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Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

Brings you
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With Jay
For your web-surfing pleasure: April 10, 2007

Surfing around this week I found a Masonic Poetry page –
http://home.midmaine.com/~gleighton/

For Stamp collectors we have the Masonic Philatelic Club
http://www.masonicphilatelicclub.org.uk/index.html

A Masonic Blog with links to other blogs is The Tao of Masonry at
http://masonictao.blogspot.com/

The Masons of California have their web presence starting at this page
http://www.freemason.org/

Their online magazine is here
http://www.freemason.org/freemason_online.php

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Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

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For your web-surfing pleasure: April 3, 2007

The Smithsonian Magazine (April issue) has an article about the Scottish Rite House of the Temple in Washington DD. It may be found on line at:
http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2007/april/poi-mason.php

A You Tube move which shows how Stonehenge in Britian may have been built.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRRDzFROMx0

You can visit his Web site at:
http://www.theforgottentechnology.com/

Benjamin Franklin Lodge #83 in Wisconsin is an Emulation Ritual Lodge. It has a Web site at:
http://www.franklin83.org/

The International Masonic Review has the latest issue on-line at:
http://www.bonisteelml.org/

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Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

Brings you
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For your web-surfing pleasure: March 27, 2007

The Burning Taper is a Masonic Blog worth looking at:
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/

New Holland Lodge No. 392 in Ohio has a site at:
http://www.mastermason.com/newholland392/

From that site you can also link to a lot of other Ohio Lodges.

Enjoy your surfing.

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Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

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For your web-surfing pleasure: March 20, 2007

Our Grand Lodge Web Site has undergone some changes. You will find them at:
http://showcase.netins.net/web/iowamasons/index.html

A PDF file on Masonic Etiquette. This is from another jurisdiction and does not always apply to Iowa but it makes for interesting reading.
http://shakespeare750.com/pages/Docs/57MasonicEtiquette.pdf

An article on “Losing Our Sense of Membership”
http://archives.thepilot.com/September2006/20060914/opinion/columns/20060914smith.html

Here is the poem referred to in the article:

When my Pa joined the Masons,

Ma got as mad as sin,

She wished that he'd be blackballed,

And never could get in.

This staying out to meetings

Till twelve o'clock or so,

Was really perfect nonsense --

She wished he would not go.

Then when Pa got elected

To what he called the chair,

And spent a little money

She was crosser than a bear.

And so things kept on going,

Pa hadn't much to say,

But smiled behind his paper

When she took on that way.

Now things have changed;

They got her to join the Eastern Star;

She's never home at midnight,

Spends more than Pa, by far.

We eat cold victuals, Pa and I,

About five days each week,

She's at committee meeting --

But Pa is kind of meek.

She'll soon be Worthy Matron,

Pa's found a boarding house;

But 'till she's elected

He's as still as any mouse.

He says he'd fix things

So she need have no care;

I don't know how she'll like it,

But then that's Pa's affair.

He says that when I'm older

I'll understand the game;

It's hard to be a Mason,

But I'll be one just the same.

There must be something in it,

They're having lots of fun,

I guess I'll have to wait though,

'Till I am twenty-one.

(The author is unknown.)

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Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

Brings you
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With Jay

For your web-surfing pleasure: March 13, 2007

These pictures aren't Masonic but they are worth looking at. The Blizzard of 2007:
http://www.iowadot.gov/2007_blizzard.html

Going to Washington DC ? On June 9, there will be a Volksmarch. Read about it at the National Masonic Trail.
http://www.masonictrail.org/

Someone posted the following to a List I am on. It is from the Prince Hall Masons. It seems to me to be worthwhile.

THE CLOSING CHARGE

(Prince Hall)

My brethren, the hour has come for our departure from this sacred retreat, and we must once again, mingle with an outside world, a world that may or may not be friendly. Yet, it is incumbent upon us as Free and Accepted Masons of the Prince Hall Masonic Family, to show friendliness where there is unfriendliness; to show love, where there may be hate; to show understanding where there may be intoleration and misunderstanding.

While we are at refreshment, let us remember that the banner of Prince Hall Masonry still cover us, and our Lodge will be gauged by our actions; our fraternity will be judged, not by our finest leaders, but by our worst members. Therefore, let us show stability in our weakest moments; let us show strength in our greatest adversity; and let us remember the vows that we took to uphold the principles of Prince Hall Masonry.

While we are away from our mother Lodge, let us unite in friendship, with that greater family that awaits us in the outside world. While we are not meeting in secrecy and brotherly love, let us spread that broad mantle of charity, not only to our brethren, but also to those that come within the length of our cable-tow. While we are away from the Two Lines Parallel, let the teachings of the Two Saint Johns co-mingle with the blessings of the Grand Architect of the Universe, and make us fit material for that Celestial Lodge where peace and joy shall reign forever.

Then, for now, my brethren, let us clasp hands and bid each other adieu, and pray that this circle of friends will meet again, and it is in this handshake, this grip, that we transmit the message of Friendship, Morality and Brotherly Love.

