                    Fraternal Review

                        (7-15-94)                     No. 696

THE CRAFT AND ITS SYMBOLS
Just hung up on Allen Roberts who told me that "The Craft And Its Symbols" is
now available in the Finnish language.

That there is no doubt that it is a Masonic book best seller can be seen in
that we have purchased 6,678 copies and of these have presented 3,233 to
candidates.

MASONIC EMBLEM
Whenever I get a bit upset when someone cuts in front of me something like the
following comes to mind and it is from the Spring/Summer 1994 New Hampshire
Mason with credit given to the 1990 issue of The Cabletow, an official
publication of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines.

I know the benefits of displaying a Masonic emblem on one's vehicle.  I know,
too, that such items may enhance public awareness of our ancient and honorable
Fraternity.  But those of us who display Masonic emblems on our vehicles must
respect the right of all others who use the streets and highways, as well as 
go out of our way to extend the courtesies of the road to others.  Any act of
rudeness or irresponsibility on the part of the driver of a vehicle that
displays any emblem, license plate or bumper sticker identifying him as a 
Mason reflects most unfavorably upon our institution.

Ergo, my Fraternity Brother, if your driving etiquette does not properly
entitle you to display any Masonic emblem on your vehicle, you are urged, nay
obliged, to remove such emblem.

WASHINGTON
Some notable action at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of the 
State of Washington last month included:

The not so favorable was the defeat of additional support for the Washington
Masonic Tribune, something I just can't figure out, for communication is 
really the life line of any organization.

Three resolutions to lower the age requirement to 18 were on the agenda, one 
to permit members of DeMolay, one to permit sons and grandsons of Master 
Masons and one to permit sons of Master Masons (Lewis Masons) to petition for 
the degrees. A compromise was reached and now anyone eligible can petition for 
the degrees on reaching the age of 18.

To make EAs and FCs dues paying members failed but lodges, at the option of 
the Master, can conduct business on any Degree. When I related this to one of 
our members he replied that he did not like the many changes now proposed. I 
had to remind him that this was not a change per se but a reversal of an 
innovation made 150 years ago when lodges in our country decided to change 
Stated Meetings from the EA Degree to the MM Degree.

To permit an optional Proficiency Examination for each of the three Degrees
passed while an optional short form of closing the lodge on the MM Degree
failed.  Fraternal recognition, for visitation only, was extended to the 
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut.

ENCOMIUM - ACCOLADE
SCRL is highly appreciative of P.G.M. Cabell F., Cobbs' words in "Where Are We
Now?" in the June 1994 Philalethes:

"Any regular lodge can become a member of the Quatuor Coronati Correspondence
Circle or the Southern California Research Lodge. Similar research           
organizations exist in every Grand Jurisdiction. They should follow Southern
California's example and play a real role in Masonic education."  Many thanks,
Brother Cobbs.

PUBLIC RELATIONS - WISCONSIN
The Grand Lodge of Wisconsin is joining with the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches
Association to establish the Annual Wisconsin Masonic All-Star High School
Soccer games.  A total of 72 players, 18 to a team, boys and girls, will meet
August 6, 1994.  With the current emphasis on soccer as a result of the World
Cup activities maybe they are getting in on the ground floor of a good thing.

ARIZONA
Action in May at their Annual Communication included:  Establish Spanish
Speaking Lodge - failed.  Change penalties to symbolic was referred to Ritual
Review.  Waive requirements that a master-elect be proficient in all lectures
if other members of the lodge are proficient - failed.  Allow lodges to 
sponsor Little League, Bobby Sox Softball, etc., - passed.

MASON-AT-SIGHT
The Spring 1994 The Voice of Freemasonry of the Grand Lodge of the District of
Columbia related how Walter Joseph Stewart, Secretary of the U.S. Senate, was
made a Mason-at-Sight.

Mr. Walter Joseph Stewart was obligated and received the lectures of the first
and second degrees of Masonry at an Occasional Lodge, convened on September 8,
1994 at Naval Lodge Hall.  On September 18, the Occasional Lodge was called
from refreshment to labor in Caucus Room SR-325 of the Russell Senate Office
Building by the Grand Master for the purpose of conferring the Master Mason
Degree on Brother Walter Joseph Stewart, Mason-at-Sight designee.

As Secretary of the Senate, Brother Stewart serves as the principal
administrative and financial officer of the Senate. The Secretary of the 
Senate is responsible for Senate floor staff, such as the Parliamentarian, the
Legislative Clerk, the Journal Clerk, the Bill Clerk and the Official 
Reporters of Debate. Also under his jurisdiction are the Office of Printing 
Services, the Senate Historical Office, the Curator's Office, the Office of 
Classified National Security information, the Senate Library, the Document 
Room and the Stationery Room.


