I will be traveling to Washington DC for business the next several days and would like to catch a lodge with something going on. Any brother that is a member of a lodge where there was a meeting or something I can go to?

As title says, I'm involved in a committee to come up with fundraisers to preserve our building.

I'm most interested in what worked for you? And alternatively, at what point did you decide to move on?

We are feeling out our position on things and I feel we need a "say uncle" point and need to figure out what that looks like.

Additionally, is anyone aware of loans for reconfiguring a building to make it more profitable? It's a 4 story structure that has had housing and retail previously but currently does not.

Thanks for any and all input.

SR YR Shriners

OES Tall Cedars High Twelve Grotto Lodge of Research College of Rites

Demolay Rainbow Girls Jobs Daughter's

Can anyone think of anything I'm missing?

Hello,

A relative recently gave me some items from a family member of ours who died when I was very young. She knows that I am in the antique business. I looked up the Lodge he used to be apart of and it's actually now seems to be the largest one around.

I'm not sure what I should do with what I've been given. I didn't personally have a connection to the family member so I hold know sentimental ties to these items. Do the Lodges usually take donations for display purposes? I know they're not in the best shape. I'm just looking for some guidance from people who know better than me. Thank you for any insight!

I'm taking a simple poll to get a gage on how the brothers feel. Not looking to start a long argument thread. Many Grand Lodges require background checks, some allow Lodges set their own standards, others disapprove of background checks.

The topic of a convicted criminal joining is often debated when discussing petitioners. I know everyone has their own line in the sand of what is acceptable and what is not. This is not here to tell others they are wrong. Please treat this like a ballot in the lodge.

What is your standard for a new candidate?

View Poll

Hello all,

Two years ago, I resigned from my local Lodge as an MM in good standing due to personal issues. Fast forward to the present, I am in the process of joining a local Police Force and I was wondering if I have to disclose my former membership. I do appear in a couple of local newspapers and on the lodge's website as I did some charity events etc and an interview, therefore I am quite easy to find.

I do want to highlight that I am happy to disclose it as I have no ties to the Craft nor it is an illegal organization.

Just a bit anxious as I know that they can fail your vetting for the most random reasons... Thank you!

Hi Companions, I'm looking for a little bit of advice.

As I understand it Active Provincial Grand Officers in the Royal Arch do not give greetings when visiting another Chapter in there Province - but is this still the case when one is visiting another Province?

I'm looking to visit a few chapters in London in a few months and I don't want to appear rude not to give greetings, or fudge the rules by giving greetings some advice would be beneficial.

Thank you!

Forgive me for a slightly negative post. But in the past 2.5yr I have ran into 12 guys with ,Masonic rings, shirts , necklaces,car emblems ECT. That when approached told me they were not Masons.

Does anyone have any interesting stories they want to share or vent about.

I personally find this incredibly offensive and believe that there should be a legal fine for any miss representation of any organization, institution,union, military service ECT.

I don't understand why someone would want to pretend to be something they aren't.

Edit: sorry brothers ,I didn't think this would be such a controversial post. I appreciate all the replies,wether we disagree,argued or agreed. At the end of the day,I'm glad to be able to communicate with brothers about this topic. I'm not a politician, America is a free country and people can do, wear or feel however they want. God bless you all.

With the political climate in the US, would you notify ICE if one of your brothers was here illegally? I'm not in such a position. I've heard stories of Masons helping fellow Masons who were on opposing sides of a war in the past and I'm curious what other's perspectives are. I remember what my 3° obligation said about another brother's secrets. Does the fraternity trump (no pun intended) all or is it just skin deep for you?

Anyone know when and why Juan Sepulveda and Nick Johnson left TMR? Just wondering. I used to be a weekly watcher and then I dropped off for a while and when I returned to watching it they were gone!

Yeah just curious.

Hello,

I’ve been sorting through my grandfather’s estate as he passed recently and have found a box of freemasonry stuff, mostly what appears to be clothes/robes etc.

