Showing posts with label The Midnight Freemasons blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Midnight Freemasons blog. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Bill Hosler. Masonic Author. The Midnight Freemasons. by Travis Simpkins

Bill Hosler. Masonic Author. The Midnight Freemasons. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of 
Bill Hosler
Masonic Author, Contributor to
The Midnight Freemasons
Past Master of
Three Rivers Lodge #733, Indiana
32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason
Masonic Knight Templar
by Travis Simpkins



Bill Hosler discusses "The Forget Me Not" on Whence Came You?


For more info, please visit:


Bill Hosler. Masonic Author. by Travis Simpkins. The Midnight Freemasons

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Robert Johnson. Whence Came You? Past DDGM. Grand Lodge of Illinois. by Travis Simpkins

Robert Johnson. Whence Came You? DDGM. Grand Lodge of Illinois. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Right Worshipful
Robert Johnson
Past District Deputy Grand Master
1st Northeastern District
Grand Lodge of Illinois
Host of Whence Came You?
Co-Host of The Masonic Roundtable
Managing Editor of
The Midnight Freemasons blog
by Travis Simpkins



The Masonic Roundtable - Masonic Conspiracies


For more info, please visit:
and


Robert Johnson. by Travis Simpkins. Whence Came You? DDGM. Grand Lodge of Illinois. 

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Meditations of a Flawed Ashlar. Bill Hosler. The Midnight Freemasons

Meditations of a Flawed Ashlar. Bill Hosler. The Midnight Freemasons
Meditations of a Flawed Ashlar. Bill Hosler. The Midnight Freemasons

I'm enjoying "Meditations of a Flawed Ashlar" by Bill Hosler.


Sharing his observations from his historied Masonic career, Confessions of a flawed ashlar is Bill Hosler's love letter to Freemasonry. Bill blends fiction and non-fiction to tell poignant stories about the mystic tie of brotherhood. While so many modern Masonic writings look externally for solutions to some of Freemasonry's issues, Bill looks internally finding them readily available at the local Lodge level. His friendly and humorous prose makes for an easy read. Both the novice and experienced Freemason will find wisdom in this book.


https://amzn.to/3zCi8dT


Friday, October 27, 2023

Todd E. Creason, 33°. Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins

Todd E. Creason, 33°. The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Todd E. Creason
33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason
Valley of Danville, IL. NMJ
Past Master of
Ogden Lodge No. 754
Author of the
Famous American Freemasons series
Founder of
The Midnight Freemasons
by Travis Simpkins



Todd E. Creason, 33° - The Midnight Freemasons Blog


For more info, please visit:


Todd Creason, 33°. Midnight Freemasons. by Travis Simpkins. A Freemason Said That?

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Todd E. Creason, 33°. Founder of The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins

Todd E. Creason, 33°. The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Todd E. Creason
33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason
Valley of Danville, IL. NMJ
Past Master of
Ogden Lodge No. 754
Author of the
Famous American Freemasons series
Founder of
The Midnight Freemasons
by Travis Simpkins



Todd E. Creason, 33° - The Midnight Freemasons Blog


For more info, please visit:


Todd E. Creason. by Travis Simpkins. The Midnight Freemasons blog

Monday, October 3, 2022

Todd E. Creason, 33°. Founder of The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins

Todd E. Creason, 33°. The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins
Todd E. Creason, 33°. The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Todd E. Creason
33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason
Valley of Danville, IL. NMJ
Past Master of
Ogden Lodge No. 754
Author of the
Famous American Freemasons series
Founder of
The Midnight Freemasons
by Travis Simpkins



Todd E. Creason, 33° - The Midnight Freemasons Blog


For more info, please visit:


Todd E. Creason. by Travis Simpkins. Midnight Freemasons. Famous American Freemasons
Todd E. Creason. by Travis Simpkins. Midnight Freemasons. Famous American Freemasons

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Bill Hosler. Masonic Author. The Midnight Freemasons. by Travis Simpkins

Bill Hosler. Masonic Author. The Midnight Freemasons. by Travis Simpkins
Bill Hosler. Masonic Author. The Midnight Freemasons. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of 
Bill Hosler
Masonic Author, Contributor to
The Midnight Freemasons
Past Master of
Three Rivers Lodge #733, Indiana
32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason
Masonic Knight Templar
by Travis Simpkins



Bill Hosler discusses "The Forget Me Not" on Whence Came You?


