THE HOUSE OF THE TEMPLE AT WASHINGTON (Extracts from the Allocution of Brother Barton Smith, Grand Commander of the Northern Supreme Council, Pittsburgh, Pa., September, 1916.) As one looks back over the year, it seems likely that as the ages go by, the magnificent House of the Temple, completed and dedicated by our brethren of the Southern Jurisdiction, will be that event which will most markedly influence and affect Freemasonry. The monumental character of this superb edifice, its prominent situation at our Nation's Capital, and its artistic perfection, worthy of the best days of Rome, will necessarily make it the symbol of Freemasonry to these United States and to the world. So closely are our great jurisdictions of the north and the south woven together in loving alliance by our common ideals and purposes, and by our firm and devoted loyalty to our country and its flag, that both for good and evil, whatever is done by one is the heritage of all. Even if our southern brethren desired to do so, they could not deprive us, as Scottish Rite Masons, of a share in this glory which is theirs, nor diminish our pride in this achievement of American Freemasonry. We not only congratulate them upon the completion of this magnificent labor of love, we most heartily thank them for this most generous contribution to the stability, progress and power of Scottish Rite Freemasonry throughout the world. We cannot erect a shrine or express our love for the Royal Art in gold and marble, but, therefore, the call of duty is most urgent, in that noble endeavor which should characterize our Supreme Council, to enter upon and carry to completion a great work which shall prove that we are not laggards or weaklings in the mighty emulation as to who best can work and best agree for the honor and glory of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY Oft in life's labyrinth, vast and dark, And none but seer can read them true. The first enduring power bestows From bonds the conquered: clearer grows The prison-doors of souls of men What vision bright the Master saw! "The Truth that maketh mankind free," The golden bond, 'tis Heaven's law, The Love that taught "Fraternity.' -Mrs. John F. Mountain, in the Canal Zone Orient. CORRESPONDENCE DEAR SIR AND BROTHER: WHEELING, W. VA., January 20, 1917, In your January, 1917, issue of THE NEW AGE, under "A Remarkable Communication" you relate the interesting and remarkable event of a father and his six sons occupying the principal stations in a Master Mason's lodge and installing the newly elected officers of Parker Lodge, No. 630, F. & A. M., of Parker City, Ind., and requesting information of any case coming any way parallel to it. May I call your attention to a case which I had the great pleasure of witnessing at a stated meeting of Oakland Lodge, No. 535, F. & A. M., held at the Masonic Temple, Pittsburgh, Pa., on the evening of November 7, 1910. The Worshipful Master called Past Master Brother Isaac E. Isaacs to the East, requesting him to assume the duties of the Worshipful Master and to fill all the other official positions to his will and pleasure. Brother Isaacs thereupon appointed his eldest son, Brother Eleazer Isaacs, Senior Warden; his second son, Brother Past Master Abraham Isaacs, Jr., Warden; his third son, Brother Past Master Henry S. Isaacs, Guide; his fourth son, Brother Arthur S. Isaacs, Sr., Deacon; his fifth son, Brother Past Master Leo Isaacs, Jr., Deacon; these with the assistance of the other officers needed conferred the Master Masons degree upon Brother Past Master Isaac E. Isaacs' sixth son, Brother Louis Isaacs. This interesting event, perhaps the like of which has probably never been witnessed before in any Masonic jursidiction in the world, was more remarkable by the fact that father and his six sons were all residents of Pittsburgh, Pa., and members of Oakland Lodge, No. 535, in the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania. Trusting that this bit of information now six years old may be of interest to yourself and the readers of THE NEW AGE, I subscribe myself Fraternally yours, CHARLES H. JACOBS, 32°. "THE MAMMOTH EYE OF MARS" LICK OBSERVATORY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA TO THE EDITOR, Sixteenth and S Streets N.W., DEAR SIR: Washington, D. C. MOUNT HAMILTON, January 13, 1917. The NEW AGE MAGAZINE for November, 1916, contains an article by Dr. Evans on "The Mammoth Eye of Mars." That article credits me with having uttered a fantastic theory of life on the planet Mars. I never heard of such a theory before, and I did not suppose that anyone possessed an imagination capable of spinning such a theory. Will you please do me the favor to publish this letter in the NEW AGE MAGAZINE, so that your many readers who have necessarily