INSIDE THIS ISSUE ............... . . ......................................................................... Pg.3 . ....................P 4 Meeting Places of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia............
Grand Master Message;
Part 2 of a 3-part series by Carl R. LeVine Grand Historian
............................................................................................................... Pg. 6 1999 Lodge Leadership Conference...................................................................... Pg. 7 ........ ............... Pg. 8 How to Do Interesting and Informative Masonic Research........... NECOMELI
Part 2 of a 10 part series by Paul M. Bessel
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Brother and General George C. Marshal by Paul M. Bessel PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDS Akram R. Eltas
HE MASONIC FAMII Harold Gramg.7 CURRENT INTERESl Mansour Hatcfi, DGM r'ROM THE PAST Carl R. Levme
he Voice of Freemasonry m the Natlon's Capltal IS an offic~al ~bhcationof the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons ?A.A.M)ofthe Dlstnct of Colurnb~a.Unless othem Ise noted, t d e s appearmg ~nthls pubhcatlon express only the pnvate mion or assertions of the wnter, and do not necessarily reflect le ofliclal posltlon of the Grand Lodge. The jurlsdlctlon )eaks only through the Grand Master and the Executive ward, whcn attested to as official, In wr~tmg,by the Grand ecretary he Editor~alStaff lnvltes contrlbut~onsIn the form of iformatwe artlcles, reports, neu s and other t~melytnformatlon )f about 500 to 1000 words m length) that broadly relate to fasonic law, lore, customs, h~story,symbolism, philosophy, :sponslblllty of membership, etiquette, cunent events, a n d r general publlc tntercst. When poss~blc,photographs that lustrate these mformatlve artlcles should accompany the lbmission Pieces submtted should be typed, double-spaced id preferably accompanied by a computer dlsk tn a neutral C format or ma e-mall to. dcmasons@aol.com .rtlcles are subject to edltmg and, when published become le property of the Grand Lodge, F A A M ,of the Dlstnct of olnmbla No compensation IS allowed for any artlclcs, hotographs, or other mater~alssuhmltted for publlcatlon ermisslon to reprtnt artlcles u d l be granted upon wrltten ,quest to the Edltor from recognred Masontc publlcat~ons ~dothers. Whcn repnnted, arttcles should note "Reprmted ~ t pennlsston h of the Vo~ccof Freemasonry m the Nat~on's apttal, (month), (year) " lease direct all correspondence to:
Editor: The T70iceof Freemasonry 5428 MacArthur Blvd., N.W. Washington, DC 20016-2524
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Record Making, Record Breaking, and Record Keeping by Stewart W. Miner Grand Secretary
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New Frontiers in Masonic Education by W. Kirk MacNulty ,
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Dear Brethren: I want to take this opportunity to commend those brethren who have collectively and individually, by sharing their substanceand service, demonstrated that Charity is a principal tenet of our Order. By your many acts of benevolence you have shown that Masons appreciate the pervasiveness of need, unlimited by either time or place, and that the Craft, in its response to distress fiom any all quarters, continues to stand tall. This is as it should be.
I have been working with my counterparts in two other Grand Lodges to establish Freemasonry in Armenia. It is my hope that the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia will, in conjunction with the Grand Lodge Nationale Franqaise and the Grand Lodge of Russia, take such actions as are appropriate and necessary to create and consecrate what will be known, in time, as the Grand Lodge of Armenia.
On September 2,1999, I had the greatest experience of my term as Grand During the past few months we Master. I was invited on that date, along have accomplished much of what I placed on the trestle board for 1999. But we with several Grand Lodge Officers, Past should be mindful that the work of the Grand Master Mallorey, and Past Grand Mason is never done. We must therefore High Priest Bussler, to visit Garfield continue our effort to shed light on and Lodge No. 559 in DuBois, Pennsylvania. in our fraternity, to confront challenge This is my father's Lodge, and it was a wherever it is encountered, to promote singular honor for me to speak there, Freemasonryin non-Masonic circles, and following a banquet at the local Holiday to work always within the guidelines Inn, to Masons who had befriended me established by our forefathers as we in my youth. (See photographs on page 14.) promote the interests of the Craft. Unfortunately a whole generation of men in the recent past did not become Masons because our leaders then chose to live (or die) by the rule that "you must ask to become a Mason." But those men who were not approached at that time are still with us and, if contacted discretely, I am certain that many of them would find Masonry an interesting challenge. Let us resolve that past practices in the Craft, camouflaged as tradition, will not dissuade us from presenting Masonry's promise to all men of potential.
