King Solomon's Lodge Aggregator

Hey there! I have just set up a new blog aggregator and Masonic information site at www.kingsolomonslodge.org where I am combining together RSS and Atom feeds from various blogs written by Masons or about Freemasonry. I hope this is useful. If you would like to recommend a feed to be added, please post it as a comment to this post and I will try to get it put in the listings.

The qualifications are:

• No blogs comprised of Anti-Masonic rhetoric will be included.
• These blogs should often contains posts about subjects of Masonic interest.
• I'm not so concerned about "regularity" in the listings here, as Masons can make those determinations according to their own local processes.

Enjoy!

Maintaining Secrecy

I recently came across a website selling downloadable rituals described as "Text legible by anyone + Full text accessible with the Word of the degree", for which a small fee was being assessed.

There are many angles by which one could approach this. First, the offering the text of the degrees for money to anyone who comes along seems to go against the spirit of the first degree obligation, although the digital format is perhaps considered by some to be technically outside the domain of such tangible written materials. No matter how you work it, it is creating an opportunity for someone to obtain the remaining ritual secrets of Masonry, as a "prize", if they are able to locate just one secret elsewhere. Second, it has already been done. The ritual is out. It's all over the net for anyone who tries hard enough to find it, not to mention being published in numerous books. The difference? If you engage in this type of action, it is upon your head. Being true to your obligations is about personal integrity and character, something that you can never lose by someone else divulging their secrets, nor by everyone else in the world knowing these secrets, but only by you doing so yourself. While these are concerns, I'm interested in focusing here on that "one" secret that can be used to obtain all the others.

On the way out to our Lodge picnic, we passed through three gates on an access road to get to the old Masonic park which our Lodge owns. Joking, it was suggested that we set up a little box at each gate with a rubber hand concealed in it, where one must give the appropriate grip in order for the gate to be automatically unlocked and opened.

My objection to both of these ideas is similar: If you test someone mechanically, they can try and try until they get it right. Also, there is no human discernment involved, which could become wary and fend off such a cowan without ever even engaging in the test.

Extending this further, let us presume for the sake of argument that the word of an Entered Apprentice is Aardvark (a neutral word, I hope, as it is obviously not employed in such a manner by any order.) The problem is, if a cowan or eavesdropper comes along and says: "I know the word is Aardvark, and it is my intention to let every man know this." And you come along after and say, "Do not reveal this Masonic secret, it is direspectful, dishonorable, etc.," what have you done? You have done nothing but confirm the accuracy of his claim. Was he the one who revealed the secret? No. He has no secret to reveal, since he did not acquire it under a solemn obligation, (or if he did, it was feigned), but you are under obligation, and by confirming his exposure, you become the one who has truly revealed a Masonic secret. The honorable thing to do is that which is taught in the charges: Ignore them utterly. On the other hand, you should not engage in any type of guessing or disavowing game, either. If another comes and says the word is actually Chicken, and you say, "The word is not Chicken." You are only aiding the cowan in making advances towards the correct word. This "Chicken" argument is a matter which also requires discernment, because sometimes the claim can be so wildly outrageous that it is impossible, and perhaps no harm at all could come from setting someone straight, or setting that persons audience straight, at least. Usually in such a case, however, the fact that the word presented is false is readily apparent to anyone with any sense of discernment at all, so maybe it is better left untouched, so that the supposed exposer may be free to embarass himself and lose credibility entirely through his own actions.

Perhaps the Masonic Secrets can never truly be revealed. Being the embodiment of good character and integrity, as soon as one undertakes to expose them they become immediately lost to that person and only a hollow shell remains.

Masonry as a Refuge

Sometimes I feel like an outcast. I bring it upon myself because I'm just ... very strange. My beliefs are very different from many of the people I associate with. But, I feel comfort in the Lodge some how. I wonder, though, how good of a refuge Masonry really is? How sincere is the brotherhood when it becomes tested? If it is possible to lose this bond while living according to the dictates of your conscience, and according to the laws of the fraternity and the laws of the land, then is there some other place where such a fellowship does exist? We learn that we are first made Masons in our hearts. I guess I'm looking to find what it is that can be written upon our soul, our hearts, that we can cherish and know that it can never, ever be taken from us? Where is that kind of assurance, if anywhere?

