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 COVER PICTURE/STORY
The Heroic Bronze Statue depicting our Illustrious Brother. George Washington. as Worshipful Master of his Lodge, was unveiled February 22, 1950, with elaborate ceremonies conducted under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Masons In Virginia. assisted by President and Most Worshipful Brother Harry S Truman. Blyant Baker of New Yolk was the sculptor of this magnificent statue, which is 17 feat 3 inches, high and weighs eight tons. 100 Order of DeMolay was instrumental in securing this statue for Memorial Hall, the George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria. Virginia. The graphic is from the George Wasington Masonic Memorial Home PageThis WEBSITE is published monthly as an official publication of the
Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America.
Sid Cornelius Dorris III, Grand Generalissimo and Publisher,
2007 Brenthaven Drive, Mount Juliet, TN 37122
Lawrence E. Tucker, Grand Recorder and Editor
Grand Encampment Office
5909 West Loop South, Suite 495, Bellaire, TX 77401-2402
(713) 349-8700 (telephone), (713) 349-8710 (facsimile)
E-mail: gr@knightstemplar.org
"Tell US What YOU THINK"
Joan B. Morton Assistant Editor
Mail materials and correspondence, to:
Editor, Grand Encampment of Knights Templar
Post Office Box 478448, Chicago, IL 60647-8448
phone and fax: (773) 489-0689
Material for the Grand Commanderies' two-page supplements
is to be directed to the respective Supplement editors.
Supplement Editors are encouraged to create their own sites
or submit "NEWS" to kych52va@aol.com
Address corrections from members are to be sent to the local Recorders LISTED HERE
FEBRUARY: We have a wonderful Guest Message from Sir Knight D. Allen Surratt, who is the Grand Master of A.M.D. of the United States of America. M.E. Grand Master Koon will return with an Easter Message in March 2008. CLICK HERE for the Grand Recorder's list of Department Conferences, and plan on attending! In addition to the message from the Grand Recorder, we also have an article concerning Knights Templar and faith in the "Prelate's Chapel". Don't miss all the interesting articles, plus news about Commandery activities.
Easter Sunrise Service Reminder
Was George Washington a Knight Templar? by SK Mark A, Tabbeert
Man Sees Clearly After Help from Knights Templar Eye Foundation
"The Jesus Connection-Part II" by SK Jeffrey L. Kuntz, SW #22, PA, 32°
What is the York Rite by SK David C. Mertcer
  
Guest Message for February 2008
by Sir Knight D. Allen Surratt, KGC
Grand Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees
of the United States of America
Dear Fellow Sir Knights:
It has most certainly been my honor and a distinct pleasure to serve you this past year. The year has produced many opportunities to strengthen the Allied Masonic Degrees through visiting subordinate Councils, establishing new Councils, and attending state association meetings of AM.D. It was especially gratifying to visit our sister Grand Councils of A.M.D. Jurisdictions in Canada and England.
Looking back over this past year, the largest surprise was the numerous opportunities to strengthen ties between our various Masonic organizations. Working with and in other Masonic organizations has furthered the favorable perception of AM.D. Although membership in AM.D. is predicated on membership in the Royal Arch, it is receiving support and interest from Brethren active in various .Masonic organizations.
Why is there so much interest in A.M.D.? There are three principal areas to which the Allied Masonic Degrees owes its success, resulting in it being one of the few Masonic organizations that has continued to grow despite a smaller pool from which to draw members. Most A.M.D. Councils limit the amount of time spent on business matters providing their members with quality time for other pursuits. The Degrees are exemplified on occasion, not in the pursuit of perfection, but to remind us from whence we came. Relatively short papers are presented on topics .of interest to the membership. These are not intended to be exhaustive on the subject matter, but to stimulate the membership to seek out new truths. Finally, the social aspect of the meeting is emphasized by not placing a higher importance to the business, degrees, or the subject matter of the evening. Quality social time is the most important aspect of all fraternities.
