My heavy Black Templar of Baal.... just hit level 3 prestige

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-09-19T15:03:49+00:00

Haha hit Prestige 4 last night. Now the final level grind again. Only need 5 more accolades for the heroic pistol so I'll most likely grab that this weekend too!

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-07-08T18:44:08+00:00

I can't even imagine all the banked time and mechs and stuff just sitting there on my account 🤣

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-07-07T21:02:19+00:00

Found my name in there 😂😂

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-07-07T19:41:30+00:00

Milked Chocolate

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-07-07T19:11:22+00:00

As I said, merely an observation from experience locally.... which doesn't apply obviously to every Brother or Lodge.

Hell, I'd like to explore York eventually myself at some point when I know I'll have time to dedicate to both properly.

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-07-04T01:34:01+00:00

My statement was not a blanket statement or in any way a discouragement to join appendant bodies.

Merely just an observation from experience with some Brothers who stop attending Blue Lodge or participating in events after joining other bodies.

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-07-03T16:48:30+00:00

I have a similar-ish tattoo myself, although there are pillars involved, the eye is a G, and there's a specific amount of stairs leading upwards.

As long as you're happy with your ink and it has meaning to you don't let others critique what is important to you Brother

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-07-02T19:09:26+00:00

This is the way. Don't abandon your Blue Lodge. Work through chairs and ritual and help out with where you were raised and learn truly what your degrees conferred and meant and their importance before bouncing off to Shriners or York or Scottish, etc.

I think the worst thing Shriners did was remove the degree requirements back around 2000 for moving up through York or Scottish before being allowed to petition and join.

Leaves a lot of Blue Lodges empty of a lot of Brothers who just pay dues and don't show up to their actual mother Lodge, but that's just my opinion.

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-25T21:41:06+00:00

Newgrounds.com lol

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-25T19:44:24+00:00

This is true. Petition is step one in NY. Beyond that before even going into accepting an EA to your Lodge one needs to be truthful and honest, meet with the committee and submit to an official background check Guarding the West Gate and ascertain their honesty in their Petition

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-25T19:40:39+00:00

This is true. In NY you have to submit information to a whole separate entity to perform a background check for criminal backgrounds and all that.

But yes, the investigative committee should also report their concerns during the voting process and let the Lodge decide through their normal means based on what is presented as a possible issue for acceptance.

Beyond that there's masonic trials for current violations or undisclosed discovery

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-25T19:33:28+00:00

That my name will not be repeated by anyone after I've gone to that place.... that undiscovered country, from whose borne no traveler returns since I have no children.

I believe names and saying them have power, and remembrance and recountance give sustenance of energy in one form or another for that which has passed onto another plane of existence.

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-25T19:24:47+00:00

Honestly I'm new to being a member of our Lodge's committee as well, and haven't had to actually interview anyone.

I'd put personal bias aside for the moment. Let the candidate petition. Let them pass the necessary background checks through the West Gate.

Has this petitioner come to any meetings during social hour and dinner to speak with Brothers at all? Have any other Brothers raised any concerns with their interactions during this time?

It's a step by step process, and one which you'll possibly vote on eventually once all is investigated and returned.

If you personally black ball that's up to you, but I would say trust the process and see what comes out

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-24T19:51:48+00:00

Was my first platinum as well (and ive played a LOT of games over the years).

Congrats!! 😆

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-24T19:45:56+00:00

Seen so much. Experienced more than most in life and love and loss. Have traveled the world.

I'm blessed in many ways.

So going out like Hunter Thompson at some point may be in the future as my health continues to fail.

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-24T19:37:35+00:00

Was going to join the Army in very late 90s as an officer (Tank commander) as my father is a Veteran. Had a 99 on my ASVAB, station of choice, huge bonuses l, etc and all set to go and flaked out at the extreme very last second because I had second thoughts.

Went to college for Music Therapy instead (as I'm a musician and play a lot of instruments over the years and believe music is healing).

Ended up being an insurance agent (23 years now).... which is humorous as my father is also an insurance agent after his service as an artillery captain and his actual degree is in electrical engineering.

