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Post by windtimber on Dec 7, 2008 20:50:47 GMT
My comments are based on Freemasonry in the United States so there may be other allusions elsewhere. The piece consists of emblems of various Masonic orders or groups.
Obviously the square and compasses in the center start everything off as symbols of Blue Lodge or Craft Masonry. Both the square and the compasses, as well as the letter "G" in the center thereof, have symbolic meanings which you will learn should you ever become a Freemason.
The double headed eagle is from the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite. Since it is above and included in both the right and left portions of the medallion, I believe the four smaller symbols, two to the right and two to the left of the double headed eagle, are representative of various portions, or degrees, of the Scottish Rite. If you join the Scottish Rite you'll learn what they particularly represent. They can also be representative of certain portions of the American York Rite but considering the arrangement and the prominence of the double headed eagle, they must refer to the Scottish Rite in this instance.
The scmitar, crescent, and star are from the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. They all have varioius meanings which you will learn should you become a Shriner.
So, your grandfather belonged to a Masonic Lodge [the square and compasses], was a member of the Scottish Rite [the double headed eagle], and was a member of the Shrine [the scmitar, crescent, and star].
Hope this helps you in your inquiries.
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Post by windtimber on Dec 7, 2008 2:07:44 GMT
From Nemo, the fish, we learn that all drains lead to the sea.
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Post by windtimber on Dec 7, 2008 2:03:51 GMT
Just wondering how some of you pronounce a few of these words: Rosicrucian Rose Croix Quatuor Coronati Gnosticism Rite Ecossais Rectifee Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia Hermes Trismegistus Gematria Enoch Try spelling them phonetically as you'd say them. OK, I'll give this a go. But, keep in mind our state capital is Pierre which is pronounced "Peer," the western city of Bell Fourche is pronounced "Bell Foosh," a famous mining town named Lead is pronounced "Leed," and the river dividing the state is the "Miz-ur-ee." Now that I think about, the last one is perfectly alright, isn't it? Rosicrucian - Rose-a-crewshun Rose Croix - Rose Croy Quatuor Coronati - Kwa-ter Kor-o-naughty Gnosticism - Nostasism Rite Ecossais Rectifee - Pass! Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia - English Rose-a-crewshun Society Hermes Trismegistus - Her-mee's Tris-mee-gist-us Gematria - Gem-ah-tree-ah Enoch - E-knock [Or U-nuk if you're not reading carefully!]
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Post by windtimber on Nov 22, 2008 19:37:24 GMT
If I say something in the forest and my wife is not there to hear it, does she still think whatever I said is wrong?
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Post by windtimber on Aug 29, 2008 4:16:18 GMT
Yeah, I posted our link something like 3 years ago. We got our own domain name a while back so I figured a new notice was in order... resurgam.org/Thanks!
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Post by windtimber on Jun 29, 2008 13:11:18 GMT
Mine was visited upon me by my 2 oldest children after they learned of a certain colloquialism used by turn of the 20th Century lumberjacks in Northern Wisconsin. They deemed the handle appropriate based upon certain physiological proclivities. Now with that hint...you guys figure it out!
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Post by windtimber on May 26, 2008 18:35:06 GMT
Gold ring with dark blue synthetic stone. S & C set in the center in gold. Wear it on my RH, 5th finger.
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Post by windtimber on May 19, 2008 16:59:20 GMT
Brother Charles - a/k/a cemab4y - BINGO! Your post hits the nail right on the head. By wandering around and just trying things Resurgam Lodge hit most of what your post listed. The response of the new and the "seasoned" brothers has been uniformly positive.
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Post by windtimber on May 14, 2008 15:32:33 GMT
How about that! Another South Dakotan - celticgladiator! I trust that you've had the same experience with El Riad, and the Shrine in general out here on the prairies, that I've had. We recognize that we're all Master Masons and evey time we put on the fez we're symbolically tying the apron of MM about our waists. The relationship between the Blue Lodge, the Rites, and the Shrine is good - dare I say spectacular - in our area. Since a rising tide raises all boats, we all work together for the benefit of Freemasonry in general.
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Post by windtimber on May 4, 2008 1:31:52 GMT
We did "bio nites" for a while and they were well received. Brother A gets assigned to present a short biography of Brother B during lodge. We had guys visit with spouses and relatives and friends and they had a gas unearthing things to do a little good-natured biographical ribbing. You can do a couple brothers each lodge night.
Put the lodge at ease and if you have a VCR/DVD go to the lounge or dining room and show a short masonic film for discussion. Then reconvene to close.
Got a piano player? Sing. The brothers will be off key and self concious at first, then they'll surprise you with their energy.
Any brothers ever travel to unusual places - or maybe even have a good fishing trip? Have them show slides from their trip and do a short travelogue.
Have a hobby night...bring in samples of woodworking, stamp collections, water colors, etc. You might be surprised to find out what some of your brothers do in their spare time.
Do a "readers' theater" using Carl Claudy's masonic plays. No need to memorize parts, just get the script to the participating brothers, have them sit in the center of the lodge and dramatically read the script.
Take a field trip. Meet at the lodge, load up into brothers' cars and head over to a nearby lodge and visit during their stated meeting. Bet you'll get them to come over the next month to yours!!
Have a progressive cribbage tournament. We did eliminations after lodge for about 3 months and some brothers we hadn't seen for years starting showing up to get in the games. Everyone put in $5 to start and I think the final winner got about $75.
Not necessarily on lodge night, but get a TV, run in cable, and have baseball or football night on Monday, or whenever. Just get some warm bodies in the place now and then. Funny, they start coming back to lodge! We also acquired a license from the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation and show movies 1 or 2 nights a month and invite the brothers, spouses, and their kids. Bring your own refreshments and have a nice evening. Those guys are coming to lodge, too, and their families are having fun as well on movie night.
