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A Window for FreemasonryVol. 36 No. 4 NOVEMBER 2005

5 Valley Credit Card Contest • 7 Franklin Awards for Valley Publications •10 Gage Collection Becomes Lending Library •11 The Heritage Shop •13MasonicWordMath •14 Walking fromMaine to Illinois •14 Endorsementsfrom around the Jurisdiction • 15 Feedback from the Field • 15 New Calen-dar Supports Learning Center •27 Quick Quotes •30 On the Lighter Side •30 Hiram

2 THE NORTHERN LIGHT / NOVEMBER 2005

NOVEMBER 2005 Volume 36 No. 4

Features

3 Sovereign Grand Commander

18 Notes from the Southern Jurisdiction

19 Brothers on the Net

20 Scottish Rite Charities

21 The Stamp Act

22 Book Nook

24 HealthWise

26 Views from the Past

28 Today’s Family

29 More Than Just Books

30 Readers Respond

31 Footnotes

Also:

4 Annual Meeting Highlights

Grand Rapids hosts session.

SUPREME COUNCIL, 33°Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite

Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.

SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDERWalter E. Webber, 33°

THE NORTHERN LIGHT (ISSN 1088-4416) is published quarterly in February, May,August, and November by the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite,Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A., as the official publication. Printed in U.S.A.Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA, and at additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Northern Light, PO Box 519, Lexington,MA 02420-0519.Copyright © 2005 by Trustees of the Supreme Council of the Ancient AcceptedScottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.

EDITORRichard H. Curtis, 33°

ASSISTANT EDITORAlan E. Foulds

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTSSonja B. Faiola & Beth E. McSweeney

MEDIA ADVISORY COMMITTEEStephen E. Carpenter, 33°, chairman

RichardV. Travis, 33°Donald D. Thomas, 33°William Fox Jr., 33°

Lawrence D. Inglis, 33°William L. McCarrier, 33°

Frank R. Preble, 33°

Mailing Address:PO Box 519, Lexington, MA 02420-0519

Editorial Office:33 Marrett Road (Route 2A)

Lexington, Massachusetts 02421781-862-4410

Fax: 781-863-1833e-mail: [email protected]

Internet:www.supremecouncil.org

Columns

THEA Window for Freemasonry

25

Origins of Indian Pudding

by Alan E. FouldsAncient Thanksgiving dessert still popular.

12

Sifting through the Past

by Mark A. Tabbert, 32°Gems from the MassachusettsGrand Lodge collection.

8 14

16

16 Masonic PhilosopherWannabeby Larry Jacobsen, 33°Seeking a path to thesecrets of Freemasonry.

8

Grand Lodge of MaineEstablishes Masonic College

12

“Charity is at the heart of Masonryand can take different forms.”

— Walter E. Webber, 33º

A Tradition of Caring

NOVEMBER 2005 / THE NORTHERN LIGHT 3

Love is not love unless it is given away. I wastalking with a dear friend recently who indicatedthat he not only had raised a lot of money forvarious good causes but also had contributed afair amount of his own money. He also went onto say that every time he gave money away hefound that he wanted to do more the next timearound.

Most of us may not be as fortunate to be ableto continually increase our donations year afteryear, but giving to others is a way of life. Ma-sonry teaches us that man is essentially designedto be interactive with his fellow man. Frequentlywe offer aid without even realizing it. In one ofour degrees we are reminded that a Mason’scharity should be as equally diffused as are therays of the noonday sun.

When the book on Masonic philanthropy waspublished a number of years ago, it was deter-mined that there was no way to tabulate the aidextended by individual lodges to members inneed over the years. The assistance was offeredquietly and without fanfare.

What can be tabulated is the amount ex-pended today to those outside the fraternity.This is reflected in our Scottish Rite Charities.

Charity is at the heart of Masonry and cantake a number of different forms, and yet allcharity yields a favorable result. Sometimes itmay be in the form of a smile, a word of encour-agement, a brief visit, a material stipend, a favor-able recommendation, the mowing of a neigh-bor’s lawn, or the delivery and stacking of fire-

wood. All are simple acts of brotherly love, con-cern and compassion.

We have all heard the expression that to thoseto whom much has been given, from them muchis expected. A Mason understands that his com-mitment to family is first and foremost. But oncehis commitment is fulfilled, where does he go?How does he perpetuate his existence? Whatmark does he leave that he, in fact, passed thisway?

When a Mason can invest in the enrichmentof another person’s mind, when he can help oth-ers reach the fullness of their God-given poten-tial, then he has accomplished something. Andhe feels good about it. He not only has donesomething for an individual but also has done somuch more. He has improved the civic fabric ofthis great country. He has made a difference.

Every day we as Scottish Rite Masons are mak-ing a difference, making our mark, and leadingthe way by being part of the greatest fraternityin the world. I am so very proud of the way inwhich our members provide leadership, assistwith the Masonic education of other members,and contribute their time, talent and finances tostrengthen our Scottish Rite Charities. It is thecombined effort of so many that allows us tocontinue to serve others.

Sovereign Grand Commander


AnnualMeetingHighlights Grand Rapids Hosts Session

Medical therapy during thesummer forced SovereignGrand Commander Walter E.

Webber, 33°, to miss the Annual Meet-ing of the Supreme Council at GrandRapids in August. Physicians insistedthat the therapy was necessary as a fol-low-up to his surgery in the spring. TheCommander returned to the office on afull-time basis in September.In his absence at Grand Rapids,

Grand Lieutenant CommanderLawrence D. Inglis, 33°, presided at theexecutive and general sessions andhosted special functions. For the con-ferral of the 33° degree, Past GrandCommander Robert O. Ralston, 33°, re-turned to the position of Commander.

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Retiring. Five Deputies have re-tired. Ill. Brothers James E. Olmstead,33°, of Ohio, and Terry D. Bentzel, 33°,of Pennsylvania, will continue as Ac-tive Members of the Supreme Council.Three others retired not only asDeputies but also as Active Members,They are: Ill. Brothers RobertW. Clarke,33°, of Massachusetts; Robert E.Hansen, 33°, of New Hampshire, andPhillip C. Kenney, 33°, of Illinois.Two otherActiveMembers, Ill. Broth-

ers Donald J. Soberg, 33°, ofWisconsin,and Martin R. Schuller, 33°, of Ohio,reached the mandatory retirement ageand were granted Active Emeritus sta-tus.With the retirement of Ill. Brother

Kenney, the new “dean” of the SupremeCouncil (seniorActiveMember) is Ill. C.DeForrest Trexler, 33°.

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Newpositions.Replacing the re-tiring Deputies are Ill. Brothers Neil M.Smalley, 33°, of Ohio; Donald G. Hicks

Jr., 33°, of Massachusetts; Richard W.Elliot, 33°, of New Hampshire;Lawrence D. Inglis, 33°, of Illinois, andWilliam L. McCarrier, 33° of Pennsyl-vania.Ill. JohnWm. McNaughton, 33°, was

electedGrand Lieutenant Commander,replacing Ill. Brother Inglis, who hastaken a new role as Deputy for Illinois.Ill. James L. Tungate, 33°, has ac-

cepted the position of Grand TreasurerGeneral.Ill. Stephen E. Carpenter, 33°, replaces

the retiring Ill. BrotherKenney asGrandMaster General of Ceremonies.

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New Active Members. Fivenew Active Members were elected tothe governing board of the SupremeCouncil.Ill. Benny L. Grisham, 33°, of Lin-

coln, IL, is currently the Grand Secre-tary of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Hewas Grand Master in 1996-98 andGrand Treasurer, 1998-2003.As amem-ber of the Scottish Rite Valley of Spring-field, IL, hewas Sovereign Prince, 1987-88, and Commander-in-Chief, 1995-96.He received the 33° in 1983.Ill. James R. Filliez, 33°, of Minerva,

OH, is president of Filliez Plumbing &Heating Company. A Scottish RiteMason since 1973, he was SovereignPrince in the Valley of Canton, OH, andhas been the Deputy’s Representativesince 2001. He received the 33° in 1991.Ill. Edward R. Trosin, 33°, of

Tonawanda, NY, is a retired informa-tion systemsmanager at BellAerospaceTextron. He has presided over all threeYork Rite bodies and was Grand Com-mander of the New York Grand Com-mandery in 1987 andGrandHigh Priestof the Grand Royal Arch Chapter in

Donald G. Hicks Jr. (Massachusetts), William L. McCarrier (Pennsylvania), RichardW.Elliot (New Hampshire), Lawrence D. Inglis (Illinois), and Neil M. Smalley (Ohio) willsupervise Scottish Rite activity in their state.

NEW DEPUTIES

1993.He is currently completing his sec-ond year as GrandMaster of the GrandLodge of New York. Within the Scot-tish Rite, he has been Sovereign Princein the Valley of Buffalo and wasDeputy’s Representative, 1997-2002.Hereceived the 33° in 1992.Ill.MarkC. Roth, 33°, of Canterbury,

NH, is a management systems admin-istrator for human resources and pay-roll in the state of New Hampshire. Heis also an ordained clergyman and aGrand Chaplain for the Grand Lodge.In the Scottish Rite Valley of Concord,NH, he has been Thrice Potent Master,Most Wise Master, and Deputy’s Rep-resentative. He received the 33° in1998.Ill. Michael A. DeWolf , 33°, of

Wausau, WI, is a retired president andCEO of an engineering firm. He wasGrand Master for the Grand Lodge ofWisconsin in 2003 and is now theGrandSecretary. Hewas Thrice PotentMasterin the Valley of Milwaukee in 1992 andreceived the 33° in 2004.

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Medal of Honor. The Grand

Lieutenant Commander, acting on be-half of the Sovereign Grand Com-mander, announced the selection ofthree recipients for the Supreme Coun-cil Medal of Honor.

Ill.Robert E. Hansen, 33°, became anActiveMember in 1993 andDeputy forNew Hampshire in 1999. As chairmanof the Supreme Council Buildings andGroundsCommittee, he supervised theconstruction of the Supreme Councilheadquarters addition in 2000.Ill. Phillip C. Kenney, 33°, was

elected an Active Member in 1985 andwas the “dean” of the Active Member-ship when he retired this year. He hadserved asDeputy for Illinois since 2000.He provided a noteworthy ritualisticportrayal in the 33° and created an im-pressive ceremony for the presentationof the Meritorious Service Award.Ill. James E. Olmstead, 33°, an Ac-

tiveMember since 1995 andDeputy forOhio since 1996, has been a key playeron several Supreme Council commit-tees, including the State of theRite/Strategic PlanningCommittee. Hehas also endured great courage andper-severance in overcoming obstacles.The Medal of Honor, instituted in

1995, has had only 13 previous recipi-ents.

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Class of 2005. There were 236candidates who received the 33° inGrand Rapids. Three additional candi-dates received the degree in special ses-sion: George W. Burgh of Pennsylva-nia, John D. Williams of Connecticut,and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. of Michigan.Four candidates received the degree

posthumously: JohnO. Vartan of Penn-sylvania, Clarence F. Stout of Indiana,


Assuming positions on the governing board are Benny L. Grisham (Illinois), Michael A.DeWolf (Wisconsin), Edward R. Trosin (NewYork), Mark C. Roth (New Hampshire),and James R. Filliez (Ohio).

NEW ACTIVE MEMBERS

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

Robert E. Hansen, New Hampshire; Phillip C. Kenney,Illinois, and James E. Olmstead, Ohio.

At the end of this year, five Valleys will win high-quality audio-visualequipment with a combined value of more than $10,000.

How? By having the highest percentage of its members apply for thenew Scottish Rite Platinum Visa Card from U.S. Bank.

Every new card generates $50 in “card bounty” which goes directlyto the charities and helps move your Valley higher in the bracket. Atthe end of the year the folks at U.S. Bank will tell us what percentage ofmembers in each Valley have received their new Scottish Rite PlatinumVisa Card.

The Valleys at the top of each bracket will receive a brand new LCDProjector, DVD player, a portable screen, and powered speakers astheir prize. Visit www.supremecouncil.org/visa or call 1-800-853-5576ext. 8449 to learn more about any of the credit options available toyou.

