Now then friends, this time I think I've got it working - but only time will tell! Thought I'd give you some news: I've now joined my fourth lodge, as well as being in the Mark and Royal Ark Mariners, and as of March will be Treasurer, Secretary, Senior Deacon and Junior Warden - but no news on when I'll be going in the chair in any of the lodges. I'll do my very best to keep you all up to date.
Monday, 25 January 2010
Sunday, 24 January 2010
A Test
Hello friends, just testig out some new software on my phone to see if
this works - to see if it will help me find the time to do a little
more to this little neglected site. Don't hold your collective
breaths, but I'm going to try!
EDIT via computer: ooh, I don't like the way the formatting comes out at all. Let's try to find a work around!
this works - to see if it will help me find the time to do a little
more to this little neglected site. Don't hold your collective
breaths, but I'm going to try!
EDIT via computer: ooh, I don't like the way the formatting comes out at all. Let's try to find a work around!
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Berkshire Open Day
Hello one and all!
I've criminally neglected you, and I'm sorry.
The reason for my return? I'm currently running the 'Freemasonry on the Internet' stall at the Berkshire Masonic Open Day, and people asked if there were any masonic blogs, and so I showed them this poor neglected old dear - and now I feel bad.
Anyhow, the morning's going well, and I think - I think - that I've got a few things I want to write on here, so check back in the coming weeks.
Various things have been going on which mean I've been a bit busy, and many of those will continue, but if and when I get the time, I'll be right back.
I've criminally neglected you, and I'm sorry.
The reason for my return? I'm currently running the 'Freemasonry on the Internet' stall at the Berkshire Masonic Open Day, and people asked if there were any masonic blogs, and so I showed them this poor neglected old dear - and now I feel bad.
Anyhow, the morning's going well, and I think - I think - that I've got a few things I want to write on here, so check back in the coming weeks.
Various things have been going on which mean I've been a bit busy, and many of those will continue, but if and when I get the time, I'll be right back.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Other Articles of Masonic Interest
As I've said in the past, I subscribe to about 20 other Masonic Blogs using Google Reader - I find it an invaluable resource for finding what's going on with my blogging brethren all over the world.
Quite often I come across other articles that I think some of you might like to read - but don't want to make posts on it, as my own comment just isn't needed.
Thusly, I have come up with a solution - if you look on the right hand side, just below the 'Contact Me' box, you'll see a 'Masonic Articles' Box - appearing in here will be all the articles I come across that I think might provoke some other interest - hopefully it'll be a useful tool, and will bring a bit more exposure to some other blogs.
As a round up to this, at the end of every month I'm going to do a 'Masonic Blogging Round Up' with links to some of those above mentioned articles - so that those that subscribe to this blog, but never visit the front page itself, may be able to get access to some of the great stuff that's being written out there.
Quite often I come across other articles that I think some of you might like to read - but don't want to make posts on it, as my own comment just isn't needed.
Thusly, I have come up with a solution - if you look on the right hand side, just below the 'Contact Me' box, you'll see a 'Masonic Articles' Box - appearing in here will be all the articles I come across that I think might provoke some other interest - hopefully it'll be a useful tool, and will bring a bit more exposure to some other blogs.
As a round up to this, at the end of every month I'm going to do a 'Masonic Blogging Round Up' with links to some of those above mentioned articles - so that those that subscribe to this blog, but never visit the front page itself, may be able to get access to some of the great stuff that's being written out there.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
A Terrible Masonic Visit
I MUST STRESS: The events of this post happened 18 months ago - I am only posting about them now as I do not wish to embarrass the lodge in question, and I believe they will now no longer be able to be identified.
Just after my Second Degree I went out to a few meetings to watch a couple of other people put through their paces.
I enjoy having a chat with the brethren before a meeting, getting to know them and a little about their lodge. At this one particular meeting I turned up in plenty of time - and was then completely ignored for an hour. So I sat there in the centre with a drink and waited for the meeting to start - knowing that a lot of lodges take their meetings very seriously, and rehearse right up to the start time.
