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Post by William Murray on Jan 21, 2005 23:19:40 GMT
Hello Lee,
I sent you an email tonight my friend, hope it helps?
Regards
William
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 21, 2005 23:34:38 GMT
Wills,thank you i have just sen it and it will be in the next issue of the magazine.
It just goes to show what help and assistance can be provided by brothers acting collectively and most of this credit goes to Bob Mr Mason .
Can i have permission to paste your e mail here ??
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 21, 2005 23:36:04 GMT
Wills,Mr mason we will need regular updates on the progress of your future initiation in the GLOS
her edo you expect it will be ?and i hope bOb will make it there to report back top us all.?
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Post by William Murray on Jan 21, 2005 23:41:03 GMT
Hello Lee,
Of course you can and I am eternally grateful to Bob for all he has done for me to date, when I first spoke to Bob he put my mind at rest immediately.
Regards
William
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Post by mrmason on Jan 22, 2005 7:46:38 GMT
stop it, you pair i'm going red in the face again ;D
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 22, 2005 8:50:57 GMT
Wills wrote :
Title - Plucking up the courage
For a number of years now I have longed to become a Freemason, (16 years) to be precise! My journey first started when I was 18 years old and I enquired to a friend who I knew to be a Mason, however it soon became apparent that I was too young at the age of 18, especially since my father wasn't in the craft back home in Scotland. Some three years later when I became 21, I thought about enquiring about the craft again, however I decided the time wasn't right (financially and emotionally), my now wife Heather and I had just married the year before and we had planned to have a family, our son Liam's now almost 13. If I'm honest with myself, I never gave Freemasonry much of a thought throughout Liam's early years, in fact not until he was 8 years old and we had moved down south to live in Milton Keynes I started to consciously think about Freemasonry again. When I think back to this time I'm not even sure what sparked my interest again? up to this point family affairs quite rightly always came first, and I guess Freemasonry was always in the back of my mind. Once settled in Milton Keynes I became interested once again in Freemasonry and with the magic of the World Wide Web I started researching. I discovered a few forums and read what Freemasons and non-Freemasons had to say about the Craft. I met and befriended a few Freemasons between work and social circles in Milton Keynes, however since I never knew them that long I always felt too shy to ask "The question", and felt embarrassed in case they were to think I perhaps befriended them for one thing. I had over the past few years followed a Freemasonry Forum over the World Wide Web and always had the intention of posting questions asking for advice on how to approach my friends in Milton Keynes, however I never had the courage to ask "The question". I had up to this point registered 4 accounts on the forum in anticipation to post just the one question I had wanted to ask for so many years, each time though I lost confidence and forgot the details I had registered, hence the reason for registering 4 more accounts over the past few years. Towards the end of last year I was waiting for the right time to ask my Piping tutor "The question", however when I discovered he had been diagnosed with cancer I felt devastated and could not approach him, his health was far more important. I kind of knew just prior to this that my family and I were to move back home to a different town than our home town in Scotland from England and that I feared not knowing anyone to ask "The question" and being on the outside of Freemasonry for a number of years again was about to dawn on me. December 2004 I "finally" shared my thoughts on a Freemasonry forum, for me to post the question I wanted to ask on this forum took me about 3 years! I must say I was pleased by the supportive replies and encouraged by the advice, especially from staffs, who I now know to be Lee Stafford (I hope to call you brother Lee Stafford soon). Lee provided me with valuable advice and gave me the confidence to enquire further, Lee provided an invaluable contact on his Forum who in turn has provided priceless advice and is helping me with my application. I long to start my Masonic journey this year, I had been shy in not approaching anyone in the Craft to express my desire to start my journey for years, I'd advise anyone in the same position to just ask, you will be welcomed. William Murray
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Post by leonardo on Jan 22, 2005 10:32:27 GMT
Will,
I'm very touched by your story. Thank you for sharing it.
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 22, 2005 10:41:53 GMT
Leo,
Whereby of course you are far from shy for asking the question. And one of your qualities
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bod
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Post by bod on Jan 22, 2005 11:13:05 GMT
Wills Great mail - glad that the forums have served their purpose. I look forward to hearing that the date for your initation has been set - you never know we may even charter a plane and fly up there!
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 22, 2005 11:56:25 GMT
It just goes to show what a powerful tool the internet is and because of the forums and e mail it has been possible to bring together brotjhers to share an evenings company visiting lodges and by doing so charity has benefiitted from raffles and alms where by contributions would be much less.and also for potential candidates to find a stepping stone/platform from which to start the journey.
I wonder if UGLE realise just what a powerful tool this is and in my opinion is a new working tool of a freemason.Anyone care to write a description of this working tool.
Ill start.
The internet teaches us ..........
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bod
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Post by bod on Jan 22, 2005 12:17:37 GMT
How 'bout this - snaffled from elsewhere:
THE WORKING TOOLS OF AN E-MASON
I now present to you the working tools of an E-Mason
They are the mouse....
the keyboard... and the modem.....
The mouse is to move within the desktop, the keyboard to input the data, and the modem to publish the data into cyber space.
But as we are not, however, Here assembled as Computer Nerds, but rather as Operative or E-Masons, and to us these tools that are downloaded as vehicles of moral significance and to show us the meaning of E-Masons.
And thus we apply them -
The mouse teaches us to keep within the bounds of the screen.
A square wherein which we must all meet.
The Keyboard to show us that communication will lead us to a better understanding to each other and the rest of mankind.
And the Modem to teach us that even when we are alone on the most remote part of the globe, we may meet and gain moral sustenance from each other and thus learn more of the wonderful works of our Ancient and Honorable Fraternity.
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Post by middlepillar on Jan 22, 2005 12:22:13 GMT
Will Lovely Post, I wish you well in your journey and I know with Bob offering advice you will not take any wrong turns And Lee I know you wont like this, but you have yet again done this Forum proud by your quick and thoughtful actions. Well done.
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Jan 22, 2005 12:24:18 GMT
Gush
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Post by 724mason on Jan 22, 2005 15:37:05 GMT
Bill Murray, I am so happy that things have worked out for you. Please, keep us apprised of your journey.
Yours Aye,
Bill
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Post by William Murray on Jan 22, 2005 17:14:43 GMT
Many thanks for everyones kinds words Bob and Lee, I owe you both a Large dram ;D Regards William
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Post by leonardo on Jan 22, 2005 19:53:47 GMT
Leo, Whereby of course you are far from shy for asking the question. And one of your qualities Thanks Lee
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