Ancient & Accepted Rite for England and Wales Drops Trinitarian Christian Requirement

by Christopher Hodapp

The Supreme Council 33° of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales (what American Masons know as the Scottish Rite) announced a significant policy change in its jurisdiction this week. Following a National Conference of Inspectors General, a letter was issued Friday stating that they are removing their longstanding requirement for petitioners to specifically declare a belief in Trinitarian Christianity.

This is an important change in this jurisdiction's membership prerequisites. Prior to this, the requirements for Masons seeking membership in the Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales were as follows: 

"All candidates for membership of the Ancient and Accepted Rite under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council for England and Wales must profess the Trinitarian Christian faith and have been Master masons for at least one year in UGLE, or have joined a lodge under UGLE from a recognized Grand Lodge."

Friday's announcement reads, in part:

Members in England and Wales are often surprised to learn that almost no other Supreme Council around the world imposes any religious restriction on membership. Most Councils have never had a Christian restriction, and those that once did have almost all long since removed it. Furthermore, unlike many other Orders of Freemasonry which are Christian throughout the world, the Ancient and Accepted Rite is almost completely Universal in its nature and content. Even within the system as practiced in England and Wales, the only one of the 33 degrees with any significant Christian content is the 18°.

Nonetheless, after considering the matter in great detail over many years, the Supreme Council remains adamant that it would be inappropriate, given the foundational identity of the Rose Croix degree as a Christian working within this jurisdiction, to 'de-Christianize’ the ritual of the 18°, which we all know and hold in such high regard. Our ritual is fundamentally reflective of the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and it would, in the Council's opinion, not be appropriate to remove or 'water down' the Christian character of the degree.

However, the Supreme Council is equally convinced that the Order's current stance fails to reflect the Christian—and Masonic—need to be loving towards all and to treat one another with equity. To that end. the Council has come to the unanimous conclusion that the requirement to profess the Trinitarian Christian faith should no longer be a requisite of admission to this Order, which strives to be reflective of a modem, inclusive society. In the Council's view, to remove the restriction is the Christian thing to do. There are many good people prevented from experiencing the Higher Degrees of Freemasonry, who would enjoy membership and who would be assets to our Order; there is no reason why they should not join if they wish, provided they are willing to strive to uphold the Christian ideals of faith, hope and charity exemplified by the life and teachings of Jesus, so beautifully represented in the 18°.

As alluded to in the letter, the traditional Rose Croix 18° as it is worked in the majority of Scottish Rite jurisdictions today is founded upon Christian imagery and symbolism — events in the life of Christ are used as an allegory for its lessons of monotheistic universality and the importance of Faith, Hope, and Charity. 

In many Scottish Rite systems around the world, the 18th is the culmination of the first half of the Rite's degrees, and it can take many years to attain that level outside of the U.S. It's not uncommon for many Scottish Rite members in certain jurisdictions to never rise above the 18th — their degrees are taken one at a time, in order, often months (or even years) apart. This dramatically differs from the U.S. where a candidate generally becomes a full 32° Scottish Rite Mason in a single day or weekend. 

Albert Pike's post-Civil War revision of the 18° for the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite in the U.S. kept the original structure and allegory of the Rose Croix degree that had originally come to America from France through Etienne Morin as part of the hauts grades making up the Rite of Perfection. (Refer to the Francken Manuscript for this early version.) While it tells the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Pike removed the original degree's obligation to live a specifically Christian life and accept all of the tenets of Christianity. He felt such an obligation violated the most basic Masonic principles of universality and tolerance. So he kept the story, but reworked the obligation of the degree.

The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite in the U.S. took a bit longer to remove the specifically Christian obligation from the 18°. In the degree, Jesus of Nazareth is the Exemplar, and any monotheistic believer can confidently take the obligation. 

The NMJ's website explains their own current version of the 18° (as revised in 1941 and later, in 1964) this way:

In 1941, Sovereign Grand Commander Melvin M. Johnson appealed to revise the 18° so it could be better suited for men of all faiths. He said: "This is the heart of what the Rite seeks to inculcate in its degree of Rose Croix, this common faith. (That good will overcome evil) When the battle is won, Freemasonry’s greatest secret – secret only, because the world will not learn it – will be secret no longer for then humanity will find peace in brotherhood."

