The Voice of Freemasonry | Vol. 36* No. 1

THE VOICE OF FREEMASONRY

VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1, 2019

VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 2019 ISSUE Editors-In-Chief Charbel T. Fahed (Grand Master) Jeffrey D. Russell, PGM (Grand Secretary) Managing Editor Jason Van Dyke, PM (Director of Communications) Editor Mark Dreisonstok, PM Creative Director: Julie Palitto, Benesque Design www.benesquedesign.com

dcgrandlodge.org The Voice of Freemasonry is an official publication of the Grand Lodge of Free And Accepted Masons (F.A.A.M.) of the District of Columbia. Unless otherwise noted, articles appearing in this publication express only the private opinion or assertions of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Grand Lodge. The jurisdiction speaks only through the Grand Master, and when attested to as official, in writing, by the Grand Secretary.

The editorial staff invites contributions in the form of informative articles, reports, news and other timely information (of about 500 to 1000 words in length) that broadly relate to Masonic law, lore, customs, history, symbolism, philosophy, responsibility of membership, etiquette, current events, and/or general public interest. When possible, photographs that illustrate these informative articles should accompany the submission. Pieces submitted should be typed, double-spaced and preferably accompanied by a computer disk in a neutral PC format or via e-mail to: grandlodge@dcgrandlodge.org.

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Please direct all correspondence to: Managing Editor: The Voice of Freemasonry 5428 MacArthur Blvd., N.W. Washington, DC 20016-2524 grandlodge@dcgrandlodge.org

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Grand Master’s Message 2019 Grand Visitation Schedule 6 Masonic Washington in the 1930's 10 Masonic Education: What Came You Here to Do? 14 Special Interview with Dean S. Clutterbuck 16 From Failure to Mt. Rushmore and Mt. Vernon 19 A Freemason's Journey 22 A New Grand East in the Nation's Capital 31 The Washington, DC, Masonic Hospitality Committee Begins Work

32 Grand Visitation to Lebanon, the Sacred Land 34 Grand Master's March 17 Talk at the Gravesite of WB George Washington 36 Arminius Bible 37 The Holy of Holies and the Administering High Priest 38 Manage YOUR Membership with Grandview 39 The Passport to Masonic Knowledge 41 Cadmus Lodge Consecrated 42 In Memoriam: William Charles Miskovic 43 2019 Grand Lodge Officers 44 Upcoming Events

The Three E's: Education This year’s theme during my term in office as Grand Master is the “Three E’s” of Education, Ethics, and Empathy. As I am a professor and researcher by profession, I would like to dedicate my first message to you in The Voice as Grand Master to Education.

Yet, as German poet and philosopher Friedrich Schlegel writes in Lyceum and the Athenæum, “Perfect understanding of a classic work should never be possible; but those who are cultivated and who are still striving after further culture, must always desire to learn more from it.” There is something deeply Masonic in the notion of having as one’s goal mastery and perfect understanding, and yet taking even greater joy in the striving of the same.

For many, education consists of reading books. In my view, the Masonic pillars of Beauty, Strength, and Wisdom hold the time-honored classics of literature, philosophy, and devotion together as a whole, and these We would do well to remember precepts should be applied to that our ritual is a crucial part great books just as they do to of our moral education, and the Craft. I love, for instance, ritual combines the rhetoric, the Beauty in language of the logic, and grammar of books French Neo-Classical playwith active enlightened experiwrights Racine and Moliere ence, teaching that the Masonic whose verses I can still recite implements of the compasses, from my childhood days. For square, plumb, and level build Strength in theme and style, I that temple of character which was recently impressed with is the great and noble goal of the short story “Red Pawn” our gentle Craft. In the Second

by Ayn Rand – so much so Degree, we are reminded that I recorded large portions as such implements and the strucmy own personal audio book. tures they build imitate nature, Finally, for Wisdom, I choose for our ancestors planted trees Most Worshipful Brother Charbel T. Fahed Gibran Khalil Gibran, not only to support a covering over their because his book The Prophet is perhaps the most famous book to heads, and this notion first gave rise to the art of architecture. The come out of my native Lebanon, but because many of his insights speculative Masons of the Enlightenment until today, under the led me on my own intellectual and spiritual search. Finally, René guidance of the Supreme Architect of the Universe, erect a specuDescartes’ Discourse on the Method is a book which brings together lative building — an upright moral character — and encourage all three by showing a Beauty of style, Strength of thought, and others to build theirs.

Wisdom in method which I, as an engineer and mathematician It is not accidental that above and beyond classics and even ritual, with a first master’s degree in French Literature, admire greatly.

Masonry enjoins us to study the great books of Nature. Only when (continued on next page)

There is something deeply Masonic in the notion of having as one’s goal mastery and perfect understanding, and yet taking even greater joy in the striving of the same.

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we explore Nature’s gifts do we truly embark on the journey that is Freemasonry. If we but appreciate Nature and lay aside our attachment to the material world, we learn that we have a wealth of treasures to explore – not those physical treasures “laid up upon earth” (Matthew 6:19), but symbolic treasures buried deep within the human potential for spirituality.

Freemasonry is of untapped depth, and it is incumbent on the individual Mason, with constancy and persistence, to explore. True Masonic education is gleaning wisdom from great authors and our sublime ritual, leading to an appreciation of Nature and a deep exploration into our private spiritual temples for a contemplation within the inner self.

Freemasonry is of untapped depth, and it is incumbent on the individual Mason, with constancy and persistence, to explore.

My most sincere love to all.

Charbel T. Fahed, Grand Master 

Brother Fahed has labored 35 years in the quarries of Freemasonry.

Initiated, passed, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in 1984 in Justice-Columbia Lodge No. 3, he first served as Worshipful Master of his Lodge for two years (1990 and 1991).

Although Brother Fahed prefers not to have multiple lodge affiliations, he made an exception by joining La France Lodge No. 93 and presided over that lodge in 2012. He affiliated for two reasons: first, because he was asked repeatedly to help the Lodge; second, in order to preserve his affinity and connection to the French language; Brother Fahed received his B.A. in Child Psychology from the prestigious Ecole Normale (est. 1794), and his M.A. in French Literature from the equally world-renowned University of Lyon’s Ecole Superieure des Lettres (Beirut Campus).

His labors in the Society of Freemasonry continued unabated.

This relentless commitment to the Craft must have been ingrained subconscious in his mind, for he was born in the Sacred Land of Lebanon in the town of Ghebal(e), the city mentioned in Masonic ritual and from which came the builders working on the Temple of King Solomon!

In 1999, Bro. Fahed served as High Priest of Mount Pleasant Chapter No. 13 of Royal Arch Masons; in 2006, he served as the Illustrious Master of Adoniram-Zabud Council No. 2 of Cryptic Masons in Washington, DC, as well as Commander of Arlington Commandery No. 29 of Knight Templars in Virginia. Finally, in 2012, he served as the Worshipful Master of La France Lodge No. 93. In 2011, he was elected Junior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. As he progressed up the line of the Grand Lodge, he served simultaneously as Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in the District of Columbia in 2016.

His commitment to the study of the deeper meanings and teachings of Freemasonry led him to focus wholeheartedly on Masonic ritual. He served as Deputy Grand Lecturer, Chair of the Work and Lectures Committee, and at last held the Major Certificate in the York Rite Ritual of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia,

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certifying his full proficiency in all three degrees of Freemasonry.

He also studied other rituals practiced by different Lodges under the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, including the Emulation and Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite rituals, thus enabling him to participate in numerous degree-works in English as well as in French.

As Bro. Fahed gave of himself, his time, resources and energy to the Craft, he never forgot the teachings of the Fellowcraft Mason to pursue ever more knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences. His French Jesuit education and University degrees were not enough.

After five years of teaching French in public schools, he eventually pursued his studies and received a B.S. in Electronics from the University of the District of Columbia, his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the George Mason University (GMU), and did post-doctoral research in Material Sciences at NASA and the Naval Research Lab (NRL). In appreciation of his significant contribution to the design of the Hydrostar Antenna waveguide, Brother and Dr. Charbel Fahed received a Recognition Award from NASA LARC in Hampton, Virginia. He also won special recognition from NASA for his contribution to the Martial Space Vehicle in 1997 and 1998 at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Academically, Dr. Fahed served as Program Head of the Electronics and Computer Technology in his role as Professor at Northern Virginia Community College. In recognition of his leadership skills at the college, he was twice unanimously elected as Campus Council Chair (Annandale Campus) and Chair of the selection committee for adjunct and full-time faculty positions in engineering.

On December 8, 2018, Most Worshipful Brother Fahed was installed as the new Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia. He is married with three children in college. Ever zealous as an educator and as a Mason, he is currently combining both in his Grand Master’s term theme of Education, Ethics, and Empathy. He looks forward to new challenges in Freemasonry during and after his term as Grand Master, writing a book on Freemasonry, mathematics, and the liberal arts. 

2019 Grand Visitation Schedule Grand Visitations to the Constituent Lodges in 2019 will be made on the dates and at the locations indicated herein. The Lodge will be open on its degree of choice during all Grand Visitations.

At each Grand Visitation, the Grand Master and his suite will be received one-half hour after the Lodge’s stated meeting time and ten minutes after the Grand Marshal’s announcement, through the West Gate. Grand Lodge Officers will assume the places and stations of the Lodge’s Officers following introductions.

plans for the year, and/or the progress he has made in his program to date. Reports and remarks will be heard from certain Grand Lodge Officers.

The Master and Secretary should be prepared to introduce their Lodge Officers and Past Masters respectively, and the Secretary should be prepared to name (and introduce, if present) the holder of the Lodge’s Fidelity Medal.

The Master should be prepared to make a formal report on his

The Grand Marshal or his designee will be made available to the Master and officers of the Lodge prior to the meeting, to provide any additional instructions or guidance that may be needed.

2019 Grand Visitation by Lodge Number

2019 Grand Visitation by Calendar Date

NO. NAME DATE 1 . . . . . . . . . . . Federal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/25/2019 3 . . . . . . . . . . . Justice Columbia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/18/2019 4 . . . . . . . . . . . Naval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/21/2019 5 . . . . . . . . . . . Potomac. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/16/2019 6 . . . . . . . . . . . Union*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/18/2019 7 . . . . . . . . . . . Singleton Hope Lebanon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10/3/2019 10 . . . . . . . . . . Hiram Takoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/28/2019 11 . . . . . . . . . . St. John’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/1/2019 12 . . . . . . . . . . National Stansbury Dawson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/25/2019 14 . . . . . . . . . . Washington Daylight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10/5/2019 15 . . . . . . . . . . Benjamin B. French*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/18/2019 17 . . . . . . . . . . Harmony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/4/2019 19 . . . . . . . . . . LaFayette Dupont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/14/2019 21 . . . . . . . . . . Anacostia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4/2019 23 . . . . . . . . . . Osiris Pentalpha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/20/2019 25 . . . . . . . . . . Arminius. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/18/2019 32 . . . . . . . . . . Temple Noyes Cathedral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/21/2019 33 . . . . . . . . . . Albert Pike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/9/2019 34 . . . . . . . . . . East Gate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/20/2019 35 . . . . . . . . . . Joppa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/5/2019 45 . . . . . . . . . . Gompers Franklin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/10/2019 47 . . . . . . . . . . Petworth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBD 53 . . . . . . . . . . Magnolia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/30/2019 54 . . . . . . . . . . Fraternity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/27/2019 76 . . . . . . . . . . Cincinnatus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/16/2019 90 . . . . . . . . . . Mehr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/12/2019 92 . . . . . . . . . . Alianza Fraternal Americana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/15/2019 93 . . . . . . . . . . LaFrance* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/11/2019 94 . . . . . . . . . . Hayastan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/10/2019 98 . . . . . . . . . . Éireann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/21/2019 925 . . . . . . . . . L’Haïtienne* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/11/2019 1001. . . . . . . . Phoenix*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/18/2019 1002. . . . . . . . Cadmus*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/18/2019 1521. . . . . . . . Maynilad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/18/2019 1717. . . . . . . . Fiat Lux. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBD 1775. . . . . . . . Freedom Military*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/12/2019 1776. . . . . . . . Nine Muses*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/12/2019 1798. . . . . . . . Sojourner Kilwinning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/24/2019 1811. . . . . . . . Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10/17/2019 1821. . . . . . . . The Colonial*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/2/2019 1893. . . . . . . . The Eagle*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/2/2019 2000. . . . . . . . Nur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10/14/2019 2001. . . . . . . . Italia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/6/2019 3000. . . . . . . . Jerusalem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10/10/2019

