College Christian doesn't know her Wicca from her Masonry

A letter to the editor of a college newspaper is chock-full of mistaken ideas about both Freemasonry and Wicca, calling them "New Age" religions.

Carrie Scoggins of Cleveland, Tenn., writes in Sidelines, the student newspaper of Middle Tennessee State University, such odd things that I wonder which anti-Masonic Christian website she copied the ideas from.

Lumping Freemasonry, Wicca and the New Age Movement together as one religion, she tells us that the Eye of Horus, found on the dollar bill, is a pagan deity, and that the Statue of Liberty is the "Wiccan goddess Ishtar." She's so close, yet her understanding of pagan history is off by a mile. [The eye on the dollar bill is the All-Seeing Eye of God, not the typical symbol of the Eye of Horus. The Statue of Liberty is a representation of the Egyptian goddess Isis, not the Babylonian Ishtar, though the two are sometimes thought of as being manifestations of the same principles.]

She informs us that "the Parthenon is covered with gods and goddesses of the new age movement as well." The Parthenon was built hundreds of years before Christ, and was dedicated to one goddess, Athena. How can something that predates the founding of Christianity be considered "new age"?

My guess is that her letter is in response to an action by the university regarding the display of the Ten Commandments on campus, and she's trying to point out "support" of pagan religion in the form of statues and obelisks on governmental property to defend placing Judao-Christian concepts (the Ten Commandments) on campus as well. She's never very clear in her presentation; her writing and analytical skills are terrible.

Is this kind of muddled thinking and historical mangling, and worse, this lack of basic writing skills, what passes for education at colleges today? My English and my history teachers and professors would have given me a D-minus if I'd turned in this kind of sloppy work. I'm surprised a college newspaper even published it.

Image: Isis and Horus

UPDATE Monday, Feb. 12: Ms. Scoggins is a feisty woman, that much I can say. The comments section at the Middle Tennessee State University's online newspaper Sidelines is busting at the seams with comments about her letter to the editor, and Ms. Scoggins is firing back herself with both barrels, spewing quotations from Mackey, Pike and (God help us!) John Ankerberg. The scariest thing is that she's now claiming to be a Libertarian, yet she says she'll "report" nay-sayers as "abusing the system." I'm posting her comments as they were written, misspellings and run-on paragraphs included. Follow the link above for more comments.

Stephen Hopkins
posted 2/11/07 @ 4:29 AM EST
Youngster, you worry way too much about the wicca and other lessor religions. You should be aware that the rest of the country is well aware of your christofacist agenda, but rest assured our Founding Fathers created the 1st Amendment for several good reasons not the least of which includes protecting individuals from having any religion shoved down their throats. One last thing, in case you missed it, we voted your nazi reps out of their Congressional majority and soon we will replace the Bush regime with a Democrat (Jan 2009 at the latest and sooner if we can get Bush and Cheney impeached before then). Get used to it as we, the overwhelming majority of voters, will never again allow you christofacists to have the reigns of government.

Originally posted by
CarrieScoggins
First, there is 7 different kinds of Wicca, and yes there is no goddess excluded... The statue of Liberty is Istar and not Isis, although many confuse the two as one in the same... And even so, both are recognized in Wicca, if you must confirm, please call notify Jester from the Nashville Pagan Group, and I believe Jeremy Thurman from the MTSU Student Pagan Org. would agree. The eye of Horus is Wiccan and Freemason, and the quotes from Freemasons' books proving it I am posting on this post! They are a religion, and they said so, see John Ankerberg's books on Freemasonry (and he sites his sources in footnotes proving which book he retrieved the information from!, He sites all of his sources and can prove every word from the Freemason's own books as to why he was never sued for libelous).----- Here is the quotes and if you read on down the flier you will see them recognize Osiris and Horus... Their paganism...------It's not going to let me copy and paste the flier, well, let me rewrite those quotes...
Ok, concerning the pagan god Horus, the Freemason pagan god worshipped that is on our one dollar bill and many Federal and state buildings...
"The all seeing eye that prevades the inner most recesses of the human heart, and will reward us according to our merits." Masonic Moniter 54:11
"The sun and moon represents the two grand principals of all generations, the active and the passive, the male and the female... both shed their light upon their offspring, the blazing star, or Horus," Morals And Dogma Pages 13 and 14
Also, sun and moon represents part of the Freemason's pagan religion from Egypt, and the point within the circle in masonic symbolism, is devised from worship of the Egyptian sun god. " the point within the circle is devised from sun worship, and is in reality of phallic origin, it is the symbol of the universe. The sun represented by the point, while the circumference is the universe." Symbolism of Freemasony by Albert Mackey page 353.
The Obelisk, a symbol of Osiris " The Phallus was an imitation of the male generative organ, it was represented usually by a column which was surmounted by a circle at it's base. The point with in the circle was intended by the ancients by a type of prolific power of nature, which they worshipped under the united form of the active or male principal, and the passive or female principal."Manual of the Lodge page 56 by Albert Mackey
Also, just to let everyone know that it's not all neo paganism in the lodge, let me quote this statement!
Albert Pikes Instruction To The Supreme Council Of The World, " Yes Lucifer is god and unfortunately Addony is also god, the true philisophical religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal of Addony... But lucifer, god of light and god of good, is struggling for humanity against Addony god of darkness and evil" So, we see Albert Mackey's books that founded Freemasonry is occultic! Also, this statement, and remember Lost Keys Of Freemasonry is in all lodges as they are 'free and accepted.' " When the mason learns that the key to being 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 energies of lucifer are in his hands, and before he may step onward and upward he must prove his ability to properly apply this energy.
These quotes are in the Freemason's own books! If you wish to look further go to any counter cult section of any Christian bookstore, such as Salt and Pepper in Murfreesboro and they can order these books, Books exposing freemasonry by Ed Decker, John Ankerberg, and Texe Marrs "Dark Majesty," and "Dark Secrets Of The New Age," and all these books have a bibliography and site their sources and are very credible.

CarrieScoggins
posted 2/11/07 @ 2:35 PM EST
Christo-facist agenda? Your an idiot... I am a libertarian by the way, and not a republican... I consider the lesser of the evils by the way since those of us with a real political science degree know that you can not have fascism without first having socialism (big leftist socialism like that of Nazi Germany which was a large leftist govt. and not 'right wing.' as the liberal propaganda would have everyone believe. They were the national socialist party...) Were not the fascists, the big government types are! Do not respond to me again since you choose to use slurs at me... If you do I will contact the website cord. and let them know you are abusing the system.

Masons | Wicca | New Age | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Carrie Scroggins | Middle Tennesee State University | Burning Taper

Vatican once again reminds us, 'Catholics cannot be Freemasons'

Just in case any Catholics were thinking about becoming Freemasons, the Vatican once again has sent out a reminder....

Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum University, answered this question on February 6, 2007 via the Zenit News Agency:

Q: A member of the RCIA program was told by another member of the parish that if they were going to become Catholic they needed to terminate their involvement with the Masonic lodge before they could join. Is this still the case in the United States? — T.N., Howard City, Michigan

A: This question is more canonical than liturgical. The Church's position with respect to membership of Masonic lodges, even though canon law no longer explicitly mentions the Masons, has not substantially changed.

The new code states in Canon 1374: "A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; however, a person who promotes or directs an association of this kind is to be punished with an interdict." An interdict is an ecclesiastical penalty that deprives the person of the right to celebrate or receive the sacraments but is less harsh than excommunication.

This text greatly simplified the former code which had specifically mentioned the Masons. This change led some Masons to think that the Church no longer banned Catholics from being Masons, since, among other things, in many countries membership at a lodge was merely social and had nothing to do with plotting against the Church.

In order to clarify the issue the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a declaration on Nov. 26, 1983, shortly before the present Code of Canon Law came into effect. This declaration, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger [editor's note: now Pope Benedict XVI], states:

"It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church's decision in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not mention them expressly, unlike the previous Code.

"This Sacred Congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance in due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.

"Therefore the Church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.

"It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the Declaration of this Sacred Congregation issued on 17 February 1981 (cf. AAS 73 1981 pp. 240-241; English language edition of L'Osservatore Romano, 9 March 1981).

"In an audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II approved and ordered the publication of this Declaration which had been decided in an ordinary meeting of this Sacred Congregation."

The congregation's judgment, therefore, was not so much based on whether the Masons as such or any specific group of Masons effectively plot against the Church today. This does not deny that some Masonic groups have historically combated the Church nor that even today, in some countries or at certain levels, the lodge remains at the forefront of those who oppose the Church's freedom of action.

Rather, the Vatican congregation above all stressed the incompatibility of some Masonic principles with those of the Catholic Church.

This incompatibility resides in some aspects of Masonic ritual, but more importantly in elements regarding the question of truth.

In its effort to bring together people of different provenances, Masonry requires that its members adhere to a minimal belief in a supreme architect of the universe and leave aside all other pretensions of truth, even revealed truth.

It is thus basically a relativistic doctrine, and no Catholic, nor indeed any convinced Christian, may ever adhere to a group that would require him, even as a mere intellectual exercise, to renounce the affirmation of such truths as Christ's divinity and the Trinitarian nature of God.

Of course, for many people active in Masonic lodges, the conversations and activities are more social in nature and rarely veer toward the realm of philosophical speculation. A Catholic, however, cannot ignore the fundamental principles behind an organization, no matter how innocuous its activities appear to be.

Masons | Masonic Membership | Catholic Church | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Bro. George Washington's 275th birthday to be celebrated at Masonic Memorial

Yeah, I know, W. Bro. and President George Washington's many virtues didn't extend to Native Americans, but he's worth a Masonic nod as President's Day approaches.

On Sunday, February 25, the George Washington Masonic Memorial will commemorate the 275th birthday of George Washington with the presentation of the first George Washington Memorial Award, The Connection has announced.

The award was created to honor individuals who have promoted the virtues, character and vision of George Washington. The recipient of this first-ever award is New York author Richard Brookhiser, for his book, Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington. Prior to the presentation ceremony, Brookhiser will give a talk on Bro. Washington. The traditional wreath-laying ceremony will also be held. The ceremonies will take place at the base of the 17-foot bronze statue of George Washington in the main entrance hall.

Masons | Masonic Memorial | George Washington | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Ohio Freemason steals over $150,000 from Masonic lodge

Sometimes I guess the riches of Freemasonry just prove to be too much of a temptation. "I will not cheat or defraud a lodge of...."

Christopher Elmore, a Jamestown, Ohio Freemason, pleaded guilty to stealing more than $150,000 from Jamestown Lodge No. 352.

According to a news story, Elmore was in charge of the organization’s funds, presumably the lodge's Secretary. He pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated theft.

Prosecutors said he would endorse checks made out to the Masonic lodge and keep the money for himself.

He was caught doing the same thing at Xenia Lodge No. 49 in nearby Xenia, Ohio. He has paid back the money he stole from the Xenia lodge, but still owes around $153,000 in Jamestown. Prosecutors said Elmore paid $22,000 on Tuesday.

He is to pay $750 a month until the balance is paid off. That's 17 years! What happened to the cash he stole? Did he spend it already? I'm guessing he didn't donate it to charity....

Masons | Masonic Crime | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Grand Lodge of Ohio | Burning Taper

TBS sets horrible precedent by paying Boston for Aqua Teen Hunger Force 'scare'

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., parent company of The Cartoon Network, and the New York marketing company Interference, Inc., have set a horrible precedent by agreeing to pay $2,000,000.00 (two million dollars!) to Boston area agencies and agencies "affected by the scare."

I'm sure officials in the nine other cities where the Lite Brite cartoon character signs were placed are kicking themselves in the head for not making a fuss over them so they could get in on the cash bonanza!

One blogger — I don't remember who — likened the affair to being afraid of the shadows a tree outside his bedroom window cast, and then, once he discovered it was a just a tree, cutting it down to punish it.

Previously on Burning Taper:

• Boston attacked by Aqua Teen Hunger Force
• 24's Jack Bauer saves Boston from Aqua Teen Hunger Force

ATHF | Aqua Teen Hunger Force | Boston | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper | TBS | Turner Broadcasting System | Cartoon Network

How well do you know the Bible?

Patrick over at The Pagan Temple aced his Bible test, so I gave it a try, and scored a 100%, too.

Go ahead, test your Bible knowledge. See how well you paid attention in Sunday School.

You know the Bible 100%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

Take the Ultimate Bible Quiz

Sunday School | Bible Trivia | Knowledge | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Presidential candidates announce their campaign theme songs

The original hippie generation is now in charge of things. Not that any of the current crop of candidates were hippies (Hillary's husband didn't inhale, after all), but they do like to rock.

Some of the Democratic candidates for president have chosen their campaign theme songs. A few have selected two songs, one for their entrance and one for their exit. Other than Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, who chose an American traditional standard, the candidates are all posturing as oh-so-cool baby boomers. Here's what was played as each of the candidates entered and left the stage at Friday's Democratic National Committee meeting in Washington, D.C.

• John Edwards: "This Is Our Country" by John Mellencamp
• Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut: "Get Ready (Cause Here I Come)" by the Temptations and "Reach Out," also by the Temptations
• Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York: "Right Here, Right Now," by Jesus Jones and "Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
• Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio: "America the Beautiful"
• Wesley Clark, who hasn't indicated whether he will run, entered to Johnny Cash's "I Won't Back Down," a cover of the Tom Petty classic

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the only candidate courageous enough to admit he has used illegal drugs, decided against using any music, reportedly to maintain the somber tone he wants to convey.

