Fear and Loathing on Thanksgiving

by Midnight Freemason Contributor
WB Darin A. Lahners

WB Darin trying to whisper good counsel to a 
 brother - 'Stop being a dick!'

Here we are yet again...another Thanksgiving.  Another day of food and football, and in many cases depending on the level of dysfunction of your family... too much alcohol and a family fight (or more than one).  I'm about to pick a family fight without the alcohol...without the food...without the football.  The fight I am going to pick is based on our behavior. Mostly on social media, but this can also apply in real life. It's probably a good time to discuss this given the real possibility of fear and loathing on this Thanksgiving day. 

No, in fact, what I saw on many brothers social media posts up to and after the election. To be clear...this goes for both supporters of the red and blue...or anyone in between...can we stop: with memes and comments that go against our core values... pretty much those demeaning against certain individuals who are of a different gender, race, religion or sexual preference? Basically, can our membership stop acting like internet troglodytes who look like Walter Sobchak cosplayers?

To paraphrase the late great Dwight Smith: 'Why not try Freemasonry?' What I mean to say is we as members of this Fraternity have an identity crisis. The crisis is this. We need to decide if we're going to act like Masons both outside and inside of our lodges, or only inside of them. I think this decision is the fundamental solution to all of the issues facing us right now and for the foreseeable future. 

Let me explain. If we're acting like Masons both inside and outside of our lodges, then we are: getting outside of our lodge rooms and we're being active in our communities, which gives us more visibility in our communities, which should in theory lead to new members. This also means that we're being respectful of everyone in our communities (online and real world), able to have meaningful discussions between opposing view points that are backed up by verifiable facts or data, able to embrace our differences by finding common ground with each other, and parting in harmony, which should show us as living the tenets of Masonic Philosophy in our daily lives. 

Or we can decide only to act like Masons in the Lodge room. This means: we're not getting out in our communities, so there's no community visibility for the Lodge, which means we're not getting new members. Otherwise, we're acting like assholes outside of the lodge room both virtuality and in reality, we're entertaining conspiracy theories as factual, arguing with everyone who has an opposing viewpoint without having verifiable data or facts, and we don't have to live the tenets of Masonic philosophy because heck nobody even knows we exist in this town.  

Of the two options above, which do you think is the best recipe for future success? Let's just say this, when you're being a Freemason, you're acting like an individual who is a member of a small and selective (in theory) group of men. When you're being an asshole, you're acting like a common denominator... because everyone has one. 

Before you go to wherever you're going for Thanksgiving, you need to ask yourself what type of member you're going to be this year.  Are you going to fear what conspiracy theory Uncle John or Aunt Karen is going to start ranting about to the point that you loathe having to go? Or are you going to be able to go and be able to ask Uncle John or Aunt Karen for verifiable facts and data to back up their assertion of reptilian shape-shifters taking over the world? Are you going to be able to respectfully disagree with your relatives and walk away? Or are you going to feel the tug on your ego when your relatives vomit word salad and so you decide to 'own' them?  Choose wisely.

~DAL

Darin Lahners wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Obligations

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor
WB. J.P. Fleming


“Your regular and punctual attendance is requested”

“The Duties you have to perform are as such….”

“Furthermore! I will answer all due signs and summonses..”

“Furthermore! I will aid and assist all worthy Brothers…”


Obligations, we take them at the altar during our degrees. We take them when we stand up and volunteer for an officer position. They are a foundational basis of our fraternity. Some of us have endured to take them in front of God, our friends and loved ones when we entered the perilous journey of Holy Matrimony. Now, some of what I say here may not please some of you. It may downright make you angry and stir in you some great emotion. I am willing to accept that wrath, as I have taken an obligation myself, one to whisper good council. I have also made an obligation to myself as an education officer/committee member and so forth to bring the craft knowledge, whether it wants it or not. You see there has been much concern of late, with the craft and its dwindling numbers. Some concern extends to lodges that have recently purchased new buildings or attempted other monetary ventures with thoughts that it may gain membership. The main question on the trustees minds and the brotherhood's lips, would be “Will this (insert expense) be enough to bring in the new masons, to carry on this legacy?”


I am here as a younger mason, as a millennial, as one of the “new generation,” to tell you that as I see it that the answer is, “No.” Not just a regular no, but a resounding “No.” Younger newer masons that have never heard of the craft, will not join a lodge long term. I am not speaking of the legacy of old members, the generational masons that have family lineage. I am speaking of the new blood. You may ask “How is new mason retention and obligations related?” That is fairly simple, it's what we are offering. That said, “What are we offering?” To make good men better? A social club where you can meet men of a higher caliber? Brotherly Love? Relief? Truth?


