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Post by teddyballgame on Nov 29, 2008 11:38:54 GMT
thanks for posting news about the Grand Orient of France. In america, we have no exposure to this different, progressive style of freemasonry. The more I learn, the more interesting they become. Thank you for sharing this with us!
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Post by brandt on Nov 29, 2008 15:44:36 GMT
It sounds like a very interesting Lodge. I would like to visit if I were able to. Geography can be tough at times.
Teddyballgame, there are Lodges of the Grand Orient of France in North America.
Brandt
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Post by brandt on Nov 30, 2008 3:16:56 GMT
Very True, it is relatively rare in North America. So rare in fact that it is not as well known as other systems of Masonry.
Loge L'Atlantide as well as the other Lodges of the Grand Orient of France in North America. There are also lodges of the Feminine Grand Lodge of Belgium, the Femine Grand Lodge of France, LDH, the George Washington Union, and of course my personal favorite the Grand Orient of the United States. AFHR has, in my opinion, successfully translated a Continental style of Masonry to a purely American paradigm. I applaud that success.
The great mosaic of the Free-Masonry in the world in the different operating viewpoints and wonderful rites of Masonry is the "birthright" of every Mason. I am not saying that one should visit each organization or experience every rite but the studies can be enlightening. Brother Architekt clearly has the same love for learning that I do.
Brandt
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Post by teddyballgame on Nov 30, 2008 13:30:36 GMT
Thanks guys. I like the pro active stance the masons in France seem to take. It seems to be in line with the Spirit of the 1700's, which was Masonic involvement in America and France that peekd my interest in joining. As time has gone on, I now see that American masonry has lost the Spirit of Liberty and Equality,and only strives to be a "fraternity"......
I knew something was up when Lodge consisted of minutes, a famous mason paragraph, and booze and racist jokes at the bar afterwards.
I could not fathom a Washington, Franklin or a Lafayette tolerating what American masons call Freemasonry today? It is very strange the seeming purposeful distancing from our America Freemasonic History?
Oh well, I guess I will just keep labouring in the quarries alone.......
But thank you for keeping us informed on the international field of Freemasonry. It seems america masonry intentionally boycotts international masonic news and involvement?
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Post by middlepillar on Nov 30, 2008 17:02:16 GMT
...It seems america masonry intentionally boycotts international masonic news and involvement? No, I don't think it is intentional. Consider that not much international news is reported in most US newspapers or is reported on othe media for example. It seems the USA has always focussed on internal affairs more than anything else. How many really even knew where Iraq or Afghanistan was say 5 years ago. I do not know if you belong to a GL that is recognized by the COGMINA (all 'regular' North American GLs are) but if you want to read about more international Masonic news you might consider becoming a member of a newly formed (May) research group based in NA - The Masonic Society - www.themasonicsociety.com/I agree with our Bro Architekt, it appears to me that there are far more brethren in the USA that are taking more of an interest in European masonry (Both UGLE and Continental style). It was also one of my fascinations with America when I lived there that they could produce a renowned Newspaper like the New York Times and World news would be covered in 2 or 3 pages leaving the rest of the paper (approx 100 pages!) dedicated to US news! This was in 1989 so things may of changed but I do not believe they would of changed that much.
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Post by lauderdale on Nov 30, 2008 17:40:02 GMT
I don't know if this is an Urban Legend but it is said that over 70% of US Citizens neither have not desire a Passport as they have no wish to visit foreign lands. Then again, to be fair to the Americans which of us can honestly say when reading a newspaper or watching the TV news that we are really all that interested in events in some obscure country such as Burkina Faso compared to those in the UK which are far more likely to affect us or someone we know?
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Post by maximus on Nov 30, 2008 19:34:57 GMT
I don't know if this is an Urban Legend but it is said that over 70% of US Citizens neither have not desire a Passport as they have no wish to visit foreign lands. Maybe true, but for other reasons than having no wish to travel overseas. Most Americans do not do so simply for financial reasons. It's prohibatively expensive to travel abroad. I'd love to, but I can't even afford a plane ticket to California. We are not all as ignorant and xenophobic as your media likes to make out.
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Post by leonardo on Nov 30, 2008 20:09:29 GMT
It's prohibatively expensive to travel abroad. I'd love to, but I can't even afford a plane ticket to California. Here in Europe we are extremely fortunate in that we have some no frills airline companies, ryanair for example that offer flights within Europe relatively cheaply, sometimes for as little as a couple of Euros each-way. I would have thought there'd be something similar in the US.
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Post by middlepillar on Nov 30, 2008 20:35:31 GMT
[ We are not all as ignorant and xenophobic as your media likes to make out. Bro Maximus I hope you do not think that I believe you are? I truly had a wonderful time living in California and thought the people I met during this time to be the most likable and loving people I have ever met. To me it is a trait I admire and believe in. I think everyone should be proud of where they are from above all else and I do not think anyone shows this better than Americans. I say this with a great deal of heartfelt praise; God bless America!
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Post by maximus on Nov 30, 2008 22:47:40 GMT
[ We are not all as ignorant and xenophobic as your media likes to make out. Bro Maximus I hope you do not think that I believe you are? I truly had a wonderful time living in California and thought the people I met during this time to be the most likable and loving people I have ever met. To me it is a trait I admire and believe in. I think everyone should be proud of where they are from above all else and I do not think anyone shows this better than Americans. I say this with a great deal of heartfelt praise; God bless America! Thank you for that, Brother MP. I see a lot of America bashing on other boards (non-Masonic), but not here. Everything seems to be our fault in some peoples minds.
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Post by lauderdale on Nov 30, 2008 22:57:30 GMT
Perhaps with the advent of President Obama you may be judged more favourably by the rest of the World? To borrow a quote for the History of England, the last eight years for the USA have been "a time when Christ and his Apostles slept".
At the beginning of this Holy season of Advent I can but hope that 2009 will herald a happier time for us all , Americans, Europeans such as myself, and the rest of God's people here on Earth.
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Post by maximus on Dec 1, 2008 4:43:33 GMT
So mote it be.
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Post by brandt on Dec 2, 2008 0:13:48 GMT
Indeed, the USA is on a cusp. I personally am quite cynical about the President elect. Regardlss, I am hoping for the best and that would be that he applies those clearly admirable qualities that he does possess to working to make this nation better.
Brandt
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Post by teddyballgame on Dec 4, 2008 10:52:55 GMT
I am cynical of any nominee
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Post by brandt on Dec 4, 2008 15:15:36 GMT
You and I both Brother. It just seems that the more things change the more they remain the same.
I am familiar with the European visiting of other countries. It makes sense because there are so many quickly available. The United States is a very big place. One could drive for quite some time and still be in the same nation. Citizens of the border states do tend to visit other countries more often. For example, Detroit is right across a bridge from Canada. The Texas and Arizona border that is shared with Mexico is also quite busy. It is just not as easy for someone living in the middle of the United States to just cross the border. Since it doesn't happen that often there is little push to get a pass port.
Brandt
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