Through the Key Hole - RoseCroix.org.au

133
Joshua Abraham Norton was born in London, but his parents emigrated
to South Africa where they became successful shop keepers,
so much so that when Joshua Norton arrived in the USA he had
$400 000 with him.
Most of this wealth he lost as a result of poor investments on the
Stock Exchange.
I include him in this publication because he was undoubtedly a mystery
man of Freemasonry.
He was certainly a quaint and well-known character in San Francisco
whose proclamations included the banning of Abraham Lincoln,
the abolishing of the Democratic and Republican parties and
the first man to urge the establishment of the League of Nations in
the interests of world peace.
He was a familiar figure on the streets of San Francisco, dressed in
his “emperor’s” uniform, walking his two dogs. He made his own
money which was accepted by the local shops and bars in payment
for his purchases.
Considerable research was undertaken to uncover the Masonic history
of Bro. Norton other than the newspaper reports referred to
above all of which indicated that he was buried in the Masonic
cemetery. It is regrettable that I must report that very little emerged
from this lengthy and complex enquiry.
It is known that he was a member of The Occidental Lodge of San
Francisco No. 22, that he occasionally used the Masonic Hall to
sleep in and that the lodge actually helped him financially by paying
his rent from time to time. It also appears that his lodge eventually
“excluded” him for non-payment of dues. This last apparent fact
somehow seems out of keeping with the lodge’s former actions.
The Occidental Lodge No. 22 consolidated with Lodge California No.
1 a lodge which is still active today. Unfortunately the old lodge records
were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire and the Grand
Lodge of California also has no records.
43
THE FOUNDATIONS OF A MASON
By ANON
The newly initiated brother is placed in the N.E. Corner of the lodge
and he is told that he stands to all external appearances, a just and
upright man and a mason and upon the foundation laid this day may
he raise a superstructure perfect in all its parts. All to often the building
that we started on this occasion is never completed and in most cases
hardly out of the ground. The reason being that he cannot complete
the work by himself, and needs the assistance of more experienced
workmen.
While he is standing in this corner of the lodge two significant points
are mentioned to him. First he is told if he had any money or metallic
substance on his person he would have to start the ceremony over
from the beginning; secondly he is asked for charity.
The impression the candidate has at this moment is that of being
asked for money, but Masonic charity goes beyond that. The universal
charity of a mason is the charity of his heart and of his love
Within the compass of his mind, he measures and draws the square of
his conduct, and within that square, having honestly provided for his
own household, he forms his little angles of benevolence and charity
to the distressed of all communities.
He visits the sick and the infirm, the fatherless and the widow, not out
of idle curiosity, but from the impulse of a loving heart, by a kind word,
and a helping hand, he keeps himself unspotted from the evil of the
world. This is true Masonic charity, and the conduct of every true mason.
As Masonic charity is charity of the heart; he thinks no evil of his
brother; he cherishes no designs against him. It is charity of the
tongue also; he speaks no evil; bears no false witness; defames no
character; blasts no reputation, he knows that to take away a good
name is to commit an evil, the damage of which no wealth can repay.
Also it is charity of the hand; he anticipates his brother’s wants, he