In Hammer v. State, 173 Indiana, 199 (1909),

the Supreme Court ruled that it was a criminal

offense to wear the emblem of any society or

organization of which one is not a member.

The court based its decision on the fact that

the membership in such societies is the result

of fitness and selection and that the wearing

of such emblems by non-members is a deceit and

false pretense.

In Robinson v. Yates City Lodge, 86 Illinois,

598 (1877), a court ruled that an expelled

Mason was not entitled to the return of his

degree fees. The court held that the

plaintiff voluntarily paid the fees and the

expulsion under the provisions of the rules of

the organization does not constitute the

rescission of a contract under which the fees

were paid.

Bernard Pierre Mangam, Marshall of France and

Senator was appointed Grand Master of the

Grand Orient of France and served from 1862 to

1865. This is unusual because he was not a

Mason. He was appointed by Emperor Napoleon

III.

The letters of the English word GOD are the

first three letters of Hebrew words for

beauty, strength, and wisdom. G in Gomez, O

in Oz, D in Dabar.

The Rev. William Dodd, first Chaplain of the

Grand Lodge of England, was hanged for forgery

on June 2nd, 1777.

In 1839 the Mormons left Missouri and settled

in the area of Nauvoo, IL. On October 15,

1841, the IL Grand Master issued a

dispensation to form a lodge at Nauvoo. On

March 15th, 1842, Joseph Smith received his

first degree and the others shortly after.

Certain irregularities were reported - in five

months the lodge initiated 256 candidates and

243 were raised. After investigation, the

grand master revoked the dispensation, but the

lodge continued to work. On April 5, 1844,

the Mormon masons dedicated a Masonic Temple.

IL Masons got in trouble for taking part in

the ceremony. Opposition to the group and

internal dissension led to the assassination

of Joseph Smith and the removal of the Mormons

from IL.

In July 1863, Confederate raiders rode into

Versailles, IN, capturing the local militia

and stealing the county treasury. The next

day, General John Morgan (CSA), learned that

his men had also made off with the jewels of

the local lodge. They were returned the

following day. Morgan was from Daviess Lodge

#22, Lexington, KY.

The largest Master's chair is in Ophir Lodge

#33 Murphys, CA. It is 15 feet long and can

seat the Master, living Past Masters, and

visiting dignitaries.

On August 23, 1879, Lodge #239 of France held

a meeting in a balloon flying over Paris, at

which time a brother was initiated.