VALLEY CREDIT CARD CONTEST


Larry R. Nord of Pennsylvania, andClarence C. VanHorn of New York. �

� There were 20 members above theage of 75 and 14members younger than45.The youngest was Kent R. Pauli, a

member of the Valley of Green Bay,WI,at the age of 34.

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Class of 2006. There were 237candidates elected to receive the 33° inChicago next year. Unable to attend thisyear’s session and carried over to 2006were Raymond P. Cunningham Jr. ofMaine and Robert J. Taylor of Pennsyl-vania.

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Kern Award. The winner of thisyear’s Kern award is the Valley ofMid-dletown, NY. Accepting the plaque onbehalf of the Valley was New YorkDeputy Harold L. Aldrich, 33°.The award is presented each year to

the Valley that attains the highest per-centage of participation of memberscontributing to the “blue” envelope ap-peal. It is named in honor of the late Dr.Richard A. Kern, 33°, former ScottishRite Deputy for Pennsylvania andchairman of the SupremeCouncil Com-mittee on Benevolences.

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Ritual Changes.TheCommitteeon Ritualistic Matters recommended arevision to the ceremony for Meritori-ous ServiceAward aswell as substantialrevisions to the rituals of the 7° and 15°,a revised prologue for the 16°, a minorcorrection to the ritual of the 30°, and atitle change for the name of the 12°.Last year the rituals were distributed

to the Valley Secretaries on a CD.Printed copies from the SupremeCoun-cil headquarters are no longer available.A new CD with the 2005 revisions willbe sent to Valley Secretaries within thenext fewmonths with instructions thatthe previous disk should be returnedto the Supreme Council or destroyed.The name of the 12° has been changed

from “Grand Master Architect” to“Master of Mercy,” and the title of the15° has been shortened to “Knight of theEast.”Aconstitutional amendmentwas ap-

proved that requires the 31° and 32° “beexemplified in numerical sequencewithout any intervening degree.”The committee has been working on

revisions to the 26°, but no changeshave been approved as yet.

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Valley Change. The Valley ofCorning, NY, has surrendered the char-

ters of the Consistory, Chapter of RoseCroix and the Council of Princes ofJerusalem, transferring the assets ofthose bodies to the Corning Lodge ofPerfection and transferring the mem-bers of those three bodies to the Valleyof Rochester.The action was passed unanimously

at theNewYorkCouncil of Deliberationin July and received final approval bythe Supreme Council in August.

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Constitutional Changes.

Grand Masters from all 15 states within the Northern MasonicJurisdiction attended the Supreme Council annual meeting.Seated: Roger L. Magoon (Wisconsin), Jeffrey B. Hodgdon(Massachusetts), John R. Campbell (Vermont), DavidW. Miller(Illinois), William Slater II (Pennsylvania), George S. Greytak(Connecticut), Richard P. Ruhland (Michigan).

Standing: Wyman P. Hallstrom Jr. (Rhode Island), Robert J.Sheridan (New Jersey), Donald D. Thomas (Delaware), Jim S.Deyo (Ohio), Grand Lt. Commander Lawrence D. Inglis,Claire V. Tusch (Maine), Edward R. Trosin (NewYork),Dennis T. Herrell (Indiana) and David J. Lamprey Sr.(New Hampshire).

GRAND MASTERS

NEW GRAND LT. COMMANDER

JohnWm. McNaughtonIndiana


The committee structure of the SupremeCouncil has been modified.The Committee on Masonic Educa-

tion and Program Development nowincludes youth programs and activities,eliminating a separate committee. TheCommittee on Benevolences becomesthe Committee on Benevolences andDevelopment.The Committee on Constitutions,

Laws and Jurisprudence now includesthe duties of the former Dispensationsand Charters Committee.New standing committees include:

Investments, Membership Develop-ment,Membership Services, and Infor-mation Systems and Communications.The former Northern Light EditorialBoard is now officially the Media Ad-visory Board.Some of these committees have been

operating as special committees for thepast few years.The final change combines two for-

mer committees into the Committee onRecords and Unfinished Business.

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Valley Websites ReceiveRecognition. Following in themode of the Brother Franklin Awardsfor Valley publications, the SupremeCouncil this year initiated a new tra-dition. At the annual meeting inGrand Rapids the first set of ValleyWebAwards was announced.The selections were made using

four criteria: content, appearance,timeliness, and ease of use.For 2005 the Valleys were placed

into one of four groupings, based onmembership enrollment.For Category A, including those

Valleys with fewer than 1,000 mem-bers, Rochesterwas recognized ashaving the best site. Honorable men-tion recognition was given to NewYork.In Category B (Valleys with 1,000 to

2,500 members) Bloomingtonwaschosen as the best site, with Philadel-phia as honorable mention.For Category C (Valleys with 2,500

to 5,000 members)Danvillewaspicked as the winner, and Bay Citywas selected for honorable mention.The Valleys ofDayton and Colum-

buswere chosen as joint winners forCategory D (Valleys with more than5,000 members). Fort Wayne was rec-ognized for an honorable mention.For the Council of Deliberation

websites, the state of Illinois was

Winners of the 2005 Brother Franklin awards wereannounced during the Monday morning generalsession. The awards are presented annually to Valleyswith outstanding publications. They are awarded onthe basis of the size of the Valley membership. Re-ceiving special recognition were the following:

Category I (Valleys with less than 1,000 members)Best PublicationValley of The Merrimack, MA Thomas E. Pulkkinen, 33°, editor

Honorable MentionValley of Portsmouth/Dover, NH Mark Weir, 32°, editorValley of Traverse City, MI James C. Larson, 32°, editorValley of Utica, NY William B. Williams, 33°, editor

Category II (Valleys with 1,000-2,000 members)Best PublicationValley of Bridgeport, CT Leo H. Lohrman, 33°, editor

Honorable MentionValley of Bloomington, IL Ronald K. Blue, 33°, editorValley of Erie, PA Eric M. Marshall, 33°, editorValley of Grand Rapids, MI Richard A. Burrows, 32°, editorValley of Milwaukee, WI Gary R. Beier, 32°, editor

Category III (Valleys with 2,000-4,000 members)Best PublicationValley of Freeport, IL John A. Reining, 33°, editor

Honorable MentionValley of Central Jersey, NJ Dennis R. Bator, 32° and

Peter Lanka, 32°, editorsValley of Northern NJ Roman K. Sobon, 33°, editorValley of Philadelphia, PA Stephen A. Morrison, 32°, editorValley of Southern NJ Charles A. Castley, 32°, editor

Category IV (Valleys with 4,000-6,500 members)Best PublicationValley of Chicago, IL Milan Vydareny, 32°, editor

Honorable MentionValley of Boston, MA Keith M. Curtis, 32° and

Carl M. Hogan, 33°, editorsValley of Cleveland, OH David B. Mackey, 32°, editorValley of Detroit, MI David R. Bedwell, 33°, editor

Category V (Valleys with more than 6,500 members)Best PublicationValley of Indianapolis, IN Jerry B. Collins, 33°, editor

Honorable MentionValley of Cincinnati, OH Donald W. Owens, 33°, editorValley of Columbus, OH Steven L. Smiseck, 32°, editorValley of Pittsburgh, PA D. William Roberts, 33°, editor

Franklin Awardsfor Valley Publications

Last year the Grand Lodge ofMas-sachusetts agreed to place its vastcollection of artifacts on long-

term loan with the National HeritageMuseum in Lexington, MA.Perhaps themost importantMasonic

collection inNorthAmerica, it traces itsbeginnings to the first regular and dulyconstituted lodge in 1733. It includesmany important documents, aprons,jewels and other artifacts.In the late 1800s, the collection was

supplemented by the donations ofGrand Master (and later SovereignGrand Commander) Samuel CrockerLawrence.Through the 20th century, the collec-

tion continued to grow.It expanded beyond Massachusetts

and blue lodge Freemasonry to includeartifacts from around the world andfrom the York and Scottish Rites, theShrine and other Masonic-affiliatedbodies.In the fall of 2004 the Grand Lodge

collection was transferred to the Na-tionalHeritageMuseum as a long-termloan (seeThe Northern Light,Nov. 2004).Over the past year the staff has begun

the slow process of inventorying eachand every item.To date more than 1,000 of the esti-

mated 8,000 items have been processedand re-housed in modern storage con-tainers.During the inventory phase the col-

lection is not available for general usewithout special permission from theGrand Lodge.

Although the museum staff is sys-tematically processing the collection, afew of the more important discoveriesto date are particularly noteworthy.The bulk of the first 1,000 items in-

ventoried is made up of engravings,lithographs and Masonic membershipcertificates.Included are some 350 portraits of

both famousAmericans and importantAmerican Freemasons.Among the artifacts was found an

original engraving of the well-known“AFreemason Form’dOut of theMate-rial of his Lodge” dated 1754.Frequently reproduced over the last

250 years, it was engraved by Alexan-der Slade in London. A person couldbuy a copywithout color or pay extra tohave it painted.One apron discovered among the

many processed provides a good sam-ple of the 400 estimated aprons in theGrand Lodge collection.Created in 1791, the apron was

owned by John Row of Tyrian Lodge inGloucester,MA. The pen and ink designon lambskin bears the Latin motto:“Fear God and Love your Country.”Another unique apronwas owned by

Charles S. Stratton (1838-83), betterknown as Tom Thumb.TheGrand Lodge collection holds his

miniature embroidered Royal ArchChapter apron and collar dating fromthe 1860s.Bro. Stratton was made a Mason in


MARK A. TABBERT, 32°, curator of Masonic and fraternalcollections at the National Heritage Museum, is the author ofAmerican Freemasons.

SiftingThroughThe Past

By MARK A. TABBERT, 32°

Gems from the MassachusettsGrand Lodge Collection

General TomThumb (born Charles Stratton) received this apron when he became aRoyal Arch Mason in Jerusalem Chapter No. 13, Bridgeport, CT, in 1862.

St. John’s Lodge No. 3, which has sincemergedwith Fidelity Lodge in Fairfield,CT. He was exalted in Jerusalem RoyalArch Chapter No. 13 and received allthe York Rite and Scottish Rite degreesin Bridgeport, CT.By 1810 and the adoption of the

Thomas SmithWebb ritual lecture,Ma-sonic aprons became more standard-ized.Accordingly in 1814 engraver Ed-

wardHorsman submitted to theGrandLodge for approval a copper plate de-sign.The Grand Lodge accepted his de-

sign and continues to hold the plate.From that plate dozens, if not hundreds,of aprons were produced.Included among the vast assortment

ofMasonic badges ribbons and pins areseveral Past Masters’ jewels.One particularly nice silver PastMas-

ter jewelwas given by St. John’s Lodge,Boston, to JamesDickson in 1812. It hasan elegant design of compasses, sunburst with quadrant arc, and an in-scription on the back.Another rare artifact is a 1790 ceramic

pitcher from the Independent BostonFusiliers. The pitcher is one of 100 spe-cially ordered by Samuel Jenks and pre-sented to eachmember of the Fusiliers.Jenks was a Revolutionary War vet-

eran and a member of King Solomon’sLodge in Charlestown, MA. Above thecentral motif are variousMasonic sym-bols.In 1794, the Fusiliers led theMasonic

procession to lay the cornerstone of thenew Massachusetts State House inBoston. Grand Master Paul Reverepresided at the ceremony.The York Rite developed in the late

1700s and early 1800s with the supportof Grand Lodges.

It is not surprising, then, that theGrand Lodge of Massachusetts holdsmany valuable York Rite artifacts.Besidesmany RoyalArch, Royal and

Select, and Knights Templar aprons,

membership certificates and souvenirs,the collection contains several items im-portant to the development of the Rite.Included in the collections are sev-

eral early 1800s silver Mark Master’sjewels and RoyalArch Chapter regalia.More important is an Irish Knights

Templar membership certificate dated1775 — perhaps one of the oldestknown to exist.Nearly as rare is an 1830s Knights

Templar beaver chapeau, worn by SirKnight William Pierce Jr. of BostonCommandery No. 2.The Grand Lodge collection also �


This image has been reproduced countless times, but the GrandLodge collection holds an original 1754 engraving of “A FreemasonForm’d Out of the Material of his Lodge.” The engraving wascreated by Alexander Slade in London.

