THE BUILDER MAGAZINE
January 1919
volume 5 - number 1
LINES DEDICATED TO THE CEDAR RAPIDS CONFERENCE.
It is but a little distance,
In this silly flight of years,
'Twixt the path that leads to laughter,
And the road that leads to tears.
'Tis the shortest, sweetest pathway,
Through this silly flight of time;
It is but a tear- and laugh-way,
Filled with music and with rhyme.
There's a feast of joy tomorrow,
There's a funeral dirge today;
And the sombre shades of sorrow
Cast their shadows where we play.
And the smile that's born in gladness,
Pure and limpid ere it start,
With a wail of pain and sadness,
May come sobbing from the heart.
So, the song that lifts the curtain
From the backward flight of years,
Brings a smile but too uncertain -
Half of pleasure, half of tears.
Then let us laugh in sorrow,
Let us bathe our smiles in tears;
For we cannot count the morrow
In this silly flight of years.
Let us laugh with one another,
While we strive for human weal;
Let us weep, my friend and brother,
For the wounds we cannot heal.
In the great unknown Hereafter,
In the better, brighter day,
Surely sobs shall yield to laughter,
For it is our Father's was.
But here 'tis but a handbreadth
In this silly flight of years,
'Twixt the path that leads to laughter
And the road that leads to tears.
But whether in tears or laughter,
Let us build the best we can;
For the Here and the Hereafter,
And the Brotherhood of Man.
By Bro. Henry A. Grady
D.G.M. of North Carolina
Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
Nov. 28, 1918.
----o----
THE CEDAR RAPIDS MASONIC CONFERENCE
MASONIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES
BY BRO. GEO. L. SCHOONOVER. GRAND MASTER, IOWA
HE WOULD be a seer, who would have attempted to forecast
what the result of the Cedar Rapids Conference would be. And he who would
interpret that result now that the Conference is a matter of history, must have
been present, have felt the mellowing influence of the voices clad in khaki,
have realized that this Fraternity of ours, far from forgetting its glorious
accomplishments of the past is taking them to heart and applying its age-old
principles to the problems of the present. More than this, he must also
appreciate and not undervalue that element of conservatism which has come to us
of today from the days of old, that close adherence to first principles to which
we are obligated and which, from one viewpoint, is the very genius of our
Masonic system.
Withal, he who would understand the Cedar Rapids Conference
must focus his mental vision, not upon the three days of this meeting, but the
century and a half of Masonry in America, and the century and a half of
development of a national consciousness within that America itself. As we stand
in the sunlight of the great awakening which these years of war have brought to
America we wonder at the days and years which went before. Our whole
civilization has been reborn, as it were, and our newly-opened eyes are still
blinded by this wonderful brilliancy of accomplishment --a national
accomplishment of which we did not know we were capable.
It would be surprising indeed if these slow-moving but
irresistible forces could have accomplished their wonders in Masonry without
travail. On the surface there was little indication of their working. But he who
has observed with care the tendencies of late could not be blind ta them. Here
was a great Fraternity, grown so rapidly that its functions of life-maintenance
overshadowed all else. Its men of action were bound down by detail--the
never-ending grind of degrees to be conferred upon the thousands who flocked to
our gates. What wonder that there was only a dulled and half-efficient
transmission of the deeper impulses of the ordinary member to those who have
been the leaders of recent years--and those leaders themselves sapping their
energy to accomplish the extraordinary duties which both patriotic and Masonic
instinct told them they owed to their assaulted Country.
Reproach is not the proper word to use in speaking of the
lack of prompt appreciation by Masons of what Masonry could do in a crisis like
that of these two years. "My Country comes first!" is but a natural war-cry for
a Mason, and we all know why. And not until the new and arduous duties of
patriotism had in a measure become a part of the day's work did any of us really
begin to ask ourselves what Masonry as an institution ought to be doing. We had
been content to do as we had been taught to do, guided by the ancient charges of
loyalty, and we did not stop to ask ourselves whether these turbulent days
offered to our Institution a duty.
Those who first felt the burden of this new responsibility
raised their voices with caution, lest they might have misread the trestleboard
of Fate. Presently they began to make solemn inquiry. Then came a great, an
awful conviction, that a new day had brought new ties and responsibilities, and
that they must be met. Brought together at the Government's call, a few of the
leaders of the Craft tried to study the problem, at Washington, last December.
Undigested opinion did not visualize the problem, yet. But down in New York,
with a constant stream of our young men in khaki passing before their eyes, on
their way to Europe to fight the battles of Democracy, and a presently returning
stream of physical wrecks making mute appeal for brotherhood, there awoke at
last to realization, full realization, the Masonic leaders of that great
Jurisdiction. The genius of doing things responded to the appeal, and those
leaders began to visualize what Masonry's problem really was, and went to work
to see how they might act in the premises.
They applied to the Government for permission to act as
their consciences told them they ought to act, and as a knowledge of what this
Brotherhood of ours was worth to a man in his hour of trouble dictated would be
a practical method of acting. "For whom do you speak?" was the query of the
officials. "For Masonry" was the response. "For the Masonry of New York?' "Yes."
"But we cannot recognize State organizations."
Then came the New York Conference, called to meet the
immediate need, and meeting it, in part. The paths leading from that Conference
have been troublous. That part of the story must come in a later chapter. But
the need was finally visualized, and the Grand Jurisdictions of America
generally got behind New York in their plan of solving it. The weak link in the
chain was that they did not make that plan their own. Co-operation was promised,
on the other side of the water. It might have worked, had the plans then
proposed been successfully begun in France. Why they were not so begun is still
another story, which THE BUILDER will tell, in due time.
And so May turned into June, and September followed August
and July, with no tangible results. Diplomacy was trying to solve the
difficulties in the way, so that harmony might prevail. It is to the interest of
Freemasonry that the whole story shall be told, and told it shall be. Those who
would indict our Fraternity for its apparent indifference must reckon with that
story.
The writer was elected Grand Master of Iowa in June, 1918.
