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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




Jerald "Jerry " Edmond Marsengill
Fellow of The Philalethes Society
April 22, 1930 - November 22, 1991

An Editor extraordinary was Jerry Mar-
sengill. This brought him to the attention
of the Masonic world early in his life.
This was especially so when he became
Editor of The Philalethes magazine of
The Philalethes Society in November
1976. He parlayed a good periodical into
the best Masonic publication in the
world.

He became one of the most in demand
Masonic speakers in the country, and
even in foreign climes. His love for
Freemasonry was evident. He remained
a staunch supporter for improved
leadership in the many Masonic bodies
to which he gave wholehearted support.
He pleaded for Masonic education,
firmly believing a knowledge of the prin-
ciples of the Craft would bring dedicated
leadership.

Jerry put into practice what he
preached. From 1958 when he became
a Freemason until the day he died he
served the Craft. He was the Master of
three Lodges plus lowa Research Lodge
No. 2. He built the latter into one of the
best in its field. He was a Past Grand
High Priest, a Past Grand Master of his
Grand Council, a Past Prior of the
Knights of the York Cross of Honor. The
latter is composed of men who served
as presiding officer of a Lodge, Chapter,
Council and Commandery.

He was a Past Grand Chancellor of the
Grand College of Rites, a past presiding
officer of Great Chief's Council, Knight
Masons, a Past Master of Grand
Master's Council A, Allied Masonic
Degrees. At the time of his death he was
in line to become Grand Master of the
Grand Council of the Allied Masonic
Degrees of the United States.

He served as President of The
Philalethes Society while remaining as


Editor of its magazine. His excel!ence in
writing and editing earned him election
as a Fellow of The Philalethes Society in
1974, and later membership in the
Society of Blue Friars, an organization
of Masonic authors, which has rarely
had more than twenty living members.
He was one of the original members of
the Brotherhood of the Blue Forget-Me-
Not, an organization of Masonic writers
and educators.

His work for all branches of Freema-
sonry earned him numerous awards.
Among them the Silver Medal of the
General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons, whose magazine, The Royal
Arch Mason, he had edited since
January 1978.

In spite of his work for Freemasonry,
Jerry found time to work in the secular
world. He was a train dispatcher for the
Rock Island Railroad from 1947-77.
Then he attended Drake University and
graduated in 1977 Summa Cum Laude
with a 4.0 average. He was president of
an advertising agency, and was the edi-
tor for the American Chiropraclic Jour-
nal. He edited several other medical
and other journals while writing
hundreds of articles for professional
and Masonic publications.

Among his many other occupations,
Jerry was an ordained clergyman, and
served constantly as a supply preacher.
He also officiated at many funerals (re-
ligious as well as Masonic), and he con-
ducted weddings frequently.

The many talents of Jerry Marsengill
will be missed wherever he trod. None
will be missed more than his generosity,
especially his work and love for others.
In his community these attributes were
well known. He brought together men
and women of every walk of life and
religious persuasion to help the
downtrodden and homeless.

At his right hand stood his loving wife,
Betty. Without her understanding and
cooperation Jerry could not have ac-
complished what he did for Freema-
sonry and his community.

Jerald Marsengill practiced the prin-
ciples of Freemasonry-- Brotherly Love,
Relief and Truth.
by Keith Arrington, FPS, and
Allen E Roberts, FPS

On November 21, 1991, Jerry Marsen-
gill was inducted into St. Joseph Con-
clave (Missouri), Red Cross of Constan-
tine. It was while returning from this
event that Jerry met the Grim Reaper
and joined our Supreme Grand Master
in tha t House not made with hands, eter-
nal in the Heavens.

**********************************************************************************
The Prophet

by Allen E. Roberts, FPS

And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A Prophet is not
without honour~ save in his own country, and in his own house.
Matthew 13:57

There are many passages in the Holy Bible that quote Jesus. A few
of them are duplicated almost verbatim, so we can be confident they
are close to being what He actually said. The "Prophet " is one of these.
Mark (6:4) does add an important phrase: "and among his own kin. "

The recent death of one of the handful of Masonic prophets sent me
to the Scriptures, particularly "The Sermon on the Mount. " What the
Lord spoke on that day speaks of the Masonic life of those few prophets
we have in Freemasonry -- particularly my friend who left us today.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged, " said the man from Galilee. He
added, why consider the mote in another's eye, but not your own? My
friend, the Masonic Prophet, was judged within his own jurisdiction,
and found guilty of heresy. He dared to tell the truth!

