Billy Graham: Freemason Or Not?

"Give me five minutes with a person's checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is."

~Reverend Billy Graham

Harry S. Truman and Billy Graham

Another person that is often cited as being a Freemason is Billy Graham.  It's hard to say where this rumor began, but as with so many of these cases, the "evidence" seems to be centered on photos of awkward handshakes. 

Perhaps part of it was this photo of Billy Graham and Harry S. Truman shaking hands.  Truman was a very active Freemason before, during and after his Presidency, and was the Past Grand Master of Masons in Missouri.  The rumor about Rev. Graham has persisted for years, however, Billy Graham is not a Freemason.  He's made that quite clear, and his organization even released this email nearly fifteen years ago. 

Subject: Freemason

Date: Wed, 16 Jul 97 11:23:21 -0500

From: dkinde@graham-assn.org (Don Kinde)

Thank you for your e-mail message. We understand your concern about rumors that Mr. Graham is in some way associated with Freemasonry. The reports are erroneous — though we continue to hear them. Mr. Graham is not, has not been and does not expect ever to be involved in Freemasonry. Your help in keeping the record as accurate as possible would be much appreciated.


Sincerely,


Don Kinde
Christian Guidance Department
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

So that should answer that question beyond a shadow of a doubt.  Billy Graham is not a Freemason.  Period.

~TEC

Myth of Sisyphus

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Darin A. Lahners

I graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Minor in Philosophy in 1995. As a philosophy student, I was particularly drawn to Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus and Kierkegaard. At the time, I was also wrestling with my ideas of faith, and belief in God. Ultimately, I made what Kierkegaard calls, The Leap of Faith. You can see my recent article on Atheism for what caused my leap HERE

The reason I bring all of this up is due to an article I read today regarding Camus and his seminal philosophical work, ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’. In it, Camus deals with the question of the absurd. The absurd, philosophically, is the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the inability to find any. What struck me reading the article today is that how much of what Camus struggles with is addressed in Freemasonry, and how while Sisyphus might be posited as the Absurd Hero by Camus, I see him as a Masonic allegory. I’ll get to this in a second.

For those of you who don’t know, Sisyphus was according to Homer, one of the wisest and most prudent of mortals. Sisyphus asks his wife that upon his death, that she cast his unburied body into the town square. Sisyphus dies and wakes up in the underworld to find out that she has indeed fulfilled his request. He is angered that she did not bury him with love to his memory but rather followed his word. He asks Hades to return him to the world of the living so that he can scold his wife for her choice. Sisyphus decides upon his return to the mortal world that he does not want to go back to the underworld. He falls in love with the natural world. He disobeys Hades and does not return. Hermes captures him and returns him to the underworld. He is sentenced to carrying or pushing a massive boulder up a mountain. Once he reached the top of the mountain, the boulder would roll back down the mountain. Sisyphus would then march down the mountain to start the task again. This would happen for all of eternity.

In order to understand Camus, we have to understand what he was interested in. In his own words, he is cited by Michel Onfray in L'Ordre libertaire:La vie philosophique d'Albert Camus as saying: “I am not a philosopher. I do not believe enough in reason to believe in any system. What interests me is how a man can carry on when he doesn’t have faith in God or in reason.” For Camus, there is only one question in Philosophy that matters, "There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide." For him, suicide amounts to a confession that life is not worth living. This confession leads to the “feeling of absurdity”. The feeling of absurdity is his realization as defined above, the human tendency to seek meaning in life and the inability to find any. Ultimately, Camus associates the feeling with absurdity with the feeling of exile. He wonders how we can exist when there is really no reason to continue to exist. He suggests that we have two possible outcomes to this question, hope or suicide. But that there are plenty of contradictions between people’s answer to the question and their actions. There are people that commit suicide because they feel that there is no meaning to life, or that their life is too painful for them to be able to continue living it. There are also people that kill because they feel there is no meaning to life, or that their life is too painful and they want to make other’s life painful as well. Hope nullifies the belief that there is no meaning to life, by means of blind faith.

