Burlington Lodge No. 165 AF&AM

On June 11, 1867, following the end of the Civil War, the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin acted on a committee report, stating "And disregarding all questions, differe...nces, and conditions of a civil or political character, and governed only by Masonic obligation, your committee recommends a donation of ten hundred dollars... to reach the true objects of Masonic Charity in the Southern States." Similar donations were passed by several Northern Grand Lodges, all to aid and assist distressed families in the South. That's Brotherhood in action! (Source: House Reunited, by Allen E. Roberts." Photo is of the "Friend to Friend Memorial" in Gettysburg, PA.) See more

Many Masons joke about the "Knife and Fork Degree," referring to a meal that is shared before or after a Lodge meeting. The origin of this term goes back much f...arther than people realize; all the way back to Laurence Dermott, the author of the Ahimon Rezon and the first Grand Secretary of the Ancient Grand Lodge of England. Dermott wrote "It was also thought expedient to abolish the old custom of studying geometry in the Lodge; and some of the young Brethren made it appear that a good knife and fork in the hands of a dexterous Brother, over proper materials, would give greater satisfaction and add more to the rotunditiy of the Lodge than the best scale and compass in Europe." (Picture courtesy of Fratline Emblematics at https://fratline.net///masonic-knife-fork-degree-lapel-pin)

Bro. Benjamin Franklin may very well be Pennsylvania's best known Freemason. Yet, when he died, he did not receive a Masonic Funeral. Why? Franklin was a member... of the "Modern Grand Lodge." This was the first Provincial Grand Lodge in Pennsylvania, having descended from England. By the time of his death in 1790, it had ceased operating. In its place arose a new "Ancient Grand Lodge" that was flourishing in Philadelphia. Despite being a Past Provincial Grand Master of the "Moderns," Franklin wasn't a member in good standing of an "Ancient" Lodge, so no Masonic funeral was arranged. On April 19, 1906, a delegation from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania met at Brother Franklin's grave for a service in honor of his 200th birthday, celebrating the life of one of Pennsylvania's most famous Brothers. See more

June 28, 1855, 165 years ago, Theodor Reuss was born - an Anglo-German occultist, Freemason, journalist, singer, and head of the original Ordo Templi Orientis. Theodor Reuss was the son of the hotel owner. In his youth, he was a singer and was introduced in 1873 to Ludwig II, the King of Bavaria. Later he became a newspaper journalist and often traveled to England, where he was initiated into Freemasonry at Pilger Loge No. 238 of United Grand Lodge of England in 1876. In 1880... in Munich, he participated in an attempt to revive Adam Weishaupt's Bavarian Order of Illuminati. In England, he met William Wynn Westcott, one of the founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and a member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia. Westcott handed Reuss a charter for the Swedenborgian Rite in 1901, and also gave him the authority to establish the High Council of S.R.I.A. for Germany. Also in 1901, Gerard Encausse (Papus) appointed him Special Inspector for the Martinist Order in Germany. In addition, together with Franz Hartmann and Henry Klein, Reuss activated the Masonic Charters of Memphis and Misraim, as well as the branch of the Scottish Charter in Germany, receiving charters from Yarker. Theodore Reuss died on October 28, 1923.

In our Entered Apprentice lecture, we are likened to the Rough and Perfect Ashlar. The Rough Ashlar is a stone taken from a quarry in its . It symbolizes every one of us, as natural, imperfect men. When you become a Freemason, there is still a lot of work to do in order to a perfect ashlar. That is why Freemasonry gives the young Mason the tools to help him achieve a purposeful, principled, righteous life and to become enlightened as to the true aims of the Order. When you become a Freemason, your spiritual journey is not over, and the work you need to perform on yourself - although sometimes very difficult - has only just begun.

It is widely held that Alexander Graham Bell was the inventor of the telephone. However, it is also claimed that inventor, revolutionary thinker and unconfirmed Freemason Antonio Meucci had devised the principles of the telephone when Bell was still an infant, and had a working model by 1859 long before Bell and others. Unfortunately for the Italian, due to technical omissions relating to vocal sounds in his patent which was filed five years before Bell’s he never gai...ned the credit for his work; until recently, that is. In 2002, the US Congress officially recognized Meucci’s work in the development of the telephone. The rumors of Meucci’s involvement with the Freemasons appear to be largely down to his close friendship with the great military hero Giuseppe Garibaldi, the unifier of Italy. Garibaldi was an active Mason and arrived in New York around the same time as Meucci. The two shared ideas, and it seems likely that Freemasonry played some part in this exchange.

FREEMASONRY IN THE WHITE HOUSE James Hoban was the architect who designed and supervised the construction of the White House. When the British destroyed this building during the War of 1812, he designed the one replacing it. James Hoban was a Mason. He was probably present when the cornerstone was laid by Maryland Lodge No. 9 of Georgetown on October 13, 1792, with Masonic ceremony. He was also a devout Roman Catholic.... During President Truman's term of office it was necessary to rebuild the White House. In 1952, while the work was in progress, Brother Truman discovered that some of the original stones contained traditional "Mason's marks". He directed that these stones be preserved and delegated the duty to Major General Harry H. Vaughan, Brother Renah F. Camalier, and the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. These stones were distributed to the Grand Lodges of the United States and to certain territories and foreign governments. On February 22, 1966, the last stone was presented to the George Washington National Masonic Memorial Association for display in the Temple on Shooter's Hill.

