Chief Justice Earl Warren

     According to the Knights Templar Magazine (FEB 2010, p. 25), Sir Knight Earl Warren (born March 19,1891; died July 9, 1974) joined masonry at 28 years of age.  As a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, he received his Blue Lodge degrees in Sequoah Lodge No. 349 (Los Angeles, California).  He was raised to the sublime degree as a Master Mason on November 1, 1919; and joined the Oakland Scottish Rite in Oakland, CA. in December 1919.   Ultimately he served as Master of Rose Croix and Master of the Lodge of Perfection.  Earl Warren served as Worshipful Master in 1928 (age 37).   For another 5 years (1928-1933), he served on several Grand Lodge committees; and was subsequently elected Deputy Grand Master in 1934.  He served as Grand Master for the State of California (1935-1936).   Earl Warren joined Oakland, CA. York Rite Chapter 36 (Royal Arch Masons); Council; and Commandery No. 11.  Although details were not available at this time, it is believed he followed up by joining AAONMS as a Shriner in Oakland, CA. 

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0 comments - Posted by Ricardo Parente at 8:58 PM - Categories: Information | Masonic Education

Founding Father of the York Rite

By Norris G. Abbott, Jr., 33°

Thomas Smith Webb, the "Founding Father of the York, or American Rite," as he is appropriately described by Herbert T. Leyland, his biographer, was born October 30, 1771, in Boston. He holds the rare distinction of being actively connected with the formation of two large national masonic bodies' testimony to the respect in which he was held by his masonic brethren.

He received his education in Boston public schools and also began the study of music there which was to be an enjoyable diversion throughout his life. His business career was extensive and varied. After serving an apprenticeship with his father as a bookbinder, he started in for himself in Keene, N.H., and then moved to Albany, N.Y., where he changed to the monufacture of wallpaper with considerable success.

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Posted by Ricardo Parente at 7:04 PM - Categories: Masonic Education

A Ford, Not a Lincoln

Source: Internet notes; and The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford, by John Robert Greene.

In his acceptance speech as our 38th President, Gerald R. Ford, Jr., commented: "...I am just a Ford; not a Lincoln."  President Ford--seen as a straight shooter during his 25-year political career as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan (1948-1973)--is widely known for having restored public faith in the office of the presidency after he assumed duties as the U.S. President when Nixon resigned on 8 AUG 1974. Ford was born 14 JUL1913--and a 56-year Mason when he died on 26 DEC 2006 at the age of 93.

    President Nixon's Vice President, Spiro Agnew, resigned as VP after pleading "no contest" to the several charges of tax evasion and bribery. Gerald Ford became Nixon's choice and subsequently assumed duties to succeed Spiro Agnew. When the Watergate Scandal erupted 8-9 months later, Ford assumed the position as U.S. President (without election). By mid-September 1974, President Ford made the unpopular decision (to many) to grant Nixon an unconditional pardon for any offenses he may have committed against the U.S.

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0 comments - Posted by Sam Tish at 4:49 PM - Categories: Masonic Education

Midnight Ride of Most Worshipful Paul Revere

(INTERNET notes--by George D.M. Pushee, III)

    Forty-two years after Paul Revere died, the poem of the "Midnite Ride of Paul Revere" was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  Paul Revere, born in Boston, MA in late December 1734, died on 10 May 1818.   He was one very active Mason for 43 years.  Paul's father died in 1753--Paul was age 19.  Paul Revere later married Sarah Orme in 1757--and produced one son and seven daughters.  Sarah died in 1773.  Paul then married Rachel Walker--and their union produced 8 more children. Four of these children died before their father, Paul Revere, who died at age 83.

    Paul Revere became a very active mason after he was initiated as an EA on 4 September 1760 (age 25).  He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason (27 January 1761) at St. Andrew's Lodge.  He was their first candidate after the Charter (dated in 1756) was received from the Grand Lodge of Scotland.   Later on 11 December 1769, Brother Paul became a Royal Arch Mason and Knights Templar.

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0 comments - Posted by Sam Tish at 4:45 PM - Categories: Masonic Education

Prince Hall Masonry

Prince Hall - not a title – is the name of an African-American raised as a Master Mason on MAR 6, 1775, along with 24 other African-Americans.  On 30 JUN 1784, 9 years later, Brother Prince Hall requested a warrant which was granted in APR 1787 by the Modern Grand Lodge in London.  Prince Hall was named as the first Worshipful Master. In 1827, the Lodge found itself without a Grand Lodge–and thus declared themselves independent of any Masonic authority.  Eventually, these brothers formed the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts (named in honor of its first WM).

Today, there are 42 Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA) Grand Lodges in the U.S. with Scottish Rite, York Rite, Order of the Eastern Star, Shriners, and more.   [Scottish Rite Journal, JAN-FEB 2007]. Members of the PHA include Thurgood Marshall; Booker T. Washington (founder of the Tuskegee Institute); and Nat King Cole.

Recognition between PHA and mainstream Grand Lodges began in 1989 in Connecticut.   Now, there is mutual recognition in 40 states–the most recent state is TEXAS, in 2006.

Sam Tish, E.H.P.

0 comments - Posted by Sam Tish at 4:37 PM - Categories: Masonic Education

Jacques DeMolay

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
  by Susie Hodges

 "The Knights Templar was the most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages, originally founded.....in 1118 A.D., to protect Christian pilgrims in the Holy Lands....

Over time, the Order became powerful and respected. Yet, in less than 200 years after it had formed, it fell spectacularly from grace." At the beginning of the 14^th Century (1300's), the Templars were put on trial for blasphemy. A great deal of documentation and solid evidence were destroyed after their demise. The Templars’ primary duty was to kill for Christ to eliminate evil.

Jacques de Molay was the last and best known GM of the KT during the 200 years of existence (1118 - 1314). He was elected GM in 1293 when he was 49–and served as such for the rest of his life (until 1314). Jacques served as a Knights Templar from about the age of 20. The Knights Templar were originally known as "Knights of Christ." Most GM’s and most of the Templars were French. France and the French Kings often influenced the choice of GMs. Templars used both Cavalry, skilled in archery on horseback; and Infantry, skilled in the use of axes and spears.

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Posted by Sam Tish at 1:06 PM - Categories: 3.Commandery | Masonic Education

Poinsett Legacy

As a Mason, Joel R. Poinsett was Worshipful Master of two lodges--Recovery Lodge No. 31 in Greensville, SC; and Solomon's Lodge No. 1 in Charleton, SC. Not only did he achieve the distinguished title as Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master in Blue Lodge Masonry, he worked his way up to Deputy Grand Master of SC, and would have gone higher had he not become Secretary of War when appointed to the post by President Van Buren.
President Madison appointed Poinsett to several high federal government positions. As "Agent for Seaman and Commerce" and later as Consul General for Argentina, Poinsett travelled into southern South America (Chile, Argentina, and Peru). South American territories (under the leadership of Brother Simon Bolivar) were struggling to gain their independence from Spain. At one point, Spain had captured several American ships. In 1811, Poinsett took command of several Chilean ships and retook the American vessels.

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0 comments - Posted by Sam Tish at 1:04 PM - Categories: Masonic Education