At 04:13 PM 3/28/2008 -0600, David Foster said,

That footage was shot in a mainstream lodge in Washington, DC, and the
people are all masons under the GL of DC, not actors.

Agree!

At 04:12 PM 3/28/2008 -0600, David Foster said,

Thanks, Dave. The show you saw was taped in May 2006 and first aired in
January and February 2007. The producer, a Canadian mason, did quite a
good job, I think.

Unfortunately, the only version shown in the USA was a single 2-hour
program. The real show was created as three 1-hour segments and shown in
that format, AFAIK, only in Canada (on a cable TV channel that features
religious and esoteric programming). I've had some calls from European
masons and Templars who saw the show over there last summer, translated
into Italian.

I found the 2-hour version fairly hard to follow and suspect that nonmasons
would be pretty confused by it. Plus the repeated footage of the staged
Jack the Ripper stuff, over and over, annoyed me.

But maybe I'm just cranky because most of my footage didn't make the 2-hour
version. There's more of the wonderfulness of moi [ ;>) ] in the
version broken into 1-hour segments. But just in #1 and #2--the third is
about conspiracy theories altogether, and I didn't have anything to tell
the interviewer on that subject.

Did any of you see the program on the Discovery Channel last night,
called "The Secrets of Freemasonry"? I have a couple of comments.
First, I was a bit uncomfortable when they showed the 3rd degree on TV.
Did a lodge actually let the cameras into the lodge room, or was this
done by actors? Second, way too much time was spent rehashing the same
old Anti-mason bullcrap, with the usual accusations of us being
murderers, gangsters, conspirators, and satanists. However, the last
few minutes were spent debunking the anti-mason propaganda. I just wish
more time had been spent on the debunking and less time on the nonsense.
David Foster

Hey - I saw you on TV last night, on the Discovery channel.
Congratulations!
David Foster

I wanted to stop in and let you know my progress.
I was raised to sublime level MM last month, and start
my coaching this Monday. My experience was more
than what i had thought i would experience... as far
as 'how i felt'.. I was overwhelmed with emotion and
a connection to the past centuries that I had never felt
before. I want to express the feeling I have, but I am at a loss for words
atm.
I attended my first meeting, and my hands were all over in the wrong places
at the wrong time. heh... I guess thats normal. But now, i have been to
my second meeting.. and as far as myself, it went much smoother...until.. it
came time for a vote.. neat trick on that one.. but i couldnt find the hole.
lol.
I am so looking foward to my fifty year pin.

Jeffry

Last night was our official DDGM visit. Going into the year, the
rules were changed so that Illinois lodges would have a few more
hurdles to overcome in order to run a Blue Lightening. Including a
singular Blue Lightening Co-ordinator authorized by the Grand Lodge
who has the authority to stop the proceedings and replace those
performing the work, if their performance is not to standard.
The BL program is the process that previous GMs put out where
candidates can recieve their first degree in their home lodges; but
experience the second and third as a group of as many as twelve in
order to advance. Aside from that program, we too had GM Festivals
where all three degrees were given in one day.
Apparently, according to our DDGM, there have been either no Blue
Lightenings or close to no Blue Lightenings since our October Grand
Lodge session. IMHO, if that condition is true, Masonry is moving once
again in the right direction in Illinois.
Can anyone confirm the report? And, if so, how has the evaporation
of the BL Process affected your lodge? I can report that for Auburn
Park, not only are Officers more diligently studying their work; but
we have had PMs come back who had not participated in years to learn
new stations and places and generally renew their interest in lodge ...

I see that the Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic has merged with the Grand
Czech Orient on 8th March

See text of interview with the Deputy GM
http://www.radio.cz/en/issue/102012.

Of particular note is that the Grand Czech Orient was apparently irregular,
not requiring a VSL (and if in line with the GOF, perhaps also not requiring
a belief in a Supreme Being).

What I wonder is the result? Does the new GL require the open VSL and a
belief in a Supreme Being?

If they are optional (eg. not required in lodges within the new GL which
come from the Grand Czech Orient) will the new [united] GL of the Czech
Republic continue to be recognised by other GL's?

(I see that at the moment, the Grand Lodge of Czech Republic www.vlcr.cz is
listed in the UGLE web site as a recognised GL)

S & F
Richard

Brn,

I have been given the nod for a new job, traveling the US for the next year
and a half or so; starting in mid-April, I'm working on the crew of a touring
production of the Broadway show, 'A Chorus Line.'

I don't intend to let this get in the way of my moderation duties. Indeed,
I'm even looking forward to perhaps meeting some of you face-to-face and
perhaps sitting in Lodge with you if there's a Monday night meeting - I've
packed my PM apron, just in case.

My old TDS.net email address will be discontinued around the beginning of
April, as I'm not willing to pay to keep the phone and broadband active in a
house I'm not occupying for eighteen-plus months. You can reach me off-list
at "dave.vick@gmail.com," and I'll probably wind up reading the group via
Google. (yeah, I know, but what can a body do?)

The past few months have been fairly vexing, what with the better half living
and working 1300+ miles away and the local career path looking more like a
cliff. Looks like things are starting to turn my way. As always, thanks to
all for the kind thoughts over the past year.

During the last couple of years, the Illinois and Nebraska Grand
Lodges have offered lodges a community awareness program called CHIPs.
At various public events, Community Festivals, County Fairs etc. a few
of the Brothers volunteer to man a tent and i.d. and fingerprint
children for free. No records are kept, but the parents are given the
photos and records as a kit in case the worse happens to aid law
enforcement in recovering lost children.
How many other jurisdictions use this program? And, how have these
efforts been received and reflect on the fraternity? Some lodges here
report the program to be very popular while others receive mixed
results.
Are there other services that your lodge performs for the community
that we might like to try?

Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Senior Deacon - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois
PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illinois

This month, W. Bro. Doug Freyburger addressed the question, "Should
Masonry focus on quality or quantity?" in our local (Illinois) multi-
lodge newsletter, "Temple Topics." His premise is sound, that the
individual FreeMason must take on the responsibility to improve
himself; and thereby provide those desirable qualities referenced in
our degrees for the benefit of God, our countries our neighbors, our
families and ourselves. Actively living in such a condition would make
any man envious; and, therefore, I find no fault with his answer.
However, (...and Bro. Freyburger knows that if for no other reason
than the sake of speculation that he should expect a "But or
However...." from me), in the details he goes on to state that,
"Masonry as an organization presents itself through our works and our
properties. A charity the likes of our Homes matters. Having good
quality well maintained buildings matters. Having events with good
attendance matters. These cannot be done with one man no matter how
excellent."
Again, I agree that these elements "matter;" but will suggest to
this group that they only matter to us. Examining how Masonry mattered
at other times when the numbers of lodges and general membership were
identical to those we experience now reveals that fraternities were ...