Or are we offering 3 to 4 worn-out masons who have done 90% of the work for so long that they have become jaded from constantly picking up the slack because “Someone forgot?” Generally, someone who forgot, this isn’t their first, second, or third time, and from what I have been seeing lately these forgetful brothers are also officers. However, these now jaded tried and true masons not only took those obligations seriously, they believed in them. I don’t have to tell you brothers though, you’re the ones that are attending your lodge's activities as I write this. You’re actually attending, and frankly that’s the sad part. Not that you are attending, of course, but that those that need this message are the ones that are absent, because they “Had other things on their plate”, “No slack left in their cable tow.” Being one of the members that shows up, it puts you in a bit of a position of choice, well choice and burdensome guilt, for which I apologize. Your choice is to put in the work, or you can just sit on the sidelines enjoying the fruits of everyone else’s labor. 


Back to those new masons, if they are coming in to make themselves better, but they see no one holding themselves to a higher standard, why would they stay? If they are coming in for the social aspects, are they going to want to be around people that break promises? Is it brotherly love they are seeing when everyone leaves their work for another brother to pick up the slack? Because it is definitely not Relief! That's how we get grumpy past masters that give you the evil eye when you step wrong. As for truth , if a brother makes an obligation, a promise, and does not fulfill that obligation, he lied not only to himself, but he lied to the Grand Architect. Would this not be akin to breaking one’s marriage vows, because they “forgot?” Not sure that one is going to hold up in divorce court, let alone the aftermath when you reach your final destination.


Anyone who thought they signed up to the craft and thought they were getting something for nothing, is so very wrong. We all signed up to Work! That's the voluntary part of our organization, this is something we wanted. Not only did we want it, we paid money every year for the privilege in order to do it! There is a saying in the military, when you take your oath, your obligation to the country, I am sure many of you have heard it. They say you are writing a blank check to Uncle Sam, for up to and including one life. My brothers, this is an obligation made to our government. We all made an obligation at the altar to God; what does that check say? “Up to and including one soul?” The work never ends, our work never ends. After many years it may slow a little, but it doesn’t end. Many an old timer will claim they have put their work in, but that obligation doesn’t have an expiration date. Many things can be done, need to be done, and in my personal opinion, mentorship is at the top of the list. Words of wisdom, don’t expire either.


My lesson is this, if you want your lodge, this fraternity, to survive, give those new masons something to look up to, something to look forward to. Don’t give them a feast of hastily purchased fast food because you forgot and it was on the way. Don’t give them exasperated members that are being pulled in every direction because no one else will volunteer for a committee. And for the love of all that is holy don’t give them broken promises. Give them mentorship. Give them aspirations to help others and continue this work that has been going on for three centuries. Give them Freemasonry, and do it by fulfilling your obligations, wherever, whatever, your station, place, or folding chair.


~JPF



Justin Fleming is a Master Mason from the wonderful forests of Oregon where he lives with his wife and sons. Most recently was the Worshipful Master of Pearl Lodge #66 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oregon (2024) where he is a life-member. He also holds life-member status at Gresham #152 AF&AM of Oregon where he was Entered (2016), Passed (2017, and Raised (2017). Justin received the “Mason of the Year” award in 2021 from West Allis Lodge #291 Free and Accepted Masons of Wisconsin during his 2-year stint in the Midwest. Justin is also a Basic Lodge of Instruction trainer as well as a Master Trainer for the Fellows of the Craft. He is also a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Salem Oregon, and the Sojourners Chapter of the Widows Sons. He can be reached at flemingjustin5@gmail.com.

Troward:The Hidden Power - Part 6

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor
Bro. Mark St. Cyr



 Please find part 4 here: http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2024/09/trowardthe-hidden-power-part-4.html

 Please find part 5 here: http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2024/10/trowardthe-hidden-power-part-5.html

We often find ourselves entangled in the need to escape the limitations of traditional power structures, seeking the freedom and power that comes from understanding higher spiritual principles. This quest involves recognizing the principle of inversion, where traditional power structures must be understood in reverse to unlock true liberty and power. This concept is like reversing the flow of electricity to generate higher levels of energy, allowing us to transform our lives by reinterpreting established norms. 

The idea of inversion, though it may seem complex, is straightforward when applied to spiritual growth. In the same way that physical inversion in machinery creates new dynamics, spiritual inversion shifts our perspective, helping us understand that true power and liberty come from within. The principle that "as a man thinks, so is he" underscores this concept, suggesting that our internal beliefs shape our external reality. By recognizing this, we can free ourselves from the constraints of old ways of thinking and embrace a new paradigm where power and  liberty are interconnected. 

