious attack on Freemasonry is being conducted at this moment; and if it succeeds, it is likely to have consequencesfar beyond the boundaries of Masonry itself. Because of its potential consequences this action merits the attention of every Mason everywhere in the world, and this article will serve as a brief introduction. This attack on Freemasonry started on the IstofJuly, 1992whenMr. ChrisMullin, Labour MP for Sunderland South, introduced a Private Member's Bill into the House of Commons. Its title was The Secret Societies (Declaration) Bill. The Bill did not name Freemasonry specifically, but it defined "secret societies'3n a way which certainly included the Order, and it provided that members of "secret societies" be required to register their names as such. Happily, the Bill was never acted upon, and it lapsed at the end of the Parliamentary session. Now, Chris Mullin has been referred to by the Daily Mail as "one of Parliament's most dedicated crusaders", and he is certainly not one to let go easily of his objectives with respect to Freemasonry. Actually, Mr. Mullin does not seem to know a great deal about Freemasonry. By his own admission, he has read only one book on the subject; and that one is Martin Short's Inside the Brotherhood.' For those who have not read it, Inside the Brotherhood is an ingenious and imaginative work of antiMasonic speculation-presented-as-factdesigned to excite the fears of the credulous and to appeal to the preconceptions of the conspiracy theorists. It alleges that English Freemasonry is a sinister conspiracy

that has infiltrated the English Police and Judicial systems where it operates to pervert justice for its own evil ends and to the detriment of the British public. After his Secret Societies Bill died in Parliament Mr. Mullin suggested2to some of his fellow MP's on the Home Affairs Select Committee3 that they inquire into the activities of Freemasonry in the Police and the Judiciary. Wecannot know whether Mr. Mullin actually believed the allegations which he read in Inside the Brotherhood, or whether he simply saw (as politicians of a certain sort do) an opportunity to stand up and shout, "Something must be done!". However, based on his own comments about the book4, it is difficult to imagine that Mr. Mullin did not have Martin Short's imaginary conspiracy theory mind when he persuaded the The Home Affairs Committee to undertake the inquiry. The inquiry, itself, attracted a substantial amount of attention from the media; and it did discover that, on a very few occasions, individual Freemasons break the law. There was not much news in that revelation. The United Grand Lodge of England is aware that they have a few bad apples in the barrel; and when such persons are discovered they are invited to resign; if they don't, they are expelled by the Grand Lodge. From the point of view of exposing a "Masonic conspiracy in the Criminal Justice System" the Select Committee's inquiry was a very lackluster affair. "In giving evidence to the Committee, the Lord Chancel109 stated that he knew of no evidence of 'any substantial kind' that Freemasonry had had any adverse effect on the conduct of magistrates orjudges." Evidence to the same effect was received from the Magistrates Association, The Association of Chief Police Officers, the Police Superintendents' Association, the Police Federation, the Law Society, the Bar Council, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Home Office, and the Police Complaints Authority. In the Report of its inquiry, the Select Committee, itself, said "We have given careful consideration to each of the submissions received and note that many of them are devoid of real evidence, or are anecdotal in nature, or where there is evidence it has been largely circumstantial'". In the original draft of the Report's conclusion the Committee said, ".....We are reluctant to recommend a compulsory form of registration of Freemasonsbecause

we acknowledge that to do so implies a basis for suspicion and would be an unnecessary interference with a person's right to privacy which, like the secrecy of the vote, we struggle to preserve in so many areas of British life". In the final report this conclusion was replaced by a long paragraph of waffle which suggested: that Freemasonry brings all this on itself by being a "secret society"; that Freemasonry should be open about its membership. It recommended that "police officers, magistrates, judges, and crown prosecutors should be required to register membership in any secret society and that the record should be available p~blicly".~The Committee did not offer any explanation for the inconsistency between the evidencein the body of its Report and the disappointing recommendations in its conclusion. The Select Committee published its report in 1997, shortly before the general election which brought the present Labour Government to power. The new Labour Home Secretary,Mr. Jack Straw, indicated that it was his intention to establish a voluntary registry of Freemasonsemployed in the criminal justice system and that this register should be avdable to the public. He arguedthat this a c t i o n w ~ d b e..... " consistent with the evidewe to the Committee by the then offi-cia3apposition that membership of the ke-s (and any other similar organizatiofi) sbrsuld be a The declarable and registrable i&xe~t".~ emphasis is mine, and we &dd note that the evidence to which NHt saw referred as "given to the Commit&& by the then official opposition" is that same material which the Committee, in its DWJI report, found to be "....devoid of reS exidence, .....anecdotal in nature, or .....largely circumstantial". The Govermmt proposed that membership in Freemasomy should be declared for allnew appointmentswithin the criminal justice system and the Gtand

