From ???@??? Sun Nov 15 20:29:28 1998 From: "JWakefield"
I am new to the list.My best intro is at my web page,including links. JOSH
WAKEFIELD- - also www. pages.cthome.net/jwakefield
From ???@??? Mon Nov 16 20:07:37 1998
from: "Michael E. Jennings, Jr."
Brothers:
I'm new to this list so I bring you all warm fraternal greetings from the Most
Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina.
My name is Mike Jennings and I'm a member of Doric Lodge #28 in Durham, North
Carolina. I'm also a member of C. Hudson #63 (RAM) and Durham Consistory #218,
AASR (SJ) both in Durham, NC.
I look forward to interacting with you all via this wonderful medium of
cybersapce!
Frateranlly,
Michael E. Jennings, Jr.
From ???@??? Mon Nov 16 21:02:36 1998
From: alberto vallini
Welcome, Brother.
I agree with you and despite the list is still so young i am really confident
that it could highly enhance our chances of improving our knowledge. Moreover
it appears like one of the few lists devoted to a full ranged concept of
Free-Masonry and not just to specifical chapters or Orders or Guilds. As you
correctly stated, this new medium provides us with means of an unprecedented
might, and it is a sheer joy to know that we can talk, interact, and share our
thoughts, ideas, projects and feelings also with people so far away without
having to move or to necessarily travel overseas. I am sure it will benefit
all
of us and our capabilities of producing much better works- how do you say in
the Usa? To the Glory of the Great Architect of the Universe (uhm, i don't
think it is a correct translation) and for the good of Mankind?- in here where
I live it sounds: A Gloria del Grande Architetto dell Universo per il Bene
dell' Umanità. So we also learn a bit of languages eh eh :-)
Thank you for your greetings
alberto vallini
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 04:37:26 1998
From: "Michael E. Jennings, Jr."
Brothers:
My jurisdiction allows membership at age 18. however I've seen very few
Brothers who are under the age of 21 petition lodges in my jurisdiction. I
personally feel that most (but certainly not all) 18 year olds are a bit young
for the institution of masonry.
People these days are living much longer, staying in school longer, waiting
later to get married, etc. Whith these cultural factors in mind I think
Free-Masonry here in North Carolina should consider pushing back the age minimum
to 21.
Of course the flip side to this is that masonry is first manifest in one's
heart. Does this not apply to 18 year old "men" as well as 21 year olds? After
all 18 year olds can vote, own property, marry, and fight in wars.
This a question to be considered seriously. Howeve,r the reality in this
jurisdiction is that probably fewer than 1% of all Brothers who are accepted are
under the age of 21. Not to mention that the few I've seen at very young ages
(18-19 yrs. old) have often petitioned lodges because their father "pushed" them
to do so. This is certainly not a good thing...
Fraternally,
Mike Jennings
Doric #28
Durham, North Carolina
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 04:37:28 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Re: Age Minimum
From: "Byrne"
Michael E. Jennings, Jr. wrote
>My jurisdiction allows membership at age 18. however I've seen very few
>Brothers who are under the age of 21 petition lodges in my jurisdiction
under UGLE the age minimum is 21 but there is are exceptions and the
university of cambridge lodge has an age limit of 18
fraternally
Patrick Byrne
Author of 'The Long Lost Secrets of Free-Masonry and
Rennes-le-Chateau' available as download or CD at
www.internetlibrary.demon.co.uk
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 04:36:08 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Welcome Mike
From: Pat Diller
Welcome Brother Mike.Nice to have you on the list. I am sure that this
list will turn into a wonderful area
for all masons to meet and discuss issues. I'm not sure how many are on
the list now, but how about taking
our first pole and hopefully first thread that I know off..
What do all of you think about age requirements of members? Should they
be 21, 18, or something different?
Why?
Pat Diller
S.W. Lakeville Lodge #353
Lakeville, IN
From ???@??? Tue Nov 17 00:29:41 1998
Famous Masons
Abbott, Sir John J.C. - Prime Minister of Canada 1891-92
Adams, Samual -former president of the US
Aldrin, Edwin E. – Astronaut
Armstrong, Louis - Jazz Musician
Armstrong, Neil – Astronaut
Arnold, General Henry "Hap" - Commander of the Army Air Force
Austin, Stephen F. - Father of Texas
Autry, Gene – Actor
Bach, Jahann Christian – Composer
Baldwin, Henry - Supreme Court Justice
Balfour, Lloyd – Jewelry
Bartholdi, Frederic A. - Designed the Statue of Liberty
Bassie, William "Count" - Orchestra leader/composer
Baylor, Robert E. B. - Founder Baylor University
Beard, Daniel Carter - Founder Boy Scouts
Bell, Lawrence - Bell Aircraft Corp.
Bennett, Viscount R.B. - Prime Minister of Canada 1930-35
Berlin, Irving – Entertainer
Black, Hugo L. - Supreme Court Justice
Blair, Jr., John - Supreme Court Justice
Blatchford, Samuel - Supreme Court Justice
Borden, Sir Robert L. - Prime Minister of Canada 1911-1920
Borglum, Gutzon & Lincoln - Father and Son who carved Mt. Rushmore
Borgnine, Ernest – Actor
Bowell, Sir Mackenzie - Prime Minister of Canada 1894-96
Bowie, James – Alamo
Bradley, Omar N. - Military leader
Brant, Joseph - Chief of the Mohawks 1742 – 1807
BuBois, W.E.B. - Educator/scholar
Buchanan, James - President of the U.S.
