EVERY MAN --- CARRY A MAN

Dieppe, France, August 19, 1942 - Honourary Captain John Foote, chaplain of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry was so determined to accompany his unit into battle that he stowed away with only the tacit consent of his superiors. Then, although he could have left the horror that marked the ill-fated assault on Dieppe, he decided to stay as a prisoner of war!

Foote was a thirty-five-year-old Presbyterian minister in Coburg, Ontario when Canada officially entered the Second World War on September 10, 1939. He was among the earliest to apply for duty and he pursued his duties as a chaplain with his regiment stationed in England. Before the war ended, Canada's forces grew to more than a million men and women from a professional nucleus of fewer than 10,000.  When it became apparent that Canadian troops were to finally be sent into battle on the secret mission dubbed "Operation Jubilee," Foote's commanding officer suggested that the popular padre stay back since he might be needed more than ever after the raid. "I'll make my own arrangements, and if you see me on the beach you can order me off," replied Foote.

Along with close to 5,000 Canadian troops, Foote joined in the early morning landing at the chalk cliffs off the small port and gambling town of Dieppe. It was the first time most of the men confronted combat, and it was the first time the Allies had determined to test their ability to launch a large-scale amphibious raid on Hitler's continental fortress.

The battle lasted for nine savage hours during which the troops faced incessant, deadly fire. They were raked by machine guns and picked off by snipers. Foote attached himself to a Regimental Aid Post on the beach and set about helping the wounded, constantly exposing himself to the hail of bullets. As the tide went out, the Post moved to a stranded landing craft, and Foote hauled wounded men to its cover, only to remove them when enemy shelling set its ammunition afire.

When evacuation efforts began, the burly padre carried wounded men from the exposed beach to waiting landing craft. "Every man, carry a man," Foote shouted to all who could hear him. He may have saved as many as thirty lives and his courage set an inspirational example.  Foote had several opportunities to embark, but as the last boat departed, he waded back to the bloodied beach. "The men ashore would need me far more in captivity than any of those going home," was his belief.

More than 900 Canadians were killed at Dieppe and nearly 2,000 were taken prisoner. Padre Foote and medical officer Captain D. Clare both chose to be voluntarily imprisoned with the captured men. They led the grim column of captives on the march to prisoner of war camps, where they stayed until the end of the war.

Amid the squalid camp conditions, Foote organized social activities, including an orchestra in which he played a mean trumpet. He conducted regular church services, and also used the church to conceal men who were escaping. Despite threats to his life, the padre harassed the Germans for better treatment for the men.

John Foote was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism at Dieppe, as was another brave Canadian, Vancouver's Colonel Charles "Cec" Merritt of the South Saskatchewan Regiment. Of the thousands who served, their valour and courage was singled out but they were not unique. There were many acts of heroism at Dieppe, and many more would follow, each one deserving of the everlasting gratitude of all Canadians.

- as told in Just a Minute, written by Marsha Boulton 

May your stuffing be tasty May your turkey be plump, May your potatoes and gravy Have never a lump. May your turnip be yummy Your pies take the prize, May your Thanksgiving dinner Stay off of your thighs.

Masonry in Art

The Ambassadors

Full title: Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve ('The Ambassadors') 1533
HOLBEIN the Younger, Hans1497/8 - 1543
Bought with contributions from Charles Cotes, Lord Iveagh and Lord Rothschild, 1890.
A brother in Singapore suggests that Holbein’s “The Ambassadors” has a Masonic connection. . . . You decide.
Below is an image of the painting including information from the website of the National Gallery (UK).

Holbein's 'The Ambassadors' of 1533 is arguably his masterpiece, and one of the most important and most popular paintings in the National Gallery. In order to allow visitors an improved and more accurate viewing of this unique painting, the National Gallery will be re-positioning and re-hanging the picture this autumn.
The picture shows two richly dressed Frenchmen, Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve, standing on either side of shelves which display a number of intriguing objects, from globes and books to musical and astronomical instruments. There are further mysteries: half-hidden behind a green curtain, top left, is a silver crucifix; and in front is a long whitish object. Viewed from one side its distorted perspective corrects itself, and it can be seen as a skull, a sign of mortality.
In 1997-8, the National Gallery held a highly successful exhibition around Holbein's painting explaining its mysteries: the reasons for Jean de Dinteville's commission during his stay in London as French ambassador, the significance of the various objects, and the way in which the distorted skull may have been created, as well as the way in which it was intended to be viewed.
This picture memorialises two wealthy, educated and powerful young men. At the left is Jean de Dinteville, aged 29, French ambassador to England in 1533. To the right stands his friend, Georges de Selve, aged 25, Bishop of Lavaur, who acted on several occasions as ambassador to the Emperor, the Venetian Republic and the Holy See.
The picture is in a tradition showing learned men with books and instruments. The objects on the upper shelf include a celestial globe, a portable sundial and various other instruments used for understanding the heavens and measuring time. Among the objects on the lower shelf is a lute, a case of flutes, a hymn book, a book of arithmetic and a terrestrial globe. Certain details could be interpreted as references to contemporary religious divisions. The broken lute string, for example, may signify religious discord, while the Lutheran hymn book may be a plea for Christian harmony.
In the foreground is the distorted image of a skull, a symbol of mortality. When seen from a point to the right of the picture the distortion is corrected.
from:http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/about/press/2001/Holbein.htm, and, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=NG1314

