Harashim
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian & New Zealand Masonic Research Council
ISSN 1328-2735 Issue 29 January 2004
About Harashim Harashim, Hebrew for Craftsmen, is a quarterly newsletter published by NEW ANZMRC the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council (PO Box 332, Williamstown, Victoria 3016, Australia) and two copies are issued free to each of its Affiliate and Associate members in VICE PRESIDENT January, April, July and October each year. Additional copies are available to interested persons on subscription (details In mid-December, Kent Henderson, Secretary of below). At a later date copies of most articles, features and news items will be ANZMRC, informed all Affiliates as follows: posted on ANZMRC’s Internet website
PRESIDENT’S PROGRESS
On 15 November, I departed Adelaide, exemplary. Nicely renovated lodge commencing my third Masonic around- room painted with green trim. The the-world (whirlwind) trip. My previous lodge ladies provided the repast; Masonic RTW trips were in 1997 and elsewhere in Jamaica it was catered. 2002. ♦ Fri 28 Nov. Drove to Montego Bay, There was a 4½ hour delay in then back to Ocho Rios and Kingston. Singapore due to a problem with the Attended Western Shamrock Lodge plane’s hydraulics. The plane flew over IC in Kingston. The RW Assistant upper India, crossed Afghanistan just Provincial GM gave a presentation on south of Kabul, then headed across the Masonic Etiquette in his inimitable mid portion of the Caspian Sea, which I style (not known for nothing as the was able to see for a short while. Then ‘silver fox’). This meeting was not we flew over the Ukraine and Germany, Richard Num well attended; the brethren decided to and I saw Berlin from the air for the first delay opening time to 6 pm in future, time. Arriving over London about Met at the airport by a senior Mason, as the traffic in New Kingston has 10.30 am Sunday 16 November, we were who proved extremely helpful when I become very congested on Friday rewarded by clear skies and marvellous discovered my passport was no longer evenings. I am not sure where I ended views of the metropolis and the counties in my possession. It was located after up afterwards but I had a good time. for 50 or more miles around. several days, in the Customs arrivals ♦ Saturday evening 29 Nov. I attended area, and I managed to reclaim it. ♦ Monday 17 Nov. I caught up with a the St Andrews Festival hosted by the Masonic friend of Lebanese–Italian ♦ Saturday 22 Nov. Attended District Grand Lodge of Jamaica, origins, in the Freemasons Arms pub Installation meeting of Irish Masters Scottish Constitution, at their HQ in very close to Freemasons’ Hall in Lodge, a member of ANZMRC. The Kingston. This is an annual event, Great Queen Street, London. This was outgoing WM installed his successor held on the Saturday adjacent to after a short visit to the office of the in traditional manner (somewhat St Andrew’s Day (Nov 30, in case Quatuor Coronati Correspondence abbreviated). you didn’t know). Circle and the two Masonic regalia ♦ Sunday 23 Nov. Recovering from the The festival commenced with opening of shops in that street. At 4 pm sharp we day before. Discovered that New the District Grand Lodge. Visitors were entered the portals of Freemasons’ Kingston is even quieter than welcomed from the English, Irish and Hall to attend a meeting of Loggia Adelaide at 10 o’clock on a Sunday other jurisdictions. Deceased Brethren Italia, EC, which is over 100 years morning! Not so at other times, were remembered, and Patents were old, working Emulation ritual particularly in the several hours either presented to several brethren who had translated into Italian. The repast/ side of midnight. been awarded honorary grand rank. festive board was held at an Italian ♦ Monday 24 Nov. Attended Officers for the ensuing year then restaurant about 15-minutes walk Installation meeting of Installed assembled, took their Obligations of away. I was impressed to see Masters Lodge of Jamaica (EC). The office, and were invested. District Grand displayed on the top table a Masonic new WM has ambitious plans to Lodge then closed. sword, formerly the property of promote Masonic education and Brethren were then joined in the lodge Guiseppe Garibaldi. learning. room by wives, families and guests. We ♦ Tues 18 Nov. Flew to Dublin, Ireland. were treated to a celebration of ♦ Tuesday 25 Nov. Attended a third I visited Freemasons’ Hall in St Andrew (patron saint of Scotland) degree at Wolmers Lodge SC. This is Molesworth Street, and that night consisting of music, singing (solo artists, a school lodge and almost all attended a third degree working. It felt a duet, and the Jamaican Masonic members wore the lodge tie, which good to be back in the home of Irish Chorale), recital of the poem ‘If’, and an looks like an old school tie—maroon Freemasonry. oration on the theme ‘Education’. and gold. Maroon and gold trim to Following the celebrations in the ♦ Wed 19 Nov. Viewed the newly collars and aprons also. This was a lodge room, we adjourned to the supper refurbished Knight Masons Room, very long night! The Scottish brethren room, with a catered meal and ample and did some Christmas shopping. had a great deal of business to discuss supplies of beverages, including rum, Returned to London in the afternoon. before starting the work. Not a single wines, beers and non-alcoholic— It takes 4–5 hours to get from the Ephraimite in view, I hasten to add. centre of Dublin to Piccadilly Circus including water. Many toasts were ♦ Wed 26 Nov. Installation meeting of in central west London. offered. I was honoured to be asked to an EC Royal Arch Chapter. I had to respond to the toast to ‘The Visitors’. ♦ Thurs 20 Nov. Meeting with friends, wear an English apron. Surprised to After a happy evening I beat a hasty and a little more Christmas shopping. see many without the RAC jewel. retreat at 11 pm to pack my bags, and ♦ Arrived in Jamaica Friday ♦ Thurs 27 Nov. Drove the mountain catch some sleep (1 hour) before the 21 November at 5.30 pm local time top road to Ocho Rios on the north 7 am flight to Chicago via Miami. (5 hours behind London time, and coast. Attended Seville Lodge SC— 15.5 hours behind my home time). another third degree, Scottish style— To be continued. page 2 Harashim This ’n’ that . . . NEW ANZMRC VICE PRESIDENT by Tony Pope (Continued from page 1)
Canadian Prince Hall visitor Two lodges in Victoria were hosts to a distinguished visitor from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ontario, Canada, in November and December 2003. MWBro Arthur Downes, PGM, Grand Chancellor (the office responsible for fraternal relations), made a private visit to Australia, based mainly in Geelong. He expressed a wish to visit lodges in Victoria and arrangements were made for him to attend the (November) Installation meeting of the Victorian Lodge of Research in East Melbourne and the December meeting of Lodge Epicurean at Geelong. Bro Downes was warmly welcomed VWBro Arthur Hartley VWBro Peter Verrall on both occasions and, from informal remarks made subsequently, there is a distinct possibility that the ‘European Peter Verrall was born in 1927, educated Lodge #171 and joined the Western Concept’ model may be introduced to in England and admitted as an Associate Australian Lodge of Research, where he Canada, and overtures made towards an of the Royal Institute of British was Secretary in 1992, Master in 1993, exchange of recognition. Architects in 1948. He migrated to New Lecture Master in 1996–97, and Harashim regrets that no pictorial Zealand in 1952, was a partner in a Secretary again from 1998 to 2000. He record or formal report of the visit to private architectural practice in Rotorua was selected as Western Australia’s either lodge has been forthcoming. Can from 1954 until retirement in 1987 and a Kellerman Lecturer for 1996. any of our readers remedy this Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of In 2001, VWBro Verrall, PDGDC, deficiency? Architects. In 1990 he moved to Perth, compiled the history of the first fifty Arrangements were also in hand for Western Australia. years of the Western Australian Lodge visits to lodges in New South Wales, but Peter Verrall was initiated in Rotorua of Research. He has always been keen to Bro Downes had to cut short his intended in 1964 and served as Master of Lodge present the traditions and development trip to that State. When he left Geelong, Matakana #356 in 1978. He was of Freemasonry in dramatic form, with his parting remark was: ‘If it weren’t for foundation Master of Waikato Lodge of humorous aspects, and has written, your right hand drive I could stay right Research in 1980–82, and then Secretary produced and acted in four Masonic here.’ for seven years until he moved to stage productions, all in period costume. Western Australia. The research lodge He also wrote and produced a Secretarial changes instituted an annual invitational lecture presentation for the Golden Jubilee of Two ANZMRC Associates have had a in his honour, and in 1994 he returned to the lodge in 2001. His lecture to the change of Secretary: present the Verrall Lecture for that year. Reseach Lodge in 2004 will be a The new secretary of Newcastle When he moved to Perth, Bro Verrall pictorial review of these stage Masonic Study Circle is WBro Neil affiliated with Shenton Park Bedford presentations over a period of ten years. Keats, 93 Joslin Street, Kotara, NSW 2289, Australia,
In recent years a small but increasing percentage of Masons have become aware of a lack of opportunity for intellectual or spiritual growth in the practice of mainstream Masonry; some have sought the companionship of like minds within the mainstream, particularly via the Internet, while others have looked beyond mainstream to existing Orders ‘beyond the pale’, and some have attempted reform by creating new Orders. The tendency is to consider mixed-gender practices, and in this issue of Harashim, we look at three approaches to the problem. results, therefore, need not apply, for it through the practice of its principles will 1—Ancient Order of Mysteries is our experience that the Path is a long be found that which lies at the heart of Information on the ‘Grand Lodge, and arduous one, and that a necessary all true religion. Ancient Universal Mysteries, Orient of S discipline of the life should accompany . . . ∴∴∴∴’ (AUM) is obtainable from their all true spiritual aspiration. We are LET the word go from this day forth, to website
by Joseph A Walkes Jr, FPS.
I arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Compass. I later found a book on the (USA) in August 1971, from the history of the 29th Regiment Connecticut Republic of Korea, where I had served Colored Infantry, the correct designation an 18-month tour with the United States of the unit, in the library. Both books had Army. I arrived at my new military photographs which turned out to be of station with a footlocker full of Masonic members of the two lodges. Using the books, reflecting my love of the literature research facilities of the library, I was to of the Craft. In those more than a begin my search to learn all I could of hundred books which I carried with me the members of both lodges, who they was nothing on Prince Hall Freemasonry, were and what role Masonry played in which was always a great frustration to their lives. Captain Emilo was without a me, there was actually so little on the doubt a Freemason, from the statements subject at that time. that he wrote in several passages One of the books that impressed me throughout his book. Using the military greatly, being a military career person, Author Joseph A Walkes Jr records of the National Archives in was Sword and Trowel: The Story of Washington, DC, I was able to receive Traveling and Military Lodges, co- have to say so myself. copies of the military records of all those authored by John Black Vrooman and It didn’t take me long to learn that Prince Hall Brethren that made up both Allen E Roberts.1 In the book there was a Fort Leavenworth was the home of what units. facsimile of the charter of Phoenix is known as the Command and General It was dramatic and historic for me to Lodge No 1, with the caption ‘Warrant Staff College, a substantial military learn that Black Prince Hall Freemasons granted by “Compact Grand Lodge” of school that trained field-grade officers of were actually holding lodge within the New York for a Negro Military Lodge all branches of the American Armed battle lines of the Civil War, or the during Civil War.’2 According to the Forces, and International Officers from ‘War of the Rebellion’, as the military charter, it was issued in 1864 in response many countries around the world. I was called it. to a petition from ‘the members of the also to learn that it had a massive library It was during this period, living in the 29th United States Colored Troops’, but geared to the military, and I was barracks alone at the time, that I learned the authors point out:3 authorized to use it. how to do proper research. One thing I What follows is a story worth telling quickly learned was that it only took There was no “29th U. S. Colored Troops,” but it is possible and probable and may be hard for some to fully determination to seek after the the printer reversed the “9” and it should understand; it is there that I learned the information I needed, and that one thing have been the “26th Colored Regiment” spirit, if not the advantage of true would lead to another; furthermore, as I sponsored by the Union League Club of Masonic research. I took the Vrooman/ was dealing with Black history I learned New York. Roberts book to the military library, and the first cardinal rule, to verify, verify, A few other Negro regimental lodges within a few minutes found to my delight verify—not to leave anything to chance, known to have existed, one being in the that there was a book on the 55th leaving no stones unturned, as 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia at Massachusetts by a Captain Luis ‘they’ (meaning Whites) would do Fort Wagner. More recently, Military F Emilio, a Caucasian officer serving in everything in their power to discredit Lodges have been carried on the rolls of several of the Prince Hall Grand Lodges. that ground-breaking Black unit, who one’s research, if it dealt with Prince The Prince Hall Grand Lodge in had written the history of that civil war Hall Freemasonry, as they always did, or 4 Missouri carried three such Lodges on contingent. In it I discovered these so I believed. Nevertheless, I learned that its register in 1920. They were Malta mesmerizing lines:5 research, especially Masonic research, Military Lodge 138 at Ft. Huachuca, First Sergeant Gray of Company C had really had little to do with race, although Arizona; Tyre Military Lodge 143, received a Masonic Charter and race alone kept Freemasonry apart in the Columbus, N. M., and Joppa Military organized a Lodge on Morris Island. The United States. Camp Lodge 150, Stotsenberg Camp, Meeting place was a dry spot in the I had signed up for a English course at Pampanga, Philippine Islands. marsh near our camp, where boards were the Post, as my command of English (Ward K. St. Clair) set up to shelter the members. grammar left much to be desired; I was I will always be grateful to Brothers I was astonished! I had hit the ‘Mother no Oscar Wilde, who called himself a Vrooman and Allen for their labor of Lode’ in my initial research, as the lord of the language in his painful love in this masterful book. Years later, writer’s words jumped out at me from De Profundis. He had a command of the Allen Roberts became a great friend of the pages and the pen of Captain Emilo; English language, a genius that I did not mine, Vrooman was instrumental in my it was indeed a blessing that would take have, and I felt it would help me in the joining the Philalethes Society, and I on a life of its own, which I later titled writing of my book. His stories, poetry, ended up with the actual warrant for ‘Prince Hall Masonry in the Civil War’. essays and letters had always left me Malta Military Lodge in my It was a find that had a major impact amazed, at his daring and range of possession—all stranger than fiction, if I in the writing of Black Square & (Continued on page 8) Issue 29 page 7 (Continued from page 7) Lodge Proceedings, all of them, and I hypocrisy of patriots who wrote liberty beauty. I often thought of his prose as I began to search old Black bookstores all and lived slavery. worked on Black Square & Compass. over the country seeking them. I sent I had to remind myself, at each step in My teacher was a Mrs Virginia Ehlers letters across the United States looking the process, a quotation from Bro of McLouth, Kansas, a very kind and for copies of them. It took a while and W E B Du Bois: ‘Throughout history the dedicated women who was White. She was for the most part expensive, but an powers of single black men flash, here would later take time after work to come expression of my love for Masonry in and there, like a falling star, and die, to my home (I had since been married) general, Prince Hall Freemasonry in sometimes before the world has rightly and go over the manuscript with me, particular, and my own Grand Lodge. As gauged their brilliance.’8 correcting my many grammatical errors. I located the books, I was to discover a I ran into a nasty incident within the For her efforts I will always be grateful. I couple of photographs of the Buffalo pages of my Grand Lodge Proceedings, also received a book that had been Soldiers in military uniform and in which emphasized the hypocrisy of published in my childhood. I had Masonic regalia, a find of historical hatred toward my race, and I placed it in remembered when it was released for importance. What a discovery for this my book for all to see. I named it after its sale, but never had a chance to read, so I writer! Words alone cannot express my title found within the Proceedings, which had some book-finders locate the book joy, which gave me the will and the drive became one of the most overly criticized for me. It was Kenneth Roberts’ to continue with my research. 