‘Don’t meet on the level of commonplace’

    

The Independent

The soul hath its senses, like the body, that may be cultivated, enlarged, refined, as itself grows in stature and proportion; and he who cannot appreciate a fine painting or statue, a noble poem, a sweet harmony, a heroic thought, or a disinterested action, or to whom the wisdom of philosophy is but foolishness and babble, and the loftiest truths of less importance than the price of stocks or cotton, or the elevation of baseness to office, merely lives on the level of commonplace, and fitly prides himself upon that inferiority of the soul’s senses, which is the inferiority and imperfect development of the soul itself.

   

Albert Pike

“Perfect Master”

Morals and Dogma

1871

And a fine statue, of eleven feet of bronze atop a 16-foot granite pedestal, it is—particularly now after a restoration that has it looking new.

That rejuvenation was required, in case you didn’t know, because the memorial was vandalized, toppled, and burned five years ago by a pack of feral “racial justice protesters.”

The “news media,” here and abroad, have swamped us in recent hours with their ritualistic mantra on the statue’s return last Saturday. NBC, BBC, NPR, New York Times, Fox, The Hill, The Washington Post (naturally), and many others want you to know that Bad Orange Man has reinstalled the Confederate general’s statue in our nation’s capital. All the hype could trick you into thinking Pike is central to U.S. history, when, of course, none of the “journalists” would be aware of him if not for the mobocracy manufactured for this statue. Albert Pike never even was central to Freemasonry.

This memorial has nothing to do with the Confederacy, the Civil War, slavery, or anything beside its intended purpose of conveying the appreciation and admiration of Scottish Rite Freemasons for Pike, the conservator of that Rite at mid nineteenth century.

It’s always been a matter for debate. Before it was erected the first time—on October 23, 1901—U.S. Army veterans objected, saying it was an insult to all who fought for the righteous cause of the North. Somehow they neglected to vandalize, tear down, and burn the statue.

Still preoccupied with the Confederacy? Maybe President Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, weeks before his murder, can calm you: “With malice toward none with charity for all; with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

I haven’t seen any comment from the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction where, at least on this aspect of Pike, it’s “Albert who?”

     

‘Ari Roussimoff’s Masonic mirror’

    

‘Masonic Legacy’ by Ari Roussimoff.

Ari Roussimoff, my favorite contemporary painter of Masonic speculations, recently revealed his latest. Titled “Masonic Legacy,” the composition continues with ideas you’ll recognize from earlier works, but with this difference: the mirror at the center.

In Masonic ritual and symbol, the mirror can be found inside the Chamber of Reflection and near the close of the EA° in certain rites. Ari explains his own employment of the tool:

“Masonic Legacy,” 2024-25. Recently completed.

At the very center is an actual mirror. Whenever a Freemason looks into it, he will see not only his reflection, but he also will see himself as part of a long and great history.

Details of the painting.

In regards to my depiction of Hiram Abiff (on the right, and standing on the winding stairs), it should be noted that back in that era, Master Builders or Architects were regarded in a way similar to royalty. They did not dress like ordinary laborers, hence the aristocratic clothing worn by Hiram in my painting.

This painting is on wood, measuring approximately 10½ x 10½ inches.

Details of the painting.

This piece is for sale. (Ari tells me photos don’t do the painting justice, even though I think it looks sensational from here.) Contact him here. Click here to see what more you can obtain to beautify your lodge room or your study or wherever you think best. Ari’s website is here.

     

‘Shelby visits the research lodge’

    

RW Shelby Chandler, Past DDGM of Virginia’s Research District, visited New Jersey Lodge of Masonic Research and Education 1786 on September 13 as keynote speaker on the history of his lodge, Fredericksburg 4. (Low-light photography is dicey.)

