Grand Central, loud and clear!

The bugs seem to be gone from the Grand Central "Call Me" system. Now that it's working, it looks like this new technological gee-whiz may have lots of educational and entertainment value.

Give us a call. Comment on a particular story, or just say hey.

Here's the first postable (other callers gave their phone numbers during their message, so I won't post them here) voice comment The Burning Taper received. It's sort of our "What hath God wrought?" and "Watson, come here, I need you," all rolled into one.

Bro. Chris Garlington said:



Image: Grand Central Terminal in New York, 1913

Masons | Chris Garlington | Grand Central | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Irish blessings for St. Patrick's Day

May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.

May St. Patrick guard you wherever you go,
and guide you in whatever you do —
and may his loving protection be a blessing to you always.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is best forgotten.

Irish Blessings | St. Patrick's DayMasonic Trial | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Call The Burning Taper for free!

One of Google's newest acquisitions (as they seek total global information domination) is the "Call Me" program from Grand Central. Click on the button, and you can call me toll-free. Currently it's set to go to voicemail only; if you actually want a response from me, email is still the best way to go.

Please feel free to leave comments via voicemail. Your comments are recorded digitally, and with a few clicks, I can post your most interesting comments directly to this blog for the world to hear.

How it works: Click on the "Call Me" button. Enter your name or screen name and your phone number. Click "call." The system will call YOUR number. Answer your phone and leave your message for The Burning Taper.

Official disclaimer: Leaving a message via this method indicates your knowledge that a recording is being made, and that you agree whatever you say can and may be posted on this blog. Please be reasonably polite. You do not necessarily have to identify yourself. Your phone number will not be shared.

I want to thank Bro. Dean from Freemason's Corner for helping the techno-challenged Widow's Son to get this set up.

Blogging | GrandCentral | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Making your lodge happy

Bro. Dean at Freemason's Corner has been telling us about great eBay and other deals on Masonic items for the past couple of years.

Today he's done a great service for e-Masons just becoming web-aware. In a post called "How to Make Your Lodge Happy for $6.95," he gives detailed, step-by-step instructions for a lodge's wanna-be webmaster to set up a domain-specific lodge website. He even offers to give you personalized advice if there's something you still don't understand after following his printed directions.

If you're looking for unusual Masonic memorabilia, such as rings, pipes, snuff boxes, paintings, etc., scroll through the Freemason's Corner archives. If you're looking for a particular type of Masonic keepsake, I'm sure Bro. Dean will help you find just what you're looking for.

Masons | Masonic Memorabilia | Freemason's Corner | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

We all shine on: Jeff Peace

Longtime Freemason Bro. Jeff Peace tells us about himself in this our 16th glimpse into the lives of our readers in the series "This is Who I Am." Thanks for writing, Bro. Peace.

I was entered into the brotherhood of Free-Masons on August 3rd of 1987 after having Petitioned my father and grandfather’s lodge on my 21st birthday three months earlier. The Masonic Temple was a rather stately old building with a limestone façade. It was a little worse for the wear but still quite serviceable. To me it was a magical placed filled with all sorts of secrets awaiting discovery. It had trap doors in the floor and a large walk-in vault filled with books, files and papers.

I memorized the first catechism after sitting with the Master of the lodge three or four times and was then passed to the degree of Fellow-Craft. In March of the following year I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason and was immediately put in the position of Senior Deacon. Sadly, my mother lodge’s membership had declined to the point that only Past Masters filled the chairs. Within a few months I was promoted to Junior Warden and performed the first degree on a new candidate.

At the next reunion of the Scottish Rite I received my 32nd degree. It was a unique and confusing experience. The day began around 7 A.M. and lasted until 8 P.M.. I had expected the degrees to be similar to what I had witnessed in my lodge but they were very different. I remember the darkness of the fourth degree coming as quite a shock. This experience left me filled with curiosity.

I was attending the university when I became a Mason and started searching through the library for books about Free-Masonry. Unfortunately, the university had few books on the subject. I then discovered that the Scottish Rite had a large Masonic library, and I began borrowing large quantities of books. The books left me asking even more questions to which no one seemed to have any answers.

My senior term paper was about the history of Free-Masonry. Looking back at this paper today I realize how weak my understanding of the subject had been.

Upon graduating from school I took a job with a company in Texas and moved away from my mother lodge. I joined a lodge in Texas but never attended. I spent most of my time reading and researching. Eventually I moved to Georgia and became active in a local lodge serving as Secretary. As I visited other lodges I began to realize that membership in the fraternity was declining rapidly. There had been about ninety brothers at my Scottish Rite reunion but Atlanta was lucky to get thirty.

I began thinking more seriously about the problem and started speaking with other younger brothers about it. We all felt the same: lodge meetings were boring, Scottish Rite meetings were even more boring, and the Knights Templar was similar to attending a funeral. Making changes to anything within the system was difficult and usually resulted in someone saying “we’ve always done it this way!”

The lodge I had been attending was very old-fashioned so I moved my membership closer to the city and a more progressive lodge. Sandy Springs Lodge was a truly inspirational Masonic experience. It gave me hope in the future of the Craft in Georgia. Here was a group of older brothers who saw the need for change and were willing to work with the younger members to make Masonry enjoyable for all.

At this time I was also a member of the Scottish Rite Membership Committee and was traveling around to all of the Districts with Grand Master Simmons giving talks and PowerPoint presentations about membership and lodge management. The Grand Master has asked me if I would give these talks in hopes that some of the lodges would see the wisdom in what I had to say about the different wants and needs of older and younger brothers. I felt these were quite productive because afterwards I would spend hours talking to the lodge Masters that had attended. It was clear that they were equally concerned but didn’t know how to help resolve the problems.

As a result of these presentations I was invited to a couple of lodges that were in serious financial trouble. I remember the lodge down at Griffin, GA specifically because of how many brothers showed up for the meeting. We didn’t even meet in the lodge room but the dining hall. It was a mixed group of older and younger brothers who truly wanted to save their lodge but had trouble agreeing on the proper course of action. After a few hours of discussing the issues and getting everyone to open-up and reveal their thoughts, they all realized the same thing: they would have to raise the dues and make changes in the way they ran the lodge. I spoke with the Past Master who had invited me to the lodge a few years later and he was very happy with the progress they had made. They were no longer going out of business but growing.

