tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26315374587811656942024-02-19T07:14:02.314-05:00Palmetto MasonThe Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-66388479805409790562012-04-18T18:37:00.000-04:002012-04-18T18:37:02.003-04:00For Holocaust Remembrance Day on 19 April 2012(Reprinted with permission of the author)<br />
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<br />
<b>Peace and Harmony Prevails</b><br />
Living in Charleston, SC affords a Mason who enjoys visiting other lodges
the opportunity to visit a large selection of different lodges all within a 30
minute drive of each other. Especially during the first two weeks of the month
a Mason could conceivably visit a meeting of a different lodge or appendant
body every night of the week. The opportunities for meeting and fellowshipping
with brethren are sometimes staggering. In the act of availing myself of this
Charlestonian Masonic opportunity I had a uniquely wonderful Masonic experience
a few years ago.<br />
<br />
I was visiting Pythagorean Lodge, which I frequently do. I barely got there
before the lodge room door would be closed and as I signed the visitor section
of the attendance log, I noticed a uniquely Germanic name – Uwe Muehller.
Looking over to his lodge affiliation I read: Todtenkopf und Phoenix – Berlin.
My father having been a POW in World War 2 in Germany, I had instilled in me
from my father an interest in most things German from an early age. I was
excited to have the chance to meet and greet a German brother, especially in
Charleston of all places. I found him and talked with him long enough to learn
he was Junior Warden of his lodge (called 2nd Warden in Germany) before the craft
was called to order. After we went through the routine opening ritual and
introductions the Master said he was especially honored to introduce 2 visitors
– the first was the brother from Germany. The second was brother Moshe Abuderam
who was there from Israel to see his son Eli take his first step in Masonry. The
Master then made us aware that the following day (Friday 2May08) was Holocaust
Memorial Day.<br />
<br />
Under what other circumstances would a 60 year-old Israeli and a Berliner
sit in peace and harmony with a roomful of Americans and all be perfectly at
ease except in a Masonic Lodge? What a learning experience for us all.
Regardless of any enmity that may exist outside the walls of the lodge, within
the walls of a lodge we are all brothers first. Religious differences,
political differences, personal prejudices, they all are insignificant when
viewed in the context of our brotherhood. So also then should any differences
between us within our own lodges be viewed in the same context. We say our
order brings together men who otherwise might have remained at a perpetual
distance. We shouldn’t let what petty differences that do exist divide us. We
shouldn’t cling to the fairy tales of the past when the light of logical truth
has exposed them to be such. We should allow ourselves to embrace the
preponderance of similarities between us all and ignore the minor differences.
Otherwise we will be forced to admit that we really do just study the ritual to
be able to recite it, not in order to obey it. If a Jew and a German can meet
on the level and part on the square in a Masonic lodge, what could possibly be
worthy of dividing us?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Tom Lewis Jr PM</span>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-62735556809343742052012-04-06T09:58:00.000-04:002012-04-06T09:58:18.616-04:00Research Help NeededTo my fellow researchers - amateur and professional alike: I am searching for the location of the original document signed by John Hancock appointing Dr. William Rickman as “Director and Chief Physician of the Hospital in Virginia…” Dated May 18, 1776.The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-86463233810842819752012-03-22T16:45:00.001-04:002012-03-22T16:52:49.307-04:00No Explanation Necessary (Reprinted with Author's Permission)<h2><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No Explanation Necessary</span></h2><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Previously published in Volume 12, Issue 1, of "The Mariner Lighthouse," the official publication of Mariner Lodge No. 2, A.F.M. of S.C.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last year my boss asked me a question as I was in mid-meltdown about the latest lodge crisis – “Isn’t Masonry supposed to be something you do to relax? Why is there so much controversy?” I didn’t have a good answer for him, any more than I have a good answer for my wife who listens to me vent from time to time and often asks the same question. One reason for my frustration was the simple fact that a lot of people who have never been master of a Lodge seem to think that simply by virtue of being the master of your Lodge you can fix whatever is wrong by sheer force of will combined with the respect you command as the master. I’ve said this to some Past Masters and invariably they smile and nod sagely as if I finally understand one of the great mysteries of life. What makes that attitude so irritating to a Lodge master is that at least on some level you yourself thought the same thing until you were actually inducted into the Oriental Chair of King Solomon and suddenly came face –to-face with the reality of the office. In theory, masters are wise, proficient in the work, and armed with the respect of all the brothers of the Lodge who all want to pull together for the good of the Lodge. In practice you may not be as wise as you think you are, and you’re dealing with a lot of different people with different levels of motivation, each with their own separate agenda which may or may not be compatible with yours, or even with Masonry itself. </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the unfortunate realities of Masonry is that some Masons just don’t get it. They are like the seed that falls among the weeds and rocks - it just never takes root and grows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may come to lodge and hear the ritual over and over, and comment among themselves about who said a wrong word, or left out a phrase, but somehow the very words they have committed to memory never sink in. They are either unable or unwilling to buy into the concept of what Masonry really is. It’s disappointing how many Masons just scratch the surface of what Masonry is, what it could be to their lives and those of the people they interact with. They think Masonry begins and ends with learning the ritual. They never stop to think of applying the ritual to their lives, even though that is exactly what the ritual tells us to do. Fortunately for us all, some of the seed falls on fertile ground and bears fruit, or Masonry never would have gotten to us.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">America was founded in large part by Masons. America has not survived and prospered for nearly two and a half centuries simply because the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and Bill of Rights are beautifully worded documents. America has survived because of what those documents instruct us and our leaders to do. And it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to realize how much better our country would be if more people put their time and energy into following the spirit of those instructions, instead of dissecting them looking for a way around them. Likewise, Masonry has not survived for hundreds of years because it has a beautiful ritual. For one thing that beautiful ritual we are all familiar with is only the latest iteration of a ritual that has been constantly evolving since the early 1600s when it wasn’t nearly as beautiful. Masonry has survived because of what that beautiful ritual encourages us to do. Masonry is a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. The problems start when Masons don’t take the time and effort to learn to understand the symbolism in the ritual so they can see through the veil of allegory to get to the morality. We get so caught up in learning the letter of the ritual that we lose the spirit of it. A lot of Masons memorize the ritual to be able to recite it, rather than to be able to live by it. But just mouthing words we don’t understand is not Masonry. We have to learn to listen to what the words say. If you were dying would you rather have a minister at your bedside who can recite the entire Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelations, or one who knew a few less verses but had a close personal relationship with God?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t misunderstand me, learning the ritual is vital to being able to put on degrees that enlighten and move our candidates so that of their own free will and accord they make the decision in their own hearts to become better human beings. But when we recite the ritual as fast as we can like a child reciting bible verses in Sunday School, the poor blind candidate simply can’t absorb and experience what the men who wrote the ritual intended. And we’ve wasted our time, as well as his time and squandered a priceless opportunity. It’s not true that if you say it fast enough, you’ll get it all out without forgetting something. And unfortunately when the words come at you too fast to comprehend, even Masons who have heard it before don’t get the full impact. With enough patience, a parrot could probably be taught to repeat our ritual perfectly, but it wouldn’t make him a better parrot. A chimpanzee could probably be taught to walk clockwise around an altar carrying a staff, while three others sit in tall chairs and rap a gavel when someone approaches. But neither creature is capable of an understanding of what it’s all about and thereby becoming a better version of himself. If we as men don’t strive for an understanding of what the men who wrote the ritual were trying to teach us, then we reduce ourselves to something far less than the enlightened men the men who entrusted the ritual to us intended us to be. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">“For those who get it, no explanation is necessary; for those who don't, no explanation is possible.”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Tom Lewis, Jr PM 32° KT KRC</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">PM Mariner Lodge #2 Charleston, SC</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Life Member Jackson Lodge #45, Jackson TN<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> "<em>Fraternitas Humana Sub Paternus Deus</em>”</span>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-84123179595692820492012-02-26T16:58:00.001-05:002012-03-21T17:03:46.012-04:00Unity (Reprinted with the Author's Permission)<div class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unity - An Essay</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoSubtitle" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Joseph F. Giunta, PDDGM</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">31 January 2012</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some years ago while serving as a District Deputy Grand Master, I was privileged to be an instructor at a Fourth Masonic District Instructional Meeting, at which I addressed the newly elected Lodge Masters in this District. While I was in the process of teaching what I believed those brothers should know, within the very short amount of time allotted for that purpose, a question arose regarding lodge harmony, more specifically how it is achieved. Recognizing the importance of that question and recalling the years I had spent in leadership positions, I devoted precious time to answering it. I went on to explain that we are all obligated to do certain things according to law, and that a Master who leads by exemplifying the law to which we obligated ourselves is a Master who will have harmony, hence unity, in his Lodge. It is this theme of unity that I want to address this evening, based upon law, ritual, landmarks and other Masonic guidelines that have been provided to us over a number of years. Some of what you will hear will be quoted from the Ahiman Rezon.<o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unity has been expressed in a variety of ways, not the least of which are: “United we stand, divided we fall”, and these words from Psalm 133 recited during the circumambulation of the Entered Apprentice Degree: “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in <u>unity</u>.” From the very beginning of ritual we hear words that should prompt us to direct our inquiries into unity. To achieve unity is to exemplify leadership. To exemplify leadership one must first learn how to follow, and the Masonic learning process can begin by reading the guidelines provided to us by way of our book of constitution and code.