New Edition of Freemasons For Dummies Available in January

The new, revised edition of Freemasons For Dummies hits stores and Amazon.com on Monday, January 29th, 2013. If yours is dog-eared and worn, or has been absconded by a well intentioned brother who fully intended to return it to you, here's a chance to score a new copy, complete with a spiffy new cover, which I took at the Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C.'s headquarters several years ago. Thanks to everyone who has made the book a hit, almost from the start.

Masonic Society at Masonic Week 2013

The Officers and the Board of Directors cordially invite you to attend
The Fifth Annual Dinner and Meeting
of
The Masonic Society
At Masonic Week 2013
The Hyatt Regency Hotel
Reston, Virginia
Friday Evening, February 8, 2013
6:00 PM







Featured Speaker:
Andrew Hammer
Past Master, Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, A.F.& A.M.
Author, Observing the Craft

All Freemasons and Ladies are Welcome!

Please make all reservations through the Masonic Week 2013 Website at http://yorkrite.org/MasonicWeek

PLEASE NOTE:
The Masonic Society will not have tickets for sale.
All tickets MUST be purchased in advance from the Masonic Week organizers.
Tickets will NOT be available at the door.
RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE AND CHECKS RECEIVED BY THE MASONIC WEEK STAFF BY JANUARY 31, 2013.

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Masonic Week Hospitality Suite

The Society will once again sponsor a hospitality suite at Masonic Week 2013. Please check at our membership table for the room number.

Message for Arkansas Shriners

Imperial Potentate Alan Madsen's Video Message for Arkansas Shriners

Freemasons Gaining Popularity in Asia

Freemasons are gaining popularity in Asia, according to an article on the Telegraph website.

From "Freemasons grow in popularity in Asia" by Justin Harper:

British-born Australian Nick Jacobs, 41, is an example of the new breed of Freemasons helping to grow the membership. He said: “It definitely has an attraction to expats as you get to meet up with people in a strange city and very quickly they are like brothers to you. And these are people you wouldn’t normally be friends with as they are outside the expat community.” 

He added: “There are many older gentlemen who are active Freemasons in Singapore but we are finding that we are also attracting a much younger demographic of expats and locals.” 

Freemasons in Asia regularly take part in social activities such as inter-lodge paintballing sessions and pub quizzes. 

Singapore has eight English lodges and is part of a district that includes Malaysia and Thailand. Many countries in Asia are seeing a spike in popularity for the Freemasons, especially those nations with colonial roots and established lodges. 

Dennis Heath, a British expat and Freemason in Singapore, added: “We see a lot of expats passing through Singapore who want to come to the lodge where they know they will be welcomed warmly. We also have expats who were previously part of a lodge back in the UK, along with those joining for the first time. The traditions and history of the Freemasons has a strong appeal in the fast-paced, digital world we live in.”

Read more here.

"Builders of Dreams: The California Masonic Experience

A short video, Builders of Dreams: The California Masonic Experience, is available on YouTube.

PGM Stifani Suspended

According to the Romanian Masonic Press Agency, Jean-Pierre Servel, the new Grand Master of Grande Loge Nationale Française decided on December 4, 2012, to suspend Past Grand Master François Stifani.

Stifani was suspended for unethical Masonic conduct, violation of fundamental rules, attempt against the Fundamental Principles of the Craft and attempting against the image and proper functioning of the French National Grand Lodge.
According to this decree, Stifani is forbidden to attend GLNF's Lodge meetings, the Annual Communication and Board of General Purposes. After years of internal struggle, Stifani is temporarily removed from GLNF, which may indicate that Servel wants to show to the United Grand Lodge of England that GLNF can have once again credibility.

Neal Bidnick, PGM of New York, Restored to Membership

James E. Sullivan, Grand Master of New York, has lifted the suspension of Past Grand Master Neal Bidnick (2006-2008) and restored to hime the full rights and privileges of a Master Mason. He has found that Bidnick did not commit an act of "moral turpitude" or "scandal or degradation of the fraternity in the public eye." Further, he says that "no larceny or misappropriation of funds occurred and in fact the notice announcing those findings, sent out by the Grand Secretary's office in April 2012, was misleading and incorrect." "The Masonic misfortune of trials, suspension, and expulsion fell upon our Past Grand Master when he was also suffering under extreme personal distress with respect to a matter which involved his wife. This was a time when brothers should have come to his aid to ease the distress, rather than inflame it."

"The Life Masonic" Podcast

Check out Jason Van Dyke's regular podcast, "The Life Masonic" on the Scottish Rite website. Click here. There are interviews and philosophical discussions, along with practical advice. Twelve episodes so far.

From this month's episode description:

our guest this month is Scott Gillis. He's just a guy. He's like any other guy you'll meet in your Lodge, or your church, or your pub. But Scott has a way of telling a story. And the story is of his life so far. He never seems to find the easy way, but he's turned out pretty well. He has always found a way to triumph over the adversity in his life. And that story, to me, has a kind of casual inspiration. It's not super hero stuff, but its stuff I know I could learn from and do better with in my own life. I hope you think so too.

GM of Florida Expels Wiccans, Gnostics and Others

In a surprising and unprecedented move, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons of the State of Florida, Jorge L. Aladro has effectively expelled from the Craft all Pagans, Wiccans, Gnostics, Agnostics and members of other non-Christian or pre-Christian religious belief systems. In his Ruling and Decision No. 3, dated November 26, 2012, the Grand Master issued an ultimatum to any member of the aforementioned groups: Resign from the Craft, or face trial and expulsion from Florida Freemasonry.

To read the Grand Master’s ruling and decision, click here.