Interview with Chris MulIi, Freemasonry Today, Spring 1998 ibid In American government the analog to The Home Affairs Select Committeewould be acongressional Committeesetup toinvestigateactivities within the Department of Justice. ibid In the English government the Lord Chancellor is roughly analogous to the American Attorney General. quotes are from the Report of the Home Affairs Select Com'ttee as summarized to the Craft by UGLE ibid HC 192-2,Appx 25 , Page 139

e ~ the position ~ of the d G m dLode on the auhject ufpmvidhg namm of F r m masons. That po&hn is clear: The United Grand Loldge considers the Gouementt"s propmds to be Dr8~onian." They also waddm b p r o p % a l st~be selective. The W e b made much empty talk of behg inzwwted h registering members of ziIl "swmt ~ e b t i ~bat ' ?no~ &er orgaftiG o w m e n t has zaticsn of htmest to been identified, Only Freemasons have been targeted for registration. The Grand ~ about the saope of Lodge is d s concerned the registry, since them has been Borne talk of extendingit to include lee Armad Forces no deflslitim of what

in the 1930's; and not without mason, The mcerns within the Grand Lbdge - azld among Englieh Masoan&- am very m1; because &e Government has trbsaid what it intends to do with this list after it has been compiled, aur has it said to whom the names are to bemade available, We s W d note once again ehar there: is no legishtion relating to thh proass, and there m no legd safeguards to.protect Masons who are on as it oould, &vea @a%@% &-&s~~orictl~.hjwd by the fmprapmuseof the inf~ltlatioathe Government is c o n c ~ g . C h e a g e the r&@ m% b e bmn th~e~@. In response to this aggressive stion d i H t p p 0 ~ gtQ f i e C by the Government the Grand Lodge hm mzws were In the &st kcideat B ~ w ' s ;Ijn, the S ~ C - given the foldowing advice to English subAt@& two Masons: (1) Qbey the law. (There is oad incident sixty-six n w w m submitted;eight were Pulasons; in the third inci- nothing new in this idea; it is taken from dent ninety-& names w m submitted; the Charge in the First Degree); (2) Be aware that there is no Masonic regulation seven were Masons. Not the sort of n m that pr:vents a Mason &om r~vealirrghis bers which would supporf the theory of a membership in the OYder. The anly re'"Masonic crsrrmcy". striction is tbat you must not use Masonic membership far the: purpose of gaining personal advantage. Beyond y m can ten anyone you like that you are a Mama, and you can be proud of it. The Grand Lodge has also m a p i d that "Them are a significant number of W s h Masons who afe fearful that if their employers to become aware bt thsy are Freemasons their mmq prospwts will bv dmmgdR''lg Should sach events occur, the Board of General Parposes of the Grand Lodge is considering the posrsibility of Fmancing court proceedings, if a ease mitable for establishing a p r e e d t can be idexitifTed. After complying with the demmds of There is activity here which h u I d the Select CoIIuaittee, the United Grand cause widespread aoncern. Acting without Lodge wrote to ''-...the Prime Minister, the legislation, but simply using the Lord GhmceLtor, and the Home S e c m t q compellencewhich is available to a Select to ezgmss its GonGem that the long-estabCommitm, the Government is establishl i s M rights of lawful associations and ing a dangerous precedent. Who can tell individualsme being challengedand erodd wbich group will be q u i r e d to register in a m u n t g which has d m y s prided itsdf next? It is highly probable that some on its @wrsity and its tolerance, and in meniben of the Mormon Ghnrch would w&b the right to privacy and naâ‚Źural have been included in the definition Mr. ~ s t k e s ~ e d ~ The t a @andLodge ~ * ~ . Mullhi used inhis srigind S e a t Societies is still awaiting a reply. Bill. (Not a coneem f o the ~ Oav-ent; Theeventsdescribed-aboveoccnredin there we not many Mdmoas inh g 1 d . I the S p k g of 19518. The situation in which It is also possible lbat some.ktureO o m the United &and Lodge of England fin& ment might use this pmcedent to compel itself at the ritrte of this writing is somewhat more serious. The Govetfnmeat has Fre~ma~mry To&, Sp- 1998 started to collect rimes for its " ' v o l u n ~ lo A t m n s & h B r i ~ h p ~ l i t i ~ t o d e s ~ r i k s x ~ i v e regisref" of Masons employed in t h Pomeastnes. ItreferstoDraca, tbAthenian1awmk lice, the Judiciary, the b w n Prosecution wbxe code prescribed death for almPst mmy ofService>the Probation Qffmrs, the Prison fense. extracts~t~re-meetin~with&e~~~ommi S&ce and @e membas of Police AuFreemas~nryToday, Spriqg 1998 thorities. The ~reparpticmof thi9:Registry 'a i& has heen co $nthe British media to IS G a v i n P u r s e r , ~ i d e n f B d o f ~ ~ e ; u p O S ~ , â‚Źberegismtion of Jaws in Nazi Germany Grdbcr'deNews, 9 Sepf 1998

