Anti-Masonry April 10, 2007

Masonic Matters
April 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, -- though the cants of hypocrites may be worst, -- the cant of criticism is the most tormenting.” Laurence Sterne 1713-1768

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“I do not resent criticism, even when, for the sake of emphasis, it parts for the time with reality.” Brother Winston Churchill

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Steven R. Johnson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“This shows how much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.” Brother Benjamin Disraeli

Every once in a while I get questions from, or I am told there are, Masons who have been approached mostly by well meaning people who repeat something they heard from someone else about the supposed evils of Freemasonry. Most of these charges and accusations can be traced back to an anti-Mason, and sometimes a Mason is openly verbally accosted by an anti-Mason, which many times will catch some of us off guard.

When this sort of thing happens we might automatically think this person is uneducated about Masonry, and that might be true if by that we mean he is not getting factual information from a knowledgeable Mason. Unfortunately he most likely does not think he is uneducated and he isn’t, if educated means he is receiving information about Masonry from someone who he trusts and thinks is knowledgeable. The person may very well have received information about Freemasonry from only one side. If he is willing to receive information from the other side, so he can make up his own mind, decide for himself, on the question of Freemasonry being a cult, or simply a fraternity of good men who believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, then you should be able to have a good informative conversation with him.

Devout Fundamentalist Christians, and I’ve been told devout fundamentalists of other religions too, believe what they are told from the Synod, or whatever the parent organization is, that tells them about a certain something; in this case Freemasonry. So there are times when you can talk till the cows come home and give them all the information you can think of, but if they have a closed mind and intend only to believe their clergyman who only believes what his seminary and superiors tell him you’re then dealing with a closed mind, and a closed mind is very difficult to open.

The admonishment in the charge of the First Degree about arguing with those who through ignorance ridicule Freemasonry etc. does not mean we cannot have a decent friendly conversation or debate with someone who is willing to listen or debate with us. So in my mind it is fine to try to open a man’s mind with the truth, but while it can be frustrating don’t let it get to you if he just won’t believe what you have to refute the false charges floating around about Freemasonry. And don’t be surprised. Some people believe what they believe and don’t even want to hear the facts let alone be confused by them.

Having said that I think one of the best books on this subject is “Workman Unashamed” by Brother Christopher ‘Kit’ Haffner, published by Lewis Masonic some years ago, but recently updated and republished again by Lewis Masonic.

Another book, (booklet,) that I like and is cheaper and easier to get is “Conscience and the Craft – Questions on Religion and Freemasonry” by Brother Jim Tresner. My copy is well marked up and highlighted, in fact many of my books are like that. This booklet might be available on line as was another book called “Is it true what the say about Freemasonry,” which is another good book about anti-Masonry. If they are not available on line I think they can be purchased from most Masonic book suppliers at a very reasonable price.

People who are vocal anti-Masons are knowledgeable about Freemasonry. They may have a wrong view of the Craft in our opinion, but that doesn’t mean they’re ignorant about it. So I think a Mason needs to be ready, and by ready I mean he needs to know his subject well, as well as know what their opinion is and where it comes from. To do this we read books, like the ones I’ve mentioned. We need also to know about why the term The Great Architect of the Universe to them is a name for another god, and why they say we regard all gods as equal to the God of Abraham. Also know that saying that the term was used by John Calvin an early theologian whose writings were used in founding a Christian Church really doesn’t mean much to a fundamentalist, because they don’t put much stock in Calvinism.

