‘A ritual in all things.’

     

Bro. Rudyard Kipling

There are a number of reasons why Freemasons should appreciate Rudyard Kipling more than we do today. Of course he was one of Masonry’s great literary figures. He was one of literature’s great smokers. His stories often are so gloriously politically incorrect, one might wonder if such a time had been possible once.

Kipling published “In the Interests of the Brethren” in 1918—a time of disasters: the Great War, the worldwide influenza devastation, the bloodshed of Bolshevism. As you can see in the graphic below, it will be the subject of a reading and discussion done over the web to help keep up the fraternity’s spirits during this most unusual period of absenteeism. (Reason No. 4,267,822 why the Grand Lodge of New York is the center of the Masonic universe in the tri-state area.)

Click here for the text of Kipling’s story.

Click to enlarge.