-------------- LIGHT! --------------
-------------- HISTORY --------------
According
to Bro. Mackey,
Brother Anderson changed the title
of the 1723 second
edition printing the Book of Constitutions
from "The Constitutions of
the Freemasons"
to "The History and Constitutions of the Most Ancient
and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons".
He did so in
1738.
The phrase "Free and Accepted Masons"
has been used ever since.
For Further Light:
FREE!
FREE!
-------------- MASKS... --------------
Some people only see
the Mask that God wears for them.
Some of them may
denounce, ridicule and attack
any other mask that does not appear
to be
the exact One that they can see.
A great challenge that spiritual souls
face
is sanely dealing with the insane behaviors
of those who claim
that
their mask is the only true Mask.
-------------- CHARACTER --------------
No Amount of Well-Directed Light
Shall Turn the Head
of Those Ruled By Blind Eyes.
-------------- INSIGHT --------------
until there is at least
one
committed generation of men
who actually do the Work pointed toward
by
the EA Degree.
Men must Unburden themselves
and then Strengthen
themselves
before they are remotely capable
to Learn what must be
Learned.
There is no other way that is sound
and leaders who do not
lead by example
shall produce more of the same
in those that are led by
them.
-------------- MYTH --------------
"The problem in our society and in our schools is to inculcate, without overdoing it, the notion of education, as in the Latin 'educere'—to lead, to bring out what is in someone rather than merely to indoctrinate him/her from the outside."
-- Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That, p. 89
I would have used the word "challenge" instead of "problem" but the sentiment still comes across loud and clear. I see this statement applying to every organization that I have encountered.
-------------- REMINDERS! --------------
There
are some people
whose sole reason for existence
is to remind you that
you can be and you can do Better
and in the manner that they cannot
or
will not.
Treat them civilly
for the lesson they offer to you.
-------------- LIGHT! --------------
Perhaps the most difficult task any Brother and any Lodge can do is to define "Masonic Education" as it relates to "Making Good Men Better" and then Build a well-orchestrated effort to execute that Education Regularly and without fail.
* No other Education shall Better Men Better.
* No other Education shall Improve the human condition More Swiftly.
* No other Education shall Challenge Men More Greatly.
* No other Education shall Demand of Men their Best.
* No other Education shall decidedly Separate the Men from the boys.
* No other Education shall be left undone by so many.
* No other "label" wrongfully applied will mislead the curious and eager down roads of disappointment when this label purposefully misleads.
-------------- BE THE LIGHT! --------------
I
do not share to convince myself or others.
I've concluded what I have
and share what little Light
that I have on a subject.
I share in the
hope
that this effort
may Brighten another Brother's dark corners
as a
result.
I also share
knowing full well that,
in doing so,
others shall
feel free to do the same
with what Light they have.
Their doing so
Brightens my world as well.
-------------- MAKE MASONS --------------
Freemasonry does not make Masons;
it can only make members called, "Freemasons".
Those members who believe that
it does anything other than this
are deluding themselves, and their Craft.
Yet, if any intelligent member
realizes this reality and
then takes upon himself the Masonic Work
to which Freemasonry directs its members,
he then becomes the very Work he exemplifies.
it can only make members called, "Freemasons".
Those members who believe that
it does anything other than this
are deluding themselves, and their Craft.
Yet, if any intelligent member
realizes this reality and
then takes upon himself the Masonic Work
to which Freemasonry directs its members,
he then becomes the very Work he exemplifies.
-------------- REVIEW --------------
Many years ago, a Brother from my Lodge handed me a small blue book. The title of that book is “Building Janus”. The Brother in question, whose work keeps him away from Lodge on a routine basis, but who has been a follower of my YouTube Channel, simply handed it to me and said “I think you will like this.” I accepted his book on loan in thanks, and went on with my day.
It was likely more than a few weeks later before I even cracked the cover. Suffice to say, I was very confused. The book, largely, reads like a transcript between a Mentor and his student, where Questions are asked and Answers returned, which Brother John terms as Inquires and Responses. On the surface, the Responder was rather annoying, seeming to always answer Inquiries with more Questions! This being a very new presentation to me, I rather unfortunately dismissed it and went on to other books, letting this borrowed gift gather dust for a long time.
It was only after much learning on my own that I grasped the usefulness of this format. Freemasonry does NOT spell things out for you. You are meant to search, experience, and learn – largely on your own. Accordingly, I began to appreciate the approach of the responder not just giving answers, but leading the questioner – steering him towards what he is apparently searching for. It also emphasized to me the importance of asking the question you want answered.
The Craft Unmasked does not follow this format, but the realization I had led me to invest in Brother Nagy’s books – all of them – and see what other nuggets of wisdom I might find. I am grateful I did so.
While I found several of these nuggets in The Craft Unmasked, I would like to quote two sentences that really stood out to me. They are: “Improving a man doesn’t occur instantaneously. Developing such Masonic Disciplines requires first the ordering of his heart, then the ordering of his mind, and lastly, that of his spirit!” I could not agree with those sentiments more, and it is exceptionally well stated.
Throughout the book Bro. Nagy explains his research into the true foundation of Freemasonry – where it came from, who was the first Freemason, and more. I have read several such books by other authors. Can I say with surety Bro. Nagy is correct – no, I cannot. Why? Because of the lesson learned before from Bro. John… I have received an answer, but one that still requires me to go and research for myself – which Bro. John facilitates by having good endnote citations to follow.
Whether you agree with the findings or not, the book is replete with useful knowledge which require you to reconsider your preconceived expectations, and I do recommend it to your consideration.
You can find this book, and links to all of his other offerings, here: http://www.coach.net/BuildingBuilders.htm
-------------- END --------------
Be Well and Travel Light!
-- Coach Nagy ;-)
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