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