Solomon’s Staircase Masonic Lodge
By Solomon's Staircase Masonic Lodge #357
SS357: Black Ink, Farther Stars: An Interview with Author Austin Shifrin (Season 6, Episode 7)
Thank you to Austin Shifrin for spending some time with us to discuss his new book, Black Ink, Farther Stars. His book is available on Amazon around the world.
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Farther-Stars-Austin-Shifrin/dp/B0DBCD7PBM
“Black Ink, Farther Stars”: The title derives from a mixed metaphor, combining a theurgic practice used by the ancient Greeks to talk with their gods, and the modern use of parallax by astronomers to estimate the distance to celestial objects.
The book is 164 pages, and consists of 5 chapters, each a topic that was originally custom-written for presentation to a Masonic audience:
“Ritual Across Time and Space” – how theater and the performing arts have been used by different societies around the world and throughout history for cultural and moral instruction.
“The Chamber of Reflection: Mortality, Morphology, and Meaning” – how contemplation of death can enrich and inspire our lives, drawing on sources from Paracelsus to podcasts.
“The Tarot of Virtue” – how Tarot cards can be used as a visual aid to study the 18 progressive virtues in the system of modern French philosopher Andre Comte-Sponville.
“How the Allied Masonic Degrees and Grand College of Rites Complement Each Other” – the history of two lesser-known Masonic institutions, and the unique and colorful rituals that they preserve.
“The Stuff Freemasonry is Made Of: Physical Properties of the Old Testament” – How we can better understand the stories of Freemasonry and the Old Testament when we have a better grasp of the physical settings and artifacts being referenced; examining both the hard science, and the lore.
SS357: Leadership in the lodge (Season 6, Episode 6)
SS357: June 2023 Trestle Board - Religion & Freemasonry (Season 6, Episode 5)
<li>Master's message</li>
<li>Jr Warden's message</li>
<li>Freemasonry and Religion are Compatible</li>
<li>Editor's Notes</li>
</ul>
SS357: January 2023 Trestle Board: Renewal (Season 6, Episode 4)
Join us for this short episode bringing in the year 2023.
- Master Elect's Message
- Jr Warden Elect's Message
- Editor's Notes
SS357: Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry Chapter 62 (Season 6, Episode 3)
Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry- chapter 62: The Cathedral at Strasburg
SS357: May 2023 Trestle Board: The Noble Character (Season 6, Episode 2)
- Master's message
- Jr Warden's Message
- Editor's notes
- Stellar Theology and Masonic Astronomy
- Stoicism & Freemasonry
SS357: Oct 2023 Trestle Board: Ritual Modification (Season 6, Episode 1)
<li>Master's message</li>
<li>From the South</li>
<li>Charity</li>
<li>Editor's Notes</li>
<li>Ask ChatGPT</li>
</ul>
SS357: Masonic Education - The Rite of Discalceation (Season 5, Episode 32)
<li>https://sacred-texts.com/mas/sof/sof20.htm</li>
<li>https://www.masonicsites.org/discalceationrite.htm</li>
<li>https://www.masonicworld.com/education/files/artoct02/rite_of_discalceation.htm</li>
</ul>
SS357: Nov 2023 Trestle Board: The Call to Brotherhood (Season 5, Episode 31)
<li>Master's message</li>
<li>Sr Warden's message</li>
<li>The Brotherhood of Man</li>
<li>Editor's Notes</li>
<li>Ask ChatGPT - Why should men become Freemasons?</li>
</ul>
SS357: Sep 2023 Trestle Board: The Mature Mindset (Season 5, Episode 30)
<li>Master's Article</li>
<li>Sr Warden's Article</li>
<li>Charity</li>
<li>Editor's Note</li>
<li>ChatGPT</li>
</ul>
SS357: Dec 2022 Trestle Board - The Christmas Spirit (Season 5, Episode 29)
<li>Master's Article</li>
<li>Sr Warden's Article</li>
<li>Jr Warden's Article</li>
<li>Editor's Notes</li>
<li>Estate Planning</li>
</ul>
SS357: December 2021 Trestle Board: The Greatest of These is Charity (Season 5, Episode 7)
Master's message - The Greatest of these is Charity Chaplain's Corner - Charity is a Godly Act (Updated with audio from author) From the West - Charity Springs from Love Charity, oh how Significant Interview with MW Jeff Wilkins one more thing...
