The Masonic Trowel

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MASON(ic- ry - s ) MASON .--.
MASONIC CLUBS, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF.
MASONIC COLORS.
MASONIC GRAND COUNCIL.
MASONIC GRAND SECRETARIES GUILD.
MASONIC HALL.
MASONIC HERO.
MASONIC HYMNS.
MASONIC INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
MASONIC LEAGUE, UNIVERSAL.
MASONIC LITERATURE.
MASONIC NEWSPAPER.
MASONIC POETRY.
MASONIC PROFESSOR.
MASONIC RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
MASONIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION.
MASONIC SIGNS AND TOKENS.
MASONIC SONGS.
MASON, ILLUSTRIOUS AND SUBLIME GRAND MASTER.
MASON OF THE SECRET.
MASON, OPERATIVE.
MASON, PERFECT.
MASON PHILOSOPHER.
MASON,, PRACTICAL.
MASONRY-
MASONRY, OPERATIVE.
MASONRY ORIGIN OF.
MASONRY, SPECULATIVE.

MASONIC CLUBS, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF.
Brother Edgar A. Guest, 33°, says of the club ideal:
A Club of Masons, tried and true, beneath a kindly sky of blue.
A Club of Masons, pledged to good, an everlasting Brotherhood.
A Club of Masons, triple-bound to God and Man; where could be found
A happier place for mirth and play or sweeter rest at close of day?
Where could friendship firmer grow or life a rarer influence know?
The National League of Masonic Clubs is a brotherhood of elubs which consists exclusively of Master Masons in good standing in Lodges under the Jurisdiction of regular Grand Lodges. In March, 1905, Brother S. R. Clute, Secretary of the Masonic Club of Syracuse, New York, with the consent and cooperation of his club, decided to send out a call to the Masonic Clubs then it existence in New York State asking them to appoint representatives to a meeting in Syracuse to consider the advisability of working out a plan to provide for the interchange of courtesies to visiting members of Masonic Clubs in the State. Pursuant to this call there assembled at Syracuse, April 20, 1905, in the rooms of the Masonic Temple Club, representatives from several clubs as follows: Brother E. M. Brown, President, and S. R. Clute, Masonic Temple Club, Syracuse; Worshipful Brother George W. Arnold, Secretary, Masonic Club, New York; Worshipful Master Judson Bridenbecker and Brother A. T. Smith of Herkimer Lodge No. 423, Herkimer; Brother Andrew Ludolph, Secretary, Masonic Club of Auburn; Right Worshipful Fred M. Hart, President, and Brother F. D. Clark, Secretary of the Oswego Masonic Club, Oswego.
Brother Clute called the Brethren to order and stated the object of the meeting, namely:
To discuss and agree upon general measures for increasing good fellowship among the various Masonic Clubs of the State and particularly to adopt a traveling card to enable its possessor to secure Masonic Club privileges not only in his own Club, but throughout the State. Brother Clute was chosen temporary President and Brother Clark temporary Secretary. The following resolutions were adopted:
That we, the representatives of the Masonic Clubs of Syracuse, New York City, Roehester, Oswego, Herkimer and Auburn, do hereby constitute an organization to be known as The League of Masonic Clubs, with headquarters at Syracuse, and that we meet annually on the third Thursday in April, with the Masonie Temple Club of Syracuse.
That the purpose of this League shall be the promotion of fraternal relations between the Masonic Clubs comprising it and to facilitate the interchange of courtesies to visiting members.

That it is the sense of this organization that the several clubs forming this League may issue, to members in good standing, traveling cards signed by the Seeretaries of the Clubs and countersigned by the members to whom they are issued, and entitling said members to the courtesies of the Clubs comprising the League for a period not to exceed sis months from the date of issue— the foregoing, however, subject to ratification by the Clubs forming the League.

Brother S. R. Clute was elected President and Brother F. D. Clark, Secretary and Treasurer. The First Annual Convention Mras held at The Masonic Temple Club, Syracuse, New York, April 19, 1906. Representatives were present from many clubs in the State. It was at this Convention that the narne of the organization was changed to The National League of Masonic Clubs, that the League may include clubs other than those in New York State.
MASONIC COLORS.
The colors appropriated by the Fraternity are many, and even shades of the same color. The principal ones are blue, to the Craft Degrees; purple and scarlet, to the Royal Arch; white and black, to the Order of the Temple; while all colors are used in the respective Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite: notably, the nine-colored girdle, intertwined with a tenth, worn in the Fourteenth Degree of the last-named system (see Colors, Symbolism of).
MASONIC GRAND COUNCIL.
On March 24, 1925, the Grand Lodge of Michigan officially approved the creation of a Masonic Grand Council in every city in that State where there were two or more Constituent Bodies. These new organizations were to be fashioned after the Masonic Grand Council of Michigan, created at Grand Rapids on July 18, 1924, by the respective presiding officers of the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter, Grand Council, Grand Commandery and the Council of Deliberation, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the State of Michigan, and to be subservient to it.

