‘Piers Vaughan at the Valley’

     
The flier says it all, but take note of the “open to Master Masons” part.

Click to enlarge.

     

‘Ancient Tools for Our Modern World’

     
The Rosicrucians of New York City have a workshop planned for this weekend. “The Kabala, the Tarot, and the Tree of Life: Ancient Tools for Our Modern World” will take place Saturday the 27th (St. John the Evangelist Day) and Sunday the 28th at 10 a.m. at the Rosicrucian Cultural Center, located at 2303 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard in Manhattan. From the publicity:

This workshop will include a review of ancient lessons of Kabala, the Tree of Life and the Tarot as well as the Modern Lesson of the process of Cell Division (Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase).

The principles gleaned from these studies will help turn around our lives for the better; using resources that are dormant in each of us. The discussion will lead us on the path of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. It will help discover the DNA of happiness, success in business, family relationships, true love, financial independence, peace of mind, access to riches not destroyed by time and making our daily living an unparalleled success and a life of profound satisfaction.

The workshop will discuss the origin and development of the Cell and DNA, the Kabala, the Tree of life, Tarot, the Holy Scriptures, and the principles that guide our affairs.

The facilitator of this workshop, Fratre Ben Ogunkua, MD, Ph.D. was a Past Master of the Traditional Martinist Order. He helped with the re-establishment of TMO in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. and served as Provincial Master of TMO for the Mid-Atlantic Region for more than a decade. Fratre Ben is a physician and a researcher in the Biomedical Sciences. He is an accomplished artist who is versed in the techniques of the Flemish Masters and Classical European Artists in Oil Medium. Brother Ben has given many lectures in “The Kabala, the Tree of Life and the Tarot” in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

Many of the lectures have been opened to the public and some of the lectures are restricted to advanced students of the Mysteries who are affiliated members. Fratre Ben has also given many talks on the “Cell” the unit of life and the how the cell and functions can be understood using the ancient Tools of the Mysteries.

The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A convocation for AMORC members will follow the workshop at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
     

‘Tree of Life Seminars’

    
The brethren of the Scottish Rite of Washington, DC and the fratres of the Masonic Rosicrucians of DC will co-host a series of seminars beginning next month, featuring knowledgeable speakers offering eight approaches to learning about the Tree of Life as a “Pathway to Enlightenment.”

More great news: one need not be physically present in DC. These sessions will be available via the web. Admission to all eight seminars, whether in person or via the internet, costs $90, but those who register before Saturday, March 10 will benefit from a discount, bringing the total cost to $75.

You can’t go to the movies eight times for $75. Or $90.

The schedule: All sessions will take place on Sundays, from 4 to 6 p.m. Panelists for discussion: TBA.

March 25 – Kabbalah and the Tree of Life, Pathway to Enlightenment, presented by Dr. Darryl Carter.

April 22 – Sufism and the Tree of Life, Pathway to Enlightenment, presented by Dr. Julianne Hazen, Director of Sufi Studies, Sufi Center, Medina, New York.

May 20 – Vedanta Yoga and the Tree of Life, Pathway to Enlightenment, presented by Ill. George R. Adams, 33°, GC.

June 17 – Science and the Tree of Life, Pathway to Enlightenment, presented by Dr. Pierre Gaujard, Physicist.

September 16 – Buddhism and the Tree of Life, Pathway to Enlightenment, presented by Ven. Bhante Katugastota Uparatana, Buddhist Chaplain, American University, Washington.

October 7 – Esoteric Christianity and the Tree of Life, Pathway to Enlightenment, presented by Fratre Marcel Derouches.

October 21 – Taoism and the Tree of Life, Pathway to Enlightenment, presented by Dr. Darryl Carter.

November 11 – Freemasonry and the Tree of Life, Pathway to Enlightenment, presented by Ill. George R. Adams.

Read about the presenters here.
   

‘The fruits of labor at Alpha’

     

W. Bro. David Lindez, left, receives the thanks of Alpha Lodge No. 116 from Worshipful Master Kevin and District Deputy Grand Master Fred Waldron Wednesday night. David was Master last year.

We enjoyed a nice evening at Alpha Lodge the other night with a fun, interactive program complemented by a heartfelt gesture by the lodge in salute to its junior Past Master.