Glimpses of Masonic History

This week I've started reading a book originally titled Glimpses of Masonic History by C. W. Leadbeater. The edition I purchased is newer, and has been re-titled "Ancient Mystic Rites." (although the content is essentially identical.) Although written from a Co-Masonic ("irregular" or "unrecognize") point of view, I believe Mr. Leadbeater's conclusions are spot-on in many particulars, and well worth reading, especially if you are interested in the Mystic or Occult aspects of the fraternity. I here quote from a portion of the text that has particularly impressed me, to give you a sample of Leadbeater's work:

To the occult student Masonry has also another aspect, of the greatest importance ... It is not only a wonderful and intricate system of occult symbols enshrining the secrets of the invisible worlds; it has also a sacramental aspect which is of the utmost beauty and value not only to its initiates but to the world at large. The performance of the ritual of each degree is intended to call down spiritual power, first to assist the Brother upon whom the degree is conferred to awaken within himself that aspect of consciousness which corresponds to the symbolism of the degree, as far as it can be awakened; secondly to aid in the evolution of the members present; and thirdly and most important of all, to pour out a flood of spiritual power intended to uplift, strengthen and encourage all members of the Craft.

Some years ago I undertook an investigation into the hidden side of the sacraments of the Catholic Church ... the shedding abroad of spiritual power is one great object of the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and of other services ... by the invocation of an Angel to build a spiritual temple in the inner worlds ... and the charge of that temple with the enormous power called down at the consecration of the Sacred Elements. A somewhat similar result is achieved during the ceremonies performed by the Masonic Lodge, although the plan is not exactly the same, being indeed far older; and each of our rituals, when properly carried out, likewise builds a temple in the inner worlds, through which the spiritual power called down at the initiation of the candidate is stored and radiated. Thus Masonry is seen, in the sacramental sense as well as the mystical, to be "an art of building spiritualized," and every Masonic Lodge ought to be a channel of no mean order for the shedding of spiritual blessing over the district in which it labours.

Sometimes orders and rites which were once channels of great force have admitted, as the years passed by, Brethren less worthy than their predecessors - Brethren who thought more of their own gain than of service to the world. In such cases the spiritual powers associated with those grades were either entirely withdrawn by the [Gods] to be introduced later into some other and more suitable group, or allowed to remain dormant until more fitting candidates should be found to hold them worthily - the bare succession passing down and transmitting, as it were, the seeds of the power, although the power itself was largely in abeyance.

On the other hand, there have been cases in which a rite or grade has been manufactured by a student who wished to throw some great truth into ceremonial form, but knew little of all this inner side of Masonry; if such a degree or rite were doing useful work and attracting suitable candidates, sacramental powers fitted for that rite or grade were sometimes introduced into it, either by some Brother on the physical plane who possessed one of the lines of succession mentioned above, which was then adapted by the [Gods] for the work, or by a direct and non-physical interference from behind.

Furthermore, the inner effect of a given degree, even in a rite that may be fully valid, may vary greatly with the ... Brother upon whom it is conferred; so that in one case, let us say, the 33° would confer stupendous spiritual power, and in another, less worthy, the powers given would be much smaller, because of the candidate's incapacity to respond fully to them. In such cases a fuller degree of power will manifest itself as greater advancement is made in the development of character. It also appears to be possible for power to be temporarily withdrawn in cases of evil-doing by one of the Brethren, and to be restored later when the evil-doing has ceased.

... the chief lines of Masonic tradition - those which are of the greatest inner or spiritual value - are the Craft degrees, upon which all other grades are superimposed, the Mark and the Arch degrees, and the chief degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the 18°, 30° and 33°. Other degrees ... have their own peculiar powers ... but the grades which I have mentioned are those which are considered by the [Gods] to be of the greatest value to our present generation ... Another line of great interest, though very different ... is ... the rites of Memphis and Mizraim, which are relics in their occult power, although not in their form, of perhaps the very oldest Mysteries existing upon earth. These too have their part to play in the future, as in the past, and they have therefore been preserved and transmitted to us in the present day.

This particular section, to me, is reminiscent of the explanation of magickal gestures in Initiation into Hermetics which I recommended in a previous post, and I think they are essentially teaching the same principle, which I myself endorse as accurate. Both of these books are "must-read" items for the mystic Mason, as far as I'm concerned, but they must be read with discernment because they may also contain much erroneous information. We must sift those things of the most value out from it.

