The tie that binds

Albert Pike has the rare distinction of being the only Confederate member to have a monument in Washington DC. His statue was torn down and set ablaze by protesters on Juneteenth for his strong ties with the confederates and his alleged sympathy for slavery.

I have quoted and featured Brother Pike on many of my Masonic artworks but I realized that there's just so much that I do not know about him. Who is he? How can a man who once wrote, "One man is equivalent to all Creation. One man is a World in miniature." be called a racist and so reviled by some? Here are 10 facts about Albert Pike that I gathered from the internet (sources included). 

1. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on December 20, 1809 to an alcoholic father, a cobbler named Benjamin pike,  and to a mother Sarah Andrews who tried hard to push him into ministry.
   
   
2. In 1825, Pike was sent to live with his uncle who discovered that Albert had a photographic memory and was able to recall large volumes at will. 
   
   
3. He mastered several languages and passed the examination required for entry into Harvard when he was sixteen.  Pike chose not to attend Harvard when the college requested payment of tuition fees for the first two years. Owing to financial difficulties, he opted for self-education and wrote several legal subjects.
   
   
   
   
4. He organized the Know-Nothing Party (Order of United Americans), a reactionary political movement opposed to foreigners and came to see the continuance of slavery as better for the country than farmers importing foreign labourers.
   
   
   
5. At the same time he was pro-Indian, and as the representative of several tribes of Native Americans before the government, won some large settlements.
   
   
   
   
6. Pike was commissioned as a brigadier general at the beginning of the Civil War (1861-65) and given a command in the Indian Territory. After the Battle of Pea Ridge, Pike was faced with charges that his Native American troops had scalped soldiers in the field- a charge later found to be considerably lacking in evidence. 
   
   
   
   
7. Pike first joined the fraternal Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1840 and joined a Masonic Lodge next. He became extremely active in the affairs of Freemasonry. In 1859 he was elected Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite's Southern Jurisdiction. He remained Sovereign Grand Commander for the remainder of his life (a total of thirty-two years), devoting a large amount of his time to developing the rituals of the order.
   
   
   
   
8. His monumental textbook, Morals and Dogma of Freemasonry, appeared in 1872. Since Pike had dumped so much material acquired from his memory (see fact no. 2), he refused to claim authorship as he could not determine what was his own contribution.
   
   
   
   
9. In 1899 the Scottish Rites erected a statue of Pike in Washington. Ninety years later, civil rights activists brought up the old accusation of Pike having written the rituals of the Ku Klux Klan and demanded that it be removed. Lacking clear evidence of their accusations, they were unsuccessful.
   
   
10. Protesters toppled Pike's statue in the nation’s capital and set it on fire on Juneteenth, the day marking the end of slavery in the US.
    
    
    

Sources:

• https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/us-history-biographies/albert-pike
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pike
• https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/albert-pike-1737/
• https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/st-johns-college-3584/
• https://meaww.com/confederate-leader-albert-pike-treason-kkk-freemason-slavery-lawyer-harvard-statue-washington
• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/20/protesters-statue-washington-dc-albert-pike-juneteenth-us

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The number 33 is one of that handful of mysterious numbers that evoke a certain sense of mystical (and to some, diabolical) experience. What is it about 33 that made it so mysterious? How did it come to be associated with Freemasonry and why does it seem kind of scary? Let's find out.

Many of today's polarizing symbols trace its history back to the moment of discovery of a certain natural truth. These realizations are the byproduct of careful observation spanning years if not several generations. These "truths" were held in such high regard that it can only be transmitted in secrecy during an initiatic ceremony from mouth to ear.

The Ominous Pentagram and the Noble Five-pointed Star

Take the pentagram as an example- today it is fashionably interlinked with Satanism and anything occult; but its cousin, the Five-pointed Star, is a symbol of quality, patriotism, or even fame and "stardom" in Western culture. Where did this fascination for this ever-present symbol come from?

To find out, let's watch the following Phytagorean Brotherhood exemplification video clip starring Donald Duck (beginning from video timestamp 2:29 to around 4:30). 

In case you didn't watch the video, here's a summary: Donald Duck was a skeptic who accidentally travelled back in time, got initiated into the Pythagorean Brotherhood, learned about the connection between sacred geometry and music (hint: encoded in the pentagram), and shook the hands of the spirit of Pythagoras- the Father of Mathematics and Music.  