Whlr cm tell which group will be required register next9

h e regismion of, say, gays: they ncl togerRtrformutudsuppri. Grrz~rpeaaslmtdd look-QUL Irs vessels r~gulruIyvtolak the lnm-nationrrl Regulat tons for )?.evenrim of Collisions ar Sea when h e y seek to disrupl nwitimeaclivities ofwWich(;recnpacedik approves. As orgnnization wwhh regularly and knowingly violates ~ l l elaw might be compel ttd, wing rhis pwccdcnt. to regisrer ih membtn. Obviously. it is far-fahd to suggea ~harGreenpeace should register irs r n e o k ~bal , no Inom far-fetched than to suggeu ths! Frrenwonry should do so. The point is his: a wrongly cotlsvucred preceden1 is n very dangerous Lhing in n micry wirhrlr a wriucn Comirudon; it is impssiblc ro know how. d against whom. Iht pmedem will he used in the future. Thisast~aultby Lhe British Governnlcnt on the m~urdlrigh~sof our Brelhren in England shrsuld give u.ti% American Mamnr cause for hmghr. HOW~houldwe undersfmd rhis siution. a d whnr can we ham fmmit? Firpt. I think thilt we. as Americans, should be grateful lo [he, Founders of [his Counlry ror h e provjsio~~s to pmlecl individual libmy which hey incoponred in10 our ~ m s ~ i t u l i o nWe . shwtd rtvicw hose provisions. and be sure rhur we understand rkmhovr h e y opzratemd whiu wemust do 10maintain hem. We should work w~tnsum h a t all rxlr fellow citi~ens have theopponun i ~ yro lenm h o u r and apprccialc tkm. We .~ihoulbwork tacnsurtrl~araose prokclions areexlendedroever)rcihm. And f nally, wc rhould bcrtrefulto liveourown lives in such a way khiu wedo n ~ i t b u s er h w provisions. S m n d . I think iha! we. as, Masons, shou16wiew the w h i n g s o f w r Cmft. We should review with c u t rhc r i t d nad kctu*s which contain our reachings. 7'hert: is nothing to k found ~ h m i hn r i a rm neccsrary lohe Maaonic teaching, and weshould srudy them until we unJlrrsrand the irrrrni of ~ I O Wuvhos l ~ p our d C ~ f t By . doing ha!. we will k hztlerplaced odef fend ourselves and our Odw. strpuld h e need arise. h%rly, I lhink WE might-listen ro the caurnel given lo the EnglishMusons by the PruGiand M a w r . t h r Kr..Hon.LmdP i h ~ n , who said in his recent message to the Crufi, ' T h i s is a time tbr smrifhstriess and wlfconfidence, and I caH upon all Brclhren lo play h c i r parts. Be proud of your membership: k hqyy to k known as Fmrnilsons. imd kprt.patcd to let people know whar you s1and f0L'.'

J think wecould nor do berrtr,

1 1 b ~a l~ ~ and . i~llixiion. Such chamedmic\. 1thirtk. Imve p r licular application to the Fieernawnsof [hc A r e you world. all of whom hnvc k n b m d d . or should have ken, in one way w anmher. at o w h e or another. by mchc square and by Masonry? comps~ie.5of the Cmfi. Thtse i m p k m h 1 ~ of ihe Operiive Crafr. entirchg. as they do, rhe 'lekler'G,"txpticidy speak lo what In an mjria eppitring in Ihe October Freenmsorls have k e n . rw.and b p d n tly, 15% cssue of a publication will be "until rime shall be no rnorc." The of United Airlines, Diana B e n k y aslutdy h d . in shon. is what we claim 10 beobserves that *'a brand i s much, much mort Our Masonic "brand." developed over rhan just a m e . " "In a complcx and the ages. disringuidws t h w who &fw LO c l u t w ~ gtobal d mmke[place." she says. "it thP square and mmp.cs, and whoever is is the mnift~atimaf ybur company's priv'tlcgcd to be distinguished by his eymcharacter and personalily - and. c w x b l R alrnoa always certain to be magrially, a guarantee of C O I I ~ ~ S I ~ ~ Cquality. Y. nizxd as m e who k l i e v h in and suppotrx and value." rhesuprem Architect olHc,?venilndEnrth: Ms. Bent ley declares [hat h e origin of as me who looks upon the Lodge as a the word bru~rdis robe found. Iikrally. in sacred reueal of friendsh~pnnd vifiut. a process whereby owners mark [iveaock for the pugme of ideniificatian. NOW, onc who has empathy for the needy. h e dismssd, and for all who may h p r in however. h e word has it more general spirit: CG ow M u recognizes ha1 in rhc wb in themntrxt d t h e pruenL family of m n there @ m n of cvery racc. the rem nlIudes lo a variety of nanw, country. sect. and opinion. symbols. terms, signs, and desi,*ns. or cpmLet us then wearour "brand" proudly. binations thereof. whereby "owiwn nnd being a tways mindful Ehar the .qwre and providers" are enabled ro identify and biscompasses speak bo~hto whnr we are, a9 ringuirh dwir p c d s and services from m n . and ro what we strive to do. as Ma! h w of &en. m s . IA US atso wsdvr to ceirselessly In rhk ankk the observations E U ~ prajcc~ Mamy as nn c m n l l y frcch rusd findings of n nurnkr of cmnmen-id and current movemnr. me L relevan1 lo managerial au&orities ;trr used ra create this hour, an orgmiution whose future is an upbat ;sppreciuionof how bmnds are guamnlwd by he commtrment of Utmt developed. ustd and preserved. Thc.w art who wear this brand pcpudly. Iqally, md c o m p l i m d pcsscs. the author recogwtlh afkrion. ni7,s. in an assessment wkhin which she [hc article pi115il. sland hy , o u r narcs Uw enduring h n d s krld lo proproM brand! I t spcaks to you, Ioryoi~.and ;hour fresh and current images; ro m a i n XIyou ! want over time; to wflrct sponsor and pmducr inte$rily: and lo enjoy inlra-orga- I - ST#HYI~~ Hi. Mit~er

nimtio~ial4

"Branded"

Conference of Daylight Lod -es of North America

TheConferenrc.of Dayligh Lodga of Notlh America met in hwmnce, Mmuchwtrs on Ck.luber 8- 19. 1998. T h i s session of !he conference. hosted by Mmkwk Vullay tkryhght Mgc. was anended by the Aming M ~ r e r oWashingl

i e m h g . ns much as possibla. k w e n conference sires in the cast and h e west Al Lhh meeting Dayhghl Lndgc No. 542 of

