Albert Pike Statue in Washington, DC Toppled, Burned By Protesters

by Christopher Hodapp

Fox5 TV in Washington, D.C. is reporting late Friday night that the bronze statue of Albert Pike in Judiciary Square has just been toppled and burned. Between 80 and 100 people were gathered around the statue shortly after 11PM when it was yanked off its pedestal and knocked to the ground. Once on the ground, the cheering crowd reportedly attempted to set fire to to it (a forlorn waste of time and lighter fluid, as the bruised and battered bronze figure stubbornly refused to burn, proving its tormentors all flunked out of high school chemistry class).

There really should be no surprise, since Popular Mechanics magazine helpfully published an article online earlier in this week that was a How-To Guide to toppling or otherwise destroying statues anyone finds offensive.

News reports this evening continue to characterize Pike's sculpture as a "Confederate monument," despite the fact that it was never anything of the kind. His statue was not erected by pro-Confederate veterans groups, or by alleged Ku Klux Klan members (it predated the 1920s resurgence of the KKK by many years). The 11-foot tall bronze sculpture by Italian artist Gaetano Trentanove, towering high above its massive limestone plinth, was erected in 1901 and donated to the city by the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction to commemorate their own 100th anniversary. It's location marked the former home of the AASR's headquarters for its first 90 years. 

There are (or were) eight inscriptions around the corners of its granite base: Author, Poet, Scholar, Soldier, Philanthropist, Philosopher, Jurist, and Orator. On the front was a Latin phrase, Vixit Laborum Ejus Super Stites Sunt Fructus. ("He has lived. The fruits of his labors live after him.") Despite the fact that detractors objected to it on the grounds that Pike had served for just five months in the Confederate Army before resigning in disgust, making it the only statue of a former Confederate soldier in the District, the sculpture did NOT depict him as a Confederate soldier. There were no references to the Confederacy anywhere to be found (not even symbolically), and the banner in the hand of the Grecian figure is not a Confederate flag or symbol, but a Scottish Rite one featuring the double-headed eagle. It was purely a Masonic statue.

Before it fell to the mob

Pike's statue has been considered 'controversial' since 1989 when famed whacko Lyndon Larouche first raised a stink over it. The most recent attempts by Washington DC's non-voting delegate to Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton to have it removed used all of the same (and more) false accusations and outright fabrications that ignored the volumes of truthful information available about the life of Albert Pike and his accomplishments. Despite allegations by conspiracists and activists, there has never been any proof that Pike had written the rituals of the Ku Klux Klan, or had anything to do with the post-Civil War Klan. For more than you'd ever want to know about this, have a look at previous articles: 

• Albert Pike, Statues, History and Hysteria

• Washington Battle Over Pike Statue Part XXXIII...

Oh, what's the use? Mobs can't be reasoned with, and history doesn't matter anymore. So now that Albert's figure has been dashed to the ground, I suppose it can't be 'controversial' anymore. It is perhaps best that the argument about the statue is finally at an end. Freemasonry must not be the cause of division or controversy, among ourselves or the community in which we reside. Pike would agree, were he here today.

The statue was originally bought and paid for by the Scottish Rite, but it was handed over to the National Park Service shortly after it was erected. It will be up to them to decide the fate of what remains cometh the dawn, since it is Federal property on Federal land (you can bet no one will be charged with destroying Federal property). I'm sure Pike himself would have waxed philosophical about the whole affair – he actually didn't want any monuments to himself after he died, hoping his life's works would stand or fall as his epitaph, letting history judge his worth. But it's tough to simply shrug this off as we watch events unfold in real time.

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More Masonic Grand Lodges Issue Unity Statements On Protests

Joint unity statement from New York grand lodges

by Christopher Hodapp

In the wake of nationwide demonstrations, protests and rioting over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, several Masonic jurisdictions have issued joint unity statements from the 'mainstream' state grand lodges and Prince Hall Affiliated grand lodges. In addition to the District of Columbia and Missouri which were reported here previously, similar unity statements have been issued in New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Illinois, all posted here. (Click images to enlarge each document.)

Joint unity statement from North Carolina

Joint unity statement from Oklahoma

Joint unity statement from Illinois

I'm sure there have been others, but these are the ones I have received so far. This post may be updated instead of creating new ones.

