Ex Tenebris Lux » Masonic

Arm, Hammer, Square and Compass

Marcus Orr — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:51:42 +0000

When I was scouting around Pine Hill Cemetery for a blog post last week, I came across these tombstones that I thought had masonic symbolism on them:

On each tombstone, you can see, perhaps the most publicly identifiable emblem of freemasonry, the square and compass. However, the squares and compasses displayed on these tombstones are a bit different than those with which I am familiar. These contain an arm and hammer in the center.

I just assumed that the arm and hammer was a variation on the traditional masonic symbol, but it isn’t. This emblem belongs to an entirely different fraternal order – The Jr. Order of United American Mechanics. I learned about the J.O.U.A.M after stumbling across this informative post at “askafreemason.org”, which discussed a ring found at a flea market containing the same symbol.

I had never heard of the Mechanics until I began doing some reading online. Several Mechanics organizations have existed over the years. The Order of United American Mechanics began in 1845 in Philadelphia, PA. The organization was initially called the Union of Workers before changing it’s name to The Order of United American Mechanics. It was founded as a nativist fraternity that had an anti-immigrant focus. The O.U.A.M. became the parent organization of the Jr. Order of United American Mechanics which later became the larger of the two organizations and absorbed the O.U.A.M. Here’s a brief description of the American Mechanics from the Phoenix Masonry Website – also included on that page is a transcript of their degree work which my freemason brothers may find interesting to compare with their own.

I searched for information on the web about Jr. O.U.A.M. activity in Alamance County or Burlington, but was unable to locate much. Most of the sites that had local references to the organization referred to grave markers or obituaries. All of the links from the national organization’s webpage to the state and local organizations in NC led to webpages that no longer exist. The only official NC link to Jr. O.U.A.M. I could find is the American Children’s Home in Lexington, NC. The children’s home was founded in 1928 as a home for orphans of Jr. O.U.A.M. members, but later accepted abused and neglected children through the Department of Social Services.
If anyone has any information about the Jr. O.U.A.M. involvement in Alamance County, NC, I’d love to know more.

Men in Aprons

Marcus Orr — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 01:59:53 +0000

While I’m working, I like to listen to the call-in show, Talkline with Harry Myers on WBAG 1150 AM in Alamance County, NC. Most of the calls focus on whatever political scandal or news has captured local attention. I recognize many of the regular callers, as many of them make themselves prominent in the local political scene, but I haven’t been listening long enough to know all of them by name. This past Tuesday, a caller that I recognize as a regular, but whom I don’t know, grabbed my attention. He talked about how politicians and people in power are corrupt and how they attained power by corrupt means. Then, he dropped this little nugget:

“As far as the Democrat and Republican thing, I think it’s one big game. You know. And they play against each other to make us feel or think one thing and, we get sucked right into it. You know. We need to run these people out of office that’s in office and get rid of the corrupt deceit people that’s wearing these aprons, serving us this poison. I mean, if y’all can’t read between the lines, you need to do some research. This country was started and founded by people that wore aprons and they started it with good intentions. Unfortunately, it has come full circle and it is biting us in the butt. Get real with what’s going on around you. Look at the graveyards in your hometowns and see who started those graveyards and what kind of temples are set next to them. Wake up people.”

You can listen to the call here:

So, what to make of it? Has the caller watched or read too many conspiracy theories?

Any good conspiracy theory needs some elements of truth to it or it would be unbelievable. The foundations of the United States were undoubtedly influenced heavily by Freemasons and masonic ideals. Last year, I posted a video of a lecture titled “Freemasonry and the Fabric of America” by Bro. Lee Sherman Dreyfus, 33rd, former Governor of Wisconsin and Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Bro. Dreyfus’ lecture provides a good overview of the masonic foundations of America. But, what about now? Do Freemasons influence today’s political sphere? And, more to the point, do they have some nefarious intentions? That is what some conspiracy theorists, like the caller above, would have you believe. He presented an interesting perspective – and not necessarily a negative view of Freemasonry as a whole – just a negative view of modern Freemasons. The caller insinuated that the Freemasons among the Founding Fathers of the United States represented something pure and unadulterated in freemasonry which has since been transformed into something corrupt. To substantiate his point, he directed the audience’s attention in a quite unusual direction…cemeteries. Wait, What?

