FRATERNAL REVIEW

Editor - Ralph A. Herbold
No. 664

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BRAZIL - DeMOLAY
Interesting news from correspondence with one of our members in Brazil, Alberto
Mansur, Grand Master of DeMolay in Brazil:

"I am keeping enthusiastically busy in favor of youth through the Order of
DeMolay, reaching 200 Chapters and counting more than eleven thousand members.

"I count on the collaboration of Grand Masters on the Brazilian Grand Lodges
that has helped us to realize our progress. The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge
of Espirito Santo State, M.W. Bro. Demetre Andrikopoulou, 33, being also a
DeMolay Official Executive, granted us a remarkable collaboration, promulgating
a Decree allowing all interested DeMolay to be initiated in its Blue Lodges at
the age of 18 but reaching the degree of Master Mason only at the age of 21.

"I also had the pleasure to be invited to assist in the creation of a new Blue
Lodge denominated FRANK SHERMAN LAND, an occasion in which 18 young DeMolays
were initiated. It is a laudable example to be studied by other Grand Lodges."

GENERAL JOHN A LEJEUNE
From the September/October 1992 North Carolina Mason:

John A. Lejeune
The General And His Driver Meet On The Level

You likely know of Camp Lejeune, the Marine Corps Base near Jacksonville, North
Carolina. Did you know its namesake was a Mason?

Shortly after the American Army entered Germany at the close of World War 1, a
Masonic Club was formed in occupied Coblenz. Within six months, the Masonic
Club of the Third American Army had over 3,200 members. They applied for a
dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island to form a lodge. On May I,
1919, Overseas Lodge 40 held its first meeting at the German Masonic Temple in
Coblenz. They initiated five candidates.

They held communications almost daily until July 31 when most of the Army of
Occupation was ordered home. More than 500 candidates received degrees during
that period. Among them was General John A. Lejeune.

The General is reported to have called his driver and told him he was going
into Coblenz. When he named the hour of departure, the driver's face fell.

"I was going to ask if I could get off this afternoon, sir," he said.

"No, you had better come along," the General replied. "You will have plenty of
time to yourself in Coblenz."

"Yes, sir," said the driver, although he was not wholly cheerful.

"Where to, sir?" he asked as he was entering Coblenz about three o'clock that
afternoon.

"At the gates in front of the Temple," General Lejeune said and tarried a
moment to tell the driver to be back promptly at seven o'clock.

"But, sir," was the smiling reply, "I also have been notified to report here
this afternoon," and together he and General Lejeune entered the Temple to take
their First Degrees.

John A. Lejeune later became Commandant of the Marine Corps. In addition to
the base, John A. Lejeuen Lodge 350 in Quantico, Virginia, is named for him.

That summer, Overseas Lodge raised two other men who later became Marine Corps
Commandants: General Wendell C. Neville and General Lemuel C. Shepherd.

Overseas Lodge continues to function today under its original name in
Cranston, Rhode Island.

- from remarks made to John A. Lejeune Lodge 350 by General Lemuel C.
Shepherd on the occasion of Founder's Day, October 16, 1961, as
recorded in their Bulletin for November, 1961.

RELIGION
The October 1992 Minnesota Mason included a Short Talk Bulletin authored by
Forrest D. Haggard on Freemasonry and Religion, because of its importance at
this time. We would like to quote just the last item because of its importance
in that it contains a wonderful plea for Masonic education:

"How do I respond to these attacks?

"What do I say? I do not respond directly to the attacker. The attacker is
shrewd. He attacks the weak spot of his enemy. In our case that weakest spot
is not, as the attacker would have you believe and thus defend, in our rituals,
customs and traditions. It is in the members themselves who have had only a
ritualistic education about Freemasonry.

"Where Freemasonry has instructed its candidates in its history, purpose and
intent and where a local lodge is going about its business with pride and
dignity, there is very little that anti-Masonic groups can do to destroy the
Craft."

INNOVATION
Just finished leafing through the January 1993 Scottish Rite Journal, pausing
long enough to carefully read "Forward The Way Freemasonry" by R. W. Brother
Christopher Haffner, Past District Grand Master, District Grand Lodge of Hong
Kong and the Far East, English Constitution, and a member of our Lodge. I say
leafing through, for regrettably, I do not have the time to enjoy the complete
issue. But no one should ever overlook an article by this worthy brother.

If you want an expert opinion on the whys and wherefores of change, you will
have to go no further. And Brother Haffner is outspoken, witness his "I am
extremely sad, in fact, little short of disgusted, that my own Grand Lodge is
holding back, using just such false arguments in the meantime." This referring
to the current situation on Prince Hall in our country. If you do not receive
this publication send me a self addressed stamped envelope for a copy - NOW.

                   PS,  the issues of SRJ are on Hiram's Oasis!!