This month we celebrate Presidents' Day, and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate than to renew our support of the George Washington Masonic Memorial. The Memorial has laid out its plans, but it will not be a success without each of us doing our part. This endeavor should be the constant care of every Mason and Masonic organization for our Masonic Heritage is on display for the world to view.
As Grand Master and on behalf of all the officers of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America, we thank you for your support and look forward to working with you in the future. It has been a pleasure to work with all the officers of Grand Encampment for the betterment of our fraternity.
Fraternally Yours,
D. Allen Surratt, KGC
Sovereign Grand Master of the AM.D.
of the United States of America
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Greetings, Sir Knights:
The new year is well underway, and we are busier than ever. You can take advantage of the online order form for all Grand Encampment publications and public relations materials. Guidelines are available by downloading.
EASTER 2008
Information was sent to all Grand Commanders and Deputy Grand Commanders. A reminder...The cutoff date for reservations is February 10!
2008 DEPARTMENT CONFERENCES
Make your plans to attend the 2008 Grand Encampment Department Conferences. Information is sent to all Grand Commandery officers and Past Grand Commanders sixty days prior to the Conference date.
East Central Department
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan,
Ohio, and Wisconsin
Franklin C. Boner Email: fcb@msmisp.com
Right Eminent Department Commander.
March 8, 2008....Fort Wayne, Indiana
Southeastern Department
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi,
South Carolina, and Tennessee
Robert E. Burleson Email:bob_burleson@yahoo.com
Right Eminent Department Commander
June 13-14, 2008...Location to be determined.
Northeastern Department
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts/Rhode Island,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, and Vermont
John M. Lewis Email: jlewis@pa.net
Right Eminent Department Commander
September 5-6, 2008.....Albany, New York
South Central Department
Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri,
Oklahoma, and Texas
F. Douglas Mitchell
Right Eminent Department Commander
September 19-20, 2008......Manhattan, Kansas |
Mid-Atlantic Department
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland,
North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia
INFO Vaughn F. Shafer, REDC, Email: wuneff@verizon.net
Right Eminent Department Commander
October 3-4, 2008.....Roanoke, Virginia
Northwestern Department
Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon,
Washington, and Wyoming
James C. Herndon Email: dajudge@ida.net
Right Eminent Department Commander
October 16-18, 2008....Boise,ldaho
North Central Department
Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska,
North Dakota, and South Dakota
Jeffrey N. Nelson Email: jnelson@state.nd.us
Right Eminent Department Commander
October 24-25, 2008....Fargo, North Dakota
Southwestern Department
Arizona, California, Nevada,
New Mexico, and Utah
Robert C. Coe Email: rccoe@aol.com
Right Eminent Department.Commander
October 31-November 1, 2008
Location to be determined |
Lawrence E. Tucker, GCT
Grand Recorder
Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America
5909 West Loop South, Suite 495
Bellaire, TX 77401-2402
Web Site: www.knightstemplar.org
Office E-mail: gr@knightstemplar.org
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by Reverend Robert J. Cave, KGC,P.G.C.
Grand Prelate of the Grand Encampment
A number of years ago when I was Commander of Columbian Commandery No.1, stationed at Twenty Third Street and Sixth Avenue, New York City (a Commandery, incidentally, which predates the formation of the Grand Encampment); we used the tri-cornered apron, which is no longer permitted. On the apron is the skull and cross bones, such as is found on the triangular table used in the conferral of the Order of the Temple, which has an allusion to our Christian Faith. It speaks of our mortality but more importantly it alludes to the place where Christ was crucified. In the scripture read in the conferral of the Order of the Temple, it is stated: "And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they came unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull...they crucified him." (Matthew 27:32-35)
Golgotha, according to the Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible and other sources, was a small hill immediately outside the walls of the ancient city of Jerusalem. Church tradition has it that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre now occupies the area. However, some other authorities. dispute this location. The Gospels do not say why Golgotha was called the place of a skull. It has been suggested that the site was on a hill or near a rock that had the shape of a skull. Origen, a third century scholar, suggested that the name referred to the burial place of Adam's skull. Because of the upheavals in Jerusalem curing the period after the time of Christ, the location was lost. However, there is interesting material concerning its location associated with Constantine the Great, but this must be left to future writings.
