Meet Ezekiel M. Bey, FPS

Perhaps you have not had the opportunity to know or read about Ezekiel M. Bey.  In that case you have missed a great man.  And if that is the case it is time for you to get acquainted with this Prince Hall Mason.

Brother Bey is Founder and Administrator of “Blue Lite,” a popular national Prince Hall Research Discussion Group.  He is also the RW Grand Historian of the MWPHGL of New York.

Born in Harlem, Bey attended public schools in Queens.  In his early education his passion was drawing pictures and writing stories and poems. He was an active participant in church starting at the young age of 13 where he served as a Counselor and as member of the men’s choir.

His later education concentrated on business and computer science, which has ultimately led him to the position as Operations Manager of SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York and then a promotion to Director of Environmental Services.

Bey has been married for 21 years and has five beautiful children.  In 1990 he joined what proved to be a clandestine bogus Masonic Lodge.  He corrected that error in 1997 when he left clandestine Masonry for the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York.

Bey’s Masonic biography is long and well traveled.  Some of the highlights include Editor of New York’s Grand Lodge Magazine “The Prince Hall Sentinel,”   a Special DDGM, Grand Historian, member of Grand Lodge Committees of Masonic Education and Work & Lecture, Fellow of the Phylaxis Society, member of the Philalethes Society,  Associate Researcher for the Charles H. Wesley Society and the first Prince Hall Mason in the state of New York to be awarded the honor of the Masonic Brotherhood of The Blue Forget-Me-Not.

His personal biography has this to add:

“As a student of the late Joseph A. Walkes Jr., Ezekiel learned much, and today to the Masonic world Ezekiel M. Bey is an avid researcher and historian of Masonic studies. He has done extensive research in the Schomburg Library, New York City; does correspondence research with the Masonic Iowa Library, Cedar Rapid, Iowa; the Livingston Library, New York City; and has worked and collaborated with many research societies and other repositories of Masonic information.  For two consecutive Masonic administrations under M.W. Bernard L. Holley, GM, Ezekiel has been appointed in positions in which he has held four patents at one time (Grand Historian, Secretary of The Committee on Masonic Education, Member of Work & Lectures & Masonic Editor of the Prince Hall Sentinel (2006-2008).”

Brother Bey has published numerous works on Freemasonry.  He is about to release his newest book:“Bogus Masonic Outfits, The Silent Killer In Prince Hall.” With the author’s permission here is a taste of that book.

Regularity for many is not a focal point due to their unawareness nor is it of any importance to them. Many have no clue what it really means.  In the search for truth, we must investigate all the parameters that make up the subject we are to discuss for consideration.  Certain standards must be used for guidelines in which to measure the legality of any organization’s regularity.  In this case it’s Freemasonry amongst African Americans in this country.   Freemasonry has been established centuries ago by the use of Ancient Landmarks, Ancient Charges, Constitutions, and many unwritten laws. Taking basic attributes that make up regularity such as establishing Lodges from a “competent jurisdiction empowering it to work”.

In this search you will find that bodies calling themselves “Masonic” are not all that they seem to be.  I have found that many are sympathetic with bogus outfits that appear genuine in appearance, and indeed many illegal Masons are innocent of the origin of the organization they have joined.  In other words, the majority does not know any better.  I have personally been a victim of this.  But you also have those Prince Hall Masons and other regular Masons who know the truth, and yet make excuses in order to personally accept fraudulent organization within their circles.  There are many reasons for this.  I have seen the politics involved for personal gains, whether it is material or merely acceptance in certain arenas.

Many excuses made by regular Masons on behave of bogus Masonic orders are, that they are “black” people like us, that they belong to our churches, that they are family members, and some have verbally shown the sad ignorance of saying, “they practice the same thing we do”.  “Common sense is not always common”, for if that statement were not true, many would simply understand that “If I were a student of medicine for 2 ½ years, and decided to drop out of medical school to start a medical practice before I have graduated and gotten my medical license, no matter how many lives I save, I would not legally be a doctor”.  “If I were a Police Officer and was suspended or thrown off the force, and decided to rent a building and called it a precinct, with squad cars, guns, badges, uniforms, and all the paraphernalia that is required for Police Officers or precinct, it would still not make me legal”.  In fact, you will be arrested for impersonating a Police Officer and Police Department.

Society from time immemorial has established a common rule for the genesis of organizations, governments, and civilizations, and that is that the founders, or originators of an organization or government, establishes the criteria and rules for those who wish to be part of it.  When one wishes to join an organization it must follow the rules of that organization in order for it to be regular.  What surprises me is the failure to preserve our dignity as Prince Hall Masons, by associating our selves with bogus Masonic organizations.  I grew up in an area in New York City that as a youth I learned very quickly the respect one must have for organizations (gangs) and the originators of these neighborhood groups.  One could not easily enter into a territory claimed originally by these crews. It was not easy for trespassers to think they can discover a land occupied by the natives of block.  If a block (street) was violated, or the name of the group was illegally used or stolen, or if certain clothes that identify the posse were worn by invaders, this was a declaration of war.

