Submitted By The Secretary
Last week at a local Lodge meeting, our District Deputy Grand Lecturer made a visit.  At the end of the meeting,  he lectured on the charge at closing.  He pointed out that the charge at closing speaks of Unity in the Lodge, with our Brethren and with humanity in general.  I was inspired to write the following article..


A New "Quantum" Paradigm In Our Perception of Deity?
FROM NEO-PLATONISM TO MAX PLANCK,
AN EVOLUTION IN CONSCIOUSNESS
TOWARD THE NEXT AGE
(The Entered Apprentice's, 2nd Lesson)

"None Of The Things Which Are Comprehended By The Senses Or Comprehended By The Mind Really Subsist; Nothing Except The Transcendent Essence And Cause Of All"

St. Gregory Of Nyssa

We are becoming more and more aware
that,"We Are Each Of Us,
Both Reflection and Cause,

Of The Whole Of The Universe".

It Is All Too Obvious And Understated To Say, Secular and Cleric or Religious Fascism Is The Cause Of Many A Death In Spirit.

Woodcut from Harmann Schedel Liber chronicarum Nuremberg, 1493.

AN EVOLUTION IN CONSCIOUSNESS,
HUMANITY'S PERCEPTION OF DEITY

How exactly do we explain an evolution of consciousness through a history of humanity? One way would be to show how the Hierophant, or Holy Logos inspiring humanity, has evolved through an awareness of its "Self" as humanity perceives the inspired teaching and evolves in a sacred or Holy relationship living in the universe through time.  An example would be to compare the cosmology of early Greek philosophic / scientific thought with contemporary philosophic / scientific thought, showing relationships of Masonic Pythagorean and Quantum perceptions of the universe.

"Our perception of our "Self" individually, is directly connected with the collective "Self" of the universe in total.  There is a "Common Consciousness" that connects all living things in the universe".

THE FREEMASON AND THE MYSTIC TEACHINGS,
UNITY IN DUALITY, HOW OUR CONSCIOUS PERCEPTION OF DEITY EVOLVES THROUGH TIME

The Mystic is an observer seeking wisdom σοφία (sophia) and truth, αλήθεια (alethia),  In the beginning it is through faith (pistis) the Contemplative Freemason begins his studies.  The only secrets are secrets the mystic doesn't see through his own blindness. This can be most easily recognized when viewing the art of academic Medieval/Renaissance illustrations before the 1700s and Masonic Tracing Boards through to today.  For example. To the mystic, contrary to popular belief or teaching, the classic experience of a Vision, is not recognized as something understood through our senses or experienced in the physical, rather through our consciousness coming through an awareness that is non-physical or transcendental.  As mentioned in my previous article for the "Entered Apprentice, Lesson One", physical phenomena are not defined as Visions by the Mystic.  Also, the student of the mystics must be extremely careful to interpret transmitted knowledge from writings and lectures that may in fact be wrong. There are sources that should not be considered credible and should not be made part of reading especially in the beginning of one's study.  Particularly in the beginning, the student need not be concerned with dates, events or interpretation of visions, rather the student should focus on his own purity, clear conscience and release of past and present entropy or anxieties through subjective experiences accumulated as a result of daily living.  Details will be included in future installments containing specifics. It is necessary for the student of the mystics, particularly the contemplative Freemason, to seek a trusted and qualified adept who can lead the student toward success. For example,Taro Card reading, Palm reading, reading tea leaves, Ouija Boards and forms of magic used as tools for visions are abominable to the spirit and can only doom the student toward failure. Stay clear!  Adepts are few in number but for the Contemplative Freemason, there is greater opportunity for success as the adept should also be a Freemason so that both student and adept may have common tracing boards from which to share and transmit their knowledge and experiences.  A study of the great parables of The Christ is important. Through the Christ teaching there is redemption through the grace of forgiveness. It is through The Christ, that one gains an awareness of the transcendental or spiritual (quantum) Self through the "Second Birth", it's ritualistic symbolism being through the sacrament of Baptism. Through the Christ teaching, whether one professes salvation by the blood of the lamb, through the resurrection of the spirit, skeptical of holy doctrine or Papal See, the Christ teaching is most important because through The Christ, we are taught the holy redemption through  forgiveness and grace.

