The Joe and Jill Chronicles

Pound Cake...

2011-12-20T23:38:00.001-07:00

In the evenings I've been baking fun Christmas treats; tonight I made no exceptions. Joseph cut and wrapped caramel while I whipped up a batch of yummy pound cake. The batter alone is enough to die for! Next up: Sugar cookies and then gingerbread man cookies.

Pound Cake

Caramel

I'm so proud of my Black and White Pizzelles.

Caramel dos and don'ts...

2011-12-19T23:05:00.001-07:00

Tonight I made caramel for the first time ever! The recipe looked simple so I thought I have time to whip up a batch. I ended up whipping up two batches. The first batch burned to the bottom of the pan and, yes, I was stirring constantly. The second batch worked perfectly; I switched to a non-stick pan. Tip for the night: When making caramel use a non-stick pan!

Bad Batch or The Pretty Speckled Batch.

The Good Batch.

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I love my husband!

2011-12-19T11:33:00.001-07:00

Pizzelle Factory!!!

2011-12-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made vanilla and chocolate Pizzelles. I mass produced them actually. Joseph worked on his relic while I made the cookies. The feature films this evening were Charlie's Angles 1 and 2. My husband is a good sport when its my turn to pick movies.

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Creativeness...

2011-12-17T22:58:00.002-07:00

Tonight I made shaving cream for men, the old school kind that requires a brush and, if you're cool, a straight edge razor. I made hand lotion too!

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Ginger fun...

2011-12-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday the Tyler family joined us for some holiday fun. Stacey and I baked ginger bread so our children could build ginger bread houses. I made Royal Icing which turns into cement when it drys. Our ginger bread house building was interrupted by Diego's fantastic acrobatics from the top of his bunk bed. Too bad the light fixture was in the way and cut his head open. Diego received his first set of stitches, six to be exact. The children also decorated our Christmas tree. I think they did a great job.
Making ginger bread from scratch was fun but it ended up being a lot of work. I think next year we'll make ginger bread houses out of graham crackers and regular icing....

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The Western Spirit: Masonry and Utah

2011-12-12T22:52:00.002-07:00

     This is going to be a very brief outline of the history of Freemasonry in Utah. As a disclaimer, it will not go into depth in many of the more convoluted and more difficult issues, but merely illustrate them; hopefully doing so without any evident bias or judgement. I of course do not speak in official capacity for any of the organizations mentioned herein, but at the end is a list of references from other scholars that may be examined for further information.
     The first group of Freemasons to enter into what became known as Utah, on July 24th, 1847 was the wagon train of Brigham Young; the forerunners of the Mormon Pioneers. In that train were at least 76 (possibly as many as 124) Masons. At that time, practically all of the Mormon leadership were Master Masons. However, Young had witnessed a lot of strife and controversy come from the close relationship between the Mormon Church and Masonic lodges in Nauvoo, Illinois, as well as knowing that brother Masons had been involved in the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Therefore, although he was quite proud of his Masonic membership, Young decided to move the church away from Masonry, and he did not pursue the formation of a lodge.
     The first lodge in Utah was formed of soldiers from Johnston's Army, which had come to Utah to put down the so-called "Mormon Rebellion." In the winter of 1858, 23 men formed Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 205 at Camp Floyd. They built a lodge there, and 162 candidates were quickly accepted. This lodge was in existence until 1861 when the soldiers returned to the East, due to the outbreak of the Civil War.
     The nearly complete lack of cordial relationships between soldiers and settlers hindered Masonic growth, as Brigham Young became upset upon perceiving political maneuvers stemming from the Lodge that were detrimental to the Mormon settlers. This is when he stated that Mormons were in possession of a "Celestial Masonry", and that they had no need for Freemasonry.
     In 1865 fourteen Masons unsuccessfully petitioned the formation of a lodge from the Grand Lodges of Nevada, Colorado, and Montana. These Grand Lodges were willing to grant a charter with the stipulation that Mormons not be allowed membership (most likely a reaction to the difficulties that had arisen between Mormon and "Gentile" settlers), but the men petitioning took this as a violation of their Masonic rights. Eventually in 1868 they obtained a charter from the Grand Lodge of Kansas. In 1866 other men had successfully petitioned the Grand Lodge of Montana, evidently being willing to accept the strictures imposed. The resulting three lodges ended up becoming the basis of the Grand Lodge of Utah, formed in 1872.
   In the 1890's, The wives of a number of Masons attempted to begin a public library. In spite of a valiant effort, funding was lacking, and the Ladies Library Association turned over their books to the Grand Lodge, who opened the Masonic Public Library. Eventually it became economically unfeasible to continue, and the Grand Lodge donated the books the the Mayor of Salt Lake City, from which sprang the Salt Lake City Public Library.
     Early members of the Grand Lodge were openly against the Mormon Church, and proclaimed in 1925 that the Mormons were Clandestine Masons, due to resemblance between the forms of Mormon temple ritual and Masonic ritual, and therefore Mormons were banned from becoming Masons or from visiting a lodge, under the jurisdiction of the Utah Grand Lodge. By this time no other Grand Lodge held such a position, and the restriction only had effect in Utah. The Mormon church retaliated with the policy that Masons could not hold high positions of authority, in or outside of Utah.
   In 1927 the Salt Lake City Masonic Temple was completed and dedicated. Housing the Utah Grand Lodge, as well as several Lodges, it is an impressive and very beautiful structure. In an effort to reach out to the community, the Grand Lodge has opened the Temple to visitors, and tours are given every week.
   In 1984 the Grand Lodge officially rescinded the restriction on Mormons, and offered the hand of Brotherhood. In return, the Mormon church overturned the former position on Masons in positions of leadership, and there is now currently no disharmony between Masonry and the LDS church.
     Masonry has grown slowly in Utah - being one of the smallest jurisdictions - but steadily, and there are now 30 lodges of various sorts in the jurisdiction, as well as other Masonic bodies, such as the Order of the Eastern Star for women and men, DeMolay for young boys, and Job's Daughters for girls.

