Cross Keys Masonic Magazine April 2015

Cross Keys April 2015

The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone

Walking the Road / Seeking the Light April 2015 Number 184

In this issue:

Some Thoughts from 242 PMs

The Battle of Cross Keys

Daily Advancement in Masonic

Knowledge

Installation of Johnstone Boy

Traditional Observance Lodges

Little Known Architect


Some Thoughts from 242 PMs

PM 1: Up to and including the 1960s craft lodges supported themselves. When a bill came

in, the lodge paid it and the brethren gave accordingly when the collection plate was

passed around. Admittedly the pre social club era bills (fuel, electricity, rates etc.) would

have been more affordable. Sure, we liked a drink, but within reason as the working man

didn’t have quite as much disposable income as was going to become available to him in

later decades. Also, top tables and Master’s room hospitality required to be regaled by

the RWM who would have been laying aside money on his way up through the offices.

This had the effect of dampening the party down a bit and maintaining an air of respecta-

bility, commensurate with the aims and the nature of the craft.

In the 1970s, changes to the Licensing Laws allowed the formation of registered social

clubs. At the same time someone thought up the idea of a fund, supported by raffles etc.

which would pay for top tables and associated hospitality and allow the RWM to throw

it about like a drunken sailor. I don’t doubt that it seemed like a good idea at the time and

in many respects it was. The lodge would have no more worries about bills or mainte-

nance as the social club would care for it. Like a masonic NHS, rent from the club would

look after the lodge from the cradle to the grave. Also, in the opinion of some people, the

more you drank the more you supported your mother lodge. Party on! Freemasonry was

now a system of morality, veiled in allegory, illustrated by symbols and underpinned by

the sale and consumption of alcohol. No one could have foreseen the social changes

which would come and would decimate the licensed trade, particularly at ‘spit and saw-

dust’ level. (it’s worthy of note that there was a small pressure group in the 1970s who

reckoned that alcohol consumption could be reduced to near prohibition era levels simp-

ly by utilising existing drink driving legislation and reducing the limit to 20 instead of 80.

They’re getting there!!)

The unfortunate side effect, as we now know, was that lodges became financially depend-

ant on their social clubs. Brethren only needed to throw some shrapnel into the collection

plate as they would be supporting the lodge during the harmony. The vast majority of

masonic meetings are held in in big, old, high maintenance buildings just like 242. The

failure of the social club system could have catastrophic effects on the entire range of ma-

sonic bodies. However, what I see happening is not the death throes of Freemasonry but

simply that we are evolving. The times they are a changing and the brethren have to get

used to the idea that the drink fuelled and funded era is passing. In 50 years time there

will still be freemasons and there will still be lodges, just much fewer than there are at the

moment. If we want to continue then we have to pay for it in a different manner.

To improve the lodge? I’m not a huge fan of the Intender programme. People who are

interested will stay anyway. If you join a masonic body that is populated by people who

are genuinely interested, it rubs off on you. There are several such bodies out there as we

all know. So let the guys who are only here for the beer fade away. Educate your remain-

ing brethren with the notion that you only get what you pay for and that something you

enjoy is worth digging deep for.


Some Thoughts from 242 PMs (ctd)

The 242 social club is shrinking year after year. Bar takings are reducing by about £6,000

per annum on average. We should be okay for another 3 to 5 years but after that? I had a

compliance visit from the Licensing Standards Officer of Renfrewshire Council Licensing

Board. He was happy with everything but reminded me that we are a members club.

Everyone who enters our premises should be a member or a visitor signed in by a mem-

ber who should remain with them during their visit. Many clubs are hiring out their

premises to members of the public who have either no link or a very tenuous link to the

club, usually for 18ths or 21sts and this is outwith their Licence provisions. I was shocked

that such evil wrongdoing goes on. I mentioned that this weekend we have one of our

members sponsoring a 60th birthday for his old aunt and the RWM was having a Chris-

tening celebration on Sunday.