[snip] 

[T]he Knight of the Rose Croix of H.R.D.M (Heredom), relays the life and death of Jesus. The allegory is based on the New Law he declared at the Last Supper: the law of love, which all men everywhere may understand and practice. His teachings exemplify the universal principles of life and encourage candidates to be virtuous, endeavor to eliminate vice, and practice tolerance and love. Upon the doctrine of Universality, the 18° should be interpreted by each Brother according to his own faith.

While Craft Lodge Freemasonry has been historically non-sectarian in its membership requirements since at least 1717, there are several Masonic-related appendant organizations that a Freemason can join that do have a specifically Trinitarian Christian requirement. These include the Knights Templar, the Masonic version of the Rosicrucians (SRICF), the Red Cross of Constantine, the White Shrine of Jerusalem, and more. The Supreme Council 33° for England and Wales has been unusual by having such a requirement, since no other Scottish Rite jurisdiction does.

Just as a bit of background, in May 1801, the first Supreme Council 33° for the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite was opened in Charleston, South Carolina, and eventually became known as the Southern Jurisdiction of the USA. It was followed by France (1804), Spain (1811) and the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the USA (1813). Ireland (1826) was the sixth, England and Wales (1845) — receiving its Patent from the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction — was the eleventh, and Scotland (1846) the twelfth. There are now independent Supreme Councils in over 60 countries.

Attorney for Accused Murderer of Texas Mason May Claim Client's "Mental Incompetence"

by Christopher Hodapp

The suspect arrested in the murder of a Freemason outside of the Masonic Hall in McAllen, Texas last July attended a hearing Monday in which his defense attorney asked the trial  judge for more time to research his client's mental competency. 

Julio Diaz, 35, of Alamo, Texas is accused of shooting Brother Robert Wise, 55, on July 10th as he was leaving McAllen Lodge 1110's officer installation ceremony. Security video showed a man resembling Diaz pull into the parking lot in a Chevy SUV, approach Wise, and open fire. Holding the gun in one hand and a phone in the other, Diaz recorded the incident and posted it on his social media account.

Upon hearing the shots outside, members came running out of the hall and spotted Diaz leaving the scene.  Police were immediately called, and Robert was found  in the parking lot next to his truck, with multiple gunshots to his face. He was rushed to a local hospital where he later died.

Photo: KRGV-TV5

A friend of Diaz reported him to police after the video had been posted online, and Diaz admitted to him online he had shot Wise.

In court today, Diaz' attorney Lennard Whittaker Molina asked the judge for an investigator, saying more time was needed to go through his client's medical records because he isn't sure if Diaz is competent for trial. From the KRGV-TV5 website:

The defense said Diaz has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia, and he had other diagnoses from Mexico. The judge asked if there were any documents stating that Diaz was mentally incompetent, and the defense said not yet. The defense and prosecution are both working to get Diaz psychologically evaluated before the trial starts.

Diaz' murder trial is now scheduled to begin January 22nd.

Photo: McAllen Lodge 1110 Facebook page

Brother Robert Wise left behind his wife, five children, and eleven grandchildren, along with brothers, sisters, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Diaz also faces a separate arson charge from an earlier incident when he had previously tried to set the McAllen lodge hall on fire back in September 2022. According to the filing in that case:

Diaz threw a brick through the doors of the Masonic Lodge in September 2022, poured gasoline on the floor and lit a piece of cardboard on fire. 

The complaint states a nearby surveillance camera recorded the incident.
Diaz admitted to his role in that fire after McAllen police arrested him in connection with Wise’s death. 

Authorities obtained Diaz’s camera and found evidence that [also] linked him to a February 2023 fire at the Masonic Lodge in Weslaco, the complaint stated.

When he was arrested and questioned back in July, sources familiar with the investigation said that Diaz believed Masons are "devil worshiping Illuminatists." A Facebook commenter said Diaz had previously posted anti-Masonic comments on social media, claiming the lodge "had put a curse on him."

Masonic Hall in Staffordshire, England Set Ablaze on 'Bonfire Night'

by Christopher Hodapp

The Hanley Masonic Hall in Snow Hill, Stoke-On-Trent, in the province of Staffordshire, England was set ablaze Sunday night after a gang of masked youths were seen breaking a window and hurling a lit firework through it. Fortunately, no one was in the building at the time, and there were no injuries. The fire was put out quickly by local firefighters.

Local police are studying surveillance videos and attempting to identify the yobs who were having a fine old time setting fires in the area. Officers were seen guarding the historic building on Monday.