Continuing the what I did on my summer vacation blogging, the weekend after the MLMA meeting (see post below) brought a special couple of days with Shelby Chandler of Virginia. He visited New Jersey Lodge of Masonic Research and Education 1786 to be our keynote speaker on Saturday, September 13, giving a talk on the history of his lodge, Fredericksburg 4—of George Washington, Hugh Mercer, et al. fame. Shelby also is a Past Master of George Washington Lodge of Research 1732 at Fredericksburg, and is a Past DDGM of the Grand Lodge of Virginia’s Research District, now six lodges strong.

Shelby traveled north the day before and was greeted by Worshipful Master Don who, in addition to getting Shelby squared away at the hotel, took him sightseeing to the Washington Crossing Historic Site, Princeton University, and elsewhere. (Note to self: explore feasibility of research lodges having reciprocal visits of speakers.)

About the lodge meeting: the research lodge stands at the forefront of New Jersey Freemasonry’s celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary. Following our previous meeting’s discussion of John Paul Jones, on this day we learned about Fredericksburg Lodge, as Shelby walked us through its first 150 years. There’s a lot more history and historical giants than George Washington. Both the Revolution and the Civil War factor in that lodge’s story, with many colorful details about its members and its building. Read a little about that here.

Prior to that, Secretary Erich employed his talents as a historian to explain how Freemasons could (and should) make more sense of our history by using the techniques of academic historians, namely dividing the fraternity’s past into manageable epochs, from the mists of time pre-1717 to the “Pop Masonry” period of Dan Brown and National Treasure.

And before that, the Worshipful Master reviewed the book Histoire de la Franc-Maconnerie, which bloomed into an hourlong conversation among the brethren on the vexing vagaries of Freemasonry in France: multiple grand jurisdictions doing things we just find odd.

The following day, Don brought Shelby to the Princeton Battlefield, and we toured this truly hallowed ground. This January 1777 battle was as pivotal to the American Founding as the Declaration itself or the arrival of Rochambeau’s expeditionary army. Read about that here.

Photos of Princeton Battlefield State Park, including Thomas Clarke House:

Our guides at Princeton Battlefield State Park were terrific. That’s Will Krakower, at left, who led us around the grounds and unpacked the story of the battle. Sorry to say I cannot recall the name of the gentleman on the right. The table in the foreground displays a scale map of the field and the troop movements.

Map of the area displayed in Clarke House.

This is a descendant of the Hugh Mercer Oak. After being wounded in battle, it is said Gen. Mercer was laid under the tree that stood here to rest while the fighting continued. That tree remained until 2000, when it was felled by a storm, but the tree was genetically reproduced, and that’s what you see today.

Shelby at the marker placed near the tree.

Period pieces neatly displayed
inside Clarke House.

Get the Keno Brothers on the phone!

Gen. (and Bro.) Mercer died in this room. Not in this particular bed, but in the room.

I wonder what tobacco in the eighteenth century tasted like. I know there were makers of smoking tobaccos and snuffs in England (Kendal) around that time that employed techniques appreciated still today, but in the colonies? I assume it was pretty rough and rudimentary, with strong nicotine hits. Drying, aging, curing, etc. Did they know to do these systematically or at all? 

 

     

‘MLMA day in Trenton & Philly’

    

Most of the gang at the MLMA annual meeting last month at the Trenton Masonic Temple in New Jersey, home state of outgoing President Glenn Visscher, front right.

So I’d better get started recapping the great Masonic weekends I’ve enjoyed recently. I’m going to start in the middle with the annual meeting of the Masonic Library and Museum Association on Saturday, September 6, which spanned two states.

I missed the Friday night dinner, but arrived at the Hilton in Jersey on Saturday morning to find the group in great spirits and ready for a long day of work and play. There are two news items that merit sharing here.

1. The peaceful transfer of power was completed during the meeting, and the MLMA leadership for the next two years is comprised of President Dirk Hughes, of the Michigan Masonic Museum and Library; Vice President Julia Wells, of the Iowa Masonic Library & Museum; Tyler Vanice, from the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, remains as Secretary; and Eric Trosdahl, of St. Paul Lodge Number Three in Minnesota, is setting a record for longevity as our Treasurer.

