Green Mountain Freemason 2012.01

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMASON 1 SPRING 6012, A. .L. .

Spring 6012 A..L..

CONTENTS

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN

FREEMASON

Editor: Christopher B. Murphy

Contributors: Roger Crouse, Brian Croteau, Robert Danaher, Ray Denslow, Matthew Engels, Robb Fox, Chris Johnson, Alex Lehning, Carl Michael, Phil Morton, Chris Murphy, Cedric Smith, JSM Ward

Conversion Man: David R. Young Grand Lodge Officers: M..W. . Grand Master Philip W. Morton

R. .W.. D..G..M. . Roger L. Crouse R. .W.. G..S. .W. . Errol E. Hinton R. .W.. G..J. .W.. George Deblon M..W. . G.. Treas. Ted Corsones, R. .W.. G.. Sec. Palmer E. Martin R. .W.. G..S. .D.. Joseph Sampson R. .W.. G..J. .D.. Roger Burr

www.vtfreemasons.org

Spring 6012, A. .L.. , Vol. 33, No. 1

We Have Nothing to Fear: the Irrelevancy of the Anti-Masonic Movement Bro.. Chris Murphys analysis of the common denominator between all those who stand against the Craft: their failures.

Masonic Mediations

Bro.. Alex Lehning provides a moment of reflection for the Craft.

Goodnight, Irene

Bro.. Robert Danahers report of the flood recovery efforts lead and orchestrated by the Brethren of Mad River Lodge No. 77, Free and Accepted Masons.

The Anti-Masonic Movement of the 18th Century,

Bro.. Brian Croteaus examination of the Masonic dark ages and the Anti-Masonic Party in the wake of William Morgans exposure.

From The Grand East Regular comments from our Most Worshipful Grand Master

The Five Hirams in the Bible

Part 1 of a serialized excerpt from Bro.. J.S.M. Wards 1925 work, Who Was Hiram Abiff?

The Green Mountain Freemason is published tri-annually by the Pub-lishing Board and is the only official publication of the Grand Lodge of Vermont.

You may contact the Editor at: Phone: (802) 735-6000 E-mail: [email protected] Mail: Bennington Masonic Temple 504 Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201 Publication Office: Grand Lodge of Vermont, 49 East Road-Berlin, Barre, VT 05641-5390 Postmaster: Please send address changes to the Publication Office. Publication Dates: Scheduled for late-January, late-May, and late-September, but that rarely seems to happen. Please submit materials by the 15th day of the month prior to publication. Subscriptions: The Green Mountain Freemason is mailed or e-mailed to ever member of this Masonic Jurisdic-tion. For non-members, please contact the Editor.

Temple Chapter No. 8 Revitalized Bro. . David Young reports on the new fire of a 200 year old Institution.

Washburn, Fletcher awarded with Shryock Medal The G. .L. . Of Maryland recognizes the Masonic contributions of two of our Past Grand Masters.

The Deputy Grand Master

A dispatch from R. .W. . Roger Crouse, D. .G. .M. . For the Grand Lodge of Vermont.

Hurricane Cousins

Bro.. Chris Johnson reports on the efforts of New Orleans, Louisiana Gives Back to aid Vermont in the wake of Irene.

Faces of Vermont Masonry

Scenes of Brotherhood and Fellowship from around the Green Mountain State.

Early Masonic Catechisms: The Edinburgh House Register MS Reprinting a 1696 Masonic ritual and catechism, as part of this papers on-going efforts to preserve these ancient workings.

CONTENTS

The Anti-Masonic Movement of the 21st Century Bro.. Matthew Engless examination of contemporary Anti-Masonic voices and messages

Dear Brothers of the Mystic Tie, This evening, after my sons had gone to bed, and after my wife (who was feeling under the weather) retired, I was about to do some much needed tidying of the house. But I was struck by a thought: what if the four Cardinal Virtues cor-responded to the four elements of nature, and what if those corresponded to the four purposes of Speculative Masonry as delineated in the Mid-dle Chamber lecture. I turned on my computer to jot down some thoughts. At nearly the same time, I received a text from a Brother. I told him what I was doing, and he quipped, Why not link the four cardinal directions into it while youre at it. So I did. Three hours passed, and although no housework was done, I had had a Masonic epiphany. I saw connections that I hadnt before perceived. I learned a lesson imbedded within the teachings and symbolism of our beloved Craft that I had never before heard uttered. Perhaps this dawn-ing is only significant to me. Maybe Ive over-looked some major and obvious aspect of our arts, parts, and points that renders my musings as meaningless. But maybe I touched on some-thing great. Have you ever had such an awakening? Have you ever been struck by a connection between aspects of the Craft and had a yearning to de-velop it more fully? Well, my Brothers, there is no better place to share those labors than in the pages of your Green Mountain Freemason. I ask each of you to take some time and send your writings, your musings, to this paper. Your ef-forts neednt be complete, and they neednt be earth-shaking. They need only to be bourn from your love of our Ancient Institution, and from your desire to help others find more Light in Ma-sonry. I look forward to seeing your contribu-tion. And now, I really should at least get the living room cleaned up. ~Bro. . Chris Murphy, Editor

From the Editor

Common Stock of Knowledge and E-Masonry

Best of Masonry in print and on-line

Miscellaneous

Bits and pieces and odds and ends of this and that from here and there.


My Brothers, How fast life can change. One late Octo-ber day I had a small pain in my back which I attributed to a small muscle tear from splitting wood. A few short weeks later I was diagnosed with three cancer-ous tumors, one in my spine, one in the femur of my left leg and a third in the bone of my right shoulder. Going from someone in good health to an invalid in such a short time is quite an emotional shock. The biggest thing that I am thank-ful for is the strong support of my family, especially my wife Marie, my church fam-ily and the rock upon which we all rely on, our Masonic Fraternity. I am so grate-ful for all the cards, phone calls and offers to help in my time of need. First, I want to thank Palmer Martin, for the trips to my house to ensure documents were signed on a timely basis. Thanks go out to Tom Johnston, Palmer, Errol and George for meeting here to start planning for June's Grand Lodge session. Doctors orders had me clear my calendar of all meetings. I needed to fight this cancer with everything I had. I made a goal to myself that I would make Vermont Day in Sarasota, Florida on March 14th. It took some doing, but my Doctors have agreed to the trip as long as that is the only thing I do while in Florida and the rest is vacation. I should recognize Marty Branch, Grand Marshal, for helping Marie with the preparations for Vermont Day. Taking that task off from her shoulders was an immense help for all of us. Being with our Snow Birds" will be a special treat for me. Marty is going to meet us at the airport when we arrive. Afterwards, a few days of sunny R & R. For anyone who has had severe back pain, you know just how hard it is to sit and get off from a standard toilet. I was no excep-tion to this rule and the pain was beyond belief. Thank you goes out to my lodge Brothers Bob Gockel and Vince Comegno for help ing Marie buy a high rise and installing it after work.

I was taking daily radiation every morning for three weeks. These treatments made me sick and I lost 40 lbs. After one very diffi cult day of radiation, I was trying to keep what little I had on my stomach, I received a card from a couple vacationing in Ari- zona. It was one of many that just struck my funny bone and I couldn't help but laugh. Talk about a pick - me- up at a diffi cult time!!! These acts of kindness go beyond one say- ing thank you. We all know that the Fra ternity is there, but until you are on the r e ceiving end of its love and support, only then can you fully appreciate it. This epi sode has taught me that there are many others in this world a lot worse off than I am. My recovery will be slow, but it is full of hope. My calendar had to be reduced to nothing and I ask all of you to bear with me as I slowly recover to get back to full speed.

At the end of the month, I plan to publish General Order #2. This year General Order #2 will contain all the known Masons running for office. I want to remind everyone that any qualified member can be nominated from the floor for any office. This list is intended to give everyone a "heads up" on those seeking an office. We revised the process and application for Masonic relief to a needy Brother, his Widow and or Orphan. We have used this process and we can now turn around a request in a matter of days instead of weeks and in some cases months. The new forms are available from the Grand Lodge Office. The legisla-tion restructures the duties of the Relief Committee and that of the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Secretary. Thank you for all your concern and God Bless. Every day I thank God for the privilege of serving you as your Grand Mas-ter.

