
Through Masonic Windows

by Allen E. Roberts, FPS

Sinister~' --A rose entwined cross
in a memorial garden? And it emits a
foul odor? It's also the root of a
"powerful evil?" Yep! So said the "pas-
tor" and five of his henchmen of the
Westwood Hill Baptist Church at
Virginia Beach, Virginia. This "evil"
was traced to a memorial built in 1979
in honor of the founding pastor of the
church. These vandals tore up the gar-
den, then sprinkled it with 'holy water'
to "reclaim the land for the Lord Jesus
Christ," said the "pastor." According
to The Virginian-Pilot, the cross, rose
bush, and everything else that was com-
bustible, was burned. Tablets and other
solids were crushed and hauled away.
Ironically, none of the vandals were
thrown in jail,- and later the members
voted to keep the "pastor."

Said Richard D. Marks, an ordained
Baptist Minister and doctor of philoso-
phy: "If Satan is anywhere, he is in the
division, he is in what is happening in
this church. right now. It is a house
divided . . . I always question the vision
of some kind of demon. . . The red
cross? I'm vaguely aware of something
it has to do with Masonry, but is it evil
in itself? I don't think it has any evil
import. Evil is in the meaning you at-
tach to something. " By the way--the
memorial was built to honor a good
man, a good Christian, who evidently
practiced the lessons he had learned in
Freemasonry.

  -

The Family of Freemasonry will once
again be the focus for the Rose Bowl
Parade float sponsored by the Grand
Lodge of California. The theme for
1997's parade will be "Life's Shining
Moments." The Masonic float will be
titled "Follow Your Rainbow." A rain-
bow will stretch from one end to the
other. It will recognize the 75th anni-
versary of the Order of Rainbow for
Girls, and the 100th anniversary of the
Order of the Amaranth. As in years
past, the entry is designed to inform the
world about the importance of Freema-
sonry. For details on how one may help,
contact the Rose Bowl Masonic Float
Committee, PO Box 661567, Arcadia,
CA 97066.

  -

"The one single factor, perhaps,
which has distinguished Freemasonry
and enabled it to perdure through the
centuries, despite general lack of under-
standing, sometimes persecution, and
frequent misrepresentation by those
without the Fraternity, is its spiritual
underpinning, the search for meaning
and the relentless striving towards self
knowledge and perfection." That long
philosophic sentence begins an editorial
by Leon Zeldis, FPS, editor of The
Israeli Freemason. He later added:
"Freemasonry started as a means of
union for men of strong ethical beliefs,
who sought something more in life than
amassing wealth . . . "

  -

"We must provide friendship and
brotherly love, and make lodges
desirable places to attend, " said
Charles W. Yohe in his inaugural
address as Grand Master of Masons in
Connecticut. "It does no good to take
in new members, if our lodges function
as 'revolving doors,' losing them out
the other side because of poor leader-
ship . . . and lack of interesting activi-
ties and programs." His excellent talk
was reprinted in the Summer 1996 issue
of The Connecticut Square and Compasses.
Throughout he called for a revitaliza-
tion of the principles of Freemasonry.

  -

Attacks against Freemasonry began
before 1717, Yasha Beresiner states in
The Israeli Freemason. This is "evidenced
by a pamphlet dated 1698 warning
Londoners to beware of those who call
themselves freemasons and who are evil
and godless individuals." In a lecture
Brother Beresiner, a member of
Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 in
London, covers many other anti-Ma-
sonic tirades to the present day. These
covered books by individuals endeavor-
ing to enrich their coffers, Papal Bulls,
politicians, cartoonists, and others. And
the attacks continue. So does the ques-
tion--why?

  --

"The Father of Country Music" is
considered by many to be James
Charles Rodgers. He was called "the
Singing Brakeman." He was born on
September 8, 1897, and was made a
Master Mason in Blue Bonnet Lodge
No. 1219, San Antonio, Texas. He died
May 26, 1933. It is claimed that "he
sang the songs of the people he loved, of
a young nation growing strong. His was
an America of glistening rails, thunder-
ing boxcars and rain swept nights of
lonesome prairies, great mountains,
and a high blue sky . . . His music will
live forever." A movement is afoot to
have a postage stamp issued to
memorialize him in 1997. If you agree,
tell it to the Post Office Department.

  -

The Cryptic Mason, edited by Larry
Offenbecker, MPS, extolled the achieve-
ments of Cecil B. DeMille In 1913 he
directed his frst film. His frst version
of The Ten Commandments was produced
in 1923, the one many venerate was
produced in 1956, three years before he
died. Not many know that he owned
the first commercial airline. DeMille
was a member of Prince of Orange
Lodge No. 16 of New York.

  -

The Masonic Service Association
continues to help victims of disasters,
as it has since 1918. Every penny col-
lected by it for disaster relief goes for
this cause. This is unlike far too many
"charitable" organizations. Nothing is
deducted by the MSA for what others
call "overhead, advertising, account-
ing, salaries, fund-raising entertain-
ment, or anything else. " Few others can
make this claim. Over the years it has
assisted victims of floods, hurricanes,
typhoons, earthquakes, and other ca-
lamities. Assistance isn't confined to the
United States alone, nor only to the
Masonic family. No strings are ever at-
tached to the funds sent to Grand
Lodges requesting help. When the
MSA's Executive Secretary, Richard E.
Fletcher, FPS, sends out an appeal for
aid, it's safe to answer it.

The Philalethes, August 1996
