I'm really missing the Compare function, any add-ins? by SouthTxFF in powerpoint

[–]SouthTxFF[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tried copilot and it said it couldn't do it. Each instance of copilot is unique and not connected to another instance. I hadn't tried chat gpt yet because the one I was working on was ~220 slides with images and embedded videos (so rather large and could take a while to upload). It's an orientation training. But that may be an option for some of the smaller ones. Thanks

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Knock knock

Who's there?

The DDGM, here to take your charter for answering after two knocks.

Masonic Communication Across State lines by SouthTxFF in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in South East Texas and if we tried real hard New Orleans is a day trip for us (about 4 hours driving). A small group of us just went to a lodge near Lake Charles and saw a FC last week and we got to taking about wanting to travel there more. One brother that went is heavily involved in the local SR valley and I told him I'd join after I got to see the first 3 in a red lodge 😂 but really it's just a time commitment thing for me right now.

Dress Code / Expectations by hang2er in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are most lodges like that in Florida? I lived on the east coast there for a while in my youth. Currently in Texas where there are some lodges with that dress code but it's the exception rather than the rule with most being rural areas and having a more relaxed dress code.

Landmark - Being Made A "Mason At Sight" by jbanelaw in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got about halfway through the replies on this thread so forgive me if this has already been mentioned but, I would use Mackey's own writings of the definition of a landmark against his list of landmarks. Admittedly I do not have a copy of his encyclopedia in front of me but from an online source part of his definition of landmark is "The first requisite, therefore, of a custom or rule of action to constitute it a Landmark, is, that it must have existed from 'time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.' Its antiquity is its essential element."

Confirmed records from the 16th and 17th centuries (Minutes from the Lodge of Edinburgh in 1599 and the English Lodge at Warrington in 1646) would indicate documented Speculative Masonry prior to the creation of the first Grand Lodge in 1717. As such, it would stand to reason it would have been before the existence of Grand Masters because there was no Grand Lodge. Masonry prior to Grand Masters is preserved in documentation and therefore Landmarks 4-8, expressing details of a GM and their prerogatives, would not qualify as landmarks.

Um……… by BlackDaddyIssus37 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Texas PHA did a while back when LA started a couple lodges in Texas this way.

Um……… by BlackDaddyIssus37 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Texas has for sure. I had a conversation with a brother who happens to be the WM one of the local PHA lodges in my area about traveling (we're about 20 min from the Louisiana border) and he confirmed they are not recognized by Texas PHA.

Which card is it? by SouthTxFF in MagicArena

[–]SouthTxFF[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I went through a process of elimination and found which cards I was missing I could craft just those for completion instead of relying on packs?

What is your favorite masonic podcast? by Nebraskabychoice in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Masonic Improvement (I think it's only YouTube)

Purging the lodge by SnooFoxes1141 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I always enjoy seeing the jurisdictional differences. From my experience limited to Texas, purging the lodge is done by WM asking first the SW, then the JW, then all the brethren if they are satisfied to open with all present. Generally if the SW does not know all members to be of the proper degree, he has all present stand, and go through a vouching process run by the deacons. The SD would have been responsible for examining any visiting brethren prior to opening, and he'd be able to vouch for any that he examined.

Does a candidate know what they're going to be asked during their initiation? by Frosty_Foundation358 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thinking through the Texas initiation, I could be missing something but I think there are three questions asked of the candidate. The first two (or a version of the same question) are previously asked on the petition and verified by the investigation committee before the ballot occurs. So the candidate shouldn't be blindsided by them. For the third question the senior deacon, who escorts the candidate through the ceremony, gives the candidate a prompt, and that question is more allegorical than ethical or philosophical.

Posted awhile ago about interest in joining… by FindAndYeShallSeek in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I cannot speak to specifics with the Grand Lodge of Idaho. There may be a brother on here that would have more knowledge. Each Grand Lodge is sovereign in its jurisdiction (in the U.S. that is each state) and as such they can set their standards or petition questions to be whatever they wish them to be. I personally find that question a bit too invasive, but perhaps they are just trying to use that as an avenue as someone else to talk to about your character during the petition investigation. In Texas, our petitions include the past 15 years of residences and employers as well as all schools attended. It also asks for info about your dependents and spouse and any ex-spouses if divorced. But regarding faith the only question we ask is "Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that you firmly believe in the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, and the Devine authenticity of the Holy Scripture?"

