Volume 1 Issue 1

Welcome
 
Introduction from President and Creator of the MAE

Welcome to the first of what I hope will be many issues of the Masonic Art Exchange Newsletter, all of you receiving this
either belong to the Facebook group of the same name or have a friend, colleague or brother who does. You will hopefully
have read the aims of the group and what we hope to accomplish if you’re not totally sure I will be including this later in the
newsletter. Martyn below beat me to the quote I was aiming to use however I think the following quote covers my feelings
almost as well,

‘a picture paints a thousand words.’

Since entering into our fine craft I have been ‘bombarded’ with many new and familiar images as I progressed through my
lessons. In Ireland we don’t really use the tracing boards but I am aware that in many jurisdictions this is one of the first
encounters with the symbolism and history behind Freemasonry with which a newly initiated mason is greeted, and who can
deny that the Tracing Boards are art in its purest form the pictorial telling of a story of beauty which are beautiful themselves.
You will no doubt notice much of this first issue is information easily found on the net or that has already appeared in the
group but I hope in the coming months YOU brethren will make contributions and hopefully make/keep our newsletter
interesting, informative and fun.

That is my introduction; I have never been the most eloquent with words and forgive any spelling errors you may find as you
read through but this is maybe one of the many reasons I have always had a keen interest in art. We really want your feedback
and contributions and if you know anyone mason or not, who may enjoy reading this brief newsletter please forward it on to
them.

Yours Fraternally
David Naughton-Shires
Ormonde Lodge 201 (IC)

Vice‐President of the MAE 

I was delighted when David asked me to become involved in this group; whilst both David and I are relatively new to
Freemasonry we share similar passions for both art and Freemasonry. Art has always played a crucial role, it is after all
universal and plays a part in our daily lives and manifests itself in different mediums such as architecture, literature and theatre
etc. Are has been used from time immemorial as a means of depicting events from cave walls in prehistoric times to the life
and death of Jesus depicted in biblical times. Art records history and is often created for a specific purpose or reason. It can be
used to express ideas and beliefs and can record experiences of people.

In the past many cultures have used art as a means of creating jewellery, masks or clothing. In some countries art was used in
initiation with tattoos or in Native American culture as a method of painting your face showing status and power. As I said
most art has some sort of reason behind it, literal, traditional, religious or in our case symbolic. Freemasonry itself is often
defined as:

“a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols...”

Freemasonry is littered with examples of symbolism. My personal favourite is the Badge of the first Office I held, the Trowel
“used to spread the cement of Brotherly Love and Affection, which is symbolically the cement that unites us into one sacred
band of friends and brothers.”

Yours Fraternally  
Martyn W. Greene
Lodge of Dunblane
  #IX (SC)
Lodge Bailie Nicol Jarvie #1036(SC) 

 
SCOTTISH RITE LOGO by John Bridegroom, P.M. Chesterton, IN
   
OFFICIAL GOAT RYDAH by Kendall Jewel, Memphis, TN
     
The above images are just a small selection of other available in the group.
 
TRUE BLUE #98 IN BOLTON ONTARIO.  by Chris Plante, Toronto.
THE ROSE OF THE WORLD by Boris Petrovic, Belgrade, Serbia
UNTITLED by David Naughton-Shires, IRELAND
   
