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The Society's membership was composed of regular Freemasons throughout the world. Their subjects of study and research also cover a wide range of interest and issues. The Society's core research discipline is focused on analyzing, researching and solving key issues in Freemasonry and can be applied to the Prince Hall Masonic Order.
The Society was Established with Three Aims:
The Masonic Voice … the
Instructive Tongue of Masonic Thoughts Published by the Dr. Charles
H. Wesley Masonic Research Society at Dayton, Ohio (USA). The Masonic Voice is the
official publication of the Dr. Charles H. Wesley Masonic Research
Society. Any article
appearing in this publication expresses only the opinion of the writer,
and does not reflect the official position of the Dr. Charles H. Wesley
Masonic Research Society. The
Dr. Charles H. Wesley Masonic Research Society does not speak for
Freemasonry, or any Masonic Order or Body. Membership into the Dr.
Charles H. Wesley Masonic Research Society is by Invitation Only. Classes of Membership are
Research Member and Associate Research Member. All rights reserved. No part or parts of this
publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, without the written permission from the editor. As the first president of the Dr. Charles H. Wesley
Masonic Research Society, I would like to welcome you to this premiere
issue of The Masonic Voice. We
should always pay homage and respect to those whose shoulders we stand
on. I would like to
personally thank those Brethren who have contributed in the past, to the
cause known as Masonic Education. Many members of the Fraternity focus on
our declining membership as a reason for our lack of participation in
the community, and low turn out for our monthly meetings. You generally hear Brother’s
exclaiming, “We need more
members in our Lodges in order to do the work.” When we do have events, only a
few dedicated members come. And it always appears that a few Brothers carry the load
for the many. What we don’t
focus on, is the way we approach the subject of good Masonic education
in our Lodges. Generally
when candidates are going through the degrees, they are taught their
proficiency and MAYBE
other things related to Freemasonry.
The newly
Raised Brother gives his Master Mason Proficiency and you may never hear
from him again. Repeatedly
in our Lodges, we are seeing classes of five or more members, which is a
good size, but after these Brothers get raised, you are lucky if two
participate on a regular basis. I
ask the question, why is this? We can have a million members on our
Lodges membership rosters, but if men are not taught what Freemasonry
truly means, it won’t matter. I ask that you read this and future
issues with an open mind. You
may not agree with everything that will be stated, and I understand
that. What we are trying to do as a Masonic Research Society, is provoke
discussion and dialogue. Hopefully
this will lead to good Masonic Education. Once again, I thank you for your
continued support. I remain, Fraternally Yours Antonio
O. Caffey Antonio O. Caffey, President - Charles H. Wesley Masonic Research Society 3 4 4 5 19 6–7 8-9 11-13 10 14, 19 15-16, 19 17-19 The Editor’s Desk The Mouth to Ear EDUCATION: No Due Guard! He Can’t Be a Mason! Can He? - by Nelson King The Editor’s Desk All of us of the Dr. Charles H. Wesley Masonic
Research Society are excited about this, our first publication. We pray this edition, whose
hands it reaches will be delighted enough to join in supporting our
noble cause. We may not have made it here without the Phylaxis
Society, which paved the way for all Prince Hall Research Societies and
future Prince Hall Research Lodges, and we implore Brothers to continue
to support all of the Phylaxis Societies’ programs and projects. Brother Joseph A. Walkes Jr.,
tells us in his ‘Rise of the
Phylaxis Society’, about the many journals, magazines and
other publications that have graced the canvas of Prince Hall
Freemasonry, only to disappear because of lack of support or at the hand
of the powers-that-be that would rather have an ignorant follower than a
enlightened leader. The future editions of The Masonic Voice promises
to be one of the Premier Publications in Prince Hall Freemasonry. This is also the home of Social
Masonic Lodge #73, which you may soon conclude in your mind is either a
totally dysfunctional Lodge or one that is quite normal. As Editor of The Masonic Voice – I promise you
fair and balanced Masonic reading, as well as educating. Articles are flowing in from our
Research and Associate Research Members and being prepped to publish in
future editions. We also
have members researching fresh material to present to you for your
education and pleasure, from Masonic History to Masonic Humor to
Esoteric Interpretations to Masonic Symbolism – You’ll read it here. David L. Gray, Editor The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of
Hawaii and its’ Jurisdiction will be born on June 2nd of
the year 2001. The
Honorable Most Worshipful Grand Master Elect Leslie C. Jones will
preside as the first Grand Master of this new jurisdiction. In April of 2000 the three
lodges in Hawaii of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of California &
Hawaii and one Military Lodge in Hawaii of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge
of Texas met in due and ancient form to lay the ground work for this
forthcoming event. God
Speed!!! * * * * * * * On September 16, 2000, the Prince and Mainstream
Grand Lodges of Iowa became the latest Grand Lodges, of these types, to
join in full recognition of each other.
On September 11, 2000 the Prince Hall and Mainstream Grand Lodges
of the District of Columbia began to share in joint visitation,
(although successfully voted on in 1999, but the agreement was not
signed by both Grand Masters until September 11, 2000). With the exception to the Grand
Lodges of New York and New Jersey, the only Prince Hall and Mainstream
Grand Lodges that have not joined in recognition of each other are those
Grand Lodges situated below the Mason-Dixon Line. * * * * * * * The Dr. Charles H. Wesley Masonic Research Society
is proud to announce that a member of our Board of Directors, the
Honorable Nelson King {CARM1} was appointed a Blue Friar on February 16,
2001 in Washington, D.C. at the annual Masonic Week of Allied Masonic
Degrees. "The Society
of Blue Friars" was formed in 1932, explicitly "to recognize
Masonic Authors." It is probably the smallest, and certainly one of
the oddest, concordant bodies in Masonry. It has no fixed ritual or ceremonies, no dues or fees, and
very few records. Since
1944 the Society has met once a year (except for 1945), in a session
that is open to all Masonic Brethren.
The "Consistory" takes place in Washington, D.C., in
February, as part of the annual Masonic Week that is sponsored by the
Allied Masonic Degrees. At
the annual meeting, the new Friar is proclaimed, and is expected to
deliver a research paper. The
Society has a short list of regulations.
They tell us that there are three officers. The presiding officer is the Grand Abbot, who retains his
office as long as he wishes, or as long as he lives. He appoints the
Deputy Grand Abbot (who is his designated successor), and the
Secretary-General. The
Grand Abbot may receive nominations for new Friars, but the final
decision as to who shall be selected rests entirely with him. There are
neither dues nor fees. And the regulations can be changed only at the
pleasure of the Grand Abbot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||