SQUARE & COMPASSES

INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF FREEMASONRY

FOR MEN AND WOMEN LE DROIT HUMAIN
AMERICAN FEDERATION

FALL 2021

The Square and Compasses is the bulletin of the MPGC. It is exclusively reserved for members of the International
Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women Le Droit Humain, American Federation. Unless signed by the MPGC,
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reproductions of any part of this publication are strictly prohibited. Copyright © 2021 by Square and Compasses.
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Table of Contents

Censing on My Tracing Board  4

Some Thoughts about Fraternity  7

The Feminine Since Time Immemorial  9

Restoring the Temple’s Light in HAITI  13

Random Thoughts on My Recent Masonic Experiences  15

Calumny  17

Message from the Most Puissant Grand Commander  18

www.comasonic.org
3
Censing on My Tracing Board
Ill.S. Sandy Mantel, 30˚ - September 13, 2020

In 2005, in a Lodge opened in 1°, our R.W.M. asked thurible left and right, and then in the South/East
us to write a paragraph on censing. Quite honestly, corner, where s/he stands with feet in a square and
I had never heard of censing before entering a slowly swings the thurible: first to the right- whence
Lodge and my only reference was that I had visited a I came, then to the left- wither I go, and thirdly
Catholic Church where I’d seen the young altar boys towards the altar. To give this diagram color, I saw
swinging a thurible while walking in front of a priest the line to the right in blue, the line to the left in
and cleansing the space around him. I thought of pink/red, and the line to the altar in yellow. At the
the word reminiscent hearing the word “scent” in it. time, I simply used the colored pencils in the pencil
The sense of smell is one of the five senses and, in box, but it’s interesting that blue could stand for the
the movie, The Scent of a Woman, Al Pacino plays Blue Lodge and the Pink/Red for the Rose Croix.
a blind, mean scoundrel. By the end of the movie, Incidentally, in those years L.D.H. did not have a
you realize that he has taught someone else how Lodge of Perfection; our Advancement after the 3º
to feel with his heart. In the movie Michael, the was to the 18°.
Archangel, is played by John Travolta. Each woman
he approached would smell something from her The Director of Ceremonies continues down the
childhood such as cookies or cotton candy. When South swinging the Thurible, and as before, with
I smell a turkey baking in an oven, I remember feet in a square, swinging the thurible first to his/
Thanksgiving dinners, or think of a Passover Seder, her right- whence I came, to the left- wither I go, and
and reminisce on the hard work it took to create the then to the center. The D.C. continues to the two
meal. And, of course with censing in Lodge, I can other corners following the same procedure. The
smell the Incense which raises us to a higher state D.C. then continues to the R.W.M., and salutes the
of consciousness. R.W.M. again with the thurible to his/her forehead
and returns to his/her station.
After advancing to the 18° I found that I needed
to write the P.O.A, “Energy of Censing”. This time I When I read this P.O.A. in 2012 in open Lodge, I
wrote about two different Rituals, the Lauderdale explained that the four corners have now been
with the Censing towards the Principals, (the Chairs, “censed and the energy has surrounded the Lodge
not the people in them), and the North American Room as well. Looking at the Director of Ceremonies,
Ritual, which censes from each of the four corners I see him/her as the head point of a triangle, with the
of the Lodge towards the altar, including diagrams three lines coming away from him. Drawing a line to
of the movements. connect the three lines away from him/her creates
a triangle. I then saw the triangles move towards the
In the North American ritual, the Director of Altar, three above and three below. As these triangles
Ceremonies advances to the R.W.M. with the moved towards the Altar, you can see that this is a
Thurible, and the R.W.M. places the incense on the Double Star, known as, “As It Is Above, so it is Below”,
pre-lit charcoal and consecrates it. The D.C. steps or a “Star of David” or “Solomon’s Seal”; also, King
back and salutes the R.W.M. by lifting the censer David wore this star on his breastplate called the
(thurible) to his forehead. S/He then walks to Mogen David, “Shield of David”. I saw this triangle
the South/East corner, while slowly swinging the rotating as in the Merkabah. In the discussion in

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Lodge, Brother Gabriel said the yellow would be the Earth, and of the Spiritual World of Mercury, Sulphur,
color of the sun, or light, coming through the altar. and Salt. Salt solidifies and looks like a cube. Of
course, I now realized that what looked like a cube
of sugar was a good symbol for a cube of salt.