members of my Lodge, Osiris-Pentalpha No. 23, for all they did to impart Masonic knowledge to me. I am sad that we have lost several of the foundation stones in that Lodge. We will miss Masons like Meyer, Bob, Stafford, Bernie, Morty, Abe, Sidney, Jack, Mike, Brian, Orville, and so many others. In my opinion these brethren were among the greatest tutors to be found in the Craft. My life has been blessed! They helped to form my character. Their teachings, along with those of brethren still with us, give shape and form to all that I am. It is my hope that I have, in my service as Grand Master, given form and substance to the lessons I was taught.
In my remarks I explainedto the brethren present that in Washington, D.C. we were engaged in the propagation of our "Share the Light" program. I told them that this was a program inspired by our Past Grand Master, Eldon J. Brown, who truly wanted peace and harmony in our Lodges. The next day my companions and I enjoyed a truly awesome golf match. It was a very I remain, yours for the betterment of our satisfLingexperience. fraternity,
I look forward to the close of my term as Grand Master. I have enjoyed working with all of you through the year. As I approach the Annual Being convinced that Masonry should not be encumbered by geography, Communication I want to thank the
Dan L Frederick Grand Master
THE MEETING PLACES OF THE G R N D LODGE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLU M I A -- Part N After making the rounds of the city for some sixty years the Grand Lodge finally settled into a building it had erected at Ninth and F Streets N.W. and occupied it in 1870. Grand Lodge and the Constituent Lodges believed at last that they had a home which would be adequate and satisfactory for many years to come. However, with the increase of Lodges and membership over the next twenty years, 1891 found Grand Lodge confronted with-an obvious need for more spacious quarters and of a character in keeping with the dignity of the Order. After a number of various committee reports and fitful considerations on several desirable pieces of property, a committee of five appointed "to take into consideration the question of the purchase of a site for the purpose of erecting a Masonic Temple in the city, by Grand Lodge, in the event of the saIe of the present Temple" recommended that "a site can now be obtained for from $60,000 to $75,000." Such action was authorized by Grand Lodge on October 4, 1893 at a Special Communication. The first real step toward acquiring the property and raising funds to build the new Temple was the incorporation by Congress, on April 15, 1898, of the Masonic Temple Association of the District of Columbia. All details of the project were placed in the hands of the Board of Managers of the Association. The financing of the project was inaugurated by the solicitation of subscription of stock fiom the Masonic bodies and individual brethren, and by an enormous and very elaborate fair which netted the sum of $64,866.01. This was so encouraging that the Association authorized the purchase, not to exceed $115,000, of the site at
the intersection of 13th and H Streets, N.W. and New York Avenue. Two more Masonic fairs were held in 1902 and 1905, swellingthe funds available for construction. The cornerstone of this new Temple was laid on June 8, 1907, the building dedicated on September 19, 1908, and the first regular communicationwas held there on December 28,1908. Kenton N. Harper concludes in his excellent History ofthe GrandLodge and of Freemasonry in the District of Columbia 1811-1911 that "thus by regular gradations and measured steps the Fraternity in the District arrived at the goal of its ambition for a quarter of a century, the possession of a temple worthy of Masonry and worthy of this City, the Mecca of every American." But joy was again soon tempered with the old nagging problem of wherewithal. In a short time, in fact, from almost the beginning, the Masonic Temple Association had been unable to meet operating and maintenance expenses of the Temple building without renting space for non-Masonic purposes to supplement income. w i t h the tenants vacating the premises, the financial situation was becoming serious. Consideration was given to selling the Temple building and a Special Committee was appointed at the May Communication of Grand Lodge in 1920 "for the purpose of considering the advisability of building a new Masonic Temple." At its Annual Communication the same year the committee departed fiom the idea of a Grand Lodge project and proposed a Temple that would conform to the needs of the Fraternity as a whole, including all of the bodies of York and Scottish Rite and of the Order of the Eastern Star. Thus was inaugurated an ambitious project to house all Freemasonry in the District
of Columbia on one site, in one or more buildings, which was to become popularly known as "Temple Heights", so named because of its location at the juncture of Columbia Road and Connecticutand FloridaAvenues, N.W. In May, 1922 the property known as "The Dean Tract" consisting of nine and a quarter acres was purchased at a cost of $900,000. Intensive fund raising campaigns were undertaken over the next eight years. The total amounts involved were well in excess of four million dollars. In 1927 Grand Lodge authorized the sale of the Temple and property at 13th and H Streets, N.W. However, on October 14,1929the stock market went into a severe slump and collapsed three weeks later. Although the fi-aternitydid not realize it, 1929 marked the beginning of the end of the ambitious Temple Heights plans. The building plans for Temple Heights were abandoned at the Annual Communication in 1934,with a balance of $346,000 still remaining on the purchase ofthe site. This indebtedness, with interest and taxes, became a severe burden on Grand Lodge and finally at a Special Communication on August 1,1940, the Grand Lodge approved an offer by a prospective purchaser for $900,000 in cash. However, it took another five years before the ' sale of the property was consummated. One might speculate what the assets of Freemasonry would be today, if Grand Lodge had been able to retain the Temple Heights property. The matter has in the past been a source of some controversy among the brethren. Part I11 of this article will bring the wanderings of Grand Lodge to its current residence where it has rested for nearly nine years.