What was this truth? That Freemasonry became one of the treasures
which the Carpenter, our Prophet's friend, acclaimed in His Sermon
on the Mount. It is a treasure worth giving up one's worldly goods to
preserve. A jewel like no other in the world. A precious element of
society that deserves the best leadership possible to obtain.

The Prophet suffered fools -- those who took Freemasonry lightly --
with contempt. Taking his inspiration from the Constitutions of Freema-
sonry as written by Dr. James Anderson and published in 1723, he
believed leaders should be worthy of their hire. Rarely have Masonic
leaders been chosen for their "merit " rather than their popularity. Our
Prophet never hesitated to tell the truth about this revulsive practice.
This caused him to be "politically incorrect" and without "honour"
within his own "country. "

The various rituals of Freemasonry are rich in truths and poetically
recitable. Our Prophet loved and recited these rituals endlessly. But
again he was among the curious within the Craft -- he knew these
rituals were a beginning, not an end. Consequently he enriched the
lives of those Freemasons who were seeking the light of truth. He cast
pearls among the lesser informed, hoping they would not trample them
into the dust. But if they did, he found more pearls to scatter among
them.

His search for, and the spreading of, light in Freemasonry caused the

"swine " thatJesus had warned about to turn and "rend " our Prophet.
He watched as lesser members of the Craft received "high honors"
while he was by-passed. He saw "popular" men who had trouble
composing a letter invited into exclusive "intellectual" Masonic bo-
dies.

Year after year Masonic nonentities were selected for "high degrees "
or "honors " while our Prophet was spurned. Why? Could it be because
those chosen had seldom, if ever, told the truth about the dire lack of
dedication in the selected leadership? That the "honoree " was Masoni-
cally Politically Correct -- one who had never dared to "rock the boat? "

The Philalethes Society, the Masonic research body that is continually
seeking the truth, was blessed with the Masonic expertise of our
Prophet. Through this Society and its excellent periodical he spread
the light of truth throughout the Masonic world.

The Prophet's "country" had virtually ignored him throughout his
more than three decades of Masonic service. Other jurisdictions were
the beneficiaries of his wisdom. In America and abroad vast audiences
of Freemasons sat in rapture to absorb his words of Masonic knowl-
edge.

The blackball, or one derogatory word, throughout Freemasonry has
kept the few Prophets "in their place " within their "country. " Another
"country" determined to recognize our Prophet with an exclusive
honor when his own jurisdiction would not. It was while returning from
this ceremony that our Prophet was called to the Grand Lodge Above.
He was carried to that House not made with hands whose virtues he
had so often extolled in the language of the Masonic ritualists.

Our Prophet would ask us to remember, in the words of the Scrip-
tures: "Ask, and it shall be given you. . . Therefore all things whatsoever
ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is
the law and the prophets. " It is also among the tenets and principles
of Freemasonry.

Jerald '~Jerry" Edmond Marsengill, FPS, left this earthly scene on
November 22, 1991. We will be always grateful to the Supreme
Architect of the Universe for permitting us to walk inJerry's footsteps
for a time. We can thank Him for the prophetic wisdom our Prophet
has left for us to follow until time shall be no more.

[This was recited via tape recording duringJerry's Memorial Service
in Des Moines, Iowa, on December 6, 1991.]

Jerry was found dead in his auto early in the morning of November
22. He had crashed into a tree on I-35 near Garden Grove, Iowa, not
far from the place of his birth. His funeral service was conducted at the
Methodist Church at Lineville, Iowa, on November 27. He was buried
at Trenton, Missouri.

In keeping withJerry's life-long work for the underprivileged, The
Philalethes Society has established a permanent fund to be used for this
purpose. You may honor Jerry and other loved ones by making
contributions to:

The Jerry Marsengill Memorial Fund
Send them to: The Philalethes Society, PO Box 70
Highland Springs, VA 23075-0070.


The Philalethes February 1992
