Marvin Haines

HEY!!! I respect you, but please don't associate the KKK with "Make America Great Again." I support Donald Trump and DESPISE the KKK. They are a sick organization and have no relation to self-respecting centrists/conservatives like myself. They didn't come from Freemasonry - Albert Pike and several other prominent Clansmen were also Masons, but that in no way connects the two societies. I am not an Latter-Day Saint, but I think it's unfair to call Joseph Smith a con man. I don't think that we can ever say for certain what was going through his head all those years ago. So-called "Zionism" gives many good people comfort, and I find it my duty to defend them. Thank you for listening. M.

I want to apologize for the off-topic subject matter of this post. I do, however, think that it is relevant to the Forum, even if not strictly Baconian. FOR YEARS, I’ve been quietly fascinated with the LDS, or Mormon faith. You’ve all seen their missionaries and their blue leather book subtitled “Another Testament of Jesus Christ,” and I’m sure you can sing along to some of their musical numbers. (“Hello! I am Elder Marvin – this book will change your life!”) It was not, however, until recently, that I discovered their Masonic and possibly Baconian history. (Ok, the Baconian part might be a stretch.) Curiously, the unofficial symbol of the Church is the Beehive! So yes… I was quietly fascinated with the LDS Church. The reason for this? The “secrecy” surrounding its Temples, and their unique and often magnificent architecture. But my fascination did not fully take off until I came across this image: The image in question is a digital rendering – a rendering made by the interior design firm responsible for the restoration and renovation of the famous Salt Lake Temple – the Church’s signature edifice. Although the room, with its superb Beaux Arts detailing, may appear historic at first glance, it is in fact being built as of this post. At this point, you may be wondering why an image of a room – albeit a beautiful one – would prove so vital to my understanding of Freemasonry, the LDS faith, and Wisdom traditions in general. The answer lies in the image itself. To truly understand a space, one must have accurate knowledge of: a) The people who built/own it b) Its original/current function c) What that function meant/means to them The rendering depicts a Sealing Room, one of the most important and sacred spaces in the entire religion – for it is here that couples enter marriage. Historically, LDS weddings have generated controversy, because, according to doctrine, they must take place inside a Temple. To enter a Temple after its dedication, one must possess a Temple recommendation. Of course, that excludes friends and family outside of the faith, as well as others who have failed to meet the requirements. Everything I have said so far is in direct relation to what this space – the Sealing Room – means to Latter-Day Saints. I am not a Latter-Day Saint, nor do I ever intend to be one. So, what does the Sealing Room mean to me? It means everything because it changed everything. AFTER STARING at the image for several minutes, I scrolled down the page and read everything I just told you about LDS weddings. The picture, though, remained in my mind long after I had seen it. And that was because I had seen it before. Well, sort of… This is a Lodge Room – a room in NYC’s largest Masonic Temple. Notice the superb Beaux Arts detailing. Notice the two doors. Notice the altar in the center. Notice the arrangement of the furnishings around the altar. Look familiar? I don’t know if this is technically a Blue Lodge Room. It does, however, appear to be set up for Blue Lodge Masonry. If we compare the two spaces, there are several noticeable differences. Perhaps the most obvious is the color scheme and architectural finishes. Others include: a) The three lights around the altar (absent in the Sealing Room) b) The replacement of individual chairs with long benches in the Lodge c) The raised dais at the Eastern end of the Lodge (three steps, of course,) supporting the Worshipful Master’s chair Despite these differences, both spaces undeniably share a layout. The question, then, arises: Is there an unseen connection between the LDS faith and Freemasonry? MY RESEARCH confirmed that Joseph Smith, the founder of the LDS Church was, in fact, a Freemason. Although little is known about his involvement in Masonic activities, multiple sources state that he was initiated several years after the inception of the Church – not before. I’m not sure if the Sealing ceremony was, in its current form, introduced before or after Smith’s initiation into the Fraternity. It would, however, appear, from early photographs of LDS Temples, that the first Sealing Rooms were much smaller than current designs, with only a few chairs and the altar at the front of the space rather than in its center. These early rooms bore little resemblance to the Blue Lodge, and Smith likely never foresaw their modern counterparts. So, what is the connection? It is my belief that Joseph Smith was not the only Latter-Day Saint of the period – or even of today – with ties to Masonry. A video produced by the church states that LDS doctrine does not prohibit members from becoming Masons. It acknowledges the fact of Smith’s membership and even goes