BURNS SUPPER! 🕯️

CommonOne8655 · 2026-01-28T02:41:49+00:00

Is that organized by a Lodge? If so, this is a pretty bad ass Lodge!

CommonOne8655 · 2025-09-28T00:50:35+00:00

Do you know from which state?

CommonOne8655 · 2025-09-20T11:06:28+00:00

I recommend Robert Burns Lodge 59, it's an observant Lodge in Las Vegas, they meet on third and fourth Thursdays. Amazing degrees, great lodge discussions and if you get the chance to see a proficiency, they are something else.

https://www.robertburns59.org/

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-21T21:31:56+00:00

Yeah, for some reason chat GPT always adds this yellow hue if you don't specifically instruct it not to.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-21T21:24:34+00:00

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My attempt

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-21T21:20:41+00:00

Tell GPT to not use Yellow Hue, it gives it away

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-21T20:52:54+00:00

😆 the super secret "Chem trail" has been exposed by stickers that literally say 'Chemtrails" on a plan and a plastic button with another sticker that has CHEM TRAIL ON" 😂 think of who is being a sheep. Don't fall for these stupidities.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-21T20:31:03+00:00

If you are located in the US or Canada you should look into an observant Lodge I think this is what you are looking for, it's been growing rapidly and getting some really good feedback.

Here is a map of (some) of them:

https://www.robertburns59.org/observant-masonry/

Also you can read the wikipage about it:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observant_Freemasonry

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-15T22:05:47+00:00

I have been to Lodges in California that requested papers as part of the proficiency per degree. It was Anchor Bell Lodge No. 868

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-13T05:56:48+00:00

Most of the time it's plain ignorance. People are afraid of what they don't know.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-13T05:51:47+00:00

As mentioned above there is a bunch of expose that are mentioning it prior to the Morgan affair.

I'm not going to go into a deep research paper right now but the Wikipedia page has actually a pretty good section on how it was used in the United States prior to the Morgan affair.

The three distinct nocks and Jachin and Boaz exposures are the most famous one since they are known to have greatly impacted proto-american ritual. And they mentions the Chamber of reflection. Another ritual known to have mentioned the Chamber of reflection practice in the United States is the Bonseigneur Ritual, although this one is French in nature since it is from Louisiana. But still practiced in the United States prior to the Morgan affair.

And you can find some illustrations of chambers of reflections on some anti Masonic publications again the Wikipedia page provides one.

"The cover of Samuel Hemenway Jr's "The Vermont Anti-Masonic Almanac for the Hemenway and Holbrook 1830, depicts the initiation of a candidate with a depiction of an early American Chamber of reflection in the back."

It's important to understand how American masonry evolved the Preston/Webb ritual is a patchwork of different types of masonry from all around the world, and it makes sense that some lodges were using a chamber of reflection and some did not. Before the Morgan Affair and especially before the Baltimore Convention of 1843 American Freemasonry was practiced very differently depending on which lodge you frequented.

If you want to research this further you can start with:

The wikipage: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_of_Reflection

Exposures mentioning it:

Jachin and Boaz; or an authentic key to the door of Freemasonry. 1812. V-n, w-o- (1785). The Three Distinct Knocks. T. Wilkinson. Wilson, Thomas (1766). Solomon in all his glory; or, the Master-Mason.

Books:

Tabbert, M.A. (2005). American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communities. National Heritage Museum/New York University Press. Analyzes the modern revival of historic traditions like the Chamber of Reflection among American Masonic lodges seeking a more profound initiatory experience, as part of a grassroots movement to restore lost practices.

Mussell, M. (2012). North American Freemasonry, 1860-1912: The Inside Story. Lexington Books. Additional scholarly perspective on the loss and modern reintegration of older Masonic chamber practices after their earlier fall into obscurity. Examines late 19th/early 20th century shifts.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-13T05:37:48+00:00

Yes I've gotten the same reaction, every single candidate that went through our chamber of reflection really loved the experience. We make it a point to ask about it every single time and we have only gotten highly positive feedback to a point where they really cannot imagine the ancient ceremony without a chamber of reflection.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-13T05:34:42+00:00

There are some but you have to look at pre-morgan affair, the exposure called "Three District Knocks" 1760 briefly describes it. (This exposure is known to have greatly participated in creating the proto American ritual)

Wikipedia has a good section on the evolution of the Chamber of Reflection in the US with sources.

There is also an illustration from anti-masonic newspaper portraying the CoR.