George W. Bush's anthem for the last four years must have been Neil Young's "Living With War."

Do you have a theme song? Is there a song you feel "represents" you? What's playing inside your head as you enter and exit various events in your life?

I hope that as we all ponder who we'll vote for in the 2008 elections, our theme song will be The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."

Presidential Campaign | Rock and Roll | Hillary Clinton | Barack Obama | BurningTaper.com | Wesley Clark | John Edwards | Burning Taper | Chris Dodd | Dennis Kucinich

Venus, the Devil, Jack Chick and Freemasonry

After reading a post about Christian anti-Masons on the new Masonic blog Horseshoes and Handgrenades, I was knocking about the Internet when I found a very interesting essay from 2001 called "Venus, the Devil, Jack Chick and Freemasonry."

The essay explains how Venus, the brightest "star" in the sky, came to be associated with the Christian Satan, and then looks at how anti-Mason Leo Taxil's hoax and made-up quotation by Albert Pike has led to today's rabid anti-Masonic positions by people and organizations such as John Ankerberg, FreemasonryWatch.org, and Jack Chick, who continue to repeat the lies Taxil himself reputed in 1897.

Fascinating reading....

Masons | Anti-Masons | Venus | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Leo Taxil | Jack Chick | Burning Taper

24's Jack Bauer saves Boston from Aqua Teen Hunger Force attack!

Fear not, Boston! 24's Jack Bauer has heard your cries of distress, and has come to save you!

Grouchogandhi caught it all on video.

Boston | 24 | ATHF | Aqua Teen Hunger Force | BurningTaper.com | Video | Burning Taper

Masonic New Year's Resolutions

It's not too late to get started on New Year's Resolutions, even though it's already Groundhog Day.

Bro. Richard Powell has posted four excellent Masonic New Year's Resolutions on his blog Ars Masonica. To summarize:

• Improve your ritual work. Attend schools of instruction.
• Further your Masonic education. Read more. Attend classes and seminars sponsored by your Grand Lodge.
• Attend Masters, Wardens and Deacons workshops.
• Make an effort to attend Masonic funeral services. There is nothing more embarrassing than having only a couple of Brothers show up to a service after a family has asked for it. Freemasonry obviously meant a lot to the deceased Brother & his family because they have asked for the service. Make an extra effort to show them that it means a lot to you as well.

Masons | Masonic Funerals | Masonic Workshops | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | New Year's Resolutions | Burning Taper

Boston attacked by Aqua Teen Hunger Force; America has lost all common sense

Americans have lost their common sense.

Seventeen-year-old grocery clerks demand proof of age from 50-year olds buying beer. Five-year-olds are arrested as sexual predators for hugging their kindergarten teachers. A dingbat in Wisconsin yesterday called out the bomb squad for a "land mine" in her yard that turned out to be a stand for an outdoor umbrella.

While Americans in general have lost all common sense, it seems Boston officials have lost all touch with Reality itself. They want to crucify The Cartoon Network and a couple of twenty-something stoners for guerilla marketing, instead of admitting that police over-reacted to the battery-operated Lite-Brite signs being used to bring attention to a new movie.

Boston's Finest went into over-time (and over-kill) mode yesterday chasing down the flashing signs meant to bring attention to The Cartoon Network's program Aqua Teen Hunger Force, a surreal late-night series (part of a block of shows intended for mature audiences called "Adult Swim") about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball. A movie based on the show is due out in March.

A marketing company hired by The Cartoon Network, a division of Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc. (in turn part of the Time-Warner empire), hired two men to place at least 38 blinking electronic signs on bridges and other high-profile spots across the city, as well as in nine other cities across the nation. The blinking signs have been in place for two to three weeks. It was only yesterday some paranoid actually noticed one. Before that, apparently they were only visible to fans of the show, who recognized the blinking face as one of the program's characters. At least one of the signs in Boston was attached over the front door of a comic book shop, and had been there for two to three weeks.

Then, yesterday, hysteria set in. Call out the bomb squads! Bring in the dogs! Ring up the fire department! Save the city! We're under attack! Sheesh... you'd think Shriners in UFOs were attacking, the way the Keystone Kops reacted.

I hear you. You're saying, in your best Mr. Bill voice: "Oh nooooo! It could have been for real! You should be glad the police are ever-vigilant, looking out for our safety! Remember 9/11!"

Vigilance is one thing. Over-reaction is another.

And how vigilant are they, really, if these signs have been up, not just in Boston but also in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco and Philadelphia for the past two or three weeks?

Officials removed 38 blinking electronic signs (after being told where they were) promoting the Cartoon Network TV show Aqua Teen Hunger Force on bridges and other high-profile spots across Boston Wednesday. Highways were closed; bomb squads were deployed. Thousands of people were inconvenienced, not by the signs, but by officials' over-reaction to the signs.

"It's clear the intent was to get attention by causing fear and unrest that there was a bomb in that location," Assistant Attorney General John Grossman said at the "suspects'" arraignment. "The appearance of this device and its location are crucial. This device looks like a bomb."

Oh, bullshit. If that was the intent, it failed terribly until yesterday. The signs had been up for two to three weeks, in 10 major cities, and were only noticed by those predisposed to recognize the cartoon character, people who would watch the show and pay to see the upcoming feature film.

And just because something has a battery or wires dangling from it doesn't make it a bomb. If it did, can you imagine how many terrorists they could round up at seventh-grade science fairs, with all those dry cell batteries attached to little lights (not to mention the baking soda volcano bombs one table over)?

Michael Rich, a lawyer for the Peter Berdovsky, 27, and Sean Stevens, 28, the two men arrested in Boston for distributing the signs, said the description of a bomb-like device could be used for any electronic device.

"If somebody had left a VCR on the ground it would have been a device with wires, electronic components and a power source," he said.

The mayor thinks otherwise. "It is outrageous, in a post 9/11 world, that a company would use this type of marketing scheme," Mayor Thomas Menino said Wednesday. "I am prepared to take any and all legal action against Turner Broadcasting and its affiliates for any and all expenses incurred during the response to today's incidents."

Lighten up, Mayor. You over-reacted. I'm sorry you spent nearly a million dollars chasing cartoon characters around your city. You didn't have to. And you shouldn't waste any more of the city's money prosecuting a case that doesn't exist. Maybe you could spend a little bit of cash hiring an assistant under the age of 30 to keep you up to speed on youth culture. Berdovsky and Stevens and The Cartoon Network are guilty of nothing more than perhaps violating local sign ordinances, like someone hanging a sign on a telephone pole. They certaintly didn't violate the law under which they're being charged, which outlaws the placing of a "hoax device or hoax substance... with intent to cause anxiety, unrest, fear or personal discomfort to any person or group of persons."