This principle is further illustrated by the idea that external actions are not the only causes of our experiences. Often, our internal beliefs and thoughts set the stage for our reality. This aligns with the Law of Works and the Circle of Karma, which show that the quality of our lives results from our internal states. Changing our thoughts and beliefs can break the cycle of negative experiences, leading to a new sequence of positive outcomes. 

By understanding the relationship between spirit and matter, we can see that spirit influences matter in profound ways. This recognition brings us to the Law of Faith and the Law of Liberty, which suggest that faith in our creative power and a liberated mindset can transform our lives. Embracing these laws means realizing that we are expressions of higher intelligence and love, capable of directing our thoughts and actions to align with the greater good.

In practical terms, this means recognizing the power of thought. Thought determines action, and when directed toward higher principles, it can produce significant changes in our lives. This understanding aligns with ancient teachings that emphasize the importance of inner knowledge and the connection between thought and reality. By aligning our thoughts with universal principles, we can harness the creative power of spirit to bring about positive change. 

However, not everyone possesses this knowledge. Many people still operate within limited frameworks, missing the deeper truths that could free them from unnecessary constraints. This misunderstanding often stems from misinterpretations of spiritual teachings. For instance, the idea of the Messiah in religious contexts often misses the broader implications of spiritual liberation. True spiritual freedom involves recognizing our inherent connection to the divine and the limitless possibilities that come with it. 

This realization requires a shift in perspective. We must move beyond traditional dogmas and embrace a more expansive understanding of spiritual principles. This shift involves recognizing the unity of all things and the continuous flow of creative energy that connects us to the universe. By doing so, we align ourselves with the higher laws of nature and the divine, allowing us to experience greater freedom and fulfillment. 

The practical application of these principles involves a conscious effort to align our thoughts and actions with higher truths. This process is akin to the scientific method, where hypotheses are tested and refined to reach a deeper understanding of reality. Similarly, in spiritual practice, we must test and refine our beliefs and actions to align with universal principles. This ongoing process leads to greater clarity and spiritual growth. 

The ultimate goal is to achieve a state of harmony with the universal mind, where our thoughts and actions are guided by a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. This state of being is characterized by freedom from the limitations of traditional power structures and an embrace of the infinite possibilities that come with spiritual awareness. 

In conclusion, the principle of inversion and the interconnectedness of power and liberty offers a pathway to true spiritual freedom. By understanding and applying these principles, we can break free from old constraints and embrace a new paradigm of limitless potential. This journey involves a continuous process of learning, growth, and alignment with higher truths, leading to a life of greater fulfillment and harmony with the universe. 


~MSC 

———————————————————————————————————

**Denotes a subtitle added for a more contemporary feel that was not included or used in the original work. 

Adapted from the original work: 

Troward, T. (1921). The Hidden Power, and other papers upon Mental science. Robert M. McBride & Company.  

All Material Cited is Free to Use within the Public Domain

The Lodge on the Hill

by Midnight Freemason Contributor
WB Darin A. Lahners


Editor's Note: This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Reginald carefully walked up the steps of the dilapidated Masonic Lodge on the hill in the middle of town. His grandfather had raised him after his parents had been killed in a car accident when he was a child. Although his grandfather was a Mason, he remembered that the only other time he had been in the building was for his grandfather’s installation ceremony. That must have been close to forty years ago, he reminisced. He returned to his hometown after the passing of his grandfather, Lucian. He had died a few months ago, ironically enough in a car accident. Reginald had returned to his hometown to settle his affairs.  As he reached the top of the stairs, he was greeted by his grandfather’s best friend, Abraham.

“Reginald, it overjoys my heart to have you join our ancient craft. Your grandfather would be so proud if he were still alive.”   Abraham exclaimed while extending his hand to Reginald. “Thank You, Abraham.” Reginald stated excitedly while shaking Abraham’s hand. “Let’s introduce to the others, shall we?” Abraham said, he smiled and led Reginald across the hall to the dining room. Reginald was shocked at how little had changed since he was last in the building. The dining room looked pretty much the same.

“Reginald, I’d like to introduce you to our Worshipful Master, Romero, and his brothers, who are the Senior and Junior Wardens here.”  Abraham said. Romero wasn’t quite what Reginald expected.  Romero looked pale, with long dark hair, a beard, sunken blue eyes, and lips that were a cold blue. Romero extended his hand, which Reginald took. As he began to shake his hand, Reginald couldn’t help but notice that it was cold to the touch.  He wore what appeared to be a vintage white suit coat, with a light blue shirt, an orange Hermes ascot tie, blue pants and brown shoes. 