I’m honestly not sure what to do with them, in a way that is respectful to him having been a freemason.

What’s the process, if you don’t mind me asking? Donate? Contact the local lodge (I don’t even know which lodge he would have been a member of, would the nearest lodge be acceptable?)

Hello all!

I am looking for tips on good online stores for buying Masonic bling (looking for a tie, a ring, and perhaps a case to carry my apron). Since I am based in the EU, purchasing from the places I find on google (typically US- or UK-based) implies an extra cost related to import duty.

Can someone recommend EU-based online stores?

When I was prompted along as an EA the memory work to come was a very daunting task, I have no memory left, filled with an ocean of surface knowledge.

By some grace those waters parted an space was made, the memory work has been the easy part, the hard part is the anticipation and waiting to show my brothers my own surprise. They have been very encouraging and supportive in my Lodge.

To me the fact this work above all is sticking in my memory more then anything else, beyond cool surface knowledge, tells me that this is something that's almost meant to be

They aren’t even on time for Orthodox Christmas. It is hard to take this organization seriously sometimes. I get it - we have bigger fish to fry as a society, and since the pandemic, time has become a social construct, so maybe I should give them more leeway.

But seriously - if the schedule dictates a January mailing, don’t make it a Christmas issue. This is an easy decision. As someone in the publishing industry, this is not a hard lift.

Maybe I am too curmudgeonly. Maybe I am not forgiving enough. Maybe I’m just like my father, too bold. However, this can be done better. Let’s hope for better.

I am glad to see the good content in the magazine but let’s tighten up the workflow.

MM from a country lodge in Australia. AMA

I have an odd one for you guys, my wife works at a daycare and one of the parents came in and was wearing a Masonic baseball hat, so Wife- “oh you’re a Mason?” Guy- “you know what this is??” Wife- “yes my husband is getting his second degree on Monday!” Guy- “oh so he’s a brother! That’s awesome, I go to a lodge in Chicago, if he ever needs help fighting a ticket or anything let him know we’ll get him out of it”

Context: we live about an 1h20mins outside Chicago, there’s plenty of lodges nearby. The gentlemen could be a part of a prince hall lodge possibly but there are prince hall lodges nearby as well.

Context: EA currently will be fellowcraft after my degree this next week

This was such an odd interaction in my opinion, to me personally I’d assume this guy isn’t legit. I’ve never met this guy in person, I do however pick up my son from the same daycare but he is in a different room than the one my wife teaches in.

If I run into this guy is there any real way to tell if he’s legit or not. To me that comment was kind of a red flag but I could be wrong.

Made a post a couple weeks ago asking for advice on how to retort arguments like this because someone close to me was showing signs of discomfort with me being a mason. All was fine until this last weekend when I was told that “Freemasonry is of Satan, and there is spiritual warfare within you.” Anyway, had a pretty good practice session with my catechism coach after that. Happy to be moving forward with getting ready to be raised next month. Thank you, brethren, for the support. I’m feeling a lot better and more free in these last few days.

I am a mason, my girlfriend’s father is a mason. My girlfriend has some interested in getting involved as well and was looking into the Eastern Star. Wondering if anyone here has any opinions or insights into maybe the similar and contrasting aspects of OES in comparison to masonry by itself. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I was raised as a Master Mason recently and, around the same time, I also became Catholic. I’ve seen a lot of discussion about the supposed conflict between Freemasonry and the Catholic Church, but I don’t fully understand it.

At no point in my Masonic journey was I asked to give up my faith, nor have I ever felt like I was worshipping or praying to anything outside of my religion while at lodge. To my knowledge, everything has remained in alignment with my faith.

That said, I know the Church has a strong stance against Masonry, and I’m trying to understand why. If anyone can shed light on the theological or doctrinal reasons behind this conflict, I’d really appreciate it. I’m thinking out loud a bit here and hoping for some insight.