LeGrand Baker, "Murder of the Mormon Prophet"
D. Michael Quin, "The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power"
Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling"
John L. Brooke, "The Refiner's Fire"
Dr. Mervin B. Hogan (Sec. Research Lodge of Utah), "Mormonism and Freemasonry: The Illinois Episode"
Robin L. Carr (Illinois Lodge of Research), "Freemasonry and Nauvoo" .
S. H. Goodwin, P.G.M. "Freemasonry in Utah: Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 2"
Dr. Mervin B. Hogan, "The Origin and Growth of Utah Masonry and its Conflict with Mormonism"
"Utah History Encyclopedia" (see online: http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/m/MASONRY,FREE.html).
S. H. Goodwin, P.G.M. "Freemasonry in Utah: Argenta Lodge No. 3"
S. H. Goodwin, P.G.M. "Freemasonry in Utah: The Masonic Public Library"
Michael W. Homer, "Similarity of Priesthood in Masonry: The Relationship between Freemasonry and Mormonism" in "Dialogue Vol. 27 No. 3. pp. 112-113 "Since [1984] increasing numbers of Mormons have been initiated, despite church discouragement. The strongest church statements were made before World War II, although as recently as 1983 the 'General Handbook of Instructions', under the heading 'Secret Organizations,' warned 'members strongly not to join any organization that. . . . is secret and oath-bound,' and further advised that 'local leaders decide whether Church members who belong to secret oath-bound organizations may be ordained or advanced in the priesthood or may receive a temple recommend.' This policy was removed from the 1989 edition of the 'Handbook,' . . . . no church discipline has been taken against members who have joined the Craft since 1984."

Essay thirty of 30!

2011-12-12T20:46:00.002-07:00

“Don’t loaf and invite inspiration; light out after it with a club, and if you don’t get it you will none the less get something that looks remarkably like it.” Jack London

This is essay thirty of 30! This won’t be the last of our 30 day projects as I think it’s safe to say Joseph and I are hooked. Personally I’m hooked on the idea of trying something new every thirty days. I’m hooked on the feeling of accomplishment, on spending time with my husband, on being productive, on thinking outside of my own box, on the challenge of putting my thoughts into something readable and understandable, on being creative, and feeling inspired.

When I first saw the 30 day presentation on Ted Talks website I thought to myself, “that is silly, who has time to do that”? I watched the presentation a few more times and started feeling motivated and excited when I thought about all of the things I’ve always wanted to try but haven’t gotten around to. Joseph and I talked and decided to take on the challenge of writing essays for our first 30 day project. We both have lists of projects we want to try, some we’ll do together and some we’ll do on our own. However, working on goals with a companion is so much better than tackling them alone. There were some nights we pushed each other to write and not disregard the project. We helped each other with our thoughts while writing and ended up having great conversations throughout these past 30 days. Joseph is a great editor as well.

At the conclusion of our first project I’ve realized these past thirty days had very little to do with what I wrote. I enjoyed the process of writing and I loved sharing my essays with my family and friends on Facebook, but ultimately I learned how to stay committed to a goal and finish something I set out to do. I learned how to prioritize and use my time wisely. I learned how to communicate better through writing. I overcame self-doubt and fear of what people may think about my opinions written in my essays. The best lesson I’ve learned: If there is something you want to do, you can do it if you “light out after it with a club…” On to the next 30 day project!

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The Doctor... Just the Doctor.

2011-12-11T22:22:00.001-07:00

“We must come to the point where we realize the concept of race is a false one. There is only one race, the human race.” – Dan Aykroyd

The other day I was driving home from work listening to NPR radio. The broadcast was about different countries and their economic hardships. I started to feel empathy for these countries knowing what an economic hardship feels like; these days I’m cheering for $3.00 fuel prices.

I started thinking about other countries and I had a feeling of closeness for them. I’ve never thought of other countries as being relatable. I've never traveled outside of the US. Maybe the subject of economic crisis was relatable and then it came to me, Dr. Who is why I’m able to relate to other countries!

Doctor Who is a British Sci Fi television show on the BBC network. The program is about the adventures of a time-traveling time lord known as The Doctor. He explores the universe with his companions in a time machine called the Tardis which is a blue police box. His adventures usually involves saving the world and the human race. "Humans are brilliant" says the Doctor. Joseph and I watch Dr. Who often and I notice that when the world is facing extinction concerns about race, class, money, differences in religion, etc. are non-existent. I’m attributing my new found love and empathy for the human race and the world to The Doctor!

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Binding Beauty: Masonic Books

2011-12-11T22:19:00.001-07:00

Masons are known for their love of beautiful things. The belief is held that external beauty is a sign of internal virtues. Objects that show the highest craftsmanship display attributes of their maker that are highly desirable in a refined man, such as attention to detail, patience, æsthetic sensitivity, and imagination. Many Masons also seem to have a nearly inordinate love of books. The combination of these two interests has led to the creation of many very beautiful books. Here are just a few:

"The Constitutions of the Free-Masons," 1723. This photograph shows the attention that was lavished on a rather utilitarian book. A full page engraving faces the title page, which shows beautiful typesetting. Benjamen Franklin republished this, making it the first Masonic book published in America.

This is a special edition binding of Albert Pike's "Esoterika." It is bound in a dark blue Morocco with tooling in gold. The top edge is gilt, and the endpapers are marbled by hand.

This is a Book of Marks, where York Rite Masons record their personal marks.

The 1914 edition of Albert Mackey's "Encyclopedia of Freemasonry" shows beautiful blind-stamping and embossing.

Upon being raised to the degree of Master Mason, the Lodge presents the new Master Mason with a Bible. Often times these are beautiful custom bound books, meant to be read and enjoyed for a lifetime.