MOST WORSHIPFUL PHIL MORTON, GRAND MASTER


I want to thank all Brothers and lodges for their words of encour-agement, thoughts and prayers for both me and my wife, Judy, since I was hospitalized with a stroke on

August 28th. Let me briefly share a short timeline: On Friday, the 26th, my daughter, from Philadelphia, and I climbed Camels Hump. That evening, I drove alone (my wife in my daughters car) to my other daughters place in Massachusetts. On Satur-day, the four of us went to Fenway Park. The Red Sox won that game, 9-3. With Irene, working her way up the coast, I drove us back to our camp in Williston on Sunday morning rather than stay at my daughters until later that day. I had the stroke about six hours after arrival at camp. The stroke has actually been de-scribed by the physician as plural - a burst of small clots, hit-ting me in several places. I thank God: For not driving at the time; for not being alone at camp; for Judy being there and knowing what to do (she is a medical professional); for the ambulance being able to get around fallen trees and get me to the hospital in time (20 min-utes to spare) so I could get the shot only given within 3 hours of a stroke event; for being here; and for being as healthy as I am. I have also received many cards, meals, yard work and other help around the house and camp. Thank you! My Mother-In-Law, now 89, was a prominent employee at the local bank in her town prior to retirement, and knows everyone in town and elsewhere. So, Judy was impressed and complimen-tary to me when I first got home after nearly 3 weeks in the hos-pital: She said: Youve received more cards than my mother did when she had her heart attack So, if you see her, and this topic comes up, let her know I appreciated that complement. I think all of us feel invincible until stricken by some illness, disease or catastrophe of some sort that does not permit us to continue in our work. This is also true as we look at our membership in Masonry. Each of us, while we are able, should focus on replacing our-selves. Look for that man whom we can endorse as a future member in the fraternity. Just think where our Fraternity would be in Vermont if each Brother in this jurisdiction brought in one

new member. Our membership would double! And there are simple places we can go to find a new member and our replace-ment! Each of us knows another man be it in church, at work, in the community, or some other local venue. You know already if the man is of good repute and has good values - a good man that masonry can make better. Tell him the value of masonry and what it has meant to you I sure can! Seek his interest. Our investigating committee process will determine best fit. And I have to believe that each of us knows, or can find, one such man. And consider a Friendship Night for prospective candidates, as will be held by Mt Mansfield Lodge on October 25th. There is another opportunity for increasing our membership DeMolay. Vermont has 9 DeMolay chapters the largest grow-ing DeMolay jurisdiction, per capita, in the world! There is no guarantee that a DeMolay boy will become a Mason, but con-sider who a DeMolay boy is. How many here are Senior DeMo-lays? How many have become honorary DeMolay members? What draws a young man to DeMolay aside from, perhaps, prodding by a father or other male relative who has been a De-Molay or is a mason. It is different from sports or a school club, Here is an organization that is focused on building a young mans character: religious, family, fidelity, comradeship, patriot-ism, to name a few of that organizations precepts. The young man, who looks for something different from an organization, that which DeMolay offers, is clearly someone who might fit within Masonry. And we need more DeMolay chapters in Vermont and more advisors. Every larger town, maybe not every town with a lodge (though that is a noble objective) should have a DeMolay oppor-tunity for young men. And, they are our future - a great resource pool for us. Thanks for your support sent in my direction over the last cou-ple of months. And I charge each of you to seek more Masonic members in our communities, and grow our DeMolay presence. Do it for those other men, do it for the boys, do it for you, do it for the Brother sitting next to you, do it for DeMolay, do it for our jurisdiction, do it for Masonry.

The following is R..W.. Roger Crouses, D..G. .M. . address to the Brethren assembled at the District 5 Annual Communication.


(Note: the illustrations for this article are taken from Freemasonry Ex-posed: Illustrations of Masonry, by William Morgan, but have been ed-ited so as we may stand to and abide by our Obligations. Ed.)

I n 1824 a man named William Morgan arrived in Batavia, New York, a small town halfway between Rochester and Ni-agara Falls, in the extreme western part of the state. He was an itinerant worker from Virginia, and said to have been a captain in the army during the War of 1812. He convinced the masons of the local lodge that he, too, was a mason, though no records have ever been discovered, either in New York or Virginia, to confirm that. He attended lodge meet-ings, made speeches, and offered to sign a petition to establish a Royal Arch Chapter. About that time, his Masonic regularity came into question and his name was removed from the petition. Morgan took offense to this, and to questions about his personal habits, such as his excessive drinking and failure to adequately care for his family, that had brought his status as a mason into suspicion. In March 1826 he announced that he had a contract to publish an expos of Freemasonry. Indeed, he bragged about it. At about the same time he began to have trouble with his credi-tors. He was accused of theft, tried, but acquitted. He was ar-rested for debt but released when an unknown person paid the debt for him. As he was released from jail he was hustled into a coach against his will by several men, held briefly in an old fort over 100 miles away, and then never seen again. New York governor DeWitt Clinton, a mason, offered a reward for Morgans discovery and return, if alive, and, if murdered, a larger reward for the capture of those responsible. A body was discovered in October 1827 which was initially identified as Mor-gans by his wife, despite a disparity in body size and recognizing neither the clothing nor pocket contents. At about the same time another woman claimed the body might be that of her husband, and

conclusively identified the remains by clothing, pocket contents, body size (distinctly smaller man than Morgan), and teeth. No further evidence of William Morgan was ever found. Ultimately, the Morgan Affair is neither about Morgans death or disappearance nor about masonry in general. Early nine-teenth century society had developed a suspicion of secrets, things withheld from the general public, regardless of reason. This suspicion easily incorporated all secret societies, secret oaths, and included not only Freemasonry but the Odd Fellows and other, similar fraternal organizations. Additionally, the Morgans situation before his disappearance certainly made it look like there was Masonic involvement. Perception does some-times speak louder than reality. In western New York a new political party was formed to run candidates in the 1828 elections. One sprang up in Pennsyl-vania as well, and captured the governorship, several U.S. con-gressional seats, and a majority in both houses of the state legis-lature. The 1828 presidential election was between incumbent John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Jackson, a mason, swept the election, despite widespread and vocal complaint of his fra-ternal membership. Adams subsequent well-publicized dislike of Freemasonry likely sprang from his defeat for a second term. The Anti-Masonic Party ran a candidate in the 1832 election, primarily to unseat Andrew Jackson. Curiously, their candi-date, William Wirt, was a mason, who neither renounced his membership nor embraced the political platform of the party un-der which he was running. The political party aspect of the movement sputtered out by the mid-1830s, but some animosity against Freemasonry continued into the 1840s. In several states, especially in the north and northwest, many individual lodges and grand lodges went dark

for years as mem-bers hid their af-filiation with Free-masonry from sus-


picious neighbors. New York State saw a drop in membership from about 20,000 in 1824 to less than 3,000 only six years later. A notable exception was a new lodge in Michigan which received dispensation for a charter in early 1828, but the Michigan Grand Lodge suspended activity before the actual document was pro-duced. Undeterred, the lodge met every month, often in secret, for several years, and is still active as Stoney Creek Lodge #5, Roch-ester, Michigan. It advertises it-self as the oldest continually op-erating lodge in the state.

An incident in Iowa in the mid-1840s reflected the softening shift in public attitude regarding Freemasonry. A Methodist minister, a mason, was told by the state-level general confer-ence of the church to resign his membership in the masons to make himself more effective in the church. Here is his reply:

I haveI believedextended my usefulness, without violation of my vows to the Church, by becoming aFreemason. Now you demand I renounce [it] or retire from the Church It is not for me to question whether that requirement is right or wrong, wise or just, so at your bidding (here the minister paused) I sepa-rate myself from the Methodist Episcopal Church.

There was silence at the conference. One of those who had originated the demand stood up and walked over to the minis-ter.

My brother, there must be something good about Free-masonry, or you, whom we all love so well, would not ad-here to it so tenaciously. I want to be a Freemason. Will you recommend me and present my petition to your lodge?

Various politicians of the 1820s and 30s who later rose to na-tional prominence were involved in the Anti-Masonry move-ment, including Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, and Wil-liam Seward and Thurlow Weed of New York. In every situa-tion it is evident that their work against Freemasonry had little or nothing to do with the fraternity, but was politics as usual started at the local level and elevated to the national stage.

