‘NEW BOOK: Masonic Almanac’

     

The first volume of a collaboration of Mark Tabbert and John “Bo” Cline is available now!

(I get excited about these things.)

Almanac of American Freemasonry 1730-1774 is: “the listing and activities of every known Masonic lodge in North America from 1730 to 1774. This information is presented chronologically, by colony, and by chartering source.”

Get it through Lulu here.

Also from the publicity:

The information therein contained is unparalleled. Proceeds of the book will pay for new editions and the publication of Vol 2: 1775-1799 which is 50 percent completed.

Foreword by Shawn E. Eyer.

Contents:

• Glossary of Terms, Abbreviations, and Contractions
• Part One: Chronology of Masonic Events (1730 — 1774)
• Part Two: Chronology of Lodges by Colony and Location
• Part Three: Lodges in North America by Chartering Source
• Part Four: Lodges in North America by Colony

Appendices:

• British Military and Colonial Militia Lodges in North America
• Lodges in Canada
• Caribbean Lodges
• Biographies of American Provincial Grand Masters
• Famous American Freemasons
• Bibliography
• Alphabetical Listing of Lodges (1730-1774)

You know the authors. Bro. Mark Tabbert is the Director of Collections at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. He is a member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076 in London, and is the author of several other books. And Mark was a member of the Masonic Society’s Board of Directors for a number of years. The late Bro. Bo Cline served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alaska and then was the President of the Masonic Society from 2012 to 2014. We lost him to the Lodge on High last July. Bo was a great friend to have.

     

‘Bo Cline, R.I.P.’

     

MW Bo Cline, 2013

Very sorry to share the sad news of the death of MW Bro. John R. “Bo” Cline, a friend through The Masonic Society, where he served as our third (2012-14) President, and a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alaska.

Getting to know him was a big part of the fun of Masonic Week. A sizable contingent from New York would attend (this was years ago), so I knew a bunch of the regulars, but meeting a Brother all the way from Alaska was pretty exotic! It was a pleasure to be in his company. Honestly, he was who you want to picture when thinking of who should be a Freemason, and who a Freemason should be.

During his tenure as Masonic Society President, I found myself in a lot of trouble with my then grand lodge (I’m safely in New York now). The kind of trouble that starkly and instantly reveals who your friends are. A hundred of my close personal friends forgot my name in about thirty seconds, but Bo Cline penned a letter to that grand lodge advocating on my behalf. I think the only immediate effect it made was to give me something to smile about—that “Bo, you kook!” kind of smile—but of course the secondary result was to teach an appreciation for honor at a moment when I believed the fraternity was lacking it.


“The Lambskin, or white apron, was the first gift of Freemasonry to our departed brother. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Freemason. We are reminded here of the universal dominion of death. The arm of friendship cannot interpose to prevent his coming; the wealth of the world cannot purchase exemption; nor will the innocence of youth or the charms of beauty change his purpose.”


Alas, my Brother.
     

‘Journal No. 30 is out’

     

Issue No. 30 of The Journal of the Masonic Society is in the mail now, providing indispensible insights into things Masonic to members of The Masonic Society and to non-member subscribers. Click here to join us.

In other news, the bustling Forum, our on-line place for discussion among paid members, has been reborn in time for a new year. Thanks to Bro. Nathan, the change is from phpBB, which is fraught with technical inferiorities, to XenForo, which is a contemporary platform with a better look and improved functionality. I just logged on, and I’m very pleased with the results.

And don’t forget our upcoming annual meeting. Click here for details.

But about the new Journal: Progress, even when arrested, seems to be a theme.

Bo Cline, a Past Grand Master of Alaska and a Past President of The Masonic Society, gives us “Ahead of Their Time: The Grand Lodge of Washington, and the Aborted Recognition of Prince Hall Freemasonry” in which he recounts the story of William Henry Upton.