This lovely book is "The Illustrated History of Freemasonry" by Moses Wolcott Redding, 1900.

This is the title page to a collection of presentations given by Simon Greenleaf in 1820.

"The Masonik Minstrel" from 1816 is an example of understated elegance. The binding is simple, but well made, fitting nicely in the hand, and a pleasure to use. It is a collection of songs to be sung on every type of Masonic occasion.

This is my own Cipher. When it was given to me it was a simple pamphlet, stapled down the middle. I had heard many stories of ciphers being passed down through several generations, and I decided that if I wanted to someday pass mine on, it had better be in a binding that would survive the passage of time, and one that I could be proud to pass on.

Protection vs. Sheltering

2011-12-11T16:23:00.001-07:00

“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”

– Chinese Proverb

Joseph and I had a good conversation this morning about protecting children vs. sheltering children. We didn’t necessarily agree on everything and we didn’t come to a specific as to what is right or wrong because there seems to be a fine line between what is considered protecting and sheltering. My definition of protecting is setting up boundaries to keep your children safe from danger and inappropriate subjects for their age. An example of this would be teaching your five year old not to watch horror movies or PG-13 or R movies, teaching your ten year old it’s a good idea to wait until she’s 16 to date, teaching your children not to talk to strangers, look both ways before crossing the street, don’t touch a hot pan just out of the oven, etc… I think of sheltering your children as keeping them away from every single thing that could possibly endanger them or make them question reality or non-reality.

I feel if we keep our children sheltered it could cause more damage than what we’re sheltering them from. How do you teach your children to think logically or use discernment if they never see a situation that would cause them to think just a bit? At some point our children will have to go out into the world without us next to them, telling what to do. I’m more concerned that I’ve taught my children how to use judgment than kept them from experiencing anything at all. I think parenting is a lot like religion: Every parent has to find what works for them and we all hope we’ve taught our children well.

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The Four Corners of the Earth: The Lodge Room as a Model of an Ancient Cosmology.

2011-12-10T23:45:00.001-07:00

     One of the purposes of Masonry is to aid the supplicant in his quest to find his place in life and how he fits into the scheme of creation. One of the tools that helps realize this is that the lodge room may be taken as a model of that creation. Yet the lodge room is not a model of the world as we know it, but rather that of an ancient design, common among the Babylonians, Egyptians, and the Ancient Hebrews, among others. Understanding the principles of that worldview can open up new levels of symbolism in the structure of the lodge. I shall touch briefly on some of them.
     Though knowledge that the Earth is a sphere has been common (contrary to popular belief) for well over two thousand years, prior to that the idea of a flat earth reigned supreme. The earth was held to be a flat expanse, often square, with a spherical heavenly dome. God acted as an Architect when he laid out creation as if it were a domed building: Isaiah says: "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span?" And many other Old Testament scriptures describe God planing and then building the world as edifice.
     The firmament was a solid hemisphere, generally thought to be made of metal. In this firmament were set the stars, as well as the "windows of heaven," which, upon opening, would let the waters of the primordial sea flow in and fall to the earth as rain. We are told that the ceiling of the lodge room represents the starry heavens, and it protects those beneath it from the turbulent forces outside.
     In the lodge we find two pillars, which are most often taken as a representation of the pillars of the porch of King Solomon's Temple. However, the celestial and terrestrial globes that sit upon their capitals bring to mind the ancient pillars of heaven and earth. If the heavens are a solid dome, it stands to reason that it must be held up by something: The pillars of heaven. And the earth itself must have pillars to sustain its foundations.
   The pillars stand at the four corners of the earth. These four corners are aligned with the cardinal directions. So too, our lodge rooms have four corners, and the four cardinal directions play a vital role in the layout of the room. It matters very little if the lodge is physically oriented by the compass, but symbolically it is supremely important. Were the Worshipful Master sits is called the East, and the rest of the room is laid our accordingly. The path the sun makes in the world is symbolically echoed in lodge, rising in the east, passing through the south, to fall in the west, leaving the north dark. The Senior and Junior Deacons circumambulate the lodge room with their staffs that are topped with a sun and moon.
     Most ancient cosmologies have the idea of a mountain at the center of creation that reaches up towards the heavens. This is a sort of omphalos that connects heaven and earth, and is a place where the gods may reside, or at least visit, like Mount Mashu and Mount Olympus. Temples were built in high places, to emulate these mountains and bring man closer to God; ziggurats, the Tower of Babel, Mayan pyramids, and the Temple Mount at Jerusalem are examples. In the center of the lodge is also a symbolic mountain where man can approach in an attempt to come closer to God: The altar.
     These are some of the most obvious parallels, and thinking about them in this way will open our minds to more and greater depths of meaning.

You really ought to take your own advice....

2011-12-09T23:57:00.001-07:00

“He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both, but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.” – Francis Bacon Sr.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the advice I’ve been given throughout my life; advice I’m glad I didn't take and advice that I wish I had. Also, I’ve been thinking about advice I give to others and wonder if I live by my own suggestions. I wrote a blog about staying on top of household chores such as the never ending task of washing dishes. No sooner than the day after I wrote that blog did I let my dishes sit in the sink and build up for about four days! In addition to letting the dishes pile up I let my laundry pile up too. How effective is my advice if I’m not living by it myself?

When you think about the people who have given you great advice; what made their advice believable or good? Was the advice presented in a way that was supportive and loving? Does the person offering advice prove the advice to be affective through his or her own actions? I had a friend who always talked about being accepting of others regardless of differences. She often posted on Facebook the importance of allowing others to have their own opinions. However, if anyone ever disagreed with her opinions she would turn what could have been an enlightening conversation into an argument or an all out fight. By these actions, how effective was her advice to love and accept everyone?

