Don't Like Your Lodge? Find Another

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Robert E. Jackson

"I've had it. I'm done. I can't believe they voted that way. I've worked so hard for this effort, but the Lodge doesn't seem to care. I feel so passionate about this subject, but the Lodge simply will not support it."

I've spoken with a Brother recently who had stated that at one point in time, he had considered demitting from the Craft. And here I thought I was the only one! It doesn't take much to want to throw away membership in something, especially when you don't have much ownership.

If you find yourself at odds with your Lodge, speak with the Master. Ensure they understand your concerns. Offer solutions, because believe me, when the Master hears problems, more often than not they will want to address it. Without approaching with a possible solution, though, the statements can be received as a simple complaint that is easily dismissed. A solution proposed, however, offers a starting point from which to build that structure.

If you feel as if the Master isn't listening to you, make sure they know. These are difficult conversations to have, but the fortitude is required for progress. If you still feel like you have nothing left with which to build your moral and Masonic edifice, then it's time to move on. But don't demit. Don't just stop paying dues. But also, don't continue to support a Lodge if you don't believe in their direction.

I'm lucky enough to reside in the state of Massachusetts. We certainly have our issues, but in my opinion (and statistics show) Freemasonry is strong within this state. If I grow frustrated with my Lodge, there are a dozen (or more) within an hours drive for me to visit and see if I feel at home.

Yes it's a Lodge and we are all Brothers, but some times siblings don't get along. Find a group where you feel welcome, appreciated, and loved. I may take flack about suggesting a Brother find another Lodge, but in all honesty, if a Brother doesn't feel welcome, appreciated, or loved in their Lodge, it doesn't help anybody to have them continue in that capacity. It doesn't mean they should stop building though. There are other resources that can be tapped to help.

~REJ

Robert Edward Jackson is a Past Master and Secretary of Montgomery Lodge located in Milford, MA. His Masonic lineage includes his Father (Robert Maitland), Grandfather (Maitland Garrecht), and Great Grandfather (Edward Henry Jackson), a founding member of Scarsdale Lodge #1094 in Scarsdale, NY. When not studying ritual, he's busy being a father to his three kids, a husband, Boy Scout Leader, and a network engineer to pay for it all. He can be reached at info@montgomerylodge.org

NASA - Giordano Bruno and Other Worlds

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Travis Simpkins 

The best parts of being a freelancer are the frequent surprises that come along with it. When you open yourself up and are willing to work with anyone, you never know who will reach out to you next.

One morning a couple months back, I woke up and checked my email like I always do. Mixed in with the usual communications was a rather peculiar one. The message was from NASA, and the writer was looking for permission to use my artwork depicting the 16th Century Hermetic philosopher/astronomer Giordano Bruno in an upcoming presentation in Sorrento, Italy. The artwork was to be projected on screen during a lecture by Colonel Roger Hunter, program manager of the Kepler Mission, and this particular section of the presentation would focus on Bruno's theories regarding “other worlds.” After restraining my excitement and quickly verifying the information, I very happily agreed to the request.

It was obvious why NASA is interested in Giordano Bruno (1548-1600). He was an ex-friar turned natural philosopher, whose Hermetic teachings put him at odds with the dominant ideological visions of the Church. Condemned by the Inquisition as a heretic, Bruno was burned at the stake in Rome's Campo di'Fiori on February 17, 1600. Among the many theories introduced by Bruno, one of his most profound was the idea that the universe is infinite and the stars we see in the night sky are actually suns being orbited by other planets that have life on them.

It was also obvious how Colonel Roger Hunter and the Kepler Mission are inspired by Giordano Bruno's work. According to the official statement on NASA's website: “The Kepler Mission, NASA Discovery Mission #10, is specifically designed to survey our region of the Milky Way galaxy to discover hundreds of Earth-size and smaller planets in or near the habitable zone and determine the fraction of the hundreds of billions of stars in our galaxy that might have such planets.”

Less obvious, to me anyway, was just how strong the Masonic connection was to all of this. I knew of astronomical references in the lectures and of Bruno's influence on memorization, relevant to our ritual studies, through his well known work on “The Art of Memory” which utilized the many mnemonic devices we all use (whether we credit Bruno for it or not). However, I didn't fully see another much deeper and direct Masonic connection until I shared the news of this project on my Facebook page. Soon after posting the update, Shawn Eyer commented asking if I had seen the old Fellow Craft lectures that related to Bruno's theory. I replied in the negative and he sent me a fantastic article he had written titled “Numberless Worlds, Infinite Beings” that had originally been published in Philalethes (Vol. 65, No. 3) back in 2012. Among the mosaic of valuable insights contained within the essay was an eloquent quote, once included in the Fellow Craft Degree, that directly corresponded to the subject. I found myself reflecting on it's meaning and implications for much of that day. The words were taken from William Preston's 1780 Lecture of the Second Degree: “Here we perceive thousands and thousands of suns, multiplied without end, all arranged around us, at immense distances from each other, attended by ten thousand times ten thousand worlds, all in rapid motion; yet calm, regular, and harmonious; invariably keeping their prescribed paths, and all peopled with a myriad of intelligent beings, formed for endless progress, in perfection and happiness.”

