Now Available, The Freethinking Freemason by Br. Tim Bryce from
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Frequent missives from Tim Bryce,
PM, MPS.
W:.Tim brings us insights and ideas
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HAVE WE GOT OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT?
Possibly the greatest danger to Freemasonry today is confusion
- confusion of what it is, and what it is not. Without
a clear-cut understanding of what Freemasonry is we find
ourselves involved in extraneous matters. These diversions
lure us away from Masonry's proper place.
FIVE STEPS FOR BECOMING A GRAND MASTER
For those Masons chasing Masonic titles, "Grand Master" represents
the epitome of the fraternity. But becoming a GM is not for
everyone. It requires a lot of time, money, stamina, and
political ambition...
MASONIC SOVEREIGNTY
Have you ever seen a Masonic Lodge that basically is an entity
unto itself? In other words, the Brothers of the Lodge
do not like to visit other Lodges and Masonic visitors
are not really made to feel welcomed in theirs. Instead
of the benefits of a true fraternity where you practice
universal Brotherhood, the Lodge behaves more like a club
or tight knit clique.
FREEMASONRY
AND THE INTERNET
This paper will attempt to explain the role the Internet has had on Freemasonry
and provide some guidance on where it should be going.
SEEKING THE TRUTH
For years I have been asked what kind of business I'm in.
Even my family has a bit of trouble understanding what
the methodology business is all about. Consequently, I
tell people I'm in the computer business as it is easier
for most to assimilate. Actually, I'm called upon to come
into companies and help straighten out their systems messes
and bring order out of chaos.
TWO DIRTY WORDS
Let me give you two little words that scares a lot of Masons: "consolidations" and "mergers." As
the fraternity continues to recede in terms of membership
and finances, Craft Lodges inevitably face the question of
these two dirty words.
LODGE OFFICER MEETINGS
Ever notice some Craft Lodge meetings seem to run better
than other Lodges? True, they may have some good people
sitting in the right chairs, but the secret to a good Stated
Communications is just some good old-fashioned planning.
GRAND MESSAGES
I've been making the rounds
on the Internet lately and have been visiting the web sites
of the various Grand Lodges in
North America. One of the things I look for is the Grand
Master's Message which a lot of people tend to overlook.
Basically, the message is used to state his objectives
for the year, his theme or motto, his charity...
THE AVERAGE AGE OF LODGE MEMBERS
What is the average age of your Lodge members? Interestingly,
very few Lodges take the time to calculate this figure
which I consider to be a rather important indicator of
the Lodge. Fortunately, the average age of my Lodge has
dropped to 64.1 years old. This is down from the high 60's
just a few years ago (we never did hit 70) and this is
because we have been blessed with several fine young men
who have joined our Lodge and replaced some of the "Greatest
Generation" who we recently lost.
LET THE BEGGING BEGIN
In many grand jurisdictions,
January represents the start of a new Masonic year. It also
represents the beginning of
a new year of fundraising or "begging" as I call
it. I have already received quite a few donation requests
this year from a few Lodges and other Masonic bodies. Like
many Masons, I do not mind the occasional request to kick
in a few bucks now and then, but it gets rather old when
you are constantly barraged with requests.
TIM'S
FAVORITE QUOTATIONS FROM FAMOUS MASONS - PART 2 OF 2
The following is an excerpt from my new book, "THE FREETHINKING FREEMASON" (Cornerstone
Book Publishers ISBN 1-887560-89-0 or ISBN 13: 978-1-887560-89-4). Basically,
it represents a listing of quotations from a variety of famous Masons I have
collected over the years, all of which
offers some rather
TIM'S FAVORITE QUOTATIONS FROM FAMOUS MASONS
- PART 1 OF 2
The following is an excerpt from my new book, "THE FREETHINKING FREEMASON"
(Cornerstone Book Publishers
ISBN 1-887560-89-0 or ISBN 13: 978-1-887560-89-4). Basically, it represents a listing of
quotations from a variety of famous Masons I have collected over the years, all of which
offers some rather sage advice. I hope you will enjoy them.
HOW DO WE TEACH FREEMASONRY?
Most of what we
learn about in Freemasonry is conveyed by word of mouth.
