“You have to buy the book, you’re a mason…”

Handbook of Freemasonry, Committee on Masonic Education, Grand Lodge A.F. &  A.M. Missouri, 90 pgs., 1974, Purchased at an estate sale store.

Presented in FAQ format (Indeed, ahead of it’s time!), this book was published in order to condense several volumes of Masonic knowledge into an easily digestible booklet.  One Hundred and Sixty-Eight questions answered and subdivided into five topic fields.  It also contains an overview of the origins of our fraternity, notes pages and a comprehensive index.

I don’t know that you will learn much in these pages that you can not pick up attending degree work and listening to the lectures.  However, I did learn what a “Moon Lodge” is and why lodges are called “Blue Lodges”. Basically, to me it’s a great piece of 38 year old Missouri Freemasonry history.  Since I’m only 36, I also consider this to be an ancient artifact.       

Anyway, I’m at an estate sale store.  (Looked like a flea market to me)  I’m about to leave empty handed, and out of the corner of my eye I see the square and compasses on the cover of this book.  It’s behind the counter and not priced, so I have no choice but to identify myself as an interested buyer.  Instead of being told the price, he asks:  “Are you a Freemason?”

A peace of ritual flashes in my head, but I respond with a simple, “Yes.”

“Oh,” he says.  “So, you have to buy this book?”  I see a big smile start to form on his face.

I told him I was interested in it, but then he corrected me.  “You have to buy the book, you’re a mason and you can’t leave this stuff on the market.”

I wasn’t sure if he actually believed this, or if he was trying to use a “Jedi Mind Trick” on me.  I asked him again about the price.  He starts telling me how it belonged to his wife’s grandfather and how Freemason’s don’t like to have their secrets up for sale.  (I was secretly hoping that the wife’s grandfather would rise up just long enough to slap this man on the back of the head)

So, I though I would try one last time to get a price, even though I figured it was going to be far more than I was willing to pay based on the fact that 1) I’ve shown interest  2) He believes I have to buy it, and  3) He took the time to establish some sort of sentimental value to it. 

“So, how much are you asking?”

“Five dollars.”

“Sold!”
    

It’s not the first time I’ve had someone approach me with an incorrect preconceived “fact” about the fraternity, but this was one of the stranger one so far.  I haven’t been a member for very long, and I have already noticed that this happens frequently. 

My favorite example was sitting at a table of adults arguing over what freemasonry is.  They all knew I was a member (and the only member at the table) but no one asked me anything so I just sat and listened.  Some defended it, others argued against it.  The conversation seemed to float along for quite a while.  It certainty wasn't weighed down with any facts on either side. 

I didn’t feel compelled to join in, as I have nothing to prove.  I will make time to answer a question someone might have about Freemasonry, but I’m not out to convince anyone of anything.  They have to want to find it themselves, it will mean more to them when they do.  It has to me. 

I, unfortunately, can look back on at least three times in my life where I was talking out my ass to a freemason about something I knew nothing about.  They didn’t argue with me.  I have no doubt now that they would have answered any question, had I just asked.  But I wasn’t asking, I was telling, and it would have been obvious that I wasn’t open to the ideas of the fraternity back then.  I don’t think they held it against me, I just wasn’t ready yet.

So what’s my point?  The book was a cool buy for only $5.  Maybe, I should have taken some time with the man in the store to set him straight?  Maybe, he told me all that because he felt like he was doing me a favor for selling it to me for only $5?  Maybe instead of trying to correct him, I should have left the book as a way to prove I didn’t have to buy it?   Or maybe I should have tried to talk him down to $2.50?  I don’t know.

Why I Mark My Library…

Some time around 1882 (probably early 1883), a book of the Constitutions and By-laws of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri was published by the Hugh R. Hildreth Printing Company, located at 407 N. Fourth Street, St. Louis, MO.

One of the copies of this book was delivered to a Lodge in northeast Missouri (Canton) called Craft Lodge # 287.  This book was then marked as part of the Lodge Library by the Lodge Secretary.  (As seen in the picture)  Somewhere along the way, the lodge lost possession of the book.  I assume it was borrowed by a member, but ended up in an estate sale before it was returned.  At some point later, it ended up in the possession of Bro. S.E. Basse, who marked the book with his seal as part of his library.  Bro. Basse passed away in 2009, and again, the book was on the market.  Early 2012, I found it on Ebay, and won the auction. 

When it arrived, I found myself more intrigued by the markings made by others than the print on the pages.  I had to find out who these people were, long since passed, but now occupying my attention.  Bro. Furlong, the lodge secretary, was a charter member of Craft Lodge and a worked at the local livery stable.  Bro. Basse was a 32^nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and Korea War Veteran. 

My thoughts turned to mortality.  Not just mine, but everyone’s.  When was the last time anyone had thought of Bro. Thomas Furlong, died Apr 19, 1924, widowed, aged 77 yrs.  Bro. Shirley Basse has only been gone 3 years, but how often is he remembered?  Does it make a difference to them?  It sure seemed that they were calling to me now from that book.

The book was eventually returned to its original and rightful owners, Craft Lodge #287 of Canton, MO.  The happenings left an impression on me that I should start leaving an impression in my books.  It is my hope that my Masonic Library, as small as it is, would some day be offered to my Lodge after I lay down my working tools.  Being a Notary Public (that has never used his seal), I decided to order a replacement stamp to seal the books of my library so that some day, maybe the though of my life will again pass though the thoughts of the living.  I admit, it does stink of vanity, but no more than an engraved rock in a cemetery.  It is not to brag about donating or owning a book, just a way to leave a mark that, even after I’m long in the ground, says “I was here, this was my name”.