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Masonic Trivia - Page 1
Excerpts from "The Truth is Stranger than Fiction,"
By Bro.Alphonse Cerza, Masonic Service Association, 1934.
At one time, Golden Lodge #5, Stanstead, Canada occupied a Lodge room, which straddled the boundary between Canada and the United States. There were entrances on both sides of the border.
Washington Chapter #3 of Portsmouth, N.H. announced its meetings via the town crier, who received from 6 to 25 cents for his work.
In 1872 the commissioner of Patents held that the Masonic emblem could not be used in a trademark or trade name for commercial purposes.
In Hammer v. State, 173 Indiana, 199 (1909), the Supreme Court ruled that it was a criminal offense to wear the emblem of any society or organization of which one is not a member. The court based its decision on the fact that the membership in such societies is the result of fitness and selection and that the wearing of such emblems by non-members is a deceit and false pretense.
In Robinson v. Yates City Lodge, 86 Illinois, 598 (1877), a court ruled that an expelled Mason was not entitled to the return of his degree fees. The court held that the plaintiff voluntarily paid the fees and the expulsion under the provisions of the rules of the organization does not constitute the rescission of a contract under which the fees were paid.
Frederick A Bartholdi, a freemason, designed the statue of Liberty in N.Y. harbor. The Grand Lodge of N.Y. laid the corner stone on August 5, 1885.
Bernard Pierre Mangam, Marshall of France and Senator was appointed Grand Master of the Grand Orient of France and served from 1862 to 1865. This is unusual because he was not a Mason. He was appointed by Emperor Napoleon III.
The letters of the English word GOD are the first three letters of Hebrew words for beauty, strength, and wisdom. G in Gomez, O in Oz, D in Dabar.
In 1860 in Limerick, Ireland, there was found a stone in a small chapel, dated 1517, with the following inscription: "I will serve to live with love & care, upon the level, and by the square."
Francis Stephens, the Duke of Lorraine, received the first two Masonic degrees in 1731 in a special Lodge convened at The Hague, Holland, becoming the first known royal freemason. Later he received the third degree in England. In 1735 renounced his title.
Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotine was a member of Concorde Fraternelle Lodge of Paris and a member of the French Assembly. He obviously invented the device that bears his name and was later executed with one.
The Rev. William Dodd, first Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of England, was hanged for forgery on June 2nd, 1777
In 1839 the Mormons left Missouri and settled in the area of Nauvoo, Illinois. On October 15, 1841, the Grand Master of Illinois issued a dispensation to form a Lodge at Nauvoo. On March 15th, 1842, Joseph Smith received his first degree and the others shortly after. Certain irregularities were reported. In five months the Lodge initiated 256 candidates and 243 were raised. After investigation, the Grand Master revoked the dispensation, but the Lodge continued to work. On April 5, 1844, the Mormon masons dedicated a Masonic Temple. Illinois Masons got in trouble for taking part in the ceremony. Opposition to the group and internal dissension led to the assassination of Joseph Smith and the removal of the Mormons from Illinois.
Operative Lodge #150 in Aberdeen, Scotland is unusual in that it is only open to operative stonemasons.
Dr. Edward Jenner, in 1789 discovered the vaccination process against smallpox. He was worshipful Master of Faith and Friendship Lodge #270 in Berkeley, England at the time.
In July 1863, Confederate raiders rode into Versailles, IN, capturing the local militia and stealing the county treasury. The next day, General John Morgan (CSA), learned that his men had also made off with the jewels of the local Lodge. They were returned the following day. Morgan was from Davies Lodge #22, Lexington, KY.
Wheelock Commandery No. 5 in Texas had all 55 of its members killed serving in the Confederate Army. The Commandery ceased to exist.Missouri's first Confederate Capitol was the Masonic Building in Neosho, MS. From here the legislature passed the Act of Secession.
USA General Thomas Benton, also Grand Master of Iowa, ordered federal troops to protect Albert Pike's home and prevent the library from being burned, when his troops took Little Rock, AR.
July 2, 1751, Ferdinand VI of Spain issued an edict against Freemasonry. Father Jose Torrubia secured a special dispensation from the Pope, joined a Lodge, secured the names of its members, and proceeded to have them arrested. Hundreds were arrested, persecuted, and imprisoned.
When Mussolini gained control of Italy, Masonic Lodges were declared illegal and the Grand Master was arrested, tried, and imprisoned, where he died. Mussolini also ordered all Masonic references removed, including the emblems on the base of Garibaldi's monument in Rome. After the restoration of the republic, fascist emblems were removed and the Masonic emblems restored.
In Fascist Spain under Franco, it was a crime to be a freemason. Masons convicted had to serve prison terms equal in years to the number of Masonic degrees possessed. Master Mason = 3 years.
Winnedumah Lodge #287 of Bishop, CA holds its meetings at 270 feet below sea level, the lowest Lodge in North merica.
In 1954 Martin's Station Lodge No. 188 of VA was opened 952 feet below the surface of Cumberland Mountain in Cudjo's Cave, which lies between Cumberland Gap, Tenn. and Middleboro, KY. 345 Masons were present and a MM degree was conferred.
by Brother Alphonse Cerza, Masonic Service Association, 1934.
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1 -Meet our Worshipful Master 1A- Meet our Senior Warden
1B - Meet our Junior Warden 2-About our Fraternity
3-Tresstleboard 4-On the Level - Newsletter
5-Masonic Trivia (3 pages) 6-Places to visit.
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