For example, we are taught catechisms which remind us of
our obligations and help perpetuate our ancient rituals,
but doesn't really help us in terms of the philosophical
aspects of the fraternity. We also have lectures and charges
which admonish us about our duties as Masons, but doesn't
truly explain our history or etiquette...
THE NECESSITY OF LODGE AUDITS
Like any organization,
be it a public corporation or a nonprofit institution, it
is necessary to periodically review the financial
status of the entity which is typically performed on an annual
basis (such as at the end of the financial year). Such analysis
is essential in order to verify that accounting is being
properly performed and that the powers that be are competently
and correctly discharging their fiduciary responsibilities.
It is also invaluable to assure no improprieties are being
performed on the institution's finances. I cannot image any
institution, large or small, profit or nonprofit, not performing
such a function.
PROACTIVE VS. REACTIVE MANAGEMENT
I have been thinking a lot about micromanagement lately.
It seems the corporate
world is consumed with mini-dictators who are bent on directing
the activities
of others. I also see this Freemasonry and in other nonprofit
organizations consisting of volunteers and managed by leaders
who can be rather ruthless.
WRITING A PRESS RELEASE
Press releases are used to disseminate information to a variety
of news organizations that can broadcast your message to
your members, neighbors, friends, and potential members
in the community.
DOES THE FRATERNITY HAVE AN IDENTITY CRISIS?
As Freemasons, we have been very fortunate
recently to receive some good
press from the movies, "National Treasure," and Dan Brown's "The Da
Vinci
Code." Dan's upcoming book, "The Solomon Key" will also lead to renewed
interest in Masonry. True, such movies and books portray the fraternity as ancient
and honorable, but I am becoming very much concerned about the image we project
to the public.
ENEMIES LIST
During the Watergate years of the 1970's, it was discovered
that the Nixon Administration was maintaining an "Enemies
List" of any and all antagonists to the policies of
the White House. This became a "Who's Who" which
included radical extremists, political opponents, members
of the press, labor leaders, financiers, celebrities, even
athletes...
KEEPING TRACK OF ATTENDANCE
As Secretary of my Lodge, one of the things I monitor is
attendance at Lodge meetings. Few people do this, but I
find it useful for monitoring the pulse of the Lodge. Keeping
track of membership trends is also useful over the long
term, but tracking attendance tells a lot about the current
interests of the Craft and is easy to do.
JOINT INSTALLATIONS
We
are rapidly approaching the new year which for many Grand
jurisdictions means the installation of new Craft Lodge officers.
There is a lot of formality in such installations where officers
must take an obligation to properly lead the Lodge. Such
programs are often open to the public in the United States
but attendance is usually low, normally reserved to friends
and family of those being installed
FREEMASONRY
AND RELIGION:
ADVERSARIES
OR ALLIES?
"Through
Freemasonry, however, I have had opportunity to break bread
with
good men of other than my own Christian faith. Freemasonry
does not promote
any one religious creed. All Masons believe in the Deity
without
reservation.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
As Masons we are admonished to seek further light; to continually learn and
grow as Masons for the purpose of developing ourselves, thereby
improving our communities, Lodges, and the world overall.
Even the old expression, "Freemasonry takes good men and makes them better," implies a learning experience.
MASONIC LOYALTY
About a year ago I wrote a paper for my consulting practice entitled, "Rebuilding Loyalty," which discussed how to cultivate loyalty from people. In the article, I described three forms of loyalty: Product, Institutional, and Personal...
BOO! A MASONIC HALLOWEEN STORY
John Keene paced his Chillcothe prison cell late at night. It was a habit
he had developed over the last couple of years after he had
been incarcerated for his latest check kiting scheme. He
found pacing helped clear his head and allowed him to think.
It troubled him that he was getting close to 30 years of
age and had never done anything with his life.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
As we all know, one of the main uses of the Internet is to provide a
means to allow people to communicate; to share ideas and
discuss
subjects of common interest. This has been accomplished
through such things as e-mail, instant messaging, web pages,
and
VoIP (Internet telephone). But finding the right people
to talk to, who share our interests, is the real problem...
TIME TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT GOOGLE
Most of us know of Google as the premier search engine on the Internet.
However, since its inception in 1998 by two Stanford
University students, it has undergone radical change. The
company
went
public just three short years ago (2004) and is today
worth billions.
SPEAK TO COMMUNICATE
In some ways, Communication
Theorists are not very good communicators. We tend to try
to pack too much
into too little space.
