Lodge Leadership Tools - Hawthorne-Fortitude Masonic Lodge No ...

September 2008 Issue #32Lodge Leadership ToolsFor All The Members To Use1 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 1

If Within Your CabletowBrethren if you enjoy reading The Working Tools Magazine and the companionservices provided please consider donating a small token. As you know themagazine is free for all to download however recent circumstances are makingit difficult to dedicate the resources needed and your help would begreatly appreciated.A paypal account is set up on the main page at www.twtmag.com2 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 2

Letter From Welcome the EditorHello BrothersOK so I took last month off. The first break since I started this littleproject. It was part exhaustion and part frustration.I work my butt off doing this month after month trying to collect thebest info and material I can possibly bring you because I know there is agreat need for education among the brethren. I get emails from thebrethren all month long from all around the world which is very cool and Irespond to every single one as soon as I can because I know I would want aresponse from someone I wrote to especially a fellow Mason.I get my usual emails telling me my grammar sucks and I need a proofreaderwhich is cool with me because my grammar does suck and I do need a proofreader(position still available). A couple of emails in particular got my goat(no pun intended) and I might have taken it to heart more than normal. I tendto let the complaints bounce of my chest and take them with a grain of salt.Prior to these I was criticized from someone else for using providing an articlethat spoke of “Clandestine” or “Irregular” Masons. In my opinion it was anextremely well written and informative article worthy of reading and youshould have had the right to read it if you wanted.Let’s be honest with each other and not hide under a rock there are FemaleFreemasons, Co-Masons, and Prince Halls Masons whether your Grand Lodgerecognizes them or not.If you don’t like an article skip over it and remove yourself from the mailinglist but I will not punish the thousands of other readers who do not turn ablind eye and want to know about Masonry as a whole and not inside of abubble.(Continued on page 5)4 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 4

Letter From Welcome the Editor(Continued from page 4)Going forward I will print what I want to print and not omit somethingin fear that one or two single people might object to. Sorry but Ihave integrity that I have to follow because that is what my heart tellsme to do.Ok enough crying on my part… on with the show.Your Brother,Cory SiglerCorsig3@yahoo.com5 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 5

Contents• Masons in the News - Pg.10• Masonic Poetry— Pg.21· Masonic Events of Interest — Pg.23• Masonic Scribbins-“Bro.Big Boy & Bro.Tiny” - Pg. 25• Carl Claudy -“Democracy On Lodge” – Pg.28• Bro Submission-“Your Calling: A Matter of Perspective”-Pg.30• Cover “Lodge Leadership” — Pg.30• STB– “Warren Harding- Freemason”- Pg.39• Bro. James Green- “Masonic Status”- Pg.43• Random Thoughts with Bro. Lance – Pg.44• York Rite of Freemasonry w/ Bro. Bill Price– Pg.46• Book Review– Pg. 51• You Just Can’t Make This Stuff Up- Pg.54• Editor & Publisher– Cory Sigler• Webmaster/Junior Editor– Justin BudreauThe Working Tools is published monthly by Corsig Publishing & Cory Sigler, It is not affiliated with any GrandLodge. Letters or inquiries should be directed to Cory Sigler, Editor, at E-mail: Corsig3@yahoo.com All lettersbecome the property of the Working Tools. Photographs and articles should be sent to the attention of the Editor.Every effort will be made to return photographs but this cannot be guaranteed. Please include a self-addressedstamped envelope. The Editor reserves the right to edit all materials received. The deadline for the next issue isSeptember 27, 2008.Sign up to be on the Mailing List @ TWTMAG.com6 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 6

Letter’s From The ReadersDear Editor; On behalf of the Masonic Poets Society, Id like to commenton some poems from our site being included in your July issue.While I was quite pleased to see the poems used, and appreciated thecitation of our site and URL as the source, I was dismayed that youdid not list the author, Douglas Malloch (1877 - 1938). One of ourmissions at the MPS is to gain proper recognition for authors. This iswhy most of our pages are arranged by author, and contain biographiesof the poets who wrote them. For these men, their poetry is their legacyand their immortality. To print any authors work without his nameis to steal from him. And it also deprives the reader. If the poem isvery good (or bad), the reader should be able to know who created it,so that he can seek out (or avoid) more works by the same author, orat least keep an eye out for him during future reading. Knowing theera in which an author wrote can also be important. Malloch, for example,used some terms in some of his other writings that today would bevery far from "politically correct", but in 1900 were perfectly acceptable.Since TWT is an online publication, we request that youchange that page to add Brother Mallochs name to the poems. We alsohope you will continue to use our site as a resource, and encourageother editors to do so as well, be they wide-circulation magazinessuch as yours or humble Lodge newsletters. But please, give propercredit where credit is due. We are not the Masonic Poetry Society. Weare are the Masonic POETS Society, and invite any Masonic Poet in yourreadership to contribute to our growing collection. Fraternally,Brother Owen Lorion Cerrillos Lodge #19 Santa Fe, NMBrother Lorion– Please accept my apologies for omitting the authorsname. This was not intentional and going forward all I willmake every attempt to make sure that all names are provided.Thanks CoryBy the way thanks for the mention on your websitehttp://ziavista.net/OMRI/MasonicForums.htm“The Working Tools (Ning) ”Bland; klunky interface; adjunct to decentonline magazine.I guess bad press is better than no press at all!!!Letter’s continued on next page...7 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 7

Letter’s From The ReadersBro. Cory,Words rarely fail me - as anyone who knows me - but TWT is simply aremarkable publication. Not just because of all the information, thetopics, the history, but because of the mastery which you provide thispriceless resource. This is not hollow praise or flattery, mybrother. In fact, at my next AMD meeting I hope to direct my brothers'attention to your e-publication.However, as I'm sure you will agree, none of us can take accolades tothe bank. How can I subscribe?Masonic thanks & blessings -Rick VenemaSenior Deacon,Blandford #3Petersburg VACory;Do you know anyone at the Grand Lodge of New Jersey? I'm looking for a book titled: "History of Freemasonryin New Jersey" By David McGregor ? I've found a couple at old book dealers but theywant $200 and up because they are 1st editions & signed. I don't want to spend that much if somewherethere is a 2nd, third, whatever printing. If there is anyone who has extra copies, wants toclean out a closet or sell it for a manageable cost. Could really help with my research.S&F, LanceIf anyone knows how to help Bro Lance please email him at Greateast100@aol.com - ThanksCory8 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 8

This Month in HistorySeptemberSeptember 4th- On this date (or June 5) in 1820, James K. Polk (U.S. President 1845-1849) receivedhis 1st degree in Columbia Lodge #31, Tennessee.September 11th - On this date in 2000, the Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of D.C. and thePrince Hall Grand Lodge of D.C. signed a ceremonial "proclamation" symbolizing their mutual recognitionthat had been voted on favorably by both Grand Lodges in 1999.September 12th - On this date in 1826, William Morgan, who had published an exposé of Masonicsecrets, was taken from the jail in Canandaigua, New York, kidnapped, and possibly later murdered.This was the trigger for the Morgan Affair and the Antimasonic movement and Antimasonic Party inthe United States from the 1820s through the 1840s.September 13th - On this date in 1882, a monument was dedicated in Batavia, New York, to WilliamMorgan, the man whose kidnapping and possible murder by Freemasons started the antimasonicmovement in the United States in 1826. The monument says Morgan was a "martyr to the freedomof writing and printing the truth."September 14th- On this date in 1844, the Grand Lodge of Michigan was founded.September15th – On this date in 1851, the Grand Lodge of Oregon was formedSeptember18th – On this date in 1793, the cornerstone of the United States Capitol building inWashington D.C. was laid in an elaborate, formal Masonic ceremony, with George Washington personallyplaying a key role and wearing Masonic regalia.September 20th – On this date in 1784, the Grand Lodge of England issued a warrant to AfricanLodge #459. This charter is a prized possession of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts,and African Lodge #459 has continued to exist to the present time.September 26th – On this date in 1872, the Shrine of North America (AAONMS) was organized, inNew York City.9 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 9

Masons in the NewsFinal Edition September 2008 Vol. XXXg{x jÉÜ~|Çz gÉÉÄá axãáMore than just a funny handshakeIt’s often portrayed as a secret club with funny handshakesclosed off to anyone who is not ‘one of us’. But the freemasonsis a gathering of men far from the mystical rumours andbeliefs that have shrouded the group for centuries.“WE ARE not a secret society, we are a society that has secrets,”said Colin Hayes, assistant provincial grand master.On Saturday, the Freemasons of Berkshire opened the doorsto the Wokingham Masonic Centre and Temple in ReadingRoad, Wokingham, for all to see.In a bid to show the people of Berkshire what goes on behindthe doors, members of the various lodges (branches) based atthe lodge in Wokingham were on hand to tell all about whatthey do.“It has always been noted that we look after ourselves, but infact what we do is raise a lot of money for charities,” MrHayes added.There are 3,200 freemasons in the province of Berkshire,which still follows the old county boundaries before it wasdivided up.Among the members every year, thousands of pounds areraised and donated to charities including hospices.Mike Male, provincial publicity and information officer, said:“Charity work is the basis of our organisation. We run thePantomime Project where we take 1,000 kids to the HexagonTheatre in Reading. These are children who are in respite careand may not normally get the opportunity to go.”Around £100,000 is given away each year to local charities andas well as the financial support, members offer their time asvolunteers. Freemasons had a big impact on the Reading HalfMarathon earlier this year when 75 members put themselvesforward to act as stewards.Dating back to the 16th century, freemasonry exists all overthe world and is organised into grand lodges, with jurisdictionwhich consists of other lodges. There is a provincial grandmaster who has two assistants.Mr Hayes, who is one of the assistants, added: “One of my jobsis to chair the open day committee. At Wokingham MasonicCentre we have a number of lodges that meet here.”Signs that freemasons use to show they are part of the societydo exist, but started out because when it was set up, not manypeople could read or write and this was a simple way of displayingmembership.Anyone can be a freemason – through family introduction orword of mouth from a friend – and all go through applicationsand interviews before being invited to join.Mr Hayes added: “We are ordinary people who enjoy eachother’s company.”Once a member there are various ranks with a place set aside inthe temple, and every year people change position and responsibility.Mr Male added: “You don’t have to be a craftsman. We havetaxi drivers, electricians. Anyone can be a freemason – if youhave the time to give up.”And it is not completely cut off from women, as many peopleexpect. There is a women’s lodge, and wives and partners areinvited to certain dinners.During the formal meetings in the temple, members wear theirceremonial aprons which show rank and position. These are alsoworn when taking part in civic parades.Mr Hayes, who joined in 1970 through his father who was also afreemason, said: “We are volunteers and we are all about raisingmoney. If we were to tell everybody about it all of the time thenthere would be no fun for us.”By Rebecca JohnsonBracknell News10 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 10

Masons in the News“Major boost to cinema fundraising as Freemasons donate large sum to helpstart refurbishment work”A £20,000 donation has been welcomed by the Knaresborough Players, who own and run the Frazer Theatre inKnareborough.Members of the Knaresborough Priory Lodge of Freemasons were able to give a major boost to the fundraisingefforts of the supporters of the Frazer Theatre, after appying to the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund for a grant.At a meeting earlier this month, Peter Bedford, on behalf of the Lodge, was able to present a cheque for£20,000 to Shirley Holden, Chairman of the Knaresborough Players.“We are extremely grateful for the very generous donation,” said Shirley, speaking to the Knaresborough Postthis week.“This will enable the commencement of the much needed upgrade and refurbishment of the theatre.”From left are David Crosthwaite, Peter Bedford, CounPam Godsell, Mayor of Knaresborough, Shirley Holden,Chair of Knaresborough Players and Meg McMinn. (s)A Forum For Regular Freemasonshttp://www.thesanctumsanctorum.com/board/11 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 11

Masons in the News“Masonic Temple may get new life as a theater”GREENSBORO — Community Theatre of Greensboro hasbeen around for nearly 60 years but never had its own performingspace.It presented its musicals, comedies and dramas in other venuesin town: the Carolina Theatre, the Guilford County courthouse,the Broach Theatre — even the Masonic Temple.Now, it has its sights set on that Masonic Temple as a potentialhome.The nonprofit theater company wants to buy the downtownproperty and turn it into a performing arts center, ExecutiveDirector Mitchel Sommers said Thursday.It has an option to buy the temple at 426 W. Market St., anannex at 427 W. Friendly Ave. and about 70 parking spaces,Sommers said.Community Theatre would use the building for shows, rehearsalsand offices. It also hopes to provide performance and officespace for other nonprofit arts groups.“I have shown it to a lot of people, and they absolutely love thebuilding and see Community Theatre as a perfect match for thespace,” Sommers said.The temple was built in 1928 near the site of the childhoodhome of short story writer William Sidney Porter, betterknown as O. Henry.Ray Hall, president of the Greensboro Masonic Temple Co.,which owns and maintains the building, would not say howmuch his group wants for the property. But Hall called a reported$2 million price “in the ballpark.”The theater company will decide by year’s end whether to exercisethe purchase option, Sommers said.It’s examining restoration costs, and creating a business plan toshow the project’s viability.It’s the cost of upkeep thatprompted the Masons to consider selling, Hall said.“The main reason we are entertaining the Community Theatreoffer is that they want to preserve that building,” Hall said.“We don’t want to see it torn down for some other kind ofdevelopment.”Benjamin Briggs, executive director of Preservation Greensboro,considers the neoclassical revival-style temple “one of thegrandest Masonic lodges in the state.”Sommers hasturned tolocal foundationsfor helpto buy it.“I think it is agood buy,”said JimMelvin, presidentof theJoseph M.Bryan Foundation,who toured the temple two months ago. “The challengeis where they get the $2 million. We’re committed out rightnow.”The Community Theatre would be the fourth theater companywith its own performing space in downtown Greensboro. TheBroach Theatre operates at 520 S. Elm St. City Arts DramaCenter groups perform in space in the Greensboro CulturalCenter, 200 N. Davie St. Triad Stage became the latest downtowntheater when it opened at 232 S. Elm St. in 2002.Community Theatre has rehearsal and office space in theGreensboro Cultural Center, but no show venue there.The new venue would allow Community Theatre to expand itsprogramming and put on more shows. But it still will present itspopular annual production of “The Wizard of Oz” at the CarolinaTheatre, Sommers said.The four-story temple has two performance spaces — a 150-seat Blue Lodge on the main level and a 299-seat EgyptianstyledScottish Rite room on the third floor.In the Scottish Rite room, faux-painted columns with colorfulcapitals rise high to a ceiling trimmed with multicolored molding.Painted sphinxes guard the stage, decorated with hanging dropsdepicting Egyptian scenes.Community Theatre became interestedin the temple in 2005, when it presented “Joseph & theAmazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in its Scottish Rite room.During its “Broadway on the Nile” show there in 2007, “I toldthem that if they were ever thinking of selling it, call us,” Sommerssaid.Contact Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane at 373-5204 ordawn.kane@news-record.com12 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 12

