Good or Bad TV Coverage

Lauderdale (12/01/2009)

Bro David, even long before the Internet was but a dream, when the one way communications device in most people's home was a Wireless using valves (vacuum tubes) and few had a TV set there was a book published in 1952, Darkness Visible, by Walton Hannah. It is available to this day, from the likes of Amazon and even in the shops in Gt Queen Street London and in Letchworth's Shop in Freemason's Hall itself. I read it in my teens and ignoring Hannah's anti-Masonic opinions I found that it gave a detailed and accurate account of the Rituals etc. It whetted my appetite to become a Freemason. Reading this or any other book will not of course make one a Freemason.

Yes Brother, and I like to think friend. I think I am about a decade older than you and well remember the Marconi which only my mother was allowed to operate (certainly not my dad) - I remember when a valve blew, sometimes having to wait a week before a new one could be bought. I too bought Hannah's book about 30 years ago and like you it whetted my appetite. Now I have broadband access, build websites and all sorts of other things hardly imaginable even a few years ago.

I always attempt to put forward my views in a precise manner but In this case the message I intended has failed to register.

Its only a month since I was initiated and even without consulting the personalised copy of the ritual my WM thoughtfully sent me the following morning I can remember the comprehensive and explicit nature of the promise I made not to disclose any part of the ritual.

I think it is beyond dispute that parts of the ritual etc were mentioned during the clips. Had I done that I would have broken my solemn promise. Whilst what was disclosed on TV is (and has been for years) available in books and the internet to those who sought out such information those two programmes, admittedly on a regional basis, placed it before viewers "on a plate" so that many more people are now aware then when it was necessary to seek out a book or trawl through the internet to find it.

