Anzac Day
Masonic Matters
April 2002
This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota.
Dear Brother,
I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Roger J. Taylor, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, as well as greetings from all of the Masons in the Northeast Area of Minnesota.
Most likely this will be the last time I will be able to bring you greetings from our good friend and Brother Roger J. Taylor. If tradition prevails we will be electing our current Deputy Grand Master, Reverend Terry Tilton, to the office of Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota at our Grand Lodge Communication on Friday of this week.
I want to wish our current Grand Master, Roger J. Taylor, and our current Deputy Grand Master, Rev Terry Tilton, and each of their Families, all of our very best wishes for a future filled with all the good things life has to offer. Those of us from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota have enjoyed working with M.W. Brother Roger, and look forward with eager anticipation to work with R.W. Brother Tilton when he is installed as the Grand Master.
Speaking of the Grand Lodge Communication I am certain everyone who reads Masonic Matters is well aware that it is coming up this week – April 12th & 13th in St. Cloud, Minnesota. But there is another very special event coming up in St. Cloud this month.
On April 26, 27, & 28, 2002 at North Star Lodge # 23 and the Radisson Hotel in St. Cloud there will be the 53rd Annual Midwest Conference on Masonic Education. This doesn’t happen to be in Minnesota all that often so this is the year to take it in, and be able to stay close to home. Please see the latest Minnesota Mason for the details.
In addition to having three days filled with Masonic Education and Fellowship there will be a presentation of the First Annual Duane E. Anderson Award for Excellence in Masonic Education. This First Duane E. Anderson Award will be awarded to M.W. Brother, Rev. Forrest Haggard, Past Grand Master of Kansas, Past President and Fellow of the Philalethes Society, and also President of the Scottish Rite Research Society, as well as many other duties in Freemasonry.
So Come to St. Cloud in April, it’s a great place to be with plenty to see and do, it’s filled with friendly people, and good weather. This year St. Cloud will be the city for Masonry with the Grand Lodge Communication, and the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education. I like St. Cloud, and I believe you will too.
Also if you are interested in Masonic Education there are two real bargains available in the membership in the Philalethes Society and the Scottish Rite Research Society.
To join the Philalethes Society just send $40. to Brother Kenneth Roberts, business manager of the Philalethes, at 5266 Mary Ball Road – Lancaster, VA 22503
To join the Scottish Rite Research Society just send $30 to the Scottish Rite Research Society, 1733 Sixteenth St. NW – Washington, DC 20009-3103
W.B. Harley Johnson, Grand Lodge District Representative for District # 1, was a good friend, as well as a Brother of Duane Anderson, in fact R.W. Brother Duane was Harley’s Mentor. W.B. Harley has written a poem to express his thoughts about the death of our good friend and Brother Duane. W.B. Harley has given me his permission to print his comments and poem, so I will let Brother Harley speak now.
Often I am asked if I knew Brother Anderson, and I have the honor to say he was my Mentor. It was Duane who really started me on my Quest of Masonic education, and he also introduced me to many of the great Masonic teachers of today, including Brother Forest whom fittingly will receive the first award.
How best can I say my feelings other than,
The branches are bare
the leaves have fallen
to nuture Mother Earth,
who sleeps these Winter Days,
Is all the Summers gone?
Have all the green grasses gone?
Will nothing grow again where leaves lie?
Is winter now all we have?
Yet, below the soil sleeps
a growing seed, life still is there,
needing nothing more than hope
of springs promise of life again
more fruitful than before.
For as with life, death must come
that seeds of thought and dreams
of future growth shall come, yet
so much greater will be our growth.
Harley Johnson
April is a wonderful time of the year here in Minnesota. Whatever snow is on the ground now will be just a memory soon, and although a snow storm is not unheard of here in the Northland, in Minnesota an April snow is unpopular, so this year we’ve cancelled the April Snows.
As I mentioned in the last Masonic Matters April 25th is Anzac Day. Anzac Day is a day Australians set aside to honor the Anzac Forces who fought and died on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the First World War. “Anzac” stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The Anzac forces landed on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 where they engaged the enemy, and that campaign carried on in battle for Eight Months. The casualties were 33,000, including 8,000 new Zealanders and 7,000 Australians. Out of the 10,000 New Zealanders who fought at Gallipoli 3,000 lost their lives and 5,000 were wounded, there were also over 7,000 Australians who were killed or wounded. All this in an Eight-Month Battle. So you can see why April 25th is set aside as Anzac Day to honor the War Veterans.