Ask a number of supposedly learned people about Giordano Bruno and at least half of them will reply, “Who?” Never elevated to his proper status among the historical luminaries that comprise the world's greatest thinkers, Bruno is under-appreciated and yet his enduring influence is still ever-present in the shadows. On the landing of the main staircase in the House of the Temple, chiseled into the wall, is a quote attributed to Albert Pike that reads, “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” While meaningful in their own right, Pike's words echo a sentiment written 300 years prior by Giordano Bruno: “What you receive from others is a testimony to their virtue; but all that you do for others is the sign and clear indication of your own.” (On the Infinite Universe and Worlds, 1584)

~TS

Travis Simpkins is a freelance artist with clients throughout the United States and Europe. He currently works on projects for the Supreme Council, 33°, NMJ in Lexington, Massachusetts. He also serves as a portrait artist for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Grand Lodge of New Jersey and other jurisdictions across North America. His artwork is in many esteemed collections, including the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum in Independence, Missouri.

Bro. Simpkins is a member of Morning Star Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a 32° Mason in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite- Valleys of Worcester and Boston. He is also a member of Eureka Royal Arch Chapter, Hiram Council of Royal & Select Master Masons and Worcester County Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar.

Star Wars and Freemasonry - 5 Things You've Never Thought Of

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor

RWB:. Michael Jarzabek

Editors Note: I first was introduced to RW Jarzabek a month ago by the master mind behind Masonic Con in Attleboro Massachusetts, Bryan Simmons. Mike Jarzabek is a profound thinker and blew my mind with what he told me about the seemingly insane connections between Star Wars and Freemasonry. Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Mike and record a new episode of "Whence Came You?" podcast where we really dove into some of these ideas. That episode is a couple weeks away, when it goes up, I'll post a link in this article as well. Until then, here's a teaser... 

________________________________________

I'm not saying that George Lucas borrowed Masonic ideas, though he may have.

I'm saying that there are certain ineffable truths which speak to the human soul to which both Star Wars and Freemasonry allude. We will explore five such allusions.

Anakin, Luke, and Hiram as the Master Craftsman:

When we first meet Anakin and Luke we learn that they are both very mechanically inclined. Anakin builds C-3PO from junk parts. Luke repairs him.

When we first see the droid he is without skin. R2-D2 comments that he is naked. When he finally gets skin, it is tarnished brass. Later in the story, he receives gold skin as a gift from Padme.

The Hiram that we meet in the Bible (1 Kings 7:13-14) is the son of a widow sent to cast the bronze furnishings of the temple. In 2 Chronicles 2:13-14, he is said to be, "skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple and blue, fine linen and crimson, and to make any engraving and to accomplish any plan which may be given to him..."

If we, like Vitruvius, interpret the temple to be representative of the human body...

Death Star as the unfinished temple:

The monad or point within a circle has always been a symbol of the creative principle.

The Death Star mirrors this although it is illustrative of the destructive principle.

How can one symbol mean two different things?

In 1 Kings 8:63 we learn that 22,000 oxen and 20,000 sheep and goats were sacrificed to dedicate the temple to the lord.

The Death Star was to designed to serve as a symbol of the strength of the Empire. It was employed to sacrifice planets in the service of maintaining order in the galaxy.

Are the unfinished temple and the unfinished Death Star two sides of the same coin?

Darth Vader as the Tragic Hero:

George Lucas has gone on record proclaiming Anakin as the hero in Star Wars. He is a hero in the tragic sense. He earns redemption through sacrificing himself for his son.

Where is the parallel to Freemasonry? Preston included many literary allusions in the lectures. Among these is a reference to Hamlet's famous soliloquy. Hamlet is one of the best known tragic heroes in literature.

"To be or not to be..."

Broken Column:

In Freemasonry we see the broken column as a symbol of the fragile state of our mortal coil.

In Star Wars we see this symbol in the use of the bacta tank. Both Darth Vader and Luke are seen broken and floating in the healing fluid.