On August 9, 2020, I joined Amor-Sapientia in their In the Spiritual World Salt represents non-action, the
zoom meeting in which the “work of the day” was body, or any physical matter. Salt, often impure when
a discussion about the 1˚ Tracing Board. We talked first collected, can go through chemical processes,
about the shape of the room which is a double square and be dissolved. Alchemists compare this to the
and that the altar itself is not actually “centered”; it process of purification which the human body can
is moved closer towards the East where the move- undergo. So now I imagine that this alchemical fire
ments of the sun and energy begin. Somehow this was burning through the salt - through the physical
reminded me of the P.O.A.s from years before and body.
Laura suggested I write again perhaps seeing some-
thing else from the perspective of the 30°. I thought that the burning away of this cube was like
laying myself on the altar to sacrifice, make sacred,
A few mornings later, while still in bed, I wasn’t medi- and to burn away part of my “self.” It signifies trying
tating, but simply thinking about the description I’d to reach towards loftier thoughts or simply, that as
given in 2012, and about the “yellow” lines pointing I let go of the physical body, I continue to live in the
towards the altar. This time I was seeing the yellow spiritual.
line as a low fire burning as it traveled along the floor I am realizing that this same word “censing” is
of the lodge. I was standing at the altar, not wearing continuing throughout my Masonic work; and that
shoes, and my feet to just above my ankles were this is my path in life. Revisiting this same thought
below the floor. I felt like Alice in Wonderland since brings me to know myself more as I continue
my whole body was below the altar which was weird my Masonic work using the Tracing Board as my
as my size did not appear small, nor the altar table personal blueprint of life.
high. Within the center of my chest, I saw what I
thought of as a “sugar cube”. As the fire reached me
from the four corners of space it rose to the center
and the “cube” began to dissolve. The fire continued
to be raised [razed- burned] above through the
crown of my head and continued higher.

I thought about the elements, Fire, Water, Air and

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Addendum regarding Merkabah:
Mer=light, Ka=spirit, Ba=body, i.e., a shining spirit body.

Merkabah, as a sacred symbol, is made up of two tetrahedrons spinning in opposite directions thereby creating
an energy field of the triangulated three dimensions. The bottom triangle spins counter-clockwise and the top
spins clockwise becoming a combination of opposing energies, a balance upon which to build something – like
a lodge, a human spirit, etc. Some people who are clairvoyant (or even partially so) can see the magnetic field
around a body, which is the shining part of Merkabah. But it takes a bit more intuitive power to see its origin,
which is in the Heart Chakra. The Hindus refer to it as the “seed atom”, the “spark.” Hebrews refer to it as
Merkabah.

Sis. Mantel, in her POA, describes something very powerful in the N.A. ritual that very few people perceive – the
ability to create, using fire, a temporary Merkabah in which to perform Sacred Work and which we later release
during the Chain of Union. The N.A. Ritual performs the Chain of Union AFTER the Lodge is closed at the Center
where the Merkabah was created after which each member, starting with the DC, turns clockwise and encircles
the altar three times releasing that energy into the community.

Randy Czerenda 33º

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Some Thoughts about Fraternity
Bro. B. B. 1°, Sepharial Lodge No. 555