Sir Knight George D. Kivett, Jr. RIP

by Christopher Hodapp

"If you make a mistake, do it sharply."

These were the wise words of Sir Knight George D. Kivett, Jr., who is known far beyond the boundaries of Indiana for his long career as the Captain of Raper Commandery No. 1's Drill Team. It has been my great honor to have known this humble gentleman for nearly twenty years.

Sir Knight George D. Kivett, Jr., passed to the Celestial Lodge on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 90. 

George Kivett has been universally acknowledged as the most successful Drill Captain in the history of the Grand Encampment of the Knights Templar of the USA, serving from 1970 through 2007 and winning seven Triennial Drill Competitions out of eight - six of which were won consecutively.

George was born Indianapolis, Indiana on April 25, 1930 to George D. Kivett, Sr. and Maggie Effie Kivett. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1951 and served three years before returning to Indianapolis Power and Light for a long and fulfilling career, retiring after 45 years of service as the Assistant to CEO for Employee Affairs. 

George D Kivett, Jr, was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason at Mystic Circle Lodge No 685 on June 28th, 1958. He was exalted as a Royal Arch Mason at Indianapolis Chapter No 5 and greeted as a Royal & Select Master at Indianapolis Council No 2 on March 18th, 1960. He was dubbed and created a Knight of the Temple at Raper Commandery No 1 on March 23rd, 1960. He has received the Grand Commandery’s Distinguished Service Award. He is a Knight of the York Cross of Honor (KYCH), a Knight Commander of the Temple (KCT), and an Honorary Past Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Indiana.

George is survived by his children, David Kivett, Mark (Belinda) Kivett and Tony (Terri) Kivett; brother, Harold Kivett; his grandchildren, Kelly (Shawn) Phillips, Chad (Jennifer) Kivett, Josh Kivett and Aaron (Cassandra Duncan) Kivett and great-grandchildren, Chase Phillips, Emma Phillips, Jaden Haywood, Blayne Kivett, Brooklyn Kivett, Jayden Kivett, Trenton Kivett, Jackson Whitfield and Carter Agal and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

George is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Martha Kivett and brothers Adolphus Kivett, William (Bill) Kivett and John Kivett.

Due to COVID-19 private services for the family will be held at Flanner Buchanan - Floral Park at 425 N. Holt Road, Indianapolis, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society.

If you knew George, please visit the Flanner & Buchanan website and leave a message on the guest book there: https://flannerbuchanan.com/obit/george-d-kivett-jr/

His column is broken, and his brethren mourn.

Requiescat in pace.

Joint Unity Statement Issued by Missouri Grand Lodges

by Christopher Hodapp

On June 9th, 2020, the Grand Lodge of Missouri and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri issued the following joint statement:

The State of Missouri is suffering as are many states in our country. Unfortunately, it is not the first time there has been strife due to the inequitable application of human rights and varying treatments of various groups within our state and country. Those inequities are profoundly contrary to the principles of our Order. 

Our State has experienced social unrest in major cities on multiple occasions over the years and we are saddened that the issues that precipitated the unrest have not yet been fully resolved. Inequitable treatment and racial tensions are not just limited to the urban areas of our State and we must recognize the inequities where they exist and attempt to eliminate them through legal means as quickly as possible. While we recognize that there must be changes made to our legal system, the true path to restoration, equality, and healing starts with individual mindsets and proper actions. 

We all know that the principles of our Masonic Fraternity can go a long way towards assuring equality and fostering the respect that is due every person of the human family when properly applied. Through exercising and practicing the masonic principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth and acknowledging that we are all created by God and therefore equal in his eyes, we cannot waiver from these principles and be considered true Freemasons. 

Freemasonry unites men of every race, country, sect, and opinion and conciliates true friendship among those who might have otherwise remained at a perpetual distance. It is our duty as a fraternity to influence those within our ranks to make decisions that help contribute to the repairing of the various broken systems that plague our communities. 

Our respective Grand Lodges have a long and rich history in the State of Missouri which we need to share with each other and the world. Nearly 20 years ago, our Grand Lodges acknowledged, by resolution, that we are both respected and valid Grand Lodges inhabiting the same geographical area and we have worked diligently on expanding our joint activities and relationships. Our members and our respective Grand Lodges are so much more enriched because of our love and the respect we share for one another. 

