Arizona Masonry

Arizona MasonryVol. 37, No 3 June / July 2013

Grand Lodge of Arizona New Administrative Offices

Arizona MasonryJune 2013

Editor in Chief

Jeff Carlton, Grand Master

Managing Editor

David H. Luebke, PGM, Grand Editor

Arizona Masonry is an official publication of

the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted

Masons of Arizona. Unless otherwise noted,

articles in this publication express only the

private opinion or assertions of the writer, and

do not necessarily reflect the official position

of the Grand Lodge. The jurisdiction speaks

only through the Grand Master and the Grand

Lodge Trustees when attested to as official,

in writing, by the Grand Secretary.

The Editorial staff invites contributions in the

form of informative articles, reports, news

and other timely information (of about 350 to

800 words in length) that broadly relate to

general Masonry. When possible, photographs

or graphics that support the submission are

encouraged. Pieces submitted should be

typed, double spaced and sent via e-mail to:

arizonamasonry@ gmail.com.

Articles are subject to editing and become the

property of the Grand Lodge, F. & A.M. of

Arizona. No compensation is permitted for

any article, photographs, or other materials

submitted for publication. All photographs

must be identified as to who took the photo

and the names of all individuals who may ap-

pear in the photo.

Permission to reprint articles is automatically

granted to recognized Masonic publications.

When reprinted, articles should note:

“Reprinted with permission of Arizona

Masonry in the jurisdiction of Arizona

(month, year).”

Please direct all articles and correspondence

to:

David H. Luebke

Grand Editor, Arizona Masonry

P.O. Box 370

Chino Valley, AZ 86323-0370

[email protected]

Deadline for submission of articles for the

next edition is August 15, 2013

Features & ArticlesGrand Master’s Message .................................. Pg 3Grand Editor’s Desk ............................................ Pg 4To Learn to Subdue My Passions and Improve Myself in MasonryBob Bowersox .......................................................... Pg 5What Have We Done To Our Craft?MW Henry Wilson .................................................... Pg 6A Wise Man Will Hear, and Will Increase LearningGeorge Weil, PM.................................................... Pg 12Grand OrationCraig Gross .......................................................... Pg 14

GROTTOES ACTIVE IN ARIZONA

A.K.A. – Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of theEnchanted Realm

Rameses Grotto – Meets 1st Friday each month at 7:00 pm, at

Scottsdale Lodge No. 43, 2531 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale. For

info call Andrew Zerber (602) 796-2114

Altan Kol Grotto – Meets 2nd Thursday each month at 7:00 pm, at

Marion McDaniel Lodge No. 56, For info call Tom Dingwall at

(520) 458-6527.

Abbid Grotto – Meets the 1st Wednesday each month at 6:00 pm, at

Kingman Odd Fellows Building, 2495 Butler Ave., for info call Dan

Cantwell at (928) 681-3166. “A Social Place for Master Masons.”

June 2013 Arizona Masonry Magazine 3

Grand Master’s MessageGreetings Brothers;

The Masonic symbol of the Point within

a Circle is the culmination of what the

Arizona Masonic Ritual teaches the

Mason regarding his conduct, both

within the Lodge and when abroad in the

world. We are told the point in the center

of the circle represents the individual Mason. The circle,

constructed from this center point represents the boundary

of a Mason’s conduct, beyond which he should never suffer

his passions, his prejudices or interest to betray him. This

point and the circle can only be physically constructed rel-

ative to each other by the use of the compasses, one of the

Great Lights of Free Masonry. This great light, the Com-

passes, teaches us to circumscribe our desires and keep our

passions within due bounds toward all mankind, particularly

our brethren in Freemasonry.

Once this circle has been thus constructed, Masonry em-

powers the message of the Point within a Circle by having

the Holy writings, the most important of the Great Lights

of Freemasonry, which are dedicated to God, they being His

inestimable gift to man as the rule and guide of his faith,

rest upon the top of the circle, thereby making the Holy

Writings, and all the light that they contain, a part of the

symbol.

We continue to empower the Masonic message of this sym-

bol by supporting the point, from which the circle emanates,

the circle and the Holy writings with two parallel lines on

each side of the circle. These symbolic parallel lines repre-

sent Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist,

and the teaching of their gospels. The symbolic Parallel

lines may geometrically be constructed by use of the

Square, the final Great light of Freemasonry, which teaches

us to always act upon the Square in all our dealings.

In contemplation of the tools necessary to construct this

symbol, and those embodied within it, the Masonic symbol,

denoted the Point within a Circle, should ever be a powerful

guide for the Mason. It is little wonder that the Ritual of

our fraternity then states that “in traversing its circumfer-

ence, we necessarily touch upon the parallel line and also

upon the Holy Writings, and while a Mason keeps himself

thus circumscribed, it is impossible that he can materially

err.”

Each Mason must build his own circle of conduct. His cir-

cle should embody within it the three principle tenets of Ma-

sonry, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. The lecture of the

First Degree teaches us the meaning of, and gives the direc-

tion to, the implementation of these three tenets within a

Mason’s life. Certainly the practice of the four cardinal

principles of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice,

which are also described and expounded in the lecture of

the First Degree, must become a part of a Mason’s everyday

circle of conduct.

The Masonic symbol of the Point within a Circle is a re-

minder of that personal conduct by which Masons must

guide their lives. All that it embodies will give strength in

the face of duress, comfort in embracing change and direc-

tion in dealing with the trials of daily life. While the symbol

is simple in appearance its meaning, connotations, and the

direction it gives to us, is omni-encompassing in our growth

as men and Masons.