Thaddeus Stevens would be a prominent Republican senator during the American Civil War, staunchly anti-southern, but in the 1820s and 30s he was at the state level. In the early 1840s he convinced the state legislature to hold hearings on the evils of Masonry. Subpoenas were issued against many of the leading masons in the state but most refused to testify. A notable exception was George M. Dallas, Grand Master in Pennsylvania in 1834, who not only testified but, with consid-erable eloquence and mastery of the subject, proceeded to tear apart every anti-Masonic argument. Dallas would go on to serve as vice-president of the United States under President James K. Polk (1845-49).

By the time Stevens held his hearings, public opinion had al-ready turned in favor of the fraternity and the hearings ac-complished nothing.

Freemasonry continues under attack to this very day. A re-cent book by Arturo de Hoyos, Grand Archivist and Grand Historian for the Scottish Rite Supreme Council, 33, South-ern Jurisdiction, Is It True What They Say About Freema-sonry?, exposes the seemingly countless arguments against and attacks on the fraternity, carefully and precisely debunk-ing every one, with full research citations.

What we do that is away from the public eye, simply because it is unknown, takes on an air of mystery and intrigue among those who are of a suspicious nature. Many of the cranks and charlatans exposed by de Hoyos and others are utterly igno-rant of the Craft, apparently of a temperament given to con-spiracy theories and sweeping assumptions.

I have always been proud to be a mason. On the other hand, over the years I have rarely advertised it. That has changed for me since becoming active again in the past year. More of-ten than not, it is my lodge hat I choose to wear when I go out. And, more often than not, I am stopped by someone who is ei-ther a mason or who had a well-regarded family member who

was. It is the texture of our character, such as that minister from Iowa, that recommends us and our frater-nity to the world in which we live.


T he perception of Freemasonry by non-Masons has always been one of confusion and misperceptions; the advent of films such as the DaVinci Code, American Treasure and The Man Who Would Be King have only served to deepen the gulf between what we as Masons know freemasonry to be and what non-Masons per-ceive it as. Hitler himself condemned Masonry based on the fraudulent "Protocols of the Elders of Zion." Known Freemason in the Third Reich were arrested and interred in concentration camps and forced to wear inverted red triangles identifying them as Freemasons. It is estimated that between 80,000 and 200,000 freemasons were killed due to their affiliation. In 1980, the Iraqi legal and penal code was changed by Saddam Hussein and the ruling Ba'ath Party, thereby making it a felony to "promote or acclaim Zionist principles, including freemasonry, or who associ-ate [themselves] with Zionist organizations." The continuing evolution of mass media, more specifically the internet, has created an environment rich for misinterpretation, and frankly, flat-out deception on the part of individuals and groups who perceive freemasonry as a "secret society", a "conspiracy," and a "religion." For the most part, many of these naysayers hold little signifi-cance in the larger realm of things; their shrill cries of "devil-worshippers" and "atheists" fall on the ears of a select and small audience. But some of these persons have created a web presence that quite frankly, contains the type of information that is star-tling both in its range and depth. The relationship of masonry and religion has always been an un-easy one. From a fundamentalist standpoint, Masonry creates the type of insular organization that most fundamentalist church tend to discourage; that is, their message is one of unity and the larger group as a whole. But for some religions, such as the Catholic Church, the perspective is clear, and not open to inter-pretation. Simply put, a Catholic shall not be a freemason under penalty of excommunication from the Church. According to the Catholic Canon Law of 1917, the Catholic Church considers free-masonry to be a "parallel religion." To quote the Catholic Ency-clopedia:

"Freemasonry is incompatible with the Catholic faith. Freemasonry teaches a naturalistic religion that espouses indifferentism, the position that a person can be equally pleasing to God while remaining in any religion. Masonry is a parallel religion to Christianity. The New Catholic En-cyclopedia states, "Freemasonry displays all the elements of religion, and as such it becomes a rival to the religion of the Gospel. It includes temples and altars, prayers, a moral code, worship, vestments, feast days, the promise of reward and punishment in the afterlife, a hierarchy, and initiative and burial rites" (vol. 6, p. 137)."

The Catholic Church also considers Masonry to be a primary enemy of the Catholic Church stating that "historically, one of Masonry's primary objectives has been the destruction of the C.C...especially true of Freemasonry...in certain European coun-tries...it espouses a naturalistic religion that contradicts ortho-dox Christianity." It is this last point that other, more funda-mentalist groups have seized upon; the concept of Freemasonry as a separate, parallel religion with its adherents worshipping other that the "One True God." The most interesting website I have discovered regarding this position is called "Ephesians 5:11." The biblical quotation that the website's title comes from is as follows: "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."

This website is administered by an organization called Ex-Masons For Jesus and states that its primary goal is to lead ma-sons away from the Masonic Lodge. It offers a variety of medias directed towards this goals, including testimonials from former Worshipful Masters and 33rd degree Masons who were saved and gave testimony. For a small fee the site also offers CD-ROMs with films of recreated rituals both in Blue Lodges and Prince Hall lodges featuring former Masons, as well as texts, lectures and various theological sources condemning the "evil" of Freemasonry.

The site also contains illustrations and texts of all three degrees, including the passwords and grips, taken directly from "Duncan's

Ritual of Masonry." Another popular site is


"Freemasonry Watch: Monitoring The Invisible Empire, The World's Largest Secret Society. This site in interesting mostly in its collection of photographs denoting "hidden" messages in Ma-sonic symbology. However, the author quickly deviates to define Masonry as the "Temple which Cain raised" and shows a picture of a child's Halloween pitchfork with the quotation:

"In all the temples of the Masonic Orders, there is truly the Smoke of Satan and he who he has duped and de-mented."

However, since the website equally condemns Freemasonry, the Pope, and The Simpsons, one cannot be too concerned with his influence. Finally, one of my personal favorites, the discussion of the Free-masons as the architects and propagators of the "New World Or-der." This website, called Cutting Edge.Org is administered by Cutting Edge Ministries and is fascinating in its scope and breadth of information from the perspective of an anti-Masonic watchgroup. They do in fact warn us, "You will be shocked by what you read about the occult nature of this organization and it's New World Order Connections." They offer such topics as: YES VIRGINIA, FREEMASONRY IS A RELIGION; SYMBOLS PROVE INVISIBLE FRATERNITY OF FREEMASONRY IS SATANIC!!; FORMER ILLUMINIST WITCH REVEALS STRONG WITCHCRAFT TIE TO FREEMA-SONRY And the one we shall briefly discuss here: FREEMASONRY -- TWO ORGANIZATIONS, ONE VISIBLE, THE OTHER INVISIBLE

This is a short article we hope every Mason will read be-fore he begins to read any of our other articles. There is a Masonic organization out there most of you know nothing of, even if you are a 33rd Degree Mason.

This website explores the concept of circles within circles...the concept being that the elite leaders in Freemasonry (i.e. those who "know) within are insulated by an outer circle of naive, Christian men:

Freemasonry is a fraternity within a fraternity -- an outer organization concealing an inner brotherhood of the elect ... it is necessary to establish the existence of these two separate and yet interdependent orders, the one visi-ble and the other invisible. The visible society is a splendid camaraderie of 'free and accepted' men enjoined to devote themselves to ethical, educational, fraternal, patriotic, and humanitarian concerns. The invisible society is a secret and most August [defined as 'of majestic dignity, gran-

deur'] fraternity whose members are dedicated to the ser-vice of a mysterious arcannum arcandrum [defined as 'a secret, a mystery']. [Hall, Lectures on Ancient Philosophy, p. 433]

The author considers the sinister aspect to be most diabolical in that the inner circle, worshipping in their pagan fashion pro-tects themselves with true Christian Masons:

If a man were known to revere Jesus Christ in the begin-ning of his membership within Masonry, he would be im-mediately shunted into the visible society, and would never, ever learn the truth. You would never be considered an Adept, or a Sage, or one of the Elect, for those terms are reserved for the members of the invisible society. You would be one of those who were deliberately lied to about the doctrines of Masonry, and given deliberate misinter-pretations of its symbols, so that you would merely THINK you knew the Truth.

