Freemasonry Squared

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Worldwide Grand Lodge Directory

RECOGNISED GRAND LODGES IN THE BRITISH ISLES

Grand Lodge of Ireland
Grand Lodge of Scotland

RECOGNISED GRAND LODGES IN EUROPE

Grand Lodge of Albania
Grand Lodge of Andorra
Grand Lodge of Armenia
Grand Lodge of Austria
Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium
Grand Lodge of Bosnia and Herzegovina
United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria
Grand Lodge of Croatia
Grand Lodge of Cyprus
Grand Lodge of Czech Republic
Grand Lodge of Denmark (Danish Order of Freemasons)
Grand Lodge of Estonia
Grand Lodge of Finland
Grande Loge Nationale Française
United Grand Lodges of Germany
Grand Lodge of Greece
Symbolic Grand Lodge of Hungary
Grand Lodge of Iceland (Icelandic Order of Freemasons)
Regular Grand Lodge of Italy
Grand Lodge of Latvia
Grand Lodge of Lithuania
Grand Lodge of Luxembourg
Grand Lodge of Macedonia
Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta
Grand Lodge of Moldova
National Regular Grand Lodge of the Principality of Monaco
Grand Lodge of Montenegro
Grand East Lodge of Netherlands
Grand Lodge of Norway (Norwegian Order of Freemasons)
National Grand Lodge of Poland
Grand Lodge of Portugal (Legal)
National Grand Lodge of Romania
Grand Lodge of Russia
Grand Lodge of the Most Serene Republic of San Marino
Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia
Grand Lodge of Slovakia
Grand Lodge of Slovenia
Grand Lodge of Spain
Grand Lodge of Sweden (Swedish Order of Freemasons)
Grand Lodge Alpina of Switzerland
Grand Lodge of Turkey
Grand Lodge of Ukraine

RECOGNISED GRAND LODGES IN AFRICA

· [Unfortunately most in Africa that we’ve seen haven’t a website or online presence. We are working to gather further information. If you have contacts please use our Making a Difference page on Freemasonrysquared.org to submit for approval].

Grand Lodge of Benin
Grand Lodge of Burkina Faso
Grand Lodge of Cameroon
Grand Lodge of Congo*
Grand Lodge of Gabon
Grand Lodge of Ghana
National Grand Lodge of Guinea
Grand Lodge of Ivory Coast
Grand Lodge of the Republic of Liberia
National Grand Lodge of Madagascar
National Grand Lodge of Mali
Grand Lodge of Mauritius
Regular Grand Lodge of the Kingdom of Morocco
Grand Lodge of Nigeria
Grand Lodge of Senegal
Grand Lodge of South Africa
National Grand Lodge of Togo

* nb: at Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

RECOGNISED GRAND LODGES IN ASIA

Grand Lodge of China
Grand Lodge of India
Grand Lodge of the State of Israel
Grand Lodge of Japan
Grand Lodge of the Philippines

RECOGNISED GRAND LODGES IN AUSTRALASIA

Grand Lodge of India
Grand Lodge of New Zealand
Grand Lodge of Queensland
Grand Lodge of South Australia and the Northern Territory
Grand Lodge of Tasmania
United Grand Lodge of Victoria
Grand Lodge of Western Australia

RECOGNISED GRAND LODGES IN CANADA

Grand Lodge of Alberta
Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon
Grand Lodge of Canada (in the Province of Ontario)
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ontario
Grand Lodge of Manitoba
Grand Lodge of New Brunswick
Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador
Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia
Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island
Grand Lodge of Quebec
Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan

RECOGNISED GRAND LODGES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

[These contact have been verified by the United Grand Lodge of England and can be referenced athttp://www.ugle.org.uk/about/foreign-grand-lodges]

Friday, June 24, 2016

Evolution of the Craft

We wanted to give a few tips to Lodges that may not have experience in Facebook, Twitter, and any other forms of Internet based social media. There’s a vast amount of strategies you can utilize to step out of the darkness and into the light of social media. We will share some very simple ways to help get the ball rolling and seen by the vast majority of people that use the internet for convenience and speed.