If the fraternity of Freemasons is to grow and prosper for

another three hundred years we must not lose sight of that

which has not changed in the past three hundred years: the

principles and tenets spelled out in the ritual of our beloved

fraternity. We must work diligently to preserve the ancient

landmarks of our brotherhood and practice all that is pro-

vided to us within our Ritual. We must continue to grow as

Masons no matter how long our tenure, for Masonry is in-

deed a way of life, a way of life that may take a lifetime to

prefect, as we endeavor to change from rough Ashlars into

Perfect Ashlars.

As we bring new men into our Lodges and aid them in start-

ing their Masonic journey, let us ensure their deep under-

standing of the Point within a Circle symbol. Show them

this symbol represents that which is the very foundation of

Masonry, the Three Great Lights of Masonry, the Three

Principle Tenets, and Four Cardinal Principles of the frater-

nity . To every Mason is given the charge to honor and re-

spect his fellow man, particularly his brother Freemasons,

to grow as a man and Mason, ever expanding and strength-

ening that circle which is the boundary of his conduct.

Jeff Carlton, GM

Our Mail Bag

We have recently received several recommenda-

tions for the improvement of our magazine; sev-

eral of which we have implemented with this

issue and several will be implemented beginning

in the next issue.

Our address is:

David H. Luebke

Grand Editor, Arizona Masonry

P.O. Box 370

Chino Valley, AZ 86323-0370

[email protected]

Advertising

Following are the Advertising Rates for Ari-

zona Masonry

Full Page: $600.00 per issue

1/2 Page: $300.00 per issue



Business Card: $60.00 per issue

The above rates are for occasional advertisers.

Discounts are available for those that commit to

four (4) or more issues.

Invoices will be sent out to current advertisers this

month.

Thank you

I would like to take this opportunity to thank

Grand Master Carlton for his faith in me by al-

lowing me to be the Grand Editor. Over the past

several years we have been able to change its de-

sign and content. A lot has been learned about the

editing and publishing of this magazine; yet there

is much more to do, hopefully I will have the op-

portunity to continue to implement the changes

necessary to make Arizona Masonry a jewel in the

crown of Masonry.

Dave

4 Arizona Masonry Magazine June 2013

Grand Editor’s DeskWelcome to Lake Havasu City,

the 2013 Grand Lodge Session,

and to the Last Issue of Arizona

Masonry for this Masonic term.

We have a great deal of work and

some of the finest fellowship

available before us. With the

Great Architect’s blessing and the

Wisdom of Solomon we will accomplish our work

effeciently and set the stage for the future of Ma-

sonry

Now to this issue of Arizona Masonry

On the Cover and this issue

The cover picture and many of the pictures included

within this issue came from the dedication of our

new offices. It was a great day for fellowship & cel-

ebrating.

Grand Master’s Message

For his final message, our Grand Master reminds us

of the responsibilities we have as Masons and of the

importance of remembering one of the greatest sym-

bols of Masonry. That of the Point Within the Cir-

cle.

What Have We Done to Our Craft

This is the second part of Most Worshipful Brother

Henry Wilson’s five part series expounding on his

view of the Craft; who we are and how we got there.

A Wise Man Will Hear and Will Increase Learn-

ing In this offering Worshipful Brother George Weil

gives us some insight into his view of the hidden

mysteries and value of membership in a Lodge.

Mystery Pictures

Elsewhere in this issue are a couple of “Pictures

From Our Archives”.

The Shriners are (from left) Roy Rogers, Harold

Lloyd, Red Skelton and Dick Powell, all members

of Al Malaikah Shrine in Los Angeles. Harold

Lloyed was a Past Imperial Potentate AND the

Stamp.


Philosophy

What a wonder it is to see the equality of Masonry in ac-

tion. Individually, we are Teacher, Banker, Businessman,

Tradesman, Farmer, or Laborer. Together, we are Brothers.

From the most highly educated to the illiterate, from the

highest economic reaches to the lowest, we come together

to learn and improve ourselves.

“To learn to subdue my passions and improve myself in Ma-sonry.” This phrase from the opening of the First Degree

gives cause to why we became Masons. “To learn to sub-due my passions…” As an Entered Apprentice, I wondered

on the meaning or intent of this phrase. To subdue: to re-

strain, to pacify, to subjugate our passions; our indifference,

rage, anger, and fury, the passions of the darker side of our

nature. Those passions lead us into the realm of uncon-

trolled and unbridled emotional response, which causes us

to act in a manner opposite to our professed beliefs.

There is no room within the Lodge of Brothers for uncon-

trolled emotions. We cannot exist as a Society of Friends

and Brothers and remain united in our great and good work

if uninhibited passion governs our actions. We must learn

to subdue these passions which cause us to act in an uncar-

ing and hot-blooded manner. We are taught with this

phrase, to listen to our Brother and respect his views. There

is no requirement for agreement, only acceptance of his

right to hold his beliefs. There exists, however, a require-

ment that we accept his right to believe as equally as our

own right, to accept his truths to be as real and right as our

own truths. This ability to subdue the passions allows us to

all be Brothers under the same God that we may all worship

and adore in our own fashion. This requirement, by its very

nature, must expand beyond the Lodge. Each Brother must

extend this same courtesy to everyone under the canopy of

heaven. For all of mankind holds opinions, truths and be-

liefs and we as Masons are taught to and must give all peo-

ples the right to hold their own special theologies and

philosophies of life.

We are not asked to subdue the passions of the better angels

of our nature. In fact, we are expected to expand the joy,

the love, brotherhood, benevolence, and enthusiasm that we

brought to Masonry. We treat with God for the wisdom to

be the better enabled to understand the beauty of brotherly

love, relief and truth to the honor of his Holy name. We ask

for this boon to become better men. Better than we were

before our entrance into the Craft. We must continually

strive for this improvement. Our phrase”to learn to” carries

an implication for study. We search for knowledge which

we are all exhorted to pursue with vigor and zeal.

