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[a1glass]

On a mysterious film persona level, I would love if we had these big world changing secrets etc. but being that there is now the Internet, nothing is hidden that you can't find with a GOOGLE search.

On the point of study, I am mainly concerned with my cipher book. I had originally asked in the post if anyone knew of good info sites mainly to weed out the bad and, yes, to do some additional study. I have an old (1918) Masonic Ritual cipher from Grandpa and found it interesting. I had wanted study some symbol meanings further. I think most were already alluded to in my EA lecture anyhow. I didn't expect to get shit down.

 

[Bloke]

Ah.. brother... a good lesson then Keep checking your own ashlar and look for good examples to copy and bad ones to reject

And I must say, some Freemasons are also very concerned with GUARD THE WEST GATES !!!!! But I can understand why and have had to steer unfit people from Freemasonry.. if he had ever been on an investigation committee, it is his job to question peoples motives.

For the record, I believe your motives are good, and hope you stay...

 

[a1glass]

Oh, unfit DEFINITELY! I wholly agree! Do not water down the Craft for lodge dues!

 

[Bloke]

I have an old (1918) Masonic Ritual cipher from Grandpa and found it interesting. I had wanted study some symbol meanings further. I think most were already alluded to in my EA lecture anyhow.

From the same place ? How close are the words you heard to his cipher book ? (they might be close to identical).

 

[a1glass]

Now, on the subject of MM items, I can't wait! I have a baseball cap, tie, pin, ring on order and even a folding knife that makes the shape of a square and compass when opening! I will not be discouraged but I had hoped that brothers on this site would take the level more as I understand it. Bloke, it's been nice.

 

[a1glass]

The EA cipher in the book is a little different from the one I got at my lodge but mostly just in wording not in form. As far as remembering my lecture enough to compare I wouldn't know. Lol

 

[a1glass]

I have bad knees and after taking my obligation my knees wouldn't stop shaking for some reason so self awareness after I was brought to light and saw how many were there killed any ability to remember the whole lecture. I was just happy when we circumambulated again and I could get off my step! Lol

 

[Bloke]

... and even a folding knife that makes the shape of a square and compass when opening...

I just googled... that is very very cool. I want one...

.... and saw how many were there killed any ability to remember the whole lecture..

A typo ?

You're obviously super enthusiastic, that's awesome. And good.

Hope can blow some more wind back into your sails

 

[MRichard]

You need to subdue your passions when given good advice. If your lodge brothers don't have any problems with you displaying masonic symbols, then there is no problem. I would offer further advice but no need to.

 

[BroBook]

There are things you could say, " hello you have reached A1 glass, we will return your call as soon as we are square, thanks for your patience" most jurisdictions prohibit the use of symbols unless,,,,

 

[Bloke]

But isn't he already square ?

 

[Kenneth NC Mason]

If your lodge brothers have said you can wear Masonic Jewelry as a EA or FC, I guess you can, but I'm surprised. In North Carolina, it's a Masonic Offense for a EA or FC to wear ANY type of Masonic regalia until you are raised a MM. I found this out via personal experience as my step dad bought me all sorts of Masonic watches shirts, etc at Grand Lodge, in September 2015 for Christmas and I couldn't wear them until he put on my third degree in February 2015. It's also a offense to try to advertise your a Mason when your in a business capacity.

I'm not criticizing my you, just giving you my ten cents on why some of the comments in the forum may have been written the way they were.

Your comment on the EA cipher has me intrigued BTW. Do you guys get cipher books for each degree? In NC, we don't get our cipher ritual til we are a MM and all coaching has to be done mouth to ear if your an EA or FC.

 

[dfreybur]

Your comment on the EA cipher has me intrigued BTW. Do you guys get cipher books for each degree? In NC, we don't get our cipher ritual til we are a MM and all coaching has to be done mouth to ear if your an EA or FC.

In Texas the cipher is only after MM and further restricted to not in the building and not for instruction. It's exclusively an individual aid to the memory.

In California candidates get a small pamphlet cipher that only contains the proficiency of that degree to go over with the candidate's coach.

In Illinois candidates get a small pamphlet that only contains the proficiency for that degree with a few words as underscores.

It's something different in every jurisdiction.

 

[Bloke]

Here we give a full ritual book to MMs. It is written like this with blanks = "It is w____ ____ this w___ b____ " in "secret" bits, but most of the charges are there in full.

 

[Randy81]

In Texas the cipher is only after MM and further restricted to not in the building and not for instruction. It's exclusively an individual aid to the memory.

In California candidates get a small pamphlet cipher that only contains the proficiency of that degree to go over with the candidate's coach.

In Illinois candidates get a small pamphlet that only contains the proficiency for that degree with a few words as underscores.

It's something different in every jurisdiction.

Ours is similar to California. I believe it was mouth to ear but changed two or three years ago. We get a small pamphlet for each degree but once we're raised we can get the cipher with everything in it.

 

[a1glass]

Thank you all for the kind words. Just a LOT of stress right now with two jobs I think was my problem and it looks as if I'll have to put my passing aside for a year due to no time to study my cipher. Our lodge is holding FC degrees on the 7th and I won't be ready. We "go dark" for a year. My SD says they could possibly get me in at another lodge on another date but I'm more comfortable at my home lodge. I'll just wait. It kills me to not be able to do the work I want to do in lodge though. I didn't join for the pomp. I joined because of the charity and improving myself. We aren't due paying full fledged workers until we make our 3rd degree in NY but meanwhile that is my whole reason for joining besides my grandfather's history in the Craft. I guess I'll have to go to the Lions for a year or two. Lol

 

[a1glass]

If your lodge brothers have said you can wear Masonic Jewelry as a EA or FC, I guess you can, but I'm surprised. In North Carolina, it's a Masonic Offense for a EA or FC to wear ANY type of Masonic regalia until you are raised a MM. I found this out via personal experience as my step dad bought me all sorts of Masonic watches shirts, etc at Grand Lodge, in September 2015 for Christmas and I couldn't wear them until he put on my third degree in February 2015. It's also a offense to try to advertise your a Mason when your in a business capacity.

I'm not criticizing my you, just giving you my ten cents on why some of the comments in the forum may have been written the way they were.

Your comment on the EA cipher has me intrigued BTW. Do you guys get cipher books for each degree? In NC, we don't get our cipher ritual til we are a MM and all coaching has to be done mouth to ear if your an EA or FC.

I'm only EA so I only know what I got so far. So far I was given the EA cipher in a very worn little book to memorize and then return I imagine. However, I have a 1918 Ceremonies book of my own. I try not to read ahead when it comes to the actual degree work so I've just looked at the EA which differs from our lodge cipher a bit.

 

[a1glass]

Oh, and I was corrected. I had been told by a PM from another lodge that it was ok to wear certain items while I was doing some study at his Shrine but my own lodge brother said not to. I will wait. On the business note. That, I disagree with. I'm actually passing on that info AFTER my business is already contacted. Not outwardly advertising. Also, I would have to bring up the businesses that do actually advertise AND benefit. I mean, if I'm making Masonic lodge mirrors etc. wouldn't I have to advertise that like those business that sell regalia?

 

[Bloke]

Cool. Sorry to hear about the slow progression, but you will get there... hope to see you in other threads

 

[Ripcord22A]

We "go dark" for a year.

Yall go dark for a year? Thats weird. In oregon my home.lodge goes dark for jun and jul. Never heard of lidges going dark for a while year