Burnett, David G. - 1st President of the Republic of Texas
Burns, Robert - The National Poet of Scotland
Burton, Harold H. - Supreme Court Justice
Byrd, Admiral Richard E. - Flew over North Pole
Byrnes, James F. - Supreme Court Justice
Calvo, Father Francisco - Catholic Priest who started Free-Masonry in Costa
Rica 1865
Carson, Christopher "Kit" - Frontiersman, scout and explorer
Casanova - Italian Adventurer, writer and entertainer
Catton, John - Supreme Court Justice
Chagrin, Jean Francious -designer of The Arc De Triomphe in Paris, France
Chamberlain, Joshua L. –civil war hero, former governor of Maine
Chrysler, Walter P. - Automotive fame
Churchill, Winston - British Leader
Citroen, Andre - French Engineer and motor car manufacturer
Clark, Roy - Country Western Star
Clark, Thomas C. - Supreme Court Justice
Clark, William – Explorer
Clarke, John H. - Supreme Court Justice
Clemens, Samuel L. - Mark Twain – writer
Cobb, Ty - Baseball Player
Cody, "Buffalo Bill" William - Indian fighter, Wild West Show
Cohan, George M. - Broadway star
Cole, Nat 'King' - Great ballad singer
Collodi, Carlo - Writer of Pinocchio
Colt, Samuel - Firearms inventor
Combs, Earle Bryan - Baseball Hall of Fame
Crockett, David - American Frontiersman and Alamo fame
Cushing, William - Supreme Court Justice
DeMille, Cecil -Actor
Dempsey, Jack – Sports
Desaguliers, John Theophilus - Inventor of the planetarium
Devanter, Willis Van - Supreme Court Justice
Dewey, Thomas -presidential candidate
Diefenbaker, John G. - Prime Minister of Canada 1957-63
Dole, Robert -former senator from Kansas, presidential candidate
Doolittle, General James - Famous Air Force Pilot
Douglas, William O. - Supreme Court Justice
Dow, William H. - Dow Chemical Co.
Doyle, Sir Author Conan - Writer - Sherlock Holmes
Drake, Edwin L - American Pioneer of the Oil industry
Dunant, Jean Henri - Founder of the Red Cross
Edward VII - King of England
Edward VIII - King of England who abdicated the throne in less than 1 year
Ellington, Duke - Composer, Arranger and Stylist
Ellsworth, Oliver - Supreme Court Justice
Ervin Jr, Samual J. - Headed "Watergate" committee
Faber, Eberhard - Head of the famous Eberhard Fabor Pencil Company
Fairbanks, Douglas - Silent film actor
Field, Stephen J. - Supreme Court Justice
Fields, W.C. – Actor
Fisher, Geoffrey - Archbishop of Canterbury 1945 – 1961
Fitch, John - Inventor of the Steamboat
Fleming, Sir Alexander - Invented Penicillin
Ford, Gerald R. - President of the U.S.
Ford, Henry - Pioneer Automobile Manufacturer
Franklin, Benjamin - 1 of 13 Masonic signers of Constitution of the U.S.
Fulton, Robert -inventor of 1st submarine and steam powered warship
Gable, Clark – Actor
Garfield, James A. - President of the U.S.
Gatling, Richard J. - Built the "Gatling Gun"
George VI - King of England during W.W. II
Gibbon, Edward - Writer - Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Gilbert, Sir William S. - Was the librettis for "Pirates of Penzance"
Gillett, King C. - Gillett Razor Co.
Glenn, John H. - First American to orbit the earth in a space craft
Godfrey, Arthur – Actor
Goldwater, Barry -former senator from Arizonia, presidential candidate
Grant, Ulysees S. -US military leader and US president
Gray, Harold Lincoln - Creator of "Little Orphan Annie"
Grissom, Virgil – Astronaut
Grock - Swiss Circus Clown
Guillotin, Joseph Ignace - Inventor of the "Guillotin"
Hancock, John - 1of9 Masonic signers of Declaration of Independence
Harding, Warren G. - President of the U.S.
Hardy, Oliver - Actor – Comedian
Harlan, John M. - Supreme Court Justice
Hayden, Josef -famous composer
Hedges, Cornelius - "Father" of Yellowstone National Park
Henry, Patrick – Patriot
Henson, Josiah - Inspired the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
Hilton, Charles C. - American Hotelier
Hoban, James - Architect for the U.S. Captial
Hoe, Richard M. - Invented the rotory press, revolutinizing newspaper
printing
Hoover, J. Edgar - Director of FBI
Hope, Bob – Comedian
Hornsby, Rogers - An original member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
Houdini, Harry – Magician
Houston, Sam - 2nd&4th President of the Republic of Texas
Jackson, Andrew - President of the U.S.
Jackson, Reverend Jesse – Minister
Jackson, Robert H. - Supreme Court Justice
Jenner, Edward - Inventor – Vaccination
Johnson, Andrew - President of the U.S.
Jolson, Al - Fame as the first 'talkinf picture' the Jazz Singer
Jones, Anson - 5th President of the Republic of Texas
Jones, John Paul - Naval Commander
Jones, Melvin - One of the founders of the Lions International
Kemp, Jack -quarterback for Buffalo Bills, former congressman, vice
presidential candidate
Key, Francis Scott - Wrote U.S. National Anthem
Khan III, Aga – Statesman
Kipling, Rudyard – Writer
La Guardia, Fiorella H. - La Guardia Airport, Mayor of New York 1930's &
40's
Lafayette, Marquis de - Supporter of American Freedom
Lake, Simon - Built first submarine successful in open sea.
