‘DC’s Albert Pike statue is felled, burned’

     

Courtesy NBC4-Washington

The soul hath its senses, like the body, that may be cultivated, enlarged, refined, as itself grows in stature and proportion; and he who cannot appreciate a fine painting or statue, a noble poem, a sweet harmony, a heroic thought, or a disinterested action, or to whom the wisdom of philosophy is but foolishness and babble, and the loftiest truths of less importance than the price of stocks or cotton, or the elevation of baseness to office, merely lives on the level of commonplace, and fitly prides himself upon that inferiority of the soul’s senses, which is the inferiority and imperfect development of the soul itself.

Albert Pike
Morals and Dogma


The above is excerpted from Albert Pike’s lecture in Morals and Dogma for the 5° of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry: the Perfect Master Degree. By “perfect,” this lecture intends another Masonic lesson in achieving equilibrium for the self and harmony in the world.

The adjective “perfect” that we use in the English language derives from the French word for “flawless” and “complete.” It is a coinage as apt for use by those engaged in the good work, square work of operative masonry as it is for those in the speculative art. Otto Jespersen, one of the great linguists, said:


The difference between the Preterit and the Perfect is in English observed more strictly than in the other languages possessing corresponding tenses. The Preterit refers to some time in the past without telling anything about the connection with the present moment, while the Perfect is a retrospective present, which connects a past occurrence with the present time, either as continued up to the present moment (inclusive time) or as having results or consequences bearing on the present moment.


Perfect, as in connecting past to the current moment.

Courtesy Shelton Herald

Albert Pike was a complicated man. Yes, he served in the Confederate army for several months during the Civil War. He was, in fact, a general, until he resigned. Because of this brief military background the “news media” keep referring to his statue in Washington, DC as a Confederate statue. It was not. It was a monument erected by Scottish Rite Masons to honor Albert Pike the Freemason.

In Freemasonry, it was Albert Pike who provided Scottish Rite rituals to Prince Hall brethren so that they too could have Scottish Rite Masonry. It was he who eliminated the medieval religious bar in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite so that Masons who are not Christian may advance to the Rose Croix Degree and beyond—and he did that about a century before the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction got around to emulating that example.

You will see all over the internet today libels about how Pike was a member—or even the founder—of the Klan. He was no such thing. You also will see the accusation that he owned slaves. I have no idea about that, but Pike was a lawyer who moved about the country; he was not a farmer on a plantation.

The mobs in the streets will not be appeased. They are not going to stop destroying historical symbols until there is no more memory of Fill in the Blank. Unchecked by civil authorities, the mobs will continue rampaging. Today’s violence may be against figures, real or imagined, of the Confederacy, but tomorrow it surely will be against the Founders of the United States and many, many, many others who contributed to the complex, but magnificent, history of this unparalleled society.

You destroy a people by obliterating their history. Religious community mocked and marginalized? Check! The family unit discredited and dispersed? Check! Symbols and traditions of common identity rejected and renounced? Double Check! Education crimped to stunt the human mind? Triple Check! And the mobs will continue erasing the historical record itself until people won’t have a past they could protest. “Who controls the past controls the future,” George Orwell instructed in 1984, and “who controls the present controls the past.” Oh, that reminds me: They will defeat and erase language also.

Courtesy WTOP

The destruction of this statue in the middle of the nation’s capital while the police watched speaks to the impotence of Freemasonry in the United States today. The Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction had years of opportunity to retake possession of and relocate the monument. I appreciate how just maintaining the House of the Temple requires so much in precious resources, but an effort to raise funds and devise a plan toward that goal could have been possible had they cared—but they didn’t. So now what’s left of this historic likeness of the man who all but singlehandedly ensured that the Southern Jurisdiction would endure into the twentieth century and beyond will be trucked to some government graveyard where the remains of the mob’s Two Minute Hates will be dumped. He’ll be in good company with Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and many, many, many others.

Some history, from three years ago, here.
     

‘Shoemaker receives Washington honor’

     

It was thirty years ago this month when the Grand Lodge of Washington devised an honor to confer in recognition of distinguished, but discreet, service to the Masonic fraternity, and the newest recipient of the Bill Paul Horn Memorial Masonic Medal is Aaron Shoemaker!

The decoration is named for a past grand master of the Grand Lodge of Washington, but it is not necessary to be a Washington Mason to receive it. Aaron is from Missouri. Past honorees include Ernest Borgnine, Bob Davis, Matt Dupee, Dick Fletcher, Nat Granstein, Forrest Haggard, Tom Jackson, Joe Manning, and Ron Seale.