It is obvious that one cannot avoid seeing the relics (skull and cross bones) on the apron and triangular table without remembering the sacrifice Christ made for humanity. How important it is that we keep this...relationship between Christianity and Knights Templar ever before us for it reminds us that we are not only defenders of the faith but should also be promoters of the faith engaged in bringing candidates for membership into a closer relationship with Christ and the Church. To do less is to take for granted the sacrifice Christ made at Golgotha, the place of the skull.
Again, we invite all Knights to submit an article sharing their thoughts on the relationship of Templary to Christianity. Please send it to the Grand Prelate, Rev. Robert J. Cave, at 137 Glen Drive, Ridge, New York 11961 or email to jobricave@aol.com for possible publication in the Knight Templar magazine.
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77th EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
March 23, 2008
TENTATIVE PLANS
Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22311
Make your hotel reservations ON-LINE or directly with the hotel at:
Direct: 1 (703) 845-1010 or call 1(800) Hiltons.
$100.00 room rate (mention Knights Templar)
MEAL TICKETS
Meal package, $40 per person,
Includes Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast buffet
Order your meal tickets ON-LINE or from the Grand Encampment office
Mail your check payable to Grand Encampment to:
15909 West Loop South, Suite 495, Bellaire, TX 77401-2402.
Individual tickets may be ordered separately.
Saturday dinner, $35; Sunday breakfast buffet, $15
Hotel and meal ticket cutoff date is February 10, 2008.
There will be no tickets sold at the door.
Diirect questions to: The Grand Encampment Office
(713) 349-8700
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Was George Washington a Knight Templar?
by Sir Knight Mark A. Tabbert,
Director of Collections George Washington Masonic Memorial
Was George Washington a Masonic Knight Templar? Occasionally, a young visitor to the George Washington Masonic Memorial will pose this question. Simply and literally, the answer is "no," but it can become complicated by Royal Arch history and Washington's early military career.
It is a fact that the first recorded evidence of a Royal Arch degree conferral occurred in Fredericksburg Lodge, Virginia, in 1753, only a few months after young Washington was raised to the third degree. It is, therefore, possible that Washington might have received those degrees later in his life. And if the Royal Arch, why could he not have received the Order of the Temple? The first Knights Templar Commandery in Pennsylvania was organized in Philadelphia during Washington's presidency. So the story could go.
Outside the Lodge, young Washington's greatest aspiration was a king's commission in the English army. Had the young Washington distinguished himself during his six years of active military service, he might have been knighted in "The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath," not the Masonic Order of the Temple!
Such conjecture about Sir George Washington, KCB, disappears when the joins the Rebellion in 1775. Independence from Great Britain in 1783 brought an end to American aristocracy, and the U.S. Constitution established a democratic republic with no monarchy. With such egalitarian aspirations, it 'becomes highly unlikely that Washington would be a Royal Arch Mason. How could he explain belonging to a Chapter presided over by a High Priest, King, and Scribe? Furthermore, how could Washington accept Knights Templar's spurs, if he had already refused a crown?
That Washington would not be king in the 1780s begs the question how could any American presume to be a knight-Iet alone a member of an order based on the medieval order of Catholic monks? Yet there existed Commanderies during Washington's life. Within three years of Washington's death, Knights Templar Commanderies at Providence, Rhode Island; Boston; and Newburyport, Massachusetts, formed the first , Grand Encampment in 1802.
From these local beginnings and despite the anti-Masonic period and the Civil War, the Knights Templar was the most successful' Masonic organization in the 19th century. Rising from an estimated 100 Knights in 1808, there were nearly 200,000 Knights in over 1,200 local Commanderies in 1908.