As the months went by, smatterings of the truth, hints of the reason why things
were going as they were crept into his official correspondence. A brief trip
East brought knowledge of a part of it. Perhaps impatience is my middle name. Be
that as it may, the information coming from overseas the latter part of
September, and the insistent challenge to me, as the official head of Iowa
Masonry to do something definite, caused my outburst of October third last, the
letter to my fellow Grand Masters which appeared in the November issue of THE
BUILDER.
In a very brief time my correspondence showed that others
had received the same challenge, and were as deeply moved by the apparent need
for action as I was. Wherefore, on November 1, I called a Conference of Grand
Masters and Representatives of the several Jurisdictions to meet in Cedar Rapids
on November 26th to 28th, hopeful that opinion would there crystallize into
action. The kind of action which seemed to me necessary was that the New York
plan should be made actually National, by its specific adoption, and that the
Masonic Fraternity should definitely make it impossible for us to be placed
again in the humiliating position we have occupied for more than a year. The
challenge to us, and the opinion of us which I feared did not come from the
public. It came from our own-- our boys in khaki, who knowing our doctrine and
our teachings, but not knowing our discouragements and our trials, would be
prone to ask us why those teachings had not been put into practice in their
behalf. It seemed to me it was time to put on perpetual record the defense which
was ours, and at the same time to insure our Fraternity against future
indictments of like character, by organizing ourselves so that, in times of
emergency, we might have a National Voice.
And so we met together on that eventful morning of November
26th, 1918. Thirty-six Jurisdictions we represented definitely. Twenty-two were
there in person, represented by about fifty leaders of the Craft. Fourteen
others regretted their inability to come, but expressed themselves as favorable
to action. Influenza kept many away. But they sent us their good will--
sometimes expressing their infinite trust in us. Mindful of this trust and of
our responsibilities, we tried to do God's work for Masonry. He had promised
that "where two or three are gathered together in My name, I will be in their
midst and bless them." We believe now that He kept His promise.
The following is a list of Grand Masters and
Representatives who were present:
Delaware A. Victor
Hughes Grand Master
Florida T. Picton Warlow
"
Idaho George
Lawler Past " of Washington (Rep.
Grand Master)
Illinois Austin H. Scrogin
Grand Master
Arthur M.
Millard President Masonic Employ.
Bureau
Iowa Geo. L.
Schoonover Grand Master
Newton R. Parvin
Grand Secretary
Frank S.
Moses Past Grand Master
Louis Block " " "
Fred W. Craig " " " and
General Grand High Priest
Charles C.
Clark " " "
W. A.
Westfall " D.G.M.
Ernest R.
Moore " "
Louisiana George A.
Treadwell Grand Master
John A. Davilla
Grand Secretary
Rudolph
Krause Past Grand Master
Maryland Chas. C. Homer
Jr. Grand Master
Michigan Hugh A.
McPherson " "
Lou B. Winsor
Grand Secretary
George L.
Lusk Past Grand Master
Charles A.
Conover General Grand Secretary
General Grand Chapter
Minnesota Wm. N.
Kendrick Grand Master
John Fishel
Grand Secretary
Geo. N.
Stowe Dep. Grand Master
Montana E. M.
Hutchinson Grand Master
Nebraska Ambrose C.
Epperson Grand Master
John A. Ehrhardt
Past Grand Master
Robert E.
Evans Past Grand Master
New York Wm. S.
Farmer Grand Master
Robert Judson Kenworthy
Grand Secretary
Robert H.
Robinson Dep. Grand Master
Townsend
Scudder Past Grand Master
Wm. C. Prime
Rep. G.L. England
North Carolina Henry A.
Grady Dep. Grand Master
North Dakota Henry G.
Vick Grand Master
Walter L. Stockwell
Grand Secretary
Capt. Chas. I.
Cook United States Army
Oklahoma Joseph W.
Morris Grand Master
Wm. M.
Anderson Grand Secretary
Pennsylvania Louis A. Watres
Past Grand Master
Rhode Island E. Tudor
Gross Grand Master
Frederick I.
Dana Treas. Masonic War
South Carolina J. L. Michie
Past Grand Master
South Dakota Geo. A.
Pettigrew Grand Master
C. L.
Brockway Grand Secretary
Tennessee Samuel W.
Williams Past G.H.P.
Utah Arthur C. Wherry
Senior Grand Warden
Washington George
Lawler Past Grand Master
The first day was spent in surveying the situation. One
after another the brethren who by fortune of circumstance had been brought in
intimate touch with one or another feature of the problem spoke to us. It was a
day of chastening of spirit. Fact after fact came out, incontrovertible, proving
conclusively that General Apathy, Selfishness and Disunity were the three
assassins of Masonic accomplishment. To each was charged a portion of the guilt.
If apathy within the Craft was offset to a degree by selfishness within and
without the ranks of our Fraternity, it soon became apparent that the heavier
portion of the blame lay with Disunity.
Ere the evening session closed, all were convinced that the
way of future accomplishment led to the broad highway of co-operation. To reach
it meant the removal of Disunity. With a sweetness of spirit eminently
characteristic of brethren desiring to dwell together, this third and most
treacherous enemy was done away with. An organization was declared by unanimous
resolution to be the prime necessity to avoid like complications for all time to
come, and a committee was charged with the responsibility of finding the type of
organization which would at once accomplish the vital needs of the present and
provide a way for like accomplishment for the future, without interference with
the established usages and customs of the Fraternity, as exemplified by and in
our present Grand Lodge organizations.