The purpose and function of the Masonic Grand Council was to encourage the co-ordination of interests in all the Masonic Bodies, and in every way to further their welfare. It was not to legislate, prescribe or designate the procedure of any local or Grand Body within its Jurisdiction. It assumed no judicial or administrative duties bevond that of mutual counsel. It was planned to be essentially an Advisory Board of Directors for the Masonic Bodies of each of the several cities where such a Body should be established and act only in such matters as involve the active interests of Freemasonry as a progressive Institution. The definite activities in which these Councils can assist were outlined in the Palestiner, May, 1925, as follows:
1. The dissemination of educational matter, information and data now unavailable to Freemasons. The publication of Masonic activities and exchange of views between the various Bodies and rites.
2. To outline greater activities for the Masonie Home at Alma, and such other institutions as exist or may come into being bearing Masonic identification..
3 To plan and put into effect more efficient methods of handling Masonic charities, eliminating the possibility of oversight, delay and duplications.
4. To promote greater interest and support of the DeMolay movement for boys.
5. To promulgate and practice Masonic ideals and universally to appeal for law observation and enforcement by Freemasons.
MASONIC GRAND SECRETARIES GUILD.
Brother Henry B. Grant, Grand Secretary of Kentucky, requested Brother Theodore S. Parvin to ask all the Grand Secretaries who were in attendance at the General Grand Chapter at Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1891, to meet for consultation. Accordingly, on the evening of Wednesday, July 2°, there were in attendance the following Grand Secretaries: Theodore S. Parvin of Iowa, John H. Brovvn of Kansas, William R. Bowen of Nebraska, Gilbert If;'. Barnard of Illinois, Richard Lambert of Louisiana, William H. Mayo of Missouri, James A. Henry of Arkansas, Andrew M. Wolihin of Georgia, Thomas Montgomery of Minnesota, Thomas J. Wilder of North Dakota, Henry W. Mordhurst of the General Grand Council, and others, with these writers of reports on Foreign Correspondence: Edward T. Schultz of Maryland, James S. Staton of Kentucky, John Haigh of Massachusetts, S. Stacker Williams of Ohio, and others, who proceeded to form an Association for mutual improvement in Freemasonry. Brother John H. Brown, of Kansas, was chosen President and Brother William R. Bowen, of Nebraska, Secretary.
Sundry matters were considered at this first meeting resultingin conclusions that dimits should' merely state facts without commendatory clause; that a dimitted Freemason should be denied all rights and benefits except the right to petition a Lodge for membership; that as a general rule the conferring of Degrees should make the candidate a member of the Lodge; that signing the By-laws is not essential to membership in the Lodge; that reports of Grand Officers and of Committees on Foreign Correspondence should be printed in advance of the sessions of Grand Bodies and separate from their journals; that we join in petitioning for the restoration of a certain old worker in Freemasonry; that this organization be permanent, with meetings at each Triennial of the General Grand Chapter and the Grand Encampment.

A circular sent out from the Secretary's office at Omaha, September 4, 1891, giving these particulars is headed Secretaries Guild of Freemasonry for North America.
A call was sent out by the President, July 20, 1892, for a meeting to be held on Tuesday, August 9, of that year when there were present in the Masonic Temple at Denver, Colorado, President John H. Brown, Seeretary William R. Bowen, and Brothers John J. Mason of Ontario, Loyal L. Munn of Illinois, John H. Miller of Maryland, Charles E. Meyerof Pennsylvania, S. Stacker Williams of Ohio, Yancey C. Blalock of Washington, Edward C. Parmelee of Colorado, Warren G. Reynolds of Vermont, Charles Rechtel of New York, William H. Mayo of Missouri, William P. Innes of Michigan, and others.