On Sept. 11, 2001, America was blindsided and took one hell of a beating. It was a terrible thing. I'm not downplaying the dangers we face today, and I'm not saying we shouldn't be paying attention to our surroundings.

But we've become like Pavlov's dogs. Ring a bell, or say the word "terrorist" or "bomb," and everybody shits their pants.

Shortly after 9/11, a rural north Georgia elementary school was "locked down," keeping young students stuck in their classrooms til after 5 p.m. one day. Parents were kept well away from the buildings, while emergency personnel swarmed the area. Why? A student had spilled some baking soda in the hall while carrying one of those volcano science projects from one classroom to another. Though he immediately told his teacher what it was and how it got there, the alarm had been raised, and no one would back down.

America has truly lost her common sense.

Maybe we all need a chill pill and an Adult Swim.

Image: The Aqua Teen Hunger Force in action

Links:

• Watch them build and set up the "hoax bombs"
• The pair giving FOX News an interview, taking only questions about hairstyles in the 1970s
• The Phoenix blog has tracked down Peter Berdovsky's band's website, where you can read more about the man who will only take questions about 70's hairstyles
• Boingboing.net's Mark Frauenfelder on ABC News speaking about the Boston "terrorism."

UPDATE Thursday, Feb. 1: The Boston Herald is reporting that yesterday Boston police found two fake pipebombs, one at Tufts-New England Medical Center, and one attached to the Longfellow Bridge. Police have identified a hospital employee as the suspect who planted the "realistic-looking" fake bombs, but he has not been arrested! They didn't even close the bridge to traffic while they removed the "bomb"!

UPDATE Friday, Feb. 2: Boston television station WCVB-TV has photoshopped the extended finger from the Mooninite LEDs. Compare the before-and-after photos of the uniformed and helmeted LED disposal expert as he carefully removes the deadly object. (Thanks to fantent.com.)

Adult Swim | Boston | Sean Stevens | Peter Berdovsky | Aqua Teen Hunger Force | Cartoon Network | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

N.C. Shriners boast membership increase

While Masonic blue lodges and the Scottish and York Rite groups continue to lose members each year, at least one state's Shrine organization has seen a turnaround in the trend.

After losing members for at least the past 15 years, the Sudan Shrine, which covers 42 counties of eastern North Carolina, now boasts over 6,000 members, according to the New Bern Sun-Journal.

"We’ve had a banner year in membership," said Sudan business manager Rick Welborn.

"We’re starting to get more [members] who are in their mid-40s," Welborn continued. "We always budget a certain number of new guys coming in and we exceeded that this year. Plus, we restored a lot of members that got out for either health or financial reasons."

He was hoping that up to 30 percent of those 6,000 members would show up at last weekend's Shrine Convention and parade. He expected at least 800 Shriners would appear in the annual parade.

There was no word on whether the fez-wearing Shriners drove around in funny little cars, or if they amused the crowd by showing off their new UFOs.

Image: Shriners marching in parade in Los Angeles in 1951, about the time UFOs were first becoming a popular meme. From the archives of the Los Angles Public Library

UPDATE Thursday, Feb. 1: In an attempt to be a good reporter and get more information on this story (and to focus more on upbeat stories than the constant parade of negative Masonic news I've been accused of lately), I emailed Bro. Rick Welborn, the Sudan Shriners' business manager, asking him how the event went, how many Shriners showed up for the parade, to what did he attribute the uptrend in Shrine membership, and if he would elaborate on his comment about "budgeting new guys" each year. Bro. Rick responded by saying I was welcome to phone him, as he had "...nothing to hide, [but is] just a little leery of certain email communications. I'm sure you can readily appreciate and respect that in today's society."

Huh?

Masons | Masonic Parade | Shriners | Rick Weldon | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Grand Lodge of North Carolina | Burning Taper

Watching the watchers watch us: FreemasonryWatch.org updates their website

The anti-Masonic folks over at FreemasonryWatch.org have recently updated their formerly dark and dreary conspiracy-laden homepage of anti-Masonic news. Welcome to the 21st century, guys. Er, well, almost.

Their new site's format appears to be based on the layout of The Drudge Report, the ultra-popular news and opinion site that, to my knowledge, hasn't changed its minimalist layout since its inception back during the Clinton years.

Good job, guys. The new layout is much easier to read.

Masons | Anti-Masonry | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | FreemasonryWatch.org | Burning Taper

Slate, Fox Sports weigh in on 'bizarre' Masonic-NASCAR partnership

The online magazine Slate just published an article about the Scottish Rite's venture into NASCAR sponsorship titled "Talladega Rites: The Masons' bizarre NASCAR campaign."

Writer Seth Stevenson lives near the Scottish Rite's House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., and came upon the shiny NASCAR Monte Carlo adorned with Masonic emblems on the day it was being showcased a few weeks ago.

"Why on earth are the Masons advertising on the hood of a stockcar?" he asks.

To find out, he called Stan Dodd, who manages public relations for the Scottish Rite. "Like a lot of other civic groups," he said, "we've seen our membership get a little older, and we've seen some retraction in our numbers. We need some younger members."

The Slate article continues:

Enter NASCAR. Driver Brian Conz (who competes in NASCAR's Busch Series races) is a Mason and helped engineer this deal between his race team and the Scottish Rite. By appearing on the hood of Conz's car, the Rite will reach millions of viewers during ESPN's race coverage. (Up to 30 million "impressions" per race — a figure that calculates the number of people watching, and the number of times a portion of the car appears on screen.) "The NASCAR demographics fit our demographics," says Dodd. When I ask him to be more specific, he just says, "Men."

When asked how much the Scottish Rite was paying to sponsor Conz's car, Dodd said no money had exchanged hands.

Dodd says the Rite's only contribution is "some staff support."

Stevenson then asked Joe Hill, head of public relations for Brian Conz's racing team, to explain what the racing team expected to get from the sponsorship.

"We're aligning ourselves with a dynamic, worldwide organization. We expect access and introduction to their members, who will assist us in meeting executive-level corporate leaders interested in getting involved with racing," said Hill.

Ah, yes. The conspiracy. The cabal. The good ol' boy network. The "brotherhood."

The first question asked of a candidate for Freemasonry is this (emphasis mine): "Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that, unbiased by the improper solicitation of friends and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, you freely and voluntarily offer yourself as a candidate for the mysteries of Freemasonry?"

---

A blogger on a MSN-Fox Sports site has written a bizarre story about the Scottish Rite's NASCAR sponsorship, full of strange and occasionally funny comments about the SR's Fred Flintstone Racing Team with John Doe as driver.

"The Scottish Rite sponsors 225 speech and language clinics for children across the country, part of the $2 million a day or $750+ million a year American Masonry spends on philanthropy which is just a little less than the value of the amount of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer that they annually consume."

