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including any redistribution rights are reserved by the copyright holder.
Permission to quote from, redistribute or to otherwise use these materials
must be obtained from the copyright holder directly by contacting The
Philalethes, Nelson King, FPS, Editor, 2 Knockbolt Crescent, Agincourt
Ontario Canada, M1S 2P6. Tel: 416-293-8071 Fax: 416-293-8634 or
nking@freemasonry.org or nking@onramp.ca





Through Masonic Windows

by Allen E. Roberts, FPS

Reprinted in the Empire State Mason is the
inaugural address of Sheldon K. Blank,
MPS, Grand Master of Masons in New York.
It was good to read that he's going to build on
a previous leadership program that will be a
"Masonic program prepared by Masons, for
Masons and presented by Masons. " Happily
he goes on to say: "Leadership and manage-
ment are the stones and mortar of leadership
and management to build a thriving, vibrant
and relevant organization for the year 2000.
To accomplish this we must seek out the very
best men with the very best skills in leadership
and management. Then we must place them
in places of authority at the local Lodge level,
the District level and in Grand Lodge. Such
antiquated practices as 'rotation', 'who's turn?' it
is, or the 'Good old Boys' in the back room
'making the selections' , must be put aside forever. "
How refreshing are these, and other such
statements!

            *   *       *

C . Victor Ramey, MPS, GHP in Kentucky,
reports in the Royal Arch Mason that he has
read many articles on leadership in several
publications, including The Philalethes. He has
concluded: "We live in a society in which
passive learning is promoted and perhaps
even expected. That is, someone else stirnu-
lates our senses, entertains us, or does our
work. Passive learning has become a part of
American Society and therefore a common
part of our lives. Unfortunately, the attitude
of passive learning has transferred into the
Lodge, into the church, and into other groups
within our society." He fears passivity has
invaded the leadership of many groups. His
conclusions are all true.

                *       *       *

Ralph Head, MPS, Editor of California Free-
Mason, wrote "They Could Have Told Me"
as an editorial. Among the things he said he
could have been told: Freemasonry is not a
secret society; friends could (and can) be
informed of the purposes of Freemasonry;
many founders of America were Freema-
sons; something of the history of the Craft;
about those "freedom-loving people
throughout the world" who were Freema-
sons, and that because of this Freemasonry
"was banned by the Communists, the Fas-
cists and the Nazis"; "to gain the most from
my Masonic experience I must be an active
Mason. "He regrets he wasn't given a job to
do right from the start, no matter how menial .
He suggests it may be wise to educate new
members "about Masonry' glorious past and
its exciting future right at the beginning. " But
he's happy that he "learned the hard way
through search, inquiry, and exploration."
(So am I. It kinda sticks with you that way.)

                *       *       *

The message of Francis G. Paul, SGC, in
The Northern Light is loaded with wisdom.
"One of the most harmful characteristics in
any organization is short-term thinking"; his
first sentence speaks volumes. He asks several
pertinent questions: Do we really want Free-
masonry to be capable of projecting a na-
tional image? Do we really want our frater-
nity to be capable of serving the needs of
younger men in the years ahead? Are we
serious about meeting the challenges of our
older members? Would we better serve the
fraternity and its members if we took more
seriously the qualifications for Masonic lead-
ership? Can we come to the realization that
our buildings are not Freemasonry? He com-
ments on each question. Perhaps we should
write out our own observations. As we do,
consider what Paul said: " Unless we deal with
such questions [and others] boldly, they will
come back and continue to haunt us. Worse
yet if we leave them unanswered, our entire
fraternity will be undermined. "

                *       *       *

A reader objects (and perhaps rightly) to me
classifying the Jesuits as "the most intelligent
group in the Roman church. " He believes
that statement is "brutally uncivil" because
it can make other groups feel inferior. I really
don't know enough about the Roman Cath-
olic church to make such a broad statement.
Reckon I'm prejudiced because the Jesuits
appear to look favorably on Freemasonry.
The same reader observes: "It amuses me to
hear calls for Christian brotherhood when the
concept of patriarchy, which is the very basis
for our civilization and religious concepts, is
under violent and pervasive attack. Our na-
tion fiourished as a 'melting pot, ' but now the
demand is made in the Congress that we
function as a 'stew.' Masonic groups haggle
about jurisdiction, when projections indicate
that by 2010 A.D. Freemasonry in this coun-
try will be virtually extinct due to the failure
of our leadership to lead. "

                *       *       *

The Pennsylvania Freemason reports the Pitts-
burgh Police Chief, Mayer A. DeRoy, was
made a Mason-At Sight. He received all three
degrees in one day. The Master Mason's
degree was conferred by a team of policemen
in uniform. They are members of the Pitts-
burgh Pin Club--composed of policemen
that are Freemasons.

From various sources we learn the 275th
anniversary of the Grand Lodge of England
was a great success. Ninety-one Grand
Lodges were represented and almost 15,000
were in attendance. The Grand Master, His
Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, presided.
A letter was read from Queen Elizabeth con-
gratulating the Craft on the memorable oc-
casion.

                *       *       *

OOOOPS! ! Did I goof? (If so, it's nothing
unusual.) EMESSAY Notes took an item
from the "Philatelic Freemason" which
claimed one Lester E . Wire of Salt Lake City,
Utah, was the inventor of the traffic light. The
"Philatelic" said it got its information from
the US Postal Service which issued a stamp
in 1965 that "showed Bro. Wire's invention
on the Traffic Safety commemorative." My
report came from EMESSAY Notes. From
other sources I'm told the inventor was Gar-
rett A. Morgan of Cleveland, Ohio. The
World Book Encyclopedia credits Morgan. What
say you?

                *       *       *

Breathes there anyone who hasn't heard of
the destruction created by Hurricane An-
drew? Help has poured into Florida and
Louisiana from all over the country. The Red
Cross and Salvation Army have massed vol-
unteers to help the victims. The Federal Gov-
ernment has contributed all types of assis-
tance. The Masonic Service Association has
been asked to do what it does best--help the
distressed. On behalf of the affected Grand
Lodges it is asking for contributions. The
Philalethes Society has sent along its grant.
You, your Lodge and Grand Lodge may send
yours to: The Masonic Service Association,
8120 Fenton St., Silver Springs, MD 20910
(mark it for "disaster relieP'). As always,
every penny contributed will go for its in-
tended purpose; the MSA deducts nothing
for "overhead, administration" or anything
else.
The Philalethes, October 1992