SS357: The Beehive (Season 4, Episode 11)
SS357: April 2023 Trestle Board: The Operative & the Speculative (Season 5, Episode 28)
<li>Master's Message</li>
<li>Senior Warden's Message</li>
<li>Editor's Notes</li>
<li>The Modern Cowan</li>
</ul>
SS357: November 2022 Trestle Board - Giving Thanks (Season 5, Episode 27)
<li>Master's Article: Giving Thanks</li>
<li>From the West: Thankfulness</li>
<li>From the South: Giving Thanks</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>MOS and Sabrina Montes</li>
<li>Editor's Note: Giving Thanks</li>
</ul>
SS357: August 2022 Trestle Board - You are a Mason, I Presume (Season 5, Episode 26)
Master's Article
From the West
From the South
Editor's Note
The Cornerstone Society
SS357: Some Information on Concordant Bodies (Season 5, Episode 25)
<li>The York Rite and the Scottish Rite Compared</li>
<li>Our English Brethren and the York Rite</li>
<li>Royal Order of Scotland</li>
<li>Allied Masonic Degrees</li>
</ul>
SS357: Various Topics on Masonry: September 2023 (Season 5, Episode 24)
<li>King Solomon</li>
<li>The two saints John</li>
<li>More Masonic Light: The Sublime Degree of a Master Mason</li>
<li>The Lost Master's Word</li>
<li>Consider a Table Lodge and Festive Board
</li>
</ul>
SS357: Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry Chapter 61 (Season 5, Episode 23)
The Stonemasons of Germany
SS357: Famous Freemasons July 2023 (Season 5, Episode 23)
SS357: Masonic education and leadership (Season 5, Episode 22)
Hiram... A Different Look
Jack Welch on Leadership
The Monument of the Broken Column
Faith, Religion and Freemasonry
SS357: Famous Freemasons, June 2023 (Season 5, Episode 21)
<li>John Wanamaker, an exceptional merchant and Mason</li>
<li>Andrew Johnson, president, Freemason</li>
<li>Boeing and j Earl Schaefer, The aviator Mason</li>
<li>Brother Arnold Palmer</li>
<li>Brother Edward Preble
</li>
</ul>
SS357: Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry, Chapter 60, Part 2 (Season 5, Episode 20)
SS357: Mackey's revised history of Freemasonry, chapter 60, Part 1 (Season 5, Episode 19)
Chapter 60 - The traveling Freemasons of Lombardy
SS357: Interview with Austin R. Shifrin author of More Light: Collected Masonic Writings 2017-2021 (Season 5, Episode 18)
Big thank you to Austin for his time. A few audio glitches, but you'll get the point.
Title: More Light: Collected Masonic Writings 2017 - 2021
Author: Austin R. Shifrin
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
Hardcover -
ISBN: 9781662923791
Date of publication: 3/14/2022
number of pages: 130
price: $21.99 retail
Paperback -
ISBN: 9781662923807
Date of publication: 3/31/2022
number of pages: 128
price: $9.99 retail
Media / coverage:
Book review, Marge Gonzalez - https://www.margegonzalez.net/forum-books/nonfiction/more-light-collected-masonic-writings-2017-2021
Book review, Cameron Bailey, Past Grand Master of Masons in the state of Washington - https://emeth.substack.com/p/more-light-collected-masonic-writings
Author profile, Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle - https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/local-jewish-freemason-aims-to-correct-misconceptions/
Description:
This book delivers a collection of the author’s articles from RiteNow, the magazine of the Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh, along with a history of Freemasonry – both worldwide, and in the Pittsburgh area specifically. It provides the reader a comprehensive overview of the roots and tenets of the world's most ancient and honorable Fraternity.
Intended audience:
Suitable for existing members who want to learn more about the fraternity; also, a really good place to start for members of the general public who want to know more about this historic yet secretive organization.
