One of the greatest educational initiatives that I have found on-line regarding Masonry is LodgeWiki. A Wikipedia style on-line encyclopedia, containing information on various topics. There is information for everyone - non-members interested in the Craft, as well as further explanation of the symbolism and practices for members.
Another good thing about this web-site is that you can make your own contribution by writing on the topics that are still missing.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Facts about Masonry
Officers in the Lodge
Worshipful Master
Junior Warden
Inner Guard
Tyler
Worshipful MasterHe presides in the East and supervises the activities of the Lodge. He represents King Solomon and is in charge of the entrance of the Holy of Hollies. This Office is the consciousness level that relates to the Spirit. The Master opens the Lodge. His seat is in the East, three steps above the floor. He also represents Wisdom.
Senior Warden
He is in charge of the "Middle Chamber", or the Fellow Crafts. It's a representation of the Soul and morality. The Senior Warden closes the Lodge. His seat is in the West - two steps above the floor. He also represents Strenght.
Junior WardenHe is in charge of the "Ground Floor", or the Entered Apprentices. His place relates to the physical world. He represents one's Character. Junior Warden calls the Lodge from labour to refreshment and from refreshment to labour. His seat is in the South - one step above the floor. He also represents Beauty.
Senior Deacon
The Deacons are the messengers of the Lodge. The Senior Deacon is the messenger of the Master. He represents one's presence and readiness. His seat is in the East, on the same level with the floor.
Junior Deacon
He is the messenger of the Senior Warden. He is the representation of the "feeling". He is seating in the West, on the same level with the floor.
Inner GuardHe is the contact of the Lodge with the world outside. He is the "Ego" of the Lodge - he admits people in if he finds them fit and proper to enter. During the initiation, he warns the aspiring member not to enter the Lodge if his heart and mind are not pure. His seat is next to the door of the Lodge - usually in the North West.
TylerHe is seated outside of the Lodge room. It is his duty to exclude non-Masons from entering the Lodge, to keep the brethren safe from eavesdropping. He, as well as the Inner Guard, is in charge of collecting the signs and words that are necessary for a person to prove himself as a Mason. He is the representation of the physical world.
(Freemasonry - Symbols, Secrets, Significance - by W.Kirk MacNulty is used as a reference for this posting)
Featured Lodge
Last time I wrote about a lodge located in the Far North, so now let's look for a lodge in the far south.
Lodge Merton is located in Oatlands, in Australia's island State, Tasmania.
What is interesting about this lodge is that the meetings are in daytime - on the second Saturday of each month except January, June, July and August, at 2.00 pm. The normal Lodge attire is a lounge suit (or coat) and tie.
Lodge Merton was originally formed at Campbell Town in Tasmania's Northern Midlands. The first initiative on creation of this lodge was on October the 17th. 1921.
Freemasonry had existed in the town prior to this date, and although records are vague, it is known that the Lodge of Faith, 992 E.C. was established there in 1881 after transferring from Launceston. The first meeting of the Lodge of Faith in the town was held on the 2nd. March of that year at the Caledonian Hotel. The Lodge met on the full moon. An uphill struggle saw it lapse in 1886. For thirty five years there was no further Masonic activity in Campbell Town.
Lodge Merton, 39 T.C., was consecrated on Saturday 22nd. April, 1922. Lord Carrington Lodge, 22 T.C., of Fingal was the sponsor Lodge.
If you are ever traveling south, you can contact them through their web-site.
Lodge Merton is located in Oatlands, in Australia's island State, Tasmania.
What is interesting about this lodge is that the meetings are in daytime - on the second Saturday of each month except January, June, July and August, at 2.00 pm. The normal Lodge attire is a lounge suit (or coat) and tie.
Lodge Merton was originally formed at Campbell Town in Tasmania's Northern Midlands. The first initiative on creation of this lodge was on October the 17th. 1921.
