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| Monday, October 31st, 2011 | 2:02 am
[cortesius]
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A note to Grevvlad and PierceHeart
Recently, the moderators of Masons disagreed about the appropriateness of a post titled "The Master's Hammer". Cortesius felt that the post was tangentially masonic and recommended to DonutGirl that the post should remain, despite her misgivings. Both agree that the Birthday Wishes to Clive Barker (of unknown masonic allegiance) was inappropriate. Grevvlad, take this as a warning. The behavior of PierceHeart in this matter was more troubling. The moderators were contacted separately until a response that he found acceptable was obtained. This included misrepresenting the moderators to each other. Upon a review of the Birthday Wishes to Clive Barker, we found that PierceHeart was referring to the moderators as "total absentee landlords" despite the fact that they had responded to all his comments within 6 hours. Furthermore, the interchange in the messages was unenjoyable. We are loathe to make public the contents of these messages, but feel justified in our decision to ban PierceHeart. This is not our first conflict with him. PierceHeart was adamant that someone be banned and that Grevvlad's posts be removed. This, PierceHeart, is a Pyrrhic victory. If Masonry might permit an additional teaching beyond silence and circumspection, I would suggest "snitches get stitches". | | Monday, August 1st, 2011 | 11:33 pm
[nohwhere_man]
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Anyone going to Renovation?
Anybody going to Renovation (the world science fiction convention) in a couple of weeks? I'll be there, working on the convention, but wouldn't mind taking a break sometime. Leave a note here or send a message... | | Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 | 9:56 pm
[erik_j_meyer]
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Truth
Truth When touched by Truth's immortal fire, How firm each purpose stands! Each wandering thought, each vain desire, Obeys its high commands; And ever, as the day rolls o'er, The holy feelings rise, To mark that future, cloudless shore, Beyond these stormy skies. How dear the kind, fraternal tie That binds each manly heart, Though sorrows fill the weeping eye, Or joys their charm impart! How dear, to Brothers good and true, The plighted word that tells Of trusting thoughts that spring anew Where'er a true heart dwells! The pledge that holds the willing ear, The whispered word that's given, Are kindly blessings gathered here, To ripen yet in Heaven; For He, whose promise never fails, Lights up the holy fire, To guide us on, through sorrow's vales, And highest thoughts inspire. Let altars of immortal Truth Receive our willing vows, The fairest gem of hopeful youth, Or age that feebly bows: When years on years have calmly passed, And sorrows come no more, Be each true Brother found, at last, Upon a happier shore. Thomas Power, 1844 Past Grand Secretary Grand Lodge of Massachusetts | | Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 | 6:40 pm
[nohwhere_man]
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Secrets in the open
I was discussing this with a brother recently- when and how secret is a secret? Many parts of our rituals have been published openly, and some bits are straight out of the christian bible. Even outside a tiled (tyled?) lodge or otherwise in private with our brethren, we can't avoid some of things that are considered secrets to us but also in common currency. For instance, look up the pass words in wikipedia. All the ones I know have entries, although Masonry they isn't specifically mentioned. Of course it would be improper to connect one of those words to it's place in ritual, but other than the old favorite "I can neither confirm nor deny that remark.", how do you handle this when it comes up with non-Masons? Current Mood:  thoughtful | | Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 | 4:06 pm
[the_brat_prince]
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Partners
Hi all I have an odd question. Has anyone out there had their partner ask them for implict detail of masonic ritual? If so how did you deal with it? On one hand you you have the SOb, on the other you have the implicit trust shared between one and one's partner. Please feel free to message me privately if you don't want to talk in a public forum. Cheers Mark | | Sunday, March 13th, 2011 | 2:35 pm
[gracilejenn]
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An update, of sorts
I'm the woman married to the soldier who was voted out of the Louisiana lodge last year. I work in a restaurant, and Friday a man came in wearing a Shriners hat. I mentioned to him that my husband used to be a Shriner in LA, and he asked why he wasn't up here in NY. I said he'd had some problems with his Lodge. He asked what happened, so I explained to him briefly. He said "That's not right. Tell him to call me and I'll get it taken care of for him." He handed me a business card with all his contact information on it. I asked him if I could email him the letters we received from Booth Lodge and he asked for my phone number. About 20 minutes later, he came up to me holding his cell phone, saying someone wanted to talk to me. He had called the Potentate (?) and wanted me to relay the situation. So now I have to scan and email the letters to both men, and they are going to get back to me. Also someone from the OES is sending me an application. I informed my husband of what had happened and we are now looking forward to seeing what comes of this. | | Thursday, February 17th, 2011 | 3:53 pm
