The Sprig of Acacia

You say Good-bye, I say Hello!

2010-06-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

Let me cut right to the chase, I have way to many blogs, whether it is Freemasonry, Mormonism, Root Beer, Politics, Dutch Ovens, or life in general - I am spending way too much time on Blogs. Now, I enjoy blogging, but trying to spread myself too thin just isn't getting things done. Therefore I am saying good-bye to this blog as well as all of my blogs.

With that it in mind, please check out my new blog, Col. Chubbs. This si going to be the quintessential blog, I will discuss everything that I find interesting. Just as I am a combination of all of my hobbies, so too is this new blog.

What Does FreeMasonry Offer?

2009-12-31T09:22:00.000-08:00

I get this question a lot, or one of its many brothers: Why do you keep going to Lodge, What do you get out of FreeMasonry, Why would I want to join, etc.

To answer the question we could take the physics approach. In a closed system, energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can change forms but it is constant, i.e. Conservation of Energy. In other words - you get out of it what you put into it. I honestly don't think this answers the question, just a nice way around it. It's cliche and unfortunately I have used it.

But, to be honest I have a hard time answering. The best I can answer is hope. FreeMasonry offers every brother, everyone, the whole world, the opportunity of hope.

Let me paint a grim picture-imagine a world wehre men kill over whose definition of God is correct, blood runs in the streets as mothers wail over their lost children. In this same world, greed is valued as an asset, who cares that their neighbor lost his house as long as I made a profit. Everyone watches their tongue out of fear of offending instead of common decency, and integrity has been claimed a casualty.

In this world, FreeMasonry offers hope! Hope that mankind can overcome their differences and embrace their similarities. Hope that virtue will rise above vice and baseness. FreeMasonry offers a hope that integrity and faith will govern actions instead of political correctness. This is what FreeMasonry offers and perhaps all could use a sincere dose.

Friendship and Brotherly Love; or, The Musings of the Youngest Master Mason of Canyon Lodge

2009-06-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Well, if you made it through title to get to this point, know that the most difficult part of your journey is over. And it is probably inferred, but I am currently the youngest Master Mason of Canyon Lodge #13 being only 23 years old. There are a couple of younger Entered Apprentices and FellowCrafts, and hopefully soon I will be stripped of my title.

But, there is a member of Canyon Lodge who is a great man. As our friendship has grown I have had the opportunity to get to know his family, a family that I consider an extension of my own, his children being near the same age as I am. My brother and I have had numerous discussions regarding his children join the Lodge. He always asks and comments, "What do I tell them when they ask, 'What do you do?' We sit in a lodge room and aruge over raising dues and then go downstairs and have a cup of coffee." Now, since this time Canyon Lodge has grown; the amount of degrees we perform have increased meaning our membership is growing, our lodge meeting inlcude educational features and more meaningful discussions, and we have an active community presence by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Yet, does the lodge have the corner on these markets? The short answer is no! So it must be asked, what draws men back into the lodge room? Men can participate in rituals in most organizations from the boy scouts to organized religions. The search for education and philosophy can be obtained through any good book and good discussion. And men can volunteer with any number of people through the Red Cross or the Salvation Army. It comes down to two of our most excellent tenants; Friendship and Brotherly Love!

I have found a Brother in Lodge who has become a Father figure, a man who I look up to and admire. There is a crotchety old timer who always like to "complain" about these days, but you can't help but enjoy listening to their stoires, just like grandpa. In the Lodge there are uncles and cousins, light-hearted jokes and someone searching for another to pull their fingers. This, I believe, is the essence of Masonry. These are the connections that bring men together and keep them together.

Now does Masonry have the corner of this market? No! Go to any family reunion and you will get the same experience, aunts included (perhaps one should join the Eastern Star for the full experience :)). But when a person looks at everything that Canyon Lodge has going for it; more meaningful degrees, more meaningful lodge meetings, charity, and Friendship and Brotherly Love, one sees what the mystic tie is of Freemasonry. I personally believe that lodges that are growing are the lodges that meet these four requirements, and perhaps for the lodges that are not, they should see which ones they are lacking. Hopefully, more lodges can become more like Canyon Lodge #13.

