The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (also known as “The Tomb of the Unknowns”) is a memorial that honors those who have given their lives in service as a part of our country’s Armed Forces, but whose identity cannot be verified. Located in Arlington National Cemetery, most visitors to this must-see monument say that the most memorable part of their visit is the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb.

In July 2010 a member of Dover Lodge was present at the Tomb, and filmed both the Changing of the Guard and the Wreath Ceremony that take place every day of every year. Here is that footage, brought to you for educational purposes by Dover Lodge.

For more information, see here.

A bit of free verse from our Brother Junior Steward. I’m certain that the Brethren of Dover Lodge know of what Brother Reulbach speaks…

As I stand here in the kitchen, I look out into the gathering room and see a very interesting sight … there is a great cross-section of men of different faiths, beliefs, colors, background and ages all sitting together around some tables. They are laughing, joking, talking about flying planes, their wives, girlfriends, children, parents, vacations, and weddings, basically anything.

I have been a part of this for less than a year.

I came not knowing what to expect, except that a person I asked if I might visit for a meeting was a very nice and kind gentleman to whom I had only spoken a few times by phone and met only once in person. I like him immediately.

I attended a few gatherings after their meetings and met some interesting people. I asked for a petition and was given the same. I guess they don’t ask you…

Some “guys” showed up at my house and visited with my wife and myself for a little while. We had some food, some coffee and some conversation. They went on their way.

I attended a few more gatherings, and after one of their meetings was congratulated and asked to show up earlier in a couple of weeks.

I showed up … Who are these guys, and what did I get myself into?

Well, after that fateful night and a couple more, I can tell you who these guys are and what I got myself into…

I stand here in the kitchen and look out into the gathering room and see a very interesting sight … I see my friends and my Brothers. Men I can count on for anything. Men whose families I would help without hesitation. Men whose widows and orphans will always be cared for. I see my family.

Well said, Brother Reulbach – the feeling is mutual.

Note: Portions of Brother Reulbach’s work were purposely omitted that relate to Masonic ceremony.

Friends and Brethren, below is a poem that Brother Puwal shared with me. I found it both inspirational and challenging, and think you might gain from it as well. Enjoy!

The Man In The Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you King for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
and see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgement upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

It is a sad fact that many people spend entire lives not caring to understand the meaning behind the very words they use on a regular basis. In the English language, an interesting example is served by the names of the days of the week. Let us find the truth behind the often unknown and unconsidered origin of these words that we use on a daily basis.

In most English-speaking nations of the world, it is generally accepted that the week begins on “Sunday”. The days are therefore enumerated with “Sunday” being the first, followed by “Monday”, “Tuesday”, “Wednesday”, “Thursday”, “Friday” and finally “Saturday”, after which the naming of the days restarts it’s cycle of seven.

It is verifiable that the English names for the days of the week have their origins in the Old Germanic names of Norse gods. This Old Germanic tongue is the root from which the English language has grown. Let’s have a look:

• Sunday – quite simply the Day of the Sun, the source of the Earth’s power
• Monday – named for the Moon, the marker of the months (or “moonths”)
• Tuesday – named for the war-god Tiw, who is often associated with the planet Mars
• Wednesday – named for the chief god Wotan, also called Odin, who is associated with the planet Mercury
• Thursday – named for the thunder god Thor, or “Thor’s Day”, who is associated with the planet Jupiter
• Friday – named for the goddess of love Freya, who is associated with Venus
• Saturday – the sole exception, Saturday keeps it’s original Latin form for the planet Saturn

more…

“You know, I always wanted to do that – but I never knew any Masons.”

“Forget being a Mason. If they don’t invite you, you’ll never get in.”

“Its a ‘Good Old Boys’ network. If you’re not in the inner circle, they ignore you.”

And so the misinformation goes surrounding Freemasonry. But what is the truth? You might be surprised to know that every one of the statements above are not only false, but are completely antithetical to the nature of our Gentle Craft. What is required to be made a Mason? Have a look at the list of requirements:

1. To join a Lodge in Ohio, you must be a resident of Ohio for at least the past six months.
2. You must be a male at least 19 years of age.
3. You must believe in a Supreme Being.
4. You must lead a good moral and social life.
5. You cannot be an advocate for overthrowing our government.
6. You must be able to read and write in the English language.

Seems simple, you might say. But here’s where it gets difficult – YOU MUST REACH OUT TO US FIRST. Masons never invite or seek out new members. Let us not minimize the difficulty of such an approach, because for many men this is very difficult. We live in a world of internet access and so-called “social” networks, where we can comfortably hide behind a computerized persona. We get comfortable in our homes, and we value our privacy above all else. Masons want to see you. We want to sit across the table from you, to look into your eyes and see what kind of man you really might be.

See, here’s the trick – even if you meet all of the qualifications above, you still cannot even begin the process of becoming a Mason without the recommendation of two Master Masons. That means we need to see you first. We’re going to invite you to dinner. We’re going to want to learn about your thoughts. We’re going to want to laugh with you. But you HAVE to come out first.

Interested? Then reach out. Come to our “Contact Us” page where we have our phone number and contact form, and either call us or email us.

Your life will never be the same.

As a man enters into the doors of Freemasonry, a vast world is opened to him that would take several lifetimes to fully comprehend. Sadly however, people tend to be attached more to the degree numbers than what is actually taught. This is especially true of those who are opposed to Freemasonry, who ignorantly surmise that if a 3rd Degree Master Mason is bad then a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason must be the incarnation of evil.

General Albert Pike (pictured) was the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite for thirty-two years, and was responsible for completely revitalizing Scottish Rite Masonry from 1859 to 1891. A great philosopher, it is said that he “found Freemasonry in a cabin, and left it in a temple.”. Thought often maligned by anti-Masons, his words carry a great deal of power even to this day.

I ran across the following quote that Brother Pike delivered in a speech entitled “Address of the President” that I think speaks volumes. As Freemasons, we often try to make clear that there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason, or the “3rd Degree”. Although the 3 degrees of the Blue Lodge (or “Blue Degrees”) are the essence of Masonry while the “higher” ones are appendant bodies, this often falls on deaf ears as uninformed Masons rush through the Blue Lodge and into the Scottish Rite in the hopes that somehow the elusive 33rd Degree will be theirs. It also is ignored by anti-Masons and conspiracy theorists, who desperately cling to the notion that the “great secrets” are hidden in the 33rd Degree.

Albert Pike himself so eloquently states:

But, whatever else we may be, we are all Master Masons, and we all owe to the Masonry of the Blue Degrees our first and paramount allegiance. No man is without offence, who makes these Degrees mere stepping-stones by which to ascend to what he deems a higher level. If he does so, he is not worthy to wear the decorations of the Degrees to which he supposes himself to have ascended.

Sounds to me like Brother Pike has it right on the mark.

Brother Manly Palmer Hall is one of the most celebrated Masonic scholars in history. His monumental tome “The Secret Teachings Of All Ages” was published when he was just 27 years old in 1928. What follows is a history of this amazing Masonic scholar, with actual footage of Brother Hall delivering lectures to captivated audiences. This video was created by The Philosophical Research Society, a philosophical organization not connected with Freemasonry but founded by Brother Hall.

Note: This version was modified from the original version on a shared internet video site. We have resynced the sound so that it matches with the video throughout the feature. The occasional visual and audible artifacts are from the original video.

Did you know there were secret Masonic designs right here in the streets of Ohio? Watch this documentary piece on the design of Sandusky, Ohio (our neighbors just to the west) and the Mason behind the layout of the streets in this famous city.

This video is also posted on our multimedia page.