Mercedes-Benz Makes an Offical Apology for Super Bowl "Soul" Ad

I must confess I didn't think we'd see this, but a few hours ago Mercedes-Benz released an official apology to Freemasons for their "Soul" ad aired during this year's Super Bowl. Reported by
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Washington's Facebook page was this:


Apology from Mercedes-Benz
mbusa 2 hours ago

We apologize to anyone offended by the use of the ring worn in our commercial, 'Soul,' that ran during the Super Bowl.

It was not our intention to make any association with the Freemasons or any organization. In fact, neither we nor our advertising agency were aware that the ring could be associated with the Freemasons. To avoid any confusion going forward, we will modify the commercial prior to any future television airings.

It would seem that tilting at windmills does work... 

Why Mercedes-Benz Dosen't Get a Pass on Super Bowl Ad

Sunday while having my morning coffee, I saw the first news of Mercedes-Benz's Super Bowl ad featuring Willem Dafoe. An Irish Brother Mason had posted a link on Facebook to the Freemasonry: Reality, Myth, and Legend blog's article "Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl Ad Links Freemasonry to Satan". Needless to say I was shocked to learn that Willem Dafoe, cast as a sell-your-soul-for-a-Mercedes Devil, is wearing a Masonic style ring. If you're not aware of the story, I would urge you to read the article in Freemasonry: Reality, Myth, and Legend to get some of the back story on the ad. The video embedded to the right is the extended version of the ad, entitled "Soul". At the 13 second mark one can clearly see Dafoe sporting a square and compasses style ring. From what I understand the version of the commercial that aired during last night's game had the ring blurred out. I did see the commercial live, but did not notice the alteration. While I have no doubt in the veracity of reports that the ad was edited, I had a momentary warm fuzzy that Mercedes had realized the error of their ways. After some contemplation, those feelings evaporated.

First and foremost, the extended version of this commercial is still live on You Tube. This version has not been edited and at the time of this posting still bears witness to Mercedes-Benz gaffe. As I am writing this piece 4.8 million people have viewed this ad in it's entirety. Had Mercedes-Benz truly wanted to show remorse for their actions, the You Tube video would have been pulled or at very least edited. Also as of Monday morning, there is no statement about the ad on Mercedes-Benz USA's press release page.What's the big deal? Why is it important for Mercedes Benz to do anything else other than alter the ad shown during the Super Bowl? Surely they've done enough...haven't they? Not by a long shot.

During the Second World War Mercedes-Benz parent company, then known as Daimler-Benz and presently just Daimler, were heavily involved with the Nazi party. The connection was well documented in a 1990 book by Bernard P. Bellon, Mercedes in Peace and War. The New York Times review of the book gives a good overview of Daimler's past sins which included using slave labor in their production efforts. According to Bellon, "On a massive scale, Daimler-Benz threw tens of thousands of men and women, including foreign workers and concentration camp inmates, into the battle to produce engines for the German air force". I would venture an educated guess that given the mass internment of Freemasons in concentration camps, Daimler-Benz likely profited from the forced labor of our Brothers. Even if there was not a single Mason who was forced to turn a bolt for Daimler-Benz, the company certainly profited from and supported a system that oppressed Freemasons. (There are no accurate records to the number of Masons interred in Nazi concentration camps, but the Chris Hodapp's Freemasonry for Dummies estimates that 80,000 to 200,000 died in those camps. If Mercedes can set the record straight on Masons being pressed into their service, I would welcome the edification.) Sorry Mercedes-Benz, that warm fuzzy feeling just went south for me.