I met with the Scottish Rite Membership Committee weekly but we never really accomplished anything. Everything we presented to the Personal Representative of the S.G.I.G. was dismissed out of hand but we continued to meet anyways. Eventually, I grew frustrated with this and suggested that we write a detailed report showing the impact of membership decline on the finances of the Valley, along with a detailed plan of renewal. This took several weeks of hard work. We began by getting a list of all the members who had been suspended for non=payment of dues over the past ten years. Each of the were contacted by letter. Roughly 1/3 of the letters were returned as non-deliverable so I started searching through the phone records at AT&T. In the end I was able to contact about 80% of them. Next we gathered the statistical data and created pie charts and graphs predicting the impact of continued decline on the finances of the valley. In the end we came up with a “magic” number; when the membership dropped to this level a death spiral would begin. The magic number indicated the point at which dues would rise to over $100 per year in order to balance the budget.

This lengthy document met with no better results. Unfortunately, the predictions it contained have come true.

Back at Sandy Springs things were progressing rapidly. The lodge building was being renovated by the brothers and we installed a new JBL sound system along with a digital projector as a part of the effort. After much debate it was decided to put in a black and white tiled marble floor in the lodge room. Pride in the lodge and Free-Masonry was beginning to blossom.

For all of my efforts I was offered membership in the Royal Order of Scotland. I felt honored by this but not truly worthy. While I had worked very hard there was so little to show for it. It was like running up a sand dune; one step forward, tow steps back.

While all this was going on I was working with brothers across the country on a radical new idea. This has been discussed with the Grand Master who felt that the idea could work. We would create a new appendant body that was designed to help get and retain Generation-X Masons. It would be a lodge-oriented body that would help local lodges. After two years of research we created the Rite of the Rose Cross of Gold (RRCG) and began testing it at Sandy Springs. Within a few months we had doubled the number of young Masons at the lodge and I showed the results to the Grand Master.

The following year Bro. Brian Roper was elected as the leader of the Rite and he petitioned the Grand Lodge of Georgia for official recognition. Unfortunately, this was met with obfuscation and ultimately resulted in all of us being expelled without charges or even a trial.

While this was not the most positive thing that could have happened, it was not the worst either. This provided me with the opportunity to explore other forms of Free-Masonry around the globe. It was then that I discovered Grand Orient of France. They were far more progressive and open to new ideas than the American Grand Lodges. I began serious discussions with them about the possibility of the creating a new Grand Orient in the United States and eventually we began working on the Grand Orient of the United States.

Creating a new Grand Orient has kept my occupied for the last couple of years but the results have been very rewarding. I don’t know what the future holds for me in Free-Masonry but I’m sure that it will be equally exciting as the past.

— Bro. Jeff Peace

You are invited to tell the Masonic world about yourself. To submit your own "This is Who I Am" essay, please read this.

Masons | Jeff Peace | This is Who I Am | Freemasonry | We All Shine On | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

'Common Sense': Opposing Masonic tyranny

The "illegal" blog Masonic Crusade is reporting that conditions have further deteriorated in West Virginia Masonry between current Grand Master Charlie Montgomery and many W.V. Masons over the expulsion of Past Grand Master Frank Haas and another brother.

The Crusade reported that after an out-of-state brother visited a W.V. lodge and spoke in support of Haas' agenda (which after being approved by vote of the brethren was "dumped" by a later grand master), a "secret" letter has gone out from Montgomery to lodge Masters across the state dictating what can and cannot be discussed in lodge meetings. The Crusade says that the letter also warns Masters that they cannot reveal the contents or even the existence of the letter.

Bro. Chris at Freemasons for Dummies has weighed in with his own commentary on this matter, calling it a "Masonic crisis."

I think every free-thinking, freedom-loving Free-Mason should weigh in on this matter. If what is being reported is true, Masonry is truly diseased. As the Crusade writes, "we cannot let Charlie's mockery of real Masonic Principles go unanswered."

As we yammer and yaw about sometimes meaningless Masonic things on this blog and elsewhere, the very core of Masonic principles is being challenged in most unmasonic ways in West Virginia. A real revolution, far bigger than the troubles we've seen in Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, etc., is on the horizon, if not already taking place.

One thing that we inherited from British Masonry that strikes me as wrong is the idea that a grand master and a grand lodge are omnipotent and "infallible." Freemasonry is a fraternity, not a kingdom, and Freemasons are free citizens and brothers, not subjects. The line of succession in grand lodges is not unlike the monarchy in England, where the crown is handed down based on heredity. This "right of succession" was displayed almost arrogantly at the Georgia Grand Lodge I attended last fall. The new grand master, while introducing the junior grand officers, repeatedly referred to one man or another as his "Masonic son" or "Masonic grandson." Short of death, nothing will stop the line of succession, and nothing will ever change. "Election" of grand officers is a mere rubber-stamping by timid subjects, not votes by free men or Free Masons.

To the brothers in West Virginia, I have said:

If your Grand Master is indeed telling your lodges what they can and cannot discuss, and forbidding Masters to disclose his communications, then Masonic tyranny and terrorism has truly arrived.

Stand and fight, men. The Masonic world is not laughing at you; we are behind you.

Lately I've been reading Thomas Payne's "Common Sense." It is said that in early 1776, even the staunchest loyalist couldn't read this tract to the end without being persuaded to becoming pro-independence. Perhaps something in Payne's words can embolden West Virginia brethren to take action against King Charles' tyranny.

"O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!" — Thomas Payne, "Common Sense"

I call upon the other 50 grand lodges in the U.S. to take action for the good of Masonry and Masons, and to rein in King Charles' abuse of power. And I call upon all Masons of good and noble character to learn more about what is going on in West Virginia, and to offer your brothers support, relief and brotherly love.

Image: Thomas Paine

Masons | Frank Haas | Charles Montgomery | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of West Virginia | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Mark of the Beast: Under your skin in time for Mother's Day, predicts "Child of the Most High"

You've got about two months to run up your credit cards and spend all your cash.

After May 12, 2008 you won't need them. That's the day all Americans will be implanted with the Mark of the Beast, a RFID microchip, declares Donny K, a "Child of the Most High." They can't even control traffic flow around a football stadium, but somehow we'll all make it down to the county health department to be tagged like cows by May 12.

I have no idea how he came up with that date.

After quoting a 2003 WorldNetDaily.com story about a company's new RFID chip, Donny K delivers the ultimate coup de grâce: He quotes the biblical Book of Revelations, chapter 13, verses 16-18.

You have been duly warned.

PS: Don't miss Donny K's "L.U. Cyfer: The Greatest Inventor of All."

Image: Donny K, Child of the Most High

End Times | Child of the Most High | Donny K | RFID | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

NY Gov. Spitzer "involved with" prostitutes

I've learned more today about New York politicians that I ever meant to. While reading about former New York Supreme Court Justice Ronald H. Tills (see story below), Gov. Eliot Spitzer's announcement that he was "involved with" a high-dollar prostitution ring popped up on my radar screen.

