So you are a master mason... You have been through the blue lodge degrees and experienced all the uncertainties,excitement and hardwork to get there. Now what?
It seems after the degree work alot of masons lose their flair of the craft and the used to be flair has not sizzled out. It seems you are lost on what to do and where to go. Well, for me I see many blogs post on the excitement of joining and after the degree work it just fades. Even at the lodges you see one individual make it to their 3rd never to be seen at a business meeting again.
Why do you think this is?
What are some things that can be done in the blue lodge to keep members active?
In my last post which I decided to talk about Linkedin and professional affiliations I was kind of setting it up for this post.
Sometimes, I do think there are many motives other than the improvement of a man himself.
Getting the 3rd degree and not participating in the degree work or being active with a lodge seems to me that you are shorting yourself this level of self improvement.
Some lodges today are suffering lack of participation. I encourage you if you have not been to your lodge in awhile stop by and get active.
I talked to a man/brother the other day who practically was my father growing up and I found out through his son that he was indeed a brother and he told me he felt bad he had'nt been in his lodge in years and probably did not know anyone anymore. I encouraged him to go back and meet some of the newer brothers and provide some leadership and guidance to the newer generation.
My question to you is to look deep and ask what was your real reason in becoming a Freemason?
What were your motives and intentions once you became one?
Answer these questions and think back when you were going for your EA and think of the excitement you had about the craft.
If you have'nt participated in your lodge in awhile I encourage you to get out there and do it absorb the degree work and emerse yourself and meet new brothers share their excitement in the degrees again.
I hope this has brought some light to your today. This is my masonic pep talk for today.
I hope you all have a great week!
Freemason Store
Masonry today and how you fit in?
Masonic Linkedin Plug yourself
Remember when the old days when a handshake would seal the deal?
Well now days it is hard to know whether or not someone is square and on the level or not. I have met so many Freemasons through a site called Linkedin to the point that I have put it on my website and decided that anyone in business should try it out.
It is free and you can join a ton of masonic groups and meet brothers from all over the world. I think now days people need security and trust and network in the business world during uncertain times in the economy.
I know some masons who don't really like to mix business with Masonry but to me if I see a mason or it listed on a resume I know he at least represents hardwork and dedication. Do you like to display your square and compass at work or do you like to be a little more secretive about it. I guess this goes back to my previous blog post about wearing the ring. What are your true thoughts on Masonry and business ediquette?
Wonderful Vacation
It was cool to go to the beach and meet more brothers. I was down and met a brother who was from Seneca, SC a district away from me. We hung out the whole week and it felt like being with family. It is a awesome thing to meet a new brother you have never met before and built a friendship from it. I noticed so many Square and Compass emblems on cars and met so many different brothers it was a awesome event. I started readom more on esoteric masonry especially the hiramic legend and 47th problem of Euclid. Very interesting stuff. I have been reading so much other things such as Rich Dad Poor Dad Series. I went through probably 4 of his books. If you ever are interested in understanding business and investing without the bore of numbers and budgets those books are really great!! Well back from vacation and back to work. Hope you brothers out there are having a great week!
The Masonic Mill
I had a weird thing happen awhile back; a guy saw my square and compass ring and said "He had got his 3rd degree in Florida on a Saturday saying he went from EA to MM him and several others."
I know I hear brothers from other regions grumbling about York Rite being done on a weekend and how it took them years to complete those degrees.
But, the core of the work is done in the Blue Lodge. I can't really see legitimate Freemasonry taking a candidate from EA to MM in a day with out any memorization of degree work. This seems very clandestine! Has anyone heard of 1-3 in a day degree work? What are your thoughts on the subject?
I had quite a bit of feed back from the PH masonry post which led to very in depth emails from Racism to other logical reasons related to Grand Lodge laws and why such things are done. So now the next one is to tackle why have a clandestine lodge "Milling out Master Masons".
Also, I have noticed a lot of Masons not wearing their ring or only wearing it in lodge meetings or degree work. Is this the norm? I wear mine all the time and proud to show that I am a member of such a wonderful brotherhood. Once again thanks for contributing to my blog and I look forward to hearing from you.
Advice and a question
We would have to have the Grand Lodge of South Carolina approve it at the time we did have King Solomon's link on there but were told in order for site to be sanctioned and legitimate we were to take this off.
There are a lot of radical opinions and clandestine people claiming to be brothers.
My advice to my brothers out there is to be careful with whom you talk to and what you talk about.
My question to you is "How do you effectively try a supposed brother online to be a mason?". I really don't think there is such a way with out seeing them in person.
Becareful Be safe and god bless!
Prince Hall Vs Clandestine
I currently live in South Carolina and I am somewhat confused with the Prince Hall issue at hand. I know this is a touchy subject but I am curious to why they would be considered clandestine in some states and not another. Is it per Jim Crow laws? Is it by the way Prince Hall's operate? I have several friends who are Prince Hall masons and even though I abide by my Ahman Rizon constitution of the Grand Lodge I find it confusing on the do's and don'ts and whys? I was told that a PH mason from a state that is recognized can attend our lodges as long as it was in a state where PH masonry is not considered clandestine. However, if risen in the State of South Carolina they are not allowed. This is not a attempt to stir a pot of emotions and controversy as it is to understand the meaning behind it. If anyone has insight please inform me of history and future of this masonic dispute.
The Old Master
THE OLD MASTER
HE WAS SITTING IN A WHEELCHAIR,
LOOKING DOWN AT THE LAWN,
I THOUGHT HE MIGHT BE ASLEEP,
THEN I SAW THE OLD MAN YAWN.