April 25th was first recognized as Anzac Day in 1916. I’m, told a typical Anzac Day Service would begin with Hymns and Prayers, and an address by a Speaker on the history, and significance of Anzac Day, the Laying of Wreaths, and the signing of the National Anthem. Not unlike the services put on here by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for Memorial Day, and Veterans Day.
Out of the War on Gallipoli came something that is called “Anzac Biscuits.” These are great cookies that the Soldiers of the Anzac Forces had for snacks, and something sweet, while on the line and in camp. There are a couple of stories on how these cookies came to be. One version is that the women “Back Home would make
them and sell them to raise money for the assistance of the veterans when they returned home. And when they were purchased many of the cookies, if not most of them, were sent to the Anzac Troops by their Families. Another Version is that the Army Cooks made them out of the materials they had on hand in camp.
One thing that both versions of the legend of the Anzac Biscuits have in common is that the Anzac Biscuit is a Tough Cookie that is made out of simple ingredients. Being that the Anzac Biscuit was a Tough Cookie, it could be packed and shipped from “home” to the front and get there in fairly good shape even if the package
was not handled to gently. Also, for the other version of the story is that, being a Tough Cookie made from Simple ingredients that an Army Cook would have on hand, a Soldier could put some of the Biscuits in his pocket and pack and carry it with him in battle and when time permitted he could have a snack of something
sweet that would still be in tact, and taste good.
Well no matter which story of the origin one might have a preference for, the Anzac Biscuit is a Great Cookie that is enjoyed by all. So I thought I would give you the recipe so that you could make it for your family, or maybe make some to take to Lodge to share with the Brethren as a snack at the close of Lodge. It really is not
too difficult to make, and they are good. Here’s the recipe.
Anzac Biscuits
Serving Size : 24
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 cup regular oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup stick margarine -- melted
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons golden cane syrup (such as Lyle's)
OR
2 tablespoons light-colored corn syrup
Cooking spray
Preheat oven to 325º.
Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl; stir well. Add margarine, water, and syrup; stir well.
Drop by level tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325º for 12 minutes or until almost set.
Remove from oven; let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until firm.
Remove cookies from baking sheets. Place on wire racks; let cool completely.
Serving Size: 1 cookie
NOTES : We found these cookies were much better when made with golden cane syrup such as Lyle's. Cane
syrup is thicker and sweeter than corn syrup and can be found in cans next to the jellies and syrups, or in stores
specializing in Caribbean and Creole goods.
If you are unable to find Lyle’s Golden Cane Syrup you can make your own. I will tell you that these cookies
are much better with Cane Syrup than with light colored Corn Syrup.
Cane Syrup
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
In a heavy saucepan put 1 Cup Cane Sugar and 1 Cup of Water. Over low to moderate heat stir until all the
sugar is melted -- and the mixture is clear. Constantly stirring bring to a boil and boil for 6 minutes, stirring all
the while, or until the syrup is thickening, and reduced in volume somewhat. Remove from heat and pour into a
jar, cover and refrigerate.
Well there you have a good recipe to try and a little information about Anzac Day.
How do Masons meet? How do masons act? How do they Part?
Here is something that I find kind of interesting. In the Prestonian Lectures it is said that Masons met on the Square, and hoped to part on the Level. The Ritual by Thomas Smith Webb made a change and Masons were told that they met on the Level, and parted on the Square.
In 1843 the Baltimore Convention made another change by adding that they acted by the Plumb. It is said in Coil’s that the National Masonic Conference that met at Baltimore for the purpose of establishing a uniform Ritual did not contribute much to the Ritual that was of much Permanent Value. Well it did add the bit about acting on the Plumb, and that is still here so that is something that the Baltimore Convention did that was of some permanency.
The Plumb, the jewel of the Junior Warden, in the Scriptures in the book of Amos it says the Lord stood on a wall made by a Plumb Line. The Jewel however is not a Plumb Line, have you ever wondered just exactly what the Jewel is when you looked at it either on the Junior Wardens Pedestal, or on the Junior Warden himself?