Monday morning I decided to call up both Mercedes-Benz and the New York ad agency who created "Soul" Merkley and Partners. Mercedes-Benz actually called me back with a curious story. According to the Mercedes-Benz representative, they had been assured by Merkley and Partners that the ring in "Soul" wasn't a Masonic ring and there was nothing for me to worry about. Judge for yourself. Here's a screen shot of the ring used in "Soul" with a square and compasses inset. In discussing this with one Brother, he pointed out that Dafoe's ring doesn't have a true square and therefore it isn't a Masonic ring. I will concede that the bottom portion of Dafoe's ring is not at a 90 degree angle. However using the old trademark test I was taught in a Business Law class a zillion years ago, if you're mimicking the "look and feel" of a trademark you're in violation of trademark law. The same principle applies to this situation. Since the square and compasses is the most easily recognizable of Masonic symbolism, the ring certainly does have the "look and feel" of  a square and compasses.  An imperfect square does not give Merkley and Partners a pass either.  No matter what the ring may or may not be, it as been identified with Masonry by both members and non-members. The damage has been done.

Merkley and Partners has yet to return my call. I was involved in a discussion with fellow Masons about the commercial on the Merkley and Partners' Facebook Fan Page  Monday night. Magically Tuesday morning the two threads about "Soul", in which Masons were posting their displeasure about the ad, have been deleted. Both Mercedes-Benz and Merkley and Partners obviously want this issue to simply go away. Don't let it. Contact both groups and let them know where you stand on this matter.

Pittsburgh Scottish Rite Talk

I was invited to speak to the Pittsburgh Scottish Rite on 20 Apr 09 by Brother Tony Gennaccaro. Originally, I had planned on video taping the talk, but there was an issue with pressing the record button I think… The good news is that I took a pocket recorder for back-up and recorded it from there. The audio isn’t the best in the world, and it’s a little hard to hear some of the questions ask by the audience. So I’m not gong to win any Blog awards for this broadcast….

The event was a success and the Brothers in Pittsburgh were quite hospitable. Brother Tony took me around town and showed me the sites before the talk. It was an honor to be chosen as their key note speaker that night. Thanks for inviting me to your event guys. Hope you enjoy.

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Photographer Records Images of Masonic Symbolism in UK Churches

I always believed that people should follow that little voice in the back of their heads. You know the one that tells them they need to take on a particular project, “just because”. The advice of one’s inner muse should be listened to more often than we generally do. I ran across one such person who listened to his "little voice" a couple of weeks back.

Andy Marshall is an award winning architectural photographer in the UK. His “day job” is something any number of us wishes we could do. He packs up his gear and makes stunning visual records of architectural forms and the context to their environment. His success or failure at his endeavors is largely based on the perception we as the public have of his work.

This of course means the popularity and glamour means commercial success for Andy. In e-mailing Andy, I have the feeling he listens to his inner voice more than most. He has undertaken a project to make photographic records of what he calls “Masonic Churches” in the UK.

Andy has begun photographing Saint Edmund's, Falinge near Rochdale, because of its overt Masonic symbolism. “…. from the carved altar rails to the brass memorials. I intend to photograph all of the symbols and put them together into one image. We have several “Freemason” churches in this area which are now unfortunately under threat [of being closed]”, said Andy.

The Royds Chapel, Photograph by Andy Marshall.

The marriage between architecture and Masonic symbolism is not a unique phenomenon. Men who are professional craftsman and Architects often incorporate Masonic symbols in their work. Examples of this type of incorporation can be seen in Wren’s additions to the Temple Church in London, and Saint Giles in Edinburgh. It is only natural that members of organization that encrypts moral lessons in their symbolism would want to incorporate these designs in a church. For the conspiracy theorists out there, I wouldn’t read a whole lot into this. Men do and design these things because they are Masons, not because Freemasonry as a group directs them to do so.

Andy felt a pressing need to start making a record of Saint Edmund's and other churches with Masonic symbolism because he fears their architectural treasures may not last much longer. “The churches are being closed because the congregations are dwindling and costs for upkeep are increasing. There is statutory protection (via our listing system) but this cannot protect them from vandalism and deterioration, unfortunately.”, said Andy. To this end, Andy is donating his time to preserve these images for posterity.

