|
Post by ingo on Jul 23, 2006 18:53:34 GMT
Hi Karen, the travelling-"behaviour" of an EA differs from GL to GL. SOme do not allow any travelling before reaching FC, others say only to watch other initiations, my GL says that a EA can travel together with another MM.
|
|
giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
Posts: 2,627
|
Post by giovanni on Jul 23, 2006 20:06:54 GMT
Hi Karen, the travelling-"behaviour" of an EA differs from GL to GL... my GL says that a EA can travel together with another MM. same in Italy
|
|
|
Post by jon on Sept 10, 2006 8:50:19 GMT
Hello all,
I recently submitted a request to meet a mason in my area (Philadelphia) after talking to a member on myspace. Ive seen a few things on this investigation committee around the web and was wondering (if its open to say of course) what sorts of things do they look for. I mean I know the basic requirements but how would one go about finding out if a person accepts all creeds if that is what the investigation committee even does. I suppose Im just anxious b/c I find myself deeply in line with some of the meaning of masonry as described by WL Wilmshurst "The Meaning of Freemasonry" but I dont know how well one could examine that.
I was also wondering about the general practice of this committee b/c I did see a pair of guys w/ a telescopic lens photographing me and some friends as I returned to a party from a convienence store (at night no less). Is that sort of thing common practice even before Ive been contacted to meet anyone? I figure they could have gotten a lot more out of me by just coming over to talk to me.
As I said Im probably just anxious and excited by the whole prospect. I really hope I make it in I feel the experience would enhance my spiritual growth in new and exciting ways. Although in some ways I feel Ive already gone through the three degrees (as described in the book). I suppose that if Im not found worthy then maybe it isnt the right path for me after all.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
|
|
giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
Posts: 2,627
|
Post by giovanni on Sept 10, 2006 9:26:11 GMT
I must admit that I never heard of a committee taking photos of a potential candidate and I am quite perplexed.
All that I can say is that I guess they are testing your personality, try to know who you really are. A Freemason is an open-minded man, thus tolerant, ready to listen at others. Loyal and sincere. He his firm in his creed but he respects that of other people.
Let us know about the developments, I am curious.
|
|
|
Post by jon on Sept 10, 2006 10:02:07 GMT
Well it is completely possible that I am mistaken. If it is not common practice then maybe I wasnt the one being photographed but just thought I was. The event was rather suspiscious all together. All I have read about masonry is in line with what you said about being open. Thats why I was concerned when I saw that. It just didnt seem to fit with what I understand masonry to be about. Anyways Im off to watch the sunrise. Thanks. May the Light guide your way.
|
|
imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
|
Post by imakegarb on Sept 11, 2006 8:07:00 GMT
I agree with Giovanni that a good Freemason is an open-minded person, and, yes, would be tolerant and ready to listen at others but . . .
I'd get back to that contact with whom you've been speaking and ask if it was them doing the photographing. My guess is it wasn't (I can't imagine any of the brethren doing such a thing) but if it was, I'd apply elsewhere. It's bad enough folks think we're out to take over the world but actually *doing* the cloak-and-dagger thing is just waaaaaaaaaaay too creepy.
|
|
|
Post by corab on Sept 12, 2006 18:19:10 GMT
Cora Might I recieve a copy of the GMs speech about Odin and his masonic correspondences too, please? Hi Ingo -- sorry, completely missed your request. I'll copy type the article as soon as I have time; right now work for the Order and preparation for my Passing is taking up practically all my time! Send me an email to remind me! S&F, Cora
|
|
imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
|
Post by imakegarb on Sept 12, 2006 19:36:12 GMT
I'm studying hard, myself. Such wonders ;D
So when do you expect to be passed?
|
|
|
Post by corab on Sept 12, 2006 21:10:25 GMT
I'm studying hard, myself. Such wonders ;D So when do you expect to be passed? 14 October, all things being well. Do you guys have a Rite of Censing at the Opening? If so -- jump at the opportunity to do the job -- it will help put things in place like nothing else you can read or practise! ;D S&F, Cora
|
|
imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
|
Post by imakegarb on Sept 12, 2006 22:08:41 GMT
Interesting you should mention this. It has been suggested, though we already have a thurifer. Dispensation would be required to allow me to do it before I'm raised and I can't do it at all before I'm passed.
