‘ALR: January 30’

     

The American Lodge of Research will meet Wednesday, January 30, a Special Meeting for our October meeting that was canceled by Hurricane Sandy – so expect a blizzard on the 30th. That is at Masonic Hall: 71 West 23rd Street in Manhattan.
  

‘Artist Ari exhibit’

    
Bro. Ari Roussimoff will have his recent paintings exhibited in Masonic Hall, the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of New York in Manhattan, in March.

The exhibit, “A Traveling Artist: Russian Soul, American Magic and the Light of Freemasonry,” will be held March 12-19 inside the French Doric Room on the tenth floor, and will be open to the public from 2 to 8 p.m. The opening of the exhibit will be Tuesday the 12th at 6 p.m. Other of Roussimoff’s works can be seen inside the Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library, on the 14th floor of Masonic Hall. Click here to see those paintings when the artist brought them to the Big Night at the Little Inn a little more than four years ago.

Masonic Hall is located at 71 West 23^rd Street in Manhattan.

Hiram's Apron by Ari Roussimoff.

See symbols but do not expect allegory in Ari’s images. He is a builder of bold colors and vivid likenesses that cannot be misunderstood. His paintings do tell stories, but I think it’s safe to say the stories are not open to interpretation, and are narratives Ari shares with his audience.

Definitely make a point of seeing them for yourself.
    

‘MRF this August’

     
W. Bro. Paul C. Smith in New Hampshire shares the following news about the Masonic Restoration Foundation’s 2013 conference. Check out this line-up of speakers!

MAGPIE EDIT: Click here for more information and to register.

My Brothers, I had made it a point to release some of the details of our upcoming MRF Fourth Annual Symposium, which will be held August 16-18 in Manchester, New Hampshire. While we are working on a website and graphic layouts and the like, I wanted to keep my word and share with you our session breakouts and presenters, as well as our keynote speaker. So without further ado, please allow me to share!

“The Middle Chamber: The State of Observant Masonry Today”

W. Bro. Andrew Hammer 

“The Magic of Masonry: Pathways to Apotheosis”

W. Bro. Kirk White 

“Visionary Leadership: How to Achieve your T.O. Goals”

W. Bro. Robert Herd 

“Admit Him If Properly Clothed: The Evolution of the Masonic Apron in America”

W. Bro. Patrick Craddock 

“Recapturing the Educational Legacy of Traditional Observance”

VW. Bro. Piers A. Vaughan 

“A Survey of the Creation, Rise, Progress and Future of the Masonic Restoration Foundation”

W. Bro. Mark Tabbert 

“The Potential for Advancement of Masonic Knowledge in the Age of New Media”

Bro. Kyle Ferguson 

“Remove Not the Ancient Landmarks: A Classical and Traditional Vision for Lodge Observance”

W. Bro. Shawn Eyer 

And our Keynote Speaker: RW Bro. Thomas Jackson, Past Grand Secretary of Pennsylvania, etc.

This is not all that’s in store for you in Manchester, but I hope it has sparked your interest!

S&F,

Paul
     

‘Mohamadmania’

     
W. Mohamad Yatim is on the road again. He has five dates so far on his winter speaking tour of the central New Jersey area.

Monday, January 14 at Theodore Roosevelt Lodge No. 219 (82 Elm St. in Carteret), speaking on “The Chamber of Reflection.” (Open to Apprentices and Fellows.)


Monday, January 21 at USS New Jersey Lodge No. 62 (1201 Berlin Rd. in Cherry Hill), speaking on “The Myths Behind Who Killed Hiram Abiff.” (Master Masons only.)


Friday, February 1 at Hightstown-Apollo Lodge No. 41 (535 North Main St. in Hightstown), speaking on “Masonic Membership Promotion and Retention.” (Open to Apprentices and Fellows.)


Monday, February 25 at Cincinnati Lodge No. 3 (39 Maple Ave. in Morristown), speaking on “Freemasonry and the Mystic Schools of the East.” (Master Masons only.)




Tuesday, March 5 at Loyalty Lodge No. 33 (1912 Morris Ave. in Union), speaking on “The Myths Behind Who Killed Hiram Abiff.” (Master Masons only.)
     

‘Q.U.E.S.T. 33’

  

Those guys in Queens are at it again. They keep saying Freemasonry is an educational institution! Oh wait, that’s New York. They do that there.

QUEST XXXIII will take place March 9. That is the 33rd annual event hosted by Queens United Education Seminar Today. I think this is the year I’ll make an effort to attend. Been saying that for several years, but I really would like to be there this time. Read those fliers below. The mentions of “The Power and Passion of Freemasonry” undoubtedly are references to the book of that name by the late Bro. George Peter, a really valuable read. (Look for my book review in The Journal of the Masonic Society shortly.)

     

‘Tom Jackson to speak in Union’

  

Magpie file photo

Bro. Tom Jackson—the irrepressible, outspoken, dauntless idol of American youth—will be the very special guest speaker next Tuesday at the Stated Meeting of Northern New Jersey Council Princes of Jerusalem.

You know the brother. I don’t even want to attempt to identify him by listing his countless credentials, except I’ll offer the most obvious: Past Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Regular Masonic Grand Lodges, and Founding Fellow of The Masonic Society.

The Council meeting will open at 7:30. Open to 16° Masons only please.