This rare Knights Templarchapeau from the 1830s wasfound in its original box. Itwas owned by Sir KnightWilliam Pierce of BostonCommandery No. 2.

� holdsmany items related to theMor-gan incident and the subsequent anti-Masonic period of the 1820s and 1830s.One such item is a perfectly pre-

served anti-Masonic broadside, circa1830. The broadside announces the lec-ture of awell-known anti-Mason,AveryAllen, at Boston’s Pantheon Hall.By demonstrating the RoyalArch de-

grees, Allen sought to make knownwhat he believed were various irreli-gious and anti-American aspects ofFreemasonry.He also thought that by revealing

Freemasonry’s so-called “secret” ritualsthe fraternitywould be less attractive topotential members.

Twodiscoveries in a large box of pho-tographs are of particular importance.The first is a photo album of severaldozen prominent Freemasons. Com-piled in the 1880s, the album containsnot only American Grand Masters andleaders of the York and Scottish Rites,but also many important British Ma-sons as well as images of temples inChina and South America.Another discovery contains four 1907

prints of President Theodore Rooseveltassisting theGrand Lodge in laying thecornerstone of the Pilgrim Monumentin Provincetown, MA.One print shows Bro. Roosevelt shak-

ing hands with an operative stonema-son after the ceremony.Lastly, and perhapsmost curious, is a

Masonic square and compass dues cardfrom1956with amushroom cloud on it.Called “Eniwetok Atoll Square and

Compass Club,” it was owned by Bro.Frederick C. Brown,whowas stationednear Eniwetok during thermonuclearbomb tests.Although this is but a sampling of

the collection, working with the fullsupport of the Grand Lodge of Massa-chusetts, a full inventory is expected tobe completed in the next few years.No doubt manymore important and

curious objects will be discovered. Ul-timately it is hoped that this excitingcollection will be enjoyed and studiedby Masons, scholars and the generalpublic through exhibition, research,publication, and presentation on themuseum’s website.


St. John’s Lodge, Boston, silver PastMaster’s jewel given toWor. BrotherJames Dickson in 1812.

Gage Collection Becomes Lending LibraryCommitted to the preservation and dissemination of Masonic history

and information, the late Ill. Wallace Marsh Gage, 33º, devoted much ofhis energy, during his 51 years in the craft, assembling an archive of Ma-sonic books and related materials. In 2001 he approached the staff at theNational Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA, located at Supreme Councilheadquarters, with a plan for a lending library. To create it he would do-nate his 1,200 volumes. Bro. Gage passed away in 2004.

The National Heritage Museum accepted the collection with the un-derstanding that the books would be available for loan to members of thefraternity. The Van Gordon-Williams library at the museum is considered aresearch library, but the Gage collection marks the beginning of a new sec-tion to be known as a lending library. From time to time new books will beadded to this section.

The “Wallace M. Gage Masonic Book Collection,” was officially dedi-cated at the museum in late October. With shelving donated by his familyand Masonic friends, his books can now be shared with those he served forover half a century.

Wherever Masonsmeet they often form“Square and CompassClubs.” One suchclub was formed byMasons serving in theArmed Forcesstationed on EniwetokAtoll during hydrogenbomb tests in the1950s. This card wasowned by Bro.Frederick C. Brown.


Adjustable suspenderswith the square &compasses on white orblack background.

100% cotton woven coverletbeautifully displays Masonic symbols.

Perfect as a throw or wall hanging.Size: 48”x60”.

Aset of four dress shirtstuds with the square &compasses in gold on ablue background.

100% cotton low profile cap is availablein black with a 32° embroidered goldemblem or in navy or stone with thesquare & compasses emblem.

This beautifully illustrated book exploresthe role played by Freemasons in the

development of the country, andreasons whymen have joined the fraternity.

A100% cotton polo shirt withthe 32° gold embroidery emblem.Available in black or white.

Description Price Size Qty Total Price

The Square & CompassesSuspenders (White Background) $13.95Suspenders (Black Background) $13.95“Washington as a Freemason” print $27.95Shirt Studs (set of four) $19.95Cap (Navy, one size fits all) $19.95Cap (Stone, one size fits all) $19.95Coverlet $54.95

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Order Online: nationalheritagemuseum.orgOrder by Phone: 781-861-6559, ext. 4108 • Mail Orders to: The Heritage Shop, NHM, 33 Marrett Rd., Lexington, MA 02421

The HERITAGE SHOP“Washington as a

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Asmembers Jurisdiction-widefinish raking leaves and re-placing their screens with

storm windows, holiday planningmoves into high gear.Thanksgiving, like most

holidays, has cer-tain traditionsassociatedwith it. Ofcourse, withthis particularday, those ritu-als center onfood.For most of us,

turkey is the star, butwe can’t forget thecranberry sauce,stuffing, mashed po-tatoes, Aunt Min’s“ambrosia,” or UncleCarl’s cornbread.A footnote to the

menu, possibly con-centrated in the north-east, but one that couldshow up anywhere, is aunique dish called “Indianpudding.”Some people love it, others won’t

touch the stuff, but for many, the holi-day isn’t official unless it appearsright after the main course is clearedaway.Research seems to indicate that it

originated in New England, maybe asearly as 1621 with the Pilgrims’ firstThanksgiving in Plymouth.Some legends say that the Native

Americans brought it to the feast.Other sources hint that the name sim-ply comes from its main ingredient,cornmeal, once commonly called “In-dian meal.”A later version claims that it gained

prominence during the days leadingto the American Revolution.

Colonists protesting the tax onsugar, substituted molasses as asweetener. Since this particular dishcalls for molasses, it became patriotic

to serve it.A quick check online reveals no

shortage of opinions, however. A“Google” search returns 54,800 en-tries, beaten by “Yahoo,” showing noless than 65,500. All sorts of variationsand origins are noted.Easily found are “Vermont” Indian

pudding, “Nantucket” Indian pud-ding, or the much more generic “NewEngland” variety.Recipes can also be found at such

diverse sites as “Jewish.com,” aSouthwest Colorado site, and anotherentry from someone called “Bayou

Bill.”A popular version appears in the

original Boston Cooking-School CookBook, published by Fannie Farmer in1896.In its basic form this holiday dessert

consists of varying degrees of corn-meal, molasses, and milk, slightly bur-nished (some would say burned), at alow temperature, about 200 degrees,or in other variations at a high tem-perature of 450 degrees or more.

Although purists claim it shouldbe eaten by itself, modernists aremore likely to garnish it withcinnamon, or even better, ice

cream.Light-hearted stories

have been penned, fea-turing the pudding, al-most rivaling its Christ-mas counterpart, fruit-cake.One facetious story,

written by James EverettGrieder, called “TheProof is in the Pudding,”relates a tale of how Indian

pudding was almost at thecenter of a war between Nan-tucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

Another humorous yarn claims thatthe only reason the dessert still existsis to protect people’s feelings.As that story goes, the Native

Americans were given the task ofbringing dessert to the first Thanks-giving. The pudding was accidentallyovercooked, but it was too late tomake anything new, so it was broughtto the feast as is.The Pilgrims, not wanting to insult

their guests, raved about the confec-tion. Hearing that the European set-tlers apparently liked their food burnt,they did it again the next year, notwanting to insult the Pilgrims. And onit goes to this day.

Origins ofIndianPudding

By ALAN E. FOULDS

Ancient Thanksgivingdessert still popular

Despite the levity, Indian puddinghas always had a strong following. Iteven appears on the menus of manyrestaurants.Historic Wayside Inn, of Henry

Wadsworth Longfellow fame, lists“Hot Indian Pudding from theBakeshop.” The Union Oyster House,in operation since 1826, places it firston the dessert list.The name mentioned most often in

connection with Indian pudding isDurgin-Park restaurant. An ancienteatery in downtown Boston, it hasbeen there long enough for “yourgrandfather, and perhaps your greatgrandfather to have dined there,” theslogan boasts.Executive chef Kurt Vogel says that

during the peak months he makes 60gallons, twice a week. As things slowdown in January and February theycut back to once weekly.Although not a huge fan himself, he

considers it a “signature” dish. Hesays that both regulars and touristsask for it.Some come in specifically for the In-

dian pudding. Others feel that theyhave to try it “to see what it’s all

about,” says the chef, who notes thatoften one dish will be ordered for atable so everyone can sample it.The menu says it is “dark brown

with substantial gravity, smells likeroasted corn, and tastes like the firstThanksgiving.”

Kathleen Curtin, food historian athistoric “Plimoth Plantation” in Ply-mouth, MA, says that the puddingmight have evolved from boiled cornmeals prepared by Native Americans.The English settlers added spices to it.Sometime in the mid-1600s mo-

lasses was added, giving it the classicconsistency and taste we know today.The first known recording of Indian

pudding appears in Amelia Simmons’American Cookery, published as thecountry’s first cookbook in 1796. Sim-mons actually includes three versions.Curtin says that Indian pudding

recipes were generally included in allAmerican cookbooks, regardless of re-gion, until about the turn of the 20thcentury, when it became closely asso-ciated with New England.In addition to her duties at Plimoth

Plantation, Ms. Curtin is the author ofGiving Thanks, a history of the Thanks-giving holiday told through recipes. Itwas recently published by Clarkson-Potter.Stories as to its origin may vary, but

it is clear that Indian pudding hasbeen with us for a long time.Whether you hail from New Eng-

land or just daydream of another time,the dish is reminiscent of our nation’searliest days.As you and your family gather

around the Thanksgiving table thisyear, just remember to leave enoughroom for an ancient traditional dish —one that is tied inextricably to the sea-son, the holidays, and to our heritage— Indian pudding. It’s as American as


Recipes for ‘A Nice Indian Pudding’The following recipes are extracted from American Cookery (Hart-ford, 1796) by Amelia Simmons. The three are the oldest knowprinted versions:

No. 1: 3 pints scalded milk, 7 spoons fine Indian meal, stir welltogether while hot, let stand till cooled; add 7 eggs, halfpound raisins, 4 ounces butter, spice and sugar, and bakeone and a half hours.

No. 2: 3 pints scalded milk to one pint meal salted; cool, add 2eggs, 4 ounces butter, sugar or molasses and spice q.s. [asneeded] it will require two and a half hours baking.

No. 3: Salt a pint meal, wet with one quart milk, sweeten andput into a strong cloth, brass or bell metal vessel, stone orearthern pot secure from wet and boil 12 hours.

MASONICWORD MATH

How to solve: Start with the first word. Add to it theletters of the second word. Then add or subtractthe letters of the following words. Total the remain-ing letters and unscramble them to find a wordassociated with Masonry.

(SILLY) + (HAPPENING) – (PLAN)

+ (SOOTHE) – (NOISE) +

(POSITIONS) – (STONE) + (TENSE)

– (SITTING) – (SEE)

Clue for this puzzle appears on page 16.Answer from previous issue: DUE GUARDS

=

In what has developed into a falltradition, the “Walks to Help ChildrenWith Dyslexia” again blanketed theNorthern Masonic Jurisdiction,stretching from Portland, ME, toBelleville, IL— and from early Sep-tember to late October. Ohio alonehosted nine such events.All of the walks featured a post-

event celebration, with music, facepainting, balloon sculpture and othersuch activities. In Lexington, MA, atSupreme Council headquarters,Shrine clowns played an importantand conspicuous role.Chief sponsors for the dyslexia

walks included Barton-Cotton, EagleBank, Eastern Bank, Harvard PilgrimHealthcare, Monument Staffing, Mor-gan &Morgan, and Smith Barney.


Walking from Maine to Illinois

32° Masonic Learning Centersfor Children, Inc.

On the cover: TheWilliamDiamond Fife and Drum Corpsof Lexington, MA, led off the“Walk to Help Children withDyslexia.” The walk, whichstarted at Supreme Councilheadquarters, passed in frontof the National HeritageMuseum.