When trying to decide what to include in this 
first  newsletter  I  decided  that  it  probably 
made  a  lot  of  sense  to  include  the  first 
pieces  of  artwork  posted  on  the  group  in 
facebook  this  was  a  little  strange  for  me 
initially  because  mine  was  the  first  posted 
but I am delighted to say there are a growing 
amount  of  images  which  have  been  posted 
and as per the rules we can use.  
To  the  left  are  some  of  those  images  and 
below  are  the  rules  just  for  your  own 
information  particularly  if  you  have  been 
forwarded  this  from  a  friend  in  the  group 
and  haven’t  popped  in  yourself.  If  you  have 
not  and  you’re  not  a  ‘facebooker’  there  is 
the  option  of  joining  the  forum  that  can  be 
found at: 
masonicartexchange.proboards.com 
The Rules:
POSTERS
1. The work MUST be yours (if you post
someone else’s work as yours you will be
removed) the work remains yours.
2. If you post you must be prepared for others
to use the artwork.
USERS
1. If you use someone’s work you MUST
inform them where it is being used.
2. CREDIT them
3. If required provide a copy of the publication
i.e. Tresleboard it's being used in.
4. The work is to be used for non-profit
publications etc unless agreed with the artist.
If you want to request artwork please leave a
request in the discussion wall or via email to
create@theimagedesigns.com (subject line
must include MAE) but bear in mind it then
becomes 'public domain'
PUTTING/LINKING/POSTING YOUR ARTWORK TO THIS
GROUP CONSTITUSES THE AGRREEMENT THAT YOU
AGREE TO THE ABOVE RULES
THE ARTWORK CAN NEITHER BE USED FOR NOR
DEPICT ANYTHING CONSIDERED TO BE DEFLAMITARY
TO FREEMASONRY OR SOCIETY IN GENERAL.
THE ADMINS DECISION IS FINAL IN ANY DISPUTE.
PLEASE CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR UPDATES.
FINALLY
_____________________________________
The opinions expressed on in this newsletter
represent those of the individual authors and,
unless clearly labelled as such, do not
represent the opinions or policies of any
Masonic Lodge, Grand Lodge or recognized
Masonic body. 
 Author, Author.
Art is quite an all encompassing word and
covers many different medium (is that the
right word).
  Man Who Would Be King’ starring Sean Connery, and Michael Caine as the main characters and Christopher
Art is not just paintings or logos or
photographs or illustrations, it is also books,
poems and other written forms.
This group was created to mainly cover the
‘pictorial’ form of Art but I think it is
important to include the other forms.
Some of the world’s greatest artists and
authors have been members of this great
craft and I am hoping that over the coming
months someone out there would like to
investigate some of them and put pen to
paper (or fingers to keyboard) and tell us a
little bit about them.
I will leave it up to your imagination on how
to define an artist as the definition is as
varied and exciting as the definition of Art
itself.
I will attempt to start the ball rolling with a
very light introduction of just such an artist,
and do not consider this attempt to be a
definitive example because as I have pointed
out at the beginning of this newsletter my
strengths have never really been in the
written word, and also as we are not printed
newsletter we are not limited for space.
Unlike the gentleman below.
.
 
Rudyard Kipling
30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936
__________________________________________________________ 
I have put this together from a few sources some which I am unable to 
credit as there was no author given however the three main  Rudyard Kipling was in London and went from strength to strength in both his literary and Masonic career.
references were as follows for the life of Kipling:  Kipling died at the age of 70 and in his long life he played quite a big role. As far as freemasonry he also received
[1]Gilmour, David. 2002. The Long Recessional: The Imperial Life of 
Rudyard Kipling, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, New York.  In London he affiliated as an honorary member to Motherland Lodge number No. 3861, was a member of
[2] Kipling, Rudyard (1935/1990) Something of myself and other  also joined fellow mason Robbie Burns as one time poet laureate of Canongate Kilwinning Lodge No. 2 in
autobiographical writings. Cambridge University Press.  
And for the information on his Masonic ‘career’: 
[3] http://www.freemasons‐freemasonry.com/kipling.html  was a true artist and still continues today to delight many generations with the tales of a young boy raised in
I do recommend reading this paper if you get the chance.  the Jungle and I personally thank him for an early introduction into a fellowship of men who I am now very
Rudyard Kipling
Introduction To An Artist. By David Naughton-Shires
My awareness of  Rudyard Kipling came probably first at about the age of 15 when I watched the movie, ‘The 
 