Mormon and Mason

2009-06-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

The other day I wrote this post on my wife's blog. I really enjoyed discussing my feelings towards being a Mason and a Mormon. It was after writing this post that I decided to branch out this blog. Therefore I have begun a new blog, Joseph's Lodge, the intent of this blog is to discuss my experience as a Mormon Mason. I will continue to post on this blog as well.

As many of you know, I am a member of an ancient and honourable institution, I am a Freemason. Recently, I joined a motorcycling club that requires that its membership be Master Masons. This club is known as the Freemasons Riding Club. Of course, I placed the back patch on my jacket and I am quite proud of having it on my jacket. While on a ride with a group of friend, one saw the patch and said, "You know, Mormons can't be Masons." Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to know if this person is joking or not.
This was definitely not the first time a comment like this has been made, nor will it be the last. Yet, this time it made me ask myself, why can't a Mormon be a Mason? Why is there such a conflict of misunderstanding between these two groups.
First, in the State of Utah, there has not been a restriction on Mormons becoming Masons since 1984 when the Grand Lodge of Utah lifted its ban and allowed Mormons to become Masons.
Second, there has never been an official ban of Mormon Masons by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It's stance has been more of an attitude of neutrality. I have always viewed the opinion of the L.D.S. Faith as; 1) The first place of Fraternity and Fellowship should be the Elder's Quorum, 2) A member of the Church should dedicate their time to their Church callings, activities, etc., and 3) A member of the Church should not be a member, or sympathize, with any organization that draws their attention away from the Divinity of Christ and His sacred gospel. For me, Masonry does not hinder my performance or attitude in regard to these three points.
In fact, Masonry has strengthened my resolve and emboldened my confidence of being a Saint and Disciple of Jesus Christ. Today, we live in a world that contends for our time, talent, and energies, and this world is becoming more decadent every generation, it is nice to find an organization that stresses high moral character and the purpose of faith in one's life.
I must ask myself, would their be so much concern for my eternal soul if I was to become a member of the Lion's Club or Rotary and dedicated as much time to these organizations as I did my Masonic Lodge? Probably not!
In closing, I cannot find anything bad in an organization that has compelled such men as Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Willard Richards, Newell K. Whitney, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, and Orrin Porter Rockwell just to name a few. And I am reminded of the 13th Article of Faith:

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing
good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We
believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to
be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good
report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

I believe that Masonry is virtuous, lovely, and of good report.

What is Masonry?

2009-05-04T20:05:00.001-07:00

For the past few weeks I have asked myself, "What is Masonry?" And more importantly, I have been asking myself, "Why did I become a Mason?" My lack of posting, malaise almost, lately is in part due to my contemplation of these two questions. As I have searched out these two questions I have felt like I did when I was contemplating petitioning my lodge.

So, let's jump right on in, "What is Masonry?" If a person walked into any given lodge and asked every member there, let's say 100, what masonry is, there would be 100 different answers. Some might sound similar, and others would be completely different. And there would also be a general correlation between one's answer to "What is Masonry" as to their answer to "Why did I become a Mason." So here is one Brother's response to these two questions.

Masonry is brotherhood. History proves that Freemasonry is the first gentleman's society, or fraternity. Masonry is more than simple brotherhood, however. Masonry is the brotherhood of man, under the fatherhood of God. Masonry endeavors to teach her members to live a better life, to act upon the square towards all mankind. Remember, the square is the square of morality and virtue. Without the symbols and allegories of morality that Masonry is composed of, Masonry would be nothing more than a college frat with all the accouterments of immorality. That Brethren is what Masonry is for me.

I joined Masonry to learn and discover her secrets. The general public speaks of Masonry as a "secret society." Masonry, at least in the U.S., has tried to demystify Masonry and lose the "misnomer" of "secret society." But it is a Secret Society. For one to become an adept of Masonry they must uncover her secrets. Many of the brethren have fogotten that we are more closely related to the ancient mysteries than we are the local Lions Club. I wanted to learn the secrets that would help me gain a seat in that Celestial Grand Lodge above. Now, I don't believe that Masonry is a method of salvation. But I do believe that the tenants of our ancient and honorable order do have an affinity and sustain and edify that path of salvation that I have chosen as truth. For the moral and upright person, Masonry should do nothing more or less than edify their personal religious, philosophical, and ethical bent.

