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I have had such experiences but they have been specific enough I've posted about them on a church forum not on a lodge forum. Working in the soil with retaining wall blocks as well as with plants. Something about the combination of physical exercise and quiet helped put my into a deeper more...

If mouth to ear only means with no book then what drives it is the presence of the mentor not the absence of the book. I did my proficiencies with my mentor using a cipher book. I guess I'll call it cheek to cheek instead of mouth to ear. Being taught what the words mean and more about...

Just to check - The brothers are aware that this principle of large lodges hiving into small lodges was standard across America until roughly WWI, right? The trend towards large lodges and few new charters is new on the scale that Masonry works. Only a century. I'm sure there were good...

My take - When we pray for the mental healing of such folks, we tend to do so too privately. Stating in public "I will pray for your mental health and reformation" may have no impact on the few dedicated haters but it works well on others who are on the fence or who are there just to follow the...

Bro Bill, I used the word "issued" because in both lodges I proceeded immediately into appointed pro-tem chairs and entered the line. In both lodges non-officers may purchase a GL printed blue book while officers are issued one. As you suggest the blue book is only for MMs as it contains the...

When I encountered this forum I read a ton of posts. One of them pointed to a court case between two GLs in California so I looked them up. Neither is the recognized GL that has a member lodge as a tenant in our building and that I've visited. I take it you would assert that by your...

Masonry admits good men of every faith in the world that you've heard of and that you haven't heard of. This is something to be proud of. That some committee of fundies decided it's a bad thing reflects on them in pretty simple fashion in my book. I find nothing in our admissions policy to be...

I wonder about a Sihk's ceremonial dagger. They aren't the only faith that expects members to go armed. Note that the brim seems to be to keep guys from wearing a hat from one of the appendant bodies. No cap or fez. I've got a fedora because one of my lodges has that local tradition.

Bro Blaster, The history has led to many states having several PHA jurisdictions. It's a mess. Only one can be recognized. How to tell? The date of the oldest chartered lodge? The largest membership? There's no good way to judge. But having two jurisdictions remaining after the dust has...

Do not let lack of instruction on this topic cause confusion that interferes with helping our new brother. Different jurisdictions, different rules on books. I am currently a member in California and Illinois. In California the non-monitorial ritual is available in a cipher book that has been...

Brother Onewhoseeks, The terminology in the message you quoted is jumbled but there is meaning in it. "Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by incompetence". Let's take a step back and shift from thinking something is wrong by way of action to thinking something is...

Masonry is sort of like the Marines. There's no such thing as a "former" Marine. When you demit from any Masonic order you're "on open demit". It means you can petition for affiliation to rejoin at any time and you're considered in good standing. A better status that going NPD. Get...

I have seen a couple of slight variations on this presentation done in lodge. It's magnificent. A puzzle for students of the tools - Is there another tool that is not mentioned when presenting tools to the candidate during his three degrees?

When I read the subject line I thought it was a different topic - Ladies night event. We're taking the ladies to see a swing band and go dancing because several ladies have mentioned they want that and that's what a ladies night event is about. Members pay the full price for tickets and...

Coming from the other side of that fence - Back when I was going through the line in Pasadena we had a first degree one night. After the degree I walked with two of our elderly members to the dining hall. One said to the other "My Father would turn in his grave if he saw what we just did". I...

There's one technical reason that is generally used as a dodge to not face the race issue. The American Doctrine of Exclusive Jurisdiction says that only one GL can be in charge of a territory. It's why NYS and CA (probably others) sponsors a few "Grand Lodge in Exile" for countries that are...

A fair number of brothers would like a proven direct descent from the original Templars. There are some Scottish Rite degrees inspired by them. I won't say there is no connection but the evidence isn't there. Most likely it is descent by imitation.

Unfortunately you won't be able to join any of the appendent bodies as that Grand Lodge is not recognized. Start here - http://mwphglcal.org/ for the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of California. Huh, when I lived in LA metro until 2001 they were "of California and Hawaii". Looks...

The Antient and Modern GLs united in 1813. Few think much was lost when they united. Not that we should unite just because a pair of GLs have done so in the past, just that we have a good model for how to go about it should there be a mutual decision to unite. I don't think either GL will...

Each year I've been in the east I've scheduled a "lambskin apron night" at one of the Stated meetings. I had at least three goals in mind. 1) An attempt to get the brethren to take it out so their family knows where it is so it's not lost at their funeral. Even if they don't wear it at lodge...