Lamar, Joseph E. - Supreme Court Justice
Lamar, Mirabeau B. - 3rd President of the Republic of Texas
Land, Frank S. - Founder Order of DeMolay
Lewis, Meriwether – Explorer
Lincoln, Elmo - First actor to play Tarzan of the Apes (1918)
Lindbergh, Charles – Aviator
Lipton, Sir Thomas - Founder Lipton Tea Company
Livingston, Robert - Co-Negotiator for purchase of Louisiana Territory
Lloyd, Harold C. – Entertainer
Macadam, John -invented "blacktop pavement"
MacArthur, General Douglas - Commander of Armed Forces in Philillines
MacDonald, Sir John A. - Prime Minister of Canada 1867-73 & 1878-91
Marshall, George C. -US military leader
Marshall, James W. - Discovered Gold at Sutter's Mill California 1848
Marshall, John - Chief Justice U.S. Supreme Court 1801 – 1835
Marshall, Thurgood - Supreme Court Justice
Mathews, Stanley - Supreme Court Justice
Mayer, Louis B. - Film producer who merged to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Mayo, Dr. William and Charles - Founded the Mayo Clinic
Maytag, Fredrick – Maytag
McKinley, William - President of the U.S.
Mecherle, George Jacob - Founder, State Farm Insurance
Menninger, Karl A. - Psychiatrist famous for treating mental illness
Mesmer, Franz Anton - practiced Mesmerism which led to Hypnotism
Michelson, Albert Abraham - Successfully measured the speed of light in 1882
Minton, Sherman - Supreme Court Justice
Mix, Tom - U.S. Marshal turned actor. Stared in over 400 western films
Monroe, James - President of the U.S.
Montgolfier, Jacques Etienne - Co-developer of the first practical hot-air
balloon
Moody, William H. - Supreme Court Justice
Morris, Dr. Robert - Poet and Founder of the Order of Eastern Star
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Composer
Murphy, Audie - Most decorated American Soldier of WWII.
Naismith, James - Inventor of Basketball
Nelson, Samuel - Supreme Court Justice
New, Harry S. - Postmaster General who established Airmail
Newton, Joseph Fort - Christian Minister
Nunn, Sam - U.S. Senator
Olds, Ransom E. - American automobile pioneer
Otis, James - Famous for "Taxations without Representation is Tyranny"
Palmer, Arnold - Golf Pro
Papst, Charles F. - Coined the term "Athletes Foot"
Paterson, William - Supreme Court Justice
Peale, Norman Vincent - Founder of "Guidepost" and Minister
Peary, Robert E. - First man to reach the North Pole (1909)
Penny, James C. – Retailer
Pershing, John Joseph - Decorated American Soldier
Pike, Zebulon - Pike's Peak named after him
Pitney, Mahlon - Supreme Court Justice
Poinsett, Joel R. - U.S. Minister to Mexico who developed the flower:
Poinsettia
Polk, James Knox - President of the U.S.
Pullman, George - Built first sleeping car on train.
Pushkin, Aleksander - Russian Poet
Reed, Stanley F. - Supreme Court Justice
Revere, Paul - Famous American
Rickenbacker, Eddie - Great American Air Force Ace
Ridgeway, Matthew -US military leader
Ringling Brothers - All 7 brothers and their father were Masons.
Robinson, Sugar Ray - American Boxer
Rogers, Roy - American cowboy and screen star
Rogers, Will – Actor
Roosevelt, Franklin D. - President of the U.S.
Roosevelt, Theodore - President of the U.S.
Rutledge, Wiley B. - Supreme Court Justice
Salten, Felix - Creator of Bambi
Sarnoff, David - Father of T.V.
Sax, Adolphe -invented the saxophone
Sax, Antoine Joseph - Invented the Saxophone (1846)
Schoonover, George - Founder of "The Builder"
Scott, Sir Walter – Writer
Sellers, Peter – Actor
Sexson, Mark - Minister & Founder: Intl. Order of Rainbow for Girls
Shakespeare, William – Writer
Sibelius, Jean - Composer (Finland)
Skelton, Red – Entertainer
Smith, John Stafford - Wrote the music that became the US National Anthem.
Sousa, John Philip - Led the U.S. Marine Band from 1880 – 1892
Stanford, Leland - & founded Stanford University
Stanford, Leland - Drove the gold spike linking the intercontinetal railroad
Stewart, Potter - Supreme Court Justice
Still, Andrew T. - American Physician who devised treatment of Osteopathy
Stratton, Charles "Tom Thumb" – Entertainer
Swayne, Noah H. - Supreme Court Justice
Swift, Johathan - Wrote Gulliver's Travels
Taft, William Howard - President of the U.S.
Teets, John W. - Chairman and President of Dial Corporation
Thomas, Danny - Actor, Entertainer
Thomas, Dave - Founder of Wendy’s Restaurant
Thomas, Lowell - Brought Lawrence of Arabia to public notice
Thurston, Howard - Last of the great vaudeville magicians.
Tillis, Mel - Country Singer
Tirpitz, Alfred Von - German Naval officer responsible for submarine warfare
Todd, Thomas - Supreme Court Justice
Travis, Colonel William B. – Alamo
Trimble, Robert - Supreme Court Justice
Truman, Harry S. - President of the U.S.
