FIRST SUBMISSION TO EDITOR:
FOR PUBLICATION IN Empire State Mason Magazine
The Judges that Got Away
By Scott Lewis, SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.
There he was sitting in a dimly lit hall reading a very old book accompanied by his sword, a large safe, and another chair, and, yes, candies atop the safe, dressed with his Tyler’s apron and adorned with the jewel of his office, doors closed at both ends. Each door was equipped with peepholes from which he could see through and more importantly concentrate. The doors were shut per Masonic law, an institutional tradition at Old Town Lodge 908 for over the past 100 years. The rite of passage for a visitor was to be properly clothed and vouched for. This was his duty. The meeting was under way. It was an ordinary autumn night on the first day of the month in October in the small village known as Southampton.
At that moment, a sound caught his a attention at the outer door, so Scott put down 150 year old book documenting the journey of the Mason that got away, as Scott would later title it, and he peered threw the peep-hole expecting it to be a member running late. On this night, it turned out to be a fellow craft, or one that was relatively new to the lodge, but not a plebe. As such, Scott was not permitted to let this person into the Lodge at this time. The Lodge would have to come to order under a lower degree first. Scott thought to himself that this would takes sometime, which he was elated about since Scott had uncovered an absolutely amazing fact from that old book and he was excited to share the discovery with his captive audience whom he immediately identified as Paul.
“Paul is really bright guy,” Scott thought not so much for the fact that he had gone through the Masonic degrees in record time but also because of his understanding of crypto, among other things.
It was Paul that turned Scott on to a first of its kind crypto; multilevel marketing opportunity. Conceptually perfect, it was based on blockchain technology but in actuality required more scrutiny. His find pleasantly surprised Scott because so few people really knew what was happening to the economy. Freemasons understand the spells a fiat currency with the symbolism like that on the dollar bill may cast upon the unsuspecting. It didn’t require explanation. It was right there in plan sight from pyramid, owls, and Latin verse of new world order.
Coincidently, crypto and Freemasonry went way back to the days of the Templars to even more modern times right here on Long Island. The magic square and pig pen cypher were used by George Washington to hide messages from the English, Scott had recalled (Please see “King George III money was prime cause for revolution in Southampton“). In Scott’s opinion, geopolitically, the resurgence of crypto currency coincided with the lack of trust in the government. It was why Scott had picked up that old book and had begun examining it for synchronicity. Scott wondered about his own liberties verses theirs back in the dark ages.
Paul was somewhat familiar with Scott’s research and travels to Connecticut, where Scott learned more truths regarding Freemasonry. Paul had commented, “That’s awesome; how you went over to Connecticut and checked out those two landmarks (cave and crossroad) to determine if the judges were Masons.”
As the two sat, waiting for an appropriate time to enter the Lodge. Scott said to Paul, “You’re probably wondering what it was you were memorizing, as I did. Well, I’ll tell you: I didn’t know nor does a majority of the Lodge for that matter until now. ”
Paul responded, “Really? Yes, it would be nice to know or at least clarified.”
Scott said, “Well, this book I found puts an entirely different spin on what it means to be a Mason raised to the Third Degree, and in my humble opinion it makes a far more compelling reason, too. However Paul,” Scott paused, “I can’t tell it to you until you are raised to the third degree.” This then drove Paul a bit nuts.
At that moment, Scott jumped out of his seat to address the alarm at the outer door. Thus, the two agreed to postpone the explanation to a later date, and they proceeded on.
Five Months Later, After Paul’s Third Degree, Paul Agrees To Be In Scott’s Story
Once again at the entrance to the Lodge, Scott pulled Paul to the side and asked,
“Remember, I told you that I had something really important to share with you regarding that old book I found?”
Paul said, “Yes”
“Well, I’m ready to share it with you,” Scott said. “This blew my mind as it will yours. Keep in mind these are the founders of Southampton. Here goes. As you know, I have been writing about the Founders of Southampton. As it turns out, one of them was clearly a Freemason from the book I found in the Lodge. What’s really incredible is that he was a judge. He was one of 65 judges that chartered First Church down the street, and as it turns out the charter is actually a declaration of war to steal the land for his king.
