A group of Master Masons talk about topics of Masonic interest--each from their own unique perspective. You'll find a wide range of subjects including history, trivia, travel, book reviews, great quotes, and hopefully a little humor as well on topics of interest for Freemasons and those interested in the subject of Freemasonry.
Worthy Brethren to the West. What great energy you have produced for the Craft. If there is anything I can do to expand your efforts, ask and you shall receive.What can I do to assist.? The Worldwide Exemplification of Freemasonry Lecture Series.www.weofm.org Endorsed by the Indiana Grand Lodge F&AM has delivered in excess of 1,450,000 presentations to 150 countries with 250 embeds. 7.24.365...You are welcome to embed the entire series for your viewers.I would be very happy to receive video presentations in HD-BD formats from your members of the Craft. Albert H McClelland, O.S.M.,PM
I invite all members of Midnight Freemasons to check out my webpage and discover my new book on Esoteric Freemasonry titled "The Royal Arch of Enoch: The Impact of Masonic Ritual, Philosophy, and Symbolism". Please visit the media page to lister to its author (that's me - Robert W. Sullivan IV) discuss the book and its mystical doctrines. It is 700 pages yet can be purchased in eBook format for a paltry $9.99 (over-sized paperback is $37.99). To purchase click the "But the Book" link. Any questions please email me at robsullivan4@yahoo.com. Thanks for your time. - Bro:. Robert W. Sullivan IV.
Just found your blog from a Facebook post. I enjoy the stories your contributors have posted. I looks like I will be regular reader. Very entertaining and informative. Bro. Dean Larsen, JS, Dominion Lodge #117 Edmonton Alberta Canada. Capital City Chapter#13 RAM and Edmonton Chapter of The Order of DeMolay (Chapter Advisor (Dad))
I'm a member of a number of M... bodies and a PM of my Lodge: Beth horon in MA. I am a senior member of the Sanctum Sanctorum blog. How can I join the Midnight Masons? Can't seem to get much sleep anyway...
I wanted to call your attention to a new book, just released, by Sheldon Munn entitled "Freemasons at Gettysburg" http://quilloftacitus.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/masonic-contributions-at-gettysburg-recounted-by-sheldon-munn/
ledesma30013@yahoo.com I'm walking blind if anyone sees this point me in the right direction. I'm in Bakersfield California originally from San Fernando California.
Caríssimos Irmãos Em visita ao vosso blog, gostaria de deixar uma sugestão para acrescentar em vossa página, em benefício do vosso blog e dos leitores, assim como os membros do grupo que acompanham suas postagens, inclusive via linkedin: seria a inclusão de uma opção de "tradução" entre idiomas, uma ferramenta disponível e gratuíta para inclusão disponibilizada pelo próprio Blog, normalmente localizada no "painel de controle", através do login do usuário. Certamente seria uma ferramente muitissimo importante para comunicação e entendimento. T .'. F.'. A.'. M .'. M .'.
-------------------- Dear Brothers In visit to your blog, would like to make a suggestion to add in your page, for the benefit of your blog and readers, as well as members of the group accompanying your posts, including via linkedin: would the inclusion of an option of "translation "between languages, an available and free tool for inclusion provided by the Blog itself, usually located in the" control panel "through the user login. It would certainly be a most important tool for communication and understanding. T. '. F. '. H. '. M. '. M. '.
Does anyone know of any findings on Freemasonry during the "wild west" period? There are write ups during the Civil War and such but there is nothing that I can find on the Wild West. I believe there is a short documentary on this but no actual findings when you search "Freemasonry and the Wild West". On another note, I enjoy reading all your stories.
I have never been disappointed in this site, and am grateful to all contributors. Contemplative, timely, valuable, meaningful. Well worth every minute I spend reading.
I always enjoy receiving the contributions of the contributing editors of Midnight Freemasons. I always find them intriguing and informative; lots of educational material is contained from the Brothers of many years. So much so that I generally use all or part of the article (with proper credit to the contributing Brother) in our Lodge Trestle Board.
Now for the negative... I must take issue with W:. Robert H. Johnson, PM in his latest contribution, "Did George Washington Break His Obligation?". W:. Johnson is either unaware of history or is forgetting the true definition of "treason".
First, W:. Johnson makes the assumption (takes the position of?) that any form of revolt is treasonous. This is a mistake many have made and still make when considering abuse of powers and rule of law. To those in power, it may be considered "treason" while those fighting and striving for freedom from tyranny anything but. Treason can and is justly interpreted as being the forceful assault on those in power and can involve the divulgence of "secret" information. To say that the Masonic Founding Fathers violated their obligation is to assume that they were in service to the Crown and were privy to assumed "secret" information. Such could not be further from the truth. Brother George Washington, nor the Founding Fathers, held no such privilege therefore they could not be held for treason in that regard.
