Grand Lodge of Washington, District of Columbia
| Past Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Washington DC Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Washington DC in 2005 (elected Grand Lodge office) Junior Grand Warden in 2004 (elected Grand Lodge office) Senior Grand Deacon in 2003 (elected Grand Lodge office) Junior Grand Deacon in 2002 (elected Grand Lodge office) Senior Grand Steward in 2001 (elected Grand Lodge office) Junior Grand Steward in 2000 (elected Grand Lodge office) |
| Recipient of the Valentine Reintzel medal of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia in 1999 |
| Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Lodge of Washington DC in 1999 (appointed Grand Lodge office) Aide to the Grand Master in 1998 (appointed Grand Lodge office) |
| Worshipful Master of Pythagoras Lodge of Research, F.A.A.M., Washington DC, in 2003 |
| Life Member of Potomac Lodge #5, FAAM, Washington DC Life Member of Hiram-Takoma Lodge #10, FAAM, Washington DC Life Member of Freedom Military Lodge #1775, FAAM, Washington DC Honorary Member of Federal Lodge #1, FAAM, Washington DC Honorary Member of Arminius Lodge #25, FAAM, Washington DC |
| Chairman of the Masonic Recognitions Committee of the Grand Lodge, 2004 Chairman of the Grand Lodge Library & Museum Committee, 1997 through 2002 Chairman of the Grand Lodge Internet Committee, 2000-2001 Co-Chairman of the Grand Lodge Masonic Education & Service Committee, 1999 For several years, member of the Masonic Recognition, Jurisprudence, Voice of Freemasonry (newsletter) and other Committees Chairman of Committees to Investigate Conducting Business on Any Degree, and Grand Masters Classes |
| Assistant Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of Washington DC from 1997 to 1998 Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee, Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 Member of the Correspondence Committee, Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, 1998-2001 and 2002-2003 Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of New York near the Grand Chapter of the District of Columbia Secretary of Mount Pleasant Royal Arch Chapter #13, Royal Arch Masons from 1996 to 1998 Charter Member of Sojourner Kilwinning Chapter #17, Royal Arch Masons, 2000 |
| Member of the Correspondence (Recognition) Committee, Grand Council, Cryptic Masons of Washington DC, 2000 |
| Officer in Albert Pike Consistory, Washington DC Scottish Rite Bodies (life member) 33° Inspector General Honorary in Scottish Rite – awarded October 2003 Webmaster of the Washington D.C. Scottish Rite website until 2005 Assistant Director of Work – 2000-2001 |
| Venerable Master of National Capital Council #296, AMD (Allied Masonic Degrees), in 2003 Secretary-Treasurer of National Capital Council #296, AMD, 2004-2005 Founding Member & Excellent Chief of Universal Council #70 Knight Masons, in 2003 |
| Knights of Mecca of Almas Shrine, Secretary-Treasurer in 2001 |
| Member at Large, MOVPER (Mystic Order Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm) |
| Life Member, Past Officer, of Washington Chapter #3, National Sojourners Member, George Washington Camp, Heroes of ’76 |
| Member, Past Masters Association of the District of Columbia |
Other Places
| Virginia | Past District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM) for Research Lodges in 1999 Grand Purveyor in 1999 (appointed Grand Lodge office) Past Master of Skidmore Daylight Lodge #237 (WM in 1997) – this is now Ft. Hunt Skidmore Daytime Lodge #353 Past Master (1997-1998), Founding & Life Member of the Civil War Lodge of Research #1865 Life Member in Perpetuity of Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22 (received degrees there in 1987) Past High Priest & Life Member in Perpetuity, Mt. Vernon Royal Arch Chapter #14 (HP in 1989) Life Member in Perpetuity in Arlington Royal Arch Chapter #35 (formerly Triangle Chapter #73) Member of Jessica Callahan Chapter #91, Order of the Eastern Star Member of Temple Forest #136, Tall Cedars of Lebanon |
