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Post by a on Sept 27, 2005 18:04:57 GMT
Middlepillar this post is not aimed at you, but you brought up the word crusade, which has prompted this thread.
Let me spell this out - I am not on a crusade.
Over the past couple of years a number of Freemasons (all UGLE I think) have either suggested or outright told me that I am on a crusade, often followed by telling me what crusade I am on.
This is rather tiring. So I am spelling it out.
A few years back I was terribly lost. Then I came to know myself a bit better, and found a lot of answers in my Masonic researches. This, combined with a gut feeling that I have had about Freemasonry for many years, has led me to help where I can. And yes some have wanted my help.
The arrogant bit:-
Yes, I do know how Freemasonry can turn the corner. Whether you believe this or not is not all that important. (I have been suggesting the answers for years).
What is important is that I have followed my heart, something that it took me a long time to learn to do.
But crusade no.
I have written to, talked with, explained extensively on forums (any yet some still accuse me of never being specific!) and with/to some relevant powers that be, explaining what I think needs to be done and why.
Before I had my gut feeling for Freemasonry, I had others, and I now have more, and having offered what light I can I have been in the process of moving on for some months now.
I have booted some bums and knocked some heads. Hopefully it will have generated thought. And with thought, evolution can proceed. But by no account am I on a crusade. It feels more like a parent helping his child.
I have simply learned to listen, believe, and follow my heart.
Indeed I am only posting here now as I was encouraged back.
It would just be nice if UGLE Freemasons in particular could take me for what I am, and not make assumptions about me.
And by UGLE here, I mean UGLE and not UGLE amity.
Anyhow it will be interesting to see what happens over the coming years. I just hope that Freemasonry blossoms. Because Freemasonry is important. And I really do think that here and now, our world needs Freemasonry more than it has for a long time. Sadly I don't think that it is fit enough to meet the challenges that face it.
So let me depart this thread by asking you all a question.
If you knew in your heart that you could do something positive, something which could really help, what would you do?
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staffs
Administrator
Staffs
Posts: 3,295
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Post by staffs on Sept 27, 2005 18:29:09 GMT
Whooaaa Richard The Lionheart !!!!! Stewart we all know you are not on a crusade but your own journey whence along the way you want to help in your own way.. Now.........Put those toys back in the pram,take some more Calpol and calm down. ;D We all love you just the way you are and wouldnt change you at all.
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giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
Posts: 2,627
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Post by giovanni on Sept 27, 2005 18:29:30 GMT
I am not Middlepillar, but I think I can ask for myself: I would do that.
To be more precise, I have already done it: I landed here and I started posting.
Stewart, listen your heart. And go. My signature is an acrostic: si sedes non is, if you sit down you don't go, you cannot take the journey.
But si non sedes is: if you are not sitting down, you will go, and nobody will be able to stop you.
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Post by middlepillar on Sept 27, 2005 18:40:26 GMT
Middlepillar this post is not aimed at you, but you brought up the word crusade, which has prompted this thread. Stewart I, and I quote "typed (type of) crusade" which was meant to point out that my lack of English had not allowed me to use a more suitable word so I put in (type of!). I am sorry if you feel I think you are on a personal crusade I do not, I have always thought you have a lot of relevant questions and a lot of relevant and some irrelevant answers! I would hope that I would do something which I have always tried to do and that is simply be honest with myself. Hopefully I would do something.
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Post by billmcelligott on Sept 27, 2005 21:09:30 GMT
I quite like the idea of a Crusade.
Why not?
"To strive for that which you believe in pasionately".
I dont see the problem.
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Post by middlepillar on Sept 27, 2005 21:50:22 GMT
I quite like the idea of a Crusade. Why not? "To strive for that which you believe in pasionately". I dont see the problem. Bill I am also with you there, however having been witness to some of the ridicule that Stewart suffered on another Forum for his honesty and forthright views, I understand why he gets adamant on the point of not being on a crusade, I reiterate I may not agree with everything Stewart writes but I do admire his honesty and genuiness, he will always give an answer and I enjoy his passion!