I TOLD HIM I'D COME TO VISIT,
A BIG SMILE LIT UP HIS FACE,
HE SAID IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN,
PEOPLE VISIT THIS OLD PLACE.
PARDON MY MANNERS YOUNG MAN,
AS HE OFFERED ME A CHAIR,
WOULD YOU LIKE A GLASS OF TEA,
IT'S ON THE TABLE OVER THERE.
I BEGGED OFF THE OFFER,
BUT I SAID I HAVE A SURPRISE,
I'VE COME TAKE YOU TO LODGE,
YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN HIS EYES.
YOU KNOW, I'M PAST MASTER,
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES,
HE SAID AS MATTER OF FACT,
I CAN WORK ANY CHAIR IN LINE.
I FELT PROUD TO PUSH HIS CHAIR,
AS WE HEADED FOR MY CAR,
I HAD ALREADY CHECKED HIM OUT,
AND SIGNED HIS PASS CARD.
WHEN WE DROVE INTO THE LOT,
YOU SHOULD'VE HEARD THE CHEERS,
I HAD A LUMP IN MY THROAT,
DOWN HIS CHEEK ROLLED A TEAR.
THE LODGE WAS FILLED WITH BROTHERS,
WHO HAD COME TO CELEBRATE,
OUR GUEST OF HONOR HAD ARRIVED,
THE EASTERN STAR HAD BAKED A CAKE.
WE MADE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION,
THAT BROUGHT LAUGHTER AND TEARS,
FOR TONIGHT OUR WISE OLD MASTER,
HAD COMPLETED SIXTY-FIVE YEARS.
WITH COUNTLESS YEARS OF SERVICE,
IN THIS LODGE IN HIS HOMETOWN,
HE DID IT ALL WITH A GENTLE HEART,
AND THE STRONGEST GRIP AROUND.
HIS TIRED OLD VOICE CRACKED,
BUT HIS MIND WAS SHARP AND CLEAR,
AS HE TOOK THE MICROPHONE,
SITTING THERE IN HIS WHEELCHAIR.
WE ALL SAT DOWN AT TABLES,
WITH HOT COFFEE IN OUR CUPS,
HE SAID I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU BACK,
TO WHEN I WAS JUST A PUP.
YOU SEE, THERE'S BEEN TIMES,
THIS OLD LODGE ALMOST WENT DARK,
WE WERE DOWN TO JUST A FEW,
AND SOME DIDN'T KNOW THEIR PART.
BUT WE KEPT ON WORKING HARD,
AND DOING EVERYTHING WE COULD,
TO GET MORE MEN INTERESTED,
IN THE CRAFT OF BROTHERHOOD.
OH THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS,
THAT'S CHANGED OVER THE YEARS,
BUT YOUNGER MEN NOT COMING IN,
IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST FEARS.
YOU SEE, IT WAS DIFFERENT THEN,
THAN IT IS THIS DAY AND TIME,
I REMEMBER HOW STRICT IT WAS,
YOU DIDN'T DARE CROSS THE LINE.
ABOUT ASKING A MAN TO JOIN,
WHEN YOU KNEW HE WAS GOOD,
GOD AND FAMILY CAME FIRST, THIS,
THE LODGE UNDERSTOOD.
WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL HE ASKED,
ABOUT HOW TO BECOME ONE OF US,
THEN WE COULD TELL HIM THE TRUTH,
ABOUT FELLOWSHIP, HONOR AND TRUST.
WE WORKED HARD AND DID OUR BEST,
TO BE GOOD EXAMPLES AMONG MEN,
WE ALL KNOW FROM READING THE BIBLE,
THERE'S NOT A MAN WITHOUT SIN.
SO WE'D TAKE THE BEST MEN,
AND GENTLY SHOW'EM THE LIGHT,
JUST LOOK AT ALL THE BROTHERS,
THAT SHOWED UP HERE TONIGHT.
IF I COULD LIVE MY LIFE ALL OVER,
AND I COULD REWRITE EVERY PAGE, I
'D HIT A FEW BUMPS A LITTLE SOFTER,
BUT THERE'S NOTHING I WOULD CHANGE.
EACH TIME I WAS ASKED TO TEACH,
OH IT MADE ME FEEL SO GOOD,
TO LEAD YOU GENTLY TO THE LIGHT,
UNTIL I KNEW YOU UNDERSTOOD.
I LOVE YOU ALL MY BROTHERS,
I ENJOYED BEING THERE FOR YOU,
AND I'LL TELL EACH ONE TONIGHT,
YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR ME TOO.
HE TALKED FOR HALF AN HOUR,
AS WE TRAVELED BACK IN TIME,
HE HAD TAKEN US ON A JOURNEY,
AND WE HUNG ON EVERY LINE.
IT WAS LATE WHEN WE GOT BACK,
BUT HE WAS STILL WIDE AWAKE,
AS I PUSHED HIS WHEELCHAIR INSIDE,
HE GAVE THE NURSE A PIECE OF CAKE.
UNTIL THE OLD MASTER IS CALLED,
TO THE GRAND LODGE ON HIGH,
HIS MEMORIES WILL BE FILLED,
WITH THE CELEBRATION TONIGHT.
A FEW YEARS HAVE COME AND GONE,
SINCE WE HONORED HIM THAT NIGHT,
THE OLD MASTER EVEN HELPED ME,
RAISE MY GRANDSON INTO LIGHT.
HIS KIND AND GENTLE MANNER,
STANDS TALL AMONG THE BEST,
TODAY HE MADE THE FINAL JOURNEY,
WE LAID THE OLD MASTER TO REST.