It's efficient in its own way, but it does sometimes
mean we have
to explain the explanation.
TRUE MASONRY - MASONIC HUMOR
Freemasonry is steeped in history and ritual, but this doesn't
mean Masons lack a sense of humor (although I know a few
whose
faces
would probably crack if they smiled). To demonstrate
Masons do indeed have a sense of humor, I sent out a
request over
the Internet for some humorous anecdotes pertaining
to the fraternity. What follows are some true stories from
the Brethren.
IT'S ABOUT 'TIME'
Are the problems we are having in membership related to money
(e.g., dues and charitable contributions)? Probably not.
I
haven't found
participation in Freemasonry to be too unreasonable.
No, its about "time" (or the lack thereof). The average working stiff today is faced with many organizations vying for our participation; for example...
TO PDF OR NOT TO PDF, THAT IS THE QUESTION
On the Internet, the "Holy Grail" for just about anyone interested in distributing publications is to find a universally applicable solution to produce professional looking documents that are easy to use, easy to distribute, and, optionally, offers some form of security to safeguard the contents.
ELECTRONIC
FUNDS TRANSFER &
FREEMASONRY
(USING PAYPAL)
Wouldn't it be nice to collect the annual dues for your Lodge electronically, such as through your Lodge's web page? Actually, it's not as difficult as you might think.
PARKINSON'S LAW IN MASONRY
"
Parkinson's Law" was devised by C. Northcote Parkinson, noted
British historian and author. His original book, "Parkinson's
Law: The Pursuit of Progress," was introduced in 1958 and
was a top-selling management book for a number of years.
THE PRICE OF FREEMASONRY
I recently had a young man ask me about membership in Freemasonry.
After discussing the virtues of the fraternity, which he
had no problem with, he asked me about the price of participation.
This caused me to think about all of the various expenses
associated with Masonry.
MASONIC VIDEOS
Some time ago I discussed "Masonic Podcasts" which are essentially audio files available on the Internet and discuss various aspects of the fraternity. This is actually a novel and economical way of communicating to the Craft. But as Apple's iPod grew in sophistication, video programs are rapidly becoming more prevalent and we're starting to see a variety of Masonic related videos surfacing on the Internet..
THE 90TH DEGREE
I don't know about your Lodge, but I see a lot of apathy
in the Craft Lodges in my neck of the woods. I hear from
many Worshipful Masters and Secretaries who complain about
low attendance. Of course, I advise them to make their meetings
more interesting and meaningful, but they still have trouble
getting Brothers to attend.
TIPS TO INCREASE MEMBERSHIP
Within Freemasonry we have an interesting paradox, whereas
most of its members admit membership is a significant and
growing problem, nobody seems to be interested in doing anything
about it, particularly Grand Lodges who offer little in terms
of direction.
A FOOT SOLDIER FOR FREEMASONRY (poem)
And now for something completely different. I don't offen
write poetry but I am often asked about my handle, "Foot Soldier for Freemasonry" which I have used for a number of years. Perhaps the following will explain my rationale.
10 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOUR LODGE IS DARK
The summer recess is finally here and I always find it interesting
to see how Brothers appear lost during this period. True,
going Dark allows the Lodge to rest and recharge its batteries
before going into the hectic Autumn months, but it would
be foolish to assume Freemasonry comes to a standstill during
this period.
ALCOHOL IN THE LODGES
Alcohol has been a part of our Masonic culture for a lot
longer than most Brothers realize. For example, for a long
time we have used corn, wine and oil as part of our
cornerstone ceremonies...
SHOULD THE SHRINE GO IT ALONE?
Recently I received a telephone call from a young Entered
Apprentice regarding one of my articles. Basically he was
looking for guidance in terms of expediting his learning
of the Masonic catechism.
LEADERSHIP
There seems to be two types of leaders in both the corporate
world and Freemasonry these days; on the one extreme is the
micromanager who supervises everyone's work, and on the other
end of the spectrum is the person who wants everyone to love
him
WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
Serving a meal either prior to or immediately following a
Lodge meeting has been an inherent part of our Masonic culture
for many years. Brothers attend such meals more for the camaraderie
it offers than anything else. Although there are no definitive
figures on the subject, many Masons assume the meal has a
direct bearing on meeting attendance.