So much of our ceremonial narrative reminds us of is often represented by the Zulu expression Umuntu
the centrality of being in the Lodge. We hear again and Ngumuntu Ngabantu or “I am, because we are,”
again about the importance of acting in the body of reflecting a more philosophical belief in a universal
the Lodge just, perfect, and regular. Important work bond of sharing that connects all humanity.
is almost always conducted within our fraternal According to the organization Global Citizen, Ubuntu
gatherings and there are many important things we “speaks to the fact that we are all connected and that
cannot do outside of Lodge and without sufficient one can only grow and progress through the growth
numbers of Brothers and Sisters present. While and progression of others.” There is wisdom in this
there are many symbolic elements of and reasons way of thinking, and I am grateful to the genius of
for this, one cannot help but notice the significance the people who have offered it to the world.
of the communal nature of this activity.
For me, our beliefs and practices about fraternity
During the initiation ritual, there are many moments resonate with the spirit of Ubuntu. Part of the way
in which the Initiate is guided by Freemasons. we grow as Freemasons is by working together
Hands on shoulders lead the journey through the toward the growth of those in our company, our
Elementals. Even if taken to moments where they Brothers and Sisters. We listen, we speak, we share,
must act on their own, the caring guidance of those in an ongoing consideration and deepening explo-
individuals are a reminder that on this path we are ration of the symbols and insights of Freemasonry,
not ever alone. each of us contributing our wisdom, and learning
from the wisdom of our Brothers and Sisters. It is a
The kindness toward the Neophyte engendered by continuing dialogical engagement.
this assistance is a worthy expression of Brotherly
Love, one of the three grand principles upon which Our practice of writing and responding to Pieces
our Order is founded. And given the drama of the of Architecture is one small example of this. As I
ritual, it is certainly appreciated as such! write these words, I push my own thinking and work
through ideas. It is always an effort in stretching
But as I’ve reflected on my experiences in myself, of trying to grow. In presenting my POA, I
Freemasonry thus far, it occurs to me that - as hope that what I ultimately share not only expresses
important in its own right as such acts of kindness my emerging thoughts, but also helps further others’
are - there is more to it than that. In addition to thinking. I want the exercise to be meaningful, not
aiding the new member, this assistance, and argu- only for me, but for those with whom I share in this
ably much of our work together, is how we enact our fellowship. Lastly, through the ensuing conversation
fraternity, and it is through fraternity that we also about the POA in Lodge, my Brothers and Sisters
do our work on ourselves and toward perfecting offer me more to consider, whether by extending,
humanity. On this point I have been reflecting on the complementing, challenging, or even contradicting
African idea of Ubuntu. elements of what they have heard. This is a gift that
aids my growth, given even as my Brothers and
Ubuntu is an Nguni Bantu word meaning “humanity.” Sisters are grappling with the ideas in the context of
Many have written about the spirit of Ubuntu which their own thoughts and development. Our fraternal

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bonds encourage a spirit of openness and earnest- Brothers and Sisters, but I want to learn what
ness throughout this process, and our commitment providing that service can teach me. What new
to work toward the perfection of humanity - always questions will it cause me to consider? How will it
beginning with the work we do on ourselves - for me, shape the way I think about our ritual, different roles
embraces the spirit of Ubuntu. We are connected, in the Lodge, and Freemasonry more broadly?
and our growth is inextricably bound up with the
growth of one another. Our commitments in engaging with one in another
are at once both personal and deeply communal.
I look forward to one day being able to help guide Through them we make our fraternity real, and shape
future members of our Lodge through their initi- what we have come to call our beloved community.
ations. Not only do I want to extend my help and
positively shape the early impressions of my future

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The Feminine Since Time Immemorial
P.o.A 1° by Noy Chounramany 3°, Sepharial Lodge No. 555

The archetype of femininity has been honored,

revered, and worshipped since humanity’s earliest
beginnings. Many of the ancient religions, mythol-
ogies, and cults throughout the world venerated
the feminine archetype for its association with life,
creation, procreation, fertility, and the sciences of
agriculture and husbandry. For example, the ancient
Egyptians worshipped Isis, Hathor, and Bastet;
Hera, Demeter, Persephone, and Aphrodite, were
worshipped by the ancient Greeks; and the Norse
worshipped Freya, Frigg, and Eostre. The same
motif can be found in ancient Chinese mythology,
Hinduism, Australian Aboriginal religion and Though not blatantly articulated, in many ways, the
mythology, within many of the indigenous belief ancient reverence of the feminine archetype has
systems of the Americas, and within the traditional been retained and carried on by the traditions and
religions of the Igbo, Ashanti, and Zulu people of rituals of Freemasonry. Aspects of the sacred femi-
Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, respectively. nine within Freemasonry are subtle; however, they
become more apparent once we begin to seek them
Although the topic of prehistoric matriarchal religion out.
is hotly debated, the fact remains: female figurines
are the earliest and oldest carved representations Freemasonry has a rich history of employing
of human beings so far unearthed by archeological artistic symbols to convey its moral and ethical
excavations. These prehistoric statuettes, known teachings. Traditionally, many of the virtues prized
as Venus figurines, depict the overexaggerated by Freemasonry have been artistically anthropo-
sexual features and voluptuous form of women in morphized as women. When we look to the historic
the nude. It is speculated by many anthropologists Masonic Constitutions, Charters, Tracing Boards,
that Venus figurines were objects of worship and/ publications, and art, we often see the four cardinal
or ritual significance. The Venus of Berekhat Ram
is the oldest extant Venus figurine and was found
in the Golan Heights of modern-day Israel. It was
carved from scoria stone and has been radiocarbon
dated between 250,000 and 280,000 years ago.
The Venus of Hohle Fels, discovered in a German
cave, was carved from mammoth ivory and is dated
to between 35,000 to 40,000 years ago. Perhaps
the most famous of these figurines is the Austrian
Venus of Willendorf, carved from limestone and
dated to approximately 25,000 years ago.

