tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31897560755736805202011-07-28T17:30:22.409-04:00A little blog about the Masonic Fraternity... My views, opinions, and insights about Freemasonry. I hope this will serve to bring discussion of new ideas, old ones too. Ways we can improve our beloved fraternity and make it even better. BUT... be ready! Sincerity & plain dealing will distinquish this blog from others. You have MY word on that!Hiram's Podiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00977104099638881450noreply@blogger.comBlogger331100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3189756075573680520.post-74075744701851149092009-12-14T11:12:00.002-05:002009-12-14T11:16:14.123-05:00

'I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, and my loving family, for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I have aged, I have become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I have become my own friend. I don’t chide myself for eating that extra brownie, or for not making my bed. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends

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The ABILITY to DELEGATE is a strength of ALL good leaders!.The inability to delegate is one of the chief reasons Masters reduce their effectiveness. Another is their inability to make decisions effectively. These two personality traits have contributed to a master’s ineffectiveness than any amount of inexperience.There are a number of reasons why a Master must analyze his workload and delegate as

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Being that the Grand Lodge of Ohio was established in the year 1808, I wanted to determine if any Native Americans played a part in Freemasonry during that period. I found there were some Native Americans who were made Masons during this period.There is little information regarding Native Americans and Freemasonry, but fortunately, there was enough for me to make some comparisons between Native

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. Some time ago, I was researching folk history in Illinois. Several people in the countryside had told me of a farm family, who had the ax Abraham Lincoln used when splitting logs for a living as a young man.I finally located the farm, and found the farmer in the yard splitting wood for a living room fireplace. I asked him about the story.“Yes,” said the farmer, “It’s true. Abe Lincoln lived

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.I sincerely wish you would have the experience of living within a new idea, planning it, organizing it, following it to completion and then having it be magnificently successful.I also hope you will go through the same process and have something “bomb out” horribly.I wish you could achieve some great good for mankind, a special favor for someone and have no one know about it except yourself.I

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Last evening, about six-thirty,I went to a visitation.For a departed member of a Masonic LodgeWithout any hesitation.I slowly entered the funeral home,Rather solemnly, I confess,I thought many there would greet meAs his Masonic Brothers, no less.Only three of his Lodge Brother’s were present,While the family sat alone,Where is all the Brotherly Love?His Brothers should have shown.Not only was I

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The ceremony of your initiation is now at an end. We have delivered to you, the Ancient Charge, relating to your Masonic conduct in the Lodge, at home, and in your community. So far, all has been carried out in strict accordance with a prescribed formula, that certain invaluable, and incomparable landmarks, might never be omitted, nor departed from; but, Masonry is so infinite in its application

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.Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, educational and religious society. Its principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only secrets are in methods of recognition and of symbolic instruction. It is charitable in that it is not organized for profit and none of its income insures to the benefit of any individual, but all is devoted to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of

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A few years ago, I was invited to address some of the senior boys and monks at a Catholic retreat a few miles from where I lived in the Northeast. I spoke for nearly an hour on Freemasonry, its symbols and its principles. I quoted passages from the charge after initiation, to give them as idea of what a candidate is taught in our rituals. I explained the working tools, and how we moralize their

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Well now, here’s something I never knew before, and now that I know it, I feel compelled to share it with you and at the finish, I hope you will also feel edified.Isn’t history more fun when you know something about it?Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the British, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the

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_ Masonry promised me nothing except opportunity for mental and spiritual growth and the opportunity to be serviceable to God and to my fellow man.I came of my own free will and accord as all men in all ages have done.I learned that Masonry is not a religion in the sense that we think of the church, but that it is a true ally of ALL religions.I learned that Masonry is interested in the character

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Thoughts of you come drifting backWithin this heart of mine,I take a trip to yesterdayAnother day in time.A time when I was growing up,And you were always there.Put to the test, you did your bestYou handled things with care.For holding out, not giving in,When others got their wayFor saying no, my strength did grow,I thank you Dad, today.To you, I owe so many thanks,For teaching right from wrong,

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You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing of years.It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married, and embarking on my new life with my mate.And yet, in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all…I have glimpses of how it was back then, and of all my hopes and dreams….But here it is…the

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.I believe this is the time for us to reflect once again, on the beneficial influence of Freemasonry on our lives, and rededicate ourselves anew, for practicing and the spreading of Masonic principles. It is also an occasion for us to concentrate on some of the problems facing us today. One of these is adherence to the ethics, and code of conduct.What has happened to the ethics revered and

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.Members come to Masonry for many reasons. Because of a relative, because of a friend, because of fellowship, because of curiosity, or maybe because they think they will get ahead. The reason we join is irrelevant. After joining, we found men who treated us with brotherly love. This, in turn, relieved the stress of the day. It also gave us a feeling of self worth and helped us see the true

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.Although the fruit of the buckeye tree has symbolized Ohio since the middle 1800’s, it wasn’t until 1904 that the scarlet carnation was chosen as our official state flower. This flower was a favorite of William McKinley and was adopted by the state legislature partly because it represented a token of love and reverence for the Ohio president.When legislator Elijah W. Hill introduced the adoption