2. Future annual meetings of the association are scheduled.

2026: Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library and Museum of the Grand Lodge of New York, in New York City.

2027: Masonic Library & Museum of the Grand Lodge of Washington, in Washington State.

2028: Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, in Lexington, Massachusetts.

2029: Saint Paul Lodge Number Three in Minnesota.

Our meeting last month was hosted by the Trenton Masonic Temple in Trenton, New Jersey, home of the Museum of Masonic Culture which has been curated by outgoing MLMA President Glenn Visscher and his family since, I think, the 1990s. Then we rode the Shriners’ “trolley” to the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia for a tour of the building, including its Library & Museum, all arranged by Moises Gomez. Having been to the Philly temple often and recently, I didn’t shoot many photos, so what follows is a selection from the Trenton temple, its museum, and one lodge room.

New President Dirk Hughes, at right, explains some
of the nuances of museum curating.

New Jersey’s research lodge used to meet in this room.

The West of the same room.

The first minutes of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey.

I didn’t realize a few details about the mysterious lodge
at Basking Ridge were at our fingertips.

New Jersey has a Crudeli bust too!
Sorry for the glare.

In the museum room.

It’s not a museum, in my view, without tobacciana,
although I believe this is a match safe, not a snuff box.

I love these menageries fashioned by creative brethren.

Make Masonic material culture great again!

Remember when grand lodge law books could fit
in your jacket pocket? Good times.

The Royal Arch apron of John Scott, MEGHP
of the Grand Chapter of New Jersey in 1826
and the namesake of my chapter, Scott No. 4.

While we were enjoying the Museum of Masonic Culture,
Glenn and Mark recorded a promo for their podcast,
The Rite Stuff, seen on YouTube. Click here.

     

‘Huguenot Lodge to host Maynard Edwards‘

    

Huguenot Lodge 46 will host a special guest speaker next Tuesday. The publicity:

Click to enlarge.

I’d love to get there that night, but the cabletow is what it is. Huguenot 46 will reach its 230th anniversary next March. Hopefully I’ll be able to attend the celebration then.

     

‘Finally got to visit Masons’ Hall’

    

The view of Masons’ Hall in Richmond, Virginia from across East Franklin Street.

Last weekend, I finally got to visit Masons’ Hall in Richmond, Virginia—add it to your Masonic bucket list. As fraternal destinations go, it’s one of those places that creaks with history and embraces you in a certain atmosphere that defies description. (And long deceased lodge brethren are known to inhabit the building, if you know what I mean.) Attentive readers of The Magpie Mason have noticed a link, along the left side of the page, that has been alerting you for many years to the fundraising effort to maintain this singular historic site.

Most of the brethren present for CWLR’s communication last weekend.

Anyway, about twenty of us were in attendance for Civil War Lodge of Research 1865’s Stated Communication last Saturday, the 11th. The lodge holds its meetings around Virginia and beyond, thanks to dispensations, to pair our gatherings with visits to historic sites relevant to the U.S. Civil War. The capital city of the Commonwealth of Virginia certainly is an apt choice for such a calling, but rather than delve into the saga of that conflict, this time we celebrated this engrossing building with a detailed tour and an in-depth discussion of what has happened within its walls.

It is the home of Richmond Randolph Lodge 19. The brethren describe it as “America’s oldest continuously used Masonic lodge room in America’s oldest continuous Masonic lodge building.” Richmond Lodge 10 was chartered in 1780. Five years later, the cornerstone of Masons’ Hall was laid to become the meeting place of both the lodge and the Grand Lodge of Virginia. So, you know how, in early America, Masonic lodge buildings served their communities by doubling as town halls, court houses, post offices, schools, etc., and that was true in this case.