Plummer as Kipling himself, this lead me to read his short story of the same name I later realised this was also 
my first real encounter of the ‘world’ of fraternal societies, the mystery of Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan 
being able to rely upon a ‘brother’ so much as they did in the tale, and their encounter of the symbolism of the 
craft in that far away land of Kafiristan.  
The man who wrote this story and many others that are familiar from our own youth and passing into 
adulthood such as; ‘The Jungle Book’ (how many read the book BEFORE seeing the movie?) and Gunga Din was 
th
born in Bombay,  India on December 30  1865 to Alice Kipling (née MacDonald) and (John) Lockwood Kipling. 
[3]
Lockwood was a freemason   and an artist himself and taught architectural sculpture at the Sir Jamsetjee 
Jeejeebhoy School of Art and Industry in Bombay. [1] 
Kipling was soon joined by a younger sibling and as was the custom in British India, at the age of six he and his 
three‐year‐old sister, Alice ("Trix"), were taken to England to be schooled with a couple who took in children of 
British nationals living in India. The two children were live with the couple, Captain and Mrs. Holloway, at their 
house, Lorne Lodge, in Southsea (nr Portsmouth) for the next six years. Kipling wrote later in memoirs that he 
was treated appallingly whilst in their care [2], in the spring of 1877; Alice Kipling returned from India and 
removed the children from Lorne Lodge.  
Kipling remembers, ".....often afterwards, the beloved Aunt would ask me why I had never told anyone how I was being 
treated. Children tell little more than animals, for what comes to them they accept as eternally established. Also, badly‐
treated children have a clear notion of what they are likely to get if they betray the secrets of a prison‐house before they are 
clear of it". [2] 
In January 1878 Kipling was admitted to the United Services College, at Westward Ho!, Devon, a school founded 
a few years earlier to prepare boys for the armed forces. Towards the end of his stay at the school, it was 
decided that he lacked the academic ability to get into Oxford University on a scholarship and his parents lacked 
the ability to finance him; consequently, Lockwood Kipling obtained a job for his son in Lahore (now in 
Pakistan), where Lockwood was now Principal of the Mayo College of Art and Curator of the Lahore Museum. 
Kipling was to be assistant editor of a small local newspaper, the Civil & Military Gazette. It is a similar scene 
where ‘Kipling’ first meets Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan as they are about to head out on their great 
adventure.  
th
So with his new career ahead of him Kipling sailed for India on 20  September 1882 and arrived in Bombay 
th
almost a month later 18  October. He described his arrival years later:  
"So, at sixteen years and nine months, but looking four or five years older, and adorned with real whiskers which the 
scandalised Mother abolished within one hour of beholding, I found myself at Bombay where I was born, moving among 
sights and smells that made me deliver in the vernacular sentences whose meaning I knew not. Other Indian‐born boys have 
told me how the same thing happened to them."[2] 
In 1885 the Lodge of Hope and Perseverance #782 of the English Constitution was looking for a secretary[3] 
Kipling’s Father Lockwood was approached as the brethren had heard of young Kipling and with special 
dispensation at the age of twenty years and six months  Rudyard Kipling became a freemason and secretary of 
his Lodge .Kipling worked hard at the Civil & Military Gazette which was published six days a week and soon 
started to write his own prose and short stories in 1886 with the change of the editor Kipling was asked to 
contribute short stories to the publication.  Then in the January of 1888 Plain Tales from the Hills, Kipling's first 
prose collection was published in Calcutta. His writing continued at a frenetic pace and during the following 
year, he published six collections of short stories: Soldiers Three, The Story of the Gadsbys, In Black and White, 
Under the Deodars, The Phantom Rickshaw, and Wee Willie Winkie, containing a total of 41 stories, some 
quite long. By now he had also transferred to the sister of the Civil & Military Gazette in Allahabad. 
In early 1889 after leaving The Pioneer after a dispute and selling rights to some of his work he used the money 
which included six months’ severance pay from The Pioneer to return to London which he and many others 
th
considered to be the literary centre of the world. On the 9  of March 1889 he set of on his travels after roving 
through much of the USA and meeting giants of the writing world such as Mark Twain he arrived at Liverpool 
Docks in October 1889. He was soon to take the London literary scene by storm. 
 
 
his Mark Master Degree in a Lahore Lodge and affiliated a craft lodge in Allahabad.  
 
Authors Lodge No. 3856 and was also a founding member of Lodge Builders of the Silent Cities No. 4948.  He 
 
Edinburgh. [3]  
As I mentioned in the introduction this is just a very brief delve into the life of a man who in my humble opinion 
 
 
happy to count myself part of. 
 Each newsletter we will highlight one facebook group you 
  Well  this  brings  us  to  the  end  of 
may be interested in joining all you need to do is go to 
  your groups (click the group’s icon on the menu bar at the  the  first  Masonic  Art  Exchange 
bottom of the page) and search for the groups by name in 
Newsletter  I  know  it’s  very  short 
the search bar in the group’s area. 
  and lacking in content but in this 
The Global Fraternal Network was created in 1994 by two DDGMs from the GL of New
first  instance  it  is  an  attempt  to 
York as one of the first electronic forums for Freemasons to communicate internationally.
 