The Paradox of Masonic East

Masonry reveres the East as the highest station in the Lodge. In the second degree, we are led into the Lodge between two brazen pillars which are symbolic of those set up at the entrance of King Solomon's Temple. However, as everyone who has studied the Temple or Moses's Tabernacle clearly knows, the East was where the entrance to the Temple was situated, and the West is where the Holy of Holies was located. As Masons, especially those Brethren who have Judeo-Christian religious affiliations, how do we reconcile or explain this apparent reversal of the Biblical order? What does it mean? What do others outside the Fraternity think of it?

Wearing Your Lambskin Apron

In Oregon it is customary to wear the Lambskin apron during your initiation into the Degrees of Masonry, and afterward to shelve it and take up a cheap linen apron for use during Lodge meetings (except the officers who wear their particular assigned aprons). I say what good is an Apron that was only worn three times before put to rest? What are you saving it for? It is said that while spots on the apron of an operative Mason brought credit rather than discredit, we should wear ours unspotted from the world. But in order to wear it unspotted, one must first undertake to wear it at all.

"A Freemason's apron must be made of Lambskin. No other substance, such as linen, silk or satin could be substituted without entirely destroying the emblematical character of the apron, for the material of the Freemason's apron constitutes one of the most important symbols of his profession." -- Albert C. Mackey

Women's Rites

My wife is a bit jealous of Masonry. She wants a rite that she can participate in, filled with enthusiasm and at least moderately young women. OES and Amaranth don't appeal to her in any way - she sees them as groups of old ladies who like to dress up in gowns. She wants something that Women can run on their own, that has benefits akin to a ritual fraternity, but with a feminine appeal. I should be clear here that she does not want Co-Masonry, as she considers it clandestine and doesn't think women want the same type of rite as men. Does anyone know of any groups that might meet her needs? In the meantime, she has begun a purposeful social study of the one thing she knows attracts young women: Wicca. By studying Wicca, she hopes to dissect it and learn what it is that attracts the fairer sex to it, in order to blatantly borrow these items, gut out the religious aspects of it that cause it to have conflict with adherants to other faiths, and use what is left as a foundation upon which to build the sorority which she seeks after.

If anyone else is interested in helping her, or knows of anything remotely close to meeting this "need", she'll be keeping an eye on the comments to this post.

Where do you find your Masonic home?

I currently find my "home" in Masonry in the Blue Lodge. Here in Oregon we can open our stated communications on any of the EA, FC, or MM degree, depending on the type of business that needs to be transacted, and whether or not we are accomodating candidates that have not yet attained the sublime degree.

I haven't yet completed the degrees of Royal Arch Masonry, so I do not know what it is like to sit in a regular Chapter meeting yet. I am curious if anyone out there has an exceptionally strong Chapter, Council, or any other Masonic body besides Blue Lodge that they consider to be their "home" in the Fraternity, and that they might want to share some feelings/experiences on?

Masonic Color Analysis

The cones in the human eye are primarily responsible for the recognition and distinction of colored light, (whereas the rods are primarily responsible for levels of light in general, whence brightness is derived) and the blue cone in the human eye is the least sensitive of these, followed by red, and then green.
In our Masonic journey we figuratively start in a "condition of darkness" and in answer to our desire for light we are given Blue Light, as Blue is the principal color of the three degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry.
If we proceed to the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, colloquially known as "Red Lodge", we are met with the next level of light.
Combining these two lights together, the Council of Cryptic Masons gives us Purple, and a binary pattern is confirmed.

Color	Blue	Red	Green
Black	-	-	-
Blue	X	-	-
Red	-	X	-
Purple	X	X	-
Green	-	-	X
Teal	X	-	X
Yellow	-	X	X
White	X	X	X

White could be understood as the Celestial Lodge Above, where the Great White Throne may be found. But my question for the contemplative Mason is: Where are the Green, Teal, and Yellow Lodges?

Scottish McRite

Alabama-Free-Mason: Scottish McRite

I just read the above blog article and it is sad to admit it but David is right about this. [ Even if he does belong to some clandestine group that admits women ;) ] Historically, I bet the Rite of Perfection (Scottish Rite's grandaddy rite) was a pretty good system, but it has certainly become a McRite today. I wonder if the younger generation will be able to take back some of these things and make them workable again? Who has the levels of charisma and bravery necessary to do what Albert Pike did in his day, over again today, to fix Scottish Rite? I don't see enough left TO fix... so it certainly isn't me. I would assist in giving it proper burial, however.