Oklaham inwed the Conference to mcu inTuIst in 1945: ;1t hat time bylaws for Lhc Conference were presen1w.i and adqted, I lon Dayl~ghtL ~ d g tNo. 14. Fmnklin Gayoso,and hiswife. Hewswxonipmied Subsequent lo rhe T u h ~ ~ s i the on1 by WB G e q e ErPders and WB H m M Nonh Amcricrsn Conference of Daylight ij W g c s was Incorporated a non-pmfi! G m h g m This uio pmlsimed their p m cmcc at the coaferew by proudly displayorgaoiz;rtionon F e b r u ~ ~IyI, 1WB under I ~ h rlaws or the State of Wzishingron A ing the b n e r of their L d g e . ccrrificate to that effect (LIB1 Nunher 601The concept of a Cmferrwe of Daylight Lortges of North America dates back 854-7031 was issued on ihal date over h e lo 1906. when daring tlw time thnr h signature of Ralph Munm. %crelary of Stnre for the Suite of Washingtan. World's Fair wa5 held m Vnncauver, BritPresidingover the 1998 session of the ish Columbia a p u p af dayligbr Ladges Conference was M.W+ Ernesr R. met, wilh B,C.'s Meridinn Lodge Na tOd H m l w d , P.G.M. of New Mexso, who acting Mh o This ~ m ~ h g wtm fo~!owed. l o 1989. by the forran~ianof an informal guided the business dtl tbcndoas with wit organiirxion d Dayligh~M g e s ftr Albua d g d humor- m e in artmdance. querque, New Mexrce which included mcmberr of Daylighr T k .word o m c i ~ lmmt'ing of t h ~ Lr#Iges thmglxrttr rk United S t a w and Canada, wt-t ;ah mated to a gracious Conference was convened in D e h w m in t sGrund 1W.At h i s m i n g it WE propored ha1 wlmme ro M ~ ~ h u ~byt rhe Master of that jurisdiclion. M,W, Anhur E. Johnson.

Plans a~ already cvolv-

ing for a meeting af ~h Conrcrenc~in Tmnto, Canada. mmetrme in May of the year 2000. Thc ncxl regular meeting nf the Cfinf'nce. Rowever. will convent in Senalc. Warhingron in August 2001.

In Appreciation of the Lodge Secretary

duced? But we must askrhe righqtresrions If we redly want ro obtain u=fd and

syniprolm by rhe application of rxpensivc and unresled rtmdtl programs. bul to rhe identification and subsequm marmrnr and containrwnt of an u~'l;rpprpciateddisease -L h e d e m ~ h w d lack of i n t e r n

C O ~ answers. I

1n this connecrion f w d d like !o make wme dwrvatians. dnwing from my p r repian of rhe relarionship that h v e b p s belwezn rhc rypital par ( e m and his or her

In consequenceof lh~sshm view of' the "Whsc Was'' a few obsrwaz~onsabwt the prescni - h e 'WM I<*' prid of M m q becomes nec~swy.In my view we hnw rtever bccn in s trptler pmitian. sli sccrewtes. to cfironiclr cumnt e v t i m in o w Lxldges. We now have ar our disposal. if wc c h m c to ob~rirnthem. communiczrlions equipment and wording insrrumenls and pf0gm.m.~!he likes of which our pred e c e ~ o fin i oficc, NI b h c k Grand and suhntinatc lev&+ neither enjoyed or anucipabd. We have al our command h e mnnslo no1 only keep foolpmdf md corn pkrc mods of our mivtticr. but also to e k r mtRtimB-I~rulysisof any d alt issues of significmtfc to !he Cmft Thc technobgy of record keeping hari k e n w l y revolutionid Having the l ~ ~ h a d o gotyhand is one thing; employing it lo ndvanmg is ancxkr. You csll buy sum-of-rhe-art quipm n L but if you w'l or won7 use it. properly and lo the f u l l c s ~the aswk uf your M g e art being wa5led. Untonunalely. while afnmst t v q sehmfboy is cognizant of PC furtdtunenwls. we still kavc roo many Mgesecretarics whorrsist d v m e m e n t into the m a i m eri~d ~ m r d keeping. For mmns besr known to k m selves. they prefer ro remain in [he PSI. [ahriousIy ccans~rueingm e & by ma^ of h e lypewnrm, and so~m,heaven f~rbid.

d M m in Mawnv. In my m i d my bmhren, the mum ro

physic~nn. When h e ptuienl gms la Ehe dtxtor formexaminatwn. ~ h r d o c t o r s p d s mosr of his unlc iwkmg far symptoms or d~~aw In ,the c o u m of his tx~ntma~ion he w ~ l lreview the pzurenl's medical histmy, draw b l d , sutrjtct the palien1 to an EKG. X-mys. and crimpktt such ~ h c t esaminahnq a4 he m y d ~ e mnecessary. all in an allempt ro tdsnlify medical need on the basis of his analysh of the plbnts cyrnprartlr. While he may find it necessary to d d w s the ympronw. usually Tor the comfort of the patkiii. h a primary con-

cern.al~dtha~d l h e paiienr, is not ihc army of symptoms encounter&, but the d i ~ . s e which may be d i x w e d 3rd identirted in the pmess.