I have no idea if the girl-loving governor is a Jester, but he was certainly trying to be funny when I saw him on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart a week or two ago.

There's no doubt he loves women. His wife has her own page on his official website.

And he's a superdelegate from New York who has promised to vote for New York Senator Hillary Clinton at the Democratic Convention this summer.

Recently, he issued a proclamation designating March "Women's History Month." In the proclamation he "honor[ed] the remarkable talents and creativity of American women...."

I bet the prostitutes from the Emperors Club [website taken down earlier today] he was "involved with" certainly do have "remarkable talents and creativity." They'd better, at the prices they're charging.

An hour with one of these women will set you back a minimum of $1,000, and that's just for the woman who is only rated "three-diamonds." To enjoy an hour's company with a Seven-Diamond woman costs $3,100 or more.

Dawn-to-dawn rates are from $10,000 to $31,000 per girl.

Occasional TV-pundit and law school professor (he taught Spitzer at Harvard) Alan Dershowitz defended Spitzer today by saying, "I feel terrible for Eliot and his family. But I feel that this was a story that we have to put in perspective. Big deal. Married man goes to prostitute. In Europe, this wouldn't even make the back pages of the newspaper.

"Men don't use their brains when it comes to something like this," he said. "They think with a different part of their body and that part of the body, the level of brains, there are no relationship to the level of brains in the skull, unfortunately. And when people think with that organ of the body, they make these kind of really, really terrible mistakes."

It's not "married man goes to prostitute" that's wrong here, Professor. It's the blatant hypocrisy of "married man who goes to prostitute made his living prosecuting prostitutes and their customers."

And it wasn't just the governor. Judge Tills allegedly did the same thing.

These men, and others like them, should remember they are public servants, answerable to the citizens, not aristocrats or royalty for whom we'll ignore or forgive their hypocritical indiscretions.

Prostitution | Eliot Spitzer | New York Governor | Emperors Club | Hypocrisy | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Another 'isolated incident'? Retired judge, fellow Jesters under investigation for hiring prostitutes in New York

Updated 3/10/08 to include Congressional Record entry honoring Judge Ron Tills.

Updated 3/10/08 to include Congressman Reynolds' Masonic affiliations

On Thursday, The Burning Taper published an article about, and linked to investigative reporter Sandy Frost's detailed account about, 19 members of the Mason-related Royal Order of Jesters members who have been subpoenaed as witnesses in a federal trial involving underage prostitutes while on a fishing trip to Brazil in 2005.

A comment left by a reader here said, "This has to be an isolated incident."

Sadly, it doesn't appear this kind of activity among the Royal Order of Jesters is an isolated incident.

Synchronistically, on the same day we ran that article two other Jesters, one a retired state judge now serving as a hearings officer, the other his former law clerk, resigned amidst allegations that they, along with a former police captain, took a female massage parlor employee in a motor home to a gathering of members of the Royal Order of Jesters. Transporting a woman across state lines for purposes of prostitution is a violation of the federal Mann Act.

The story ran today on the front page of the Sunday edition of the Buffalo News.

The investigation is part of a probe into Buffalo-area massage parlors linked to prostitution.

Both retired Judge Ronald H. Tills and law clerk Michael Stebick tendered their resignations on Thursday.

Stebick's attorney Andrew C. LoTempio told the Buffalo News, "[Stebick] resigned from his job to save his family and the court system from embarrassment."

Tills had also served as a state assemblyman.

Stebick is a former criminal prosecutor with the Erie County district attorney’s office.

Six witnesses familiar with the investigation said Stebick, the owner of the motor home used on the trip, Tills and retired Lockport, NY Police Capt. John Trowbridge went on the road trip along with as many as nine other Jesters and the woman from the massage parlor. Investigators did not say to where they traveled, other than it was outside New York, or when it occurred, other than it was over a year ago.

The FBI and U.S. Border Patrol have been investigating the local Jesters Buffalo Court No. 22, of which the three are members.

As if to further drive home the fact that this isn't an isolated incident, the Buffalo Times, speaking of a Feb. 1990 federal case in Milwaukee, Wisconsin said:

According to the [Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal] newspaper’s account, a woman admitted to a federal judge that she ran an interstate prostitution business and was hired to provide prostitutes for Jesters conventions in New Orleans, Houston, Chicago and other locations, including some in other countries.

The newspaper reported that the woman, speaking at her sentencing, told the judge that "well-to-do businessmen, mayors and aldermen" were among the Jesters' members, and that uniformed police officers sometimes provided security at the events.

Alex Rogers, business manager at the Jesters' Indianapolis headquarters, said, "Our purpose is to spread the gospel of mirth and merriment.... We certainly don't stand for any of that stuff.... Most of our work is charitable in nature, and that's why I just can't believe the nature of this investigation."

The Jesters try to take the "highest caliber Shriners we can get" who distinguish themselves in the community, Rogers said.

"We try to keep the cream of the crop," he said.

When reporters Dan Herbeck and Aaron Besecker of the Buffalo News phoned local Jesters Court No. 22 secretary James Kirst, he hung up the phone when asked about the investigation.

Updated: Monday, March 10, 2008 — The following statement by Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R-NY) was read in the House of Representatives and published in the Congressional Record on Dec. 8, 2005:

TRIBUTE TO JUDGE RONALD H. TILLS

HON. THOMAS M. REYNOLDS OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, December 8, 2005

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor a respected jurist, a dedicated public servant, a valued mentor and a trusted friend upon the occasion of his retirement from the New York State Court of Claims.

A native of Hamburg, New York, and a veteran of the United States Army Reserves, Judge Ronald H. Tills began a career in public service that spanned five decades when he joined the Zoning Board of Appeals in 1960. An Assistant Town Attorney and Town Justice, Ron Tills was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1968, where he served his community and his State with distinction, becoming Chairman of the Assembly's Select Committee for Revision of Corporation Law.

It was in his capacity as Member of the State Assembly that Judge Ron Tills took a chance on a young college student with little political experience to help run his re-election campaign in 1972. Joining his Assembly staff following that election, my own career in government and public service was launched, and I will be forever grateful for Ron's guidance, counsel and friendship.

Judge Tills' service to his community culminated when he was nominated by Governor George E. Pataki, and confirmed by the New York State Senate, to the New York State Court of Claims in July of 1995, where he has served as a Court of Claim Judge and Acting Supreme Court Justice for the past decade.

Mr. Speaker, Ron Tills involvement in a variety of civic and community organizations, and the awards and recognitions he has received over the years are too numerous to list. Whether it was the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Hamburg Volunteer Fire Company, or so many others, Ron Tills involved himself as he did in each endeavor throughout his life and career, with passion, leadership, and commitment.

