Happy and Deflated

A successful Third Degree:

The candidate is happy, but somewhat deflated.

St. John the Evangelist Day!

Happy St. John the Evangelist Day!

Why do paintings of St. John the Evangelist always depict him with an eagle?

Knowledge and Sorrow

"And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."

Ecclesiastes 1:17-18

Why would increasing one's knowledge also increase one's sorrow?

Memorize and Understand

"I'd really like to understand all of this information, and really know what it means, instead of just basically memorizing it."

- Masonry

Ask and it shall be given - Part 2

"It's not just a passing idea.  I am serious!"

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Ask and it shall be given - Part 1

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

"Why not just give us what we ask for?"

"Because, this way, you are absolutely certain that it is something you want, and not just a passing idea."

Royal Arch

What makes the "Royal Arch," Royal?

Master's Grip

What should be done if an Entered Apprentice knowingly gives you the "Master's Grip?"

Definitions and Etymology

When reading old texts, such as our Masonic Ritual, make sure that you apply definitions from the correct time period, to the words that ar eused.

Otherwise you may get confused to their meaning.

For Example: Look up the etymology (or old definition) for the word "Dream."

This may better explain the meaning of Mozart's "Requiem for a Dream,"

or Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Twisted Rhetoric

Deliberate misuse of Grammar and Logic, will undoubtedly produce twisted Rhetoric.

Have you studied the Trivium enough to know the difference?

Sir Francis Bacon - Of Great Place

"For honor is, or should be, the place of virtue; and as in nature things move violently to their place and calmly in their place, so virtue in ambition is violent, in authority settled and calm.

All rising to great place is by a winding stair; and if there be factions, it is good to side a man’s self whilst he is in the rising, and to balance himself when he is placed."

- Sir Francis Bacon

Of Great Place

Membership Retention

Real Masonic Secrets:

"Masonic Retention" comes from having newly obligated brothers see that the rest of the lodge is just as interested in them, as they are in Masonry.

Special Congratulations to Matanuksa Lodge No. 7's most newly obligated brethren.

We look forward to observing and assisting you with your Masonic travels and endeavors.

Revelation

Simply knowing the answers contains only superficial value.

Understanding the questions leads to a revelation.

Worshipful Gavel

worshipful (adj.)

Old English worðscip, wurðscip (Anglian), weorðscipe (West Saxon) "condition of being worthy, dignity, glory, distinction, honor, renown," from weorð "worthy" (see worth) + -scipe (see -ship). 

The original sense is preserved in the title worshipful "honorable" (c. 1300).

No wonder we give this guy a gavel...

Graphing Circle

If you envision your point within a circle to be on an "x-y" graph, you will see how your actions have both positive and negative effects.

Black Cube

A "black cube" is not something that should be case "lightly."

How can casting something dark help to maintain light?

Emblem of Innocence

If our apron is considered an
"Emblem of Innocence"
how does this apply to being
"The Badge of a Mason?"

Checkered Floor

"Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word  'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.

It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity."

- C.G. Jung

Booker T. Washington - Atlanta Compromise

"There is no defense or security for any of us except in the highest intelligence and development of all. If anywhere there are efforts tending to curtail the fullest growth of the Negro, let these efforts be turned into stimulating, encouraging, and making him the most useful and intelligent citizen. Effort or means so invested will pay a thousand per cent interest. These efforts will be twice blessed—blessing him that gives and him that takes. There is no escape through law of man or God from the inevitable:

The laws of changeless justice bind

oppressor with oppressed;

And close as sin and suffering joined

we march to fate abreast..."

- Booker T. Washington

1895 Atlanta Compromise Speech

Virtue in Individual Action

"All virtue lies in individual action, in inward energy, in self determination.  There is no moral worth in being swept away by a crowd even toward the best objective."

- William Ellery Channing

Long Range Plan

Worshipful Master Tip:

This is what can happen if you don't make a long-range plan for your lodge.

Herd Mentality

Worshipful Master Tip:

You cannot expect that if you "herd" people, they will not have a "herd" mentality.

Masonic Agenda

What kind of things do you currently have on your Masonic agenda?

Can you prioritize these items?

Are any of them about how to "make good men better?"