Vinson, Frederick M. - Supreme Court Justice
Voltaire - French writer and philosopher
Wadlow, Robert Pershing - Tallest human on record being almost 9 feet tall
Wallace, Governor George C. - Presidential Candidate who was nearly
assasinated
Wallace, Lewis - Wrote "Ben Hur"
Warner, Jack - Warner Brothers Fame
Warren, Earl - Supreme Court Justice
Washington, Booker T - Educator and author
Washington, George - President of US, 1st
Wayne, John – Actor
Webb, Matthew - First man to swim the English Channel (1875)
Whiteman, Paul - "King of Jazz"
Wilde, Oscar – Writer
Woodbury, Levi - Supreme Court Justice
Woods, William B. - Supreme Court Justice
Wootton MD, Percy - President American Medical Association (1997- )
Wright, Orville and Wilber -created with invention of flight
Wyler, William - Director of "Ben Hur"
Young, Cy - Cy Young Award
Zanuck, Darryl F. - Co-founder of 20th Century Productions in 1933
Ziegfeld, Florenz - His Ziegfeld's Follies began in 1907
Famous Prince Hall Masons
Abbott, Robert Sengstacke -founder/publisher CHICAGO DEFENDER
Allen Richard -founder/first bishop AME Church
Herbert, James -"Eubie" Blake, composer/pianist
Basie, William "Count" -orchestra leader/composer
Bradley, Thomas -mayor of Los Angeles, California
Cole, Nathaniel "Nat King" -singer
DuBois, W.E.B. -educator/author/historian
Ellington, Edward Kennedy "Duke" -orchestra leader/composer
Evers, Medger Wiley -civil rights leader
Forten, James -abolitionist/manufacturer
Fortune, Timothy Thomas -journalist
Gidron, Richard D. -president, Dick Gidron Cadillac
Haley, Alex -author
Handy, William C. -composer
Hawkins, Augustus F. -U.S. Congressman California
Hampton, Lionel -orchestra leader/composer
Henson, Matthew -explorer
Hooks, Benjamin L. -Former Executive Director NAACP
James, Daniel "Chappie" -general U.S. Air Force
Johnson, John H. -publisher EBONY and Jet magazines
Marshall, Thurgood -Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
Mays, Benjamin -educator/former president Atlanta University
Metcalfe, Ralph H. -Olympic champion
Randolph, Phillip -founder/ first president, Internat. Brotherhood Sleeping
Car Porters
Rangel, Charles B. -U.S. Congressman New York
Robinson, Sugar Ray -mid/light heavy boxing champion
Stokes, Carl B. -first Black elected mayor, Cleveland, OH
Stokes, Louis -U.S. Congressman Ohio
Washington, Booker T. -educator/founder Tuskegee Institute
Williams, Egbert Austin "Bert" -actor/ comedian
Williamson, Harry A. -author/Masonic historian
Young, Andrew -former mayor of Atlanta
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 06:12:56 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Re: Age Minimum
From: alberto vallini
Hallo Michael,
Uhm, I dunno how it works in Usa but i can say something about that in Italy,
at least referring to the Grande Oriente d' Italia, which is the main masonic
family in here (exact match and equivalent to Grand Lodge of XX).
I never saw a freemason younger than 22, and also those are exceptions. The
average age is about 30. Normally, there are institutions that allow to
develop
a brotherood for people under 18yo, but those are specific to them, and should
surely be considered a preparation for the future possible affilation to some
grand lodge.
If i think of myself at 18 or also 21, i must confess i was deeply immature.
Surely, you get more and more wisdom as years go on, and following this
pattern
we should allow initiations only for 80yo people :-) Despite this I agree with
you: 18 yo is too young. The relation with the masonic institution than would
be too asymmetrical: the teenager could highly improve his/her chances of a
deeper insight, but could not give back a meaningful contribution to the
Lodge.
And we know how beautiful it is in a Lodge when you can give and have the
feeling of having been and made sth constructive for all the other brothers. I
suppose 21yo would be a fair limit, anyway without pushing it on any further.
Stated this, i should also add sth that i'd like to know if you agree with: i
think that the contribution you can give as an Apprentice (right word? if not,
say 1° degree), and so an arguably young fellow, cannot really differ by the
contribution you could give as, say, a 18°. There is nothing that you can NOT
do as an Apprentice that you would instead be able to do as a Master,
actually.
There is a not too suggestive but anyway effective metaphor that i use when i
see a fresh Apprentice: keep in mind that what Masonry can be or cannot be for
You, what Masonry can give to You or deny to You, what Masonry could do for
your enthusiasm or your disappointment is not determined by what Masonry is or
is not: it is entirely determined by Your way of interpreting Free-Masonry:
it's
like a wonderful car You're sitting in: You see the wheel, the commands, the
colours, the nice seats and You think: mmh, nice car, but id doesn't go.
Normal: You must start and drive it.
So i humbly think that 21yo would be a better choice than 18, but it is also
true that sometimes we see 60yo masons that still live Masonry in a passive
way.
I hope this could be a thought of some use for this subject and also to the
Construction of a universal Temple of a better Mankind.
I saw that movie recently: Saving Private Ryan. It is engraved in my mind and
it shocked me, and i think it is true the last statement said by the dying
Capitan to the just "saved" Ryan: "James, deserve it... deserve it".
I think that a freeMason has a deeper awareness that He/She is working to
deserve the sacrifices that many anonymous men made in the past to grant a
better future to all of us.
BTW i am also endeavouring to develop a list of the FreeMasons that fought in
the WWII. I still received a meaningful help by a Brother from Indiana (at
least I know that some memories about this specific issues seem being existing
in some lodges), but i'd be grateful to any possible contribution. I think it
could be a nice and neat work being able to collect a list that would honour
their memory along with our Institutions.
Thanks anf greetings to all
Alberto Vallini
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 16:34:16 1998
From: "Gordon Vincent"
The minimum age in Scotland is21, except for the sons of masons
who can join at 18. I have two Sons in the Craft, neither asked to join
by myself nor did I propose or second them. The youngest who joined
first at 19, is a keen Mason now at the age of 31 is a Past Master, a
Past Principal in the Royal Arch, and a Past Preceptor in the Temple.
