Well thanks to Brother Hodapp I went to Old Navy and looky looky at what I got.
That's all.
JL
27 July 2009
19 July 2009
What Freemasonry is and What Freemasonry isn't...
As a Freemason we are often asked who we are and what we do. In the past I have used the same lame line, "Do you know the Shriners?". "Well all Shriners are Masons and the that's who we are."
I have often thought because we have no answer we use this definition probably because most of us are Shriners and the Shriners have done such a good job getting out to the public as to who they are. Or rather are we embarrassed? Do we ourselves not know how to define Freemasonry or do we just want the curious person to just go away?
The other day I had the opportunity as is often afforded to me as PR Chairman to talk to a religion and folklore class from Weber State University about Freemasonry. The opportunity was arranged by our Grand Historian and Master of Harmony Lodge George Winters PM.
In the course of the presentation and the question and answer session I was asked, "What are you guys, what do you do?" For the first time in my silly little Masonic Journey I had a moment of clarity and came up with my new response.
"Well quite simply this is what a Freemason is..."
Remember the kid in your neighborhood, the goody goody? The kid who shoveled snow off of an old lady's porch for free because it was the right thing to do. The kid who held doors open for people regardless of age. The kid who was the paper boy. The kid who sold the most raffle tickets for the Booster Club to re-sod the Baseball Diamond. Remember that kid? That's the kid who embodied the spirit of a Freemason and when he grew up he became a Freemason so he could be with guys who thought the same way as he had his whole life. Well that kid was me. That's who we are and that's what I do. Oh, and by the way we have secret hand shakes, code words and we are thought to be the secret force behind the scenes that really control the world. ;) LOL...
This was then followed by the obligatory history of Stone Masons, Medieval Europe and the Knights Templar.
However this Fraternity is so much more not understood to the profane.. So not able to be revealed, unveiled, or understood..
In the course of that thought here is what Freemasonry isn't and What Freemasonry is...
Freemasonry is a not a secret society. Freemasonry is a society with secrets. Freemasonry is not a charitable organization. Freemasonry is an organization with charities. More importantly Freemasonry is not and I repeat is not a Volunteer Organization. Freemasonry is an Fraternity that has Men who have voluntarily bound themselves together by a sacred tie stronger than a cord can bind.
That is what Freemasonry is.
Remember that...
That's all.
S&F,
JL PM
I have often thought because we have no answer we use this definition probably because most of us are Shriners and the Shriners have done such a good job getting out to the public as to who they are. Or rather are we embarrassed? Do we ourselves not know how to define Freemasonry or do we just want the curious person to just go away?
The other day I had the opportunity as is often afforded to me as PR Chairman to talk to a religion and folklore class from Weber State University about Freemasonry. The opportunity was arranged by our Grand Historian and Master of Harmony Lodge George Winters PM.
In the course of the presentation and the question and answer session I was asked, "What are you guys, what do you do?" For the first time in my silly little Masonic Journey I had a moment of clarity and came up with my new response.
"Well quite simply this is what a Freemason is..."
Remember the kid in your neighborhood, the goody goody? The kid who shoveled snow off of an old lady's porch for free because it was the right thing to do. The kid who held doors open for people regardless of age. The kid who was the paper boy. The kid who sold the most raffle tickets for the Booster Club to re-sod the Baseball Diamond. Remember that kid? That's the kid who embodied the spirit of a Freemason and when he grew up he became a Freemason so he could be with guys who thought the same way as he had his whole life. Well that kid was me. That's who we are and that's what I do. Oh, and by the way we have secret hand shakes, code words and we are thought to be the secret force behind the scenes that really control the world. ;) LOL...
This was then followed by the obligatory history of Stone Masons, Medieval Europe and the Knights Templar.
However this Fraternity is so much more not understood to the profane.. So not able to be revealed, unveiled, or understood..
In the course of that thought here is what Freemasonry isn't and What Freemasonry is...
Freemasonry is a not a secret society. Freemasonry is a society with secrets. Freemasonry is not a charitable organization. Freemasonry is an organization with charities. More importantly Freemasonry is not and I repeat is not a Volunteer Organization. Freemasonry is an Fraternity that has Men who have voluntarily bound themselves together by a sacred tie stronger than a cord can bind.
That is what Freemasonry is.
Remember that...
That's all.
S&F,
JL PM
17 July 2009
08 July 2009
Been Busy
I have not posted in a while as the Grand Lodge schedule has been rather compressed this year into a five month period for our visitations. So we have visited all the Lodges from the north to the south and from east to west.