..,.the future of the

CriP

will be&tern-tiaed, in Irtrgc nart, by what we do now

and in the itnmediate future

heallh of tht Craft in the long run will dtpcnd nac on quick lixes orgimrnlcks, but nther upon the fullest appeiaion af the depth or lack of depth of h e average mcmkr's concern for Masonry and its works upon rhc undmmrt#hg of t h reasons underlying tht Mkq~n's lack of appxirc for huemat involuernmt: and on h e apparent pmfmntt of almw all Mom s ro remain ouddt. mkr hnn within. the circle of acrrve brelhren. Our major concern. it e m s lo me, $ h u l d nm be in the numkr of members rhal ate on ourmlls. nor should Ir beon the length af the list of names r h t is m o W on rfrc armdancc rasm Rslherour cffmls

should t x focused on solving the fun&mental. indeed. the roof issue: the Freemason's lack oTlntemâ‚Ź113Freemascmv;unfanunrrle~y.this ir itn untreaml maldy ahu! which we h o w very little. Bui nobions do pwvail. and h y do 50 in abundance, Obvrousiy. in Ihc cornpuler-driven environmenl rn which we now live. WP must somehow overcome our dmiuedl! imperfeciapprcciaion of rhtpmeoL"Wha~ Is" stage of our dcveluprnenl and Iheteb! am1 mtrt;elvcr wirh ides that wttl insure the s ~ i c ~ e sofs the misrion that I\ L'HH L I \ I C ~ [tj

My twcthrcn. it

~~ to

that i n conrlderatiun vrihis mutint we may draw an analogy. For the better p;trr of four decades we who r ; e ~ the ~ c fme-mity have busied o u ~ l v e salmost , mcluively, with tllerxaminrtti~nmdibenuficaiionoisymp by use of fir ballpmnr pit. And ~ h c toms. Almat everyme who is immnribly product of rhcif labors often rtflecw. in R C ~ W In the Crafi can. wrlhour promping, conleni and dep5tr. the nnhquated means w r t c an a l n w andlerr Inmy of fmrmal by which hey do h i t work. almts and affl~ctions.capped,of course, In my ofice we have W i d lo stay with hand wrrnging atcounh of pmr atabreast of communictims dtve1apments. tcndunce and dwtinrng tnemtrership. AJand whilc our system of m r d keeping is dress these symptoms. so it is wid. and the effected entirely by PC, 1 klieve h a t i t Cmft wiH thereby be murned ro good provider i ~ i f o m t i o nwhich is as a c c m e hmttb and pmspriry. as possible. given h e human input ofdrrta. T h u s I'mhowever. all of wr attemp& 1 would suggest. however. that the Gmad to mat issues in iwlarion. so to a@, have Lodge database, like h e that are rnainfoiled. Nor only have atremprr failed. mined in some i 9 2 our Ldgm. has uiili~y bur in the process. the symparns. hem~harh a nur yer k a tap&. Given magiselves. have b m e ever mom p e r v ~ l v c . nauw usking and resourceful program- If L~LSbe SO, a i d I b t ~ t w II 15. m a p 5 we mhg, who knows what mrgkl he proneed lo lonk not to mtnisrenng tcr kdtcnlat

Ll\.

IIW

'lhe fealily oi' dur cwiwit psidon s u ~ c s rrfral s h a furure of rbe Crafr will be determined. in Lar$e parr, by whnt we do now and in the immdiare future, A few y e m ago, in t 992, Bkhop Carl J. Sanders, m tm addtvlss giwn at ~ktime of Lht cclebraiion or llte 2W anniversary of the layi~igof the cornerstone of the White How. stated that we were now drinking from wellc h a t wedidn'r dig and eating Lhe fruit of we-s r h we didn'r plant. Wirh these words fiC C B U US ~ all lo appreciate [hat M;tsonry is surviving now n o r on &e smngrlr OF its own k f f r s . bur in no insigritftml way, an dw work nnd o;n rht achieocmcnrs of ow prcdtEesscm in Ehc Cmfl. Put mxhm way, Freemwns have entered h e realm of the kep~to m amazing d e w . and in many insums. L-oLtge5

d a y erjsi largely because they arc able ro tap rescnm~sthat were eameil and m-u-

"meeting upon the level." Every rhan has eqcral Fish&. and in Fmmawnry we are

m u l a d in gmm-atwns long gone. This ~ E Kleads I us to ask a few q u a Cons. Where art those Lodges that arc building to mw both our prescnf and fuirtuw mtds? Where ntc l h w Grand Lodges h a ! are layingthe g m n d w d for advancemeor in~othe new miHennium7 Where arc hose Mawrc bodies I ~ Q L have cumpeceni v l s i o ~ capable ~s of xhievirtg tkit visions? Who is placing plans can the ~ 1 l e ;mi M who is marshaling l h e means by which t h e plans art to be worked? 1s Masonry properly orgmized for p p s s in the mpidly changing sueid envimnnmt in which ir finds i~wlf?Indeed. ifure have any contepriwmfwttarrhc future holds. are we wvsorkingro find. e s t b lish. a d p ~ w m our p i t i a n herein? I n d d . whru is our firlure nnd our fmuoe? Can we now p r d i what wW bc7

obliged ro " k v a r ourielves to the task 01 making squalir y every whew a facr."

