Another Article and blogging on Freemasonry

Another newsletter done, another article…..

I’m up too late; again, with my mind racing full bore, again. I labeled and mailed the November issue of the Lee County Shrine Club newsletter today. One of the main reasons for this blog is for me to share my articles on a somewhat wider scale. The following article was influenced by two items, one is the huge book I am attempting to digest, “The Secret Teachings of ALL AGES” by Manley P. Hall and the television special with Dan Brown, author of “The Lost Symbol” and Matt Lauer.

I don’t intend to preach in my articles but rather invoke the various readers to think. We constantly are discussing ways to get members of our Masonic Lodges and Shrine Clubs to get involved, take an interest, attend our meetings and participate. This article was inspired by the early lesson “Seek and ye shall find.” This primary tenet of Freemasonry and life in general is, in my opinion, often overlooked. Freemasons have to seek out the wisdom and enlightenment which Freemasonry has to offer.

Have modern Freemasons forgotten the teachings of our Masonic forefathers? How many Masons today believe that only memorizing degree work is Masonry? How many Freemasons today know about Masonic scholars like Mitchell, Mackey, Pike, Allen, McCoy, Waite, and Coil? On October 1, 1988 in the preface to the Diamond Jubilee Edition of “The Secret Teachings of ALL AGES” Manley P. Hall, after he became a Freemason, wrote, “We were told that the twentieth century was the most progressive that the world has ever known, but unfortunately the progression was in the direction of self-destruction.” He could be talking about society or just the Masonic Lodge, this statement fits both. A brother Mason with considerable Masonic experience, who is long gone now, once told me that Freemasonry goes in circles, it decreases and then increases years later and this is how Masonry has been for centuries. Hopefully he was right. Hopefully the newer generation will find a way to rid us present day internal politics and desire for rank. Hopefully they can take the basic tenets of the craft and return the lodge to the fraternity it once was and can always be again. I wish the leaders of the present would look up from their own pedestals and ask why Freemasonry is getting more recognition from a novel than the actual fraternity.

The events locally of the past week have been extra troubling. I have a friend, someone I trust and strongly respect, do something without logic or reason. It was like watching him walk off a cliff without warning or reason. This is someone I would stand on my toenails and defend until blood shot out of my eyeballs, but he allowed me nothing to defend. He didn’t consult me beforehand and didn’t discuss it with me afterwards. When he was called on it, he displayed anger and even arrogance. This incidence has disturbed me to point I have been physically ill over it. I have no way to logically defend or justify his actions. I don’t think he intended to do harm, but his actions resulted in negative consequences. I know he is angry at me. His anger also has no rhyme or reason because I had nothing to do with his actions and I didn’t encourage the outcome. I am at a loss for a solution.

This incident of the past week, which came about after the following article was written and before it was sent out, made me think about the duality of Freemasonry. The Masonic Lodge has a very major group dynamic. The body of the craft coming together, meeting in tiled lodges is a landmark of Freemasonry. Masonic teachings and enlightenment depends on a group of obligated brothers seeking a single goal. Masons once accepted into the Masonic Lodge and especially after obtaining the third degree or Master Masons degree will see their lives changed. Since my entrance into the lodge in 1987, not a day has gone by without some form of Masonic relationship. My primary life now includes Masonic relationships. My closest friends are Masons. Freemasonry is not for everybody, but for those it does reach it will make a difference.

The singular sector of a Masonic life is that individual effort a Mason will make to seek more light. To be a Master Mason in good standing a man has to do nothing more than pay his annual dues. You don’t have to attend or learn anything more than what it would take to progress from first, to second then third degree. You can do nothing more than belong and you will be as much a Mason as any man. Some never become more than a “Card Carrying Mason” and some will seek more.

The ones that do seek more, looking for more answers and enlightenment are the ones that keep Freemasonry alive. Those studying, researching, asking, and seeking Masonic knowledge, history and philosophy are the masons that grow the craft. To me it’s not enough to know the ritual work but to know the “why” of the rituals. I truly admire the Masons that know the degree work and various lectures. I think it is extremely important to keep this vital portion of the Lodge intact. I think the men that have the skill to learn this work should be encouraged and supported by all lodges. The only thing that distresses me about “memorized” rituals is the men that believe that this all there is to it. Don’t just memorize the words but also “learn” the words. Discover what the rituals are teaching, where they came from, and why the ritual is important. Seek. Ponder on the true lessons of the working tools. Look at what is basic and why, learn and assimilate the basics of the Masonic tenets. Then you can find the more complicated and esoteric messages woven into the whole of the craft. There is no true rank in Freemasonry other than the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Any Mason believing he is more important or above another Mason has missed the point.