Also reading books from anti-Masons about Masonry is a good pastime if you can stay objective, and realize you are learning some of what you need to know to be able to debate or have a conversation with an anti-Mason. Many will not want to do this, because it is a big job to become very knowledgeable. But the anti-Mason is knowledgeable and many times more knowledgeable than the Mason he’s talking with. The Anti-Mason knows about our ritual, and they offer their own meanings to our symbols and allegories. Many a Mason has been surprised how knowledgeable an anti-Mason can be. One good thing to remember, since the anti-Mason has a penchant for quoting Brother Albert Pike from his book ‘Morals and Dogma’ is the preface to Morals and Dogma; in it Pike says in part: “The teachings of these readings are not sacramental, so far as they go beyond the realm of morality into those of other domains of thought and truth.” “Everyone is free to reject and dissent from whatsoever herein may seem to him to be untrue or unsound.” Page iv (middle of the page.) So even Brother Pike himself is saying that what he wrote in Morals and Dogma is not the dictum of Freemasonry our critics and enemies say it is. Pike knew he wrote only for himself and his opinions - not for Freemasonry.

I will suggest, also, that it is good to know what Leo Taxil’s Hoax’s are all about. Know about the myth about the Great Seal of the United States, know about the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and be somewhat familiar with the Holy Bible, and about the information in the Bible that our Hiramic Legend was formed from. Be knowledgeable about where in the ritual of the Third Degree the drama ends, and the officer portraying King Solomon ends. The drama ends when he again resumes the role of the Master of the Lodge. Many people, including Masons, have the mistaken idea that the candidate represents the legendary Hiram right up until the end of the degree; he doesn’t. The drama ends when the Mason portraying King Solomon takes the candidate by the strong grip of a Master Mason. When the candidate hears the word he is the candidate and the Mason saying the word is the Master. The reason I think this is important is because some think we teach that Hiram was raised from the dead, which would be reminiscent of the legend of Osiris, and of course we teach no such thing. In fact, in the 2nd section of the lecture of the third degree it tells us that Hiram’s body was carried to King Solomon’s Temple and buried. However, many anti-Masons will challenge a Mason on that.

The fact is, there are so many challenges and accusations an Anti-Mason can say to and about us it is hard to stay up with them. A number of years ago now the Grand Lodge of Minnesota changed their work to mention the penalties are reprimand, suspension or expulsion and then called the other penalties the ancient and symbolic penalties, which of course they always have been. I’m not saying this change was either good or bad, what I will say is that if it was done to answer or satisfy our critics and enemies then what do you do the next time our enemies tell us about something else that in their opinion is wrong with Freemasonry. They will never be satisfied until we cease to exist.

Awhile back I spoke with a Mason who commented how he liked the piece I sent out in Mehr Licht about the Masonic ring. Then he mentioned he’s noticed that many Masons don’t wear their rings or pins as much any more, (He was a 50 + year Mason,) and he surmised that one reason might be that they had been accosted by an anti-Mason and didn’t know what to say, so to avoid the embarrassment they tend not to use much Masonic jewelry on their person except for attending Lodge or Masonic functions. He may be on to something.

The enemies of Freemasonry won’t be satisfied with any changes we make in ritual, use of symbols, or whatever, they want to see Freemasonry disappear.

I don’t mean to worry anyone, I just want to be clear that in any discussion with an anti-Mason, and even with a well meaning friend repeating what they heard from an anti-Mason, be well prepared, because it is always easier for someone to ask questions than give the answer, and it is always easier to repeat a charge or myth than to explain or answer it.

Brother Leon Zeldis wrote an excellent article that was published in volume 7 of Heredom, (page 89.) Heredom is the annual book sent out to members of the Scottish Rite Research Society, and in my mind is one of the best bargains in Masonic Education. Today Brother Zeldis’ article can be read on the web at: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/zeldisfr.html and it is very interesting to read.

I always wonder about some of my fellow Christians wanting to take the same stand dictators do when it comes to Freemasonry, especially when you consider what Hitler did to clergymen, churches, and Freemasons in Germany during his eliminationist period, and to the millions of Jews who were killed in his ‘final solution’ and on his orders. A good book on this is “Hitler’s Cross” published by Moody Press.