DATE LOCATION NUMBER February 11, Monday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgetown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *93 February 11, Monday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgetown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *925 February 21, Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . Naval Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 February 28, Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 March 1, Friday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 March 4, Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Odd Fellows Temple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 March 5, Tuesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Singleton Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 March 14, Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Naval Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 March 18, Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Rite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 March 20, Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 March 25, Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Odd Fellows Temple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 March 30, Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friendship Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 April 6, Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rimini Italy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2001 TBD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 TBD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1717 May 09, Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Rite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 May 10, Friday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgetown Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 May 15, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Naval Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 May 16, Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgetown Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 May 18, Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Rite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1521 May 20, Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 May 21, Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Singleton Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 June 12, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *1775 June 12, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *1776 June 18, Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beirut, Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *1001 June 18, Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beirut, Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *1002 July 27, Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friendship Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 August 24, Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1798 September 4, Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . Singleton Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 September 10, Tuesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 September 12, Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . Georgetown Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 September 16, Monday. . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgetown Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 September 18, Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . Georgetown Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *6 September 18, Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . Georgetown Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *15 September 21, Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . Almas Shrine Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 September 25, Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 October 3, Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Singleton Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 October 5, Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Rite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 October 10, Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Rite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3000 October 14, Monday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Singleton Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 October 17, Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Rite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1811 November 2, Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . .House of the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *1821 November 2, Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . .House of the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *1893 November 18, Monday. . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Rite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

LOCATION KEY Almas Shrine Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1315 K St., NW Friendship Odd Fellows Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701 24th St., NW Georgetown Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1212 Wisconsin Ave., NW Naval Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Odd Fellows Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419 7th St., NW * Indicates a Joint Grand Visitation

Scottish Rite Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2800 16th St., NW Singleton Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4441 Wisconsin Ave., NW House of the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1733 16th St., NW Takoma Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Carroll St., NW Al Fanar Freemasons’ Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beirut, Lebanon

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 5

Masonic Washington in the 1930's

BY AKRAM R. ELIAS, PAST GRAND MASTER

My interest in the state of Freemasonry in the Nation’s Capital during the decade of the 1930's was prompted by research I was doing on the Masonic life of John E. Fetzer of Michigan who had spent a considerable amount of time in Washington, DC, during the period stretching from 1934 to 1939 while working on advancing his radio “590 Case” with the Federal Communications Commission. John Fetzer later became a Censor for Radio from 1944 to 1946. What I discovered was quite extraordinary. John E. Fetzer was a contemporary role model (1901–1991) of how a Freemason can live the teachings of our Sacred Art. You may want to visit the website of the John E. Fetzer Memorial Trust (www.fetzertrust.org) for information about who our Brother was and what he accomplished in his own life.

Historical Context: Washington, DC, and Freemasonry (1811 - 1929) By 1811, local Masonic lodges, including Potomac Lodge, Federal Lodge, Naval Lodge and Columbia Lodge, banded together to establish the Grand Lodge of Free And Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia (Grand Lodge of Washington, DC). In the coming decades up and until the 1930’s, Washington, DC’s, political, economic, and social environments were very much intertwined with the status and position of Freemasonry in the nation’s capital.

Between 1811 and 1929, out of the 28 Presidents of the United States, 11 were Freemasons – this is the equivalent of 39% of the Heads of State. Furthermore, the Masonic tradition of conducting open cornerstone ceremonies continued unabated to include the Smithsonian Institution (May 1, 1847), the Washington Monument (July 4, 1848), the Senate and House extensions of the U.S. Capitol (July 4, 1851), American University (October 21, 1896), the Washington National Cathedral (September 29, 1907), the Scottish Rite House of the Temple (October 18, 1911), and the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall (October 30, 1928).

What was Freemasonry like in Washington, DC, from 1930 through 1939? The Nation’s capital was fully consumed by a most President Herbert Hoover greets attendees at the Grand Masters Conference in 1932 daunting challenge, the Great Depression of 1929, while nervously eying the challenge of war posed by the rise of fascism in Europe and Asia. Not since the Civil War of 1861-1865 had the United States faced such perilous times, with dire socioeconomic conditions potentially endangering domestic stability, with international aggression by expansionist fascist and imperial forces threatening the security The proceedings of the of the country from withGrand Lodge of Washout. Strategies conceived ington, DC, for the year by the Administrations 1936 stated: “Of the of President Franklin Great Depression: Shacks, put up by the Bonus Army on the Anacostia flats, public activities of our Washington, DC, burning after the battle with the military. The Capitol in the Delano Roosevelt (32nd Grand Lodge during the background. 1932. degree Freemason) cenperiod under considertered on countering and mitigating the ills of the economic ation [1912-1935], the laying of corner stones with Masonic depression while simultaneously preparing the United States for ceremonies takes a prominent place. A compilation of these events and then engaging it in a world war across two vast oceans. The shows that the corner stones of 27 buildings were so laid. These U.S. Government sought the support of citizens and businesses included churches, lodge halls, school and college buildings, the across the country in taking on those challenges. Freemasonry, new National Educational Association building, and the buildings being the oldest and most well-established private society in the of the Department of Labor and the Interstate Commerce ComUnited States, heeded Uncle Sam’s call. mission. At several of these ceremonies, prominent officials of the

6 The Voice of Freemasonry ISSUE 1, 2019

United States Government were present and spoke, among them being Presidents William H. Taft and Herbert Hoover, Vice President Thomas Riley Marshall, and the then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and now President Franklin D. Roosevelt.”

As both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue were grappling with a worsening economic and social crisis, the New Deal sharpened partisan differences and fueled more political tension. Freemasonry, however, proved to be a great asset in helping move things forward.

Furthermore, there existed a close link between Freemasonry and the White The fellowship and brotherly love proHouse. In an article titled White House mulgated by the Society among its Hospitality,1 the late Grand Secretary members provided an atmosphere in and Honorary Past Grand Master of which comity could at times prevail the Grand Lodge of Washington, DC, even among political rivals for the Most Worshipful Brother Stewart Wilpurpose of achieving a higher good. son Miner wrote: “…for years the center Freemasons were indeed occupying piece of the annual communication of some of the highest offices in the fedthe Grand Lodge of D.C. was the annual eral government. early-morning VIP tour of a White In the 73rd Congress (1933 – 1935), for House decorated for the holidays. Access example, 51 of the 96 Senators (only 48 to the White House and the President states at the time) were Freemasons – has also been afforded Masons on spePresident Franklin Delano Roosevelt that’s 53% of the Senate. Senator Carter cial occasions, such as the Conference wearing a Masonic Apron Glass, 33°, a Virginia Freemason, who of Grand Masters, conventions of the was U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Wilson and appendant bodies, and when the occasion seemed suitable, to the founder of the United States Federal Reserve System, was the Grand Lodges and the rites for special events. Hence, in the past, primary force behind the “The Glass-Steagall Act” of 1933. when the Conference of Grand Masters was convened in Washington, D.C., it was not unusual for participating Grand Masters to have their Conference photographs taken on the grounds of the White House. Furthermore, on a number of such occasions, our Grand Masters were received personally by the President of the United States. Such receptions were initiated originally by President Calvin Coolidge, who received the Grand Masters at each of the first three conferences that were convened in this city in the years 1927, 1928, and 1929. President Herbert Hoover continued the practice, as did President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the four years of his first term as President.”

Washington, DC, and Freemasonry (1930 – 1939) What was Washington, DC, like and what status did Freemasonry have in the nation’s capital during the period of 1930–1939?

Washington was consumed by the national state of the economy.

By 1933, industrial production in the United States declined 47 percent and real gross domestic product (GDP) fell 30 percent.

The wholesale price index declined 33 percent (such declines in the price level are referred to as deflation), and unemployment had reached 24.75 percent. In response to the worsening crisis in the country, FDR launched a colossal government-led effort called the New Deal with aggressive policies aimed at creating jobs and providing relief and social welfare. On its end, the U.S. Congress passed in 1933 the Glass-Steagall Act2, which prohibited commercial banks from participating in the investment banking business, as an emergency measure to counter the failure of almost 5,000 banks during the Great Depression.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933

The FDR Administration was no different. Six of the nine main departments, including Treasury, War, Justice, Navy, Agriculture, and Commerce, were led by Freemasons: • Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. (1934 – 1945), a Freemason since 1922 and a member of Obed Lodge No. 984 in Poughkeepsie, NY, was the main architect of the New Deal and later led the financing effort of World War II.

1 Voice of Freemasonry 2004, Volume 21, Number 1 2 Investopedia (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/glass_steagall_act.asp#ixzz4td5az4oB) last accessed March 14, 2019.

(continued on next page)

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 7

• Secretary of War George H. Dern (1933 – 1936) was the former Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Utah (1913).

assistance to worthy brethren in times of difficulty. Employment services, however, were an innovation introduced in 1915. Indeed, on April 17, 1915, the Grand Lodge of Washington, DC held a special meeting with representatives of • Secretary of War Harry H. Woodring lodges and Eastern Star chapters for the (1936 – 1940) was a Freemason purpose of considering ways and means since 1911 and member of Harmony for the establishment of an Employment Lodge No. 94 in Neodesha, Kansas.

Bureau to be conducted by and for • Attorney General Homer S. the Masonic fraternity in this jurisdicCummings (1933 – 1939) was a tion. The committee formed to study Freemason since 1892 and member the project reported back to the Grand of Hiram lodge No. 1 in New Haven, Lodge on December 18, 1915, recomConnecticut. mending the establishment of such bureau stating, “Your committee feels • Secretary of the Navy Claude A. that the most effective charity possible of Swanson (1933 – 1940) was a Freebeing dispensed to a person able to work mason since 1908 and member of is to place him in position where he can Henry F. Ashurst, Senate Judiciary Committee and Pittsylvania Lodge No. 24 in ChaEdward R. Burke, Washington, DC, 1937 earn his own living. In other words, help tham, Virginia. him to help himself. Therefore we recommend that the Grand Lodge • Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace (1933 – 1940) was give its approval to the formation of an employment bureau, its a Freemason since 1927 and member of Capital Lodge No. object being to find and furnish employment for Master Masons in 110 in Des Moines, Iowa. Following his service as Secretary of good standing, their wives, widows and children, and for members of Agriculture, he became the Vice-President of the United States the Order of the Eastern Star in good standing, and their children.”

(January 20, 1941 – January 20, 1945) and later served as the In response to the Depression, the Grand Lodge decided to merge Secretary of Commerce (March 2, 1945 – September 20, 1946) relief and employment services into one Masonic Personnel and under both Presidents FDR and Truman.

Service Bureau.

• Secretary of Commerce Daniel C. Roper (1933 – 1938) was a The Masonic Personnel and Service Bureau was equally effecFreemason since 1896 and member of Federal Lodge No. 1 in tive in fulfilling its mission Washington, DC. in Washington, DC, and The Masonic appeal echoed was equally successful in

by Grand Lodges across establishing good working the country was for Freerelations with employers masons to work together in the nation’s capital. For and help get the country example, in its report to the through those trying times.

Grand Lodge on December In addition, the institu29, 1939, the Masonic Pertions of Freemasonry went sonnel and Service Bureau to work in their respecreported the following: tive communities trying to “…contacts made for bring relief and assistance available positions, 233; wherever possible. With placements secured for relief and charity being two applicants, 136; permanent obligations a Freemason President Franklin D. Roosevelt attends a meeting at a New York Lodge positions-monthly salassumes, lodges and Grand on November 7, 1935. AP Wire photo by Vang Studio ary, $4,255.00; temporary Lodges across the country positions-weekly salary, $1,798.50; positions where no qualified mounted efforts aimed at relieving poverty and providing charity. applicants were available, 43; applicants referred to positions but The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia was no different. were not employed, 69.