Beato Angelico, Church of San Marco, Firenze

Dues Should Keep Up With Inflation
from: The Fraternal Leader - Spring 2004
by: Rev. Jan L. Beaderstadt, PM
What are your dues per year? Are they enough to cover the yearly expenses of your Lodge?
Dues are a touchy subject. Tampering with the dues is an easy way to get people excited about the Lodge.
What exactly are dues? It is a share in the operation of any organization. It is what is required of each member in order to continue its very existence.
Without money, even the most noble of organizations will cease to exist. Money is the grease that keeps the wheels turning. If you lack the necessary funds, nothing will happen.
One hundred years ago, it was considered a privilege to be a member of a fraternal group. Dues were costly, but over time, most dues have not kept up with inflation. I'm old enough to remember when gas was 25 cents a gallon. Today, I filled up at $1.78 a gallon, knowing that the price continues to inflate. To fill my motorhome, it costs as much as dues at my Lodge.
So how much should your dues be? Take your budget, divide it by the number of dues paying members, and that is what it costs per person to operate your Lodge.
Example:
If Unity Lodge has an annual budget of $8,000.00. And Unity Lodge has 225 members. $8,000.00 divided by 225 members = $35.00 per member.
Dues should be rounded up to $40.00 to give you a cushion against unexpected expenses and inflation.
To change the scenario, what if you have only 128 members and your current dues are $45.00? $8000.00 divided by 128 members = $62.50.
It's obvious that you're in the red $17.50 per member. With this difference, it could be possible to raise your dues to the needed level in one your. But to do so, you need to communicate the problem with your members. If you talk with your members, and share the information, most of our members are understanding enough.
But the key to all of this is to be open and honest with them. And, any who cannot truly afford the dues should be remitted. We have an obligation to help those less fortunate.
Dues should cover the expenses of the Lodge in order to insure a sound financial future. If you're constantly tapping your nest-egg, it won't be long and it won't be there. A regular review of the dues with small, periodic increases is always easier to sell to the members then one large increase.




online edition of India's national newspaper, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006
The following article is from:
Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad
Baradari's shadow looms over Freemason movement in city
Staff Reporter
•    The grand structure symbolises the evolution of Freemasons
•    The history of Freemasons in Secunderabad and Hyderabad dates back to 1806
•    The Nizam, a Freemason himself, donates Baradari to the movement in 1900s
•    The oldest Masonic temple in the country, the Baradari has nine Masonic lodges and chapters
•    Impressive list of members since the Nizam's days

HYDERABAD: As over 1,000 Freemasons from across South India and other parts of the country converge here over the next two days for their annual investiture meeting, there will be one feature of this movement that will be quietly celebrating its existence in the city.
The Goshamahal Baradari, where several lodges (temples of the Freemason movement) meet regularly, is in more than one way a grand old structure that symbolises the evolution of Freemasons in Hyderabad, right from the days of the Nizam and before that too.

Worldwide presence
The 3,000-year-old movement that has a worldwide presence and was shrouded in secrecy till recently is said to exist in the twin cities for the last 200 years. Its history, according to Freemasons, in Secunderabad and Hyderabad dates back to 1806, when the first Army Lodge came up. Currently, there are 16 lodges in the twin cities, with the St. John's Lodge being the first one in the Secunderabad area.
The Mayo Lodge, the Lodge Deccan and the Lodge Morland, which came up subsequently, were meeting occasionally at the Goshamahal Baradari for want of a place of their own. It was then that the Nizam of Hyderabad, a Freemason himself, donated the building, which was then a military barrack, to permanently house the movement. That was in the early 1900s. The building was dedicated formally to Masonic activities in February 1933.

Impressive member list
The 324-year-old Goshamahal Baradari is considered by the Freemasons as a precious monument with its massive, majestic balustrades, walls adorned by portraits and photographs of Freemasons in their regalia and an equally lavish banquet hall, all being awe-inspiring sights. Now the oldest Masonic temple in the country, the Baradari has nine Masonic lodges and chapters meeting inside its imposing interiors.
Freemasonry, said to be among the "world's oldest secular fraternal societies," is based on the "principles of fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man" and has a member list that boasts of names like Justice Devender Gupta, several nawabs of the Nizam's era, Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur, Maharaja Kishen Pershad, Raja Venkata Ram Reddy and several others.
from:http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/18/stories/2006021818440400.htm

"If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work." - Shakespeare

Hospitality is Good Business

A simple gesture that can have a profound effect on how the Lodge is perceived...

by W:.Tim Bryce, PM, MPS Palm Harbor, Florida, USA

A few years ago I was travelling with a District Deputy as part of his entourage visiting Masonic Lodges in our District. He always liked to convey a simple message, "Shake a Brothers hand."  He didn't mean just give a simple handshake and move on, but rather, look the Brother square in the eye and let him know that you are glad to see him. A simple gesture that can have a profound effect on how the Lodge is perceived.