For more info, please visit:


Bill Hosler. Masonic Author. The Midnight Freemasons. by Travis Simpkins
Bill Hosler. Author. by Travis Simpkins. The Journal of the Masonic Society

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Todd E. Creason, 33°. Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, Illinois. by Travis Simpkins

Todd E. Creason, 33°. Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, Illinois. by Travis Simpkins
Todd E. Creason, 33°. Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, Illinois. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Todd E. Creason
33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason
Valley of Danville, IL. NMJ
Past Master of
Ogden Lodge No. 754
Author of the
Famous American Freemasons series
Founder of
The Midnight Freemasons
by Travis Simpkins



Todd E. Creason, 33° - The Midnight Freemasons Blog


For more info, please visit:


Todd E. Creason. by Travis Simpkins. Midnight Freemasons. One Last Shot
Todd E. Creason. by Travis Simpkins. Midnight Freemasons. One Last Shot

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Todd E. Creason, 33°. Founder of The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins

Todd E. Creason, 33°. The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins
Todd E. Creason, 33°. The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Todd E. Creason
33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason
Valley of Danville, IL. NMJ
Past Master of
Ogden Lodge No. 754
Author of the
Famous American Freemasons series
Founder of
The Midnight Freemasons
by Travis Simpkins



Todd E. Creason, 33° - The Midnight Freemasons Blog


For more info, please visit:


Todd E. Creason. by Travis Simpkins. Midnight Freemasons. A Shot After Midnight
Todd E. Creason. by Travis Simpkins. Midnight Freemasons. A Shot After Midnight

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins
Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of
Illustrious Brother
Greg Knott
33rd Degree Freemason
Valley of Danville, Illinois
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite
Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
Regular Contributor to
The Midnight Freemasons blog

by Travis Simpkins



Not Justa Man, a Mason

For more info, please visit:

midnightfreemasons.org

and

aasrdanville.org


Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins
Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins
 

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins
Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of
Illustrious Brother
Greg Knott
33rd Degree Freemason
Valley of Danville, Illinois
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite
Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
Regular Contributor to
The Midnight Freemasons blog

by Travis Simpkins



Not Justa Man, a Mason

For more info, please visit:

midnightfreemasons.org

and

aasrdanville.org


Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins
Greg Knott, 33°. Valley of Danville, Illinois. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins
 

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Robert Johnson. The Masonic Roundtable. Podcast. Whence Came You? by Travis Simpkins

Robert Johnson. Whence Came You? The Masonic Roundtable. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Right Worshipful
Robert Johnson
Past District Deputy Grand Master
1st Northeastern District
Grand Lodge of Illinois
Host of Whence Came You?
Co-Host of The Masonic Roundtable
Managing Editor of
The Midnight Freemasons blog
by Travis Simpkins



The Masonic Roundtable - Masonic Conspiracies


For more info, please visit:
and


Robert Johnson. by Travis Simpkins. The Masonic Roundtable. Podcast

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Robert Johnson. The Masonic Roundtable. Whence Came You? by Travis Simpkins

Robert Johnson. Whence Came You? The Masonic Roundtable. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Right Worshipful
Robert Johnson
District Deputy Grand Master
1st Northeastern District
Grand Lodge of Illinois
Host of Whence Came You?
Co-Host of The Masonic Roundtable
Managing Editor of
The Midnight Freemasons blog
by Travis Simpkins



The Masonic Roundtable - Masonic Conspiracies


For more info, please visit:
and


Robert Johnson. by Travis Simpkins. The Masonic Roundtable. Podcast

Monday, February 3, 2020

Robert Johnson. Whence Came You? Past DDGM. Grand Lodge of Illinois. by Travis Simpkins

Robert Johnson. Whence Came You? Past DDGM. Grand Lodge of Illinois. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Right Worshipful
Robert Johnson
Past District Deputy Grand Master
1st Northeastern District
Grand Lodge of Illinois
Host of Whence Came You?
Co-Host of The Masonic Roundtable
Managing Editor of
The Midnight Freemasons blog
by Travis Simpkins



The Masonic Roundtable - Masonic Conspiracies


For more info, please visit:
and


Robert Johnson. by Travis Simpkins. Whence Came You? Past DDGM. Grand Lodge of Illinois. 

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Todd E. Creason, 33°. Founder of The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins

Todd E. Creason, 33°. The Midnight Freemasons blog. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Todd E. Creason
33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason
Valley of Danville, IL. NMJ
Past Master of
Ogden Lodge No. 754
Author of the
Famous American Freemasons series
Founder of
The Midnight Freemasons
by Travis Simpkins



Todd E. Creason, 33° - The Midnight Freemasons Blog


For more info, please visit:


Todd E. Creason. by Travis Simpkins. The Midnight Freemasons blog

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Robert Johnson. The Masonic Roundtable. Whence Came You? by Travis Simpkins

Robert Johnson. Whence Came You? The Masonic Roundtable. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Right Worshipful
Robert Johnson
District Deputy Grand Master
1st Northeastern District
Grand Lodge of Illinois
Host of Whence Came You?
Co-Host of The Masonic Roundtable
Managing Editor of
The Midnight Freemasons blog
by Travis Simpkins