Anti-Masons now say that it is the Masons of the ‘high degrees’ that are keeping the rest of us in the dark about what Freemasonry is really about, and that of course we would not know about it if we haven’t been in the inner circle of our Grand Lodge or are not a 33°, which is most of us. They tell our friends and family that we may be good Christians, good men all around, but we are being duped by the Masons of the ‘higher degrees’ who have a plan of world domination and worship the devil. This is the theme of Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which is what Brother Zeldis exposes and explains in his paper I mentioned earlier, do yourself a favor and take a look at it. Chick Publications, on the other hand, repeats the hoax of Leo Taxil, and this is explained in great detail in the book ‘Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry,’ this is a book every Mason ought to have and read. The charges and falsehoods of the anti-Mason are ridiculous, but that’s what they believe. They say the individual Mason is o.k. it’s the organization that’s bad, and that we’ve been brainwashed so much we just don’t know how bad it is or we’d leave it, and it’s part of their calling in life to tell us everything we’re not able to figure out or understand for ourselves.

Another good place to begin learning about anti-Masonry is on the web site for the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and the Yukon at: http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/index.html There are many helpful articles on this site, one of which is called ‘Responding to Critics,’ which is very helpful.

If you plan to talk to any anti-Mason be prepared. If you’re not as prepared as you would like to be, a good thing to do is to ask questions. When they say something like we’re a cult, or we worship the devil – remain calm, and ask them “can you tell me why you think that?” or “Why do you feel that way?” then write down their answer in your little notebook, (I always have one in my shirt or jacket pocket, so I think everyone does,) and then check it out with research on your own or ask a Brother for help, and get back to our critic if he’s amenable to listening. Anti-Masons, I’m convinced, like to ambush Masons, their wives, children and friends; I think there are too many family members who might believe some of this trash they hear from anti-Masons if the Mason in their lives either doesn’t know himself what is and isn’t true or he is so secretive he won’t talk to them even when they are interested. So when it comes to knowing about the charges of an anti-Mason and providing good honest information to refute them it is important, especially, so that we can educate our family and friends when they have a question.

Remember Freemasonry can stand up to scrutiny; it’s the false charges of the anti-Masons that fold like a house of cards when you do the research. And believe it or not ‘Research is Fun’ because you learn something in the process.

“He wreathed the rod of criticism with roses.” Issac D’israeli 1766-1848

From the Great light of Masonry = “Do not speak against another, brethren. He who speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor.” James 4: 11-12

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

The Masonic Monday Question of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota is posted each week now at http://www.lodgebuilder.org When you get there click on Forums and then click on Lodge Education Forum [near the bottom of the page] and take a look at the question posted there by Brother Glenn Kiecker. These questions are fun to answer.

To read this issue of Masonic Matters in PDF click here: http://www.halpaus.net/MM407.pdf

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Masonic Memorial Service - May 10, 2007

Masonic Matters
May 10, 2007

“Men’s evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water.”
Shakespeare

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“He was a man (then boldly dare to say) in whose rich soul the virtues well did suit, in whom so mixed the elements all lay, that none to one could sovereignty impute, as all did govern yet all did obey; he of a temper was so absolute, as that it seemed when Nature him began, she meant to shew all, that might be in man.”
Michael Drayton 1563-1631

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“The Greatest offence against virtue is to speak ill of it.” William Hazlitt 1778-1830

Many years ago when I was a young Mason I attended a Masonic Memorial service that was being conducted for a Brother. I didn’t know the Brother, but I knew he was a Mason and my Mentor told me that even if I hadn’t met him I should attend, because he was my Lodge Brother. Over the years since then I have had occasion to attend many Masonic Memorial Services, and also to conduct some of them. Sometimes I knew the Brother sometimes I didn’t. However, I knew each one was my Masonic Brother, and I’m glad I took the time to attend, because it seems I always get something out of the Masonic Memorial Service.