Subsequently, he then signs the death warrant to kill King Charles I!” Scott continued, “Ok, with that said, buckle up for this: they took the 3rd degree allegory literally.”
Paul asked, “What do you mean?”
Scott continued, “The name of the Freemason that got away was named Edmund Ludlow. He not only took action but he was the scribe in exile. He documented what had transpired so we could comprehend what had happened.”
Paul responded, “Awesome!”
Scott continued once again, “Edmund was in with the Freemasons of Cromwell. Oliver Cromwell patterned their society to the allegory. See, it says here that ‘the Temple in its first splendor is a reminder of the early state of man.’
He went on, “The religion and the ceremonies, which were practiced there, are nothing else than an expression of that universal law engraved on every heart whose principles are found in the ideas of justice and charity to which all men are obliged.”
“The destruction of this Temple, and the captivity and slavery of its worshippers, are symbols of the pride and ambition, which have produced political misery among men.
The unpitying hosts of Assyrians who destroyed the Temple and led the people into captivity are the kings, princes, and magistrates whose power has trodden down nations with countless evils.”
“So that’s what you held back on?” Paul said.
“Yes, you hadn’t been made a master mason, so I couldn’t read it to you. Yet, there is more,” Scott, said.
‘The chosen people charged with the duty of rebuilding the Temple are the Freemasons, and they are to restore men to their original dignity. ‘
Scott paused and said, “I dig that. Now here is the explanation of how Cromwell organized his lodge, which as you should know is taboo because you’re not allowed to change things.” Scott, continued reading, ‘Cromwell divided the Order which he founded into three classes or degrees. The Third or Master’s degree was of course not without its Hiramic legend, but the explanation of its symbolism was very different’
Scott repeated, “Keep in mind these are the guys that created first church”
Paul wanted to interject, but Scott said please let me get this across to you first. Scott read on,
‘The legend is thus explained…the disorder of the workmen and the confusion at the Temple were intended to make a deep impression upon the mind of the candidate and to show him that the loss of liberty and equality, represented by the death of Hiram, is the cause of all the evils which affect mankind. While men lived peacefully in the asylum of the Temple of Liberty they enjoyed constant happiness. But they have been surprised and attacked by tyrants who have reduced them to a state of slavery. This is symbolized by the destruction of the Temple, which it is the duty of the Master Masons to rebuild; that is to say, to restore that liberty and equality which had been lost.’
“As it should be!” Paul said.
Scott responded, “Yes, ‘Cromwell appointed missionaries or agents, who spread the Order, not only over all England, but also even into Scotland and Ireland, where many Lodges were put to work.
Members of the Order or Society were first called Freemasons. Afterwards the name was repeatedly changed to suit the political conditions of the times, and they were called Levelers, then Independents, afterward a Fifth Monarchy Men, and finally resumed their original title, which we have kept to the present day. Such is the fable of the Cromwellian origin of Freemasonry.’”
At that moment, echoed from within the Lodge, was a call to action, “Brothers, take your respective stations and attend to your duties…” Thus, Scott put down the book and the two took their seats.
Six Years Later at – Connetquot Masonic Lodge #838 (Sayville, NY)
At “Evening with Brother Scott Wolter & Hayley Ramsey,” a ground breaking tie was made between their work tracing Templar treasure maps back to Kilwinning Abbey, the home of Lodge 0, and First Presbyterian Church of Southampton.
Fig. 1 Kilwinning Lodge 0 – New lodge
This was where the Templar crusade began, after Cromwell’s departure from England, and the aforesaid story explains the origin (i.e. who, what, why, and when) of Freemasonry.
Fig 2. Lodge 0 Charter – Meeting places since the year 1140 – Old lodge
Fig 3. Kilwinning Abbey – Late 12th Century
Fig 4. The Event – Pulled together this narrative