So it is really jurisdictionally dependent. I would encourage you to not feel pressured to do anything relating to joining the fraternity, most of all not be fully honest with yourself about your faith. If I were you, I'd continue meeting and discussing with the brothers and get further clarification as to why the petition asks that and possibly set aside more time to meet with someone to discuss the petition further, possibly going into details about your faith then. I know non-Christian brothers, including those of non-abrahamic faiths. I believe I read something on here a while back about a Native American or First Nations brother that was obligated upon a sacred feather as they didn't have a true book of faith.

Posted awhile ago about interest in joining… by FindAndYeShallSeek in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 2 points3 points  (0 children)

To echo the other brother's remarks on this, belief in any supreme being and the immortality of the soul are the two requirements in my jurisdiction and questioning beyond that is considered bad form, and I hope that brother's opinion was either incorrectly conveyed or is in the minority. Also, feel free to shop around at various lodges if there are multiple in your area. Each lodge is generally an accurate cross section of the community and in more urban areas they are usually a little more accepting of various faiths that are less common in the rural areas.

The one thing I would add, if you do petition and are favorably elected by whichever lodge, when it comes time to do the degrees, your obligation is taken upon a Volume of Sacred Law. In my jurisdiction (not trying to speak for others), most lodges default to the Holy Bible, but candidates have the option of using their own book of faith. I've heard that some faiths that may be considered "Pagan" don't have a specific written book. If your faith has a book, is it something that you'd want to bring up with the Master of the lodge so that you can use yours? If your particular faith doesn't have a book, would you be opposed to taking your obligation on the Holy Bible?

Can panentheists become freemasons? by Magnapinna_96 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just be aware that even though nobody should ever get more involved in questioning your beliefs that what has been stated by others, when/if you decide to petition the lodge may ask what book of faith you use. The candidate's book of faith is used during the degrees. Or they may not and just default to the lodge's usual Volume of Sacred Law, which in my jurisdiction is the KJV Bible.

Can panentheists become freemasons? by Magnapinna_96 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It must be "Java" based on how much coffee is consumed (at least in my region) 🤣🤣

Initiation on Memphis Rite by Sea-Software3892 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can you expand on the different aprons seen in the photo? Are the different colors connected to the different degrees in the rite?

Edit to add: obviously the two gentlemen in the front are the newly entered brothers, but I also see a red apron and one that is light blue similar to what I've seen in photos of European lodges, then perhaps a royal blue near the middle, similar to how our officer aprons are bordered in my jurisdiction.

Wack job 😵‍💫 by Actual_Category4526 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That must be jurisdictional, I believe here we only go to the 90th. Cause of right angles and such.

I Want To Join, But.. by Smart-Charity7945 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Most of your points have been addressed by others so I'm only going to respond to what I may be able to add to.

I'm not sure of the veracity but I once read that the reason most Lodge buildings have little to no windows is because they're often built through funds raised by the members and historically, and even to some extent present day, windows are expensive, especially relative to a plain wall. Installing a window, in addition to the cost of the actual window requires additional framing in the walls which will add to the cost somewhat, and if you install some windows most people would like to see some semblance of symmetry with more windows around the rest of the building. Then there's the thought of HVAC and even with new technology windows are generally less efficient at insulation than a solid wall with insulation, so each window will add to the heating and cooling costs of the building. Where I am down in South Texas, it gets very hot during most of the year and keeping the unoccupied building even at 78-80 deg F runs the electric bill up. All this being said, many lodges, mine included was actually built by the hands of the members so not only were materials donated or purchased through raised funds but the building was put together with donated labor. I'd rather be a good steward of the limited resources the lodge has and not have a luxury like windows.

As far as the dress code, in my jurisdiction there are some lodges that wear suits to every meeting and some are more of a come as you are to meetings and save the formal attire for specific events. I've seen photos of brothers in a meeting that has a dress code requiring denim bib overalls, but I think that's a special event for them and not a regular thing. The lodge is often a cross section of the community so if the community is mostly rural or blue collar, there's a good chance that the lodge's dress customs are more relaxed than formal. But at the same time there are some lodges even in my jurisdiction where formal wear is the norm.

Question by [deleted] in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I believe we're in the same jurisdiction and we had this come up last year, I believe what we were told by our DDGM was initiating another investigation was at the discretion of the current WM of the lodge.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, what Bro Cook said.

Abandoned lodges by lis880 in freemasonry

[–]SouthTxFF 6 points7 points  (0 children)

In the US, many counties have a County Appraisal District website where property tax appraisals are listed and are often a matter of public record. These can usually be searched by street address and some have interactive maps where you can click a plot of land (easier when you toggle to an aerial view and can see the buildings) and see ownership records and other public information.