Harashim
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian & New Zealand Masonic Research Council
ISSN 1328-2735 Issue 41 January 2008 In retrospect . . . October 2006 to December 2007 by Tony Pope
Those readers who thought that they—or Harashim—had been abandonned, may rest assured that it is not so. Neglected, yes; abandonned, no! The ANZMRC Conference at Ballarat in October 2006 granted the editor sabbatical leave for 2007 because he planned to travel overseas. He continued editing Jim Daniel’s book, Masonic Networks and Connections, while travelling, but alternative arrangements for the production of Harashim proved a slip, and for this we apologise. Events which occurred during the hiatus have now passed into history, but to those readers who have no knowledge of these events, they are still ‘news’, and this issue of Harashim will be devoted to catching up. The first will create a catalog of all
The Ballarat Conference papers published by ANZMRC and The 8th biennial conference and general participating research lodges, which can meeting of ANZMRC was held in the be made available online and on CD. historic goldmining area of Ballarat in The second will create an online October 2006, with 39 brethren in library of research papers, using the attendance, including six from New Greenstone application program and Zealand. Thanks are extended to the software. A spin-off will be that lodges convenor, VRevd Fred Shade, and his will be able to market their transactions efficient band of helpers. more easily on CD, including putting the See report on pages 4–5. transactions of two or more lodges on one CD. New ANZMRC President See report on page 9, ‘How to stop re-inventing the wheel’. It is with great sorrow that we report Max Webberley, elected President of ANZMRC at the Ballarat conference, International lecturer James Daniel at They’re Coming Back ! died in office after a short illness in Waikato Lodge of Research, Rotorua. The Research Lodge of New South photo by Gary Kerkin March 2007. (See pages 6–8.) Wales, which went into recess in 2006 He was succeeded as President by (see Harashim #38 p1), is fighting its senior vice-president Peter Verrall, and ANZMRC lecture tour way back to viability. It will merge with as delegate for Tasmania by Greg RWBro James Daniel, PGW (EC), has Sydney’s Internet lodge, Lodge Parkinson, the 2006 Kellerman Lecturer returned home to Cornwall after Journeymen Online, to form a research for Tasmania. Greg was also appointed completing his six-week lecture tour of and degree-working lodge, Lodge third vice-president, to fill the vacancy Australia and New Zealand. Discovery. All has been arranged and caused by Peter’s elevation. See report on pages 10–14. agreed, they are just waiting for the new The death of Max Webberley was charter. followed almost immediately by that of As reported on page 12, the lodge Digital projects to aid research arranged the Sydney leg of Jim Daniel’s Bob Linford OBE, 1996 Kellerman Two projects are being developed in tour by having a meeting in conjunction Lecturer for NSW&ACT, after a long New Zealand as aids to Masonic with Lodge France. and incapacitating illness. (See research, and they need the cooperation pageIssue 15. 41) of all lodges affili ated with ANZMRC. And there’s more inside page. . . 1 About Harashim Harashim, Hebrew for Craftsmen, is a quarterly newsletter published by the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council (PO Box 332, ~ Presidents’ Williamstown, Victoria 3016, Australia) in January, April, July and October each year. All those responsible for our well- It is supplied to Affiliates and Associates supported Conference at Ballarat will in hard copy and/or PDF format. It is long remember their own contributions, available worldwide in PDF format as an email attachment., upon application to the and we who attended well remember the ANZMRC Secretary (particulars below). efforts and result of their work, Usually the current issue is also displayed on especially that of the Conference the website of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania: Committee, led by Fred Shade. I fear
The eighth Biennial Conference and Territory had not submitted a Kellerman General Meeting of the Australian and Lecture, the biennial general meeting New Zealand Masonic Research was brought forward to fill the vacancy Council was held in Ballarat, Victoria, in the program—and other entertainment over the weekend of 6–8 October 2006. was scheduled for the afternoon. Thirty-nine brethren had registered, many accompanied by their wives, The Biennial General Meeting including six brethren and four ladies The general meeting was opened at from New Zealand. Most of the visitors 11.15 am by President Graham Stead, checked in at the Parkview Comfort Inn, with Colin Heyward as secretary, in the which proved to be located several absence overseas of Kent Henderson; kilometres from the city centre, but this apologies were received from Kent, as small defect was compensated by a bus well as Fred Shade (Conference service on the doorstep, pleasant views Convenor) and Murray Yaxley (Tas). and comfortable accommodation. The constitution was revised to give Ballarat brethren provided private New Zealand Affiliates greater transport to and from the Conference representation, in view of the fact that all venues. ten research lodges in New Zealand have Creswick Havilah Lodge joined ANZMRC, and was further At Creswick photo by Colin Heyward revised in relation to Kellerman The Conference was declared open on Lecturers because some Affiliates are Friday evening by the Grand Master of experiencing difficulty in proving a the United Grand Lodge of Victoria, Kellerman Lecturer. In brief, the MWBro Bruce Bartrop, at a special amendments were as follows: meeting of the Victorian Lodge of . New Zealand Affiliates may nominate Research convened by the WM, VRevd two delegates to the executive Frederick A Shade, in Creswick Havilah council, and the number of vice Lodge’s magnificent 116-year-old lodge presidents on the council has been room on the main street of Creswick, a increased from two to three. few kilometres northwest of Ballarat. . New Zealand Affiliates may nominate The name Havilah, incidentally, is taken two Kellerman Lecturers per conference; from the VSL (Genesis 2:11–12). At the American Hotel The lodge had been consecrated in . If the Affiliates of a particular GM Bruce Bartrop and WM Fred Shade Jurisdiction fail to nominate a September 1859, founded by American photos by Neil Morse miners on the goldfields. They met for Kellerman Lecturer by the closing many years in the American Hotel, date set by the committee, the which is, today, right next door to the At Ballarat committee may invite Affiliates of lodgeroom. But in 1890 a need to build On Saturday the conference transferred another Jurisdiction to fill the their own lodge room was realised when to the Peel St Masonic Centre, in vacancy. this brick and plaster building, with its Ballarat, where four Kellerman Lectures Reports were received from the superb architecture and magnificent were presented: ‘Doors in Freemasonry’ president, secretary, treasurer and editor. Masonic motifs and murals adorning the by Peter Verrall (WA); ‘A Conceptual The meeting was adjourned for a quick inner walls, was opened by Grand Overview of Maoridom and lunch, and resumed at 1.15 pm. Master Sir William Clarke (1889–96) in Freemasonry in New Zealand Society’ It was agreed to schedule biennial August 1890. The building is an historic by Kerry Nicholls (NZ); ‘The Christian conferences in New Zealand every eight treasure in the midst of an historic region Objection to Freemasonry’ by Greg years instead of every 14 years; the next of Australia. Parkinson (Tas); and ‘Catherine the conference to be held in NSW/ACT in After the presentation of the Great and Freemasonry in Russia’ by 2008, followed by WA in 2010, NZ in Kellerman Lecture for Victoria, Bob Nairn (NSW&ACT). The day was 2012, Tas in 2014, Qld 2016, SA&NT in ‘Science, Freemasonry and the Third rounded off with a dinner at the 2018, and NZ again in 2020. Millennium’, by Robert Barnes, the restaurant adjacent to the Parkview Three names were put forward as lodge was closed and brethren adjourned Comfort Inn, and with a presentation of candidates for touring lecturer 2009, and to the American Hotel for a refectory certificates to the Kellerman Lecturers the Committee was authorised to contact gathering in the upstairs room where by president Graham Stead. them in turn. Creswick Havilah Lodge had met for On Sunday, again at Peel St, the It was agreed that annual their first thirty years—modernised a conference resumed for presentation of subscriptions for Affiliates be increased little by the use of electric lighting, but the Kellerman Lecture for Queensland, from 1 July 2008, based on the basically as it was in the 1860–1890 ‘The Triangle’, by Ken Wells. Since Australian 2007 CPI, rounded upwards period. South Australia and the Northern to an even $5, with no increase of
page 4 Harashim The Kellerman Lecturers 2006 with the President of ANZMRC from left: Peter Verrall (WA), Greg Parkinson (Tas), Ken Wells (Qld), Graham Stead (President), Kerry Nicholls (NZ), Robert Barnes (Vic), Bob Nairn (NSW&ACT). photo by Colin Heyward
Associate fees. and Perth, before crossing the Pacific to meeting closed at 2.25 pm. Then came the election of officers. its final destination, Wilberforce Lodge, Fred Shade had arranged to give a Graham Stead (Qld) indicated that he did under the jurisdiction of the Prince Hall paper, ‘William Little of Ballaarat’, in not wish to stand for re-election as Grand Lodge of Ohio. Readers may the absence of a Kellerman Lecture for president, and Max Webberley (Tas) was recall that the gavel began its journey in South Australia, but Fred was indisposed elected president; Graham, as immediate 2003 in New Zealand. on the Sunday. Among those present at past president, remains a member of the There followed a discussion of the Conference was John Paternoster, committee. The other offices were filled several matters which did not reach clear Supreme Magus of the Societas as follows: vice-presidents Peter Verrall resolution; perhaps the most important of Rosicruciana in Anglia, who happened to (WA), Charles Miller (NZ) & Ken Wells these was whether non-Masons might be in Victoria to ‘Ordain, Install and (Qld); secretary Kent Henderson (Vic); attend the meetings to hear the Enthrone’ Fred as Chief Adept of the assistant secretary Colin Heyward (NZ); Kellerman Lectures. On behalf of the SRIA Province of Victoria, and he filled treasurer Andy Walker (NSW&ACT); visitors, Andy Walker thanked the in for Fred very ably with a charismatic information officer/webmaster Richard brethren of the host jurisdiction who had exposition of various symbolic aspects Num (SA&NT); and conference organised the conference, and the of the Tracing Boards. convenor Neil Morse (NSW&ACT). Tony Pope was re-appointed editor and Neil Morse was appointed assistant editor. Upon the nomination of the committee, Colin Heyward and Richard Num were elected Fellows of ANZMRC in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Council. On the motion of Colin Heyward, on behalf of the Research Lodge of Wellington, the Conference confirmed the decision to proceed with a proposal by Ed Robinson of Wellington to develop a catalogue of research papers published by member lodges, and Colin was appointed to oversee the project. Andy Walker, as Secretary of the Research Lodge of New South Wales, presented the Wilberforce travelling gavel to David Slater, Preceptor of Canberra Lodge of Research and Instruction, for use and onwards transmission to Affiliate lodges in Kiwis and others at leisure Launceston, Hobart, Adelaide, Darwin From left: Colin Heyward (NZ), Ron Lamb (NZ), Peter Verrall (WA, ex-NZ), Charles Miller (NZ), Graham Stead (Qld) photo by their taxi driver Issue 41 page 5 IN MEMORY OF MAX Email Sun 11/03/2007 11:46 AM retired; he has been a university and I have been asked to alert you to the fact teachers college lecturer in that Max Webberly is so seriously ill that he psychology and philosophy, a senior is expected to pass away within days, very guidance officer and psychologist, and few days. The message comes from his wife a high school and primary school Jan via Lance Brown the Secretary of the principal. He is a Past Master of Hobart Lodge of Research. Hobart Lodge of Research 62 TC and I am indeed sorry to have to relay this of Tasmanian University Lodge melancholy news to you. 82 TC, and a Past MW Sovereign, Sincerely and fraternally, A&A Rite (Rose Croix). Murray Yaxley The following year, and again two years Email Thu 15/03/2007 12:08 PM later, I spent several months in MWBro Rob Casson just phoned. MWBro Tasmania, researching a book, some of Clarke has advised that Max passed away that time with Max. Thereafter, we this morning. continued to meet at the biennial May our dear fraternal Brother rest in peace. conferences of AMRC/ANZMRC, He will be missed by the brethren of the "Breakfast Creek Lodge". spending quality time together at the informal functions which later came to S&F Richard Num be called ‘Breakfast Creek Lodge’— which included an extraordinary session Hobart Mercury, 16 March 2007 in South Australia, where Max (Tasmania), Dick Bish (USA) and John WEBBERLEY, Maxwell Thomas. _ Belton (UK) joined SA researchers for a Born September 4, 1925. Died March 15, 2007 at Hobart Private Hospital following barbecue at Ken Brindal’s home—and a sudden illness. Beloved husband of Jan. in recent years we corresponded by RWBro Maxwell Thomas Webberley, Loved and loving father of Max and email. daughter-in-law Jo. Cherished Granddad of ODS, PGW, FANZMRC, KL Max gave a second Kellerman Leo. Devoted son of Asia and Leonora and President of ANZMRC Lecture at Brisbane in 2000, when brother of Jeff (all dec). Max you were Tasmania apparently had a dearth of magnificent. A precious life. We were truly Max Webberley was the inaugural volunteers for the job. It was entitled blessed. Kellerman Lecturer for Tasmania, and Let’s swap secrets, lift Landmarks and Hobart Mercury, 17 March 2007 that was where I first encountered him, exchange egos, and sought to persuade WEBBERLEY, Max. at the Australian Masonic Research us to think about aspects of Masonry The members of Lodge Macquarie and Council conference in East Melbourne long taken for granted, and to revise Hobart Lodge of Research mourn the loss in June 1992. We were gathered in a those aspects for the greater good of the of their esteemed and very active member, lodge room, not the most comfortable or Craft. And in 2004 he was elected a Rt Wor Bro M. T. Webberley, and offer convenient setting for lengthy lectures, Fellow of the Australian & New Zealand sincere condolences to his family. with no electronic amplification and no Masonic Research Council, in WEBBERLEY, Max. visual-aid facilities, not even a recognition of his ongoing contributions We will miss you Max. The company, the whiteboard, and here was this short, to the Council. smile, the suggestions and the ready wit – pear-shaped bloke, about to present a Three things I came to prize in Max, The 74s. paper with the unlikely title, above all others: his smile; his essential WEBBERLEY, Maxwell Thomas. Researching the Future, to an audience goodness; and his wisdom—one might Members of the Masonic and Social Club of Masonic researchers. almost say statesmanship—in of Tasmania (MASCOT) and the former To my amazement, Max persuaded recognising and defusing potential Masonic Club of Tasmania mourn the his audience to envisage a chart being passing of former President Max. problems, and in gently guiding A tireless supporter and worker for both constructed on the blank wall behind enthusiasts back to observing ‘a due clubs. Our thoughts and support go to Jan him, adding point by point, across and medium’. and Max’s family. down the chart, as he defined types and The last time I saw Max was in WEBBERLEY. Relatives and friends of methods of research. During the next Ballarat, after the close of the 2006 Mr Maxwell Thomas Webberley are half hour he referred to various entries conference, when he and his wife Jan respectfully invited to attend his funeral on this imaginary chart, their locations joined Graham and Helen Stead, Andy service, which will be held at St Marys still clearly visible in the mind’s eye. Walker and me for a farewell curry. Cathedral, Harrington Street, Hobart, on The paper itself was of high quality, but Max was in good spirits and fine form, Wednesday (March 21, 2007) commencing for me it was overshadowed by the looking forward to his term as president at 10.00 am. A Masonic oration will be brilliance of its presentation, which is of ANZMRC, and to the 2008 included. Following the service there will partly explained by the brief biography conference scheduled for Canberra. be refreshments and time for reflection at appended to the paper (AMRC Turnbull Family Funeral Home, 71 Letitia Graham, Andy and I were also looking St, North Hobart, after which a private Proceedings 1992, ISSN 1039-611X): forward to the next two years—under interment will take place at the Catholic WBro Maxwell Thomas Webberley, the leadership of Brother Max. Cemetery, Hamilton, at approx 3.00 pm. BA, DipEd, MACE, MAPs, JP, is now Tony Pope page 6 Harashim Extract from Freemasonry Tasmania, May 2007: Nearly a quarter of Tasmania’s masonic fraternity – along with a big representation from interstate jurisdictions – attended the funeral of RWBro Max Webberley, PGW, at St Mary’s Cathedral in Hobart on March 21, 2007. Catholic Church officials estimated the attendance of masons at nearly four hundred, but what was of equal significance was the decision of the Archbishop of Hobart, the Rt Rev Adrian Doyle, to allow the use of the Masonic Oration in the service. It was the first time in the history of the Catholic Church in Tasmania that this ‘official oration’ for a member of the Craft had been included in its funeral services. (The Anglican Church in Tasmania does not allow the inclusion of the Masonic Oration in its funeral services, although it is used in other churches).
RWBro Webberley died in Hobart on March 15, 2007, aged 81, after a short illness. A long-term and active member of the Catholic Church, RWBro Webberley extended his interests into freemasonry during the 1960s, and continued doing so right up to his passing to the Grand Lodge Above. The Oration, delivered by Past Grand Master MW Bro Robert Clarke, covered RWBro Webberley’s achievements in the church and freemasonry, while an address by RWBro Webberley’s son, WBro Max Webberley from Sydney – and other speakers – focused on his involvement in Tasmania’s education services as a teacher, principal and mentor of many young people. Addressing the service, Rt Rev Doyle said he first met RWBro Webberley when the Archbishop was parish priest at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sandy Bay. Rt Rev Doyle commended RWBro Webberley’s work in many of the church’s committees and his support of the parish in other ways. WBro Webberley said his father lived ‘a Boys’ Own life’ – referring to a popular British magazine for boys – and remarked ruefully in a eulogy notable for its reflection on his father’s sense of humour that one of the very last faculties to leave him was his ability to speak, sometimes at length, on many subjects. WBro Webberley quoted his father as saying, only four days before he passed to the Grand Lodge Above, that Max Webberly receiving his certificate as Fellow of ANZMRC from life had been ‘a wonderful trip’. Robert Clarke, GM Tas, at the 2004 Conference at Tauranga, NZ. Funeral Oration by PGM Clarke
Brother Max joined Freemasonry in May remaining daytime lodge, Lodge was a member of the Board of 1963 and was raised as a Freemason in Macquarie. Benevolence and Masonic Benevolent February 1964 in Lodge Lyndhurst. He Another innovative format for lodge Foundation in 2002 and 2003 and also joined the Hobart Lodge of meetings originating in New South understood at first hand the significant Research in September of that same Wales and Victoria was an early evening numbers of both young and old in our year. dining lodge and Max, once again true to community who approach our Max as ever was keen to participate his nature, became a founding member organisation seeking assistance. and add innovation and new ideas to of Lodge Phoenix, travelling to When MWBro Clarke proposed the whatever he was a member of and he Launceston for meetings. setting up of a fund to offer bursaries to became a founding member of Lodge Max became a member of the Grand Tasmania’s youth, to assist with Meridian in May 1964. Lodge Meridian Lodge ceremonial team in 2000 as a accommodation and other expenses of was the second of the new concept of Grand Steward and progressed through tertiary studies (both University and daytime lodges in Tasmania. Prior to this Grand Standard Bearer 2001, Grand TAFE) incurred when living away from type of lodge all meetings of Freemasons Deacon 2002, Grand Chaplain South home or travelling to undertake studies, were held of an evening. 2005. Max was very proud of his role as a name was sought to define the project Max continued to participate in lodge Grand Chaplain, given his Catholic faith, and Max came to the fore with his activities and became master of Lodge and exercised that role to perfection, FREEMATES, Freemasons Assisting Meridian in May 1973. He then took up particularly in his homilies at each lodge Tertiary Education Students. As a the reins in the Hobart Lodge of installation, where he exhorted the teacher he was clear in his view of the Research by becoming its Master for two Brethren to remember their obligation to value of this proposal, not only to the years in 1998 and 1999. practice charity by donating funds to our community but also to his Freemasonry. Lodge Meridian closed its doors in Board of Benevolence, the charitable Max was elected Grand Warden in August 1994 and Max transferred to the arm of our organisation. Indeed, Max (Continued on page 8)
Issue 41 page 7 (Continued from page 7) became a founding member of Mascot. Sydney in June of this year, and had the elections of 2005 and took up that As recognition of his services to been learning the address to the Master post in 2006, retiring from office in Freemasonry in Tasmania, and indeed NSW-style. He had organised a number February 2007. He was proud of the fact throughout Australasia, he was awarded of Tasmanian Masons and friends to visit that he was elected and not appointed to the Grand Master’s Order of lodge Sydney and, whilst the others will the position; ever the egalitarian, he saw Distinguished Service in 2002. attend, Max will now view the ceremony election to office as essential in an Max was a participant and seeker of from on high. organisation such as Freemasonry. knowledge; he joined many other Max had a wonderfully full Masonic Not content with his ceremonial Masonic orders and held office or was life and participated to his fullest office, which took him all over this state progressing through office in almost energies in all of Freemasonry’s many including King Island, he sought and every one. He was: facets, but his particular interest was in gained election to the Board of General a member of the Victorian Mark and mentoring our newer members—a role Purposes in 2004 and continued as a Ark Mariners, and held the office of he enjoyed and which no doubt fitted his member of that board until his passing to Master in the Ark Mariners lodge in former occupation of school teacher and the Grand Lodge Above. Hobart; headmaster, a fact which might also As a member of the Board of General a member of the Royal Arch, and was explain his oratory both in its depth and Purposes he put forward many new ideas Second Principal in Derwent Royal meaning and its length, a factor Max was and always seemed to be at the forefront Arch Chapter; only too well acquainted with but of our board meetings with notices of a member of the Knights Templar; nevertheless ignored with humour. I can motion aimed at means of re- a member and officer of the Order of recall Max’s oratorical ability at one of invigorating our Craft. the Secret Monitor; our board meetings where he had by dint After many frustrations with a recent member of the Tasmanian of good argument won his point; inappropriately worded notices of Union Conclave; however, he was in full flight and motion, one of his then fellow board a member of the Royal Order of continued to talk on the subject in members, MWBro Alan Swinton, spoke Scotland; question so that eventually the other to Max and asked him to meet at Alan’s board members saw a different aspect to a member of the Rose Croix and home to discuss Max’s problems. The the question, and Max’s proposal was Sovereign Council, where he had result was a correctly framed notice of defeated. Max took the defeat with a risen to hold the 32° (the highest motion that brought into being a Public smile. degree in that order is the 33rd, which Relations fund with its aim of promoting Max Webberley was like the surfer is only held by the head or past head Freemasonry to the wider community. who, not content with riding comfortably of that order in this state). Max never forgot that truly Masonic in the middle of his surf board, moved to Max was also a member of the Rectified gesture from one of his opponents on the front of the board and ‘hung ten’ Scottish Rite, the Nebuchadnezzar that proposal. As a consequence perhaps, over the front edge. He was not content Council Irish Constitution, and secretary Max was chosen as the convenor of the to let things happen, he had to be to the of the College of Rosicrucians in Scotia. Public Relations Committee, a role he fore in making them happen. Not content with these Masonic held until his death. Brethren and friends, our Brother lodges and offices, he was the current He was the last President of the Max embodied all of the good things we President of the Australian and New Masonic Club of Southern Tasmania and associate with Freemasonry and his Zealand Masonic Research Council. presided over the difficult task of presence and humour at our meetings, One of Max’s proudest moments was finalising the club’s closure. Undeterred both as friendly groups and whilst the initiation of his son Max into with that event, he was at the forefront in serving as a lodge officer, will be sorely Freemasonry in Sydney. He was looking the establishment of a new organisation missed. forward to participating in the which has undertaken the social roles Installation of his son as master of Lodge Robert Clarke, PGM that ceased with the club’s closure: he
Max with Yasha Beresiner and their ladies, Brisbane, 2000 Max in ANZMRC committee, Tauranga, 2004
page 8 Harashim How to avoid re-inventing the wheel
Experienced researchers do a ‘literature search’ as a routine preliminary before commencing their own work, and another check before publication, to ensure that they know what has already been published on their subject. Obtaining results from books, widely published transactions (in hard copy or on CD), and popular Internet resources, is relatively simple. Far more difficult to find are the many papers presented in research lodges and elsewhere that are not widely published. That is why Bro Ed Robinson raised consistent changes to be ready to provide How you can help the matter on the ANZMRC email list in such enhanced services to their members, both readers and writers of papers. mid-2003: If you, the reader of Harashim, can see As a result, at the ANZMRC Conference the benefits of this proposal, and belong I am a Master Mason in Wellington, New at Tauranga in 2004, NZ delegate Colin Zealand. I joined the Research Lodge of to a lodge affiliated to ANZMRC, please Wellington as an Associate Member in Heyward outlined the proposal and was contact your lodge secretary and borrow about 1993 as a result of attending authorised to work with Ed Robinson to the CD, evaluate it, and report back to educational sessions for Master Masons investigate ‘a system whereby each your lodge; offer to enter the required the year after I was raised. I lived in the UK Affiliate can have their research from June 2000 to April this year [2003]. data on the Excel spread sheet, in order While there I belonged to an EC lodge, and transactions listed in a uniform manner to add your lodge’s papers to the catalog, joined the Buckinghamshire Association for in index form’. To this end, they and urge your lodge to agree to Masonic Research, and QCCC. Last year I obtained material from ANZMRC and participate in this project. Then email wrote a paper on membership numbers several of the Affiliate lodges for a based on 11 years of statistics for the Colin Heyward at [email protected] Buckinghamshire Province, which I hope database which Ed created, using an and advise him of your progress to date. will be published shortly. I have now Excel spreadsheet and an online library It should be made clear to the lodges returned to live in Wellington. search facility called Greenstone. As Ed that they can participate in the catalog Shortly before I completed my paper I and Colin worked on this, it grew from a discovered that there had been other project alone, or in both projects, papers on membership statistics, including single concept into two separate but whichever they decide. one in Auckland, and one written jointly by related projects: The catalog of papers Kent Henderson and John Belton. While I . a catalog of papers published by have now seen these papers, it would have For the catalog, the summary of each ANZMRC and Australian and New been helpful to be able to read them and paper is desirable but not essential; it Zealand research lodges, searchable the discussion before my paper was does not matter whether the papers are in completed. It also occurred to me that by key words, publisher, publication digital format or hard copy, and if the readers of papers might also be interested date, title, author & topic, and in other papers on a similar subject.
RWBro James Daniel, Past Grand Warden & Past Grand Secretary (EC), toured Australia and New Zealand from 28 September to 11 November 2007, as ANZMRC touring lecturer, speaking at 18 venues. Host lodges were asked to submit a report and pictures to Harashim by 18 November. Four provided reports and pictures; six provided a report only. Eight provided nothing; shame on them—Editor. Lodge of England headquarters in Great Western Australia Queen Street, London, where he was 28 September–3 October Grand Secretary for several years. Later he had the opportunity to meet WA Lodge of Research 2 October: RWBro Arthur Hartley, a member of the Lord Carnarvon in Australia Lodge of Research for over 50 years and Report & pictures from Peter Verrall. a past Kellerman Lecturer on three It was just after midnight when RWBro occasions, who is now well past his Jim Daniel landed at the airport in Perth, 101st birthday. Western Australia. His host, WBro In the evening Elisabeth and Peter Franjo Skrapac, was there to meet him returned Jim to his hosts and they but one other brother missed out—he enjoyed a lovely dinner together. Jim was early getting to the airport but went was very much at ease in the company as to sleep in his car, waking several hours Franjo, Gudrun and Elisabeth have after the flight arrived. German backgrounds and he not only On that Saturday, 29 September, Jim taught German but lived in the country had a quiet day at Franjo and Gudrun’s when he was with the British Council. Secret Harbour Golfers Lodge They enjoyed listening to his Accommodation, down on the coast experiences worldwide in the British south of Perth. In the evening they Council, the Diplomatic Corps and as brought Jim over to Elisabeth and Peter Grand Secretary of a worldwide Masonic Verrall’s residence in Mandurah for Peter Verral and Jim Daniel at the carved jurisdiction. On the Monday he enjoyed doors at the Mandurah Masonic Centre dinner. a round of golf with Franjo, whose house On the Sunday Peter picked Jim up borders on the Secret Harbour golf and he spent the day with them in course. Mandurah. On the Tuesday morning, Grand They went out for an hour’s cruise Lodge put on a reception for RWBro Jim around the canals and into the estuary. Daniel, PJGW, PGSec (EC), in the Jim was amazed at the development Board Room hosted by RWBro Frank which makes Mandurah one of the Hayes, DGM. Unfortunately our Grand fastest growing cities in the whole of Master, MWBro Hibble, was away on Australia. They also drove around the Masonic business in Adelaide and our area and visited the new Masonic Centre own Worshipful Master, WBro Patrick, in Mandurah which is considered to be PGSwdB, was in the United States. the best Lodge Rooms in Western There were a number of senior Grand Australia. Lodge Officers present and also Jim had the opportunity to see the members of the Lodge of Research’s carved cedar doors to the Lodge Rooms Management Committee, including Arthur Hartley presenting an Anthology of RWBro David Ganon, OAM, SGW, who which are a smaller replica of the doors his Lectures 1952–2006 to Jim Daniel to the Grand Temple at the United Grand will be the Kellerman Lecturer in 2008 for Western Australia.
