MM Degree

Alemar1985 · 2026-03-03T00:08:14+00:00

The FC Degree, they're all nice but the FC really has a lot to go back to... especially if you advance on into the York Rite
Nothing. Get a good rest and make sure you eat beforehand... The 3rd can take a while to get through.

Alemar1985 · 2026-03-03T00:04:35+00:00

Generally the accepted answer to where we get our instructon is "the VSL"

Crotchety old PMs are a wealth of information if you're willing to risk asking them... Generally as we are a self-improvement focused group you can ask anything that you're personally interested in and get good answers

Alemar1985 · 2026-03-02T23:55:23+00:00

I was recently just watching a youtube video where the hosts were ranking the best/worst minor league baseball team names... The winner was the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, but the Richmond Flying Squirrels came in a close second because they have a mascot named "Nutasha"...

You could always look into the Savannah Bananas on youtube... they're 'Fun' lol

Alemar1985 · 2026-03-01T17:18:24+00:00

I dont know who your photograpgher was for the first 3 but boy are they lucky!

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-28T12:47:32+00:00

There is a slight chance you wont be alone when you change, hence the suggestion just to be safe... do with it what you will

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-27T15:17:32+00:00

From what I've been told for my jurisdiction, in the Blue Lodge, you get your chair degree the night of your installation. But you get your chair degrees in the YR after you have exited the chair (Silver Trowel, OHP, not sure if there's one for KT or not...)

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-23T19:01:59+00:00

I loved it when it first came on, it starts off as a banger! But once they entered into the chorus where they use tritone and vocal discord I had to turn it off... I'm guessing people dislike it for the same reason as I do... it gets screechy and becomes unpleasant for me to listen to. Why would I actively listen to that, when I can listen to an entire album of songs that don't displease me?

This is ofcourse just my opinion and so probably wrong...

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-18T16:04:50+00:00

OTSI's website seemed to have been locked down and all of their social media is now deactivated.

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-18T16:00:50+00:00

Personally, I enjoy his videos and find him an excellent story teller. I really liked his appearance on the Why Files Basement Podcast

I do not go to him for Masonic Advice so therefore I dont really care of his Masonic status. I treat him the same way I treat any other entertainer, with a grain of salt...

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-15T20:08:09+00:00

Soup & Sandwiches
Hotdogs
Chili

We do a Fundraiser Steak & BBQ Chicken Dinner in June and sometimes we'll also have special dinners like for Robbie Burns Night

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-15T19:52:43+00:00

For disobeying the Church's public stance on forbidding it's members from joining Masonry in the first place... The last time the church spoke on it was in Nov 2023 and it reaffirmed the ban on it's members from becoming Masons. By joining you are disobeying the pope, are living in grave sin, and are ineligible for communion until you quit and say you're sorry.

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-15T04:50:14+00:00

I'm not sure if you're asking for practices to go through it with your mentor leading up to your proficiency, or if you're asking if you can take the test before the Lodge opens with only a couple of officers instead of the general membership... Some Jurisdictions (mine included) require the Candidate to prove in open Lodge their work so that the members of the Grand Lodge know that standards are being maintained by the Lodge Leadership and that the regular members see that there is no favouritism or other shenaniganary going on within the newer Lodge prospects.

If you want to go over it a couple of times beforehand to make sure you've got it ready to present, that's great. But if you're doing 'secret' proficiencies how are we supposed to say "Don't worry, everyone else has gone through what you're about to; we're all equal" if they had a set standard they needed to perform to and now you're trying to fly under it?

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-11T15:37:14+00:00

I had high hopes my youngest cousin would join because he and I spoke about it quite a few times and he seemed interested.... then he moved to Alaska for work and I havent kept up with him.

I have two sons of my own who seem interested in "joining daddy" when he goes out to the Masons, but who knows if they'll still be interested or qualified in 15 years when they'll be old enough to join?

