ricardo
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Post by ricardo on Feb 9, 2009 10:44:32 GMT
7 people making something perfect 7 ages of man 7 planets (or stars?) influencing (can't forget the sweet influence of the Pleiedes mentioned in the Bible) 7 liberal Arts and Sciences 7 chakras, days and all the obvious' 7 times Jacob bowed himself to the ground 7 time the priest shall dip his finger in blood and sprinkle it before the Lord 7 times we shall be chastised for our sins 7 times a just man shall fall before he rises up again 7 time is silver purified in the furnace and are as the words of the Lord 7 times had to pass over Nebuchadnezzar when his human heart was exchanged for that of a beast then we have the less obvious...(hidden) Biblical Sevens - In Genesis 1 God saw only good seven times, very good the seventh time -In Genesis seven it took seven days to load the ark -Seven days are mentioned in John 1 & 2:1 if counting the days -Book of Judges is about seven cycles of falling and rising up -Blood of Jesus was shed seven times when counting -Seven pillars of wisdom are mentioned in Proverbs -The covenant was established seven times with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob -There are seven covenants and each one is also sevenfold -There are seven one's denoting completeness in Ephesians 4 -There are seven baptisms mentioned in the Bible -There are seven hopes mentioned in the Bible -There are seven things God hates in Proverbs 6 -There are seven offices of the body in Romans 12 -There are seven steps in the prayer of 2Chronicles 20 -There are seven festivals of the LORD found in three feasts of Israel -Seven loaves become seven baskets of leftovers in Matthew 15 -Seven angels accompanied Paul into Asia in Acts 20:4 -Seven trees are mentioned in the Bible in Isaiah 41 -Seven spirits are mentioned in the Bible in Isaiah 11 & in Revelation -There are seven steps to God's presence in the tabernacle of Moses -There are seven marvelous things God did for Israel in Psalm 78 -There are seven brooks mentioned in the Bible -There are seven Marys mentioned in the New Testament -There are seven wildernesses mentioned in the Bible -There are seven things to add to faith in 2 Peter 1 -There is a seven part restoration of dead bones in Ezekiel 37 -There are seven things faith is in Hebrews 11 -There are seven holy garments mentioned in Exodus 29 -There are seven reasons for blowing the trumpet in the Bible -The lamb of God is worthy to receive seven things in Revelation 5 -There are seven things Messiah is appointed to do in Isaiah 61 -There are seven enemies of God the angel led Joshua unto over Jordon -The resurrected Christ appeared seven times, the seventh time to seven apostles -There are seven appearances of angels in Acts of the Apostles -Seven men went to witness the gift of the Holy Ghost to Gentiles in Acts 11 -Seven Last Utterances comprise the Easter story in the four gospels -Seven times it mentions C of JC is seated at the "right hand" of God Seven "I am"s in John's Gospel: I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35) I am the Light of the world (John 9:5) I am the Door (John 10:9) I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) I am the Resurrection (John 11:25) I am the True Vine (John 15:1) I am the Way (John 14:6) www.godshew.org/Sevens2.htmYep - sounds looney to me ... but I am curious enough, and experienced enough, to suspect it all makes sense when one discovers the keys.. or keystone? Maat Did you mention the Seven Churches of Asia Minor, mentioned in Revelations (aka Apocalypse) - 1:17-20 and elaborated upon in Chapters 2 and 3 ? Then one might go on to read Chapter 4 and reflect upon the four figures shown on the coat of arms of the Antients Grand Lodge - Of course the same symbols feature as symbols of the authors of the four accepted Gospels, as seen in the Book of Kells S&F Ricardo
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on Feb 9, 2009 10:19:01 GMT
... Brother in my Lodge, an immigrant from Northern Ireland wears his Irish apron and there are no chains at all on that Chains feature at one point, though not upon an apron, in another Order in the Irish system of Freemasonry - in the Knight Masons, aka "Green" Masonry or (in some other systems) the Red Cross Degrees (ie Red Cross of Babylon). S&F
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ricardo
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Posts: 161
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Post by ricardo on Jan 13, 2009 8:36:53 GMT
The Commemorative Order of St Thomas of Acon is growing in Australia and New Zealand. acon73.blogspot.com/Athelstan has also made a start. S&F --
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ricardo
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Australia
Posts: 161
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Post by ricardo on Dec 9, 2008 11:47:34 GMT
Snail mail is probably the best way to establish contact - other than attending a meeting in person. I have attended 3-4 meetings and enjoyed each - including the after proceedings. A few members belong to the Yahoo group WSCORG - groups.yahoo.com/group/WSCORG/I generally enjoy reading the notice paper issued before each meeting. They publish Transactions every few years, and back issues are available. Every year a few members attend the symposium meeting of The Lodge Hope of Kurrachee, in Fife. www.lodgehope337.org.uk/S&F