The meeting began with Worshipful Master Kevin calling W. Bro. David Lindez to the East, where he was presented with an etched golden plaque commemorating his service to Alpha Lodge in 2009 – when The Magpie Mason conferred upon it the nickname “The Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex County.” If you read this blog with any regularity last year, you learned of the world renowned lecturers and other visitors who made stops at Alpha Lodge, surely testaments to W. Bro. Lindez’s qualities as a man and a Mason. Bro. Rob Morton, Senior Warden, was summoned to the East for the purpose of awarding David his Past Master’s jewel and ring.

The program for the evening was a multifaceted group presentation united under a theme one might term “The fruits of labor.” Five presenters took turns in a kind of show-and-tell format, giving talks and displaying items to make the point that working hard in Freemasonry yields benefits of health and happiness, with the possibility of acceptance into Masonry’s invitational and honorary orders to boot.

Bro. Gerard, recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land, spoke on the Tree of Life, pointing out the parallels between this timeless esoteric map of the spirit to the meaning of Masonry. Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty are not only supports of a lodge; they epitomize vigorous health of psyche, body, and spirit.

W. Bro. Franklin of Nutley Lodge No. 25, also recently passed from the Master’s chair, likewise worked wonders during his year in the East, dispensing Light to the brethren with the help of an impressive itinerary of guest lecturers and with a variety of very enjoyable activities. You may have read about these meetings on this blog also.

Left: W. Bro. Franklin displays his replica George Washington apron.

Right: Bro. Gerard explains the Tree of Life.

Franklin talked frankly about what Masonry means to him, and what he has gained from his experience as Worshipful Master. For “Show and Tell,” he gave the brethren an eyeful of the beautiful apron his lodge gave him. Not the constitutionally mandated lambskin bordered with purple grosgrain–although he got one of those too–but a wonderful reproduction of the apron presented to Bro. George Washington in 1784 by the Marquis de Lafayette.

Bro. José, also from Nutley Lodge, and a newly initiated brother of the Allied Masonic Degrees, spoke enthusiastically of the AMD. Franklin and José are among the charter members of Alexandria Council No. 478, one of the four(!) AMD councils chartered in New Jersey in 2009.

José displayed AMD regalia (aprons, breast jewels, etc.), connecting each piece to its corresponding degree, and explained these time honored degrees, sometimes with the help of W. Lindez.

Bro. José displays the miniature jewels of the AMD.

Yours truly spoke of The Masonic Society, careful to point out how membership is not invitational, and that all that is required is a curious mind desirous of further Light in Masonry. Circulating copies of all six issues published thus far of The Journal of The Masonic Society, I explained the philosophy of the publisher: to offer a top quality periodical that delivers solid scholarship, colorful current events, insightful opinion, fiction, poetry, helpful advertisements, and more – the way the excellent Masonic magazines of the early 20th century did, but this time with state-of-the-art layout and design.

The Magpie Mason does a lot of work in Freemasonry–frankly, more than is healthy–and nothing instills more pride than my association with The Masonic Society. Since introducing ourselves in 2008, membership in the Society has grown to more than 1,000. Issue No. 7 of The Journal is now arriving in our members’ mailboxes, and our on-line discussion forum is buzzing with 650 members discussing 3,300 topics. And we’re getting ready for our second annual Gathering and Banquet on February 12 in Alexandria, Virginia at Masonic Week. In addition, local events, called Second Circle meetings, are taking place all over the United States and Canada, with one in the works for Britain too! It is exhilarating to eyewitness such success.

After my spiel, several other Masonic Society members rose spontaneously to say how much they too love the magazine. José said when he receives each new issue of The Journal, he stays awake late into the night reading it from cover to cover. That was one of the more tame endorsements offered. And then, our Master of Ceremonies thoughtfully held up a stack of Masonic Society membership applications, asking “Who wants one of these?” Nearly every brother in the room stuck out a hand to get one. Thanks for that, guys.