<o:p> </o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that some of us are not able to achieve unity, because some of us are not able to define Freemasonry--despite the number of years that we have been members of lodges, or have had the privilege of serving in a variety of positions in those lodges or even by serving as Grand Lodge officers. To some it is an opportunity to serve with humility, to teach with a passion and to believe that the practice of the principles that define our fraternity as they are provided to us is to live a life pleasing to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To others it is a social club or an opportunity to glow in the spotlight of ego.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve probably heard the old saying that if you put ten brothers together and ask them to define Freemasonry you will get ten different answers. That should never happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1939, our Grand Lodge recognized the need to define our Craft and adopted a Declaration of Masonic Principles. That declaration that defines South Carolina Freemasonry can be found beginning on page 486 of the Ahiman Rezon. Those principles tell us: “Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, educational and religious society. Its principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only secrets are in its methods of recognition and of symbolic instruction.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admittedly, not all of us can afford to make charitable contributions, and our benevolent nature may extend no farther than the inclination to do good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Masonic education is best accomplished by learned men, who teach those whose intellect and desire to learn are at the same level, which is not always the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where we are a religious Craft, Freemasonry is not a religion. The all-encompassing nature of our Craft, however, does provide an opportunity for each of us to choose his own level of comfort and contribute to the Craft as best we can. That declaration goes on to define the social nature of our fraternity in these words: “It is a social organization only so far as it furnishes additional inducement that men may foregather in numbers, thereby providing more material for its primary work of education, of worship and of charity.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that statement is the definition of Masonic social clubs here in South Carolina, which provides the guidelines needed for the writing of club bylaws.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I must admit that my passion for and love of our fraternity has caused me to speak out at times when others were silent, and to invoke the words of the Charge at Closing that makes us responsible to: “remind him of his errors and aid a reformation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That Charge is not only a beautiful piece of work, it is also binding upon us. It is a <u>charge</u>! How can we achieve unity if we choose to overlook the mistakes of others, especially when those mistakes violate the law to which we are obligated?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To allow a brother to have his own way just because he exerts the power of ego is to allow our fraternity to become disorganized, thus lacking unity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to allow a brother to teach about or act upon what he thinks is a good idea may be allowing that brother an opportunity to violate Masonic law, thus causing disagreement, discontent and disunity, and could subject that well intentioned brother to Masonic disciplinary action that includes expulsion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I once told a group of Past Masters that I would probably call upon one or more of them for advice while I served as Master of my lodge. I also went on to admonish them that when they came to me with advice they had better have their Masonic references open in their hands. In other words what I wanted them to understand is what I want you to understand that there is only one law to follow.<o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some months back, Right Worshipful Brother Grayson W. Mayfield III wrote an article that asked: Should All Good Men Be Made Masons? In that article he expressed his deep rooted feeling that only those who have the intellectual capacity to understand the nature of the craft by way of its teaching should be initiated into its mysteries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say there were and still are some brothers who disagree with that sentiment. In an encyclical letter written by Brother Albert G. Mackey, then Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina, there are words that support the Right Worshipful Brother’s opinion. Brother Mackey told us: “Neither is an ignorant or uneducated man desirable as a candidate for our mysteries. Without some intellectual culture it is not likely that he will appreciate the symbolic character of our institution, nor would he be able to become a very useful or honorable member of the craft.” Those words also infer that to admit men simply because they are of a good nature is to cause the fraternity to entertain the notion that we must educate differently in order to accommodate the differences in the educational achievements and intellectual capacities of its membership. To entertain that notion would, by its very nature, cause disunity.<o:p> </o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Charge at Closing we are also instructed to: “…be ye all of <u>one </u>mind.” Hence another instance where the need for unity is stressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to ask that you review what might be considered the beginning of unity within our fraternity, namely the Twenty-Five Landmarks Of Freemasonry as observed in this Grand Jurisdiction. At the end of those Landmarks is a statement that stresses unity: “These constitute the Landmarks, or as they have sometimes been called, “the body of Masonry”, in which it is not in the power of any man or body of men to make the least innovation.” Those Landmarks unite us, and we are further reminded by way of words taken from the presentation of the Working Tools of the Third Degree, which tell us that we are united as “<u>one</u> sacred band or society of friends and brothers, among whom no contention should ever exist but that noble contention or rather emulation of who can best work and best agree.” Agreement equals unity.<o:p> </o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above all, unity is stressed by way of our obligation to obey the constitution and edicts of the Grand Lodge, an obligation taken in the presence of lodge assembled, with our hands on the Holy Bible –an obligation which ends with a promise to remain steadfast and to keep the content of that obligation ever in our senses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all made that promise to God Himself by way of these words: “So help me God!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We therefore obligated ourselves to unity through obedience to established law and promised the Grand Architect that we would ever be faithful to that promise.<o:p> </o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The importance of unity should never overshadow the need to recognize individual talent, nor should that talent be used in an effort to diminish or defeat the principles of a society that has withstood the test of time. Here we find an illustration of the fundamental lesson stressed throughout the teaching of our Craft, the lesson of equilibrium as symbolically represented by the level worn by the Senior Warden.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">From the teaching of Freemasonry we hear many references to the number three. We are also prompted to consider the importance of the number one. My guess is that it took only one Mason to influence you to ask for a petition, and on that petition is a question that asks if you believe in the existence of one God. The number one united us from the very beginning, even before any of us was received into the beauty and form of a lodge, and it continues to unite us by inculcating these basic precepts, that there is one God to worship, one law to follow, and one correct way to do things. One equals unity, and unity is not only a hallmark of leadership, it is the key to survival of our beloved craft.</span></span></div></div>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-54013179576262624112012-01-29T12:55:00.003-05:002012-01-29T12:58:30.253-05:00So You Want to be a Grand Lodge Officer?<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">For those that actively seek a position in the Grand Lodge, I offer the “be careful of what you wish for” advice. Ideally, the office seeks the Brother – not the other way around. Appointment or nomination to a Grand Lodge office should actually come as a surprise to the Brother being so appointed or nominated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">There are many good reasons for this. First of all, seeking an office gives the impression to many other Masons that one is politicking, which is generally looked upon as un-Masonic activity. In addition, in the process of seeking an office, a Freemason can easily find himself in the realm of favor payback if he achieves that which he sought. This can cause a conflict of interest when it comes to decision making. Owing favors can easily cloud one’s good sense of fairness and execution of Masonic law.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As for “being careful of what you wish for,” service in certain Grand Lodge offices can be mentally taxing – if one has a conscious. It seems that this hits many Grand Lodge officers like a pile of bricks once their term comes to an end. I experienced this first hand and other past Grand Lodge officers have related the same to me. Trust me – it is not a pleasant feeling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is no doubt about it. Serving as a Grand Lodge officer is a great honor, however, it carries significant responsibility. It is a burden that no one should actively seek. The burden should seek the man. If one is Grand Lodge materiel, then the burden will find him.</span></div>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-71068823790918288312011-04-29T22:17:00.000-04:002011-04-29T22:17:49.163-04:00Now a PDDGMI am now the junior Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Fourth Masonic District of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina. This is kind of a cool and weird feeling.The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-39128071245169990282011-04-24T13:48:00.005-04:002011-04-30T18:10:12.077-04:00First Banquet and Symposium of the SCMRS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkzlGycClVqXPoJ8TAmsUFNR_KsnLeLsDuuv7aoMKRplMvGj_MDENJBTRYvpQVBWdy_VXH98y_bgv856q0Ze0YSzBqQRQ_5wLPOeIKM0QG_vdPoWHxwvRx9A5GbhYufseS_3hi2MHUlA/s1600/MayfieldHalleranRickmanSirmon%25282%2529%252822Apr11%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkzlGycClVqXPoJ8TAmsUFNR_KsnLeLsDuuv7aoMKRplMvGj_MDENJBTRYvpQVBWdy_VXH98y_bgv856q0Ze0YSzBqQRQ_5wLPOeIKM0QG_vdPoWHxwvRx9A5GbhYufseS_3hi2MHUlA/s320/MayfieldHalleranRickmanSirmon%25282%2529%252822Apr11%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Late on Friday evening, 22 April 2011, the <a href="http://www.scmrs.org/">South Carolina Masonic Research Society</a> (SCMRS) concluded its first Banquet and Symposium in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, which is right across the Cooper River from downtown Charleston – the seat of Southern secession and home of so much Masonic history. The theme for the symposium was “Freemasonry and the Civil War” – properly referred to as the War Between the States. It was an appropriate theme in that the Country is currently commemorating the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the start of that terrible war. The immediate Past President of the SCMRS, Worshipful Brother Paul C. Graham, has described it as a “home run” event.<br />
<br />
It was truly an enlightening and first-class occasion that featured two internationally known Masons who are accomplished authors and speakers. They were Right Worshipful Brother <a href="http://michaelhalleran.com/">Michael A. Halleran</a>, author of <em>The Better Angels of our Nature: Freemasonry in the American Civil War</em> and current Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Kansas; and Worshipful Brother <a href="http://www.sirmon.us/">Wayne E. Sirmon</a>, a Past Master from Alabama, an expert in the Masonic connections surrounding the Confederate submarine <em>H.L. Hunley</em>, and a member of Lieutenant George E. Dixon’s lodge in Mobile, Alabama. For those that do not know, Brother Dixon was the last commander of the <em>Hunley</em> – the first submarine to sink an enemy ship.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg-x8u0w_opFITQKCNhfBv_ApSSBLfwNDD-DlNjTavKqqvUFwbBzmG3rvD_eAKN8WnTJdRzLzz5yMtoeRtuG9jrpxAf66OpFCa6zLO2GTLBJUOIYhyphenhyphenKxYI2n0oA8qJNzc_PRoo2kQYPw/s1600/HalleranSirmonRickmanReenactors2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg-x8u0w_opFITQKCNhfBv_ApSSBLfwNDD-DlNjTavKqqvUFwbBzmG3rvD_eAKN8WnTJdRzLzz5yMtoeRtuG9jrpxAf66OpFCa6zLO2GTLBJUOIYhyphenhyphenKxYI2n0oA8qJNzc_PRoo2kQYPw/s320/HalleranSirmonRickmanReenactors2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The fellowship, the good food, the period appropriate music, and the diverse crowd of attendees – Confederates, Federals, Brothers, ladies, etc – all added to the special night. It was the type of event that has caused many non-attendees to say “I’d wish I had been there” after they heard how it went.<br />