A PECULIAR SYSTEM
As Masons, we are taught that "Freemasonry is a peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols." As an old systems man, this caught my attention the moment I first heard it years ago.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS
There are a lot of awards associated with Freemasonry, be
it an apron, a pin, a certificate, or whatever. But there
is nothing more cherished than an Honorary Membership in
a Craft Lodge
RUNNING FOR GRAND LODGE OFFICE
As many of you know, I have never been a fan of how we elect
Craft Lodge officers. I believe a Masonic election is one
of the most barbaric processes conceived by the fraternity
whereby the cream doesn't always rise to the top. The only
thing more preposterous is the process of electing a Grand
Lodge officer, particularly the Junior Grand Warden who starts
at the bottom of the Grand Line and works his way through
the chairs.
THE NEED FOR A MASONIC LEGISLATURE
Next week I celebrate my 10th year of service in Freemasonry.
Although it doesn't seem that long, I have had the opportunity
to observe several inefficiencies in the fraternity and have
commented on them accordingly and made suggestions for improving
them.
TOWN HALL MEETINGS
Next week I celebrate my 10th year of service in Freemasonry.
Although it doesn't seem that long, I have had the opportunity
to observe several inefficiencies in the fraternity and have
commented on them accordingly and made suggestions for improving
them.
A CONSPIRACY THEORY
On the Internet, it is not
uncommon to hear a lot of grousing about politics in Grand
Lodges. One in
particular though
caught my attention recently and raised the ire of many in
the jurisdiction. It involves how a political machine has
taken control over a Grand Lodge and wishes to maintain its
sovereignty.
MANAGING FROM THE BOTTOM-UP
When the American colonies were forming a government in the
18th century, there was a fleeting notion that George Washington
should become King with absolute power. Instead, our founding
fathers opted for a democratic society where officials were
elected by the people. The intent was to give the individual
citizen a means to participate in the running of the government...
BUILDERS OF EMPIRE - A Book Review
" Builders of Empire" is a refreshing new book on Freemasonry by Jessica L. Harland-Jacobs, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Florida.
FIRST FEDERAL MASONIC BANK
No matter where you travel in the Masonic world today you
see indications of the rising cost of living, be it rising
Per Capita taxes, insurance rates, Lodge maintenance costs,
annual dues, etc.
WHY WE RESIST CHANGE
Like so many of you, I am often mystified as to why there
is so much trouble in the middle East. We could easily blame
it on religious fanaticism, be it Christian, Jewish, or Muslim.
Perhaps. But I tend to believe it can primarily be attributed
to change (or the fear of it).
TODAY'S LODGE NEWSLETTERS NEW WORKING TOOLS
I have seen a lot of Craft Lodge newsletters over the years.
Most are as interesting as watching grass grow and are useful
for nothing more than lining bird cages. Most say the same
tired things over and over again.
...FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
Grand Lodges haqve been described as large corporations
operating with millions of dollars. If they were truly commercial
corporations, they would be viewed as moving lethargically
in circles.
HOW TO BEAT THE SYSTEM
I talked with a Brother recently over the Internet who
was grousing about his Grand Lodge's escalating appetite
for financial resources. What bothered him in particular
was that it seemed the more Grand Lodge demanded money, the
less service his Craft Lodge got in return.
BRYCE'S MASONIC PLANNING SEMINAR
From time to time I get asked to speak on a variety of
subjects pertaining to Freemasonry (my personal favorite
is to talk on subjects related to "True Masonry"). I also
hear from a lot of frustrated Brothers who want their Lodges
to finally address the true problems they are faced with
as opposed to passing the buck another year
MASONIC LOBBYISTS
We have discussed Masonic membership trends on more than
one occasion in the past. Some Masons believe our decline
was inevitable as membership was over inflated following
WW II and that a decline was well overdue...
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Have you ever gone to a family reunion? Typically, you
find the patriarch and matriarch overseeing the activities,
the middle age offspring actually doing all of the work,
a lot of kids running around and getting into harmless trouble...
FREE COMPUTER RESOURCES
ON THE INTERNET
I am often asked as to where I find some of the facilities
I use on the Internet. Actually, its not that hard to find
if you know how to search the Net and ask the right questions.