And speaking of our intrepid Master of Ceremonies, it was none other than X who brought us all together, kept us all on topic, and thematically tied together our presentations... with calisthenics thrown in too! (The Magpie Mason is unable to share the memorable photo of the exercising, for fear of being pummeled.) Seriously though, think about that. Imagine a couple of minutes near the start of a lodge meeting devoted to some simple stretching exercises to get the blood circulating, awakening the body and mind. I’m a strong advocate of adding a moment of silence to the early minutes of a meeting for the sake of tranquility, but the perfect complement to this would be, let’s say, a “moment of motion!” Just a minute of stretching arms, legs, back, and neck to maintain alertness. (Or maybe your lodge has no one napping on the sidelines!)

X’s own talk included a show-and-tell display of the replica claymore given to him in thanks by his grateful commandery, the excellent Trinity No. 17. But more importantly he shared with us the numerous pieces of “bling” (his word). In what really could be the most important remarks of the evening, thanks to their candor and brevity, X said these beautiful aprons, medals, jewels, collars, sashes, and swords are not to be treasured for their impressive appearances or intrinsic values, but they must be seen as symbols of the intangible: the spreading of Brotherly Love, the readiness to extend Relief, the resolute upholding of Truth. It was a blunt challenge to our senses of duty and honor which, to be honest, needs to be heard much more often in this fraternity. I’m sure we all have seen instances of titles and privileges being bestowed with undue generosity, which of course devalues the fraternity itself, to say nothing of reducing its regalia to gimcrackery.

Yes, it was a great night at Alpha. As usual.


The Magpie Mason will be the guest lecturer at Alpha Lodge’s Regular Communication of Wednesday, May 26. Topic: “Death: Why I’m Looking Forward to It!”
     

Rose Circle, Part III

From left: Master of Ceremonies Rob Morton, R.A. Gilbert, Piers Vaughan and David Lindez.


The trilogy of presentations given Saturday would be possible only at an event hosted by the Rose Circle Research Foundation. Three Rosicrucian scholars, all with international reputations, gathered at one podium to impart three unique perspectives of their common subject.

I'll say at the outset that I am restraining myself from quoting too extensively from these three presentations because the papers will be available to Rose Circle members via the Foundation's website. If you are reading this blog with any specific curiosity, you would benefit from Rose Circle membership.

Piers A. Vaughan spoke brilliantly on Alchemy in relation to the three degrees of Craft Masonry. There probably is not a way to collate all the information pertaining to Piers' work in Freemasonry and other initiatic societies. Here is how one Scottish Rite publication put it:

Bro. Piers Vaughan was initiated in Southwick Lodge No.7058 in England in 1979, and when he moved to the USA he affiliated with St. John’s Lodge No 1 in New York City, where he was Master in 1998. AGL of the First Manhattan District , High Priest of the Ancient Chapter No.1 RAM, Illustrious Master of Columbian Council No.1 Cryptic Masons, and Commander of Morton Commandery No. 4 KT, are just some of the Masonic functions that this Worthy Brother was or still is active in. As a Past Most Wise Master and a Ritual Director of the Chapter of Rose Croix, he greatly improved the standard of proficiency in this Body’s Ritual work and through his extensive knowledge of the Craft, and especially of the Rose Croix Degrees, has increased the understanding of the Rituals, Symbols and Tenets in the Chapters and in the Valley.

With wonderful illustrations projected by PowerPoint, Piers led a tour of sacred sites around the world, from Chartres to the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas, with pointed sightseeing of Green Man examples and other depictions of esoteric thought rendered in stone for the understanding of illiterate generations of long ago.

Part of his point is to demonstrate how alchemical images were built into medieval churches, on their walls, their arched entrances, stained glass windows and elsewhere. More than Western sacred spaces, Piers' visit to the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Hong Kong produced a photo of a statue of the newborn Buddha with one hand raised, pointing up, and the other hand lowered, pointing down, as if to say "As above, so below." (The word "gobsmacked" comes to mind, and that's not even a word I'd ever use.) He describes the symbolism chiseled into the multiple arches of the entrance of Notre Dame as "an initiation in itself."

Using additional graphics, Piers reveals direct relationships between alchemical elements and Masonic ritual.

Defining the "puffers" of material alchemy (that is, those who endeavor to transmute metals, like lead into gold) as akin to operative masons transforming raw stone into beautiful structures or adornments, Piers explained that the Master Mason Degree's message of spiritual renewal contains too much alchemical information to be ignored, and he furthermore linked both, thematically, to esoteric Christianity in that all three schools of thought lead to the unification of heaven and earth.

