From Worshipful Kyle Bourne:

I didn’t start out with a grand plan to write about the month to come and share what I thought to be its masonically relevant history and holidays. But I’ve really enjoyed doing this small amount of research and as you all probably know I dearly love and cherish an interesting factoid. As we tick towards April my investigation necessarily brings me to April fools day. Seemingly ancient, as the written records make reference to it already being an established tradition as far back as they are found. It has many suggested origins, some claim the tradition started in France in 1564 when Charles the IV switched the nation from celebrating the new year on Easter like many other Christian nations to celebrating on January 1. Those who had not heard the news or ignored it were rendered the April fool. Others have suggested that the tradition of sending someone on a fools errand originates with the Old Testament. The first April fool being the dove Noah sent out on the first of April to see if the waters had receded.

The story of the ark and flood have an important connection to Masonry! Some early Masonic degrees recount the deluge and Noah’s sons preserving the knowledge of building and geometry for the world reborn. Indeed, we learn that “the ark and anchor are emblems of a well-grounded hope and a well-spent life.” John Dove, former denizen of our beloved Masons Hall has a large emblem of the Ark on his cenotaph which can be found at Hollywood Cemetery.  It seems to me it might be our moral and Masonic duty to honor Noah’s dove and play a kind hearted prank or two.