Remember...DO NOT DO THESE THINGS JUST ONCE! You might get zero response, or very low response, the first time. Do it again and again. Then it starts catching on. We've - borrowing a line for Christopher Hodap - been boring our members to death for years. So long that many members think meetings are supposed to be dull as dust. Liven them up, and pretty soon folks start getting the idea, come up with new ideas, and things come around.
Also remember - NO IDEA IS A BAD IDEA. No matter how stupid an activity sounds, do it. At least your DOING SOMETHING. And an activity that only garners 1 person is better than not doing anything...that gets nobody!
Good Luck!
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Post by windtimber on Apr 26, 2008 19:05:36 GMT
Firstly I would stop dating the girls you mention in another thread.... Got to be honest matt your posts conflict each other and I am not sure you are on the level. Well she cheated on me first. We both know the relationship isn't working so we both have been trying to look for a better match. I know she has dated other men and she knows I have dated other women. But despite that I still run back to her because I love her better than the girls I have tried to date and she runs back to me because I think I am better than the guys she dated. . YIKES! You better both dump each other, don't look back, and start over fresh with somebody new. This ain't healthy and it isn't going to get better. That's based on (1) well over a quarter century of handling divorces and other domestic relations disputes in court and (2) just under 30 years marriage to the same lovely lady.
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Post by windtimber on Apr 14, 2008 15:13:25 GMT
In 1908 the Grand Lodge of South Dakota conducted the cornerstone ceremony for the South Dakota State Capitol building in Pierre. We'll be re-enacting the ceremony on June 20, 2008, in a centennial celebration at the State Capitol. That's right in the middle of the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge - so you can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Grand Lodge is in Mitchell. The State Capitol is 155 miles away in Pierre. Motorcoaches will leave Mitchell for Pierre and back early on Friday morning, June 20. Oh, by the way, it's pronounced "Peer" or "Pier," not "Pee-Air." Just didn't want to the locals laughing at your expense!
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Post by windtimber on Jan 18, 2008 22:51:29 GMT
Windtimber, came across a Crop Circle book where they had lots of info on the US circles. Many, many more than I expected and some were in snow. Will do some homework and get a little list going for you. The book is 'old' now published in 1999 from memory, but it will be something for you to follow up on if you are interested. Maat Thank you very much. Have to say that I'm most partial to the "blokes with boards" explanation of things...but one never knows.......
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Post by windtimber on Jan 10, 2008 16:26:46 GMT
Irresponsibly delaying the inevitable need to attack the pile of work on my desk, I've been gazing out the window at the snow covered landscape. Then it struck me...with snow on the ground for several months of the year, how come the orbs, aliens, natural [or unnatural] forces, or whatever they are never create designs in the snow? Or, maybe they do and I've just never heard about it?
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Post by windtimber on Dec 18, 2007 4:02:29 GMT
well just take a look at the first post in this thread. i posted some pics that show an eery similarity to the landscape of mars that cannot be explained away by coincidence. also there is stonehenge and some other things that suggest this was a place that was very important to the ainchent cultures of that place. OK, I'll take your word on the first post. I tried reading it and, no offense, but I just got horribly confused. That's my problem and nobody else's! The pictures Maat directed us to are interesting...note the one from Dodgeville, WI, where the farmer said he saw the things being developed in a rain/wind storm. I have seen some weird blowdowns in corn and waconia cane fields...but, admittedly, nothing so symmetrical and seemingly intentional as the UK [and Ohio] circles. Now, Stonehenge and other places important to ancient cultures...maybe that does have something to do with it. Then again, there's old stuff everyplace...but crop circles seem to be fairly unique to the UK. Or at least most noticeable in the UK. Again, no offense, but that kind of takes me back to the "blokes with boards" comments made a ways up the string! Other than the guy in Wisconsin, has anybody ever seen these things being made [Excluding the made for TV hoaxsters, that is!]?
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Post by windtimber on Dec 14, 2007 23:55:50 GMT
Interesting stuff these crop circles.
Not wanting to be a wet blanket here, but we've got zillions of acres of corn, wheat, rye, oats, soybeans, and grain sorghum all around here, and nary a crop circle - that I've ever heard of anyway - in the more than 5 decades I've been around. What does the rural UK have that the rural US doesn't?
Just wondering.
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Post by windtimber on Aug 26, 2007 13:55:00 GMT
Well, we're all entitled to our own opinions, aren't we?
Apparently my problems in life stem from the fact that when I stumble across an aggravated rattlesnake I tend to shoot it rather than realize it is related to my real creator. Guess I've been well duped, because when I've been in the far Arctic north, admittedly not at but relatively close to the Pole, I've (1) never seen a guard and (2) never seen a hole emitting sunlight.
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Light
May 5, 2006 15:48:08 GMT
Post by windtimber on May 5, 2006 15:48:08 GMT
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Post by windtimber on Oct 15, 2006 13:44:13 GMT
So, how do these things work? If I was interested in starting a new hobby would I have to learn how to pour metal, run my own backyard foundry, or do you just strike some kind of stock pot metal blank? Like I have the time. But maybe someday if I change my retirement plan from the "work until I die" model....
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Post by windtimber on Nov 25, 2006 23:57:58 GMT
I have no expertise in Lakota whatsoever. Remembering that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, I think "tonka" is large, big, or great. American Bison - buffalo - is t'tonka or tatonka. I welcome clarification/correction by anyone who really knows the language and culture.
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