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October? Already?
Well, on the plus side, I’m looking forward to this month’s meetings of Civil War Lodge of Research in Virginia, and both the MLMA and The ALR here in the city. And, I’ve been told the October Short Talk Bulletin is to be the one I sent to the Masonic Service Association in late August.
When I was Master of New Jersey’s research lodge, I had the idea of getting our prolific writers to submit drafts to the MSA for consideration as STBs. That didn’t come together and, for the next two decades, I personally procrastinated, forgot, and otherwise never got it done. The October topic is Thaddeus Mason Harris (1768-1842), the renowned Massachusetts Mason who authored some of the ritual many of us in the United States use in our lodges. Maybe you are familiar with:
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| RW Thaddeus Mason Harris |
‣ The Ancient Prayer, at making or Opening (“...where two or three are gathered together in thy name…”);
‣ Charge at the Closing of a Lodge (“You are now to quit this sacred retreat of friendship and virtue, to mix again with the world…”);
‣ A Prayer used at closing the Lodge (“May the blessing of Heaven rest upon us, and all regular masons! May brotherly love prevail, and every moral and social virtue cement us.”); and more.
To see the whole picture, read Harris’ book from 1801 titled Discourses, Delivered on Public Occasions, Illustrating the Principles, Displaying the Tendency, and Vindicating the Design, of Free Masonry (known as Discourses, for short).
My thanks to Mark Tabbert for encouraging me to send in something but, I’ll tell ya, I’ve been writing for publication since 1985, and I’ve never been edited like this. I’m not used to being edited at all, really, except an occasional tweak so an editor can say he did something. This was a learning experience. But don’t let that deter you!
Mark is looking for approximately 1,300 words on Masonic history, symbolism, charity, etc. He says he’s all set for the remainder of this year, but e-mail him here. I’m working on my next two.
Big changes are coming to the MSANA, so let’s support them with a $20 subscription. Click here.