Years ago it was not uncommon for me to talk to a waitress or some other service worker and kid with them, which would normally invoke a warm reception and better service. But I've noticed a change in attitude in today's society. People seem to be much more guarded in what they say and the glow of hospitality is diminishing.

Maybe they are suspicious of people's motives, or perhaps they feel they must be politically correct, or maybe they fear that something said might be used against them in a court of law. Regardless, it is very sad that we as a society are losing our sense of humour and ability to work with others. What concerns me is this attitude is appearing in our Lodges. How many times have you gone to a Lodge only to be viewed suspiciously? You might be lucky to get someone to show you where the coffee is, but that's about it. This doesn't sound very inviting or Brotherly does it?

Recently, we had a northern Brother visit our Lodge. When he came in, we welcomed him at the door and invited him to have a cigar with us (we're a smoking Lodge). He was caught off-guard by the gesture since smoking is generally frowned upon these days. He accepted our offer and sat down and talked with us. Since he arrived early while we were preparing the meal for the evening, he asked if he could help us with the cooking (we were just doing hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill that night). During our Stated Communications he was introduced west of the altar and met and greeted on the level by the Worshipful Master. Afterwards, he smoked another cigar with us as we wrapped up the evening in the rec hall. The point is he was made to feel very much at home in our Lodge. So much so, that the next day he called me to ask for a petition to join the Lodge as a dual member (which I mailed him straight away).

This is not to say that every Masonic guest wants to join our Lodge when they visit us (some simply don't like cigars). Nonetheless, it is important to meet and greet every visitor to the Lodge and try to make them feel at home. As a result, they may join you either as a dual or plural member. Even if they don't, they'll speak well of you and encourage other Masons to visit with you. Hospitality is just good business. Conversely, if a Brother is not made to feel welcome, its pretty much a guarantee that he will not return and will tell his Brothers not to visit either.

To assist with the hospitality of the Lodge, try appointing a committee to greet visitors, show them around, introduce them to the Brethren, and get them signed in for the meeting. At minimum, the Senior Warden should be delegated this responsibility as the ambassador of the Lodge. As a follow-up, it is always a nice touch to send a follow-up letter or e-mail to the Brother for visiting the Lodge. Better yet, put him on your mailing list to receive your Trestleboard newsletter and keep him apprised of the activities in your Lodge.

Simple courtesy, like the handshake, can go a long way.
Article reprinted with permission of the author and "FreeMason Information"

It’s True
Global Warming Has Already Happened!
Here’s the proof . . .

The Guy In The Glass
written in 1934 by Dale Wimbrow (1895-1954)

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgment upon you must pass,
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he's with you to clear up to the end,
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you've cheated the guy in the glass.

St. John's Festival is celebrated here in India as Universal Brotherhood Day. Tofique Fatehi, Mumbai, INDIA

Why the Black and White Clothing?
by: Richard Num, 30 August 1999

In the 1700's freemasons did not wear black and white. In an old masonic catechism of that time there is a question asking about the Master's clothing - "yallow jacket and blue breeches" forms part of the answer. This was an allusion to the colours of a pair of compasses and a square, perhaps. There is a painting showing the Scottish poet Robert Burns in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, Edinburgh (Scotland) on his appointment as lodge poet laureate - members of the lodge wear variously coloured coats, breeches and stockings, not black and white. This event was supposedly on 1 March 1787; the painting (by Brother Stewart Watson) was produced in 1846. Blue and Gold were certainly recognised as the official colours of freemasonry in the 1720's - nowadays these colours are used as the edging on aprons of Grand Lodge Officers and on their collars; private lodge officers use light blue collars and have light blue trimmings on their aprons.

A quick Internet search on the history of men's formal wear yielded two useful sites: site (1) and site (2).

From site (1) it seems that black formal wear was invented by an English writer. The idea of wearing black for evening wear was, according to the English clothing historian James Laver, first introduced by the nineteenth-century British writer Edward Bulwer-Lytton, who utilized it "as a romantic gesture to show that he was a `blighted being' and very, very melancholy. " And it was Bulwer-Lytton who gave further impetus to this notion of black as the color for formal wear by writing, in 1828, that "people must be very distinguished to look well in black." Naturally, the moment this statement was noted by would-be dandies, the style became decidedly de rigueur...or "cool" in modern parlance.

This was probably a reaction to the sartorial excesses of men during the time of the English Prince Regent (later Brother King George IV) when dandies such as Beau Brummell wore more splendid apparel than females.