Hosts Franjo & Gudrun Skrapac, Jim Daniel, PDGM Malcolm Hyde, Jim Daniel, Elisabeth & Peter Verrall Jim Daniel with SGW David Ganon, OAM IPM Tony Cousins, Peter Verrall
page 10 Harashim Western Australia continued W H Green Memorial Masonic Study The Heritage Tea Rooms is a restored Circle late-19th-century home set in delightful In the evening RWBro Daniel was grounds. It was soon time to return to welcomed into the Lodge Rooms at Saturday 6 October promised to be Townsville, where Jim availed himself South Perth by the IPM, WBro Tony another beautiful day in paradise. The of the opportunity to prepare for the Cousins. The Grand Master was sun had already raised its head for over evening and to catch up on other represented by RWBro Malcolm Hyde, three hours, the mercury climbing past pressing work. PDGM, a PM of the Lodge of 32°, blue skies and the full knowledge Townsville AIF Memorial Lodge Research. that something was about to happen. hosted the evening, and at 7.30 pm the After the lodge was closed, RWBro At 11:03 on a Qantas flight from District Grand Master and some District Jim Daniel presented his specially Cairns our international lecturer, RWBro Grand Officers entered the lodge room illustrated lecture entitled ‘The 4th Earl Jim Daniel, arrived. Unfortunately, his in procession. After the normal of Carnarvon in Australia 1887–1888’. host, RWBro Graham Stead, could not pleasantries, the International Lecturer VWBro Peter Verrall had the pleasure meet their prestigious visitor, who was was introduced by the President of the of giving the Toast to RWBro Jim very capably welcomed to Townsville by W H Green Memorial Masonic Study Daniel and advised him that the town the President of the W H Green Circle. In delivering his lecture to the of Carnarvon in the north of Western Memorial Masonic Study Circle, WBro assembled 42 brethren, Brother Jim Australia is named after the 4th Earl. James Jackson. James then took Jim to a demonstrated very early his masterly VWBro Peter Verrall then, on very satisfying lunch, after which he was skill and knowledge of the subject, ‘The behalf of the lodge, presented RWBro conveyed to the home of his hosts, 4th Earl of Carnarvon’. After question Jim Daniel with a specially inscribed Graham and Helen. time and the retirement of the District ceramic plate hand-crafted by his hosts Over a cuppa and some of Helen’s Grand Master, the lodge was closed and WBro Franjo and Gudrun Skrapac. delicious home cooking, they chatted brethren proceeded to the banquet hall RWBro Jim Daniel answered a number about many interesting topics. That for an excellent repast prepared by the of questions and the brethren all evening the Irish-working lodges of Job’s Daughters. enjoyed a good dinner and fellowship Townsville, Charters Towers and Cairns During his stay, each morning saw together. held their annual Combined Irish Night, Jim, accompanied by Helen, head for the On the Wednesday morning RWBro and enthusiastically greeted their walking track for an hour. The first Jim Daniel flew to Cairns. distinguished visitor. (Surely WBro Richard Num, from the Irish lodge in morning saw Helen a bit weary, but Jim Adelaide, would also have enjoyed the may have slackened the pace on evening if he’d been there.) subsequent days, as Helen looked much Sunday was another glorious day more revitalized from the activity. Jim (some say it’s like that all the time in was able to observe some of the local paradise), and Brother Jim was shown wild life, plenty of birds, a couple of around the attractions of Townsville by wallabies, and a six-foot freshwater Graham and Helen. In the afternoon Jim crocodile swimming leisurely along regaled them with anecdotes of his Ross River. experiences overseas, both amusing and Monday morning arrived, still blue at times scary. Jim is obviously a skies and another glorious day in raconteur of some note. After this they paradise. We said goodbye to Brother all had a rest, in preparation for the Jim as he boarded a Virgin Blue flight, Jim Daniel with DGM Frank Hayes repast in the evening. heading for Brisbane and the next leg of At 7 pm they met in the expansive his ANZMRC tour. furnishings of the foyer of Jupiter’s Graham Stead Queensland Casino and made their way to the Aqua Restaurant for the W H Green dinner to Toowoomba Lodge of Instruction 3–13 October honour Jim’s arrival in Townsville. There appear to have been problems in Twenty-eight ladies and brethren W H J Mayers Lodge of Research, Queensland in providing the technical gathered to enjoy the culinary delights of Cairns, 5 October: support for PowerPoint slide the seafood smorgasbord, and each Pure—and Accepted—Masonry projections, required for most of Jim others’ company. The taste buds went No report. Daniel’s lectures. Toowoomba had a berserk: prawns, crabs, fish (various reef further problem, in that the speaker was W H Green Memorial Masonic Study fish, including barramundi, which we domiciled in Brisbane, and was driven to Circle, Townsville, 8 October: normally use for bait), numerous hot and Toowoomba—and back—on the evening Lord Carnarvon in Australia cold dishes, and a marvellous array of of his engagement there. The For report, see next column. sweets. It was a most enjoyable evening dissatisfaction was apparent on both and doubtless all departed very Barron Barnett Lodge, Brisbane, sides, as this emailed report shows: 10 October: contented. External Relations 1950–2000 Monday morning saw Jim and hosts Hi Tony, No report. winding up Harvey’s Range, where they With regards to Jim Daniel’s visit on the had an enjoyable lunch at the Heritage 12th of October to Toowoomba, we were Toowoomba Lodge of Instruction Tea Rooms. Because of the altitude it disappointed. He was driven from (Toowoomba), 12 October: Brisbane, only arriving at 7.15 pm and was very comfortable to sit in the shade starting time was 7.30 pm. Anglo-American Relations of some beautiful old trees with a nice For report, see right column. breeze blowing, and to enjoy a cold ale. (Continued on page 12)
Issue 41 page 11 (Continued from page 11) were displayed. Following the talk there Sydney and the Canberra/Queanbeyan He asked for a projector, which I was were many questions that went on for talks, as RWBro Bob Nairn and I had able to obtain, but we could not get it to some time. There can be no question but also attended both. work and did not have time to that Jim is a superb speaker who holds RWBro Jim Daniel had pointed out to experiment. his audience’s attention well. me in Sydney that Lord Carnarvon had He delivered his lecture to the 30 I think the book is really to be not visited Canberra on his tour, which is Masons who attended, and we made a recommennded, especially at its price. It hardly surprising as the limestone plains, small presentation to him. is a real pity, in fact astounding, that the although intrinsically beautiful, would not He left as soon as he finished book has no illustrations—not even the have held that much Masonic attraction speaking and answered a few questions, key figures were include. This clearly in 1887–88. However, as the obvious did not stay for the supper we provided. detracts from its value, but it is still a place for the Grand Lodge of Australia, if He was not very social, said very little to worthwile addition to the library of anyone and when it is formed, and as the anyone. who is interested in the roots of national capital, this talk seemed an ideal Yours Fraternally Freemasonry. one. Also, it was written especially for Ken Stephen Malcolm Galloway, WM. Jim’s ANZMRC tour. Secretary, Toowoomba Lodge of It was a really good talk and I Instruction. encourage brethren to read the full lecture in the book accompanying this Australian Capital tour. It was well pitched. I enjoyed it and Territory my son Alex, the EA in attendance, has New South Wales indicated to me that he did also. The talk 13–16 October 16–18 October covered Lord Carnarvon’s visit to this Canberra Lodge of Research & continent during 1887–1888, a time when Research Lodge of New South Wales, the three Grand Lodges of the UK still Instruction, meeting at Queanbeyan, Sydney, 15 October: had lodges under their jurisdictions in Pure—and Accepted—Masonry NSW, 16 October: Australia and there were also local Lord Carnarvon in Australia Malcolm Galloway reports by email: unrecognised Grand Lodges. The A report on the ANZMRC email list handling of these situations is RWBro Jim Daniel arrived in Sydney at by David Slater, Wed 17 Oct 2007: fascinating. Jim held the attention of the about 11 am on Saturday and was met audience and gladly answered questions, RWBro Jim Daniel, Past Grand Warden, by his friend from the past, VWBro Jack even those from WBro Neil Morse. gave a great talk on Lord Carnarvon’s Ball. Jack kindly accommodated Jim in In the South we enjoyed Lodge visit to the Australian ‘colonies’ at Lodge his apartment at Circular Quay, which Queanbeyan St Andrew’s hospitality. The Queanbeyan St Andrew’s PMs’ night gave ready access to the Quay, Mrs toast to the lecturer was given by WBro yesterday, Tuesday, 16 October. Macquarie’s Chair, the Botanic Gardens, Neil Morse, who pointed out that not only According to the attendance book, and The Rocks, as well as the many ferry was 16 October a great day because of there were 13 members of Lodge routes that ply from the Quay. Jim’s talk, but also it was the anniversary Queanbeyan St Andrew and 23 visitors, Jim is a most impressive man and a of the day on which Elias Ashmole had making 36 in all. We thank the members delight to speak with. The address was been initiated into Freemasonry (in of this lodge, especially the secretary, given at a meeting hosted by Lodge 1646), and the birthday anniversary of RWBro Tom Boom, for all the effort that France, whose Master, WBro Marcel Bro Oscar Wilde (in 1854), who had been they put in to making this such a Bouvier, passed the gavel to me while a member of Jim’s mother lodge, Apollo successful night. The visitors included Jim spoke. His talk was certainly well University Lodge. one FC and one EA. received and though we had only 29 At Lodge Queanbeyan St Andrew’s WBro Gary Sweeney was in the chair present, I believe that the 29 consisted of traditional ‘honest’ raffle, conducted by for the night and, after opening the lodge brethren that were really interested in the WBro Mike McNamara, the first two and conducting the usual business, had subject, and several were RGCs prizes went to RWBro Jim Daniel and me, as Preceptor of the Canberra Lodge [Regional Grand Councillors], PDGIWs WBro Tony Pope. of Research and Instruction, introduce and WMs. The Lodge was called from Today, some of us are going to show Jim. RWBro Jack Ball came from Sydney Labour to Refreshment so people could Jim over the Canberra Masonic Centre, to attend this talk. Indeed, there were at move to better seat themselves to see take him to the National Library, have least three who attended both the the screen where several illustrations lunch with him at the Botanic Gardens
Editor and Author enjoy a pun in the National Host Bob Nairn, Author Jim Daniel, Same personnel in reverse order, on the Library of Australia, Canberra Preceptor David Slater, in the Library steps of the National Library page 12 Harashim and have dinner with Jim at Bob and Alan Hills and Alan Day. Launceston Lodge of Research, Jenny Nairn’s place. Jim is staying with The meeting of the South Australian 24 October: them during his stay in Canberra. No Lodge of Research that evening went TBA doubt one of us will fill you in on today’s well, with the required I.T. being in place, No report. activities at a later date. working, and on time for Jim's David Slater presentation, thanks to our Secretary, Ashley Thomas, and one of our Preceptor, Canberra Lodge of Research Corresponding Members, Anton Rook, Victoria and Instruction who lent his data projector and I.T. skills 25–27 October David’s forecast of events proved to the lodge for the evening. Jim's accurate. On the Wednesday morning presentation on ‘The Craft and Extra- Victorian Lodge of Research, Neil Morse showed Jim and a small Craft Degrees’ was very informative and 26 October: well received by those present, group of brethren around the Canberra Pure—and Accepted—Masonry prompting many questions which were No report. Masonic Centre, including the library answered in depth by Jim. and museum. This was followed by a Unfortunately, despite much effort in visit to the National Library of Australia, publicising the event, numbers were less and thence to lunch (sans Neil) at the than expected (18 in attendance, 30 New Zealand café in the Botanic Gardens, where we expected). Nevertheless, all present 27 October–11 November left Jim in the company of an old friend enjoyed a convivial festive board from Cornwall. supplied by the WM, where further Preliminary report by vice-president That evening much the same cast interesting discussion ensued. Charles Miller: Partly because of the relatively poor dined en famille with Jim and his hosts, Arrangements have been made for attendance, and partly because we had accommodation and transport from Bob and Jenny Nairn, enjoying delicious no choice but to accommodate Jim in a food, fine wine and good company, then motel on this occasion, we will be lucky Auckland to Napier. bade a reluctant farewell to Jim, who to recoup a quarter of our costs. Never Arrival Auckland was scheduled to leave for Adelaide the mind, it won't break us. Jim will be met and billeted at Auckland following morning. Five books were sold on the night, by WBro Tony Jenkin, PGStdB. Tony is Tony Pope with another four to be collected and paid not a member of United Masters or for at the next meeting, and I would say Waikato Lodge of Research, but is a that George will purchase one for the member of Three Arrows Research Grand Library too. Good quality South Australia publication as always Tony, well worth Conclave No 30, of which I am also a 18–20 October the cost, and well done to you and Jim. member. Tony has made a simple sign The next day, Ashley conveyed Jim to which can be displayed above head level South Australian Lodge of Research, the airport, with a brief detour to Port bearing the letters ANZMRC on a white Adelaide, 19 October: Adelaide, taking in various Masonic and background which should be readily Pure—and Accepted—Masonry other historic highlights. recognisable by those leavimg the Shaun Taylor reports by email: Fraternally, arrivals concourse. Tony and Pat will be Hi Tony, Shaun Taylor looking after Jim overnight on Saturday Unfortunately I was unable to attend the WM SALoR 216 27 October. informal reception for Jim Daniel by Sunday 28 October Grand Master Graham Bollenhagen and Tasmania On this day there will be a Church Grand Secretary Malcolm Colegate, but Service at Holy Trinity Cathedral, the South Australian Lodge of Research 20–25 October Parnell, commencing at 9:30 am, Choral was represented by Grand Librarian George Woolmer OAM and SALoR Hobart Lodge of Research, Eucharist with Communion. There will Secretary Ashley Thomas. Jim was also 22 October: be morning tea served after the Service. given a guided tour of the Adelaide Anglo-American Relations MWBro D B McLaggan, Grand Master, Masonic Centre by George Woolmer, No report. (Continued on page 14)
GM Barry McLaggan, WM George Were and Verrall Lecturer Gary Kerkin presenting a framed Verrall Lecturer Certificate Jim Daniel at Waikato Lodge of Research, New Zealand to Jim Daniel
Issue 41 page 13 (Continued from page 13) attentive audience. At the first, in Research Lodge of Southland, will be reading one of the lessons and Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, he was greeted Invercargill, 9 November: RWBro Selwyn J Cooper, Divisional by an audience of 28 which included two Anglo-American Relations GM, Northern, the other. Jim will be ladies and a non-Mason. His subject, the No report. handed over to the Grand Master’s care external relations of the UGLE during after the service and will travel with him the second half of the twentieth century, Research Lodge of Otago, Dunedin, to the Grand Master’s residence, where the last three years of which he was the 10 November: he will be billetted over night. Grand Secretary, was of particular Grand Lodges in British Colonies Monday 29 October interest to our non-Mason guest, Sir Ian Email report from Jim’s host, Don The Grand Master will drive Jim to Axford, a retired astrophysicist (check Barkman, Secretary of the lodge: him out on Google) whose ‘hobby’ is a Rotorua, where he is booked into Jim Daniel has come and gone. Had to Havana Motor Lodge, Rotorua. study of Freemasonry in the Russian check that my wife wasn't taken with him Jim will present his lecture ‘Grand states before and after the Bolshevik in his suitcase (ha ha). Jim, we found, Lodges in British Colonies 1850–1890: Revolution. His one-on-one conversation loves food, and Wilma's cooking was Imperial Consolidators or with Jim Daniel after the presentation obviously right up there with the best. Commonwealth Seedlings?’. was interesting in the depth of their (I knew that) He was only staying with us respective knowledge of Russia and the one night, which meant lunch, dinner, Tuesday 30 October fall and rise of Freemasonry in that part and breakfast. It didn't matter what was Free morning in Rotorua and in mid- of the world. put in front of him, it was eaten and afternoon WBro Terry Spitz will drive The second lecture I attended was enjoyed. Jim to Napier. (I’m just awaiting some We had 25 members on Saturday at held in Wanganui, a city mid-way fine tuning points on this section.) the Research Lodge of Otago to hear his between the two co-hosting research lecture. One of our members observed C G Miller, lodges, Ruapehu 444 and Taranaki 323. that he had read the lecture in the book, Over-all Controller, Auckland–Napier An audience of over 40 had six ladies but to hear it delivered with such finesse included, whose input and attention was just as it should be. It sums Jim up shows that our womenfolk have a great well and accurately. Our timing on Waikato Lodge of Research, Rotorua, Saturday was 4.30 pm. This surprised 29 October: interest in what their husbands do in lodge. Jim’s subject-matter on this Jim, as he had thought it would be an Verrall Lecture: Grand Lodges in evening lecture. He had come through by British Colonies occasion, the growth of Grand Lodges around the world in the latter half of the car from Invercargill. We were able to have Jim escorted Pictures and brief report from Gary nineteenth century, was of interest to Kerkin: into our lodge by three other EC Grand New Zealanders because our own Grand Lodge brethren, which pleased him no I have to say the evening on Monday was Lodge (as well as those across the end, as in most places he has had to go really first class. Jim is an entertaining Tasman ditch in the West Islands) was in alone. One of the benefits of having speaker, particularly with the understated involved in the politics of merging three four Constitutions in our city. humour he exudes. UK Constitutions and the majority of Rose Croix, one of Jim's other Regards, interests, had set up their chapter in Gary their lodges into an autonomous entity. Both functions, although held in preparation for Monday night’s meeting, For photos, see page 13. lodge buildings, were not lodge meetings so our guest was taken to view what happens in Dunedin. It was discovered Hawke’s Bay Lodge of Research, as such—no formal opening, no regalia that J. Daniel's signature appeared on Hastings, 31 October: worn—which enabled our ladies and one of the documents in the chapter’s External Relations 1950–2000 invited guest to attend. This allowed Jim possession. For report, see below. to get straight into his address with a So thank you, Jim Daniel and the minimum of time lost with formal ANZMRC. We were all able to add to our Research Lodge of Taranaki Province reception, etc. Masonic education in a positive manner. and Ruapehu Research Lodge, Colin Heyward Don Barkman combined meeting at Wanganui, 2 November: Research Grand Lodges in British Colonies Lodge of Report and photo from ANZMRC Wellington, Assistant Secretary Colin Heyward: 5 November: Pure—and Jim Daniel’s whirlwind journey through Accepted— New Zealand was a success in more Masonry ways than one; his personality and wit No report. endeared him to many, and his subject knowledge and an ability to present it in Masters’ and a manner understood by most attendees Past Masters’ was a definite plus. We sincerely hope Lodge, that he, in return, was pleased with the Christchurch, contact he made with New Zealanders 8 November: and took away with him fond memories Pure—and of the people and the country. Accepted— I personally attended two of his Masonry presentations, both with the use of No report. PowerPoint and both delivered to an Jim Daniel at Wanganui
page 14 Harashim Death of Bob Linford It is with deep regret that we record the death on 17 March 2007 of RWBro Robert J Linford, OBE, BCom, BA, LittB, PAGM (NSW), Kellerman Lecturer (NSW&ACT 1996). He was a founder and principal architect of the Canberra Lodge of Research and Instruction, and its mainstay until he suffered a stroke a few years ago. His Kellerman Lecture was entitled ‘The 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment and freemasonry in Australia, 1814 to 1817’. The news of his death was circulated on the ANZMRC email list by WBros Neil Morse (Secretary) and David Slater (Preceptor), as follows:
17 March 2007 Brethren, Program 2008— I have been advised that the Kellerman Lecturer for NSW & ACT for 1996, RWBro Bob Western Australian Lodge of Research Linford, passed within the veil this afternoon. Electronic Transactions I was given this information by 'phone whilst The Western Australian Lodge of Research now provides its tyling the emergent meeting of Lodge Commonwealth of Australia [633 NSW & ACT] transactions in PDF format, as an email attachment, thus saving 75% of this evening, where WBro David Slater, the KL for its postage costs. With VWBro Alan Gale, formerly editor of NSW & ACT for 2004, was initiating his son, Alex, Freemasonry Victoria, as its (Acting) Secretary, it is not surprising that as a 'lewis'. Bro Alex turned 18 today. Maybe the new-look Transactions (25 pages of text and colour images) sets the there will be some continuity in all of this . . . standard for Australian lodge publications other than books. What with Bro Jack McColl, a stalwart of The November 2007 summons, in HTML format, contains the 218VC; Max Webberley, and now Bob, all leaving following: us in the past 48 hours, I'm going to raise a glass to the departed members of Lodge Breakfast The year ahead Creek and the ANZMRC. WALoR has planned an entertaining syllabus for the coming year, and NWM there will be some additional events yet to be announced. If you are 18 March 2007 aware of any brethren who would enjoy membership as much as you RW Bro Bob Linford's funeral will be held at do, why not ask them to be part of the WALoR crowd? St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Forrest, ACT, We will guarantee they will not lack for Masonic infotainment and on Friday 23 March, beginning at 11 am. This will fellowship—we seek to balance the obligations of providing fresh be followed by the cremation at Norwood Park findings about Freemasonry with the enjoyment of spending time with Crematorium. During the church ceremony there other Freemasons whose interest in the Craft goes beyond the ritual will be a Masonic tribute. book. Although Bob had a stroke some years ago and has been unable to speak since that time, his Future Meetings mind was still very active and the smile of acknowledgment that I received on the all too March 27 2008 SW/JW Night (Dinner Meeting $15) seldom times that I visited him was a joy to April 24 Faith, Hope and Charity—the Masonic Trilogy behold. Bob's contribution to Masonic research Three dinner speakers on three pillars of was truly invaluable and it was a sad day when Freemasonry. (Dinner Meeting $15) his stroke resulted in a cessation of this research. It was also sad to learn of Bob's death just May 22 “Robin Hewitt—Freemason and Orator” by before my initiation of my son. Sadness at Bob's VWBro Peter Verrall. passing and joy in Alex's initiation—life's like that. A look at the man behind the lecture, Fraternal regards, (Dinner Meeting $15) David Slater June 22 “The Ark of the Covenant” by RWBro David Ganon, OAM. Robin Hewitt Memorial Lecture (Dinner Meeting $15) July 1760 Table Lodge performed at Kalgoorlie August 28 Shalom Coleman Oration (Dinner Meeting $15) September 25 “Misconceptions about the VSL in Freemasonry” by VWBro Alan Gale Just how many VSLs does a Lodge need? (Dinner Meeting $15) October 23 Entered Apprentices’ Night (Supper Meeting $10) November 27 Installation (Dinner Meeting $15) Enquiries should be directed to: Alan Gale PGIWkngs (Vic), Acting Secretary, PO Box 691 Victoria Park, WA 6979; ph (AH) 08-9452-7207, (M) 0414-881-470; Mr & Mrs Linford after Bob received his [email protected] OBE
Issue 41 page 15 Lodge of England has had a hard time maintaining consistency in its fraternal relations in recent years. UGLE’s solution is to separate the fraternal relations portfolio from the Grand Secretary’s duties, and to create a new Grand office concerned solely with fraternal relations. The office is that of Grand Chancellor, and RWBro Alan Englefield, a former policeman, is the first to be appointed. It is ironic that the office of Grand Chancellor has long been established in European grand lodges, including some of those denied World News recognition by UGLE. US digital projects Prof Prescott leaves Sheffield Edinburgh Conference Mark Tabbert, Director of Collections at Masonic researchers worldwide were Over 200 academics and Masonic the George Washington Masonic stunned by the news that Professor researchers from around the world Memorial, in Alexandria, Virginia, has Andrew Prescott had resigned from his converged on Edinburgh for the first announced two Masonic digital history position as Director for Research into International Conference on the History projects designed to benefit US Grand Freemasonry at Sheffield University in of Freemasonry in May 2007. The Lodges—and incidentally researchers favour of a position as Manager of conference was jointly opened by the worldwide. The first is an online Library Services at Lampeter University Grand Master Mason of Scotland, the database of all ‘regular and recognised’ in Wales. He explained, in his farewell Grand Master of Ireland, and the Pro US Grand Lodges and lodges that have lecture, ‘A history of British Grand Master of England. The five ever existed, and the second is the Freemasonry 1425–2000’, that although plenary speakers were: Prof David digitisation of the Proceedings of every he trained as an historian, his career had Stevenson and Prof James Stevens Curl such Grand Lodge. Full details of both been defined by libraries and archives. (UK), Prof Jan Snoek (Germany), Prof projects are online, on the Pietre-Stones He said on another occasion that it was Margaret Jacobs (USA) and Prof Fr J A review of Freemasonry website at www. time to move on; sources close to him Ferrer Benimelli SJ (Spain). Other freemasons-freemasonry.com/tabbert9. suggest that he was tempted by the rare speakers included Dr R Brent Morris and html. manuscripts in the library at Lampeter Mark Tabbert (USA), Colin Browne and the fact that his wife had also been (South Africa) and Dr Bob James Australian research papers popular offered a position in Wales. (Centre for Fraternal Studies, Newcastle, On the home page of the Pietre-Stones The vacancy at Sheffield has been NSW). For earlier information, see website (www.freemasons-freemasonry. filled by Dr Andreas Önnerfors, who Harashim #38 p3. com/index.html) there are links to a was previously at the University of group of five papers designated ‘Most Lund, in Sweden, although he was at the Fraternal studies in Australian lodges Popular Papers’. For the past year or so, University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, in Before Dr Bob James took his research three of the papers listed have been by France, at the time of selection for the paper, ‘Getting the Question Right’ to Australian writers—all South Australian post. He and his family will move to the Edinburgh conference, he accepted Masons: Richard Num’s ‘Freemasonry Sheffield and be there full-time from an invitation for a trial run at a meeting and Freemasons in Australia’ (first January 2008. Dr Önnerfors has of the Research Lodge of New South presented in a US lodge), Stephen announced that the first MA program in Wales, where it was well received. On Michalak’s ‘The temple of Solomon in the History of Freemasonry and his return from Scotland, he accepted a the Volume of Sacred Law and Craft Fraternalism at the University of further invitation to give a paper at the ritual’, and Tony Pope’s ‘Prince Hall Sheffield will be launched from the Victorian Lodge of Research, a sequel to Freemasonry revisited’ (published in the academic year 2008/2009 onwards. the Edinburgh paper. The trial paper is 2004 Transactions of the Victorian Richard Num & Tony Pope published in the 2007 Transactions of the Lodge of Research, Masonic Perusings). Research Lodge of NSW, the Edinburgh English magazines to merge version is on the website of the Centre Vatican KT archives Another surprise from England in 2007 for Fraternal Studies www. Secret Vatican archives on the trial of was the announcement towards the end fraternalsecrets.org/, and the sequel will the Knights Templar were published in of the year of a proposed merger of the be in the Victorian Transactions, to be October 2007 in a 300-page book, in a independent magazine Freemasonry published early in 2008. They are a good print run of 799 numbered copies, selling Today with the UGLE official magazine read, and contain lessons for us. at 5900 Euros (A$10,000) each to MQ, under the name Freemasonry Today selected libraries and medievalist with effect from January 2008. Both New UGLE Grand office scholars. publications made the announcement and As former Grand Secretary James Daniel The archives include a parchment put a positive spin on the proposal, but tactfully indicates in his paper, ‘External which indicates that initially Pope one wonders how much independence Relations 1950–2000’ (chapter 8 in Clement V absolved the Knights of the the new magazine will retain, and how Masonic Networks & Connections), and charge of heresy but found them guilty much the UGLE rank and file will have as Harashim has more bluntly pointed of immorality. to pay for it. Time will tell. out from time to time, the United Grand Tony Pope page 16 Harashim Harashim
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian & New Zealand Masonic Research Council
ISSN 1328-2735 Issue 42 April 2008
Jim Daniel reports on his 2007 tour of Australia and New Zealand. THE DANIEL REPORT
In October 1887 it took the 56-year-old 4th Earl of Carnarvon and his wife three weeks to sail from Cape Town to Hobart, their first stop on a somewhat hastily arranged tour of the Australian colonies that was timed to coincide with local celebrations of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. The cable to England meant that the Carnarvons were able to keep up to date with what was happening back home. During their stay of about four months they visited Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and many other places by train, and then spent the best part of a month sailing back to Europe. Now back in Cornwall, and ten years himself on the ground that he could not plunge together. Only in one place was a older than Carnarvon was on his afford the time. But the demands on the lecture advertised and accessible to non- antipodean tour of 120 years ago, I ANZMRC’s international lecturer for masons, and three such attended. The admire his stamina even more than when 2007 were made bearable by the average audience comprised about thirty- I set out in late September 2007 on my unfailing courtesy, hospitality and five people, the smallest (in Adelaide) ANZMRC-sponsored lecture tour of generosity of those who looked after me just sixteen, the largest (well over 60) Australia and New Zealand. My journeys during the tour; by the chance to meet appropriately at the Verrall Lecture in from Cornwall to Western Australia and old masonic friends such as Jack Ball in Rotorua. then back to Cornwall from South Sydney, Murray Treseder in Melbourne, In such circumstances a lecturer may Island, New Zealand, took but 26 and 39 Jack Harwood in Wellington and Jack judge his success on the number of hours respectively, and I did not once Christie in Auckland, and to make new questions and the nature of the travel by train between cities but flew friendships everywhere; by the discussion after his delivery. Judged by the breadth of Australia and the length of experience of working with Tony Pope these criteria—and by the number of New Zealand. Kent Henderson had as editor; and by seeing my first book in books sold on the night (when they arranged the tour from start to finish; print both ‘down under’ and now (in an eventually became available)—the result email meant that communicating with illustrated version) here in Britain. was curate’s-eggy. Sometimes the him and Tony Pope was easy; board and So my first and pleasurable duty in discussion went on for nearly an hour (as lodging was generously provided this report to the ANZMRC is to thank in Perth), while on one occasion just two throughout by local brethren—even the officers and members of the questions were asked. There was no when my wife joined me for the few association for honouring and receiving correlation between the size of the days spent in Tasmania. me as their 2008 international lecturer. audience and the number of questions All I had to do was to deliver eighteen And my special thanks go the Grand asked or the paper selected for delivery. lectures (on six different subjects) in Lodges in both countries that formally It is a bit deflating to go into a lodge eighteen towns and cities in the six welcomed me into their jurisdictions. room and find only a handful of weeks between 29 September (when I How is a lecturer to judge the success members of the host lodge in attendance, arrived in Perth) and 11 November or otherwise of his lectures? I did not or to sense that one has tried to launch a (when I left Dunedin), and provide the know my audiences in advance, though I lead balloon—but in the end I think I text of a book that the ANZMRC would had written one paper especially for the have to leave the assessment of the publish and sell in Australia and New Australian ones (which in the event only lectures’ success in the hands of my Zealand to recover their costs. All in all two lodges selected from the six on audiences, some of whom have already the tour took about three months of my offer). Conversely, most of those in my reported through the medium of time, and I am not now surprised that my audiences were previously unacquainted Harashim. PhD supervisor at Sheffield University, with my papers, though five of them had There was, however, one problem that Professor Andrew Prescott, turned down already been published. Both lecturer kept occurring, despite reminders from an invitation to undertake the tour and audience therefore had to take the (Continued on page 3)
Issue 42 page 1 About Harashim Harashim, Hebrew for Craftsmen, is a quarterly newsletter published by the Australian and New Zealand Masonic President’s Corner Research Council (PO Box 332, Williamstown, Victoria 3016, Australia) in January, April, July and October each year. Australian Lodge of Research, we have It is supplied to Affiliates and Associates had an excellent year under the in hard copy and/or PDF format. It is mastership of WBro Terry Patrick and available worldwide in PDF format as an our Member lodges have shown email attachment., upon application to the ANZMRC Secretary (particulars below). increased interest in our activities. Usually the current issue is also displayed on The first of the two occasions that the website of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania: stand out was the presentation of our
page 4 Harashim Le Progrès de l’Océanie 1843: the first various jurisdictions. It continued under two papers by Herbert G Gardiner Masonic lodge in Hawaii the Supreme Council (and, later, the (Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of Jorge Soto, Jacques Huyghebaert, Grand Lodge of France) until 1905, Hawaii) concerning the early history of Herbert C Gardiner & others when it was re-chartered by the Grand the lodge and the mystery of the missing Institute for Masonic Studies (Grand Lodge of California, and in 1989 it books, plus a disclaimer by Gardiner that Lodge of California) and Northern joined with other Californian lodges to he had anything to do with the California Research Lodge, 2001. form the Grand Lodge of Hawaii. Collectanea publication (in which he 370 pp, 30 x 20 cm (approx), soft cover. By 1859 at the latest, Lodge Le was listed as one of the authors); an US$45 post paid (local or overseas), Progrès de l’Océanie had received two introduction to the Constitution of the from Supply Room, Grand Lodge of manuscript books, in French, Livre d’Or lodge by Jorge Soto; an introduction to California, 1111 California St, San (Book of Gold) and Rituels (the Ancient the Book of Gold and Rituals by Francisco, CA 94108-2284, USA. & Accepted Rite Craft degree rituals), Huyghebaert and Soto; and a foreword which remained in the possession of the by John L Cooper III, Grand Secretary of The average lodge history, however well lodge until 1950, when the lodge was the Grand Lodge of California, at that written, is unlikely to be totally persuaded to place them on display in time WM (and now Secretary) of absorbing except to members of the California for the centenary celebrations Northern California Research Lodge. lodge, but this is not your average lodge of the Grand Lodge. After the Well written and clearly presented, and the book is not simply a history. The celebrations the books could not be this book contains both a fascinating first Masonic lodge in the Sandwich found. Despite careful and extensive story and an invaluable source of Islands (Hawaii), Lodge Le Progrès de inquiries, they were not located until original material for students of several l’Océanie was founded in 1843 by the 1993, when they came into the aspects of Freemasonry. At least one captain of a French whaling vessel, possession of El Camino Research copy should be available in every under the authority of the Supreme Lodge, in San Jose, California, and were Masonic library, and every student of the Council of France, with members from restored to their rightful owner in evolution of rituals should own a Hawaii. personal copy. It appears that at some time before World News their loss, both books were translated Living the Enlightenment: into English by Erik Palmer, of New Freemasonry and Politics in (Continued from page 4) York. This translation was the basis of Eighteenth-Century Europe mainstream Grand Lodges continue to publication in 1995 by the US-based Margaret C Jacob recognise the Grand Lodge of Russia, College of Rites, in Collectanea, vol 15 Oxford University Press, 1991. which is ‘led by MWBro Andrey pt 3. xii + 304 pp, 24 x 16 cm (approx), index, Bogdanov as Grand Master, with VWBro After Livre d’Or and Rituels were b&w illustrations, soft cover Vladimir Nikitin as Grand Secretary.’ recovered, a team of researchers ISBN 0-19-507051-8 . . . the so-called United Grand Lodge of cooperated in the preparation of the apparently out of print. America? Well, it has changed its name to present work, which is much more My name is Tony Pope and I am an the Grand Orient of the United States of extensive than the Palmer translations in autodidact. America Accepted Free-Masons, and has Collectanea. It contains: facsimiles of nailed its colours to the mast with a three original documents in French I’ve been wanting to say that since I first declaration that it is ‘a masculine Masonic (Livre d’Or, Rituels, and a 3-page began the labour of reading Professor obedience that works together with the Constitution of the lodge dated 1843); Margaret Jacob’s Living the mixed-gender obedience lodges operating revised and annotated translations of the Enlightenment eight months ago. under George Washington Union three documents, by the ubiquitous I’m neither proud nor ashamed of throughout the United States.’ On its Jacques Huyghebaert (initiated in being an autodidact. I feel no urge to join website at http://www.grandorientusa.org/ Belgium, a member of lodges in the Autodidacts Anonymous, and I’m too it claims seven lodges, one each in Caribbean, Sri Lanka and the Czech long in the tooth to seek a cure for the Alabama, California, District of Republic, and an officer of the French condition. It is, however, a handicap in Columbia, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio—and National Grand Lodge); a copy of the judging the value of this work, which Greece. bylaws of the lodge (in English) dated was not written for the likes of me. The . . . those Filipino rebels? The earlier 1846; a carefully documented research author assumes a prior knowledge of group seems to have disappeared, but paper about the founder of Lodge Le seventeenth- and eighteenth-century there is now (since September 2006) an Progrès de l’Océanie, Captain Joseph- European history which is far greater Independent Grand Lodge of the Marie Le Tellier, by Jorge Soto (PM of than my own. This obliged me to refer Philippine Islands, with eight lodges Northern California Research Lodge); (Continued on page 14) (according to blogs). Issue 42 page 5 A THIRD DEGREE WORKSHOP As performed at the Summer Conference of the Cornerstone Society in June 2006. Reproduced here by kind permission of author Julian Rees.
