MasonicMinute.com
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Posted at: 10:44 am I got an email today from a brother who wanted me to send him two petitions for membership. I refused. As the Master of my Lodge, I want to meet these men first. I want to know who they are and learn about them. I want to know what they do and how they spend their free-time. I need these guys to meet and mingle with my brothers before they can presume to apply for membership in our brotherhood. I am demanding that the profane world come to grips with the fact that we are, and should be, an exclusive organization. We are closed to the outside. We welcome those WE CHOOSE to welcome. And this welcome is a group decision…not to be made by one random member. Some feel this is an attitude that does not treat all men “on the level.” Some feel that exclusivity is only for those who feel they are better or different than others. Some people, even our own brothers, feel like this attitude will shrink our fraternity. They are all correct, and I agree with them all. Freemasonry is not for everybody. It was never meant to be for every-man. Sure, we teach humility and treatment of our brothers as equals, but we also swear not to share certain ‘gems’ with the outside world. The benefits of our secret knowledge is not shared because we selfishly guard the real secrets. So it is, so it has been, and so should it be. So why is it, then, that we should not jealously guard the portal? Why should we not demand more from those attempting to become part of our sacred circle? Why should I allow any random Tom, Dick or Harry from off of the street to throw down a check and submit a petition? If that man is not willing to come to my Lodge, meet my brothers and present himself to my Craft as a genuine petitioner in the truest sense, then he does not even get to look at that sheet of paper. Simple. Until we get the guts to do the right things, for the right reasons, our Craft will continue to deteriorate. Guard well that which you have my brothers. Diluting your Lodge and allowing mediocrity at any stage of the game can only harm the Craft in full. Be strong enough to take the hard-line. Once we make-up our minds that, sometimes it’s ok to say ‘No’, then, miraculously, life in our Craft will become much, much better. |
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May 8, 2008
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Posted at: 1:54 pm We as Masons hear the phrase “with every revealment there is a reveilment” all the time. Those us of who study the esoterica of the craft may feel a reverence for the passage in The Emerald Tablet “As above, so below”. We have many symbols that philosophically illustrate the natural duality in man whether it is physical, spiritual or physiological. We learn the importance of balance through the instruction of many degrees that emphasize not only a balance in action, but in thought. This is one of the reasons I enjoy Freemasonry so much. It provides a learning template to examine the world around me as well as myself. I have learned to “see the other side of things” better. I have learned tolerance and understanding, but most importantly I have learned a valuable method of critical thinking. A couple of years ago AEdifico and myself were at one of our lodge’s research meetings when we decided to turn the symbiolism of Freemasonry on it’s head just to see if we could logically debate it’s merit. We continued this exercise with many of our Brethren and it turned out to have a great effect on the motivation to examine our ritual. Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised. Our first major project was writing what we call “The Reverse Staircase Lecture” which I will not get into because it can merit a complete research paper on it’s own, but there are other elements that when looked at “through the looking-glass” if you will, provided excellent tools to learning, understanding, teaching and examining the symbolism of Freemasonry. Here is one: The Mosaic Pavment: We all know the explanation of this one. It’s simplicity is both beautiful and thought provoking. One of the things I though about as I was reading the lecture explanation for this degree was that it is not explicit (in my ritual atleast and I know it varies a little by jurisdiction, but this was my source) which color represents good or evil. Western mentality will intuitively say that black is evil, white is good. This is understandable considering the primordial fear of darkness, etc. While thinking about this I wondered “How do we know that tile is colored black?” If I remember correctly it is because our eyes see every color reflected off the tile except for black, so in essence it is the only color that the tile is not giving off. Anyone who has studied photography may understand this reverse color concept and apply it here. Also, think about the colors of black and white and what they do to light. We know that the color black absorbs light and white reflects it away. So which color show we be emulating? Show we be the receptors of light or reflectors? Which one is evil now? Furthermore, we as men and Masons know that we will always be an apprentice to someone while a master to someone else so it is apparent that both are still necessary (as explained in the lecture) and both are a natural part of life. So the lecture is correct while also leaving it open to other interpretations that illustrate the same concept. Good and evil, white is black, black is white, master and apprentice, as above so below.
