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There is rhetoric that Masonry exists in an unchanged and pure state, so we must learn our lines word perfect. Unfortunately for the brethren who espouse that rhetoric, my lodge is full of very old masons who've seen multiple changes to the official ritual, and to boot, a Master from Victoria who regularly 'accidentally' slips in parts of the Victorian version of the charges because they're more poignant, eloquent, and impactful. I own four different masonic textbooks dating back over a century, all belonging to the same Grand Lodge (well, one to our progenitor the UGLE), all different, some very significantly. As for the subtext being lost, I don't worry. The subtext is only lost when masons treat the fraternity only as a fraternity - somewhere to visit your friends of an evening, maybe raise some charitable money. The very nature of Masonry, taken in the heart, and its search for that which has been lost mean that a subtext may be lost, but new subtexts will appear to take their place as diligent brethren seek to reconstruct the t. in their hearts and to discover internally the metaphorical t. l.w. and s.s of o.m.h.a.. JM Ward's work for example may fade in importance, but the work of a new mason will slide into that void for those masons who are the real audience of the subtext in the first place: the seekers, the ashlar-smoothers, and the good masters. Whatever the lost original subtext was, it was a subtext for the 1600s and 1700s. There is nothing wrong with the raw base teachings of our Order being reinterpreted and reconsidered in light of every new age - and the shifting subtext is the heart and soul of that. How could we hope to even understand it, if it existed, when we live in a world so fundamentally and radically different from that in which our Order was born and which has been created in no small part by the Brethren of years past?
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Feb 23, 2018 03:29
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The NC Grand Master just issued a directive disallowing gun raffles that include AR-15s or other "military" style weapons. His argument is that, regardless of rights of laws pertaining to guns, there's a growing public perception of these types of guns in the public eye, and it's an opinion that he wants to steer Masonry away from. People are FLIPPING THEIR poo poo, accusing the Grand Master of bring "his politics" into the lodge. I'm reading through hundreds of Facebook comments, and here I am with no popcorn in the house! Good grief people are very very mad about not giving away assault rifles.
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Feb 24, 2018 05:06
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Yes, guns tear people apart.
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Feb 24, 2018 07:20
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The very concept of a Lodge doing a gun giveaway at all is vaguely offensive to me, even as a proponent for hunting rights.
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Feb 24, 2018 12:24
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This is why NC is considered the most liberal lodge in the south, what with the whole recognition of Price Hall thing as well. So imagine what states like Tennessee and Kentucky are like.
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Feb 24, 2018 13:18
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I'm embarrassed to be an NC Mason, by the responses in that thread. I'm not looking forward to my official visits this year, as DDGM. The ignorance, coupled with sheer stupidity, is acutely painful. I'm secretly hopeful that some of these folks will make good on their threats to leave masonry forever. Masonry needs masons, not frightened little men with guns. For clarity, I've copied the directive below. "To the Masters, Wardens, Secretaries, DDGMs, and Members of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina: The Grand Lodge task force on gun raffles met recently and is preparing its report, which I expect to receive in the next few weeks. When I receive its report, I will consider its recommendations and act accordingly. In the meantime, as Grand Master it is my duty to act for the good of Masonry and do my best to ensure that our gentle craft is held in the highest public esteem. I am concerned that when we seek public support for our charities by raffling military-style weapons such as the AR-15, in the aftermath of shootings inextricably linked in the public mind with these weapons, we invite a public judgment of guilt by association. Images of the gun are invariably juxtaposed with scenes of carnage and grief. Masons and Masonic lodges are focused on brotherly love, relief, and truth. That should be our constant role and image in the community. Several lodge-sponsored gun raffles are currently underway. I trust that our brethren in charge of these raffles will understand that Masonry benefits when we take a reasonable and common-sense approach to how we present ourselves to the public. Masons should exemplify the gold standard of citizenship and strive to always do the right thing at the right time. As a precedent, consider the action of the Mecklenburg County sheriff who, in the wake of the Florida school shootings, canceled a gun raffle benefitting his re-election bid and gave refunds to ticket buyers. That sheriff is a Mason. Therefore, it is my directive that Masons and Masonic lodges currently engaged in raffles of military-style weapons will remove images of AR-15s and similar military-style weapons from any and all raffle promotional materials yet to be circulated or distributed in public. It is my further directive to eliminate AR-15s and similar military-style weapons from all future raffles. This applies to any raffle that has not received approval from the Commission on Subordinate Lodge Special Activities as of this date. I am directing the Commission to enforce this directive and consult with me should there be any question about my intent or how best to enforce this directive. Given under my hand and seal this the 20th day of February, CE 2018; AL 6018. (sig) Grand Master" Cholmondeley fucked around with this message at 16:53 on Feb 24, 2018 |
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Feb 24, 2018 16:42
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The most absurd thing is all of the people saying "well where's it gonna end?? Muskets were military weapons once, are you saying we can't raffle off muskets now??" Who loving cares, why do you have to sell guns in order to raise money for widows and orphans. There's a massive philosophical dissonance there. Whew, I thought I'd sleep off my anger, but nope, it's still there.