The Truth? Well, apparently the truth (listed here with capital T) has something to do with embracing Satan. I quote:

When a Mason learns the key to the warrior on the block is the proper application of the dynamo of living power, he has learned the mystery of his Craft. The seething ener-gies of Lucifer are in his hands and before he may step on-ward and upward, he must prove his ability to properly apply energy.

In this short lecture, I have attempted to touch upon several websites that have expounded the most energy upon their con-tent. The amount of anti-Masonic information on the world wide web is staggering in its breadth, but once you move beyond the simple hysteria of conspiracy theorists and pictures of a face of Mars, there are those who are as convinced that Masonry is evil, or conspiratorial or paganist as we who are members of this fraternity know it not to be. The question one should ask is "Have we as masons done enough to present our own position as those who fear or hate us have?" I think we have.

If I may quote Dr. John W. Boettjer, editor of the Scottish Rite Journal in an article entitled Freemasonry: Defender of Per-sonal Conscience:

If I may be so bold as to offer my voice as that of all Free-masons and Americans, I again offer the truth so well stated by that great Southern Baptist and Freemason, George W. Truett: "The right to private judgement is the crown jewel of humanity, and for any person or institution to dare to come between the soul and God is a blasphe-mous impertinence and a defamation of the crown-rights of the Son of God."


W hile American Freemasons are undoubtedly familiar with the Morgan Affair and the so-called Masonic dark ages that followed, what may not be as well known are the various iterations of the Anti-Mason that came before 1824. In truth, ruthless and baseless an-tagonism towards our Fraternity has been present for more than 300 years; longer, indeed, than organ-ized Freemasonry has been in exis-tence. Yet, we have nothing to fear. We need not be addled by the igno-rant, the vain, the arrogant, or the misguided. This is demonstrated by a brief review of history, and at-tention paid to the theme common among all Anti-Masons. 1686- Dr. Robert Plot published

his Natural History of Stafford-shire. In this work, Dr. Plot, a Fellow of the Royal Society, sought to debunk the ancient legend of the origins of the Craft. His hope, it can be easily asserted, was to cast Freema-sonry as absurdist comedy, and prevent its spread. He failed.

1698- A pamphlet was distrib-

uted in and about London (see inset). The pamphlet claimed that the Freed Masons en-gaged in Mischiefs and Evils, that it was a devilish Sect, and collectively were the Anti Christ. The pamphlet con-cluded with the ad-monition, Mingle not among this cor-

rupt People. Essentially, this was a warning to all men to avoid seeking admission into the Fraternity. It failed.

1724- A new secret Order, claiming descent from the orient, emerged under the name The Gormogons. This group defamed Masonry as a Novel Order, and characterized Petitioning the Craft as a man having suffered himself to be de-graded as a member of that Society. The aim of the Gormogons was either to ridi-cule Freemasonry in general, or to sway men away from the Portals of the Craft and into the ranks of the Gormogons. Re-gardless of motive, it failed. 1726- Six Genuine Letters were col-lected for publication, under the name The Free-Masons Accusation and Defense. This document claimed to be a collection of authentic correspondences between a father, residing in the English country side, and his son, living in London and considering Petitioning for membership in the Craft. These letters record the sons positive impressions of Freema-sonry, and his fathers abject horror that his son would consider assembling with crowds of such Animals. Additionally, the father is keen to report of the sons fianc, Miss Kitty vows she will die be-fore she will have a Free-Mason. The authenticity of these letters cannot be known, however, it is reasonable to as-sume that the publication of these letters was intended to debase the Craft and turn away prospective Brothers. It failed.

1738- The first Papal Bull to prohibit Catho


lics from being Freemasons was issued, this by Pope Clem-ent XII. Similar Papal Bulls would be issued in 1751, 1821, 1825, 1829, 1832, 1846, 1849, 1864, 1865, 1869, 1873, 1884, 1892, 1894, and 1902. These pronouncements vilified the Craft as being against the teachings of Christ, in general, and against the authority and dogma of the Catholic Church, specifically. It was the aim to eliminate Freema-sons, as the Fraternity was deemed a threat to the power of the Church. They failed.

1744- Another Anti-Masonic group arose, identifying them-

selves as the Scald Miserables. All of this short-lived groups activities were designed to mock our Ancient Institu-tion. The actions ranged from staging public processionals, in disdain of Freemasonry, to spreading the claim that when in Lodge Assembled, Masons raised the devil. Like the Gormogons before them, the Scald Miserables endeavored to end Freemasonry. They failed.

1895- The Scarlet Book of Freemasonry is published. This

was not an Anti-Masonic book, but it did chronicle several chilling examples of church- and/or government-sponsored Anti-Masonic acts, dating from throughout the 17th century and earlier, and occurring across the globe. Reports and il-lustrations of arrests, torture, and execution of men whose sole crime was being a Mason fill the pages of this authentic account of the imprisonment, torture, and mar-tyrdom of Free Masons. Each of the governmental and reli-gious persecutions were conducted to remove Freemasonry from the Earth. They all failed.

That ill-informed minority of the Profane world that has stood in opposition to the Craft have been present even before the date of crystallization of organized Speculative Masonry, 5717 AL. They have taken a variety of forms, promoted a variety of faces, and went to a variety of degrees in attempting to put an end to Freemasonry. Yet the one thing that each of the Anti-Masonic groups and acts has in common, is that they have all failed. Anti-Masons are not worth our worry because, ultimately, they are irrelevant. Even the Masonic dark ages should not cause us concern. While it is true that the fall-out of the Morgan Af-fair came the closest to ending Freemasonry in this country, it is equally true that it did not. It failed, just as all previous at-tempts have failed. This is a truth that is presented to each of us, at the time we are Passed to the Degree of a Fellowcraft. The Monitorial sym-bolism of the Second Degree teaches us that we have nothing to

fear: The lapse of time, the ruthless hand of ignorance, and the devastations of war, have laid waste and destroyed many valuable monuments of antiquity, on which the utmost exertions of human genius had been employed. Even the Temple of Solomon, so spacious and magnifi-cent, and constructed by so many celebrated artists, es-caped not the unsparing ravages of barbarous force. Freemasonry, notwithstanding, still survives.

The Symbolism continues, stating that each Mason is, him self, a builder, Not of a material edifice, but of a temple more glorious than that of Solomon, a temple of honor, of justice, of purity, or knowledge, and of truth.

That is why we ought not be concerned with the Anti-Mason. More than the undeniable fact that all Anti-Masons are fail-ures, our courage is bolstered by the recognition that our La-bors are of the highest ideal. Whereas the Anti-Mason is driven by greed, a desire for authority, undeniable ignorance, and petty jealousy, ours is a cause manifested in universal love and an unslakable thirst for Truth. No matter what ills the Anti-Mason may hurl at our feet, of what crimes we may be accused, we knowand may our actions ever stand as suchthat our motives and directives are as pure as the white leather apron. We have nothing to fear. Let the Anti-Mason come, pointing accusatory fingers, making false procla-mations, striking against our Brothers. History proves, again and again, that they are failures. Their venomous prattlings are beneath us, and we have nothing to fear.

Praise and congratulations are due to these men, our Broth-ers, named as District Citizens of the year:

Dist. 1 Marvin C. Harvey Dist. 3 Michael Ray Moore Dist. 4 David Mallory Dist. 5 Michael J. Parent Dist. 6 Donald E. Ruggles

Dist. 7 John Schraven Dist. 9 Arnold G. Preston Dist. 10 Kenneth Johnson Dist. 11 Kristi C. Morris Dist. 12 Bruno McKenzie

Just as we each don the white leather apron with equal pride to our Fraternity and ourselves, each of you stands as a source of pride to your Lodges, your Districts, your Grand Lodge, and your Brotherhood. Thank you for your service

and your example.

Dist. 13 David McAllister


Please see page 23 for a photo guide.


O n Wednesday August 31st 2011, Mad River Lodge No.77 in Waitsfield opened its doors to assist the volunteer efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene. Relief operations initially be-gan amidst the receding water and debris left by the heavy flood-ing along Bridge Street and VT-100 in the heart of the old village;

card tables and make shift reporting stations could be seen scattered about along the street. As members of the community began to or- ganize and assess the ex tent of the damage, it was clear a safe base of operations would be needed. Most of the businesses

along Bridge Street had been partially submerged from the over flowing Mad River, several buildings severely damaged and one washed completely off its foundation, the town clerks office was among those flooded. At the direction of the Lodge officers, the Lodge building was quickly converted into a makeshift operation center to support the network of volunteer relief operations. A call was made to the Waitsfield Telephone and Cable Companies who responded quickly and installed additional telephone lines, TV cable hook up and Internet services as well as providing equipment and support.