There are many more that you can find and experiment with, most notably the ashlars. But I encourage who all to take a piece of symbolism, say the Pillars and find correlating examples of why there are used, by whom, when and why. By doing these types of exercises it will reinforce your Masonic education, introduce you to other systems with similar philosophies and most importantly they are always great discussion pieces with your Brothers. So look at it, find something that’s not explicit and explore the thought, then share it |
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Posted at: 10:56 pm Our ancient brothers used a symbol that the profane world now sees as a harbinger of doom. I won’t mention it in name here, but the symbol is everywhere…and often misinterpreted. That’s one of the fun things about being a Mason…right? Having a secret knowledge about something that others don’t have? Well, that’s one of the frustrating things about being a Mason as well. We often hide things from ourselves. It’s our own chosen ignorance which keeps that great knowledge of the ages from us. We have no reason to know more, because we don’t think we need it. Take for example that symbol I am talking about. Those of you who understand the symbolic language of our Craft already know what it is. The rest of you…Masons included…have no idea what I am talking about. Yet, you still call yourselves Masons (and some of you will even dare to say that you are a Master Mason). It is sad, really. We do not meet on the level…all of us, that is. We are two different Crafts meeting in the same hall, eating at the same table, wearing the same Apron. Those who know, and those who choose not to know. It is so with many organizations, but most brilliant is the shining contrast in our own Lodges. The uninitiated run amok. They bring us all down. Now, to be fair, I do not claim to be one of the initiated. Truth be told, I am only recently becoming aware of the difference (although my mentor tells me otherwise…he thinks I fell into initiation long ago, and just never knew it). Be that as it may, I at least know there is a difference. And some of you do to. You, my brothers, are the frustrated super-minority of Masons, longing for a Craft worthy of your inquiry. Do not fall to dispair my brothers…the Craft is alive an well in your heart. Continue to read and learn and make a stron impression on the rest of them. Don’t over-burden their minds with esoterica or philosophy. Seek-out your like-minded cohort…they are out there waiting to be found. This is the true fraternity that we seek. We may try to legislate or force some shift to the light…but the choice to remain in the dark is supported by the great magnetism of sloth. Work diligently, and you will be recognized by other true seekers. They will know you as you will know them. They will look to our ancient symbol of the Level and feel as you do…energized and focused on moving forward. |
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Posted at: 11:12 am Not just this site…but Freemasonry as a whole. If our Lodge is any indication of the energy and forward movement of the Craft in general…then I’d say we are in great shape. Now, however, is not the time to revel in the increase in petittions…but rather to take the time to screen each man carefully. Now is not the time to welcome all with open arms, but to slowly and with certainty allow only those most qualified to join our ranks. Now is not the time to repeat the mistakes of past generations…artificially inflating our numbers and celebrating the false size of the true fraternity. No my brothers, now is the time to crack-down and build-up. Crack-down on letting guys into our Lodges because ‘they seem like a nice guy’. Crack-down on letting petittions into the hands of strangers in the first place. We must lead our Craft back into the position it was in not so long ago…an institution that, by its own frugality and careful screening, assured its own perseverence into the future. Yes my brothers, it is time to build-up our membership with men who we know will be dedicated. Test them before they get a petittion. Make them attend regularly for six months prior to giving them that document…and only after they have had a chance to sit-down with the Master or other competent brothers, may they then receive that petittion. Do not be shy about telling somebody that you don’t think they are ready. Our charge is to jealously protect our fraternity…not sell it to the lowest bidder. As for those who puroprt to wax poetic about our doom…let them cry in the wilderness, for they are the lost ones. Those nay-sayers are not capable of change and will stagnate until they petrify. We can try to help them out of their rut, but as men we must respect them for deciding to take the path of least resistance, and we must respect their choices to fade anonymously into the past. Brutal truths and harsh realities face us as we move forward into the re-awakening of our Craft. We must be vigilant, flexible and truly dedicated to spending great amounts of personal time with our newer brothers. (by the way…they are not members…they are our brothers) We must force ourselves out of our comfort-zone of mediocrity and increase our own expectations of ourselves. Only after we are ready, willing and (most importantly) ABLE to bring men into our Craft correctly, educating them out of the ignorance they naturally have upon approaching the portals, will be doing justice to the Craft. WE must raise OUR OWN standards. WE must raise OUR OWN expectations. WE must raise OURSELVES, as the Craft once raised us. Onward then…to that undiscovered country here on Earth. Where the ideals of Freemasonry are truly and sincerely practiced by each one of us. |