Even though most people could recognize that cemeteries have absolutely nothing to do with today’s political discourse, I decided to indulge the caller. After church today, I took my family to Pine Hill Cemetery in Burlington, NC to see if I could get a grasp on whatever obscure connection the caller was making. I think I found something…

We didn’t have time to explore the whole cemetery, but my wife, kids and I located no less than 4 tombstones on the Main St. side of the cemetery which have masonic emblems engraved on them. (UPDATE: July 17, 2011 – Apparently, two of these are not masonic emblems, they are Jr. Order of United American Mechanics emblems which hijacked the masonic square and compass for their own use. Read more here). I took these pictures with my camera phone:

There it is. In the last photo. Do you see it? While you can barely make out the weathered square and compass on the top of the tombstone, you can’t miss the masonic temple in the background, Bula Lodge No. 409 A.F.& A.M. to be exact.

Find Bula Lodge No. 409 on Facebook.

This must be what the caller was talking about. We found a cemetery with a few tombstones engraved with masonic emblems on Main St. across from a masonic temple. There must be a smoking gun here somewhere (or not).

I found a brief history of the cemetery. Pine Hill Cemetery was started in the late 1890s by the newly founded City of Burlington and is city-owned and maintained. I couldn’t find much more than that on a Sunday afternoon.

I’m not sure what the next step is to unravel this “conspiracy”. I did what the caller suggested, I looked at and researched the graveyard across the street from the masonic temple. And now…I’m a bit lost concerning whatever point he was trying to make. What do you think? Is there more to it or does the caller need to stop watching “Mysteries of the…” and “Secrets of the…” shows? If only he knew what epic decisions were being made behind lodge doors…pine mulch or red oak mulch in the flower beds…blue paint or white paint in the bathrooms…subs or pizza for dinner…pancake breakfast or pinto bean supper for a fundraiser?

Of course, most of this post has been in jest, but is there some element of truth to it? To my masonic brethren, I implore you to examine yourself and your lodge. Do we appear to the community as though we have lost our way and are no longer in touch with the ideals of ancient masonry? Have we? Are you finding what you were seeking in the fraternity? Is it helping you to become a better man or have you found it to be a social club? Do you take our Craft seriously or is it just a symbol to add to your gravestone or a footnote for your obituary? Are you as committed to your Masonic labor as those in centuries past who contributed to the mystique of Freemasonry and those who erected the great and intricate temples and lodges? Those are some questions that I’m considering as I’m reading the book “Observing the Craft: The Pursuit of Excellence in Masonic Labour and Observance” by W.Bro. Andrew Hammer, Master of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No 22.

Here are a few lines from his book to pique your interest:

“Each of us came into the Freemasonry for reasons as individual as ourselves. But many of us came because we were looking for something that offered the opportunity to explore new ideas, and new ways of looking at old ideas. We came because we thought there might be something in this ancient system that was so valued by good and great men in important times, which connected us to who we are as a modern society.” (p1)

“many of the new men who are coming into the Craft are coming to it in search of something. They’re not here because their friends have done it, or their families, or because it has any sort of social cachet with the community. We are living in an age of renewed inquisitiveness about the nature of things, and these men find something in our historical mystique that speaks to their souls, that calls them to seek us out for our meaning and philosophy, not mummery and philanthropy.” (p71)

“Observance is both a state of mind that manifests itself through a set of actions, and a set of actions which cultivate a specific state of mind. The overall experience, when done properly, creates a sense of deep fulfillment and almost other-worldly atmosphere within the Lodge and among the brethren involved. (p8)

“For too long it seems as if we have been at refreshment, doing only the minimum to keep our lodges in existence, focusing on picnics, projects and pastimes which are removed from anything Masonic. Like Esau, we have been too willing to sell our birthright – a birthright of pioneering minds in serious pursuit of moral, social and philosophical light – for a quick and easy stew that satisfies only the immediate hunger of the moment. (p144)

I encourage you to pick up a copy of W.Bro. Hammer’s book, especially if you serve as an officer in your lodge. It contains much that is worthy of consideration and discussion among the brethren of your lodge. I don’t know about you, but I came seeking the light that was borne by our forefathers…the history, philosophy, decorum and ritual that shaped the founding of our great democracy. It is my hope that I, along with my brother Freemasons, will seek to preserve the ideals of our ancient society through a pursuit of excellence in their masonic labor.

Freemasonry

Marcus Orr — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:11:33 +0000

I am a history buff. I’m also drawn to the unusual and interesting. It was likely only a matter of time until my curiosity turned to Freemasonry. My grandfather was a Mason. I didn’t know him very well and he died when I was about 16 years old. I know virtually nothing about his involvement in masonry, except that he was also a Shriner and had a masonic funeral service. The funeral service was interesting and I tucked its memory in the back of my head. I didn’t give Freemasonry much consideration until about a year ago when I became intrigued by the number of my coworkers in law enforcement who wore masonic rings. It was then that the memory of his funeral and those mysterious Masons came back to me.