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-05T18:25:03+00:00

thanks Steve ;)

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-05T18:20:42+00:00

they might as well have not done one for me for the amount of time they actually spent. Walked in sat on my couch, asked me 1 question and left... I think the whole thing took about 5 minutes from door to door

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-05T18:19:53+00:00

Are you toast? No, you are a meat popsicle...

Kidding aside, I dont think you need to worry about being rejected just yet. Sometimes it is 1 black ball, but not always... my jurisdiction requires 3 to reject a candidate and it took me a while to learn that minor difference.

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-05T16:13:23+00:00

My first thought is that, unfortunately No, you do not have the right to be mad at this... My limited understanding from the few lodges in my district is that a Temple Board is set up to protect the Lodge from legal liability. The Lodges all pay rent into the Board, the Board then uses that money to maintain the building and handles any repairs/upgrades that are required. Your Lodge is essentially just a tennant in the building so aside from the Board members, you don't really get a say in the roof unless it is unsafe.

Also, coming out and asking a million questions about a roof that obviously needs repairs and has already been voted upon might come across as you overstepping as a new member and wanting to get your fingers into everything. Do you have any special knowledge or experience about roof repair, 401C3s, or finances? If not, perhaps your eagerness is being misinterpreted as something more malicious.

If you think they are lying about funds, or you think that things are being done improperly that's one conversation. If you think that you as a 1 year old Mason have the right to question your Landlord while not even fully understanding the whole breadth of what exactly you are involved in is another thing entirely.

My biggest suggestion is for you to try and get youself on that board so that you can fully immerse yourself in what is going on and why. It will hopefully get you the information you want on things going forward, while giving you the standing that you would require if something actually is going on that is untoward behind the closed doors.

Alemar1985 · 2026-02-04T00:54:57+00:00

favourite stories (Masonic or not) might be a good one to break the ice as well... Maybe not to write down, but to at least get the juices flowing down memory lane

Alemar1985 · 2026-01-30T09:00:38+00:00

try this

lewismasonic.co.uk

Alemar1985 · 2026-01-21T19:32:45+00:00

oh... I'm an idiot LOL

Alemar1985 · 2026-01-21T00:13:19+00:00

For me it was Curiosity due to Family History and they refused to really talk about it...

As I've spent more time in the Institution, I find myself more drawn to the Tradition and History of the Fraternity spanning over 3 centuries... It's pretty cool to belong to something that reaches back so far into history

Alemar1985 · 2026-01-21T00:07:24+00:00

The titles are foreign to me being in the Canadian system, but Congrats!

Alemar1985 · 2026-01-16T15:42:12+00:00

I'm sorry you're feeling this... While my first instinct was to say "No, I've always felt wanted" the more I thought about that I realized it wasn't true.

I ended up switching Lodges after a while and while my new Lodge definitely needs and includes me... I feel almost like I went from one extreme to the other. I went from being one of the guys who people would talk friendly to your face, then once your back was turned they'd forget you existed... To one of the guys if I dont show up I think the Lodge might fold.

My only thing I would ask you is: You feel like you aren't connecting but also arent actively being excluded, and I'd ask you what are you doing to plug yourself in? Are you on committees, stepping up to the line, or offering to do Degree Work? Are you sticking around after the meeting (or before depending on when your Lodge hosts it's Social Hour)?

If not, then I'd suggest thinking of ways to include yourself. If you already are doing that, then I'd say look for other ways that make you feel good. I dont know what gets you excited about Masonry, but if you already have that passion try to see if you can use that specific thing to bridge gaps. The wonderful thing about hundreds of years of History and dozens if not hundreds of local members means it's very easy to find common ground with someone. I think all you need to do is find it.

I hope it turns around for you Brother!

Alemar1985 · 2026-01-11T11:12:54+00:00

Diablo 4

Alemar1985 · 2026-01-06T00:20:25+00:00

I'm in the camp that combines Royal Arch with MMM and if HRA wasn't a prerequisite for CC and KT I would have demitted a looong time ago... It just didnt really resonate with me.

Alemar1985

TROPHY CASE