The original dinner jacket was "invented" by Brother King Edward VII when Prince of Wales. He was also the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England in the last quarter of the 19th Century. He certainly made the dinner jacket fashionable, and no doubt this is why the vast majority of freemasons in Australia and some other countries wear dinner jackets (some WMs and Grand Lodge folk wear white tie and tails).

From site (2) - the tuxedo was "invented" by Pierre Lorillard IV, a wealthy man of Tuxedo Park in New York State, in 1896. His son and friends wore the first tuxedos to a white tie and tails ball. The cummerbund and bow tie (popular with many freemasons in Australia) were later additions to the "tux" outfit.

In the more tropical parts of Australia, masons wear white mess jackets rather than the sombre dinner jacket or tuxedo or tailcoat. Members of daylight lodges here wear day clothes such as a business suit or perhaps a formal sports jacket.

Frequent attenders at lodge take their freemasonry fairly seriously, and wearing formal clothes perhaps helps to set the mood.

In many parts of the world, at least a portion of the lodge floor is black and white. As to how long these chequered or black-and-white mosaic pavements have existed in lodge, maybe someone else can answer that question. I would suspect that these pavements became fashionable in permanent lodge rooms, when chalk marks on the floor or floor coverings were no longer required to be laid out by the Tyler in temporary accommodation such as taverns and hostelries. As an aside, there is a vogue in Australia for some new lodges to meet in temporary accommodation such as clubs, so the rolled up masonic carpet (afghan) is making a comeback. Such carpets are mainly comprised of black and white squares arranged in a mosaic pattern.
from: http://users.1st.net/fischer/SHORT24.HTM

                              

Past Grand Masters of UGLE
Premier Grand Lodge (Moderns)
Anthony Sayer, 1717
George Payne, 17i8, 1720
John Theophilus Desaguliers, 1719
John, 2nd Duke of Montagu, 1721
Philip, Duke of Wharton, 1722
Francis, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch, 1723
Charles, 2nd Duke of Richmond, 1724-5
James, 7th Earl of Abercorn, 1726
William, 4th Earl of Inchiquin, 1727
Henry, 3rd Lord Coleraine, 1727-8
James, 4th Lord Kingston, 1729
Thomas, 8th Duke of Norfolk, 1730-1
Thomas, Earl of Leicester, 1731
Anthony, 6th Viscount Montagu, 1732
James, 7th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn, 1733
John, 20th Earl of Crawford, 1734
Thomas, 2nd Viscount Weymouth, 1735
John, 4th Earl of Loudoun, 1736
Edward, 2nd Earl of Darnley, 1737
Henry, 2nd Duke of Chandos, 1738
Robert, 2nd Lord Raymond, 1739
William, 5th Lord Byron, 1747-51
James, 14th Earl of Morton, 1741
John, 1st Viscount Dudley and Ward,
Thomas, 8th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn, 1744
James, 6th Lord Cranstoun, 1745-7
John, 1st Lord Carysfort, 1752-3
James, 3rd Duke of Chandos, 1754-6
Sholto Charles, 15th Earl of Morton, 1757-62
Washington, 5th Earl Ferrers, 1762-4
Cadwallader, 9th Lord Blayney, 1764-6
Henry, 5th Duke of Beaufort, 1767-71
Robert Edward, 9th Lord Petre, 1772-6
George, 4th Duke of Manchester, 1777-82
H.R.H. Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, 1782-90
H.R.H. George, Prince of Wales (Afterwards King George IV), 1790-1813
H.R.H. Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, 1813

Grand Lodge of the 'Antients'
Robert Turner, 1753
Hon. Edward Vaughan, 1754-6
William, 1st Earl of Blesington, 1756-6o
Thomas Alexander, 6th Earl of Kellie, 1760-5
Hon. Thomas Mathew, 1766-70
John, 4th Duke of Atholl, 1775-81, 1791-1813
Randal William, 6th Earl and 2nd Marquess of Antrim, 1783-91 H.R.H. Edward, Duke of Kent, 1813

United Grand Lodge
H.R.H. Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, 1813-43
Thomas, 2nd Earl of Zetland, 1844-70
George Frederick Samuel, 1st Marquess of Ripon, 1870-4
H.R.H. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (King Edward Vii), 1874-1901
H.R.H. Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, 1901-39
H.R.H. George, Duke of Kent, 1939-42
Henry 6th Earl of Harewood, 1942-7
Edward William Spencer, 10th Duke of Devonshire, 1947-50
Lawrence Roger, 11th Earl of Scarbrough, 1951-67
Edward, Duke of Kent 1967
 - Jacques Huyghebaert - Lodge Bonnie Doon No.611, S.c., Colombo, Sri Lanka

Bear safety tips
This is now the hunting season in Canada

Canada's British Columbia and Alberta Department of Fish and Wildlife, is advising hikers, hunters, fishers and golfers to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while in the forested areas.

They advise people to wear noise-producing devices such as little bells on their clothing to alert but not startle the bears unexpectedly. They also advise carrying of pepper spray in case of an encounter with a bear.

