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BSA 100 – Origins Scouting and Masonry
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
The Boy Scouts of America in three parts: Part I – Being a Boy Scout | Part II – Origins | Part III – Organization There are many stories about how the Boy Scouts came into existence: Unknown Scouts on … Continue reading →
Timothy Hogan on OoP
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
Brother Timothy Hogan, who you may remember spent some time with us on Masonic Central some months back appeared as a guest on the Occult of Personality podcast this week. Timothy has in the past contributed some of his work … Continue reading →
Luciferianism and Freemasonry
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
The Backyard Freemason takes on the ideas of Freemasonry and its alleged worship of Lucifer. .
The First Joint Ceremony of Black & White Masons In America
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
This piece comes from The Coal Miner Who Came West by Ernest Moore, in collaboration with Gloria Phelps, Copyright 1982 (pages 72 and 73) The article is unsigned but very likely written by the author who was a Prince Hall … Continue reading →
BSA100 – Boy Scouts of America, 100 Years of Being Prepared.
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
The Boy Scouts of America in three parts: Part I – Being a Boy Scout | Part II – Origins | Part III – Organization 2010 marks a significant milestone in the lives of young men all across the continent … Continue reading →
Why? C.A.U.S.E. That’s Why
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
Arkansas is Imploding Awhile back the Mainstream Grand Master of Arkansas visited the Grand Session of Arizona. However, he refused to attend any of the ceremonies or meetings of the Grand Session because there were Black Masons present. He only … Continue reading →
Backyard Freemason – Sacred Geometry
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
These videos demonstrate some seriously fascinating practical, and spiritual benefits of studying and applying Sacred Geometry in our lives, as has been done in Freemasonry. Part 1 Part 2 picks up and talks about the point within a circle, the … Continue reading →
Playing by the Rules
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
...and the dangers thereof. Continue reading →
Taking Lodge Back to the Table
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
Throughout my experience in Freemasonry, I have been able to determine that there is one guaranteed way to increase meeting attendance and activity among the membership: provide excellent food. It really is no surprise that food is an important part … Continue reading →
PHA Conference Of Grandmasters Website
Masonic Central - 7 min 8 sec ago
One of the interesting items that Grand Master Wilbert M. Curtis introduced us to at our summer Grand Session of PHA Texas was the new Conference of Grand Masters PHA website. It is really quite well done. There are two … Continue reading →
Thank You
Freemasonry for Dummies - 10 hours 35 min ago
This is scarcely newsworthy, and undoubtedly crosses the line into self-congratulation, and perhaps mawkish aggrandizement, but on August 30, 2010, I discovered to my astonishment that I had been elected to receive the 33rd and Last Degree by the Illustrious brethren of the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. The ceremony will take place next August in Chicago, and I will stand beside several other Indiana brethren, including Jon Elrod, Rick Hess, Kent Hizer, and Doug Green.
I was overwhelmed by the bewildering number of phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, and even snail mail letters that began pouring in, from literally all over the world. That’s when I felt it incumbent upon me to publicly express my thanks to everyone for their kind messages. It was not an honor I ever dreamed of receiving, and I am profoundly grateful to those who nominated me and voted in my favor.
I continue to believe the assembled brethren of the Supreme Council voting in Philadelphia earlier this week took leave of their good senses.
As much as anything, I’m in awe of the company I’ll be keeping. I had a brief flashback of the movie Witness for the Prosecution. When his client is being arrested, Charles Laughten gets to deliver this great line in that trademark Captain Bligh voice: “There’s no shame in being arrested. Historically, you’re in excellent company. Kings, prime ministers, archbishops, even barristers have stood in the dock.” I suppose so. But it does give a person justifiable pause to see the roster of the other men who’ve been awarded the 33°, and to contemplate, as with so much else in this fraternity, the scary notion of standing on the shoulders of its true giants.
My good friend Mark Tabbert recently described me as “an amateur scholar,” and boy, did he hit it on the head—although it does bring to mind a dapper and rich 19th century, pith-helmeted British gentleman, with pick and microscope in one hand and a pipe in the other, as he seeks to prove that Darwin was right and his vicar wrong. But in truth I’ve always loved the fraternity from ground level, especially in my own home lodge. In the last improbable and exciting dozen years, give or take a few months, my copious free time has been spent doing what I love most of all: studying the history, ritual, customs and ephemera of Freemasonry, while traveling the countryside and the world, meeting brothers wherever I have the good fortune to go. It has never paled. It never will.