I realize no amount of help, counsel, or advice I give with intentions to support a friend is going to matter if I’m not living up to my own counsel. I feel that now that I’m aware of the power of influence and perception, I have a responsibility to myself, husband, children, family, and friends to live up to my own standards and recommendations. I want the advice I give to people to help them and hopefully make their lives easier and happy. If my advice confirmed by my example helps make their lives better, then my life will be better too.

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A Betrayal of Trust: The Morgan Affair and its Aftermath

2011-12-09T22:40:00.001-07:00

     Every organization has its skeletons hidden away in its closets; dark deeds in its past that many would rather not deal with. However, it is always a bad idea to hide things away, as they have a tendency to come out and bite you when you least expect it. And keeping members of your own organization ignorant means that they will only end up blind-sided when the subject is brought up by some hostile party. With this in mind, I have decided to write a bit about what has come to be known as the Morgan Affair, and how his one incident has affected Masonry all the way up to the present day.
     William Morgan was born in 1774 in Virginia, and worked at a number of jobs, though often as an operative mason. He was a man of dubious character; evidently a heavy drinker and a profligate gambler. He claimed to have been a captain in the U.S. Army, though army records show that this was most likely a lie. In spite of his reputation, he became privy to the secrets of Masonry, but when he moved to Batvia, New York, his petition to affiliate with the lodge there was rejected.
     In anger, Morgan announced that he would be publishing a tell-all exposé revealing the ceremonies of the Blue Lodge degrees. Morgan began to prepare his work by affiliating with other disaffected men, in particular the publisher David Miller. While exposés of this sort had been published on the Continent, none had ever been produced in the United States.
     The members of the Batvia Lodge, horrified at what was happening, publicly denounced Morgan, and then turned to unscrupulous methods to silence him. A number of them accosted Morgan, claiming that he owed him money, and had him thrown into debtors' prison. Miller promptly secured his release, however a few hours later Morgan was again arrested, this time under the charges of stealing clothing. He was being held in the Canandaigua jail when Loton Lawson, Captain Ed Sawyer, Nicholas Chesebro, and several others paid his bail, and left with him in a coach headed to Fort Niagara. What followed is unknown, as there are multiple accounts; all of them untrustworthy and unsubstantiated. However, it seems that he was either paid a considerable sum to travel to Canada and never return, or that he was murdered and that his body was dumped in the Niagara river or lake. A body was found, a short time later, and buried under his name, though the body actually was that of a Canadian; Timothy Monroe.
     Whatever occurred, it was not sufficient to stop the publication of his exposé, which came out in 1830, called "Illustrations of Masonry", and David Bernard published "Light on Masonry", which used Morgan's information. This, in combination with his murder, caused an immense outrage in the general public. The fact that the Masons who were brought to trial served only very light sentences did not help the situation much.
     Thurlow Weed, a supporter of John Quincy Adams, found the outrage to be perfect fodder for his own political needs. Adams was being opposed by Andrew Jackson, and not doing well at all. But Jackson was a well known Mason. Weed began a political party called the "Anti-Masonic Party," using the Morgan Affair as a catalyst to feed off and augment the anger and suspicions of the populace against Masonry, in order to weaken Jackson's position. To do this he fomented rumors that the Masons were an elite group that were trying to secretly control all of government and society. In essence, this was the birth of all the conspiracy theories that plague Freemasons to this day.
     The Anti-Masonic Party challenged the Democrats and the Whigs, and became the first viable third party in United States history. Though it was not particularly long-lived, it's hallmark strategy of tearing down opponents by denigrating their Masonic ties (real or perceived), was incredibly successful in pandering to and augmenting public fear.
     However, fear was not only growing among the public, but also among Masons. As a result, a strong movement grew among the lodges in the United States to be more transparent and less esoteric, in an attempt to allay public suspicion and avoid criticism. It was in this time period that aspects of the Craft that were at all outré were actively repressed. The chamber of reflection, once common, became practically extinct in the States, as did any idea of Spiritual Alchemy and Hermetic Philosophy. Masonry in the United States started on a downward slope towards becoming a mere fraternity, with the end result of nearly dying out all together in the middle part of the last century.
     In the end, the combination of Morgan's betrayal of the Craft, and the Batvia Brothers' betrayal of their obligations to be good and upstanding Men, caused ripples of damage that more than 175 years have not fully disappeared.

Death isn't the end, it's the beginning...

2011-12-08T23:17:00.001-07:00

“Death? Why this fuss about death? Use your imagination; try to visualize a world without death!” – Charlotte Perkins Gilman

A couple years ago on July 4^th I was standing on my balcony outside my apartment watching fireworks light up the night sky. As I watched the fireworks all of the sudden I felt scared, literally afraid; I was afraid of death. I kept having thoughts about death mixed with a feeling of panic. This experience was odd but I’ve never forgotten it.

I’m always saying, “I don’t want to die, I want to live forever” but I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of death and what it really means to me. As the idea of death becomes clear and as I understand my beliefs about death through study and prayer, a thought came to me the other day: I’m not going to die; death doesn’t really exist for me.

The definition of death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death is life ending. However, I believe in an afterlife so death can’t exist for me. The afterlife is a belief that an individual’s soul survives the death of the body and by some natural or supernatural means continues existence in a spiritual realm; commonly referred to as heaven. If my soul (the essence of who I am personally) survives death, then death doesn’t exist as a means of ending life; death becomes of a state of being as I pass from this world to another. The word death was invented for those people who don’t believe in an afterlife. For those people death is life ending. So I have nothing to fear about death; it’s just the next step in my journey through life.