Abraham also introduced his brothers, a pair of identical twins, Alexander and Alexi, who wore identical vintage powder blue tuxedo suits, with shirts which were identical to Romero’s, they also had the same long dark hair and beards. Instead of the orange ascot, Alexander and Alexi wore matching white bow ties. The three men appeared to be of middle eastern heritage.  Still shaken by his introduction to Romero, Reginald could only whimper a quiet “Hello” to his twin brothers. He was struck by how tall and large the three of them were. All three of them were built like Offensive Linemen and had to be at least six foot five inches tall, and over 300 pounds.  Solid oaks of men.

Abraham noticed Reginald’s behavior; asking “Is everything okay, Reg?”  Reginald replied, “Yes, everything is fine. I apologize, I’m feeling a bit peckish.” “Let’s get you some food then.” Abraham replied. Abraham approached the buffet, followed by Reginald. “Ah, Prime Rib!” Abraham exclaimed. Reginald looked and saw that it was a little too pink for his tastes, but he was starving, so he cut himself a couple of slices, grabbed some mashed potatoes, green beans, and the apple cobbler for dessert. He was pleased they had horseradish for the prime rib, heaping it on top of the au-jus-soaked meat.

Reginald sat down, cut into the prime rib, and began to devour it. He looked around and noticed that no one else other than Abraham was eating. “Is it normal for no one to eat before a degree?” Reginald asked. “They’ll all come in to eat in a bit.  They’re busy getting the lodge room ready for your degree.” Abraham replied. “When did you decide you wanted to become a Freemason?” Abraham asked Reginald. “A few years ago, I saw a program on the History Channel, and as I approached my fiftieth birthday, I decided to join. When I came back here for the funeral, it was a no brainer. As you know, my grandfather and I were close, and my one regret is that he won’t be here to see me receive my first degree.  The least I could do is join the lodge that he loved so much.” Reginald replied. “Yes, Lucian would have loved to see this.” Abraham replied. “Come, let’s get you ready.” Abraham said as Reginald finished his last bite of cobbler.

Abraham led Reginald to another room. He gave him an outfit which looked like pajamas. “Put this on.” Abraham said and stepped outside of the room, shutting the door behind him. Reginald took his clothes off, folded them neatly, and put on the outfit. He waited for Abraham to knock, which came a minute or so later. “Ready?” Abraham asked. “Yes.” Reginald replied. “Great, I’m going to blind fold you now.  Then I’ll lead you to another room that we call a Chamber of Reflection.  Once I sit you down in there, you’ll hear me close the door.  You can take your blindfold off as soon as the door is closed. There will be some objects in the room, along with a pencil and a piece of paper. We ask you to reflect upon what you want out of joining the Fraternity, and to write those desires down. We also ask you to write down a bucket list, things that you want to accomplish before your time here on earth is done. We will read the paper at the first meeting after you’re raised, several months from now.  I think that you’ll find that as you go through your degrees, you’ll find that these things will seem insignificant, both in terms of what you want from the fraternity and in terms of what you place importance on in your bucket list.” Abraham stated. He then closed the door.

Hearing the door close, Reginald took off his blindfold. He was seated at a desk, with a single black candle illuminating the small room. There was a mirror and skull sitting on the desk, along with the pencil, bread, water, and piece of paper. He looked around the room, seeing images of an hourglass, a cockerel, the initials V.I.T.I.R.I.O.L., salt, sulfur and mercury, and a scythe. He also noticed what appeared to be an older black and white photograph that appeared to have fallen on the floor in the right rear corner of the room.  It was stuck partially between the floor molding and the floorboards. Reginald got up from his seat and bent over to pick up the photograph.

He was shocked at what he saw. His grandfather and Abraham were young men, Reginald estimated, that they must both be in their twenties; but Romero, Alexander and Alexi looked the same. He wondered how this could be. His mind was racing. It didn’t make sense he thought; surely it was some trick, some ruse, some form of psychological hazing.  They must be photoshopped. They’re trying to take the piss out of me. It’s the only explanation that makes sense Reginald thought. 

He tried to focus on writing what Abraham had asked of him. Yet he found himself staring at the photograph. He thought he heard a jingle of keys or coins outside the door, which snapped him out the semi-hypnotic trance he had almost put himself in concentrating on the photograph. It was then that it dawned on him. The memories came flooding back, as if the metallic jingling had awoken something he had long buried deep inside of him. He had the unsettling realization that the picture was genuine. He remembered that he had met Romero, Alexander and Alexi before.

