TenMinuteMasonry

  Appendant Bodies, So many Hats and Symbols If you want to delve into some further masonic teaching or social gatherings, there are many, so called, appendant bodies to look into.   All of these require you to be a master mason in good standing.     Scottish Rite consists of degrees from 4 th thru 32 nd degree.   They have an honorary 33 rd degree also.   Each of the degrees is presented in dramatic presentations that teach moral lessons and personal growth.   Many Scottish Rite temples do some of the degrees as power point presentations however.   They seek to: ·          Aid mankind's search for identity and destiny in God's universe. ·          Produce wiser men in a wiser world, happier men in a happier world, and therefore better men in a better world. ·          Promote the dignity o...

  Today, we’re going to talk about one of the most significant figures in American history: George Washington , focusing particularly on his involvement with Freemasonry, along with a few fun facts that you might not know about the man behind the legend. Introduction to George Washington George Washington, born in 1732, was not just the first President of the United States—he was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and a leading Founding Father. But, apart from his public role, Washington had a deep personal connection to Freemasonry, a fraternal organization that has long been associated with secret handshakes, moral teachings, and an awful lot of symbolism. Washington and Freemasonry Washington became a Mason in 1752, when he was just 20 years old. He joined the Fredericksburg Lodge in Virginia, cost was 2 pounds 3 shillings, and from that moment, Freemasonry became an integral part of his life. Washington’s Masonic journey was ...

  The Weird words of Masonry As an adult, a strong vocabulary is invaluable as it significantly improves your ability to ·          communicate effectively, ·          understand complex information, ·          express nuanced ideas, ·          build credibility in professional settings, ·          and navigate social interactions with greater confidence, essentially acting as a key tool for personal and professional success in life. Key benefits of a strong vocabulary as an adult: Enhanced communication: Precisely choosing the right words allows you to convey your thoughts and feelings clearly, leading to better understanding in conversations and written communication. Professional advancement: A rich vocabulary can make you appear more knowledgeable and articu...

  The Most Dangerous Talk in Masonry This talk was given at our annual holiday dinner for widows and family members.   How often have you asked your husband or boyfriend what they did at the Masons that night?   And the reply was “nothing much”.    Then you wonder why they go? Tonight, I am going to share with you what we are really learning and doing at some of our lodge meetings.   This is not secret information; in fact, it is information that can easily be found by search engines. First a little story.    A new dating app was created.   Instead of swiping left or right, this one lets you have only one chance to pick the right man.   Each group of men are on a different level of the app.   But there are only 6 levels. Each level up costs another $100.00. So, a lady decides it must be a good app if it costs so much and pays her $100.00.   It says, “Welcome to level one men.   These men all have jobs and wor...

  Masonic To-Do List       Now that you are a mason, just going to lodge meetings is not the only thing you are asked to do. We made promises in our oaths and obligations,   and thru the ceremonies and working tools we have learned what directions we are to head in our life. If you remember the degrees, the first was to get rid of rough edges, then the second made us into perfect ashlers thru the plumb, square, and level, and the third set us to find out where we fit best for the builders use.   We already know that this process can take many years to a lifetime of work.    We know our creator has a plan for each of us.   We need to improve ourselves to be able to take advantage of those plans.   We have all heard the phrase, “He was in the right place at the right time.”   The same thing applies to what can happen when we are in a place to be the “right person, at any time a need may arise”. So lets outline our ...

  The Third Degree, That’s It? Finally, we made our lives a blank slate with the first degree, refined our lives with years of study to improve all aspects of our lives with the second degree.   Now we obtain the last and highest degree. What do we learn? In some crafts the working tools are the skiret, pencil, and compass.   In Kentucky, we learn the working tool of a Master Mason is a trowel.   The simple trowel.   Used to spread cement to bind stones together. Symbolically it is to spread brotherly love and affection.   The principal of Masonry has always been to perfect the individual and to guide mankind toward a better, harmonious development. In essence, we took a stone and made it into a rough ashler with the gavel and gauge, then in second degree made it into a perfect ashler with the plumb, square and level.   Now in the third, we find out where to place the stone for the builders use and set the stone in place. Now that we have l...

  You finally made it thru the fellowcraft degree.   You have learned starting from the ‘blank slate’ after the entered apprentice degree about Equality, Virtue, and Morality.     You are now in great position to finally after months and months of study to learn about the third degree. Well, not so fast.   Now we have the lectures of this degree with all the pillars and steps leading to who knows where.   So we are still not ready for that third degree.    How much more perfect do you need to be? So first we learned about some pillars with the earth and solar system on them.   Contemplation of the wonders of the earth and the sky should inspire us with the works of Deity.    Also to encourage studying the wonders of astronomy, geography, navigation.   All those things which advanced ancient civilizations. They have recently deciphered some Summerian texts that show how much they knew about the celestial bodies and ev...

  Fellowcraft tools To reach this point in our masonic journey, we went thru the working tools of an entered apprentice.    We used the 24 inch gauge to learn about time management, and the common gavel and chisel to get rid of bad vices and issues that take away from becoming our best selves.   So in essence, the first degree has given us a ‘clean slate’ to work with.   We have removed any ‘crap’ and made time to do what is important in our lives. Now we start the second degree with what to start filling our lives with.   The goal is to make ourselves valuable members of society.   We have 3 working tools.   The square is morality .   The square is to square our lives.   Square to what?    First is God’s Word, his commandments, to live in brotherly love with mankind.   It is to God that we must give and account.     The level is equality .   All men are created equal.   His sun shines o...