bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Dec 8, 2009 21:10:31 GMT
Ehh... I don't think I'd wanna see that... "Tolerance" does have its limits. I dunno - I say bring on the proto-simian Reptilian ape-chicks and let us decide for ourselves!
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Dec 8, 2009 21:07:50 GMT
Memorisation is to me a relic, a fond thing vainly invented, and should be allowed to die out. A relic yes, but not invented, it was a necessity at one point in our history. I'm no great fan of ritual memorisation, but I do feel it serves a valuable purpose. We aren't always able to carry our ritual book around to seek guidance - but we can always have the ritual 'playing' in our heads.
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Apr 15, 2009 16:46:19 GMT
I've experienced West End, Logic, Emulation & Sussex, also a Danish 3rd and an Illinois lodge open and close, the differences are quite minor, and tend to be more around how something is phrased or commented on - particularly within the various UGLE rituals, some use a more archaic form of phrasing, and their are floorwork differences, ie squaring/not squaring. The Danish one was spectacularly different but I couldn't understand a word of it as it was all in Danish, but the drama and ceremony was not diminished because of this and it was very easy to follow the degree through.
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Sept 4, 2008 11:35:39 GMT
Excellent! Will be good to see you and Mark again, plus anyone else I have met before in Copenhagen! Do you know how much time you will have?
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Aug 14, 2008 22:11:50 GMT
Did you know that the Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism of Sheffield University has a facebook group that is open to all? If you search for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism in Groups or use the link below you can find the page for the group and if it interests you join up. www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6830373917It's a very exciting time for the centre, Dr Andreas Önnerfors has recently taken over from Andrew Prescott, and is promising a very open and interesting program for the autumn. Hope this is the correct place for this, if not please feel free to move it!
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Aug 14, 2008 22:06:51 GMT
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Aug 10, 2008 23:20:38 GMT
Obituary: Isaac Hayes Hayes' theme for the movie Shaft in 1971 won him an Oscar US musician Isaac Hayes, who has died aged 65, achieved universal fame with what became his signature song, the theme from the 1971 movie Shaft.
With its pulsating hi-hat cymbals and funky wah-wah guitar, he created an urban soul-brother feel that transformed black music and paved the way for artists like Barry White and Millie Jackson.
His shaven-headed, bling-laden, ghetto chic look made him a black cultural icon.
Isaac Hayes was no overnight success. An orphan from a poor background in rural Tennessee where he was raised by his maternal grandparents, he taught himself to play the piano, organ and saxophone.
His big break came in nearby Memphis when he signed for the Stax label as a session musician in 1964. Hayes took over keyboards from Booker T Jones, and his first paid sessions were with Otis Redding.
In partnership with songwriter David Porter, he was responsible for such classics as Sam and Dave's Soul Man and Hold On I'm Coming.
His own work climaxed with his 1969 album Hot Buttered Soul, described by one critic as the most important black recording since James Brown's Live at the Apollo.
It contained only four songs including an 18-minute version of Jimmy Webb's By the Time I Get to Phoenix and an extended reworking of Burt Bacharach's, Walk On By.
Shaft
With his rich baritone voice, Isaac Hayes became a staple of late-night and FM radio and was a precursor to artists like Barry White and to rap music.
Isaac Hayes' theme for Shaft in 1971 won him an Oscar for best original song, and set the tone for numerous successive "blaxploitation" movies - the genre in the 1970s targeted at a US African-American audience.
In the same year, in a politically-charged era, Hayes's Black Moses album established him as a black leader, and he became actively involved in the campaign to promote black civil rights.
It was inevitable that as well as scoring films, he would act in them too. His first role came with the 1974 Truck Turner; he appeared in some 60 movies on TV and the big screen, the most recent being the horror flick Return to Sleepaway Camp.
Hayes was a major influence on the course of black music Alongside his film and musical career, Isaac Hayes became increasingly involved with humanitarian causes.
The 1990s saw him travel to the West African state of Ghana to shoot a video with Barry White. It was the first of many visits there during which he helped fund a school to help the spread of literacy.
He was made a Ghanaian king with the title Nene Katey Ocansey. In 2005, he married a Ghanaian woman - his fourth marriage. He has 12 children.
In 1993 he became involved with Scientology and within two years had established the Isaac Hayes Foundation aimed at increasing literacy across the globe.
There were accusations of hypocrisy levelled against him when, in 2006, he walked out of the irreverent TV cartoon series, South Park, in which he voiced the character of the Chef.
The character had been a popular one and he had reached No. 1 in the UK charts with his South Park single, Chocolate Salty Balls.