The Randolph in the lodge’s name memorializes Founding Father Edmund Randolph, member of Richmond Lodge 10, delegate to the Continental Congress, first U.S. Attorney General, etc. However, I think the biggest name associated with No. 19 would be John Marshall, also of Richmond 10, who was a building trustee, kept his law office inside, and presided over the court that convened there. He became Chief Justice of the United States in 1801, and served in that capacity until his death in 1835. The lodge performed his Masonic funeral service at nearby Shockoe Hill Cemetery. George Washington? There is no record of him visiting the place, although it is believed to be very likely that he, as U.S. president, had been there on government business during the 1790s.

One hero very much documented visiting was the Marquis de Lafayette, who made a stop in 1824 during his farewell tour of the country. The lodge commissioned a portrait, which normally is on display inside, but currently is on loan to the governor for exhibit as part of the America: Made in Virginia celebration. Click here.

Even Edgar Allan Poe appears in the lodge’s story. While not a Freemason, he became part of Lafayette’s entourage, so he was on hand for the dignitary’s visit. His mother, an actress, is known to have performed at the lodge shortly before her death in 1811 at age twenty-four. In 1860, the Prince of Wales—the future King Edward VII and future Freemason—toured the lodge building. You have to expect these things when you’re situated for centuries at the crux of so many notable persons and events, and the stories of the lodge’s brethren deserve their own recounting.

The East of the lodge room.

I think it was said this was acquired in the 1920s.

 

There’s a chapter room
on the second floor.

My thanks to both Bro. Joyner, for the post-meeting in-depth guided tour, and to Bro. Crocker, for the pre-meeting look around. It is an amazing place which I hope to visit again.

Apron of Thomas U. Dudley, 1834.

I have many more photos and memories, but blogging takes too much time. Civil War Lodge of Research 1865 will meet again Saturday, December 6 at our home lodge, Babcock 184, in Highland Springs to celebrate our thirtieth anniversary. See you there.

Watch this on YouTube.

     

‘The return of The Magic Flute’

    

The Met

It’s almost time for The Magic Flute, Mozart’s Masonic opera, to return to The Met for its annual run. I promote this production every season both here on The Magpie and in my travels, but I never hear of Masons or lodges attending the show. As far as I can tell, the ticket price here is the only cost in New York City that hasn’t budged in years, but I digress. From the publicity:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s

The Magic Flute

The Metropolitan Opera

December 11-January 3

Tickets (from $35!) here

The Met’s family-friendly production of Mozart’s dazzling fairy tale returns, sung in English and running ninety minutes. Erina Yashima and Steven White share conducting duties, leading a standout cast in Julie Taymor’s magical staging. Tenors Joshua Blue and Paul Appleby share the role of Tamino, the brave prince on a quest to win the clever princess Pamina, sung by sopranos Erin Morley and Joélle Harvey. The cast also features tenors Joshua Hopkins and Michael Sumuel alternating as the luckless bird catcher Papageno. Sopranos Rainelle Krause and Aigul Khismatullina alternate as the Queen of the Night. Basses Matthew Rose and Alexander Köpeczi take turns as Sarastro.

Prior to the December 14 performance, children and families are welcome to join our Holiday Open House. The Open House is free to all ticket holders for the December 14 performance.

The Met

World Premiere: Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden, Vienna, 1791. A sublime fairy tale that moves freely between earthy comedy and noble mysticism, The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte in the original German) was written for a theater located just outside Vienna with the clear intention of appealing to audiences from all walks of life. The story is told in a singspiel (“song-play”) format characterized by separate musical numbers connected by dialogue and stage activity, an excellent structure for navigating the diverse moods, ranging from solemn to lighthearted, of the story and score.

