PREFACE Samuel Johnson, regarded as one of the greatest English figures of 18th-century life and letters, once said of the celebrated poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer , defined by some as the father of English literature, that he “took much from the Italians”. He was of course referring to Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”, a set of … Continue reading THE CHEVALIER RUSPINI
The poem celebrates the equality which reigns among Freemasons without distinction of profession, rank, race or creed and the first two stanzas clearly reflect the diversity of this particular Lodge, underscored by the refrain which contrasts the behaviour displayed in public with that shown inside the Lodge. There was Rundle, Station Master,And Beazeley of the … Continue reading THE MOTHER LODGE – A poem by Rudyard Kipling
The famous 19th century French novelist Alexandre Dumas senior, one day argued in these terms with an insolent man who had insulted him for his looks: Sir,My father was a mulatto, my grandfather was a negro,and my great grandfather was a monkey. So you see, Sir,My family starts where yours ends! Alexander Dumas senior was … Continue reading The Black Alexandre Dumas
WHO SLIPPED WHAT IN THE MASONIC 3RD DEGREE The purpose of this paper is to expand some thoughts on the ceremony of Raising and its history in Freemasonry. The story of the Third Degree presents several problems. If we consider the basic premise that just before the completion of King Solomon’s Temple in the 2896 … Continue reading DISSECTING THE LEGEND OF HIRAM ABIFF
Existen en la literatura diferentes opiniones sobre el génesis de la palabra francmasón, freemason, Freimaurer, todas relacionadas con el mismo concepto de un hombre libre dedicado a la construcción. En Inglaterra la palabra fue mencionada por primera vez en 1376 indicando a un masón operativo de nivel superior. Sin embargo el término es lo suficientemente … Continue reading Origen de las corporaciones de Constructores de Catedrales
As we all know, the Saints Johns are the Patron Saints of Freemasonry. We are familiar with the phrase: “Erected to God and dedicated to Holy Saints John”, because we all pronounced it when we became Freemasons. In early Masonry, the feast day of St. John the Baptist was always celebrated by the Craft. In … Continue reading The Solstices and the two Saint John
Of all the appointments to an office which is in the power of a newly installed Worshipful Master to make, there is none more important than that of the Senior Warden. The choice of the Worshipful Master’s successor, a position of great dignity and grave duties, is one that demands most careful consideration and that … Continue reading The Senior Warden
It is common opinion that Speculative Freemasonry descends from the Crusaders. Such an argument was initially put forward by the Scottish Freemason Chevalier Ramsey in his Paris speech of 1736. But if we are to believe in this theory, how do we explain that Speculative Freemasonry presence on Malta, the very last bastion of those … Continue reading The Knights Hospitallers and the fall of Malta
This subject comes up time and time again. It is almost as if Freemasonry is trying to find an identity that fits our modern times. So, even if we may have touched this topic in the past I feel it is in the interest of all of us Freemasons to keep seeking for ways that … Continue reading What makes a successful Lodge?
At the threshold of some modern Lodges you will notice two pillars standing there as they are said to have stood in the porch-way or entrance of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. But of course the columns in the Lodge have no practical use; they only share a symbolic value. Traditionally one of the pillars … Continue reading THE TWO PILLARS – THEIR SYMBOLOGY AND INTERPRETATION
