There Are No Strangers

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Steve Harrison, PM, FMLR

It could have been any town, anywhere.  Where it was doesn’t matter.  It was just a new town to me, interesting but unfamiliar.  On Saturday, my wife, Carolyn, and I drove around this new place.  Among other things, we discovered a beautiful, ornate church.  We decided to attend the next morning.

The following day we put on, as they say, our Sunday finest and headed for the church.  It was a wonderful old building, made of limestone with carvings and gizmos everywhere.  We stayed outside for a while, walked around it, admired it.

Inside, everything was new to us, but somehow familiar, comfortable.  The greeters were quick to recognize us as visitors and just as quick to welcome us as if we were old friends.  We shook hands, talked and smiled.  They walked us down the hall and into the sanctuary.  As I entered, a colossal pipe organ, too large, too magnificent for this small, unfamiliar town filled my field of vision.  The breathtaking organ gazed down upon old elaborate pews.  On top of everything else, the sanctuary was filled with Christmas decorations.  Garland hung from the rafters.  Stars twinkled.  A manger flanked a huge over-decorated Christmas tree.

This was a House of God.

Carolyn and I slid into our seats.  We shared more smiles and handshakes with people around us.

The choir boomed, announcing the start of the service.  We sang.  We prayed.  We greeted each other.  We listened.  In a quiet moment, I sat back and simply admired the place. 

Suddenly, while I was soaking it all in, I felt something hit my right shoulder.  I looked aside and out of the corner of my eye I saw a hand.  I moved back for a better view and saw the hand was holding a piece of paper.  I took the paper, opened it and read.

“I saw the square and compasses on your lapel…” 

He told me his name, his wife’s name, his Lodge, the offices he had held.  I had his entire Masonic CV scribbled on the note in front of me.  At the end he asked, “What about you?”

On the back of the note I told him all about me, my wife was named Carolyn, my Lodge, I was in the officers’ line, I knew the “Letter G” and Second Degree Charge.  I handed the note back to him.

In a few minutes, here it came again.  Did I know so-and-so?  Why were we in town?  I answered his questions and asked a little bit about him.

There we sat, two grown men, in this magnificent House of God, in this inspiring service, passing notes like a couple of grade school kids – and becoming friends, all because of a simple square and compasses pin and the bond, the brotherhood it signified.  When you are a Mason, in the company of Masons, there are no strangers.

~SH

Steve Harrison, 32° KCCH, is a Past Master of Liberty Lodge #31, Liberty, Missouri.  He is the editor of the Missouri Freemason magazine, author of the book Freemasonry Crosses the Mississippi, a Fellow of the Missouri Lodge of Research and also its Senior Warden.  He is a dual member of Kearney Lodge #311, St. Joseph Missouri Valley of the Scottish Rite, Liberty York Rite, Moila Shrine and is a member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor.

The Freedom Trail: Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

W. B. Gregory J. Knott 

This is the 2nd installment in Greg Knott's Freedom Trail series 

 

W. B. Knott tries out the East at the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

I began my Masonic journey in Boston along the Freedom Trail at the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Being the birthplace of organized Freemasonry in America, it was no surprise that an elegant and historic building would be home to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

We were greeted warmly when we came into the building and I was offered a tour right away, which was a pleasant surprise.  The entire building is occupied by Masonic bodies, including Grand Lodge offices, Blue Lodges, Scottish Rite and York Rite.

Entering the first floor, you will find a welcoming lobby with several displays telling the story of Massachusetts Freemasonry.  Our tour guide was an older brother who was a Past Master of one the lodges meeting in the building.  He knew a great deal about the building’s history and was able to give us a great deal of information.

On the second floor, we visited a lodge room the Egyptian Hall that was as its name suggests a themed room.  The Grand Lodge offices and Samuel Crocker Lawrence Library were also on this level.

The third floor contains the executive office of the Grand Master and the spectacular Corinthian Hall.  Outside of Corinthian is a replica of the bunch of grapes that hung outside the door of the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston.  This was the place that the first grand lodge was organized by Henry Price. 

Egyptian Hall

Corinthian Hall features many symbolic items, including a starry decked heaven (ceiling), a statue in each corner that represent Faith, Hope, Charity and Wisdom.  These were sculpted by M. Sala of Boston.  Each statue has a painting above it; Faith – George Washington, Hope – Joseph Warren, Charity - Marquis de LaFayette and Wisdom - Benjamin Franklin. On the walls are numerous paintings of Past Grand Masters and an ornate organ on the north wall. 

In the next installment, we will continue our visit to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and visit the upper floors, including Tuscan Hall, Doric Hall and a Chamber of reflection.

~GK

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). 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.

Ian Fleming: Freemason Or Not?

Sean Connery as James B

James Bond movies are celebrating 50 years just in time for the release of the much anticipated 23rd Bond movie Skyfall.  The new movie has already broken every record previously existing when it opened overseas last week.  And many were pleased to hear that Daniel Craig has signed on to two more films!  Without question, there are few film heros more iconic than 007--and few movies that are more anticipated than a new James Bond movie.  Everyone has a favorite Bond.  Everyone has a favorite Bond movie.  Everyone has a favorite "Bond girl."  Bond movies are part of our fabric now--we all know "M" and "Q" and "Moneypenny."