Camus is interested in trying to find a third alternative, somewhere outside of rational philosophy which he rejects. He also discusses how philosophers in general try to transcend or refute the idea of the absurdity of life. When they do this, he argues that they commit ‘Philosophical Suicide’. Camus goes on to identify a concept of an absurd man. The absurd man acknowledges that there are three consequences of trying to live with the absurd: revolt, freedom, and passion. He suggests that in order to deal with the absurd, that we live life to its fullest, remaining aware that we are by birth condemned to die. His idea of revolt, is that we must with every breath deny the notion that we must die. He also defines his idea of freedom. He discusses how our idea of freedom, that we are free to make our own decisions and define ourselves by our actions, is wrong. He argues that by doing so, we confine ourselves to living out certain roles. That if we see ourselves as the Good Father, employee, citizen, that our actions will be guided by this self-image. This idea of freedom is a metaphysical one: it claims that the universe allows us to choose our own destiny. For Camus, the absurd man can only experience freedom by taking each moment of life as it comes, free of the trappings of a preconception of what our role should be. The absurd man also abandons any notion of values. If there is no meaning to anything we do, there is no reason to make one choice over another. Since we eliminate the idea of the quality of our experiences, we have to apply a standard of quantity. This quantity is what he calls passion. A person that is aware of every passing moment will have a greater depth of experience than someone who is otherwise living to perform a role.

Camus then goes into some case studies regarding the Absurd Man and how to be creative in an absurd world. They are basically illustrations of the points above, so in order to move on to his ideas regarding the Myth of Sisyphus, I will skip them. However, if you want to see how the ideas play out, I’d suggest picking up a copy of The Myth of Sisyphus. Camus identifies Sisyphus as the absurd hero, because of his behavior on earth and for his punishment in the underworld. What Camus is most interested in is Sisyphus’s thoughts at the moment when the rock rolls down the mountain. As he marches back down the mountain, he his conscious of the absurdity of his fate. He understands that his fate is tragic as he understands it and that there will be no parole. He is heroic, according to Camus, because of the lucidity of this understanding. He thinks that Sisyphus might also have joy in approaching this task. He only would have moments of sorrow when he reflects on the material world. When Sisyphus accepts his fate, the feelings of sorrow vanish. Camus thinks that by acknowledging his hopeless fate, he renders it less hopeless. Camus states that “There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn”. Happiness and the absurd are linked by the acknowledgement that our world and our fate is our own, that there is no hope and our life is what we make of it. He concludes that as Sisyphus makes his descent, one must imagine Sisyphus as being happy.

Although Camus would think that Freemasonry would be a way of dealing with the idea of the absurdity of life by means of blind faith, I still see some parallels that can be drawn regarding Sisyphus and Freemasonry. First and foremost, I find the idea that Sisyphus is essentially a worker with stone, albeit in the underworld and for all eternity fascinating. Essentially, the boulder that Sisyphus pushes uphill can be thought of as being a rough ashlar. The boulder being in its rude and natural state. However, over eternity, by the mere work of friction, one would think that the boulder would transform into a smooth boulder, which is more easily pushed uphill (and roll downhill). The perfect ashlar, is that state of perfection that we as Masons hope to arrive by a virtuous education, our own endeavors and the blessing of God. However, as Camus imagines Sisyphus happy by the scorning and acknowledgement of his fate, I imagine Sisyphus as the perfect metaphor for one’s life as a Mason. Only through hard work and determination, can a Mason transform the rough ashlar into a perfect one.

In operative Masonry, the rough ashlar is only made into the perfect one by the use of one of the working tools, the gavel. The gavel is used by Freemasons of divesting our hearts and consciences of the vices and superfluities of life. We use it fit our minds, as living stones, for the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. How do we then transform our minds? By Masonic Education. But what is Masonic Education? There seem to be many definitions, and none of them seem to agree with one another.

Some older members of the fraternity would seem to think that Masonic Education only consists of floor work and ritual. Masonic Education is anything outside of the realm of Instruction, although traditionally it would mean the teaching of the exoteric and esoteric meanings of our Symbols, Philosophy, History and its Objectives. I would argue that while important, the floor work and ritual are taught at Schools of Instruction. There is a semantic different between instruction and education. Instruction is to teach, while education is to educate. My argument being, that when you are instructed to do something, you make it a habit. To use the metaphor of Sisyphus, it can be thought of as the time during which he is rolling the boulder up hill. Instruction is a one way street, directions are given to you, and you are expected to follow those directions. Education, however is a dialogue. It may be an internal or external dialogue, but there is information that is given, processed and digested. IE: when Sisyphus is walking back down the hill, engaged in his debate with himself regarding his fate.

