On Monday, May 2, 2016--we got a call from the Public Affairs Missionaries--Mark and Susan Dransfield--about an event at the American Folklore Museum which is right next
door to the New York Manhattan Temple. This museum has a private collection of FreeMason and Odd Fellows artifacts on display and invited anyone interested to come to a tour of this exhibit on Thursday, May 5th. So after our Temple shift--Elder Mumford and I stopped in. The reason the Museum had contacted the Dransfields comes in part from the documented history that mentions that Josephh Smith was a Freemason. The Guide was quiteknowledgeable and was surprised at the group of about 20-25 people ('mostly those the Dransfields had lined up) but it was one of the largest groups to "tour" the Museum. Here is just a few interesting things she shared and from on-line. Due to the "transfer of material from one source to another" there may be some repeats or mixing of the entities--the author of this particular Post can only say "hope you know, I had a HARD DAY"😏😩!!"
door to the New York Manhattan Temple. This museum has a private collection of FreeMason and Odd Fellows artifacts on display and invited anyone interested to come to a tour of this exhibit on Thursday, May 5th. So after our Temple shift--Elder Mumford and I stopped in. The reason the Museum had contacted the Dransfields comes in part from the documented history that mentions that Josephh Smith was a Freemason. The Guide was quiteknowledgeable and was surprised at the group of about 20-25 people ('mostly those the Dransfields had lined up) but it was one of the largest groups to "tour" the Museum. Here is just a few interesting things she shared and from on-line. Due to the "transfer of material from one source to another" there may be some repeats or mixing of the entities--the author of this particular Post can only say "hope you know, I had a HARD DAY"😏😩!!"
]What was the largest fraternal organization during the so-called “Golden Age of Fraternalism” (1870-1910)? You may be surprised to know it was not Freemasonry but the Odd Fellows. In 1890 Freemasonry had 609,000 brothers while the Odd Fellows had over 672,000. You may also be surprised to know the Scottish Rite Masonic National Heritage Museum probably holds the largest public
collection of Odd Fellows artifacts, and materials in the county; some 700 items. Just as many men joined both the Craft and the Odd Fellows, so our museum collections both Masonic and other American fraternal history. Indeed the relationship between the Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship was quite similar and often truly fraternal.
collection of Odd Fellows artifacts, and materials in the county; some 700 items. Just as many men joined both the Craft and the Odd Fellows, so our museum collections both Masonic and other American fraternal history. Indeed the relationship between the Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship was quite similar and often truly fraternal.
As with Freemasonry, the Odd Fellows is a British institution. They began in England in the late 1700s as a “friendly society” for working class men and artisans. Meeting in taverns to socialize they also
Now--another group who have been " misunderstood and misaligned--It's the world's most well-known secret society. Rich with symbols and ritual, it's the source of legends . . . parodies . . . and conspiracy theories.
pooled their resources to help each other in times of need and for burial fees. That such an “odd” assortment of men would organize for such benevolent purposes was considered “odd” for the times and thus the name.
They call Odd Fellows a "poor man's fraternity
In 1929, Deputy Grand Sire Logan delivered a speech: "Its membership, including membership of its sister fraternity of Odd Fellows, is more than five millions...It has been said that Odd Fellowship is a poor man's fraternity. If those making the suggestion mean that it makes no distinction between the rich and the poor, they are correct, but if they mean it is poor in money or otherwise, they lack information. Its assets are greater than the combined assets of all other purely fraternal societies. In
the last five decades, it has collected and expended more than twenty-five million dollars, the greater part of which went towards relieving the distress incident to the human race.In 1929, Deputy Grand Sire Logan delivered a speech: "Its membership, including membership of its sister fraternity of Odd Fellows, is more than five millions...It has been said that Odd Fellowship is a poor man's fraternity. If those making the suggestion mean that it makes no distinction between the rich and the poor, they are correct, but if they mean it is poor in money or otherwise, they lack information. Its assets are greater than the combined assets of all other purely fraternal societies. In
Now--another group who have been " misunderstood and misaligned--It's the world's most well-known secret society. Rich with symbols and ritual, it's the source of legends . . . parodies . . . and conspiracy theories.
