1. May 2, 2012

3. Invocation Pledge of Allegiance

4. Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one state under God, one and indivisible. one and indivisible.

5. Masonry'sMysteriousWords

6. ...mysterious words... AbifCompassesHeleProfaneToken Due Guard CowanObligationLibertine So Mote It Be

7. Profane The common meaning has changed Anciently: uninitiated Today: uses God's name in vain Masonically it has not changed Profane = not initiated

8. Libertine The common meaning has changed Anciently: not of church doctrine Today: a man of promiscuous habits Masonically it has not changed Libertine = an agnostic or atheist

9. Token The common meaning has changed Anciently: a gesture or a sign Today: an offering Masonically it has not changed A token is always an act

10. Compasses Compass or Compasses?  Compass: a magnetic direction finder  Compasses: dividers - have legs like pants Six US jurisdictions say “Compass” In Texas it is always “Compasses” MeasureCircumscribe

11. Hele Pronounced like “Hail” Anglo-Saxon (English): hele = conceal Norman (French): conceal = hide...hele,...conceal, and never reveal Redundant and repetitious...free will and accord;...duly and truly Repetition avoids misunderstanding

12. Cowan A term of contempt A Masonic word Scottish slang:  one who builds walls without morter  a self taught builder, not of the trade Greek: “Kuon” meaning “dog” Today - not of the Masonic fraternity

13. Due Guard Two words used as one Mackey: a contraction of “duly guard” Others: from the French ”Dieu Garde” (meaning “God Guard”) It is a sign (but not according to all rituals)

14. Abif (as in Hiram Abif) “Abif” does not appear in the Bible An honorific meaning “father” (respectfully, not parentally) The honorific adds to Masonic lore Found first in a writing from 1550 Gained common usage in early 1600's

15. Obligation a tie a bond an agreement an intention a responsibility a duty a constraint a pledge acknowledgement not an “oath”

16. So Mote It Be Amen. So mote it be. “So may it be” Chaucer (~1380) used those exact words It appears in the Regius Poem (~1390) A Super Amen

17. The Will of God Be Done

18. Discussion

19. Donations Please