The Master’s candle is lit. The kneeling it is often the case that one is active, the second to the third degree, for even the stool is placed in position in front of the second passive, and the third mediating possession of the password is not enough Inner Guard’s chair. All the officers or coordinating. We have here a sublime for you to be at one with what is assemble by the door of the Temple. The application of that rule – the first degree happening here. At this stage, physically lights are adjusted to create the desired as the active principle, the second as the and figuratively, you yet lacked the atmosphere, leaving enough however to passive, both of them coordinated and means of responding to this faint and allow the participants to read from their given form and meaning by the third feeble light. scripts. degree. Master: You are admitted to this third degree Narrator: Let the candidate kneel, while the lodge, with its stark contrast to the In the ritual workshop we are about to blessing of heaven is invoked on what second. Almost total darkness. Let us conduct, we have abridged some we are about to do. pause here for a moment, and reflect on passages in order to concentrate on the question of darkness and light. One The aspirant kneels, the SD instructs him others, so do not be surprised if you reason given in the old lectures, for to put up the sign of reverence, and the notice that some parts are left out! being hoodwinked in the first degree, Deacons then cross their wands above May we ask you please to remain was to prevent you from seeing the form his head. seated, not to take part in what follows, and nature of the temple, and the dress of and simply to watch, listen and absorb the lodge members. But that cannot be something of what we hope to unfold. Master knocks; SW knocks; JW knocks. the correct reason, since the symbolism Master and Wardens rise, sign of Cue music: Mozart Ave Verum. in the temple is not apparent merely by reverence. Inner Guard and Deacons looking at it; this is a symbolism which sign of reverence. After about 2 bars of music, the Master, becomes apparent through study, followed by the Wardens and the Inner through work. So the restoration of light Fade music. Guard, go directly to their places and to you, in the first degree, was Master: sit. The Deacons and the aspirant emblematic of gaining inner light, an remain by the door. Almighty and Eternal God, Architect indication of the power of the revelation and Ruler of the universe, at Whose Pause. of symbols. So light here was the light of creative fiat all things first were made, knowledge, or gnosis. And the material we, the frail creatures of Thy Reader: light to which you were restored in the Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise providence, humbly implore Thee to from outward things, whate’er you may first degree was a general light, pour down on this convocation believe. There is an inmost centre in us replacing personal darkness. Here, in the assembled in Thy Holy Name the all, where truth abides in fullness; and third degree, by contrast, darkness has continual dew of Thy blessing. around, wall upon wall, the gross flesh descended on all present, save a small Especially we beseech Thee to impart hems it in, this perfect, clear perception – light in the east. This then is no personal, Thy grace to this Thy servant, who which is truth. A baffling and perverting individual darkness, but rather a general offers himself a candidate to partake carnal mesh binds it, and makes all error: darkness. The lesson of this darkness with us the mysterious secrets of a and to know consists in opening out a will become apparent as the ceremony Master Mason. Endue him with such way whence the imprisoned splendour proceeds. may escape, rather than in effecting entry fortitude that in the hour of trial he for a light supposed to be without. Cue music: Mendelssohn St Paul fail not, but that, passing safely under oratorio. Thy protection through the valley of Fade music out. the shadow of death, he may finally Narrator: After about 2 bars of music, the aspirant rise from the tomb of transgression, to The third degreee, at its most basic, deals and the Deacons approach from the door shine as the stars for ever and ever. with truth. But as the first two degrees of the Temple to the kneeling stool and stop. The aspirant does not yet kneel and All hold sign of reverence: Deacons hold dealt with birth and life, so this degree crossed wands. deals also with one of the great mysteries the Deacons do not put up their wands. to which we shall one day be subject; the Music continues through next narration. Narrator: mystery of death. Here we deal not so ‘Almighty and Eternal God’. This is an much with physical death, but the death Narrator: intentional reference to the idea that you of the material side of the self, to be For anyone entering a dark room from are about to enter into a concept of reborn at a higher level of consciousness. the light, a period of adjustment is eternity as the summation of your This is an echo of the first degree, where necessary, even to see any small amount masonic journey. To proceed towards we sought to subdue the material senses of light that may be present. Here, the this, God’s blessing is again invoked, but and physical passions, in order to attain Brethren in the Temple have already had also grace to you in particular. The word to moral growth and rebirth. the opportunity to adjust before you grace has many meanings. The one There is a rule known as the Rule of enter, so that you alone have difficulty intended here is the Divine influence Three, which can be viewed as follows: discerning the faint light in the east, and which operates in men to regenerate and in any group of three objects or aspects, the people and objects round it. This is sanctify, and to impart strength to endure emblematic of your transition from the trial and resist temptation. page 6 Harashim So too God is implored to endue the Master: ascending. They necessitate overcoming aspirant with the second of the four Brother Senior Warden, you will an obstacle, and this obstacle is cardinal virtues we learned about in the direct the Deacons to instruct the emblematic of our evolution from the first degree, namely with fortitude, candidate to advance to the east by the death of materialistic pursuits, pursuits elsewhere called courage, ‘that in the proper steps. which we seek to overcome and reject in hour of trial he fail not’, but that through order, with the last four steps, to draw Cue music: Mendelssohn St Paul, as His protection, you might ‘rise from the nearer, unimpeded, to the light, a light at before. tomb of transgression, to shine as the once physical and symbolic. stars for ever and ever’. Here is SW cuts sign and recovers, replaces Cue music: Faure Requiem Sanctus. embodied a great lesson of this degree. aspirant’s hand in that of SD, and sits. ‘Transgression’ refers to sin. Since, on SD takes up a position on the right of the After about 2 bars of music, aspirant your progress in the two former degrees, aspirant facing east, JD to left of completes steps with the assistance of you have been engaged in moral aspirant. SD. On arrival at the altar, aspirant development, a lack of that increase in kneels without prompting, places both SW: morality would leave you still in need of hands on VSL, and the Deacons come up Brother Deacons, it is the Worshipful progress away from materialism and either side of him, and cross wands over Master’s command that you instruct towards light, now hinted at as light his head. eternal. By that route, the light eternal the candidate to advance to the east by would eventually be complete in your the proper steps. Fade music. own completeness, so that you would SD takes hand of aspirant and proceeds Narrator: shine with light eternal, or ‘as the stars slowly up north side of Temple followed Once again you will take a vow. The for ever and ever’, elsewhere expressed by JD. IG replaces kneeling stool by third part of this new vow has a unique in the words ‘world without end’, or ‘in SW’s pedestal. At the appropriate point, importance for Master Masons: saecula saeculorum’. The power of this SD halts, turns north, allowing JD to Aspirant (without prompting by the prayer is compelling, and the words may pass behind him. SD leaves aspirant, Master): ring in your head for some time to come. goes to far side of grave. I further solemnly engage myself to Fade music out. Master: maintain and uphold the five points of Let the candidate rise. SD addresses aspirant. fellowship in act as well as in word; that my hand, given to a Master All cut sign of reverence; Master and SD: Mason, shall be a sure pledge of Wardens sit. The Deacons uncross The method of advancing from west to brotherhood; that my feet shall travel wands; the aspirant rises, the JD east in this degree is by seven steps, through dangers and difficulties to removes the stool to the left, and the the first three as if stepping over a unite with his in forming a column of Deacons and the aspirant remain grave. For your information, I will go mutual defence and support; that the standing where they are. through them, and you will afterwards posture of my daily supplications shall copy me. Narrator: remind me of his wants, and dispose In the first degree, you were SD demonstrates steps and returns to my heart to succour his weakness and accompanied by the Junior Deacon on side of aspirant. relieve his necessities; that my breast your journey, and in the second, by the shall be the sacred repository of his Senior Deacon. In this degree, as a sign Narrator: secrets when entrusted to my care . . . If you expected advancement towards that you might need more support on this and finally that I will maintain a the three great lights to be as journey, and also as a culmination of the Master Mason’s honour and carefully straightforward as in the former degrees, former two, you are accompanied by preserve it as my own . . . both Deacons. We will assume now that you would be mistaken. Here is a most these pilgrimages have been completed. unexpected obstacle. In order to Deacons uncross wands. approach the light, you have to step over Narrator: SD moves over to SW with aspirant. SW a grave. In order to approach light Here the practice of mutuality in a very rises, takes aspirant’s hand, but does not therefore, you have to traverse the very comprehensive way is brought to the yet give sign. SD and JD remain on negation of light and life, namely the fore, the sublime virtue of brotherly love. aspirant’s left hand side. ultimate symbol of death. Were you not Your hand should be a sure pledge of to succeed in negotiating this perilous Narrator: brotherhood, always concerned not to let path, the light would not be attainable. Advancement can only take place west a Brother down. You should embrace The grave over which you step is not that to east, since it is in the east that the difficulty and danger if the needs of a grave destined to contain your own Master and the three great lights are Brother require that you should do so. body, but rather the grave where your situated. But here it has a special You should at all times put his needs own lower self now lies buried, and over significance, in that your journey from before your own. You should which you have to walk before attaining darkness to light has a real, tangible unhesitatingly guard anything that he the heights toward which you are now connotation, namely you are progressing confides in you, and do anything well advanced. towards the only light present, the light necessary to safeguard his good name Think also for a moment about the at the Master’s pedestal, dim though it is. and reputation. The wellbeing of those differences marking the steps of close to him should be as dear to you as SW: advancement in the three degrees. The if they were your own relatives and Worshipful Master, I present to you first degree steps were level. The second friends. Bro. . . . , a candidate properly pre- degree steps ascended. The steps in the pared to be raised to the third degree. third degree are neither level nor (Continued on page 8)
Issue 42 page 7 (Continued from page 7) beneficence and charity, to seek the the closing hour of existence, and Now you are able, even in the dim solace of your own distress, by when by means of that contemplation light afforded, to appreciate the new extending relief and consolation to she has conducted you through the arrangement of two of the great lights: your fellow-creatures in the hour of intricate windings of this mortal life, their affliction . . . she finally instructs you how to die. Master: Narrator: Narrator: Let me once more call your attention This is echoed by the five points of Throughout your journey in the first and to the position of the square and fellowship in your vow. And, the Master second degrees, from the moment the compasses. When you were made an reminds you, the whole has the effect of hoodwink was removed, light in one Entered Apprentice, both points were submitting you to God’s will, to accept form or another has shone on your work; hid; in the second degree, one was gladly those burdens which adherence to physical light, certainly, but also other disclosed; in this, the whole is His will might place upon you. In this figurative light, the light of the liberal exhibited, implying that you are now way, once your heart has become free of arts and sciences, the light of the at liberty to work with both those sensory influences, contrary influences, prevalent tone of Freemasonry, the light points, in order to render the circle of once it has become receptive to truth and shed on your journey by your Brethren your masonic duties complete. to wisdom, it is a heart that you might also, and ultimately your own inner light. Narrator: then dedicate to God, and to your fellow- Now you are practically deprived of all Now, as you can see, even by the men: light, except that light which is within glimmering ray, for the first time the you. A very wise masonic mentor once Master: compasses predominate in their wrote: Proceeding onwards, still guiding your arrangement with the square. Now for progress by the principles of moral Reader: the first time the spirit, represented by truth, you were led, in the second Hitherto, although guided by that light the compasses, takes precedence over degree, to contemplate the intellectual within, the aspirant has progressed in material matters, represented by the faculty, and to trace it, from its virtue of his own natural powers and square. The transformative action of the efforts. Now the time has come when development, through the paths of three great lights is complete. those props have to be removed, when heavenly science, [slowly] even – to the all reliance on natural abilities, self-will Aspirant removes hands from VSL, rises throne – of God – Himself. and rational understanding must be without prompting and, together with the Narrator: surrendered, and the aspirant must Deacons, steps back to the edge of the abandon himself to the transformative This refers to your journey to the middle grave. Deacons ensure that he crosses action of his Vital and Immortal Principle chamber in the second degree. You had his feet. alone . . . he must surrender all that he been led to the point where you were has hitherto felt to be his life, in order to Narrator: able to appreciate the intellectual find life of an altogether higher order. In an earlier degree, we spoke of dimension of your journey, using the ‘repeated trials and approbations’, but intellect of the heart. This expansion of Narrator: here the Master speaks of a yet greater the heart was such that you had attained You began, in the first degree, to ascend trial: a closer acquaintance with God, which out of the gross materialism of your allowed you a glimpse that, in the words former life, on your return to God; you Master: of the Christian bible, ‘the kingdom of arrived at the middle chamber and Having entered upon the solemn God is within you’. This is the meaning learned something more of the nature of obligation of a Master Mason, you are of the words: the Deity so that now, before proceeding now entitled to demand that last and to the ultimate mystery, you are in a greatest trial, by which alone you can Master: position where the death of the old self be admitted to a participation of the The secrets of nature, and the was imminent, thereby leading you to an secrets of this degree, but it is first my principles of intellectual truth, were appreciation of eternity and what that duty to call your attention to a then unveiled to your view. could mean for you. retrospect of those degrees in Freemasonry through which you have Narrator: Master: already passed . . . Since we speak here of your own nature, Such, my Brother, are the peculiar and the intellectual truth to which your objects of the third degree in Narrator: own heart attains. Now, however, you Freemasonry. They invite you to We are proceeding here to the are to be prepared, symbolically and by reflect on this awful subject, and teach summation of all that Freemasonry contemplation, for the closing hour of you to feel that, to the just and means. We need to lead up to it, by existence, and to be instructed, how – virtuous man, death has no terrors recalling, for a moment, what has lead us to – die. equal to the stain of falsehood and to this point. dishonour. Cue music: Handel Organ Concerto Master: slow movement. Fade music. Your admission among masons in a state of helpless indigence was an After about 4 bars of music (leave a Narrator: emblematical representation of the good long pause here): Here follows a legend, the core of the entrance of all men on this, their symbolism of this sublime degree. Like Master: mortal existence. It inculcated the all legends, we have little way of To your mind, thus modelled by virtue useful lessons of natural equality and ascertaining its factual truth. This is its and science, nature however presents mutual dependence; it instructed you strength, since we are here concerned, as one great and useful lesson more. She in the active principles of universal you know, with its philosophical truth, a prepares you, by contemplation, for truth made plain through allegory. And page 8 Harashim the legend culminates in the figurative Narrator: darkness visible, serving only to death of the old self. It is the death of the The Master will now exhort the aspirant express that gloom which rests on the concept of one’s Self, which most of us to see the light of a Master Mason as prospect of futurity. It is that spend a great deal of energy constructing darkness visible. What are we to make of mysterious veil which the eye of during our lives, but which in truth is not that apparent paradox? It must surely be human reason cannot penetrate unless the most important part of the Self. By one of the allegories in Freemasonry that assisted by that Light which is from this death, we may realise our identity as is most rich with meaning. Let us think above. Yet even by this glimmering a spiritual being which possesses a Self, again about light and darkness. ray, you may perceive that you stand rather than a Self which contains a There is a philosophical puzzle often on the very brink of the grave into spiritual being. proposed, which is this: a red book is which you have just figuratively lying on a table in a lighted room. When descended and which, when this Cue music: Elgar Nimrod the light is switched off, the room is in transitory life shall have passed away, After about 2 bars of the music the complete darkness. In the darkness, is will again receive you into its cold Wardens come out from their pedestals the colour of the book still red? We have bosom. Let the emblems of and go to take over the aspirant in the no way of knowing. In the darkness, mortality . . . guide your reflections to normal way. The Deacons ‘peel’ off and what is its true colour? And here, we are that most interesting of all human return to their seats. Without going in a similar situation. The light of a studies, the knowledge of your Self . . . through the normal procedure, the Master Mason is darkness visible. But Continue to listen to the voice of Wardens now lower the aspirant on to we have no physical light switch with nature which bears witness that, even the floor, keeping his feet crossed, and which to illumine the space we seek to in this perishable frame, resides a vital resume their positions standing by him. investigate. What we do have, if we have and immortal principle, which been successful in following this degree inspires a holy confidence that the The Master comes out of his pedestal, thus far, is the knowledge, the gnosis, the Lord of Life will enable us to trample goes to foot of grave, and he and the Divine inspiration with which to work the King of Terrors beneath our feet, Wardens now raise the aspirant in the out what is taking place. By the grace and lift our eyes to that bright traditional way, complete with the five bestowed by God in following the paths Morning Star, whose rising brings points of fellowship. of Freemasonry, first those of moral peace and salvation to the faithful and truth and virtue, then those of nature, obedient of the human race. Master: science and intellect of the heart, and Pause. It is thus all Master Masons are raised now in this degree a more profound from a figurative death to a reunion knowledge of our Self, we receive yet Reader: with the former companions of their more light even than the figurative light There is in God – some say – a deep, but toils. bestowed by the first degree. In other dazzling darkness; as men here say it is late and dusky, because they see not all Pause. words, we possess the talent, skill or power to see this darkness for what it is. clear. Brother Wardens, resume your seats. Cue music – still Elgar Nimrod. After a pause, Master and aspirant turn Wardens return to their seats. Master and walk in a straight line to the door takes aspirant’s hands and gently moves After about 2 bars of music: and leave the Temple, closely followed by the Wardens, Deacons, Inner Guard him round clockwise so that he stands in Master: and Reader, in that order. the north facing south. Let me now beg you to observe that Music fades. the light of a Master Mason is Fade music.
A MASONIC ODYSSEY PART I—SOUTH AFRICA, FRANCE, CANADA by Tony Pope Introduction The last time my wife and I visited the northern hemisphere was in 2001, a few weeks in western Europe, and we found the long cattle-class flights to and from Europe uncomfortable and tiring. So, when we decided to visit our youngest son and his family on the northwest coast of USA in 2007, we planned a route around the world, with breaks of a few days on each continent. We chose South Africa, France, and Canada for stopovers on our journey to Seattle, and San Francisco and Hawaii for the route home—a four month trip, from April to July inclusive. It was agreed that one day of each outward-bound stopover would include a Masonic experience, and that an aggregate of three weeks of our three-month stay in America would also be allotted to Freemasonry. This is an account of those Masonic encounters.
SOUTH AFRICA reasons. This was the longest leg of our hour day. We had to accommodate an We chose Cape Town as our South journey, made longer by delays with two eight-hour time difference, but at least African destination, for the scenery, of the three aircraft involved (Canberra– we were in the same season, with much because neither of us had been there Sydney–Johannesburg–Cape Town) and the same climate as home. before, and for a couple of Masonic we were awake for 26 hours of this 32- (Continued on page 10) Issue 42 page 9 (Continued from page 9) South Africa is Masonically diverse, with English and Scottish Districts, Irish Provinces, and the Grand Lodge of South Africa peacefully co-existing, in many cases using the same meeting places, and with considerable cross- membership. My particular interests were: the Cape Masonic Research Association, which is multi- jurisdictional, but which has been in the doldrums for several years; and Lodge Perseverance #126 GLSAf, which was founded in 1977 by Prince Hall Masons from a lodge under the jurisdiction of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. The story behind this is well told by Bro Desmond Lemmon- Warde, as ‘Freemasonry—Uniting men even during Apartheid’ at
page 10 Harashim formed in 1772. The temple was built in lodge. Government permission was city mayor, when Eleanor of Aquitaine 1804, and is approached through an granted and all the brethren were upheld her father’s charter, and became a arched gateway. Behind it is Table initiated, passed and raised under their Templar stronghold; it was from here Mountain, and to the side are new Constitution in 1977, and new that the Templar fleet is said to have Parliamentary buildings (which I was charters were issued for Perseverance sailed on the fateful day when King told stood on land owned by the Lodge in Cape Town and Phoenix Lodge Philip struck. A century and a half later, Masons). Beside the main temple is a in Kimberley. This is well documented La Rochelle became Protestant, and it younger construction, Phiroze Gorvalla by Desmond Lemmon-Warde, but with was from here that Huguenots Temple. Between them, these two one curious variation. (huguenotes, in French) fled to Britain, temples are home to 12 South African The Prince Hall lodges named in the America and elsewhere after the lodges, two Irish lodges, one English and documents during the period of revocation of the Edict of Nantes in one Scottish lodge. The bulk of the changeover are Southern Cross Lodge 1685. More recently, it was a German English and Scottish lodges, and the (Cape Town) and St Patrick Lodge naval stronghold during World War other three Irish lodges meet at the (Kimberley). These documents are on Two, and the last town in France to be (English) Masonic Centre in the suburb official headed notepaper, with lodge liberated. of Pinelands, which we also visited. seals. Ethiopia and Southern Cross share There are no GLNF lodges in La Inside, the lodge room of de Goede the same number, as do Coppin and St Rochelle (in any case, I’m persona non Hoop is long and narrow, with only a Patrick. Desmond makes no reference to grata with the GLNF ever since I upset single row of seats along north and south the earlier names of these lodges, and no the late AGM Nick Granstein in 2001), sides, with the pillars and both wardens’ other writer has made reference to the and I am forbidden by my own chairs in the west—a clear indication of later names. Robert was the first to note Obedience to attend either of the La European ritual—and in the east are this anomaly, and his father’s documents Rochelle lodges under the Grand Lodge lighted stained-glass windows, lead to the conclusion that the change of France, so I contented myself with symbolising the three lesser lights. This occurred some time after 1968. exploring Templar remains and positioning of the lesser lights is When Robert learned that I intended Huguenot traces. repeated in Phiroze Gorvalla and, visiting Philadelphia, he asked me to The picturesque Old Town is surprisingly, in the English lodge room check with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge carefully preserved, but I found no at Pinelands. Beneath de Goede Hoop of Pennsylvania, to ascertain whether buildings old enough to be Templar. I are vaults associated with the third (and when) they had approved the name did find a group of streets and alleys degree. The Netherlandic-type ritual of changes, if they issued new charters, and with significant names: rue du Temple, the Grand Lodge of South Africa does what charters (if any) had been returned. cour du Temple, rue des Templiers, and not use tracing boards as such, but there I explained that I had already attempted cour de la Commanderie. Perhaps parts was an old (probably pre-1813 Union) to contact the Grand Lodge, both of the outer walls of some buildings here board propped against the organ in the through its impressive website and via were Templar, but the general southwest corner of the Phiroze Gorvalla third parties, but without success. I appearance of these buildings is certainly lodge room. The English lodge room had undertook to make further attempts when no earlier than 17th century. fairly standard tracing boards, but they I arrived in America. The results will be I found one possible pictorial were joined at the sides, to form a outlined later in this report. reference to the Templar fleet, a sailing triangle, then laid flat in a rotating Barbara and I spent the next two days ship carved on a wall in the cour de la framework. sightseeing, then prepared for the second Commanderie—but it could have been a Sidney had to leave early (something leg of our journey, a night flight to more general reference to the maritime to do with preparing for Passover), and France. importance of La Rochelle. Certainly, the rest of us had a late and leisurely the local histories which cover the period lunch, and Heinz and I talked about the FRANCE make no reference to the Templar fleet Cape Masonic Research Association, We planned to spend two weeks in rural or any treasure. The main Templar relics which he is attempting to rejuvenate. France, to attempt to improve our spoken have been removed to the (RC) Later, at my hotel, Robert Heneke and I French, and selected the ancient port of Cathedral: the tombstone of a examined some documents of his La Rochelle, on the Atlantic coast Commander of the Temple; a 14th- deceased father, and discussed a between Bordeaux and Nantes, and then century funerary flagstone of three other discovery of Robert’s. a final day in Paris before heading for personnages; and a 12th-century tomb, The general story is well known, that Canada. We landed at de Gaulle Airport all excavated from the cour du Temple in the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of just after 7 AM on Easter Saturday and by 1982. Recognising that such an Pennsylvania chartered two lodges in 9 AM we were on a fast train to investigation would be thirsty work, the South Africa, circa 1901, Ethiopia Lodge Bordeaux, with time for lunch before practical French provide a convenient in Cape Town and Coppin (or possibly catching another train to La Rochelle, establishment on the corner of the cour Chopin) Lodge in Kimberley. These two then a taxi to our B&B, with time to du Temple, identified as l’Académie de lodges continued to work, under a unpack before thinking about tea. la Bière. District Deputy Grand Master, until the Although La Rochelle is 1970s, when lengthy negotiations were La Rochelle predominantly Catholic once more, the The area around La Rochelle was begun, between the DDGM (Phiroze Protestants are firmly established, and occupied by the Romans, who exported Gorvalla), the Grand Lodge of Southern have preserved their Huguenot history. wine and salt from the region. La Africa (as it was then known) and the There was a time when Catholics and Rochelle itself was founded in the tenth Government—at the height of Protestants shared the same building for century, and was declared a free port by Apartheid—to permit the Prince Hall worship, but bloody religious wars the Duke of Aquitaine in 1137. It was brethren to join the mainstream grand the first commune in France to have a (Continued on page 12) Issue 42 page 11 (Continued from page 11) erupted, with atrocities on both sides, and each in turn appropriated the other’s places of worship. To investigate, I had to learn new terminology: a notice outside the Protestant Temple (formerly a Catholic Church) proclaims itself as Culte du Temple Reforme (loosely translated as Temple of reformed Above: Street names. worship), with worship every Sunday at Below: Possible Templar traces. 10.30 AM. It is a tall, austere building with empty stone niches where statues formerly stood, and plain wooden doors painted blue. Inside, it is equally forbidding, with pews and panelling in dark-stained wood. Its long, narrow shape and the gloom reminded me of the Temple de Goede Hoop, with seats both sides of a central passageway, the difference being that the pews face front, making the passage narrower. The Musée Protestant is part of the same building, accessible (by appointment) from the street and from the temple. Within, we found an elderly Above: The old town, La Rochelle. female curator/historian who spoke only Below: Templar relics preserved in the Cathedral. French, but so clearly that I could understand her (although, of course, she had some difficulty in understanding me), and a young female assistant whose command of English was sufficient to help out where needed. We were shown original historical documents from the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, a chart showing significant events in Huguenot history, and various artefacts. Barbara and I each claim Huguenot ancestry, but were unable to verify it from the records at La Rochelle. I did, however, learn that the young Jean Desaguliers was smuggled out of La Rochelle, at the time when adult Huguenots were permitted to emigrate if they left their children behind. When I mentioned the name, the delighted historian informed me that he later became ‘Grand Master of the Masons in England’ (a fact which had not escaped my attention). On the side of the temple furthest from the museum is a beautiful cloistered garden, evidently acquired from the Catholics at the same time as the church. Inside the cloisters I noticed a sign which read in part: Secrétariat des Groupes des Ėlus. . . Ėlus? A quasi- Masonic organisation? Protestants predestined for salvation? No, just an outpost of the city administration. Barbara and I spent the rest of the fortnight doing tourist things, and Right: The Academy of Beer sampling a wide range of wines and (L’Académie de la Bière). cuisine, until the time came to pack and head for Paris, again by fast train.
