What is a "Cowan"? What is an eavesdropper?
"Cowan" is an old Scottish word, meaning an ignorant Mason who put stones together without mortar, or piled rough stones from the field into a wall without working them square and true. He is a Mason with the word; the Apprentice who tries to masquerade as a Master.

The eavesdropper in ancient times was that would-be thief of secrets who listened under the eaves of houses (there was often a space between wall and roof, for the purpose of ventilation). Because to hear he had to get close to the wall under the eaves, he received the droppings from the roof if it rained—hence, eavesdropper. In modern times the eavesdropper is that bold man who forges a good standing card, or finds one and masquerades as its owner; the man who has read a so-called “expose” of Masonry and tries to get into a lodge in order to ask for charity or help. He is very rare, and few tilers have ever met him!

The cowan, however, the Fellowcraft or Entered Apprentice stopped for cause, the one-time member in good standing who is now dropped for one cause or another, these not infrequently try to pass the tiler.

Where is "Joppa"? Joppa, or Jaffa, a city of over 50,000 is a port on the Mediterranean Sea. In ancient times it was the port of nearest access to Jerusalem. Originally it marked the boundary of the Tribe of Dan; after the captivity it became Hebrew territory. It was from this port that Jonah set forth for Tarshish and here that St. Peter restored Tabitha to life.

What is "just and legally constituted"? A lodge is "just" meaning complete, properly organized, legally entitled to conduct business when the statutory number of brethren is present, when it has the proper furniture, and when its Charter is present and when it has been opened by the Master or, in his absence, the proper Warden. A lodge is "legally Constituted" when it has been "constituted, consecrated and dedicated" by a recognized and Masonically legal Grand Lodge; and when the brethren have been duly notified.

I recall the kind old grocer when the sugar he would pour,
How he’d tip the scale to balance, then he’d add - just a little bit more.
My, how his business prospered, folks were always at his store,
For he’d give an honest measure, then he’d add - just a little more.
So it is with life, my brother, we would build a better score;
If, when we’ve done what is expected, we’d add - just a little more.

Andrew McNair, a Philadelphia Mason, rang the Liberty bell in Independence Hall on July 8, 1776 to call the people together to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence. The bell developed a crack when it was rung for the death of Chief Justice Marshall, Past Grand Master of Virginia.

When asked of Masonry, President William McKinley explained: "After the battle of Opequam, I went with the surgeon of our Ohio regiment to the field where 5,000 confederate prisoners were under guard. As soon as we passed the guard, the doctor shook hands with a number of prisoners and began passing out his roll of bills. On the way back to camp I asked him, 'Did you know those men?' 'No' 'But you gave them a lot of money, do you expect to get it back?' 'If they are able to pay me back, they will. It makes no difference to me; they are brother masons in trouble and I am only doing my duty.' I said to my self, 'If that is Masonry, I will take some of it myself.'"

In Hammer v. State, 173 Indiana, 199 (1909), the Supreme Court ruled that it was a criminal offense to wear the emblem of any society or organization of which one is not a member. The court based its decision on the fact that the membership in such societies is the result of fitness and selection and that the wearing of such emblems by non-members is a deceit and false pretense.

Did you know? Frederick A Bartholdi, a freemason, designed the statue of Liberty in NY harbor. The Grand Lodge of NY laid the corner stone on August 5, 1885.

Why do we use "So Mote it be" instead of "Amen"? "So Mote It Be" are the final words in the Regius Poem. "Mote" is old English for "may". Masons have used the phrase since the beginning of the written history of the Craft. Freemasonry includes many other words, now obsolete, which bring the sanctity of age and the continuity of ritual from ancient days to modern times.

Did you know? On his famous solo flight across the Atlantic, Charles Lindbergh wore a square and compasses on his jacket as a good luck piece. He was a mason.

Did you know? Why does the Master wear a hat? A contemporary relic of the ancient custom whereby the King remained covered under all circumstances, while his subjects were obliged to uncover in his presence. Apparently, the custom which began in English lodges is not common there now; but in American lodges a Master wears a hat as a sign and symbol of his authority.