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[[File:RudyardKipling.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]

[[File:RudyardKipling.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]

'''Rudyard Kipling''' (30 December, 1865 - 18 January, 1936) was an English [[poetry|poet]] (born in Bombay, British [[India]],<ref>http://www.kipling.org.uk/kip_fra.htm</ref> ) and writer of children's books. He spent some time living in [[Vermont]]. His unusual first name comes from Lake Rudyard where his parents spent many happy hours together. He authored ''Captains Courageous'' and ''The Jungle Book''.  He won an early [[Nobel Prize]] for [[Literature]], in 1907. He made his home at Bateman's, near the prosperous village of [[Burwash]] in [[Sussex]], [[England]].

'''Rudyard Kipling''' (30 December 1865 - 18 January 1936) was an English [[poetry|poet]] (born in Bombay, British [[India]],<ref>http://www.kipling.org.uk/kip_fra.htm</ref> ) and writer of children's books. He spent some time living in [[Vermont]]. His unusual first name comes from Lake Rudyard where his parents spent many happy hours together. He authored ''Captains Courageous'' and ''The Jungle Book''.  He won an early [[Nobel Prize]] for [[Literature]], in 1907. He made his home at Bateman's, near the prosperous village of [[Burwash]] in [[Sussex]], [[England]].

He wrote in the ''Ballad of East and West'':

He wrote in the ''Ballad of East and West'':

Kipling wrote a number of stories about engineers and machines, topics unusual in literature at the time. His poem, "The Hymn of Breaking Strain" analogizes mechanical and human failure. A curious side-note is an 1897 story, ".007 The Story of an American Locomotive"(1897), by Kipling which anthropomorphizes railroad engines. It tells the story of how one particular young locomotive performs in a heroic way, wins the respect of his peers, and is inducted into a sort of fraternal organization, the Amalgamated Brotherhood of Locomotives. Fans of Ian Fleming have often speculated that this was the inspiration for fictional spy James Bond's code number, but it has never been proven.

Kipling wrote a number of stories about engineers and machines, topics unusual in literature at the time. His poem, "The Hymn of Breaking Strain" analogizes mechanical and human failure. A curious side-note is an 1897 story, ".007 The Story of an American Locomotive"(1897), by Kipling which anthropomorphizes railroad engines. It tells the story of how one particular young locomotive performs in a heroic way, wins the respect of his peers, and is inducted into a sort of fraternal organization, the Amalgamated Brotherhood of Locomotives. Fans of Ian Fleming have often speculated that this was the inspiration for fictional spy James Bond's code number, but it has never been proven.

He was also a [[Freemason]], having been initiated into the "Hope and Perseverance Lodge, No. 782", at Lahore, at the age of twenty, for which he required special dispensation from Grand Lodge. <ref>The English Masonic Illustrated (London, July 1901, volume 1, number 10)</ref> In 1888, he joined the "Independence and Philanthropy Lodge, No. 391", which met at Allahabad, Bengal. Of his own Masonic experiences, he was later to write, "In 1885, I was made a Freemason by dispensation (being under age) in The Lodge of Hope and Perseverance 782 E.C. because the Lodge hoped for a good Secretary. They did not get him, but I helped, and got Father to advise me in decorating the bare walls of the Masonic Hall with hangings after the prescription of King Solomon's Temple. Here I met Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, members of the Araya and Brahmo Samaj, and a Jewish Tyler, who was a priest and butcher to his little community in the city. So yet another world was opened to me which I needed."<ref>MWBro. Robert A. Gordon PGM, Kipling and Freemasonry</ref>

He was also a [[Freemason]], having been initiated into the "Hope and Perseverance Lodge, No. 782", at Lahore, at the age of twenty, for which he required special dispensation from Grand Lodge.<ref>The English Masonic Illustrated (London, July 1901, volume 1, number 10)</ref> In 1888, he joined the "Independence and Philanthropy Lodge, No. 391", which met at Allahabad, Bengal. Of his own Masonic experiences, he was later to write, "In 1885, I was made a Freemason by dispensation (being under age) in The Lodge of Hope and Perseverance 782 E.C. because the Lodge hoped for a good Secretary. They did not get him, but I helped, and got Father to advise me in decorating the bare walls of the Masonic Hall with hangings after the prescription of King Solomon's Temple. Here I met Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, members of the Araya and Brahmo Samaj, and a Jewish Tyler, who was a priest and butcher to his little community in the city. So yet another world was opened to me which I needed."<ref>MWBro. Robert A. Gordon PGM, Kipling and Freemasonry</ref>

Kipling incorporated his Masonic experiences into several of his works, most notably "In the Interests of the Brethren", a story set during the Great War, which he wrote six months after agreeing to write the history of his dead son's regiment, and its role during [[World war 1|World War I]]. <ref>http://www.kipling.org.uk/rg_brethren1.htm</ref>. Several poems also contained Masonic details, the best known of which are "The Mother Lodge", in which he describes some of the characters (or brethren) within the Hope and Perseverance Lodge, his "Mother Lodge"; as well as "Banquet Night", which deals with the building of King Solomon's Temple - a central theme in Masonic ritual. <ref>http://masonic-poets-society.com/Kipling.htm</ref>.

Kipling incorporated his Masonic experiences into several of his works, most notably "In the Interests of the Brethren", a story set during the Great War, which he wrote six months after agreeing to write the history of his dead son's regiment, and its role during [[World war 1|World War I]].<ref>http://www.kipling.org.uk/rg_brethren1.htm</ref> Several poems also contained Masonic details, the best known of which are "The Mother Lodge", in which he describes some of the characters (or brethren) within the Hope and Perseverance Lodge, his "Mother Lodge"; as well as "Banquet Night", which deals with the building of King Solomon's Temple - a central theme in Masonic ritual.<ref>http://masonic-poets-society.com/Kipling.htm</ref>  

President [[Ronald Reagan]] had this to say about Rudyard Kipling near the very end of Reagan's presidency, "As I prepare to lay down the mantle of office...I cannot help believe that what Rudyard Kipling said of another time and place is true today for America: 'We are at the opening verse of the opening page of the chapter of endless possibilities.' Thank you, and God bless you."

President [[Ronald Reagan]] had this to say about Rudyard Kipling near the very end of Reagan's presidency, "As I prepare to lay down the mantle of office...I cannot help believe that what Rudyard Kipling said of another time and place is true today for America: 'We are at the opening verse of the opening page of the chapter of endless possibilities.' Thank you, and God bless you."

Kipling wrote his autobiography "Something of Myself for my Friends Known and Unknown" in 1935. However, he had been diagnosed with an ulcer in 1933, and following a haemorrhage, Kipling passed away on the 18th January, 1936. The book was published posthumously, in 1937, by his widow, Caroline with the help of his friend and surgeon, Lord Webb-Johnson. <ref>http://www.kipling.org.uk/kip_fra.htm</ref>

Kipling wrote his autobiography "Something of Myself for my Friends Known and Unknown" in 1935. However, he had been diagnosed with an ulcer in 1933, and following a haemorrhage, Kipling passed away on the 18th January, 1936. The book was published posthumously, in 1937, by his widow, Caroline with the help of his friend and surgeon, Lord Webb-Johnson.<ref>http://www.kipling.org.uk/kip_fra.htm</ref>

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.kipling.org.uk/ The Kipling Society]

*[http://www.kipling.org.uk/ The Kipling Society]

*[http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/kipling_ind.html On-line Collection of Kipling's Poems]

*[http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/kipling_ind.html On-line Collection of Kipling's Poems]