WM and brethren this talk has been condensed to almost a bare outline and omits a lot of detail, but there is still enough for us to see where quite a deal of our ritual originated. There were many grips, signs, and words, some of which will be given.

When a big underta...

What did George Washington, Winston Churchill and Benjamin Franklin have in common with Goethe, Mozart, and Voltaire? And with Motilal Nehru and Swami Vivekanand? They all belonged to the biggest and the oldest fraternal organization in the world. And so did Edwin E. A...

In Masonic symbolism the Lambskin Apron holds precedence. It is the initial gift of Freemasonry to a candidate, and at the end of life’s pilgrimage it is reverently placed on his mortal remains and buried with his body in the grave.

Above all other symbols, the Lambskin...

It is highly significant for all Masons to reflect, every once in a while, upon a realistic evaluation of the present condition of our individual characters in order to truly see where we stand in this magnificent on-going process of perfection.

Where we find obvious or...

Our newly initiated brother is placed in the N.E. Corner of the lodge and he is told that he stands to all external appearances a just and upright man and a mason and upon the foundations laid this day may he raise a superstructure perfect in all its parts. All too oft...

Since I first began to find in masonry more than the performance of rites and ceremonies, I have wanted to know how it originated. That is to say, I was curious why men took up speculative masonry; for there is no mystery about the old lodges of the operative masons, n...

Many of us have seen a Foundation Stone laid or have read an account of the proceedings usual on such occasions.

When conducted by Freemasons, the ceremony includes much beautiful symbolism, such as trying and pronouncing the stone well laid, pouring of wine, oil and co...

This symbolically represents the diverse character of the life we lead with its dark and light periods, its difficulties and achievements, its promises and disappointments. But what of its origin and why has it been deemed so important, being used, not only in the trac...

Extracted from 'Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia'

These old documents are also known under several other names. Some prefer York Constitutions and that is fairly descriptive, since some of them state that the first Annual Assembly of Masons was held at York, England, and tho...

Venus is the second of the four terrestrial planets, from the sun, and is, after the Sun and Moon, the brightest object in the sky, being fifteen times brighter than Sirius A, the most prominent star. We call the planet Venus the morning star when it appears in the eas...