What had been the dining room was in short order a full scale operation center not only serving Waitsfield but the towns in and close to the valley; Warren, Fayston, Granville, Hancock and Moretown. A Facebook internet page was established and soon the Lodge was buzzing with activity, volunteers arriving to check in and supplies as well as food items.

The basement was quickly transformed into a storage area for property salvaged from the disaster-stricken business district. Thank-fully our basement did not receive any water and re-mained dry during the height of the flooding, wa-ters reaching some two feet from the front of the building. Members routinely checked on the condition of the building throughout the evening.

waters reaching some two feet from the front of the building. Members routinely checked on the condition of the building throughout the evening.

On Saturday, Ruperts Wagon, the Lodges fried dough cart, was retrieved and brought to the Lodge parking lot where Broth-ers assembled to distribute fried dough, grilled cheese sand-wiches, water, soda, and other food items to the relief help, gratis of the Lodge.

Meghan Myrick along with Marge Keough were lead coordina-tors of the operation and they ex-pressed their gratitude and those of the volunteers working the relief ef-fort, for the Freemasons who offer their Lodge for the E.O.C. Myrick pointed out the various stations which had been set up in the opera-tion center to handle various tasks which she grouped into three catego-ries; Those who need something, those who have something, and those would want to help. She stated that the Facebook page was being continually updated by their staff to inform the public about their efforts. There was a station for walk-ins looking to receive or give information, and several com-puter stations to handle requests for help and posting informa-tion via on-line communications. Myrick stated that the opera-tions were totally community-based, organized and staffed by volunteers, focused on assisting area farmers, businesses, and the public in general during this disaster; not only in our town, but throughout the Mad River Valley. Myrick expressed her ap-preciation for the Masons contributions during this time of com-munity need.

On Saturday Vermont Governor Shumlin arrived at the Lodge in support of the relief operation efforts and to tour the flood stricken down town area, he made some remarks on the steps of the building and in the operation center among a number of Mad River Valley citizens.

Myrick stated the people of the Valley have been very generous with donations of food, clothing, cleaning supplies, and monetary donations. Donations of clothing were directed to the Waitsfield

W..M.. Wayne Whitelock and Marge Keough


Elementary School, where staff mem bers sorted and organized these much- need items. The volunteers were dedi cated and hardworking, many putting in very long hours. Supplies were also received from the Vermont National Guard and the American Red Cross. A portion of the E.O.C. was also used as temporary storage for clean-up i t e m s ,

tools, and related equipment. These supplies were then distributed to those in need. Several of the Freemasons volunteered their time and vehicles to transport needed items to the various locations. Daily checks were made to make certain the volunteers comfort and their building usage needs were met.

Hurricane Cousins

O n Saturday, September 17th, a bright yellow rental truck rolled into Waitsfield, VT and stopped at the Mad River Ma-sonic Lodge on Main Street. This was no ordinary truck; it was bringing recovery supplies from Louisiana. This result is a coor-dinated effort between the Vermont Freemasons and NOLA (New Orleans Louisiana) Gives Back. The Freemasons set up a Facebook site right after tropical storm Irene to assist the resi-dents of Waitsfield and the surrounding towns that were se-verely impacted by the winds and floodwaters of the storm. Missy Frickey Jaeger, lead coordinator for NOLA Gives Back saw this site and responded that she and her brother, Tony would be heading to Vermont with supplies as soon as possible. As survivors of Hurricane Katrina, they know first hand what its like to be without everything after such devastation. The lo-cal residents in Louisiana brought together supplies ranging from water boots and shovels to hula-hoops, bleach, and dehu-midifiers. This demonstration of unselfish behavior is another example of how America comes together as a family in times of need and the residents of Vermont will never forget their hurri-cane cousins in the South.

~By Bro. . Chris Johnson

Bros.. H. Dennis Gaylord, Charles Kettles, Robert A.

Danaher, Robert J. Danaher (front) and Chris Keast and

Time Baker (rear)

Bros.. Tim Baker & Brent Adams

Contact Information: E.O.C. (802) 406-6089; on Facebook Mad-River-

Valley-Hurricane Thanks to Valley Lodge No.16, I.O.O.F., for facilities for the Mad

River Lodge Sept. Communication.

Every good act is charity. A man's true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.

~Moliere Perhaps one of the most valuable lessons of Freemasonry is that of progress. We are taught that the goal of attaining light in all its forms is a continuous journey rather than a solitary destination. As we move through the degrees, we strive to ac-quire a greater understanding of our fraternal principles. Pro-ficiency in and practice of Masonic virtues lead to true knowl-edge and wisdom. We measure our steps in metrics of mean-ing, in order to be fully of service to all mankind. We look to lectures, landmarks, and guides to illuminate our path and ensure that our efforts are worthy of a higher cause. If we seem to live out our ideals, then we must look both to the past and present, as well as the future. As Freemasons, we should always remember that the process of achieving a goal is just as important as the result. Brethren, it is my hope that this year can offer a time of re-flection and rededication for you. As you set about making your way in 2012, I would ask you to consider your own en-gagement with one of our greatest Masonic tenants - charity. It is not always easy for us to see the impact of our actions. How can a handful of canned goods or a donated winter coat mean anything in a world where many suffer from hunger or exposure each day? My Brothers, do not despair. The smallest acts of kindness, practiced with compassion and concern for the well-being of others, are truly the most genuine acts of philanthropy. Make it your resolution to perform some form of charity each day - to yourself, to your family, or to your community. Be mindful of your actions, even if no one else is aware of them. There are countless ways to be of service, with no minimum commitment of time, money, or effort. I assure you, this proc-ess will have a profound impact on those in need. And you might be surprised at the positive transformation it offers for your own life as well.


As students of Freemasonry, we are well aware, even if it be in only the most obscure way, that the Ritual and Catechism that we, the con-temporary keepers of the Craft, practice are not originals. If there ever was one original proto-Ritual, it is long lost to antiquity. However, we do know that Speculative Masonry pre-dates 1717, and that the beginning of the Grand Lodge era brought with it some endeavors to standardize the Ritual. This work was continued by a variety of Brothers, in a vari-ety of ways. The Lodge of Reconciliation, which ultimately sought to unite the Moderns and the Antients, took up this task in 1813. In this country, it was the Baltimore Convention of 1843 that worked toward the same end. Because ours is an oral traditionpassed by the instructive tongue, received by the attentive ear, and held safely in the faithful breastthere is very little written documentation of the changes made in our Ritual over the centuries. Our Obligations demand such. Yet there were those of our Brethren who committed the Secrets of our Order to paper, as a means, albeit improper, to help in the memorization of the work. Later came the Masonic exposures wherein the Workings of the Lodge were published for public consumption, for a price. The first set were aide dmemoir, intended only for private use; the second, were of a more distasteful motive. Over the years, many of these pieces of writing have been discovered by Masonic scholars, and in 1963, they were collected in an essential volume, Early Masonic Catechisms, by Bro.. Douglas Knoop and Bro. . Harry Carr. In the coming months, these earliest Catechisms and Ritual will be reproduced in the pages of your Green Mountain Freemason. Sharing these pieces will provide us all with a deeper understanding of the path our Order has taken throughout the centuries. Also, because Early Ma-sonic Catechisms is, sadly, out of print, having those works appear here will allow for a preservation of the written history of the development of Craft Workings. The works to be reproduced contain elements and practices common to our contemporary Labors, but vary enough so that they can be fully shared without concern that we are violating out Obligations. In those few instances where wording or imagery is the sameor too similarto contemporary Ritual, the specific words have been replaced by bracketed initials; the spelling, grammar, and syntax have been persevered from the originals. The staff of the GMF is very pleased and excited to be able to share these with you, and we hope that the Light from earlier eras of Symbolic Masonry will illuminate your Labors of today. -Editor