In response to the rising dire conditions caused by the Great It will be noted that if we had the necessary 43 qualified applicants, Depression, the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia approved the total employment would have been 179, almost one-third more on November 29, 1929, the reorganization of its relief program and and this condition results from a lack of registration of those of our its employment agency into a new entity called the Masonic Perbrethren or their families who may need employment. sonnel and Service Bureau for the purpose of aiding and assisting much more effectively “worthy distressed” Masons, Eastern Star Service request applications received: male, 192; female, 147; foreign, members, and their relatives with relief and in finding work. Relief 118, total, 467.” is one of the key tenets of Freemasonry and thus, the Grand Lodge had always had a relief program to provide financial and material 8 The Voice of Freemasonry ISSUE 1, 2019

In addition, the Bureau instituted an employer-based system for feedback on, and evaluation of, placed employees for the purposes of assessing the effectiveness of the services provided and ensuring quality control.

haps the largest group of Masons ever assembled at one time in Washington, DC. Excerpts of the address delivered by the Grand Master of Washington, DC, were quite telling:

The capacity of the Grand Lodge to sustain such a successful “I express to the National Broadcasting Company my great apprenon-governmental employment agency was enabled through its ciation of its courtesy and co-operation in arranging this nationwide membership in terms of their numbers hook-up and in particular to the officials and social status. By 1934, the population of Station KJR at Seattle, Washington, of Washington, DC, was approximately and the sponsors of the regular weekly pro529,000 of whom 370,300 were white. In gram of that station at this hour, in today that same year, Freemasonry had 45 lodges cancelling two commercial programs, thus in the District of Columbia with a mempermitting Senator Borah's speech to reach bership of 20,660 Masons. In other words, 30,000 Masons assembled thereabout who more than 5% of the white population otherwise would not have received the of Washington, DC, were affiliated with same. We are assembled in historic ConFreemasonry. By 1939, in the span of only stitution Hall at Washington, upwards of five years, the population of the nation’s 7,000 members of the Masonic Fraternity, capital increased to a total of 658,000 of the greatest gathering of Masons ever to whom 467,180 were whites. Freemasonry be assembled at a single meeting in the in that same year had 47 lodges in WashNation's Capital. Our guests include leadington, DC, with a total membership of ing officials of the Government of the 21,141. In other words, about 4.5% of United States, of the District, of Columbia, Frank Land Makes President FDR and Honorary Washington, DC’s, white population was and the Grand Masters of the thirteen Grand Master of DeMolay in April 1934 affiliated with Freemasonry. Furthermore, original States.” while Freemasonry’s membership comprised men of all walks of The second great Masonic affair took place on September 19th at life, the records of the Grand Lodge of Washington, DC, reflect a the Washington National Cathedral. The Rt. Rev. James E. Freelarge number of successful professionals in the private and public man, D.D., LLD. (33rd degree Freemason), Bishop of Washington, sectors with leadership positions in civil society organizations. addressed a large Masonic gathering on the subject “A Challenged The data also shows many of the Freemasons of Washington, DC, Nation.” The third and final event in which members of the Frateraffiliated with prominent private clubs like the Metropolitan Club nity participated in large numbers was the National Thanksgiving and the University Club of Washington, DC. As an illustration, the service, held on Thanksgiving Day at the Washington National Grand Master of Washington, DC, in 1934 was Vernon G. Owen, Cathedral in presence of a large number of government officials, owner of the Thomas J. Owen & Son real estate company, was also including the judiciary. a director of a number of financial and investment institutions, including Liberty National Bank, Bank of Commerce and Savings, What follows is a list of major cornerstone laying ceremonies that the Perpetual Building Association, the National Mortgage and took place in Washington, DC, between 1930 and 1939: Investment Corporation, and the Fidelity Mortgage Investment • 1930: National Education Association Building, 16th and Company. He was also a director of Topham's, Inc., a member of M Streets, N.W., by Grand Master Pro Tem C. Fred Cook, the Washington Board of Trade, the Washington Real Estate Board, July 25th. and the Kiwanis Club.

Another important note on the status enjoyed by Freemasonry in the nation’s capital during that time period has to do with public ceremonies organized by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia that drew the attention and participation of government officials and were witnessed by large portions of the public.

For example, in 1937, on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the United States Constitution, the Grand Lodge organized three major events. The first of these outstanding Masonic occasions occurred the night of September 16, 1937, with a large procession of Freemasons marching through parts of the city starting at 13th and H streets N.W. and ending at Constitution Hall for a commemorative ceremony. On that occasion, U.S. Sen. William E. Borah and Rep. Sol. Bloom (32nd degree Freemason), U.S. Congressman from New York State and Director General of the U.S. Constitution Sesquicentennial Commission, addressed per-

• 1930: Western Presbyterian Church, H Street between 19th and 20th, by Grand Master James A. West, October 25th.

• 1932: U.S. Department of Labor Building and the Interstate Commerce Building, by Grand Master Reuben A. Bogley, in the presence of President Herbert Hoover and other notables, December 15th. This was perhaps a unique circumstance in which two separate public buildings had cornerstone layings conducted simultaneously. Grand Master Bogley presided at the Labor Department Building, and other Grand Lodge officers appointed by him took charge at the Interstate Commerce Building, both locations being connected by sound equipment. Grand Master Bogley invited President Hoover to join in spreading the cement, a courtesy he also extended to Mrs. Hoover, Secretary of Labor Doak, and William Green of the American Federation of Labor. (continued on page 35) ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 9

Masonic Education: What Came You Here to Do?

BY AKRAM R. ELIAS, PAST GRAND MASTER

GRAND LODGE COMMITTEE ON MASONIC EDUCATION Akram R. Elias, Chairman Daniel A. Huertas Annas F. Kamara Morgan P. Corr Adam N. Tager Chetin Durak Amid Kasamani With the following words, the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Charbel T. Fahed, gave us our marching orders: “As you have heard me say over the years, Masonry is a philosophy of life. We say that Masonry takes good men and makes them better. How can Masonry fulfill its mission if we do not pursue Masonic education in ways to help us gain a deeper understanding of our ritual and ceremonies? Therefore, regarding education, I have formed a Grand Lodge Committee on Education and instructed them to develop and execute a program of Masonic education that focuses on the philosophy of Freemasonry and its practical life applications.”

The Grand Master thus instructed us to move with alacrity to plan and execute a program of Masonic education. His charge is that the focus be on the philosophy of Freemasonry and the practical life applications of its teachings. We created a framework to accomplish this task and solicited the direct involvement of the Brethren through official correspondence that was sent to all Lodges on January 14, 2019.

Our work this year will focus on creating resources for Lodges and Brothers to use in order to grow and learn in the various aspects of Masonry. This is envisioned to be an ongoing project which will consistently add resources, modules, and techniques to its repertoire, with this year laying the solid foundation on which the project may flourish well into the future. While the realm of Masonic learning is vast, we have decided to begin our work in 6 specific areas in 2019, namely Masonic conflict management; Candidate education; Masonic protocol/ etiquette; Masonic program management; Signs, symbols, and tools; and Lodge governance. It is in these areas we will endeavor to provide useful tools this coming year On March 9, 2019, the Committee organized a Conference on Masonic Education held at

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the Scottish Rite Center in Washington, DC. In spite of the many obstacles consisting of major road closures and a fire emergency next door, the Brethren “endeavored to pass,” and 95 out of the 144 registrants made it safely to the conference.

Following the invocation by Worshipful Brother Bilal Rashid of Justice-Columbia Lodge No. 3 (the Grand Master’s Mother Lodge), Most Worshipful Charbel T. Fahed welcomed the conferees, thanked them for their participation, and framed the Masonic labors of the day with the following words (excerpts): “Freemasonry is unlike any other organization in our society. It is shaped by Ancient Landmarks and lives by fundamental values communicated through the path of Initiation, not by a profane democratic process.”

“The Charge to the Brethren in the Installation of Officers of our Lodges states: Brethren, such is the nature of our constitution that as some must of necessity rule and teach, so others must of course learn to submit and obey.

Humility in both is an essential duty.”

“Masonic Education enables us to gain a deeper understanding of our rituals and ceremonies, and in turn provides us with the Teachings in Masonic Ethics and Empathy thus forming what I consider to be the three pillars upon which our Institution rests.”

FROM THE INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND MASTER: Most Worshipful Brother, , previous to your investiture it is necessary that you should signify your assent to those ancient charges and regulations which are to govern you in performing the duties of the exalted office on which you are about to enter.

XI. You admit that there are high prerogatives and duties attached by immemorial usage to the office of Grand Master of Masons of which no earthly power can deprive him, and which he cannot surrender, and that these duties and prerogatives shall never be abused by you, but ever held sacred and inviolable, while performing the functions of Grand Master.

The Chairman of the Masonic Education Committee, MW Bro. Akram R. Elias, PGM, opened the labors of the conference with a few words building on the Grand Master’s message. He stressed that Freemasonry lives in this world but is not of this world; otherwise, the ways of the profane would corrupt our Society, rather than having our Society improve the ways of the world through its initiation-based teachings. He also reminded the conferees that Freemasonry is esoteric in nature, being defined as “a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.”

While many levels (intellectual, spiritual, and mystical) of the esoteric are in the purview of Freemasonry, every Mason should be exposed at a minimum to the intellectual level through Masonic Education. Whether a Mason chooses to delve into the deeper levels becomes a matter of choice.

Following the opening remarks, the Brethren split off into several groups of interest organized along the main topics aforementioned, and they engaged each other in a workshop setting facilitated by the various members of the committee. Following the workshop, each group presented its findings to all assembled.

Topics: Lodge Governance, Masonic Conflict Management (facilitated by RWB Daniel A. Huertas, Junior Grand Warden)

We started our educational work by going deeper into the opening and closing of the Masonic lodge and the symbolism this represents. We separated the exoteric governance (Master, Wardens, responsibilities) from the esoteric ones (ritual) and placed a bigger emphasis on the esoteric by breaking down the several parts of the ritual and the teachings each part offers.

Some of the observations made by the Brethren were: Governance starts within oneself, building lessons and preparing us for the next one, as our mind is our temple, inculcating love and tolerance.

The ritual, for instance, not only prepares the lodge but also prepares our minds (separating the profane and any negative thoughts) allowing us to focus on our Masonic labors. They used specific examples and delved deeper into them.

During our conflict management education portion, the discussion emphasized tolerance, empathy, and the need to subdue our passions. We took a closer look at the use of our Masonic tools especially the gavel from the Master’s chair. Furthermore, by addressing the East rather than the Brother directly, we avoid direct conflict among the Brethren.

We spoke about the need to solve our issues prior to entering the lodge and voice our frustrations to the Master. We also discussed situations in which the Master may be a party to the problem. Being informed about each other’s methods to address conflict both at the lodge and grand lodge levels is crucial. Studying the Code and looking for answers there.

During the conflict management part, we also noted how much of the closing ritual of a lodge focuses on brotherly love and harmony.

Harmony enables us as we close the lodge to go out into the world better equipped to apply our Masonic values. (continued on next page) ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 11

The Brethren also voiced the need for some panels or mechanisms to help members voice frustrations, address lingering problems, and resolve conflict when it arises. Another suggestion made was to offer training in conflict prevention and management for the masters and officers of each lodge.

Topic: Masonic Protocol and Etiquette (facilitated

by RWB Annas Kamara, Senior Grand Deacon)

greatly. Some grand jurisdictions have historically allowed a Master of a lodge to have absolute power in matters of money; our jurisdiction’s law on this issue serves as a safeguard for the Craft in addition to every brother’s Masonic obligations.

Respect for the office bearers as a general value is also necessary in assuring harmony within the lodge. This is because if everyone understands the roles and duties of the offices, then brethren understand that they are giving respect to the rule of law, not egos.

That also works the other way, in that the office bearers understand not only what they can and cannot do, but what they should and should not do, in order to maintain respect for the office itself.

The laws are what help us to understand and ensure meritorious advancement in a lodge.

Following that discussion, five points were then presented to the sub-groups for discussion: • • • • •

Protocol pertains to the procedure required in operating a lodge or grand lodge. It deals with questions of hierarchy and the rules observed in relation to that hierarchy.

Etiquette pertains to the execution of protocol, and the behavioral practices that extend from that protocol.

The group first addressed the question of the regular successors referred to in the fifth charge agreed to by a Master when he is installed in the office and what that means in relation to protocol and etiquette. They divided into three sub-groups to discuss this question. The observations amongst the groups were remarkably similar.

• “Regular successors” are the elected pillar officers of the Grand Lodge, and by extension, within the constituent lodges, i.e. the Master and Wardens. The regularity of succession is established by virtue of a legal election by the brethren assembled. This election, and the limitation of terms requiring regular elections, is the extent to which Masonry is democratic in the conventional sense.

• Discussion of the “successors” led to the subject of succession in general, which evoked in each group a discussion of a “progressive line” of officers in Masonry, • When each of the groups shared its respective observations, it was pointed out there is no such intention historically for a “progressive line”, and that the Constitutions actually speak against advancement which is not based upon merit.

When looking at the question of authority of these “regular successors” and the respect thereof, brethren raised the point that although a Master of a lodge has great power in almost all areas of the lodge, in this jurisdiction his fiduciary powers are curtailed

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Walking between the altar and the East Sitting in the East The meaning of “fully dressed” Standing when you speak Obeying the gavel

All of the sub-groups understood the significance of not breaking the connection between the Master and the altar. The point was made that what we are really talking about here is not the physical East itself, but the Master as the source of Light within a Lodge.

The connection is therefore not between the East and the altar, but between the Master and the Great Lights. In a scenario where the Master might move to the altar, or in an English lodge in which the Master is more or less sitting at the altar, there is no issue with moving across the lodge behind the Master in the former case, and across the East in general in the latter.

Two issues were raised in relation to sitting in the East. The first was who is eligible to do so in the capacity of presiding over the lodge.

In the American or “Preston-Webb” work, the Wardens may preside over the lodge in the absence of the Master. In the English and Scottish systems, this is not allowed, which is why those lodges have actual offices such as Immediate Past Master, Depute Master, and Substitute Master, which are occupied by Past Masters. The second issue raised was that of who may sit with the Master in the physical East at any time, and it was agreed that this was, with the exception of where protocol calls for it (presence of GM, AGM, DGM, or their representative), at the invitation of the Master.