Photo: Stoke-On-Trent Live

In England, the evening celebration of Guy Fawkes Day on November 5th is often referred to as 'Bonfire Night.' It commemorates the failed 'Gunpowder Plot' in 1605 that had sought to kill both King James I and members of Parliament. As you can probably imagine, some miscreants occasionally use it as an excuse to do more than just shoot off fireworks in imitation of the Gunpowder Plot. The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue crews were called to some 54 incidents on Sunday night alone.

Hanley Masonic Hall is seen in this Google image before the fire.

The hall is an extremely active and significant Masonic and community landmark. According to the Staffordshire Freemasons webpage, the historic Hanley Masonic Hall is home to some sixteen lodges, including Sutherland 451, Etruscan 546, Josiah Wedgwood 2214, St. Peter ad Vincula 6835, North Staffordshire Round Table 8355, and University Lodge of Staffordshire 9907. It's also the meeting place of several Knight Templar Preceptories, Rose Croix /Scottish Rite Chapters, and Mark Master lodges. The Masonic hall is also home to the Shelton Conference Center.

George Washington Made A Mason 271 Years Ago Today

by Christopher Hodapp

A post on the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Facebook page reminds us that Sunday is the 271st anniversary of George Washington's initiation or "making" as a Freemason. 

George was made an Entered Apprentice Mason at the age of twenty in the Lodge at Fredericksburg, Virginia, on November 4, 1752. (There's some confusion over whether he was 20 or 21, because at this moment in time, the American colonies were just shifting over to using the Gregorian calendar.) He was passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on March 3, 1753, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on August 4, 1753. Soon after, Bro. Washington departed for the frontier on a surveying expedition. But he remained a member of Fredericksburg Lodge until his death on December 14, 1799.

The Bible upon which he took his Masonic obligations is still preserved and maintained by Fredericksburg Lodge 4 in Virginia. 

(Back in 2018, we were honored to have the Bible with us at the Masonic Library & Museum of Indiana for the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, and the Conference of Grand Masters in Indianapolis that same year. Fredericksburg keeps it locked in its traveling display case, presumably so it won't burst into flames when guys like me try to touch it.)

By the way, for those who fret about Masonic lodge dues these days being too cheap or too expensive, young George paid £2, 3 shillings, which would be approximately $488 today. Just a point of reference.

There have been stacks of books and articles written about George Washington and Freemasonry ever since his demise. Most have been well-intentioned, but so much has been wishful thinking, pure supposition, or downright fantasy. I touch on this in my own book, Solomon's Builders. But for the very last word in George Washington reference works concerning Freemasonry, let me recommend Mark Tabbert's recent work, A Deserving Brother, which documents every single Masonic meeting and event he provably attended, every known Masonic relic that he either owned or handled, and every known document he responded to regarding the fraternity. 

Accused Chattanooga Masonic Hall Attacker Faces Federal Charges

by Christopher Hodapp

Kadum Harwood (photo above), the suspected arsonist who attacked the Chattanooga (Tennessee) Masonic Center in September has now been indicted on two federal felony counts by a U.S. grand jury. This is in addition to charges filed by Hamilton County, Tennessee of harassment, burglary, vandalism/malicious mischief, arson and reckless endangerment.

The Chattanooga Masonic Center before the attack

According to the website for WDEF-TV12: 

"The indictment says Harwood 'maliciously damaged and destroyed… by means of fire and explosive materials, the Chattanooga Masonic Center.' 

The second count of the indictment was for traveling from Georgia to Tennessee to commit arson."

Prior to the attack on the center, the 29-year-old Harwood had posted messages on his Facebook page threatening to burn down the Masonic hall. One read, "I think I'm going to burn the one downtown. I am going to make an example of all FMs (Free Masons)."

At about 2:00 am on September 4th, surveillance cameras showed a man who resembles Harwood breaking into the center, setting a fire outside of the door, taking a sledgehammer to interior walls, and firing off a 'large caliber' rifle. After the fire, Harwood fled south across the state line to Graysville, Georgia and was arrested after posting the location of a motel in which he was staying. Bomb making equipment and explosives were reportedly found in his home by police.

Before the fire, the Masonic Center was shared by Temple Lodge 430, Chattanooga Lodge 199, John Bailey Nicklin Chapter RAM 49, and Lookout Commandery 14. I haven't seen any recent online postings of the center's rebuilding status.

