The Magpie Mason

The Magpie Mason is an obscure journalist in the Craft who writes, with occasional flashes of superficial cleverness, about Freemasonry’s current events and history; literature and art; philosophy and pipe smoking. He is a Past Master of both The American Lodge of Research in New York City and of New Jersey Lodge of Masonic Research and Education 1786; and also is at labor in Virginia’s Civil War Lodge of Research 1865. He is a past president of the lamented Masonic Society as well.

Saturday, October 10, 2026

‘Alma: a night at the opera’

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     Tickets here . I’m not at all embarrassed to admit everything I know of Alma Mahler comes from the Tom Lehrer song, but I’ve known ever...
Friday, October 9, 2026

‘Meditation techniques at Livingston Library’

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     “A light heart lives long.” William Shakespeare Love’s Labour’s Lost The Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library offers a chang...
Thursday, October 8, 2026

‘James Royal Case award this month’

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           Things Masonic sometimes are denominated in threes, and  Connecticut’s Masonic Lodge of Research 401 has settled on its tertiary ...
Wednesday, October 7, 2026

‘Research chapter to meet in Manhattan’

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           Thomas Smith Webb Chapter of Research 1798 will meet this month…in Manhattan! The companions will hold their convocation in Maso...
Tuesday, October 6, 2026

‘Grand Master’s Day reset for April’

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     I’m late with this, but I’m sure the word got out before anyone went to Tappan only to find the place deserted. See you next April.    ...
Monday, October 5, 2026

‘MMRI telethon in just 24 hours’

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     UPDATE: When they had to sign off at 8:45, more than $409,000 had been raised! We are now a mere twenty-four hours from the start of t...
Sunday, October 4, 2026

‘Librarians poised to take Manhattan!’

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     The summer issue of The Page & Pillars , the newsletter of the Masonic Library and Museum Association , hit inboxes last week (actu...
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Saturday, October 3, 2026

‘This month at The ALR’

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     Bro. James Harding’s traveling document, 1756, Philadelphia. The American Lodge of Research will begin its new year in a few weeks with...
Friday, October 2, 2026

‘Led Zeppelin: Alchemical Quartet’

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     This just in: Alaska’s research lodge will meet Saturday via videoconference for a talk on symbolism and music. From the publicity: L...
Thursday, October 1, 2026

‘Be sure to read this month’s Short Talk Bulletin’

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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 ...
Wednesday, September 30, 2026

‘Tickets on sale for Oscar Night’

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     The particulars of Oscar Night—that is, the Deputy Grand Master’s Dinner—have been posted. Click here , and hope to see you there.     ...
Tuesday, September 29, 2026

‘New Haven Masonic Temple’s centenary’

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     Quinta Essential 500 Click to enlarge. Thank you for reading The Magpie Mason . Today we begin our nineteenth—and most likely penultima...
Monday, September 28, 2026

‘Alcyone Equinox Journal launches’

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     Just after the Autumn Equinox, word comes of a new publication’s launch. From the publicity: Brethren, I am proud to announce the relea...
Sunday, September 27, 2026

‘A word about post-nominals’

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    The Committee on Correspondence chairman received third billing on the title page of the book of proceedings, after only the Grand High ...
Saturday, September 26, 2026

‘Kopenski to bring Sherer to Ebenezer’

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     There’s a lot to be said for still employing Masonic carpets, tracing boards, and other narrative art used in lodge during degrees gene...
Friday, September 25, 2026

‘Joshua Associations still exist!’

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     Magpie file photo The East of Oriental Hall, Masonic Temple, Philadelphia. The Joshua Association will meet therein Monday night. I had...
3 comments:
Thursday, September 24, 2026

‘Civil War Lodge to take Hampton’

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     Speaking of the Civil War (see Tuesday’s post below), Civil War Lodge of Research 1865 , one of Virginia’s six lodges of Masonic resea...
Wednesday, September 23, 2026

‘Freemasonry, Immigration, and the Making of Early America’

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     Click to enlarge. If you missed Glenn Kreisberg at the Ulster County Historical Society two months ago, you can catch him soon at the S...
Tuesday, September 22, 2026

‘Masonic Bonds in the Civil War’

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     Among his many jobs, our very own St. John the Evangelist is one of the patron saints of authors, so it is extra fortuitous when a Brot...
Monday, September 21, 2026

‘Book sale at the Washington Memorial’

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     On November 12, 1912, Spanish Prime Minister José Canalejas y Méndez was assassinated* by an anarchist (typical) while shopping for boo...
Sunday, September 20, 2026

‘2027 Cambridge Conference plans’

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     Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076 (EC) is the first Masonic lodge of research, having been set to labor 140 years ago. At this time, there ar...
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