1.       Setting up a Facebook Page. One thing you’ll need to do is set your Facebook pg. up. There different modes of communication one can use on Facebook so you or your Social media committee will need to know the method they intend to use before doing so. One way to communicate with your brethren is through a Private or even secret Facebook “group”. This ensures that any information shared is only seen by those in the group and to join the group a member already of, must invite you to participate. These methods are good for private communications and have been use in tandem with a Facebook public page. The second method is creating a Facebook business page. You can create events (for degrees, dinners, etc.…) and all the pertinent information that should be communicated to those that are looking for such an organization to participate in. It is important to note that most if not all information that you share on this page should be within the scope of our obligations and formatted to be able to communicate with a potential candidate or even profane. This is because everything posted will be public. Another great thing about a Facebook business page is the ability to verify your page. This is done in your settings and you must have a public telephone number that’s been already published to do so. This option allows others to have confidence in your page and that you’re really a blue lodge. I will also note that if your lodge takes on the responsibility of creating a Facebook page, ensure you have a designated brother posting relevant information and updating current event happenings within your blue lodge; otherwise what is the point. You don’t want to have your page as abandoned as the old barn in the back. Lastly, you have the option of creating a personal Facebook page. We don’t recommend this, as it doesn’t have the options available to you in the business profile Facebook which has conveniently structured but to each their own.

2.       Twitter.com, This Method requires a lot of attention, as most that use twitter continue to keep their audience updated in current happenings. This is not to say you cannot use it like Facebook but just keep this in mind. Twitter also has a verification page available to those who set their account up as a business. Just like Facebook you can use a personal profile but just like Facebook we believe the first option is better for your needs.

3.       Google, simply google your lodge and see what pops up… do you see you XML sitemap? Do you see the square box on the right hand side that has the street view of your lodge? In that box should be a suggestion and Own this business link. If you haven’t gained control of your lodge google pg. do so ASAP. You’ll be able to control you public information like, address, number and open times.

Lastly be sure that your lodge is okay with doing these things before you just start a Facebook, twitter of Google page for your lodge. Remember that everything that is posted on said page reflects the entire fraternity and the blue lodge it represents. You’ll also want to be sure that someone organizes and keeps record of all social media Login ID’s and Passwords. This is to be the responsibility of a master mason ONLY. You don’t want to give the keys to an E.A. and then they fall off the map. This also ensures that if someone needs to make a correction they can do so. We also suggest to only have one - three on any one page as admins. This will eliminate confusion on the page and help keep the main picture as to what you want your lodge to portray.

We hope with these simple tips assist you and your lodge so they may feel a little more confident and your decision to start a social media campaign.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

The Freemasonry Squared Team

Thursday, June 23, 2016

We want you to visit Freemasonrysquared.org tomorrow!

Come check out our new website! We have a cache of Masonic News stories so you don't have to go looking from them any more because there all archived in one place. Stories about the Craft from all over the world! Debunking the Crazy Conspiracy theories bring TRUTH to all that are willing to make an educated decision. The Freemasonry Squared Team is devoted to bring our history and traditions to the public within the scope of our obligations. We want to have a placewhere you can find historical documents in regards to the fraternity... like the Vatican docs or W.B. George Washington's minutes etc. We're also working on a worldwide documentary about Freemasonry titled, "Searching for Light" as well as a book by Bro. Tom Collians himself. We hope you enjoy the site and work we bring to you in the service of our Brethren, the Craft and the world. Please spread the word and tell you lodge brothers or even direct young masons and potential candidates to FreemasonrySquared.org so they may better understand our beloved fraternity.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Bro. Tom Collians & The Freemasonry Squared Team

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The Catskill Lodge falls victim to building fire

Catskill Masonic Lodge falls victim to building fire

June 1st, 2016 in the early morning The West Athens-Lime Street Fire Company arrived on the seen at Catskill Ma

sonic Lodge, NY to what was described by Fire Chief Tim Farrell, “A fully involved structure in flames”.