come to the conclusion that the Director of the Lick Observatory is queer will have the chance to form a different opinion? I am in no way responsible for the contents of Dr. Evans's. engthy quotation from the New York American of several years Yours truly, W. W. CAMPBELL, Director. ago. AN INTERNATIONAL CREED OF PATRIOTISM AND GOOD WILL FOR CHILDREN Editor, THE NEW AGE, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: 593 Laurel Avenue, St. Paul, Minn., October 25, 1916. Any plan which has aroused the interest of Mrs. Fannie Fern Andrews and of Dr. David Starr Jordan, will undoubtedly be welcomed by those of your readers who are interested in peace and this letter will I trust arouse peace workers in other nations, both now and after the war, to give the idea their earnest consideration, for the children of today are the future leaders of all nations, the men and women who will decide on their policies and their relations to other nations. The following creed was written for the children of this country, and it has been adopted by many schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, as well as on the Pacific coast. I believe in the God of all nations who ever ruleth all things for His own great purposes. I believe in my country, America, born in the love of liberty and purified in the fires of maintaining it. I believe in her destiny as the great exemplar of freedom; in her honesty of purpose; in her high ideals for the best service of all humanity; a service of which I will be a part and which I will do my best to keep pure. I owe allegiance and honor to her flag and constitution before any other earthly interest, and conceive it to be my highest duty to so live day by day a clean and upright life that later on I may be worthy of American citizenship. It was my idea in developing the little plan that any creed should contain a sentence of love and good will to the children of every other nation and that other nations would take up the idea with a similar end in view. With this thought in mind I asked Dr. David Starr Jordan to write a sentence and he replied as follows: "The little creed you suggest is a good one, perhaps we might say 'I believe that the children of other nations are entitled to the freedom and happiness which I enjoy, I send good will to the children of all nations."" By publishing this letter you will interest minds actively engaged in peace and no one can tell what beneficial outcome will be the result. Yours very truly, J. W. HAMILTON. BOUNDLESS LOVE Beauteous the love of country is, The love that gives so willingly its life But, oh, we long for that more beauteous day So love his fellow-man, where'er he dwell, That he refuse to slay him. Nor yet dare Send a soul into that great beyond, -Selected. F A REVIEW OF THE MASONIC "COUNTRY" PRESS ARRANGED AND CONTRIBUTED BY T. W. H. "OUR FLAG" OR many years we have neglected to recognize the Flag of our country as having any connection with Masonry, as far as making it one of its adjuncts or ornaments, although we were just as loyal then as now, when we are falling over ourselves to display the "Star Spangled Banner," and we would not drop dead if we saw the Fellow crafts come marching in headed by the chief one holding aloft the loved banner, so incongruous have our actions become. Most of these mistakes arise from ignorance of the "Etiquette of the Flag," the rules for the observance of which are laid down by the United States Government, and any deviation from these rules is, to say the least, the action of the boor or ignoramus. The Flag is as sacred an object as we have in the country, as sacred an emblem as the Cross or the Crescent in their respective places, and it should. not be defiled with impunity nor used. improperly. We have compiled from several sources, and think the compilation is correct, a few general and special rules to be observed, and are moved to publish them here because we noticed in The Texas Freemason a cut of an advertised altar on which is laid an American Flag and on that an open book. It makes no matter what the book is, the Flag should not be used where anything can be set or placed. upon it; and while on the subject of nationality I might as well call to the attention of the NEW AGE family the fact that the "Star Spangled Banner" is the national hymn, or tune, and whenever played or sung with patriotic intent all persons within hearing should rise and stand uncovered, unless in severe weather such an act would be detrimental to health, then the right hand is raised to the head covering in salute. When the "Star Spangled Banner" is played or sung as a part of a medley, or varied from the regular tune as in variations or words, it is not required that the hearers should stand tend to bring a serious act