on to claim that he received revelation about the new church during his initiation. Upon further research, I discovered that even more striking parallels to Masonry can be found in the Temple Endowment Ceremony. The ceremony was introduced in Kirtland, Ohio – the town where Smith’s followers had settled – sometime after 1820. Kirtland was the site of the very first Temple, and the only one dedicated by Smith himself. The Kirtland Temple was designed and built after Smith’s own revelation. It is a simple, two-story affair, constructed in the federal style, with unusual gothic windows. This building was very, very different from modern LDS Temples. It consisted of two large meeting rooms, each occupying a floor, and space in the basement for the Endowment Ceremony. I assume that marriages were also performed here. (Baptism for the Dead, the only other Temple ceremony besides marriage and the Endowment, was not introduced until after the Church had moved from Kirtland to Nauvoo, Illinois.) THE PURPOSE of the Endowment, according to the Church, is to instruct faithful members on the history of the world, (of course, through an LDS lens,) starting with Creation and ending in the “restoration of the Gospel.” Its secondary purpose is to teach these members the secret Passwords, Signs, and Tokens needed to enter the afterlife. (More on these soon.) The Ceremony is also a coming-of-age tradition. Initially, only men over 50 were allowed to participate; in 1980, the age limit was lowered to 18 and women were granted admission. As with much of the “work” performed in Temples, the Endowment can be observed multiple times by any individual; members are encouraged to return again and again on behalf of deceased ancestors who had no opportunity to participate themselves. If you already see the parallels to Masonry, it is interesting to note that this ceremony was introduced over ten years before Smith became a Mason. This becomes even more striking when it is discovered that Smith rose to the third degree after only a day in the Fraternity. To me, it seems there are only two possibilities: a) that Smith was influenced by Masonic teachings even before his initiation b) that the historical timeline is incorrect The Endowment was originally performed with live actors and real sets, but due to the inefficiency of putting on a drama multiple times daily for a limited audience, the Church has created a film presentation that encompasses the entire ceremony. In its first iteration, the Ceremony was conducted in a single room, divided by cloth partitions into six sections. Patrons would enter the first section, dressed in ceremonial white clothing (including aprons and possibly sashes) and be instructed on the creation of the world. Once the performers had finished their delivery, the partition was pulled aside, and everyone entered the second section. This went on until the final section, when the last partition was pulled aside to reveal a veil symbolic of death. Each patron would approach the veil, offer the token, and be admitted into the final section – a space representing the “Celestial Kingdom.” Out of respect for the Church and its members, as well as for any Masons viewing, I will not describe the token. But many sources state that it closely resembles that of the Master Mason. After being chased out of Kirtland by an “anti-Mormon mob,” the Saints settled in Nauvoo, Illinois. It was there that they began building their second Temple. Smith did not live to see it completed; he was lynched by another “anti-Mormon mob” while preaching in another town. Brigham Young, his second-in-command, assumed the role of Church President, and finished the Nauvoo Temple, only to have it burnt to the ground by – you guessed it – an “anti-Mormon mob.” In Nauvoo, the ceremony of Baptism for the Dead was introduced. The font in which it is performed is a large replica of the Brazen Sea – the bronze basin of King Solomon’s Temple. It’s a beautiful piece, supported by twelve oxen which represent the twelve Tribes of Israel, the twelve Zodiac, etc. To this day, every new Temple built by the Church has at least one Baptistry containing a font of this type. AFTER MIGRATING to Utah, the LDS began building Temples with individual rooms dedicated to the Endowment, each containing elaborate murals depicting a different scene in the drama. The rooms were built in succession, each a few steps higher than the previous, representing the spiritual progression to enlightenment. The Temples in Salt Lake City, Manti, and Logan are three fine examples of this arrangement. (Unfortunately, the Logan Temple was gutted and rebuilt in the 1970s.) Currently, the Church builds Temples with unconnected, unadorned Endowment rooms. It’s certainly more efficient that way, but with all honesty, I like the tradition of separate spaces with murals and live acting better – probably because it reminds me of the Scottish Rite dramas. SO, WHAT conclusions can we draw? Is the LDS Church a form of Masonry with a Christian twist? Certainly, many members whom I know and respect in my community would firmly disagree. I don’t claim to have an answer, and I intentionally leave this post open-ended to encourage discussion. This may only be the second time that the LDS have been mentioned on the Forum, and I believe it is a topic worth our insight.