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virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and the entrance of the Lodge can be associated with
Justice, as well as the principal virtues of Faith, Hope, the entrance of a birth canal; and the interior of the
and Charity, depicted as Grecian-styled women. Lodge can be associated with a womb. It is within
this womb, the body of the Lodge, that Masonic
The concept of duality is taught through several creation takes place. Furthermore, the c… t… of the
symbols of Freemasonry. Among the many modes Candidate may be likened to the umbilical cord of a
and nodes of duality, most relevant to this writing is newly conceived and birthed individual.
that of the Masculine and Feminine paradigm. Much
like the Yin-Yang symbol, the Mosaic Pavement gives The Lodge, as a creative womb, may share some of
us a beautiful expression of the balance, harmony, its symbolism with ancient temples and ritualistic
and equality of the masculine and feminine prin- structures. The Neolithic passage tombs of Gavrinis
ciples. The Sun and Moon, being ancient symbols in Brittany (3,500 BC), Newgrange in Ireland (3,200
for the masculine and feminine archetypes, feature BC), and Maeshowe in Scotland (2,800 BC) are
prominently in the arrangement, movement, and chambered cairn monuments that were symboli-
symbolism of the Officers and rituals of the Masonic cally engineered and constructed. Similar to female
Lodge. Again, the masculine and feminine paradigm reproductive anatomy, the passage tombs feature
may be extrapolated from the S… and C…s. In many an entrance corridor that opens into a round or
cultures and traditions, an upward pointing triangle ovoid chamber. These passage tombs are oriented
is associated with the masculine principle, while a eastward in such a way, that precisely on the Winter
downward pointing triangle is associated with the Solstice, the Sun aligns perfectly with each monu-
feminine principle. The arrangement of the S… and ment, illuminating the entrance corridor and central
C…s in forming the t… g… emblematical l…s, thus chamber with a dedicated and focused beam of
illustrates in figure, the union and harmony of the light. The shape and darkness of the passage tomb
masculine and feminine principles. is symbolic for the womb, while the penetrating light
of the Sun is symbolic for the phallic nature of the
Freemasons meet and are made within the body of masculine archetype. In this way, the drama of light
a Lodge. The word lodge comes to us, in part, from and darkness is symbolic for creation, life, death,
the 13th Century Old French word loge. According and rebirth.
to the French rules of grammatical gender, loge is
categorized as a feminine noun. Although gendered
words are most often not associated with biological
gender, it is nonetheless fitting that the Lodge in
which one was made a Freemason is known as one’s
Mother Lodge.

Of further interest, the beehive has been historically

used as a symbol of Freemasonry. The hive has
been taken to symbolize the Lodge, the worker bees
represent the Officers and Brethren of the Lodge,
and the queen symbolizes the Master of the Lodge.
It is quite interesting that a matriarchal social model
was chosen to symbolically illustrate the workings
of a Lodge.

The Masonic Lodge bears even further feminine

symbolism. If we anthropomorphize the Lodge
itself, we can associate the twin pillars as being legs; The prehistoric site of Gobekli Tepe features the

10
oldest known megalithic structures in the world.
Discovered in southern Turkey, the construction of
Gobekli Tepe is dated between 8,000 to 9,500 BC.
The site is believed to have been a ritualistic complex
and contains several circular structures created
from decoratively engraved, multi-ton, megalithic
stones. Perhaps of interest to the students of
Freemasonry, each ritual enclosure prominently
features two central megalithic pillars placed upon
altar pedestals.

And finally, Masonry was originally co-gender and

included women among its ranks. The Regius Poem,
also known as the Halliwell Manuscript, is the oldest
extant Masonic Old Charge document in the world.
It is dated to approximately 1390-1450 CE and
makes several references to women in the Craft.
The following are excerpts from the Regius Poem:

“In that honest craft to be perfect;

And so each one shall teach the other,
And love together as sister and brother.”