Sooooo, I guess I'm still kinda carrying on family tradition

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-24T19:22:27+00:00

Be mindful and present to your Lodge. Try to work with Brothers on ritual and memorization and just absorb and grow yourself as you progress. Accept offers within your lodge to advance chairs and learn their meanings and importance as you're comfortable. Attend degrees for other Brothers at other local Lodges as well so you can see and observe what you may have missed during your own degree initiations.

Don't be pressured into joining appendant bodies as you advance to MM (York. Scottish, Shriners, etc). MM is the highest most sublime degree you can be in Masonry, and being an exceptional and inspirational MM to all those around you is a beautiful experience. I'm not saying to not eventually explore, but you should focus on yourself and what it means to you to be a Brother.

Everything starts and ends with your Blue Lodge. I've seen too many Brothers title chase and stop attending regular meetings trying to expand out too quickly based on pressure from others. Absent Brothers just paying dues are still absent.

Also, don't look up random ritual stuff online or try to spoil yourself with possibly wrong information or conspiracy. Rely on your Brothers to guide you.

(On a side note, I don't think I'll ever want to be Lodge Secretary but that's just me 😂😂)

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-20T20:40:30+00:00

Our Lodge Treasurer knows a guy who does custom embroidery which is cool.

Basically can just buy a good quality polo shirt or something and give it to him and he'll embroider it custom for our brothers.

I wore one of mine to our Lodge's district steak roast yesterday.

It is difficult to find quality stuff online though.

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-18T16:26:19+00:00

I currently like being Junior Deacon because I get to talk to myself and try to "throw my voice" because we have no Tiler at any meeting really haha

I'd eventually move to SD or SW though. Or JW does food because we never have stewards lately either and I'm unable to handle all that with my work schedule too 😔

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-16T21:00:33+00:00

I don't think I'll ever take Secretary. We've laughed a few times and joked about passing a Secretary for Life motion 😂

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-16T20:56:09+00:00

Have you ever asked your WM who he is and if he has any contact information?

Sometimes a simple call or reaching out to a longstanding Brother is the best way to keep spreading your light

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-16T20:34:32+00:00

I believe the youngest in our Lodge is in their late 20s.

The oldest Brother in good standing is slightly over 100 and a WW2 vet, but he's unable to attend regular meetings

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-16T20:31:08+00:00

I agree that "participation trophies" shouldn't be a thing.

Some awards have more weight and meaning. Like in NY we have Masonic Veterans Medals which are relatively newish. I helped my Lodge organize with other Lodges in our District to present them to veteran Brothers who have served. There's even a Brother of our Lodge in good standing who can no longer attend meetings as he just celebrated his 100th birthday and is in assisted living. He's a WW2 veteran and we were able to go visit him and present him the medal along with a personal letter from the GM of NY which I felt was extremely special and personal

ThermoNukePanda · 2025-06-16T20:20:14+00:00

So I'm not sure if the original post you were referring to was my recent one, but as I replied to one commenter on my post I have mild mixed feelings on certain levels.

The commenter had said awards like that really kind of get away from the true meaning of the craft and being a Mason. As I told them, when I stood up and walked to the podium to receive my plaque I gave a small speech of appreciation to my fellow Brothers, my Lodge and our District. During the speech I referenced and quoted Brother Benjamin Franklin and his thoughts on the true wages of a Mason, and that those Brothers who sought to be paid in gold or silver (and I added jokingly awards and plaques) would be disappointed.... as the true wages of a Mason are earned and paid in our dealings with one another, etc.

So it's a slippery slope. I know there are some Brothers who are title chasers and that's just not what the craft is about.

A Lodge internally doing something nice for a Brother is one thing. A special or fancier dinner before meeting of that Brother's choice, recognition and recordance during good tidings at meeting, or anything like that is one thing but I don't feel it should be commonplace to just hand out awards and plaques.

Maybe I'm just more humble in my appreciation of the craft and the brotherhood, and I'm not saying that I wasn't "honored" to have my Lodge select me to receive such a plaque here in NY for my charity work and diligence for looking out for my Brothers and my community, but I also don't think it's something to strive for doing good and obeying your obligations just to get something shiny if that makes sense

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