It was the last time he was in the Masonic Temple before tonight, some forty years prior, at his grandfather’s installation as Worshipful Master. He had been wandering the Temple building prior to the event. He remembered that his grandfather had forbidden him to go into one room. He told him, directly, that the room was off limits to visitors. Being a young man, aged ten at that time, he was naturally inquisitive. While his grandfather and the other lodge members were distracted; he entered the room. He was surprised to find the three brothers, and he remembered. He remembered that is where he had met Romero, Alexander, and Alexi for the first time. Each of them was hunched over and Reginald remembered that they were feasting on a human corpse. He remembered screaming and running from the room. The next thing he remembered was being in the dining room, eating a piece of chocolate cake. He had no recollection of the room and what he had witnessed until this very moment, some forty years later.

Reginald felt like he was going mad. He tried the door handle to exit the Chamber of Reflection. It was locked. He began to panic. He banged on the door with reckless abandon. His fists pounded against the wood, shaking the door. He screamed: “Let me out of here!” He picked up the wooden chair he had been sitting on, and with all his might, swung it towards the door. The chair disintegrated against the door, splintering into several sharp pieces. It seemed as if the walls were closing in on him. He suddenly felt like he couldn’t breathe, taking long gulps of air, trying to keep himself from hyperventilating.  He heard the metallic jingling sound again. He grabbed the sharpest piece of the splintered chair and placed it on the desk, not having any pockets in his candidate’s outfit, he put the photograph in the waistband of his underwear. He then grabbed the splintered piece of chair, using it almost like a baseball bat to knock loudly against the door.  He continued his screams, demanding to be let out of the room.

He heard a knock, and then a whisper. It was Abraham. “For God’s sake Reginald, calm down!”  Reginald curtly replied to Abraham. “Abraham, I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’ve had a change of heart.  This isn’t what I thought I was getting into.  Let me out of here at once!”  “I’m afraid that I can’t do that Reginald. You’re just going to have to sit tight and please be quiet.”  Abraham responded. “I remember everything, Abraham. I remember the body, and I have this picture I found. You and Grandfather as young men, along with Romero, Alexander, and Alexi, who look the same as today, and the same as the day I discovered their resting place. I remember screaming, and then being in the dining room, eating chocolate cake. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I don’t want any part of this!” Reginald screamed.

“Lucien always feared this day would come. I told him that the hypnosis was a temporary Band-Aid for your trauma. He felt that you’d think that it was a nightmare or write it off as such.  I promised him that I’d look after you.  That’s what I intend to do.  But you must do exactly what I say, when I say it. I can’t have you questioning anything I tell you to do.  Now, you must be quiet and follow directions, no matter how absurd they might seem. Is that clear?”  Abraham stated calmly and quietly. “Yes, just let me out this room.” Reginald replied. “Good. I’m going to open the door now.” Abraham said. Reginald had no intention of obeying Abraham. He knew as soon as that door was opened that he was going to run out of the building and go directly to the police. He didn’t care about his clothes, his wallet, his phone.  He would explain that he had been held against his will and ask them to retrieve his items for him. He would present the photo as evidence of the strangeness he had uncovered.

The door began to open, and Reginald threw himself towards the door, attempting to force it wide open. The force of his full weight knocked Abraham’s slender frame back and Reginald fell right on top of him. Before Abraham could gather himself, Reginald was up on his feet, running down the hall, trying to remember if this was the right way so that he could escape the building.  He heard a gunshot behind him, and a piece of wood from the doorframe on his right-side splintered when the bullet impacted into it. Reginald’s heart felt as if it might leap from his chest. He had never felt such panic in his life. Time seemed to slow down for him. He then saw Romero was in front of him charging directly towards him, sword in hand. Instinctively, Reginald dropped and slid towards Romero, his heels up, much like he was taught how to slide into second base as a little league baseball player. Another gunshot echoed behind him, and he saw the sword fall from Romero’s hand, as the bullet impacted Romero’s torso.

