'Pro-Masonic: Not for Students'

Several years ago I purchased a copy of Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma from someone on eBay. The book was manufactured in 1919. Apparently it was originally the property of a Francis E. Liles.

On the front flyleaf, written in an eloquent handwriting, is his signature and "March 12th, 1919, Charlotte, N.C."

In a different, less flowery handwriting is written, in red:

Pro-Masonic
NOT for students!

Apparently at some point the book may have also been owned by a library. The Dewey Decimal System code "366.1 PikCil" is penciled onto the upper right corner of the title page. Curiously, atop this same page is a rubberstamped rectangle containing the words:

WARNINGThis book has heretical tendencies.

If only this book could talk. I wonder who Liles was. Was he a Mason? Who decided the contents were heretical, and why? Who read this book before me?

Google offers one reference to Francis E. Liles, and he is probably the one we're looking for. The page I found was compiled by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Francis E. Liles who signed the book was apparently from Charlotte, N.C. The university's page is a long document about troop movements of soldiers from North Carolina, during World War I. The page is from the book History of the 113th Field Artillery, 30th Division, published by The History Committee of 113th F. A., Raleigh, N. C., edited by A. L. Fletcher of Raleigh, N.C., and is copyright 1920.

Liles is mentioned twice. Sometime prior to March 1918, he was promoted from sergeant to first lieutenant:

Practically all of the transfers in February were made in one order, R. S. O. No. 21, dated February 1, 1918. Officers and men will long remember this particular order, for it came without warning and completely upset the old and established order of things.

In March there were also many changes, though not so many as in February. Battery A reported no changes. In Battery B, Leroy C. Hand, Battery C, promoted from second lieutenant to first, was in command of the outfit in the absence of Captain McLendon, who was at Fort Sill. Second Lieutenant Russel N. Boswell, commissioned from sergeant and transferred from Battery C, and Second Lieutenant Henry A. McKinnon, transferred to Battery B from Headquarters Company, were the other new officers in Battery B. First Lieutenant John W. Moore and First Lieutenant Frank B. Ashcraft were transferred, the first to Battery E and the latter to Headquarters Company. Lieutenant Ashcraft resigned during the month. First Lieutenants Frank L. Fuller and Enoch S. Simmons were transferred from Battery F to Battery C and Second Lieutenant Francis E. Liles, newly commissioned from sergeant, was assigned to Battery C. First Lieutenant William B. R. Guion was transferred from Battery C to Battery A and First Lieutenant William P. Whittaker to Battery F.

In August of 1918, Lt. Liles returned to the United States (from France), where he was promoted again and became an artillery instructor.

In August the regiment suffered the loss of eleven of its officers in one detachment, who were returned to the United States to instruct other artillery units, and two others were assigned to the U. S. Artillery School at Bordeaux, France. Those returned to the United States were: Capt. William T. Joyner, adjutant of the Second Battalion. 1st Lieut. Frank L. Fuller, of Battery C. 1st Lieut. William B. R. Guion, of Headquarters Company. 1st Lieut. John W. Moore, of Headquarters Company. 2d Lieut. Herman H. Hardison, of Battery D. 2d Lieut. Lemuel R. Johnston, of Headquarters Company. 2d Lieut. Henry A. McKinnon, of Battery A. 2d Lieut. Frank B. Davis, of Battery D. 2d Lieut. Zack D. Harden, of Headquarters Company. 2d Lieut. Francis E. Liles, of Battery C. 2d Lieut. Kip I. Chace, of Battery E.

All of these officers received promotion to their next highest grade and the regiment saw them no more. Men and officers heard with deep regret of the death in the United States of Lieutenant Harden, who fell a victim to “flu” soon after his arrival in the United States.

A list of hometowns of all the soldiers mentioned in this document indicates Lt. Liles was originally from Lilesville, North Carolina, which is about 60 miles from Charlotte.

If you're interested in learning more about or owning interesting and/or antique Masonic books, aprons, jewels, etc., you should check out Bro. Dean's blog Freemason's Corner. Bro. Dean, of Nova Scotia, Canada, scours eBay everyday looking for Masonic items, and then posts the links, pictures and descriptions for you on his blog. It's a great service he's providing for Masons and those interested in things Masonic.

Images: Scans of pages from my copy of "Morals and Dogma." Click on images to enlarge the views.

Masons | Masonic Antiques | Books | Freemasonry | Albert Pike | Morals and Dogma | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Masonic blog disclaims association with Burning Taper

Recently we added the The Lion's Paw: The Masonic Thoughts and Musings of a Fundamentalist Past Master blog to our blog roll.

It doesn't look like he's been getting much traffic, but then, he hasn't been writing very much. We originally added him to the blogroll to help out a brother. (If you have a Masonic website or blog and would like to be listed on our blogroll, email us.)

Currently the statistics counter on The Lion's Paw boasts 276 total page views since it began in October 2006. The blog-owner has posted six entries in the six months since he started blogging. Burning Taper is honored to be the subject of the most recent of those six blog posts. Here's what Bro. Nathan Brindle wrote about us:

Disclaming a link

I see that the BurningTaper blog (which I only read for laughs when someone points me to a particularly egregious post) has linked me. I didn't ask for the link, I have no connection to that blog, and I have no desire for my blog to be associated with it.

Just making it clear.

Thanks for the mention, Bro. Brindle!

Image: Benozzo Gozzoli's fresco "St. Jerome Pulling a Thorn from a Lion's Paw," created in 1452, Capella di San Gerolamo, Montefalco, Italy.

Masons | Masonic Blogs | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Shriners' financial improprieties subject of New York Times investigation

Once again, the major media catches up with the Masonic blogosphere.

Last October, the Associated Press finally picked up on the "whites only" issues surrounding Alabama Gov. Bob Riley's Masonic membership, something Burning Taper and other blogs had been discussing for a couple of months.

Now, splashed across the pages of today's New York Times is the story of financial improprieties involving Masonic-affiliated Shrine Clubs. Thanks to Sandy Frost's investigations and articles, we've been running stories about this since last summer.

The Times' investigation uncovered:

• More than 57 percent of the $32 million the Shriners raised in 2005 through circuses, bingo games, raffles and a variety of sales went to costs of the fraternity, including keeping temple liquor cabinets full and offering expenses-paid trips to Shrine meetings and other events.
• Only 2 percent of the Shrine hospitals’ operating income comes from money raised by Shrine temples and members’ dues. (The bulk is supplied by the hospitals’ $9 billion endowment.)
• A top Shrine official told a meeting of temple treasurers that poor accounting for cash coming into the organization was “an increasingly common problem,” and that more than 30 temples had discovered fraud — like theft of money and inventory, altered bank statements, padded payrolls and fake invoices — amounting to as much as $300,000 and involving members of their “divans,” the five-member boards that govern each temple.