Image: Scottish Rite executive director William G. Sizemore, NASCAR driver Brian Conz, and team owner Frank Cicci

Masons | NASCAR | Brian Conz | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Scottish Rite | Stock Car Racing | Burning Taper

Fewer Freemasons for the future?

Writing in the Dec. 2006 issue of Masonic Messenger, the official publication of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, Grand Master of Masons in Georgia M.W. Bro. Eli Stafford said: "We have lots of members, but we are weak in quality.... I believe we need to guard our inner door more closely.... If you... were standing in front of our lodge, [and] you could see the ones who come in and hear their conversations and hear the profanity used by some of our brothers, would you still want to be a part of our fraternity?"

I'm not sure what number constitutes "lots of members" to Bro. Stafford. The last time I checked, back in 2003 or 2004, there were just under 50,000 Masons in Georgia, and that number was decreasing by nearly 1,900 each year. Extending that into the future, I recall calculating that the last Georgia Mason would be turning out the Lights around 2027 or so.

Elsewhere in the same issue of the Messenger, it was reported that in 2005, only two Grand Lodges in America reported an increase in membership. The Grand Lodge of Hawaii had a net gain of 11 Master Masons, bringing the total number of Masons in that state to 1,745. New Jersey reported a net gain of 284 Masons, for a total membership of 31,169.

Across the board, the 51 American Grand Lodges reported a loss of 47,220 members in 2005. Membership in the 51 Grand Lodges stood at 1,569,812.

It has often been said, and a visit to any lodge will probably show it to be true, that only 10-15% of Masons actually ever participate in Masonic functions or even attend regular blue lodge communications. The rest just pay dues to maintain their membership. That means that our illustrious institution consists of between 150,000 and 225,000 active Master Masons nationwide. More people than that attend a single NASCAR race.

Nationally, the Scottish Rite boasts of half a million members, but I have no idea how many of those are actually active participants.

York Rite consists of three groups, the Chapter, Council and Commandery. In Georgia, there are 5,227 actual members of the York Rite Council, and 5,272 in the Commandery, and these numbers include men who may hold dual memberships, which makes the actual numbers "something less than that," according to Bro. Joe Turner, writing in the same issue of the Messenger. Fifty-nine percent of Royal Arch (the first level of York Rite) are Council members, so if my algebra is correct, that means there are about 8,900 total York Rite members in Georgia. I assume the 10-15% active members rule applies to the York Rite as well; I've attended Chapter and Council meetings with fewer than 10 members present. In fact, the first time I attended a Council meeting after joining, I was asked to act as an officer though I had no clue what was going on.

"It would be nice to start off the year with a large class of new members," York Rite's Bro. Turner wrote.

Why do 85-90% of the members not participate? Since the average age of a Mason is probably around 65, we can assume many Masons who would like to be active are unable to attend due to poor health. Indeed, 180 brothers died in a two-month period (as listed in the same issue of Messenger).

Doing the math on that gives us an average death toll of 1,080 per year. But that would only account for just over half of the yearly shrinkage. Why are approximately 800 brothers letting their memberships lapse each year?

And why are so few younger men joining the Fraternity? Why is there so little interest in becoming a part of the oldest and (once) most-respected fraternal organization in the world?

Has Freemasonry become irrelevant to today's man? What were those 800 men a year (in Georgia) who don't renew their membership looking for when they became a Mason, and why didn't they find it? What did they find instead?

Image: Grand Master of Masons in Georgia M.W. Bro. Eli Stafford and his lady, Lily Mae.

Masons | Eli Stafford | Masonic Statistics | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Grand Lodge of Georgia | Burning Taper

Big Brother is signing your paycheck

Conspiracy-minded anti-Masons like to believe that 33rd degree "high level" Masons secretly control the world. If those brothers in the Red Caps and White Caps are also the CEOs of major American companies, then perhaps the conspiracy nuts are right.

It seems Big Brother is alive and kicking in the Boardroom these days.

According to a recent Reuters article:

• In 2004, U.S. employers reportedly spent $9 billion on monitoring devices for the workplace
• 76 percent of U.S. companies monitor workers Web site use
• 36 percent of employers track computer content, keystrokes and time spent at the keyboard
• 50 percent store and review employees' computer files
• 55 percent retain and review employee e-mail messages
• Five percent used GPS in company-issued cell phones
• Eight percent used GPS in company vehicles. Five percent of U.S. companies use fingerprint scanning. Facial recognition is used by two percent, and iris scans by 0.5 percent.

Biometrics | Big Brother | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Freedom of speech

For a country with "freedom of speech" guaranteed right there at the top of the Constitutional Amendments, there sure are a lot of people who don't like it when other people talk.

A few recent examples:

• Rhode Island school bans talking at lunch. School officials claim that if the kids are quiet during lunch, they can hear if anyone is choking. Maybe they should just ban eating at lunch; that would lower the chances of anyone choking.
• Texas mayor wants the word "nigger" outlawed. Say the n-word, get fined $500. "It's not a particular problem in Brazoria," mayor Ken Corley said, "but it's a national problem." There's a loophole written into the proposed ordinance: It's okay for it to be used by blacks because they use it as a "term of endearment."
• North Carolina wants to pre-approve scripts of movies shot in their state. This brilliant idea cropped up overnight because some politician read about the controversy surrounding the new Dakota Fanning movie and decided that N.C., which gives huge incentives for movie companies to film there, shouldn't let movies that might offend N.C. citizens enjoy those same incentives. "Why should North Carolina taxpayers pay for something they find objectionable?" said state senator Phil Berger, who is having proposed legislation drafted.

Nigger | Movies | Free Speech | Bill of Rights | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Masonic lodge opens members-only bar in former church

A story from England about a Masonic lodge moving into a former church and setting up a members-only bar got me to wondering about Masonic rules about alcohol.

In the south (at least in Georgia), alcohol use among Freemasons seems to be openly frowned upon, but I've found nothing that says it's banned. In at least one other southern state, I've heard of a brother being expelled for owning a liquor store.

Yet in other parts of America, alcohol seems to be an integral part of Masonic festivities. And in England, of course, it's long been a tradition to imbibe at Festive Boards held after stated communications.

Masonic lodges were held in taverns in England during the 18th and 19th centuries, and for all I know, may still be today.

The duties of the Junior Warden is to see that brothers don't "convert the hours of refreshment into excess," which makes no sense unless it's expected that during refreshment, brothers will be consuming alcohol. Surely it doesn't mean the JW should police the over-consumption of pound cake and hot dogs.

A quick perusal of the Masonic Code of Georgia shows that intoxication, but not the consumption of alcohol, is considered a Masonic offense. Selling an illegal alcoholic beverage (or drug) is forbidden, as is selling alcohol to someone under the age of 21. [Sections 77-115, 77-116, and 77-116.1, sandwiched in between a rule about debts to the lodge or each other and a rule forbidding "exemplification of the Hiramic Legend" to a non-Mason.]