Carl R. LeVine Grand Historian
ars at Front Royal and related . We gather our futixre leaders so they can get to know each tter, and so we can learn about Freemasonry and
NECOMELI Northeast Conference on Masonic Education and Libraries One good way to promote Masonic education is to have those from different jurisdictions who are most interested gather together each year to share practical ideas an accomplishments(and defeats), so can be more knowledgeable about t best ways to help other Breth learn more about Freemasonry.
useful to have the place where we can about ideas that are working for Grand Lodges, to see if we can m to work in our tion. We can also share our eas with others, and thus have
Many years ago there were ann Masonic education conferences i parts of the United States, but n there are only two -- the Midw Conference on Masonic Educ and NECOMELI -- the Northeast Conference on Masonic Education and Libraries. NECOMELI held its 44th annual session in Portland, Maine, with more
sonry than merely in our own
leaders of NECOMELI have atively scheduled the next two rs' conferences in our area. These conferences are usually in May; they are open to everyone who is interested. All Masons with an interest in Masonic our &and Lodge has been doing for
consider attending.
The 1999 Lodge Leadership Conference, convened as usual at the 4-H Conference Center in Front Royal, focused on the in-depth consideration of how Masons can work together to enjoy Lodge activities more and truly make good men better. This objective was addressed in a number of workshops where those holding identical leadership positions joined to examine issues of common interest. In that process they were encouraged to collectively identifl the challenges that sometimes occur in the Masonic Lodge; to evaluate current Grand Lodge programs; and to speculate on service opportunities for Freemasonry in the future.
The 1999 Conference,unlike those in the recent past, did not feature a keynote address by a outside Masonic authority. Instead, the major addresses of the Conference were made by the Grand Master, Dan LFrederick, and the Deputy Grand Master, Mansour Hatefi. Both spoke with passion of their love of the fraternity, ofthe mission of the Craft, and of their respective plans for Masonry in the District of Columbia. Subsequently the conference was brought to a fitting close on Sunday morning with a meaningful spiritualmeditation offeredby the Grand Chaplain, the Rev. David Balcom.
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Nora Belle Comer, Operations Manager, Northern Viginia4-H EducationalCenter.
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Brother and General Geor~eC. Marshal
HOW TO DO INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE MASONIC RESEARCH by Paul M. Bessel (the second in a Series of 10 Articles) #2
- Think About your Goals
From the time you begin Masonic research, think about what your goals are. Some people enjoy doing research just for the sake of learning. That is fine, and if that is the category in which you find yourself, all you have to do is read whatever you wish. But what if you later decide that you have found some very interesting information, and that other Masons may be fascinated by what you have found? By the time you decide that, you may have to redo everything. So why not set a goal fiom the beginning that you may write an article about your research, or that you may put together a talk about it? Then, you should keep a record of what you have researched, and where, so you can document what you did. This will also give you a clear idea of where each lead led you, and you will be able to produce a good paper or talk about this subject. All you have to do is write down the title and author of each book you consulted, and where you found it, and a brief description of what you found there.