I take the broad view of Masonic Education. As we state our purpose is to take good men and make them better, I see anything that helps in that process as being Masonic Education. One of the Lodges that I belong to, Homer Lodge #199 Illinois AF&AM, has taken this view of Education to heart. In the past six months, alone we’ve had the following Education:

1. The Mayor of Homer, Ray Cunningham, has been to North Korea several times. He shared his experiences and his pictures at our May Stated Meeting.

2. At our April Stated Meeting, we had the local daughters of the American Revolution chapter do a flag presentation, where the members and guest learned about the History of some of the historic American and State of Illinois flags.

3. At our March Stated Meeting, fellow Midnight Freemason Greg Knott, gave a presentation about Arlington National Cemetery and the Masonic connections there.

4. At our February Stated Meeting, I gave a presentation about the Masonic and Boy Scout connections regarding the Fleur De Lis.

5. At our January Stated Meeting, Midnight Freemason Founder Todd E. Creason gave a presentation called Freemasonry: The next three hundred years.

6. At our December Stated Meeting, RWB Raymond Cummings gave a presentation regarding Roslyn Chapel, sharing his experiences and pictures of his visit there.

One of the things that we do at Homer is that we allow guests in (by going to refreshment) after our opening, and then go back to Labor after the education takes place. When there are no guests, but only Masons in attendance, we open and go directly to our education. By making Education the focus of our meetings, we’ve made our meetings more interesting for our members. We’ve also been able to recruit some members along the way. By taking the focus away from the business aspects of our meetings, we have changed the way that our members view Education. Of course it helps to have two other midnight freemasons in the lodge with me. Our lodge is so well regarded in terms of Education that I recently was appointed to the Officer of District Education Officer for the 7thEastern District in Illinois, and Todd E. Creason is soon to be Area Education Officer for the Eastern Area. (He may already have his appointment).

My point is that Education shouldn’t be thought of like Sisyphus’s toil uphill with the boulder. It should be viewed as that respite during which Sisyphus travels downhill. Education can be anything you want it to be. As the incoming Worshipful Master of Homer #199, I plan on continuing our legacy of educational excellence. It’s not that hard to become like Homer. Talk to your Lodge, District or Area Education Officer if you’re finding it to be an uphill battle. It really shouldn’t be. If you’re ever at a loss for Masonic educational pieces, I would suggest looking on Youtube at the Masonic Minute series put together by fellow Midnight Freemason Steve Harrison. These pieces are perfect educational pieces for a busy lodge and short attention spans. But that is just one suggestion. All I’m saying is that when you implement Masonic Education, even Camus might imagine you as happy, which is high praise coming from him.

~DAL

WB Darin A. Lahners is the Worshipful Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL). He’s a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of the new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282, and is the current Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign – Urbana (IL). He is also a member of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. You can reach him by email at darin.lahners@gmail.com.

The Widow's Son

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Robert H. Johnson 32°

This was originally published in 

The Working Tools Magazine November 2013

Boaz and Ruth

Who was the “Widow’s Son”? The answer might seem easily answered, but when one reads of legends, scripture writings, the Apocrypha and other historical documents it becomes apparent that perhaps we cannot answer this question so easily.

In the writings of Masonic scholars we learn of Hiram Abiff, “The Widow’s Son”. There are others referred to as “The Widow’s Son”. It seems this is a title to which more than one can be named. The use of the title is actually traced back to the Grail lore traditions which speak of a descended blood line and specifically reference Ruth.

Ruth, a woman of the Moabite tribe, was married to Boaz, and she was a heroine of the Old Testament. She was also the Great Grandmother of King David. That King David, the father of King Solomon, who built the Temple? Ruth became pregnant, and married Boaz. He was quite a bit older being 80, while Ruth was 40. The book says that Boaz dies the next day. That must have been some wedding night.


From this point on, all the descendants of Ruth, were known simply as “Sons of the Widow”. A genetic title if you will. A genealogy can be traced. Ruth gives birth to the first “Son of the Widow”, Obed, who grows up and bears his son Jesse, who bears his son David who bears his sons Solomon and Nathan.

Using the lineage given in the Gospels of the Christian Bible, Jesus the Nazarene is a descendant of Ruth, making him also, a “Son of the Widow” or “Widow’s Son”. There are forty-five generations from Ruth to Jesus. This leaves an interesting problem for us as Masons. Nowhere in the lineage mentioned in the Bible does it refer to Hiram Abiff.