Like the common stop signs we see on our streets. No question you learned at an early age that this octagon shape means stop. We know this, we abide by it daily and we take it for granted that everyone driving a car also understands the meaning of this sign. This is the group dynamic. Some will go forever never thinking about it further than applying the brakes. Some will be necessary to teach new drivers the meaning of this road sign and other signs as well. There will be a few that will ask why. Who decided on the shape? When did it become a standard? How worldwide is this sign? This is the singular dynamic. The ones that believe that the stop sign doesn’t apply to them are the ones that cause the destruction.

Freemasonry needs all of us. Freemasonry needs the students, the ritualists, the teachers, historians, record keepers, philosophers and the harmony preservers. The man teaching a candidate is equally important as the man in the kitchen cooking or the man keeping the records. They all formulate a successful lodge. Harmony is a group dynamic supported by many singular efforts. The one Masonic dynamic that we cannot control is the human factor. Freemasons are human and therefore fallible. There is such a thing as a bad Mason.

Freemasonry is too important to the world to allow it to be taken for granted. Freemasonry is not a step ladder to materialistic increase. Freemasonry is a way of life within the internal temple of man. Learn something new about Freemasonry and bring it to your lodge so your brothers can likewise benefit. I hope you enjoy the following article.

Seek & You Might Find Something…
By Melvin Ford


Last week I watched the TV special with Dan Brown, author of The Lost Symbol and The DaVinci Code. In my opinion, this special basically had the underlying purpose of selling books, both the most recent and the next novel he alluded to in the interview. Freemasonry is featured in the interview and this could very well generate an interest in the craft to non-masons. His novel The Lost Symbol has a background of Freemasonry in it. Even though I found some basic errors in his book as well as the interview, I don’t believe either one to show Freemasonry in a negative light. I was very pleased to see the TV special mention the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children and even show Shriners on parade.

I noted that one person in this special stated that if you like bake sales then you will like the Masonic Lodge. I guess we aren’t as dangerous as some conspiracy theorists might believe. We truly aren’t the dynamic social and political force that the Freemasons of our nation’s past once knew. Both Masonic and Shriners membership has fallen to dangerous levels. The average age of Lodge members and Shiners alike is now up above 70 years of age. Some of it is normal changes in the social and economic times and some is totally our fault for not seeing the obvious signs before us.

If a Mason desires to learn our rituals, it is easy for him to find someone to teach him. We have schools and special gatherings all the time for the learning of our various degrees. What if you, as a Mason desired to learn the history, symbolism and philosophy of that same ritualistic presentation? Who would you ask? There are several Masonic authors but in the most recent decades the authors that have brought positive attention to Freemasonry were not masons. I remember in my early years as a Mason I attended a Grand Lodge Congressional School. I was bold enough to ask the question, “Why do we do that?” I got told because we always have done that. I think Congressional schools are great and I encourage you to attend, but I was not satisfied with that answer. So in the spirit of not being a lemming, I sought the answer to my question on my own and actually found the answer. A lesson I have long remembered because of the incident.

I will be the first to admit that I am not a ritualistic scholar, but I truly desire to learn all I can absorb about Freemasonry and its teachings, symbols and history. The Masonic ritual is extremely important to our Lodges and I encourage all Masons to learn everything they can. Even now after several years of Lodge membership and once again serving as Master of a Lodge; when I recite the opening or closing my mind shifts into thoughts of why, origin and definition of the words. So I get lost. I applaud those members that can recite the various paragraphs of ritual work in a way that is very impressive. Each year I become even more impressed with the wisdom of our Masonic forefathers. I believe if you really want to obtain more light you have to make the effort to seek it and keep an open mind about the origins of Freemasonry, its rituals and any religious parallels.

One thing I did gain from the Dan Brown special was the mention of a book which I am presently reading. It’s not light reading but I am discovering some interesting knowledge. The book is The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manley P. Hall published in 1928. I guess in spite of any errors I found in the mentions of Freemasons in Brown’s book and the TV special, I was inspired to seek out more information and history concerning our craft. While doing a little on-line research into Manly P. Hall, 33º I found this excerpt from his book The Lost Keys of Freemasonry.