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And that man was also a Freemason. He was made a Mason by the Grand Master of the District of Columbia on the same Scottish Rite stage we use today for our Grand Lodge meetings. Amazingly, that ceremony tookplace on December 16, 1941, just about a week after the Pearl Harbor attack plunged the United States into war, when the Chief of Staff of the United States Army was probably under the greatest pressure that ever affected anyone. General Colin Powell has referred to this man as being "head and shoulders" above other American generals both for his military and his civilian activities. U.S. President and Past Grand Master Harry S. Truman said, "To him, as much as to any individual, the United States owes its future." British ?rime Minister and Brother Churchill said, "Succeeding generations must not be allowed to forget his achievements and his example."
Remember that there are thousands of Lodges and other Masonic groups, and millions of Masons, and among them there are many who will probably be interested in the same things that interest you. It will give you a good feeling to share your research with others, so keep track of what you learn.
BLOOD DROUGHT HITS MID-ATLANTIC REGION
Only one man led the Unifed States army when it grew fiom a tiny number to over eight million and defeatedNslzismand Japanese militarism in the largest war in history. Only one man became a civilian leader after that war and led our country in the largest humanitarian effort in history to save Europe from total devastation that could have led to another war. Only one man was a five-star General who won the Nobel Peace Prize.
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That man was General George Catlett Marshall, Jr., and D.C. Masons should know more about him. Marshall's father was an active Mason in Pennsylvania. General Marshall apparently decided to honor his father, who had died many years earlier, (or his mentor, General and Brother Pershing) by becoming a Freemason himself. This occasion was described by our own PGM Carl H. Claudy, Grand Master of the District of Columbia in 1943, as follows: "Ringing down through the pages of history will be Freemasonry's answer to the totalitarian persecution and suppression of Masons: the making Masons at Sight of General George Catlett Marshall, Chief of Staff of the United States Army.... Perhaps never before has so unique a ceremony been conducted."
The degrees were conferred on General Marshall by M W Ara M. Daniels, Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia in 1941, and other Grand Lodge officers, in the presence of at least eight other Grand Masters and many other Masonic officials, plus at least one Justice of the United States Supreme Court, four Senators, six Congressmen, and other public officials who were Freemasons. The next day, of course, General Marshall went back to his duties of raising a huge army, coordinating American war strategy, and being a key player at every meeting where strategy was set by the Allies in World War 11. There was no rest for General Marshall after the defeat of Germany and Japan in World War 11. President Harry S. Truman insisted that General Marshall become the American representative in China, then Secretary of State, and later Secretary of Defense. It was during his term as Secretary of State that General Marshall performed his greatest service for our country and the world. In June 1947 he began what became known as the "Marshall Plan," a huge effort to save Western Europe from hunger, devastation, and the depths of despair that could have easily led to social upheaval, Communist takeovers, and the possibility of an even greater problem and larger war.
like him; he was one of the few men who spoke his mind with FDR without concern about how the President viewed him.
In a recent visit to Dodona Manor, the home near Washington where General Marshall and his wife spent their retirement years, the Worshipfbl Master of the new lodge named for General Marshall was told that the curators of that home have a Masonic book that General Marshall kept in his library all his life, with his signature in it. General Marshall may have become a Mason because his father had been one, or because General Pershing was, or because George Washington was a prominent American Mason. In fact, many historians compare George C. Marshall with George Washington, two great military leaders who became great leaders in peacetime, both of whom were Freemasons. Both displayed the principles of Freemasonry abundantly in their public and private actions, and deserve praise and remembrance by their Brethren. By honoring General George C. Marshall, we honor all the Masons who served our country courageously in World War I1 and in all other times of crisis. Military preparedness, combined with the courage and idealism to propose and implement moral policies such as the Marshall Plan to help millions of people in peace, are essential to our fbture success. We are proud to have a General G orge C. Marshall Lodge in our jurisdiction.