The oldest of the structures is known as Enclosure “The tenth article is for to know,
D, and its central pillars are oriented north-to-south. Among the craft, to high and low,
When standing between the pillars, an observer There shall no master supplant another,
would face an ornate viewing hole in the wall which But be together as sister and brother.”
was aligned to the northernly setting of the star
Deneb; the brightest star of the Cygnus constella- “That no craving be made to thee,
tion. The Cygnus constellation, also known as the Nor to thy fellows in no degree,
Northern Cross, is located at the observable edge of To man or to woman, whoever he be,
the Great Rift. The Great Rift is the dark central band Pay them well and truly, for that will we;”
of the Milky Way galaxy observable in the night’s
sky. The Great Rift has often been associated with The Harleian Manuscript No. 1942 (dated 1660-
the river or path of the soul’s pilgrimage, but more 1670 CE) and the Lodge of Hope Manuscript (dated
appropriate to the context of this writing, the Great 1680 CE) both obligate and charge apprentices to
Rift is also symbolic for the entrance to the galactic respect, obey, and serve Dames (female Masters).
birth canal and cosmic womb. In this way, we may These and other Old Charges lend vital corrobora-
speculate that the ritualistic structures of Gobekli tive support to the controversial York Manuscript
Tepe may have been constructed and aligned in No. 4 (dated 1693 CE), which specifically mentions
reverence of the universal feminine archetype of the masonic obligation of women: “One of the elders
cosmic creation and birth. taking the book and that he or she that is to be
made a mason shall lay their hands thereon, and the

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charge shall be given.” This excerpt from York No. first time introduced and the law is made explicit.”
4 is alleged, by some, to be no more than a scribal In addition to centuries worth of historic evidence of
error, however, taken in context with other Masonic women working as operative stonemasons, an indis-
Old Charges that mention women, it definitely putable example is that of a woman by the name of
exhibits a consistency with the older gender-inclu- Mary Bannister of Barking, England. The daughter of
sive Masonic documents. a barber, Ms. Bannister was documented as paying
dues and being admitted for a seven-year appren-
The exclusion of women from Freemasonry was ticeship by the London Company of Masons in 1713.
actually an innovation to the Craft. V. Ill. Bro. Albert When we begin to explore feminine ideas, concepts,
Mackey 33˚, Secretary General of the Supreme and archetypes within Freemasonry, little by little
Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite the veil of mystery is parted a bit more. And once we
for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States, begin to examine the subject, it becomes inarguable
stated in his famous, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, that the timeless feminine is indeed present and
“The law which excludes women from initiation expressed within the rituals, symbols, and Lodges of
into Freemasonry is not contained in the precise Freemasonry. Even more, Masonry has had women
words in any of the Old Constitutions… But in the members, Fellows of the Craft, and Masters since
Charges compiled by Anderson and Desaguliers, time immemorial.
and published in 1723, the word woman is for the

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Restoring the Temple’s Light in HAITI
By Gabriel Chery 30° - April 24, 2021

Restoring the Temple’s Light in HAITI Barbé-Marbois were members. The author further
mentions: “Around the year 1770, every important
A silent announcement from the throne of K. S. city (in Haiti) had its respective L.” This may explain
directs me to echo the command of the RWM to the the Masonic influence on the Haitian revolution in
B.B placed on both columns: 1804.
“B.B. by the command of the RWM you will stand me
with the S. of F. to assist the RWM, in preparation for Now we may have an idea why Haiti was then called
the restoration of light and the reconstruction of the “The Pearl of the Caribbean”, the richest colony in
Dilapidated Temple of Haiti.” the Western Hemisphere. During the years 1750s,
the colony contributed more than 50% of France’s
B.B. To order! economy. We can also ask ourselves how Haiti,
once the source of such wealth could today be the
B.B., our beloved Temple of Haiti has been for a long poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. For
time in a state of chaos. The temple light seems many, it is hard to comprehend how a ragtag Haitian
to be turned off. The Brothers and Sisters are in army could then defeat the most powerful army in
disarray. They are plunged into gloomy caverns the world to become the first independent Black
of the underworld, among tumultuous sounds in republic. Set aside the valiance, the determination,
darkness, surrounded by perils no one can under- the resistance, and the resilience of the Haitian
stand (International Co-Free-Masonry, 1º Ritual). people, it appears that some of the main causes
The Old Temple is transformed into a killing field. behind the Haitian revolution were never unveiled.
The forces of darkness took over the Old Temple.
Instead of playgrounds, children are now playing in 1789 was the year of the French revolution. More
cemeteries. Perversion, corruption, and prostitution precisely, July 14th of that year was the day of “La
not only rhyme, but are signs of devotion. As we all Prise de la Bastille”. We know how influential illus-
know, chaos goes in tandem with change. Let’s have trious Masons like Thomas Clarkson, Voltaire and
no fear. It is incumbent upon Freemasons, on us, Robespierre were in that revolution. All of them
Brothers and Sisters of the St-Germain Lodge, to were members of “The Society of Friends of Black
begin our labor in view of restoring the Old Temple’s People / La Société des Amis des Noirs”. They vehe-
light. mently opposed slavery, arguing that the ideas of
the French Revolution should extend to the colonies.
According to the information provided by Donald Apparently, the same current of energy and enlight-
J. Constantino in the Sacred Arts of Haiti, Haiti was enment was transported to Haiti by Vincent Oge
among the first countries to harbor Masonic Lodges and Jean-Baptiste Chavannes, two Haitian mulat-
in the Americas. “Already in 1748, hardly thirty years toes who studied in Paris, both members of the said
after the movement’s beginnings, Cap-Haitian society, and notably by Leger Félicité Sonthonax
witnessed the foundation of the L. “La Vérité” and Etienne Polverel, two French Commissioners
(Lodge of the Truth, or La Logia de la Verdad), the in Haiti, also members of the society. Although
first Lodge of the New World, of which the illustrious acting on behalf of France, Sonthonax seized the
Moreau de St-Remy and le Marquis François, de opportunity to distribute 30,000 rifles to the Blacks