Such success was largely because America in the 19th century lived in an age of adventures and crusades. From Stephen Decatur on the Barbary Coast to Theodore Roosevelt on San Juan Hill, America was "manifest destiny, abolition, temperance, "rags to riches," muscular Christianity, and the Wild West. The Knights Templar served two primary needs in those times. First, Knights Templar parades, were demonstrative of the Christian piety that marked the Victorian Age. Second, Knights Templar, like many other paramilitary fraternal orders, provided security in an age of labor strikes and riots, social upheaval, and economic misfortunes.
What then separates us in 2008 from the Templars of 1808 or 1908? Simply, it is the machine slaughter of World War I, the brutality of the Great Depression, and the scientific mass murder of World War II. It is the difference between a cavalry charge and a laser guided missile, a melodramatic General MacArthur and a logistical General Eisenhower. It is the difference between. 1870s "Onward, Christian Soldiers" and 1970s "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?".
Now that we are in the Digital Age, Victorian piety is gone, but also gone is lifetime employment with one corporation. In this age of instant information and communication, social mobility and job jumping; is there still hope for the Poor Knights, the virtuous Washington, or even the Widow's Son?
Take a good look through the Internet; the popular video games, the hit movies, and the best selling books; and you will see a younger generation obsessed with Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and National Treasure movies. You will see a popular culture focused on adventure and honor.
Lo and behold! The grandsons of 1950s engineers and the sons of 1970s cynics dream of becoming Jedi, Knights of Gondor, members of the Order of the Phoenix, and seekers of the lost Templar treasure. These are the generations who are leading and fighting the war on terror.
These younger men are romantics. Unlike past generations, they are not motivated by piety or conformity but by discipline directed toward honor and sacrifice. They were raised, with instant gratification but desire stability. They want the morality of Freemasonry, the chivalry of the Knights Templar, and the virtues of Washington, but they do not want to simply maintain the status quo or play as historic reenactors. They are eager to rejuvenate old traditions while building something uniquely their own.
Across the country this younger generation is beginning to join Freemasonry in numbers not seen in 40 years. Inspired, in part, by Washington's membership, these young Freemasons are now asking if Washington was also a Knight Templar. Our answer should not simply be "no."
How we greet these Knight aspirants will determine the future of the order. Are we as Sir Knights living testaments of our obligations? Are we leading lives dedicated to God and chivalry? Are we properly trained to reverently confer the Orders? Are we initiating young Freemasons with the finest regalia and polished silver? And are we bestowing on these young Knights a sharpened sword or the same old dusty rules and regulations? Are we indeed building an order ready for a young George Washington to join?
Sir Knight Mark A. Tabbert is the Director of Collections at the George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Virginia, and a member of Boston Commandery No.2, Boston"Massachusetts. He can be contacted at the George Washington Masonic Memorial at 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, VA 22301-2751, or e-mail at mtabbert@gwmemorial.org
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Man Sees Clearly After Help from Knights Templar Eye Foundation
This edited version was taken from an article by Erika Neldner,
Cherokee Ledger News, P.O. Box 2369, 103 E. Main Street, Woodstock, GA 30188.
Ronnie Brown received the sweetest gift-the gift of sight. At 50 years old, he was legally blind.
A few years ago, he was told he had cataracts developing in his eyes. His eyesight began to diminish, and the musician was having a hard time reading music and words to songs.
"They told me I had the first inklings of cataracts about three years prior," said Brown, 52, of Woodstock, Georgia. "I noticed over time, my vision kept getting worse."
Cataracts turn the natural lenses in the human eye opaque, causing the vision to be hazy, which can lead to blindness.
After trying times, including the death of his wife, he found himself without sight, without insurance and struggling.
That's when his eye doctor told him about the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. The foundation is the Knights Templar charitable organization-much like the Shriners have the children's hospital. The goal of the foundation is to provide services, without any charge to the patient, to help preserve eyesight.
"We help save the sight of those individuals not eligible for any other service," said Marvin Selock, office administrator for the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, located in Illinois. "We provide assistance to receive the eye care necessary to save their sight."
The foundation provides the eye care as a last resort for people who can't get help elsewhere, and that's where Brown found himself. No money, no insurance and terrified.