The Met

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) was the son of a Salzburg court musician who exhibited him as a musical prodigy throughout Europe. His achievements in opera, in terms of beauty, vocal challenge, and dramatic insight, remain unsurpassed. He died three months after the premiere of Die Zauberflöte, his last produced work for the stage. The remarkable Emanuel Schikaneder (1751-1812) was an actor, singer, theater manager, and friend of Mozart who wrote the opera’s libretto, staged the work, and sang the role of Papageno in the initial run.

The libretto specifies Egypt as the location of the action. That country was traditionally regarded as the legendary birthplace of the Masonic fraternity, whose symbols and rituals populate this opera. Some productions include Egyptian motifs as an exotic nod to this idea, but most opt for a more generalized mythic ambience to convey the otherworldliness that the score and overall tone of the work call for.

The Met

Mozart and his librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder, created The Magic Flute with an eye toward a popular audience, but the varied tone of the work requires singers who can specialize in several different musical genres. The baritone Papageno represents the comic and earthy, the tenor Tamino and the soprano Pamina display true love in its noblest forms, the bass Sarastro expresses the solemn and the transcendental, and the Queen of the Night provides explosive vocal fireworks.

     

‘Eugenius Philalethes at Masonic Week’

    

I swore off attending Masonic Week several years ago so I may allocate my limited travel budget (both money and time) to other destinations, but I may have to revert to setting aside a February weekend in Virginia for the Philalethes Society. With the dissolution of the Masonic Society, the Friday night dinner slot again belongs to Philalethes and, on February 6, the Society will host its banquet at seven o’clock. From the publicity:

Philalethes Society Banquet

Friday, February 6, 7 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia

The Philalethes Society will host the Friday night banquet during Masonic Week 2026. Follow Your Guide: Thomas Vaughan and Freemasonry presented by Martin Faulks, FPS. 

The pseudonym “Eugenius Philalethes” itself carries significant esoteric and, eventually, Masonic weight. The earliest use of the name was Thomas Vaughan (1621-66), a Welsh clergyman, philosopher, and alchemist. Vaughan’s writings explored Rosicrucian philosophy, alchemy, and Christian Mysticism, and he was known as a member of the “Society of Unknown Philosophers.” While Vaughan predates the formal establishment and widespread influence of modern Freemasonry, his patron was Sir Robert Morray, who is known to have been a member of the Craft. In addition to this, we find many hints of Freemasonry in his alchemical works. Hoodwinked figures being led on journeys, experiences of being divested of metal, and much more can be found for those who have eyes to see. Likewise, Vaughan’s writing has also been quoted and included in the rituals and teaching of Masonic orders. In this talk, Martin Faulks will explore all these themes and showing connections that never have been noted before.

Martin Faulks

Bro. Faulks is a specialist in memory and meditation. Known for his demonstrations of recall and mind over matter, he has written more than twenty books on, or related to, the mind sciences. A keen student of philosophy, he has travelled the world to train with teachers of different traditions and cultures. His interest in history, self-development, and memory led him to Freemasonry, and he was initiated into Burlington Lodge 96 in December 2001, raised to the Third Degree in 2003, and he took the chair in 2009.

One of the earliest founded lodges in England, Burlington was the first ever to have an Inner Guard. It was also one of the two founding lodges of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement (which he still attends regularly), which went on to found Emulation Ritual, the most popular form of Craft ritual in the United Kingdom today. 

Having found a passion for Freemasonry, Bro. Faulks, who was at the time running a book distribution company, felt he would like to put more into the Craft and so approached David Allan to see if there was an opportunity with such an eminent firm as Lewis. He was first offered the position of Marketing Manager of the Lewis Masonic imprint in 2005 and later promoted to General Manager in 2012. In 2021 he took over the reins and became the new managing director of the company. Through his work with Lewis Masonic, he has made it his duty to help spread the good works of Freemasonry and promote a positive image of the Craft.

The banquet is open to all Masonic Week attendees and their guests. Tickets cost $65 each and are reserved via the Masonic Week 2026 website.

In addition to the banquet, Philalethes will host its 98th Annual Assembly the following morning. Click here for the entire itinerary of the weekend.