My brethen are rather confidence I'll be passed and raised within the minimal waiting period but . . . I'll have it all memorized, sure. But I'm not so sure I'll be ready "on time". We'll see.
|
|
|
Post by corab on Sept 13, 2006 22:09:38 GMT
Interesting you should mention this. It has been suggested, though we already have a thurifer. Dispensation would be required to allow me to do it before I'm raised and I can't do it at all before I'm passed. Wow, you guys sure do things different over there. I'm Acting Thurifer at the moment, and I know of a Sister in another Lodge who is Acting I.G. even though she hasn't been raised yet. Mind you, both her Lodge and mine are really small, so we simply have to utilise every resource we have. ;D That's the thing. I had my Obligation & Proficiency Questions memorised back in May, but I was by no means ready to move on. Now there is this quite confidence within that says "Yeah -- I'm ready to take the next step." I'm quite looking forward to it! :-)
|
|
|
Post by gord on Sept 13, 2006 23:13:42 GMT
Interesting you should mention this. It has been suggested, though we already have a thurifer. Dispensation would be required to allow me to do it before I'm raised and I can't do it at all before I'm passed. Wow, you guys sure do things different over there. I'm Acting Thurifer at the moment, and I know of a Sister in another Lodge who is Acting I.G. even though she hasn't been raised yet. Mind you, both her Lodge and mine are really small, so we simply have to utilise every resource we have. ;
Okay, I'll bite--what's a thurifer? I googled: NOUN: An acolyte who carries a thurible. SYLLABICATION: thu·ri·ble PRONUNCIATION: thr-bl NOUN: A censer used in certain ecclesiastical ceremonies or liturgies. ETYMOLOGY: Middle English thorible, from Old French thurible, from Latin thribulum, from ths, thr-, incense, from alteration of Greek thuos, from thein, to sacrifice.
|
|
imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
|
Post by imakegarb on Sept 14, 2006 6:02:55 GMT
Well, without going into a lot of detail in an untyled setting, a thurifer is a brother who operates the thuriber. How's that? ;D
Seriously, if you've been to old line Roman Catholic or Episcopalian or other such services, you've likely seen a thuriber. It holds the incense we use in our ritual.
Cora, my lodge also is quite small. Which is why dispensation likely would be granted for me to take on such a task (another option would be IG or OG, after I'm passed, but nothing higher). Because it is needed.
As for this:
I'm hoping for something similiar (little smile). It might come on time. After all, I can't request I be passed until five months after my initiation. It's not yet been two months. So it's possible. But then . . . I met a young man, at one of our sister lodges in California a few weeks back, who has been an EA for three years. He seems plenty competent to me. Just not yet.
I know you're busy but I hope you keep us posted.
|
|
|
Post by a on Sept 14, 2006 6:59:49 GMT
I met a young man, at one of our sister lodges in California a few weeks back, who has been an EA for three years. And here is the thing. Initiation, passing and raising reflect three stages of the human journey, steps on our personal ladder of evolution. If you bang away at them, 1.2.3, then it would I guess be very difficult for the person to keep up in real terms with what he is being guided to do in lodge. This could result in the human safety net clamping down and saying whey hey I am not ready, with the end result being that the inner aspects remain hidden. And the end result could be that considering it as "mummery" being all that you are able to cope with. There is something to be said for Lodges only initiating those who have genuinely sought, and then only passing and raising when the candidate is truly ready. I realise than in practical terms most people are unprepared to wait and want their egos massaging, but going to fast too soon, or not understanding the sheer beautiful power of what you are doing in ritual, could arguably do more harm than good.
|
|
phil
Member
Just me all at sea
Posts: 209
|
Post by phil on Sept 14, 2006 9:37:22 GMT
Stewart Edwards said: "There is something to be said for Lodges only initiating those who have genuinely sought, and then only passing and raising when the candidate is truly ready."