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Brings you
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For your web-surfing pleasure: March 6, 2007

Masons will understand the significance of yesterday's date – 3 – 5- 7.
They will also understand the theme of this week's Web surfing. I found this site:
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libraryscience/25/

where you can access the on-line edition of the first Masonic Book printed in America . Anderson 's Constitutions which says in one place:

“Masonry becomes the Center of Union , and the Means of conciliating the Friendship among Persons that must else have remain'd at a perpetual Distance/”

I first heard that quoted years ago by Brother Leonard Reednolm. It has meant a lot to me over the years when I think of the friends I have made in Masonry.

Brother Rudyard Kipling also understood this lesson when he wrote the poem
“The Thousandth Man – It is worth a read and can be found at:
http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_thousandth.htm

Enjoy

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For your web-surfing pleasure: February 27, 2007

The Grand Lodge of British Columbia and the Yukon has a page about Masonry in the comics at:
http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/fiction/comics.html

Ever wonder about the Hymn we sing in the Third Degree
http://www.masonmusic.org/pleyel.html

More Masonic Music at:
http://masonmusic.org/home.html

The Southchurch Masonic Study Circle has this as the entrance to their site:
http://www.southchurch-masonic.org.uk/

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Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

Brings you
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With Jay

For your web-surfing pleasure: February 20, 2007

Through my new blog that I told you about last week I discovered that another of our Lodge Brothers is also blogging. Taner Sen blogs as the Perpetual Skeptic. He has some interesting posts. Much deeper than mine, not as prolific but very thought provoking.
http://perpetualskeptic.blogspot.com/

In honor of President's day here is a link that tells about the 14 Freemasons who have been President of the United States
http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2007-02-19-voa18.cfm

Ever wonder about Compass? How did the instrument which points to the North also be the same name for the two pointed instrument for inscribing circles which, along with the Bible and the Square, is on every Masonic Altar as one of the three great lights? (Diagram that sentence Miss Grammar) Taner sent me this link, which talks about the Compass (also called Compasses)
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010124

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For your web-surfing pleasure: February 13, 2007

Check out the Toronto Society for Masonic Research here:
http://tsmr.org/

The Canonbury Masonic Research Centre is found here
http://www.canonbury.ac.uk/index.htm

And finally the most boring blog on the Internet
http://baileysbuddy.blogspot.com/

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For your web-surfing pleasure: February 6, 2007

Found on the Hackenburg Mt. Moriah Web page
The wearing of the Square and Compasses carries with it those demands which distinguish the Mason from others in the community.
It is an emblem of honor. It stands for stability of purpose. It speaks the words: "My trust is in God."
It means respect for womanhood.
It means loyalty to country, both in time of peace and in time of war.
It means obedience to law and opposition to all forms of violence and hate.
It means that the wearer is trustworthy.
It means that the wearer's honor and reputation are concerned in supporting with dignity the character he bears, the emblem he displays and the Fraternity he represents.
Let us wear the Square and Compasses proudly.
http://www.pagrandlodge.org/districtc/19/

Also from their site is file access page for masonic histories, notably Montgomery Lodge #19 and William B. Hackenburg -Mt Moriah Lodge #155, now merged happily as "Hackenburg-Mt Moriah Lodge #19", meeting the second Thursday of the month in the Philadelphia Masonic Temple at #1 North Broad Street.
http://www.fegely.org/montgomery19com/

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Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

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For your web-surfing pleasure: January 30, 2007

About 13 years ago I flew into Washington DC for “Masonic Week.” During that time many Masonic Organizations hold their Annual Meetings and it is relatively easy to join many of them. It is actually kind of fun to meet Masons from all over the world and join with them in Masonic fellowship.
You can find out about the program for the week here:
http://www.yorkrite.com/MasonicWeek/index.html

These organizations can alos be found inother countries. Here is the site for France
http://www.glmmmf.org/uk/glmmmf/presentation.htm

My friend Dan Pushee let me know that the February Knight Templar Magazine is up on the Web at:
http://knightstemplar.org/KnightTemplar/articles.html

Dan is the Webmaster for the York Rite Web site which has changed from YorkRite.com to:
http://www.yorkrite.org/

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For your web-surfing pleasure: January 23, 2007

Polk City Iowa has a Lodge (Operative Lodge # 308
Their Web Site is linked through IowaMasons.com. You can also take a look at their site by going here
http://operative308.org/default.aspx

Freemasonry in Thailand is small, but diverse. There are lodges from six constitutions working in three languages.
The Thai Freemason can be found here
http://www.thaifreemason.com/

A Resolution was submitted to the House of Representatives regarding Freemasonry. It may be read here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.RES.33 :

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Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

Brings you
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For your web-surfing pleasure: January 16, 2007

This week I am going to recommend this site.

http://iowamasons.com/Q&A.html

Lots of education and history to be found there.

