Braden Lodge #168

Brothers on the?Rock?

There is a granite outcropping in the middle of nowhere in South-central Wyoming called ?Independence Rock?. This giant stone bolder was a travel marker for the pioneers heading west on the Oregon Trail, the California Trail and the Mormon Trail. The trail bosses knew that if the travelers made it to Independence Rock by the 4th of July, they had a good chance of getting over the Rocky Mountains before the winter snow blocked the path. The pioneers would rest at the site over Independence Day and some climbed the rock and chiseled their names along with the date into the rock. Many carved names can still be seen.

On July 4th 1862, a number of Freemasons heading west on the trails climbed to the top of the Rock and opened Lodge. This was the first Lodge meeting held in what is now Wyoming. To commemorate this event, the members of the Grand Lodge of Wyoming climb the Rock every 10 years on the 4th and open a formal Lodge

This year I had the privilege, along with 200 other Masons from Wyoming and around the Nation, to join the Grand Lodge for this celebration. Many camped there overnight and all enjoyed the fellowship and camaraderie of meeting together on the level. This was an Independence day that I will not forget. ????.. Neil

AMAZING MASONIC FIND!

Check out this video posted by WCVB TV
in Boston concerning Masonic Officers Jewels
made by Paul Revere that have just been found.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/23697135/index.html

THE TEMPLE OF LIVING MASONS

The temple made of wood and stone may crumble and decay
But there’s a viewless Fabrie which shall never fade away;
Age after age the Masons strive to consummate the Plane
But still the work’s unfinished which th’ immortal Three began;
None but immortal eyes may new, complete in all its parts
The Temple formed of Living Stones?the structure made of hearts.
‘Neath every form of government, in every age and clime:
Amid the world’s convulsions and the ghastly wrecks of time.?
While empires rise in splendor, and are conquered and overthrown
And cities crumble into dust, their very sites unknown,?
Beneath the sunny smiles of peace, the threatening frown of strife,
Freemasonry has stood umnoved, with age renewed her life.
She claims her votaries in all climes, for none are under ban
Who place implicit trust in God, and love their fellow man;
The heart that shares another’s woe beats just as warm and true
Within the breast of Christian, Mohammedan or Jew
She levels all distinctions from the highest to the least,?
The King must yield obedience to the Peasant in the East.
What honored names on history’s page, o’er whose brave deeds we pore,
Have knelt before our sacred shrine and trod our checkered floor !
Kings, princes, statesmen, heroes, bards who square their actions true,
Between the Pillars of the Porch now pass in long review
0, Brothers, what a glorious thought for us to dwell upon,?
The mystic tie that binds our hearts bound that of Washington!
Although our past achievements we with honest pride review
As long as there’s Rough Ashlars there is work for us to do
We still must shape the Living Stones with instruments of love
For that eternal Mansion in the Paradise above;
Toil as we’ve toiled in ages past to carry out the plan,?
‘Tis this;?the Fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of Man !

?Lawrence N. Greenleaf.

Note:
Lawrence Nichols Greenleaf, of Denver, known as the Pioneer Poet, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, October 4, 1838. Upon retiring from the mercantile business he became the publisher of the Square and Compass, a Masonic monthly, which he conducted for twenty-five years. His contributions in prose and poetry have been Masonic in sentiment and have been widely copied. He was active in the Masonic fraternity for more than forty-six years, having presided over lodge, chapter, council and commandery, while in the grand bodies he has filled the offices of grand master, grand high priest and grand master of the Royal & Select Masters. He is a thirty-third degree Mason and was the deputy of the inspector general in Colorado, and he has presided over the various bodies of the Scottish Rite, yet all this comprises but a small part of the many positions he has filled. As merchant, as Mason, as editor and writer of prose and poetry.

The History of Flag Day

Though the origin of Flag Day dates back to the late 19th century, its inspiration takes us further back to 1777. On June 14th of that year, in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress passed a resolution specifying that the flag carry 13 stripes and 13 stars. The colors would represent hardiness and valor (red), purity and innocence (white), and vigilance, perseverance and justice (blue).

The concept of a specific day to annually recognize the American Flag came 108 years later. In 1885, a Fredonia, Wisconsin schoolteacher, B.J. Cigrand, arranged for the students in his school district to observe the resolution on June 14th as ?Flag Birthday?. In 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned similar festivities for his school?s students.

