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Arkansas had a period there between 2012 and 2020 where there was a "major disagreement" between the Grand Lodge and Shriners International where you didn't have to be a Master Mason in order to become a Shriner in Arkansas. Our local background check is a remnant from those bad old days.

At least, in our temple by-laws. We use mostly an online petition (beashrinernow.com) and have it linked to an online background check (locally contracted). Results are e-mailed to the Recorder.

It depends on the rules of the grand jurisdiction. In Arkansas, we are required to conduct a criminal background check as part of the packet in submitting a petition for the symbolic degrees. (Shriners International requires the same). A completed packet indicating a past felony conviction is...

Will be starting off my 5th year as Secretary of Magnolia #60... this is one one of those jobs that once you have "touched the tar baby", it seems to cling to you ;-) Time to start drafting out the dues notices for the coming year :-(

A criminal record showing conviction of a felony usually results in the investigating committee reporting "unfavorable" on a candidates petition for the symbolic degrees of freemasonry. We're a fraternity based on a great deal of trust in one another, and not a recovery or rehabilitative...

It depends in which jurisdiction you are, but in many places the ritual and diagrams of the floor work are "not proper to be written" ... (remember what you promised in your EA obligation). In these cases, the work is taught "mouth to ear" for memorization. Most lodges will have a...

Freemasonry is illegal, or at least severely restricted, in most Islamic or Arabic countries. Dubai is one of those. As Masons, we are strictly admonished to obey the laws of hosting countries, so if Masonry is illegal in our country, for whatever reason, it's not a Good Thing to put up a lodge...

"Where Your Treasure Is" is a hard book to find; back in those days they didn't convert much into Kindle or PDF. I managed to find a used copy through Amazon's used book vendors several years ago. It gets kept in one of those archival folders, it's an excellent read and reference for the way a...

You have to live, or be in a place where there is a recognized lodge or grand lodge, and petition that lodge for membership. Freemasonry is not something that you can join remotely, or on-line. Many Islamic or other Arab countries have prohibited Freemasonry for their own particular...

The explanation given in the Monitor, and as explained in the 3rd section of the EA degree, was that the temple was constructed in such a location that the sun "could dart no rays into the northern part thereof. The north, therefore, we Masonically call a place of darkness." In consulting...

Probably not mentally ill... simply devoid of manners.

This is a little lesson that I put in our monthly news letter, and used it as a Masonic education presentation erly last year... It's taken directly from a presentation at Shriners International's 3rd Marketing & Membership conference last February... --------- THE MAGIC PILL OF MEMBERSHIP...

If you're really serious about starting a local lodge, contact the Grand Lodge within your jurisdiction and determine what their requirements are (Digest of Laws) to organize and start a lodge. Each lodge is required to have a charter from the grand lodge in their jurisdiction in order to exist...

Both lodges in which I do funeral work have a "go box" stored in the prep room which contains all the paraphrenalia needed to conduct a Masonic funeral, and in it we keep a small supply of aprons suitable for funeral use. A brother is issued his lambskin apron when he receives his EA degree and...

Freemasonry is one of those organizations that principally meet face to face, and most Masonic lectures are taught/learned that way... So you are likely fishing in the wrong pond.

Starting my 3rd year in it...

The current List of Lodges - Masonic does not list any recognized lodges in Dubai. Dubai is one of those Arabic countries where Freemasonry is outlawed in many places. There may be a few sojourning individuals here and there, but no recognized lodges.

There's a beautiful biography out there in the used book market by Allen Roberts, "Brother Truman". I have my copy in my little library, and bought a copy for our lodge library as well. It's a good read, and I've probably learned more Masonry from Brother Truman than I have from Albert Pike ;-)

Straightening up an old file cabinet a few weeks ago, I came across a set of the old original handwritten record books from the 1800s... I found the record of initiation and membership of one of our more notable past members. This young Brother, an Army and Civil War veteran, was raised to the...

Things are finally cooling off. The Grand Lodge of Arkansas has reconciled with the Shrine, and as of about two years ago, the Shrine is once again a recognized organization. We have had a sizable purge within the ranks of past grand masters, and the election of some more progressive grand...