The Other Club

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Michael Shirley

F. E. Smith & Winston Churchill founded the Other Club in 1911

F. E. Smith (Vanity Fair)

Winston Churchill was an unusual politician, for he bore no grudges. As the historian Paul Johnson wrote, “Churchill wasted an extraordinarily small amount of his time and emotional energy on the meannesses of life: recrimination, shifting the blame onto others, malice, revenge seeking, dirty tricks, spreading rumors, harboring grudges, waging vendettas.”[1] His founding of the Other Club reflects that attitude. With his friend F.E. Smith (later Lord Birkenhead), Churchill formed a dining club in 1911, limiting it to no fewer than thirty-six members (twelve Conservatives, twelve Liberals, and twelve from outside party politics) and no more than fifty. The requirements for membership were two: a man had to be both estimable and entertaining. There were initially eleven club rules, but Churchill added a twelfth: “Nothing in the rules or intercourse of the Club shall interfere with the rancour or asperity of party politics.” Members could disagree, but were not to be disagreeable about it. Churchill’s abiding willingness to forgive others’ trespasses carried with it the demand that others forgive his. Members of the Other Club ably met that demand.

Winston Churchill (Vanity Fair)

At meetings of the Other Club, Churchill and Smith were able to indulge their appetite for conversation in the best elite English tradition: witty, insulting, well informed, and wide-ranging. Smith attended regularly until his untimely death in 1930 (Churchill broke an unstated club rule against speeches by delivering an extended eulogy at the next meeting). Churchill himself last dined there on December 10, 1964, little more than a month before he died.

As his son Randolph noted, Winston Churchill had no small talk, and preferred to talk about himself.[2] At meetings of the Other Club he was able to listen as well.

[1] Paul Johnson, Churchill (New York: Penguin Books, 2010), 162.

[2] Randolph S. Churchill, Winston S. Churchill: Young Statesman, 1901-1914 (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1967), 241.

~MHS

W.B. Michael H. Shirley is Past Master of Tuscola Lodge No. 332 and Leadership Development Chairman for the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He's also a member of the Illinois Lodge of Research, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He's also a member of the newly-chartered, Illini High Twelve No. 768 in Urbana-Champaign. The author of several articles on British history, he teaches at Eastern Illinois University.

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A Craftman's Journey: Part II

 by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Michael Shirley

Rare signed Gibson F-5 Lloyd Loar mandolin

The story of the Master Mason Mandolin’s journey from concept to completion needs an atlas. Brother Joe Hardwick and I have lived and breathed bluegrass music for most of our lives, so it’s easy for us to forget most people don’t know what we’re talking about. For the benefit of readers, our families, and random strangers, here’s an introduction to mandolins, bluegrass, and various random facts as they occur to me.

The mandolin is an old instrument, evolving from the lute family during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but its modern form emerged in the nineteenth century, and it was the Gibson Company that most effectively manufactured it and with which it is still most popularly associated. It has four pairs of strings, tuned GDAE, like a violin, and in the first part of the twentieth century was a mainstay of dance bands and mandolin orchestras. The Gibson Company marketed their mandolins aggressively, both their A series, in a teardrop shape, and their fancier F series, with scrolls and points, and oval or f-shaped soundholes, with the F5 standing at the top of the heap as the fanciest and most expensive of them all.

Master Luthier Lloyd Loar

The 1920s and early 1930s are generally thought of as the golden age of American mandolin manufacturing, with the best those F5s produced under the guidance of Lloyd Loar, a sound engineer and master luthier for Gibson from 1919 to 1924. He’s credited with introducing f holes to the top of the mandolin (like a violin’s), a floating fingerboard, and longer neck. Of the many F5s produced under his supervision, some 300 sounded good enough to warrant his signature. About 225 Loar-signed F5s are known today, and command prices in excess of $200,000 on the rare occasions they come on the market. The Gibson F5 became the mandolin to play, and now “F5” refers to any mandolin made to look like the original Gibson, rather than a Gibson itself.

How mandolins came to be so closely associated with bluegrass music, why Loar-signed F5s are so expensive, and why I wanted my own F5 so badly are all stories for my next post.

http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/4956756

This is the second installment of Michael Shirley's Mandolin Series.  To be continued . . .

W.B. Michael H. Shirley is Past Master of Tuscola Lodge No. 332 and Leadership Development Chairman for the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He's also a member of the Illinois Lodge of Research, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He's also a member of the newly-chartered, Illini High Twelve No. 768 in Urbana-Champaign. The author of several articles on British history, he teaches at Eastern Illinois University.