Brethren, be vigilant!

Attacks against Masonic buildings and Freemasons themselves have been increasing in the U.S. and all over the world over the last 18 months. Conspiracists, anti-Masonic, anti-Jewish, and anti-Israel radicals frequently link Freemasonry with Judaism, often because of our symbolism regarding Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. With the current war raging (and doubtless escalating) in the Middle East, Masons need to be aware worldwide. Anti-Masonic rhetoric has been showing up in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. 

If your Masonic hall doesn't have cameras and a monitored alarm system, it needs to be considered right now, whether you are in a downtown area, a quiet suburb, or even in an isolated rural lodge. Exterior doors need to be locked once meetings start, parking lots need to be lit up like the face of the sun, and any online threats or paper flyers found threatening your lodge or local Masons need to be reported to law enforcement immediately. Do NOT shrug them off as simply crazy.

Yes, it's that serious.

Masons In Movies: 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

by Christopher Hodapp

I haven't seen Martin Scorsese's newest film, Killers of the Flower Moon, but Reddit and the Intertubz lit up all week long over a bizarre scene that takes place in a very real Oklahoma Masonic hall.

The movie is about a unique moment in the mid-1920s that dramatically changed the way of life for the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. The discovery of oil on their tribal land set off a huge economic boom that was well covered by writers and photographers at the time. Osage Indians driving around in lavishly expensive cars, while wearing dazzling jewelry from Tiffany's (sold at the tribal general store) and hiring white servants. Their elaborate wedding ceremonies became the stuff of legends, combining their ageless traditions with 20th century extravagance.  But the sudden wealth also attracted the attention of organized criminal groups, and brought envy and jealousy from from plenty of Oklahoma residents and out-of-staters who DIDN'T have oil on their land.

The movie is largely based on author David Grann's 2017 book, Killers, which tells the horrible story of what came to be known as the 'Osage Reservation Murders.' Much of the book revolves an Osage woman, Mollie Buckhart (played by Lily Gladstone), and the deaths of her family members, along with the work of the newly established Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

As Grann explains (and the film shows), the quickest way for nefarious non-Osage members to get their hands on their oil rights was to marry into an Osage family, then get rid of them and inherit the rights. Poisonings were common, as were doctors and morticians who lied about causes of death. While the film zeros in on one family, there were scores of actual killings, and some believe they ran into the hundreds. In many cases, local law enforcement was incompetent, overwhelmed, or complicit. When the murders climbed to at least two dozen, the FBI was sent in, as they mostly had jurisdiction at that time over crimes committed on federal land — including tribal lands.

Much of the story takes place near Fairfax, Oklahoma, but Scorcese shot many scenes in and around Pawhuska, as the area was less modernized than Fairfax is today. 

The villain of the picture, real-life rancher William King Hale (played by Robert DiNiro), actually was a Freemason at Grayhorse Lodge 124 in Fairfax, and a member of the Guthrie Valley of the Scottish Rite. According to descriptions from several Masons online, there is a bizarre scene in the picture when Hale brings his nephew Ernest Buckhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) into an empty Masonic lodge room to punish him. He bends the man over the lodge altar, whacks him with a wooden paddle, then brags about being a 32° Mason to intimidate the younger man with just how powerful and influential he is in the community.

Filmmakers used the very real Grayhorse Lodge in Fairfax for the pivotal scene (and it appears several times throughout the movie's official trailer). According to comments on Reddit and Facebook, they repainted the interior of the lodge room in the dark blue that appears in the movie. They also brought in a checkered floor rug for the scene, along with some other bits of set dressing, like the pot-bellied stove. The oval-framed Past Master portraits on the walls are authentic to the lodge.

Master's station in the East (with the Senior Warden's pedestal - probably 
placed there by an art director). Photo: Robert G. Davis

Prop pot-bellied stove was temporarily placed in the 

lodge for the scene. Photo: Robert G. Davis

My understanding is that the scene isn't meant to imply that 'the Freemasons' are part of any evil schemes, the murders themselves, or any sort of coverup to keep their members out of jail. Rather, it's there to emphasize Hale's arrogance and power in the area – the man called himself 'The King of the Osage Hills'.