I’d like to thank Andy for all his work and dedication to this project. If you’d like to see more of Andy’s works, his web site is www.fotofacade.com. (You’ll have to be Flash enabled to view his main site) On Fotofacade, check out the Archmedia tab. Here you will find links to his custom Google Maps of architectural sites, Podcasts, and a video section.

A Guide to Masonic Symbolism for the Non-Mason

With this week’s release of National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets and the buzz about Dan Brown’s new book The Solomon Key, discussions on the web will invariably turn their attention to Masonic symbolism. The number of queries relating to: “What does this Masonic symbol mean?” or “What do you think about my theory on where this Masonic symbol derives from?” are already floating my way in an increasing rate.

The topic will stimulate some to do good hard core research into the topic. Others will take flights of fancy and ascribe any number of attributes to the symbols of the Craft. I thought I might head off some of the wild speculations at the pass with a guide to what symbols used in Masonry mean to this Mason. This should help those who have an interest in the topic pick their way around a rather complex subject.

I understand that all of you out there that are detractors of Masonry will rail against what I have to say here. That’s your right.  Please don’t fill my inbox with the usual litany I get when I write an article on my experiences in Masonry. I keep an open mind, but please don’t begin your rail with accusations of being in league with the Devil or tales of goats…

Before we start, what does the Conch Shell have to do with Freemasonry?

A conch shell has absolutely nothing to do with Freemasonry. I thought it would be instructive to use a non-Masonic symbol as a reference point to describe how different aspects of symbolism are used. That gives me an easy way out for being able to talk about Masonic symbols without breaking any of my vows. Confused? Read on and hopefully you won’t be.

Conch Shell Basics

The conch shell has long been associated as the symbol for Key West, Florida. It is unclear when the conch shell was adopted for this purpose, but the conch symbolism is firmly engrained in Key West society. A native might refer to themselves as conchs and the conch even used on the “Key West flag”. It is thought that the legend of the Conch was the background for this symbol of the island, but the exact.  Now back to our regularly scheduled article.

Why Does Freemasonry Use Symbols?

The answer to this question is the same for any group that utilizes visual symbols. Virtually every business, government, organized religion, and social group employs some type of visual symbols. The examples are too numerous to list, but a simple look to the conch for a proof of this point.

All of the aforementioned groups employ visual symbols for one reason; to easily convey a set of complex ideas within a pictogram. The basis for utilizing pictograms reaches back to early written language and art. Pictures were employed to convey ideas. A single symbol became associated with a specific idea or object, and viola; a written language is born.  Chinese and Sumerian are perfect examples of languages that employ pictograms as a written linguistic device. Modern symbolism has developed from these humble pictogram beginnings.

Freemasonry is no different than these pictogram languages. The symbols of the Craft are designed to impart a moral or esoteric meaning. Visual representations of symbols in the first three degrees of Masonry are generally objects that someone, of years gone by, would commonly see. A beehive, an hourglass, a rough cut stone (or ashlar) would be real world anchors that would remind the Mason of their symbolic lesson.

Take our conch shell as an example. A native of Key West is walking on the beach and sees a conch shell lying on the beach. His first thoughts of themselves as a "conch" might very well come to mind first. Their thoughts might then range to their neighbor conchs and the warm fuzzy feeling it gives them to be part of that group. The natural extension of the thought goes to he should be a good neighbor to his fellow conchs.

The same holds true for a Mason when he views any of the symbols he has been exposed to. The symbol reminds a Mason that he should be industrious or kind or benevolent. In this way we are reminded of the many moral obligations we have when living a very real-world life.

So what are you told that symbols mean when you’re a Mason?

Most Masonic symbols are of moral lessons in nature. Specific symbols can range in meaning from time management to everyday mortality. Within a Degree, a Mason is told what each symbol means in the context of that Degree. Some symbols have secondary meanings that show up in other Degree work.  What is missing from the explanations is a historical context for the use of that symbol. There’s plenty of legend and lore surrounding the stories told in degree work, but it is nearly impossible to pin down historically. This would leave plenty of speculation and detective work left to those who seek the meaning in the symbols and lore. The loose ends also make it very attractive to assign meaning where meaning might not exist.