Freemason Wisdom: Benjamin Franklin On The Home

by Midnight Freemason Contributors

Judy Gordon & Todd E. Creason

"A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body."

~Benjamin Franklin

We often see our homes as primarily a place to eat, relax, do our laundry, sleep, and pay our bills.  But a home is, at least should be, much more than that.  It's a place where families come together.  It should be a place of learning and sharing.  The strong bonds of a family begin in the home.  Too often in our modern world, we may all be together under one roof, but far from being together as a family--dad is staring at his computer, mom is on Facebook, son is in the basement playing video games, while sister is texting her friends in her bedroom. 

What would happen, do you suppose, if we all took a couple hours a day, turned off all the modern devices in our homes, and had dinner together and talked about our day.  Perhaps afterwards, sit around the table and do a puzzle together or play a game?  

It seems the more technology we gain, the more we lose.

~JG/TEC

Judy Gordon is very active in Job's Daughters. She's the Past Honored Queen, and Bethel Guardian of Bethel No. 55, Pekin (IL). She received the Cryptic Masons Masonic Youth Leadership Award along with her husband, Ray Gordon in July 2007. She's also Past Matron of the Morton Chapter No. 974 (IL) of the Order of the Eastern Star and Historian of the Emblem Club No. 424 of Pekin (IL) Judy is the recipient of the Degree of Royal Purple (2012) and elected as the Grand Marshal for Illinois Job's Daughters (2015-16). Ray and Judy have three grandkids, and a very spoiled dog, Reggie (who incidentally volunteers as a Therapy Dog at local hospitals and nursing homes.)

Todd E. Creason, 33° was the original Midnight Freemason. In 2012, Todd expanded his popular blog The Midnight Freemason into a collaborative effort Midnight Freemasons. Todd is the Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and a member of both the Scottish Rite, and York Rite. He's also a member of the Ansar Shrine (IL) and Charter President of the Illini High Twelve in Champaign-Urbana (IL)

The Bizarre Final Days Of President James Garfield

by Midnight Fremason Contributor

Todd E. Creason



President James A. Garfield

"The chief duty of government is to keep the peace and stand out of the sunshine of the people."

~James A. Garfield

Columbus Lodge No. 246, Ohio

After serving as a General in the United States Civil war, and later serving nine consecutive terms in the House of Representatives, James A. Garfield was elected President of the United States.  His political life looked promising.  But just four months after his inauguation, President Garfield was shot by attorney, Charles Giteau, on the platform of a Washington rail station on July 2, 1881.  Geiteau was angry that Garfield hadn't granted him a consular post he had had sought.

Badly wounded, President Garfield was taken to the White House, and physicians from all over the country were called in hopes of saving the President's life.  For two months, physicians held a round-the-clock vigil over the President, but one problem perplexed them--they couldn't find the bullet. 



Inventor
Alexander Graham Bell

 Finally it was suggested, that since doctors couldn't solve the problem, perhaps another brilliant mind could.  They sent for Alexander Graham Bell--the inventor of the telephone.  Perhaps his newest invention, the metal detector, would be able to do the job. 

Bell came at once, but each time he passed his induction-balanced electrical device anywhere near the President--it went haywire.  Baffled, Alexander Graham Bell finally gave up.  The President died a short time later, on September 19th, 1881, from an infection caused by that elusive bullet.

Some time after Garfield's funeral, Alexander Graham Bell suddenly realized what the problem was.  In order to make the President more comfortable, he had been placed on a bed with metal coil springs.  It was the bed's springs that had interferred with his device.  Had President Garfield been resting on the more common bed of the period, a feather bed, who knows how the course of history may have been changed.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason, 33° was the original Midnight Freemason. In early 2012, Todd expanded his popular blog The Midnight Freemason into a collaborative effort Midnight Freemasons. Todd is the Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and a member of both the Scottish Rite, and York Rite. He's also a member of the Ansar Shrine (IL) and Charter President of the Illini High Twelve in Champaign-Urbana (IL) 

The Brothers That Failed

by Midnight Freemasons contributor

Robert Johnson

Kramer--what were you thinking?