And my suspicions were confirmed when one of their Past Masters came up to me and said:
"You're very privileged that we let you come to this lodge today. You won't see a better ceremony performed anywhere else. We never make a mistake."
I was slightly taken aback at this, as I'd never heard anything like it in my (then) six months of masonry - it just seemed a little bit of a weird thing for a visitor to be told.
Anyhow, we got to the meeting.
People have often asked me (after limited research into masonry) they've seen pictures of gavels and things in masonry - the answer is simly that it's used to keep order, like at an auction, or a court, or any other formal meeting.
So, we got into the meeting, and the Junior Warden went to use his gavel to bring everyone to order - and as the head of the gavel struck the table, it broke off from the handle, flew across the room, and hit the Secretary's table.
I, of course, burst out laughing. I'd by this stage only done 15 or so visits, but in every one of them, if something silly had gone wrong - like this - the assembled brethren would laugh, joke around a bit, to put the brother at ease - and then move on with the meeting - invariably similar cases would be brought up in the Festive Board.
This time I was the only one laughing. Looking around the room I noticed that the whole lodge was staring at me, as if I'd committed some grievous sin. I had no idea what was going on by this point, and so shut up and stayed silent for the rest of the meeting.
After the meeting, again, I was ignored, and as I was putting my things away ready for the Festive Board I was approached by the Secretary.
"We've had a bit of a talk about it, and your behaviour in the Lodge Room was unacceptable. We've decided that it's probably for the best if you don't dine"
He refunded me the cost of my dinner, and sent me on my way.
I still can't believe that one lodge can be so far up its own rear end that laughter and enjoyment of the meetings isn't 'tolerated' and that I was informed that I wasn't welcome to go to dinner with them because I had the audacity to laugh at what was a frankly hilarious moment.
Thankfully, all of my experiences of visiting, since, have been utterly opposed to what happened that day - but thought I'd just share the story with you:
I normally write about what I think is showing Freemasonry at its best - indeed, I have had very few negative experiences - but this one, I feel, really shows what can happen when Brethren and Lodges take, not the Craft, but themselves, too seriously. We must remember that masonry is, for many, a hobby - a serious hobby, but one that people participate in to enjoy, learn, experience, and have a good time.
Just after my Second Degree I went out to a few meetings to watch a couple of other people put through their paces.
I enjoy having a chat with the brethren before a meeting, getting to know them and a little about their lodge. At this one particular meeting I turned up in plenty of time - and was then completely ignored for an hour. So I sat there in the centre with a drink and waited for the meeting to start - knowing that a lot of lodges take their meetings very seriously, and rehearse right up to the start time.
And my suspicions were confirmed when one of their Past Masters came up to me and said:
"You're very privileged that we let you come to this lodge today. You won't see a better ceremony performed anywhere else. We never make a mistake."
I was slightly taken aback at this, as I'd never heard anything like it in my (then) six months of masonry - it just seemed a little bit of a weird thing for a visitor to be told.
Anyhow, we got to the meeting.
People have often asked me (after limited research into masonry) they've seen pictures of gavels and things in masonry - the answer is simly that it's used to keep order, like at an auction, or a court, or any other formal meeting.
So, we got into the meeting, and the Junior Warden went to use his gavel to bring everyone to order - and as the head of the gavel struck the table, it broke off from the handle, flew across the room, and hit the Secretary's table.
I, of course, burst out laughing. I'd by this stage only done 15 or so visits, but in every one of them, if something silly had gone wrong - like this - the assembled brethren would laugh, joke around a bit, to put the brother at ease - and then move on with the meeting - invariably similar cases would be brought up in the Festive Board.
This time I was the only one laughing. Looking around the room I noticed that the whole lodge was staring at me, as if I'd committed some grievous sin. I had no idea what was going on by this point, and so shut up and stayed silent for the rest of the meeting.
After the meeting, again, I was ignored, and as I was putting my things away ready for the Festive Board I was approached by the Secretary.
"We've had a bit of a talk about it, and your behaviour in the Lodge Room was unacceptable. We've decided that it's probably for the best if you don't dine"
He refunded me the cost of my dinner, and sent me on my way.
