Craftsmen Online Podcast

This week we travel to one of the oldest communities in Upstate New York: Johnstown. RW Michael Millias is the Past Master of St. Patrick’s Lodge No 4 in Johnstown and shares the life of Sir William Johnson. Johnson served as the first Master of the Lodge in 1766 and managed the complex relationship between the British Crown and the Native American tribes in what was colonial New York’s western fr...

Our favorite Masonic researcher and author, Bro. Chris Ruli, returns to the podcast to discuss his groundbreaking research on his new book, “ Congress and the Freemasons .” This project represents the most extensive catalog of Masonic research on the legislative branch to date, offering an accurate list of Masonic Congressmen and deep historical insights. We explore how early Congress and Grand Lo...

Why do some Masonic Lodges thrive with energy and purpose while others fade? Is it the members? The events? The traditions? Or is it something deeper—something you can't simply copy and paste? In this episode we are joined by WBs Bull Garlington and Scott Dayton, Past Masters of the innovative Lux Lunae Lodge No. 1181 in Chicago, a Lodge founded with the radical idea that culture must be intention...

Join us at the intersection of Stoic philosophy and Masonic practice. Bro. Franklin Rings discusses how Marcus Aurelius’ writings on “Vices” inform the use of our Working Tools. Learn how to view vices not as unique failures, but as common distractions that challenge the independence of the mind. Show notes and links:  Join us on Patreon . Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Po...

Every season, I invited a Past Master on the podcast for an open conversation on their time in the East. This year, I’m happy to have WB Edmond Freeman, Past Master of Hiram-Takoma Lodge No 10, Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, back on to share his experience. We’ll discuss how even the most ambitious, well-planned year can still have its challenges and the lessons on leadership that he wil...

RWBs Joe Evans and Oren Kutnowsky join the podcast to discuss the Northstar Program. This initiative from the Grand Lodge of New York addresses the critical needs of recruitment, engagement, and retention. The program provides a structured process for bringing a man from his initial inquiry to becoming an active Brother. Learn how the best practices in the Northstar Program can provide the tools n...

Effective leadership is the backbone of any successful Masonic Lodge. In this episode, we sit down with Worshipful Brother and Major Jesse Ouellette to bridge the gap between the United States Marine Corps and the Lodge Trestleboard. We move past abstract theories to the USMC's Principles of Leadership that provide a blueprint to foster accountability, improve officer communication, and execute a...

WB Ted Cross returns to announce a free course this summer on American History! Starting June 8th, you can join Brothers from across New York State in the " What the Founders Meant by Happiness ” online course from Arizona State University in collaboration with the National Constitution Center. Dr. Cross shares the course outline; our Founding Fathers intent that Americans explore happiness not as...

This July 4th, we will celebrate 250 years of American Independence. WB Gordon Moccio is the author of “ By The Signs We Know Them: Masonic Bonds In The Civil War .” His book covers many of the battles in the War Between the States, and sheds light on the men and Masons during this important time in American History. Show notes and links:  Join us on Patreon . Start your FREE seven day trial to th...

Leadership is one of the least talked about benefits of Freemasonry. In his presentation: " Convinced: The Science of Leadership ,” WB Ted Cross explains that leadership is the ability to convince others to act. He moves beyond basic management, using research in behavioral economics and psychology to show how leaders win hearts and minds. Our discussion will  provide methods on how you can change...

Is your Lodge's Masonic education program truly providing Light? Or does it end with a monotonous reading from the ritual book? For many Masons, the deep, transformative promise of the Craft gets lost in the routine repetition of words without an exploration of their meaning. In this episode of Craftsmen Online, we talk with Brother Garrett Pottmeyer, Senior Warden and Lodge Education Officer of G...

Nothing tops when you connect with a Brother who shares the same passion for exploring a Masonic symbol. WB Cedric Jacobson walks us through Freemasonry's most profound and layered symbols: The Point Within a Circle. Bro. Cedric takes us deeper, moving beyond the surface-level explanation to reveal a deeper framework that connects the Mason to the celestial cycles of the sun, the patronage of the...

Inspired by his article, " In Search of Light, " Bro. Amer Abu-Houran expands on why the Truth sought in Masonry extends beyond traditional philosophical theories. Bro. Abu-Houran, who is also an educator, brings unique perspectives from his teaching of Theory of Knowledge and Computer Science to illuminate how order, reflection, and consistency form the foundation of integrity.  Show notes and li...

