Masonically Inspired Essays

Brethren: Here is a reply to an invitation to join the 2007 ANCOM worth reading, but to achieve anonymity of the one who made it, his email was deleted and so was his name on the salutary portion of the lion’s email. ----- Dear Brother: That makes you the fourth brother who openly declared (all three are also out of the country and are timing the ANCOM for their homecoming) they hope to see the aging lion at the 2007 ANCOM and have extended similar invitations. Curiously, those who wish the aging lion set forth his two feet in Luzon are not limited to brethren, his niece to whom he acted as a godfather thirty five years ago is getting married in May wish he play the same role as godfather during her wedding, his daughter is again sojourning to Japan in April and has already convinced her mother to serve as amah for her grandchildren and therefore wished the old cat tags along, to no avail. All things considered the pros of staying still outweigh the cons of leaving, and there’s no n...

Brethren: It would not be right if the results of pruning the mailing list is not explained. And so here it is. Incidentally, this will also be the first email on the new mailing list. Of the eighty two (82) email addresses in the original list, thirty three (33) signified their desire to continue receiving the lion’s articles; this represent 40 percent of the total number. Not a bad score! Of those who did not reply: Five were rejected (through Mailer Daemon) by supposed recipients, indicating that they have already discontinued use of their email addresses. For what reason, only they knew. Most of those who did not reply were carry over from those who were registered two years ago under the Glphils@yahoogroups.com and are not really familiar with the aging lion. No wonder! A few were, in one way or another, acquainted with the cat but for some reasons failed to communicate. It can be that they are quite busy or have simply lost their interest to read. Should they desire to do...

So you think you know St. John the Baptist! How about reading a short catechism on this mysterious patron saint, then? I. SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST AS MENTIONED IN THE FIRST DEGREE LECTURE. “This circle is supported by two perpendicular parallel lines representing St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist and on its top rests the Holy Writings. In tracing its circumference, we necessarily touch upon the parallel lines and also upon the Holy Bible; and while a Mason keeps himself circumscribed, it is impossible that he can materially err.” As the reader will note, the paragraph merely likened the two saints to two perpendicular parallel lines and presto, he can live the life of a Mason free from the temptations of the flesh! II. JOHN THE BAPTIST AS TOLD IN THE HOLY BIBLE In contrast, the life of St. John the Baptist is ably chronicled in all the four Gospels and if likened to a singing quartet, Luke provided the role of soloist who crooned most of the lyrics while Matthew and Mar...