Saint John’s Day and the Holy Saints John

St. John’s Day and The Holy Saints John

James T. Feezell

Senior Grand Steward

On June 26th, 2009, The evening provoked the Craft assembled questions about the to honor one of signifi cance of St. John to the traditional patrons of the Craft, and how he came Freemasonry, Saint John to be adopted as a patron the Baptist. The assembly saint. This was the second was held at the Scottish Saint John’s day celebration Rite Center of the District of in Grand Master Acquaah’s Columbia, at 2800 Sixteenth term. The fi rst was held on Street, NW, at 7:30pm. The December 27th, in honor brethren were encouraged of the Craft’s other patron to bring their families. saint, John the Evangelist. The focus of the evening’s program was to recognize the masters of our lodges, the “Princes of the Craft,” for their dedication to the Craft, and hear about the opportunities and challenges our lodges are addressing this year. It was also their moment to share with the brothers of every lodge in the jurisdiction, some of the victories, large and small, earned through the hard work and determination of our brothers. These victories are, of course, ours collectively, to the extent John the Baptist, however, may have been, at one time, the only patron saint of the Craft. Mackey, in his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, writes that Saint John the Evangelist was not adopted as a co-patron until after the sixteenth century. It bears recalling that the Premier Grand Lodge of England, one of the two predecessor Grand Lodges to the current United Grand Lodge of England, was founded on June 24th, Saint John the Baptist Day, in 1717. they advance the purpose We are taught the two Saints and ideals of Freemasonry John serve as examples of in Washington DC, and to virtue and moral rectitude preserve the legacy and to us, as Masons. An early trust passed on to us by our English catechism offers Masonic forbears. that Saint John the Baptist The program also featured a thoughtful discussion by WB Peter Galitzin, on the legacy of Saint John the Baptist, and the award of scholarships to several meritorious students. At various points in the evening, we were was chosen as an example of zeal and purity. John the Evangelist was selected as the model of thoughtful deliberation to help us carry our Masonic designs into execution. Saint John the Baptist in stained glass located at Leicester Cathedral in England treated to excellent musical entertainment by the There were, no doubt, other good and upright band: Organ.Ize. fi gures in history to serve as patrons. In the Bible,

for example, we fi nd many examples of purity and John the Evangelist’s selection, as the second patron zeal, and of learning and diligence, etc. Why, then saint of Freemasonry, gives rise to an interesting the two Saints John? Like so many topics of Masonic theory of Masonic symbolism. John the Evangelist’s history, this too is shrouded in mystery and the feast day is December 27th, near the winter solstice. subject of speculation. One theory offers these two Now, we have two fi gures that represent, perhaps, fi gures representing diametrically opposed virtues, not only opposites in their character – passion the passion of John the versus restraint, but Baptist, and the learned also the extremes of restraint of John the the solar calendar. This Evangelist, and, between may explain, in part, a these virtuous dipoles particular symbol, where we should, as Masons, the ancient alchemical conduct our lives. and astrological symbol Another possible explanation of the adoption of these two men as patrons may lie in the dates of their respective celebrations. John the Baptist, we’re told in the Book of Luke, was born approximately six months before Jesus Christ. It is believed that the date for Christ’s birth was fi xed at December 25, some time in the fourth century. Some scholars suggest this date was chosen, in part, to coincide with the pagan celebration of the winter solstice. Thus, it follows that John the Baptist’s date of birth, six months prior, would coincide for Sol, the sun, a point within a circle, is bounded on the left and right by parallel line segments. If these line segments represent the boundaries of solar calendar, i.e., the shortest and longest days of the year, then are the Holy Saints John invoked directly, or by inference? If the latter, then it appears a key symbol of our Craft may extend beyond a purely Christian interpretation. Passing round the circle, or the sun, the source of light, between those borders, may represent our passage from solstice to solstice, and back again, from year to year. nearly with the summer As we continue on our solstice. The celebration passage around that of the birth of John the circle, nearing September Baptist is thought, by Saint John the Evangelist in stained glass located at in our Capital City, it may some, to have been a All Saints Church in Cambridge, England not yet feel like we are means of superimposing retreating, inexorably, a Christian celebration over the extant practice of back toward winter, but we are. The shrinking of the celebrating the solstice; the idea being: retaining the daylight hours is still imperceptible. Ironically, it is days, if not the original meaning, of various pagan during these summer months when we refer to some celebrations, made conversion more palatable, and of our lodges, recessed for the summer, as having hence, more peaceful. gone dark. This past Saint John’s celebration was for If, then, a society were dedicated to the bringing of men to light, as an allegory for knowledge, what better patron than the Saint whose birth coincides many, our last opportunity to enjoy the fellowship of our brothers, across so many lodges, until Labor Day restores the working of our Craft again to full vigor. with the longest and, hence, most illuminated day of I look forward to sitting in lodge with you again, soon. the year? ■