Second, armed revolt is being labeled as "treason" which is also incorrect and conditional. The role of treason in armed revolt borders on what is considered "civil war" or a struggle for independence. In a "civil" war, you have two or more parties fighting for control of the same government; basically to OVERTHROW the established party in power. In a "war for independence" you have one group desiring to THROW OFF and separate itself from the existing bonds and create it's own government and national identity. The first paragraph of our own Declaration of Independence even defines this.
In our War for Independence, we were fighting to throw off King George's rule; not to overthrow the thrown. All we wanted was to be left alone and to create our own Nation independent of the rule of England. There was absolutely no desire among the bulk of our Founding Fathers to take the war to England and wage it on English soil. We were simply fighting to force England out of the Colonies and pry off the King's grip.
We saw this same type of war 80 years later when the exact same kind of war was waged here among our own Sovereign States. The Southern States had no desire to over throw the established rule in Washington but wanted to simply be left alone and to maintain it's own National identity. We all know how that ended; don't we? We lost our Constitution and Republic at the end of that war. EVERY SINGLE ISSUE we are faced with today can be linked directly back to that war and the loss of our Republic and Constitution. Go figure!
Was George Washington guilty of treason and violating his obligation? I think not but rather he and all of our Masonic Founders were actually in keeping with it!
Fraternally,
Kevin
Kevin Spargur, 32°, PM/PP Duval Lodge No. 159, F&AM Assistant Secretary Southside OES #28 Knights Templar York Rite 904.629.0025
Allow me to thank you for the feedback. I'll retort with one main fact. We were under British rule, subjects of the Americas were subject to the king.
If the brothers of the age took an obligation it would have included something similar to the following:
“…Also, you shall be a true liege man to the King without treason, or falsehood, and that you shall know no treason, but that you mend it and you may, or else warn the King of his council thereof…”
On October 27, 1775, King George III speaks before both houses of the British Parliament to discuss growing concern about the rebellion in America, which he viewed as a traitorous action against himself and Great Britain. He began his speech by reading a “Proclamation of Rebellion” and urged Parliament to move quickly to end the revolt and bring order to the colonies.
Treason was defined as (one of them anyway) "3. "If a man do levy war against our lord the king in his realm"
Since the Americas were part of the First British Empire, this is and was treason.
Treason was defined by English law in the 1351 act that was and still is in force. At that point all that was needed to commit the offence was 'a man do levy war against the king in his realm'. As the colonists accepted that they were part of the King's realm before they declared independence and they levied war against him then yes they were traitors. They knew this and they knew the consequences of defeat, which is one of the reasons they fought so hard.
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with my position here, we wouldn't be the first to reach an impasse. The debate on whether the Declaration of Independence was an act of Treason is hotly debated.
I will respectfully agree to disagree with you on this, Brother.
Robert Johnson, PM Waukegan Lodge No. 78 AF&AM Secretary Grand Lodge of IL Education Committee DEO 1st NE District, IL York Rite AASR VOC AMD et al
I wanted to say thank you and congratulate you on putting together such a great blog. Every month at lodge I produce an education pamphlet and give a quick presentation I was hoping you would allow me to use some of your work in these presentations. I will of course give credit where credit is due.
A solid page. Excellent content. I am looking to contribute what will be weekly Masonic blogs to appropriate sites. A sample is below and I hope we can discuss it. Happy New Year. http://masonicmobile.com/welcome-2016-5016/
Up here in cold Minnesota, I try to run a weekly fellowship and education session on Saturday mornings. Br. Johnson's most recent essay about Masonic Education is precisely a problem that I face weekly. It is easy enough when we have our semi-annual crop of candidates. We can easily talk about the ins and outs of each degree's ritual and what the various symbols mean. We let the candidates one-on-one with one of us in the larger group when it comes to coaching the candidate on the catechism for each degree.
The real problem happens following the MM degree or before the EA degree. I usually try to talk about the "right thing" to do, and to follow Br. George Washington's rules of conduct.