The Masonic Roundtable - Masonic Conspiracies


For more info, please visit:
and


Robert Johnson. by Travis Simpkins. The Masonic Roundtable. Podcast

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Robert Johnson. Whence Came You? Podcast. Grand Lodge of Illinois. by Travis Simpkins

Robert Johnson. Whence Came You? Podcast. Grand Lodge of Illinois. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Right Worshipful
Robert Johnson
Past District Deputy Grand Master
1st Northeastern District
Grand Lodge of Illinois
Host of Whence Came You?
Co-Host of The Masonic Roundtable
Managing Editor of
The Midnight Freemasons blog
by Travis Simpkins



The Masonic Roundtable - Masonic Conspiracies


For more info, please visit:
and


Robert Johnson. by Travis Simpkins. Whence Came You? Grand Lodge of Illinois. 

Sunday, February 17, 2019

A Call to Service. by Travis Simpkins

A Call to Service. by Travis Simpkins
 
A Call to Service

by Travis Simpkins


Earlier this year, the Grand Lodge of New Jersey hired me to create some artwork for their dedication ceremony of the U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial. Along with the commission came an invitation to join the Grand Master and other Grand Lodge officers on a special tour of the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center base in Cape May, New Jersey. I have never served in the military, so the opportunity to learn and experience something new enticed me to make the trip down from Massachusetts and show up at the base on that cold April morning. We boarded and explored some of the boats, saw recruits training and visited the barracks before being directed towards a parcel of land that would eventually be developed for the Memorial.

After the tour, the Grand Lodge officers and officials from the Coast Guard base convened to the nearby Cape Island Lodge No. 30 where a small crowd had gathered for the cornerstone ceremony. Before the event began, the Grand Master pulled me aside to ask if he could call me to get up and speak to everyone. I had half-expected to be called upon going in, but I still didn't have any remarks prepared when the time arrived. In searching of what to say, I found myself looking towards the men in military uniforms seated around the room. I thanked them for their service. I then explained that not only had I not served, but that prior to becoming a Mason, I had known very few people in my immediate circles that were members of the armed forces. After joining the Craft, it seems that 3 out of every 5 Masons I meet have some kind of military background. I now count some of those men among my closest friends and kindred spirits. I wondered out loud about the common thread that draws us all to join Freemasonry. On the military end, there is certainly an ordered structure, patriotism and an instilled sense of “Brotherhood” that carries over within the Craft. But beyond that, a more universal element seems to be that Freemasonry attracts those who desire self-improvement by being part of something bigger than themselves. We, as Masons, all answer a call to service. Afterwards, I was relieved when several Brothers approached me to say that they appreciated the sentiments.

I don't have a graceful end to this anecdote. I just thought of it on the occasion of Veteran's Day, when I saw that many friends were sharing photos of themselves and loved ones in uniform. If you're in the vicinity of Cape May on the southern coast of New Jersey, construction of the U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial has been ongoing and should be nearing completion. If you're a veteran who also happens to be a member of the Scottish Rite NMJ, I'd encourage you to contact your Valley and let them know. Recently, the Sovereign Grand Commander established the “Sammy Lee Davis Peace & Freedom Award” which is to be presented to all Scottish Rite veterans with an honorable discharge.

-TS

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Joseph Cerneau: A New Likeness. by Travis Simpkins

Joseph Cerneau: A New Likeness. by Travis Simpkins
Joseph Cerneau: A New Likeness. by Travis Simpkins


Joseph Cerneau: A New Likeness
by Travis Simpkins


In 1807, Joseph Cerneau (1763-1840/45) created his own Supreme Council in New York City. He didn't have any official authority to do so and his system was deemed illegitimate by the Supreme Council in Charleston. Nevertheless, his Cerneau Rite attracted many influential Masons of the time, including DeWitt Clinton, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York. As a result, Cerneau's competing system of Scottish Rite degrees plagued both the Southern and Northern Jurisdictions for most of the 19th Century. It's a fascinating story of mergers, splits, contempt and treachery. Despite the long-lasting chaos that he caused, little is recorded about Joseph Cerneau's life and up until now there was only one known portrait of him.

In 1938, a halftone image of Joseph Cerneau was published in Samuel H. Baynard's History of the Supreme Council, Scottish Rite Freemasonry, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. The halftone image is a vague remnant of a photo taken of a miniature portrait of Cerneau painted on ivory. Both the original photo and the ivory miniature have been lost.