We understand the importance to learn and to subdue, but

how do we improve ourselves in Masonry? We must apply

ourselves to, and embrace the lessons we have learned

through our study and application of the subjugation of our

passions. We are not blind to the lack of control of passion.

We see everyday what unrestrained passion and unbridled

zeal does in the world. We see in our newspapers what in-

tolerance creates among the people of the world. Yet the

world wrings its collective hands in a futile gesture of sor-

row not knowing the answer to these intolerant actions. If

only the Principles of Freemasonry could be applied to the

world, what a difference it would make.

This is how we, as Masons, can improve ourselves in Ma-

sonry. By the application of the lessons and practices in-

culcated within our ritual. But sometimes we don’t pay

attention to the ritual. It has been recited and heard so often,

the meanings of the words have been numbered in our

minds. Listen to the work. Listen to the ritual. The hidden

Mysteries of Masonry are all contained within. There is

nothing within our labor that can cause conflict with our

god, our neighbor, our country, or ourselves, yet within the

work are the truths. We must all look within this ancient

and time-honored ritual to discover its secrets.

This one phrase, given in one of the degrees, is a powerful

and meaningful phrase. Look upon it with a different eye

than before. “To learn to subdue my passions and improvemyself in Masonry.” Apply this one lesson from this simple

yet powerful expression and you will have taken the first

step to change the world.

TO LEARN TO SUBDUE MY PASSIONS AND IMPROVE MYSELF IN MASONRYBy Bob Bowersox, P.M.Sherburn Lodge #95, Elk River, MN


LANDMARKS

This is the second part of a five part series on “What have

we done to our craft?” Part one addressed our history and

various privileges and responsibilities we receive and take

on as Masons. It addressed The Letter “G” and rules

against solicitation. It spoke about why and how technol-

ogy has brought about changes to our society and craft.

Lastly it addressed the selective nature of masonry.

In this Part of the series we look at our landmarks and what

they have to do with Masonry today

“Masonic Landmarks are a set of principles that many

Masons claim to be “both ancient and unchangeable pre-

cepts of Masonry”. Because each Grand Lodge is self-

governing, with no single body exercising authority over

the whole of Freemasonry, the interpretations of these

principles can and do vary, leading to controversies of

recognition. Different Masonic jurisdictions have different

Landmarks”. (Wikipedia).

Approximately thirty Grand Lodges have adopted Land-

marks to identify them and their ancient Craft. The re-

mainder do not seem to have any specific approved or

adopted Landmarks.

PREFACE

The term “Landmark” is found in Proverbs 22:28: “Re-

move not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have

set.” In ancient times, it was customary to mark the bound-

aries of land by means of stone pillars. Removal of these

would cause much confusion, men having no other guide

than these pillars by which to distinguish the limits of their

property. Therefore to remove them was considered a

heinous crime. Jewish law says “Thou shalt not remove

thy neighbors’ landmark, which they of old time have set

in their inheritance.” (Percy Jantz, 2004 The Landmarks

of Freemasonry)

Therefore, landmarks are those marks (Rules and Regu-

lations) by which we are able to designate our Masonic

inheritance. They define what is being passed on to us. In

the case of Freemasonry, they are called the Landmarks

of the order.

What are the Landmarks of the Order? What are “those

peculiar marks by which we are able to designate our ma-

sonic inheritance?”

In deciding what are and are not masonic landmarks, there

has been much diversity of opinion and disagreement.

Some Grand Lodges state they are the obligation, signs,

tokens and words, while others and some scholars include

the ceremonies of Initiation, Passing and Raising along

with the Ornaments, Furniture and Jewels of a lodge or

their characteristic symbols. Twenty Grand Lodges think

that the order has no landmarks beyond its peculiar secrets.

But all of these are loose and unsatisfactory.

Perhaps the safest method is to restrict them to those an-

cient and therefore universal customs of the order, which

either gradually grew into operation as rules of action, or,

have been enacted from a time so long ago that no account

of their origin exists.

The following are the prerequisite actions to constitute a

landmark according to the commonly accepted terms:

1) It must have existed from a time when no one re-

members anything else.

2) Its antiquity. (If every one of the masonic scholars

were to get together now and agree on a new regula-

tion, it would not be a landmark because it would not

satisfy the need for antiquity.)

The landmarks are also by definition not able to be re-

pealed. “The Landmarks are those essentials of Freema-

sonry without any one of which it would no longer be

Freemasonry,” said MW Bro. Melvin M. Johnson, Past

Grand Master of Massachusetts in 1923.

Each Grand Jurisdiction has its own definition of Land-

marks and I am not here to tell you which one is correct

and why, nor which ones are not correct or why, but just

to enlighten you as to what Landmarks are and what safety

WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO OUR CRAFT?Part Two of a Five Part SeriesBy Henry Wilson PGM

Philosophy

continued on pg. 7


net they offer to our Fraternity.

THE FIRST TIME a Mason may become aware of the ex-

istence of Masonic landmarks is usually when he is newly

raised. The Charge to the Master Mason may contain the

words: “The ancient landmarks of Masonry are entrusted

to your care; you are carefully to preserve, and never allow

them to be infringed, or countenance a deviation from the

established usages and customs of the Fraternity” (Michi-

gan Ritual).

During some Installation of Officers the Master will dis-

cover that before being placed in the oriental chair he must

pledge that he will not, during his term of office nor at any

other time that the Lodge shall be under his direction, per-

mit or suffer any deviation from the established usages and

customs of the Fraternity and strictly to enforce them

within his own lodge. (Michigan Installation Ritual)

In general, when Masonic laws conflict, their authority

ranks in the following order: 1. Landmarks; 2. Constitution

of Grand Lodge; 3. By-laws and Regulations of Grand

Lodge; 4. Lodge By-laws; 5. The changeable part of the

“unwritten laws”. By way of clarification, we read further:

“The term ‘unwritten’ is applied to all laws known to have

existed among Freemasons prior to A.D. 1717. Unwritten

laws include both Changeable and Unchangeable laws.

