Dale,
A difficult task for the surfer-mason. The only way is to check the list that Grand Lodge puts out which says which lodges we recognize (which you will be quick to point out is not necessarily the same thing as being regular) This list is in the front of you lodge's sign-in book and also on the Grand Lodge site at http://www.grandlodge.on.ca/recognition.htm. Hence part of the problems (and solutions) we find with some new Masons. Here is an excerpt from a speech I gave in Paris (Ont. unfortunately) last year:
Our young Mason has had conversations with not only the brethren he has met at lodge but also on-line with brethren from England, France, Mexico and around the world. He has learned that Masonry is different in different parts of the world. As W. Bro. Kris Stevens, of Nipissing Lodge No. 420 and PM of HanYang Lodge No. 1048 (Scottish Constitution) Seoul, Korea, said recently at Heritage Lodge:
Masonry around the world can be grouped into approximately seven groupings:
1. Canada, Australia and New Zealand – Characterized by a focus on the operational business of running the organization, word perfect ritual, rapid progression through the degrees and officers’ chairs, low participation and large institutionalized charity
2. The United States of America – Characterized by religious zealousness, militant patriotism, rapid progression, large lodges, low participation and large institutional charity
3. Mexico – Characterized by its focus on philosophical and spiritual enlightenment through critical thought, education and application, and political engagement in civil society
4. United Kingdom – Characterized by its focus on the operational business of running the organization, fraternalism in the form of social activities and specialty Lodges and networking
5. France (Grand Orient) – Characterized by an emphasis on freedom of thought, personal psychological and moral refinement and a humanistic approach to relief in the form of social reform
6. Continental Europe – Characterized by slow progression, small Lodges, small scale charity and intellectual, spiritual and philosophical enlightenment through critical thought, education and application
7. Central and South America – Characterized by its idealism, its focus on philosophical and societal development through education and application of Masonic philosophy
All different and sometimes irreconcilable, but all based on our historical tenants and principles. So our young Mason with access to the world sees these different aspects of Masonry around the world and asks why we do things this way and not another way.
Another thing on the internet is that there is not usually a distinction made between Masons we call regular and those that we call irregular. Even the Philalethes Society Chats make no distinction. And how can they? Some jurisdictions we recognize, recognize jurisdictions we don’t. Often this is just because that jurisdiction has never asked us to be recognized, but it could be because of landmark differences, viz, Grand Orient of France. And yet they espouse the same principles and tenets as we do. We are on the verge of formally recognizing Prince Hall Masonry. They are different but similar. And have quite the presence on the internet. What can we learn from them? And what about the women’s Grand Lodges? UGLE has recently said that the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, as the British women’s Grand Lodge is called, is regular in their practice, except, of course, that they admit women
Our young internet savvy Mason reads all this and his mind is filled with questions and ideas about our fraternity and its possibilities that you and I have never dreamed of.
And here's you come in. When he comes to you with his questions, as he inevitably will, you can be prepared to explain things to him. Don’t just tell him “we've always done it that way” end of conversation. Say “we've always done it that way but I don't why; perhaps we could look into that together.” - you'll both learn something that way plus you'll build a relationship and as well you'll build a future leader. Who’s the future leader? Well you both are. By finding out which way the crowd is running and getting out in front of the them, you’re a leader now, but by accepting, encouraging and mentoring the inquisitive young man, you are building a leader for the future, one who will honour your cherished traditions as you would .
And who knows, perhaps he will bring an idea which will work better than the ones we had. Maybe it’s an idea that originated with a Spanish Mason, maybe a woman Mason, or maybe his own idea. But an idea that will work.
Masonry will change, whether we want it to or not. History shows it has always done so in the past. That’s life. Our duty is to shepherd that change. Encourge and guide that young Mason, or Riter, and hopefully we’ll see the flowering of Masonry in this renaissance.
Come writers and critics who prophesy with your pen
Keep your eyes wide, the chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon for the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who that it’s namin’For the the times they are a-changin'
Frat,
David
----- Original Message -----
From: Nancy, Dale and Allison
To: David Cameron
Sent: August 26, 2008 6:16 PM
Subject: Questions to the Editor
I have been receiving unsolicited information from web sites that claim to be Liberal Freemasons . A question came immediately to my mind.
Today, as the internet increases our capacity for exchange of information, boundaries are disappearing faster than many of us can adapt. We want to be within the regulations of our Grand Lodge. How can a mason in the jurisdiction of Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, possibly determine if it is regular?
Dale
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