[erik_j_meyer]
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| 3:31 pm
[erik_j_meyer]
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| | Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 | 10:40 am
[erik_j_meyer]
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| | Saturday, December 4th, 2010 | 7:22 am
[erik_j_meyer]
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Child ID event at Arisia
For those of you attending Arisia, or at least thinking about it. 70 MyChip event Fasttrack 1 Fast Track Sat 12:30 PM Duration: 02:45 http://www.mychip.org/So I am going to see how many ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif?v=92.2) masons I can find that already are or may be willing to attend arisia to help out with the MyCHIP on Saturday afternoon. This would be Saturday afternoon January 15, 2011 for those unfamiliar with the con. Current Mood:  hopeful | | Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 | 11:08 am
[erik_j_meyer]
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Square & Compasses Day - 10/16/10
SQUARE & COMPASSES DAY Masonic Open House, Come Visit A Lodge Saturday, October 16th 9:00am - 3:00pm On Saturday, October 16th, more than 230 Masonic Lodges across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will celebrate Square & Compasses Day by opening their doors to the public. Freemasons will be on hand to give tours of their building, and to help the public gain a better understanding of the fraternity, its history, and why Freemasonry has been the common denominator of so many great men throughout our country’s history. If you've ever wondered who the Freemasons are and what they do, whether they are the descendants of the Knights Templar, or maybe you just want to know what the inside of their building looks like - here's your chance. The Lodges will be open between 9:00am and 3:00pm To learn more, or to find a lodge closest to you, visit http://askafreemason.org/ Current Mood: hopeful | | Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 | 3:34 pm
[erik_j_meyer]
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discussion question
Yesterday I was at a masons event. Specifically it was someone else's York Rite Royal Arch Chapter Installation. While waiting in the ante room for the DDGHP suite to form up there was a conversation between two Right Worshipful Brethren. I was only a witness, not a participant for this. They were talking about how it was difficult for them to be side liners in a fraternal body. One pointed out that he found that if he was not "doing something" that his mind might wander and he could potentially nod off. The other pointed out that if he was not "doing something", being an officer was specified here, then would get bored and would admit to taking out his phone to web browse or text. Both admitted that their behavior was inappropriate, but justified this by saying that they compensated by making sure that they made sure that they were an officer in any body that they would regularly attend. This did leave out the random visit, like that afternoon was for the both of them. So my question to the Brethren at large is this: What do you consider bad (worst?) behavior amongst attendees of fraternal meetings? Corollary to that: do you have suggestions to correct that behavior? Bad behaviors that have been pointed out to me in the past include: texting, web browsing, private side conversations, having an open ritual book (against GL code), reading a magazine or book, sleeping, listening to the radio (with an ear-pice, granted) (this was during a world series play-off game if it is of any consolation), flirting (or at least perceptually) (it was an oes_easternstar meeting), attempting to get the (head) officer to laugh with odd facial expressions. I am sure there are more out there. Current Mood:  curious | | Saturday, September 25th, 2010 | 9:54 pm
[erik_j_meyer]
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discussion question
Earlier tonight I was at a masons event. Specifically it was the local Royal Arch Chapter Installation of officers. That bit is not terribly important, but I thought some setting would be nice. During dinner I got into a conversation with one of the members at the table. The discussion nearly became and argument. Upon realizing this I decided that changing the topic was likely in the best interest of harmony right then. This question is something that has come up in Grand Lodge sponsored seminars about how to run the Lodge. So the discussion was about balloting on a candidate. This was more aimed at candidates for the degrees, but I suppose this could be brought up for affiliation as well. It came up as he had mentioned that he was a member of a Lodge that would ballot and then initiate the same night. I pointed out that this could be awkward if the ballot did not come back full in favor. Any case: He expressed the opinion that since we have a secret ballot that this is a risk that you take. No exceptions. I expressed the opinion that if a member knew of a reason that a prospective member should not be a member then it was incumbent upon them (the member) to inform the Master and/or Investigating Committee of this concern. He stated that he felt this invalidated the entire point of the secret ballot. I feel it would save the Lodge some time and potential embarrassment down the line. I would like to think that I am open minded and flexible. So I am asking what other Brethren feel about this. Would they just let the ballot box speak for them? Would they say anything ahead of time? Something else? I am aware that other Jurisdictions may also have specific rulings on this. If you want to include those as well it would be informative. Current Mood: curious | | Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 | 4:18 pm