The term “fully dressed” was also explored in two ways. First, this refers to every brother being properly adorned in the correct apron and regalia appertaining to his position in the lodge. Secondly, it was explained that Dermott’s version of the Constitutions in 1751 actually mentions “clean and decent attire”, in addition to the reference to being Masonically clothed. It was then pointed out that the Grand Lodge Leadership Manual states that the dress for lodge in the District of Columbia is actually supposed to be tuxedo, but that this is not enforced. The sub-groups all articulated in their own way that the importance of uniform dress in a lodge helps to establish a certain visible common bond or identity among the brethren, which can be useful in building morale and comradery.

The discussion of the last two points, standing when you speak and obeying the gavel, moved from the obvious motivation of respect, to the larger issue of brethren not receiving continuing Masonic education in lodges after the degrees. The degrees teach both of these points, but the brother is usually overwhelmed during the ceremony and will not retain that information from the degree alone. This is where the catechism instruction comes in; that is where what is taught in the degrees can be reviewed extensively, provided the mentor himself has the knowledge to reinforce it.

Topics: Signs, Symbols and Tools (facilitated by RWB Chetin Durak, Junior Grand Steward)

When these points of protocol and etiquette are found to be failing, it speaks to the failure in general to provide this type of basic Masonic education. It is only through continuing Masonic education that brothers will come to have a proper understanding of protocol and etiquette within the lodge.

Topic: Candidate Education (facilitated by RWB Adam Tager, Senior Grand Steward)

The session was facilitated by offering a series of questions to “peel the onion” around what signs, symbols, and tools are important to each Brother Mason in the context of their Lodge. Items 2 through 5 (which follow below) were conducted in a series of small breakout discussions with Brethren coming back to share to the larger group.

1. Defining the subject matter. What are signs? What are symbols?

What are tools?

2. What signs, symbols, and/or tools particularly resonate with your Lodge and with you individually? While we often think of these items in terms of our personal education and growth, what resonates particularly with a given Lodge as a group of men?

The Masonic Candidate Education working group discussed Masonic education not only as a process for Candidates, but also as continuing education for Masons. The working group determined a framework for education that includes four topics to focus on during the candidate education process, namely Masonic Etiquette, Symbolism, Ritual Proficiency, and the Esoteric. Up until this point, perhaps too much of our candidate experience has been based on ritual proficiency and not enough on the other three areas. All four topic areas should be supported by the Grand Lodge with resources and rubrics, while leaving the Lodges to determine the best method of implementation.

These topics could then be supported in the Lodges using an education and mentorship program while instilling answers to the questions “What do I do?”, “Why do I do it?”, and “What does that mean to me?” Using petition signers as mentors will also reinforce an understanding of what signing a petition and bringing someone into the Lodge actually means.

We look forward to developing an educational rubric using the framework developed during the first Conference and discussing it more deeply at the second.

3. Through the explanations of why specific signs, symbols, and tools resonated with their Lodge and/or the Brethren personally, we explored and exemplified the difference between defining those items, exploring the esoteric and applying the lessons therein to our lives and Lodges.

4. The Brethren were then asked to share how particular signs, symbols, and tools work together in their teachings and functions within and for the benefit of a Lodge.

5. The session culminated by the groups taking the various layers which they had explored above and converting them into programs and/or recommendations to take back to their Lodges.

The Brethren delved more deeply into the significance of the symbolism extracting meaningful and useful knowledge. Efforts were exerted to outline the relationship between the physical nature and definition of items to their philosophical nature and practical application to our Lodges and daily lives. Most of all, it was exciting to see the Brethren continue to discuss and work towards building proactive programs and recommendations for their Lodges far into lunch and beyond the culminating activities.

Following the group presentations, the conferees engaged in a general discussion focused on suggestions for future Masonic Education activities. Right Worshipful Brother Huertas thanked everyone for their active participation and encouraged them to build on the conference’s momentum. In his closing remarks, the (continued on page 15) ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 13

In early 2018, Right Worshipful Brother Dean S. Clatterbuck’s health suffered a major setback leaving him in hospital care for most of the year. Potomac Lodge No. 5, having obtained special dispensations from our Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Virginia, held a tiled Special Communication at the Centera RM Hospital in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and presented RWB Clatterbuck with his 60-year pin as a Freemason.

On August 14, 2018, we both drove to Harrisonburg to interview RWB Clatterbuck who had been moved to the rehabilitation facility of Sunnyside Retirement Communities. We hired a court stenographer to tape and record the interview. The full transcript is quite long and has interesting information about RWB Clatterbuck’s long experience in Freemasonry, as well as references to historical events that took place in our Grand Jurisdiction.

To access the full transcript, visit the Grand Lodge’s website.

Columbia, was also a Commissioner of the District of Columbia, as the city had not yet evolved yet into a mayoral rule; it was governed by three commissioners.

At any rate, I became a member of DeMolay in April of 1952.

In the fall of that year I happened to be downtown doing some shopping on a weekend. It was on a Saturday. I was walking down Connecticut Avenue in front of the Mayflower Hotel when I noticed a limousine pull up in front with D.C. license tag 2. I recognized that as being the car for Camalier as Commissioner. So I stopped, and Camalier got out from the car. He didn’t, of course, know me by name – I was one of 50 – but he did have a pretty good memory for faces, and apparently he recognized me as having been in the class back in April.

He queried me about it and said, “Were you in the class named for me back in April?”

I answered in the affirmative.

Since March 24, 2019, marks the 100th Anniversary of the Order of DeMolay, and as MWB Elias was awarded the Legion of Honor of DeMolay, we thought to highlight in this article two short segments of the interview that speaks directly to how RWB Clatterbuck started his Masonic journey and is of special interest to the Order of DeMolay.

Right Worshipful Brother Dean S. Clatterbuck in his own words:

He said, “Well, I want you to go with me here. There are some people you’d like to meet.”

I said, “Well, where are we going?”

He said, “Into the Mayflower Hotel.”

I said, “I can't do that.”

He said, “Why not?”

RW Bro. Dean Clatterbuck

SEGMENT 1: I think I'll start back about 1952, before I was actually in the Masons. Lost in the annals of time is what really motivated me to get into some of the fraternal things. I can only remember that there were a large group of us in high school that were interested in the Order of DeMolay. And DeMolay was very active back in the 1950s.

So in April of 1952, I became part of a group of 50 young men who were in a class to receive the DeMolay degrees, and that class was named in honor of the 1952 Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Renah F. Camalier. Most Worshipful Brother Camalier, in addition to being Grand Master of Masons in the District of

14 The Voice of Freemasonry ISSUE 1, 2019

I said, “I’m dressed in blue jeans. I can’t go into the Mayflower Hotel in blue jeans.”

He looked at me and said, “You can go anywhere in this city if you're with me.”

So we went into the Mayflower and, yes, he did have some people he wanted me to meet. One was Frank S, Land, the founder of DeMolay, and the second was William F. Knowland who at the time was Majority Leader of the United States Senate and Senator from California, Oakland, as I recall. And the third was Past Grand Master and 33rd President of the United States, Harry S Truman.

So I was introduced to the three. I got to shake hands with all of them, and then, subsequently, was allowed to go on my way. I floated out of the hotel that morning, having met the President, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the founder of DeMolay, which

was a big deal, you know, because a lot of people never got the opportunity to meet Dad Land. So that was my first sort of exposure. Later that fall they conferred the Legion of Honor Degree at the D.C. Scottish Rite, and in those days it was not a public ceremony. You either had to have received the Legion of Honor or be designated to receive it in order to be in the auditorium when the Degree was conferred. They had asked a group of us from the Robert Le Bruce Chapter to be in attendance that evening as sort of gofers, really, to do whatever needed to be done. There were 16 of us who had our capes on.

I noticed there were a lot of men that were kind of snooping around in the corners. And I commented to one of the brethren, I said, “I think maybe the President is going to be here tonight.” They kind of pooh-poohed it. But in due course up rolled the Lincoln limousine and Truman got out. He was met by Bill Schooley, who was the Deputy for the D.C. Scottish Rite at that time, and Camalier as Grand Master.

They tried to whisk Truman into the auditorium, but when they got to the end of the line, there were eight of us on either side, Truman stopped them and had them cool their heels. And he came back through and shook hands with each boy in the line. Of course, I couldn't read his mind, but if I could have, I suspect what I would have seen was something to the effect that he recognized that very few boys ever got the opportunity to see a President, much less meet one, and he wasn't going to allow that to go by without giving us that opportunity.

So every one of us got to shake hands with the President of the United States; and it was a significant occasion in my life and, I'm sure, of the other 15. So that was my second time having met the President of the United States.

SEGMENT 2: As I've mentioned before, Land was the founder of DeMolay, as most of us already know, but Land would come into the District of Columbia on a regular basis every month while Truman was in the White House. And they would get on the SEQUOIA, which was the presidential

yacht back in those days, and they would sail up and down the Potomac on weekends, and that was when they had their poker parties.

Dad Land and Truman were part of a group that played cards together, and they would sit around on the SEQUOIA and sip their bourbon and branch water and play poker on the weekend. And that was apparently one of the great pastimes for Harry Truman.

But Truman was a good Mason. If you read the introduction in Mark Tabbert's book American Freemasons, Three Centuries of Building Communities, that he wrote when he was working for the northern jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite, you'll see an anecdote involving Truman on his 1948 campaign for election, reelection – well, election in that case, in which it came to his attention that a sailor who was assigned to his train was due to get his Master Mason's Degree when they stopped in a town out in the Midwest. I've forgotten where it was, Kansas or Iowa.

Truman found out about it, and he called the sailor into his presence and said, “I understand you're going to get your Master Mason Degree tonight.”

And the young man said, “Yes.” Truman asked, “Would it be okay if I attended?”

Surprised, the young man said “Yes,” he would be honored.

And so the young man and his father were both amazed to have the President of the United States take an evening out of his campaign and see this young man raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. Insight into the character of the man, Truman was a man, I think, of enormous integrity.

A video of this interview and a transcript of the full interview is available on the Grand Lodge website at dcgrandlodge.org 

Masonic Education: What Came You Here to Do? (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13)

Grand Master highlighted the importance of engaging one another Masonically and stressed the need to memorize the ritual including degree lectures, and charges. Worshipful Brother Burton S. Levy, Assistant Grand Chaplain, delivered the closing prayer. We all parted on the square, looking forward to our next event.

“While we live in very uncertain times, Masonry can help each and every one of us navigate more safely through Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty and with the aid of the Grand Architect of the Universe,” Charbel T. Fahed, Grand Master said in closing. 

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 15

From Failure to Mount Rushmore and Mount Vernon

BY MICHAEL D. NICHOLAS, SR., DEPUTY GRAND MASTER

It was still dark on the early morning of May 28th, 1754 and twentytwo year old George Washington was about to unwittingly spark the French and Indian War in North America.

Washington was a Virginia militia lieutenant colonel, and his little force of about 50 men surprised a sleeping French and Indian force of about the same size in an engagement now called the Battle of Jumonville Glen, near present-day Uniontown in Pennsylvania. In 1754 Washington commanded a militia unit as part of the British Army, but neither Britain nor France were yet at war.

The 15-minute “battle” was characteristically bloody and brutal.

The problem was that Washington’s force – which also consisted of men from a different Indian tribe – killed the French commander, Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville, the brother of another important French commander who had a much larger force at what is now Pittsburgh. The brothers were from a very important French family. Accounts differ, but the younger Jumonville was apparently butchered by the Indians under Washington’s control. The details are what you might expect from a very violent time in our history.

It was George Washington’s first battle. He wrote a letter to his brother after the battle, in which he said, “I can with truth assure you, I heard bullets whistle and believe me, there was something charming in the sound.”1 He did not realize what he had unleashed.

Fort Necessity

Washington returned to his encampment at Fort Necessity, near what is now Farmington, Pennsylvania. He knew the French would retaliate, but he could not anticipate the rage - among the French in North American and also in Europe - once the news of the “murder” of Jumonville became public.

The force of 600 French and 100 Indians arrived in the woods surrounding Fort Necessity in the late morning of 3 July 1754.2 The “fort” was little more than a small stockade and storehouse, with trenches dug around the outside.3 Washington defended this little fort in the middle of a clearing in the meadows with about

300 Virginia militia and 100 British Regulars. The regulars were under the command of a British Captain – who shared command with Washington, even though Washington out-ranked him. George Washington was a colonial militia officer, and the British Officer was certainly not!

Fort Necessity was poorly located and the French and their Indian allies had RW Bro. Michael D. Nicholas, Sr., immediate strategic superiority. They Deputy Grand Master were able to pour musket fire into the fort and trenches and Washington’s men could not harm them in the woods. To make matters worse, it began to pour torrentially and soon all of their powder was wet and they could not return fire.

Even their little storehouse was waterlogged.