|
| New York | Member of Zeredatha Lodge #483 in Brooklyn (my late father’s lodge)
(The photo on the right is of Bro. Martin Bessel, my father. It was probably taken around 1943-1945 (age 26-28), shortly before he became a Mason in Zeredatha Lodge #483 in Brooklyn NY in 1946) |
|
| Montana |
Member of Bannack Historical Lodge #3-7-77, Montana |
|
| France | Honorary Junior Grand Warden of the National Grand Lodge of France | |
| Armenia | Honorary Senior Grand Deacon in the Grand Lodge of Armenia | |
Other Masonic Organizations
| President of the Masonic Library & Museum Association from 1999 to 2001 Librarian of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, from 1995 to 2002 |
| Executive Secretary of the Masonic Leadership Center since 1995 |
| Fellow (since 1999) and Life Member of the Philalethes Society (only 40 worldwide are Fellows at any time) |
| Fellow and Life Member of the Scottish Rite Research Society – Fellow awarded in 2003 |
| Fellow of The Masonic Society (masonic research organization) |
| Recipient of the Masonic Brotherhood of the Blue Forget-Me-Not |
| Fellow of the Maine Lodge of Research – 2003 James R. Case Fellow of the Connecticut Lodge of Research – 2006 |
| Moderator of MasEd, a computer message system for Masonic education, and other Masonic internet communication groups Staff Member of Shriners-2000, a computer message system for Shriners Moderator of New York Masons, an email group for freemasonry in New York |
| Member, Grand College of Rites, U.S.A. |
Other Masonic Activities
| Speaker at many Masonic Lodges and other Masonic organizations on topics such as the meaning of the Hiram Abif legend, difference between Royal Arch and Craft Masonry, Masonry during the Civil War, etc. |
| Author of many Masonic articles in publications such as the Philalethes, the Scottish Rite Journal, Heredom (Scottish Rite Research Society), The Plumbline, D.C. Voice of Freemasonry, the Virginia Masonic Herald, the Masonic Globe, and the Phylaxis, on topics such as U.S. recognition policies toward French Grand Lodges, how to do Masonic research, Abraham Lincoln and Freemasonry, Judaism and Freemasonry, Thurgood Marshall, Questions about Masonic Voting Procedures |
| “Webmaster” of hundreds of Masonic webpages with information on such topics as history of recognition of Prince Hall Masonry, all Masonic Grand Lodges in the world, all Research Lodges, and others |
Personal
Lawyer
Member of the Bar of Maryland and the Bar of the District of Columbia
Member, American Institute of Parliamentarians
Born January 24, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York
Married, resides in Silver Spring, Maryland
Published Masonic Books by Paul M. Bessel
(in chronological order)
|
Title |
Publisher |
Date of Publication & Details |
|---|---|---|
| Masonic Questions & Answers | Cornerstone Publishers, Charlottesville, Virginia available at http://www.lostword.com/mbooks.html |
2005 Softcover ISBN 1-887560-59-9 $16.95 |
| Out of the Shadows: The Emergence of Prince Hall Freemasonry in America, 200 Years of Enduranceco-author with Alton G. Roundtree | KLR Publishing P.O. Box 471551 Forestville, Md 20753 (301) 899-3146 http://klrpublishing.com |
2006 Hardcover ISBN 0-9772385-0-4, $29.95 |
Published Masonic Articles by Paul M. Bessel
(updated November 19, 2014 – probably missing some details)
(in chronological order)
|
Title |
Publication |
Details |