One of his great loves is the largest and oldest fraternal organization in the world. As a Mason, Ron Tills has held numerous responsibilities within the Masons and the organizations within it, including Proctor of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Potentate of the Ismalia Shrine Temple, Director and President of the Shrine Oasis and Director of the Buffalo Court 22 of Jesters.

In addition to the Masons, gardening and travel, Ron Tills' greatest love of all is the former Elizabeth Clarkson. Ron and Betty were married on May 6, 1960, and are parents of Thomas and Suzanne and grandparents of Dale Jr. and Diane Goodridge, and Timothy and Abigail Tills.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of and in gratitude for his service, leadership and patriotism, I ask that this Honorable Body join me in honoring Judge Ronald H. Tills upon the occasion of his retirement, and wish him great health and happiness in the days and years ahead.

Congressman Tom Reynolds is a member of Springville Lodge in New York and Ismailia Temple (of Buffalo, NY) of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the Shriners), according to Congressional SourceWatch and Project VoteSmart. Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds should not be confused with M.W. Thomas E. Reynolds, Past Grand Master of Ohio.

Image 1: Retired New York State Supreme Justice Ronald H. Tills

Image 2: T-shirt design available at the Jester Phun Store

Ronald Tills | Michael Stebick | John Trowbridge |Masons | Royal Order of Jesters | Prostitution | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Burglar caught red-handed in California lodge

Neighbors heard the sound of breaking glass coming from the Willits, California Masonic lodge in the early hours of last Monday morning, it was reported.

Police arrived, and believing a prowler to still be inside the building, shouted out a warning that they were about to turn loose a police dog inside the building.

Micheal Jay Overholt, 25, of Willits, stepped out of a closet and surrendered without incident.

He was arrested for possession of a dangerous weapon, vandalism, possession of stolen property and burglary in the second degree. According to police, Overholt had several items from within the building and a pair of illegal double-edged fixed blade knives about 6-1/2 inches long in his possession when taken into custody.

No one has ever accused criminals of necessarily being smart, but this one strikes me as especially stupid.

There he is, caught like a rabbit, but given the opportunity to walk out on his own. Seems to me he would have hidden the knives and dropped the loot. Quite possibly, without those things "in his possession" when he surrendered, he might possibly have only been charged with vandalism, breaking and entering, and perhaps burglary, depending on how the law in that state is written.

A smarter crook would have ditched the pillowcase-full of Masonic Treasure and the matching carving knives, wouldn't you think? I wonder what kind of cool Masonic things he was stealing? What's in a Masonic lodge building worth taking?

Masons | Burglary | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of California | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

South Georgia lodge burns

It was a sad day yesterday for brethren at Duncan Lodge No. 234 in the south Georgia town of Nashville, as they watched their lodge building burn, WALB-TV reported.

The attic and second floor is a total loss with severe smoke and water damage to the first floor. The cause is still unknown, but the fire is believed to have started in a faulty heating and air conditioning system.

The brethren say they will meet in the building of Lakeland Lodge No. 434, about 20 miles from Nashville, in this rural area of Georgia.

Masons | Duncan Lodge No. 234 | Nashville, Georgia | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Georgia | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Ron Paul's message to supporters, March 6, 2008

Ron Paul | Ron Paul's Message to Supporters | Freedom | Liberty | Revolution | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Venezuelan Grand Master murdered during kidnap attempt

The Burning Taper joins with other Masonic voices in expressing our outrage and condemnation at the murder of our brother M.W. Francisco Pereiro Liz, Grand Master of Masons in Venezuela.

He was shot and killed Wednesday during an apparent kidnapping attempt on his coffee farm in Barqisimeto.

We send our condolences to his family and to our brethren in Venezuela.

Masons | Francisco Pereiro Liz | Venezuela | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Venezuela | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

More open houses in Mass. as Grand Lodge celebrates its 275th birthday

Earlier this week I wrote about a Masonic open house being held in Littleton, Massachusetts, and poked fun at their "template" press release.

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts is celebrating its 275th anniversary this year. As part of this celebration, it seems that Masonic open houses are happening all over the state.

The news article about open houses in Amesbury, Andover, Georgetown, Haverhill, Methuen, Newburyport and North Andover doesn't fit the template used by the lodge in Littleton I riffed on.

In this article, the public is offered "a chance to peek behind the veil. When people walk through the door, they'll either get a history lesson or a serious desire to become a Mason."

They also go one step further in the story, dismissing all the cool Masonic theories we know and love.

"There are so many myths associated with Freemasons and there's a certain intrigue for men to learn about us," said Bro. Dave Cullen.

"Part of the intrigue is not knowing, because if you know it all, it takes the fun out of it," said Bro. John Aliperta.

The newspaper writes:

Over the years, Freemasons have been accused of being a cult, of trying to control all governments, and even the protectors of the Holy Grail.

Aliperta debunks those myths.

There goes the intrigue.

The story goes on to say that Freemasons have developed new "tactics" to remedy the "membership dwindle." These tactics include:

• Lowering the age requirement from 21 to 18
• One-day classes so men can become Masons in one day instead of the usual three months

The brothers who talked to the reporter did a better job of stirring up a little interest (in me, anyway) than did the ones who promoted the Littleton article earlier this week.

These brothers even got the reporter for the Eagle-Tribune to print the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts' website address, one of the nicest grand lodge websites I've seen.

Only it is spelled wrong.

In all seriousness, I wish the brothers of Massachusetts well in their open houses this weekend. Happy 275th birthday! I hope your weather is better than ours is predicted to be. We're expecting rain all day today and an accumulation of snow tomorrow here in north Georgia. They've already invoked the Georgia Snow Law that says you must go to the grocery store and buy all the milk, bread and toilet paper you can afford whenever snow is in the forecast.

Masons | Masonic Open House | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Massachusetts | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Halcyon's boxing ring site of 2008 Cleveland Golden Glove preliminary rounds

Our brothers at Halcyon Lodge in Cleveland, Ohio have done a great job restoring the Halcyon Masonic Temple. Included in their remodeling is a center devoted to the sport of boxing.

Through Halcyon Charities the boxing gym is used by neighborhood kids as well as Golden Glove contenders. The facility is state of the art.

In association with Cleveland Amateur Golden Gloves, Inc., the West Side Temple at 2831 Franklin Blvd. in Ohio City will become the new host of the preliminary rounds of the Golden Gloves Amateur Tournament, with the first three rounds being held there April 5, 12, and 19 at 6 p.m.