As a result of the Marshall Plan, we now have strong allies and excellent relationships with countries that might have become enemies. More importantly, from a Masonic and humanitarian perspective, General Marshall's policies were moral and charitable, helping millions of people become productive citizens of the world. It is most appropriate that Freemasons remember General George C. Marshall for his decisive leadership in World War 11, and for his inspired leadership afterwards that resulted in his being honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. Masons should be very proud of this great man who helped our country, and the world, at such a critical time. We should continue to remember what General Marshall did. A new lodge in our jurisdiction has just begun its work under Dispensation,with Brethren who decided to name their lodge General George C. Marshall Lodge. Some may question this because General Marshall did not join a lodge after he was made a Mason, but it must be recognized that he was enormously busy. It has even been suggested that Marshall only became aMason to curry favor with President Roosevelt. However, anyone who reads biographies of Marshall and Roosevelt will quickly learn that the facts are indisputable that Marshall never did anything to try to make Roosevelt
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General George C. Marshall was made a Mason of Sight on December 16, 1941 at the Scottish Rite Temple. Pictured are:(l-r) Ara Marcus Daniels, Grand Muster, George C. Marshall, J. Carl H. Claudy, Senior Grand warden
need is not readily apparent. Let me and Record Keeping share with you a couple of cases in Record Making. Record Break point. A few months ago I purchased a household item. At the time af the ifi , delivery I was provided with a . I . registration form which; when completed and forwarded to the change is the k l d of the world in manufacturer, would activate the which we live. With the passage of intrusion is indicated, in part, by a time constants tend to diminish in recent newspaper article that warranty. number as new records are made and recorded the attempt of a lady to refill old records are broken. This process, a prescription for medicine that she Among the questions asked on the moreover, has accelerated in recent had been taking for years. On this registration card were those that years, largely in response to the occasion, however, she was refused sought information that any advent of the personal computer, an the requested refill because, as she reasonable person would consider instrument which has, by intent or reported, the company that managed essential to warranty registratian. accident, induced millions to become her pharmacy benefits concluded that Included were questions concerning record makers, record breakers, and she was taking too many kinds of my name, address, date of purchase, place of purchase, and the price paid. medicine. record keepers. But the inquiry was by no means Today we seem to relish our The lady then called two of her limited to such mundane subjects. No capability to create and tap the doctors and discovered that the indeed. informational sources that are now company had written each of them a available to us. That this is so is letter listing every medication she was The registration form also included indicated in almost everything we taking for asthma, joint pain, and questions, which had no apparent encounter. In recent months Time allergies, along with her migraines. relationship to the item I bought, or Magazine has included a feature that The incident illustrates, beyond the to where, when, and at what cost the it entitles "Numbers." A casual shadow of a doubt, that the concept item had been purchased. For review of some recent issues suggests of "privacy" in the informational age example, the form sought information the "Numbers" which have garnered in which we live is largely illusionary. on my gender and marital status; my date of birth; my activities in the past attention are dependent on the formulation of some rather diverse This leads one to speculate how data six months and my intentions far a data bases, whose existence and base organizers obtain the similar period in the future, relative scope is probably unappreciated by information they seek. The process to personal family activities; the sex is obviously complex, and the and age of others living in my many. layman's knowledge of how it works household; my income on an a m a l Some of these data bases are highly is limited. But I am convinced that basis; my educational level; details of personal, and their existence and anyone who purposefully seeks my domicile arrangements;and about availability here, in a country where information may find it by using my other purchases in the past six most people treasure the concept of sources about which many of us may months. "informational privacy," is or should be either unwitting and ignorant. be a cause of concern. Nevertheless, Somehow or other, anything that is With respect to another recent thanks to the revolution in written and recorded, anywhere and purchase a similar, but expanded, information gathering and processing, everywhere, becomes, in time, array of questions was encountered. Among the additional questions perfect strangers have the potential "public" in nature. posed were inquiries about my to know a great deal about individuals they have never met, about you, your We ourselves are in large part to occupation, the occupation of my family, and those aspects of life that blame for this state of affairs, for we spouse, whether or not I was in the tend to willingly provide others with military, if I was a Federal employee, command your attention. personal information for which the what credit cards I used regularly, the *
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makes of the newest vehicles in my household, and what vehicles I was now considering. And all of this was posed in conjunction with a warranty questionnaire for a coffee maker! 1
