On Neckties and Freemasonry or: How Forgetting The Windsor Made Me Love Ritual

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Adam Thayer

For many years, I worked in a sales position which required me to wear a necktie. Before that point, I had never worn a tie outside of weddings, funerals and interviews--so learning new and interesting knots kept me amused for many weeks on end, before I finally settled on the classic and simple Windsor.

I tied that Windsor with fat ties and with skinny ties; with solid colors, patterns, and prints; I even tried tying it in a bowtie (just a note, don’t do that). I tied it so often, I could tie it in my sleep and that is not an exaggeration; my wife once woke me up to ask me what I kept doing to my neck while I was sleeping. That knot saw me through the advancing line in two lodges, multiple annual communications of our Grand Lodge, and more degrees than I can remember.

About a year ago, I changed jobs, and the dress code in my current position could be generously described as business casual. It was a large change in mindset as well as in wardrobe, and it has taken a lot of time to get used to not needing to wear a full suit every day. Of course, on lodge nights, I still wear a suit to work, because my office is only a block from my lodge, and it’s just easier to not drive home to change.

All of that is background information for the rest of this story.

Last Friday, I was preparing for work as usual, and since it was a lodge night I was going through the usual motions of getting the full suit and tie on, and all of a sudden, I couldn’t remember how to move my hands to make the tie work! Now, I could blame this on the early hour, or a lack of sleep (I have a one year old daughter who doesn’t believe in sleep), but the truth is, I forgot because I was out of practice. Something that used to be as natural as breathing to me had, through neglect, turned into something foreign and strange.

While I was searching the internet, trying to find the motions to make my favorite knot, I couldn’t help but compare my memory lapses to what I’ve seen happen so many times in lodge: forgetting ritual.

When we’re new to lodge, we’re often so excited to take part that we work extra hard to learn the ritual work. I remember hopping from one role to the next, learning lectures, even picking up parts that (in Nebraska) aren’t required to be memorized. For many of those lectures, I performed them so often that I was concerned that I would start reciting them in my sleep as well, which would lead to interesting conversations with my wife for sure!

But, as time has gone by, I’ve stepped back from a lot of the ritual work to let newer members have their chance to shine. I still end up doing something in most of the degrees that my lodge holds, but as I have taken a less active role, I’ve noticed something: I’m forgetting ritual! The ritual that I hold so dear and close, and I find myself slipping on words that used to flow smoothly.

You see, only half of the work for any skill really goes into learning it. The hard part is the other half of the work; once you’ve learned it, you have to stay fresh with it, or it will start to slip away.

So now, I’m starting to practice my ritual again, while I’m getting dressed for lodge. It starts crossing the tie over, and the two most powerful words I’ve ever learned: My Brother...

~AT

Bro. Adam Thayer is the Junior Warden of Lancaster Lodge No 54 in Lincoln (NE) and the Worshipful Master of Oliver Lodge No. 38 in Seward (NE). He’s an active member of the Scottish Rite, and Knight Master of the Lincoln Valley Knights of Saint Andrew. Adam serves on the Education Committee of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. You can contact him at adam.thayer@gmail.com

AMD - Masonic Week 2016 Wrap-up

By Midnight Freemason Contributor

W.B. Gregory J. Knott

Greg Knott and Jason Richards

I attended the 2016 AMD – Masonic Week that was held in Crystal City, Arlington VA near the Reagan National Airport. This was the first year for this location after the last three in Reston, Virginia. For those that don’t know, this event is organized by the Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD) and is co-hosted by several other Masonic organizations such as the Knight Masons, Blue Friars, The Masonic Society, etc. It is a four day event running Thursday – Sunday that includes business meetings, special degrees, expensive dinners and most importantly lots of great conversations.

This event tends to attract many of the big names in Masonry such as Brent Morris, Thomas W. Jackson, Jason Richards, Jon Ruark, Robert Davis and more. Its great fun getting to speak with them person. In all, there are typically 300-400 brethren from around the United States and a foreign lands that come to DC for this meeting.

Many of the masonic bodies that hold their meetings here are invitational only and seem to have many of the same members who simply trade sashes and titles between the various business meetings. However that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do at AMD – Masonic Week. For example, I attended the Society of Blue Friars to see Michael Halleran become a member of this esteemed body. Blue Friars are a group of masonic authors and one can only be elected by the membership. Their meetings are open to the public however and it always includes a great lecture.

On Saturday afternoon, I was initiated into The Royal Order Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord of the United State of America, which is a relatively new body in the United States having been established here in 2012 via the United Kingdom. There are 6 grades to this order and I was given the first 3. A very interesting experience. The brethren who performed the degrees did a great job in putting on the degrees.