The French commander was not sure when British reinforcements might arrive, so he sent an officer under a white flag of truce to negotiate. Washington did not want them near his fort. He feared they might see how hopeless his situation was – so he sent two of his own men out to talk.

One was a translator who could supposedly speak French. That proved to be a major problem.

The talks went back and forth throughout an ugly night. The rain turned their trenches into lakes, the documents on which the terms were written were soaked, and the Virginians broke into the fort’s liquor supply and got drunk.4 An exhausted Washington agreed to terms in the early morning of July 4th.

The surrender document, written in French, included a term that said the younger Jumonville had been “assassinated”.5 When Washington signed the terms, he in effect agreed that he had assassinated the French officer back in May. Perhaps the translation or the writing on the document may not have been clear to Washington or his translator, because for the rest of his life Washington denied that he knew what he had signed. This inadvertent admission caused

1 Lengel, Edward (2005). General George Washington. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks. ISBN 978-0-8129-6950-1. OCLC 255642134. Page 39.

2 Ibid, (Lengel) page 42.

3 Axelrod, Alan (2007). Blooding at Great Meadows. Young George Washington and the Battle that Shaped the Man. Philadelphia: Running Press Book Publishers.

ISBN 978-0-7624-2769-7. LCCN: 2006940108. Page 58.

4 Ibid, (Lengel) page 44.

5 Ibid, (Lengel) page 44.

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Mt. Rushmore

My recent trip to see Mount Rushmore caused me to reflect on the Fort Necessity debacle. The George Washington we know today is an icon more granite than flesh. We think of him as a marble statue or visualize his striking image on Mount Rushmore. He seems greater than life.

Washington’s soldiers believed in him. The governor of Virginia Robert Dinwiddie believed in him. And Washington’s character continue to grow and mature.

A study of Worshipful Brother Washington’s career and accomplishments could fill a library. And it does - at Mount Vernon.

further outrage in Europe and drove the French to reinforce their strongholds in North America. The British, reacting to the surrender at Fort Necessity, did the same. They were on a path to a war that would last seven years. A battle of less than 1200 men changed the course of the New World.

Virginia Militia Lieutenant Colonel George Washington led his depleted, muddy, bedraggled, and still mostly drunk force out of Fort Necessity in the rain on the morning of the Fourth of July, 1754. Many of his wounded had to remain in the care of the French.

Washington was a failure and a pariah. He had lost his first real battle. It was poorly planned, the fort was placed in the wrong position, he had not resupplied properly, and he had lost control of his men. Strategically and tactically he had been beaten. Once the terms of the surrender were made known to Great Britain, France, and the British Colonies in North America, Washington was blamed for the murder of a French officer and for gross incompetence as a military leader.

While recently visiting Mount Vernon, I had the opportunity to see and reflect upon some of the quotes by our brother Washington that concern ethics and character – and they relate well to us as Freemasons, and tie nicely to our Grand Master’s theme this year of Education, Empathy, and Ethics:

“ Nothing is a greater stranger to my breast, or a sin that my soul more abhors, than that black and detestable one, ingratitude.”

Letter to Governor Dinwiddie, Wednesday, May 29, 1754 NOTE: This was one day after the battle of Jumonville Glen. George Washington was still a young, headstrong and passionate 22 year old. At this stage of his life he was brash, easily insulted, and anxious to earn military renown.6 It is interesting to compare further quotes to see how much he matures.

“ Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.”

Letter To Major-General Howe, Tuesday, August 17, 1779 (continued on next page)

What caused this man to not only survive such an experience, but to wildly excel? Character and ethics.

I have been to Fort Necessity. It is a sad little structure, recreated in the place where it once stood more than 260 years ago. Absent any of today’s amenities (there is, of course, a movie and tour, gift shop, and restaurant), it is easy to visualize this remote location as a miserable and forgettable footnote in history.

Yet George Washington was there.

We remember little Fort Necessity because George Washington was there. No one remembers the name of the British officer who signed the document with Washington. He has faded from history. Yet George Washington, a loser on the Fourth of July 1754, managed to create a completely different Fourth of July in 1776.

Mt. Vernon

6 George Washington’s Mount Vernon. “Washington Quotes.” 17 Mar 2019, https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/quotes/article/nothing-is-a-greater-stranger-to-my-breast-or-a-sin-that-my-soul-more-abhors-than-that-black-and-detestable-one-ingratitude/.

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 17

“Still I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain (what I consider the most enviable of all titles) the character of an honest man.”

Letter to Alexander Hamilton, Thursday, August 28, 1788 NOTE: This was in response to the public anxiety that he and Alexander Hamilton were observing over news reports that the new American President might be called “His Highness” or “His Mightyness”.

“ A good moral character is the first essential in a man. It is therefore highly important that you should endeavor not only to be learned but virtuous.”

Letter to George Steptoe Washington (nephew), Sunday, December 05, 1790

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“ It is infinitely better to have a few good men than many indifferent ones.”

Letter to James McHenry, Friday, August 10, 1798 NOTE: Although George Washington was referring here to the recruitment of men into the military, the same guidance certainly applies to Freemasonry.

Thus, the journey has been interesting. From my study of history, I knew George Washington had started his military career with a crushing defeat and embarrassment, and I visited Fort Necessity to see where it all started. I then saw George Washington as a granite face, the Father of our Country, invincible and untouchable, at Mount Rushmore. And my journey concluded at Mount Vernon, where they do such a good job of putting it all together.

The experts at Mount Vernon weave the threads of Washington’s character and ethics throughout his life, and demonstrate quite clearly their impact in all his successes. I plan to read further about this fascinating Brother and Statesman, and I recommend that any study of Ethics include him. 

A Freemason’s Journey

BY JOSEPH G. BAROUDI, GRAND SWORD BEARER

It was December 1st, 2008; I remember it like it was yesterday. I woke up early that morning, my heart was beating a little faster, I dressed quickly and drove to work. I got through the day efficiently focusing on my tasks so that I could leave early and not be late.

That afternoon, I walked steadily and speedily to my car. The weather was a little warmer, yet there was a crispness in the air. I got into my car, and to miss traffic, I drove quickly to get into the city. I was getting more and more excited, I was nervous, today was going to be a big day. I found parking quickly, got out of my car, and started to walk across the asphalt parking lot towards a green door at the back of a building. I walked slowly at first, then more and more quickly. I walked through the door, crossing the long hallway, and then up to the top of the stairs. I entered a large room filled with dining tables and large paintings on the walls. There were many men here, they were all dressed in dark suits, they all seemed to know one another. I was new here, and I was here on my own.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a familiar view, I recognized a face, a friend. He walked across and said, “Hi.” He welcomed me and explained that we will begin shortly. He admonished me to focus on what I will hear, feel, and see, and to remember that it was all about the journey. A journey? What type of journey I wondered?

I was escorted into a room and told to wait. After some time, I was asked to knock upon a door to gain entry. This was my first experi-

Figure 1 - Thomas Cole, The Voyage of Life - Childhood

ence on gaining admittance to my mother Lodge. Throughout this, my personal Masonic Journey, I continue to focus on the lessons I learn with each step I take, each experience I make, and each day I have.

Our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Charbel Fahed, has asked us to focus this year’s journey on the three E’s (3E’s): Ethics, Empathy and Education. These three are at the foundation of Freemasonry. Since my initiation, with each meeting in Lodge, I am always impressed by the genius of our Masonic forefathers, those men who crafted this fraternity. They created these amazing Easter eggs into our Lodge meetings to help us remember what it means to be a Freemason. In each meeting we are reminded of our ethics, the values the Grand Architect imbued into each of us, as reflected by the officer jewels: • T he plumb – used as a perpendicular or vertical reference, represents our values of integrity and fortitude • T he level – used to measure horizontals and parallel surfaces, represents our values of equality and dependability • T he square – used in truing up stones, represents our values of truth and honesty

Figure 2 - Thomas Cole, The Voyage of Life - Youth

As the ethics reflected in our officer jewels are the foundation of our Craft and who we are, the Great Lights help us to circumscribe our passions and square our actions towards one another that we can better understand and share our feelings. They teach us that empathy is at the core of our Brotherhood. (continued on next page) ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 19

These are all illustrated and are taught to us through our Masonic education and programs. As U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis stated, “Sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant”, and so we are always reminded to seek light, the education, the best antiseptic to ignorance. Thus, our three Degrees take us on our learning journey that will make us great Freemasons.

Five years later on December 6, 2014, I was privileged to be asked to lead the Brothers of my mother Lodge. However, that year was bitter sweet. Some of you may know that my dad had recently been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and passed in February of 2015. The love and support from Brothers across this jurisdiction was palpable. Our ethics and empathy were exhibited with each interaction.

Later the next year, on September 1, 2009, my journey continued.

This day by far is one of the most important dates in my life. That day, there was a full moon, the weather was uncharacteristically mild and there was a freshness to the air. That evening, I found myself on Theodore Roosevelt Island, in a Vale Lodge, where I was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. Like the “Youth” in Thomas Cole’s The Voyage of Life, I found myself at the shores of an island taking my next step in my Masonic Journey as a Freemason.

• Integrity: A Brother approached me with quick guidance and recommendations for the right Doctor to help my Dad. It did not stop there our Brothers began to text me on a daily basis to check in and make sure that I was holding up well.

• Relief: When things got a little stressful with one Doctor who was not being respectful to my family, another Brother automatically came to our aid. He was the executive director at the hospital.

It was one of the greatest experiences in my life.

What made it even more special is what happened that weekend…

I was having dinner with my Mom and Dad, at their home, and they asked me what I had done that week.

I shared the great news! I had become a Freemason.

It was then that my father paused and looked at me quizzically. He then shared the most surprising news yet; he also was a Freemason, raised in Beirut, Lebanon.

I was amazed! In all the years I have known him not once had he shared this with me, not once had we talked about it. Even more surprising he told me that my Grand Father was a Freemason as well.

Figure 3 - Thomas Cole, The Voyage of Life - Manhood

Looking back, it should not have been a surprise to me that they were Freemasons, the lessons I learned, the education they provided me, my ethical foundation was definitely Masonic. They also taught me how to behave and how to empathize with those around me and function better in this world.

I realized in that moment that Freemasonry is all about how we help our Brothers, who are great men, to become even greater. By focusing on our ethics, empathy, and ongoing education we can become even better: • fathers • Brothers

• husbands • sons

• boyfriends • and caretakers of society

Not unlike the operative Masons who build edifices that withstand time, as Freemasons we focus on building ourselves so that we can make the greatest positive impact on our families, friends and society.

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• On the Level: I had never met that Brother, yet he treated me on the level. He took my call without questions, he helped us to smooth out our situation. That Brotherly love and support was so humbling and was the reason I was able to stand as Master.

• Brotherly Love: Being the Master of my Lodge was a team effort, without the support of each of my Brothers, I would not have been able to accept this honor and represent them and my mother Lodge.

These men, my Brothers, each treated me with empathy, representing our ethics, and with each action educated me on what it means to be a great Brother.

Thank you, my Brothers, for joining me on my journey thus far.

I look forward to walking with you as I take the next steps in my Freemason’s Journey, a voyage of life like that depicted by Bro. Thomas Cole in his four paintings, Voyage of Life.

Figure 4 - Thomas Cole, The Voyage of Life - Old Age

Figure 5 - Thomas Cole, The Architect's Dream

Figures 1 - 4: Thomas Cole’s The Voyage of Life can be found at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Figure 5: Thomas Cole’s The Architect’s Dream is housed at the Toledo Museum of Art. ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 21

A New Grand East in the Nation’s Capital

BY AKRAM R. ELIAS, PAST GRAND MASTER

On December 8, 2018, the Grand Lodge of Free And Accepted Masons of Washington, DC installed Most Worshipful Brother Charbel T. Fahed as its new Grand Master marking the start of its 208th year of continuous existence.

The Installation of a new Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge is always time of celebration and renewal. We celebrate the smooth and harmonious transition of leadership from one Grand Master to another, a two-century old tradition of this Grand Lodge.

The Installation is also a time of renewal; the renewal of our commitment to the teachings of Freemasonry and its admonition to practice outside the Lodge what we are taught in it. It is through the applications of Freemasonry, that we not only improve ourselves, but also the worlds around us.

What follows are the two phases of the Installation Ceremony which are best told through the following images.

INSTALLATION CEREMONY PHASE I: A Salute to the Outgoing Grand Master and Best Wishes to the Incoming Grand Master The outgoing Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Richard J. Bautista (2018) presided over the Grand Lodge for the last time before the installation of his successor and received honored guests who came to pay their sincere respect to the outgoing Grand Master and express their deep support to the incoming Grand Master. Freemasons from different parts of the United States and from countries around the world joined the Brethren of Washington, DC, and their families in celebrating this renewal.