13
as he summoned them: ”Whoever takes away Temple (Haiti). But what remains is Hope.
your rifle wants to enslave you”. Two weeks later,
Polverel declared “General abolition of slavery at In spite of all the calamities, the miseries, and even
St-Domingue / Haiti.” in the midst of this devastation caused by the earth-
quake, still shines underneath the rubble a faint ray
Unfortunately, all this happened in Haiti. No one then of light. A ray of light that amplifies the voices of the
would dare write this beautiful chapter in history of Widow’s Sons to reach the world’s consciousness.
Masonry. On the contrary, it was politically correct BB, I want to believe that the time has come to
for the world to keep silence on Masonic work in rehabilitate the dilapidated temple and restore the
Haiti for fear of destabilizing the status quo. intensity of light in the Old Temple, Haiti. I am calling
upon all of you in this great endeavor.
Over the years, the light that once illuminated Haiti,
and propagated all over South America and all over B. B. let’s prove ourselves amid the current situation
the world, has lost its intensity. Eavesdroppers and in Haiti, let’s do what all Co-Freemasons have been
intruders have found their way inside the temple. working on for so long: “Raising the Standard of
They ransacked their treasury, stole the tools, Humanity”. This is a daunting task; but it will not be
imposed a heavy fine to the temple for the recog- in vain. What is required from you BB, is your moral
nition of its very existence, vilified their customs, support, your encouragement, and more impor-
beliefs, and traditions, and sent the light bearers tantly your Masonic Enlightenment, to help restore
into hiding. In concert with traitors, they captured the intensity of light in Haiti.
Toussaint Louverture, the Master Architect of the
temple and forced him into exile; they assassinated By the help of the GAOTU we will surely enjoy the
Dessalines, the Father of the nation; they suspended fruit of our labors.
all labors; and ultimately, darkness fell over the Old

In 2019, our MPGC and IPMPGC traveled to Haiti, where they were warmly received by a large
contingent of Brothers.