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ricardo
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Australia
Posts: 161
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Post by ricardo on Nov 9, 2008 6:14:43 GMT
'Harashim' - Hebrew for Craftsman. Good choice of title. "Harashim" is the title of the newsmagazine of the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council - ANZMRC. The latest issue may be downloaded from the front page of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania website at www.freemasonrytasmania.org/S&F RN
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on May 22, 2008 1:32:56 GMT
There's also an interesting online article about the star of Babylon and the star of Bethlehem - article is at www.spirasolaris.ca/sbb1.htmlRushing to catch a plane S&F
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ricardo
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Posts: 161
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Post by ricardo on May 20, 2008 14:26:33 GMT
Here's an interesting clay tablet from 600-500 BCE showing the first world map as perceived by the Babylonians. The following is from www.henry-davis.com/MAPS/Ancient%20Web%20Pages/103Amono.htmlThis later Babylonian clay tablet, dating from the Persian Period (early 5th century B.C.), shows an asysocentic view of a flat, round world with Babylonia in the center. Its identity as a map attempting to depict the entire world is proved by the adjacent text, which mentions seven outer regions beyond the encircling ocean. This is a slightly different concept from that of the early Greeks, for whom the encircling ocean was outside of all known lands.
At this time Babylon was still a flourishing city, regarded as the center - the "hub" - of the universe. Yet only with the rise to supremacy of the Babylonian kings, with Hammurabi, toward 2000 B.C., had its claim to this position become possible. Previously the position was occupied by one of the former capitals of the earlier kingdoms. Probably the Sumerians made the city of Nippur- honored by them as a central shrine, a Sumerian Rome - the center of the universe from about 2300 B.C., for at that time supremacy was regarded as conditional upon the possession of Nippur.
In addition to the entire kingdom of Babylonia, which is schematically portrayed, seven unnamed circles are depicted and an accompanying cuneiform text is found on both sides of the tablet. The text contains names of countries and cities but, on the reverse side, is chiefly concerned with a description of the Seven Islands or regions which are depicted in the form of equal triangles (only one of which is entirely intact on the tablet) rising beyond the circle of the Earthly Ocean. Some scholars believe that there may have been eight "islands" originally. The tablet further states that these islands are at equal distances of seven miles (from either each other or from the Babylonian world), around the outer periphery of the Earthly Ocean. Various legendary beasts are named which were reputed to live in regions beyond the ocean that encircled the Babylonian world. A few ancient heroes reached those places, and the badly damaged text appears to describe conditions in them. The map is really a diagram to show the relation of these places to the world of the Babylonians.
The Babylonians knew little about the nature of these seven islands. We hear chiefly only of their various degrees of brightness. From the text on the tablet and the inscriptions on the chart itself we learn that the first island lay in the southeast, the second in the southwest, and so on, in a clockwise sequence.
The descriptions of the first and second islands are not preserved. The third island is where "the winged bird ends not his flight," i.e., cannot reach. On the forth island "the light is brighter than that of sunset or stars": it lay in the northwest, and after sunset in summer was practically in semi-obscurity. The fifth island, due north, lay in complete darkness - a land "where one sees nothing," and "the sun is not visible." The Sumerians and Babylonians probably had some knowledge, possibly acquired from other people, of the northern high latitudes and of the polar nights. Highly remarkable is the sixth island, "where a horned bull dwells and attacks the newcomer". An exactly similar presentation, true to tradition, occurs in the same position in an astrolabe of the 17th century A.D. and has been used in the reconstruction of the tablet. The seventh island lay in the east and is thus described: "where the morning dawns," meaning that it faces the sunrise. Again, the islands are all "seven miles" distant from the earth, but the distance between them varies, being sometimes six, sometimes nine miles. The description of two of these islands, however, has not survived.
According to Babylonian ideas, the islands said to lie between the Earthly and the Heavenly Oceans connected the heavens and the earth. These islands form bridges to the Heavenly Ocean, wherein are the various animal constellations, 18 of which are mentioned by name.