PM 2: There is not enough (sorry any) social events I don't mean dances . We do nothing

together apart from meet twice a month. A lodge dinner dance off site where brethren

and wife's can mingle, day at the races something that gets us interacting away from the

routine of lodge meetings. . In the work environment, there are many events to bring

everyone together and create some camaraderie. Many struggle to stay behind after a

meeting today.

The Craft is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Move forward and change some tra-

ditions or keep them all and go backwards!! The youth of today have a different outlook

than my age group and beyond. What attracted us to the craft may not be enough for oth-

ers. Having sat on the Enquiry Committee of the lodge for several years, I feel many join

it for what the perceive to be a social benefit. When they join their expectations are not

met and we lose them.

We need to offer more than three degrees delivered in a language that is almost prehis-

toric!!! The language o f the ritual is a po int for another day and an article in itself (Ed)


Another battle during the US Civil War, this time a more common name! Moving up the

Shenandoah Valley in pursuit of Jackson’s army, Maj. Gen. John C. Frémont’s (bottom

left) army encountered Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell’s (bottom centre) division at Cross

Keys in Virginia on June 8. Brig. Gen. Julius Stahel’s brigade, attacking on the Union left,

was stunned by a surprise volley from Trimble’s command and driven back in confusion.

After feeling out other parts of the Confederate line, Frémont withdrew to the

Keezletown Road under protection of his batteries. The next day, Trimble’s and Patton’s

brigades held Frémont at bay, while the rest of Ewell’s force crossed the river to assist in

the defeat of Brig. Gen. E. Tyler's command at Port Republic.

Cross Keys and Port Republic marked the dramatic finale of Maj. Gen. Thomas J.

"Stonewall" Jackson's (bottom right) famed Shenandoah Valley Campaign. The campaign

not only sealed Jackson's reputation as an exceptional battlefield commander, but also

helped prevent Union reinforcements from descending on the Confederate capital at

Richmond.

The Battle of Cross Keys


Daily Advancement in Masonic Knowledge

The ritual mentions a daily advancement of Masonic knowledge should be practiced by

every freemason. How many really do? The following is a shortened version from the

Masonic Record, October 1969. It is still relevant today.

“I suppose there are more masons who are ignorant of all the principles of Freemasonry

than there are men of any other class who are chargeable with the like ignorance of their

profession.” This written by Bro. Albert Mackey, a Masonic author of the 19th century. We

are unlikely to meet a senior lawyer or judge ignorant of Scots Law, a physician who has

never read current procedures and yet we have senior masons who are utter darkness as

to everything that related to Freemasonry. They are ignorant of its history, have no com-

prehension of the esoteric meanings of its symbols and yet nothing is more common than

to find such sciolists (pretending to have a knowledge of) in the possession of high de-

grees. Often they have been honoured with elevated affairs of the order and yet pertina-

ciously maintaining unorthodox opinions in opposition to the judgements of the brethren

of far greater knowledge.

Why should this be? Watchmakers unable to repair a watch send it to someone who does

or an artist will admit if he cannot do such an picture, but do some masons pretend they

know so much? Many assume that as soon as they have been installed as a master then

during the ceremony, all knowledge is handed to them so there is no need to expand

their (full) knowledge by reading a book. The honorary ranks and the numbers of jewels

do not make a mason; they often exemplify an inept man hiding his lack of knowledge.

The mason who reads, be it only the pages of a magazine (such as The Ashlar, Ed ) will

entertain higher views of the institution and enjoy new delights in the possession of these

views. The masons who do not read will know nothing of the beauties of speculative ma-

sonry. The ultimate success of masonry depends on the intelligence of her disciples.

Obviously, today it is much easier with the internet and free magazines such as The Cross Keys or

A Different Level. Renfrewshire East (similar to other provinces) now has its own library, soon to

include online pdfs and the Education program. A knowledgeable mason has more chance of stay-

ing the course. As I have often said in the Cross Keys, we must put:

Freemasonry into Freemasons.