In 1893, Philadelphia became the first city to celebrate Flag Day, and in the following year, New York was the first state to observe June 14th. After decades of expanding community observances, President Woodrow Wilson
established Flag Day on May 30, 1916. Still many communities did not celebrate Flag Day. It wasn?t until 1949, when President Harry Truman signed into an Act of Congress that National Flag Day be observed every June 14th. The Unites States Flag Code, as adopted by Congress, states ?The flag
represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.? This is why we should give the flag our full respect.

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14.

Guard the Outer Door

Bro. Joe Curry is a member of the Beaches Lodge #473 GRC who is currently serving in Afghanistan. Attached is a report from him and a picture of the first Lodge (Canada Lodge U.D.) meeting in Kandahar.
(Sent to Cinosam by W. Bro. Dan Eidt)

Brethren,

Last night (May25th) the brethren of Canada Lodge U.D. were visiting the Widow’s Son Military Lodge #202, a Prince Hall Lodge here in KAF. While lodge was about to open in the 3rd, KAF came under attack. We are regularly attacked by indirect fire from rockets, but last night in concert with indirect fire there was a frontal ground attack on the base and we received word that the perimeter had been breached. The Worshipful Master calmly directed the Tyler to lock the door and put a round in the chamber of his M-4. This was done and we continued with the sound of warning sirens and and explosions outside (when there is a rocket attack we are to stay under shelter anyway).

I am quite certain that in the history of Masonry the door of the lodge has rarely been Tyled in this way.

I am glad to report that I am safe, and that while there were Canadians injured last night in the attack last night, we did not suffer any loss of life.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Bro Joe Curry

Some Masonic History of a Town Long Gone.

Here’s what happened when the silver ran out in a small Colorado town.
This marker sits on a small pull off on the southbound side of Highway 91 north of Leadville, Colorado. It overlooks a valley with beautiful scenery…and a lot of history.

The memorial reads:
“In this valley the towns of Robinson, Kokomo and Recen existed. Kokomo was the site of the Highest Masonic Lodge In the U.S.A. Corinthian Lodge No. 42 A.F. & A.M. 1882-1966 Elevation 10,618 feet”

The Temple of Living Stones

A Poem by -Lawrence N. Greenleaf.
The temple made of wood and stone may crumble and decay
But there’s a viewless Fabrie which shall never fade away;
Age after age the Masons strive to consummate the Plane
But still the work’s unfinished which th’ immortal Three began;
None but immortal eyes may new, complete in all its parts
The Temple formed of Living Stones-the structure made of hearts.
‘Neath every form of government, in every age and clime:
Amid the world’s convulsions and the ghastly wrecks of time.-
While empires rise in splendor, and are conquered and overthrown
And cities crumble into dust, their very sites unknown,-
Beneath the sunny smiles of peace, the threatening frown of strife,
Freemasonry has stood unmoved, with age renewed her life.
She claims her votaries in all climes, for none are under ban
Who place implicit trust in God, and love their fellow man;
The heart that shares another’s woe beats just as warm and true
Within the breast of Christian, Mohammedan or Jew
She levels all distinctions from the highest to the least,-
The King must yield obedience to the Peasant in the East.
What honored names on history’s page, o’er whose brave deeds we pore,
Have knelt before our sacred shrine and trod our checkered floor !
Kings, princes, statesmen, heroes, bards who square their actions true,
Between the Pillars of the Porch now pass in long review
0, Brothers, what a glorious thought for us to dwell upon,-
The mystic tie that binds our hearts bound that of Washington!
Although our past achievements we with honest pride review
As long as there’s Rough Ashlars there is work for us to do
We still must shape the Living Stones with instruments of love
For that eternal Mansion in the Paradise above;
Toil as we’ve toiled in ages past to carry out the plan,-
‘Tis this;-the Fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of Man !

May Quote of the Month

“The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.”
………Ralph W. Sockman

The Mother Lodge

Here is a poem by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). It describes the diversity and brotherly love of his Lodge in India.

The Mother Lodge

There was Rundle, Station Master,
An’ Beazeley of the Rail,
An’ ‘Ackman, Commissariat,
An’ Donkin’ o’ the Jail;
An’ Blake, Conductor-Sargent,
Our Master twice was ‘e,
With ‘im that kept the Europe-shop,
Old Framjee Eduljee.

