GM Official Visitation Solomon 36

This blog contains more of my masonic travels.

Solomon Lodge had the honor of receiving the Grand Master of Masons tonight. There was a lovely speech most important to this blog by Worshipful Leon Ware Grand Steward. As I'm horrible at paraphrasing I'll give you the basic gist of his story. It mentioned of our need to make use of our working tools - to keep them 'oiled' and 'well maintained' and that the proper care of our tools is the proper care of our principles as masons. I'll try and get a copy of this speech and type it up in PDF format. If I can't get a copy I'll let you know.

I also attended an EA degree at Union # 7. I brought our newest EA along & it was well attended. It was great to see many brethren attend an EA (in our lodge --since it is a two story building-- it's a bit harder for us to get brethren out). Among them W. Bro. Hiott was in attendance acting on behalf of the GM giving out the GM year pin (and trying to sell the GMs theme pin for $5. The money goes to the jobs daughters/demolay charity. The GMs theme is "Freemasonry - Live It!"; which is also very important to this blog). I believe we lose sight of 'living' freemasonry and just go into the subculture of being its members - that is why I enjoyed the speech so much by W.Bro. Ware.

S&F
Steve

GM Official Visit To Union # 7

(LtoR)Steve, The Most Worshipful Grand Master Of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons Of Delaware 2007-2008; Earl L. Emerson. Picture taken by cell phone.

The MWGM of Masons and his Grand Staff visited Union # 7. The food was (and usually is at masonic events) fantastic. There were oysters (which I had never had before), dumplings, chicken salad, coleslaw, dessert & rolls.

There was a wonderful email read by Most Worshipful Earl L. Emerson, a touching speech on temptation by Most Reverend W. LeRoy Jones and some wonderful thoughts on how we as masons should get out to nursing homes more presented by our JGD Worshipful Martin "Hoagie" D. Furnish (he is a clown, hence the name "Hoagie") - Highfield being the charity of the GM.

I was also paid the highest compliment I believe I could recieve today. We were outside the lodge room and the conversation went something like this:

him: "lets see what's your name? ah, steve"
me: "and you are? (unfortunately I'm horrible with names). I'm pleased to meet you."
him: "are you an officer?"
me: "yes, I'm sitting chaplain"
him: "you look a little young to be chaplain"
me: "that's what I've been told"
him: "well, you look like you're not even 18 (i think that's what he said - it was something about my age) but I know you have to be" [note: DE is 18 to be a mason]
me: "I'm going to be 23 in march; 22 right now"
him: "well you must live a good life"
me: "thank you! I try."

I'm due to attend another official visit from the Grand Master & his Grand Staff a week from tomorrow at Solomon Lodge # 36. I'll recap events there as well.

'of the mysteries of freemasonry'

mys·ter·y1 /ˈmɪstəri, -tri/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mis-tuh-ree, -tree] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -ter·ies.

1. anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown: the mysteries of nature.
2. any affair, thing, or person that presents features or qualities so obscure as to arouse curiosity or speculation: The masked guest is an absolute mystery to everyone.
3. a novel, short story, play, or film whose plot involves a crime or other event that remains puzzlingly unsettled until the very end: a mystery by Agatha Christie.
4. obscure, puzzling, or mysterious quality or character: the mystery of Mona Lisa's smile.
5. any truth that is unknowable except by divine revelation.
----------------------------

We've all taken obligations. What exactly are the mysteries? I believe they are not cut and dry; especially when you take a look at definition # 5. What are we keeping secret? Are the modes of recognition enough? I think not.

I've heard of many a brother getting uptight about revealing the 'secrets' of freemasonry (myself included when I was a younger EA). "I think I took an obligation not to say that". "That shouldn't be disclosed here". Cyphers, Grips, Words, Steps, Signs, Due Guards are all physical secrets. They are part and parcel of the 'secrets' and 'mysteries' of Freemasonry. The intangible aspects are more 'part and parcel' of the 'secrets' and 'mysteries' of Freemasonry. What, then, are the mysteries? What are the secrets?

I believe they lie in our mental capabilities of knowing and understanding divinity; our physical reaction with the world around us & keeping our obligations - not only the spoken ones in our degrees to our brethren and self - but of the moral obligations we all try to partake as good men. I believe it lies in The Power Of Now and our common inability to make use of the moment properly. Yet still those are all part and parcel of what the 'mysteries' of Freemasonry are.

We are all still searching, aren't we?

'Light'

When I think of 'light' in masonry I think of divine knowledge - ie. spiritual texts that reveal the presence and all knowing/all being of the higher power. I also think of the grips given after we have told the master we wish to recieve light.

In keeping with my jurisdictions rules on the 'secrets' of freemasonry I will not name the grip in the third degree but you will do well to remember the addendum after the word is given.

If you know anything about alchemy it's not so much about turning base metals into gold but rather improving yourself spiritually. I wonder if there is any connection between the addendum for the pass grip of Master Mason and the spiritual practice of alchemy? Is this a way to relate the spiritual practice of alchemy to the spiritual esotericism of freemasonry?