Masonic fraternity even cut across the most basic wartime division--that between friend

and foe. According to its Massachusetts charter, American Union Lodge's meetings in

New York required the sanction of the area's grand lodge. Yet loyalists, hardly inclined to

support the cause of the American Union Lodge, dominated the New York grand lodge's

top offices. Grand Master Parsons by then lived upstate, stirring up Indians to raid patri-

ot settlements and attack soldiers. His deputy grand master in New York City, however,

confirmed American Union's warrant despite refusing to refer to the lodge as "American

Union," calling it instead "Military Union Lodge." Although they were on different sides,

the New York official could not prohibit Masonic activity, for fraternal ties bound togeth-

er even enemies.

When he discovered shortly after the June procession that his men had captured a trunk

containing a British regimental lodge's charter, he insisted upon returning the material.

Even during war, he wrote the lodge, "as Masons we are disarmed of that resentment

which stimulates to undistinguished desolation; and however our political sentiments

may impel us in the public dispute, we are still Brethren, and (our professional duty

apart) ought to promote the happiness . . . of each other."

An Act of Masonic Kindness

On April 25th 2014, the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Egypt and the Grand Lodge of

Bulgaria entered into a renewed Agreement of Recognition, Amity and Inter-visitation.

The relationship between the two Grand Lodges stems back 90 years, with the first recog-

nition taking place in 1924. After both Grand Lodges became dormant owing to national

political instability in the middle of last Century, and on this the 90th Anniversary, we

have once again been able to reignite the light between our two Jurisdictions. The Bond of

Brotherhood which connects us all has been extended just a little bit further today.

A New Beginning


The new DGM of Central South Africa

It can only be the highlight of any Masons sojourn in the Craft to be appointed District Grand

Master by The Grand Master Mason. The appointment comes after being elected by your own

Brethren which makes it even more special as there were no opposing candidates for the office.

When growing up in Johnstone becoming a Mason was the furthest thing from my mind having

being educated at St. Cuthbert’s High School.

After immigrating to South Africa and being in the company of people who were Masons it

seemed the only thing to do and is probably the best decision I made in my life.

I was enthusiastic as a young Mason and wanted to get involved in the Ritual and found that I

was pretty good at it. I assumed the Chair of my Mother Lodge East Rand Scots 1093 in 2002 after

only four and half years in the craft. I affiliated to Lodge Herodom 1768 and took the chair there

in 2006.

I joined the D.G.L.of Central South Africa in 2003 after my first year as Master and enjoyed my

time in the District immensely. We travelled far and wide in our District which ranges from Nel-

spruit in the East to Kimberley in the South West . Some trips were five hour drives to a Lodge on

a Saturday morning, with a stay over and back home on the Sunday. These trips were where I got

to know the Brethren I was travelling with and the Brethren in far flung Lodges who we were vis-

iting. They got to know me and in the end I suppose this is how their confidence in me to be Dis-

trict Grand Master took root. I progressed through the ranks to become Substitute District Grand

Master in 2010 which I held for 3 years. It was in November 2010 that I visited 242 with some of

the Brethren from our District when we came over for The Festival of St. Andrew. I thought it on-

ly right that I should visit the Lodge in my home town. We were warmly welcomed and given

the tour of the Lodge.

On 5th February 2015 at a meeting of Grand Lodge I was appointed District Grand Master and I

was communicated this by our Proxy District Grand Master Bro. Jim Jack (one of the CK readers)

by Facebook of all means. The Grand Master, Grand Secretary and Grand Marshal Bro. Jim Jack.

Came to South Africa for my Installation on 28th February 2015.

We entertained our distinguished guests and their wives for 4 days previous to the ceremony on

the Saturday afternoon, and it was really great getting to know The Grand Master and his wife

Angela and Grand secretary and his wife Fiona. Saturday finally arrived and it was all go from


early morning as our Temple which has been totally refurbished was going to be officially opened

by The Grand Master and the plaque to be unveiled had not yet been mounted yet due to a late

completion. So it was drill & rawl plugs at 9.00 a.m. to get it put up in time. I was chairman of the

building committee for the past two years and even on this day I was hands on.

