CHECK YOUR MAILING LABEL

With the publication of this, the fourth quarterly issue of American Masonic Review,
it is time for many of our Charter Members to renew their annual memberships. Your
mailing label bears a code that gives the year and month of the last issue you will receive
before you renew. "9209" is this issue. If your mailing label bears this date, you should
send in your annual dues between now and November in order to receive the next issue
(9212). Help us keep your membership current by sending your annual dues of S 15 now.
Don't wait till the last minute or you may forget and get dropped from the list.

SPECIAL TIIANKS: Every "travelling man" has a special memory of a special
place he once visited where the brethren were friendlier and the hospitality was warmer
than any other place he has ever visited. For me, such a place is British Columbia. In
March of this year, I was invited to travel to the Canadian northwest and address the
Kamloops Scottish Rite and the Vancouver Lodge of Instruction. I was greeted in
Calgary, Alberta, by Brother John Broadberry, an exceptional Mason with a real passion
for Masonic education. John was my host and travel guide as we toured the Canadian
Rockies from Banff and Lake Louise down to his home of Kamloops. I was then flown
to Vancouver (see this issue's Masonic Travelog) where I was greeted by Brother Jim
Gordon, the current Master of Vancouver Lodge of Instruction. Jim and his wife, Sheila,
showed me every courtesy and devoted an entire day showing me all the local sites and
scenery. To these two good brethren, and to all the others who (far too many to mention
without placing myself in danger of omitting one) made me feel as if I now have a true
home away from home, my warmest fraternal best wishes. If you haven't visited the
Masons of British Columbia you haven't experienced true Masonic fellowship!

WE RELY ON YOU FOR NEWS: Gathering news from nearly 200 grand lodges
around the world is not an easy task. Most of our news comes in the form of clippings,
correspondence or telephone calls from the many members of St. Alban's Research
Society. If you come across a newspaper clipping or a report on Masonry that you think
would be of national or world-wide interest, please send it to us. Do not just assume that
we have seen it too. Chances are we haven't!

EDITORIALPOLICY: Wecontinuetogetmailchallengingour"editorialpolicy"
on a variety of issues facing the fraternity today . However, on most of these issues we have
not taken an editorial stand! Probably the best example of this is the recognition of Prince
Hall Masonry. American Masonic Review has reported on the exchange of fraternal
recognitionbetween several Prince Hall grand lodges and non-Prince Hall grand lodges,
but we have not advocated nor denounced these actions. We have also reported on related
legislation, edicts and decisions made by several grand lodges and grand masters in the
areas of "exclusive territorial jurisdiction," fraternal relations and visitation, etc. We have
also reported many of the inconsistencies that exist between these actions and ancient
Masonic usages, but these reports do not constitute endorsement or denouncement of
Prince Hall Masonry and its grand lodges.

ARE WE RECOGNIZED? In one letter, we were asked if American Masonic
Review was ~recognized by any regular grand lodge." We had to respond that we were
not aware of any grand lodges that 'recognize" newsletters. The brother probably meant
to ask if St. Alban's Research Society was "a recognized Masonic body." The answer to
that is, ' we are not a Masonic body." However, all our officers and directors are Master
Masons and Past Masters of their respective lodges. There are many historical and
philosophical research societies in the world including our "favorite uncle," The
Philalethes Society. Each has its own primary area of interest. Ours is Freemasonry. We
have never sought, nor have we any plans to seek, recognition. There would be nothing
to gain, and much academic freedom to lose. By the same token we do not grant nor deny
recognition to any organization, Masonic or otherwise.  (Continued on Page 12)
EDITORIAL (Continuedfrom Page 2)

copy~

THEY ARE SAYING NICE THINGS ABOUT US! It is
nice to note that other Masonic publications are saying some very
nice things about us. Dr. John Boettjer, Editor of the Scottish Ri~e
Journal, Dick Curtis, Editor of The Northern Light, Allen Roberts,
Executive Secretary of The Philalethes, and Dr. Brent Morris,
Editor of The Plumbline of the Scottish Rite Research Society,
haveallmadesomeverycomplimentaryremarksaboutAmerican
Masonic Review in recent issues of their respective publications.
We are humbled and very gratef ul f or these very kind endorsements .

BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE: We have received many
requestsforbackissues.Therearesomestillavailableformembers
of St. Alban's Research Society. Just send $5 each (postage &
handling included) and specify issue No. 1, 2, 3 and/or 4.

HELP US FIND MASONS INTERESTED IN
FREEMASONRY. From our original mailing list of 5000 some
odd Masons we now have almost 2000 Charter Members. This
number continues to grow daily! If you know of any Masons who
might be interested in joining St. Alban's Research Society just
send us a name and address and we will mail them a complimentary
--Pete Normand, Editor
