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...as a result of outright recruiting of men who join for mercenary reasons. There are lots of organizations that encourage "networking". Indeed, for some, that's their whole reason to be. Freemasonry is not one of them. We don't need more "members", especially those who are in it for...

That such a group of religious bigots still has a charter is a sad commentary on Texas Masonry.

I'm with Bill. I'd be more curious than offended. I don't quite get the reference.

Now you are being disingenuous. The requirement that "the Holy Bible" (which, accurately or not, is usually taken to mean a KJV Bible in most predominantly Christian jurisdictions) be open at all times upon the altar is something quite apart from that VSL upon which a candidate takes his...

It would probably surprise you, then, to learn that that particular passage, referring to "the divine authenticity of the holy scriptures" has not always been a part of the GL of Texas laws, and that it is somewhat of an "oddball" requirement, not being a part of most jurisdictions' ritual...

We may live in such a society, but I can tell you from first hand experience that most of those knocking on our doors today are definitely not looking for instant gratification when it comes to Freemasonry. They are looking for something quite apart from that; something with deep meaning and...

A Lodge should never do that. The should, however, close the doors on a brother based on how chooses to dress. The brother who chooses to dress as if a Lodge meeting is a casual social affair has lost sight of what makes a Mason a Mason. The same goes for a Lodge that regards dress as...

Here we go again... Please cite the Masonic law that allows only some so-called "12 classical religions". Please explain how you claim the requisite authority, and moreover, the insight to judge another man's earnestly professed beliefs after he has stated an answer in the affirmative to "the...

This presupposes that the candidate's religion has a volume of sacred law in printed-and-bound form. Not all do.

This kind of attitude saddens me. If a Lodge meeting not a "special occasion" for it's members, we have pretty much lost sight of what we're supposed to be there for.

Crying wolf? I don't think so. It happened, exactly as described, in my Lodge the year before I was initiated. One PM and his cronies were carrying out a personal vendetta against the sitting Master by cubing every candidate. The end result was an expulsion and some suspensions, probation for...

The Chaplain is praying on behalf of all members of the Lodge. Inserting the specific name of one of his chosen deities is disrespectful of those of other faiths. Yes, it is usually unintentional - old habits die hard, but that does not make it OK. Finding that which we share in common and most...

Fortunately, such phenomena are seldom linear. Unfortunately, those few of us left on the right side of the curve will still be suffering from the failure to plan/adjust for this decline.

From the comment you shared... The Brother who made that statement has missed the point of "internal" and "external" virtues defining the man. "Decorum" would demand one's best shoe as well. It needn't be an expensive Italian model. It simply needs to be one's "best" shoe. I don't care if a...

As opposed to an invisible man who lives in the sky, among whose rare earthly manifestations is that of a burning bush, and who expects his followers to regularly engage in some pretty bizarre rituals involving blood and human flesh? You should probably read this -...

So the candidate has answered in the affirmative the required questions about his belief in Deity. What, exactly would be the point of further inquiry into the nature of his faith?

There are those that argue against that view, holding that the initiatory experience is part of what makes a man a Mason. The ODC candidate can not be said to have gone through that experience and will be something different than he would have been if he had gone through it. I can see some truth...

Do tell...

Well said, Brother.

I agree, with most of this. One of the EA's working tools stresses the importance of regular devotions to deity, so the importance of that portion of our daily activities should be clear, but IMO, asking a candidate about his church activity is out of line. Hardly surprising, but definitely...