I went there with my Mentor, and I learned something at that service that I will always remember: I learned that Freemasonry is a fraternity that honors work. We are a fraternity of workers. At the service my Mentor wanted me to attend, our deceased Brother, or his family, selected a poem by John Oxenham to put in the funeral booklet, and I have liked it ever since I first read it. To me it says what Masonry is about:

“Lord, when thou seeist that my work is done,
Let me not linger on, with failing powers,
Adown the weary hours – a workless worker
In a world of work.
But, with a word, just bid me home,
And I will come – right gladly -
Yea, right gladly I will come.”

I don’t know if John Oxenham was a Mason or not, but I do think his poem is Masonic in nature.

When I think of the Masonic Memorial Service my Mentor made sure I attended, because it was a service for my Masonic Brother, I think of the meaning of the word and title each of us has – Brother.

Recently in a conversation with a Brother, who is young in Masonry, as I was back then when my Mentor told me what I needed to hear, my Brother mentioned to me about how he’s noticed that many Masons seem to clamor for the titles Masonry has to bestow on some Masons. I asked what titles he meant, and he told me. However, what he listed were not titles to me, they were job names. I can’t say I’ve noticed too many Masons clamoring to do things for Masonry, but I have noticed many Masons who are willing to help, willing to take on jobs, and handle responsibility.

When a Mason takes on some kind of responsibility that means he assumes a job, and usually that job has a name. It might be Committee Chairman or member, Junior or Senior Steward, or Master, but it is a job name not a title. There is one exception, at least here in Minnesota, and that is the title of ‘Most Worshipful Brother’ given to a Grand Master, which he retains as a Past Grand Master. The members of our Grand Lodge, who knows how long ago, decided the Grand Master’s title should from then on be ‘Most Worshipful Brother’, and for all that our Grand Masters do for Masonry they deserve it. However, having said that, the one title that each and every one of us was given when we were made a Mason is the only one we ever need in Freemasonry and that title is Brother. I still remember it; that sacred appellation by which I was addressed by the Master of my Lodge, who as it turned out became my friend and my mentor. Mentor – another important job in a Masonic Lodge.

Some of us over the years will help our Brethren and our Lodges by doing jobs in our Lodge and maybe in our Grand Lodge, and maybe in an affiliated body, but even in these affiliated bodies we are referred to as Brother, the only title a Mason needs.

The jobs we hold at one time or another is not our title, it is the name of the job we have. The job may be Master of the Lodge, and we can then and forever be referred to as worshipful Brother. The word worshipful may be added to Brother if the Brother speaking wishes to recognize that we held the job of Master of a Lodge, it is an honorific term a Brother may use to show respect for the job a Brother has done for his Lodge, but he addresses us as Brother. Whether addressed as Worshipful Brother, or not, most Past Masters I know are pleased to be called brother, and they are equally proud of being your Brother. At present I hold the job of Grand Lodge Education Officer – that is not my title, it is the name of job I hold, it describes what I do for our Grand Lodge; there were other Grand Lodge Education Officers before me, and there will be more after me, the same is true when I was Master of my Lodge, I was one of many who held the job, more followed me into that job, and there will be many more Masters in the future.

When we think of the many positions, or jobs, Masons may hold in Lodge, Grand Lodge, and the Rites, the Order of the Eastern Star, or the Shrine, we are Brother Masons. There are exceptions I can think of such as the Grotto and the Shrine, where they call each other Prophets or Nobles. However, in the Shrine they also say, and are very proud or being, Shrine Masons, and the best title a Shriner can have is Brother, because he is a Mason.

So whether our jobs are Grand Lodge Education Officer, Master, Potentate, Grand Patron, Grand Master, Senior Warden, Deacon, Steward, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Marshal, or any number of jobs you might care to list, they are job names and the Masons who hold them for the time being are still your Lodge Brothers. There is no higher degree than Master Mason.