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The Length of My Cable-Tow: Dedication and Priorities

2011-12-08T21:43:00.001-07:00

     The cable-tow, like all Masonic symbols, has a multitude of meanings and interpretations, but in the end, the symbolic meanings can be boiled down to themes of dedication and obligation.
     The cable-tow itself is a simple rope, used to bind the candidate until after he has made his obligation. Evidently, in the early days of Speculative Masonry, the cable-tow was functional: If a man chose not to proceed in the ceremonies of initiation once he had begun, he could be dragged out of the lodge room by the rope and thrown into the street. These days its use is purely symbolic, though the act of being bound does impress itself on the psyche of the candidate and causes him to realize the serious nature of what he is about to undertake.
   When a man is bound he chafes at the bond and frets to be released. In a like manner, a man's conduct in the community is bound by external constraints. Societal pressures and mores, education, etc., demand a certain amount of conformity and good behavior. While he may balk at these constraints, they keep him within proper bounds, and help him to be a productive, respectful, and upstanding citizen. They are like a kite string, which through its restraining allows the kite to soar ever higher. The societal norms disappear however, at least after a fashion, when they become internalized and a part of who he is. At that point the man is free to use his internal compass as a guide, because the constraints have become more like guide-posts or map bearings. The physical cable-tow is also released after the candidate has walked in darkness for a time and then spoken his obligation; the obligation which will be his compass from that time onward.
   The cable-tow also literally connects the candidate to the brothers who conduct him about the lodge room. But once the obligation is made, and the man is released from the cable-tow, he remains connected to those brothers; now by the fraternal bonds of that obligation.
     The name, "cable-tow", seems to be a purely Masonic word, and its origins are lost in antiquity. However, there are many speculations and theories about its etymology and meaning. It seems at first glance to refer to a tow rope or mooring line. But the term is much more likely to have deeper meanings. According to Albert Pike, the origin is from the Hebrew term Khabel-to. Khabel does indeed mean rope, but the verb that is derived from the noun means "to bind someone by a pledge," and therefore the noun kahbel also means "a pledge." It is used in this way throughout the Old Testament: Job 22:6 and 24:3,9, Deuteronomy 24:6, and elsewhere. It can also mean (in the plural) "bonds," as in "I took unto me two staves, one I called Beauty and the other Khabalim, bonds. I cut asunder mine other staff, Khabalim, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel." (Zechariah 11:7-14). When you add the third person possessive singular pronoun "to" or "his" (khabel-to), you get the definition "his pledge." This is found used so in Ezekiel 18:7: "Khabel-to khavab yashayab." "Hath restored to the debtor his pledge."
     "The Cable-tow is therefore the Hieroglyphic of a Pledge or Obligation, and it not only means the candidate's pledge and obligation, which, to become a Neophyte, he must take to the Order and to every individual Brother; but that, wearing it he represents men and nations, all whose rights of property, liberty, conscience and life, and they themselves, chattels in the form of human creatures and peoples, are pledged to their masters." (Albert Pike)
     But it is a mistake to think that the cable-tow refers only to the pledge from Brother to Brother within the bonds of the Fraternity. Quite to the contrary, we are instructed that our Masonic duties should never impede or encroach upon any of those sacred duties we owe to God, our country, our neighbor, or our family. Indeed, all of these duties should go hand in hand, but when they do not, it is up to us to determine what exactly is the "length of our cable-tow," and where our priorities lie.
     In this phrase, "the length of my cable-tow," we learn that our obligations to the Lodge are superseded by our other sacred obligations, and it is these duties that determine the scope and breadth of our activities in the Lodge. When we are conscious of the length of our personal cable-tow, and we are resolutely set to never cheat those more exalted duties of their due, then we can fully experience the joys of laboring in the quarry, without any of the conflict or stress that arises when our priorities are out of line.

Family is important and life really is short....

2011-12-08T09:40:00.001-07:00

Last Visit with Uncle Dee by Mike Adams

On the Thanksgiving weekend 2011 Cindy and I with our exchange daughter

from Mexico, Geny, were touring the sites of southern Utah. On Saturday

morning, November 26, we were heading to Parowan Gap to see the

petroglyphs before heading to Bryce Canyon. I had the feeling that we

should stop and see Uncle Dee. Having written down his phone number from

the motel phonebook, I called him as we headed towards Enoch and it was

busy. I tried a few minutes later although it would have been so easy to

just skip it and this time he answered and invited us to visit. He guided

us by phone to his address and met us in the front yard inviting us in. We

passed through the kitchen where he had been working on a wood turning

which hadn't developed as he wanted. He then invited us to sit down in the

living room and commenced showing us some of the projects that he had

done. He explained his sawing, gluing, shaping, and finishing technique,

most of which went over my head.

A day or two before he had been at a high priest group service project

pulling some would paneling from a pilefor an elderly widow and now he

was complaining of some pain in his chest whenever he took a deep breath.

There was no chest wall tenderness and so considering his description of

the pain, I suggested that he monitor it closely and it should gradually

resolved if this was a muscle strain as a sounded. This was bad advice as

it turned out.

Conversation turned to family stories and he told us of his shipboard

experiences in World War II and courting his sweetheart, Cleone, for three

years by mail. Glancing at a photo, he said "I never realized how

beautiful she was."I had told him that we were sorry that we hadn't had

enough notice to be able to attend her funeral when she died last year.

It was obvious how much Uncle Dee loved Cleone and how much he missed her.

He then told us a story about his father George Q. Wilken from his service

in World War I with an infantry unit that fortunately, avoided battlefield

action. They were coming back on a ship and his lieutenant said that

everything he had assigned to George had turned out easy. He was therefore

going to assign him the dirty job of night shift, shoveling of coal into

the ships boilers. George found that by patching a steam leak he was able

to harness the steam and make an excellent heat source for brewing an

excellent coffee. In addition he had access to Navy chow which was

considerably better than the Army's chow. His lieutenant found him with

his feet up drinking coffee, smoking a cigarette, and eating much better

than his buddies. Again, George's assignment turned out to be a gravy

train. Others, including the leutenant, begged George to share his

assignment after that. I had never previously heard that Grandpa Wilcken

had a Word of Wisdom problem in his younger days.