Cleveland has in recent years become known as where Olympic-worthy young boxers get their start. In 2007 three Cleveland-area Golden Gloves Champions went on to qualify for the Olympic Trials. Two became Olympic alternates and one, Raynell Williams, is now the U.S.A. 125-lb. representative for the 2008 Olympics in China.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 3, 2008:

The finals, which drew a turn-away crowd of nearly 1,300 last year, will again be in the North Hall at Cleveland Browns Stadium on April 26, also at 6 p.m.

All first-time boxers, up to age 34, will compete in the sub-novice division. Before that rule was implemented a year ago, many first-timers were forced to box in the open division for experienced fighters.

The tournament also is restricting entries for those with experience in Tough Man and mixed martial arts competition. Depending on MMA experience, competitors will have to enter either the novice or open divisions.

Tickets will cost $15 and $25 for adults, with 12-and-under tickets at $8 and $13. Table seating and sponsorships are available. For entry and ticket information, contact the GG office at 216-662-7445.

Halcyon Charities is an Ohio non-profit corporation and 501(c)(3) public charity started in December 2006. Run entirely by volunteers, its goal is to make the Halcyon Masonic Temple facility the cornerstone of a multi-faceted charitable enterprise focused on youth development. They are dedicated to making Ohio City a better and more vibrant place.

The site currently houses youth athletic programs. Future plans include initiating other youth-oriented cultural programs, including theater, art, and music education.

From the Halycon Charities website:

We have come a long way towards returning the magnificent Halcyon Masonic Temple to productive use, but we still have along way to go. As we continue renovating and remodeling the building for the 21st century we need the help of everyone interested in the future of Ohio City and its historic neighborhoods. Please consider helping with a tax deductible donation to Halcyon Charities.

Halcyon Charities' address is on their website, as is a PayPal donation button.

Image: Inside Halcyon's boxing gym

Masons | Golden Gloves Boxing | Cleveland, Ohio | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Masonic 'Jesters' to testify about illegal drugs, child prostitution?

"Even the incessant negativity of Ms. Frost is valuable, because it gets people looking at Freemasonry, and when they see that we are not the demons she paints us, they may decide to join, or at least not to carry the naysayers' water for them." — Bro. Theron Dunn, March 3, 2008

About an hour ago, investigative reporter Sandy Frost posted to her website an article reporting that 19 Masonic members of the Royal Order of Jesters will be called as witnesses in a federal case involving "their first hand knowledge of prostitution, minor prostitution, use of illegal drugs and/or entry into Indian reservations by [Richard] Schair (plaintiff) and/or his customers."

The libel/slander complaint was filed on May 11, 2007 by Richard W. Schair and Wet-A-Line Tours, L.L.C., plaintiffs, who allege that they were libeled and slandered by Amazon Tours, Inc., defendant, owned by Philip Marstellar, President.

As the case gears up for trial, defendant Marsteller maintains that his statements he and his company made about the plaintiff are true. He answered the complaint by stating that his business did not make false statements against Schair, that Schair is not entitled to any relief due to the "doctrine of unclean hands," and demanded a jury trial.

The Jesters allegedly traveled to Brazil for a fishing expedition. The court documents show that each of the 19 Jesters "was a customer of the Plaintiffs who fished with the Plaintiffs in Brazil during approximately late August/September 2007. Based on the Wet-A-Line Tours, L.L.C. website, he [each of the Jester witnesses] is believed to be a member of the Royal Order of Jesters as were all other participants on this trip. He is expected to testify that there were twenty Jesters who paid for their trip and that he was one of the nineteen that ultimately participated. He is expected to testify that two boats were supplied by Plaintiffs, one for the Jesters and one for twenty or so girls who accompanied the Jesters. He is expected to testify that the 'activities' of the Jesters that week and the nature and extent of services provided by and/or arranged by Plaintiffs or Plaintiffs' representatives. He is also expected to authenticate the many hours of videotape and still photographs taken by Defendants of the Jesters' 'activities' during the 'fishing' trip. He is expected to identify by way of photographs and association the members of the Jesters group, the identity by name or by description of the girls aboard, the ages of the girls aboard and the exact nature of the activities viewable in the video tape."

Five female witnesses, ages 13-16 at the time, are listed only as "Jane Doe", and are expected to testify that they "ha[ve] personal knowledge of prostitution, minor prostitution, use of illegal drugs, and/or entry into Indian reservations by Schair and/or his customers."

Read Sandy's article, and follow the links there to photos of the fishing trip, to the federal complaint, to the complete witness list, and more.

Image 1: Photo taken by Jester and federal witness Don Anderson of a dancer at the Boi Bumba Show at the Tropical Hotel, first posted on the Wet-A-Line Tours photo gallery

Image 2: T-shirt design available at the Jester Phun Store

Previous stories on The Burning Taper about the Royal Order of Jesters:

• Billiken, God of things as they ought to be
• Royal Order of Jesters 'exposed' by investigative reporter Sandy Frost

Masons | Royal Order of Jesters | Brazilian Fishing Expedition | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

'Change is good but anarchy is not'

My long-time respect for Bro. Greg Stewart, a California Mason and the publisher of the Masonic blog Masonic Traveler and the excellent Masonic knowledge base FreemasonInformation.com, has grown to new heights after he posted a few moments ago a call for reason, decorum and brotherhood in the comments section to a recent article here.

The comments on that article, as well as on several others here in the past week or so, have turned rather nasty, with lots of name-calling and ad hominem attacks by brother against brother.

I'm glad to have as readers of this blog not only Bro. Greg, but of two of the most polarizing, extremist e-Masons the world has ever seen: Bro. Jeff Peace and Bro. Theron Dunn. These two men's thoughts and positions represent opposite ends of the Masonic spectrum. When they clash, sparks fly. A good debate inspires me, and I enjoy reading the written sparring between these two when they remain civil. Unfortunately, things lately have deteriorated here (and probably elsewhere, I don't know) into something resembling a high-school free-for-all on the playground. Lots of mud and dust and "oh, yeah!?" from the participants, a lot of "my way is the right and/or only way!" and a whole of lot hurt feelings, or at least the dredging up of old wounds. Reason, as Bro. Greg points out, seems to have flown from the participants.

I'm not above it, either, though I've stayed out of the fray these past few weeks. I have Masonic battle scars, too, but I've aired them, come to grips with them, and have tried to move on.

Bro. Greg's comments should be required reading for every Freemason who frequents this or any other Masonic-themed blog or forum where these kinds of "disagreements" break out.

Bro. Greg wrote:

Enough is enough....

Ok, enough of this. Both sides. If truly this is a Masonic-inspired forum then this is not the way to represent Masonry. Disagreement is one thing but reason is the temple in which we practice. As this dialogue continues, the reason seems to have flown from all involved.

