Those Dang Car Decals

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

RWB Robert H. Johnson

Last night on the way home from work, I took serious notice of a "whiz" noise coming from my front left tire. I thought maybe it was under inflated. When I got home, I checked it out and was instead convinced it was a bearing issue. And if its one set of bearings, you can bet the other set isn't far behind. So on my way home the next day, I took my car to the local shop. $900 was the estimate and it needed to get done.

Fast forward a few hours, and about one hundred pages of the book I was reading and the gent called me up to the counter. The Jeep was all set. After some brief conversation about the bearings, he casually said, "I noticed the symbols on the Jeep. Freemasons right?" I confirmed to which he asked, "How does one get started in that?" I smiled politely, opened my wallet and handed him my phone number and said, "You just did."

He gave me his card and number as well, we shook hands and I was off. The "whiz" noise was gone and the Jeep is driving like her old self again.

~RHJ

RWB, Robert Johnson is the Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Waukegan Lodge No. 78 where he is a Past Master. He also serves as the District Deputy for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focus on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry and is also an avid home brewer. He is currently working on a book of Masonic essays and one on Occult Anatomy to be released soon.

Masonic Wisdom: The Wisdom Shouts!

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor

WB Luciano M. Azevedo

"There comes the wisdom, shouting out in the streets, in the public square: Hear my warnings and I will open my heart to you and make you wise!" 1st Proverb of Solomon (Verse 23)

Although King Solomon's writings have been written in Hebrew, I believe the best word to explain the invitation of wisdom is "Metanoia." This word of many vowels is a Greek word that means "Expansion of Mind" or “which goes beyond” / Noia means: mind.

The most propagating or expanding matter is light. So, the expansion of consciousness or the acceptance of the wisdom invitation is often compared by the modern philosophers of the Enlightenment as: the "Light" or the "discovery."

Leaving the darkness of ignorance from the profane world to the Light of Masonry can also be called a process of “Metanoia”

Upon being brought to Light you must have a state of mind in which you are predisposed to change your essence, consequently controlling your judgment, your anger and your desires.

Those who accept this invitation according to our Most Worshipful King Solomon and hear the warnings of the wisdom and let them sink into their hearts, become wise! They learn how to love, to forgive and to perform acts of justice. Therefore accepting this invitation means a complete transformation. A transformation of consciousness not just a change of opinion; It is a change of the way of thinking; It is not just a substitution of an information for another; is actually acquiring more and more knowledge inexhaustibly!

It is like an "insight", a change of our "inner posture", a "revelation" that changes your way of thinking completely. It is not that you change your mind, you change yourself.

This is the idea of metanoia: The Expansion of Consciousness.

Masonic wisdom says, "Come hear my voice. If you go through a “metanoia” you will be completely transformed. You will be more tolerant. Will love more. You will understand that loving your brother is not just about an obligation is pure wisdom."

Fool is the one who rejects it, and who thinks there is more pleasure on ignorance. Changing is very painful for them. They prefer to hide behind silly jokes or the tireless chase for power. They prefer the perverse desires of greed, envy and control... Simply because they are just opinions and wills of an unchanging mind, unable to accept the invitation of WISDOM, so then confined to the lesser and perverse world that has not yet Passed, and Raised through "Metanoia". Through the light that expands…

My prayer: May the Light expand our consciousness and of all regular Masons. May we all accept the “Wisdom Invitation” and therefore, and consequentially, may brotherly love prevail and every moral and social virtue cements us. Amen.

~LMA

WB Luciano M. Azevedo holds an MBA and Bachelor in Business Administration. He has published several scientific and philosophical essays and articles in the secular world. As a sommelier he wrote his own column for a major wine magazine for many years. In Freemasonry Brother “Lou”  has contributed with many articles from a philosophical  basic approach to an ethical decision-making in regards to masonic conduct.  He is the current Worshipful Master of Zurich Lodge 1089 of A.F&A.M of the State of Illinois. W. Bro Luciano is also a member or the Grand Lodge Leadership Committee of the State of Illinois, a  32 Degree active member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago and a Shrine Noble of the Medinah Shriners.

Presidential Inaugurations: Not Always A "Capitol" Affair

by Midnight Freemasons Founder
Todd E. Creason

Brother George Washington taking the oath of office in New York on April 30, 1789

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

~The United States Constitution

Article II, Section One, Clause 8

I think it might be surprising to most Americans just how often United States Presidents have been sworn into office in locations OTHER than the United States Capitol.  It's probably more often than you imagine--it surprised me, and I read about this stuff all the time.  We're so used to the inaugural festivities we enjoy every four years we forget that there have been occasions when the oath of office has not taken place publicly, or not at the United States Capitol.  That was a tradition started with our third President, Thomas Jefferson, when he took the oath of office in the Senate Wing while the building was still under construction.  And as you'll note below, there have been a lot of instances when our Presidents who were also Freemasons were involved--more often than not!

