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Views and Observations

on Freemasonry Brother Thomas W. Jackson
R.W. Past Grand Secretary of Pennsylvania
Executive Secretary, World Conferences Of Masonic Grand Lodges

M.W.P.G.M Robert Coleman presided over the 143rd Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M.
of Montana, June 25-27, 2009 Glasgow, MT. The following presentation was given the Guest Speaker was Right
Worshipful Brother Thomas W. Jackson the Past Grand Secretary of Pennsylvania and Executive Secretary Of World
Conferences Of Masonic Grand Lodges.

The Grand Master asked me if I would be willing to walking down off that truck. The big bull said, my God,
att end this Grand Lodge Communicati on and speak to you there goes all my cows. The medium-size bull said there
concerning my views and observati ons on Freemasonry sure goes all of mine and with that litt le bull started to
and it is a great privilege to do so. I do want to clarify snort and slobber and paw the ground. The other two
before I begin, however, of my perceived positi on and bulls looked at him and asked, have you gone out of
purpose in our craft . your mind what do you think you’re doing challenging
that great big bull? The litt le bull said, challenge him,
I have been introduced over the years in a number of challenge him hell, I’m just making sure he knows I’m not
categories, including; as a Masonic scholar, author, orator, a cow.
and historian. I was even introduced to the President
of Portugal as a noted Masonic philosopher. I thought I use that litt le story as an analogy to cause you to
about this introducti on for a long ti me wondering why realize that I am not the cow either. It is signifi cant to
anyone would refer to me as a philosopher. Then I began know what one is not, and I have never looked at myself
to comprehend that a philosopher was one who had as fi tti ng into anyone of these categories by which I
developed opinions and I certainly have been known have been introduced. One of the primary reasons that
over the years for my opinions. So perhaps, I am as Freemasonry became as great as it did, is because it
close to being a Masonic philosopher as any of the other att racted some of the greatest minds that ever lived.
categories. Consider for a moment how many great men comprised
early Freemasonry and as a result sti mulated other
On one occasion when visiti ng a New Jersey Lodge to great men to want to become part of it. Consider men
speak, a brother greeted me by stati ng that he realized like Washington, Franklin, Revere, Voltaire, Amadeus
that I was controversial but that I was welcome in Mozart, Sir Christopher Wren, Simone Bolivar, Giuseppe
New Jersey and my brothers; I have no problem with Garibaldi, Joseph Priestley, and we could go on listi ng
being controversial. I realize that I have probably been literally hundreds of others who have contributed to
one of the most outspoken criti cs of North American making this world as it is today. They also, however,
Freemasonry for over 25 years relati ve to the directi on it contributed to making Freemasonry what it is today in
is going and the methods used to alter the course. most of the world.
A few of you here know that I live on a small farm in Realisti cally, however, I realize that I am, have always
south-central Pennsylvania with a stream bordering the been and will always be just a litt le country boy who
farm. A friend of mine across the stream raises prime developed a great appreciati on for this craft . I realize
Holstein cows. He kept several bulls on his farm to that no matt er how important I may ever think I am, I
service the cows, a big bull, a medium-size bull, and a will never serve as an example to sti mulate great men
litt le bull. Those who understand the pecking order of to want to become a Freemason. I perceive my purpose
animals recognize that the big bull got most of the cows, in the craft as being; to do all that I can do to preserve it
the medium-sized bull had a few and the litt le bull had unti l great minds come along again to inspire it.
just one.
Chief Rahnami Abah wrote in his book, Light aft er
Glenn decided one ti me that to improve the milk Darkness, “Even if my thoughts and ideas may be
producti on of the herd; he would bring in a Grand controversial or, in certain respects, open to questi on, I
Champion bull. For those who may not understand, the shall have succeeded in my att empt if these ideas have
bull has a major infl uence on the milk producing capacity generated further thoughts on the main substance of
of the resulti ng cows through breeding. When word got Freemasonry in the search for universal truth” and so
around the barnyard that Glenn was bringing in a Grand mote it be with me.
Champion bull, the three bulls got together to discuss it.
The big bull said, there probably go some of my cows, It is always my goal when I speak to challenge you to
the medium size bull said, well there goes most of mine think, for if I fail to do that, I waste both your ti me and
and the litt le bull said I sure hope he lets me keep my mine. So today, it is my goal to cause you to think, to
one. When the day came for the Grand Champion bull to hopefully sti mulate you to learn a litt le bit more about
be delivered, the three bulls were standing up on a hill this noble insti tuti on and to cause you to, as the Grand
overlooking the barnyard when the catt le truck backed Master expects, introspecti vely examine what each of
in, the ramp came down and this massive, big bull came you can do to benefi t Freemasonry.

Montana Freemason Page 22 Jan/Feb 2022 Volume 98 No.1