Knowing this, it seems the trail grows cold in the search for Hiram Abiff’s title of “The Widow’s Son”. The Grail legends were written in a way that lends itself to allegory and therefore, the story cannot be just assumed to mean that Hiram was literally just a son of woman who lost her husband. These legends early on establish this title and what it means, which is a descendant of Ruth or more aptly a descendant of Boaz, either the 31st or 30th generation from Adam if you rely on Luke's genealogy.

Could Hiram Abiff be related somehow to the historical Jesus the Nazarene? The Gospels leave either a cold trail or a definitive “no,” since he isn't mentioned at all in the genealogy given by Luke or Mathew.

Determining that the term “Widow’s Son,” a flip flop of the term “Sons of the Widow,” was not actually meant to refer to a man whose father had passed, but rather the epithet given to the offspring and lineage of Ruth, heroine of “The Book of Ruth” or “Scroll of Ruth” presented in the Old Testament.

When Hiram Abiff is referenced as being a “Widow’s Son”, it is implied that he was of the line of Ruth, who was married to Boaz and from them, according to Luke, a continued line to King David, King Solomon and eventually to Jesus the Nazarene. The problem here is that nowhere in the lineages mentioned in Luke or Mathew does Hiram show up. Was he a distant relative or cousin?

King Solomon was also a “Widow’s Son” in the sense of being of the lineage of Ruth. Is this why King Solomon called for a Tyrian which was handpicked to be the architect of the Jewish Temple of the God of Israel? Could Solomon have hired Hiram since they were family?

Doing detective work in genealogy can be taxing enough when researching ancestry just a few generations removed from the researcher, a task made much more difficult using biblical origins as references.

The lineage of Jacob is vital to this story. Twelve generations prior to the time of King Solomon, and eight generations prior to the time of Boaz, the twelve sons of Jacob were the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. The fourth son of Jacob, Judah, was of the line that included the wise King, and extended through him to Jesus the Nazarene. The sixth son, Naphtali, was the founder of the line that included Hiram Abiff.

 It is elementary to suggest that at the time of Jacob the designation of “Widow’s Son” had not yet been used, however, in his offspring, through time until we reach the time of Ruth, and from then on, it is not so unthinkable that the lineage would have used this epithet when speaking of their heritage or when scholars were recording the history of the time or even the Gospels.

What is it about this lineage which draws the title to it? What was so special? The three largest monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam all regard it [the lineage] with reverence. After all, this lineage contains Adam, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, David, Solomon, Nathan, Zerubbabel and Jesus the Nazarene.

Perhaps the coincidence which ties this lineage together is the ability to create. According to Luke, the line starts with Elohim (The Great Architect of the Universe) and then to Adam. The Christian Bible does not specifically make any magnificent claims to what Adam had ever built, however several other men in this lineage in fact are great builders.

Enoch was the builder of the mythological underground temple consisting of nine vaults with an altar where on the “Stone of Creation” and the Tetragrammaton were said to have been hidden. These legends are featured in the York and Scottish Rites namely the 7th degree in the York Rite called “The Holy Royal Arch” and the 13th degree of the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction, called the “Royal Arch of Solomon”. In recent years it has even been suggested that Enoch was the builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza. The ancient Egyptians are said to have known the Great Pyramid as “The Pillar of Enoch”.

A somewhat obscure reference to that is found in the Bible, “In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt…” Isaiah 19:19.
Noah of course built the mythological Ark to house all of the creations of God that were spared in the legend of the great flood.

Abraham or Abram and his son Ishmael are purported to have built the Kaaba, a cube shaped building in Arabia which is one of the holiest sites for Brothers of the Muslim faith.

King David built a city and his palace and had sons, one of whom was King Solomon, who was responsible for the Temple of Solomon, which we all know is at the center of the teachings of our noble craft. These builders in the original line or “Alpha Lineage” the line that according to Luke starts with God and leads to Jesus the Nazarene go on and on with fantastic accomplishments.

Let us not forget however that there is the allusion to the building of the spiritual temple, a spiritual artificer which Jesus the Nazarene seemed to personify and ages before then the character Freemasonry calls its patron, Hiram Abiff. The handpicked chief architect of the Temple of God. A man to emulate in his duty and fealty to his brothers, both Hiram of Tyre and King Solomon, this is the man we learn about in our  degrees and indeed try to emulate.

