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| Monday, July 6th, 2009 | 10:12 pm
[freddok1]
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No Longer on the Outside Looking in (but waiting to be initiated...)
This is a follow-up to my previous post. I just got some great news from the Lodge secretary tonight (I e-mailed him). I was voted upon on June 11, and the vote was positive, so I have been formally accepted into Freemasonry and into Jerusalem Lodge #506 in Philadelphia! The secretary said that my degree work should begin sometime this month; they don't have the schedule yet. Looking forward now to my degree work and beginning to learn the mysteries of the Fraternity and beginning to engage in work of the Lodge. My wife and I also toured the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania building in downtown Philadelphia (just after the day I was voted upon on a day off from work) and it is IMPRESSIVE. We especially liked the Egyptian Hall; very awe-inspiring architecture. My Lodge meets in Northeast Philadelphia at the smaller Tacony Masonic Temple on Magee Street in a more outlying part of the city. It is smaller than the Grand Lodge building downtown, but the meeting room still looked pretty impressive to me when I toured it when I was there to first inquire about Freemasonry. Can't wait to take my Entered Apprentice degree! | | Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 | 9:56 am
[erik_j_meyer]
 |
final meeting of a Lodge
Greetings Brethren, Tonight will be the final meeting of Constellation Lodge AF&AM (no we do not have numbers in Massachusetts). The Lodge will be merging before the date of the stated September meeting and we do not meet during the Summer. Along with a business meeting the Lodge will have two candidates taking their Felleow Craft degree tonight. The Master Mason Degree will take place in September at the Lodge with which we are merging. The life of Constellation Lodge has been less than optimal the last couple of years. Heck, it has been on life support. It is hoped that this merging will hopefully re-invigorate the membership. Still the transition of the Lodge from the one I joined over a decade and a half ago to a new one feels like a loss, even if I know it is for the best. I am guessing this is akin to that friend getting married, changing their name and having a different work schedule. They are still there, but you have to admit things are not longer quite the same. I know this is not quite the hub-bub of being at the dedication of a new Lodge, but if you are in the area at half past six tonight feel free to stop in to say good-bye. I will post about the merging ceremony closer to the even in September. ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) erik_j_meyer-Curley Past Master Life Member Current Mood:  nostalgic | | Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 | 8:33 pm
[freddok1]
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On the Outside but looking in....(Hoping to be voted in soon)
This is my first post here... I am not a Mason yet...but I am hoping to be, soon. I have a Petition before a Lodge in Philadelphia, PA, and the Examining Committee was just over to meet with my wife and I. My wife and I were a bit nervous, but they put us at ease and discussed the Fraternity. I will be voted on in about a week or two, and if the verdict is favorable, I am hoping to be initated as an Entered Apprentice soon. Does anyone have any advice or wisdom that they can impart? I am hoping to join Freemasonry to participate in the charitable works and to continue to improve myself through what I can learn from the work of the Lodge. | | Monday, March 16th, 2009 | 12:53 am
[zephret]
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Slightly embarrassing situation.
