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If a lodge hasn't had elections in several years they are not regular even if their charter is from a regular and recognized jurisdiction. Even if the officers remain in place year after year unopposed an annual election ceremony is mandatory. Failing to do it risks getting their charter...

The artist included a lesson form a different degree so I'll call this detail a mistake for an FC tracing board. Not all versions of the ritual mention metallurgy in that other degree, nor do they all mention music at the same point. I've always liked the combination and think of the rhythmic...

Here is the web site for the regular Prince Hall Affiliated Grand Lodge in Florida - http://www.mwuglflorida.org/ Be sure to pick a lodge from their list or from the list on the web site of the (for lack of an official name George Washington affiliated) Grand Lodge of Florida posted by Bro...

Don't work hard at trying to understand insanity. Never wrestle with a pig - You get muddy and the pig enjoys it. Never match wits with a fool - It moves you down to his level.

Welcome to the family once adopted brother.

Welcome again, and again, to the family thrice adopted brother.

When I was enlisted, lo these many years ago, a sailor had to complete the requirements by age 30 to be considered for an unrestricted line commission. After that the choices were Warrant Officer of stay in the enlisted ranks going for E-9. Masonic consideration - We are taught to drop...

In a day of internet presence I'm puzzled how one would end up at the door of a lodge not knowing if it was regular or not. Whenever I travel for any length of time I look up the local recognized jurisdictions and use their lodge locators to find nearby lodges.

There are age limitations on taking a new commission. There are promotion considerations that include how long you might be able to stay in the service. Put together, being enlisted first makes it much less likely to reach flag ranks later in your career. I suggest that you go straight to...

I've read the section listed in the big document of legislation. It is indeed watered down. A shame really as it loses the value that is to be found in the responses, discourses and toasts. Best to pass it then any time you see a member of the committee on work that a real version should be...

Lodges thrive on their pipeline and on their dues paying members. Attendance at tiled meetings is only incidental to the flow of new petitioners. Whatever causes candidates to petition and complete their degree work helps lodges thrive. Try reading back as far as you like and you will find...

I would be inclined to use the title is a mark of respect. I've written to Congressmen from other districts because they sit on some committee working on legislation I have been interested in. I've addressed those letters to "The Honorable ..." for that reason. They are not my Congressman but...

Welcome again, and again, to the family thrice adopted brother.

I take it as metaphorical. Living the lessons full circle. Just before taking each obligation we are told it does not conflict with the duties we owe to a list of four levels of society. Each layer forms a circle of ever expanding relationships - Staying on the square for the duties we owe to...

Welcome to the family newly adopted brother. While still going through your degrees it does not make sense to change jurisdictions. The mechanism for moving your membership from lodge to lodge is affiliation with the new lodge plus optionally demit from the old lodge. The word "membership"...

If your lodge has the luxury of choice of brothers to go into the line, then don't advance officers who don't do the work. If your lodge has the very common situation of the SW needing to spend half his year talking up his line just to fill it with anyone, there's really no choice but to...

Wanting to attend funerals, being able to find out about funerals in time to get to them, and having the work flexibility to attend funerals during the week are all different issues that have to be addressed. If you're not retired there's an added layer of effort to arrange your career to have...

In marches the Marshal is supposed to lead. One of my lodges does an annual march in a town 4th of July parade. Otherwise apron I've seen few apron marches. I take it the "correct precedence and etiquette" bit means the intent is the Marshal be the Parliamentarian? I've learned that in...

In the French and Spanish meetings I have attended it is Venerable there rather than Worshipful. On the one hand among the many functions of Masonry is to teach members breadth of perspective and one tool for that is the use of words of various ages. Language itself is an unstable platform...

Consider which doors the JD and SD guard. The JD guards the door that established brothers and members come through. He gets to know every member who enters. He's the greeting committee. At the office he would be the corporate insider who serves as glue to hold the company together, to make...