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Post by Blackadder on May 24, 2007 12:40:14 GMT
I have been attending my Lodge for about one year. I do not know of any degrees where the WM has sat in the East during a degree. They try to involve everyone when doing degrees.I am the only officer who has not been the Master for at least one degree. We also are fortunate that we don't have to recycle PM's to fill the chairs. The GL of Florida states that the JW,SW & SD should sit in the East for at least one degree.
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Post by Blackadder on May 24, 2007 9:37:11 GMT
"in the East" means any time you sit in the WM chair,whether its to put on a degree or doing your year as WM.
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Post by Blackadder on May 24, 2007 3:14:53 GMT
I was SS at a FC degree last night,and was outside having a sly beer and the WM came right up to me and put his arm around me and asked me to sit in the East for the EA Degree in about 6 weeks. I am honored and shocked,I know I can do it but there is always that aspect of self doubt that keeps creeping in. ps. Ive only been a MM for 6 months.
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Post by Blackadder on May 22, 2007 17:55:06 GMT
All officers with the exception of the JD, SS & JS and elected even the WM is elected. The WM elect will be told tonight that he has no right to discuss what is going to happen next year regarding officers etc. He will also be told that his proposed move to bring in his "friend" as JW is a total non-starter,no matter how much smoke and mirrors and spin doctoring he uses.
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Post by Blackadder on May 21, 2007 12:40:52 GMT
I was informed today that the WM does not pick Senior or Junior Wardens,they are elected.The WM appoints the Senior Steward,Junior Steward,Junior Deacon,Chaplain and can appoint the Senior Deacon if the elections are held late.
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Post by Blackadder on May 20, 2007 23:36:26 GMT
giovanni & Edmund , to be honest I wouldn't call it a conspiracy because I don't think the WM in waiting and his side kick the Snr. Deacon have the brains to hatch such a scheme and I doubt if they actually know what conspiracy means.I think the WM to be is just trying to flex his muscles and bring in a few yes men.In fact they are called Bush & Cheney,you can work that out for yourself!. I just made a few phone calls and one of the senior Brothers is going to have a word about this whole thing to a very well respected Past Master who is going to be one of the head honchos at Grand Lodge next year.
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Post by Blackadder on May 20, 2007 20:06:48 GMT
I am the current Jnr. Steward ,the Jnr. Warden has left his office. I thought it was normal that all the officers moved up a station at the next elections,I believe thats the normal procedure and we will have a pro tem Jnr. Warden until the elections,and he would be a Past Master. The other evening when the Jnr.Warden left ,the Brother who will be Worshipful Master next year was canvasing a fellow Brother to step right into the Jnr. Wardens chair.The Brother who he wants to step in is one of the instructors and he instructs very well but he has never been to a regular lodge meeting in over five years and know no floor work at all. The WM in waiting says he wants the Jnr.Deacon to move to Snr. Deacon next year and the "new brother" to pass everyone and go to the South. He says the Brother who is getting by-passed should stay and do a full year as Snr. Deacon,I think its all smoke and mirrors to get one of his mates in line. I know the Jnr. Deacon will agree as he is pretty timid. I think the whole thing stinks and its totally un-Masonic. I think its a slap in the face for the Jnr. Deacon, Snr. Steward and myself. I would love to hear everyone opinions on this situation. My own view is that the next years WM does not want any of the younger Brothers advancing.I know for a fact the older Brothers are not happy at all the new Brothers coming through,as they don't get things there own way. Thanks in advance
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Post by Blackadder on Mar 3, 2007 15:15:21 GMT
After being Raised last December I was really looking forward to buying a ring , I didn't find anything I liked in US , so I asked my Mum in Scotland to have a look for me over there , she did find a very classy swivel ring, but thats not really what this post is about. My Grandfather who passed away just after Christmas,( he was 91) was a Mason, no one in my family has ever heard him talk about Freemasonry. I can always remember seeing his ring since I was a little boy.He wore it till the day he died.Deep down in my heart I wanted my Grandfathers ring but I didn't think it was right or my place to ask for it. Two weeks ago my Mum called me and asked if I wanted the ring as my Dad had it now,Dad said I could have it but it wasn't it sit in drawer and be forgotten.I was totally gobsmakked. I told my Mum that I always wanted the ring,she got angry because I didn't ask for it!!! Maybe its Karma/ fate ,who knows. Maybe someone can help me,this ring has a mysterious history.Its a rose gold ,swivel ring ,the initials on the rings are not my Grandfathers! It is hallmarked but very hard to read ,it is engraved on the inside 9th March 1936 and the initials M.S. - R.S., no one knows what the date means or who the initials are. My Mum spoke to the jeweler who repaired the ring and he said the ring might be an engagement ring from a girl to her Freemason Boyfriend who didn't have a Masonic ring. I feel very proud and horoured to wear my Grandfathers ring, not just because it was his ring ,but because its also a Masonic ring. ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Blackadder on Jan 13, 2007 13:32:09 GMT
I went to my Lodge on Thursday night,we are practicing for a EA degree. The new WM as there discussing Masonic Education with one of our PMs,who is one of the head honchos in Orlando,if you need to know anything he is the guy to go to.There was also talk of our own web site etc. The new WM has a lot of good ideas for the lodge,another Brother told me that when our new WM was SW he was always reading up on Masonic Education and always has nuggets of info for the Brothers. I also hear a few things mentioned about a couple of the officers might be stepping down because of work commitments,so it looks like I will have to get my act together and learn all the officers parts. So credit, where it is due , things seem to be looking up. ;D I had a little chat with the WM after our installation last Saturday.he wants me to sit in the East for one of the degrees this year!!!!!