“Dammit Reg, I’m trying to help you! Grab the sword and cut off his head before he comes to!” Abraham yelled as he ran up the hall towards Reginald. “Cut off his head? Are you mad?” Reginald replied. “Yes, cut off his head and hurry. He will not spare us when he awakens, and the other two are most likely close by.”  Abraham barked at Reginald. Reginald picked the sword up from the floor, and stood over Romero, getting ready to swing with all the force he could muster. He swung once, and then twice. The sword was dull, barely cutting into Romero’s neck. Reginald kept swinging it. Finally, he felt the sword reverberate in his hand. Sure enough, it had gotten stuck while trying to sever Romero’s head from his body. Reginald yanked on it. Romero’s eyes opened wide, sheer terror across his face. “Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Romero screamed, as his head fell off his body. “I’ll kill you for thisssss!!!!!!” Romero hissed. Reginald was shocked to see that his eyes were wide open along with his mouth, and that somehow, he was still able to speak although his head was severed from his body. Without thinking, Reginald kicked Romero’s head down the hall, just as Abraham had finally reached him. Romero cackled as it rolled. “Kill you!!!!!!!” He kept repeating as it rolled end over end down the hall, it hit the far wall and tumbled a bit more before resting on its left side.

“Where are the other two?” Reginald asked Abraham. “They must be in the lodge room.” Abraham replied. “What’s going on here Abraham?” Reginald demanded. “No time for an explanation now, Reg. We’ve got to stop the others, and I’ll tell you everything that you want to know.” Abraham answered. “Follow me!”  “We need to get out of here Abraham! Let’s get the police and they can handle this.” Reginald replied. “Reginald, you have no idea of the powers that we’re dealing with here! You have seen that Romero is able to speak and curse you although his head is separated from his body, do you think the Police are going to be able to stop the others? We don’t have time.  We must end the others before they summon him.” Abraham stated.

“Summon who?” Reginald asked. “Cain!” Abraham emphasized. “They are going to summon Cain. You were meant as a sacrifice. They want to bring him forth from the land of Nod. Now break that glass and grab the fire axe. We’re going to have to break the door down.  As soon as I discovered their plan, I came here to rescue you.”  Reginald did what Abraham instructed. Sure enough, upon checking, the double doors leading into the lodge room were locked. He made his way into the preparation room, but found the door which separated the preparation room from the lodge room was locked as well. There was a faint chanting coming through the door, and an unholy red light creeped into the preparation room from beneath the door and through the old keyhole. Abraham yelled: “Quickly Reginald! We must stop them! Use the Axe and chop through the door!”

Reginald swung the axe several times, taking large chunks out of the antique wooden door. The unholy red glow enveloped the room with each strike, and he could finally make out the chanting. Reginald knew immediately that they were speaking Latin. “Veni, o Cain, prodi de terra Nod. Veni in conspectum nostrum, pone vindictam tuam super JEHOVAM. Nomen eius maledicimus, tuum veneramur. Infernum erumpere in terra. Deduc nos, et viventibus epulabimur, et ex ossibus eorum medullas suges. Tenebrae cadunt. Tenebrae praeessent. Gaudeamus in sanguine inimicorum nostrorum Seth fratris tui. O Cain filius satanae, te rogamus. Veni in mundum. Vincamus nos de viribus Boni. In novum mundum inducas nos ordinem. Ad victoriam nostram perduc nos. Prope est.” The men repeated over and over. Abraham stood behind Reginald, his pistol at the ready.

Soon the door split from the frame. Reginald could not believe his eyes. A circle of twelve men wearing black hooded robes stood around the altar. The men held hands while chanting. A book which looked to be bound with Human Flesh sat open upon the altar. Three tall black burning tapers were positioned around the altar. One on the far-left side away from Reginald, and the other two on the left and right side of the altar parallel to the side closest to him. They formed a right triangle. A pulsating red glow was being emitted from a portal suspended in mid-air, right above the men and the altar.

Reginald jumped as a gunshot rang out extremely near to him. This startled him. He saw one of the men drop to the ground. As soon as this happened, the chanting stopped, and the portal disappeared, taking the unholy red glow with it. He heard a rapid series of gunshots follow the initial one, and more men fell where they stood. He then heard a muffled series of clicking and felt liquid come out from his left ear. Touching his left hand to his left ear, he saw that it was blood. His ears rang. He saw only one man remained standing, and he was soon charging directly towards Reginald and Abraham.

“You’ll pay for that!  I will paint these walls with your blood!” the man yelled. Reginald stood tall, raising his axe, and prepared to swing it in self-defense. He noticed that the hood had fallen off the man. He saw that it was either Alexi or Alexander coming directly towards him in a beeline. As they were identical, he was unsure of which twin it was. As he got closer, he noticed the stiletto in his left hand. Suddenly and unexpectedly, he felt Abraham brush his right arm as he passed by him. Abraham was charging directly towards the twin to meet him. Before he could issue a warning, the twin grabbed hold of Abraham with his right hand, lifting the frail old man from the ground. He raised the dagger in his left hand and plunged it into Abraham’s torso several times. Blood began to pour out of Abraham, staining his white tuxedo shirt, and dripping to the black and white mosaic tile floor of the lodge. The twin then tossed the old man, and he flew a foot or so in the air before hitting the floor.

