2. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. 2
The same was in the beginning with God. 3
All things were
made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4
In him
was life; and the life was the light of men. 5
And the light shineth in darkness; and
the darkness comprehended it not. 6
There was a man sent from God, whose name
was John. 7
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men
through him might believe. 8
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness
of that Light. 9
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world.”
An early account of Hiram Abiff and the building of King Solomon's Temple, the
archetype for building the Spiritual Temple of man, is found in the writing of 4th
century Christian Mystic, John Cassian. In his 11th book "The Conferences" he
writes in detail about symbolism in the 3 Degrees of monks. Throughout the
Ages, Masonry has professed two sciences, one being Speculative or Symbolic and
the other being Operative. The path here described being Speculative, fore it
would not be possible to write at any reasonable length a description of them
together although both Operative and Speculative being intertwined throughout
history in the "Old Charges" of Operative Freemasonry.
Reference to Operative guilds in antiquity are found in the Holy Bible. In Mark
6:3 we find, "Is not this the [Tekton], the son of Mary, the brother of James, and
Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?" The English
word "carpenter" in Hebrew is Tekton meaning construction worker or stone
cutter. Justin Martyr, A.D.165, wrote that Jesus made yokes and ploughs. This
verse also clearly refers to the family of Jesus. In 2 Samuel:5-11, "Hiram king of
Tyre sent envoys [Masons] to King David to build him a palace." 1 Kings 5:17,18
& 6:1-38. 1 Kings 7:1-51, Also Amos:7-7. "Thus he shewed me. And the Lord
stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand...".
The histories of the old and new charges of Masonry evolve through the teachings
that include King Solomon and Prophets of the Old Testament, The Christ Jesus,
his family and Disciples, Euclid and Pythagoras, and the ancient philosophies of
Egypt, Persia and India. Indeed Masonry spans the entire evolution of human
culture. But with the Industrial Age superstructures were now made of iron rather
than stone and Operative Masonry fell into decline, and officially came to a close
by edict during the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral at London in A.D. 1703
when Christopher Wren, then Grand Master resolved, "That the privileges of
Masonry shall no longer be confined to Operative Masons, but be free to men of
3. all professions, provided they are regularly approved and initiated into the
Fraternity." The Edict was instituted four years later in 1721.
Manuscripts of Operative Masonic Fraternities are mentioned throughout
antiquity. Surviving documents resembling what we recognize today as Speculative
Craft Masonry in Britain include among others the
Regius Manuscript dating to not before A.D. 1390 and
the Matthew Cooke M.S. dating not later than the
fifteenth century current era. Both the Regius and
Matthew Cooke Manuscripts are prototypes of Masonic
Ritual recognized today. Written in poetic form, they
are Codes of Moral Duties, using Euclid and Geometry
in symbol, presenting the Points and Articles for the well
governed Rule of a Heavenly School in the guise of a
Philosophic Trade Guild on Earth.
In A.D. 1717, in London, after the suppression of the
first Jacobite uprising, with the resolution declared by Christopher Wren, four Old
Lodges met to reestablish Freemasonry under new Charters. The Goose and
Gridiron Ale-house, Crown Ale-house in Parker's Lane, Apple Tree Tavern and
Rummer and Grapes Tavern, with Lodges meeting at the Apple Tree Tavern
forming a Grand Lodge. "Some old Brothers met at the Apple-Tree, and having
put into the Chair the oldest Master Mason, constituted themselves a Grand
Lodge pro Tempore and forthwith revived the Quarterly Communication of the
Officers of Grand Lodges, resolved to hold the Annual Assembly and Feast, and
then to choose a Grand Master from among
themselves, till they should have the Honor of a Noble
Brother at their Head."
In 1721, George Payne, being the current Grand
Master, compiled from ancient charter documents a
series of charges and regulations based on the "Charter
of York", a constitution written previously in A.D. 926
by Edwin, the grandson of Alfred the Great, and Grand
Master of the fraternity prefaced with a history saved
from the fires and pillage of the invading Danes of
Scandinavia. Payne submitted his document to a
committee of 14 containing the body of law and doctrine for use in Lodges of
England. Dr. James Anderson a Presbyterian, (at right) born in Aberdeen, having a
Master's in the liberal Arts at Marischal College, under the direction of the
committee wrote "Anderson's Constitutions", and included a telling of the
legendary history of the Old Charges of Masonry.