ALL ABOUT FREEMASONRY - for Non-Freemasons
Freemasonry is an esoteric society only in that certain aspects are private; Freemasons state that Masonry is not, in the 21st century, a secret society but a "society with secrets". Some Freemasons describe Freemasonry as a "confidential" society in contrast to a secret society. Most modern Freemasons regard the traditional concern over secrecy as a demonstration of their ability to keep a promise and a concern over the privacy of their own affairs. Lodge meetings, like meetings of many other social and professional associations, are private occasions open only to members. The private aspects of modern Freemasonry deal with the modes of recognition amongst members and elements within the ritual. In reality, Freemasons are proud of their true heritage and happy to share it, offering spokesmen, briefings for the media, and providing talks to interested groups upon request. On this site curious non-masons can find out the real secret lives of the Freemasons as far as what are the secrets of Freemasons. |
Sister Mumford in front of American Folklore Museum
Walking in darkness . . . Towards the light
The above saying is like the "motto" of the Masons
FreeMason apron
Quilt with Freemason symbols
More symbols--of I. O. O. F.
Odd Fellows costume--displaying symbol of 3 links
This symbol of FreeMasons dates back to George Washington
Welcome to the world of Freemasonry. What is Freemasonry? Simply put, it's the world's oldest and largest fraternity. Its membership is a Who's Who of world history -- George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Mozart,
Davy Crockett, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Houdini, Gerald Ford, Henry Ford, John Wayne, even Colonel Sanders.
Davy Crockett, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Houdini, Gerald Ford, Henry Ford, John Wayne, even Colonel Sanders.
This group started as a group of stone Mason's and cutters-- with the "compass
and the square--2 important tools to their trade--as their symbols. For meetings
Masons dress up in their Sunday bests and -- just like the original stonecutters --
wear aprons. The center of any lodge room is an altar. Many things are
done around this altar. All the activities of the lodge take place about the altar.
There are certain subjects which are prevented from discussing within the Lodge.
And religion is one. Politics is another. Although heavily influenced by Freemasonry’s rituals, symbols and tenets, a large measure of the Odd Fellows’ success came from its dedication to serve its members. Its three secret ritual initiations
taught the “three links” of fraternity as “Friendship, Love and Truth” and commanded its brothers to “Visit the Sick, Relieve the Distressed, Bury the Dead, Care for the Widow, and Educate the Orphan.” In the forty years between the founding of Wildey’s first
American lodge and his death in 1861, Odd Fellow’s paid out nearly $9,000,000 in relief. After the Civil War State grand Lodges began building homes for widows and orphans. With the first opening in Meadville, PA in 1872 by 1927 there were 62 home in the United States. Between 1830 and 1936 the fraternity had paid out over $247 million in relief.
and the square--2 important tools to their trade--as their symbols. For meetings
Masons dress up in their Sunday bests and -- just like the original stonecutters --
wear aprons. The center of any lodge room is an altar. Many things are
done around this altar. All the activities of the lodge take place about the altar.
There are certain subjects which are prevented from discussing within the Lodge.
And religion is one. Politics is another. Although heavily influenced by Freemasonry’s rituals, symbols and tenets, a large measure of the Odd Fellows’ success came from its dedication to serve its members. Its three secret ritual initiations
taught the “three links” of fraternity as “Friendship, Love and Truth” and commanded its brothers to “Visit the Sick, Relieve the Distressed, Bury the Dead, Care for the Widow, and Educate the Orphan.” In the forty years between the founding of Wildey’s first
American lodge and his death in 1861, Odd Fellow’s paid out nearly $9,000,000 in relief. After the Civil War State grand Lodges began building homes for widows and orphans. With the first opening in Meadville, PA in 1872 by 1927 there were 62 home in the United States. Between 1830 and 1936 the fraternity had paid out over $247 million in relief.
And then there are the ceremonies. Each one teaches a moral lesson related to the legend of one Hiram Abiff, the architect of King Solomon's Temple.
It was an interesting display--glad we could show our support to our Public Affairs Missionaries. They work extremely hard!
No comments:
Post a Comment