Basic Books about Freemasonry &yPdMB&d

txrrerncky important concepts. and flay-umd dewribes each me clearly and undersrandabty- He also mchthe r d r what 0 t h have mid abtit F ~ ~ r ~ n ~ s o n r y . rtturgiving a g d in~ruclucriollto differing schools of bough^ dmtlt Masonic philosophy and goals. This is one of &tbtst intrcdt~ctrrt),h k s ra read a b u t Freema\onry. CitrI H. Claudy was a verjr well-knm 11 .Lla~nrut ~ ~ who L hW8S ~ Gmnd Master ol DC' in 19.33 and later served in mLm! irnpiwti~mMs.onic positions. He wroic plays a l J books abut Freemasonry. pnm d l y directed at new Mawns lo i n ~ d o c e them to the Craft. In I~zrrdurriclnlo

Fora rrnmkrnfmsonsl dm't believe I q d y because of the inadequacy dour p r e m i pcrceplions. But 1 ;un &solutely certain %hatwhakver will be, wiJ be. Furthermore. my h h r c n . ht d l 1 he of rim for Freenlamuy can be whalewr wc will it tobe. Bur rhc achieveh a 1 we can

IWM ofour aspinliowi q u i r t s p u r p d u l

inputs of dedicated will. yours and mint. to

assure the future of Lhis frairmily.

- Stewatt W. Miner Grand Secretary

- - Freemasonry. nlmml every aspect of Masonic &gres arid organizations

~ ~ P L B Q g t m h i n ~ ~ ~

en;Yitiee~pafwfolIanips Hi@ d %i#r -rts

t 9 R 1944 104L

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D I k S M m z k ~e8f.L ) IBx :-

Haywod also describes Freemasonry as a "'championof likny." and describes exwily wha! this means and why rr is N intprtanr lo Masons and others. Masonry and democracy. h e b m b a h d of man. Masonry's attitude toward rchgian. md Masonry a worldwide fraternily are dl

Fiwr~rusrrrrl.v.written in 193 1. hr atlempts to pruv;dr. answm to so many of the questions P new Mason,or a long-~rnMason. mighr bavc, Why is he rrtual u . W ? Whar i s the meaning of the ~temin \he degrees such ascircunwn~buta~ion Iwalkingarwund h e room). h e pencrlria in the obligarions. Ute great and lesser Ii$h~s,rhe due guafd.., rtpmh wm'klng m l s . principal tencLs. pillm. wi&ing stah, worshipfuI master. lcner G. Hinrrnfc legend. five p i n u of fellowship, sprig of acacia? Clauilp provides 5 0 many mswn in clcar. ~wncie paragraphs. If you have always k e n curium abur many dings in Frrxr~~~onry. this is n good book far you ro d. Willram E. Hnmmand, who wmre Who! Ma5asn*Memttm 1939. described it as a "small valunle" that makes "no pretence of who~amhip"He said yan of ertcndmg lodges had not gtvcn most Masons u clear i d d~ what Mawnry w= really a b u t . so he nttcmp~dto klp. In languagetha~i s Pasy loundemand. and p t rlcganl, k descriks his view of Masonry a amems to improut. each man. and by iniproviog men OW at a time. SO improving nll of m b y . Those looking fur pmcr~cnl.tndlvidt~alI y 4 m t d r b o f Freern,l.;my. wit1 probably el'tjoy lhu b k . In Freetnmonr).: Its Hid& Mmr#ing. puhl ~ s h dIn 1943. George kl. Sltinmetz p.~"rcntra m y ~ ~ ~ cview i i t OF Freernas~my.

Sousa Remembered by kfiram-T"dmna Lodgc No. 1.0

The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia was formedout of four Lodges of the Grand Lodge of Maryland: Federal Lodge No. 15became Federal Lodge No. 1, Columbia Lodge No. 35 became Columbia Lodge No. 3, Naval Lodge No. 41 became Naval Lodge No. 4, Potomac Lodge No. 43 became Potomac Lodge No. 5 and out of the GrandLodge of Virginia, BrookeLodge No. 47 became Brooke-Alexandria Lodge No. 2 which ceased to exist in 1833. There was, no doubt, considerable diversity in the forms and ceremonies in the several Lodges in the newly formed Grand Lodge as a result of the various origins of the work Federal, Columbia and Naval Lodges probably closelyfollowedthe work of Maryland. Potomac, although receiving its charter from Maryland, may have, through its predecessors, acquired variations and Brooke Lodge of Alexandria coming from Virginia almost certainly had its own ritual for the degrees. At the outset, therefore, uniformity of the work became an obvious necessity and the difficulty to make the necessary adjustments can be readily appreciatedfrom the fact that many years of effort were needed to produce the ritual in use today. The Grand Lodge wasted little time when at a stated communication on 14 January 1812 it adopted a resolution to appoint a committee of three delegates from each Lodge to meet in convention for the purpose of agreeing on some uniform plan or mode of working. However, the Committeeapparentlycouldnotreach anything near an agreement among its members on the desirability of such a result for on 14 July of the same year the Grand Lodge adopted the following resolution: "Resolved, In the opinion of the Grand Lodge, that it is now unnecessary to make any change in the long established usages of each Lodge, and that each Lodge be at liberty to use such rules and ceremonies as they shall see fit: Provided, That they do

