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Post by antoninus9 on Nov 19, 2007 0:33:43 GMT
"And, for some reason, you feel compelled to answer him here. Uh, right. Bro. Peace, it is well known that Bro. Theron welcomes comments and observations about his work. " - Bro. Karen
Actually, Theron has deleted all of my comments in the past and that is why I chose to write this short piece. I'm sorry that you disapprove and disagree, but everyone has their own opinions. Some people agree with mine and some don't. That's just the way it goes.
Actually, the piece was published at the BurningTaper and I merely copied it here in relation to the events that are presently taking place.
If you feel compelled to ban me then do so. The information will still be provided by others. The truth has a funny way of always making itself known. Killing the messenger has never been a viable solution for either pontiffs, potentates or kings.
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Post by antoninus9 on Nov 18, 2007 22:02:39 GMT
Bro. Theron Dunn has such a wonderful way of bending both reality and the truth to meet his own needs. After reading his essay “Masonic “Malcontents” I felt compelled to respond with a more realistic perspective.
Let’s take a look at what he says in light of reality and the facts. Theron begins by saying “These brothers seem to feel that if only freemasonry would change, lock, stock and barrel to THEIR vision, that everything would be cool beans and freemasonry would grow.”
I have to question this statement in relationship to the reality unfolding in American Freemasonry. The “malcontents” have not asked for any changes. They simply quit American Freemasonry to pursue their own interests. Based on the actual events that have taken place they would appear to have little, if any, concern with the old system. The argument that they are demanding change is simply without merit.
In his second paragraph he states: “The Problem is, their "suggestions" for change involve throwing away pretty much everything that makes Freemasonry, well, Masonic. This includes the Grand Lodge system, the lodges, the ritual, the tenets, how we meet, who we recognize... if all their plans were implemented, we would be something else, but not freemasonry.”
While many of the “malcontents” have complained about the heavy handedness of the Grand Lodges, nowhere have I seen them call for an overall change to Freemasonry. Since each jurisdiction has its own unique rituals, and they change these from time to time (many were drastically changed in the 1920’s and the Scottish Rite just re-wrote all of its rituals), the idea that the “malcontents” are calling for changes to the rituals is ridiculous. Nowhere have they said anything about changing the “tenets,” or how lodges meet. They have, however, openly complained about the use of recognition to further racism in the southern United States. If feel this is justifiable on moral grounds, and that most of the modern world would agree with the “malcontents” on this issue.
“They go on constantly about Grand Lodges being ‘monolithic’ and ‘unresponsive’. One of these brothers even recently wrote: Monolithic systems such as Grand Lodges are well suited for mass production operations where everything is the same, but poorly suited to address individual needs. This, I believe, is the true nature of the problem. It's not about the needs of the ego but the spirit of the human being.”
”The problem is, this is incorrect, a sand foundation for all proceeding arguments, and in itself an ego driven position. These few brothers, and by few I mean less than a hundred (though they are quite vocal) out of, what, 4 million plus Freemasons worldwide, seem to hold the position that they are not bound by their obligation to Freemasonry, that they do not have to work within the system to effect change.” - Theron Dunn
Theron shames himself in the above paragraphs by not revealing the whole truth, and only the part he wants his reader to believe. He claims that it’s just a few brothers when he has no idea how many have been alienated by the existing system. He also twists the numerical statistics to meet the needs of his straw argument. The present situation is isolated to American Masonry and not the global fraternity of 4 million. Therefore, we are speaking of about 2 million Masons. Of these two million American Masons about 98% have not set foot in a lodge in the past twenty years and have no idea what’s taking place in their lodges or Grand Lodge. To claim that 2 million American Masons agree that the present status quo represents their views is a rhetorical fabrication. Of the forty thousand that are actively involved in the fraternity about 30% of those are unsatisfied with the present system. This represents about twelve thousand dissatisfied active Masons.
