I have been actively involved with a wide variety of nonprofit volunteer organizations over the years, everything from professional trade groups, to local sports organizations, homeowner associations, and fraternal/civic organizations. There is one common denominator shared by such groups, namely, membership is dwindling. The idea of participating in a volunteer organization appears to be a […]
Continue readingMonthly Archives: June 2011
A History Making Grand Session
A Grand Session in Prince Hall is a very special, interesting and motivating experience especially when the female Orders meet at the same time. Texas is no exception where Eastern Star and the Heroines of Jericho meet simultaneously separately but attend the luncheons, social events, banquets and prayerful times with the Master Masons. It is […]
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The Lodge as a Sanctum Sanctorum
Recently, I asked the members of The Euphrates‘ mailing list to send me any subjects that they would like me to cover in my articles. I received a number of great ideas and am going to work my way through them over the next few months. This week, I’m going to cover a subject that […]
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Made a Mason at Sight
Two new brothers were added at sight in the last week, and Chris Hodapp at the Freemasons for Dummies blog gave them both a terrific introduction to the fold. Welcome to the newly made brothers Shaquille O’Neal and Brother Richard Dreyfuss. Dreyfuss, Hodapp reported, was made by M:.W:. Grand Master Jesse Villarreal of the Grand […]
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Suck-Up 101
Brothers – this article is from my consulting practice but I fear we run into such situations now and then in Lodge. Hope you enjoy it. – TB During our lifetime, we inevitably run into some rather unsavory characters who will wrong, cheat or defraud us. Maybe even worse are people who survive not because […]
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The Book Of Fate
I just completed a week’s vacation where I did what I love to do most. And that is lay back and put my feet up with a good “escape” book. No heavy reading allowed on vacation. My favorite “get away from it all,” fiction fantasy escape is a good murder mystery. I am addicted to […]
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The Rite of Circumambulation
The rite of circumambulation is perhaps the most overlooked of all Masonic rituals. This action is an inherent part of almost every Masonic degree and plays a critical role in the three degrees of the Symbolic Lodge. However, few Masons have ever truly examined this ritual or its symbolism. Even a short inquiry into its […]
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Porn puts the lower and middle classes into freemasonry
The following two quotes come from an article I stumbled across this morning, Flynt’s master plan, written by Jonathan Kay for the National Post on a new book about the place of porn (or at least pornographic ideas) in the shaping of America. Before I send you over to the article, give the two quotes […]
Continue readingHow you can practice Masonic Relief in Joplin
Chris Hodapp provided this info in the comments (Big Thanks Chris), but it needs to go further and wider. To help the Joplin Scottish Rite and Missouri Masonry with the Joplin clean up you can contact the Valley’s office at (417) 623-3219 if you would like to physically help. If you would like to make […]
Continue readingJoplin Scottish Rite and the Spirit of Masonry
This is came off of a Press Release, and deserves to be shared. If you’ve been completely disconnected form the weather tragedy in Joplin Missouri recently, the latest reporting has the death toll near to 140 people killed in the Missouri storms. Needless to say, much of the community was utterly destroyed. Spared in the […]
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