Where it can be bought
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Ingram Content Group
Wheelers Books
and many others... see https://gatekeeperpress.com/retailers/
Libraries where it is currently in circulation:
Harry C Trexler Masonic Library - Allentown, PA
Louisiana Masonic Library and Museum - Alexandria, LA
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
SS357: July 2022 Trestle Board - Let Freedom Ring (Season 5, Episode 17)
<li>Master's Article</li>
<li>From the West</li>
<li>From the South</li>
<li>Editor's Note</li>
</ul>
SS357: June 2022 Trestle Board - Practicing out of the Lodge... (Season 5, Episode 16)
<li>Master's Article</li>
<li>From the South</li>
<li>From the West</li>
<li>Editor's Note</li>
</ul>
SS357: May 2022 Trestle Board - Back to the Future (Season 5, Episode 15)
Master's Article
From the West
From the South
Editor's Note
SS357: April 2022 Trestle Board - Beers and Bros, Fellowship in Action (Season 5, Episode 14)
Master's Article
From the West
From the South
Editor's Note
SS357: Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry (History of Freemasonry - Chapter 59) (Season 5, Episode 13)
The French Gilds of the Middle Ages
SS357: March 2023 Spotlight on California Lodges (Season 5, Episode 12)
- La Jolla #518
- Santa Barbara #192
- Napa Valley #93
- Santa Monica-Palisades #307
- Morning Star #19
- Prometheus #851
SS357: March 2023 Masonic Education (Season 5, Episode 11)
Who was Josephus?
Geometry or Masonry
The Warden's Columns
SS357: Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry (History of Freemasonry - Chapter 58) (Season 5, Episode 10)
Chapter 58: Customs of the Scottish Freemasons in the 17th Century
SS357: Thoughts on Masonry (Season 5, Episode 9)
How does Freemasonry add value to our lives?
The nature of Masonry
The thoughts of the candidate
The warrior poet
SS357: October 2022 Trestle Board - Seasons of Change (Season 5, Episode 8)
<li>Master's Article: Seasons of Change </li>
<li>From the South: Seasons of Change </li>
<li>From the West: Seasons of Change </li>
<li>Editor's Note </li>
<li>Cornerstone Society</li>
</ul>
SS357: CFM - The Filipino Issue (Season 5, Episode 6)
SS357: Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry (History of Freemasonry - Chapter 57) (Season 5, Episode 5)
SS357: March 2022 Trestle Board - Whence Came You? (Season 5, Episode 4)
Master's Article
From the West
From the South
Editor's Note
SS357: February 2022 Trestle Board - Masonry 101 (Season 5, Episode 3)
<li>Master's Article</li>
<li>From the West</li>
<li>From the South</li>
<li>Masonry 101</li>
<li>Masonic Musings</li>
</ul>
SS357: January 2022 Trestle Board - From Refreshment to Labor (Season 5, Episode 2)
<li>Master's Article</li>
<li>From the West (Heading East)</li>
<li>Sr Warden Elect's Article</li>
<li>Jr Warden Elect's Article</li>
<li>Charity</li>
</ul>
SS357: November 2021 Trestle Board - Positive Awareness (Season 5, Episode 1)
<li>Master's article</li>
<li>Junior Warden's article</li>
<li>Chaplain's corner</li>
<li>Interview with MW Jeff Wilkins, Part 1 (From freemasonry.org)</li>
</ul>
SS357: Thoughts on Ritual (Season 4, Episode 49)
We share a few articles with discussions on various aspects of Masonic ritual and Masonic etiquette.
SS357: September 2022 Trestle Board - Bright in the East (Season 4, Episode 48)
<li>Master's Article </li>
<li>From the West </li>
<li>From the South </li>
<li>Editor's Note </li>
<li>Donating Retirement Assets</li>
</ul>
SS357: Interview with Wfl. Charles S. Hayes (Season 4, Episode 47)
Join as we interview Worshipful Charles S. Hayes as he closes out his fourth year in the East.
SS357: Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry (History of Freemasonry - Chapter 56) (Season 4, Episode 46)
Chapter 56 - The Harlein Manuscript as a Germ of History - Customs of the Craft in the Seventeenth Century
SS357: Places with Masonic Ties (Season 4, Episode 45)
<li>Americana Brazil</li>
<li>The Guthrie Oklahoma Scottish Rite Temple</li>
<li>A Walk Through History at Fort Monroe</li>
</ul>
SS357: Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry (History of Freemasonry - Chapter 55) (Season 4, Episode 44)
SS357: Masonic Education - November 2022 (Season 4, Episode 43)
- AF & AM versus F&AM States
- The Compass and the Constitution
- The Ornaments of a Lodge
- What is the Meaning of Worshipful?
SS357: Mackey's Revised History of Freemasonry (History of Freemasonry - Chapter 54) (Season 4, Episode 42)
