Fresno Scottish Rite

Today, December 16, is the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party when a group of men dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, setting off a chain of events that ultimately led to the American Revolution.

An artist drew a picture of the Green Dragon Tavern. Below it he wrote these words:

"Where we met to Plan the Consignment of a few Shiploads of Tea, Dec 16, 1773"

In the upper left hand corner of his drawing he put a square and compass. To this day no one knows who planned the Boston Tea Party.

The building had been purchased by the St. Andrews Lodge in 1764. There was a square and compass over the front door and a copper Dragon that had turned green through the weather. It was a community center. Downstairs was the Tavern. Upstairs was the St. Andrews Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts (Ancients). It was the largest place for meetings in the north east end of Boston.

Historians have called it "headquarters of the American Revolution."

Dia de Los Muêrtos (November 01- November 03). It's a time to remember how precious life is, to celebrate the best parts of life, to hold dear those who have gone before is and forgive past mistakes.

Artwork:
“MEMENTO MORI: WE ARE ALL MORTAL” MASONIC APRON
Original Acrylic Painting by Ari Roussimoff

House of the Temple Halloween Live Ghost Watch Make sure to like and subscribe to the channel! Freemasons, make sure you shout out your Lodge, Valley, Chapter or Shrine below! OES, Job's Daughter's, Rai...

October 31, 1926. The death of Brother Harry Houdini.

Harry Houdini, the Hungarian-born illusionist, is most commonly known for illusions such as his suspended straitjacket escape, buried alive trick, and the Water Torture trick.

Harry Houdini was initiated into St. Cecile Lodge in New York in 1923 and was passed and raised in July 31 and August 21 in 1924. He was proud to be a Freemason and even held a performance for the Scottish Rite Valley of New York. The event was attended by 4,000 people in the Scottish Rite Cathedral and raised money for Freemasons in need.

Happy Battle of Puebla Day, Brethren.

Happy Star Wars Day Brethren.

The Tercentenary celebration of the 1723 Constitutions, United Grand Lodge of England.

1723 'Inventing the Future' Produced for the Especial Meeting of Grand Lodge on 31st January 2023 to commemorate the publication of the 1723 Constitutions, this video is a historic re-e...

This date in history, Brother Albert Pike is born.

Albert Pike (December 29, 1809 – April 2, 1891)

Merry Christmas brethren! From the Fresno Scottish Rite.

Hanukkah, the festival of light and Freemasonry, a brief history.

Hanukkah is a joyous Jewish festival also known as the Festival of Lights. It commemorates the 164 BCE dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.

Central to the celebration of Hanukkah is the lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah (Hanukiah). When the Temple was reclaimed they found only enough oil to light the Menorah for one day, however the oil miraculously lasted for eight days.

Today, Jews light a Menorah during Hanukkah for many these candles have come to represent the triumph of good over evil, light overcoming darkness.

First, “light”, goodness, knowledge is very important in Freemasonry. Secondly, the temple that is retaken by the Maccabees is the Second Temple. It is the rebuilding of this Temple that forms the basis of some of the degrees of the Scottish Rite. It occurred about 597 BCE after the Babylonians were overthrown by the Persians. Finally, the Hellenistic Period during which this revolt took place was a time that gave us Euclid and the great Greek philosophers. It lasted from about 323 BCE to 31 BCE at which point the Roman Empire dominated.

Famous Jewish Masons include Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, David Sarnoff, Ernest Borgnine, Eddie Cantor and Harry Houdini.

As you may know by now, Rex Hutchens, PGM, 33 GC, passed this morning. Few were more dedicated Masons. His prolific writing for both the Scottish Rite and Freemasonry in general was significant at the end of the last century.

There have been 317 recipients of the Grand Cross in the AASR-SJ. He was one of them.

Scottish Rite Research Society

2022 Symposium
The SRRS will host a virtual SRRS Symposium on Saturday, Sep. 17, 2022, beginning at 2 p.m. Pacific/5 p.m. Eastern). Please find more information and the meeting link below. I hope you can join us for some very interesting papers.

All Masons and guests are cordially invited to attend the Scottish Rite Research Society Symposium broadcast via Zoom from the historic Oakland Scottish Rite Temple.

