The Sine of Masonry (Part 2)

By Sir Knight Thomas J. Driber, Ph.D.
Excerpted from an article in the Knight Templar Magazine, August, 2015  for educational purposes.

The Sine Wave

Here for the first time in Masonry we see the sine in the allegory of our descent into humanness and our return again to eternal spirit.  ... a "sine wave" ... must be a wave form of periodic oscillation...."  The first problem then is in defining the aspect of "periodic oscillation." That is given in another question and answer where the newly made Brother indicates that, "...has arrived of his own free will and accord" and says further that "...has been often tried, never denied, and willing to be tried again."

This makes no sense in the customary manner of usage since an apprentice has no idea of what trial is, nor has he any idea of how to be tried, never mind being repetitively tried.  ... Knowing that we have descended into this materiality from our spiritual eternity, the answer indicated free will and accord suggests that we have chosen to incarnate here.

Insomuch as this incarnation may represent a kind of trial, the response of the apprentice now makes more sense, and therefore the fuller translation that fulfills the need for "periodic oscillation" would more clearly be stated as; " I come from eternity, that place of truth, descended into the material world, and am ascending back to my eternal nature and doing so of my own free will as I have done many times before, am doing now, and will do many times in the future."

All things in Masonry are given repetitiously and in multiple forms. ... The apprentice is told that in more ancient times our Lodges were held atop the "highest hills and in the lowest valleys and most retired groves."  Considering the highs and lows of the "hills and valleys" it is again the appearance of the sine wave and is elaborated further by the caution of "most retired groves" which can only refer to that which is clearly visible but yet out of ordinary sight.

More to come...

La Bahia High Way

La Bahia trail – FM 390

In the late 1600s and through the 1700s, 1800s, and into the 1900s there existed in what is now Texas a system of cattle trails and well known thoroughfares connecting Mexico with Texas, Louisianna and the United States.

The Sine of Masonry (Part 1)

By Sir Knight Thomas J. Driber, Ph.D.
Excerpted from an article in the Knight Templar Magazine, August, 2015  for educational purposes.

The Holy Saints John of Jerusalem

Today Masonic Lodges are dedicated to the Holy Saints John.  John the Baptist and John the Evangelist were not adopted simultaneously as the Patron Saints of Masonry ... John the Evangelist was not adopted until late in the sixteenth century.  Their feast days were arbitrarily chosen [on the calendar] and have nothing to do with their conceptions, births, deaths, deaths or any other known fact of their lives.

The first question and answer of the Entered Apprentice Catechetical lecture where the Holy Saints John first make their appearance to the newly made Brother requires a clear re-statement and a translation of the terms since they are as expected, "allegorical"... "Whence came you?"  The answer is given "from the Lodge of the Holy Saints John at Jerusalem."

CHARTER MEMBERS: Research Continues

Research on these charter members continues...

Thomas Hunt

W. S. Bishop

R. M. Morris

Patrick Gorman

CHARTER MEMBERS: Who Were These Men? Y. Gaines Lipscomb

•  28-29 year old Son of A. S. Lipscomb
•  Came to Texas to participate in Somervell Expedition, but became ill on the way and arrived too late to participate.
•  Texas Ranger 
•  Indian Fighter
•  Mexican War Veteran
•  Participant in Battle of Monterey 

CHARTER MEMBERS: Who Were These Men? John Alexander

In 1866, R.E.B. Baylor, Sayles, R.T. Smyth, John Alexander, and James E. Shepard were reappointed to the law school faculty.

CHARTER MEMBERS: Who Were These Men? George Washington Gentry

•  George Washington Gentry was born November 6, 1808
•  A member of Stephen F. Austin's Colony he came to Texas in 1835 with his father and brother. 
•  He worked as a farmer and surveyor. 
•  He participated in the Texas Revolution, several Indian skirmishes, and the defense of San Antonio during the 1842 invasions of Rafael Vasquez and Adrian Woll.
•  In 1860 he is listed as Superintendent for Mrs. Stamps 
•  George and his family continued to live in Long Point until sometime in 1882 when they moved to Comanche County, Texas.