Uncle Dee brought out a ceramic crock with unit number and insignia of his

father's unit containing a German military belt buckleand other

memorabilia from his grandfather Charles Henry Wicken including a ribbon

attached to a metal with the inscription, "veteran Indian wars". (If I

remember correctly, his name is on the veterans memorial in Heber Valley

under Echo Canyon War and Black Hawk War.) There was also a badge which

was star shaped and inscribed "Salt Lake City Sheriff". I took pictures of

these two badges. Uncle Dee then told us a story of Charles Henry who was

entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding a black prisoner who

evidently had gunned down a well loved law enforcement officer in Salt

Lake City who had been in the process of arresting him for being drunk and

disorderly. There was no need for a trial since there were plenty of

witnesses and the dead officer was well liked. Great Grandpa was

transferring his prisoner to a more secure facility when a cowboy rode up,

threw his rope over the prisoners head, and dragged him off to the crowd

who lynched him. There was not much that Great Grandpa Wilcken could have

done at that point. (This is a somewhat different story from the printed

version.)

I asked about the home in Abraham which Charles Henry built for "Little

Grandma"and Uncle Dee said that there had been a reunion last year in

Delta and they had time to look around for both of his grandparents'

homes. Uncle Dee remembered spending considerable time there as a child in

both of these homes and had previously found remnant foundations. All

trace of these structures are now gone and he couldn't remember exactly

where they had been.

I asked him if he had ever written down these memories and stories. He

stated that he never learned to spell well and his building principal,

when he had worked as an industrial arts teacher, had embarrassed him

considerably. Therefore he never attempted to write very much. He did say

that Jay and Annette had some oil stained writings by Cleone that they

were trying to interpret. He again encouraged us to choose one of several

wooden goblets that he had made from particularly attractive samples of

wood. I took pictures of uncle Dee and the ceramic crock containing the

historic treasures. I asked him to record the stories so that they could

be transcribed. I was impressed at how clear and sharp his memory was and

how much he continued to enjoy handcrafting beautiful projects and his

lifelong appreciation for wood. I had also asked if he knew anything of

the music conductors stand made by his father for the Salt Lake Tabernacle

which was used by the Tabernacle choir director. He said that this had

been transferred to the Assembly Hall on Temple Square and was seen there

about 30 years ago but where it has gone from there is unknown.

We then thanked him and left to pursue our site seeing tour. It was a

wonderful visit and as we proceeded down the road, I remarked to Cindy

that considering Uncle Dee's age and the frequency of our visits to Cedar

City, this might be the last time for us to see him. On Monday, November

28, Cindy called me and told me that later that day on Saturday he was

taken to the hospital with a heart attack and, rather suddenly, on Monday

he passed away to join his lifelong sweetheart.

Contentment is a Feast Without End

2011-12-08T00:18:00.001-07:00

“Happiness is self-contentedness.” – Aristotle

The other day at work I was sitting at my desk listening to my co-workers talk about golf or maybe they were talking about politics or diets. I really don’t know what they were talking about; I was zoned out sitting in my office chair enjoying myself. One of my co-workers, Jordan, turned to me and said, “Jill, you look content. You’re just content with life aren’t you?” I smiled and said, “Yeah, I am content.”

Contentment means being mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are; peace of mind; happiness. Self-content means to be content with oneself; self-satisfied. I can’t say that I am 100% happy with myself at the moment so maybe I’m life-contented. I am happy with my life right now and it shows. I don’t have a permanent scowl on my face anymore!

I believe we can choose whether we are happy or unhappy. Many people see contentedness and happiness as the same thing. In many ways they are, but when you’re happy, it’s a state of being, influenced by a number of factors, one of those factors being contentedness. Contentedness is being satisfied with what you have; it influences happiness. You can choose to be content too. Always wanting more can be exhausting. I think it’s a good idea to simplify life, get finances in order, prioritize relationships, look for a new job if the current one is not satisfying, count blessings, show appreciation for people, remember to breathe, smile often, set goals, work toward self-improvement, and despite your current condition choose to be happy.

“A joyful heart makes a cheerful face; a sad heart makes a despondent mood. All the days of a poor person are wretched, but contentment is a feast without end.” – Proverbs

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Upon the Altar: The Center of the Lodge

2011-12-07T22:21:00.001-07:00

     The most notable aspect of any lodge room, that which first captures the eye of anyone entering, is the altar. Situated in the center of the room it is impossible to ignore, and immediately communicates the sense that this is not an ordinary room. As the altar is located in the middle of the lodge room floor, it becomes the centerpiece of all Masonic ritual and comportment. The altar is the locus of actions done in Lodge, and the fount from which Truth radiates.
     The altar is a place for adoration, sacrifice, and obligation. At the altar, surrounded by his Brothers, the chaplain kneels in prayer and dedicates the workings of the Lodge to the Grand Architect of the Universe, and ends the labors of the Craft in the same fashion.
     Upon the altar each man must sacrifice anything that would hinder his growth. Pride, anger, ignorance, and many other unworthy attributes make up the sacrifice of he who would be a Brother and a Better Man.
     At the altar, each man kneels to make his obligations. Here his promises become solemn vows, and with that solemnity they have the power to effect a mighty change in the his heart. They are sanctified, and in turn sanctify the man who makes and keeps them.
     The altar is the source of Masonic truth and light. As it sits in the center of the path that the Brothers walk about the lodge, it becomes a circumpunct, or point with in a circle, which represents the sun. Upon the the altar lies the Volume of Sacred Law, or scripture. From both the sun and scripture radiate truth and light to fill the earth.
   In ancient days, the Masonic altar was based on the drawing boards of the Operative Masons. On such a board, the Master of the Lodge would draw the day's plans, and the other masons could come to the drawing board in the lodge room to receive the instructions that would help them to shape the stones and assemble them correctly. In Speculative Masonry a man can approach the altar for the same end: To receive instructions on how to shape his nature and build the edifice of his life.
     Except in the circumambulation of the lodge, a man may not pass between the altar and the Worshipful Master in the East. Here is another symbol: It is not meet that anyone should step between the altar and the seat in the East and break the symbolic constant flow of light that should exist between them. All other men approach the altar from the West, and thereby they receive light from the East, either from the Worshipful Master or from the altar directly.
     When we realize the importance of centering our life around the altar, we see new vistas of light and knowledge dawning, and we take an active step towards becoming better men.