14
Random Thoughts on My Recent Masonic Experiences
Dianne R. Coombs 32º

All of us have seen the effects of the pandemic on many years to wear that badge with pleasure to
the workings of our Lodges. Not being able to meet yourself, usefulness to the Craft and honor to the
in open Lodge has shown us the extent to which Lodge in which you have been initiated; and let
in-person interaction is necessary for Masonic expe- me further exhort you never to disgrace it, for be
rience to occur. While meeting by Zoom has helped assured it will never disgrace you.”
us to stay connected and support our Brothers and
Sisters, at the same time it illustrates why Degrees How do we achieve this feeling when meeting virtu-
must be experienced in person. ally? As Freemasonry is experiential rather than
intellectual, we can only remember. My participa-
What is missing? The call to order, the step and sign, tion in the Higher Bodies and taking part in ceremo-
the Lodge being declared open. The Secrets and nies inspired this piece; another thing we lost was
Mysteries – all those things that we can’t discuss the joy of writing for each other and presenting our
outside of Lodge. There is so much that is intan- thoughts in person. You just don’t get the same
gible when we meet in open Lodge. I was able to response when you’re trying to look at a lot of screen
fully realize this when I was recently able to attend images at once.
Higher Bodies that I had first entered so many years
ago, and had not visited in over twenty-two years. All the parts of the Lodge, the furnishings, the offices,
And yet, it was like I had never left. not just the ritual itself, work together to create this
experience.
If we look at our foundations and structure, we can
see how this is first explained to the candidate upon I have had the fortunate experience to have had a
entering the Temple. From the Lauderdale Ritual: Lodge to attend in person for most of my Masonic
“We ask your aid for this Candidate for Masonry, path. Although my first Lodge, St. Michael’s No. 579
that (s)he may so dedicate and devote his/her life closed before I moved to Colorado, when I did move,
to Service as to become a true and faithful Brother/ I already knew members of the newly formed Ma’at
Sister among us; that (s)he may in due time attain Lodge No. 1686, with which I was eager to affiliate.
unto Wisdom; and that – assisted by the secrets of While I could not attend every month at first, when
this our Masonic Art – (s)he may display the beauty I was able to do so, I had the wonderful feeling of
of Divine Humanity and cooperate with the Supreme inspiration after every meeting that so many of us
Will in evolution.” have, lifting us up in the bonds of Fraternity.
The beauty of Divine Humanity – cooperate with the
Supreme Will in evolution – such uplifting words, When I moved to Minnesota in 2019, I left all that
but they are not just words! It is part of our Masonic behind. The monthly rhythm of going to Lodge
duty to strive to express these qualities. was no longer there. After learning that there were
This is an endeavor that cannot be accomplished already two Sisters in Minnesota, I was all ready to
alone. Not being able to meet in person gives us get things started here. We all know what prevented
limited opportunities to polish each other’s rough that from happening. I have really missed attending
edges. Without aprons, we miss the feeling that is Lodge, as have we all, but my cable tow is not long
explained in the investiture, “I trust you may live enough to go to Lodge. Thanks to Sirius Lodge, we

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now have a new Home Lodge member in Minnesota., credit. I pray that one day, it will be in the length of
so I look forward to one day having a Triangle here. everyone’s cable tow to participate in person.
In the meantime, I have, as do we all, the wonderful
opportunity in our Federation to visit other Lodges, Hopefully, all will be well in April, when Convention is
time and circumstances permitting. Obviously, scheduled. Those who do not live near a Lodge are
for many of us right now, travel is not an option. encouraged to attend, as well as everyone else who
Nevertheless, we are all blessed with having this is eager to see our Federation Masonic family.
possibility. (Thanks to Amen-Ra Lodge for allowing
me to assist in their recent Initiation ceremony.) We are all in this together, this wonderful American
Federation of Le Droit Humain. While the times have
Having had these experiences, I would like to give a been challenging for me and for others, I know that
lot of credit to our Home Lodge members. Staying I always have the support of you, my dear Brothers
connected without the possibility of participating in and Sisters, whether I have met you are not. Let us
Lodge is a challenge. Those Home Lodge members continue to strengthen the Chain of Union amongst
who participate regularly on Zoom deserve a lot of us all!

Three of the four Minnesota Sisters.

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Calumny
Bro. Randall Czerenda, Member of St. Germain Lodge 1737 Orient of South Florida