History as we know it is littered with famous Freemasons. In fact our originator Brother Todd E. Creason has a great book series which showcases some of the best. In one of his recent posts to the Midnight Freemasons, he talks a bit about the Civil War and how a brother had actually started it. It was a great piece. It was interesting to read about James Buchanan and how he wasn’t that great a Freemason or president. Which is why Brother Todd decided to not cover him.

It also prompted me to reflect on the few Brothers that I also did not showcase because I didn’t consider them to be true. You remember when you were asked "Where were you first prepared to become a Mason?" These men to which I am referring to, I just don’t know about. They include names like, Wozniak, Wilks, Richards, Arnold, and Weems the lists go on.

Woz--the genius behind Apple

I love Apple as a company and I love Steve Wozniak, but I chose not to mention him because he was quoted as saying that he only joined the Freemasons so he could sit within the  Eastern Star with his wife and that he didn't take anything seriously in regards to Freemasonic ritual.

Bobby Wilks was found guilty in defrauding families and defiling the dead when he buried them with trash in their coffins.  Michael Richards went off the deep end in a comedy routine which cost him his career.  Then there’s Benedict Arnold, who was a brilliant military strategist who defected to Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, thus ignoring his oath to the country. And who can forget Mason Locke Weems who falsified stories and lied about his relationship with George Washington in order to sell his biography of George Washington shortly after his death.

Locke Weens' biography of Washington more fiction than fact

Luckily for us the list of great Freemasons overshadows those of our not so greats. An interesting point to make here is that when I do the famous Freemasons segment on the show, I look for famous people that almost everyone has heard of. But it’s hard because almost every Freemason I know today is famous in their own right. Meaning, they work hard, many people know of them and they are extremely intelligent, outspoken and truly wonderful human beings. What makes someone famous? A notable event that they helped in? Or perhaps they were instrumental in something being accomplished? Regardless of these facts, I think we all know a few famous Freemasons.

Conversely, we may know of some brothers that have failed. Let us hope for the future that we have more bright shining stars than black holes. Let us remember the brothers that failed, their mistakes have made the right path more visible.

~RJ

Sir Knight Robert Johnson is a Freemason out of the First North-East District of Illinois. He belongs to Waukegan Lodge No. 78. He is also a member of the York Rite bodies Royal Arch, Cryptic Council and Knights Templar. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts a weekly Podcast (internet radio program) Whence Came You? which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. In addition, he produces video shorts focusing on driving interest in the Fraternity and writes original Masonic papers from time to time. He is a husband and father of three. He works full time in the safety industry and is also a photographer on the side as well as an avid home brewer. He is also working on two books, one is of a Masonic nature.

Winston Churchill: Operative or Speculative?

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Michael H. Shirley

Freemasons rightly claim Winston Churchill as one of their own. He was initiated as an Entered Apprentice in Studholme Lodge 1591 on May 24, 1901, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on July 19, 1901, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on March 5, 1902. And that was that. Like many other men, Churchill’s involvement in the Craft effectively ended with his raising. He continued to identify himself as a Freemason when asked or when it seemed warranted, but he was too busy to do more than see it as a social membership, much like his membership in the National Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the Ancient Order of Druids. 

He took much greater pride in being a card-carrying member of the Amalgamated Union of Building Workers as a bricklayer. As any visitor to his home at Chartwell can testify, Churchill was a dab hand at laying bricks. He appears to have preferred operative to speculative masonry. Either way, he was a Mason.

~WHS

W.B. Michael H. Shirley is Past Master of Tuscola Lodge No. 332 and Leadership Development Chairman for the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He's also a member of the Illinois Lodge of Research, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He's also a member of the newly-chartered, Illini High Twelve No. 768 in Urbana-Champaign. The author of several articles on British history, he teaches at Eastern Illinois University.

A Craftsman's Journey: Part I

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Michael Shirley

This article is the first in Michael Shirley's mandolin series

The Hardwick Brothers Band (Joe, Wayne, & Rick)

One of the hard things about moving to a new town is finding people who can fix the shaky house you’ve bought. Sometimes, though, you get lucky. When we moved to Tuscola, Illinois, in 2002, I had bookshelves to attach to the wall. Since I wanted them to hold the books and stay upright, I figured I needed someone to put them up who knew what he was doing. I found Joe Hardwick through a friend’s recommendation, and he’s been keeping my house standing upright, dry, and in decent shape ever since. Joe’s a master carpenter, electrician, roofer, and one of the smartest and most honest guys I know. Since last year, he’s been a Master Mason in my lodge, Tuscola No. 332, A.F. & A.M., where he is now our Marshall; he’s also a Scottish Rite Mason in the Valley of Danville, and one of my best friends.