into and uncover. Such a procedure would disrepute. Although "America" has, by custom, and because of its simplicity, been accepted in many cases as the national hymn, to stand and uncover when it is played or sung is neither required nor desired. The government of the United States of America is symbolized by the Stars and Stripes, and the music. of the "Star Spangled Banner" gives audible evidence of our allegiance to it; there should be no division of sentiment nor practice in this regard. Salute the "Star Spangled Banner," music and Flag. THE FLAG The Flag should not be hoisted before sunrise, nor allowed to remain up after sunset, nor should it be allowed to remain up during a rain or storm. The Flag should never be allowed to touch the ground, and should never be raised or lowered by any mechanical device. Whenever possible the Flag should be flown from a staff or mast, but should not be fastened to the side of a building, platform or scaffolding. It should not be used as a cover over a table, desk, or box, or where anything can be set or placed upon the Flag. When the Flag is used out of doors it should always be allowed to fly in the breeze. The Flag should never be placed below a person sitting. A REVIEW OF THE MASONIC "COUNTRY PRESS When clusters and drapings of colors are desired, bunting or cloth should be used, but never the Flag. At "Morning and Evening Colors" civilian spectators should stand at "attention" and uncover during the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner. Military spectators are required by regulation to stand at "attention" and give the military salute. When the national colors are passing on parade or in review, the spectator should, if walking, halt, and if sitting, arise and stand at "attention" and uncover. At the nation's capital, and at every state capital there is at all times a display of the Flag. As upon every government vessel, so upon every government building, the Flag should be flown during business hours. It should be hoisted and lowered at the proper uniform hour as is done at army posts and navy yards. When the national, state or other flags fly together the national flag should be on the right. The national. salute is, under the Law of the Nations, twenty-one guns. THE SOLOMONIC MYTH While we are willing to give every person all the rights we demand for ourself, if we advocated a doubtful project, one based on purely mythical foundations, as far as the connection with the project is concerned, one of no appreciable value to the persons desired to be interested, one entailing great difficulty in providing means for its existence, which can be enjoyed by but a very small percentage of those sought to be the subscribers and the enterprise located in a disturbed and foreign country over which we can have no control or surety of perpetuity, for such a scheme, such a sentimental dream, such mistaken exercise of effort we would expect to receive adverse criticism and 89 so claim the right to criticize this latest. venture to separate the dollars of our American Masons from their pockets, or treasuries. That there will be some response may be taken for granted, as the elusive and the mythical appeals to many who are not in the least affected by the calls for support of the practical. The intangible makes the martyr, and secures the enthusiasm where the every-day and right-at-home ideas are passed up as unworthy of consideration. We hope the Masons of the nation will carefully study the appeal of the Jerusalem. Temple Association, which is now being sent broadcast through the agency of "The Temple Fund," by free distribution. The object of its existence, as stated in its columns, "is to keep constantly before Masonic bodies, and friends of Masonry, the project of a temple in the birthplace of the craft, Jerusalem, as a monument to our venerable order, and as a center of an effort for the betterment of the people in general." The very modest sum of $100,000, more or less, is required. One of the reasons for the building is to "remove the stigma of disgraceful negligence. long attached to us." By whom? The building cannot be built on the supposed original site, as that is now occupied, so that the symbolism and intimate connection is spoiled, and the sentimental idea of actual contact is dissipated; the temple may as well be built in the United States with a greater degree of sensibility and surety of success, because then all of us can profit by the inspiration which such a structure may give. We are strongly opposed to such Foreign Mission Masonry, especially when there is such crying need for the expenditure here of all the surplus coin the brethren may have and be under our supervision and give practical results. Masonry scatters too much to be efficient. |