FOR EYES OF THINKING MEN TO READ
Of
course the personal entries this man made in his journal are quite interesting: This journal is full of the thoughts of a
well-thought-out man amidst the process of constructing a world paradigm. Inside these pages, a man born before the last century
turned voices his adult concerns, farm-boy memories, and references books that influenced him.
Most
historically significant however are the numerous log entries documenting the official executive actions made by man in his
functioning role of a Deputy Grand Sire to the Masons.
Journal entries document official activities all across the
united States and in parts of Canada.
Many many entries are simple one or two liners recording the
day, year, location, and official action performed. I will call these "pure fact entries." There are about 49 pure
fact entries.
"November 29, 1920. Approved amendments to the constitution of Grand Lodge
of New Jersey."
"Aug. 4, 21. Approved admendments to constitution of Grand Lodge of Oregon."
"Feb. 15, 1922. Issued Anniversary Proclamation."
About
17 of the journal entries ADD a personal reflection or an official comment to a basic pure fact entry. I will call these
"mixed entries." These entires start as those above with the concise year, location, and executive action performed;
they go on to contemplate that executive action as it relates to the larger picture of the Masons, how it relates to his agenda
as Deputy Grand Sire, how it fits his world construct. These text entries range in length from a paragraph to a full page.
Again, there are roughly 17 of these.
Following those journal entries are about 24 pages of "pure reflection,
personal diary stories."
Following are three "pure reflection" journal entries. These particular
example entries, that taken together, seem to reveal this man as an adult resolving two conflicting inner forces he felt during
his childhood. Those being kindness and brutality.
"This good creature [a mare horse] had a little black
colt in the spring. We called him John Franklin, because--well I do not know why--except that some of us--my brother or my
sister--had read the story of John Franklin's ill fated trip to the artic and with the incongruity of children--attempted
to do honor to a hero by naming the colt for him. Some of us suggested the name and it was allowed to stand and John Franklin
became the greatest colt the family ever knew. We never tired of playing with him and he seemed never to tire of us..."
"I have often thought of that fight and the savage joy my boyish
head I shared with [my] dog in victory. No compunction of conscience. No pity. No thought of sympathy. I really took
a fiendish sort of glee in the signs of weakening manifested by the exhausted animal. And when [my] dog drove his fangs down
into the crackling ribs of his victim, I can recall no sensation but of delight and pride in the prowness of MY dog."
"I think I would not do that now. If these experiences in my life thus far have done nothing more, they have
altogether removed that spirit and have taught me to hate cruelty to any living thing."
His reach
spanned most of the 50 United States and some of the Canadian Territories.
WHO WAS THIS MAN?
The date and location of his election to post of Deputy Grand
Sire is recorded.
His parent's names (mother's maiden name included) is recorded.
His date of birth, place of birth are recorded.
Nowhere
to be found in this journal is HIS name.
The journal has a total of 300 pages, ONLY 38 pages are occupied
with text. The remaining 262 pp. are blank. All 38pp. of text are hand written-in-ink on lined
paper, bound as shown in the above photographs. Condition: VG Minus. Look at the photos. Would be VG condition, but has a
bit of toning on some pages, some chipping to spine.
Because this man wrote in a clear, concise, and to-the-point
manner; and because he was self-aware; and aware of the fact that he was WRITING AS A ELECTED LEADER, SELECTED TO FUNCTION
IN AN IMPORTANT ROLE, ACTING IN AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION, recording significant official duties FOR EYES OF THINKING
MEN TO READ, the amount of historical information that can be gleaned from these 38 pages is significant; a drink of insight
for any odd fellow reading his way towards a higher existence.
$215 USD