Endorsementsfrom around

the Jurisdiction

In September, the initial levelOrton-Gillingham training at theWilmington, DE, center was ap-proved by both the Delaware Pro-fessional Standards Board andDelaware State Board of Educationas a “professional developmentcluster.”This designation allows

Delaware teachers to receive an au-tomatic two percent salary raiseupon successful completion of thecourse. The current number of ap-proved professional developmentclusters available to teachers issmall.Candace Bedrock, Wilmington

center director, and Kathleen Stone,Wilmington chairperson, devel-oped and guided the proposalthrough the rigorous approvalprocess.This approval by the state of

Delaware provides a strong en-dorsement of the quality of thelearning center training program.Meanwhile, through the efforts of

Jean Colner, the Columbus centerdirector, all Ohio learning centerinitial level Orton-Gillinghamtraining programs have been desig-nated as a “highly qualified profes-sional development course.”This designation allows Ohio

reading specialists/teachers tomeet the “highly-qualified teacher”requirement of the “No Child LeftBehind” federal legislation. Thislegislation requires all teachers tomeet the highly qualified teacherrequirement by July 2006.

With feet that large, it is no surprisethat Rollo needs to help his fellow

Shrine clown after the walk.


The office of the Scottish Rite Charities is launching itsfall fund-raising appeal, featuring the 2006 “Inspira-tional Journey Calendar.”

Copies, featuring moving images and quotes havearrived from the printer and are ready for distribution.

Beginning ten years ago with the 1996 edition, thecalendar has served as a major component in the effortsto fund the 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children,Inc.

The centers, located throughout the 15-state NorthernMasonic Jurisdiction, provide tutoring, free of charge, tochildren afflicted with dyslexia.

For a decade the program has helped give childrenwith dyslexia a brighter, more promising future. Recipi-ents of the calendar are encouraged to make a voluntarycontribution to the learning centers program. The“blue” envelope appeal, which accepts donations for theother three Scottish Rite charities, was moved to thespring to provide a better window for the fall mailing ofthe calendar.

Scottish Rite Masons have a proud tradition ofsupporting causes for the greater good and the ScottishRite Charities office thanks everyone for their continuedsupport.

“It has been a delight to put lightback into the eyes of two children thispast year. Where there was a forlorn,heavy look and manner of carryingthemselves, with a low self-esteem,there is now a joyful, ‘I know how,and I feel good about myself,’ expres-sion in their voices and countenance.

“One child who started had a hardtime looking me in the eye or even

sharing about his day, now eagerlyshares and has the bright look of onewho carries himself with self-assur-ance and respect.

“This program has also been an en-couragement to his family. His momshared that he is now getting A’s andenjoys school. Skill and confidence inreading has made a big difference.

“A second child entered the pro-

gram knowing only a few consonantsand was failing in his classes. Hefound out that he could learn to read,and by January was reading 300-pagebooks.

“His father is dyslexic and told me,with a tear in his eye, how grateful hewas that his son was getting a chancethat he had not.

“He said, ‘If I had the help my sonis getting, I know my life and mar-riage would have been different.’What a joy it is to make a difference.”

New Calendar Supports Learning Centers

Working for a cause, such as improving the lives of thoseafflicted with dyslexia, one can often get caught up in themechanics of operating a learning center or in the

fund-raising designed to assure the future of the program. It canbecome easy to forget that real people and real lives are involved.

The following statement, excerpted from a letter sent by SherryDillbeck, a tutor in training, explains in concise but eloquent detailthe importance of the 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc.

Words — directly from a child or parent whose life has beenchanged for the better — or the report of a tutor — who sees closeup how all the hard work has paid off — bring into sharp focus theurgency of assuring that the centers are successful.

Feedback From The Field

Reprinted with permission fromThe Nebraska Mason, Fall, 2005.

Inmy youth, philosophy ranked 113on my list of 100 favorite things.After all, I was on a path to a pro-

fession (in my case, architecture), and Ineeded to know geometry, business,English, design, statics and strengths ofmaterials. I had little use for the acade-mia of philosophy.In fact, I spentmore timemaking fun

of philosophy than I did studying it —“Philosophy is unintelligible answersto unsolvable problems”— or — “Phi-losophy is an orderlyway of discussingsubjects we don’t know anythingabout.”Needless to say, I was not a good can-

didate for the local philosophical soci-ety. I joined Masonry while still in col-lege. I participated in the rituals, wentthrough the chairs, served as Master,and learned the Middle Chamber lec-ture.It was all I could do to keep up with

the memorization and presentation.Whatwas lurking behind all those alle-gories, metaphors and symbols was amystery to me.We had no formalMasonic education

programs back then, no dialogues aboutwhat we were really doing every weekin lodge.Don’t get me wrong — the fellow-

ship with the brethren was great, andthe training in verbal presentation skillsvia the rituals helpedme immensely inmy professional career.

But I had yet to receive the “whack inthe side of the head” as to the big pic-ture of Masonry.I joined the Scottish Rite, took part in

a degree, and one of my speaking partsin presenting a whole series of signs,tokens, words and symbols was con-cluded with the following statement:“It remains for you to learnwhatmean-ings are involved in the legend andsymbolism of this degree.”My first reaction to this was— “Well

thank you very much. —You just unloaded on me the whole ofancient esoteria, and now I need to fig-ure it out myself?”Calm reflection being a virtue, I said

to myself — “Okay, I’ll take the bait.Let’s begin to get beneath the surfaceand find out what this is all about.”Thus beganmyMasonic education. It

was around 1986, and I had already

been a Mason for 20 years. I never saidI was a fast learner.The “whack in the side of the head”

was yet to come.Either I just woke up around 1990, or

there seemed to be a general reawak-ening about Masonry going on then —new books examining its history, rele-vance, symbols, and its philosophy.Like assembling a 10,000-piece jigsaw

puzzle, the connected pieces were be-ginning to make some sense.I was hooked — and showing just

how conniving Masonry can be, here Iwas, heaven forbid, studying the greatphilosophers—my113th favorite topic.But lo and behold, in the study of

these philosophers, I began to see somefamiliar Masonic overtones:Pythagoras — geometrySocrates — Know thyselfPlato — Creator = Architect of theUniverse

Aristotle — the soulAquinas — a lot of Middle Chamberconcepts here


MasonicPhilosopherWannabe

By LARRY JACOBSEN, 33°

Seeking a Path to theSecrets of Freemasonry

ILL. LARRY JACOBSEN, 33°, is an architect and a member of theGrand Lodge of Nebraska Education Committee. He is also a pastpresiding officer in the Valley of Omaha.


Bruno —memoryBacon —House of SolomonLocke — civil governmentShaftsbury — harmonyEncyclopedie — knowledge

I even determined that perhaps Iwaswiser thanMark Twain who said, “TheAncients stole all our ideas from us.”Masonry really is a compilation of

some of the greatest ideas from thegreatest philosophers in history.However, as we all know, Masonry

does not just put down the oats wherethe goats can get it.Okay,maybeAlbert Pike said it more

eloquently; “Masonry does not incul-cate her truths. She states them onceand briefly; or hints them, perhapsdarkly; or interposes a cloud betweenthem and the eyes that would be daz-zled by them. ‘Seek and ye shall find’knowledge and the truth.”So here we are, full circle to the alle-

gories, metaphors and symbols of Ma-sonry—and yes, it does remain for youto learn what it means to you.Perhaps by now I was getting closer

to the philosopher’s stone. If Harry Pot-ter went after it, why not me.By the way, this ‘philosopher stone’

stuff is a whole history in itself.Throughout history and up to nearlythe 19th century, there were serious at-tempts at alchemy, an attempt to phys-ically transmute base metals to gold.Even Isaac Newton dabbled in this

“science.” Gold was the most preciousof materials then, and gold was themeans to everything that could bebought.Michael Miller, in an essay titled The

Philosopher’s Stone, stated, “Their quest

for the philosopher ’s stone can beviewed as irrational silliness or thehighest idealism.“There was no reason to expect such

a ‘stone’ to exist, but what alchemistshoped to gain by means of the philoso-pher’s stone is the sum of all humanambition.“Transmutation of metals was the

least of the stone’s supposed powers.Gold is a means to all wealth, but thephilosopher’s stone is a means to allends, a universal means. And it’s lyingaround for the taking. It’s everywhere.“If you have the wit merely to recog-

nize it and learn how to use it, then allends are within your reach.“We needn’t wonder why those who

believed in the philosopher’s stone de-voted their lives to finding it. Whathigher ideal could they seek?What bet-ter end could a man set himself than auniversal means?”

Pardon the digression. The philoso-pher’s stone has, of course, no place inMasonic ritual, and I am certainly notequating this to some Harry Potter ad-venture. But I could not help but drawa parallel to our Masonic “secrets.”Is it possible that the secret may not

be what is important, but rather thesearch for the secret thatmatters? [enter“whack in the side of the head”] Andthe clues in that search are all aroundus.Where, you ask? Listen closely the

next time a Brother speaks from theheart about our fraternity.Read the sincerity of a fellowmember

as he coaches you in the ritual.Listen and interpret what you hear

the next time your lodge does the Mid-dle Chamber lecture.ReadVictorHugo’s Les Miserables, lis-

ten to the Scottish Fantasy by Bruch,spend an evening in the mountainsunder full starlight, and countless otherexperiences that can take you on an as-cent of inquiry.Ah, the beauty of philosophy.Not be-

cause I discovered the “secret,” but thatI’ve begun to find a path to that “se-cret” that works for me.Others may not have a clue what my

path is, but I know they have their ownpath.I can see it in their eyes and in their

deeds. Good Masons do not disguisethemselves easily.Well, there you have it— confessions

of aMasonic philosopherwannabe, andthe only thing I can state for a fact is this— it is for each individual Mason todiscover the “secret” for himself.ThroughMasonic education we pro-

vide information, but what it all meansis for you, and only you, to discover.Relish the journey.

The Grand Lodge of Nebraska Education Committee has been con-ducting a series of Masonic education symposiums throughout thestate to encourage members to learn more about the fraternity.The theme for the fall has been “Myths and Masonry.”

In conjunction with the symposiums, there have also been smallerdiscussion groups called “Happy Hour at the Goose and Gridiron.”According to Ill. Brother Jacobsen, the biggest problem has been toshut off the discussion after an hour. “Get a table of six folks talk-ing about, say, tolerance, and the result is amazing,” he says.

“Happy Hour at theGoose and Gridiron”

“Masonry really is a

compilation of some

of the greatest ideas

from the greatest

philosophers in history.”


The foresight of our New Orleansbrethren resulted in preserving somepriceless Masonic records from thecatastrophic destruction of HurricaneKatrina. Étoile Polaire (Polar Star)Lodge No. 1, originally chartered bythe Grand Orient of France and stillworking a version of the Scottish Riteblue lodge ritual, owns most of itsoriginal records, covering some 200years. Ill. Arturo de Hoyos, 33°,Grand Archivist and Grand Historian,visited the lodge in 2002, evaluated itsarchives, and offered to store therecords in the climate-controlled doc-

ument vault at the House of the Tem-ple in Washington, DC. The Étoile Po-laire collection, weighing several hun-dred pounds was delivered in personby a delegation from the lodge.Through their foresight, the pricelessrecords—an important part of Ameri-ca’s Masonic heritage—remained safe,even though Katrina devastated theirlodge building.

Ill. Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, GrandArchivist and Grand Historian, Supreme

Council, 33°, S.J., USA, examines aNew Orleans record book.

Foresight Saves Priceless New Orleans Masonic Records

N O T E S F R O M T H E

A Note from Jacob’s Mom & DadJacob was about 21/2 years old when we started to in-

quire about his speech. We had read that by this age heshould know 150–200 words, and that two-word sen-tences should be emerging. We couldn’t even claim tenwords in his vocabulary, and the few words we counteddidn’t even sound like real words to anyone else.A teacher mentioned

that the San DiegoScottish Rite offeredfree speech therapy asa community serviceand suggested welook into it. This sug-gestion has been aGodsend to our fami-ly. After talking to atherapist, we enrolledJacob, and the progresshe has made is amaz-ing. We truly thankthe San Diego ScottishRite Childhood Language Center for Jacob’s success.Not only is Jacob now able to have a conversation,but also for the first time, he actually falls within thenormal limits for speech and language of children hisage. The support from the Childhood Language Cen-ter has been phenomenal.Thank you, Scottish Rite Masons, for helping

Jacob to interact with and discover the world aroundhim.