There was no dissenting voice when it was suggested that
the only way to meet both of these conditions lay through organization for
Service. Masonic service it should be and must be. And so it came about that at
the afternoon session of the second day there was presented for consideration in
committee of the whole, a proposed Constitution for the Masonic Service
Association of the United States. The tentative Constitution follows:
THE CEDAR RAPIDS MASONIC CONFERENCE
CONSTITUTION
Whereas, The several Masonic Jurisdictions in the United
States of America have been invited to attend a Conference of Grand Masters at
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on the 26th, 27th and 28th of November, 1918, for the
purpose of considering and taking action in respect of the present war emergency
and the opportunity for Masonic service in connection therewith; and
Whereas, Twenty-two Jurisdictions have responded to said
call, and fourteen Jurisdictions have expressed-their approval, in general
terms, of the purposes of said Conference, and have given assurance in writing,
of their support through their respective Grand Masters; and
Whereas, It has been made clear to said Conference that the
Masonic Fraternity will be enabled to render more efficient service to mankind
and to fulfill its mission among men by bringing about a more perfect
cooperation among the several Masonic Grand Jurisdictions of the United States;
and
Whereas, It is apparent that there is a pressing need of
Masonic service among the men with the United States forces overseas during the
period following the signing of the armistice and peace and reconstruction, at
home and abroad, the duration of which is wholly problematical; and
Whereas, The assembled representatives of Grand Lodges have
by their unanimous expression agreed that the need for service is real; that the
opportunity is present and compelling and that they unanimously desire to
participate in and render a more satisfying service, and that to fail to take
some affirmative action in this matter at this time will lead to irretrievable
injury and impairment of the Fraternity's future usefulness; and
Whereas, It is the sense of this Conference that plans be
now tentatively formulated for effective service wherever and whenever the
opportunity and need to render the same shall be present, said plans to be
submitted to the several Grand Jurisdictions for consideration and action
thereon; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That there be organized the MASONIC SERVICE
ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES, a voluntary association of Masonic Grand
Jurisdictions of the United States of America, for Service to Mankind.
All Masonic Jurisdictions of the United States of America
shall be entitled to membership therein on equal footing on expressing their
approval of this constitution and acceptance of the responsibility and
privileges outlined therein. Any member shall be entitled to withdraw at any
time on ninety days' notice, provided it shall have complied with all of its
assumed obligations. Such notice shall be delivered by registered mail to the
Secretary at his post office address.
OBJECT The object of the Association shall be the Service
of Mankind through education, enlightenment, financial relief and Masonic
visitation, particularly in times of disaster and distress, whether caused by
war, pestilence, famine, fire, flood, earthquake or other calamity; and
presently and immediately ministering to, cherishing, comforting and relieving
the members of the Fraternity, their dependents and others engaged in the United
States forces, in the present great war, wherever they may be stationed and upon
whatever duties engaged in the service.
ADMINISTRATION
For the purpose of administration the United States is
divided into departments as follows:
NEW ENGLAND DIVISION
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
CENTRAL DIVISION:
Arkansas
Kansas
Kentucky
Missouri
Oklahoma
Tennessee
NORTH ATLANTIC DIVISION: CORN BELT DIVISION
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
North Dakota
South Dakota
SOUTH ATLANTIC DIVISION
Delaware
District of Columbia
Maryland
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia
West Virginia
GULF DIVISION:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Louisiana
Mississippi
GREAT LAKES DIVISION:
Ohio
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Wisconsin
NORTH PACIFIC DIVISION:
Idaho
Montana
Oregon
Washington
Wyoming
SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION:
California
Colorado
Nevada
Utah
SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION:
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
Upon the occurrence of a disaster of greater magnitude than
a local calamity, the Grand Masters of the several Grand Jurisdictions within
the department, in which the said disaster shall occur, shall appoint a
committee to survey the need, appraise it and report forthwith its findings to
the department. The department shall thereupon take action on the report of the
committee to the end that the fund necessary shall be provided and properly
disbursed.
The Association may enter into correspondence and
affiliation with similar agencies in other lands or under other governments, the
better to teach the Fatherhood of God, and to promote the Brotherhood of Man.
The powers and duties of the Association may be enlarged or
curtailed from time to time; but no member shall be bound thereby without its
express assent.
Each department shall meet annually on a date and at a
place to be fixed by it; or oftener if it shall so determine. A meeting may he
called at any time on the request of three Grand Jurisdictions. A general
meeting, of all departments. shall be held triennially on the eleventh day of
November, or oftener on the call of ten Grand Jurisdictions. Notices of the
time, place and object of the meetings shall be issued by the Secretaries.
At each meeting, departmental or general, a presiding
officer shall be elected by ballot, for the purposes of the meeting. Each
department shall select a Secretary whose duties shall be to keep the records
and attend to the correspondence of the department.
The sole officer of the Association shall be the Secretary
who shall be selected at the general meeting, or during the pleasure of the
Association, and his functions shall be purely clerical.
Realizing also that there must be some practical way of
knitting together the immediate efforts to vitalize the New York Plan, as well
as of getting the principles embodied in the above Constitution before the
several Grand Lodges of the United States, and having them interpreted in the
spirit in which they were adopted, an Executive Commission was authorized to
perform these important duties, in the following resolution:
Resolved, That in order to carry out and effectuate the
objects specified in the Constitution this day adopted, and for the purpose of
meeting the instant need of service to the soldiers and sailors overseas, a
Commission of fifteen be appointed with Grand Master Schoonover of Iowa as
chairman thereof; said Commission to be selected as far as possible according to
their geographical situation; which Commission shall have in charge the entire
work contemplated in said Constitution, in respect to the men engaged in
overseas duty.
Resolved Further, That the said Commission be authorized to
enter into immediate correspondence with the several Grand Jurisdictions here
represented, and with those who shall hereafter adopt said Constitution; and, in
a general way, exercise the functions of an administrative body, until such time
as a set of by-laws may be adopted by said Association.
Resolved Further, That this Commission be known and
designated as "The Executive Commission of the Masonic Service Association of
the United States." Of the fifteen members of the Commission, ten have already
been appointed, the naming of the rest being dependent upon future developments.
