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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Masonic Central Japan with guest Br. Jim Johnston

Masonic Central Japan!

Brothers Michael Pearce and Bill Patterson launch their inaugural edition Masonic Central Asia with their guest Br. Jim Johnston, PhD., who is one of the foremost scholars on Masonry in Japan.  Also, Br. Johnston is a Past Grand Master of the island nation, a 33º Brother of the Scottish Rite, and a founding member of the Lodge of research Japan.

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This episode was pre-recorded for the time difference but your questions and comments are very much welcome and encouraged!

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Karl Grube from the Bonisteel Masonic library, this Sunday on Masonic Central

Michigan Freemasonry

Motor City Masonry has quite a tale to tell.  In the shadow of the automotive decline the memories of a Masonic hey day still stand as testament of the fraternities grandeur in the not so distant past.

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Memories tend to be short when the immediate effect of the past is spread out over decades worth of events.  But if your in Minnesota, its hard to forget the legacy of the past that reminds you of what once was and what could be again, especially in the physical being of the temple and the spiritual investiture of it.  Truly, at some point, the heavens touched the earth in the creation of the Detroit Masonic Temple and in the will expressed through Br. Roscoe Bonisteel and his endeavors to endow the state of Michigan with an enduring Masonic legacy.

Roscoe Osmond Bonisteel

Br. Bonisteel, in his day, was an advocate for civil rights, a developer of commercial properties, a philanthropist of libraries and museums, a war veteran, and a believer in the enduring quality of Freemasonry.  He was raised in 1914, served as Worshipful Master in 1920, and, following regular advancement, became the Grand Master of Michigan in 1929. Outside of his Masonic career, Br. Bonisteel was an active philanthropist contributing much to higher education, the construction of their libraries, and their book collections.  What makes this resume stand out in such relief are the enduring monuments to which he dedicated so much of his energy to.  Truly, a testament of what each of us is capable of.

Today Bonisteel is remembered through many buildings named in his honor including the Bonisteel Masonic Library.

Detroit Masonic Temple

Of equal measure, and just down the highway, is a silent jewel of American Masonry.  If ever there were a head office, the Detroit Masonic Temple could not only house it, but would have ample room to do what it does today, which is engage relevantly and intelligently with the local community.  At its height it could provision 50 Masonic bodies, included drilling halls. auditoriums with capacity of 1600, and a main theater with room for 5000+.  It was truly an American Cathedral to the Fraternity.  Today, it is where you can catch the latest rock show, watch a few rounds of roller derby, and get married, all within the confines of the city and all under the roof of one of the largest Masonic lodges in the world?

What links these two venues is the passion fueled by Br. Bonisteel and kept alive through the works of brothers like him to keep these silent treasures relevant and active in both the Masonic and public community.

Join us this Sunday on the Masonic Central pod cast as Karl Grube who is the President of the Bonisteel Masonic Library in Ann Arbor Michigan and a member of the board of trustees for the Detroit Masonic Temple Library to talk to us about Michigan Masonry, the life and legacy of the Bonisteel Library, and the jewel of the American Masonic edifice, the Detroit Masonic Temple.

The live program starts promptly at 9pm EST / 6pm PST at Masonic Central on Blog Talk Radio where you can listen live and join our interactive chat at during the program.  Remember, the show goes live promptly at the hour!

We encourage your questions and comments to the show by calling (347) 677-0936 during the program.

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Table Talk – post holiday catch up on 2009

Update, leave your comment on this post to enter to win a signed edition of the book Crown of Serpents!

I know, its been a few weeks since the holiday… now that the christmas trees down, the bits of wrapping paper out of the nooks and the couch, and all the returns of unwanted gifts made, its time to catch up.   With the holidays past and the cold embrace of winter upon us, what better time to catch up with a warm conversation and some reminiscence of what was the Masonic year 2009.

This week on Masonic Central, join us as we go over the highlights (and low lights) of Masonry in 2009 and look ahead at some of the trends that seem to be already charting the course of 2010.

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The show goes live promptly at 9pm EST/6pm PST Sunday evening January 24 and the phone lines will be open for your questions and comments.  I know it will be a lively show, and I hope you can make it!

Call-in Number for the show is (347) 677-0936 – we have a new high capacity for your call-ins, so don’t be shy and call in!

Listen to the show:

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Masonic Central with Paul Bessel and Jerry Samet

This is a special Masonic Central re-broadcast from August 2008 when brothers Paul Bessel and Jerry Samet, past Grand Master Washington DC, joined us on the program for an enlightening conversation about Paul’s fantastic research and publication website, his book Masonic Questions and Answers and a deep discussion into some of the further edges of mainstream masonry delving deeply into the Document of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction and the space between ‘regular’ Masonry and Prince Hall Freemasonry.   We also spent some time talking about the success (and challenges) of one day classes.

It was a great conversation and a fantastic program and one that I guarantee that you will get much from listening to, even if you heard on its original airing. These terrific brothers gave us some great discussion on how to make Masonry interesting and more enjoyable if we can keep it alive and relevant.

Listen to this re-broadcast here:
 

Right click and Dsave As to download the podcast here.

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