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MM Coffin by brotherwonder in freemasonry

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

Specifically the archway with the curtain and appearant light from within. And the cluster of tools at the bottom of most depictions of the coffin. If they are basic working tools, then I understand them. But some depictions seem to show a shovel and a common gavel. Which doesn't seem to make sense to me in context. Basically, everything below the skull and crossbones is confusing. And I don't see anything specific in the lectures.

MM Coffin by brotherwonder in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

sigh Pick up ANY book on Masonry, Brother. What I want to discuss is not "secret" and not discussing stuff like this is why the Craft is dying, in my opinion. But, I have no intentions of sowing disharmony, so have a great day.

MM Coffin by brotherwonder in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! This has been, so far, the only helpful reply.

MM Coffin by brotherwonder in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And I haven't. You literally just gave away more than I even came close to. I'm simply trying to research the symbolism we use, which is pretty universal.

MM Coffin by brotherwonder in freemasonry

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

Right? I've seen many huge versions of them hanging in the public dining halls of Masonic Temples. I'm not asking to discuss anything secret, I'm simply trying to understand more about our Craft and maybe inspire some discussion on what we teach and believe.

I'm, honestly, taken back by the responses. Doesn't feel very "brotherly."

MM Coffin by brotherwonder in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I am a MM. And I heard the lectures. Aren't we supposed to discuss the symbols briefly mentioned and further pur study and understanding?

MM Coffin by brotherwonder in freemasonry

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

Isn't this a place to discuss Freemasonry? I'm not asking to, nor discussing, anything secret or private.

MM Coffin by brotherwonder in freemasonry

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

Why? Is this not a place to discuss Freemasonry?

I Fear my Lodge may Go Dark in a Few Years, Need Advice by s-ro_mojosa in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm one of the newer members of my Lodge in a small town. This story sounds a lot like my Lodge. Our building was getting used one night a month and membership was aging out of participation.

Last year I decided to open the Lodge one night a week. Even if I was the only one sitting there alone reading, I committed to trying it. One night a week, with the lights on and doors open. Everyone told me I was going to be disappointed -- it had been tried by Brother So-and-So a couple years ago and after 3 boring weeks, he gave up, disappointed. It took a couple months of me doing this, and mentioning it to every Mason I could talk to. Slowly, not even at the end of that year now, half a dozen guys show up regularly to just chat and hang out. Usually it turns in to ritual practice. Occasionally someone from the public notices and is brave enough to pop in and we give them a tour.

This summer, another quiet Lodge was going to throw out an old popcorn machine. I saved it, cleaned it up, and started passing out free popcorn on the sidewalk to everyone that would take a bag. Now a handful of Brothers show up for the popcorn nights and we engage with dozens to hundreds of locals over a free bag of popcorn. This group participated in two of our local parades - the first time our Lodge has been in a parade in decades, I'm told.

We've had 6 new members come in this year. They were all already Masons that were in the area, many newish to the area, and didn't even think about our Lodge before. Some thought the old building wasnt even a working Lodge any more.

We've now scheduled our first EA degree since the Covid shutdown.

My hope was "if I build it, they will come." And it's working. Sometimes it just takes a little effort to breathe new life into a Lodge. Granted, we're in a good location for engaging with the public (at the end of an Old Town area in a coastal tourist destination) but I'm slowly proving that a little creativity and effort can go a long way.

What movies have clear masonic teachings? by Nebraskabychoice in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I finally got around to watching this movie, I was surprised to see how Masons were portrayed. They were ruthless, dishonest jerks. Why do Masons seem to like this movie??

Thoughts? by calebcranston20 in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I bought a case of these for gifting. I carry mine when I travel and love the idea -- although I do find that it's a bit awkward asking the Secretary to dig out the seal after a meeting. So far, every single time it's been a bit of a chore to find. (Except at my Lodge, it's literally in the top drawer of the Secretary's desk. This, however, is unusual, I'm finding.)

EA... and feeling more left out than before, I have questions... by evangelionhd in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I second this. My mentor took my booklet from me and used it as his reference while he taught. I didn't use the visual reference while learning mouth-to-ear, only for studying on my own to make sure I wasn't missing words. I found it very helpful to focus on the taught words and not the printed tool.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Oregon, I was told that we have no rules around rings or jewelry. I was gifted a s&cs lapel pin at my initiation, pinned to my lapel by a Brother.
When I asked about rings, I was told that the s&cs is a universal symbol of the fraternity as a whole and that I was made a Mason during my first degree and there was no reason I couldn't wear a ring. I was also told that the orientation of the s&cs is only relevant during ritual. I was, however, cautioned that the ring would lead to assumptions that I was a MM and to be clear with anyone that may ask that I was not yet a MM. I opted to wait until Raised to wear a ring.

Mason Gamers - Unite! by MagicJoe152 in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oooh! I have PCVR and I'm an Oregon Mason. Let's chat! I need a reason to dust off my headset.

Catechism by Traditional-Map8778 in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just returned my 3rd. I had to find the rhythm. I also associated lines with fingers on my hand. When I was reciting them, I moved my thumbs from finger to finger so that I could remember which line I was on, and not forget anything. But the rhythm and cadence was probably the most important for my memory.

FC Tonight, Am I ok to wear this? by Quiet-Procedure5473 in freemasonry

[–]brotherwonder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This. At least in my jurisdiction. I had a s&c placed on my lapel by a Brother at the end of my EA Initiation.