An exciting, new organization to cultivate a greater understanding of Freemasonry has been launched to serve the Craft throughout North America. Called simply The Masonic Society, we are gathering together brothers who have a deep and abiding desire to seek knowledge, explore history, discover symbolism, debate philosophies, and in short, who will be at the forefront of charting a path for the future of Freemasonry. While some of its Founding Fellows are among the best known writers, researchers and organizers in Freemasonry, The Masonic Society is made up of authors, historians, scholars, ritualists, administrators, internet authors - experienced veterans, and new Masons alike, embracing traditional and new forms of media.
The Masonic Society will publish its quarterly Journal, containing insights into the meaning of Masonry in a literary yet accessible voice. The writers you'll meet are many of the very same authors and educators you already know from the world's leading lodges and societies of Masonic research, and others from local lodges you may have visited in your travels. What brings them together in this enterprise is their never faltering love of Freemasonry and their mutual desire to shine that Light toward brethren who might not feel "at home" in a formal research lodge or research society. In each issue, you'll be informed and entertained by timely reporting of current events from around the globe; by its insightful opinions; by the scholarship of non-Masons in academia; and by many, many more thought-provoking attractions that have been absent from Masonic magazines for decades.
The Journal Of The Masonic Society will help to nurture research lodges around the US and Canada by featuring the best of their work that rarely gets distributed outside of their own meetings. And The Journal will be the only North American magazine devoted to Freemasonry that will feature advertising from the world of Masonic publishing, regalia, jewelry and collectibles - companies that currently have no way to tell Freemasons they are open for business.
The official launch date of The Masonic Society was May 1st, and the response has already been overwhelming. We hope you will see fit to join, and make The Masonic Society your own.
For more information or to join online, go to: www.themasonicsociety.com
Ok, so you can copy and paste some information into your blog. But what is your opinion on the Masonic Society? Is it worth it?
ReplyDeleteWell, since I wrote much of what's on the website, I don't feel too bad about posting it here.
ReplyDeleteOnly you can decide if it's worth it, but as editor of the new Journal of The Masonic Society, I can tell you I believe we are filling a void in the US Masonic research world. There is no North American equivalent of Britain's Freemasonry Today, and we will fill that niche. The Journal will be full color, featuring news from all around the Masonic world, articles and book reviews from today's best Masonic authors, and academic non-Masons.
We will nurture the research lodges around the US and Canada by featuring the best of their research work that rarely gets read outside of their own meetings. And we will be the only North American magazine devoted to Freemasonry that will feature advertising from the world of Masonic publishing, regalia, jewelry and collectibles - companies that currently have no way to tell Masons they are open for business. Membership also includes the Society's private internet forum.
We are forging relationships with the leadership of the US York Rite bodies, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, and the organizers of Masonic Week in Alexandria, Virginia. It is our desire to be partners with these organizations, not their adversaries. Freemasonry is a fraternity based on building, and so, we intend to be builders.
Remember, we've only been officially open for three days. Yet in the first 36 hours, more than 100 members signed up. We are not just selling subscriptions to a magazine, but memberships, and as more members come on board, the package of member benefits will continue to grow. In addition to an annual gathering at Masonic Week each year, we are planning another meeting/program in different places across North America each year for our members to participate in and enjoy. Most important, as a new organization, we are open to the needs, desires and requests of our growing membership.
So only you can decide whether it's worth it to you.
Looks pretty interesting, Chris. Being newly raised in the first (and recently chartered) Emulation Lodge in Wisconsin, and being a researcher myself, the new Society grabs my interest. I signed up this morning. I'm looking forward to the Society's success and hope I can contribute.
ReplyDeleteFantastic news, I have been waiting to subscribe to Freemasonry Today (already get The Square) and am thrilled to have a US based publication to add to my reading list! I will be signing up when I get back home from New York City.
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