“Ego is the prime cause of this problem, and others like it. In masonic ritual, we are taught that we were first PREPARED to be made a mason in our hearts, then taught to circumscribe our desires, and "wait a time with patience". A lack of patience, and an over riding ego are the prime cause of these types of actions.”- Theron Dunn
Is “ego” the real driving force in these events? Yes, but not in the way Theron would have us believe. When a Grand Master issues an edict or demand is it by its very nature unquestionable. Is it unreasonable for those affected by such edicts and demands to ask for the reasons and justifications behind them? Should Freemasons, as enlightened men, blindly follow the dictates of one man without reasonable justification? Past precedence has shown that asking for reasonable justifications is met with a heavy handedness by Grand Masters that includes threats and actions of suspension, expulsion, etc. designed to compel a blind submission to his whims and desires. So whose ego is truly driving the problem: that of the common blue lodge Mason or the Grand Master?
Theron even agrees on this point when he says: “If one cannot convince the majority of the correctness of his belief, then it strikes me as the height of chutzpah, ego and hubris…” The same applies to the actions of the Grand Master in regards to lodges and individual brothers. In the case of the Grand Masters they don’t even bother to try and convince anyone of the rightness of their actions or demands. They offer no reasonable justification at all just “do what I say or else!” Again, I have to ask where is the real source of the ego problem: the Grand Master or the common brother?
“With the RARE exceptions noted above, the universal experience has been one of friendship, support, study, contemplation, charity and brotherhood.”- Theron Dunn I would have to disagree with this statement based on the statistical data. If American Freemasonry were truly dedicated to “Friendship, support, study, contemplation, charity, and brotherhood” its lodges would be filled to overflowing at each meeting. Since 98% of the brethren haven’t attended in over twenty years it follows that it must not be the Utopia Theron would have us believe.
While Theorn focuses on arguments of ego and malcontents American Freemasonry continues its downward spiral into oblivion. Perhaps men like Theron could accomplish more if they focused on solving the problems that breed malcontent such as the egos of Grand Masters and other Masonic leaders.
Jeff Peace
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Post by antoninus9 on Nov 17, 2007 4:22:09 GMT
Let's do it! An international meet-up. :-)
How about another ale brother Bill? We're all celebrating here in the USA tonight.
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Nov 17, 2007 2:14:25 GMT
Bro. Bill's a good guy in my book too. I'll buy him a few more rounds. :-)
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Post by antoninus9 on Nov 17, 2007 0:53:25 GMT
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Post by antoninus9 on Sept 2, 2007 18:01:58 GMT
Bro. Middlepaillar,
I don't disagree with you at all. I'm saying there are some who believe there are only three degrees and they have a very convincing argument that is worth considering.
I have belonged to just about every side order at one point in time or another, and have nothing against them.
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Sept 2, 2007 15:04:42 GMT
I believe I could make a convincing argument that would demonstrate that the side degrees are not Masonic in the strictest sense of the term. This is not to say that they are without merit, but that they may cloud one's understanding of the original symbolic system as opposed to furthering one's understanding of it.
Perhaps this would be a good topic for another thread?
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Aug 30, 2007 17:17:40 GMT
In Georgia they worship BBQ pig with lots of tangy sauce. lol
I received 360 degrees of Masonry and ended up where I started. ;D
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 17, 2007 22:25:44 GMT
The "Flying Monkeys" are a group of mainstream Traditional Observance Lodge Masons who have sworn themselves to the destruction of the Grand Orient of the United States of America. Please see lodgeroomuk.net/bb/viewtopic.php?pid=30335They have also created a secret web forum to discuss tactics. These men desire the destruction of all liberal progressive Masonry in America. It's a shame that the Traditional Observance mainstream Masons are so driven by hate for others Masons. Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Sept 9, 2007 3:44:34 GMT
gaslight,
Don't start with Ch. 1 instead start with Ch. 20. Each chapter stands on its own. Feel free to bounce around until you become familiar with the ideas. Back when I taught a course on M&D I never started with Ch. 1. I usually put Ch. 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 13, 14 in a row, but always begin with Ch. 20.