Br. Voice of the Turtle Ron Parker PM, 33degree Wayzata Lodge #205 Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
It doesn’t seem like years ago, But ah, alas, it’s true, I stood outside the door and knocked, And entered the Lodge called Blue. I never shall forget the night I received my first degree, What beautiful words, and wonderful friends I’d meet, when I had three. Then on to Fellowcraft, and Master Mason, me! To follow my dad’s footsteps, And a Worthy Mason be, But then I heard “You can go on, And gather much more light. There’s so much more that you can join You’ll be out every night” Petition and petition were hurled before my eyes, So I joined, and joined, and joined them all, I thought that it was wise! There were Ornaments and ceremonies, The like I’d never seen, I was presented now with headgear, The jeweled and the plain. Then one day I met a man who saw me join the Lodge, He asked if I’d been sick or ill “Haven’t seen you in awhile.” So one night I went back again To visit my Lodge of Blue, “It’s nice to be out here,” I said. “We’re glad to see you too.” I realized that the apron white I wore with pride that night, Meant more to me than any jewel, No matter what the might I guess it was my first love In my Masonic past, And when My Traveling days are o’re It will be also be my last. Where ‘ere my journey take me May I never once forget, The Lodge I joined while in me youth, Where the best of friends I met. Though “elected” and “appointed,” And heaped upon with praise, None shall ever mean as much As the night when I was raised. I often sit and contemplate, And wonder if it’s true If you, my Brethren, feel the same Of the Lodge that we call Blue.
A. Henry Adams
Presented To Gothic-Fraternal Lodge No. 270, F. & A.M. in Memory of Brother Andrew H. Adams Worthy Patron 2010 - 2011 By Morning Star Chapter No. 22, OES of NJ
He was Past Grand Tall of Trenton Forest # 4 Worth Patron Of Mornibg Star 22 OES, NJ Trenton, NJ when he passed away
I would like to get in contact with Brother Harrison. I read his article dated March 4th and would like to give him some more in sight in the POW/MIA movement from a family perspective.
Worthy Brethren to the West. What great energy you have produced for the Craft. If there is anything I can do to expand your efforts, ask and you shall receive.What can I do to assist.? The Worldwide Exemplification of Freemasonry Lecture Series.www.weofm.org Endorsed by the Indiana Grand Lodge F&AM has delivered in excess of 1,450,000 presentations to 150 countries with 250 embeds. 7.24.365...You are welcome to embed the entire series for your viewers.I would be very happy to receive video presentations in HD-BD formats from your members of the Craft.
ReplyDeleteAlbert H McClelland, O.S.M.,PM
I invite all members of Midnight Freemasons to check out my webpage and discover my new book on Esoteric Freemasonry titled "The Royal Arch of Enoch: The Impact of Masonic Ritual, Philosophy, and Symbolism". Please visit the media page to lister to its author (that's me - Robert W. Sullivan IV) discuss the book and its mystical doctrines. It is 700 pages yet can be purchased in eBook format for a paltry $9.99 (over-sized paperback is $37.99). To purchase click the "But the Book" link. Any questions please email me at robsullivan4@yahoo.com. Thanks for your time. - Bro:. Robert W. Sullivan IV.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I looked at the 'free samples' on Amazon. Excellent stuff! Do they teach this stuff in the Freemasons? Thought you guys were gagged.
DeleteSSG Emanuel Alvarez V
ReplyDeletealvarezinfantry@gmail.com
If you have to ask one to be one. I am asking.
Just found your blog from a Facebook post. I enjoy the stories your contributors have posted. I looks like I will be regular reader. Very entertaining and informative. Bro. Dean Larsen, JS, Dominion Lodge #117 Edmonton Alberta Canada. Capital City Chapter#13 RAM and Edmonton Chapter of The Order of DeMolay (Chapter Advisor (Dad))
ReplyDeleteI'm a member of a number of M... bodies and a PM of my Lodge: Beth horon in MA. I am a senior member of the Sanctum Sanctorum blog. How can I join the Midnight Masons? Can't seem to get much sleep anyway...
ReplyDeleteI wanted to call your attention to a new book, just released, by Sheldon Munn entitled "Freemasons at Gettysburg"
ReplyDeletehttp://quilloftacitus.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/masonic-contributions-at-gettysburg-recounted-by-sheldon-munn/
Lawrence, I will have to check that out! Thank you very much for letting me know about it!
DeleteBro:.RJ
ledesma30013@yahoo.com I'm walking blind if anyone sees this point me in the right direction. I'm in Bakersfield California originally from San Fernando California.
ReplyDeleteHow do I join the lodge in my area? West Indies
ReplyDeleteCaríssimos Irmãos
ReplyDeleteEm visita ao vosso blog, gostaria de deixar uma sugestão para acrescentar em vossa página, em benefício do vosso blog e dos leitores, assim como os membros do grupo que acompanham suas postagens, inclusive via linkedin: seria a inclusão de uma opção de "tradução" entre idiomas, uma ferramenta disponível e gratuíta para inclusão disponibilizada pelo próprio Blog, normalmente localizada no "painel de controle", através do login do usuário. Certamente seria uma ferramente muitissimo importante para comunicação e entendimento.