Johnny L. Edwards, former leader of the Oasis Shrine Club in Charlotte, North Carolina told reporters, “Money raised for the hospitals is being used to pay for parties and liquor and trips, and they know it. The way I see it, they’re stealing from crippled children.” Edwards led an inquiry into Shrine funds, and is no longer in a leadership position.

Masons | Shrine Club | Shriners | Freemasonry | New York Times | Sandy Frost| Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Iowa Masonic lodge donates $25K for scholarships

The New Hampton (Iowa) Masonic lodge has donated $25,000.00 to the New Hampton Community School Educational Foundation. The funds are designated for future scholarships to deserving graduates on an annual basis, the Cresco Times reports.

In the past, the lodge has donated smaller amounts on a yearly basis. They hope that by endowing the foundation with a larger sum, interest accrued can also be used for future scholarships.

Image: Steve Riley, Lavern Nelson and Al Riley Jr. handing check to New Hampton Community School Superintendent Karlos McClure

Masons | Masonic Charity | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Iowa | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Wisconsin Masonic temple being renovated as community outreach center

The story of a restoration project of a formerly luxurious Masonic lodge building in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin not only gives us a glimpse into the past physically, but also acts as a metaphor for what happened to our Fraternity in the mid-20th century.

Like Freemasonry of old, this temple was once abundantly opulent. It was once "duly and truly prepared." Then,

During the 1960s, the arched store windows on the first floor were replaced with single panes astride a standard commercial door. Side windows were filled in, ceilings were lowered and any vestige of age was either removed or concealed.

It was just after World War II that Freemasonry saw an upswing in membership, when being part of a "club" became popular. Many Masonic writers point to this time period as being when the West Gates were flung open to the masses who paid little heed to the meanings of Masonry. Not only were ceilings lowered, but so were standards.

Fortunately some bits of history remain. Eight foot high doors lean against the walls, along with a few of the original windows. Original wallpaper clings to the walls, harking back to the days when Greek columns and statues of females goddesses were a popular decorating theme. On the 14-foot high ceilings, elaborate borders and ceiling papers show how opulent the rooms must have been when kerosene chandeliers and huge wood stoves provided winter warmth.

The third phase will be the top floor, which holds the structure's greatest treasure. There, wall murals adorn each of the walls, depicting the moving sun and golden stars overhead. The scenes which cover much of the walls and ceilings are rich in Masonic symbolism. Tall doors have small panels which were raised for the ritual admission into the group's private chamber....

Like Freemasonry itself, parts of the building have been vandalized.

Portions of the murals have been damaged by vandals, with certain symbols painted over by the Masons when they made their move. The mural symbols that remain include golden crosses on the ceiling, an image of a master mason welcoming his brothers, and mountains and forests that show the glory of nature — and of God.

Salim Mohammad has purchased the temple, built in the 1860s and abandoned as a lodge in 1911, and may spend up to a million dollars renovating it. He plans to rent out space to non-profit community-oriented agencies. One of the groups who will be in the building is the Teen Center, an outreach of High Expectations, a civic group that has taken on the task of providing activities and support for young people aged pre-teen to 21.

We wish Mr. Mohammad well in his restoration of this noble landmark. Let it be a symbol of our own personal and Masonic restorations.

Masons | Masonic Restoration | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Wisconsin | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Bro. Bronson Pinchot to play five roles in 'Distracted'

Bronson Pinchot played Cousin Balki on Perfect Strangers as well as the child killer in Steven King's The Langoliers. He has done voice work in countless cartoons, was in the fifth season of The Surreal Life, and first became famous as Serge in Eddie Murphy's three Beverly Hills Cop movies and in the 1983 Tom Cruise vehicle Risky Business.

He is also a Freemason.

But as the article says, "in the spirit of Freemasonry, he won't talk about it."

He opens later this month in Distracted, a play by Lisa Loomer. Bro. Pinchot plays five different roles in this play about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Enjoy the interview.

Masons | Masonic Celebrities | Bronson Pinchot | Freemasonry | Famous Freemasons| movies | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Masonic cornerstone laying ceremony: What does it mean?

A 60,000 square foot public library is being built in Santa Maria, California. Completion is expected in mid-2008. Celebrities, including radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger, have helped raise funds, a news article relates.

On March 24 comes the cornerstone dedication.

For hundreds of years it has been customary to have Freemasons perform a dedication ritual to "bless" the cornerstone of a public building.

This scares the willies out of evangelical Christians and paranoid, anti-Masonic conspiracy theorists. A few weeks ago we mentioned the "panic" the cornerstone at the Denver airport has caused in those prone to seeing New World Order symbolism everywhere.

Anyway... what's the point of a Masonic cornerstone dedication ritual? What does it entail?

A Masonic cornerstone ritual is probably the only Masonic ritual, other than a Masonic funeral, that the public (known masonically as "profanes") will ever see conducted. When the brethren are sharply dressed, and well-rehearsed, it's an awesome thing to behold. I recall watching on C-SPAN back in the early 1990s, before I was a Freemason, the Masonic re-dedication of the cornerstone at the U.S. Capitol.

The dedication ceremony is the symbolic laying of the cornerstone, that which supports (again, symbolically) the entire structure. When the cornerstone is discussed, by extension, it refers to the entire building project, and that, in turn refers not only to the actual physical actions to erect the building, but also to the mental, spiritual, even metaphysical energies that have come together to cause the creation of the edifice. The officers conducting the ceremony, usually officers of the state's Grand Lodge, symbolically square, level, and plumb the cornerstone, assuring that it is set correctly, that "the Craftsmen have done their duty."

After the Grand Lodge officers have squared, leveled and plumbed the cornerstone, the Grand Master "finishes the work" by proclaiming the foundation stone "well formed, true and trusty."

The Grand Master then "blesses," for lack of a better word, the cornerstone (again, which by extension, represents the entire project) by pouring corn (which means grain, and doesn't necessarily have to be maize), wine and oil.

The Corn of Nourishment symbolizes health and heartiness of the workers.

The Wine of Refreshment symbolizes plenty.

The Oil of Joy symbolizes peace and joy.

There is no "magical" effect; the Grand Master has no power to bestow these benefits. He is, quite simply, asking that these benefits and blessings be bestowed upon the project and the people by the GAOTU, the Great Architect of the Universe, God.