<br />
/s/<br />
Grayson W. Mayfield, III DDGM<br />
President<br />
South Carolina Masonic Research Society<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGE6ASmSwXB62MxUYSrgnEza8MD0egN-cQM6AQhWlYh9okQYmKQe2Lon6gpOUn3Yf7bjXFFSOrCvfrftK8OaRM3mxNBxmCtUTGG6fVsQyOZIaQvjNCsjnfvpFtpdMYD4Tq6ciVQC7s-U/s1600/ReenactorShot2%252822Apr11%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGE6ASmSwXB62MxUYSrgnEza8MD0egN-cQM6AQhWlYh9okQYmKQe2Lon6gpOUn3Yf7bjXFFSOrCvfrftK8OaRM3mxNBxmCtUTGG6fVsQyOZIaQvjNCsjnfvpFtpdMYD4Tq6ciVQC7s-U/s640/ReenactorShot2%252822Apr11%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-26878481693879619732011-03-20T13:16:00.002-04:002011-03-24T15:52:47.579-04:00Lodge of Sorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68VsWp5hy6065e-27opFZTZYAhv5-5DyX-sku1Rxgj1y8ZioyCI90bKkD_2DsJvtXv73JGYZHWRv9UpQ8ybuVyvEzlbHXdJCQNC0jwuxU6d0pQc3xnRYpxGxlZkblIDmI7uoi2XVwTvE/s1600/Catafalque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68VsWp5hy6065e-27opFZTZYAhv5-5DyX-sku1Rxgj1y8ZioyCI90bKkD_2DsJvtXv73JGYZHWRv9UpQ8ybuVyvEzlbHXdJCQNC0jwuxU6d0pQc3xnRYpxGxlZkblIDmI7uoi2XVwTvE/s320/Catafalque.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On 19 March 2011, a Lodge of Sorrow was held by the lodges of the Fourth Masonic District, Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina. The Lowcountry Masters and Wardens Club of the Fourth Masonic District took the lead role in the coordination and execution of the event. Despite his very busy schedule, the Grand Master of Masons in South Carolina made it a point to be in attendance.<br />
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For those not familiar with a Lodge of Sorrow in South Carolina, the ceremony is not to be confused with a Masonic burial or memorial service. Masonic rites are delivered on the occasion of the internment of an individual Master Mason. The Lodge of Sorrow – though it can be convened for a single deceased Brother – is typically used to honor the memories of multiple Brothers and is not tied to the time of internment. In the Fourth District of South Carolina, a Lodge of Sorrow honors those that have passed during the previous year though, this year, Brothers that passed in 2009 and 2010 were remembered due to an unfortunate hiatus of the ceremony last year.<br />
<br />
A Lodge of Sorrow is not esoteric and can be; therefore, open to people that are not Masons. In the case of the Fourth Masonic District’s annual Lodge of Sorrow, widows are specifically invited to the ceremony. It is a somber and beautiful occasion. Some even describe it as a bit morbid but the beauty of the ceremony still shines through. It can be an emotional experience for those in attendance – especially the family members of the deceased.<br />
<br />
Most Masons have never witnessed a Lodge of Sorrow. Despite its beautiful and reflective nature, it requires much logistical planning and practice in order to properly perform the ceremony. It is most likely because of the time and work required that the Fourth Masonic District of South Carolina may be the only place that one can currently witness the event in the Palmetto State. The good news, however, is that interest in the ceremony is being revived. In fact, a District Deputy Grand Master from another District attended the ceremony and took notes back to his District. A seed may have been planted.The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-22317221368309161412011-02-27T11:08:00.000-05:002011-02-27T11:08:41.501-05:00Embracing the Internet: the Implications for FreemasonryIt should probably go without saying that the entire system of Masonic correspondence and the Masonic experience were never designed to operate in a modern world now dominated by Internet forms of communication and information. Though this can also be said about other organizations, Freemasonry is rather unique in its slow moving, deliberate, and useful process of making changes. The result is that Freemasonry as an institution has been one of the slowest to embrace Internet technology and equally slow in recognizing the implications that this technology can and will have on the Fraternity.<br />
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The fact, however, is that the Internet is here and is being used by many as their primary form of communication and information gathering. Freemasonry is not immune from this trend. Men are now very likely to use their electronic devices to search for information about Freemasonry, search for lodges in their communities, and to make inquiries about becoming a Freemason. The old norm of a man personally asking a Mason about the Fraternity is quickly being eroded.<br />
<br />
In addition, individual Masons and lodges are turning more and more to the Internet as a way to communicate with each other. Lodges has discovered, for example, that newsletters can be emailed for far more cheaply that they can be sent out via the Postal Service. Grand Masters have also realized that email is a cheaper and quicker way to relay information to District Deputy Grand Masters and other Grand Lodge officers.<br />
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Websites have also become a way to provide information that otherwise would not have been easily available to many people. Calendars of events, locations of lodges, and contact information for lodges are all items that are increasingly being provided by way of websites. In this day and age, many people have sort of adopted a mindset of, “if an organization does not have a website, then it does not really exist.”<br />
<br />
All of this notwithstanding, the Internet is not the answer to all of Freemasonry’s information and correspondence needs. It is just a tool among others. It is a powerful tool, however. It is also one that can be used – intentionally or unintentionally – to cause great harm to the Fraternity. That may be the primary reason for Freemasonry at all levels to embrace the Internet. Yes – it should be embraced for the good that it can be used for, but it should also be embraced as a potential enemy to Freemasonry. “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”* If the institution of Freemasonry does not know about how the Internet can be – and is - applied as a weapon against the Fraternity, then it can not be prepared to deal with the implications of such.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Sun-tzu, Chinese general & military strategist (~400 BC)</span>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-37922633364282139142011-02-13T11:19:00.002-05:002011-02-13T11:31:50.879-05:00Going to School – A CommentaryWhat is Freemasonry? If this question was asked of ten different Masons, there would very possibly be up to ten different answers returned. Undoubtedly, Freemasonry means many different things to its different Brothers on the surface of their consciousness and thoughts. But what if individual Masons were asked to boil down Freemasonry to its core purpose after much reflection as opposed to going with the answer that may readily come from the surface of their thoughts? Discovering Freemasonry’s core purpose – if there is one – would define its true meaning and reason for existence.<br />
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Like many Freemasons, I have contemplated on this subject for years. I have found that my classification of the core purpose has changed more than once over time as I have studied, pondered, and consulted with other Freemasons. It was this process that ultimately resulted in a personal “light bulb” moment. This process of studying, contemplating, and learning was itself the core purpose. Freemasonry is a school.<br />
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Unlike traditional schools and though specifics can sometimes be identified in the lessons, Freemasonry does not primarily teach specific knowledge. It does not teach the specifics of geometry, logic, music, or any other subject. Instead, it teaches its students <u>how</u> to learn and it does so in a very non-traditional manner.<br />
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It is non-traditional in that it is not readily obvious. Freemasonry’s teaching method forces the willing student to think outside of the normal educational paradigm. It attempts to educate its students on the art of learning and that all of one’s senses and resources should be brought to bear. But it does not, however, overtly identify this goal to the Masonic student. It only hints at this process of, for lack of a better phrase, self education. Willing students are forced to become their own professors that are, ideally, consulting with others that are also their own Masonic professors. Freemasonry’s school is also non-traditional in that one can never graduate from it. Diplomas of graduation are not issued and there are no officially identified teachers. All of its students are also its teachers.<br />
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Once a student of Freemasonry recognizes the teaching method and begins to practice it, the other possible purposes and meanings of Freemasonry began to make sense and concepts of such things as Brotherly love, charity, etc can be better understood in their proper context.<br />
<br />
Of course, the school of Freemasonry does have an administration and a structure in place. This is absolutely necessary in order to preserve, protect, and promote the somewhat unusual teaching method and the ritual behind such. Without the structure and the administrators, Freemasonry’s school would quickly find its foundations eroded and the real purpose would, therefore, be lost.<br />
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Of course, I may have this all wrong. That is why I will stay in school for the rest of my days.The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-5678100521183254622011-01-31T19:24:00.000-05:002011-01-31T19:24:53.715-05:0022 April 2011 - SCMRS Banquet and Symposium<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAD4FV3TDdoQwmf1biu3ZnVK5umGZPMvs2a2PjVf3knasbkpjrhEH6Hy10y77-NqlVJhEyG1ObYvXa9FVliQGI8T46gsNEC5NR9YYnl_6Sl0FGNhOxGkabKzZHY-eInFJlaxqHFyA5Ao/s1600/SCMRS_seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAD4FV3TDdoQwmf1biu3ZnVK5umGZPMvs2a2PjVf3knasbkpjrhEH6Hy10y77-NqlVJhEyG1ObYvXa9FVliQGI8T46gsNEC5NR9YYnl_6Sl0FGNhOxGkabKzZHY-eInFJlaxqHFyA5Ao/s1600/SCMRS_seal.jpg" /></a>The Society is proud to announce the first <a href="http://www.scmrs.org/banquet.html">South Carolina Masonic Research Society Banquet and Symposium</a>, which will be held on April 22, 2011, at 7:00 PM in the Omar Shrine Temple, 176 Patriots Point Street, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464. The cost is $25.00 per person and this will be a formal or semi-formal dress event. Period dress from the time period of the War Between the States is also invited and encouraged. A catered meal will be provided.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The keynote speaker will be Worshipful Brother Michael A. Halleran, author of <em>The Better Angels of our Nature: Freemasonry in the American Civil War</em>. Halleran is a freelance writer and a practicing attorney in the Flint Hills of East-Central Kansas. A lecturer at Emporia State University, he is also an active Freemason, belonging to both Emporia Lodge No. 12, AF&AM, and Mount Zion Lodge No. 266, AF&AM, Topeka, Kansas. Halleran received the Mackey Award for Excellence in Masonic Scholarship by the Scottish Rite Research Society for his article on Civil War Freemasonry in that society’s journal: <em>Heredom</em>, vol. 14 (2006). In addition, he is the author of a regular column for <em>The Scottish Rite Journal</em>. He is a member of the Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle, and the Scottish Rite Research Society where he studies American military Masonry and the traditions of military lodges worldwide. See: <a href="http://michaelhalleran.com/">http://michaelhalleran.com/</a>.</div><br />
We are further proud to announce that Worshipful Brother Wayne Sirmon, of Alabama, will also be a speaker at this event. Sirmon brings to us a deep knowledge of the <em>CS Hunley</em> and the Masonic connections surrounding that vessel. Sirmon is currently the Master of the <a href="http://www.texaslodgeofresearch.org/">Texas Lodge of Masonic Research</a>.<br />
