My travels this week took me to
Brother Marion Morrison, better known by his stage name “John Wayne” became an American movie icon, starring in over 140 films. Born in Winterset Iowa on May 26, 1907, he was initiated on July 9. 1970, passed July 10 and was raised July 11. On August 27 he returned his Master Mason proficiency and became a member of Marion McDaniel Lodge No. 5 in Tucson Arizona. Examples of Masonic Rings can be found at Fox Jewelry.
The teachings of Freemasonry are conveyed in several ways. The primary Masonic way of teaching method is ritual. Freemasons are usually unwilling to reveal the contents of ritual to non-Masons. The words in Masonic ritual are controlled very closely by the Grand Lodge in whose jurisdiction the ritual is performed. The Masonic Ring with its Compass and Square is a symbol of Freemasonry.
No individual can speak for Freemasonry, an individual may only express a personal view which may, or may not, be shared by other Freemasons. In many countries the Letter ‘G’ is taken to mean God, the Supreme Being, and whilst it is an interpretation held by many Freemasons it is not a universal view. An example of this can be found on the Masonic Ring worn by a Master Mason.
At one time, when very few were could read, the use of symbolism was widespread. It was a form of visual shorthand. Symbols were easily recognized, and understood, but as literacy increased the need for symbolism declined. In centuries past, symbols, especially religious symbols, were common throughout Christendom. The Compass and Square, the symbol of the 3rd degree Master Mason is found on the Masonic Rings found at Fox Jewelry.
Prince Hall was a black man who was initiated into Freemasonry in a military lodge. The lodge he later formed was recognized by the Grand Lodge of England and therefore was regular in every way. Never-the-less, many white Grand Lodges did not and do not recognize Prince Hall Freemasonry as regular. Some have recently recognized the Prince Hall Grand Lodges. Many Prince Hall Masons wear the Master Mason Masonic Ring found at Fox Jewelry.
Within Freemasonry, the color blue is a symbol of universal friendship and benevolence, as it is the color of the vault of heaven. Blue is the only color other than white which should be used in a Master’s Lodge for decorations. Within the Blue Lodge are conferred the Craft Degrees. These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. First, the Entered Apprentice Degree, second, the Fellow Craft Degree and finally, the Master Mason Degree. Once a candidate reaches the status of Master Mason, he is entitled to wear the Master Mason Masonic Ring such as the ones found at Fox Jewelry.
Initiated: September 30, 1949, Malta Lodge No. 465, Grand Rapids, Michigan, along with his half-brothers Thomas Gardner Ford (1918-1995), Richard Addison Ford (1924-) and James Francis Ford (1927- ). The Fellowcraft and Master Mason Degrees were Conferred by Columbia Lodge No. 3, Washington, D.C., on April 20 and May 18, 1951, as a courtesy to Malta Lodge. Brother Ford was made a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, and Honorary Member, Supreme Council A.A.S.R. Northern Jurisdiction at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, on September 26, 1962, for which he served as Exemplar (Representative) for his Class. Brother and President Ford was unanimously elected an Active Member of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay and its Honorary Grand Master, at its Annual Session held at Orlando, Florida, April 6-9, 1975; Brother Ford held this post until January 1977, at which time he became a Past Honorary Grand Master, receiving his Collar and Jewel on October 24, 1978 in Topeka, Kansas, from the Hon. Thomas C. Raum, Jr., Grand Master, Order of DeMolay.Ford’s reputation for integrity and openness had made him popular during his 25 years in Congress. From 1965 to 1973, he was House Minority Leader. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1913, he grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He starred on the University of Michigan football team, then went to Yale, where he served as assistant coach while earning his law degree. An example of a Masonic Ring is found at Fox Jewelry.
I was raised with the teachings of the Freemasons. This was teaching of Love for God, hard work, respect for your-self and others.I believe if everyone lived by these teaching the world would be a better place to live.. I thank God for this organiztion.
The ring pictured above is a Masonic ring. More examples of this type of ring can be found at Fox Jewelry
Within two decades of the victory of the First Crusade (1095-1099) a group of knights led by Hugues (Hugh) de Payens offered themselves to the Patriarch of Jerusalem to serve as a military force.This group – often said to be nine in number – had the mandate of protecting Christian pilgrims who were en route to the Holy Land to visit the shrines sacred to their faith.
Somewhere between the years of AD 1118 – 1120, King Baldwin II granted the group quarters in a wing of the Royal Palace on the Temple Mount (the Al Aqsa Mosque).
It has been generally accepted that, for the first nine years of their existence, the Templars – as they came to be known – consisted of nine members.
In the mid 1700s the Freemasons began to incorporate symbols and traditions of the medieval Knights Templar. The original medieval Order of Knights Templar was established after the First Crusade, and existed from approximately 1118 to 1312. There is no known historical evidence to link the medieval Knights Templar and Masonic Templarism, nor do the Masonic Knights Templar organizations claim any such direct link to the original medieval Templar organization.
The full title of this order is The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta.
The Knights Templar is an additional order and is not a higher degree within freemasonry. Knights Templars meet in Preceptories or commanderies.
Membership in the Order is open to Master Masons of Christian faith (in some jurisdictions, the order is also open to those of other faiths who are willing to swear to defend the Christian faith) and who have been exalted into the Holy Royal Arch Chapter.[citation needed] As in all Masonic organizations, membership requires that the candidate be of sound moral character, have an exemplary reputation, and believe in a Supreme Being. The Knights Templar have the additional requirement that the candidate be a professing Christian.
An example of a Knights Templar Ring can be found at Fox Jewelry.