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Post by maat on Sept 27, 2005 23:48:18 GMT
Dear Stewart (and I really mean those words) - you asked this question..
"If you knew in your heart that you could do something positive, something which could really help, what would you do?"
My husband is a Freemason and maintains the strict UGLE stance. I went along to some of the social functions and was 'expected' to do the dutiful wife thing, which I can tell you is mind numbing (quite a few of the wives shared my view) and I was getting really frustrated that I could not share my Freemasonry with fellow Masons. Also, my own Lodge was going into decline partly because the more elderly were no longer able to come to Lodge and partly because the lodge had not evolved along with the rest of humanity....we were still expected to wear long white skirts and blouses to meetings. (I had an interesting experience going to lodge one night and having to purchase fuel. A slightly sozzled gentleman mistook me for a nun, grabbed my hand and thanked me for all the blessings he had received in life (?) and begged forgiveness for his shortcomings. ... There was a happy ending.. ;D)
It was with this background Stewart that I had to ask myself the question you posed.
At Lodge level I managed to get us the option of wearing 'black and white' and also the option for wearing slacks as well as skirts. No mean feat I can tell you - but now even the die-hards wear their black/white combo - with smiles all round.
Encouraged by this small success and by the fact that it is easier to have meaningful discussions with catholic priests and Muslims than it is to talk to a fellow mason (whose jurisdiction is not recognised) but more importantly by part of Nelson Mandela's Inaugural Speech, 1994, where he exhorts us to let our little light shine - I have decided to tackle UGLE itself - in my own very small way.
I figured if I joined this Forum I could at least get men used to discussing Freemasonry with women. I was very heartened to see that other women post here also. And you just never know - there may be just one Forum reader who finds himself in a voting position sooner or later whose vote 'turns the tide'.
Patient must be the worker who would render change... I'm patient, I'm optimistic and I am having fun ...
Good question Stewart - I hope this thread breaks the page barrier... I had hopes that my thread on 'what is your gift to freemasonry' would have gone a bit further than it did. So many thinkers and so few doers. It's not such a big job when you break it down into smaller sections..
Thought - Staffs and co .... did you ever think when you set up this Forum that you would have a world wide affect on Freemasonry? Congratulations!! and THANK YOU.
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Post by a on Sept 28, 2005 7:09:35 GMT
Bill
I may be a man who cares very passionately about Freemasonry in our world today, about its future and about the light of Freemasonry which appears very very dim in our world today. A situation which I think every true Freemason owes to him or her self to rectify.
The trouble is that, in my opinion, the sheer essence of Freemasonry has been neglected in too many lodges, where egos and the physical stuff, and the comfort of what is known, has taken precedence over doing the work.
Things appear so bad in some quarters of Freemasonry that I have had some problems in working out who the true Freemasons are.
Now the solutions to this problem are far from easy, internal work never is. And no one man can come along on his white horse and perform a little magic to make all of the problems go away. For that to happen, Freemasons have to learn what Freemasonry means. Not just what it means to them. Not the wishy washy "different people get different thinsg out of it" which I accept is true, but each and every single Freemason needs to learn to recognise and use the tools of Freemasonry and apply them.
All that I can do is provoke thought in the hope that the way is found once again. Which is what I have done on forums and in correspondence.
It has been a huge difficult journey for me as a person from the darkness of a decade ago where my life was crumbling around me, to where I am today. And this is a journey which I am very pleased that I stayed with. However Freemasonry now needs to recognise that it is in the same position that I was in a decade ago, and it needs to walk out of it. And it can do it.
But it won't happen by someone waving a flag, saying follow me, and charging into battle. It will happen once a way can be found to open the hearts of more Freemasons and they recognise that special moment.
And in time, through the work of all of the illuminated Freemasons around the world this will happen. But Freemasonry does not have generations to sort itself out. It really needs to do it here and now. I think that it is likely that all of the powers that be recognise this, but some fraternities are being more successful than others in taking steps forward, hey some appear to be positively running.
The troubleis that the Masonic family is rather fragmented just now and while such differences in evolution may be a natural event, it could also lead to further imbalance, which is why it is important to work together, for the common good. Diversity yes but fragmentation no. Maat needs to be restored.