This dawned on me when I thought what the addendum to the pass grip of master mason is while writing a post on what members of a masonic forum thought about when they heard the term 'light' in masonry. On second thought I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before.

Have any of you thought about this before? Leave something in the comments.

S&F In Light,
Steve

Esotericism Abound

I posted on a masonic forum (www.masonicdiscussion.com) that I was looking for ebooks. There were two qualifications 1)Subject Matter - It had to be esoteric/occult 2) It had to be free. In the spirit of spreading light I would like to forward you the following:

http://www.the-book-of-thoth.com/content.html
http://www.fatumoperandi.org/index.php?esoteric
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~matc/math5.geometry/unit1/INTRO.html
http://www.gnosticteachings.org/content/section/10/10125/
http://www.librarything.com/groups/initiationintohermet
http://www.hermeticinstitute.org/html/abstracts.html
http://www.ritmanlibrary.nl/site_map.html
ftp://ftp.dragon.org/pub/pfcase/PFC&Bryant-Philosophers_Stone.pdf
http://www.esoteric.msu.edu/
http://canada.lvx.org/library/
http://www.abardoncompanion.com/PDF-Links.html
http://www.hermetic.com/
http://www.hermetics.org/
http://www.mastermason.com/luxocculta/
http://www.theosophical.ca/OnLineDocs.htm
http://www.crcsite.org/library.htm
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/titles.html
http://www.thothweb.com/sections.html
http://www.esotericarchives.com/
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/webofhiram/?section=walter_leslie_wilmshurst
http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/index.htm
http://www.sacred-texts.com/mas/index.htm
---

As they say in Masonic Circles "Ask and you shall receive...".

I have more links hiding somewhere. There may be some topics up there that can't be linked to Freemasonry but I believe most can be in one way, shape or form.

S&F In Light,
Steve

The power of now

The power of now - Eckhart Tolle

I randomly picked this up from our local library browsing through the spiritual texts. This is some of what is on the inside flap:

To make the journey into the power of now we will need to leave our analytical mind and it's false created self, the ego, behind

On an aside I found a card inside with some writing on it which I believe sums the goal of the book up nicely:



Some of the text reads: 'I believe when we commit to healing ourselves - we heal the planet and assist others in their healing!'.

Another part of masonry that I strive to live by is the 'taking good men and making them better'. I've heard a quote (and want to attribute it to Br. Dafoe but someone correct me if I'm wrong) that says "We don't need more men in masonry we need more masonry in men". To me this book helps us live in the now; making our lives richer, fuller and our situations easier to manage thus making ourselves better men.

There's a quote from the book I want to share that I think ties this in with Freemasonry nicely:

"The pollution of the planet is only an outward reflection of an inner psychic pollution: millions of unconscious people not taking responsibility for their inner space' (pg. 65)

We are given specific 'tools of the trade' and those are designed in multiple ways to help us make our reality (the now) a better place for that 'spiritual building not made with hands' - our mind & body & for those changes we make for ourselves to help the world at large. To do this we must take responsibility for our actions and thoughts now (as now is all we have). There is no past or future - anything you have ever done or ever will do will be 'in the now'. If we let our minds run us (by constantly thinking about this or that) then we are being used and abused by one of the most valuable parts of our experience: our mind. If we take control of our mind there's no limit to what we can achieve: as individuals, a group, brethren or a species.

I'm only 65 pages into a 191 page book and I believe this will be another book that has changed my way of thinking about life. It's really quite interesting and my little blurb about it here doesn't give this book the credit its due. I suppose one could call this another 'self help' book but if we don't help ourselves how are we going to help anyone else?

In Light,
Steve

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish everyone viewing this blog who celebrates the holiday a Happy Thanksgiving. If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving happy thursday.

In Light,
Steve

Ordained

I previously ordained myself with themonastery.org but found out from http://ulchq.com that they are no longer in agreement with one another. I have filled out the appropriate forms on ULCHQ.COM and wait my response.

Freemasonry Returns In You

With much of the negativity being floated around about the present state of the craft I figure it's time to chime in with my two cents.

Whatever our origins might be as a fraternity or our past or present intentions we have to realize that what we give to freemasonry is what we'll get out of it. I believe that "Freemasonry gets what we put into it" not the other way around. We must hold ourselves accountable for the Craft.

The lessons learned in masonic degrees are not specific to freemasonry alone - Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth. Fidelity, Piety and the Golden Rule are not new concepts. The Craft does portray them in an interesting, thought provoking manner. It is up to us how we take our lessons further. If we find something interesting it is also my belief that it is our duty as brethren to share that information with one another so that we all may grow. I participate on a few online forums where discussion runs rampant and enjoy brethren from all jurisdictions speaking their mind on educated topics.