"I was scared to death," Brown said. "I never would have been able to have it done. It's so expensive. They covered everything."
He applied for Medicaid and received a dreadful response: a letter of rejection.
So he called the headquarters of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation in Illinois, and they referred Brown to a sponsor at Constantine Commandery in Marietta, Georgia. Brown's sponsor, Lloyd Leinbaugh, and his wife interviewed Brown at his home.
Brown had to show legal residence and that he had been rejected by Medicaid.
About four to six weeks later, he underwent the surgery. First, the doctors operated on his left eye.
"I went in for my first surgery," he said. "The next day I had 20/20 vision in my left eye. It's amazing."
He said when he first went to the doctor before his surgery, he couldn't read the large E" on the eye chart. Then he went in for his second surgery. The next day, Brown said he had 20/20 vision in his right eye.
"Ididn't know white was so white. I didn't know the sky was so blue," Brown said. "They gave me back my vision and my life."
Leinbaugh of Marietta said usually there isn't much contact between the patient and the sponsor after the surgery. But Brown contacted him to thank him and even sent Leinbaugh and his wife thank you gifts.
"His father made two wooden gavels for my wife...who is involved in Eastern Star," Leinbaugh said, adding Brown also sent him a tubal cane, something of significance to Masons.
Leinbaugh, who has worked with about 35 patients, said it's the first time a: patient has ever sent a gift. "It was nice to get the recognition for the time it takes. I thought that was really a sweet gesture."
Brown said he's forever grateful to the Knights Templar for the gift they gave him.
"God bless you," he said, directed at those who helped him. "I'll never forget what you have done for me."
Brown said he can see the music to play with no problem and has standing gigs every Friday night at The Place in Woodstock. Brown, who is a father of twit and grandfather of two, also plays regularly at Little River Grille on Bells Ferry Road, he said.
Since the Eye Foundation's inception, it has spent close to $100 million on eye care and handled more than 80,000 cases.
"Besides providing services for patients, we have pr6grams where we award research grant money to researchers in pediatric ophthalmology to the tune of about $600,000 per year," Sir Knight Marvin Selock said. "So far we've spent over $9 million for pediatric ophthalmology research."
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This article presents the author's views which are not necessarily those of the Grand Encampment or any person representing the Grand Encampment.
The Jesus Connection - PART II
by Sir Knight Jeffrey L. Kuntz, Sr. Warden, 32
Many Bible scholars agree that the Scriptures are meant to be much more a collection of writings about life's moral lessons than a precise history. Some, also, believe there is much symbolism in the form of metaphor and allegory in the canonical books as well as in the Apocrypha. In fact, some will go so far as to say that real personages are sometimes used in allegory.
For those who have especially open and pondering minds and a love for allegory and hidden meaning in the Scriptures, one could take the reference of Jesus as a carpenter's son to have a cryptic meaning-with a Masonic tie-in at that! After all, don't. Masons use carpenter tools as symbols to teach character building? Of course, the biblical literalists have a definite problem with such interpretations-as they would with the Nazarene claim-and even many casual Bible readers would consider that a stretch! At any rate, some contemplation of the idea might be good exercise for the mind, if nothing else.
It is interesting to note that in Arthur Edward Waite's A New Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry similarities between the Essenes and the Freemasons are stated: a) women were not admitted into the inner workings; b) they used certain signs of recognition; and c) their rituals were followed by a meal in common.
Perhaps more important, however, is the evidence in records, including the writings of such ancient authors as Plato" Josephus, Eusebius, and others, that some of the teachings and symbols we use in Freemasonry were also inculcated upon the members and candidates of the Essenes. Some of these symbols were also found in identical form in Egypt, China, and in all parts of the ancient world, including, strangely enough, Mexico and Central America.
Maybe here it is well to emphasize the importance of the use of symbols in spiritual and mental development. Symbols and ritual mean something, and their meanings have been ingrained into the subconsciousness of man for thousands of years. Careful contemplation of these symbols, according to occultists and students of mysticism, can aid in the development of wisdom, understanding and even mental powers.