Laws which have originated either by enactment or usage

since 1717 are called for convenience sake written laws

and are Changeable. Of the division into Unchangeable

and Changeable, it may be enough to say that there are

certain laws, viz., the Ancient Landmarks, which it is not

in the power of any man or body of men to change. On

the other hand, all Masonic laws, except the Landmarks,

whether written or unwritten, may be changed.”

What are these basic Landmarks which loom so large in

the Masonic jurisprudence of most Grand Lodges?

1) A belief in a Supreme Being

2) A belief in the immortality of the soul

3) A Volume of the Sacred Law is an indispensable

part of the furniture of every Lodge.

Many other Grand lodges in North America, with less

openness, have adopted specific codes of Landmarks.

These are usually printed as preambles to their constitu-

tions in the form of lists containing anywhere from five to

fifty individual clauses. One may well wonder why there

is such disparity in numbers and whether there are in fact

any features common to all. This is a question which has

generated considerable debate, often with more heat than

light. One English historian, Robert Freke Gould, after

searching in vain for a definitive list, concluded: “Nobody

knows what they comprise or omit; they are of no earthly

authority because everything is a landmark when an op-

ponent desires to silence you, but nothing is a landmark

that stands in his way”. Evidently the problem merits fur-

ther study.

Landmarks Before Freemasonry

As previously stated, in the literal sense, the landmark was

a boundary mark. It was a stone, or post, or marker of

some kind that indicated where one piece of property, one

town, one city, one state, or one nation ended and another

began. The importance of such stones in ancient times is

indicated by the Biblical injunction, ‘`Remove not the an-

cient landmark, which thy fathers have set” (Proverbs

22:28), and by the Mosaic denunciation, “Cursed be he

that removeth his neighbor’s landmark” (Deuteronomy

27:17).

The Earliest Masonic uses of the Word

The word “Land-Marks” occurs in print in its Masonic

sense for the first time in Anderson’s first Book of Consti-tutions (1723) in the General Regulations which had ac-

tually been compiled in 1720 and approved by Grand

Lodge at its Assembly in June, 1721. Regulation 39 stip-

ulated that “Every Annual Grand Lodge has an inherent

Power and Authority to make new Regulations, or to alter

these, for the real Benefit of this ancient Fraternity: Pro-

vided always that the old LAND-MARKs be carefullypreserv’d.... “ We note that the author of these words,

George Payne, who was Grand Master in 1718 and again

in 1720, already drew a distinction between the Regula-

tions, which could be amended, and Land-Marks, which

were unalterable.

In Anderson’s New Book of Constitutions (1738) the

words “Land Marks” appear twice: once when restating

the “Old” Regulation 39 (quoted above), and again in the

final Regulation of the code which he called the “New”

Regulations. In the latter passage he summarizes the res-

olutions of the Grand Lodge meetings of June 24, 1723,

and November 25, 1723, where Payne’s statement about

Philosophy

continued on pg. 8


Philosophy

the Land Marks must have been reviewed. In neither of

these resolutions are the words “Land Marks” actually

used; the phrase “Ancient Rules of Masonry” seems to

have sufficed for official needs. We might infer that the

two terms were regarded as synonymous. In the last para-

graph however Anderson adds his own explanation: “Ac-

cordingly, ALL the Alterations or NEW REGULATIONS

above written are only for amending or explaining the

OLD REGULATIONS for the Good of Masonry, without

breaking in upon the ancient Rules of the Fraternity, stillpreserving the Old Land Marks....” Evidently Anderson

himself had no doubt about the importance of the actual

term “Land Mark”

The Latter Part of the Eighteenth Century

The minutes of the premier Grand Lodge, later to be

dubbed “Moderns”, through the whole period 1723-1758

contain no mention of the word Landmarks. Nor is there

any reference in the records of the Grand Lodge (“An-

cients”) other than one on the register of the Royal Arch

(“Ancients”), under the heading of Resolutions passed,

November 5, 1783: “Resolved, . . . In order that the An-

cient Landmarks may be faithfully preserved: and handed

down pure and undefiled to our posterity forever.”

Fifield D’Assigny in A Serious and Impartial Enquiry intothe Cause and Present Decay of Freemasonry in the King-dom of Ireland (Dublin, 1744) used the word landmarks

three times. Laurence Dermott, Grand Secretary of the

Grand Lodge (“Antients”), in the 1756 edition of AhimanRezon, and also in later editions, made reference to land-

marks four times. Typical examples are: “No man who

rightly understands the Craft can be so blind as to trammel

over its ancient Landmarks”; and “. . . remove not the an-

cient Land Mark which thy Fathers have set....” Likewise

William Preston in his Illustrations of Freemasonry (1772

and 1775 editions) refers to them six times, one of which

is the familiar precept, “Our ancient landmarks you are

carefully to preserve, and never to suffer an infringement

of them.”

The Period of the Union

On October 26, 1809, the Grand Master of the “Moderns”

issued a warrant to form the Lodge of Promulgation “for

the purpose of promulgating the ancient Land Marks of

the Society and instructing the Craft in all such matters

and forms as may be necessary to be known by them.... “

The minutes of December 29, 1810, reveal the ideas and

work of the Lodge of Promulgation: “The R.W.M. then

took a retrospective view of the proceedings of the Lodge

in the three degrees of the Order . . . and proceeded to point

out the material in and between the several degrees to

which [their] attention would be requisite in preserving

Ancient Land Marks of the Order, such as the form of the

Lodge, the number and situation of the Officers, the dif-

ferent distinctions in the different Degrees, the restoration

of the pass-words to each Degree, and the making of pass-

words between one Degree and another, instead of in the

Degree”.

The Lodge of Promulgation met thirty times. In its report

to the Grand Master the word “Landmark” is never used.

