Focus September 2005

Masonic Awareness -- In the Lodge

How lodges need to respond to “being a Mason,” is a preview of the MIC Task Force Report and was published as the Sept. 2005 Short Talk Bulletin. This STB contains a great deal of information as to how lodges may become better “community citizens” and calls attention to the many years of inertia which have negatively affected our fraternity. If you have not seen a copy, please go to www.msana.com, under the section Masonic Information Center, where it has been posted.

New Award

As has been previously mentioned, the Masonic Information Center is deeply interested in what lodges are doing to enhance Masonic Public Awareness. We are creating an award to recognize those lodges who are “telling the story of Masonry.” The announcement will be mailed with an upcoming Short Talk Bulletin and will also be posted on the website at www.msana.com

It's About Time

New on the website www.msana.com a three-part online audio series addressing the critical issues facing our fraternity. This audio explains why Freemasons need to take personal and fraternal responsibility for clarifying Masonic identity within the context of the 21st century.

Radicalism of the American Revolution

In his book The Radicalism of the American Revolution, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize, noted author and historian Gordon S. Wood has this to say about Freemasonry:

The Institution that best embodied these ideals of sociability and cosmopolitanism was Freemasonry. It would be difficult to exaggerate the importance of Masonry for the American Revolution. It not only created national icons that are still with us; it brought people together in new ways and helped fulfill the republican dream of reorganizing social relationships. For thousands of Americans, it was a major means by which they participated directly in the Enlightenment.

Freemasonry in the News

U. S. News & World Report - September 5, 2005

Secrets of the Masons by Jay Tolson

One of the most accurate, informative, and interesting articles about Freemasonry to be published in recent years. Jay Tolson writes about Freemasonry after having done extensive research and having interviews with several leading Masonic scholars and writers. Mr. Tolson says of our fraternity—“The real history of Freemasonry is arguably more interesting than all the tales woven about it.”

U.S. News & World Report – Collectors Edition

This collectors edition of US News & World Report discusses Dan Brown’s book Angels and Demons. There are two articles about the Illuminati and its relationship to Freemasonry. The discussion is fair and accurate and clearly states the Illuminati were not part of Freemasonry.

Where - Washington, DC - August, 2005

Rite Stuff – Marks of the Masons by Jean L. Cohen and Ben Falk

Where is a magazine published regionally covering “happenings” in many cities. It is available in hotels and tourist information kiosks. The cover of the August 2005 edition, for the Washington, DC. metropolitan area, featured the “Strength” Sphinx in front of the House of the Temple and carried an article dealing with Freemasonry and its relationship to our national capital city. The article includes a brief history of Freemasonry, several points of Masonic interest, and the Initiated Eye exhibition at the Octagon Museum.

Dan Brown's New Book

There is an enormous amount of interest in the new book by Dan Brown titled The Solomon Key. All that we know, at the present time, is the book is to be released in 2006.

There is much speculation that the book will be released just prior to the release of the movie version of The Da Vinci Code. The movie is thought to be scheduled for release in May 2006.

There is no doubt that a great deal of publicity will be given to both releases at a time chosen by the publisher and filmmaker.