Besides the chairman, Past Grand Master Townsend Scudder of New York is named as
the Overseas Commissioner, in charge of all activities deemed advisable on the
other side, and the following brethren:
George L. Schoonover, Grand Master, Iowa, Chairman;
Robert Judson Kenworthy, Grand Secretary, New York;
Hugh A. McPherson, Grand Master, Michigan;
A.C. Wherry, Senior Grand Warden, Utah;
Charles C. Homer, Jr., Grand Master, Maryland;
E. Tudor Gross, Grand Master, Rhode Island;
Walter L. Stockwell, Grand Secretary, North Dakota;
George A. Treadwell, Grand Master, Louisiana;
T. Picton Warlow, Grand Master, Florida;
George Lawler, Past Grand Master, Washington.
Of the spirit of exaltation which pervaded the Conference,
from its beginning to its end, little can be told in cold type. Iowa welcomed
the delegates in the spirit of "The Rose of Sharon," which was sung by the
Consistory Quartette. It became the official song of the Conference, and was
sung over and over again. When the first informal vote was taken upon a
resolution which denoted action, and was in fact the first indication of the
sentiments of the men there gathered, every hand was raised in the affirmative.
Applause grew into cheers, while strong men wept, their quivering lips
restraining tongues that could not cheer. The vote taken upon the tentative
Constitution to be presented to the Grand Lodges for their action was likewise
unanimous, the roll call being by States. A declaration to that effect was
greeted by the entire Conference, without suggestion, rising to sing America.
And again the tears mingled with the cheers. It may be truthfully said that not
a single hour of any session but was characterized by cheers and tears. The
spirit of exaltation never left the conference room. Not a word was spoken in
rancor. The Spirit of Brotherhood was never more present at any gathering. Every
one weighed his words, conscious of the responsibility resting upon him. Only
one story was told during the entire sessions, and that dealt with George
Washington's position in the constitutional convention. Always the atmosphere
was electrical, with a gentleness and consideration given to every speaker; his
humor was appreciated, his broad-mindedness conceded, his earnestness and
sincerity taken for granted. In a word, to have been privileged to sit in this
gathering was to be allowed a glimpse into Utopia.
The action of the Conference was wholly informal, resting
upon no buttress of law, and everyone knew it. No pretense was made that the
action taken was binding upon any Grand Jurisdiction until that Jurisdiction
chose to make it so. The individuals simply gave expression to a unanimous
opinion that Masonry ought to consider the line of action indicated, and if
deemed reasonable and wise, it ought to act upon it. There the matter was left,
each Brother present binding himself to go forth and interpret the action to his
own Grand Lodge in the spirit of the Conference.
It is interesting to note that the Grand Lodge of Georgia,
which was holding its annual communication at the same time as the Conference,
consequently having no delegates present, but which had been apprised of the
subjects to be discussed, sent the following telegram:
"Grand Lodge closed today. Endorsed your convention
unreservedly. Authorized Grand Master to appropriate funds needed."
The Grand Lodge of Texas, meeting the week following the
Conference, took action substantially after the same manner, arranging also for
the official attendance of its delegates at the meeting to be held in November,
1919, providing a sufficient number of Jurisdictions approve the action taken at
the Conference so that a working organization is assured.
Likewise the Grand Lodges of Alabama and South Carolina
have endorsed the project.
The first triennial meeting of the Masonic Service
Association, if said organization is approved by 15 or more Jurisdictions after
all have had opportunity, will be held on Liberty Day, November 11, 1919, as
proposed in the tentative constitution.
Thus is formally presented to the Craft an opportunity to
ally itself for any mission of mercy that may occur. Education and
enlightenment, as provided for in the objects listed, should go a long way
toward unity of thought and action in the directions which are the basic and
fundamental purposes of the Institution. I do not personally believe that an
alliance of our Grand Lodges after this manner, permitting the voice of
brotherhood to be raised in time of need and the hand of mercy to be extended
when men suffer, can be considered unmasonic by any Grand Jurisdiction. I do not
believe that, if our action is properly understood and interpreted, there is any
Mason in America who will not be willing and anxious that he may help to support
it. Control by law is not intended or expected- - the Conference unanimously
passed a resolution that "nothing in the formation of this organization shall be
construed as a move toward the organization of a National Grand Lodge."
Opportunity is afforded, however, for fraternal intercourse of the warmest and
most intimate kind, and in time of emergency, the Voice of Masonry may speak,
and action may be had in an organized way, for the amelioration of distress.
That the Craft will accept the opportunity tendered to them
in the spirit which governed the Conference itself, is all that can be expected,
for that spirit was ideal. Those who participated do not believe that the Voice
of Masonry, raised in behalf of a humanitarian service will be a harsh,
discordant voice. They believe that it will be expressive of all the gentleness
and altruism embodied in the spirits of its votaries, and they are not afraid of
the result.
To summarize the spirit and the attitude of the Conference,
and to make its action fit into the history of American Masonry in what I
believe to be its proper niche, one needs but to quote the words of Brother
Edwin Markham:
"He drew a circle that shut me out,
Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to flout;
But love and I had the wit to win;
We drew a circle that took him in!"
----o----
I NEED NOT FEAR
If I live a life that is clean and square
And love my fellow man,
And lend him a hand to help him bear
His burden whenever I can,
I need not fear what the future holds,
Nor what the reward shall be,
For the mighty love that all enfolds
Will most surely care for me.
If I speak a word of good cheer to one
Whose sorrows have borne him down,
And I give him new hope to journey on
And change to a smile his frown,
I shall not dread when the shadows fall
And the end of life draws near,
For that wondrous love that shelters all
Will drive away my fear.
For my life is measured by what I mete,
And I earn my own reward,
So the love I give makes my heart complete,
And through it I gain the reward.
For whether I dwell in a house by the road
Or far from the haunts of men,
If only my love makes bright the abode
No fear shall enter it then.
--Author Unknown.
----o----
THE RED CROSS COMES
BY JEANNE: JUDSON
Lest we forget the simple joys,
The kindly thoughts, the human tears,
The harmless laughter and the song,
We knew in other happier years,
Lest we grow hard, and cruel and cold,
And being young, our hearts are old,
Held in the grasp of death undied,
The Red Cross comes to fill again,
The cup of mercy long since spilled;
Bids in our hearts the birds to sing,
Reviving joy that anger killed.