The following is reportedly the Cornerstone Leveling Ceremony (or Ritual) for the Grand Lodge of Texas A.F.& A.M. It is very similar to other ceremonies I've seen, including the one used by the Grand Lodge of Georgia.

In the cornerstone leveling ceremony it is permissible, but not necessary, to open a Master Mason's Lodge. A Representation of the Grand Lodge is opened and called off for the purpose of leveling the cornerstone.

After the Representation of the Grand Lodge is opened and called off the Brethren proceed to the site where the ceremony, under the direction of the Grand Master or his representative, proceeds as follows:

GRAND MASTER: Right Worshipful Grand Senior Warden, the Grand Lodge of Texas having been invited to lay the cornerstone of this edifice, and having assembled for that purpose, I now order that this, the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Texas, do now assist me in the performance of this work. This my will and pleasure you will, therefore, proclaim to the Grand Junior Warden, that the Brethren and others present may have due notice thereof.

GRAND SENIOR WARDEN: Right Worshipful Grand Junior Warden, it is the order of the Most Worshipful Grand Master that the cornerstone be now laid with Masonic honors; this you will proclaim to all present, that the occasion may be observed with due order and solemnity.

GRAND JUNIOR WARDEN: The Brethren and all persons present will take notice that the Most Worshipful Grand Master will now proceed to lay this cornerstone in due Masonic form. You will, therefore, observe the order and decorum becoming the important and solemn ceremonies in which we are about to engage.

GRAND MASTER: Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer, I now order you to deposit the corn, medals and papers in the place prepared for their reception.

The principal Architect then presents the working tools to the Grand Master, who directs the Grand Marshal to present them to the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Senior and Grand Junior Wardens.

The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, and Grand Wardens then descend from the platform; the Grand Master with the Trowel, the Deputy Grand Master with the Square, the Grand Senior Warden with the Level, and the Grand Junior Warden with the Plumb — the Grand Master standing at the East of the stone, his Deputy on his right, the Grand Senior Warden at the West, and the Grand Junior Warden at the South side of the stone. The Grand Master spreads the cement, and may then direct the Grand Marshal to order the craftsmen to lower the stone by three motions.

The Public Grand Honors may then be given [without words].

The Square, Level and Plumb are then applied to the stone by the proper officers.

GRAND MASTER: Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, what is the proper jewel of your office?

DEPUTY GRAND MASTER: The Square.

GRAND MASTER: Have you applied the Square to those parts of the stone that should be squared?

DEPUTY GRAND MASTER: I have, Most Worshipful Grand Master, and the Craftsmen have done their duty.

GRAND MASTER: Right Worshipful Grand Senior Warden, what is the proper jewel of your office?

GRAND SENIOR WARDEN: The Level.

GRAND MASTER: Have you applied the Level to the stone?

GRAND SENIOR WARDEN: I have, Most Worshipful Grand Master, and the Craftsmen have done their duty.

GRAND MASTER: Right Worshipful Grand Junior Warden, what is the proper jewel of your office?

GRAND JUNIOR WARDEN: The Plumb.

GRAND MASTER: Have you applied the Plumb to the several edges of the stone?

GRAND JUNIOR WARDEN: I have, Most Worshipful Grand Master, and the Craftsmen have done their duty.

GRAND MASTER: Having full confidence in your skill in the Royal Art, it remains with me to finish the work.

The Grand Master then gives three knocks upon the stone and says:

GRAND MASTER: I find this foundation stone well formed, true and trusty, and may this undertaking be conducted and completed by the Craftsmen, according to the Grand Plan, in Peace, Love, and Harmony.

The Deputy Grand Master then receives from the Grand Marshal the vessel containing Corn, and spreads the corn upon the stone, saying:

DEPUTY GRAND MASTER: May the health of the workman employed in this undertaking be preserved to them, and the Supreme Grand Architect bless and prosper their labors.

ALL BRETHREN: So mote it be.

The Grand Senior Warden then receives from the Grand Marshal the vessel containing wine, and pours the wine upon the stone, saying:

GRAND SENIOR WARDEN: May plenty be showered down upon the people of this State, and may the blessing of the bounteous Giver of all things attend their philanthropic undertakings.

ALL BRETHREN: So mote it be.

The Grand Junior Warden then receives the vessel containing Oil and pours the oil upon the stone, saying:

GRAND JUNIOR WARDEN: May the Supreme Ruler of the World preserve the people in peace, and vouchsafe to them the enjoyment of every blessing.

GRAND MASTER May the Corn of nourishment, the Wine of Refreshment the Oil of Joy, and all the necessaries of life abound among men throughout the world, and may the blessing of Almighty God be upon this undertaking, and may this structure here to be erected be preserved to the latest ages in order that it may promote the useful purpose for which it is designed

ALL BRETHREN: So mote it be.

The Grand Master then presents the implements to the Architect, saying:

GRAND MASTER To you Brother Architect, are confided the implements of operative Masonry with the fullest confidence that by your skill and taste a fabric shall arise which shall add new luster to your fame as a Master Builder; may it endure for many ages, a monument of the liberality and benevolence of its founders

ALL BRETHREN: So mote it be.

An oration suitable to the occasion may be then delivered. An ode may be sung and a prayer should conclude the ceremonies. After the leveling ceremony, the Brethren return to the Lodge room, the representation of the Grand Lodge is called back and closed.

Image: Georgia Grand Lodge members re-dedicating the cornerstone of the Georgia State Capitol building in 1985. Click here for additional photos.

Masons | Masonic Ritual | Masonic Cornerstone Dedication Ceremony | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Georgia | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

'Building the Temple of Liberty: Freemasonry and the Founding of America' lecture April 1

On Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m., in a lecture titled "Building the Temple of Liberty: Freemasonry and the Founding of America," Dr. Steven Bullock, Professor of History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, will discuss Freemasonry in the Revolutionary era, noting its role in the coming break with England, in the war that followed, and in the new American nation that emerged out of it.

The lecture will be held at the National Heritage Museum at 33 Marret Road in Lexington, Massachusetts.

The National Heritage Museum is an American history museum founded and supported by 32° Scottish Rite Freemasons in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America.

On April 16, 2007, a new long-term exhibition "Sowing the Seeds of Liberty: Lexington and the American Revolution," will open. "Sowing the Seeds of Liberty", a cornerstone 3,000 square-foot exhibition, will present new perspectives on the part played by ordinary people in shaping historical events at Lexington's Battle Green on April 19, 1775.