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This will not be a tiled event and you are encouraged to invite your non-Mason friends and family members – especially those that have an interest in history. Your Society’s officers look forward to seeing you at this quality event which will be filled with first class education and fellowship.<br />
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See <a href="http://www.scmrs.org/banquet.html">http://www.scmrs.org/banquet.html</a> for ticket and book ordering information.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">/s/</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Grayson W. Mayfield, III DDGM<br />
President, SCMRSThe Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-57661783631421518562011-01-06T19:24:00.000-05:002011-01-06T19:24:42.541-05:00Betrayed By A Mason? The Tragic Mission of Lt. Thomas BoydFrom Michael Karpovage, author of <strong>"Betrayed By A Mason? The Tragic Mission of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294357215_0">Lt. Thomas Boyd</span>."</strong>: "This article appeared in October 2010 issue of the <i><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294357215_1">The Plumbline</span>, A Quarterly Bulletin of the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294357215_2">Scottish Rite Research Society</span>. </i>Essentially it is an in-depth assessment of one of the most heinous torture deaths in the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294357215_3">American Revolution</span>, but from a Freemason perspective because of what happened between enemy Freemasons. It's an exposé between the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294357215_4">American scout Thomas Boyd</span>, and his British adversaries Colonel John Butler and <span _yuid="yui_3_1_1_5_129435720299095" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294357215_5">Chief Joseph</span> Brant at the end of the famed <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294357215_6">Sullivan Expedition</span> of 1779. It's one of those lost moments in history that I had heavily researched for my new mystery thriller novel <b><i>Crown of Serpents</i></b>. I'm hoping this article sheds further light on an extraordinary incident in both Masonic and military history between two nations in a most horrible time of war."<br />
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Go to this link to read the very interesting article: <strong><a href="http://www.crownofserpents.com/backstory">"Betrayed By A Mason? The Tragic Mission of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294357215_0">Lt. Thomas Boyd</span>."</a></strong><br />
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See also: <a href="http://palmettomason.blogspot.com/2010/04/recommended-crown-of-serpents.html">http://palmettomason.blogspot.com/2010/04/recommended-crown-of-serpents.html</a>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-51568024668139105642010-12-29T12:35:00.000-05:002010-12-29T12:35:03.945-05:00From "The Magpie Mason" - Bro. Washington on St. John's DayI recommend the following for your reading pleasure:<br />
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<a href="http://themagpiemason.blogspot.com/2010/12/bro-washington-on-st-johns-day.html">Bro. Washington on St. John's Day</a>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-32234995048883123852010-12-25T22:42:00.000-05:002010-12-25T22:42:36.680-05:00Choosing and Grooming Masonic Leaders<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Author’s note: This commentary references some procedures and law within the Grand Jurisdiction of South Carolina which may not be completely applicable to other Grand Lodges.</span></em><br />
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Like most all organizations, Freemasonry has a leadership structure whose origins predate even the Grand Lodge system that is currently familiar. This structure begins at the lodge level and the basic process involved in the selection of the officers of a lodge is fairly well known to most Master Masons. Five officers are nominated and elected – the Master, the two Wardens, the Treasurer, and the Secretary. Up to six other officers are appointed by the three Warrant officers. The Master appoints the Senior Deacon, the Chaplain, and the Tiler. The Senior Warden appoints the Junior Deacon while the Junior Warden appoints the two Stewards.<br />
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What is often overlooked, however, are the processes involved in the grooming of Masonic officers and leaders. This is often complicated by an expectation in some lodges that officers will almost automatically be “moved up” to the next higher officer position. Before an examination of that aspect begins, however, let us take a moment to specifically identify the leaders of a lodge.<br />
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Technically, there are only three leaders of a lodge. They are the warrant officers – the Master, the Senior Warden, and the Junior Warden. All other officers – even the elected Treasurer and Secretary – work for one of those three officers. If we really want to get down to it, even the two elected Wardens work at the pleasure of the Master. A Master can arrest the jewel of any officer (dismiss from office) – even the ones elected by the lodge members. The Master, on the other hand, can not be impeached or otherwise removed from office by the members of the lodge. These facts make a Master the undisputed true leader of his lodge even though the other officers are also serving in leadership roles.<br />
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With all of that said, it should be obvious that it is very important – maybe as important as the investigation and balloting process involving petitioners – that leaders and potential leaders of lodges be groomed and tested throughout their Masonic career. A “wrong” Lodge Master can be even more damaging to a lodge than a “wrong” petitioner that is allowed through the West Gate. This grooming and testing process can begin as a Brother enters into the appointed positions, which are typically the Steward and Deacon positions. The process commonly referred to as “moving through the chairs” is not necessarily a bad way to accomplish the process as long as there is no expectation on the part of the individual or the lodge members that service in one officer position equals automatic appointment or election to the next higher level of leadership. A mediocre Junior Deacon, for example, is probably not going miraculously become a stellar Senior Deacon.<br />
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The election of a Junior Warden is one of the most critical decision points for a lodge when it comes to a Brother’s leadership performance and potential. Once a lodge elects a Master Mason to the position of Junior Warden, it has – for all intents and purposes – declared that man ready to lead the lodge. If something were to happen to the Master and Senior Warden, the Junior Warden automatically assumes all of the power and responsibilities associated with the station of Lodge Master. If a poor leader is elected to the either of the stations of Junior Warden or Senior Warden, a lodge may not have an opportunity to correct its mistake before that Brother finds himself in the Master’s chair.<br />
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To effectively build a leadership corps and to ensure some amount of success when it comes to choosing the right Lodge Master, the Brothers of a lodge must constantly evaluate the performance and potential of a Brother for higher levels of leadership and responsibility. Any expectations or practices of automatic advancement are potentially dangerous to the long-term well being of a lodge. It should further be understood and accepted that not all Masons – even very good Master Masons – are leadership material. There are many roles to play in the Fraternity and – often – leadership is not the role for everyone.The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-24392413391452782562010-12-19T11:36:00.002-05:002010-12-21T11:04:56.422-05:00BEYOND THE POINSETTIA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrNBIkuxIECBYQh5-2IAk-vdL7x6KGD08GbsqGGiVAYNMv2x_knq_9LDHDVs38d1I6KQNY01EA-dcs7wC-KyaMVwoa13ORTifrTQlr4BV47GMpLbFU27puyl-rm3MTUzr-oSAar9Mv6w/s1600/JoelPoinsett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrNBIkuxIECBYQh5-2IAk-vdL7x6KGD08GbsqGGiVAYNMv2x_knq_9LDHDVs38d1I6KQNY01EA-dcs7wC-KyaMVwoa13ORTifrTQlr4BV47GMpLbFU27puyl-rm3MTUzr-oSAar9Mv6w/s1600/JoelPoinsett.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The following was previously published in Volume 21 of the <em>Transactions</em> of the South Carolina Masonic Research Society, 2009. Portrait by Charles Fenderich (1805-1887), n.d.</span></div><br />
BEYOND THE POINSETTIA: JOEL POINSETT AND MEXICAN FREEMASONRY<br />
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Joel Roberts Poinsett (1799 – 1851) was a native of Charleston, South Carolina, and is largely remembered only due to the beautiful flowering plant that bears his name. Commonly known as the poinsettia (<em>Euphorbia pulcherrima</em>), this plant is a frequent addition to many Christmas decorations. Although Poinsett was instrumental in bringing this plant to the United States from its native Mexico, his activities in that country extended well beyond amateur botany and secured his place in the history of early Mexican Freemasonry.<br />
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In addition to being a member of the United States House of Representatives and a Secretary of War for the United States, Poinsett served as the first Minister to Mexico from 1825 to 1830.1 He was an Ancient Free Mason, having served as Master of both Solomon’s Lodge No. 1 and Recovery Lodge No. 31, in Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina, respectively. He was also a High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of South Carolina and, though he never actually had the opportunity to carry out the duties of the office due to his commitments to the government of the United States, Poinsett was also <strike>appointed</strike> elected as a <strike>District</strike> Deputy Grand Master in South Carolina.2<br />
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The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina, through Poinsett, has sometimes been credited with the introduction of Freemasonry into Mexico. It is doubtful, however, that the historical evidence can support any such claim.<br />
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The prolific Masonic writer and historian, Albert G. Mackey, examined the Poinsett – Mexican Masonic connection in detail in 1861 when he presented his work, <em>The History of Freemasonry in South Carolina</em>. Mackey was in a unique position to be able to make this examination since, as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge in South Carolina, he was in possession of the written proceedings and various related documents that pertained to Grand Lodge business.<br />
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Mackey acknowledges that the South Carolina Grand Lodge did receive a letter from Poinsett in 1826, while he was in Mexico as the Minister from the United States. The contents and date of that letter were unfortunately not saved for review by Mackey or other Masonic historians but, in consequence of that letter, on the 15th of December, 1826, the Grand Lodge of South Carolina adopted the following resolution:<br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">That the Grand Lodge do constitute our worthy Brother, Joel R. Poinsett, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, near the Republic of Mexico, the Agent and Representative of the Grand Lodge, for the purpose of establishing friendly relations with the Lodges of that Republic. That our said Representative be authorized, in the manner of the Grand Lodge, to visit and inspect the working of the said Lodges, and, if deemed expedient, to grant dispensations for the constituting and working of Lodges according to the ancient landmarks, as fixed by this Grand Lodge; with a request that he will communicate to the Grand Lodge such information and advice as will enable it to promote the cause of Masonry in that country.3</span></blockquote>There is, therefore, little doubt that the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina clearly desired to establish Lodges in Mexico. South Carolina, like several Grand Lodges of the time, had a history of establishing Lodges in territories not already occupied by another Grand Lodge. It had done so before in places such as Alabama and Cuba.4<br />
<br />
