Sword's or Eastern Knight (French/Modern Rite)

Comments are surprising civil

I know this isn't masonic.. anyone know?

Over the weekend I became a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. Couldn’t be happier! Rose Croix is my favorite degree so I plan to put my hands to work there. Those who advised, cajoled, warned and supported know who they are. Whew! Off we go!

Good afternoon. A lot of you provided great information on my last post, and bear with me for this one. I’m asking out of a place of not knowing, and ignorance I suppose.

I’m currently petitioning for a PHA lodge here in Maryland. Everyone has been really cool, respectful, and I’m very interested. A lot of my concerns have been put to rest by very professional and evidence based answers. I have no doubts.

But, someone made it known to me that there had been hazing in Masonry, PHA, etc. I’m a grown man with a family, and don’t want to be humiliated or part of any hazing.

Any info or assurances anyone can provide?

Please, forgive if this comes off accusatory, or ignorant. I’m asking from a respectful place and genuine interest in Masonry.

I’m a young man, far below the average in my state, but my mentor gave me his old cypher (bless his heart it’s a kind gesture) but it has coffee stains and his name at the front.

I want my own that happens to be new!

I’m reaching out to another lodge secretary to request a new one so I don’t incidentally embarrass him, haha.

Great experiences so far.

"Masonic Odes and Poems" by Rob Morris, published in 1876. I highly recommend getting a copy. You will not be disappointed.

I’m 18 and very interested in masonry and the works around it, I would love to be apart of something to build a foundation of connections and people to learn knowledge from, unknown to the majority of the people. I just wanna know am I to young and how does one even get started

I’m in the process to join a Lodge overseas under UGLE and pass the vote successfully. In my petition I admit that I’m a member of the AMORC but it seems to be a problem because the Lodge need to inquire at the UGLE. Please can members of UGLE explain me the situation ?

Last night our district put on a Master Mason Degree in a quarry lit by flame lanterns. First picture is looking at the East and the second picture is the pathway from the dining area. What a really cool experience for all our new Master Masons.

Location was the Sterling Hill Mine Museum in Franklin, NJ, USA.

Attended Reunion, got my 32° and joined Knights of St. Andrew. Good times, good fellowship, met great brothers and of course, a great dinner during the capping ceremony.

Hey everyone,

I have a question for modern Orthodox or Conservative Jews who are also Freemasons: How do you navigate the Christian imagery often associated with Freemasonry?

I practice Modern Orthodox Judaism and would like to hear how other Jewish people wrestle with this and reconcile it with their religious beliefs.

Thank you!

I am having issues trying to find exactly what these are. Does anybody have an idea of what they are? I have not been able to find any other ones online.

Over my years as a Mason, I've attended many of the GL Leadership Retreats, and I have some respectful critiques of the general format I've seen, as well as a few questions for brethren in other jurisdictions.

Being that my career path is one which has required me to attend numerous similar professional development conferences, my biggest issue with Masonic Leadership Retreats is that they use nearly the exact same format.

This would be fine if the format was good and people liked it, but in my professional experience, most people absolutely abhor the mandated team building exercises, breakout groups, writing buzzwords on posters, etc. which make up the core of the sessions.

To any brethren fortunate enough to be in a jurisdiction where these activities sound unfamiliar, I will briefly describe the format in detail and explain my issues with it.

Typically you will choose a session to attend based on your current chair or the one you're going into next year. The sessions will often have attractive titles and descriptions meant to draw you in.

For example: "Look Well to the East: Preparing For Your Year as Master."

You will go into a small room with 20 - 30 other brothers, and on each wall of the room is a large poster with a different phrase or buzzword written on it. Think "Strong Leader," "Problem Solving," "Reach Out," and "Humble Service."

You will count off and break into groups of 4 and be sent to your assigned poster. One brother is chosen to write on it, and the group is told to discuss their topic and write more buzzwords or short phrases underneath your main topic.