[This, the earliest of the discovered Masonic Cate-chisms, was discovered early in 1930 by Bro. Charles T. McInnes in the Old Register House, Edin-burgh [Carr, p. 31]. Dated 1696 A.D., It is a hand-written account the Ritual and Lecture used in a par-ticular Lodge in Scotland. Ed.] Quest. 1 Are you a mason. Answer: yes Q: 2. How shall I know it? Ans: you shall know it in time and place convenient. Remark the fords answer is only to be made when there is company present who are not masons But if there be no such company by, you should answer by signes tokens and other points of my entrie Q: 3. What is the first point? Ans: Tell me the first point ile tell you the second, The first is to heill and conceal, second, under no less pain, which is then cut-ting your throat, For you make the most of that sign when you say that Q: 4. Where wes you entered? An: At the honourable lodge. Q 5 What makes a true and perfect lodge? An: seven masters, five entered apprentices, a dayes Journey from a burroughs town without bark of dog or crow of cock Q: 6 Does no less make a true and perfect lodge, An: yes five masons and three entered apprentices &c. Q 7 Does no less. An: The more the merrier the fewer the better chear Q 8 What is the name of your lodge An: Kilwinning. Q 9 How stands your lodge An east and west as the temple of Jerusalem. Q 10 Where wes the first lodge. An: in the porch of Solomons Temple Q: 11. Are there any lights in your lodge An yes three the north east. s w, and the eastern passage The one denotes the master mason, the other the warden The third the setter croft. Q: 12 Are there any jewells in your lodge An Yes three, Perpend Esler a Square pavement ad a broad oval. Q 13 where shall I find the key of your lodge, yes Three foot and an half from the lodge door under a perpend esler, and a green divot. But under the lap of


my liver where all my secrets of my heart lie. Q: 14 Which is the key of your lodge. An: a weel hung tongue. Q 15 where lies the key. And: In the bone box. After the masons have examined you by all or some of these Questions and that you have answered them exactly and mad the signes, they will acknowledge you, but not a master mason or fellow croft but only as an apprentice, soe they will say I see you have been in the Kitchine but I know not if you have been in the hall, Ans I have been in the hall as weel as in the kitchine. Quest 1 Are you a fellow croft Ans yes. Quest 2 How many [P.O.F.] are ther Ans five viz [F.T.F., K.T.K., H.T.H.] Hand to Hand and ear to ear. Then make the sign of fellowship and shake hands ad you will be acknowledged a true mason. The words are in the I of the Kings Ch 7, v, 21, and in 2 chr: ch 3 verse lasst. THE FORME OF GIVING THE MASON WORD Imprimis you are to take the person to take the word upon his knees and after a great mar y ceremonies to frighten him to make him take up the bible and laying his right hand on it you are to conjure him, to sececie, By threatening that if he shall break his oath the sun in the firmament will be a witness agst him and all the company then present, which will be an occasion of is damnation and that likewise the masons will be sure to murder him, Then after he hes promised secrecie They give him the oath a follows By god himself and you shall answer to god when you shall stand nakd before him, at the great day, you shall not reveal any pairt of what you shall hear or see at this time whither by word nor write nor put it in wryte at any time nor draw it with the point of a sword, or any other instrument upon the snow or sand, nor shall you speak of it but with an entered mason, so help you god. After he hes taken the oat he is removed out of company, with the youngest mason, where after he is sufficiently frighted with 1000 ridicolous postures and grimaces, He is to learn from the sd mason the manner of making his due guard whis is the signe and the postures and words of his entrie which are as follows ffirst when he enters again in to the company he must make a ridiculous bow, then the signe and say God bless the honourable company. Then putting off his hat after a very foolish manner only to be demonstrated then (as the rest of the signes are like wise) he sayes the words of his entrie which are as follows

Here come I the youngest and last entered apprentice As I am sworn by God and St Jhon by the Square and compass, and common judge to attend my masters service at the honourable lodge, from munday in the morning till Saturday at night and to keep the Keyes terof, inder no less pain then having my [T.C.O.] under my chin and of being buried, within the flood mark where no man shall know, then he makes the sign again with drawing his [H.U.H.C.] alongst his [T] which denotes that it be cut out in caise he break is word. Then all the mason present whisper amongst themselves the word beginning at the youngest till it come to the master ma-son who gives the word to the entered apprentice. Now it is to be remarked that all the signes and words as yet spoken of are only what belong to the entered apprentice, But to be a master mason or fellow craft there is more to b done which after follows. ffirst all the prentices are to be removed out of the company and none suffered to stay but masters. Then he who is to be admitted a member of fellowship is putt again to his knees, and gets the oat administered to him of new afterwards he must go out of the company with the youngest mason to learn the postures and signes of fellowship, then comeing in again, He makes the masters sign, and sayes the same words of entrie as the appice did only leave out the co-mon Judge then the masons whisper the word among them-selves begginning at the youngest as formerly afterwards the youngest mason must advance and put himself into the pos-ture he is to receive the word and sayes to the eldest mason in whispering The worthy masters and honourable company greet you weel, greet you weel, greeet you weel. Then the master gives him the word and gripes his hand after the masons way, which is all tat is to be done to make him a perfect mason Some Questiones Anent the mason word 1696


A serialized excerpt from Bro. . J.S.M. Wards 1925 work, Who Was Hiram Abiff?

L et us now see what the Bible says about Hiram Abiff. We learn that Hiram, King of Tyre, sent Hiram Abiff to help Solomon build the Temple, but from the accounts he appears to have been not so much an architect as a smith, a worker in brass. Too much stress, however, should not be late on this fact, as in olden days many kindred building trades were grouped round the Masonic guild. Even in the middle ages the Comacine Masons of Europe included among their numbers painters and sculpturers well as masons, and we must not overlook the fact that this is especially stated in II Chron. 2.14 not hiring was skillful to work in stone. The two versions in the Bible do not agree as to his mother's tribe. Chronicles stating that she was "of the Daughters of Dan, while Kings says she was a "widow woman of the tribe of Naphtali." Both ac-counts agree, however, that his fa-ther was a man of Tyre, and it is significant that Tyre was one of the centres of the worship of Adonis. The conflicting testimony regarding his mother's tribe may be explicable on the grounds that she was not a real Jewess at all, but rather one of the old race to whom it was difficult to allot a tribe, but that, in the eyes of historians, it seemed desirable to indicate that the great Architect of the temple had some Jewish blood in his veins. It is, however, possible that the real explanation is that she belonged to the tribe of Dan. Dan was divided into two sections; a small section being separated

from the main body and having their location on the desert side of the tribe of Napthali, which latter tribe had the territory east of Lebanon, and bordering on Phoenicia. If a woman of the tribe of Dan had for any reason come into Phoenicia to settle she would probably have to pass through Napthali, and among her Phoeni-cian neighbors might be considered to belong to the border tribe, through whose territory she would have passed, and who were one of the tribes of Jews best known to the Phoenicians. We are at any rate clearly told that his father was a Phoenician, and from the sons skill, which included work in the famous "purple of Tyre, it is clear that his upbringing was in that city.

He can hardly therefore have been a worshiper of Jehovah, and it is clear that the bulk of his fellow workmen were Phoenicians,

for Solomon wrote and asked Hiram of Tyre to send him men. We also learned that King Hiram promised him cedars and firs from Lebanon, and the Mountain of Leba- non, as we shall see later, was the Holy Mountain of Adonis and Byblos, where lay his most holy sanctuary. Moreover, we are specifically told that, later in life, King Solomon did worship Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom, the abomina tion of the Ammonites, and then he built "on the right hand of the Mount of Corruption" a high place for Ash toreth, and for Chimosh, and for Mil com. These were still standing 350 years later, when they were destroyed by good King Josiah. Ashtoreth is the same as Astrate, the goddess whose love proved fatal to Adonis, and as late as the time of Ezekiel, c. 594 BC, we find this


prophet denouncing the Jewish women because they wept for Tammuz at the North Gate of the Temple. He also denounces the band because within the courts of the Temple itself "with their backs toward the Temple of the Lord, and their faces to-ward the east They worshiped the sun towards the east." Thus we can see that the Jews at the time of King Solomon were far from being strict monotheists, and even the wise King himself not only did not serve Jehovah with a single eye, but took care to build shrines for other gods, perhaps fearing that otherwise they might be offended. We learn from the Bible it-self that he was actually a worshiper of Astarte, and that, de-spite Josiahs herculean efforts later, her worship was not eliminated, for 28 years afterwards the ceremonies connected with the slaying of Adonis were still taking place. As we shell see later, the "Song of King Solomon" is undoubt-edly a fragment of the ritual connected with the rights of Adonis, and the sublime chapter 12 in Ecclesiastes, which tra-dition asserts was written by King Solomon, seems to be con-nected with the death of Adonis.