A Vision is not something experienced with sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, or through dreams.  A Vision is experienced as an intovertive thought not experienced with the senses rather through one's consciousness most often during or after meditation or contemplation.
(For an exploration on the subject of visions and mysticism begin with, "The Teachings Of The Mystics" by Walter T Stace, Professor of philosophy, Trinity College, Dublin University and Prinston University.)
(Also, refer to "Phenomenalism." and the works of David Hume and Emmanuel Kant)


Physical phenomena, or extrovertive experiences in material form, are experienced and recorded at times by the Mystic but are not to be considered until adept in practice.  To the student of the Mystics, there is a rather long period of purification of the soul and training how to discern the experience of the vision. To the Mystic, a vision is as a great thought or epiphany emerging as wisdom or enlightenment.  The mystic may also have a theophany experience, initially however, visions may not be what one expects.   The mystic experience may be good, bad, indifferent or unrecognized as a vision, requiring much discipline and continuity in practice and study. A course on meditation and contemplation on the Masonic Trestle Boards is necessary for the Freemason who is a student of esoteric mystic teaching. It is through the Trestle Boards and degree lectures that Freemasons are taught the ritual for Lodge and the esoteric teachings for inner vision. This article is preparatory for a course of instruction.  First I will basically explain meditation and contemplation.

What is meditation?  What is contemplation?

Meditation:

Meditation is an inward outward movement between our outer surface levels of consciousness and our inner deeper levels of consciousness. As there is a most outward physical reality of life there is also a most inward or absolute reality of life. The relationships between the material and non-material realities in life was most recently discovered by physisists Louis de Broglie and Max Planck.  Now known as Planck's Constant,  Max Planck, divided the constant in the "energy frequency wave-form relationship" that makes up all of physical matter, and together with Louis de Broglie, founded Quantum physics. The material (manifest) and non-material (unmanifest) realities of life exist simultaneously and are present in all life everywhere. We experience the levels of consciousness through our thoughts.  A “knowing” or "Gnosis" that these two realities in life exist simultaneously while understanding how they complement each other brings about a greater awareness that liberates us from the confines of experiencing only the finite, physical manifest reality of life. As a result of this liberation one experiences more balance, harmony, and wholeness in life.

When meditating alert and in a waking state of consciousness, the conscious mind expands to embrace deeper levels of thinking. During meditation, thoughts are realized and released to make way for new thoughts that occur randomly as a result of entropy in the form of memories or impressions collected in the mind associated with only a material reality of life. Releasing thoughts that surface randomly without concentrating or analyzing them during mediation eventually quiets the mind and it becomes calm. As the mind becomes more calm there are moments when it realizes there are periods of no thoughts. As more thoughts are released the mind becomes more aware of its inward (unmanifest) reality of life and realizes its True Infinite Self.

Contemplation:

Contemplation is that which is experienced consciously and then reflected upon with both the absolute and finite conscious mind. When we contemplate we analyze certain states of mind by concentrating upon an object. The object creates an impression causing certain feelings or emotions. We contemplate by reason and the experience draws forth understanding using intuitive infinite and finite conscious thought as a reference.

As pictured in the above illustration, the now archaic Pythagorean explaination of the structure, "Woodcut from Harmann Schedel Liber chronicarum Nuremberg, 1493", Pythagoras divided all things into their proper balance through harmony. "The Harmony Of The Spheres". The Neo-Platonic Christian authorities adopted the Pythagorean definition of the universe casting-out the metaphysical sciences until it became impossible for them to refute the research of Nicolaus Copernicus that earth is not the center of our planetary system rather the sun, through the science of Issac Newton who understood that gravity is constant and through the science of Galileo Galilei, known as the "father of modern science".

