Masonic Facts & Fun

(last update Saturday, 10/05/02)

"Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." Matthew 7:7

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

-"If you judge people, you have no time to love them" ~Mother Teresa

POEM OF THE WEEK

Seven by Three

Wisdom, Beauty, Strength

Measured by height and width and length.

Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth:

From age, from manhood, from youth.

Charity, Hope, Faith:

Which extends beyond the grave?

South, East, West:

Who works and agrees is best.

Plumb, Level, Square:

Spread the Light everywhere.

Holy Bible, Square, Compass:

Teach the Highest Lessons to each of us.

Friendship, Morality, Brotherly Love:

We prepare the Celestial Lodge Above.

-Author unknown-

FACTS OF THE WEEK

Masonic Dates

Masonic Group	Abbreviation Full Name Translation How Computed	Rationale
Common practice	A.D. Anno Domini Year of Our Lord current year	Said to date from the birth of Jesus Christ (which actually probably took place around 4 B.C.)
Craft Lodges ("basic" Freemasonry)	A.L. Anno Lucis Year of Light add 4,000 to current year	It is said that Bishop Usher in 1611 computed that date the world began as 4,000 B.C. (actually he said 4,004 B.C.)
Royal Arch Freemasonry	A. Inv. Anno Inventionis Year of the Discovery add 530 to current year	The 2nd Temple in Jerusalem was begun in 530 B.C., and it is said that certain items were discovered then.
Cryptic Masonry Royal & Select Masters	A. Dep. Anno Depositionis Year of the Deposit add 1,000 to current year	King Solomon's Temple is said to have been completed in 1,000 B.C., and certain items are said to have been deposited then.
Knights Templar Commandery	A.O. Anno Ordinis Year of the Order subtract 1,118 from current year	The medieval Knights Templar Order was founded in 1118 A.D.
Scottish Rite	A.M. Anno Mundi Year of the World until Sept. add 3,759 to current year after Sept. add 3,760 to current year	Same as the Hebrew calendar, from the supposed creation of the world in 3760 B.C.
Order of High Priesthood	A.B. Anno Benefacionis Year of Blessing add 1,913 to current year	Abraham is said to have been blessed by the High Priest Melchizedek in 1913 B.C.
Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests	A.R. Anno Renascent Year of Revival subtract 1,686 from current year	This Order is said to have been revived in 1686 A.D.

DID YOU KNOW?

Time and the Virgin

BURIAL PLACE The burial place of a Master Mason is under the Holy of Holies, with the following legend delineated on the monument:-A virgin weeping over a broken column, with a book open before her; in her right hand a sprig of acassia, in her left an urn; Time standing behind her, with his hands enfolded in the ringlets of her hair. The weeping virgin denotes the unfinished state of the temple : the broken column that one of the principal supporters of Masonry (H.A.B.) has fallen; the open book implies that his memory is recorded in every Mason's heart; the sprig of acassia refers to the discovery of his remains; the urn shews that his ashes have been carefully collected, and Time standing behind her implies that time, patience, and perseverance will accomplish all things.

The fear of the LORD is the begining of knowledge:

but fools despise wisdom and instruction." {Proverbs 1:7}

Members of M. W. St. James Grand Lodge, A.F.&A.M.

&

Queen Beatrice Grand Chapter, O.E.S.

Click here:

to be added to the e-mail address list.

Email comments or suggestions