I’m worried, though, since Joe’s going through a transition, and he might not be available to keep my house from falling down for much longer. You see, since he was a kid, music has been at the center of his life. He’s played in bands for years, and he’s been repairing instruments since he was sixteen; now he’s decided to make them, and to make the move from carpenter to luthier. Two years ago, he built his brother Wayne a Dobro, and then made himself an F-model mandolin. He thought it sounded pretty good, but Joe tends to measure twice and cut once, so he took it with him to a bluegrass festival and asked Danny Roberts, the mandolin player for the Grascals, to tell him what he thought of it. Danny used to be the mandolin department manager for Gibson USA, and is widely considered one of the best pickers alive. “This is your first one?” he said. “Wow.” He had some tips, but the most important one was “keep making them.” That was advice he decided to take.

first mandolin Joe built

Now, I’ve been a musician for a long time, and I had a great mandolin, an early Flatiron A-52, but I’d always wanted an F model. Joe liked my Flatiron, so we made a deal: he’d make me an F model, the first Hardwick Custom, in exchange for my mandolin. I figured that that way, if the house ever fell down because he was too busy with his luthier business, I’d have a good instrument to play to accompany the destruction. Besides, the idea of having a mandolin made to my specifications was exciting. I had no idea where it would take both of us.

http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/4956756

To be continued . . .

Michael H. Shirley is Past Master of Tuscola Lodge No. 332 and Leadership Development Chairman for the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He's also a member of the Illinois Lodge of Research, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He's also a member of the newly-chartered, Illini High Twelve No. 768 in Urbana-Champaign. The author of several articles on British history, he teaches at Eastern Illinois University.

Why In The World Would Anyone Ever Want To Become A Freemason?

by Guest Contributor Steven A. McBeth

Four score and seven years ago . . . Wait a minute . . . Stop, stop, stop the plagiarism!   Let’s all just take a minute to rewind and start over, Abe take ten please.     

The year is now 2012.  Thinking back, though I can't pinpoint the exact date with any surety, I would estimate that my knowledge of the Freemasons' existence came to me sometime between the years 2000 and 2003.  What I am able to attest to is that it was indeed a Freemason,  a friend of mine and my fire chief at the time, Bro. N. Greenwell who introduced me to the Fraternity by showing me his Masonic ring-- which was passed down to him from his grandfather.  Thinking about it now I am certain that  Bro. Greenwell did not produce his ring or mention Freemasonry to me until he knew me well enough and trusted in my character enough to do so.  Looking back, I feel honored he held me in high enough esteem to introduce me to his cherished Grandfathers ring and the Fraternity as a whole,all be it, he really did nothing more then ask me if I was familiar with Freemasonry.

Though this paper is about me, I would be ignorant to dismiss the fact that this journey on which I would embark, did not start with me, it started with Bro. N. Greenwell, who’s true Masonic Light was steady enough and bright enough, however slowly, to guide me in to port.  

I had to find out more about this Freemasonry thing.  What was it all about?  Why did it exist?  What were the benefits?  So it really began when I typed “Freemasonry” into an internet search engine, and there it was--the first link of the rest of my life.  It was a website I am sure is no longer in existence today, none the less a website that went on to describe the rudimentary history and goals of the society, which I would come to find out in later days was more secret than not. 

The history I will leave for the reader to research on his or her own, or not, it’s main aim, on the other hand though I hear very little of today, I feel obliged to share and attempt to keep alive, as it has greatly applied to my Masonic journey.  The fundamental Masonic aim from what I discovered that day was that of supporting, promoting, and providing a higher education, and if I am not mistaken,  fund and aid in constructing the very institutions in which this higher education would be take place.  That was about it; about all I could expediently and conveniently find on the subject in that day.  That half hour study session on Freemasonry may have been enough for me that day, at least until my good friend and partner at the time, decided that he had better warn me about this organization, to paraphrase it went a little something like this, “Be careful with those Freemasons, I have been told they are an evil organization.”  