----o----
SEA AND FIELD LODGE NO. 1
by Brother William C. Prime, New York
Brother William C. Prime was born at Yonkers, New York,
October 21, 1870, was graduated from Princeton in 1890, admitted to the Bar in
the State of New York in the Spring of 1893, after studying at New York
University Law School.
He was initiated, passed and raised in 1899, and has never
had time to interest himself in other Masonic activities than Craft Masonry, to
which he has devoted a large part of his time and resources. It may be that he
is devoid of curiosity.
Brother Prime has been active in the affairs of the Grand
Lodge of New York for many years, being at different times District Deputy Grand
Master, member of various Committees, Judge Advocate, and now Representative of
the Grand Lodge of England near the Grand Lodge of New York, as well as a member
of the War Relief Administration and of the Grand Master's Committee on Plan and
Scope of Masonic Service during the War.
He is an active practicing lawyer, and very busy in the
things which interest him, of direct speech and rather quick thought.
THE United States of America entered the great war on the
side of the Allies on April 6, 1917. On the first Tuesday of May following, the
Grand Lodge of New York held its Annual Communication, which was marked by
enthusiasm, deep interest in, and support of the war and of the cause of the
Allies, but fortuitously, and yet, strangely enough, so new was the war and our
participation therein- -so inchoate our plans and appreciation of the duties and
responsibilities that would be involved that practically no
consideration--certainly no adequate consideration-- was given to the duties and
responsibilities that would rest upon Freemasonry in connection therewith, and
with the participation in the war of thousands of Freemasons from the State of
New York.
Grand Master Penney, early in the month of July following,
appointed a "Committee on Plan and Scope of Masonic Service during the War," to
advise with him and suggest the course to be pursued, and legislation to be
enacted to meet the emergency. The plans of the Government for the construction
of a great army had been formulated and were in process of development. Camps
and cantonments were established at Syracuse, Fort Niagara, Madison Rarracks,
Plattsburg, Yaphank, and Pelham Bay, within the borders of the State, and men
were also located at Fort Totten, Fort Slocum, Fort Jay, Fort Hamilton and Fort
Wadsworth, in the process of training. Enlistments were being made rapidly. The
draft had been authorized and was about to be carried into effect. The army was
mobilizing. Numbers of men, candidates for Masonry, elected, and upon whom none,
or only some, of the Masonic degrees had been conferred by lodges outside our
borders, were being sent into the State for training. Appeals from sister
Jurisdictions for assistance in the matter of conferring degrees upon their
candidates in this situation were pressing and no machinery was provided by our
Constitution for assistance of candidates who had received no degrees. This
Jurisdiction is one of the few in the United States which does not, and never
has authorized one lodge to confer the first degree for another, in or out of
the State. What to do for ourselves, for the sons of Masons who were entering
the service and were soon to be dispatched overseas; for men, sons of Masons or
otherwise, who were desirous of allying themselves with the Fraternity and who
had little or no time to attend upon lodges in ordinary course, sorely
perplexed. What should be done to protect, stabilize and upbuild the moral fibre
and standard in the men thus turned from home, business, and ordinary pursuits
and thrust into a new life under strange conditions, without safeguard, as it
seemed, occupied the Committee and required its most careful consideration.
Nothing could be done without legislation, and the Constitution of the Grand
Lodge provided that legislation could be enacted only at an Annual
Communication. Another Annual Communication would not occur until May, 1918. How
to solve the problem was a sore trial.
Frequent sessions of the Committee with the Grand Master
were held during the summer of 1917, and resulted in the formulation of a
report, bearing date the 10th day of September, 1917, recommending, among other
things, three salient points:
1. Adoption of War Regulations, looking to the abbreviation
of formalities, in connection with the conferring of the degrees on candidates
in the Service and making possible the conferring of the three degrees in one
session by special dispensation of the Grand Master, previously obtained;
2. The organization in cantonments, training camps, on
vessels, in regiments or other Military units of Sea and Field Lodges, if the
Grand Master should see fit, at home or abroad, with authority to make Masons,
and under such regulations as to dual membership, or multiple membership,
inspection, and control, as should seem proper, and the extension by all
appropriate means through Deputies, representatives, or otherwise, to and among
members of the Fraternity engaged in the Country's service, of the influence of
Freemasonry, and the rendering to all sick and distressed, such aid, comfort and
relief as should seem best and proper; and,
3. The prompt accumulation of a Masonic War and Relief
Fund, of at least one million dollars, to prepare for the burden of dependent
parents, widows and fatherless, which, it was anticipated, would soon become
apparent.
To the end that these suggestions should be carried into
effect and made legal, the Grand Master reconvened the 136th Annual
Communication of the Grand Lodge in session September 10th, 1917; the report of
the Committee on Plan and Scope was read, accepted, and its recommendations
adopted.
Thus machinery was devised, and preparation made for our
own immediate needs, but the legislation did not extend so far as to provide a
method of solving the problems of sister jurisdictions in respect of their men
within our territorial borders.
Lodges promptly and busily became engaged in Masonic
service of all kinds under the war regulations, and could perform full and ample
service for candidates from other Jurisdictions within our borders who had
already been initiated. But there were large numbers of men within the State,
and constantly more were coming, who had been elected, but not initiated and
others who had not even been elected, and who were most zealous in their quest
of light. The Grand Master early decided, owing, in part, to the experience
which he discovered had been had with Military Lodges in the Civil War, against
the establishment of Sea and Field Lodges with regiments or on ships. His
inclination was strongly in favor of the fostering of Masonic Clubs or
conferences among the men in the Service overseas, but those, valuable as it
might be, would not serve as an instrumentality for conferring Masonic degrees,
nor would they afford, within the State of New York, a means of complying with
and satisfying the prayers of sister Jurisdictions for assistance.