page 12 Harashim Paris We were met at the Gare de Montparnasse by Michel Singer (of the Grand Lodge of France, and no stranger to Harashim). I think Barbara was startled when Michel and I exchanged a triple embrace but, introductions over, we all set off in Michel’s car to our hotel in the heart of Montparnasse, where we quickly completed the formalities, then went to lunch at a nearby restaurant owned by another brother of the Grand Lodge of France. We were joined by Michael and Odette Segall, whom Barbara had met previously (so there was no need to explain that Mike was Grand Lodge of France and Odette Above: The Protestant Temple entrance (left) and empty niche (right), where a statue has Feminine Grand Lodge of France, nor, been removed. indeed, that Barbara was formerly of the Below: Inside the Temple, looking towards the entrance (left) and pulpit (right). Order of Women Freemasons). We had hoped that Julian Rees, then Deputy Editor of Freemasonry Today, would have travelled up from his cottage in Britanny to be with us, but somehow wires got well and truly crossed; Julian arrived at the restaurant on the right day but the wrong month! After a delayed but delightful lunch, we all went to chez Segall for coffee. Then we said farewell to Mike and Michel, and entrusted ourselves to Odette, who insisted on driving us around Paris, pointing out places of general interest, such as the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Napoleon’s tomb and the Eiffel Tower, and also secret women’s business: couturiers, furriers, jewellers, hairdressers, and a good place for shoes; then finally deposited us on the banks of the Seine with firm instructions to board a boat and see the underside of the bridges of Paris and the backside of most of the buildings we’d already seen. She was right, of course. It was a wonderful 90 minutes, and great fun trying to identify places without a guide or guidebook. It was even more fun finding our way back to Montparnasse and our very Above: The revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in the Protestant (Huguenot) ordinary hotel. That evening we put Museum. aside our fond memories of French food and wine, opting for North Indian cuisine and bottled water, followed by an early night, an early check-out on Sunday morning and a Paris taxi (of which we no longer had any fear). Above: The Garden in the Protestant cloisters. CANADA Left: Lunching in The journey from Paris to Toronto was Montparnasse, (from left) Mike Segall, Michel Singer, uneventful, although most of the Canada Barbara & Tony Pope, we saw from the aircraft was covered in Odette Segall. snow or ice; late April, and no thaw? We need not have worried; for three of our four days in Ontario the weather was
(Continued on page 14) Issue 42 page 13 on its best behaviour, a bit wet at times they had nursing in common), two Grace. but generally sunny and quite warm. members (one male, one female) of After the meal (one might almost say We were met at the airport by Peter Lodge Garibaldi, chartered from the agape) I was formally introduced and Renzland, mainstream Ontario Mason, Grand Lodge of Italy ALAM, a male gave an unscripted version of my paper president of the ecumenical Toronto Entered Apprentice from the local Droit ‘At a perpetual distance: Liberal and Society for Masonic Research (TSMR), Humain lodge, and a brother from Adogmatic Grand Lodges’ (the Verrall and famous Lindy-hopper, who took us Memphis-Misraim in New York, in Lecture for 2004). Then Peter laid down to our hotel, a Ramada Plaza (which I addition to half a dozen Ontario the ground rules for discussion—Exotics recommend), deposited our luggage, and mainstreamers, one South Australian first, Mainstreamers last. It took a bit of whisked us off to a jazz club, then to Mason and a couple of ladies of no coaxing, but almost everyone had another, where we had a meal and Masonic affiliation. something to contribute. Peter summed boutique draught wheat beer. At this up and we all went home, leaving Ed and stage Her Ladyship was beginning to his wife to the leftovers. droop (it was only about 6.30 PM Next day, in an arctic wind, Peter Toronto time, but she had been awake took us to the airport for the last leg of since 5.30 AM Paris time), so we dropped our journey to Seattle, still musing (and her off at the hotel, and went back to The enthusing) on our stopover in ‘Muddy Rex jazz and blues bar in time to catch York’. My only regret was that I’d been Swing Rosie. (If you ever get to Toronto unable to meet my old e-friend, Clayton on a Sunday, check them out). Talbert, Grand Secretary of the Prince Monday was set aside to spend time Hall Grand Lodge of Ontario, who lived with Wallace McLeod and Nelson King too far away. (if either of them needs introduction, End of Part 1—to be continued email me). Nelson took us to his favourite eatery for lunch, a Chinese buffet of enormous proportions, and Peter Renzland afterwards we were entertained at chez McLeod by Wallace and Elizabeth, then Book Reviews Wallace drove us to our hotel via the University. We were allowed the (Continued from page 5) evening to recuperate, ready for frequently to dictionaries and historical Tuesday’s trip to Niagara Falls in the reference works in order to understand her company of several mainstream Masons basic terms and premises, and to re-read and one wife (Peter Renzland, well- each page—often each paragraph—before known researcher Ed Ralph, younger proceeding to the next. A moderate researcher Kris Stevens and his wife, example of this (from chapter 2, ‘Temples Wonhee). Apart from the usual tourist of Virtue, Palaces of Splendour, British thing, and the to-be-expected Masonic Masonic Visions’, on page 53) is: discussions, the trip included a stopover Nelson King Predictably, British utopians were at at the town of Niagara, a peep into the moments troubled. In the British interior of an old lodge building, a quick context—the century of government by oligarcy—their utopianism came in look at Fort George, and a visit to a tandem with an underlying concern for winery where Kris’s status gained us decadence and corruption. The special treatment, including a taste of eighteenth century cast up many several delightful eisweins, one of which versions of the ancien régime, many was made from a red variety. forms of social privilege and exclusive I’ve stressed the mainstream access to political power besides those affiliation of Toronto Masons thus far we associate with absolutism on the because Wednesday presented us with Continent. Concern about corruption more exotic fare. It was a special and the tyranny associated with it expressed itself in Britain through the meeting of the Toronto Society for politics and philosophy of government Masonic Research, held that evening in Wallace McLeod known as the ‘country’ opposition. facilities in Ed’s ‘gated community’ Juxtaposed against the largely Whig apartment building, with live guard and The meeting began with drinks and oligarchy—the ‘court’—which locked gate (fortunately, Peter knew the informal chat (during which I managed controlled the offices of government, password), and some comfortably to ascertain everyone’s affiliation), opposition sentiment could turn up in furnished communal rooms. Present followed by a sit-down meal from a the politics of either party, Whigs or were two local members of the Order of buffet of mainly pizzas and lasagne. My Tories. But increasingly after the Women Freemasons, two PGMs of the wife and I were invited to join the two Hanoverian Succession in 1714 the rhetoric of the country belonged to Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ontario (one Prince Hall PGMs for the meal and, segments of the Tory party. being Arthur Downes, who visited when we placed our plates on the table, a The ideological roots of the country Australia a few years ago), a Prince Hall cool brown hand clasped my right hand lay, however, not in the Toryism of the OES Deputy Grand Matron (whose and another my left. I sensed that the late seventeenth century, but in the name was Barbara and was an instant hit same was happening to Barbara. Then republicanism of the midcentury English with my Barbara when they discovered Arthur, a lay preacher, quietly said (Continued on page 15) page 14 Harashim Revolution. The point about the alcohol and coffee—apparently one country was not its party affiliations, sings better without supper—but am which could shift, but rather, given its grateful for all the advice appertaining to origins, its potential radicalism. a visiting lecturer, provided the lecture is Increasingly, the view from the to be given before supper. I read the country claimed to represent ‘lesser’ men, not the great landed gentry, not book with enjoyment and am determined their placemen in the sinews of to study it for self-improvement. government employment. It became As a bonus, I found this little gem, the voice of small merchants, ascribed to Samuel Johnson: shopkeepers, even artisans. . . . One of the amusements of idleness is Professor Jacob’s knowledge of reading without the fatigue of close Freemasonry is extensive, and she has attention; and the world therefore accessed sources and primary documents swarms with writers whose wish is not unavailable to, or ignored by, English to be studied, but to be read. Masonic researchers. Because of her Masonically Speaking fits both references to some sources with which I categories. If you simply want a good am familiar (for example, Prichard’s read, and a good chuckle, then borrow or Masonry Dissected—claiming Quarterly buy this book. If you wish to study at the Communications as early as 1691), I am feet of a master raconteur, BUY IT. uneasy about the reliability of some of Making Light: a handbook for those I do not know, but her contention Freemasons that British Masonic thinking and Julian Rees practices had spread to Europe before Lewis Masonic, 2006. publication of Anderson’s Constitutions 128 pp, 21 x 15 cm, soft cover in 1723 is persuasive. ISBN (10) 0-85318-253-1, The blurb on the back cover of Living (13) 978-0-85318-253-5 the Enlightenment states: UK£14.99 + freight, available online at . . . Margaret Jacob argues that the
Conference update ANZMRC NEWS Research CD available To date, the ANZMRC digital The 9th ANZMRC Conference library contains over 1600 papers will be held at Queanbeyan, and articles, and is available to NSW, near Canberra, over the members of the research lodges first weekend of October 2008. which have allowed their papers Convenor Neil Wynes Morse to be published. assures us it will be ‘brilliant’, This first edition gives access to but has not revealed any details full text of papers from to date. ANZMRC itself, and the It has yet to be confirmed that following research lodges: South African researcher Rodney Hawkes Bay, New South Wales, Grosskopff will attend the South Australia, Wellington and Conference. Waikato. Congratulations to Past President Murray Yaxley (left), receiving a 50-year If your research lodge has not participated, ask them WHY! New Secretary for jewel from PGM Robert Clarke (Tas). Taranaki WALoR Peter Wood has taken over from Peter Coombe as Secretary of the change of venue Research Lodge of Taranaki WM Terry Patrick advises that Province. His contact details are: from 24 April the Western WBro P J Wood Australian Lodge of Research will PO Box 3323 meet at the Masonic Centre, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Victoria Park, while their usual phone/fax: (06) 743 2961 home at South Perth is being email: [email protected] renovated.
page 16 Harashim Harashim
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian & New Zealand Masonic Research Council
ISSN 1328-2735 Issue 43 July 2008
ANZMRC 9th biennial Conference
The ninth biennial conference of Australian and New Zealand research lodges will be held at Queanbeyan, near Canberra, on the October long weekend, to coincide with the famous Floriade flower festival. The conference will feature Kellerman lectures (some with PowerPoint slide presentations) from New Zealand and all Australian jurisdictions except SA&NT, plus one from ANZMRC’s associate member from South Africa, Lyceum Lodge of Research 8682 EC.
Location Midland District Lodge of Research) Queanbeyan is in New South Wales, on will illustrate his paper on ‘Aspects of the border with the Australian Capital early New Zealand stonemasonry and Territory, and ten kilometres from the Freemasonry’ with digitised slides and centre of Canberra. The conference will actual Maori working tools, for which he be held in the Queanbeyan Masonic Hall has obtained special government (still called a Temple, according to the permission to take these artifacts out of engraving above the front door), situated New Zealand in Crawford St, opposite the public After lunch, David Beagley library and in the heart of the business (Victorian Lodge of Research) will focus and shopping district. There are several his academic skills on Bro Mozart, in hotels and motels within walking RWBro Rodney Grosskopff, ADGM (EC), ‘The Masonic Mozart: wayward prodigy distance, as well as restaurants, cafés, Lyceum Lodge of Research 8682 EC, Johannesburg, South Africa. or product of his times?’⎯with musical fast food outlets, and shops of all kinds. illustrations. The last Kellerman Lecture For more details, see the ANZMRC Orange Free State’, provides pen and for the day will be the thoughtful website,
Issue 43 page 1 About Harashim Harashim, Hebrew for Craftsmen, is a quarterly newsletter published by the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Book Reviews Research Council (PO Box 332, Williamstown, Victoria 3016, Australia) in January, April, July and October each year. It is supplied to Affiliates and Associates in hard copy and/or PDF format. It is available worldwide in PDF format as an For some reason Penguin’s website has email attachment., upon application to the this book under the ‘Speculative Fiction’ ANZMRC Secretary (particulars below). category. I initially thought that was a bit Usually the current issue is also displayed on the website of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania: rich, for at first glance this seemed to be
office which he has held to the present Friday evening with a Special Kellerman time. Lecturer from South Africa, RWBro We can hold our heads high as an Rodney Grosskopff. He will be followed internationally regarded research body on the two succeeding days by the co-ordinating the affiliates and associates Kellerman Lecturers from the Australian under our umbrella. The publications jurisdictions and two from New Zealand. produced by us are very professional and The topics cover a wide spectrum of take their place on the bookshelves of Freemasonry and are bound to stimulate libraries and Masons all around the your interest in further research. The world. Our thanks go to Tony for his conference will conclude on Sunday tireless efforts in ensuring that all our afternoon with the ANZMRC Biennial publications meet with the highest General Meeting. I strongly exhort you standards. to attend the General Meeting and The past is great to reflect upon express your views on the future running because, among other things, it has laid of this body. In the absence of our President, VWBro the foundation, but we must look to the While we are enjoying the delights of Peter Verrall, currently overseas, it is future—and what a future we have at our Masonic research our partners will be with pleasure that I assist him on this disposal. You have heard the expressions entertained by WBro Neil’s wife, Nea. occasion. ‘all roads lead to Rome’ and ‘bigger than She is a lovely lady and an excellent host It is very satisfying when you reflect Ben Hur’. Both expressions apply to the who will be treating the ladies to the on the achievements over the years of Masonic Extravaganza of epic cultural and scenic delights of Canberra the AMRC and then the ANZMRC. proportions being organised by our and its environments. Neil and his Much of this success has rested upon the Conference Convener, WBro Neil helpers are doing everything to make the shoulders of two brethren, WBro Kent Morse, for the first weekend in October. Conference a success. Now it is up to us Henderson and WBro Tony Pope. The The 9th ANZMRC Biennial Conference to attend and ensure its success. I look creation of this body in 1992 was largely will be held at the Queanbeyan Masonic forward to seeing you there. due to Kent’s drive, foresight and zeal. Centre, near Canberra, from 3–6 October Fraternal regards, Kent was the inaugural Secretary of this 2008, when all roads will be leading to organization and continues in this office the National Capital, and it will be an Graham Stead to this day. Tony, our initial Treasurer, event not to be missed. Immediate Past President soon assumed the role of Editor, an The conference will commence on the
that needs its teachings more than In The Shadow of Solomon I have was founded were lost long ago. ever, that would be a crime beyond approached the subject from an redemption. objective standpoint since I am able to And later still: Good stuff! call upon long-term experience as a Freemasonry, in its current form, was Freemason, while also now being an established in the 18th century as a
Neil Wynes Morse equally long-term Past Mason. questing fraternity that would Initiated into a City of London lodge endeavour to retrieve and collate what in 1966, and subsequently passing could be salvaged of the scattered through the Craft degrees, my active archive, but it was a short-lived regular involvement as a Master enterprise. Within a very short time the Mason continued for about 20 years. movement changed its emphasis to By the middle 1980s, however, it become a charity-based social became necessary to review my institution, although electing to situation as the requirements of lodge maintain aspects of ritual that would membership were potentially limiting satisfy the original philosophical ideal. to my occupation as an independent researcher. Consequently, I tended my Naturally Gardner does not disclose the formal resignation at the United Grand lost secret of Freemasonry, but he does Lodge of England. state in the final chapter: The original lost secret of The Shadow of Solomon: The Lost Later he writes: Freemasonry - or at least one of them - The basic precepts of Freemasonry Secrets of the Freemasons Revealed appears to be the very secret that have much in their favour, but the Laurence Gardner facilitated the construction of the Giza most anomalous feature is that Harper Element pyramids and the building of the masonic practice derives from certain ISBN 0 00 721660 2 Jerusalem Temple. It was a levitical ancient sciences which are never UK£6.99 at AmazonUK. [sic] technology from the earliest of actually taught. Ceremonies are times, and one which is only now performed and rituals are learned, but In the second paragraph of the being discovered by modern it is stated that, for all this pageantry, Introduction, the author states: the secrets on which the Brotherhood (Continued on page 11) Issue 43 page 3 Farewell lecture by Professor Andrew Prescott to the Centre for Research into Freemasonry on 20 February 2007, as posted on the website
Let me begin with a confession. I trained training as a documentary-based spend a day at the races than attend as a historian, but I am not sure that I historian, namely that the route to Grand Lodge. ever really was a historian. My career is understanding the history of British In short, the history of British defined by libraries and archives. As a Freemasonry lies through the energetic Freemasonry will only begin to make postgraduate, in studying the records of exploration of the neglected boxes of sense if we interpret it in the light of the rising of 1381 at the National correspondence and other primary wider history. Freemasonry cannot be Archives, I was fascinated not so much materials in the Library and Museum of explained by Freemasonry. For that by the event itself but rather by the way Freemasonry and in other major reason, it is perhaps more urgent that we it seemed to shift, change and ultimately collections such as those of the Grand establish a framework of interpretation disappear in the textual gaps and Lodge of Scotland. These documentary for the history of Freemasonry than that interstices of the documentary record. researches need to be framed within a we continue to explore those neglected During twenty years at the British broader engagement with historical documentary materials. Documentary Library, I was struck as much as debates, but the engine house of the historians such as me are often anything by the way in which our research lies in that documentary dismissive of historians who focus on the understanding of history is profoundly investigation. The neglect of the history wider shape of history, but it is only shaped by the intervention of librarians of Freemasonry, I suggested, was in when we contemplate an institution and curators. The most fascinating aspect large part the result of the failure of where no such shape has been proposed of the past six years for me has been the researchers to get their hands dirty in that we realise the fundamental further exploration of another those unopened boxes at Great Queen importance of such frameworks for all remarkable and completely different Street. aspects of historical study. A historian library, the Library and Museum of Since that time, I have learnt an attempts to describe changes of societies, Freemasonry at Great Queen Street, and important and salutory lesson. The cultures and institutions in time. I have been entranced by the unexpected records do not speak unbidden. We can Freemasons are often anxious to intersections between that collection look time and time again at the second establish that they are the guardians of with those I have previously known, edition of Anderson’s Book of an esoteric truth, a pure and accepted through figures such as the masonic Constitutions, but it is only if we masonry, that has passed down artist and British Museum facsimilist, consider wider political history that we unchanged through time. There is a John Harris, the Secretary of the Records can understand why this new edition of fundamental conflict here which means Commission and Provincial Grand the Book of Constitutions was published that, in a masonic context, too often Master of Kent, Charles Purton Cooper, in 1738. The initiation of Frederick history does not happen. and the benefactor of the British Library Lewis, Prince of Wales, as a freemason Galbraith proposed an archivists’ and Provincial Grand Master of took place in 1737, at precisely the time history marked, not by artificial Shropshire and North Wales, Thomas Frederick moved into overt political chronological distinctions, but rather by Egerton. And now I am about to have a opposition to his father George II. the succession of documents. In such a different type of engagement with Supporters of the Prince of Wales were view, the division of history by centuries another remarkable library at Lampeter. ostracised by the royal court. The is artificial and meaningless. Years such This is a path of exploration which celebration by the freemasons of their as 1500 or 1550 are unremarkable. More would be unfamiliar, perhaps initiation of the Prince of Wales could meaningful is perhaps the year 1559 unwelcome, to many academic hardly have been a more politically which saw the inception of the tellers’ historians. And increasingly it is path charged act and the publication of the views of accounts, the first attempt to unfamiliar to librarians. What it new edition of the Book of Constitutions, draw up a kind of balance sheet of the represents in intellectual terms I am not which described the initiation of the public finances. One might certainly sure – if it is history, it is a very different Prince in fulsome terms, was equally agree that the orthodox division of sort of history from that commonly provocative. Likewise, the attacks on history into centuries is unhelpful, and practised in many universities today. Lord Zetland as Grand Master during the that other systems of chronological Perhaps it is something closer to the period from 1854, leading for example to division more valid, but it is only in archivists’ history of which the the formation of the Grand Lodge of contemplating a history without such medievalist V. H. Galbraith dreamed. Mark Master Masons, are a direct chronological distinctions that the When I gave the inaugural lecture for expression of the profound but brief importance of these divisions is realised the Centre for Research into political crisis precipitated by the – a history without chronology is Freemasonry, I began by describing one disastrous conduct of the Crimean War. moribund and lifeless. Historians now of the countless significant Just as the middle classes more widely refer to many baffling chronological bibliographical discoveries that await the attacked the elderly and ineffectual distinctions, such as the long eighteenth assiduous user of the Library and aristocrats in charge of the War Office, century or the short twentieth century, Museum of Freemasonry. The approach so younger influential freemasons but these reflect vigorous debates as to to the history of Freemasonry I espoused rounded on the Whig aristocrat Zetland the shape and pattern of history. It may in that lecture is one that reflects my who, it was claimed, would much rather seem that debating the shape and
page 4 Harashim structure of the apparently random Freemasonry will continue not to be completely driven by them. The early succession of the history of events is, as written. 1830s, for example, are a watershed in Foucault suggested, futile. But again it is I propose that the major divisions of political, social and cultural history, as only in contemplating the sterility of a the history of British Freemasonry are as well as in the history of Freemasonry. historical discussion which has largely follows. First, from 1425, the The history of Freemasonry does not ceased to search for such patterns that approximate date of the composition of exist in isolation, so its periodisation one realises why such frameworks are the Regius Manuscript, to 1583, the date should reflect wider historical indispensable. of the copying of Grand Lodge MS. 1 periodisation. Second, while, in drawing This sterility it seems to me and the appointment of William Schaw up this framework, it is necessary to characterises the discussion of the as Master of Works to James VI of nominate specific years as dividing lines, history of British Freemasonry. When I Scotland (possibly not coincidental of course the transition from one period began to research the history of events). The second period would then to another was more gradual than this Freemasonry, I was told that one of the run from 1583 until the foundation of framework suggests. What I will attempt great attractions of the subject was that it Grand Lodge in 1717. The next lasts to do for the remainder of my time this was only necessary to know two dates, from 1717 to 1736–7, the dates of the afternoon is to try and justify this namely 1717, the foundation of the foundation of the Grand Lodge of framework, and briefly review why these Grand Lodge in London, and 1813, the Scotland and of the initiation of particular periods seem to me distinctive. formation of the United Grand Lodge. Frederick Lewis respectively. I’m not The more sophisticated might wish to entirely happy about whether this forms 1425–1583 add to this 1751, the date of the a distinct period, or is simply the first The first British freemason we know foundation of the Ancients Grand Lodge. part of a longer period which runs to about was Nicholas le Freemason who in So, three dates: 1717, 1751 and 1813. 1763, the beginning of the dispute about 1325 was accused of helping prisoners There, it was thought, you had the the incorporation of the Premier Grand escape from Newgate gaol in London. history of British Freemasonry. The Lodge. From 1763, there is definitely a However, this is simply the earliest existing standard reference works on the major change which continues until known use of the word in English, and history of British Freemasonry reflect 1797–8, the dates of the publication of there is a reference in Latin to sculptores this chronological structure: pre-history the works by Barruel and Robison lapidum liberorum (sculptors of to 1717; early years of the Premier alleging masonic complicity in the freestone) in London as early as 1212. Grand Lodge to 1751; the period of the French Revolution. The ensuing loyalist The origins of modern Freemasonry as a two Grand Lodges from 1751 to 1813; anxiety engulfed British Freemasonry social movement lie in the religious and the rest. Regardless of anything else, until long after the end of the Napoleonic fraternities which flourished particularly you will see how this treatment of the Wars, and perhaps still casts a shadow after the Black Death of 1349. These nineteenth century is particularly over Freemasonry today. However, there fraternities existed primarily to pay for unsatisfactory – clearly, Freemasonry in can be no doubt that 1834 marked a prayers for the souls of their members, 1890, with its multiplicity of orders, its further sea change in British but increasingly, particular fraternities lavish masonic halls, its newspapers and Freemasonry, encapsulated by the were favoured by certain groups of burgeoning professional membership, publication of the first number of the craftsmen, and they began to assume was very different from Freemasonry Freemasons Quarterly Review. A further responsibility for trade regulation. These immediately after the Union. Yet our cataclysmic change occurred with the emergent craft gilds began to be accepted chronological structure for the secession of a group of Canadian lodges dominated by elite groups within history of British Freemasonry implies from the United Grand Lodge in 1855 individual trades, frequently creating the appearance of modern Freemasonry, and the formation of the Mark Grand class-based tension. A suggestion that fully formed, in 1813. When did the Lodge in 1856. The eventual emergence this happened within the craft of change between the situation in 1813 and of a late Victorian consensus was stonemasonry occurs in London in 1376, that in 1890 take place? No one says, marked by the appointment of Edward where there is a reference to the gild of and nobody appears to be interested – a Prince of Wales as Grand Master in ‘freemasons’ which was afterwards far livelier source of concern is whether 1878. The subsequent period marked a struck out and replaced with the word antient masonry was mangled in the plateau of English masonic history. I ‘mason’, suggesting that the term course of the Union. Likewise, how did have agonised over whether one might freemason was a contentious one. There the commercialised mass-membership see the 1930s as a further turning point, are other indications that from the late Freemasonry of the 1930s emerge from but I feel that the Freemasonry which fourteenth century the term freemason that of the 1890s? Was the First World emerged in 1878 remained in essence was increasingly being applied to the War a dividing line? We do not know. unchanged right the way through until more prosperous masons who contracted Without debates about where these the 1960s, which marked the beginning for individual jobs. dividing lines are placed, without more of the latest and current phase of The Black Death had caused a dates and without more chronology, we masonic history. shortage of skilled artisans, and the do not have history. What I want to do So I am proposing a ten fold division: government struggled to try and keep this afternoon is to try and kick-start 1425–1583; 1583–1717; 1717–1736/7; wages down. Wage pressure was such a debate and propose a 1737–1763; 1763–1797/8; 1798–1834; particularly acute in the building trades. chronological framework for the history 1834–1855/6; 1856–1878; 1878–(say)– In 1425, a statute was passed forbidding of British Freemasonry. At this stage, 1967; and 1967 to the present day. There masons from holding assemblies to any proposed framework is bound to be are two important points I should make demand higher wages. It is in this event arbitrary and will certainly be wrong, but here in proposing this framework. First, that we can find the beginnings of the unless we have such a hypothesis to while this periodisation relates to major myths of Freemasonry. Groups of junior react against, the history of British events in masonic history, it is not (Continued on page 6)