It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity.

People should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings.

Black bear droppings are smaller and contain berries and possibly squirrel fur.

Grizzly bear droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper spray.



THE BLUE BLANKET
The Lodge of Journeymen Masons No.8, in the City of Edinburgh, is in possession of a blue blanket, which is used as a banner in Masonic processions. The history of it is thus given in the London Magazine:

"A number of Scotch mechanics followed Allan, Lord Steward of Scotland, to the holy wars in Palestine, and took with them a banner, on which were inscribed the following words from the 51st Psalm, 'In bona voluntate tua edificentur muri Hierosolymae'. Fighting under the banner, these valiant Scotsmen were present at the capture of Jerusalem, and other towns in the Holy Land; and, on their return to their own country, they deposited the banner, which they styled 'The Banner of the Holy Ghost', at the Altar of St. Eloi, the patron saint of the Edinburgh Tradesmen, in the church of St. Giles.
It was occasionally unfurled, or worn as a mantle by the representatives of the trades in the courtly and religious pageants that in former times were of frequent occurrence in the Scottish capital.

"In 1482, James, III, in consequence of the assistance which he had received from the Craftsmen of Edinburgh, in delivering him from the castle in which he was kept a prisoner, and paying a debt of 6,000 Merks which he had contracted in making preparations for the marriage of his son, the Duke of Rothesay, to Cecil, daughter of Edward IV of England, conferred on the good town several valuable privileges, and renewed to the Craftsmen their favorite banner of 'The Blue Blanket'. James's queen, Margaret of Denmark, to show her gratitude and respect to the Crafts, painted on the banner, with her own hands, a St. Andrew's cross, a crown, a thistle, and a hammer, with the following inscription: 'Fear God and honour the king; grant him a long life and a prosperous reign, and we shall ever pray to be faithful for the defence of his sacred majesty's royal person till death. The king decreed that in all time coming, this flag should be the standard of the Crafts within the burgh, and that it should be unfurled in defence of their own rights, and in protection of their sovereign. The privilege of displaying it at the Masonic procession was granted to the journeymen, in consequence of their original connection with the Masons of Mary's Chapel, one of the fourteen incorporated trades of the city.

"The Blue Blanket was long in a very tattered condition; but some years ago it was repaired by lining it with blue silk, so that it can be exposed without subjecting it to much injury."

An interesting little book was published with this title in 1722 and later editions describing the Operative Companies of Edinburgh.
 - Mackey! Encyclopedia.



Lodge Mother Kilwinning, Scotland
Published in Masonic Bulletin-BCY-January 1959

It is impossible within the compass of a few pages to do more than trace in outline the rise and progress of this venerable old Lodge. Lodge Mother Kilwinning still awaits a historian of the calibre of "Murray Lyon or R. S. Lindsay who will deal as faithfully with her history as they have done for the Lodges of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) and the Lodge of Holyrood House (St. Luke). Three histories of Lodge Mother Kilwinning have been written.

Lee Kerr and Robert Wylie published theirs in book form. That by Murray Lyon appeared as a serial in the long defunct "Scottish Freemason's Magazine".

All three were members of the Lodge and all three should be read if one is to maintain any sound knowledge of the Lodge which stands so proudly at the head of the Scottish Roll.

The origin of the Lodge is uncertain, although it most probably began with the building of the Monastery at Kilwinning. Whatever its beginnings, by
1598 it had become one of the three Lodges mentioned in the Schaw Statutes of that year. These Statutes, and a further set issued in 1599, were promulgated by William Schaw, Master of the King's Masons, and were compiled for the better administration of operative building in Scotland.

The order of seniority assigned in these Statutes to the three Lodges at Edinburgh, Kilwinning and Stirling has aroused considerable controversy.

Had the existence of these Statutes been known in 1736 it is just possible that Mother Kilwinning would not have withdrawn, in 1743, from the Grand Lodge of Scotland at whose birth she was represented. It was not until some years after 1736 that the Grand Lodge of Scotland assigned any seniority to the Lodges on the roll.

Such seniority was based upon records which could be produced as evidence of antiquity. Here Mother Kilwinning was at a disadvantage, for her written minutes did not commence until 1641, and the existence of the Schaw Statutes with their evidence of her existence in 1598 were unknown. As a consequence, the Lodge was placed second on the roll of Grand Lodge - a position which the Lodge resented and declined to accept.

The Lodge based its claim for precedence upon the fact that earlier records than 1641 had been consumed by a fire which had destroyed the family seat of the Earls of Eglinton wherein they were stored.

Finding Grand Lodge unpersuaded as to her claim to the prior position on the roll, Mother Kilwinning withdrew her allegiance and resumed her independence and powers of granting Charters. It is open to doubt whether in joining Grand Lodge, she had ever surrendered her chartering powers, though one might reasonably assume that, by the fact of adhering to Grand Lodge she had done so.