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If we willingly complete and file such registration warranties, is it any wonder that our personal "profile" is well known by anyone and everyone who has something to sell? Is it any - wonder that after verifling information that has been compiled not only from "oficial" sources, but also by personal input, that we as citizens are besieged by those annoying and persistent dinner time phone calls and by the daily deluge of junk mail that is left on our doorsteps? The answer is obviously "no." But it is not only by the occasional completion of a registration card that we unwittingly shape our profiles for others. Even more effective in that respect is our use of the credit or "club" card in the conduct of our business. It is by this means that the inquisitive of the world learn of the spectrum of our personal choices. In using these cards, even the innocuous ones, we irrefbtably declare the range of our preferences and establish the scope of our values. In the current (September 6,1999) issue of Time it is stated that "all manner of corporations are already trading your personal details in an estimated $3 billion-a-year data market." In this article it is claimed that "Most websites are collecting your browsing preferences on the sly, many banks are selling account records on the open market, and sensitive medical files remain vulnerable to snooping." Time then observes that as more and more people become aware of what is going on, they are beginning to wonder if any part of their personal lives is off limits. Thus it is by the conduct of what we consider to be "normal life" that we ourselves contribute to the creation of a multiplicity of personal profiles. Each of us, consciously or not, have thus created and made available to the world many profiles. Each of these profiles is, moreover, a snapshot of some aspect of our life. Moreover, when all of these individual profile snapshots are skillfully merged, the result is
is nothing less than a portrait that depicts how we are regarded by others, by perfect strangers who may know more about us than we know about ourselves. In the evolving and penetrating informational age in which we live, it is essential that we as Freemasons be conscious of the roles that we play, individually and collectively, in the creation of the character of the Craft. We are surely being observed, not only as individuals, but as particular individuals -- as Freemasons! We live, indeed, in a contentious and inquistive age, one in which our fraternal achievements, no less than our failures, impact on how we are perceived. Let us therefore resolve, as we make ow approach the new millennium, that our works and words, in their entirety, will perfect that which is now imperfect and thereby insure that the "profile of Freemasonry" remains unblemished and above reproach.
MASONIC POSTAL CHESS CLUB The Masonic Postal Chess Club has been operating since 1 9 7 5 . Club members are Master Masons. Club officers consist only of volunteer members. The Masonic Postal Chess Club announces the newly elected officers:
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President Maberon Fowler Meadows Corinthian Lodge # 9 3 , Baltimore, Vice-president Ben Belote Ionic Lodge #31, Newport, DE Treasurer W. Joe Ryland Rosemead Lodge $ 4 5 7 , California Trustee Paul Lorsberg Lairless Hills Lodge # 7 7 6 , PA
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MD
Master Masons of recognized lodges are eligible to join the Masonic Postal Chess Club. Members p l a y chess by mail with Brother Masons in all states (and Canada.) Membership includes both beginners a n d experiences players. s o m e members prefer to play with only one opponent while some play seven or eight (as m a n y as 60 - 100) games simultaneously. Yearly dues are only $ 2 0 . 0 0 a n d there are no additional charges for game assignments, etc. For more information write to the club secretary: Brother Dennis Plymette 371 C l ~ r r y Hock Circle Mountvilre, PA 17554-12 5 2 .
EDUCATION
by W. Kirk MacNulty asonic education has become an area of considerable significance in recent years. The usual expectation is that by teaching our brethren, and particularly our newly made brethren, about the meaning and history of Freemasonrywe can increase their motivation and their level of participation and at the same time improve the quality of the work in our Lodges. It is a surely worthwhile endeavor. Indeed, it is our obligation to each candidate to provide such education. But how about getting a Ph.D. in Freemasonry? I imagine that idea will sound very strange to most readers. Freemasonry has not been the subject of serious academic concern in the United States. In Europe, and particularly in England, however, there have been an increasing number of academics who have developed a serious interest in Freemasonry in recent years. English Freemasonry has undertaken two very promising initiatives in response to this interest. The first of these is the establishment of The Canonbury Masonic Research Centre. The Canonbury Masonic Research Centre takes its name fiom Canonbury Tower, which was built in the early 1500's. In the time of Elizabeth I it was the residence of Sir Francis Bacon, one of the prominent philosophers of the English renaissance. At the present time it is owned by the family of Lord Northampton. CMRC is an educational Charitable Trust which was founded "to allow teaching within a spiritual and holistic context; and to do so within the established education in the United Kingdom". It is independent of the organized Freemasonry, but it enjoys the full support of the United Grand Lodge. Indeed, the Trustees of the Charity are R. Wor. Bro. Lord Northampton, the Assistant Grand