It may be assumed however that in the judgment of the

Lodge the term “ancient practice” was synonymous with

“Landmarks”. The Lodge of Reconciliation (1813-1816)

left no records, and its views on “Landmarks” are un-

known.

After the work of the Lodge of Promulgation and shortly

before the actual union, formal expressions of approval

were voted on December 1, 1813. The Duke of Sussex

(“Moderns”) was thanked for “firmly and with brotherly

affection upholding and maintaining the ancient land

marks”. The Duke of Kent (“Ancients”) was thanked for

the “firm and brotherly determination with which he as-

serted, maintained and secured the ancient landmarks”.

While each Grand Lodge claimed victory in the union, it

appears that the two resolutions are contradictory. It is not

possible that the two Grand Masters could both have suc-

ceeded in upholding the true Landmarks, since the Grand

Lodges always maintained that their beliefs were in con-

flict. Alternatively, if both had preserved the true Land-

marks, then the matters over which the Grand Lodges had

differed for so long were not true Landmarks.

In the third of the Articles of Union (1813) the reason for

the union is given: “. . . so that but one pure unsullied sys-

tem, according to the genuine landmarks, laws and tradi-

tions of the Craft, shall be maintained, upheld and

practiced, throughout the Masonic World. . . . “

Essential Features of Landmarks

The amount of ink spilled on the question of the Land-

marks of Masonry is immense. From 1723 right down to

continued from pg. 7

continued on pg. 9


Philosophy

the present day Masons all over the world have persisted

in trying to read more into the words than was intended

when they were added, almost as an afterthought, at the

end of the General Regulations. Serious debate began in

1858 when Albert G. Mackey wrote an article in the sec-

ond volume of the American Quarterly Review of Freema-sonry. In the hundreds of discussions which have ensued

since that date, two essential points recur again and again

in definitions. (1) A Landmark must have existed from

“time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the con-

trary”. (2) A Landmark is an element in the form or

essence of the society of such importance that Freema-

sonry would not be Freemasonry if it were removed. One

or both of these features has been adduced by such well

known and highly respected Masons as Mackey himself,

probably one of the ablest authorities of American

Freemasonry, Dean Roscoe Pound, the noted American

jurist and Masonic scholar, and Dr. Chetwode Crawley,

the eminent Irish Masonic writer. There seems to be a con-

sensus that these are the two necessary and sufficient qual-

ifications by which to identify a Masonic Landmark.

If they are applied strictly to test for Landmarks, it will be

found that there are in fact very few items that will pass

this rigid examination. Many of the so-called “Land-

marks” that occur in the longer lists are actually regula-

tions, customs, or principles which are either of recent

origin or unessential to Freemasonry. Landmarks which

do meet the twofold requirement are as follows: (1) that a

Mason professes a belief in God; (2) that the Volume of

the Sacred Law is an essential and indispensable part of

the Lodge, to be open when the brethren are at labor; (3)

that a Mason must be male, free-born, and of mature age;

(4) that a Mason, by his tenure, owes allegiance to the Sov-

ereign and to the Craft; (5) that a Mason believes in the

immortality of the soul. The first four of these are derived

directly from the earliest documents belonging to the

Craft, the Old Charges which begin about 1390. The fifth

is implicit in the religious beliefs of that period. This brief

list is in close conformity with the code adopted by the

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, the senior grand lodge on

this continent.

In the above connection, it may be of interest to note the

Principles of Recognition required by my own Grand

Lodge Michigan, (page B –1 of our Blue Book of Com-

piled Laws):

“Fraternal recognition may be extended to another Grand

Lodge upon recommendation of the Committee on Fra-

ternal Relations, when it appears to the satisfaction of

Grand Lodge:

1) That such Grand Lodge shall have been established

lawfully by a duly recognized Grand Lodge or by

three or more regularly constituted Lodges.

2) That a belief in the Grand Architect of the Universe

and His revealed will shall be an essential qualification

for membership.

3) That all Initiates shall take their obligation on or in

full view of the Open Volume of the Sacred Law, by

which is meant the revelation from above which is

binding on the conscience of the particular individual

who is being initiated.

4) That the membership of the Grand Lodge and indi-

vidual Lodges shall be composed exclusively of men;

and that each Grand Lodge shall have no intercourse

of any kind with mixed Lodges or Lodges which

admit women to membership.

5) That the Grand Lodge shall have sovereign juris-

diction over the Lodges under its control, i.e., that it

shall be a responsible, independent, self-governing or-

ganization, with sole and undisputed authority over

the Craft or Symbolic Degrees (Entered Apprentice,

Fellow Craft, and Master Mason) within its jurisdic-

tion; and shall not in any way be subject to or divide

such authority with any other Power claiming any con-

trol or supervision over those degrees.

6) That the Great Lights of Freemasonry (namely the

Volume of the Sacred Law; the Square, and the Com-

passes) shall always be exhibited when the Grand

Lodge or its subordinate Lodges are at work, the chief

of these being the Volume of the Sacred Law.

7) That the discussion of religion and politics within

the Lodge shall be strictly prohibited.

8) That the principles of the Ancient landmarks, cus-

toms and usages of the Craft shall be strictly ob-

served.”

continued on pg. 10



Philosophy

Appendix: Aims and Relationships of the Craft

In 1920 the Grand Lodge of England broke its traditional

silence. It referred to the Landmarks, and itemized a num-

ber of them (possibly all of them) in a statement entitled

“Aims and Relationships of the Craft”. In August, 1938,

the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, and Scotland each

agreed upon and issued a statement identical in terms ex-

cept that the name of the issuing Grand Lodge appeared

through out. This statement was reaffirmed by the United

Grand Lodge of England on September 7, 1949. It has

never been adopted by the Grand Lodge of Michigan in

terms that would make it expressly appropriate to this ju-

risdiction. However, because it is such a concise, accurate,

and comprehensive statement of the aims and relationships

of regular Masonry, it was reprinted in its original form

and widely distributed. The statement is in the following

terms:

1) From time to time the United Grand Lodge of Eng-

land has deemed it desirable to set forth in precise form

the aims of Freemasonry as consistently practiced

under its Jurisdiction since it came into being as an or-

ganized body in 1717, and also to define the principles

governing its relations with those other Grand Lodges

with which it is in fraternal accord.

