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That's not even similar to the Charge to a Master Mason in Minnesota. There's nothing wrong with it, but I've never seen it before.

I would vote against such a proposal in my lodge. Being elected or appointed to a line office is an honor, and no one who needs to be bribed should receive the honor. Don't accept the position if you aren't willing to perform the duties. Hell, back in the early days of Freemasonry, the...

That is, word for word, excerpted from a column I wrote for the electronic newsletter of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota back in 2014 when I was the Grand Lodge Education Officer. I have shared it with some people outside of Minnesota in the past. I'm glad it's getting used.

I do them more simply (don't have the woodworking skills or equipment!)

If I were you, I'd do some checking on the situation with people you trust before you go there with that tattoo. Look at the warnings (read: threats) that Qatar is issuing to people coming for the World Cup. I'd hate to end up in a Dubai prison. Seriously.

Freemasonry is illegal in Pakistan. We cannot help you.

In my jurisdiction, the Junior Deacon communicates with the Tyler, and candidates and visitors are announced to the WM by the Senior Deacon.

Welcome, brother! I'm glad you found your way back to being active!

Ours are like this one. The balls/cubes are in the front box, you pick the one you want and drop it into the little chute. After everyone has voted, the Senior Deacon closes the front box, goes to the Wardens and Master to show them the contents of the back box.

We have a few ballot boxes. Some have black and white balls, some have white balls and black cubes. We can see into all of them to see what we're picking; we just can't see into the chamber that they to into when we vote.

Nobody has said they're bad guys. It's the motorcycle gang image they display while identifying as Masons that a lot of us are uncomfortable with. You can be a motorcycle club without a black leather vest with rocker patches on the back.

Generally (I know there are exceptions) Grand Lodges are not "chartered." They are created by constituent lodges in a geographical territory not already under the jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge. UGLE was created by a group of London and Westminster lodges who got together and started it, just...

First of all, that's a very cynical question, and implies that we're corrupt. Secondly, recognition is not up to the individual Mason. My Grand Lodge does not recognize your Grand Lodge (assuming you're PHO) and therefore the question is settled for me.

This is a very sensitive subject. I'm not a fan of the image that Widow's Sons groups portray. I'm a retired cop. They emulate biker gangs, while displaying the S&C. Rocker panel patches on the back of vests means "gang" to the public. I've had W.S. members tell me about three rockers vs...

That's terrible. Stay with it!

I'm a Mason in Minnesota. My grandfather was a Mason in Illinois. I sent them an email, explaining who I was and what information I was looking for. They could have replied "send the request through your lodge secretary to the Minnesota Grand Secretary, who will make the request of the...

Don't despair, Brother Reginald. The more I learn, the more I find out how little I really know. We're here for you.

Exactly. Unless I'm seeking admission to your lodge, with no one to vouch for me, I don't have to prove anything to anybody. The times I've visited Scotland (which my studies leads me to believe is the birthplace of Freemasonry) and worn a cap with a square and compass, the only thing I was...

Me neither, but from online discussions, I'm under the impression that in some areas you're expected to know it when you visit. I'm afraid I'd get turned away! :D

We've had traveling construction workers show up at our lodge. A quick check of their dues cards, a few pertinent questions, the Tyler's Oath, and we were very pleased to have them! (And here, we don't expect anyone to have memorized the Tyler's oath. It's used in a "say after me" fashion.