It’s a Plumb Rule. “The Plumb Rule is a board, having a plumb line attached near one end, so that when it is held up vertically against an upright, the line will lie along the mid-line of the board, or Rule, thus affording a straight edge which is perpendicular, or vertical, making the use of the Plumb Line on a building or a pole more accurate and permitting the drawing of a vertical line thereon.” Coil’s
We all know that at the conclusion of the ritual of the Third Degree that the new Master Mason is to sign the by-laws of the Lodge, and I’m sure that we all know that in some instances this step has been omitted, most likely because someone just forgot to have it done. How important is it, that all Master Masons of the Lodge have signed the by-laws? Pretty important.
In the book Masonry Defined it has a question about “Inchoate membership.” Do you know what that is? Well let me help with the answer.
“Membership in the Masonic Fraternity is inchoate until perfected by the initiate, [he does this] by affixing his signature to the by-laws.” So just because a Fellow Craft has begun and then completed the Third Degree, and thus becomes a Master Mason, he does not automatically become a member of the Lodge. A Master Mason might choose not to perfect the Degree and become a member of the Lodge.
For instance, he might think he would rather become a member of a different Lodge, and by not signing the by-laws he remains in the condition of un-affiliation, and therefore he may petition another Lodge for affiliation.
When a man is made a Master Mason he acquires a claim to membership, but he does not become a member until exercises his claim by putting his signature to the By-laws of his Lodge. Therefore it is important that when a man becomes a Master Mason, and also when a Mason is elected to membership as an affiliated, or plural, member of the Lodge that he sign the by-laws of the Lodge. In this instance we don’t want mistakes, or forgetfulness to rule.
With all the activity of the One-Day Classes, and all the many Lodges that have had Candidates in them, I wonder, but hope, that all of these new Master Masons have signed the By-laws of their Lodge either at the end of the One-Day Class or at the next Stated Communication of their Lodge.
Some time ago I wrote about the “Fixed Lights” of a Lodge. They were windows placed in the South, West, and East, which have in more modern times been replaced with Electric Lights. (By the Way, in visiting Lodges all over – Chisago Lodge in North Branch, Minnesota is still the only Lodge I’ve noticed with absolutely no electric light in the North. There are ceiling lights in the East, West, and South, but not the North. Take a look around when you’re visiting a Lodge and see if they have “Fixed Lights.”)
Sometimes the “fixed Lights” – “Lights of the Lodge” are confused with the “Three Lesser Lights” as far as the placement is concerned. The “Lights of the Lodge” are fixed East, West, and South, but the “Lesser Lights” aren’t. The “Lesser lights are and can be arranged around the Altar in various ways, there are rarely any ritualistic directions as to their arrangement, and in Minnesota there isn’t.
To quote Coil’s: “The Symbolism of the Lesser Lights would not tolerate fixing them in the East, West, and South, for they represent the Sun, Moon, and Master, who, of course, are not so stationed.”
So the “Lesser Lights” can be almost anywhere around the Altar in more than one configuration, and everything will be just fine.
One final thought for the Masons, and Lodges of Minnesota. I would encourage all Minnesota Lodges to use the Grand Lodge Calendar that is posted on our Grand lodge Web Site at http://www.mn-mason.org This calendar is for the Lodges of Minnesota to post items that the Lodge is involved in so that others when viewing the calendar will know of Masonic events in our state, in case they would like to come to them. The Grand Lodge Calendar is a great tool for the Constituent Lodges to use to promote their efforts, and it would seem that it would be a good idea to use this tool. It’s easy to do, just phone, write, or E-mail the Grand Lodge Office with the information, and it will go on the calendar. Here are the particulars on how to contact our Grand Lodge Office. The Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota, 200 East Plato Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55107
1-651-222-6051 or 1-800-245-6050 or mn-mason@spacestar.com Tools do no good if left unused.
Masonic Matters is sent out on a need to do basis, but about once a month. If you know of a Mason who would like to receive a copy of Masonic Matters by E-mail, please ask him to send a message to me at erhmasonic@ncis.com saying “Masonic Matters Subscribe” and I will add him to the list. Also if you are relieving Masonic Matters and wish to un-subscribe, just send me an E-mail saying “Masonic Matters un-Subscribe.”
If there is something you would like to see addressed in Masonic Matters, or if there is something your Lodge would like promoted let me know that too.
With Brotherly Love,
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Area Deputy
North East Minnesota
April 2002
This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota.
