Comments on Masonic Traveler: My Freemasonry is Freemasonry.

Thank you for that response Nick.I am glad that no...

2008-07-18T02:05:00.000-07:00

Thank you for that response Nick.

I am glad that nothing of masonic value existed before UGLE came along to put their foot down.

so many great masons existed long before a UGLE was ever heard of. Good thing we want to throw that history away and start in 1813 with what masonry really is.

Thank you for the clarity.

Who were those french men who helped us in 1776? Masons?
who did Ben Franklin sit wth in those Lodges in France?

Pre UGLE

UGLE is splinter itslef Nick, not the Ashlar of origin........?

Why should the splinter called UGLE be the end all and be all of masonry?

True, there is a standard from our early British o...

2008-07-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

True, there is a standard from our early British origins. However, many US jurisdictions currently enjoy Masonic intercourse with other jurisdictions not recognized by the UGLE. Take the Grand Orient of Italy for example: it is recognized by most US jurisdictions but not by UGLE.

So, while I will, on a base level, tend to agree, we should have a better knowledge of this complex system of recognition and not only look to the UGLE as the sole arbiter since, in the so-called "mainstream" Masonry, the spectrum differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

In short, it's not as easy as you say. Nevertheless, accepting anything that claims to be Freemasonry is foolhardy and much study and dialog is to be established before formal dialog is to begin. Think of how nations apply for diplomatic recognition, or how unions recognize others outside of their immediate jurisdictions though they may be of the same trade.

Is this a call for syncretism and abject acceptance of anything that has a trowel, sword, apron and "mystic" ceremonies that calls itself Masonic? Certainly not.

It is a call for examination, research and a movement away from the recent heated sorry excuse for debate where one's statement of power is wrongly and ignorantly compared with an educated opinion.

Fr. Rubelo

Frankly, the easy way to figure out what is Freema...

2008-07-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Frankly, the easy way to figure out what is Freemasonry is to see who the UGLE says is Freemasonry. If one looks into the splinter example, if the splinter is only a gossamer's thread thin, then it loses its resemblance to Masonry. Do I believe that a woman should be made a Mason? No. Do I believe an atheist should be made a Mason? No. If we say that the splinter is similar, then it is possible to recognize the original shape and feel of the stone. If it is a chip or even powdered, the essence is there but the reasons are lost. A cathedral can be built, but if it is demolished, the essence of the building may exist, but the reason is gone.
Nick

Masonic Traveler, great saying: "With so many spli...

2008-07-17T05:18:00.000-07:00

Masonic Traveler, great saying: "With so many splinters from the same ashlar......"

That simple statements says so much!

Splinters from the same Ashlar!
And splinters from a splinter still come from the original ashlar!

I gues what some would hold open to debate would be: "What is the "original" Ashlar?"

Tenets?
Landmarks?
Charters?

A great topic to ponder along with the relation of all these "Splinters".

As a mason we are to subdue our passions and improve our selves in masonry and circumbscribe our desire's.... claiming "my" infront of masonry is being possessive and selfish. Is it a healthy motive for a mason to concentrate on this divisive, harmful ideal?

Thank you Brother for this post and a great masonic quote I know I will share with my Lodge and the symbolic meaning behind it!
Keep spreading the Light!