His older Brother, joined at 32, got his three degrees and his Mark
and never went back.
WFR
Gordon Vincent
Lodge Glenrothes 1549
Lodge Earlshall 1292
Lodge Rothes 532
Lodge Hope of Kurrachee 337
Scotland
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 16:34:18 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Re: Age Minimum
From: fm/jv
Dear Brothers:
I am a mason who came from Nicaragua after the revolution of 1979. I
have lived in
the States since 1980 and become U. S. citizen in 1992. Whit this
preamble I tell
you that I see the American culture and Masonry here from a different
perspective.
It was surprising for me to find that teenagers are still children. I
have noticed
that we in our American culture prevent their emotional growth in many
ways.
However, they are able to engender since they are 12 or 13. In my mother
lodge, if
the person was 18 and able to pay the required membership contribution,
he was
received and initiated.
I understand the issue as Bro.'. Michael defines it. However, I could
not
understand in 1986 when I was seminary student the individual cycles as
our American
psychologists teach them. From 20 to 30 the person tries to find
himself or
herself. He or she settled down from 30 to 35 to establish a family.
It is until
this cycle when the person is mature. Bro.'. Michael is right when he
says that
People these days are living much longer, staying in school longer,
waiting later
to get married, etc. With these cultural factors in mind I think
Free-Masonry here
in North Carolina should consider pushing back the age minimum to 21.
I wonder if
people do not come to the masonry because they do not feel mature enough
to function
in an organization of this kind. If the theory of the personal cycles
is true, this
could be a major reason.
>From a Hispanic perspective, I see other reasons. First of all, our
times and
culture has changed, this is to say people expectations and life style,
but Masonry
has not. Masonry remains the same in its form and procedures. We need
a kind of
"Second Vatican Council" to open the Masonry to everybody. We need to
think on how
we can make our organization and rituals so attractive that people feel
absorbed
into its philosophy and life style. I would formally propose to keep
rituals and
philosophical principles, but to change rules and procedures to
introduce and
promote new members.
Second, in the case of our youth, we should start to wonder what would
appeal to
them and what would attract them into our Masonry. What changes we have
to
promote. For years we have used the word "Accepted" with good historic
and
philosophical reasons. However, attracting instead of accepting others
to our
Masonry requires that we become proactively intentional. It requires
that we move
ahead to be consonant with our modern computerized society. Instead of
accepting
new members, we should invite new people to come and work with us to
construct the
moral new basis of our society. In one phrase, we have to change many
things.
Indeed, these changes would require a complete transformation of our
institutional
masonry.
What I am saying is nothing new. When big companies have little margin
for growth,
they either renew their vision, split, merge, or they die. Institutions
as
corporations live by cycles. Masonry is not the exception. If we do
not makes
big changes to make our masonry available for the young people of the
new century,
our masonry will die. Let's put an example. We have had for years
memorizing the
rituals as the main key to open the doors of our temples. It is
undeniable that
our modern American society separates each day more and more from the
need to
memorize anything. The gamut of digital equipment, computers and
computer programs,
make memorizing an unnecessary function of our brains. The tendency is
to make life
easier and more comfortable. Thus, memorizing the rituals as requisite
to advance
within our institution makes our Masonry
unattractive. If memorizing the rituals were incentives to walk on the
steps from
the first to the last degree, in the present they are not needed
anymore. They are
obstacles difficult to save, and the rewards the new masons receive do
not pay for
their efforts. Ham Radio clubs also struggle with a similar problem.
Many wonder
if the new club members should pass a code Morse test to get a license
and use the
low frequencies bands, when they know how painful is to learn the dah
dah di dits.
I was the Master of the Oldest Masonic Lodge in Nicaragua before I moved
to the
United States. In my mother lodge as well as in all Latin-American
lodges, we
emphasize moral values and rhetoric. We reduce the emphasis on memory
to the
minimum, to concepts rather than to literal recalling. In last trip I
made to
Nicaragua two months ago, I noticed that this emphasis is what has
contributed more
than anything else to the flourishing of our masonry there.
Intellectuals join our
lodges for our emphasis in rhetoric, and practical good people for our
emphasis in
moral values. I wonder if it is not the time to seriously act to
safeguard the
future of our Masonry in America. I wonder if we have to wait until we
see that
many of our lodges close their doors for insufficient attendance to wake
up and make
the deep changes that will attract good people to our temples. I cannot
see the
future. Nevertheless, there is a challenge: How to make our Masonry
available to
every honest man who has good customs. Who has the answer?
I am sorry for my long email. This is the first time I am
participating. I hope
this will end in a good and constructive discussion.
Fraternally,
Frederick Machado
viegas@access1.net
San Diego, California
Michael E. Jennings, Jr. wrote:
People these days are living much longer, staying in school longer,
waiting
later to get married, etc. With these cultural factors in mind I
think
Free-Masonry here in North Carolina should consider pushing back the
age minimum
to 21.
Of course the flip side to this is that masonry is first manifest in
one's
heart. Does this not apply to 18 year old "men" as well as 21 year
olds? After
all 18 year olds can vote, own property, marry, and fight in wars.
This is a question to be considered seriously. However the reality in
this
jurisdiction is that probably less than 1% of all Brothers who are
accepted are
under the age of 21. Not to mention that the few I've seen at very
young ages
(18-19 yrs. old) have often petitioned lodges because their father
"pushed" them
to do so. This is certainly not a good thing...
Fraternally,
Mike Jennings
Doric #28
Durham, North Carolina
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 16:34:26 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Re: Age Minimum
From: "Doug McLean"
Hi brother,
In Victoria, Australia, the only person admitted to Free-Masonry under the
age of 21 i.e 18 years plus must be the son of a Freemason and is known as a
Lewis.
