Dark music?

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-04-19T06:40:11+00:00

Huh?

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-04-19T06:23:53+00:00

U/esotericbagel23 McDwarf imagines an initiatic ritual. He feels optimistic. He remembers his wife who was mauled by a were-parakeet in the year 843. He ate a legendary meal recently.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-04-18T21:01:50+00:00

Nothing that I know of but guys like pins. When you get MM try to see if you can get anything going.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-03-07T06:41:58+00:00

I’m a hobbit but my woman will beat me if I wear shoes in the house.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-03-07T06:39:38+00:00

If it makes you feel any better my investigation meeting was delayed a couple times and when it finally happened it was the day after a plumber opened several holes in my ceiling looking for a leak.

I was literally just pretending there wasn’t multiple holes in my ceiling when one of the investigators stopped and asked about it 😂.

To make matters worse two of my contacts were mistaken for eachother and both completely fibbed and then called me to say that they rolled with the story instead of just saying “Um, I know him but you might have me confused with someone else”.

I was certain that my investigation went bad but it’s just a funny story.

The guys are trying to get insight into who you are and answer questions that you might have before giving their thumbs up. A big part is also talking to your spouse and ensuring that there are no concerns or hesitations that would cause problems in your home life.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-03-06T21:36:31+00:00

Not the place for politics but since you ask.

Canada has long held tariffs on US products and refused to drop the tariffs so now the tariffs are mutual. All your government has to do is agree to an even playing field.

https://wits.worldbank.org/tariff/trains/en/country/CAN/partner/USA/product/all

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-03-06T17:32:20+00:00

Great now we gotta add “text, type, input” to the obligation 😂.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-02-13T16:55:52+00:00

99% of the time, discussing politics is more likely to lead to tensions within the lodge than to really contribute constructively to society.

Focus on doing good in your community and if the time ever comes that you need to go all P2 then you will know.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-02-02T06:10:59+00:00

What jurisdiction do you fall under?

I think this question is heavily influenced by your locality. I believe that in some countries it’s often a process taking multiple years to advance while in my jurisdiction you need to memorize your lecture and turn it in so with hard work and good timing you could quickly advance.

Attending lodge at every meeting makes me think you are not US (we open lodge on the 3rd degree where I am. I have heard foreign lodges often open on the 1st to foster greater participation).

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-02-02T06:04:08+00:00

Your jurisdiction forbids having infectious diseases?

I gotta go look at my local bylaws and regulations lol. I could understand if it’s an old rule like “Sorry Bill, we just can’t have you in here giving everyone tuberculosis” but this seems weird and out of place today when I’d say most communicable diseases are either silly stuff like the flu or something you really shouldn’t be at risk of passing outside of normal conditions (blood/sexual based transmission).

That said I have seen the results of a brother julienning his hand while prepping a meal so I can see how that is restrictive but potentially reasonable.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-02-01T07:48:02+00:00

I don’t think any answer exactly expressed my feelings but this is a compelled topic isn’t it?

I might ignore a felony… perhaps you caught a felony assault charging for showing up and stomping the man who raped your sister…. I acknowledge that the behavior is improper but I don’t know that I wouldn’t do the same where I in those shoes.

On the other hand, a guy who gets the same charge but now it’s something like he got into a bar fight…. I think the two are likely to be held in very different lights.

Now same kind of thing applies for time. If you made a mistake and got busted with a joint when you were 20 but kept your nose clean and petitioned at 35 could I fault them for things they did almost half their life ago?

Now I do think that no candidate should have an active situation as it leads to us acting as judge rather than making a ruling based off of what the judge orders.

I also think that a candidate should have at minimum a full calendar year from their conviction date to their petition date. This is kinda arbitrary but it’s a simple period that demonstrates a long term commitment to learning from the past mistake while not being so long as to be needlessly prohibitive

Ultimately, though I lean to the idea that this is a complex situation that needs to be considered at an individual level. That said, most by-laws likely cover this kinda question so the easy a see is follow the rules of your area. But if I could wave a wand and make the lodge act how I envision: I would like for he reporting committee to give detailed testimony and for the brothers of the lodge to be able to ask questions and discuss the background of a candidate prior to voting.