With this in mind, it’s rather hard to think of Masonic symbols being used in any type of “coded” way by Masonry as a whole. I tend to be suspect of anyone who starts out their theories with this mind set. Let’s take a building that has incorporated Masonic symbols into its architecture. An author is making a case that “the Masons” incorporated these symbols into the architecture of the building for an esoteric purpose. I would suggest in cases like this, look at the individual that was responsible for the building’s architecture first. More than likely it was this individual’s motives and esoteric thought that created the building, not the entire fraternity of Masons.

Now, our Key Westerner who is feeling warm and fuzzy after the previous section.  He now considering how best to explain what it means to be a conch to his son. After thinking about all the different aspects of the conch, he can’t come up with a simple explanation. Our Key Westerner is now stymied at how to explain how the conch became to mean all of these things to his 6 year old. The best explanation he can muster is that, “The conch’s meaning been passed along for generations and now I’m telling you what it means.” 

But isn’t that just what they tell low-level Masons? The “higher-ups” really know what the symbols mean.

This statement is a common misconception most hold about the use of Masonic symbolism.  It is true that many of Masonry's symbols can have different applications.  However, all Masons are admonished to find additional meanings to symbols presented in the Degrees in their own way. The funny part is that after I achieved the 32nd Degree, I had more questions than answers about the symbols that had been presented to me.  Masonry follows in the vein of all esoteric educational systems. The onus of application and interpretation of anything that is presented in a Degree is one's own.  The symbols of Masonry become peculiar to each and every Mason.

The individual interpretation premise is the reason wildly varied and broad interpretations exist for Masonic symbols. One gets a true feel for this admonition when referencing 19^th century Masonic authors. The speculations of Waite, Pike, and Gould are often taken as authoritative stances on symbolism and their  context within Masonry. Within the framework of each author’s research and beliefs, they assigned their own meanings to Masonic symbols.

The fallacy that many make is that Masonic authors, especially Pike, are a single authoritative representative of Freemasonry. These authors are no more a voice for all of Masonry than I am. Yes, there are men who take on leadership positions in Masonry who do speak for groups of us. These men in leadership positions speak for the group in the same way our elected government representatives speak for their constituents. Sometimes we agree with our representatives, and sometimes we don’t. At the end of the day the legislator is no more, or less, a citizen than fellow that elected him. That means that any Master Mason stands on equal footing with Albert Pike and speaks with equal authority.

This relates back to another common misconception about Masonry. The thought that someone who has done degree work in either the Scottish or York Rites is a “higher up”. I have obtained the 32^nd Degree in the Scottish Rite. Does this mean that other Masons who have not gone through the Scottish Rite are somehow less in the eyes of the fraternity than I am?

The answer is no. Once a Mason has obtained the degree of Master Mason, or the 3^rd Degree in the Blue Lodge, he is a full Brother. Anyone that chooses to become a part of the Scottish or York Rite has just decided they want to expand their experiences within Masonry. So this doesn’t mean that I can get a 14^th Degree Scottish Rite Mason to do my laundry or wash my car.

Our conch takes his son to his grandfather for clarification of the mysteries of the conch. The grandfather looks at the young lad and says, “Son it’s always been that way. But I think the symbol must be linked to that book Lord of the Flies. They used a conch shell in that book. So someone must have read it, lived in Key West and started calling us Westies conchs.” Father and son then go back home thinking the grandfather is a crazy old coot.

So what’s the deal with the symbols on the rings and auto emblems?

Many of the symbols you might see on auto emblems, t-shirts, rings, and other Masonic swag are peculiar to a specific Degree. These symbols take elements a Degree’s story and place them in a Cliff’s Notes visual format. This is especially true in the Degree work of the Scottish and York Rites. Each of the Degrees has their own symbols that are unique to the Degree.

