imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Aug 29, 2007 0:58:50 GMT
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jmd
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Post by jmd on Aug 29, 2007 2:57:19 GMT
So basically what we have in some populated locations are a number of Lodges that permit individuals of either gender to be initiated, and then for those individuals of either gender to be able to visit all Lodges in the area, irrespective of membership.
Of course, many areas have neither the population nor feasible distances for such, especially as often those are precisely the areas where women tend to be excluded from membership altogether. This is where enlightened acceptance needs to be permitted by an otherwise GL ruling that prevents a local Lodge from even being permitted to consider a woman candidate.
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Post by lauderdale on Aug 29, 2007 4:29:42 GMT
Devoutfreemason. I can echo much of what you say, my experiences since converting to Co-Masonry are very similar.
Bro Karen, I like this open approach of cooperation rather than competition . If someone approached me with a view to becoming a Freemason then after discussion I would direct them towards the branch which I felt suited them best be it Co-Masonry, Malecraft or Women Only.
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Post by maat on Aug 29, 2007 4:52:49 GMT
Unfortunate title for this thread, so it seems. Anyone noticed how many dating services are now advertising on the forum? Maat
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imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Aug 29, 2007 5:57:45 GMT
Ummmmm, wow. K, what if I want a blond Mormon male? ;D
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Post by leonardo on Aug 29, 2007 8:06:17 GMT
Unfortunate title for this thread, so it seems. Anyone noticed how many dating services are now advertising on the forum? Maat You never know, some may benefit from those ads
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Post by timothyschru on Aug 29, 2007 11:06:55 GMT
so brothers I'm searching for a lodge in Latvia.. help me.. I started a new thread in 'New Member - Introduction'
Also what's your opinion about younger guys joining masonic groups. I think it is very low isn't... well I'm in my early 20s ..
Tim
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jmd
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Post by jmd on Aug 29, 2007 12:06:45 GMT
It never used to be low in number, and slowly getting that way again.
Of the last few initiations I witnessed over the past few years, a significant proportion were (or at least to my eyes appeared to be) in their 20s.
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imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Aug 29, 2007 14:06:09 GMT
Of the initiations I saw recently (about a dozen in the last six months), only one candidate was over 30 (she was in her 50s).
Unfortunately, my jurisdiction has lodges only in the Americas. I'm hoping Bro. Cora will be along shortly as I *think* LDH may have some lodges chartered in Latvia.
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Post by brandt on Aug 29, 2007 14:08:44 GMT
"If something works successfully elsewhere, it can work successfully there, you just need to adjust the tiller a little to steer your vessel in that direction... just 1,000th of an inch or 100,000th of an inch WILL change the course of the hugest of ships."
You got that right. Maybe we could try something new and allow logic, reason and ethics guide us.
Brandt
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Post by devoutfreemason on Aug 29, 2007 15:54:43 GMT
"If something works successfully elsewhere, it can work successfully there, you just need to adjust the tiller a little to steer your vessel in that direction... just 1,000th of an inch or 100,000th of an inch WILL change the course of the hugest of ships." You got that right. Maybe we could try something new and allow logic, reason and ethics guide us. Brandt It's all ready here. The only question or if someone really cares about others "accepting" you as a "real" Mason or not. Really, other than not being able to stop in at every town for a fish fry, what is the disadvantage of being a "fake" Mason?
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imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Aug 29, 2007 16:03:08 GMT
Bro. Devoutfreemason, I modified your post to fix where your quote tags are and nothing more. I hope you don't mind.
And, well, it can be more than slightly irksome to be in a group where some folks are talking over your head. Beyond that - and that only rarely happens to me - I see no issues at all.
I am, however, careful not to readily/happily/good sportishly accept labels such as "irregular", "clandestine" or "fake". For there is no Masonic jurisdiction upon the earth that has any authority over any other Masonic jurisdiction, even those with whom they are in amity.
And the ritual is very clear - I am as "regular" in my jurisdiction as any other Freemason is in his/her's.