Poinsett had, however, written another letter that more fully revealed the Masonic situation in Mexico. It was dated June 2nd, 1826, but not received by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina until 1827-- well after the resolution of December 15th, 1826. In this letter, which Mackey was able to reproduce word for word, Poinsett reports the following: “The Grand Lodge of Mexico counts thirteen Subordinate Lodges under its jurisdiction.”5 The Grand Lodge of South Carolina could not have established Lodges in Mexico in 1826 or later without having been labeled as an invader of an established Grand Jurisdiction. Mackey makes it clear that there is no evidence that Poinsett ever acted on the authority granted to him in December 1826. Mackey stated unequivocally that Freemasonry in Mexico was “<em>un fait accompli</em>;”<br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">and neither the Grand Lodge of South Carolina nor any other Grand Lodge had the right to intrude and interfere with the lawful sovereignty of the Grand Lodge of Mexico. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina certainly did not – it granted to one of its Past Officers, it is true, while it was ignorant of the real condition of affairs, the authority so to do, but we have no evidence that he ever availed himself of the authority, nor is it likely, with the knowledge he possessed of the condition of things, of which his superiors in South Carolina were ignorant, that he would commit so egregious an error as to interfere with the legally organized jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of a foreign country in which he was temporarily residing.6</span></blockquote>The story of Poinsett’s Masonic activities in Mexico does not end there. Mackey, referencing a pamphlet issued by a George Fisher in 1859 and entitled “<em>Freemasonry in Mexico: It’s Origin, etc.: Illustrated by original documents not heretofore published</em>,” claims that Poinsett was actually working as the proxy of the Grand Master of New York and, in 1825, obtained charters from New York for three Lodges in Mexico. Fisher, who Mackey reports to have been a Mason from California who was residing in Mexico in 1825, may have been in a position to be an accurate observer of the Masonic conditions in that country. Based on this information, Poinsett could possibly be considered as the man who brought Freemasonry to Mexico; not on behalf of his own Grand Lodge in South Carolina but on behalf of the one in New York.7<br />
<br />
Dr. Paul Rich and Dr. Guillermo De Los Reyes, researchers who have specialized in the study of Mexican Freemasonry, make the claim that Freemasonry was actually brought to Mexico in 1816 or 1817 by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana.8 This, though the proof is not presented and Rich and Reyes don’t name these Lodges, is not disputed in this article. It is reasonable to assume that Lodges existed prior to Poinsett’s three charters from New York in 1825 and, in all probability, those three Lodges were already in existence but working without charters. Therefore it is entirely possible that a Grand Jurisdiction with its origins in New York had already been formed based on Poinsett’s correspondence of June of 1826. That letter and the one that prompted the Grand Lodge of South Carolina’s resolution in December 1826, and which was most certainly written prior to June 1826, makes it rather certain that he was a supporter of the establishment of a Mexican Grand Lodge from the outset.<br />
<br />
Poinsett’s support of and involvement in Mexican Masonry goes much deeper than just the relatively mundane act of obtaining a few charters from New York. To appreciate this, one should know something about the relationship between Freemasonry and Mexican politics in the 1820s and beyond. The interested reader will find that Mexican politics were heavily influenced by two competing Masonic factions. The Yorkinos, or York Masons, and the Escoseses, or Scottish Freemasons, were on opposite sides of the political situation in Mexico and, being from an Ancient York Mason influenced state and a well placed member of the York Rite, it would probably only be natural that Poinsett would side with the Yorkinos, Masonically and politically. Poinsett’s support of and involvement in Mexican Freemasonry, which was so closely tied to Mexican politics, would ultimately lead to him being recalled to the United States.9<br />
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So did Poinsett bring Freemasonry to Mexico? No, not exactly. However, he certainly was on a Masonic mission in that country and his activities pertaining to Freemasonry are every bit as important as his act of introducing poinsettias to Christmas place settings.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Ingersoll, L.D., <em>History of the War Department of the United States</em>, Washington, D.C., Francis B. Mohun, 1879, pp. 483-486.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Rich, Paul and De Los Reyes, Guillermo, “Problems in the Historiography of Mexican Freemasonry”, <em>Mexican Freemasonry</em>, Regency Press, New York and London, 1997.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Mackey, Albert G., <em>History of Freemasonry in South Carolina</em>, South Carolina Steam Power Press, Columbia, SC, 1861, pp. 220-221.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Ibid, pp. 558, 574.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. Ibid, p. 222.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">6. Ibid, p. 222.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">7. Ibid, p. 223.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8. Rich and De Los Reyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">9. Ibid.</span>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-23956394073751539612010-12-14T08:20:00.001-05:002010-12-14T11:48:09.565-05:00Uninformed Brethren and the Charge of a Master MasonIt is generally assumed and accepted that a man who has become a Master Mason has reached the pinnacle of the degree system in Craft Masonry. A Master Mason enjoys all of the same privileges and responsibilities of any other Master Mason outside of the existing leadership structure of the Order. Master Masons are further informed that they have been introduced to all of the knowledge capable of being shared in a symbolic lodge. New Master Masons are given a charge – instructions – at the time of their raising to the Sublime Degree.<br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the character of a Master Mason, you are authorized to correct the errors and irregularities of your uninformed brethren…</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">…and by the regularity of your own behavior afford the best example for the conduct of others less informed.1</span></blockquote>From these excerpts, it is recognized that a Master Mason has certain responsibilities concerning uninformed Brethren. Maybe somewhat strangely, the Charge of a Master Mason does not identify who are considered the uninformed Brethren. It could possibly be argued that the uninformed are the Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts, but the charge does not specifically say that. If Master Masons are included as possible members of the group of the uninformed or less informed, however, then a contradiction of sorts appears.<br />
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An uninformed or seriously less informed Master Mason would not be able to comply with or execute the instructions contained within the Charge of a Master Mason. It is reasonable to expect, therefore, that a Master Mason must himself be an informed member of the Craft. There can be no other reasonable option.<br />
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Of course, no Master Mason can be fully informed or fully knowledgeable about all aspects of the Craft. A Master Mason is still an imperfect human after all. A consensus as to what constitutes being informed enough in order to satisfy the requirements of the Charge is unlikely to be reached by any group of Masons – no matter how small the group. It may be far easier to define what is considered as uninformed. An uninformed Mason could very well be one that does not have at least a working personal knowledge of the rituals, lectures, and laws concerning the governance of his lodge and Grand Jurisdiction. The personal working knowledge is critical. “Knowledge” obtained simply via observation or through the verbal, off the cuff, guidance of others may not create an informed Master Mason since what he has observed or has been told could be incorrect. An informed Mason must first become a reading Mason or at the very least be guided by a known reading Mason.<br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">Such Masons are distinguished, not by the amount of knowledge that they possess, but by the number of jewels that they wear. They will give fifty dollars for a decoration, but not fifty cents for a book.2</span></blockquote>So what does an informed Master Mason have on his reading list? He can have many books but – in the Grand Jurisdiction of South Carolina – there is one book that he must have as his primary reference. It is the <em>Ahiman Rezon</em> which contains the Constitution and Code. He must also have that personal working knowledge of the rituals, which includes the lectures. If he has those two things, studies them, and understands them; then he very likely cannot be grouped with the uninformed Brethren. He will also be able to comply with his Master Mason’s Charge.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. <em>The Ahiman Rezon of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina</em>, Lexington, S.C.: Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 2007, pp 161-162.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Mackey, Albert G., "Reading Masons and Masons Who Do Not Read," <em>Voice of Masonry</em>, June 1875.</span>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-68352598347454752832010-11-21T11:10:00.001-05:002010-11-26T11:20:55.595-05:00American Lodge No. 98 – 150 Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVitqgVa5sa46Wp0mSPFR5rWJV1nTAfg8-n59UsfvrfQOn6d5OSO_KNjwd8DsQ8AnI-NUjPFaCpBT-DAhcxoBTbtT_pXoFzwDvbPdRfAi7kfKbG2Sy7DmShFEDJ2fynerqiVwOSNBz9s/s1600/GM_MMs_Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVitqgVa5sa46Wp0mSPFR5rWJV1nTAfg8-n59UsfvrfQOn6d5OSO_KNjwd8DsQ8AnI-NUjPFaCpBT-DAhcxoBTbtT_pXoFzwDvbPdRfAi7kfKbG2Sy7DmShFEDJ2fynerqiVwOSNBz9s/s320/GM_MMs_Me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On 20 November 1860, American Lodge No. 98, A.F.M. of S.C., was chartered. Exactly one hundred and fifty years later on 20 November 2010, American Lodge No. 98 celebrated in fine style.<br />
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The event was marked by a Special Communication, an official visit by the Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina, and a double conferral of the Third Degree. Accompanying the Grand Master were the District Deputy Grand Master, a District Deputy Grand Master from a neighboring district, and four past Grand Lodge officers. There were also three sitting Masters of other lodges in the District in attendance. The roll of the charter members was read and, in spirit, all of those Brothers answered up.<br />
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The Master and officers of American Lodge No. 98 did a fine job of conferring the Degree in a solemn manner. As memorable as the Third Degree is to any Master Mason, American’s two newest Master Masons have two extra reasons to always remember their special day. In addition to it being on the one hundredth and fiftieth anniversary of their lodge, they were both raised by the Grand Master.<br />
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Following the Communication, all enjoyed a very good lunch with many ladies present and the Master’s talk on the history of his lodge – including American’s trials and tribulations during the waning days of the War Between the States when the lodge was burnt to the ground by William Tecumseh Sherman’s troops as his army marched from Savannah, Georgia, for Columbia, South Carolina. Commemorative coins had also been struck to mark the anniversary and were available to those in attendance.<br />
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It was a very good day for American Lodge and I am personally proud to have been able to be in attendance.<br />
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<em>In photo: GM of Masons of SC, two new MMs, DDGM of SC's 4th District.</em>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-71612574512587720782010-10-29T19:07:00.000-04:002010-10-29T19:07:00.490-04:00Always an Entered Apprentice?1Every Mason is always an Entered Apprentice in some respects and that is a good thing, but I recently had a sort of “Eureka” moment – one of a series of such moments that I have been having as of late. Are there Masons that have achieved the title of Fellow Craft or Master that – in practice – still remain Entered Apprentices? A Brother recently wrote the following.<br />