Author	Message
Iain	Posted 12/01/2009 23:49:33
Master Group: Forum Member Last Active: 17/11/2011 12:26:40 Posts: 588, Visits: 770 674	My mother lodge is a good 200 yards from the church door, But we have to take our regalia over and put it on in the church hall, as one of the older boys says "in my day you put your regalia on at home before going to the meeting now we cant go 200 yards to church". We are however made very welcome in church and march in under our lodge standards and our devine service is opened to any members of the public who wish to attend, Then we have to get our regalia off to walk the long 200yds back to the lodge. All it takes is the majority of the brethren at a meeting to vote to walk in regalia to church services etc and that is it, I have tried before and I will try again this year, fingers crossed. If I manage to get it through I will post pictures. Cheers, Iain Dumbarton Kilwinning Lodge No 18
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David	Posted 13/01/2009 00:15:41
Fellow Group: Forum Member Last Active: 02/01/2012 23:59:50 Posts: 123, Visits: 1,490 258	Lauderdale (12/01/2009) Bro David, even long before the Internet was but a dream, when the one way communications device in most people's home was a Wireless using valves (vacuum tubes) and few had a TV set there was a book published in 1952, Darkness Visible, by Walton Hannah. It is available to this day, from the likes of Amazon and even in the shops in Gt Queen Street London and in Letchworth's Shop in Freemason's Hall itself. I read it in my teens and ignoring Hannah's anti-Masonic opinions I found that it gave a detailed and accurate account of the Rituals etc. It whetted my appetite to become a Freemason. Reading this or any other book will not of course make one a Freemason. Yes Brother, and I like to think friend. I think I am about a decade older than you and well remember the Marconi which only my mother was allowed to operate (certainly not my dad) - I remember when a valve blew, sometimes having to wait a week before a new one could be bought. I too bought Hannah's book about 30 years ago and like you it whetted my appetite. Now I have broadband access, build websites and all sorts of other things hardly imaginable even a few years ago. I always attempt to put forward my views in a precise manner but In this case the message I intended has failed to register. Its only a month since I was initiated and even without consulting the personalised copy of the ritual my WM thoughtfully sent me the following morning I can remember the comprehensive and explicit nature of the promise I made not to disclose any part of the ritual. I think it is beyond dispute that parts of the ritual etc were mentioned during the clips. Had I done that I would have broken my solemn promise. Whilst what was disclosed on TV is (and has been for years) available in books and the internet to those who sought out such information those two programmes, admittedly on a regional basis, placed it before viewers "on a plate" so that many more people are now aware then when it was necessary to seek out a book or trawl through the internet to find it. S & F David
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Mike Martin	Posted 13/01/2009 01:28:29
Excellent Master Group: Administrator Last Active: 37 minutes ago Posts: 2,318, Visits: 11,808 2,714	David (13/01/2009) I think it is beyond dispute that parts of the ritual etc were mentioned during the clips. Had I done that I would have broken my solemn promise. Whilst what was disclosed on TV is (and has been for years) available in books and the internet to those who sought out such information those two programmes, admittedly on a regional basis, placed it before viewers "on a plate" so that many more people are now aware then when it was necessary to seek out a book or trawl through the internet to find it. Two points, I would make to that. the Ritual that was disclosed was a few words of the Working Tools of an EA (even though they called them MM) and of all the ritual that should be shared the working tools are it. I can point you to one website that contains full Emulation Ritual (only edited to include the signs tokens and words in full) as well as Exhaltation and quite a few other Orders' rituals as well. Through the Net it is now on a plate for anyone who wants it. Mike Mike Mersey Lodge No. 5434 Website The Freemasons'''' Grand Charity Website See my BALLS here
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lauderdale	Posted 13/01/2009 05:51:22
Excellent Master Group: Forum Member Last Active: 10/07/2011 06:43:06 Posts: 2,136, Visits: 4,278 2,476	Bro Roy, the Orange Order (I am not a member thereof), does have some branches in England, one I think in Portsmouth and I assume some in London and possibly Liverpool, and Corby where there are many Scots. It is however very small down here and I haven't ever seen an "Orange Walk" (Parade) in England nor has anyone here ever said to me that the Masons are connected with the Orange Order. In Scotland the situation is different as the Orange Order is large and well established in that country, especially in the Glasgow and South-West of Scotland and holds parades. A significant number of people have membership both of the Orange Order and the Freemasons although of course both are completely separate organisations. This can lead to the erroneous belief by some non-Masons, especially RCs in Scotland, that the Orange Order and the Masons are part of the same body. However, I do not see this as a reason for Masons not to parade in Regalia at some public occasion, to a Church service etc, if that Lodge wishes to do so.
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David	Posted 13/01/2009 09:44:38
