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                  THROUGH MASONIC WINDOWS
                 by Allen E. Roberts, FPS

In The Communicator, a publication of the American Canadian Grand Lodge,
we find its members concerned about Italy and Greece. They want to know
what they should do about visiting Lodges in those countries. They had
"heard the United Grand Lodge of England has withdrawn recognition from
the Grand Orient of Italy and the Grand Lodge of Greece." They were
assured the ACGL, for the present, has not withfrom visiting those Lodges,
inasmuch as the ACGL, for the present, has not withdrawn its recognition.
A casual check finds several other Grand Lodges outside England and the
United States have also refused to follow the non-recognition edict of the
UGL. Confusing?

                            oOo

Don't confuse me with facts! Far, far too many of the opponents of Freema-
sonry make this statement, even if unconsciously. It's one that no Freema-
son, who has promised to search for truth, should ever utter.
Unfortunately there are a few, some of them in high places, who continue
to tell untruths, even though they have been given the facts - that
Masonic researchers have spent a lifetime unearthing. Although more than
one writer has been told where to look for facts about the nonMasonic
membership of founders of this country, whom they claimed were Freemasons,
they continue to claim they were members of the Craft.

An example: John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme
Court, was not a Freemason. But within a letter he wrote to George
Washington he thought well of the Craft. Within this letter he wrote: "In
this work you are (in the style of your profession) a Master Builder, and
God grant that you may long continue a Free and Accepted one. " (See
10,000 Freemasons.) Note the "your" -NOT "our. " But this fact is
conveniently ignored by some.

                            oOo

Thomas Jefferson, of whom there is absolutely no record indicating he was
a Freemason, and my saying so, has brought me more condemnation (if it's
possible!) than anything I've written during my 46 years as a Master
Mason. Here follows the final word from me (even for those who don't want
to be confused by facts) on this subject.

Robert E. Simpson, MPS, the longtime Secretary of the Lodge in
Charlottesville, Virginia, and a respected Masonic researcher and writer,
has searched the minutes of the Lodges in that city and Albemarle County.
He has found absolutely no mention of the name of Thomas Jefferson in any
of them, with one exception. On August 16, 1817 the Lodge requested
permission from "the Visitors of Central College (now the University of
Virginia) to lay the cornerstone. " The committee making this request was
headed by Alexander Garrett who was Proctor and assistant of Thomas
Jefferson of Central College. Mr. Jefferson granted the Lodge permission
to perform this act.

On August 31, 1817 Jefferson wrote to his daughter, Martha: "The
inhabitants deserve too well of that institution (Freemasonry) to meet
with any difficulty in that request (laying the cornerstone) and I see no
possible objection on the part of other visitors which exposes me to risk
in consenting to it." Read that again. Is there anything in it that even
remotely indicates that Mr. Jefferson was a Freemason?

Mr. Merrill D. Peterson, the foremost living authority on Jefferson, has
found no reference to his Masonic membership in Jefferson's thousands of
letters. These have been computerized and have been searched by word
reference. Brother Simpson echoes my sentiments: Those who state he was
made a Mason in France, (or anywhere else) but that all records have been
destroyed, must have vivid imaginations. If there is no record, what is
the basis for their conclusions?"

This was sent to one of my detractors. He replied immediately. I was
informed (not too politely) that of course Jefferson was a Mason, so and
so (a non-Mason) said so!!

                            oOo

For those who have asked, please let me once again tell you where you can
find the results of an exhaustive search for the Freemasons among our
Founding Fathers. The title: Masonic Membership of the Founding Fathers.
The author: the late Ronald E. Heaton, FPS. He acknowledges the work and
support of many prominent Freemasons. The bulk of his support come from
the James Royal Case, FPS, of Connecticut, who had worked with Heaton on
many occasions. Both men spent a goodly portion of their lives researching
the lives of our Founding Fathers. This book, available from the Masonic
Service Association is the result of this research.

                            oOo

Closing an article titled "On Abuse of Freedom" in the Masonic Messenger
of Georgia, Richard S. Sagar, MPS, writes: "....though we gained a small
victory in Houston (referring to the SBC fiasco) last June, the war is far
from won. The enemy regroups and already is launching even more vicious
attacks.... The enemies of Freemasonry still prowl, it is up to us to
preserve the FREEDOMS all of us, whether born here or came here, cherish
so highly."

                            oOo

A. Vincent Ray, asked in his column in The Indiana Freemason. "Can Freema-
sonry compete with television for more of our Leisure time?" He believes
we can, IF "we improve our product to meet the need of today's good men.
" He suggests: ?Freemasonry must regain some of the revolutionary, pioneer
and explorer spirit it was once blessed with."  To which I might add what
Carl H. Claudy, PGM and one of the best Masonic authors of all time,
concluded sixty years ago: Freemasonry has only one thing that's better
than what a Mason can find in the entertainment or civic worlds. What is
it? Freemasonry! Give them MASONIC programs in a Masonic Lodge. Then bring
in the extra chairs! Why not try it? It really works!

                            oOo

The item about a Masonic Clearing House caused much more interest than
expected. To give you my version about what this should embody will take
more space than is available in this column. Read the story elsewhere in
this issue, and watch for the continuation. Your comments, pro or con,
will be greeted with open arms!