Cross Keys, December 2016

The Cross Keys December 2016 The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone Number 196 In this issue: A Masonic Parade Icelandic Freemasons Port Royal Lodge, Virginia Cardinal Virtues Masonic Lodges Worldwide Scottish Rectified Rite The Wild West Cross Keys Dec 2016 Grand Lodge of Scotland, Niddrie Street 1809 11 August: Hall sold by Baptist Congregation to the Grand Lodge of Scotland to William Inglis and Alexander Laurie, bookseller for Grand Lodge for £600 29 September: Grand Lodge approved the proceedings of the committee of general management and their powers were continued: To purchasing the houses and areas in question To repairing the roof and windows of the hall To enlarging or altering the hall, building an outside stair thereto and shops to wards the Cowgate To take any steps to improve the hall and report from time to time. 21 November: Grand Lodge consecrated by the past Grand Master, the Earl of Moira. 1812 2 April: Dean of Guild warrant for Grand Lodge of Scotland for additions and alterations to St. Cecilia’s Hall. Petition by William Inglis WS and Alexander Laurie, bookseller and stationer, lodged 5 March: Plans signed and dated by John Thin [1765-1827]. Abstract of accounts rela- tive to the purchase, repairs and additional buildings. Some entries for items paid: Messrs Hamilton& Thin for altering seats, main stair do. £103 1s 8d Messrs Braid- wood& Giles for squaring hall, making chairs £657. Mr. Jackson for painting and ornamenting the hall £94. Mr. Steel for gilding and ornamenting chairs, crimson velvet cano- py for Masters, seat gold £260. They borrowed £1500 from the Incorporation of Mary's Chapel No.1 1820 8 July: Application to the Dean of Guild Court by Grand Lodge to make alterations to the building. Petition and drawings missing, index entry only 1842 8 February: “The Lodge of Edinburgh Mary's Chapel held an annual Festival in Freema- sons' Hall, Niddry Street, the K. W. M. in the chair, ably supported by a numerous band of the Brotherhood. Deputations from seven of the Sister Lodges attended under their respective Masters; and the entertainment was sumptuous and elegant. The various toasts embodied loyalty to the Sovereign, love to the Constitution, and kindness and charity to all—the leading features of the "mystic tie." An excellent instrumental band occupied the orchestra, while Brother Jackson and a glee corps from the Choral Society enlivened the evening with strains "To Masonry and Scotia dear." A song written at the request of the Lodge, by the Grand Hard, also elicited great applause—altogether the meeting was harmonious, intellectual, and social. Exactly at "high twelve," the Brethren retired, the band playing "Good night and joy."” [The Freemasons' Quarterly (magazine and) Review, 1842 p. 84] Cross Keys Dec 2016 A Masonic Parade It has already been mentioned that Britain rarely has a masonic parade or procession nowa- days. In Peru, this is a completely different story where most lodges under the Grand Lodge of Peru participate. The photos below are from the annual parade from 2013 in La Plaza de la Pandera (Flag Square) Lima. Blue lodge aprons use the York Rite ritual while red apron lodges use the Scottish Rite ritual for their three degrees. What a colourful site! Cross Keys Dec 2016 A Superb Lodge Room The photo below of an American lodge room is spectacular and not surprisingly, the lodge has a good attendance. Apart from it being well kept, clean and a delight to sit in, there is also a screen with projector to assist degrees. If you look at the east, you will see a screen which shows images of tracing boards and other parts of lectures—what a great idea and I’m sure with some PMs, a somewhat horrific idea!!! I have absolutely no doubts that the candi- date will be suitably impressed with the degrees. Cross Keys Dec 2016 Order of Icelandic Freemasons Freemasonry in Iceland began in 1913 when a "society of brothers", Edda, was established, in Reykjavik. Then, in 1918 Edda became a lodge of instruction. A year later, it became a ful- ly warranted lodge. Since then, a total of twelve warranted lodges and six lodges of instruction have been established. Icelandic Freemasonry was under the jurisdiction of The Nation- al Grand Lodge of Denmark until 1951 when the Danish Grand Master constituted the Grand Lodge of Iceland as a sovereign Order which has a total membership of 3379 as of the 15th of March, 2011. Icelandic Freemasonry operates according to the Swedish Rite which is the dominant system in four of the Nordic countries and to some extent in Finland and Germany. It consists of eleven degrees, all of which are considered a part of Freemasonry. The first set is the St. John’s degrees (our three degrees) and then the