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Post by antoninus9 on Jan 10, 2008 1:23:40 GMT
An interesting question indeed!
There a many options available:
1. Send financial support to organizations pursuing the issue through the courts. 2. Publish essays on the net, etc. 3. Pass out pamphlets. 4. Help to stage protests
Above all do something. Simply sitting behind a computer screen and hoping will accomplish nothing.
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Jan 9, 2008 0:57:43 GMT
I agree with Cora's perspective. Freedom of conscience is a natural effect of tolerance, equality and liberty.
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Post by antoninus9 on Jan 5, 2008 16:19:53 GMT
Each form of Free-Masonry (Freemasonry) is unique. The distinctions between them, however, are not always apparent or obvious. The Grand Orient of the United States of America has established the following as its guiding principles. These represent the cosmopolitan ideology of the GOUSA. While these concepts may seem foreign to many Masons and forms of Free-Masonry, we believe they represent a continuation of those ideas expressed by the Craft during the Age of Enlightenment.
I look forward to hearing your comments.
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Our cause is the intellectual, spiritual and social advancement of humanity. To accomplish these aims we have established these guiding principles for Free-Masonry:
1. We believe in the freedom of conscience of all people, and that it is an essential component of liberty, equality and fraternity. 2. We believe in and support the separation of religion and government, and promote religious and spiritual tolerance among all people.
3. We believe in and support the freedom of the press as a necessary component of maintaining the inalienable rights of all human beings, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
4. We believe in and support the need for higher education and life-long learning.
5. We believe in and support an impartial judiciary system as essential to guaranteeing the preservation of human rights.
6. We believe in and support the arts and sciences as essential elements in the progress and evolution of humanity.
7. We believe in and support efforts that work towards global environmental and ecological sustainability as essential to the survival of the human species.
[The Principles were updated on 1/8/08 and the above now reflects the principles as adopted by the Grand Council]
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 11, 2007 0:09:11 GMT
These are the lyrics I have for it.
Joy, thou source of light immortal, Daughter of Elysium! Touched with fire, to the portal, Of thy radiant shrine, we come. Your sweet magic, frees all others, Held in custom's rigid rings, All men on earth become brothers, In the haven of your wings.
Chorus Be embraced, you millions! This kiss for the entire world! Brothers, above the starry canopy Must a loving Father reside.
Whoever has the great fortune, To be a friend’s friend, Whoever wins the love of a lovely woman, Add his jubilation to ours! Yes, anyone also who has a soul To call his own on this earth! And anyone who never could, should run away Weeping from this brotherhood!
Chorus Those who occupy the great circle, Pay homage to sympathy! It leads to the stars Where the unknown is enthroned
Joy, all creatures drink At the bosoms of nature, All good, all evil Follow your trail of roses. Kisses she gives us, and wine, A friend, proven in death. Pleasure was given to the worm, And the cherub stands before God.
Chorus Do you fall before him, you millions? Do you sense the Creator, world? Seek him above the starry canopy, Above the stars he must live.
Joy is called the strong spring In the perpetuity of nature. Joy, joy drives the wheels In the earth’s great clock. Flowers, she calls from the buds, Suns, out of the firmament, Spheres, she rolls through space That the seer cannot know
Chorus Happy, as his suns fly Through the heavens’ magnificent plan Run, brothers, your race Joyful, as a hero to victory.
As truth’s fiery reflection Smiles at the explorer, To virtue’s steep hill She guides the silent sufferers’ path. On faith’s sunlit summit One sees her banners in the wind, Through the cracks of burst coffins They are seen in the chorus of angels.
Chorus Endure courageously, you millions! Endure for the better world! Over the starry canopy A good God will reward you!
Gods one cannot repay Beautiful it is, to be like them. Grief and poverty, acquaint yourselves With the joyful ones rejoice. Anger and revenge be forgotten, Our deadly enemy be forgiven, No tears shall he shed No remorse shall gnaw at him
Chorus Our debt registers be abolished Reconcile the entire world! Brothers, over the starry canopy God judges, as we judged.
Joy bubbles in the cup, In the grape’s golden blood Cannibals drink gentleness The fearful, courage -- Brothers, fly from your perches, When the full cup is passed, Let the foam spray to the heavens This glass to the good spirit
Chorus He whom the spirals of stars praise, He whom the seraphim’s hymn glorifies, This glass to the good spirit Above the starry canopy!
Courage firm in great suffering, Help there, where innocence weeps, Eternally sworn oaths, Truth towards friend and foe, Mens’ pride before kings’ thrones -- Brothers, even if it costs property and blood, -- The crowns to those who earn them, Defeat to the lying brood!
Chorus Close the holy circle tighter, Swear by this golden vine: Remain true to the vows, Swear by the judge above the stars!
Escape the tyrants’ chains, Generosity also to the villain, Hope upon the deathbeds, Mercy from the high court! The dead, too, shall live! Brothers, drink and chime in, All sinners shall be forgiven, And hell shall be no more.
Chorus A serene departing hour! Sweet sleep in the shroud! Brothers—a mild sentence From the final judge!
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 10, 2007 17:21:06 GMT
The reason I want to do this experiment is because music speaks to us through emotion in ways that words alone can never do. In the last movement of Beethoven's 9th symphony there is an expression of universal brotherhood that connects to the core of our emotional being.
I believe it will allow us (even at great distances) to experience our brother/sisterhood in a powerful and meaningful way.
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 10, 2007 17:00:49 GMT
Bro. Leo,
It doesn't really matter. I was just giving Bro. Penfold a hard time. ;D
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 10, 2007 14:39:19 GMT
I'm going to take off my hat as a historian for a moment and make a wild unsubstantiated claim.
