Masonic News
An update of Masonry in the news
Google Blogs Alert for: "masonic"
Missed an episode of Masonic Central? Catch up on our new site and listen to past program!
They can’t join…if we don’t ask!!!
I just ran across the title of this piece on a prominent website promoting the fraternity of Freemasonry.
I suppose its true, men can't join the fraternity, unless we ask...
But, since when do we ask people to join?
Oh, wait, Craft Lodge Freemasonry doesn't ask, but the Shrine....
The Emperor's New Clothes
by Hans Christian Anderson
This parable came to mind after reading the recent story on the Royal Order of Jesters.
The comparison is between the actions of these brothers and their affiliation with the Shrine.
What if...
What if...
What if this blog came back to life?
What if, it looked into more than Freemasonry?
What if, from the order out of chaos, chaos really didn't go anywhere.
I think I may start posting here again...
Watch this space.
Ordo ab Chao – The end of the beginning
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:3-4
This is the last post on this blog.
It’s not because of any problems, or edicts dictating its existence, nothing so nefarious.
Change
Sometimes, it’s necessary for a change.
You paint the walls, get new carpet, or even buy a new car all because you just need to see or do something differently. At its worst it means a divorce or separation because things are not working out.
None of those are the case here.
I am Lucifer...
Have you ever wanted to know what the sinister Satan sounds like? Apparently, he put out an album with Pentecostal preacher A.A. Allen.
1Congratulations to brother Fred Milliken
A warm and fraternal congratulations to our brother, and my friend, Fred Milliken on his acceptance of the position of Executive Director with Phoenix Masonry.
My public reply to brother Fred:
I wish you much luck, and my warmest congratulations.
What is the perception and what is the reality?
This is an article I stumbled onto this morning that comes out of Florida. Its a short piece, but an interesting one as it is about the past reality and present perception of the modern nature of Freemasonry.
Essentially, is Freemasonry a racist institution.
Brick Testament
Its been a while, so lets catch up with the Brick Testament.
What makes this trip interesting is that now, we can follow along the story of Solomon and the construction of the temple.
Do you hear the whispering behind your back?
There are a lot of Anti-Masonic sites out there. Some brothers have even coined the phrase Masonicphobes, but I don't think that quite encapsulates the the idea of groups openly against the fraternity and more specifically like to point it out as being heretical to their way of thinking.
1What would make a perfect Masonic website?
With nearly 500 posts to this blog, its without a doubt that the question above is one that I think about often.
4Bits and pieces of Freemasonry in the news today
It would seem quite a buzz in Jakarta about the Fraternity today.
Have you ever wanted to ask Moses a question?
I picked this this up from a short article in the Los Angeles Times today.
In this day and age, it may not be an easy feat to ask a Rabbi a question on topics of Judaica.
Dan Brown and Solomon's Key spolier
Every Mason alive and yet to be born, knows that the next book by Dan Brown (the author of the blockbuster best seller of The Da Vinci Code) is coming to bookstores soon. Some of the ground swell seems to be suggesting its coming this summer...
1Two publications Every Mason should pick up!
Two new publications that I happened upon today (one that landed in my mailbox and the other that landed in my cart).
The first happens to be a Masonic publication from The Masonic Society, aptly called The Journal of the Masonic Society, issue No. 2.
Esoteric iPhone
If your one of the 4 million people who have an iPhone and have an interest in the occult or the mystical, I have the app for you.
Its not bells and whistles, or sleek sexy images of model girls and hot sports cars (what good esotericist would be interested in that anyway?).
Help for the Widow's Son and everyone
As community goes, nothing is as important as reaching out to those you love.
Oh lord, my God, is there no hope for a widow's son?
This story is a tragedy, and not the first and sadly not the last as the economic situation of the United States continues to disintegrate. None of us are immune to the potential loss of job, family, or hope.
8Hellfire books
This is an un-sponsored review. I stumbled across this site the other day and loved what it had in its offering.
For all of us who have a passion for the obscure texts of our mystery school for bearers, Hellfire books is your publisher.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights call to action
Occasionally I receive a message from a brother asking to announce a particular event or going on around the world in Freemasonry. I think the project below is a good one and one worth your attention.
1What is Freemasonry?
I was poking through the web a bit today and wanted to see what was coming out on top of the search requests that someone might put in on Freemasonry.
2Hermes Trismegistus Masonic Academy
About two years ago, I talked about a Masonic club that I belonged to here in Los Angeles that was just starting to come into its own, well, its just about had its unveiling and I wanted to give it some love and talk about it some more.
2Masonic Pride
Masonry doesn't always evoke the idea of music.
More Masonry in the News...
A further assortment of stories in the news about Masonry today...
Double Headed Eagle
Just a few excerpts in the research on the eagle for the proposed Scottish Rite tracing board I've been contemplating.
The quotes come out of Cirlot's "A Dictionary of Symbols".Of particular interest are the ideas of the Janus figure and the relation to the double headed eagle.
Bibliotheca Philosophical Hermetica
I stumbled across the Bibliotheca Philosophical Hermetica last night and wanted to make a mention of it for anyone who may be in the realm of some deeper esoteric study.
This institute is a library collection of all things esoteric. The collection was originally the private accumulation of Joost R.
Talent is Overrated
I was given a late gift over the weekend, a lonely gift that was left in the holiday caravans that take place at that time of year. I wasn't sure how to take it, but I figure any book from my mother surly has to have a message.
Scottish Rite Sketch
I've had a bit of a break from working on the first, second, and third degree tracing boards so I thought it was about time to ramp back up into doing a new one.
2What if Brotherly Love isn't enough?
I had an article forwarded to me that I thought made a lot of sense and led to a broader question on how were managing our business.
Masonic News
In a conversation following the Masonic Central pod cast, the topic came up on recent events in the Masonic news. It was a good conversation and I think it had some of the web's most verbose and informed brothers in the conversation (myself included).
3Morals and Dogma for the 21st Century.
The biggest complaint about Albert Pike is relevance. How is what he wrote 150 years ago relevant today? And even more poignant, how can anyone read or let alone understand what he wrote when its in a language from another era.
2Occident and Orient
For the esoteric minded its not a far stretch to link the allegories and degrees of Freemasonry to the more metaphysical aspects of the eastern philosophies.
2The Church is the People
"The church is the people... We often mistake ourselves by calling church buildings the church. But ultimately, the congregation is together."
This is from an article in the L.A.
Freemasonry and the Great Depression
Freemasonry moves through periods of ups and downs. Like the stock market, there are periods of increases and periods of decreases. Peaks and valleys, plateaus, and depressions, which is normal for any system, especially as nothing remains static, motion is a constant.
The “other” orders of Freemasonry
When I fist became a Freemason I had the perception that it was the ONLY institution like it. That as such a venerable institution, with its odd and quirky modes, signs, and philosophy was unique and unlike anything that I had, to that point, had the opportunity to participate in.
8Marketing Freemasonry
The following is a reply to a post from mid December on Freemason From the Free State. The conversation is about how to "sell" Freemasonry, and I thought that my most recent reply held some worth to re post it and broaden the conversation to keep it going.
14Auld Lang Syne
As 2008 comes to a close and 09 looms on the near horizon, I wanted to take a moment out of the holiday with family to say thank you to all of my brothers and readers who have happened by this humble blog in the past year.