A person must answer these two questions before they decide to petition a lodge. For some their answers might become reality and for others their answers may not be realized. After become a member of the lodge, a person should ask these questions again. Are the answers the same, is the desire still there? As I mentioned above, I have come under some Masonic Malaise lately, as I have asked these two questions, I realized that the two answers were not relevant to one another. In the inner journey of healing, I discovered that they did not fit together because of me. We make Masonry what it is, what we want it to be. For some they might become disappointed and disenchanted when they discover the lodge is not what they expected. But it is the true Mason that works and finds their niche within the fraternity. I can happily report that this act of metacognition has ended in the positive and a stronger desire and sense of pride of being a Mason.

Knights of the Square and Compasses-Mercy

2009-02-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

Mercy is the most benevolent of the Knightly Virtues. Knights were duty bound to show mercy. Granted their duty extended only in showing mercy to the poor and oppressed, they were to be mericless to the evil-doers.

The paradigm of knightly etiquette and chivalry is that of the King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. In some of the myths that surround this legendary company, the genesis of Knightly Mercy is explained. Sir Gawain, at Queen Guinevere's marriage feast, accidentally slays a maiden and refuses to grant mercy to another knight. As his penance he is required to always serve all maids and always grant mercy.

Mercy is defined as the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing. Even more so, a knight was expected to show mercy towards those that were their enemies. In the year 1346, the Siege of Calais began, and it cost many lives to both the English and the French. Finally, once the French King deseret the city to the English, the French citizens asked for mercy. The English Prince Edward demanded that six burgesses be delivered to him to be put to death as well as the keys to the city and towers, and the rest of Calais could go free. The six richest burgesses of Calais consented and were marched to their deaths before the Prince of England. Yet, at the begging of his wife, Edward showed mercy and allowed the six to be freed. This is one example of Knightly Mercy. Edward had been so upset at the length of the siege, yet he was still able to find compassion enough to set the city free.

Masons are expected to do the same. A mason is taught by the compasses the extent of his mercy, charity, faith, etc. Remember, the compasses teach us to circumscribe our desires and keep our passions within due bounds, towards all mankind, more especially a brother mason. I have read that "the distinguishing characteristic of a good Freemason are virtue, honour, and mercy, and may they ever by found in every Mason's heart." A Mason is obligated to show forth mercy, not only to his brethren, but also to those who are not.

When emotions become a little heated, a Mason should be able to step back and look at the situation reasonably. He should then be able to ere on the side of compassion. When someone comes before a Mason, full of ignorance and hate for who he his, he should be forbearing, being patient and having self control with annoyances and provocations. A Mason, just as the knights of old, should be full of mercy.

Knights of the Square and Compasses - An Introduction

2009-01-11T15:53:00.000-08:00

In the year 1737, the Chevalier Andrew Ramsay offered an oration to the members of the craft in Paris. As many of the early members of the Lodge were apt to do, he offered an impressive history of the fraternity, one that was full of intrigue, mystery, and utter hogwash. In this oration, Ramsay offered this point,

"In the times of the holy wars in Palestina, several princes, lords, and artists
associated, swore to reestablish the temples of the christians in the Holy Lands
and to use their science and their goods to bring back architecture to its
pristine institution, they recalled all the ancient signs and mysterious words
of Solomon in order to distinguish themselves from the Infidels and make
themselves known to each other."