[jackstikishack]
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Harmony
Some people in my lodge have a problem with each other. There are two or three guys that rub two or three other guys the wrong way, and that's cased some to not come to fellowship or meetings anymore. I'm a pretty new mason, and I've been rubbed the wrong way by brothers here or there, but I kind of figured that I'd get that no matter where I am. Masons makes good men better. It doesn't say anything about anyone being perfect already. So I either don't let some people bug me, or I don't interact much with them. But other Masons I've spoken to say it's out of the norm. When they go to there lodge, it's like going to some uber-supportive bromance fest where everyone always gets along. Am I being cheated of real brotherhood, or is this just a part of being human, wherever you go? | | Monday, August 23rd, 2010 | 6:49 pm
[gracilejenn]
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A question regarding being voted out
My husband belonged to a Lodge in Shreveport, LA. He was stationed in NY, and chose to remain a member of that Lodge. He had an arrangement with the secretary and the treasurer that he would pay his dues every other year (because of deployments). He happened to be in Shreveport and went to pay his dues and was informed that they had no record of his arrangement with the former treasurer, and that he had been suspended for non-payment. The new secretary took his check, and said they would have to vote him back in but that it wouldn't be a problem. A week or so ago, we received his check and a letter stating that one person had voted against him, and that he was no longer a member. What can he do? Can he petition at another Lodge? Is he just not a Mason any longer? The Masons mean the world to him and I hate to think that part of his life is over. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you so much. | | Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 | 7:27 am
[erik_j_meyer]
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nice publicity local to b0st0n environs As some folks may know Paul Revere was a Grand Master of masons in Massachusetts way back when. Which particular Grand Lodge of the three that existed at that time is mostly glossed over. The Lodges he instituted are collectively known as "Revere Lodges" and are quite proud of their heritage and protective of their Charter. The Lodge in the newscast has a website here. ------------------------------ Mystery Mason 'Jewels' Made By Revere? In the popular movie " National Treasure" a band of treasure hunters searches for a glorious cache of riches hidden centuries ago by colonial Freemasons, including a few of the Founding Fathers. Video - WCVB Boston - Channel 5 http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/23697135/index.html Current Mood: good | | Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 | 1:28 pm
[nohwhere_man]
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Mystery Mason 'Jewels' Made By Revere?
Pretty cool, IMHO. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/23668612/detail.html[...] All of it was a bit of Hollywood fun, but in Concord, some modern day masons think they may actually have stumbled on a real-life treasure linked to none-other than the illustrious silversmith Paul Revere, who once served as Grand Master of the Freemason's Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts. "We're excited. Proud. It links us again to the heritage that the lodge has," said Douglas Ellis, the senior deacon at the Corinthian Lodge in Concord, who said that about a year ago two members were doing some cleaning at the lodge and stumbled on a bag of antique-looking "jewels," the decorative medals Masons wear for ceremonial occasions. "They thought they were just old regalia that had been tossed aside," said Ellis. "They were in a box up in a store room and we were like, 'Oh my. Look what we have here.'" [...] Current Mood: thoughtful | | Monday, April 26th, 2010 | 10:32 pm
[echomirage]
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tonight
i was raised to the sublime degree of master mason. soon, on to scottish and york rite, then to the shrine | | Friday, April 2nd, 2010 | 6:42 pm
[amhrantine]
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I've possibly enquired here before, but just to clarify - what are the differences between freemasonry and comasonry, apart from the obvious gender difference? Are there any significant differences between the two in what they stand for, how they work, what they are involved with, that sort of perspective? | | Thursday, April 1st, 2010 | 12:15 pm
[erik_j_meyer]
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