The Grand Master & Grand Secretary arrived at 10.00a.m.

for a run through of the Ceremony just from a logistics

point of view for perambulations etc as we were expect-

ing 300 plus to attend which made the area for perambu-

lations quite small. They returned to their hotel around

11 and I finally went home to get ready. I can’t say that I

experienced any overwhelming nerves and I don’t know

why I was so calm. I arrived back at the Temple at 1.30

p.m. as the unveiling was at 2.00p.m. and the Installation

at 3.00p.m.

The unveiling of the plaque went off fine and there was already a good crowd there early to see

this happen. The Grand Master done the honours and the customary photographs were taken.

Nearing 3.00p.m. there were so many people in the passageways and robing rooms, everyone

wanting to speak to me and congratulate me, it was quite over whelming. There were Brethren

from all over our District and from surrounding Districts and Countries. We had the pleasure of

having The Grand Master of The Grand Lodge of South Africa attend as well as his District Grand

Master in our Area. We had District Grand Masters from The English and Irish Constitutions in

our area as well as the Irish District Grand Master from Zambia.

Our Scottish District Grand Masters were from Natal, The Western Cape, The Eastern Cape and

Zambia. Bro. Jim Jack (above right) got a hold of me and took me into the quiet of one of the offic-

es to get away from all the buzz which was going on. It was probably the best thing to do and I

could gather my thoughts.

Eventually everyone had entered the Temple in procession and there was only me and the Tyler

left outside. After about an hour of business inside Bro. David Begg came out of the Temple to

take me in. I can only think of it as a blur as there was just a sea of faces as I was escorted in. The

Grand Master obligated and invested me and placed me in the chair.

Although this job will have its challenges I have a good team behind me and I am confident that

we can move our District on in the right direction.

I am proud of my routes in Johnstone, having been educated there and served my apprenticeship

there before leaving those shores at the ripe old age of 21 for a new life in South Africa . I hope in

my 5 years of Office that I can make a trip again to renew my friendship with 242.

My thanks to Bro. Dave for supplying text and photos (more of which will be in September’s edition). It would be

great to see Bro. Dave back in 242 as DGM.

The new DGM of Central South Africa (ctd)


From the Columns

Unfortunately, the first meeting in March was an exemplification. At the

end, the PGL Annual Visit took place with the lodge receiving a clear mi-

nute. At the conclusion of the meeting, brethren retired to the Social Club

where Bro. Gordon Fleming Asst. PG Tres gave a talk entitled Jeptha really

started something. This was well received and out thanks to go him for taking the

time to give this talk.

Taken from a book review of A Trad itional Observance Lodge by Bro. Cliff Porter.

The author's home lodge is different. They suffer from higher than 100% attendance, men

wait periods of longer than a year to get initiated, they have never lost a single Entered

Apprentice, they have nobody on the roles who is NPD or has been dropped for NPD.

Men arrive on lodge days at 8:00 a.m. and are often reluctently leaving for home near

midnight or 2:00 a.m. Their dues are high by American standards, the background check

is rigorous, and the initiations are solemn and serious. Every lodge meeting is treated as

an event and celebrated as such. Dinner is treated as a feast with all its positive connota-

tions. Freemasonry is celebrated in every aspect of the lodge. From the artwork, the fur-

nishings, the set up and the atmosphere; all aspects of the lodge meeting are intentional

and meant to create an experience.

The Lodge is a Traditional Observance Lodge or T.O. Lodge as it is called by some. Like

all labels, the Traditional Observance label has caused fear and fright, anger and frustra-

tion, confusion, and edicts. It has also helped to define the practices that make the au-

thor's lodge one of the most successful lodges in the United States by any standard one

might choose to measure it. This book does not claim to provide a Masonic magic pill for

the ailing lodges of the world. Nor does it claim in any fashion or form that the way this

author's lodge operates is the only way or the best way to operate. What this book does is

explain the Traditional Observance model and encourages ideas in the area of increasing

the lodge experience and allowing quality to become the watchword over every aspect of

Freemasonry. The writings contains a mixture of personal experiences, practical advice,

and real life examples for creating a Traditional Observance lodge or increasing your

lodges fulfilment.