This organization did not live long and Brother Grant again took the initiative by requesting the Grand Secretaries and Grand Recorders who were in attendance upon the General Grand Chapter at Cincinnati in 1901 to meet there when the Masonic Grand Seeretaries' Guild was organized.
The objects of the Guild, as stated in the Regulations, are "to become personally acquainted; to agree, if possible, upon the best forms and methods, and in general, to consult touching specific and other interests of Grand Secretaries offices and duties."
MASONIC HALL.
See Hall, Masonic.
MASONIC HERO.
Brother J. E. S. Tuckett contributes to the Transactions of Quatuor Coronati Lodge, 1913 (volume Levi, page 299), the following information:
In 1810 there was published by T. Hookham, Jr., and E. T. Hookham, an interesting little work, A Picture of Verdun, or the English Detained in France. The following appears at page 101 of the first volume:

Lieutenant Barker being confined by a severe illness to his apartment, the windows of which look upon the river, saw a little child fall into the water. Notwithstanding his ill state of health, he doff't his coat ran down stairs, sprang into the stream, swam after the infant and saved its life.
The whole town and neighborhood, both French and English, had not ceased to talk of this gallant achievements when, some months afterwards, he saw a Gendarme fall into the Meuse, and stifling the antipathy which every free-born Briton must feel at the idea of one of these base minions of oppression, he only saw a fellow creature in danger; he sprang after him and saved him also. The noise that this second feat occasioned was excessive. The Lodge of Freemnsons invited Mr. Barker to a fraternal banquet at which their Orator thanked him in the name of humanity; the Prefect of the Department, who usually resides at Bar, when he came to Verdun. paid him a visit of ceremony, to offer him his services if he could be of any use to him, and the papers not only of the neighboring Departments but of the capitol, did him justice in the highest panegyries. Yet Lieutenant Barker was, during three years, unable to procure his exchange; and last year, when the death of his father required his presence in England, he was refused the permission of returning home for three months on his parole. It is with infinite regret that we add to the above. that this gallant officer has, according to the latest recounts from Verdun, fallen in a duel since the beginning of 1810.

Brother Tuckett comments as follows:

This worthy Brother Barker was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. He was President of the most exclusive of the many clubs organized by the English prisoners at the Depot of Verdun—the Cafe Caron Club. He got into trouble with the Governor, General Wirion, in 1807, the charge being lése-majesté based upon the possession by the Club of an English-French dictionary with the fol lowing as an English equivalent of the word "Spoliateur —Despoiler, one who despoils and lays waste to everything, a Buonaparte." It is gratifying to know that the gallant officer was acquitted. It is known that Masonic Lodges were held by the prisoners at Verdun, but the Lodge mentioned above was presumably a French one for a Brother Orator was not a recognized officer in an English Lodge.
MASONIC HYMNS.
See Hymns, Masonic.
MASONIC INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
The Grand Lodge Alpina of Switzerland sent out an invitation in July, 1921, for an International Masonic Congress to be held in Geneva on October 19, 1991. The following Masonic Powers were represented at that Convention: Grand Lodge of New York, Grand Lodge Alpina, Grand Orient of France, Grand Lodge of France, Grand Orient of the Netherlands, Grand Orient of Belgium, Grand Orient of Italy, United Grand Orient of Lusitania of Portugal, Grand Lodge of Luxemburg, Grand Orient of Vienna of Austria, Grand Lodge of Bulgaria, and the Grand Orient of Turkeys . An International Masonic Association was formed, and a Constitution and By-laws were adopted. Brother Edouard La-Tente was chosen Chancellor, or Secretary taking charge on January 1, 1922, with headquarters at Geneva. Participating Masonic Powers xvere to share the expenses of the Association by annual contributions fixed according to the membership of the respective Jurisdictions:
Grand Lodges with membership from one to two thousand, $20; to five thousand, $100; ten thousand, $150; to tlventy-five thousand, $200; to fifthst thousand, $250; to one hundred thousand, $500; to two hundred thousand, $750; and over two hundred thousand, $1,000. These figures were based on the pre-war exchange status of the American dollar.

Brother Arthur S. Tompkins, then Deputy Grand Master of Nelv York, and Brother Townsend Scudder, Past Grand Master of that State, in a report presented to the Grand Lodge of New \ orl;, 1929, point out the follovw ing six noteworthy accomplishments of the Geneva Conference:

1. The Conference established an agency through which all Grand Lodges are enabled to deal with one another in their efforts to get at the truth eoneerning each other, this facilitating their getting the facts upon whieh to base their several judgnlellts of each other, instead of having to rely and act largely upon hearsay as has been the case in the past.

