http://www.msana.com/
Like many of you I live on a budget. This isn't a sign of anything other than good sense. Mid budget a few weeks ago I had about $30 to play with. So I decided to purchase a few things from the Masonic Service Association of North America. They have a handful of things they sell and I wondered if they were worth the price. I'll go ahead an say "you damn right they are."
Will you be a Masonic scholar? Nope. But can you begin your journey? Yep.
Here is a list of the things I purchased:
Pocket Masonic Dictionary, $4.00
Tried and Proven, A lodge systems of Masonic Instruction, $4.00
Allied Masonic Groups and Rites, $4.00
What is Freemasonry, $4.00
Further Light ... Helpful Information for New Master Masons, $6.00
Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry?, $7.50
Are some of above dated? Oh yeah the Allied Masonic Groups was updated in 1988. But still is 4 bucks for a volume describing Masonic groups. The info doesn't change that often. Granted the Prince Hall entry could use a little TLC.
Two items jumped out on this list once I received them. Once for lodges (Tried and Proven) and one for Masons (Further Light). No you are not seeing wrong, for only $4.00 there is a publication on Masonic Instruction (aka Education). Even if it isn't earth shattering for 4 bucks it's worth the risk. Especially for lodges with limited funds an urgent need. Spend $20.00 and you have a five person committee fully equipped to at least try.
Further Light, yep for $6.00 per Master Mason you can hand your newly raised brother a 50 page book/digest to start his educational path. I will tell from my personal path this little volume covers more ground that some other Masonic books in the $30.00 range. It's not deep but does the first book need to be? It's well written and a wonderful introduction to our Craft.
I've listed 6 items but they sell 78 items total on the online store. Tonight I ordered about 20 other items. With the exception of large volumes of Short Talk Bulletins, $9.00 is the most expensive single item!
It took me five years. Yes five years to finally purchase something from the MSANA! Why because I have been disappointed with Grand Lodge items and assumed the MSANA would be more of the same. But I believe there is something in their store for every MM. It turns out Masonic education doesn't need to be expensive or hard to find and for less than the price of a supersized value meal of death you can kick start it in your lodge.
I'm disappointed in myself for not giving them a chance sooner.
Like many of you I live on a budget. This isn't a sign of anything other than good sense. Mid budget a few weeks ago I had about $30 to play with. So I decided to purchase a few things from the Masonic Service Association of North America. They have a handful of things they sell and I wondered if they were worth the price. I'll go ahead an say "you damn right they are."
Will you be a Masonic scholar? Nope. But can you begin your journey? Yep.
Here is a list of the things I purchased:
Pocket Masonic Dictionary, $4.00
Tried and Proven, A lodge systems of Masonic Instruction, $4.00
Allied Masonic Groups and Rites, $4.00
What is Freemasonry, $4.00
Further Light ... Helpful Information for New Master Masons, $6.00
Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry?, $7.50
Are some of above dated? Oh yeah the Allied Masonic Groups was updated in 1988. But still is 4 bucks for a volume describing Masonic groups. The info doesn't change that often. Granted the Prince Hall entry could use a little TLC.
Two items jumped out on this list once I received them. Once for lodges (Tried and Proven) and one for Masons (Further Light). No you are not seeing wrong, for only $4.00 there is a publication on Masonic Instruction (aka Education). Even if it isn't earth shattering for 4 bucks it's worth the risk. Especially for lodges with limited funds an urgent need. Spend $20.00 and you have a five person committee fully equipped to at least try.
Further Light, yep for $6.00 per Master Mason you can hand your newly raised brother a 50 page book/digest to start his educational path. I will tell from my personal path this little volume covers more ground that some other Masonic books in the $30.00 range. It's not deep but does the first book need to be? It's well written and a wonderful introduction to our Craft.
I've listed 6 items but they sell 78 items total on the online store. Tonight I ordered about 20 other items. With the exception of large volumes of Short Talk Bulletins, $9.00 is the most expensive single item!
It took me five years. Yes five years to finally purchase something from the MSANA! Why because I have been disappointed with Grand Lodge items and assumed the MSANA would be more of the same. But I believe there is something in their store for every MM. It turns out Masonic education doesn't need to be expensive or hard to find and for less than the price of a supersized value meal of death you can kick start it in your lodge.
I'm disappointed in myself for not giving them a chance sooner.
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