Many things have been going on this year exciting for the craft in Utah and I am glad to have been part of it.
We established in our Grand York Rite sessions the ability to start a Mark Masons Lodge independent of the local Royal Arch Chapter. This lodge that will be known as "Keystone Mark Masons Lodge" and will be sponsored by Utah Chapter No. 1 RAM, Salt Lake City, Utah USA.
The by-laws are in the mix and Companion Doug Backes and myself put forth the legislation which had no opposition. We are excited that the Grand Chapter in it's wisdom embraced this great opportunity for York Rite in Utah.
Squarework and Squarework only...
I was appointed to the Grand Chapter line and Grand Commandery line as Sentinel. I am most pleased.
For now.
That's all.
JL
Many things have been going on this year exciting for the craft in Utah and I am glad to have been part of it.
We established in our Grand York Rite sessions the ability to start a Mark Masons Lodge independent of the local Royal Arch Chapter. This lodge that will be known as "Keystone Mark Masons Lodge" and will be sponsored by Utah Chapter No. 1 RAM, Salt Lake City, Utah USA.
The by-laws are in the mix and Companion Doug Backes and myself put forth the legislation which had no opposition. We are excited that the Grand Chapter in it's wisdom embraced this great opportunity for York Rite in Utah.
Squarework and Squarework only...
I was appointed to the Grand Chapter line and Grand Commandery line as Sentinel. I am most pleased.
For now.
That's all.
JL
09 March 2009
The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics...
As I understand it.. The more you fix something the more it falls apart.
Energy decay, etc..
That being said so much energy is spent fixing Lodges. So much of the "new" youthful energy attacking (in a good way), fixing and mending old challenges is expended.
If death is part of life and death is swallowed up by life, should the course of natural events not just take place?
Some lodges shall die and some new shall be born.
Why not create? Why mend? Death is the natural outcome of life.
Are we builders or maintenance engineers?
That's all.
S&F,
JL
Energy decay, etc..
That being said so much energy is spent fixing Lodges. So much of the "new" youthful energy attacking (in a good way), fixing and mending old challenges is expended.
If death is part of life and death is swallowed up by life, should the course of natural events not just take place?
Some lodges shall die and some new shall be born.
Why not create? Why mend? Death is the natural outcome of life.
Are we builders or maintenance engineers?
That's all.
S&F,
JL
11 February 2009
Beware the teachings of a Neo-Con Mason...
Beware the teachings of a Neo-Con Mason.
What is a Neo-Con Mason. Well in most but not all cases he is a young Mason not necessarily in age but relatively new to the craft. He is negative. He is intolerant. He has read all the pop books of recent years and sees that Freemasonry is in a shambles due to old men who are misguided and strayed from the original path of Masonry. He is "enlightened" to the "true Masonry" or enchanted by some unseen, unheard, unvisited lodge of dubious European orgin. He thinks the Rites and Appendant bodies have somehow robbed the new Mason of his Masonic experience and only by hunkering down in philosophy and finding the true meanings of the craft lodge will Masonry be restored. He shuns and ridicules the "old Past Master" he finds disdain in his peers that accept officer positions as "sell outs" and "he" alone knows the truth.
Well in my not so humble opinion that's bullshit.
I am very fortunate to be a member of the smallest Grand Lodge in the continental United States. Everybody knows everybody. The GM usually knows your name and in some cases even shops in the same grocery store as you. Change can happen quickly for better or worse.
By accepting a leadership position so many years ago I was able to help make a change. I hope a positive one. I didn't join Freemasonry to be an officer but I joined for varied reasons and today I find myself here.
Freemasonry has so much to offer even for the Neo-Con Mason. However limiting yourself to a single experience limits you to so many things. In a small jurisdiction if you hide in your lodge and mind you some people are not creatures of socialization you limit your experience with those around you. Through my experiences in the AASR and AAONMS and YR I have met Masons from around the state and around the globe. I have sat in lodge in small towns 4 hours from my home. I have sat in Grand Lodges across the sea. Dumb little me from a silly little state. I have visited and made friends because I kept my mind open. I didn't pre-judge a Rite because of some uncomfortable reaction to religion.
I believe in "to each his own" however like our Junior Past Grand Master just addressed in his report to the Grand Lodge at our last communication "we stand on a precipice" we are looking out toward our future. The Neo-Con has much influence on the newly made Mason. Don't take your prejudices and crap in somebody's oatmeal because you don't see the merit in wearing a Fez or think that being a Knight Templar is silly. Now of course you are entitled to your opinion as am I.