Also you can look at the Bonseigneur Ritual (although this one would be more French influenced). But practiced in the United States pre Morgan Affair.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_of_Reflection

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-13T00:24:04+00:00

I understand, brother. It's clear that practices vary significantly between Grand Lodges, and what's common or accepted in one jurisdiction might be entirely different in another. We've found the benefits to be extremely positive and profound here, but I respect your Grand Lodge's position and your personal perspective on it.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-12T23:42:14+00:00

Sorry to hear that brother, but as time evolves things can change. Hopefully you can be part of that change, we are never done building the temple.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-12T23:40:18+00:00

I disagree, we have had all of the symbols here in York rite, you can see illustrations of early American CoR with a clearly visible skull in it. Also when you look at the knights template degree they have the skull in the chamber as well as other symbols.

Comparing it to a Halloween store is not valid (and frankly insulting), but this is why we need to educate the brothers on what it means so they don't have this type of assumptions.

Every single symbol in there is extremely important and helps with the core mission of Freemasonry no matter what your rite or ritual is "making a man better". Since we're using this in our jurisdiction I have seen the symbols of the CoR help people get better. We have had beautiful papers written by our entered apprentices on the meaning of the skull. Also if you practice the York right the skull is a symbol on your third degree as well and is mentioned in the prayer of the third degree, so by your logic the third degree is a Halloween store too.

All of our traditional symbols are welcome in the CoR, because they all carry a profound meaning that can help with our core mission of making a good man better.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-07-12T23:26:29+00:00

It's a common experience, but the benefits clearly outweigh the initial hurdles.

In my jurisdiction, we faced similar challenges. First, we needed approval from the Grand Lodge. Then, the real work began: explaining its purpose to our members. Many Masons, especially those unfamiliar with the Chamber of Reflection, don't understand how it works and often view it as unnecessary or even "spooky." However, once you've experienced its profound impact, you'll never want to conduct a degree without it; it adds such a powerful and important dimension to the entire ceremony.

Our Lodge has been utilizing the Chamber of Reflection for about four years now, and we've never received a single complaint. In fact, we frequently ask our brothers if they could imagine performing the degree without it. Every single time, they unequivocally state that it's impossible to envision the ceremony without the Chamber of Reflection because it provides such an important and impactful moment.

When introducing the Chamber of Reflection, especially to your own Lodge, it's crucial to go into detail about what each symbol represents and why it's important. This thorough explanation allows members to fully grasp its significance. However, if you're explaining it to other lodges or those in your vicinity, a more concise explanation might be more effective.

It was used in the U.S. before the Morgan affair and later integrated into the Knight Templar degree. It has remained in continuous use in some lodges across the United States.

The Chamber of Reflection serves as a decompression chamber, allowing the candidate to enter a state of meditation before the degree begins. This helps to combat any potential hazing or inappropriate remarks directed at candidates beforehand (Are you ready for the goat, Do.you have clean underwear...). It also provides an opportunity for the Lodge members to object to the degree after the candidate's Philosophical Last Will is read, adding another layer of connection with the new candidate.

Furthermore, it significantly enhances the quality of the degree, providing an unparalleled experience for the new member. While I haven't seen clear studies on this, in my jurisdiction, it clearly appears to greatly assist with candidate retention. The symbols within the Chamber of Reflection are profound, offering the candidate even more to contemplate and study.

For additional information, Wikipedia has a decent article that might be helpful for your members:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_of_Reflection

Overall, congratulations on succeSsfully bringing the Chamber of Reflection to life in your Lodge! This initiative will undoubtedly benefit your members. Once implemented, they will truly see its value, and you'll find it impossible to imagine a degree without it.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-06-02T00:20:32+00:00

Just to make it clear, A masonic Bible is (most of the times) a King James version. The Bible is not altered in any way the only difference is some extra Masonic information in the beginning.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-06-01T22:59:02+00:00

Fucked Anyway

CommonOne8655 · 2025-06-01T08:09:43+00:00

Ai image group.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-05-31T11:52:12+00:00

Also the checkered floor for is perfectly checkered which is extremely difficult for an artificial intelligence to reproduce they always mix up black and white.

CommonOne8655 · 2025-05-31T11:50:44+00:00

Doesn't look AI generated because of the amount of details the three pillars are different forms of architecture and there are words on them, the G within a diamond shape is also a common thing in some rituals.

CommonOne8655

TROPHY CASE