The death of George Floyd is a tragedy. Our members are free to make their own decisions as to what should be considered justice in this situation and while we acknowledge that we live in an imperfect world, we stand united in our strong belief that the foundations of our moral system can and must bridge the chasm that divides our state and country right now. Each member of our order is free to vote and express himself without interference from our Grand Lodge and we pray that how you choose to express yourself will be tempered with compassion and understanding for the entire human race. 

We call upon all peoples of our state to not fall victim to racism, hatred or contribute to destructive expressions for the lack of progress. And to our members, be ever mindful that we are one Brotherhood and we should always be our brother’s keeper. United we will stand. Now, henceforth, and forever. 

It is our ardent desire that we bond together as brothers to make our world a more just and honorable place. 

May the God of Love and Peace delight to dwell with and bless you. 

MWB Stanton T. Brown, II Grand Master, AF&AM of Missouri
MWB Malcolm D. Morris Grand Master, F&AM PHA/Missouri

Arson Destroys Oklahoma Masonic Hall

by Christopher Hodapp

The Masonic temple of Wright Lodge No. 483 in Wright City, Oklahoma was destroyed Thursday night by fire.

According to a message from the Grand Secretary of Oklahoma, Bobby L. Laws, PGM, a "fire source" was thrown through the front window of the building. The arson attack reportedly happened at about midnight. The message states that the area Fire Marshall is looking into the incident. Photos of the damage have been circulated on Facebook today.

 Wright Lodge 483 is chartered by the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Oklahoma.

Be sure your lodge's security system, fire alarm, surveillance cameras are up to date and in working order. And invest in a fire safe for your most irreplaceable records. An extremely disturbing graphic image appeared earlier this week on the QAnon far-right conspiracy message boards and circulated on Reddit and elsewhere. It shows the fronts of several Masonic halls with squares and compasses, with the message, "You're burning down the wrong buildings." It is likely that anarchists, home-grown terrorists, vehement anti-Masons, bored teenagers and other bad actors may be motivated to act on their baser instincts as protests, riots and violence around the country get nonstop media coverage. 

As reported earlier this week, a bomb was placed outside of a Masonic lodge in Cornwall, England. As Freemasons, we need to stay aware and vigilant that there are still plenty of people in the world who would do us harm. 

The tiny town of Wright City with about 700 residents is located in the southeastern tip of Oklahoma, near the borders with Texas and Arkansas. It is about 60 miles northwest of Texarkana. As Grand Secretary Law says in his message, "If it can happen there it could also happen elsewhere."


UPDATE 
Friday, 5:50PM, June 5, 2020:

Brother James Durbin in Tulsa, Oklahoma has started a Facebook online fundraiser to benefit Wright Lodge. Visit it HERE.

Roundup of Vandalism and Damage to Masonic Halls During Week of Protests

Authorities guarding the area around Boston's Masonic Temple

by Christopher Hodapp

A string of reports are coming in about several Masonic buildings suffering damage or vandalism this week. Some are related to the ongoing protests and riots in the wake of the George Floyd death in Minneapolis, but others clearly are not. But what is remarkable is that, despite the widespread historic location of Masonic halls in downtown areas across the country and the high levels of damage for a week now in many cities, very few incidents of vandalism against Masonic buildings have been reported. It's highly probable that some have not been actively reported, but here is what I have discovered thus far:

Over the last weekend, graffiti was sprayed on Denver's downtown Masonic Center, home to several lodges and the Scottish Rite – the news reported that some protestors were seen attempting to clean off the slogans. 

Several Masons reported 'hunkered down' at the downtown Tucson, Arizona Masonic hall on the second night of protests after its windows were smashed the night before. 

Windows and door broken at Ft. Wayne, Indiana Masonic Temple

The downtown Masonic Temple in Fort Wayne, Indiana had several windows broken out.

Entrance to Paul Revere Restaurant in Boston's Masonic Temple

Boston's Masonic Temple, home of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts sits on Tremont Street in downtown Boston. It became the epicenter of several nights of protests and demonstrations.  In a Facebook video assuring his members, Grand Master Richard Maggio gave a shoutout to David Harty and the Grand Lodge security team. The building's ground floor windows were boarded up, and neither the Masonic areas nor the new Paul Revere restaurant received any damage or vandalism, apart from a spray painted slogan on the plywood.