6 portions of the entire book—‘Niggerdom I Wanted to Write. He was one of the I had already taken two years to in Regalia’! It dealt with a man who was most inspiring authors in my youth, and research the life and times of our ‘patron the Masonic editor of a newspaper in it was to have a major impact on my saint’ Prince Hall, from which I began New York, and a news dispatch from writing. Years later I mentioned the my opening chapters with his inspiring Natchez, Mississippi, concerning a significance of the name to the son of my history. I had searched all over the State Prince Hall Lodge in Natchez, named friend Allen E Roberts, Kenneth of Massachusetts seeking copies of after the first Black United States D Roberts (a Lewis), who would later documents concerning Prince Hall. It Senator, Bro H R Revels, and formed publish one of my books. There was no was a difficult task, not being able to go under dispensation from Grand Master other book that had such an impact on in person to where the material was filed. Alexander Clark of Missouri. my work on Black Square & Compass, However, with determination, and my Senator Revels had been minister of a as that dedicated book which described eyes on the prize—plus a few postage church in my newly adopted home town the almost unbelievable efforts that stamps—I was able to accomplish the of Leavenworth, a Mason from my Kenneth Roberts took in researching his needed research. I began the chapter with Grand Lodge of Missouri, and in 1858 he subjects. If nothing else, it taught me to ‘One cannot begin a serious work on gave a Masonic lecture to the brethren of re-write, re-write and re-write again, a Prince Hall Freemasonry without first Prince Hall Lodge No 10 (now No 1) in point that I was to learn very well. presenting some facts concerning the St Louis, and said: There was one other aspect to my man and the legend, responsible for the We so far, with such historical data as book. In Leavenworth, the first city of creation of the fraternity that bears his we at present can reach, can see no Kansas, outside of Fort Leavenworth, name.’ Prince Hall became my hero, and essential difference between the course both being named for the same I think it showed in my book. of our colored Lodges and the primary individual, I discovered the men who Later I was to learn that Prince Hall American Grand Lodges of our pale were called Buffalo Soldiers. The town Freemasons played a major role in the brethren. If, therefore, they cannot had quite a number of them. They were building of Black America and whatever affiliate with us, we beg of them not old men, but to listen to their stories was, Black America became was due in part hastily to condemn us. We feel that for a soldier like myself, Paradise enow, to those who were members of the Craft. whilst they condemn us, they must as the poem goes. I met these men and A point that I would always stress, which condemn themselves, to a great degree. We believe, too, that in time a spirit less sat at their feet, as they spoke of their I stressed in Black Square & Compass, marked by prejudice will prevail toward lives in the military, when it had two and which originally kept the book from 7 us, which we hope to merit and to earn armies: one White, the other Black. I had being published, is: by a close adherence to the ancient discovered that my Grand Lodge, the The idea is simple, but the implications pattern of most honorable Masons, and Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri, are profound and require a rethinking of by our personal efforts to improve in all had in fact chartered a number of Lodges the time-line of Black America which the moral and social qualities so attached to the Buffalo solders, of the 9th began with the black pioneers and not ennobling to human nature. and 10th Cavalry Regiments. I would the white founding fathers. The white It was a prophetic statement that write ‘the Black soldier brought with him founding fathers were not the black foreshadowed what we find today, the founding fathers; the white not only his religion and his desire for recognition of Prince Hall Freemasonry constitutional convention was not the true freedom, but his Masonry as well’. I black constitutional convention; the throughout most of Universal called these brave men ‘magnificent’, white beginning was not the black Freemasonry. thus the title of chapter five of my book, beginning. For, as everybody knows, the I searched the Proceedings of the ‘Those Magnificent Masonic Buffalo white fathers defined the white white Grand Lodge of Mississippi Soldiers’. Listening to their exploits and beginning as a black negation. To them, concerning the ‘Niggerdom in Regalia’ finding them still alive, while not and to many who came after them, incident. I was shocked at the hatred I recognized for the heroes that they were, America was a white place defined found, by those who were called also had a major impact on my writing negatively by the absence of blackness. Freemasons. As I followed the story I The Puritans’ celebrated dream of a City that chapter. was disgusted at the attitude of those on the Hill was a dream of a white city. I began something perhaps that most The vision of Patrick Henry, Thomas from that Grand Lodge who were Freemasons do not attempt. I was Jefferson, and George Washington, all involved. While the newspaper article determined to find copies of my Grand slave holders, was a vision of white. The tried to hide the name of the Master of
page 8 Harashim the Lodge that called the Prince Hall Lewis Hayden and the Prince Hall be recorded and remembered in Grand Master ‘a bastard, spurious and Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. They succeeding ages.’12 illegitimate Mason’, I published his represent the true stature of European This was the gist of my work, my name so history would record what a vile Freemasons, Bro Findel, and others who Black Square & Compass, my very soul! were true and just to the spirit of individual he was. His name was I wanted to show again in the words of Freemasonry. The jewels represent the 13 E George De Lap, and, while I wanted to struggle of Prince Hall Freemasonry to Dr Du Bois: find out more about this individual, I did be accorded its rightful place in the . . . the Negro is a sort of seventh son, not have the time, and I cast him off as a Masonic community. They symbolize born with a veil, and gifted with second non-person, too gross to be important—a the fight against American racism as sight in this American world, a world Mason who was not a Mason, who practiced by the Caucasian Grand which yields him no true self represented what I found wrong in Lodges then, as they practice today, and consciousness, but only lets him see Freemasonry in America, and the thing I against the fascism of Hitlerism against himself through the revelation of the had decided to use my skill as a writer Freemasonry in Europe. other world. It is a peculiar sensation, and researcher to fight. As I look back on it today, these thoughts this double consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the Dr W E B Du Bois, Prince Hall touched my soul, and were very eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul Freemason, wrote:9 meaningful to me, as it represented and by the tape of a world that looks on in One is astonished in the study of history came from every fiber of my body: my amused contempt and pity. One ever at the recurrence of the idea that evil true love of Freemasonry and the abuse I feels his two-ness, an American, a must be forgotten, distorted, skimmed saw within what some one would call the Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two over. We must not remember that Daniel gentle Craft. unreconciled strivings; two warring Webster got drunk but only remember Then I discovered Martin R Delany, ideals in one dark body, whose dogged that he was a splendid constitutional whom I called the ‘Militant Master strength alone keeps it from being torn lawyer. We must forget that George Mason’. In him I found myself. In asunder. Washington was a slave owner, or that writing about him, I was writing about Thomas Jefferson had mulatto children, As I saw it, a Freemason and a Prince or that Alexander Hamilton had Negro myself. Here was a Black man, as black Hall Freemason, two souls, two thoughts, blood, and simply remember the things as tar, that found joy in his blackness, an in a divided Freemasonry, not in we regard as creditable and inspiring. individual who was proud and arrogant, a harmony with this worldwide fraternity. The difficulty, of course, with this Prince Hall Freemason who labored To paraphrase Dr Du Bois, as a student philosophy is that history loses its value beyond the call of duty for his race. I of Freemasonry I wanted to be fair and as an incentive and example; it paints recorded one of his most famous quotes, judicial; to let no searing of the memory perfect men and noble nations, but it which he made in answer to the newly by intolerable insult and cruelty make me does not tell the truth. enacted Fugitive Slave Act which gave fail to sympathize with human frailties And I began the ‘Niggerdom in Regalia’ slave owners the right to seek runaway and contradiction, in the eternal paradox chapter with an apt quotation from slaves wherever they thought they might of good and evil. But, armed and warned 11 Shakespeare: be: by all this, and fortified by long study of the facts, I stood aghast at what Who steals my purse, steals trash; ’tis Honorable Mayor, whatever ideas of American Masonic historians had done something, nothing; liberty I may have, have been received ’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave from reading the lives of your in this field. to thousands. revolutionary fathers. I have therein When the book was finished, I sent But he that filches from me my good learned that a man has a right to defend the manuscript to Macoy Publishing and name his castle with his life, even unto taking Masonic Supply Company in Richmond, Robs me of that which not enriches of life. Sir, my house is my castle; in that Virginia, seeking to have it published. him,And makes me poor indeed. castle are none but my wife and my They read it and turned it down, with a children, as free as the angels of heaven, statement that they didn’t like what I In contrast, I told the story of the German and whose liberty is as sacred as the Masonic writer and scholar Joseph pillars of God. If any man approaches wrote about George Washington being a G Findel, who was made an honorary that house in search of a slave, I care not slave owner. But nevertheless the Prince Hall Grand Master; it was history who he may be, whether constable or statement was true, so I in turn published worth telling, of a dedicated true sheriff, magistrate or even judge of the the book myself, and it began to sell. It Freemason who fought for the Supreme Court—nay, let it be he who was a ‘hit’, and Macoy came back to me sanctioned this act to become a law, and asked to publish it, which they have recognition of Prince Hall Freemasonry surrounded by his cabinet as his body in his day. I came across the Masonic done for the past 20 or so years up to the guard, with the Declaration of present time. jewelry that was given to Bro Findel by Independence waving above his head as However, as soon as it came out, it the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of his banner, and the constitution of his Massachusetts, exhibited in the Masonic country upon his breast as his shield,—if was attacked by a number of Caucasian Museum of the Grand Lodge Zur Sonne he crosses the threshold of my door, and Freemasons, so-called Masonic scholars: I do not lay him a lifeless corpse at my Harold V B Voorhis, Alphonse Cerza, (the Sun) in Bayreuth, Bavaria, and then 14 found a photograph of members of a feet, I hope the grave may refuse my and John Sherman who wrote: Prince Hall Military Lodge in Germany body a resting place, and righteous Heaven my spirit a home. O, No! He The subtitle of this book is ‘200 Years of Prince Hall Freemasonry’ and is visiting the Museum. This caused me to cannot enter that house and we both live. write: 10 misleading because it is not a history of the Prince Hall Organization. While the And so a small portion of Prince Hall It was as if I was speaking, it came from book has many items of interest for Masonry is preserved, thousand of miles the very soul of us both, a fire inside, an Prince Hall members, it has little of any from the country of Prince Hall, and abhorrence, as Bennett would write, ‘that value for others. within the glass case are the jewels of a was publicly held forth, this true and (Continued on page 10) Grand Master, symbols of the legendary invaluable doctrine, which is worthy to Issue 29 page 9 As Shakespeare has Marc Antony say, I would add to this list the book 9 Walkes J A Jr: Prince Hall’s Mission: the rise ‘The evil that men do lives after them; published by the Missouri Research of the Phylaxis Society, Kansas City 1995, Phylaxis Society, p91. the good is oft interred with their bones’: Lodge that criticized my Black Square & 10 Black Square & Compass, p107. John Sherman, Grand Historian of the Compass (and Prince Hall Freemasonry 11 ibid, p118. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which as well) that such a work brings sorrow 12 Bennett, op cit, p142. claims its founding in 1733, but in and shame to Freemasonry in America. I 13 Du Bois W E B: The Souls of Black Folk, 15 1903, pp3–4. reality was 1792, and its own will close with another quotation from 14 Sherman J & Coil H W: A Documentary 16 member Jacob Norton stated was Brother Crawford that spells out my Account of Prince Hall and Other Black formed by ‘Revolution and feelings:20 Fraternal Orders, 1982, Missouri Lodge of Assumption’, not regularly; Research, p88. I exchanged considerable The Negro Mason is not interested in the amount of communications with these men, Harold V B Voorhis of the Grand vindication of his Legitimacy merely as and our differences was a barrier to a deeper Lodge of New Jersey, which was a means of justifying a claim to appreciation of each other. founded by only one lodge of Master recognition by white Masons of 15 Draffen G: A Register of Grand Lodges Masons, not the required three;17 and America. A man would be interested in Active and Extinct, Masonic Service Association. He wrote: ‘Original Provincial Alphonse Cerza, of the Grand Lodge removing the stigma of bastardry, not so much because it might bar his reception St. John’s Grand, under the Grand Lodge of of Illinois, a Grand Lodge that died England (30 Jul 1733); Massachusetts into polite society, but to vindicate Provincial Grand Lodge under Scotland (27 several times and gave rebirth to himself in the eyes of his own self itself;18 Dec 1769); became Massachusetts respect. Independence Grand Lodge (8 March 1777) yet these men would sit in judgment of and the two united to form the present Grand Prince Hall Freemasonry. There’s So Mote It Be! Lodge (19 Mar 1792).’ Bro Draffen was something wrong with that picture! placed into the Phylaxis Society Masonic Hall Today, most of Prince Hall Endnotes of Fame for his support of Prince Hall Freemasonry. Freemasonry has joined the family of 1 Vrooman J B & Roberts A E: Sword and 16 Bro Jacob Norton, a Jewish Freemason, was universal Freemasonry, as most of the trowel: The Story of Traveling and Military placed in the Masonic Hall of Fame by the Grand Lodges—including the ‘Mother’ Lodges, 1964, Missouri Lodge of Research. Phylaxis Society. 2 ibid, p100. Grand Lodge of Prince Hall, England— 17 Formed by members of lodges under the 3 ibid, p101. Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania and New York have accepted Prince Hall Freemasonry 4 Emilio L F: A History of the Fifty-Fourth (18 Dec 1768), Draffen, op cit. as a part of the family, and those who Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 18 Formed by eight lodges under Indiana, hated us are spinning in their graves. 1863-1865, Boston 1868, Boston Book Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Company. May they rest in peace, or eternal Pennsylvania, became extinct in 1827 during 5 ibid, p129. the Morgan affair. (9 Dec 1822). Formed damnation, whatever is their due! 6 Roberts K: I wanted to Write, New York again by six Lodges under Kentucky and In the words of the late Prince Hall 1949, Doubleday. Missouri (6 Apr 1840). Sovereign Grand Commander George 7 Bennett L Jr: The Shaping of Black America, 19 Walkes J A Jr: History of the United Supreme Chicago 1975, Johnson Publishing Co, p115. W Crawford: ‘Never, in the annals of Council, AASR of Freemasonry, PHA, NJ 8 Cox J M A: Great Black Men in Masonry: USA Inc, 1998, p135. Freemasonry in the world has there been Qualitative Black Achievers who were 20 ibid, p137. published such a vile and vicious attack Freemasons, New York 1982, Blue Diamond 19 Press. directed at Prince Hall Freemasonry’.
