‘That Freemason Mark in Manhattan’

     
RW Bro. Mark “That Freemason Mark” Koltko-Rivera, Past Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of New York and Masonic author, has a few speaking engagements upcoming at Masonic Hall.

On Wednesday, he will present “The Future of Freemasonry” at Kosciuszko Lodge 1085. Master Masons only. 7:30 p.m. in the French Doric Room on 10. From the publicity:

Mark Koltko-Rivera

In this presentation, much like Charles Dickens’ “Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come,” RW Bro. Mark Koltko-Rivera describes two distinct potential futures for Freemasonry—one very dark, and one very bright. He also describes how we will reach one or the other of these futures entirely on the basis of our choices as Freemasons. Come and learn how what you and your lodge will determine the future of our fraternity.


Mark also will visit Joshua Lodge 890 Wednesday, October 10 to present his lecture “The Vision and Mission of Masonry.”

That’s 7 p.m. Apprentice and Fellows are welcome! From the publicity:


Freemasonry has been described many ways over the past three centuries. Most of these obscure the fact that the fraternity has very specific purposes and distinctive objectives. In other words, Masonry has both a vision and a mission. In this presentation, RW Bro. Mark Koltko-Rivera explains precisely what this vision and mission are, and how we, as Freemasons, can further this mission and actualize this vision.

Come to learn more about the vision and objectives of Freemasonry; leave with inspiration and determination to make that vision real, and fulfill those objectives.

RW Bro. Mark Koltko-Rivera, Ph.D., is a Past Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New York. He was raised a Master Mason in Winter Park Lodge 239 in Florida. Having moved to the New York City area, he is now also a member of Heritage Lodge 371 and Joshua Lodge 890, which meet at Masonic Hall in Manhattan.

He is the author of three books on Freemasonry: Freemasonry: An Introduction, The Mysteries of Freemasonry, and his latest The Resurgence of Freemasonry: Why Masonry Must Not Just Survive But Thrive—and How Masons and Their Lodges Can Make That Happen.

He holds a doctorate in psychology from New York University. At MEKR Consulting, he is a foresight consultant for the business and investment communities. He also consults to Masonic grand lodges on membership issues.
     

'Installation'

     

A very late night at The American Lodge of Research, but most of the officers were installed safely, with a few by proxy. Our new Worshipful Master is Gil Ferrer, of Shakespeare Lodge and Kosciuszko Lodge. I'm Senior Deacon.

The Master's inaugural paper concerned the origins and evolution of Freemasonry in India. Inspired by Gil's travels there, this paper tells of the first lodges in India, and the first initiations of Indian men into the Craft, which opened my eyes to a few things. Also the various religious beliefs took some time to define. A very informative presentation. Look for it in the next book of transactions.

    

‘Lauding a Peasant Prince’

    


Bro. Erik at the podium.

Kosciuszko Lodge No. 1085 met Wednesday night for the visit of the DDGM and to hear Bro. Erik speak on the life and times of Tadeusz Kosciuszko. A genuinely fascinating man! And not a Freemason either.

Kosciuszko is a familiar name to us in the New York area, thanks largely to the bridge named for him that connects Brooklyn and Queens, which is invoked every rush hour in traffic reports. The truth is there are many monuments to this man; America and the world are indebted to him. Hugely.

I didn’t take notes, but what I learned includes:

• Kosciuszko gave his soldier’s salary from the American Revolution to Thomas Jefferson for the purpose of buying slaves – to free them.
• Kosciuszko built West Point. He also devised the plan that led to victory at the Battle of Saratoga.
• In Poland, he tried to free the serfs and obtain civil rights for peasants and Jews, going as far as establishing an all Jewish cavalry to fight the Russian army – the first Jewish fighting force since biblical days.
• His name is quite the shibboleth. It actually is not pronounced the New York way (Kos-Key-YOOS-Ko), but is pronounced correctly in a manner I cannot frame.

He is a giant in human history, and it was a real pleasure to hear him memorialized in this unique lodge.

Bro. Erik’s primary source material is the biography The Peasant Prince by Alex Storozynski, a text evidently held in great esteem by a number of the lodge brethren. As if I need something more in my To Read list, I’ll get to this one some day.




Worshipful Master Derrick presents the DDGM a bronze likeness
of Kosciuszko Lodge's namesake.