I’ve been interested in Masonry for the last 21 or so years but never really researched it. Just before i read Dan Browns “The lost symbol” i started to really research Masonry. Myths, legend and the bull. After a month or so i had all the information i wanted. I made a few calls got a hold of the local lodge and on the 1st Wed in December 2009 they accepted my petition. Degree work starts Jan 20th 2010. Only one thing bugged me. The only scraps of a local lodge website i found was a single page deep in goggles archival section. Just 1 page. And it seemed rather old and in comparing it to a newspaper A10.
So.
I’m creating a web site for my local lodge. I liked the videos and thought i would “ask” before using them on my site. The local lodge, well the building houses other bodies as well, have been out of a web site for around 5 years. From what i gather it was 1 site for the many lodges that met at the building.

It has to pass 2 maybe 3 approvals first. One by the Local Lodge and other bodies if included. Two by the Grand lodge of idaho’s Secretary as he allowed me to use some copy writed graphics. And Third maybe this site as well since i’m asking to use the Askafreemason commercials. [I’ll use Youtube links to save bandwidth].

Jason
KE7RIP

Good idea. I have been after my lodge to set up a website for several years, they are not interested. I am delighted to see that you have petitioned Masonry. It was a fellow ham operator, Don Tuggle N4AOC, which first introduced me to Freemasonry. Don is now in the Celestial Lodge, (Silent Key).

When I lived in Columbus OH, we had an all-ham Masonic degree team (Hiram-Hams). Whenever a ham from central Ohio took the degrees, we all came out, and did the ceremonies.

I started a ham radio club at Aladdin Shrine as well. Do you plan to join the Shrine?

Charles E. Martin AB4Y
(currently assigned to Afghanistan, but not QRV).

I local mason loaned me a book called “Free masonry for dummies”. It talked about a few “continuing” degrees or directions or take them all. I did not want to read to much as i wanted to explore the craft in person rather by text. Once i start my degree work i might get a copy and then go down another path. Or just read it for more clarity.

Oh so how did an all ham degree team work? Was it something of a niche group or just by coincidence? And did you create any special rituals for the new mason/ham?
KE7RIP.

FMD was written by a friend of mine, Chris Hodapp, he is a prolific writer, and I recommend this book highly. Feel free to begin reading it now, it will not “spoil” your degree experience. The book is a great introduction to Masonry for a beginner, and a good review for us old “coots”.

There are over 100 (one hundred) appendant/affilliated/concordant bodies and organizations that are aligned with or based on Masonry. You cannot be an expert on all of them, but I feel that all Masons should have a basic understanding of the various groups that make up our Masonic “family”.

The Shrine is not a Masonic organization, but it is an organization made up of men who are Masons. You must be a Mason in good standing, to join the Shrine. Their work with their 22 orthopaedic and burns hospitals is truly miraculous. And all treatment is free.

Around the USA, there are several such degree “teams”. Some cities will have a degree team, that is all police officers, so that when a policeman is made a Mason, all of the ceremonial work will be done by fellow law enforcement officers. I attended such a degree once, the whole lodge was filled with the “fuzz”. (I am not a cop, about 80% of the audience was).

“Specialty” degree teams, like cops and hams, do not use any alternate ritual work or any special ceremonies. We did however, get the new Mason a plastic name badge, with the Square and Compasses and his call sign. We presented it to him, upon completion of his MM degree.

Many towns have all-ham degree teams. There are Masonic radio networks on HF, as well. If you have ever been to Dayton, you will see thousands of Masonic amateurs.

73 under the S&C,

Jason-

You are welcome to utilize the spots on your website. You should be able to find generic versions that do not reference an Open House with a date that are probably best suited for your purpose.
-Robert

Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGQXAnJdnzM&feature=channel

part one of 4

Now how awesome is this. While searching Youtube for the askafreemason.org spots i ran across The Grand Master doing an interview. Yes of my local lodge i petitioned to.  He just got plastered all over the media section [2-4] and on the front page [part one].  Enjoy.