So far as we can judge from the Bible the High Priests and Priests of Jehovah did little to denounce these rival, or possibly partner, gods. Policy, maybe, forbad it, and it was the prophets, and the prophets alone, who in the main, fought with fiery zeal for the conception of one God and one God only. It was amid this atmosphere of easy tolerance of other gods than Je hovah that King Solomon set to work to build his Temple, and for the task gathered skilled workmen from Tyre, one of the centres of Adonis worship, while he said levies to Lebanon, which was the principal shrine of that God. Notes:

1) Chron. 2.18; also I Kings 7.13 2) I Kings, 11.5 seq. 3) II Kings, 23.13 4) Ezekiel, 8.14 5) Ibid, 5.16 6) The Song of Songs. A Symposium delivered before the Ori-ental Club of Philadelphia 1924, especially the paper by T.J. Meck, University of Toronto.

(To be continued in the next issue of your Green Mountain Freemason) (Illustrations: this page: 3rd Degree tracing board by Bro.. John Harris, 1850; opposite: unknown)


Masonic Music Pay a visit to http://masonmusic.org/home.html. This website is dedicated to the rich history of freemasonry in music. Many composers have written songs and tunes for Freemasonry, its various bodies and Masonic subjects. Also, many familiar hymns and other tunes have been officially or unofficially adopted by masons for use in the lodges and banquet halls of the fraternity. The Philosophical Freemason, http://philosophicalfreemason.blogspot.com, is a

new Masonic blog, written by Bro. .Kyle Ferguson of Pennsylvania. The topics posted upon so far range from news about the Grand Lodge of MI withdrawing recognition of the Shrine to Can Masonic Principals be Un-Masonic. The description promises, deeper subject matterabout philosophy, spirituality, gnosis, western esotericism, and any-thing else that may come to mind, but all having something to do with Freemasonry. With the likes of Bros.. Julian Rees and W. Kirk MacNulty already logging on, The Philosophical Freemason is certain to be a great new voice from a contemporary Brother. ~Bro.. Chris Murphy

Were you aware that the first Vermont Lodge received its Charter from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, signed by Grand Senior Warden Paul Revere? Did you know the third Vermont Lodge was chartered by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada? Did you know the Grand Lodge of Vermont considered dissolving itself at the height of the Masonic dark ages, but was heart-ened and rallied by Grand Master Nathan Haswells impassioned admonition to Breast the Storm!? Do you know the history of the Craft in your own town, or of the Lodges that stood before yours? We are deeply indebted to Lee Tillotson, P..G. .M. . for providing us with his always captivating, and sometimes thrilling, history of Green Mountain Freemasonry, Ancient Craft Masonry in Vermont (1920). If your Lodge or local library has a copy, bor-row it. If a paper copy is not readily available, have no fear: it is available for free download from Google books (search by title at http://books.google.com/books). Constructed chronologically, A.C.M.V. first provides a com-prehensive study of the first five Lodges chartered in Vermont, followed by a history of the Grand Lodge era in our jurisdiction, including all subordinate Lodges from 1794-1846. We are

taken through the Anti-Masonic period, and then into the second Masonic boom between 1845-1920. The book culminates in a charting of the development of the Vermont Ritual. His

story is enriched by newspaper excerpts, eulogies of dynamic Vermont Brethren, and copies of personal correspondence between M..W. . Nathan Haswell and M..W. . Philip Tucker. More than just the history of the Craftas if that werent enough!M. .W. . Tillotson provides for us a glimmer of hope. The decrease in mem-bership over recent decades has been much la-mented, and the causes and remedies for such have been hotly debated. What we can take from Ancient Craft Masonry in Vermont is that there remains hope: at the end of the Anti-Masonic years, there were just 18 Lodges remaining in Vermont, with a total membership of only 428 Brothers. Yet by 1920, the number of Lodges had increased to 140, and the number of Masons leapt by nearly 12,000 Brothers. For every contraction,

there is an expansion; for every ebb, there is a flow. Masonry in Vermont was brought from the brink of extinction to previously-unknown levels of health and vitality. We may have to create our own plan to do sodesign our own Trestleboardbut we can reclaim the grandeur of our past. ~Bro.. Chris Murphy


O n behalf of my fellow Brothers and Companions, I am very excited to announce the revitalization of Temple Chapter No.8, R. .A. .M. . in Bennington VT, which opened a Special

Convocation in due form this past 8 November, 2011, after a very lengthy hiatus.

Companion Karl Strohmaier presided over a Special Convocation of Temple Chapter No.8 R.:A.:M.: in due and ancient form on No-vember 8, 2011 as Excellent High Priest (pro tempore) with assis-tance from the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Vermont: Companion Bruce Howard, Most Excellent Past Grand High Priest and Excel-lent Grand Secretary; Companion Charles J. Lucot, District Dep-uty Grand High Priest (Southern Vermont); Companion E. Law-rence Douglass, Jr., Most Excellent Past Grand High Priest; and Companion Kirk White, Most Excellent Grand High Priest.

Six members of Davenport Chapter No.17, R. .A. .M. . of Rutland, VT who are Bennington area residents were also in attendance. Tem-ple Chapter received and accepted affiliation petitions from the six Bennington area Companions. These Companions, newly elected as officers of Temple Chapter, in addition to a petition received that evening from a Manchester Brother for the degrees of Chapter and three additional expected petitioners will form the core mem

bership of the newly active Temple Chapter.

It is with heartfelt thanks to Companions Bruce Howard, Charles J. Lucot, E. Lawrence Douglass, Jr., Kirk White and the unselfish and supportive efforts of Davenport Chapter No.17, R. .A. .M.. in Rutland, that we have been able to bring the life of York Rite Masonry back to the Bennington Masonic Temple.

Temple Chapter was chartered in January 1810. This year marks the first of its third century with a renewed life. It makes its home in the Bennington Masonic Temple, a beautiful three- story brick Arts and Crafts building with neo-Gothic elements, built in 1911 for the purpose of York Rite and Blue Lodge active ties, at 504 Main Street, Bennington, VT. The Bennington Tem ple was formally dedicated to the Masonic Societies of Benning- ton in 1912. Temple Chapters new and existing members and newly elected officers are excited and looking forward to marking their Chapters Bicentennial and their Masonic Temples Centen- ary with renewed vigor and commitment to an exemplar Masonic experience for all our Brothers and Royal Arch Companions.

~Companion David R. Young, Secretary, Temple Chapter No. 8

Among those present for the Mark Master Mason Degree held on January 24, 2012 were (L-R): back row: David Young, Sec.; Paul Fisher, MSV; John Haight, PS; next row: Andrew Sherman, RAC; Tim Finney, MTV; Bruce Howard, Excellent Grand Sec-retary; Alan Watson, King; next row: Scott Frost, Tim Pinsonneault, Mike Redin, Ray Beruman, Kirk White, Most Excellent Grand High Priest; bottom row: Al Clayton.


I was born in antiquity, in the ancient days when men first dreamed of God.

I have been tried through the ages, and found true. The crossroads of the world bears the imprint of my feet. And the ca-thedrals of all nations mark the skill of

my hands. I strive for beauty and for symmetry. In my heart are wisdom and strength and courage for those who ask. Upon my altars is the Book of Holy Writ

and my prayers are to the OMNIPOTENT GOD.

My sons work and pray together, without rank or discord, in the public mart, and

the inner chamber. By signs and symbols I teach the lessons of life and death, and relationship of man with God and man

with man. My arms are widespread to re-ceive those of lawful age and of good re-port, who seek me of their own quest for perfection, so much desired and so diffi-

cult to attain. I lift up the fallen and shel-ter the sick, hark to the orphan's cry, the

widow's tears, the pain of the old and destitute. I am not church, nor party, nor

school, yet my sons bear a full share of responsibility to God, to country, to

neighbors and themselves. They are free-men; Tenacious of their liberties and

alert to lurking danger.

