Originally posted by JoshNorton
Ask another brother what Masonry's about and he'll tell you PHILANTHROPY. It's all for charity and making sure the kids have schools and hospitals.

Originally posted by scientist
from what i understand, this is incorrect. Charity is a good deed, and a public service, but it's not what masonry is about (at least that's my impression). It seems that philanthropy and charity work have become major elements of masonry, when at best they should be extracurricular.

1. Examine your own position and determine if it's coming from some particular bias or agenda... does their take interfere with your own or make it incompatible?
   
2. Trust that the brother with the differing opinion took the same oaths and obligations that you did, so even if you're not on the same page, his motives could be as pure as yours.
   
3. In an irreconcilable difference of opinion between two brothers on how to proceed, seek the council of the lodge as a whole and arrive at a democratic solution based on the collective wisdom.
   

Originally posted by metatronscube
My local lodge says it is "dark" in July and August. I'm guessing that means no meetings during that time?

Originally posted by Cadbury
Emperor Norton, do you know if Masonic beer is free in England? I've never considered joining before, but a good lager is about £70 a pint here, so if it's as much as you can drink at the lodge and all on the house (except the annual membership fee) then that really would be a good reason for joining. I buy in crates, mostly, but it's dangerous because I've got very little self control and I'll just sit here and drink everything in one, or perhaps two attempts, no matter how much I stock up.

Do you know what the deal is?

Originally posted by Trinityman
There's no such thing as good lager - how do you expect to be taken seriously with comments like that?

Freemasons only drink stout or brown ale. However you must be prepared to increase your alcohol tolerance if you want to make it with the bros. Ditch the girly perrier-beer would be my advice.

PS beer is less than 50 quid a pint at the lodge.

Originally posted by metatronscube
What exactly does this entail/ mean? I'm not nervous about it, seems pretty intense though!

[edit on 26-5-2008 by metatronscube]

Originally posted by scientist

Originally posted by JoshNorton
Ask another brother what Masonry's about and he'll tell you PHILANTHROPY. It's all for charity and making sure the kids have schools and hospitals.

from what i understand, this is incorrect. Charity is a good deed, and a public service, but it's not what masonry is about (at least that's my impression). It seems that philanthropy and charity work have become major elements of masonry, when at best they should be extracurricular.