|---|---|---|
| Freemasonry and Judaism | The Philalethes | February 1990 (Volume XLIII, Number 1), pages 17-20 |
| Freemasonry and Judaism | The Scottish Rite Journal (publication of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction) | March 1990 (Volume XCVIII, Number 3), pages 45-49 |
| Freemasonry and Judaism | Transactions of A. Douglas Smith, Jr., Lodge of Research No. 1949, AF&AM, Virginia | Volume 2, 1988-1992, pages 43-53 |
| Abraham Lincoln and Freemasonry | The Philalethes | December 1994 (Volume XLVII, Number 6), pages 134-137 |
| What Are the Origins of the Cryptic Degrees? | The Cryptic Freemason (publication of the General Grand Council Cryptic Masons International) | Spring 1996 (Volume XVII, Number 2) pages 12-13 |
| What is Freemasonry? Why is it important to our country and the world? | The Virginia Masonic Herald (publication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia) | July-Sept. 1996 (Volume 89, Number 2), pages 19-21 |
| U.S. Recognition of French Grand Lodges in the 1900s | Heredom (journal of the Scottish Rite Research Society) | Volume 5, 1996, pages 221-244 |
| Recognition Issues: Who and What is a Mason? | The Voice of Freemasonry (publication of the Grand Lodge , F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia | Summer 1997 (Volume IX, Number 2), page 8 |
| Allen E. Roberts’ Legacy to Freemasonry | Bulletin of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Washington, Orient of the District of Columbia | Fall 1997, pages 26-27 |
| Basic Books about Freemasonry | The Voice of Freemasonry (publication of the Grand Lodge , F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia | Fall 1998, Volume 15, Number 3, page ? |
| book review – Why Do Some People Hate Freemasonry? A Clear Description of Who Hates Us and Why – Conspiracy: How the Paranoid Style Flourishes and Where It Comes From, by Daniel Pipes | The Voice of Freemasonry (publication of the Grand Lodge , F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia | Spring 1999, Volume 12, Number 1, page ? |
| Wiring the Scottish Rite to Electronic Masonry | The Scottish Rite Journal (publication of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction) | August 2000 |
| http://209.238.202.160/council/journal/aug00/bessel.html | ||
| The Doctrine of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction | Transactions of the American Lodge of Research | volume 28 – 1999 – published November 2000, pages 52-62 |
| A Freemason Who Changed Our Country: Thurgood Marshall (with Joseph A. Walkes, Jr.) | The Phylaxis | Fourth Quarter 2000 – Vol. 29, pages 9-12 |
| Questions to Think About Concerning Masonic Balloting | The Masonic Globe | May-June 2001, Vol. 1, Number 3, pages 21-23 |
| History of the Commission on Information for Recognition | The Philalethes magazine | August 2001 |
| Jack the Ripper and Freemasonry | The Scottish Rite Journal | December 2001 |
| The Virginia Grand Lodge Recognizes Prince Hall Masonry | Prince Hall Masonic Digest (official organ of the M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of D.C.) | December 2001 |
Unpublished or Miscellaneous (or items needing further research)
Masonic Articles by Paul M. Bessel
(updated November 19, 2014 – probably missing some)
(in chronological order)
| (unpublished) Series of Masonic fact sheets used by a Study Group |
Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22, AF&AM, Virginia | 1995 |
| (unpublished) George Washington and Freemasonry |
||
| (unpublished) George Washington and Religion |
||
| (unpublished) Freemasonry and Nazis |
||
| series of articles on How to Do Masonic Research | The Voice of Freemasonry (publication of the Grand Lodge , F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia | |
| How to Do Masonic Research | Plumbline (newsletter of the Scottish Rite Research Society) | |
| Gavels | Plumbline (newsletter of the Scottish Rite Research Society) | |
| Conducting Business on the First Degree | 2000 | |
| Evaluation of Grand Masters Classes | 2000 |
Masonic Talks by Paul M. Bessel
(updated November 19, 2014 – probably missing some)
(in chronological order)
| Title | Place | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Freemasonry and Judaism | Mt. Vernon Royal Arch Chapter #14, Virginia | May 5, 1989 |
| Freemasonry and Judaism | Annandale ? Royal Arch Chapter #77?, Virginia | Nov. 15(?),1989 |
| Freemasonry and Judaism | A.D. Smith Lodge of Research #1949, AF&AM, Virginia | March 31, 1990 |
| Anti-Masonry and How to Respond to it | Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22, AF&AM, Virginia | June 8, 1995 |
| Abraham Lincoln and Freemasonry | A. Douglas Smith, Jr., Lodge of Research #1949, AF&AM, Virginia | July 29, 1995 |
| Freemasonry and Judaism | Skidmore Daylight Lodge #237, AF&AM, Virginia | Sept. 5, 1995 |
| Freemasonry and the Civil War | Andrew Jackson Lodge #120, AF&AM, Virginia | Sept. 7, 1995 |
| What is Freemasonry and Why is it important? | Seminar in the George Washington Masonic National Memorial by A.D. Smith Lodge of Research #1949, AF&AM, Virginia | Sept. 9, 1995 |
| Staged debate on Masonic issues | A. Douglas Smith, Jr., Lodge of Research #1949, AF&AM, Virginia | Sept. 30, 1995 |
| Freemasonry and Judaism | Elmer Timberman Lodge #54, AF&AM, Virginia | Oct. 2, 1995 |
| Basics of Cryptic Masonry Meaning of the Cryptic Deposit (9/25/95) Meaning of Royal Master Degree Meaning of Select Master Degree (10/23/95) |
3 DC Cryptic Councils | 1995 |
| Freemasonry and Judaism | Masters & Wardens Association of Masonic District 54 in Virginia | Jan. 23, 1996 |
| Abraham Lincoln and Freemasonry | DC Scottish Rite bodies | Feb. 6, 1996 |
| What is Freemasonry and Why is it important? | 12 leadership conferences in different cities throughout Virginia | Feb. 23-24, Mar. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 1996 |
| Masonic Leadership Center | Virginia Scottish Rite Leadership Conference in Richmond, VA | Mar. 30, 1996 |
| What is Freemasonry and Why is it important? | Macon Ware Lodge #?, AF&AM, Virginia (Jim Smith asked me) | May 28, 1996 |
| What Wardens Should Be Doing NOW! | Sojourner Kilwinning Lodge #1798, FAAM, D.C. | June 22, 1996 |
| Masonic Leadership Center | Maryland August Scene | Aug. 10, 1996, in Hagerstown |
| Researching U.S. Grand Lodges’ Recognition of French Grand Bodies | Pythagoras Lodge of Research, FAAM, D.C. | Sept. 30, 1996 |
| Benjamin B. French’s diary | DC Scottish Rite bodies | Oct. 1, 1996 |
| How to Start Your Year Right as Master | MLC (Masonic Leadership Center) seminar at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Library | Nov. 17, 1996 |
| Masonic Tour of the U.S. Capitol building | various groups | 1997 and other times |
| Freemasonry and Women | High Twelve Club of DC, meeting in Silver Spring, MD | Jan. 8, 1997 |
| Combining Cryptic Councils into Royal Arch Chapters | DC Cryptic Councils | Apr. 28, 1997 |
| Allen Roberts’ and Freemasonry During the Civil War | Civil War Lodge of Research #1865, AF&AM, Virginia | May 1997 |
| Freemasonry and the Civil War | Harmony Lodge #17, FAAM, D.C. | May 7, 1997 |
| Controversy Surrounding the Creation of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of DC | William R. Singleton Chapter #4, Royal Arch Masons, D.C. | May 15, 1997 |
| Doctrine of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction | Lord Fairfax Council #90, AMD (Allied Masonic Degrees) | May 30, 1997 |