that area, we have had no direct on his behalf. He writes: reports of any needing help. A I have been approached by a This ’n’ that . . . disaster fund has been launched by researcher who wishes to have a Government relief agencies. I am photograph verified. Whilst the sure that our Grand Lodge is ready (Continued from page 3) Australian Dictionary of Biography to help with financial aid as and makes no mention of the masonic when needed. Many volunteers are membership of Sir Thomas Elder, working in the area including farmers New Zealand floods the State Library of South Australia’s and farm workers from Hawke’s Bay pictorial collection lists a portrait Colin Heyward, NZ representative and who have gone to help Manawatu which it says is of Sir Thomas. The Assistant Secretary of ANZMRC reports: farmers milk thousands of cows by portrait depicts a man wearing hand (no power). Loss of stock feed masonic regalia. The portrait is Following on from Andy Walker’s and root crops will hit many farmers comments about the plight of catalogued as item B5849 in the very hard, so ongoing help will be Mortlock Pictorial Collection and can brethren in the North Island floods. needed for the remainder of this The area concerned covers from be found online at
Some of the descriptions we hear given suggests that ministers in this country influence on the life of the individual of Freemasonry, by non-Freemasons are might make their Sunday sermons a bit from “the womb to the tomb”. most hilarious. Here in The Bahamas, the shorter, but invite members of the But, if Freemasonry does not possess Family Islands in particular, the stories congregation after each service to all these aspects of religion, it does have and descriptions could even be respond to the sermon and his teaching. two things—and does not command a frightening. One-way communication doesn’t work, member’s mind or faith and most vital But some serious discussions with Dr. Allen intimates. they are—that religion does not enjoy. Freemasons, very active in New As with any responsible, well- First, a Jew, for example cannot be a Providence lodges such as Past Master of organized establishment, membership is Christian, or a Christian a Jew, without Royal Eagle Lodge No.1, Wendall Barry, the block with and on which it is built, forsaking his religious origin and who describes it as one of the world’s and dare not be taken lightly. background. oldest non-religious fraternal societies, Distribution of membership in a On the other hand, any male can The Guardian has been able to glean and Freemason’s lodge is not made without belong if he believes in God and in the separate the might of this powerful some conditions—a declared belief in Immorality of the Soul and earns the institution in The Bahamas—not the God being paramount. In each case, here approval of his fellows. Consider, for world—from the myths. in The Bahamas, we are told, declaration example, the usual communion Freemasonry is practised by and is made more profoundly. breakfast. Our Christian brethren gather under the guidance of constitutions Membership in a Freemason’s lodge in a church, our Jewish brethren in a established by a grand lodge, of which is open to men only, who must be of the synagogue, but, after separate worship, there are at least nine in The Bahamas, “mature age” of 18 years, without regard Freemasons gathered together to have a the more popular and established ones to or prejudice of religion, race, or common breaking of bread in harmony, being the United Grand Lodge of political persuasion; but a member must as Freemasons and as Brothers. “This England, Prince of Peace Grand Lodge; be of good repute and able to meet the simple fact gives concrete, emphasized Prince Hall Affiliation Grand Lodge, and other essential qualifications. A pet focus to the phrase even non-Masons the Grand Lodge of Scotland, all peeve among most Masons you talk to in have so often heard, and perhaps not practising “Ancient Free And Accepted The Bahamas is the confusion of fully comprehended: “The Brotherhood Masons”, and several other Grand Freemasonry with religion. of Man under the Fatherhood of God.” Lodges who refer to themselves as “When you write your story, be sure Says a young Prince Hall Mason, who Modern Free And Accepted Masons— to get it straight. Freemasonry is not a asked not to be identified, because he meaning, we suspect, only that the religion, nor is it a substitute for doesn’t feel he is yet qualified to speak constitution and laws, perhaps do not religion,” emphasized one of many local publicly about what he referred to as date back as far as the constitution of a Masons who contributed—consciously “The Craft”. Prince Hall or English Grand Lodge. or unconsciously—to this article but By way of corollary, in addition to not As a society of men, Freemasonry is refuse to be identified by name. being exclusive, FREEMASONRY IS concerned with sensitizing its members He went on to enunciate some distinct NOT DIVISIVE. The word “religion” to the need to inculcate moral and differences between religion and comes from the Latin word “Religio”, spiritual values into their daily living and Freemasonry. “Essentially,” he says, which means “to bind together”. lifestyle. Thus, members are taught “Freemasonry, the qualification of the Freemasons feel that in spite of this, certain precepts by a series of rituals ‘Order’ opens it to many types of however, history has dishearteningly far dramatised at regular meetings. That is, religions, but expect brethren to continue too many instances of religion acting as a in addition to teaching these precepts and in their own faith or religious persuasion. divisive force . . . too many instances of encouraging members to read and study Unlike religion, Freemasonry does not discrimination of man against man, in the them, the ritual is acted out so as to make embrace everyone, “cause if you’re named or under the disguise of religion. a greater and deeper impact and under eighteen years, or a woman, for Freemasonry, by contrast, not only impression on the members’ instance you cannot be a Freemason,” he does not bar men of various religions, it consciousness. told the Guardian. brings them together—in their lodges, in So important is this, there is one Past- Masons hold the position that one is the shrine, at brotherhood breakfasts, in Master of a Scottish lodge in The included in a religious fellowship by the the activities of Grand Lodge, through Bahamas, who, at every opportunity simple act of being born, but you are not which men of all faith are helped in their advises newly-made Masons to: “Go born a Freemason. In sum: Freemasonry hour of distress; of physical affliction, through the ritual and then let the ritual does not possess the overwhelming and of weakness and loneliness of age. go through you.” panoply of belief, ceremony, liturgy, Ironically, Freemasonry has over the It is probably what psychiatrist Dr. song, and prayer that exercise so years, been the single most influencing David Allen has in mind when he powerful and permanent an emotional (Continued on page 12) Issue 29 page 11 factor in the life of just about all To date, there are four Freemasons Bahamian men—Black and White—who who have served The Bahamas as have been able to raise themselves to Governor Generals, and one Prime prominence in the church, primarily Minister. among Baptist churches—businessman Judging from the pride, the passion Godfrey Huyler, pastor of a Baptist and the opinion of these Freemasons— church and, Past Grand Master of Prince identified as well as unidentified, who Hall lodges in The Bahamas being one. spoke with The Guardian, one might Which is not surprising when one clearly see that these men have excelled considers the origin, the heart and soul of in their individual and collective Baptist theology, and even the life of endeavours, primarily because of their Prince Hall, founder of the constitution Masonic Band of the First District, adherence, if not obedience to the three bearing his name—steeped in human Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Bahamas principles for which Freemasonry Photo from
page 12 Harashim Harashim
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian & New Zealand Masonic Research Council
ISSN 1328-2735 Issue 30 April 2004
About Harashim SCOTTISH MASON Harashim, Hebrew for Craftsmen, is a quarterly newsletter published by the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council (PO Box 332, Williamstown, Victoria 3016, Australia) and two copies FOR 2005 TOUR are issued free to each of its Affiliate and Associate members in January, April, July and October each year. Additional copies are available to interested persons on subscription (details below). At a later date copies of most articles, features and news items will be posted on ANZMRC’s Internet website
PRESIDENT’S PROGRESS
Sunday 30 November: I arrived in Tyler can attract the attention of the Chicago in time for the first day of my Senior Warden via a speaking hole some work-related conference, which 4" diameter, which looks to be directly concluded Friday afternoon—65,000 behind the Senior Warden’s head. A attendees this year! Since then I have bung is placed in the hole between uses. I braved the crowds in several shopping would not be surprised if the SW desired malls looking for a gift for one of my a bung for his earhole after several calls sons. It is almost like the post-Christmas from the Tyler! sales in Australia. There is no Inner Guard. This position is unknown in US Masonry. The Junior Wednesday 3 December: I was taken to Deacon does that duty. The Master and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois Wardens are situated East, South and headquarters in southern Chicago by West, each on a raised dias of three, two Brother Tyrone Jackson, and met the Richard Num or one steps. In this very old lodge room Deputy Grand Master. the terminal, close to the 100th each of the three principal officers was Saturday 6 December: We sat in lodge anniversary of powered flight with a seated beneath a wooden canopy, each together, the DGM, Bro Jackson and I, in human pilot. The Wright Brothers came having a curved undersurface King David Lodge #100 (PHA), where I from this part of Ohio. It is believed that reminiscent of a curved roof aircraft wore my Irish apron. The lodge opened their first flight may have occurred in hangar. Brethren sat on individual chairs in the third degree and I noted the steps Ohio rather than in North Carolina. which were extremely comfortable, but are the same as in Irish ritual. Just In the afternoon I explored the old not so much that anyone nodded off. perhaps, this might be a relic of PHA part of Xenia, David’s home town. It felt The floor was of wood. There was no origins; I will have to take note how they warmer than the forecast –2°C. In the mosaic pavement. The Altar was placed step in Ohio and (perhaps) California. evening we travelled south to Cincinatti in the centre of the room with two After routine business there was election to attend the election meeting of candlesticks on its north and a single of WM, Wardens and senior officers. Corinthian Lodge #1 PHA (founded stick on its south. Candles were lit during This followed a meeting of the 1847). Again, I was impressed by the the opening, and extinguished during the nominating committee of Past Masters, method of communication of the signs closing, by the Senior Deacon. No tapers and by decision of the lodge was by a from West to East at the opening of the or snuffs were in evidence. I idly nominal ballot on behalf of the lodge. It lodge. As on my previous attendance at wondered whether there might have been saves time. Two brethren acted as David Gray’s lodge, I was reminded of an old Masonic candle-snuffer in the ‘judges’ (scrutineers), and the vote was ballet. Museum downstairs. placed in a cap immediately to the west The ceiling was semi-curved at of the altar, with a judge sitting watching Tuesday 9 December: David Gray, southern and northern boundaries. This either side of the cap. Steve VanSlyck and I sat in lodge might have accounted for the excellent The lodge was then called to together in a mainstream Ohio lodge, acoustics. All who spoke could be clearly refreshment, and the PMs convened. The New England Lodge #4, a most heard; I was impressed. No mumbling outgoing WM was quizzed as to his venerable yet still vibrant lodge which from the officers or Secretary in this conduct of lodge affairs in jocular has worked in Worthington, Ohio, since lodge. The Secretary sat in the SE corner fashion; I cannot write what took place. 1803. On this occasion the lodge met in and the Treasurer in the NE Corner, The PM degree was then conferred on the 1820s lodge room. The setting was while the Senior Deacon sat in the north, the Master-elect. This was different to magnificently austere, in the building just to the east of the fireplace. The what I saw in David Gray’s lodge, and dating from about 1820. It was dark Senior Deacon received and escorted the very different to the workings in SA&NT when we arrived, so I got only a glimpse candidate, together with two stewards. and Irish working. of the exterior. Inside, one enters via the The Senior Deacon’s wand was topped The new Master and Officers will be Grand Lodge Museum, which is very by a square & compasses with radiant installed in a mass public ceremony on well set out with old documents, painted sun between and, while I did not inspect 27 December, conducted by the Grand aprons, jewels and other heritage items. I the Junior Deacon’s wand, I suspect it Lodge. did not get the chance for more than a was similar but with a moon replacing I looked in the Chicago phone book cursory look and the lighting wasn’t the sun. but could find no listing for so-called suitable for photography. The lodge opened in the first degree, mainstream Freemasonry, including Upstairs in the lodge room, in the for an Initiation. The ritual is largely in Scottish Rite. I will have to do an centre of the northern wall there is a cipher, not easy to read. I presented a Internet search. large unlit fireplace with a portrait of copy of the SA&NT ritual to the Master Monday 8 December: I flew into George Washington above the mantle. In after the ceremony, teasing him by Dayton, Ohio, from Chicago. David the western wall there are two doors, one saying almost all was in open English, Gray was at the airport to meet me. It either side of the Senior Warden’s dias. but in the event of uncertainty his was interesting to see a replica of the The brethren enter from the SW door and instructor could supply the few missing Wright Brothers’ biplane suspended in the candidate through the NW door. The words or explain abbreviations. page 2 Harashim The Junior Warden acted as Master for the ceremony. I was impressed by the manner in which the various officers presented the work. The candidate was invested with the Apron earlier than we do in SA&NT, following the explanation of the steps and sign, immediately following the Obligation. I presented the Working Tools using the SA&NT Ritual; fortunately they had advance warning and a chisel was available (there is no chisel in Webb working). During my presentation I looked down the lodge and was very surprised (and secretly amused) to see both doors in the west wide open World News and the Tyler and his assistant checking out how it should be done. Holding the © New York Times Lodge Yakacik #106, under the Grand chisel, I was reminded of Paul Hogan’s NEW YORK MASON SLAIN Lodge of Turkey, was meeting. They ran line in Crocodile Dundee: You think that A New York Mason was shot and killed into the restaurant where about 40 is a chisel? by another Mason in a ‘fun’ ceremony brethren and guests were assembled, The candidate then withdrew to during the evening of 8 March this raked the room with automatic gunfire assume his normal comforts. I went out year—an event widely discussed in the and detonated the bombs. with him, changed from a South news media and Internet discussion One attacker died immediately; the Australian to an Irish apron, then re- groups, and feared to be as potentially other, who lost an arm and had severe entered with the candidate. I think some damaging to American Freemasonry as abdominal wounds, was reported to have brethren were stunned when I crossed the the ‘Morgan Affair’. shouted Allahu Akbar (God is great) and space between the Altar and the Master, The tragedy is reported to have to have given his name as Abdullah saluting Irish-style on crossing the centre occurred in the building of South Side (slave of God) Islam, indicating that (it is not US practice to walk between the Lodge #493, of the mainstream Grand radical Islamic militants might be Master and the Altar). Lodge of New York, at Patchogue, Long responsible for the attack. Hezbollah and Brother David Gray, with no prior Island, during a ‘ceremony’ conducted al-Quaeda have also been named. warning, delivered work, including by a ‘Fellow Craft Club’ on a night reasons for preparation, in dramatic and when no official meeting of the lodge PHILALETHES UNDER FIRE exemplary fashion. We who were not was scheduled. The lodge and all its Attacks of a different nature have been visited by him during his tour missed a members have been suspended by Grand directed against individual leaders of the great performer. [You should go on the Master Carl J Fitje, and an internal Philalethes Society and the Society itself stage, David.] At least I know one inquiry instituted. The lodge’s own by senior members of several US accountant who is not boring! website
Membership of the Rosslyn Templars is by invitation only. They comprise a very small number of eminent Freemasons, most of whom are Scottish in either origin or residence. Their individual interests cover a variety of fields and their particular areas of expertise include Rosslyn Chapel, the Knights Templars in Scotland, Scottish Architecture, and Scottish Freemasonry. Recently, they Rosslyn Chapel from the south west showing the Victorian addition to the west wall have obtained the services of several © Rosslyn Templars other eminent Masonic historians who are not Scottish but who have interest perpetuity; and sometimes for a 1470. If this is true, and it is impossible to and expertise in a variety of associated combination of reasons. In addition to substantiate, then the fate of the legend of a murdered apprentice is more subjects. Their aim is to distinguish fact Rosslyn Chapel (more correctly, common than one might think. There are from fiction regarding Rosslyn Chapel Church), several others are of particular a number of buildings in the United and the Knights Templar in Scotland— interest, including Seaton and Kilmun. Kingdom and in other countries with the and alleged links to Scottish Seaton Collegiate Church is situated a same or similar legends. Freemasonry. few miles from Edinburgh. Like Rosslyn, Kilmun Collegiate Church was the only To this end, since 2002 they have it is unfinished and, like Rosslyn, it was collegiate church in the Highlands (albeit maintained an Internet website at devoted principally to one purpose only just), and on the website is
Alpha Lodge #116 was chartered by the mainstream Grand Lodge of New Jersey over 130 years ago, amid bitter controversy, for the express purpose of initiating worthy Black (ie African- American) candidates. In its history, Alpha Lodge suffered attacks from within the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, from other mainstream Grand Lodges, and from Prince Hall Masonry. But Alpha Lodge is alive and well in 2004, at peace with mainstream and PHA, and setting an example in times of falling standards and failing membership. Its Junior Deacon, Bro David Lindez, received a warm welcome when he joined the Prince Hall Research email list (moderated by David Gray and Richard Num), and he gave this report: Alpha Lodge draws its membership during the obligation delivery, when primarily from the cluster of urban the candidate began to fill in the cities in Essex County immediately in blanks—to the WM’s horror and the Artwork by and surrounding its location in East amusement of the brethren on the David Lindez Orange, New Jersey. But it also sidelines. [The ‘healing’ process—Ed] continues to draw candidates from Our ritual has subtle differences PHA in New Jersey have been invited such places as Trenton, West New from some other lodges in that it is out to our Esoteric Brunch on May York, Ewing, Passaic, Jamesburg, inherently ‘African’ in practice and 15th this year. Ocean City and even Lakewood. origin. What do I mean by this? Well, Anyone from PHA in New Jersey is Obviously they do not all make it out address me on the back channel and welcome to attend any meeting at every night, as some live further than I’ll detail it to the brothers, but I’m not Alpha—not only welcome, but others. One thing to note though, it is going to offend the boundaries set encouraged. We meet 2nd and 4th no longer the case that if a black man forth in this forum as it is not a Wednesday of each month. petitions the state Grand Lodge of Masonically tyled environment. [see Thankfully, our GL is working on New Jersey, that he goes straight to below] We are known throughout for extending the relations to all PHA Alpha. I’ve found black members and military-like procedure in our ritual. We bodies, which makes more sense than officers in 90% of the lodges that I are also known for our familial simply identifying the PH body in our have visited in New Jersey. It might be atmosphere in which esoteric matters state alone. noted that I do indeed travel outside of are pondered and discussed. We do I would also note that in 1972 our my district! We have several lodges in not come to lodge simply to open/ New York brethren formed our sister North Jersey that are predominantly close and eat. However, we are also Allied Lodge, on 23rd Street in New latino and caribbean and/or minority in known for our collations/cooking. York. We also have relations with the their makeup. Of course the I might comment that the quality of Irish and Scottish lodges in Bermuda, demographics of NJ detail the fact that brethren has yet to slide, as our who often come for our degrees and it is the most urbanized state per extensive examination and backlog of meetings and always come for our square foot in the Union. candidates persists. From East yearly installation of officers in Alpha has recently lost some 20 Orange businessmen and teachers in December. Our installations require seasoned Past Masters in a rash of the neighborhood to artists and the brethren in the police department passings to the Lodge On High. Such brethren in law enforcement, Alpha to block off the entire street, as the a loss did not go unnoticed, and you has a nice makeup of quality brothers. parking lot quickly overflows with cannot help but be hurt by such a Our current class has waited a year dignitaries and brethren alike. If you massive change. Nonetheless, we and a half for their chance to take the get a chance, come out to our yearly continue to thrive, as Alpha members EA. The five candidates consist of the installation! You will not regret it, but not only pride themselves in ritual CEO of a publishing company, a come early so that you may actually excellence, history and the esoteric young computer tech, a county get a seat in lodge. arts, but our members have headed prosecutor, a law enforcement officer, Now to further satisfy your query, every body beyond the blue house on and a local business owner. All of Alpha is still a black lodge; many MW both sides of the ladder in Masonry. these gentlemen were thoroughly brethren over the years have obtained We have Lon Murchisson and Ed interviewed and followed up on. They honorary memberships, but the ethnic Seabon, who both are active and have have persisted in their attendance at makeup of Alpha has not changed. obtained the Coronation of the 33rd public events and interest meetings Also, as of late we have revived the degree, and the York Cross of Honor. where they were instructed in Alpha’s instruction in catechism, a long lost art We have 3 Alpha members serving history by our historian and current in state/mainstream jurisdictions. I currently in Grand Lodge. Worshipful Master. believe that African peoples are Our Deputy Grand Master is from Now, you have asked about our inherently more apt at oral traditions Alpha. We have a thriving Royal Arch regard for PHA brethren? Well, we are and/or keeping things alive orally. This Chapter, headed by the Deputy Grand flanked on all sides by PHA lodges, I feel is why Prince Hall brothers have High Priest, ‘Tippy’ Johnson, a PM and the Grand East is but a 5-minute kept catechism alive with such fervor from Alpha. I am told by the elders in drive away in Newark. We hold them and vigilance. It comes as a surprise lodge that Alpha has always seemed to be shining examples of to many PHA brothers I know, when to attract irregular brethren from the Freemasonry and respect them they discover that younger and newer many Grand Lodge bodies in the area, wholly. PHA has always maintained generations of ‘regular’ Masons are seeking to become legitimate Masons. the serious aspect of Masonry that unaware of what they are talking One story passed down to me detailed demands respect. I can’t stand going about. Sometimes this has resulted in how a candidate had actually served to some lodge where brethren are the PH brother encountering a state in Oriental AF&AM as a Past Master, sloppy and joke continuously in lodge. lodge brother in a home depot or other but now stood before a young Alpha Masonic work is not a joke. The entire like place and brushing him off as a WM who had a brief lapse in memory Grand Line and 7th and 8th districts of fraud or cowan at best, when in fact