And so, to all of you who have taught me the meaning of brotherhood in a thousand different ways, you have my deepest gratitude and respect for all you have seen fit to give to me. It is a debt I cannot ever hope to repay.
G. Washington Lodge #143 in Pennsylvania Raising $1 Million
Freemasonry for Dummies - 11 hours 11 min ago
The brethren of George Washington Lodge No. 143 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania are seeking donations to assist in preserving their historic lodge building. Their Temple was built in 1823 and is the oldest standing purpose-built Masonic building in the state. In 1976 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Steel beams supporting the roof have recently been replaced, but sprinkler systems, exterior wall stabilization, interior remodeling, and much more need to be done. Their goal is $1 million.
From a story in today's Chambersburg Public Opinion:
Members of the lodge maintain that the building and those adjacent to it were intentionally spared by Confederates during the burning of Chambersburg in 1864.
"That is the story and we have no reason to believe it's not true. We do believe it was spared because it was a Masonic building," [Past Master and Trustee Larry] Miller said.
He and his fellow Freemasons hope the community will have an interest in keeping the building in good condition. Anyone interested in donating can visit the lodge's website, www.gw143.org.
GW #143 has received tax exempt status for the purposes of preserving their Temple, so any donation made to their building fund is fully tax deductible.
Back in May 2007, I had the good fortune to visit Lodge Waverley No. 597 in Edinburgh, Scotland, while I was in town for the first International Conference on the History of Freemasonry. There were many foreign visitors in the city that week, and it just so happened that the brethren of Pennsylvania's George Washington Lodge No. 143 also visited the lodge that particular evening. In addition to seeing Scottish ritual, the Pennsylvania brethren exemplified their Master Mason ritual, as well, and an outstanding evening was had by all.
Art de Hoyos in Colorado Springs, October 6th
Freemasonry for Dummies - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 22:39
The Grand Lodge of Colorado with the Orient of Colorado and Southern Colorado Consistory of the Scottish Rite are bringing Illustrious Brother Arturo De Hoyos, 33, Grand Cross to Colorado Springs, CO on October 6th, 2010. All Master Masons are welcome.
Art is a Past Master of McAllen Lodge No. 1110, AF&AM of Texas, and is the Grand Archivist and Grand Historian for the Supreme Council, 33°, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction in Washington, D.C. He is respected the world over as an an authority on the history, rituals, and symbolism of Freemasonry. Sometimes jokingly referred to as the "Grand Archivist of the Universe," he is the author, editor, and translator of numerous books and articles. He has an encyclopedic memory, reads many languages, and has been responsible for the rediscovery and illumination of numerous works about the Scottish Rite, including Pike's Esoterika, David Bernard's Light on Masonry, and the incredible Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide.
Dinner will begin at 6:30PM, and Art's presentation at 7:30.
The Southern Colorado Consistory is located at 1150 Panorama Drive, Colorado Springs. Please RSVP to 719-471-7966
"Enlightenment Strikes"
Freemasonry for Dummies - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 22:20
The gift giving holidays will be upon us sooner than you think, so to get a head start on your wish list, the Scottish Rite Journal's September/October 2010 issue will help. Jim Tresnor's usual book review column in this issue features lists by "some of the most respected and best qualified Masonic Librarians" of up to five books as their top picks for general Masonic study, and another five books for deeper study. I'm gratified to see that Freemasons For Dummies made several of them, along with S. Brent Morris' Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry.
The lists were compiled by:
• Bro. Thomas M. Savini, Director of the Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library of the Grand Lodge of New York
• Bro. Mark A. Tabbert, Director of Collections at the Library of the George Washington Masonic Memorial
• M.W. Richard E. Fletcher, Executive Secretary, Masonic Service Association of North America
• Bro. Bill Krueger, Librarian of the Library of the Grand Lodge of Iowa
• Ms. Larissa Watkins, Assistant Librarian at the House of the Temple Library in Washington, D.C.
Have a look at their excellent suggestions here.