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Sept 7, 2007 19:31:37 GMT
It is for each individual Mason to discover the secret of Masonry, by reflection upon its symbols and a wise consideration and analysis of what is said and done in the work. Masonry does not inculcate her truths. She states them, once and briefly; or hints them, perhaps, darkly; or interposes a cloud between them and eyes that would be dazzled by them. "Seek, and ye shall find," knowledge and the truth.
The practical object of Masonry is the physical and moral amelioration and the intellectual and spiritual improvement of individuals and society. Neither can be affected, except by the dissemination of truth. It is falsehood in doctrines and fallacy in principles, to which most of the miseries of men and the misfortunes of nations are owing. Public opinion is rarely right on any point; and there are and always will be important truths to be substituted in that opinion in the place of many errors and absurd and injurious prejudices. There are few truths that public opinion has not at some time hated and persecuted as heresies; and few errors that have not at some time seemed to it truths radiant from the immediate presence of God. There are moral maladies, also, of man and society, the treatment of which requires not only boldness, but also, and more, prudence and discretion; since they are more the fruit of false and pernicious doctrines, moral, political, and religious, than of vicious inclinations.
Masonry labors to improve the social order by enlightening men's minds, warming their hearts with the love of the good, inspiring them with the great principle of human fraternity, and requiring of its disciples that their language and actions shall conform to that principle, that they shall enlighten each other, control their passions, abhor vice, and pity the vicious man as one afflicted with a deplorable malady.
Freemasonry is the universal, eternal, immutable religion, such as God planted it in the heart of universal humanity. No creed has ever been long-lived that was not built on this foundation. It is the base, and they are the superstructure. "Pure religion undefiled before God the Father is this; to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." "Is not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" The ministers of this religion are all Masons who comprehend it and are devoted to it; its sacrifices to God are good works, the sacrifices of the base and disorderly passions, the offering up of self-interest on the altar of humanity, and perpetual efforts to attain to all the moral perfection of which man is capable.
To make honor and duty the steady beacon-lights that shall guide your life-vessel over the stormy seas of time; to do that which it is right to do, not because it will insure you success, or bring with it a reward, or gain the applause of men, or be "the best policy," more prudent or more advisable; but because it is right, and therefore ought to be done; to war incessantly against error, intolerance, ignorance, and vice, and yet to pity those who err, to be tolerant even of intolerance, to teach the ignorant, and to labor to reclaim the vicious, are some of the duties of a Mason.
Masonry is engaged in her crusade,---against ignorance, intolerance fanaticism, superstition, uncharitableness, and error. She does not sail with the trade-winds, upon a smooth sea, with a steady free breeze, fair for a welcoming harbor; but meets and must overcome many opposing currents, baffling winds, and dead calms.
The chief obstacles to her success are the apathy and faithlessness of her own selfish children, and the supine indifference of the world. In the roar and crush and hurry of life and business, and the tumult and uproar of politics, the quiet voice of Masonry is unheard and unheeded. The first lesson which one learns, who engages in any great work of reform or beneficence, is, that men are essentially careless, lukewarm, and indifferent as to everything that does not concern their own personal and immediate welfare. It is to single men, and not to the united efforts of many, that all the great works of man, struggling toward perfection are owing. The enthusiast, who imagines that he can inspire with his own enthusiasm the multitude that eddies around him, or even the few who have associated themselves with him as co-workers, is grievously mistaken; and most often the conviction of his own mistake is followed by discouragement and disgust. To do all, to pay all, and to suffer all, and then, when despite all obstacles and hindrances, success is accomplished, and a great work done, to see those who opposed or looked coldly on it, claim and reap all the praise and reward, is the common and almost universal lot of the benefactor of his kind.
He who endeavors to serve, to benefit, and improve the world, is like a swimmer, who struggles against a rapid current, in a river lashed into angry waves by the winds. Often they roar over his head, often they beat him back and baffle him. Most men yield to the stress of the current, and float with it to the shore, or are swept over the rapids; and only here and there the stout, strong heart and vigorous arms struggle on toward ultimate success.