page 10 Harashim the man may have been a twice over fellowship and we could perhaps talk Past Master. It is just that he never in person about all of this. learned about anything outside his This program is for Masons only, in This ’n’ that . . . ritual book and whatever light he that it has only been advertised picked up along the way. Citing this privately and personally to fellow (Continued from page 8) as such, we don’t want our new Masons from NJ and PHA. There will old ritual – to the singing by brothers to lose this, or have a be Masons at the door querying members and candidates throughout communication gap with other guests, and I am selling tickets. We the evening – it is clear from the first Masons, especially black Masons. I are asking for a door donation of $15. moment that Wilberforce Lodge is am currently writing a research paper If you are curious as to where all of not just receiving candidates, it is on the origins of the catechisms this is going, well, the majority of it is making masons! commonly in use by black Masonic going to pay for the food that we will It is also clear from the first bodies. I was inspired to do so when be serving; really we just want to moment that these men hold one erring young and newly raised fellowship with our brothers and talk membership in their lodge as a Hispanic brother from another about the esoteric matters that some valued treasure and that, while jurisdiction tried to paint catechisms lodges fail to educate on. However, humor is no stranger to their as mere inventions of black Masons. we do have some enormous building deliberations, they take the work very Well, worry not, as he was set straight expenses as of late, and any and all seriously. The candidates are and swiftly squared away—inspiring profits that might be obtained will go unmistakably the most important me to document my case for the towards the repair and maintenance people in the room, and their antiquity of such practices in a of our building. We are not opening experience is the entire point of the scholarly manner. lodge, as we do not wish for GL meeting. Drama is used With that, I am off. Any more politics to interfere with brethren unashamedly to impress upon the questions? Feel free to ask. I love my coming from NY or elsewhere to candidates’ minds the important brothers in the Order of Freemasonry. fellowship with us and talk, eat and lessons being offered. When moving It is again a pleasure to fellowship add-on. about the room, officers and with you. members routinely square their David Lindez, JD corners; this is done naturally and David Lindez consistently. Due-guards and signs
the museum display cases. the Library during the 90 minutes or so that I The library contains an extensive spent there. I did manage to purchase a copy President’s Progress collection, with mainly older books. As a test of a recently produced book which includes of its completeness I looked for Australian photocopies of the Livre d’Or (early or items. These were sparse, apart from Kent foundation documents) and original rituals of (Continued from page 3) Henderson’s Masonic World Guide, the first Hawaiian lodge, Le Progrès de to the long 20 hour journey across the Pacific Henderson and Pope’s Freemasonry l’Oceanie (founded 1843), together with to home. Universal, and several histories. As one recent translations and commentary. This This being December, there were no lodge would expect, the collection has a strong book was issued in 2001 by the Institute for meetings held in the city during my stay. I North American flavour. There did not seem Masonic Studies of the Masonic Grand Lodge visited the Grand Lodge of California to be any tables or chairs around for library of California in cooperation with the headquarters building on the top of Nob Hill, users. Northern California Research Lodge. Another across the road from Grace (Episcopal) The museum contains many items, copy was purchased for the Grand Library in Cathedral. Rather than walk up the very steep including jewels, photographs, tools and Adelaide. The cost is about US$40 from hill from my hotel, I caught the Powell Street gavels, artefacts from past Masonic buildings, memory. cablecar. and an impressive array of aprons. I was Later I had a short meeting with the Grand The Grand Lodge building does not particularly interested to see many old aprons Secretary of California. He has a great contain lodge rooms. Lodges meet at other with painted or printed designs apon them, interest in Masonic research matters, being a locations in the city. The building contains rather like having a tracing board upon the PM of the Northern California Research the Grand Lodge office, function rooms and front of your apron. What a pity that these Lodge and a current Master of an Allied the Grand Library and Museum. Since my were not permitted to be worn in England Masonic Degrees Council, which in North first visit in the mid-1990s the Library and from several years after the formation of America has a research interest rather than Museum have moved to a large well- UGLE in 1813! It was most interested to see engaging in degree workings, as happens appointed area. The library shelves stretch an apron that had belonged to one of my elsewhere in the English-speaking world. along the centre of the room in a double sided childhood heroes, Bro Davy Crockett! It, too, After a busy but most enjoyable four line between the cases for the Museum bore Masonic symbols. I was reminded of my weeks travelling westwards around the world, displays. The library shelves reach to about visit in 1980 to the small farm cottage in it was something of an anticlimax to arrive chest height, so that there is an unimpeded which he had been born in eastern Tennessee. home just before Christmas. view down the room, and one is able to see Sadly I saw no other visitors or users of Richard Num page 12 Harashim Harashim
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian & New Zealand Masonic Research Council
ISSN 1328-2735 Issue 31 July 2004
About Harashim DAVID GRAY IN JAIL Harashim, Hebrew for Craftsmen, is a quarterly newsletter published by the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council Freemasons were stunned to learn that David Gray, (PO Box 332, Williamstown, Victoria 3016, Australia) and two copies are issued free to each of its Affiliate and Associate members in ANZMRC visiting lecturer for 2003, was in jail January, April, July and October each year. facing multiple charges of dishonesty in the handling Additional copies are available to interested persons on subscription (details of funds of the Ohio university where he was below). At a later date copies of most articles, features and news items will be employed as accountant and then auditor. posted on ANZMRC’s Internet website
PRESIDENT’S PROGRESS
Chicago aspects of Emulation ritual. I was Arriving in Chicago 17 June I stayed in impressed by the multicultural nature of the Union League Club at West Jackson Quebec Freemasonry, which was not Boulevard, in the South Loop area, close confined to language or race but to the Chicago Board of Trade and a extended to a wide variety of Masonic comfortable walk from downtown area aprons, examples being derived from attractions. The club is celebrating its English, Scottish, Irish and French 125th anniversary in 2004. It is a traditions. The Grand Master wore a kilt. welcoming and relaxed place to stay, After the ceremony we descended to with multiple areas for members to use in the dining room where, after initial 23 floors of space. I was impressed by refreshments, an Indian ceremony was the extensive art collection, which performed, aided by four Masons includes one of Claude Monet’s including the Grand Master and visitors. haystacks. A popular bar within the Club Richard Num It was a privilege to take part. The four has on current display seven large corners of the room were ceremonially paintings depicting the Seven Lively 915 North Dearborn Street (at the cleansed by wafting smoke, then a Arts: sculpture, painting, literature, intersection with Delaware Street, drumming ceremony followed. Later we architecture, drama, music and dance. opposite Washington Square Park). The feasted on salmon steaks. The cuisine of On the grand staircase is a life-size Scottish Rite have gradually bought an Quebec is excellent! bronze statue of Masonic interest by entire block over the past 100 years, Several days later I toured the Grand Albin Polasek (1879–1965) entitled including a former church which proves Lodge headquarters in the newer part of ‘Man Carving His Own Destiny’, a magnificent setting for meetings. central Montreal, at 2295 rue Saint-Marc. depicting a heroic self-made man about Several old homes are included in the Historical events in Quebec Freemasonry to strike a chisel as he carves his own complex and with the former church dating from the mid–1700s are depicted body from a block of stone. This work make for an interesting was originally commissioned by the guided tour. It is Chicago Scottish Rite Bodies. It advisable to phone illustrates the adage that ‘only by regarding opening and individual effort and ceaseless toil can tour times” (312) 787- man carve out and develop character 7605. Library open from among his crude environments’, limited hours. A tour and further, that ‘reputation is given to a booklet is available on man by his friends; while character can request. only be attained through individual effort Websites: and conscience, and is driven by determination’.
page 2 Harashim Readers will recall the attacks on the Philalethes Society reported in the April issue of Harashim. Here is the first of a series of reports from the Philalethes magazine and the Society’s website
by Michael R. Poll, FPS, and Kenneth D. Roberts, FPS
[NOTE: Just prior to the publishing of the first part of this series, we have learned that a report on The Philalethes Society was submitted by the Grand Lodge of New York’s Committee on Correspondence and Relations. The reason for the report was “in light of the Grand Master’s concerns regarding this Society’s alleged attempts to interfere in Grand Lodge activities inappropriately.” The report concluded: We are of the opinion that the Society does not dictate policy and does not pretend to have such authority. Masonic policy and protocol has been and continues to be the prerogative and privilege of Grand Lodges. The Society is simply an open forum for the exchange of ideas between Brethren, and it is not a means to usurp the authority of any Grand Lodge. It is therefore our recommendation that this matter be closed and that no further action should be taken at this time. And also noted: we find it interesting that free thinkers of the past such as Washington, Franklin, Hancock, Voltaire and others are venerated by the Craft, but free thinkers of the present are often viewed in a negative light. Bravo, New York!] research have been Members or Fellows bigotry as the root explanation for the Part 1 of Series of the Society. blanket exclusion of Prince Hall The period between the late 1800’s and In 1946, the Society created The jurisdictions. Some felt that The early 1900’s was an unfortunate period Philalethes, a magazine designed to Philalethes had crossed the line by the for those interested in objective, better showcase the papers of its publishing of unflattering explanations or scholarly accounts of Masonic history. It Members. The magazine was designed by suggesting that the magazine had was not uncommon for fanciful theories to be a fully rounded publication of entered into grand lodge politics (such as Masonry dating back to the general Masonic news, features and (forgetting or ignoring that objective times of King Solomon) to have found papers written on nearly every research was the goal of all truly their way into the “accepted Masonic imaginable Masonic topic. Masons independent researchers). It seemed far thinking.” In addition, some Masonic desirous for such an informative, less embarrassing for some to hold that historians were at times expected to write objective and scholarly publication Prince Hall Masonry was globally history with a “favorable slant” when received The Philalethes as a breath of irregular due to legitimate issues rather one’s own Masonic body was the subject fresh air. than openly face the alternative. The of a study. A Masonic historian, who When a Philalethes paper exposed the Philalethes articles exposing racial sought to write and publish a paper of fallacy of an established, yet implausible bigotry as the fundamental objection to provable historical facts, but one that Masonic theory, that myth soon made its Prince Hall Masonry opened many eyes differed from the desired rendition or way out of the general Masonic belief and planted a deep hatred for the Society policy of his Grand Master, could find system (the long-held notion of Thomas in others. himself in a considerable dilemma. It Jefferson being a Freemason is but one The recognition of the Prince Hall was thorny times indeed for objective example). The Philalethes became a Grand Lodge of Connecticut by the Masonic historians, researchers and respected voice in Freemasonry. Those Grand Lodge of Connecticut in 1989 was editors. who doggedly held onto old Masonic a literal shot heard round the world. The The need for a truly independent fables might have found some irritation staunch opponents to any sort of Prince medium where scholarly works of in The Philalethes, but the nature of the Hall recognition seem to have been Masonic history could be presented, articles, and the society itself, was well caught completely flat-footed and wholly examined and published gave birth to received by most all who appreciated unprepared for what was coming – the The Philalethes Society. objective research. one by one recognition of Prince Hall The Society was created in 1928 to be The 1970’s and 80’s brought about a Masonry by the vast majority of all U.S. a “clearing house” for objective Masonic new era for The Philalethes Society and grand lodges. research. Many of the world’s finest the research in its publication. A number By the start of the 1990’s, with the Masonic researchers were drawn to The of researchers in the Society (among Prince Hall recognition movement on its Philalethes Society with half of the them Allen E. Roberts, FPS and Jerry way, various Members of the Society original 40 Fellows coming from outside Marsengill, FPS) began to take second began to see another historical difficulty of the United States. Within the U.S., the and third looks at the traditional theories that was worthy of attention. For some list of scholarly Masonic researchers who regarding Prince Hall Masonry. The 50 years, the Grand Lodge of France was were Members of The Philalethes Masonic history books, as well as U.S. the recognized French grand lodge for Society reads like a Who’s Who of U.S. Grand Lodge policies, told us that Prince upwards of half of all the U.S. Masonic researchers. While it is Hall Masonry was irregular. Specific jurisdictions. In the mid/late 1960’s this subjective to rate the skill of a charges were made and accepted by all all changed. In a flash of political researcher, it is quite safe to say that recognized U.S. grand lodges. Under maneuvering, the Grand Lodge of France since 1928 most all of the recognized and objective examination, these charges was declared irregular and replaced by respected names in U.S. Masonic simply fell apart leaving only racial (Continued on page 4) Issue 31 page 3 recognition of the Grand Lodge of suspended from the Grand Lodge of France began. After independent Texas. Some thought he should NOT investigations, two U.S. Grand Lodges be admitted as a member, but our By- (one “mainstream” and one Prince Hall laws clearly stated the membership requirements to be 1) a freemason and [1]) entered or re-entered into Fraternal 2) a member of the PSOC, both of Relations with the Grand Lodge of which he fulfilled. France. A second “shot” was heard and a At the last stated meeting the literal “war” was on between two President of the Chapter stood up and divisions in U.S. Masonry. told us the chapter will close. He came The results of the first “skirmish” in to this decision after a long phone this “war” were: the entering into and conversation with Reece Harrison then break in relations between the U.S. (who was at that time Deputy Grand Master) and further consultation with (Continued from page 3) “mainstream” Grand Lodge and the some members of the executive the National Grand Lodge of France. An Grand Lodge of France due to immense committee of PSOC. objective examination of the situation pressure from a few influential U.S. shows a serious lack of support for the “mainstream” Grand Lodges; a reported Upon the election of Bro. Reese L. charges of irregularity. Legitimate loss in power for the influential Harrison, Jr. to the office of Grand questions concerning the events of the Commission on Information for Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, he 1960’s surfaced. Recognition of the Conference of Grand did appoint Bro. Pete Normand as Articles were published in The Masters of Masons in North America and Chairman of the Fraternal Relations Philalethes dealing with the reasons an astonishing contradiction (later Committee and he did assign him with behind the break in relations with the resulting in a Masonic trial) made by a the duty of examining both The Grand Lodge of France as well as the grand officer of the Grand Lodge of Philalethes Society and the Society of lack of support for the charges of France before a impromptu private Blue Friars with the goal of determining irregularity. The Executive Board of The meeting of the Commission on if these organizations should be outlawed Philalethes Society, however, took a Information for Recognition. Further in Texas. more official stand that incensed some of details of these events will be given in a It is rather clear why The Philalethes those opposed to the Grand Lodge of later part of this series. Society would be a target for opponents France. In 2000, Michael Segall, a Not surprisingly, rumblings against of Prince Hall Masonry or the Grand member of the Grand Lodge of France, the Society were heard throughout 2002 Lodge of France, but it is less clear why was elected a Fellow of The Philalethes and 2003, but they seem to have taken the Blue Friars would also be under Society. Bro. Segall was the first root in Texas. The closing of the Robert investigation. The Society of Blue Friars member of the Grand Lodge of France to L. Dillard, Jr. Chapter of The Philalethes is wholly separate from The Philalethes be elected a Fellow since 1936 when Society followed a series of interesting Society and is hardly outspoken in their Oswald Wirth, the Grand Secretary of events. Reports tells us of a meeting of views. While it is true that many of the the Grand Lodge of France, had been this chapter in September 2003 that was Blue Friars have been Members or elected a Fellow. Bro. Segall’s election attended by the then Deputy Grand Fellows of The Philalethes Society, it is was a clear statement that The Master, Reese L. Harrison, MPS (Life) an error to assume that the two Philalethes Society considered the Grand and Pete Normand, MPS (Life). organizations are one in the same. The Lodge of France as being in the same A Brother attending this meeting common denominator between the two boat as pre-1989 Prince Hall Masonry – writes:[2] organizations seems to be Bro. Robert Uzzel who is not only a Member of The meaning regular, but not yet recognized. Harrison then went on to tell all of us Philalethes Society, but was recently The action of The Philalethes Society assembled there what he intended to and the papers written by its Members do. He said that he was appointing Pete named a Blue Friar. Bro. Uzzel was a GL did not go unnoticed. Talk in grand lodge Normand as the CHAIRMAN of the of Texas Mason who, after being circles of the re-recognition of the Grand Fraternal Relations Committee and that suspended for NPD, applied for Lodge of France began. The situation he was going to ask him to look into reinstatement. His application was was not, however, the same as the Prince the Philalethes Society’s failure to rejected and he joined a lodge under the abide by our own by-laws....allowing jurisdiction of the PH GL of Texas. Hall situation in the late 1980’s. Whereas irregular masons to be members of our those who opposed the recognition of Early indications seem to suggest, society. He went on to tell about the however, that the GM of Texas has Prince Hall Masonry can be seen as Blue Friars and the fact that they had being caught unprepared for the Prince invited an ‘irregular’ mason to present turned his attentions away from the Hall recognition movement, the a paper and had elected him a ‘Blue Society of Blue Friars. Bro. S. Brent opponents to the re-recognition of the Friar.’ He was LIVID. Morris, FPS says that things seem to have been “smoothed over” between the Grand Lodge of France were well Another brother writes:[3] organized and quite prepared. Blue Friars and the Texas Grand Master. After our second meeting I began [4] The interesting charges against and While cause was given for a number hearing rumors that some people the sudden drop in the investigation of of U.S. grand lodges to take closer looks thought we were doing something at the French situation, it also seems that unmasonic. I even had good brothers the Blue Friars will be examined in a it gave the opponents to the Grand Lodge whisper council in my ear that some later part of this series. of France reasonable concern that what thought we were violating our oath and But what of The Philalethes Society? was done in the 1960’s might be undone should be brought up on masonic There is nothing to suggest that the if the “Grand Lodge of France charges. At first I just put these off to “investigation” into The Philalethes just “rumors” but after inquiry I Society has terminated. The Texas Grand movement” grew strong enough. An realized the problem stemmed from active campaign against the re- Master is reported to have suggested that one of our members who was the Society is under investigation by his page 4 Harashim committee due, in part, to some thought Orient of France was not, at that time, “the test.” The Grand Orient of France, that the Society does not abide by its recognized by any U.S. “mainstream” however, is not able to pass the test and own by-laws. Grand Lodge. its members cannot be Members of the Let’s look at the history of the Society There seems to have been some Society. They must apply as Subscribers, and its by-laws. debate concerning the stand The just as non-Masons. Originally, there were no by-laws and Philalethes Society should take If The Philalethes Society were to very limited rules for the Society. concerning the Grand Orient Fellows. define “regularity” in connection with Membership was by invitation only and Jean Corneloup, in a passionate “recognition,” then we would be left in those selected were chosen by virtue of exchange, explained that the Grand an impossible position just as if we were their standing in the Masonic research Orient of France had not, at all, changed to associate “regularity” with how any community. As such, several of the in its nature since he was elected a one Grand Lodge defines this subjective original 40 Fellows of The Philalethes Fellow.[5] But The Philalethes Society and fluid state. Which jurisdiction should Society belonged to the Grand Orient of had changed. Bro. Cerza seems to have we use as the model to define France as well as the United Grand been firm in his contention that The “regularity”? We must employ some Lodge of England. Philalethes Society should be consistent reason, not strain on a gnat or allow The early 1950’s almost brought an in its actions. Since the by-laws stated others to dictate how we must define our end to The Philalethes Society. In quick that all Members (or Fellows) should own rules. Consistency does not mean succession, two Presidents died belong to “recognized” jurisdictions, being consistent only when it satisfies suddenly, leaving the Society crippled then the Society could only hope to our (or someone else’s) will and and almost lifeless. After a period of answer fair criticism if it abided by its pleasure. confusion, three Fellows stepped up to own rules. Jean Corneloup was expelled The Philalethes Society has not re-organize the Society. They were, Lee as a Fellow and Member of The violated any of its own rules. Regardless, E. Wells, Elbert Bede and Alphonse Philalethes Society. Marius LePage was it is possible for clever individuals to Cerza. Bro. Cerza (an attorney by not, however, expelled as he moved find loopholes by which to make profession) was desirous of instituting within a few years to the jurisdiction of legitimate sounding charges against the legal measures to better protect of the the National Grand Lodge of France. Society. A weakness in the structure of Society from malicious attack. He was With the recognition of the Prince Freemasonry is that we make our “rules” instrumental in the incorporation of The Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut by the and govern ourselves with the Philalethes Society and this act required Grand Lodge of Connecticut in 1989, a assumption that others will treat us fair by-laws to be written. perceived change was needed in the by- and on the square – especially when the By the mid 1950’s, the Society had a laws. The word “recognized” was “others” are our Brothers. We leave set of by-laws and hope of survival. replaced with “regular.” This change ourselves open by the nature of our trust Included in the by-laws were, for the first seems to have been felt needed because, in our Brothers. We must also realize time, clear standards for membership. while it was fully realized that Prince that when speaking of French Masonry, These standards included all members Hall Masonry was regular, some who it can hardly be considered anything but belonging to “recognized” grand lodges. sought to “punish” the Society for its role a political hot potato. If we were Recognized by whom? That was not in the Prince Hall recognition movement speaking of some jurisdiction in South or clearly defined, but the intent seems to might contest any PH Member since Central America, the “investigation” have been by U.S. grand lodges. It seems Prince Hall Masonry was not would most likely never have started. that The Philalethes Society was, for a “recognized” by all “mainstream” U.S. The Philalethes Society should not be time, desirous of moving from an jurisdictions. The standard for put in a position to even consider international research society to a U.S. Membership into the Society became adopting inconsistent, self-serving or research society. This is supported by the known as the “Anderson’s Test.” If the politically motivated rules or fact that from the end of 1956 until the basic concepts of regularity applied to a interpretations of our rules. If The 1986 election of Wallace McLeod as a jurisdiction, then its members would be Philalethes Society was created upon and Fellow, no Fellow was elected from allowed to join the Society. expounds great and noble sounding outside the U.S. Of course, the membership rules of philosophies, but buckles under pressure, With the new by-laws, the Society The Philalethes Society do not only then what really are we? Yes, The found itself in something of a conflict. At apply to U.S. “mainstream” and Prince Philalethes Society has angered some the time of the approval of the new by- Hall Masonry. They are consistent rules “dressed in brief authority.” Yes, some laws, there were still a number of that apply to all jurisdictions. The fact is do not like The Philalethes Society Fellows on the roles from outside the that recognition may not exist between because we expose the bigotry in the U.S. A problem was discovered with two jurisdictions when there is no claim of hearts of some and have the courage to French Fellows. In the mid 1950’s, the irregularity. We are led to believe that speak the truth when some do not wish it Grand Lodge of France and the National the Grand Lodge of Texas considers the spoken. Yes, some others do not like us Grand Lodge of France enjoyed about Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas to be because they have personal opinions of even levels of recognition in the U.S. regular[6], yet no relations exist between us or contentious relationships with some The records of The Philalethes Society the two bodies. Since both of these of our Members. Such is life. do not, however, show any Members or jurisdictions pass the “Anderson’s Test,” If some wish to use financial or Fellows from either of these jurisdictions the Society welcomes members from political muscle to break us or simply during that time. The records do, both of these jurisdictions. The wish to silence us, let them have their however, show two living Fellows from Philalethes Society also welcomes day. Under adverse conditions, some the Grand Orient of France – Jean members of the National Grand Lodge of collapse and compromise their integrity; Corneloup (elected in 1937) and Marius France as well as the Grand Lodge of others grow very strong. We will just LePage (elected in 1947). The Grand France as they are both able to also pass (Continued on page 11) Issue 31 page 5 ANZMRC NEWS
Congratulations Gavel’s travels Conference programme Congratulations to Richard Num, The travelling gavel made in New amended who has been selected to present Zealand and destined for The programme of the biennial the 2004 Verrall Lecture to the Wilberforce Lodge (PHA), Xenia, conference, to be held in Waikato Lodge of Research at Ohio, has been used in all NZ Tauranga on 5–7 November, has 1131 Fenton Street, Rotorua, at lodges visited by David Gray and been amended because the 7.30 pm on Tuesday 9 is now in Australia, last heard of jurisdiction of South Australia November—handy for those in WHJ Mayers Memorial Lodge and the Northern Territory has attending either the ANZMRC of Research, Cairns, headed for been unable to supply a Conference or the Grand WH Green Memorial Masonic Kellerman Lecture. The lecture Installation, or both. Study Circle, Townsville. scheduled for Sunday morning Congratulations, also, to (New South Wales and the United Masters Lodge on a Australian Capital Territory) has splendid website,
Regional Grand Counsellor Bob Nairn Neil Morse, Secretary of Canberra LoR&I Regional Grand Counsellor Juan Alvarez
Irish Constitution) and a meeting of Bauhinia Royal Arch Chapter (Irish PRESIDENT’S PROGRESS Constitution). Bro Ashok Mahbubani, an active Internet Mason, proved a most contains dining facilities where one can helpful and generous local contact. (Continued from page 2) meet for lunch, a library and museum, Website:
Ocean. The new airport at Hong Kong is where no meetings were held during my extremely efficient, enabling me to board stay. Only one meeting was held in the express train into central Hong Kong Montreal, being the inauguration of a less than 30 minutes after arrival. I new lodge; this was held after a Grand stayed in a simple but comfortable room Lodge training meeting earlier in the day. at the Hong Kong United Services Access to the Internet proved useful Recreation Club, situated in Kowloon for obtaining details of local contacts, across the harbour from the central city. notification of special Masonic events Freemasonry in Hong Kong is based and lodge meeting times, and for at 1 Kennedy Road, a short taxi ride up communicating with other Freemasons. the hill from Admiralty Metro Station. It Travel affords opportunities for Issue 31 page 7 A paper presented in Hawke’s Bay Research Lodge #305 NZC in May 2004.
BELGIAN FREEMASONRY
by WBro Les Reid
The genesis of this lecture is a visit made what later became Belgium was part of an Austrian edict had them all closed. to Napier by a Brussels kinsman, and a the Netherlands. These were After the French Revolution in 1789, reciprocal visit I made in 2002. When he successively: a large number of lodges were formed learnt that I was to present this lecture to • Burgundian (1384–1477). under the Grand Orient of France, but you, he asked his Brussels Masonic • Austrian (1477–1555). this ceased in 1814. friend and historian, Danny Grégoire, to Belgium gained its independence in • Spanish (1555–1715). During this prepare some notes for me. This resulted 1830, which served to reduce the lodges period, as a result of the religious in an essay of 2975 words in French, to 14 in number. These lodges formed wars, the Netherlands broke apart into later translated by my kinsman Francis the Grand Orient of Belgium in 1833, the Northern and Southern Gevers. I have drawn extensively from with King Leopold I becoming Protector Netherlands, the latter subsequently that essay and I am indebted to both of the Order. In 1854, the Grand Orient renamed Belgium. Until then, the those Freemasons.1 became irregular, when it allowed heart of the Netherlands had been the In order to gain an understanding of political discussion in its lodges, and in South, with Brussels as capital. Freemasonry in Belgium, it is necessary 1872 it decreed that belief in a Supreme Fleeing the ‘Spanish Fury’, the to consider the political and religious Being was an optional prerequisite for intelligentsia moved to the North and history of this country that has most of membership. This brought it into conflict promoted the subsequent Dutch its lodges conducting their ceremonies in with the Catholic Church, and also with golden age of the 17th century. The either French or Dutch, while some Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry. Despite South became the ‘battlefield of conduct their ceremonies in German. these developments, relations between Europe’. Several are English-speaking, while one the Grand Orient of Belgium and the • Austrian again (1715–1792). is conducted in Greek. United Grand Lodge of England were Belgium is a country of 10 million • French (1792–1814), until the Battle not adversely affected until much later. people: the northern or Flemish part of Waterloo. In 1875 the Grand Master of the Grand speaks Flemish (Dutch) and embraces a • Dutch (1814–1830). This was an Orient of Belgium was invited to the Northern European culture; the southern experiment after the Napoleonic wars, Installation of the Prince of Wales as portion, Wallonia, speaks French and to recreate a unified Netherlands that Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge embraces a life-enjoying Mediterranean had broken in two during the Spanish of England, and in 1890 the Grand culture. A tiny area in the East of the occupation, as a buffer against France. Master of the Grand Orient of Belgium country speaks German, while the In 1830, the Belgian population closely was elected a member of Quatuor capital, Brussels, which is centrally followed the French Revolution. A group Coronati Lodge #2076 EC. located, is officially bi-lingual. Brussels of liberals under Alexandre Gendebien, a The Grand Orient of Belgium has the Headquarters of the EU and also Freemason, thought of organising a currently has 9000 members in 106 the Headquarters of NATO. revolution in the Southern Netherlands lodges, their motto or creed being F Heylighen, in his work ‘An essay on with the support of France. On the ‘Freedom, Equality and Fraternity’. It is the Belgian identity’, asserts that in the evening of 25 August 1830, the Brussels by far the largest Grand Lodge in past 2000 years, Belgium has been Opera was performing ‘The dumb girl Belgium. They work the three Craft almost continuously controlled by from Portici’, which contains a very degrees under either the French Rite, foreign powers, with its citizens being patriotic duet, ‘Sacred love of the which is a simpler and less formal rite, or critical of any authority. Belgians are country’. On hearing it, the public started the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. tolerant and flexible, have a common a demonstration that grew into a The benevolent English view (in contrast love of the good life, and since the revolution against the Dutch, and on with its view of the Grand Orient of Middle Ages have been one of the richest 4 October 1830 a temporary government France) delayed the severing of relations and most developed regions of the world. was set up, and Belgium declared until 1908, whereupon many other Grand They have a high value on privacy, an independence. These events are also at Lodges followed suit. aversion towards moralising, and a the origin of the creation of the Grand Many prominent Belgian citizens philosophy of ‘live and let live’. There is Orient. rendered valuable service to very little distinction between classes or After that, Belgium remained Freemasonry by the inculcation and social strata, with all having the right to a independent, other than for German propagation of its principles. Conversely, good education and a decent living. They occupation during World Wars I & II. for many decades Belgian Freemasonry have the lowest percentage of poor And in 1908, Belgium became a colonial was also the object of fanatical resistance people in the world and, according to a power, acquired the Belgian Congo. from clerical circles. The Catholic 1992 German report, Belgians are the Masonic lodges were established in Church acquired official status as the most productive in the world.2 Belgium around 1740, being French- ‘State Religion’. It hampered the creation Belgium has had a turbulent Masonic inspired. An English lodge was working of ‘neutral’ schools and created its own history, intertwined with its political and in the Austrian Netherlands in 1765 and school system. The content of the Pope’s religious history. Since the Middle Ages, several others were formed, but by 1787 1832 encyclical Mirari Vos, in which page 8 Harashim Freemasonry was condemned, created an the non-democratic behaviour of the supporting the League of Nations. In anti-Masonic movement. Facing this Catholic Church. 1929, however, two Catholic newspapers clerical reaction, the Grand Orient of The great Masonic victories were relaunched anti-Masonry in a series of Belgium became anti-clerical This is considered to be: articles, again detailing names and surprising, because in those days most • An obligation for all Belgians to go to addresses. Belgian Masons were Catholic: they school (against the will of the In 1933 Lodge Anglo-Belge was were not so much opposing religion, but Catholic establishment), to thereby reconstituted as Lodge Wellington #1385 rather the control of democratic develop the intellectual level of the under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and institutions by the clergy. population. Even in the Grand Orient it sponsored Lodge Allegiance #1465 in In 1838, the Archbishop sent a letter of Belgium there were heated 1951. to all priests, to be read in pulpits, discussions, as an ‘obligation’ seemed Hitler took power in 1933 and the reminding Catholics of the papal to some, to be incompatible with Grand Orient of Belgium published anti- condemnation, the excommunication of liberty. Fascist texts. One excerpt was: all Masons, and their obligation to give • Creation of a non-religious schooling The GOB, faithful to the principles of the names of all Masons to the priest system. liberty and tolerance, considering that in during confession. The Grand Orient of • Universal suffrage: one man, one the 20th century people are still Belgium, conscious that problems might vote—an ideal that was only realised persecuted for their religious or political arise in certain families, advised that in 1921, against the resistance of the opinions or for their origins, condemns the persecutions taking place in a every Mason should ‘judge the situation Church. following his conscience’. Several priests neighbouring country against Jews and • Secularisation of hospitals: until 1900, who were Masons left the Grand Orient political opponents. most medical personnel were nuns. of Belgium, but many brethren also left • Secularisation of cemeteries: In 1934 a Belgian fascist party was the Church to remain Masons. The letter originally the Catholic Church, which created. It published hostile articles and had the opposite effect from what was refused to bury non-Catholics, ran all promoted the idea of making Masonry expected: it was efficient publicity for cemeteries. In 1891 cemeteries illegal. In 1936, the Grand Orient of Masonry, and membership doubled became accessible to all, but a law Belgium collected funds to support within a few months. Eleven new lodges was needed to obtain this result, after Spaniards during a civil war. In 1939, were created during the following years. a fierce battle. after war had been declared on Germany, But a sad split was created: hardly any the Catholic newspaper La Libre Catholics were candidates for initiation • Abolition of the mandatory religious oath (required to obtain any official Belgique published ten anti-Masonic any more, and the Grand Orient of articles, giving names and full addresses Belgium became more and more anti- post, be it in the Army or as a judge, etc). of 600 Masons. Regrettably, this proved Catholic. The Catholic Party, which had very helpful for the Germans when they an absolute majority for 30 years, • In the international field, promoting the first ever peace conference in The invaded! Once again, the Grand Orient of attacked Masonry in Parliament, and the Belgium remained very discreet. Minister of War forbad military officers Hague in May 1899. • The fight against anti-Semitism, to become Masons. The Second World War notably during the ‘Dreyfus’ affair. The Grand Orient of Belgium From their first day in Belgium (10 May removed from their statutes the rule that 1940), the Nazis (mainly SS and The First World War prevented speaking about politics and Gestapo) violently attacked the Grand Germany, the occupying power, took no religion. A few lodges temporarily left Orient of Belgium and all Masons. They measures whatever concerning the the Grand Orient of Belgium, but several got full help from the anti-Masonic Belgian Masonic organisation. However independent lodges joined. This was the movement, and more discreetly from the all meetings were suspended. The Grand beginning of the political phase of the Catholic Church. Belgian Nazi Orient of Belgium limited its actions to Grand Orient of Belgium. collaborators assassinated known philanthropy: In 1865 Pope Pius IX reacted with a Masons. It is estimated that 25% were • Temples became hospitals, or new encyclical letter, Quanta Cura, murdered, or died in concentration restaurants for the poor. which condemned 80 ‘modern erring camps. After WWII, the Grand Orient ways’, among them rationalism, • Creation of ambulance services. and a sole Scottish lodge survived. socialism, liberalism, and schools not • Funds for orphans. controlled by the Church. He declared: At the same time, four temporary lodges After the war: the split Amongst the many machinations and were created outside Belgium: The Belgian Nazi collaborators, who had methods by which the enemies of • La Belgique in Paris. taken action against the Masons, had Christianity dared attack the Church of • Albert de Belgique in London. generally also committed other atrocities God, a very dangerous one is the • Nous Maintiendrons in The Hague. as well and were judged accordingly. perverse society calling itself Masonry. • Ordre et Progrès in Le Havre Their anti-Masonic actions became part All this resulted in the creation of an (France). of the prosecution. Anti-Masonic League that collected These actions increased the prestige of For the first time, the Grand Orient of Masonic writings and published lists of the Grand Orient of Belgium. Fourteen Belgium tried to establish official Masons. The Catholic Prime Minister led percent of Belgian Masons died in that relations internationally with other an open attack in Parliament. Through all war. Masonic organisations. In certain lodges, this turmoil, the Grand Orient of however, the ritual makes no mention of Belgium, quite understandably, remained Between the wars the Great Architect, and does not display very discreet. In those days, most After the war, the Grand Orient of Masons were religious, but were fighting Belgium supported peace, by fully (Continued on page 12) Issue 31 page 9
