Mirfield Installation No. 1102

Yesterday I attended the Installation Meeting of Mirfield Lodge No. 1102. The evening was up to the usual standards of a Mirfield Installation and it was a very memorable evening.

Installation Meeting of the Lodge of Connaught & Truth

Yesterday I attended our Installation meeting of the Lodge of Connaught & Truth No. 521. There were 72 brethren present with 50 visitors, an excellent afternoon and evening. I am now looking forward to a new masonic year for the Lodge as Director of Ceremonies.

Ryburn Installation - No. 1283

Wednesday 30th November, 2011 - attended the Installation Meeting of Ryburn Lodge No. 1283. I've lost count of the number of times I have been to Ryburn Installation - an excellent meeting with over 70 brethren present.

A big thanks!

This blog now receives 250 page impressions per month. Given I started this as a place to bookmark my thoughts about Freemasonry I am taken aback by the number of people reading the posts. So many thanks to you.

Rugby Football Lodge No.9811

On Thursday I attended The Rugby Football Lodge  No.9811. This meets at The Masonic Hall, Greenhead Road, Huddersfield. There were over 70 members present. The ceremony was an initiation, with two joining members being proposed. It was great to see a Lodge that has been so successful in attracting new members. 'Themed' lodges are a good idea..... the DC has a whistle at this Lodge rather than a gavel.

Memory as a substitute for thinking

One of the strengths of Freemasonry is its history. However all organisations need to be aware of the burden that legacy brings with it. The key really, is how is change and stay the same? Thus:

1. The present is not the perfect imitation of the past. We need to be mindful of changes in the outside world and create Lodges with a more sustainable outlook.
2. We need to ensure we are not trapped by our own history. History cannot be changed, only the future can.
3. Tradition can create mindless precedent. Memory should not be used as a substitute for thinking.

Freemasons in West Yorkshire announce Jubilee grants

Please follow the link to the story in the Huddersfield Eaxminer

Lodge of Connaught & Truth No. 521

Last night attended the Lodge of Connaught & Truth for Scroll Night and a lecture on Masonic Charities.

Cunning linguists in Sweden crack 300-year-old occult code
http://www.thelocal.se/36992/20111027/#

Visit to Constancy Lodge 6359

Yesterday evening I was delighted to attend our daughter Lodge, Constancy Lodge No. 6359 with the newest member from the Lodge of Connaught & Truth No. 521. ().

The brethren worked for fourth section of the first degree lecture, and I was privileged to respond on behalf of the visitors.

University Lodge Scheme

On Saturday 15th October 2011 I attended the University Scheme Lodge Conference, presided over by David Williamson, Assistant Grand Master. It was held at Grand Lodge, Great Queen Street. The Conference was most illuminating and highlighted the work of the Scheme within Freemasonry.

Fearnley MMM No. 58

Yesterday evening I attended my Mark Master Masons Lodge No. 58, which meets in Mirfield, West Yorkshire.
The ceremony was an advancement, and there were 26 brethren present, which was nice.

Wall Street Journal article

I have mixed feelings about this article in the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203476804576612841564312696.html

It seems to hit quite an important issue, and yet gets reflected off at a tangent.

The article starts of with that Masonic cliche about blood curdling oaths. Come on guys, this is the Wall Street Journal, we expect better from such a prestigious publication.

However, I do find its overtly ageist tone slightly distressing. I was 26 when I joined, my proposer was in his 70s. I discovered a fraternity where mutual respect and friendship had little to do with a generation gap that was more obvious to other people than it was to me. I would spend hours talking about Freemasonry, socializing with a group of people with a shared passion. I would hope that anyone joining Freemasonry can see past people's age, or any demographic for that matter. Likewise, I would hope that brethren who join a Lodge do not find they are patronized or treated in a condescending manner.