“Masonic lodge to fight huge bill”Masons in the NewsA masonic lodge in Edinburgh has been hit with a £100,000 electricity bill - because its supplier said ithas two meters which have never been billed.Edinburgh Masonic Club said it wanted its meters independently checked, after the British Gas bill was sent toits premises in Shrub Place Lane in July.British Gas insisted the fee was right because it said the club had two unbilled meters.The energy firm said it hoped to reach a "mutually agreeable resolution".'Easy payment'Club secretary James McLean said the average electricity cost for the past few years had been between£12,000 and £15,00 - and had been paid by direct debit.He said he was not impressed with British Gas' efforts to find a solution and that the club was prepared to fightthe company's claim."One lady has said she'll take £10,000 off the bill if we paid it fairly quickly," he said."Another suggested easy payment terms to facilitate the arrears being paid over a number of months."How on earth you get easy payment terms for £100,000 I do not know."BBC Newshttp://www.thegardeningguru.com/The horticultural help you have been looking for is herejust for the asking. I am the Gardening Guru®, here to answeryour most perplexing gardening questions, and toteach you how fun and enjoyable gardening can be!Brother David Daehnke13 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 13

Masons in the News“Doors open to unlock Freemason mystery”“WHO controls the British crown? Who keeps the metricsystem down? We do, we do!”So sing the Stonecutters, an underground brotherhood devisedby Simpsons creator Matt Groening.It’s not hard to tell who they’re based on.Freemasons wince at their Secret Society tag.At Great Lakes Daylight Lodge’s open day, the preferredterm is ‘society with secrets’. Unfortunately, no-one’s shownup.“We’re trying to create interest because it’s been flagginglately, but we weren’t very successful,” secretary Ron Woodwardsays.“No-one new is joining up around here, and that’s one of ourproblems. At the Daylight Lodge it’s hard for young people tocome along.”BROTHERHOOD: Great Lakes Freemason master DonAndrews opens the lodge doors to the Advocate as BrianMcIlvenna, John Pooker, Bob Armstrong, Kevin Crowtherand Ron Woodward look on. Photo: Carl Muxlow.The organisation is opening itself up. Freemasons are sick of the public’s whispers and sniggers; the open day’spress release pre-emptively denies claims of secrecy.“The only things secret in Freemasonry are the passwords and rituals,” Woodward says.“If we were so secret you wouldn’t be here.”Statewide membership has dwindled for decades. A 1952 peak of 130,000 Freemasons has evaporated to 16,000.NSW past junior grand warden Peter Court says rural Freemasonry has declined alarmingly, but he holds hopes of arevival.“Kids are all coming to the cities, and people in the bush are getting older,” he says.“But there’s an undercurrent of young people joining city lodges.”For some, talk of Freemasons summons a mental image of old guys in a hall with their trousers rolled up.Forster’s Lodge doesn’t exactly shatter that stereotype, but there are no rolled-up trousers (that’s been done awaywith, Court says).There are about 20 local members. The hall is dotted with symbols, which Freemasons seem to love.The square and compasses, Woodward explains, symbolise uprightness and direction. Four shields in the hall’s top14 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 14(Continued on page 15)

Masons in the News(Continued from page 14)corners are painted with the cardinal virtues; Justice, Fortitude, Temperance and Prudence.There’s a shiny checkerboard carved into the floor, and our photographer apologises as he trips on it. Woodwardlaughs.“It’s not a holy altar.”Yeah, about that. Is Freemasonry some kind of religion?“It’s not, but you have to believe in a supreme being to join,” lodge master Don Andrews says.“You need three things to join: to be a male over 18, believe in a supreme being, and you can’t have a criminal record.”The no girls rule, which Andrews says preserves “the brotherhood”, is one of the rituals that’s drawn fire. Criticslike author Martin Short accuse the movement of stacking the police and judiciary with its members in a bid tomake Freemasons untouchable.“One must presume that people join lodges predominantly to feather their own nests, and to form a loose combinationagainst the interests of everybody who is not a Mason,” Short says in The Brotherhood.“That’s all garbage,” Andrews bristles.“You don’t join up to get some kind of advantage.”Court admits Freemasons stick together, but no more than Catholics or private school old boys.“In reality the world doesn’t work like that. I think a judge would come down harder if you try to tell them you’re aMason because you should have known better than to break the law.”Could opening up the Freemasons take away the mystery that attracts members in the first place?“It depends what people are joining up for,” Court says.“If they just want to know what Freemasons do, it’s a hard way of going about it. You have to be nominated by twoMasons and get character references and all sorts of things. I think a lot of blokes join to help out charity, or just toenjoy each other’s company.”Great Lakes Freemasons raise money for everyone from Vinnies to schools to the coastal patrol. There’s everychance they do some weird things – initiated Freemasons vow not to cross a fellow member for fear of “having mythroat cut across, my tongue torn out by the root and buried in the sand of the sea at low water mark”.But if you stroll by the Masonic hall, you’re more likely to hear old guys laughing than goats screaming. And norolled up trousers.“You have to modernise,” Court says.By. TIM CONNELL15 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 15

Masons in the News"Illustrated Masonic Secrets Of America's Founding Fathers" Book Published ByBottletree Books LLC25.07.2008 11:58:40 Bottletree® Books LLC, a publisher of illustrated and literary books, has published the“Illustrated Masonic Secrets of America's Founding Fathers" as its latest title.live-PR.com) - Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A., July 25, 2008 -- Culled from little-known Masonic texts of the1800s and early 1900s, the "Illustrated Masonic Secrets of America's Founding Fathers" is a must-read for anyFreemason or person curious about the Masonic ties of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere,John Sullivan and Joseph Warren. Read how the Freemasons set the cornerstones of the U.S. Capitol, WashingtonD.C., the Boston State House, the Washington Monument, and the Bunker Hill Monument.Learn the true story behind George Washington's Temple of Virtue and Society of Cincinnati. View the Masonicapron of George Washington given to him by General Lafayette of France. How did the Masonic GrandLodges get formed in America? What item of George Washington's is contained in the Masonic golden urnfashioned by Paul Revere? Learn about Benjamin Franklin's Society of the Free and Easy and why his firstpublication was the Constitution of Freemasonry. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, JohnSullivan and Joseph Warren were not just Freemasons, but Grand Master Masons.Read the true "Illustrated Masonic Secrets of America's Founding Fathers" and discover a whole new perspectiveon the designs of America. Search inside the book: www.BottletreeBooks.com/MasonicSecrets.htmAbout Bottletree®:Privately held Bottletree Books LLC is a leading publisher of Internet and literary books. Bottletree continuesto grow rapidly in its core markets. Its other popular titles include: "Edgar Allan Poe Annotated and IllustratedEntire Stories and Poems," "Coffee with Poe," "Orion An Epic English Poem," “Google Advertising GuerrillaTactics,” “MySpace Maxed Out,” “Bebo Unbound,” and “AdSense Unleashed”. Visit Bottletree:www.BottletreeBooks.comPress release distribution by PressReleasePoint ( www.pressreleasepoint.com )Contact:Carl PerkinsBottletre Books LLCMemphis, TN901-997-0087media@bottletreebooks.comwww.BottletreeBooks.com16 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 16

Masons in the News“Masons build bridges”By Chris Koenig Oxford TimesWatch out, there's a mason about. Worry not, though, because these days Oxfordshire's2,300 Freemasons proclaim themselves to be less secretive than in days ofyore - and they are keen to recruit more candidates for initiation as brethren of theircraft.Provincial Grand Master Stephen Dunning, who when not wearing his Mason's apronis a Carterton solicitor, said: "I am quite happy to talk about what we do."Stephen DunningAnd the Masons' official spokesman in the Province of Oxfordshire, TonyMcClusky, added: "We are not a secret society but a society with secrets. But wehave only two secrets: one is the handshake and the other is the words that go withthat handshake."And these only happen within the Lodge. They don't occur outside in the wider world, as secret recognitionsignals, or for any other reason."The Freemasons' Province of Oxfordshire is drawn using old boundaries, excluding parts of the Vale of theWhite Horse, notably Abingdon, but including Caversham, which is now in Berkshire. Their headquarters, theMasonic Centre, is in a splendid north Oxford Regency villa at 333 Banbury Road.There are also nine other centres - in Banbury, Bicester, Burford, Caversham, Chipping Norton, Henley,Thame, Witney, and Woodstock - where the Oxfordshire province's 57 'lodges' (groups of members) meet.In Oxford itself, one of the most famous of these lodges is Apollo, which recruits men -no women - from OxfordUniversity. It has a special dispensation to initiate masons at 18 rather than the usual 21. It now has about140 members and Mr. McClusky said that recruitment was "holding up well".Mr Dunning described Apollo as the UK's "flagship" university lodge. It was founded ("consecrated " in Masonterminology ) in 1819 by a member of the Town - as opposed to Gown - lodge, which had come into formalexistence back in 1814.But Masons are keen to explain that Freemasonry has a far older history than these dates imply. In 18thcenturyOxfordshire, for instance, there were already several lodges, but the active history starts with what isknown as the Union of 1813 when the two branches of the so-called 'Craft', known as 'Ancients' and 'Moderns',joined forces.But what influence do all these men with funny handshakes and a propensity to roll up their trouser bottomshave on business life in the county these days? After all, they once had the nickname of "backscratchers", soare they some sinister force pulling strings behind the scenes in such organisations as the police, local authori-17 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 17(Continued on page 18)

Masons in the News(Continued from page 17)ties, universities, judiciary, or any other area of activity?Provincial Grand Master Stephen Dunning said: "No more than would be the case in any club of like-mindedpeople - a tennis club, for example."Mr. McClusky, answering the same question, said: "We have members of the judiciary here, and plumbers, butall are equal in the lodge. We simply want to encourage good, honest, free men."Mr. Dunning added: "If I found out, under my jurisdiction, that anyone was using his membership to furtherhis own business interests, he would be in dire trouble and could be expelled. Three years ago, we did indeedinvestigate a case in which it looked as though someone was using membership for personal gain."There was also the man who wanted to join. When asked why, he said that he had reached that stage in lifewhen it would be an advantage to him. He did not join."Mr. McClusky added: "When asked this question, I always point out that the general manager here at 333 BanburyRoad, a flourishing conference centre, is not a Mason."Last year, Oxfordshire Freemasons gave about £65,000 to charities, of which about 60 per cent went to generalcharities as opposed to Masons' charities.Mr. McClusky explained that Masons' charities were there to help Masons and their descendents. "For example,health care, if the NHS cannot do things on time. Or there are homes for the aged."So why all the secrecy and mystery about the rituals performed by the various lodges in the masonic centres?Why do masons not simply pay their subscription (between £80-£120 a year according to lodge) and get onwith good works?Mr. Dunning said: "Freemasonry is built on allegory and symbols, and I would hate the old ways to go. Theyhelp reinforce the message of certainty and stability, of brotherly love, relief and truth, which in turn helpmembers progress through their lives."Mr. McClusky added that in earlier times the Masons were not accused of excessive secrecy, but during theHitler period in Germany, when Freemasons were persecuted, they became more secretive.Best known of the rituals of course, at any rate to outsiders, is the handshake and the rolling up of one trouserleg. Why do they do that?Mr. Dunning said: "This takes us right back to early Masonry, when Freemasons were stonemasons. In medievaldays, long before A-level certificates, most Masons could not read or write; so when they turned up at abuilding site, they needed some secret sign to show they were initiated into the trade."18 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 18(Continued on page 19)

Masons in the News(Continued from page 18)A postulant mason, becoming an apprentice, rolls up his trouser leg to show he is indeed a free man, and thereare no signs on his leg of his ever having been shackled. After that, he progresses through 'Fellowcraft' beforetaking the third degree and becoming a master Mason.All this talk of trousers prompted me to ask why there were no women masons. I learned that there are indeedwomen Masons - but not in the mainstream order.One of the earliest recorded non-builder Masons was a well known Oxford name: Elias Ashmole, the man whogave the collection of curiosities forming the rudiments of the Ashmolean Museum to Oxford University. Hisdiary records his becoming a Mason in Lichfield in 1646. The UK's 350,000 masons in England have the Dukeof Kent as their grand master. They are required to believe in a Supreme Being, which means masonry is opento people of most faiths.As for masons in Oxford University, there is the passage in Cuthbert Bede's Verdant Green, a book about a19th-century undergraduate, published in 1857. It describes Mr. Green's sham initiation into the Order of CementedBricks: "I meant a mason with a petticut, a Freemason . . . there's a deal of mystery and very little usein it." Well, many, evidently do find use in it.The Masonic Dictionary has been designed to provide Freemasons with electronic access to information onFreemasonry from a variety of sources arranged alphabetically by subject matter. The purpose of the site isto assist Masons in understanding their fraternity and to provide those who would like to research the craftan opportunity to do so online.Most entries on this site will provide you with a definition of the term as well as a collection of articles froma variety of Masonic sources, most written prior to the Great Depression when Masons had a greater interestin Masonic research.http://www.masonicdictionary.com/19 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 19