He then continues to explain that this order ultimately united with the Knights of St. John. And from that union, the craft has been passed down until the present day.
These princes and lords that Ramsay discusses are the Knights of the Holy Crusades. They were not feeble (some might have been in actuality) lords that sat on thrones, but lords that commanded their armies in their wars, for better or worse. These men were fighting men, they were knights.
Now, I don't espouse any of these theories as fact. It's definately romantic to believe that somehow these knights found [recalled] the ancients signs and mysterious of Solomon and initiated themselves into an order that bears paternity to our Masonry. But as with most romantic legends that are passed down, they are usually completely false.
The one thing that I find interesting in this romantic legend, though, is the idea that Masonry abides by the precepts and conduct that is befitting a knight. Remember, that the period that Ramsay gave his oration was the beginning of the Romantic Era. The idea that knights wore shining armor and followed a strict code of conduct known as chivalry was born during this era.
Knights, some more then others, did follow this Code of Chivalry. Is there a relationship between the knights that wore shining armor and the brethren who wear leathern aprons? Is the knights abiding faith in his God, his service to Him akin to our desire to be closer to the One that we call Deity?
In the next few weeks, I hope to look at the different tenets of Chivalry, from Loyalty to Faith and match them with their counterparts in our rituals and teachings. We may not be descended from the men that risked their lives for their faith in the hot sands of the Middle East. But, we are Knights in our own right, we are the Knights of the Square and Compasses.

Discovering the Philosopher's Stone

2008-12-30T14:26:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week as I was browsing through blogs, I came upon one that discussed whether a non-christian could become and feel comfortable as a Knight of the Commandery, or Knight Templar. I commented upon the entry and also upon something that Magus Masonica had said, he then clarified what he had meant and in doing so, it lead me upon a small path of discover. The points of the small discussion were upon the alchemical nature of Freemasonry. Before these comments, I knew that there was a school of thought that supposed that Masonry was an "outlet" for the Alchemist of the Renaissance.

After reading the comments, I decided to do a LITTLE research behind alchemy. As I read, I reconfirmed the little that I knew, mostly that the main goal/search of the Alchemist was to find the Philosopher's Stone. The Philosopher's Stone is a substance that was thought to be able to transmute base metals into gold, but more importanlty it was also capable of producing an elixir that would prolong life, even granting immortality.

But, there is a Spiritual Alchemy as well. And that is the alchemy that I would like to discuss here. At dictionary.com the entry for "Philosopher's Stone" from The American Heritage Dictionary of Cultural Literacy entry says ,

Philosopher's stone
The stone or material that practitioners of alchemy believed capable of changing other metals into gold.
Note: Figuratively, the “philosopher's stone” is a substance thought to be capable of regenerating man spiritually.

The purpose of the Philosopher's Stone is to regenerate man spiritually. When I think of regenerating, I think of a body builder. The body builder tears muscle tissue as he works out. He then allows time to pass for the muscle to regenerate itself, eventually there is more muscle and it is stronger. It is a better muscle than when the body builder began his workout. During that time of regeneration though, the muscle is damaged and it isn't even capable of performing tasks that were down with minimal effort before the damage was incurred.

The Philosopher's Stone is that which is capable of doing the same to our spirit. Is the recipe for the elusive Philosopher's Stone hidden in the symbol of Freemasonry? Through the degrees, we are presented with very moving items that have a symbolic significance. From the White-Leathern Apron to The Sprig of Acacia, all of these are intended to suggest to our mind "a purity of life and rectitude of conduct." Every single Working Tool is given that we might build a Temple, "...eternal in the heavens." The first thing we must do is "Subdue our passions," and then we can "improve [ourselves] in masonry." All of these suggest ways in which we can regenerate our spirit. By implementing them all, perhaps we have discovered the Philosopher's Stone!

Your Frequent Appearance...is Earnestly Requested

2008-12-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

On one of my favorite blogs to visit, Brother Justa Mason wrote about what every new Mason should know. In it, he points out the not so good things that can be found in a lodge and counters them with the good things that can be found in the same lodge. It is very well thought out and I would highly encourage any to check it out.

At the end of the blog, he wrote this;

I’ve being trying to come up with a post about why people stay in Freemasonry,
why it is they cope with disorganised and seemingly-pointless Lodge meetings,
petty arguments and some guys who really could do a better job of following what
it is our ritual teaches. I still haven’t written that post but it boils down,
in part, to the fact they have found the good outweighs the not-so-good.