“The virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarcely worth the sentinel.”
Oliver Goldsmith 1728-1774

From the Great light of Masonry = “For you were once darkness, but you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and to find out what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want. Check out the Masonic Monday Question on the Education page of the Web Site3 of the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org or at www.lodgebuilder.org

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

To read this paper in PDF click on this link: http://www.halpaus.net/MM507.pdf

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Freemasonry and Elections June 10, 2006

Masonic Matters
June 10, 2006

“When you know a thing to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing to know that you do not, this is knowledge.” Confucius

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Steven R. Johnson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Experience indicates that knowledge cannot be imparted. It can only be acquired.” Norman G. Shidle

Ed’s Masonic Musings

A number of years ago I was at our Grand Lodge booth at the Minnesota State Fair; back in those days we didn’t have the Child’s I.D. program, so even though there were about 2 or 3 Masons in the booth at any one time the time did kind of drag, because most people at the state fair would rather just pass by the booth than talk with us. Now with the Kids I.D. it’s much different and much better. The Masons who are at the Grand Lodge Booth now have great times interacting with all the people who stop by; from the little tikes to the parents and grandparents.

Speaking of the Kids I.D; this was overheard in a bait shop in the Walleye Capitol of the World. A walleye fisherman bought some bait that is guaranteed to catch fish, or die trying, and as he presented his personal check for the sure fire fish getters the helpful clerk and fishing advisor behind the counter said; “you got an I.D.?” And the man answered “I dee bout whut?”

Back to what I wanted to tell you about: Back before we had the Kids I.D. Program some people did stop to ask questions and to visit from time to time. It was always a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet these people. One man I remember was a friendly sort of fellow, but he was not for the Masons; he told me that even though he wasn’t in favor of our fraternity there was one good thing about it, and that is that the Masons stick together. He went on to explain that any time there is a Mason running for office; whether local, state or national, and especially for President of the United States, the Masons always make sure that their Brother Mason gets elected. (This was long before Brother Bob Dole ran for President.)

Luckily for me I have always liked history, so I wasn’t going to be bamboozled by a statement like that. Also luckily this man was willing to talk, as I said he was a friendly guy. I asked him if he knew much about the election of 1824. There have been other times when Masons lost Presidential Elections but this election was particularly interesting in how the Freemason lost the election and how the president was chosen.

In that election there were two primary or serious candidates running who were Masons, both Past Grand Masters. And there was another primary candidate that could be called a devout anti-Mason by the name of John Quincy Adams, who was the one who was the one chosen for President. Three serious candidates in that election.

That was the election where no candidate received enough electoral votes to win in the
general election, so the election was ‘thrown,’ (as they say,) into the House of Representatives to decide who would be the next president. The Candidates who had the larger number of electoral votes and thus the most support in the house were John Quincy Adams and Brother Andrew Jackson. Brother Henry Clay had the smaller number of votes and support in the house, but his support was as loyal as the others, and his supporters were enough to sway the choice in the house.

After much debate and horse trading in what my old history teacher called ‘smoke filled rooms,’ Brother Clay released his supporters to vote for John Quincy Adams. Brother Clay had wanted an appointment for his support and he got it from Adams; he was to be appointed Secretary of State in the Adams administration for his help in the election. He did get the appointment, and Brother Jackson lost the election due to another Mason swinging his support and votes to an anti-Mason.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with politics and political alliances, but it does show that it’s not always the Mason another Mason will support when it comes to politics. Being in the same fraternity doesn’t mean Masons throw everything else to the wind and go with a Brother Mason. Well, my new friend didn’t have time for other less historic examples of Masons losing elections, but he did know something more about Masons than when we first met.

“My hat’s in the ring. The fight is on, and I’m stripped to the buff.
Brother Theodore Roosevelt - 1912

I remember traveling through a small town many years ago and stopping at a local restaurant for some coffee and a snack. When I walked into the café I noticed a rack for the local paper so I bought one to learn a little about the town. To my surprise, the front page had a story about the local Masonic Lodge with a photo of one of the Past Masters and an interview with him, so I began to read and enjoy. But I stopped in disbelief when it quoted him in the article saying “all the Presidents of the United States up to John Kennedy were Masons.” I couldn’t believe it, and I wondered what President John Quincy Adams might have had to say about that.