To assume the ills of Modern Freemasonry rests solely at the feet of the Grand Lodges and their leadership smacks the face the work our brothers have done before us. Degrading that work and insulting anyone based on those blind opinions is wrong minded. Each of us, as participating members of our lodges have a say in what ever our leadership does, only its our choice to say it or not. The institutions we inherit from those who have come before us is what it is, always a work in progress just as each of us are the imperfect ashlars, always shaping until the time we are called to the celestial lodge. But as it is forever imperfect, WE need to keep working at it, not bantering on who's hitting too hard, or whose chips are flying to far.

Halcyon is going through its own battle. The brothers there who feel ousted can pursue the necessary courses, through Freemasonry or through the legal courts, but it was a change in direction that their present day participating leadership felt was necessary. It was action. It was change.

So, individually, like any system, if you don't like the way it works then change it, from within or without. Just stop throwing stones and slurs; it's juvenile and does nothing but build animosity, barriers, and resentment. There are systems in place to check the powers, exercise them. Vote, participate, write laws, and become engaged. Venting on the sidelines only builds frustration for everyone. Remember the allegory of the beehive: unless you contribute, you are as worthless as a drone. So contribute. Do something. Effect change.

Sure, this is a blog, a Third Wave medium of opinion and commentary, but it is still a progressive means to influence opinion and moderate perceptions. Banter like this polarizes and alienates everyone. Is that the goal here?

I know this will single me out, and probably stir some resentment towards me, but enough is enough. Change is good but anarchy is not. Revolution can be good, but it also hurts people too. As Free-Masons or Freemasons we are still BROTHERS, and should act like BROTHERS, which includes a level of civility and decorum. We don't have to like one another or agree, but like any civil conversation, there needs to be a degree of respect, otherwise, it's still just sideline banter that is as useful as the position it's being delivered from.

Image: A tracing board created by Bro. Greg Stewart. Used with permission.

Masons | Masonic Traveler | Masonic Wisdom | Freemasonry | | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

D.C. Freemasons promote civic duty in Washington's public schools

The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia, in partnership with the Bill of Rights Institute (BORI), is sponsoring the "Being an American" curriculum to over 50 Washington, D.C. public school American History, Government, and Civics department chiefs and teachers at the Scottish Rite Center on April 1.

"Being an American" will focus on founding documents such as the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The program will help define the concept of the "American Hero," as well as provide examples of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.

BORI was founded in 1999 and has delivered instructional materials to over 90,000 classrooms in 40 states.

In 2008, D.C. Freemasons are focusing on projects that will assist the infrastructure and development of the District of Columbia's education system.

Masons | American History | Civics | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Washington, DC | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Freemason-Wiccan to give talk on Masonic symbolism

Back in the early days of Freemasonry, British lodges often met in taverns, or in rooms above taverns. In those days you could enjoy the drink of your choice while discussing esoteric ideas and scientific advancements along with your ritual.

Flash forward a few hundreds years and move Masonry across an ocean, and about all that's left of that tradition is the ritual.

In many American Masonic jurisdictions, the presence of alcohol in a lodge is verboten. Discussion of esoterica and science is woefully lacking. If such discussion occurs at all, you can bet most of the brethren are fast asleep in their chairs.

But hey, we do a good ritual.

Tonight (just a couple of hours from now, given the time zone difference) at 7:30 p.m. you can experience, in the upper room of a London tavern, the joy of learning about Freemasonry's many symbols and how they relate to other philosophies. Nigel Irvine, a Freemason and Wiccan, will be discussing Masonic symbolism at the every-other-week (fortnightly, as they say in England) regular meeting of the Secret Chiefs at the Devereaux Pub in London.

It looks like the Chiefs enjoy discussing many things that I think would be fascinating to explore in a lodge setting. In fact, I think these may have been the types of topics our Masonic forefathers would have enjoyed talking about over a pint and good cigar "back in the day."

Other topics the Secret Chiefs have explored include (reprinted from their website):

• "Stories On A Stick," with Donal Ruane: In 2001-2, filmmaker Donal Ruane spent a year in the Peruvian Amazon, undergoing the rigorous training required of a shamanic initiate. His film Stories on a Stick chronicles these experiences with the legendary hallucinogenic brew Ayahuasca and will be released on DVD later in the year. The film includes interviews with visionary artist Don Pablo Amaringo and other ayahuasqueros and explores the beliefs and mythology surrounding ayahuasca usage among Mestizo shamans in the Upper Amazon and the influence of European folklore and magic on these beliefs.


• "Food and Drink of the Gods," with Meredith MacArdle and Christine Rhone:
  Legend and mythology is full of reference to sacred foods and drinks. Nectar, Ambrosia, Soma were some of the sacred names for substances which promised immortality. Meredith and Christine have been eating divine food and imbibing heavenly drinks for many a year. Tonight they will share their secrets with you and may even offer a free sample or two!


• "The Cygnus Mystery — Its Occult Implications," with Andy Collins: If cosmic rays from the Cygnus constellation have influenced human evolution and through it ancient cosmologies, alignment at megalithic sites and even world religions, as Andrew Collins claims in his new book The Cygnus Mystery, then what does this mean for the occultist, magician and Thelemite? You'll find out tonight when he reveals all at Secret Chiefs.


• "London: Murky, Mysterious, Magnificent!," with Larry Summers: Larry is an official tour guide of the City of London and Clerkenwell and will be training to become a Blue Badge guide in September. Tonight he will give a brief outline of London's history sprinkled with some anecdotes and lesser known facts, including such widespread themes as religion, radicals and rookeries to coffee, corruption and criminals.


• "Joseph Smith And The Occult," with Rachael Bulla: Rachael Bulla is researching the Druidic Ogham for a D.Phil. at Oxford University. She has been a devout member of the LDS ("Mormon") Church since age 10 and has been exploring "pagan magic" in connection with her LDS spirituality for five years. She will discuss the "pagan occult" aspects of the prophet Joseph Smith: his interest in astrology, magical sigils and talismans, magical treasure seeking, his use of seer stones and Urim and Thummim to translate the "golden plates (the Book of Mormon) and his involvement with Freemasonry.

The Secret Chiefs group is affiliated with the Pagan Federation London.

Masons | Masonic Symbolism | Paganism | Freemasonry | Secret Chiefs | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Empty bowls, baseball dugouts, and biscuits & gravy

In the comments section of previous articles here on The Taper, as well as on his own blog, Masonic Traveler has been talking about how lodges might want to think outside the box when it comes to recruitment and fundraising events.