I still can't believe that one lodge can be so far up its own rear end that laughter and enjoyment of the meetings isn't 'tolerated' and that I was informed that I wasn't welcome to go to dinner with them because I had the audacity to laugh at what was a frankly hilarious moment.
Thankfully, all of my experiences of visiting, since, have been utterly opposed to what happened that day - but thought I'd just share the story with you:
I normally write about what I think is showing Freemasonry at its best - indeed, I have had very few negative experiences - but this one, I feel, really shows what can happen when Brethren and Lodges take, not the Craft, but themselves, too seriously. We must remember that masonry is, for many, a hobby - a serious hobby, but one that people participate in to enjoy, learn, experience, and have a good time.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Two years a mason
Yesterday marked the second anniversary of my initation. I've been a mason for two years.
In that time I've been to over 90 meetings, made several, firm, life-long friends and had a really thoroughly bloody brilliant time.
Thank you to one and all - especially you lot on the internet - who have made it such an interesting, enlightening and worth-while experience.
In that time I've been to over 90 meetings, made several, firm, life-long friends and had a really thoroughly bloody brilliant time.
Thank you to one and all - especially you lot on the internet - who have made it such an interesting, enlightening and worth-while experience.
Monday, 8 December 2008
Treasurer, Junion Warden, Senior Warden
Oh Dear God
This has been an absolutely mental fortnight.
I'm in three lodges. Don't ask me why, but I am. Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. Anyway...
Firstly, 10 days ago I was officially asked by the (soon to be) Master Elect of Gooch if I'd like to be his Junior Warden next year (dependant on his ballot, of course) - I was of course delighted to accept, and am very much looking forward to it.
Last Wednesday we had our final Rehearsal (LOI) before the Windsor Forest Initiation, which I mentioned before, and the lowly 'steerage' brethren received some news. Our current Junior Warden had decided not to progress to the Master's Chair in March, as he has taken on a new job, has a young family, and really doesn't have the time at the moment - so asked to postpone it for a year. This, of course, was all very reasonable, but left us all in a bit of a pickle - as the current WM was due to step down, and take over from his step-father in the role of Treasurer, as our current Treasurer had been in office nearly 10 years, and wanted a break. We were now stuck with a problem, of no WM - so the WM agreed to stay on for a second year: leaving us with no Treasurer.
Now, Windsor Forest is a very strong lodge, we've got 4 or 5 people on the Steward's bench, all waiting to go to Inner Guard, and thus progress to the chair. Being the most recent joining member I'm at the bottom of that list - so was asked if I wanted to do Treasurer 'Just for one year, we promise' while we wait for the current WM to finish his second term, and take over. So being the idiot I am, agreed. Luckily, my step-dad is Treasurer of Gooch, so I'll have a guiding hand through it all. Very exciting.
And so to this morning.
I got an e-mail from Haileybury Lodge's Secretary saying: 'Can you talk?'
And 5 minutes later was in an utterly surreal conversation.
It started thus:
"Ben, you're obviously a rising star, and going to go a very long way in Masonry"
[Ben thinks 'What does he want?']
"Now, we've been thinking about where to fit you in - and so we've thought you can be Secretary for 4 or 5 years, and then go straight into the Chair"
"Excuse me?"
"Now, I know you'll need to think about it - but we think you'd be the perfect Secretary of the Lodge to take the lodge forward"
"I would certainly need to think about it!"
"Of course. There are some other options, though"
And so we chatted for 5 or 10 minutes about the direction of the lodge, what they'd like to see happen, etc etc
And then we cam to a compromise.
As of the 2009 Installation I will be Invested as the Haileybury Lodge Senior Warden - just for one year, and utterly dependant on the understanding that I will not progress to the chair, as I want to go through Windsor Forest and Gooch first. After the year, I will take over as Secretary for a few years, and the current Secretary will become Assistant Secretary and Dining Secretary - taking a lot of the more time-draining tasks away from me. AND, luckily, my stepd-dad is Secretary of Windsor Forest, so I'll have a guiding hand through it all.