Now if I am on any crusade, it would be to do what little I can to help the process of rebalancing in our world. To return Maat to this planet. If the human race can't achieve this, I am sure taht Mother Nature will do it for us, and I feel that it will not be anywhere near as long as some scientists predict before the point of major environmental shifting occurs. I just hope that before then the light can be found, recharged, and felt throughout our world. Perhaps one day soon the lightbulb will get recharged.
Anyhow I really have done what I can for freemasonry at this point in time. There is lots more that I could do that is for sure, but to do this I would need to be in a room with the various powers that be togethr, and preferably the more esoteric ones. Though some of them may not feel very comfortable with my directness.
Anyhow, crusade no, guiding hand, yes. Arrogant possibly. Mad - could well be. But I am moving on to writing a book on how to "know yourself" better, aimed at those who have sensed a special moment but don't know what to make of it. Should it get published it could lead to a lot of people worldwide knocking on the Masonic door. I just hope that the fraternities will be able to open the door to such candidates who are interested in the internal side of Freemasonry, and not be offputting through being stuck in the nineteenth century.
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Post by maat on Sept 28, 2005 23:39:27 GMT
To return Maat to this planet. I won't take this personally Stewart
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Post by taylorsman on Oct 4, 2005 19:29:25 GMT
Stewart, although you have sometimes raised my hackles with your "other worldly" and to me "Goody two shoes" approach in what I consider to be a hard world full of human predators, I must say that you are always welcome on this Forum and will not meet with the hostility dished out by some Mundanes elsewhere.
In olden times mighty Kings had a jester or fool who was permitted to jibe at them and make remarks that would have earned others the axe. So it is good that a man like yourself puts the questions that others baulk at and gives an alternative prospect.
So stay the course Stewart, even if you do remind me of Don Quixote tilting at the UGLE Windmills.
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Post by billmcelligott on Oct 4, 2005 21:00:19 GMT
Sorry , but I just had a picture of Steve on a Throne and Stewart in a jesters robes. Well I have had sillier fantasies, but we won't go into that.
Stewart Q. Things appear so bad in some quarters of Freemasonry that I have had some problems in working out who the true Freemasons are.
Good question 1. A True freemason , puts his Lodge before his promotion. 2. A True freemason , is delighted when the guy who came into the Lodge 4 years after he did gets a promotion above him. 3. A True freemason will give what he can without making a song and dance about it. 4. A True freemason does not need reminding that God and Family come first. 5. A True freemason treats non Masons the same as his Brethren.
well 5 is enough for now.
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Post by a on Oct 4, 2005 21:23:13 GMT
Taylorsman
I am perhaps more on course today than I have been. All that I have done is disassociate myself from a forum. Lock stock and barrel. I have explained to Andrew my reasons for doing so.
I keep telling people that I am not on a crusade, and I have done what I can for Freemasonry for the moment. I sure as heck could do a whole lot more, but I am moving on, still following my heart, for the Masonic powers that be need a break from me harping on, and there is little more that I can do until (all) the powers take a step or two. It is a dim and distant dream for many I know for reenlightenment to flow once again, but one that I have been aiding within the Masonic sphere as best I can, and one which really is within the grasp of the fraternities right here and now, at this precise moment. It will be interesting to reflect backwards next summer to see which fraternities, if any, rose to, or even saw this fairly unique opportunity. The landscape of Freemasonry in our world is changing fast and has been for years, and soon the critical point of no return will be passed. History is smattered with such critical points, this one just happens to affect Freemasonry.
Anyhow I have plenty of other things to keep me busy over the coming years, and I will still be here reading daily and posting when I think that I can add value.
I think that I would make a good (well actually a crap) jester - can't tell a joke to save myself, but I can juggle (took me 2 years to learn - 2 years!!), do a little magic (though having had bad finger problems for months has stimmied me here a bit - in effect being allergic to playing cards does not help), and as I always say a laugh is a laugh, and I am happy for people to laugh at me, for our world needs more laughter.