Now, I'm not claiming that Holland does it better than others; maybe just a little differently.
A candidate in the first place has a very long haul.
He applies.
He is interviewed by two "proposing masters" who talk to him and tell him what he needs to do and gets him to fill in a questionnaire and application form.
He then has to write him life's story highlighting his development from child to adult (not a career résumé).
He then gets interviewed by two members of the “Investigation committee” who talk to him and his wife to ask and answer questions on both sides. A formal report is presented to the lodge.
In the mean time, the filled in documents are sent to Grand Lodge, his name is placed on a list of potential candidates. The list of candidates is read out in every lodge in the land. If somebody knows one of the names on the list and has comments to his credit or discredit, he is obliged to report it.
The Worshipful Master will also meet with the candidate and his wife so as to appraise him and his wife to ensure that all parties are happy and that he will truly fit in with the culture of the lodge; otherwise, he could be referred to another lodge.
Now about nine months have passed before he is called to the lodge for his initiation. At any time during that period, either party could pull out -- no questions asked.
An EA will serve about one full year during which he will receive instruction, attend workshops and visit other lodges accompanied by an experienced master. At the end of that year, he will interviewed by representative of the Investigation Committee to determine if he has truly developed as hoped and to see if he also feels ready to take the next step. The report of that committee is presented to the lodge masters who may ask questions of the committee and then ballot for his further step.
Before the EA is passed, he is required to declare himself, by means of a short talk, to the lodge describing almost what he did in his life story and describing his development as an EA during the last year. It is not an examination because he has already been balloted for but it gives the rest of the lodge a chance to really get to know him. It also gives him the opportunity to practice that noble art of rhetoric.
He serves as a FC for a year and then the same process is followed before he is raised.
I hope that this was all of some interest to you.
|
|
|
Post by corab on Sept 14, 2006 21:43:18 GMT
Okay, I'll bite--what's a thurifer? I googled: NOUN: An acolyte who carries a thurible. SYLLABICATION: thu·ri·ble PRONUNCIATION: thr-bl NOUN: A censer used in certain ecclesiastical ceremonies or liturgies. ETYMOLOGY: Middle English thorible, from Old French thurible, from Latin thribulum, from ths, thr-, incense, from alteration of Greek thuos, from thein, to sacrifice. Yep, that's the long and short of it *LOL*. The Thurifer leads the procession into the Temple, and then carries out the Rite of Censing -- a very significant and meaningful part of the Opening. Without giving too much away in an untyled setting, the work of the Thurifer literally lays the foundation for the Inner Temple. S&F, Cora
|
|
|
Post by gord on Sept 15, 2006 6:21:09 GMT
Okay, I'll bite--what's a thurifer? I googled: NOUN: An acolyte who carries a thurible. SYLLABICATION: thu·ri·ble PRONUNCIATION: thr-bl NOUN: A censer used in certain ecclesiastical ceremonies or liturgies. ETYMOLOGY: Middle English thorible, from Old French thurible, from Latin thribulum, from ths, thr-, incense, from alteration of Greek thuos, from thein, to sacrifice. Yep, that's the long and short of it *LOL*. The Thurifer leads the procession into the Temple, and then carries out the Rite of Censing -- a very significant and meaningful part of the Opening. Without giving too much away in an untyled setting, the work of the Thurifer literally lays the foundation for the Inner Temple. S&F, Cora When I was a member of AMORC (Ancient and Mystic Order Rosae Crucis), which by the way was co-ed, we had a Coloumbe (Dove), a young girl under 16, cense the Lodge Room as part of the opening. Very beautiful ceremony with music etc. She then approached the triangular altar in the centre of the room and lite the candles one by one (three candles) while the Chaplain read a piece on the formation of the universe. Great stuff, rose incense, I can still smell it if I imagine hard enough. However it was Rosicrucian, we didn't make masons. I've never seen incense in masonry but I can see how certain traditions can intermingle. Sounds like you have a nice opening.
|
|