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I was raised a year ago and was very moved by the riual. It left me anticipating further teachings of each degree but there is nothing more than the process of bringing new cadidates through the degrees every time I go to lodge. I've been waiting for my "Masonic Education" to begin. I became a Maqson because of great thinkers like Washiington, and Franklin hoping that tradition was still there. Instead, I feel like I've joined a private drinking/poker club. Is this what Masonry is all about now? I read old books aboout Masonry and it describes something completly different than what I'm seeing. I'm seeing an organization so desperate for members that it will take anybody with a pulse, It seems the craft has been dumbed-down just because they need the money. Is any one else out there having the same experince? Also, Is there an issue between Scottish Rite and York Rite? Where I live there seems to be. When I ask anybody about this, they stammer and give me a lame answer to my questions as if to avoid the question. All in all, I've learned more on my own about Masonry from reading books than I've learned in the lodge.
Take it upon yourself to re-ignite true Masonic Education in your Lodge. If you get involved you just might change how the process occurs in the future for the better. Education is very important as one passes through the degrees and the mentoring stage. However it must be a lifelong journey.
You can make the change, you have the technology, you have the ability to make your Lodge a "Six Million Dollar" Lodge? Are you willing?
Here you go, Kyle. I know I am showing my age. However I think there is an allegory in this to be placed on the Lodge website Masonic education page. Yes, we new generation MM's can make our Lodges into "Six Million Dollar Lodges"!!!
My brother. There are many that can feel your pain. To answer the simple question first, there has always been some historical problems with the SR and YR. Bro Harry Truman went a long way to mend this over 50 years ago
Masonic education is a big animal, and the more you dig, the more you realize you don't know. If a lodge has gotten away from education, they can be steered in the right direction. I have some ideas that I did a couple years ago.
My BL has had its ups and downs, mainly ups from what I hear, and you will continue to hear that Masonry is what you make of it. Although I have opted not to go through the chairs currently for personal reasons, PMs recount to me what their years were like and it may just be how the current WM is running things. The thing is once you get to WM you get to run the lodge the way you think it should be run and your brethren are obligated to trust your decisions. You may think the years through each station will be a waste but anticipation and suggestion may be key to getting them to realize the knowledge they take for granted is knowledge that they need to share. In fact you may even suggest a new tradition that at each meeting a PM needs to present a lecture on an aspect or current issue in Masonry. That might get the blood flowing a bit.
On top of it all, read books, discuss with the brethren that are coming in with you.
We had the same problem to some extent in my SR as well, not so much in the lectures, but just in getting the brethren to speak, to realize faults and to overcome them. Members of my class have worked and are continuing to work to change that.
It may be of interest to you to join the SR or YR. These branches go further into explaining the first 3 degrees.
I'm glad to see your inquiry to learn and continue learning, I get mad when I meet a "brother" who comes in under false pretenses just to gain the status and never to attend again.
hi bro, i was shaken by your observations in your lodge.In my lodge, before we accept a petition we see to it that it will be the beginning of his masonic education as he takes his journey to seek further light he undergoes more masonic education.We do it before and after his passing until he is raised to the sublime degree. all regular masons are also encouraged to seek more about the craft. In your case, you can do it by attending other lodges, meeting more brothers and/or joining masonic projects of other lodges.You can bring your wife and kids too. the last is a simple way of propagating what freemasonry is.You were made a mason, first in your heart,taught about patience and humility maybe through you, your lodge might be awakened,you might be the spark your lodge has been waiting... keep it up... may the GAOTU bless us all...
Fraternally yours,
Bro. Tom Balisi, High Twelve Lodge no.
82,Philippines
I to felt the same way when I was raised 4 years ago and I learned and am still learning Masonry along the same lines of self study and hounding what few Brothers there are who study the same as I but Masonry I come to find has alot to do with the exploration of the inner self and Mastering the self and ego etc... and truthfully no one can trully help in this journey it is learned only through exspereince and I found the majority of the Brothers in the craft would lead me into study and work that did not relate to the inner self. So do not be discourage the feeling you got when you entered the Craft forced you to turn inward as did it me and that is the sole purpose of Masonry, be thankful my Brother you are enlighted enough to go your own way and keep going deeper and deeper and never look back because no one has the same journey to the Mastering of the Inner self. So Mote it Be!!
you will find that others see you on your journey and will follow in there own way and next thing you know your Lodge will be full of Brothers on the journey to Mastering the Inner Self and Masonry will be axactly what you want it to be and on the surface it never changed your frame of mind did and that is all it takes.
Welcome to the "Change Club" Brother! I'm brand new to this electronic form of Masonic dialog but a 50 year Mason. Our Lodge is similar but not as extreme. I had the VERY SAME awareness and concern and decided to do something myself. I'm the "Masonic Education" dude (chairperson) and give short Masonic Information talks- anything to arrouse interest - in Lodge at Stated Meetings. I've expanded this to Masonic Education "Seminars" on Esoteric Masonry at 5pm before Stated Meeting Dinners @ 6:30 before Stated Meeting @ 7:30. Currently we are "studying" Albert Pike's "Esoterika" " Symbolism of the Blue Degrees of Freemasonry" Lesson 5 "The 47th Problem". (from Scottish Rite Research Society). I also write Masonic Education articles for the Trestleboard. It's a long haul, Brother, but it works-with gradualness and patience. Some Brothers are very interested in this Masonic Education activity and others are very satisfied with the ritual, the nuts and bolts of running the Lodge and the fellowship. In order to help me with all of this I have joined the Scottish Rite Research Society (SRRS), Southern California Research Lodge (SoCalRS), Philalethes Society, and Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle (QCCC). I buy about every Masonic book that I think will help me - with care as there are thousands of Masonic books around! Good luck Brother-take the "Bull by the Horns" and bring it down - you will most assuredly learn a considerable amount of "good Masonic stuff" in the process and you will be sharing your new Masonic learning with others. This is a double dose of satisfaction! (To truly learn something-Teach It!...Very Old Addage)
Had I not completely made up my mind to begin a masonic education program at my lodge, I now have. Brothers, we are the future of Freemasonry.
Brother George, Thank you. I look forward to corresponding with you, sharing my progress, and bouncing ideas around.
Oldtyme, how are things at your lodge? Have you found any like minded brothers? I have found that having a myspace site and being a member on a few forums, I have met other brothers locally with the same interests and ideas. Just a thought.
Cory Sigler
created this social network on Ning. 