Aaron is a long-serving member of the Board of Directors of the Masonic Society, and is the Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the USA. He is a Past Grand Chancellor of the Grand College of Rites. I’m going to stop there, because I honestly cannot remember all of his meritorious labors in Freemasonry. He and I go way back to the first years of this century in the Masonic Light group, and I met him for the first time in 2006, when the Rose Circle Research Foundation held its first symposium at my former lodge in New Jersey.

Congratulations, my friend!
     

‘Can’t go to lodge? Bring lodge to you.’

Development of On the Square, the game of gavels I’ve been telling you about, is gaining momentum. Lend your support to the creators’ Kickstarter campaign here.

Tomorrow night, some brethren of the Leeds Light Blues Club will play the game on their Twitch TV channel. Check that out here.

     

‘Celebrate St. John Baptist Day!’

     

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial has something very special planned for us. From the publicity:

Wednesday, June 24 will mark the first Saint John’s Day since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Although we cannot gather in our lodges as preferred, we can enjoy an evening of high-toned fellowship and Masonic education. Brethren, prepare the libations of your choice for the ancient observance of Craft Freemasonry: the Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist!

To apply to be part of this event, take this survey, and then pay the $5 admission via PayPal when it comes in your email.

     

‘Fuller’s Past Masters’

     

Courtesy Hospitality and Catering News

I got all excited the other day when a Past Grand Master of New York posted a link on social media concerning Fuller’s line of Past Masters beverages. I had a few minutes just now to poke around the web and see what it’s all about, but am disappointed to see that the name evidently has nothing to do with Masonic past masters, but instead, I guess, brewmasters of yesteryear.

Even worse, there seems to be no distribution in the United States, so I’ll get to sample these only if I make good on my desired vacation to Blighty some day. (I know we can find Fuller’s flagship brew London Pride here, but that may be the only one.)

Fuller’s, dating to 1845, but with a heritage reaching back a couple hundred years prior, is a London brewery that also has hundreds of pubs and dozens of hotels across southern England. It’s a big company, and it was acquired a year and a half ago by the gigantic Asahi conglomerate of Japan.

What they’ve done with these brews is reverted to their archived recipes, and endeavored to recreate the flavors enjoyed so long ago. Being a pipe smoker who favors the Balkan, English, and Oriental varieties of tobacco mixtures, I know that even when an early recipe is immaculately preserved and perfectly understood, the needed ingredients may not be available today. But, with diligence and dedication, the right brewer can approximate.

Fuller’s started this project a decade ago and revisits another recipe every year, and the products are for sale via its website. From the publicity:


People say “they don’t make ’em like they used to,” but at Fuller’s, we certainly do. Since 2010, we’ve been delving back into our age-old brewing books once a year, to faithfully recreate recipes from days gone by.

Every Past Master we bring back is part of a limited run, with older versions already extremely rare. For that reason, the price of our Past Masters ales will increase as the number of remaining bottles reduces—and indeed, the price you see today may be higher tomorrow.

While they are crafted to be enjoyed as soon as they reach you, they continue to condition well beyond their official “best before” date due to the yeast that we include in the bottle. This second fermentation results in a more complex character and a flavor profile that will change over time.

The first in the series, XX is a strong, dark ale. Back in the 1890s, XX denoted a stronger than average brew. This particular recipe dates from September 2, 1891. Matured for three months, then bottle conditioned, it has a rich, round flavor with a distinctive, warming character.

Double Stout is the second in the series, brewed to a recipe from August 4, 1893, a time when ‘stout’ meant strong. Its signature ingredient is Plumage Archer barley, carefully malted and kilned using 19th century methods. Dark brown and creamy, this beer balances a rich fruity aroma with smoky, bittersweet chocolate notes.

Old Burton Extra is the third in series, brewed to the Old Burton Extra recipe from 1931. This ale is wonderfully strong and fruity; balanced with a pronounced hop flavor.

1966 Strong Ale, the fourth in the series, is brewed to a strong ale recipe from 1966 when it was drunk during the celebration of England’s victory in the world cup. This warming, dark ruby ale has a rich, rounded flavor with notes of plum and a velvety, warm caramel finish.

1914 Strong X, the fifth in the series, is brewed to a specially selected recipe that was drunk during the early months of World War I. This warming, strong mild ale has a fruity palate with notes of apricot and orange and a well-balanced malty finish.