The Beauty of the Human Spirit.

2011-12-06T22:46:00.001-07:00

“The dignity and beauty of man rests in the human spirit which makes him more than simply a physical being. This spirit must never be suppressed for exploitation by others. As long as the people recognize the beauty of their human spirits and move against suppression and exploitation, they will be carrying out one of the most beautiful ideas of all time. Because the human whole is much greater than the sum of its parts.” – Huey P. Newton

About three weeks ago I received the nicest email from a friend I used to work with. We don’t socialize that often, but the letter was genuine, full of compliments, totally unexpected, and absolutely needed. The email came on a day I was feeling down and un-motivated.

After receiving such a nice email I thought to myself, “When was the last time I wrote a nice email to someone just to say, 'Hello and I think you’re great'"? People online seem more concerned to make their point rather than have a discussion, seek revenge rather than forgiveness, take offence rather than embrace humility, place judgment rather than feel empathy for another.

I felt humbled, happy, motivated, and relieved after reading the note from my friend. I’ve decided I’m going to try and be more aware of how people are influencing me but focus on the positive influences. I took time to get rid of negative influences out of my life; now it’s time to focus on the positive and recognizing the beauty of the human spirit: I’m going to be more like my friend and tell people how grateful I am for their positive influence in my life.

###

In the Beginning Was the Word: The Power of Written Thought

2011-12-06T21:01:00.001-07:00

     We often think that words are only so much hot air, lacking any real power: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." If we do acknowledge that words have power, we tend to focus on how they influence other people's beliefs and actions. However, it is rare that we contemplate the possibility that words might actually be able to alter the reality of our actual environment.
   We know that thoughts and words are inseparably tied together; thoughts are only vague concepts until they are put into words. And those words lack force while they remain in the shadowy recesses of the mind. It is not until they are spoken or written that they truly give form, weight, and significance to our thoughts.
     We are all familiar with the story of the Creation found in Genesis, but how often do we think about the actual mechanics of that creation? What did God do to bring form to the universe as we know it? The myth relates that he spoke, and that it was by the power of his word that all things were made. We know that His words did not spring out of nothingness, but rather that first He made a plan. The evidence for this is that after each step of the creative process, God judged what had been done and called it "good". This process of judging the result means that He was comparing the final product to something; to the Plan that He had in mind - His idea of Creation. As the Grand Architect, he planed the whole of creation. But that plan was void and without form until He spoke.
     In fact, John speaks of Jesus and Jesus' role in the Creation as "the Word": "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was the life, and the life was the light of men." The Word here is more than intelligible sound; it is words imbued with power.
     The essence of this aspect of the creation stories is that thought is powerful and that words are the vehicle for that power. One of the leading contemporary fiction writers, David Eddings, conceived of magic as "the Will and the Word." What he means is that his characters who are able to work magic are the ones who are able to channel the energy of a thought through a word, which creates a tangible effect. Taking that idea out of fantasy into the real world is not such a huge leap. We tend to call powerful thought "faith," and faith is given form through prayer. "Kabbalists ascribe a higher meaning to the purpose of prayer, which is no less than affecting the very fabric of reality itself, restructuring and repairing the universe in a real fashion. In this view, every word of every prayer, and indeed, even every letter of every word, has a precise meaning and a precise effect. Prayers thus literally affect the mystical forces of the universe, and repair the fabric of creation." (J. Immanuel Schochet)
     As science progresses, we learn that humans truly do have an effect on the way the universe operates. Experiments in quantum mechanics show that our mere perception alters the way matter and even time behave. If only looking can change reality, imagine how much more powerful a concerted act of thought and speech can be. It is not strange or difficult to believe that a man who constantly speaks good instead of ill will find himself happier and more prosperous. He has changed himself and his surroundings so that they are in harmony. "He is drawn by his goal, for he does not allow anything to enter his mind which opposes his goal. That is what Siddhartha learned from the Samanas. It is what fools call magic and what they think is caused by demons...there are no demons...everyone can reach his goal if he can think, wait, and fast." (Herman Hess)
      One of the great Masonic myths is the story of the loss and subsequent search for the Lost Word. It is not coincidence that the concept of Truth so powerful that it can change the world was embodied as a Word. Nor should it be strange that we are to spend our lives searching for that Word. The more we grow in acquisition of truth and light, the more powerful our words become, and the more duty-bound we are to speak only truth and good, for our words will surely change our reality for good or ill.

Nap time!

2011-12-05T21:10:00.001-07:00

“No day is so bad it can’t be fixed with a nap.” --Carrie P. Snow

Researchers have found that the human body requires only as much sleep as the brain will allow it. As long as the brain is functioning at full capacity, there’s no great requirement for sleep. The brain does need rest every now and then, but the brain can refresh with just a 20 minute power nap. There are many benefits to sleep; a power nap can help us have less stress, increased alertness and productivity, improved memory and learning, a good heart, increased cognitive functioning, and boosts of creativity.