“The History Of Prince Hall Shriners”http://www.kccall.comMasons in the NewsThe Ancient Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine has a long and colorful history. The order was established asImperial Council of Prince Hall Shriners on June 3, 1893, in Chicago, Ill., by 13 Prince Hall Masons under theleadership of John Georges Jones.They met in the Apollo Hall on State Street where Palestine Temple was organized. On June 10, 1893, Jonesand his associates organized the Imperial Grand Order of Prince Hall Shriners.Jones, who was an attorney, immediately went about organizing Prince Hall Shrine Temples in Los Angeles,Cal.; Washington, D.C.; Jacksonville, Fla., Indianapolis, Ind.; Baltimore, Md.; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.;New York City, Cleveland, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Providence, R.I. and Alexandria and Richmond, Va.In September of 1889, Issac L. W. Holland, the Illustrious Potentate of Pyramid Temple in Philadelphia, sentout a call to members of Prince Hall Shrine Temple within the nation to meet with him for the purpose of reorganizingthe Imperial Grand Council.On December 12, 1900, a meeting was held in Philadelphia with officers and members attending from Templesin Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Alexandria, Va. At this meeting, the Imperial Council was reorganizingand the order adopted a new name; Imperial Council of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles MysticShrine of the North and South America and its Jurisdictions, Inc.The first elected officers of the newly organized Imperial Council were: Issac L. W. Holland, Philadelphia,Imperial Potentate; H. T. Hilyard, Philadelphia, Deputy Imperial Potentate; R. D. Ruffin, Alexandria, ImperialChief Rabban; C. A. Knox, Pittsburgh, Imperial Assistant Rabban; Hiram Carter, Philadelphia, Imperial HighPriest and Prophet; John W. Smothers, West Chester, Pa., Imperial Treasurer; Magus Robinson, Alexandria,Imperial Recorder and E. A. Turpin, Camden, N. J., Imperial Assistant Recorder.Also, J. H. Jones, Alexandria, Imperial Oriental Guide; W. H. Breckett, West Chester, Imperial Chief of Patrols;W. H. Jones, Pittsburgh, Imperial First Ceremonial Master; J. E. Loveland, Camden, Imperial SecondCeremonial Master; James Spriggs, Philadelphia, Imperial Outer Guard; W. A. White, Imperial First Steward,;John Stokes, Camden, Second Steward and A. F. Carroll, Pittsburgh, Imperial Captain of the Guard.Prior to the turn of the 20th Century, Prince Hall Shrine Temples were listed on the rolls by name only. Thedesignation of Temples by name and number came into being when the Imperial Council of Prince Hall Shrinersmet and were reorganizing in Washington, D. C.The first annual session of the newly organized Imperial Council was held September 25, 1901, in Newark, N.J. It was here that a constitution was formally adopted, establishing the fraternity as it is today.Designating the Imperial Council as a charitable, benevolent, fraternal and social organization dedicated to thewelfare and extension of Prince Hall Freemasonry, it was decreed that membership in the order be confined toregular Freemasons who were members of lodges descended from African Lodge #459 established September29, 1784, was formed on July 3, 1776 in Massachusetts.20 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 20

Masonic Poetry“Wielding Light."Wielding light I’m remindedI used to be in darknessWielding light I’m remindedI must act accordinglyWielding light I’m remindedI’m part of somethingbigger and older than meWielding light I’m remindedTo stand erect with prideWielding light I’m remindedTo think then speakWielding light I’m remindedThat I’m representing manyWielding light I’m remindedTo stay within boundsWielding light I’m remindedTo stay virtuousexercise moralityWielding light I’m remindedThat our tools lay differentlyin each set of handsWielding light I’m remindedThe sun rises in the EastWielding light I’m remindedTo continue to chip at blockWielding light I’m remindedOf stairs to climbbringing greater knowledgeWielding light I’m remindedThat though I’m mortallight will live on foreverWielding light I’m remindedOf my wagesglowing in heart and soulWielding light I’m remindedTo pay heed to hailing signsWielding light I’m remindedCharity comes in many formsWielding light I’m remindedAll man kind deserves respectWielding light I’m remindedThere are many wordsfor the only oneWielding light I’m remindedThat from onecomes manyWielding light I’m remindedThere is always more lightto be obtainedBy. Brother John J. Petrolino III21 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 21

Come join us at the new TWT Magazine social website• Each member makes their own customizable page• Add your own pictures, videos and Blog• Message Board• Tons of Groups for all types of hobbies and appendant bodies• Meet Masons from all over the world and network• 100’s of members already signed up– sign up and say “Hi”22 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 22

Events of InterestThe Rose Circle presents an Academic and Artistic Symposium in New York Citytitled: 'Freemasonry & the Secret Work of the Rosicrucians'Saturday, October 4 at 2 p.m. at 71 W. 23rd St. (Grand Lodge of NY) in Manhattan.Tickets available now at: http://rosecircle.org/cms/catalog/1/ticketsFine Art Installation by David Lindez titled 'Ambiance.' Art Gallery opens at noon.The Salon de la Rose Croix will begin at 6 p.m.R.A. Gilbert's talk is titled: 'Beyond the Image - the spiritual reality behind the symbolof the Rose and Cross.' Gilbert considers the nature and impact of the visual symbols of Rosicrucianism,and just what the creators of these images were trying to convey - encapsulating the incommunicable (i.e. the'real presence' in its true sense, not as postulated in flawed doctrines).R. A. Gilbert is the British author of numerous masonic, historical and rosicrucian books, journals and articles(most recently having co-authored 'Freemasonry: A Celebration of the Craft" with John Hamill, Director ofCommunications for the United Grand Lodge of England.) Bob Gilbert is England's foremost book antiquarian(not being at all limited to things Masonic or occult related), and he is just days away from defending his doctoralthesis at Oxford. As former Librarian and Archivist to the SRIA, he became well known for his numerouscontributions to Rosicrucian Scholarship.Gilbert is an expert on Freemasonry and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and Christian Esoterica ingeneral. He is a Past Prestonian Lecturer(1997) and former editor of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum (AQC) while currentlyserving as chairman of QCCC Ltd.Articles by Gilbert:http://www.mastermason.com/luxocculta/westcott.htmhttp://www.mastermason.com/luxocculta/hermetic.htmBooks by Gilbert:http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=R.%20A.%20Gilbert&page=1http://www.bookfinder.com/author/r-a-gilbert/(Continued on page 24)23 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 23

Events of Interest(Continued from page 23)Piers A. Vaughan lecture: 'Spiritual Alchemy & the Lodge'Masonic speaker, writer and noted translator of rare French Rosicrucian and Martinist texts. High Council officerfor the SRICF, noted high grade member of numerous Chivalric and Esoteric Masonic Orders, expert onRosicrucian Healing and noted for his liturgical contributions as an Arch Bishop in the Old Templar CatholicChurch. Professionally, Piers is the Director of IT & Operations for Globecon in New York City's financial districtand has served a distinctive career in the banking industry as a Project Manager and Program Managerfor Deutsche Bank and other Fortune 500 companies.David Lindez lecture: 'Setting the Record Straight, The History of the Masonic Rosicrucians in the USA'David Lindez is an artist & author out of Montclair, New Jersey. whose fine art installations have been shownfrom the Kinkeleba in East Manhattan to the settings of various galleries in Bayonne, Hoboken, New Brunswick& Princeton, New Jersey, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico and are a permanent installation in the KurtArt Gallery in Kingston, Jamaica. David serves as the Grand Archivist on the High Council of the SocietasRosicruciana In Civitatibus Foederatis (an invitational Order for Christian Masons in the US) as well as theGrand Chancellor for the Military & Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus. David's poetry & his writings on the anthropological& historical views of various subcultures in the rustbelt of the Northeastern United States, theWestern mind & ancient spirituality, Freemasonry & other orders, have been published around the world invarious academic ournals, magazines & encyclopedias. Currently, David is working on two books coveringtwo subjects of which he is an authority, one documenting the history of the SRICF and the other the historyof the Scottish Rectified Rite in the USA.http://rosecircle.org/cms/catalog/1/tickets24 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 24

“Bro. Big Boy & Bro. Tiny”By Bro. Tom EvansMasonic “Scribbins”Here I go again with time on my hands, thinking about the past andthe outdoors. The Bluebonnets are blooming. Thunder stormsrolled through early this morning, bringing rain. Being April Fool’sday, what a better day to tell stories of time on and around the water.My Grandpa was a 36 year Mason and Scottish Rite Mason. He wasknown as “Big Boy”, although he was actually a big “man”, 6’ 4”,probably 270#. In his youth he was a “rounder” or “boomer” whichwere old railroad terms for going from one boom or business increaseto another. His first job with a railroad was when he washired to provide venison for the work crews laying the rails from SanAntonio to Larado. They gave him a Model 1894 Winchester, fourmules and a horse. He had to furnish is own saddle. Each morninghe would leave the camp in search of meat for the crew.In the early 1930s he became a Houston police officer walking a beat.That’s where the old term for a police officer “flat foot” came from.He worked his way up to the homicide “squad”. He was a personalsecurity guard for President Roosevelt when he visited Houston. He bought one of the first .357 Magnums, aSmith & Wesson Registered Model, Reg. no. 1588. They were supposed to be only for the FBI and BrotherHoover received Reg. No 1. I have that gun in my safe along with one of his old ticket books. Brother Tiny,my Dad said that Grandpa “danced a jig” when he told him that he had petition the Lodge. He died at age57, when I was only 7.Grandpa gave me a Plueger Summit No.993L , spooled with braided line mounted on a 4 ft Barney and Berrysteel rod. For those of you not old enough to remember Howdy Doody, Sky King and the Lone Ranger onthe radio, the reel, although level wind, had no drag and free spooled. The braided line had to be dried onthe clothes line after “goin’ fishin’” Grandpa hand carved a practice plug and never complained while fixingmany a backlash for me. That combo, line and all, is on my wall as I type these words.Grandpa liked to fish salt water, especially wade fishing, even though he lived in Smithville, 150 miles from thesaline and sand. He had a homemade plywood float/boat like thing that would carry live bait on one side,tackle box in the center and Grandma’s prepared lunch on the other side. It was painted battleship gray. Hewould pull it as he waded. For me it was a great toy to play on, dreaming that I was fishing.(Continued on page 26)25 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 25

Masonic “Scribbins”(Continued from page 25)My first fish came from under a Katy Railroad trestle east of Smithville. My first bass came from Inks Lake(on a yellow and black Shyster) and first Speck, from the Surfside surf. Back then surf netting was legal andwhole families would put out long, long seines in the surf. Some were a quarter of a mile long or longer.They would tow it out with a boat and then retrieve it with human horsepower on each end. The catch waseye popping! Any and all fish, shrimp and crabs became their bounty. Trash fish, sharks, cabbage heads,squids became a sea gull’s Bonanza Steak House. It was a true waste of wildlife. P.S., there were black tarballs back then, before the Exxon Valdez, offshore drilling and man’s so called death wish for the environment.To touch on this sensitive subject of our environment, there were no Roseate Spoonbills, FrigateBirds and few Pelicans back then. Man is not perfect, never has been and never will be. But many things arebetter now than in “the good ole’ days”. True, mature sportsmen are stewards of our environment. Wethrive to perpetuate its health and growth for generations to come.When we moved to Houston in the very early’60s, I mowed grass for Old Man, err, Mr., Hubbard. He hadno one to fish with, so he asked my dad if he could take me. What a blessing for this 11 year old knot head.He took me every weekend. I learned every inch of the Bastrop Bayou, Christmas Bay complex. He taughtme how to use a poppin’ cork, free shrimp, how to watch the weather, winds, tides, birds and how to getalong with Mr Booth, whose bait camp we put in at. Seems, that Mr. Booth was not in the best of moodswhile the stars were dancing in the sky. Live shrimp cost $1.50 / quart. The smell of fresh cut grass andshoe polish allowed me to replace a Shakespeare Service and a no name rod with a new Shakespeare Presidentand Wonder Rod. I was one proud fisherman!We fished from a 16’ Larson with a 40 HP Johnson. It had a canvas, rollup top. No depth finder, radio, GPSor trolling motor. He taught me the reefs, shoals and shallows of the complex and how to drive a boat with asteering wheel. I would sleep on the trip down to Booth’s and back.Through the eyes of a pre-teen, he seemed to be a hundred years old, but he could winch that fiberglass holein the water up on that trailer like Super Man.My dad got tired of my fish stories and Mr. Hubbard got sick, heart, I guess. So Dad bought the boat fromhim and named it Mama Doll, after my Mom. He loved my Mom immensely, but at this time I think it was toappease her for the $350 he paid for it. This started a complete change for my Dad & me, for a while. Whenwe went to Bastrop Bayou, I was the captain (sort of), “fish here, fish there, watch that reef”. When wefished any other hot spot, there was never any doubt about the chain of command. I still slept down andback, especially after becoming old enough to date. Those mornings of coming in as he was packing the Iglooare stories for another day.Daddy loved to fish the North Jetty at Galveston. Even back then the jetty would get darn congested. Dadalways had a rod rigged with a silver spoon as large as a San Jacinto Inn plate. Its sole purpose was to castinto a boat that came too close! Novel idea, that works decades later.26 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 26(Continued on page 27)