As this was happening, Reginald threw the axe with all his might towards the twin, remembering how he had thrown one at the axe bar where his company held their last Christmas party. Time seemed to stand still for Reginald as he watched the axe tumble end over end. The twin didn’t realize what had hit him until it was too late.  By this time Reginald had sprung into action, and as the axe impaled itself into the Twin’s torso, Reginald was a few steps away from him. A shocked look was on the twin’s face as he slumped to the ground. Reginald heard the dagger clatter against the tile floor. He stood over the twin and extracted the axe from the twin’s chest.

He ran to Abraham. Abraham was pale but had managed to sit himself up against a wall. Reginald saw that he was coughing up blood. He gurgled to Reginald. “You must cut their heads off and burn down the lodge. Our ashes must be spread by winds, so that there is no remembrance of any of us, or what happened today. A journal, which is on my nightstand, will explain everything. It’s written in a pigpen cypher.  There is a key under the front mat of my apartment. You remember where I live?”  Reginald nodded yes. “Good. Good.” Abraham said. He smiled at Reginald and expired, drawing a raspy last breath.

Reginald then got to work on his grisly task. He had just finished cutting the head off the last robed man when he heard a skittering noise. Romero’s adult head was being held aloft by a small torso, two small arms pulling it along the floor, his organs were being dragged behind him, as the creature had no legs. “Killlllll Youuuuu….” It hissed over and over, as Romero dragged himself towards Reginald. After all the high strangeness that Reginald had experienced that evening, he wasn’t at all shocked at the sight he had beheld.  He calmly raised the axe once again and removed Romero’s head from its small torso. It continued to hiss at him.

Reginald carefully arranged the bodies into a pile near the altar. He went into the preparation room and changed back into his clothing. He tore down the curtains from the lodge room windows and threw them into the pile. He then kicked over one of the long black tapers which were still burning. The candle ignited the curtains, which in turn started to ignite the bodies. Reginald quickly ran down the stairs, and he exited the lodge building before the smoke and flames could overwhelm him.

He ran down the hill, finding his car which he had parked on a side street and started it. He drove immediately to Abraham’s apartment. Finding the key under the front mat as Abraham had told him. He unlocked the apartment door. He flipped on the light switch right next to door, which illuminated the hallway leading back into the apartment. He reached the living room, and turned on a lamp, and soon discovered Abraham’s bedroom. He saw a withered old leather-bound journal sitting on the nightstand next to Abraham’s bed, a skull with a crown was on the front cover in the lower right-hand side.

Reginald grabbed the journal and fled the apartment. He got into his car and drove home. He parked his car in the garage, entered his grandfather’s home, and turned on the television. He sat down at his dining room table, which occupied the space next to his living room. He opened the journal and began to decrypt the Masonic Pigpen cypher with a key he had found on the internet. The strange, angled markings, some with dots, some without, soon began to reveal themselves to him. What he read as he decrypted the journal bewildered him. Reginald was surprised to learn that what he was reading was in fact his grandfather’s journal.

The journal read: 

At the time of the building of King Solomon’s temple, the beautiful queen of Sheba had come to Jerusalem to visit him. She was intrigued by the tales of his riches and wisdom. While out for a walk one day, she came upon Hiram Abiff, who was the chief architect of the Temple. She was immediately taken in by his looks and charm. The Queen and Hiram began spending time together. Solomon desired the Queen, and his jealousy and lust for her flesh clouded his judgement. He began to hatch a plot.   

Solomon learned that there were three brothers named Jubela, Jubelo and Jubelum who desired to learn the secrets of the Master Mason or the Master’s word. He struck a deal with them and communicated it to them in exchange for them eliminating Hiram. They would murder Hiram and board transport to Ethiopia to flee the country.

Solomon had underestimated how beloved Hiram Abiff was by the builders of the Temple. Because of the outcry of the workers at Hiram’s disappearance and not wanting to have a revolt on his hands should his role in the murder be discovered, Solomon ordered the assassins hunted down and executed. He also put an embargo on all sea travel; only allowing those who had his pass to travel by sea. The brothers discovered that Solomon had double crossed them when they attempted to book a passage to Ethiopia, needing King Solomon’s pass and not having it. They turned back to the country, to hide themselves and preserve their lives as long as they could.

