CanadianMason.ca

Source: NWTN Today

Prince Hall Grand Lodge by changing the name as a testament to their respect for this first Grand Master.

Pennsylvania took an early lead in Masonic expansion and chartered many subordinates to the west and south of the state.

Still, the path was not always easy and “The Great Controversy” arose over the question of Negro Masonry.

Color was the first issue threatening the future of the newly-formed lodges which sprang from this early effort in the new country. A warrant issued in England by the Grand Master removed this charge, however, so opposers fell back on the theory that one must be “free born” to become a Mason. President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, declaring the freedom of those in slavery and its eventual power within the former states of the Confederacy as well as the Union states, did away with this impediment, as well.

Still others sought to question the legitimacy of these colored Masonic bodies by ignoring the history of both white and colored Masonic organizations in America, according to the late R.E. Moore, who authored a study of the subject in 1899. He referred “doubters” to the original warrant, No. 459, issued to African Lodge of Boston Mass., and at the time of his writing in the possession of Prince Hall Lodge of Boston. 

Following an application put forth in 1896 by several colored Masons to the Grand Lodge of Washington for recognition, a careful committee study was launched and for a year the group reviewed every phase of the subject and carried on correspondence with Masons, white and colored, throughout the United States. This group signed a document attesting to their belief in the legitimacy of Negro Masonry and the report was approved by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington.

Source: The Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario

Youth Initiatives Committee Pamphlet PDF

Souce: Dallas News

09:50 PM CST on Monday, January 26, 2009

By ELIZABETH LANGTON / The Dallas Morning News

elangton@dallasnews.com

Fourteen patients of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children departed Monday for Colorado on the hospital's 28th annual amputee ski trip.

The group will spend a week at the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park. The teenagers, who each use at least one prosthetic limb, will learn to ski and snowboard using specialized equipment.

The trip teaches the teens about overcoming physical barriers, hospital officials say, but it also fosters camaraderie with other kids facing the same challenges.

The hospital, assisted by donors including American Airlines, covers all expenses for the trip. The year's participants are David Barcenas, 18, of Ennis; Tayler Bates, 17, of Houston; Jessica Constancio, 16 of Austin; Candace Darden, 15 of Garland; Alexander "Sasha" Djamoos, 17, of Fairview; Jordyn Downey, 17, of Bedford; Brandon Harp, 16, of Hawley; Eric Hmielewski, 15, of Little Elm; Kiara Marshall, 16, of Georgetown; Kathryn McCravey, 17, of Glen Rose; Andrea Meza, 17, of Stephenville; Justin Montemayor, 18, of Richardson; Tamlynn Niemietz, 16, of San Antonio; and William "Skeeter" Phillips, 15, of Forney.

Source: northumberlandview

Freemasons from Cobourg and Colborne joined together on Saturday January 24th in Cobourg for a joint Friend to Friend breakfast meeting.  This is when friends, family and acquaintances of Masons who are interested in Masonry are invited into the Lodge room to find out what it is all about.

Around 60 Masons and guests attended and a breakfast of fruit salad, scrambled eggs, sausages and toast, juice and coffee was served at 9.a.m.   After breakfast everyone retired to the Lodge room where a short video was shown. After the video there were presentations in the Lodge room itself explaining the furnishings, Masonic aprons and collars and the titles and duties of Lodge officers and most importantly what Freemasonry stands for, what Masonry expects from applicants and what applicants can expect from Masonry.

After the meeting there was a period for questions and answers. All in all a very enjoyable day.

Updated  01.28.09    Written by St. John's Lodge No. 17

Related links:

www.stjohnslodge17.ca/

Source: TylerPaper

By COSHANDRA DILLARD

Staff Writer

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas will be holding a pediatric orthopedic education series for medical personnel Feb. 7. The seminar will allow local physicians, nurses and allied health professionals to learn about the latest advances in scoliosis, hip dislocation, foot deformalities and sports injuries in children.

Dr. Karl Rathjen, program director and staff orthopedist, said since pediatric orthopedics is a small specialty field they receive several cases from the East Texas area each year. The number of cases has grown by about 48 percent since last year, TSRHC officials said.