Is this a symbol of our humanity?

Hero's Journey:

George Lucas was influenced heavily by the work of Joseph Campbell who is the author of a book called, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces". After reading this book Lucas intentionally structured Star Wars as a monomyth or hero's journey. What makes Star Wars interesting is that it is hard to identify just one hero or journey. There are multiple heroes each at different points in their journey.

The same can be said for Freemasonry. Throughout the three degrees, reference after reference is made to heroes from history and literature. However, the individual lodge, better than any ritual, represents this principle as we the Masons within it are all on our own hero's journey. At different times in our Masonic career we are the neophyte, the mentor, and the Master.

Whether or not Lucas or Preston intended any of these allusions is immaterial. All that matters is that these allusions speak to us and help us to better understand the world through understanding ourselves.

"May the Force be with you."

~MJ

RWB Michael Jarzabek is a Past Master of Brigham Lodge in Ludlow, Massachusetts. He is a PDDGM of the 28th Masonic District. He currently serves as Chairman of the Lodges of Instruction Committee for the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts.

Hope in the East

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

RWB Michael H. Shirley

There are days when I get depressed with the state of the things, and have trouble finding light anywhere. Today was one of those days, and, as is my wont, I turned for inspiration to Grand Orations of the past. Grand Orator Brother Beryl S. Kinser gave me just what I needed to read:

So, my brothers, let us, as Master Masons, let us always be facing the East, the direction from which comes light, hope, and promise, the bright and golden hours of the future.

In facing the East may we stand erect. The Supreme Architect of the Universe never intended that his workmen should grovel in the dust of negation and debasement or flounder in the gutter of moral disintegration and despair. This truth he impressed upon his prophet Ezekiel, a captive in Babylonia. God spoke to the prophet, prostrate in despair and hopelessness, alongside the Euphrates River, “Son of man, stand on they feet, and I will speak to thee. So may we be on our feet and face the East, standing erect, expectant and hopeful.

And then may we journey toward the East with regular upright steps, knowing full well that God expects of us rectitude of conduct and resolute purpose, for we are responsible and privileged persons, qualified to travel anywhere, to work and to receive wages.

When we journey toward the rising sun we are able to keep alive that glorious spirit which time and change can never make old. We will be moving toward the fulfillment of hope, the realization of better things to come and for us the dawn will come sooner and the light will get brighter….

Go East, old man or young man. Time and age have absolutely nothing to do with it except to provide the opportunity of adding wisdom and grace, dignity, stature and meaning, to life. Go East, man, and live!

There is hope in our gentle Craft, as Brother Kinser noted so eloquently. Sometimes it comes unbidden, without effort, but often it takes looking for it. Today I found it in the 1963 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Look well to the East, Brethren, for there are better days ahead.

~MHS

R.W.B. Michael H. Shirley serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois, A.F. & A.M, as Leadership Development Chairman and Assistant Area Deputy Grand Master of the Eastern Area. A Certified Lodge Instructor, he is a Past Master and Life Member of Tuscola Lodge No. 332 and a plural member of Island City Lodge No. 330, F & AM, in Minocqua, Wisconsin. He is Past Most Wise Master of the George E. Burow Chapter of Rose Croix in the Valley of Danville, IL; he is also a member of the Illinois Lodge of Research, the York Rite, Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees, Eastern Star, Illini High Twelve, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon.The author of several article on British and American history, he teaches at Eastern Illinois University.You can contact him at: m.h.shirley@gmail.com

You Will Never Be Poor Again

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor

Bro. Mark Havener

Sometimes words leap out of my mouth that I only understand the true meaning of later. 

When I was a teenager, I met a carpenter, an old man who told me that he placed a penny in a wall of each house he worked on, so the occupants would never be poor.

As a young man, I realized that there is a difference between being “broke” and “poor.” “Broke” is a temporary situation where your income does not equal or exceed your expenses. “Poor” is a mindset where you defeat yourself before you even begin. I have been broke many times in my life, I have never been poor, or so I thought.

I became a Mason at 49, and joined the officer line that year. When I became Junior Warden the Worshipful Master started a tradition in our lodge where we use a Presidential Dollar coin during the EA degree. Being in Tennessee, we use the coins of Andrew Jackson, James Polk and Andrew Johnson, our three Presidents who were also Masons. We stamp the Square and Compasses on the coin and present it to the newly made brother after the ritual is completed as a memento for him to keep.

When I handed the coin to the first EA during my year as Master, I blurted out, “You will never be poor again.”