The “Alpha Line” is synonymous with “The Widow’s Son”. It could merely be the separation of the generational gap and a more coded obscure way of saying “of the Tribe of Judah” without being abrasive.

It could be that the Tribe of Judah was the main branch of this line and that The Widow’s Sons are an offshoot of the original line but whose closeness to the original line needed to be preserved by means of a title given to these builders.

In the end, we will never know if Adam, Jesus the Nazarene or Hiram were truly related, however it is clear that  The Widows Son is a title given to the offspring of Ruth and her descendants. It is also clear that Freemasonry calls its patron Saint Hiram Abiff a “Widow's Son", who was a builder and that the lessons taught philosophically within our Masonic system have much to do with building as well, the main difference is that we are building our spiritual temples. In the Masonic system we follow in the footsteps of Hiram Abiff but we not only represent him, we physically become him in the degrees and in the end we all end up a “Widow’s Son”. Becoming a Master Mason we all end up being builders of fantastic edifices of hearts, minds and souls.

So brethren, I ask you, “Who is the Widow’s Son?”

Look in the mirror brothers and you will surely see him.

Inspired by a brief article in the Trestle board of Blackmer Lodge #442 F&AM, California by WB John R Heisner

~RHJ

Bro. Robert Johnson, 32° is the Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He 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, Knights Templar, AMD, The Illinois Lodge of Research and a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago as well as a charter member of the Society of King Solomon, a charity organization run by the Grand Lodge of Illinois. 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 currently working on a book of Masonic essays.

The Apprentice of Creation Pt. 2 Working Tools of the Spirit

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

By J.E. Frey, 32°

Part 2 Working Tools of the Spirit

These working tools of the mind and body together symbolize both the force of change in the natural world.   As well as corresponding psychological forces which drive us to change both the world and ourselves, and whether these forces are natural or psychological they are rooted in the same  place: divine consciousness. 

The idea of Divine Consciousness and its direct relation to the individual consciousness is echoed during the ceremony of initiation when the Candidate is brought to light from the darkness. The Rite of Illumination is conducted with aid from the moment of creation itself.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (Gen 1:1-3)

The Apprentice is then brought to light after being inspected and found to be qualified for moral improvement. This moment is closely connected with the Kabalistic moment of creation, the Candidate upon taking his obligation and receiving the light of  “Ein Soph” or Infinite Conscious, Limitless Light. This First Principle of Consciousness is the moment in which Divinity realizes it’s own conscious and potential, just as the Candidate on a psychological level must realize his own connection to the “collected unconscious” which correlates to a step in the psychoanalytic process of “Individuation”. 

Following the Rite of Illumination the Candidate is made know of the lesser lights of the Order, the Sun, Moon, and Master of the Lodge which is a reverberation of the next line found in (Genesis 1:4) “God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night.” 

It is clear to me that this ceremony is recreating the moment of creation of the Apprentice’s individual consciousness, revealing his own inner divinity unto himself. But how does the creation of the individual’s consciousness connect with the meaning of the working tools? It connects through the Kabbalistic creation of the universe. A fundamental premise of the Kabbalistic creation is that there is a pure and indefinable state of consciousness, which manifests as an interaction between force and form, which the Apprentice now brought to light represents. But for the potential for creation to take place is based upon the trinity of consciousness, force, and form. Consciousness emerges with an inherent duality; there is an energy associated with consciousness which causes change or force, (The Gavel) and there is  a   capacity   within consciousness  to constrain that energy and cause it to  manifest in a form (The 24 inch gauge). 

                                                                     First Principle             
                                                                                of                              
                                                                   /  Consciousness   \                                   
                                                                 /     (Ein Sof)             \                  
                                                                /                                   \            
                                                    Capacity                                   Raw                          
                                                   to take form  ______________ Force 
                                                      (Binah)                             (Chokhmah)

                                                                            

So if the Apprentice and his working tools are symbolic for the inner divinity of the Apprentice and his ability to create a spiritual, and psychological change in himself and his environment. The Apprentice should understand that his consciousness and matter and intertwined and unified through divinity. In this theory of creation this unity creates the world of perfect form balanced between heaven and earth.