Masonic “Scribbins”(Continued from page 26)I caught a large Speck on the channel side of the boat cut one Saturday, that probably weighed a legit 8pounds, but by the time Daddy culled all the sinkers out of his tackle box and put down the trout’s gullet, itweighed 9# 3oz at the bait camp!All tales of the North Jetty should include this one. I was fishing dead shrimp on the bottom. Daddy wasthrowing a silver spoon at any boat between us and the Bolivar Peninsula, when a scuba diver came up nextto our boat, in the midst of literally hundreds of treble hooks! This guy asked Dad if he wanted to buy ananchor, which Dad did. And as Dad gave him a $5 dollar bill, Dad told him to get his rear end back to shore,quit “messing up” the fishing and watch out for silver spoons. The anchor sits in my garage even nowOne foggy morning we put in at Freeport, running out the channel and were darn near overrun by the CoastGuard cutter heading out into the Gulf. Little did we know this would not be the last we would see of thisvessel.The seas were absolutely flat! Dad & I had stopped fishing to eat lunch. I kept hearing a popping noise andthen saw a flare on the western horizon and a trace of smoke. So we set out full throttle 270 degrees. Afterabout 30 minutes we found a cabin cruiser burned to the water line and 3 fishermen who had been expectingbacon & eggs, instead of a grease fire and an inflatable raft. They tied up to us as other boats arrived from alldirections. Looming from the north was the Coast Guard cutter. It was moving fast and its bow displacingmore white water than the Lake Livingston dam’s flood gates.The ship pulled up on the scene, a sailor sprinted to the .50 caliber machinegun mounted on the bow andproceeded to sink the “navigational hazard”. I’ve been to rock concerts when you had to bring your ownrocks, but none as loud as that gun’s muzzle on a fine, calm day. The cabin cruiser’s owner gave my dad theempty flare gun. It rest on my desk, along with other memories.There are many more memories in this old man’s head, but my 2 fingers are getting tired.It would be nice though, if I could drive Old Man Hubbard and Daddy fishing and let them sleep down andback27 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 27

Carl H. Claudy– “Old Tyler Talks”DEMOCRACY ON LODGE"Before I became a Mason," announced the New Brother, "I was under the impressionit was an institution of the greatest democracy. I have gathered the ideathat it was simple, unassuming; that it inculcated the principles of our governmentand that in it all men were equal. I am very fond of my lodge and the fellows, butI have been disappointed in that respect.""Why, son, do you find Masonry undemocratic?" inquired the Old Tiler. "I haveheard Masonry called a lot of funny names, but never that!""Why, yes, I do!" answered the New Brother. "Seems to me we have a lot of unwrittenlaws and customs which are autocratic.""You might mention a few. I am not too old to learn!" answered the Old Tiler. "This is evidently going to begood!" he finished."Take this idea of not passing between the Altar and the East," began the New Brother. "It's a free country, yethere is a restriction without rhyme or reason. We salute the Master. He's just a Mason like the rest of us. Wehave put him into power. He is our servant, although he has the title of Master. Take the custom of the officersretiring in favor of the Grand Officers when they visit; why should we give up our authority and our seats toothers no better men than we are?""Is that all?" asked the Old Tiler."Oh, there are a few more, but those will do. Explain to me where the democracy is in them!""When you go to church," countered the Old Tiler, "do you keep your hat on? Does your wife keep her haton?""Of course she does and I don't," responded the New Brother."Why?""I take my hat off as a mark of respect to the House of God, of course. She keeps hers on because...well,er...Oh, it's the custom!""It's a free country," responded the Old Tiler. "The minister is just a man like the rest of us. Why not wear yourhat? Why not have your wife take hers off?""But I don't take my hat off to the minister, but to God!" was the puzzled answer."And your wife keeps hers on because it is the custom for women to remain covered in church," responded the(Continued on page 29)28 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 28

Carl H. Claudy– “Old Tyler Talks”(Continued from page 28)Old Tiler. "In lodge you don't fail to salute the Master because it is the custom, and because you are saluting,not the man who happens to be in the East by the votes of the lodge, but the exulted station he occupies. Youpay respect to religion when you remove your hat in a church.""How about passing between Altar and East?" asked the New Brother."That pretty custom is founded on a very happy idea," explained the Old Tiler. "The Altar is the foundationseat of Masonic light and wisdom. Upon it lie the Great Lights of Masonry. Before it rests the charter bymeans of which a continuously unobstructed view of the source of all Masonic wisdom, so that the lodge maynever be without a direct connection with the Great Lights. It is the custom to leave the charter always in hissight, that by no chance may he fail to be responsible for its safekeeping. Nothing happens to a brother whopasses between the Altar and the East any more than would happen to a man who walked up the aisle of thechurch and perambulated about the lectern. But it wouldn't be polite, or respectful, or in keeping with the custom.Your respect is paid to religion or Masonry, not necessarily to the men who expound either.""But I still don't see why a sovereign lodge must abdicate authority for any old Deputy Grand Master whocomes along!""Then you are very obtuse!" answered the Old Tiler."The Deputy Grand Master represents the Grand Master, the supreme Masonic head. In him is, theoretically,all Masonic wisdom. Why should a Master not offer his gavel to such knowledge? He merely says, in effect,'you know more than I do; your years of service and experience in the craft entitle you to supreme authority. Ihave less knowledge, therefore am less fit to preside than you. You have more power and authority than I,therefore I offer you its symbol while you are with us.' But note the Master says this to the *position*, not the*man*. Grand Masters do *not* always know all there is to know any more than kings or presidents do. Butwe pay that sovereign respect to the office they hold, while it is held by them, because of the office.""My brother, democracy does not mean bolshevism! It does not mean socialism. It means democracy, in whichmen are created equal, have equal opportunity, but reverence to the power they give to those to whom theygive it. The United States is a republic founded on the principles of democracy, and we are proud of our freedomand our independence, yet we remove our hats to our President and governors, and pay respect to ourcourts and our lawgivers, even though they be but men like ourselves. So it is inMasonry...a simple and unassuming democracy of brotherhood, in which no manloses his independence because he pays respect to authority.""Well, of course, you are right, and I am wrong, as usual. It wasn't so good, afterall, was it?""Not so good!" responded the Old Tiler. "But Masonic youth, like any other kind,can be forgiven much if only it is willing to learn."29 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 29

Your Calling: A Matter of PerspectiveBy Brother Robert WolfarthBrother SubmissionThere are some among us who are fortunate enough to get paid to do for a living exactly what they love most.They often seem to be employed in the arts and sciences. Botanists, theater directors, and so forth. I admiresuch people.My job is interesting and it pays well, so I have no complaints. But is it my calling in life? No, not by a longshot. I am happy to do it, and my boss is (usually) happy to pay me. Yet when I take a pen to paper andwrite a list of what I most want to give to the world, almost none of it would help me in my annual performancereview.So why did I choose this career? I’m pretty good at it. There’s a chronic shortage of people who do my job,so I know I’ll have steady work for the foreseeable future. And it benefits society in a very tangible way. Thatadds up to a good job by most definitions.The converse question is a bit more intriguing: Why do I not follow my life’s calling as a career? Perhaps Ijustify that there are elements of my calling in my employment. I love to write, and I write a lot at work. I loveuphill challenges and business management dilemmas. All of these are waiting for me at the office. But Imust be real: I don’t get paid to do the things that really light my fire.For years, I agonized over this quandary. Will I spend my life working some trade that isn’t what I truly feelcalled to do in this short life? Should I quit my job, start over, and go into seminary? Teach philosophy?Write books? Or am I doomed to a certain level of frustration, reporting to work where the job is interesting tome but not what ultimately makes me glad I’m alive?Then the sun came out. My revelation was this: I can simply divorce my life’s calling from my profession. Inmy situation, any link between the two is artificial and contrived anyway.Since the fateful day when I awoke to that possibility, I have viewed my job as a tool to get me through life. Iwill always hold a job which benefits society. I would not accept any other kind of job. But it doesn’t have tobe the thrill of my heart and soul. And that’s fine. Further, I can now release myself from the concern that Iwill look back on this life someday, wondering why I didn’t pursue my passions as a career.This was my Grand Reorientation. Without changing a thing—except my perspective—I suddenly saw thefreedom to pursue my passions without jeopardizing my career. I would spend 8 hours focused on my profession,providing for my family, and doing a good job of it (actually it’s closer to 10 hours). After 8 hours ofrest and refreshment, that leaves 8 for my life’s passions, which, I’m happy to say, include service to God andworthy distressed brethren.I realize that the practice is not quite as easy as the theory. But it’s worth a shot. Meanwhile, if you are oneof the lucky ones who gets paid to do his calling, then God bless you. You are fortunate, respected, andprobably among the best at what you do.On the other hand, if you are in my boat, which I daresay is a bit more populous, may I suggest a change inperspective on your life’s calling. Continue in your line of work if you enjoy it and it provides what you seekfrom employment. But don’t give up on pursuing your real dreams. Seek them elsewhere. After 5:00. I do.I’ve found lots of new outlets for my passions and interests. Like writing this article. And seeing you boys inlodge.30 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 30

Lodge LeadershipI have come to find that there are some lodges that are moresuccessful than others. The lodges that are run as if it was abusiness seem to have a greater chance of being active, obtainingand keeping new members and thriving as a central part ofthe community. To further this analogy, think of The WorshipfulMaster as the President or CEO, Senior Warden as theVice President, Junior Warden is a Manager and so on. Ofequal importance are the Brethren who attend the meetings,they can be seen as the employees (craftsman) who withouttheir hard work the company can not function and will go outof business.Masons worldwide for the most part all use the same ritual , opening and closing of lodge the sameway and manner, we follow the same tenants and follow the same rules but it’s the individual people whotake upon the duties of an officer that make the difference between success and failure. So why are somelodges run better than others? In my opinion it’s who is elected or asked to be a part of the officer line. Justbecause someone has a title doesn’t mean they have the tools to correctly do the job.The good news is that everyone can learn how to manage more effectively and efficiently. It’s neverto late to implement new tricks of the trade.When the lodge elects the Worshipful Master for the year they are choosing someone who possessesa certain quality. Someone they are confident will lead them on the way to achieving their goals, someonewho can delegate responsibilities not trying to do everything himself. This man needs to know how to findthe answers to questions he doesn’t have and not be afraid to ask for help getting there.Going forward I want to have a section in each issue dealing with the subject of running a successfullodge. The Worshipful Master is not the only one responsible for so great task like this. All the officers needto contribute and do their own part. The sideliners also have an important role so don’t think you are off thehook.The Following article is part of the Masonic Service Associations collection of Short Talk Bulletins.“THE ART OF PRESIDING”"Preside--to sit in authority over others." (Standard Dictionary.)The first principle of successful presiding is to use authority without any one being conscious, of it !The presiding officer elected by a secular organization is amenable to its dictates and may be removed by the(Continued on page 32)31 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 31

Lodge Leadership(Continued from page 31)electorate; an appeal may be taken from his decision to the to the body over which he presides; generally he issupposed to conduct its meetings according to the rules of order.None of this is true of the Master of a Lodge. While elected, he is not controlled by the dictates of his Lodge;he can only be removed by Grand Master or Deputy under authority of the Grand Master; no appeal to theLodge may be taken from his awards: "rules of order," while followed in general, are actually the Master's willand pleasure.MOTIONS OUT OF ORDERIn any secular body a motion to adjourn, for the previous question, to lay on the table, to refer to a committeeof the whole, are always in order; in a Masonic Lodge, never. Only the Master can decide these questions, andeven a Master should never permit the lodge to resolve itself into a committee of the whole since a committeepresupposes a Chairman and a Chairman is the servant, not the ruler, of the Committee.With the usual business of Lodge: confirming of minutes, accepting petitions, ordering a ballot, putting motionsto expend, etc.. have little trouble. It is when difficult questions arise; hard fought battles to raise dues :revision of by-laws; putting standing resolutions on the books: accepting and confirming a report which reflectson some officer. etc.. that the Master must temper justice with mercy, and authority with discretion.Keep CoolThe rule is usually wise which avoids heated debates. When debaters become so personal as to forget brotherlyacts in the warmth of partisanship, a Master is justified in closing debate for the time, act- on the questionwhen cooler moments arrive. A Master may always call from labor to"refreshment, to permit "cooling off." Ifhe does this with a smile, and some remark about his own need for a little reflection, he will offend no one.GAVELThe Masonic gavel in the hands of a Master is all powerful. Brethren must-and with practically no exceptionsalways obey its mandate. Grand Lodge frowns upon the brother who flouts the authority of a Master ; a brothernot willing to cease speaking when "rapped down," or who insists on speaking when not recognized, is subjectto Masonic trial and punishment Because of the power of the gavel the good Master uses it sparingly; he willnever "rap down" a brother if it is possible to avoid it. If a brother insists on doing something illegal, the Mastermust, of course. But there is a vast difference in the way this is done by different Masters.A certain Past Master was offended at the adverse report of a committee on investigation of a petitioner. Securingrecognition he began : "I think we should disregard this committee report unless we know why the committeereported unfavorable, : I demand their reasons. . ."The Master could have brought his gavel down with a bang and said: "Brother Past Master, you are out of order;a Past Master ought to know better!"What he did do was bring his gavel down with enough decision to be heard, then said: "Brother Past Master, I(Continued on page 33)32 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 32