Fellow Group: Forum Member Last Active: 02/01/2012 23:59:50 Posts: 123, Visits: 1,490 258	Mike Martin (13/01/2009) David (13/01/2009) I think it is beyond dispute that parts of the ritual etc were mentioned during the clips. Had I done that I would have broken my solemn promise. Whilst what was disclosed on TV is (and has been for years) available in books and the internet to those who sought out such information those two programmes, admittedly on a regional basis, placed it before viewers "on a plate" so that many more people are now aware then when it was necessary to seek out a book or trawl through the internet to find it. Two points, I would make to that. the Ritual that was disclosed was a few words of the Working Tools of an EA (even though they called them MM) and of all the ritual that should be shared the working tools are it. I can point you to one website that contains full Emulation Ritual (only edited to include the signs tokens and words in full) as well as Exhaltation and quite a few other Orders' rituals as well. Through the Net it is now on a plate for anyone who wants it. Mike Yes, I understand that - but you are still missing the point I am trying to make about television coverage[u][/u] I give up! S & F David
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daves	Posted 13/01/2009 22:04:58
Fellow Group: Forum Member Last Active: 19/02/2011 04:33:16 Posts: 273, Visits: 480 339	[b]David (13/01/2009) Its only a month since I was initiated and even without consulting the personalised copy of the ritual my WM thoughtfully sent me the following morning I can remember the comprehensive and explicit nature of the promise I made not to disclose any part of the ritual. After I was initiated, I was asked how I planned to memorise the Answers for my Passing. I was further told that writing down or inputting into my PC those Answers in full would be a breach of my SO and that I should put in dot, dot, dot in the relevant bits. Although it disappoints me that other feel free to break their SO, I will continue to be cautious. IMHO the SO is about the individual FM and his fidelity to it. I understand that our monthly GL Masonic Bulletin is sent to all public libraries in the State. The MB contains many photos of Brethren in full regalia as well as stories about specific Masonic charitable activities Daves The Carrington Lodge (WAC 363) Western Australian Lodge of Research (WAC 277) Bassendean RA Chapter (WAC 20) 18^o Sharon SRCC (No 140 AASR, Australia) [url=http://thecarringtonlodge.blogspot.com][/url]
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David	Posted 13/01/2009 22:19:38
Fellow Group: Forum Member Last Active: 02/01/2012 23:59:50 Posts: 123, Visits: 1,490 258	"Although it disappoints me that other feel free to break their SO, I will continue to be cautious. IMHO the SO is about the individual FM and his fidelity to it." I am all for openness. Sussex is one of the Provinces that has a stand at the County Show and I couldn't agree with you more. I am delighted that you understand my point. I have to say I am very surprised and dissapointed regarding how sanguine people are about that aspect of the programmes. I realise they are far more experienced in Masonic matters than I am but nevertheless I stand by my opinion and the promise I made. (For the avoidance of doubt I am not suggesting that they are taking their obligations lightly -its just my opinion) S & F David
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lauderdale	Posted 14/01/2009 05:33:46
Excellent Master Group: Forum Member Last Active: 10/07/2011 06:43:06 Posts: 2,136, Visits: 4,278 2,476	When I had to learn Ritual, back in 1995/96 when in the Chair of my Mother Lodge in Brighton, I recorded it onto a cassette tape and played it via a Sony Walkman learning on my way to work, on the train, going for a walk etc. I was alone when the tape was recorded and when I no longer needed it I burned the tape. It made it much easier to hear the words in my own voice. I also found a good way to learn was to type out on my PC what I had memorised then compare this to the words in the Ritual Book, correcting in bold those words I had got wrong . Again when no longer needed this was shredded. Living alone I have no issue regarding "Cowans". Nowadays I no longer have this problem and can concentrate on understanding the words in the Ritual and polish my delivery of them in Lodge and to the Candidate.
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David	Posted 14/01/2009 11:44:21
Fellow Group: Forum Member Last Active: 02/01/2012 23:59:50 Posts: 123, Visits: 1,490 258	Excellent advice. I will try this for my forthcoming passing. S & F David
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Will	Posted 14/01/2009 19:56:19
Apprentice Group: Forum Member Last Active: 28/05/2010 12:52:36 Posts: 53, Visits: 91 83	I am very proud to be a Freemason and people who know me, even only vaguely, know that I am a member so I know that my own actions in life(hopefully) reflect honour on the Craft. So I say these little television snippets are long overdue and most welcome. It is time for Freemasonry in Britain to resume its former place as a pillar of Society and to be recognised as such by non-Masons. Just my tuppence worth Brethren. I agree 100% with Mike's views here. I thought that the programmes were balanced and fair and I certainly don't think that any harm whatsoever was done - far from it. IMHO openness will be vital to our very survival. There is no point in saying, "We have always done it this way" - times change and we need to change with them. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with our traditions, quite the opposite. However, this is the 21st Century and we are now seeing a far more positive attitude to Freemasonry than has been present for some time now. We need to do all we can to develop and encourage this positive attitude. Again, from a personal point of view (everyone is entitled to their own opinion) I think that the PGM and information team in Berkshire are to be congratulated in allowing the programmes to be made. P.M. & A.D.C. of Prince of Wales Lodge No. 1705 I.G. - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge No. 9263 Third Principal - Alverstoke R.A. Chapter No. 1705
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Good or Bad TV Coverage