Thus round the heavens flowed the Heavenly Ocean, corresponding to the Earthly Ocean on the earth. And in the Heavenly Ocean were animal constellations, the "vanished" gods. These probably recur in the expression "belt of heaven," the Sumerian for which may be literally translated, "divine animals". As the animal constellations also sank below the horizon, so the Heavenly Ocean extended beneath the earth, so that plenty of room existed below the Underworld for the passage of the sun, moon, and planets. After the overthrow of the old world order of Apsu and Tiamat or Chaos, the former gods, according to the Babylonian Epic of Creation, were deposed and banned as animals to the Heavenly Ocean, by command of the creator of the new world.
In the beginning everything was ocean - the Apsu - Chaos, whence arose a number of divinities, including Tiamat (the sea) and the gods Anu, Enlil and Enki (Ea), the later representatives of the tripartite world. Now Apsu desired to destroy his offspring, but was killed by Enki, who looked upon the Apsu as his home. Then Tiamat, who went forth to revenge Apsu, was vanquished in conflict with Sumer, Babylon and Assur, respectively. Now before the struggle, Tiamat had created, in place of Apsu, huge monsters in animal form. The late Sumerian ruler, Gudea of Lagash (2600 B.C.), records in his inscriptions seven such monsters; in Hammurabi's time (about 2000 B.C.) the number was eleven. The text of the Babylonian cosmos, however, enumerates eighteen animals, but the names of two of them are not known. Each of the last two texts named begin with the same three animals: Basmu, Mushus and (Laha) mu. It appears from these tests that in the course of time new kinds of animals were added.
All of these animal constellations, though not to be confused with our zodiac, knowledge which, in this form, has not been traced beyond about 420 B.C., may nevertheless be approximately equated with our zodiacal signs; among other things and changes, however the names have naturally altered in the course of time. The chief animals are also shown on some post-Babylonian tablets of an astronomical nature. Karl Maasz has therefore made use of these drawings in his reconstruction, in which pictures of the so called boundary stones have served as guides. According to the drawings of the clay tablet in question, the order of the animal constellations run from right to left - from north to west, then around to the east. The text contains the following full list of "animals" in the Heavenly Ocean : (1) the adder (Basmu); (2) the red serpent (Mushus)- a typical name for the dragon of Babybn which the god Marduk borrowed from the god Enlil of Nippur; this dragon appears as a decoration on the Ishtar Gate of Babylon. He is of special interest because the four animal elements which compose him are borrowed from the neighboring animal constellations: the front legs from the lion standing before him; the back legs from the raven or eagle standing behind him; the scorpion's sting on his tail from the scorpion next to him here. The dragon himself represents in principle a serpent - the hydra; (3) the Lahamu, a serpent with the front feet of a lion, also reminiscent in this respect here of its neighbor, the lion (the hydra); (4) the gazelle; (5) the bull (in the late Sumerian period, a wild bull); (6) the panther; (7) the ram; (8) unknown; (9) the lion (the constellation Leo); (10) the jackal (the constellation Cassiopeia); (11) the stag (the constellation Andromeda); (12) the fowl (? the falcon); (13) unknown; (14) the monkey; (15) the he-goat, also known as the goat-fish; (16) the ostrich (probably the crane); (17) the cat; (18) an insect, possibly the grasshopper. The numbers 1-18 correspond to the numbers on the illustration, except that numbers 8 and 13 are not preserved in the text of the clay tablet.
These divine animal constellations which dwell in the Heavenly Ocean are there named the departed gods (in another cuneiform document they are referred to as the gods of the night and the goddesses of the night) because they were derived from the earlier "vanished" gods of the Sumerians, which, as the result of a reform in prehistoric times, were deposed and replaced by human gods. The Epic of Creation is the acknowledgment of this reform.