With Heartfelt Sincerity,Patrick & Claudia Klopchin

Norm Crosby Entertains at 2005Biennial Session Gala BanquetNoted Hollywood entertainer, Ill. Norm Crosby, 33°,

was the Master of Ceremonies at the Gala Banquet thatconcluded the 2005 Biennial Session of the Southern Juris-diction Supreme Council. Sovereign Grand CommanderRonald A. Seale, 33°, welcomed distinguished guests fromaround the world, including Ill. Walter E. Webber, 33°,SGC of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. CommanderSeale extended his congratulations to the newly elected33° members and thanked the many ladies present fortheir support.After dinner, Ill. Bro. Crosby entertained everyone with

his inimitable wit, unique style, and famous malapropisms.His rapier wit and smooth delivery delighted the 1,100 at-tendees at the banquet. Before closing, Ill. Bro. Seale an-nounced that the next biennial session would be held in2007 in conjunction with the NMJ. Everyone agreed that itwould be a unique session of fraternal good will andstarted marking their calendars for the date.


Concerned about protectingall of your records, you recentlybacked up everything you haveon CDs. Why, you even scannedcountless documents so youwould have an electronic file toput on that CD.

It did take you some time tocomplete the task, but you fi-nally finished it. Now, you’refeeling pretty good about it.Well, I hate to pop your bubble,but maybe you shouldn’t be feel-ing quite so good.

Here’s the problem. It oncewas believed that CDs were virtu-ally indestructible. Informationstored on one would be availablefor decades, or so we were led tobelieve.

In reality, those CDs can bequite unpredictable. At best,their practical life may be nolonger than ten years or so. For avariety of reasons, informationburned on a CD may be lost inonly a few years, or less. I’maware of CDs that have failed ina matter of months. A simple lit-tle action like using a marker pen to write on a CD mayshorten the disk’s lifespan because the ink can be ab-sorbed into the disk.

So, what can you do to protect your records? Here’s ahint: think Dead Sea Scrolls or even more recent docu-ments like our own Declaration of Independence.

For long-lasting records, nothing beats paper. Atleast, not yet. My advice is simple: if it is valuable, createa paper copy or maybe two copies. For your truly valu-able items, keep one copy in a safe deposit box or a fire-proof safe.

“What about my digital photographs?” you ask.

Now you know why I refuse to give up my trustyNikon 35mm camera. A photo may fade, but it does en-dure. Properly stored, negatives have an exceptionallylong lifespan. There is a reason why we still have photo-graphic images of Abraham Lincoln.

If you do use a digital camera, print the “keeper” pic-tures on photographic-quality paper. Make at least twocopies of each picture.

As for your electronic files, let’s consider your storageoptions.

Naturally, there is the CD. The device is easy to use,quite portable and very cheap, even if it is somewhat

unpredictable. When using CDs, mysuggestion is to make at least two

copies of every disk, never writeon a disk, and store disks in thehard plastic cases. After a fewyears, make new copies of thosedisks.

Instead of using CDs forbackup storage, I suggest youconsider some other devices. Forlong-term storage, the IomegaZip disk (www.iomega.com) isworth considering. Deemedsomewhat passé by some, Zipdisks offer a reasonably stablestorage option. Zip disks arevery portable, a snap to use, butare more costly than CDs.

A flash drive, such as theLexar JumpDrive is an option(www.lexarmedia.com). You canuse it to store, transfer and carryany type of electronic data. TheJumpDrive can be used withboth Windows and Macmachines. There is no need toinstall drivers. Simply plug it intoa USB port and you’re good togo. You can buy one for $30 to$80, depending on the size ofthe device’s memory.

Another option is to purchase an auxiliary hard drivefor your computer. Prices for these units have comedown dramatically, meaning that you can buy one for aslittle as $99.

The auxiliary hard drive offers a high degree of stabil-ity. Stored data should be available for a long time. Aux-iliary hard drives are available at electronics stores andfrom a number of online retailers.

However, allow me to reiterate: there yet is no substi-tute for paper files. For really valuable information,keep two paper files.

When you are done pondering the storage issue, youmight take a moment to arm yourself against onlinescams.

Disasters bring out both the best and worst in people.We need look no further than Hurricane Katrina for vali-dation of that statement.

Internet scams were among the many problemsspawned by the gigantic storm. One of the most insidi-ous claimed to be soliciting donations for the SalvationArmy. No doubt, it snared a lot of victims.

Apparently encouraged by the success of the Katrinascams, con artists are peppering the Internet with allsorts of sophisticated appeals designed to separate youfrom your money.

My advice is rather simple — ignore any and all e-mailappeals for money.

Finally, I want to invite you to participate in a surveyon computers and the Internet. To receive a copy of thesurvey, just send an e-mail to me at-<[email protected]>.

Storage, scamsand a survey

Leigh E. Morris, 33°, works in corporatecommunications for a major utilitycompany. He is a member of the Valley ofMilwaukee and Valley of Springfield, Ill.

As the present fiscal year draws to a close, part ofmy job is to summarize the income that Scottish RiteCharities, and particularly our 32º Masonic LearningCenters for Children, Inc., have earned from grantawards in 2004-05. The learning centers are moresuccessful than ever at delivering their free services,and as they enter their second decade, they need thesupport of Scottish Rite Masons more than ever. That,of course, includes the many individual contributorswho give generous donations throughout the year,and who have always been the backbone of ourdyslexia program.

It also includes the numerous Scottish Rite grant-making organizations that supported the learningcenters in 2004-05. At last count, Scottish Rite andother Masonic charitable organizations accounted formore than $160,000 last year. That would be about$3,000 for every learning center in operation, if itwere evenly distributed.

At the same time, the centers need non-Masonic fi-nancial support — community support — more thanever. A big part of that category is grant support, too,starting with grants from local charitable organiza-tions.

As foundation awards make up an increasingly im-portant part of our annual support, it has becomecritical for our Valley volunteers, particularly our learn-ing center boards of governors and their allies, tosharpen their grant-seeking skills and engageprospective local organizations. Even those withproven individual fund-raising abilities are discoveringthat grant-seeking is something of a specialty.

At last count, our 32º Masonic Learning Centers forChildren, Inc., received $314,000 in grant supportover the past eleven months. If you consider that thisamount is roughly the same as the amount of individ-

ual Masons’ donations garnered by

our annual “blue” envelope appeal, you can see thatgrant support now represents a healthy slice of thelearning centers’ pie chart.

That figure includes all public and private-sectorgrantmakers — nonprofit charities, company founda-tions and employee giving programs, and manynon-fraternal entities as well as the fraternal grant-makers mentioned above. (So many types ofcharitable organizations overlap nowadays that thepreferred term is “grant-makers,” a more genericword than “foundations.”)

I am convinced that grant-seeking is one of thestrategic keys to the survival, health and growth ofthe learning centers program. That is because, in myexperience, grant-seeking on behalf of a sorelyneeded community-healing service such as dyslexiaremediation amounts to community-building.Community-building has always been the keystoneof Masonic service to society.

In other words, grant-seeking is a Masonic volun-teer’s opportunity for dialogue with his peers amongthe leaders of his community. Grant-makers, whetherthey are private foundations, community foundations,banks, local companies or local government, viewtheir mission as community-strengthening — not justimpersonally handing over “free money,” but invest-ing in a local non-profit project in the expectation thatit will improve life in the community.

What an opportunity for the learning centers this is.Ten years of success, objective data, and many whole-hearted parent and community testimonials will proveto almost any grant-maker that a 32° Masonic Learn-ing Center for Children will meet that expectation —it’s a sure investment.

This year, learning center boards are being asked toraise a part of their own operating budgets and toform grants committees. This is a timely and impor-tant step. I’ve spoken with a number of activist boardmembers who are in the vanguard of this critical com-munity-building process, and, in future columns, I ex-pect to share their experience and insights with you.


Steve Pekock, 32°Director of Development

Promoting Knowledge and Learning

Foundation Grant-Seeking Vital to Growth

Uruguay honored theFreemasons with the re-lease of a postal issue. Thissouvenir sheet was issuedon Oct. 29, 2003, to com-memorate the foundationof Freemasonry within thatcountry in 1856.

� � �

WhenMatthew Flinderswas a prisoner of war inJuly 1807 at Mocha, Mauri-tius, he recorded in hisdiary “Today we had thecompany of M.M. Curtutand Pepin, who came tocelebrate tomorrow, thefete of St. John at theFreemasons Lodge estab-lished here. My friend, Mr.Labauve prepared himselfto enter into the societySunday 19. Our companywent to the lodge early toinitiate their neophyte…”Further substantiating in-formation has not yet beenfound.

Born March16, 1774, atDonington, Lin-colnshire, Eng-land, he was aself-educatednavigator. Heentered theNaval Servicein 1789 at theage of 15 andserved as mid-shipman on the“Providence”

under Capt. Bligh from1791-93. He returned toEngland in 1801. He latersailed to investigate thecoastline of Australia. Onhis return home, he experi-enced two mishaps, andended up in Mauritius,then a possession of Francewhich was at war withEngland. He was impris-oned for nine years as a spyand, broken in health, wasreleased in 1810. He died inLondon July 19, 1814. He ispictured on several Aus-tralian stamps includingthis one issued in 1980 forAustralia Day.

� � �

Francisco de Miranda yRodriguezwas born inCaracas, Venezuela, in1750. He entered the Span-ish army in which he wasdecorated for service inAfrica and attained therank of colonel. In 1780, hewas one of the foreign offi-cers who served underGeorge Washington in theAmerican Revolution. Helater served under Cather-ine II in Russia and in theFrench RevolutionaryArmy rising to the rank of

field marshal. He laterwent to Venezuela withSimon Bolivar and was oneof the signers of the Decla-ration in 1812. As Gener-alissimo, he was defeatedin battle and taken prisonerto the La Carraca Prison inCadiz, where he died in1816.Bro. Miranda was pro-

posed to be a Mason by theMarquis de Lafayette in1796. He founded the firstLautaro Lodge, the Gran

Reunion Americana, inLondon in 1801. In 1806, heformed another LautaroLodge in Cadiz, Venezuela,as well as another Lodgeunder the Grand Lodge ofEngland. In 1807, he consti-tuted a “Gran Oriente”composed of three Lodges.He initiated Bro. Simon Bo-livar in the Lautaro Lodge.Bro. Miranda is pictured onseveral stamps ofVenezuela including thisissue of 1950 to commemo-rate the centenary of hisbirth.

� � �

A stamp issued by Guyanain March 1992 pictures amovie poster which adver-

tises one of Richard Dix’smovies, “Cimarron.” Hewas a member of Harry S.Orme Lodge No. 458, Cali-fornia.Born Ernest Carlton

Brimmer in St. Paul, MN,on July 18, 1893, he studiedto be a surgeon but was at-tracted to acting while incollege. He dropped outafter one year, got a job at abank and took up with alocal stock company, whichled to acting work in NewYork City. He moved toHollywood where he begana successful career in West-ern movies. His best-re-membered early role was inCecil B. Demille’s silentversion of “The Ten Com-mandments.” He was nom-inated for Oscars and didwin one for his role in“Cimarron.” He retiredfrom acting in 1947 anddied two years later onSept. 20, 1949.

� � �

France commemorated theCentenary of the GrandeLoge of France, one of theseveral Grand Lodge bod-ies within France, on Nov.5, 1994, with the release of a

postage stamp.� � �

CorrectionBro. Lincoln Borglum re-ceived his degrees in BattleRiver Lodge No. 992, Her-mos, SD, not North Dakota,as reported in the previouscolumn of “The StampAct.”


Robert A. Domingue is secretary forSt. Matthew’s Lodge, Andover, MA, and

editor of The Philatelic Freemason.

Secret Societies of America’s Eliteby Steven Sora. Published in 2003 by Destiny Books, One

Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767. $20.

