Comments for The Tao of Masonry

Comment on Masonic Morality & Temperance by John D. Conley

John D. Conley — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:27:06 +0000

History shows clearly that those secrets entrusted to us, allow us to be a moderate voice, to look beyond the narrow limitations of institutions, and to embrace a wide swath of me, regardless of their beliefs.

We can, if properly prepared, go underground. We then can still influence in a positive manner, society. In Mozart’s time, Lodges were closed, members forced to disclose their affiliation, and their ties to the Mother Lodges were severed.

Once you adorn your skin with a permanent sign that are a Mason, you cannot turn back. In order for the organization to survive the fanatics, and their attempts to control society there needs to be some, who rather than martyr themselves, sit quietly amongst the brethren, and are prepared to take an ‘underground’ role.

Some jurisdictions still have prohibitions regarding stickers on cars, rings, and other marks of membership. A good friend of mine from a Bible Belt area told me such a story, and punctuated it with the fact that if a local person was known as a Mason, he could kiss goodbye local government, police department, fire department, etc. due to the evangelical opposition to the craft.

Adorning ones arm with ink to mark your body in a permanent manner requires careful thought. Contemplate the past, the future, and the consequences.

As a past master of a lodge I would never tell a member that they should not acquire a masonic tattoo, however I would urge caution.

Masonry, like society has evolved. The pre-victorian era of the Lodge as a party and meeting of enlightened people (aka Robbie Burns), transformed itself into a temperance movement of sorts near the end of the Victorian Era, and in the US, this was the case until close to the end of the First Great War.

Perhaps a contemplation of our history through the Music of the early Masons, and an examination of our objectives need to be included in the introspection each Mason should make as they make their ‘Daily Advancement in Masonic Knowledge.’

Our organization began as a light in a Dark Age, where ordinary men were exhorted to rise up and study the liberal arts and sciences. They bonded over a few glasses of spirits, toasted their brothers, and made society much of what it should be, not only in the late 1700’s but through the ages to this day.

Many would do well to understand that the celebration of the establishment of Masonic Charity was sung at the trestle board after Lodge, the song To Old Hirim in Heaven where he sat in full glee…was penned before 1800, and sung in England, Canada, and the US. In the US the tune became popular, published in Masonic Songbooks in the 1850’s with new words, until a point during the great war the new words were adopted with the same tune, as “The Star Spangled Banner.”

In summation, at your initiation you were taught to be cautious..take those words and examine them, and do what you will..

Comment on Masonic Morality & Temperance by David Coss

David Coss — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:06:28 +0000

Brothers,
With regards to these posts, my thoughts lean towards many areas. Primarily following up on what Brother Horn mentioned. A tattoo is a permanent testament to our love and passion for our chosen Craft. Taking a look throughout history, Masons have tattooed many things. Not only their bodies, but buildings, monuments, and the very money we carry in our pocket. While we must hold many things secret only to the initiated, and outward sign of our love and passion only solidifies the oath that we each took as an EN and continue to hold true today.

Comment on Masonic Morality & Temperance by Drew Horn

Drew Horn — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:16:16 +0000

Hi Brothers,
I can’t believe how popular that Masonicink page has become, we are constantly updating new images and are actually working on it right now as I post this. There are hundreds of brothers in the gallery now. It gets more traffic than my other site…. I guess there will always be resistance to the idea, some feel it’s breaking our obligations by actually printing or imaging these symbols, or displaying them, and others think just having a tattoo is irresponsible and immoral. I’m not a tattoo evangelist, I think they are neat and have a couple of my own, but mainly they are there for me to cement and reinforce the great concepts learned through freemasonry. In answer to criticism I often suggest that a tattoo is not a lapel pin or ring that can be removed after lodge night, it’s a bold statement about your determination to stay true to the ideals and tenets of Freemasonry!! As it is said – a Freemason should be recognized by his behavior and therefore form a favorable opinion of the fraternity and craft. If it is blatantly recognizable that a man is a Freemason then there’s no denying his behavior.

oh well, neat to see it all.

Comment on Masonic Morality & Temperance by George W. Black

George W. Black — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:02:06 +0000

Our lodge just passed a young Brother and will raise him before he goes to Kosivo with his unit. I was interested in his tatoos and noted my own thoughts as he was presented. ( I wouldn’t do this to myself and those are really interesting tatoos). I also remembered that there are other Brothers with some very interesting designs. All of this brought my attention to the fact that things do change – it’s a constant – and we always have the choice to accept or reject. I’m a 50 year Mason and have seen qiuite a bit of change. Brother Dunn said it all ” It’s all about changing me.”

Comment on Masonic Media: Secret messages in commercial broadcasts by Larry

Larry — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:25:36 +0000

It is incredible what you can achieve with a good tile saw. This has been helpful but I will keep looking to be able to compare the available machines. Thank you for posting this.

Comment on The merger is off! by Tom Accuosti

Tom Accuosti — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:53:11 +0000

You can still review it. Actually, it’s not as lame as some of the GL sites that I’ve seen…

Comment on The merger is off! by Greg

Greg — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:49:34 +0000

Awww, but I was so hoping to add it to my list of Grand Lodge sites to review….

Comment on Masonic Morality & Temperance by Tom Accuosti

Tom Accuosti — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:58:41 +0000

Bro. George –

I now have met quite a few younger Masons who are pierced and inked. I try to regard it as a personal style. Back in the 60s, there were huge arguments over hair length. Why? Because nobody had done it before.

You do know about the website Masonicink.com, right? Do you have any Masonic tatts, and have you thought about putting them up?

Comment on Masonic Morality & Temperance by george blanton

george blanton — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:19:45 +0000

hello brothers, I’m a past master as well as a member of all the affiliate bodys. I am heavily tatooed as well as some of my brothers in our lodge. These have all been good comments and all with their own merits, the biggest thing to remember other than what the charges and lectures teach us and i give all three to new canidates, is that masonry has survived through the ages and individual ideas of man and members. as masonry stays the same in depth it must change to appeal to new members. the thought of tattoos in our fraternity is no different than these so called one day classes. I understand that the older generations have held the craft together for centuries before me, but I feel that masonry is the most important thing I have ever got in volved in in my life. I spent 4 years in the Marine Corps and 4 years in college and like most young men of my time I got a few tattoos. I guess more than most,lol. my brothers at my lodge have taught me true masonry, they do not regaurd my tattoos as any thing but me. They encourage me to be myself and to strive to be the best mason I can be. They know the real me and that the tattoos are just an expression of me the same way that my helping a homeless person or less fortunate creature reflects my masonic spirit in general. The craft teaches all of us not to let our zeal for the institution to lead us into argument with those who through ignorance may ridicule it. Unfortunately sometimes this happens to be fellow masons. But at the same time we are not to palliate the offenses of our brothern. So i say this brother you are my brother and if my tattos happen to offend you then im sorry you feel that way, but i am not mad or even upset. For you are my brother and my tattoo will not change the way i feel about you, and i can only hope that one day brother you will look past this worldy dump and see inside where the real being of a man resides.

Fraternally, George Blanton, Past Master Rome Lodge 535

Comment on Twinkle, twinkle, Evening Star by Tom Accuosti

Tom Accuosti — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:08:50 +0000

There is a co-ed group called OES – Order of the Eastern Star that is primarily a group for women with male relatives in Masonry. In many areas, the OES meets in the same building as the local lodge, and the members are generally the wives, girlfriends, or sometimes daughters of the lodge members.

You can find more information here:
http://www.easternstar.org/