October 2013

Friday 25 October 2013

Mauritius has signed a cooperation agreement with the Order of Malta


On 12 October 2013 was signed the cooperation agreement between the Sovereign Order of Malta (represented by Jean-Pierre Mazery, Grand Chancellor) and Mauritius (represented by Arvin Boolell, Minister for Foreign Affairs).


On this occasion, the Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta was received by the President, His Excellency Mr. Kailash Purryag, the Prime Minister Navinchandra RamgoolamÅŸi and by the Health Minister Lormus Bundhoo. Mauritius and the Order of Malta maintains diplomatic relations since 1977.


Tuesday 22 October 2013

Saturday 19 October 2013

Rear Admiral Barry C. Black (Chaplain of the United States Senate) attended the Stated Communication of the Naval Lodge #4


At the stated communication of the Naval Lodge #4, on Thursday, October 17th, 2013 at 6:30pm,  The Naval Lodge Hall in Washington DC the Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, Rear Admiral Barry C. Black (Ret.) held a speech on the topic of charity. 

The stated communication was an open event attended by members of the Craft and friends. Rear Admiral Barry C. Black was elected the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He began working in the Senate on July 7, 2003. Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, Chaplain Black served in the U.S. Navy for over twenty-seven years, ending his distinguished career as the Chief of Navy Chaplains.


Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, USN (Ret.) (born November 1, 1948) is the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He was elected to this position on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African American and the first Seventh-day Adventist to hold this office. The Senate elected its first chaplain in 1789. He served for over 27 years as a chaplain in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of rear admiral and ending his career as the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy, the senior chaplain of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He officially retired from the Navy on August 15, 2003.

During the 16 day United States federal government shutdown of 2013, his invocations began to garner widespread national attention. On Oct. 1, the first day of the shutdown, he prayed for divine guidance to, “strengthen our weakness, replacing cynicism with faith and cowardice with courage.” On Oct. 3, he prayed, “Save us from the madness. We acknowledge our transgressions, our shortcomings, our smugness, our selfishness and our pride... Deliver us from the hypocrisy of attempting to sound reasonable while being unreasonable.”


Monday 14 October 2013

Unification of Cuban Freemasonry on its path


After more than half a century of division Cuban Freemasons are on their path towards the unification process. The Masonic Press Agency announced yesterday that the Scottish Cathedral in Havana hosted the meeting between the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Cuba and the Grand Master of the Gran Lodge of Cuba in Exile. The event took place in the presence of the Sovereign Grand Commander, this being the first official step towards the unification of Cuban Freemasons.


According to the same source, Evaristo Rubén Gutiérrez Torres and Moris Bosakewish Varon are considering that it is important to approach Cuban Freemasons from the United States and Cuba, and was the Sovereign Grand Commander's Masonic tour in the U.S., that aid the foundation for this cooperation. As a first action, the Sovereign Grand Commander proposed to be recognized the work and dedication of the Cuban "Patriarch"  in exile, Brother Armando Salas Amaro.

According to the AASR Supreme Council of Cuba, the Grand Master in exile, MW Moris Bosakewish Varon asked for one of the national flags of Cuba from the Grand Temple of Freemasons' Hall in Havana not as a gift but to be guarded by the Grand Lodge of Cuba in Exile (United States of America).


A Grand Master Mason from Italy asks Pope Francis "to put an end to the gaps that still sustain a wall" between the two institutions


One (of the many) Italian Grand Master, Gian Franco Pilloni sent a letter to the leader of the Holy See asking Pope Francis  "to put an end to the gaps that still sustain a wall" between the two institutions: the Craft and the Catholic Church.


In the letter sent Thursday to the Pope, Gian Franco Pilloni (leading one of the UMSOI's branches in Italy) said that "Your Holiness I am writing to you to make a humble request to act for ending the divisions that stand between the relations of the Catholic Church with Freemasonry, hoping that finally will reign the just peace between the two nstitutions, ending tthe gaps that still sustain a wall."

For the record, Pilloni's UMSOI split from Simonetti's UMSOI and those Masonic Grand Lodges have nothing to do with the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy (recognized by UGLE) nor the Grand Orient of Italy (host of the XXIV Conference of Grand Secretaries and Chancellor of Europe).


Wednesday 9 October 2013

"Templar Nation" | The story of the Templar Nation


Archaeological Professor William Sinclair (Richard Dutcher) is deeply troubled by the recent murder of his dear friend Alfred (Erik Estrada). When Sinclair and his team unearth a 13th Century Templar tomb, he enlists his estranged son (Joseph James) who is a medieval weaponry specialist and expert swordsman, to understand the find. 

Mystery and danger quickly surround the group as they follow a map found on Templar sword. With the blood thirsty Plaga in close pursuit, the team quickly realizes their lives are in danger as they are chased into a mysterious cave containing numerous relics of the Knights Templar. Thrown into an ancient blood- feud they must navigate through a formerly hidden realm; following the ancient path of the Knight's Templar. Mystery and danger abound in this exciting adventure - discover "Templar Nation".


"The Freemason" starring Sean Astin | A wealthy banker lies ritualistically


The banker's daughter and only heir, Rana (Alex McKenna), calls upon Cyrus Rothwell (Randy Wayne), a brilliant freelance writer, to assist in the investigation. Teaming up with veteran homicide detective Leon Weed (Sean Astin), they suddenly find themselves thrust into the cryptic world of Freemasonry - pitted against a killer searching for a legendary relic, shrouded by hundreds of years of myth and mystery.

Freemasons Sheldon Lombard (Richard Dutcher) and Jericho Beck (Joseph James) decide to help Cyrus while teaching him about Masonic history, Rothwell's troubles multiply as he deduces the killer is one of the banker's close inner circle. With an inheritance of millions hanging in the balance, everyone is a suspect and every action perceived as motive. Rothwell's path becomes even more cloudy as his relationship with the beautiful heiress dances on the edge of charm and collusion. Cyrus begins to realize that if he does not solve the case soon he might be the next victim.

Cyrus is forced to come to grips with powers beyond his natural senses as well as his own mysterious past ties to Freemasonry in order to unmask the killer before they strike again.


Tuesday 8 October 2013

The leader of the French Grand Chapter resigns as the French Masonic scandal continues


Michel Descours resigned as Supreme Grand Commander of the French Grand Chapter. French Brethren suppose (for the moment rumors) that the reason was the pressure of the Sovereign Grand Commander of France and the Grand Master of GL-AMF. Brother Descours was recently reelected with a large majority in May this year.


Friday 4 October 2013