Look to the Gospel of St. Thomas, he reminded us: "Split a piece of wood; I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there." (77:2-3)

Other Alchemical-Masonic parallels were identified. To touch on a few:

The Chamber of Reflection awaiting aspirants in traditional Scottish Rite Masonry and other Masonic rites is likened to Alchemy's Calcination phase, the first of seven (boy, does that number come up frequently!) major stages of alchemical transformation. This involves the use of heat – "a gentle heat, not a roaring fire" – to reduce substance to ashes. In psychology, we'd call this a humbling process that deconstructs the ego, liberates the mind from concerns for material wealth, and grants time for introspection.

The Trivium (Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric) and Quadrivium (Geometry, Astronomy, Arithmetic and Music) of the Middle Chamber Lecture parallels Alchemy's act of Conjunction, which is a period of examining higher concepts in steps toward achieving a community with deity.


Of the Middle Chamber Lecture's borrowing of Judges' tale of Jephthah, Piers describes it as the "most transparent" of Alchemical symbols in the Masonic body of degrees, a "fascinating allegory" that uses the Jordan as "a barrier between two states of consciousness."

(Among the papers accessible to Rose Circle members on their website is "The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross" by Piers, which explores this concept in convincing detail.)

But more is required than intellectual understanding, said Piers in conclusion. "All rituals are in vain if they bring only an increase in knowledge. Masonry is nothing more than a hobby when it is not practiced in our daily lives."

I'm going to be especially protective of David Lindez's presentation, a historical look at Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry in the United States, not only because this candidly expressed paper will appear on Rose Circle's website, but also because this never before revealed information will be extrapolated in a book, soon to be published. Furthermore, not being a Masonic Rosicrucian myself, circumspection and common sense demand that I not err by confusing the names and dates of historical import that David shared. Suffice to say that as Grand Archivist of the Masonic Rosicrucians of the United States, Fratre David possesses priceless historical gems (personal journals, correspondence, rare books, etc.) that are among his sources of information.



From left: William H., David, Rob M., and Jonathan C.

If I'm comfortable at all sharing one thrust of his paper, it would be the crucial and indisputable fact that Masonic Rosicrucianism is intended to be more than the literary and research society it is officially known as. Instead, the fratres, of all grades, should be employed in the Great Work of spiritual transformation, as guided by their rituals, ceremonies that illumine the secrets of nature and the will of God.

But I digress.

I believe Piers and David would agree that the star of the conference was R.A. "Bob" Gilbert, another luminary in the field of esoteric education and instruction whose resume runs too long to be published here. Bob's presentation, "Beyond the Image: The Spiritual Reality Behind the Symbol of the Rose and Cross," instructs in a non-dogmatic investigation of what these two timeless symbols can tell us. He began with general information – a definition of "symbol," and a quick sketch of the early history of the Rosicrucian movement, among other points – and gradually worked his way toward the brilliant thesis of his talk, punctuating his message with terrific illustrations.

In fact, it is his visual presentation that will make it difficult to relate the details of his talk. You know a picture is worth a thousand words, so:



Better symbols have "restraint and gravitas" and do not depersonalize Christ. And they "have to work in practice and be practical, or they will not work."



This previously unpublished image comes from a Shaker community in Pennsylvania circa 1890. To me it seems to recall the Tree of Life, but Gilbert was careful to point out that representations created in isolated Christian communities of early America were characterized by the symetry with which they depicted crosses, circles and roses. You'll have to forgive me for not getting a quality photograph of a second image that comes from a Quaker community in Massachusetts, but that image is strikingly similar to this Shaker illustration.

"We shouldn't be surprised by the commonalities," Gilbert explained to a visibly astonished audience. These communities were not in contact, but they had commonality in their respective monastic Protestant cultures. "Both encouraged artistry and spiritual introspection."

The point is "human unity is manifest in a shared hunger for enlightenment."

The capacity crowd in the Chapter Room of the Grand Lodge of New York was evidence of that.



(Actually this photo was shot during the Q&A, by which time dozens of guests had flowed into the hallway to stretch their legs.)