Washington's House of the Temple Vandalized

Arturo De Hoyos reports that the Scottish Rite - SJ headquarters, the House of the Temple on 16th Street in Washington, D.C. was vandalized during the demonstrations on Tuesday evening. The large, iconic sphinxes out front were reportedly doused with paint, and the building was defaced with graffiti. Prior to Tuesday night, it had escaped any vandalism or damage during the recent demonstrations.

A short video clip on Twitter showed one of the protesters spray painting on the wall.

Damage to Raleigh, NC Prince Hall Lodge 

The 1906 Prince Hall Masonic temple owned by Excelsior Lodge 21 and Widow Son Lodge 4 in Raleigh, North Carolina had its windows shattered by protestors on Saturday night. The shops and Chapter Room on the first floor were damaged.

According to lodge Trustee Steven Melton on Facebook,

"We have 4 black businesses that rent from us they were vandalized, we are one of the few black owned buildings downtown but it didn't matter to those looking to do damage... We still rent the 1st floor to local businesses, the 2nd floor for social events,community programs and Excelsior Lodge #21, Widow's Son Lodge #4 and Mentor Lodge #55 still meet on the 3rd floor every month. The area surrounding the lodge has been renamed The Prince Hall District and the [building] has been declared a historic building.

Prince Hall Lodge Burns in Asheville, North Carolina 

In the Shiloh community of Asheville, North Carolina, fire gutted the Masonic Hall at Caribou Road and Booker Streets. 

According to a report on 13WLOS-TV, it had been home to Venus Lodge 62, the first African-American Masonic lodge in Asheville. Built by the lodge in the 1970s, the building had been empty for the last few years, pending renovation. 

Originating on Eagle Street in downtown Asheville, Venus Lodge No. 62 was the city's first black Masonic Lodge group.
Where blackened rubble stands on Booker Street, Ronald Scott pictures years of events, from cookouts to scholarship fundraisers, that brought folks together.

"Very disheartened and sad. Unbelievable," said Scott, who's the lodge master.

He hoped to renovate the structure, which had been unused for some seven years since another fire caused extensive damage. 

Fire officials are still investigating the cause. The surrounding neighborhood in Shiloh had no demonstration or protest activity, so this may be completely unrelated.

While not in this location, the lodge continues to meet. Venus Lodge 62 is chartered by the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina.

An online Facebook fundraising campaign has been established to help rebuild their Masonic hall. CLICK HERE to donate.

Grand Master of Pennsylvania Issues Statement After Franklin and Washington Statues Were Vandalized Saturday

As reported previously, after the bronze sculptures of Brothers Benjamin Franklin and George Washington outside of Philadelphia's Masonic Temple were sprayed with graffiti Saturday night, Masons quickly arrived and cleaned them off again. Grand Master Thomas Gamon, IV gratefully acknowledged their speedy work in a formal announcement:

Thanks to Brother Ryan Steele for identifying the members of the crew.

LtoR: Paul Roth/University Lodge No. 51, John Mosco/51, Jason Fugarino/ Richmond-Solomon Lodge No. 3, Daniel Rivers/Athelstan-Lamberton Lodge No. 482, Ed Clifford, PM/51; 

not pictured/taking the picture - Mike Comfort, PM/Melita Lodge No. 295

UPDATE Friday June 5, 2020:

One final note on Philadelphia. Several message boards circulated vague reports that the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania's Masonic hall and headquarters building on Broad Street had sustained damage, and even that it had been set on fire. It was reported later that a car had been set on fire immediately adjacent to the building, but that the Masonic hall itself sustained no damage.

Crude Bomb Found Outside of English Masonic Hall in Cornwall, England

by Christopher Hodapp

Seemingly unrelated to the U.S. protests over the past week, an incendiary bomb was found outside of a Masonic lodge in Penryn, Cornwall, England early Tuesday mor ning. According to a BBC story, the bomb squad from the Royal Navy were called in to defuse the crude device, which authorities said "represented a danger to themselves as well as the locality in which it was placed." It did not explode, and there was no injury or damage.