Lodge Leadership(Continued from page 32)regret exceedingly to rule out of order one of my illustrious and learned predecessors. But my understanding ofMasonic law is that the reasons for reporting unfavorably by a committee are as sacred as the ballot. I amsorry.This seems almost too simple to chronicle, and yet it is just this difference between the hard and fast exerciseof undoubted power which men are apt to resent, and the patient brotherly courtesy which Masons appreciate,which marks the successful from the disliked presiding officer.A "GOOD SPORT"A finance committee brought in a report ",which severely criticized a Master's administration, practically accusinghim of running wild with the Lodge finances. Shocked but game, without a word of defense, he put thequestion as to the disposition of the report. Brother after brother arose to discuss the report, to delete this andstrike out that, to remove that offending phrase and to soften this one. After some ten minutes debate onebrother, a loyal partisan of the Master, moved rejection of the whole report and appointment of a new financecommittee. "I am sorry, not to entertain that motion." the Master said with a smile. "I think the committee hasrendered a fine report. 1 do not refer to their opinions, but to the hours of labor and the results in this excellentfinancial statement. I would be ungrateful indeed if I discharged this com-mitten, or failed to express our appreciationof its efforts."The Lodge applauded vigorously, and the result was the acceptance of the financial part of the report, with allcriticism stricken out. Most important, the members of the committee, sincere and honorable gentlemen, feltthat the Master had been just; thus any schism was avoided, the Master was pro-tented, the Lodge satisfied andthe committee content.One wrong word, and a first class Lodge quarrel might have started!SNAP And SPEEDSome men think like a lightning flash and others think slowly. Even the slow thinker can speed up his businessmeetings by having previously written notes before him. The Masters who depend on their Secretaries to tellthem what to do next are legion--what would some of us do without those hard worked and loyal officials! Butthe Master who lets the Secretary do it all rarely has the respect or veneration of his members.LET THEM TALK!A good Master remembers that he is Master of all the Lodge---not just those members with whom he is insympathy-. He knows that what is unimportant to him may be vital to some other brother. The member whoinsists on a bowling match or a golf game with a sister lodge may feel it just as important as the Master's plansfor a Masonic evening---let him talk about it! Of course. there is a limit to all things, and a scheduled degreeshould not be delayed so as to keep the few faithful up half the night, sending the rest home without seeing it.But, within reason, the Master who encourages his members to speak, who calls on Brothers Smith and Jonesfor a few remarks about some question, will have a more unified and interested Lodge than he who is anxiousto shut off debate.(Continued on page 34)33 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 33

Lodge Leadership(Continued from page 33)WELCOMESThey are as different in different Lodges as chalk is from cheese. Some Lodges extend no special welcomes; inothers a word of greeting to all visitors is customary, especially those vouched for by a committee after an examination.In some Lodges, the Past Masters are known only by their jewels; in others the Master calls on eachby name, says a pleasant word and offers him the pretty courtesy of aseat in the East." Now and then a Master is so anxious to be courteous that he offers the "seat in the East" toevery visitor. Which rather destroys its value as a mark of special consideration for those who have borne theheat and burden of the day.One small error many a Master makes with only politeness in his mind; taking off his hat whenever he speaks,especially when he extends a welcome.The "hat snatcher," however well intentioned, displays a fundamental ignorance of the meaning of the Master'shat. It is not, strictly speaking. a hat at all, but a badge of office. There is no more reason to remove it whenspeaking -than there is to take off apron or jewel. A Master need remove his hat on but four occasions; whenspeaking of. or to, Deity; when speaking of a death; when the Grand Master or his Deputy comes into theLodge room wearing a hat, or when tendering the gavel of authority to another to preside.RESPECTIt is emphatically the Master's business to insist upon profound respect for his office. Many a modest man refrainsfrom correcting a wrong Lodge action in the mistaken idea that brethren will think he is "high hat." Abrother may be plain John Smith, but when John Smith is Master, he should receive the respect which that officedemands. The brother who makes the wrong salute should be smilingly corrected ---but he should not gounchallenged. The brother so careless of his manners as to salute with a cigar in his mouth may be privately,admonished, but he should hear from the East. The brother who Crosses between Altar and East should learnthat brethren do not use the space between Master and Great Lights for a passageway. Because, as the GreatLights are in the Master's charge. he is entitled to keep them always in view. The brother who speaks out ofturn, the brother who tries to leave the room during a ballot, the brother who forgets a proper salute when addressingthe East---all should receive some word of friendly counsel. Whether it be done before the Lodge, orby sending a message by the Senior Deacon, is for the Master to decide. His brethren in the end will think the,more of him if he passes his high station to his successor with its dignity unimpaired.SMILENothing succeeds in the East like a smile. Two Masters reigned in sister Lodges at the same time; one a brilliantlawyer, smart as a steel trap, wit like a rapier . . . and cold and austere as a lump of ice. The other Masterwas a railroad conductor; he had not one-tenth the education, wit or brilliance of the lawyer, but he knew thegentle art of making friends. Whatever pleasant he had to do, he did as if he liked to do it, with a smile. Whateverunpleasant was his task, he did as if it pained him, but with a smile. The railroad brother's Lodge wascrowded and the brilliant, lawyer's all but empty most of the year.Smiles, alas, cannot be made to order. Set smiles, machine smiles, mere facial contortions won't work.(Continued on page 35)34 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 34

Lodge Leadership(Continued from page 34)'Effective smiles come from a smiling heart. By all of which it may be seen that the art of presiding successfullyhas its foundation in sympathy and understanding. and its cornerstone in good nature and tolerance. Withthese a Master can hardly fail to be a beloved presiding officer.NERVOUS!It is only three steps from the Lodge, floor to the Master's platform but what high steps! The brother presidingfor the first time in a Masonic Lodge who says he is not nervous is fooling himself, but no one else.But there is no need to continue to be nervous. In a traffic jam the motorist can always stop---the worst he willget is a lot of horns tooted at him and perhaps a "bawling out" by the policeman. In a parliamentary jam theMaster can always stop to look up the law or precedent, or call to refreshment while he consults some one; hewill hear neither horns nor bawling out. Go slowly, consult the agenda: depend on the Secretary to help; usethe gavel sparingly; smile . . . and presiding becomes a pleasure and a Master a joy to his brethren.The Following article was found on one of my favorite sites “The Masonic Trowel” . If your ever in need of a referenceor an article to use for your Tressleboard I would suggest looking here.“CREATIVE THINKING”What is Creative Thinking? If you played with a kaleidoscope, you can see creativity in action. In the end ofthe revolving drum, pieces of glass are mixed together to form a pattern. If you shake the cylinder, the piecesof glass will form a new pattern. This is what creativity is all about. A creative person is someone who mixestogether the information and experiences stored in his mind, and then generates new associations. A creativeperson also seeks new information and new experiences to help derive new associations, combining new andexisting information.Creativity will help you:1. Increase your sensitivity to problems, needs, and opportunities, and your power to observe and perceivewith more wide-awake attention.2. Look at situations from new and different perspectives.3. Break the habitual patterns and escape from the rut of old ideas.4. Rid yourself of old solutions, old attitudes, and old ways of doing things that are no longer appropriate orrelevant.5. Think beyond the safe, tired, and sure ways of doing things. (Known as “thinking outside the box.”)(Continued on page 36)35 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 35

Lodge Leadership(Continued from page 35)6. You will discard your concern for failure because you know that a creative approach will provide you theopportunity for success and that failure is not attempting to find a creative solution to a problem.7. Increase the number of alternatives, which you will be able to identify in solving a particular problem.8. Extend, expand, improve, develop, and express your creative capabilities.9. Look to the future always searching for a ‘creative’ opportunity for success.10. Rekindle the spirit of experimentation and fun, making life more interesting and more satisfying.11. Provide yourself with a greater sense of accomplishment and purpose.12. Reduce the number of unsolved problems and the frustration that is created by an unsolved problem.13. Get excited about life and how you can help others accomplish their goals.14. Improve your mental health.15. Make life fun, more interesting, and more satisfying.Provides a fundamental ‘brick’ in your foundation for personal and leadership growth and development, whichhelps ensure success and happiness.How to Improve Your Ability To Think CreativelyEXERCISE YOUR IMAGINATION:Stretch your imagination. Do not rule out any creative thought you may have. Place no judgments onyour thinking. Keep negative thoughts of what others may think or previous negative experiences outof your mind. Avoid categorizing your thoughts prematurely. For example – “that won’t work,” or“it’s already been done,” or “it’s a dumb idea,” etc.DON’T THINK ABOUT THE WAY IT IS – THINK ABOUT THE WAY IT SHOULD OR COULDBE:Limit your thinking to new combinations. Try to think of a new whole – possibly made up of old partsand possibly of new parts, or a combination of each. Avoid assessing the immediate value of anidea. Think in terms of improving your ideas – one idea leading to another.SET THE MOOD FOR CREATIVITY:Do you think best alone or in a small group? Do you like a quiet atmosphere or some backgroundnoise? Do you like to sit at a desk or in a nice soft chair? Analyze your environment so that you can(Continued on page 37)36 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 36

Lodge Leadership(Continued from page 36)do your best thinking.IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY:Creative thinkers call on their memories for associations of past experiences. Past experiences manytimes will help to stimulate creative thinking. Becoming familiar with other people’s experiencesthrough reading, watching movies, plays, etc., also help the creative thinker to build a backlog of experiencesto call upon for creative thoughts.DON”T GIVE UP:Thomas Edison’s famous comment is relevant here: “Creative thinking is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.”Creative people are persistent. They continue to try ideas many times, failing again andagain. They don’t give up easily, knowing that one fresh, creative idea will reward them greatly for allthe time and energy they spent generating the idea.BrainstormingPURPOSE OF BRAINSTORMING:The purpose of brainstorming is to generate as many ideas as possible on a topic, whether good or bad, in ashort amount of time. Brainstorming allows one’s mind to be open to new ideas and concepts. Brainstormingenables a person to be creative, either by oneself or in a group.RULES OF BRAINSTORMING:1. Everyone in the group has ideas and must participate in brainstorming.2. No idea is good or bad while you are brainstorming. Participants in brainstorming suspend criticaljudgment.BRAINSTROMING PROCESS:1. Everyone in the group sits in a circle, so that everyone can be seen and heard.2. A recorder is appointed who writes down each idea brainstormed on an easel pad of paper, whichcan be seen by all.3. The leader goes around the circle, asking each participant to throw out an idea.4. Keep going around the circle, asking each participant to throw out an idea.5. If, after the first go around, a person in the group does not have an idea to offer, the person simplysays “pass.”6. Participants should pay attention to the ideas suggested. An idea may well prompt another’s creativity,leading to another idea. This is called “idea building.”7. As ideas are suggested, no one comments on the idea, either pro or con. Save critical judgment(Continued on page 38)37 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 37

Lodge Leadership(Continued from page 37)until later in the process.8. Once all ideas have been recorded, the group is lead in a discussion of each idea to determine whateach idea is about and the support it has within the group. During this time, a less formal form ofbrainstorming often takes place. These new ideas should also be recorded on the easel pad of ideas.9. Through discussion and further informal brainstorming the group narrows down the ideas to theone that all can reach consensus on.10. If the group is large, it can be broken down into smaller brainstorming groups, who report out theirlists when the entire body comes back together.Remember: Brainstorming is high energy and can appear chaotic. By following the process outlined above,high energy can be channeled into a great end product.I shall continue these discussions next month, if you have an article in your private collection that youthink would fit well into the “Leadership” section please email it over to me.“The best executive is the one who has senseenough to pick good men to do what he wantsdone, and self-restraint to keep from meddlingwith them while they do it.”- Theodore Roosevelt -38 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 38

Short Talk BulletinWARREN HARDING - FREEMASONVol.I September, 1923 No.9A Nation is not simply a human encampment, or a business concern. It isboth of these, but much more. It is the fusing of millions of people into a vast fraternity,a great friendship, into a unity of faith, feeling, purpose and destiny. It is a collective memory and a collective hope;a thing of spirit, ideals, sentiment - a fellowship in history, service and that obligation to the future which is one of thenoblest sentiments of mankind, and the most disinterested.Of the faith, history, genius and destiny of the Republic, the President is the embodiment. He is a symbolic figure.When he is running for office he is only a man like the rest of us, chosen from among ourselves by virtue of hisstrength of intellect and nobility of character, as these have developed before the eyes of his fellow citizens. When he iselected he is something more. He becomes then the incarnation of the spirit and will and purpose of a great people, andwe need not apologize to any sentiment of equality for regarding him with reverence. There is, in one way of looking athim, something sacred about the President, as the instrument of the execution of the organized will of the nation.This is not a mere fancy, but a fact of deep import which we need to ponder. The investure of the President withthe power and purpose of millions of people makes him other than he is in his private capacity. What the President doesbefore the world he does for and through us, typifying the nation as no mere ruler could typify it. He is a servant of thepeople, not a master. His character as revealed in his stewardship is our character, his work in no real sense our work,doing things which free people decree shall be done. He stands for the only Divine right that Republics know - the rightof men to rule themselves. The accolade of the popular will changes him and makes him a High Priest of humanity inthis land, where, are being wrought out the highest ideals of the race.The President is the nation brought to a focus of personality, and we see him walking in a fiercer light than everbeat upon a throne - from humble life to the highest office a mortal may hold while wearing our morality. We have hadmany great Presidents, never a bad one. No one on that great roster has betrayed his people, or proved unworthy of hismighty trust. Each is known to have been moved by pure motives - doing with an honest purpose all he could for theglory of the Republic. Read the life of each President, and, in the light of all the facts and the posture of the hour, it willbe seen that a better choice could not have been made than was made at the time.In a manner not merely accidental, but providential, each of our Presidents, by virtue of his temperament, training,character and personality, has been the man to match the hour - for, to a degree not realized, the personality of thePresident gives and receives the tone and temper of the nation. The names and services of our Presidents are a testimonyto all the world that the plain common people can be trusted, while showing what kind of men a democracy can discoverand develop. Most of the great Presidents revealed their greatness after the wise ones wondered why they had beenelected. What was then the future and now the past has vindicated the intuition of the nation, in an almost miraculousmanner.Into this great tradition of honor and service came President Harding, at a time of disillusion and confusion, in(Continued on page 40)39 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 39