Masons | Masonic History | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Scottish Rite | American History | Liberty | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Masonic lecture open to the public; Bro. Jeff Peace to speak on the history of secret societies

Halcyon Charities presents:

Brother Jeff Peace, renowned Masonic historian, will be giving a lecture on Freemasonry and the history of secret societies.

Bro. Peace is a fourth generation Freemason from Atlanta, Georgia who has written many papers and essays dealing with the past, present and future of Freemasonry. Bro. Peace has relationships with many Freemasons throughout the world, and has accumulated a wealth of Masonic literature dealing with topics and information that many Freemasons have never been privy to.

The lecture will be open to the public and all Freemasons, whether recognized or not by any mainstream grand lodge system. Hopefully Bro. Peace's talk will dispel any myths about secret societies inspired by The Da Vinci Code book or movie, or by the History Channel, and will bring Freemasons of all systems together in understanding.

Some topics to be discussed include:

• Freemasonry is a peculiar (unique) system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols
• It is a Natural Philosophy (as opposed to occult)
• It is based on a Progressive Science (specifically mechanics and physics)
• It is dedicated to the purpose of creating a universal brotherhood of all mankind under the All-Seeing Eye of Deity
• Freemasonry is not a religion but a science

The lecture will be held on Saturday, April 21, in the West Side Masonic Temple at 2831 Franklin Blvd, Ohio City, Ohio, beginning at 5 p.m. A $5.00 donation at the door is appreciated.

West Side Masonic Temple, located near Lake Erie, is an old, historic Masonic building dedicated, as is the lecture, to Enlightenment. Future lectures on Freemasonry and other subjects are planned.

Image: Bro. Jeff Peace giving a lecture on Masonic history

Masons | Masonic Education | History of Freemasonry | Jeff Peace | Masonic Lectures | History of Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Halcyon Charities | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Party at Masonic hall turns violent when alcohol runs out

It looks like we made it through a weekend without a stabbing or shooting at a party held at an American Masonic lodge.

But Friday night in Werribee, Victoria province, Australia, a 19-year-old's birthday party at a Masonic hall turned into a riot.

Passions were anything but subdued when the $5 for all-you-can-drink party turned violent when the alcohol ran out.

Police called to the scene were pelted with rocks and bottles. Three officers were injured, six police cars damaged, and a woman was trampled after fleeing her vehicle.

Police were so outnumbered by the unruly mob that they were forced to release the few people they were able to arrest. Even pepper spray didn't slow the crowd down.

Masons | Masonic Violence | Drunken Mayhem | Freemasonry | Australia | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

A convenient truth

I've finally found a readable article by a prominent scientist decrying this "global warming" hoopla.

He makes some valid points, including: It's a manufactured political crisis, not an environmental one.

Sure, we've polluted the world in some ghastly ways. And we certainly do need to take better care of the environment and the planet. But I'm not losing sleep worrying whether the average temperature will go up a half degree during my lifetime, or even in my children's children's children's lifetime.

All those "crises" of the past didn't slow us down much. Remember the fear we had of killer bees? SARS? West Nile? Bird flu? Even AIDS hasn't slowed us down that much. We're tough. But sometimes we're also very gullible and stupid.

Like the war on terrorism, the new War on Climate Change serves to make us more sheep-like. Tweak a law here, take away a freedom there.... That is what will affect our children, and our children's children, and our children's children's children.

A few weeks ago I was on the phone with a long-time friend, a very spiritual guy. It was warm that day here in the south, and cold in other parts of the country, and I commented about how a global warming meeting in Washington, D.C. had been canceled because of a blizzard. Just a throw-away line, making chitchat about the day's news and weather.

I was surprised by the intensity of his reply.

"Are you one of those people who deny global warming?" he asked in all sincerity, a bit heatedly. I let it drop immediately, not wanting to "get into it" with a friend I haven't had a cross word with in the ten years I've known him. But I shook my head in wonder at suddenly how important this issue has become to so many people. It's the trendy thing to be, against global warming.

Scientists who deny the now-popular thinking are being fired, and reports indicate in some cases their very lives have been threatened. That's how important an issue it's suddenly become. Death threats — how chic. Punished for not believing what the masses suddenly "know" is "true" because politicians and TV's talking heads are suddenly saying it is so... never mind that twenty-five years ago scientists were worrying about global cooling!

In the early 1970s a few anarchists and hippies held the first Earth Day, and were probably hosed with water cannons by the authorities for parading without a permit. Now, politicians and other authorities, like Supersize Al Gore, drive around in their supersized SUV's telling us convenient lies, and the rest of us inconveniently squeeze our fat asses into Ford Escorts, pay three or more dollars for a gallon of gas, and hold pep rallies "for the planet."

How convenient.

UPDATE, Tuesday, March 13: Today's New York Times published an article titled "From a rapt audience, a call to cool the hype." There is a growing number of scientists who agree, to one extent or another, with Al Gore's basic science as presented in his film An Inconvenient Truth, but are "alarmed... at... his alarmism." They say that the movie is filled with inaccuracies and exaggeration. They question whether Gore has gone beyond science to further a political agenda. Interesting reading....

UPDATE Monday, April 2: In a way only he could, William F. Buckley says "The whole business is eerily religious in feel. Back in the 15th century, the question was: Do you believe in Christ? It was required in Spain by the Inquisition that the answer should be affirmative, leaving to one side subsidiary specifications. It is required today to believe that carbon-dioxide emissions threaten the basic ecological balance."

UPDATE Tuesday, April 3: In a speech, Bob Murray, founder and CEO of Murray Energy Corporation, dared to say that he regards Al Gore as the shaman of global doom and gloom. He is not joking when he says, "He is more dangerous than his global warming."

Inconvenient Truth | Environmentalism | Climate Change | Al Gore | Global Warming | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Wisconsin brother refutes anti-Masonic statements leveled by Lutherans

Are you tired of hearing fundamentalist and evangelical Christians repeatedly making the same dumb accusations against Freemasonry?

W. Bro. Joshua M. Armstrong, the current Master of Excelsior Lodge No. 175 F & AM, in Excelsior, Wisconsin, is. He has created an excellent web page for his lodge that refutes five common oppositions to Freemasonry leveled by evangelical groups. Specifically, he is responding to statements made by Missouri and Wisconsin Lutheran Evangelical Synods.

Read W. Bro. Armstrong's responses to these charges:

• Freemasonry is a religion.
• Freemasonry holds the belief that all faiths are equally valid pathways to salvation (or that Freemasonry is "unionistic").
• Freemasonry requires that men of different faiths pray together.
• Masonry promotes good works and personal betterment as a means of salvation.
• Masons swear blood oaths.
• Masons swear to protect other Masons from punishment for their crimes.