It is the motionless and stationary that most frets and impedes the current of progress; the solid rock or stupid dead tree, rested firmly on the bottom, and around which the river whirls and eddies: the Masons that doubt and hesitate and are discouraged; that disbelieve in the capability of man to improve; that are not disposed to toil and labor for the interest and well-being of general humanity; that expect others to do all, even of that which they do not oppose or ridicule; while they sit, applauding and doing nothing, or perhaps prognosticating failure.
There were many such at the rebuilding of the Temple. There were prophets of evil and misfortune-the lukewarm and the indifferent and the apathetic; those who stood by and sneered-, and those who thought they did God service enough if they now and then faintly applauded. There were ravens croaking ill omen, and murmurers who preached the folly and futility of the attempt. The world is made up of such; and they were as abundant then as they are now
But gloomy and discouraging as was the prospect, with luke-warmness within and bitter opposition without, our ancient brethren persevered. Let us leave them engaged in the good work, and whenever to us, as to them, success is uncertain, remote, and contingent, let us still remember that the only question for us to ask, as true men and Masons, is, what does duty require; and not what will be the result and our reward if we do our duty. Work on, with the Sword in one hand, and the Trowel in the other!
- Pike
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Post by antoninus9 on Jun 8, 2007 17:59:40 GMT
The Ancient Landmarks Revisited Pt. II: How Freemasonry Lost Its Way
In Part 1 of this paper I asserted that the Ancient Landmarks were based around the common definitions of Freemasonry from the early eighteenth century.
1. Freemasonry is a peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. 2. Freemasonry is dedicated to the brotherhood of man under the All-Seeing Eye of Deity. 3. Freemasonry is a progressive science. 4. Freemasonry is a natural philosophy, or system of natural philosophy.
If there ever was a document listing the Ancient Landmarks it is now lost, but we do have the old definitions, and when put together with historical events, I believe we can still come to an understanding of the guiding principles of the original Speculative Freemasons.
We know from existing historical documents the nature of the men who called themselves “Freemasons” and what they were doing both inside and outside the Craft. Since it is human nature to join together with men like your self we can safely assume that some common thread of interests must run through all of these people. I believe that common thread of interest is both spelled-out and veiled by the definitions above.
History would suggest that these men were bonded together by a peculiar or unique system of guiding moral principles that were distinct from those of the common people of the eighteenth century. And, that these moral principles were conducive to joining all people together in peace and harmony into one great brotherhood. Since religion and divine revelation were the framework of morality at the time it is clear that such an ideology would have met stiff resistance from both church and state; thus, the need for absolute secrecy in lodges. In light of this the grisly oaths and obligations begin to make perfect sense.
This new morality is evolving at a time when the Catholic Church in Europe had been weakened by both political and philosophical changes within society, and advancements in science and understanding.. During the Middle Ages the church had become tyrannical, and questioning its authority or ideology was a death sentence to those courageous enough to do so. Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno are examples of this behavior. Modern free-thinkers had finally come to realize that divinely revealed systems of morality were incompatible with the advancement of humanity, and that too many people had needlessly died defending one religion from another during the Crusades. Thus, the unique system of morality proposed by the early Freemasons was entirely devoid of religion and instead based on Natural Philosophy. Unlike religious morality the new system would be adaptable to advancements in human understanding and open to a progressive science, thus ensuring that the Galileos of the future would not be silenced for their ideas. This is the dawning of what will become known as “The Age of Enlightenment” and it will be driven by the Light given to mankind by Freemasons.
What were these early brothers really like? What did they do in lodge? Were they really a society of mystics searching for some lost inner truth, or were they a product of the changing times in Europe? By gaining an understanding of this we can better comprehend the true nature of Speculative Freemasonry.
The earliest Speculative Freemasons came from a wide variety of backgrounds. Most were protestants, some devout and others barely religious. There were Pantheists, Atheists, Gnostics, Jews; men of every religious and non-religious persuasion joined the Craft. Most were from the growing middle class, and some were a part of the old aristocracy.