Master of the United Grand Lodge of England; V. Wor. Bro. James W. Daniel, the Grand Secretary; and Wor. Bro. Michael Baigent, the well known author, In spite of this Masonic support, the Centre's concern for the integrity and independence of its academic work is reflected in the fact that not one of the instructors on its academic board is a Freemason. Its classes are open to the general public. During a recent trip to London I had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Snezana Lawrence, the Head of Research and Administration at CMRC; and she provided the following information. In the broadest terms CMRC has been founded to be an academy of mystical studies with a focus on Freemasonry which is considered to be representative of the mystical tradition as it has developed in western societies. In this respect CMRC has formulated three important short-term goals: the general recognition of Freemasonry as a proper subject for academic study; the general recognition of Freemasonry's mystical and esoteric dimension; and the identification of the resources necessary to conduct research in the field. The Library of the United Grand Lodge of England has been made available, and arrangementshave been made to permit CMRC's students to use all the academic libraries in the London area. CMRC intends to provide a "map" which will direct students to appropriate resources within this complex of libraries and to other appropriate resources. At the present time CMRC is offering a series of nonacademic courses, workshops and lectures. The courses are ten weeks in length and include
such topics as: Freemasonry; Ficino and Renaissance Platonism; Christian/Hemetic Cabala; The Sufi Tradition; and The Celtic Mysteries: the Druids, the Culdees and The Holy Grail. Weekend workshops cover similar topics. Lectures on a broader range of topics of Masonic interest are offered on Wednesday evenings. Since this lecture series takes place in an academic environment and outside the limits of "the tyled Lodge", it provides an opportunity for members of various branches of Masonry to share views. For example, the last lecture in the Spring, 1999 Series was presented by Pierre Mollier, Librarian of the Grand Orient of France in Paris. The schedule for the autumn, 1999 Series includes a presentation by Mrs. Jeanne Hazelwood, Grand Secretary of International CoFreemasonry (Le Droit Hwnain) in London. CMRC's long term objectives include the offering of academic courses leading to advanced degrees. The curriculum for the first of these, leading to an MA degree in The Study of Mystical and Esoteric Traditions, has been formulated and is in the process of receiving academic accreditation. Courses leading to the MPhil and Ph.D. degrees are envisioned in the future. The intention is to offer the first MA course in October of 2000, most probably through the University of Sheffield. The University of Sheffield, itself, is the site of the second of the recent English initiatives in Masonic education. Although it has not progressed so far as CMRC, a project is underway to create a Chair of Masonic Studies at the University of Sheffield and to establish a curriculum
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L&QGh/lRC, this project
5arn the Library of otuderrts in Sheffield. 1
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is being guided by R, cia1&and M a s r
i ~ aorientation. l the research will almost apd p@hqxiW~mgh~vOr ~. The result will cerEainly be cmduc5ed by n ~ g - M w m.... be wnbiased research papers on P m a m m y . ..... Research will also show the pat Fremmmy has:p 1 a ~ in d the English social evolution and it will bring stabs to our Order by its appeal to academies; and, of mume, we welcome academics in our Order." Some work remains to be accomplished before the Chair of Masonic Sbdiee z& the Univmity of Sheffield becomes a reality.)but it is a developentthat will certainly be interesting to watch, 1&i&we can all agree with R. Wor. Bro. Broadley that the result of d i a s e d an; zad.anically sound studies of ~reemawmywill be of great beneat to our Order. LODGE BLOOD NUMBER PROBLEM
We shouldmte that these activitim have been undertaken in response to an interest manifested by the academic community; they are not an answer to the Government's attacks, on Freemasonry which m e discussed in the Fall 1998 issue of this publication. Nonetheless, the invitation to and cooperation with serious, scholarly investigationinto nature ad-actiwitijesof Freemasonry by independent scholars and a d e m i s institutions will certainly have the effect of cof&nm@~gthose wrho w i ~ to h portray us as a secretive and sinister orgdation.
A d:Wwadedeilatem3in Freemasonry will Gertainly seem strange to many &.merim Masons. Perhaps it may even seem to-be a somewhat unsettling innovation. Not because we have any more to hide than our English Brethren, but because at first glance such an interestmight seem an intrusion into what is a "very personal and private space". On the other hand, briw Masonry has played an important, and often ver-ypositiw:e=, role in the developmentof our o m society. Perhaps this is .an idea that could be pursued here with real benefit to aur OI.;tRS It is possible to ''joid'CMRC. If you would like to learn more aboul, and perhaps h o m e associated with, this new and intem&g o~ganization;you can visit its web site at:
http:l/~.canonbury.ac.uk
Some of you exemplary Masons who have donated blood this summer may have had a problem giving your Lodge Blood Number to get credit for the donation. A new computer system having problems with numbers is the reason. The Red Cross installed a new computer system last spring and the new system has a different sponsor numbering program that does not recognize our Lodge Blood
FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION &.LFk ~ & C ~ Freemasonry h. is not a r e l i g i q nor is it a
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substitute for religion. It requires of its members belief in God as part of the obligation of every responsible adult, but advocates no sectarian faith m practice. Masonic ceremonies include'prayers, both traditiorml md extempore, to reaffirm each individual" dependence on God and to seek divine guidance. Freemasonry is open to men of any faith, but religion may not be discussed at Masonic meetings.
