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We always do public installations where I attend lodge. This isn't the norm? I'm also curious about chambers of reflection. I've never heard of these until reading up on TO lodges, is just another term for the preparation room for candidates?

You're correct brother, it doesn't make it right. What I am saying, however, is that if someone wants to join for the right reasons they'll re-apply. A year isn't a long time at all and, to me, it says a lot about a person who re-applies after a year instead of tossing in the towel and giving...

Back when my grandfather was a young mason it was very common for people to get turned down for no 'valid reason'. In fact, looking back at the records it seems like a lot of people who were admitted into the fraternity in our town had been blackballed the year before. My grandfather was...

I'm old school despite my young age, I voted for one black ball. I can really see either side of the argument but even if someone gets blackballed that doesn't mean they couldn't just petition again later.

I thought Grand Lodge recognized PHA Masonry a few years back and it was acceptable to visit them?

If you want more light I'd recommend the York Rite. It picks up almost directly where the MM degree leaves off and it answers several questions that still remain after a man is raised. I know in England you're not really considered a Master until you receive the Royal Arch degree. As taken...

I've done a bit of reading on this and I think retention comes down to a couple key points: 1. It starts in the West. When a candidate is interviewed we need to find out why he wishes to join and what his expectations are. I know of a few brothers who joined for a little bit and eventually...

Masonic education took a whole new meaning to me once I started reading articles and posts I've found here. I just didn't realize there was so much more to it and I think it's something a lot of masons are unaware of. I also think that by neglecting more wholesome masonic education we are also...

Honestly...outside of memory work, most of my masonic education has come from the internet...this website to be specific. Floor school at my lodge consists of memory work, practicing degrees, and games of dominoes. In fact I actually took a hiatus from lodge after I was raised because my...

In my opinion, this will cause issues but it's nothing near as catastrophic as it's often made out to be. The membership was really booming during the WW2 generation and because of this we experienced growth in lodges that hasn't really been experienced before. When these brothers are no...

Just a reminder that this event will be tomorrow for anyone that's in the area or interested in making the trip. Festivities will probably begin around 1 or 2.

David Ramsey has several DVDs out as well. I haven't read any of his books yet but what I've seen of him on DVD is some excellent stuff. A quick search for him on youtube pulls up several videos that you might find interesting also.

One of the first things we learn in masonry is that, while it's important to try and come to lodge whenever you can, it certainly shouldn't be considered a priority over your family, career, education, ect. ect. Sometimes our personal lives dictate that we simply can't attend lodge and that's...

Hm. Maybe there's some rule none of us know about in our lodge, I don't recall seeing anything in the law book before though. We rarely do them during stated meetings (maybe one in six years?) but I definitely don't see harm in a small group of two or three taking turns, keep in mind we...

Usually our called meetings for proficiency are planned a week or two in advance but we have called them on very short notice before also, I think it just depends on the situation. I've seen multiple candidates turn in their proficiency at once but never more than two people at the same time...

Brother Beathard pretty much covered it. You can't say you visited Grand Lodge unless you check out the museum and library, just be warned it's easy to lose track of time in the library if you're a bookworm. :)

I think 90% of dropouts can be avoided by informing potential candidates at the time of their interviews. Everything in the poll plays a factor, but if we sit down and inform the candidate what masonry stands for, what would be expected of them (timewise, monetarily, and memorywork, as well as...

You have several valid points Brother Vick. I was going to leave this thread be, having said my piece, but your post prompted me to add a little more. If everyone bears with me I'll be quiet after this. Also I've woken up at a very unusual hour for me this morning so I'll try to piece my...

I look at it this way: taking the rule out about carrying weapons to lodge would likely cause problems and adding an amendment to allow concealed weapons would do the same. That being said, I've noticed most brothers tend to look the other way if the carrier is in law enforcement. Putting...

It's actually other people's problems that I worry about. We live in a time where people will even go into churches and start shooting the place up. Lots of people have wrong ideas about the craft, all it would take is one nutjob who thinks they'd be doing the world a favor. Lots of lodges...