By Wor.Mark Waks <justin@waks.org> Ritualist’s Corner One of the problems that most often plagues Masonry is poor ritual. By this, I don’t just mean getting the words wrong — I mean ritual that is drab and uninspiring, which fails to actually *teach* a candidate. Ritual is often mediocre, and it doesn’t have to be; anyone…

By Bro Love, Tyrawley Lodge No 217 (Ballina, Mayo) Grand Lodge of Ireland   Introduction   About 8 years ago, I took my first stone carving lessons and have been carving stone as a hobby ever since. This operative interest in stone carving has carried over into the Lodge and I find I am always…

Get A Life! “Get a life!” It’s a phrase you hear a lot these days. Usually it’s directed at someone who is spending time worrying about the trivial or too much concerned with the insignificant.   Get A Life! It’s probably good advice, but it isn’t easy. Getting a life — a life which gives…

Symbols Transactions of the Research Lodge of New South Wales – L.M. Sherwood   Symbols and Symbolism are fundamental to an Order.   The United Grand Lodge of England in its 1929 public statement of Basic Principles refers to the Craft Degrees as the Symbolic Degrees.   Albert Pike, a distinguished American Mason of the…

Of Politics and Religion   In Freemasonry there are certain basic rules and principles called “Landmarks”, which cannot be changed, or repealed, or amended by any Mason, Lodge, or Grand Lodge. These Landmarks are an expression of that which belongs to Masonry’s identity. If they were removed, Masonry would cease to be Masonry.   The…

A talk given by Wayne D. Anderson, D.D.G.M. Frontenac District, G.R.C. 2015-16 Freemasonry is a Verb! – But first some history   When the SW says (as part of the opening of lodge) “…await the return of the Junior Deacon.” What does this mean?   In the early years of Freemasonry there were many secret…

THE FORGOTTEN VIRTUE   Of all the virtues and attributes propounded by Craft Masonry, the most obscure, overlooked, and yet all-persuasive, is also one of the most vital and essential to our order.  It is found as a continuing theme in the great religions of the world.  It is basic to many of the other…

ABOUT BEING A MASON WHY DID I BECOME A MASON? WHY DO I CONTINUE TO BELONG? by: Bro. Paul Schorak, Forestburg-Alliance #128, G.R.A. These are great thought provoking questions, which I know are being asked in Lodges all across Alberta, indeed no doubt wherever there are Masonic Lodges. I also know that the answers to…

Installation, or Opening of the Celestial Lodge, otherwise known as the Grand Lodge Above.   Over the centuries many well known men have been members of our Noble Craft.  For a few moments, please allow your imaginations to run wild and consider what may take place at the Installation of the Celestial Lodge, otherwise known…

By M. Ex Comp. Rev, C.T.F. Goy. One of the greatest aids to human thought is the use of symbolism. It reveals itself to us every day of our existence – it is engraved into our ordinary life. We know that the right place for a sceptre is in the hands of a monarch, for…