                                               First Principle

                             of                              

                     /  Consciousness   \                                   

                    /         |          \                  

                   /          |           \            

               Capacity       |           Raw                          

               to take  _____________ Energy/Force

                Form          |

                   \          |           /

                    \         |          /

                     \        |         /

                           Material

                            World

This perfect form, which is the product of the Apprentice’s labor, is the understanding that the perfected man is balanced between his material and spiritual selves. It is at this moment the Apprentice stand in the northwest corner contemplating both the rough, and perfect ashlars. How his own consciousness is connected with infinity, how the force of his will can change the world around him through morality and justice, how his own choice gives form to change, and how true change is both spiritual and psychological. It is a change in social consciousness, a unifying of humanity regardless of ideals, religion, or creed. It is the realization that all is united through act of creation and exists in Infinite Consciousness. That life is but a vision, and that he is but a thought. 

James E Frey, 32° is a Past Sovereign Prince and current librarian of Valley of Danville AASR. Founder of the R.E.B.I.S Research Society he sits on two Blue Lodge Education committees as well as a guest lecturer on Occultism and Esoteric studies in masonry. He is also a Member of the Oak Lawn York Rite, Medinah Shriners, and Golden Dawn Collegium Spiritu Sancti. He also works as a counselor with emotionally and behaviorally challenged children.

The Apprentice of Creation Pt. 1 Working Tools of the Mind and Body

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

By J.E. Frey, 32°

Part 1: Working Tools of the Mind and Body

My Brethren, during the ceremonies of our initiation we dedicate ourselves to mysteries in many ways yet to be reveled to us. I hope each Mason personally found it a very humbling experience, to subject your will into the trust of your unknown brothers. Your faith being well founded and your trust in a stranger’s hands you begin your journey into the darkness of yourself. This feeling resonated with the Apprentice being a “bearer of burden” putting his trust into his brother’s hands to be lowered into the quarries of darkness to cut the stone which would become the spark of creation. 

But the subjection of your will and your personal sacrifice to live up to the standards of the fraternity will not be in vain. Your gift for such dedication and zeal earn you the privilege and opportunity to now wield the working tools of life. These working tools are presented to the Mason at each degree to show how he can specifically build a moral character, but their meaning is steeped with deeper mysteries then we are enlightened upon. 

The first working tool the Apprentice receives is referred to the “Common Gavel” which is said to derive its shape from a gable, or a corner of a foundation, where a corner stone would be laid. The word gavel is derived from the German word Gipfel, which refers to the peak or summit of a mountain. (Mackey,1921) So it can be safe to associate that the gavel has a direct correlation to the idea of the ashlar are a reflection of it both being of a steep design as opposed to a blunt hammer. The gavel is given to remove the rough corners of the rough ashlar, which the Apprentice brings up from the quarry. The Gavel removes all undesired natural material from the stone. These undesired parts are symbolic for the negative aspects of our psyche. In Jungian psychoanalytic psychology the first step in the psychological process of individuation is to face what is known as the shadow archetype accepting the aspects of yourself you do not wish for society to recognize about you. Psychologically the gavel works the same way, we morally must recognize the negative aspects of ourselves and accept that we must have a willingness to change.

Kingston Parish Church

      The idea of the Gavel is given as a symbol of force of power that initiates the act of creation. “It’s a powerful instrument. When used for power alone it can be destructive. But power that is channeled toward good purposes will result in constructive achievement.” (Allan Roberts, 1971) This shows the Apprentice that the force within him is choice, or will. Will is important concept that has been pondered by both theologians and philosophers alike. 

Will is the ability of the individual Mason to affect his environment around him for the better. This force is how the Mason must engage in change of himself for the betterment of society. This force is his first tool to shape society by influence and justice. In the tradition of Masonry the force of the people is liberty. But as the society we build is liberated from oppression and the tyrant, it remains the individual duty of the Mason to enlighten his people through intellectual leadership. 

“The blind Force of the people is a Force that must be economized, and also managed... It must be regulated by Intellect. Intellect is to the people and the people's Force, what the slender needle of the compass is to the ship--its soul…Thought is a force, and philosophy should be an energy, finding its aim and its effects in the amelioration of mankind… The FORCE of the people, or the popular will, in action and exerted, symbolized by the GAVEL, regulated and guided by and acting within the limits of LAW and ORDER, symbolized by the TWENTY-FOUR-INCH RULE, has for its fruit LIBERTY, EQUALITY, and FRATERNITY,--liberty regulated by law; equality of rights in the eye of the law; brotherhood with its duties and obligations as well as its benefits.” (Albert Pike, 1871)

So it is almost placed upon the Apprentice to be a guardian to remain vigil that the motivations of the unjust do not rise and pollute the good reason of society. We are to realize that we must subject our will to the will of the people aiding in civic society and representing the intellect that must guide the force of the people. 