Short Talk Bulletin(Continued from page 39)the wake of a gigantic War, when the world was feverish and almost fanatical with shell-shock; a quiet, gentle- heartedman of fraternal instincts and humanitarian sentiments, having wisdom of patience and the patience of love; conservative,conciliatory, seeking to plant seeds in the good soil of understanding; friendly of spirit, faithful of heart; a man ofhaunting sympathy and healing goodwill; a small-town man, who loved all kind of folk, at once our neighbor and ourPresident; honored for his character, beloved for his simple, unveneered humanity, and to be remembered as a man inwhom the spirit of our Republic revealed itself as a great Friendship.Alas, just as he was striking his stride as a servant and leader of the people, God touched him and he fell asleep -plunging the nation and the world into a bereavement as unexpected as it was profound. Each of us, whether we agreewith the politics of the President or not, felt a sense of personal loss, as if a near neighbor and old friend had suddenlypassed away - leaving us to wonder at the fleetingness of life and the strange ways of God. He brought the people closeto the Government, and the Government close to the people; he wanted to foster fellowship, understanding, brotherhood,co-operation between classes, creeds, nations, races. In short, he was a man and a President to whom Fraternity was thefundamental need, faith and hope of the nation and the world, without which chaos comes again; and in this he was atrue Master Mason.To the judgment of statesmen and the verdict of historians we must leave the final appraisal of the public acts ofthe President. Leaving these large matters for some ultimate estimate yet to be made, it is with the more intangible influencesof character and personality that we have to do now; those things which seem imponderable, but which are moreprecious that any official act. Such influences are spiritual, mystical, incalculable, but they are beyond all price and makeit worth our time to live.As has been said, the President was a great fraternalist, alike by temperament and by the habit of his life. Brotherlinesswas native to his spirit, and he was a Mason in his heart, as all men should be, long before he was made a Mason,in the Lodge. "I like the atmosphere of Fraternity," he said in one of his last speeches; and that was no affectation,but the literal truth of the man. "I think I know the very soul of Masonry," he said in his address to the Imperial Councilof the Shrine; and he rejoiced in the great place which fraternalism in general, and Masonry in particular, has in America.He saw its value, both as a bulwark against anti-social forces, and as a constructive force in behalf of social stability andadvance. His estimate of Masonry was shown by the place he held in its fellowship, and the part he took in the assemblies,his Masonic affiliations being as follows:Marion Lodge No. 70, F. & A.M., Marion, Ohio; Marion Chapter No. 62, R.A.M., Marion, Ohio; Marion CommanderyNo. 36, K.T., Marion, Ohio; Scioto Consistory, A. & A.S.R., Columbus, Ohio; Aladdin Temple,A.A.O.N.M.S., Columbus, Ohio. Honorary Member Albert Pike Lodge No. 36, A.F. & A.M., Washington, D.C.; ColumbiaChapter No. 1, R.A.M., Washington, D.C., and Almas Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., Washington, D.C.The President was elected to receive the Thirty-Third Degree of the Scottish Rite in 1920, but owing to the illnessof Mrs. Harding, was unable to be present at the conferring of the Degree at Cleveland. It was his intention to attendthe session of the Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction, in New York in the autumn, to receive the Degree; but in thehearts of his Brethren he had already been crowned with the highest Degree within the gift of the Fraternity, as much for(Continued on page 41)40 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 40

Short Talk Bulletin(Continued from page 40)his spirit and character as for his devotion to the Craft. At the time of his raising, and on various Masonic occasions, heleft many expressions of his vision of Masonry, one of which, in his address to the Shrine, is as follows:"No man ever took the oaths and subscribed to the obligations with greater watchfulness and care than I exercisedin receiving the various rites of Masonry; and I say it with due deliberation and without fear of breaking faith. Ihave never encountered a lesson, never witnessed an example, never heard an obligation uttered which could not beopenly proclaimed to the world. More, if the lessons taught were heeded, if the obligations read were assumed, if therelationships urged were adopted men would be infinitely better in their relationships."There is an honest, righteous and just fraternal life in America. It embraces millions of men and women, and ahundred fraternal organizations extend their influence into more than a third of our American homes, and make ours abetter Republic for their influences. Fraternity is inherent in man. It is our obligation to make the most of it for humanbetterment . . . In the Lodge room there is molded what becomes public opinion, and contributes to the moving forces ofdeveloping civilization."I wish somehow we could have fraternity among nations, as it is taught in America among men. I do not meanto employ sign, grip and password; which afford an appealing mystery to our relationship, but the insistent demand forjust dealing, the respect for the rights of others, and the ideals of brotherhood recited in the Golden Rule, and the righteousfellow- relationship which every man knows his God approves. Under such a reign of fraternity cruel human warfarewill never come again."Naturally, the President had a special affinity for the stately Order of the Knights Templar, in which two of themost beautiful things in the world are united - Freemasonry and Christianity. He was a Christian, holding his faith withthe simplicity of a little child - wherein he was wiser than any philosophers - striving to live by its high principles, inprivate life and public office; and he died in its great assurance of the life immortal. Three days prior to his inauguration,at Marion, Ohio, the Order of the Temple was conferred upon him. After the conclusion of the ceremonies he addressedthe assembled Templars as follows:"Sir Knights: It seems for a moment as though Masonry must have been designed for my helpfulness at this particulartime. If I have had a thought that I believed was my own, in all sincerity of a man's soul I believe that I have hadthe thought approaching my great responsibility in humility and faith; and I come tonight to the Temple of this splendidKnighthood and find it teaching me and empha-sizing those things I have been thinking. And so I have come to the newassurance and new confidence in the knowledge that the manhood of America which bears the stamp of Masonry is backof me."I thought while the Eminent Commander was speaking of the Flag, that he need not worry about the Flag. AllAmerica is consecrated to the Flag, and I promise you, though I may fail you in many ways, God knows I will not failyou in that one thing. While I love peace no less than any man on earth - While I think peace is the greatest thing to bethought of - I should have no hesitancy to draw this sword in the preservation of our national honor."Have you ever stopped to think that tradition seldom preserves anything not worth while? Oh, how beautiful is(Continued on page 42)41 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 41

Short Talk Bulletin(Continued from page 41)the story of Christ, and how you can bring it home to every man! Every man has his Gethsemane. Every man has hiscross to bear, and the measure of his manhood is the way he bears it. Men are crucified every day, as was Christ; and,while they do not rise again, perhaps, in the same great way, any man who performs his service to Christ never fails tolive again."Knighthood is no more forgotten today than when it flourished in its outward manifestation. I believe the worldis everlastingly growing better. The Order of the Temple made a great impression upon me. One of the twelve chosenapostles privileged to be with the Master daily, failed, and today we do not expect one man in twelve, or indeed, one inmany more than twelve to fail. We are going on to a finer and better order in the world. The World War isn't chargeableto the Christian Religion, but to the failure of those who profess it. Too often we take an obligation carelessly. Too oftenwe do not give it the consideration which we should. "I am mindful tonight that three days hence I am to take an oath - asolemn one, one that no man can approach without solemn thought. I mean to take that obligation to defend and preservein humility and faith; and in love of truth. I want your help. I want you to realize that the next administration of thegreatest land on earth is yours, not mine; it's that of one hundred million, and I want the help of all of them."His last address, read by his secretary almost at the hour when he passed away, was in presentation of a travelingbanner, of which he was the honored bearer, from the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Ohio, to the Grand Commanderyof California, at Hollywood, on the afternoon of August 2nd. The banner was inscribed with the text, "Not untous, O Lord, Not unto us; but unto Thy Name be the glory;" and the President said:"We should glorify the Holy Name, not by words, not by praise, not by display of arms, but by deeds of service inbehalf of human brotherhood. Christ, the great Exemplar of our Order, repeatedly urged this truth upon his hearers.There was nothing mystical or mythical in the code of living preached by Jesus Christ. The lessons He taught were sosimple and plain, so fashioned to be understood by the humblest of men, that they appealed to the reason and emo-tionsof all. His words to the fishermen bore conviction to the learned men of the Roman bench. All his teachings were basedupon the broad ground of fraternalism, and justice, and understanding from which flows peace, always. 'A new commandmentI give unto you, that ye love one another.' Surely this is 'all the Law and the Gospel.'. . .With the universalobservance of Christ's commandment we would have the essentials of all religions. Perhaps I will best express mythought if I say we need less of sectarianism, less of demoninationalism, less of fanatical zeal and its exactions, andmore of the Christ spirit, more of the Christ practice, and a new and abiding consecration to reverence for God."Thus passed President Harding, Friend and Brother; on his lips words of love to man and faith to God, leaving alegacy of honorable character and gracious service. All the Craft unite in the words, "Hail and Farewell, until we meet inthe Great White Lodge," the while we wonder in our hearts what it must be like to be past death - to have accomplishedthat one amazing act which we have yet undone before us, and which awaits our adventure - to know what that awful andmysterious thing is, and that its pains and terrors are gone past forever. For, whether we be Presidents or peasants, walkingin high or humble lot, these things will pass away like a dream of the night, leaving only the Eternal God and the immortalsoul, and the loves and fellowships of these many days and years!- Source: Short Talk Bulletin - Sep. 1923 Masonic Service Association of North America42 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 42

Masonic Status w/ Bro. James GreenAm I wrong in believing that we should let the public know who we are and what we areabout. For instance at funerals for our departed Brothers, there are different requests from thefamily of our Brother. First, that they do not desire for any type of involvement of the MasonicFraternity. Second type a request from the family, but the Church will not allow anytype of Masonic Ceremony, so then the Lodge should ask the family if they would like a MasonicTribute service the night before the funeral at the Funeral Home. Third, the family requestsMasonic Rites at the Funeral Home where the complete funeral service will take place.And finally the fourth kind is a request from the family at the Church and the Church will allowthe Masonic Rites to be given. Now I believe that the second, third and fourth type of request should show the MasonicFraternity in full bloom. Every Mason attending should wear an apron no matter that he is not participating in theceremony. Every Mason should, during the prayers presented by the Ceremony team be at the attitude of prayer, as wellas the reading of the Masonic Obituary which should be a document of interest to the family. If okayed by the family Ibelieve that Masons should stand, if they can, during the prayers and the reading of the Obituary.I go to a lot of funerals for our departed Brothers either as a part of those there to honor him or doing the Masonic Ritesand I am appalled at how many Masons do not ask or wear an apron and even more appalling when I see them not at theattitude of Prayer. I was at a funeral recently which was well attended and the Masonic Team was the only service beingheld. The Master of the Lodge did more than the usual Masonic Rite usually done. I think it is good when we arethe only participants in the services, but having our ceremony to long when a Minister has his part also, is not a goodthing. But at this funeral there was not even the opportunity to wear an apron. At the attitude of prayer the main onesnot doing it as far as I could tell was Past Potentates of the Shrine. I saw four that did not, but two did and one of thesewas on the Masonic team and the other is active in Lodge.I know that it is a growing feeling that without the Rites being a pre-requisite to join the Shrine the members of theShrine are not as gracious to Masonry as it was when it was a requirement to join. Now as I understand it there will beon the ‘Call’ at Imperial to drop the requirement of being a Mason to becoming a Shriner. Now this has been going onfor a good many years and as some Past Imperial Potentates have said they will never back the idea. But this time thecause is that a lot of Grand Masters are stopping the ‘One Day’ Class Lodges, because so many that went through neverwent back and did their proficiency on any of. the degrees. Here in Montana our Grand Master wants those that do notpass their required proficiency of the degrees they will be dropped from the rolls of the Lodge. We keep backing up onour standards and pretty soon we won’t have any at all. I can understand some need for a one day class for some peoplebut it should not be for the individuals to get it done so they can become Shriners, but for some other needs, conditionsand considerations. The appendant Bodies seem to be following the trend of going backward in their standards. Lookat the Youth Groups who have to put into the regulations that a person being on the advisory board of any of the threegroups must have a back ground checks. I am not against the checks, but for the reasons that they had to be started.Over the years we also had a situation here and there that was not in true Masonic values, so how did this happen. Situationslike what happened in Buffalo New York is a prime example of the fear these youth groups are receiving.As members of greatest fraternity in the world, we and I do mean we must get off our duffs and start working with ourYouth Groups as they will be either members of our Fraternity or enemies of it. The appendant bodies must take a lookat the things they have done stepping backwards to accommodate those outside of our fraternity so that they are being‘political correct’ or are doing things to increase membership. WE DO NOT NEED TO REDUCE OUR STAN-DARDS TO GET MEMBERS. All we have to do is show the Public what a great organization we are and that we arepositive members of the communities and society. If we show that we are an organization of good and respected membersand not giving excuses for those members who do not follow our ethics and rules, but ejecting them from our organization.This is very true for the Youth Groups and not only for the young girls and young boys who are the members,but their Advisors, Guardians, and other adult leaders.43 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 43

What Comes To Mind w/ Lansing V. Ten Eyck, IIIDoesn’t Sound Like a Bad Idea…….I am in a group called “Masonic Light,” I don’t respond a lot but some interesting subjects are brought up on this Masonicemail discussion group website. This morning there happened to be a subject brought up that I’ve often thoughtwould be better then college to many people today. Colleges today are very confusing to many kids and just becausetheir parents went or a sibling went, they feel they should go but, that isn’t necessarily so. Many kids today are pushedinto “going to college, which one, better get your applications finished and mailed. Many parents feel that they fail therekids if they don’t send them to college, when in fact the kids might not want to go.Pressured by high school counselors, friends and family to better themselves by getting acollege degree, may not really be what they want or would be happy in as part of life’spursuit. Maybe there is a much happier way to acquire what they see as their life’s work or passion.“The GI Bill made a college education feasible for millions of military veterans after World War II, and then their childreninherited the expectation that they too would go to college, whether or not they were suited for it.”Now, the college hype is so ingrained into society, you can’t get rid of the notion because if you don’t, you’re labeled afailure, which is not so. Many people, who’ve become successful haven’t attended college. Business people, artists, writers,chefs, the list goes on.A lot of money and time would be saved if we’d stuck with the old apprentice system. It’s adaptable for any life’s pursuitthat is out there today.Say a young man wishes to join his father’s business, what does he do? Well, the son tofully gain knowledge of the business he’s got to know it from the bottom up. He’s firstan “apprentice.” Then after a few years if he’s mastered the basics he becomes a“Journeyman” or junior executive. Here is where he acquires all the knowledge of thosewho’ve gone before him.Then finally, he becomes a “Master” of his craft and is able, with the acquired knowledge,is able to help make the business he’s chosen to raise in, continue in his futuresuccess and hopeful growth.This in its shortened form is an “Apprenticeship” form of education.Instead of parents throwing money into an unsure student, they could send them to a “Master” program of their choosing.Through their “apprenticeship” years the parents pay the Master money yearly to pay for the apprentices’ room andboard.(Continued on page 45)44 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 44