We speak and recite the legendary drama of our Ancient Grand Master H**** A****, and how he gave up his life, but refused to give up his integrity.  I feel many of us have not learned the lesson of our integrity.  Many of us are handing over our integrity, but what we must understand is that it is not only our personal integrity, but also the integrity of our Fraternity.  You cannot just set up an Elks Lodge and not be faced with resistance from legally established Elks Lodges, the same with the Loins Clubs, Rotaries, Knights of Columbus, and many other organizations.  What has happened to us?

In a soon coming compendium, I will attempt to show that we need to step back and rethink our position.  My research has been intense, with many hours of study and reading, as well as traveling to find the truth about illegal Masonic bodies.

I pray that some-day, we will all, UNIVERSALLY, understand regularity.

And I mean, regular Masons as well as those outside the circle (Bogus Outfits).

The GREAT DEBATE, will soon take place.

This is an issue that is troublesome to Prince Hall Masonry and one that it is trying to combat through education and the dissemination of correct information.

The GREAT DEBATE  was supposed to take place at the Phylaxis National Convention in Arkansas on March 6th.  Unfortunately Brother Bey has pressing family matters to take care of and that challenging discussion has been rescheduled for later in the spring in New York.

The Beehive will keep you informed of further developments.

Celebrating One Year!

I’d like to take a step back from my usual articles today to celebrate the anniversary of something very important to me. This day, February 28th, marks the one year anniversary of The Banks of the Euphrates appearing on Freemason Information Magazine. On February 28th, 2009, I posted my first article on this website and my first year working with Greg, Dean, Fred, Shane, and the rest of the gang has been nothing short of a fantastic Masonic experience.

However, the point of this article is not to expound on how great I think that my articles have been or how much success I have had in writing The Euphrates. I don’t think that I am some sort of great Masonic writer and I certainly don’t think that my articles are of any major significance to the Masonic world. What I want to talk about today, is how much I have enjoyed the opportunity to write articles about what Freemasonry means to me.

Freemasonry has played a huge role in my life since I first knocked on the inner door of a lodge. It has served as a catalyst for my studies on religion and philosophy. It has given me an opportunity to meet men of the finest character, many of whom have become fantastic friends. It has also served as a guide in my own personal development. When my life hit rock bottom, my Brothers were at my side. When I needed advice, a Brother was there to provide it. Masonry has become the driving force in my life to be a better man, to act upon the square, and to provide relief to those that have proven themselves worthy.

I knew that I could not be alone in feeling this way about the order. So I started writing The Euphrates to give me my own personal soapbox to talk about Freemasonry and relay the lessons that it has taught me. But writing The Euphrates also provided me with an unexpected benefit, the opportunity to communicate with Brethren from throughout the world. Many of you have sent me emails and I have had the good fortune of forming a friendship with you through correspondence. I cherish that opportunity and hope that I continue to receive so much feedback in the future.

Because of the fantastic experience that I have had over this past year, I wanted to celebrate it by doing something special. I will soon be releasing a free e-book featuring the best articles from the first year of The Banks of the Euphrates. The e-book will also feature some commentary on my thoughts while writing those articles. I am in the middle of editing it now and plan to have it available within the month. I know that I enjoyed reviewing the articles that I wrote from the past year and I hope you will as well.

I want to thank all of you for reading my column and encourage you to keep the correspondence coming. I hope that I can make the next year’s worth of articles even better.

Like what you are reading at the Euphrates? Email the author at euphratesblog@gmail.com to join the Banks of the Euphrates mailing list.

From HELL – Masonic Central by gas light.

Sunday, March 21st, 2010.

Madness, mayhem, mystery, and murder, these are but a few of the terms one could use to define the book, and later film, From Hell.

“It’s Dark”…

“Hawksmoor cut stone to hold shadows; a Gothic trait, though Hawksmoor’s influences were somewhat…older.”

“The Dionysiac Artificers?”

“Unmistakably. A Secret fraternity of Dionysus cultists originating in 1,000 B.C., they worked on Solomon’s temple eventually becoming the Middle Ages traveling Masonic guilds. Their ingenious constructions merely symbolized their greater work: the Temple of civilization, chiseling human history into an edifice worthy of God, its Great Architect.”

“…What is the 4th dimension?”

