bod
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UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
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Post by bod on Mar 18, 2005 18:21:13 GMT
But that is where the idea falls apart, Bro Andrew.
To form a lodge you need to have a certain number of people who are prepared to act as founders, etc. You then need to decide which masonic jurisdiction you want to be governed by, approach them with the request for a warrant and sit back and wait a few years.
There is nothing to stop us forming a 'virtual lodge' - i.e. a gathering that is called a 'lodge' but isn't a lodge and can't initate or make masons, has membership open to all, and meets 2 or 3 times a year, however, we would not be able to wear regalia, etc.
There are dozens of web forums for masons to meet and discuss things - as well we know!
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Michael
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... as you have passed through the ceremony of your initiation...
Posts: 326
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Post by Michael on Mar 18, 2005 18:43:23 GMT
The last time I heard this discussed the number of founding members required before it could even be put forward was at least 30+. This was due to the fact that many dropped out once the 'novelty' wore off.
But as to how long it would take to move things forward, there are enough Senior Brethren on this forum to guide us
And as for politics Leo you have no idea............
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Post by a on Mar 18, 2005 18:49:08 GMT
We know that some Masonic Lodges:-
1. Have spiritual backing which can be experienced in Lodge.
2. Have Lodge Masters who are beacons of illumination as they gently guide.
3. Invest a great deal of time and energy in having its members pursue the hidden mysteries of nature and science.
The first comes to those who deserve it through hard work. The second comes from supporting initiates until they become illuminati as they progress. The third is something that anyone can do.
While it has to be done individually, group work can support, develop and speed progress, aid belief, and offer a helping hand. Infact while such work as we currently know it is by its very essence individualistic, group working is a definite catalyst, and offers the possibility of the whole to be more than the mere sum of its parts. Pure alchemy.
Anyway the point of all this. If it is physical stuff that you seek, then go ahead form a lodge. Nothing wrong with that.
But if it is spiritual stuff that you desire then a more profitable route could be setting up research threads, where one member presents a paper, and others think about it, really think about it, before critically discussing it. A lot of esoteric growth could be achieved fairly quickly by those whose hearts were open and were not afraid of positive criticism.
But you may upset those who feel that such things should only happen in the relevant orders/lodges.
Just some thoughts.
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Post by leonardo on Mar 18, 2005 19:23:23 GMT
[quote author=bod link=board=Poll&thread=1111149104&start=20#1 date=1111170073 There is nothing to stop us forming a 'virtual lodge' - i.e. a gathering that is called a 'lodge' but isn't a lodge and can't initate or make masons, [/quote] Seems little point then, really
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staffs
Administrator
Staffs
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Post by staffs on Mar 18, 2005 20:04:05 GMT
I voted No and the reason being that this forum is an open lodge in effect for everyone who comes here .
we dont need to open to create the Peace and Harmony as it exists here already amongst us .
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Mar 18, 2005 20:06:01 GMT
We dont need an excuse or VL in order to meet up.
We can do that whenever we want and no one has to be excluded.
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Post by leonardo on Mar 18, 2005 20:11:48 GMT
Lee. Great point. This forum is a wonderful place for like minded people to meet up with no one being excluded simply because they might be the wrong sex or, for that matter, whether or not they're a Mason. I think it would be the iceing on the cake if we could all meet up at least once a year, in a different location and country everytime.
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Mar 18, 2005 20:27:47 GMT
Well then,who wants to be Festival secretary and organise something.
Steve just HATES these social events.
The Festival Secretary : A quite thankless task and totally unenviable
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Post by munkholt on Mar 18, 2005 20:35:00 GMT
I think it would be the iceing on the cake if we could all meet up at least once a year, in a different location and country everytime. I'd be up for that. Preferably somewhere that is a discount airline destination. As to the virtual lodge ... well, you have already (elsewhere) called me brother, and for me that makes this forum as close to a functioning lodge as I could wish it to be. Meeting across regular, irregular, gender and spiritual - whatever! - individual beliefs we might have, is more appealing than creating a UGLE lodge with a virtual presence. Or the opposite, an irregular lodge that would exclude me. IMO.
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Post by leonardo on Mar 18, 2005 20:40:39 GMT
I'd be up for that. Preferably somewhere that is a discount airline destination. The whole of Europe is practically covered by Ryan Air. We could have Paris one year, Rome another, London, Glasgow, Dublin.......and so on, and so on. Actually it's all sounding very exciting
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Post by taylorsman on Mar 19, 2005 0:04:01 GMT
Ok, reality check folks.