The development of spiritual and mental powers by the ancient esoteric societies such as the Essenes is, some believe, one" of the main reasons such communities and sects met or even lived in secret. If their ceremonies and teachings had been freely given out, they not only would have set themselves up for ridicule, but they would have risked the dangerous misuse of their special knowledge by the unenlightened.
Some Christian mystic scholars believe this was what Christ was referring to when, according to Matthew 7: 6, He said: "Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and rend you."
Students of the occult believe that in remote periods of history there were civilizations that, after learning and developing the powers of the universe that are intertwined with the human mind, eventually lost touch with their spiritual nature and began using these powers for evil purposes, ultimately leading to their own destruction. This, they believe, is the main reason that an initiation system' as created, placing candidates into levels or degrees of instruction and testing them as they advance to higher grades of knowledge and abilities.
If Jesus did live in seclusion with the Essenes until his thirtieth year, it was then time for him to begin his.
very special ministry in the outside world. He then formed His own band of followers. His innermost followers were the twelve disciples, who became known as the "apostles."
There are fairly strong indications in the four gospels that Jesus shared certain knowledge with His inner circle of these twelve specially chosen disciples that, at least for a time, was to be kept secret. After Jesus told the parable of the sower to a crowd, His disciples came to Him asking why He spoke in parables. He answered: "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries (secrets) of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." (Matthew 13: 11) This incident is also recorded in the fourth chapter of Mark and in the eighth chapter of Luke, but in the account of Matthew, Jesus gives a fuller explanation of His parables.
Paul spoke of the secret teachings in several of his epistles. In his first letter to the Corinthians, he wrote: "You should think of us as Christ's servants who have been put in charge of God's secret truths. In the third chapter of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote: "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;... which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto 'his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." (verses 3 and 5)
Perhaps, Paul divulged the basis of the greatest truth in his letter to the Colossians, "...and the secret is that Christ is in you..." (Col. 1: 27) Was Paul telling us that the way to total inner peace while on earth, as well as to eternal salvation, is learning to be attuned to the Christ within?
When the time neared for Christ to be crucified, He spoke to the disciples about why he had to suffer such an end, but those things not even they were prepared to understand. "I have used figures of speech to tell you these things," He told them in John 16: 25, "but the time will come when I will not use figures of speech, but will speak to you plainly about the Father." As recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, after Christ's Ascension, the apostles performed miracles and healed many sick people. Before the Crucifixion, they had finished their training under Jesus the Christ, learning to master the forces of God which enabled them to perform such works.
In the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus said: "Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." (verses 12-14)
This is one passage where Jesus was speaking quite plainly. There really can be little doubt what He meant. Most Christians today, however, either misunderstand, misinterpret, or simply ignore the passage. Yes, Christ's message was one of love and faith, but as He also clearly taught, through strong and truly spiritual love and faith, we are able to do great and marvelous things.
Perhaps, most Freemasons today would think it unthinkable that Jesus Christ would have been a member of a fraternal order similar to our present day Masonic order. Maybe we should ask ourselves, however, what exactly Freemasonry is. From the study of ancient symbology and mysticism could we conclude that modern Freemasonry is a vestige of or a kind of diluted variant in the line of ancient esoteric mystery schools which go back thousands of years? From a perusal of certain passages of Scripture, can we conclude that the great prophets, Jesus Christ, and his apostles, and even some of the saints of the early Church were highly advanced initiates of ancient mystery schools?
The question here that would naturally come to the minds of some is why this higher knowledge was not passed on through the Christian Church. According to some scholars, some of these teachings were, indeed, held by the very early Church fathers. Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, who was Imperator for the Rosicrucian Order in America, in his book, The Mystical Life of Jesus, explained that there are records in the archives of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican containing much of these teachings and unknown information about the life of Jesus, but that these records were suppressed by later Church leaders.