That Mother Kilwinning had exercised the power of granting Charters before 1736 is not in doubt. Lodge Canongate Kilwinning was chartered by Mother Kilwinning in 1677, and St. John's Lodge at Inverness within a few years thereafter at the least. The Lodge at Duns, in Berwickshire, also appears to have been issued a Kilwinning Charter before 1736.

Between 1743 and 1807, when she rejoined Grand Lodge, Mother Kilwinning continued to function as a Sovereign Grand Lodge, completely ignoring and being ignored by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. During this period in her history she issued approximately seventy Charters, both within Scotland and overseas.

Unfortunately, Mother Kilwinning was not blessed with very competent secretaries, for the record of the issues of her Charters is very incomplete. One must remember, too, that the situation of the Lodge, in a small village in Ayrshire, could hardly have been conducive to the easy conduct of the business of a Grand Lodge. Travelling was difficult and the postal services, if they existed, cannot have been other than erratic.

The independence of Mother Kilwinning, at least during the early years of the period 1743-1807, does not seem to have brought with it any unfraternal feelings to Grand Lodge or her subordinate Lodges. At least one Grand Master Mason was a member of Mother Kilwinning and Grand Lodge placed no ban on her members visiting daughter Lodges of Mother Kilwinning - that was to come later. . . .
- G. S. Draffen, Grand Librarian, Grand Lodge of Scotland.



Grandma's Letter
The other day I went up to a local Christian bookstore and saw a “Honk If You Love Jesus” bumper sticker.
I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting, so I bought the sticker and put in on my bumper.

I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is and I didn't notice that the light had changed.

It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed.

I found that LOTS of people love Jesus. Why, while I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and when he leaned out of his window and screamed, "for the love of God, GO! GO!" What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus.

Everyone started honking! I just leaned out of my window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people.
I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love. There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach...
 
I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. When I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.
 
Well, I've never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back.

My grandson burst out laughing, why even he was enjoying this religious experience.

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me.

I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed.

So, I waved to all my sisters and brothers grinning, and drove on through the intersection. 

I noticed I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away. 
- from the internet



Rosslyn Priest Quits over Da Vinci Code Hype
- by Jonathan Lessware


The priest of Rosslyn Chapel has resigned
amid widespread speculation that he is no longer
prepared to tolerate the worldwide hype generated
by The Da Vinci Code.


The number of people visiting the church
has rocketed from 9,500 a year to 117,000.



from: The Scotsman, 29May2006
at: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=792572006                                        

picture: Ian Rutherford






Making Coffee
By Brother "Skip" Boyer, Phoenix, AZ

As a newly made E.A., slightly longer ago than he cares to discuss in detail, young Bro. Don Monson was informed by his W. M. that as the youngest E.A., it was his duty to arrive one hour early at meetings and prepare coffee for the Brethren, coffee being one of the unofficial "working tools" of the Craft. Not realizing he had any options, Bro. Don agreed that this was his duty, and not realizing that this assignment wasn't supposed to last forever.
A year later, Bro. Don was still arriving early, still making coffee and now very much an active part of the lodge.

The result of this apprenticeship was twofold: an active Mason and, in time, a Grand Master who could make a great cup of coffee. Both are significant accomplishments.

M. W. Bro. Don now uses this story to make the point that no man will continue to come when he isn't useful. Whether it is something as simple as making coffee for the Craft, or something infinitely more complex, each Brother wants to feel he is bringing something special to the lodge, that he is being of service, and that his contributions help make the lodge a better place for all to be.

That is true, I think, in just about everything we do - whether it's your vocation, your place of worship, civic clubs, or our Craft. We go and devote our time and talents to those pursuits that need us, where we feel we can make a difference.

Some Brothers don't require an activity, of course. For them, the spirit of fellowship of a Lodge meeting, the chance to meet and share a few moments with their Brethren is reward enough. Others, especially the younger and more newly minted members of the Craft, require something more.

Each of us brings something special to the Craft and our individual Lodge or Temple. We have skills in a hundred areas, from building crafts to working computers, from management to education. How we choose to apply those skills spells the difference between just being involved with Masonry and being committed to it. There's a substantial difference in the meaning of those two words -- involvement and commitment.

An E.A. who makes coffee is involved in the life of the Lodge. It is the first step to becoming committed. The Brother who becomes the G.M. is totally committed. Of course, not every Brother, indeed, very few, will become G.M., but that commitment to the Craft must begin someplace. It may begin with something very complex or something as simple as making a good cup of coffee for the Brethren.
first printed in The Scottish Rite Journal, January 2001
Bro. Skip Boyer passed to The Grand Lodge above on May 27, 2006

The Gavels of Freemasonry
Freemasons have two Gavels.

One is The Master's Gavel,
symbol of authority that must be wisely used to preserve harmony within the Lodge. The other is the Working Tool of the Entered Apprentice. In either sense the Gavel is of ancient origin and honourable history.