These symbols do incorporate symbols from various esoteric traditions depicted in the Degree. This is an extension of the application of using commonly items and attaching symbolic meaning to them. When a Mason sees a symbol for a specific Degree, it is designed to remind him of the lessons that were taught in that degree. No more, no less.

Getting in their car, our Westie and son decide to go back home. Our favorite conch remembers he has a bumper sticker he hasn’t placed on his car. The sticker is simply the flag of Key West. The father turns to the son and says,” I guess the biggest lesson of the conch is that we should be glad we live in Key West and not Cleveland.”

Wrapping up the longest article ever.

I hope this has given some of you a glimpse into Masonry and the reasons we employ the symbols we use. This is simply an overview of my perspective on Masonic symbolism. Masonry, in some respects, is like a primer for a multitude of esoteric traditions. Each Mason incorporates this banquet into their lives as they see fit. Just try to remember this when thinking that Nicholas Cage might be on to something by fitting the pieces of the puzzle together.

The Family Life Church versus the Compasses and Square

The Burning Taper reported this week that the Family Life Church in Eglin, IL destroyed a Masonic compasses and square and the cornerstone of a former Masonic Temple the group recently purchased. I must admit that upon hearing the news I was more than a little miffed. Thought of: “How could they?”, “What were they thinking?”,” What do they hate Freemasons so much as to destroy a compasses and square?”, all flooded thought my mind.

I decided that I was in the same trap I rail against at times. Emotion was taking the place of rational thought. A good night’s sleep and a cup of coffee the next morning generally will cure my ruffled feathers. True to form, the day break and caffeine gave me some perspective on the events in Illinois.

The fact of the matter is that the building legally belongs to the Family Life Church. As much as I shutter at the fact the organization would deface a historic building and smash a Masonic Symbol, it is their right to do so. Just as I have the right to set up a pink elephant in my back yard with garden gnomes dancing around it; they have the right to dispose of their property to their satisfaction.

A better solution would have been to have given a local Lodge or the Grand Lodge of Illinois the chance to recover the cornerstone and compasses and square. This solution could have benefited both parties. However, it is obvious that the Family Life Church’s beliefs hold something against Freemasonry. (I’ve attempted to log on to their web site this weekend to view their statements of faith and it’s either down or non-responsive.) The Church’s actions must have been purely symbolic, for whatever motive they have.

What does bother me about their actions is that even if they take issue with Freemasonry, I never believe it’s a good idea to destroy a symbol of the past. That’s their right too. The members of the Family Life Church have every right in the world to believe what they wish. If they choose to believe that the tenants of Freemasonry are opposed to their faith, I’m fine with that.

The question is how wise is it to destroy any symbol on a building that has a historical significance? I would never consider tearing down Auschwitz or an American Civil War Confederate monument. It is not because I hold the tenants of either group in esteem. Quite the contrary, I feel that these symbols should remind us of the atrocities and folly committed by those that have gone before us. These things should never be too far out of sight, or we will never be reminded of the guideposts our ancestors placed for us.

I know there are those that say that the sight of symbols that fall into this category are offensive. I would agree. There is nothing more offensive that thinking about the horrors heaped on Jews in Austria by the Nazis or how seceding from the Union almost cost this country it’s identity. The goal of these places should be to offend. I would rather these places be so offensive to those who look at them, that simply thinking of theminsures their history is never repeated.

The worst I can fault the Family Life Church for destroying something I feel is of architectural and historical import. While I don’t agree with their actions, it was their right to do so. What does it really matter if there is one less compasses and square in the world? As a Mason, the lessons of the symbols are more important to me than any of their physical representations.

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets Trailer

There are lots of Scottish Rite images in the trailer, and I'm sure there's also a ton of "hidden" imagery as well. The movie is set to be released on 21 Dec 07, the Winter Solstice.

Are Strange Things Afoot In Italy?

One of the reasons I started writing this blog was purely selfish. For the last few years, each week, I’d squirrel away articles of interest I would find on One Note. One of my hopes was to be able to discern some patterns in news stories and track new research into the areas I’m interested in. One of the patterns I’ve seen this summer in the “Seeker-esque” news cycles has been events in Italy.

