tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post5452536208534070588..comments2024-03-26T12:05:58.591-04:00Comments on Freemasons For Dummies: Ladies' Oriental Shrine Drops Masonic requirementChristopher Hodapphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-40270177342335137682009-06-15T21:46:38.871-04:002009-06-15T21:46:38.871-04:00Has anyone asked what it would be like to cross th...Has anyone asked what it would be like to cross the sands without being a Mason after the masonic requirement is dropped from AANOMS? Imagine being a non-Mason joining the Shrine, and finding yourself vastly outnumbered by Masons, all in positions of seniority compared to yourself. I could imagine a new Noble believing that not being a Mason would make him a second-class Noble.<br /><br />If the Shrine drops the masonic requirement, would they accept women as Nobles?47th Problem of Euclidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13764497527575454299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-90457033783572638542009-06-09T13:24:57.421-04:002009-06-09T13:24:57.421-04:00Imperial Council Session in San Antonio, Texas in ...<i>Imperial Council Session in San Antonio, Texas in July</i><br /><br />Geeze I would almost rather be in Afghanistan than deal with San Antonio during the Imperial Council Session. :)<br /><br />-Bro VickFD2Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00107071548484176640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-48445352974655499542009-06-09T03:02:36.768-04:002009-06-09T03:02:36.768-04:00Let me introduce a contrarian opinion here (I know...Let me introduce a contrarian opinion here (I know, big surprise), just looking at things from the perspective of the potential effect on the Blue Lodge of a split between Masonry and the Shrine:<br /><br /><i><b>What is the big deal if the Shrine splits from its Masonic connection?</b></i><br /><br />Surely no one is saying that you'd have to <i>choose</i> one or the other, right? That really <i>would</i> be a big deal, and a cause of mighty contention. But that's not what's on the table. People who want to be both, can be both.<br /><br />I can think of a very few people I've known who joined Masonry in order to get to the Shrine. I have been led to understand that this was not always the case, and that there was once quite a lot of people who joined Masonry (and, in that era, the Scottish or York Rites) in order to get to the Shrine. But I don't think we've seen that many people do this for some time.<br /><br />Sure, there will be some guys who drop out of Freemasonry if the Shrine splits, and local lodges will suffer the loss of dues. Not a small thing, I know, especially in this economy. <br /><br />But has it occurred to anyone that there might be an <i>upside</i> here for the local lodge?<br /><br />With all due respect to my esteemed brothers in the Shrine, it must be said that there is an aspect to the public reputation of the Shrine that is not so good. The hospital thing is noble, plain and simple. But there is also the long-standing rep of being a party organization, and not a particularly dignified one, at that. (I remember the first Shrine publication I ever saw, which contained a picture of two guys wearing a woman's bra on their heads. That says it all.)<br /><br />To a lot of men in the world at large, there is but a fuzzy distinction if any between Shriners and Masons. When I let it be known that I was going to be initiated into Masonry at the local Blue Lodge, several of my associates asked incredulously, "<i>You're</i> going to be a <i>Shriner?!?</i>" (Sue me--I have a rep as a somewhat serious guy.) I explained that (a) no, I wasn't, and (b) even if I were, being a Shriner involves a lot of things beyond the gags and convention pranks, particularly in the area of charity for horribly injured kids.<br /><br />Nonetheless, the gags and convention pranks are what stick in people's minds, sometimes for years. (That popular C&W song doesn't help any, incidentally. When I mentioned an interest in Masonry many years ago, my then-girlfriend broke out into quite the rendition.)<br /><br />All of this might just hold some gentlement back from petitioning the Lodge. They aren't into the prank and gag and party-boy thing. <br /><br />Hence, a suggestion. If the Shrine decides to split, let every Blue Lodge in the nation let its local paper and TV and radio stations know that the Blue Lodge has always been a think apart, and will be continuing on, ready to welcome any gentlement who've been reticent to look into us because they thought we were all Shriners. Make it a teaching opportunity, brethren.Mark Koltko-Riverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11173090767545559729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-82102543005638616832009-06-08T18:30:28.676-04:002009-06-08T18:30:28.676-04:00In the short experience I have had with Masonry an...In the short experience I have had with Masonry and the Shrine, I have only seen one person join the lodge with the intent of solely becoming a shriner. <br /><br />Masonically at least, the shrine has performed its alotted use and has become just another organization without the glam that it once had. It is inevitable that a split will occur, the sooner it happens, the easier it will be for both organizations to adjust.Brother Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13704071553695380449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-31488217232193868782009-06-08T01:24:23.244-04:002009-06-08T01:24:23.244-04:00Frankly, I don't know if there are huge number...Frankly, I don't know if there are huge numbers of people who want to join the Shrine but balk at joining the Masons.<br /><br />I guess this is another difference between Canada and the U.S. I see it having very little effect on my Grand Lodge. I don't know too many people who petition a Lodge to be Shriners. They're young guys interested in the principles/philosophy of Freemasonry. <br /><br />The Ladies Oriental Shrine folded here but I was told by a Past President the reason was there is a regulation which forbids someone from repeating as president. Thus, they couldn't get officers.<br /><br /><a href="http://justamason.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Justa</a>Still Justa Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18251151452545005294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-38633988948004033692009-06-07T17:13:34.384-04:002009-06-07T17:13:34.384-04:00Russ, there are many reasons, but the economic one...Russ, there are many reasons, but the economic one today is the most compelling. There will be big ramifications at first, and there is no question that grand lodges will suffer the most from the split, at least at first. But in the end, I truly believe a split will be the best course for both organizations.Christopher Hodapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-47397792083236446932009-06-07T16:49:43.826-04:002009-06-07T16:49:43.826-04:00I strongly agree with your opinion that it is time...I strongly agree with your opinion that it is time for the Shrine to leave Masonry. It would be best for both groups. I applaud you for standing up and saying so.Russ Spicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03298188285088749857noreply@blogger.com