After listening to the 9th Symphony it's obvious that Beethoven was a Freemason.
Anyone who disagrees with me will be shot, drawn and quartered, and then shot again for good measure. ;-)
lol
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 10, 2007 0:15:26 GMT
If you have a couple of spare dollars and want to participate it should be quite interesting. Order or purchase a copy of Beethoven's 9th Symphony by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It's important that we all listen to the same version because different conductors play the piece differently. Even if you don't like classical this will be worth your time. I promise. Listen only to movement 4 (Presto; Allegro assai) and learn the lyrics in your native tongue. (They are in German on the CD). Try to sing along as best you can, even if you're not talented. I realize this may take a few weeks, if anyone will even try it. If there is a group that did it, let's discuss what impact it had on you and your perspective of Freemasonry. Beethoven was a Freemason and I think he wrote this piece just for us. :-) Fraternally, Jeff PS: Here's a link to it on Amazon www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphony-No-Donald-Gramm/dp/B000003FJS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197244876&sr=8-1
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 11, 2007 22:50:55 GMT
Bro. Penfold,
I've never been to Aruba before. It will be my first visit. I hear it's a beautiful place.
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 11, 2007 21:26:36 GMT
Bro. Leo, You were correct in your interpretation of me taking a break. My remark about the "Darwin Award" was related to the "Ancient Order of Aruba". There is no such thing as the Ancient Order of Aruba that is dedicated to drinking margaritas. It was meant to be silly. It reminds me of the time I said that I was starting the Church of Jose Cuervo that meets every Friday night at my place. Believe it or not, someone actually thought I was starting a new religion, when it was meant to be nothing more than so much silliness over drinking too many margaritas the night before. Do Masons not have a sense of humor? Doesn't anyone laugh anymore? Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 11, 2007 21:15:55 GMT
Bro. Leo,
I sincerely do plan to take a break from Freemasonry for awhile. I'm just burned out. Sometimes you have to just step away to gain a better perspective.
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 11, 2007 21:12:22 GMT
Anyone who didn't catch the tongue and cheek nature of my remarks about the Ancient Order of Aruba deserves a Darwin Award.
TWS,
Get a life dude! The last edit was made 3 minutes after it was originally posted. It was to fix a typo.
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 11, 2007 21:03:08 GMT
Freemasonry is like the Hotel California: "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."
Jeff
(Taken form the lyrics of "Hotel California" by The Eagles)
Ooooops! I better be careful what I say or next month I'll be starting a cult at the Hotel California! lol
The Grand Lodge of Ohio must be really desperate to come up with reasons why Halcyon handed in its Charter to be making such ridiculous claims.
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 11, 2007 20:50:42 GMT
Brothers and Sisters,
I just heard that Grand Lodge officers in Ohio told a lodge of Masons that I am moving to Aruba to start a cult. lol
They read my retirement post on this forum in open lodge as proof.
Actually, I'm going to Aruba for a week with my wife to attend a friend's wedding and to relax.
Apparently, they took my remark about "The Ancient and Honorable Order of Aruba" seriously. What a hoot!
If anyone has ever wondered about the average IQ of Grand Lodge officers, here is a great example.
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 8, 2007 3:51:33 GMT
Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for the many kind words. You're all welome to come party with me and the brothers in Aruba. It's a celebration of life and freedom.
2 Bowl Cain is a bother of the Wolf Pack and one my best friends. Horu ibis Set! Bro! :-)
Freedom, Peace and Brotherhood.
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 7, 2007 4:36:46 GMT
Over the past several years I've had many things to say and not all of them have been good, but I've always maintained that people need to be free to do what they feel is best for themselves. The American Masons now have a new Grand Orient and they're free to chart a new course for Freemasonry in the US. It's a confederation of sovereign lodges with a system of government where the Grand Master has very limited powers. If they're smart they'll keep it that way.
After 21 years of Freemasonry I feel it's time to give it a rest. I've had the good fortune to meet many good people and a few rotten apples along the way. The good always outweighed the bad or I would have never stayed and fought so hard for change.
Change is coming and American Masons will soon be free of all the petty politics. I can only hope that they will understand the value of a real brother/sisterhood, but that's up to them to figure out.
It's funny that in the end I had so very little say. lol
All the best. The Ancient and Honorable Order of Aruba awaits me. It's supposed to be better than Freemasonry. The members meet on white sandy beaches and sip Margaritas. I just hope they don't have anyone to tell me "we've always drank the Margaritas this way!" ;D
Jeff
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 8, 2007 15:23:36 GMT
"I know someone who could use a kind word today, from those he thought were his friends." tws You have all the friends you are willing to open your heart to. Not just you, my brother, but every person in the whole of creation. You're a wonderful person created with absolute perfection to serve your purpose in the chain of life. Join with us in harmony to sing this mighty song.
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 8, 2007 13:08:49 GMT
O friends, not these sounds! Let us sing something more pleasant, full of gladness.
Joy, thou source of light immortal, Daughter of Elysium! Touched with fire, to the portal, Of thy radiant shrine, we come. Your sweet magic, frees all others, Held in custom's rigid rings, Men throughout the world are brothers, In the haven of your wings.
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 8, 2007 4:18:54 GMT
The freedom of the individual to explore and learn is essential to the progress of Freemasonry and Freemasons.
The Light always overcomes the darkness. :-)
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Post by antoninus9 on Dec 6, 2007 3:19:28 GMT
Bro. John Ford just got an honorary membership in Lodge des Neuf Soeurs No.1!
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