I’m not a conspiracy monger by nature. I think it’s a bad form of logic to use the argument that since event “A” follows event “B” they must be connected. However, this summer has seen events in Italy that have an oddly gestalt feel about them. Are the events connected in some odd way or is it just the great synchronicity of the universe playing tricks on my mind? Below are the headlines and datelines that caught my eye.

5 June 07: Italian Police investigate Masonic Lodges

The Catholic World News web site had a small blurb about Italian Police investigating 20 separate Masonic Lodges and gathering membership lists from various Lodges around the country. This is the only report I’ve been able to find on this and since there has been no follow-up in the press I’ve seen.

6 June 07: Five Men Are Acquitted in the Roberto Calvi Case

The P2 Masonic Lodge scandal of the early 80’s is brought into the minds of the world again when five men are found not guilty of murdering “God’s Banker” Roberto Calvi. Calvi was found dead in London hanging from the Black Friars Bridge on 18 June 1982. The prosecution claimed that the five defendants had lured Calvi to London after his bank had collapsed in a huge fraud scandal. Calvi’s death and his connections with the irregular Masonic Lodge were brought to the world’s attention by authors Baigent, Lincoln, and Leigh in their book The Messianic Legacy.

19 June 07: Italian cops put "obscene" Da Vinci Code movie under the scanner!

Italian state prosecutors put the Da Vinci Code film under the microscope for being obscene from a “religious standpoint”. The complaint stemmed from someone in the unnamed faction of clergy near the Italian village of Civitavecchia. Why did it take so long for the complaint to be made when the film debuted over a year ago? According to the article a prosecutor made the brilliant statement: "I don't know. Maybe they (the clergy who filed the complaint) have just seen the film”

21 June 07: Archaeologist sparks hunt for Holy Grail

Archaeologist Alfredo Barbagallo announces that he has found the Holy Grail in Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura in Rome. Barbagallo claims that the Grail is actually buried under a “funnel whose lower part opens out over the face of a skeleton”. The purpose of which was used to give liquid refreshment to the dead in a funerary rite.

30 June 07: Pope OKs opening of St. Paul's tomb

Pope Benedict XVI gave the go ahead to place a fiber optic probe into a tomb in that has been “positively identified” by Vatican archeologists as that of Saint Paul. To my knowledge, no images or reports have come of what was founding the tomb.

6 July 07: Modern-day ‘tomb raiders’ feel the heat

Italian authorities renew their efforts to stem the tide of illegal archeological digs and an ever increasing black antiquities market. The article goes on to say that there is also a growing problem with antiquities thefts., “Thefts in churches, libraries and state archives have increased in recent years, and the Carabinieri are still seeking more than 2.5 million missing objects registered in the art squad’s database”

18 July 07: Scholars in panic mode over Vatican Library closure

The Vatican closes it’s main library for three years worth of renovations. This is the first time in the library’s 500 year history that it will have been closed. Photocopies and microfilm requests will still be considered by the Library’s officials. A related BBC article mentions that the Library is already using technology to help preserve the works. Many books have microchips that will signal librarians if they are removed from the building. Also parchments that might have been used multiple times are going through a process "using ultraviolet rays we can now easily scan documents digitally to reveal the writing underneath, which is invisible to the naked eye" The Vatican also puts up a web page in Feb 06 for the Secret Achieves. A number of sources are available digitally including the Chinon Parchment that gives absolution to Jacques DeMoly.

27 July 07: New ‘Last Supper’ theory crashes Web sites

Slavisa Pesci, an amateur scholar announces that he has found interesting results in Da Vinci’s Last Supper when applying an overlay mirror image on top of the original. He claims that one of the images unlocked is of a Knight Templar holding a baby. The news crashes a number of websites that have photos of his theory.