not infringe any of the ancient landmarks of the Craft." The above result may be readily understood, if one considers the fact that the Grand Lodge itself being hardly seventeen months old, that the Lodges were scattered with large distances between them, with poor transportation facilities available resulting in little communication with each other, a feeling of family closeness had not had time to develop. Each Lodge considered itself as sovereign and independent and, being proud of its own traditions, did not desire to jeopardize its individuality for uniformity when the benefits of such a change were not apparent. The matter did not die. On 13 July 1813 a resolution was presented " to contract as soon as possible, with any person duly qualified, for the delivery of the Prestonian Lectures, in such a manner as to make them known in all the Lodges under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge". No action was taken on this resolution and the matter did not arise again until the communication of 10 January 1815 when another resolution was adopted to hear the Prestonian Lectures and report on the expediency of adopting the same, A committee formed for this purpose appears to have never reported. The desire to achieve uniformity of work continued to result in committees being formed for that purpose. Again on 20 October 1818 another committee was appointed, duly reported to the GrandLodge in April, 1819 with discussion put off untl the June communicationwhen again "sundry plans and propositions being offered and discussed, but none of which being satisfactory, they were unable to come to any definite order thereon." The time was not yet ripe for fruition. At the communicationof GrandLodge on 6 November 1821 a proposal was presented as a change to the Constitution for the election of an officer to be styled "The Grand Visitor and Lecturer for the District of Columbia." There ensued another hiatus until on 4 November 1823 Brother Jeremiah Elkins

was chosen Grand Visitor and Lecturer. This title was later changed to Grand Lecturer. Since Brother Elkins time there has been an unbroken line of faithful, dedicated and capable successors in that office. Again, at the Grand Lodge session of 3 May 1825 the usual resolution was presented, put over until 1 November of that same year when five resolutions of a general nature were put forward instructing "Masters, Wardens and other officers, together with such other members as have made the greatest advance in Masonic knowledge to meet and confer on the subject and adopt a uniform mode of work." Although this procedure proved ineffective because of its lack of specification it did serve as a trial of the many methods proposed and through the gradual elimination of which the proper course was eventually achieved. Ineffectual intermittent attempts were made in the years 1837, 1841, 1842 and 1843 to bring uniformity of work into the Lodges. Finally, on 6 November 1849a resolution to appoint delegates from the several Lodges to meet and adopt a uniform system bore fruit and on 21 December 1852 the three degrees were exemplified before the Grand Lodge and at a "Called Off Communication" on 20 January 1853 the first order of business was the consideration of the work exemplified by the Grand Visitor and Lecturer. The Grand Lodge unanimously adopted the work of the Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft Degrees. After considerable discussion and after hearing a petition from Naval Lodge No. 4 the Grand Lodge adopted a resolation to the effect that" the Grand Lodge would not interfere with any Lodge, in the use of different instruments with which the work of the degree is performed, and in the different manner of the arrangement of the room where the language corresponds with that fixed by the Grand Lodge," The work of the third degree was adopted with but one dissenting vote. Except for a few alterationsthis workis essentially theritual of today. Two important amendments

were the introductionon 4 May 1858 of the current prayers of the Fellow Craft and Master Masan D e w whi& were taken from the wo& e& the &and Lodge of England by a c&%m&ee of which MW Brother 3e&1 B French was chairp p s e d and had man a d &ho sa solution readopted on 18'b!i+k f 8 quiring pr&ciency ,,before advancement which was a major step towards achieving u n i f o d t y in the work. Attempts by some activist Brethren were made in 1864 to make changes to the work already adopted. However, themovement limited itself to only grammatical changes and clarifications and on 16 May 1864 the Entered Apprentice Degree was exemplified and again adopted. On the same evening also a resolution requiring the Lodges to give the lecture on the same evening as the degree was adopted. On 21 January 1865 the second and third degrees were exemplified and adopted. Almost immediately following the cessation of hostilities in the War Between the States there was an upsurge in the number of petitions for the degrees and it became increasingly difficult to complete the Master Mason Degree for all the candidates during the same meeting. The problem was largely resolved by the Grand Lodge at its Semi-Annual Communication on 2 May 1865when it "Resolved, That the constituent Lodges be allowed to omit all the usual ceremonies of the second section of the third degree, except the manual instruction with all except the last candidate whenever there is more than one to receive the degree on the same evening."This procedure became to be known in the parlance of the Brethren as the "Short and Long Form" As further evidence of achievement of uniformity in the work the Grand Lodge in 1914 authorized the compilation of the written work of the degrees in the form of a Masonic Manual which being slightly revised as to format from time to time is in use today. The esoteric work is indicated by asterisks at the proper places so that continuity is easily maintained. As mentioned previously a requirement was laid upon the Lodges in 1858 to obtain candidate proficiency before advancement in the degrees. No official or mandatory catechism was ever adopted but the Lodges did use one, the origin of which is not clear, and the quality of work and capability in the instruction of the ritual reached a high level. However, for a num-

ber of reasons, which, to enter into a discussion on here would reach beyond the scope of this article, the Lodges became unable to maintain a reasonable and acceptable standard of proficiency in the ritual and with the availability of qualified instructors reaching alarmingly low levels the Grand Lecturer and the Committee on Work and Lecturesbecame concerned about the survival of the ritual. A resolution to preserve the ritual of this jurisdiction by reducing it to writing in its entirety was presented by the Grand Lecturer and adopted by the Grand Lodge on 4 May 1980. The work was completed and reported on 13 May 1981 and now rests in a safe in the Office of the Grand Secretary. In the world in which we live today the apportionment of useful time has become of increasing importance in the life of an individual. In recognition of this the Grand Lodge at its Annual Communication on 20 December 1989 adopted an amendment to its Constitution allows the Master of a Lodge to call a communication to confer the Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft Degree with the Lodge being opened and closed on the appropriate degree with some limitation as to business. Since time today appears to be of the