-From Hell, the Graphic Novel

How often do you get the opportunity to explore Freemasonry by gas light?  its not Steampunk Masonry, but as close as you can get with the science part of the fiction.

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Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Eddie Campbell (and Pete Mullins), the book version of From Hell is at the for of recent fictional works in print and celluloid that feature the fraternity of Freemasonry in some aspect. From Hell has transformed the benign fraternity into something malignant and nefarious. And, on its ascendancy to the cinema, the seductive spell of aristocracy and secret society takes center stage (pardon the pun) to position the fraternity at the very heart of the Jack the Ripper murders.

This week on Masonic Central, we take some time to explore the two tellings of the From Hell tale, from the Graphic Novel for-bearer to the present day annotated From Hell (Two-Disc Special Edition) DVD staring Johnney Depp and Heather Graham. As similar as the two works may seem on their covers, there is a surprising amount of difference between the two works, from the perspectives of the characters, the focus of the story, to the psychology and outcome of the leading villain (a Masonic Knight of the East), as played by Ian Holm.  Two sides of the same creative coin.

Join us for this exciting film as lit edition of Masonic Central Sunday, March 21st at 9pm EST 6pm PST. Join us for the live call to ask your questions live on the air or to jump into the interactive chat forum on Blog Talk Radio.

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Ancients Versus Moderns

Lynn stepped outside of the lodge building to have a cigarette. It was a cold winter night, the temperature had dipped below freezing and there was snow on the ground. The entire town seemed to be silent. There was no wind and the light from the full moon was reflecting off of the snow and softly illuminating the world around him. The cold air on his skin was refreshing and the beautiful scene made him feel at peace.

This peace was a welcomed feeling. Lynn had joined this lodge because they brought in Masonic historians and lecturers quite frequently. This evening’s speaker has chosen to expound upon the origins of Freemasonry. In particular, he had discussed the histories of the Ancients and the Moderns and had attempted to prove which Masonic movement was the “true” Masonry. The subject had produced a fairly heated discussion among the Brethren who believed that they were experts on the issue. Lynn hadn’t wanted any part of it and so he made a point to escape for a few moments before dinner was served and further discussion ensued.

What made the subject somewhat bothersome to him was that he wasn’t unfamiliar with the argument. Lynn had read several papers and even a couple of books on the history of Freemasonry. He had read works on the subject which had been written by a plethora of authors. Some of those authors were Freemasons and others were not. He had found it frustrating that the only conclusion that he could develop was that the number of theories about the origins of Freemasonry was directly proportional to the number of authors that created them. Only one thing was for certain: the jury was definitely still out on the subject.

Lynn puffed on his cigarette and stared at the red light which was being emitted from its end. Then he looked up to see the blue glow of the moon highlighting the white stones which composed the lodge building. The building was well built and all of the stones were nicely hewn and sat square in the edifice. The structural integrity of the lodge building seemed to be a monument to the solidarity of the order which it represented. A visual manifestation of the fraternity which it housed.

Lynn thought about the men that had built the lodge. He wondered how they had raised the money to construct it. He thought about the time that it took to quarry and hew the stones and assemble the structure out of those perfect ashlars. He wondered what men had been employed in this noble and glorious undertaking. How did they learn to perform their craft so proficiently?

Suddenly, he had an epiphany.

It didn’t matter how those men learned their craft. Some had probably learned how to construct such a building without any formal training. They had went to work for a mason or a carpenter early in their lives and had learned through experience. Perhaps some were professionally educated and trained and had earned prestigious degrees in their particular vocation. Regardless, they were able, they were competent, and they were experts. Their education did not matter, but the product that they were able to provide did.

“Maybe it doesn’t matter how the Brothers before us learned to be Masons or who was responsible for teaching them,” he thought, “maybe all that matters is what the institution has become and what it represents now.

Lynn put out his cigarette and reentered the lodge building. He noticed that he was a bit peckish and wondered what they were serving for dinner.

Like what you are reading at the Euphrates? Email the author at euphratesblog@gmail.com to join the Banks of the Euphrates mailing list.

Dan Brown’s Influence On World Peace

Along with my Short Talk Bulletin I recently rescued from my mailbox came with it MIC’s (Masonic Information Center – a part of MSANA)  FOCUS, a short communication on whatever is HOT right now in Freemasonry.  And what is hot right now, as we all know, is Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol.” MIC published a letter [tag]Dan Brown[/tag] sent to the [tag]Scottish Rite[/tag], Southern Jurisdiction, on his apology for not been able to speak before them.  In that letter was a really important gem.

