This week, we are unlocking the archives of the nineteen thirties to expose a thin line between self-mastery and absolute tyranny. First, we dive into a striking 1938 piece titled Superman, written right as the shadow of totalitarianism was taking over Europe. We’re looking at how a misunderstood philosophy was weaponized by dictators, and why true Freemasonry serves as the ultimate shield against the tyrant. Then we look at the purpose of Freemasonry, tracing how man, born completely helpless, utilizes the blueprint of the craft to step into his highest potential. It’s an episode about breaking free from mundane conformity, mastering your passions, and mapping the future of human progress. Links: The New SUBSTACK! http://www.wcypodcast.substack.com The Secretary Box Teaser wcypodcast.com/secretary-box

Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com Craftsman+ FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftsmanplus/

WCY Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/WhenceCameYou

Our Patreon www.patreon.com/wcypodcast

Support the show on PayPal https://wcypodcast.com/support-the-show

Get some swag! https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop

Get the book! http://a.co/5rtYr2r

This week on the show, we are traveling back to the late 1930s to unlock the archives. First, we’re tackling a blunt operational reality from August of 1937 that hits just as close to home today: a Master speaking plainly about lodge apathy, and why the membership is just as much to blame as the leadership when a lodge loses its spark. Then, we’re shifting gears to look at a massive historical transformation from March 1938. We’ll trace the rapid progress of education in England, the impact of the printing press, and how a loosely organized group of illiterate operative stone-carvers evolved into a Speculative system designed to build the inner temples of our minds. It’s a journey from practical stone-quarrying to moral philosophy—all about money, myth, and the power of discernment. Stay tuned! Links: The New SUBSTACK! http://www.wcypodcast.substack.com The Secretary Box Teaser wcypodcast.com/secretary-box

Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com Craftsman+ FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftsmanplus/

WCY Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/WhenceCameYou

Our Patreon www.patreon.com/wcypodcast

Support the show on PayPal https://wcypodcast.com/support-the-show

Get some swag! https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop

Get the book! http://a.co/5rtYr2r

It’s About Friendship

 By Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

 

By Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

One of my hobbies is photography.  Since retiring three years ago, I have spent much more time with a camera in my hand.  I find that it causes me to slow down and focus on the moment.   Slowing down hasn’t been something I have been very good at in life.  But I am getting better at it, with a long way to go.

This particular picture was taken recently as the sun came up over Ogden, Illinois.  It was a semi-foggy morning and the temperature was about 65 degrees.  There was no wind, so it was perfectly calm.   

I stopped along a country road as the sun was rising.   It’s remarkable how fast it really comes up over the horizon.  Each minute gives you a different view of the rural landscape.   But you can only really see it, if you slowdown, stop for a moment and watch.

As the sun rises in the east to open and govern the day, take a moment to enjoy it.

~gjk

This week, we are unlocking the late 1930s archives of the Square and Compass journal. First, we dive into a May 1938 piece titled Freemasonry and Peace , which pulls in a famous debate between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud to ask if humanity is hardwired for destruction, or if the Craft can train us for peace. Then, we look at an August 1937 article titled Helpful Suggestions for Every Day —a masterclass in daily resilience, written during a brutal economic recession . Stay tuned!

Links:

The Secretary Box Teaser wcypodcast.com/secretary-box

Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com Craftsman+ FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftsmanplus/

WCY Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/WhenceCameYou

Our Patreon www.patreon.com/wcypodcast

Support the show on PayPal https://wcypodcast.com/support-the-show

Get some swag! https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop

Get the book! http://a.co/5rtYr2r

This week, we’re opening with a look at delinquent dues payers in the nineteen thirties, a topic that may sound dry at first, but really tells us a lot about hardship, brotherhood, and how lodges tried to survive through economic times. Then we’ll shift from practical concerns to ancient philosophy with Pythagoras and his disciples, where we have to sort through what’s historically solid, what’s probably embellished, and what survives because it still speaks to us symbolically. It’s all about discernment, fact, fiction, and the deeper truth that sometimes lives somewhere in between all this and more. Stay tuned.

Links:

The Secretary Box Teaser wcypodcast.com/secretary-box

Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com Craftsman+ FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftsmanplus/

WCY Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/WhenceCameYou

Our Patreon www.patreon.com/wcypodcast

Support the show on PayPal https://wcypodcast.com/support-the-show

Get some swag! https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop

Get the book! http://a.co/5rtYr2r

 Does Character Still Matter?

By Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

Gregory J. Knott, 33°

Editor Note:  These remarks were given by Greg Knott at the 106th Memorial Day Observance at the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Homer, Illinois on May 26, 2025. 

Good morning everyone. Today, as we gather to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, I want to talk about something deeply intertwined with their service: character. And I want to ask a simple, but profound question: Does character still matter?

Why do I ask this question today, on Memorial Day? 

Memorial Day is more than just a day off; it’s a time to reflect. It’s a time to remember those who stood tall in the face of adversity, who displayed courage when fear was overwhelming, and who held onto integrity when it would have been easier to compromise. Their actions speak of a character forged in commitment and fueled by a sense of duty.

Let me tell the story of one such individual who displayed character and has a cenotaph marker here in the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery.  William Louis Slayton was born October 6, 1922 in Fithian the son of James Calvin Slayton and Flora McClellan Slayton.  After graduating from Homer high school in 1940, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in October 1940, about a year before the attack on Pearl Harbour.  He was first stationed in Iceland and in 1942 was transferred to the south Pacific.   There he fought in the ferocious battles at Guadalcanal and Tarawa. 

While serving with Company F, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division he took part in the Battle of Mariana Islands.  The Battle of the Mariana Islands was a significant campaign during World War II, occurring from June to November 1944, where U.S. forces aimed to capture the Mariana Islands, including Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, from Japanese control. This campaign was crucial as it allowed the U.S. to establish air bases for strategic bombing missions against Japan, ultimately contributing to the Allied victory in the Pacific.

Sgt. Slayton’s parents received a letter from their son dated June 6, 1944, where he wrote that he was on a ship headed to a location he could not disclose.  A few weeks later, his parents received a telegram that no one wanted to receive.  On June 14, 1944, Sgt. Slayton was killed in action in Marianas Islands in Saipan. He was temporarily buried in the 2nd Division Marine Cemetery and was later moved to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and laid to rest on June 15, 1949.

So what does the sacrifice of Sgt. Slayton and thousands of others mean as we observe Memorial Day 2025?  We often think of courage as facing bullets on a battlefield, but it’s also the courage to stand up for what’s right, the courage to be honest, and the courage to care for others. Integrity means upholding our values even when no one is watching. Resilience is about getting back up when we fall. And compassion? It’s about seeing the humanity in everyone around us. These are the building blocks of strong character.

So, does it still matter? Absolutely. Perhaps now more than ever. In our world of rapid change and complex challenges, character provides a steady anchor. It builds trust within our communities, it inspires ethical leadership, and it fosters a sense of stability. On a personal level, strong character leads to fulfillment, stronger relationships, and the resilience we need to overcome life’s hurdles.

In today’s world, character manifests as ethical decision-making, active civic responsibility, and empathy. When we honor those who served, we’re not just remembering their sacrifice; we’re acknowledging the values they lived by. We can honor their memory by striving to embody those same virtues in our own lives. By being better people, we honor the best in them.

Philippians 4:8-9 (CSB)says –

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable ​— ​if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy ​— ​dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. 

In closing, let me affirm that character mattered deeply to those we honor today, and it matters just as much now. As we reflect on their sacrifices, let us also recommit ourselves to cultivating strong character, both for our own sake and for the sake of the nation they served. Thank you.

~GJK

Greg Knott is a Senior Contributor to the Midnight Freemasons and has been a Freemason since 2007.

 by The Midnight Freemason

Todd E. Creason, 33°

Do
you remember the very first time you walked through the doors of your lodge?  Do you remember that feeling? That feeling
that this place, these people, were doing something that actually mattered.

Maybe someone personally invited you. Maybe
you showed up on your own because you’d heard about the work they were doing in
the community. But whatever brought you there, something made you stay.
Something clicked with you.

You
found a place where you belonged.  And that
feeling wasn’t an accident. It was the result of an organization operating with
a clear, compelling sense of purpose. They knew who they were. They knew why
they existed. And that clarity of purpose is what made them strong. 

I
want to talk today about what happens when that clarity starts to fade. When we
drift from our original purpose.  And
more importantly, what we can do together to get it back.

Here’s
the thing nobody wants to say out loud—most organizations don’t drift on
purpose. Nobody says in a meeting, “You know what, let’s slowly abandon
everything that made us great.”