1910 Double Stout is the sixth beer in the series. Deliciously dark, it’s characterized by smooth chocolate and rich coffee notes, with hints of Black Forest fruit flavor emerging alongside gentle bitterness from the hops. For any fans of dark ales and stouts, it’s a beer that demands to be tried.

1926 Oatmeal Porter is the seventh beer revived in the Past Masters collection. It’s been brewed to a 90-year old recipe to celebrate the occasion of the Queen’s 90th birthday.

1981 ESB is the ninth beer in the series. We’ve brewed something extra special to celebrate the career of Fuller’s legendary brewer John Keeling, who retired in 2018. This full-bodied, fruity beer uses the Extra Special Bitter recipe from John’s first day at Fuller’s in January 1981.

1909 Pale Ale is the tenth beer in the series and our first re-creation of this popular style. Darker than the pale ales we have come to know, this recipe combined treacle and sugar with malted barley, Goldings hops and the signature Fuller’s yeast for a smooth, well balanced and fruity beer.

     

‘Prayer for our communities’

Click to enlarge.

The Prince Hall Freemasons and Eastern Star Sisters of New York will gather for their “Coming Together to Pray for Our Communities” meeting. I think the graphic above provides the needed information.

Of course, June 19 also is Juneteenth.
     

‘Freemasons: The Enlightenment SJWs’

     

I don’t always agree with the president of the Masonic Society, but I think he’s got something here. The following is his message to the membership for June:

The faster society appears to spiral into oblivion, the more we, as Free and Accepted Masons, can be confident that our gentle Craft illumines the way forward. As I write this to you on the closing day of May, swaths of multiple American cities are left in smoking ruins following days of riots, looting, arson, and other savagery. Amid the current fog of war, seemingly everyone is pointing fingers at everybody else: It’s a rent-a-mob or it’s the far-Left or it’s the far-Right or it’s the Russians or maybe Martians. (The gallows humor in me recalls that funny hand gesture in the Table Lodge—following a very different kind of fire, and before a very different form of battery—when we ritually “Point! Left! Right! Point! Left! Right! Point! Left! Right!”)

In the rituals of many (most?) lodges in the English-speaking Masonic world, we reveal to the youngest Entered Apprentice the Four Cardinal Virtues: Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance, and Justice. Of the first, we, under the Grand Lodge of New York at least, say “this virtue is equally distant from rashness and cowardice, and should be deeply impressed upon your mind.” Of the second, we explain “Prudence teaches us to regulate our lives and actions agreeably to the dictates of reason, and is that habit by which we wisely judge and determine on all things relative to our present, as well as our future, happiness.” And Temperance, of course, is that “due restraint upon the passions which renders the body tame and governable, and frees the mind from the allurements of vice.”

That fourth virtue is considered apart from the first three. Whereas Fortitude, Prudence, and Temperance concern our inner work, the refinements of heart, mind, and body, Justice causes us to look outward. It is a product of successful moral building in Fortitude, Prudence, and Temperance that we project toward others to aid in constructing a just society. The ceremony of initiation in my lodge says: “Justice is that standard which enables us to render to every man his due, without distinction. This virtue is not only consistent with Divine and human law, but is the very cement and support of society; and, as justice, in a great measure, distinguishes the good man, so should it be your practice to be just.”

Courtesy Christie’s

The rituals most of us in America employ basically originate from the writings of William Preston, but there were other essential thinkers in Freemasonry in Preston’s time. William Hutchinson published his book The Spirit of Masonry in 1775. His book didn’t catch on quite as successfully as Preston’s Illustrations of Masonry, but, if nothing else, on the subject of Justice he thoughtfully advises:

“To walk uprightly before heaven and before men, neither inclining to the right or to the left, is the duty of a Mason, neither becoming an enthusiast or a persecutor in religion, nor bending towards innovation or infidelity. In civil government, firm in our allegiance, yet steadfast in our laws, liberties, and constitution. In private life, yielding up every selfish propensity, inclining neither to avarice or injustice, to malice or revenge, to envy or contempt with mankind, but as the builder raises his column by the plane and perpendicular, so should the Mason carry himself towards the world.”

And:

“Yet merely to act with justice and truth is not all that man should attempt, for even that excellence would be selfishness. That duty is not relative, but merely proper; it is only touching our own character, and doing nothing for our neighbor, for justice is an indispensible duty in each individual. We were not born for ourselves alone, only to shape our course through life in the tracks of tranquility, and solely to study that which should afford peace to the conscience at home, but men were made as mutual aids to each other.”

