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Lodges are big, small, co-located, named after their county, city, or town, but why do they have specific numbers?

How do masonic lodges get their numbers?

The process might sound simple, where you live, but is actually quite different all around the world. Let’s discuss some of the ways lodges have, or don’t have, numbers!

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Master Mason’s have a song, traditionally known as a Dirge – or a funeral song, that is used in our rituals.

The Master Masons’ Dirge may be one of numerous songs, not the least of which are:

Hark from the Tomb
Pleyel’s Hymn
Amazing Grace
Mozart’s Magic Flute
Abide With Me / I Need Thee Every Hour
The Sun Died

And, to top it off and make it more confusing, different songs may be sung to different tunes!

What Masonic Dirge is used in your jurisdiction?

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How do masonic lodges get their names? It isn’t complicated, but it might not be as easy as you think either. Whether it’s the name of the town it is based in, or the name of someone from the towns past, or the name of someone from the lodges past, or a prominent Freemason, or something inanimate, like a symbol from our lessons – there are simply many, many, things a lodge could be named after – and why!

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It is rather typical for the various individuals, clubs, groups, lodges, bodies, events, and more, in Freemasonry to be commemorated with a specialty lapel pin. This pin is the official pin for “What is a Mason?”, the popular YouTube Channel, Podcast and Website committed to spreading the truth about what Freemasonry is across the Internet.

In contemplating the design of such a pin I reached out to my viewers through Facebook, asking them what symbolism would best fit “What is a Mason?”. The results, as you can see below, varied widely, and rightly so. I have indeed expressed my enjoyment of the symbolism of the Beehive, spoke at length about the symbolism I see in the 47th Problem of Euclid, and more. What’s more is that since the channel speaks on the Symbolic Lodge as well as many other appendant bodies and concordant orders – the whole pantheon of Masonic Symbolism seemed to be applicable.

However, one brother, Randy Sanders out of Missouri, provided an interesting suggestion – essentially: Keep it Simple.

This suggestion really resonated with me. After all, even in the highest degrees of Freemasonry the lessons taught are, at their base, a mere emphasis on the lessons of the first three degrees. As such, the pin was designed to be a simple Square and Compasses, recognizable globally in Freemasonry, with a jewel/gem in the center.

This is a GREAT pin to wear to lodge, work, church, or just when out-and-about. It is subdued, almost letting it blend right into your wardrobe. It doesn’t stick out and demand attention, or have such small detail that people need to squint closely to see what it is about, but when someone does notice it and they ask “What is a Mason?”, you can confidently say, “I am”.

But is it really as simple as it looks?

Symbolism
No hate mail, please. I know (truly, I do) that every man, lodge, or jurisdiction is going to have different interpretations, histories, traditions, or even rules that might fly in the face of the symbolism explained here. That’s okay. Don’t panic. Take what follows as little more than my explanation on why the pin was designed this way. If you disagree with any of the reasons, that’s great! It means you are observing and being contemplative, so it is a win-win.

What is in a name?
While this pin will likely be known as the “What is a Mason?” pin, I, personally, call it Observation, Contemplation & Transformation. Why? Because, at the root, I think that is what Speculative Freemasonry is all about. It also shows that a simple pin can, in fact, demonstrate some very complex concepts. Keeping the pin simple, but the name complex, felt like a good balance – something every Freemason should appreciate.

Metals
In a world bereft of costs, the pin would be made of specific materials that would better capture the intent, but alas, symbolism will have to suffice.

The Square
The square of a stonemason can be seen depicted in many different forms, and made of various materials, even in operational stone masonry. But we are Speculative Freemasons and as such the square used in this pin is used for the symbolism it embodies.

The square is, without argument, very important in Freemasonry. The square is an angle of 90°, which it hasn’t always been in so many depictions of the square over the ages. To reinforce the correctness of the square, one leg/arm of the square, the handle/tongue, is 3 units in length, while the other, the blade, is 4 units in length – which brings to mind the 3-4-5 Pythagorean Triples, which far predate the 47th Problem of Euclid. I encourage you to measure it – it doesn’t just LOOK right, but really is a 3-4-5 square. By measurement, this square is showing us the way in which to mathematically find a square. You can hear more about the importance of the symbol in this video, where I explained it as a guest on The Masonic Roundtable.

I will leave it to you to contemplate on the numerous ways in which the Square is implemented, demonstrated, alluded to, or taught in Freemasonry.

The square is plated in a grey metal, representing lead, a simple base metal in want of being put to use and improved upon.

The square also symbolizes creation – this planet, yes, but most importantly – YOU.

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Mississippi considers the vast majority of the Second Section Lecture SECRET – but here is what I can tell you…

The Second Section recites the historical traditions of the Institution and exemplifies an instance of virtue, fortitude, and integrity seldom equaled and never excelled in the history of man.

What does integrity mean to a Freemason?
Are Freemasons honest?
What is virtue?
What are the characteristics of a Master Mason?

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How Freemasonry spreads globally.

Joining Freemasonry can be challenging in an area where lodges are sparse, or don’t exist at all. So how did Freemasonry spread elsewhere?

How do you establish Freemasonry where it doesn’t exist?

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Happy New Year and Happy Solstice!

As the sun again begins to rise higher into the sky, providing more light to the world, may each of you rise higher each day, providing light to your fellowman.

Matthew 5:13-16 –

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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Thanks to Jerry Klien, Grand Registrar, KGC, The Grand College of Rites (http://grandcollegeofrites.org/), for the idea behind the visual representation of the Jewels from each degree (The books).

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The Working Tools of a Master Mason are all the instruments of Masonry indiscriminately, more especially the Trowel.
The Trowel is an instrument made use of by Operative Masons to spread the cement which unites a building into one common mass; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection, that cement which unites us into one sacred band or society of friends and brothers, among whom no contention should ever exist but that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who can best work and best agree.

But lets not get stuck on the operative use of these working tools. We are all, after all, Speculative Freemasons. While the operative tools and their uses can help us remember them, symbolically, the speculative, or esoteric meanings behind them are much more important.

Including Brotherly Love, which, if you have not noticed before, is both the first and the last jewels mentioned to us. The alpha, and omega. (little alpha and omega, you’ll note). Why is Brotherly Love so important that it is the only jewel that is mentioned twice, at the start, and at the end. Let’s discuss!

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