Hermetics

I would like to recommend Franz Bardon's Initiation into Hermetics to all the brethren reading this blog. No, I'm not advocating everyone becoming magicians, but I believe certain parts of this book are of special interest to Masons, especially in connection with the practical purpose and effects resulting from our use of certain signs and grips. He speaks of "gestures and finger positions which are commonly known as ritual."

I'm largely materialistic in my religion, but this book spoke to me on the subject in a way that made me open my mind to the possibility of some unseen force at work and simultaneously reinforcing to me the importance of upholding our ancient customs.

I may post in more detail on this at some later date, but I find the assertion that gestures and finger positions constitute ritual, or rather, that ritual and gestures are one and the same thing, to be a key that can unlock some of the mysticism of Freemasonry.

Exposure vs. Proselyting

Many Masonic jurisdictions seem to be toying with the idea of advertising the Fraternity in an attempt to gain more members. I have mixed feelings on this. I think one line that is useful to look at in considering this is Exposure vs. Proselyting. In the 1800's, Masonry was exposed. People knew about it, because their neighbor, their boss, and their father were Masons. To supplement this genuine exposure, which happens through due course of having wide membership, many lodges have turned towards being proactive to achieve publicity. That's not so bad. Its when we start proselyting - handing out tracts to people, that it becomes truly questionable in my mind. On the other hand, I believe that if you are a friend and have become acquainted with a person, and they have demonstrated some interest in Masonry, that it isn't altogether inappropriate to at least provide them with some information about the Fraternity. After all, a friend may feel that you are keeping distance from them, if they know something like Masonry is important to you, and yet you have not given them the courtesy of at least explaining to them what it is all about.

What is the answer that is in the best interests of the Fraternity? Increased membership isn't necessarily a good thing. We need high-quality Masons, it really doesn't matter how many there are, as long as there are enough to open a Lodge. On the other hand, what a delight it would be to have more worthy and well qualified Brethren to be initiated.

2B1ASK1 - Annoying?

Has anyone ever seen a more modern, immature, and annoying thing than the 2B1ASK1 Masonic bumper sticker? My apologies to the Brethren who pioneered it, but it has outlived its usefulness. How? It has transcended automobiles, and become a slogan on websites and printed paper brochures. I think we should just spell it out: "To be one, ask one!" or speak in complete sentences, "If you would like to be a Mason, please ask one of our members about how you should proceed."

Masonic Stickers for Websites

Here are some 80x15 pixel Masonic buttons for use on your website or blogs to indicate what bodies you are a member of:

York Rite:


Blue/Ancient Craft Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, Council of Cryptic Masons, Commandery of Knights Templar, Allied Masonic Degrees

Scottish Rite:


Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (Lodge of Perfection, Chapter of Rose Croix, Council of Kadosh, Consistory), and Scottish Rite Research Society

I found two free tools on the web that I used as the basis for creating these buttons, Dynamic Drive Button Maker, and Brilliant Button Maker.

I recommend making these buttons link to the web site of the particular body you are a member of, or to the Grand or Supreme whatever if your local body doesn't have a site.

If you need a button for another Masonic body, let me know here and I will consider doing it.

Giving York Rite a Chance

I can't speak for every city in the world, but in my own there is a relatively strong Scottish Rite body, and there are a few York Rite brethren but no York Rite bodies formed at the present time. I have a feeling that Scottish Rite is more prevalent in Masonry, but that may not be an accurate big picture so correct me if I'm wrong. But, if it is true for your area, I want to investigate some specific points:

I had a new Master Mason engage in conversation with me about the appendant bodies. I mentioned that I was interested in York Rite (I hadn't yet started, at that time). His initial response felt negative. He seemed to have the impression that it was some weird, deviant form of Masonry, or something. Perhaps he had the impression that it was "unamerican." As we continued to talk he listened to what I had to say, and he realized that both are acceptable Masonic paths. Ironically, our Blue Lodge uses the York Rite version of the Craft Degrees. The ritual format, wording, etc., is entirely consistent between the EA, FC, and MM degrees and the Mark Master degree that I just went through, where Scottish Rite's format is entirely different, and the York Rite in some places referred to as "The American Rite."