Dear Brother,
I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Roger J. Taylor, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, as well as greetings from all of the Masons in the Northeast Area of Minnesota.
Most likely this will be the last time I will be able to bring you greetings from our good friend and Brother Roger J. Taylor. If tradition prevails we will be electing our current Deputy Grand Master, Reverend Terry Tilton, to the office of Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota at our Grand Lodge Communication on Friday of this week.
I want to wish our current Grand Master, Roger J. Taylor, and our current Deputy Grand Master, Rev Terry Tilton, and each of their Families, all of our very best wishes for a future filled with all the good things life has to offer. Those of us from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota have enjoyed working with M.W. Brother Roger, and look forward with eager anticipation to work with R.W. Brother Tilton when he is installed as the Grand Master.
Speaking of the Grand Lodge Communication I am certain everyone who reads Masonic Matters is well aware that it is coming up this week – April 12th & 13th in St. Cloud, Minnesota. But there is another very special event coming up in St. Cloud this month.
On April 26, 27, & 28, 2002 at North Star Lodge # 23 and the Radisson Hotel in St. Cloud there will be the 53rd Annual Midwest Conference on Masonic Education. This doesn’t happen to be in Minnesota all that often so this is the year to take it in, and be able to stay close to home. Please see the latest Minnesota Mason for the details.
In addition to having three days filled with Masonic Education and Fellowship there will be a presentation of the First Annual Duane E. Anderson Award for Excellence in Masonic Education. This First Duane E. Anderson Award will be awarded to M.W. Brother, Rev. Forrest Haggard, Past Grand Master of Kansas, Past President and Fellow of the Philalethes Society, and also President of the Scottish Rite Research Society, as well as many other duties in Freemasonry.
So Come to St. Cloud in April, it’s a great place to be with plenty to see and do, it’s filled with friendly people, and good weather. This year St. Cloud will be the city for Masonry with the Grand Lodge Communication, and the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education. I like St. Cloud, and I believe you will too.
Also if you are interested in Masonic Education there are two real bargains available in the membership in the Philalethes Society and the Scottish Rite Research Society.
To join the Philalethes Society just send $40. to Brother Kenneth Roberts, business manager of the Philalethes, at 5266 Mary Ball Road – Lancaster, VA 22503
To join the Scottish Rite Research Society just send $30 to the Scottish Rite Research Society, 1733 Sixteenth St. NW – Washington, DC 20009-3103
W.B. Harley Johnson, Grand Lodge District Representative for District # 1, was a good friend, as well as a Brother of Duane Anderson, in fact R.W. Brother Duane was Harley’s Mentor. W.B. Harley has written a poem to express his thoughts about the death of our good friend and Brother Duane. W.B. Harley has given me his permission to print his comments and poem, so I will let Brother Harley speak now.
Often I am asked if I knew Brother Anderson, and I have the honor to say he was my Mentor. It was Duane who really started me on my Quest of Masonic education, and he also introduced me to many of the great Masonic teachers of today, including Brother Forest whom fittingly will receive the first award.
How best can I say my feelings other than,
The branches are bare
the leaves have fallen
to nuture Mother Earth,
who sleeps these Winter Days,
Is all the Summers gone?
Have all the green grasses gone?
Will nothing grow again where leaves lie?
Is winter now all we have?
Yet, below the soil sleeps
a growing seed, life still is there,
needing nothing more than hope
of springs promise of life again
more fruitful than before.
For as with life, death must come
that seeds of thought and dreams
of future growth shall come, yet
so much greater will be our growth.
Harley Johnson
April is a wonderful time of the year here in Minnesota. Whatever snow is on the ground now will be just a memory soon, and although a snow storm is not unheard of here in the Northland, in Minnesota an April snow is unpopular, so this year we’ve cancelled the April Snows.
As I mentioned in the last Masonic Matters April 25th is Anzac Day. Anzac Day is a day Australians set aside to honor the Anzac Forces who fought and died on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the First World War. “Anzac” stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The Anzac forces landed on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 where they engaged the enemy, and that campaign carried on in battle for Eight Months. The casualties were 33,000, including 8,000 new Zealanders and 7,000 Australians. Out of the 10,000 New Zealanders who fought at Gallipoli 3,000 lost their lives and 5,000 were wounded, there were also over 7,000 Australians who were killed or wounded. All this in an Eight-Month Battle. So you can see why April 25th is set aside as Anzac Day to honor the War Veterans.
