Whence Came You? - Freemasonry discussed and Masonic research for today's Freemason

This week, how can we adjust our lives to be more Masonic, and connect with the people around us? Is the answer truly in putting down our phones and electronics? Are they truly a plague upon modern mankind? We'll explore this idea in a piece by Darin A. Lahners, where he lays out many of the significant issues with mental health and our dependence on electronics. Then Ill. Bro. Harrison tells us a...

This week, we get a rundown of what happened at the Midwest Conference of Masonic Education, 2022, in Kansas City, MO. What were some of the ideas passed around from state education officer to state education officer regarding best practices and discoveries within the realm of Masonic education? Then we'll hear, from Greg Knott, who tells us about a recent visit he had to a used bookstore. What tr...

This week, is there value in the rubbish of the temple? What do those less than perfect stones do for us for the rest of our lives? Could they be lessons preparing us for future obstacles? Then we'll hear a response from a festive board regarding the 47th problem of Euclid. At a recent festive board, one Brother brings a personal touch to his 47th problem of Euclid response in a special segment he...

This week, how critical is the idea of an individual degree and an individual catechism to the future of Freemasonry? We'll explore a piece by William H. Boyd in which he outlines the several reasons why the future of the Craft depends on the practice of individual degrees and catechisms. Then, we'll talk about the investigation committee and the concerns of a Grand Lodge in the 1950s. As the Gran...

This week, we wrap up the contemporary look at Whither Are We Traveling with part 11 of Darin A. Lahner's series. Are there not too many well-meaning Brethren working overtime to make Freemasonry something other than Freemasonry? Should we abandon free will and accord? Should we take positions on public issues of the day? Go all out for materialism? Subsidize? Then we hear a tale from Illustrious...

This week, Whither Are We Traveling? (Pt 10) and Worshipful Brother Darin A. Lahners' contemporary examination of the text. Hasn't the so-called 'century of the common man' contributed to making our fraternity a little too common? Is it so easy for anybody to join Freemasonry? And what happens when common men become part of our uncommon fraternity? Ritual cheapened? The public image of the fratern...

This week, "What has become of that course of moral instruction, veiled and illustrated by symbols that Freemasonry is supposed to be?" Has Freemasonry lost its Masonic education edge? Are we too hung up on crafted programs created by our membership committees that change every year? What could be a simple way of ensuring Masonic education finds its way to every member? Then, we've got an all-new...

This week we welcome Illustrious Brother Austin Shifrin from the Valley of Pittsburgh, PA. He's the author of the upcoming book More Light, Collected Masonic Writings from 2017 to 2021. What's the difference between ethics and etiquette? What makes a gentleman? We'll get to these questions and a whole lot more. Stay tuned! Links: Get the book More Light, Collected Writings! https://amzn.to/3MSJ628...

This week, Darin A. Lahners dives into the seventh question of "Whither Are We Traveling?" Do we pay enough attention to the festive board? Does your lodge know the difference between a festive board and a table lodge? If the answer is, "… It's the same thing.", I'm sorry to tell you that's just not true. We'll break apart the differences. We'll talk about the necessity for the festive board--one...

This week, we're back with part seven of Whither Are We Traveling? Darin Lahners gives his generational outlook on the question of whether America's passion for bigness and efficiency has ruined Masonic charity. Why do we, as Americans, need to be acknowledged for our charitable efforts? Doesn't looking for acknowledgment stray from the path of altruism? Then, a staple of romanticized Freemasonry,...

This week, Darin Lahners tackles the question, what happens when we allow Freemasonry to be broken up into several smaller organizations that demand our time and market themselves as something more or greater than symbolic lodge? Is that even appropriate? Then, we'll have an all-new Masonic Minute with Illustrious Brother Steven L Harrison. Do you remember that time you were asked to deposit somet...

This week, are Grand Lodges too obsessed with growing the numbers of their individual lodges? Darin Lahners takes another look at Dwight L. Smith's work and gives his contemporary response. Can Freemasonry become so big that it becomes impersonal? This would be antithetical to the entire Craft. Then, we'll turn toward the philosophic realm of a concept called Toleration. The practice of tolerating...

This week, is Freemasonry too easy to join? We'll read part 4 of Darin Lahners expose on Whither Are We Traveling-- a new generational look at the original 1963 paper. Is everything geared for speed? Is proficiency something we still need? Then we'll take a trip into the future with Illustrious Brother Steven L. Harrison as he attends a Lodge meeting. This time, something's a little different. The...