Vale, Brother Andrew Boracci May 18, 2004 Dear Brothers, Friends and Masonic Associates, Allow me first to thank you all for your support, interest and contributions to the American Mason. WBro Boracci would be happy to know of the depth of response and fraternal kinship that has been given to him and the American Mason at this troubled time. We at Wamponamon Lodge #437 will keep this site active and up to date. We intend to continue WBro Boracci’s forays into the esoteric, historical and practical applications of Freemasonry. There will be some time delay as we come up to speed, collect material, edit the same and become journalists. We encourage you to stay tuned, contribute material and continue the search for more light. This website was the brainchild and life of WBro Boracci. He worked full time to make it worthy of being associated with the Craft. We can only step into his shoes, hope not to stumble and continue his dance with the love of his life. So Mote It Be. In addition to the website, the Officers and Brethren of Wamponamon Lodge, have begun work on the ‘Andrew Andrew Boracci, in front of his computer, perusing a Boracci Memorial Library of Masonic Research’. This copy of Waite’s Encyclopaedia. library will house the collections of WBro Boracci’s books, Photo from
NOTES: regular branch of the fraternity, and we ATTACKS ON THE [1] The “mainstream” Grand Lodge of have stated that twice in the last several Minnesota and the Prince Hall Grand years, and our report has been approved PHILALETHES SOCIETY Lodge of Georgia. by the G.L. of Texas in general session.” [2] Name on file, e-mail to Michael R. Poll Pete Normand, e-mail to Michael R. Poll dated March 17, 2004. dated March 11, 2004. (Continued from page 5) [3] Name on file, e-mail to the Philalethes e- have to see what the times ahead bring. mail list dated February 29, 2004. In the next installment of this series, [4] S. Brent Morris, e-mail to Michael R. we will present documents and letters Poll and Arturo de Hoyos dated March exposing a most disturbing band of 17, 2004. confederates who profess a desire to be [5] See: Allen E. Roberts, FPS, “The Search placed in a position of leadership over For Truth Continues,” The Philalethes, the governing of all U.S. Grand Oct. 1989. [6] “Our Fraternal Relations Committee has Lodges and some of the tactics used to stated in its annual report that we smear fellow Masons. consider Prince Hall Masonry to be a Issue 31 page 11 BELGIAN FREEMASONRY DAVID GRAY IN JAIL
(Continued from page 9) Museum held a successful exhibition in (Continued from page 1) a Bible.3 The United Grand Lodge of the Brussels Town Hall, entitled and October 2003. . . A CSU assistant controller called England therefore still considered the ‘Freemasonry in Europe from the 18th university police May 13, after noting Grand Orient of Belgium to be irregular. century till now’, following which the irregularities while reviewing records of In 1947 the Grand Orient tried to Museum (at rue de Laeken 79, Brussels financial transactions. At that time, reintroduce the use of these two 1000), was opened to the general public. roughly $98,000 — a mix of federal symbols. The administration and its It is open every Thursday from 2 pm to grant money and university funds — was Grand Master, however, have no direct 5 pm; phone and fax 02-223.06.04. unaccounted for, according to a search authority, and decisions are taken by In 2002, my Belgian kinsman, who is warrant filed May 14 in Xenia Municipal vote in their Assembly, where they met a keen member of one of the Grand Court. with strong opposition. Masons still had Orient of Belgium lodges, warmly He is in the county jail in lieu of $750,000 bond. in mind the attitude of the Catholic received my wife and me into the An indictment is being sought on the Church before and during the war. In Museum. I can recommend any charges of engaging in a pattern of 1954 the Assembly finally decided that Freemason who is visiting Brussels, to corrupt activity, tampering with records, each lodge was free to decide on the use make a point of visiting this Museum. money laundering and theft in office, of these symbols, and they still are used In addition we were accorded the Schmidt said. A decision from the grand nowadays in roughly one third of the privilege of being shown into the jury, which was presented the case this lodges of the Grand Orient of Belgium. adjoining Grand Temple and also the week, is expected to be made public next In 1959, five Grand Orient lodges Blue Temple. The Grand Temple is most week. that had always used the VSL withdrew impressive, being 12.15m long, 14.93m Gray's account at Fifth Third Bank has been frozen. According to the May and formed the Grand Lodge of wide and 13.3m high, with the entrance 14 warrant, the missing money was not Belgium, later attracting some other door being 4.85m high. Twenty-six in the account. . . Grand Orient lodges, and gaining papyrus pillars support the roof. The Police have seized Gray's silver 2003 fraternal recognition around the world. Grand Temple seats 400 people on the Jaguar, computers, papers, files, cameras However, this Grand Lodge followed the floor of the lodge, with seating for a and videotapes from his home, according Grand Orient into irregularity in 1979, further 100 in the balcony. The East and to the warrant inventory. by abandoning the necessity of a belief West of the Temple are left free. Gray's employment status with the in a Supreme Being, thereby losing the So Brethren, we have this interesting university was not immediately clear. recognition of most ‘regular’ Grand country of Belgium, which has two main The CSU graduate is the author of 4 Inside Prince Hall, a book about a Lodges throughout the world. languages and whose Freemasons predominantly black group of The Regular Grand Lodge of support five Belgian Grand Lodges, Freemasons founded in Boston in the Belgium was established that same year, thereby personifying the Belgian mid- to late 1700s. He earned a master's and it has fraternal relations with most characteristic of ‘a pragmatic degree from the University of ‘regular’ Grand Lodges, including New compromise’. There are also two lodges Phoenix. . . Zealand. It comprises 41 lodges, with a working under the Grand Lodge of CSU hired him as an accountant in total membership (as at 31/12/03) of Scotland and two military lodges under 2000. He became internal auditor this 1437 brethren. Nineteen of their lodges the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of year. have French as their working language, Georgia and Maryland, respectively. David Gray was subsequently indicted by 15 use Dutch, with two being bi-lingual. the Grand Jury on over 120 counts, and a Endnotes: One uses German, three use English, trial date set for 14 July, but the hearing while Lodge Pythagoras uses Greek. The 1 Grégoire, Danny: ‘History of the Grand Orient of Belgium’, unpublished. date has been adjourned at the defence two Scottish Lodges, Lodge Wellington 2 Belgian website ‘Belgian overview’. request. Meanwhile, he remains in jail, #1385 of Antwerp and Lodge Allegiance 3 When my kinsman was initiated in being unable to raise the bail. Brethren in #1465 of Brussels, naturally conduct 1972, his lodge still used the Bible and Ohio started a defence fund, and have 5 their degree working in English. made reference to the Great Architect. made themselves responsible for the In 1989, four Grand Lodges of They were however both removed wellbeing of Mrs Gray and the children. Belgium—the Grand Orient of Belgium, during the 1980s. He surprised me by ANZMRC President Richard Num has the Women’s Grand Lodge of Belgium, stating that he is now an atheist. been in contact with Mrs Gray, and with 4 Henderson, Kent & Pope, Tony: the Grand Lodge of Belgium, and Le David through her. David is permitted to Droit Humain (Co-Masonry) signed a Freemasonry Universal, vol 2, Global Masonic Publications, Williamstown receive mail, but not parcels. The PHA common declaration illustrating the 2000. Research discussion group is being close relationship between those four maintained, and also the research society 6 5 Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium jurisdictions. website
Next Issue . . . Attacks on the Philalethes Society II Meditational Massonry II World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges for Sydney page 12 Harashim Harashim
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian & New Zealand Masonic Research Council
ISSN 1328-2735 Issue 32 October 2004
About Harashim DEATH OF GUY PALLISER Harashim, Hebrew for Craftsmen, is a quarterly newsletter published by the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council (PO Box 332, Williamstown, Victoria 3016, Australia) and two copies News of the death of VWBro Guy Palliser, are issued free to each of its Affiliate and Associate members in Kellerman Lecturer for New Zealand in 1998 and January, April, July and October each year. 2000, was posted on the ANZMRC email list within Additional copies are available to interested persons on subscription (details below). At a later date copies of most articles, features and news items will be hours of its occurrence. posted on ANZMRC’s Internet website
PHA Grand Master Milton Fitch welcomed into mainstream Grand Master Leonard Safrit mainstream Grand Lodge of North Carolina, 2003. welcomed at PHA Grand Lodge of North Carolina page 2 Harashim not inconsiderable intellectual skills New Zealand FAME towards researching that proposition. September was the culmination of several months preparation for Freemasonry Most of my father’s intimate friends Awareness Month Events (FAME) in New Zealand, and it has paid off with excellent were fellow members of his Masonic PR results. FAME Newsletter #19 (1 October 2004) reports: brotherhood and I recall them, without exception, as men who would in those Our impression is that newspaper and news media coverage throughout the country has been high and in all cases, complimentary to the Craft. There were two significant articles days have been described by all but the this week in New Zealand’s largest newspaper, the New Zealand Herald, and both were jealous as ‘good blokes’. complimentary. The first feature was a ‘Perspectives’ article on Tuesday written by a They were, of course, white, middle- woman reporter who had attended a meeting of the Lodge of the Liberal Arts No 500, and class males of substance but back then the second was a follow-on article by the very well-read columnist Garth George which there was no opprobrium attached to was highly complimentary to Freemasonry, and for many has been one of the highlights being so. They were men to whom of FAME. service to others was as natural as More information is available from the FAME organisers: Noel Ryan making a quid for oneself and were
by Michael R. Poll, FPS, and Kenneth D. Roberts, FPS
Betrayal of Masonic Trust is the highest and gravest crime a Master Mason can commit . . . It is the masonic duty of each and every Master Mason to rise up and to denounce any violation and breach of Masonic Trust.
VW Billy Aportadera [1]
Part 2 of Series The nature of our Masonic initiations is recent events in Masonry, as well as and a Grand Lodge that we recognize such that we deliberately place our some published statements, with the disagree about a third Grand Lodge. candidates in an extraordinarily hope of better understanding the question For some 200 years, U.S. vulnerable environment. We do this to of Masonic trust. ‘mainstream’ Grand Lodges taught their set the minds and hearts of the candidates members that Prince Hall Masonry was in a state where they can best receive our What is the Truth? irregular. Visitation between teachings. One of the first and most The search for the Lost Word is symbolic ‘mainstream’ US lodges and Prince Hall important lessons we teach our of a Mason’s search for truth, but what is lodges was not allowed, as no Prince candidates is to trust their soon-to-be the truth? Is there a ‘Universal Truth’ for Hall Grand Lodge was recognized as brothers. It is necessary for them to all of Masonry? In many cases, No! regular. We were taught that there were accept, with no question, what they are ‘Masonic truth’ must often be qualified. legitimate reasons why Prince Hall told, as well as the motives and What is true in one Grand Lodge might Masonry was irregular. Now we are intentions of the officers and members of be quite false in another. The truthful taught that there is nothing at all irregular the lodge. If a candidate has no reason to answer to the question, ‘Who is the about Prince Hall Masonry. Recognition trust the lodge membership, then how Grand Master?’ will change, depending between the majority of US ‘mainstream’ will he view the various and often on the jurisdiction of the one being asked Grand Lodges and their Prince Hall peculiar aspects of his initiation? the question. Certain basic questions, counterparts now exist. Even where The trust of a Mason is in God. But however, will almost assuredly bring fraternal relations do not exist, we are led before a man can trust in God, about like answers. ‘Are Masons taught to believe that some Grand Lodges have whom he cannot see, he must learn to be honest?’ Does anyone know of any made official statements declaring Prince to trust in his fellowman, who is jurisdiction that would answer ‘no’ to Hall Masonry to be regular, if not always made in God’s image. [2] this question? But what about questions recognized. Did Prince Hall change in its of regularity? How do we answer the nature? No! Then what gives? How does The lesson of trust is a vital part of the question, ‘Who is regular?’ There are any thinking Mason reconcile this Masonic foundation we lay for the very few questions in Masonry that are apparent contradiction? If being irregular candidate. Without it, the walls of our as seemingly simple, yet, in fact, more means that something is wrong with a structure crumble. Can you imagine any complex. The opinion (law) concerning Masonic body, then how can it be lodge allowing a candidate to be made regularity in one jurisdiction might be declared regular if nothing has changed the subject of a practical joke while quite different than the opinion (law) of in the body? If we wish to take the receiving a degree? Can you imagine any another jurisdiction. The answers to position that it was simply an honest Grand Lodge not seriously reprimanding questions concerning regularity will error in regard to Prince Hall, then we or pulling the charter of any lodge that certainly change from one place to must face the fact that it was a pretty big would allow un-Masonic behavior with a another. Concerning regularity, the error that for roughly 200 years falsely candidate? United Grand Lodge of England labeled and denied recognition to true All Masons have the right to expect states: [3] brothers. Is there another reason (or that the trust we were taught to have in reasons) why Prince Hall Masonry was our brothers will not be violated. Those There are some self-styled Masonic falsely labeled ‘irregular’? Is it who would knowingly and willingly bodies that do not meet these unreasonable to seek an understanding of violate the trust placed in them by their standards, e.g. which do not require this question? Is it unreasonable to brothers must be reduced to order or a belief in a Supreme Being, or wonder if, even today, ‘mistakes’ could driven from our lodges. which allow or encourage their be made with other Masonic bodies? But what does it mean to violate a members to participate as such in One of the major problems with Mason’s trust? Can we do so with no ill political matters. These bodies are understanding the issues of regularity is intent or under the belief that our actions recognised by the Grand Lodge of our use (or misuse) of the word will result in ultimate good for England as being Masonically ‘irregular.’ Common use has made the Freemasonry? Is willfully lying to a irregular, and Masonic contact with words ‘irregular,’ ‘clandestine’ and brother the same as making a mistake? Is them is forbidden. ‘unrecognized’ interchangeable. But are bending the truth the same as willfully That might give us an idea of what is they always interchangeable? Logic lying? Where is the line that divides a irregular, but it is not clear as to who is dictates that since Prince Hall Masonry willful intent from a mistake? irregular or why are they so or how we (having made no change in their nature This paper will attempt to examine handle a situation when our Grand Lodge page 4 Harashim or organization) has been confirmed by individuals involved would have manipulation of an allied Masonic the majority of U.S. Grand Lodges to be discussed their plans between organization into doing what he and perfectly regular, then they were themselves. That is what ‘organized’ ‘others’ want done. He even offers factually ‘unrecognized,’ but not means. But how does one go about punishment for anyone not yielding to ‘irregular.’ If this is the case, then why organizing an effort for anything that the demands. If those running for any were they almost always called requires the agreement of more than a local or national Shrine office would not ‘irregular’ and ‘clandestine’? few independent Grand Lodges? What agree with ‘the plan’ they would be kind of plans could be made that would replaced or be unable to be elected. Say it Again and Again cross jurisdictional lines? How would Bro. Miller’s letter was obtained by Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda one go about such an effort? the Shriners and posted on their website. minister for Adolph Hitler, is often In a letter dated 6 February 2000, While it is understandable that this event credited with the phrase, ‘A lie repeated William R. Miller, a Past Grand Master may have caused some embarrassment often enough becomes the truth.’ As of the Grand Lodge of Washington State for both the Southern Jurisdiction and despicable as the man was, there is a and Sovereign Grand Inspector General Bro. Miller, it does not seem to have certain logic to that statement. A basic in Washington wrote to C. Fred stopped Bro. Miller’s brazen letter- rule of advertising is to offer your Kleinknecht, then Sovereign Grand writing. In a 19 February 2004 e-mail to message again and again so that the Commander of the Supreme Council, SJ a fellow PGM and SJ SGIG, Bro. Miller chances of forgetting the message will be USA [4] concerning suggestions for writes: [5] minimized. In addition, it is realized that dealing with reports that the Imperial The Philalethes has its own, new, value is often subjective and one may not Potentate intended to initiate changes agenda – led by Nelson King (an be guilty of false advertising if they state that would allow non-Masons to join the embarrassment to Freemasonry) and their opinion of a product’s value or Shriners. Bro. Miller offers some Roberts. They want the rank and file quality. The fine line between an error astonishing suggestions. How should the to recognize the Grand Orients, co- and a falsehood is often walked in the AASR deal with the possible action of Masonic bodies, Prince Hall carte high stakes advertising game. But how the Shriners? Bro. Miller writes: blanc etc. They constantly denigrate does this relate to Masonry? Plant the seed that it is a bad idea the authority of Grand Lodges to Prince Hall Masonry was not kept because it is no solution at all, then control recognition and legitimate, outside of the recognized Masonic family attack it as a fraternal bad idea. regular Freemasonry. Wallace for some 200 years because of legitimate Miller also writes: McCloud [sic] seems to be a bit of reasons, but because of an intentional that tong as well. As Grand Abbot of We need to develop a collective desire to keep them out. In order to keep the Blue Friars, he invited an strategy to plant and reinforce that up the appearance of remaining true to expelled Texas mason, now a value system in our members. the teachings of Freemasonry, Grand member of a Prince Hall lodge in Lodges freely accepted the charges that How could they accomplish such an Texas, as a new member – last year I Prince Hall Masonry was justifiably effort? Miller answers: think. Sort of poking Reese and irregular. Since most Masons were not In the time between now and then I company in the nose. researchers, it was not that hard to write propose we interview the probable Let’s look at this amazing e-mail. What legitimate-sounding charges against candidates for Representative (in my evidence does Bro. Miller offer in Prince Hall Masonry. In addition, Temple that is the Potentate, Chief support of his serious charges? None at because the vast majority of the Prince Rabban, Assistant Rabban and all! It is all stated ‘as fact.’ It is uncertain Hall Masons were black, there was no Recorder) to see where they stand on what he means by ‘Grand Orients,’ but if real desire to closely examine the the issue and make them commit to he means the Grand Orient of France, charges made against them. When one vote the way we want them to. If this is wholly false, as is his charge that spoke or wrote about Prince Hall they won't, we elect an alternate these brothers support the recognition of Masonry, the words ‘irregular’ or slate of Representatives. co-Masonic bodies in any manner. We ‘clandestine’ were used with no attempt and must remember Bro. Miller’s message in to prove that the charges were factual. It the Shrine letter, ‘Plant the seed . . .’ We was enough to just keep saying that If he is not with us we make sure he must remember what was written in the Prince Hall Masonry was irregular. It is not elected Imperial Potentate. We Grand Lodge of New York’s report on was not true, but it was always there and go right down the line. If they The Philalethes Society, ‘. . . in light of accepted by almost all. Even among commit to be with us they stay in the Grand Master’s concerns regarding those who held no bigotry in their hearts, line – if not we replace them with an this Society’s alleged attempts to the charges against Prince Hall Masonry alternate we have in the wings. interfere in Grand Lodge activities were commonly accepted. Why? and inappropriately.’ Bro. Miller’s statement Because we trusted that our leaders It will be a political campaign where in this e-mail (‘They constantly denigrate would not tell us anything but the truth. you have to count the votes. We the authority of Grand Lodges’) is We are Freemasons. We don’t speak evil need a war room where we keep tabs disturbingly similar. Was Bro. Miller the of our brothers, right? How could such on who the Representatives are and source of the GM of New York’s an organized effort of deception take how well they are staying misinformation? Where else has Bro. place? committed. It just would not happen Miller ‘plant[ed] the seed’? with individual Grand Lodges trying If these events concerning Bro. Miller The tactics to coordinate with sixty other Grand were not enough, there is a third event If there was an organized effort to keep Lodges. that should be examined. We learn from Prince Hall Masonry out of the By any reasonable examination, Bro. recognized Masonic family, then the (Continued on page 11) Miller is offering plans for the successful Issue 32 page 5 Reprinted with permission from the Transactions of United Masters Lodge of Research No 167, vol 35 #2, May 2004.