Anyhow, anyway, I am simply stepping forward on my own journey. Such is the life of a travelling man. Standing still watching your navel just offers opportunities for darkness to take hold.
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Post by a on Oct 4, 2005 21:37:06 GMT
Bill
Perhaps Taylorsman and I should dress up as you suggest and do a show at Torture Garden? (Phew the wife is asleep, I should get away with that one).
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Post by leonardo on Oct 4, 2005 21:49:59 GMT
Such is the life of a travelling man. Tell me about it
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Post by billmcelligott on Oct 4, 2005 23:06:41 GMT
Bill Perhaps Taylorsman and I should dress up as you suggest and do a show at Torture Garden? quote] Now I would pay good money to see that!!
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Post by a on Oct 5, 2005 6:40:53 GMT
The wife just creased herself when she read this. She reckons that Taylorsman would roast me, and failing that all the clubbers would. Mind you perhaps that would be an acceptable show there. Alternatively Taylorsman could dress up an illuminati, and me as a demon, and we could re-enact a battle of harmony! Sorry Taylorsman, but the thought of all of those rubber clad women has now taken over my day. Better hide from the wife again.
Ah hem, Stewart pulls himself together. Where was I - crusade yes.
The problem with Crusades is that you in effect are trying to force one viewpoint on others, which is never a good idea. There is room for everyone. It is just a question of balance, harmony, Maat.
Maat sorry for continually picking on you, but you are such an essence of life. There you go I can be nice.
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Post by gevers1 on Oct 5, 2005 10:35:00 GMT
Stewart, sorry you dont get away from me that easily. Being a key "hostile" and "mundane" factor to the reason why Stewart left the 'other' forum (freemason.com) I shall make my stay short, as my presence (and the opinions I have) would clearly be at odds with the members of this thread.
One thing you say in this thread is
"I have written to, talked with, explained extensively on forums (any yet some still accuse me of never being specific!) and with/to some relevant powers that be, explaining what I think needs to be done and why."
Having looked through your posts, I have still to find the one thing you wont (or cant) answer: not the what and the why, but the how ...
Everytime we (I) push you for this, you hide behind esoteria, telling us we must open our heart, feel the light etc. Whilst this might be easy for people who are into the esoteric, for us other hairy arsed masons, this is a difficult concept to get our heads around. We just wanted an explanation of how we go about doing that. We pressed you again, you then tell us you cant (or wont) tell us because it's all in a book you are writing.
Well, excuse us for being cynical ...
Like I said in the Freemason.com, we dont want you to leave. I fully believe you have something valuable to tell us all, I just dont understand your language or your methods and that makes me suspicious and cynical.
think about your audience and change the delivery. You just might get through.
I genuinely hope to see you back on Freemason.com in the near future.
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Post by billmcelligott on Oct 5, 2005 12:07:37 GMT
Now Stewart your getting a little over exited me thinks? cold shower !
gevers1 I have to say your reading an awful lot into not very much. If the guy wants a break he wants a break.
I post a lot more than Stewart does on many more forums and I have to agree evry so often you burn out and just want to sit back and listen.
This forum posting is as adictive as 'cocaine' and quite similar in other ways, a lot of sniffing and snorting. And thats just the Moderators.
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Post by gevers1 on Oct 5, 2005 12:45:11 GMT
Possibly Bill, but if you just want to sit back and listen you dont resign from a forum. I think that alone speaks volumes; it's hard to try and understand someones point of view when that view is not getting articulated clearly enough and questions are asked and not answered. I guess he's given up on us 'mundanes' which is fair enough (unfortunately), I just wanted to put our side of the story. I shall now scuttle back to tfm.com. We dont sniff and snort there, we just blow.