I had been in contact with the communications officer at the United Grand Lodge of England about becoming a freemason by dispensation (as I am 19 and not related to any Masons). After a conversation on the phone, he asked me to write formally to him about my interest and why I would like to join. So I did so, mentioning my interests in the occult, ancient religion and esoteric philosophy citing authors such as Manly P. Hall (whose "Secret Teachings of All Ages" has been influential, and the kind of Masonry I am looking for). Well, he calls me back quite flustered and begins to tell me there is nothing "occult" at all about Freemasonry and that the things I had mentioned in my email have very little to do with what he called "Regular" Freemasonry. He told me there is a lot of stuff on the internet which makes it hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, and added that he thinks its the chaff I am interested in, calling it "rubbish", and that there's a lot of quasi-masonic orders which the UGLE does not recognise and classes as "Irregular" Freemasonry. He said there's no Scottish Rite in the UK. Needless to say, I got off the phone quite embarrassed. Clearly I hadn't done my research because I really did think this kind of Masonry was what the UGLE practiced, and that the Scottish Rite surely would be present in the UK!? I'm interested in Hermeticism, magick, Qabalah, Rosicrucianism, esoteric christianity, theosophy, occult philosophy, etc. Can anyone give me a little help to clarify where I went wrong? Have I fallen for some kind of conspiracy-styled view of what freemasonry is like? What about all the occultists in the early 20th century? I'm sure someone here knows enough to point me in the right direction... Thanks! | | Thursday, March 12th, 2009 | 10:33 am
[pierceheart]
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Music in Lodge
This is mostly an excerpt from a post i made to a group discussing esoteric masonry, and I'd like to get more opinions on it: One of the things that the Traditional Observance Lodges are trying is bringing back the use of music in the Lodge. We're all familiar with the organist playing various marches while Brethren move around the lodge, and sometimes it's appropriately solemn, and sometimes, well, frankly, it's sometimes ridiculous (Three Blind Mice, anyone?). some Brethren may remember when first I was Chaplain for Constellation Lodge, instead of reciting the passage from Psalm 133 during the circumambulation of the Candidate, in the EA Degree, I recited a poetical form of it. ( way too long to leave uncut )Wouldn't this be a beautiful way to receive a candidate for each of the degrees, during their circumambulation - to have these odes sung, by people who can sing, with very, very light accompaniment by the organist, just enough to keep the tune? I'd love to find Brethren, especially local ones, who can sing, who could record these, so we at least have them as references. | | Saturday, March 7th, 2009 | 1:08 pm
[man_vs_wild]
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Greetings...
I joined this community in the hope of learning more about Freemasonry. Recently I filled out my petition and it was to be presented to the local lodge last Wednesday evening. Now I'm waiting to hear from the investigating committee. I'm very excited to begin my journey. | | Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 | 10:07 am
[erik_j_meyer]
|
a sad funny
Jacqueline and her husband Mark went for counseling after 25 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, Jacqueline went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 25 years they had been married. She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured over the course of their marriage. Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up, walked around the desk and, after asking Jacqueline to stand he embraced her, put his hands on her breasts, and kissed her passionately as her husband Mark watched with a raised eyebrow. Jacqueline shut up, rearranged her clothing and quietly sat down as though in a daze. The the therapist turned to Mark and said, 'This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?' Mark thought for a moment and replied, 'Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but most Fridays, I've got Lodge.' Current Mood:  amused | | Friday, February 20th, 2009 | 3:18 pm
[erik_j_meyer]
|
a bar my sister found
http://www.temple-downtown.com/Providence, RI. I think I posted about the place being a mecca for grafitti artist types in the north east awhile back. Nice to know someone bought it and fixed it up. Take a look at the specialty cocktails for the fraternal references. Current Mood: amused | | Monday, February 16th, 2009 | 9:05 pm
[zweiblumen]
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Bit of an advert really
I thought this might be something worth sharing with the group. A friend (and Brother and Companion) of mine runs an online masonic shop. Some of you may already be familiar with it, it is thefreemason.com. His wife has just had her first book published and they're selling it on the site. It's an interesting idea for a book and it is called A Handbook For The Freemason's Wife. I proposed to my girlfriend last Friday - which I'm still pretty happy about - and I will be getting her a copy myself soon. I thought it was possible that it was something that may be of interest to members of this community. Perhaps not the co-masonic orders, but I'm sure you see where I'm going with this. When I've bought it and read it I'll let you know what I think. I'm not in the habit of randomly talking about new books on the internet, but this is the first time a friend of mine has been a published author and I'm pretty excited for her. Current Mood: happy | | Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 | 10:47 pm
[erik_j_meyer]
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| | Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 | 12:21 am
[regalpewter]