| The Meaning of the Hiram Abif legend | Albert Pike Lodge #33, FAAM, D.C. | June 4, 1997 |
| The Meaning of the Hiram Abif legend | Joppa Lodge #35, FAAM, D.C. | July 1, 1997 |
| How to Improve Public Speaking Ability, & Masonic Research & Libraries | DC Leadership Conference in Front Royal, VA | Sept. 20, 1997 |
| The Meaning of the Hiram Abif legend | Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22, AF&AM, D.C. | Oct. 9, 1997 |
| George Washington – Freemasonry – the Real Story and its significance | Wheaton Lodge #?, Maryland | Oct. 16, 1997 |
| U.S. Presidents and Freemasonry | Federal Lodge #1, FAAM, D.C. | Feb. 9, 1998 |
| Freemasonry and the Civil War | East Gate Lodge #34, FAAM, D.C. | Feb. 16, 1998 |
| Using Computers in Grand Lodges and Other Masonic Groups | Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America | Feb. 23-24, 1998 |
| Freemasonry and the Civil War & Brotherhood | Federal Lodge #1, FAAM, D.C. | May 11, 1998 |
| Stop Boring Brethren: Suggestions for Interesting Lodge Programs | Northeast Conference on Masonic Education & Libraries | May 30, 1998, Utica NY |
| Meaning of the Royal Arch Degrees – from the book, Revolutionary Brotherhood | Triangle Royal Arch Chapter #73, Virginia | June 9, 1998 |
| Civil War Issues from a Masonic Perspective – John Brown | Herndon AMD Council | June 30, 1998 |
| Issues of the Civil War from a Masonic Perspective | Civil War Lodge of Research #1865, AF&AM, Virginia, with Officers and Members of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 from London | July 11, 1998, at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial |
| Meaning of Masonic Craft Degrees | Kemper-Macon Ware Lodge #64, AF&AM, Virginia | July 28, 1998 |
| The Civil War Lodge of Research | John Blair Lodge #187, AF&AM, Virginia | Aug. 19, 1998 |
| Freemasonry and the Civil War | Joppa Lodge #35, FAAM, D.C. | Sept. 1, 1998 |
| New Education Program for Candidates in Virginia | District Deputy Grand Masters Conference | Sept. 11, 1998, Blackstone, VA |
| History of Federal Lodge #1, Hoban, Founders of U.S. | Federal Lodge #1, FAAM, D.C. | Sept. 14, 1998 |
| How to Become a Better Public Speaker | D.C. Grand Lodge Leadership Conference in Front Royal, VA | Sept. 1998 |
| Easy Steps to a Successful Masonic Future – Leadership & Education | 3 DC Cryptic Councils | Oct. 26, 1998 |
| Freemasonry and the Civil War | Osiris-Pentalpha Lodge #23, FAAM, D.C. | Nov. 18, 1998 |
| New Education Program for Candidates in Virginia | Andrew Jackson Lodge #120, AF&AM, Virginia | Nov. 19, 1998 |
| Statistical Study of Freemasonry in the District of Columbia | Harmony Lodge #17, FAAM, D.C. | Dec. 2, 1998 |
| Controversy Surrounding the Creation of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of DC | Washington-Potomac Chapter #8, Royal Arch Masons, D.C. | Jan. 6, 1999 |
| Freemasonry and the Civil War, and Racial Justice | Potomac Lodge #5, FAAM, D.C. | Jan. 18, 1999 |
| Freemasonry and the Civil War, & St. John’s and other lodges, & Stansbury | St. John’s Lodge #11, FAAM, D.C. | Feb. 5, 1999 |
| The Meaning of the Hiram Abif legend | Benjamin B. French Lodge #15, FAAM, D.C. | debate – Feb. 17, 1999 |
| Masons and the Battle of Gettysburg | Harmony Lodge #17, FAAM, D.C. | Mar. 3, 1999 |
| Masonic Tour of the Battle of Gettysburg | Benjamin B. French Lodge #15, FAAM, D.C. | April 17, 1999 |
| Masons and the Battle of Gettysburg | D.C. Scottish Rite bodies | June 1, 1999 |
| George C. Marshall & Freemasonry | National-Stansbury-Dawson Lodge #12, FAAM, D.C. | June 23, 1999 |
| Masonry Around the World & Recognition Issues | Sojourner Kilwinning Lodge #1798, FAAM, D.C. | June 26, 1999 |
| A. Douglas Smith & the Northeast Conference on Masonic Education & Libraries | A.D. Smith Lodge of Research #1949, AF&AM, Virginia | July 31, 1999 |