This week, we're talking about the things we don't do. We will explore the Five ES of a Successful Lodge with fellow Masonic education enthusiast, Illinois Freemason, and Education Committee member Jordan Kelly. How can you ensure your candidate is coming back for more? Here's a clue--it's not by teaching them about how to do floor work or dubbing them with the title of Apprentice Pancake Flipper....

This week, we have a great interview. The Fraternal Review names Masonic scholar and author Angel Millar as its interim Editor-in-Chief and announces the 2022 themes for the Fraternal Review publication. Fringe Masonry. The Festive Board Tradition, The Temple of Solomon, The Taxil Hoax, The Ancient Mysteries, The Masonic Influence of Tattoo Art, Moby Dick and Freemasonry, Freemasonry, and the Work...

This week, an all-new Masonic Minute with Illustrious Brother Steven L. Harrison--does the vice-presidential oath of office look a little too Masonic? Then we've got a great new interview with Illustrious Brother Frank Conway, the author of The Masonic Pageant--the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction's answer to the Scottish Rite Ritual and Monitor of the Southern Jurisdiction. Or rather, it's the close...

This week, we look at the Cult of Mithras, and by the end of the article, you'll have felt that perhaps, you are a "Raven." Then, we'll hear from WB:. Bro. Patrick Dey, in the next installment of Masonic Myth Busters. There's a lot to say about McGregor Mathers and his translation of the Abramelin. Patrick takes the question head-on--did MacGregor Mathers pick the worst possible translation to wor...

This week, we hear Darin A Lahners' continued op-ed on "Whither are We Traveling." Can we expect Freemasonry to retain its past glory and prestige unless the level of leadership is raised above its present position? Darin has a unique perspective on this. Having been a master of a couple of different Lodges in a great mix of both city and rural areas. You're not going to want to miss it. Then we h...

This week, we explore the first part of "Whither Are We Traveling?" a multipart series by Brother Darin A Lahners. In this exploration, Darin dives into Dwight L Smith's seminal work "Whither Are We Traveling?" and asks some very pertinent questions. While this particular paper was the subject of "Laudable Pursuit" many years ago, what can we say about it today? Brother Darin has some ideas. Then,...

This week, we conclude the chapter on the Ineffable Name, coming from The Symbolism of Freemasonry. What does the word truly mean? What is the actual word? According to one Brother's theory, it's a word that we have never talked about before. It comes directly from the Kabbalah. We even discuss what each attribute might stand for--the tetragrammaton, the triangle, the all-seeing eye. Plus, some ex...

This week, we dive further into the idea of the ineffable name, the Elohim. Then we take a more objective look at the ineffable Word of God. Is it a name, a phrase, an action? What could it mean? And finally, we'll wrap it up with a discussion on a new Tarot card, draw from a new deck. Stay tuned! Double Eagle Con! http://www.tinyurl.com/doubleeaglecon2021 Elohim Pt 2 https://blog.philosophicalsoc...

This week—Great news about a great Brother who is now Worshipful Master. We've also got illustrious Brother Harrison, who stops by for on new Masonic Minute. The movie Peggy Sue-- Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage, and…the Freemasons?  Then a piece that explores the idea of the Elohim. What is it? Or they? Or him? Finally, we draw a Tarot card and discuss its implications on revelation, change, and ne...

This week, some things are grinding Bill Hosler's gears. What could those things be? Women, Freemasons? Points in or out? Green beans? Alcohol in lodge? You'll have to listen to find out. Then we'll ask an age-old question. Who the heck was Enoch? What does it mean when he says that he walked with God? Kristen Wilson-Slack's got an excellent post on this. She explores the various facets of what we...

This week, we explore the symbol of one of the lesser-known in Freemasonry--the Moon. We often think it means just relating to the equilibrium of ruling a Lodge, but could it mean more? Is the secret pertaining to divine feminine energy? And can it also have a historical and practical purpose within our ritual? We've also got a great, all-new Masonic Minute segment with Illustrious Brother Harriso...

This week Darin Lahners sheds some light on some of the wild conspiratorial manifestos that have been dropped off at Masonic lodges all over Illinois. How does this speak of the collective thoughts on Freemasonry today, and what are its dangers? And what is the possible threat specifically affecting Freemasonry? Then, we'll travel nearly 70 years in the past to take a look at how Freemasons were p...