Let me clarify that different isn't necessarily an indicator of good or bad. I think both Scottish and York Rite have their places. From what I've read, they teach in different ways and they cover different subjects. Your own particular tastes and interests may lead you to advance in Masonry in one way or the other. Neither should these two routes be seen as the only ways to pursue Masonry further.

So why is Scottish Rite more prevalent in my area?

I can speculate on that. It isn't because its a better rite. It may be because the degrees are easier to put on (Scottish Rite seems to require far less in the way of officers in order to put on their ritual), and it is a faster way to move people through a rite in order to achieve a purpose that has in recent years been fulfilled in another way: To get people into the Shrine Club.

This in itself is not a bad thing. Shrine does much noble work and helps many people. I just ran into an electrical burn victim last night who was helped by the Shrine hospital. Actually, he asked me for a petition for Lodge, which means he has recognized the good work done by Masonry and he wants to contribute back into it, and be in that company.

Shrine has solved the problem of using the Quick-route of Scottish Rite by removing their haut-grade requirements: One only needs to be a Master Mason now (3rd degree) to enter Shrine, instead of a Knights Templar York Rite Mason or 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.

So, historically the problem was complicated: Knights Templar is considered the most "Christian" of the Masonic degrees, and involves the taking of an oath to defend the Christian religion. While Scottish Rite, in its present incarnation, includes Christian symbolism, it puts no such obligation on its candidates. Knights Templar in York Rite, although the last of the sequence of degrees, is not necessarily essential to thoroughly enjoying York Rite. So far, I have not opted to petition for it: I am going to take the degrees of the Royal Arch Chapter, and the Council of Cryptic Masons first, then I will consider and decide if I am going to continue with Knights Templar. At this point, I'm honestly leaning towards a "No" answer on that.

Obviously, for someone wanting to enter the Shrine, especially a non-Christian or someone uncomfortable with that particular obligation, this made a serious choice FOR them. To get to Shrine, Scottish Rite was the acceptable way. Also, Scottish Rite has become quicker, because it has been simplified in the Southern Jurisdiction to only a few required degrees with the others being optional. This means about 4 or 5 additional degrees, which are mostly acted out for you while you watch as an "audience", and you would have passed the requirement and could be admitted into Shrine.

York Rite was more participatory, and had more degrees to go through, with no skipping degrees (except for the Council being optional). At a minimum, I think this would be six degrees beyond the Master Mason degree before you could participate in Shrine.

Scottish Rite, recognizing their place on this ladder, wanted to facilitate the numbers and give something to the people going through it so they have simplified their degrees to make it easier to go through and perhaps in an effort to make the lessons more readily tangible. In the process, I feel that they have removed much of the "meat" from their work, relinquishing it to the textbooks (Morals and Dogma, Clausen's Commentaries, Bridge to Light, etc.)

This has all been resolved in the Shrine Club's decision to make their membership requirement be that of Master Mason only. Now, what do we have left over?

Essentially, the three bodies now stand as options to a Mason, doors that may be unlocked. They will unlock these doors only if they are genuinely interested in what is inside of them (or if they want to attend the banquets associated with them.) The Scottish Rite should be using this as an opportunity to add meat back into their ritual. I hope they do. The people who want to get into Shrine can now do so, which means we should be left with very sincere people joining both Scottish and York Rite, because they want to.

So, I think it is primarily a historical reason that Scottish Rite came out as the "winner" in my city as far as numbers are concerned. There is no reason someone cannot pursue both rites. And if someone has the time, and inclination, it would probably be good for them to do so.

I want to encourage people in areas where one rite dominates to give the other rite a chance. It is well worth the added effort to travel in order to receive these degrees which share in the antiquity of our Masonic heritage.

Having the Rite Attitude

Here in Oregon, our Grand Lodge has recently approved an optional, alternative progam to the standard Candidates Lectures (also known as Catechisms) that are used to demonstrate a Candidate's Proficiency with a Degree before moving him on to the next degree. This is a good program that has existed in our Jurisdiction for a while as a way to increase our knowledge of Masonry, but has up until recently been an optional additional activity including a written test, that one may participate in, rather than an alternative to the traditionally required Catechisms.

The option is left to the Worshipful Master of the Lodge to decide to take or leave. I want to say: If this or anything similar crops up, leave it alone. It may be very beneficial to do BOTH the Lecture and the Test. But to drop the Lecture serves No Good Purpose.

IT seems that this was originally touted as a way to encourage people to (or at least to avoid deterring people from) becom(ing) Candidates for the Degrees of Masonry. It was as if this would make us get more members. (A concern, that I feel, may be misplaced to begin with.)

