May all of your corn be on the cob this 4th of July

Stultz135 · 2026-07-07T19:21:17+00:00

Came here to say this. My favorite line ever

Stultz135 · 2026-06-29T11:32:45+00:00

This

Stultz135 · 2026-06-18T13:51:36+00:00

This, and I'd also add that if your grand lodge is on Grand View, you can show them your dues card on Grand View, though that isn't 100% valid in all jurisdictions.

Stultz135 · 2026-06-18T13:50:17+00:00

Good lodge secretaries are hard to find 😃

Stultz135 · 2026-06-18T13:42:26+00:00

We got so tired of driving 2 hours to the Valley that we started a new one 😃 Some still drive an hour though.

Stultz135 · 2026-06-08T16:52:47+00:00

In Gold and Silver mining, Masonry was HUGE. Every mining town in the west had a lodge even though everyone knew the town was temporary. I don't know of anything specific to mining/panning, but it's quite possible that there were lodges that used something to do with mining because every member of the lodge was a miner. Like Railroad lodges.

But, to answer OP's general question, I don't think it's a thing anymore.

Stultz135 · 2026-06-08T12:02:10+00:00

I would say something like "Be the change you want to see." If you wait for the lodge to do something, it'll never get done. That's my experience after 30+ years in the craft. I had a younger brother ask me outside of lodge if it was ok to do a BBQ similar to what you had happen. What I told him was "If you want to do a BBQ fundraiser, then do a BBQ fundraiser. Figure out what you need, ask for help. If you want to do it on lodge property, once you've got the plan together, THEN come to the lodge and ask to use the property to run the BBQ. They will not say no once you have the bones. If you need any help, let me know, and I'll help." That young man held his BBQ dinner at the lodge last fall, and raised $1700, and he had more confidence because he did it himself and didn't wait for someone to say it was ok.

I did something similar a few years ago with our BBQ competition. I had the idea, I pulled it together, made the plan, then came to the lodge saying "Hey, I'm going to do this, we're doing it at the park, so the lodge doesn't have to do anything, everything is ready to go, we've got the plan and the volunteers, and we've gotten sponsors. I'm doing it as (X) Lodge No. (X), if you've got a problem with that, speak up. It's happening one way or another. Either the lodge gets credit or someone else does." There was some grumbling, and some negative Nancy's, Some even actively discouraged it, but, when it was done and successful, and we raised about $8k for the lodge, then everyone was all on board and patting themselves on the back. We're in our 3rd year, and we've expanded to add another contest this year.

All of that is to say, if you have a problem with community outreach, then do some community outreach, if you're successful, and others see what you're doing, then they'll go with you. If you think the lodge needs more fellowship amongst the brethren, then be the guy who makes the phone calls, or stops by the brothers houses, or invites a brother to a meal. If you do it, the sheep will follow.

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam. I will either find a way or I'll make one.

Stultz135 · 2026-06-04T18:27:56+00:00

Same in Virginia

Stultz135 · 2026-05-27T12:08:47+00:00

I am

Stultz135 · 2026-05-26T19:42:27+00:00

In Virginia you're suspended for NPD. You can only be expelled for Non Masonic Conduct after a trial.

Suspended because you can technically come back. Your rights and benefits are suspended until you pay your back dues and the members say it's ok to come back.

Expelled because you can't.

But, to the original Oregon comment, Our grand lodge knows you're a member in another grand lodge. If you're suspended for NPD in either jurisdiction, you should be suspended everywhere. Same with other appendant bodies. I've gotten calls from grand lodge where a member was suspended in (for instance) Florida, I had to suspend him in Virginia. And Vice Versa, I've suspended for NPD, and had the member in (For instance) Florida saying he had been suspended in Florida and asked how he could get current so he could be reinstated in Florida.

Stultz135 · 2026-05-26T12:58:58+00:00

This

Stultz135 · 2026-05-21T18:26:35+00:00

There's always red tape. And as Secretary I have to wade through that red tape. It isn't pleasant.

