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Take Heed.

Bloke

Bloke

Premium Member
Freemasonry is about learning and changing yourself and your actions to improve yourself and the world.

Now read this

a1glass said:
I do have one observation here however, I have had some good replies and advice from some of you but this is definitely not what I expected from other Masons before I entered. My lodge brothers are fantastic and encouraging. So far, here however, I've been cut down for posting a profile picture that included a master mason hat that was taken in private, by the way, and just basically DIScouraged from anything masonry. Thank you for those that were helpful but I will be leaving this group and stick with my home brethren. Just wanted to shed some light on how "welcoming" this hasn't been. Goodbye.
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I would think the culture here is basically good, but have we failed in the above ? I think it is an over reaction, but that said, did we play a part in this, and if so, was it negative or positive ?

Do we need to improve our level of respect for each other on this board ?

(As an aside, I've only been here for a few months and found it great, but have also seen negative reactions between brothers, I'm robust and an experienced Freemason and social media user, but should we show more care, exp to our EAs and aspiring Freemasons ?)
 
CLewey44

CLewey44

Registered User
Bloke said:
Freemasonry is about learning and changing yourself and your actions to improve yourself and the world.

Now read this



I would think the culture here is basically good, but have we failed in the above ? I think it is an over reaction, but that said, did we play a part in this, and if so, was it negative or positive ?

Do we need to improve our level of respect for each other on this board ?

(As an aside, I've only been here for a few months and found it great, but have also seen negative reactions between brothers, I'm robust and an experienced Freemason and social media user, but should we show more care, exp to our EAs and aspiring Freemasons ?)
Click to expand...


I have sort of followed this and I understand, no doubt, there is no need for rudeness but then again some people don't like taking advice well and get offended. I've seen that on here a lot. I myself have been burned and just swallowed my tongue and ignored the individual on another forum. Not saying this is the case with this individual by any means but communicating via 'text', doesn't convey as accurately as we'd like to. Sometimes things come off as rude or crass that aren't meant to when put in text or writing. Then again, people tend to troll a little when they are on a forum because they aren't face to face with someone. Masons aren't exempt from this. (Assuming people are Masons that say they are) So it can go both ways and it's tough to understand sometimes.

I would say, however, it is sort of a faux pas to wear or display in any way something Masonic that you have yet to receive. I personally don't care because people can go out and buy whatever and wear whatever they want to because we live in free country. It's available on the internet everywhere. Because you're wearing something doesn't mean you're really Mason anyways, even if you've sat thru your degrees. I will say this, if you do wear things or convey representation of something that you aren't fully a member of, you can assume and expect some people aren't as "just let it go" as I am. It's always been that way here in the U.S. and the best bet for an EA or FC is to keep his symbolism to a minimum. That is sort of a motivation maybe for them to learn their cats.

Again, no offense to the individual aforementioned and I don't know the entire story. Also, depending where you are in the world, EAs and FCs regularly shine their light on their levels. As long as they have their S&Cs correct, among other things, I think it's just fine.
 
MRichard

MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard
Premium Member
Patience is a virtue. Some EAs & FCs were not told that their progress could be stopped by just about anyone. Getting mad cause someone gave you advice that you don't like leaves something to be desired.
 
CLewey44

CLewey44

Registered User
MRichard said:
Patience is a virtue. Some EAs & FCs were not told that their progress could be stopped by just about anyone. Getting mad cause someone gave you advice that you don't like leaves something to be desired.
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Taking criticism or advice like a man, makes your a man. We all falter sometimes and it's ok to listen to other people. Doesn't make you weak. If everyone believed that and would quit getting offended or acting like know-it-alls, this world would be so much better.
 
Brother JC

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
I try to advise wisely but often sound harsh and critical. There is no "tone," no variation in handwriting, no real way to properly emphasize (or de-emphasize) portions of a sentence. This is a common failing of the internet. We are also a group of human beings from varied locations; some Masons, some not, with a broad range of experiences.
I don't believe any of us wanted to dissuade the young Brother from his future in the Craft, but in many jurisdictions wearing emblems must wait till a certain time and using Masonry in advertising is forbidden. Perhaps the points of our compasses have spread a bit far and we all need to check the angle, but I think we were trying, in our own ways, to be helpful.
 
MRichard

MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard
Premium Member
The lesson of the compasses tells us how we should behave especially if you are an EA or FC. I looked back at some of the posts and I didn't see anyone try to be rude. For most of us, we are taught not to wear or display masonic emblems until we are master masons. We were taught that not to trifle with our feelings but for our benefit.
 
Bloke

Bloke

Premium Member
Here, the square and compasses are presented to the EA on the night of initiation to wear.

Different strokes for different folks :)
 
Companion Joe

Companion Joe

Premium Member
I went back and read over some of posts that seem to be at issue, and I really didn't see anything wrong. Most of it was good and wholesome advice. If someone asks a question and gets offended because the answer wasn't the predetermined one they were looking for, sorry.
 
CLewey44

CLewey44

Registered User
Bloke said:
Here, the square and compasses are presented to the EA on the night of initiation to wear.

Different strokes for different folks :)
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Yes, I've seen EA and FC S&Cs lapels on the internet as well as the same for aprons. From what I understand they are used outside of the U.S. mostly. I would imagine some T.O. lodges do the same.
 
Bloke

Bloke

Premium Member
CLewey44 said:
Is it true too that to go thru the Scottish Rite degrees takes many years to achieve. In other words, you may actually have a 7th degree Mason vs here most SR Masons are 32s?
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I assume that is at me ? We don't really think of "York" or "Scottish Rite" here, many Australians would not even have heard that term although we do have a "Scottish Rite" but the traditional two paths Americans talk about and you see presented graphically (such as in Life Magazine ) are not paths we generally choose - we skip between two branches of the Tree often shown.... 32 and esp 33 degree are very rare here - they are operative positions in the organization of Scottish Rite here... you don't just show up at a class to get the 33rd, you're an active Grand Officer holding the specific position...

I'm not in it though - I could check for more info if you need it...
 
Warrior1256

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
CLewey44 said:
I will say this, if you do wear things or convey representation of something that you aren't fully a member of, you can assume and expect some people aren't as "just let it go" as I am. It's always been that way here in the U.S. and the best bet for an EA or FC is to keep his symbolism to a minimum. That is sort of a motivation maybe for them to learn their cats.
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Agreed.
 
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