From inside the Fraternity, we have a skewed view of this process. We realize that candidates DO have to recite these catechisms. Most candidates do not. They have never heard of any such thing, until they are already in the door.

What this may do, is move people who are stagnating on the EA degree up to Fellowcraft and Master Mason more quickly. This would allow them full fellowship and participation with their Lodge. I see this as a noble goal. But, if we are trying to make them our Brother, shouldn't we be willing to spend time with them -- enormous amounts of time, if that's what it takes -- to help teach them the Catechism? I've never seen a Worshipful Master reject a proficiency when the Brother gives it his sincere effort and demonstrates that he has learned as best as he can what was required of him.

Masonry is largely ritualistic in its teaching form. Ritual has bonded us together since time immemorial, and it will be ritual that keeps us together for another one. Fraternal orders and social clubs come and go, but Masonry lives on. If we want to be like all the rest, we need to be prepared to go, to perish at some time. If we want to continue living, we need to keep with that thing that sets us apart from the rest, and provides our strength and support. That type of harmony is obtained through having a common experience, a common bond, with common cares. Lets have the rite attitude about this: I am speaking primarily to the younger generation of Masons, like myself (I am 25). Be careful not to destroy that which our ancient Brethren so carefully preserved for us.

(Also, be careful and serious about who we ballot in to Lodge, so that we continue to get men of good character.)

Origins of Masonry

Commonly held old legend says that Ancient Craft Masonry originated at the building of Solomon's Temple. Common scholarly opinion today refutes that, and suggests a much more recent origin for the Craft. I would like to put in my plug for the former opinion, to a degree. When was there ever a tradition, that was not taken from what went before it? Either directly, indirectly, or as a mirror image 'rebellion'. Truly, it seems, there is nothing new under the sun. I believe Masonry did come from Solomon's Temple, although it wasn't a direct Group => Group => Group lineage. I believe it was the merging of several traditions over a long period of time, where like-minded people banded together, and their traditions combined into something beautiful. I think there is good evidence to suggest that Freemasonry does have some origins, even in the mysteries of its secret work, clearly from the Temple of Solomon (or the Tabernacle of Moses) if someone opens their eyes enough to behold them. I do not believe it was the Stone Masons who formed the craft, however, but the Levites who worked in the Temple, or their direct observors, and their ideological descendents, coupled of course with the many other threads that pour into the river of Masonry by the time it hit England in the 1700's.

There are certain parts of Masonry that are pretty well determined to be modern additions. Modern in this sense, meaning anything around A.D. 1700 or later. The entire Legend of Hiram Abiff seems to be one of these things. However, I would like to suggest that because Masonry -- being the Handmaiden of religion - and a very religious group (although not a religion, note the disctinction) -- because Masonry has held true to these old customs and faithfully preserved things of God, they may have been blessed with further inspiration from Above. Either individually, or collectively, I believe Masonry's history has been divinely inspired and divinely approved. In many Jurisdictions, the Lodge is opened with a prayer containing something like this request:

"Grant that the sublime principles of Freemasonry may so subdue every discordant passion within us, so harmonize and enrich our hearts with Thine own love and goodness, that the Lodge, at this time, may humbly reflect that order and beauty which reign forever before Thy throne."

Could it be, that so many brethren, praying so unceasingly for their Lodge to reflect the GAOTU's own order and beauty, might actually be answered?

I say it might, and probably has, and probably will continue to be answered, if our prayers are sincere.

Welcome to the "King Solomon's Lodge" Blog

If you're looking for my "Quasi-Religious" blog, it has just moved to quasireligious.blogspot.com, and I apologize for any inconvenience. Since Quasi was my first "test" blog, I ran it on this KingSolomonsLodge.org domain without thinking much about it, and now the time has come to put up a blog here actually dedicated to Freemasonry.

At the time of writing this, I am a Mark Master in the York Rite of Masonry, having just been advanced to that degree two days ago (Thursday the 29th of June, 2006) at Reames Chapter #28
in Grants Pass, Oregon. I am a member of Laurel Lodge #13 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Oregon, where, three years ago, I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason (on January 29, 2003.) I am excited about the new path I have started down with the York Rite.

I'll be posting all of my most intriguing Masonic thoughts which are fit for publication on this blog, so stay tuned.