When I picked up this book, the name of the au-thor sounded familiar, and when reading it, I foundthe writing style likewise familiar. When finished, Ichecked past articles and found that I had reviewedSora’s first book, The Lost Treasure of the Knights Tem-plar. I did not give that book a glowing review, and Igive this one even less so. He also wrote Solving theOak Island Mystery. I don’t know that I have ever readworks by an historian with a more jaded view of his-tory.I indicated in the first review that the author was

sadly lacking in knowledge of the craft and that thebook was the most anti-Masonic of any non-anti-Ma-sonic books I had read. He uses much of Secret Soci-eties of America’s Elite to show Freemasonry as theglue that binds different men together in a commonpurpose. Indeed it does, but to Sora, most of it wasfor evil purpose.

In the introduction he states, “Unfortunately theslave trading industry was also furthered by Masonicgroups,” “A conspiracy organized by members of thequasi-Masonic Knights of the Golden Circle to killPresident Lincoln sought to nullify the EmancipationProclamation . . . ,” and he calls the Ku Klux Klan,“another Masonic group of knights.” All this beforepage five.Although he does credit the craft with a few good

contributions to society, if I did not know Freema-sonry and read this book, I would look upon it as themajor influence in slave trading, drug smuggling,piracy and much else that might have been undesir-able in early America and the world.

Most of these undesirable attributes he applies tothe craft via innuendo and implication, not fact. In hisdiscussion of the Kennedy assassination, for example,he points out that Earl Warren of the Warren commis-sion was a 33º Mason, not accusing but implying pos-sibilities. This style permeates his writing. He callsThomas Cushing, “a one-man Masonic conspiracy,”and in discussing the death of President Harrison, healludes to arsenic poisoning and points out that bothattending physicians were trained by a Mason andthe son of one was a friend of Benedict Arnold.He has no problem in stating as fact what other

historians regard as possibilities or probabilities. Forexample, he states that WilliamMorgan was taken byforce to a Masonic lodge where he was murdered. Noone knows for sure what happened to Morgan and nohistorian writes it as fact. He also refers to theFreemasons as “the surviving ex-Templars.” Again, Iknow of no other historian making that claim as fact.He dissects many of the more famous and wealthy

families from early America emphasizing characteris-tics and actions we would regard as unacceptablemotives today and pointing out any Masonic relation-ship they might have had. He carries his criticalanalysis into the modern world and organizations heterms as quasi-Masonic, such as the “Skull andBones” society at Yale University, and members suchas the Bushes and Cheney.There are numerous problems in the text that

could be considered either errors or false-hoods, depending uponwhether he is ignorant ordevious. For example, hesays that a Masonic conceptis “One God over all gods.”He also states that there areeight points on a Masoniccross and eight original Tem-plar Knights. He may be refer-ring to the Maltese cross, butthat is not a “Masonic cross,”and any knowledgeable histo-rian should know that there werenine original Templar Knights.That is fact. He also states that aMason-owned ship named the Jean Baptistewasnamed for “Masonry’s greatest saint.” That is proba-bly news to all Freemasons.There is no doubt that some of what Sora writes is

or may be true but I suspect that any good historiancould write a book based solely upon the inaccuraciesand errors found in this volume.Even if the book contained nothing concerning

Freemasonry it would not be a good book. Historiansshould be writing about facts of history not rewritinghistory by constructing it via implication and innu-endo. I do not know his background, but his writingshows deficiency in fact. I do not think the book isworth your effort.


Reviewed by Thomas W. Jackson, 33°

Understanding Manhood in America:Freemasonry’s Enduring Path to the Mature Masculine

by Robert G. Davis. Published in 2005 by AnchorCommunications LLC, Lancaster, VA 22503. $19.95.

I have been friends with the author of this text formany years and have regarded him as one of a hand-ful of the more astute scholars of Freemasonry inNorth America. Understanding Manhood in Americasimply reinforces that judgment. He is currently theSecretary of the Valley of Guthrie, OK, and serves on anumber of steering committees for analyzing, advis-ing, and guiding the progression of North AmericanFreemasonry.This is not a book about Freemasonry, although he

uses the craft as a comparative example for the ongo-ing changes that have taken place in the character ofmasculinity in America and cites it as possessing acharacter that has been and could be the guiding forcein reclaiming the rightful place of the male in our soci-ety. Even though he uses this character throughout thebook, only the last chapter, “Freemasonry’s TimelessRole: Recapturing the Lost Word in Manhood,” dealsspecifically with the craft.Also included are three appendices. The first is a

listing of American fraternal institutions with theirdate of origin that should be helpful in understandingjust how many fraternal bodies existed but no longerdo. The second gives a brief explanation of the systemof degrees and presents those from the first three of theblue lodge through the 29 of the Scottish Rite, convey-ing the message they express. The third lists the 103virtues taught in these degrees.Davis examines the changing roles that the male has

assumed in a corresponding changing society, thecauses for these role changes, and their impact on thevery definition of manhood. Even though we mayhave been aware of the role changes, most of us proba-bly have given little thought to what caused them orunderstand the magnitude of the impact they createdin the development of our society. I know I havefailed, even though I was aware of the changes of themale position in the workplace, to comprehend thesignificance of how much it affects our total society. Hediscusses the needs and causes that resulted in thechanges of the image and function of male organiza-tions from the ritual-driven to civic and social. Thisbook has caused me to take a much broader view ofwhat these changing roles mean to American society.He makes excellent analyses of how more mundane

influences, such as change in music style, cause cata-clysmic change over time in entire life style.Where Freemasonry comes into play is through the

moral virtues and ethical lessons it teaches and,through these lessons, imparts to society. He empha-sizes the significance Freemasonry and all other frater-nal organizations have had on the teaching of ethics tomen in our society. He also points out, however, that

with the development of modern technology publicexposure to the ancient teachings of our craft mustchange the way we will operate in the new society.Davis provides an excellent view of how Freema-

sonry, as well as society, has been affected by this on-going change in the “mature masculine” image. He an-alyzes well the need to re-establish a more dominateposition if we are to play a vital role in the lives of fu-ture generations.This is a book that will serve as an awakening for

many readers who have not seen the obvious in thechanging of male value in society. I recommend it.


THOMAS W. JACKSON, 33°, was formerly Grand Secretaryfor the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. He is Executive Secretary

for the World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodgesand the book reviewer for The Northern Light.

Several issues ago I reviewed two of Dan Brown’sbest sellers, The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.Few books in history have elicited a greater reactionor spawned a greater number of books in response.This is especially true of The Da Vinci Code. The major-ity of these books have been written to debate whatDan Brown has written.

I have read two of the books, Cracking the Da VinciCode, and Breaking the Da Vinci Code. The first is an“unauthorized guide to the facts.” It is written bySimon Cox who is editor-in-chief of Phenomena, amagazine devoted to “challenging dogmas, orthodox-ies and half-truths,” and who is currently making a TVdocumentary based upon this subject.

It is a book that I think you would find valuable inunderstanding much of Dan Brown’s references, as itseparates fact from fiction. It is significant that whathe relates are the facts behind the fiction. Note that itis fiction.

The second book is written by Darrell L. Bock, Ph.D.,a research professor of New Testament studies at Dal-las Theological Seminary. He has made an excellent ef-fort in using the Scriptures to debate the proposi-tions of Dan Brown. Although I have not read theother books written to challenge Brown, I would as-sume that those written by clergy would follow in thesame vein.

The difficulty encountered in this type of debate isthat it deals with interpretation and faith, as opposedto historical data.

I suspect that the need is there to respond, but Ifound nothing in Brown’s books that in any way chal-lenged my faith. I accepted from the beginning thatthey are — and as emphasized by Cox — pure and sim-ple fiction, and I read them as stimulating mysterynovels. For those needing a reenforcement of faiththat might have been eroded by The Da Vinci Code,this book may be valuable to you. If you read Brown’sbook as a fictional mystery novel, it would probably beof some value to understand the reaction to it.

Dan Brown is completing another book to be re-leased soon. The Solomon Key is centered on Wash-ington, DC, and is believed to make reference to Ma-sonic sites. It also is a work of fiction.

reviewersnote

Great Stuff in ApplesResearchers say apples really do de-serve their reputation for keeping thedoctor away. They contain powerfulantioxidants including quercetin, cate-chin, and epicatechin.Studies reported in Nutrition Journal

show that apples are associated with areduced risk of many chronic condi-tions including cardiovascular dis-ease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, andasthma.

Vitamins Can ReduceAlzheimer’s RiskThe Alzheimer’s Association ofChicago reports that taking vitaminsC and E may reduce your risk ofAlzheimer’s disease. It is thought thatthese antioxidants absorb damagingfree radicals in the brain and preventcell damage.A study by Johns Hopkins shows

that people taking both C and E vita-mins were 64 percent less likely tohave developed the disease four yearslater.Ask your doctor about recom-

mended dosages.

Don’t Wash Meatand PoultryNew guidelines by the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture discourage wash-ing of meats and poultry before cook-ing.The risk of cross-contamination

from handling the food as it is washedoutweighs any benefits. Bacteria inraw meat and poultry can be spreadto other foods, utensils, and surfaces.Bacteria on the food are destroyed

by cooking to a temperature of 160 de-grees Fahrenheit.

Few Have HealthyLifestyleEveryone knows what a healthylifestyle is but few people have one. Anew study shows that only three per-cent of Americans don’t smoke, eatfive servings of fruits and vegetablesdaily, exercise regularly, and maintaina healthy body weight.The Michigan State University

study shows that 72 percent don’tsmoke, 40 percent maintain a healthyweight, 23 percent said they eat fiveservings of fruits and vegetables, and22 percent said they exercise fivetimes a week.

Healthy BrainsRegular exercise has long been consid-ered helpful in preventing dementia.Now a report in the American Journalof Epidemiology says that studies showthat exercise variety matters morethan intensity. Variety makes the brainwork more, so it stays healthier.

Whooping Cough ShotsThe FDAhas approved a secondbooster shot for the immunizationagainst whooping cough. Casesamong adolescents and adults haveincreased dramatically. Babies andyoung children are protected by earlyvaccination, but the immunizationwears off.

Older SmokersRisk AMDABritish study found that oldersmokers were twice as likely to sufferage-related macular degeneration(AMD) as non-smokers. AMD blursthe central vision by affecting themacula. AMD is the leading cause ofblindness in older adults, according toTufts University Health and NutritionLetter.

Drink Milk,Lose WeightAdairy-rich diet combined with calo-rie control can almost double body-fatreduction and weight loss. It alsohelps prevent weight gain, says re-searcher Michael Zemel of the Univer-sity of Tennessee.Zemel says in Health magazine that

the calcitriol in dairy products helpsconserve calcium for stronger boneswhile telling fat cells to convert lesssugar to fat and burn more body fat.

“Lazy Eye” TestMembers of the American OptometricAssociation offer a free test for ambly-opia for babies ages six months to ayear. To find an optometrist in yourarea, visit www.infantsee.org.


“You got one ‘Get Well’ card fromyour sister and seven from the man in

the next bed.”

The Grand Lodge of Maine haslaunched a new educationalprogram that will provide

members with a better understandingof the Masonic fraternity. The MaineMasonic College was officially inau-gurated in mid-October during a cere-mony in the library at the Universityof Southern Maine at Portland.In the summer of 2004, M.W. Claire

V. Tusch, 32°, Grand Master of theGrand Lodge of Maine, commissionedPast Grand Master Walter M. Mac-dougall, 33°, to establish a committeeto design programs of Masonic educa-tion. The committee proposed a “Ma-sonic College” that would appeal toall Freemasons in the state whowanted to further their understandingof the many lessons taught in the Ma-sonic journey.In May the Grand Lodge endorsed

the concept of the college as “aprovider of opportunities for the fur-ther enlightenment of the craft.”The mission is straightforward: “To

create an educational environment forthe purpose of inspiring the membersof the craft to explore the nature andpurpose of Freemasonry which willlead to a deeper self-understanding ofthe founding principles, tenets andlessons of morality.”At the October 15 ceremony, the

Grand Master installed the officers ofthe college and presented a charter toGeorge M.A. Macdougall, 32°, chair-man of the board of regents. PastGrand Master Wayne T. Adams, 33°,offered remarks on the importance ofeducation in Masonry.The keynote speaker was Dr. Joseph

S. Wood, provost and vice president ofthe University of Southern Maine.The courses will take place on Sat-

urdays at various locations through-out the state.Six courses have been scheduled for

2006. While some will be restricted toMasons, the majority will be open tothe general public. The courses will belimited to 20 participants.