Grand Orient de France Officially Co-Masonic
Freemasonry for Dummies - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 18:38
Word has come from France today that the Grand Orient of France (GOF), that country's largest Masonic obedience with approximately 50,000 members, has officially voted at its annual assembly to accept female members and become a co-Masonic organization. In April, the GO's Grand Master Pierre Lambicchi told L'Express Magazine, "We are not statutorily a mixed obedience." That has now officially changed.
Two years ago, six women were initiated into Grand Orient lodges largely as a test of the rules. In addition, an existing Mason within the Grand Orient underwent transsexual surgery and became a female. "Olivia Chaumont" was recognized as a sister within the Grand Orient in January 2010. This was considered a drastic innovation at that time, and previously the GO directed brothers who became women to existing mixed or feminine Masonic orders.
France has several such organizations, and 17% of that country's Masons are female. They do not have the Order of the Eastern Star in France, while female Masons have existed there since the 1740s.
On April 8, 2010, the GO's Supreme Court of Masonic Justice decided that their lodges were free to initiate women without violating the General Regulations of the obedience. Nevertheless, 56% of the assembled members voted at their 2009 convention last September to remain a male-only institution. Female Masons have been allowed to visit GO lodges since 1974. Apparently, the majority opinion has changed this year.
This now leaves the Grande Loge de France (GLdF) and the Grande Loge Nationale Française (GLNF) as the largest male only Masonic obediences in that country. The GLNF in particular has been steadily increasing in popularity, but both will undoubtedly now see defectors from the GOF over the new policy.
The Grand Orient de France does not require a belief in a Supreme Being, nor are lodges required to have a Volume of Sacred Law on its altars. The GO frequently issues public policy opinions, attacks perceived public influence by organized religious groups (especially the Catholic church), and often meets as an official group with French government officials. They recently joined with the equally irregular Grand Orient of Belgium and female Masonic groups to open an office in Brussels to influence government policies of the European Union. Their activities are completely in opposition to mainstream Freemasonry's longstanding rules and practices.
The GLNF is the French grand lodge that is considered regular and recognized by the overwhelming number of mainstream Anglo/US derived grand lodges around the world.
The Backyard Freemason
Masonic Central - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 18:34
The Backyard Freemason, also known as Kerry Shirts, has been posting videos several months on You Tube and with a wealth of them on there now, I struck me to post some up and share them with a wider audience. … Continue reading →
Furnishing A New Masonic Home
Masonic Central - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 15:34
It’s amazing the myriad details that have to be attended to in building a new Lodge building. There are committees galore dealing with permits, foundation, framing, supplies, contractor, sub contractors such as a plumber and electrician, code inspections and probably … Continue reading →
Becoming a Dues-Paying Mason
Masonic Central - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 07:34
Throughout my entire experience in Freemasonry, I have wondered what can be done to bring those Freemasons that do not attend lodge meetings back into our temples. I found these dues-paying Masons to be a frustrating breed. They must believe … Continue reading →
International Burn A Koran Day, its on Facebook!
Masonic Central - Wed, 09/01/2010 - 16:34
I want to start this with the question I finish this piece with: Are YOU ruled by your passions? Dove World Outreach Center, a New testament Church based in Gainesville Florida, is holding a Burn a Quran day on the … Continue reading →
Duke of Kent praises Freemasons
Canadian Mason - Tue, 08/31/2010 - 14:45
Source: Beaconsfield
Posted by Jack Abell on Aug 31, 10 10:18 AM in Good Causes
BEACONSFIELD Freemasons have won the royal seal of approval for encouraging youngsters to do community work in the area.
The Duke of Kent paid tribute to 28 groups at the Masonic Centre in Windsor End, Beaconsfield, who had encouraged teenagers to care for others in the ihelp project.
The scheme provides around £14,000 in prize money for youths who give up their time to help others.
The Duke, who is the head of Freemasonry in England Wales, met Buckinghamshire Freemasons during a private visit to Stoke Place, Stoke Poges, where he was briefed on how initiatives are giving the order a higher profile in the community.
He said: "I have been very impressed by all that you do. It is important to channel the energies of young people into helping others.
"And it is vital to explain freemasonry's ideals of friendship, decency and charity to a wider community.
"The ihelp project is clearly achieving all those objectives. I congratulate you all."
He also praised a group of Masonic cyclists who raise more than £50,000 for good causes in a marathon trek from Gibraltar to Bucks.
