Welcome to the Scottish right Journal podcast an audio presentation of the Scottish right Journal brought to you by the Supreme Council of the Scottish right Southern jurisdiction mother Supreme Council of the world this week’s article is old du’s cards and petitions tell our Masonic Life by brother James
Marel 32nd degree and comes from the September October 2023 issue of the Scottish right Journal Masonic membership du’s card cards are a receipt for a member having paid his yearly subscription or fee to retain membership in good standing Masonic du’s cards also serve as a quasi certificate of good standing if the
Brother decides to visit a meeting in another Lodge or jurisdiction his status is officially certified by the seal in olden days this was done via crimping and enlarged seal to certify authenticity in some jurisdictions plastic membership cards may only have the seal embossed thereof on in the 1922
Example it is evident that the valley of Witchita took precautions to prevent the card from slipping into the hands of cowens and eavesdroppers who might attempt to say the card was theirs the safeguards of height hair color and eye color were added so a scrutinizing Tyler or membership committee could detect an
Impostor whose outward characteristics fail to match those written on the card in multiple ways Masonic membership du’s cards tell much about our lives likewise Masonic petitions of Years Gone by are fun to examine this is true not only for the genealogy aspects of showing dates or years of birth and death but also
Usually showing a place of birth this sort of data is prized by Family historians and genealogists few Masonic groups went into greater depth but some did consider the case of Homer T Stewart from Witchita Kansas his petition also notes his age and his occupation as a railway
Switchman further it asks of him his height the color of his eyes and hair blue and brown respectively and his particular religious persuasion various options were available and thus brother Stewart marked Christian such a petition personalizes the getting to know each other feature of the Scottish right at
The time it was also a Zenith of progress for the Scottish right in Kansas it seems incredible by today’s standards but some Valley including wiah had classes of more than 400 men at one time this may not happen again as we have developed into a society more consumed by immediate gratification
There has been a change in technology priorities and even in some cases moral Vision to my way of thinking there is just something special about the personal Mystic tie of masonic Brotherhood it transcends mere friendship for it is a special friendship based based on Mutual solemn promises made between caring individuals
Even to this day Masonic petitions and du’s cards are more than just membership applications and receipts of dues payments they are documents by which a candidate addresses the officers and members of a certain body and Promises Allegiance and faithful Fidelity if accepted for membership Masonic petitions and dues cards leave a lasting
Paper trail of our steps we take in masonry like so much in masonry du’s cards and petitions are an important reference point as Masons today look back to Masons of the past for inspiration and continuity of tradition in an Ever Changing world like and share this article and
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Right Southern jurisdiction mother Supreme Council of the World Mark Dron stock 32nd degree KC managing editor I’m your host Matt Bowers
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