Every year, at the summer solstice, a mysterious ceremony is held for more than 150 years at the summit of Mount Owl’s Head in the Eastern Townships. Let’s see what brings the Freemasons to this isolated place in the mountains and become mythical for many people. The Masonic ceremony that has been held annually on Mount Owl’s Head for 150 years is also known as the Golden Rule Lodge ceremony on the mountain. The origin of this goes back to the creation of the Lively Stone Lod...ge of Derby Line in Vermont in 1803 and which brought together Freemasons on both sides of the Canada-US border. But the War of 1812 brought Canadians to form a wholly Canadian entity: the Golden Rule Lodge of Stanstead. The lodge will receive is charter from the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813. But it was not until 1857, following a derogation from the Grand Lodge of Canada authorizing her to hold a rally outside, that the Lodge no 5 began to hold a ceremony at the summer solstice on the summit of Mt. Owl’s Head, next to Lake Memphremagog, in an enchanting site. The mysterious ceremony of Mount Owl’s Head Every year in June, the most popular meeting of the Masonic Calendar in Quebec brings together Freemasons from across Quebec, Canada, the United States and even elsewhere. This is not an ordinary meeting, as it stands at 739 meters (2425 feet) above the majestic Lake Memphremagog. It is of course headed by Lodge No. 5 and during it, the Freemasons take the opportunity to raise one of them to the rank of Master Mason. For historical reasons only, the ceremonial ritual of climbing the mountain and the said ceremony are reserved for mason only. The Master Mason candidate must wear all the time of the climb, alone, a basket of braided ash called simply the Basket which contains the material for the ceremony: ropes, a Bible, masonic accessories, masonic insignia and flags from Canada, the United States and Quebec. The whole thing still weighs 60 pounds (27 kg)! Once all the material and members on the site at the top, the ceremony (unfortunately secret) can begin. When everything is over, everyone comes back down and joins families and friends for a BBQ. Freemasonry in Quebec The first Freemason lodge to officially settle in Quebec (and Canada), arrived with the English soldiers at the beginning of the Conquest in 1759 in Quebec, although it seems that there were Freemasons in New France. These, soldiers, nobility or French or Canadian traders, would have gathered in the same boxes as the English, then their enemies on the battlefield, but united in the brotherhood of Freemasons. Amazing anyway! We could also say inspiring.

One of the oldest Masonic lodges in Quebec which traces its roots back to 1803 when Lively Stone Lodge was founded in Derby Line, Vermont. That lodge, composed of Masons from both sides of the border, who met in a building situated half in Canada and half in the United States. During the War of 1812, the Canadian members of Lively Stone formed a new lodge in Stanstead, on the Canadian side of the border. ... Golden Rule Lodge, as it was called, received its first charter from the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813. In 1856, the lodge received a new charter from the Grand Lodge of Canada; in 1869, yet another charter was granted, this time from the Grand Lodge of Quebec.

Today in Masonic History Leslie Miscampbell Frost passes away in 1973. Leslie Miscampbell Frost was a Canadian politician. Frost was born in Orilla, Ontario, Canada on September 20th, 1895. He attended the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School. During World War I he served with the 157th Battalion "Simcoe Foresters", Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and the 20th Battalion Queen's York Rangers in Belgium and France. In 1918 he was wounded in battle and discharged...Continue reading

On this day in 1789, George Washington is inaugurated as the first president of the United States. Washington was unique in that he ruled with the consent of the governed. His humility marked him as the appropriate choice for the leadership of the fledgling nation and when word arrived at Mount Vernon that he had been chosen for this position, he simply followed the call of 'duty' and proceeded the very next day to New York where he would become 'President'. Freemasonry was a...n integral part of that parade with several bodies marching. As Washington was about to be sworn in, he asked for a Bible on which to take his oath of office. While the most minute details of the inauguration ceremony had been planned, it appears that no one thought about this particular matter. A search of Federal Hall failed to produce one but New York Chancellor Robert R. Livingston who was also the Grand Master of New York Freemasonry knew there would be one in the Lodge Room of St. John's Lodge #1 a few short yards away. The Parade Grand Marshal, General Jacob Morton, was the Worshipful Master of that lodge and was dispatched to obtain the Bible therein. When he returned, events proceeded and the country had its first President. The Federal Gazette of Philadelphia reported: "The Impression of his past services, the concourse of spectators, the devout fervency with which he repeated the oath, and the reverential manner in which he bowed down and kissed the sacred volume - all these conspired to render it one of the most august and interesting spectacles ever exhibited on the globe."

The Royal Family posted this video today for the Queen's 94th birthday where we see The #Queen - then Princess Elizabeth - with her family, including her younger sister Princess Margaret.

- All preferment among Masons is grounded upon real worth and personal merit only, that so the lords may be well served, the Brethren not put to shame, nor the royal Craft despised; therefore no Master or Warden is chosen by seniority, but for his merit. Charges of a Freemason IV Of Masters, Wardens, Fellows and Apprentices

As M.W. Bro. Raymond S.J. Daniels said: "Freemasonry is first and foremost an initiatory order, in the business of transforming men's lives through a progressive curriculum of self-discipline. Selfexamination... Selfdiscovery Selfanalysis Selfrealization Selffulfillment Every candidate at his initiation begins a lifelong journey of discovery."