Outside ? “Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!”
Inside ? “Brother”, an’ it doesn’t do no ‘arm.
We met upon the Level an’ we parted on the Square,
An’ I was Junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there!

We’d Bola Nath, Accountant,
An’ Saul the Aden Jew,
An’ Din Mohammed, draughtsman
Of the Survey Office too;
There was Babu Chuckerbutty,
An’ Amir Singh the Sikh,
An’ Castro from the fittin’-sheds,
The Roman Catholick!

We ‘adn’t good regalia,
An’ our Lodge was old an’ bare,
But we knew the Ancient Landmarks,
An’ we kep’ ‘em to a hair;
An’ lookin’ on it backwards
It often strikes me thus,
There ain’t such things as infidels,
Excep’, per’aps, it’s us.

For monthly, after Labour,
We’d all sit down and smoke
(We dursn’t give no banquits,
Lest a Brother’s caste were broke),
An’ man on man got talkin’
Religion an’ the rest,
An’ every man comparin’
Of the God ‘e knew the best.

So man on man got talkin’,
An’ not a Brother stirred
Till mornin’ waked the parrots
An’ that dam’ brain-fever-bird;
We’d say ’twas ‘ighly curious,
An’ we’d all ride ‘ome to bed,
With Mo’ammed, God, an’ Shiva
Changin’ pickets in our ‘ead.

Full oft on Guv’ment service
This rovin’ foot ‘ath pressed,
An’ bore fraternal greetin’s
To the Lodges east an’ west,
Accordin’ as commanded
From Kohat to Singapore,
But I wish that I might see them
In my Mother-Lodge once more!

I wish that I might see them,
My Brethren black an’ brown,
With the trichies smellin’ pleasant
An’ the hog-darn passin’ down;
An’ the old khansamah snorin’
On the bottle-khana floor,
Like a Master in good standing
With my Mother-Lodge once more!

Outside ? “Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!”
Inside ? “Brother”, an’ it doesn’t do no ‘arm.
We met upon the Level an’ we parted on the Square,
An’ I was Junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there!

The letter from Moses Seixas to President George Washington

To the President of the United States of America.

Sir:

Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection and esteem for your person and merits ? and to join with our fellow citizens in welcoming you to Newport.

With pleasure we reflect on those days ? those days of difficulty, and danger, when the God of Israel, who delivered David from the peril of the sword, ? shielded Your head in the day of battle: ? and we rejoice to think, that the same Spirit, who rested in the Bosom of the greatly beloved Daniel enabling him to preside over the Provinces of the Babylonish Empire, rests and ever will rest, upon you, enabling you to discharge the arduous duties of Chief Magistrate in these States.

Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invaluable rights of free Citizens, we now with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty disposer of all events behold a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People ? a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance ? but generously affording to all Liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: ? deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine: ? This so ample and extensive Federal Union whose basis is Philanthropy, Mutual confidence and Public Virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the Great God, who ruleth in the Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth, doing whatever seemeth him good.

For all these Blessings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy under an equal benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the Ancient of Days, the great preserver of Men ? beseeching him, that the Angel who conducted our forefathers through the wilderness into the promised Land, may graciously conduct you through all the difficulties and dangers of this mortal life: ? And, when, like Joshua full of days and full of honor, you are gathered to your Fathers, may you be admitted into the Heavenly Paradise to partake of the water of life, and the tree of immortality.

Done and Signed by order of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island August 17th 1790.

Moses Seixas, Warden

The letter from George Washington in response to Moses Seixas

To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport Rhode Island.

Gentlemen,

While I receive, with much satisfaction, your Address replete with expressions of affection and esteem; I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you, that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced in my visit to Newport, from all classes of Citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet, from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and happy people.

The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent national gifts. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my Administration, and fervent wishes for my felicity. May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.

G. Washington

Dead Sea Scrolls

On March 11th my wife and I had the privilege of attending the opening night of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Minnesota Science Museum. It was a thrill to see and learn. In the words of Hamdy El Sawaf, an educator and co-founder of the Islamic University of Minnesota. “These scrolls don?t belong to any one religion. They bring us much closer to each other and lead the way to mutual understanding. In these times of conflict, they give us hope that we can go in the direction of reconciliation, peace and tolerance.” ………….. Neil