I've completed another book in my quest for light:
Observing the Craft
By: Andrew Hammer
A good book thatshould not be confused with another book titled "A Traditional ObservanceLodge" by Cliff Porter. While thisbook touches on the Traditional Observance Lodge (TOL), it is not the soul focusof the book. Rather, this book reminds the Master Mason that there are customs,courtesies, and rituals that set Freemasonry off from community serviceorganizations, traditional charitable organizations, and other socialorganizations. The point of the book is to point out areas where we haveperhaps strayed from those things that made our fraternity unique- some customsand courtesies, and some associated to the TOL.
This is a good"primer" for "A Traditional Observance Lodge" because itdoes introduce terms and definitions from the TOL and helps the reader with thenecessary context to understand the difference between "today'slodge" and the TOL. It defines anddescribes Festive Boards/Table Lodges, Chambers of Reflection, and Chain ofUnion and members of the York and Scottish Rites will gain perspective in theorigin of some of those ritual customs.
This book is forthose who hunger for more from masonry, more from the spiritual side but aren'tquite sure what that "more" might be. It is not for those who seekmore or better ways to do more fundraisers or community service activities;while those can be important to a lodge, this book addresses the traditions andcustoms of masonry that originally drew many of us to the West Gate.
I recommend thisbook to Master Masons who have spent some time in the quarry and are familiarwith their lodge operations, Lodge-Grand Lodge relations, and Grand Lodge Lawand Constitutions. While not required,it will have more meaning for those who have advanced through York and ScottishRite degrees and it prompts the mason to consider the relationship between theBlue Lodge and those appendant bodies regarding not just degrees, but the formand function of the bodies themselves.
This book isavailable on Amazon.
S&F
BroBill
Observing the Craft
By: Andrew Hammer
A good book thatshould not be confused with another book titled "A Traditional ObservanceLodge" by Cliff Porter. While thisbook touches on the Traditional Observance Lodge (TOL), it is not the soul focusof the book. Rather, this book reminds the Master Mason that there are customs,courtesies, and rituals that set Freemasonry off from community serviceorganizations, traditional charitable organizations, and other socialorganizations. The point of the book is to point out areas where we haveperhaps strayed from those things that made our fraternity unique- some customsand courtesies, and some associated to the TOL.
This is a good"primer" for "A Traditional Observance Lodge" because itdoes introduce terms and definitions from the TOL and helps the reader with thenecessary context to understand the difference between "today'slodge" and the TOL. It defines anddescribes Festive Boards/Table Lodges, Chambers of Reflection, and Chain ofUnion and members of the York and Scottish Rites will gain perspective in theorigin of some of those ritual customs.
This book is forthose who hunger for more from masonry, more from the spiritual side but aren'tquite sure what that "more" might be. It is not for those who seekmore or better ways to do more fundraisers or community service activities;while those can be important to a lodge, this book addresses the traditions andcustoms of masonry that originally drew many of us to the West Gate.
I recommend thisbook to Master Masons who have spent some time in the quarry and are familiarwith their lodge operations, Lodge-Grand Lodge relations, and Grand Lodge Lawand Constitutions. While not required,it will have more meaning for those who have advanced through York and ScottishRite degrees and it prompts the mason to consider the relationship between theBlue Lodge and those appendant bodies regarding not just degrees, but the formand function of the bodies themselves.
This book isavailable on Amazon.
S&F
BroBill