Whence Came You? - Freemasonry discussed and Masonic research for today's Freemason

This week on episode 0718, we dive deep into the archives of 1937 and 1938 to explore two powerful Masonic articles: Dr. Ernest Crutcher's controversial challenge to our fear of mortality in  Death: A Resting Place Between Lives , and Rabbi H. Griffan's rallying cry against the rise of totalitarianism in Masons as Watchmen . Plus, we uncover the dark, forgotten history of a 1930s domestic hate gro...

This week, we explore the ripple effects of our words and thoughts through "Guard Well the Portals of the Mind," discussing Albert Pike's concept of everlasting vibrations and William James's theory of "idea-motor action" as a sobering reminder to actively banish pessimistic thoughts and invite in the Great Architect. Next, we challenge the notion of Freemasonry as a mere social club with George H...

This week on Whence Came You? , we crack open a rare 1936 Masonic journal to uncover the tragic tale of a 13th-century alchemist who sacrificed everything to brew the elixir of physical immortality , only to discover the terrifying truth hidden inside his mirror . Then, we decipher the hidden codes of the Kabbalah to reveal how your local Masonic lodge is secretly laid out like the divine Tree of...

This week, we are unlocking the archives of the nineteen thirties to expose a thin line between self-mastery and absolute tyranny. First, we dive into a striking 1938 piece titled Superman, written right as the shadow of totalitarianism was taking over Europe. We're looking at how a misunderstood philosophy was weaponized by dictators, and why true Freemasonry serves as the ultimate shield against...

This week on the show, we are traveling back to the late 1930s to unlock the archives.   First, we're tackling a blunt operational reality from August of 1937 that hits just as close to home today: a Master speaking plainly about lodge apathy, and why the membership is just as much to blame as the leadership when a lodge loses its spark . Then, we're shifting gears to look at a massive historical...

This week, we are unlocking the late 1930s archives of the  Square and Compass journal . First, we dive into a May 1938 piece titled Freemasonry and Peace , which pulls in a famous debate between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud to ask if humanity is hardwired for destruction, or if the Craft can train us for peace . Then, we look at an August 1937 article titled Helpful Suggestions for Every Day...

This week, we're opening with a look at delinquent dues payers in the nineteen thirties, a topic that may sound dry at first, but really tells us a lot about hardship, brotherhood, and how lodges tried to survive through economic times. Then we'll shift from practical concerns to ancient philosophy with Pythagoras and his disciples, where we have to sort through what's historically solid, what's p...

This week, we're looking at two really interesting articles from Square and Compass Magazine. First up, we'll be reading Anachronisms and Inconsistencies in Masonic Ritual . Have you ever thought in ritual, "Hey, that doesn't make sense?" Well, many have, and we'll explore a few of them. Then, we'll turn to A New Hope for Masonic Education . If Grand Lodges can't provide education in 1937, what ca...

Join us this week as we read a piece on Napoleon and how he became a mythic figure larger than the facts themselves! I may be a little under the weather, but Masonry doesn't stop, so here we go! Stay tuned! Links: The Secretary Box Teaser wcypodcast.com/secretary-box Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com Craftsman+ FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftsmanplus/ WCY Podcast YouTube...

Join us this week for a thoughtful conversation on  practical Masonry and the inner meaning of the Craft , as we explore how service, symbolism, and interpretation come together to make Masonry real in daily life. The Secretary Box Teaser wcypodcast.com/secretary-box Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com Craftsman+ FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftsmanplus/ WCY Podcast YouTube...

This week, dive into the third installment of Manly P. Hall's "Ancient Mysteries and Secret Societies," exploring its influence on modern Masonic symbolism. We sift through Hall's revelations against modern science, history, sociology, and archaeology to see what holds up. Next, we'll review Universal Co-Masonry Podcast Episode 41 on "Negro Freemasonry," uncovering lessons in science, religion, ph...

Join us this week as we explore the ancient Druidic Mysteries and their correlations with Freemasonry and other occult orders. We're reading the second in a three-part series penned by Manly Hall himself. Then we'll read a piece from yours truly on the winding path of belief and knowledge. We begin wondrous, then our sciences grow, and we leave the wonder behind, then we find it again if we're luc...

Join us this week for an exploration of what it takes to attract Gen Z and Gen Alpha members, and how we can get out of the way and let them take our fraternity into the future. Darin A. Lahners gives us a diverse list of things we can do to facilitate this mission--should we decide to take it on. Then, we read the first in a three-part series from none other than Manly P. Hall. What and how did t...

