The longer I’m involved in Freemasonry, the more I realize it’s something I wish more men could experience.
I didn’t join because I thought I had everything figured out. Far from it. I joined because I wanted to learn, grow, and surround myself with good men who challenge me to be better.

What I’ve come to appreciate most isn’t just the history or traditions. It’s the friendships, the lessons, and the reminder that Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth should mean something outside the lodge.

Is Freemasonry perfect? Absolutely not. We can barely agree on what’s for dinner half the time.

I’ve still got plenty of rough edges to work on, and probably always will. But that’s why this journey means something to me.

I don’t think Freemasonry needs to prove that its past was important. We need to show people why it still matters today.

I’m curious, what has Masonry meant to you personally?

With my year as WM is coming to a close, I have been reflecting on it. Its alot of work making all the final decisions and running all the things. We did a few fundraisers and had some community dinners. We had some good degree work and completed some projects the GM laid out. Probably the most satisfying thing was the Brothers working hard with whatever projects I assigned. No questions, no bickering. I had full support from my lodge. It was a great year

Just found great grandpas ring, wondering if anyone has any info on it? New to this

I get to have a conversation with a great man, Daryll Davis. His work towards ending racism has been amazing and he is a great activist. For those who know his name, what do you recommend I ask him?

Im looking to get his opinion on another matter about how to approach and get a message across to people who express violent hate against an idea/concept that does not align with their own personal values. The idea being helping others recovering from addiction and getting people to work together rather then against each other.

From this group, related to the idea or not, what would you like me to ask him?

Hello, now I have been with my lodge for some weeks and Io be honest I just can't get the gist of their interaction and I just don't click with them. Now this could be because I am socially awkward or there is a big lack of common sense in the social matter.

But at the same time, I don't wanna quit being a freemason, so for the time being I am thinking of just not attending the meals and drinks after doing our work.

But what do you brothers think I should do or could do?

I had reached out to GLNY awhile ago and had a phone call but that conversation fizzled out. I have found myself around the Masonic building more regularly recently renewing my interest.

I understand that a lot of lodges meet at the Masonic building but I’m unsure how to parse out which ones could be a good fit. I’m in my 30s with an interest in camaraderie among my peers as well as service. Was looking for advice here on either lodges to consider (or to be told that the best thing is to just reach out to GLNY again which if that’s the case so be it).

Additionally I was curious one what dues/initiation fees etc might be. I get that this fluctuates depending on where you are. I’m not in a financially precarious situation but NYC is expensive and if dues here are similar then the reality might be that this isn’t for me unfortunately at this time.

My entire life, I felt different from everyone else. As I grew older, around the age of 19, I began to realize this. I was captivated by the idea of fame, power, secrets, and the allure of becoming a 33° 33° Freemason. When I was young, I had an uncle who always wore a distinctive Freemason hat and coat. It was quite small, and the symbols were embroidered on his right arm, just below his chest, and on his cap. The color of the symbols was a dark blue, and he wore them everywhere. He was an airplane pilot, and he never really told me about his profession. I yearn to catch up with him and learn more about his life. He’s still alive, but I just want to be a part of the Freemason community and achieve fame and power.

Recently did two Initiations at my small lodge in southeast Kansas. Everybody in the picture, besides the initiates, is a brother but also family. Everybody that set in a chair, and did the lectures was related in some way to each other and the initiates. All but two in attendance that day were family. The one in the black shirt is 4th generation and the one in the blue shirt is 5th.

The lessons you learn in freemasonry, brotherly love, relief and truth should be first learned in kindergarten or at home. And when further encountered in the craft should feel like a reminder of your school years.

You learn integrity by not cheating on your exams and following the rules.

You lesrn to keep your promises to your friends and teachers and parents and know there are consequences when those are broken.

You learn to respect the elderly and others also because there are consequences if not done properly.

You learn to tolerate your peers but judge based on what is correct or wrong in your conscience before you do report if it truly is worth reporting.

You learn self restraint where you dont just bully others or try to pick on people or just do whatever you want.

You learn to lead your classmates in team work activities.

You learn that you can speak well with practice and write well too.

You learn to soldier on and to face the consequences.

My point is if you a brother; it should be like these but if you joined and the lessons are new to you; then maybe that's one of the reasons why there's so much problems with the world.

As a father, a brother, and a son; I wonder with the new generation. What are they learning? And for those joining our family, are the lessons new to you? Or it's a reminder of the past?

❤️

A fantastic meeting at Oxleas Wood yesterday. A double celebration 60 year citation for our longest serving brother the second initiate, on the 60th birthday of the lodge.

We celebrated with a demonstration of a 1700's initation with the Edward Jenner demonstration team from Gloucestershire

What a tremendous program from the Guthrie Scottish Rite. Could it have been soon quicker, sure but life got in the way and other obligations. If you want to really learn about the deep meaning of the degrees of the Rite - this is your course.

With Freemasonry having once maintained a presence in Peshawar and across the region, several questions remain. What ultimately became of the local members following the ban in 1972? Did the fraternity’s traditions, personal networks, and charitable activities quietly fade away, or have any of these connections endured in other forms?