T .'. F.'. A.'.
M .'. M .'.
--------------------
Dear Brothers
In visit to your blog, would like to make a suggestion to add in your page, for the benefit of your blog and readers, as well as members of the group accompanying your posts, including via linkedin: would the inclusion of an option of "translation "between languages, an available and free tool for inclusion provided by the Blog itself, usually located in the" control panel "through the user login. It would certainly be a most important tool for communication and understanding.
T. '. F. '. H. '.
M. '. M. '.
Caríssimos Irmãos
ReplyDeleteAgradeço minha inclusão por vossa parte junto aos irmãos do grupo no Linkedin.
T .'. F.'. A.'.
--------------------
Dear Brothers
I thank my inclusion by your side with brothers of the group on Linkedin.
T. '. F. '. H. '.
Does anyone know of any findings on Freemasonry during the "wild west" period? There are write ups during the Civil War and such but there is nothing that I can find on the Wild West. I believe there is a short documentary on this but no actual findings when you search "Freemasonry and the Wild West".
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I enjoy reading all your stories.
I have never been disappointed in this site, and am grateful to all contributors. Contemplative, timely, valuable, meaningful. Well worth every minute I spend reading.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the positive...
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy receiving the contributions of the contributing editors of Midnight Freemasons. I always find them intriguing and informative; lots of educational material is contained from the Brothers of many years. So much so that I generally use all or part of the article (with proper credit to the contributing Brother) in our Lodge Trestle Board.
Now for the negative... I must take issue with W:. Robert H. Johnson, PM in his latest contribution, "Did George Washington Break His Obligation?". W:. Johnson is either unaware of history or is forgetting the true definition of "treason".
First, W:. Johnson makes the assumption (takes the position of?) that any form of revolt is treasonous. This is a mistake many have made and still make when considering abuse of powers and rule of law. To those in power, it may be considered "treason" while those fighting and striving for freedom from tyranny anything but. Treason can and is justly interpreted as being the forceful assault on those in power and can involve the divulgence of "secret" information. To say that the Masonic Founding Fathers violated their obligation is to assume that they were in service to the Crown and were privy to assumed "secret" information. Such could not be further from the truth. Brother George Washington, nor the Founding Fathers, held no such privilege therefore they could not be held for treason in that regard.
Second, armed revolt is being labeled as "treason" which is also incorrect and conditional. The role of treason in armed revolt borders on what is considered "civil war" or a struggle for independence. In a "civil" war, you have two or more parties fighting for control of the same government; basically to OVERTHROW the established party in power. In a "war for independence" you have one group desiring to THROW OFF and separate itself from the existing bonds and create it's own government and national identity. The first paragraph of our own Declaration of Independence even defines this.
In our War for Independence, we were fighting to throw off King George's rule; not to overthrow the thrown. All we wanted was to be left alone and to create our own Nation independent of the rule of England. There was absolutely no desire among the bulk of our Founding Fathers to take the war to England and wage it on English soil. We were simply fighting to force England out of the Colonies and pry off the King's grip.
We saw this same type of war 80 years later when the exact same kind of war was waged here among our own Sovereign States. The Southern States had no desire to over throw the established rule in Washington but wanted to simply be left alone and to maintain it's own National identity. We all know how that ended; don't we? We lost our Constitution and Republic at the end of that war. EVERY SINGLE ISSUE we are faced with today can be linked directly back to that war and the loss of our Republic and Constitution. Go figure!
Was George Washington guilty of treason and violating his obligation? I think not but rather he and all of our Masonic Founders were actually in keeping with it!
Fraternally,
Kevin
Kevin Spargur, 32°, PM/PP
Duval Lodge No. 159, F&AM
Assistant Secretary
Southside OES #28
Knights Templar York Rite
904.629.0025
Bro. Kevin,
ReplyDeleteAllow me to thank you for the feedback. I'll retort with one main fact. We were under British rule, subjects of the Americas were subject to the king.
If the brothers of the age took an obligation it would have included something similar to the following:
“…Also, you shall be a true liege man to the King without treason, or falsehood, and that you shall know no treason, but that you mend it and you may, or else warn the King of his council thereof…”
On October 27, 1775, King George III speaks before both houses of the British Parliament to discuss growing concern about the rebellion in America, which he viewed as a traitorous action against himself and Great Britain. He began his speech by reading a “Proclamation of Rebellion” and urged Parliament to move quickly to end the revolt and bring order to the colonies.