Just to be clear, you won't (or at least, you shouldn't) find college fraternity-style whacking paddles in Masonic lodges because Masons don't engage in hazing their candidates or members. Yes, you'll occasionally see these sold online with a Masonic square and compass on them (like the image here), but they are NOT found in what we call regular, recognized Freemasonry. There are bogus, illegitimate lodges and organizations in the world that call themselves 'Masonic,' but have no standing whatsoever in the overwhelming majority of the Masonic community. And for those who use these paddles as displays of their Greek fraternity membership, they may want to display Masonic membership the same way. Just rest assured - nobody should be paddling your ass at the altar of Freemasonry.

As for the fate of William Hale, he had first been initiated into Grayhorse Lodge 124 in 1907. Hale was expelled from Freemasonry in 1926 after being arrested for the murder of Anna Brown. (Scorsese might have worked that in somewhere, but at only 3 1/2 hours long, I guess he just ran out of time.) Hale was convicted for murdering Henry Roan, but that was overturned due to the case being tried in the wrong district court. Hale was later convicted (in the proper court) of Roan's murder in 1929. (See this article by T.S.Akers on the Oklahoma Masonic History website. He's the Curator of Collections for the McAlester Valley of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.)

Brother Mark Wright posted this photo of the lodge room taken last month (image below). The lodge's unusual woven carpet dates from 1924. Note how much wider the room seems in the film, thanks to a wide-angle lens and subdued lighting.

And, yes, the filmmakers took their checkered rug and pot bellied stove back home with them.

November 25th: Tri-State Degree Exemplification in Dayton, Ohio

by Christopher Hodapp

On Saturday, November 25th, all Master Masons are invited to join the Grand Lodge Officers of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana for the annual Tri-State Degree Exemplification at the magnificent Dayton Masonic Center. The Grand Lodge of Michigan will present the Entered Apprentice; Ohio the Fellow Craft; and Indiana the Master Mason degrees, using each jurisdictions' degree rituals (and yes, there are differences).

Work begins at 1:00PM Eastern Time, and tickets are not required. Following the work, everyone is welcome to join the Grand Lodge Officers from all three jurisdictions for refreshment and fellowship until 6:00 PM.

The Dayton Masonic Center is located at 525 W. Riverview Avenue in downtown Dayton, Ohio. If you've never been there, take this opportunity to see it in person. It's one of the most beautiful Masonic temples in the U.S.

Take note that your grand lodge must be in amity with the Grand Lodge of Ohio for this event, as it is in their jurisdiction. Attendees need to bring their current dues card and their own Masonic apron.

NEW BOOK: 'Freemasonry From the 1st to the 33rd Degree' (1875) translated by Kamel Oussayef

by Christopher Hodapp

Illus. Kamel Oussayef 33° has just released a new book through the Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction as part of an ongoing program of rediscovering a treasure trove of 18th and 19th century French Masonic manuscripts. Entitled Freemasonry From the 1st to the 33rd Degree: the Complete Ritual of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the 33rd and Last Degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, it is an English translation of an original document in French, written down in 1875 by an unknown Mason during an international Scottish Rite Congress held at Lausanne, Switzerland. 

They loved book titles in the 19th century that were so long they ended in a different zip code.

While Albert Pike was presenting his newly-revised degrees in the Southern Jurisdiction's Supreme Council in the U.S., this document is a record of the Scottish Rite rituals being worked contemporaneously in Switzerland.

Illus. Brother Kamel has been volunteering for almost 20 years at the Scottish Rite (NMJ) Museum & Library working on this series of very special translation and publication projects. The archives of the museum contain a priceless collection of rare, handwritten French manuscripts that have languished in the vaults for a century or more without ever having been translated into English. His previous books include: Freemasonry By Questions and Answers; Saint Edoüard: A 1748 Masonic Scottish Lodge During the French Enlightenment; The Spirit of Freemasonry; and The Book of Wisdom - all of which have been published in beautiful side-by-side translation editions by the Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. 

Like his other books, The Complete Ritual  is presented in a photographic facsimile manner, with a color photo of each original manuscript page on the left side, and the English translation on the right. 

The degree rituals themselves are summarized, and there are no real "dramatic vignettes" as in the American Northern and Southern jurisdictions. They describe the transmission of signs and passwords, designs for aprons, sashes or other regalia for each degree, and perhaps a historical or philosophical explanation, as presented in the original document. 