Here are some hints from Dr. Sara Mednick on how to take the perfect nap:

First consider the psychological: Recognize that you’re not lazy; napping will make you more productive and more alert after you wake up so allow yourself to nap.
Try to nap in the morning or just after lunch; if you nap too late you’re more likely to fall into a deep sleep, which will leave you groggy.
Avoid consuming large quantities of caffeine and foods that are heavy in fat and sugar, which affect a person’s ability to fall asleep.
In the hour or two before your nap time, eat foods high in calcium and protein, these promote sleep.
Find a clean, quiet place where passersby and phones won’t disturb you.
Try to darken the room. Darkness stimulates melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.
Use a blanket, body temperature drops when you fall asleep.
Set an alarm after you’re in a relaxed position to fall asleep.

The perfect amount of time for a power nap is 20 minutes. A 20 minute nap improves muscle memory and clears the brain of useless built-up information, which helps with long-term memory.

Napping isn’t for babies or sissies anymore! Everyone should slip in a nap once in a while.

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Fiat Lux: The Principle of Light

2011-12-05T19:14:00.001-07:00

"Dixitque Deus: Fiat lux. Et facta est lux. Et vidit Deus lucem quod esset bona: et divisit lucem a tenebris." -Genesis 1:3-4

     Light seems to straddle to line between matter and energy. On the quantum level, light is made up of photons, or distinct "packets" of energy, which behave both as a particle and as a wave. Having properties of both matter and energy, light becomes a very vibrant symbol of spirit, and of the truths that are communicated spiritually.
     To the naked eye, light appears to be pure energy. discrete amounts of light cannot be seen, but its effects can. It penetrates the darkness and, reflecting off the objects there, makes them perceptible to us. The light does not make the objects exist, of course, - if such were the case we wouldn't have to worry about stubbing our toes when we try to find our way to the bathroom in the middle of the night - but by the light we perceive them with our most refined sense; sight. John describes spirit as being of a similar nature: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Though the spirit is not visible, in and of itself, its effect is. As the light of candles about the altar illuminate the lodge room, we are reminded that the Word of God also proceeds from the same place to illuminate and warm the soul.
    Isaac Newton postulated that matter and energy are interchangeable, and the nature of light hints at this. Because of the nature of photons, light behaves both as matter and as energy. Thomas Young's double slit experiment shows that when light is shot at a screen with two slits in it, the light acts as as if it were a wave of energy, even when displaying attributes of a particle. More recent experiments of this nature have shown other particles to exhibit wave-like properties, even quite large molecules like buckyballs. If we extrapolate this information to a larger scale, we could theoretically say that all things can behave both as matter and energy. In this regard, we could say that light is just refined matter.
     This is where another symbolic aspect of light comes into play. The duality of light shows us that we contain our own duality: Matter and Spirit. "There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; we cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter." (J. Smith) Light reminds us that as course matter may be refined into light, so too our course beings may be refined to a higher spiritual nature.
     Yet another profound aspect of light is its influence on darkness. It is well known that one candle can vanquish much darkness, but that all the darkness in the world can never conquer, or even diminish the light of that candle. This is because darkness has no existence; it is simply Lack. So too, ignorance is is a void of truth, knowledge, and light:
     "'They are Man's,' said the Spirit, looking down upon them. 'And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it.' cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. 'Slander those who tell it ye. Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And abide the end.'" (C. Dickens)
   As the light erases the pernicious dark, so too we should first fill ourselves with light and knowledge, banishing our internal personal darkness, and then go out and spread the light of truth to fill the world.

Open their shut-up hearts freely...

2011-12-04T23:54:00.001-07:00

“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by on consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.” –Charles Dickens

I love how multifaceted Christmas is! I love Santa Claus, Christmas Carols, the crowded shopping centers, family parties, traditional Christmas baking, presents, Christmas trees, delicious food everywhere you go, lights, fresh fallen snow, the smells, the feeling of gratitude for everything good in my life, and how aware people become of those less fortunate “fellow passengers to the grave”, and are willing to offer help. As a child my mom would have us put together bags of packaged food and canned food for the homeless shelter or for a family who was struggling. One year we took all of our old coats and coats that didn't fit us the shelter. These are the Christmases I remember most. The spirit of giving and charity is the spirit of Christmas.

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.” --Charles Dickens

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A White Lambskin: The Masonic Apron

2011-12-04T23:40:00.001-07:00

     The most universal, recognizable, and distinguishable part of Masonic regalia is the apron. An apron is proudly worn by every Brother, from the youngest Entered Apprentice to the Most Worshipful Grand Master. This apron speaks to the ancient linage of the Craft, as it evolved from the aprons worn by the operative stone masons as the worked in the quarries and building sites. The shape and form has changed much from those days, but in Speculative Masonry the apron has always been a badge, an emblem, and a symbol.
   As a badge, the apron marks a man as a Brother. It is presented to him upon his first initiation, and worn by him to the grave. It signifies that he has decided to unite himself with the Masonic Fraternity, and subscribe to its tenants and edicts. As such, it must always be worn when in lodge. The manner of wearing the apron identifies his status in the degrees to other Brothers, and certain aprons are decorated in such a way as to mark the role played by its wearer in the governance and operation of the Lodge.
     The apron, as a white lambskin, is an emblem of purity: White being the colour of innocence, and the lamb being the emblem of a pure sacrifice. It is made of the whitest leather possible, and if it is decorated, it is done so with the greatest artistic merit and beauty possible, so as not to sully its emblematic purity.
Symbolically, the apron reminds its wearer of the ties of brotherhood, and his duties to his brothers. It is also symbolic of the age of the Craft, uniting the wearer into the long chain of speculative and operative Masons that stretches back through the centuries. The apron can also symbolize the authority one man may have to instruct another who has not progressed as far in the degrees and the knowledge of the mysteries of Freemasonry. The shape of the apron - the square of its body, the triangle of its flap, and the circle of its cords - hold symbolic truths, as does the blue edging, for those willing to seek them out.
     The apron is our most common, and the most beautiful reminder of our obligations and oaths, and if always kept before our eyes will inspire us to ever live worthy of the honour of wearing it.