Crafting the Mason

Crafting the Mason Making the Case for a Quality Masonic Experience

From the time Brother L’Enfant first conceived the plan for a place called Washington, our Nation’s Capital was destined to be Freemasonry’s First City in America. While brothers from other jurisdictions may disagree, it should be noted that many of them have come to our fair city every February over the better part of a century, to share fellowship and discourse during “Masonic Week,” the invitational bodies’ annual convention at the Hotel Washington. In several years since 1997, Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15 has presented the “kickoff” event of the Week, usually in the form of a debate or panel discussion on matters of interest to the fraternity. Since 2001, this event has found a home at the National Press Club, and many Masons from around the nation have attended, with great satisfaction to themselves and benefit to the Craft.

This year the Lodge of the Nine Muses No. 1776 cohosted the event, and its Master, WB Michael A.W. Hattwick, M.D., presided over the panel discussion with WB Dan J. Critchfield of Benjamin B. French No. 15. More than 120 Masons and guests attended this year’s event, traveling from as far away as California to enjoy an evening of refreshment and discussion.

Ms. Shannon Schambeau, this year’s Miss District of Columbia, made a presentation on the “platform issue” of her reign, the upcoming Special Olympics, which will take place on May 24, 2006. At the Special Olympics the

Shannon Schambeau, Miss District of Columbia Masons of this jurisdiction will be giving thanks by giving time to those who have disabilities. From the dais, Ms. Schambeau acknowledged the contribution of MWB Albert McNair Smith, who will be calling on all Masons to participate.

Brother Carlos Rodriguez, a member of Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15, a professor of music at the famed Levine School of Music, and accompanist to artists of international reputation such as Maestro Placido Domingo, delighted the assembly with works of Brother Staff Report

Mozart and Frederic Chopin. The audience responded with a standing ovation and cries of “Encore!” and Brother Rodriguez obliged, to thunderous applause.

This year’s panel discussion, entitled, “Crafting Carlos Cesar Rodriguez, the Mason,” focused upon Pianist Extraordinary the initiatory experience. Three distinguished brothers addressed aspects of the initiation ceremony. WB Kirk MacNulty, founding Master of the Lodge of the Nine Muses No. 1776, began the program with a discussion of the esoteric and symbolic underpinnings of Masonic initiation, using an explanation of elements of European trestleboards

Kirk MacNulty as a guide.

The Ill. Robert G. Davis, Secretary of the Scottish Rite Valley of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and author of the recent, seminal work “Understanding Manhood in America: the Search for the Mature Masculine,” then lectured on the significance of initiation as Robert Davis an important and irreplaceable milestone in the personal development of young men of the modern era.

RW Thomas W. Jackson, Past Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Past President of the Conference of Grand Secretaries, brought the discussion to a close with a lecture on the ways that Lodges and Grand Thomas Jackson Lodges should work together to provide both a quality initiatory and subsequent educational and motivational experiences to incoming Masons.