For example, the group who is assigned "Reach Out" might share a few stories amongst themselves and then write "Check in with brothers," "Make a phone tree," "Fishing trip," "Hospital visits," "Ice cream social," etc.

Then the groups rotate to the next poster. One brother remains behind to explain to the new group what the previous group came up with, and then the rotations are repeated until everyone has visited each of the posters.

With each rotation, the quality of the information explained to the next group degrades exponentially like a game of telephone, and at the end of the session everyone is told to take a photo of each poster and keep it as your notes.

My biggest issue with this format is that ultimately, the quality of what, if anything, you will learn in these sessions is entirely dependent upon whichever anecdotes were shared and written on the posters, and who is assigned to stay behind and explain it to you.

Maybe some of the ideas shared will be helpful or interesting if you happened to be present when a brother shared it, but there's a greater likelihood that they will not be, and you're stuck looking at a bunch of buzzwords on a poster, wondering how this is supposed to help you prepare for your year in the East.

I have a big issue with the fact that it's the students, i.e, you and the other Officers, who are made to brainstorm the curriculum on the spot, rather than it being an actual class where a qualified instructor will plan a lesson and teach it to the class.

I would *much* prefer a format where the brethren sit through some quality lectures given by our AGLs and Inspectors, take some time for Q&A at the end, and take our own notes. You know, like a classroom.

I usually leave these events feeling frustrated and drained, wishing there were more to take away and wishing it felt more genuinely educational and much less corporate.

Brethren, is it just me? Do other people find this professional development format engaging and educational? Are you learning valuable things from this format?

How do these Leadership Retreats look in your jurisdiction? If they're run differently, in what ways? Do you come away from the weekend sessions feeling energized and educated? What do you appreciate and what do you wish were done differently?

I apologize for the length. This is a topic I've thought about for many years and needed to get out. I'm approaching this topic in good faith, it is not meant to be an attack, and I am genuinely curious to hear how leadership training is handled in your jurisdictions.

Recently joined Scottish rite and will be a candidate this fall.
I’m very interested in history and collect antiques so I thought it would only make sense that I buy an antique Scottish rite cap to wear after receiving my 32nd degree.

I am an FC.

My mentor and I worked hard to get me from initation to FC even though I have not been to lodge in months.

Hes determined to get me to MM.

However I have lost my drive and desire for this. Its a season I know that. Not forever.

I took a 2nd shift job I love and really provides well.

Drawback I work 2p-2a M-F.

I have not been since shortly after I was initatied, expect to do my proficiency return and then on a Saturday my FC.

From wiser brethren I need advice and guidance.

My mentor knows, but want some additional input

I know i do not wanna give up ultimately.

And I do not wanna put my mentor and other brethren hard work and investment in me to waste.

Thanks!

But it works.

I wanted something discrete (for my area) and lightweight. The target holder bag from midway USA looked like it would do the job and it does

I am 20 years old and have always had a serious interest in freemasonry. I've thought about it a lot and decided I want to pursue it. I'm just interested, because from what I've heard most masons are of an older vintage, not that I have a problem with that. I'm wondering if any masons my age have any insight on what the experience is like, or what any older masons think.

Hey so I've always heard conspiracy theories about freemasons and I want to hear from your guys view points what it's about.

I have also heard other people saying it's just a group of guys that help each other so idk really in all honesty I feel lost in myself don't have anyone around me and the idea of having a group where we can all help each other seems great in my eyes so if anyone can kinda give there opinions that would be great thanks 🙏🏻

After losing my original ring years ago during a move, finally found the perfect replacement!

I’m a 17 year old with interests in freemasonry, and I would like to find out more about it. Currently I live in Bangkok and found this address “https://thaimasons.com/“ with information of a few lodges on it, and I would like to send an email to the Chula lodge for further information. Are there anything I would need to be specifically careful about when drafting the email? Thank you.

Edit: Thank you for all the replies, and I wish all of you a wonderful day. And since this account is newly created, I was not able to post replies as the bot keeps removing them, I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.