But to help kick-start you in the right direction
THE POLITICS OF FREEMASONRY
For a society that is supposed to be devoid of politics,
Freemasonry seems to have more than its fair share. We see
it in Grand Communications, in Masonic elections, and whenever
we walk in the door to a Craft Lodge
WORKING INSIDE/OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM
As Masons we have taken obligations to abide by the laws,
rules and regulations of our Grand Lodges. Inevitably we
stumble over a piece of legislation that is out of date and
blocks our path to progress. As a result, we want to either
change or correct it.
TEACHING MASONIC CATECHISMS
I have had the pleasure of teaching several Brothers their
Masonic catechisms over the years. I find it to be good practice
for me and keeps me sharp when I'm called upon to provide
assistance in degree work. More importantly, it has offered
me an opportunity to get to know some very fine men.
"MAP"ING
I am often called upon to assist new Worshipful Masters
to learn how to properly open and close a Lodge. The section at the end where
we are admonished to "Meet upon the Level, Act by the Plumb, and Part upon the
Square" I like to call "MAPing"
ALAS, BROTHER FORD
As you know, we lost Brother Gerald Ford last month. His
passing represents a significant milestone in the history of Freemasonry as he
was the
last U.S. President who was a Freemason.
MASONIC FUND RAISERS: SOME IDEAS
As we start the new year, many Worshipful Masters are just
getting their feet wet. One of their prime concerns is to generate an adequate
amount of money to support the Lodge programs for the year. Understand this,
rarely will annual dues support all of the activities of a Craft/Blue Lodge.
BRYCE'S TIPS FOR YOUR YEAR IN THE EAST
I get
a lot of e-mails during the months of November, December
and January from Senior Wardens and new
Worshipful Masters asking for advice
on how to plan their year in the East. What follows are several tips I've gathered
since I began my own journey to the East..
A MASONIC CHRISTMAS TALE
" Tis the season for a tale...and a lesson."
Past Master Vicar trudged through the snow on his way to
Lodge. It was December now and Christmas was just around
the corner. The first snow flurries had come early in 1950;
trick or treaters were the first to taste snowflakes.
MASONIC MEMBERSHIP LISTS
WHO
SHOULD HAVE THEM?
Becoming a Freemason is a very personal thing.
We all
join for a variety of reasons: social, self-improvement,
or to
help civic/charitable causes. Many of us publicly proclaim
our pride in the fraternity by displaying lapel pins, rings,
auto decals, and web sites
Masons Helping Masons
Freemasonry is generally not considered a place for
soliciting business. In fact, it is very much frowned upon
in most
circles. Nonetheless I am often asked if I know a Brother
who is an
accountant, a lawyer, a notary public, a carpenter, a
realtor, or whatever. I have no problem referring Brothers
to other
Brothers in the hopes that it will help both parties. Masonic Toasts
We are now approaching the holiday
season where we typically enjoy several year-end
parties. For many Grand
jurisdictions,
it marks the end of the Masonic Year, and the birth
of a new one. Knowing the festive atmosphere of such
occasions
I posted a request on the Internet soliciting favorite
Masonic
toasts.
VoIP
The concept of sending and receiving audio/video over
the Internet is not exactly a new concept. We have been
able
to transmit such files for some time now, although it has
been somewhat awkward.
MAIL CALL
I can generally count on a fair amount of e-mail on Monday
morning after I have posted my weekly Masonic editorial.
I appreciate both the positive feedback as well as the
opposing viewpoints when stated Masonically.
FINALLY,
A GRAND LODGE THAT "GET'S IT"
As many of you know, I have written essays in the past on
the virtues of using the Internet to promote Freemasonry.
Too often I see Grand Lodges who simply don't understand
its power and what it has to offer. But every once and awhile
you see glimmers of hope...
RECOGNIZING PRINCE HALL
MASONRY:
TO BE OR NOT TO BE?
I
guess it is time for me to finally weigh in on the subject
of recognizing Prince Hall
Masonry. This has been
a subject
that has been debated for a number of years and, as a young
Mason, I originally bowed to the wisdom of my elders in
this regard.
IS THERE FREE SPEECH IN FREEMASONRY?
There is a rumor circulating on the Internet that there
is a resolution being prepared by a grand jurisdiction
in the U.S. Southeast ("Dixie") that would, in effect, censor
all forms of Masonic communications, including publications,
blogs, discussion groups, e-mails, web pages, etc
WHY DO PAST MASTERS JUST FADE AWAY?