"There are only about 700 pediatric orthopedists in North America so it's a relatively small field but as the population grows more and more physicians may want to specialize in it," Dr. Rathjen said.

The seminar is part of a mission to offer information and resources to local pediatricians and primary care providers for continuing education credits.

"Our mission is to be a state resource," Dr. Rathjen said. "We think if they can be taken care of in their community that is best thing for them. But we are here for more resources and to act collaboratively, rather than competitively."

Bringing opportunities for continuing education credits to medical professionals in smaller cities alleviates the cost of traveling and reduces time spent away from their practices, Dr. Rathjen said.

A local 12-year-old girl's case of scoliosis will be among the topics of discussion during the seminar.

Source: The Journal

Freemason-hosted event in Berkeley Springs steeped in 300 years of history

By Christina Marnik / Journal staff writer

POSTED: January 25, 2009

BERKELEY SPRINGS - A ceremony steeped in nearly 300 years of tradition helped mark the placement of the cornerstone for the new Morgan County Courthouse Saturday.

Freemasons from the West Virginia Grand Lodge in Charleston along with members of Deford Lodge No. 88 in Berkeley Springs held a cornerstone ceremony, which is meant to celebrate the construction of the new building and to remind everyone that all things must be built on a strong foundation.

"It's just a public awareness to keep the public involved and a celebration of the community," said Charlie Montgomery, a member of Deford Lodge. "They are able to come together in a time of sharing and fellowship."

The cornerstone contained a time capsule with several items, including a program from the day's event, West Virginia University logos, a list of current elected officials and employees, Apple Butter Festival highlights and a letter from Gov. Joe Manchin.

Before the stone was laid in cement, a ceremony was conducted that included a prayer and a blessing of the cornerstone, in which Masons scattered corn as a blessing of plenty, poured wine as an emblem of joy and goodness, and poured oil as an emblem of peace.

"This is a way of celebrating the beginning of the building, of an important edifice for the community," said Stephen Swank, a member of Deford Lodge.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new $10.45 million courthouse was held Sept. 7. Officials hope the building will be completed in May of 2010.

The new building will replace the previous courthouse, which was destroyed in a fire on Aug. 8, 2006.

Source: The Advertisor24

15 January 2009

IT is a mysterious world which is usually only open to the initiated.

But on Tuesday the Norfolk headquarters of the county's 4,200 Freemasons was opened to the public for first time in years.

The opening, to launch the 250th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Masonic province of Norfolk, revealed a spectacular complex of pristine rooms.

Chessboard floors and colonnaded walls gave a hint of the intricate rituals that take place behind closed doors, and which give such a cloak and dagger feel to Freemasonry.

The doors were opened 250 years to the day since January 13, 1759, when Edward Bacon, MP for King's Lynn and Norwich, was appointed the provincial grand master for Norfolk.

On Tuesday, the 20th provincial grand master, John Rushmer, was at the Norwich Masonic Centre on St Giles Street for the launch of a programme of events to celebrate the special birthday.

Civic dignitaries from across Norfolk attended the event, where Mr Rushmer presented £1,000 cheques to representatives from The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House and Swaffham and Litcham Hospice.

He also announced that he was asking Norfolk's 75 lodges to fundraise throughout the year to pull together £100,000 for the Norfolk Hospice Tapping House Appeal.

The lodges will also be offering 250 £250 donations to small community charities in 2009.

Other planned events include the 250th provincial grand lodge meeting in St Andrew's Hall, Norwich, on May 28, a summer ball at Sprowston Manor Hotel and a service of thanksgiving at Norwich Cathedral on September 6.

Source: Prattvilleprogress

Masons moving state-level operations to Millbrook

By Hamilton Richardson

Progress staff writer

The business community in Millbrook, although having suf­fered from some recent store clo­sures, took a welcome step for­ward when, on Monday morning, ground was broken on the new state headquarters of the Free and Accepted Masons of Alabama.