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For your web-surfing pleasure: January 9, 2007

The Grand Encampment, Knights Templar
http://www.knightstemplar.org/

publishes a magazine The Knight Templar.
The January Edition is available on line at:
http://knightstemplar.org/KnightTemplar/

The Iowa Supplement is found at: http://www.knightstemplar.org/KTnews/ia.htm

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Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

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For your web-surfing pleasure: January 2, 2007

This week Web Surfing pays tribute to President Gerald R. Ford

Pres. 1974-1977 / Master Mason 1951?EA Sep. 30, 1949, Malta Lodge #465, Grand Rapids, Michigan, courtesy FC & MM Columbia Lodge #3, Washington, D.C., Apr. 20 & May 18, 1951

Remarks he made upon the dedication of the Ford Medallion at the George Washington Masonic Memorial
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=5485

Information about Brother and President Gerald R. Ford, in the links below, (He was the last Mason to hold the office of President of the United States All of them are listed here:
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/famous/uspres.htm )
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/gf38.html
http://www.ford.utexas.edu/
http://www.geraldrford.org/

Brother Ford and Most Worshipful Brother Truman both died on December 26. I can remember watching M.W. Brother Truman's funeral on television and noting the the Masonic Service was very much a part of the ceremony.

To honor our fallen Brother, former President Gerald R Ford, 33rd Degree Master Mason, fellow Brethren from the Washington DC area gathered at Naval Lodge No. 4 at 330 Pennsylvania Ave SE Washington DC Sunday morning December 31st at 10:30am and walked together to the U.S. Capitol rotunda. We walled about three blocks from Naval Lodge No. 4 to the U.S. Capitol stopping briefly in front of the Capitol and gave a sort speech (see pictures and the video of the speech below.) Then made our way through about an one hour wait inline passing through security check points then into the rotunda where Brother Ford was ling in state. One by one we gave our respect and honors to our fallen Brother.
http://www.acacia16.org/Honoring_Brother_Gerald_R_Ford.htm

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For your web-surfing pleasure: December 26, 2006

Web Surfing - Boxing Day 2006
http://www.gwmemorial.org/History/default.htm

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial has a Web site worth looking at. Linked to this site is an account of Most Worshipful Brother Washington 's last illness and death.

Another interesting site is:
http://www.droit-humain.org/uk/

The International Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain British Federation – freemasonry for men and women since 1893. Take a look at the gallery and the fine art pages to find some interesting stops in their site.

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For your web-surfing pleasure: December 19, 2006

http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2006/12/december-madness.html

The above is part of a blog by the author of “Freemasonry For Dummies” He is outgoing Master of Lodge Vitruvian No. 767 which is an interesting Lodge I have written about before and it can be accessed from his blog page. One of the members of this Lodge has an Iowa Connection. His father is a member of my church. He has his own blog and I think I have mentioned it before. In case I haven't take a look at it at: http://www.prosperosbooks.net/

And finally this has nothing to do with Masonry but every time you refresh the page you get a new surreal compliment. For example - You wear your ears well, true to the testament of loose fitting flesh. It is rather addictive
http://www.madsci.org/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/~lynn/jardin/SCG

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For your web-surfing pleasure: December 12, 2006

YouTube is a place where people can publish their videos. I was told about this one that features a Masonic calendar. If you go over to the side you can find others that might be of interest. (Note – You may have to join YouTube to view the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XspqK6XqQBQ&mode=related&search =

You can find Calendars and other items for gifting at:
http://www.cafepress.com/masons

For those of you who enjoyed the DaVinci Code (as I did) you might find the Grand Lodge of Nebraska's take on it of interest:
http://www.nebraska-grand-lodge.org/

And finally from our own Grand Lodge an announcement about a special exhibit “Treasurers from the Vault” which is currently running at the Grand Lodge Library and Museum in Cedar Rapids .
http://showcase.netins.net/web/iowamasons/Treasures%20from%20the%20Vaults.html

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For your web-surfing pleasure: December 5, 2006

A Masonic museum “on-line” is at:
http://masonic.exto.be/

It is in Dutch with translation at the bottom of the page.
The October issue of MQ magazine
http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/site/index.php?PHPSESSID=3f223a5f5162920b450e3239c546e742
has an interesting article on a Chief Rabbi who was also a Freemason.

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For your web-surfing pleasure: November 28, 2006

From Indiana “Freemasonry For Dummies” A project by Masons for Thanksgiving.
http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2006/11/giving-thanks.html

Temple Sion of Freemasonry is an interesting site and it has a great page of links for further surfing.
http://templumsion.com/index.html

Speaking of links there are links to many Grand Lodge Library and Museum sites at the Masonic Library and Museum Association site.
http://www.mlmassn.org/

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For your web-surfing pleasure: November 21, 2006

An oration given in 1801 on the origins of Freemasonry is rather long but may be of interest to you.
http://www.clansinclairsc.org/Burbidge%20Dalcho%20Oration%201.htm

Sacred Geometry, The Invisible Blueprint of Life is the title of this article. I am not sure it is directly connected to Masonry but interesting nonetheless.
http://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/features/local_story_317100635.html?keywo

Always an interesting site to browse the Masonic Service Association has a lot to offer.
http://www.msana.com/

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