So, 2009 to 2010:
2009: Windsor Forest Treasurer, Gooch Junior Warden, Haileybury Senior Warden
2010: Windsor Forest Steward, Gooch ?????, Haileybury Secretary
Weirdly enough, 2010 looks to be a lighter year than 2009!
God help me.
This has been an absolutely mental fortnight.
I'm in three lodges. Don't ask me why, but I am. Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. Anyway...
Firstly, 10 days ago I was officially asked by the (soon to be) Master Elect of Gooch if I'd like to be his Junior Warden next year (dependant on his ballot, of course) - I was of course delighted to accept, and am very much looking forward to it.
Last Wednesday we had our final Rehearsal (LOI) before the Windsor Forest Initiation, which I mentioned before, and the lowly 'steerage' brethren received some news. Our current Junior Warden had decided not to progress to the Master's Chair in March, as he has taken on a new job, has a young family, and really doesn't have the time at the moment - so asked to postpone it for a year. This, of course, was all very reasonable, but left us all in a bit of a pickle - as the current WM was due to step down, and take over from his step-father in the role of Treasurer, as our current Treasurer had been in office nearly 10 years, and wanted a break. We were now stuck with a problem, of no WM - so the WM agreed to stay on for a second year: leaving us with no Treasurer.
Now, Windsor Forest is a very strong lodge, we've got 4 or 5 people on the Steward's bench, all waiting to go to Inner Guard, and thus progress to the chair. Being the most recent joining member I'm at the bottom of that list - so was asked if I wanted to do Treasurer 'Just for one year, we promise' while we wait for the current WM to finish his second term, and take over. So being the idiot I am, agreed. Luckily, my step-dad is Treasurer of Gooch, so I'll have a guiding hand through it all. Very exciting.
And so to this morning.
I got an e-mail from Haileybury Lodge's Secretary saying: 'Can you talk?'
And 5 minutes later was in an utterly surreal conversation.
It started thus:
"Ben, you're obviously a rising star, and going to go a very long way in Masonry"
[Ben thinks 'What does he want?']
"Now, we've been thinking about where to fit you in - and so we've thought you can be Secretary for 4 or 5 years, and then go straight into the Chair"
"Excuse me?"
"Now, I know you'll need to think about it - but we think you'd be the perfect Secretary of the Lodge to take the lodge forward"
"I would certainly need to think about it!"
"Of course. There are some other options, though"
And so we chatted for 5 or 10 minutes about the direction of the lodge, what they'd like to see happen, etc etc
And then we cam to a compromise.
As of the 2009 Installation I will be Invested as the Haileybury Lodge Senior Warden - just for one year, and utterly dependant on the understanding that I will not progress to the chair, as I want to go through Windsor Forest and Gooch first. After the year, I will take over as Secretary for a few years, and the current Secretary will become Assistant Secretary and Dining Secretary - taking a lot of the more time-draining tasks away from me. AND, luckily, my stepd-dad is Secretary of Windsor Forest, so I'll have a guiding hand through it all.
So, 2009 to 2010:
2009: Windsor Forest Treasurer, Gooch Junior Warden, Haileybury Senior Warden
2010: Windsor Forest Steward, Gooch ?????, Haileybury Secretary
Weirdly enough, 2010 looks to be a lighter year than 2009!
God help me.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
First Degree Charge
I'm a sucker for punishment, I really, really am. As some of you may remember me posting before, the WM of Haileybury Lodge very sadly passed away in office. This of course, apart from the obvious grieving and sadness, causes one or two logistical problems for a Lodge.
Earlier this month, Haileybury didn't have a candidate for a ceremony, but we did decide to do a full demonstration of a first degree (where a brother acts as candidate for the afternoon, and e do the whole thing 'for real'). The Secretary had e-mailed me in Setpember asking if there was anything particular I'd like to try out in the meeting, any officer position, perhaps? I replied that I was at the service of the lodge, and would do whatever suited them - but that I was willing to learn anything.
And so the next e-mail came through, and I had been asked to learn the Charge.
