Masonic Humor from http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/jokesfr.html
A postman, on his route, picked up a letter from a mailbox that was addressed to GOD. The postman, seeing that the letter was not sealed, and there being no postage on it, opened and read it. It was from a man who was down on his luck, and was asking God for help. The letter asked for $50 to get his family through the next week. The postman, being a Mason, took the letter to Lodge that evening, read it, and asked for donations for the unfortunate fellow. The Masons, wanting to help, took up a collection, and received twenty five dollars from the brethren. The Secretary placed the cash in a Lodge envelope, and gave it to the postman to deliver the following day, which he did. Another day passed, and the postman again found an unsealed letter in the mailbox addressed to GOD. Again he opened and read the letter, which thanked God for the money, but instructed him to send any future funds through the Knights of Columbus, as the Masons had kept half.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Builder
As i was reading some, I came across this and thought it should be passed on.
A PROFOUND STORY FROM SCOTLAND
The Builder
An elderly builder was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.
He would miss the wages, but he needed to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.
The builder said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work.
He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the builder finished his work the employer came to inspect the house.
He handed the front door key to the builder. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." The builder was shocked!
What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building.
Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built.
If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently.
But we cannot go back.
You are the builder. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall.
"Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said.
Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow.
Build wisely!
Stuart McK. Muirhead, P.M. Ayr, Scotland.
A PROFOUND STORY FROM SCOTLAND
The Builder
An elderly builder was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.
He would miss the wages, but he needed to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.
The builder said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work.
He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the builder finished his work the employer came to inspect the house.
He handed the front door key to the builder. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." The builder was shocked!
What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building.
Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built.
If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently.
But we cannot go back.
You are the builder. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall.
"Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said.
Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow.
Build wisely!
Stuart McK. Muirhead, P.M. Ayr, Scotland.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
On September 1st at the regular OES Saline chapter 311 Business meeting I was asked to perform the duties of Marshall. I was honored and accepted but I found my joy was reserved more for my Daughter Alyssa-Nicole who was asked to assume the role of Ester for the upcoming year.
I was delighted that she accepted and thought that how much better can it get than to be sharing the officer line with my daughter.
My only hope is that someday my son steps up to be a freemason also.
I was delighted that she accepted and thought that how much better can it get than to be sharing the officer line with my daughter.
My only hope is that someday my son steps up to be a freemason also.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Friendship
With the coming of the annual "masonic dark time", I sometimes sit around and reflect on what I have done with myself in regards to Masonry.
This year is no different except that this year I am saddened by the loss of friendship that the Order has brought to me. I Think of those members who were active when I was raised and wonder about the changing people that are their now as opposed to then. Some of them have moved on to new cities, lodeges and some to their final resting place. But, I never seem to not have that friendship from all my brothers, regardless of being new or old.
So as I sit here in my basement office I feel anxious for the start of the masonic meetings, even just the regular business meetings. I look forward to being back with my brothers, those who in some respects have become closer to me that even my own siblings.
Michael
This year is no different except that this year I am saddened by the loss of friendship that the Order has brought to me. I Think of those members who were active when I was raised and wonder about the changing people that are their now as opposed to then. Some of them have moved on to new cities, lodeges and some to their final resting place. But, I never seem to not have that friendship from all my brothers, regardless of being new or old.
So as I sit here in my basement office I feel anxious for the start of the masonic meetings, even just the regular business meetings. I look forward to being back with my brothers, those who in some respects have become closer to me that even my own siblings.
Michael
Monday, May 18, 2009
Well tonight I was initiated into the Order of the Eastern Star with my daughter. I found it to be a very worthwhile experience and was so pleased to become a member with my daughter.
My daughter, it turns out, is the baby in the lodge. Have to admit that to me she is still a baby and it is hard to believe that she is grown up now. She had a wonderful time and has made some very promising friends. I hope that she can find the friendship and camaraderie that I have found while in the Blue lodge.
My daughter, it turns out, is the baby in the lodge. Have to admit that to me she is still a baby and it is hard to believe that she is grown up now. She had a wonderful time and has made some very promising friends. I hope that she can find the friendship and camaraderie that I have found while in the Blue lodge.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Master Mason Proficiencies
Well in 2 weeks I am hoping to take my Master Mason Proficiencie exam. I am so looking forward to doing that but at the same time it is also allowing me to understand why, in the past it took MM up to 7 years to get all 3 degrees.
I am startin to think that the 1 day or get your MM in 1 year may be cheating the new initiate out of the symbolism that would be better understoood by not having a monitor to go by. By learning word to ear and having some one who has memorized and then teaching you must transfer a tremendous amount of infomation as well as teaching what the symbols actualy mean.
After almost 3 years I am still stuggling to discover what some passage means and then while in lodge I will have one of my older borthers respond to a question with " Ohh that means this" just blows my mind.
Michael
I am startin to think that the 1 day or get your MM in 1 year may be cheating the new initiate out of the symbolism that would be better understoood by not having a monitor to go by. By learning word to ear and having some one who has memorized and then teaching you must transfer a tremendous amount of infomation as well as teaching what the symbols actualy mean.
After almost 3 years I am still stuggling to discover what some passage means and then while in lodge I will have one of my older borthers respond to a question with " Ohh that means this" just blows my mind.
Michael
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Esotericism
Esotericism
In many of the early writings, or almost any writing, that pertains to the history or founding of Fremasonary, Esoteric Knowledge, is almost always stressed as the basis. As Freemasonary deals a lot with symbols and the meaning behind them it almost behooves us to understand what this is. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esotericism) it is defined in 2 ways. 1) knowledge is that which is available only to a narrow circle of "enlightened", "initiated", or specially educated people. 2) has come informally to mean any perception or knowledge that is difficult to understand or remember.
As a new mason I felt that the main thrust of my brothers was towards understanding life. Part of the "Take a good man and make him better" was to understand and learn more about my new brotherhood. So far I have spent almost a year reading many books suck as "Freemasons for Dummies", "Idiots Guide to Freemasonry", "The Builders", "What Masonry Means", and other beginning books. As well as , the most hard to read, Morals and Dogma.
After reading most of these I have felt that I had taken a step backwards as most of what I had read seemed to not make sense. I was only after talking to my brothers that I found out that the words themselves were not just the message but the symbolism that they created that also gave meaning.
With this in mind I have to ask if this is the first of many lessons that I will learn in my search for the light. That words them selves do not have power but the concepts or symbolisms them selves.
Should we as masons teach our new brothers the esoteric meaning of the multitude of literature that exists?
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