Ø 1390 Regius Poem described a society of artists, who worked in stone, mortar and marble. Their canvases were hillsides and valleys. Their arts were Architecture, Mechanics and Geometry. They kept their knowledge confined to themselves.
Ø June 24, 1717 St John the Baptist day - G.L. of England formed. Anthony Sayer was elected Grand Master, a third Degree was added to the 2 Operative degrees.
Ø 1730 Charter issued to Lodge in Philadelphia, the first Colonial American Lodge. Provincial Grand Masters were appointed by the Grand Lodges to oversee their activities.
Ø 1738 Pope Clement XII issues Bull condemning Freemasonry for being an Association "that meets in secrecy with private ceremonies and unknown motives."
Ø 1751 Second Grand Lodge formed in England. The two grand Lodges evolved into the Ancients and Moderns, a distinction without a difference.
Ø 1775 Prince Hall & 14 other free Black men initiated in Lodge #441, Irish Constitution
Ø 1784 African Lodge #1 in Boston chartered
Ø 1850 TMWGLF&AM California Chartered
Ø Jan 14, 1882 Mlle. Maria Desraimes initiated in Les Libres Penseurs Lodge in Pecq, under the jurisdiction of La Grand Loge Symbolique de France. The Lodge's Charter was suspended, and La Grand Loge Symbolique Ecossaise was formed April 4, 1893.
Ø 1884 Pope Leo XIII issues Humanim Genus, prompted by Gabriel Gorgand De Pages/Leo Taxil.
The Doctrine of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction
Co Masonry
Humanum Genus
Landmarks
Old Charges
Ø Epsilon Chai Iota Tau Epsilon Chai Iota Tau
Ø “Masonry is” quote
Ø What is a symbol?
o Definitions
§ Something that stands for something else
§ Excites or inspires
o Description
§ Something we all sense, that reminds us of a moral principle
Ø Literal vs. Symbolic
o Letter “G”
§ We pay respects to what the “G” represents
§ In ritual, it would make no difference if it is “G” or not
§ In law, it must be “G”
o VoSL
§ Candidate is obligated on HIS Holy Book
§ Ritual says “The Holy Bible”
o Cheery Tree
§ Story does not depend on fact
o Legend
§ Hyram could have lived to old age.
§ No one killed in KST – would have been recorded
§ No one could have been buried near Temple, much less Sanctom Sanctorum
§ No Cremation – no urn, no ashes
Ø Sharp distinction in ritual
o “Sacred History”, “Great Jewish Historian Josephus”
§ Probably factual to history
o “Masonic Tradition”
§ Undoubtedly allegory
Ø Well-applied symbol has personal meaning
o Vague, so individual can develop individual interpretation and application.
o “It is not so important that we agree on the answers. What is important is that we agree on what questions need to be asked.”
Ø Rainbow
Ø Red Light
Ø Meaning is symbolic and inspires, law is literal and governs.
Ø Operative, Speculative, Applied
Ø The Blind Men and the Elephant
The Masonic Apron The Masonic Apron
FREEMASONRY & THE ATTENTIVE EAR
BFMN
Dollar Bill Myth
Das Vergissmeinnicht "The Forget-Me-Not"t
The Hiram Abif legend in Freemasonry-
LAST NIGHT I KNELT WHERE HIRAM KNELT