Take a look at the Masonic Week website for more details on what takes place during this event. If you ever have the chance to attend, I highly recommend it. I want to especially thank Brother Moises Gomez of New Jersey who does a great job in coordinating the entire event. Without his efforts it wouldn’t happen.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters

The Fraternity Needs a Lighthouse

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

WB Bill Hosler

Recently I saw a photo of a lighthouse being hit with a giant tidal wave. Mother Nature hit this edifice with everything she had and it not only withstood the force of the wave but the lighthouse continued to stand and its beacon still shining it's light to the world. 

Lighthouses are designed to warn ships of upcoming dangers; coral reefs, shoals, shallow water and harbor entrances.  Anything that may cause a vessel to sink, incur damage or cause loss of life. Their light shines in order to make navigating the seas a better, safer place. 

When constructing a lighthouse the builder would pick a solid, level area in which to lay a solid foundation using only the finest materials available to him in that area. Upon the foundation the more modern lighthouses were built using rocks or stones cemented together into one majestic edifice which, if properly maintained, can withstand the elements and continue to be at the benefit of man for an eternity. 

I would like to think our gentle craft is much like that lighthouse. Our Fraternity was built upon a solid foundation of faith, hope and charity.  Each stone of that lighthouse is emblematic of the Brethren which comprise the membership of our craft. Each one of us were once rough stones which, much like the Temple of King Solomon were chiseled and shaped by the builder with the working tools of Masonry until those stones, like us, were hewed, squared and leveled to the builders requirements. 

These stones are united into one common mass and strengthened by the spreading of cement which, when hardened, allowed the builder to complete this collection of individual stones into a structure which produces light, and which when used properly can help us ward off all approaching danger and become a benefit to mankind for the ages to come. 

The world will never know how many people throughout history were saved from an early, watery grave because the light from those lighthouses alerted the crews of those vessels and kept them on a safe path to their final destination. Much like we will never know how many men have been saved from a life of disrepute and dishonor because they were taught and learned to apply the teachings of our humble craft to their life and used the light of Freemasonry to help them subdue their passions. 

Any man made structure requires constant maintenance to ensure its long time service. Preservationists must continue to inspect and repair parts of the building which have begun to weaken or fall apart. The light source which is the reason for the buildings existence must also be constantly maintained or the source replaced and perhaps upgraded to ensure the lighthouse’s relevance. If the lighthouse no longer produces light, chances are the edifice would be abandoned and the entire building would begin to crumble and eventually, cease to exist. 

Many people contend Freemasonry has begun to follow down the path of that neglected lighthouse. In our zeal for greatness in numbers we have ceased to continue to maintain or upgrade our light source. 

Dues which no longer cover the costs of running our lodges and the living stones have begun to crumble away. The cement which should merge us into one sacred band of friends and Brothers has begun to crack as our meetings which were once a source of enlightenment and friendship have degraded into a two hour long argument over the costs of basic supplies like toilet paper and light bulbs. Like pieces of dried mortar our members drop away never to be seen again. 

Even when the Brethren want to maintain their symbolic lighthouse many times they aren't allowed to even try because of “building codes” of a far away Grand Lodge who micromanage and oversee everything. Many common and sensible solutions cannot be applied to fix their lighthouse because of the over regulations of Grand lodges and when the workers asked the reason for the rule they are told it's because “we've always done it that way.” All the while, the stones begin to fall away from our lighthouse and sadly can’t be replaced. These poor workmen have to stand by and watch in frustration as their beloved structure falls apart. 

The light source itself may also become dim from lack of maintenance. A century ago the light was produced by a single source, provided by a candle or a lamp which was reflected into a large lens and then it was magnified, and could be seen for miles. Think about that: One spark from a small candle or lamp could provide lifesaving light for miles away. What if the fuel source for that light wasn't replenished on a regular basis? Without the fuel, there is no light and the entire shore would be cast into darkness and sadly vessels approaching the perils of the shore would not receive warning and their passengers would perish. 

Sadly in the last half century our lodges have not been replacing the fuel of Masonic light, allowing many of the followers of King Solomon to be cast into the darkness. Lodge meetings have become a place to discuss fundraisers to supplement the deficit in the lodge treasury which unrealistically low dues and charity events which will get the lodge's name in the local newspaper in hopes of bringing more men to the door of the lodge. The source of light being Masonic Education and Charity have been extinguished in order to try to bring in new members. 

The light of Masonry has been dimmed in our lodges because in the last half century our Fraternity has chosen bureaucracy and membership numbers over Masonic Education and Masonic Charity. 

When the light of a lighthouse has been dimmed due to circumstances like fog the keeper will turn on a foghorn. A fog horn is a device which emits a loud sound to warn vessels when the lighthouse is too dim to be seen. A loud cry in the darkness to warn others in order they may ward off all approaching danger. 

I hope this paper will be seen as a foghorn which warns others of the dangers of a dimmed light source. The Grand Edifice of Freemasonry may be in a state of disrepair, but it is far from being to the point it needs to be torn down. Our foundation is as solid and level as it was when it was first laid. 