The 24-inch gauge is given to the Apprentice as the symbol of the intellect that must measure and determine which aspects must be removed to create form. It is symbolic for structuring our selves, mainly structuring our force into three equal parts, eight for the service of God, eight for usual vocation, and eight for rest and relaxation. This is symbolic of the formation of our will, or an intellectual birth if you will. Once we as the Apprentice becomes conscious of his ability to structure his potential force he may give that energy form thus creating a change toward a more perfect state. 

James E Frey, 32° is a Past Sovereign Prince and current librarian of Valley of Danville AASR. Founder of the R.E.B.I.S Research Society he sits on two Blue Lodge Education committees as well as a guest lecturer on Occultism and Esoteric studies in masonry. He is also a Member of the Oak Lawn York Rite, Medinah Shriners, and Golden Dawn Collegium Spiritu Sancti. He also works as a counselor with emotionally and behaviorally challenged children.

Martin Luther King: Freemason Or Not?

by Midnight Freemason contributor

Todd E. Creason

(extensively updated from original posted 4/9/12)

Martin Luther King Jr. is universally recognized as one of the principal leaders of the civil rights movement in the United States and a prominent advocate of nonviolent protest. King's challenges to segregation and racial discrimination helped convince many to support the cause of civil rights in the United States.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he was ordained as a Baptist minister at age 18. He graduated from Morehouse College in 1948 and from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951. In 1955 he earned a doctoral degree in systematic theology from Boston University. While in Boston, King met Coretta Scott, whom he married in 1953.  He's also been identified many times over as being a Freemason.

The question is, was Martin Luther King, Jr. a Freemason?  It's a little more complicated than you might think.

It was widely reported in 1999, that the Most Worshipful Brother Benjamin P. Barksdale, Grand Master of Prince Hall Freemasonry in Georgia, posthumously made Dr. Martin Luther King a Mason at sight.

That story has created a huge controversy.  If true, it is one of the few instances (if not the only one) when a man was declared a Master Master after his death. Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King, accepted the honor on behalf of her late husband.

However, some dispute that Martin Luther King was made a Mason at sight--I've received a lot of emails on this post since I originally published it, and articles, etc. that refute those reports.  They say that what Coretta Scott King accepted was actually an honorary membership from Prince Hall Freemasonry for her late husband.

However, what is clear, is that it does seem to have been Dr. King's intention to become a Mason.  Both his father and his grandfather were Prince Hall Masons, and Prince Hall documents indicate that Grand Master X. L. Neal had arranged for Dr. King to become a Freemason upon his return from Atlanta in 1968.  Unfortunately, his assassination in Memphis on April 4th, 1968 prevented that from happening.

So was Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. a Freemason?  

No--Martin Luther King Jr. was never raised a Master Mason.  But without question, Dr. King would have made a fine Mason.  He was, after all, a builder, and his legacy has forever changed the world.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog, and author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series.  He is member of Homer Lodge No. 199, and a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL).  He is a member the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, the York Rite Bodies of Champaign/Urbana (IL), the Ansar Shrine (IL), Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees, and Charter President of the Illini High Twelve in Champaign-Urbana (IL).  He is also the author of the blog From Labor To Refreshment . . .
 

Lewis & Clark Trivia

Brothers Lewis & Clark

We all know who Lewis and Clark were--they lead the Corps of Discovery Expedition across the Pacific Northwest all the way to the Pacific Ocean.  And both men were Freemasons.  Their trek was nearly 8,000 miles and they accomplished it in just over two years.  But there are parts of that journey you may not be aware of.

Faithful companion "Seaman"

~Lewis and Clark were accompanied by a giant Newfoundland dog that weighed somewhere between 110 and 150 pounds.  His name was Seaman, and he made the entire journey.  He often hunted for the explorers, delivering geese, squirrels, and one time an antelope that he caught and drowned in a stream for the men to eat.  He also alerted the camp at night of the approach of grizzly bears and Native American Indian raiders that often stole horses, supplies, and canoes.  He was a very good dog.

