The Magic Flute Behind the Scenes: A Masonic Masterpiece Edgardo Gonzalez-Lopez Thousands, if not millions, of words have been written about this entertaining opera, Mozart, and the ties with Freemasonry. However, the historical context where this singspiel developed remains underexplored in many publications. While several authors make sure to mention Bro. Mozart and Bro. Schikaneder as the minds behind the music and the story, in reality the opera, that premiered in 1791, emerged from the collective efforts of Schikaneder’s theatrical company.  According to Bro. Alberto Moreno[1] - a prolific...

An English Polymath - Sir Christopher Wren Edgardo Gonzalez-Lopez Imagine a man who could bridge the gap between art and science while designing one of the most iconic buildings of England. That man was Sir Christopher Wren, the architectural master of 17th-century England. With a compass in one hand and a vision of grandeur in the other, Wren designed marvels that would stand the test of time, but he was more than a master builder – he was a Renaissance man a true polymath: mathematician, physicist, astronomer, member of the Parliament and even anatomist[1], founding member of the Royal Society[2]...

Rededication of Freemasons’ Hall Edgardo Gonzalez-Lopez and R.W. Ray Geer, Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of RI On Saturday, October 26th, Freemasons in Rhode Island will celebrate a very special event. Our Most Worshipful Grand Master, Andre H. Faria, Jr., will preside a beautiful ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the laying of the Cornerstone of the Freemasons Hall at Taunton Ave, East Providence, RI.  A Century of Masonic HeritageThe magnificent Temple was built in 1924 for Rising Sun Lodge No. 30 and was designed by renowned architect William Gilbert Upham of Norwood,...

The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden(A Freemason’s interpretation) Edgardo Gonzalez-Lopez During a recent visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, I was captivated by Thomas Cole's "The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden." The painting's symmetry, the cave in the middle, and the striking contrast between light and darkness immediately drew my attention. Upon closer inspection I spotted the tiny figures crossing the bridge, walking away from the cave – Adam and Eve. What an unusual way to illustrate this biblical story! Shouldn’t they be the center of attention? “Thomas Cole (1801-1848) was...