I remember the first Bond movies I saw in the theater--it was Octopussy.  I've been hooked ever since--and my wife is a huge fan as well, and while she leans towards Connery as her favorite, and I've always like Moore, we both agree that Daniel Craig may very well wind up being both our favorite in the end.  We plan on finding a sitter, and going to do something we don't get to do much--have a date night and see a new James Bond movie.

Author Ian Fleming

There have been rumors for years that James Bond novelist Ian Fleming was a Freemason.  There was a book written by Philip Gardiner released a few years ago called The Bond Code that even suggested the books and movies used Freemason symbolism and themes . . . no doubt many Masonic conspiracy theorists believe Freemasonry is actually a lot like SPECTRE.  I've watched all the movies, and I'm sorry, I just don't see any "secret society" themes or symbolism--none.  And I have looked for it--it's just not there.

As far as Ian Fleming goes--sadly, there's no evidence he was ever a Freemason.

~TEC

A Chance Encounter

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Sir Knight Robert Johnson, 32°

As some of you know, I recently lost my dad. It was kind of sudden and overall just a strange circumstance. We hadn’t talked in four years. After he passed I let the podcast go dark for a week and flew out to Los Angeles to meet my uncle and drive up to Mammoth Lakes California for a weekend of photography. We hadn’t picked up our cameras in some time.

The drive was about six hours but, it was much needed six hours of silence and chit chat between a nephew and an uncle. My uncle is about ten years older than I am, so you could say in an odd family dynamic sort of way, we were more like brothers, especially since I lived with him for quite some time as a young man.

About four hours into the drive, I drove through a small town’s Main St., lined with the flag of our country, which was also US 395 and noticed a Square and Compasses over the door of a moderately large building which also looked like a normal home in some respects. No sooner had I said something, my uncle said “Hey, remember this town and on the way back lets stop by so you can check it out.”. I agreed.

Now I could tell you all about the fantastic sights and photographs, but that’s another blog post. Let’s fast forward to the drive home. So, of course I forgot the name of the town and I was furiously searching my maps application on my iPhone in “No Service” zones for Masonic lodges off the US 395. We came first to a town that said there was a lodge in it by the town marker as we rode in. I figured this was the town, but it wasn’t. That didn’t stop me from hopping out and walking around the town looking for the lodge that I eventually found. Winnedumah lodge 287 in Bishop CA, was a really cool find. It was not only the Blue lodge, but the York Rite and Scottish Rite meeting place as well. After some pictures, I hopped back in the car and we drove off.

There was still the problem of the lodge I saw from the road. I was ready to call off the search and say forget it. But after just 30 miles, there it was, Inyo Lodge 221. As we parked and I walked up to it, I noticed the sign on the actual door was that for a cafe`. In any case the door was open and I thought I would ask the proprietor about the building, but upon entering I noticed that the lodge was still there and was indeed operational. When you first walk in, you can walk forward into the cafe`, or turn right and go up the stairs to the lodge! So I began to take a couple pictures of the landing on the stairwell when I decided to again go ask the proprietor about the lodge upstairs.

At this point I should tell you I was wearing a white t-shirt with a Square and Compasses on it the size of the entire front of the shirt. The wording on it said “Master Dad” and on the back has the degree dates as my kids birthdays. Anyway, there were two people sitting in the cafe finishing up a meal, one of whom looked at me and smiled. He was wearing a jewel sized necklace around his neck of, you guessed it, the Square and Compasses. I immediately walked up to him, shook his hand and we made introductions.

I asked him if this was his lodge, and he replied “No, I was just passing through and noticed the Square and Compasses on the building.” To which I replied the same. It was a chance encounter for sure! Two Freemasons both just passing through the Inyo Valley, who both stopped in at the same Cafe because of the symbol over the doorway. At this point the clerk came over to us and handed the keys to the lodge room upstairs. She then said “Go have a look.”. So the brother I had met actually knew some of the history about this lodge and told me how this lodge and the previous one I mentioned earlier joined together and kept both buildings. They did this to have meetings and go back and forth every other month so that members didn't feel like they were the ones to always drive thirty miles.

After walking around for a bit, we both locked up the lodge and left at the same time. My uncle was excited for me that I was able to actually go inside. It turned out to be a highlight to an amazing weekend. From now on, whenever I am traveling I will take pictures of the lodges I find. Feel free to email me pictures of your lodges, or lodges you find out on the road!

~SKRJ

Sir Knight Robert Johnson, 32° is a Freemason out of the First North-East District of Illinois. He belongs to Waukegan Lodge No. 78. He is also a member of the York Rite bodies Royal Arch, Cryptic Council and Knights Templar, and a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago.  Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts a weekly Podcast (internet radio program) Whence Came You? which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. In addition, he produces video shorts focusing on driving interest in the Fraternity and writes original Masonic papers from time to time. He is a husband and father of three. He works full time in the safety industry and is also a photographer on the side as well as an avid home brewer. He is also working on two books, one is of a Masonic nature.