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Welcome into the family.

It is made like an european tracing board. Maybe you can find something there. But, as TBs are part of the inner lodge symbolizm, they are usually sold only to lodges, not to private people.

You take the words right out of my mouth. If a lodge meeting is not something special, it is no wonder, that brothers stop to come. A former WM of my lodge used to say: "Today is nothing special, just a degree meeting", when we had no initiation, passing or raising. And with this attitude he...

It is a matter of what one is used to. Everything different seems odd, no matter what it is. Here, nobody would drop a thought on coming in Jeans or Polo Shirt. It is just not normal. Black suit and white tie is normal, and nobody would try to make it different. Everything else would be...

Interesting concept. Haven't heard of such a thing here. I get the idea, that lodges here are much more souvereign than in the US. The GL has ritual souvereignity here, of course, but a GL officer trying to grade a lodge would experience his last visit there. :-) And a GM coming up with this...

If you want to visit a lodge outside the US, you should get in contact with the lodge/GL over there via your own Grand Secretary. For example, in Germany (similar in the rest of Europe) we don't use due cards, and the test is difficult, as signs, words and even the general layout of the lodge is...

Please, what is a graded degree? After a while, I learned, that a "stated meeting" has nothing to do with ritual work, but have you different kinds of degree meetings too?

I guess, you mean blackballing. Otherwise, I would say, the cops prevent him from blackmailing. *gg* In my jurisdiction, visitors have no vote in a ballot. Only full members of the lodge in question.

In my jurisdiction, we solved that problem in a different way. A candidate is only refused completely, if more than 3 black balls are thrown. 1-3 black balls have to be argumented and explained. That means, the brother, who threw the black ball has 3 days time, to explain himself to the WM (not...

In history, one of the founders and later GM of my jurisdiction got his son blackballed. At those times, there was no second try. Once denied, always denied. This rule changed shortly after that incident. :-)

It is a typical emotion, that, after entering an elitist groups, one is eager to lift the standards, even higher than oneself would fulfill. That way, you can make yourself better. But I don't think, that is meant here. The call to guard the West Gate does not mean to lift up the standards, it...

In Germany, black suit, white shirt and white tie or bow-tie are worn by every brother in every lodge. Some lodges add top hat for all, some brothers chose to wear a cut. It does not matter, if the suit is by Armani or from the local department store. What matters is, that we are all the same...

I have problems in understanding your ways. There is so little trust, and so much organisational rules in your descriptions, that I almost think, you do not talk with each other on a personal matter. Is not any involves brother acting for the good of his lodge? Of course, there may be different...

That's not a bad thing.

I don't think, that "in lodge" means necessarily, in the lodge building. I think, it means, in the official parts of a lodge meeting. But, I learned several times now, that US brethren have a different perspective, when it comes to their lodge buildings.

I concur, especially with your opinion, that showing means the personal affiliation with masonry, not the temples, rituals and symbols. That does not to any good. It does not help the Neutrals becoming supportive, but it helps the Antis to get more and more detailed ammo to forge into their...

What is the argument in not discussing a petitioner? I can't understand that. That could mean, letting the lodge run into it's demise with eyes wide open. Why should that happen? In my jurisdiction, a petitioner has contact with a lodge, or with one brother, for about a year. After that, he may...

Continental European rituals are strongly influenced by early French traditions. The initiation ritual is seen as a rebirth of the profane into masonry, and depending on the jurisdiction, the CoR is seen as either the grave or the womb, from what the new, transformed life is born from the...

Well, no offence intended, but men, who believe our way, but are no masons, don't wear the S&C either (or should not, as it is a mark of membership in my eyes). And, what do you mean with "your God"?

Fascinating! I never thought, that there could be a regular lodge without a chamber of reflection. It seems to be a centerpiece of masonic ritual here.