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Feb 24, 2018 17:16
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Last week I went through my 1st degree initiation into the Swedish Rite, it was a very moving experience. Broderlig hälsningar to you all.
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Mar 2, 2018 13:52
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I'm keeping the brother's name and his lodge name out of the screenshot, but ... this is some incredible cognitive dissonance, right? It's not just me?
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Mar 14, 2018 13:02
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Keetron posted:Yes, guns tear people apart. Wrong! .223 and 5.56 generally are what does the tearing.
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Mar 14, 2018 16:21
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COOL CORN posted:I'm keeping the brother's name and his lodge name out of the screenshot, but ... this is some incredible cognitive dissonance, right? It's not just me? It's not just you, but many folks see no problem with this kind of raffle. If it offends your sensibilities don't participate.
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Mar 14, 2018 17:20
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COOL CORN posted:I'm keeping the brother's name and his lodge name out of the screenshot, but ... this is some incredible cognitive dissonance, right? It's not just me? I get to do a pass the hat at lodge today for the 13 year old son of a Mason in our district who got shot last night. Luckily he’s out of the hospital and the suspect is in custody, but we have someone today on the agenda for a gun raffle for Honor Flight, so we will see how it goes. I foresee a lot of gaveling.
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Mar 14, 2018 21:05
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In and of itself, I don't see anything wrong with a Lodge going in for a gun raffle, though it's foreign to me as an Australian mason and I have a gut feeling of vague disgust at the prospect. However, going in for one at the current time of tension around guns seems like it's taking a stance in the political debate, as well as being highly insensitive. It's one thing for a rural lodge to auction off a nice hunting rifle during a peaceful time, especially if the town has a strong hunting community, or even for a lodge generally to auction one of those absolute works of beauty, the Holland & Holland. It's quite another to auction off the kind of firearms currently involved in major political dispute. It's partisanship, which we ought to avoid as an organization.
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Mar 15, 2018 05:07
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Loomer posted:In and of itself, I don't see anything wrong with a Lodge going in for a gun raffle, though it's foreign to me as an Australian mason and I have a gut feeling of vague disgust at the prospect. However, going in for one at the current time of tension around guns seems like it's taking a stance in the political debate, as well as being highly insensitive. Buddy, I’ve got some bad news about most American masons. (In Ohio, almost every Mason I’ve met is a relentless right wing partisan, especially online. A PGM of the state regularly posts things that come close to “liberalism is a mental disorder” type stuff. It’s really off putting, and the level of spite I see regularly from my brothers is something I struggle with in Masonry)
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Mar 15, 2018 15:51
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Emron posted:Buddy, I’ve got some bad news about most American masons. Love, respect and tolerance only for people who agree with us?
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Mar 15, 2018 16:07
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Cimber posted:Love, respect and tolerance only for people who agree with us? The four cardinal virtues: temperance, fortitude, prudence, and guns.
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Mar 15, 2018 16:10
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Ohio also has weird questions on lodge applications like "have you ever been a member of or sympathetic to the communist party" which is a strange question for an apolitical body but that's America for you.
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Mar 15, 2018 16:15
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Paramemetic posted:Ohio also has weird questions on lodge applications like "have you ever been a member of or sympathetic to the communist party" which is a strange question for an apolitical body but that's America for you. This is, uh, not true. http://www.glohio.com/grand-lodge-forms?download=110:form-21-petition-for-degrees
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Mar 15, 2018 16:23
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Emron posted:Buddy, I’ve got some bad news about most American masons. Honestly this the reason I stopped attending Lodge in Montana and have been dragging my feet about checking out the one's in North Dakota now that I've moved. I had an older Brother tell me they would have blackballed my petition for affiliation if they'd known about my politics. I should have known better than to try to explain why Obama wasn't a socialist, but still... The other thing that's been getting to me is a tendency of some to interpret brotherhood in some really MRA like ways.
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Mar 15, 2018 16:39
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I've been having the same issues. I mean, I'm way behind on dues anyway, but I'm not really motivated to get caught up and listen to Fox News parroted everywhere around me.
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Mar 15, 2018 16:57
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Fox news but with way more racial slurs
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Mar 15, 2018 17:00
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For me it’s the total lack of mental connection between “why won’t more young people join” and “loving dumbass kids, why don’t you go eat some tide pods.” Everything else is bog standard Angry Old Online Guy stuff, but not seeing how that may influence how others see the fraternity is frustrating as poo poo. The fact that it’s leadership guys doing it, people with real power, means that speaking out against it is a genuinely risky proposition. Like I said, I really struggle with this.