2. Contact between Jurisdictions is afforded without their being in diplomatic relations with one another through their joint membership in the Association Recognition and diplomatic relations Bill begin only when agreeable to those concerned.

3. The Membership of Grand Lodges belonging to the Association must be composed of men exclusively. Thus woman Masonry, as a part of the order, is disposed of.

4. Members of the Association respect the territorial integrity and jurisdiction of each other Member. Foreign Lodges within our territory chartered bv legitimate Strand Lodges acting however, in hostility to our claims of exclusive jurisdiction, will be eliminated.

5. Grand Lodges maintain each its entire sovereign independence.

6. The Association has no concern with matters other than those of its own organization and functioning.
See also International Bureau of Masonic Affairs.
MASONIC LEAGUE, UNIVERSAL.
See Universola Framasona Ligo, and Language Universal.
MASONIC LITERATURE.
See Literature of Freemasonry.
MASONIC NEWSPAPER.
A quarto or small folio weekly commenced in New York City, September 28, 1878, William T. Hardenbrook, Editor. Volume i contains fifty-two numbers, and the first thirty-one numbers contain four pages each, the others eight pages each. Volume ii commenced October 4, 1879, and ran to twenty-six numbers of eight pages each, and then it was discontinued. With No. 95 of the first volume the name of William T. Hardenbrook; disappears as Editor. A file of this publication, bound in one volume, is at the Ioxva Masonie Library, Cedar Rapids, lowa.
MASONIC POETRY.
See Poetry of Freemasonry
MASONIC PROFESSOR.
A Plan was prepared and read to the Lodge of Promulgation by the Seeretary on December 29, 1809. The Plan considered what should he done "in disseminating the knowledge they have acquired," and then proceeds: "the axity of practice which is understood to prevail in some ot our Lodges converts the eonvi~iality in which we see!< the refreshment to which AIasonie industry is entitled, into a primary, instead of 3 secondary object, which is equally injurious to the character of the Craft, and subversive of the moral benefits which the Institution is intended to bestow upon mankind. These feelings if traced to their source will l)e found to resort from a want of some legitimate, some authorized means, by which the zeal of the ardent members shall at all times be sustained Old encouraged; the indifference of the tardy finds a spur that shall beget emulation where it does not exist, and increase it where it does. The foundations of Masonic wisdom have hitherto disposed their salubrious supplies in very few and seantv streams." The Plan proposed:
The institution of the Offiee or Degree of a Masonie Professor of the Art and History of Speeulative Freemasonry, to be conferred by diploma on some skilled Craftsman of distinguished acquirements and general fitness.
Under the title and designation of Masonie Professor of the most Ancient and Honorable Soeiety of Free and Aeeepted Masons under the Constitution of England with authority to instruct publicly and privately, to Heleet an adequate number of Craftsmen to act as his occasional assistant who should be awarded the distinetion of certain appropriate embellishments sueh as a medal, a ribbon, or a sash. That the Professor should instruct a syllabus according to the precise forms now sanctioned, not only to serve as an assistant te those who are desirous of prosecuting Masonic studies but as a remembrance and an aid, essential and necessary to all Lodge officers, of every class, and as a book of reference that is indispensable on almost all occasions, and at almost all times as are devoted to the practical duties of the Order. But above all things he should be required to prepare for preservation, in an Ark to be kept sacred for that purpose, a Pandect of the Science of Speculative Freemasonry, comprising a clear and comprehensive digest of everything relating to the Art, save and except those particulars which are forbidden to be committed to writings That in cases of future occasion to ascertain points concerning which doubts, uncertainty, or difference of opinion may exist, a reference to this duly sanctioned authority mart conclusively decide the question and effectually govern the practice thereafter.
This Pandect should be written in Masonic cipher. If an ideal unpleasantness should arise from the circumstance of receiving assistance from those nho are not members of the Lodge, it mart at any time be done allay by the simple and ordinary practice of voting the parties honorary rnembers, and then they will be to all intents and purposes embodied and actual members of their own community. This is an early recognition of honorary membership, which is of interest. however, the Plan was politelv laid aside. Probable the Brethren regarded much of it as besond their province; and to many of them the idea of compiling a written ritual, however guarded by cipher writing and close official custody would be objectionable (see the paper on the Special Lodge of Promulgation, 1809-ll, Brother W. B. Hextall, Transactions, Quatuor Coronati Lodge, pages 55, 56, part °, volume xxiii, 1910).