April 25th was first recognized as Anzac Day in 1916. I’m, told a typical Anzac Day Service would begin with Hymns and Prayers, and an address by a Speaker on the history, and significance of Anzac Day, the Laying of Wreaths, and the signing of the National Anthem. Not unlike the services put on here by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for Memorial Day, and Veterans Day.
Out of the War on Gallipoli came something that is called “Anzac Biscuits.” These are great cookies that the Soldiers of the Anzac Forces had for snacks, and something sweet, while on the line and in camp. There are a couple of stories on how these cookies came to be. One version is that the women “Back Home would make
them and sell them to raise money for the assistance of the veterans when they returned home. And when they were purchased many of the cookies, if not most of them, were sent to the Anzac Troops by their Families. Another Version is that the Army Cooks made them out of the materials they had on hand in camp.
One thing that both versions of the legend of the Anzac Biscuits have in common is that the Anzac Biscuit is a Tough Cookie that is made out of simple ingredients. Being that the Anzac Biscuit was a Tough Cookie, it could be packed and shipped from “home” to the front and get there in fairly good shape even if the package
was not handled to gently. Also, for the other version of the story is that, being a Tough Cookie made from Simple ingredients that an Army Cook would have on hand, a Soldier could put some of the Biscuits in his pocket and pack and carry it with him in battle and when time permitted he could have a snack of something
sweet that would still be in tact, and taste good.
Well no matter which story of the origin one might have a preference for, the Anzac Biscuit is a Great Cookie that is enjoyed by all. So I thought I would give you the recipe so that you could make it for your family, or maybe make some to take to Lodge to share with the Brethren as a snack at the close of Lodge. It really is not
too difficult to make, and they are good. Here’s the recipe.
Anzac Biscuits
Serving Size : 24
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 cup regular oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup stick margarine -- melted
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons golden cane syrup (such as Lyle's)
OR
2 tablespoons light-colored corn syrup
Cooking spray
Preheat oven to 325º.
Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl; stir well. Add margarine, water, and syrup; stir well.
Drop by level tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325º for 12 minutes or until almost set.
Remove from oven; let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until firm.
Remove cookies from baking sheets. Place on wire racks; let cool completely.
Serving Size: 1 cookie
NOTES : We found these cookies were much better when made with golden cane syrup such as Lyle's. Cane
syrup is thicker and sweeter than corn syrup and can be found in cans next to the jellies and syrups, or in stores
specializing in Caribbean and Creole goods.
If you are unable to find Lyle’s Golden Cane Syrup you can make your own. I will tell you that these cookies
are much better with Cane Syrup than with light colored Corn Syrup.
Cane Syrup
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
In a heavy saucepan put 1 Cup Cane Sugar and 1 Cup of Water. Over low to moderate heat stir until all the
sugar is melted -- and the mixture is clear. Constantly stirring bring to a boil and boil for 6 minutes, stirring all
the while, or until the syrup is thickening, and reduced in volume somewhat. Remove from heat and pour into a
jar, cover and refrigerate.
Well there you have a good recipe to try and a little information about Anzac Day.
How do Masons meet? How do masons act? How do they Part?
Here is something that I find kind of interesting. In the Prestonian Lectures it is said that Masons met on the Square, and hoped to part on the Level. The Ritual by Thomas Smith Webb made a change and Masons were told that they met on the Level, and parted on the Square.
In 1843 the Baltimore Convention made another change by adding that they acted by the Plumb. It is said in Coil’s that the National Masonic Conference that met at Baltimore for the purpose of establishing a uniform Ritual did not contribute much to the Ritual that was of much Permanent Value. Well it did add the bit about acting on the Plumb, and that is still here so that is something that the Baltimore Convention did that was of some permanency.
The Plumb, the jewel of the Junior Warden, in the Scriptures in the book of Amos it says the Lord stood on a wall made by a Plumb Line. The Jewel however is not a Plumb Line, have you ever wondered just exactly what the Jewel is when you looked at it either on the Junior Wardens Pedestal, or on the Junior Warden himself?