OUR RITUAL AND ITS INCONSISTENCIES
by Bro Jeff Allan, JW
Introduction on some form of core Masonic principle. never actually published their ritual Our Master, in his inaugural paper For example, in the initial opening of the until 1969. It is interesting to note that analysing the challenges that face the lodge the officers are not addressed by ‘Emulation’ still conduct their Lodge Craft, makes a number of suggestions as title until the Junior Warden verifies that of Instruction with the presence of to our future direction. Among these is a ‘all present are Freemasons’. The two members of their Ritual reduced emphasis on the ritual. In the underlying principle behind this is that of Committee, still relying solely on near future we will be presented with the Masonic secrecy, for until the Junior their memory as the arbiter of results of a team of our senior brethren Warden checks the attendees we cannot correctness. (Bros Alaric Wood, Alan Bevins, Alan be sure that all present are entitled to be • Thompson’s Textbook of Craft Busfield and Aubrey Johnson) where there. When the new Freemason asks Masonry (1892), written by MWBro they will offer an alternative to our why we do a certain thing in our H Thompson (GM in 1892) and current ritual. This paper serves as an ceremonial and the only answer we can claiming to be ‘according to the intermediary describing how, contrary to provide is ‘Because it’s in The Ritual’, Emulation Working’. the perceptions of many brethren, ritual something is very much awry. • Wilkie’s New Zealand Ritual, has and will continue to evolve. It will This paper is intended to outline the published in Dunedin and containing also argue that even if we chose to retain origins of the current New Zealand an attempt to integrate the elements of our current ritual in its present form, it is Ritual (4th edition, and hereafter referred the various Constitutions. in need of significant reform to align it to to as The Ritual) and to discuss elements • New South Wales Text Book. the philosophy of the Craft. where sound Masonic principles appear • Victoria to be violated. • The Revised Ritual, purporting to Background reflect the workings of Northern In a millennium characterised by racial Origins England. hatred, religious intolerance and Today we have the privilege of working and international terrorism, the principles of with one of the finest Masonic rituals • The Blue Textbook Of Freemasonry. Freemasonry—brotherly love, relief and used within the countries of the old truth—take on a new relevance. For our British Commonwealth. As far back as While the Ritual Committee took the institution to thrive, we face the 1947 E H Cartwright [1], in his critical best from each, they also inherited some challenge of attracting men with open discussion on British and grammatical flaws and violations of and enquiring minds who possess a Commonwealth rituals, commented Masonic principle. desire to grow the moral and positively on it. From the first edition of How these flaws arose is of particular philosophical aspects of their lives. To The Ritual, published in 1903, it has interest and goes back to the formation of retain such people we need to offer contained some General Instructions in the United Grand Lodge of England ceremonial, facilities and social the preface which, if all brethren would (UGLE), which, after a schism of nearly interaction of the highest calibre. take the time to read it, provides sound a century, united the ‘Antients’ and To the majority of Freemasons the advice for conducting both the ‘Moderns’ in the early nineteenth core of Freemasonry resides in the little ceremonial and for an individual’s century. At consummation of the union blue book known as The Ritual, but to behaviour within the ceremonial in 1813 the ‘Lodge of Reconciliation’ give it its full title: The Ritual of the environment. was established purportedly to merge the Three Degrees of Freemasonry. All of us The debate on whether to progress workings of the two former Grand have devoted countless hours to firstly with the development, or otherwise, of Lodges (a task largely already completed learn the words of the various charges our current ritual arose in the 1890s, by the preceding ‘Lodge of and then, perhaps later in our careers, soon after the birth of the Grand Lodge Promulgation’). Between August 1814 understanding the moral teachings of New Zealand, and it is amply covered and May 1815 they held 26 meetings to contained within those charges. It is this in two papers by VWBro I N Nathan demonstrate the key points of the ritual. deeper understanding that will ‘make which appeared in the Transactions of Many lodge representatives attended good men better’, not just the recitation this lodge [2], [3]. The key objective was only one or two of these meetings and, of the words. As The Ritual plays such a to develop a distinctly domestic ritual without a written ritual, were able to key role in the activities of every lodge, capable of attracting Freemasons who demonstrate the key changes to their own as well as providing much of the were still aligned to the English, Irish lodges. This suggests that many of the philosophy and moral teachings, it and Scottish Constitutions and to achieve extant rituals were not too different from follows that it should be able to stand up this the Ritual Committee used a number what Reconciliation was demonstrating. to the scrutiny of the enquiring mind, of domestic and foreign rituals as source It is a critical point that UGLE, upon particularly that of the enthusiastic documents, namely: having demonstrated before it the neophyte. • Emulation—very likely a copy of The recommended ritual devised by Everything that takes place in the Perfect Ceremonies of Craft Masonry, Reconciliation, approved the working lodge with respect to ritual must be based as the Emulation Lodge of Instruction without proscribing others which had page 6 Harashim immaterial differences. Thus all laborious process, with the committee ‘Seeing’ and ‘Proving’ recognised rituals used in England today reviewing countless suggestions from In all three degrees, the Inner Guard is are ‘approved’ by the UGLE. lodges and individuals. The 1934 Ritual asked to ‘see that the lodge is properly As our forbears of the early nineteenth contained a number of textual changes to tyled’. In the 1st degree this is century had no ritual books, the only way bring the language to a more accomplished by opening the door and they could learn the ritual was by rote contemporary level, but some changes literally ‘seeing’ that the Tyler is in his learning or perhaps by covert reference also significantly altered the meaning of correct place, but not so in the other two to some of the early ‘exposures’, in some passages. The third degree tracing degrees. Here he relies on less direct themselves often inaccurate. This led to board was reinstated, the Irish elements evidence by applying a test to which he the dominance of two key Lodges of of the opening removed, and a formula expects a prescribed reply: the knocks. Instruction. The first, the ‘Lodge of for Suspending and Resuming According to Collins Concise English Stability’, was established in 1817 with introduced. This is in itself an interesting Dictionary this testing evokes a ‘proof’, Bros Broadfoot, McCann and Satterly, innovation, for it seems contrary to and in fact the same process is used members of the Reconciliation Masonic principle to re-open (resume) a during closing, where the Inner Guard is demonstration team, as founding lodge without proving those in asked to ‘prove the Lodge close tyled’. members. The second to form was the attendance as qualified for that degree. If, in the second and third degree ‘Emulation Lodge of Improvement for The Third Edition (1981) offered no openings, we actually expect the Inner Master Masons Lodge of Instruction’ summary of changes, in the form of a Guard to ‘prove’ the Lodge close tyled, under the sanction of the Lodge of Hope preface, but the general instructions exactly as we do in the three closings, in 1823. Thus a number of Lodges of continued to increase in number. The key then why don’t we say so? It is not Instruction, often led by dogmatic change, mainly through external opinion acceptable to say to our new members Preceptors, began to teach the ritual as and pressure, was the removal of the that it doesn’t make sense but that’s what they remembered it demonstrated many ancient penalty from the Obligation and The Ritual says. In some of the old years before, supposedly without the leaving it as a very succinct reference rituals (e.g. Exeter, c 1732) the Inner benefit of a written ritual. It appears that (e.g. ‘t.c.a.’) in the Secrets. Guard is asked to see in the first and to the ‘Emulation’ Preceptors in particular The Fourth Edition (1989) made prove in the two succeeding degrees. would brook no argument on what they further grammatical changes but, mainly From this it is reasonably safe to assume perceived to be correct, (not unlike some through internal opinion, resurrected the that transposition of the word ‘see’ into Directors of Ceremonies today), and one ancient penalty in the Secrets. the two higher degrees is an innovation. of the greatest, Peter Gilkes, is described It is interesting to note that both by Cartwright [4] as ‘a man of but little Inconsistencies Thompson’s, and the Perfect Ceremonies education’. Over time grammatical errors The author would like to state of the time advocate proving by knocks and variations began to emerge, and it categorically that what follows is the in the openings of all three degrees. The was upon Gilkes’ death in 1833 that opinion of one man with no formal giving of the knocks of the first degree, George Claret, an Emulation member, education in the English language before verifying that all present are printed the first ritual (1836) purporting beyond secondary school. For this reason qualified to be there, seems to negate the to be that worked by that Lodge of little comment will be made towards practise of non-disclosure exemplified in Instruction. grammatical errors, even though they the use of officers’ names rather than Over the balance of the nineteenth still exist (e.g. ‘I give it you [sic] in their titles. century other rituals went to print and strong terms’, page 64 in the 4th edn, Either we ask the Inner Guard to carry they can be broadly grouped into three introduced in the 2nd edn). out the instruction literally or we need to main streams (see Appendix 1), namely: amend The Ritual so that the command The Sign of Rev. • Emulation derivatives, reflects the expectation. This would go a We are aware that this differs from the long way to eliminating the confusion • Stability derivatives, Sn of F solely in the position of the digit and often evident on the new Inner Guard’s and, as it is not taught during the face when instructed by the Junior • Pre-union manuscripts (e.g. Bristol). ceremonial, we must ask where it came Warden. The pre-union manuscripts and, later, from. In a discussion many years ago in rituals tended to reside in the provinces, Miscellanea Latomorum [5], it was Removal of Gloves far removed from London, and serve as a acknowledged that the sign was not General Instruction No 21 requires the yardstick as to what the ritual looked like taught by any lodge, but rather in Lodges Worshipful Master to remove his gloves prior to the Union. of Instruction which had (and have) no when ‘communicating t—s, giving Obs right to teach any sign that is not used in and raising the candidate on the f.p.o.f.’ New Zealand Editions the course of regular ceremony. While Introduced in the Second Edition in The First Edition, published in 1903, the practice appears in what are 1934, this instruction has led to profound contained what was basically an Irish purported to be Emulation working misunderstanding and confusion. How Opening in each degree, an English rituals in the latter part of the 19th often do we see Masters struggling to body, and always provided for the century, MWBro H Thompson, in his remove their gloves when greeting a ‘Alternative’ third degree which is Textbook of Craft Masonry (Christchurch visitor? mainly Scottish. Naturally the ancient 1892) does not use the practice, even The removal practice has little to penalties of the obligation were given in though he was a member of Emulation. commend it in terms of practicality, full. The third degree tracing board was Because this sign is not taught in our etiquette, or Masonic theory. Firstly, the excluded on the grounds of conflict with ceremonial, it has no place there. It was glove and gauntlet are, in practical terms, Holy Writ. an innovation and should be confined to one and the same, symbolic of the The revision of The Ritual for the refectory during grace, and the (Continued on page 8) publication as the Second Edition was a graveside at a Masonic funeral. Issue 32 page 7 Thompson, who claimed that his search once it is in one’s possession. Our OUR RITUAL AND ITS working was ‘according to the Emulation ritual defines ‘centre’ as ‘a point within a Working’, begins to add his own circle’ and mathematically a ‘point’ has INCONSISTENCIES innovations from what is recognised as no area or tangible substance. On the contemporary Emulation (Perfect other hand the term ‘upon the centre’ (Continued from page 7) Ceremonies) right at the first degree implies the taking up of a definite practising mason. If we remove one then opening. position and that is what our being a surely, in symbolic terms, we should Freemason is all about—living a life remove the other. Secondly, in view of A man of honour? bounded by our religious and Masonic old customs, to touch a sacred object We are taught in the first degree Secrets principles. (e.g. the VSL) with the naked flesh was (p57, 4 edn) that ‘an E.A. Freemason Left-handed knocks to defile it, save in the case of those swore as a man of honour’. In the Third Again the instruction for the Master to taking an oath. In our situation the Edition (p57) the words used are ‘that as use his left hand for the knocks in the candidate, by virtue of his method of a man of honour a Mason’. In the other closing arose from the Ritual Committee preparation, has little choice. two degrees (pp 125 & 184, 4 edn) we of 1934 and appears in the Second Cartwright suggests that at the end of are also taught that ‘as a man of honour, Edition. The practice arose in England in the 19th century (when our source rituals a XX Freemason would rather’. the late 19th century and Cartwright [6] were written), with the exception of However, during the interrogation by the quotes the pamphlet ‘Craft Ritual’ (1902) some of the more innovative lodges in Wardens, the reply as to the implication by Bro Hextall, PGD, on this subject London, de-gloving was simply unheard of the sign is stated as ‘that a man of in full: of. While social etiquette may have honour, and an EAF, would changed in the years following WWI, rather’ (4 edn, p59). This seems to imply A practice which seems to prevail in there was never a need by the second that an Entered Apprentice is not of some lodges induces me to express a edition Ritual Committee to change necessity a man of honour. Quite clearly decided opinion that the final knock given by the Master in a closing Masonic etiquette, and it appears a we expect every member of our Order to be such, and this example clearly ceremony should be given with the right, violation of traditional Masonic theory. and not with the left, hand. If the left demonstrates how a small error in hand is used, it gives an awkward The classic typographic error? grammar can totally change what our In our current Ritual (p.64) we strike the appearance, as well as personal forbears intended, for the 1981 Review inconvenience, to the Master himself, horrible piece of grammar ‘and I give it Committee altered the phrase in the and is also an infringement of that strict you’. Our original Ritual Committee Secrets but omitted to do so in the observance of squares, levels and probably recognised it for what it was in Wardens’ interrogation. perpendiculars which was enjoined upon The Perfect Ceremonies and the each of us at Initiation. I suppose the Textbook of Freemasonry—a gross error. The Centre idea prompting the use of the left hand Both Wilkie’s New Zealand Ritual and Although generally associated with the has been that until the Senior Warden The Revised Ritual opted for the older third degree, the significance of ‘the has actually pronounced his words of term ‘I earnestly exhort you’, the same Centre’ is explained in the Tracing Board closing the Master should retain the sign; but his part in the ceremony is at an wording that appears in the First Edition of the first degree (p84). The concept of end when he has given the command, of our Ritual. Thompson, a member of ‘the Centre’ is so fundamental to and there is no reason why he should the original Ritual Committee, as well as Freemasonry and Freemasons that give the knock otherwise than with his the NSW Text Book, had opted to correct without it we have nothing but some right hand. the error, using the term ‘I give it to esoteric mumblings and obscure ritual. In It is obvious