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Post by middlepillar on Jan 29, 2009 15:05:00 GMT
On the thread 'Oh Lord my God, Is there no help for the Widows son'. Cosmic Thought followed up his original post with this post;
Another reason i became a co-mason, they know the spiritual power of Word's expressed through Divine Wisdom.
When I read this I immediately thought "How would anyone know what LDH would offer against UGLE (or whatever Mainstream GL would be in the vicinity). Without experiencing both"? The fact is one can think but is would of been impossible to know. In my own opinion there are many members of UGLE who know the spiritual power of words expressed through Divine Wisdom. it is just a simple fact that LDH practices a very different system of Freemasonry to my own. Not better, not worse just different.
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Post by lauderdale on Jan 29, 2009 17:20:29 GMT
Bro MP, can't you think of one Freemason who can make that comparison from personal experience?
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Post by middlepillar on Jan 29, 2009 17:50:56 GMT
Steve
I can think of at least two I know can offer a judgement. Neither of those two could of done before samplng both forms.
And even that judgement is limited to thier own personal experiences, doesnt mean that every Lodge is the same as thiers or the ones they have visited. I know for certain that Masonry has a different flavour depending on where you are in this Country therefore I would suggest there is every possibility that there are Lodges that offer the same rewards to thier members as Cosmic Thoughts does to him.
You thought that LDH would suit you better than UGLE, you did not know. I totally respect and understand that you are happier where you are now. I also respect that as far as you are concerned LDH offers you something that UGLE could not.
You must respect that I may know of other things that could of been available to you that you never got involved in that may of offered you the same satisfaction.
We will never know for sure, will we?
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Post by corab on Jan 29, 2009 22:16:50 GMT
I fully agree, Bro:. Chris. No one stone is the same; no one passage, room or step more than vaguely similar. In the end we get out of it what we put into it, so you can make your craft as spiritual or (and?!) socially motivated as you like. To suggest that co-masonry per default is more spiritual than single-gender masonry is, I think, a fallacy. Sure, we have certain rituals that are written specifically for our English-speaking lodges, and with a very heavy emphasis on matters spiritual, but that does not make an entire Order "more spiritual", much less the totality of co-masonic jurisdictions. I suspect that the fact that many of us here on these forums have the impression that co-masonry is more spiritual than single-gender masonry is more likely to be the result of this being an English-speaking forum than of a general tendency among co-masons worldwide. Those of us who do work in an English-speaking co-masonic jurisdiction are more likely to work the more reflective, non-denominational workings, such as the Lauderdale and Verulam workings, whilst those of us working outside the English-speaking world are more likely to work the "International" or "Continental" workings. The latter are more social / philosophical and of a more practical / operative nature. Look beyond the craft and you'll find differences even within national Federations -- my mark lodge works the more reflective Sydney ritual, whilst its sister lodge works a more demonstrative ritual, closer to the Scottish ritual, I believe. Likewise so in the HRA and possibly beyond that -- I haven't glimpsed that far yet. If even at so local a level there are those options to choose from, then it seems to me that it is not genuinely possible to label an entire Order -- especially not an international one -- as "more spiritual"; certainly not on the basis of so limited an experience and exposure as just the English-speaking members present on these forums. That is not to say that individual experiences may lead to that conclusion on a personal basis, of course. On the thread 'Oh Lord my God, Is there no help for the Widows son'. Cosmic Thought followed up his original post with this post; Another reason i became a co-mason, they know the spiritual power of Word's expressed through Divine Wisdom. When I read this I immediately thought "How would anyone know what LDH would offer against UGLE (or whatever Mainstream GL would be in the vicinity). Without experiencing both"? The fact is one can think but is would of been impossible to know. In my own opinion there are many members of UGLE who know the spiritual power of words expressed through Divine Wisdom. it is just a simple fact that LDH practices a very different system of Freemasonry to my own. Not better, not worse just different.
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Post by maat on Jan 29, 2009 22:20:37 GMT
Another reason i became a co-mason, they know the spiritual power of Word's expressed through Divine Wisdom. When I read this I immediately thought "How would anyone know what LDH would offer against UGLE (or whatever Mainstream GL would be in the vicinity). Without experiencing both"? Happy New Year MP! One does not need to join an organisation to get a good general impression of it. If that impression is gleaned from one or two social functions, meetings, etc. then the impressions are likely to be most unrealiable. Should one gain an impression of a group over several years of interaction, either by articles in magazines, forums, socializing etc then a better and more reliable impression may be gained. Keep in mind we can only speak generally here. Generally speaking... After much socialising with my husband's male craft only Lodge for nearly 20 years (from Grand Masters down) I can assure you that while I have met several who would appreciate and understand the esoteric side of masonry, most would be astounded, stunned and derisive of anyone who offered them the esoteric explanations of the symbols and allegories found within their lodgerooms. Wonderful people all but one would not feel free to discuss the deaper aspects of things spiritual, and even less so the practical application of them. LDH is not necessarily better than UGLE, I am not saying that. LDH differs from country to country and there was a huge break up some years ago because of the differences in opinions. European LDH work a very different ritual to Australia and UK, which work the Lauderdale ritual, which is very esoteric. The French ritual contains the same knowledge but it is presented in a much more subtle way, it is more concealed. I must add that they have many, many more members than here in Australia. So who has it right? Many seek the way but few find it ;D (joke, joke!) Cosmic Thought has obviously found something which gave cause for considering a change in direction, and I think that flexible people, who are willing to seek far afield for knowledge and understanding are always on the right path, even if they hit a brick wall. I am well acquainted with brick walls, and I love them, each one I hit makes the razors edge wider, and the foothold surer. Hope this year is a mighty one for you... you have lots going on I believe. Maat
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