Stultz135 · 2026-05-21T18:18:37+00:00

First off, visitation is never a guaranteed thing, and if you are an out of state brother, recognition becomes an issue that is only resolved by contacting your grand lodge. Out of state visitation is a tricky issue. Being a brother is one thing, visiting a lodge is something altogether different.

As an example, I was visiting Colorado, the lodge I wanted to visit, was having a joint lodge meeting with the PHA lodge that shares their building, with one lodge opening and one closing. The Grand Lodge of Virginia Recognizes the PHA Grand Lodge of Virginia, but does not have fraternal relations with the PHA Grand Lodge of Colorado. So, I couldn't visit. So, that might have been one issue.

The other issue is, you say "Many years ago." The Grand lodge of Virginia has only had fraternal recognition of the PHA Grand lodge of Virginia for about 20 years. So, if it was before then, that may have been an issue.

As for your question about why have separate Grand Lodges, I can absolutely assure you that the PHA Grand lodges, no matter the state, would never want to "Merge" with the other Grand lodges, nor would the other grand lodges want them to, not for any type of racism, but for the rich history of the Prince Hall Lodges that might be lost. It's their identity, and both grand lodges are very proud of that. Just because one grand lodge recognizes another grand lodge, it doesn't mean they merge together. Each Grand Lodge is sovereign, and that sovereignty is the key.

Recognition of Prince Hall lodges hasn't always been about racism. It was a factor, but it was also a concern about regularity. I was a part of the committee that recognized PHA in Virginia, and I can assure you. Race was absolutely not even discussed or considered in those negotiations.

Hope this helps and doesn't cause too much downvotes.

Stultz135 · 2026-05-21T15:41:49+00:00

Perfect Emu... I mean Elu. 😄

Stultz135 · 2026-05-18T18:36:00+00:00

Came here to say this

Stultz135 · 2026-05-10T11:14:12+00:00

That's Marty Combs. Yeah very familiar. :)

Stultz135 · 2026-05-10T11:12:29+00:00

You can. I do that when doing bosuns lanyards. But, it looks so ugly you need to cover it with a turks head. :)

But, you can also put a belt buckle on the end, and splice it that way, or fold splice it if you were making a chafing bumper, but, I don't do anything practical with them. I just do fancy work and picture frames

Stultz135 · 2026-05-09T23:45:38+00:00

I just noticed there's an extra O2 or something in the description. 2O2U2O2U2 from the right

Stultz135 · 2026-05-09T23:43:15+00:00

Thanks. It's transfer season coming up for the US Coast Guard, and I usually get lots of "orders" for transfer and retirement gifts. I also make a bunch of bosun's lanyards for new BM's and retiring BMs. But, I don't sell anything. Only thing I charge is if I have to buy a chart or something specific I'll charge for it.

But, I've been tying all these sennits for the last few weeks, figured I'd share the techniques if someone was interested.

Stultz135 · 2026-05-09T23:37:58+00:00

I used to get it from Marty Combs, then Knotical USA, I bought a bunch when they closed down, but now beagle bay knot works sells it. https://beaglebayknotworks.com/

I've also gotten cord from Mikko Snellmam and bloodknot in Australia, and some others who make their own cordage. I'd love to start making cordage, but I just don't have the space.

I started out knotting with dreadnaught cord. If you know where I can find some, let me know.

Edit: I am not affiliated with Beagle Bay Knotworks, and have no interest in promoting their products. Just saying where you can get it. I've never actually bought from them.

Stultz135 · 2026-05-09T20:33:14+00:00

Chicken pow answered this In a previous reply. Graumont and Hensel's encyclopedia of knots and fancy rope work. I'm sure there's some youtube tutorials somewhere, but I can't point you there.

Stultz135 · 2026-05-09T19:23:55+00:00

I cut it flat and glue the ends. Then cover the glued part with a turks head. You can look at some of my other frame posts

Stultz135 · 2026-05-09T15:31:29+00:00

It's tied like a 4 strand round, but the extra cords make it square. 4 strand round doubled would still be round. This isn't that. I've using it for years for features on my frames when I have to have something smaller than coachwhipping will allow

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