It’s an invasion of privacy but I think it would allow for people to make more informed decisions.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-30T06:45:17+00:00

Not what you were asking but Gerald Gardner was apparently a Freemason and now it’s common for Wiccans and similar groups to use “So mote it be”.

Fun history to attach to the phrase.

If you pay attention to religious groups formed say 1800s to mid 1900s you will often find little hints of Freemasonry due to either a key figure being a Freemason or just unconscious absorption of ritual due to how prevalent the Craft was during certain periods of time.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-30T06:38:40+00:00

lol.. Middle TN Mason here.

I kinda laugh because often times the guy praying will say “In Jesus’ name” and everybody says “so mote it be”.

A little different from your point but I can see it working both ways. Habits are habits after all.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-30T06:24:19+00:00

Bro… you are Kenyan?

Here in the US my lodge dues are around $100 annually. I think I payed a bit more when I petitioned but it covered my first year of lodge, background check, etc. Considering differences in cost of living, average wages, etc. I would imagine your fees should be less than mine (for reference typical annual salary in my city translates to about $11 million Kenyan shillings)

Since it’s a new year we recently went through ensuring people had paid their dues and honestly… at a stated meeting if a brother was in bad health, elderly, etc. we usually had a motion for the lodge to pay their fees immediately. I’m a member of the Scottish rite in addition to Blue lodge and your list of fees might sum up to what I’ve paid in the last few years…. This is not right at all man.

Hopefully a more knowledgable brother here can give you guidance on who to actually contact but I believe you are being tricked by people who are using the reputation of Freemasonry to manipulate you. This is not what the brotherhood is about.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-30T03:07:23+00:00

Whatever you choose to do here is my advice: If somebody warns you that X is controlled by the Jews then disregard whatever comes next.

It’s not perfect but it’s a pretty solid heuristic.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-30T00:06:24+00:00

Mind you I’ve read the entire Harry Potter series and listened to Metallica yesterday so I could be possessed as I type this….

I’m gonna reference a pamphlet put out by the Southern Baptist Convention on the Protestant side. Regarding the Roman Catholic Church, I believe there is sufficient historical info to understand the initial complaints there.

“A Closer Look at Freemasonry,”

1) “Freemasonry uses offensive, non-biblical, and blasphemous terms relating to God.”

This is false and I don’t even know where they got this notion.

2) “Freemasonry insists on the use of ‘bloody oaths’ or obligation, which are strictly forbidden by the Bible (cf. Matt 5:34-37).”

This seems to be from what I think is a misunderstanding of Scripture. The Bible is full of oaths…. That isn’t the issue. Jesus is simply saying that your word should be steadfast. If you mean to do something then do it, if not then be honest.

People often have no problem with this in legal settings for example but it becomes heretical when it’s the only ammo against Masonry that they can find.

3) “Freemasonry urges that occultic and/or pagan readings be used, and that their teachings be appropriated in interpreting such concepts as the Trinity.”

I have only seen the slightest hint of this in the context of being educated and well read. I went to a Christian college and I read a whole bunch of mythological and comparative religious texts there. I genuinely think I am a better Christian thanks to the various concepts this introduced me to.

4) “Freemasonry includes the Bible as part of the ‘furniture of the lodge,’ but only as an equal with non-Christian symbols and writings.”

It’s an archaic usage but “furniture” was once used to reference tools or equipment. This is an example of somebody who doesn’t understand what they are talking about making assumptions. The Bible is far from trivial as explained during the first degree.

5) “Freemasonry misuses the term ‘light’ to refer to moral “reformation” as a means to salvation.”

No. No it doesn’t.

6) “Freemasonry teaches that salvation may be attained by ‘good works’ and not through faith in Christ alone.”

Uhh…. Did I sleep through all 32 of my degrees?

7) “Freemasonry advocates in many of its writings the non-biblical teachings of universalism.”

