March 2021 from the East

Trestleboard Mandarin Lodge #343 Volume XIII, Issue 3 Chartered April 19, 1962 March 2021 From The East

Contents Greetings Brethren, The Sun and giver of life is fast approaching our From The East...... 3 Equatorial Meridian. Signs of Spring are appear- ing in the landscape everywhere. Green leaves From the West...... 4 are replacing brown hues of Fall and Winter. Re- From The South...... 4 newed life in all forms is beginning to take shape and will begin to flourish into the Summer. Fellowship...... 6 roth- Last month, we performed our second De- Lodge Events...... 6 ers our gree in just our first two (2) months. We now Blodge is have three new Master Masons working in alive and well. We have many ideas being the quarry and three new Entered Appren- 2021 Officers...... 8 brought forward before the Craft for ways tices initiated into the Craft. Congratula- to improve meeting time, ritual work and tions to all on these successes. Our focus will our environment. For us to be successful we continue to be growth and improvement in must harness this energy into a form that we all things. can derive the most benefit from. With the abundance of skill, talents, and knowledge Together we hold the keys to our success. I amongst our very own Mandarin Brothers, would like to leave you with this quote from we can accomplish great things through our past Brother Theodore Roosevelt. “Free- active involvement and mutual cooperation. masonry teaches not merely temperance, forti- We must be faithful and diligent in our ef- tude, prudence, justice, brotherly love, relief and forts to strengthen our peace and harmony truth, but liberty, equality, and fraternity, and it with each of our brothers while Faithful to denounces ignorance, superstition, bigotry, lust follow the Tenants of Freemasonry. Our ef- tyranny and despotism.” forts will be seen by Our Great Architect and May we serve one another with faith, hope met with approval as we continue to grow and charity. and be a Shining Light within the Communi- ty. John C Young Worshipful Master

Trestleboard Trestleboard / 3 From the West From The South Freemasonry And The Lodge Within The Lodge

