The Second Masonic District Book Club and Discussion Group has its summertime plans lined up.
Saturday at 1 p.m., the brethren will host a barbecue to complement the already meaty discussion subject of the Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry. This will take place at Alpine Tilden Tenakill Lodge No. 77, located at 404 Tenafly Road in Tenafly. (That’s in New Jersey, for those of you checking in from Riyadh and Dakar.) Cost per person: only $10.
Reservations are requested. Simply e-mail to 2mdbookclub (at) gmail.com
Next month, the group will partner with Fidelity Lodge No. 113 for a trip to Virginia to enjoy other landmarks.
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| I love photographing this place. |
Friday, August 10 – a daytrip to Washington, D.C. to visit the House of the Temple. The headquarters of the Mother Council of the World has been benefitting from renovations in recent years, with more improvements to come as the centenary of this John Russell Pope masterpiece nears.
Also on the itinerary is a stop at Mount Vernon. Known formally as George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, Museum and Gardens, this indeed is the residence of Martha and George Washington. It has been a good friend to Freemasonry in recent years. I think it is safe to say that as a repository of Washington’s effects, Mt. Vernon was excruciatingly slow to acknowledge Freemasonry’s role in the man’s life, and vice versa, but an exhibit was installed several years ago that highlighted Washington the Freemason. More recently, the newly celebrated Mt. Nebo Lodge apron was displayed there. Even the gift shop seems to offer some interesting Masonry-related items.
Simply e-mail to 2mdbookclub (at) gmail.com to get involved.
Bro. Jay,
ReplyDeleteThe House of the Temple is normally closed on Fridays. If you've checked ahead about your visit in August, and we happen to be open on that Friday, then all is cool. If not, someone should check ASAP.
S&F,
Brent
D'oh!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Illustrious Brother Brent. I have forwarded your message to the organizers.
C&F,
Jay
I would be interested to hear your comments regarding Landmarks. The Grand Lodge of Connecticut currently has 15 Landmarks and is reviewing them for relevancy and timeliness.
ReplyDeleteHello Bro. Simon!
ReplyDeleteI view Landmarks as defining characteristics of Freemasonry, things borne out in ritual, jurisprudence, history, and tradition, so I'm surprised there would be a review of them for relevance. I see in Coil's that Connecticut once had a list of 19 Landmarks, so if you're down to 15, then I guess periodic review is not unheard of.
Coil's identifies the source of your 19 as Luke A. Lockwood's "Masonic Law and Practice," and I see in that list a mention of "territorial jurisdiction," which I suppose would confuse the matter of PHA recognition, which you guys pioneered, so I guess that was one of those that was dropped. Lockwood also writes of a "Resurrection of the Body," which I also suspect is gone now.
Anyway, I refer you to Book I of the Little Masonic Library, that compact five-volume set published by Macoy. I know you have it! lol
That book has more information on Landmarks, including a variety of different lists of Landmarks, like Mackey's, Pound's, and many more, plus historical documents that served as source material.
C&F,
Jay