The name of Cain’s wife, as shown in the Bible, is AWAN. The Book of Jubilees provides names for a host of unnamed Biblical characters, including wives for most of the antediluvian patriarchs. The last in the series is Noah’s wife, to whom it gives the name of Emzara. Other Jewish traditional sources contain many different names for Noah’s wife. A literal reading of Genesis leads readers to wonder where Cain got his wife. The Book of Jubilees says that Awan was Adam and Eve’s first daughter. Their second daughter Azura married Seth.

Anthony B.Sayer, the fi rst Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England, constituted in 1717, was chosen as Grand Master not only because he was the oldest Master Mason in the Lodges that made up the Grand Lodge but was also Master of a Lodge.

Masonic dates are written as "A.L." which stands for "Anno Lucius", meaning "In the year of the Light". This is calculated as 4,000 years plus the current year; i.e. the year 2006 would be Masonically written as "6006 A.L." This practice follows the ancient belief that the world was created when God said  "Let there be Light", 4,000 years before Christ.

The Masonic Ring with the Square and Compasses is not an official item of Masonic Jewelry. However, it is said by some authorities that if worn with the Compasses pointing to the fingertips, it indicates to others that the wearer is a Mason. When worn with the Compasses pointing towards the wrist, it is meant to remind the wearer that he is a Master Mason, and his duties as one.

The term "Worshipful" when referring to a Master or Past Master is derived from the Old English "worchyppe" or "worchype", meaning "Greatly respected".

When the fi rst Grand Lodge was formed in 1717, it had no jurisdiction, ritual, constitution or laws. There were only two degrees. The third degree was first reported in 1725, and came into being without sanction of the Grand Lodge.

The "Obligation" taken by candidates is a promise made by the candidate to the members of the Lodge and the Fraternity.

The "Oath" is when he says "So help me God (or GAOTU, or GGOTU, or MH).

The letters of the word "GOD" are the first letters of three Hebrew words for Beauty, Strength and Wisdom - "G" for "Gomez", "O" for "Oz", and "D" for "Dabar".

Between the years 1737 and 1779, two sailing ships operated off the eastern seaboard of the U.S.A. One was called "The Freemason", while the other was named "The Master Mason".

A child born in 1886 in Texas was named "Hiram Abiff Boaz". He was made a Mason in 1922, becoming Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1953.

In the early days, the length of the CABLE TOW was as long as an hour’s journey, roughly 3 miles. But symbolically, it is the extent of a man’s ability to discharge his responsibility. A Mason is bound to his brethren by a tie as long and as strong as his conscience dictates.

The HOODWINK, used to cover a candidate’s eyes, is Masonically a symbol of secrecy, or the absence of knowledge. It also  symbolizes our dependence upon moral teachings for guidance in our daily conduct.

The phrase "Just, Perfect and Regular", used in the questions before the 2nd Degree, means that a Lodge is "Just" when furnished with the Great Lights, "Perfect" when it contains the constitutional number of members and " Regular" when working under a Charter and thus legally authorized.

The ISH SABBAL were the 70,000 Apprentices who were the bearers of burdens at the building of the Temple.

In olden days, when roads were poor and traveling difficult, many Lodges met on the night of the Full Moon, or a couple of days before or after, so that while going to and coming from Lodge meetings they might have the moon to light the way and make the journey easier. These Lodges were often called "Moon Lodges."

During the Investiture of the Apron, the initiate is told that the Masonic Apron is older than various other Orders. It is. The Order of the Golden Fleece was founded in 1429. The Roman Eagle was the symbol of the power and might of Rome many centuries after the building of the Temple. The Order of the Star and the Order of the Garter were founded in the 1300s.

In the phrase "So mote it be", the word "mote" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "motan", meaning "to be allowed". These are also the last words in the Regius Manuscript. The oldest Masonic writings, the Regius Manuscript or "Poem of Moral Duties", written around 1390, was discovered to be a Masonic document by a non-Mason, J.O.Halliwell, in 1830. It was given the name "Regius" because it was found in the Royal Library of England. Some common Masonic ritual terms in use today are found in it.

The Five-Pointed Star refers to the Masonic Blazing Star, and the Five Points of Fellowship.

As tradition continues, on April 9th at 2:00 the Deputy Grand Master here in Minnesota will be installed as our new Grand Master. The ceremony will take place at the Double Tree Hotel in Saint Louis Park and will be open to the public. This time, however, something out of the ordinary will take place. Our new GM will be Andy Rice who is a British citizen. Just before he is installed, his young son, Ben, will post the English Flag to the left of the altar. Andy will then take the obligation of the Grand Master. He will remain standing at the altar as Ben then posts the American Flag to the right of the altar. Our new Grand Master will then be sworn in as an American citizen by our Sr. Grand Steward, Judge Tom McCarthy. Im sure that there will not be a dry eye in the house when Father and Son then will recite the Pledge of Allegiance for the fi rst time ever. It will be a great day for Masonry and a great day for America.