From the minutes of old lodge meetings we learn that Bro. John T. Desaguliers was teaching Newton’s Calculus and the Laws of Motion at their meetings. A brother who was a doctor brought a corpse to lodge and dissected it showing the brothers how the human body worked. From the periodicals of the time we learn that the early Freemasons were the ultimate party club of the eighteenth century. They were notorious for staying up to all hours of the morning drinking and singing. Tavern owners began to hate them for breaking all the glasses. Eventually super thick and difficult to break glasses were created just for the Freemasons. These were known as “firing glasses”. On one noted occasion the Freemasons of Savannah, after a night of drinking, commandeered one of the king’s gun boats and took it for a cruise around the harbor. The idea of them being humble introspective mystics just doesn’t seem to fit with the history. If anything they appear to be rebelling against the rigid customs of society and enjoying the freedom of the human spirit.
The early Freemasons were also prolific underground printers circulating various heretical and revolutionary tracts throughout Europe like the “Treatise of the Three Impostures”. In a sense they were the first political activists who spawned many of the revolutionary ideas that would help to form both modern Europe and America.
Within sixty years of the founding of the Grand Lodge of London in 1717 Masonic ideology will have pervaded most of Europe and crossed the Atlantic to America. On July 4, 1776 it will move from a “Speculative Art” to an Operative one.
“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them…” – The Declaration of Independence
In the very opening words of the American Declaration of Independence we see traces of Masonic ideology. It does not make an appeal to any religious God, but to “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God.” The new world and its laws will not be based on the divinely inspired decrees of pontiffs and priests, but upon the principles of Natural Philosophy. Masonic lodges were democratic in operation as would be the new nation. The Masonic idea of tolerance as the cement of brotherhood will be applied in the American government which protects the freedom of religion.
If you step back and look objectively at the Freemasonry in America today does it resemble that of the past? Were George Washington and Benjamin Franklin humble introspective mystics? Was Freemasonry about self-discovery or the advancement of all of humanity? Perhaps it was a little of both?
Bro. Jeff Peace June 7, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia
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Post by antoninus9 on Jun 8, 2007 17:56:17 GMT
The Shrine is unique among American Masonic organizations. From the perspective of the average Mason it is the playground; a place where alcohol is permitted and fun is the name of the game, but the Shrine is much more than it appears. It is the primary source of Masonic philanthropy and, even more importantly, the best source of experienced business leadership in the fraternity. The Shrine is a multi-million dollar corporation with the means and know-how to change the present state of American Freemasonry, but the question remains open as to whether or not it is willing to use it for that purpose, and if the Grand Lodges are open to such intervention.
Many of the Grand Lodges are cash rich and management poor. They have money but don’t know how to make it work for them or the fraternity. It is apparent that the present system is devoid of good leadership and lacks any clear vision for the future of the Craft. This situation affects not only the lodges but the appendant and concordant bodies as well, which rely on the lodges to produce new members. Since Freemasonry is democratic in nature it is impossible to simply appoint the right men for the job, and in most cases internal politics makes it unrealistic. The Shrine, on the other hand, has central management that can effect changes throughout its system of temples, and could guide the fraternity into the twenty-first century. The Scottish Rite also has the potential to do this, but it is divided into two jurisdictions that are not always willing to work together. It also suffers from an archaic aristocratic form of government that is not compatible with American ideology.
I believe that all of American Freemasonry has suffered from the poor advice of marketing firms who do not fully comprehend the nature of the Masonic fraternity, and books such as “Bowling Alone” which fails to understand and correctly interpret the social dynamics of modern society. This, compounded with poor leadership and a lack of corporate management experience, can be identified as the primary causes of the present state of decline that we are experiencing.
If we are to solve the problems that we face as an organization then we must clearly understand them and their source. Let’s begin with the generation gap.
The Generation Gap
About 70% of American Masons are 70+ years of age. The remaining 30% are divided between Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. Since the Baby Boomers failed to join in significant numbers there isn’t much of a natural social buffer existing between the senior Masons and Generations X & Y. The sociological differences between the senior Masons and Generations X & Y are extreme, and the impact that this has on the fraternity cannot be overstated. Generations X & Y are the product of a society that was torn apart at the seams by the sexual and social revolutions of the 1960’s. A large percentage of these men come from single parent homes and they have never known a secure work environment. The high divorce rates and corporate downsizing and mergers have had a major impact on their world-view. Further, the majority of senior Masons grew up in world dominated by small towns and communities. During this time period most families never moved from their hometown. Generations X & Y are unfamiliar with small towns and static communities. On average their parents moved to a new city or town approximately every six years.