2) In view of representations which have been re-

ceived, and of statements recently issued which have

distorted or obscured the true objects of Freemasonry,

it is once again considered necessary to emphasize cer-

tain fundamental principles of the Order.

3) The first condition of admission into and member-

ship of, the Order is a belief in the Supreme Being.

This is essential and admits of no compromise.

4) The Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume

of the Sacred Law, is always open in the Lodges.

Every candidate is required to take his obligation on

that book or on the Volume which is held by his par-

ticular creed to impart sanctity to an oath or promise

taken upon it.

5) Everyone who enters Freemasonry is, at the outset,

strictly forbidden to countenance any act which may

have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order

of society; he must pay due obedience to the law of

any State in which he resides or which may afford him

protection, and he must never be remiss in the alle-

giance due to the Sovereign of his native land.

6) While English Freemasonry thus inculcates in each

of its members the duties of loyalty and citizenship, it

reserves to the individual the right to hold his own

opinion with regard to public affairs. But neither in

any lodge, nor at any time in his capacity as a Freema-

son, is he permitted to discuss or to advance his views

on theological or political questions.

7) The Grand Lodge has always consistently refused

to express any opinion on questions of foreign or do-

mestic state policy either at home or abroad, and it will

not allow its name to be associated with any action,

however humanitarian it may appear to be, which in-

fringes its unalterable policy of standing aloof from

every question affecting the relations between one

government and another, or between political parties,

or questions as to rival theories of government.

8) The Grand Lodge is aware that there do exist Bod-

ies, styling themselves Freemasons, which do not ad-

here to these principles, and while that attitude exists

the Grand Lodge of England refuses absolutely to

have any relations with such Bodies, or to regard them

as Freemasons.

9) The Grand Lodge of England is a Sovereign and in-

dependent Body practicing Freemasonry only within

the three Degrees and only within the limits defined

in its Constitution as “pure Antient Masonry”. It does

not recognize or admit the existence of any superior

Masonic authority, however styled.

10) On more than one occasion the Grand Lodge has

refused, and will continue to refuse, to participate in

Conferences with so called International Associations

claiming to represent Freemasonry, which admit to

membership Bodies failing to conform strictly to the

principles upon which the Grand Lodge of England is

founded. The Grand Lodge does not admit any such

claim, nor can its views be represented by any such

Association.

There is no secret with regard to any of the basic principles

of Freemasonry, some of which have been stated above.


continued on pg. 10


Philosophy

The Grand Lodge will always consider the recognition of

those Grand Lodges which profess, and practice, and can

show that they have consistently professed, and practiced

those established and unaltered principles, but in no cir-

cumstances will it enter into discussion with a view to any

new or varied interpretation of them. They must be ac-

cepted and practiced wholeheartedly and in their entirety

by those who desire to be recognized as Freemasons by

the United Grand Lodge of England.

In Summary

Once Landmarks have been established and then we begin

to chisel away at them, we must remember that we are tak-

ing away from our Great Fraternity, Our Heritage and a

little bit of ourselves and what we stand for … Think Well

my Brothers.

Selected References

Darrah, Delmar D., The Evolution of Freemasonry, The Ma-

sonic Publishing Co., Bloomington, IL 1920, pp. 301-312.

Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry, As Adopted, Fol-lowed or Undecided by the Fifty Grand Lodges of theUnited States, a publication of the Masonic Service Asso-

ciation, 8120 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910-

4785

Bernard E. Jones, Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium,New and Revised Edition, George G. Harrap & Co., Ltd.,

London 1957, pp. 332-337.

The next article (Part Three) is on our Growth/Decline.

The Masonic Order has witness extreme growth and de-

cline since its birth. Many Masons have professed the rea-

sons behind our most recent decline? Some have stated

it’s the” television” or people are “to busy”,” I don’t have

time to memorize all that stuff. “

Maybe it’s a combination of all the above or maybe it’s

the fault of the craft (Membership) itself!

We will look not only at our Fraternity, but also at other

Fraternal Orders and the American Church during the

same period and there expla-

nation to the problem. What-

ever the reason you conclude,

it is still only one factor and it

may just be coincidence!


Submitted by MW Henry Wilson past Grand Master of Michigan and a member of Scottsdale Lodge #43

FROM OUR ARCHIVESIn cleaning out our archives, we came upon these pic-

tures. Are you old enough to remember these

Shriners or the purpsoe of the stamp? The answer

may be found elsewhere in this issue...


My Honored Brethren,

Is Freemasonry a spiritual transformer? I believe that

the Blue Lodge degrees are a practical guide for trans-

forming chaos and fragmentation into unity and com-

pletion. It further empowers us to disconnect from the

pervasive static of the profane world, the negative en-

ergy that blocks our ability to achieve fulfillment and

completion in out innermost hearts and to hopefully find

clear direction in our everyday lives. How does Freema-

sonry accomplish this?

The ceremonies and rituals that are accomplished can

be considered a lightning rod. It draws the light of the

Great Architect to us and reveals more light in ourselves.

In so doing, it eliminates the inner darkness, for dark-

ness cannot coexist with light. Nor can chaos, whose

essence is disconnection, remain in force when a gen-

uine connection with the light of the Blue Lodge has

been achieved.