Recently I spoke with a newly raised Master Mason who is very excited. He is so "into it". He loves what he has become and he loves his Brothers. He looks forward to and wants to join the YR and AASR. He was saddened though. He shared with me a conversation where a Neo-Con actually discouraged him from joining the Shrine. He was told it was "un-Masonic" and false. He was told it makes us as Masons look stupid to our overseas Brethren and any real true Mason wouldn't even consider joining the Shrine. He then pulled up his trouser leg and showed me the surgical scars from a long ago surgery. That's all I needed to see.
Your Freemasonry and my Freemasonry may always be different and sometimes the same but what happens here today is how we will be measured by the future. We all have opinions just like something else. I don't have the right answer and I do have the right answer. So do you.
As we the members of the household of the faithful carry on our traditions, yes our somewhat silly to some, "American traditions", remember Freemasonry is not broke it just has a patina on it. Cherish what was, encourage what is and teach so that it may become what it will and always has been. A Masonic Family. A family that loves, fights, cries and dreams.
At my initiation I was taught to be cautious....
That's all.
JL
What is a Neo-Con Mason. Well in most but not all cases he is a young Mason not necessarily in age but relatively new to the craft. He is negative. He is intolerant. He has read all the pop books of recent years and sees that Freemasonry is in a shambles due to old men who are misguided and strayed from the original path of Masonry. He is "enlightened" to the "true Masonry" or enchanted by some unseen, unheard, unvisited lodge of dubious European orgin. He thinks the Rites and Appendant bodies have somehow robbed the new Mason of his Masonic experience and only by hunkering down in philosophy and finding the true meanings of the craft lodge will Masonry be restored. He shuns and ridicules the "old Past Master" he finds disdain in his peers that accept officer positions as "sell outs" and "he" alone knows the truth.
Well in my not so humble opinion that's bullshit.
I am very fortunate to be a member of the smallest Grand Lodge in the continental United States. Everybody knows everybody. The GM usually knows your name and in some cases even shops in the same grocery store as you. Change can happen quickly for better or worse.
By accepting a leadership position so many years ago I was able to help make a change. I hope a positive one. I didn't join Freemasonry to be an officer but I joined for varied reasons and today I find myself here.
Freemasonry has so much to offer even for the Neo-Con Mason. However limiting yourself to a single experience limits you to so many things. In a small jurisdiction if you hide in your lodge and mind you some people are not creatures of socialization you limit your experience with those around you. Through my experiences in the AASR and AAONMS and YR I have met Masons from around the state and around the globe. I have sat in lodge in small towns 4 hours from my home. I have sat in Grand Lodges across the sea. Dumb little me from a silly little state. I have visited and made friends because I kept my mind open. I didn't pre-judge a Rite because of some uncomfortable reaction to religion.
I believe in "to each his own" however like our Junior Past Grand Master just addressed in his report to the Grand Lodge at our last communication "we stand on a precipice" we are looking out toward our future. The Neo-Con has much influence on the newly made Mason. Don't take your prejudices and crap in somebody's oatmeal because you don't see the merit in wearing a Fez or think that being a Knight Templar is silly. Now of course you are entitled to your opinion as am I.
Recently I spoke with a newly raised Master Mason who is very excited. He is so "into it". He loves what he has become and he loves his Brothers. He looks forward to and wants to join the YR and AASR. He was saddened though. He shared with me a conversation where a Neo-Con actually discouraged him from joining the Shrine. He was told it was "un-Masonic" and false. He was told it makes us as Masons look stupid to our overseas Brethren and any real true Mason wouldn't even consider joining the Shrine. He then pulled up his trouser leg and showed me the surgical scars from a long ago surgery. That's all I needed to see.
Your Freemasonry and my Freemasonry may always be different and sometimes the same but what happens here today is how we will be measured by the future. We all have opinions just like something else. I don't have the right answer and I do have the right answer. So do you.
As we the members of the household of the faithful carry on our traditions, yes our somewhat silly to some, "American traditions", remember Freemasonry is not broke it just has a patina on it. Cherish what was, encourage what is and teach so that it may become what it will and always has been. A Masonic Family. A family that loves, fights, cries and dreams.
At my initiation I was taught to be cautious....
That's all.
JL
21 January 2009
Thoughts on Nothing...
If we continue to do nothing, nothing will continue to happen. By the way that's something. Err nothing...
That's all.
JL
That's all.
JL
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