Hero killed

Among this auction lot is a Masonic jewel. It is very sad because the medals come with a letter from the soldier's chaplain explaining how he was killed while getting out of his trench in World War One.

It is being sold by Thomas Rodick and Medcalf in Carlisle and the description reads: "Pte. A. Charlton. Ches. R.; Death Plaque named to Arthur Charlton. With chaplain’s letter explaining how he was killed by shell fire exiting his trench. Also 2 photos of him, a Masonic jewel, & a filligree crowned Maltese Cross."

It is estimated to sell for about £100.

Al-Qaeda targets Fremasonry

From the National Post

As if it wasn't enough that they want to blow up all the "Crusaders" and "Zionists," now al-Qaeda has apparently chosen a new target: Freemasons.

A "secret" Canadian intelligence study newly released to the National Post describes how Islamist conspiracy theorists have seen the enemy and it is Freemasonry.

Islamist extremists and the Freemasons is the actual title of a Canadian Security Intelligence Service intelligence assessment distributed in December 2009.

It says extremist ideologues have taken Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and the Nicolas Cage film National Treasure as evidence of a conspiracy against Islam.

They have been telling youths that Freemasons are: anti-Muslim; have close ties to Israel; and have been conducting secret paramilitary operations in Europe.

While most rational thinkers can tell fact from fiction, CSIS warns that we should not have such high expectations for the cave-dwelling sages at al-Qaeda HQ.

"It is easy to dismiss belief in an all-powerful Freemasonry movement as akin to conspiracy theories prevalent on the Internet, fed by popular films and literature," it says.

"It is important to underscore, however, that these theories are consistent with the Islamist extremist common narrative: in this light, the Freemasons are believed to be taking part in attacks against Islam.

"This portrayal can serve as a useful contribution to the radicalization process.. Freemasons are thus seen as another of 'Islam's enemies' and their actions, real or not, used as justifications to respond with violence."

Manx Aprons

These interesting aprons are being sold by Murray's Ltd on the Isle of Man on April 27.