10 Aug 07: Priest under investigation apologizes to Jews after insulting remarks

Priest Pierino Gelmini makes the remark in an Italian press interview that the “radical-chic Jewish lobby is stretching out to weaken the whole Church, starting with the American Church". The Priest later retracts his statement and says that he meant to state that it was the Freemasons, not the Jews he was talking about.

26 Aug 07: Bad Luck for Black Cats in Italy

An animal rights group in Italy announces that around 60,000 black cats are killed in Italy every year by Italians that think they bring back luck. (Evidently they didn’t get the moral of my article The Templar’s Plague) Given the population of Italy is somewhere around 58 million, dividing out the deaths into the total population, one out of every 967 Italians kills a black cat every year.

Yes, many of the events are totally unconnected. No I don’t think there’s a shadowy hand pulling the strings over each of the events that connects them. But, I think it’s worth watching the headlines. There seems to be a back drop forming here that I can’t totally discern yet. Either that or I’ve had way too much coffee this morning. As always, your thoughts, jabs, and observations are always welcome.

Catholic Priest Meant to Slander Freemasons, Not Jews

Rarely do I do an opinion piece like this one, but somehow I could not stay my thoughts on this matter.

The European Jewish Press (EJP) released an article yesterday stating that Father Pierino Gelmini “was quoted by Italian newspapers last Sunday as saying that a "radical-chic Jewish lobby is stretching out to weaken the whole Church, starting with the American Church". This story was also carried by Reuters India here.

Father Gelmini quickly retracted his statements with this caveat, "If I said that then it just slipped out, because I intended to say Masonic radical-chic," (quote from the Reuters Article)

It’s appalling that anyone would make slanderous statements about the Jewish faith, let alone a man of the cloth. I am glad Gelmini is trying to make amends for his statements; however the subtext of his position is quite clear. The slander of Freemasons is acceptable. Even both articles make no hint that there might be anything wrong with slandering Freemasons.

I feel that Father Gelmini should reexamine all of his statements of late, and scrutinize his reasoning for making statements about either group. Furthermore, I’m offended that a representative of the Catholic Church would take a conspiratorial position against Masons. Especially considering that a number of his faith belongs to Masonic Lodges across the world.

I would hope that either the Vatican or Father Gelmini would make an officially apologize to the Masonic community. Making unfounded accusations of this nature, about any group, only serve to create intolerance.

I’ve said my peace

Midsummer's Eve

This article should be making it's way to Unexplained Mysteries today or tomorrow. But I thought I'd post it here for you all first..

For as long as man has memory, we have ascribed importance to certain days of the year. Be these days’ feasts, astronomical events, birthdays, or anniversaries; a certain day turns into a special event. One has to look no further than their day timer to find multiple examples of how we honor the passage of time in this way. Of all the days in a year, I can think of few that have as much esoteric importance, June 24^th.

Primarily, June 24^th is the traditional day of Midsummer’s Eve. The ancients identified this day with the summer solstice and ascribed a mystical importance. The summer solstice is the longest of day and the shortest night of the year. Ostensibly due to unusual solar nature of the day, magical powers are at their peak. The walls between this world and the next became thinner on Midsummer’s Eve. Evil spirits roamed the earth that day and the populace used magic to protect them against the hellish onslaught.

The rituals and traditions that developed around the warding off Midsummer’s Eve’s spirits are primarily European and vary from region to region. These origins of these traditions predate Christianity and are lost to the modern day world. However, many of differing traditions live on, in some form, even today. With the diversity of celebrations, there are two common denominators that flow through all these cultures; fire and plant life.

Certain plants and herbs took on magical powers of healing, divination, and protection. Many of the rituals that revolve around flora ascribe a certain effect for a particular plant. Mistletoe was used to protect against misfortune, wormwood placed under a pillow would foster a dream of your true love, Saint John’s Wort protected you from evil and helped you predict the future. The list of plants and effects goes on and on.

Fire was also used to drive the spooks back into the netherworld. Men would strip to the waist and jump through fires to show their courage, thus discouraging spirits from meddling with them. Bones were burned in bon fires and their ashes scattered to the four corners of a field to insure a good harvest. Lovers would leap through the same fires to increase fertility. Torches were carried around flocks to dispel illness.