As W Kirk MacNulty 32' published in "Seeking More Light", A Philosophical Background For Masonic Symbolism, Published in Vol 5, Year 1996:

"Medieval scholars had been interested in classical philosophy from the point of view of reconciling it to Christian doctrine... Three fundamental ideas seem to characterize this philosophical view.  First, the Deity was considered to be limitless. This resulted in a view of all existence as a single, tightly integrated unity centered on the Deity.  A particularly clear statement of this comes from the Hermetica: " ...for God contains all things, and there is nothing that is not in God, and nothing which God is not.  Nay, I would rather say, not that God contains all things, but that, to speak the full truth, God is all things.:  Second, earthly experiences reflected events in the heavenly realms; the succinct statement of this  is, "As above; so below." THis epigram is a conscequence of the integrated view of the world. In a universe regarded as a single, consistent, and Divine Entity, there must be a correspondence between that which occurs in the higher (heavenly, causal) levels and that which occurs at the lower (earthly) ones. Third, knowledge of the "higher", or more subtle, aspects of the Universe was available only by personal experience. (i.e. by one's own revelation); certainly not by logical argument, or, ultimately, by faith in the authority of another's revelation.  I suggest that Masonic Symbolism, as represented on the tracing boards, reflects these principles of the world view of the Renaissance."

It was through the sacrifices and efforts of the great scientists, philosophic and biblical scholars of the Renaissance through the Enlightenment periods up to the mid 1900s, that the "New Scientist" today, views life etymologically with a "Quantum View" of reality. That is to say a Quantum or Transcendent view of the universe reflects more a continuum that has no beginning or end rather evolves from moment to moment. Reality and the consciousness of reality evolves in a continuum that is not linear in nature and trans-mutates from one photon to other photons or species virtually through a medium of "Free Space" also known as "Aether".  There is speculation that Dark Matter will replace the term Aether in the future.

It was the famous physicist James Clerk Maxwell, who discovered that electric and magnetic fields travel through space in the form of waves and at a constant speed of light. Using this discovery, defining that wave form and energy have a constant velocity relative to frequency, it has become known as Planck's Constant. Max Planck, divided this constant in the "energy frequency wave-form relationship" that makes up all of physical matter, and together with Louis de Broglie, founded Quantum physics.   These Metaphysical physics principles however were taught in the mystery schools for millennia through the escoteric teachings of Pythagoras, the Hermetic Science of Hermes Trismegistus and even earlier teachings of Patanjali in India. The Christ teachings from his sermons and parables teach the salvation of the soul through redeeming Grace.

Entered Apprentice Tracing Board,
based on the 1845 J. Harris designs
for the Emulation Lodge of Improvement (London),
donated by J. Wylie Donaldson. 20.833" x 34.139".

A NEW PARADIGM OF CONSCIOUSNESS,
A NEW PERCEPTION OF DEITY

The Pythagorean perception of Freemasonry and its symbols taught to initiates for centuries through the Tracing Boards, is becoming more and more misunderstood because the adepts are not alive to teach us, or we didn't listen well enough when they were with us.  Also, as humanity evolves and shifts into a "New Paradigm Of Consciousness" toward the next Age, it is the Adepts of the past with their evolved consciousness through the Hierophant or Holy Logos that brought us to this point in time and place.  And even today their knowledge and awareness continues to enlighten us.

In the future, a new Freemason's, Quantum Perception of the Tracing Board will be quite different when compared to his Pythagorean ancestor.  The challenge for the student of the Mystic Masonic teaching is to understand the harmony found when realizing the inner and outer realities of life and understanding the Vision as a form of consciousness or thought rather than physical phenomenon.  Understanding the Vision this way will bring the Mystic Freemason a foundation of understanding to begin the escoteric and metaphysical teachings of Hermes Trismegistis and Patanjali and the science of Maxwell, Planck, de Broglie and Einstein. Hence, we will begin a study in the esoteric mysteries through meditation and contemplation on the Masonic Tracing Boards, as understood through the Mystic teachings.