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I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG,OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE,WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.Many people are coming out and speaking about the separation of Church and State and they want to banish God from our society. I, for one, cannot sit by and allow this to happen without doing what I can to speak out against this

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If the object of the first degree is to symbolize the struggles of a candidate groping in darkness for intellectual light, that of the second degree represents the same candidate laboring amid all the difficulties that encumber the younger beginner in the attainment of learning and science.Let us go back in history to the year 965 B.C., when Solomon succeeded David as King of the United Israelite

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You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001. Neither will I.I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say ‘Good-Bye.’ I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, ‘Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK, I am ready to go.’I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to

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When you sometimes feel downhearted,And life is hard to understand,It’s great to feel the pressure,Of a Brother’s friendly hand.Just to know he shares your feelings,Although he doesn’t say a word,You can feel your attitude changing,For your heart is touched, and stirred.With an arm across your shoulder,And a grip you seek to find,You can always feel the bonding,Of two hearts of humankind.It is

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“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”I wonder if we are able to

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At the start, I state, and most emphatically emphasize, that your ballot is Sacred and Secret, and no one has the right to inquire as to how you balloted, or in any way challenge your ballot.All members present must ballot on a petition, and it is an un-Masonic offense to disclose a ballot, whether it be for or against a petitioner.The expression “to spread a ballot” is becoming rare, but it is

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How many wives of MasonsHave given very much thought,To the wonderful Biblical lessonsThat Masonry has taught?Have you asked yourself this question?When you sit alone at night?While hubby is away at Lodge,“Is my reasoning wrong or right?”The nights are lonely and long, I know,But then this thought occurred to me,“If my husband wasn’t a Mason,What kind of man would he be?”They call us “Masonic

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** NOTE ** This article is a conversation between a mother and her son and brings out information Freemasons should give their children. I recommend it for all the Freemasons, as a guide for enlightening their children about our noble fraternity.Mom, please explain to me, with clarity, what is a Freemason?Why are you interested in that, son?Dad is a Mason and that I know.The mother, with great

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.“Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, educational and religious society. Its principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only secrets are in methods of recognition and of symbolic instruction. It is charitable in that it is not organized for profit and none of its income insures to the benefit of any individual, but all is devoted to the promotion of the welfare and happiness

Hiram's Podiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00977104099638881450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3189756075573680520.post-68067823044997529042009-08-06T23:19:00.005-04:002009-08-06T23:29:51.478-04:00

Tonight I am being raised to a Master MasonAnd I’ll be relieved when it’s all done.The most important thing that makes me proudIs that I will be my Brothers son.I have put this off far too long,I was having too much fun.But now my priorities are all in place,Soon I will be my brother’s son.I knelt at our Altar of Obligation,Further light was brought to view.I am now a member of my Masonic Lodge,

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. This morning, I read the local newspaper from the small town where I had resided before moving here. It contained numerous eulogies for the Chief of Police who succumbed to a heart attack on May 6, 2005. He was fifty four years old. These words were beautifully written and consumed over five pages of the newspaper. While reading these eulogies which were filled with praise for this individual,

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.The remains of Charles S. Stratton, more familiar as, “General Tom Thumb,” were buried with Masonic honors in the Mountain Grove Cemetery at Bridgeport, Conn. yesterday afternoon, July 19th, 1883. He died on July 15th. It was estimated that more than 10,000 people attended the ceremonies. Of this throng, fully 8,000 were women and girls. The body lay exposed to view in St. John’s Episcopal

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. One of the distinguishing marks of true character is the willingness to take risks and go beyond what is expected by the call of duty. Extra service, the willingness to do more than what is demanded of us, is a measure of our patriotism, and the depth of our religion. To go beyond others in acts of courage, loyalty, and kindness, is one of the marks of a “good soldier.” This is true of Army Spc

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. .At this point in time, our cherished order faces a critical junction in our glorious history. Simply put, our brotherhood faces the frightening prospect of declining membership and a general apathy among many of its members.It will be necessary for all of us in the Masonic order throughout the United States to do some serious soul searching and thinking to prevent this sad prospect from

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. .We owe our being to those who came before us. We are here because they were here, and because of the way, their lives unfolded. Imagine, if you will, the countless chance happenings, the many coincidences and accidents, all of which had to come about in the precise way they did, in order to result in our being here, and, being what we are!.Each of us attends our Lodge meetings, because we want

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Many times since I became a member of this grand fraternity, I have in retrospective moments, asked myself, why I am proud to be a Mason and I dwell upon those things that Masonry has brought before me. The feelings of warmth, friendship and potential comfort in times of distress are always with me, yet they seem to appear most readily in lodge.I think that Masonry is many things to many people,

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Greetings my friends!Welcome to Hiram's Podium. A place where you will find interesting articles on many topics; especially on Freemasonry. I am a long time Mason. I have served my lodge in many capacities as well as Worshipful Master. I have done all the work required and then some.I tell you this so you will know I am quite qualified and acquainted with the topics we will cover. Please feel

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