~On the return trip home, Lewis was accidentally shot by a member of the Corps of Discovery--one of the party's hunters who was described as blind in one and, and unable to see well out of the other.  He mistook Lewis as an Elk, and shot him in the thigh.

~Despite the long odds, the Corps of Discovery only lost one member of the party.  Sergeant Charles Floyd died of acute appendicitis shortly after the journey began.

~Not only did the Corps of Discovery learn the geography and terrain of the American West, and mapped many of the rivers and streams, but they also learned about 178 plant species and 122 animal species.  They sent many samples they collected back to President Thomas Jefferson--including a live prairie dog!

~Lewis and Clark, by mapping the Northwest territory not only helped establish a claim on the Oregon territory, but because of the great amount of attention the newspapers spent talking about the discoveries of the Corps of Discovery, the idea of Western expansion caught on.  And Jefferson's dream of a nation that stretched from sea to shining sea eventually became a reality.

~TEC

Napoleon Bonaparte: Freemason Or Not?

Few figures in history are more recognizable that Napoleon Bonaparte, military leader and later Emperor of France during the time of the French Revolution.  His legendary ego almost as famous as his exploits.

It’s often been said that Napoleon Bonaparte was a Freemason--initiated into a French Regimental Lodge, probably the Army Philadelphe Lodge in Malta between 1795 – 1798.  But, there has always been some disagreement over that fact. 

Recently, a document from 1805 has surfaced that is supposed to prove that Napoleon was a Freemason.  It is an account of a Masonic dinner attended by “Brother Bonaparte.”  Whether this document ends the controversy or not has yet to be seen.

So I believe in this particular case, it’s safe to say that the jury is still out on whether Napoleon Bonaparte was a Freemason.  

~TEC

L. Ron Hubbard: Freemason Or Not?

L. Ron Hubbard

"Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today, and you make your tomorrow."

~L. Ron Hubbard

Founder of the Church of Scientology

Author and founder of the Church of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, is often said to have been a Freemason. He was friends with Jack Parsons, chemist, and founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratories.   Jack Parsons was also the head of the Agapé Lodge of the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO) in Los Angeles, California, and later head of the Pasadena OTO branch. It is believed that Hubbard was initiated into the OTO in 1944 by either Aleister Crowley or Jack Parsons, in fact, that may very well have been where and when he and Jack Parsons met.  However, whether or not he was member of OTO is of little importance in determining if L. Ron Hubbard was a Freemason--Ordo Templi Orientis is not a Masonic organization.

He may have very well been a member of OTO, but there is no evidence that L. Ron Hubbard was a Freemason.

~TEC

Ron Paul: Freemason Or Not? UPDATE

"I am not & never have been a Freemason."

~Ron Paul

To say I was inundated with responses to my post earlier this week Ron Paul: Freemason Or Not? would be putting it mildly.  I thought I'd offer this as further evidence--a note in his own hand.

Ron Paul is not a Freemason. 

~TEC

Ron Paul: Freemason Or Not?

"Our country's founders cherished liberty, not democracy."

~Ron Paul

Ron Paul has worn many hats in his lifetime.  He's a medical doctor, a U. S. Representative for Texas' 14th District since 1997 (and between 1979-1985 for the 22nd District), an author, and is currently making his third run in the 2012 Presidential election.  Of all the candidates, few can claim to have the kind of enthusiastic support as Ron Paul has enjoyed.


The shocking evidence Ron Paul \
is a Mason!

 It has often been reported that Ron Paul is a Freemason. The evidence seems (again) to be blurry photos of awkward handshakes, and like with George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, photographs of him making a hand gesture that most of us know as the "Rock On" sign.  It seems silly to point out, but Ron Paul is from Texas (like the Bush family)--that would be Longhorn country, and that hand gesture the Masonic conspiracy theorist keep pointing to as evidence is actually a hand gesture used by Longhorn fans . . . you get it now?  And I'll point out again, the hand gesture has no Masonic meaning what-so-ever.

It's spreading!  Would you look at all those Freemasons!
Poised to take over the world, one human pyramid at a time...

Ron Paul's father was a Freemason, and Ron Paul himself has spoken out favorably about Freemasonry on several occassions--he's even given speeches in Masonic Halls (which also seems to be used as evidence he's a Freemason).  But Ron Paul is not a Freemason, as he himself has said numerous times.   

So there you have it.  Ron Paul is not a Freemason.

~TEC