It’s taken me a while to fully contemplate what those words mean. We all come to Masonry seeking knowledge and enlightenment. We know there is something just beyond our reach that we need. We don’t know exactly what “it” is, however we know it’s there and it will help us get to where we want to be.

One of the definitions of “poor” is, “deficient in desirable ingredients, qualities, or the like.” I think this is where those words, “You will never be poor again” came from. Because once we are initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry, we now have the foundation to seek out and acquire those desirable qualities.

We have that standard of requiring petitioners to ask to become Masons rather than inviting them for the sole quality of being “inquisitively aggressive.” We require men who are seeking to learn and improve themselves, not to be spoon-fed.

In our FC Charge, we tell the brother, “With a mind enriched with useful knowledge, man is never alone; he has within himself means of enjoyment far preferable to all the pleasures which the haunts of dissipation can afford.”

Brother Benjamin Franklin is also credited with having said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Knowledge, useful knowledge is worth far beyond what we can pay for it in money. 

When you possess useful knowledge, you will never be poor again.

~MH

Compassion and The Craft

by Midnight Freemason Contributor 

WB Adam Thayer

Our world is an ever shrinking place. The distance between me and brothers on the other side of the globe is now only a few mouse clicks. For good or evil, our communications network has expanded to the point that information can go through the news cycle and be forgotten within a single day. In the words of our great Brother Mark Twain, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes”. This has never been more true than today!

In the face of instantaneous communication, it becomes too easy to dehumanize the people we interact with electronically. Seeing others as a collection of characters on a screen, with the occasional icon to represent them, we can quickly forget that there is an actual person, with unique thoughts and feelings behind that representation. As that action becomes habit, it quickly can extend into our interactions with people in the real world as well.

Freemasonry offers us an alternative path through teaching empathy and compassion, although they are not easy lessons to learn. We meet on the level, and most of us assume we show this by treating the janitor the same as the bank president, but there is another, more subtle meaning behind it: we raise others up to the same level we put ourselves on, and treat them the way we expect to be treated. Viewed this way, Freemasonry is another reflection of the underlying golden rule of the universe.

We could spend pages discussing the role of altruism in Freemasonry, but those who understand already know, and those who don’t, never will, so I’ll conclude with a saying from His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama, which has been my ongoing guide for over ten years: “A mind committed to compassion is like an overflowing reservoir - a constant source of energy, determination and kindness. This is like a seed; when cultivated, gives rise to many other good qualities, such as forgiveness, tolerance, inner strength and the confidence to overcome fear and insecurity. The compassionate mind is like an elixir; it is capable of transforming bad situation into beneficial ones. Therefore, we should not limit our expressions of love and compassion to our family and friends. Nor is the compassion only the responsibility of clergy, health care and social workers. It is the necessary business of every part of the human community.”

~AT

Bro. Adam Thayer is the Junior Warden of Lancaster Lodge No 54 in Lincoln (NE) and the Worshipful Master of Oliver Lodge No. 38 in Seward (NE). He’s an active member of the Scottish Rite, and Knight Master of the Lincoln Valley Knights of Saint Andrew. Adam serves on the Education Committee of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. You can contact him at adam.thayer@gmail.com

Light--The Mason's Kingdom

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Adam Thayer

One of the great joys of Freemasonry, for me, is in finding extraordinary beauty in ordinary places. After all, finding the deeper meaning behind everyday symbols is a large part of what modern Masonry was founded on; we took the tools of the common workman and turned them each into a symbol for self discovery and self improvement. Surprisingly, once you begin that search, you’ll find yourself tripping over educational opportunities everywhere you look, and constantly widening the scope that your search covers. Which brings us to The Lion King.

I was bored one Saturday, which is how far too many interesting stories start. In the past, this would have found me sitting on the couch, book in one hand, remote control in the other, looking for decent background noise to read to. This being 2015, the future we were all promised by Robert Zemeckis, I was sitting on the couch, laptop on one knee, Netflix on the television, looking for decent background noise to browse to. Progress!

As my eyes were skimming across “B-Grade” horror movies and 80’s action movies (hey, I never claimed to have good taste), trying to find a movie that wouldn’t require too much of my attention, one movie stood out that just didn’t fit in: The Lion King. It was a movie I hadn’t thought about in years, and I probably wouldn’t have given it a second look on most days, but I was feeling very nostalgic and maudlin, so I decided to press play.

Of course, this isn’t the story of why that’s one of the few Disney movies I can tolerate, nor a scene-by-scene description of me watching it. Instead, it’s an opportunity for me to show that Masonic inspiration can come from unlikely places.