Upton was grand master of the Grand Lodge of Washington at the close of the nineteenth century—so you see how incomprehensively ahead of his time he was—when he guided the grand lodge through the revolutionary process of extending recognition of Prince Hall Masons in Washington.

Of course it was not to endure (it wasn’t until 1990 that the two grand lodges in Washington established relations), but the details are amazing.

Executive Editor Michael Halleran, a Past Grand Master of Kansas, suggests “Let Him Wait with Patience?” in which he analyzes the effects of the crazy membership drives on Freemasonry in the United States. This is not a familiar retelling of the arguments over one-day classes and other exertions to boost membership; Halleran follows “doctrinal shifts” in Masonic history to form his bold conclusion summarizing where Masons are today, and hinting at where we must go tomorrow.

And one aspect of Masonic progress that is near to my heart is communications, namely those strategized by lodges to maintain a consistent reputation and relevance within their communities. Here, Ms. Emily Limón, the Grand Lodge of California’s vice president of communications and the executive editor of California Freemason magazine, outlines her plan for a professional Masonic awareness campaign. And—Hey!—it’s not about membership development. Owned media and shared media; paid media and earned media; goals and results are explained clearly. Freemasonry has a unique reason for being, she says, and strategic communications “can make all the difference in motivating members, educating the public, and moving the organization forward for future generations.”

(Not for nothing, but I was saying that to anyone who would listen fifteen years ago in my home jurisdiction. The closest I came to any success was seeing the PR committee in another jurisdiction brazenly plagiarize my Masonic media plan.)

In his “Thoughts on the Craft,” Stephen J. Ponzillo, Past Grand Master of Maryland (To be clear, it is not necessary to be a grand master to write for The Journal of the Masonic Society!) explains demographic changes in Freemasonry, drawing a conclusion about today’s youngest Master Masons that may be surprising to a certain kind of thinker stuck in the past.

Elsewhere in the name of progress in this edition of The Journal, President Jim Dillman of Indiana writes of “New Horizons for the Masonic Society” in his eighth and final President’s Message. He does not say goodbye as he welcomes Ken Davis to the presidency, but promises to continue serving The Masonic Society for as long as he has something to offer. And that he has. TMS is planning several historic initiatives to be unveiled in the near future. (Actually, we will share some of this information at our annual meeting next month.) The Masonic world is going to take a new look at The Masonic Society.

In other regular features of The Journal, Masonic Collectibles by Yasha Beresiner shares several hilarious vintage Masonic postcards. Book reviews delve into new titles (John Bizzack’s Taking Issue and the long awaited Masonic Perspectives by Thomas W. Jackson, for starters) and a classic text from eighteenth century German Enlightenment.

Membership in The Masonic Society costs only $39 a year—the best money you’ll spend on a Masonic affiliation outside your lodge. January 1 is a great time to start.
     

‘The five year niche’

     
The Masonic Society marked its fifth year in the service of Freemasonry in May, and President Bo Cline has announced that TMS will commemorate the occasion with the release of a new jewel its members may wear.

Bo says on Facebook:

“In commemoration of the fifth anniversary of our founding, I am proud to announce that The Masonic Society has commissioned a special medallion to be given to new members who join between May 1, 2013 and April 30, 2014. This beautiful medallion was designed and created by our good friend and brother John Bridegroom, and will be mailed to new members along with their patents, member pin, and member card. If you are not already a member, you may be able to apply online here.

“Soon, current members will be able to order this medallion, for a nominal cost (including shipping and handling), from The Masonic Society store.

“Thank you all for your continued support of The Masonic Society.”

Courtesy The Masonic Society

If you somehow do not know, The Masonic Society was founded in 2008, filling a niche in the field of Masonic education by uniting researchers, educators, writers, publishers, curators, and brethren of all backgrounds in their shared enjoyment of exchanging information and ideas. The fruits of the labor are found in the pages of The Journal of The Masonic Society, its quarterly periodical, the twentieth issue of which is out now. Membership is the best $39 you'll ever spend in Masonry.