The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1924-02-23
THE TWO ST. JOHNS IN
MASONRY
Highly Interesting Article by Sir
Knight James z. Bish

Most Masonic lodges are dedicated
to these patrons of Masonry in past
years, lodges were dedicated to King
Solomon. and some were dedicated to
Zerubbabal, a Prince of Judah The
building of the temple by Solomon as
grand master, and the temple as a
legend brings him much in use in Ma
sonic ceremonies as King Of Israel and
his chief aid Hiram, King Of Tyre, are
beautifully portrayed in many degrees
of Masonry and in some of the auxil-
airy bodies, such as the Order of
Eastern Star, in their Queen of the
South degree. We are told that orig
inally lodges were dedicated to this
great man our first grand master and
founder Of the order, but after the
Babylonian captivity Masonic lodges
were dedicated to Zerubbabal, a
Prince Of the House Of Judah, the son
of Shalthiel, who with Joshua, the
high priest, and Haggai scribe, led
a party of released captives back to
Jerusalem and worked on the erection
Of the second temple, and remained
there until the final destruction Of the
temple by Titus, in the reign Of the
Roman emperor Vespasian, the lodges
were dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
After many years the lodges were
broken up, so they called ST. John the
Evangelist, an eminent Mason to the
Grand Mastership. From these two
patrons we have two days to celebrate,
but in different forms of celebration.
The St. Johns day celebration on June
"a We celebrate as a day Of Masonic
gatherings for divine worship after St.
John the Baptist. Once each year
untold thousands of Masons assemble
as a craft for that worship. 1t is fit
ting on. such occasions to announce the
principles upon which the institution
is builded; it is not a political institu-
ton in the sense that it recognizes any
party or endorses any candidate All
personal and political contentious are
barred from its service. It inculcates
the basic virtues Of patriotism, self
sacrifice, for the common good. 1t is
not religious institution in the sense
of having any sectarian affiliations, but
every man must reverence God. The
high purpose Of the order is to cali
men to sublime and lofty aims, show
reverence for God, obedience to law,
love for humanity and purity Of life,
The legends and symbols Of the order
teach US that from one Blood all ma
tons were born and ALL MEN are
brothers. When St. John, the Evan
gelist, was chosen after the meeting Of
the craft held in the city Of BENJAMIN
he became Grand Master and both An
cient and modern Masons celebrate St
John the Eyangelist's day, Decembei
N, as a day for renewing their obi
cations with their brethren. The sea
son Of the year necessitates holding
the celebration indoors, so that this
has been the time set aside for thu
holding of elections and inauguratinG
new plans for the coming year. This
IS also an important time in the Chris
tan era. Masons celebrate ST. Johr
the Evangelist day for the promotions
Of friendship. morality and brotherll
love. Our celebration of St John thu
Baptist. is a perpetuation of the ceie
bration of the Romans, when the sea
son entered the summer soIstice- Th'
Evangelist priesthood simply ehangeS
the object Of the fete IN honor Of St
John the Evangelist when fires were
lighted. Some may not comprehend
the dedication Of lodges to the holy St
John Of Jerusalem. which is John th'
Baptist, the forerunner Of Christ, whs
suffered martyrdom rather than Be
tray his duty to his master; or Of Ze