Firstly, Ryanair, be careful where they actually take you. There was a case recently where they were fined by the EU for advertising destinations where the airport was miles away from the city in question. I'd stick to BA.
Now there is no reason why we cannot merely copy the "Lunchtimers" who meet in London, perhaps at some more convenient time such as on a Sunday as many of us work elsewhere than London during the week and have Meetings on Saturdays. Even I would be happy to attend a nice dinner somewhere as long as there were no noisy bands nor dancing. Anyone could attend, Regular, Lady Mason, Co-Mason, Non-Mason, which would not be the case if we formed an UGLE Lodge.
There is no need whatsoever to form a Lodge be it "Virtual" or Actual, indeed this would be counterproductive for the following reasons.
1 On this Forum we come under nobody's jurisdiction, If we formed a Lodge then we would be subject to UGLE and to a Province, and the Freedom of Speech we currently enjoy would be curtailed. If this Forum then continued it would be no better than some others I could mention, "Vintage Car Rally chaps?" PRESTO BORING!
2 It is unlikely that UGLE would sanction a new Lodge being formed when so many are folding for lack of interest.
3 Where would we meet? What Ritual would we use? I would not be the slightest bit interested if it was Emulation, others may not like Taylors, Lee might want Sussex Working, the Scots would probably want Goudielock or some other of their Rituals.
4 There is already an Internet Lodge. I don't know how successful it is but do we need to re-invent the wheel?
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I just don't see the need for this idea. Please send me a Virtual Clearance Certificate from the Virtual Lodge Bro (Virtual) Secretary.
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Post by plewis66 on Mar 20, 2005 17:42:12 GMT
But if it is spiritual stuff that you desire then a more profitable route could be setting up research threads, where one member presents a paper, and others think about it, really think about it, before critically discussing it. A lot of esoteric growth could be achieved fairly quickly by those whose hearts were open and were not afraid of positive criticism. Yes please!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2005 0:37:43 GMT
I am all in support of a quarterly get together for drinks / meal - London or elsewhere or rotating venue. Shall we kick this off? Can i help to organise?
Kevin
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Post by taylorsman on Mar 22, 2005 3:07:26 GMT
Kevin, I think that is what has been suggested by Gnostic. I would be all for meeting up for a pie and a pint so to speak, the Pillars is very well known but a bit too crowded. What about the Prince of Wales down the road where we dine after Chpater?
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Mar 22, 2005 7:34:26 GMT
Arrow 2, Taylorsman ,
We are splitting a thread here with the forthcoming events board.
I see the difference in the two but we need to look at this thread when conjoined with meeting up.
A quarterley meeting is a very good idea.
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Post by brojorge on Mar 23, 2005 16:42:10 GMT
9659 is a Special Interest Lodge with a difference. I doubt if any other lodge can boast such a cosmopolitan membership, and there cannot be any doubt that in time it will outstrip EIML as the largest Craft lodge under UGLE. Sorry; a US Mason here. What's "EIML"? I looked on the UGLE website and couldn't find it.
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Post by taylorsman on Mar 23, 2005 19:55:26 GMT
I assume it is an Installed Masters Lodge, but I don't know which one, Essex? I'm not in such a Lodge myself. I was Master in a Sussex Lodge and as such could join Sussex Installed Masters but as I no longer live there I cannot see any point in doing so. I do live in Berkshire but choose not to be a member of a Craft Lodge or RA Chapter in that Province although I am in most to the Higher degrees at Wokingham in that area.
I'm not really into Installed Masters Lodges to be honest as I find they are usually too full of those angling for a Provincial Honour, although I am told that some do occasionally have interesting papers etc on Craft Freemasonry.
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giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
Posts: 2,627
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Post by giovanni on Mar 25, 2005 11:18:41 GMT
I voted NO for 2 reasons:
My Craft is considered irregular by UGLE, and I cannot accept to exclude Leo and other friends.
Unless we establish a new masonic Order...
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Post by a on Mar 26, 2005 20:09:18 GMT
Alas no one else appears interested, so it isn't to be.
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ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
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Post by ricardo on Mar 26, 2005 21:43:42 GMT
The Internet Lodge #9659 UGLE has been mentioned already. Other "Internet " lodges include the following: Richard N Australia
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