Bro. Sean Moody is a content creator and influential Traveling Man known online as Seanald Connery . He has built a massive following by providing high-value tech, finance, and life hacks. While he tells people he is, “just a guy living in a basement who's figured out lots and lots of hacks,” you'll quickly find out when I have given him the title of the “Most Interesting Traveling Man” I have eve...

On this episode: RW Cliff Jacobs shares insights from nearly four decades of Masonic service. Our conversation uses the Sufi parable of the blind men and the elephant to explain different Masonic perspectives. We explore Bro. Cliff's journey through the York Rite, Scottish Rite, his service to the Grand Lodge of New York, and esoteric studies. Show notes and links:  Join us on Patreon . Start your...

WB Reed Endersbe is the co-host of the Minnesota Masonic Histories and Mysteries Podcast . He serves as a Regional Director for the Grand Lodge of Minnesota . Our conversation explores the origins and important figures of Minnesota Freemasonry. We discuss why history is a primary interest for Freemasons. We also examine Freemasonry’s wider impact through charity and community service. Show notes a...

WB Jorge Manuel Molina Aguilar, recently published a profound article in The Square Magazine titled " Transformational Leadership in Contemporary Freemasonry ." Bro. Jorge joins us to discuss how the Craft, by its very nature, is a school for a specific kind of leadership, one that does not impose but inspires. Show notes and links:  Join us on Patreon . Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craf...

The 1798 Irish Rebellion was a watershed moment of bloody conflict, inspired by the revolutions in America and France. But behind the scenes, its organizational DNA came from a surprising source: a Masonic Lodge. Worshipful Brother David de Hosson, a first-generation Irish-American, joins us to uncover the hidden history of how the United Irish Society—the engine of the rebellion—was founded almos...

Bro. Matthew Brockbank returns to tackle a topic that's both timely and crucial for the health of our Fraternity: bridging the generation gap. From the wisdom of our seasoned Baby Boomers to the energy and innovation of Millennials, Freemasonry is a tapestry woven from diverse experiences. Find out how multigenerational Lodges have discovered the key to unlock knowledge and form amazing friendship...

Set against the backdrop of King Solomon's monumental and often brutal Temple construction, "Vile and Impious Wretches: A Novel of King Solomon‘s Temple and the Ancient Middle East," authored by RW Michael A. Czech, is a fictional story that explores the lives of three Craftsmen who murdered Grand Master Hiram Abiff. We explore his unique blend of Masonic education, history, symbolism, and lore in...

Have you ever visited a Lodge in another state and noticed small, yet distinct, differences in the ritual? Or wondered why, despite these differences, the core ceremony feels so familiar from coast to coast? The answer to both questions can largely be traced back to a pivotal, yet often overlooked, event: the Baltimore Convention of 1843. In this episode, we journey back in time with Masonic autho...

Masonic Education is a driving theme on this season of the Craftsmen Online Podcast. As many Master Masons find a gap between the Light promised during initiation and the reality of Lodge life, they seek external study. WB Metal Drew returns to discuss going beyond ritual memorization to discovering your path to becoming a Craftsman. Show notes and links:  Join us on Patreon . Start your FREE seve...

We're joined by a fellow Craftsmen Online podcaster, Bro. Brian Mattocks, the host of " A Mason's Work ." Bro. Brian is a Master mason who took his oath seriously. After becoming a Mason, he started making the Masonic Reflection Deck — an exquisite collection of 42 handcrafted cards, each imbued with the timeless symbols of Freemasonry. Each symbol is a key, unlocking new perspectives on daily cha...

How did King Solomon's masons really cut the stones for the Temple? What if a mythical bird and a piece of wood from paradise were the answer?  This week, we explore the Kebra Negast with Masonic author Bro. Austin R. Shifrin , who sheds light on a fascinating chapter from his new book, " No Common Fire ." Show notes and links:  Join us on Patreon . Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen...

Join us for a groundbreaking conversation with Right Worshipful Brothers Kanjin Cederman, Fahimul Islam, and Yatri Trivedi – the Grand Lodge of New York's first Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu Grand Chaplains. In this inspiring episode, we explore their unique journeys to Freemasonry, the significance of their groundbreaking appointments, and how their diverse spiritual paths enrich the timeless princ...