As curious creatures, we are naturally drawn to the hidden stuff. It's in our nature to discover things but without proper guidance, the discovery of certain "secrets" can lead the mind astray. This is why initiation rites are important when imparting certain lessons. Like the pentagram symbol, the number 33 is easily recognized and oftentimes misunderstood. What is so interesting about 33? Let's look at the facts.

33 in Science and Math:

• The human spine is made of 33 individual bones or vertebrae ^[1] 
• In the Pythagorean system, 33 is the highest of the three master numbers which do not get reduced to a single number ^[2] 
• In the sums of powers, the sum of three cubes (a³ + b³+ c³)  is 33 ^[3] 
• 33 is the largest number that is not a sum of distinct triangular numbers ^[4] 
• Water boils at 33 degrees according to the temperature scale devised by Isaac Newton ^[5] 
• The word amen has a value of 33 in simple English gematria: (a=1)+(m=13)+(e=5)+(n=14) = 33 ^[6] 
• Arsenic a.k.a. The Poison of Kings has an atomic number of 33. Its alchemical symbol looks like a partially formed Star of David ^[7] 

33 in Religion and Mythology:

• Jesus was 33 years old when he was crucified and resurrected ^[8] 
• Islamic prayer beads are generally arranged in 3 sets of 33 for a total of 99 beads corresponding to the 99 Attributes of Allah ^[9] 
• The second level of heaven in Buddhism is named Trāyastriṃśa from the numeral trayastriṃśat meaning "33" and can be translated in English as "belonging to the thirty-three devas/gods" ^[10] 
• The divine name Elohim appears 33 times in the story of creation in the opening chapters of Genesis ^[11] 
• There are 33 deities in the Vedic or ancient Hinduism religion ^[12] 

Other random facts:

• Despite what the conspiracy enthusiasts would like you to think- the highest degree in Freemasonry is the 3rd Degree and NOT the 33rd Degree
• Have you heard of the 33-year lunar cycle? I don't know what to make of it but you may begin your research here. 
• JPG, the initials of the author of this blog has a value of 33 in simple English gematria: (J=10)+(P=16)+(G=7) = 33

As you can see, there are many interconnecting reasons why 33 is considered mystical.

How did 33 come to be associated with Freemasonry?

We have a particularly prolific American Freemason who went by the name Albert Pike to thank for it. During his lifetime as Sovereign Grand Commander of the Southern (US) Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite, "he actively promoted the organization by 'honouring' many of those in Masonic leadership in order to give his own organization far greater visibility than it might have otherwise achieved. Historians will note that this was the 'golden age of fraternity' and everyone wanted to accumulate degrees." -source

For the sake of the uninitiated, there are 3 degrees of Masonry: 1° Entered Apprentice, 2° Fellowcraft, and 3° Master Mason. The 3° Master Mason is the highest degree in Masonry. Even the 3° as a "high" degree is somewhat of a recent invention- during the early days of Masonry, it was the 2nd degree or the Fellowcraft that was the highest attainable rank. These 3 degrees are the degrees of the Blue/Craft Lodge. The other "higher" degrees belong to the appendant bodies of Freemasonry and none of those degrees are higher than the Master Mason 3°.

When the anti-Masons talk about the sinister 33 high-level Luciferian Illuminati Freemasons, they are mostly and misguidedly talking about the honorary and last degree of the Scottish Rite branch of Freemasonry. If you're feeling inclined to dig a little deeper and learn about how it acquired a sinister twist, Bro. Ed King from the famous Masonic Info website wrote an entertaining article about this very topic. 

References:

1. Anatomy of the Spine
2. The Three Master Numbers in the Pythagorean system
3. Cracking the Problem with 33
4. Triangular Numbers
5. The Newton Scale
6. Numerical Value of Amen
7. Arsenic
8. Chronology of Jesus
9. Islamic Prayer Beads
10. The Second Heaven
11. Elohim: Divine Name
12. The Thirty-three deities

But there's no such thing as "Entered Apprentice knot"! You're absolutely right. It is my feeble attempt to add a Masonic flair to this article for the love of Google and for the sake of SEO.

