American The Beautiful
describes far more of our nation's soul---
its inclusivity,
its history,
and its glorious destiny---
than those words composed by Francis Scott Key
whose survivability
through that skirmish could be
ascribed to the obligations of Freemasonry.
"Rockets' red glare"
is not as beautiful, not as fair,
as "purple mountains majesty";
nor declares the enduring "patriot dream"
in the "alabster cities' gleam."
Starward
Starward
Author's Notes/Comments:
Key's poem has only been our naton's anthem, legally, since 1931. They tell me that the previous six efforts had been defeated in Congress; I wonder what they objections were. The skirmish Key witnessed, and wrote of in his poem, was part of the War of 1812---a war that cannot possibly be as significant as the Revolution and the Civil War, which were fought on behalf of our nation's soul, ot merely for its defense from invasion.
After I received the Master Mason degree of Freemasonry in April, 1986 (and the 32nd degree of the Ancient, Accepted Scottish Rite in November, 1988), I was told by several Masons that Key received very fair treatment, including dinner, from the commanding admiral, Sir A. I. Cochrane, because both were Freemasons; although several on Cochrane's staff wanted to execute Key, summarily, as a spy. The obligation of the Master Mason degree would have required the admiral do to everything within his power to secure a fellow Mason's life.