It’s a Plumb Rule. “The Plumb Rule is a board, having a plumb line attached near one end, so that when it is held up vertically against an upright, the line will lie along the mid-line of the board, or Rule, thus affording a straight edge which is perpendicular, or vertical, making the use of the Plumb Line on a building or a pole more accurate and permitting the drawing of a vertical line thereon.” Coil’s
We all know that at the conclusion of the ritual of the Third Degree that the new Master Mason is to sign the by-laws of the Lodge, and I’m sure that we all know that in some instances this step has been omitted, most likely because someone just forgot to have it done. How important is it, that all Master Masons of the Lodge have signed the by-laws? Pretty important.
In the book Masonry Defined it has a question about “Inchoate membership.” Do you know what that is? Well let me help with the answer.
“Membership in the Masonic Fraternity is inchoate until perfected by the initiate, [he does this] by affixing his signature to the by-laws.” So just because a Fellow Craft has begun and then completed the Third Degree, and thus becomes a Master Mason, he does not automatically become a member of the Lodge. A Master Mason might choose not to perfect the Degree and become a member of the Lodge.
For instance, he might think he would rather become a member of a different Lodge, and by not signing the by-laws he remains in the condition of un-affiliation, and therefore he may petition another Lodge for affiliation.
When a man is made a Master Mason he acquires a claim to membership, but he does not become a member until exercises his claim by putting his signature to the By-laws of his Lodge. Therefore it is important that when a man becomes a Master Mason, and also when a Mason is elected to membership as an affiliated, or plural, member of the Lodge that he sign the by-laws of the Lodge. In this instance we don’t want mistakes, or forgetfulness to rule.
With all the activity of the One-Day Classes, and all the many Lodges that have had Candidates in them, I wonder, but hope, that all of these new Master Masons have signed the By-laws of their Lodge either at the end of the One-Day Class or at the next Stated Communication of their Lodge.
Some time ago I wrote about the “Fixed Lights” of a Lodge. They were windows placed in the South, West, and East, which have in more modern times been replaced with Electric Lights. (By the Way, in visiting Lodges all over – Chisago Lodge in North Branch, Minnesota is still the only Lodge I’ve noticed with absolutely no electric light in the North. There are ceiling lights in the East, West, and South, but not the North. Take a look around when you’re visiting a Lodge and see if they have “Fixed Lights.”)
Sometimes the “fixed Lights” – “Lights of the Lodge” are confused with the “Three Lesser Lights” as far as the placement is concerned. The “Lights of the Lodge” are fixed East, West, and South, but the “Lesser Lights” aren’t. The “Lesser lights are and can be arranged around the Altar in various ways, there are rarely any ritualistic directions as to their arrangement, and in Minnesota there isn’t.
To quote Coil’s: “The Symbolism of the Lesser Lights would not tolerate fixing them in the East, West, and South, for they represent the Sun, Moon, and Master, who, of course, are not so stationed.”
So the “Lesser Lights” can be almost anywhere around the Altar in more than one configuration, and everything will be just fine.
One final thought for the Masons, and Lodges of Minnesota. I would encourage all Minnesota Lodges to use the Grand Lodge Calendar that is posted on our Grand lodge Web Site at http://www.mn-mason.org This calendar is for the Lodges of Minnesota to post items that the Lodge is involved in so that others when viewing the calendar will know of Masonic events in our state, in case they would like to come to them. The Grand Lodge Calendar is a great tool for the Constituent Lodges to use to promote their efforts, and it would seem that it would be a good idea to use this tool. It’s easy to do, just phone, write, or E-mail the Grand Lodge Office with the information, and it will go on the calendar. Here are the particulars on how to contact our Grand Lodge Office. The Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota, 200 East Plato Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55107
1-651-222-6051 or 1-800-245-6050 or mn-mason@spacestar.com Tools do no good if left unused.
Masonic Matters is sent out on a need to do basis, but about once a month. If you know of a Mason who would like to receive a copy of Masonic Matters by E-mail, please ask him to send a message to me at erhmasonic@ncis.com saying “Masonic Matters Subscribe” and I will add him to the list. Also if you are relieving Masonic Matters and wish to un-subscribe, just send me an E-mail saying “Masonic Matters un-Subscribe.”
If there is something you would like to see addressed in Masonic Matters, or if there is something your Lodge would like promoted let me know that too.
With Brotherly Love,
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Area Deputy
North East Minnesota
Labels: History