What Comes To Mind w/ Lansing V. Ten Eyck, III(Continued from page 44)When they reach “Journeyman” status, they would be working full time in the field they wish to enterand getting a salary. They would then pay the “Master” for their room and board plus a bit to be putaside for savings.I’d say, you’re probably saying, “that sort of program sounds very familiar and you’d be right.However, I feel deeply that we’d have much stronger group of young people accumulatingmore on the job knowledge in a field of their choice then reading books and writing papers.It’s far to expensive in this day and age to send a child to college for four or moreyears and in the end find they don’t wish to do what they’d been studying for two or fouryear programs. Lots of money wasted and having to pay it back at high interest rates foryears to come.They want to be a plumber, become an apprentice plumber. Want to be a banker, become a banking apprentice. Youname it and find a “Master” of that life’s work experience and go for it.However, if there is no program for a particular field you wished to enter, what would you do to reach your goal?I’m kind of a well known pain, in a well known place, when I set my mind on something, when people tell me somethingcan’t be done by their standards. Then I ask why not and then go about gathering information and talking to people inthat field. So, I pass that bit of information on to you regarding where you start, the idea and how bad you want it.Our fore-Brothers in Freemasonry, who established our fraternity, deserve all the credit, in myview, for establishing the “Apprentice” system of career advancement. This form of careerbuilding lasted for centuries until approximately the late forties, being phased out until the onlyones left to offer such programs are the various labor unions, as a proven course of learning andgrowing into the chosen fields.I really believe that if we went back to that style of education people would be a lot happier andlives would be more fulfilling.Even as a Master Mason, I find myself learning from my many Brothers and from the many things Freemasonry teachesme on a daily basis. This leads me to feel better about things in general and appreciate those around me. The steps Istarted taking as a Freemason, in the fraternity of Brothers is a true Apprentice, Journeyman and Master of life’s journeyof fulfillment we all have a right to.45 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 45

The York Rite Of Freemasonry w/ William PriceTHE YORK RITE OF FREEMMASONRYMEC William “Bill” W. Price, OPC, KYGCHPGHP of California 1993-1994Sept 2008The Charities of the York RiteSince its speculative beginning in the early 17 th Century, Masonry has been known for the immensity of itscharities. England in those dark days possessed a poor society, where life could be described as nothing lessthan extreme. Consider Dickens’s “A Christmas Carole” when Ebenezer Scrooge was asked to contribute tothe widows and orphans funds. He replied, “Are there no work-houses? Are there no prisons?” Disease,hunger and crime was a way of life and very few of that class survived a old age. Fortunately, the Age ofEnlightenment had a great influence on the culture. Its adherents championed the cause of aid and assistanceto those of lesser means. New ideas were tearing down traditional institutions, and new approachesand philosophies were being adopted. The world would never be the same. This would be a good thing andso it was to be for the Brotherhood of Man.Hearken now to one of Masonry’s principle tenets, Relief: “To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent uponall Masons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection. To soothe the unhappy, tosympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries and to restore peace to their troubledminds, is the great aim we have in view. On this basis we form our friendships and establish our connections.”(Illustrations of Masonry, Pg 72, by William Preston, 1772) Also, the lecture in the Second Section ofthe Fellowcraft Degree teaches Masons “to practice charity for all mankind.”Today, Masonic philanthropies come in all shapes and sizes. Contributions may well exceed three million dollarsa day. Each Grand Lodge has its own charitable cause, which could be a Masonic Home for Children or aMasonic Home for the Elderly or both or a state-wide program. Also, individual lodges may well have a localcharity which they actively support. The most recognized philanthropy is the Shriners who operate some 22children specialized hospitals throughout North America. The nation-wide Scottish Rite Children Medical andLearning Centers are also actively involved with providing specialized care for children. http://www.masonicinfo.com/charity.htmlThe Grand Chapters, Councils and Commanderies of the York Rite have each separate charities, which arelisted in detail below.THE ROYAL ARCHRoyal Arch Research AssistanceSince its conception in 1974, Royal Arch Research Assistance (R.A.R.A) has been the world's leading philanthropydedicated to helping children with Central Auditory Processing Disorders. R.A.R.A., through the(Continued on page 47)46 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 46

The York Rite Of Freemasonry w/ William Price(Continued from page 46)contributions of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International, supports the Able Kids Foundation.The Able Kids Foundation is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization that partners with local, national, andinternational corporations and organizations to remove barriers for people with disabilities.The Central Auditory Research Center concentrates on exploring causes and solutions for individuals withcentral auditory processing disorder (CAPD). Thanks to generous support from the Royal Arch Research Assistance,Inc., a philanthropy of the General Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, International, audiologistscertified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and researchers work with the Director,Dr. Joan Burleigh, to develop the next generation of diagnostic tests and effective treatments and technologies.The BeginningAt the 1972 Triennial meeting in Las Vegas, Most Excellent (M.E.) Edward Selby, Past Grand High Priest(P.G.H.P.) of Ohio and Grand King of the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter International, proposed at theGrand King's meeting that General Grand Chapter should have a unique and unified Philanthropy, one thatwould not conflict, detract or duplicate existing charities.In 1974, the R.A.R.A. was born after extensive investigation. The plans were implemented in 1975 duringM.E. Gordon Merrick's term.HOW CAN I HELP?If you would like to take part in helping children with Central Auditory Processing Disorders, share this informationwith your friends, coworkers, family and your local school system. Your financial contribution will allowyou the satisfaction of knowing that this invaluable research and service to humankind will continue for years.If you would like to take part in helping children with Central Auditory Processing Disorders, you can sendyour contributions to:James B. WallExecutive DirectorP.O. Box 58070Louisville, KY 40258Please make your check payable to "R.A.R.A'ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS (Cryptic)Research in the Prevention of ArteriosclerosisCryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation, Inc.Arteriosclerosis is a disease affecting the blood vessels which carry blood from the heart to all parts of thebody. It is commonly called "hardening of the arteries", and is a process which results in the narrowing of(Continued on page 48)47 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 47

(Continued from page 47)these vessels. It is gradually progressive, and eventually interferes with the flow of blood. When an arterysupplying the muscle of the heart is affected severely in this manner, it results in a heart attack. When a majorartery supplying the brain is involved it ,results in a stroke; if the large artery of the leg is greatly narrowed bythis process, gangrene occurs (the tissue dies) and the leg often has to be amputated, as the only method ofsatisfactory treatment.Arteriosclerosis and its complications is the leading cause of death in the Western World. Heart Attacks andStrokes cause many more deaths than cancer and accidents combined, the second and third most commoncauses of death. In the United States heart attacks are responsible for 35% of all deaths in men in the 35-50age group. At present a man before the age of 60 in the United States and Canada has a one in five chanceof having a heart attack, resulting in sudden death. Also in this country close to two million people are affectedby strokes each year, and one of ten of these loses his or her life.In short, Arteriosclerosis arises from multiple causes. As one distinguished scientist has expressed it:"Arteriosclerosis is the single response of the arterial wall to repeated injury in most instances the (cause)mechanism of injury cannot be defined today."Through your generosity toward The Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation, Inc., you can contributesubstantially to the research and eventual control of this dreaded disease. Your contributions are tax deductible.Send All Donations and Office Address:Cryptic Mason Medical Research FoundationP.O. Box 1489Nashville, Indiana 47448-1489Knight Templar Eye FoundationAs a Knight Templar, one has many opportunities to help others who are less fortunate.One way is through the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. The Eye Foundation is a GreatHumanitarian Charity whose purpose is to provide research, surgical treatment and hospitalizationto those who suffer from diseases or injury to the eyes. Cross-eyes, which occur inchildren under 16, are one affliction that can lead to blindness if not treated properly.Any questions or comments regarding the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. can email ktefofc@ix.netcom.com.Concern for OthersSince its inception, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation has spent more than 95 million dollars to help providemedical treatment for those unable to afford it. Today, over 78,000 people have directly benefited fromthis financial assistance. And as always, treatments are provided regardless of race, color, creed, age, or nationalorigin.Research grants, totaling over 8.7 million dollars, have been made to institutions working in the field of EyeResearch. Informative films are also available through local Commanderies for presentation to churches, PTAmeetings and other interested organizations. To its end, the Knights Templar, through the efforts of all itsmembers can make a difference.K.T. Education Foundation Brochure www.knightstemplar.org/KTEdF.pdfThe Knights Templar Educational Foundation, the first program of its kind, was organized in48 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 48(Continued on page 49)

(Continued from page 48)1922. Since then, more than $38 million dollars has been loaned to 80,000 students to complete their last twoyears of college. This financial assistance is given without regard to race, color, creed, age or Masonic affiliation.The Knights Templar Educational Foundation Committee considers all applications for scholarship withoutregard to age, race, religion, and National origin, gender, of Masonic ties or affiliations. These scholarshipsare not "grants in aid", but are open to all students regardless of their financial circumstances as long as theymeet the requirements established by the committee. Financial aid to students who meet the requiredqualification may vary from state to state. An application form may be found on this website.The Knights Templar Holy Land PilgrimageIn addition to the many religious observances throughout the year, The Grand Encampment ofKnights Templar sponsors an annual "Holy Land Pilgrimage". The purpose of the pilgrimage isto send a Christian Minister to The Holy Land. Masonic membership is not required and theMinister can be male or female.INFORMATION on 2009 Pilgrimage.My friends and brothers, this concludes our 13 month travel, which begin with the birth of Speculative Masonryin England on to America, the Revolutionary War Period and the beginning of American Freemasonryand the York Rite in particular. All in all this presentation included some 16,000 words, very few on them weremy own, since there is a multitude of outstanding books and articles written on the subject . These are availableto you and I strongly recommend joining a Research Lodge, particularly, The Quatuor Coronati LodgeNo. 2076, London, England and the Missouri Lodge of Research, or your own Grand Lodge may have one.Just go to Google and check them out.I hope you will consider furthering your education by petitioning the Chapter, Council and Commandery.There you will surely find new adventures, new-found friends and a vast wealth of knowledge, so why wait?I would like to thank Brother Cory Sigler, Editor of The Working Tools Magazine, for his confidence in me andhis friendship. Also, I was most fortunate to have as my principle proof-reader, Mrs. Henrietta Connor, EnglishTeacher Emeritus, who would monthly take pencil-in-hand and strike fear into long and senseless sentences.(This is such an example.) I thank them and especially, you, the reader, who is always the final determiner.Maybe we shall see each other around the Masonic circle. Until then, may you always travel well.Bill Price, Mason.49 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 49

New Masonic PublicationFreemason PressThe very first ‐ FALL ISSUE of the new and exciting Masonic publication is in print and will be available fordistribution by September 1 st 2008. In the FREEMASONS PRESS you will find 132 pages of articles and paperson various aspects of Freemasonry written by the prominent Masonic scholars from the USA, England,France, Italy, Spain, and Serbia, as well as views and news from the Jurisdictions worldwide. Please visit ourwebsite www.freemasonspress.info and learn more about FREEMASONS PRESS.INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL MASONIC QUARTERLY REVIEWFreemasons Press is an Independent International Quarterly Review on Freemasonry and related subjects."Independent" means that views and opinions expressed here are not of any Masonic organization or group,nor of the publisher, but solely of individual authors of various papers and articles. Independent also meansthat publishing of the FP Review is not financed by any of the Masonic organizations or groups but strictlythrough the subscriptions and donations from the readers."International" means that the views, news, articles and papers published in FP Review come from the authorsfrom all over the world. Those papers and articles written in other languages than English are alwayspublished in both original language and English translation. International also means that the FP Review is distributedworldwide."Quarterly" means that FP Review is published four times a year: September 1 st - Fall Issue, December 1 st -Winter Issue, Mart 1 st -Spring Issue, and June 1 st - Summer Issue.Freemasons Press is published by the international group of Freemasons in co-operation with Create Space, aDBA of On-Demand Publishing LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc. The Editor in Chief is Stevan V. Nikolicfrom New York City, New York, USA. The Individual copies of Freemasons Press Review are available for purchasethrough the Amazon.com at the price of $16 per copy. The Annual subscription for four issues is $35and readers can subscribe on-line through www.freemasonspress.info."Review on Freemasonry and related subjects" means that we publish articles and papers on all aspects ofFreemasonry: history, philosophy, symbolism, ritual, and current issues and events. We also publish articleson related esoteric subjects like Cabala, Alchemy, Rosicrucianism, MysterySchools and Tarot.As Freemasons we believe in freedom of expression. In accepting papers and articles we do not discriminateon basis of Masonic affiliation, understanding of Freemasonry, Masonic grade, race, ethnic or religious originor gender. The only criterion for publishing an article or paper is the quality of the content of the article andbenefits it may have for our Masonic and non-Masonic readers.The purpose and mission of the FP Review comes out of our duty as Freemasons: To work on ourself Improvement, to search for that which was lost, to gather that which was scattered, and always,always to stand for the highest ethical values and more than anything - TRUTHSo, if you would like to join the worldwide family of the FREEMASONS PRESS' readers and supporters, you can find allnecessary subscription information on the www.freemasonspress.infoWith Best Fraternal Regards,Stevan V. Nikolic, Editor in ChiefFREEMASONS PRESS, Independent Quarterly Masonic Review50 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 50