The Penryn Masonic Hall is home to The Lodge of the Three Grand Principles No. 967, St. Gluvias Lodge 7936, and St. Budoc's Lodge 8445, all holden under the United Grand lodge of England.

According to the CornwallLive website, "Police are treating the discovery as arson with intent to endanger life. Incident ongoing."

(Photos from the BBC)

Grand Masters in Washington DC Issue Joint Statement on Recent Protests

by Christopher Hodapp

There have been unprecedented protests and violence in the nation's capitol and throughout the country over the last week in connection with the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis. To address the issue locally, a joint statement has been issued today by the grand masters of the Grand Lodge FAAM of the District of Columbia and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia (click the image to enlarge):

Joint Statement of 
Washington, D.C. Grand Masters

June 2, 2020

Our city of Washington DC is suffering. Based upon the dedication of all Masons throughout the world to the ideals of Masonic brotherly love and fellowship, we believe that our Craft offers a bold example of how men of different races can love and respect each other.

Freemasons do not all think alike. We are formed from different races, different political and social backgrounds, and many different countries. We all act and vote as individuals, and as our respective consciences dictate. But on one principle we are united. Freemasons accept and respect one another regardless of our differences, and the Brotherhood we share is based solely upon the content of a man’s character. Our Ancient Landmarks, handed down to us through the ages, include two important truths:

• All Masons believe in the existence of God as the Grand Architect of the Universe and in the existence of an immortal spirit that is His gift to every person.
• All Masons meet as equals. As the children of one great Father, we are all traveling to that predestined place where only genuine virtue merits respect, rather than wealth or status.

The leaders signing this statement affirm these beliefs. The ugly history of slavery and segregation in our country had estranged our two Grand Lodges in Washington, D.C. for too many years. But we have since outgrown those divisions and forged between us the ties of Brotherhood that unite us as Freemasons. Freemasonry is strong and vibrant in Washington DC, and we have a role to play in the healing that our city requires.

Each Brother will make his own decision about how to mourn the death of George Floyd, and how to call out for justice. But Freemasons will not succumb to the blind hatred of racial tension, nor contribute to inflaming those destructive passions. We are united as a sacred Brotherhood.We humbly request the aid and blessing of Almighty God on our City and Nation and ask for His pro- tection of our loved ones. Finally, we ask that all Freemasons redouble their efforts to heal the divisions tearing at our society, and we look forward to the time when we can meet together again.

(Signed)

Michael D. Nicholas, Sr. 
Grand Master
The Grand Lodge, FAAM Washington, D.C.

Quincy G. Grant
Most Worshipful Grand Master
Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge
Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia

Lazy Sunday

by Christopher Hodapp


Alice and I went downtown today to check the condition of the Indianapolis Masonic Temple after several nights of mayhem and vandalism came too close to it for comfort. We made it a Sunday family outing, since the building was empty and Alice hadn't seen the Museum in a while. Fortunately none of the three big Indianapolis Masonic buildings have been hit with any damage.

But Sophie didn't care for her first encounter with our antique De Moulin Brothers' Odd Fellows novelty lodge goat.

Not one bit.

Check In Regularly With Your Masonic Brothers: Suicide Rates Rising Under COVID

Photo: @chantaldgarcia via Twenty20

by Christopher Hodapp

Back in March, I wrote an article, Rising Farmer Suicides: Are These Your Brethren? It talked about the alarming increase in self-inflicted deaths among the American farmer population and why that should be important to the Masonic fraternity. Many Masonic lodges (arguably the majority in the U.S.) are in rural areas, and these incidents strike very close to home.

Now the COVID-19 enforced lockdowns have had their own damaging effects on people everywhere, not just in rural areas. Case in point: an article on May 21st reported that San Francisco Bay area hospitals had already clocked more suicide attempts in just four weeks than in all of 2019. That means that more people in their region had died by suicide at the time than from the COVID virus.

From ABC-7 in San Francisco: 'Suicides on the rise amid stay-at-home order, Bay Area medical professionals say' by Amy Hollyfield:

"Doctors at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek say they have seen more deaths by suicide during this quarantine period than deaths from the COVID-19 virus.