For the Mason, the degrees, rituals and symbols are

nothing less than a time machine and a teleportation de-

vice all in one; by replacing darkness with light, it erases

the limits that the profane world places on us. Through

this teleportation and through the degrees we see where

we are, where we have been, and maybe where we are

going.

Presently, more than at any other time in history, further

light demands to be revealed. As we proceed through

the gates of the Freemasonry only a few will be called

towards a higher awareness. Simply putting ourselves

in the presence of degrees is not enough to foster clarity

and understanding. The evolution of our souls and the

advancement towards the Light demands much more

from each of us.

Each candidate achieves transformation, but because

they have not matured in the understanding of the de-

gree, they are overwhelmed by the moment in the same

way that a weak electrical circuit will flash brightly and

then burn out at the sudden infusion of a powerful cur-

rent. So, yes, a fundamental transformation has taken

place, but not the positive one that had been envisioned.

We individually cannot expect to achieve a full trans-

formation and a clear understanding of the richness of

our Order quickly. It must be achieved by the unity of

men of like mind and hearts that transmit the Light to

the whole chain and not to just one link. The desire and

intention in this transformational journey must be one

of sharing and not one of self-serving.

Before we ever became Masons, it may have seemed

that we were born into this world with no apparent set

of instructions, no maps or equations, nothing but our

own instincts, intuitions, and reasoning abilities to tell

us where we came from, why we are here, and what we

are supposed to do. The different degrees in our Order

are guideposts to help us navigate those waters. The de-

grees, ceremonies and symbology are privileged gifts

offered to each Mason and it is his responsibility to in-

terpret the manifold of discoveries revealed to him.

What every candidate hopefully will possess after a pe-

riod of maturation in the different degrees, ritual and

ceremonies is the sincere desire and passion to seek

more education for the life story to go on. We as senior

leaders must keep turning the pages.

As we learn to live Freemasonry and not just “under-

stand” it, the mysteries of the Order open themselves to

us, as do the mysteries of life

itself.

A WISE MAN WILL HEAR, AND WILL INCREASELEARNING (Proverbs 1:5)By George Weil, PM

Philosophy

Worshipful Brother, Weil is a Past Master Of Scientia Coronati Research Lodge #4 and is the current Worshipful Master of

Aztlan Lodge #1


CHANDLER THUNDERBIRD LODGE #15

Is offering Masonic Veterans Pins to our Brothers at a price that is just slightly above our cost.

All profits from the sale of these pins will be donated to our three

Arizona Masonic Youth Groups WE HAVE CURRENTLY DONATED OVER $1,500 TO

OUR ARIZONA MASONIC YOUTH

If you would like one, or more, pins just send ** $2.00 for each pin to:

Chandler Thunderbird Lodge #15 c/o George Stablein

P.O. Box 6794 Chandler, AZ 85246

(This address is for pin orders only!)

Please make your checks payable to Chandler Thunderbird Lodge #15

** PLEASE ADD THE FOLLOWING TO YOUR ORDER TO COVER OUR SHIPPING COSTS

1-5 PINS PLEASE ADD $3.00

6-10 PINS PLEASE ADD $4.00 11 OR MORE PINS PLEASE ADD $5.00

The 1946 Victory Stamp issued by the British government to com-memorate Victory in WW2. His Royal High-ness King George VI was the Grand Masterof the Grand Lodge of Scotland before theWar. Note the Masonic symbols, particularlythe depiction of the square & compasseswith one point exposed, which is the customof that particular Grand Jurisdiction. In hisvictory speech, the King stressed the valueof Freemasonry in post War reconstruction,with these words. “The world today does re-quire spiritual and moral regeneration. Ihave no doubt, after many years as a mem-ber of our Order, that Freemasonry can play

a most impor-tant part of thisvital need.”


Grand Oration

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Grand Lodge Officers, Dis-

tinguished and Honored Guests, Ladies, Friends and Broth-

ers, I am thrilled to be allowed to speak today at the

dedication of this beautiful facility. It is the new home of

the Grand Lodge of Arizona. It is a place that we can all be

proud of; where we can meet as brothers and friends to con-

duct the business of the Grand Lodge, and where we can

gather together to conduct the important function of advanc-

ing and promoting Freemasonry. But more than that, this

beautiful building is a sign; a sign that Freemasonry is alive

and well in Arizona, that brethren can indeed work together

for a common good, and that we can be willing to change.

Change is a wonderful thing, a frightening thing, a thing of

beauty in the proper hands or a thing of disaster in the wrong

hands, and change is what I want to talk about today.

A famous French philosopher, Alphonse Karr, once told us,

“The more things change the more they remain the same.”

In contrast, in closing one of his famous religious services,

Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr, the renowned theologist, prayed:

“God give us the grace to accept with serenity the things that

cannot be changed, courage to change the things which

should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one

from the other.” Between these two thoughts, one of the

cynic and the other of the Christian realist, lies a vast chasm

of thought on changes in our lives, thought that characterizes

our conduct and immobilizes our thought process.

The English revolution of 1688 changed the world and established

forever the concept of parliamentary government in the English-

speaking world. Some thirty-odd years later, the Grand Lodge of

England brought together our ancestral lodges and, from the old

charges, introduced to British social life a monumental change

that promoted the revolutionary idea that respectable men from

all walks of life could lay aside the differences of caste and degree

and meet upon the level. Thus was propounded for the first time

outside the operative Craft the concept that: “Although a Crown

may adorn the head and a Scepter the hand, yet the blood that

flows in his veins is no better that that of the humblest citizen.”

What liberal ideas! What rebels these Masons were! What

a change! Rational and democratic thought swept like a

whirlwind not only through British Freemasonry but, was

exported to Europe and the New World. It was such a Ma-

sonic thought that led, in the face of grievances, to the

solemn American Declaration that: “We hold these truths to

be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are

endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that

among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

What a wonderful concept and what a change!