The Rosicurian EnlightenmentbyFrances A. Yates,Book Review By Bro. Frank BellIt can be thought that sometimesthe more illuminatingworks that deal withfreemasonry, are actually byproducts of other scholasticwork. As is seen with theRobinson books “Born inBlood” and “Dungeon Fireand Sword”The historian can write abook with great Masonic significance.The same is true with Frances A. Yates.The Rosicrucian link to freemasonry is one that isusually used by Masonic authors as a way of tyingThis earlier movement directly to freemasonryas a steady evolution of one society into another.While there are a good many interesting points todiscuss, the thought that these early Rosicrucianshad a physical operation( by which meaning thelodge as we know it and it’s many operations, andthat through time, they just blended into what istoday known as freemasonry) can be disproved inthe pages of this book.Yates, as an accomplished scholar of this period,gives us the straight facts as they were on theRosicrucian movement through illustrations fromthe texts that were issued by the Invisible Collegeas well as accounts of the events that were unfoldingin this period prior to the Thirty Years War.The background of the wedding of Frederick V,Elector Palantine of the Rhine and Princess Elizabeth,daughter of King James I of England isshown as the time of an inordinate amount of optimismamong the intelligentsia throughout Europe(most specifically in England and Bohemia) it isthrough this time of anticipation of a united protestantfront and it’s various benefits that the first ofthe Rosicrucian manuscripts are published.It is the break out piece The Chemical Weddingfollowed by the interest in this adventure of ChristianRosencreutz which is a key early indicator tothe author that there is more going on than meetsthe eye.Yates believes that this work and those that followare part of a trans channel collaboration of likeminded scholars and printers who are taking thistime of the joining of the Germanic and Englishroyal families (both protestant) as the beginning ofa great new era in thought and spirituality.From this reading, one almost at the time we areviewing, has to view Protestantism as the championof free thought and experimentation (both scientificand natural) and the Catholic church as oppressionand inquisition.Which, unfortunately, would have been the dogmaof the day. This new cross channel internationalunion was seen by these Rosicrucian brothers asbeing the counter to the Hapsburg empire.The problem, as it eventually unfolds, is that thisgroup of scholars and philosophers allows themselvesto be too drawn into the fantasy that is thenew kingdom under the right thinking King of Bohemiaand does not take into account the reality thatis the burgeoning military might of the Hapsburgs.Tragedy and disillusionment follow.What reads as a very textbook case of pure idealismbeing lead to disaster by stark reality is interestingin and of itself. The Rosicrucian contributionto the times as well as to the future view of religion,(Continued on page 52)51 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 51

Book Review By Bro. Frank Bell(Continued from page 51)humanism, government as well as it’s influence onthe later Royal Academy is undeniable.The unfortunate thing is that Yates discounts anytrue influences on freemasonry by the Rosicrucianmovement. She does not seem to believe thatthere is an evolution based on a number of points:firstly, that the widely read (and quite detailed) philosophyof the Rosicrucians does not seem tomatch up with the staid story of King Solomonstemple. Secondly that the Rosicrucian ideals camefrom Germany to England and not the other wayaround. Thirdly that the Rosicrucian brotherhood(as an entity) did not exist.As an uninitiated member, I would believe her to beright in her assumptions, more over, I agree thatthere probably was NOT an organization of Rosicrucianbrethren. Let me preface that statementwith this. i do not believe there was an organization(complete with operating structure, by-laws, regularmeetings, etc.) called the Invisible College of theRose Cross Brothers. I do believe, however, thatthere was a thread of thought and belief runningthrough a good number of scholars and philosophersof the time and that in this way, the Rosicruciansdid exist.That certain elements of the code of the Rosicruciansdid filter down to our later fraternity could beseen in the following. The wearing of the clothes ofthe country could be construed as the need for abrother to support the country in which he stays,the fact that the Rosicrucians were open to all denominationscould also strike a mason as a point ofinterest, as well as the fact that in the later RoyalSociety (a strong chance that this was a derivativesociety of the RC philosophers) there was to be nodiscussion (I read as argument) on organized religion.As to the migration of the Rosicrucian ideas (bywhich we can include the germ of the new freemasonry)did migrate from Germany to England, I feelthat we would need to do and even more thoroughtimeline of events, people and documents. Thesands of time do indeed shift and make obscurecertain parts of this history, however, as Yatesdoes state, the true formation of all of this furorcan be traced back to England and Dr. John Dee.The influence that Dee’s groundbreaking work inthe fields of math, science, etc. (the list goes on)were both prodigious and inspiring to those whowere interested in these fields. his speaking toursas well as his travel for research would have puthim in contact with a multitude of like minded individualsas well as the chance to influence thosewho would go on to later great works. The mandeserves (and he already has) a great deal ofstudy done on himself and his view of a naturalscience.Dee’s science, however, would be the fodder forwitch hunts to come. The time when a man couldbe imprisoned for making calculations let alonethe type of divine research that Dee was interestedin, would make him persona non grata andcause his name from being stricken from any futuresecret organizations. The diagrams of alchemicaltruths did, on the other hand, live on.It has been stated that the freemason is given agroup of life lessons to learn and that he is giventhe various tools of the craft to remind him ofthese lessons. I do think that most masons whohave at least been passed would remember thatthey were exhorted to learn more about all aspectsof the world through a program of learning.Could it be that due to the fear of persecution, thisnew fraternity would not make the same mistakea to specifically identify it’s reading materials andinfluences as the older RC fraternity?Those topics for study would out them in touchwith the knowledge of the renaissance and allowthem to follow what could, at the time of the ritualswriting, be considered the thread of knowledgethat ran through Germany to England. Yates hasunconsciously done it. She notes that manuscriptsby English writers are published in Germanyunder the protection of Frederick V. Thereis a constant trans channel movement of(Continued on page 53)52 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 52

Book Review By Bro. Frank Bell(Continued from page 52)information, possibly aided by the Palatinate orthose close to the family.Not only allowing newly printed MSS to be availablebut also, most surely, the movement of otherolder books (Prague, a crossroads of cultures,being the center for a number of these occultstudies) Can it be that our fraternity has simplyforgotten or way and only needs the light of researchto take us back onto the path?Bacon should be seen as the epitome of this newcovert center of knowledge. Always walking thefine line between knowledge and heresy, he triesto cajole James I into the light but must alwaysfear that his going too far will land him either inthe Tower of London or at the stake. Bacon(Yates does show that there is strong proof thathe is of a like mind to the RC and probably evenone of them) hides his teachings much in the wayof the scholars of old through a variation on thealchemical drawing. I, like many, am new to theconcept of these illustrations (a picture that actuallymeans different things to either the averageviewer or to the learned viewer) in this way didbacon put oath his ideas, although not completelywith elaborate drawings, but with the written word.Like the Christian Rosencruetz tale, Bacon tellshis stories but they also have the purpose to imparthidden knowledge to reader who knowswhere to look for it.Bacon has his ideal city, can we say that our idealtemple and working tools do not really go more tothis than to the simple allegories that we haveheard?from the degrees have been a centuries old challengeto find the knowledge that did exist in theworld prior to the suppressions and persecutions, ata time when science was witchcraft and blind faithwas science.Can the discredited and persecuted RC brotherhoodliken themselves to H.A. a slain and vanquishedorganization that waits for it’s next incarnationto rise up and take the search/struggle forwardagain? Did they realize that they majority of thefailure was due to putting all their hopes on oneperfect ruler or rather a romantic champion (itseems to be well known that Frederick could neverdefeat the Hapsburgs without the help of England,help which did not come) whose defeat allows theresurgence of Papal persecutions of the membersof the new science.If we are descended from this line of thought, is thiswhy (after passing law that no Catholic could beruler of England) the Grand lodge of England announcedit’s presence to the world in 1717 and dueto it’s dissatisfaction with the rulers of England,bring about the explosion of freemasonry in theNorth American colonies as well as it’s influence onthe future United States government? A perfectruler is one thing, but a perfect way to be ruled isanother.Or have we gone wrong by rejecting this naturalapproach to the science of the world and by relyingon the machine and the gear and iron stopped usfrom pursuing other paths which could lead us to amore perfect happiness There is so much to ponderafter reading (and at points rereading this book), Iwould feel that it also, can be the source for yearsof personal Masonic research.Can the center of it be that Solomon was an idealking, knowledgeable, virtuous, one who could anddid rule his subjects with equity and good will andthrough him was wrought a perfect temple onethat the world will forever look to try and replicate?is it possible that we are to look for a dualityin both our selves and in our society? or causesuch to exist. can the lessons53 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 53

File under– “You just can’t make this stuff up”Brother’s , I don’t make this stuff up I only find it and present it to you for the purpose of knowing what is found foranyone to freely read. What bothers me is that anyone can say whatever they want and nothing will happen or bedone to them. (Freedom of speech is a good thing in most cases).MASONS ARE THE UK'S NAZI PARTYFor anyone facing any form of harassment or persecution in the UK, and there are many 100,000's of victimsat any one time, you can be almost certain that pressure comes from masons. Britain has a long history ofrape and pillage of the world during the British Empire, were ruthless tactics had been used to gain control ofmillions of lives. Masons, loyal to the British monarchy who have a long history of despotic rule, were the keyindividuals used to fleece the vast empire of its riches and why UK royalty are the richest dynasty in theworld owning, on the last estimate, one sixth of the worlds land mass. Today the only thing that has changedis the devious way they carry out their ruthlessness against the long suffering citizens of the UK.Those key players today hide among a myriad of professions, that give an illusion of regulation, but are in facta law unto themselves. They use OUR laws and courts to undermine and fleece unsuspecting victims of a legalsystem that is almost devoid of JUSTICE, but high on corruption and fraud. Also the illusion of democracy,when we are asked to vote time and again for the same masonic stooges they put up as, supposedly opposingpolitical parties. You could NOT get a cigarette paper between Tory Cameron and NEW LabourBrown's political agenda. Anyone who shows ANY sign of fighting them on any platform can find themselvesin those same courts accused of mental health problems and locked up for good in psychiatric wards by masonicpsychiatrists and forcibly chemically lobotomized, or worst, are the unfortunate victims of a hospitalaccident and NEVER seen again.All of this can only take place because masons, like the Gestapo, control the vast bulk of our mass media. Infact most of the editors and owners of the British press are masons. ALL of Britains licenced TV and radio isheaded and controlled by masons to ensure the same message of "Queen and country" gets out and dressedup in the nicest possible way to ensure all of this goes on behind secretive closed doors. The German Nazi'swere blatant about how they controlled Germany, in the UK thanks to centuries of dissenters, fighting thehooks and crooks in key political and legal positions, they have had to devise a more subtle and deviousmethod of continuing that control, while giving the illusion of the FREEDOMS that we are continually told bythe media we have.Until you experience the tyranny of family/civil courts in the UK you will not fully grasp the enormity of thelives being destroyed daily by a small clique of high ranking masonic judges, hand picked and selected by thecrown and monarchy, to do their bidding. Anyone who thinks they can take the Queen or her vast masonicempire through the courts should be aware they are likely to experience the most extreme versions of thattyranny.Ask Diana's butler, when he threatened to expose what they had been doing to crucify her during the lastyears of her life? How the masonic controlled M.I.5 and M.I.6 used every electronic surveillance toy in thebook to ensure she was monitored everywhere she went. The same thing, the masons behind the UK's sur-(Continued on page 55)54 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 54

File under– “You just can’t make this stuff up”(Continued from page 54)veillance network, are trying to do with the WHOLE population. Neither Brown nor Cameron have any interestin protecting our rights and liberties, while using massive public moneys to fund the masonic companiescharged with installing and running these spy networks and I.D. systems. Britain has been run for centuriesas a fascist state under the guise of a democratic umbrella that only protects masons from their reign ofterror.Anyone not in their funny hand shake club, were SATAN is their God, can be sure of a lifetime trying toavoid the bully boy network they have set up in all the major industries, multi-nationals, councils and manygovernment bodies who constantly harass the public who live in fear of what next will come through theirfront doors. If not a threatening letter, a bailiff with police back up will forcibly relieve you of ALL yourworldly possessions but especially your children . They seldom leave a paper trail that would expose the vastestates being seized under the guise of UK laws.All those nasty bank, lawyer, tax, debt and council letters etc. are ALL instigated by high level masons ensuringyour kept in your place through fear. This is the present state of the UK devoid of the massive propagandanetwork the British media use to hide this from the general public, while protecting the masonic networkof power.THEY WILL GET THEIR DAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!As will the long suffering British public who, thanks to the internet ,are slowly wakening up from the slumberthat has enslaved them for so very long.Some responses to post** Well my grandfather was a mason and he risked his life to protect this country from the nazi's. besides the masonshave affiliations to all political parties they don't have their own, you're thinking of the BNP if you want to relate a UKparty to the nazisyou are clearly unfamiliar with the pyramid structure of freemasonry, with higher levels learning more and more aboutwhat the masons truly stand for. also you fall for the idea that the masons rule the world. whilst they are connected,not all global players are masons, far from it. there is a network of compartmentalised secret societies, of which moreimportant figures are connected with several. to think that one of them holds sway and that all freemasons know thetrue purpose of their society is just ignorance55 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 55

And Finally…..56 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 56

The Independent Masonic Magazine – Bringing the bestinformation to Mason’s worldwide.Keep on Traveling57 ON THE WEB AT WWW.TWTMAG.COM 57