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Post by a on Oct 5, 2005 13:30:49 GMT
Having looked through your posts, I have still to find the one thing you wont (or cant) answer: not the what and the why, but the how ... Everytime we (I) push you for this, you hide behind esoteria, telling us we must open our heart, feel the light etc. Whilst this might be easy for people who are into the esoteric, for us other hairy arsed masons, this is a difficult concept to get our heads around. We just wanted an explanation of how we go about doing that. We pressed you again, you then tell us you cant (or wont) tell us because it's all in a book you are writing. Well, excuse us for being cynical ... Well you are too cynical. This specific book is about my experiences of how I came towhere I am today. It offers suggestions that others may find useful. Anyhow you have asked a specific question, so I will give a specific answer. And if you have any further specific questions I will happily answer them as well. You asked how do you, "open our heart, feel the light ." And you want me to explain this non esoterically. Bear with me while I get there, for there is important background. Well there lies a problem as you do have to have a certain level of esoteric awareness to understand this, a level which I would hope is available to all Freemasons, for all that it should take is an initiation ceremony. Initiations must initiate. Anyhow, you could obviously join a Masonic Lodge which does initiate, in which case you should naturally understand. Failing this you can learn to listen to your heart. Kirk MacNulty explains this well in The Way of The Craftsman the first couple of pages on initiation when he talks about identifying events in your life, finding that special moment, and identifying threads in your life. This is the preparing yourself in your heart. But I suspect that even this is too waffly. Though I would recommend that you read this wonderful book. Anyhow, as simple as I can explain it, in a different way to MacNulty, as I have done of forums several times in the past. Pick a moment in your life. One that is either very special to you, or better still one where you did not act in the way that you would have liked to. Best to start with a small event, like loosing your temper with someone. Now once you have picked your moment, think about why you did what you did. Not the easy ego boosting defensive reason, but peel back further and try to work out why you did it. What motivated you, what was going through your mind and your heart at the time. If you are being honest with yourself you may well find that the true reasons are very diferent to your defensive reasons. Once you get this far take another step. Think about what motivated these motivations, and then try to work out what it is in life that this is telling you. The lesson so to speak, what do you need to learn. Then think about how you would have liked to act, and work out why you did not do this. Then consider what practical things that you can do to ensure that should a similar situation arise in the future you would not make the same mistakes again. This is difficult, for you then have to apply them to your life. It could be loosing weight or getting fitter so that you are not so tired, or realising that you have a little insecurity that needs to be comforted or whatever. At some stage life will test your progress on this again, that is for sure. Now the process of doing this is part of opening your heart. Once you have successfully done this a number of times, it gets scary for our egos don't want us to evolve in this way. And this should really be done in the company of people who are on a similar journey of self exploration. I did it on my own, but I can not overemphasis that using the tools of Freemasonry within a Lodge environment would be a much better place to do it. Not in the lodge, in your own time, but having the support of the members of the lodge who are doing likewise. Why do you think that the ritual is full of tools to help you do this? You start as a rough ashlar and through such internal work, you smooth it and in time it is polished. This sentiment is very real and very applicable to every Freemason. Now once you have done this for a while, to give you a clue I have been doing this sort of stuff for several hours a day for about seven years now, you reach a point where you can literally feel the light, so lets talk about that. The how you do it is explained above, it comes naturally once you have done the work. The light is everything that you may have read it to be. It is Divinity, it is a glow around you. It is evolution. It is you. And it is me. And everyone and everthing else. You really are travelling on a journey. A journey of yourself. I have spoken to Freemasons who understand this, and many despair at the lack of understanding in many Lodges. This is the issue that you, not me, but you need to tackle. Personal enlightenment, and it is all there in your ritual. It is the sheer essence of Freemasonry - now think about your ritual. If you want me to try to clarify anything just ask - just be specific. Then I would suggest that something is wrong in your lodge. For you should be receiving guidance from those in the east, who should have done all of this. Freemasonry may mean different things to different people, but above all that - Freemasonry itself means something. I really am not on a sales mission. I am not trying to convert. As I have said several times it feels like you are letting me down, yourself down, and society down. Figuring out why I feel that you (Freemasons collectively) are letting me down has been a big part of my own internal work over the past year. For on the surface it does not make sense. And I can genuinely tell you that it is not going to happen. I have explained to Andrew why and what it would take for me to consider returning. And while I would be very happy if those conditions were to be met I don't see it happening anytime soon. Though I would be happy to be proven wrong on this.
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