Great Freemasons: Gerald Ford (July 14, 1913 – December 26, 2006)

I have always felt that the real purpose of government is to enhance the lives of people and that a leader can best do that by restraining government in most cases instead of enlarging it at every opportunity.
Gerald Ford (14 July 1913 – 26 December 2006)

Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King, Jr.; July 14, 1913 – December 26, 2006) was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford

Gerald R. Ford was initiated into Freemasonry on September 30, 1949. He later said in 1975:

When I took my obligation as a Master Mason—incidentally, with my three younger brothers—I recalled the value my own father attached to that order. But I had no idea that I would ever be added to the company of the Father of our Country and twelve other members of the order who also served as Presidents of the United States.

Masonic principles—internal, not external—and our order’s vision of duty to country and acceptance of God as a Supreme Being and guiding light have sustained me during my years of Government service. Today especially, the guidelines by which I strive to become an upright man in Masonry give me great personal strength.

Masonic precepts can help America retain our inspiring aspirations while adapting to a new age. It is apparent to me that the Supreme Architect has set out the duties each of us has to perform, and I have trusted in His will with the knowledge that my trust is well-founded….

Entered: Sept. 30, 1949
Malta Lodge No. 465 in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Passed: May 18, 1951
Raised: May 18, 1951
Columbia Lodge No. 3, District of Columbia, conferred the degrees of Fellowcraft and Master Mason on Brother Ford as a courtesy to Malta Lodge on May 18, 1951. Brother Ford's adopted father, Gerald R. Sr., a 33rd degree Mason presented the lambskin apron.
Br. Ford received the Scottish Rite degrees in the Valley of Grand Rapids in 1957 and created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General Honorary 33rd degrees, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, in 1962. (This is the highest honor that can come to an honorary member of the Northern Supreme Council of the A.A.S.R.)
Joined Saladin Shrine Temple, A.A.O.N.M.A.S. in 1959.
Member of Court No. 11, Royal Order of Jesters.
Honorary Member, DeMolay Legion of Honor.
Br. Ford's first services to Freemasonry came when he was selected for the Eastern Team in the Shriner's East West Crippled Children game at San Francisco, January 1, 1935.

Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Great Freemasons: José Rizal (June 19 1861 – December 30 1896)

I believe in revelation, but not in revelation which each religion claims to possess... but in the living revelation which surrounds us on every side — mighty, eternal, unceasing, incorruptible, clear, distinct, universal as is the being from whom it proceeds, in that revelation which speaks to us and penetrates us from the moment we are born until we die.
José Rizal (June 19 1861 – December 30 1896)Letter to Fr. Pastells (4 April 1893)


José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, novelist, poet, ophthalmologist, journalist, and revolutionary. He is widely considered as one of the greatest heroes of the Philippines. He was the author of Noli Me Tángere, El Filibusterismo, and a number of poems and essays. He was executed on December 30, 1896 by a squad of Filipino soldiers of the Spanish Army.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Rizal

(Rizal was made a Master Mason on November 15, 1890 at Logia Solidaridad 53 in Madrid, Spain.)

Steven Pinker

H/T peaceloveliberty.org

Welcome to Oz, Where the Liberal Democrats are Libertarians!

I am extremely excited to see the Liberal Democratic Party of Australia win one seat in the Senate. Warm congratulations go out to David Leyonhjelm, who made a great and libertarian speech on the floor on July 9th. Check this out:

For more info on the Australian Liberal Democratic Party, here's an article from The Spectator:

h/t Real World Libertarian

RIP Tommy Ramone (January 29, 1949 – July 11, 2014)

ONETWOTHREEFOUR!

The Last Ramone has been called to heaven. Godspeed, Tommy.



Here's some live footage from England, 1977.

Great Freemasons: Arthur M. Hyde (July 12, 1877 – October 17, 1947)

Arthur Mastick Hyde (July 12, 1877 – October 17, 1947) was an American Republican politician, who served as the 35th Governor of Missouri from 1921 to 1925, and as the United States Secretary of Agriculture for President Herbert Hoover from 1929 to 1933.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_M._Hyde


http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_missouri/col2-content/main-content-list/title_hyde_arthur.html


(Mercer Lodge 35, Princeton, MO)

Evidently, he gave a Masonic address on Liberty to his Scottish Rite Valley of Cincinnati. I am now in search of a printed copy:

The Philosophy of Liberty : an address delivered by Illustrious Arthur M. Hyde at the eighty-seventh annual reunion, Ancient accepted Scottish rite, valley of Cincinnati, April 1, 1939

Great Freemasons: Audie Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971)

"Seems to me that if you're afraid or living with some big fear, you're not really living. You're only half alive. I don't care if it’s the boss you're scared of or a lot of people in a room or diving off of a dinky little board, you gotta get rid of it. You owe it to yourself. Makes sort of a zombie out of you being afraid. I mean you want to be free, don't you? And how can you if you are scared? That's prison. Fear's a jailer. Mind now, I'm not a professor on the subject. I just found it out for myself. But that's what I think."
Audie Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971)

Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, receiving every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. The 19-year-old Murphy received the Medal of Honor after single-handedly holding off an entire company of Germans for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy


(Audie received his first degree in Masonry when he was regularly initiated, February 14, 1955, in North Hollywood [California] Lodge No. 542, Free and Accept Masons of California. He was passed to the Fellowcraft degree on April 4, 1955. On June 27, 1955, he was raised to the degree of a Master Mason. Later, he became a dual member with Heritage Lodge No. 764, North Hollywood, [now Magnolia Park No. 618] on May 14, 1956.

Audie took his degree work in the Scottish Rite Temple in Dallas on November 11-14, 1957, according to records located at the temple. After receiving his 32nd degree, Audie was elected vice president of the Thomas B. Hunter Memorial Class.
Audie became a Shriner [Hella Temple, Dallas] on November 15, 1957. Audie was made a "Master of the Royal Secret" in the Valley of Dallas, Orient of Texas, on November 14, 1965. Audie was also decorated a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor KCCH) on December 11, 1965. Audie affiliated with the Long Beach Scottish Rite Bodies on April 2, 1971. Two weeks previously, on March 19, 1971, Shriner Murphy affiliated with the Al Malaikah Temple in Los Angeles.)

http://www.muratshrine.org/bios/murphy.php

Libertarian Darth Vader

He finds your lack of faith in freedom disturbing.

Great Freemasons: Hurlbut William Smith (June 24, 1865 - December 16, 1951)

Hurlbut William Smith (June 24, 1865 - December 16, 1951)
An organizer of the L. C. Smith & Bros. Typewriter Co. in 1903, of which he was director and member of Executive board; was president, treasurer, and chairman of executive board of L. C. Smith & Corona Typewriters, Inc. b. June 24, 1865 in Centre Lisle, N.Y. Began in the gun manufacturing works of L. C. Smith; was later with Smith Premier Typewriter Co. as treasurer, until 1903.


http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=76520452

(Member of Central City Lodge No. 305, Syracuse, N.Y., receiving degrees on Nov. 23, 1897, Feb. 15, March 8, 1898. 32° AASR (NJ) and Shriner. d. Dec. 16, 1951.)