Issue 43 page 5 (Continued from page 5) masons in 1598 and 1599. There is no allowing the Acception to fall into masons developed a legend that they had need here to detail the main abeyance. Increasingly, the London been given ancient charters allowing characteristics of Schaw’s reforms, Masons’ company seems to have them to hold their assemblies. They also which have been lucidly described by concentrated on bolstering the position reacted against the increasing Stevenson. They include the of its junior members. These shifts in stratification of their trade by developing establishment of separate lodges, emphasis within the London company legends which sought to demonstrate organised on a territorial basis, seem to be reflected in a change of name that all masons were brethren of equal answerable directly to the General from the Company of Freemasons to the status. The two manuscripts recording Warden, holding regular meetings and Company of Masons. these legends, preserved in the British keeping regular minutes. There are hints Library and known as the Regius and that Schaw also sought to interest 1717–1736/7 Cooke manuscripts, were apparently members of these lodges in the new It is in the context of the crisis within the used by these illicit gatherings. The core esoteric and philosophical developments, London Company of Masons that the legends of Regius and Cooke, and in such as the ‘art of memory’. The lodges creation of the Grand Lodge in 1717 particular the claim that the masons of masons established by Schaw began must be viewed. If the Grand Lodge was received a charter from the non-existent to prove attractive to members who were indeed a revival, as was afterwards Prince Edwin, an alleged son of the not working stonemasons, such as Sir claimed, it was perhaps a revival of the Anglo-Saxon King Athelstan, remain of Robert Moray, who became profoundly Acception. Within the city of London, fundamental importance to modern interested in the legends and symbolism the formation of the Grand Lodge was Freemasonry. Freemasons have long of the craft of stonemasonry. by no means an uncontentious act. While hoped that these legends embody some While the organisation of English other groups, such as the Society of kind of ancient legend handed down by masons remained more informal and ad Ancient Britons, organised regular word of mouth, but the evident hoc, some of the features evident in processions in the city, the institution of manipulation of these legends in Regius Scotland can also be seen in England an annual procession and feast by an and Cooke indicates that the legends from the middle of the seventeenth organisation which claimed jurisdiction were in 1425 of recent invention and century. In particular, meetings of over building operations in London and primarily intended to protect stonemasons also became of interest to its environs was clearly a challenge to stonemasons from the effects of recent those who were not working the city companies. At this level, one labour legislation. These legends were to stonemasons, the most celebrated feature of the first twenty years after the achieve a new impetus in the middle of examples being the scientist and formation of the Grand Lodge was the the sixteenth century, when renewed antiquary Elias Ashmole and the Chester articulation of an administrative structure inflation led to further attempts to restrict Herald Randle Holme. To some extent, which would have caused some degree the wages of craftsmen. In 1552, the this may reflect Scottish influence, as of tension within the city of London and leaders of a strike of building workers at Scottish masons such as Moray spread beyond. This was most vividly expressed York were imprisoned. In response, awareness of the features of masonic in the insistence of the Grand Lodge that there was a further substantial organisation in the northern kingdom. individual lodges should be controlled elaboration of the legends originating in However, the interest of figures such as by it, holding warrants from the Grand Regius and Cooke, with Edwin’s grant Ashmole and Holme in Freemasonry Lodge and obeying its rules. This was by of a charter to the masons being placed probably also reflects more local no means accepted by all those specifically at York, a new detail conditions. The membership of lodges in connected with the Grand Lodge, as is apparently intended to bolster the York suggest that local stonemasons apparent in William Stukeley’s position of the York building workers. may have encouraged influential formation of a lodge in Grantham This first phase of the history of townsfolk, who helped set their wages, without authorisation of the Grand Freemasonry could, I think, be called the to join the lodges to help create Lodge. But connected with this syndicalist phase. awareness of the traditional claims of the administrative articulation was the stonemasons to a fair wage, set, it was development of an extended cultural and 1583–1717 said, by St Alban and with a lineage social agenda. This was at one level In 1583, the syndicalist phase succeeded dating back to biblical times. political, in its extravagant insistence of to what David Stevenson aptly called In London, this process of creating an its support of the Hanoverian succession. ‘Scotland’s Century’. On 21 December elite group with organisations of At another level, it was scientific, with a 1583, William Schaw was appointed stonemasons in order to bolster the stress on geometry and measurement Master of Works to King James VI of claims and prestige of the trade led to the which was explicitly connected to new Scotland. Two days later, a new emergence during the seventeenth developments in scientific thought. But manuscript was copied out containing century of an inner group within the an even more important thread was copies of the legends first recorded in the London Company of Masons known as aesthetic. The early activities of the Regius and Cooke manuscripts, which is the Acception, which included some of Grand Lodge were explicitly linked to now Grand Lodge MS 1. Whether it was the most prosperous architect-masons as aesthetic propaganda in support of actually copied for Schaw we cannot well as men such as Ashmole. However, Vitruvian architecture and opposed to say, but we do know that, from this there were tensions within the London Gothic traditions, seen as monkish and point, copies of these texts, now known Company of Masons. These may have ignorant. as the Old Charges, began to circulate been intensified by attacks on the In many ways, this innovative among Scottish masons. Schaw radically London companies by James II. The metropolitan Freemasonry was inclusive, reformed the organisation of Scottish London company became increasingly as is evident from the prominence of stonemasons in two sets of statutes impoverished and responded by trying to Jewish and Huguenot membership of approved at assemblies of Scottish extend its control of the trade and by early lodges. But the increasing
page 6 Harashim insistence of the Grand Lodge on a created tension between the French and of the same kind of religious and class distinct political, cultural and social English Grand Lodges. Above all, papal tensions which underpinned the success agenda proved contentious. This is suspicion of Freemasonry, resulting in a of Methodism. expressed in the alienation of William series of papal bulls against masonic The reaction of some of the leading Hogarth who was a member in 1730 but meetings from 1738, made Freemasonry personalities associated with the Premier had apparently become disillusioned a more contentious activity on Grand Lodge was to seek to enhance the with the social and cultural agenda of continental Europe. The English best- respectability and prestige of their form Freemasonry by 1736. Likewise, the selling book describing the sufferings of of Freemasonry. A characteristic figure metropolitan emphasis of this phase of the mason John Coustos at the hands of here is William Preston, the Master of the history of Freemasonry created the Portuguese inquisition contributed to the Lodge of Antiquity, one of the four tension with other towns, as for example a view of Britishness which emphasised lodges which had formed the first Grand at York where its historian Francis Drake anti-catholicism, and also illustrated how Lodge. Through successive editions of eloquently articulated the claims of York Freemasonry had become a politically his Illustrations of Masonry, Preston to be regarded as the true seat of and socially charged institution. sought to promote a reformation of Freemasonry. The emergence of Grand Freemasonry which would place less Lodges in Scotland and Ireland was also 1763–1797/8 emphasis on lively sociability, would likewise a reaction to the growing 1763 not only marked the beginning of stress the spiritual and philosophical pretensions of this Hanoverian and Whig the dispute about the incorporation of the benefits of Freemasonry, and, above all, London Freemasonry. The tensions Premier Grand Lodge, but was also the present Freemasonry as a highly created by the emergence of end of the Seven Years War, an respectable and elevated form of social metropolitan Freemasonry came to ahead important stage in the emergence of activity. A similar approach is evident in with the initiation of Frederick Lewis in Britain as a world power. It appears as if the energetic work of Thomas Dunkerley 1737. This overtly political act by the the Premier Grand Lodge was in promoting the Premier Grand Lodge London Grand Lodge inaugurated a determined that it should create a social in the provinces. Like Preston, period of tension and fractiousness. organisation worthy of a new imperial Dunkerley also sought to enhance the power. In Sweden, for example, the spiritual content of Freemasonry by 1737–1763 Premier Grand Lodge worked closely introducing to the Premier Grand Lodge The crisis precipitated by the support of with British diplomats to try and drive a whole host of other masonic orders the Grand Lodge for the Prince of Wales out a French-controlled form of ranging from the Royal Arch to Mark culminated in a bout of violent Freemasonry. This formed part of a Masonry. Both Preston and Dunkerley boisterousness in 1741 when the Grand wider attack on French political also sought to encourage Freemasonry to Lodge’s dignified procession in London influence in northern Europe. The enhance its respectability by moving out was disrupted by the mock procession of Premier Grand Lodge claimed to be the of taverns into specially built masonic Scald Miserable Masons. Andrew Pink Supreme Grand Lodge of the world, and halls. The success of Preston and has recently explored how the mock energetically promoted its influence Dunkerley in enhancing the social processions of the Scald Miserable through the new British Empire, for character of Premier Grand Lodge Masons may be linked to the emergence example through such events as the Freemasonry was patchy. While a lodge of the Patriot opposition to Walpole, initiation of the Indian Prince Omdit-ul- such as the Lodge of Nine Muses in centred around Frederick Lewis. By Omrah Bahauder at Madras in 1779. The London contained a glittering array of 1747, the Grand Lodge felt unable any Premier Grand Lodge marked this fashionable artists, architects and longer to parade in public. The extent to occasion by sending a letter of musicians, a few miles away, a lodge which the formation of the Ancients congratulation written in gold under the Premier Grand Lodge in Grand Lodge in 1751 was linked to these accompanied by a copy of the Book of Wandsworth comprised chiefly market events requires further exploration, but Constitutions, ‘superbly bound’. gardeners and tradesmen. certainly the creation of a separate Grand Yet, just at the time that Premier Lodge in London reflects the increasing Grand Lodge was expressing the most 1797–1834 splintering of the masonic world. lofty international ambitions, its This drive to enhance the social prestige Within England, this crisis in the influence within Britain was being of English Freemasonry received a body authority of the Premier Grand Lodge undermined by the success of the blow in 1797–8 with the publication of evidently led to the loss of many Ancients Grand Lodge in recruiting works alleging that Freemasonry had members. However, at the same time lower class members in the English been used as a cover organisation by Freemasonry was spreading beyond the provinces. Moreover, the Ancients Jacobin elements promoting the French British Isles. Benjamin Franklin had Grand Lodge forged far closer relations revolution. William Preston was printed an American edition of the Book than the Premier Grand Lodge with the prompted to write at length to the of Constitutions in 1734, and by 1749 he Grand Lodges in Scotland and Ireland. Gentleman’s Magazine protesting the had been warranted as Provincial Grand Thanks to Laurence Dermott, the loyalty of English freemasons and their Master of Philadelphia. Yet as Ancients Grand Lodge fostered a form of attachment to the established Freemasonry spread abroad it became Freemasonry which contrasted constitution. But the tensions buffeted more contentious. The Premier Grand profoundly with the highly Whig and British Freemasonry. In Sheffield, Lodge stumbled in its administration of rationalist Freemasonry of the early masonic lodges split following disputes foreign lodges, as is reflected in its years of the Premier Grand Lodge. over the use of the masonic hall by the confusion over Franklin’s appointment. Robert Peter has recently argued that this Sheffield Society for Consitutional The differences between French and reflects counter-enlightenment Information. Spies reported to the Home English Freemasonry, sometimes tendencies, and certainly the success of Office on proceedings in masonic lodges reflecting explicit Jacobite involvement, the Ancients needs to be seen in the light (Continued on page 8)
Issue 43 page 7 (Continued from page 7) reform. He hoped that, in achieving the was now a serious possibility that in Leeds. A lodge in Brentford was Union, he would also perform a greater freemasons could be consigned to the accused of plotting to assassinate the service for humanity as a whole. He was workhouse. King. The reaction of masonic lodges fascinated by the idea that Freemasonry Crucefix launched the Freemasons was energetically to protest their loyalty. embodied remnants of an ancient sun Quarterly Review to help promote his The Lodge of Lights in Warrington religion which predated christianity, and campaign for the masonic asylum. The turned itself into a branch of the local employed Godfrey Higgins, who had Freemasons Quarterly Review quickly militia. Many lodges changed their name pioneered such theories in his became a vehicle for a new type of to emphasise their loyalty and publications, to investigate further the Freemasonry, which may be linked to attachment to the crown. origins of Freemasonry. Higgins claimed wider demands for reform at this time. But Freemasonry received a further to have found evidence to support this Crucefix argued for a Freemasonry body blow with the realisation that Irish case. Aided by Higgins, Sussex dreamed which was more evangelistic and more rebels had used forms of masonic of using Freemasonry to give a new committed to social reform. Above all, organisation in organising the Irish religion to the world which he felt would he argued that Freemasonry should be rebellion in 1797. The government be a boon to civilisation. more explicitly christian. In this, proposed banning all meetings behind Despite this religious radicalism, Crucefix’s great ally was the clergyman closed doors, which would have Sussex showed a less assured touch in George Oliver who, reacting directly to outlawed Freemasonry. Eventually, dealing with social and economic the ideas of Higgins and his populariser following a dramatic debate in change. He insisted that freed slaves Richard Carlile, developed a christian parliament, an exemption for masonic could not become freemasons, creating theology of Freemasonry which was to lodges from the Unlawful Societies Act chaos in the organisation of Freemasonry be enormously influential for the rest of of 1799 was hastily patched up. This in the Caribbean which lasted until the the nineteenth century. Crucefix saw the legislation drove a wedge between 1850s. Despite Sussex’s interest in the promotion of masonic charity as linked Freemasonry and other forms of fraternal work of Robert Owen, he was to wider provision for self-help and society. The Oddfellows, for example, unsympathetic to the needs of the new security – at one point he renamed his suffered from restrictions on their use of industrial cities, which perhaps magazine the Freemasons Quarterly ritual. While freemasons were proud of underpinned the secession of groups of Review and General Assurance their exemption under the Act, the lodges in the north-west of England Advocate. privileged legislative position of following the Union. On the whole, the For Crucefix, Freemasonry was Freemasonry caused it to become new class of industrialists seem to have intended for the respectable middle increasingly estranged from other forms taken little interest in promoting classes. The Freemasons Quarterly of fraternal organisation. Freemasonry in the industrial towns. A Review carried anxious reports about These social and political pressures characteristic situation appears to have masonic beggars, usually members of underpinned the Union between the two been that in Bradford, where the masonic lodges in Ireland and Scotland, who Grand Lodges in 1813. Freemasons in lodge continued to be chiefly populated were thought to be illicitly using other parts of Europe were anxious as to by artisans who apparently sought to use masonic lodges as part of the system of whether the Grand Lodges in England the lodge to retain a sense of that tramping in search of work – the kind of really had the degree of control of their community which the industrial distinctly unrespectable practice to members that they claimed. The Swedish development of the town had shattered which Crucefix was opposed. Crucefix’s Grand Lodge for example felt that for ever. success in promoting this reformed English lodges too readily admitted middle class Freemasonry was distinctly lower class sailors and mariners, who 1834–1855/6 patchy – while his influence on the created problems when they returned The increasing social cleavage between resurgence of lodges run by his followers home and tried to join lodges there. The Freemasonry and other forms of fraternal such as Birmingham was enthusiastically British government remained concerned organisation was vividly expressed in reported in the pages of the Freemasons as well – the Home Office put pressure 1834, when the Tolpuddle Martyrs were Quarterly Review, in other industrial on the Ancients Grand Lodge to ban arrested and tried under the Unlawful towns such as Bradford or indeed meals after masonic meetings, as too Societies Act, an event which was Sheffield, his impact was more limited. much loose talk might take place there. toasted by officers of the Grand Lodge There is no need here to go into the In negotiating the Union of the two who urged masonic lodges to check that details of Crucefix’s titanic dispute with English Grand Lodges, the Duke of their exemption was in order. Yet social the Duke of Sussex. For the historian, it Sussex had a variety of concerns. At one change was beginning to pose greater was a boon insofar as allegations that level, he wanted to ensure that there was challenges for the Grand Lodge. To discussions in the Grand Lodge were no danger that Freemasonry could be Sussex, the capacity of Freemasonry to misreported in the Freemasons used by seditious elements. At another reform society was best expressed in its Quarterly Review led to the detailed level, he sought to make Freemasonry fit ability to help transcend christianity. For minuting of debates in Grand Lodge. for the Empire and sought a uniformity others, such as the physician Robert The important point is that the cleavage of practice across the British Empire. He Crucefix, Freemasonry needed to evident during Crucefix’s lifetime hoped that the Union of the English undertake more direct social action. continued after his death in 1850, with Grand Lodges would be followed by Crucefix promoted a scheme for the the Whig Grand Master Lord Zetland union with the Grand Lodges of Scotland creation of a home for elderly and subject to ferocious attacks for his and Ireland, and this probably explains impoverished freemasons, to which complacent administration of the craft in some of the detail of the resulting reform Sussex was opposed. The passing of the the pages of the Freemasons Magazine, of masonic ritual and practice. The Duke New Poor Law in 1834 gave an added the successor to the Freemasons also had wider ambitions from his urgency to Crucefix’s campaign; there Quarterly Review. Crucefix had marked
page 8 Harashim out lines of division within Freemasonry towns such as Manchester and Sheffield, middle class male a rare opportunity for whose influence is still apparent. immediately adjacent to new city halls conspicuous consumption. Kenning also and other public buildings. published one of the weekly newspapers, 1856–1878 One of the many further points for available on railway bookstalls, which Discontent with Zetland’s administration investigation in this pivotal period in the debated leading issues in Freemasonry of Freemasonry came to a head in 1855 history of Freemasonry is how these and reported on masonic personalities with the secession of a group of changes were expressed in the role of and events. This period also marked the Canadian masons to form their own Freemasonry in the British Empire. emergence of Freemasonry as one of the Grand Lodge. This was followed shortly Some of the pressures within imperial most well-resourced and well-organised afterwards by the formation of a Grand Freemasonry were different and philanthropic bodies in the country. Lodge of Mark Master Masons. I have distinctive – for example, Indian districts Two features should perhaps be discussed the context of these events were reluctant to allow non-Christians to emphasised within this picture of recently in my contribution to the book join masonic lodges and only did so prosperity, stability and growth. First, Marking Well, so I will not dwell on following explicit instructions from Freemasonry was not alone in this social them here. The important point is that London. The reluctance of colonial landscape. It formed part of what has they formed an integral part of a short- freemasons in India to share their lodges been described as ‘competitive lived but profound social and political with natives prompted a particular fraternalism’. The growth of new more crisis precipitated by the inglorious enthusiasm for the works of George rational forms of recreation and leisure conduct of the Crimea War. The attacks Oliver and for the development of from the 1860s had been in part a on Zetland were spearheaded by a Christian orders – Indians might join a reaction to a crisis of identity for the masonic journal called the Masonic craft lodge, but only christians could inhabitants of the large new industrial Observer, written by a group of radical fully appreciate the glories of towns. How were they to maintain the young Tories including Canon George Freemasonry, it was declared from the old sense of community and, in the case Portal and the Earl of Carnarvon. This pulpits of churches in Bombay and of the middle classes, affirm their civic argued for a greater role for the elsewhere. leadership? One answer was to choose provinces in masonic organisation. from a bewildering variety of new social These demands were linked with such 1878–1967 activities. A fervent teetotaler could live reforms to provincial organisation as the From this contentious period, a out a life that was wholly supported by a introduction of provincial yearbooks, consensus emerged by the 1870s, as variety of temperance organisations, more frequent meetings of the province indeed it did in British society more commercial enterprises and publications. and a more active role for Provincial widely. This late Victorian consensus is A committed freemason could likewise Grand Masters. reflected in the fact that when the Prince fill his week with a variety of masonic This can be seen as part of a wider of Wales became Grand Master in 1878, meetings, take in The Freemason for his demand for greater access to political the former firebrand Carnarvon became weekly reading, read in the masonic and social authority for the social leaders his suave and accomplished Pro Grand library, and fill his house with a variety of the new industrial cities. This is Master, while the other rebel of the of masonic objects. Freemasonry was vividly expressed in Birmingham, where 1850s, Portal, was at the same time busy just one of many means by which the a number of wealthy factory owners and bringing order and harmony to the many late Victorian middle classes could members of the social elite sought to other masonic orders which had affirm their respectability and social institute a lodge to be called the Lodge proliferated between 1856 and 1878. prestige and feel a vicarious sense of of Progress, which would meet in a Another epitome of this consensus can community. masonic hall, avoid alcohol at masonic be found in the north-east of England, An aspect of this use of Freemasonry meals and stress the virtues of charity, where the Mark Provincial Grand to express identity in the late Victorian temperance and respectability. Similar Master, the clergyman Canon Tristram, period was the emergence of class shifts can be seen in many other had as his indispensable lieutenant and lodges. Reluctant to enter pubs and industrial towns. To cite again the deputy the former Chartist turned taverns, the establishment of a masonic example of Bradford, the Lodge of Hope newspaper editor, Richard Bagnall Reed. lodge provided a means by which the was taken over by a new group of Late Victorian Freemasonry was new professional classes could socialise wealthy immigrant entrepreneurs, who settled in its position in society. The ins in a neutral atmosphere after work. Thus, earnestly debated how masonic virtue and outs of proceedings in various Grand members of the London School Board could best be achieved. Lodges were earnestly debated in The petitioned for the establishment of a It is at this point that Freemasonry Times, while the freemason George masonic lodge so that they could relax becomes an overwhelmingly middle Grossmith mocked the clerk Charles after committee meetings were finished. class vehicle. It is worth noting that this Pooter for his inability to understand Similar lodges were established for appears to be a largely English masonic allusions. In towns and cities many other professional groups. phenomenon. In Scotland and Ireland, throughout the country, local masonic Particularly noteworthy among these are significant working class membership lodges formed an indispensable part of the lodges established for members of was retained to the present day. In civic processions such as those organised new public sector professions such as England, the importance of Freemasonry for the Golden and Diamond Jubilees of policemen and teachers. The class for the cohesion of the social elites in Queen Victoria. Freemasonry was position of these groups was often provincial towns and cities was supported by a formidable commercial ambiguous; Freemasonry provided one expressed in the building of masonic infrastructure, most visibly expressed in means by which they could claim to be halls (facilitated by the new availability the firm of George Kenning which middle class. of limited liability companies) as an produced the expensive jewels and As part of this stress on respectability, integral part of new civic centres – in regalia which allowed the late Victorian (Continued on page 10)
Issue 43 page 9 (Continued from page 9) The work of John Belton and others would be not so much the attacks of anti- religiosity proved to be increasingly has established without any doubt the masonic writers such as Stephen Knight important. With the adoption of popular way in which the 1960s inaugurated a as the inquiries into Freemasonry and hymn tunes, the prominence of the role period of decline from the previous high religion by the Anglican and Methodist of the chaplain and the pseudo- levels of membership. The complete churches, which proposed that ecclesiastical atmosphere of many of the collapse of the friendly societies after the membership of Freemasonry was new masonic halls, attendance at a lodge Second World War seems to offer a incompatible with membership of these meeting seemed almost like going to a chilling warning as to what might await churches. religious service. The ecclesiastical Freemasonry. John Belton in particular Indeed, it could be argued that atmosphere of English Freemasonry has stressed here the relevance of the Freemasonry itself provides a major increasingly set it apart from work of the sociologist Robert Putnam objection to the Putnam thesis. If Freemasonry elsewhere, most notably who has argued that the decline of fraternalism is in such a profound crisis, from the French Grand Orient which was group-based social activities in America then why does Freemasonry remain in by the 1870s increasingly atheist and represent a profound crisis for modern such a rude state of health? If nothing secularist in outlook and was becoming American society. John and others have else the history of British Freemasonry the keeper of the flame of the Third argued that a similar crisis can be seen in demonstrates its durability, and I am sure Republic. These tensions came to a head Britain, first in the collapse of the it will not easily go away. The university with the dispute over the decision of the friendly societies after the establishment to which I am moving was established as French Grand Orient to dispense with the of the Welfare State and second in the a theological college by the church of requirement for belief in a supreme fall in masonic membership. Wales. When the church of Wales was being, which resulted in the effective However, there are some objections disestablished, it must have seemed as if excommunication of members of that to the thesis that from the 1960s what we its days were numbered. Yet its primary Grand Lodge by the British Grand see in British Freemasonry is an theological training college is now a Lodges. The two major power blocs of expression of the process described in University and a former Archbishop of the masonic world which emerged in the Putnam. First, fraternalism appears Wales is now the Archbishop of 1870s still nervously look at each other historically to have been more important Canterbury (and a Druid). The church of over the masonic equivalent of the Berlin in America than in Britain. While Wales demonstrates the tractability of Wall. This schism cannot be entirely fraternal organisations were an cultural institutions in away which must blamed on the French. As has been important, and neglected, part of late give Freemasonry heart. noted, while France moved in one Victorian British society, they were by I hope I have said enough to show direction, British Freemasonry was no means such an all-pervasive feature that, in considering the history of British becoming more and more religious in of male sociability in Britain as they Freemasonry, an important preliminary tone. were in America. Moreover, the leading requirement is to consider its case in support of the thesis of a crisis in periodisation. And, in considering its Envoi fraternity is the friendly society, but periodisation, perhaps we might think It is for this reason that I am inclined to these collapsed for precisely the reason about where it fits in subject and regard the late Victorian consensus in that legislative pressure had turned them discipline terms. My suggestion that the Freemasonry as persisting until the into little more than insurance societies work of Callum Brown might help in 1960s, with perhaps the celebrations for and had undermined the fraternal aspects understanding the last two periods of the 275th anniversary of the English of their organisation. When the Welfare British masonic history raises a broader Grand Lodge in 1967 marking its last State replaced their benefit function, they question – namely that in studying the gasp. Here, I have been influenced by had little else to offer. history of Freemasonry, it is to the the recent work of Callum Brown, who In contemplating the present history of religion that we should look has argued that the late Victorian period challenges to Freemasonry, I wonder if for a disciplinary context. saw in Britain a deepening of popular the work of historians of religion like One of the attractions of the study of religious sentiment, which he suggests Callum Brown is not more helpful than Freemasonry is its inherently inter- persisted until the cultural shifts of the that of sociologists. Brown argues that disciplinary character – to study fully 1960s. It seems to me that you can see Britain was characterised by a profound Freemasonry we need the skills of the something of the same process in religiosity which was not effectively historian, the literary specialist, the Freemasonry. Despite its claim not to challenged until the 1960s. He suggests museum curator, the art historian, the require belief in any particular religion, that the process of secularisation, placed sociologist and so on. However, if the from at least the 1870s Freemasonry by most historians in the Victorian study of Freemasonry does not have a became a very effective expression of period, actually did not get underway home disciplinary base, it again runs the the wider moral, cultural and political until the 1960s. I wonder if it is that risk of becoming sterile. The subject consensus which underpinned the British challenge to religion, and the emergence field in which the study of Freemasonry Empire. Regardless of whether they were of a secular society, which is at the root sits most comfortably is that of the non-conformist, Anglican, Jewish or of the current uncertainties of British history of religion (and this is one reason Hindu, there was a strong understanding Freemasonry. Freemasonry in Britain why I am delighted that Professor of what constituted proper behaviour for had become so firmly yoked from the Luscombe, a distinguished historian of a loyal British subject, and this was 1870s onwards to a broadly expressed religion and religious thought, has underpinned by a kind of instinctive religious culture in Britain that it was chaired our session today). Freemasons, religious and moral discourse of bound to be shaken to its roots by the anxious to stress that their craft is a precisely the kind that Callum Brown sudden decline of that culture. In this moral and not a religious system, have argues characterised the religioisity of context, the major features of the present fought shy of admitting that the history British society through the 1960s. period of the history of Freemasonry of Freemasonry forms part of the history
page 10 Harashim of religion, but I would suggest that the tools of the historian of religion are precisely those which the historian of Freemasonry requires. So, in presenting a periodisation of the history of British Freemasonry, I would draw your attention to the ways in which a lot of the features of this periodisation correspond to the periodisation of the history of religion in Britain. Freemasonry might not be a religion, but it is a spiritual journey, and the paths along which that journey are directed are those that also shape religions and religious history. Following this lecture, six of the most loyal supporters of the work of the Centre for Research into Freemasonry at the University of Sheffield presented Andrew Prescott with a square inscribed ‘Prof Andrew Prescott. We met on the level and parted on the square’. [see photo] From left: Alan Turton, John Wade, Tony Lever, Andrew Prescott, Jack Thompson, John Belton and John Acaster.