4. It is important to note that Operative Masonry developed over the globe
throughout the millennia of time, separating Itself from religion and politics. The
New Charges making Freemasonry more accessible to the masses however brought
new challenges to the fraternity. As with any human endeavor to exemplify the
supreme perfection of our Creator, there also is the corruption of humanity's
failing when individuals or groups develop oligarchies to elevate their egos or
control humanity under the cover of politics and religion. May we ever remember
that Freemasonry's Moral Tenets have always been Brotherly Love, Relief and
Truth.
"It may be said that Truth is the Column of Wisdom, whose rays penetrate and
enlighten the inmost recesses of the Lodge of society;
Brotherly Love, the column of strength, which binds us as one family in fraternal
affection in the world; and Relief, the column of Beauty, whose ornaments, more
precious than the lilies or pomegranates that adorn the pillars of the porch, are the
widows tear of joy and the orphan's prayer of gratitude." It is the interior and not
the exterior quality that is important to Freemasons.
St. Joseph Lodge No.78, Chartered October 14th
1846
An Artist's view of St. Joseph in 1858 looking across St. Michael's Meadow Northwest toward Wyeth Hill,
the Missouri River and site of the Court House built in 1871.
By the late 1720s in the newly formed colonies of America several Masonic
gatherings were reported in newspapers at Boston Massachusetts. And Ben
6. and owner of a business house was a Frenchman named Robadoux [sic], (pictured
below) who had lived there a number of years as an Indian trader, and who was at
that time still engaged in the occupation. He was moving around dressed in an old,
red flannel shirt, his trousers strapped around his waist, on his head a slouched hat,
and so tanned and weather-beaten that is was difficult to tell whether he was a
white man, a mulatto, or an Indian. His establishment consisted of three log-
cabins, one or more of which were filled with furs of otter, beaver, buffalo, deer,
bear, and other skins; in the other buildings were stored
provisions, trinkets, and supplies for the Indians, the latter
chiefly in whiskey, tobacco, and liquors. The old man
seemed to be a very energetic, enterprising, shrewd
business manager. He was familiar with several dialects of
Indian language, and was highly respected by all the
natives who dealt with him...', 'From this trading outpost
grew the city of St. Joseph, in many respects, perhaps, the
most promising city west of St. Louis and this side of the
Rocky Mountains."
In 1843 Robidoux contracted two surveyors to create
plats for a town he had proposed to build next to his
outpost in the area named Saint Michael's Meadow. This area was mentioned by
Meriwether Louis, in his journal on July 7th
in the Lewis and Clark expedition of
1804. Brothers Frederick W. Smith and Simeon Kemper, both members of Sparta
Lodge No.46 surveyed plats for the settlement. Brother Frederick W. Smith
named his plat Saint Joseph after Mr. Robidoux's Patron Saint and Simeon
Kemper named his plat Robidoux. Frederick Smith's plat was selected and was
recorded at St. Louis, Missouri in July 1843. The population
at that time was about 200. By 1845 St. Joseph was called
“Queen of the Riverboat Towns” North of St. Louis and a
Dispensation was created the same year for a new Lodge to be
built on ground donated by Robidoux called DeWitt Lodge.
The Dispensation was recommended by Savannah Lodge
No.71, located North in Andrew County that is still active
today. In 1846 the County Seat for Buchanan County was
relocated from Sparta to Saint Joseph and a Charter was
granted at the Grand Lodge Annual Communication for St. Joseph Lodge No.78
October 14th 1846. Sinclair K. Miller (at left) its first Worshipful Master;
Simeon Kemper, Senior Warden and James Highley, Junior Warden. Within the
first year Samuel E. Love would be the Lodge's first Secretary. Although Joseph
7. Robidoux was not known to be a Freemason, one of his six sons Felix was a
charter member of St. Joseph's first Masonic Lodge. William R. Penick,
(shown at left) Worshipful Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.78 in 1858, was the
21st
Grand Master of Missouri in 1861.