The degrees include the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason as part of the overall Scottish Rite system. The Rite has always been a self-contained system of its own, but in most jurisdictions, they agree not to work their first, second, and third degrees in order to coexist with an established grand lodge's sovereignty. Some countries don't follow this model, and there are many jurisdictions in the world in which the complete Scottish Rite degree system is their grand lodge. In more than a few places, this led to schisms that remain to this day of sovereign grand lodges competing with a parallel Scottish Rite Supreme Council/grand lodge.

There is also an outstanding historical introduction by Illus. Jacques G. Ruelland, Scottish Rite Deputy for the Province of Quebec, Canada that provides much background information about the Lausanne Congress, the circumstance in which this manuscript had been written. He provides a detailed social, political and Masonic background for this important period that has been rarely examined here in the U.S.

The Lausanne Congress of 1875 was important, in part, because pro-secularism French Masons in the Grand Orient de France were attempting to convince French-speaking Masonic bodies to remove all references to God, a "supreme being," or the "Grand Architect of the Universe" from their degree systems and as a requirement for petitioners. 

France's secular Grand Orient craft lodge degrees consisted of (and still do) the Scottish Rite's first three degree rituals, and they were (unsuccessfully) attempting to strong-arm the Swiss into purging God from all of their rituals at this time. Doing so is an awkward situation since many of the Scottish Rite degrees are centered around the Biblical story of building or re-building Solomon's Temple (and are also very similar to what we call in America the York Rite degrees). It's tough to remove references to God successfully from Masonry's Biblical symbolism, especially if you're trying to leave out the Universe's Great Architect from the story of building sacred temples in the hearts of men, patterned after the holiest place on Earth and erected to God by Solomon. Apparently the Swiss thought so too, and didn't follow the Grand Orient's recommendations.

Research has shown that the earliest haute grades ("high degrees") of what we call Scottish Rite Freemasonry had been created or influenced by late-1700s Jacobites - pro-Catholic Scottish and English exiles living in France who had supported the Stuart line of kings back in their homelands. Their Catholic beliefs clashed with the secular forces of the French Revolution period that sought to remove the Church's influence from all government, education, and social aspects of life – even Freemasonry. But even though French movements for "complete freedom of thought" continued to grow in popularity, the French Masonic bodies retained the belief in God as a requirement after the Revolution. That clash of ideologies eventually led to the Grand Orient de France removing the requirement of its members of believing in a Deity in 1877 (two years after the Lausanne Congress), which created a schism in worldwide Freemasonry that exists to this day, and which is why the smaller but widely-recognized Grande Loge Nationale Française is considered the only regular grand lodge in that country by the vast majority of the Masonic world. 

In 2020, Illus. Kamel Oussayef 33° became the 110th author to be admitted into the Society of Blue Friars, a very special organization formed in 1932 to specifically honor Masonic authors.

Friar Oussayef was born in Sétif, Algeria and attended school in France, where he lived for many years. He holds an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and an MS from the School of Public Communications at Boston University.

Kamel is a Past Master of William Parkman Lodge and Converse Lodge in Massachusetts (Masons in that state do not number their lodges). He has been awarded the prestigious Henry Price and Joseph Warren medals for distinguished service to Freemasonry in Massachusetts. In the AASR, he is an Assistant Master of Ceremonies with the Massachusetts Consistory of the Valley of Boston.

Freemasonry From the 1st to the 33rd Degree: the Complete Ritual of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the 33rd and Last Degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite is available as an oversize 272-page paperback from the Scottish Rite Northern Masonic jurisdiction's website for $72.80, or as a Kindle edition for $9.99 for cheapskates, skinflints, and starving Masons... (I can't stand e-books myself, but it still does present each full-color manuscript page, followed by the English translation on alternating pages, which makes it a little more cumbersome to read than the dead tree edition.)

Speaking Saturday at Ohio's Goose & Gridiron Lodge 1717 in Dayton

by Christopher Hodapp

Just a reminder that I'll be speaking this Saturday, October 28th at the Goose and Gridiron Lodge 1717 meeting and Festive Board in Dayton, Ohio. See the lodge website for details. 

On Friday night there will be a pre-event gathering at Jimmies Ladder 11 from 6PM-9PM - not sure I can make that, as I don't know when we'll come rolling in with the Airstream. But I'll try. 

(Somebody needs to build an RV campground closer to Dayton than Brookville. Sheesh. Now, if Masonic halls would install a 50amp electrical service, a hose bib and a sewer connection in the parking lot, it would certainly make MY life easier...)

The event will be held at the magnificent Dayton Masonic Center, 525 West Riverview Avenue, Dayton, Ohio.

