ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Sept 12, 2005 3:44:39 GMT
Aequanimity and constructive engagement
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Aug 12, 2005 10:37:25 GMT
A long overdue book in the " ... for Dummies" series ??!
======================
"Book Description
"At last, a plain-English guide to Freemasonry–the secret society that's reportedly at the center of Dan Brown's forthcoming novel The Solomon Key
"With Freemasonry featured prominently in The Da Vinci Code as well as the hit movie National Treasure, it's no wonder that more and more people are curious about this ancient organization, and interest is sure to intensify when Dan Brown's new blockbuster appears. This eye-opening guide demystifies Freemasonry, explaining the organization's origins in medieval Europe, its philosophy and purpose, and, of course, the elaborate rituals, secret signs, and cryptic symbols that set Freemasonry apart from other fraternal orders. The book profiles famous Freemasons throughout historyæincluding many of America's Founding Fathers as well as prominent politicians and business leadersæand offers a balanced assessment of the many controversies and conspiracy theories that continue to swirl around Freemasonry. For anyone who wants an evenhanded overview of Freemasonry's past, present, and future, this guide is the key.
"Christopher Hodapp (Indianapolis, IN) is a Mason who has traveled extensively reporting on Masonic practices in Great Britain, France, and elsewhere. He is currently a Past Master and a Master of his lodge. Hodapp edits the lodge newsletter and has written for the Grand Lodge magazine, the Indiana Freemason."
Product Details
* Paperback: 384 pages * Publisher: For Dummies (September 19, 2005) * Language: English * ISBN: 0764597965
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Aug 3, 2005 22:46:29 GMT
Lodges in KL all meet at one location at Dewan Freemason, 213 Jalan Tun Razak, a main semicircular thoroughfare (middle ring road). The US Embassy is nearby on the opposite side of the road. This location is on the eastern side. See near the eastern edge of the map at www.jkr.gov.my/jln/piarc99/kl.jpg (click to enlarge), to the east-south-east of Petronas Twin Towers. You will have a most warm welcome. If you telephone a Lodge secretary well beforehand, you might even be collected from your hotel, in my experience. Look up Dewan Freemason in the telephone book. The Scottish Lodges may be seen at www.mmserve.com/dglme/ There is an email address listed there. English Lodges in the SE Asia region have a web site at www.dglea.org/For Irish Lodges see www.irish-freemasons.org/overseas.htm#Overseas
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Aug 2, 2005 0:13:30 GMT
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Aug 3, 2005 9:04:03 GMT
Giovanni I believe that is correct. The blazing star should be in the ceiling until the 3rd degree when it descends into the floor. So when it is in the floor, how many points to the East? Cheers Russell Two - in South Australia and Northern Territory. In rituals derived from post 1813 England the star in the pavement and the indented border are explained during the TB lecture of the First degree.
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Aug 2, 2005 0:48:26 GMT
I have seen several old Masonic chairs that depicted various emblems including the sun and the moon. AN outstanding example id the Bucktrout chair at Colonial Williamsburg in the USA. Here is an image of the chair - I can just imagine three lesser lights being explained, with the WM sitting in such a chair. There is an article about this and other chairs at www.cwf.org/Foundation/journal/spring03/chairs.cfmRichard
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Jul 28, 2005 9:20:15 GMT
How many layers of management ARE there in UGLE?
On ther face of it, there seems to be considerable decentralisation in UGLE. But this may be more apparent than real.
After all, over the past 150 or so years there have been many breakaways from UGLE, Ireland and Scotland, with formation of independent Grand Lodges in various parts of the former Empire. In the early days, such breakaways tended to occur because the periphery felt neglected by London, or because the local Ruler was responsible to London and not to the locals.