St. Andrew’s degrees followed by Chapter degrees which are very Templar in nature. This system differs considerably from those used in English speaking countries. There is less emphasis on rote-learning in the Swedish Rite compared to its English cousin; while English Masonry places importance on so-called word-perfect ritual (that is, committed to memory and repeated without a single deviation from the prepared text), the Swedish Rite prefers candidates to understand the spirit of the ritual. Accordingly, Lodge officers are given a book from which to read during degree ceremonies; the task of delivering these speeches falls on an officer known as the Orator. Furthermore, candidates are examined on their proficiency of the previous degree: by this is meant that, prior to being passed or raised (as appropriate), candidates are made to write down the salient points of the morality taught by the previous degree. Masonic visitors from abroad belonging to Grand Lodges recognized by the Icelandic Order are cordially invited to participate in lodge meetings as they wish. Lodges have their own shields similar to other constitutions of the Swedish Rite. The Grand Lodge building is below right and the main entrance at the bottom centre. Cross Keys Dec 2016 The Wild West Everyone has heard of the Wild West , Jesse James, Custer at Little Big Horn and of course the gunfight at the OK Corral. The latter had some well known characters from Tombstone, Ari- zona. Another these were the Earp brothers. In all of the mess with sheriffs trying to main- tain law and order, little mention is every given to lodges and masons. Well, King Solomon No. 5 Lodge was Tombstone was active during this period. In 1881, there were twenty-nine petitions for degrees and seventeen for affiliation on file. During this period of time Mr. Virgil Earp, brother of Wyatt Earp (right) , US Marshal in the Tombstone area, petitioned the Lodge for membership. His petition was duly received and referred to the required committee, which re- sponded favourably, however, upon presentation to the membership of the Lodge, his petition was rejected. His application shows that he was employed as Chief of Police, resided in Tombstone and was 37 years old. His petition was signed by, Brothers Solomon and Spicer. Brother Wells Spicer, the first Master of the lodge and local judge had an office above the infamous Crystal Palace Saloon, right next to Mar- shall Earp. It is claimed that Wyatt was a freemason (as well as an Oddfellow) although probably not at this time as he would have pro- posed his brother. Unfortunately, details are sparse and it is not known for sure if he had actually joined. However, he was friends with a young Bro. John Wayne. Despite the dangerous lifestyle, he was never shot and died in 1929. Three years later, the lodge had some financial difficulty—the local bank was robbed! Unlike today, it’s tough luck and the money was gone. However, by 1887 the lodge was back on an even keel through the hard work of the brethren. The lodge has met in the local hall since 1882—notification of meetings was done by a raised flag which continued well into the 20th century and candidates are still obligated on the original alter from that period. With a re- cent face lift, the pole has gone and no doubt emails notify brethren today of meetings! Cross Keys Dec 2016 Kilwinning Crosse Port Royal Lodge No. 2 On June 1, 1851, 35 Port Royal citizens agreed to subscribe 52 shares at $50 per share (a total of $2,700) for the construction of a new "Town Hall & Lyceum" behind Lot 20 on King St. This brick two-storied structure with cellar still stands, though now in dilapidated condition. All original documents pertaining to the construction of the building are still intact, and comprise the only full documentation of any structure in Port Royal. "Harkness" was the architect, and Thomas D. Lumpkin of Port Royal signed the contract as builder. The building committee for the town was William Gray (before his death as first treasurer), Dr. John J. Gravatt (2nd treasurer), Dr. Edmund P. White, Apollos Boutwell, and Dr. Charles Urquhart. The land was sold to the committee for $75 by Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, Isabella Gray, Evelina P. Gray, and Ann Lewis Gray. William Gray had agreed to furnish part of his Lot 20 for the new building; on January 12, 1852 gray was seri- ously injured by a fall from the portico of the Powhatan House hotel in Richmond, and died eight days later, January 20, 1853. By December 9, 1854, the Town Hall & Lyceum was complet- ed. Many subscribers failed to meet their obligations to pay for their "shares," and the rooms were used in various ways to raise building costs.

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