Now most Americans probably know that Brother George Washington never took his oath of office in Washington D.C.  Our capitol didn't exist there yet.  When he took his first oath on April 30th 1789, he did so at Federal Hall in New York City.  During Washington's First Term, the federal capitol was moved to Philadelphia, and he was sworn in for his second term in the Senate Chamber of Congress Hall.  I might note there were two inaugural oaths administered at Congress Hall in Philadelphia--our second President, John Adams, took his oath in the House Chamber there.

The tradition inauguration: Ronald Reagan sworn in at the US Capitol January 21, 1985

Most Americans will also quickly recall that Lyndon Johnson was sworn in aboard Air Force One just hours after the assassination of John F. Kennedy--the images from that day are etched on our collective memory, including that image of Johnson taking the oath with Jackie Kennedy at his side.  Actually, Lydon Johnson began his journey into Freemasonry, but never finished--he was an Entered Apprentice.

The White House has been the the site of many of these swearing in ceremonies.  Brother Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn into his FOURTH term on the White House's South Portico, and barely three months later, when he passed away unexpected, Brother Harry S Truman took the oath of office in the White House Cabinet Room.  After Nixon resigned in 1974, Brother Gerald R. Ford took the oath in the East Room of the White House.  Barrack Obama was sworn in for the second term in a private ceremony at the White House prior to the public inauguration which took place the following day.

And there were other locations within the city of Washington D.C.  As the United States Capitol was being rebuilt after the War of 1812, Brother James Monroe was sworn in at the Old Brick Capitol--that is the current location of the United States Supreme Court.  John Tyler was sworn in at the Indian Queen Hotel (no longer in existence) after the death of William Henry Harrison.  Brother Andrew Johnson was sworn in at Kirkwood House after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Brother Gerald Ford taking the oath at the White House August 9, 1974

Chester A. Arthur took the oath of office at his private residence on Lexington Avenue in New York after receiving word that President (and Brother) James Garfield had succumbed after 80 days to the gunshot wounds of an assassin.   Likewise, Brother Theodore Roosevelt took his oath at the home of a personal friend, Ansley Wilcox, in Buffalo, New York after Brother William McKinley died at the hands of an assassin.

And finally, Calvin Coolidge received the oath of office at his family's homestead in Plymouth Notch, Vermont upon the unexpected death of Brother Warren Harding.  The oath was given to Coolidge by his father, who was a notary public and justice of the peace in the early hours of the morning on August 3, 1923.

As you can see, most often when the oath of office has been given anywhere other than the traditional location at the United States Capitol, it's out of necessity for continuity of the office to be maintained after the unexpected death of the President, or in Nixon's case, his resignation.  Without question, our tradition of swearing in the United States President, and the peaceful transition of power has been a hallmark of our Union from the beginning, and it's a tradition that sets us apart from any other country in the world.

~TEC 

Todd E. Creason, 33°, FMLR is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and is a regular contributor.  He is the award winning author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. He is the author of the From Labor to Refreshment blog.  He is the Worshipful Master of Homer Lodge No. 199 and a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754, where is currently serves as Secretary.  He is the Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees.  He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research. (FMLR) and a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D.  You can contact him at: webmaster@toddcreason.org

300 Years of Freemasonry

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

RWB Robert H. Johnson

300 years! Or  almost, maybe. The year of the founding of the United Grand Lodge of England or UGLE as we say, was supposedly 300 years ago to the day, June 24th (St. John's Day) 1717. New evidence however might point to a later date of 1721. Regardless of this, the UGLE has decided to have a celebration albeit a bit more private. They have limited space etc. You can find out what they have in store by clicking HERE.

We here in the United States can trace our charters back to the UGLE, so it's kind of our celebration as well. What are we doing to celebrate here in the USA? Well, nothing, as far as I know. So, about a year ago, myself as well as the other brothers from The Masonic Roundtable decided to start planning a 300 party, and we released the plans yesterday. This. Is. Happening. Imagine the biggest Masonic celebration ever, education, forums, vendors and all happening at a highly significant place for all Masons. The George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

You're invited. No exclusivity, no invite only bodies, just Freemasons from around the country, meeting on the level for a wonderful experience.

When: June, 23rd and 24th, 2017
Where: George Washington Masonic National Memorial
Tickets: Click here for ticket information and additional details.

I promise you this will be the biggest most amazing time you will have this year. I know I'll be there, how about you?

~RJ