publication in English. I couldn’t find a Book review of the original work; AQC has a couple of one-liners about his other ANZMRC books, but not this one. Reviews The first paragraph of the Preface Conference augured well: I state with all modesty, and without (Continued from page 3) (Continued from page 1) presuming to underestimate the value development of Freemasonry in New science . . . The technique was one of of preceding works on the subject, that superconductive levitation . . . It was to date there has been no truly Zealand’. After lunch Harvey Lovewell the time-honoured Mat-benu [the scientific history of the origins of (W H J Mayers Memorial Lodge of Light of the Stone] of the Mason Freemasonry and that such a study is Research) will conclude with an Word, combined with the totally justified. exploration of time and calendars in extraordinary properties of Orbital So, on to the second paragraph: relation to Masonic history and legend, Rearranged Monatomic Elements, in ‘The calendar and Masonry’. A number of valuable works on the once known to all as the Philosophers’ The biennial general meeting of Stone. history of Freemasonry have in fact been published since the appearance of ANZMRC is scheduled to commence at It takes 350 pages to get to this the grand lodges at the beginning of 3 PM and close as soon possible after conclusion! the seventeenth century. four o’clock. I am glad I didn’t pay full price for WHAT? Quick check of contents, turn to this book, and should not have chapter 13 ‘The Grand Lodges and Postscripts weakened, but waited until the Public Modern Freemasonry’. Skim page one, • Goodies for sale: There will be an Library got it in. date stated to be 1717. Fine. Check first opportunity to purchase current and Neil Wynes Morse footnote: ‘For more see my books . . .’ back issues of various publications Read second paragraph of Preface again. from ANZMRC and affiliated research lodges, as well as CDs of The Secret History of Freemasonry: Its Get up and retrieve book from far end research material. Anyone wishing to Origins and Connection to the Knights of study, where it had mysteriously sell such material should contact the Templar ‘levitated’. conference convener, Neil Morse, at Paul Naudon Consider ‘seventeenth century’ [email protected]. Among the ISBN 1 59477 028 X. probably a translation error. Can I be bothered acquiring a copy in items for sale will be CDs of The According to the publisher’s website: French and checking? No. Collected Kellerman Lectures 1992– Paul Naudon is a law scholar Do I have the time to read it any 2004, and material from the specializing in the history of civil law further, knowing that I will have the ANZMRC catalog and digital library and institutions. He is also a niggling doubt in the back of my head, projects. Freemason who has held many high about the quality of the translation • Dress code: There will not be a tyled ranking posts in France, including that throughout? meeting, and therefore regalia and of Grand Prior of the Gauls (Rectified Scottish Rite) and State Minister for No. dinner suit are not required. the Supreme Council of the Ancient Should you buy this book? • Registration: Those registering for and Accepted Scottish Rite. No! the full weekend should obtain a This volume was first published in Neil Wynes Morse standard registration form from the French in 1991. This is its first (Continued on page 16) Issue 43 page 11
Plano Lodge with the Museum & Library
World News and as a means of fundraising for the North Texas Masonic Historical International conferences Director of CEHME (Centre for study Museum & Library, located beneath Building on the success of the first Inter- of the History of Spanish Freema- their lodge rooms in Plano, Texas. They national Conference on the History of sonry), based at Zaragoza University, describe themselves as: ‘we are all Freemasonry, held in Edinburgh in May Spain, and the event’s principal organ- "black cap" 32° Masons, and none of us iser, Professor Eduardo Torres- 2007, a second such conference will be are past-anythings. We are everyday Cuevas, Director of the National held in the same city in May 2009, and Library and the current holder of the Masons: a Senior Warden, a Senior and the third is scheduled to cross the Atlan- chair for research into Cuban Junior Steward, and a Master of tic, to Alexandria, Virginia (about as Freemasonry. Ceremonies at Plano Lodge #768’. close to Washington DC as Queanbeyan This was followed by approximately 20 The result is a 631-page hardcover is to Canberra), in May 2011. presentations on the history of Caribbean book entitled Morals and Dogma for the The three-day conference to be held and Latin American Freemasonry. 21st Century, published by Stone Guild in Freemasons’ Hall, Edinburgh, 29–31 Publishing, selling for US$49.99. The May 2009, will coincide with celebra- Internet Lodge prizes first printing has been limited to 5000 tions of the 250th anniversary of the Winners have been announced for a numbered copies, of which the first 1000 birth of Robert Burns, and the confer- ‘short papers’ competition run by are signed by the authors. ence organisers ‘encourage the submis- Internet Lodge 9659 EC in 2007. The The publishers’ website is sion of proposals about the life and work winner of the main award, the www.stoneguildpublishing.com/. See of Robert Burns especially in relation to Northampton Award, was Alan Bergin, also http://www.morals-and- his Masonic activities’. For further from Spain, for ‘Were King Solomon’s dogma.com/. details, see http://www.ichfonline.org/ pillars hexagonal?’, in which he argues main.htm. Entries for individual papers convincingly that they were. The World New US research society and panels of short papers closed on Award was won by an American A new research society was launched on 12 June 2008, and the selection results Co-Mason, Karen Kidd, with a well- the first of May, by ‘a significant group will be announced on 31 August. One of reasoned paper, ‘I am regular’. The Nova of passionate Masons’ with aspirations the proposals submitted was for a panel Award winner was also American, to become the ‘premiere [sic] North of four papers on the subject of Prince Michael Halleran, for the multi-lingual American study and research society in Hall Freemasonry by American academ- ‘TOMATO, TO-MAH-TO; Shibboleths Freemasonry’. To that end, they had ics, including Mark Tabbert, director of Beyond the Craft’. The winners attended previously solicited support by circular collections at the George Washington a ‘white table event’ at Freemasons’ letter to ‘noted Masonic scholar[s] with Masonic National Memorial. Hall, Bridge St, Manchester, on an outstanding reputation in the commu- The 2011 conference will be held in 14 March, when the Pro Grand Master, nity of Freemasonry’ to become the George Washington Masonic Lord Northampton, presented them with ‘Founding Fellow[s]’ for the price of National Memorial, a building hard to their prizes. ordinary membership (US$39). Total miss in Alexandria, as it stands alone on Of the 70-odd entries, one was from membership has not yet been published, a grassy hill. Conference details have yet Australia (Keith Stockley) and one from but the Society began with 51 Founding to be released, but for more about the New Zealand (Kerry Nicholls, 2006 Fellows, of whom perhaps a third might venue, see http://www.gwmemorial.org/ Kellerman Lecturer). The competition be classed as internationally known. and http://alexandriava.gov/, or read the will be repeated this year. Entries close The Masonic Society Inc ‘Masonic Odyssey’ episode in the next on 31 December 2008. For details see (incorporated in Indiana) reserves all issue of Harashim. The venue for the http://www.internet.lodge.org.uk/. All rights to the ‘MS circle and quill’ logo 2013 conference has yet to be decided. the 2007 papers are online at the same and the name ‘The Masonic Society’ as Freemasonry Today (Spring 2008) website. its trademarks. Curiously, it has two reports on another three-day academic URLs to a single website: http:// conference on Masonic history, which Book sales to finance museum www.themasonicsociety.com and http:// was held in late 2007 in Havana, Cuba! Four Texas Masons, Brian Chaput, Wil- budreausquared.net/masonicsociety/. Welcome speeches were made by: liam Goodell, Kevin Main, and Membership is restricted to ‘Master Osmundo Cabrera, Grand Master of J J Miller, have revised Albert Pike’s Masons in good standing of lodges under the Grand Lodge of Cuba, Professor Morals and Dogma because they were charter of a grand lodge that is a member José Ferrer Benimeli, founder and concerned that Masons no longer read it, (Continued on page 16) page 12 Harashim A MASONIC ODYSSEY PART IIA—EAST COAST U S A, PA & MD by Tony Pope Having spent nearly a month on our journey from Australia to America, my wife and I arrived in Seattle on 26 April and were re-united with our youngest son, Nigel and his wife and young family. Barbara settled in for a three-month stay in Seattle, but I immediately conferred with Nigel’s wife, Sue, to see when I could make a trip to the East Coast without disrupting the family plans. The best I could do was ten days in June, from the 7th to the 16th, so I became reconciled with being able to visit only the middle section, from Pennsylvania to Virginia. Even that was curtailed by a day, to accommodate an event involving one of my grandsons. I had a few—and memorable—Masonic visits both before and after the trip East, but I shall leave the tale of my West Coast encounters for another time. The East is the subject of the present report. My first destination was Philadelphia, where I hoped to meet Thomas W Jackson, Past Grand Secretary, and Secretary of the World Conferences of Grand Lodges, who was prepared to travel from his home in Pittsburgh for that purpose; also to meet Dr Glenys Waldman PhD, librarian at the Grand Lodge and (at that time) secretary of the Masonic Libraries and Museums Association (MLMA); also to link up with Brian Fegely, who would take me to the PHA Grand Lodge, where I hoped to find answers to the questions raised by Robert Heneke in Cape Town, concerning the charters of the former Prince Hall lodges in South Africa (see Above, from left: Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania; previous issue). Thomas W Jackson; Even before I left Seattle, plans began George Washington’s apron. to gang agley, as Robbie Burns would Right: Dr Glenys Waldman say. First, Tom Jackson had to cancel, because he had to go to Texas on other Masonic duties. Then, the night before I was due to leave, Brian Fegely reported that he still could not contact anyone at the PHA Grand Lodge, but thought that the records I wanted might have been transferred to the Charles L Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University for safekeeping. So, instead of going to bed that night, I googled away and then emailed the curator, asking for access to PHA material in the Blockson collection at a specific date and time, and set off before dawn for the airport. The flight was fine, although it took up most of the day because of the three-hour time difference, and I checked into a rather spartan Travelodge, not far from the mainstream Grand Lodge at One North Broad Street, and had an early night. Top left:Corinthian Room; Left: Egyptian Philadelphia Room; Above (top): Norman room, and Thursday began well. I walked west to (lower) the Ionic Room. North Broad Street, and then south to its was the comparatively restrained, but noticed uneasily, were of glass in metal beginning. Immediately in front of me, at magnificent edifice, the Grand Lodge. frames, designed to make best use of the junction with John F Kennedy Inside, I found Glenys and she gave me a what light was available. Boulevard, was a large building rather tour of her library, with several floors of Then, at Glenys’ suggestion, I took like an enormous many-tiered wedding compactus stacks of old and rare books, the public tour of the building, with a cake. This was City Hall, and to my left many of them in German. The floors, I (Continued on page 14) Issue 43 page 13 including a full drum kit! I would love to have been able to attend a service there. Unfortunately, our guide had little time to spare before holding a committee meeting. We were introduced to the ladies of the committee, and then we departed. Brian showed me a few of the sights in the city, but traffic was getting too heavy for comfort, and I persuaded him to drop me close to my hotel and make his way home while traffic was still flowing fairly smoothly. I made a quick detour to the market area and purchased the sort of tucker I prefer for improvised meals (cheeses, cold meats, bread, fruit and a bottle of red wine) and took them to my spartan hotel for tea and a very early breakfast. Then I had a telephone argument with a talking computer, while trying to book a ride to Baltimore on the Amtrak train; I exasperated the computer Brian Fegely and the church historian in the African Episcopal Church of St Thomas; note the crucifix and the drum kit. so much that it transferred me to a human operator, who gave me no trouble (Continued from page 13) Grand Lodge five or six years at all. [Tip for travellers in the US: keep well-informed guide and a bunch of previously. We agreed that intention and saying to the computer ‘I want to speak visiting Masons and their wives. The action were two different things, thanked to a human operator’, and eventually it grandeur of the various rooms and even the curator, and headed further north will comply. Of course, it would the stairs and hallways was quite along North Broad Street, which began probably work if you just let rip a string overwhelming, including seven to look less affluent and more like a war of oaths, but the computer might transfer lodgerooms all with different themes of zone as we approached our destination. you so quickly that the human operator architecture and adornment: Corinthian The Prince Hall Grand Lodge cops an earful, so be polite.] (my favourite), Egyptian, Gothic, Ionic, building at 4301 North Broad Street is a Norman, Oriental, and Renaissance. I did long, low, red-brick building in its own Maryland note that none of them had any grounds, surrounded by lawn and Early to bed and early to rise put me in a representation of a checkered pavement, guarded by a brick and iron-railing good humour for the train trip to and commented on this to the guide, who fence, with large iron gates secured by a Baltimore, Maryland, on Friday and the responded (somewhat defensively, as if heavy chain and enormous padlock. journey itself, in a reserved seat, was he’d been accused of irregularity), ‘We Nearby buildings were mostly boarded very pleasant. We seemed to cross don’t have them in Pennsylvania’. up and apparently abandoned, and endless rivers and estuaries, pass I followed the tour with a quiet portions of the concrete footpaths were beaches, dunes, lakes, and fairly flat mooch through the museum, and back to broken, with some pieces almost countryside, which I think included part the library, where I found Brian Fegely vertical. The area was deserted, except of Delaware, and arrived at Penn Station with Glenys. for a few small groups of youths. mid-morning, where I had no trouble We three strolled around the market Brian adopted Plan B, and drove identifying my host for the night, Dave area and had a pleasant lunch ‘on Grand further north, where the scenery returned Daugherty. Lodge’, after which we returned to North to normal, and so through a few Dave introduced me to his Labrador, Broad Street, where Brian and I sidestreets, to a quite large and attractive Mojo, and asked where I’d like to go farewelled Glenys and drove north in building, the African Episcopal Church first. I told him, the Prince Hall Grand Brian’s car. Our first stop was Temple of St Thomas (originally established as Lodge of Maryland, 1307 Eutaw Place; University, just off North Broad Street. the African Church), where Absolom I had arranged the visit with the Grand We easily located the library, and the Jones, the first Grand Master of what Secretary before I left Australia, but later Blockson Collection, where we met the eventually became the Prince Hall Grand emails had been unanswered. curator, a young Ethiopian woman, who Lodge of Pennsylvania, was the first As we drove along Eutaw Place, a was expecting us. Unfortunately, all she priest and rector. I was introduced to a street with a wide lawned dividing strip, had been able to find were published lady whom Brian described as the church I spotted a Grand Lodge building at books on the subject of Prince Hall historian. She made us welcome and 1205, a block before the PHA Grand Freemasonry, all of which I had showed us around the church, which (she Lodge. This was labelled ‘Hiram Grand encountered previously, and some of explained) was not the original building, Lodge’, but I could not recall its which were in my personal library. She and which had stained glass windows affiliation. Anyway, we continued on. had no manuscripts or other material bearing Masonic emblems among its We passed 1307, found a parking spot from the PHA Grand Lodge, and no subjects. I noted that there was a half- nearby, and walked back. record of any such deposit. Brian then lifesize crucifix above the altar, and that On the corner was a stone-faced, informed me that the intention to make in addition to an organ, the church pillared building with a dome on top. this deposit had been minuted at the housed a number of musical instruments, Above the front entrance, in relief on the
page 14 Harashim stone, were two hexalphas. Below, on the glass dormer, was a square and compasses, but the door was locked. We walked further, and saw that the neighbouring red-brick building was identified as the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland. We subsequently discovered that the stone-faced building started life as a synagogue, hence the hexalphas and the dome. Later it was purchased by the neighbouring Grand Lodge and put to good use by the brethren. At first we could find no one in authority at the Grand Lodge, certainly not the Grand Secretary, who had recently changed his day job and was many miles away. At last we located RWBro Richard Johnson, Grand Historian, cousin of the previous Grand Historian, Bill Gross FPS, and Richard showed us around both buildings. Then I asked him about Hiram Grand Lodge. It transpired that brethren of the two Grand Lodges were friendly, sometimes attending each other’s untyled functions. I asked if it was the Above: Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland local PHO Grand Lodge and Richard Below (from left): Hosts Dave Daugherty & Janet Wintermute; Bill Gross was uncertain. I asked if he would accompany us there and vouch for us, and he readily agreed. We walked down the block to the Hiram building, where we found the Grand Treasurer, Melvin D Green, who readily showed us around the ground floor, but was unable to climb the stairs, to take us to the higher floors. I asked him the affiliation of his Grand Lodge, was it Prince Hall Origin? He didn’t think so. Was it one of the John J Jones group of Grand Lodges? He wasn’t sure, but there was a Brother of the mainstream Grand Lodge who knew far more about such things and often visited them. He would phone and see if this Brother could come over. We were in luck, and Melvin introduced us to Murray K Lilley, Past Senior Grand Warden of the mainstream Grand Lodge, who showed us around the rest of the building. He told us that Hiram Grand Lodge was derived from lodges of Oriental Grand Lodge of New Jersey, and these lodges formed Hiram Grand Lodge, which then affiliated with a Grand Congress of Grand Lodges. I pointed out that there have been quite a number of Grand Congresses, including those started by Jones and Bell. He was unable to make clear to me which Grand Congress it was. (I’ve since located a webpage which provides a history of Hiram Grand Lodge of Maryland, at http://www.hiramgrandlodge-md.org/ Hiram Grand Lodge of Maryland; ( from left ) : Richard Johnson ( PHA ) ; hiram%20history.html, but still have not Murray Lilley; Melvin Green ( H iram ) ; Dave Daugherty. Issue 43 page 15 found a Grand Congress which lessons in a drug store–café combination. ratio’ by Dr Daryl Carter, who I think acknowledges this Grand Lodge as a After a few games we returned home, was not a Mason. The paper was greeted member.) where we were collected by a friend who with acclamation, and provoked plenty By this time it was mid-afternoon and drove us to Mt Moriah Masonic Temple of comment and questions; this was an we had missed lunch. Dave asked me at Towson for a meeting of the advanced study group in such matters. what I wanted to do, and I persuaded ecumenical Maryland Masonic Research Afterwards I said farewell to Mork him to take me shopping and to allow me Society. and the others, and departed with Janet to cook the evening meal. He agreed, There I met the president, Sister for her home in Adelphi, Maryland, just and we found some decent steaks and Sharonlee Vogel (Feminine Grand north of the border with the District of appropriate vegetables, and a passable Lodge of Belgium), vice-president Bro Columbia, my destination for meetings Australian red, and a ridiculously cheap Bill Gross FPS (PHA Maryland and the over the next few days. Actually, Sunday bottle of Bushmills single malt Irish Phylaxis Society), Bro Ken Gibala was scheduled as a day of rest, and I whiskey. (mainstream District of Columbia), spent it in conversation with Janet and Then Dave drove us home through Sister Janet Wintermute (Memphis- her husband John, who is not a Mason the countryside to Abingdon MD. He Misraïm, and my host for the next few but shares with Janet membership in a introduced me to his wife, Mindy, and days), and a number of mainstream and non-Masonic international order of from then on I called him Mork. I rustled Prince Hall brethren, and other sisters Knights Templar. There was a possibility up a pretty fair Aussie tea, and even from the President’s lodge. My only that Rashied Sharrieff-Al-Bey would persuaded Mindy to wash it down with a regret was that I did not get to meet Jeff find the time to glass of red, and after tea Mork and I Marshall, still overseas on military duty. come down from began to nudge the Bushmills. We While we were having a snack prior New York, but remembered the virtue of temperance, to the meeting, Bill Gross took me aside the visit did not however, and left nearly half a bottle for and presented me with a commemorative eventuate. Mork to toast my memory after he’d medallion of the 150th anniversary of the Rashied passed me on to my next host. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland. Sharrieff-Al-Bey On Saturday morning we drove to the The main business of the meeting was a nearest town, where Mork gave chess paper on ‘Sacred Geometry: the golden To be continued.
The society proclaims: Our name, The Masonic Society, World intentionally alludes to the Royal ANZMRC Society, the innovative organization of News visionary men who were at the fore- Conference front of the Age of Enlightenment, many of whom were present at the (Continued from page 12) formation of what became modern (Continued from page 11) Freemasonry. Likewise, our new secretary of their own research lodge, of the Conference of Grand Masters of Society will be at the forefront of a and complete it. In such cases, the Masons in North America, or of a grand new age of Freemasonry, and we registration fee includes a copy of the lodge recognized by a member of that intend to be a vibrant, active ANZMRC Proceedings 2008. There conference’, but other Masons and community within the fraternity. will also be an opportunity at the non-Masons (for the same price as Time—and Harashim—will tell. conference to register for a day or membership) may subscribe to the part of a day at a reduced fee, which society’s quarterly Journal, which is Vatican Archives in New York will not include a copy of the scheduled to commence in July. The Livingston Masonic Library (New Proceedings (available for purchase President of the society is Roger York) has purchased a copy of separately). Attendance at any session VanGorden, PGM Indiana and a Fellow Processus Contra Templarios, the is open to Masons and non-Masons, of the Philalethes Society. In the April 300-page book of Vatican secret regardless of gender, but all attendees 2008 issue of the Philalethes magazine archives of the trial of the Knights must register. he is listed as a ‘V President’; the same Templar, published last October in a • Floriade: This is Australia's premier issue reports on the meeting of the limited edition of 799 copies at spring festival and a world-class Executive Board on 7 February, and 5900 Euros (about A$10,000) each, floral spectacular, presented in the notes laconically ‘Roger Van Gorden thanks to the Edward J Scheider Book splendid grounds of Commonwealth discussed the possible replacement of the Fund. The book includes the ‘Chinon Park on the shores of Lake Burley Editor [Nelson King] and the Executive Chart’, revealing that Pope Clement V Griffin. Over one million blooms Secretary [Wallace McLeod]. There was absolved the Templars of heresy. create a stunning backdrop to a no action taken’. month-long festival filled with music, Other officers of The Masonic ANZMRC cultural celebrations, artistic displays, Society Inc are: 1st VP, Michael Poll changes of address entertainment and recreational FPS; 2nd VP, Rex Hutchens FPS; activities. It will run from Saturday Executive Secretary, Ronald D Martin; Secretary: P O Box 1080 13 September to Sunday 12 October Treasurer, Nathan C Brindle; and Editor- Newport. 2008, open on Monday to Friday 9–5, in-Chief (well, it is Indiana), Christopher Vic 3015 and on weekends and Public Holidays Hodapp (author of Freemasons for Australia. 8–5. Entry is free, and last entry is at Dummies). All are Founding Fellows. Editor: [email protected] 4.30 PM. page 16 Harashim Harashim
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian & New Zealand Masonic Research Council
ISSN 1328-2735 Issue 44 October 2008 US MAINSTREAM MASONRY FALLS BELOW 1.5 MILLION
Statistics released by the Masonic Service Association of North America reveal that by Local News in brief the end of 2007 the number of Masons in the 51 mainstream Australia—a mixed bag Brethren will be saddened to learn of the death of two researchers, Mick Cam Grand Lodges of the United Congratulations to ANZMRC President States had dropped below and Brian Burton. Peter Verrall, who returned from an Arthur Milton (Mick) Cam died in 1,500,000, based on the MSA’s overseas trip in time for the August Adelaide on 4 July, aged 88. He was the own records. meeting of the Western Australian author of One hundred and twenty-five These records show that in 1925 Lodge of Research 277, where the Grand years of Irish Freemasonry in South there were 3,157,566 members, rising to Master conferred on him the rank of Past Australia (1982) and Irish Freemasonry 3,295,125 in 1929, then falling yearly to Junior Grand Warden, to Peter’s in Australasia (2006). VWBro Cam was 1941 with a low of 2,451,301. From complete surprise. (see story page 9) a stalwart of the Duke of Leinster Lodge 1942 numbers began to rise, peaking in 363 IC, the only surviving Irish lodge in 1959 at 4,103,161. Since then they have Australia, and an honorary Past Grand been falling continuously, dropping GM’s challenge Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. below the 4 million mark in 1965, below Brian Keith Burton died at Nowra, 3 million in 1984, and below 2 million to ANZMRC NSW on 29 August. He was Kellerman in 1998. At the official opening of the Lecturer for NSW&ACT in 1994. (see On a state by state basis, only two Memorial on page 9) Grand Lodges have shown slight gains ANZMRC biennial conference at Queanbeyan, NSW, on Saturday Discovery Lodge of Research 971, last year: Massachusetts by 604 the revitalised Research Lodge of NSW, members, and Delaware, by 36. 4 October, Grand Master Greg Levenston (NSW&ACT) called has resumed work, with Foty Loupos as MSA records also reveal that Master, Richard Dawes as Secretary and Canadian numbers are still falling. The for research to be made more attractive to ordinary Masons, Andy Walker as editor. They met at the combined total of Masons in the ten TurraMurra Masonic Centre, Sydney, at mainstream Grand Lodges was down and challenged ANZMRC to make the conference the starting 7 PM on Thursday 4 September (dress: from 96,022 in 2006 to 93,644 in 2007. lounge suit) to consider ‘Esoteric The only Grand Lodge to show a slight point to reinvigorate research and study, to reach out to Freemasonry; out of the darkness and gain was Newfoundland & Labrador, into the Light?’ with an additional 18 members. younger Masons, personally and electronically, and make a The lodge is seeking a travelling By comparison Australia is down to warrant, and plans to visit the other 53,000, and New Zealand down to difference. The GM’s address in full is research groups in the jurisdiction, at 11,200, according to the American 2008 Newcastle and Canberra. The List of Lodges Masonic (Pantagraph). given on page 3. (Continued on page 4) Issue 44 page 1 About Harashim Harashim, Hebrew for Craftsmen, is a quarterly newsletter published by the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Book Reviews Research Council (PO Box 1080, Newport, Victoria 3015, Australia) in January, April, July and October each year. It is supplied to Affiliates and Associates in hard copy and/or PDF format. It is The Fulfilled Promise available worldwide in PDF format as an generate sales at the ANZMRC Eli Minoff & Keith Stockley email attachment, upon application to the Conference 2008 in Queanbeyan. ANZMRC Secretary (particulars below). 236 pp, self-published Usually the current issue is also displayed on Colin Heyward the website of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania: The authors, one Israeli and one
On behalf of the Masonic Jurisdiction of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory it gives me great pleasure to welcome you here this morning to the 9th Biennial Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Conference featuring the presentation of the 2008 Kellerman lectures. And let me say just how close this jurisdiction was to losing our research lodge, and this hole in the force has been replaced by the Discovery Lodge of Research. Masonic Education, Masonic Studies, knowledge and light, the opposites of science. Two kinds of knowledge are and Masonic Research are very dear to ignorance and darkness, are, ever have described, that of the Liberal Arts and me; my early mentor, in my mother been, and we trust ever will be, Sciences, and the hidden mysteries of lodge, Lodge Harold Herman Unity No characteristic features and the abiding Nature and Science. We must be distinction of Freemasonry. 428 of this jurisdiction, was RWBro prepared to make the effort and discover Harry Kellerman, who managed to get That was in 1886—122 years ago. the vast unknown of Masonic not only into my ear, but also into my We are accepted into the Craft knowledge. heart, and into my soul. because we affirm a general desire for Research requires dedication. According to Bro Harry, knowledge. We are admonished to make Research requires time. We need more Freemasonry is a ‘system of education’. daily progress in the acquisition of Brethren to undertake research. We need Part of that system is to ‘research’. We Masonic knowledge, and we are need to: rewarded for making progress in the (Continued on page 4) discover knowledge past; prove legitimacy of same; prove the truth; and prove and justify the theoretical basis of the topics. President’s Corner Research must: speech on what we owe to ‘The Few’ deal with establishing and proving applies to these two brethren. facts, not ideals, by comparing and Ours is an unusual organisation. As contrasting substantiating sources; I wrote in my first ‘President’s challenge and expand original Corner’, it is spread some 5000 thought; kilometres from West to East, the be useful and useable, and distance from Spain in Europe to the extend its influence to the ordinary Caspian Sea in Asia. We have no Mason. central headquarters, no regular At the consecration of Quatuor Coronati meeting place and generally we only Lodge 2076 EC in 1886, the following see each other every two years. Yet it was said: It is always difficult to settle down to is most important that if we are to . . . we may help forward the the usual everyday activities after a survive, and I consider that we are one important cause of masonic study and trip overseas but having now read the of the most important constituents of investigation, may induce a more hundreds of emails, paid all those Freemasonry, we must get support scholarly and critical consideration of accounts that seemed to accumulate, from all the Research lodges and act as our evidences, a greater relish for written all the letters of thanks to those a united body. historical facts, and subserve at the kind people who graciously hosted us Graham has already encouraged same time the increasing and healthy in the far corners of the globe, and put you to attend our Biennial Conference movement for the extension of libraries and museums in all all the photos in an album, Elisabeth at Queanbeyan. It would be great to Lodges . . . [We believe] that such a and I have once again surfaced. see at least one representative from study, thoughtful and prudent, zealous Firstly, I would like to thank our every research lodge so that, on their yet discriminating, is essential to a Immediate Past President, Graham return to their lodges, they can share proper understanding of masonic Stead, for stepping back into the their experiences with their fellow archaeology and masonic formulae . . . President’s Corner (it sounds like a members. For thus it may chance that we shall boxing ring!) and delivering some I also commend VWBro Colin be enabled to rescue contemporary excellent comments which I Heyward and WBro Ed Robinson on Freemasonry from the charge wholeheartedly endorse. Kent the work that they are doing in frequently brought against it, that it sacrifices an intellectual study of Henderson and Tony Pope have producing the Library Catalogue. This Freemasonry proper to the more certainly been marvellous stalwarts for is a mammoth task and we look pervading requirements of the social the ANZMRC since its inception. But forward to hearing more about it at the circle, and that it is too easily we cannot leave everything to them. Conference. contented with a routine of ritual on Any organisation, whether it is I look forward to meeting many of the one hand, and the pleasing Masonic or not, relies not on its you in Canberra. exercize of hospitality on the other . . . numbers, but on the calibre of the few as Freemasons who take pride in their who steer its path. I am sure that Peter Verrall order, and who feel strongly that Winston Churchill’s famous wartime Issue 44 page 3 (Continued from page 3) libraries distributing and sharing their to make research ‘sexy’, the place to be. databases, and spreading the words of The Frank Haas Story We need to promote ourselves to the this ‘talking’. very early grass roots of this The discipline of training, study and by Tony Pope organisation, to the very first steps. We analysis is crucial to the process, and The full story of Past Grand Master need to mentor and tutor these Masons, creates the differential between ‘a Frank Haas has yet to be told, but and say strongly ‘we want you, we need member’ and ‘a Mason’. parts of it are accessible to all, and you’, and put out a hand of scholarly And Brethren and friends, if we need some of it is recounted in the friendship: no closed shop, no closed time to take up research, there is no following pages. minds, no ‘wait for your turn’. better time than right now, to attract the First we have his own account, We must identify and engage talent, hearts and minds of all our Brethren. given at the Feast and Forum of the promote, present, and be seen. Research Right now! I challenge you to make this Philalethes Society in February 2008, is a career path in Freemasonry that conference the starting point to subsequently published in the should have specific attractive signposts. reinvigorate research and study across Philalethes magazine (vol 61 #2) in Active participation is the way to learn, this jurisdiction, and across Australia April. The Society (of which Judge and original thought and work is within and New Zealand, to reach out to the X’s Haas has been a member for a number all of us. and Y’s and Younger Boomers, of years) has a proud record of Research is necessary to define ‘What personally and electronically—and in 25 opposition to censorship and is Freemasonry’. Freemasonry as a years time let it be said that it was this repression, and of providing support living organisation with a distinguished group, you Brethren here today, that for those so oppressed. The Society history is in need of a contemporary, made the difference! made no secret of the fact that Bro flexible image. We must enjoy our Again I welcome you to the Haas was to be its Guest Lecturer, and Freemasonry, and learn to ‘talk the talk’ conference, I wish you well on the it was probably this action which across the generations. crucial journey that lies ahead for us all, sparked the abortive coup staged to And I call for the creation of an ANZ and I formally open the conference. take over the Philalethes Society that Resource Centre, with all our Masonic Thank you. weekend, resulting in the formation in May of the self-styled ‘Masonic Society’. Next we have an article in the New York Times in June, after Judge Haas Local News in brief commenced legal proceedings against the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, seeking reinstatement as a Mason and (Continued from page 1) member of the Grand Lodge. The case Secretary’s particulars are: RWBro full Affiliate member in 2009. is set for hearing in December. Richard Dawes, 1/40 Burdett St, Hearty congratulations to Hawke’s Bro Haas has the support of the Hornsby, NSW 2077, Australia; ph. Bay Research Lodge 305 on achieving Knights of Freemasonry Universal, 0437 965 372, [email protected]. 75 years of active research work. who made him a Knight Zuri in 2007 W H J Mayers Memorial Lodge of Members please note that a full report of ‘for his efforts in bringing Research (Cairns) has achieved a web the celebrations is expected, in time for enlightenment to the craft’, and of presence, with a blogsite at http://whj- the next issue of Harashim. various bloggers and fringe Masonic mayers.blogspot.com/. The South The Research Lodge of Taranaki groups. Australian Lodge of Research 216 also Province 323 has a new Secretary, WBro The Grand Lodge of West Virginia uses a blogsite in preference to a Graeme Thompson, PO Box 3323, is silent on the issue. Despite its website. This may be the economical Fitzroy, New Plymouth, NZ; ph/fax isolationist stance against joining any way to go for small lodges. (+646) 755 1695; [email protected]. mainstream US inter-jurisdictional Please amend details in the 2008 bodies, it does have a website, New Zealand—all good Proceedings accordingly. competently created but providing A new research lodge is in the process of The current issue of the New Zealand minimal information (not even links to being formed in the Nelson, Freemason has provided splendid pub- other websites). It has a list of Past Marlborough, and West Coast District of licity for ANZMRC and the biennial Grand Masters, from which the entry the South Island. The petition has been Conference. In addition to publishing ‘Frank J Haas’ is conspicuously absent. signed by more than 50 brethren, and Victorian researcher Robert Barnes’ This has been called by some an will be presented at the Board of General 2006 Kellerman Lecture (Science, Orwellian rewriting of history but, to Purposes of the Grand Lodge of New Freemasonry and the Third Millennium) be fair to the Grand Lodge, the list Zealand in November. If it is granted, in full, it contains two large notices of appears to be only of living Past Grand the inaugural meeting of Top of the the Conference: a third of a column on Masters, not an historical list of all South Research Lodge is planned for page 2, and a half-column at the end of PGMs of the jurisdiction; since Bro Saturday 28 February 2009, in Nelson. It the Kellerman Lecture, on page 22. Haas was expelled—justly or would be good to have ANZMRC well Quite apart from the publicity it has unjustly—from the Grand Lodge, the represented on that occasion. given to ANZMRC, this really is an list is technically correct in omitting The Research Lodge of Ruapehu 444, excellent magazine. The on-line edition, his name. currently an Associate member of in PDF format, can be downloaded from Harashim will continue to follow ANZMRC, at their October meeting will www.freemasons.co.nz/cms/. the story of Frank Haas and report on consider a recommendation to become a Continued on page 9 significant events.