All of this - the Seven Islands, the animal constellations and the Heavenly Ocean - encircle the primary focus of the tablet, the "world map". The earth proper, again, is displayed as a circular disc. Enclosed by the circle of the Earthly Ocean lies an oblong marked "Babylon" with two parallel lines running to it from mountains at the edge of the enclosure, and running on to a marsh which is identified by two parallel lines near the bottom of the circle. The marsh can be identified as the swamp of lower present-day Iraq, its identity secured by the name Bit Yakin at its left end, the so called "Sea Country" and known to be a tribal territory covering marshland. A trumpet-shaped arm of the ocean curves around the right end of the marsh so that its neck touches the lines from Babylon. Despite the absence of a name, it is clear that the parallel lines running to and from Babylon represent the river Euphrates. To the right of Babylon an oval marks Assyria, and above it is apparently Urartu [eastern Turkey and Armenia]. Several other cities are marked by small circles; one near the trumpet-shaped sea, named "Fort of the god", is probably Der [Badrah] at the foot of the Zagros Mountains. The name Khabban to the upper left appears to denote an area of Elam southeast of the Zagros, geographically out of place (it might also be another town of the same name otherwise unknown). At the top, in the north, are the mountains, whence the Euphrates descends, in a southeasterly direction. In the center lies Babylon - the "hub of the universe". Encircling the earth is the "Earthly Ocean", entitled the Bitter River, creating a gulf (the Persian Gulf of today), it flows across the earth as far as the Euphrates. To the southwest is shown the land of Habban. For the rest, the map gives various nameless places indicated only by blank ovals. It is oriented towards the northwest. From other Babylonian sources it can be learned that for the Babylonians, the Bitter River or Earthly Ocean was enclosed by a double range of mountains, those to the east and west - the "sunrise" and "sunset" range, respectively being specially mentioned. Obviously this is not so much a topographical map as it is an attempt to illustrate ideas expressed in the accompanying text, greatest attention being paid to the remote regions. The Babylonians evidently viewed the earth as flat, in common with other ancient peoples. Their references to the "four comers" relate to the directions of the winds and should not be taken as implying that they thought it was square.
In summary, the Babylonian cosmos comprises a world map executed in cartographic manner, a contour sketch of the Seven Islands complete with descriptive text, and finally, a descriptive text (only) of the Heavenly Ocean and its animal constellations.
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on May 13, 2008 10:02:23 GMT
I've recently done my third degree, and theres all sorts of talk about other orders buzzing around both brethren in my lodge, and other masons I socialise with. Don't get me wrong, no one is twisting my arm to sign up to anything, and I'm in no rush. Most of what I have heard has been about the Royal Arch, and a tiny bit here and there about AASR. I've heard nothing at all about SRIA, and I'm curious. Can anyone tell me anything about it? Hi Andy The SRIA is probably the smallest of all the recognised 'Side orders' or as Bro Lauderdale prefers 'Higher degrees'! In Australia there is only 6 Colleges, as most Colleges average about 30-40 member I would guess there are approx only 200 members in Australia. Which is probably why you do not hear about it that much! I can tell you that this years Trianniel festival will be held in Melbourne I cannot remember if it is July or August but it is definatley in Melbourne. ... The Triennial General Assembly is to be held in Melbourne Australia 29-31 August. Details under "Important Announcement" at their website - click on the various headings on the page that opens. S&F
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on May 10, 2008 7:55:46 GMT
LDH??? and I never heard of any of these other fraternities, so obviously it is kept hush.. I'd say insufficient funds or lack of desire to publicise existence, rather than any thought of keeping things hush.
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on May 10, 2008 7:48:05 GMT
2) The position of her right arm is something I've seen before. I once saw a photo (it was on EBay and I really, really wish I'd bid on it now) of a dude in his casket from the late 19th Century. He had all sorts of Masonic symbols around him and who ever lay him out position his right arm so that his right hand extended to his left arm. Much as Bro. Elizabeth is doing in her portrait. What's up with this? The S. of Reverence, as distinct from the first part of the F.C. S. (that of F.). Note the position of the T., as distinct from that in the S. of F. When finished, the arm is simply dropped to the side, as distinct from the method of completing the S. of F. For many it is the position we ought adopt in prayer, etc., instead of that associated with the 2° A.P. To my knowledge the "sign" or "attitude", with the thumb horizontally aligned with the fingers and placed on the left breast, is unknown to present day Irish Fmry.