For me, to accept another jurisdiction's label "irregular" is a denial of what I am. So I don't.
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Post by leonardo on Aug 29, 2007 16:27:17 GMT
I'm sure that some of those who chose to make such distinctions do so simply from a lack of understanding, nothing more.
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Post by timothyschru on Aug 30, 2007 11:28:32 GMT
It never used to be low in number, and slowly getting that way again. Of the last few initiations I witnessed over the past few years, a significant proportion were (or at least to my eyes appeared to be) in their 20s. "Currently, only around 1% of the Masons' 250,000 members are under 25, but Chris Connop, media relations manager for the United Grand Lodge of England, says the scheme is already starting to have an impact, with more younger people applying to join. He believes that a desire for a return to traditional values is at the heart of the interest." that's a quote from - www.guardian.co.uk/graduate/story/0,,2109357,00.html
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Post by leonardo on Aug 30, 2007 11:38:35 GMT
It never used to be low in number, and slowly getting that way again. Of the last few initiations I witnessed over the past few years, a significant proportion were (or at least to my eyes appeared to be) in their 20s. "Currently, only around 1% of the Masons' 250,000 members are under 25, but Chris Connop, media relations manager for the United Grand Lodge of England, says the scheme is already starting to have an impact, with more younger people applying to join. He believes that a desire for a return to traditional values is at the heart of the interest." that's a quote from - www.guardian.co.uk/graduate/story/0,,2109357,00.html Interesting quote and does illustrate a change in attitudes by younger people. Only recently I was talking to a young lad in his early 20s about FM and I could tell he had an enormous interest in the subject, I think what appealed to him was the way Masonry assists those who have a desire to learn about truth.
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Post by corab on Aug 30, 2007 11:56:41 GMT
Timothy,
I'm going to stick my neck out a little here, but I think age is one of the least relevant qualifying characteristics of who can be made a freemason.
It's probably put in there because you need a certain degree of maturity for it, but heck, I've met 40-somethings who belonged in kindergarten, and conversely 16-year olds with all the maturity I could ask for.
At 37 I am the baby of my lodge, but a friend and brother of mine has only recently turned 24. In the British Federation the minimum age is 18, with the condition that such a young candidate cannot be made a Master Mason until s/he is 21. In other circumstances, where the candidate is over 21 years of age, s/he may progress from Entered Apprentice to Master Mason in the minimum space of 12 months, but it doesn't often happen that quickly. For me it will be 18 months, come October. ;D
We don't have a Jurisdiction in Latvia at the moment but may have a pioneer lodge -- I have asked our Grand Commander and will let you know as soon as I hear from him. In case we don't have a presence in Latvia, the Polish Federation may be an option, depending on whether or not you speak Polish. Cezarek -- who is a member on this forum -- may be able to help you there.
Take care,
Cora
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Post by timothyschru on Aug 30, 2007 12:38:49 GMT
Timothy, I'm going to stick my neck out a little here, but I think age is one of the least relevant qualifying characteristics of who can be made a freemason. It's probably put in there because you need a certain degree of maturity for it, but heck, I've met 40-somethings who belonged in kindergarten, and conversely 16-year olds with all the maturity I could ask for. At 37 I am the baby of my lodge, but a friend and brother of mine has only recently turned 24. In the British Federation the minimum age is 18, with the condition that such a young candidate cannot be made a Master Mason until s/he is 21. In other circumstances, where the candidate is over 21 years of age, s/he may progress from Entered Apprentice to Master Mason in the minimum space of 12 months, but it doesn't often happen that quickly. For me it will be 18 months, come October. ;D We don't have a Jurisdiction in Latvia at the moment but may have a pioneer lodge -- I have asked our Grand Commander and will let you know as soon as I hear from him. In case we don't have a presence in Latvia, the Polish Federation may be an option, depending on whether or not you speak Polish. Cezarek -- who is a member on this forum -- may be able to help you there. Take care, Cora I follow your point. what I asked was the opinion about the 'interest' of the young people joining lodges.. --I sent you a PM
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