<blockquote>Often we hear that, as Masons, we should be good men, of good morals, etc – and that learning is not what makes us Masons. While this may be true – in that being a good man of good morals is the prerequisite for membership – it is not the Alpha and Omega of the Craft! If we look carefully at the Degrees, we will notice that the First Degree discusses the character of the member, but that the Second Degree urges the candidate to focus on learning the liberal arts and sciences. In some rituals this is more explicit than in others, but it's present in every single one. In order to become a Master Mason, one needs to be a Fellow Craft first. By just by being a good man – of good morals – he is merely qualifying himself to be an Entered Apprentice. Many Brethren choose to remain as Entered Apprentice Masons for their entire life and focus strictly on the goodness and the charity. There is nothing wrong with that and I congratulate them on their efforts as I understand that the Craft cannot function without them. Yet, if we want to fulfill our duties as Craftsmen, we need to devote to studying liberal arts and sciences. That includes studying Freemasonry – it being a very important Art and Science – but it does not end there. It is only after we have fulfilled our duties as Fellow Craft Masons that we can strive to become Masters of our Craft. We know what happened to those who tried to obtain the rank of a Master Mason without fulfilling the duties of a Craftsman first and we also know how that story ended. We are all Masons and, as long as we are good man with strong values and morals, that qualifies us to be here - but only as Entered Apprentice Masons. Going further in the Craft requires much more work than just "being."2</blockquote>I think I will let the above quote exist on its own for now. It says a lot.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Inspired by a Brother in Ontario.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Written by the same Brother.</span>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-83043846800087444292010-10-17T11:12:00.002-04:002010-10-17T11:12:41.431-04:002010 Outdoor DegreeThe twenty-fourth annual Outdoor Degree with Family Cookout in my District was held yesterday. It was well attended, the weather cooperated perfectly, the food was outstanding, and there are now three new Master Masons – one each from three different lodges – in the District.<br />
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The work of the host lodge, officers and members of the other nine lodges, and the officers and members of the Lowcountry Masters and Warden Club did not go unnoticed. It takes much labor to successfully pull off this type of event and all involved are to be commended.The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-21522644841514992942010-09-30T18:28:00.000-04:002010-09-30T18:28:12.661-04:00Worth Checking OutThe new blog that I have added to my list of sites to your left is <em><span id="goog_45351493"></span><a href="http://buildinghiram.blogspot.com/">Building Hiram<span id="goog_45351494"></span></a></em>. I recommend that you check it out.The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-81600215207240986492010-09-26T11:15:00.000-04:002010-09-26T11:15:24.152-04:00The Secrets of Freemasonry Have Never Been ExposedMany Internet savvy or research minded Masons might disagree with the opinion expressed in the title of this article. At a time in the past, I would also have disagreed with it. The many exposés – whether they are in books, on television documentary or history related channels, or on the Internet – would seem to give credence to those that have stated and continue to state that all the secrets of Freemasonry are out there for the uninitiated to find. Freemasons have often comforted themselves with the belief that, since there is also so much false information floating around, the profane are not able to determine truth from fiction and, thus, the exposed secrets are still safe.<br />
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I have come to the conclusion, however and after some thoughtful guidance from a very small group of learned members of the Craft, that the true secrets of Freemasonry have never been exposed – even to most members of the Fraternity. Note for those not of the Craft that may be reading this, especially the conspiracy theorists: I assure you that these unexposed secrets have nothing to do with world government, control of the banks, aliens, etc.<br />
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The real secrets have never leaked out because it is fundamentally impossible for them to be exposed. They must be discovered and such discovery requires an individual Mason to experience what may be described as a radical shift in the way he views things. In the business world, this change is often illustrated with such phrases as “thinking outside of the box” or “paradigm shift.”<br />
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It may very well be that the exposed secrets – the rituals and symbols – are actually just smokescreens intended to lead inquiring eavesdroppers in the wrong direction. More importantly, it is entirely possible that the rituals and symbols are intentionally in place to make it very difficult or impossible for Freemasons – the ones not ready to make or not capable of making the change to their personal paradigms – to discover the true secrets. A Mason that has discovered the path to the true secrets is incapable of sharing them with another Mason. He can only provide the guidance on how to discover them and, even then, can only share that guidance with someone that is capable of understanding it. In other words, the other Mason must be willing to and capable of shifting his way of viewing the symbols and ritual.<br />
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The ritual and symbols can possibly be described as doorways – sort of like the old “Let’s Make a Deal” game show. The difference is that most Masons never see one or more of the doors. They may see door number one, but not door number two or three. They can not open certain doors because their view of Freemasonry prevents them from even realizing that all three of the doors exist. In the case of profane eavesdroppers, they do not see any of the doors.<br />
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This is not to say that many, if not most, Freemasons do not have a gut feeling – a nagging suspicion – that there is something else behind all of the ritual and symbols. I have experienced this feeling myself and have observed others wrestle with the notion that there is something more to a particular symbol, part of the ritual, or a lecture. Most of the time, however, we are not capable of making the leap from a subliminal message to the Eureka moment of discovery. Those that train their minds to make that leap become the adepts and once they discover one of the true secrets they find themselves capable of discovering more of them. They can see all of the doors.<br />
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If the day ever comes when all or most Freemasons can discover the true secrets of the Fraternity, that may be the day to start teaching the rest of the world and we can get on with the business of taking over the banks, forming that world government, and introducing our alien friends to the other Earthlings. Until that time arrives, the real secrets of Freemasonry will remain unexposed and safe.The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-50896627791298202582010-09-20T12:04:00.000-04:002010-09-20T12:04:19.416-04:00Possible Loophole in the Second Charge of a Free MasonStudious members of the Craft are familiar with the <em>Charges of a Freemason</em>, extracted from the Ancient records of Lodges beyond Sea, and of those in England, Scotland,and Ireland, for the use of the Lodges in London.* The Second Charge is oft examined and discussed by members of the Fraternity as it pointedly touches on a Mason’s role in civil society. It also calls the actions of famous Masons of the past into examination – the American Revolution offering an obvious example. The Second Charge reads as follows.<br />
<blockquote>II. Of the CIVIL MAGISTRATES supreme and subordinate.<br />
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A Mason is a peaceable Subject to the Civil Powers, wherever he resides or works, and is never to be concern'd in Plots and Conspiracies against the Peace and Welfare of the Nation, nor to behave himself undutifully to inferior Magistrates; for as Masonry hath been always injured by War, Bloodshed, and Confusion, so ancient Kings and Princes have been much dispos'd to encourage the Craftsmen, because of their Peaceableness and Loyalty, whereby they practically answer'd the Cavils of their Adversaries, and promoted the Honour of the Fraternity, who ever flourish'd in Times of Peace. So that if a Brother should be a Rebel against the State he is not to be countenanc'd in his Rebellion, however he may be pitied as an unhappy Man; and, if convicted of no other Crime though the loyal Brotherhood must and ought to disown his Rebellion, and give no Umbrage or Ground of political Jealousy to the Government for the time being; they cannot expel him from the Lodge, and his Relation to it remains indefeasible.*</blockquote>On its surface, the Second Charge is rather specific. A Free Mason is not to plot or conspire against his nation. However, how would the likes of Brothers Benjamin Franklin and George Washington – the Charges having been around for some time by the beginning of the American Revolution – reconcile themselves to the possibility that they could honor the Second Charge and be involved in a revolution against Britain, which was their nation? It is possible that there is a loophole in the Charge and it is further possible that the American Masons who involved themselves in “plots and conspiracies” against Britain may have recognized it or have at least used it to justify their actions.<br />
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That possible loophole is contained in the second phrase of the first sentence. A Mason “is never to be concern'd in Plots and Conspiracies against the Peace and Welfare of the Nation.” “Peace” and “Welfare” are key words in that phrase and are unlikely to be there by accident or by whim. If a Free Mason honestly believes that his nation – as ruled by the “Government for the time being” – is not enjoying peace or faring well, he may possibly and reasonably conclude that he is no longer bound by the terms of the Second Charge.<br />
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Of course, an individual Mason probably should not walk down the slippery slope of unilaterally determining that his nation is not peaceful or faring well. Suffice it to say that such a conclusion would require multitudes of the citizenship, regardless of their Masonic affiliation. In addition, the beginning of a revolution necessarily means that another government has been formed even if not recognized as legitimate by the longer existing civil powers. It could then be reasonably argued that a Mason gets to decide on which government he is going to apply the terms of the Second Charge if he was not involved in the formation of the revolution and was, therefore, not concerned with the “peace and welfare” clause of the Charge.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, <em>The Charges of a Free-Mason</em>. <a href="http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/history/anderson/charges.html">http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/history/anderson/charges.html</a> (Accessed September 20, 2010). Cross checked with <em>Ahiman Rezon</em> of South Carolina. Lexington, S.C., 2007, pp. 458-460. The Charges – six in all – were adopted by the Grand Lodge of England on 25 March 1722.</span>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-37967640858830758802010-09-19T22:11:00.001-04:002010-09-19T22:14:59.429-04:00Should All Good Men Be Made Masons? – RevisitedRead this first: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://palmettomason.blogspot.com/2010/05/commentary-should-all-good-men-be-made.html"><em>A Commentary: Should All Good Men Be Made Masons?</em></a></span><br />
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The theme of my above referenced commentary seems to run throughout the history of Freemasonry and I keep discovering it in my various readings. On 11 December 1894, the then Grand Master of Masons in South Carolina – Most Worshipful Brother Stiles P. Dendy, addressed the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina.<br />