W. Bro. Armstrong has done a great job, not only with this article, but with the entire website he has created for Excelsior Lodge. His site has a nice mix of local news for brethren of his lodge, plus articles of general, universal interest. The site also includes an aggregator that stays up to the minute with new articles from all your favorite Masonic blogs, including The Burning Taper. Well done, Brother!

Masons | Masonic Attacks | Fundamentalist Christianity | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Evangelical Christianity | Excelsior Lodge | Burning Taper

'Shakedown': Freemasons in da house!

Da DL on da Sony BMG Music website sez:

Ok all you clubbers, your favourite house mix-masters the Freemasons have put together the crème de la crème of their hits and some new tunes too all for your listening pleasure in their debut album Shakedown. Featuring their Grammy nominated remix of Beyonce's Déjà Vu, plus their souped up first single Rain Down Love among 32 other dancefloor burners, it'll shake y'all up to get ya on down.

Shakedown is the 18 month-in-the-making love child of industry father-figures Russell Small and James Wiltshire aka the Freemasons.

The Freemasons' debut album consists of 33 songs. Maybe that's some kind of spooky Masonic message or something.

Masonic Traveler wrote about this act last summer, so if you want to know more about two British guys who are making our fraternity's name a "house"-hold word, read up on them on his blog. And be sure to check out The Freemasons' MySpace page, where you can groove to some of their tuneage.

Cue these "dancefloor burners" up at your next Eastern Star meeting, and par-tay, ya'll.

Freemasons | House Music | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Masonic lodge to hold beef and noodle dinner!

In a continuing effort to make the Burning Taper your source for happy and upbeat Masonic news (see readers' comments on a previous article), I'm gleefully letting you know that the South Gate Masonic Lodge in Des Moines, Iowa will hold a beef and noodle dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, March 12 at 1111 Randolph St. in Des Moines.

The cost for this mouth-watering plate of Hamburger Helper ® is, according to the news report, $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under five. No price is given for those ages 5-17, so either it's free, or you're not allowed to eat; I can't tell.

Happy health tip: If you're watching your waistline, avoid the noodles and just eat the beef.

But wait! There's more!

Rainbow Girls Chapter No. 27 of Southington, Connecticut will be serving the annual St. Paddy's Day Corned Beef Dinner at Friendship Lodge No. 33 on Wednesday, March 21st. The Stewards usually buy the food and do the cooking, while the Rainbow Girls help to set up the dinner, serve the food, and help with the cleanup. All the "green" raised goes to the Rainbow Girls chapter. Last year they raised over $200.

Thanks to W. Bro. Tom Accuosti of the Tao of Masonry for this info!

If your lodge or Masonic group is doing something to make the world a better place, tell us, and we'll tell the world.

Hang on! This just in!

Hassan Grotto, a Masonic-affiliated organization of the Grottoes of North America, will have the charter re-constituted and officers installed in a public ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 10 in the Masonic Temple, 821 Central Ave., in Great Falls, Montana.

A smoked brisket dinner, served by Olive Chapter No. 110 Order of Eastern Star will follow the program. The cost of the dinner is $10. Don't miss it!

If your lodge or Masonic group is doing something to make the world a better place, tell us, and we'll tell the world. Future "Masonic Happy News" will be marked by the Big Yellow Smiley Face, so you can always warm your heart and put a smile on your face by reading the latest happy Masonic news!

Masons | Happy Masonic News | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Are celebrity Freemasons a public relations risk?

Unless you've read the Scottish Rite's "Strategic Plan," you may not realize that the use of "celebrities" who are Scottish Rite members is a part of the overall plan to "build a positive public image of Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite."

A key strategy of Strategic Objective II is to "establish means to utilize well-known members to accomplish the objective."

I've noticed that the SR has in recent years promoted to the public the fact that country music stars Roy Clark and Brad Paisley, NASCAR driver Brian Conz, actor Ernest Borgnine, and comedian/actor Michael Richards are Scottish Rite brothers.

In the case of Bro. Richards, I think the Scottish Rite got a little egg on its face after his racist stage-rage last fall. Richards had been featured prominently on at least two AASR magazine covers, and was well known to be a Freemason.

Do you think celebrity endorsements of Freemasonry is a good idea? Given that the objective is to "build a positive image," do you think the risk that any given celebrity may one day become a liability rather than an asset is worth taking? Do you think that promoting celebrities as being Masons will attract new members? Do you think that elevating certain individuals to a "higher status" goes against the Masonic ideal that all Masons are equal, or "on the level"?

Image: Roy Clark

Masons | Masonic Celebrities | Brian Conz | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Roy Clark | Ernest Borgnine | Brad Paisley | Michael Richards | Burning Taper

NASCAR driver Bro. Brian Conz has new sponsorship, his website indicates

Bro. Brian Conz, the NASCAR driver, has put his website BrianConz.com back online. The site shows car #18 (pictured), and lists as his sponsors Attorney Tom Beck and Shaklee, with a link to this Shaklee Independent Distributor website. Shaklee is a multi-level marketing company that distributes nutrition, personal and home care products via independent distributors. There are no Masonic symbols on Bro. Conz's site, but his bio discusses his membership in a blue lodge, the Scottish Rite, and the Shrine.

The old ScottishRiteRacing.com site currently shows a generic "under construction" template from Network Solutions.

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

Why people believe Americans are stupid

Since today's theme seems to be stupidity, it's a great time to share this video with you.

It's called "Why People Believe Americans are Stupid."

Among the things these Americans on the street believe:

• Yugoslavia, Utah and Utopia are three countries that begin with the letter U.
• Fidel Castro is a singer.
• We won the Vietnam War.
• A triangle has no sides.
• Jerusalem, Florida, California and Germany are countries in the "Axis of Evil."
• Al Quaida is a wing of the Masonic orders.

The man who introduces himself as John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia is not, in fact, John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia.

My thanks to W. Bro. Tom Bowersox of Marion Lodge No. 6 in Marion, Iowa for sending me the link to this video.

Image: The real John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia. We certainly enjoy his wine.

Americans | Stupidity | John Howard | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Filipino Freemasons form U.S. organization

Filipino Freemasons living in the United States are forming the Philippine Masonic Association of America, Inc. (PMAAI). An organizational meeting will be held this weekend in Las Vegas.

Apparently, what happens in Las Vegas won't stay there; the new organization will hold its first annual convention Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles.

Last September, Burning Taper wrote about a new grand lodge, the Independent Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippine Islands (IGLPI), which was then being officially constituted. I have no idea if those brothers are now considered clandestine or regular by other Masonic organizations.