Richard
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Aug 3, 2005 23:20:30 GMT
If you read my post again Taylorsman, you will find that I did say that I understand that although most Research Lodges follow the Authentic School. there is to the best of my knowledge, an Esoteric Research Lodge which advertised in the "Square" I think you might be referring to the Dormer Masonic Study Circle. See a web site at web.onetel.com/~kenpeacock/ or another at www.mackaos.com.au/Masonry/Dormer.htmlContact postal address in the UK - BM Dormer London WC1N 3XX UK
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Jul 28, 2005 9:26:07 GMT
I read the paper written by Lord Northampton, Pro GM. I Could you please give a source (eg URL) for the paper by the Pro GM? Thanks Richard N
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Jul 23, 2005 13:50:23 GMT
In 2003 there was consecrated in Dublin the Oracle Lodge No. 1003, whose stated purpose is "to meet the needs of Brethren who wish to pursue the deeper allegoric and symbolic meaning of Freemasonry through research, ritual and fraternal companionship. We encourage each member to pursue his Masonic journey with us, in our quest for truth and understanding." Read more at www.oraclelodge1003.net/
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on May 21, 2007 12:50:11 GMT
G ~ different strokes for different folks... In Scotland and Ireland it has a specific meaning to Installed Masters, and is probably the custom in USA due to their generally following the line of the Antients, rather than the Moderns.
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Jul 23, 2005 13:54:09 GMT
In Irish Freemasonry the G is resticted to Past Masters, for esoteric reasons. You would need to attend an Irish Lodge Installation to discover why.
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Aug 2, 2005 0:21:35 GMT
I enjoyed reading the post written by my friend Bro Rashied of New York. Here is a small introduction to the history of the two all-female Grand Lodges of England - OWF and HFAF. Note mention of the statement issued by UGLE in March 1999. =========== A 1973 paper, "The Traditional History of The Order of Women Freemasons" - An Illustrated Lecture by Bro. Irene Peters, S.W. Lodge Anwyl No. 256 is available online, and makes for interesting reading. The OWF was founded in March 1908 as The Honourable Fraternity of Antient Masonry by Co-Masons who were unhappy with governance by a 33 degree Council rather than a Grand Lodge. Initially the Fraternity contained male and female members in three lodges. The first Grand Master was male. The history goes on to relate: "experience taught that it was desirable that men wishing the benefit of Masonic initiation should seek it within the ranks of the United Grand Lodge of England or the Grand Lodge of Scotland and so the initiation of men ceased.. But our women founders agreed that it would be ungrateful, in view of their past services to the Order to ask the one or two remaining men original founder members to retire, and they remained within the Order until their death."In 1912 the founding Grand Master retired and was replaced by a female, MW Bro. Marion Lindsay Halsey, who served until 1927. The remainder of the article can be read at www.brad.ac.uk/webofhiram/?section=order_women_freemasons&page=traditional_history.html This web site was started by the well known Masonic author Bro. Dr Robert Lomas. Another female order of Freemasons was founded in England in 1913, taking the name of The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons. This breakaway occurred as the OWF was unwilling at that stage to sanction formation of Royal Arch Chapters. HFAF and OWF have continued as separate bodies since. A statement issued by the Board of General Purposes of the United Grand Lodge of England on 10th March 1999 makes for interesting reading: "There exist in England and Wales at least two Grand Lodges solely for women. Except that these bodies admit women, they are, so far as can be ascertained, otherwise regular in their practice. There is also one which admits both men and women to membership. They are not recognised by this Grand Lodge and intervisitation may not take place. There are, however, discussions from time to time with the women's Grand Lodges on matters of mutual concern. Brethren are therefore free to explain to non-Masons, if asked, that Freemasonry is not confined to men(even though this Grand Lodge does not itself admit women). Further information about these bodies may be obtained by writing to the Grand Secretary. The Board is also aware that there exist other bodies not directly imitative of pure antient Masonry, but which by implication introduce Freemasonry, such as the Order of the Eastern Star. Membership of such bodies, attendance at their meetings, or participation in their ceremonies is incompatible with membership of this Grand Lodge."The HFAF web site may be seen at www.hfaf.org/Men are not permitted to visit OWF or HFAF Lodges, and intervisitation between OWF and HFAF Lodges is not permitted. The HFAF web site does state that "informal contact is always possible." Richard