_____________________________________________

JOIN ST JOSEPH LODGE No78

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CHRONICLES

OF ST. JOSEPH LODGE NO.78

BEFORE A.D. 1900,

PAST MASTERS SERVING

IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

Submitted by the Secretary, Copywrite February 4th 2012.
The Constitution of the United States was only 58 years of age and the Missouri Territory only 44 years old when the petition for a dispensation issued May 11th 1841 under the name of Katseel Lodge, created the first Masonic Lodge in Buchanan County applied through Liberty Lodge No.31, Missouri. In its charter, which was issued October 8th of the same year, the name was changed to Sparta Lodge No.46. St. Joseph Lodge No.78 was the offshoot of this, the mother Lodge of the County.  Chartered in 1846, St. Joseph Lodge at the period of its organization was the most northern on the Missouri River and the most western in the United States, its jurisdiction extending thousands of miles west and northwest. From 1845 to December 1859, its meetings were held in the third story of a building in the store of Joseph C Hull, on Main Street.
Recorded in the Minutes of the Lodge on Oct. 11, 1856 pg.23, "Resolve that this Lodge take 200 shares of stock in the building known as the "Odd Fellows Hall" about to be built in this city. And that said resolution stand, until next regular meeting."  In January 1859 St. Joseph Lodge relocated and shared its meeting space with the Odd Fellows, in a large 3 story building on the corner of Fifth and Felix until June 1873 moving to the spacious hall in the third story of a building on the northwest corner of Fourth and Charles streets and met there through 1881.
William R Penick, a pharmacist by profession, petitioned St. Joseph Lodge No.78 on January 5th 1856, Passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft February 16th, was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason March 1st of the same year and was elected Worshipful Master in 1858.  WB Penick became the 21st Grand Master of Missouri in 1861.

In America, 1861 is known as the "Year Of The Rebellion", and the beginning of the Civil War. In St. Joseph, Missouri from the first Post Office located at the Patee Hotel, the Pony Express carried President Lincoln's Inaugural Address west to Sacramento, CA., men with Confederate and Union sympathies, some being Masonic brethren, battled in the Streets of St. Joseph and citizens watched as the American Flag was torn from the Post Office flag pole by an angry mob.  RWB Penick, entered the Union Army in 1862 as a Colonal in the 2nd Regiment, Missouri Militia and wrote his address to the Annual Grand Lodge of Missouri Communication from the battle field.  Some members of the same Lodges fought each other as political and cultural beliefs outweighed moral and fraternal obligations made in the fraternity. Two such brothers were RWB William R Penick and WB William H Carpenter.
Worshipful Brother Carpenter, born in Luray, Virginia, had come to the new frontier by river boat on the Missouri River in 1854. The following spring the family moved to a farm in Marion Township where they lived for many years. At the outbreak of the war in 1862 now a resident of St. Joseph and prominent in financial circles, enlisted in the Confederate Army serving in Company H, 1st Missouri Cavalry under Col. Elijah Gates. WB Carpenter, participated in the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark, where he was made a prisoner by the Federals, and was paroled the following Summer. After returning to Company H the next year engaged in battle at Baker's Creek, Champion Hill and Black River, and was engaged in the siege of Vicksberg and the battle of Kenesaw Mountain where General Polk was killed. Taking part in the siege of Atlanta and the battle of Jonesboro, at the battle of Franklin he was wounded with grapeshot and recovered in a hospital as a prisoner for six months.  His regiment surrendered in April 1865.  Returning from the Confederate Service, he went to Green County, Arkansas, bought a farm, engaged in raising cotton and taught school for two years.  In 1868 he began traveling for an agricultural implement firm and returned to St. Joseph, Missouri.

He served as Worshipful Master at St. Joseph Lodge78 in 1886.  In 1889 he organized the "Phoenix Loan Association, with a capitol of $4,000,000 and was president located near the present German American Bank at Fifth and Francis Streets, St. Joseph, Missouri.  In 1891 he was a member of a Knights Templar excursion party which visited important places in Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, England and Wales.  Upon his passing from this earth in March 1916, WB Carpenter was permanently interred at Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph Missouri.  WB Carpenter is pictured on the left with two other visiting Brethren to Europe.