MASONIC RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
Founded in 1885 and the delegates meet every two years. Headquarters are at St. Louis, Missouri. This is an Association of the various local Masonic Boards of Relief in North America and functions as a protective mutual ageney against impostors and as a clearing house for better methods of administering Masonic relief and charity. Among the important suggestions of the Association are the following relative to matters that should be recorded when an application is made for relief: The full name of the applicant in case it is a woman or minor boy, the full name of the person on whom the Masonic claim is based, the name, number and location of the Lodge, the ocoupation, home address, place of birth, height, weight and general charaeteristies that may be necessary or useful in identifying the applicant at some future time, an examination of a recently published List of Regular Lodges to see if the lodge claimed is regular, an examination of the documentary evidence that the applicant mae e able to produce, a specimen of the applicant's handwriting including the signature. .N reeord should be kept deseriptive of the documents produced bv the applicant. If applicant claims that documents were lost or stolen, a record should be made of them as the applicant describes them. It is advisable to keep some record of the applicant's stors, especially that part that relates to the cause of apprication, whether from sieckness, loss, theft or enforced idleness.
MASONIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION.
The United States entered the World War, April 6, 1917, and the Grand Lodge of New York in annual communication on the first Tuesday of May, 1917, addressed by Judge Riddell, Theodore Roosevelt, and others, voted support and confidence.. In the following June, Judge Townsend Scudder arranged for Brother W. C. Prime to go abroad and survey the situation and advise upon the course New York should pursue toward the many Brethren in the service.
The Grand Master Thomas Penny then appointed Townsend Scudder, E. C. Knight, W. C. Prime, Rougier Thorne, Committee on Plan and Scope of Masonic Service, and on September 10, 1917, the Grand Lodge met for further action (see Proceedings, 1918). In October, 1917, Grand Master Penny addressed the other United States Grand Jurisdictions regarding a conference upon war problems (see Proceedings, 1918, pages 44596) and such meeting was called for May 9, 1918, Judge William S. Farmer then Grand Master, and Jurisdictions represented being Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jerse) Michigan, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, New York. The New York Overseas Masonic Commission headed by Judge Scudder after energetic but unsuccessful efforts to secure favorable Governmental co-operation went to France in uniform of the Young Men's Christian Association.
Four Sea and Field Lodges were organized and the Mission established contacts, extending relief, hospital visitations, and financial help, to some sixty Masonic Clubs in the American Army; a Trov.el and Triangle Club of about 19,000 Freemasons in Young Men's Christian Association service acted as the principal agency in this work and Brother Sidnev Morse of New York was Recording Secretary of the Trowel and Triangle Club and a liaison officer between Club, Mission, and Young Men's Christian Association. Other minds were meanwhile active and Grand Master George L. Schoonover of Iowa, Oetober 3, 1918, invited the other Jurisdietions to a conference at Cedar Rapids, November 258, 1918, when the following Jurisdictions were represented: Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington. The conference resulted in the formation of the Masonic Serviee Association.
MASONIC SIGNS AND TOKENS.
The author who was afterwards Sir Richard Steele, describing the class of men called Pretty Fellauss, printed this item in the Tatler, (June 9, 1709), thou see these accost each other with effeminate airs; they have their signs and tokens like Freemasons. "
MASONIC SONGS.
See Poetry of Freemasonry and Songs of Freemasonry.

MASON, ILLUSTRIOUS AND SUBLIME GRAND MASTER. The French expression is Maçon Illustre et Sublime Grand Maître. A Degree in the manuscript collection of Peuvret.
MASON OF THE SECRET.
The French expression is Magon du Secret. This name is found as that of two Degrees.
1. The Sixth Degree of the Rite of Tschoudy.

2. The Seventh Degree of the Rite of Saint Martin.
MASON, OPERATIVE.
See Operative Masons.
MASON, PERFECT.
In French, Maçon Parfait. The Twenty-seventh Degree of the collection of the Metropolitan Chapter of France.
MASON PHILOSOPHER.
The French name is Maçon Philosopher A Degree in the manuscript collection of Peuvret.
MASON,, PRACTICAL.
The French so call an Operative Mason, .Maçon de Pratique.
MASONRY-
Although Masonry is of two kinds, Operative and Speculative, yet Masonic writers frequently employ the word Masonry as synonymous with Freemasonry.
MASONRY, OPERATIVE.
See Operative Masonry
MASONRY ORIGIN OF.
See Origin of Freemasonry.
MASONRY, SPECULATIVE.
See Speculative Freemasonry.

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