WAFFLEHOUND posted:

The current order of business is "gently caress Florida".

Grand Secretary posted:

Hi Brother Lovable, thanks for sharing your thoughts with the Grand Master and me. This item will likely be a topic of discussion at the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons of North American in Kansas City in February. You can be assured that our leadership will actively listen and participate in these discussions as appropriate.

Best,

Grand Secretary

Worshipful Goon posted:

Then as Worshipful Master, I order Something Awful Getout Thread #3523447 to be now open.

Innerguard posted:

(By the way, if anyone is tired of me pointing out differences between our various jurisdictions, feel free to say. I'll shut up accordingly!)

QPZIL posted:

Can somebody frame that post somehow? I don't believe we've ever had someone disagree with us on that point and then eventually come around.

The Cleaner posted:

I hope to someday join a Free Mason lodge. They seem like a great way to better myself and the world around me. However, a little about myself..

- I am half black.

- I was not "born free" as I was born to slave owners on a Haitian farm originally.

- I suppose I identify as male, but I was born transgendered.

- I believe in a singular creator, that creator is Lucifer.


Would I face any intolerance while attempting to join the Free Masons?

7thBatallion posted:

It's called Old Master's, yet the compasses are arranged for EDIT

Glorified Scrivener posted:

None of this prevents each lodge's Supreme and most Wise Council of Venerable Elders from exercising the influence that comes from having belonged to an organization for decades; in both lodges I've attended their agenda has been limited to insisting that coffee be brewed to the consistency and strength of brown dishwater. In other places this cabal may have more nefarious motives.

quote:

In other places this cabal may have more nefarious motives.

Kurtofan posted:

Do some atheists/agnostics sometimes feign belief to be accepted in a masonic order?

What happens if they're caught?

mrbill posted:

In 2010, I was given my Lodge's equivalent of their "Mason of the Year" award, and was just completely flabbergasted by it. I like to think that my Grandfather was looking down on me proudly from somewhere. 8-)

mrbill posted:

http://www.gray329.org/the-gray-honor/

Sub Rosa posted:

Wow. That hits me right in the, eh, apron.

Schizotek posted:

Florida Goon here.
Just how bad have the local lodges gotten about purging non-christians?

quote:

Hi Brother my name, thanks for sharing your thoughts with the Grand Master and me. This item will likely be a topic of discussion at the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons of North American in Kansas City in February. You can be assured that our leadership will actively listen and participate in these discussions as appropriate.

Best,

Grand Secretary's name

Colonial Air Force posted:

I don't know what the Grand and Glorious Order of Knights of the Creeping Serpent is, but the Grand Master of California sure is pissed off at them:

FreshFeesh posted:

It was basically an illegal (per California Masonic Code) appendant body that tried to skirt around the CMC and still confer their private degrees. Time and time again they were reprimanded and told to quit it, basically. When they finally petitioned to become a recognized body, it was shot down soundly (the 90%+ defeat). Most of us who had voted on those ballots thought the matter settled.

Now the group has come forth again to our current GM and said "no, no, we're just a social club, no degrees or anything that violate the CMC" so the GM said that they could meet as such, as there is no CMC stipulation preventing such. Aaaaaand then it turns out that no, actually, they are the same ol' club hazing and beating candidates.

Something tells me these guys are going to get a bit sterner of a reprimand this time around.

Thatim posted:

How do most freemasons deal with this? Did anyone ever ran into angry people when they found out? I mean, I got into a fight last year because I was wearing a shirt with the number '88 on the back of it.. it had to do with the "birthday" of my sportclub. I ran into a guy that thought I was a Nazi, because the 8th letter of the alphabet is a "h". So 88 means "hh" which seems to be a aberration of heil Hitler.

Defuck.

lone77wulf posted:

Ari posted:

I'm glad you say so. We're already quite friendly, I don't want to ruin anything.

Paramemetic posted:

cda posted:

So I guess my question is what's up with the JEW ROBES?

