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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




From the
Editor's Quarries

I recently read a book entitled Texe
Marrs Book of New Age Cults & Reli-
gions, published by Living Truth Pub-
lishers of Austin, Texas. Mr. Marrs thus
defines "New Age" (p. 35): as a " . . . a
religious system composed of a large va-
riety of cults, groups, organizations, and
other entities, whether or not that group
admits that it is in fact New Age. " Not a
very specific definition, but one that
leaves you wondering what "New Age"
reallymeans. In another place(p. 31)the
goal of the New Age movement is de-
scribed as the extinction of biblical
Christianity.

You guessed it! Freemasonry (pp. 198-
203) is included among the 101 groups
discussed, and is described as being un-
christian and unholy. The book follows
the usual anti- Masonic line, giving three
key characteristics one should know con-
cerning the status of Freemasonry:

1. Although Freemasonry claims to be
Christian, it is not; Freemasonry is a
religion, although it denies it; and Free-
masonry is Luciferan (whatever that
may mean).

Quotations from Albert Pike, Henry C.
Clausen, Albert G. Mackey, Henry Wil-
son Coil, Fred Kleinknecht, and Manly
P. Hall are all wrested from context in
"proof" of Mr. Marrs' attack on Free-
masonry.

Bahai, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Uni-
tarian-Universalist Church, Swedenbor-
gianism, and the Worldwide Church of
God are among the other 100 organiza-
tions condemned. One wonders whether
the book is any more accurate about
them than about our gentle Craft.

Notes and Queries

The opinions expressed in the items in this
column are not necessarily those of the
Philalethes Society or of the Editor. They are
solely the thoughts and opinions of the writers.
Pleasegiueyourname, completeaddress, and
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this column. Indicate whetheryou are a member
or fellow of the Philalethes Society. All letters
are subject to editing and may be excerpted.

Can Masons Practice What
We Preach?

Can Masons practice what we preach?
I, for one am beginning to have serious
doubts about it. Even while we have the
unreasoning criticism of the Southern
Baptist Convention calling Freemasonry
a cult, we are doing ourselves greater
harm by being narrow-minded and big-
oted.

While Masonry teaches and preaches
toleration of diverse views, religions,
philosophies, races, etc., we do not prac-
tice these things in our daily lives. The
Scottish Rite, thought to be one of the
most open-minded and ecumenical
branches of Masonry, confers its highest
honors upon some of the most narrow-
minded and bigoted men in our history,
including J. Edgar Hoover and Jesse
Helms. Given the teachings of the
Order, it seems self-contradictory.

I recently attended a luncheon meeting
of the local clan of the Royal Order of
Scotland (a Christian offshoot of the ec-
umenical Scottish Rite). When the time
came for the traditional toasts to the
President of the United States and the
Queen of England, no one responded
appropriately or even politely to the toast
to the President. One slightly inebriated
wag shouted something about " slick
Willy" (and that was one of the few
printable derogations). The brethren
and ladies enthusiastically pronounced,
"To the Queen!" on the next toast.

I learned, during the Nixon adminis-
tration, that Americans should have re-
spect for the of fice of the Presidency even
when we do not respect the man occupy-
ing it. Most of our Scottish Rite brethren
cannot seem to respect anyone who is not
a conservative Republican. I have spent
the entire span of my membership trying
to convince some of them that liberal
Democrats are just as patriotic and law-
abiding citizens as the conservatives. To
many it is still a foreign concept. I have
also defended the organization to the
uninitiated who wonder how I can possi-
bly fit into such an ultra-conservative
organization by telling them that the or-
ganization was not designed to be ultra-
conservative, but that the vast majority
of the current membership just happens
to be that way. If we are not concerned
about our public image, perhaps we
should be.

Our chauvinistic treatment of our la-
dies has turned many of them against
participation in the activities of various
Masonic organizations. Many of the
brethren, especially of the so-called
"younger generation" (anyone under
sixty in my experience), find themselves
attending important Masonic functions
"stag" because their ladies have been
offended by various actions that the older
brethren think are " traditional . "

On the other hand, the Eastern Star
ladies have done their share to make
people feel unwelcome. I attended a
Rainbow installation at the Temple of
my Symbolic Lodge and was grilled
about my presence there by an old biddy
who treated me as if I were some sort of
drooling pervert, there to molest young
ladies. (I was only forty-three years old
at the time, but probably looked like a
teenager to the majority of the people
there.) I was then pleased to inform my
inquisitor that I happened to be the Mas-
ter of the lodge in which they were hold-
ing their installation. After that, I was
escorted to the East to be introduced and
recognized as the presiding of ficer of the
sponsoring body. Quite a reversal of
attitude.