I've heard it said by some Georgia lodge members that it is against Masonic law to bring into or consume on lodge premises alcoholic beverages, but I've never seen it in print, other than a sign posted at my lodge, and in the contract used when the lodge hall is rented by outsiders. I assume this is a rule adopted by my lodge, or is in their bylaws, though maybe it's a statewide edict of which I'm not aware. I have seen brothers enjoying beer at other local lodges during fundraising events.

I'd like to hear from our readers who are Masons: Can you tell us about how the consumption of alcoholic beverages at Masonic events is viewed in your jurisdiction, and if you know, how it came to be so, and why? Is it a part of the after-meeting Festive Board? Do you have a bar in your lodge? Do you drink alcohol at events? Or is it banned?

In your comments, please be sure to include your U.S. state or country of residence. Thanks!

Image: A Scottish Lodge in Thailand toasts a new Master at his installation.

Masons | Masonic Code | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Alcoholic Beverages | Burning Taper

Robert Anton Wilson memorial celebration February 18

Here's a public announcement for the upcoming Robert Anton Wilson Memorial:

Join Together at the Robert Anton Wilson Cosmic Meme-Orial & Lasagna Levitation Celebration!

Hail Eris! All Hail Bob!

Celebrate the life, work and continued multi-dimensionality of Robert Anton Wilson by joining us in a giant, jammin' Translation Celebration and 8th Circuit Soiree!

• Reconnect with old friends. Make new, like-minded friends. Share ideas. Exchange email addresses. (It's like the Internet, only in person.)
• Be a part of Bob's Raucous Processionary Send-Off as his ashes sail out of the cove and rejoin his beloved's in the Pacific!
• Watch continuous video clips of RAW from Deepleaf Production's "Maybe Logic" documentary and from his numerous Trajectories videos.
• Expand your mind (and your tummy) with hors d'ourvres, soft drinks, and a cash bar.
• Expand your neighbors' minds by sharing remembrances and anecdotes at the open mic! (Brevity and levity are appreciated!)
• Mingle, nosh, remember, appreciate, celebrate!
• And above all, Keep the Lasagna Flying!

RAW DATA:
Where: The Cocoanut Grove, on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, CA

When: Sunday, February 18, 2007, 1 - 6 PM

Tickets: $23 each. [Proceeds go to Amnesty International] Limited number available! To purchase tickets, or for additional information, click here.

Robert Anton Wilson | Memorial Service | Fnord | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

NASCAR fans more loyal to sponsors than in any other pro sport

After reading recent comments on the previous "Scottish Rite sponsors NASCAR driver" article on this blog, and looking at an anti-SR blog showing photos of beer-swilling rednecks at NASCAR races, I decided to do some research on the true demographics of NASCAR fans.

Talk about a confusing mass of data!

A lot of the demographic info is provided by NASCAR itself, and seems to reflect data collected on site at races, which is vastly different from television viewership.

NASCAR and NASCAR-related websites conveniently don't mention their demographics are for race attendance only. At the races, 60% of the attendees are male, 40% female. For televised races, fans are "predominately males (78%), married (73%), with an average age of 42 years, who owns a home (81%), with 3.4 cars per household. The median household income range is between $35,000 and $50,000 and almost all are employed full time (87%)," according to an independent study by Performance Research, a company specializing in collecting and analyzing sporting demographics.

Both NASCAR and Performance Research paint NASCAR fans as predominately middle class, earning slightly more than the average American. A high percentage say they've had "some college," but I could find no stats showing what percentage were actually college graduates, and none showing a breakdown in types of employment.

Performance Research also points out that they found three types of fan — those with high, moderate or low interest. NASCAR's stats would reflect what I would call a high-interest fan, one who actually attended races.

You can google "NASCAR fan demographics" and look at them yourself.

What I found most interesting is that self-described NASCAR fans are much more likely to buy logo'd merchandise than fans of other professional sports. Seventy-two percent of NASCAR fans say they buy products because they have the NASCAR name on them. Tennis fans are number two at 52%, followed by golf fans at 47%, NBA at 38%, Major League Baseball, also at 38%, NFL at 32% and the Olympics at 28%.

And 40% of NASCAR fans say they will switch brands in order to own the brand that has the NASCAR logo on it.

I would assume this not only refers to brands of auto parts and motor oils and even cell phone providers, etc., who custom-brand their products, but also to gas station coffee mugs and bobble-head dolls with a NASCAR logo imprinted.

Does this tell us that 72% of NASCAR fans are brilliant and loyal, or are they simply blind sheep led to the checkout counters of America?

I mean, I understand a 5-year old wanting a certain brand of cereal because his favorite cartoon character is shown on the box. But adults...?

Is it a masterstroke of genius that the Scottish Rite is now putting their cartoon character, er, I mean, their logo, on a box-shaped automobile? Apparently, NASCAR fans don't think about their consumable purchases; they buy whatever is attached to the logo. And blindly trust what they see advertised on their favorite NASCAR cars.

Is this a good thing for the Scottish Rite? Will thousands of NASCAR fans (or at least 72% of them) line up at lodges and temples to "buy" themselves some of that Scottish Rite Freemasonry they're selling?

Does Freemasonry need more blind followers? Isn't that how the Fraternity got into the shape it's in today, by opening to West Door indiscriminately to bobble-heads who just want to "belong" without studying, understanding, or contributing?

Masons | NASCAR | Demographics | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Scottish Rite | Burning Taper

Mass. Masonic Home pays outstanding sewer bills

After a two year battle, the Masonic Home for senior citizens in Charlton, Mass., officially known as the Overlook Life Care Community, has paid the city over a quarter million dollars in back payments for sewage service. Additionally, they have agreed to pay an additional $1.88 million, plus interest, in betterment fees over the next 20 years.

The $253,155 payment covered disputed portions of sewer bills dating back to April 2003 and unpaid bills from July 2005 through the date of settlement, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette News reported.

The Masonic Home also paid nearly $6,000 in fines and fees for an oil discharge the city said came from the Overlook campus. The Home denied the discharge came from their facilities, but paid anyway "to reimburse the town to complete the settlement."

The Water and Sewer Commission and the Masonic Home had been in dispute over the volume of sewage discharge coming from the campus. The Home's quarterly bill has now been adjusted from $6,423 to $36,302.

"I am very happy with the outcome," David C. Turner, the Masonic Home's CEO, said in an interview.

The 450-acre mountaintop campus offers cottages and apartments to seniors age 62 and over. "A variety of community areas serve as an extension of your home, including several dining venues featuring chef-prepared meals, an extensive library, 280 seat performing arts center, hair salon, swimming pool, tennis court, athletic club, nature trails, ponds, gardening areas and more," according to the Masonic Home's website. Also provided are "a variety of dining rooms and cuisines, a library, an auditorium, woodworking shop, an indoor heated swimming pool, a spa and fitness center, and much more." A medical facility is also on campus, and home nursing care is offered.