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on May 9, 2008 23:15:37 GMT
SRIA shines bright in SA, despite the recent loss of one of their brightest stars and dearest souls ... Vale, au revoir - John Priede With Love Maat Thanks, Maat. Frater John has left his library of papers and more than 1000 books to the local SRIA College. He was secretary of the Albertus Magnus College SRIA study circle for many years, also a moderator of the SRIA YahooGroup. PRIEDE, Janis Guntis (John) Passed away peacefully at RAH 30 April 2008 Aged 70 years Son of Janis and Lizete Priede (both deceased). There are some men who should have mountains to bear their names to time. I had a friend: he lived and died in mighty silence and with dignity, left no book, son, or lover to mourn. Nor is this a mourning song but only a naming of this mountain on which I walk, fragrant, dark, and softly white under the pale of mist. I name this mountain after him. He lived respected and died regretted A friend to many --------- The Funeral Service of the late John Priede is to be held in the Heysen Chapel, Centennial Park, Goodwood Road, Pasadena, South Australia on Tuesday 13 May at 11.30am ---------- (poem by Leonard Cohen)
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on May 8, 2008 13:41:15 GMT
I am in Adelaide, Australia. There are two lodges of the women only Order of Women Freemasons in Adelaide, as well as the Co-Freemasons (mixed). Other non-Masonic fraternities also exist in Adelaide, including the Odd Fellows, Druids and Buffaloes. Some of these have women's branches (I'm not sure about the Buffaloes in this regard). I'm not aware that there are any remaining Rechabite or Free Gardeners Lodges in Adelaide. Friendly Societies are turning into corporate and/or commercial bodies these days. S&F
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on May 8, 2008 13:32:22 GMT
If I remember right, soldiers step off with the left foot when marching. Not all steps in Freemasonry start with the left foot.
S&F
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on May 8, 2008 13:26:23 GMT
an invitational body who has a membership restriction of 72 members and around 20 thousand Master Masons to choose from - what would you do?? I know nothing about SRIA (I am a woman and thus disqualified from membership) and the only reason I read the last part of this thread was that the number 72 caught my eye. I think we have run a thread on that number. I was, however, reminded of the damage 'symbolic' numbers can do in real life. I have a cousin who is a very fundamental Christian and honestly and truly believes that of the billions upon billions of people who have ever lived only 144,000 will get through the gates of heaven. She also believes that she will not make the cut. The fear generated from this ended up putting her in the mental ward. She still has intermittent psychological problems. So I would suggest that the symbolic reason for setting that number, can have unintended detrimental effects, and which could (but not necessarily) have a negative effect upon the personality of individual members of such a restricted group ... ... pride, arrogance, insular thinking, etc. I am thinking along the lines of, what does not unite, divides. ?? Maat We've had by invitation non-members and the occasional female guest at meetings of our SRIA Study Circle. The study circle meetings are not tyled. S&F
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ricardo
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Posts: 161
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Post by ricardo on May 4, 2008 22:45:11 GMT
9th Biennial Conference of ANZMRC - the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council - to be held in Queanbeyan NSW adjacent to Australia's national capital Canberra 3-5 October 2008 Please visit the ANZMRC website anzmrc.org for the Conference Booking form and Program. S&F
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ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
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Post by ricardo on May 4, 2008 22:40:20 GMT
The Triennial General Assembly of Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia - SRIA - will be held in Melbourne Australia 29-31 August 2008. See "Important Announcement" at SRIA Victoria website - www.sria-vic.org If interested click on the link labelled "Triennial General Assembly August 2008 (page 2)" and email the address of the Secretary (Barry Minster) included on that page for the program and booking form which is not yet available online from that site. I would have attached the final program and booking form to this message had the attachment facility been activated.This meeting information has not yet appeared on the SRIA official website at www.sria.infoS&F
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on Apr 28, 2008 14:59:44 GMT
Click on the following link for a short version of the story about the Lady Freemason and several interesting illustrations from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster in Ireland. S&F
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ricardo
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Post by ricardo on Apr 25, 2008 15:12:44 GMT
Ricardo, that first link isn't working, the second one is, though, and seems very impressive for a free 3-D set up. A great link. Thanks. Thanks Leo - it should work now S&F
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ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
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Post by ricardo on Apr 25, 2008 1:09:56 GMT
Those who wish can make their own 3D model of the Grand Lodge building in Adelaide, South Australia The Sketchup program is free, available from Google sketchup.google.com/Incidentally, a developer has submitted a plan to the local authority to "redevelop" the site which will include placing a residential tower behind the Masonic building. The Masonic building will be retained and used for Masonic purposes. S&F
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ricardo
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Posts: 161
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Mark
Apr 23, 2008 22:43:33 GMT
Post by ricardo on Apr 23, 2008 22:43:33 GMT
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