Very Nice Eraser posted:

This is an interesting thread! Other than attending a wedding reception at an Elk's lodge (do Masons rent out spaces like that?)

quote:

Can those of us who aren't obliged to Masonic rules bring up the secret stuff? Assuming we don't violate copyright on the monitors, there's no problem, right?

Also, I'm curious how serious Masons take the brotherhood. For instance, suppose I'm running down the street looking back over my shoulder. A police siren sounds somewhere out of site. I happen to run past a Mason barbecue going on (go with me here) and give the distress gesture. Will I get some no-questions-asked help? Or would that not really fly? (Hey, you can never be too prepared!)

Snowy posted:

And the cop is more likely to be a Mason than the guy running away.

Very Nice Eraser posted:

Which reminds me of another question: what's the procedure for shitcanning a brother? What can get you kicked out?

7thBatallion posted:

My WM just contacted me via Facebook asking where I have been, and if I want to head to Daylight Lodge #232 up in Green Lake. By the time meetings come around there at 10am on Saturdays I'm utterly exhausted, and usually still asleep, but when the WM offers to bring you to a lodge, you don't really turn that down, do you?

WAFFLEHOUND posted:

Sayeth the Luciferian.

qraham posted:

But if I'm being completely honest, the thing that is most intriguing is the idea that being a mason might help my career in some way; I've heard stories of people getting jobs or promotions because they did the right handshake with the right person. Can you guys speak to this at all?

usernamen_01 posted:

Also, side question here: what are the rules on wearing your ring in public? I've heard mixed messages about this.

WAFFLEHOUND posted:

Wear it whenever you want as long as you're an MM.

WAFFLEHOUND posted:

I started wearing mine after I got my EA, but nobody in my district cared and I was specifically told it was okay.

QPZIL posted:

QPZIL posted:

My understanding is that yes, you can. But, I'd say that a large majority of people who join the YR do so solely to get to the Commandery.

QPZIL posted:

It seems to vary by jurisdiction. In NC the wording is "swear to defend the Christian faith," but I've seen another petition (Illinois maybe?) where the wording is "swear a belief in the Christian faith."

Not to turn this into a theological discussion, but the first I can do. The second I can not.

Just like blue lodge and the issue of belief in a higher power, as long as you can answer "yes" without hesitation, reservation, or secret evasion of mind, then it's not discussed any further. I've read on another forum of their being Jews in the Commandery, though obviously I can't speak for them.

Colonial Air Force posted:

The argument, at least with the "swear to defend the Christian faith" wording, is that you're defending a Christian's right to have said faith, to worship as they see fit.

I don't really agree with that interpretation, but to each their own.

QPZIL posted:

Then again Albert Pike is as crazy as a football bat.

Straithate posted:

During the Order of the Temple you are asked to defend the Christian religion along with several other things (destitute widows, and orphans). The OoT ritual is meant to represent the path which a historic Knight Templar would have to take to become a member of the order. Just like the penalties of our obligations in blue lodge, this oath isn't literal and it shouldn't be taken as such.

What I would say, however, is that there are quite a few biblical references (eg. Jesus, the crucifixion, Judas etc.)

mrbill posted:

I've got an Endowed Membership to the Grand Lodge of Texas.

Effingham posted:

I am moving forward with the York degrees next month, although -- I must admit -- every time I see someone use "sir knight" as a reference rather than an address, the English speaker and former magazine/newspaper editor in me twitches.

"Sir knight" is a term of *address* ("Sir knight, how are you this evening?') and not a term of reference ("Do you know that sir knight over there?"). KNIGHT is the term of reference. DAMMIT.

THat always makes me twitch, and I just know I'm going to have issues with it.

Angela Christine posted:

You have B&J pillars. Ad a P pillar. Now you have PB&J.

TemetNosceXVIcubus posted:

Don't worry too much about the suit not being dark enough, as long as it's neat and tidy, you'll be fine. Everyone will be happy to have you along, it's great to see some of the youngins turn up at this last sad office to departed merit.