page 4 Harashim Reprinted with permission from the Philalethes magazine, April 2008. Masonry Through the (Rearview) Looking Glass 2008 Philalethes Feast and Forum Lecture by Frank J Haas, MPS Thank you very much for your brave Believe it. The reason for the expulsion: invitation. I know that there is some free speech. I have a sincere controversy about my being here. Some philosophical disagreement with of you have examined your consciences Montgomery and his supporters. I about whether you should listen to me, believe that the grand lodge belongs to break bread with me, shake hands with the Craft and that the brothers should me, appear in the banquet room with me, decide grand lodge laws and policy with stay in the same hotel as me, and where their open debates and votes, preserving to draw the line. I respect that fidelity. I always our eight Ancient Landmarks. am hopeful that this will be only a We are not bound to look forever temporary strain on our fraternal through a looking glass as a rearview relations. I am honored to accept an mirror and never look at the present or invitation that I did not seek. I have the Judge Frank J Haas toward the future. Montgomery wants no photo by Ángel Franco/New York Times highest respect for the Philalethes change ever, and anyone who wants any Society, and I would not do anything calling me to ask whether I would be in change should ‘go away’. intentionally to harm it. lodge the following evening. I said it was Here is how I engendered such anger. I very much wish that the on my calendar. He said he ‘might drop Votes matter. In West Virginia, past circumstances that brought us together in’ to talk about the Oyster Night at the masters have one quarter of a vote. might have been dispensed with, but I previous meeting of Wellsburg Lodge According to the legend, I was elected to have gained a great deal of unsought #2, where we hosted fifty Ohio brothers, the progressive line of grand lodge notoriety of late. This Society exists to including a surprise visit by the Grand officers by a quarter of a vote. You know research problems confronting Master of Ohio, the stalwart Ronald L that you must be cautious about secret Freemasonry. I have a problem. Some Winnett. When I walked into the lodge ballots: those who know should not say, say that I am a problem. I have been a building on Monday, November 19, and those who say may not know. I am Philalethes member for quite a few 2007, I thought it likely that the lodge only passing on what I was told. I had years. I can relate to you my perception would be complimented for its served ten years on the Committee on and my recollection of what has hospitality to two sitting grand masters. Work with the custody of the ritual as happened recently to Freemasonry in Little did I know that the lodge would Deputy Grand Lecturer. I became Junior West Virginia and to me, and I can offer soon be on probation and that expulsion Grand Warden, but some did not want my opinions on these events. I will tell edicts in advance had been researched, me there. you what happened, beginning at the prepared, drafted, typed, and were soon As grand master, it became my end. Listen to the Red Queen from Lewis to be read, expelling Richard K Bosely frequent practice to address the brethren Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in and me, all, heartlessly, in the presence at lodge meetings, and I began to Wonderland. of my father. conclude my speaking on the level with ‘No, no!’ said the Queen. ‘Sentence I have been hurt by all of this, a time of questions [and] answers. There first, verdict afterwards’. ‘Stuff and because I love this fraternity. I must were some recurring themes in the nonsense!’ said Alice loudly. ‘The idea guard against having my remarks today brother’s questions, and these I decided of having the sentence first!’ ‘Hold sound like nothing but sour grapes. to bring to the floor of grand lodge for your tongue!’ said the Queen, turning Some unpleasant events happened. consideration. Before grand lodge, I purple. ‘I won’t!’ said Alice. ‘Off with People ask me what happened. I tell acted on three matters of business that her head!’ the Queen shouted at the them. They do not believe it and say it is needed no change but were compelling top of her voice. Nobody moved. impossible. interpretations of existing language. In a similar fashion, the capital The Red Queen and Alice discussed Youth. We had one active DeMolay punishment of Masonry was meted out such a circumstance in Carroll’s chapter in the whole state, at the time. to me. Sentence first, verdict irrelevant, Through the Looking-Glass and What We had only around a hundred Rainbow trial—well, details, details. I was Alice Found There. Girls. I talked to the youth and their expelled summarily by the Grand Master ‘I can’t believe that!’ said Alice. leaders, and I learned that part of their of West Virginia without a trial, without ‘Can’t you?’ the Queen said in a problem was our grand lodge law. Our written charges, and without notice that pitying tone. ‘Try again: draw a long policies were actually harming kids. Our my neck was in the noose. ‘Sentence breath, and shut your eyes’. Alice Masonic law requires us not to allow first, verdict afterwards’. To earn it, I did laughed. ‘There’s no use trying’, she youth organizations to meet in the lodge not even get the pleasure of stealing any said: ‘one can’t believe impossible rooms, no matter what the lodges want. money, messing around with any things’. ‘I daresay you haven’t had Lodges cannot give any support to the women, or sounding off with a temper much practice’, said the Queen. ‘When I was your age, I always did it for half- kids. Lodges cannot donate a penny. tantrum. While I was watching a football Lodges cannot even permit the parking game on a Sunday evening, I remember an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible lot to be used to raise funds by a car Grand Master Charlie L Montgomery things before breakfast’. wash, for example. When I learned that
Issue 44 page 5 the application of these many indeed debate and vote, and I later been prohibited, such as Scottish Rite or prohibitions, which had slowly learned that the statements about York Rite emblems or a tapestry hung on accumulated over the years, was hurting unanimity in the room were exaggerated. a concrete block wall, but the brothers the kids, I concluded that it was never The following day, grand lodge voted to allow it—including portraits of the intention of Masonic law to be opened, and I reported my actions and local Past Grand High Priests and Past harmful to them. I thought the brothers opinions to the Craft. Prominent among Grand Commanders, of whom they are would want fast action, so I acted with a them was an outreach I had made to the justly proud. directive to help the kids, and I set the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand The West Virginia brothers were subject for discussion at grand lodge. Lodge of West Virginia through the forward-looking and voted to do what Summary reprimands. We had three Prince Hall Grand Master. Perhaps I they thought was right. There was brothers involved in two separate went further than he would have liked, as jubilation at the passing of the Wheeling incidents. News reporters initiated calls I wrote him and telephoned him months Reforms at grand lodge in 2006. That to ask for facts about Masonic buildings, earlier, and then visited the hotel of their lasted for a matter of days. Then we which they proposed to feature in their grand lodge session, suggesting a returned to the rearview looking glass, newspaper articles. The brothers meeting. For our grand lodge, I proposed the rearview mirror, as the ballot was answered questions about facts and language declaring it to be unmasonic declared illegal by my successor. The figures, numbers and dates, and these conduct to refuse to seat a visitor to vote was scorned. In my opinion, the resulted in large, beautiful articles with lodge if race was a reason, and it passed. best word to describe what is now color photographs in the newspapers of On other subjects, the brothers voted to happening as a result is: repression. the fourth and the fifth largest cities in allow themselves the option to say the Since the Wheeling Reforms were the state. One headline on the front page Pledge of Allegiance at lodge meetings. struck down, we have heard it said that, of the Sunday newspaper was worth The brothers voted to allow handicapped although race is not a legitimate factor to thousands of dollars in a public relations candidates to petition. use to exclude a qualified visitor, wink- budget: ‘I knew they were just and We are the only grand lodge not to wink, the Worshipful Master has the upright men’. However, the three recognize or support the DeMolay, duty to preserve the ‘peace and brothers had not referred the reporters to Rainbow Girls, or Job’s Daughters. We harmony’ of the lodge. So, promote the grand master, so he summarily issued are the only grand lodge not to be peace and harmony, but, wink-wink, do written edicts of reprimand to be read members of the Masonic Service not consider the race of the visitor, wink- audibly in all 140 lodges at two separate Association. We are the only grand wink. meetings. There were no trials. Sentence lodge not to belong to a regional Did you lose a thumb while fighting first. I entered an edict expunging the conference of grand masters. We are the for your country? Which one? The left? record because there was no constructive only grand lodge to order the Scottish Sign here on this membership petition. purpose to be achieved in having them Rite not to perform one of their degrees, The right? We have ancient usages and continue. the Washington/Arnold 20th degree. The customs, and we cannot put up with your As I prepared for the grand lodge result? I am proud to say that the kind. session, I prepared a written agenda and brothers voted not to persist in remaining Do you want a Masonic funeral? had the various subjects of legislation a minority of one. The brothers voted to Your grandsons are prohibited from distributed so that it went to the Craft change these things. being pall bearers unless they are all with the proposals in their hands, in By their votes, the brothers repealed Master Masons. You must explain these advance, in writing, to allow discussion an assortment of legislative state-wide Masonic laws to your widow so that we to take place freely before the grand restrictions, piled on over the decades, do not have to leave her sobbing in the lodge session. This had not been done by for specific, temporary reasons, by funeral home. There is no problem if you a grand master for many decades, if at Masonic legislators. Dean Roscoe Pound want your remains to be cremated. all. in Masonic Jurisprudence observed, However, if you want your ashes to be The storm clouds began to swirl. I Having no bills of rights in Masonry scattered, it is ‘undignified’ and we must invited Brother Howie Damron to and hence nothing beyond a handful of walk away from your mourners, because perform at the Grand Master’s Banquet vaguely defined landmarks to restrain if anyone knows that the lodge is present before grand lodge opened, and he sang him, what then are our barriers against as a group, we will be reprimanded, ‘The Masonic Ring’ and other favorites. the ravages of the zealous, energetic, again. Some of my predecessors objected and ambitious Masonic law-maker? Legal If youth organizations are having were turning colors in anger, and I was barriers, there are none. But some of problems, their problems are not our the most sacred interests of life have then implored to attend a meeting of past only moral security and on the whole problems, so be extremely careful if you grand masters. The place of the meeting do not lose thereby. try to help the kids. If our deceased changed without notice to me, and I brother’s obituary mentions his request The brothers in West Virginia voted to finally found them at about midnight and that, in lieu of flowers, memorial assert their moral security and to repeal was told that my predecessors and all of donations should be made to a bans of books, bans on films, and bans the remaining progressive line were of hometown hospice, which comforted and on slideshows, some implemented nearly the opinion that my actions and cared for him on his deathbed, then the fifty years ago for important reasons, proposals were illegal and had to be proper action of the lodge is . . . send the apparent then, to deal with a moment in withdrawn, or I would face their wrath. flowers, because such charity is time. Royal Arch Chapter charters had They said I had violated the landmarks, forbidden. We will not join the Masonic been ordered to be removed from the the Ancient Charges, the ritual, the Service Association, as every other walls of lodge rooms, but the brothers usages and customs, and my obligation, grand lodge in North America does, voted to allow them. Other art in a lodge so I was told, and this could not go because it is soft on Prince Hall and they room that included Masonic symbols or forward. I said that the brothers would will send their publications and Short emblems other than the Blue Lodge had
page 6 Harashim Talk Bulletins to our members without expulsion. It hurts. It hurts a great deal. I You may find yourself with an our control. We will not join the hope that it is temporary. In another feat opportunity to help, aid, and assist—not Northeast Conference of Grand Masters of Orwellian double think, my detractors me, but your worthy brothers in West or any other such conference because have extended their hatred further by Virginia in ways, large or small. Will they have ideas that conflict with our deleting my name from the website list you go on foot and out of your way for laws and mostly because those other of Past Grand Masters of West Virginia them? You may be able to speak the grand lodges recognize Prince Hall and throwing it down the memory hole. truth to power. As Lincoln counseled, be Masonry. The Craft in West Virginia is a on the side of the angels. Will you Friends, I am proud of the Wheeling resilient bunch—Montani Semper Liberi, encourage, nourish, and cherish your Reforms. They were distributed so that Mountaineers are always free. They are brethren in the state with the second the Craft had them in their hands, in unsure of what to do and how. They highest per capita Masonic membership advance, in writing, most of them for the want to do the right thing, and do that with your concern and your prayers? If first time in their lives. We debated until thing right, but those who would for nothing else but your concern and the brothers voted to end debate. We continue the repression have the upper your prayers, the brethren of West voted on the merits. The Wheeling hand for now. Virginia will thank you, Masonry Reforms passed. They lasted until the I do not have a call to mobilization to Universal will thank you, and I thank stroke of a pen. Dick Bosely politely but outline for you. I am on the outside now. you for sticking your necks out for persistently sought and was denied Your brethren in West Virginia have Freemasonry. answers about this, and because he took voted to do what they think is right. By Editor’s [Nelson King’s] Note: a little bit too much time to sit down and their votes, they made a positive In December we wrote via Registered shut up, he was instantly stripped of his statement about race relations in the Mail to the Grand Master of Masons of title as Deputy Grand Lecturer, and two fraternity. By their votes, they tried to West Virginia, explaining that MWBro weeks later was summarily expelled, and help the kids. By their votes, they Haas would be our Guest Lecturer. And his alleged offense was committed in the welcomed the handicapped into the that we would send him a copy of the presence of the Grand Master of Ohio. I Craft. By their votes, they were in favor Lecture, so that if he wished to comment, engaged in free speech saying, as quoted of patriotic expression in the lodge. All or challenge anything in the Lecture, he by Grand Master Montgomery, ‘the for naught. We are one large fraternity could.. We at that time assured him that dream lives on and will not die’. Now I divided into grand lodges. What happens we would publish his comments and/or am left without free speech and without to us reflects upon you. What happens to rebuttal in that same issue. Since that Freemasonry, but I still have the dream. one group of your brothers affects the time we have forwarded to him three For my dreams, I have sustained the whole. We lecture about Masonry copies of this lecture. To date he has not maximum Masonic punishment— Universal. Search yourself, my brethren. responded:
From the New York Times, 16 June 2008, online at www.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/us/16land.html?_r=1&oref=slogin, an article in the ‘This Land’ series, in which Dan Barry takes readers behind news articles and into obscure and well-known corners of the United States. His column appears every Monday. From Would-Be Reformer, to Former Mason, to Plaintiff by Dan Barry WELLSBURG, WVa Master of Masons of the State of West
On the first and third Monday of every Virginia, Brother Haas. month — except in summer months But at a Monday night meeting when only one Monday will do — in an several months ago, Brother Haas was old building on a downtown street summoned to the center of the room in wanting for bustle, the Ancient, Free and this, his mother lodge. In front of men he Accepted Masons of Wellsburg Lodge has known all his life, including his No. 2 meet. Members only, and only father, he was expelled; given the men. “Masonic Death Sentence.” Theirs is not to be confused with Mr. Haas has not returned — other fraternal organizations on other members only. But all those suddenly quiet streets. The Loyal Order of Moose MEMBERS ONLY Lodge No. 2 of the free Monday nights gave him time to Lodge No. 1564, say, whose ham loaf Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of ponder his growing reputation as a Wellsburg, W.Va. At a meeting in Masonic martyr. Now he has sued the and D.J. nights and fish fry and karaoke November, Frank J. Haas, a former Grand nights might be of concern to the local Master and a lodge member for 20 years, least transparent and Most Worshipful rescue squad. No, the fun-loving Moose was formally accused of “conduct Grand Lodge of West Virginia, seeking should never be confused with the unbecoming a Mason” and expelled. Mr. damages and, more important, Haas is suing the lodge, seeking damages reinstatement. secret-loving Masons. and reinstatement. For more than 20 years, among the Photo by Ángel Franco/New York Times “Expelled Mason,” the large man says most faithful Masons here in Wellsburg in soft voice. “Harsh sounding.” was Frank J. Haas: administrative law the hill from his house, walk through the Masonry’s adherence to closed-door judge, active Presbyterian, Mensa lodge’s doors and instantly become Past ritual may intrigue conspiracy theorists. member, single. He would come down Master of Lodge No. 2, Past Grand (Continued on page 8)
Issue 44 page 7 (Continued from page 7) did). For instance, since lodges in other apron with the purple border and gold Its diminishing ranks and relevance may states had black members, he proposed fringe that signified his status as a Past cause smiling feminists to say, Knock the radical idea that “qualified visiting Grand Master. There, in the lodge he had yourselves out, boys. And its taste for brethren may not be excluded from belonged to for more than 20 years, in pompous honorifics and ornate regalia attendance if race is a factor.” front of his father, in front of his may conjure images of solemn men with The changes, called the Wheeling brothers. arms interlocked: Laurel and Hardy meet reforms, overcame significant resistance There, silent and mortified, while Babbitt. and were passed by a close vote. Mr. another grown man read an edict But Mr. Haas, 50, sees Masonry as a Haas then handed his gavel to a asserting that he had supported an illegal fraternity dedicated to “making good successor, who promptly set aside the Web site; had sought to subvert the men better,” one in which the courtroom reforms on procedural grounds. principles of the lodge by seeking the janitor has as much say as the judge. His Gradually, though always with what repeal of “our laws”; had been great-grandfather was a Mason, his he says was respect for Masonry, Mr. insubordinate toward the Grand Lodge father is a Mason, and many relatives are Haas spoke out for the need for change. and its Grand Master; and this: had Masons. It was his destiny. Racism, he says, still lingers in the “demonstrated conduct unbecoming a Demonstrating a deep knowledge of requirement that local Masonic leaders Mason.” Masonic history and a facility for must “maintain peace and harmony” in Another man might have said enough reciting the archaic text used in their lodges. Code, he says. with this grand high exalted mystic allegorical plays and other secret The inner struggles occupied many a boobery, but not Brother Haas. He has ceremonies, Mr. Hass rose to become West Virginia Mason and led to the sued the Grand Lodge because he says head — or Worshipful Master — of his creation of a Web site called Masonic he was denied due process. Because he local lodge and then, in October 2005, Crusade, in which “brethren” wants to bring about change. Because he Grand Master of the state lodge. anonymously but candidly vented their wants to belong again. During his one-year term, Grand feelings. So candidly, in fact, that Mr. Master Haas visited dozens of lodges in Haas’s successor as Grand Master sent a From http://www.wvmasons.org/: the state, where he says some of the warning to the site promising expulsion 24,000 members often complained about to participants. West Virginia Grand Lodge West Virginia’s failure to shed practices Then, in November, the current Grand MOST WORSHIPFUL that other state lodges had long since Master, Charlie Montgomery, visited the PAST GRAND MASTERS done away with, practices that fell Wellsburg lodge for an oyster party in of the GRAND LODGE between the dumb and the downright which the Grand Master of Ohio was OF WEST VIRGINIA discriminatory. also in attendance. Having two Grand G. Glenwood Brown (1967) For example, the laws of West Masters at one event is a big deal, C. Vincent Townsend (1971) Virginia Masonry still maintain that “one Masonically speaking. James R. Ferguson (1981) who has lost a foot, a right hand or a After the mass consumption of Paul E. Tederick (1982) right thumb back of the first joint is mollusks, a Mason from Sistersville Golden W. McCallister (1985) ineligible for Masonry.” No matter if pointedly asked Mr. Montgomery during Robert G. Slater (1987) you lost said body part in Guadalcanal or the formal meeting why, among other Charles E. Forsythe (1990) Falluja; secret handshakes and embraces things, the Wheeling reforms had never J.W. Vandall (1991) must be just so. resurfaced for discussion and a vote. Mr. James E. Winzenreid (1992) Another example: West Virginia Haas says Mr. Montgomery, who did not Bill F. Gardner (1993) lodges cannot support outside charities. return calls seeking comment, told the Stephen G. Swank (1994) The Moose might help raise money for man to sit down. Richard N. Swisher (1996) the local volunteer fire department, but Then Mr. Haas was invited to speak, Paul V. Cottrell (1997) the Masons cannot support such in deference to his status as a Past Grand Seba T. Anderson (1998) “profanes,” that is, those who are not Master. He praised his outspoken Kyle L. Cochran (2000) Masons. colleague and then said something about Gary L. Gilkeson (2001) “It’s hard to explain” to other the dream living on. Harry F. Robinson (2002) members of the community, Mr. Haas Two weeks later, Mr. Haas says, Robert M. Vincent (2003) acknowledges. Grand Master Montgomery called to say William R. French (2004) Then there was the matter of race. he would be in Wellsburg for Monday’s The Ancient, Free and Accepted lodges meeting and asked if Mr. Haas would be Charles F. Coleman, II (2006) in West Virginia not only have no black there. But of course, Mr. Haas answered, members, they maintain no contact with thinking the Grand Master wanted to West Virginia Grand Lodge the state’s separate and predominantly thank the lodge for its oyster feast. Not Ancient Free and Accepted black Masonic fraternities, called Prince quite. Masons Hall lodges. “It’s not just Mr. Montgomery, who arrived with a 107 Hale Street P. O. Box 2346 nonrecognition,” Mr. Haas says with posse of Masonic brass, did thank the Charleston, WV 25328-2346 frustration. “It’s hostility.” lodge for the oysters. But soon he (304) 342-3543 In October 2006, at the annual summoned Mr. Haas and his outspoken statewide meeting of the Grand Lodge in colleague to what is known as the altar. Most Worshipful Charlie L. Wheeling, when his tenure was about to The colleague was expelled first and Montgomery, Grand Master end, Mr. Haas presented a bloc of promptly left the room. Most Worshipful Robert G. Slater, amendments designed to modify rules Now it was Mr. Haas’s turn. There he PGM Grand Secretary that no longer made sense (if they ever stood, wearing a business suit and the
page 8 Harashim Surprise for Peter Verrall IN MEMORIAM Among the 120 present at the August It is with deep regret that we note meeting of the Western Australian the death of RWBro the Revd Brian Lodge of Research, at which Judge Keith Burton, BA, PAGM (NSW), Antoinette Kennedy was the guest Past Grand Chaplain and speaker, were Grand Master Wayne Kellerman Lecturer, at Nowra, Hibble and Lecture Master Peter Verrall. NSW, on Friday 29 August 2008. Secretary Alan Gale tells the story: Brother Burton was a Past Master Peter was ‘promoted in the field’ at of the Research Lodge of New South our August meeting by the Grand Wales 971, an Official Lecturer of the Master, MWBro Wayne Hibble. United Grand Lodge of New South Those of you who know Peter will Wales and the Australian Capital understand the depth of emotion he Territory, and a corresponding member felt when it is noted he was of Lodge of Research 218 VC. His completely taken aback by his Kellerman Lecture (NSW&ACT, preferment and left completely lost for 1994) was titled ’Freemasonry among words (read totally gobsmacked) and overcome by the honour. Australian Prisoners of War’. It is proof that, despite appear- He was an ordained minister of the ances to the contrary, Freemasons Presbyterian Church, and served as a can keep secrets. Peter had no idea it chaplain in the RAAF (with the rank of was coming and the look of obvious Flight Lieutenant) in the Viet Nam gratitude and deep emotion said War, and as a prison chaplain. He was On Thursday last I attended the much about his humility as a the author of two books, a novel about Lodge of Sorrow conducted by Freemason. the prison system and a local history of Lodge Nowra Unity No 60 and the We at WALoR are sure you join us the Corowa district. He built his own funeral service according to in congratulating him and thanking Presbyterian rites for Bro Burton. home for retirement, made his own him for the countless hours (nay I counted 32 in the Lodge of years) he has spent as a driving force furniture, and even a small pipe organ; Sorrow, and the District Grand for the advancement of Masonic and he was a keen radio ham for many Inspector of Workings read an email knowledge both here in WA through years. from MWBro Green giving his WALOR and throughout Australia and The Grand Secretary of UGL NSW apologies and recalling some of New Zealand via the Australia and & ACT announced that there would be Brian’s areas of support to him New Zealand Masonic Research a Lodge of Sorrow conducted at whilst he was GM. Mention was Council, of which he is President. Nowra Masonic Centre at 10 AM on made of Brian’s membership, and Peter has done much to make Thursday 4 September (Craft regalia to Mastership, of 971, but no mention WALoR the shining beacon it is be worn), followed by a funeral service of his Kellerman Lecture! today. Our motto is Hinc Lucem. from The church, of moderate size, here, light. The light has been fed by at 11 AM at St Andrew’s Presbyterian was standing room only. In his Peter Verrall for a long time, and Church, Nowra (no regalia). 'family eulogy' (one of several), son WALoR is grateful to him for his Of the six Kellerman Lecturers then Robert mentioned his involvement devotion. residing in NSW & ACT, only one, in the Craft and his research skills. Bro Neil Morse, was able to attend, No Masonic tribute took place. and thus he represented the three I later spoke to Robert and research lodges (Canberra, Discovery, expressed the sadness felt by the Local News and Victorian) of which he is a full Masonic research community at his member, ANZMRC, and the absent father's passing. He seemed pleased to know this. Kellerman Lecturers. His email report NWM in brief follows:
Conference decisions Tour dates, lectures available, and possible. A full report of the Conference, other details will be supplied to with pictures, will be included in the ANZMRC will not import an overseas Affiliates and Associates as soon as January 2009 issue of Harashim. lecturer for the 2009 tour, but will utilise local talent, sending President Peter Verrall to New Zealand representing Australia, and New Zealand researcher Kerry Nicholls will tour Australia. Kerry was the 2006 Kellerman Lecturer for New Zealand. In 2011 ANZMRC will revert to the usual practice of having an overseas lecturer for the biennial tour, which will be South African researcher Rodney Grosskopff, who was a Kellerman Lecturer at the 2008 Conference. Kerry Nicholls Rodney Grosskopff Peter Verrall Issue 44 page 9
World News
North Carolina recognition On 19 September 2008 the mainstream Grand Lodge of North Carolina voted to Detroit Masonic Temple recognise the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the same state, by a 2:1 majority. This the Craft and York Rite to maintain the was the culmination of at least ten years temple. With falling numbers, it seemed hard work. likely that the building would have to be In 1998 GM Tom Gregory, with the sold. The recent agreement leaves the support of Ric Carter, editor of the North building in Masonic hands, but the local Carolina Mason, and others, campaigned corporation has sole responsibility for hard to change racial discrimination in leasing the building for non-Masonic their jurisdiction. At the 1999 Grand use, such as theatrical performances, Communication, GM Gregory proposed banquets, weddings, private and a constitutional amendment which would WM Joseph Adegboyega corporate functions, even film-making, have paved the way for recognition of photo North Carolina Mason and providing the drill hall for use of the the Prince Hall Grand Lodge and was Detroit Derby Girls Roller Team. defeated 4:1. A second motion, to allow Perhaps it was an omen of success As Russell Spice, of the Michigan a WM to admit a visitor to lodge from a when PGM Tom Gregory installed Bro Lodge of Research, remarked: ‘Our only recognised jurisdiction, against the Adegboyega as Master of his lodge, in duty now is to go downtown and be objection of another member of the January this year, the first black member, Masons. We should have done this lodge if the WM believed the objection and then the first black WM in the decades ago’. to be based on race, was also defeated by jurisdiction. With the passing of the a large majority. (This would have resolution of mutual recognition, one Women and Freemasonry allowed a black mainstream Mason to seasoned campaigner announced: ‘Today Women have been much on the mind of visit, if the WM was willing.) However, North Carolina has entered the 21st the male Orders of Freemasonry in a counter-motion to withdraw funding century’. recent months. from the North Carolina Mason was also The Summer 2008 issue of defeated. Detroit Temple saved Freemasonry Today reports on the In 2002 the first breakthrough came, An agreement between the Detroit centenary celebrations of the Order of when Joseph Adegboyega was accepted Masonic Temple Association and a local Women Freemasons at the Royal Albert as a joining member of a mainstream corporation has averted the danger that Hall, London, in June. Lodges in North Carolina lodge, Bro Adegboyega this iconic temple would have to be sold. Canada, Northern Ireland, South Africa, was a Nigerian-born Canadian Mason The temple, probably the largest South Australia, Spain and Zimbabwe from a mainstream Ontario lodge. Masonic building in the world, was were represented among the 4000 In 2003 a motion to recognise the constructed between 1920 and 1926, to members and guests present. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North accommodate the Craft, York Rite, In conjunction with this, the Library Carolina was defeated by a vote of 456 Scottish Rite and Shrine. It is fourteen and Museum of Freemasonry has an for, 495 against. stories high, has 1037 rooms, and exhibition entitled ‘Women & In 2004 the Prince Hall Grand Lodge occupies some twelve million cubic feet Freemasonry: the Centenary’, which voted to recognise the mainstream Grand of space. The three largest rooms are the runs from June to December 2008. Lodge but, despite a year of hard Scottish Rite Cathedral with a seating We reported on the formation of campaigning by both Grand Masters, capacity of 1600, a mammoth drill hall women’s lodges in Cuba in the April including attending each other’s Grand with a floating floor and 17,500 square issue of Harashim, and of the Internet Installation, mainstream Masons did not feet of open floor space, and a theatre Lodge (UK) award to an American Co- reciprocate. The motion gained 520 with a seating capacity of 4400 and a Mason in the July issue. votes for recognition, with 459 against, stage 100 x 55 feet. In March last year, the Grand Orient but required a two-thirds majority for Several years ago the Scottish Rite of France held a conference on the adoption. and the Shrine moved elsewhere, leaving subject of mixed-gender Masonry in the