Freemasonry had existed in the town prior to this date, and although records are vague, it is known that the Lodge of Faith, 992 E.C. was established there in 1881 after transferring from Launceston. The first meeting of the Lodge of Faith in the town was held on the 2nd. March of that year at the Caledonian Hotel. The Lodge met on the full moon. An uphill struggle saw it lapse in 1886. For thirty five years there was no further Masonic activity in Campbell Town.
Lodge Merton, 39 T.C., was consecrated on Saturday 22nd. April, 1922. Lord Carrington Lodge, 22 T.C., of Fingal was the sponsor Lodge.
If you are ever traveling south, you can contact them through their web-site.
Featured Grand Lodge
United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria
Freemasonry in Bulgaria has it's roots in the 1860's. Around that time the first Bulgarians were initiated in lodges abroad - Romania, Turkey, France, England...
After the liberation from the Turkish occupation, first Bulgarian lodges were created. One of the founders was Ivan Vedar - the first Bulgarian to be initiated in Masonry. It's noted that even the first king of the country - Alexander Batemberg was a mason.
Still, a long time passed before the Grand Lodge was created - 1917. The number of the masons in 1940 is around 240.
In 1941, the parliament of the country adopted the Defense of The Nation Law, which basically prohibited the existence of the Lodge. Since the communist regime that ruled Bulgaria after the war, was against this fraternity, Freemasonry was laid to rest until 1992, when few Bulgarians were initiated in Lodges in Germany, and few in Yugoslavia. Several Lodges were created in the country.
By the end of 2000, there were two Grand Lodges in the country. One - enlightened by The United Grand Lodges of Germany, the other - by the Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia.
These two lodges united in 2001 - creating the United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria.
Freemasonry in Bulgaria has it's roots in the 1860's. Around that time the first Bulgarians were initiated in lodges abroad - Romania, Turkey, France, England...
After the liberation from the Turkish occupation, first Bulgarian lodges were created. One of the founders was Ivan Vedar - the first Bulgarian to be initiated in Masonry. It's noted that even the first king of the country - Alexander Batemberg was a mason.
Still, a long time passed before the Grand Lodge was created - 1917. The number of the masons in 1940 is around 240.
In 1941, the parliament of the country adopted the Defense of The Nation Law, which basically prohibited the existence of the Lodge. Since the communist regime that ruled Bulgaria after the war, was against this fraternity, Freemasonry was laid to rest until 1992, when few Bulgarians were initiated in Lodges in Germany, and few in Yugoslavia. Several Lodges were created in the country.
By the end of 2000, there were two Grand Lodges in the country. One - enlightened by The United Grand Lodges of Germany, the other - by the Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia.
These two lodges united in 2001 - creating the United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria.
Famous Masons
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791
Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria. Being a musical child-prodigy, he toured the country with his father, Leopold and sister Maria Anna for years. His ability to play complex compositions from memory, to play blindfolded, and ultimately to compose were some of the many musical gifts he had. He worked many years for the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg and then moved to Vienna, the imperial capital and a major cultural centre, working as a freelance composer and musician, though continually seeking a formal appointment at an aristocratic court. Mozart broke with his father when he married Constanze Weber, a singer from a family of impoverished musicians, against Leopold's wishes. He died at the age of 35.
Mozart composed a number of masonic pieces. When his father received his masonic Second Degree Wolfgang wrote "Fellow Crafts Journey (Op. K468) to honour the occasion. For lodge Zur Wohltatigkeit he wrote "Opening Ode" (Op. K483) and Closing Ode (Op. K484) His last masonic work was written for the dedication of a masonic temple in Vienna on November 15, 1791. The masonic influence and symbolism was present in his operas Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute.
During his life, this incredible genius and one of the most gifted musicians that ever lived, wrote a number of symphonies, operas, concertos, masses and his final Requiem.
Initiated: December 14, 1784
lodge Zur Woltatigkeit
Passed: January 7, 1785
Raised: before April 22, 1785
Lodge Zur Wahren Eintracht
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