Brethren, My Brothers, What follows is an article by Dave Holt, titled Freemasonry and the Lodge Within the Lodge, written June 3, long with the reetings from the 2017 and shared on the web site Masonic Enlightenment: Online Masonic Education & Research Lodge. Worshipful South! Master, I want ithin Freemasonry, there has always been meditation, prayer, are the great mysterious pointings of A GLet us rejoice in all to personally thank and a lodge within the lodge. A light within the needle. It is a spiritual magnetism that thus connects our blessings and yet be Brothers Daniel Breslin the darkness of the chaos, drama, media the human soul with the Deity. These majestic irradiations mindful of the ways that we W and Riley Hohman propaganda and distractions of the world. A light that of the soul pierce through the shadow toward the light.” can move our lives forward. who came out to help leads the way to full human potential through Freema- ~ Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Let us be grateful for the with our latest Lodge sonry. This light is very dim now and getting dimmer. Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Cleanup efforts. As a team, we were able to move a lot opportunities that Masonry offers us to strengthen our bonds of friendship with each other, to enrich our more brush out of the back of the Lodge property and “Masonry, like all the Religions, all the Mysteries, “To study and seek to interpret correctly the lives through sharing our experiences with others, get the lawn mowing, and trimming done. Hermeticism, and Alchemy, conceals its secrets from all symbols of the Universe, is the work of the sage and and to continue to make the world a better place except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false philosopher. It is to decipher the writing of God and In the hopes of teaching those interested the words through our service to God, Family, Country, and explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to penetrate into His thoughts. This is what is asked and and phrases of our degrees and Lodge ceremonies, Community. mislead those who deserve only to be misled; to conceal answered in our catechism, in regard to the Lodge.” ~ along with the associated floorwork, I have started the Truth, which it calls Light, from them, and to draw As your Junior Warden, I will strive to maintain the Albert Pike regular classes at the Lodge on the 2nd and 4th them away from it. Truth is not for those who are unworthy Thursday of each month. It is hoped that all current standards of excellence that have been set by my or unable to receive it, would pervert it. So God Himself A Masonic Lodge is not a place to come together for officers and anyone interested in an officers’ role in predecessors, and will continue to labor to make the incapacitates many men, by color-blindness, to distinguish socialization, gossip and to discuss and argue about a degree would attend on a regular basis. While the Lodge an inviting and comfortable retreat from the colors, and leads the masses away from the highest politics and the drama of the world, it is a temple free Candidates and Brothers recieving the Degree have daily complications and frustrations that life can offer. Truth, giving them the power to attain only so much of from the drama of the world. It is a universal esoteric never gone through this, I know that the sense of I look forward to the many dinners, events, and other it as it is profitable to them to know. Every age has had a (group knowledge), occult (internal self-knowledge) pride that comes from a part done by someone to as social functions that await us in this upcoming year. religion suited to its capacity.” ~ Albert Pike, Morals and temple where free thinkers use Symbology, Gnosis, close to perfection as possible is overwhlming and More especially, I look forward to having more fellow- Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Gnosticism to become enlightened and then add this speads an energy that everyone enjoys. If your cable- ship with both our newer and our older brothers and Freemasonry light to others. We make a man a better man because tow allows is, please join me for these practices. the life enrichment that comes from spending time with men of such quality and character. we help them to become Enlighted and then shine this What Bro Pike is saying is still true today. Many Fraternally, light on others in the lodge and for the world to see. One great way for us all to get to know each other Freemasons in the U.S. don’t study or care about Stephen Hohman socially and to enjoy this fellowship is through our Symbology, Gnosis or Gnosticism. The Esotericism Many Freemasons in the past were great musicians, Senior Warden lodge cleanups, coffee klatch and Third Thursday Fel- and Occultism that Freemasonry is based upon has inventors, innovators, writers, and leaders. These lowship. Traditionally, our Lodge cleanup is scheduled become a rare light hidden within the organization great brothers tapped into the light within themselves From The South by our Senior Warden. I would like to invite you all to and some of its lodges. Freemasonry is all about to develop their creative, imaginative and innovative come out and join together to take pride in our Lodge. Symbology, Gnosis, Gnosticism, esotericism and abilities to their full human potential. We always have good fun and leave with a great sense occultism. I don’t think brothers are initially hiding of accomplishment. The coffee klatch is on Tuesday this knowledge and wisdom from younger members The History of Freemasonry morning each week at 8am in the fellowship hall because most of them have no idea what this In 17th century Europe, the Rosicrucianism cultural while our Third Thursday Fellowship is held at Enzo’s knowledge and wisdom is or where it comes from but movement started and became very strong, especially restaurant near San Jose Blvd and I-295. many will freely share their opinions and information in underground lodges and groups. There is plenty of on this subject. Today, it’s more like the blind leading evidence online and in many great books that point I look forward to seeing you all and serving you all this the blind. toward Rosicrucianism emerging during the Age of year, and I am honored to be able to work with such Enlightenment in Europe. fine men as those who attend this Lodge. This is going “Though Masonry neither usurps the place of, nor apes to be a great year! religion, prayer is an essential part of our ceremonies. Keep in mind that Freemasonry formally It is the aspiration of the soul toward the Absolute and In Fellowship, started in 1717 in England and Infinite Intelligence, which is the One Supreme Deity, was formed during the Age of Ed Mann most feebly and misunderstandingly characterized as an Enlightenment (also known as the Junior Warden “ARCHITECT.” Certain faculties of man are directed toward Age of Reason) the intellectual, the Unknown—thought, meditation, prayer. The unknown scientific and philosophical is an ocean, of which conscience is the compass. Thought, Continued on Page 7