Masons | Masonic Brotherhood | International Freemasonry | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Philippines | Burning Taper

Good turnout for Masonic lodge breakfast

I've recently been scolded (see comments section of "Making Masons look stupid?") for posting negative news and commentary here, and for being "too gleeful" in my writing, and told that I never promote the positive things about Freemasonry. Your Masonic nudges have been heard, and heeded!

Here, for the Masonic edification of those anonymous readers who are "monitoring" the Burning Taper, is something uplifting and positive about Freemasonry, the kind of sweet and syrupy good news you asked for, reprinted from the Midwest City, Oklahoma Sun from earlier today.

Published: March 08, 2007 09:52 am

Good turnout for Masonic Lodge breakfast
By Iva Beamer, Sun columnist
The Sun

A good-sized crowd turned out for the Jones Masonic Lodge’s monthly breakfast, which are held every first Saturday.

The Masons want names and addresses of all servicemen in the Middle East so they can send care packages to them. Call any Mason with that information.

Pat Kubicek of Olympia, Wash., was a recent guest in the home of her son, Greg, and his wife, Mary. She spent two weeks with them.

Dorothy and Claude Jones, Bill Frederick, Velda Ruzycki, and Carol and Duane Langley of St. Louis, Mo., ate dinner at El Chico’s in Midwest City Saturday night and watched the eclipse of the moon all the way home.

Helen and Doc Atwater, Carol and Jim Strain and Velma Blessington spent the weekend at Lake Eufaula getting the Atwater vacation home ready for summer.

Opal Goff and her daughters Charlotte and Shirley, spent a day recently in Grapevine, Texas. Twenty seven people met at a restaurant in Oklahoma City last Sunday to celebrate Opal’s birthday.

Marilyn Lassiter visited her sister Marjorie Millican on Wednesday.

The Claude Joneses returned to Jones on Tuesday after spending several weeks in south Texas. The wintery weather kept them there longer than they anticipated. Mr. and Mrs. Duane Langley of St. Louis, Mo., came Wednesday and stayed until Sunday afternoon.

Marie Rowlen, Wilma Carlson and Isabell Jones went to Del City Thursday night to help initiate some Odd Fellows into the Del City Rebekah Lodge. Edmond Lodge was also represented. A fellowship hour followed.

Sandy Jones spent a day last week with Darlene McWilliams in Oklahoma City.

Darrin Kelly spent Saturday night as a guest of Ryan Campbell to help Ryan celebrate his 11th birthday.

Morris and Kathleen Morrison and Lisa Campbell and children, Haley and Ryan, spent Friday eve at the YMCA in Del City and ate out before coming home. The occasion was Ryan’s birthday. Ryan shared his birthday cake and ice cream with his relatives Sunday evening in the home of his great grandmother Beamer.

Mary Winscott ate dinner Sunday with friends in Oklahoma City.

Waffles. Yum!

Masons | Masonic Yawns | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Grand Lodge of Oklahoma | Burning Taper

Who killed Hiram?

A new Masonic blog came to my attention today, called Kingdom of Conscience. It's written by Bro. Isaiah Coffey, a Prince Hall Mason from Atlanta.

The blog is only one day old, but already Bro. Isaiah has posted two interesting short essays on Freemasonry, plus a poem called "Who Killed Hiram?", written by Prince Hall Mason Bro. Chad Vander Ven of Florida.

Who Killed Hiram?

Who killed Hiram? The Master Mason whose light has shone for seven thousand years, but lies dying now, without fanfare or tears.

Who killed Hiram? The Mason's Craft that survived Pharaohs, Caesars, Khans, and Kings, whose luster is gone, save for rusty ol' rings.

Who killed Hiram? The noble Order where Light was made real, but few of its members remember how it feels.

Who killed Hiram? The Masons have killed Hiram, they buried him in steak fries, golf outings, and watered down rites, so many that no one even thinks to go out to the lodge on meeting nights.

Who killed Hiram? The Masons did, they sleep through his lectures, his lessons, his story, yet none are quick to try to revive his glory.

Who killed Hiram? The Masons of course, by failing to see the Light through the forest.

Have you killed Hiram? Have you played a part? Have you helped silence the Master Mason's art?

Have you killed Hiram? Is the Shrine more fun? Is paying the bills the only thing your lodge has done?

Have you killed Hiram? Do you not have the time? Is it far too hard to memorize your lines?

Have you killed Hiram? Is refreshment your thing? Is it more important to you that you get to wear a shiny gold ring?

Have you killed Hiram? Are the widow's cries too loud? To kneel and help the orphan, are you much too proud?

Have you killed Hiram? Does lodge go too late? Is the work too hard or the task too great?

Have you killed Hiram? Is it too much to learn? Do you shun from the wisdom for which so many yearn?

Have you killed Hiram?

Masons | Masonic Poetry | Prince Hall Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Hiram Abiff | BurningTaper.com | Burning Taper

Making Masons look stupid?

Last week someone on the Scottish Rite forum posted a link to the latest NASCAR Scottish Rite story here on the BT. Another brother responded to his post with:

I don't know what really happened there, but I am not going to get my info from the blog source there [The Burning Taper] and call it credible. I have long monitored that blog and trust it about as far as I could throw it. Like any public blog showing discontent within Masonry, I don't think that it is very Masonic to make all your Brethren look stupid.

Is shining a Light on what's going on in Freemasonry making brethren look stupid?

Or are brethren acting stupid all on their own? Grand Lodges throwing out members without benefit of trial? Financial irregularities in the Shrine? Racism in blue lodges and in public by 33rd degree Scottish Riters like Michael Richards? Lodges still flying antiquated state flags with the Confederate Stars and Bars? NASCAR shenanigans? Turning lodge meetings into Baptist prayer meetings? Murders? Renting lodge halls to gang members? Protecting sexual exploiters of children? Holding your friends hostage at gunpoint?

It seems like Freemasons themselves are doing all they can to hasten the Fraternity's demise. I spent years trying to help fix it. Now, I'm just holding the candle.

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

Catholic bishop reiterates Pope's words: Masonry is a grave sin

The Catholic World News is reporting that once again the Vatican wants the world to know that Catholics are not supposed to be Freemasons. They've been hammering this theme for a while now. [Previous Burning Taper article]

I wonder if after the sting they felt while The Da Vinci Code was in the news last year, the Church is trying to position itself ahead of time as against Masonry, before Dan Brown's new book The Solomon Key is published. The novel, expected this year, reportedly prominently features the Masonic fraternity.

Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, the regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, told a Vatican Radio interviewer that membership in a Masonic lodge is not necessarily grounds for excommunication, but it is a grave matter.

The bishop was responding to a question about Father Rosario Esposito, an Italian Paulist who recently announced his membership in a Masonic lodge. Bishop Girotti reminded listeners that a 1983 statement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly "The Holy Inquisition") remains in force today. That statement, signed by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the current pope, said: "The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion."

Image: Pope Benedict XVI

Masons | Catholic Church | Pope Benedict XVI | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Catholicism | Burning Taper

Masonic police officer convicted of murder; juror dismissed for allegedly flashing him Masonic hand gestures

A Virgin Islands man was removed as a juror in a murder trial jury for allegedly flashing Masonic hand gestures to the defendant and others in the courtroom, including witnesses.

William Curtis, chief investigator for the V.I. Justice Department, said two prosecutors asked him on Wednesday to come to court and keep an eye on the suspect juror. Curtis said he is familiar with Masonic signals and did not recognize any of the juror's movements and gestures as having significance, but prosecutors asked [the judge] to remove the man from the jury.

Later in the trial, Elvet Carty was called as a character witness for former police detective Joel Dowdye, charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend and trying to murder her companion in a downtown hotel room.

Carty said his friend Dowdye was dedicated to the community and donated his time to working with at-risk children.

Under cross-examination Carty admitted he was Dowdye's Masonic lodge brother after the prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Cornelius Williams, asked him if he was wearing a Masonic ring.

One of the first phone calls Dowdye made after the murder was to Carty.

When Williams asked whether Dowdye is a Freemason, Dowdye answered, "Just like you, sir." Williams denied in court that he was a Mason.

Link: Virgin Islands Daily News

Masons | Murder | Crime | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Virgin Islands | Burning Taper

Mystery: Two dead in old Masonic building

Two construction workers renovating a 158-year old former Masonic lodge in Westfield, Indiana, were found dead last Friday. Investigators are stumped, the Indy Star reported.

Foul play is not suspected, they weren't killed by electricity, and the fire department found no evidence of toxic gases in the building.

The two men had approached Bill Norman, the building's owner, two weeks ago, offering to do drywall work. No one else was working on the project at the time of their deaths.

Masons | Mysterious Death | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Masonic Lodge | Burning Taper

We're in an awful way: Another death at a Masonic hall party

[Sung to the tune of Cat Steven's Another Saturday Night]

Another Saturday night
At the Masonic party
Two more wounded, another dead.
How I wish that someone would stop this
We're in an awful way.

Sixteen-year old Shaquil Sanders (also reported as Shaquil May) was stabbed to death and two other men wounded by gunfire outside a party at a Masonic hall in Brooklyn, New York early Saturday morning. The party was sponsored by a church, and billed as a "drug and alcohol-free" event.

Burning Taper reported last weekend violence broke out at a private party held at a Masonic lodge in Maryland, with four people seriously wounded by bullets.

So far in 2007, by my count, the boxscore for violence at parties in U.S. Masonic halls:

• Wounded: 8
• Killed: 2

This repeated violence at parties held in Masonic lodges further drives home the point that "black youth need guidance" by responsible adults in their neighborhoods that M. W. Bro. Milton F. Fitch, Grand Master of Prince Hall Masons in North Carolina, made during the Masonic African-American Male Summit last week in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

It also again speaks to the fact that Masonic lodges should closely monitor who rents out their halls. Though some of these news stories says that the party was sponsored by a local church, the New York Times article quotes Charles Brown, age 72, who was in charge of renting the hall (and whom we can assume is a Freemason), as saying he wasn't sure who sponsored the party, as he could not remember the names of the two people he had given permission to use the hall.

Links:
New York Times
1010 Radio (New York)
New York Post
NY1, New York City's 24-hour news channel

Image: Shaquil Sanders (or Shaquil May), stabbed to death at 16 in a Masonic hall parking lot

Note: My apologies for butchering Cat Steven's song. And yes, I'm aware this latest violence occured in the early hours of Saturday morning, not Saturday night. Poetic license, you know.

Masons | Violence | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Brooklyn | Burning Taper

Shriners and Scottish Rite as Masonic lobbyists

Masonic Lobbyists by Tim Bryce, PM, MPS

"It is no secret that participation in the Masonic fraternity has been dropping for at least 50 years. Evidence of our decline is the fact that our membership totals are at their lowest levels in more than 80 years." — "It's About Time!", Masonic Service Association of North America

We have discussed Masonic membership trends on more than one occasion in the past. Some Masons believe our decline was inevitable as membership was over inflated following WW II and that a decline was well overdue. This has led to several experimental programs, such as the "fast track" one-day class, which is still considered controversial in many Masonic circles, and lowering the age requirement to 18. Even with these inventions, our numbers continue to dwindle.

The decline in membership is having a ripple affect throughout the fraternity, including the allied and appendant bodies of Freemasonry. As a small example, in my area alone, the number of chapters of the OES and High 12 have diminished sharply, Jobs Daughters and DeMolay have closed their doors, and all of the Rites and Shrine organizations have reported significant losses. I recently heard from a Michigan Shriner who reported his temple's membership had declined by 800 members over the last two years. Many other jurisdictions are reporting similar declines in membership.

So, as membership in the Craft Lodges decline, so goes the allied and appendant bodies who recruit Freemasons for their orders, which is why the Shrine waived the requirement to be a Scottish or York Rite Mason prior to becoming a Shriner. The Scottish and York Rites are still reeling from this decision. Further, rumors abound that the Shrine will someday create a new class of Shriner thereby allowing non-Masons to join their organization. Regardless, knowing their survival depends on the Craft Lodges, these bodies have begun to take a more proactive approach to working with Grand Lodges; perhaps too "proactive."

Some Grand Lodges are beginning to feel the squeeze of the allied and appendant bodies, particularly the Scottish Rite who uses their coveted 33rd degree as an incentive to cooperate with Scottish Rite policy. As one Past Grand Master recently lamented to me, "As long as the Sovereign Grand Inspector General is allowed to run our Grand Lodge, and we have Grand Masters looking for a white hat, they will listen to whatever he wants, and we will have censorship of everything that would limit his influence. His exact words are, 'Grand Masters Govern for one year, I Govern forever. I am the Grand Lodge.'"