The Call came in at 3:15 am, and upon arrival fire crews discovered no fire hydrants within proximity to battle the already engulfed structure fire. It took five fire companies with aid of tankers filled with water to put out the blaze. Unfortunately the building appears to be a total loss.

Any time a Lodge suffers severe losses, it’s a tragedy. As most masons know that there was more likely then not, Irreplaceable items within the walls of the Lodge. Not items of wealth but of meaning and historical value. The Freemasonry Squared teams thoughts and prayers go out to Catskill Masonic Lodge and its members… Our Brothers.

Catskill Masonic Lodge No. 468

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

The work of a Master Mason

The Work of a Master Mason

As a Master Mason, you’ve been recognized to be proficient in the perquisites necessary for advancement. Along the way, you were initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason and shown what your objective was, drawn on the masters trestle board. After completing the proficiency in the proceeding degree, you were then “Passed” to Fellow Craft. Although, this is not technically where your Masonic Journey begun, it is however where you are will begin “your work”. As a “Freemason”, you’re charged to continue your work until you drop forever the working tool of life. Later on your advancement, you’re granted the distinct honor of being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. The highest honor a man can obtain in our beloved fraternity.

Thus, you’re a workman in the quarries.

So why is it, you see men, stagnate? Sitting Idol on the sidelines or to put it frankly, doing nothing? Without going deep into ritual or symbolism, a Master Mason is charged and obligated to continue his works until the day he receives the most divine initiation into the most sacred of mysteries. There’s a common lesson within all 3 degrees that some seem to oversee or simply forget over time. From the moment a man steps in a lodge, he’s required to transcend a current position, state, condition etc. Before even inquiring, you were required to gather the courage to contact a lodge. Some obstacles being more subtle, for example: getting to know two brothers and get them to vouch for you, for admission. You were required to overcome the condition of being a stranger and prove your character. This DOES NOT STOP at your Master Mason degree.

A Master Mason is never to become stagnate but is an inquirer; an investigator of Truth, transcending your mind and heart; one step at a time, towards another state of being. Investigating the Arts and mastering the modes of data collection. Faith, Hope and Charity must be brought forth from our beloved fraternity to the common man. This doesn’t mean we need every man to join the fraternity but instead we should strive to be leaders of light through the dark periods of time when humanity most needs us. History has provided more then enough examples of those brothers and fellows who have gone this way before. Capitalizing on the use of the final working tools presented on the third degree. Encapsulating altruism and then sending it back into the world through our thoughts, actions and Craft.

A Master Mason should never be stagnate but should be always working on himself. To understand a concept that escaped him before or his personal work with the Compass. Ever striving towards the ultimate divine Truth and Wisdom.

This is the work of a Master Mason, so if you’ve found yourself not doing much of anything. It may be time to reflect on your own work and the masters trestle board.

-The Freemasonry Squared Team

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Masonic Right to Appeal

The right of appeal is an inherent right belonging to every Freemason, and the Grand Lodge is the appellate body to whom the appeal is to be made.

Appeals are of two kinds: first, from the decision of the Master; second, from the decision of the Lodge.

Each of these will require a distinct consideration.

1. Appeals from the Decision of the Master. It is now a settled. doctrine in Masonic law that there can be no appeal from the decision of a Master of a Lodge to the Lodge itself. But an appeal always lies from such decision to the Grand Lodge, which is bound to entertain the appeal and to inquire into the correctness of the decision.

Some writers have endeavored to restrain the despotic authority of the Master to decisions in matters strictly relating to the work of the Lodge, while they contend that on all questions of business an appeal may be taken from his decision to the Lodge.

But it would be unsafe, and often impracticable, to , draw this distinction, and accordingly the highest Masonic authorities have rejected the theory, and denied the power in a Lodge to entertain an appeal from any decision of the presiding officer.