A novel approach to raising money for a local food bank and homeless shelter has been going on for several years at a Masonic temple in Racine, Wisconsin. It's not a Masonic event, per se; the lodge just allows the Racine County Food Bank and the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization Shelter to use their kitchen and dining hall. As part of the deal, Job's Daughters were allowed to sell desserts at the event for their own fundraising needs.

The ninth annual Empty Bowl fundraiser was held yesterday, and by the close of the lunch-and-dinner event, over 700 diners had spent or donated over $11,000 to the charities.

Over 50 restaurants provide soups, and over 1,500 individually designed soup bowls, created by local public and private school children, were available. A diner pays his money, picks a bowl (which he can keep and take home as a souvenir), and chooses his soups. Interesting twist on using food as a fundraiser. Over 130 volunteers helped out with ticket taking and clean-up duties during the day.

Jackson Lodge in Seymour, Indiana, is hosting an Easter egg hunt later this month. They're also sponsoring three youth league baseball and softball teams this summer, and have donated cash to the league to construct a new dugout. Nice job, guys.

A Masonic lodge in Americus, Kansas, is still behind the times in its approach, in my opinion. When every fast food place on the planet is open at 6 a.m. serving unhealthy breakfasts, these brothers can't come up with anything any more creative than serving "biscuits and gravy" this Saturday morning. I don't think that's going to attract too many men seeking Masonic Light, and I'm not sure it's a "service" for the community, jacking up the neighborhood's collective cholesterol levels. The funds will be used for "various [unnamed] lodge projects." Yeah, that'll get 'em in the door.

All in all, it's good to see Masons getting involved in their communities.

If you would like to see your lodge's events mentioned here, just let me know.

Image: Giuliana Domanico, 1½, eats a bowl of soup Monday during the Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Masonic Center, 1012 Main St, Racine, Wisconsin. Photo by Gregory Shaver, Journal Times

Masons | Masonic Charity | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Invitation to a Georgia lodge

As is typical, a few Burning Taper readers took offense at a recent article. No matter where I shine the Light of Inquiry in the wide world of Freemasonry, analyzing what's going on and then making a few comments or suggestions, someone associated with that particular area of Masonry gets offended.

It's kind of a sad commentary on Freemasonry that its members often get upset when someone asks a question. It's a variation on the theme of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes," but that's a topic best left for another time.

My article "A template for attracting Masons?" looked at a news release that announced a Massachusetts blue lodge's upcoming open house. The article really didn't give a reason to become a Mason. It simply paraded out the same old song-and-dance about how charitable we are, and played up the fact that many of the nation's founding fathers were Freemasons. I asked if that was all we as Masons have to offer.

A kind reader sent me a link to the video by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts that you can watch below.

I was fairly impressed. The video is well-written, edited and produced. It admittedly trots out many of the same things that the aforementioned news release did, namely, the founding fathers tie-in and a lot of "we do charity" stuff, but all in all, it paints a rosy picture of Freemasonry, and gives a reason why men might actually want to become Mason: Friendship, camaraderie, brotherly love.

They even mention trust (a bond I certainly don't share with very many local mainstream Masons).

These are all good reasons for a man to want to seek out and join with like-minded men. These are the reasons I wanted to become a Mason.

If Freemasonry in Massachusetts is actually the way it's presented in the video, then sign me up. It sounds great.

It absolutely does not reflect Freemasonry as I have found it to be in Georgia.

The on-screen narrator is black. That man would never have become a mainstream Mason had he been a Georgia resident, nor would his father, a famous NFL player. Even today, that man would not even be allowed to sit in a Georgia mainstream blue lodge, even if he presented his paid-up dues card from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts (a grand lodge recognized by the Grand Lodge of Georgia) and otherwise could pass the due examination of a visiting brother.

I've emailed, talked with, and even met and shared bread and wine with brothers from New England and other non-southern states (and even Canada), and I think each of these men are excellent examples of what a Freemason should be. I have no quarrel with the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, other than to suggest that they and other non-southern grand lodges should withhold recognition of still-racist southern Grand Lodges that refuse to accept black members or to recognize Prince Hall Masons.

I would welcome in my home and my lodge the black brother who narrates this video, and any other African-American Masonic brother. Bring your dues card and go to my lodge with me and let's see if they'll let you in. I don't think they would, but I'd love to be proved wrong.

Image: Pickens Star Lodge 50-year Masons receiving awards, Jan. 2005



Masons | Masonic Marketing | Masonic Tolerance | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Massachusetts | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

A template for attracting new Masons?

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts is well known as being one the most "aggressive" marketers of Freemasonry. They've run advertisements locally, and created "recruitment" videos that end up on YouTube.

They've also, apparently, mastered the art of press releases for local lodges to use. I think I've figured out their template. Wonder if it actually works?

Have a snappy headline, such as "Learn about the Masons."

Paragraph 1: Announce a local open house.

Paragraph 2: Tell readers there will be refreshments. Mmm, cookies! Appeal to the stomach and to the desire to get something for nothing.

Paragraph 3: Mention the Grand Lodge, like that means anything to the reader. It's a weak use of the propaganda technique known as "Appeal to Authority." Add in how many members there are, shooting for the "Bandwagon" effect.

Paragraph 4: Combine the propaganda technique of "Appeal to Authority" with "Beautiful People," and invoke the names of famous dead Freemasons, being sure to list only Caucasian ones, even during Black History Month.

Paragraph 5: Brag about the amount of money "the Masons" give to charity each day. Inflate the amount and make it sound like all Masons are involved in this Masonic giveaway that's really a Shriner, not a Masonic, thing, blending the propaganda techniques of "Half-Truth" and "Intentional Vagueness."

Paragraph 6: Brag about more charity work the Masons do.

Paragraph 7: Brag about even more charity work the Masons do. I guess devoting three paragraphs to talking about charity is a use of the "Repetition" technique.

Paragraph 8: Mention "the children," a tangential use of the "Flag-Waving" technique, since children are "America's future."

Paragraph 9: Tell who your target market is, and throw in a few "Virtue Words" for good measure.

Paragraph 10: Provide a link to even more exciting "information."

While I admit the news article/press release is well-written, I think it's a terrible marketing piece. What are they selling? Why should I want it?

An old marketing rule-of-thumb is this: "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." Tell me the benefits, not the features.

Invoking the Founding Fathers has little effect on today's consumers, other than maybe using George Washington's image to sell furniture and automobiles at Presidents Day sales.

Telling how much charity work you do doesn't impress anyone. If you're of a charitable nature, you've got a zillion other ways to donate your money to good causes. Churches, youth organizations you know something about, environmental causes — you can even just sign a form at work and have a portion of your income donated to the generic United Way.

