Comments on: More on Politics and Religion in Lodge http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/ Masonic Thinking and Working Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:11:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: blog http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-5707 blog Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:53:31 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-5707 <strong>hi...</strong> Agree... hi…

Agree…

]]> By: Mike http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3988 Mike Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:57:00 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3988 <i>The restriction that Tom speaks of above is understandable. Politics and Religion “for the Lodge” is a no-no…but a complete ban on such topics is just silly…</i> Agreed, and such a ban does not exist. The restriction that Tom speaks of above is understandable. Politics and Religion “for the Lodge” is a no-no…but a complete ban on such topics is just silly…

Agreed, and such a ban does not exist.

]]> By: aedifico42 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3987 aedifico42 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:44:11 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3987 The restriction that Tom speaks of above is understandable. Politics and Religion "for the Lodge" is a no-no...but a complete ban on such topics is just silly... I stand by my position as it squares completely with those mentioned above. The restriction that Tom speaks of above is understandable. Politics and Religion “for the Lodge” is a no-no…but a complete ban on such topics is just silly…

I stand by my position as it squares completely with those mentioned above.

]]> By: Tom Accuosti http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3969 Tom Accuosti Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:04:00 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3969 From the Ancient Charges as expressed by my Grand Lodge Rules and Regulations: <i>You may enjoy yourselves with innocent Mirth, treating one another according to Ability, but avoiding all Excess, or forcing any Brother to eat or drink beyond his Inclination, or hindering him from going when his Occasions call him, or doing or saying anything offensive, or that may forbid an easy and free Conversation, for that would blast our Harmony, and defeat our laudable purposes. Therefore no private Piques or Quarrels must be brought within the door of the Lodge, far less any Quarrels about Religion, or Nations, or State Policy, we being only, as Masons, of the Catholic Religion above mentioned, we are also of all Nations Tongues, Kindreds and Languages, and are resolved against all Politicks, as what never yet conduced to the Welfare of the Lodge, nor ever will. This Charge has been always strictly enjoined and observed; but especially ever since the Reformation in Britain, or the Dissent and succession of these Nations from the Communion of Rome.</i> From the Ancient Charges as expressed by my Grand Lodge Rules and Regulations:

You may enjoy yourselves with innocent Mirth, treating one another according to Ability, but avoiding all Excess, or forcing any Brother to eat or drink beyond his Inclination, or hindering him from going when his Occasions call him, or doing or saying anything offensive, or that may forbid an easy and free Conversation, for that would blast our Harmony, and defeat our laudable purposes. Therefore no private Piques or Quarrels must be brought within the door of the Lodge, far less any Quarrels about Religion, or Nations, or State Policy, we being only, as Masons, of the Catholic Religion above mentioned, we are also of all Nations Tongues, Kindreds and Languages, and are resolved against all Politicks, as what never yet conduced to the Welfare of the Lodge, nor ever will. This Charge has been always strictly enjoined and observed; but especially ever since the Reformation in Britain, or the Dissent and succession of these Nations from the Communion of Rome.

]]> By: Mike http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3962 Mike Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:36:28 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3962 BTW, thank you for the very useful bit of information about kneeling and Judaism. Although it may never come up, I'm well-armed if it does. I'm grateful. BTW, thank you for the very useful bit of information about kneeling and Judaism. Although it may never come up, I’m well-armed if it does. I’m grateful.

]]> By: Mike http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3961 Mike Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:35:20 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3961 Yes, talking about religion and politics in a lodge meeting is frowned upon (okay, greatly frowned upon), but you seemed to be saying we couldn't talk about it at all, even outside lodge meetings. I absolutely agree with the restriction during lodge, but there is no such restriction outside of lodge. Both are as they should be. Yes, talking about religion and politics in a lodge meeting is frowned upon (okay, greatly frowned upon), but you seemed to be saying we couldn’t talk about it at all, even outside lodge meetings. I absolutely agree with the restriction during lodge, but there is no such restriction outside of lodge. Both are as they should be.

]]> By: emeraldi42 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3947 emeraldi42 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:50:27 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3947 To Mike: There is no written rule or ancient landmark citing the no religion, no politics issue, but from the time I began thinking about joining the fraternity it was emphasized that those are taboo topics and not to be discussed. Of course we still do, but there have been times when I have been having a great conversation with someone and have been cut off (by an on-looker or passer-by)and told to change the subject because 'we aren't supposed to talk about those things'. If you don't think it can be called an unwriiten rule try to stand up in lodge and say something like " I don't like Romney because he's a Mormon, what do you guys think?" or "I wanted some of the brothers opinions on the '08 candidates, I have not really been following them and I would like to know a bit more." I highly doubt that the issue will go any further than that. To Navorser: Our Jewish Brother told me that in Orthodox Judaism, men are never to kneel when praying. In our Ritual in the 1st Degree right after you gain entrance, you kneel for a short prayer. So it was just the kneeling for prayer part that could raise an eyebrow if you had a devout orthodox Jewish candidate. To Mike: There is no written rule or ancient landmark citing the no religion, no politics issue, but from the time I began thinking about joining the fraternity it was emphasized that those are taboo topics and not to be discussed. Of course we still do, but there have been times when I have been having a great conversation with someone and have been cut off (by an on-looker or passer-by)and told to change the subject because ‘we aren’t supposed to talk about those things’. If you don’t think it can be called an unwriiten rule try to stand up in lodge and say something like ” I don’t like Romney because he’s a Mormon, what do you guys think?” or “I wanted some of the brothers opinions on the ‘08 candidates, I have not really been following them and I would like to know a bit more.” I highly doubt that the issue will go any further than that.

To Navorser: Our Jewish Brother told me that in Orthodox Judaism, men are never to kneel when praying. In our Ritual in the 1st Degree right after you gain entrance, you kneel for a short prayer. So it was just the kneeling for prayer part that could raise an eyebrow if you had a devout orthodox Jewish candidate.

]]> By: Navorser http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3906 Navorser Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:27:04 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3906 My Brother I was interested to notice that you have found a section of the Ritual which could possibly exclude jewish Brethren. Please can you give me the relevant entry in the Ritual. I am a Freemason in Australia. Fraternally Navorser My Brother
I was interested to notice that you have found a section of the Ritual which could possibly exclude jewish Brethren. Please can you give me the relevant entry in the Ritual.

I am a Freemason in Australia.

Fraternally
Navorser

]]> By: Mike http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3808 Mike Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:35:49 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/11/09/more-on-politics-and-religion-in-lodge/#comment-3808 " I think the idea of not talking about politics or religion with your brothers as a rule of the craft is asinine." If this were a rule of the craft, I'd agree with you, but it's not. Where did you get the idea that it was? ” I think the idea of not talking about politics or religion with your brothers as a rule of the craft is asinine.”

If this were a rule of the craft, I’d agree with you, but it’s not. Where did you get the idea that it was?

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