Hmmmmmmmmm?  Now why would my good friend, and  business partner say this to me?  (The precursor could very well be accredited as being the fuel thrown onto the fire, which was all but out.)  Obviously there was more to this organization, to this fraternity of Freemasons, then running around the world free of governance and being immune to persecution from any outside influence, conjointly there must be more to this higher education thing.  Really what could possibly be so evil about erecting the awe inspiring Cathedrals in which the masses would flock, to praise and worship God?  What could be so evil about the general desire and consensus to want to better educate those around you, while affording them a hand up if need be?  What?   What?  What?   

Naturally I had to find out.  This rebel, freethinker and seeker of truth would settle for nothing less.  My studies would ensue erratically over the next decade, often going on Masonic benders for months on end, vast amounts of knowledge and understanding accumulated.   Some key points kept me coming back for more. 

First: Freemasonry by its very design and nature  is to my understanding , to first positively affect the initiate, then hopefully the people immediate to him, friends and/or family, continuing to work outwards from there with the outcome being an altruistic, amelioration of yourself and all of your communal surroundings within one’s influence.  Something that was conveyed to me sincerely and wholeheartedly by Bro. N. Greenwell, who by my witness did everything in his power without surrender, to achieve this.  Three words; Lead, By, Example!  Second: Freemasonry has no upper or lower levels by which brethren of certain stature or degree meet, it has none of these, but only one level on which all the Brethren meet no matter race, religion, or creed! We are all equals!  Third:  The vast amounts of well thought out and articulately written papers, historicaly factual, and philosophical have managed to keep me easily entertained and involved, often times taking me well over an hour to be able to fully translate and understand what the author is conveying to the reader. Fourth: Though not having any immediate effect on my character, Masonic literature, also while reading and decoding it’s indubitable meaning always instilled in me the desire to want to be a better man, it enticed me to strive to become more worthy of its ranks, moreover, though unable to attest to it at this very moment, all of its hidden mysteries were in plain sight, just waiting to be plucked by any and all who prove themselves worthy by means of hard work, study, courage and dedication, none of which I care to give away or explain, but trust me any who lack courage will fall short.   

As far as I am concerned anyone who fearlessly or purblindly plows their way through any Masonic doctrine or teachings has no place in the Order.  If you’re not fearful in some shape, fashion, or form on your path to enlightenment, then you’re just not getting it, and for those who make a valiant attempt to understand what Freemasonry is all about but find themselves at a cross road which they dare not take another step. To you my friends I say congratulations--you are indeed an enlightened being.  It takes a wise and considerable man to realize that Freemasonry is, or isn’t for him.  If you have read this article I can only assume that you are already a Free and Accepted Mason, you are considering becoming a Mason, or you are just curious.  To all of you I say good will, and good luck.  May your journey be a fruitful and joyous one.

The Universe unfolded just as it was meant to that day, for if anything had been added or omitted during my search, or by my friend and business partner, I assure you things would not be as they are today for all of which I am eternally grateful. 

Steven A. McBeth is a Fellowcraft Canadian Freemason from Prince George Nechako Lodge No.86 with over 10 years of study on the subject.  He is also a Truth seeking theologian and a philosophical writer.  "Let not your outer voice, rather your inner Light be the guide."

Don't Shoot, We're Republicans!

by Midnight Fremasons Guest Contributor

W.B. Steven L. Harrison, FMLR

The Willie Dee

Brother Franklin D. Roosevelt, Holland Lodge 8 of New York City,  crossed the Atlantic in November 1943, to attend a World War II summit.  While the President was en route traveling on the USS Iowa battleship, the navy arranged a demonstration of firepower for its commander-in-chief.  At the start of the trip the battleship William D. Porter joined the Iowa to show off its capabilities for FDR.  While weighing anchor the Porter ripped the lifeboat mountings off of a sister destroyer, rendering the damaged ship un-seaworthy.  The following day, a depth charge fell from the Porter and exploded, requiring all area ships, including the Iowa, to take evasive maneuvers. Two days later, during the demonstration, crew members inadvertently fired a live torpedo at the President's ship.  Learning this, Brother Roosevelt asked to be taken deck-side so he could watch!  Again forced to take evasive action, the Iowa barely avoided the live "fish."

After the incident with the torpedo, the Porter was quarantined and the entire crew arrested.  Later, the ship's captain, Lieutenant Commander Wilfred A. Walter, and several of his officers were sentenced to shore duty.  Lawton Dawson, who was responsible for releasing a live torpedo, was sentenced to 14 years at hard labor.  Fortunately for Dawson, a compassionate Roosevelt gave him a presidential pardon.