Human beings are a social-tribal species that thrives in organized settlements. Whether it is the tribal nomads of the eastern deserts, the villages across Africa, the first English settlement at Plymouth, or New York City, the evidence is simply overwhelming that humans are social creatures that form “tribes” and sometimes tribes within tribes. Failure to understand this fundamental aspect of human nature can have catastrophic results on corporations, fraternities and other institutions.
By understanding the differences between senior Masons and Generations X & Y it becomes easier to understand the social dynamics presently taking place within the fraternity and the many problems associated with it. Generations X & Y have an unmet psychological and sociological need for a community (tribe). Harley Davidson Motor Company has a clear understanding of this and utilizes it to further grow their motorcycle business. Many of the bracelet-like tattoos that you see young men and women wearing are tribal. It is a way of showing that they belong to a group or community (not to be confused with gang membership). These communities are unlike the small towns of the past in that they exist as virtual social entities that can span continents and even cross oceans. They are not a part of a sub-culture or the domain of the poorer classes and exist across class distinctions. They can be found at the junior and senior executive levels of major American corporations.
The senior Masons are mostly retired from professional and blue-collar careers and have a need for a club that provides them with social activities. Generations X & Y are either at the beginning or middle of their careers and have both a sociological and psychological need to belong to a community. The differences between the needs of the senior Masons and those of Generations X & Y are extreme, and in many ways not compatible. This is the source of the problems Freemasonry is experiencing with its newest members. Young men are coming to Freemasonry in search of a tribal community and discovering a retirees social club. The majority of young men never make it past the Entered Apprentice degree for this reason. The present belief that they were offended by parts of the ritual is erroneous. They were offended by the nature of the organization; it claimed to be one thing but in reality was another.
Organizations such as Freemasonry, once started, do not continue to exist in a vacuum. They can and will evolve based on external forces. They cannot be controlled with absolute precision from any single source, but instead are controlled by naturally occurring negative feedback loops within society. Proof of this can be seen in the newly evolving E-Masonry (Electronic Masonry over the Internet) movement. Since Generations X & Y could not find the community they were seeking in the Lodges they have evolved and formed new communities online which meet their psychological and sociological needs. If this trend continues lodges, Grand Lodges, and other presently existing bodies will die off in the future and be replaced by virtual online entities. This should be a cause for alarm in both the Shrine and Grand Lodges.
Freemasonry as a Religion
It is politically incorrect to refer to Freemasonry as a religion within the present system, but to deny what is taking place within E-Masonry is to avoid accepting the facts of the evolutionary forces at work. The younger generation of Masons come from a broad spectrum of religious backgrounds: Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Pantheist, Gnostic, Wicca, etc. In terms of Generations X & Y organized religions should be viewed as tribal in nature, because they are seeking a community identity within them. If their chosen faith fails to provide the tribal community atmosphere and identity they are seeking they will look outside of it, and many come to Freemasonry. If they identify with Masonry then it becomes a form of adopted religion to them that is intermixed with their faith. This is clearly evident in E-Masonry where discussions of the esoteric and occult can be found on almost every Masonic Internet forum and e-list.
Atheists are joining the fraternity as well, and simply circumventing the belief in a deity by choosing to view all the energy that composes the cosmos as representative of an ordered power. They are not seeking a new religion but a community of enlightened free-thinkers such as Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. This group identifies closely with the Age of Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution that was born out of the Royal Society and the Hanoverian lodges in London in 1717.
Thus, Freemasonry is a far more serious affair to Generations X & Y than it is to the vast majority of senior Masons. To illustrate this point there is a growing movement of Traditional Observance (TO) Lodges throughout the United States. These lodges are composed of mostly Generation X & Y Masons who dress in tailcoats and white gloves and take the ritual very seriously. Freemasonry to them is more than a social club; it is a sacred and revealing psychological experience.