Well worth a read—ask your local library to get a copy in.

Traditional Observance Lodges


PGL Divine Service— Sunday 26th April in Cathcart Congregational Church 2.30 for

3pm

PGL Tri-Annual Communication—Monday 27th April in Lodge 347 Rutherglen at

7.30pm.

The popular PGLRE Curry Night took place in the premises of Lodge St. John, Bus-

by No. 458 on Saturday 21st March.

Around sixty Brethren, partners and guests – including PGM Bro John S. Miller

and his wife - enjoyed a spicy spread of pakoras and curry supplied by Bro. Raj

Sattar who owns the Kebabish Restaurant in Glasgow’s Victoria Road.

Thanks to Bro. Willie Fleming SPGM for organising the event which raised £450 for

PGL Benevolent Funds.

PGL News

GL News

Nothing new from last month.


Alexander McKenzie's Vaults

These were situated at 339-41 Gairbraid Street, Maryhill, Glasgow and later 991-99

Maryhill Road at Oran Street It was later renamed the Cabar Feidh and old Scots Gaelic

word meaning Stag's Head.

Bro. Alexander McKenzie (shown above in 1892) was born in Blair Athol. In 1875 he came

to Glasgow and started work in MacRae’s Hotel in Bath Street, after 2 years service he

was promoted to the famous Caledonian Hotel in Oban. He missed the city life and came

back to Glasgow to work for Mr Stewart in Gairbraid Street, Maryhill where he pros-

pered from shopman to manager then to partner then sole proprietor. Alexander had his

own blend of scotch whisky called “Caba Feidh” which was very popular with the locals

of this old established Maryhill local. Mr McKenzie was a member of several societies, an

ardent Free Mason, a burgess of Glasgow and a member of the Trades' House, an Ander-

ston Weaver, a Forester, a member of the Kelvin dock Curling and Maryhill Bowling

Clubs as well as an honorary member of the Dunbartonshire Mounted Rifle Volunteers.

He was a crack shot and was fond of angling.

Bro. McKenzie will be known to very few today, but I wonder if his mother lodges is

aware of him. Can any Glasgow Freemason enlighten us as to which lodge he joined?


April Events in 242

Thursday 9th—EA by St. Barchan No.156

Thursday 26th—MM by OBs

Visit:

Thursday 16th—Craigends No.1042 to confer the MMD

Quatuor Coronati Lodge No.2076 (London)

On the weekend of 9—11th September, 2016, the lodge will host a conference on the his-

tory and development of freemasonry. It will be held in Queen’s College, Cambridge to

celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the first English Grand Lodge.

The lodge was founded by brethren who were intent on using an evidence-based ap-

proach to the study of masonic history and research into Freemasonry. This innovative

approach was intended to replace the imaginative writings of earlier authors on the histo-

ry of Freemasonry. This new style and approach was later to be referred to as the

'authentic school' of masonic research.

The founders planned to develop an interest in research among brethren everywhere, to

have papers read and discussed in lodge and published in its transactions Ars Quatuor

Coronatorum (AQC). Many of these transactions are available in the PGL Library at 1414.


Peter Lyle Barclay Henderson was born in Edinburgh in 1848, son of Barclay Henderson

and Mary Lyle. His father was engineer of the Edinburgh Gas Light Company's Works

and his parentage probably determined the predominantly industrial nature of his prac-

tice. He was educated at Moray House and by private tuition, and in 1863 he was arti-

cled to Charles Leadbetter and James W Smith who were civil engineers as well as archi-

tects, concurrently studying at Edinburgh School of Art. He commenced independent

practice at Oxford Street, Edinburgh in 1873 (according to his nomination papers: Pike

gives 1881) and in 1875 married Helen Smart, daughter of James Aikman. He was ad-

mitted FRIBA on 3 December 1906, his proposers being Hippolyte Jean Blanc, also a

brewer's architect, James Macintyre Henry, and Colin B Cownie, the then secretary of the

Edinburgh Architectural Association.