The "Willie Dee," as it came to be known, and the remainder of its crew were "exiled" to Alaska, where most assumed it couldn't get into trouble.  This held true until a drunken crew member accidentally fired a live round of ammunition into the base commander's house while amusing himself on one of The Porter’s big guns.  The unfortunate incident was compounded by the fact that the commander was hosting a party and several surprised dignitaries were at his home when the shell hit.

By this time, the ship's reputation was so bad, whenever it pulled into port sailors from other ships would greet it by begging, "Don't shoot, we're Republicans!" The catcall implied the Porter’s crew shot at FDR because he was a Democrat.

The war in the Pacific required every piece of firepower the US could muster.  Reluctantly, the Navy called the Porter into service at Okinawa where, not unexpectedly, it shelled another American battleship.  After that incident, the Navy moved the Willie Dee farther out to sea where it could do no harm, but where it was also a sitting duck.  A Kamikaze pilot spotted the isolated ship and set it as his target.  Fortunately, the pilot missed the Porter badly and dove into the sea.  Unfortunately, his plane exploded and the concussion capsized the battleship.  In the end and true to form, a hapless Kamikaze pilot  had sunk the hapless Willie Dee.  Miraculously, however, every single crew member survived the incident when another Navy ship came to the rescue.

Somewhat ironically, the battleship was named for US Navy Commodore William D. Porter, who had a distinguished career.  He commanded the Essex during the Civil War and was instrumental in several Union victories.  Brother Porter was a member of St. John Lodge 11, Washington, DC.

Although the saga of the Willie Dee has its humorous side, historians agree Brother Roosevelt was in legitimate danger when the torpedo nearly struck the Iowa.  Had the episode ended tragically, the war and history may have taken a different turn with Brother Henry Wallace in command.

~SH

W.B. Steve Harrison is a Past Master of Liberty Lodge #31, Liberty, Missouri.  He is the editor of the Missouri Freemason Magazine, author of the book Freemasonry Crosses the Mississippi, a Fellow of the Missouri Lodge of Research and also its Junior Warden.



Tread Carefully

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Sir Knight Robert Johnson

Obligations, we all took them. Do you remember them? I do. Sometimes it is a struggle. Recently I found I have some fans of the show from England. This is great, however, she is a member of OWF—that’s right, I said she. So what is OWF? It is the Order of Women's Freemasonry. I took an obligation to never discuss Freemasonry with anyone in a clandestine lodge and under the bylaws, this is a clandestine organization. You all remember that part about not being present in a clandestine lodge, or assisting in the initiating, passing, or raising Masons in such a lodge? So it presents an interesting problem.

I am of course grateful for having any fans at all, so I am always cordial. But unfortunately we have to mind our obligations when these sorts of instances happen. Likewise we have to be mindful of "fake lodges". Recently a listener asked me to do a piece on the "International Free and Accepted Modern Masons" because he was considering joining. I had to inform him that this organization is a for-profit organization, and is in fact clandestine. Apparently they approached him about joining.

More and more these clandestine organizations are popping up and it's up to us to recognize them and report them. They are doing nothing for our brotherhood except making money off of the allurement of our excellent institution.  Tread carefully my Brothers.

All the best,

~SKRJ

Sir Knight Robert Johnson is a Freemason out of the First North-East District of Illinois. He belongs to Waukegan Lodge No. 78. He is also a member of the York Rite bodies Royal Arch, Cryptic Council and Knights Templar. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts a weekly Podcast (internet radio program) Whence Came You? which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. In addition, he produces video shorts focusing on driving interest in the Fraternity and writes original Masonic papers from time to time. He is a husband and father of three. He works full time in the safety industry and is also a photographer on the side as well as an avid home brewer. He is also working on two books, one is of a Masonic nature.

Was A Freemason Responsible For The American Civil War?

by Midnight Freemasons contributor

Todd E. Creason



Abraham Lincoln- the last casualty of the Civil War.

We all learned the same story.  On April 12, 1861, shortly after Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated, the Civil War began when the first shots were fired by the rebel army on Fort Sumpter when Lincoln ordered the Fort, which was desperately low on provisions, to be supplied.  There’s no question that’s when the war between the states began—right?

Actually, no—that’s incorrect.