That sounds great, but where do we begin? In my April message to you, I urged we keep to the Masonic adage “Follow Reason” when trying to decode the various and changing communications from government to the public on the subject of COVID-19. This latest pandemic of rioting and destruction is said to have been ignited by a policeman’s killing of a civilian in Minnesota. The accused police officer is white; the deceased was black. It didn’t have to happen, and it shouldn’t have happened, but, for our purposes, Follow Reason holds true here too. There are facts that accountable public officials, civic leaders, news media, and others neglect to share with the American public. They have their reasons, but we have Reason. The Federal Bureau of Investigation publishes its annual Uniform Crime Report, a compendium of all kinds of data—some of them imperfect due to collection methods—concerning crime and punishment in the United States. Therein you will find how most arrest-related deaths result mostly in dead white people, and that white police officers kill white civilians. White police officers have killed black civilians. Black police officers have killed white civilians. Black police officers have killed black civilians. If fiery riots erupted after each incident, we’d be living in hell—an atmosphere of ceaseless deadly heat and no Light.

I close with more from Hutchinson: “Let us then, by our practice and conduct in life, show that we carry our emblems worthily, and as the children of the Light, we have turned our backs on works of darkness…preferring charity, benevolence, justice.”

Fiat lux. Fiat lex. Fiat pax.
     

'Grand Masters' joint statement'

     
The two grand masters of the two Masonic grand lodges in New York State have released a statement concerning current events:


Dear Brethren and Friends of Freemasonry in New York:

Masonry in New York is comprised of men of every race, creed and color. We respect and greet each other as Brothers. As such, any adverse treatment of anyone due to their color is anathema to our very tenets.

We have all watched with apprehension and concern the recent events unfolding on the streets of our City, State and Nation. While Freemasons may not all think alike, we accept and respect one another.

The core values of Masonry are basic and simple. We believe our ideals that all Masons meet as equals.

Each Brother will determine within themselves how they grieve the death of George Floyd. As Freemasons we do not approve of the destructive actions we are seeing, but we do approve of emulating the Brotherhood Masonry is built upon.

As Masonic Leaders we affirm our belief in brotherly love, relief and truth. We ask the Grand Architect of the Universe to heal the divisions within today’s society.

With kindest Fraternal regards,

MW Walter C. King
MW William M. Sardone

     

‘Build Your Inexpensive Masonic Library’

     

Every month, Open Lectures on Freemasonry takes to Zoom to share with viewers a, well, lecture on Freemasonry. This month, John Belton will present “Build Your Inexpensive Masonic Library.” From the publicity:

Open Lectures on Freemasonry

Saturday, June 27

2 p.m. Eastern

“Build Your Inexpensive

Masonic Library”

Presented by John Belton

Register here

The world of the written word has changed at a phenomenal speed over the past couple of decades, and in these days of Covid-19, when so many are locked down at home, it is possible to see rare Masonic documents in the near flesh, and to do serious research while sitting at home. The aim is to display the options from a modern “print on demand” production line, and to show where you can find 300-year-old books to download. You too can build yourself a digital Masonic library!

John Belton is a member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076 in London, and he is the author of the books The English Masonic Union of 1813: A Tale Antient and Modern, Dudley Wright: Writer, Truthseeker & Freemason, and the anthology A Questioning Eye on Freemasonry. His main interests are for exploring those less travelled angles to (Masonic) history that often prove the most fascinating. Professionally, John started work as a microbiologist, then changed to marketing and worked for the pharmaceutical company Astra-Zeneca.

Only registered users could get an invitation which will be sent two days before the lecture date. Please note that the size of the audience is limited by technical capacities.

OpenLFM is an independent, informal, and benevolent initiative unrelated to any Masonic body or scientific institution. It is a collaboration of a researchers’ group with different formations, and coming from various parts of the world.

In this era, where the printed and manuscript word becomes ever more available through digital technology, new wider panoramas for the curious can open. OpenLFM, through its online lecture series on Freemasonry given by prominent scholars, will aim to demonstrate a range of new perspectives for academics, Freemasons, or simply the curious.

Lectures are audible, within technical limits, to those who are interested in the topic to be presented. Participation requires prior registration. Registration is free of charge. Registered users will be invited to OpenLFM Googlegroups and will be informed about forthcoming activities. OpenLFM beholds the right to reject any registration with no further explanation.
     