Have you ever been in a Lodge where the immediate Past
Masters seem to routinely vanish? I have. In fact, I have
seen quite a few Lodges where it seems to be customary
for the Past Masters to disappear.
REINVENTING GRAND LODGE GOVERNMENT
With rare exception, Grand Lodges follow a top-down dictatorial
form of government. This means the Grand Master appoints
officers in state, zone, and district positions to carry
out his will and pleasure to the Craft.
HELP, AID, AND ASSIST
As part of our Masonic obligations, we are taught to
help, aid, and assist others less fortunate than ourselves.
Freemasonry
may not be a charity, but Masons certainly donate generously
to a variety of causes: widows and orphans, scholarships,
medical/health related, research, sickness and distress,
etc.
HOW ABOUT A COMPROMISE?
Whenever we discuss increasing membership in Freemasonry,
the subject of the one day class inevitably comes up. This
is either greeted with enthusiasm or dismay; there are
few Masons who do not have an opinion on it one way or another.
IS FREEMASONRY A BUSINESS? - READER INPUT
When I wrote my September 3rd column, "Is Freemasonry a
Business?", frankly, I was expecting a storm of protest
over it. Surprisingly, I received little criticism and
a lot of positive feedback....
MASONIC FUNERALS: UNDERSTANDING OUR DUTY
Early last year I lost my father, a 57 year Mason. I
had the pleasure of calling him "Brother," as he raised me
to the sublime degree of Master Mason many years ago. He
was a loyal Mason and we gave him a Masonic Memorial
HOW DOES FREEMASONRY
ADD VALUE TO OUR LIVES?
Undoubtedly, the most visible benefit associated with
Freemasonry is the friendship, morality, and Brotherly Love
we learn
simply by attending Lodge and interacting with the members
IS FREEMASONRY A BUSINESS?
Conceptually, No, Freemasonry is not a business. In its
purest form, it is a spirit by which men govern their
lives, it is what I have been calling "True Masonry."
ESTABLISHING A CHART OF ACCOUNTS
This week I want to discuss something a little different:
accounting. Now before you yawn and go to sleep, the reason I want to discuss
this is because I am surprised whenever I find basic bookkeeping to be sloppy
in a Masonic Lodge or any other nonprofit organization.
REMEMBERING OUR WIDOWS
Theoretically, Masons are to look out for the welfare
of the widows and orphans of Brother Masons who have passed
on to be with the GAOTU.
We don't see too many orphans these days, but we see a lot of widows.
THE DEMOCRATIC DECALOGUE
A Brother recently sent me the following article which
appeared in the January 15, 1963 issue of "LOOK" magazine. I think it is as timely
and pertient today as it was when it was first published, particularly in Freemasonry.
FIGHTING LODGE APATHY
Not too long ago I attended a roundtable discussion of
local Lodge officers from my district to discuss the state of our Lodges and
what, if anything, can be done to improve our current situation...
THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S NEW CLOTHES
An updated version of "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans
Christian Andersen. Once upon a time there was a Worshipful
Master who was so fond of his Lodge that he spent most
of his time rehearsing degrees and attending meetings....
FAILING
I was Worshipful Master of my lodge just three short
years ago. Like any Master, I experienced the usual ups and
downs
but, overall, I think I had a pretty good run and hope
the Craft feels that I left the Lodge better off than
when I was first installed Master.
UNDERSTANDING PRODUCTIVITY
One of the first things I learned in working with volunteer
organizations was that people have a natural aversion
to planning of any kind. We like to “shoot from the hip,” “fly
by the seat of our pants,” or any other such cliche (my
personal favorite is “Backing up the truck”...
TURN SOMETHING NEGATIVE INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE
I’m one of those guys who believes that you shouldn’t
complain about something unless you have earned the right
to do
so...
HALF TIME
Well, we're now halfway through 2006 and for those of
you who are Worshipful Masters operating on a calendar
year,
as we do in Florida, two things have happened to you...
MORE ON MASONIC MEMBERSHIP
Its interesting, my articles generally generate a lot
of comments, but my June 11th entry, "Membership: Quantity
vs. Quality" evidently hit a nerve with my readers. They
responded with a lot of comments worth reviewing.