Residency appears to be open to anyone 62 and over who can live independently and who can pay the entrance fee and monthly fees. Masonic membership or relatives do not seem to be a requirement.

Masons | Masonic Home | Charlton, Mass. | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Overlook Life Care Community | Burning Taper

Road race features beer and chili

My local lodge hosts the 5K "Hot Biscuit Run" every summer. The lodge and the Eastern Star (OES) ladies provide big tasty home-made biscuits smothered in butter and jelly to all the runners upon their return. The proceeds of the event are used by the OES for Christmas charity work. I'm not a runner, but I have worked at the event a few times as a road-blocker-offer.

Newport Lodge No. 455, F. & A.M. of Newport, New York, has found an even better draw than biscuits. It's unclear from the article if this is a Masonic-sponsored event, or if they're just renting out the lodge building, but up there in the cold — on Feb. 3 — there is a 5K and 10K run along with a 5K walk where you get beer and chili upon your return.

"We have been rumored to have Bloody Mary's available at the 5K turnaround," said race director John Slocum.

The proceeds go to the St. John's Church food pantry in Newport.

Masons | Road Race | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Grand Lodge of New York | Burning Taper

Scottish Rite turns its back on performing arts

Ironic in its timing (relative to the Scottish Rite's new mission of NASCAR sponsorship) and its location (Indianapolis, home of the Indy 500), the Scottish Rite has announced it is getting out of the business of producing theater seasons for the public, the Indianapolis Star wrote today.

After staging 1776, Sweeney Todd and Miracle on 34th Street, Scottish Rite will not extend its 2006-07 season. There had been talk of opening The Philadelphia Story in May.

The Scottish Rite's productions at the Scottish Rite Performing Arts Center began in 2005 with Annie Get Your Gun to help save the theater building. Some shows made money, some didn't.

"Scottish Rite is no longer going to produce a full season of shows," said Jeffrey K. Saunders, the organization's chief executive officer.

The main reason for the change, Saunders said, "is to turn back to the fraternal mission of Scottish Rite."

Like auto racing?

Masons | Masonic Theater | Indy 500 | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Scottish Rite | NASCAR | Burning Taper

Correction: Scottish Rite's NASCAR car does indeed bear the Masonic Square and Compasses symbol

In a comment (now deleted) and in the article about the Scottish Rite's sponsorship of a NASCAR driver, I incorrectly stated that the car bore only the Scottish Rite double eagle symbol, not the Square and Compasses.

A kind reader of this blog just sent me the accompanying photo. Look just above the man's head and you'll see the Masonic Square and Compasses.

My thanks to the thoughtful and observant brother who sent me this photo.

Masons | Masonic Sponsorship | NASCAR | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Scottish Rite | Burning Taper

Jewish lesbian chit-chats with 'Shriner lady' at the roller derby

I found an interesting little blog today called "What I Think." Nothing earthshaking, just someone's personal experiences, shared on their blog.

The article I found tells of the writer's experience of meeting a "Shriner lady" at a Shrine-sponsored roller derby match.

She wrote:

I love secret societies. They amuse me endlessly, with their exclusiveness and special handshakes and antiquated symbology. I suspect they’re all hiding a big fat nothing.

Impressed by the Shrine's philanthropy, I think the writer would like to join the Shrine, but she's a "highly-educated Jewish queer who rides a bike," and suspects Shriners might be a little too conservative to accept her.

Enjoy.

Masons | Shriners | Lesbians | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Roller Derby | Burning Taper

Congress honors Freemasonry

The 110th U.S. Congress recently sent to committee a resolution by Rep. Paul Gillmor, a Republican representing Ohio's 5th district, recognizing American Freemasons. My thanks to W. Bro. Tom Accuosti of the Tao of Masonry for the heads-up on this.

The Freemasonry described in this resolution is the group I thought I had joined, and I hope the description is apt of most Masons.

Numerological-conspiracy fans should take note of the Masonic-related number of the Resolution.

---

110th U.S. Congress (2007-2008)

H. Res. 33: Recognizing the thousands of Freemasons in every State in the Nation and honoring them for their...

HRES 33 IH

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 33

Recognizing the thousands of Freemasons in every State in the Nation and honoring them for their many contributions to the Nation throughout its history.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 5, 2007

Mr. GILLMOR submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the thousands of Freemasons in every State in the Nation and honoring them for their many contributions to the Nation throughout its history.

Whereas Freemasons, whose long lineage extends back to before the Nation's founding, have set an example of high moral standards and charity for all people;

Whereas the Founding Fathers of this great Nation and signers of the Constitution, most of whom were Freemasons, provided a well-rounded basis for developing themselves and others into valuable citizens of the United States;

Whereas members of the Masonic Fraternity, both individually and as an organization, continue to make invaluable charitable contributions of service to the United States;

Whereas the Masonic Fraternity continues to provide for the charitable relief and education of the citizens of the United States;

Whereas the Masonic Fraternity is deserving of formal recognition of their long history of care-giving for the citizenry and their example of high moral standards; and

Whereas Freemasons have always revered and celebrated St. John's Day, June 24th, as dedicated to their patron saints: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the thousands of Freemasons in every State in the Nation and honors them for their many contributions to the Nation throughout its history.

Masons | Masonic History | Paul Gillmor | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Congress | House of Representatives | Burning Taper

'Victory party' to be held at closed Masonic children's home

A recent story in the Dallas (Texas) Star-Telegram baffles me. Not because it's about anything deep and meaningful, not really, but it involves Masons, racism and more political correctness than I can stomach.

Star-Telegram writer Bud Kennedy tells us there's going to be a "victory party" on Monday, Jan. 15 (the Martin Luther King, Jr., federal holiday), at the old Masonic children's home and school in Fort Worth. A victory party!

What are they celebrating?

Sue Regian, widow of Joe Regian, who served as the school board's president and who was instrumental in getting the Masons to allow black children to live at the home and attend the school, recently recalled some of the hate mail her husband received.

"Some Masons didn't want black people there," she said. "A lot of letters were really, really hateful. They said, 'Masonic Home is going to the niggers.'"

In 2000, after 101 years of operation, the school and home accepted its first black child. By 2005, the school and home had closed, in part because the donations from white Masons dropped off tremendously, and in part because the Masonic home settled a $6.9 million lawsuit from the 1990's alleging abuse of children.

On Monday, black leaders are meeting in the chapel of the now-closed school to celebrate "victory." Was this Martin Luther King's legacy? Who is victorious here? The white orphans who once lived there? Or who were abused there? The black orphans who moved in in 2000? Are the Masons who stopped donating to the home the winners here? Are the black leaders who are using the chapel on Monday to whoop it up over a nearby highway being renamed for King the victors?

