FRATERNAL REVIEW

Editor - Ralph A. Herbold        (12-1-93)                        No. 683

SIGNS - INDIAN
The following letter published in the September 1993 Montana Masonic News might
give a different slant to the similar stories we hear:

"I read with interest the article by Brother Ernie Neath, PGM, (Montana Masonic
News, June 1993, page 4) in which Brother Neath related the story told by Jack
Haines' grandfather.  In this account, Haines' great-grandfather, a Mason, was
traveling in the West when his wagon train was attacked by Indians.  Hopelessly
outnumbered and in desperation, Haines' great-grandfather stepped out of the
ring of wagons and 'held up his hands in the manner taught him by his Masonic
Lodge.'  To his amazement, the attack was abruptly stopped.  Brother Neath
concludes his story by stating, 'I have no reason to dispute his (Haines) word,
but it does make one wonder, doesn't it?'

"I am writing to suggest one plausable explanation to what no doubt did occur.
The sign taught in Brother Jack Haines' great-grandfather's lodge has meaning
not only as a Masonic sign but in the sign language of the Plains Indians.
Without giving too much detail, the gestures made at that time of impending
peril by Haines' great-grandfather are also, in part, the Plains Indians sign
language gestures for 'God bless us' and 'calm down' (or reasonably close to
those signs).  I imagine the war leader, upon seeing those signs, concluded that
these travelers were of a peaceful and devout nature, and thus called off the
attack in deference to their shared reverence of Almighty, however named.

"One might also note that these warriors had few reasons to be so generous.
Their lands were being forcibly taken from them, their families decimated by
disease, and the foods destroyed before their eyes.  Yet, at this time of
obvious anger, this war party was moved to sympathy by the gestures of worship
and peace, still laudable qualities that Masonry inculcates to the Craft.

"It certainly does make one wonder how things might have been in ALL who came
West, would have come in peace, and with reverence and respect."

Walter C. Fleming, Assistant Professor
Center for Native American Studies
Senior Warden, Gallatin Lodge No. 6

GOAT-RECOGNITION
One of our members in Brazil, Adolpho Porta, S.G.I.G. for Brasilia, commented:

"Something I would like to let you know is about the subject dealt with in the
MSA Short Talk Bulletin of May, 1993, featuring the story of Baphomet
Revisited. It is widely known in Brazil of the supposedly existence of a black
goat in the Masonic ceremonies and this fact has given credit to many fantastic
tales.  Here we have a way to deal with rumors involving a black goat and the
best example how we do it is attached - a decal featuring a goat with tall hat
and the explanation that 'We are not what everybody supposes we are,' or
something of the sort."


And the decal was just that, a picture of the bust of a goat wearing glasses
and with a coat and tie and top hat.  The wording was in a circle enclosing the
picture.  It is given credence with the following below the circle:

"G.A.D.U. - M.R. Grande Loja De Brasilia - Loja Maconica Tiradentes No. 2"

As to recognition he added that the Grand Lodge of Brasilia is now in amity
with the Grand Lodge of Tasmania (Australia which means that Tasmania
recognizes both the Grand Orient, which we do not recognize, and Brasilia a
State Grand Lodge, and we do recognize the State Grand Lodges in Brazil.

MASONIC EDUCATION
The November 1993 Oregon Masonic News quoted The Oregon Episcopal Church News
in a story about the Rev. Charles S. Neville, former Grand Chaplain and Grand
Orator of the Grand Lodge of Oregon and in it is a lesson:

"In his Grand Oration during the 114th Annual Communication in 1964 Neville
remarked upon the time when, as a young boy, he first saw the letter 'G' on a
man's ring.  He asked, 'Why is there a 'G' on your ring when your name begins
with 'R' and Mason starts with 'M?'  He was told,'When you are a man, be a
Mason and see!'

"Thus began for him a search for the true meaning of what the 'G' stood for.

"He ended his oration by saying, 'If a little boy ever asks me what the letter
'G' stands for, I shall tell him, 'Son, I am a Mason.  'G' stands for Geometry,
the first and noblest of the sciences.  It also stands for God.  Grow up, Son,
and wear a ring that marks you as a man of principle and faith.  The world is
hungry for faith in God and faithful men who live in harmony with one another."'

And here is the lesson:  The first answer is what a typical member, because of a
lack of Masonic education, would give and the answer the boy would have been
given nine out of ten times.  The second answer is what a typical Freemason
should give but due to lack of Masonic education does not.

FREEMASONRY
Editor Leon Zeldis, in his editorial "Freemasonry, Yes!  Now More Than Ever!" in
the 1-2 1993 Haboneh Hahofshi The Israel Freemason, commented on two
principles, the first equality, well presented, but the second really struck me:

"The second fundamental premise of Freemasonry is that the world is difficult to
change.  Improving the world, or the society in which we live, is a task beyond
the capacity of most men.  However, improving himself, correcting his own
defects and consciously practicing those habits that perfect the mind and
strengthen the positive sentiments of love, charity and tolerance, all these lie
within the powers of each and every man.  Our own development and perfection is
our own responsibility, and nobody else can prevent us from improving our own
character.

"This message of self-responsibility, of improving the individual so that he,
in turn, by deed and example, may slowly but surely bring about the evolution
of the society that surrounds him in the direction that he himself has taken,
this message of Freemasonry, is just as needed and actual today as-it was
hundreds of years ago, when slavery was still rampant and ignorance much vaster
than knowledge."


