‘Tracing Boards and the Ancient Mysteries’

     
Angel Millar will return to the lectern at the Livingston Library’s lecture series this month. From the publicity:

Courtesy Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library

Masonic Tracing Boards

and the Ancient Mysteries

Thursday, February 23

6:30 p.m.

Chancellor Robert R. Livingston

Masonic Library

71 W. 23rd Street, 14th floor

Join us for another fascinating lecture! This month we are featuring renowned artist and author Angel Millar, who will be displaying some of his new tracing boards and discussing their symbolism. In particular, he will focus on the history of the symbols of the Craft and their significance for personal and spiritual development.

Free admission. RSVP here.
Photo ID required to enter Masonic Hall.
Suggested attire: business casual.
White wine will be served!
     

‘His soul is with the saints, I trust’

     

The Knight’s Tomb
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Where is the grave of Sir Arthur O’Kellyn?
Where may the grave of that good man be?—
By the side of a spring, on the breast of Helvellyn,
Under the twigs of a young birch tree!
The oak that in summer was sweet to hear,
And rustled its leaves in the fall of the year,
And whistled and roared in the winter alone,
Is gone,—and the birch in its stead is grown.—
The Knight’s bones are dust,
And his good sword rust;—
His soul is with the saints, I trust.

You never want to associate a trip to the Philadelphia Masonic Temple with a sad memory, but it was there last evening, in historic Lodge No. 2, meeting in Egyptian Hall, where we said our goodbyes to our friend and brother. The Pennsylvania Masonic ritual, unsurprisingly, is very effective in this regard.

This panel, on the southeast wall of Egyptian Hall, of course is highly appropriate for the funerary service. Here we see Anubis embalming Osiris. The ankh, symbolizing eternal life, would be pressed to the lips of the deceased to impart the Breath of Life needed in the afterlife.

     

‘The Role of Men of Color in the Early Period of Freemasonry’

     
And speaking of celebrating Black History Month (see post below), Oscar Alleyne will be the guest speaker at Mt. Zion Masonic Lodge 135 in New Jersey next week. (The bio doesn’t mention it, but Oscar is a Board member in The Masonic Society.) From the publicity:

Click to enlarge.

Worshipful Brother E. Oscar Alleyne is an active Masonic lecturer, presenting on a variety of historical and philosophical topics, and is a member of various Masonic research bodies.

WB Alleyne is a Past Master of Wappingers Lodge 671 in Wappingers Falls, New York. He is a Past Commander-in-Chief at the Valley of the Hudson, AASR and the Chartering Sovereign Master of Kmt Council 511, Allied Masonic Degrees. He currently serves as the Grand Superintendent of NY for the Grand Council of AMD.

He holds a doctorate from New York Medical College and is a Senior Advisor for Public Health Programs at the National Association of County and City Health Officials in Washington, DC.
     

‘Esoteric Seminar this summer’

     

Connecticut Freemasons have been enjoying this event for some years, but I’m just learning of it now, so I share it here. On Saturday, July 29, the brethren will meet at Ashlar Village (73 Cheshire Road in Wallingford) for a daylong offering of various classes for their communal advancement in Masonic knowledge. I’ll be sure to share the details (such as if Masons from outside Connecticut may attend) when they become available, but in the meantime, this is what they say:

Our much anticipated Esoteric Seminar is back for 2017! Much like in previous years, the schedule will consist of a keynote address and a total of nine unique classes to choose from. (Brothers will have their choice to attend one class out of the three available choices during each of the three time slots.) This Seminar will be open to any Master Mason. Please note, a current and valid dues card will be required to gain admission. More information, class details, and registration information coming soon, until then, please save the date!
     

‘Pennsylvania Academy next month’

     

Click to enlarge.

     

‘205 Years of Black Masonry in New York State’

     

Note the address.

     

Click to enlarge.