Reception of RWB Franklin Cline (left), Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, conducted by MWB Jesse Villareal, Past Grand Master of Washington, DC (2010)

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The following images, courtesy of Worshipful Bothers James L. Frederique and Larry A. Villegas-Perez as Grand Lodge Photographers, tell best the story of the Installation ceremony on that auspicious evening.

MWB Yves Benoit Jean Marie, Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Haiti, conducted by MWB Leonard Proden, Past Grand Master of Washington, DC (2005)

MWB C. Michael Watson (left), Past Grand Master and Grand Secretary, accompanying MWB Jess N. Raines, the Grand Master of Ohio, both conducted by MWB Akram R. Elias, Past Grand Master of Washington, DC (2008)

MWB Donald Rosenberry, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Delaware

RWB Carl Willi (left), Grand Secretary, accompanying MWB Glenn S. Carlson, the Grand Master of Rhode Island

The Grand Master of Maryland, MWB Richard Naegele (right) accompanied by RW Brothers Kenneth Taylor, Carl Michel, and Brad Andrukitus

RWB Donald Strehle, Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Virginia

RWB Richard Maggio (left), Grand Marshal accompanying the Grand Master of Massachusetts, MWB Paul Fulton Gleason

MWB Rabih Jamakani (right), District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Lebanon under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, leading an official delegation from the District, starting from his left, RWB Elias M. Feghali (Senior District Grand Warden), RWB Maurice E. Feghali (District Grand Secretary), WB Tony Chamoun (Past Master), and RWB Ahmed Zabadne (Past Master)

(continued on next page) ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 23

RWB John Euan Edment (left), Grand Secretary, accompanying MWB William Ramsay McGhee (right), the Grand Master Mason of Scotland

MWB Phillip David (front), Grand Master of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, accompanied by Grand Officers

MWB Jerome Ngoua Bekale, Honorary Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Gabon, followed by WB Guy J. Masquefa, Grand Representative

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RWB Ronald Coderre (left), Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Quebec, Canada

MWB Efren Molina (front), Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica accompanied by two Grand Officers

MWB Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Cameroun

MWB Gilbert Stepanian (left), Past Grand Master, MWB Armen Simonian (center), Past Grand Master, and RWB David Akopian, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Armenia

MWB Nader Heyat (left), Past Grand Master, accompanying MWB Bahman Motlagh, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Azerbaijan

Following the reception of the vising Grand Dignitaries, the outgoing Grand Master delivered his farewell remarks and expressed his gratitude to the Brethren of this Grand Lodge. 

Outgoing Grand Master MWB Richard J. Bautista (2018) addresses the Grand Lodge for the last time before the installation of his successor.

Past Grand Masters of Washington, DC present in honor of this ancient tradition of passing the baton from one Grand Master to another. From the left, the Most Worshipful Brothers Robert F. Drechsler (1997), Robert H. Starr (2002), Leonard Proden (2005), Robert B. Heyat (2007), Akram R. Elias (2008), Jesse Villareal (2011), Jeffrey D. Russell (2015), Kenneth D. Fuller (2016), and Phillip David (Honorary, 2018)

Outgoing Grand Master, MWB Richard J. Bautista, hands over the Gavel to MWB Akram R. Elias as the Installing Officer of the new Grand Master and the Grand Lodge Officers.

(continued on next page) ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 25

INSTALLATION CEREMONY PHASE II: Most Worshipful Brother Charbel T. Fahed Installed in the Chair of King Solomon in Washington, DC

The incoming Grand Master, MWB Charbel T. Fahed is presented for Installation by MWB Leonard Proden

Immediate Past Grand Master, MWB Bautista, invests MWB Fahed with the Collar and Jewel of Grand Master

MWB Fahed escorted to the Grand East

MWB Fahed installed in the Chair of King Solomon as the New Grand East in the Nation’s Capital

MWB Charbel T. Fahed saluted as the new Grand Master of Masons of Washington, DC

Installation of RWB Michael D. Nicholas Sr. as the new Deputy Grand Master of Masons of Washington, DC

The Grand Master congratulates RWB Michael D. Nicholas and invites him to sit with him in the Grand East

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Installation of RWB Alan L. Gordon as the new Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Washington, DC

Installation of RWB George J. Stoklas Jr. as Grand Treasurer

Installation of RWB Daniel A. Huertas as the new Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Washington, DC

Installation of RWB Christopher K. Mahaney as Grand Lecturer

Installation of WB Carpenter Y. Arpa IV (right) as Grand Marshal

Installation of MWB Jeffrey D. Russell as Grand Secretary

Installation of WB and Reverend Daniel D. Darko as Grand Chaplain

Installation of RWB Annas F. Kamara (right) and RWB Morgan P. Corr (left) as the new Senior and Junior Grand Deacons respectively

Installation of RWB Adam N. Tager (left) and RWB Chetin Durak (right) as the new Senior and Junior Grand Stewards respectively

Installation of WB Andre Vainqueur as Grand Pursuivant

Installation of WB Burton S. Levy as Assistant Grand Chaplain

Installation of WB Joseph G. Baroudi as Grand Sword Bearer

Installation of RWB Gerhard Meinzer as Grand Tiler

(continued on next page) ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 27

Appointed Grand Lodge Officers from the left, Worshipful Brothers George E. Perez (Aide to the Grand Master), Amid Kasamani (Assistant Grand Marshal), Mario H. Angulo (Assistant Grand Tiler), Santiago H. Gonzales (Aide to the Grand Master), MWB Richard J. Bautista (Grand Ambassador and CMI Representative), Sylvanus J.A. Newstead (Grand Almoner and Empathy Coordinator), Elkanah E. Faux (Grand Preceptor), Steven R. Watkins (Assistant Grand Lecturer), Jean A. Marcelin Jr (Grand Lodge Physician), Andre Tia (Assistant Grand Organist)

Appointed Grand Lodge Officers from the left, Worshipful Brothers Carlos A. Landazuri (Grand Ambassador), Larry Villegas-Perez (Grand Photographer), RWB Michael O. Spencer (Aide to the Grand Master), WB Jacob M. Bressman (Grand Provost), WB Joseph El Khoury (Grand Liaison to Middle East and Europe), WB Hector M. Ramirez (Assistant Grand Tiler), George S. Nicol (Grand Representative to Appendant Bodies)

Three more Appointed Grand Lodge Officers from the right, Worshipful Brothers Bilal M. Raschid (Grand Historian), Donald K. Eleady-Cole (Aide to the Grand Master), Messanvi R. Adjogah (Aide to the Grand Master)

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The Grand Master, MWB Charbel T. Fahed, invokes the blessing of Deity before engaging in the great and important undertaking to leading the Grand Lodge of Washington, DC

The Grand Master, receiving his top hat from the Brethren of Justice-Columbia Lodge No. 3, his Mother Lodge

The Grand Master addresses the audience about the triple “E” (Education, Ethics, Empathy) as his theme for the Grand Lodge in the ensuing Masonic year

The Grand Master displaying the Gavel, emblem of his authority, and its accompanying sounding board, both made of cedar wood, a gift of the Brethren of Phoenix Lodge No. 1001, in Beirut, Lebanon

The official delegation from the District Grand Lodge of Lebanon under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, receiving special recognition from the Grand Master, MWB Charbel T. Fahed. Standing from the left, RWB Elias M. Feghali (Senior District Grand Warden), RWB Ahmed Zabadne (District Grand Chaplain), RWB Maurice E. Feghali (District Grand Secretary), and MWB Rabih Jamakani (District Grand Master).

(continued on next page) ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 29

The Grand Master thanks all present for their support and extends to them his best wishes for the upcoming holidays.

Audience in the Scottish Rite Center

30 The Voice of Freemasonry ISSUE 1, 2019

The Washington, DC, Masonic Hospitality Committee Begins Work

BY MICHAEL D. NICHOLAS, SR., DEPUTY GRAND MASTER

We spend many nights out at Masonic meetings, but how might we live Freemasonry and more involve its beautiful principles and lessons in our daily life? How can we increase the positive impact that our Craft has on the lives of others?

through the development of a personal relationship while offering to guide them to some sights in Washington, DC.

Meet the “Washington, DC, Masonic Hospitality Committee”, a new Grand Lodge initiative that has the potential to become an interesting and exciting way to combine the vast amount of tourist traffic to Washington, DC, with our Masonic principles. And we are seeking volunteers!

• An additional benefit would be that our Masonic Host will be able to provide our visitors with information and directions on how to visit our Lodges while in DC.

In a nutshell, the purpose of this Committee is to offer a welcoming service that seeks to match up a DC Mason with an individual or family coming to Washington, DC, who may be interested in learning more about the Masonic sights in our Nation’s Capital.

The initial thought is that this type of Michael D. Nicholas, Sr., service would be most appropriate for RW Bro. Deputy Grand Master retired Masons in our jurisdiction who have the time to dedicate to the required education and execution of this concept, but the Committee will welcome assistance and ideas from all interested Masons. Let me give you a brief example of what this might look like, using an experience I’ve had in the area:

The ultimate goal of this endeavor is to develop personal relationships – the bedrock of our Craft – that will enrich both the visitor and our DC Mason guides.

Concept: • Our primary focus and expertise will be on Masonic and Masonic-related venues.

Our Grand Lodge will provide an unofficial no-fee “hospitality service” whereby our Grand Lodge offers to help visiting Freemasons see not only the obvious tourist sights, but also sights of Masonic interest, some of which they might not even be aware of. Our Masonic Ambassadors (or Hosts) would know the hours and access protocols for these Masonic sights.

• A local Masonic Host would provide a sense of comfort and extend warm hospitality to Masonic visitors to the Washington Metropolitan Area.

This service is designed to develop fraternal bonds with Freemasons from other Grand and International Jurisdictions

There is a small house located near Culpeper, Virginia called “The Graffiti House”. It is a very interesting Civil War-era home that contains rooms full of graffiti left by soldiers of both the Union and Confederate armies from 1861 to 1865.

I’ve visited this private historic site three times. On each occasion, I had a different volunteer tour guide who had their own script and stories. Initially, I thought this was the result of poor organization, but later came to realize that each time I learned something unique about the rooms from an enthusiastic and passionate guide. The Graffiti House tour guides do their own research and they develop their own areas of expertise and interest.

This is the model that I hope our Washington, DC, Masonic Hospitality Committee can follow. Each Masonic Host will have a general set of guidelines as set forth by the Committee, but he will be free to develop his own program based upon his interests. (continued on page 35)

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 31

Grand Visitation to Lebanon, the Sacred Land BY “THE HIRAM BAND OF BROTHERS” OF PHOENIX AND CADMUS LODGES

No country is as unique to Freemasonry as Lebanon, the land of the two great patrons of the craft, King Hiram of Tyre and Grand Master Hiram Abiff. It is the land where many ancient mystery schools flourished, including Mithraism and the cults of Bacchus/Dionysus, Astarte and Adonis. With a history spanning more than 10,000 years, Lebanon has been the cradle of many civilizations including the Phoenicians, Canaanites, Ancient Egyptians, Ammonites, and Mesopotamians. Many view Lebanon as a Holy Land, which till this very day houses several ethnic and religious groups, many of which have been here for thousands of years.

Beirut National Museum

Just a few miles from the Beirut airport, is Al-Fanar Freemasons’ Hall – home of Phoenix and Cadmus Lodges. We will have our Grand Visitation with brethren from several districts and lodges, followed by a gala dinner.

The next day will feature a visit to one of nature’s greatest masterpieces – the limestone grottos of Jeita. A dazzling ‘meli-melo’ of colors, sounds, and rock formations. Then we will visit St. Maroun monastery in Anaya, where St. Charbel Makhlouf lived and died.

A brunch is scheduled before on the premises. We will then visit the ancient coastal city of Byblos (Jbeil), the longest continuously inhabited city in the world (since 5000 BC). The ruins in Byblos contain several temples and castles including an obelisk sanctuary that was consecrated to the Egyptian god of war, Resheph. It is said that the body of Osiris, whose legend is comparable to that of Hiram Abiff, was found lodged in a tree in Byblos by his beloved sister and widowed wife, Isis. A dinner at the beach will follow, a gourmet treat for fish lovers!

Adonis Valley (also known as Heaven's Valley)

This year’s Grand Visitation to Phoenix Lodge 1001 and Cadmus Lodge 1002 is a very special one as we plan to tour Lebanon from the far north to the south, from its beautiful west to its sunny east. Starting with the capital city of Beirut, first mentioned in the Amarna letters of ancient Egypt in 1500 BC, the visiting brethren and their families will tour several parts of the capital including the Downtown district, the Roman Baths and the National Museum.

The National Museum holds some of the greatest artefacts of the region, including the sarcophagus of King Ahiram.

32 The Voice of Freemasonry ISSUE 1, 2019

“ Should you really open your eyes and see, you would behold your image in all images… you would hear your own voice in all voices.”