What upset him was an episode in which one of the central characters, Stan, does well in a Scientology test and is hailed as the successor to the church's founder, L Ron Hubbard.
It also suggested Scientology was a lot of bogus claptrap aimed at parting vulnerable and rich people with their money.
Isaac Hayes had been a Scientologist for some 13 years. He became involved in several Scientology-related initiatives including one to aid impoverished inner-city schools.
Aside from his charity work, he owned two restaurants and hosted a nightly five-hour radio show in Memphis.
But he'll be best remembered as a man who influenced the course of black music. ******************************************
Good musician in his day. Sad news
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Jul 22, 2008 12:42:50 GMT
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Jul 22, 2008 11:14:21 GMT
July 19 Reaching out and touching GIs Woman, grandchild have raised $6,500 at stores for phone cards for soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan. JOE KORBA editintern@timesleader.com Most people spend their Saturday shopping or heading to area parks to enjoy the summer weather. But, almost every Saturday, Susan Brandt and her 14-year-old granddaughter, Kristen Cirilo, pack up their patriotic pins, pens and flashlights and hit the stores – not to shop but to set up shop. As part of a program called “Change for Our Troops,” Brandt and Cirilo spend several hours every weekend collecting pocket change and selling patriotic items for $1 each to grocery store patrons. The money is used to buy phone cards for soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since they started doing this in February, they’ve raised more than $6,500. Brandt said her initial goal was to raise $2,500. “But things began rolling and I kept getting more ideas and the money kept coming in,” she said. “I never thought it would turn out like this.” The idea originated with Stephen Gardner, grand master of the Freemasons in Pennsylvania, who was moved when he heard about the demand for the phone cards among soldiers stationed overseas. The cards allow military men and women to call family and friends in the United States without worrying about running up a long-distance phone bill. Brandt was the first person to take the program outside of the Freemasons to the general public. She learned of the program from her husband, William, a Freemason. The statewide effort began in January and, as of June 30, has raised more than $87,000, which equals more than 1,500 phone cards. Brandt and Cirilo usually visit one store each weekend and have placed collection cans in local stores and restaurants. Their goal is to double the amount they’ve already raised by December. Gardner says he is “blown away” by Brandt’s contributions. According to the Pennsylvania Freemason’s Web site, phone cards with increments of 300 minutes are sent to the troops, the length of time it often takes soldiers in these remote locations to make calls home. “We never expected to experience this level of success. Change for the Troops is a grassroots program with members of the Freemasons promoting it,” Gardner said. “I feel so fortunate to be part of this great country and want to help.” Link to Times Leader StoryChange for the Troops webpageThe Grand Lodge of PennsylvaniaWith thanks to W Br Chris Hoddap's blogpage for bringing the story to my notice!
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on May 31, 2008 12:03:31 GMT
The two shops opposite FMH are Toye Kenning, and Central Regalia, both of which havent had them in stock for a while.
If you do track one down Bill that would be marvellous!
Yes, I could attempt to use Emulsion, however, the tuts from the back benches would drown out any speech!
I like Logic, it is a bit old fashioned, but it is wonderully logical!
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on May 30, 2008 18:42:29 GMT
I've misplaced my edition of my ritual book, have tried Toye Kenning, Central, Letchworths and others and have had no joy, have been told its out of print as well which isn't encouraging!
So, wanted, one Logic ritual book please!
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on May 11, 2008 19:20:22 GMT
Well, thats it for another season for the EPL, Man Utd lifting the title again, commiserations to Reading, Birmingham and Derby, and congratulations to Fulham for pulling off a survival battle and staying up. Now we just need to see who is going to be prmotoed to the premiership from the championship from the play offs, Stoke and West Brom already having qualified, Palace, Watford, Hull and Bristol City are the teams battling it out.
Oh, and good luck to Cardiff in the FA Cup final!
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Dec 3, 2007 21:06:49 GMT
Spoken like true masons - good on you brothers!
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Sept 5, 2007 14:19:01 GMT
A very stirring hymn!
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on May 17, 2006 21:24:07 GMT
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Dec 3, 2007 21:06:03 GMT
Photo now available. Badge is on right .. Cost £3.50 +1.00 p+p. tl169.co.uk/pin.jpgContact me by PM Thanks for your patience. Wow! they look very nice, how much are the cufflinks?
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Mar 29, 2007 22:06:50 GMT
Some interesting stuff. I do think that my understanding of the development of freemasonry changed a lot once I understood the development of the ritual - especially from pre UGLE to where we are now, in fact pre 19th Century really. Wolfy - if you don't subsrcribe to any masonic mags I can recommend the Square and Freemasonry Today, I've found them to be really good thought provoking publications.
