A recent conversation came up about brothers that had been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I immediately thought of Bro. J.R. Richardson or just JR as we called him. I expected him to sit in the East some day but after loosing his home in Chalmette and ending up in Texas it just didn’t happen… for now. I wrote him to see how he is doing and here is his reply, we are happy to see that things are working out for Bro. JR, we wish he was still N’Arlns. KJK

Hey Brother Joe, Thanks for checking in.

I see the pictures you send out of the lodge and the events, it is looking great.  We are doing just fine here in Flower Mound, Texas.  Nice community, great schools, good folks around here but there is nothing like the Big Easy.  We really miss being around family and friends.  We did make it back to N.O. for Christmas but it was a quick 3 day trip with just enough time to spend with the family and a few close friends.  We would have loved to catch up with a lot more friends we hadn’t seen in a while but that is how it goes.  There is just not enough hours in the day.

We feel pretty blessed post Katrina.  Our home in Chalmette was a total loss but fortunately we had put a new roof on a month prior to the storm so we did not have any roof/ceiling damage in the house, plus the structure was on pylons so no foundation issues either.  A contractor came through the neighborhood and our house was a good candidate for refurbishing so we managed to unload it, for a loss, but we were happy to get out from underneath it.

I moved Susie, Krystal, two dogs and a cat, first to Lafayette where I still have some family.  We were settling in and it looked like a good spot, I do love Acadiana, but I could not secure a good job in Telecommunications.  I got a call from an old friend who was starting a new Telecom company in Dallas, TX.  My skills were perfect for the position and the money was right so we ended up here.  Work is going well, we provide business telecom services in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Midland TX.  The markets here have not dropped off too badly with the economic crunch so as long as folks still need to make phone calls and surf the web, I’m sure well do ok.

Susie is back in school finishing her bachelor’s degree in business management and Krystal, 14 now, is playing point guard for her high school junior varsity basketball team.  I don’t do much more than work, but when I do have some time, Susie and I enjoy riding, another Honda Goldwing, down to Strokers in Dallas, the area’s premier bike bar.  Think of the Pit Stop on Wednesday night and Johnny Whites on Saturday night rolled up together times 2.  It’s a nice scene, friendly folks.

I did make contact with the Secretary at the Lewisville lodge, we chatted on email, and I have an open invitation to attend meetings there.  I’m embarrassed to say I have not been over there just yet.  I do think about going and I guess I use work too much as my excuse for not.  One of these days I’ll get back to doing some real work, Masonic work.  Until then, I know you Gentlemen at Germania are taking care of business for me.

I send all my best wishes for everyone and their families.

Bro. JR Richardson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MASONIC EDUCATION Die Zauberflte (The Magic Flute) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived to only his mid 30s, but is acknowledged to be one to the great minds of Western civilization. There were three factors which made him what he was. First, he was a genius. Modern analysis suggests that his IQ was about 185. Second, he was a prodigy. By the age of six Mozart had become an accomplished performer on the clavier, violin, and organ and was highly skilled in sight-reading and improvisation. Five short piano pieces composed by Mozart when he was six years old are still frequently played. Third, his father pushed him as hard as a parent could push a child.   The Magic Flute was first performed at the end of September, 1791. Mozart died two months later. In composing The Magic Flute, Mozart was aided by 3 other Masons, among them, Emanuel Schickeneder. Shickeneder owned a suburban theater, and had prevailed upon Mozart to write an opera. At the time, Freemasonry was threatened in Austria, so this opera was to show the Craft at its best: morality and virtue abounded in it. In addition (at least according to some sources), women were attempting to get into the Craft. They had their own Rites of Adoption, i.e., "adopted" by Masonry, but they wanted still more secrets. Therefore, in this opera, Mozart (and his collaborators)demonstrated the virtues of Freemasonry and satirized women who wanted to join the Craft.   The overture is in the Masonic key of E flat (3 flats). It begins with 5 strong chords; then a choppy (profane sounding) section; then 9 chords in 3s; then another choppy section; ending with 3 strong chords. In the first scene, the protagonist Tamino comes in, wearing a Javanese hunting costume (he comes from the mysterious East), carrying a bow but no arrows (he has not been prepared), and is pursued by a serpent (temptation). He faints, falling level on the stage, appearing to be dead. He is saved by three women wearing veils (so they cannot see light), who use silver spears (silver is a "female" metal inferior to gold, a "male" metal). The "Three Ladies" argue over him, each wanting to possess him, but finally go off to tell their sovereign that Tamino may be able to help her with her problem. After the three ladies run off, Tamino comes to and hears Papageno coming down the path. Papageno's name comes from a French word for parrot. He is dressed in feathers. He is a true bird-brain, for he cares nothing for the greater mysteries of life. He is a foil for the noble Tamino. Mozart wrote Papageno's part for Emmanuel Schickeneder, the Mason who owned the theater and begged Mozart to write this opera in the first place. Since Schickeneder did not have much of a voice, the part is fairly easy to sing (great for the shower!). Papageno sings a famous song about catching birds and catching women. Mozart wrote only 2 stanzas; one was added after his death by an unknown writer. This 3rd stanza should not be in the opera,but is sung today at every performance of The Magic Flute. After Papageno sings, Tamino comes out, and the two men have a prolonged conversation. This conversation is never presented completely today. It begins by T. taking P. "by the hand." He asks P. who he is; P. answers, "A man, like you." They carry on a conversation which informs us that P. is an orphan who catches birds for the Queen of the Night (the "Star-flaming Queen"). As we will subsequently see, the good guys (the men of the Temple[i.e., Masons]) rule over the sun, which of course provides real light. The Queen rules over the stars, which provide very poor light. ] When T. asks P. if he killed the serpent, Papageno replies that he did: "my hand is greater than a weapon." The Three Ladies return and punish P. for lying. They place a golden lock on his mouth. As you will recall, there were women in Austria in the late 1700s who were trying to get into Masonry through the Rite of Adoption. This Rite placed a golden padlock on the postulants mouth as a symbol of silence. In the opera, this symbolizes Papageno's weakness, as a woman is able to punish him. The Three Ladies hand Tamino a portrait of the Queen's daughter and leave. T. falls in love with the girl in the picture and sings a love song. The Three Ladies return and inform T. that the girl Pamina has been kidnapped by a villain. Tamino resolves to rescue her. The Queen of the Night appears on a throne and sings to him that he will save her daughter ("You...you...you"). Tamino says he will. Papageno tries to get Tamino to remove the lock, but T. states that "I am too weak to help," meaning that has not been initiated yet. The Three Ladies appear again and remove the lock, warning P. never to lie again. At this point the 5 players turn to the audience and moralize, as often happens in this opera: "If all liars had such a lock on their mouth, instead of hatred, calumny and black temper, love and brotherhood would endure." Peter Kastl, PM - Albert Pike #376 - New Orleans, La. Home • Guestbook • Officers • Contacts • Location

 

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