After the conversion of Constantine in the early fourth century, Christianity became the established official religion of the Roman Empire. In his very interesting book, The Hidden Bible, William Leary explains how the Church leaders at that time modified the Christian religion to meet their political needs. This was done, for the most part, in order to appeal to the illiterate masses who could not comprehend the loftier teachings of Christianity. Leary wrote: "The deeper knowledge of the Christian teaching gradually disappeared, and became the Lost Word."
Freemasonry can certainly not take the place of the Church. It must, in fact, support the Church. Perhaps, we can see, however, that there is, to some extent at least, a connection, a kinship, between the more mystical teachings of Jesus and our beloved fraternal order of Freemasonry, even if it be an attenuated vessel of the higher knowledge. Can we as Freemasons, as Knights Templar, perhaps someday find the Lost Word? Masonic membership has declined in recent years, as has church attendance, but one thing for sure is that our work as Freemasons, as well as Christians, is of the utmost importance now at a time when it is, without any doubt, needed as much as ever.
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Sir Knight Jeffrey Kuntz is Sr. Warden of Baldwin II Commandery No. 22, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He resides at 179
OCR, A 15, Montoursville, PA 17754.
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What Is the York Rite!
by Sir Knight David C. Mercer
What is the Commandery? Many feel that the Commandery is the building in which we meet-to them this is first and foremost. Others feel the members are the Commandery.
However, I feel that, in reality, we the members are only part of the Commandery: Since we are a charitable organization, humanity is also indirectly our Commandery, and since we are a Christian section of Masonry, we should not forget the teachings of the Lord-foremost charity!
But at some Conclaves, I have noticed there are heated debates over giving a charitable donation to provide presents at Christmas for poor children or a donation to help children with learning disabilities. When there is a suggestion to do a fund-raiser to pay for these things, there can also be opposition and a negative, "we can't do it" attitude.
Why are we losing members? It is our own fault! We must be our brothers' keeper. We must try to show
those less fortunate that we care. We must be visible to the public, and we must show a genuine concern for others and not pay lip service only at our meetings. People want and demand results, not stagnation.
We must begin to work progressively to build not only our image but to assist mankind. We must change to meet the times. Perhaps a child helped by our programs will one day be a future Grand Commander, or given the status quo, it is possible that this ignored child could drop out of school and even turn to crime, because he never heard of us, because we hide in our buildings conducting the ,same tired, meaningless rituals.
It is time for progressive ideas, new thoughts, and new standards. I'd rather have a Conclave attended by
the mandatory nine who are willing to work than have a houseful of negative thinkers, do-nothings who want nothing more than to pay the bills.
Our Lord taught us that our family is mankind. We not only have a duty, but as Christian Masons, we have an obligation to assist the defenseless and the downtrodden.
If we do not change our views soon, our Fraternity will die and rot away. People will ask (they do now): "What was/is the York Rite?" How would you answer? Would you say: "We are a charitable organization."? Would you say: "We are involved in the betterment of the community."? Would: you have to say: "We meet, pay the bills, collect dues, and close our meetings."?
Remember: 'To thine own self be true." You can ignore an illness, but it will not go away! The York Rite is ailing, and in order for it to recover, it will take a change in our current ways of doing things. It will take something that I feel we lack: It will take one of the many virtues of our Lord, compassiqn.
I say let's have a revival of the York Rite. Let's recommit ourselves to the true principle of the Fraternity. Let's follow the hermit: Share and care! Without this I see the York Rite falling into a state of decay, I see the consolidation of Commanderies, and I see us finally falling into complete ruin.
'As for the fund-raisers, they will pay for themselves. Many will donate if they know the money is going back to the community, to solve its problems; however, it takes work to be a success. I ask: Are we an organization of doers or an organization that is in a coma, never to be awakened? Be honest with yourself. If you love the York Rite, strive for change and save its life.
Sir Knight David C. Mercer is a member of Waco Commandery No.1 0, Waco, Texas. He resides at 316 Joanne Drive, Waco, TX 76705.
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"Stairway to Heaven"
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