Some of these traditions are still practiced throughout Europe, but with a slightly different bent. With the introduction of Christianity into Europe, Midsummer’s Eve turned into John the Baptist’s Fest Day. To insure the full overshadowing of any older traditions, John the Baptist’s Fest was elevated to the status of Solemnity. This meant that this was a Grade “A” fest that took place even when it fell on a Sunday.

Also of note, Saint John the Baptist’s Day is one of two Masonic feast days. The other feast day is John the Evangelist’s day on 27 December. Both are viewed as the patron Saints of Masonry. At least in Tennessee, all Masonic Lodges are required to have some service honoring both Johns on their appropriate day.

June 24^th is also the anniversary of the Scottish forces defeating the English Army at Bannockburn in 1314. If you’re unfamiliar with the socio-political situation of the English/Scottish conflict, there’s a good article on Wiki to get you up to speed.

The tale goes that Robert the Bruce’s brother, Edward Bruce, had given the forces at Sterling Castle an alternative to a long drawn out siege. The Bruce’s brother made a pact that if the English did not send reinforcements by midsummer night eve that the English commander would hand over the castle. Upon hearing the terms of the pact, English King Edward I, thinking this would be an easy end to the Scottish problem, issued orders for a massive army to march north towards Sterling.

Instead of backing down from the challenge his brother had made, the Bruce decided to turn it into his advantage. His peers would have described the Bruce as an unconventional tactician. The Bruce employed primarily guerilla tactics that made use of very advantage the land had to offer. Bannockburn was no different. The Bruce’s plan was conduct the battle in the marshy Bannockburn. This would slow the advance of both English cavalry and infantry; thus giving the Scots the chance to attack when and where they wished.

The plan worked throughout the first day of battle on 23 June. The English forces were fought to a draw. As midday pressed on the second day, the battle was beginning to favor the English. Then, suddenly on a hill behind the Scottish forces came a group of fresh reinforcements. What ever this force was, it spooked the English army so badly they routed from the field. The route was so severe that Edward II was almost captured as his army fled.

The historical debate still goes on as to who or what these reinforcements were. Historical accounts suffer due the lack of any surviving first hand account of the battle. Conventional history teaches that the mysterious reinforcements were women and children waiving Scottish banners and beating pots and pans while cresting the hill.

Having visited the battlefield, this seems unlikely to me. Given the heat and press of battle was on and the mysterious force could have been in disguise to further ruse. It would still be difficult not to have discerned who was cresting the hill. At present, there is a clear line of sight from the battlefield to the hill. I myself was able to identify a number of people standing at the top of the hill from where the English front lines would have been.

Masonic lore tells a slightly different tale of the reinforcements that won the day at Bannockburn. It is suggested that Robert the Bruce made a deal with renegade Knights Templar. The Bruce gave any fleeing Templar sanctuary in an excommunicated Scotland, in return for their services against the English aggressors. The sight of even 50 fully armored and mounted Templars would have been enough to turn the tide of battle.

The Bruce was so pleased with the ex-Templar’s service, that immediately after the battle he created the Royal Order of Scotland. The Order is said to live on through a Masonic organization of the same name. It is in this way that many try to link Freemasonry with the Templars. The Templars wishing to keep their rituals alive changed them into what we know as Masonic Degrees today.

Wow, that’s a lot going on for one 24 hour span of time. I cannot say that I have been spared by the magic that is Midsummer’s Eve. Every year, I throw a Bannockburn party on the 24^th. This year will make the 5^th year I’ve held the event. It’s become something of a tradition that my family and friends have come to look forward to. And this year I’ve added a little twist, I’ll be getting married at that party. It’s not necessarily due to the magic that Midsummer’s Eve has, or to any particular belief I hold. I simply wanted to be able to always remember my anniversary, and I guess there is a certain magic to keeping myself out of the dog house for the years to come.