that if the Master were you’. one paragraph it describes, by telling us to retain the sign in closing in the For the learned men of the 1934 the bounds within which we as Second Degree it would be physically Ritual Committee to alter our ritual to Freemasons must live our lives, the way impossible for him to give any knock include what was previously, what was by which we as Craftsmen can build a until the Senior Warden's duty was performed. then, and what still is today, atrocious Temple (ourselves) to the glory of the English is unexplainable. However, it GAOTU. It is a position in life, bounded One hundred years later I must concur does need to be kept in mind that the and based on those symbolic elements with the writer. I was taught that ‘s’s, ‘l’s ‘Emulation Lodge’ had engaged in a we see in the lodge and described in the and ‘p’s were proper means by which to period of coercion during the late 19th charge. know a Freemason, not diagonals. and early 20th centuries to convince the In many of the oldest rituals and in the The necessity of holding the salute is Masonic world that their ritual was the First Edition of our Ritual, at the opening negated by our own General Instruction only one approved by UGLE, a blatant of the third degree the Junior Warden No 22, which states that the WM is not untruth. replies to the Master ‘Upon the centre’, required to return any salute. It is also Thankfully, most of our members in other words by taking a position worthy of note that in the oldest accepted when delivering this charge have the within those Masonic boundaries, ‘that ritual, that of Bristol, the Master common sense (and pride in their being a position from which a MM delegates to the Senior Warden, drops grammar) to make the correction as they cannot err’. the sign, makes the knocks with his right speak. For those who believe every word Unfortunately our ritual was changed hand, and sits down. in our ritual is sacrosanct, then a review to read ‘With the centre’. While this of some of the rituals contained in difference may appear semantic, to my Conclusions Appendix 2 will show that there has been mind it implies a whole new meaning. This paper has covered, in the opinion of much evolution of what was The term ‘with the centre’ seems to its author, some of the more glaring demonstrated by the Lodge of suggest that a ‘centre’ is a tangible object anomalies extant in The Ritual, but most Reconciliation in 1815. Even Henry which will enable one to carry out this emphatically not all. It was done with page 8 Harashim one purpose in mind, to foster debate. It is only through open debate on why we Guy Crespin Palliser do something that we can further the 11/11/1918–30/09/2004 Masonic knowledge of ourselves, our VWBro Guy Palliser, PGDC (NZ), Kellerman Lecturer, passed away suddenly on peers, our newer members and perhaps 30 September 2004, aged 85. He is survived by his wife, Ava; stepsons Mark and some of our seniors. Paul and their families; and his
The Ritual is coming under increasing sister, Dawn. scrutiny as demographic changes occur Guy had a variety of careers. He in our membership. Done well, a had a life-long interest in Masonic ceremony is a thing of beauty; geography, and was a Fellow of done poorly it is an agonising experience the Royal Geographical Society to go through. Many time-poor members since 1958. He qualified as a pilot say that it is too long, but I would suggest and was involved in the Air Force that when it is done poorly, anything in photo reconnaissance. He was after the first five minutes is too long. also involved at one stage in How appropriate our current ritual is motor racing, and photography. to our needs is a subject being reviewed He had a love of education and by a small team of senior Freemasons after gaining an M.A. and from this Lodge and I’m sure we all look Diploma of Teaching took up a forward to the product of their teaching post, which he deliberations. maintained until he retired. In The belief by some members that the addition to Freemasonry, Guy words of the ritual are landmarks is a was also a member of the local fallacy. With each publication of a Probus and Kiwanis Clubs. Masonic ritual, individuals have stamped He was initiated In Lodge Moutoa 195 (Wanganui) in 1943, joined Aroha their own preferences and bias into the Lodge 293 (Wellington) in 1958 and transferred to the United Lodge of printed outcome. What was actually Wellington 13 when Aroha Lodge folded in 1990. He joined the Research Lodge approved by UGLE in 1816 is not, and of Wellington 194 in 1967, served as Master in 1970–71, and also joined Hawke’s cannot ever be, known with certainty as Bay Research Lodge 305 in 1972. there are no written records. The GLNZ Guy was very involved in Masonry and Masonic research, presenting many had the right to formulate a ritual that papers to the Research Lodge of Wellington, and other research lodges around combined the best of those available in New Zealand. He was editor for the Research Lodge of Wellington from 1968 (a 1903. The Review Committee of 1934 year after he joined) until 1994, and more recently was also involved in editing its introduced variations that do not appear scanned transactions, in preparation for publishing them on CD-ROM. to be Masonically robust and, in fact, in Guy was the first Kellerman Lecturer from New Zealand, and attended the some of the changes mentioned above conference in Launceston in 1998, primarily at his own cost, to present his paper there is no discussion recorded in the ‘The World of the Ancients and Moderns’. He also attended the conference in minutes of that committee. Brisbane in 2000, to present another paper, ‘Some aspects of the nature of ritual’. I would like to close by reiterating the He was the first New Zealand representative on the Council (1996–2002), and argument that every time we have to was elected Vice President of ANZMRC (the first and only New Zealander to reply to a query regarding The Ritual date), a post which he held for 4 years and was very proud of. with the answer ‘Because it’s in The Guy was a member of nearly all the Masonic bodies in New Zealand, attaining Ritual’, then both we and our core senior rank in each: document have failed, and we risk the Grand Lodge of New Zealand Past Grand Director of Ceremonies loss of an intelligent and enquiring Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter (NZ) Past Grand Lecturer Freemason. Ancient and Accepted Rite for NZ 31º Royal Order of Scotland Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master Endnotes United Great Priory in New Zealand Past Great Constable 1 Cartwright, E H: A Commentary on the Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests Past Grand VII Pillar, Knight of Holy Wisdom Freemasonic Ritual, Hepworth, Allied Masonic Degrees of England, etc Past Grand Standard Bearer Tunbridge Wells 1947, pp56,221. Order of Secret Monitor of NZ Past Grand Guide Order of Red Cross of Constantine Past Grand Standard Bearer (Laburnum) 2 Nathan, I N: ‘The New Zealand Ritual of Worshipful Society (Operatives) VIIº Grand Master Mason (Honoris Causa) 1903’ in Transactions, United Masters Societas Rosicrucis in Anglia VIIº grade Lodge of Masonic Research No 167, v30 #02, p22. Right to the end Guy was continually assisting the Orders to the best of his ability. He died just eight days before he was due to be installed as Celebrant of 3 Nathan I.N: ‘The Installation Ceremony Sirius College, SRIA. His passing will leave a huge void in New Zealand and New Zealand Working’ in Transactions, United Masters Lodge of Masonry, one that will be very difficult to fill. Masonic Research No 167, v33 #04, p46. Guy was a devoted family man, husband to Ava and stepfather to Paul and Mark. He instilled in them a love of education. He encouraged Ava to obtain her 4 Cartwright, op cit, p15. accountancy qualifications, and she was one of the first women in New Zealand to 5 Miscellanea Latomorum II, p115. do so. Although sometimes family came second to Masonry, Guy knew the value 6 Cartwright, op cit, p48. of family and freely gave of his time and resources to help others. R.I.P. For Appendixes 1 & 2, see page 10. Phil Brooke Issue 32 page 9 OUR RITUAL AND ITS INCONSISTENCIES Appendix 1 Family Tree of some extant Rituals
Appendix 2 Rituals Reviewed New Zealand The Freemasons Instructor (1917) The New Zealand Ritual of Craft Masonry (Wilkie) Ritual of Craft Masonry (West London, 3 edn) A Textbook of Craft Masonry (Thompson 1892) The Exeter Ritual of Craft Masonry (1932) The Ritual of the Three Degrees of Freemasonry (1 edn, 1903) M.M. Taylor’s handbook of Craft Masonry (North London The Ritual of the Three Degrees of Freemasonry (2 edn, 1934) 1908) The Ritual of the Three Degrees of Freemasonry (3 edn, 1981) The Complete Ritual of C.F.M (Northumbria 1942) The Ritual of the Three Degrees of Freemasonry (4 edn, 1989) The Ceremonies of Craft Masonry (Cunnington, East London) The Ritual of the Three Degrees of Freemasonry (Otago Ritus Oxoniensis (1904) Kilwinning No 143, 1947) The Craft Guide (1918) The New Zealand Ritual of Craft Masonry (Christchurch The Universal Book of Craft Masonry Masonic Lodge No 91) The Complete Handbook of Craft Masonry (Goldman, East London, 1930) Australia Craft Ceremonies (Devon) Text Book (New South Wales 1902) The Oxford Ritual of Craft Masonry (1959) The Ritual of the Three Degrees of Craft Masonry (South The First, Second and Third Degree ceremonies (Bately 1963) Australia 1892) Bristol Masonic Ritual (1996 Manuscript) The Complete Workings of Craft Masonry (Victoria) Ireland England The Irish Working of Craft Masonry in the Three Symbolic Textbook of Freemasonry (6 edn) Degrees (1910) The Revised Ritual (5 edn) The Perfect Ceremonies of Craft Masonry (1902) Nigeria The Standard ceremonies of Craft Masonry (Stability 1902) Nigerian Ritual (Emulation derivative 1952) page 10 Harashim his February 2004 e-mail. We have takes place. By listening to what those ATTACKS ON THE already seen that this same false notion opposed to the Grand Lodge of France was advanced, and wisely rejected, in have to say? By reading what PHILALETHES SOCIETY New York. Reports even tell us that the independent researchers have to say absurdly false charge that the Philalethes about the Grand Lodge of France in The (Continued from page 5) Society is somehow attempting to Philalethes? Is it now clear why some the July 2003 edition of the E-Alpha (on- ‘control’ U.S. Grand Lodges is might wish to silence the Philalethes line newsletter of Holland Lodge #1 in circulating in more than a few U.S. Society? Houston, Texas) [6] that Bro. Miller jurisdictions. The ‘seed’ of falsehood has gave a talk entitled ‘The Case for a clearly been planted in more than a few And so it goes United Grand Lodge of the United States areas. The paranoid, anti-communist hysteria of of America.’ The E-Alpha tells us that the 1950s in the U.S. became known as Bro. Miller is supportive of creating a What’s going on? McCarthyism. Just like the Salem Witch single, supervising ‘Grand Lodge’ of For whatever it’s worth, the tactics, the Hunt days of the late 1600s, all that was sorts in the US, so that national action plan and the execution for a centralized, necessary was to cry out, ‘He’s a could be better implemented. The report national control of U.S. Masonry are laid Communist!’ and the careers and lives of tells us of Bro. Miller’s out by Bro. Miller. The questions are: If totally innocent individuals would be ‘disappointments’ and ‘failed efforts’ this is more than one man’s design, how ruined. The charge alone, even if wholly concerning getting his ideas into deep are the roots; how long has this false, was enough to do the damage. practice. The report notes that Bro. been going on, and how many Masons Why? Because ‘important men’ made the Miller is dissatisfied with the fact that could be involved in such activity? The charges. Who could think that such each year the ‘annual Conferences of idea of a national U.S. Grand Lodge has ‘important men’ would offer anything Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries’ been around since George Washington but the truth? What they said was adopts rules ‘making it NOT a was nominated to be its ‘National Grand accepted as fact, many times with Legislative Assembly.’ He is reported to Master.’ This idea was wisely squelched, precious little support for the charges. suggest that issues of ‘regularity and as was the movement to crown him King For a time, this activity was successful. recognition pose problems more easily George Washington when the nation was Many of those who fell victim to these solved by fewer bodies to promote the newly formed. But a national Grand tactics never fully recovered from the Universality of Freemasonry.’ And ‘. . . Lodge is one matter; organized efforts to damage done to them by outright lies. should we just design our own UGL? manipulate and control by means of In the next part of this series, we will One perhaps with [a] national spokesman spreading falsehoods or eliminating examine the Masonic equivalent of within the framework of our present 51 opposition is quite another matter. McCarthyism taking place today in U.S. Grand Lodges.’ There is no question that Prince Hall Masonry and further analyze how the Let’s try to look at the total picture Masonry was kept out of the recognized same strategy of paranoia and falsehoods being painted. Bro. Miller seems to want U.S. Masonic family by the employment has been employed against the Grand some sort of governing, controlling body of tactics very similar to the ones laid out Lodge of France, the Philalethes Society, that will be able to direct the actions of by Bro. Miller. The ‘seed’ was planted and any organization or individual who all U.S. Grand Lodges and Masonic that Prince Hall Masonry was irregular; does not wish to subjugate itself or organizations. He has offered a plan that there was very little effort made on the himself to a small band of individual spells out the steps that should be taken grand lodge or leadership level to Masons in positions of authority. to obtain this control. Anyone who seriously prove the charges factual; and would not be supportive of this plan will the unsubstantiated charges were Endnotes be unable to be elected to any office of repeated until they became an 1 Billy Aportadera, Betrayal of Masonic importance. He has a plan for advancing ‘understood fact.’ At some point the Trust, The Grand Lodge of the Philippines website,
‘super grand lodge.’ The voice of been used to keep them unrecognized in Copyright © individual lodges will be silenced. What the U.S. for the last 50 or so years. Since 2002, 2003, 2004 is most ironic is that Bro. Miller’s they are unrecognized, then just about The Philalethes professed plans for controlling U.S. anything can be said about them, and Society. Grand Lodges by means of this little how does one determine if what is being All Rights band of allies is exactly what he falsely said is factual? By visiting their lodges? Reserved. attributed to the Philalethes Society in That’s not possible until recognition
Issue 32 page 11 Freemasonry? Well, in the past some creative artists drew upon the ideals of Freemasonry. Thus Freemasonry features The Seven in the drama of the opera The Magic Flute, and in Masonic music composed Lively Arts by Mozart, Sibelius and others. Some sculptors have used Masonic themes as a by Richard Num source of artistic inspiration. Literature has examples of the use of Freemasonry, perhaps the most interesting being in Have you heard of the Seven Lively Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Arts? I had not until June, when I was in But these are examples from one to two hundred years ago. These days Chicago and saw seven paintings, each depicting one of the ‘seven lively arts’: of American Popular Arts: film, popular drama is employed to effect in architecture, painting, sculpture, dance, music and dance, musical comedy, ceremonies by good ritualists, but cartoons, and popular fiction (the book Freemasonry tends to be used in modern drama, music and literature. Each lively art is a field of aesthetic endeavour in the may be read on-line commencing at mass drama only in a debased form, as a
Masonry. In addition to media attacks, a’ That, was sung at the official opening Freemasonry in Scotland suffers of the new Scottish Parliament . . . This ’n’ that . . . discrimination in local and national Freemasons, especially Scottish politics, and recently the Grand Lodge of Freemasons, all over the world are immensely proud that this particular (Continued from page 2) Scotland took the opportunity to politely Masonic piece was chosen to mark that Scotland state its case with an illustrated ‘salute’ historic occasion. Fed up with the anti-Masonic slant of the to the Scottish Parliament, under the The Grand Lodge of Scotland looks Scottish media, a group of Scottish heading ‘One of Scotland’s oldest forward to a Scotland, guided by the Masons have organised RAMIS institutions salutes one of Scotland’s Scottish Parliament, where prejudice and (Researching Anti-Masonry In Scotland) newest’. The message included: discrimination against all minority and started a web site