“In the past few weeks, as you might imagine, I have been repeatedly asked what attracted me to the Masons so strongly as to make it a central point of my new book.  My reply is always the same.  ‘In a world where men do battle over whose definition of God is most accurate, I cannot adequately express the deep respect and admiration I feel toward an organization in which men of differing faiths are able to break bread together in a bond of brotherhood, friendship and camaraderie.”

While this is something all members of the Craft realize, yet its implication for application on a much wider scale is overlooked.  Come imagine with me, play fairy tale – what if all or at least an overwhelming number of people in the world were Freemasons?  What effect do you think that would have on [tag]world peace[/tag]?

Dictatorships and totalitarian regimes who do not respect the worth of the individual do not like [tag]Freemasonry[/tag]. Radical Muslims and radical Christians and other radical religionists who portray themselves as the only people on earth “to be saved” and who seek to eradicate other faiths and what they see as corruptions of their own [tag]faith[/tag], do not like Freemasonry either. Closed minds with agendas cannot accept free associations of differing views. The ability to “live and let live” is lost on those who have the one and only true way which becomes their mission to impose on everybody else for the good of the whole.

Learning how to live in peace and harmony – two very coupled Masonic words – has been something I have been writing on for many years as a Mason because it was Freemasonry that taught me the concept and it was Freemasonry that made me realize how it can be done and it was Freemasonry that showed me how important this is for the world.

In 2005 I wrote a long paper which I delivered in Alberta, Canada titled “World Peace Through Brotherhood.” In that paper I quoted Brother Joseph E.A. Salem of the Israeli Scottish Rite and his words are worth repeating.

“Too many people believe that peace is a diplomatic maneuvering, a series of talks and shuttle trips between countries, or a pile of documents signed in Paris or on the lawn of the White House, in Washington.  Real Peace can only come from the hearts of men.”

“The greatest ideal in the world today is fraternity, not as a mere sentiment, but as a science, a practical philosophy and a way of life.  If ever there was a generation eager and willing to try out the philosophy of brotherhood with wisdom and patience, it must be this generation.  We have been shown in letters of blood and fire, what hate, envy and greed can do.”

“I believe Freemasonry can do a lot towards building a better world, fit to live in, unstained by blood, undefiled by hatred.  This is the challenge to our craft.”

“’Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.’  This is the Commandment to which Freemasonry dedicated itself, to establish brotherhood among men so they can live in peace with each other in this world.”

“The struggle of Freemasonry is the struggle of the human race against tyranny and oppression.  From the beginning, Freemasonry has realized that religion, tradition, and habits of life can divide the peoples of the world into hostile camps.  Freemasonry takes no part in these quarrels, rather it provides a common meeting ground where all men can meet on the level.”

“Every Masonic lodge is a temple of peace. In it, men of different religions and stations in life meet together, and on its altars, the Sacred Volumes of all faiths are placed.  The spirit of harmony and cooperation prevails.  The Masonic teachings of equality and fraternity are the only tie that can bind the human family together, and create a world order based on brotherly love and peace.” *( “FREEMASONRY & WORLD PEACE”, by Joseph A. Salem.  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/9991/peace.html)

After I delivered “World Peace Through Brotherhood” at one Albertan Lodge, the Worshipful Master came up to me and he said. “Do you know what stood out for me out of that hour long lecture you gave?”  And he immediately answered his own question with, “Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of peace.”  EVERY MASONIC LODGE IS A TEMPLE OF PEACE. And that is so true.  Just as one might check his weapon at the door, every Mason checks his agenda at the door.

And what Salem imparts to us is that peace starts with the heart not with actions of civil servants. And that is where Freemasonry starts right from the very start.  Where is a man first made a Mason?  In his heart  – and he is raised, reborn into a new way of life, one of respect for others, for love for all humankind, for tolerance of different beliefs, styles and cultures and non judgmentalism leading to peace, harmony and accord.  This works very well as long as what is given is also received back. And here is where our dream, our fantasy of what would the world be like if every person was a Mason comes into play.

Lest anyone think that I am just substituting one, one and only true way with Freemasonry as the new one and only true way let me say this. Freemasonry is not the one and only true way.  It’s not even the only way.  But it is the best way I know of right now at this moment.  Religious organizations, houses of worship and secular organizations have a role to play also.  But the difference is this.  While they seek to impart peace through adherence to a certain dogma, creed or agenda Freemasonry does not.  Freemasonry’s dogma, creed and agenda is no dogma, no creed, no agenda except generalities of righteousness and nobleness that have been recognized by every religion, every culture, every free government since time immemorial.

Now talk as I may, and talk as the great writers around me may, none of us will have so many ears listening as will those who listen to Dan Brown.  His words that he tells us he repeats over and over again, will have a tremendous effect on those who seek to implement worldwide peace and harmony in our time.

Thank you Dan Brown.  We are overjoyed that you understand!

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