Wor Bro Doug McLean PGJD
UGLV.
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 16:34:42 1998
From: "Michael E. Jennings, Jr."
Brothers:
First to Bro Vallini I must ask for clarification on a statement that you have
made. you mentioned that an Entered Apprentice can do little (or nothing) that
a Master Mason can not do. I ask for clarification because here in the Prince
Hall lodges in the USA we conduct ALL business on the third degree. Therefore,
Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts can do little or nothing in our lodge
except receive degrees.
Bro Viegas, I respectfully disagree iwth your assertions to reduce the amount of
ritual work that must be learned (memorized?) to become a Master Mason. I
cannot speak for other lodges or jurisdictions, but I can comfortably say that
for Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA) masons, this d"learning" of the ritual is
imperative. The main reason I think stems form who "we" are. PHA masonry is
primarily (but by no means exclusively!) populated by African-Americans.
Because of our heritage and our historical legacy in America the concept and
practice of oral history and narrative has meant a great deal to us as a people.
We have carried this concept over to our practice of masonry. Thus the oral
recitation of ritual has become a part of the PHA tradition that reflects
African-American culture in perhaps its most noble form. If that tradition were
lost in PHA masonry, "we" would be in danger of losing part of our heritage as
African-Amrican people. For this reason, I doubt if you will ever find a PHA
Grand Lodge that would sanction subordiante lodges not having candidates
memorize masonic catechism.
This is a complicated issue (culture/race and masonry) so please forgive me if I
have rambled on or just plain not made myself clear (smile).
Fraternally,
Michael E. Jennings,Jr.
Doric Lodge #28 (PHA)
Durham, NC
P.S. Bro. McLean what is a "lewis"?
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 16:34:50 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Re: Clarification + Opinions
From: "Byrne"
Michael E. Jennings, Jr. wrote
>First to Bro Vallini I must ask for clarification on a statement that you
have
>made. you mentioned that an Entered Apprentice can do little (or nothing)
that
>a Master Mason can not do.
----------
we are speculative masons not operative therefore the joy is in the
discovery of each new degree and the lessons they teach us
-----------
>Therefore,
>Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts can do little or nothing in our lodge
>except receive degrees.
-----------
and each new degree brings with it a new message to be learned and
understood
-----------
>Bro Viegas, I respectfully disagree iwth your assertions to reduce the
amount of
>ritual work that must be learned (memorized?) to become a Master Mason.
------------
the amount necessary to become a master mason is - under UGLE - miniscule
compared with that necessary to become a master of the lodge. but only by
learning do you come to understand what it means.
some constitutions such as germany and france do not learn the ritual but
read it, in my opinion it is hard to see how one can fully appreciate the
message until one has gone through the process of learning it by heart.
fraternally
Patrick Byrne
Author of 'The Long Lost Secrets of Free-Masonry and
Rennes-le-Chateau' available as download or CD at
www.internetlibrary.demon.co.uk
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 17:08:32 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Re: Clarification + Opinions
Uh...! Well, in this case we have discovered something. The situation looks
like this. An Entered Apprentice has actually no masonic rights, neither the
right to speak in Lodge nor to vote for the elections of Wardens and Master.
Actually, this does not prevent him from taking initiatives. Writing tables
(uhm, essays, we call them Tavole. how do you name a masonic writings made
from
a Bro?) and articles for Masonic magazines (i think we can also deliver some
copy to you but obviously only persons able to read italian would understand.
In a couple of case we have got articles written by Entered Apprentices whose
level of knowledge of masonry seemed to outrange the knowledge of many a
Master) is alloweed. Any Apprentice can buy books that would delve him more
into our symbolisms. Here in italy the jewels symbols and holy (?) words of
any
Scottish degree are a "secret" but you find thousands of books in shops where
anything is described in full detail, even rites for the 33°: than nothing
prevents the Apprentice from maturing his outlook about symbols that would not
belong to his degree: he cannot speak of them in Lodge, but he can write as
long as he likes and give this work to any Master he prefers, unless he does
not give those writings out to non masons.
Second: many a Lodge would actually give permissions to Entered Apprentice to
speak in Lodge. usually there comes a time when the Master says that he
concede
the words to the Apprentices also. Than they can express their opinions and
give their contributions fully. Moreover, it is almost normal that an
Apprentice is scheduled for reading his work in the Lodge. Sometimes the
subject is assigned by the Master, other times it is an initiative of the
Apprentice, many times the Master himself solicits the Apprentices to choose a
subject on their own and develop a work for the Lodge on it. This allows any
Apprentice (whose cultural level in some cases is not inferior to the one of a
Master) to help out for the construction of the Temple and, most of all,
allows
the Masters to know who the apprentice is.
A petitioner is a petitioner, and in Italy FreeMasons are not choosen
following the criteria of the family they belong to: you don't need to be a
relative I mean: so he is introduced by some Masons that has got an
acquaintance with him but no one can know the exact range of the
personality we
are dealing with. So the assumption is: if we not start learning what kind
of a
man is this when we will know that he is mature enough for becoming a
Master or
even our Master?
Hey, hoping thyis helps :)
Best regards to all and thank you
«There is another sort of blow that comes from within- that you don't feel
until it's too late to do anything about it, until you realize with
finality that in some regard you will never be as good a man again»
F.S.Fitzgerald
Alberto Vallini
From ???@??? Wed Nov 18 17:24:02 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Re: reading the rituals
From: alberto vallini
QUOTE
>From: "Byrne"
>the amount necessary to become a master mason is - under UGLE - miniscule
>compared with that necessary to become a master of the lodge. but only by
>learning do you come to understand what it means.