A few months ago, I was contacted by S. Brent Morris, 33°, GC, who serves as the editor of Heredom (the annual publication of the Scottish Rite Research Society). He requested that I create a new portrait of Joseph Cerneau based on the limited information available. I had created composite portraits of historic figures before, but in such cases I had the convenience of looking at and combining several different known likenesses to form a new one. With there being only one known portrait of Cerneau, and a frequently published one at that, I really had no option but to use that image as a starting point and foundation. I simply envisioned the form and detail that the original ivory miniature likely contained and added that, but was also conscious to correct the distorted proportions and make the facial features appear more natural. The resulting, newly finished charcoal portrait of Joseph Cerneau made it's debut on page 61 of Heredom Vol. 25, included in an essay by Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, GC, titled “The Supreme Council of the 43rd Degree.”

The book has already been shipped to Scottish Rite Research Society members and will soon be available for general purchase through the Southern Jurisdiction's online store here: www.scottishritestore.org

In addition to Heredom Vol. 25, I'd suggest that readers interested in the subject of Cerneauism also seek out copies of Committed to the Flames by Arturo de Hoyos and S. Brent Morris (Lewis Masonic, 2008) and Collectanea Volume 24 Parts 1 to 3 printed by the Grand College of Rites.


-TS

Sunday, February 3, 2019

NASA, Giordano Bruno and Other Worlds. by Travis Simpkins

NASA, Giordano Bruno and Other Worlds. by Travis Simpkins




NASA, Giordano Bruno and Other Worlds
by Travis Simpkins


The best parts of being a freelancer are the frequent surprises that come along with it. When you open yourself up and are willing to work with anyone, you never know who will reach out to you next.

One morning a couple months back, I woke up and checked my email like I always do. Mixed in with the usual communications was a rather peculiar one. The message was from NASA, and the writer was looking for permission to use my artwork depicting the 16th Century Hermetic philosopher/astronomer Giordano Bruno in an upcoming presentation in Sorrento, Italy. The artwork was to be projected on screen during a lecture by Colonel Roger Hunter, program manager of the Kepler Mission, and this particular section of the presentation would focus on Bruno's theories regarding “other worlds.” After restraining my excitement and quickly verifying the information, I very happily agreed to the request.

It was obvious why NASA is interested in Giordano Bruno (1548-1600). He was an ex-friar turned natural philosopher, whose Hermetic teachings put him at odds with the dominant ideological visions of the Church. Condemned by the Inquisition as a heretic, Bruno was burned at the stake in Rome's Campo di'Fiori on February 17, 1600. Among the many theories introduced by Bruno, one of his most profound was the idea that the universe is infinite and the stars we see in the night sky are actually suns being orbited by other planets that have life on them.

It was also obvious how Colonel Roger Hunter and the Kepler Mission are inspired by Giordano Bruno's work. According to the official statement on NASA's website: “The Kepler Mission, NASA Discovery Mission #10, is specifically designed to survey our region of the Milky Way galaxy to discover hundreds of Earth-size and smaller planets in or near the habitable zone and determine the fraction of the hundreds of billions of stars in our galaxy that might have such planets.”

Less obvious, to me anyway, was just how strong the Masonic connection was to all of this. I knew of astronomical references in the lectures and of Bruno's influence on memorization, relevant to our ritual studies, through his well known work on “The Art of Memory” which utilized the many mnemonic devices we all use (whether we credit Bruno for it or not). However, I didn't fully see another much deeper and direct Masonic connection until I shared the news of this project on my Facebook page. Soon after posting the update, Shawn Eyer commented asking if I had seen the old Fellow Craft lectures that related to Bruno's theory. I replied in the negative and he sent me a fantastic article he had written titled “Numberless Worlds, Infinite Beings” that had originally been published in Philalethes (Vol. 65, No. 3) back in 2012. Among the mosaic of valuable insights contained within the essay was an eloquent quote, once included in the Fellow Craft Degree, that directly corresponded to the subject. I found myself reflecting on it's meaning and implications for much of that day. The words were taken from William Preston's 1780 Lecture of the Second Degree: “Here we perceive thousands and thousands of suns, multiplied without end, all arranged around us, at immense distances from each other, attended by ten thousand times ten thousand worlds, all in rapid motion; yet calm, regular, and harmonious; invariably keeping their prescribed paths, and all peopled with a myriad of intelligent beings, formed for endless progress, in perfection and happiness.”

Ask a number of supposedly learned people about Giordano Bruno and at least half of them will reply, “Who?” Never elevated to his proper status among the historical luminaries that comprise the world's greatest thinkers, Bruno is under-appreciated and yet his enduring influence is still ever-present in the shadows. On the landing of the main staircase in the House of the Temple, chiseled into the wall, is a quote attributed to Albert Pike that reads, “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” While meaningful in their own right, Pike's words echo a sentiment written 300 years prior by Giordano Bruno: “What you receive from others is a testimony to their virtue; but all that you do for others is the sign and clear indication of your own.” (On the Infinite Universe and Worlds, 1584)


-TS