Speaking of Cathedrals... I had an interesting written exchange with Kate last May after I had finished reading her book. I was scrolling through my messages today and saw this: Hi, Kate! I just finished Secret Work, and it was a truly fascinating read! All that astronomical and neuroanatomy stuff was kind of dense, but I think I have a decent comprehension of it. More detailed comments and questions will come soon, but here are a few thoughts to tide you over: 1) I know that in Classical architecture one basic rule of design is that every façade must have an even number of uprights (supports, columns, posts, piers, etc.) and an odd number of voids (windows, bays, doors, openings, arches, etc.) For instance, there are four basic "temple" portico layouts: tetrastyle, hexastyle, octastyle, and decastyle. A tetrastyle portico has four columns and three voids, and so on and so forth. (Decastyle is considered the maximum number for architectural harmony.) It is interesting to note that there is no "duostyle," as that is called an Aedicule, or, in Masonry, Boaz and Jachin. I find it interesting that odd numbers are considered masculine, and even numbers feminine. You need both to have a harmonic façade. 2) I've mentioned before that I believe the First Degree tracing board is modeled after the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, and that the middle pillar, the androgenous/harmonic one, or "middle path" represents the initiate. To take that a step further, we have the great French cathedrals with their two towers, (boaz, Jachin) three stories, (symbolic of the three degrees) three portals, (same symbolism) and rose window (representing god and the rose croix). I see triptychs everywhere - on the Mormon Temple, for instance. You briefly touch on the triptych, but it would be interesting to explore it in further depth.

I remember once, in the fifth grade, coming across a story of the title Mesmeric Revelation. It is one of Poe's lesser-known works, and it details a hypnosis session in which the operator (the person performing the hypnotic induction) discusses the meanings of life, the universe, and everything with his subject. I don't remember it that well - aside from the fact that it, like Poe's other works, was remarkably dense - even more so to my 10-year-old mind. The story got me quite interested in the subject of hypnotism/mesmerism, and I decided to learn more about it. I quickly found that there's a lot of bull crap on the internet about this topic. The way I had seen hypnosis portrayed in popular media was incredibly far from the truth. I think a lot of people believe (erroneously, of course) that hypnosis is a form of mind-control. Stage hypnotists (performers) make their money by convincing us of that! I soon discovered that hypnosis subjects, rather than becoming mindless slaves to their operators, actually possess an entirely free will. That begged the question: What, then, is hypnosis, if it's not mind-control? Well... it's sort of an altered state of consciousness, where thoughts flow more freely, the mind is relaxed, and, yes, suggestions are more welcome. I wondered, upon discovering this, what practical uses it could have. For example, its effects seem to mirror those of certain narcotics - the only difference being that hypnosis is not in the least bit harmful or addictive. Why then, should it not be used recreationally in place of these drugs? Also, it can help reduce stress, anxiety, and even compulsions. Why, I wondered, was hypnosis rarely practiced professionally? There seemed no good reason other than the public's fear and grim fascination with it - a fascination fed by the performers and the media. Two years ago, a friend and I were talking, and we decided we would try it. Naturally, because I knew more about the subject, I asked if I could be the operator. He agreed. We found a quiet place, I gave him a pair of dark glasses to wear (which admittedly made him look adorable), and I tried to replicate what I had learned from an intensive study of Wikipedia. I was careful to avoid using the cliches - phrases like "look into my eyes" and "you are getting sleepy," as I knew they would be more distracting than anything else. I also didn't stare directly into his eyes. I didn't dangle a pendant or make any sort of passes. I spoke gently but naturally. I told him to picture himself at the top of a long staircase descending into a pleasantly dark void. I invited him to clear his mind and focus only on the sound of his footfalls on the velvet carpet. He went down until I could sense his breathing had slowed. Then I told him to pause. I had him picture himself in his favorite outfit, feeling cool and confident, surrounded by his friends and family. I asked him if he was in a trance. He said he didn't know but it felt good. He looked so happy and peaceful, sitting there in his stylish specs. Needless to say, all that interest brought about by Mesmeric Revelation was a success.