One member of the board of regentscommented, “With the surge of youngmen whom I see joining Masonrythese days, I am convinced that weneed to find some way of grabbingtheir fresh interest in the brotherhoodand showing them ways to rootaround in all of the available material

and resources to find the deeper

meaning of the fraternity.”The initial course will be offered in

February. Led by Dr. Eric Kuntz, 32°, apsychiatrist and District DeputyGrand Master, the course will discuss“Symbols: Who Needs Them?”The website for the Masonic Ma-

sonic College is

www.mainemason.org/mmc.

“Symbols: Who Needs Them?” Eric Kuntz, M.D., psychiatrist, DDGM,February

“Fraternal Symbols, Ancient Myths, Initiation Rites and Freemasonry,”Charles Plummer, Ph.D., college instructor, PSGW, March

“The Philosophical Conversation and Freemasonry,” WalterMacdougall, Ph.D., Educator, PGM, April

“An In-Depth Study of the Tenets of Freemasonry and the FourCardinal Virtues,” Charles Plummer, Ph.D., Summer

“Development of Masonic Ritual, 1390-1843,” Christian Ratliff, PastMaster, lodge Secretary, Fall

“The Four Cardinal Virtues,” Reginald Wing, PJGW, Fall

FUTURE COURSES UNDER CONSIDERATION

Anti-Masonry

The Tenets of Freemasonry

Masonic Music

The 7 Basic Plots in Literature — including the Legend ofFreemasonry

Public Speaking/Speech Communications

Argumentation and Debate

Ethical Awareness

Consumer Fraud

Introduction to Computers

Use of the Internet for Masonic Information

Is Freemasonry a Religion?

Mormonism and Freemasonry


Grand Lodge of Maine establishes

‘Masonic College’

2006 COURSE SCHEDULE

Scattered throughout the westernplains of the United States, fromWyoming’s Bighorn mountains north-ward and into Saskatchewan, Canada,are huge, elaborate patterns traced outin stone. Some were built 5,000 yearsago —when the Egyptian pyramidswere under construction — and otherswere laid out as recently as 1,700 yearsago.Their origin and use were long a

mystery. Of such is the substance oflegends — some of which even attrib-uted these stone patterns to pre-Columbian members of the Masoniclodge.Evidence now suggests that these

“medicine wheels” — as they came tobe known—were a primitive but ac-curate means for marking the summersolstice: the longest day.Yet, in the recorded history of the

American Indian, in this century andthe last, there is no mention of astro-nomical uses ever having been madeof the skies.From the time of Coronado to that

of Lewis and Clark, Indian history isdevoid of an explanation for thesestone formations. But they assuredlyexist. They predate recorded historyand we know how they were used.These rock formations are all relics

of an Indian culture and heritage longeclipsed and forgotten because, quitesimply, there is no written language.This, perhaps, is a forceful reminder

that learning, without the benefit ofwritten words, is indeed a precarious,fragile and fleeting thing. In a fewhundred years, knowledge withoutthe written word can be forever lost.There is a more contemporary par-

allel to this phenomenon, and it isfound in the early days of Freema-sonry.Worshipful Brother Harry Carr, of

the Grand Lodge of England, in hiseloquent essay “Six Hundred Years ofCraft Ritual,” outlines the futility oftracing the early history of Freema-sonry without adequate writtenrecords.Bro. Carr readily admits to the sin-

gle flaw in his lecture: namely, that helacks the corroborating exhibit to seal

his conclusions — the verifiable, in-delible written word.He is 99 percent certain as to Ma-

sonic origin but — like a lawyer goinginto court — he is armed with circum-stantial evidence. He does not havethat scrap of paper which would sealhis case.Thus, early Masonic learning, not

preserved by the written word, has —like the Master’s word — been foreverlost.And this brings us to the task at

hand for those who profess interest inMasonic education.Our nation at this very moment is

precariously close to becoming a na-tion of functional illiterates: peoplewho have completed the educationalrequirements of our society but whocannot read or write well enough tofunction efficiently.This not only strikes at the very

heart of our democracy, but it poses amind-boggling problem for those in-volved in education, be it public edu-cation or — for our purposes —Ma-sonic education.How do we impart our traditions,

and history — and yes, our ritual — tomen who can see but cannot under-stand, who perhaps can write but can-not comprehend?

— Thomas C. Warden,The Short Talk Bulletin,

August, 1978


We sincerely admire the pluck,determination and unconquer-able spirit of the West, withwhich our admirable contempo-rary, The Trestle Board, emergesfrom the disaster which engulfedSan Francisco. The printing es-tablishment on whose pressesThe Trestle Boardwas run is anutter ruin. Its six-story brickbuilding, containing The TrestleBoard office went down like ahouse of cards. The Trestle Boardpublishers suffered great loss onaccount of the magnificent “Sou-venir Shrine” issue, commemo-rative of the Imperial Councilmeeting which was to have beenheld in Los Angeles. This editionwas on the press at the time ofthe earthquake. The subscriptionlist and accounts of the magazinewere, however, saved, and, withthis assistance, the publishers areable to proceed with collection ofarrearages on subscriptions.They are thus not entirely desti-tute, but they need and deservethe hearty cooperation of everysubscriber in placing the maga-zine on its feet again. We cer-tainly trust that its friends willrally to its support and showtheir appreciation of its praise-worthy perseverance in the faceof such disheartening misfor-tune.

— John S. Boyd,The Tyler-Keystone,

Philadelphia, September, 1906

Whatever Happenedto the Written Word

Western Pluck

“Before we start please turn offall cellphones, pagers and

inner conversations.”

A NEW YEARRecently the heads of the Masonic

and affiliated bodies in Connecticutmet at the Masonic Home inWallingford, the outcome of whichwas the formation of the Connecti-cut Masonic Conference.Mutually faced with declining at-

tendance, decreasing numbers of pe-titions for membership and othercommon problems, the severalBrothers present spoke briefly andpithily concerning their feelingsabout these problems.Determination was expressed to

endeavor to remedy the difficultiesinsofar as it is possible to do so byconcerted action on the part of thosewho are devoted to Freemasonry.But the utmost exertions of a few

can be of little avail unless the wholebody of Masons cooperates in the ef-fort to improve our fraternity.A new year is about to begin, a

year which is fraught with all kindsof potentialities. Each new year re-cently has seen remarkable advancesmade in many fields of human en-deavor. Certainly Masonry, too,should be making progress. The cur-rent interest in education bymankind at large should be reflectedby a kindred desire for Masonic cul-ture, information and education onthe part of Masons everywhere.

There is evidence, as indicated bythe finding of Grand Lodge commit-tees over the past few years, that thecraft is definitely interested in such aprogram of Masonic culture. It re-mains in the year that lies ahead forthe Masters or culture commit-teemen of the constituent lodges tosupply the means, whereby the in-terest is satisfied.In order that they may do so the

Grand Lodge committee on Masonicculture is preparing to issue materialwhich will meet the need.Among the efforts of the Con-

necticut Masonic Conference will bethat of assisting the Grand Lodgecommittee and similar committeesin the other bodies wherever theyexist to promulgate Masonic culture,information and education.Yet, as noted above, the outcome

of any such program is up to the in-dividual Brother.Among your New Year resolu-

tions, make one which includes adetermination to attend your lodgeand to increase your Masonicknowledge in the year that liesahead.

— Rev. Russell H. Milnes,Connecticut Square and Compasses,

January, 1961

You miss 100 percent of the shots younever take.

— Wayne Gretzky

The person who says it cannot bedone should not interrupt the persondoing it.

— Chinese Proverb

I would rather be the man whobought the Brooklyn Bridge than theman who sold it.

— Will Rogers

Somebody should tell us right at thestart of our lives that we are dying.Then we might live life to the limitevery minute of the day.

— Michael Landon

The first step toward the solution toany problem is optimism.

— John Baines

Don’t judge each day by the harvestyou reap, but by the seeds you plant.

— Robert Louis Stevenson

When you get to the end of your rope,tie a knot and hang on.

— Franklin D. Roosevelt

Stand up to your obstacles and dosomething about them. You will findthat they haven’t half the strength youthink they have.

— Norman Vincent Peale

Feeling gratitude and not expressingit is like wrapping a present and notgiving it.

— William Arthur Ward

If you find a path with no obstacles, itprobably doesn’t lead anywhere.

— Jean Jacques Rousseau

I do not fear computers. I fear the lackof them.

— Isaac Asimov

Our greatest glory is not in never fail-ing, but in rising every time we fall.

— Confucius

Quick QuotesQuick Quotes


The amount dispensed in charity byMasonic bodies all over the world willnever be known. Our principles for-bid us to speak of it, much less toboast of or publish it.Just as the rays of the sun fall

silently upon the earth, every daywarming it into new life, so Masoniccharity comes to the distressed, in thebeginning unheralded, and after-wards unsung. We therefore havenothing to say respecting the noblestand most characteristic gifts of thecraft.But the purposes of Masonry have

been deemed not entirely fulfilled bythe dispensing of charity through theordinary channels of fraternal benevo-lence; hence public Masonic charities

have been established in all civilizedcountries, with a view to providingpermanent homes for aged and infirmneedy brethren and their destitutewidows and orphans, and likewise toeducate free of charge the promisingsons and daughters of indigent Mas-ter Masons.The guard of secrecy cannot be

thrown around such efforts, and it hasnot been attempted. We may thereforespeak freely, although not boastfully,of institutions of this character, sincethey, like our constitutions, laws, andlandmarks, are all open to public ob-servation, and are no part of the se-crets of Masonry.

— W. J. Chaplin,The Michigan Freemason, 1876

MASONS and CHARITY

Rockers Still RockOne top furniture designer is wonder-ing why he sees so few rocking chairsin homes today. Bill Stumpf, a de-signer of ergonomically-friendly officechairs, says a rocker has great ergo-nomics. It provides excellent lumbarsupport, while taking the weight offthe base of your spine.If you have a place to put your feet

up, and your rocker seat is padded,the comfort is similar to that of a bigrecliner. It is healthier because theslight movement produced when yourock helps move blood from your legsback to your torso.

Avoid Toddler TantrumsHarvey Karp, author of The HappiestToddler on the Block, says:If you know your child is ill-tem-

pered when a nap is missed or hungersets in, avoid those situations.Communicate with short, repetitive

phrases.Give short spurts of attention. If a

task will take 40 minutes, stop at 20minutes to play with your child.Let your toddler hear you say flat-

tering things to others about him.Have your tot show you how to do

something. She’ll feel good about it.

New Countertops FirstThe National Association of Realtorssays money spent for a kitchen updat-ing is usually recouped when a houseis sold. It’s like money in the bank.They recommend starting with an

upgrade of countertops. Real estateagents and remodelers say owners inmany types of homes are now usinghigh-quality materials once used onlyin expensive houses.

Saving StepsIn most households, family membersare asked to put their shoes, hats,backpacks and the like into the bed-room. The same holds true for materi-als used in homework or other pro-jects, which have a habit of remainingon the dining room table.Unfortunately these things do not

consistently get put away. The an-swer could lie in keeping thingswhere they are used. DebbieWilliams, author of Home Management101, suggests a colored open tub foreach person by the door. For projectmaterial, a drawer could be allocatednear where they are commonly left.

Many Schools Shift toK-8 ModelAgrowing body of evidence showsthat preteen students do better whenthey can remain in their familiar ele-mentary school longer. They get bet-ter grades and have fewer disciplinary

problems than their middle schoolpeers. As a result, some school sys-tems are starting to do away withmiddle schools and are increasing thenumber of schools that continue toeighth grade.The movement began with a few

large districts, such as Cincinnati andOrange County, CA, and has spread tosmaller communities. The superin-tendent in the Boston suburb ofEverett was dissatisfied with a lack ofprogress and increasing discipline is-sues in his junior high schools, andhas made the switch.

Top Ten Home TrendsAccording to a National Associationof Home Builders survey, house buy-ers today want:1. Spacious garages that may include

a workshop.2. Extensive wiring for high-tech en-

tertainment and computer net-works.