Henderson was essentially a brewer's and licensed trade architect with fourteen major

clients in that field, but some of his work, particularly Mackay's St Leonard's Brewery,

had considerable merit. He took an active part in public life: he was for three years mod-

erator of Edinburgh High Constables and was a member of the Merchant Company, but

failed to secure election to the Town Council in 1890. He was 'well known in Masonic

circles, having attained to the 31st Degree of Scottish Masonry and been for three years

the master of the Lodge of Edinburgh'.

In 1899, he won the contract to design a new

‘Egyptian’ Chapter Room in The Supreme Royal

Arch building in Queen Street, Edinburgh (right).

Unfortunately, this has since been sold and they

share premises in St. John Street, off the Canon-

gate. Another example of a lost Masonic Hall. I

wonder how many remember the old building?

Henderson died at Colinton in Edinburgh on 2

June 1912. His wife had predeceased him; he was

survived by a son and four daughters.

A Little Known Architect


Lodge St. Barchan’s Secret I was contacted by a Bro. John Booth from British Columbia a few years ago in regard to

the diaries (dating back to 1858-59) of a Bro. William Macdonald. The diaries was found

by the Maxey family who asked John to look through them as they knew he was a mem-

ber of the craft. Although there’s nothing in the diaries, John made contact with me as

some of Bro. Macdonald’s other belongings suggested he was a member of 156. John’s a

PM of Discovery Lodge 149 in Campbell River and has just been installed as Chaplain of

the newly instituted Qualicum Lodge 197.

We did some digging through our old minute books and found the following entry in the

minute book of June 1869 regarding William Macdonald:

“The Master presented to the Lodge a copy of our charter in a handsome

frame, and written in fine stile (the original spelling, not mine) by Sergeant

Macdonald, Drill Instructor of volunteers. It was proposed by Bro. H Shed-

den, seconded by Bro. A Grant and agreed to that we offer to initiate Ser-

geant Macdonald as a member of our lodge on the Apprentice Degree as a

mark of appreciation of his labour.”

There’s another entry from July 1869 which suggests that William Macdonald took up the

offer to join the Lodge. The minute of 24th July 1869 records that

“William Macdonald, drill sergeant, was initiated as apprentice.”

The brother was passed and raised in 1870 and received his mark degree in 1872.

In between times he was elected as Secretary in November 1871 and was re-elected each

year until 1875. This being the case I would assume that some of the minutes were actual-

ly written by William Macdonald although the Masters’ signatures are present.

What I found odd was that during his term in office the minute book looks as though it’s

been written by two different people (ie two quite different sets of handwriting). I

guessed that perhaps the Brother was serving abroad and someone else was writing the

minutes but when I mentioned this in a letter to John Booth he confirmed that the same

could be seen William’s other diaries. My best guess is that he’s been injured and had to

write with his other hand.

Bro. John has transcribed the William Macdonald’s ‘Indian Mutiny’ diary from the period

January 1858 to September 1859 from which is clear to see that he’s obviously an educat-

ed man. Given the original mention of William Macdonald in the Lodge minutes I won-

dered about this copy of our charter. I’m not a handwriting expert, but what’s interesting

and a bit worrying is that the handwriting on the charter we had framed a few years back

looks very similar to the handwriting used in the minutes from 1871 to 1875.

Bro. Eddie Findlay PM 156

156 meets in the village of Kilbarchan on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays: http://www.stbarchan.org.uk/

http://www.stbarchan.org.uk/


Hiram a Beef

Pythagoras is best known for the geometrical theorem that is named after him. The Py-

thagorean theorem or 47th problem of Euclid, as it is known to the Past Master, is inargu-

ably of great importance to Geometry in a practical sense and to Freemasonry in a philo-

sophical sense.

Ritual informs us that upon making the discovery Pythagoras shouted "Eureka" and

many lodges carry that name today for this very reason. In actual fact Eureka isproperly

associated with Archimedes who is said to have exclaimed it upon discovering the for-

mula for the displacement of liquids. In either case these mathematical discoveries were

well worth celebrating. But there is another point of ritual, which contains a word not

well known today. It is said that after discovering his theorem, Pythagoras sacrificed a

hecatomb.