Trestleboard/4 Trestleboard / 5 movement which dominated the world of ideas in Now that we have established a real Rosicrucian, Europe during the 18th century. Age of Enlightenment, Freemasonry connection, something else happened to Freemasonry in the A number of novel ideas about religion developed 1800’s. It branched off into separate occult groups. with the Enlightenment, including Deism. Deism, The most well-known of these groups was The according to Thomas Paine, is the simple belief in Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn created by God the Creator, with no reference to the Bible or brothers William Robert Woodman, William Wynn any other miraculous source. Instead, the Deist relies Westcott, and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers Fellowship solely on personal reason to guide his creed which who were also members of the Masonic Rosicrucian was eminently agreeable to many thinkers of the time. organization, Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (1) (S.R.I.A.). Bro. Dr. Woodman was admitted into the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia on 31 October 1867 The leaders of the Enlightenment included and appointed to the office of Secretary General Freemasons such as Diderot, Montesquieu, Voltaire, in February 1868. He was co-editor of the society’s Lessing, Pope, (2) Horace Walpole, Sir Robert Walpole, journal, The Rosicrucian. In 1876, he was appointed Mozart, Goethe, Frederick the Great, Benjamin Junior Substitute Magus, and in 1877 he was appointed Franklin, (3) and George Washington. (4) Norman Senior Substitute Magus. When Robert Little died in Davies said that Freemasonry was a powerful force on April 1878, Woodman became Supreme Magus. Under behalf of Liberalism in Europe, from about 1700 to the Bro. Woodman, the Order expanded from London twentieth century. It expanded rapidly during the Age to the rest of England and extending its influence to of Enlightenment, reaching practically every country Australia and America.(5) The Hermetic Order of the in Europe. It was especially attractive to powerful Golden Dawn had many famous and accomplished aristocrats and politicians as well as intellectuals, members like, William Butler Yeats, Bram Stoker, artists and political activists. Aleister Crowley, Israel Regardie, Frederick Leigh Gardner and Arthur Edward Waite and others. These brothers were creating and influencing their cultures through their music, literature, science, Again, we see Freemasonry embracing its symbols Third Thursday Fellowship invention and politics as well as the world around and symbolic esoteric and occult roots to enlighten them. Some U.S. Masonic lodges today may have a dim and increase the light of the group. Although, With our EA Degree schedule for the same evening, we were unable to hold Third Thursday spark of this type of Freemasonry within them but massive amounts of ego tore The Hermetic Order of Fellowhip in February. Look for our next Third Thursday on March 18th, 2021 at Enza’s in most are decaying fragments of the past. the Golden Dawn apart in a short time, some of its Mandarin. members created new groups and others used their I believe that Freemasonry came together and talents and skills culturally. The Societas Rosicruciana expanded during the Age of Enlightenment from in Anglia (S.R.I.A.) or (Rosicrucian Society of England) Rosicrucianism because it was a way for men of is still active in Europe and has active Masonic enlightenment to share their ideas and wisdom and Societas Rosicruciana groups around the world, to meet in a lodge and become free thinkers and free including the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus from the drama of the world and the hypocritical Foederatis (SRICF) or the Invisible College in the U.S. Lodge Events influence and domination of the Church of England and the Catholic Church. Keep in mind, that most It seems in U.S. Freemasonry that we have forgotten Mandarin Lodge 343 of the founders of the U.S. were Freemasons and our roots and what a lodge is all about. I think there is Stated meeting the 1st Thursday of the month. Dinner served at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship hall, with the also practiced Deism, a philosophical, intelligent time to change this and one thing we will need to look • based form of Christianity that has nothing to do at is the technological revolution we find ourselves meeting starting at 7:30 PM in the Lodge with biblical myths and supernatural events. It in right now and how it will relate to Freemasonry. I • Lodge practices - 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, at 7 PM. acknowledges a God or creator of the universe will get into that in another article. We also need to without defining this creator, just like Freemasonry start acting more like what Freemasonry is all about Coffee Klatch does. and embrace Symbology, Gnosis, Gnosticism and our esoteric and occult roots and our past. Instead • Every Tuesday morning, at 8 AM in the Fellowship Hall While many brothers want to trace Freemasonry back of representing ourselves like a combination of to the Knights Templar or Order of Solomon’s Temple, outdated groups like the Lions Club and Knights of Order of Eastern Star there is no historical record of a connection. Some Columbus. We need the mysterious put back into the of the Knights Templar beliefs and secrets may have mystery. Not the historical mythological past that has • Stated meeting each 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, in the Lodge made their way into what became Rosicrucianism but no historical evidence or proof but our Rosicrucian it’s a stretch to believe this information was hidden for and Age of Enlightenment past. Then bring this up DeMolay three centuries and then suddenly emerged. Although to date with our current times, and our technological Stated meeting each 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, in the Lodge the Masonic York Rite believes this to be true, there revolution. How do we do this? This is what Masonic • is no historical record or direct link to the Knights Enlightenment is all about. Templar.

Trestleboard/6 Trestleboard / 7 2021 Officers

John Young Stephen Hohman Ed Mann Worshipful Master Senior Warden Junior Warden

Jack Krumbein Don Carter Lou Govreau Secretary Treasurer Marshall

Jan Lindahl Bob Davidson Jim Pelham Senior Deacon Junior Deacon Chaplain

Jordan Lacy Cale Ivey Bobby Bethel Senior Steward Junior Steward Tyler

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