Pennsylvania, greets Grand Master Frederick and his father, Brother Charles Frederick, in Garfield Lodge No. 559.
dertakings to foIlow the principles ofFreemasonry and to keep confidential a Freemason%means of recognition. The much &cussed "penalties," judicial remnants from an earlier era, are symbolic, not literal. They refer only to the pain any honest man should feel at the thought of violating his word.
Unofficik ..,.,,me, Mow. Y,..,,,., hails homecornin& , , ..l,.,r Frederick and his party to DuBois, Pennsylvania, the Grand Master's hometown.
j%eelluxsony Compared with ~eb&ion.Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion: (a) It has no dogma or theology3no wish or means to enforce religious orthodoxy. (b) It offers no sacraments. (c) It does not claim to lead to salvation by works, by sacret knowledge, or by any other means. The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with modes of recognition, not with the means of salvatian.
Freemasmy Syports 2&eG@on.
I Inter-jurisdictional Harmony. Joining Grand Masters Frederick and Ernette (front center) for this visit were a number of their respective Grand Lodge officers and Past Grand Masters Donald L. Mallorey (D.C.) and Samuel C. Williamson (Pennsylvania).
Freemasonry is far from indifferenttoward religion. Without interfering in religious practice, in expects each member to follow his own faith and to place his Duty to God above all other duties. Its moral teachings are acceptable to all religions.
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Eldon 3. Brown, Secretary, and George J. Stoklas, Senior Warden, accompanied by (from left -right) W~lllamHarvey, Senior Steward, Joe Olwer, Senior Deacon, Hugh Bernard, PM, and Kevrn Jay, PM, of W~lliamR. Smgleton-HopeLebanon Lodge No. 7 present the 1999 contributions of their Lodge to the Secretary of the Masonic Foundation,
Master Masons are taught... to have faith in God, hope in immortality, and charity towards all mankind. Please allocate my contribution to the 1999 Fund Drive of the Masonic Foundation of the District of Columbia as follows: General Fund ........................................... Library & Museum .................................. Scholarship Program ............................... Masonic & Eastern Star Home ................ Brian Schwartz Memorial Fund .............. Masonic Model Program ......................... Other @lease specifi) ..............................
Total ........................................... $ Please make checks payable to:
Masonic Foundation of D .C.
iil............ OR
and mail to:
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5428 MacArthur Blvd., N.W. Washington, DC 20016-2524
Be sure to indicate your selected charities $-om the list above. ~qame Address City
Zip Code Lodge
State Phone
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LET'S ASK THE EXPERTS? What is a Lewis?
A Lewis in England and Scotland was the son of a Freemason. The operative tool known as the lewis is an iron clamp capable of exerting outward pressure which is inserted in a cavity for that purpose in any large stone, so as to give attachment to a pully and hook whereby the stone may be conveniently raised to any height and deposited in its proper position. In the English system, the lewis is found on the Tracing-Board of the Entered Apprentice, where it is used as a Symbol of Strength, because by its assistance, the Operative Mason is enabled to lift the heaviest stones with comparatively trifling exertion ofphysical power. It has not been adopted as a symbol of American Freemasons, except in Pennsylvania.
German Masonic Anniversary. Masonic dignitaries fiom around the world gathered in Frankfort in June to mark the 50th anniversary of the United Grand Lodges of Germany. Among those in attendance were Grand Master, Dan L Frederick,Deputy Grand Master, Mansour Hatefi, Grand Tiler, Gerhard Meinzer (not pid:tmd), and Special Emissary,Robert Heyat.
Our Grand Master's I emblematic theme, the burning torch, together with Potomac Lodge's prized gravel and a Volume of the Sacred Law, graces this
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Voice of Freemasonry Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of D.C. 5428 MacArthur Blvd., N.W. Washington D.C. 20016-2524
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