1861 is known as the year of the “Rebellion”, and the beginning of the Civil
War. From the first Post Office, the Pony Express carried President Lincoln’s
Inaugural Address west to Sacramento, CA., and Confederate and Union men,
some of whom were Masonic brethren, battled in the streets of
St. Joseph and citizens watched as the American Flag was torn
from the Post Office flag pole by an angry mob. R.W.B.
Penick entered the Union Army in 1862 as a Colonel in the 2nd
Regiment, Missouri Militia and wrote his address to the
Annual Grand Lodge Communication from the field. Such is a
history of Masonry and its travel to the town of St. Joseph,
Missouri in the United States of America. Freemasons, some
being from the same Lodges separated to both sides of the fence during the
American Civil War. One such Brother was RWB William H. Carpenter.
Brother Carpenter enlisted in the Confederate army at the outbreak of the war and
enlisted in Company H. First Missouri Cavalry under Col. Elijah Gates. Carpenter
participated in the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. and after returning the next year
engaged in battle at Baker's Creek, Champion Hill
and Black River, and was engaged in the siege of
Vicksburg and the battle of Kenesaw Mountain
where General Polk was killed. At the battle of
Franklin he was wounded with grapeshot and
recovered in a hospital as a prisoner for six
months. His regiment surrendered in April
1865.
William H. Carpenter At left, served as
Worshipful Master at St. Joseph Lodge No.78 in
1886. In 1891 he was a member of a Knights
Templar excursion party which visited important
places in Germany, Australia, Italy, Switzerland,
France, England and Wales. Upon his passing in March 1916, WB Carpenter was
permanently interred at Mount Mora cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri.
![“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. 2
The same was in the beginning with God. 3
All things were
made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4
In him
was life; and the life was the light of men. 5
And the light shineth in darkness; and
the darkness comprehended it not. 6
There was a man sent from God, whose name
was John. 7
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men
through him might believe. 8
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness
of that Light. 9
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world.”
An early account of Hiram Abiff and the building of King Solomon's Temple, the
archetype for building the Spiritual Temple of man, is found in the writing of 4th
century Christian Mystic, John Cassian. In his 11th book "The Conferences" he
writes in detail about symbolism in the 3 Degrees of monks. Throughout the
Ages, Masonry has professed two sciences, one being Speculative or Symbolic and
the other being Operative. The path here described being Speculative, fore it
would not be possible to write at any reasonable length a description of them
together although both Operative and Speculative being intertwined throughout
history in the "Old Charges" of Operative Freemasonry.
Reference to Operative guilds in antiquity are found in the Holy Bible. In Mark
6:3 we find, "Is not this the [Tekton], the son of Mary, the brother of James, and
Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?" The English
word "carpenter" in Hebrew is Tekton meaning construction worker or stone
cutter. Justin Martyr, A.D.165, wrote that Jesus made yokes and ploughs. This
verse also clearly refers to the family of Jesus. In 2 Samuel:5-11, "Hiram king of
Tyre sent envoys [Masons] to King David to build him a palace." 1 Kings 5:17,18
& 6:1-38. 1 Kings 7:1-51, Also Amos:7-7. "Thus he shewed me. And the Lord
stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand...".
The histories of the old and new charges of Masonry evolve through the teachings
that include King Solomon and Prophets of the Old Testament, The Christ Jesus,
his family and Disciples, Euclid and Pythagoras, and the ancient philosophies of
Egypt, Persia and India. Indeed Masonry spans the entire evolution of human
culture. But with the Industrial Age superstructures were now made of iron rather
than stone and Operative Masonry fell into decline, and officially came to a close
by edict during the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral at London in A.D. 1703
when Christopher Wren, then Grand Master resolved, "That the privileges of
Masonry shall no longer be confined to Operative Masons, but be free to men of](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)