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Mar 15, 2018 17:04
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Emron posted:This is, uh, not true. Was when I went through, was part of the paperwork I filled out in my interview. If it's changed since then I'm happy. Might have also been something for the lodge itself? I'm not meaning it as a criticism so much as a "things got weird because of the cold war" comment.
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Mar 15, 2018 17:08
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Outsider, but reading the above makes me sad. I've always been interested in Masonry and have frequently flirted with the idea of actually pursuing it, but it would seem that in it's current state I would not be in good company. Hopefully it is just a phase!
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Mar 15, 2018 17:08
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SpaceCadetBob posted:Outsider, but reading the above makes me sad. I've always been interested in Masonry and have frequently flirted with the idea of actually pursuing it, but it would seem that in it's current state I would not be in good company. I try to see it as a “be the change you want to see in the world” thing. I try to bring a lot of conversations back to our philosophy and try to get guys to think about it, but I can’t be as direct with, say, a grand line guy.
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Mar 15, 2018 17:16
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I joined primarily for the link to history, so it's extra sad for me knowing that the Brothers of the American Revolution were the liberals of their day, and the Brothers of today who pretend to hold their predecessors in high esteem would have instead supported the King.
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Mar 15, 2018 17:21
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I think that Masonry is a manifestation of classical liberalism, which makes it progressive in relation to feudalism and regressive in relation to socialism.
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Mar 15, 2018 17:33
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Yes, that's certainly true.
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Mar 15, 2018 18:04
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SpaceCadetBob posted:Outsider, but reading the above makes me sad. I've always been interested in Masonry and have frequently flirted with the idea of actually pursuing it, but it would seem that in it's current state I would not be in good company. Not all lodges are like this. The first thing they said during my interview was "no religion, no politics, no racism" and that's been exactly the experience I've had, both inside and outside of lodge.
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Mar 16, 2018 00:20
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It isn't like that in lodge at all, no. That's absolutely forbidden. Unfortunately most lodge nights are also boring business meetings, and the fun is more the meal beforehand where the politics comes out. And it's all over Facebook. For me, obviously. I'm sure there are more liberal lodges... somewhere.
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Mar 16, 2018 00:58
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The brethren can think what they like in their private lives, even if they're wrong. Associating the Lodge with the partisanship is what really shits me off. Be a crusty old oval office who's liberal ideals calcified sometime in the 1970s, that's alright. Don't try and make that my Lodge's policy.
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Mar 16, 2018 04:26
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Any NJ masons know if this stuff is rife in that neck of the woods?
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Mar 16, 2018 09:07
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Nessus posted:Any NJ masons know if this stuff is rife in that neck of the woods? I'm not an NJ mason, But I just visited a lodge up there, and found it wonderfully free of politics, except for Grand Lodge politics. One of my left leaning friends in NC is hopeful that this "assault weapon" raffle ban will cause a schism, and the extreme right guys will quit in disgust, resulting in a rebirth of proper masonry. I'm not so hopeful.
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Mar 20, 2018 23:15
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Update: it appears that one of the district guys has discovered /pol/ as he spent most of yesterday calling the march for our lives kids Soyboys.
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Mar 25, 2018 15:01
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Truly, the most masonic thing of all is to insult children.
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Mar 26, 2018 06:46
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But why are we having so much trouble getting young men to join???? I think we need to get our lodges on Snapchat. That must be what it is. That we don’t have a Snapchat presence.
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Mar 26, 2018 14:50
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On a completely different note: I want to order several things, including masonic regalia, online but many North American sellers are not sending to Europe or at very high expenses. My question is if someone in this thread could act like a relay station, I order a bunch of things (jewelry, books, some clothing, ok, not everything is regalia), bundle it together and ship it to me in the Netherlands? All costs incurred would be reimbursed of course and I would be happy to return the favor.
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Mar 27, 2018 05:46
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I'll just leave this here: http://www.jlturbet.net/2018/03/le-lieutenant-colonel-arnaud-beltrame-etait-un-franc-macon-de-la-grande-loge-de-france.html
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Mar 27, 2018 06:08
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Keetron posted:On a completely different note: I want to order several things, including masonic regalia, online but many North American sellers are not sending to Europe or at very high expenses. I could take care of this for you. My gmail is the same as my username.
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Mar 27, 2018 21:24
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Keetron posted:I'll just leave this here: Is the Grand Lodge of France recognized by the UGLE, or is it only the Grand Orient ?
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Mar 28, 2018 00:48
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