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 approach
es 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