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Posted at: 3:26 pm To start off, I must say that it is incredible how certain minds seem to flow along the same lines of thought even when they are not in direct contact. I had an idea for this next blog when I saw that AEdifico had written his this morning and it turns out that the subject matter is very similar. Earlier today I was reading my usual internet sites (news, masonic blogs, etc) when I came to one of my most favorite sites on the internet. This site is basically a site with lists (most influential operas, greatest historical empires, worst natural disasters, etc) and it provides insight from the viewers in the comments section. Today there was a fantastic list called “10 Books that Changed America” and these were the author’s picks: 10 - Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman 9 - The Clansman by Thomas Dixon Jr. 8 - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 7 - The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglas 6 - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson 5 - Native Son by Richard Wright 4 - A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft 3 - The Jungle by Upton Sinclair 2 - Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe 1 - Common Sense by Thomas Paine This list I thought was great, it was well rounded, it illustrated that the word “influential” also applies to negative influence and it provided the viewer with a few titles they may not have read yet. The Sad Truth of this list is that in the comments section for this entry, the first comment reads “Never heard of any of them…” This users name ended in the number ‘87′ which can usually mean one of two things; that the user is 87 years old or that they were born in 1987. I think they were born in 1987 which would make them either 20 or 21. For someone 20-21 years old to have never heard of these books is downright sad. This is a perfect example of how a poor education can lead to a full life of ignorance. It’s a good thing there are societies like Freemasonry that are around to combat these educational shortcomings, or is there? As you may already tell from my blogs “Suggested Reading List” and “In Case of Emergency Break Glass” that I am an avid reader and I understand that some people may not find the joy in reading the same way I do, but some things must be a given. For example, Freemasons should be familiar with their VSL, Anderson’s Constitutions, The Regius Manuscript, and Morals and Dogma at the very least. Some might say that these works are outdated, too cumbersome, too long, too uncomprehensible, etc. To them I say; so what? If you read a chapter in Morals and Dogma and don’t fully understand it the situation provides an excellent opportunity for discussion with your Brothers. I have heard too many times that Morals and Dogma is too hard of a read without giving it a chance. I lent out a copy of M&D once to a Brother who is not college educated, not an academic and not that well read. He is your all-around simple, good Mason. After he read a few bits of it he came back with an exceptional understanding of one of the chapters and we all had a great talk of it all. He was under the impression that he wouldn’t be able to understand it so he avoided it. Situations like these are too reminicient of the old salesman motto “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right”. This same attitude of “you can’t handle it” is the reason why schools ban books. Students can’t handle the N-Word, or rape, or teen angst, or their own primordial nature. So they shouldn’t read Huckleberry Finn, A Clockwork Orange, Catcher in the Rye or Lord of the Flies because they may just be a little too curious as to the nature of these books and put intructors on the spot and we can’t have that. And what do we get after all these pillars of literary genius are pushed out of normal curriculum? You get a 20-21 year old that has never heard of Common Sense. My point in all this is that if we as a fraternity, in the realm of knowledge and the search for truth, fail to investigate, examine, meditate and discuss the elements of Masonic philosophy then we lose what makes us Freemasons. Do not let the old tomes of Masonic past intimidate you, read them! Talk to your Brothers about them, encourage them to read them as well. If you follow blindly by what others tell you without question you are acting in a way that is the completely opposite of Masonic philosophy and you empower those who you follow instead of being empowered by your own intelligence. Think about the angry, fundamentalist Christian who has never read the Bible (yes, they are around and I have met a few), think about the atheist who has never read the Bible but still reject it, and think about the 20-21 year olds that have never HEARD of Common Sense. These are all examples of a sad truth that we hope to be above, using reason, logic, knowledge and intelligence to make us better people. Now think about the 33rd Degree Mason who is unable to explain a simple element of Scottish Rite philosophy, are they any different? No, and it is indeed sad. |
