tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post4592421333675984322..comments2024-01-25T07:48:25.888-08:00Comments on Beacon of Masonic Light: Do We Need a National Grand Lodge?Theron Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08071430921547904160noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-47932826644905964212019-07-08T08:46:26.598-07:002019-07-08T08:46:26.598-07:00HOW I JOINED THE ALMIGHTY ILLUMINATI AND BECAME RI...HOW I JOINED THE ALMIGHTY ILLUMINATI AND BECAME RICH WITHOUT PAYING ANY MONEY<br /><br />As the saying goes, ‘money rules the world’ brothers who says money isn’t sweet will remain poor for life. I want to tell all the world how I suffered before I became a millionaire via the help of the illuminati. 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To become a member email us directly on iluminatihood123@gmail.com come one, come alljohn hamondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10085729019376716865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-80924490361245276992012-09-29T17:32:38.711-07:002012-09-29T17:32:38.711-07:00Because of the discourse in regard to the national...Because of the discourse in regard to the national compact or even masonic congress, has contributed to the splits within certain affiliations of freemasonry in America. Even though the NC helped spread certain forms of masonry in America our craft to an extent mimic whats in human nature, not being able to agree to disagree (to put it politely). Basically, choose a side, since there is strength in numbers, join the jurisdiction that has the most numbers. (shrugs my shoulders).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00252053221944050215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-25232294747172352202008-01-05T18:21:00.000-08:002008-01-05T18:21:00.000-08:002 Bowl: What you ask for is currently available in...2 Bowl: What you ask for is currently available in many grand jurisdictions, the Grand Lodge of California is but one of them.Theron Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08071430921547904160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-78710781799443115302008-01-05T08:06:00.000-08:002008-01-05T08:06:00.000-08:00We need better electorate policy.Stop appointments...We need better electorate policy.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Stop appointments and let the brethren Vote. Let a mason stand up and tell us what he will do if elected.<BR/><BR/>Not keep status quo because I need an appointment to get into line, and then there is no oppositionTubal Cainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00704479584240584425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-59539188161660948892008-01-03T14:05:00.000-08:002008-01-03T14:05:00.000-08:00I have some further objections to the notion of a ...I have some further objections to the notion of a National Grand Lodge: <BR/><BR/>--We have seen some very nasty actions on the part of state Grand Masters, over just the last year or so. (The expulsion of the Past Grand Master of West Virginia is just the most recent event that comes to mind, and is a particularly heinous example; see the description of the incident on the Freemasons for Dummies blog, http:// freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2007/11/ silenced.html.) <BR/>We cannot in fact trust that state Grand Masters are of such a character that they would not abuse the office of a National Grand Master.<BR/><BR/>--We need to consider the nature of that particularly disappointing creature, the Masonic Politician. With all due respect to those who are worthy of their offices, my experience with Grand Line Officers has not been impressive overall. At least half of those I have come to know have struck me as totally lacking in Masonic vision. They are not interested in the esoteric side of Masonry at all, aside from the performance of the ritual itself; they are quite interested in having brethren bow and scrape in the name of 'showing respect'; they are very interested in exerting power for the sake of power; they are intolerant of dissent or critique of any sort. (This is one of the reasons I do not use my real name on my blog.) Would I like that kind of leader propelled to the <B><I>national</I></B> level? Not at all, thank you very much.<BR/><BR/><BR/>--The dynamics of leadership selection is also an issue. If such a National Grand Lodge were formed, there would probably be some requirement that the National Grand Line be made up of former or current State Grand Line officers. This would ensure that the leadership would be conservative in the extreme, and composed of the very leaders who helped to get Freemasonry into the fix that we are in today. Thus: "the new boss, same as the old boss," except that now it would be expanded to the national level.<BR/><BR/>There is something very valuable about the current setup of autonomy for state Grand Lodges. If some state Grand Master exerts unrighteous leadership, one can sometimes find refuge in another Grand Lodge jurisdiction, through plural membership. With a National Grand Lodge, no such refuge would be available. <BR/><BR/>We Masonic bloggers and blog-readers are just the sort of fellows who will be on the outs with a lesser-evolved National Grand Master; the blogosphere will be no refuge at all, as long as we are anywhere in the United States. Keep in mind that, in recent memory, at least two state Grand Masters attempted to crack down on readers of <I>The Philalethes</I>--when Masons were supposed to have helped put freedom of the press in the Constitution! You can be assured that if these state Grand Masters could have cracked down on the Internet, they would have done so--and the power to do so would be much expanded under a National Grand Master.<BR/><BR/>We can achieve the benefits of a united front for Masonry without subjecting ourselves to the potential of Masonic tyranny. Oppose the formation of a National Grand Lodge.Mark Koltko-Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-24042951351572665602008-01-03T13:38:00.000-08:002008-01-03T13:38:00.000-08:00Brother Dunn, You mention the following:"Regardles...Brother Dunn, <BR/><BR/>You mention the following:<BR/><BR/>"Regardless, this national committee [the council of Grand Masters] hasn’t even tried to undertake such a project [i.e., polishing Masonry's image nationally] for many good reasons, too many to go into in this article."