Welcome to the November issue of The Square
‘Time flies’ says the old adage. As yet another solar return sneaks up on me (21 again, of course!), I am finding it harder to ‘capture’ time than I used to – it often feels like a butterfly just out of reach.
There is much onus on using our time productively, yet so many distractions that can munch hungrily away at that precious commodity.
Ironically, this week I spent a fair chunk of it plunging down a research rabbit hole after receiving a notification from some supposedly productive app on my phone.
I enjoy reading neuroscience and psychology articles and it seemed that the algorithms were firmly in alignment because I received several alerts regarding research on ‘procrastination and time-wasting’. Point taken!
Although, esteemed author and Freemason Mark Twain did say:
“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.”
So, I got on with the job in hand (in between reading about the ‘connection between procrastination and perfectionism’) of producing another varied, informative – and hopefully entertaining – issue of The Square.
I trust you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
This month’s Editor picks:
American Fraternalism in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries – The late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States has been called the “Golden Age of Fraternalism.” How did this come about and why was the idea of joining a fraternal organization so popular? Bill Kreuger, former librarian and curator of the Grand Lodge of Iowa Library and Museum, explores this question and examines the regalia used by many fraternal organizations in this period.
8 Schools of Freemasonry – The Esoteric School. We continue this series by looking at how Arthur Edward Waite viewed Freemasonry as a form of mystical teaching. He taught that enlightenment was achieved through the perfection of the self via the study of arcane knowledge and practice of occult rites.
The Ritual of the Operative Free Masons: P1 – a serialisation of Thomas Carr’s original papers written first, to prove that Speculative Free Masonry was derived from Operative Free Masonry; second, to give some account of the Operative Free Masons, of their Ritual, and of their customs.
Freemasonry in Popular Culture – Part 4 of our series takes a look at some of the TV series that feature Freemasonry.
The Persecution of Freemasons – Alex Lishanin illustrates how even in its infancy, only a couple of decades after its official birth, Freemasonry had already become a target for its persecutors.
In Conversation with…Daniel Duke – I chat with Dan Duke about his new book ‘Secret History of the Wild, Wild West’ the third in a series on Outlaws, secret societies and hidden treasure. Dan is the great-great grandson of the infamous Jesse James, and the definitive authority on the subject. You can also read an extract from the book here
Masonic Art Competition – Since 2018, the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania’s ‘Embodying Masonic Values’ open art competition has provided an opportunity for participants to explore Masonic values through art. We take a look at some of the works.
Our regular contributors and features:
Kenneth Jack asks ‘What’s in a name? A brief history of Lodge St Andrew – the first Scottish Lodge in Australia.
Paul Gardner invites us to climb ‘Jacob’s Ladder’: that most conspicuous and first seen symbol by the candidate on his initiation – a vision of beauty and intrigue for the newly admitted.
Craig Weightman – we reach the end of ‘The Journey in Stone’, but the wisdom lives on in Craig’s book.
As always, we also have the usual features of old books, new books, reviews of books, and a whole host of Masonic knowledge to keep you busy with your ‘daily advancement’.
We hope you enjoy this month’s issue. If you do – or if you don’t – drop me a line at editor@thesquaremagazine.com
Until next time, stay safe and well.
Article by: Philippa Lee. Editor
Philippa Lee (writes as Philippa Faulks) is the author of eight books, an editor and researcher.
Philippa was initiated into the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (HFAF) in 2014.
Her specialism is ancient Egypt, Freemasonry, comparative religions and social history. She has several books in progress on the subject of ancient and modern Egypt. Selection of Books Online at Amazon
Books by Philippa