The Council meets at Loyalty Lodge No. 33 at 1912 Morris Avenue in Union, New Jersey. Visitors should their AASR identification. Regalia isn’t necessary, but feel free!

  

‘Book of Ezekiel’

    
This just in:

Bro. Ezekiel Bey will be the guest speaker at Mariners Lodge No. 67 next Wednesday when the lodge holds its January Stated Communication and Festive Board at Masonic Hall in New York City.

Bro. Bey will speak on the subject shared in his new book The Hour Glass: African-American Freemasonry in the State of New York, 1812-2012. Last year indeed was the bicentenary of Prince Hall Masonry in New York, but notice that title doesn’t say Prince Hall, so I suppose author Bey records Masonic doings within and without the apartments of the PHA temple.

Reservations are a must. Click here to book your seat, and I hope to see you there. (Regular Masons under or recognized by the Grand Lodge of New York only please.)
    

‘Coming to DeWint House’

    

This reproduction of The Unfortunate
Death of Major Andre hangs
in the museum of DeWint House.

The George Washington Masonic Historic Site at Tappan Committee has announced its plans to celebrate the birthday of Bro. George Washington next month. This of course concerns DeWint House, the historic property in Tappan, New York owned and operated as a historic site and museum by the Grand Lodge of New York.

On Sunday, February 17, the committee will host a luncheon just around the corner at The ’76 House. The food there is excellent, and the cost per person is only $25. That will begin at 11:30 a.m. Only fifty (50) seats have been set aside, so make your reservations now. Leave me a note (not for publication) in the comments section, and I’ll reply with the contact info. Then, at 2 p.m., a performance will be staged in the Carriage House at the DeWint House grounds.

From the publicity:

Rendezvous with Treason: The Andre-Arnold Conspiracy

Mr. Gary Petagine as Major General Benedict Arnold, and Mr. Sean Grady as Major John André present an interpretative performance of the infamous conspiracy between these two men. A major part of this story took place in Rockland County, ending in Tappan with the trial and finally the execution of André. Worshipful Brother and General George Washington used the DeWint House as his headquarters during the court martial proceedings, including the signing of the major’s death warrant. Mr. Petagine and Mr. Grady are Master Teachers for the Living History Education Foundation.

Totally unrelated, but in other Washington New York news, click here for an interesting announcement concerning many artifacts from the Revolution.
    

‘The new AQC is here!’

     

Courtesy Aspen Film Society

Like practically everything in the world of Masonic research publishing, you never know exactly when to expect it, but evidently the new edition of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum is hitting mailboxes in the United States now.

AQC is the annual book of transactions of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 in London, the first Masonic lodge of research ever chartered, having received its warrant from the United Grand Lodge of England in 1884. What we have now is Volume 124, representing the lodge’s output for the year 2011. Receipt of this book each year is the principal benefit of membership in the Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle—the corporate side of the lodge’s endeavors—which unites Masons from all over the globe in the joy of advancing in Masonic knowledge.

To join QCCC, click here. (Membership in QC2076 itself is exclusive, but QCCC members who are regular/recognized Masons may attend the meetings of the lodge.)

Contents of this edition include:

• “The Little Man,” a Masonic biography of Bro. T.N. Cranstoun-Day, with a look at early Freemasonry in South Africa – the inaugural paper by the Worshipful Master, Bro. Thomas V. Webb.
• “Early 17th Century Ritual: Ben Jonson and His Circle” by Bro. John Acaster. (I turned to this one first, having met John a few times over the years.)
• “Thomas Dunckerley: A True Son of Adam” by Susan Mitchell Sommers. I assume it is part of, or at least sidebar to, her eye-opening new book titled Thomas Dunckerley and English Freemasonry, a most welcome fresh look at the highly influential figure in early Masonry. Look for my book review in The Journal of the Masonic Society soon.
• “Opposition to Freemasonry in 18th Century France and the Lettre et Consultation of 1748” by Michael Taylor.

And there is a lot more. Check it out. Support your local research lodge. Bring informed lecturers to your lodges. Show your brethren that there is more to Freemasonry than feting the VIPs and showing the Stewards when to ground their rods. There is culture. There is history. There are things tangible and intangible that are worth handing down to future generations.
    

‘Symbol in the window’

  
Apropos of nothing, and caught only by happenstance, I share a quick look at a storefront display window on Bleecker near Sixth Avenue.

Native Leather has been selling quality leather goods for forty years. Jackets, luggage and other bags, hats, belts – lots of belts – guitar straps, wallets, and all kinds of other goods of quality hides and skilled craftsmanship are available here. About twenty years ago, I once almost ventured to buy a jacket here, but luckily realized I wasn’t cool enough to wear it. Anyway, you know how Masonic symbols leap out and grab your eye when you least expect it? I’m walking past in the dark of night while the shop is closed and gated shut, and my head is turned to face a Masonic Knights Templar sword in the window.

The display window actually is decorated with a number of swords to create some kind of theme. I don’t know what that might be, but there were other swords standing and leaning here and there. The kind of swords you see hawked on television at three in the morning. “440 stainless!” Faux medieval, samurai, et al. But anyway, front and center, there is the KT Sir Knight sword.

I approached this window to see what else it had going for it, and I see a collection of pocket knives.

That blue one in the center has the Square and Compasses on it. I couldn’t get a clear photo because it was too dark.

If you have a minute, click here and read about some other Masonic paraphernalia I spotted in a shop window around the corner on another day.