Treason was defined as (one of them anyway) "3. "If a man do levy war against our lord the king in his realm"
Since the Americas were part of the First British Empire, this is and was treason.
Treason was defined by English law in the 1351 act that was and still is in force. At that point all that was needed to commit the offence was 'a man do levy war against the king in his realm'. As the colonists accepted that they were part of the King's realm before they declared independence and they levied war against him then yes they were traitors. They knew this and they knew the consequences of defeat, which is one of the reasons they fought so hard.
Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Edw3Stat5/25/2
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with my position here, we wouldn't be the first to reach an impasse. The debate on whether the Declaration of Independence was an act of Treason is hotly debated.
I will respectfully agree to disagree with you on this, Brother.
Robert Johnson, PM
Waukegan Lodge No. 78 AF&AM
Secretary
Grand Lodge of IL Education Committee
DEO 1st NE District, IL
York Rite
AASR VOC
AMD
et al
To be respected, the law must be respectable.
DeleteI wanted to say thank you and congratulate you on putting together such a great blog. Every month at lodge I produce an education pamphlet and give a quick presentation I was hoping you would allow me to use some of your work in these presentations. I will of course give credit where credit is due.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Donald
Spur Lodge #1023 Texas
A solid page. Excellent content. I am looking to contribute what will be weekly Masonic blogs to appropriate sites. A sample is below and I hope we can discuss it. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeletehttp://masonicmobile.com/welcome-2016-5016/
Up here in cold Minnesota, I try to run a weekly fellowship and education session on Saturday mornings. Br. Johnson's most recent essay about Masonic Education is precisely a problem that I face weekly. It is easy enough when we have our semi-annual crop of candidates. We can easily talk about the ins and outs of each degree's ritual and what the various symbols mean. We let the candidates one-on-one with one of us in the larger group when it comes to coaching the candidate on the catechism for each degree.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem happens following the MM degree or before the EA degree. I usually try to talk about the "right thing" to do, and to follow Br. George Washington's rules of conduct.
Br. Voice of the Turtle
Ron Parker PM, 33degree
Wayzata Lodge #205
Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
This is a pome from Brother Andrew H Adams
ReplyDeleteTHE LODGE CALLED BLUE
TO THE MEMBERS OF GOTHIC LODGE #270
It doesn’t seem like years ago,
But ah, alas, it’s true,
I stood outside the door and knocked,
And entered the Lodge called Blue.
I never shall forget the night
I received my first degree,
What beautiful words, and wonderful friends
I’d meet, when I had three.
Then on to Fellowcraft, and Master Mason, me!
To follow my dad’s footsteps,
And a Worthy Mason be,
But then I heard “You can go on,
And gather much more light.
There’s so much more that you can join
You’ll be out every night”
Petition and petition were hurled before my eyes,
So I joined, and joined, and joined them all,
I thought that it was wise!
There were Ornaments and ceremonies,
The like I’d never seen,
I was presented now with headgear,
The jeweled and the plain.
Then one day I met a man who saw me join the Lodge,
He asked if I’d been sick or ill
“Haven’t seen you in awhile.”
So one night I went back again
To visit my Lodge of Blue,
“It’s nice to be out here,” I said.
“We’re glad to see you too.”
I realized that the apron white
I wore with pride that night,
Meant more to me than any jewel,
No matter what the might
I guess it was my first love
In my Masonic past,
And when My Traveling days are o’re
It will be also be my last.
Where ‘ere my journey take me
May I never once forget,
The Lodge I joined while in me youth,
Where the best of friends I met.
Though “elected” and “appointed,”
And heaped upon with praise,
None shall ever mean as much
As the night when I was raised.
I often sit and contemplate,
And wonder if it’s true
If you, my Brethren, feel the same
Of the Lodge that we call Blue.
A. Henry Adams
Presented To Gothic-Fraternal Lodge No. 270, F. & A.M.
in Memory of Brother Andrew H. Adams
Worthy Patron 2010 - 2011
By Morning Star Chapter No. 22, OES of NJ
He was Past Grand Tall of Trenton Forest # 4
Worth Patron Of Mornibg Star 22 OES, NJ Trenton, NJ when he passed away
My father was with Troise and his mandolins between 1931 & 1948, he played the Mando bass .
ReplyDeleteI would like to get in contact with Brother Harrison. I read his article dated March 4th and would like to give him some more in sight in the POW/MIA movement from a family perspective.
ReplyDelete