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Posted at: 12:41 am Yes it’s been forever since I posted. Moving a law office and life got in the way. But while preparing for my Masonic Education stuff at Lodge for April’s meeting, I started to write some ideas. What you will read here (it ain’t short…deal with it) was the result. Warning…I have not yet figured out how to get regular comments back on this site. Yes that sucks, and I will fix it when I get a chance. For now, just read and enjoy. Learning Like a Mason Introduction: Thus, we begin this journey on Learning Like a Mason. We have no future save that which we prepare for ourselves. When we read, we prepare ourselves to think different thoughts, and to decide for ourselves. Many of us will come across topics which will challenge our own thoughts and perceptions. We will encounter systems and facts which may make us uncomfortable, and which may confuse and befuddle us. This is the beginning of the future of our minds. Thinking about things which others may have told us is taboo…that is the beginning of being an independent and mentally strong Man. Taking the time to read books that profane society tells us are evil…this where maturity and self-control make us better than the average man. Even daring to meditate on the ancient wisdom of other cultures and other people is a step towards that Masonic enlightenment we all should seek. And so, without further ado, we will on this night tread away from the shore in our little boat with the sail full of excitement and the rudder firm in our hands. I will tonight show you the map. I will also attempt to explain to you how it is that Masons can capture that wind of excitement by using the sail. But first, I will attempt to explain to you how you can steer the rudder which is already in your hands. Part I: The Rudder What is it that separates us from the animals? Why is Man more special and more important than, say, a wolf or a whale, a snake or a spider? “Reason separates mankind from the other forms of life; it is a gift. The spider may spin a beautiful web but it is not an artist; the bee may dance its messages but that is not ballet; termites construct large dwellings but they are not engineers. Man alone possesses the divine spark of intellect and therefore, reason. The gift of reason is, however, no gift of ease and indulgence – it requires the greatest effort and thus is often dispensed with almost entirely. The great majority of mankind makes little or no use of this divine gift, choosing rather the simple life of physical labor occasionally punctuated by periods of time devoted to hobbies or passive recreation.”[Hutchens, Bridge to Light, p.146] It is by REASON, then that we can steer ourselves through the waters. It is this characteristic that allows us to recognize the difference between survival and achievement. We are the beneficiaries of the divine gift described above, and with it we can and should steer ourselves through the waters of life on our journey. Part II: The Map It would be too easy to give you a stack of books or a reading list and let you go-on and read what I think you ought to in order to be a well-informed Mason. This is insufficient, although the rudimentary necessity to getting our Craft back on the right track. The map to which I speak is more, however, than the Pike, Hall or Mackey. The map is all around you right here, right now. Part III: The Sail Without a sail, there will only be slow advancement dictated by the water right where you are. In fact, without the sail, you and the water where you are move together…and you never really get to see anything differently. The Masonic journey requires something more than mere presence. The Learning of a Mason must have some elemental appreciation for that which captures our imagination, our energy and directs it to a useful purpose. Conclusion: It is enough to say, at this point, that the rudder, the sail and the map are the external and vital tools in this metaphor. There are more, and you should contemplate them. But knowing that you have the authority to explore, more importantly, the encouragement of your brothers to explore the world of Freemasonry, you should now dispel any other hesitation you may have harbored. Thank you. |
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Posted at: 3:37 pm The Regular Grand Lodge of England. The Grand Orient of the United States. The United Grand Lodge of America. Alharam Lodge. Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Democratic Republics. The Grand Lodge of All England. These are not regular organizations. Their titles ring nicely, and they even have a presence on the internet. But to communicate with them, in some jurisdictions, is a Masonic Offense. Many may not know that we have our own system of jurisprudence. Like any other society, one may be expelled or suspended from our fraternity for a variety of reasons (adultery, theft, intoxication…just to name a few). Not all of these actions are un-Masonic…it just depends on the jurisdiction and its particular rules. One of the other reasons that a Mason may have to face charges is (in some jurisdiction) Masonic Communication with a clandestine Mason. So…what is a clandestine Mason? Funny you should ask… The system of recognition currently employed by many, if not most Grand Lodges is a product of years of shifting and changing by the various Grand Lodges of the world. None is beholden to the other, and therefore there is no one singular Supreme Masonic Authority…other than the Grand Lodge of any particular jurisdiction. There is, then, much to be researched and re-researched when deciding which Grand Lodges are legitimate and therefore deserving of recognition. We have, on occasion, seen organizations (usually it’s just a handful of guys with a computer and a nice website) pop-up and claim legitimacy. They tend to go-away, and then they sometimes pop-back-up with a different name. These guys are not regular Masons, and have earned themselves the title “Clandestine”. To be fair, many of these men may not know better…they may be disgruntled…they may just be ignorant. But the title fits nonetheless, and they are not welcome in regularly recognized Lodges. Some of these men may actually be good guys with bad information who would otherwise be perfectly welcome to join regular Lodges. The cases and circumstances are as numerous as the individuals. Each deserves clear and concise judgment by regular Masons, practicing the kind of honest assesment we would expect from the oldest and best fraternity in the world. All that having been said…it is again necessary for the cooler and smarter heads to prevail. Clandestine Masonry is on the rise in the United States, and by virtue of the internet, around the world. Traditional and recognized Grand Lodges would do themselves a favor to be vigilant of the public and internal discourse utilized when dealing with these issues. It is not enough to know who is clandestine and who is not. The duty is to the Craft. Teach your brothers, inform them, educate them and guide them in these issues. The integrity of our Craft requires it, and the perpetuation of our legitimacy demands it. |
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Posted at: 6:52 pm Sorry guys…to make a post now, you must sign-in. We have finally added this restriction because so many of you are complaining about spamalingo. Spamalicious postings will probably go away (at least we hope) and you will no longer have to filter through viagra, xanax, lesbians, poker, insurance and other snake-oil sellers. Thanks for your patience and brotherly love as we continue to learn more about technology and Masonry. Perhaps one day we will be able to just read each others’ minds and bypass the internet completely (although, those of us who are 32 degree masons already can do that…in fact, my fingers are not even touching the keyboard right now…my mind is controlling a little ferret named Randy as he dances across my desk writing even these very words…) Lots of luck…sorry for the inconvenience. New (and relevant) postings coming soon. |
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Posted at: 10:12 am Any regular visitor to our site knows we have been fighting with some serious spamalot since we started. It sucks. We use WordPress software, and that may have something to do with it…but do any of you have any suggestions? (this is serious…and by the way…I don’t want to read any smartass comments like: “have you tried viagra?” or “asian sex kittens might cure what ails you” or even “state farm insurance might fix that problem”… but thanks anyway.) (unless, of course, you come-up with a really good spamalot zinger…then you can post it. Otherwise….) TIA for any useful input -AEdifico |
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Posted at: 10:00 am There’s this funny little phenomena which continues to re-surface once every few years in Masonry. You probably recognize it in your jurisdiction. Corporate Masonry. It is a solution to a non-existent problem promoted by men who don’t understand that we are not in the business of business. Things like ‘effective communication strategies’ and ’synergistic leadership’ are all great if you have a room full of corporate slaves focused on their particular brand of widget. We are not widgets. Business models do not translate well to Freemasonry. We are about personal relationships which do not benefit the bottom line of some company. We are about developing true lifelong learning and teaching relationships where philosophy and esoterica breed interest and curiosity. No profit motives, thank you very much. Good intentions. I will give that. Businessmen who are successful have a great deal to offer to our Craft, in certain ways. But when somebody starts telling me about how to keep your cheese from being moved or which step to success they are working on today, I cringe. Freemasonry is a throwback to the days when there were no corporate boards (as we know them), there were no quantifiable statistical models to anylize and spreadsheets were for sleeping in. Please, my brothers…let Masonry be the slow, old-fashioned, mouth-to-ear and deep-thinking Craft it should be. Enough with the super-meta-organization techniques. Enough with the sales pitches (which we cleverly market as friend-to-friend nights). We don’t need all that garbage. What we need is better ritual, better education, better mentors and clear-thinking leadership. The tricks and sleight-of-hand is what got us to where we are… Hard work will get us to where we ought to be. |
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