According to Albert Mackey 33º in his Encyclopedia Fraternity, the most prized, perhaps, of all words
of Freemasonry: in Masonry, harkens back to the Latin frater, which
is closely allied to “brother.” It gives us fra, frater,
“It is a duty incumbent on every Mason to support fraternize, and many other terms of similar import.
a brother’s character in his absence equally as A fraternity is a society in which the members strive
though he were present; not to revile him behind to live in a brotherly concord patterned on the family
his back nor suffer it to be done by others, without relations of blood brothers, where they are worthy
using every necessary attempt to prevent it. of the tie. To be fraternal means to treat another as
if he/she were a brother/sister in the most literal
“The most material part of that is brotherly love sense.
which should subsist among us Masons is that
of speaking well of each other to the world; more A common dictionary definition of calumny is “the
especially it is expected of every member of this making of false and defamatory statements about
Fraternity that he should not traduce his brother. someone in order to damage their reputation;
Calumny and slander are detestable crimes against slander.”
society. Nothing can be viler than to traduce a man
behind his back; it is like the villainy of an assassin Calumny within a fraternity is a cancer within. It
who has not virtue enough to give his adversary eats away at each cell’s confidence in the integrity of
the means of self-defense, but, lurking in darkness, the others. It erodes confidence in our hierarchical
stabs him whilst he is unarmed and unsuspicious of systems, in the authority of our leaders. It is for this
an enemy.” reason that the penalty for malicious calumny, like
cancer, is expulsion.
Article 99 of the American Federation’s Rules &
Regulations refers to “malicious calumny” as being Our Masonic duty is to ensure that we and those
a Masonic crime requiring judgment against the Brothers and Sisters with whom we come in contact
perpetrator. maintain each other’s honor, never speaking ill of
a Brother or Sister, especially behind their backs.
Our Obedience carries the motto “Liberty, Equality, By so doing, we maintain each member’s right to
Fraternity” in that order. We must first have freedom Liberty of Belief, Equality in the Right to Interpret
before we can have equality. If the order is reversed, and Live Masonry according to one’s life experi-
there can be no liberty. Liberty is to be one’s unique ence and, most importantly, Brotherly Love which
self, to hold one’s own understanding of Masonic preserves the Fraternity of Freemasonry.
symbols and, more importantly, how to apply them
in the general society. Equality means that each of Let us practice True Fraternity, True Brotherly Love,
us has equal right to pursue our life’s experiences keeping Masonry a living thing and making us worthy
both within the Order and in society. It’s Fraternity to be what every Mason should be, the guide and
that transforms the first two into something special helper of the ignorant; otherwise Masonry becomes
– Brotherly Love. merely a collection of empty forms.

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Message from the Most Puissant Grand Commander

Greetings SS. and BB.

I hope you are well, planning our regular meetings and watching the ups and down of the COVID waves in your
community taking advantage, whenever possible, of the low contagion rate to meet in person.

This fall issue of Square and Compasses brings a variety of POA for your pleasure. We hope this will encourage
you to write, share with your Lodge/Triangle and submit so that it can be shared with all the SS. and BB.of the
Federation.

It is with great pleasure that we wish a warm welcome to the following new Entered Apprentices:

Sis. K. Drew (Orpheus Lodge No. 553), Bro. Day (Louis Goaziou Lodge No. 1953), Bro. A, Bollen, Bro. L. Knight
and Sis. Z. Watch (Free Thinkers Lodge No. 2114), Bro. L. Hunt, Bro. C. Freebee, Sis. Heersche, Sis. C. Grogan
and Bro. D. Farias (Solstice Light No. 2066), Bro. D. Miller, Sis. M.K. Crisp and Sis. Katrilini, (Atlantis Triangle),
Sis. A. Sanders (Sirius Lodge for Home Lodge No. 524), Bro. B. T. Strickland (Ojai Valley No. 551), Sis. T. Yadao
(Ma’at Lodge No. 1686) and Sis. J. Parr (Amen-Ra No. 584).

It is with great sadness that I need to let you know that our chain is broken. Ills. Sister Judith Avignon Cheri,
30º, RWM of St. Germain Lodge No. 1737 passed to the Eternal Grand Lodge on October 1, 2021. Her sister,
our Sister Marie Avignon 3º from St. Germain Lodge No. 1737 also passed to the Eternal Grand Lodge on
September 10, 2021 and her sister, our Sister Florence Jean-Poix 3º from St. Germain Lodge No.1737 also
passed to the Eternal Grand Lodge on September 19, 2021. Let us keep their memories and their families in
our heart.

Let us mourn,
Let us mourn, let us mourn,
Let us mourn, let us mourn, let us mourn, and let us remember

I will be traveling to Houston on December 11, 2021 for an Occasional Lodge to initiate four candidates.

It is with concern that we see another variant of COVID-19, but we are not surprised as we know that is what
viruses do. We hope that we will be able to continue to meet regularly and safely, with the understanding that
we may need to adjust our planning accordingly.

Fraternally and WHGW,

Anne-Marie Laroche Moody

Most Puissant Grand Commander
American Federation,-LE DROIT HUMAIN

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 Let us mourn,
Let us mourn, let us mourn,
Let us mourn, let us mourn, let us
mourn, and let us remember

Let us mourn,
Let us mourn, let us mourn,
Let us mourn, let us mourn, let us
mourn, and let us remember

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 THANK YOU
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INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF FREEMASONRY FOR MEN AND WOMEN

LE DROIT HUMAIN AMERICAN FEDERATION
Editor: Dianne Coombs 32º
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