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Post with a question for the more 'clandestine' members
OK, I've been putting this off, but I feel now that I should ask the members of the other masonic fraternities. The situation is this; I have been a member of my lodge since the eighties. It is one of the finest groups of people that I have ever been privileged to be involved with. I adore the history and the ritual, but something has arisen in my life that makes it hard for me to remain in my Lodge. About two years ago I began the process of dealing with my transsexualism. It is something that I went through that included a great deal of personal pain with the decision to begin treatment. However, it leaves me with a huge moral quandry. I cannot in good consience remain a member of my lodge as I begin to live as a woman. Is it possible to instead, take my membership to either a co-masonic body or women's lodge? Or would I have to go through the entire initiaion process again? Also, I ask those in this community who feel that such subjects violate thier oaths or principles to keep silent, as I have thought long and prayed on this situation. Please do not post to cause me any more personal pain than the possible loss of my fraternity has already caused. YIS, WRI Current Mood:  melancholy | | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 | 10:32 am
[lavinia_r]
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I am pretty excited. On Tuesday I get to witness my older sister being initiated into my lodge. It will be extremely meaningful to be able to share this with her. | | Monday, January 26th, 2009 | 12:57 pm
[buddhawolf]
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Wooden Wall Emblems
Good day brothers, I wonder if any of you have seen anything like this in your travels? I found these wall emblems in an antique shop in West Seattle this weekend. They are about 5 inches in diameter and appear to be hand carved. The detail is wonderful. I am trying to determine if these are unique or something that was produced on a larger scale.  Thanks, Michael JW - Kirkland #150 Kirkland, Washington | | Sunday, January 25th, 2009 | 12:53 pm
[dalious]
 |
happy birthday
sarum my friend, my brother, today you would have turned 40, you are surly missed and taken from this world far too soon. not a day goes by where you are not thought of. Today we not mourn your death but but raise a glass to celebrate your life. Till we meet again in the celestial lodge above. | | Monday, January 19th, 2009 | 10:39 pm
[infocorn]
 |
School of Instruction
Just a quick reminder to those very-advanced Brethren who have made it to "instructor" status for schools of instruction in our respective districts: know your audience, and listen well to their questions. This evening, we were learning PA's opening of stated meetings that included the recption of the DDGM, his party, and officers from various lodges during an official visitation. A question about Masonic law and protocol for...well, just leave it at that...came up, and a WM visiting our lodge asked a very on-point question. The instructor took a bit of a tone with the WM, stating " Any Master Mason would know that!" The WM, his ire up, replied: "I've brought a newly-raised brother of our lodge, who, respectfully, did not know this." The short version ends up with the instructor and WM verbally sparring in an open lodge-- whether or not it was for school, or whether we were all officially dressed or anything doesn't matter. It was certain a mar to the harmony and good order. I will comment that while it was a bit of a black mark on the evening, all involved did conduct themselves mostly appropriately. I just ask that all instructors please bear in mind the adage that there is no such thing as a stupid question, and asking for minor clarifications will do nothing but make us all more proficient. I thank you! | | Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | 9:35 pm
[anna_disgrace]
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Book recommendations?
Greetings everyone! I have just done my Fellowcraft degree (Order of Women Freemasons - don't really hold truck with co-masonry myself!), and as I guess happens to most of us sitting through these amazing lectures... I come out and can barely remember a thing as it passes in a blur! I was wondering if any of you had found particular masonic books of any help in your progress in between degrees? I don't want to just do nothing in between meetings, if you know what I mean. And I just have to enthuse - the Chaplain gave me the Stair lecture, and oh - that woman missed her calling as a storyteller. I was just rapt through the whole thing. Anna | | Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 | 12:42 pm
[erik_j_meyer]
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| | Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 | 8:06 pm
[heimdall]
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petition query
I am new here and I'm hoping that someone could answer my question. I'm in the process of petitioning for my local lodge. The petition requires that I obtain two vouchers, yet I do not personally know any masons (although I did ask one I didn't know for petitioning). Does anyone have any good ideas on soliciting vouchers? I have a genuine desire to proceed with this process but I'm at a loss here.. | | Monday, January 5th, 2009 | 2:34 pm
[templarwolf]
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Well, we had our installations at Parker Lodge yesterday. They decided to bump me up to Senior Deacon. I have the sneaking suspicion they may be trying to fast-track me through all of the offices and eventually into the Master's chair. Of course, being such a small lodge, it seems almost everyone has already had their turn in the hot seat. | | Sunday, December 14th, 2008 | 1:06 pm
[templarwolf]
|
Ode to Joy
Not exactly Masonic, but I found this (new window) rather interesting, and thought I'd share. |
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