EEK!!
I don't know the American ceremony at all, so just in case: The charge is the first thing a newly made brother hears having been 'restored to his personal comforts', when re-entering the lodge. It's about 10 minutes long of continuous talking, reminding the brother of his obligations, and filling out the 'moral' side of the ceremony that little bit more. It's a lovely piece of work, and when delivered properly good orators really bring out the meaning and nuances. But I was petrified. It was the first proper piece of work I would ever have to learn, and I had no idea if I'd ever get it done in time for November - just 8 weeks away.
A couple of nights later, at Berkshire Provincial Grand Lodge I was speaking to the Master of Windsor Forest about my task, and he said:
"Oh, we're doing an initiation in December, you can do it then, too"
Bugger. Double the pressure.
So for the next 8 weeks, every chance I got, I got out my little blue book, and started mumbling to myself. People on the train were giving me strange looks. I won't go into the whole 'learning process' here - that's for another post - but suffice to say it can be a tough task; but one that it thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding.
So Haileybury Lodge came round, and it got to my turn, and I was nervous, and shaking - but got through it: an almighty relief.
Afterwards, the Secretary came up to me and said: 'We've had a chat, and we want you to do the Address to the Brethren at the Installation in March'.
A CRAZY honour. The Address to the Brethren is performed almost straight after the Inner Workings, and is a talk to the collected brethren, reminding them that although some people have rank in masonry, it makes them no better than anyone else: we are all brothers, and our one chief design should be to be happy, and please one another. Which is all very well, but it's always reserved for the most senior person in the lodge that day - and here's me, a scrote of a Master Mason being asked to do it. Madness. Utter madness.
And so to Windsor Forest, one week from today. We've had a couple of rehearsals thus far, the first was much better than the second for me - but I should be okay! Will keep you posted.
Earlier this month, Haileybury didn't have a candidate for a ceremony, but we did decide to do a full demonstration of a first degree (where a brother acts as candidate for the afternoon, and e do the whole thing 'for real'). The Secretary had e-mailed me in Setpember asking if there was anything particular I'd like to try out in the meeting, any officer position, perhaps? I replied that I was at the service of the lodge, and would do whatever suited them - but that I was willing to learn anything.
And so the next e-mail came through, and I had been asked to learn the Charge.
EEK!!
I don't know the American ceremony at all, so just in case: The charge is the first thing a newly made brother hears having been 'restored to his personal comforts', when re-entering the lodge. It's about 10 minutes long of continuous talking, reminding the brother of his obligations, and filling out the 'moral' side of the ceremony that little bit more. It's a lovely piece of work, and when delivered properly good orators really bring out the meaning and nuances. But I was petrified. It was the first proper piece of work I would ever have to learn, and I had no idea if I'd ever get it done in time for November - just 8 weeks away.
A couple of nights later, at Berkshire Provincial Grand Lodge I was speaking to the Master of Windsor Forest about my task, and he said:
"Oh, we're doing an initiation in December, you can do it then, too"
Bugger. Double the pressure.
So for the next 8 weeks, every chance I got, I got out my little blue book, and started mumbling to myself. People on the train were giving me strange looks. I won't go into the whole 'learning process' here - that's for another post - but suffice to say it can be a tough task; but one that it thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding.
So Haileybury Lodge came round, and it got to my turn, and I was nervous, and shaking - but got through it: an almighty relief.
Afterwards, the Secretary came up to me and said: 'We've had a chat, and we want you to do the Address to the Brethren at the Installation in March'.
A CRAZY honour. The Address to the Brethren is performed almost straight after the Inner Workings, and is a talk to the collected brethren, reminding them that although some people have rank in masonry, it makes them no better than anyone else: we are all brothers, and our one chief design should be to be happy, and please one another. Which is all very well, but it's always reserved for the most senior person in the lodge that day - and here's me, a scrote of a Master Mason being asked to do it. Madness. Utter madness.
And so to Windsor Forest, one week from today. We've had a couple of rehearsals thus far, the first was much better than the second for me - but I should be okay! Will keep you posted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