Poe was no stranger to hoaxes - he even dabbled in several famous ones, including the notorious "Balloon Hoax" of 1844. I'll let you look that one up. I hereby change my position that Poe could not have possibly accepted the Baconian thesis. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that he embraced it or even believed in it, but his love of hoaxes coupled with the possibility of him being a student of the esoteric (which it seems we now are entertaining), there is some likelihood that he would have made the connection.

AAAHHH I ONLY JUST NOW SAW THE PAGE NUMBER!!!!

Profoundly interesting!

IN DAYS of yore, (January 29th, 1845, to be exact,) a certain epic author with an even more epic moustache sold a poem to the magazine WIley and Putnam. That poem - which some say he was paid as little as $7 for - is, of course, The Raven. "But wait!" you say, "That has nothing to do with Sir Francis Bacon!" Just hang on for a little longer. I suppose I could summarize the entire work and then subject you to my analysis of it, but I assume every one of you has taken at least one high school literature class in which The Raven was discussed. I will, however list some facts that may be relevant to Baconians: - According to Wikipedia, in an early draft of the poem, the famous bird was not a raven, but an owl. I find this remarkably interesting, because in the final version, the raven sits "upon a bust of Pallas." Pallas was the title of the Greek goddess Athena - Bacon's muse and the symbolic "Spear-Shaker." Athena was the patron goddess of owls and also the goddess of wisdom - apparently the source of the myth that owls are wise. - The Raven taps at a shutter to attract the narrator's attention. Although the number of taps is not specified, I liken this behavior to the "three knocks" of speculative Masonry (Ask and it will be answered to you, Seek and ye will find, Knock and it shall be opened to you.) The main difference here is that if such symbolism is inferred, the narrator should really be doing the knocking, as he is the truth-seeker. - Although Poe was likely never a Mason, let alone a Baconian, he does make reference to speculative Masonry in at least one of his stories - The Cask of Amontillado. He has even been known to include quotes from both Bacon and "William Shakespeare" as epigraphs to his works. The chilling story The Pit and the Pendulum takes place during the Spanish Inquisition - a time when many Masons were persecuted by the Catholic church and quite possibly subjected to the kind of torture described in this work. I will apologize for posting something slightly off-topic this time. I just thought it was too good not to share!

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8111930113672314560/6156631658876863651?hl=en

It might interest you to know that Marvin Warwickshire Haines is not my "real" name... My birth name is Maxim Alexander Novash My closest friends and family call me Max, although I hate it. (Max is such an ugly name, but it would seem wrong if they called me anything else.) My online friends and other associates call me Marvin. My first alias was Zarbafan Grippleweed (4th grade) My second alias was H. B. McAllister (6th grade) My third alias was Marvin Warwickshire Sloan (later changed to Sloane because it sounded more formal) Then, sometime around the beginning of 10th grade, I changed it to Marvin Warwickshire Haines. Can you guess why??

Is it just me, or is the arrangement of the ten "Pentacles" suggestive of the Tree of Life?

Hi, RC, Allisnum2er, and L-o-T! I honestly see both sides of the debate. Gematria - whether the ancient Greek and Hebrew versions or the systems of encryption which have come to be known as the Elizabethan Cyphers - can be used for many purposes, both spiritual and secular. I understand the belief that these systems hold endless possibilities, and that hypothetically, one must have external guidance to know exactly what message is being encrypted. However, I also think that if one already has clues to what he's looking for (i.e., names like Bacon and Shakespeare and numbers like 33, 157, 287, etc.) he can, albeit with some guesswork, decipher the message. I'm quite confident that Bacon knew these important clues would survive long after his death. And as for the argument that Gematria is mystical in nature, I can say for sure that any argument based on the phrase "by definition" is a purely semantic one. 😉

HOLY GOD, RC!!!! That is horrifying! I had no idea artificial intelligence was so advanced. Time to get out the red and blue pills? I don't like that this chatbot associates Gematria with "mysticism" and "religion" - implying that there is something magical about it. No! Gematria is a means of conveying symbols, and merely that. My mind is swimming. Also, I'd never heard of the Tetractys before - I literally had to stare at the image for five minutes to fully comprehend it! This is amazing stuff, regardless of whether Bacon had a hand in it - gives me ideas for architecture based on these principles. Thanks so much for the interesting (and sometimes disturbing) content. It really makes me rethink the world!