<blockquote>“I regard the non-affiliate, in most instances, as a parasite on the body of Masonry,” he said, “and is generally one who is wanting in appreciation of the true nature and purpose of the Order, and when admitted finds himself out of harmony with the whole trend of its teachings, or one who has sought admission from unworthy and improper motives….” What was to be the solution to the “bane of Masonry in the present age”? Bro. Dendy suggested that the Lodges take a more critical look at applicants for admission, “a more searching inquiry, not only as to the physical qualifications and moral fitness, but also as to the intellectual capacity of candidates to apprehend and appreciate the sublime teachings and mysteries of Free Masonry.” 1</blockquote><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1. Source: Cornwell, Ross & Willis, Samuel M. <em>A History of Freemasonry in <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">South Carolina</place></state>; The Years 1860 - 1919</em>. The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">South Carolina</place></state>, 1979.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-69031385588500392362010-09-16T19:11:00.000-04:002010-09-16T19:11:10.074-04:00Worldwide Exemplification of Freemasonry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1a3GZ3I_mRLL1SsWQoddlnmr_OC09QpwDtowItjg69OVlE4Hm85z55ZNHo9urL8IMjpqinCnII_z4EBWd0gjPPS_jN4sMk_o7T4c0MBLv7eo7AoZC54Gx1JFybvzRDyJ71CHN83lusI/s1600/GLofIN.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1a3GZ3I_mRLL1SsWQoddlnmr_OC09QpwDtowItjg69OVlE4Hm85z55ZNHo9urL8IMjpqinCnII_z4EBWd0gjPPS_jN4sMk_o7T4c0MBLv7eo7AoZC54Gx1JFybvzRDyJ71CHN83lusI/s200/GLofIN.bmp" width="178" /></a></div>The <a href="http://www.weofm.org/">Worldwide Exemplification of Freemasonry 2011 Lecture Series</a> is scheduled to commence on 1 January 2011. I have somehow and somewhat amazingly found myself on the schedule of lectures. The press release from the Grand Lodge of Indiana, F&AM, follows.<br />
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<em>Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research, UD with the support of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, F&AM is pleased to bring you…</em><br />
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<em>Masonic Awareness @ the Speed of Light.</em><br />
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<em>Begin and end 2011 with Freemasonry on your mind! The Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research, UD will present a series of free lectures beginning January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011, via the Internet at </em><a href="http://www.weofm.org/"><em>www.WEOFM.org</em></a><em>. A list of the diverse international presenters and stimulating topics can be found on the “Trestle Board” at the WEOFM website.</em><br />
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<em>These lectures will be presented on the web at </em><a href="http://www.weofm.org/"><em>www.WEOFM.org</em></a><em> on an announced basis, the first one being shown January 1, 2011 and continuing throughout the year. We are pleased to offer this group of experts in their subjects to bring you Masonic Awareness @ the Speed of Light. Each presentation will conclude with an on-line chat room where you may provide feedback to others as well as the lecturer. The exact time of the lectures will be made available as soon as an appropriate time is coordinated with the lecturer. These times and additional information about the series will be posted on </em><a href="http://www.weofm.org/"><em>www.WEOFM.org</em></a><em> no later than December 1, 2010.</em><br />
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<em>We encourage you to visit the website at your earliest opportunity and leave us a message by using our contact tab. You may join the site as a user and view the trestle board at any time. Furthermore, join us, January 1, 2011 and enjoy Masonic Awareness @ the Speed of Light.</em><br />
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<em>For additional information please contact Al McClelland at </em><a href="mailto:WEOFM2011@live.com"><em>WEOFM2011@live.com</em></a><em>.</em>The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631537458781165694.post-72225086744126625292010-08-14T09:17:00.001-04:002010-08-14T09:17:42.504-04:00The Government of Free MasonryPublished in <em>Transactions</em> of the South Carolina Masonic Research Society, Volume 20, 2008.<br />
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Notes: My writing style was much rougher when this was written and I truly hope that has improved during the last few years. Endnotes have been removed. Most references were from the <em>Ahiman Rezon</em> of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina.<br />
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<strong>The Government of Free Masonry</strong>: from the perspective of an A.F.M. of S.C.<br />
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INTRODUCTION<br />
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Members of the Free Masonic Fraternity, including experienced Master Masons, are sometimes found to be confused as to the nature of the governments of a Masonic Lodge and their Grand Lodge. This may be a peculiar symptom of American Free Masonry due to the value placed in the democratic form, or, more accurately…the republican form, of government that is cherished in the United States.<br />
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In order to establish a baseline for further discussion, it may be prudent to briefly review the form of government of the United States. The government of the United States of America is often referred to as a democracy; however and in the opinion of this author, the United States is closer to the model of a republic than that of a democracy.<br />
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A true democracy allows for every voting citizen to be directly involved in the decision making process. There were some ancient Greek city-states that possessed the characteristics of a true democracy and there are, today, some New England towns that practice pure democracy in the form of town meetings. In a republic, the voting citizens choose representatives who are charged with being directly involved in the decision making process and, at the same time, promoting the interests of those who they represent. This describes the Congress of the United States perfectly.<br />
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The United States also possesses a separate judicial body in the form of the Supreme Court and the lower courts. The nation also has a President, elected by the citizens, who is responsible for executing the day-to-day business of the country. So, what the United States has is a republican form of government that includes three branches; the executive, the legislative, and the judicial; with each branch having equal but separate powers that serve as a check and balance on the other two.<br />
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Some Freemasons may mistakenly believe that the governments of their Lodge and Grand Lodge have the exact characteristics as that of the United States. In reality, Lodge government is a fluid and often metamorphosing process that displays signs of an executive branch, a legislative branch, a pure democracy, and an elected monarchy. At the Grand Lodge level, the government could be described as an elected monarchy that often changes into a parliament. Both the individual Lodges and the Grand Lodge have judicial systems that can be activated from the existing structure as temporary situations require.<br />
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This article will address the governments of the Lodge and the Grand Lodge separately. Each of the varied government systems; democracy, monarchial, executive, legislative, parliamentary, and judicial; will also be examined separately.<br />
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THE LODGE <br />
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I – Pure, or True, Democracy<br />
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The Lodge functions as a pure democracy in several respects. Free Masonry in South Carolina does restrict voting rights to certain members of the Fraternity. Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts are not allowed a vote, therefore and for the sake of this article, the Craft is defined as consisting of all Master Masons of the Lodge. The Craft is not only allowed to cast votes for certain issues but is required to do so. Such instances include the election of new members, the election of certain officers, and the decision on some questions before the Lodge. After the completion of these actions, the Craft no longer functions as a democracy and now metamorphoses into entirely different forms of government. Democracy will show itself again as the various systems of government are examined.<br />
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II – Monarchial<br />
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The Worshipful Master is the highest ranking of the Lodge officers elected by way of the system of pure democracy. He is elected to a specific term of office and, while serving that term, can be described as an elected monarch. Limited only by the Grand Lodge’s Constitution and Code, the By-Laws of his Lodge, and his own conscience; he has the power to unilaterally make legislation, direct execution of that legislation, and take certain judicial actions.<br />
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The Master can issue summonses for special communications; is the <em>ex officio</em> Chairman of all committees; can change the order of business of the Lodge; can remove subordinate officers from office; can exclude members of the Craft; and is the deciding officer on the issue of candidate proficiency. He also decides all questions of order, can close debate at his will and pleasure, and can actually stop the practice of pure democracy in the case of the election of new members. Though these listed prerogatives of a Worshipful Master do not describe the entire scope of his powers, they should give the reader an idea of how immense those powers are.<br />
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Though selected to office by a democratic process, the Craft that elected him cannot impeach the Master. Only the Grand Master may suspend him and only the Grand Lodge may make that suspension permanent. The Master also cannot be brought before a Masonic Trial, except by order of the Grand Lodge. Any decisions made by the Master, even if outside the limits imposed by the Grand Lodge’s Constitution and Code or the Lodge’s By-Laws, cannot be overturned by the Craft. The Master’s decisions can only be appealed to the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge.<br />
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As the reader can see, the Worshipful Master is truly the elected monarch of his Lodge. His role does change, however, as will be discovered in the forthcoming paragraphs.<br />
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III – Executive Branch of the Lodge<br />
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As can be ascertained from the previous discussion on monarchial powers, the executive responsibilities always rest with the Worshipful Master. Even when he is not functioning as an elected monarch, he remains responsible for the execution of certain activities within his Lodge and is answerable to the Grand Master and Grand Lodge for those activities.<br />
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Some examples of these responsibilities include the appointment of a committee to examine the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s books; the execution of the legislative decisions of the Craft, or causing the same to be done; and the requirement to have charge of the Warrant of Constitution, Jewels, and Furniture of the Lodge. <br />
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IV – Legislative Powers<br />
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The most fluid of governmental roles found in a Lodge regards legislative authority, which switches frequently between the Worshipful Master and the Craft. This rather unusual mode of legislating appears to be unique to Free Masonry as this writer has been unable to find other obvious examples of this practice.<br />
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When functioning in his role as an elected monarch and as already discussed, the legislative power rests with the Master. When the Grand Lodge’s Constitution and Code or the Lodge By-Laws limit the powers of the Master, then the Craft is tasked with making certain decisions, which the Master is then obligated to put into action. In addition, any member of the Craft may make a motion which, if receiving a second motion, may be brought to a vote by order of the Master after any appropriate debate. In these scenarios, the Master becomes less of a monarch and takes on the roles of a presiding officer and the executive branch of the Lodge. The legislative responsibility has now fallen on the shoulders of the Craft. In this legislative role, the Craft is acting as a pure democracy in that the Brothers are directly involved in the decision making process. This would be akin to a town in which the citizens directly take on the role normally held by an elected council.<br />