Anti-youth sentiment is, unfortu-
nately, prevalent among members of my
Blue Lodge and many of the most out-
spoken ones on the subject are past mas-
ters. It does not set much of an example
for our youth when our lodge is sponsor-
ing a DeMolay Chapter and a Rainbow
Assembly, while cringing at thoughts of
possible abuse and destruction of temple
property.

Finally, when are we going to stop
being so hypocritical as to deny the exis-
tence of Prince Hall Masonry as a legit-
imate branch of the same brotherhood
and welcome those brethren into our
lodges? When will our old sideliners stop
whispering the "nigger jokes" that they
seem to enjoy so much and practice the
brotherhood of man that we have been
taught?

Each spring at my Symbolic Lodge, the
principal of a local junior high school is
the guest speaker at our public schools
tribute. Many of us have wished that he
would petition our lodge, but he is Afro-
American and probably realizes the em-
barrassment that he and the brethren
would suffer at the hands of the "red-
necks" who would drop black cubes in
the ballot box.

If Freemasonry falls, the catalyst will
not be anything like the Southern Baptist
Convention. Our demise will be by our
own hand.

Terence O. Tennis, MPS

6425 Stoneman Drive

North Highlands, CA 95660-4139

Dr. Charles F. Gosnell
Memorial Fund

I am sure you are saddened .... by the
news of the passing of M. W. . Dr
Charles F. Gosnell.... In recognition of
Dr. Gosnell's many long years of service
. . . the Trustees of the Livingston Ma-
sonic Library have set up an endowment
in his memory.... The interest on the
Gosnell Memorial Fund will be used to
maintain and support the collections of
Livingston Masonic Library while the
capital of the fund will remain forever
intact.

Donations to the Gosnell Memorial
Fund may be made through Masonic
Brotherhood Fund .... Make checks
payable to the Masonic Brotherhood
fund and earmark them for the Living-
ston Masonic Library Gosnell Memorial
Fund. For further information, contact
me or William D. Moore, Director, Liv-
ingston Masonic Library at the address
and telephone number below.

Albert L. Ehinger, President
Board of Trustees
Livingston Masonic Library

71 West 23rd Street New York, NY
10010 (212) 741-4505

        Be a Part

The different organizations within Ma-
sonry are called bodies, I believe, for a
very good reason. They are not unlike
the human body, made up of so many
vital and necessary organs all with a spe-
cific task to perform to keep the body
healthy and functioning properly. Imag-
ine, if you will, a specific organ just not
being there to do its job. Just one part not
functioning properly could very well
mean the end of existence for the body.


The members of the Masonic bodies are
the vital parts of that organization and all
must function and do their share to keep
the body running properly. Imagine not
being able to stretch forth a helping hand
to raise a fallen brother because the
'hands stayed home that night; or not
being able to hear the cry for assistance
from a distressed worthy brother because
the ears were not at the meeting; or per-
haps as you were about to start your
travels over a rough and rugged road you
did not know which direction to take
because the "eyes" were watching some-
thing else that evening. All of this may
sound foolish but its true. All the mem-
bers of the various Masonic bodies are
needed and are equally vital and import-
ant for the survival of that Masonic body.
Be the "eyes, the ears and one of the
helping hands " in order to help Masonry
grow and prosper in your community.
When you do, you will know in your
heart one of the true feelings of being a
part of Masonry.

Herbert L. Wentworth MM
1039 Despina Drive
Ukiah. CA 95482

Editor's Note

The Article "Thomas Paine 1737-1809," printed in the August, 1993 issue,
appeared without the author's name. I take full responsibility for this
error. I do not remember the author's name and whether MPS orFPS, and no
longer seem to have the original paper. If the brother who wrote "Thomas
Paine 1737-1809" will get in touch with me, I will be glad to give him credit
in a future issue. Meanwhile, give me a blow with a paper setting-maul.
--Charlie.


The Philalethes, Ocfober 1993