For the last year, I’ve watched and read everything I could find about Freemasonry. There is a lot of information out there – especially on the internet – and much of it bad. I was captivated by the History Channel shows on Freemasonry. I finally expressed my interest to a friend and Mason who lent me the book, The Freemasons: A History of the Worlds Most Powerful Secret Society by Jasper Ridley. It provided a good overview of masonic history without focusing on conspiracy theories. After Ridley’s book, my interest was piqued even more and I began reading everything I could get my hands on, both positive and negative. The rich history, philosophy and fraternal aspects of Freemasonry were fascinating to me. I became convinced that I wanted to become a Mason. So began my journey in masonry.

One of the things that I picked up on in my reading is the fact that masonic lodges do not recruit. I kept coming across the phrase, “To be one, ask one.” I approached one of my coworkers, who provided me with a petition for membership. I spoke with several others whom I knew to be masons and they all agreed to provide references for my petition. A short time after submitting my petition, my wife and I had a meeting with an “investigative committee” at our home. Despite how ominous that sounds, it’s actually not a bad experience. A couple of older gentlemen visited with us for an hour or so to tell us more about the organization, learn a bit about who I am, and answer any questions for us. I learned that they would make their recommendation to the lodge and my petition would be voted upon. I eagerly waited to hear back from them, only to receive one of the biggest disappointments I’ve ever experienced. Someone voted against my petition and I was rejected from the lodge. One of the traditions in masonry is that all voting is done by secret ballot. Members vote on a petitioner by means of dropping a white or black ball/cube. The term “blackballed” comes from this practice. It only takes one black ball/cube to reject someone (I understand that some jurisdictions require three black ball votes to reject a petitioner). Someone voted against me. I received a hand delivered letter informing me that I had been rejected and enclosed with it another petition and invitation to petition the same or another lodge after six months. I can’t explain how terrible it feels to receive that sort of rejection. I had been told throughout the process that no one could recall anyone being rejected that had great recommendations and had the recommendation of the investigative committee. Being rejected was something that hadn’t really crossed my mind before I opened that letter. My mind immediately ran a thousand different directions. What had I done? What was wrong with me? Who had I offended? I couldn’t think of anyone I knew in that lodge with whom I’ve ever had any personal or professional problems. Some of my mason friends expressed their disappointment in the vote and some speculated that the black ball came from a coworker and may or may not have had anything to do with me. I’ll probably never know who or why. I only wish that if someone voted against me because I have offended or wronged them, they would come to me personally. I thought that my journey had ended before it started. I was surprised by the support I received from those who had recommended me and other masons I knew. Several encouraged me to petition again. I waited the requisite time and petitioned another local lodge.

I share my experiences in hopes of encouraging anyone that has had a similar experience to mine. On March 18, 2010, I became an entered apprentice at Thomas M. Holt Lodge No. 492 in Graham, NC. I completed my 1st degree catechism last week. I’m scheduled for the 2nd Fellowcraft degree in a few days. Since joining the lodge, I have been impressed by the kindness and friendship that has been shown to me by its members. I look forward to working my way through the degrees and learning more about masonry and my new lodge brothers.

I have learned a great deal in my reading and have some recommendations for anyone who wants to know more about freemasonry.

A Pilgrim’s Path by John J. Robinson – Good intro to Freemasonry, particularly in the U.S. The author was not a Mason when he began researching for the book, but became a Mason as a result and concludes the book with his thoughts on his experiences.

Born in Blood by John J. Robinson – Interesting examination of Freemasonry origins and possible connections with the Knights Templar Order and revolution in Great Britain. This book is well written and exciting to read.

The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland’s Century 1590 to 1710 by David Stevenson PhD – The most probable origins of Freemasonry as traced from surviving historical documents. Not as exciting to read, but thorough and informative.

Solomon’s Builders by Chris Hodapp – This book focuses on Freemasonry’s influence on the the founding fathers of the U.S. and the development of Washington D.C. This would be a great book to read before taking a trip to D.C.

The Newly-Made Mason: What He and Every Mason Should Know About Masonry by H.L. Haywood – A must read for the “Newly-Made” Mason. The author does a great job explaining the origins, history, philosophy, symbolism and organization of Freemasonry.

Ex Tenebris Lux » Masonic

Arm, Hammer, Square and Compass

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