– Gibran Khalil Gibran, “Sand and Foam”

Crusader Castle and the Ruins at Byblos

On the third day we will be northbound to the Cedars of God, where we will be surrounded by the most fascinating cedar forest containing trees thousands of years old. Their timber was prized by the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans and Turks. In fact, they were considered so important that the Roman Emperor Hadrian claimed these forests as imperial domains, forbidding the cutting down of any tree.

The next day we shall descend into the great Bekaa Valley, where our first stop will be at the miraculous shrine and church of our Lady of Bechwat. Then we will visit the city of Baalbek, known in Greek as Heliopolis or City of the Sun. It is one of the largest archaeological complexes in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO describes the site as “one of the most famous sanctuaries of the Roman world and a model of Imperial Roman architecture.” Most of the temples are Roman and include the renowned Temple of Jupiter, Temple of Bacchus (equiv. of Dionysus), Temple of Venus, Temple of Mercury and others. Baalbek is truly a Masonic site every Brother should visit for its vivid and rich history, and the legends that its perfect ashlars carry. After a short trip to Zahle to have lunch and later attend the District Grand Lodge of Lebanon’s (Grand Lodge of Scotland) Communication. Zahle is Lebanon’s third-largest city, and the capital of the Bekaa governorate.

“DIONYSIAN ARCHITECTS: Priests of Bacchus who is also named Dionysus. Becoming skilled in the science of architecture they founded the order of Sidonian Builders a considerable period before the time of David…

From this society which built the Temple of Solomon sprung the Roman Colleges of Architects and these in their turn gave birth to the building corporations of the middle ages from which the present order of Freemasonry is derived. Thus the society of Dionysian Builders is the connecting link between Modern Masonry and the Ancient Mysteries.”

Robert Macoy, General History, Cyclopedia and Dictionary of Freemasonry, 1870

The Cedars of God

The first stop will be the Valley of Kadisha, also known as the Valley of the Saints, where Christians and hermits fleeing the Memluks lived in caves, carved deep in the mountains which contain fortified Monasteries, some dating back to the Palaeolithic, Roman, and medieval periods.

The next stop will be at the museum of our brother the famous Lebanese-American writer-philosopher-artist: Gibran Khalil Gibran to see some of his writings, paintings, and sculptures. After lunch we will head to the cedars, check in at the hotel and enjoy the sunset in the shades of the eternal forest. We plan to spend the evening in Ehden, which has a pedestrianized touristic area full of coffee shops, pubs, restaurants, and an old market place (Maidan Ehden).

On our last day, we plan to visit the south of Lebanon, the cradle of the Phoenician civilization and specifically Tyre, the beloved city of King Hiram and Grand Master Hiram Abiff. Just before Tyre, we will visit Sidon, which is a city very closely linked to Masonry.

A temple of interest is that of Eshmoun, which holds the seat of Astarte in the East. The legend of these two gods is very similar to the Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris.

Tyre was founded around 2750 BC and ruled by several kings, the most well-known is our King Hiram mentioned in the Bible.

UNESCO named this city a World Heritage Site in 1984 because of its rich history and important archeological remains. The legendary temple of Melqart, according to the ancient historian Herodotus, contained two pillars, one of gold and the other of emerald. Many masonic writers believe this temple had a layout similar to King Solomon’s temple, since it was allegedly built by the same Masons.

The ancient city is also home to great ruins such as a Roman Arch of Triumph, the remains of an arena, the harbor, and a sarcophagus. (continued on page 35) ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 33

Grand Master’s March 17 Talk at the Gravesite of WB George Washington

BY CHARBEL T. FAHED, GRAND MASTER OF MASONS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

On the afternoon of March 17, 2019 – accompanied by DGM Michael Nicholas and his wife Maryann, RWB Secretary MWB Jeff Russell, PGM MWB Richard Bautista and his wife Yvonne, Grand Marshall Carpenter Arpa, and my son Adrian T. Fahed – I joined the Tall Cedars of Lebanon and laid a wreath at the tomb of our late brother First President George Washington, who is the father of our beloved country and a great light in Masonry.

Following the prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, and music from the National Guard, I had the honor to be asked to give a short talk at this most solemn occasion, along with three other Grand Masters in attendance. I began by pointing to a cedar of Lebanon which shades the sacred grave area where we were standing.

Some excerpts from my talk follow: This sturdy tall cedar under which we are gathering today to pay homage to our Brother President George Washington holds precious memories and enfolds Masonic secrets: it testifies to the strong resolution and firm determination for our country to exist and remain tall from age to age.

This cedar tree reminds us about the valuable principles transmitted throughout history to practice our Masonic values and preserve the most sacred landmarks of our order.

This cedar tree is a reminder also of the sturdy character of our first President and his achievements: general, statesman, and father of his country. We, as Masons, are particularly honored to count him as one of our most illustrious members.

Washington was indeed proud to be identified publicly with the Craft. Brother Washington participated in two known Masonic events publicly: one a Church visitation in Masonic regalia to Christ Church in Philadelphia for a St John’s Day Observance on December 28th, 1778, and the other the Masonic ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of the US Capitol building on September 18th, 1793.

Brethren all, let us remember George Washington’s Masonic service as well as service to our country as we exalt in the valuable teachings which our institution offers to us and to all mankind. Let us absorb what Washington and our other ancestors have bestowed upon us and, by a proper education, apply these valuable principles. Let us extend our hands to those who need help and spread light where there is darkness among us as well as in the profane world. Let us behave in the most ethical way to distinguish ourselves and mark out our consequences as men and Masons.

God bless you all, and in George Washington’s memory, long live the United States of America. 

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Masonic Washington in the 1930’s (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9)

• 1936: Congress Heights Methodist Episcopal, 5th and Alabama Avenue, S.E., by Grand Master Otto B. Roepke, October 31st.

• 1939: Scottish Rite Temple, 2800 Sixteenth Street, N.W., by Grand Street, N.W., by Grand Master Eugene E. Thompson, June 8th.

As we have seen, Freemasons were in prominent positions in various branches of government in Washington, DC, during the

tumultuous depression years of the 1930’s. It is important to reflect on this, as it is possible that the spirit of Freemasonry on these men helped the nation to emerge from this dark time in our nation’s history more smoothly than might otherwise have been possible.

This Masonic experience in our nation’s capital also imbues us with inspiration that Masons and the Masonic institution itself may one day again prove an invaluable resource in providing comity and equilibrium in times of national crises.

A Mason in the 1930's FBI

BY MARK DREISONSTOK, PM (EDITOR – THE VOICE OF FREEMASONRY)

In addition to the President and many Cabinet members in 1930’s Washington, a Mason also headed the Federal Bureau of Investigation: J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972). During these years, Hoover modernized police methods (including a centralized fingerprint filing system), and in 1935 created the FBI in its current form. Born in Washington, DC, he attended Central High School (now Cardoza) and remained a local resident in our region for most of his life. Hoover was associated in the 1930’s with the capture of John Dillinger as well as other effective responses to crime. Bro. Hoover was a very prominent Freemason in Washington, DC, having been initiated in Federal Lodge No. 1 in 1920, and a founding member of Justice Lodge No. 46 (now consolidated into Justice-Columbia No. 3). He was made a Thirty-Third Degree Inspector General Honorary in the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, and received the Rite's Grand Cross of Honour. 

The Washington, DC, Masonic Hospitality Committee Begins Work (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31)

Our Washington, DC, Masonic Hospitality Committee is chaired

by WB George Perez, and it includes approximately six additional brethren. If you are interested in joining the Committee as a Hospitality Guide, please contact WB Perez, the Office of the Grand Secretary, or look for the link on our website at www. dcgrandlodge.org (coming soon!).

Our goal is to have this Fraternal service in place by the Washington, DC, Cherry Blossom Festival, to address the flood of visitors who come to DC. So, if you have the time and interest, this is a great way to improve your knowledge of our city, meet wonderful people, and help spread the cement of brotherly love! 

Grand Visitation to Lebanon, the Sacred Land (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33) The Arch of Tyre

Next stop…the tomb of King Hiram. Yes, it exists and only a few miles outside Tyre! He is said to have lived to be 53-years-old, but reigned only 34 of them, having taken the throne after his father Abibaal.

Toward the end of the day, we plan to visit the biblically famous Qana, where in the Gospel of John, Jesus is said to have performed his first miracle of turning water into wine at Cana al-Galil, which is in south Lebanon according to Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea in the 4th Century.

For more information, contact the Office of the Grand Secretary. 

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 35

Arminius Lodge Bible

BY MARK DREISONSTOK, PM (EDITOR – THE VOICE OF FREEMASONRY)

Many Lodges in Germany have a “white book” of blank pages, which represents that book deemed holy according to the creed of each individual Mason. Das weisse Buch may represent the Bible, the Quran, or any other book the individual Mason holds to be sacred to his heart and to be the “rule and guide of his faith.”

Lodges in the USA, however, generally have situated on the Lodge Altar a copy of the actual Holy Book. In this respect, Arminius Lodge No. 25, the German-speaking Lodge of the District of Columbia, follows its American Masonic heritage instead of reflecting the current practices of many if not most Humanitätslogen in Germany.

Viewed in American Freemasonry as part of the Furniture of the Lodge, the Bible is often a large, prominently displayed volume open atop an Altar during ceremonies and meetings. The Bible in Arminius Lodge, however, differs from Bibles of almost all Lodges in the United States in that it is the Heilige Schrift, that is: the classic German translation of the Bible by Dr. Martin Luther.

There is also an interesting story behind the Bible on our Lodge Altar, one which was summarized by W Bro. John Costanza, during last October’s Stated Communication, as he reviewed highlights of the history of Arminius Lodge: In 1883, Arminius Lodge took up a collection for flood victims in Germany. In appreciation of this contribution, the Lodge Leopold Zur Treue No. 151 in Karlsruhe presented our Lodge with a beautiful Altar Bible printed in German.

This Bible still graces our Altar.

Upon closer inspection of our Altar Bible in the course of the evening, we noted that the 1882 printing date matches closely the January 1889 donation date, but that there might be one contradictory aspect to this history: this Bible, although in German and printed in the quaint Gothic script common in German-language books of the time, was not published in Germany at all, but by the publishing house of Edward W. Koch at 1221 Pennsylvania Avenue here in Wash-

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ington, DC! If the Bible was in fact gifted from Karlsruhe, Washington is a curious place of printing origin.

Perhaps the Bible was purchased here in the States at the behest of the Karlsruhe Masons, or perhaps the Bible they donated was retired in favor of the current Buch der heiligen Schrift displayed on our Altar, which was possibly donated at a later point.

Whatever the case, the current Bible displayed during our meetings is a beautiful treasure of Arminius Lodge, not least of all because it has an inscription well-known to all Masons printed on the cover page: “Es werde Licht!” Indeed – Let there be Light!

Some of the illustrations bear English titles and inscriptions within, emphasizing the American origin of the Bible and its illustrations. The Bible is in fact intended as an Illustrated Family Bible, with illustrations of Moses and Jesus (representing the Old and New Testaments) on its title page (pictured above).

There is also a concordance and a brief encyclopedia of items of interest such as flowers mentioned in the Bible and architectural marvels such as the Temple of Solomon. Although not a Bible created exclusively for Masonic purposes, the Bible nonetheless has illustrations of the exterior (pictured below) as well as the sanctum sanctorum of the Solomonic Temple at Jerusalem as well as other interesting features for Masons. Elijah C. Mills, Worshipful Master of Arminius Lodge, goes into one such illustration in some detail in the accompanying article. 

The Holy of Holies and the Administering High Priest

BY ELIJAH C. MILLS, WM, ARMINIUS LODGE NO. 25

One of several lovely illustrations present in the Bible on our Arminius Lodge Altar gives us a detailed glimpse into the religious practices which occurred in the sanctum sanctorum, a frequently invoked theme in Masonic Ritual. To a casual glimpse, the image reveals exactly what the caption reads: “Das Allerheiligste und der dienstthuende Hohepriest” (The Holy of Holies and the administering High Priest). However, like most of our symbolism, there is much more here if we dive a bit deeper.

The focus of the image is on the Altar of Incense, one of two Altars critical to ancient Hebrew religious practice. The first Altar was the “Altar of Burnt Offering” (or mizbeach ha’olah) (Exodus 30:28), which, although it carried many other names and had a somewhat long history, served the public function of being the place where animal and bird sacrifices where offered by the people. The blood of the sacrifices would be thrown against the base of the Altar and portions of the sacrifices would be burned on the top, depending on what was being sacrificed and for what reason or occasion. Although a priest was in charge of these duties and handled all the sacred interactions with this Altar, it was largely a public receptacle of the sacrifices of all people. This Altar was also rather large, requiring a ramp to approach it. Inside the temple was the other Altar, the “Altar of Incense,” the one pictured here.