Jung - Psychic Development

"I began to understand that the goal of psychic development is the self

There is no linear evolution; there is only a circumambulation of the self.

Uniform development exists, at most, at the beginning; later, everything points toward the centre.

This insight gave me stability, and gradually my inner peace returned.”

- C.G. Jung

Memories, Dreams, Reflections

Circumambulation One

If you are asked a question, such as:

"What is the purpose of circumambulation?"

And your answer is:

"To walk in a circle."

This is considered a "surface level" answer, and you need to dig deeper.

Worshipful Master Tip

Worshipful Master Tip:

"Anyone who shouts out a prompt or correction from the sideline, without being asked, gets to sit in that chair for the rest of the evening."

Obligation and Commitment

How different is an obligation from a commitment?

Happy Anniversary to my lovely wife.

Thank you for your continued support of my Masonic Endeavors.

September 30th, 2017

Obligation Accountability

If an obligation is taken upon yourself...

...does that mean others cannot hold you accountable?

Keeping Your Obligation

There's only one person responsible for keeping your obligation.

Words and Such

"If you don't understand the use of a letter, then you'll never understand a word.  If you don't understand words, you will never complete a sentence.  Without a proper sentence, you cannot form a paragraph.  Without paragraphs, there is no chapter.  And without chapters, you'll never finish your book."

The Truth Shall Set You Free

We take an obligation to not speak "badly" about a Brother Mason.

What if telling the truth is what makes that Brother look bad?

Judgment

"Judge not, that ye be not judged."

- Matthew 7:1

Unfortunately many people take this single verse to mean "you shouldn't judge others."

Fortunately, the second verse clarifies the first, as it reads:

"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

- Matthew 7:2

Do we, as Masons, judge and measure our candidates to the same standards in which we were judged and measured?

Pizza Delivery

"How did you enjoy the meal this evening Worshipful Master?"

"Well, Bro. Junior Warden, I honor your need 'to see that none go away dissatisfied.'"

"Well... Thank you Worshipful Master."

"Worshipful Master, there is an alarm at the door."

The Key and the Lens

If the Organization of Freemasonry provides the  key to unlock the book of knowledge...

What lens does the Craft of Masonry require us to use in order to read it?

Application and Signatures

How should a potential candidate go about getting signatures on his application?

Isaiah 28:9 - Knowledge

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

- Isaiah 28:9

What time in your life were you finally able to learn knowledge?

Highest Degree?

If a Master Mason, or 3rd Degree, is the highest degree available...

Why then can a Master Mason not just attend Scottish or York Rite meetings?

Special Thanks to W.B. Gary Satterfield

Challenge the Code

What happens when you challenge the "end-all" and "be-all" of the Masonic Code.

Guidelines vs. Code

When someone acts as if the Masonic Code is the "end-all" and "be-all" of Freemasonry.

You Shall Not Pass

If you don't take enough time to study your proficiency...

...well, you know the rest.

Substitute Rubber Chicken

Sometimes, a substitute just doesn't cut it.

Can you think of other substitutes that you have accepted, and shouldn't have?

High Level Thought

High level thought requires base level knowledge.
i.e. a foundational education

This is why you must be an Entered Apprentice before you can become a Fellow of the Craft.

What subjects have become more understandable within your Masonic Studies?

Appendant Bodies?

Why is there a requirement to become a

Master Mason

before we can join any of the

Appendant Bodies?

Isaiah 28: 16-17

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Masonic Staircase

If we, as Masons, ascend this staircase without first understanding each of the steps we take...

...does that mean that the middle chamber,

"The Holy of Holies,"

is filled with Masons that shouldn't be there?

Shibboleth vs Sibboleth

Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right.  Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.

- Judges 12:6

What is the different meaning between these two pronounciations?

Corn and a Waterfall

Ha ha ha... very funny Tommy...
but that's the wrong type of corn.

Ruth

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.

- Ruth 4:7

What do you think was being redeemed, and changed?

Time

What happens when you give too much of your time to others, and don't keep any for yourself?

Overloaded

You can help new members to feel included by allowing them to assist in Lodge activities.

Be careful to not overload them with too much work.

Remember, we are supposed to be helping to "make good men better."