If we are to remain relevant and viable in the future we must begin by accepting the fact that the future is being created outside the present management structure (Grand Lodge), and attempt to find ways to allow it to join with the present system. This is the key to perpetuating the existing Masonic organizations, and should be the focus of the Shrine executive committees.
A new perspective on Masonic Lodges
The new Masonic lodge will be the center of a community of Masons. The present cookie-cutter system where all lodges do the same thing will either be replaced by a system allowing far more diversity, or it will cease to exist as a viable entity. Community oriented lodges will reflect the nature of their members, and service their needs in the same way E-Masonry does at this time.
Some lodges have already adopted the community model and are growing and thriving, but this isn’t possible on a large scale at the present time due to senior Masons controlling the majority of lodge buildings. In the cases where it is happening the lodge building is controlled by Generation X & Y Masons.
Community lodges are very different from what we have today. They are open 365 days a year and every member has a key. They have a workout room and a club room with HDTV, video games, bar, music system, pool table. They have wireless Internet access so that members can come in and work from the lodge, or just relax while reading Masonic e-lists and forums. The lodge is more serious in nature and the rituals are performed in an almost sacred atmosphere. The west gate is well-guarded because membership in the tribe/community is only open to those who fit-in with the local tribe/community. This is why Masonry will become far more diverse than it is today. Lodges will focus on the needs of their members while at the global level they will view all Masons as brothers of the greater global tribe/community.
There are examples of tribal/community building outside of Freemasonry, and a working knowledge of them can assist in understanding how to resolve the issues we face today. Many of the younger Masons are also involved in the martial arts, and they meet together with other practitioners in Dojos. Dojos are similar to lodges in many ways and are an excellent example of the tribal/community phenomenon. What should be of especial interest to the executive management of Freemasonry is the price young men are willing to pay to be a member of a Dojo. The average Dojo in Atlanta, Georgia charges $100 per month for membership. That’s $1200 per annum per member. These organizations have a good understanding of the tribal/community and are actively taking advantage of it. Freemasonry, however, has an even greater potential for community building because of its emphasis on brotherhood. As an adult fraternity we are uniquely qualified to become the ultimate tribe/community, if we understand how to utilize this sociological phenomenon to serve our interests as an organization.
How do we move forward into the future?
We must begin by facing some facts that will be painful to some senior Masons. The Grand Lodges need to become more like service bureaus providing administrative functions in support of the lodge network. They need to become servants of the lodges and provide a basic structure for the organization. The Shrine could even replace them altogether and become the center of the global tribe/community network of lodges. In many ways the Shrine already has the infrastructure in place to do this today. If the Shrine replaced the Grand Lodges it would provide for a much flatter and more cost effective management structure. This, however, cannot happen without building a new system within the old and utilizing its resources. This should begin in metropolitan areas such as New York, Atlanta, Chicago, etc.
The Shrine is dependant on the lodges for membership. If this continues to be the case then it behooves the Shrine to take an active role in the success of various lodges. If the Shrine could convince several metropolitan lodges to share their building with new lodges, which would be specifically designed to meet the needs of Generations X &Y, and get the Grand Lodge to issue Charters to them, then E-Masonry could begin to take root at the local level. The Shrine could also fund renovations of these buildings turning them into the community centers they need to be. The upfront cost would not be all that high while the potential future reward would be great indeed. The members of these lodges would view the Shrine as the visionary organization that has the leadership necessary to build and sustain Freemasonry in America.
This could begin on a very small scale in just one city as a proof of concept. Once the system is working and fine-tuned it will become a working model for the rest of the country and easily replicated.
Conclusion
American Freemasonry is at a critical juncture in its business life-cycle. Understanding the needs of its present and future members is essential to the survival of the present system. In this short paper I have attempted to provide you with a basic understanding of the needs of these men, and what it will take to move forward and harness the momentum of E-Masonry and Generations X & Y. While this is a daunting task due to the present internal political machines, it is not impossible to accomplish if properly managed and marketed.
I hope my brothers find these insights useful and know that I am willing to aid and assist in any way that I can.