As a symbol of authority, the gavel always has ruled deliberative assemblies. From the gathering of a neighbourhood sewing club, to legislatures, supreme courts, presidents and monarchs. The gavel brings order and obedience. Handing the gavel to another transfers, for the time, the authority of the one who originally held it. A Master of a Lodge is an autocrat while in possession of his Gavel. The Grand Master does not actually take over a Lodge until the Master yields his Gavel.

Our other Gavel, that of The Entered Apprentice, is for the workmen to employ in their labours. It approaches in importance the Gavel of authority. In one sense it is as important as the other Gavel, for no Master may open a Lodge unless the workmen are present. He cannot preside and supervise the work unless the workmen are at their labours. He cannot be successful in his conduct of the Lodge and his supervision of the work unless the workmen are co-operative. Even as autocratic as his power may be he can not drive them to their labours. In either case the Gavel must always be wisely used and in the best interest of the lodge.
 . . . taken from the book 3-5-7 Minute Talks on Freemasonry by Elbert Bede; compiled and edited by Bro. Barry D. Thom, P.M. Lodge Mackay #1129 S.C.



The Common Gavel
Away back in the dim dark ages when mankind was still young some one a little more clever than the rest created a sort of stone ax. It was a unwieldy contraption made of a hard sharp stone to which a handle was attached. But although crude and clumsy it enabled its owner to do things he could not have done otherwise. With it large stones could be broken into smaller ones and so be easier handled; he could use it to crush hollow trees and logs and thereby be better enabled to rob the bees of their honey. Many things were now possible. But one of the greatest benefits was the power it gave him over others. His enemies vanished. A man with such a weapon had to be treated with respect.

As the centuries passed this crude implement became more and more refined, and eventually got to be known as the common gavel. But it was still used to knock the rough edges off stones and it was still a symbol of power.

Today it holds an honoured place in the symbolism of our ancient Craft. It is one of the first tools placed in the hands of the E.A., and it is the last used by the Master in the conduct of his Lodge.

The most ancient working tool of our profession it is also the most important implement of our speculative science. We are employed in the building of a spiritual temple, hence it is imperative that we learn the proper use of this valuable instrument. Indeed, this is something we must do if we hope to be found worthy of the name we bear.

I say we must learn to use it properly because in the hands of either the Master or the Craftsman the Common Gavel can be a power for good or bad.
Handled improperly it spells ruin and failure; handled as it should be it is capable of bringing extraordinary results.

Unless it is used with sufficient strength it is ineffective, while if wielded recklessly and with misdirected force it defeats its purpose. Used firmly and with studied intent its good effects will be readily apparent.

We will never go wrong if we remember what we have been taught.
from - "Granite Chips"; published in Masonic Bulletin - BCY, December 1958

Revised Medical Dictionary
Artery - The study of paintings
Bacteria - Back door to cafeteria
Barium - What doctors do when patients die
Benign - What you be, after you be eight
Caesarean Section - A neighborhood in Rome
Catscan - Searching for Kitty
Cauterize - Made eye contact with her
Colic - A sheep dog
Coma - A punctuation mark
Dilate - To live long
Enema - Not a friend
Fester - Quicker than someone else
Fibula - A small lie
Impotent - Distinguished, well known
Labour Pain - Getting hurt at work
Medical Staff - A Doctor's cane
Morbid - A higher offer
Nitrates - Cheaper than day rates
Node - He knew it
Outpatient - A person who has fainted
Pelvis - Second cousin to Elvis
Post Operative - A letter carrier
Recovery Room - Place to do upholstery
Rectum - Nearly killed him
Secretion - Hiding something
Seizure - Roman emperor
Tablet - A small table
Terminal Illness - Getting sick at the airport
Tumor - One plus one more
Urine - Opposite of you're out

Stained Glass Window
in   the  Mohawk Chapel Brantford, Ontario






. . . . depicting Joseph Brant receiving Rev. John Stuart
on the banks of the Grand River,
where the Mohawk Chapel was built 1785.


Note the square and compasses
beneath the Union Jack
in the upper portion of the window.


The handclasp is of interest.



Brant was a Mason in 1776.




See also: http://www.sentex.ca/~calc/mohawk












Photo by Paul Farrell, Heritage Lodge A.F.&A.M. 730 GRC.
    




Edinburgh Lodge, Scotland
In 1712 there was an occurrence in a Edinburgh Lodge that caused the Master and some members to secede from the Lodge. As a result they were expelled. The problem eventually wound up in court two years later and then went to arbitration.
The following information is sourced from Coils Masonic Encyclopedia 1995 revised edition: Revised by Brother Allen E. Roberts.