For those who were once part of this brotherhood, or whose families retain memories of its presence, does Freemasonry survive in any capacity in Pakistan today, or has its chapter in the country’s history truly come to an end?

And for those familiar with its history, what prompted the fraternity’s disappearance from Peshawar beyond the political circumstances of the time? Was its dissolution a complete severance from the past, or did the legacy of its members and institutions continue elsewhere?

The history of Freemasonry in Peshawar is a chapter worth remembering, but its conclusion remains less clearly understood. Those with firsthand knowledge, family recollections, or historical records may yet be able to shed light on what became of a once-established institution and the people who sustained it.

If you’re in the area, feel free to stop by at 6:30pm on the 30th. It’s being organized by Alexandria - Washington Lodge No. 22 at the GWMNM in Alexandria Va.
Should be a great way to engage with the community.

Brethren,

Some lodges in our jurisdiction give a copy of some intro books to their EAs, FCs, mm as they complete each degree.

There are a few different brothers that have written these over the years.

If your lodge does this what books do you give ? Or have you heard a lodge in your jurisdiction that does that gives a certain book.

Thanks

This has been hidden for over 15 years and I never knew about it because that's how long I've been here. There was always stuff stacked against the wall.

Just wanted to share an experience I had today, today I was doing a farmers market for Halloween with our lodge, we were doing bozo bucket games for kids giving out free candy. It was towards the end of the day she came up to me and I asked her if she wanted to play. She said oh no, my husband was a Mason I just wanted to say hi. And she proceeded to tell me her husband was a Mason in South America (she did tell me the country but it’s been a long day so I can’t remember.) she said how he passed 4 years ago and she always sees our stuff but never stopped to say hi. Said how being a Mason meant a lot to him and when he passed her husbands lodge sent her flowers. I proceeded to ask her if she lived in town and got her name and told her to reach out to our lodge. Our lodge does flowers for Mason widows in the area for Christmas and if she reaches out to our email I’ll personally bring her flowers this year. She then proceeded to tell me how she almost died a few months ago and that’s so nice of me, she gave me her name began to tear up Gave me a hug and said god bless you and left.

Not sure why I wanted to share! Maybe for my own personal record but hope some brothers enjoy this. It definitely made my day talking this old widow.

- 28 year old Mason in USA

Got my Fez today at my Shrine Ceremonial.

Gonna be a fun time.

Grotto had to order some but I joined it as well.

Admittedly rather too late as I am installing my successor as WM tomorrow but thought it might be beneficial to help fellow Brethren.

As the only help I have been given in my Lodge is "just keep reading the book" but also "the book isn't always right and there's bits we don't do" (Universal Ritual, OWF UK)

Frankly I've desperately struggled to learn, particularly the longer sections. I am dyslexic and awaiting formal diagnosis for Autism and ADHD. I also get terrible stage fright and suffer from that awful blankness when the words just vanish from your head.

We are not allowed to read from the book in our Lodge.

- The last month I finally realised that by encoding some of the difficult longer phrases in hand gestures the combined muscle memory and touch helped get through it with some stopping and starting.

- Speaking the phrases aloud in silly accents at home.

- tying phrases to a bizarre concept

Anything else that people have found helpful and are happy to share?

Basically what the title says. I, 22M, have been thinking of joining a lodge in the Netherlands. There are two freemasons in my family and I have had an interest for a couple years now, even attended an evening for people interested in joining and that really consolidated my wish to join. Only reason I haven’t at this point is because of my age. I’ve heard both sides of the coinflip, being young can hold you back because you still lack life experience and that joining young can be very beneficial. What is your advice? One quick thing that I don’t know is relevant: there is still a taboo on freemasonry as a whole, there being 6000-8000 freemasons in the whole country right now and I think the taboo might be holding me back too.

In this book Edward I. Clark explores the deeper meanings of Masonic symbols, rituals, and traditions, connecting them to ancient mysteries, astronomy, and spiritual philosophy. A Interesting read and still available.

For the past month, I’ve been working to locate the final resting place of the first Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction. Many believed that his final resting place was in Roslyn, Washington, due to our Grand Lodge’s long relationship with that historic cemetery and the community that shares the same name.

Because of PGM Logan’s ties to the city of Portland, I gathered as much information as I could and worked with Roslyn Cemetery’s genealogist. Through that research, I was able to confirm without a doubt that Past Grand Master John Cassius Logan’s final resting place is at Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland, Oregon.

Since I’m in Portland for the Pacific Rim Conference of Grand Masters, yesterday I decided to visit his grave. While there, I decided to take a chance and search for another name. I was also able to locate the grave of Robert Dudley Bird, our 15th Grand Master.

To my knowledge, John W. Payne, our 5th Grand Master, is the only other Past Grand Master from Enterprise Lodge #1 whose final resting place I have yet to locate. I’m working to find his grave now.

Just a little background: the MWPHGL of Washington and the MWPHGL of Oregon were one Grand Lodge until 1960. Hence, several of our Grand Masters were from Portland.