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Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill

SteveH

Registered User
Today our lodge hosted The Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill team. On the most part it was very interesting. It is not an actual degree but an Order founded to perpetuate the principles of American liberty and impress upon the minds of all just how our country was brought into existence. It was a might heavy on conservative spin but it was an enjoyable gathering, and I am glad I joined and became a member of the order. I guess this would only be an American thing, so no disrespect intended to others here, but I am sure many members of this site have joined the Order, as it has been around for a long time. I think it has over 100,000 members now. It is for Master Masons only. Just wondering how others who have joined feel about it.
 

Matt L

Site Benefactor
I've been meaning to do this with my son. The few times it's been conferred within a few hours from me, life got in the way.
 

Rifleman1776

Registered User
Sounds interesting. Where was this held? How widespread is the Order? I have long been a reenactor of the Revolutionary Rifleman an am interested in anything having to do with that period of time. FWIW, I also belong to the Fellowship of the Beaver. This is a Masonic Order for men who are MMs an reenact the fur trade era. Basically, before about 1830.
 

SteveH

Registered User
One thing of interest, and a big thing, in my opinion, is that they did not mention Prince Hall, the man who founded Prince Hall Masonry . Prince joined the Continental Army and was “one of a few Blacks who fought at the battle of Bunker Hill.” He was on our side, by the way. An American patriot. He deserves mentioning also.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
I am a member and enjoy the order, but I do take some of it with a grain of salt. I am a high school Government and U.S. History teacher. There are some things said and done (at least at the two conferrals I've been to in my area) that make me kind of cringe. I'm not knocking it at all. I have the same reaction when brothers think the events of the third degree are evidence-based fact.
 

chrmc

Registered User
It may just be me, but when I read something like this, and read their intro text:

"The Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill is a Historical and Patriotic Order; founded to perpetuate the principles of American liberty, and to indelibly impress upon the minds of each generation the sacrifices made by our Masonic forefathers in forming and establishing the United States of America." it just screams to me that it has nothing to do with Masonry.

It is great to be a proud citizen of whatever country you are from, just as it is great to be proud of the religion that you belong to, but it has no place in Masonry. If Masons want to join it, great, but keep it out of the lodge room please.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
It may just be me, but when I read something like this, and read their intro text:

"The Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill is a Historical and Patriotic Order; founded to perpetuate the principles of American liberty, and to indelibly impress upon the minds of each generation the sacrifices made by our Masonic forefathers in forming and establishing the United States of America." it just screams to me that it has nothing to do with Masonry.

It is great to be a proud citizen of whatever country you are from, just as it is great to be proud of the religion that you belong to, but it has no place in Masonry. If Masons want to join it, great, but keep it out of the lodge room please.

I wouldn't look at it like that. The whole purpose of the order is to keep alive the history of our Founding Fathers who were Masons. I first heard about the order and arranged for it to be conferred at our lodge because I was doing research on Dr. Joseph Warren for an article I was writing for our lodge newsletter. Most Masons know George Washington was a brother, but their knowledge doesn't go much beyond that. The Masonic influence on the Revolution and founding of the United States is immense. That's why Sword of Bunker Hill is an "order" for Master Masons; it's not a Masonic degree.
 

chrmc

Registered User
I wouldn't look at it like that. The whole purpose of the order is to keep alive the history of our Founding Fathers who were Masons.

Ok, that is fair enough. That just not really what it says when you look at the website and they write "...founded to perpetuate the principles of American liberty, and to indelibly impress upon the minds of each generation the sacrifices made by our Masonic forefathers..."

I think the more interesting question to me that this touches upon, would be where to draw the line between Freemasonry and Patriotism? I'm certain it'll be different from country to country, and in the US it'll likely swing in the "more patriotic" direction.
 

Schuetz

Registered User
I joined at the Betsey Ross Chapter in Benton, Illinois, last year. Unfortunately, it was somewhat spoiled for me but it was still a great night. Plus, you can't beat ~$25 for a lifetime membership.

Quentin E. L. Schuetz, M.M.
Shekinah Lodge No. 241 • IL
 
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