"As late as 1705, Lodge of Edinburgh, Scotland, remained to a degree operative, about that year there arose some disagreement about the privileges of those journeymen who refused to be passed to Fellow Crafts. The enforcement or new rules at that time about journeymen working independently of Masters, that is, 'on their own' caused trouble. In 1708 the journeymen were granted at their demand the privilege of examining the accounts of the Lodge but the order was rescinded in 1712, completing the rupture, so that the journeymen seceded, accompanied by James Watson, Master of the Lodge. A bitter controversy ensued and the seceders were expelled. The journeymen went right on receiving and entering apprentices and passing Fellow Crafts. Finally, Lodge of Edinburgh cause the arrest of two of the seceders and seized the books of their Lodge. A court action having been brought by the two for false arrest and imprisonment and for the abstraction of the records, and the matter being ready for trial, an agreement was reached in 1714 to submit the matter to arbitration by the Deacons of the Goldsmiths, the Surgeons, and the Glovers.

The award was in favor of the journeymen, allowing them 100 pounds damages, the return of the books, and establishing their right to give the Mason Word upon admission of freemen and journeymen.

Lodge of Edinburgh persistently ignored the award but did rescind the obnoxious resolution, reinstated the journeymen to standing and offered the readmission on favorable terms. James Watson was reelected Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh in 1719 but the rest of the journeymen maintained their stand and continued to conduct their Lodge, which came to be called Lodge of Journeymen.

When the Grand Lodge of Scotland was formed in 1736, it was still working and received no. 8 on the roll, which is difficult to account for since many older Lodges received higher numbers. The Lodge is still working under that name.”



The VSL - of many names
Almost every Lodge in India - irrespective of which constitution it belongs to - has 5 Volumes of Sacred Law placed open on the Altar while the Lodge is open.

They are: Geeta, Koran, Zend-Avesta, Granth-Sahib and the Bible. And yes - they are refereed to as Volumes of the Sacred Law - note the plural.

And there are 5 officers at the District level: the Bearer of Geeta, the Koran-Bearer, the Avesta-Bearer, the Granth Bearer and the Bearer of the Bible - collectively known as the Bearers of the Volumes of Sacred Law. And if we have a candidate not 'subscribing' to any of these faiths - ours is a very multi-faith society - we ask him to bring his own Volume of Sacred Law - which is also then placed on the Altar and on which he takes his obligation. And seals the obligation 'in a manner most binding on his conscience'. As beliefs vary with respect to how one reveres the VSL.

I know many Christians here in India who pray in a Church to Ishwar, which is the Hindi word for God, and whose very Christian names are Yesudas (Yesu = Jesus, Das = worshipper) or Ishwardas etc. They are Baptised in the Church with those names. I even know of a couple of Arab Christians who know only Arabic and no English. I am sure they are praying to Allah, which again is the Arabic word for God. Al-Lah - The Divine. This word is more amorphous - like the VSL or the GAOTU. It is a great misconception that Allah is only the God of the Muslims. It is just that in Arabic God is called Allah. He is the same God as the God of Adam and Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus and Mohammad.

We invite visitors and guests to offer a prayer at the Altar, if they wish. At the opening, the prayers are recited after all the VSLs are opened, and at the closing, before the VSLs are closed.  Besides Lodge Al-Ameen, there are some few other Lodges and RA Chapters, which also have this tradition.

Incidently - when I visited the Lodges in US - I took the Tyler’s Oath (Something unknown here in India) on the VSL which was the Bible. I also attended a 3rd Degree work in a Lodge where the Bible, on which the Candidate had taken his 3 obligations was presented to him after raising, having been signed ('autographed') by all those present. When it came to taking my signature, they were a bit hesitant. Then the WM asked me if it would please me to sign the Bible, only if I didn't mind, and I gladly did so with great satisfaction, and also a great appreciation of the gesture of the WM in asking my approval before I signed it.
Tofique Fatehi PM - Lodge Al-Ameen No. 1412 (GLoScot), Bombay

The Two-Sided Man

        Much I owe to the Lands that grew--
        More to the Lives that fed--
        But most to Allah Who gave me two
        Separate sides to my head.

        Much I reflect on the Good and the True
        In the faiths beneath the sun,
        But most upon Allah Who gave me two
        Sides to my head, not one.

        Wesley's following, Calvin's flock,
        White or yellow or bronze,
        Shaman, Ju-ju or Angekok,
        Minister, Mukamuk, Bonze–

        Here is a health, my brothers, to you,
        However your prayers are said,
        And praised be Allah Who gave me two
        Separate sides to my head!

        I would go without shirt or shoe,
        Friend, tobacco or bread,
        Sooner than lose for a minute the two
        Separate sides of my head!
- Bro. Rudyard Kipling

A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.

WORDS WOMEN USE
FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

FIVE MINUTES
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

NOTHING
this is the calm before the storm. This means "something," and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with 'Nothing' usually end in "Fine"

GO AHEAD
This is a dare; not permission. Don't do it.

LOUD SIGH
This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing"

THAT'S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you're welcome.    
- author unknown


editor's note: There is one question I have never been able to answer satisfactorily;
"If a man speaks while standing in the forest, and no women is near to hear him, is he still wrong?

See you later Brother

Cal Christie - editor

to MAIN page