What this pointed out to me is that not everything a Mason thinks he knows is accurate and I realized I needed to study more so that I wouldn’t say something in the future that couldn’t be backed up by research and fact.

“It ain’t the things you don’t know that gets you into trouble; it’s the things you know for sure that just ain’t so.” Herman Schimmelplatzer

“One cannot know everything.” Horace

An anonymous Brother wrote in the M.S.A. Short Talk Bulletin for August 1958 a piece on the myth that “Freemasons form a political pressure group.”

He said: “It is difficult to say of one false charge against the Ancient Craft that it is more ridiculous than another, but no accusation of wrong-doing by Masons is more unjust than this one.

“Freemasonry has existed in the United States since 1730. Enough years have passed since our earliest American brethren met in Pennsylvania to demonstrate the "political activities" of the Fraternity, if such existed.

“Politics — meaning partisan politics — are strictly forbidden to be discussed in lodges, and have been, since the publication of Anderson's Constitutions in 1723. If Masons were a "political pressure group", obviously they would need a cause, an idea, a program for which to exert their pressure. No one has as yet been able to name such an aim.

“Freemasons, as a general rule, elect a new leadership every year; a few Grand Lodges re-elect a Grand Master for a second term, one usually for a third term. Each year every one of the Grand Lodges of the forty-nine in the United States publishes its Proceedings, which contain the annual addresses of the Grand Masters. In none of these, for any year, at any time in the history of Freemasonry in the United States, is there to be found any political objective, any aim to be obtained by pressure, any indication of the Fraternity's taking any part in partisan politics.

“If Freemasonry is a ‘pressure group’, it must have something to ‘press’ for. It must have a political leader; he must apply that pressure. Since not the slightest scintilla of evidence for such activity exists, it is obvious that this charge is the nonsense of ignorance.”

“Times glory is to calm contending Kings, to unmask falsehood, and to bring truth to light.” Shakespeare (The rape of Lucrece, preface.)

From the Great light of Masonry = “For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” 2Peter 1: 5-7 NIV

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

Masonic Bible June 10, 2007

Masonic Matters
June 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus

“It is what we think we know that often prevents us from learning.” Claude Bernard

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“If you can’t teach me, don’t criticize me.” Sonja Carson

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“In order to be a truly knowledgeable person, one has to be engaged in serious systematic learning.” Benjamin Payton

I don’t know how many Masonic Bibles you own, but I have three. The first one I got was right after my Third Degree, and I really liked that Bible. I read in it every day for years, and I carried it with me in my car and brief case when I was on the road for my company for about 20 years until my retirement. This Bible is in its 30th year with me and it looks it. I have another small Master Mason edition, (which should look better longer now that I’m not on the road every week,) and a large Family Masonic Bible too. (I like to read in each of them fairly often along with my Study Bibles, which I do use more.) The Bible portion of a Masonic Bible is the standard King James or Authorized Version of the Bible, but what makes it a Masonic Bible is the information in the front of the book that tells about Masonry and has a good question and answer section. A Mason can spend a great deal of quality time reading in his Masonic Bible. But then if you have a Masonic Bible you know what I mean, and if you don’t have one you really ought to look into getting one.

I still read and study the Bible, and in my old Masonic Bible too, and I always find something interesting: for instance, in the Bible I got in 1977 in the Questions and Answers section is a section called “Doors of Masonic Knowledge,” and then comes the question; “What is one of the lamentable weaknesses of Masonry?”

Here is the answer it gives: “That the newly initiated candidate is left to shift for himself, and not instructed that there is more to Masonry than just a few grips, signs, and passwords. He has received the key, the degrees, and it is necessary, if he desires to leave the rut of ritualistic routine, and inform himself on the nature and character of the institution, that he enter the recesses of its caverns with Masonic pick and shovel, in search of the jewels hidden there, and invest himself with the rich fruits of Masonic knowledge all the days of his life.” Please note the section above I’ve underlined; that he is left to shift for himself.