Nothing in this "news story" would create a desire in me — nor in very many other men, I suspect — to learn more about Freemasonry. Nothing in this story would make me want to go to their open house, even if I lived just down the block.

Would it you?

Is this all Freemasonry is? Is this the image we've decided to present to the public? Freemasonry wasn't even in the charity business when Washington and Franklin were alive. Is this all we've become?

Where's the sizzle in this story? What in it inspires the reader to want to become a Mason?

Link: Wikipedia article on propaganda techniques

Image: An old Russian propaganda poster, just 'cause it's interesting artwork

Masons | Masonic Marketing | Propaganda Techniques | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Massachusetts | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

I want to believe

It's Conspiracy Day at The Burning Taper. Worry and paranoia over everything is just a click away these days. Cult propaganda, government cover-ups, the secret agenda of tour guides — it's all waiting for you online.

Here are few articles that recently caught my eye.

The Wiccans are taking over the minds of youthful members of America's evangelical churches, thanks to Harry Potter, according to a shill for Tim and Beverly LaHaye. Tim, of course, has made a fortune selling his Left Behind series of Christian mythology about what happens on Earth after Jesus returns.

A columnist for Collegiate Times has debunked all conspiracy theories as "laughable myths." Obviously, he's an apologist for the Illuminati.

Philadelphia tour guides have been belled and collared with "registration," and are programmed to tell "hilarious lies" about the history of the City of Brotherly Love.

Here's a link to brief histories of a devil's dozen secret societies, sponsored by the International Institute of Social History. Now does that sound like an Illuminati front group, or what? You'll be an expert in disinformation once you've read these "Cliff Notes" of The Conspiracy.

And get ready to enjoy the new exploits of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The as-yet-unnamed The X-Files movie sequel hits the big screen on July 25.

Masons | Masonic Conspiracies | Left Behind | Freemasonry | Wicca | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Our changing American landscape: Education and religious affiliation

A study about American culture by the Pew Foundation has recently been released, exploring how knowledgeable 17-year olds are about "common-knowledge" historical facts and references.

A low percentage of students knew, for example, the Civil War was fought between 1850 and 1900. Only 52% could identify the theme of George Orwell's 1984. Just over half knew that the controversy surrounding Sen. Joseph McCarthy focused on communism.

Some would argue that knowledge of these references isn't needed in modern times, that these facts and events don't have significance in the lives of today's young adults. Others think the study shows that our educational system is sorely lacking.

As some who posted comments to this story pointed out, the results of a history quiz which simply tests whether someone has been exposed to and then retains certain "information" are hardly indicative of "knowledge," and doesn't tell us whether a student has actually learned how to think creatively, or has learned the necessary skills to enter today's job marketplace. After all, this kind of "knowledge" is readily available online if you want it. Does stuffing your brain with information actually help you be a "better," more educated person, or does it just make you more likely to win at games like Trivial Pursuit?

Personally, I think having an awareness of these kinds of facts is important. These "facts" are reference points to our history as a nation and a species. Perhaps our educational system has been driven in recent years by television, which seldom goes into detail about any particular event, but rather simply creates sound bites without explaining background. Sure, every student knows that Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream, and that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person, but have they learned the whens and whys and what was really going on in race relations during that era? Have they been taught about Jim Crow, Reconstruction, the Klan, busing, how blacks were enslaved on plantations, and about the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas?

Is 1984 just nothing more to them than the year their parents got married? I'm no super-charged Dennis Miller, traveling at warp speed with off-the-wall neuronal explosions, but I do enjoy slipping literary and historical references into conversations and blog entries. Not to show how smart I am, but because nothing exists in a vacuum. Common references, if not too obscure, create a tsunami of thoughts and memories in those who hear them, and I can communicate a whole sea of ideas with just a single reference.

For example, if I say to someone who has read or seen the movie 1984 that they should face their fears by going into Room 101, I've hopefully jumpstarted their brain into thinking about their fears in a whole different way than I would have if I'd clucked and said, "Oh, come on. Don't be a chicken."

Knowing Sen. Joe McCarthy's crusade was against communism isn't just a fun fact to know and tell about events that happened over 50 years ago. His activities shaped a nation, and for a while held a nation in fear unlike anything we saw again until the post-9/11 paranoia and attacks on our liberties. McCarthyism, and its eventual rejection, changed America in many ways. If nothing else, it teaches us that even though we collectively travel towards political extremes, we can and sometimes do turn around and go the other way, letting the pendulum again find balance. It's something we need to keep in mind as we choose a new president this year.

Another study released this week looked at the ever-changing musical chairs Americans are playing with organized religion.

The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey found that only 78% of Americans consider themselves to be Christians. Over 25% of us have either changed from the faith we were born into, or have given up being religious altogether. If you factor in Protestants who have changed from one denomination to another, the number rises to 44%. Roman Catholicism has lost more members than other religious groups. While one in three Americans were born into Catholic families, fewer than one in four today claim to be Catholic. Traditional American Catholics are diminishing rapidly. Their numbers in America are staying high primarily because of the recent influx of Catholic immigrants from Latin American countries.

Even if the face of the growth spurt recently in evangelical mega-churches, which primarily attract Protestants from more mainstream denominations, religious "affiliation" in our country is fading.

Obviously, we're a nation that no longer finds solace in organized religion as much as our forefathers did.

Why?

Perhaps it's the same cause as the dumbing-down of 17-year olds in the other study: television and our growing acceptance of a fast-food sound bite society. Religion isn't simple. It requires study, and understanding, and a commitment of an hour or more on Sunday mornings and often other times during the week. It's too much work.

The evangelical groups may be growing because they entertain their congregations more, and give them catchy jingles and easy to remember phrases like "Got Jesus?" and "Praise God!" You don't have to learn litanies and all four stanzas of Amazing Grace to feel like you belong.

But in general, mainstream Christian religion, Catholicism and Protestantism, is fading away. Within a few more generations, our religious landscape may be totally different. Just as Christianity came on the scene a few thousand years ago and changed the landscape, so too will something new come along and re-align our spiritual thinking and our religious affiliations. Just as Christianity supplanted a belief in Jupiter and Juno, and before that Zeus and Hera, and before that Osiris and Isis, so to will Christianity's Jesus and Mary be replaced.

We're all looking for something deep and eternal, I'd like to think. For many of us, Christianity just doesn't provide answers to the eternal questions or the peaceful states of mind anymore.

I hope what replaces it is a more personal, spiritual nature, a One Happy World or a Federation of Planets-type scenario, dreamed about by new agers, mystics, hippies and science fiction writers. God knows what we have today — dividing ourselves into Catholics and Protestants, Christians and Muslims, etc. — isn't working too well.

Peace be with you.

Religious Affiliation | Education | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com