<BR/><BR/>Could you please go into this in <B>another</B> article?Mark Koltko-Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01370779869875050983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-52013919007194820842008-01-03T09:41:00.000-08:002008-01-03T09:41:00.000-08:00My only comment would be is that if you feel the G...My only comment would be is that if you feel the Grand Lodges are out of touch with the membership, just get a National Grand Lodge. I don't think the Masonic related organizations that have a national structure have shown any exceptional moves or insight with the membership although the Scottish Rite N.J. have come close. Even they are too disconnected from the individual Masons and their Valleys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-87775746974121686242008-01-02T13:19:00.000-08:002008-01-02T13:19:00.000-08:00To that point then, why have a state Grand Lodge? ...To that point then, why have a state Grand Lodge? <BR/><BR/>Your question:<BR/>However, how is the conference of N.A. GMs, or the World Conference not a similar concept and practice?<BR/><BR/>Because is is little in the democratic hands of the membership, and little of these meetings is conveyed down to the membership about what took place, what came of it, and that it even met in the first place.<BR/><BR/>And, I mentioned more than religions in the comparison. Are we similar to a corporation, to a trade union, to a political party? Even if we are closer in tone to the boy scouts or the YMCA, we would benefit from being organized nationally.Greg Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17688459525360750872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-28891711867989158712008-01-02T12:49:00.001-08:002008-01-02T12:49:00.001-08:00Traveler, I understand your comments, however the ...Traveler, I understand your comments, however the fact that there is no perceivable standard (other than walking and acting as masons) indicates that it is not Freemasonry that is to make a grand statement. Rather, it is the individual, influenced by her precepts, that carries light forward. Freemasonry itself is dependent on the active human imagination, or else it would not exist. To nationalize a rather sublime statement on the illumination of individuals is to create a hierarchy and control that is needless.<BR/><BR/>Sure, religions have national and/ or international arms. We are not a religion. However, how is the conference of N.A. GMs, or the World Conference not a similar concept and practice?<BR/><BR/>In fine, Freemasonry is indeed a craft--a tool--to be perfected and used so that an individual or body of individuals (aka lodges)may evolve. Forcing it into a limelight in order to re-cast it into an overt social force will, IMHO, be more of a detriment. Evidence of that is apparent today when we see the culture of service organizations that has become confused with American Freemasonry. Indeed, many consider Freemasonry to be that kind of exoteric social force.<BR/><BR/>L.A. ChoseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-87829956824702130442008-01-02T11:52:00.000-08:002008-01-02T11:52:00.000-08:00Humbly, I disagree.A National Grand Lodge, even as...Humbly, I disagree.<BR/><BR/>A National Grand Lodge, even as a Congress of lodges, would give American Masonry a heightened sense of legitimacy and a single point of information from which to structure such a national body. <BR/><BR/>No other organization with such a volume of membership exists without a firm leadership structure. Even to have a "national office" so that missives, organization, or communication can come forth would be a good option. Some examples include political parties, trade unions, and corporations. Even some major religious movements have national arms, giving them the ability to create a unified message. <BR/><BR/>By not having a National organization, we lack any organization to meet the challenges of today. Fund raising is scattered over 50 states to a variety of programs and initiatives. Message delivery is diverse and lacks uniformity. Even organized participation exists as word of mouth, with little dispersal vehicles. So, instead of being able to stand together as a National body of Freemasons, we are relegated instead to a state by state institution. Even with its greatest power, the Grand Lodge power of deciding regularity is largely impotent in still not all states recognize the same things, such as Prince Hall or Co-masonry. <BR/><BR/>A National Masonic Congress or National Grand Lodge would remedy this and require those not in a modern line to pick up the slack, and require those deemed to progressive to moderate their tempo. most more importantly, it would allow us to say, once and for all, what unifies us AS A COUNTRY. <BR/><BR/>Two cases in point, the National arm of the Scottish Rite, and the national arm of the Shrine. Why do two subordinate bodies to Blue Lodge "Regular" Freemasonry feel compelled to exist through a National Organization? Because it gives them greater control over the local jurisdictions and allows them to step up from a thousand independent messages to concentrate it into one message. <BR/><BR/>Even the breadth of Masonic Homes could benefit from a National pot of money, rather than each state going it alone. <BR/><BR/>We are the Masons who decide this. Not any one Grand Lodge, but you, me, the brothers we sit in lodge with, and the brothers scattered across the globe. We get to decide this. Is it for any one of us to say we do, or do not, need to be Nationally organized? <BR/><BR/>Think of the possibilities a National Leadership could bring. This doesn't mean the deconstruction of the way it is now, instead it brings a new life to a body that is feeling the aches of age and deterioration. It allows for a National strategy for membership retention, and creates a framework to disseminate a structured education and knowledge base, and creates a fountain from which new ideas can be germinated and nurtured. <BR/><BR/>To talk about WHO would preside over such a body is premature, and wrong minded. Perhaps, the topic of discussion should be more HOW do we do something like this and what would the benefits be. Surly the greatest institution in the world can come together to decide what is best for it. Democracy did, after all, come from the lodges of Freemasonry, and our operations is still democratic, right?Greg Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17688459525360750872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607997782014255741.post-80235555686201489982008-01-01T08:42:00.000-08:002008-01-01T08:42:00.000-08:00Good article, but, I doubt the good people of the ...Good article, but, I doubt the good people of the Republic of Ireland consider themselves part of the United Kingdom.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05825949394295448885noreply@blogger.com