At the end I commit them, as each one undertakes the journey beyond the vale

into the glory of everlasting life. I ponder the sand within the glass and think: How

small is a single life in the eternal Uni-verse. Always have I taught immortality, and even as I raise men from darkness

into light, I am a way of life.

~ Bro.. Ray V. Denslow, P..G. .M. . G. .L. .MO, 1931

On November 18, 6011 A. .L. ., at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, M. .W. . Bros.. Earl Washburn and Dick Fletcher, both Past Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Vermont were awarded with the Thomas J. Shryock Medal for Distinguished Service to the Fraternity. They are the first Vermont Masons to be awarded this Medal. M. .W. . Earl J. Washburn was recognized for his long involvement with the Student Assistance Program at the state and national levels, as well as his advocacy of the Masonic Model Student Assistance Program. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Masonic Foundation For Children. Additionally, M..W. . Bro.. Earl was instrumental in helping Masonic Charities of Maryland adopt the Masonic Model program. Outside Vermont, M..W. . Dick Fletcher is perhaps best known for his work with the Masonic Services Association, for which he served as Executive Di-rector since 1988. The M..W. . Stephen Ponzillo, G..M. . of the G. .L. . of MD stated Marylands particular awareness of Brother Fletchers amicable, knowledgeable and committed service to our beloved Fraternity. The Shryock Medal is named for M..W.. Thomas Shryock, P..G. .M. ., who served in that capacity from 1885 until 1918.

(Photos courtesy of Bro.. Mark Hartz, Grand Photographer, G..L.. Of MD)

As per tradition, the Shryock Medal is pocketed by the recipients; on the left, M. .W.. Washburn pockets M..W.. Fletcher; on the right, the compliment is returned.

From left: MD M..W..G..M.. Stephen J. Ponzillo, III, P. .G..M.. Earl J. Washburn, P..G. .M.. Richard E. Fletcher, MD G. Sec. Herbert Y. Holcomb, III.

P..G..M..s Fletcher & Washburn receive Shryock Medal from

the Grand Lodge of Maryland


Young Masons Lodge No. 111 will be have their next quarterly Communication at

DeWitt-Clinton Lodge No. 15, in Northfield, on 5/28. Dinner at 6:30, Open at 7:30.

The National Sojourners Annual Convention will be coming to Burlington, June 18-23, 2012. Please contact Jack Campbell ([email protected]) or Randy Cary

([email protected]), or visit http://www.nationalsojourners.org/

for information.

Membership in Vermont Chapter 48 of Masonic Motorcycle Club International is just a few clicks away by visiting

http://masonicmotorcycleclub.org/chapter48/Home/tabid/253/Default.aspx

Next Communica-tion of the Edward J. Wildblood Jr. Vermont Lodge of Research No.

110 will be held on 04/03, at the

Rutland Masonic Center. Dinner at 6pm, Open at 7pm.

Photo Guide Page 12, clockwise, beginning in upper left: Bro. .Theodore Nykiel, W. .Richard Backus, Bro. .Larry Ellison, and W. .Carl Martenson, upon Bros. .Nykiel and Ellison being Raised at Summit Lodge No. 104; M. .W. .Phil Morton recognizing Bro. .Arnold Preston as Dist. 9 Citizen of the Year, with R..W. .James Stevens; Bro. .Charles Smith and Bro. .Rev. Arnold Brown, both of Meridian Sun Lodge No. 20; Bro. .David Parent, Bro. .Alex Parent, Dist. 5 Citizen of the Year, R. .W. .Charles Littlefield, Bro. .Michael Parent, and R. .W. .Roger Crouse; Bros. .Peter Rogers and Evered Hinkley; a group of new DeMolay members, with Bros. .Shawn Brewster, E.O., Austin Isham, D.E.O., and R. .W. .Errol Hinton; R. .W. .Joe Sampson, Bro. .Cedric Smith, P..G. .M. ,.R. .W. .James Stevens, and Bro. .Tim Dailey. Page 13, clockwise, beginning in upper left: M..W. .Phil Morton presenting Bro. .Deane Page with his 50-year button, pinned on by his son, Bro. .Tom Page, with R. .W. .James Stevens; M. .W. .Phil Morton recognizing Bro. .Donald Ruggles as Dist. 6 Citizen of the Year, with R..W. .Paul White; M..W. .Phil Morton presenting 60-year certificates to Bros. .Allen Gandin and Robert Simblest; Bro. .Vic Stone, Grand Lecturer, W. .Lee Dion, W. .Jonathan Park, and R..W. .James Stevens; Bro. .Cal Kyler, P..G. .M. ,.Bro. .James Beraldi, Jr., W. .Leon Sheldon, and R..W. .Tobin Winters; Bros. .Cedric Smith, P. .G..M. .and Cal Kyler, P. .G. .M. ;.M..W. .Phil Morton recognizing Bro. .Kenneth Johnson as Dist. 10 Citizen of the Year.

Cover Credits: A Masonic apron, 1796, County Down, Ireland. This apron was gifted to the National Heritage Museum by Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Streeter, Jr.

To all Members of the Masonic Family,

Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite,

York Rite, Order of the Eastern Star, DeMolay,

Rainbow, Shrine

This is the place to showcase your thoughts, photos, event

coverage, and announce-ments.

Please use the contact infor-mation on the inside front

cover, and lets use our Grand Lodge paper to its full-

est potential.

To all Lodge Secretaries,

Please do not forget to file your IRS form 990 for the

2011 tax year.

The Grand Lodge of Vermont is recognized for exemption under 501(c)(10) of the In-ternal Revenue Code. It is a group ruling and it includes

all of its subordinate lodges they are subordinate organi-zations to the central (Grand

Lodge) organization.

Each Blue Lodge must file its own 990. Please contact Grand Lodge for details.


Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

Paid

Mailrite

Published by

the Grand Lodge

Of Vermont

/ColorImageDict > /JPEG2000ColorACSImageDict > /JPEG2000ColorImageDict > /AntiAliasGrayImages false /CropGrayImages true /GrayImageMinResolution 300 /GrayImageMinResolutionPolicy /OK /DownsampleGrayImages true /GrayImageDownsampleType /Bicubic /GrayImageResolution 300 /GrayImageDepth -1 /GrayImageMinDownsampleDepth 2 /GrayImageDownsampleThreshold 1.50000 /EncodeGrayImages true /GrayImageFilter /DCTEncode /AutoFilterGrayImages true /GrayImageAutoFilterStrategy /JPEG /GrayACSImageDict > /GrayImageDict > /JPEG2000GrayACSImageDict > /JPEG2000GrayImageDict > /AntiAliasMonoImages false /CropMonoImages true /MonoImageMinResolution 1200 /MonoImageMinResolutionPolicy /OK /DownsampleMonoImages true /MonoImageDownsampleType /Bicubic /MonoImageResolution 1200 /MonoImageDepth -1 /MonoImageDownsampleThreshold 1.50000 /EncodeMonoImages true /MonoImageFilter /CCITTFaxEncode /MonoImageDict > /AllowPSXObjects false /CheckCompliance [ /None ] /PDFX1aCheck false /PDFX3Check false /PDFXCompliantPDFOnly false /PDFXNoTrimBoxError true /PDFXTrimBoxToMediaBoxOffset [ 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 ] /PDFXSetBleedBoxToMediaBox true /PDFXBleedBoxToTrimBoxOffset [ 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 ] /PDFXOutputIntentProfile () /PDFXOutputConditionIdentifier () /PDFXOutputCondition () /PDFXRegistryName () /PDFXTrapped /False

/Description > /Namespace [ (Adobe) (Common) (1.0) ] /OtherNamespaces [ > /FormElements false /GenerateStructure true /IncludeBookmarks false /IncludeHyperlinks false /IncludeInteractive false /IncludeLayers false /IncludeProfiles true /MultimediaHandling /UseObjectSettings /Namespace [ (Adobe) (CreativeSuite) (2.0) ] /PDFXOutputIntentProfileSelector /NA /PreserveEditing true /UntaggedCMYKHandling /LeaveUntagged /UntaggedRGBHandling /LeaveUntagged /UseDocumentBleed false >> ]>> setdistillerparams> setpagedevice

Documents

Green Mountain Freemason 2012.01