Hecatomb is a word, which at one time was commonly known to mean 100 head of cattle.

There are many historians who argue that the ritualistic claim is inaccurate, and that Py-

thagoras made a substitution instead. Being a vegetarian, these historians claim, he

would not have made such a sacrifice and being poor he would not have owned so great

a sum as 100 head of cattle.

I am inclined to disagree with the historians and state categorically that the ritual must be

correct. It is my firm belief that Pythagoras sacrificed such a quantity of cattle and proba-

bly even more. The theory is supported by the many installation banquets I've attended

of late. I believe Pythagoras sacrificed these cows and we Freemasons have been forced to

eat the meat ever since.

What other reason could there be for the proliferation of Roast Beef Dinners in our frater-

nity? My evidence is as follows: 2500 year old beef would be, by nature, very tough -

Have you ever been to a roast beef dinner where the beef wasn't tough? I have it on good

authority that at least one Grand Lodge is considering adding a fourth question of appli-

cants, "Do you like Roast Beef."

Presently there is one ritual committee greatly debating changing the name Hiram Abiff

to Hiram A-Beef. This evidence is conclusive and I respectfully submit that it is proof

positive for Pythagoras and his Hecatomb. The question remains where is it all kept?

In recent years Rosslyn Chapel has been associated with both the Knights Templar and

Freemasonry and many contemporary authors have put forth theories as to what is bur-

ied under the chapel. I believe that the true treasure is a massive stockpile of Beef and I

will petition the Rosslyn Trust to permit excavations to prove the theory.

Continued over


Hiram a Beef (ctd)

Additionally many Masons have, since the word was lost sought to find it. I believe that

this too is in error and that the true secret of Freemasonry is not the quest for the lost

word, but rather the lost recipe that would permit Pythagoras' beef to be cooked in a

manner that is palatable.

In closing Brethren, I do not expect all of you to support my theories as the evidence is at

best circumstantial, but would it kill us to serve one chicken dinner? Is Chinese food so

far out of the question as to threaten the foundation stone of our craft? Must we forever

endure the actions of one ancient brother, who may or may not have been a dues paying

member?

By the end of January 2002, I will have attended 10 installation banquets and will wel-

come a good old cheese sandwich. For the love of the craft, will no one rid us of this med-

dlesome cow?

By Bro. Stephen Dafoe, a new member at that time, but clearly a good visitor. Maybe he should try

the steak pie round at Scottish Installations!

Heathrow Lodge No.7999 had a very unique crest.

Looking at the centre of the badge, it looks like part

of Solomon’s Seal (more common in Royal Arch ma-

sonry), but is in actual fact is part of the runway

pattern at London’s Heathrow Airport. The pale

blue background is to represent the association of its

founders with the RAF. Unfortunately, the lodge

was erased in 2006.

Let’s hope conspiracy theorists don’t now think that

the airport is linked to a Zionist plot!!!

Heathrow Lodge


Is he?

Masonic Torches

An advert from the 1870s—torches for

public processions which were common

place then but rarely seen today. Even

brethren from 242 used to process through

the principal streets of Johnstone from the

lodge to the new master’s house after the

installation in December.

Stuart McCall, the manager of

Glasgow Rangers FC shaking

the hand of his asst. Manager

after beating Hibs.

Happy Recess

Due to the new examination system in

Scotland, I have no time to have a May

edition so please have a happy and restful

recess.


5 Generations of Masters

Definitely No Hiding this Building!


Happy Recess


Thanks to Bro. Allan Stobo IPM for proof reading.

Don’t forget to support The Ashlar magazine—

Scotland’s only Masonic magazine.

Just click on the magazine to find out more.

To submit an article, contact the Editor: Grant Macleod

E-Mail: [email protected]

Lodge Website www.lodge242.co.uk

http://www.circlepublications.com/

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Documents

Cross Keys Masonic Magazine April 2015