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Mar 29, 2005 0:01:04 GMT
Very sensible indeed! I commend your Grand Master and his cohorts. Our Grand Lodge is rather more democratic than that! The motion was submitted for consideration along with others. Some were lost, some passed. The Board of Management of Grand Lodge then considers the Conference results and is tasked to bring resolutions into effect. The Annual Conference is thus rather like a meeting of shareholders. In my jurisdiction all MMs and above are members of the Association commonly known as "Grand Lodge" The above is getting off topic but is posted for information. Richard N
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Mar 28, 2005 21:07:43 GMT
.... I feel that these abstruse and often pedantic recognition issues go against the SPIRIT of "Freemasonry Universal" even if they are in accordance with the Letter of the Laws. It is for that sort of reason that the following motion was passed at the 2001 annual conference of my Grand Lodge: " Discretion when visiting lodges of other jurisdictions. [/u] "This Conference recommends that if a member of the Association visits a Lodge of a jurisdiction which is recognized by the Association, and there encounters a visitor (lawfully present in the Lodge) who belongs to a jurisdiction not recognized by the Association, the said member should be permitted, at his discretion, to remain in the Lodge he is visiting and fraternally associate with that visitor from an unrecognized jurisdiction on the occasion of that visit to the Lodge. "
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Mar 28, 2005 13:15:53 GMT
I am not a member of an UGLE Lodge, but I have been able to visit in Ireland, Italy, England, Scotland, Canada, USA, SE Asia and Hong Kong.
It is against Masonic protocol to contact a foreign Lodge whilst you are still in your home country or jurisdiction - in this case you should make contact via the Grand Secretary. This applies to email contact as well as conventional mail.
You should ascertain that the foreign jurisdiction is recognised by your home Grand Lodge. This information should be available from your Lodge secretary, or you might check the "foreign links" section of the UGLE web site (assuming it contains current information).
Provided the foreign Grand Lodge is in amity with your home GL, it is permissible to make contact once you are on the territory of that foreign GL.
You should carry your MM certificate. It is also wise to carry a recent summons of your Lodge, and a receipt for subscription to show you are financial (this is more important in the USA). It might also help to have a letter of introduction from your Lodge which can be signed by the Secretary. Some Grand Lodges provide a "Masonic passport" which contains a certificate from the Lodge secretary on one side, plus a passport photo, and a reduced photocopy of the MM certificate on t'other side.
You should be prepared to "prove" that you are a MM. In the USA as part of the process of "proving" you might be asked for the "due guard" - unknown in Emulation style Freemasonry for various reasons. So you can flummox your examiners like I always delight in doing by saying that the DG is unknown to you.
I have had great enjoyment from visiting lodges in different jurisdictions, and have been privileged to be allowed to deliver ritual on several occasions during degree workings, in Italy, Canada and USA. This can be a "hearing the pin drop" situation, due to a combination of different words, postures, accent and (sometimes) additional WTs (I carry a ch.... about with me).
In Canada I have been especially privileged on two occasions, by going through a ceremony unknown in Australia in one meeting ("passing the chair") and taking part in a First Peoples smoking ceremony on another occasion, in company with the Grand Master of that province!
I think my general suggestions above will be acceptable, but if I am mistaken I feel sure I will soon be put right on this list!
Richard N
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Mar 25, 2005 18:46:35 GMT
You might be interested to read of the Australian Catholic Knights of the Southern Cross working together with Freemasons (and others) in the "Working Tools for Timor" program in the state of Victoria in Australia. See www.cathnews.com/news/312/85.php and also www.etan.org/et2003/november/23-30/26studnt.htm [ if the link is broken please use tinyurl.com/58pfz ] To continue the "good news" theme, I am informed that the Salesian Order may be working with Australian Freemasons on a Tsunami project in India later in 2005.
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Mar 25, 2005 18:57:42 GMT
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Mar 28, 2005 12:51:19 GMT
Chris,thanks for your opinion.I am a person who says what he thinks. The article needs some tidying up but i have entered it in Bills UK forum competition to see what further reaction i get. I am unaware of what you term "Bill's UK Forum". Where may this be found please? Richard N
|
|