Fraternally,
Jeff Peace, Atlanta
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Post by antoninus9 on Sept 5, 2007 12:23:15 GMT
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Post by antoninus9 on Mar 22, 2008 3:36:35 GMT
Dametri, I just found out that the Contact form on the Sirius web site was not functional. I fixed it. Sorry about that. I've been updating all of the sites over the last few weeks and still have a few bugs here and there. lol
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Post by antoninus9 on Mar 21, 2008 21:38:02 GMT
I'm a member of Sirius Lodge in Atlanta. We just put up a new web site which should have solved all the bugs. Either drop us a line through the form on the site or contact the GOUSA at www.grandorientusa.org, or give the GOUSA a call at (216) 923-0795 . The lodge web site is www.siriuslodge.orgThere is a physician in your area that is looking to start a new GOUSA lodge. Perhaps you should meet him as well. Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Oct 30, 2007 0:07:56 GMT
Have you ever read a "Masonic" book? I guess for a book to be "Masonic" it must be about Freemasonry. Right? Well... I'd like to challenge that notion. What is Freemasonry about? Is about itself? Me don't think so.
Some say Freemasonry is about personal development, enlightenment, or making good men/women better. I've always wondered exactly how it's supposed to do that since most mainstream lodges never do much more than meet, eat and pay the bills.
I think change is only possible with a paradigm shift in our perspective of things. So long as we continue to view the world in the same way we will never change, or be able to change others. Traditional Observance Lodges are merely fancy ways of doing the same old things, and I suspect that not much change will evolve from this either.
In general most mainstream Masons today tend to be more concerned with protocols, jurisprudence, and loyalty to a dying system than anything of great value to themselves or humanity. This is the reason why they are going the way of the buggy whip.
The original speculative Freemasons of the eighteenth century were engaged in creating a paradigm shift in the western world. Their ideas were at the core of the Age of Enlightenment. Great men from all over Europe and America belonged to the fraternity because what it had to offer was important and far reaching.
The world today is much like that of the early eighteenth century. We are at a crossroads in our intellectual and spiritual development. Do we turn back to the ways of superstition out of fear of the unknown, or do we push forward into uncharted territory?
Freemasonry is a progressive science and as Masons I believe we must push forward and lead the way into whatever the future holds. To do otherwise would be un-Masonic.
Prof. David Bohm wasn't a Mason, or at least I've never seen any reason to believe he was, but his ideas were aimed at the heart of the Masonic world. As a respected scientist and student of Einstein he dared to put forth the idea that there may be something like a G.A.O.T.U. controlling the dice after all. He ventured to say that there is an implicate order to the cosmos - all the way down to the quantum level. His ideas made the glaring differences between Relativity and Quantum Mechanics merely a matter of perspective. From our perspective it appears that everything is mechanistic, only because we have been trained to think that way, and that a paradigm shift in human thinking was necessary to truly understand the cosmos and the nature of deity.
Freemasonry is stuck in the mud of Newtonian physics when it should be expanding to a better and clearer understanding of everything. By changing our perspective we change ourselves.
I would like to recommend a "Masonic" book to everyone. It's entitled "The Essential David Bohm" edited by Lee Nicole. This is not the easiest book to read and its implications so far reaching that they are difficult to comprehend. It is, however, a book that can teach you to see the world from a different perspective, and create a paradigm sift in your thinking.
It has been read and discussed for several years now in the RRCG, and the UGLA is also recommending it as an essential book for every Masonic library.
I hope all of you can benefit form this material and make use of it for the betterment of the Craft.
Fraternally,
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Sept 5, 2007 12:23:15 GMT
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Post by antoninus9 on Oct 21, 2005 15:51:15 GMT
Hello Brethren,
My name is Jeff Peace and I am a friend of Bro. Theron Dunn, and a member of the Rite of the Rose Cross of Gold. I've been a Master Mason for about 18 years and belong to the Scottish and York Rites, as well as the Royal Order of Scotland.
Very nice forums!
Fraternally,
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Mar 22, 2008 3:26:24 GMT
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