The second Altar, the Altar of Incense (mizbach haketoros) (Exodus 30:1-10) stood inside the Holy Place but outside the Holy of Holies and before the Veil that is by the Ark of the Covenant. This Altar was constructed only of acacia wood, something which we as Masons are rather familiar with, and covered in pure gold. Unlike the Altar of Burnt Offering, the Altar of Incense was more of an

upright, rectangular table about the size pictured here. Incense was burned twice a day on this Altar during the morning and evening sacrifices, and this is where the other Altar connects: the coals used to burn the incense had to come from the remains of the Altar of Burnt Offering. A priest was selected daily by the casting of lots to perform this rite – this would be a one-time event in the life of that priest. Because of this and what is added to the caption, we can be sure that the burning of incense pictured is during Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, as once a year only the High Priest officiated and purified the Altar of Incense by smearing the blood of a sacrificed bull and goat (mixed) on the four corners of the Altar, starting in the northeast – ever a good place to start!

Of high interest is the repeated interlocking triangle pattern of the Seal of Solomon, not at first visible because it is recessed.

To the Hebrews then and to many religious denominations now, especially in the Catholic traditions, incense represented the prayers of the people rising up to God (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8 & 8:3-4). There also continues a link from the Hebrew through Catholic traditions between blood and incense. First, a sacrifice had to be made; in the Temple of Solomon, it was animals; in the example of Christianity, Jesus. Only then was incense lit and carried the prayers of those people up to God. Having this image in our Heilige Schrift on the Altar should remind us that when we offer our devotions to deity they may waft up as clouds of incense to the Heavenly Throne. There is something fitting about having the symbol of an Altar built of acacia wood as the base for our prayers and devotions to the Great Architect of the Universe. 

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 37

Manage YOUR Membership with GrandView GrandView is our membership database. It utilizes an online interface, and is accessed by all members within the jurisdiction of Washington, DC. It is vitally important that you keep your contact information up to date and accurate, so that important information from the Grand Lodge and your constituent Lodge can be communicated to you according to your preferences.

Please Note: We do not share any of your information with outside or third party sources – EVER.  STEP 1: Use the link below to access the GrandView Login Page. (Remember to bookmark the link for future access!)

STEP 4: Once confirmed, enter your preferred email address and create/confirm your password. And click sign up.

https://dc.gvsoftware.com/users/sign_in STEP 2: Click on “Sign Up.” (See below)

STEP 3: Confirm your membership in a D.C. lodge by entering your lodge number, your membership ID, and your last name from your dues card.* (see example below)

STEP 5: Confirm your contact information, then sit back and bask in the warm comforting embrace of accurate data.

(Remember to write down and save your login information for future use.)

5 1 Reintzel

* PLEASE NOTE: When entering your last name it is case sensitive. Also, if you have a suffix after your last name (such as Jr., Sr., or III), you might have some difficulty. No worries: just give us a call or drop a line to grandlodge@dcgrandlodge.org and let us know.

We’ll have you up and running in no time!

38 The Voice of Freemasonry ISSUE 1, 2019

The Passport to Masonic Knowledge:

Ritual is just the entrance point to a wider word of Masonic Knowledge

BY CARPENTER Y. ARPA IV, GRAND MARSHAL

As we all know, Freemasonry’s exposure in popular culture, such as through the several “exposés” on the History and Discovery channels, books of Dan Brown, and in the National Treasure film franchise, has provoked resurgence in the popularity of our craft at the dawn of the new millennium.

This resurgence demonstrates two things. First, despite the resurgence, the freemasonry model of the 50’s is unsustainable in the modern times. Our lodges no longer raise fifty to a hundred masons a year. The low dues and sheer numbers of members joining during that period can no longer sustain our fraternity.

This is actually good because it brings us to the second thing to take into account – the men who come to knock on the door of Freemasonry today are very different from the post-World War II era Candidates. They are interested in the history of the fraternity and are looking for a Masonry more in line with what had been practiced by our ancient brethren, the Freemasonry of the age in which our Grand Lodge and old lodges were founded.

They have seen the films and television programs, read the books about the craft and are looking for the elements portrayed therein. They are no longer interested in the social club that Masonry devolved into during the height of its popularity in the 1950’s. They now want the history and the mystery of the ancient, honorable, and mystic Craft of Freemasonry.

It would serve Freemasonry well to stop looking for ways to make it more appealing to the masses and instead concentrate on Masonic education programs that would provide these modern-day Masons the elements they are seeking.

In that regard, Masonic education is a subject that should never be overlooked by Lodges. The modern Mason will quickly learn that the craft, in our current era, goes under the name of speculative Masonry. It is therefore important to understand why this is the case, that way we will fully appreciate the need to explain Masonic education’s Raison d’etre: its purpose and importance.

A newly raised Mason does not consist entirely of his ritual proficiency as he goes through the various degrees. This is only the “passport to knowledge” for him to begin a continuing course of masonic education. A man’s innermost desire and obligations makes him a member of the Craft, yet in a better sense, a man is never a Freemason until he truthfully and loyally lives up to his obligations. He cannot achieve that until he understands his obliga-

tions through Masonic education thus learning their scope and true meaning.

The modern Mason cannot properly achieve this by simply listening to ceremonies in Lodge or attending a Lodge of instruction primarily devoted to the performance of the ritual. Although ritual WB Carpenter Arpa IV, is fundamental to the Craft and its presGrand Marshal ervation (it is in its purest form the life’s blood of our fraternity), it should never be confused with Masonic education.

Masonic Ritual is the true foundation and pre-requisite to Masonic knowledge. We would be cheating and defrauding any candidate who is left hanging at the end of the 3rd degree by not fully explaining the meaning of the forms and ceremonies through which he has passed.

Until the Degrees are explained to the candidate, he will not have a clear understanding of how to live the Masonic values which were introduced there.

That said, Masonic education must be a program of high priority for every Grand Lodge in their jurisdiction. Masonry is not a glorified fraternity but a philosophy of life into which these new members have now entered – a philosophy of life which can build for the world a more secure and durable society through the betterment of the individual man.

Through the improvement and strengthening of the character of the individual man, Freemasonry seeks to improve the community.

Thus it impresses upon its members the principles of personal righteousness and personal responsibility, enlightens them as to those things, which make for human welfare, and inspires them with that feeling of charity, or goodwill, towards all mankind, which will move them to translate principle and conviction into action.

We are fortunate that Masonic Education is one of the major annual programs of our Grand Lodge here in the District of Columbia. It is through Masonic education that we are able to understand that if we live by the three principal tenets of Freemasonry: brotherly love, relief, and truth; if we practice the principal cardinal virtues of temperance, fortitude, prudence, and justice and, if we live by the true Masonic virtues of silence and circumspection, we will be better family men, better neighbors, better citizens, and in brief, better people. While our ritual provides us the passport to this knowledge, the travel and the experience of being a Mason comes ultimately from our Masonic education. 

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 39

40 The Voice of Freemasonry ISSUE 1, 2019

On December 18, 2018, the Grand Master, accompanied by the Deputy Grand Master and Past Grand Master Akram Elias, traveled to Beirut, Lebanon for the consecration of our 44th and newest Lodge in the Grand Jurisdiction – Cadmus Lodge No. 1002.

Pictured here are members and officers of the new Lodge and the Grand Lodge Officers that traveled to Lebanon to consecrate it. Cadmus’s beautiful new charter, designed by our own Julie Palitto (the Creative Director of this very magazine), features images drawn from the Greek myth of Cadmus, the first king of Thebes, a slayer of dragons, and deliverer of the Phoenician alphabet to Greece.

The entire jurisdiction conveys its congratulations and best wishes to the Brethren of Cadmus Lodge! 

A partial view of the new Cadmus Lodge charter, featuring the Greek hero, Cadmus, slaying a monster (left) as well as the Phoenician alphabet (right).

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 41

William “Bill” Charles Miskovic, Past Grand Master of Masons in the District of Columbia (1986), ascended to the Celestial Lodge Above on November 8th, 2018 in Little River, South Carolina.

Select Master in Zabud Council No. 4 and knighted a Templar in Potomac Commandery No. 3. He was a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Almas Temple and served as its Potentate in 1991.

Bill was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, where he attended public schools and graduated from Stowe High School. Following graduation, he served in the United States Navy with the Seabees. In July 1956, he married the former Ellie Tankosh.

His many other Masonic affiliations include: Convass B. Dean Memorial Lodge where he served as Master in 1980; Capital Forest No. 104, Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America, where he has served as Trustee; St. Simeon Stylites Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine; The Royal Order of Scotland; Maryland Council No. 9, Knight Masons; High Twelve Club No. 576; The National Sojourners; The York Rite College of Maryland; Old Line Council, Allied Masonic Degrees; and Electra Chapter No. 2, Order of the Eastern Star.

He also served as Chairman of the Advisory Council of Anacostia Chapter, Order of DeMolay.

In 1981 he was awarded the Legion of Honor by the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay.

He came to the D.C. area in 1965 to join the Metropolitan Police Department where he served the Fifth District until his retirement in 1988 as a Detective Sergeant. In April 1978, he was officially commended by the Chief of Police for heroism after leading the rescue of 90 seniorcitizens during an apartment building fire.

Brother Miskovic was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Anacostia Lodge No. 21 on December 19, 1966. He served as that Lodge’s Master in 1974, and Lodge Trustee from 1975 to 1984.

Illustrious Brother Miskovic was also a 33°, Inspector General Honorary in the D.C. Scottish Rite, where he served as Commander of Robert de Bruce Council of Kadosh in 1984. He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Anacostia-LaFayette Chapter No. 5, advanced to Royal and

42 The Voice of Freemasonry ISSUE 1, 2019

Most Worshipful Brother Miskovic is survived by his wife, Ellie and their two sons. He will be remembered forever by the lives he touched as a pillar of his community.

A Masonic funeral ceremony was held November 13 at Lee Funeral Home in Little River, South Carolina.  Most Worshipful Brother William Charles Miskovic

2019 GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

ELECTED OFFICERS Front Row (from left): Adam N. Tager, Senior Grand Steward; Annas F. Kamara, Senior Grand Deacon; George J. Stoklas, Jr., Grand Treasurer; Daniel A. Huertas, Junior Grand Warden; Michael D. Nicholas, Sr., Deputy Grand Master; Charbel T. Fahed, Grand Master; Alan L. Gordon, Senior Grand Warden; Jeffrey D. Russell, Grand Secretary; Christopher K. Mahaney, Grand Lecturer; Morgan P. Corr, Senior Grand Steward; Chetin Durak, Junior Grand Steward

APPOINTED OFFICERS Second Row (from left): Andre Vainqueur, Grand Pursuivant; Donald K. Eleady-Cole, Aide to the Grand Master; George S. Nicol, Grand Representative to Appendant Bodies; Jacob M. Bressman, Grand Provost; George E. Perez, Aide to the Grand Master; Michael O. Spencer, Aide to the Grand Master; Hector M. Ramirez, Assistant Grand Tiler; Bilal M. Raschid, Grand Historian; Sylvanus J. Newstead, Grand Almoner & Empathy Coordinator Third Row (from left): Richard Bautista, Grand Ambassador & CMI Representative; Carpenter Arpa IV, Grand Marshal; Rev. Daniel D. Darko, Grand Chaplain; Andre Tia, Assistant Grand Organist; Dr. Jean A. Marcelin, Jr., Grand Physician; Carlos Landazuri; Grand Ambassador; Gerhard Meinzer, Grand Tiler; Joseph El Khoury, Grand Liaison to the Middle East & Europe Back (from left): Mario Angulo, Assistant Grand Tiler; Santiago H. Gonzales, Aide to the Grand Master; Elkanah E. Faux, Grand Preceptor; Stephen R. Watkins, Assistant Grand Lecturer; Amid Kasamani, Assistant Grand Marshal; Burton S. Levy, Assistant Grand Chaplain; Messanvi R. Adjogah, Aide to the Grand Master Not Pictured: Assaad El Feghali, Aide to the Grand Master; Antione N. Assi, Deputy Grand Lecturer; Pierrindo R. M. Palmer, Grand Organist; Rev. Youssouf M. Diallo, Assistant Grand Chaplain; Jeffrey G. Bodie, Assistant Grand Chaplain; Joseph G. Baroudi, Grand Sword Bearer; Larry A. Villegas-Perez, Grand Photographer; James Frederique, Grand Photographer

ISSUE 1, 2019 The Voice of Freemasonry 43

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

Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia Charbel T. Fahed, Grand Master   Jeffrey D. Russell, PGM, Grand Secretary

April

28 May

8

Masonic Foundation of DC Annual Meeting Grand Lodge Office

Semi-Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia

May

18

Almas Shrine Center

Workshop on Masonic Education DC Scottish Rite Center

New Location!

June

6-8

Universal Brotherhood Celebration Various locations in DC

June

16-23

Grand Visitation to Lebanon (Visitation on the 18th)

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