Yeah, thanks! I've spent some time working numerical cyphers into writing, but this is my first try at something geometrical. I won't lie and say that it was easy - I suppose I'll get better with time. 🙂 By the way, can you elaborate on exactly what you wanted from me with regard to creating a new topic? Thanks, Rob! M.

That's a good guess, but I actually wrote it! Was playing around with words and cyphers yesterday, and this is what I came up with. If anyone else wants to have a go at solving the encryption, I'd love to see what you can produce. Otherwise, I'll post the answer.

Hey Kate! This totally answers my question! Thank you so much! And now you know what an Entablature is!!

Hey, RC! This is fascinating! I've always suspected that the Temple of Solomon never really existed - rather, that it is simply a metaphor for various esoteric concepts. The Masonic "Trinity" of Hiram Abiff, Hiram of Tyre, and Solomon - i.e., Strength, Wisdom, Beauty/Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, etc. is also a metaphor/allegory. What I find interesting is that the "First Temple" is only mentioned twice in the Bible, once by Josephus, and nowhere else. There's no archeological evidence for it, and even its location is speculated. Thanks for the info! It's much appreciated!

Several weeks ago, I considered creating a topic dedicated to esoteric/Baconian questions and their answers. My thinking was that anyone on the forum could post their questions pertaining to Bacon, Shakespeare, and esoteric topics, free for anyone to answer. I decided against it because there is already a whole category for information and help - but now I realize that the one thing this community lacks is a more casual space where anyone can ask anything - and anyone can answer it. Being a relative novice on esoteric topics, I believe this post is long overdue. Most of you here are miles (literally years!) ahead of me on the esoteric journey, but I wouldn't presume that all of us have reached such high levels of understanding - at least not yet. Basically, this is a designated place where you (and that means all B'hive members) can post on-topic questions and anyone who cares to can provide answers. _______________________________________________________ Now, let me start with a few... Marvin Haines 8/8/2023 1. Boaz and Jachin. Imagine I'm standing in the entrance to the Temple and facing out. Which is right, which is left? I know the Left pillar is considered the "dark pillar" and the Right is considered the "light pillar," but left and right are subjective depending on the direction one is facing. I also know that the Temple faced East, towards the rising sun. But what does "faced" in this context actually mean?

The same way that God is not our ACTUAL father, but surely our metaphorical - and yes, spiritual one.

Moxie and Lemony fanart (made by someone else). Moxie is a highly intelligent young female who dresses like a man. Sound familiar?

SPOILER ALERT!! Here are the answers: 1. The pseudonym of Daniel Handler, a popular children's/young adult fiction writer. Handler writes incredibly entertaining stories that still appeal to many teens and adults (including myself) for their sophistication and oddly high Lexile level. He's known to have a sarcastic wit and a wry, very intelligent sense of humor. 2. A major character in Snicket's second series, All the Wrong Questions. Also my first crush. (I know, it's weird to have a crush on a fictional character.) Side note: When I asked Alexa who her first crush was, she said it was R2D2!! 3. Another major character in ATWQ 4. Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler) 5. The protagonist of my favorite TV series, The Mentalist, a dark police drama with weirdly comedic elements. Mr. Jane used to bill himself as a psychic - until his family was murdered by a notorious serial killer known as Red John. Jane has since devoted his life to catching said killer, using his almost superhuman intuition and perception. It's a great show, and I highly recommend it. 6. The actor who plays Patrick Jane 7. "There's no such thing as psychics, Lisbon!" 7. The horizontal element that rests atop a classical colonnade, composed of three parts: frieze, architrave, and cornice 8. See answer No. 7 9. See answer No. 7 10. See answer No. 7 11. Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Composite

Don't ask Alexa. She'll give you a definition for "tablature" instead!

It's actually 2001: A Space Odyssey. Minor detail.