This change led to the creation of the longest-lived Republic

and freest nation on the face of the earth. And it will ever

be a glory for the cause of Freemasonry that thoughts of lib-

erty here and elsewhere grew from Masonic philosophy and

Masonic practices. It is a small wonder that Masonic lodges

and Freemasons contributed so much to our American Rev-

olution, as well as to the more violent upheaval in France

which likewise secured the blessings of liberty to that coun-

try. Indeed, it was such thoughts, brought back by young

Russian officers from the Masonic lodges of Western Europe

that animated the Decembrist patriots in the first serious at-

tempt to overthrow the Czar and bring parliamentary gov-

ernment to Russia. Surely, these Masons did not fear

change. They knew, as did Sir Francis Bacon, that: “He that

will not apply new remedies must expect new evils, for time

is the greatest innovator; and if time alters things to the

worse, and wisdom and good counsel cannot alter them to

the better, what shall be the end?”

Repeatedly, I have heard a Past Master declare that we face

many problems today; of membership, attendance, finances,

proficiency in the Masonic art, and with the standards of the

craft. He went on to declare that he had no solutions to these

problems, but that he did not want Masonry to change. He

wanted it to be the same as when he was initiated forty plus

years ago. And then he went outside, climbed into his air-

conditioned, computer controlled automobile, with its auto-

matic features, went back to his air-conditioned apartment,

took off his miracle-fabric suit, watched

the latest up-to-the-minute news on his new LCD television, jotted

GRAND ORATION PRESENTED AT THE DEDICATIONOF THE GRAND LODGE ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICESBy Craig Gross - Grand Orator

continued on pg. 15

Grand Oration


down a few notes on his laptop computer, and then used his cell

phone to place an instantaneously connected call to his family in

another State. But Freemasonry should not change!

This man would never dream of farming again with horses;

keeping his finances without Quickbooks; or not urging the

progressive education of his grandchildren. And yet he re-

members the days when annual returns were done by hand

and the long hours of labor which he gave unstintingly to

his lodge to see that those reports were so tediously com-

pleted. And he marvels today that the computer spews out

the same list in a few minutes and he need only correct it

and return it, for the task to be done. Why then is he, and so

many like him, from the brethren on the sidelines to the Past

Master, so fearful of change of any kind?

We must remember that we are not speaking of changing the

basic principles of Freemasonry or doing away with those

hallowed moral principals which it has embraced for these

many years. We are simply talking about slight alterations

in methodology, communications, removing the secrecy

which so often cloaks ignorance, letting our light shine from

the mountain top, and eliminating some of the narrow, hyp-

ocritical beliefs that have gained the erroneous status of cus-

tom, because they represent the oft-bigoted views of some

individual leader.

What I would like to see is for us to embrace change, to re-

quire Masons to be Masons, to recognize their charitable

duty to do good unto all, to bring more youth into the guid-

ance of Masonic sponsorship, to proudly approach worthy

individuals that they may learn of its availability to them;

and, above all, to restore to the office of Master the luster

with which it once was adorned by requiring future leaders

to be true Masons, to know the ritual, to know the Masonic

Code, and to lead their lodge. These are hardly revolution-

ary thoughts and ideas, but it will require change!

Yet, some of my brethren tell me that, if a carefully worded

neutral approach to a prospect is used regularly or a one-day

class is supported, we will have every bum in the State in

our lodges. Well, I certainly can’t speak for their lodges, but

I hardly think them much different from mine. We do have

investigating committees who do their jobs and ballot boxes

which in sure the quality of the applicant. One can always

find excuses not to change by taking counsel of his fears and

erecting the most speculative web of objections.

In the end, it comes down to saying the same old thing in other

ways, “It’s never been done before! We can’t do that! That’s not

Masonry!” But what they are really saying is “I am afraid of

change.”

In reality, at whatever level, it is ignorance and apathy that

governs the day. Masonic knowledge ends for most with the

catechisms; change might require them to do or to learn

more. We are all familiar with the man who will serve as

Master, but really seeks only to be a Past Master. His only

service is to himself.

I recently heard a Grand Lodge Officer declare that there is

not “one really strong lodge” in this jurisdiction. Then he

went on to point out that: “In the past we were blessed with

great leaders in our lodges, as well as in our Grand Lodge,

men who were devoted to the principles in which we be-

lieve.” OK, but they weren’t necessarily any smarter than

the leaders we have today, MAYBE THEY JUST WORKED

HARDER AND EMBRACED CHANGE! But to get back

to that today will require that we change!

Perhaps that could be the greatest change of all Masonic

leaders at all levels. To work harder; to set the craft to work

and give it the PROPER instruction; to cease wanting to be

a Past Master and prepare to be Master; to act like a Mason

should act; and to support and embrace change. As for my-

self, I will continue to repeat Dr. Neibuhr’s lovely prayer

and ask that “God give me the grace to accept with serenity

those things that cannot be changed, courage to change the

things which should be changed, and the wisdom to know

the difference.”

MY BRETHREN AND FRIENDS, WE MAY NOT HAVE IT

ALL TOGETHER, BUT TOGETHER WE DO HAVE IT

ALL! ALL WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE THE COURAGE

AND WISDOM TO WORK TOGETHER AS BROTHERS

TO CHANGE WHAT SHOULD BE CHANGED! And today

is a great first step.

Thank you Most Worshipful

Grand Master for the opportunity

to speak today on this auspicious

occasion.

Worshipful Brother Craig Gross is a PastMaster Of Tucson Lodge No. 4. The

2012/2013 Grand Orator and the newly in-stalled Junior Grand Steward

Arizona MasonryGrand Lodge, Free and Accepted

Masons of Arizona

P.O. Box 370Chino Valley, AZ 86323

Non-Profit OrgUS Postage

PAIDTucson AZ

Permit No. 1286

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