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

Brings you
Web Surfing
With Jay
For your web-surfing pleasure: April 3, 2007

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

Brings you
Web Surfing
With Jay
For your web-surfing pleasure: March 27, 2007

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.

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.

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

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/

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

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/

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

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

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/

This week I am going to recommend this site.

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

Lots of education and history to be found there.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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 =

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/

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/

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

From a Lodge in Toronto , Canada . A very interesting use of Graphics on this site:
www.torontomasons.ca /

Someone once told me that there were over 600 organizations that predicated their membership on membership in the Masonic Lodge. The Scottish Rite, the York Rite and the Shrine are well known organizations – here are some others:

Check out information on fourteen more organizations by scrolling down on the home page at:
http://www.yorkrite.com/

Did you know that there was a Masonic Lodge Chartered on the Moon?
You can read all about it at:
http://www.tranquilitylodge2000.org/
It is even possible to join this “out of this world” Lodge.

Closer to home Dan has revamped Arcadia 's Web site.
http://www.iowamasons.com/249.htm
I find it easier to use and navigate. Check it out.

An article about The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Delaware, whose members are white, and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Delaware, whose members are black, signed a compact of recognition at a two-hour ceremony at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington .http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006609170338

An address by the MW The Pro Grand Master, The Most Hon. the Marquess of Northampton, DL at the Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of England on 13 September 2006 is found at:
http://www.grandlodge-england.org/news/progm-speech130906.htm

of interest in the article is the idea to split the office of Grand Secretary and to add a Grand Chancellor. Also at the bottom of the article may be found a link to a “Royal Variety Show” which is one of the ways they raise money for charity. If you are going to be in London on November 12 you might want to order your tickets. Have a great week and don't forget to come to Lodge on Thursday.

An interesting essay on how masons could be “peaceable citizens” and still involved in some “revolutionary” acts.

THE MASONIC CONCEPT OF LIBERTY
Freemasonry and the Enlightenment
by W.Bro Alex Davidson

From a site designed to answer some anti-masons comes -
Did You Know? - some facts about Masons and Masonry

A British Masonic magazine well worth a look is
MQ magazine.
An index to recent articles may be found at:

It seems that everyone wants us to be a “secret and powerful” fraternity and use those words for marketing strategies. Borders Books has a new site up to advertise the latest called the Book of Fate . Not that I am recommending the book but you might enjoy playing the “Guess Who's A Mason” part of the site found at”
http://www.bordersmedia.com/shortlist/083106/meltzer2.html

Recently the idea of “Mission Statements” for Freemasonry came up and someone posted several links to sties that have them. I found it interesting to see different interpretations of what we are all about.

My friends are going to Florida to watch a Space Shuttle Launch. Ryan Kelly and his Father Bob are not Masons but I thought you might find Ryan's Blog of the trip of interest. Travel along with them at:
http://sts115launchtrip.blogspot.com/

The York Rite Grand Chapter and Council meetings were just held in Muscatine , Iowa and our own Doug Petty was installed as Grand Master of the Second Veil for the Royal Arch Masons. The Web sites have been updated and they may be found at:
http://yorkrite.com/ia/

All Masonic Grand Lodges in the United States
Grand Lodges that are or might be considered regular, irregular, clandestine, non-clandestine, recognized, not recognized, caucasian, black, male, female, mixed, large, small, tiny, etc., are all listed, just so we all can be aware of which Grand Lodges exist.
http://www.bessel.org/glsusa.htm

MasonicDictionary.com is a collaborative effort between a number of Masonic writers and thinkers from the United States and Canada , who are concerned with many of the problems confronting Freemasonry today.

The 37,000 words that make up the essays on this web site were approximately one year in the making and involved an in-depth collaborative approach to ensure that each essay was written by an author whom had experience with the subject he was tasked with addressing.

www.masonicdictionary.com

Who was Joseph Cerneau? This intriguing Mason established Supreme Councils and Orients of the Scottish Rite in the United States in the 1800's He even started some in Iowa. His story may be found at:

Their dues are $100. a year, hold four stated meetings a year, attend meeting in formal dress and everyone has their own apron, etc. Read about Lodge Vitruvian in Indiana at:

IowaMasons.com
Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

Brings you
Web Surfing

For your web-surfing pleasure: July 4 , 2006

Dan Pushee is the webmaster of Yorkrite.com with links to most York Rite sites. He spends his retirement maintaining this site and keeps a log of all the updates here:

http://www.yorkrite.com/01Log.htm

An article from the Denver Post about Masons:

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_3960227

A general search site for things Masonic at:

http://www.masonicsearch.com/

The latest edition of The Working Tools a Masonic Magazine:

http://www.hawthornefortitude200.com/theworkingtools.htm

The Masonic Information Site is at:

http://www.msana.com/mic.htm

With an article about what we need to do to keep pace with change here:

http://www.msana.com/itsabouttime_intro.htm

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