Join us this week as we explore what the Egyptian Sphinx can teach the Freemason! What symbology can we ascribe to teachings in Masonry? The answer may surprise you, although it's right in front of our eyes! Then Learn how to play Tarocchini, the original game that spawned the Tarot! Additionally, we read a wonderful piece that inspires us to be better Masonic Writers! WB Patrick Dey is on point w...

Join us this week for a wonderful expression of what Freemasonry is doing for the world, and who we need to keep the Great Work moving forward. Then we've got a brand new Masonic Minute with Brother Steve Harrison--What changes a person who goes out into the cosmos and looks back on our planet? On our Moon? What did Freemason astronauts think when they came back, and what changed about the way the...

Join us this week for the continuation of the Theurgic Roots of Freemasonry series by Kristine Wilson-Slack! This week, we answer the question, "By working with God, do we fulfill the tenets of Freemasonry?" Then in an extended Masonic Mythbusters segment, WB:. Patrick Dey digs deep for the evidence of famed individuals and whether there is evidence to support them being Freemasons! From Blink-182...

This week, we're looking at Theurgy! What is it? How is it related to Freemasonry? And why does it matter? We'll get started with the first in a series by Kristine Wilson-Slack. Then, we discover an ancient, okay, not ancient, but antique piece of ephemera from the 1950s. A pamphlet on the SRICF, or the Masonic Rosicrucian Order. What did it say about the order? What are the prerequisites to joini...

Join us this week as we dedicate this episode to the Entered Apprentice! We'll talk about the symbology of an Entered Apprentice, and what it means to take that step in your development as a Freemason. Then we'll dive into another adjacent Entered Apprentice Topic: Duty. Just what is the Duty of an Entered Apprentice? What are the Duties of all Freemasons? All this and more! Stay Tuned! Thanks for...

This week, we're diving into the 100th anniversary of the Scopes Trial, where science clashed with faith in a courtroom spectacle that still echoes today, and a Masonic perspective on balancing gratitude with ambition to build a stronger brotherhood. Links: Scopes' Trial https://www.sciencenews.org/article/scopes-trial-anniversary-science-attack Examining Virtues: Gratitude and Ambition https://bl...

This week's podcast confronts mortality's profound mysteries alongside Freemasonry's generational crossroads. Explore a timeless Masonic meditation on death as life's essential complement—renewing the soul through natural progression, not tragedy. Then, dive into Darin Lahners' sharp analysis of Gen X realities and why outdated leadership traps younger Masons, urging real adaptation for the Craft'...

Join us this week for a look into the expectations of the 21st Esoteric-Minded Freemason. What does it offer today's new Freemason? Is it a return to what was or a one-off thing relevant to the times in which we live? Then we'll explore the timeless mystery of the Circle and Square as a Masonic and spiritual symbol. What does it truly allude to, and whatever it is, can we realize its meaning witho...

Join us this week as we look at the man who made the "Atomic Age" possible, Brother Enrico Fermi. Then we'll hear one Mason's argument for action again, Masonic-Misinformation. For too long, Freemasonry has had a policy of "no action." But it's now time to educate the public! Thanks for listening, and have a wonderful week! Links: Enrico Fermi: Master of the Atom https://www.universalfreemasonry.o...

Join us this week for a look at one of the most prolific U.S. Government officials ever to be in office. What we can learn from this doctor is something extraordinary, namely, integrity. Then we'll dive into the world of Flavius Josephus and the why and how he became a chronicler of Jewish history. Thanks for listening and have an amazing week! Links: Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com...

Join us this week for a look into what Henry C. Clausen thought was the best policy in regards to securing peace in the world of men. Also, we've got a brand new Masonic Myth Busters Segment with WB:. Patrick Dey--Was Elias Ashmole a Rosicrucian? Well--you'll have to listen to find out. Patrick takes a deep dive into what matters the most in this question: historical context! Thanks for listening,...

Join us this week as we welcome Brother Brian Mattocks of A Mason's Work !  In this interview/discussion, Brian and I talk about our personal lives, family experiences, and Brian's involvement in Freemasonry, including his unique Masonic experience. We explore the challenges and opportunities within Masonic lodges, focusing on emotional intelligence, cultural change, and the practical application...