| Difference Between the Craft & Royal Arch Degrees – from the book, Revolutionary Brotherhood | Herndon Royal Arch Chapter #?, Virginia | Aug. 23, 1999 |
| Freemasonry and the Civil War | Albert Pike Lodge #33, FAAM, D.C. | Sept. 1, 1999 |
| Masonic Tour of the Battle of Gettysburg | Grand Lodge of Arizona | Oct. 21, 1999 |
| What Chanukah is About | Washington Chapter #3, National Sojourners | Dec. 4, 1999 |
| What Chanukah is About | High Twelve Club of DC, meeting in Wheaton, MD | Dec. 8, 1999 |
| How to Do Masonic Research | A. Douglas Smith, Jr., Lodge of Research #1949, AF&AM, Virginia | Jan. 29, 2000 |
| Freemasonry & the Military | William R. Singleton-Hope-Lebanon Lodge #7, FAAM, D.C. | Wardens Night – Feb. 3, 2000 |
| Conducting Business on the First Degree | Pythagoras Lodge of Research, FAAM, D.C. | Feb. 29, 2000 |
| Using Computers in Freemasonry | Scottish Rite Leadership Conferences, organized and operated by the Supreme Council, Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, House of the Temple | 2000 – Mar. 3-4 in Williamsburg VA, Mar. 17-18 in Omaha NE, Mar. 31-Apr. 1 in Tulsa, Apr. 14-15 in San Diego CA |
| Role of Masons in U.S. History | General George C. Marshall Lodge, U.D. FAAM, D.C. | Mar. 13, 2000 |
| The Antimasonic Party | Patmos Lodge #?, Maryland, with Prince Hall Masons visiting, invited by S. Brent Morris | Apr. 18, 2000 |
| Are You Ready for Your Year as Master | DC Wardens & Deacons Training Seminar | June 24, 2000, at DC Scottish Rite building |
| Masonic Traditions & What Our Specific Goals Should Be for Freemasonry Today and in the Future | La France Lodge #93, FAAM, Washington D.C. | Sept. 8, 2000 |
| How to Plan Programs for Your Year as Master | D.C. Grand Lodge Leadership Conference in Front Royal, Virginia | Sept. 16, 2000 |
| The Masonic Trial of Jack the Ripper – Was he a Mason? – Were the Murders committed for Masonic purposes? | Washington Daylight Lodge #14, FAAM, Washington D.C. | Jan. 27, 2001 |
| The Meanings of the Hiram Abif Legend – and it relation to recognition of Prince Hall Masonry | Cherrydale Lodge #42, Virginia – Deacons Night | August 16, 2001 |
| The Landmarks of Freemasonry | East Gate Lodge #34, FAAM, Washington DC | May 20, 2002 |
| Freemasons at the Battle of Gettysburg | Hiram-Takoma Lodge #10, Washington DC | March 2003 |
| Judaism and Freemasonry | Potomac Lodge #5 Washington DC |
September 20, 2004 |
| Judaism and Freemasonry | Washington DC Scottish Rite | September 21, 2004 |
| Freemasons at the Battle of Gettysburg | Washington DC Scottish Rite | September 28, 2004 |
| Stop Boring Brethren! | New York Grand Lodge program for lodge leaders Kingston, New York |
October 9, 2004 |
| Statistical Analysis of Grand Master’s Classes | Washington DC Scottish Rite | October 19, 2004 |
| Lessons for Freemasons from the Antimasonic Period | East Gate Lodge #34 Washington DC |
November 15, 2004 |
| Wills, Trusts, Advance Health Directives, Durable Powers of Attorney | Federal Lodge #1 Washington DC |
September 26, 2005 |
| Wills, Trusts, Advance Health Directives, Durable Powers of Attorney | Hiram-Takoma Lodge #1 Washington DC |
January 26, 2006 |
| Civil War Lodge of Research | Washington Chapter #3 National Sojourners Washington DC |
February 4, 2006 |
| Connecticut Lodge of Research | Abraham Lincoln and Freemasonry | May 24, 2006 |
Masonic Talks by Paul M. Bessel (needing further research to find out details about them)
(updated November 19, 2014 – probably missing some)
(in chronological order)
| The Meaning of the Hiram Abif Legend | Scottish Rite in DC | |
| Women and Freemasonry | High Twelve Club of D.C. |
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