Why Gen-Z Probably Isn't Interested in Freemasonry and Why We Need To Care

by Christopher Hodapp

Brother Darin Lahners over at the Midnight Freemason blog has written an important essay this week that was inspired by the meme above. I had been working on my own essay along similar lines all week, but Darin has done a far better job than I was doing. Entitled, Why can't we convince Gen-Z to join Freemasonry? You won't like the answer, I strongly urge all Masons — whether they are lodge officers, grand lodge leaders, or simply rank and file brethren — to read it all the way through, and ponder the points he makes.

And to head off any immediate political objection some readers might have upon reading his first couple of paragraphs, control your passions and read the whole piece. Darin isn't advocating a political viewpoint - just the opposite, which is the whole point of the essay.

My only minor rejoinder to his essay is that Gen-Z is not currently the most likely generation to have a strong interest in joining ANY voluntary, associative organization that encourages regular participation. Not at this moment, anyhow. About 20 years ago, the majority of grand lodges in the US required petitioners to be 21 years (and historically, many grand lodges worldwide required them to be 25 or 26 in the 1700 and 1800s). There was a wave of popularity in grand lodges in about 1999 or 2000 to drop the petitioning age to 18, and they really believed that would halt the decline in membership, that hordes of eager 18 year olds would line up to join the fraternity. 

Never happened. And it still doesn't happen. Grand lodge statistics pretty uniformly show that men who join below their 30s don't remain members very long, and certainly don't remain active if they keep paying dues. Life's too chaotic for people in the 20s - relationships change, jobs and career paths change, and more people move from city to city and state to ate than ever before. 

So, historically, the average age of petitioners to fraternal groups (college fraternities aside) has always been between about 35 to 48. Sure, there have been periods when this rose and fell, but 39-40 has always been the sweet spot for new members in Masonry. It's when men are most settled into a career and a spousal/partner arrangement, less likely to be having more (or any) children, and are at the peak of their earning power and disposable income.

So right at this snapshot in history, it's the Gen-X and Millennials who are knocking on lodge doors, which means we've got about a dozen years before the Gen-Zers get to the outer atmosphere of "middle age." But Darin's points are still well-taken.

(The meme above was circulated on Facebook last week and is a photo of Texas Past Grand Master Brad Billings, who has been under a non-stop barrage of attacks ever since January over his leadership style in 2022.)

Scottish Rite Research Society Symposium Tomorrow in Bloomington, Indiana: Agenda

by Christopher Hodapp

The 2023 Scottish Rite Research Society Symposium is being held on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington, Indiana tomorrow, Saturday, October 14. The event will be held at the new Center for Fraternal Collections & Research (CFCR) in the McCalla Building.

University Collections at McCalla

Indiana University

525 N. Indiana Ave.

Bloomington, IN 47408

Everyone is welcome to attend in person - not just Masons - or the presentations can be viewed via Zoom. CLICK TO REGISTER HERE

For those of us who will be there, lunch will happen at noon, and the speakers will begin at 1:00PM EDT.

The agenda for presenters has just been finalized:

Lunch & Social Hour 12:00 pm-1:00 pm

Welcome and Session 1 1:00 pm-1:30 pm

"Brother James Gardiner, Pioneer & Masonic Executive"

Speaker: Chris Ruli

Session 2 1:45 pm-2:15 pm

"The Franken Manuscript Revisited" 

Speaker: S. Brent Morris

Session 3 2:30 pm-3:00 pm

"Illuminism, Illuminatus, Illuminati: The Making of Modern Conspiracy"

Speaker: Erich Huhn

Session 4 3:15 pm-3:45 pm

"The Chaotic Westward Movement of Freemasonry in the US"

Speaker: James Graham

Session 5 4:00 pm-4:30 pm

"Creating the Center for Fraternal Collections and Research"

Speaker: Heather K. Calloway

Special Remarks 4:30 pm-5:00 pm

Gary E. Brinley, Grand Master of Masons in Indiana

The Indiana University Center for Fraternal Collections and Research is proud to host the 2023 Scottish Rite Research Society Symposium! Held at the historic McCalla Building on on the Indiana University Bloomington campus, the symposium features presentations exploring symbolism, philosophy, development and changes to ritual, and more.