I applaud the move towards openness, and always have. Economists call it 'asymmetric information' and whilst it adds to the mystique candidates need to be aware of the decision they are about to take before they join. Anything else is bordering on the unethical. However, information about the ceremoney cannot be a plot spoiler either.

Information for candidates needs to use the 'Goldilocks principle', not too little, not too much, but 'just the right amount', IMHO :-).

Installation Meeting at Welcome Lodge 3779 at Tapton Hall, Sheffield

It was a great pleasure yesterday evening to attend the installation meeting of Welcome Lodge 3779 at Tapton Hall, Sheffield. I was accompanied by five other members of the Lodge of Connaught and Truth, in fact the Provincial Grand Master's representative was a member of our Lodge. We wish the Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren a happy year and look forward to their company again at some point in the year.

Are you fighting the future, or are you fighting for the future?

It never ceases to amaze me how conservative Freemasonry is. This is such a shame because Freemasonry's past success is based on a society that was remarkably liberal in its outlook. My question is whether our organization will escape the cycle of decline over the past 50 years. Outmoded practices such as stewarding may be relevant to a society where the apprentice worked their up, but now it hardly offers somebody new an incentive to remain a member. Our organization need to take cognisance of emergent trends, and remove any barriers to growth. Therefore I would ask are you fighting the future, or are you fighting for the future?

Lodge of Connaught & Truth No. 521

Last night I attended the Lodge of Connaught & Truth No. 521 www.truth521.org.uk where I acted as Senior Deacon for a Passing Ceremony.

Honour the past, invent the future

I went on a course recently where this quote was on the last slide. It struck me how appropriate this was for Freemasonry. The Craft seems to have developed an aversion for the future, the phrase 'modern Freemasonry', for example, is never heard in our Masonic Halls. Likewise there is an obsession for an imagined, nostalgic past that never really existed.

Lodge of Hope No. 302

On Monday 5th September I was delighted to attend the meeting of Hope Lodge No. 302 in Bradford. The Assistant Grand Master, John Williamson was in attendance and he confirmed Hope's membership of the University Scheme.

Phone-hacking scandal: Jonathan Rees obtained information using dark arts

Another example of causality, correlation, and negative stereotyping. What the story fails to mention is that what Jonathan Rees is alleged to have done is also against the principles of Freemasonry. Given the allegations made, I think this would have strengthened the case against him, rather than use it as a nice narrative 'hook' (which purely from a writing perspective, it is).

But then again, it is the Guardian!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jun/08/phone-hacking-scandal-jonathan-rees

What Rowan Williams really dislikes about Freemasonry

More unfortunate coverage of Freemasonry. Coming from the Guardian I suppose the first few paragraphs are inevitable. "Secret society"..... "cloak and dagger" and other such masonic cliches. However, it is one of the first articles that considers the deism of Freemasonry. This is almost bordering on intelligent and informed. However, what it fails to recognise is that antagonism from religion towards the Craft is that religion wants the exclusive rights to people's souls.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/jun/02/rowan-williams-freemasonry-liberalism-enlightenment#post-area

God forbid (sic.) we associate with people from other religions. In a world of an increasingly secularised society, I think Dr Williams's victory will be Pyrrhic at best.

Dr Williams prompts new PEV to quit Freemasons

Disappointing to hear that the Archbishop of Canterbury subscribes to craftaphobic views:

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=112694

Transformation of Freemasonry

This book The Transformation of Freemasonry seems to be getting plenty of reviews at the moment. By the strangest coincidence I know the publisher from a previous role I used to do. Small world.... but not if you have to clean it!

http://www.huntingtonnews.net/2167

The reviews on Amazon are very positive:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transformation-Freemasonry-David-Harrison/dp/1845494377

Freemasons donate 10,000 teddy bears to sick or injured children in hospital

Some more rather positive news than the 'anti-mason' reporting I have been doing of late.

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/health/10-000th-teddy-TLC-young-patient/article-3082936-detail/article.html