Nope. The real winner here is Michael Mallick, head of local real estate development company The Mallick Group, who bought the 200-acre college-style campus last year.

The developer plans to build more than 500 homes around the historic 1920's school and dormitories and the beautiful, cut-stone 1958 chapel.

Masons | Masonic Home | Texas Freemasonry | Martin Luther King | BurningTaper.com | Grand Lodge of Texas | Racism | Burning Taper

Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry: Brent Morris's booksigning tonight

Under the headline "A passion for Freemasonry's Traditions," the Baltimore Sun announces tonight's booksigning by W. Bro. Brent Morris's of his magnum opus, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry." You gotta laugh.

What are some of the traditions Morris mentions?

Freemasonry is a social organization and a gentlemen's club, Morris told a reporter. "Freemasonry appeals to men who want to have fellowship with other men with high ethical and moral values, and who acknowledge the importance of God in their lives."

Becoming a Mason "becomes a shared experience," Morris said. "But it's an experience that I have shared with George Washington, with Robert Burns, with Bob Evans.... It's a brief asylum from the outside world.... A lodge meeting is very relaxing.... Some members come for the pie and conversation after the meetings."

"And now we can watch NASCAR races and drink beer while we eat our pie," he might have added, but didn't, at least not publicly.

While the mere association with alcohol, even working at a store that sells alcohol, once in some jurisdictions of American Masonry would get you brought up on charges of unmasonic conduct, Morris's Scottish Rite organization has apparently sold (actually, paid for) the "rights" to use commercially not only the Scottish Rite's Double Eagle symbol but the Masonic Square and Compasses and the Shriners' logo to Frank Cicci's Busch Racing Team. You'll find these three symbols cozied up next to the Busch (beer) Racing logo on the Frank Cicci (owner of the racing team) website.

Ah, yes... "a passion for traditions": The gentlemen's club sponsors Busch Bavarian Beer. Adam Weishaupt would be proud.

Masons | Masonic Symbols | Busch Beer | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | NASCAR | Brent Morris | Burning Taper

Robert Anton Wilson left his body for the last time Jan. 11

Cosmic voyager, writer, cyber-shaman... Robert Anton Wilson died January 11 at his fnord by the sea in southern California. He was 74.

It's not the first time he's died. In 1994, a Los Angeles Times obituary declared him dead, and news traveled the then-new Internet fast. Bob found that great fun, to be declared dead when he wasn't even sick.

When word went out last fall that Bob was this time really sick and dying, and near-destitute, thousands of fans sent over $68,000 to help him pay medical and tax bills.

Robert Anton Wilson was the author of many books, both fiction and non-fiction. Of special note to Freemasons is his Historical Illuminatus Trilogy, comprised of The Earth Will Shake, The Widow's Son, and Nature's God.

Back in October I wrote about some of my memories of Bob Wilson and the impact his works had on me; I won't go into it again. I'm sure excellent articles will be written about him over the next few days, and indeed, will be written forever... Wilson and his ideas had a profound effect on many, many people, and he'll never be forgotten.

A memorial service is expected in February, according to his website. Details have not been announced.

Robert Anton Wilson | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Police fatally wound man outside L.A. Masonic lodge

Los Angeles police shot and killed an unarmed man outside a south L.A. Masonic lodge in the early hours Wednesday. A second man, already wounded by gunfire, emerged from the lodge when police arrived, KNBC reported.

The building houses the Mt. Nebo Grand Lodge. About 200 people were attending a party in the lodge building.

At least 50 officers responded to the call of a group disturbance. As they drove up, they heard gunfire, and then shot and killed an unarmed man who walked out of the building with his hands "on his waistband." Chief William Bratton said the case was gang-related.

Officers searched the building and found four guns inside.

Reports have not stated whether the gathering was a Masonic-related function, or if a group was simply using the premises.

According to bessel.org, Mt. Nebo Grand Lodge is "of Prince Hall origin (National Compact)," but not an official Prince Hall lodge.

Masons | Masonic Shooting | Mt. Nebo Grand Lodge | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Los Angeles | Burning Taper

Scottish Rite sponsors NASCAR driver

What do Budweiser, Jack Daniel's, Crown Royal and Chex Party Mix have in common with the Scottish Rite?

No, we're not talking about drunken parties. That's the Shriners.

The Scottish Rite has joined Bud, Jack, Crown, Chex and other companies as a NASCAR sponsor. The Scottish Rite announced on Saturday they have become the sponsor of Frank Cicci Racing's No. 34 Busch Series Chevrolet and driver Brian Conz, who is a Scottish Rite Mason.

"We are so excited and privileged to have such an honorable organization associated with us; we look forward to a long-lasting relationship with the Scottish Rite and Brian," team owner Frank Cicci said in a news release.

Brian Conz, 32°, is a member of Thomas Hughes Lodge No. 574, Livonia, Michigan, the Scottish Rite Valleys of Detroit, Michigan, N.M.J, and Charlotte, North Carolina, S.J., and is a Shriner in Detroit.

Financial terms of the sponsorship were not announced. A 2004 article on nascar.com reported that companies were paying around $10 million ($10,000,000.00) for a primary sponsorship that placed logos on the upper hood area, the quarter panels, part of the TV panel, and some of the B-post and deck lid.

"This isn't just about paying $10 million to put your logo on the hood of a car," said Roush Racing's Geoff Smith. "You have to realize that this goes beyond just the car — it includes uniforms, transporters and the rights to use the drivers for company marketing purposes."

And what do you get for $15,000,000?

"You have bought the car," said Smith.

Driver Bro. Brian Conz's official website is now adorned not only with the Scottish Rite Double Eagle symbol, but also with the Shriners' curved sword symbol and the well known Masonic Square and Compasses symbol.

Here's the press release from the Scottish Rite:

Scottish Rite Masons Announce Newest NASCAR Racing Team

Washington, D.C., January 4, 2007 - The Scottish Rite Racing Team will be officially announced and introduced by NASCAR, BC Motorsports, and the Frank Cicci Racing team at the Scottish Rite House of the Temple on Saturday, January 6, 2007, at 11:00am. NASCAR representatives, the Racing Team, and members of the Masonic community will be available to the media. The House of the Temple is located at 1733 Sixteenth St. N.W., Washington, DC.

The Scottish Rite racecar will be driven by veteran driver Brian Conz, who himself is a 32° Scottish Rite Mason. Brother Brian, who began his career in 1988 in the Street Stock Division, later moved to the ARCA/REMAX Series in 1996. Brian has 15 wins, 79 top fives, and 108 top ten finishes to his credit and will be in the running for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors.

Masons | Masonic Sponsorship | Scottish Rite Freemasonry | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Brian Conz | NASCAR | Burning Taper