By and with the advice of his Committee on Plan and Scope,
he determined, by virtue of the power in him vested, and in pursuance of the
spirit of the resolution of the Grand Lodge in reconvention respecting Sea and
Field Lodges, to organize Sea and Field Lodge No. 1, by his special warrant, as
his own creature with an extraordinary authority to meet the emergencies arising
through the war, and, on October 6, 1917, signed the warrant, creating the lodge
and nominating its seven officers sufficient to establish and equip an Entered
Apprentice, Fellow Craft, or Master Mason Lodge, as might be necessary, from the
Master to and including the Junior Deacons, with authority to hold
Communications in the City of New York and elsewhere, as might be necessary, to
adopt such by-laws and regulations for the governance of its proceedings and
labor, subject to his approval, as it might see fit to confer upon candidates
who had been elected members of a regular chartered lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons of the State of New York and who had actually enlisted or been drafted or
commissioned officers in the United States Forces in the present great war, the
three degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry without the usual interval and without
the usual proof of suitable proficiency in preceding degrees; to elect,
initiate, pass and raise, without the usual formalities and requirements of
chartered lodges, candidates, resident of the State of New York who had actually
enlisted or been drafted or commissioned officers in the United States forces in
the present great war, who applied therefor in writing and who satisfied the
Master and Wardens of said lodge that they were qualified, and who were about to
be sent out of this Jurisdiction on duty; and to initiate, pass or raise
candidates who had actually enlisted or been drafted or commissioned officers in
the United States forces in the present great war, residents of other States who
had been initiated or passed or, who, having been elected members of regular
lodges in their respective States, had not been initiated, upon request of the
Grand Master. Membership or officership in said lodge was expressly permitted,
without affecting existing membership or officership in a regular chartered
lodge.
The original warrant did not authorize this lodge to
initiate for another lodge in the State of New York, but only to pass and raise
candidates of such lodges, but early in November, 1917, in compliance with
obvious necessity therefor, a supplemental warrant covering authority to
initiate for another lodge in the State of New York was issued, making the scope
of the lodge's authority substantially as set forth in the above summary. The
warrant designated as Master, a Past Grand Master most active in the affairs of
the Craft in the State, and all the other officers designated were most actively
concerned in the affairs of the Grand Lodge, and most, if not all, officers
thereof.
The lodge being authorized to transact its business and
conduct itself without the usual formalities and requirements of chartered
lodges, devised its own ritual, patterned essentially after the standard ritual
of the State of New York, with certain radical modifications suited to its
necessities and purposes. It will be noted that its authority in respect of the
election of candidates eliminates the ordinary methods of investigation and
balloting, and substitutes satisfaction of the Master and Wardens as to the
qualifications of the candidates. All of its personnel are persons busily
engaged in the affairs of life. It is without machinery to investigate or to
instruct. Its method, without going into extensive detail, has been to satisfy
itself of the desirability from a high Masonic point of view, of material, and
the approval in writing, by the Master and Wardens, of the application is
followed by a formal ballot by show of hands, the lodge but formally ratifying,
for the sake of the record, the primary act of approval by the Master and
Wardens who are the sole arbiters.
It would be difficult for any Masonic genius, or company of
geniuses, to contrive in a brief space of time by mere concentration and
thought, without experience, a method of conduct and ritual and scheme of
ceremonies which would be satisfactory or adequate. Much thought was, of course,
given to this subject before the lodge sat, but naturally its method of
performance has been a matter of development, and a composite of the judgment of
those among its personnel most interested and qualified to advise. It sat first
in the Scottish Rite Parlor in the Temple in New York on October 10, 1917, and
conferred the three degrees in one session on five candidates, including a son
of the then Grand Master. Since that date it has sat thirty-five times, always
in the City of New York, and has conferred the degrees on seven hundred and
forty-three candidates, of whom four hundred and thirty-nine have been its own
material, one hundred and eighty-five candidates of lodges within the State of
New York, and one hundred and nineteen candidates of lodges without the State.
Fifty-seven of its candidates have been under the age of twenty-one years, all
blood sons of Master Masons, for each of whom a special and separate
dispensation was first granted by the Grand Master.
It has allied with itself as Associate Members all of the
Grand Master's Committee on Plan and Scope and certain additional members whose
zeal and devoted service naturally identified them with the lodge. Seventeen of
its personnel are members of the War Relief Administration, lately organized by
the Grand Lodge to administer the War Relief Fund.
It was prophesied before the lodge first sat, that its
service would be more holy, serious, and beneficial than that of any other
symbolic lodge then known. The prophecy has been more than realized. The
harmony, consecutiveness, propriety and symbolism of its performance is
conspicuously unique. Attendance at its functions is by invitation only. The
performance of its service requires approximately three and one-half hours. None
come to scoff, but all stay to pray.
As is natural the musical feature of its sessions is of a
strikingly high order. Appropriate selections are used in the successive stages,
which have been chosen with regard also to their symbolism and fitness to the
lodge purposes.
The opening ceremonies include the carrying of the colors
and the singing of two verses of "My Country 'Tis of Thee," the second verse
composed in Canada since the commencement of the war, with particular reference
to the men in the Service, commencing, "God save our splendid men." In the First
degree, at the reception, is sung, "Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Jehovah," to the
tune "Autumn" suggesting to thoughtful men, "Fortitude," it being the air played
by the band to stimulate brave men when the "Titanic" sunk. The second section
of the Third degree opens with a verse of "I Would Not Live Alway," and the
lodge is closed with the hymn, "Oh, God, Our Help in Ages Past." To each
candidate for the First degree, is presented an apron, and to each candidate who
is raised is presented a Bible in which is printed a pledge to which each
candidate is required to subscribe at the end of the ceremonies, but which is
read to him and assented to immediately after his reception in the First degree,
which is as follows:
"We undertake to maintain our part of the war free from
hatred, brutality, or graft, true to the American purpose, and ideals. Aware of
the temptations incidental to camp life and the moral and social wreckage
involved, we covenant together to live the clean life and to seek to establish
the American Uniform as a symbol and guaranty of real manhood.