>some constitutions such as germany and france do not learn the ritual but
>read it, in my opinion it is hard to see how one can fully appreciate the
>message until one has gone through the process of learning it by heart.
>fraternally
>Patrick Byrne
>Author of 'The Long Lost Secrets of Free-Masonry and
>Rennes-le-Chateau' available as download or CD at
>www.internetlibrary.demon.co.uk
UNQUOTE
This happens also in Italy: the rituals are always read. No effort by heart is
required.
I think this is fair because sometimes the rituals are really complicated. But
on the other hand it has got a puzzling and bewildering effect: some masons
would not realize when they are mispelling or on the wrong line! I must
confess
I would prefer if at least the main ritual of everyday works would be learned
by heart.
«There is another sort of blow that comes from within- that you don't feel
until it's too late to do anything about it, until you realize with
finality that in some regard you will never be as good a man again»
F.S.Fitzgerald
Alberto Vallini
From ???@??? Thu Nov 19 11:41:28 1998
From: "Duncan J. Moore"
Dear Michael,
All due respect to the traditions of your Prince Hall obedience, but aren't
you missing Bro Vallini's point ?
If Masonry has to re-position itdself in order not to become moribund but
to continue to grow, should the learning
of ritual by rote necessarily be a feature of future developments ?
I owe allegiance both to the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grande
Loge Nationale Francaise, the former encourages
learning, the latter insists on the ritual being read (at least in Scottish
Rite).
It may be different in Prince Hall because of the cultural aspect, but in
general where ritual is learned, is it always understood ?
Which is more important - to be able to recite great tracts of ritual and
not understand it or to use that ritual to enhance one's
grasp of the moral tenets of our Masonic Craft ?
Sincerely and fraternally,
Duncan Moore
Hamilton 5454, UGLE
Duquesne 48, GLNF
From ???@??? Fri Nov 20 02:52:39 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] PH
From: alberto vallini
I think this would sound unpopular, but could improve the knowledge of
masonic rituals between brothers that belong to different nations, which is
something unavoidable when on an international list (17 subscriptions
worldwide so far, in 40 days).
I understand what a Grand Lodge is (in italy the equivalent sounds
different: Grande Oriente. Gran Loggia is a term usually reserved for the
rite in the Lodge where the Gran Maestro leads the works, namely in Rome.
we have in Italy also a Gran Loggia d' Italia which is deceptive: that's a
minor obedience, that counts no more than 800 "brothers" in the whole
Italy). I see that Scottish Rite is the same also overseas but i have not
very clear what a Prince Hall is: it looks like sth english or Us specific:
is it a rite, a different obedience, a synonimous for Grand Lodge or what?
Thank you for your help. Languages are a bit tricky you see.
Bye for now dear Brothers
.
«There is another sort of blow that comes from within- that you don't feel
until it's too late to do anything about it, until you realize with
finality that in some regard you will never be as good a man again»
(F.S.Fitzgerald)
Alberto Vallini
From ???@??? Fri Nov 20 02:52:41 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] The best of both worlds...
From: "Michael E. Jennings, Jr."
Brother Moore:
I agree with you wholeheartedly! Understading ritual is far more important than
memorizing ritual. But why can't we have both??!!
Frataernally,
Michael E. Jennings, Jr.
Doric Lodge #28 (PHA)
Durham, NC
From ???@??? Wed Nov 25 22:41:51 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] technical work
From: alberto vallini
Hallo,
this is a short message to let you know that your "moderator" :-) that
actually is not a moderator but merely carries on the "administrative"
stuff, is making valuable efforts to increase the number of our subscribers
:-) We are just 17 so far but i am confident the recent work will pay off
and that we will soon add more people to our list, with ,hopefully,
benefits for all of us in exchanging our thoughts, ideas, and improving a
better acquaintance with Free-Masonry. The more i attend masonry, the more i
like it, even after some years!
best regards to all and, for the American Brothers, i hope You've had a
nice Thanksgiving
.
«There is another sort of blow that comes from within- that you don't feel
until it's too late to do anything about it, until you realize with
finality that in some regard you will never be as good a man again»
(F.S.Fitzgerald)
Alberto Vallini
From ???@??? Thu Nov 26 00:23:33 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Re: Grand Lodge of Nevada
From: alberto vallini
Hallo,
sorry to "bother" you with this, but i found this really moving message on a
newsgroup, and being its subject very delicate and sensitive, i post it in
case
some Bro overseas could help out maybe also contacting the respecable Grand
Lodge of Nevada for coordinating possible efforts. Thank You for your help and
i hope you understand my fraternal concern, once read the pasted message.
Subject:
A brother needs help
Date:
Thu, 19 Nov 1998 02:14:14 GMT
From:
Ron
Organization:
Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com - Discussions
start
here!
Newsgroups:
soc.org.Free-Masonry
$(***) REWARD For information leading to the arrest and
conviction of the person(s) that robbed, shot and killed ( *** not in the archive *** )
on (*** not in the archive ***), 1998, at about 11:30 PM in apartment (***),
(***) St. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Contact Sgt. (*** not in the archive ***) (***) or Secret Witness at (***)
Please send this message to all your friends in the Las Vegas, Nevada
area. This could happen to your son or daughter. (***)
(***)Lodge # (***), (***),Raised in 1955
.
.
«There is another sort of blow that comes from within- that you don't feel
until it's too late to do anything about it, until you realize with
finality that in some regard you will never be as good a man again»
(F.S.Fitzgerald)
Alberto Vallini
From the archive editor: the persons that
commited this crime have been found and arrested
From ???@??? Thu Nov 26 22:52:54 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] Welcome
From: alberto vallini
Hallo,
We have gathered some new subscriptions in these days, and I wish to
heartily welcome the new arrived to our list.