The wisdom of this law must be apparent to anyone who examines the nature of the organization of the Masonic Institution. The Master is responsible to the Grand Lodge for the good conduct of his Lodge. To hi6m and to him alone the supreme Masonic authority looks for the preservation of order, and the observance of the Constitutions and the Landmarks of the Order in the body over which he presides. It is manifest, then, that it would be highly unjust to throw around a presiding officer so heavy a responsibility, if it were in the power of the Lodge to overrule his decisions or to control his authority.

2. Appeals from the Decisions of the Lodge. Appeals may be made to the Grand Lodge from the decisions of a Lodge, on any subject except the admission of members, or the election of candidates; but these appeals are more frequently made in reference to conviction and punishment after trial.

When a Freemason, in consequence of charges preferred against him, has been tried, convicted, and sentenced by his Lodge, he has an inalienable right to appeal to the Grand Lodge from such conviction and sentence.

His appeal may be either general or specific. That is, he may appeal on the ground, generally, that the whole of the proceedings have been irregular or illegal, or he may appeal specifically against some particular portion of the trial ; or lastly, admitting the correctness of the verdict, and acknowledging the truth of the charges, he may appeal from the sentence, as being too severe or disproportionate to the offense

(W.B. Albert Mackey, The Encyclopedia of Freemasonry)

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS...A Brother?

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS…a Brother?

The Sixth President of the United States, who served from 1825 to 1829. Adams, who has been very properly described as "a man of strong points and weak ones, of vast reading and wonderful memory, of great credulity and strong prejudices," became notorious in the latter years of his life for his virulent opposition to Freemasonry. The writer already quoted, who had an excellent opportunity of seeing intimately the workings of the spirit of Anti-Masonry, says of him: "He hated Freemasonry, as he did many other things, not from any harm that he had received from it or personally knew respecting it, but because his credulity had been wrought upon and his prejudices excited against it by dishonest and selfish politicians, who were anxious, at any sacrifice to him, to avail themselves of the influence of his commanding talents and position in public life to sustain them in the disreputable work in which they were enlisted. In his weakness, he lent himself to them. He united his energies to theirs in an impracticable and unworthy cause" (IV. Moore, Freemasons magazine, volume vii, page 314:https://archive.org/stream/The_Freemasons_Monthly_Magazine_Vol_Vii_1848/The_Freemasons_Monthly_Magazine_Vol_Vii_1848_djvu.txt)

The result was a series of letters abusive of Freemasonry, directed to leading politicians, and published in the public journals from 1831 to 1833. A year before his death they were collected and published under the title of Letters on the Masonic Institution, by John Quincy Adams

(published at Boston, 1847, 284 pages:https://archive.org/stream/lettersonmasoni00adamgoog#page/n24/mode/2up).

Some explanation of the cause of the virulence with which Adams attacked the Masonic Institution in these letters may be found in the following paragraph contained in an Anti-Masonic work written by one Henry Gassett, and affixed to his Catalogue of Books on the Masonic Institution (published at Boston, 1852). "It had been asserted in a newspaper in Boston, edited by a Masonic dignitary, that John 11. Adams was a Freemason. In answer to an inquiry from a person in New York State, whether he was so, Mr. Adams replied that 'he was not, and never should be.'

These few words, undoubtedly, prevented his election a second time as President of the United States. His competitor, Andrew Jackson, a Freemason, was elected."

Whether the statement contained in the italicized words be true or not, is not the question. It is sufficient that Adams was led to believe it, and hence his ill-will to an association which had, as he supposed, inflicted this political evil on him, and baffled his ambitious views.

Above reference to Adams being a member of the Craft is due to a confusion of the President's name with that of a Boston printer, John Quincy Adams, who was proposed for membership in St. Johns Lodge of that city on October 11, 1826. He was admitted on December 5.

But on the latter date the President was busily engaged at Washington as may be seen by reference to his Memoirs. This diary' also shows (on page 345, volume vii, Lippincott edition), a statement by Adams himself which settles the question. He says "I told Wilkins he might answer Tracy, that I am not and never was a Freemason."

(W.B. Albert C. Mackey, The Encyclopedia of Freemasonry)