Magicians Among Us - Convivial Masons Too

On May 4, 2004, Prof. Theodore DeMapsurtia and his daughter entertained Mill Valley Lodge No. 356, F & AM at the brotherhood's monthly feast with various feats of legerdemain on the Lodge's well appointed stage.

Their performance, dedicated to the society of King Solomon and his followers, began when they produced a solid, twelve-inch wand from a tiny, two-inch beaded evening bag. They proceeded with a quick primer on magic, demonstrating that crayons are not required to color when a young American magician has a magic wand and knows the magic word, abracadabra.

Prof. DeMapsurtia and his daughter then introduced the audience to the
famed Genie Ashmedai who legend says so ably assisted King Solomon at
the building of the famed Temple that immortalized his name.

After awakening the Genii, they skillfully managed to vanish the troublesome imp back to the society of Osiris before he could cause any discord amongst the international brotherhood in the audience.

They then recounted and demonstrated a trick the same Genii had played on King Solomon's chief architect by aid of the Pillars of Solomon: Jealous of the beauty of the pillars that Hiram had cast for the porch, the Genii had tied them together with a binding that defied all attempts at severance. The Professor had no more luck in cutting this Gordian Knot than had his esteemed predecessor.

Was the mysterious Mahatma sitting before the Magis' table the Great Solomon?"

Prof. DeMapsurtia then took the audience on a journey from Jerusalem to Tadmore in the Wilderness where he reenacted the prestidigitation of King Solomon, who, possessed only of a golden handkerchief and no liquid or coffee grounds, had yet filled his empty coffee pot with steaming hot brew.

This magical vignette illustrating the mighty King's rest and refreshment at the oasis of Tadmore in the Wilderness included the vanishing of an egg which the Royal Chef could not confine to the King's egg cup; the acquitment of a cigarette from a demonstrably empty box, and the envanishment of the same from his hand in which it had been placed; and the interruption of his Majesty's sleep on the Carpet of Baghdad when the pesky egg re-appeared, ibidem.

Prof. DeMapsurtia concluded on stage with a demonstration of linking rings that magic tradition informs us were actually used by the Giblimites at the building of King Solomon's Temple to secure the Tall Cedars of Lebanon for transport on floats from Gebal on the coast of Lebanon, North of Sidon, to Joppa (now called Jaffa). With ease, the Professor was able to join and un-join solid metal rings that the audience had determined were quite solid and had been unable to join.

As an encore to these illusions, Prof. DeMapsurtia, his tuxedo magically transformed from black to white, proceeded to perform some table magic, now aided by his son. They proceeded to re-weave three separate silks (yellow, pink, and green) into one single silk that partook of the colors of all, green with pink and yellow flowers. Finally, utilizing three cups and three balls, the Professor demonstrated how, in this enlightened age, people are still ignorant of how seemingly solid matter can permeate seemingly solid matter: The audience was astounded to see how the solid balls passed easily through the solid cups!

Kudos are owing to the Professor's diminutive deceivers, who each, despite their tender years, manifested the countenance of the Sphinx - Scire, Velle, Audere, Tacere - Sub Umbra Alarum Tetragrammaton: Both son and daughter clearly had seen, learned, had courage to take the stage, and could keep silent as to the secrets of the Conjurors' magical arts while yet maintaining charming dispositions. Bravo!