"The doctor in charge of a Bay Area, Calif. trauma center said the state should end its lockdown orders after an “unprecedented” spike in suicide attempts amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’ve never seen numbers like this, in such a short period of time,” Dr. Mike de Boisblanc, head of trauma at John Muir Medical Center, told local station ABC7... “I mean, we’ve seen a year’s worth of suicide attempts in the last four weeks.” He added that he thinks “it’s time” to end the state shutdown. Trauma nurse Kacey Hansen, who has worked at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek for over three decades, said she had “never seen” so many attempts, most being young adults. “I have never seen so much intentional injury . . . it’s upsetting.”

"I think people have found themselves disconnected from the normal supportive networks that they have, churches and schools and book clubs, you name it," Tamura said.

Whether these suicides are rooted in economic uncertainty caused by loss of jobs, livelihoods and businesses, or media-stoked fears of viral infection, or the inability to confront their own mortality for the first time, or just plain loneliness, it's far too early to say. But what is clear is that the isolation from human contact and near total lack of social interaction is contributing greatly to the dramatic rise in self-inflicted deaths.

Even before the COVID virus came along, the Centers for Disease Control reported that between 1999 and 2016, the second leading cause of death in Americans aged 15-34 was suicide. The report at the time was authored in 2018, and their statistics ran out at 2016. There were nearly 45,000 suicides in 2016. Middle-aged adults between 45-64 had the largest rate increase, rising to 19.2 per 100,000 in 2016 from 13.2 per 100,000 in 1999. Twenty-five states saw percentage rate increases of more than 30% over the 17 years that were studied. 

The report also looked at the underlying reasons surrounding suicides and found that the effects of economic downturns like job loss, career upheavals, business failures, and financial catastrophes were major causes of the increases, especially during the Great Recession of 2008. And suicides don't just happen to people with pre-existing mental problems - more than half of suicides in 2015 in a subgroup of 27 states were among people with no known mental health condition.

This should be one more wake-up call to Masons everywhere to find ways to communicate and contact our lodge brethren more regularly. Be especially attentive if a Brother is in danger of losing (or already has lost) a child, spouse or parent over the last few months. Business failures are already going up steadily, and job losses have hit records not seen since the 1930s. During the lockdowns, families have been denied the traditional ceremonies and customs we have required for centuries to purge ourselves of the grief from death, as mortuaries are essentially shut down for even small funerals for the duration. All of these situations can have corrosive effects on people who might otherwise appear outwardly fine. Generic e-mails or Facebook posts to grieving friends and Masonic brothers aren't sufficient.

Consider another aspect of the current societal trends that affect Freemasonry today. One of the most fundamental lessons that Masonic rituals teach us is to live each day with the awareness that Death can happen at any instant. In earlier ages, death was an omni-present spectre for most of the world. Americans and Europeans have fewer children today which results in smaller and smaller families that are spread out nationwide by instant mobility. Ease of divorce, live-in relationships and single parenthood all have conspired to fray extended family connections and support networks to the thinnest level in history. Having many children was the rule in prior centuries, in part as a guard against infant mortality and premature deaths from disease, war, or accident. Extended families cared for their elderly relatives at home, not in distant retirement communities by anonymous healthcare workers. So it was not uncommon for children to lose their siblings, grandparents or parents who died under the same roof. Death was a regular visitor.

(The very term 'living room' was promoted after the turn of the last century as a substitute for 'parlor' to blunt the 'dying room' association between death and the home's parlor where funerals were often held for a family member.) 

Up until about 50 years ago, the vast majority of men seeking Masonic membership had some rooting in a religious, faith-based tradition. Most of those religions offered their adherents and congregants hope of some form of 'eternal life' once we shuffled off this mortal coil. Masonic rituals reinforced that belief in an afterlife and a hope of eternal reward for leading a virtuous life on Earth. The most common American rituals feature as part of the Entered Apprentice degree a lecture accompanying the bestowing of the new Mason's apron upon him that says, in part,

"When at last your weary feet shall have come to the end of life's toilsome journey, and from your nerveless grasp shall have dropped forever the working tools of life, may the record of your life be as pure and spotless as this fair emblem which I place in your hands. And when your soul shall stand, naked and alone, before the Great White Throne, may it be your portion to hear from Him who sitteth as the Judge Supreme, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord."