We must begin to repair what time and neglect have done to our lighthouse using quality materials and upgrade all operation systems to ensure we can withstand whatever is being thrown at us and to keep our light shining for centuries to come. 

~BH

WB Bill Hosler was made a Master Mason in 2002 in Three Rivers Lodge #733 in Indiana. He served as Worshipful Master in 2007 and became a member of the internet committee for Indiana's Grand Lodge. Bill is currently a member of Roff Lodge No. 169 in Roff Oklahoma and Lebanon Lodge No. 837 in Frisco,Texas. Bill is also a member of the Valley of Fort Wayne Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in Indiana. A typical active Freemason, Bill also served as the High Priest of Fort Wayne's Chapter of the York Rite No. 19 and was commander of of the Fort Wayne Commandery No. 4 of the Knight Templar. During all this he also served as the webmaster and magazine editor for the Mizpah Shrine in Fort Wayne Indiana.

Wise Counsel

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Adam Thayer

In the Master Mason degree, we are assigned a duty, that we will whisper wise counsel into the ear of an errant brother, which is such a beautiful sentiment that I can’t help but believe most of us don’t truly understand the ramifications of it. This is such an important duty that many jurisdictions claim it as one of the duties of the chaplain, situated as he is on the immediate left of the Worshipful Master, and for this reason it is generally understood that this position is filled by an active Past Master of the lodge, who is best in a position to give advice as needed to a new Worshipful Master. In light of this, perhaps we should spend a few moments reflecting on the full meaning of this duty.

There are many parts to this particular duty, which I will attempt to break down as simply as possible. First, to whisper. Before I tell you how important this is, I should admit up front that I fail miserably at it. My friends, if they’re being generous, would describe me as having a loud mouth. I shudder to think of what they would tell you if they are not feeling generous. To whisper, for me, is to actively fight my natural inclination to shout loudly when I see an injustice, to choose only those words that create the proper meaning in a positive way, and to tell it directly to those who most need to hear it, or are in the best position to change something. This, to me, comes at a great cost; as a writer and an entertainer, I am rather verbose, and want my writings read by everyone. Hopefully, you have already conquered the first challenge better than I, but if not I encourage you to add being quiet to your list of virtues to meditate on.

Wise counsel requires that the information we pass on is both helpful and intelligent. If I were to explain the whole of Masonic history to you, that may be wisdom, but it is not counsel. By the same argument, if I recommend that you come to lodge in the nude (excepting the apron, which is the proper dress of a Mason), that is definitely counsel, but far from wise. Wise counsel, therefore, requires not only giving advice, but to give intelligent advice that can be used to help correct the current situation.

To whisper wise counsel in the ear of a brother requires courage, especially when it is a brother who has strayed from the path. It isn’t easy to tell someone they are doing something wrong, especially someone you care about. If you analyze the situation, you will usually find that they are better off for your intervention than they would be if you ignored the situation.

Generally, I try to avoid giving unsolicited advice, because it never seems to end well, however our duties do not allow us that option for a brother. We are specifically charged to watch our brothers, to hold them accountable for their actions, and to help them to be better. In short, we ARE our brothers’ keepers.

Ask yourself this difficult question: if you saw a brother about to commit a crime, would you try to stop them? It is not a rhetorical question, please send me an e-mail with your answer and your reasoning.

Of course, we all want to say “Yes, absolutely, I would try to stop my brother from erring.” Sitting behind the comfort of a keyboard, it is so easy for me to say that I would, without a doubt. Out there, in the real world, the story may be different. Maybe it is too embarrassing for me to say something, or I don’t feel I have the right to correct them because, after all I’ve made plenty of mistakes too, or maybe I was just too tired so I turned the other way instead of helping. There are so many easy excuses, because it’s so much easier to just stay out of it.

Where do you draw the line? If you saw a brother about to murder someone, I feel safe that all of us would intervene, but what if it wasn’t something so obviously wrong? What if it was a brother stealing from work, or cheating on his wife, or just jaywalking? Just how far does your obligation extend?

Freemasonry teaches us in a different way than we are used to; instead of treating us like we’re children, and presenting pure, easy to follow examples, it knows that we are adults, and so presents us with situations where there are not any clear answers, and then challenges us to discover what the answers are within the framework of our own morality. It seems intentionally designed to force us to be better men!

~AT

Bro. Adam Thayer is the Junior Warden of Lancaster Lodge No 54 in Lincoln (NE) and the Worshipful Master of Oliver Lodge No. 38 in Seward (NE). He’s an active member of the Scottish Rite, and Knight Master of the Lincoln Valley Knights of Saint Andrew. Adam serves on the Education Committee of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. You can contact him at adam.thayer@gmail.com