Featured presenters include: Ill. C. James Graham, 33°, SGIG in Arkansas; Ill. Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, G.C.; Ill. Rex R. Hutchens, 33°, G.C., Deputy in Arizona; Br. Adam Kendall, 32°, KCCH, editor of Heredom; and Br. Josef Wäges, 32°, with a panel moderated by Br. Tigran Agadzhanyan, 32°

https://mailchi.mp/scottishrite/scottish-rite-research-society-2022-status-update?e=bfc878c2db

July 20, 1969. The historic Apollo 11 moon landing went down in history, and will always be known as one of the most important space missions of all time.

He is known as one of the first men on the moon, but he is also known as the first Mason on the moon. Brother Edwin Eugene (Buzz) Aldrin, Jr. Brother Aldrin was initiated into Freemasonry at Oak Park Lodge No. 864 in Alabama and raised at Lawrence N. Greenleaf Lodge, No. 169 in Colorado. He is a member of Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417, AF&AM in Seabrook, Texas.

The Grand Master of Texas approved Brother Aldrin’s request to open a Representation of the Grand Lodge of Texas on the Moon and, thereby, establish Masonic Territorial Jurisdiction there. He also asked Buzz to carry a special deputation on his journey. Aldrin signed this deputation and confirmed that it was, indeed, carried to the moon. Buzz Aldrin conducted the consecration of the first Masonic Lodge on the Moon, thus securing the right to open a branch – the Grand Provincial Moon Lodge – on the Moon. The landing of the lunar module was made in the sea of Tranquility. Therefore the new lodge received the name Tranquility Lodge and got the number 2000.

Tranquility Lodge No. 2000, founded in July 1969, is now still operating. As it is not yet possible to gather on the Moon for technical reasons, it is based in Texas under the Grand Lodge of The Southern Jurisdiction. Its members always emphasize that “it is so just for now”.

The Tranquility Lodge accepts master masons from all over the world as members and does not offer them any additional degrees. The Tranquility Lodge members meet quarterly in different cities in Texas, but an annual general meeting is held every July in Waco, Texas.

The Grand Master also asked Buzz to carry a handmade silk Masonic flag him on his space journey, embroidered with the words, “Supreme Council, 33°, Southern Jurisdiction, USA.” After his mission on September 16, 1969, Brother Aldrin visited the House of the Temple in Washington, DC, and presented the flag to Grand Commander Luther Smith. The flag is now located in the archives of the House of the Temple.

Happy Independence Day Brethren!

Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence , 13 were known to be Freemasons:
Benjamin Franklin – Grand Master Pennsylvania
Elbridge Gerry – Philanthropic Lodge, MA
John Hancock – St. Andrews Lodge, MA
William Hooper – Hanover Lodge, NC
Richard Stockton – St. John’s Lodge, NJ
Mathew Thornton – made a Mason in a Lodge attached to a British Regiment of Foot during the Seige of Louisburg, Canada in 1745. Baron von Stuben while at Valley Forge is said to have conferred the higher degrees on him.
George Walton – Solomon’s Lodge, GA
William Whipple – St. John’s Lodge, NJ

The following named Signers have been referred to as members of our Fraternity by various Masonic writers and in Masonic publications, but their Lodge affiliation is not known. Absence of proof makes the possibility of membership unknown:
Roger Sherman – A Masonic apron claimed to be worn by him is in the collection at Yale University.
Josiah Barlett – listed as a charter member of King Solomon’s Lodge Charlestown, Massachusetts but no record of his affiliation is with the Garnd Lodge of Massachusetts.
Philip Livingston – Cannot be confirmed, several members of Holland Lodge New York have the name Livingston.
Joseph Hewes – Records of Unanimity Lodge No. 7, North Carolina show his name as a visitor on St. John’s Day 1776. He was buried with Masonic honors.
Robert Treat Payne – Was said to be present at the celebration of St. John’s Day at the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts however the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts does not show his affiliation. He was listed as present at a meeting of the Grand Lodge on June 26, 1759
Thomas McKean – noted as a frequent visitor to Perseverance Lodge in Pennsylvania The McKean genealogy has stated he was a Mason and his brother Samuel McKean was a member of the Fraternity.
John Penn – known to have attended Lodges in North Carolina, but his Masonic affiliation is unknown.
Lyman Hall – claimed to have been a member of Solomon’s Lodge in Georgia.
William Ellery – claimed membership in a Massachusetts Lodge.
Thomas Nelson Jr., claimed to have visited Lodge No. 9
Yorktown Virginia accompanied by Lafayette and Washington.
Caesar Rodney – had a son Caesar Augustus Rodney who was a member of the Fraternity.
George Read – has a son George M. Read who was the Grand Master of Pennsylvania.
Samuel Huntington – had a son who was Grand Master of Ohio