Monday, August 29, 2011

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD!!!


Brethren,

On Monday March 21, 2011, I had the incredible experience of hearing Bro. Rashied K. Sharrief Al-Bey deliver his lecture "Stellar Theology and Masonic Astronomy" at Nutley Lodge No.25 in New Jersey- it was well worth the effort of Travelling to that jurisdiction.

Since that time, I have had the fortune of finding a PDF copy online. I was so impressed with the read, that it was only logical to share such Light with the Brethren. So gentlemen, here is the link- Free PDF "Stellar Theology and Masonic Astronomy".

I am glad that I can share such Light, please enjoy it as I have.

Bro. Earnest L. Hudson, Jr.
Joseph Warren-Gothic Lodge No. 934
GL of F&AM of the State of NY

A Masonic Walking Tour of Lower Manhattan!!!

The Searchers Club supports:



The Bro. Moses Montefiore
Masonic Study Association
"Think and Thank"

Invites You to a Masonic Walking Tour of Lower Manhattan

...By: W:. Lenny Lubitz

Date: Saturday, September 10, 2011
Time: 10:00AM
*NO RAIN DATE – RAIN OR SHINE TOUR WILL TAKE PLACE*

Location: We will gather at St. Paul's Chapel
Broadway @ Fulton Street

Cost: $7.00/brother (payable to the Fraunces Tavern Museum)
In addition, we will be finishing the event at Fraunces Tavern's historic bar and restaurant---drinks and meals are dutch treat.

It is also suggested that brothers bring cameras and binoculars.

RSVP required
BrotherMontefiore@gmail.com

This event is open to all Freemasons of all ranks

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

A PDF File for "The Meaning of Masonry" is available!



Brethren,

Our Bro. and friend, Lenny Lubitz, has provided a link to a PDF file for Wilmshurt's "The Meaning of Masonry." Here's some of the reason's that you'd want to secure this copy:
 
"It is a link to the pdf version of the Wilmhurst book, a format both easier to read as well as downloadable so that it can both be saved and read on a Kindle or Nook or IPad...

In addition, it has a forward penned by (RW) Brother Alan Boudreau, the former curator and librarian of the Livingston Masonic Library (as well as a Fellow of the American Lodge of Research)."


PDF file link for "The Meaning of Masonry"

Many thanks,

Your brother Lenny Lubitz


We thank you Brother Lenny for this contribution!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Allied Lodge No. 1170 initiates a Masonic Book of the Month Club!!!



Our Brethren at Allied Lodge No. 1170 have had the insight to start a book-of-the-month club for Brethren interested in furthering their Masonic education, or just wanting a great Masonic social outlet. I am told, through Bro. Michael Flores (some of you may know him as "Bro. Flo"), that the first book to be read is the Masonic classic entitled, The Meaning of Masonry by William Wilmshurst.

The books are first read, then discussed in an open forum on the Allied Lodge Facebook Page. Bro. Flores says that the discussions are pretty lively, and invites us all to participate! If you're interested, simply visit the Allied Lodge page by clicking here and request to be added to the group. Additionally, you can email R.W. Curtis Alan Banks at sirkdbd@yahoo.com to be added to the Allied Lodge page.

For those of you who either can't find a copy of the book, or the cost simply may not be in the budget, here is a link to an online copy at the website PheonixMasonry.org- click here for the online copy of The Meaning of Masonry.

Here's a small taste of William Wilmshursts writing:

"Light is granted in proportion to the desire of our hearts, …".

"Initiation, … meant a process whereby natural man became transformed into spiritual or ultra-natural man and to effect this it was necessary to change his consciousness, to gear it to a new and higher principal, and so, as it were, make of him a new man in the sense of attaining a new method of life and a new outlook upon the universe." (Meaning of Masonry, Wilmshurst, p. 185)

I, for one, am definitely participating. Before I became a Freemason, I read such books, but never had anyone to discuss them with! I look forward to sharing thoughts and ideas with my Brethren about such things, and look forward to taking fellowship with new Brethren I have not yet met, those who might otherwise have remained perpetually at a distance.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Bro. Alleyne Provides a Link to an Excellent Paper on Facebook!

My Brethren,

If you're not aware of the Esoteric Blue Room group on Facebook, you may want to do some investigating. Inthat room, there are some pretty heady discussions, the kind that made you want to join Freemasonry inthe first place, particularly if you thought Freemasonry was founded on deep philosophical and esoteric principles. We've provided the link here- Click here to download Bro. Jackson's paper- and strongly encourage you to read it through; we have found it to be very insightful!

Here are two of the Facebook comments posted on the paper thus far:

Earnest Hudson
Good stuff! I particularly appreciate that the speaker did not simply admonish the Craft, but rather gave an observational analysis, through Comparison/Contrast, of then current issues affecting, what the speaker seemed to feel as being, th...e stability of the Craft within the United States of America. Additionally, he gave a Masonic solution, Emulation- to practice the highly successful habits of the Craft that are found in other parts of the Masonic world community.