Its stated objectives are promoted in three main ways...
show  what  we  could  achieve  if 
(1) By the provision of a " tyled" site that hosts chat rooms and bulletin boards for
we  come  together  and  work 
members,
(2) By an monthly email newsletter sent to all members,
toward a common goal.  
(3) By periodic gatherings of brethren in their own city, region, and country. 

I  know  in  the  world  of 

This Facebook group is for all Freemasons from around the world to enjoy and to communicate with each other. While it is
not restricted to GFN members, we encourage you to have a look at the GFN site and become one of the over 20,000 Freemasonry  there  are  a  million 
members.
and  one  Newsletters,  Reviews, 
We will try to keep this group constantly updated with new items that we find. In establishing this group we have left it open
so that any member can post links, videos, and photos to share you Masonic experiences with the world. In fact, we Journals,  Tresleboards  and  the 
welcome and encourage your input. When we created this group we did not want it to be one of those Facebook groups that
you join and never go to the group page again - we all have them. We want this to be a group you keep coming back to and like.,  Some  of  a  very  high 
enjoy sharing with your friends.
standard and some not but what 
THE SEARCHWORD FOR THIS GROUP IS GLOBAL FRATERNAL NETWORK we hope to achieve with the MAE 
Or type the following into the address bar: is a resource where a brother can 
http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=58695434965
come  to  for  advice  on  how  to 
At the time of the creation of this newsletter their membership stood at 1122 members,  improve the ‘product’ he is giving 
out  to  his  brethren  whatever 
Each  newsletter  we  will  also  aim  to  highlight  a    form it may take. 
website which may be of interest to the members of 
the MAE their friends and colleagues if you have any 
recommendations for sites to appear here or on the 
On  this  final  page  I  am  going  to 
forum  contact  me  at  create@theimagedesigns.com  place  a  few  links  to  ‘good’  sites, 
please remember to include MAE in the subject line. 
other  groups  in  Facebook  that 
may  be  of  interest  and  contact 
details. 
 
PLEASE  PLEASE  PLEASE  get  in 
contact  whether  it  is  to  tell  us 
how fantastic the newsletter was 
or  alternatively  to  give  us  much 
The introduction from the web site does a far better job of outlining the Masonic Society than I ever could: needed  critique  on  how  to 
What Is The Masonic Society? ™ improve what we are doing after 
"The ultimate success of Masonry depends on the intelligence of her disciples." - Albert Mackey all that IS what we are here for. 
A significant group of passionate Masons are coming together to create what aims to be nothing less than the premier North
American research society in Freemasonry. Called simply The Masonic Society, we are gathering together brothers who We  will  see  you  on  the  web  and 
have a deep and abiding desire to seek knowledge, explore history, discover symbolism, debate philosophies, and in short,
who will be at the forefront of charting a path for the future of Freemasonry. pray the Great Architect watches 
As a student of Freemasonry, you are invited to join with us in the formation of this new and exciting organization.
over you. 
Our name, The Masonic Society, intentionally alludes to the Royal Society, the innovative organization of visionary men
who were at the forefront of the Age of Enlightenment, many of whom were present at the formation of what became Sincerely and fraternally, 
modern Freemasonry. Likewise, our new Society will be at the forefront of a new age of Freemasonry, and we intend to be a
vibrant, active community within the fraternity.

The goal of The Masonic Society is not just to look backward at the history of Freemasonry, but to foster the intellectual,
spiritual and social growth of the modern Masonic fraternity.
David & Martyn.
To that end, The Masonic Society extends the hand of assistance and cooperation to individual Masonic research lodges in
North America. It is the desire of The Masonic Society to be a partner with these lodges, to give their members the regular
opportunity to publish their papers for an international audience, and to publicize their activities.

themasonicsociety.com 
 
   

create@theimagedesigns.com 
(please remember to put MAE in the subject line) 
Contact details: create@theimagedesigns.com please ensure to put MAE in the subject line.