Center for Fraternal Collections and Research

The Indiana University Center for Fraternal Collections & Research (CRCR) is devoted to the collecting, protecting, and sharing of fraternal collections for the sake of research and public engagement. CFCR improves scholarship and understanding of fraternal groups, explores their impact on American society, and elucidates their importance across time and to different social groups.

Scottish Rite Research Society

The Scottish Rite Research Society is one of the most dynamic forces in contemporary Masonic research, pursing a publication program that emphasizes quality-both in content and in physical form. The Society has grown to over 4,000 members worldwide since its inception. Its publications have redefined the standards of Masonic scholarship. The administrative offices of the SRRS are at the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., under the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite. Activities and publications of the Society are governed by the Board of Directors, who are all Life Members of the Society, representing Scottish Rite valleys across the country.

For questions or concerns please contact: cfcrinfo@iu.edu.

For more information concerning this event go to

collections.iu.edu/fraternal-center/ scottish-rite-symposium.html

Outpouring of Sympathy and Support for Grand Lodge of Israel

by Christopher Hodapp

In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel this past weekend, the Grand Lodge of the State of Israel AF&AM has posted a statement on its Facebook page acknowledging the enormous outpouring of support by the world's Freemasons. 

Click the image below to enlarge.

It reads:

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Dear Brothers of all the world.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the letters and phone calls from all over the world of fraternal support and solidarity during these challenging times in the State of Israel. It is truly moving to receive so many expressions of identification with the Grand Lodge of Israel, its Dear Brethren, and the entire populace in Israel.

We find solace in being part of this worldwide movement where fraternal unity among Dear Brothers transcends all forms of hatred. Our Grand Lodge serves as an exemplary illustration of this, as we have Dear Brothers from all faiths, races, languages, and countries living together in harmony with genuine brotherly love.

We have received unwavering support from our Dear Brothers living in the North, who stand in solidarity with the Dear Brothers and families residing in the South. Our building is soon to be opened and made available to those in need, and we are voluntarily bringing our Lodge of Magicians to entertain the children. This is how a fraternal society is built, and we are the ones who must lead the way.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely and fraternally.

M.W. Bro Man Segev, Grand Master 

R.W. Bro Jose Cohen, Grand Secretary

The official seal of the Grand Lodge of Israel includes a Star of David, a Christian cross, and a Muslim crescent, all superimposed over a Masonic square and compass and encircled by a Chain of Union. The Grand Lodge was established in 1953, and the country has almost 50 lodges at work today. Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Druse brethren all work together, and their various holy books are all opened side by side on the lodge altars. Despite decades of violence in the Middle East centering around the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, finding a better illustration of of true brotherly love in that nation would be difficult.

New York Mayor Eric Adams Made a Prince Hall Mason

by Christopher Hodapp

On Tuesday last week, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of New York conferred the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees upon New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a special ceremony. Also raised at this event was the city's Police Commissioner, Edward Caban, and Chief of Police, Jeffrey Maddrey.

(LtoR)Grand Master Gregory Roberson Smith, Jr,
Mayor Eric Adams, Commissioner Edward Caban,
Chief Jeffery Maddrey.

The historic event was held at Gracie Mansion, the city's official mayoral residence, and MW Grand Master Gregory Roberson Smith, Jr. presided. He was accompanied by the Grand Lodge officers, including RW Kevin Wardally, Grand Senior Deacon (who is a Board Member of The Masonic Society). 

This type of special ceremony that confers the degrees in a single day is sometimes known as making a Mason "at sight" and is a prerogative of grand masters in many jurisdictions (dating back to a privilege granted to GMs in Rev. James Anderson's Constitutions in 1723). It usually permits GMs to waive any waiting and proficiency period between degrees so that they can all be conferred in a single day. In the majority of grand lodges where this is permitted, it does NOT accelerate or alter the actual degree rituals themselves, nor is it some kind of separate truncated ceremony.

In addition to the Craft lodge degrees for the Mayor and the Commissioner, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Deputy (SGIG), Illus. Rev. Hermon J. Simpson, 33° of the Prince Hall Scottish Rite NMJ, took the opportunity to elevate three esteemed brethren – New York Police Department Borough Commander Ruel Stephenson, New York and Yonkers Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon), and Citywide Public Housing Liaison to the Mayor Tony Hebert –  to the 32° degree of the Scottish Rite, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.

The event was made public in a press release issued by the Grand Lodge. (Click image to enlarge.) Photos were shared by Grand Master Smith on his Facebook page.