page 10 Harashim 21st century, and in September the On humility he wrote: ‘Rank . . . Grand Orient voted on a motion to English news & views should never be actively sought and, if permit individual lodges to admit women At the quarterly communication of the attained, never accompanied by candidates if they chose to do so. The United Grand Lodge of England last arrogance, but rather by a renewed sense 1200 delegates voted 60:40 against the month (September), the Pro Grand of duty and fraternal affection’. He motion. This was amusingly reported on Master, the Marquess of Northampton, added: ‘As Grand Secretary I am the ‘Lost in France’ website www.lost- announced that he would ‘step down’ in privileged to meet many tremendous in-france.com/: March 2009, and that he would be people who have a common bond in our succeeded as ProGM by the current love and enjoyment of masonry. They France’s Freemasons say NON! to women DGM, RWBro Peter Lowndes. Lord understand the true meaning of charity. I Sorry girls, but there will be no Northampton said, ‘For my part I shall also get to deal with a very small rolled up trouser legs or dodgy continue to enjoy my masonry albeit at minority who have neither humility nor handshakes for you for the an easier pace and with less direct fraternal affection.’ foreseeable future as France's top responsibility’. Concerning joining members, he said: Masonic order has voted against ‘Is the selection process always thorough allowing women to join its 250 year enough? Do secretaries always follow old organisation. [regulations] for a joining member?’ At their annual meeting of the He went on to say: ‘Candidate Grand Orient de France, sixty percent of the 1,200 delegates selection is a very real responsibility that attending rejected outright the falls on us all. It is a responsibility that is proposal that was put forward by to be taken seriously now and forever. A their slightly more liberated Grand proposer and seconder and the selection Master Jean-Michel Quillardet to committee have all to be happy that the allow women to join their Lodges. candidate is of the highest possible Monsieur Quillardet had put standard in both private and public life— forward the proposal as a way of a future ambassador for all Freemasons. 'changing the image of ‘Never let the numbers game cloud freemasonry in France', he went on to say that he thought the results your good sense. were encouraging as only a few ‘So I ask you to select candidates years earlier the vote would have convinced that they will be an been around 90 percent against. ambassador for all we truly believe in. The GODF is one of the biggest ‘I found a piece of unattributed Masonic orders in France boasting masonic writing the other day which around 48,000 members and was combines rather well humility, fraternal founded in 1773. Ironically their affection and being an ambassador for website slogan reads Liberty, ProGM Lord Northampton Freemasonry: Equality, Fraternity and they claim Spencer Douglas David Compton, 7th that the search for progress has ‘I would not give much for your always been the force behind their Marquess of Northampton, born 1946, masonry unless it can be seen. Lamps reflection and activities. educated at Eton, is Deputy Lieutenant do not talk, but they shine. A of Northamptonshire. He was appointed lighthouse sounds no drum, it beats no Assistant Grand Master in 1995, and Pro gong, and yet far over the water its Grand Master in 2001. In addition to his friendly spark is seen by the mariner. Grand Lodge activities, he has taken a So let your actions shine out your particular interest in research activities, masonry. Let the main sermon of your sponsoring or supporting (among others) life be illustrated by your conduct, and Canonbury, Sheffield, the Cornerstone it shall not fail to be illustrious.’ Society, and Internet Lodge. Peter Geoffrey Lowndes, FRICS, born 1948, educated at Eton, was appointed Deputy Grand Master in 2004. According to the London Daily Mail, the formation of Royal Household Lodge (EC), for staff of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Clarence House and St One month later, an Internet website was James’ Palace, and for police protection allegedly registered to a ‘Grand Orient officers, has upset some officials and not Mixte de France’, but a visit to www. amused Her Majesty. The UGLE website grand-oriente-mixte-de-france.com/ contains no reference to the matter. provides the information: ‘The web site you have requested doesn’t exist. The Grand Secretary Nigel Brown made domain name associated with this some apposite remarks on the subjects of website is currently being “parked” by humility, selection of candidates and its current owner’. Similar results are admission of joining members, in his Grand Secretary Nigel Brown obtained by changing ‘com’ to ‘org’ or column in the Summer 2008 issue of ‘net’, and Google is not much help. Freemasonry Today. (Continued on page 12) Issue 44 page 11 Continued from page 11 ‘Freemasonry, Isaac Newton & the Mystical Orient’ by Isaac Lubelsky (Tel Crisis of European Conscience: A Aviv); ‘When Armenians built French View’; Professor Susan Mitchell Auschwitz: Notes on late Ottoman Sommers (USA), ‘Ebenezer Sibly: The Freemasonry and Genocide’ by Ugur Conferences Masonic Mystical Doctor’; Dr Edi Ungor (Sheffield); ‘The Grand Orient de It is difficult to keep track of all the Bilimoria (Theosophist), France and the Constitutional Revolution conferences and seminars on ‘Consciousness? Scientific & Esoteric in Iran, 1906–1911’ by Dr Mangol Freemasonry being held around the Perspectives’; Dr Andreas Önnerfors Bayat; and ‘Masonic attitudes towards world, and the papers presented. Here (Sheffield), ‘The Concept of Science in secular and religious education in the are a few notes which may be of the Imagination of European Ottoman Empire’ by Paul Dumont assistance. Freemasonry’; John Gordon (Exeter), (Strasbourg). Papers from the Ninth World ‘Towards a Modern Metaphysics’; Dr Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges, Fabio Venzi (GM, RGL Italy), Miscellanea held in Washington DC in May 2008 are ‘Perceiving the Sacred in Scientific Richard Num reports that Scottish and now available for downloading from Research: the Interplay of Scientific Irish Lodges in Ghana, West Africa, are www.dcgrandlodge.org/, or may be read Rationalism & Noetic Intelligence’; Dr expected to form the Grand Lodge of on the Pietre-Stones website at www. Andrew Prescott, ‘William Rand: Ghana before the end of 2008, with the freemasons-freemasonry.com/ Physician, Alchemist & Freemason?’; blessing of both parent Grand Lodges. GLWC2008-Papers.pdf. James North (editor of Baconia), ‘Secret At the Cornerstone Society Alchemy: The Origins of Baconian Congratulations to Yasha Beresiner, conference in London on 29 November Science in the Bible & Hermetic Kellerman Lecturer (2000), on his 2008 the speakers will be: Professor Philosophy’; Professor Charles Porset appointment as Grand Librarian of the John Grange, ‘With the Centre’; (CNRS, Paris), ‘The Scientific Lodge of Regular Grand Lodge of Italy. He is Professor Thierry Zarcone (CNRS, the Nine Sisters (Les Neuf Soeurs)’; reported in the Summer 2008 issue of Paris), ‘Muslim Fascination with Philippa Faulks (author), ‘Count Freemasonry Today, as saying: Freemasonry: Historic and Ritualistic Allesandro Cagliostro: Healer, My main task is to represent the Perspectives’; Miss Pauline Alchemist & Freemason in the Age of library, particularly in Europe, and to Chakmakjian (University of Wales, Enlightenment’; and Gerald Riley, ‘The make acquisitions. The library is Lampeter), ‘Japanese Spirituality and Hidden Mysteries of Nature & Science?’ international, with books in several languages among its collection. I will Esoteric Freemasonry’; Dr Henrik Equally intriguing are the papers be helped by an assistant librarian and Bogdan (Gothenburg University), ‘The being offered at the University of a secretary, both based in Rome. Quest for the Lost Word’; and Tom Sheffield over the next three months: Yasha (pictured below) also holds Grand Bergroth (Grand Marshall of the ‘French Pre-Masonic fraternities, rank in Israel and England and is fluent Swedish Order), ‘The Swedish Rite’. Freemasonry and Dervish Orders in several languages, including Italian. The Canonbury Masonic Research (tarikat) in the Muslim World: History Centre in London will be the venue for and Anthropoloy of a Mutual an international conference this month Recognition’ by Thierry Zarcone (CNRS (October) on Freemasonry and the Paris); ‘The first Masonic lodges in Sciences, natural & supernatural, under Ottoman Syria: How Freemasonry the chairmanship of Dr Andrew Prescott. influenced social life in Tripoli al-Sham: Speakers will include: Dr Roger Dachez The founding fathers of Lodge Kadisha (LNF), ‘Mesmerism & Freemasonry: and its socio-cultural role’ by Dorothe Magnetic Madness in Lyons 1784-1785’; Sommer (Sheffield); ‘The Star in the Alain Bauer (PGM, GOdF), East: Occultist Perceptions of the
Norman Gene Lincoln, Secretary of the Actives were called to order with prayer took their places. Past Masters present Ohio Lodge of Research, provides us by WM F. Raymond Sharritts. included Robert Weller, James with a fascinating insight into how things The Secretary reported one new Clippinger, Norman Lincoln and Paschal are done in Ohio. petition from Michael Stephenson of King, Jr. Camden which was approved. There A paper on Native American Masonry Ohio Lodge of Research were also five deaths and three was read by Dan Hrinko. Some resignations. 37 were deleted for not discussion of the membership of Joseph Brethren, paying dues. Total membership is now Brandt and Tecumseh followed. I know you won't make a special trip for 257. The Treasurer reported a checking Officers were elected: WM Ron our meeting but I will send the account of $8259.24 and total balance of McGonigal; SW Don Reece; JW Jeff announcement for your study. $61,259.24. A check for the sale of Slattery; Treas Ted Graybill; Secy Ohio Lodge of Research meets the Bicentennial envelopes for $384 was Norman Lincoln; SD Dan Hrinko; fourth Sat in Jan and the third Sat in May turned in. Don Reece reported on the Trustee George Braatz. The WM-elect and Sep. We have currently have 261 endowment fund. The proposed budget appointed Jeff Alborn SS and Kevin members. of $5785 was approved. The Committee Campbell JS and Pat King Chaplain. The Springfield Meeting on Officer qualifications reported. officers were then installed by PM The Ohio Lodge of Research met at A lodge of Master Masons was Robert Weller. Clark Lodge No. 101 in Springfield on opened by Clark Lodge No. 101. The Pat King moved a complementary one Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 2PM. Ten officers of the Ohio Lodge of Research (Continued on page 16)
page 12 Harashim A MASONIC ODYSSEY PART IIB—EAST COAST U S A, DC & VA by Tony Pope Sunday 10 June 2007 was a day of rest and relaxation spent with my hosts, John and Janet Wintermute, at their home in Adelphi, Maryland, a few miles northwest of Washington DC. With them I reviewed how I hoped to spend the next few days, visiting lodges and places in Washington and just across the river in Alexandria, Virginia. On Monday Janet would detour on her way to work and drive me to central Washington. She would leave me there to spend the day at the House of the Temple, headquarters of the Southern Jurisdiction AASR, and I would make my own way back to Adelphi by train and bus, in time for tea. Janet, herself of the Memphis-Misraïm persuasion, had received an invitation for us both to attend a lodge of the George Washington Union (a mixed-gender body) that evening. I declined, with thanks, and Janet decided to stay home for the evening. On Tuesday Janet would again drive me to central Washington and I would make my way by train to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria. Wednesday was to be spent in Washington, in and around U Street NW, the location of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of DC and the home of DC jazz. I would probably stay at an hotel Wednesday night and re-visit the House of the Temple on Thursday morning, attend lodge at Alexandria that evening, stay overnight with new hosts, Robert and Larissa Watkins, and fly back to Seattle early Friday morning. As it happened, the plan was modified as soon as I met Larissa Watkins on Monday. She and her husband Robert would provide accommodation from Tuesday night onwards, and Robert would be my guide and chauffeur for my stay there. Their kind invitation was readily accepted.
The House of the Temple Early Monday morning Janet drove me from Adelphi to Washington in surprisingly light traffic, and deposited me opposite the House of the Temple, on 16th St NW, a mile or so from the White House. The House of the Temple stands alone, bounded by streets on all four sides, just this imposing building at the front of the block, and a lawned garden at the back. I walked the boundary and set to work with my trusty camera, before ascending the steps to the front door. The front office was staffed by a Past Grand Master, who directed me to the Above: two views of the House of the Temple library, where I was greeted warmly by Below: the library stacks (left) and the reading room (right) Larissa Watkins, author of American Masonic Periodicals 1811–2001 (2003) and InterMasonic National Periodicals 1738–2005 (2006), assistant to the librarian & curator. Larissa, Russian by birth, is married to Robert Watkins, himself a fluent Russian-speaker, Master of the prestigious Alexandria- Washington Lodge 22 VA. Larissa introduced me to the Librarian & Curator, Joan Sansbury, and other staff, and showed me the library and reading room. The library is situated in the southeast corner of the building, with the main interior wall curving in a quadrant. Books line this curving wall from end to end, and floor to ceiling, arranged so that each subject is illustrated by one or more books with the front cover displayed. The outer walls, forming the corner of the building, are also filled with books from floor to ceiling, broken only by window placements. Between the outer and inner (Continued on page 14) Hosts: Janet Wintermute (left) and Robert & Larissa Watkins Issue 44 page 13 (Continued from page 13) walls are free-standing shelves, radiating from the curve, like the spokes of a wheel. Each of the free-standing stacks is devoted to books of a single US Grand Lodge, and work-stations are interspersed between some of these stacks. It really is the most attractive library I have ever seen. Further examination of the library Above: Brent Morris & Art de Hoyos; Mark Tabbert & Kirk MacNulty was deferred, so that I could spend some Below: George Washington National Masonic Memorial on the hill, view of Old Alexandria time with Dr S Brent Morris, formerly from the hill; GWNMM Library editor of the Scottish Rite Research Society’s transactions, Heredom, and now editor of the Scottish Rite Journal, who would be unavailable later in the week. In the course of discussion, I told Brent of a problem I had with conversion of the completed draft of Jim Daniel’s book, Masonic Networks & Connections from Microsoft Word to PDF format. I had a copy with me, on CD, and Brent introduced me to his typographical expert, Elizabeth, who solved the problem and did the conversion for me. The rest of the morning sped by, and Brent and Art de Hoyos, Grand Archivist and Grand Historian, took me to lunch. After lunch, Art showed me some of the treasures in his subterranean abode. I also found time for a tour of the building, conducted not by the venerable docent, the PGM I had met upon my arrival, but by a young man just learning the trade. Above: Alton Roundtree PHA DC Grand Lodge Paul Bessel I spent the rest of the afternoon in the Below: lodge rooms at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial library, and Larissa accompanied me to Alexandria-Washington lodge room, 1802 and now; North lodge room the subway, pointing out the headquarters of the DC Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star en route. Then we went our separate ways, she by train to Alexandria and I by train and bus to Adelphi. When I recognised a park near my destination, I got off the bus and had a pleasant stroll ‘home’. Janet, John and I had a quiet evening en famille, and I explained the change of plan, that this was our last evening together. where Mark Tabbert, Director of the third Wednesday, but on this Collections, and author of American occasion would meet this evening The George Washington Memorial Freemasons Three Centuries of Building (Tuesday) at the Memorial (in Virginia). Early Tuesday morning Janet again Communities, was addressing a local Robert and I were delighted to accept. drove me to the House of the Temple, chapter of the Daughters of the Robert then went home, promising to this time with all my goods and chattels. American Revolution, a lineage-based return for me in the afternoon. I bade her farewell, then carried my historical society with over 100 chapters Mark and I discussed a number of cases up the steps and explained to the in Virginia and a national membership of topics, including his participation in the perplexed custodian that I was not 170,000. Edinburgh conference the previous moving in, just in transition to my new When Mark had finished with the month, future projects, and the library home. I met Robert and Larissa in the DAR ladies, Robert and I introduced established by his predecessor, Paul library, said a temporary farewell to ourselves, whereupon Mark invited us to Bessel, whom I was scheduled to meet in Larissa and accompanied Robert to the attend a meeting of the Lodge of the DC the following day. Mark took me to George Washington Masonic National Nine Muses 1776 DC. This lodge, lunch, and on our return I joined a Memorial in Alexandria. This is a described as ‘a contemporary Mystery guided tour of the building, which has remarkable monument on the top of a School for Masons seeking three lodge rooms: the South room is grassy hill, overlooking old Alexandria, enlightenment’, usually meets in the used by Robert’s Alexandria- the Potomac River, and beyond. House of the Temple, in Washington, on Washington Lodge; next to it is a replica We found our way to the library,
page 14 Harashim of that lodge’s room in 1802, and the and then it was time to meet up with me back to the House of the Temple. North lodge room is used by other Alton’s co-author, Paul Bessel; he and I Robert collected Larissa and me from Virginia lodges, other Orders, and go back more than ten years, to when I there, and took us home to tea. ‘visiting’ lodges. The building also first ventured onto the Internet, and he That evening Robert drove me back contains display rooms of the Royal was just beginning to amass his to Washington, and insisted he would Arch, Knights Templar, Cryptic degrees, enormous website. We strolled around collect me after lodge. Alton, now Shrine, Grotto, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and chatted, he showed me the African- resplendent in his Grand Lodge regalia, and the George Washington Museum. American Civil War Memorial and I as Grand Editor, met me at the door and Robert collected me mid-afternoon took a few photos. Then we rejoined conducted me to the main lodge room, and took me to his home, a couple of Alton and Earl for lunch. Greg Kearse where Fidelity Lodge 20 would meet. miles away. That evening we returned had advised that although U St NW is With my Masonic passport, and Alton for lodge in the North room, long, the home of DC jazz, there were no vouching for me, I had no problem narrow and dark, with a balcony on three eateries featuring live jazz at lunchtime proving myself, and we were admitted sides and a vaulted ceiling. I met author on Wednesdays, so we went to a for the opening. Kirk MacNulty, and John Wade from neighbouring soulfood café. American lodge rooms have at least Sheffield University, and saw Kenneth Paul invited me to attend his lodge two doors, the main door and one Gibala but did not have chance to speak that evening but, as I explained to him, leading directly from the candidate’s to him. The meeting is hazy in my Alton had arranged for me to attend a preparation room, and some have doors memory, from a combination of factors: Prince Hall lodge—and therein lies a leading to other rooms, usually I was tired from too many late nights and tale. storerooms. This large, rather plainly early mornings, I could not hear half of Six months before I left Australia I furnished room had four doors. About what was being said, and could not wrote to my Grand Master, through the thirty brethren were present, mostly understand what they were doing. An Grand Secretary, explaining that because young, and Alton and I were seated in officer of the lodge would stand and of my involvement with the Prince Hall the North. make a short speech, which then became fraternity I might receive invitations to American lodges do not have an Inner the subject of discussion, followed by a attend Prince Hall lodges in jurisdictions Guard. This duty is performed by the speech by another officer and further where our Grand Lodge had not yet Junior Deacon. In Fidelity Lodge the discussion, and so on. I gathered that exchanged formal recognition; that it duty is performed enthusiastically and each officer was offering his thoughts on was well known among my Prince Hall with military precision. The Junior the symbolic duties of his own office, friends that Australian Grand Lodges Deacon marched to the nearest door, and the others were commenting on this, approved visitation by Prince Hall opened it, examined the area without, but I was unable to comprehend what Masons whether or not there was formal slammed the door shut, and marched to was being said. When the lodge closed, I recognition; that Prince Hall Grand each of the others in turn and repeated pleaded tiredness and Robert kindly took Lodges were very conservative in the process, before reporting the lodge me home, missing what would probably outlook, and it might facilitate such tyled. have been a very enjoyable dinner. visits if I had a letter of approval from I had previous experience of the my Grand Master. American custom of opening directly Prince Hall Grand Lodge After some delay, the Grand into the third degree, which requires Wednesday morning was bright and Secretary informed me that the Grand giving the signs and due guards of all sunny, and so was I. Robert drove Master had taken advice on the matter, three degrees in an unbroken sequence. Larissa and me to the House of the and was unable to provide such a letter. I The signs were less elaborate than my Temple, where she set to work and I noted the response carefully, and decided own and, since I had no due guards, I’d mooched around until it was time to that it did not constitute a prohibition, found that it was possible to complete meet some old e-friends. merely expression of an inability to the sequence at the same time as As arranged, I met Alton Roundtree, assist. So, when corresponding with everyone else. co-author of Out of the Shadows, at the Prince Hall friends I made my position I had been a little disappointed that front of the building. Alton and I go way clear, and asked that they get approval there was no degree work scheduled for back; over the years he and Greg Kearse from their Grand Lodges before the evening, but I need not have been. have published a number of my articles arranging a visit. Consequently, Alton The stated meeting—opening, reception in the Prince Hall Masonic Digest and had a word with his Grand Master, who of a Past Grand Master, general business, the Masonic Globe magazine, and they gave the OK and asked WM Jerry and closing—was a new experience for have helped me with Prince Hall Darring to receive me in Fidelity Lodge. me, and provided a memorable evening. research. Greg was not available, but in Robert Watkins wanted to accompany PGM Robert Wheeler was accorded his place was Earl Hazel, another e-mail me; the mainstream Grand Lodge of ‘public grand honors’, and no one friend of long standing. Virginia has exchanged recognition with seemed to mind that the South Australian Earl drove us to the Grand Lodge the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, version was rather different. building on the corner of U Street NW but not with the neighbouring Prince The general business was quite long, and Vermont Avenue NW, and Hall Grand Lodge of the District of with numerous reports by chairmen of explained that this large 5-story building Columbia. Robert, therefore, needed his committees, but even these were of is administered by the Prince Hall Free Grand Master’s permission, which was interest to me, giving insight into the Mason Eastern Star Charitable refused. wide range of activities in which the Foundation, which rents the lower two After lunch I said farewell to Paul lodge was engaged. floors to businesses and the top three Bessel and went back with Earl and The opening and closing rituals were floors to the Craft and other Orders. Alton to Alton’s office, where we faultlessly performed, with meticulous They showed me around the building, discussed his next book. Then they drove (Continued on page 16)
Issue 44 page 15 (Continued from page 15) they dump me at the airport and go home risk delay in getting back through attention to squaring all movements, but for a few hours sleep themselves before security. He said he thought not, but he what delighted me most was the going to work in the morning. So, after a would try. a cappella voices of the officers and midnight snack and several different Phoenix fiasco brethren as they quietly sang ‘Let your vodkas I was deposited at the almost The flight was uneventful, and I raced light shine on me’ throughout the deserted airport, and spent three or four around the extensive secure area, performance of this work. (Alton hours in quiet contemplation, then joined searching for Ralph, who was nowhere informed me that in his lodge, the endurance course which is a to be seen. I had given up, and started to Redemption Lodge 24, they sing preliminary to post-9/11 air travel. purchase souvenirs, when my name was ‘Walking in the Light’. The reason for my early departure broadcast with instructions to go to a After the meeting I spent a few was to enable me to attend a mid- particular checkpoint. There I saw Ralph minutes with the brethren, expressing my afternoon dance performance in Seattle, on the other side of the checkpoint. He pleasure and gratitude, then went starring my 7-yr-old grandson. This was not allowed through, and I dare not outside, where I found Robert and could only be achieved by travelling via risk leaving the secure area, so we stood Larissa waiting for me in their car. Phoenix, Arizona! At the planning stage and conversed over a ten-foot gap of no- I had contacted Ralph McNeal, director man’s-land, watched by a security guard. Alexandria-Washington Lodge of the Phylaxis Society’s Commission on We could not shake hands, or even I did not go back to the House of the Bogus Masonic Practices, who lives at exchange mementos, just chat, then it Temple on Thursday morning, as Phoenix. I gave him my flight schedule, was time for me to race back to the planned, but simply got ready for lodge with a stopover of about one hour, and boarding gate, glad, sad, and out of puff. in the evening, and packed as much as I asked if he could meet me on the secure could for the trip back to Seattle, then side of the barrier, because I could not To be continued relaxed. Robert and I left for lodge early that evening, to set up and to check the equipment for my PowerPoint east. The lodge is on the south side of presentation. Both the main lodge rooms Ohio Lodge of Research the street. at the George Washington Masonic The last time the Lodge of Research National Memorial are fairly large, but met in Marion was on September 25th, 1965. quite different in design and furnishing, (Continued from page 12) and the acoustics in the South room were Marion was the residence of Warren far superior. year membership be extended to Clark G. Harding (1865-1923) 29th President Brethren of Alexandria-Washington Lodge 101 for hosting this meeting. Pat of the U.S. He was the publisher of the Lodge dine before the meeting, but King remarked about gavels from Marion Star and US Senator from 1915- Robert and I gave it a miss; perhaps he, Libbey Prison during the Civil War. The 1920. Harding was raised in Marion too, was a bit nervous. During his year as PM was presented a certificate for his Lodge No. 70 Aug. 27, 1920. He also Master, he had introduced a program of efforts in leading the Ohio Lodge of belonged to Chapter, Commandery, lodge education in addition to the degree Research. Ted Graybill announced the Scottish Rite, Shrine, Grotto, Tall Cedars work, but I must have been a bit of a Chapter of Research will meet in and National Sojourners. Harding said 'I gamble for him—an unknown speaker Cambridge June 28th. The WM said he have been a better citizen for being a on a subject different from the rest of his is planning to hold the September Mason' His home is open from 9:30 to program. meeting in Galion. No further business 5:00. [fee $6] Marion also has a popcorn The opening was smooth, polished, appearing the lodge was closed by Clark museum. meticulously performed, solemn yet officers. Other famous Masons from Marion somehow relaxed. The business was include: John P. Courtright (1896-1986) Marion Meeting interesting, and settled expeditiously, President of the Marion Steam Shovel The 131st meeting of the Ohio Lodge of and then it was my turn. I had neglected Company, Grant E. Mouser (1895-1943) Research will be held at Marion, Ohio, to count heads, but I estimate 50 or 60 lawyer and member of Congress. September 20, 2008 in the Hall of brethren were present. I gave them a Bicentennial Envelopes are still for sale Marion Lodge No. 70 at 119 W. Church brief outline of the development of at 100 for $25. Street. Actives will meet at 2 PM. A Freemasonry in the Antipodes, and the lodge of Master Masons will be opened history and highlights of ANZMRC. For By order of the Worshipful Master Ron by WM James Dean at 3 PM. Marion is the most part, the equipment behaved McGonigal located in central Ohio on US 23 and itself and the brethren managed to stay Ohio 4. Church Street is one way going Attest: Norman G. Lincoln Secretary awake for the hour-long presentation. After lodge closed, brethren stayed for coffee, cakes and ice-cream, and a chat, in which I joined until Robert was ready to go home. Neil Morse My pre-dawn departure was not from & Dr Bob the nearby Reagan Airport, but from the James EA after the Washington Dulles International, which ANZMRC is about 25 miles further into Virginia. Conference My hosts wanted me to have a sleep on Sunday before driving me there, but I insisted 5 October.
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