Such words are disturbing to Masonic purists who believe the dog should wag the tail and not the other way around. It is also rumored that the Scottish Rite is heavily involved in establishing policy for the Conference of North American Grand Masters. But the Scottish Rite is not alone in terms of accusations of meddling as the Shrine in some jurisdictions is viewed as flexing its muscles now and then. Whether these accusations are true or not is immaterial, a perception is emerging among Masons that the Grand Lodges are beginning to dance to someone else's tune. And why not? Since the survival of the allied and appendant bodies depends on the Grand Lodges, why wouldn't they want to take control, particularly when Grand Lodges are ambivalent when it comes to membership?

Masons elect Grand Masters on the belief they will provide unbiased leadership. They want people who will focus on the problems and opportunities confronting the Craft Lodges, such as membership. They do not want leaders who are easily influenced and manipulated by others, be it a Masonic body or otherwise. We most definitely do not need the meddling of Masonic lobbyists.

One last note on membership; I do not believe our problem with the decline of membership can be solved on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis; that it must be solved in a uniform manner throughout the fraternity. A uniform policy on membership, public relations, etc. will greatly facilitate getting the word out to the fine young men out there who yearn for what Freemasonry has to offer, yet know nothing about it. Currently, the only way this can happen in North America, is through the Conference of Grand Masters, but if this is indeed controlled by the Scottish Rite, perhaps we should clear it with them first.

Keep the Faith.

NOTE: The opinions expressed in this essay are my own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of any Grand Masonic jurisdiction or any other Masonic related body. As with all of my Masonic articles herein, please feel free to reuse them in Masonic publications or re-post them on Masonic web sites (except Florida). When doing so, please add the following:

Please forward me a copy of the publication when it is produced.

Copyright © 2007 by Tim Bryce.

Article reprinted with permission of the author and www.FreemasonInformation.com

Masons | Masonic Education | Tim Bryce | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Scottish Rite | Shriners | Burning Taper

Mozart, the Masonic Grand Magician

Freemasonry is international, found in most every part of the world.

Apparently, it's also very international for novelists to use Masonry and Masons as plot devices and characters in their books.

Click here to read the English translation of a Korean book review of a French novel that ties the Austrian Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to ancient Egypt through, you guessed it, Freemasonry.

The four-volume story by prolific French author Christian Jacq involves Thamos, the count of Tebas in Egypt, who singles out young prodigy Amadeus as a potential grand magician who will save the world by means of his music.

Jacq's earlier series "Ramses" includes the novels The Son of Light, The Temple of a Million Years (aka The Eternal Temple), The Battle of Kadesh, The Lady of Abu Simbel, and Under the Western Acacia. With titles like these, I'm guessing Freemasonic ideas in some form are a recurring theme.

Image: Christian Jacq

Masons | Masonic History | Mozart | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Christian Jacq | Book Reviews | Burning Taper

Scottish Rite Supreme Council issues "offical statment" about their NASCAR "affiliation arrangement" with BC Motorsports

A new thread started last night at the official Scottish Rite site's forum linking to Burning Taper's article from yesterday titled "NASCAR-Scottish Rite deal a wreck; Frank Cicci accuses Brian Conz and Scottish Rite of breach of contract." One of the writers there referred to the article as "pretty slanted to say the least," but then agreed with it that the Scottish Rite should be talking about this, telling us what's going on.

About an hour ago, an "offical statment" was posted on the forum by Dean Alban 33°, Director of Membership Services of The Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction.

Interestingly, the statement doesn't use the word "sponsorship," opting instead to use the terms "affiliation arrangement" and "participation in...."

Here's the full post:

Hello Bro. John,

Here is the offical statment [sic] from the Supreme Council, 33° Washington D.C.

The Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction's affiliation arrangement with BC Motorsports for the 2007 Busch Grand National season expired without a final agreement having been reached. The Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction did not provide any funding for participation in the 2007 NASCAR Busch Grand National season program and does not have any contracts with BC Motorsports or any race organization at this time.

In light of the positive feedback from many members about the potential involvement with a racing team, however, the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction will continue to explore other opportunities for possible participation within the 2007 racing season and will announce its plans as soon as a decision has been reached. Through the program, the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction anticipates having an opportunity for Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite to be viewed in a positive light, to educate the public about our many philanthropic activities, and to provide a medium for increasing public awareness of our fraternity.

S&F,

Bro. Dean

Dean Alban, 33°
Director of Membership Services
The Supreme Council, 33°, S.J. USA

It doesn't really say a lot, but I commend the Scottish Rite for finally saying something. Personally, I'd like to know who came up with the idea, how it was developed, who was consulted, and why it crashed into the wall so fast. Why did they choose a driver who hasn't been active on the NASCAR circuit the past few years? Didn't they know he wasn't yet qualified to drive? If they're still gung-ho to "participate," why didn't they stay with Frank Cicci? In a fraternity that wants to shed its image of "secrecy," you'd think they'd be more forthcoming on the details.

At present, the official statement [above] does not seem to have been published on the Scottish Rite's website, at least not on the homepage where they routinely announce news. I checked the archives, too, and see that the original article from January announcing the Scottish Rite-NASCAR sponsorship, which had been in the archives since it was published, and was there this morning, is no longer there. Gone. Deleted. Chucked into the memory hole.

UPDATE Friday, March 2: The websites BrianConz.com and ScottishRiteRacing.com, as of around 1 p.m. ET, are kaput. Not there. 404. Gone. Another Scottish Rite venture down the memory hole.

Masons | NASCAR | Scottish Rite | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | BC Motorsports | Burning Taper

Masonic funerals: Two shows daily!

It looks like Masonic ritual and ceremony has been reduced to mere show, at least for an upcoming weekend festival in Texas.

Drop by the Texas Independence Day Celebration at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, or 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m on Sunday, March 4, and you'll get to see a "Masonic burial re-enactment." Never mind they don't have a body to bury in this most solemn of all Masonic rituals. They're pretending to bury Sam Houston, who served as president of the Republic of Texas, senator for Texas after it joined the Union, and finally as governor.

He was ousted as governor when the Civil War began because although he was a slaveowner and an opponent of abolitionism, he refused to support the Confederacy when Texas seceded from the Union.

Houston was made a Freemason in Tennessee. Along with Stephen Austin and Anson Jones, Houston helped form the first Masonic lodge in Texas. Many of the men who died at the Alamo were Masons, including James Bonham, Almaron Dickinson, Davy Crockett, James Bowie and William Barret Travis.

While you are at the Celebration, you can see plays and "living history actors" portray many of the early settlers of Texas. And if you're lucky, you can share a "Texas-sized" birthday cake with the great-grandson of Sam Houston.

Image: A Masonic funeral procession in Michigan, circa 1917

Masons | Masonic Funeral | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Sam Houston | Texas | Burning Taper