Thus we have "Freemasonry Returns In You". On a short aside my mother has a plaque in her and my step-fathers room related to marriage. It says (paraphrase):

"One may think what the other may be;
To know this is compatibility"

My brothers, Freemasonry is as far and vast as it is wide. It is one of the many aspects I enjoy about being a mason. There are so many schools of thought and ways of life that we can't help but increase our ever widening circle of knowledge. As it has been said "The more I learn the less I know".

Think about it Brothers!

We have men of all walks of faith (even those whose official stance is to condemn freemasonry) and life. If we take a moment to listen to our brothers we can certainly learn a lot. I believe that's what Freemasonry is all about - learning. If you're not into the esoteric/philosophic/spiritual aspects of the fraternity learn what it means to be a cabinetmaker, or a car salesman. To make it short and sweet be brothers!

I think learning is what this fraternity is about & as I stated above - it's not strictly masonic. If we don't strive to learn through common interaction or masonic ritual I believe we're headed for a downfall as a species.

If we learn much Freemasonry will return to us and we can impart that to the fraternity at large - thereby making better men & better communities as Freemasonry has intended us to do.

Traveling DE Style

I was in attendence at St. Johns Lodge # 2 to see Bro. Sturgis raised to the sublime degree. It was a very well performed degree and I believe Bro. Sturgis enjoyed himself thoroughly.



-Left to Right: PSGD Jim Hutchinson who sat in the East, Milt Draper ,Trustee (PM), Newly Raised Bro. Surgis (MM), MWPGM Atkinson (Sitting WM of St. Johns Lodge 2007-2008), Bobby Blackard JW (PM), Steve Pugmire (Chaplain)-

Jamendo

In leiu of the persuit of the Fellow Craft I would like to direct your attention to jamendo.com a free, legal (under the creative commons liscense) music downloading program. All you do is search for the artist via a genre (blues, jazz, etc) and hover your mouse over the album & among other options it will show you these:

Download
Listen

I hope you find it as enjoyable as I have.

Focusing on Arithmetic

Add to your knowledge

Never subtract from the character of your neighbor

Multiple your benevolence to your fellow creatures

Divide your means with those in need.

Taken from here

Introduction

Brethren & All,

I'm still trying to think of what this blog should be about. I want this to deepen my knowledge of craft masonry (exo & esoterically). I hope to post masonic articles that I have written in the near future. I have been knocking ideas around in my head but have yet to get anything down on paper. It will also be about my experience as a Delaware freemason (I seem to see a lot of states/provinces represented online yet somehow I am one of two brothers who has a masonic presence on a forum/blog/etc). I hope to see this grow for our state.

I took the traditional route into masonry and was:

Initiated on October 25th, 2006
Passed on November 29th, 2006
&
Raised on January 24th, 2007

I took 'Further Light' literally and have been searching ever since and have been pleased to find in my mind that masonry is able to be mentioned in the same paragraph with the likes of Hermeticism, Symbolism & Spiritual Awakening.

There's something special about being a Delaware Freemason that in terms of easily accessable lodges could only be surpassed by that of Rhode Island. It's easy to travel here and the brethren get to know one another very fast.

Fraternally,
The DE Freemason

Bio

I became curious about Freemasonry after seeing the square and compasses pictured on a bible at a friends house. I sought admission by talking with a local mason (who is a member of St. John's Lodge #2). He told me to contact the Grand Lodge Of Delaware and two members from my future lodge came out to interview me & hand me a petition.

I was entered on October 25th, 2006
I was passed on November 29th, 2006
& raised on January 24th, 2007

Shortly after my raising I traveled to Masonic Week 2007 where I met and Traveled with Bros. Reed Fanning, Justin Budreau & Sis. Jenna. While there I also met masonic author Chris Hodapp and the Bros who put on the SNIPE degree.

I started educating a young EA on his proficiency around March/April (who now acts as a J/SS). In July of 2007 I was installed as chaplain and have also taken on another candidate who currently is awaiting to be proven proficient so he can be raised to the sublime degree of MM during a Past Master's night this June.

Did I mention I am webmaster for the lodge website and an administrator at The Sanctum Sanctorum?

In my free time masonically I enjoy studying esotericism, finding brothers who would have otherwise "remained at a perpetual distance" & writing this blog.

In my other free time I enjoy being in a relationship, playing guitar/piano, watching NFL/NHL & am studying to pass my A+ exam (to work with computers). You can find more about me personally here.

Welcome

Hello & welcome to my blog titled 'Masonically Speaking'. I hope you enjoy my insights I have on relating information to freemasonry. This blog will focus on the internal light we are all seeking to make glow a little brighter & my travels as a Delaware Freemason. Please feel free to leave a comment about your opinion be it pro or con. If you're a DE Freemason reading this and we've met personally I especially want to hear from you but also enjoy fraternal comments from brethren worldwide regardless of recognition status.

S&F,
Steve
Solomon Lodge # 36
AF&AM Of Delaware

Contact

AIM: themangoduck
Email: steve@musicauniversalis.org

Websites:

http://www.musicauniversalis.org
http://www.freewebs.com/solomonlodge36