In early 1861, the President of the United States, and Freemason, James Buchanan would have been very pleased to let the already simmering Civil War fall on the shoulders of the man that would follow him in a very short time—Abraham Lincoln.  To say that President Buchanan was ill-prepared to handle something as volatile as the Civil War is putting it mildly.  There is a reason I never profiled James Buchanan in my Famous American Freemasons series.  Buchanan wasn’t a very good example, and history remembers him as the President that could have, and should have done more to prevent the war between the states.  If he had, he could have saved 600,000 lives on both sides of the bloody conflict. 

15th President and Freemason James Buchanan

However, in January of 1861, the recently occupied garrison in Charleston Harbor, called Fort Sumpter, was running desperately low on supplies.  The pressure on Buchanan was  tremendous, and he was backed into a corner, and ordered the merchant vessel the Star of the West to resupply the garrison.  But a Confederate sympathizer in Buchanan’s own cabinet, Secretary of State John Floyd, tipped off the rebel army that the supply ship was coming, and the rebel army was ready.  The first shots of the Civil War were fired on the Star of the West on January 9, 1861, when the Confederate Army unleashed its first heavy artillery bombardment of the Civil War against the supply ship.  Three of those shots hit the Star of the West, and the ship quickly turned tail and ran back to open water.

The first shots of the Civil War had already been fired, months before Abraham Lincoln became President of the United States. 

Of course one of the first things Lincoln did as President was to re-order the provisioning of Fort Sumpter.  If they were low on supplies in January, they were desperate and starving in April.  This second attempt to re-supply Fort Sumpter is the one history remembers and we learned about in school—those shots that were fired on April 12, 1861.

So yes, the President of the United States at the time the first shots were fired during the American Civil War was a Freemason. 

The Masonic Record: 

James Buchanan was a member of Lancaster Lodge No. 43, Pennsylvania.  Abraham Lincoln petitioned Tyrian Lodge in Springfield, Illinois in 1860, and later withdrew his petition when he decided to run for President of the United States.  He was afraid his petition would be seen as an attempt to pander for the votes of Freemasons—something he was unwilling to do.  It was his intention to re-submit his petition and receive the degrees of Freemasonry after his Presidency was over—a promise he never had a chance to fulfill. 

 

~TEC

Additional Note:  It has long been believed that L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz based his character of the Wizard on James Buchanan.  The wizard being a man ill-prepared for the high office of leadership he held, and ill-prepared to deal with a conflict like the Wicked Witch of the West.  The Wizard held the highest office in the land, but behind that title, there was no real leadership.  It was nothing besides smoke and mirrors.  This same theory applies to the Scarecrow, who is believed to be based on the character of Abraham Lincoln.  A man from the fields and farms of the Midwest, who many believed didn’t have the brains to run the country, and surprised everyone with what he was able to do with his homespun ability to get his ideas across, and his common sense leadership style.  Most of us don’t know the rest of the story of Wizard of Oz, but eventually, the Scarecrow becomes a great leader in the land of Oz. 

Freemason Wisdom: Eddie Rickenbacker On Friendship

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor
Judy Gordon 
 
"I would rather have a million friends than a million dollars." 

~Eddie Rickenbacker

They say things happen in threes . . . good or bad. I like to focus on the good. Illinois Job's Daughters had their Grand Session from June 21-24, 2012. As previously mentioned, I was presented with the Degree of Royal Purple . . . then on Saturday, Illinois Job's Daughters held their elections for the Grand Line. I stood up and was elected as the Grand Marshal, which means in 2015-16, Michael Troy and I will be the Grand Guardian and Associate Grand Guardian of Illinois (scary). I bet you are wondering what the third thing is . . . On Monday June 25, Ray and I became grandparents again--another grandson.  Welcome to the world Emery. 

Those three things are not worth a million dollars . . . they are priceless . . . and my friends are priceless. They are there when you need them . . . and I can count on my Masonic heritage for that!

~JAG

Judy Gordon is very active in Job's Daughters. She's the Past Honored Queen, and Bethel Guardian of Bethel No. 55, Pekin (IL). She received the Cryptic Masons Masonic Youth Leadership Award along with her husband, Ray Gordon in July 2007. She's also Past Matron of the Morton Chapter No. 974 (IL) of the Order of the Eastern Star and Historian of the Emblem Club No. 424 of Pekin (IL) Judy is the recipient of the Degree of Royal Purple (2012) and elected as the Grand Marshal for Illinois Job's Daughters (2015-16). Ray and Judy have three grandkids, and a very spoiled dog, Reggie (who incidentally volunteers as a Therapy Dog at local hospitals and nursing homes.)