I find this approach similar to a tenet expoused by a great statesmen who was quite famous for saying, and I loosely paraphrase, that the liberation of the mind is best achieved through adoptation of the mindset that one is a "World Citizen," juxtaposed to being a member of a social sub-class, local community, city, state, or even country. For myself, in a Masonic context, I find this powerful indeed, for it implies that we of the United States have possibly stunted our own Masonic growth to the extent that we extoll our varying levels of jingoism.
See More
3 hours ago ·
  • Bill Thorne
    Bro. Jackson is on point. As you travel and experience Freemasonry in a worldwide setting you'll develop a deeper and more meaningful appreciation for doing so. There is more to Freemasonry than reading and learning to ricite the contents o...f the Ritual in the various Degrees. Hit the road Jack! there is knowledge beyond the four walls that house your Lodge meetings. Keep in mind, the Lodge is within you. May His blessings be with all!
  • Thursday, August 4, 2011

    Symposium in Alexandria!!

    August 19-21
    Alexandria, Virginia





    "The Masonic Restoration Foundation Symposium is the largest gathering of Masons in the United States who are expressly committed to observing the highest standards of excellence in the Craft. This year the Symposium will be hosted under the auspices of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, one of the most historic lodges in the nation, and a proponent of excellence in Masonic observance.
    The Symposium will take place from August 19-21, at the George Washington Masonic Memorial, with meetings conducted both in the Alexandria-Washington Lodge Room and the Memorial Theater. The event will begin with a special Festive Board held in the Grand Masonic Hall on Friday evening, featuring our Keynote Speaker, Julian Rees. Early Registration (until July 19) for the Symposium is $50.00.
    This event is not to be missed, and we have secured excellent rates for accommodation at the Hilton directly across from the Memorial. All the information you need to participate is found here on this web site. We look forward to seeing you at the Symposium!"
    Andrew Hammer, PM
    Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22
    Organizer, MRF Symposium 2011

    Tuesday, August 2, 2011

    Presentation Proposal Form

    Brethren, to make it easier for youto gather your ideas and thoughts regading presentations for the Searchers Club, we have put toether a proposal form for your convenience. You can either copy and paste onto a word document, or simply print from this page. Also, the entire Introduction packet tab contains all the docs necessary for you to get up to speed on the happenings of the club.

    Great Luck!



    Presentation Proposal Form

    Presenter Name:
    Lodge:
    Email address:
    Contact Number:

    Presentation Name:
    Presentation Length (up to 60 minutes):
    Topic (select one):

    Esoteric           Ritual              Masonic Law             Etiquette               Education
    History           Appendant Bodies                 Other (Please Describe):                   

    Brief Description:

    Equipment Needed (select one):

    Computer                  Projector            Projection Screen                Photocopies               
    Other (Please Describe):

                           
    Proposed Presentation Date (mm/dd/yy):
    Day of the Week:
    Time (Although most Searcher’s Club sessions will begin at 6 P.M. and end at 9 P.M., we recognize that, due to the inherent nature of some topics, start times may need to be adjusted accordingly):
    Format Desired (2-hour formats are used for sessions beginning after 9 P. M.):

    3-Hour (example)
    6:00 P.M. – Evening Opens
    Opening Remarks/Introduction
    6:10 P.M. - Meet & Greet, Food Orders
    6:20 P.M. - Searcher’s Club updates & Speaker Introduction
    6:25 P.M. - Speaker Presentation
    7:25 P.M. - Q&A, Group Discussion
    7:45 P.M. - Organizer’s Presentation Wrap-Up
    7:50 P.M. - Fellowship
    8:50 P.M. - Closing Remarks/Farewells
                            Email
                            Facebook Page
                            Thank You
    9:00 P.M. - Evening Closes


    2-Hour (example)
    9:00 P.M. – Evening Opens
    Opening Remarks/Introduction
    9:10 P.M. - Meet & Greet, Food Orders
    9:20 P.M. - Searcher’s Club updates & Speaker Introduction
    9:25 P.M. - Speaker Presentation
    10:10 P.M. - Q&A, Group Discussion
    10:25 P.M. - Organizer’s Presentation Wrap-Up
    10:30 P.M. - Fellowship
    10:55 P.M. - Closing Remarks/Farewells
                            Email
                            Facebook Page
                            Thank You
    11:00 P.M. - Evening Closes

    

    Monday, August 1, 2011

    Study Session Format

    Many of the newer Brethren to the group have asked as to what a typical Searchers Club meeting entails. For your convenience, we have posted our two basic formats, the ones we utilize the most, barring some unusual need of either the speaker of venue. We hope this helps you to gather your ideas more succinctly, and enables you to participate as a presenter at one of our upcoming meetings!

    Study Session Formats


    3-Hour (example)
    6:00 P.M. – Evening Opens
    Opening Remarks/Introduction
    6:10 P.M. - Meet & Greet, Food Orders
    6:20 P.M. - Searcher’s Club updates & Speaker Introduction
    6:25 P.M. - Speaker Presentation
    7:25 P.M. - Q&A, Group Discussion
    7:45 P.M. - Organizer’s Presentation Wrap-Up
    7:50 P.M. - Fellowship
    8:50 P.M. - Closing Remarks/Farewells
                            Email
                            Facebook Page
                            Thank You
    9:00 P.M. - Evening Closes


    2-Hour (example)
    9:00 P.M. – Evening Opens
    Opening Remarks/Introduction
    9:10 P.M. - Meet & Greet, Food Orders
    9:20 P.M. - Searcher’s Club updates & Speaker Introduction
    9:25 P.M. - Speaker Presentation
    10:10 P.M. - Q&A, Group Discussion
    10:25 P.M. - Organizer’s Presentation Wrap-Up
    10:30 P.M. - Fellowship
    10:55 P.M. - Closing Remarks/Farewells
                            Email
                            Facebook Page
                            Thank You
    11:00 P.M. - Evening Closes