An "Adopt a Cop" program was instituted by
the Order of the Eastern Star according to The
Minnesota Mason. Many Chapters conducted pro-
jects such as pancake breakfasts, beef dinners and
car washes to raise funds. The funds were used to
purchase personal safety protection equipment
such as bullet proof vests. A retired state trooper
said: "[M]ost law enforcement agencies do not
have this equipment for issue to their men and
women officers, and the cost can cause a financial
burden on the of ficer and agency." Isn't this some-
thing all Freemasonry could consider?

              * * *

The Masonic Square of England, as reported by
Ralph Herbold, MPS, of the Southern California
Research Lodge, contained an item by Cyril
Batham of England. Many of us believed the blue
forget-me-not was chosen during the Nazi regime
as a disguise for Freemasons. Batham says this
isn't true: "It was chosen as a badge of friendship
by the brethren of the old Grand Lodge Zur Sonne
in southern Germany, probably in the early
1920s." He does concede it was worn during the
Nazi persecution. This differs from other reports
and deserves some good old fashioned research.

              * * *

The December issue of The Wisconsm Masonic
Journal proved interesting. The cover picture
showed the Grand Master. Robert E. Moore,
MPS, and his wife Betty with their two dogs. He
was reading a copy of The Philalethes! The Jour-
nal dares to print letters from its criticsl One
fellow wrote that he's quitting Masonry: there's
too much "gimmee, gimmee.'He didn't apprecl-
ate receiving Christmas cards, labels and so on
that he hadn't ordered, and then being constantly
billed for them. He didn't appreciate Masonic
donations for scholarships and other "outside" ac-
tivities. He felt this money should be circulated
within the Craft . He asked: "Have you ever
thought! giving to the membership would increase
membership. Diagnostic treatment to your own,
that would be an incentive, or insurance." That's
the way he wrote it.

              * * *

In the Arzzona Masonry Grand Master Jimmie
M. Johnson, MPS, asks: "If we cannot interest our
present members to participate in our meetings
and programs, how can we attract new members
with the same level of activity on our part? The
answer is simple.  We cannot, we do not and we
will not until such time as we are willing to pay the
price." Masonry's rights, lights and benefits can
only be purchased with your time and efforts." He
wants Freemasons to become more visible so the
world will know who they are--good men, willing
to serve their fellowman.

              * * *

The Minnesota Mason tells us that Grand
Master Ward C. Sonsteby wants his leadership to
practice PMA Positive Masonic Attitude. A poor
attitude proves disastrous. "We as leaders of our
lodges, with a little extra elfort,'' he said, "can
turn a so-so year into a winner. We can't sit back
and wait for the next guy to do our job. We must
give it our all." Well said.

              * * *

Grand Master Jerry G. Tart, MPS, writing in
The North Carolina Mason has some good advice
for the new Masters. Among his several sugges-
tions he says: "Successful leadership does not just
happen. Effort must be put forth to obtain
results." Often forgotten, or never learned, he
urges them to "delegate authority and take advan-
tage of those members who are willing to help."
There's much more. And from the same paper we
learn members of Harmony Lodge No. 340 paint-
ed the house of a destitute family. Freemasonry in
action!

              * * *

Wonderfull The cornerstone of the Holy Protec-
tiOII Orthodox Monastery was laid by the Grand
Lodge of Nebraska. The brothers of the monas-
tery had witnessed a Masonic cornerstone laying
earlier. They were impressed and wanted their
own laid Masonically. The Omaha World Herald
first reported this milestone and The Masonic
World clipped it. This is the type of brotherhood
Freemasonry has been teaching and practicing for
centuries. If only people of good will would listen...

              * * *

"As I studied and wrote on the history of the
Disciples (Disciples of Christ) I became intrigued
by reading of several Disciples leaders and their
families and their travels across the lines during
the War Between the States." So wrote Lester G.
McAllister. He especially discussed three of these
who crossed the Confederate and Union lines re-
peatedly. He wondered how this could be possible
"to be done safely in the midst of a raging war?"
Years later he found the answer. "Each man was a
member of the society of [F]reemasons...Their
fraternal brothers on both sides (Union and Con-
federate) gave them safe conduct. The bonds of
fraternal loyalty were greater than loyalty to either
the Confederacy or to the Union." Further proof,
and from a non-Masonic religious observer, that
Freemasonry was indeed a "house undivided"
when the country was torn asunder.

              * * *

Writing in The Pennsylvanza Freemason
Thomas W. Jackson, MPS, Grand Secretary,
pleads for good men to take over the thankless job
of Lodge secretaries. He said he thought he was a
good Master. Later he learned it was his Secretary
who made him look good. His definition of a good
Secretary: "He is the man who runs the Lodge and
lets the Worshipful Master think he is doing it."
He believes this vital link is the hope for the survi-
val of the Fraternity. He's correctl

              * * *

Dr. Antzelevitch is the Executive Director of the
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, New
York. He was pleased to praise a breakthrough
developed by his team in the field of hypertension.
He claimed: "If not for the generosity of the Masons
of New York State, this study may not have been
initiated and this important achievement would not
have been realized." Hypertension afflicts over 60
million Americans, the report said. If undetected it
can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney fail-
ure. It affects men more than women black Ameri-
cans more than whites.

              * * *

The Northern Light of the Scottish Rite, NMJ,
continues to be a top-notch educational vehicle.
Richard H. Curtis, FPS, constantly searches out
the best articles and regular columnists he can
find. His publication is an excellent supplement to
The Philalethes. Subscriptions for this quarterly
are S5 00 (510 outside the U.S.) a year for non-
members of the NMJ. Write to: PO Box 519, Lex-
ington, MA 02173.

              * * *

Asssssininel The mayor of Oskaloosa, lowa,
threatened to go to court to override his city coun-
cil's approval for Freemasons to lay the corner-
stone for a new post office. "On a personal basis, I
have no doubt that they are a full-blown religion
and the doctrine of separating church and state
should apply," he said. The city attorney disa-
greed: "The Masons are a fraternal, not religious
organization, he said, and the mayor had no basis
to block the ceremony. Rather than "cause a flap"
the Grand Master withdrew from the fray. The
Des Moznes Regzster wrote the mayor "is shaking
the foundation of local government by fighting a
plan to have the local Masonic lodge lay the foun-
dation for a new post of fice. This action raises sev-
eral questions, not the least of which is by what ca-
pacity does a mayor have to block a federal project?

              * * *

Congratulations to Forest D. Haggard, D.D.,
FPS, Second Vice President of The Philalethes
Society, for attacking Freemasonry's attackers.
This is nothing new. He has been doing it for
years. Recently his efforts have been far-reaching.
His Short Talk Bulletzn on "Freemasonry Under
Attack," has been widely reprinted.

              * * *

Cabell F. Cobbs, MPS, in his final address to
the Grand Lodge of Virginia said: "I can truly
state, to all of you, that while I may not have been
able to do much to dispel ignorance this year, I
have certainly done away with apathy!! We have
brought Masonry alive, my Brethren, and let's
keep it that way." No previous Grand Master has
had the majority of the delegates on his side--and
he needed them! Congratulations on many counts.