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This process often produces a situation where the Craft can serve as both the legislature and as an arm of the executive branch or as agents for the monarch. This is a totally alien concept when compared to how the government of the United States conducts business. Once the Craft, acting as a legislative body, has made a decision that is binding upon the Master, it is very common for the Master to then turn to that very Craft and appoint certain Brothers to a committee or otherwise to direct them to perform some sort of work to accomplish the action. Once appointed to such a role, these Brothers, the former legislators, are now officers of the Lodge’s executive branch or, since they cannot theoretically refuse such an assignment, are agents for the Master in his role as the Lodge’s elected monarch. If one thinks about this in the sense of the government of the United States, it would be similar to the Congress passing a law that, let us say, requires the erection of a new public building, and the President then directing that certain members of Congress actually go out and construct it. If this structure was present in the Nation’s government, then surely fewer laws would be passed!<br />
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V – Parliamentary Rules<br />
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After the previous discussion involving the legislature, here is a good place to pause and examine the certain guidelines that are in place and, when properly utilized, provide for a smooth and harmonious conduction of decisions before the Lodge. These guidelines are normally referred to as the rules of order but are also often known as parliamentary rules. For A.F.M. Lodges in South Carolina, the basic rules of order are contained within the Lodge By-Laws. These rules provide the framework that is necessary for any well regulated institution to conduct its business without the distraction of confusion, public quarrels, or indecorum.<br />
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As anyone familiar with American politics can attest, debates can often turn into arguments and posturing. The rules of order in a Lodge are structured in such a way as to allow for debate but, at the same time, to prevent the debate from developing into an unpleasant and unbecoming situation for the Lodge or an individual Brother.<br />
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VI – The Judicial System<br />
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Completely unlike the United States and most representative or democratic governments that people are familiar with, the Lodge does not have a standing body that serves as the judiciary. Judicial powers are activated only as needed and, in the Lodge, are only used to adjudicate alleged Masonic offenses by individuals. The responsibility of reviewing changes or additions to a Lodge’s By-Laws to determine constitutionality rests with the Grand Lodge. When performing such duty, the Grand Lodge is, in a sense, the Supreme Court. When there is a need to confront an allegation of individual Masonic misconduct, there is more than one route which may be taken.<br />
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The Master, acting within the powers given to him as an elected monarch, can take certain summary judicial actions. He has the ability to arrest the jewel of a subordinate officer even if that officer was originally elected by the Brethren. This is tantamount to a removal from office. He may also reprimand or exclude any member of the Craft for indecorum or if the presence of a certain member creates, or has the potential of creating, disharmony. When a Master directs either of these two actions, there is no appeal of his decision but to the Grand Lodge.<br />
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Another process that can be used, and may also be used after the summary action of a Master, is the Masonic trial. The <em>Ahiman Rezon</em> (of South Carolina) devotes much ink to the issue of Masonic trials and a lengthy article can be written just on this subject. As the reader will soon see, the Masonic trial is similar in nature and process to a trial in the court systems of the United States.<br />
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Any member of the Craft may prefer a charge of un-Masonic conduct against another member; however, the ultimate responsibility for this rests with the Junior Warden. Once a charge is preferred, the route of the trial can take one of two paths. The charge may be adjudicated by way of trial by the Lodge or may be referred to a Trial Commission from outside of the Lodge. Trial Commissions are often used at the request of the Master in order to limit damage to the harmony of his Lodge or, in especially complicated cases, to utilize the experience of Brothers who have been involved in Masonic trials or may be members of the legal profession. Regardless of which method is used, the trial process is almost identical in both scenarios.<br />
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As in the civil or criminal courts, the accused must be notified and served with a copy of the charge. He also has the right to counsel and the right to file objections and make a plea. The prosecutor is often represented in the person of the Junior Warden, however, any Master Mason may be appointed to fulfill this role. The role of judge, or presiding officer, falls to the Master or the Chairman or the Trial Commission, if such is used. The processes of receiving testimony and evidence, cross-examination, and the bar to self incrimination all are present in the Masonic trial. The Craft of the Lodge or the Trial Commission, if used, serve as the jury and decide upon the question of guilt and punishment. Though a much simpler process than is found in civil and criminal courts, the accused has the right to file an appeal to the Grand Lodge following a conviction.<br />
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THE GRAND LODGE<br />
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I – Similarities with Lodge Government<br />
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In several respects, some of the characteristics already discussed will apply in an examination of the Grand Lodge. Obvious similarities include the use of rules of order, and the process of the Masonic trial. As the reader will discover in subsequent paragraphs, there are a few differences in the government of the Grand Lodge as compared to that of the subordinate Lodges.<br />
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II – Republican, or Representative, Legislature<br />
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The Grand Lodge is a representative body, rather similar in nature to that of the Congress of the United States. The Grand Lodge, as a legislative body, has the authority to debate and make decisions on the fate of proposal legislation. The similarity with Congress blurs, however, when one closely examines the composition of this representative body. First, it is a unicameral assembly whereas the Congress is bicameral with a Senate and a House. Also, and though not specifically named (or) operating as such, there are three distinct groups, or houses, within the main body of the Grand Lodge.<br />
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These three houses sit in the Grand Lodge as one body and all legislative activity is conducted in the presence of that one body. The differences lie in how the three houses are chosen. The first house consists of over nine-hundred democratically elected representatives from the subordinate Lodges. Each Lodge has three and these are the Master and two Wardens, each with a vote. The second house consists of those elected by the Grand Lodge itself. These are the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, the two Grand Wardens, Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary, and Grand Chaplain. Thirty District Deputy Grand Masters, appointed by the Grand Master, comprise the third house. The serious student of this subject will undoubtedly be reminded of the selection process of the House of Lords and the House of Commons in the parliament of the United Kingdom.<br />
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III - Parliamentary<br />
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The Grand Lodge has some characteristics of a parliament in that the chief executive, the Grand Master, is selected by the Grand Lodge rather than by democratic election involving the entire Craft. He, along with most of the other Grand Lodge officers, must be a member or former member of the Grand Lodge in order to be eligible to hold the position. The reader can again examine the parliament of the United Kingdom, and the process by which it selects its Prime Minister, to find a system that is comparable to that used in the Grand Lodge.<br />
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The chief executives in most parliamentary governments are notoriously limited in powers since they are dependent upon the support of the parliament that selected them. As will be examined further, this is absolutely not the case with regards to the position of the Grand Master and, thus, the similarity with a parliamentary system ends.<br />
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IV – Monarchial<br />
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As with the Master of a Lodge, the Grand Master is elected for a specified term has the authority of an elected monarch or sovereign. The prerogatives inherent to his high office include the ability to take summary judicial action such as suspending subordinate Lodge Masters, arresting the jewels of subordinate Grand Officers, and suspending the operations of subordinate Lodges. He may also make decisions in order to preserve order in the Fraternity, from which there is no appeal. The Grand Master can order extra assemblies of the Grand Lodge at his will and pleasure and make unilateral legislative decisions in the absence of the Grand Lodge, though these legislative decisions may be reviewed by the Grand Lodge when it next convenes.<br />
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He also has the right to preside over any assembly within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge, including subordinate Lodges. The Grand Master cannot be impeached, subject to a vote of no confidence, nor can he be brought before a Masonic trial while in office.<br />
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V - The Judicial System<br />
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As in subordinate Lodges, no separate judicial branch permanently exists and the process of the Masonic trial is, for all intents, identical in the Grand Lodge as in the subordinate Lodges. As discussed in the previous section, the Grand Master has certain judicial powers related to his role as a monarch.<br />
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Unlike in subordinate Lodges, however, the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge have the authorities and duties to review legislative decisions, including those made in the subordinate Lodges, for constitutionality and to interpret the Constitution and Code of the Grand Lodge.<br />
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The Grand Master has the power to issue legal opinions and decisions as he deems necessary. His opinions are not official and are not subject to the review of the Grand Lodge. His decisions, once approved by the Grand Lodge, enjoy more authority but still do not have the same power as the written law.<br />
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Acting very much like the Supreme Court of the United States, the Grand Lodge investigates and adjudicates matters of controversy which may arise between subordinate Lodges. It also reviews decisions made by the Grand Master while the Grand Lodge was not is session and makes judicial determinations upon questions of law.<br />
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Assisting the Grand Master and Grand Lodge in matters of legislative review, legal decisions, and judicial determinations is the Committee on Jurisprudence. This Committee, appointed by the Grand Master, serves in a role that could be described as similar as that of the Attorney General of the United States.<br />
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SUMMARY<br />
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To the unaccustomed, Masonic government can almost seem chaotic due to the different types of governmental systems utilized and the variety of roles the same governmental participants can assume. In the opinion of this author, however, it is a beautiful, flowing, and adaptable system that has served the Fraternity well for centuries. It has, in fact, outlived many models used by the nations of the world. There is no reason to believe that this Masonic system will not continue to promote the progress, while maintaining the harmony, of the greatest Fraternity in the world for many centuries to come.The Palmetto Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08049500796697782077noreply@blogger.com0