"We pledge our example and our influence to make these
ideals dominant in the American Army and Navy."
All the lodge's surplus funds, over expenses, are devoted
to the Grand Master's War Relief Fund, and it takes up at each session a Dole
for this purpose. From both sources the fund has been enriched to date by more
than $6,500.
The legislation referred to at the opening of this account
was the primary step taken by Freemasonry in the United States of America to
meet the duties and opportunities resting upon it in this war (and while no
other jurisdictions, so far as the writer is aware, have met the situation as
broadly and fully as has New York, a number have been inspired to take action
along similar lines in certain respects.) Three jurisdictions have organized
Military Lodges attached to regiments. Several are engaged in raising funds and
making plans for the administration thereof. Most have modified, for men in the
service, the rigidity of the regulations respecting the interval between degrees
and the requirement of proficiency, and some, which have not done this for
themselves, have legislated to recognize and approve as valid for them, Masonic
service performed by Sea and Field Lodge No. 1 in accordance with its methods,
which is valid in the State of New York.
It may safely be observed that men like Masonry; and it is
better, by far, that this Ancient Love should be modified and modernized to suit
the pressing needs of the time, than that its beneficent influence should be
denied men in dire need of its kindly office because of inflexible adherence to
tradition and ancient practice.
The good which this war service of Freemasonry has
accomplished, is accomplishing and will accomplish, is beyond anyone's capacity
to estimate. No harm of any kind has been, or can be suffered by Freemasonry as
a result thereof. On the contrary, it has proven an ideal union between
ministry, the ministers and those ministered to, to the glory of God and the
eternal betterment of mankind. o
----o----
JANUARY
Janus was invoked at the commencement of most actions; even
in the worship of the other gods the votary began by offering wine and incense
to Janus. The first month in the year was named from him; and under the title of
Matutinus he was regarded as the opener of the day. Hence he had charge of the
gates of heaven, and hence, too, all gates, Januae, were called after him, and
supposed to be under his care. Hence, perhaps it was, that he was represented
with a staff and a key, and that he was named the Opener (Patulcius), and the
Shutter (Clusius). --M. A. Dwight.
----o----
CORRESPONDENCE CIRCLE BULLETIN -- No. 24
Edited by Bro. H. L. Haywood
THE BULLETIN COURSE OF MASONIC STUDY FOR MONTHLY LODGE
MEETINGS AND STUDY CLUBS
FOUNDATION OF THE COURSE
THE Course of Study has for its foundation two sources of
Masonic information: THE BUILDER and Mackey's Encyclopedia. In another paragraph
is explained how the references to former issues of THE BUILDER and to Mackey's
Encyclopedia may be worked up as supplemental papers to exactly fit into each
installment of the Course with the papers by Brother Haywood.
MAIN OUTLINE:
The Course is divided into five principal divisions which
are in turn subdivided, as is shown below:
Division I. Ceremonial Masonry.
A. The Work of the Lodge.
B. The Lodge and the Candidate.
C. First Steps.
D. Second Steps.
E. Third Steps.
Division II. Symbolical Masonry.
A. Clothing.
B. Working Tools.
C. Furniture.
D. Architecture.
E. Geometry.
F. Signs.
G. Words.
H. Grips.
Division III. Philosophical Masonry.
A. Foundations.
B. Virtues.
C. Ethics.
D. Religious Aspect.
E. The Quest.
F. Mysticism.
G. The Secret Doctrine.
Division IV. Legislative Masonry.
A. The Grand Lodge.
1. Ancient Constitutions.
2. Codes of Law.
3. Grand Lodge Practices.
4. Relationship to Constituent Lodges.
5. Official Duties and Prerogatives.
B. The Constituent Lodge.
1. Organization.
2. Qualifications of Candidates.
3. Initiation, Passing and Raising.
4. Visitation.
5. Change of Membership.
Division V. Historical Masonry.
A. The Mysteries--Earliest Masonic Light.
B. Studies of Rites--Masonry in the Making.
C. Contributions to Lodge Characteristics.
D. National Masonry.
E. Parallel Peculiarities in Lodge Study.
F. Feminine Masonry.
G. Masonic Alphabets.
H. Historical Manuscripts of the Craft.
I. Biographical Masonry.
J. Philological Masonry--Study of Significant Words.
THE MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS
Each month we are presenting a paper written by Brother
Haywood, who is following the foregoing outline. We are now in "First Steps" of
Ceremonial Masonry. There will be twelve monthly papers under this particular
subdivision. On page two, preceding each installment, will be given a list of
questions to be used by the chairman of the Committee during the study period
which will bring out every point touched upon in the paper.
Whenever possible we shall reprint in the Correspondence
Circle Bulletin articles from other sources which have a direct bearing upon the
particular subject covered by Brother Haywood in his monthly paper. These
articles should be used as supplemental papers in addition to those prepared by
the members from the monthly list of references. Much valuable material that
would otherwise possibly never come to the attention of many of our members will
thus be presented.
The monthly installments of the Course appearing in the
Correspondence Circle Bulletin should be used one month later than their
appearance. If this is done the Committee will have opportunity to arrange their
programs several weeks in advance of the meetings and the brethren who are
members of the National Masonic Research Society will be better enabled to enter
into the discussions after they have read over and studied the installment in
THE BUILDER.
REFERENCES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL PAPERS
Immediately preceding each of Brother Haywood's monthly
papers in the Correspondence Circle Bulletin will be found a list of references
to THE BUILDER and Mackey's Encyclopedia. These references are pertinent to the
paper and will either enlarge upon many of the points touched upon or bring out
new points for reading and discussion. They should be assigned by the Committee
to different brethren who may compile papers of their own from the material thus
to be found, or in many instances the articles themselves or extracts therefrom
may be read directly from the originals. The latter method may be followed when
the members may not feel able to compile original papers, or when the original
may be deemed appropriate without any alterations or additions.