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Jul 16, 2005 14:26:21 GMT
Very good jmd, a must read for all masons - no matter how long ago they were initiated.
Thank you.
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Jul 12, 2005 10:56:56 GMT
Thank you Bro Giovanni, this is my first attempt at writing an article/paper - it was done in a rush as I do not have much time at the moment, but we all have to start somewhere!
|
|
bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
|
Post by bod on Jul 5, 2005 16:04:44 GMT
Almost one of the first things we learn about freemasonry is that it is a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Taking each of these in turn, and with the assistance of Wikipedia. Morality is described as a system of principles and judgments based on cultural, religious, and philosophical concepts and beliefs, by which humans determine whether given actions are right or wrong. Morality is a subject that varies from country to country, and even within countries there will be differences, it expresses itself outwardly in the way the majority of the grouping in question. The morality that is within freemasonry, the basic lessons of morality as I view them, are almost a universally accepted code of conduct. There is nothing in the morality of freemasonry that wouldn’t be found on the statute books of most democratic countries. An allegory (from Greek áëëïò, allos, "other", and áãïñåõåéí, agoreuein, "to speak in public") is a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than and in addition to the literal. Through allegory a subject of a higher spiritual order is described in terms of that of a lower, which is made out to resemble it in properties and circumstances, the principal subject being so kept out of view that we are left to construe the drift of it from the resemblance of the secondary to the primary subject. An allegory does not have to be expressed in language: it may be addressed to the eye, and is often found in painting, sculpture or some form of mimetic art. Though it is similar to other rhetorical comparisons, an allegory is sustained longer and more full in its details than a metaphor, and appeals to imagination where an analogy appeals to reason. The fable or parable is a short allegory with one definite moral. The allegory has been a favourite form in the literature of nearly every nation. The Hebrew scriptures present frequent instances of it, one of the most beautiful being the comparison of the history of Israel to the growth of a vine in Psalm 80:19-17. In the Rabbinic tradition fully-developed allegorical readings were applied to every text, with every detail of the narrative given an emblematic reading, a tradition that was inherited by Christian writers, for whom allegorical similitude’s are the basis of exegesis, the origin of the arts of hermeneutics. The late Jewish and Early Christian visionary Apocalyptic literature, with its base in the Book of Daniel, presents allegorical figures, of which the Whore of Babylon and the Beast of Revelation are simply the most familiar. In classical literature two of the best known allegories are the cave of shadowy representations in Plato's Republic (Book VII) and the story of the stomach and its members in the speech of Menenius Agrippa (Livy ii. 32); and several occur in Ovid's Metamorphoses. In Late Antiquity Martianus Capella organized all the information a 5th-century upper-class male needed to know into an allegory of the wedding of Mercury and Philologia, with the seven liberal arts as guests, an allegory that was widely read through the Middle Ages. In the late 15th century, the enigmatic Hypnerotomachia, with its elaborate woodcut illustrations, shows the influence of themed pageants and masques on contemporary allegorical representation. Allegory has always been with us, it is a traditional art of the human spirit, the ability to impart a teaching or to convey a message without explicitly doing so. Through the allegory of the ritual, the words, the actions, we become familiar with the underlying moral lessons, the words we first hear as candidates make very little sense the first time round, by becoming more familiar with them, we start to understand what is being hinted at. Why use allegory? Allegory is a way of communicating in a largely religious society which sees history and nature as charged with hidden divine meanings that can be revealed to a studious, attentive reader. There are three main justifications for allegory: - to convey moral truths in a pleasing form
- to conceal ideas from the vulgar and reveal them only to the deserving few; sometimes called the "nut and kernel" approach, the reader must work hard to extract or unlock the hidden meaning
(in Matthew 13:10-17, when Jesus's disciples asked him why he spoke in parables, he answered "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. . . . Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. . . . But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear")
- to say things that are otherwise inexpressible
Then we come to the last one. A symbol can be a material object whose shape or origin is related, by nature or convention, to the thing it represents: for instance, the cross is the main symbol of Christianity, and the scepter is a traditional symbol of royal power. A symbol can also be a more or less conventional image (i.e. an icon), or a detail of an image, or even a pattern or color: examples include , the olive branch in heraldry which represents peace, the halo is a conventional symbol of sainthood in Christian imagery, tartans are symbols of Scottish clans, and the color red is often used as a symbol for socialist movements. Symbols can also be immaterial entities like sounds, words and gestures, such as the wardens gavels in reply, and there is also the 'symbolic penalty' alluded to in each degree. Symbols can be interpreted in different ways, and this can make it a turbulent area of discussion, but it is sometimes helpful to have someone elses eyes to look through.
|
|