But there's another reason why I'm calling this the Entered Apprentice knot- it is the first knot that most boys learn from their fathers when they first learn how to tie a tie, hence the nickname "schoolboy knot". Because of its simplicity and elegance, it is the most popular tie knot in the world. At one point, the four-in-hand is the only tie allowed by the United States Army. 

Why the name "Four-in-Hand"?

There's an exclusive London gentlemen's club that we have to thank for it (hint: not the Freemasons). It became popular among members of the Four-in-Hand Driving Club in the 1850s. Etymologists report that carriage drivers in Great Britain knotted their reins with a four-in-hand knot. 

The drivers also wore their scarves and cravats knotted in "four-in-hand". A cravat such as the FraternalTies Platinum Corinthian cravat below is tied with four-in-hand that is why the knot is also known as the "cravat knot". 

When it's used to attach a rope to an object, the four-in-hand knot is known as the buntline hitch. It was used by sailors throughout the age of sail to rig ships and remains a useful working knot today.

Asymmetrical Elegance

How is it that such a simple and irregularly balanced knot can acquire a handsome and dignified look? The answer may lie in a world view which the Japanese call wabi-sabi- a philosophy which is centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".

How to tie the Four-in-Hand knot?

The four-in-hand is an extremely versatile knot that will look slightly different each time you tie it but always asymmetrical. Here's a photo of the knots card that we ship along with our ties while the accompanying text instruction is taken word for word from Business Insider.

1. Drape the tie around your neck with the wide end on your left side and the skinny end on your right.
2. Cross the left over the right side.
3. Bring the wide end under and back to the left.
4. Cross the wide end over again.
5. Pull the wide end through the neck loop.
6. Bring the wide end down through the neck loop
7. Tighten the knot.

Featured neckties:

1. FraternalTies 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Freemason black Jacquard silk necktie
2. FraternalTies Platinum Corinthian Cravat
3. FraternalTies Royal Arch Masons Sanguine Triple Tau Tie 

Since June 2019, there have been many large bushfires burning across Australia, especially in the southeast where a state of emergency was declared in New South Wales. As of 14 January 2020, fires this season have burned an estimated 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres; 186,000 square kilometres; 72,000 square miles), destroyed over 5,900 buildings (including approximately 2,683 homes) and killed at least 29 people. An estimated one billion animals were also killed and some endangered species may be driven to extinction. -source

100% Charity

We hope to raise money for the Australian Bushfire Relief Fund. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this t-shirt featuring original FraternalTies artwork will go to the American Australian Association. Only USD 14.50. Show your support now.

Royal Arch Masonry (also known as "Capitular Masonry") is the first part of the York Rite system of the Masonic degrees. Royal Arch Masons are easy to spot because of their penchant for the colour red.

Significance of Red

According to "Significance of Masonic Colors", an article by Bro. Harold A. Kingsbury from Massachusetts, "Red is the color of fire, and fire was to the Egyptians the symbol of the regeneration and the purification of souls. Hence, in the Masonic system, red is the symbol of regeneration. Thus red is the color assigned to the Royal Arch Degree since that degree teaches the regeneration of life."

The very first necktie in our Royal Arch Masonry series is red to compliment the Royal Arch Mason. The Jacquard-woven silk fabric is made of a repeating pattern of Triple Tau symbols and the 3 trowels pointing to the center.

Beware of Imitations

Due to the popularity of our Triple Tau design, several "Masonic" regalia companies based in Canada, USA, England, and Pakistan found an opportunity to make money by plagiarizing it. If you own a similar-looking necktie and you're not sure if it's original, simply look at the back- if it doesn't say "FraternalTies" then we can say with absolute certainty that you have been duped and we strongly suggest that you get in touch with the seller and ask for a refund. 

Please take caution when dealing with the businesses below:

These are some of the "Masonic" regalia companies that have repeatedly copied many of our original necktie creations. 

The Mark of Quality

Another way to tell if it's an authentic FraternalTies is by looking at the "tipping". The tipping is the backside of the wide tip of the tie. A genuine FraternalTies is "self-tipped"- meaning the necktie is finished on the backside with the same fabric as the self of the tie. It cost a little bit more to make but it's worth it.

Midnight Blue

The Royal Arch Masons Triple Tau Tie is also available in midnight blue.