     

‘2025 AVDA finalists announced’

    

Among the news I had neglected during the summer is Magnus Geometra’s announcement of the finalists in this year’s Arcana Veritas Distinction Awards—several of whom are confessed Magpie readers—which must account for some of their success!

In the Masonic History Book category, three authors are:

▸ Robert L.D. Cooper for The Origins and History of the Order of Free Gardeners.

▸ Marshall J. Kern for The Master’s Emblem Explained for Masons.

▸ Sami Moubayed East of the Grand Umayyad: Freemasonry in Damascus 1868-1965.

Under Masonic Philosophy and Symbolism Books, the authors are:

▸ Ronald A. Albright for Masonic Commedia: Freemasonry and the Divine Comedy.

▸ Julian Rees for Tracing Boards of the Three Degrees in Craft Freemasonry Explained (Second Edition).

▸ Travis Trinca for The Temple and the Vault.

The three writers of Masonic White Papers are: 

▸ Cameron Adamson for “It’s More Than a Game.”

▸ Marshall J. Kern for “James Agar Biography.”

▸ Matthew Arian Siami for “From Stone to Temple: The Psychological Transformation of Identity in Freemasonry.”

Please take some time to read about these scholars and their works here.

The judges are David Cameron, David Harrison, and Stuart Clelland, and you can read about them here.

The awards ceremony will be hosted inside Freemasons’ Hall in Edinburgh on Wednesday, November 26.

Lately I’ve been feeling anxious about never having written anything that could be entered for such a consideration. Sadly, I have the attention span of a puppy, so I can’t think of a worthy subject to pursue. I suppose blogging will have to do for now.

Click here to book for November 26.

     

‘Buy these books to celebrate Virginia’s 250th’

    

In addition to what, I’m sure, will be many 2026 Masonic festivities for the 250th anniversary of the Founding of the United States via our Declaration of Independence, and many more 250th commemorations of more Founding events, there will be Masonic milestones too. The Grand Lodge of Virginia, the oldest independent Masonic grand lodge in the country, was organized on this date in 1778. (I’m not talking about provincial grand lodges and other embryony that date to the 1730s. I mean specifically post-Declaration grand lodges in the United States.) Now, the Virginia brethren have allied with Macoy Masonic Supply Co. to contribute to the fundraising for a suitable semiquincentennial celebration.

Books are for sale!

From the publicity:

We are already getting prepared for 2028 when the Grand Lodge of Virginia will be celebrating its 250th anniversary. To keep the costs down so all members can participate, we are creating new ways to raise funds and still serve the Craft in a meaningful way.

The Grand Lodge of Virginia has proudly partnered with the oldest Masonic publisher and supplier—Virginia’s own Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc.—by offering Virginia Masons an exclusive opportunity to be the first to purchase a small piece of Masonic history. 

Over the years, the estates of brethren who have passed to the celestial lodge above donate the books from the departed brethren’s libraries. Some of these books are bought and sold by rare book collectors because they date back to the 1700s and 1800s. Other books are more valuable because of the Masonic knowledge they have within their pages. Many have signatures in the front from brothers who were members of lodges all over the state.

Click here.

Periodically, this collection will be refreshed and additional books will be added to the site. If you would like to receive updates and get more information on the books that are available, please click here and Macoy will send you emails as new items are added to the site.

All proceeds of these book sales will go directly to the 250th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Thank you for your time and consideration, and we hope you enjoy this exciting opportunity!

1778 Society

In addition, Grand Lodge has created the 1778 Society to streamline fundraising for the semiquincentennial festivities. At this time, orders are being taken for breast jewels to be given in recognition of gifts to the Society. Donor levels are Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, and you can read more about that here.

Magpie coverage of Saturday’s meeting of Civil War Lodge of Research 1865 in Richmond is forthcoming, but it was a great day and I’m glad I made the trip.