Wednesday, January 20, 2010

GRAND MASTER'S URGENT APPEAL FOR HAITIAN RELIEF

Most Worshipful Edward G. Gilbert, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, has issued an urgent appeal to all Masons in the jurisdiction for all individual Brother Masons and Masonic Lodges to come to the aid of those who have been devastated by the disaster in Haiti. The Grand Master is requesting that tax deductible contributions be made in the form of checks to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund, Inc and marked "Special Haitian Relief Fund" and mailed to Masonic Brotherhood Fund, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010. These monies will be made available directly to provide and augment aid and assistance to those members of our Masonic family that hail within the Grand Orient d’Haiti that have been devastated by the earthquake and its collateral damage in the Caribbean.


The full text of the Grand Master's appeal follows:

January 20, 2010

My Dear Brethren and Friends,

This past decade has seen the world stage beset by a multitude of cataclysmic events caused by Nature and others far too frequently caused by the consequents and interventions of Mankind. The Masonic Fraternity has consistently and swiftly hastened to the calls of the needy and the distressed as is wont by our basic tenets and obligations. A code of belief that emanates from that enduring biblical verse, “and now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity, these three: but the greatest of these is Charity.”

Today, we have barely set foot upon the path of a new decade; when Nature has tested our resolve by unleashing a devastating earthquake of monstrous proportions, which has rained havoc, destruction and ruin upon our fellow brothers and sisters of the human family in Haiti. We at the Grand Lodge of New York shall do our part toward answering the call of these distressed Masons and their families in providing a source of much needed help, support and comfort. Together, we will stand united with our fellow brethren in Haiti, providing them with brotherly love to cement and heal their current hardship, and to offer a beacon of hope to rebuild stronger bonds of friendship for a better tomorrow.

Heeding the call I have established a Special Haitian Relief Fund under the umbrella of the Masonic Brotherhood Fund, to provide and augment aid and assistance to those members of our Masonic family that hail within the Grand Orient d’Haiti that have been devastated by the earthquake and its collateral damage in the Caribbean.

In an effort to help supplement and thereby better enable our Grand Lodge to offer financial assistance, I am appealing to every Lodge to keep these unfortunate Brethren and their families paramount in your prayers and to give genuine consideration in supporting this Special Haitian Relief Fund. Checks and Money Orders should be made payable to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund earmarked for the Special Haitian Relief Fund and mailed to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund, 71 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010.

Brother James Buchanan, fifteenth President of the United States, once said, “The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.” Brethren, as members of our gentle Craft, I know that I can depend on each of you to lead with your heart, because you are truly a great brotherhood.

With kindest fraternal regards, I remain your friend and brother,

Edward G. Gilbert

Grand Master

Saturday, January 09, 2010

Translation of the Processus Contra Templarios

The Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library recently added a translation of the Processus Contra Templarios.

According to Director Tom Savini, "the single volume is slightly smaller in dimension than the volume included in the actual Processus, and it is surrounded by a leather 'dust jacket' similar in appearance to the leather binder included with the Processus. The translation is divided into two parts: the first translates the contents of the Processus from Latin into Italian; the second translates the contents into English. Each section is preceded by an abstract of all the facsimile documents. Each document is then transcribed in its entirety. Our translation is numbered the same as our copy of the Processus itself, 355/799, which indicates some thought and consideration on the part of the publisher."

Another excellent acquisition to this great Library's collection!