The new headquarters will be located directly behind MAX Federal Credit Union in Mill­brook.

"We thank you for having faith in us as a city," Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley said during the groundbreaking ceremony, at­tended by included two city councilmen and several Masons including Grand Master Teddy Grogan. "We will bend over backwards to support you and we want you to be proud to say you're from Millbrook."

According to Stuart Peters of Landmark Construction, the new state headquarters build­ing will be built on a nearly-one-acre site and will be part of the Magnolia Ridge commercial subdivision. Eight office-use rooms as well as a museum area and library are planned for the facilities.

"There will be significant landscaping as part of the proj­ect as well," Peters said.

Paul Pemberton is the gener­al contractor for the 7,200-square foot project and Montgomery-based architectur­al firm, Parsons, Wible, Brum­mal, and Alkire Architects, will be handling the plans.

The Grand Secretary of the F&AM of Alabama, Jerry Un­derwood, said of the state head­quarters, "There are over 300 member lodges over the state of Alabama and they all report to this lodge."

Underwood, who was Grand Master of the state in 1998 and 1999, also holds the role of execu­tive director of the Grand Lodge.

Source: PEI Masonic Family

True Brothers Masonic Lodge will be hosting the 38th Annual Masonic Curling Bonspiel and the 10th Annual Cribbage Tournament on Saturday, February 7th, 2009 at the Crapaud Community Curling Club. Curling will get under way at 8 AM and the Cribbage Tournament at 10 AM. The banquet will commence at 6 PM. Entry forms have been sent to all Lodge Secretaries. In order to have the draw advertised in the February 16th issue of the Guardian and Journal-Pioneer, please have you entries in by February 11th.

Entries for either the Curling Bonspiel or Cribbage Tournament are requested by January 31st 2009 in order to make necessary arrangements for facilities, meals and prizes. Brethren may also attend the Banquet only, which will be held later in the day, if that is their wish. For further details about these Events, please find enclosed several Entry Forms that I have provided for distribution at your Lodge. If anyone prefers to contact me by phone to register, I will be most happy to do so. I can be reached at 658-2016

Click here to access the registration form. All brethren are encouraged to come out and join in the fun at either of these activities. This is also the perfect occasion to bring a Guest(s) along to experience Masonic fellowship first-hand. We look forward to seeing you there! We also ask that everyone, please be on time for your event.

Curling Draws will be posted in the Sports Section of the Thursday, February 5th Edition of The Guardian & Journal-Pioneer Newspapers. The Cribbage Tournament Schedule will be posted at the Crapaud Community Curling Club on the day of the event.

Source: Washington Post

Julia Duin (Contact)

Thursday, January 15, 2009

President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in Tuesday will incorporate several elements out of America's Masonic past.

One-third of the signers of the Constitution, many of the Bill of Rights signers and America's first few presidents (except for Thomas Jefferson) were Freemasons, a fraternal organization that became public in early 18th-century England.

Although it became fabulously popular in America, at one time encompassing 10 percent of the population, Pope Clement XII condemned Freemasonry in 1738 as heretical. The latest pronouncement was issued in 1983 by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - now Pope Benedict XVI - who called Masonic practices "irreconcilable" with Catholic doctrine.

Still, as the first president, George Washington had to come up with appropriate rituals for the new country. He borrowed many of them from Masonic rites he knew as "worshipful leader" of a lodge in Alexandria.

His Masonic gavel is on display at the Capitol Visitor Center. Until this inauguration, Washington's Masonic Bible - on which he swore his obligations as a Freemason - was used for the presidential oath of office. President-elect Barack Obama will use Abraham Lincoln's Bible.

The worshipful master administered the Masonic oaths. This was adapted to the president vowing to serve his country in an oath administered by the top justice of the Supreme Court.

I learned all this from Garrison Courtney, a 30-something government worker who gives Masonic tours of the District in his spare time. He is worshipful master at the Cincinnatus Lodge in Georgetown. Contrary to public perceptions of Masons being older white guys, current local membership is a racially and religiously mixed group of Gen-X men, he says.