It's unfortunate that anti-Masonic fundamentalist Christian critics almost always point to this very passage as 'proof' that Freemasonry offers a false promise of eternal salvation based upon good works on Earth, not faith and redemption in Christ. It's one of the top reasons many Christian critics wrongly allege that Freemasonry is a false religion. That argument actually goes much farther back to a longstanding theological battle that still rages today in Christian denominational feuds between Faith vs. Acts. Interestingly, it didn't get added to American Masonic ritual throughout the country until sometime after the Civil War. And I don't even find references to it in print until Thornburgh's Monitor out of Arkansas in 1903.

But Masonry doesn't 'promise' anything of the sort. Freemasonry is concerned with improving life on Earth, for its members and the wider world around us. Masonry doesn't concern itself with the afterlife, apart from an everlasting expression of hope for one, and it has always ceded that role to each members' own religious faith tradition. 

You don't need to be suicidal yourself to call a prevention hotline. It could be someone you are worried about. You can explain what the person is going through and see what the counselor suggests to intervene, since they are an expert on suicide.

If you need help or know of someone in need, the National Suicide Hotline is there for you: 800-273-8255 or suicide and crisis hotline (855) 278-4204.

Shriners Hospitals Rebranding As 'Shriners Children's'

by Christopher Hodapp

Bill Hosler over on the On The Square blog is reporting today that 'Shriners Hospitals for Children' has just announced that they are uniformly rebranding their network of 22 hospitals as 'Shriners Children's.' The name change is intended to unify and do away with a handful of different facility and corporate entity names of several Shriners children's hospitals and programs throughout North America.

The rebranding does away with different facility
names in the Shriners Hospital system

An email today signed by Imperial Potentate Jeff Sowder and Jeffery Gant, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, explains that the new name better reflects the present and future for of the organization. It reads, in part:

For nearly 100 years, Shriners Hospitals for Children has expanded, changed and adapted to meet the needs of children and families. As we have changed, we have added different terms to describe our locations, which is, quite honestly, a confusing distraction. We have grown so much, and do so much – “Shriners Hospitals for Children”– no longer adequately tells the public who we are. We are all part of Shriners and our concern is children, but we are more than hospitals.

As we look forward to a new century of caring for kids, the world is a far different place than it was in 1922, when we opened our first hospital. And Shriners Hospitals for Children is equally different.

We have become far more than a collection, or even a system, of hospitals. We have become leaders in care, research and medical education. We are known for innovation, expertise, compassion, generosity and a strength and determination to improve lives, no matter the complexity, that is stunning and respected throughout the world. We give our patients and families so much more than medical care. We help them build confidence and self-esteem. We provide as many resources as we have available – from custom prosthetics to adaptive sports opportunities, to assistive devices that encourage personal independence.

We are so much more than hospitals – and we need to share that fact – shout that message – clearly – to help us be recognized for all we are, live our mission and reach more children and families who need us.

The announcement hasn't gone wide yet - there are no press releases or news articles available about the rebranding. I suspect Tampa wanted to alert the membership and donors first.  

However, a video is available online HERE that announces and explains the name change. 

The over-aching name of the parent fraternal organization itself is NOT changing, and will remain Shriners International. In the 140+ years since its official formation, the Shriners have had a couple of official corporate names. The Shriners were established in 1878 with the appropriately bilious name of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and if you rearranged its initials AAONMS, it quite deliberately spelled 'A MASON.' Sometime after the mid-20th century, they rebranded themselves as 'Shriners North America, ' after expanding into Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the hemisphere. But as they opened more Shrine Clubs and Shrine Oases in other parts of the world, it was decided that the name should reflect its more global reach. The name officially changed again in 2010 to Shriners International.

The principal philanthropy of the Shrine - its now 22 children's hospitals - began life in 1922 as Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was established to treat orthopedic injuries and conditions, diseases, burns, spinal cord injuries, plus birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate, in children. By the time the Depression hit in 1929, they had constructed a total of 13 hospitals, and provided care at no charge to patients and their families. Their mission has expanded from there and continues to this day.

All Masons are not Shriners, but all Shriners are Masons. Shriners International is an appendant organization of American Freemasonry. To become a Shriner, a man must join a Masonic lodge first.  Some 200 local Shrine Temples and their members support the network of 22 Shriners' pediatric burn and orthopedic hospitals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

To donate to Shriners Children's, visit their website HERE.