While they were secreting themselves in a cave, they found themselves with little food left. Near starvation, they discovered some mushrooms inside of the cave and made broth from them. The brothers had a vision of Cain, who explained he was the progenitor of their race. He prophesied their capture and execution. He gave them a choice, in exchange for their servitude, he would grant them everlasting life. The brothers, desperate to keep themselves alive, hastily agreed to the conditions. In doing so, Cain had granted each of them his mark, a small red triangle on the back of their head. Cain ordered them to recruit as many followers as they could to worship him, stating that when the time was right, he would return to Earth to unleash Hell in order to punish Jehovah for sending him to the land of Nod.       

The brothers were captured, and Solomon ordered them executed. However, the brothers were resurrected after fifteen days, just as Cain had promised. They fled Jerusalem and made their way to Egypt, finding work as stone masons having been taught the Mason’s word by Solomon himself. They would continue to earn a living as such, travelling the world, building great edifices of stone; never staying in one place for too long. That is until about the mid 17th Century, as the operative Stone Mason guilds began to transition to Speculative Freemasonry.

As the Stone Masonry work dried up, the brothers understood that the secrecy of the Masonic Lodge would be the only thing that could protect them going forward. They moved from town to town, eventually migrating from England and settling in this corner of the Northeastern United States.

The brothers came to town, and offered money to Reginald’s grandfather, Lucian, and Abraham in exchange for allowing the brothers to live in the Masonic Temple. After proving themselves as fellow Masons, Lucian and Abraham agreed to the arrangement. The only caveat was that no one would be allowed into their living quarters. The brothers proved to be good members and brothers until the day on which Reginald had discovered their terrible secret. To keep them from killing Reginald, Lucian and Abraham agreed to keep the brothers secret and to bring them fresh corpses which they could eat. Abraham, being a psychiatrist, was able to hypnotize Reginald so that he would not remember the incident with the brothers.

Since the day in which Lucian agreed to keep the brothers secret, he began to research who the brothers might be and how to kill them. Naturally, he became fascinated with the occult. After years of research, Lucian believed that he had learned the identity of the brothers and became convinced that if the mark of Cain could be destroyed, that the brother’s immortality would be taken from them. The only way that he knew to do this would be by severing their heads from their bodies and burning the mark away. He relayed all the information to Abraham.

Eventually once Reginald had grown up and moved away from home, and Lucian felt he were safe, he told Abraham that he planned to kill the ghoulish brothers. He knew that he was doing so at significant risk to himself, so he made Abraham promise to protect his grandson, the only family he had left should he fail.

At this point, Reginald noticed that the writing in the journal changed, and he came to understand that the subsequent entries were those of Abraham. He learned that

Abraham watched as the brothers tore the limbs from his body and feasted on Lucian’s corpse. The brothers then put the body into the car and staged the car accident, burning the body alive to cover the crime. Abraham was an old man at this point but knew that he might be able to defeat the brothers with Reginald’s help. When Reginald came back to town for the funeral and inquired about joining the lodge, Abraham felt that he should put his plan into motion. He began to conspire with the brothers to help them make Reginald a sacrifice to their god, and to help them summon him from the land of Nod. They had planned to have the ceremony the evening of Reginald’s first degree. When Abraham brought Reginald into the lodge room, Cain would be there and would take Reginald as prey.

Abraham wrote that he would have go along with the plan to sacrifice Reginald until the very last moment. The last entry in the journal was dated yesterday. It simply said: Tell Reginald the truth before we reach the lodge room. As he shut the journal, he realized that the local news was on the television. They were talking about the fire at the old Masonic Lodge on the Hill. Listening intently, he heard Romero’s unmistakably hiss “Killlllll Youuuuu….” The hiss had come from behind him.

 ~DAL

WB Darin A. Lahners is our Managing Editor. He is a host and producer of the "Meet, Act and Part" podcast as well as a co-host of an all-things-paranormal podcast, "Beyond the 4th Veil." He is currently serving the Grand Lodge of Illinois Ancient Free and Accepted Masons as a member of the Committee on Masonic Education He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph. He is also a plural member of Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL), where he is also a Past Master. He’s also a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282, Salt Fork Shrine Club under the Ansar Shrine, and a grade one (Zelator) in the S.C.R.I.F. Prairieland College in Illinois. He is also a Fellow of the Illinois Lodge of Research. He was presented with the Torok Award from the Illinois Lodge of Research in 2021. You can reach him by email at darin.lahners@gmail.com.