GRAND LODGE VS. BLUE LODGE: WHO SERVES WHO?
The invention of the Grand Lodge system was inevitable
as it afforded Masons a means to administer Freemasonry
on a consistent basis to suit local customs and cultural
requirements.
QUALITY vs. QUANTITY
There is a general myth in the fraternity that the volume
of membership relates to the quality of men dedicated
to the principles of the fraternity; that as membership
increases,
quality suffers (or as membership decreases, quality
improves).
MASONIC WITCHHUNTS
As we all know, a Masonic Lodge is supposed to be an
honorable institution where Brothers are equal and enjoy
harmony.
Unfortunately, the harmony can be disrupted when two
or more Brothers don't see eye-to-eye on something. Read
the
Counterpoint to this article here.
THE BLUE LODGE: THE BEDROCK OF FREEMASONRY
I was smoking a cigar with a Brother the other day and
we got into a lively discussion on the Blue Lodge (aka,
Craft or Particular Lodge). He wondered why I was so
committed to the Blue Lodge
MASONIC PODCASTS: FREEMASONRY ON THE AIR
Back in 2001 I created my "Masonic Update" Internet broadcast
which was delivered in RealPlayer, MS Media Player, and
MP3 formats.
"The Da Vinci Code" -
THE MOVIE
Well it's finally here; the release of the movie, "The
Da Vinci Code," based on Dan Brown's book of the same
name. The movie, distributed by Columbia Pictures (Sony)
premiers
worldwide this Friday, May 19th
Hospitality Is Good Business
A few years ago I was traveling with a District Deputy
as part of his entourage visiting Masonic Lodges in our
District. He always liked to convey a simple message,
80/20 Rule
Also as a follow-up to my last article I was asked why
it seemed only a handful of people always carried the
workload of a Lodge. This is not uncommon and is found
in everyday
life as well. It is commonly referred to as the "80/20
Rule"...
JUST ONE THING
In Billy Crystal's movie, "City
Slickers," Curley (Jack
Palance) tells Billy's character the meaning of life
involves "Just
One Thing" which we must all figure out for ourselves.
SO YOU WANT TO BE A LODGE OFFICER, EH?
So you have been asked to sit as a Steward or some other
appointed office in the Lodge. Before you say yes, there
are a few things you should
know. First, there is really no such thing as a trivial
office in a Masonic Lodge.
MASONIC FARM CLUBS
...we are missing a golden opportunity if we do not cultivate
our farm system. There are many bright young men who
would enjoy our fraternal system, but know nothing about
it.
Are we missing the boat?
Seeking Further Light
One of the Brothers there
caught me off guard when he asked me, "Why do you hate the
Fraternity so much?
MONTANA 3-7-77
As we all know, law enforcement personnel are easily
distinguished by certain symbols, such as a badge, a
helmet, a uniform,
or a shoulder-patch. Different jurisdictions, different
symbols.
FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE
...dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy
present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty,
and we must rise -- with the occasion. As our case is
new,
so we must think anew, and act anew...
FIGHTING CITY HALL Part II
...I received numerous e-mails from Brothers around the
world who supported my argument. No, I do not believe
the problem is unique to Dixie but, rather, a universal
problem
facing all jurisdictions....
FIGHTING CITY HALL
" You can't fight city hall" has been a part of our vernacular for many years.
Basically, it is an admission that it is futile to fight the powers in charge,
consequently people resign themselves to either live within the system or move
on...
HOW ARE WE PREPARING OUR LEADERS?
As our membership declines and our expenses continue
to rise, we need to properly cultivate Lodge leaders to prepare them for the
years
ahead.
DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE
ARE WE READING THE SIGNS?
It is no secret that membership in Freemasonry is either
stagnating or in decline in most jurisdictions....I contend there are other
important indicators we should be paying attention
to; namely, membership and participation in the allied and
appendant bodies of
Freemasonry.
TRUE MASONRY
I recently had an opportunity to attend a Masonic Lodge
in Ohio where I observed a Fellow Craft degree. As a Florida Mason I took
note of the differences in floor work, ritual, lecture and
charge
TRUE MASONRY - True Stories
Part I | Part
II | Part III
A list of stories from Brothers
exemplifying "True Masonry." The
following are true-life stories which describe the
best characteristics of the fraternity. I hope you
will enjoy
them.
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