It
happens gradually. Quietly. One small compromise at a time.  I’m a pastor, and I’ve seen churches make this
mistake.  A church (or even a whole denomination)
starts to notice the seats getting a little emptier. So they soften the message,
just a little bit at first, to make it more comfortable for visitors. Then a
little more. Then a little more after that. Before long, the people in the pews
are hearing something that feels less like the gospel and more like a
motivational seminar. The message that once changed lives has been watered down
so it can’t offend anyone — but it can’t truly transform anyone either. 

Or
take a fraternal organization — a lodge, a civic club, a brotherhood built
around a specific mission of service and community. Somewhere along the way,
they get pulled into a heated internal debate. And suddenly, every meeting,
every newsletter, every conversation is about that one issue. The original
mission sits quietly on the back burner while everyone argues about everything
except the reason they exist. 

So
focused on being relevant and current that they miss they’re destroying the very
thing they’re trying to build.  And the
energy fades.  Members are going through
the motions, but the passion was gone. Membership starts to decline. Volunteers
are harder and harder to recruit. You have fewer and fewer people
involved.  You may even notice the people
who’ve been around the longest start to quietly step back. 

And
why?  What brought them to begin with is
gone.

And
here’s the sad truth: when an organization drifts away from it’s purpose, it
doesn’t just lose members. It loses its voice. It loses its impact. It loses
the very thing that made it strong in the first place. 

But
here’s the good news! That purpose doesn’t disappear. That need doesn’t go
away.  It just gets buried. And anything
that’s buried can be uncovered.

Think
about a house that’s been renovated one too many times. Layer after layer of
paint, wallpaper, and new flooring have been added as each generation has tried
to modernize it.  But underneath all of
that? The original foundation is still solid. The bones are still good. 

That’s
what I genuinely believe about most organizations that have drifted. The
foundation isn’t broken. It’s just been covered up.  The path back starts with something almost
embarrassingly simple: go back and discover the original intent.

Now,
I’m not talking about being stuck in the past. I’m not saying every
organization needs to do things exactly the way they did them fifty years ago.
Times change, and how you fulfill your mission absolutely can, and should, evolve.

But
what you’re called to do, your core purpose, your reason for existing, that
doesn’t change with the times. That’s your compass. Not your map.  Returning to your purpose isn’t nostalgia.
It’s courage. It takes real courage to look honestly at where you are, compare
it to where you started, and say, “We’ve drifted — and we need to find our
way back.” That’s not weakness. That’s leadership. And that kind of
honesty is exactly where transformation begins. 
Go back to the blueprint. Reclaim your why. And watch what happens when
an organization finally remembers who it is.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and is a regular contributor. He is the award-winning author of the Famous American Freemasons series.  He is a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL) and Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL). He is also a member of St. Joseph-Ogden Lodge No. 970 (IL).  He is a Past Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research. (FMLR). He is a charter member of Admiration Chapter No. 282 and a Past EHP.  You can contact him at webmaster@toddcreason.org

This week, we’re looking at two really interesting articles from Square and Compass Magazine. First up, we’ll be reading Anachronisms and Inconsistencies in Masonic Ritual. Have you ever thought in ritual, “Hey, that doesn’t make sense?” Well, many have, and we’ll explore a few of them. Then, we’ll turn to A New Hope for Masonic Education. If Grand Lodges can’t provide education in 1937, what can be done to fix this? One answer – Nationalize it! All this and more, stay tuned.

Links:

The Secretary Box Teaser wcypodcast.com/secretary-box

Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com Craftsman+ FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftsmanplus/

WCY Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/WhenceCameYou

Our Patreon www.patreon.com/wcypodcast

Support the show on PayPal https://wcypodcast.com/support-the-show

Get some swag! https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop

Get the book! http://a.co/5rtYr2r

Join us this week as we read a piece on Napoleon and how he became a mythic figure larger than the facts themselves! I may be a little under the weather, but Masonry doesn’t stop, so here we go! Stay tuned! Links:

The Secretary Box Teaser wcypodcast.com/secretary-box

Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com Craftsman+ FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftsmanplus/

WCY Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/WhenceCameYou

Ancient Modern Initiation: Special Edition http://www.wcypodcast.com/the-Shop The Master’s Word- A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self – Autographed https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop

Get the new book! How to Charter a Lodge: https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop

Truth Quantum https://truthquantum.com

Our Patreon www.patreon.com/wcypodcast

Support the show on PayPal https://wcypodcast.com/support-the-show

Get some swag! https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop

Get the book! http://a.co/5rtYr2r