‘Masonic Temple’s The Bond bronze vandalized’

   

Photo credit: Daryll Slimmer

Artist James West’s bronze statue titled The Bond, depicting Franklin and Washington, installed outside the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, has been vandalized. Brethren of University Lodge 51 removed the paint.

“For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good…”

George Washington


“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”

Benjamin Franklin
     

‘Nuts and bolts of public speaking’

     

Oscar Alleyne, the Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of New York and the First Vice President of the Masonic Society, will be the next speaker in the SuperMemorize Academy/Legends of the Craft series. From the publicity:

The Art of Public Speaking:

A Nuts and Bolts Workshop

Featuring RW Oscar Alleyne

Friday, May 29

7 to 8 p.m.

Open to the public on Zoom

RSVP here

Everyone knows that public speaking is a big part of Masonry, whether it is ritual, a paper, or debate. It also is extremely important for everyday life. The ability to speak with clarity, confidence, and wisdom is a superpower. It also is one of the biggest fears for most people.

The Art of Public Speaking: A Nuts and Bolts Workshop will help you develop speaking competence by using a hands-on, small group approach. You will feel more confident and motivated to speak in any setting, and you will develop a deeper understanding of presenting to crowds.

We will dissect your current public speaking methods, eliminate any inefficiencies, and give you a series of tips, tricks, techniques, and ideas on how to inform, persuade, and educate your audience.

Dress code: Business Casual
     

‘Lexington & Rubicon lectures’

     
It’s becoming very difficult to stay abreast of all the Masonic lectures offered online these days. I no longer make much of an effort to keep track, but instead just look at the many mentions from friends that I see here and there. Even after this Chinese Virus fades away, online discussions will endure, and I believe they will chart the future of Masonic activities in the mainstream Masonic world. Private talks will remain private, but a lot of what’s available now involves general topics, and they are made accessible to the public. This—real Freemasons discussing real Masonic subjects—will accomplish more in Masonic outreach than would any ridiculous Dan Brown story, while also allowing Masons trapped in do-nothing lodges to see what is possible when Masons who know their business are at labor.

In Kentucky, both Lexington Lodge 1 and the Rubicon Masonic Society co-host a ten-part Masonic education series online. Tonight, Andrew Hammer will speak on “In Consideration of and Purpose of Our Craft.”

That will be 7 p.m. Eastern time. Click here to get started. Take note of the terms and conditions.

The series of lectures began May 4 and will end July 6. Previously, the brethren heard from Oscar Alleyne, Chris Hodapp, and Brent Morris. Future speakers will include:

• June 1—Christopher Murphy on “The Tavern Myth: Reassessing Early Lodge Culture”
• June 8—Dan Kemble on “Who’s Left Standing: Freemasonry After COVID-19”
• June 15—Michael Stoops on “Grand Lodges Today and Grand Lodges Tomorrow”
• June 22—John Bizzack on “Ode to the Way It Was: The Long-Standing Masonic Epidemic”
• and others to be announced.

The talks are recorded, and can be enjoyed here.
     

‘QC2076 conference is canceled’

     

“Freemasonry on the Frontier,” the conference planned by Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076 for Boston this September, is canceled.

Not a surprise, I suppose, but still a disappointment. Those who paid their fees will receive refunds, if they haven’t yet already.

Hopefully this will be rescheduled before long.
     

‘Unfolding the Rose’

     
Mark Stavish, the founder and the director of studies of the Institute for Hermetic Studies, invites you to partake of the IHS’ introductory course “Unfolding the Rose” at no cost.

From the publicity:

“Unfolding the Rose” is a complete introduction to Western esoteric practices and their importance for your spiritual journey. Come inside and walk with us for a while as we travel the Path of Return. Explore the meaning of initiation, tradition, awakening, immortality, and personal mastery within the framework of qabala, alchemy, astrology, and contemplative mysticism as we seek the Light that can only be found within.

Click here.

This course is the basis for our long-lived audio programs based around our book, Words of My Teachers. The entire course “The Path of Return: Essential Teachings for the Journey” is available with an extensive array of support materials and additional audio programs. We strongly encourage each of you to enroll in “Unfolding the Rose,” as well as “The Path of Return,” as there are a substantial amount of teachings included that cover the entire process of the path, all in a clear and practical manner suitable for any student at any point in his studies.

We look forward to hearing from you regarding this course.