I think our WM has a "cunning plan",and I'm looking forward to the rest of the year.
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Post by Blackadder on Jan 10, 2007 21:49:25 GMT
Thank you all very much for your thoughts on the matter.My lodge is very well thought of in Orlando.We have had Brothers visit from Scotland,South Africa and other US States,and the same Brothers come back and visit every year ,so someone must be doing something right. I was informed that my Lodge is one the very few that can hold degrees, and all the personnel are from my lodge. I was told by a visitor last week that our floor work is very good and everyone knew there parts. We have a few older Brothers who know every word in the Florida Code Book and the Masonic Monitor. I asked our new WM after the installation last Saturday about Masonic Education,he thought that was a good point and that I should have a word with the Senior Warden as he is in charge of Masonic Education,but to be honest I don't think he will be interested,but I will give it my best shot. A PM from New Jersey who is my neighbor and attends the Lodge with me,keeps asking the PM,s,what are we doing to get new "white apron" brothers,they just look at him if he is stupid. I think we get 4 or 5 new MM every year,I think most leave after they become a MM,I asked about this and all I get is blank looks. I don't have any plans to look for another Lodge at this moment in time but I will be traveling and visiting other lodges in Orlando. Thanks for the links,I had a look this morning but I will have a real good look at the weekend. Once again thank you all for you input.
"I think I have a cunning plan!!!......Where is Baldrick when you need him?"
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Post by Blackadder on Jan 10, 2007 3:05:00 GMT
I was Raised last November and was installed as Jr. Steward last week. I have attended a 4 stated meetings.I don't know if this is the norm but to date all I have heard in these meeting is Brothers complaining about the womens toilet not working,and we spent about twenty mins talking about the best way to pay the bills.All the Past Masters are introduced every meeting,and thats about it,There is nothing about Masonic education at all. I have been attending my lodge for close to one year and I have yet to hear any of the older Brothers discuss or even mention the meaning of anything involved in the three degrees. I have yet to return my proficiency in my Master Mason degree,the Brothers who are "teaching ",have little or no understanding of what they are teaching me.It all seems to be about repeating the examination and nothing else,understanding it doesn't even come into play.I was told you can get a silver card if you know all the examinations,question and answers for three degrees,whats the point if you don't know what you are talking about? I will give you an example.In the MM degree I was told twain meant twine as in a rope!!!! and its not tenets its tendons!!!! and the working tool of a MM is a trawl,and I have no idea what that is.There are a few other things that slip my mind. I'm very interested in hearing other Brothers thought on the subject of Masonic education and what does on at regular stated meetings.
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Post by Blackadder on Feb 19, 2008 1:34:56 GMT
At my Lodge I can only think of six Brothers who are not members of the Eastern Star. I know of three Lodges in the Orlando area who the floor in not the black and white tiles but the Eastern Star emblem. I asked a Brother "why did you join the Eastern Star?" he replied " so my wife can see what Im up to!", I replied "thats strange because I became a Freemason it get away from mine " ;D From what I see at my Lodge the Eastern Star has way too much clout,in fact a Lodge in Orlando sent the Eastern Star packing as they had had enough of them meddling in things at there lodge that was none of there concern.
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Post by Blackadder on Feb 18, 2008 21:49:05 GMT
and Styrofoam cups . Remember this is the south we are talking about. We are lucky that the Brothers wear shoes.