We are more than 20 now and surely we will add more over time (in Italy we
say that "Il tempo è galantuomo", time is a gentleman :-)). I hope
everybody will find this list a useful tool for discussing and improving
friendship with other Brothers and, if so, also with non Brothers
interested in Masonry as well.
I am particularly glad that we also have a Brother from India, which is a
country whose legacy of esoteric knowledge historically ranges among the
highest possible ranks.
For the new comers that could not be acquainted with emailing-lists, You
can also arrange a filter in your email client setting that any mail that
would show the trailer [Free-Masonry] in the subject line (along with the
"To" field set to Free-Masonry@eGroups.com for adjunctive safety in case the
trailer is forgotten) would be redirected to a specific folder or inbox for
easing their availability for Your consultation.
Normally only lists that count 100 subscribers would yield daily messages
(i subscribed to a list about html scripting that has 400 people and
produces 40 messages every day, God!). For lists with less subscribers the
usual pattern is that they keep silent for some days and than produce
sudden outbursts of emails on some compelling thraed.
Please, feel free to post any subject You can find interesting, and in case
of need also requests for advice. I am confident any Brother will do His
best to help out. For instance I found days ago a mesage on a Newsgroup of
a Bro who had His son killed in His own house after a robbing. It happened
in Nevada and if You need i can repost privately that email: if some
Brother can contact (or is acquainted with) the Grand Lodge of Nevada maybe
it could help leading to the arrest of the responsible(s). I think that
losing a father is sad, but losing a son is even more sad, so if we could
give also a minimal help we shouldn't save our fraternal commitment in so
sad circumstancies.
Once again, welcome and i hope You will enjoy this subscription.
Fraternally
.
«There is another sort of blow that comes from within- that you don't feel
until it's too late to do anything about it, until you realize with
finality that in some regard you will never be as good a man again»
(F.S.Fitzgerald)
Alberto Vallini
From ???@??? Sat Nov 28 16:25:23 1998
Subject: [Free-Masonry] thoughts during a stroll with an headache
From: alberto vallini
Today I had a couple of masonic thoughts that i'd like to share with you.
It was a mild mid-winter day and the occasion seemed perfect to stroll. I
also needed it for a light headache for a couple (well, say three) rhum and
colas yesterday night (yup, freemasons even drink rhums and cola at nights,
sometimes :-)) Moreover Firenze, the city i live in, is a city full of art,
with wide squares filled with monuments and stone enigmatic eagles and
lions popping out here and there, they seem staring at you, willing to
elicit thoughts out of you. I passed by our Masonic House and i startet
considering that word, "profane", by which we indicate the non-masonic
world. Profanes were everywhere than, around me, walking, leading their
lives, trying to end the day in an acceptable way or with an acceptable
compromise. What really makes the difference, i wondered? I remembered that
in my Lodge there is a Brother with whom i rarely exchange a talk. No
reasons for that. It seems having been developed between me and him that
sort of irrational diffidence that some times we have towards other people
without anything has really happened to justify it. I thought that sooner
or later this could lead to some misunderstanding between us if, one day,
we should have to talk or discuss about something. Actually a couple of
times we exchanged some words but the feeling that we were endeavouring to
do that was pretty clear, at least to me. So i figured out: this situation
could one day end up with an argument as soon as some small occasion would
occour to fire it. Than i thought: the difference must stay here. If i am a
mason, than my commitment is to make an additional effort for not being
overwhelmed by what would overwhel me in the profane life: More: if i am a
mason i have no more a profane life, so i must accomplish this effort not
only with Brothers but in any occasion (doing so just with a Brother is the
last resort, i thought). If i am a mason, i decided that i must deal with
my feeling with a bettr insight: no matter if i succeed or not, but if i am
a mason, this means that i MUST give it a try, better: a couples of tries.
So i thought that this was the real meaning for "profane": you abandoned
the simple solutions, the immediate solutions. Under this point of view,
"profane" is not a word that points out to people (the non masons) but that
points out to a metaphisical condition: by stating that we are no longer
profanes, we mean that we waved goodbye to all that, to that metaphisical
land where a man is a candle under the blows of any inner waft.
Than i added one cosideration: sometimes we wonder: why should i make this
effort when, most of the time, my counterpart or my profane interlocutor(
let's state again for a while that "profane" world is not just a region of
the soul) is so involved with, say, ignorance or meanness? the question
seemed: does this deserve my efforts? First idea, a bit evil: sure, if you
let them doing it by themselves, they'll probably concot the worst of the
possible solutions! Second: sure, i must also if some part of me thinks
this wouldn't deserve my efforts. We're all on the same boat, and if just
one person is a bit more ignorant or if just one person becomes poorer,
than all of us are automatically poorer, because we all share the same
environment: economically, politically, symbolically, metaphisically and
sociologically. After all, i thought, wasn't this what the Keynes theory
was really meaning about?
Yup, if we are masons, it means that our pledge was to intervene in any
case, even in the desperate ones even when and where anyone else would give
up,and intervening in any case means being aware of those implications.
Maybe in the offing we could even one day see really looming that better
world our ancestors fought and died for.
.
«There is another sort of blow that comes from within- that you don't feel
until it's too late to do anything about it, until you realize with
finality that in some regard you will never be as good a man again»
(F.S.Fitzgerald)
Alberto Vallini
R.·.L.·. Citius #825
Or.·. di Firenze
Grande Oriente d' Italia
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