MASONIC EDUCATION: IT’S RAISON D'ETRE

Moody Amakobe / Assistant Secretary / Stone Square Lodge #22 PHA F.& A.M
October 21, 2015

The importance of masonic education is a subject that has been overlooked by many lodges. In the interest of forming a lodge of research and education in the Delaware jurisdiction, and hopefully help other lodges do the same. I see it fitting to explain Masonic education’s Raison d'etre, its purpose and importance. The Modern mason will quickly learn that the craft, in our current era, goes under the name of speculative masonry. It is important to understand why this is the case, that way we will fully appreciate the importance of masonic education.

Our ritual tells us that we work in speculative masonry, but our ancient brethren worked in both speculative and operative masonry. Brother Haywood, regarding the difference between speculative and operative masons, writes that, operative masons were devoted to the actual building activities of erecting temples and magnificent architecture. The majority of operative lodges in his time worked under the immediate control of religious establishments and also came under the arm of craft guilds . The prominence of these operative lodges began to decline in the fifteenth century, primarily because of the protestant reformation in England. In the encyclopedia of the religions of the world, Melton and Baumann attest to the formation of the first grand lodge of England in 1717 by "non-masons", in the sense of the word, to gather and speculate regarding metaphysical issues; apart from the theological perspectives of the day...

Operative Freemasonry: A Manual for Restoring Light and Vitality to the Fraternity

by Bro. Kirk C. White

AN OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR FREEMASONRY Every new Mason learns that "operative masonry" refers to the art and practice of stoneworking while "speculative masonry" refers to Freemasonry. "Operative Freemasonry" is a manual on the art and practice of Freemasonry. By providing detailed information and advice often overlooked or forgotten on how Freemasonry "works", this book explores how the fraternity can actually "make good men better" and keep them active in our lodges and chapters. Areas covered include: - Light Defined - Secrets and Mysteries - Prospective Freemasons: how to find them - Framing the Sacred: Preparation for Lodge - Openings and Closings - Initiation: what it is and how it works - Mentorship: how to keep our brothers active - Daily Freemasonry - Resources for Further Light Written for every Mason who wants to bring Light and Vitality back to his lodge and the fraternity.

Manoah B. Reese, Grand Master
June 23, 1885 – June 21, 1886
Reported at the 27th Annual Communication

Rob Morris Lodge No. 46 in Kearney and the Grand Master officiated in the burial of Captain Emmett Crawford, a brother from Pennsylvania. He was killed while serving along the Mexican border fighting Apaches who crossed into the U.S. to kill American citizens. While patrolling, he was killed by Mexican soldiers who were waiting in ambush for Apaches. The Grand Lodge thanked the Master of Rob Morris Lodge for exhibiting at Annual Communication Crawford’s photographs, swords and implements.

The brothers of Nebraska Lodge No. 1 voted barely by a majority to move their lodge from Bellevue to Omaha. The Grand Master declined to issue a dispensation stating he believed that only the “power that created and located the lodge” could change its location, and because the lodge was a landmark, he was reluctant to move it. He left the decision to the Grand Lodge.

When asked whether a black man claiming to be a Mason from another jurisdiction should have been denied admission to a lodge, the Grand Master said if he belonged to a lodge chartered by a Grand Lodge recognized by the Nebraska Grand Lodge, then he should have been admitted. The man claimed to be “free-born” and on that point the Grand Master said, “God made all nature free. If the barbarous laws of the American Dark Ages were so framed as to consign an infant to bondage during its life, that fact is no indication it was not free-born.”

Pointing out that the Grand Lodge’s funds were in excess of its needs, the Grand Master suggested $8,000 be returned to the lodges giving $1.25 to each member. He also said other options could include a suspension of dues or initiation fees.

Lodge Elections

With local lodge elections being held in November, here is some important election information for the local lodges as stated in the Grand Lodge by-laws. It should also be noted that once the lodge election is complete, it is the Secretary’s responsibility to submit the election information to the Grand Lodge via Groupable/M2 under the “My Local” button located in the upper left-hand corner of the web page, and then under “Certificates of Election.” The submission of the lodge’s election report is a requirement of the lodge’s secretary and should be submitted no later than November 30th of the respective voting year. Once submitted, the Grand Lodge office can then mail out the voting credentials of the elected lodge officers to the individual lodge for the upcoming Annual Communication in February of 2023.

Sec. 2-301 – ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT – The elective officers of a subordinate lodge shall consist of a Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary. One officer may hold both elective offices of Treasurer and Secretary. The appointive officers shall consist of a Chaplain, Senior and Junior Deacons, Senior and Junior Stewards and Tyler. The offices of Marshal and Organist may also be appointed if desired. The elective officers shall be elected by secret written ballot by a majority vote at the first regular meeting in November of each year. Anyone so elected should, if possible, accept the office. An election cannot be reconsidered by the lodge unless the member so elected declines. All appointive officers shall be appointed by the Master.

Sec. 2-302 – PROFICIENCY BEFORE ELECTION – No person shall be elected or appointed to any office who has not complied with Section 2-402 of the law, as it was required at the time that they were raised as a Master Mason.

Sec. 2-303 – HOLDING TWO OFFICES – With the exception of Secretary and Treasurer, no two of the offices named in Section 2-301 shall be held by the same person, nor shall a Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, or Grand Warden be at the same time the Master or Warden of a subordinate lodge. An officer of a chartered subordinate lodge may also be an officer of a lodge under dispensation.

Sec. 2-304 – VACANCIES – An installed officer cannot resign or demit; if absent, the Master shall fill the office by temporary appointment from meeting to meeting. The arrest of the jewel of an officer does not vacate the office. The expulsion or suspension of an officer vacates his office. An officer-elect who has accepted shall not be deemed to have refused the office by reason of absence from installation. In the event of the death, expulsion or suspension of a Secretary or Treasurer the lodge may elect and shall install a successor for the remainder of the term, without dispensation.

Sec. 2-305 – QUALIFICATIONS FOR MASTER – Except in newly chartered subordinate lodges, no one shall be elected Master unless he shall have been installed as a Warden in some regularly chartered lodge. An irregular installation as a Warden will not render him ineligible.