Wednesday, September 25, 2013

On The Level

"There are some who despise those they would make, if they could, a species below them, and as not made of the same clay as themselves"; "But if you study the holy book of God, you will there find that you stand on the level not only with them, but with the greatest kings on the earth, as Men and as Masons..."

John Marrant, A Sermon Preached on the 24th day of June 1789, Excerpted from "Black Square and Compass" by Joseph A Walkes, Jr.

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Warden's Staff

"The master masons of the medieval period still retained knowledge akin to that used by our ancient forebears about how to us the Sun, probably at the time of the equinox, to determine what to them was a standard unit of measure, a unit that they could easily replicate and retain by cutting a pole, or rod, to the length of the resultant shadow."

Kevin Gest, The Secrets of Solomon's Temple

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Pure Fire


"In the Proverbs, Solomon proceeds as through meditation. In Ecclesiastes, he ascends to the first grade of contemplation. In the Song of Songs, and he transports himself to the final grade."
- Hugh of St Victor on Pure Fire

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Brotherly Love

"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."
1 John 2:10-11

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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Prince Hall Jurisdictional Regularity

"It has been held by many writers that the issue of this warrant was, in fact, an infringement of jurisdiction - but they fail to say whose jurisdiction for there were, at that time, two Grand Lodges in Massachusetts. And in any event the British Grand Lodges have never accepted the American doctrine of exclusive jurisdiction."

http://www.thephylaxis.org/walkes/draffen.php

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Saturday, September 7, 2013

Every Moment

"Every moment we live through is like an ambassador who declares the will of God, and our hearts always utter their acceptance."
Jean-Pierre de Caussade (1675 - 1751)

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

The Unity of Masonry

The following quote is excerpted from a magazine from the year 1859. I have left the spelling of terms as written, although they display a general ignorance of other religions in the world.  The intent is not to offend Muslims, Hindus, Jews, or Buddhists, but to show the general attitude of Freemasonry, even in ignorance of the specifics, toward universal acceptance of men of all religions, and the attempt to define what unites all of us irrespective of sect or creed.  I believe we have misinterpreted this acceptance to believe that almost no religion is favorable to any specific religion.  I don’t know where we went off the path.

“As Christian Masons, acknowledging the divinity of Christ, we have introduced the Bible into our lodges to manifest our belief in the doctrines which it inculcates; in like manner the followers of Moses, Mahomet, and Burmah may introduce into their masonic assemblies their Pentateuch, their Alcoran, and their Vedan, and yet the unity of masonry would remain – the essential principles on which she moves would be the same – she would still declare to her votaries, I regard not to what sect you attach yourselves; venerate the popular religion of your respective countries; follow the light of your understanding; forget not however the doctrine of the religion of nature; adore the Great Architect of the Universe, acknowledge the immortal soul, and look forward to a state of future retribution, when the virtuous of all religions and countries shall meet together and enjoy never-fading bliss.”

The American Freemason; A Monthly Magazine, Volume III (1859)

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Monday, September 2, 2013

Worse than an Infidel

"Let diligence, temperance, and sobriety be the prevailing habits of your domestic life; that idleness and extravagance may never, in any instance, cause your families to lament your want of conjugal and parental affection. He that careth not for his own household, cannot be a Mason; he is worse than an infidel."

Jethro Inwood, Sermons

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St. Denis Cathedral


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On Death

"Let me die the death of the just, that no injustice may ensnare or wickedness seduce me. How good the death that does not take away life, but makes it better; good in that the body does not perish but the soul is exalted. "
St Bernard of Clairvaux

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First Survey of The Tyler's Sword

The Tyler's Sword Project has released its first survey, and is asking Freemasons of Prince Hall Affiliation to provide some basic information about themselves, their Lodges, and their Grand Lodges. You can find and fill out the survey at this link:
http://www.tylerssword.info/survey-1
The Project is managed by Freemasons of Prince Hall Affiliation. The first survey will be closed on Sunday September 15, 2013. The results will be compiled into statistics and released as a report on October 1, 2013. You can follow the activities and announcements of the project at any of the accounts below:
At the Project website:   www.tylerssword.info
On Twitter:     https://twitter.com/TylersSword
On Facebook:   facebook.com/tylersswordproject
On Google+:  +the tyler's sword project
By Email:  https://groups.google.com/d/forum/tylerssword
Please "like", "+1", "Share", "Retweet", or "forward" this information for other PHA Freemasons.
You can contact the project at tylersswordproject@yahoo.com with any questions.

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