The true Master Mason recognizes the value of seeking for truth wherever he can find it. It makes no difference if it be in the enemy’s camp; if it be truth, he will go there gladly to secure it. The Masonic Lodge is universal; therefore all true Masons will seek through the extremities of creation for their Light. The true brother of the Craft knows and applies one great paradox. He must search for the high things in lowly places and find the lowly things in high places. The Mason who feels holier than his fellow man has raised a barrier around himself through which no light can pass, for the one who in truth is the greatest is the servant of all. Many brethren make a great mistake in building a wall around their secrets, for they succeed only in shutting out their own light. Their divine opportunity is at hand. The time has come when the world needs the Ancient Wisdom as never before. Let the Mason stand forth and by living the doctrines which he preaches show to his brother man the glory of his work. He holds the keys to truth; let him unlock the door, and with his life and not his words preach the doctrine which he has so long professed.


This passage hits home in so many ways. Timely for this time of year when we as a Shrine Club are going to elect officers for next year. When Masonic Lodges in Mississippi are looking to elect officers for their next year and when Hamasa has its whole unwritten future ahead of us. Don’t sit by and wait. Either you desire to be involved or not. You know what you truly want to be involved with and I surely hope you aren’t waiting for someone else to make the first move. Neither youth nor age is a deterrent; find your niche in your fraternity. From a Shrine Club standpoint, gather your spouse or significant other and come to our meetings. We are long overdue for a good old fashioned party anyway. You never know you might have a good time and even help out a child. Seek what you desire in your fraternity.

Widows & Orphans…..& Books?

I know it has been a while since I blogged, but burn out takes it's toll. I have felt the need to back off from everything. The problem with people is that they are people. I have done a spot of reading lately, a nice escape from the reality of life. Books and words are a great way to escape and recharge your batteries. I remember a time when reading books was essential to making it through the week. I felt sorry for all those people that could not read. Children should be encouraged to read for pleasure and allowed to develop a love for a great storyteller.

I have read many authors and found some enjoyment from reading an author's first work. It seems like they put more heart and soul in that initial novel or work that makes it a good book. When they can repeat that heart and soul they have proven they can write. When their name becomes more important then the content; they have lost it.

Take John Grisham's A Time to Kill for example. He knocked it out of the ballpark with that one and even followed up with other novels that hit the mark. It was reading The Rainmaker first that made me go back to his earlier work. I quit reading him after The Brethren. I found basic errors in that novel that told me he neglected his basic research, facts that he could of presented correctly if he had only talked to a couple of people. I am surprised his editors didn't catch them or were they only looking at the profit margin by then. I quit reading his books. His mistakes were so simple to avoid, that I lost faith in his work. Am I judging him too harshly? Maybe, but the man is writing bestsellers, mainly purchased on his name creditability alone, not soap opera scripts.

Novelists have tough jobs if they do it right and after writing a few articles I appreciate professional writers. I also work on a monthly deadline which also makes me appreciate reporters that have to produce on a regular basis plus attempt to keep the reading public interested. What I write has very few boundaries and I do not write for profit, so my freedom helps. My writing is vastly different from what a professional writer produces and I recognize it. Novelists that require themselves to preform a lot of research and background knowledge do succeed in their work. Readers do notice.

One author I started reading over thirty years ago is Wilbur Smith. Wow, this dude can write. He wrote his first novel in 1964 and can still spin a tale. I have not read every novel he has written, but I have read his entire Egyptian series and several of his other books including his most recently published. Here is a guy who has been published worldwide in numerous languages and he still puts out a "good read." The last two of his I have read were his newest novels and it seemed like his writing had a slightly different attitude than his early stuff. That may not make much sense, but today I purchased his second novel in paperback put out in 1965 which isn't part of a series, just to see for myself. You might not like his historical work, but it intrigued me. I do think every young man read his Courtney novel The Birds of Prey, it is just a good ole pirate story and very well done in my opinion. I look for his work when I am in the bookstore. http://www.wilbursmithbooks.com/

Another good author I have become a fan of is Daniel Silva. (No, I do not get a kickback) He is also a Facebook friend and from my experience married to a very nice lady. I had already read everything he had published before I got on Facebook. It was his writing and not me being one of the thousands of his fans who also owns a computer. People who write a "series" of novels involving the same characters have to work hard to keep the characters and story fresh to repeating readers plus not confuse the new readers. I am curious if he feels any added pressure now that he knows he has so many fans in direct communication with him via Internet. The Internet spreads bad news as quickly, if not quicker, than good news. I have faith in him though. Hopefully his sweet wife won't have to hire a couple of Russian dudes to slap him around. http://danielsilvabooks.com/

I guess the point I am trying to make is that I recently finished Dan Brown's new novel The Lost Symbol. I still think Angels and Demons was his best work. This last one was a decent read and ended okay, but I felt at first he wasn't topping himself with this one. He eventually got into it and it turned out fine. I just feel that this one became an instant bestseller because of his previous work.
We wanted more; we got more but did it enlighten? Did he hit "that" mark in his readers? Will we snatch up his next hardback as soon at it hits town or do we wait a year to pick up the paperback?
Did we say, "Oh Boy I can't wait until good ole Dan Brown cranks out another one." like several of us did after reading The Defector by Daniel Silva?
Mr. Brown, are you writing movie scripts or novels now? Didn't you learn anything from John Galt?