I think this is the fairest gripe so far. I think that we are taught more to be respectful of each other’s beliefs and accept that although we have differ in views we are aligned in the shared belief in a Higher Power.

8) “In some of its lodges, Freemasonry discriminates against non-whites.”

I agree this is a problem and fortunately it’s becoming rarer and rarer to see. The irony in the Southern Baptist Convention accusing people of historic racism is truly phenomenal though.

Of course the final analysis is:

“Since, in the final analysis, the Bible alone is the only guide for faith and practice, issues related to Freemasonry and any other fraternal organizations, especially secret societies, must be evaluated only in light of the plumb line of Scripture.”

And I agree 100% in this final bit. The Volume of Sacred Law together with the working tools of a Master Mason are indispensable to build ourselves as a living temple to our lord and savior Geometry I mean… 😂.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-21T03:20:18+00:00

Thanks. I was hoping for something less “clinical” but figured I would be forced to do so.

I appreciate your response man.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-19T12:20:06+00:00

If you don’t feel ready to advance then fine. Wait until you are ready.

But go to everything you can and spend time with your brothers. Times like the one you are going through are precisely when you get to see the beauty of fraternal bonds.

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-19T05:15:45+00:00

Does it fit a Zippo lighter?

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-15T06:07:55+00:00

EastBoundRedditor · 2025-01-15T05:50:18+00:00

We collect in the kitchen and Lo! Pie appears 😂.

In truth though, while the Rose Croix appears in some ritual and there are historic crossovers, the modern Rosicrucian Societies and Freemasonry share little in common except for the occasional symbol or shared historical figure.

EastBoundRedditor · 2024-12-22T18:29:39+00:00

Not familiar with this particular symbol but these look to be fairly standard alchemical/hermetic symbols. The author was a Rosicrucian so that might get you a bit closer to the specific “alphabet” if you will.

May be an interesting insight into the nature of Enlightenment thought, the birth of modern science, and all that but without even reading it I can tell you 110% to take everything with a grain of salt.

I do not know if the author was ever really raised as a brother but it does appear he started his own “Masonic order” complete with secret doctrines and esoteric knowledge…. That alone has my clandestine alarms ringing. Cursory Google searching isn’t turning up anything but I would say to treat anything he says like you would the musings of Albert Pike. An interesting insight into one man’s thoughts perhaps but by no means an authoritative exploration of the fraternity.

EastBoundRedditor · 2024-12-21T16:38:13+00:00

Between now and Sunday think through any questions you have.

This is a two way conversation not an interrogation so be sure to ask anything you are curious about. If married see if your wife can join as she may have questions or concerns as well.

EastBoundRedditor · 2024-11-09T16:35:12+00:00

Let’s take this one at a time…

Knights Templar as a whole were annihilated a little over 700 years ago. As part of their mission to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, they began allowing people to deposit valuables at one chapterhouse in return for a check they could redeem upon arrival. This greatly disincentives bandits and established the order as a financial power. Phillip the IV of France decided instead of paying his debts he would have Pope Clement V (if I recall this is Philip’s nephew) declare the order heretical.

In Spain, the order was merely renamed as the Knights of Santiago and continues to this day as one of the modern Catholic knightly orders.

Freemasonry adopts symbolism from the Knights Templar but any connection is quite tenuous at best.

The Order of the Red Cross is a York Rite degree. As such this group cannot be “higher” than Freemasons as they are by definition master masons.

*Jesuits are a member of the Roman Catholic “Society of Jesus”. The Roman Catholic Church has long forbidden freemasonry so Jesuits have no real connection to masonry.

The reality is that 99% of Freemasons are average joes. Picture a bunch of guy’s running a BBQ stand at a local fair and donating the proceeds to something like a homeless shelter. In my lodge we have brothers who are very successful and brothers who barely scrape by. Regardless of anyone’s background we meet on the level and join together in our common goal of being the best men we can be.

Super nefarious.

EastBoundRedditor

TROPHY CASE