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Post by Blackadder on Feb 18, 2008 18:49:55 GMT
One thing the Brothers are encouraged to do (,bordering on pressurized ) is to join the Eastern Star!!! Even when the candidate in being interviewed it only takes a few minutes for the subject of your wife joining the Eastern Start be brought up.I would say 90% of the Brothers are in the Eastern Star,I was also told by a Past Master last year if I want to be the WM I would have to join the Eastern Star. have no idea why.
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Post by Blackadder on Feb 18, 2008 16:38:51 GMT
A group of Brothers from Scotland are coming to Orlando in May and are going to do a degree at out lodge,there will be no candidates etc.Its for the Brothers to see how it is done in Scotland. The thing I cant wait for is after the meeting /degree when the Scottish Brothers are served up food on disposable plates and forks and knives. And not a alcoholic drink in sight.It should be priceless.
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Post by Blackadder on Feb 18, 2008 13:42:22 GMT
Indeed so Bro Bettendorf, a well known Grand Lodge was formed in a Tavern (Pub) in London in 1717 and i don't suppose for one moment they drank Orange Juice! In Lodges in those days they actually ate and drank and smoked in the same room in which the Ceremonies were performed, some groups of Masons in England act out a Lodge Meeting of those days in full costume, well worth seeing! I personally feel that the Anglo-Saxon nations have a guilt complex about eating and drinking whereas the Latin peoples enjoy such experiences with no hang-ups. As for Prohibition, it is farcical that this failed social experiment , which did much to boost the fortunes of Gangsters and Organised Crime in the USA , still has its vestiges in some American Lodges where drinking alcohol is forbidden, indeed I have read on Masonic Fora such as this that some US Grand Lodges would expel a Brother were he to be found to work in the Liquor Trade! Over here in the UK many Masonic Halls have their own bar and alcoholic drinks can be bought by those who wish after the Meeting and drank at the Festive Board (Meal) afterwards. There is seldom any drunkenness or unruly conduct I can assure you. we also have many Brethren who manage Pubs or work in the Licensed Trade. I honestly feel that if American Blue (Craft) Lodges wish to prevent Brethren joining then leaving for the Shrine where one can enjoy an Alcoholic drink then they should abolish the ban on serving and drinking Liquor on their premises after the meetings. I agree 100% ,well said that Brother.
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Post by Blackadder on Feb 15, 2008 18:22:06 GMT
I have been told on many occasions that "if you want to have fun ,join the Shrine,this is a working Lodge" I have no intension of joining the Shrine,although the thought of a cold beer and a bratwurst does sound very appealing,Im going to stick with my "Blue Lodge" ;D
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Post by Blackadder on Nov 12, 2006 17:48:34 GMT
Thank you.
I was informed by our Senior Warden who is Lawyer,that alcohol is not permitted in any Blue Lodge in USA.I did some searching on the net and each GL has there own laws regarding alcohol. Its typical that I live in a state were you cant even have a beer at Lodge. Enjoy your beer after you meeting.
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Post by Blackadder on Nov 11, 2006 18:40:04 GMT
I arrived at the lodge,wearing dress trousers,black leather shoes,white shirt and tartan tie.The officers were all very smartly decked out in there uniforms,as were the Brothers from the lodge and the Brothers from other lodges. I was standing having a cup of coffee,when I noticed three guys walk in the room,the way they dressed I thought they had come to repair something. I was then told the two younger guys were to be raised along with myself.They were both wearing dirty jeans,one had work boots on and one had filthy hi-top sneakers/trainers.They had made no effort to wash there hair/shower etc.In fact one of the Brothers hands were filthy. I'm not a snob,but come on.In my opinion these Brothers showed no respect to the Fraternity,The Lodge or themselves.
I think its a shame and when its all over you cant stay and have a few drinks and a few toasts with your Brothers,sipping on a cup of coffee doesn't seem to cut it.Alcohol is not allowed in any Blue Lodge in Florida,which is a real shame. Once again its a case of Floridians not being responsible for there own actions and being treated like children,but thats a story for another time and another place. It was a real anti-climax to drive home ,when we should have been celebrating. When I got home,I had two beers went to bed and couldn't sleep,I relived the whole night over and over in my head. Those few minor blips failed to spoil my night,I had a fantastic time.
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Post by Blackadder on Nov 12, 2006 18:03:04 GMT
Maat.......Im not a Cobra but "I have a cunning plan" ;D ;D ;D
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