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There's been a Masonic Discussion group of this sort meeting every other month in the Chicago area for over 10 years. Interest waxes and wanes. They've done everything from surveying new Masons to recommend direction to GL to discuss insurance. Folks who come for the fellowship aren't there...

I don't know if I've read all or just part of - al-Kitab and Tripitaka. A couple of weeks ago I finished a list of Buddhist legendary books but I don't know if all of the parts of the Tripitaka were included. I have more Ba'hai books in my queue so I might complete al-Kitab in the next year or...

In the California Masonic Code does give a minimum list of VSLs authorized by vote of GL that can be expanded by the GM. It does not specify version of any of them. So far I've never encountered a brother who wants a specific version, but the month isn't over yet so I never know ... I'm not...

International Order of DeMolay is not yet in that part of the world - http://www.demolay.org/aboutdemolay/findachapter.php

That question needs to be answered from the rules of the two jurisdictions. Generally there is a traditional limit on how far a lodge's territory extends. Farther than that (often 50 miles) and in theory you need written permission from the lodge closest to you to petition a lodge farther...

As the degrees tell a story out of the Old Testament and Old Testament quotes are read early in each degree, it is necessary for any member of a non-JCI religion to be very secure in their faith and practice before finding the degrees comfortable. Every faith had beneficial teachings. It can...

The question is - Become a part of the machine and use that leverage to one end? Or start writing legislation on at least one topic and become effective through that path? For a single topic I'd go with legislation. Bro Blake has a range of topics he posts about. Grand line, great idea.

Let's step back and think about that for a bit. How many people do you know in each of the two states? Folks who've been to a big city may have seen someone on the street corner ranting. There's a spectrum of functionality all the way to Nash being a Nobel laureate. If you know someone who...

That depends on the rules of your jurisdiction. Many jurisdictions have an "act like the locals" rule when visiting. Other jurisdictions don't. If the username "OKGRSEC" means the brother is current or past Grand Secretary of Oklahoma he's an expert on Oklahoma Masonic code. It doesn't mean...

A long established tradition that impresses the candidates? Can't have that. Sigh. One of the hardest lessons I've learned is once I went through my degrees, all degrees I go through ever since then are about that candidate not about me. It's about the candidates now. What works for them is...

This is a great example of why candidates should be encouraged to go in cold. If you don't trust your friends to take care of you are you actually ready to adopt them as brothers? So don't learn about the content of the degrees in advance. It spoils the emotional impression made during the...

Appendant bodies get approved regularly, so that could be done. In terms of appendant bodies I suggest that Allied Masonic Degrees may be able to put on the degrees because their existing charter involves doing exhibition of assorted degrees. Getting AMD to do it might work. Close to zero...

Bullies deliberately hurt people. It's that simple. While positive reinforcement works better than negative reinforcement both are needed in a balance. Punishment is the appropriate treatment when someone is deliberately hurt. Making it about "self esteem" ignores this simple moral issue...

One WM of one of my lodges did "Read a code" monthly. He usually managed to pick something applicable. Code about balloting the night of a ballot. Some that were just entertaining to read because of the way they were phrased. Something cool a sitting WM can chose to do that few decide to.

Re: Do you consider others from unchartered lodges If I read your posting history correctly you're in Florida. Florida does not recognize PHA yet (The best time to put it up for vote is the next GL session!). Recognition and regularity are two different topics. That Florida does not...

By your fruit shall ye be known. I'm okay with observing those who have not had direct personal observation of the divine and noticing what effect that has had on them across the decades. I'm okay with observing those without direct contact who have chosen faith and noticing what effect that...

"Driven to Distraction" by Hallowell http://www.amazon.com/Driven-Distraction-Revised-Recognizing-Attention/dp/0307743152 I recommend the audio CD version. It's easier to get through than the print book. We're a captive audience during our daily commute.

It's a bronze plaque. There's a frame photo of that plaque at my mother lodge in Pasadena, CA. When we went to see the Alamo I specifically searched for the plaque. Out front very close to the street on the outer wall.

The way the term "Masonic education" is normally used, ritual practice does not count. Education includes what ritual means plus many other topics. Instruction is on the content of the ritual. Memorizing the proficiencies isn't it. Explaining what the words of the proficiency mean is.

It would violate the American Doctrine of Exclusive Jurisdiction so it can't be done just because the chartering GL/GM feels like it. As California moved through a sequence of steps towards recognizing PHA one of those steps was a request by one of the Mexican GLs to charter a lodge north of...