HOW TO ORGANIZE FOR AND CONDUCT THE STUDY MEETINGS
The lodge should select a "Research Committee" preferably
of three "live" members. The study meetings should be held once a month, either
at a special meeting of the lodge called for the purpose, or at a regular
meeting at which no business (except the lodge routine) should be
transacted--all possible time to be given to the study period.
After the lodge has been opened and all routine business
disposed of, the Master should turn the lodge over to the Chairman of the
Research Committee. This Committee should be fully prepared in advance on the
subject for the evening. All members to whom references for supplemental papers
have been assigned should be prepared with their papers and should also have a
comprehensive grasp of Brother Haywood's paper.
PROGRAM FOR STUDY MEETINGS
1. Reading of the first section of Brother Haywood's paper
and the supplemental papers thereto.
(Suggestion: While these papers are being read the members
of the lodge should make notes of any points they may wish to discuss or inquire
into when the discussion is opened. Tabs or slips of paper similar to those used
in elections should be distributed among the members for this purpose at the
opening of the study period.)
2. Discussion of the above.
3. The subsequent sections of Brother Haywood's paper and
the supplemental papers should then be taken up, one at a time, and disposed of
in the same manner. 4. Question Box.
MAKE THE "QUESTION BOX" THE FEATURE OF YOUR MEETINGS
Invite questions from any and all brethren present. Let
them understand that these meetings are for their particular benefit and get
them into the habit of asking all the questions they may think of. Every one of
the papers read will suggest questions as to facts and meanings which may not
perhaps be actually covered at all in the paper. If at the time these questions
are propounded no one can answer them, SEND THEM IN TO US. All the reference
material we have will be gone through in an endeavor to supply a satisfactory
answer. In fact we are prepared to make special research when called upon, and
will usually be able to give answers within a day or two. Please remember, too,
that the great Library of the Grand Lodge of Iowa is only a few miles away, and,
by order of the Trustees of the Grand Lodge, the Grand Secretary places it at
our disposal on any query raised by any member of the Society.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The foregoing information should enable local Committees to
conduct their lodge study meetings with success. However we shall welcome all
inquiries and communications from interested brethren concerning any phase of
the plan that is not entirely clear to them, and the services of our Study Club
Department are at the command of our members, lodge and study club committees at
all times.
QUESTIONS ON "THE WORKING TOOLS OF AN ENTERED APPRENTICE."
I
What can you add to the quotation from Carlyle? What
particular accomplishment of man is cited by Bergson to distinguish man from
brute ? In what manner do the tools of the brute differ from those of man ? How
has man's superiority over the brute developed? Where does man's superiority
lie?
What is the key to Masonry's use of the "working tools"?
What is their use ? How are they symbolized ? What is the ultimate design to be
accomplished by the use of the working tools of Masonry ? Can a Mason shape his
own destiny or be instrumental in shaping the destiny of others without the aid
of his Masonic working tools?
Why is not the newly initiated candidate at once intrusted
with all the working tools or implements of Masonry? With what tools is he
intrusted and instructed in the Masonic application of, in the Entered
Apprentice degree? in the Fellow Craft degree? in the Master Mason degree ?
II
What is a "twenty-four inch gauge"? Of what is it the
symbol, in our Monitors? Give the Monitorial exposition of the twenty-four inch
gauge in the language of the standard "work" of your Grand Jurisdiction. What
reference to it was made by the old writers in connection with Saints Ambrose
and Augustine and King Alfred? Do you agree with what Brother Haywood says
regarding the right use and division of time ? If not, why not ?
What is your definition of "Time"? What definition of it
does Brother Haywood give? Does Time symbolize to you opportunities to be
grasped and improved upon ? Who wastes time, the laggard or the successful man ?
Do you consider it a waste of time to attend the Study Club meetings of your
lodge or Study Club? Are you wasting time by not attending these meetings ? Are
you applying the twenty-four inch gauge to your time as did Abraham Lincoln and
Albert Pike and other busy men?
What is the fundamental reason for so many men devolving
into "human failures" ? How may we protect ourselves against becoming failures
in life ? How has man heretofore divided his actions ? What test should we apply
to our actions? What foundation are Masons laying for the morality of the
future? What great secret have we to learn from the twenty four inch gauge?
III
What was the symbolism of the gavel in the Middle Ages?
Whence was this symbolism derived? Of what was the gavel a symbol in
Scandinavian mythology? What other peoples attribute to it the same symbolism?
What is the Masonic derivation of the gavel? Give the Monitorial reference to
the gavel as used in the standard "work" of your Grand Jurisdiction. Is the
common gavel a symbol of authority ? How is it distinguished from the implement
of authority wielded by the Master of a lodge? What functions are combined in
the common gavel? What is Mackey's explanation of its probable derivation?
What use did the operative masons make of the common gavel
? What is a "knob" on a stone ? an "excrescence"? What do these suggest to
Brother Haywood ? Do you agree with him in his deductions? If not, why not?
IV
Does Masonry demand more from its members in the foregoing
respect than do other organizations of their members or employees? What is the
first lesson to be learned by a soldier, or an employee of a corporation? Why
must they learn this lesson ? Is "team work" and "cooperation" necessary to the
success of a lodge ? of a Grand Lodge ? of Masonry as a whole ? Could Masonry
successfully cope with the questions which are arising each day in connection
with the great work of reconstruction which the world is now facing, without
some such united organization as the recently-launched "Masonic Service
Association of the United States"? Did the necessity of "team work" and
"cooperation" demand the organization of such a Body ?
SUPPLEMENTAL REFERENCES
Mackey's Encyclopedia: Gavel, p. 290; Twenty-Four Inch
Gauge, p. 811.
THE BUILDER: Vol. I--The Twenty-Four Inch Gauge, p. 94.
Vol. III.--Gavel, p. 79; Twenty-Four Inch Gauge, p. 79. Vol. IV.--Gavel, p. 156.
FIRST STEPS
BY BRO. H.L. HAYWOOD, IOWA
PART XI--THE | 