essence and there is an increasing number of activities available to pursue, an individual's priorities are not easily in favor of the Masonic Lodge. The ancient and time honored concept of "mouth to ear" instruction or as it is said in the ritual of the second degree, "The atteitive ear receives the sound from the instructive tongue-" is not as strictly adhered to as in the past. At its Annual Communication on 18 December 1991 the Grand Lodge approved a resolution directing the Grand Lecturer and the Grand Lodge Committee on Work and Lectures to "convert all of the esoteric ritual in the three degrees of Masonry as conferred in the District of Columbia into cipher form." The appropriate ciphers have been completed and are now in use in the Lodges for instructional purposes. After so many years of discussion, trial, pruning and honing the ritual of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia has emerged so beautifully constructed and meaningful that it should be the envy of all jurisdictions. It is indeed the casket where the imperishable " great and eternal principles which make for the development of the moral nature" rest.

Grand Master Presents 50- and 60- Year Service Awards

Wm. R. Singleton-HopLebanon Lodge No. 7: Kevin P. Jay, WM; Hugh Y, Bernard, PM, 50-year member; John C. Held, PM, 50-year member; Grand Master EldonJ. Brown; R. Hilton Gore, PM, 60-year member; W. Frederick Gore, PM, 50-year member; and Dan L Frederick, Deputy Grand Master

ALLEN E. ROBERTS

f i e G m d Master's J e d is 6indm at its widest puiat and 5 indm 10% It is a m p d of a acprnppihmetal With@d fiIIin&.The h l g n ~ i l b & ~ ~ ~ 1 ) ~ & k h u a d i t i O r t a l ~ & ~ d ~ d

by~&qfmmhsuninitrmler.hhms&rsk Edlowing h w i g l i m mgimd in 1914: "Origuraljeutel nudein 1778 to k wrxn by -Wir@on LU firsr Grand Master ofMasons in V+ia~ddedinedh~fi~~inmm~dtIw~rmy~It~ ~fmtwwnbykJuhn~,,whuwd~~hFraadM~~

N ~ a s ~ o F ~ l Y 4 8 ~ & h t h t . ~ d M ~ m m this beautiful p r o d u c l i ~ ndhe &el a a '~arnmem&~Orm~hhbPen~~aw;trdwhQanislxfrwrrWb~V~dEsdbwih a2&&lmdqandrolwrirlenarrrd%lo~1th~Grad M a s a r r s ~ ' F h e ~ t c a m ~ h a ~ o h ~ k weare proud ro p

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L . . a r y ~ n Museum d ro wk t;lx debuaibtt mmry g i h for k m m that will pmidc funds for m r a t i o n , p c m t i o n and mpptk At this time, nmmsary donarims an [he only source II~ ~ ~ ~ eLibrary. and Museum r a fir ymdy ~ ppratkns.

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1998 Masonic Foundation Scholarships Awardcd to DC Graduates

S b n a Hean Ballou K i s h Waits ......... School iyirhm~tWalls Earvin Shade .....&.....................Bannckcr Maden Allan ............................ Banneker ~ n nUrnam i ............................-..Dunbar Matitnty Kamm .........................* Di~nbar Chjka Okom ................................Dunbar

Tmsita Edwards ......................... Dunbar =u Thomas .............................Wilvon Briona Brown .......................... W d m

Thien-Hwang Ngqcn ................ turdwur Bridgert t'i1l.cn ............................. h l e m Kimberly Howard ....................... Ektern l m n a Srnh!~.............................. h s ~ e r f ~ Tennisha Mayfickl ..................... Easlcrn

Ylcasc allocate m y contribution to thc 19913 12und Drive of thc XIasonic Foundation of the District of Columbia a s follorvs: General Fund - ......................... . . . ..... r] Library 24 Musum ................................

Scholarship P ~ g r i i m............................... Masonic & Er~nernSlar Homc ................ Wahiagron Monurnmr Resumr ion ....... N.Vilrginio 3-H Erluciitiunal C c ~ ~ ........ cr

17 Orhrr @ k u s e 5 p e c i j j ~ } ........... .. . . ..........

)f D.C.

Lodge

At We recent visMon to Wm. R. SEngleton-Hope-LebanonLodge No. 7, the Grand MaHer prezentd certifimqii of appreciz&lan to the membersof "Brownie's Buddha Band" who played forthe Grand Visitationsthisyg$?r, Picturedwe: 0-4 Robert E. Redding, band leader; ftray P. Pejter; Solonm Zeidman; GM Eidon J. Brown;George N. Jorgenwm; James Meadow; Elmer G."%inny" Morris; and Robert F. Drechcjlit.r, PGN Also atthatmeeting,Albert M. Smith, PMof East Gate Lodge No. 34 was presenteda commi~sionas Grand RepresentativetaBfazilia.

NO^& Vi@a .

4-43Center Receives Masonic Gift

Voice of Freemasonry Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of D.C. 5428 MacArthur Blvd., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016-2524

Non-Profit Org. US.Postage PAID Permit No. 559

Washmghm,D.C.

Director af the Northern Vrginia 4-H Center, Nora Bdle Comer re&% a ch& far $14000 presented by Gsmd Mtyter ~ i d &J.r ~Brown duringthe Le-WershipCon*renceheld atthe Center iq September.