Reading for pleasure is personal and I see some books that I can't imagine anyone buying but each to his own. My dear wife consumes Nora Roberts as fast as the woman can crank them out. I think the lady shoots one out a week. I have accused dear Nora of having a hundred or so female ghost writers, typing furiously while she sits in the back of the room cracking a bullwhip and sipping champagne. Well if my wife is happy, I'm happy and she doesn't need Russians. She will just poke me in the eye, again.

So dear friends, what started to be a simple preamble to my latest Shrine Club Newsletter article, turned into, this....This article goes out Tuesday and there will not be a movie. Enjoy.
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Widows & Orphans…..
Two things happened last month that inspired this article. The first was the death of a Brother Master Mason and his obituary had no mention of his Masonic affiliation. The second was I got a phone call and was ask to assist the widow of a dear departed brother I knew and truly respected. I agreed without hesitation. It isn’t anything awe inspiring to help out a friend and it was actually fun, but it got me thinking about what do the widows of our departed brethren actually think about the Masonic Lodge and Shriners. Do they know that Masons are supposed to lend aid to our widows and orphans?

Dr. Albert G. Mackey wrote in his work, Jurisprudence of Freemasonry in the section relating to the rights of a Master Mason:

“Perhaps it is hardly necessary to add that the wives and children of Freemasons, while claiming relief through the right of their husbands and fathers, are subject to the same principles and restrictions as those which govern the application of Freemasons themselves. The destitute widow or orphans of a deceased Freemason have a claim for relief upon the whole Fraternity, which is to be measured by the same standard that would be applied if the Brother himself were alive, and asking for assistance.”

There is much more to this discussion by Mackey in his writings, but I think you get the point. We as masons are taught that we should lend aid to our widows and orphans. This doesn’t mean that Freemasons restrict our charity works to only relatives of our members; matter of fact, Masons are very charitable to people from all walks of life. Do we leave a positive enough impression on the families of our departed that they will feel comfortable enough to seek relief and do they even know this fact about Freemasonry?

One of the worst things a lodge secretary has to deal with is that note or phone call from a widow saying, “You sent my husband a dues notice and he died two years ago.” Some of these ladies are mad because the “Lodge” didn’t notice her husband died. If a member hasn’t attended lodge in years and the family doesn’t let anyone know, the likelihood is great he will not be removed from the rolls until his dues aren’t paid. If the member or his family doesn’t communicate with the lodge, it is very hard to keep up. There are thousands of card carrying Masons in this state that never attend lodge or even let anyone know they are a Mason. Freemasons should discuss Masonry with their families and if you are unsure what you can talk about, ask. Lodges should host more family events and even discuss items that wives and family members should know about our fraternity. I have never seen a Lodge suspend a member for non-payment of dues that was truly in need of the relief. I have known Lodges to keep a sick member on the membership roll and not ask for his dues money. I have also seen several men reach in their wallet and pay another member’s dues. Like the member we lost last month, if it hadn’t been for a Lodge Secretary doing a superb job, the Lodge wouldn’t have known about the loss because it wasn’t in his obituary. The ladies and families need to know that a Masonic funeral has to be requested and the Brother has to also be in good standing before his Lodge is allowed to conduct a Masonic funeral. Freemasons need to remain in contact with their lodge and make sure the secretary has all of your updated information.

Shriners and our philanthropy have truly benefited from the participation of our ladies. Our clubs, events, fundraisers and notoriety would be sadly lacking if our ladies weren’t involved. The ladies are the unsung heroes of Shriners, everywhere.

Attending a lodge meeting is not only a right, it is a privilege. We are not a secret society but like any fraternal order we have portions that are nobody’s business but our own. Freemasonry is family orientated and anyone attending a Lee County Shrine Club meeting can tell you that we are definitely family friendly. Our wives and families need to know about their relationship with Freemasonry. They need to understand the definition of “relief” from a Lodge point of view and what “measured by the same standard” means.

Freemasonry is back on people’s minds now with the release of Dan Brown’s recent novel, The Lost Symbol. Non-masons may be disappointed or surprised by the ending of this novel. Active Freemasons that study and practice the tenets of the fraternity will not be surprised or disappointed. There is no better time for us to improve our family and public perception of the craft. Brothers, call a Masonic widow you know and let them you are still there for them.