Near the beginning of the movie, there is a scene between two lions, discussing the extent of their kingdom. (You can view the scene here.The adult lion tells his cub that “Everything the light touches is our kingdom” and, just a few sentences later warns him about the shadowy place beyond where the light reaches by saying “That’s beyond our borders, you must never go there.”

That scene came on and my head whipped up so fast you could hear my neck pop. I quite literally rewound and replayed that scene half a dozen times. If they were monitoring my usage, I imagine someone at Netflix thought that a toddler must be playing with the remote control.

As Freemasons, the light itself is our kingdom. The truth, goodness, and warmth of the pure light is not only our constant joy, but our responsibility to uphold and protect. That light is what enables us to improve ourselves, and isn’t it our job to spread light as far as we can? Not through preaching or proselytizing, but through our lives and actions toward others.

As for the shadowy place, that represents those things which, as Masons, we should never do. Of course, just a few scenes later, the young cub finds a way to go directly to the place he knows he shouldn’t go, and it nearly kills him. I wouldn’t be surprised if more than once a Mason has found himself at risk for doing something that he knew he shouldn’t.

In Masonic terms, there is a point within a circle, the borders of which we must never allow our passions to take us past. The specific symbols we used may have been different from Disney’s, but the meaning behind each is the same; control yourself, keep your passions within certain boundaries, and remember that you put yourself at risk if you cross those boundaries.

As a bonus, there was one line of dialogue in between those two that I skipped, but would like to revisit. The adult lion tells his cub “A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king.” What if, instead of “king” we said “Worshipful Master”? Is not our time as ruler of the lodge equally short?

I could probably write a whole book on Masonic allegory found in Disney movies, but that wasn’t the point. My goal was simply to get you to start looking for allegory in unexpected places, and using it to broaden or refine your current understanding, and if I’ve sparked an interest in you, I’ll consider this a success.

Keep searching for more light!

~AT

Bro. Adam Thayer is the Junior Warden of Lancaster Lodge No 54 in Lincoln (NE) and the Worshipful Master of Oliver Lodge No. 38 in Seward (NE). He’s an active member of the Scottish Rite, and Knight Master of the Lincoln Valley Knights of Saint Andrew. Adam serves on the Education Committee of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. You can contact him at adam.thayer@gmail.com

What is the Masonic Society?

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB. Gregory J. Knott

      Like many newly raised Freemasons, I was seeking to learn as much as I could about the fraternity.  I spent hours poring over internet sites and reading digitized books of old masonic works.    One night I came upon The Masonic Society (TMS).   The Masonic Society was just getting started, having been formed by a prominent group of Freemasons from around the world.  There were many familiar names such as Christopher Hodapp, Brent Morris, Robert Lomas and Rex Hutchens.

      The group had developed a website and was inviting perspective members to join.  The only requirement was to be a Master Mason within a lodge recognized by the Conference of Grand Masters of North America.   I filled out the on-line application and became a Founding Member of The Masonic Society in 2008.

So exactly what is the purpose of TMS?  As stated on their website:

“A significant group of passionate Masons have joined together to create what is now the fastest growing research society in Freemasonry. Called simply The Masonic Society, we are brothers who have a deep and abiding desire to seek knowledge, explore history, discover symbolism, debate philosophies, and in short, who are at the forefront of charting a path for the future of Freemasonry.”

      What are the benefits of joining such an illustrious group?  Your membership fee includes one of the finest Masonic Journals in existence today – The Journal of the Masonic Society.  This journal features original written articles on the history of freemasonry, masonic philosophy, news from happenings in the craft, etc.   The current Editor is Michael Halleran who follows Christopher Hodapp, who retired earlier this year.

      Additionally you qualify to join the on-line TMS forum.  This forum contains a wealth of information that has been contributed by some of the most active brothers in Freemasonry today.   Have a question?  Put up a post and you will have your questions answered shortly.

      TMS holds an annual meeting at Masonic Week and their hospitality room is the place to be to meet brethren from around the world.   The conversations are excellent and the drinks aren’t too bad also.

      TMS is now celebrating their fifth year and as a special gift to new members, TMS is offering a special fifth anniversary jewel.  This jewel was designed by John Bridegroom, who creates amazing masonic works.  

      I am extremely proud to be a part of this group of Brothers.  The knowledge I have gained has been invaluable in learning more about the craft.

Find The Masonic Society on the net at www.themasonicsociety.com, you will be glad you joined.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL). He's a member of both the Scottish Rite, and the York Rite, and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club in Champaign-Urbana. He's also a member of the Ansar Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts--an Eagle Scout himself, he serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M. as their representative to the National Association of Masonic Scouters.