3. Unique kitchens with a walk-inpantry.

4. Traditional exteriors based on earlyAmerican and European architec-tural styles.

5. No living room.6. Lower ceilings.7. Activity rooms, including home of-

fices, dens, exercise rooms, gamerooms, and home theaters.

8. Fewer open floor plans.9. Storage rooms, such as walk-in at-

tics and butler’s pantries.10. Planning for the future. To stay in

a home later in life, many wantmain-floor master suites, naturallight, wide hallways, and walk-inshower stalls.

Clutter Adds StressIf you find your house is a stressfulmaze of stuff, taking action is a must.Organizing pro Donna Smallin, au-thor of Unclutter Your Home, says startby vowing to spend 20 to 30 minutes aday decluttering. Tackle one room ata time and decide what you can dowithout. Store keepers where you canuse them. Put items on the kitchencounter that you use every day. Buy abasket for each room to store relateditems, and give away unneededthings to friends or charity.


“No, it’s not leftovers from‘Fear Factor!’ Just eat it!”


Like the individual lodges and Val-leys they serve, Masonic libraries can-not operate in a vacuum. By joiningtogether, these institutions are able totap into the resources offered by theothers, and these keepers of fraternalhistory and archives each becomestronger and more relevant.In late October 1992 eight Masonic

librarians from around the countrymet in Washington, DC, at the Houseof the Temple and formed the “Octo-ber Group” since they planned tomeet annually in October.In 1995 in Iowa, The Masonic Li-

brary and Museum Association(MLMA) was founded as an out-growth of the October Group. Thosewho attended that first full confer-ence represented 15 organizationsfrom across the U.S.A., Canada, andalso included one representative fromEngland. Today, MLMA has grown to85 members, which includes 44 insti-tutions — mostly representativesfrom state Grand Lodge libraries andboth the Southern and Northern Ju-risdictions. Membership also extendsinternationally, including Australia,Germany, Belgium and the UnitedKingdom.Linking together the MLMA is an

Internet e-mail group. Members assisteach other with reference questions aswell as with help locating Masonicand fraternal resources in the market-place via the Web. From the Van Gor-den-Williams Library in Lexington,MA, duplicate books have been sentto smaller libraries. Books, journalsand other items missing from its owncollection have also been received.Conferences are hosted every year

in a different state. Association busi-ness is discussed and attendees oftenmake presentations on activities attheir own library/museum. Partici-pants also peruse each other's li-braries and have the opportunity tovisit other cultural resources nearby.The National Heritage Museum and

the Grand Lodge of Massachusettsplan to jointly host the October 2006conference.Because of budgetary cuts in the li-

braries, many Grand Lodge volunteerlibrarians are not able to attend con-ferences, and, with tight budgets,there is little available for preservingMasonic materials. Many of the Ma-sonic resources are rare and not heldin public or academic libraries orarchives. Money is also needed topay for the conservation of materialsso that the resources can be salvaged.

MLMA is an important key to mak-ing the story of Freemasonry accessi-ble to Masonic researchers. One wayto accomplish this task is to increaseaccess through the Web. Havingholdings listed online together in aunited online catalog would make iteasier for researchers to locate the re-sources that they need. For a unitedcatalog to be created, Masons need tosupport their libraries.Web accessible databases can be

gateways to visitors of the libraries.By making the materials accessible,the story of Freemasonry can reach agreater audience. More people canlearn about the work that Masonshave carried on for centuries to helpgood men become better, to assist inbuilding communities, and helpingthe sick, elderly, and needy. Visitors

and researchers may even decide tojoin the organization because of whatthey have read.Ten years after the founding of

MLMA the association is striving toremain relevant. This fall in LittleRock the group will reevaluate theway it communicates, how to contin-ue outreach to Masonic libraries andresearchers, and how the organizationcan progress. MLMAwas formedwith the mission “to assist and sup-port, through education, facilitationof communication, coordination of ef-fort, and other means, those individu-als charged with the collection, man-agement, and preservation of theMasonic heritage.” Conventional li-brary and museum standards stillneed to be set and then followed sothat resources are appropriatelyprocessed and cared for.You can help MLMAwith this

quest. Your Masonic books, docu-ments and artifacts are important tosave. Urge your Grand Lodge officersto support your library/museum.Make sure that there are adequate,sturdy bookshelves and storage cases,located in dry, sheltered areas of thebuilding where items will not beover-exposed to harmful light, draft,or too much humidity. Assist your li-brarian, if you can, with processingbooks and objects, develop Masonicfocused reading groups, and encour-age your research societies to meet inthe library. Above all, use the re-sources so that Grand Lodge officersrealize that supporting the library isimportant and should be a priority.Finally, let Masonic librarians know

if there is a way we can help yourlodge. Some examples include pro-viding research assistance for EnteredApprentices, learning about Freema-sonry or helping your lodge to locateprofessional conservators to salvagefragile documents. MLMA is a re-source. Please ask us. The MLMAwebsite is: www.bessel.org/mlma.

Making Good Libraries BetterThe Quest and History of the Masonic Library Museum Association

More than Just Books . . .Van Gorden-Williams Library at the National Heritage Museum

ORIGINAL GATHERING OF MLMA

Oct. 1992, Washington, D.C.

Anti-Masonic LiteratureI just finished reading the Augustissue of The Northern Light. In it I wassurprised to find as part of the anti-Masonic literature a piece about theNew England Anti-Masonic Almanac.Recently I was looking through someold literature and records of my lodgeand came across a copy of one dated1832. It made for some interestingreading.

Robert G. Cotton, 32ºNorway, ME

A Hobo Responds[In reference to “Riding the Rails” (Aug.2005)]

Back in 1933 I graduated from highschool. I left my hometown in June1933 and hitchhiked to Chicago to go

to the World’s Fair. While at Chicago Imet a teenaged hobo and madefriends with him.I joined the original “Hobo Nickel So-ciety” and traveled with him ridingtrains for about six months. Heshowed me how to hop a train andgave me instructions for safety. Istayed at railroad jungle camps andwent west to California.

Bro. Newell A. Shireman, 32ºMiddletown. PA

Cy Was ThirdIn the article “Mason on the Mound”(May 2005) it states that Cy Young be-came the first pitcher to be inducted inthe Baseball Hall of Fame. ChristyMatthewson andWalter Johnson werethe first two pitchers elected in 1936,the first year of election. Cy Youngwas elected in 1937, the second year ofvoting.

David L. KleesHarrisburg, PA

Editor’s note: The reader is correct. Itwas intended for the line to read,“among the first to be inducted.”


HIRAM™ By WALLY MILLER

On the Lighter Side

Truths about pets:

• Buy a dog a toy and it willplay with it forever. Buy acat a toy and it will playwith the wrapper.

• Your pets instinctivelypredict the moment you willwake up. Then they wakeyou ten minutes earlier.

• No one appreciates thegenius of your conversationlike the dog does.

• Outside of a dog, a book isprobably man’s best friend.Inside of a dog, it’s too darkto read.

• Dogs have owners. Catshave staff.

• Don’t accept your dog’sadmiration as evidence thatyou are wonderful.

• When a man’s best friend ishis dog, that dog has aproblem.

• In order to keep a trueperspective of one’simportance, everyoneshould have a dog thatwill worship him and acat that will ignore him.

We welcome letters from ourreaders in response to articlesappearing in The NorthernLight and will reprint them asspace permits. Letters must besigned, should be brief, and aresubject to editing.


* Analyzing destruction.Hurricane damage from Katrinaand Rita raised havoc in Mississippiand Louisiana. Katrina hit thecoastal area of Mississippi and thesoutheastern section of Louisianacentered around New Orleans. Thesouthwestern side of Louisianafaced a violent storm surge fromRita.According to Ill. Bill Mollere, 33°,

Scottish Rite Deputy for Louisiana,some lodge buildings were floodedwith three to five feet of water,damaging records, equipment andfurniture. Others had mold on thewalls up to seven or eight feet.The Scottish Rite building in New

Orleans was spared serious dam-age. The roof over the stage loft wasripped off, but the scenic drops ap-pear to be salvageable.The lodge in Cameron is no more,

while other lodge buildings in thearea had severe damage from tidalsurge or wind.The Scottish Rite building in Lake

Charles had five windows blownout and roof damage. The annexhad roof and window damage also.“Stories of Masonic charity and

relief are very heartwarming,” saidIll. Bro. Mollere. “We have all hadfamilies move in for what theythought would be two or three daysand stay for a month, but things arebeginning to settle down.”Through all the sad stories, there

are also tales of joy, happiness andreunion. The Lake Charles ScottishRite held its annual family day inlate October. It provided an oppor-tunity to see each other and sharestories. Said Mollere, “That is howMasonry really is.”At press time, hurricane Wilma

was racing across southern Floridaleaving extensive damage in itswake.The Masonic Service Association

of North America has served as a

clearinghouse for Masonic disasterrelief. Since 1923, the MSAhas dis-tributed more than $6 million.When a disaster relief appeal ismade, all monies received are for-warded to the Grand Lodges in-volved.Any Grand Lodge, blue lodge or

individual wishing to make a con-tribution can send it directly toMSADisaster Relief Fund, 8120Fenton St., Suite 203, Silver Spring,MD 20910-4785.

* A hard day’s afternoon.The Milwaukee Walk to Help Chil-dren with Dyslexia had a surprisedonor this year. Scottish RiteDeputy Norman L. Christensen,33°, reports that as the participantsproceeded along the route on Lin-coln Memorial Drive, a gentlemanriding a bicycle, followed by a se-curity guard, stopped and inquiredabout the event, its purpose andthe charity. He then pulled out hiswallet and donated $100. The mys-tery donor, as it turns out, was for-mer Beatle Paul McCartney, whowas in Milwaukee for a concert.The incident warranted local TV

coverage, and Commander-in-ChiefKeith Harmon, 32°, was invited toappear several days later on a localnews program to describe the de-tails. Brother Harmon appeared, ofcourse, wearing his Walk-a-thonT-shirt.

* Masonic exposure. TheSept. 5 issue of U.S.News & WorldReport carried a cover story on theMasonic fraternity. “Secrets of theMasons: Inside the elite club thathelped shape the nation,” writtenby Jay Tolson, made frequent refer-ences to Mark Tabbert’s new book,American Freemasons: Three Cen-turies of Building Communities.

The author’s other reliable sourcesincluded Masonic scholars WilliamMoore, author of the forthcomingbook,Masonic Temples: Freemasonry,Ritual Architecture, and MasculineArchetypes; Steven Bullock, authorof Revolutionary Brotherhood, andBrent Morris, editor of the ScottishRite Journal.A companion article by David

Shugarts looked at the possible Ma-sonic content in Dan Brown’s nextnovel, The Solomon Key.Brown’s novel is tentatively

scheduled for release in 2006, per-haps in conjunction with the releaseof a movie version of The DaVinciCode in May.

* TV coverage. PowderhouseProductions of Somerville, MA, isproducing a two-hour documen-tary on Freemasonry. The companyhas worked with the National Her-itage Museum and other Masonicinstitutions to obtain images for theprogram. The show is scheduled toappear on the History Channelsometime after the first of the year.

* Singing for folks. An OhioMason has been performing forMasonic groups throughout hishome state. Folk singer HowieDamron, a member of South Point(OH) Lodge No. 497, has written asong, “The Masonic Ring,” whichis included on his CD, “Share theFeelin’.” The CD was produced forthe Wheelin’ Sportsmen of the Na-tional WildTurkey Federa-tion.

RICHARD H. CURTIS, 33°Editor

Footnotes*

The Northern LightP.O. Box 519Lexington, MA 02420

MAIL TO: Scottish Rite Masonic Watch Order Center, 1250 Easton Road, Suite 290, Horsham, PA 19044

A portion of the proceeds from sales of these Scottish Rite watches supports the 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc.

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�� Charge my credit card $199* as payment in full.

* Plus $9.95 for engraving shipping and handling.

�� CHARGE MY PAYMENT TO MY CREDIT CARD (check choice):

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Card# _________________________________________ Exp. date ______ / ______

SHIPPING ADDRESS (We cannot ship to P.O. Boxes) (Allow 4 to 6 weeks)

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