This definitely is a weakness in Freemasonry, and this weakness is a kind of weakness that will continue to grow to gigantic proportions unless there is a concerted effort to do something different to bring knowledge into the forefront of Masonry. Many Lodges do not use the mentor or intender program their Grand Lodge has in place. Possibly this is because the program is perceived as being something that is not necessary or required, (but in my jurisdiction it is,) or maybe it might be perceived as something that is so old it isn’t any good any more. Well one Brother helping another Brother learn more about Freemasonry, so that he can enjoy being a Freemason more, never gets too old or goes out of style.

Another section and question in that first Masonic Bible of mine asks “What is the Philosophical basis of Masonry?” the answer has to do with what was just mentioned: The philosophical basis of Freemasonry has to do with the history of the origin of our fraternity. It involves an inquiry “into the ideas that lie at its base, an investigation of its peculiar form, an analytical study of its several degrees, and a development of the ideas which are illuminated by its ritualistic emblems, myths, and veiled allegories and which speak through its sublime system of symbols.”

By the way a veiled allegory is synonymous with a parable. They each are a way of saying one thing and meaning another. From my 1977 Masonic Bible by A.J. Holman company: “In the New Testament we find the teachings of Jesus in veiled allegory. The same is used in Freemasonry, to conceal from those, except to whom the teachings rightly belong, the mysteries of Speculative Science; and then only to them that has the desire to enter its caverns in search of the jewels hidden there.” That’s one of the things about Mentoring and Masonic Education; [Look at the underlined words again please.] We all are interested in it, [Mentoring and Masonic Education,] but to varying degrees. Some are really interested and some are mildly interested, while some are not to interested at all, but a Lodge needs to assign a Mentor and provide Masonic information and education to everyone in order to make sure those who want it receive it. In my mind every Mason needs a Mentor, (one or more over the years,) because also to me, another name for Mentor is an interested and somewhat knowledgeable friend who is also a Freemason; and none of us have too many friends.

Near the beginning of this article it was mention about a weakness in Freemasonry. Unless we have a concerted effort to provide Mentors and Masonic information and education it can be a great weakness in our fraternity; but it is a weakness that can be prevented and corrected. We don’t want a weakness to grow and grow. We need Lodge leaders who will be able to help the rest of us learn the things Freemasonry has to pass on to us, and every Master of every Lodge is important when it comes to providing this information to the members of his Lodge.

“Why should a Master of a Lodge be well informed?” From the Masonic Bible I’ve been referring to: “Because if Masonry be as it is defined, ‘ a science of morality, clothed in allegory and illustrated by symbols,’ it is evident that a successful teacher (and a Master is, in an emphatic sense a teacher) must qualify himself by a diligent investigation of these symbols and veiled allegories – the myths and legends of Masonry – their mystical application, and the whole design of the institution in this, its most important feature, must constitute his study.” I will add that the interest and the training of the Master of the Lodge begins with his Mentor as a new Mason and continues from his first appointment as an appointed officer right up to and through his year as Master of his Lodge: it does not begin when he is elected Master. Lodge officers need to be trained and helped in many areas and it takes Mentors to give this help; each of us are capable and able to be a Mentor and a friend to our Brothers; to help them be all they can be to help our Lodge and our Fraternity.

“Never get to the point where you will be ashamed to ask anybody for information. The ignorant man will always be ignorant if he fears that by asking another for information he will display ignorance. Better once display your ignorance of a certain subject than always know nothing of it.” Booker T. Washington

From the Great light of Masonry = “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life; doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young – let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance – for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.” Proverbs 1: 1-7

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org/ and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at http://www.mn-masons.org/ under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com This weeks question is: “Of what is the substitute word a symbol?”

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

To read this paper in PDF click here: http://www.halpaus.net/MM0607.pdf

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.