Since I read that a few weeks ago, I have thought long and hard on the question at hand. As I have sat in lodge, I have pondered what has kept myself, as well as my brethren, returning again and again to that old lodge.

The first point, Masonry is a "Binding Insitution." By this I mean that through our Initiation, Passing, and Raising, we become bound to the fraternity and the brethren of the order. There is a binding element that is more ethereal than physical that binds us to one another. As we go through the degrees of Freemasonry, we realize that millions have gone through the same trials that we are and there will be millions after. We become bound to these brethren. Ours is an institution that men like Franklin, Washington, Mozart, Voltaire, and many many more were compelled to join. Most brethren are proud that they are compelled to the same institutions that these men were. This idea is innate to the fraternity, we offer nothing to this aspect of the institution.

It is true that some enter the fraternity and then quickly become disenchanted with what they find and leave. But I would argue that this is the vast minority, the majority of our brethren who we do not see at our meetings have let life become too much that they no longer have enough time for one night a month. And this brings me to the next point, Masonry is a "Fellowshipping Institution." This concept is completely dependent upon the lodge. But, Masonry should be an organization that brings men together to become friends. A tenet of our Order is that of Brotherly Love. What keeps many coming back to the lodge, to sit through monotonous business meetings is the Brotherly Love that is exemplified. Even in passionate discussions within the walls of the Lodge, brothers are generally able to rise above the heat and part with peace and harmony. They are capable to go downstairs and over a cup of coffee or punch joke around.

My third point is that Masonry is a "Personal Institution." The lessons of Freemasonry, the allegories, symbols, and morals can only be translated and inferred by the individual Mason. The Working Tools, even though they have definite meanings; for example the twenty four inch gauge is a symbol of the twenty four hours of the day and how we should divide those hours. But the actual division of our time is personal quest. What imperfections of our personal Rough Ashlars we choose to chip and knock away at first is a personal choice. We all interpret all of the symbols of Masonry a little different, according to our personal creeds, faiths, opinions, etc. Remember, it was the individual Mason that knocked on the doors of their own free will and accord.

Our return to the lodge is three fold; the fraternity itself compels us to return, hopefully the lodge calls for us to return, and our own desires should push us there. It takes ourselves, our brethren, and the fraternity. These are the goods that out-weigh the not-so-goods.

Installation

2008-12-06T15:12:00.000-08:00

Today the officers for Canyon Lodge #13 for the ensuing Masonic Year were installed.

Worshipful Master ---Deward Del Phillips

Senior Warden-------Lloyd Moffit, P.M.

Junior Warden-------Gerald Mosley

Treasurer------------Stanley R. Strader, P.M.

Secretary------------Robert H. Heygster

Chaplain--------------Paul W. Albertson

Senior Deacon-------Jason L. Mair

Junior Deacon-------Logan Dickenson

Senior Steward------Richard L. Krause

Junior Steward------Robert Bennett

Marshall-------------Brent Tinnesand

Tyler----------------Aaron Crosman, P.M.

Yes, I was installed as Senior Deacon. I am excited and honoured that Del feels that I am up for this job. Everyone that I have spoken to express the sentiment that Senior Deacon was their favorite chair to sit in. Also, I am honoured that Worshipful Brother Wes Ing decided to take a newly raised Master Mason and place him in the chair of Junior Steward.

As I listened to the Installing Master explain my duties, it struck me how exciting it is going to be. First, I am to carry orders from the Worshipful Master in the East to the Senior Warden in the West and elsewhere about the lodge as order. In my mind, I am the Worshipful Masters right hand man, on the floor I sit to his right! I am to receive and conduct candidates. I am excited to take a main role in the initiation, passing, and raising of my brethren this year. I am to introduce visiting brethren. I get to meet and learn a little about the brethren that visit Canyon Lodge this year. And lastly, and in my mind the most important duty of mine this year, I am to attend the altar. To me, this means that I am responsible for that small table in the Lodge where the Volume of Sacred Law rests open for the entire Lodge to see. Opening that glorious book is my responsibility. How exciting is that?!

This year for Canyon Lodge is going to be awesome. It is going to be a continuation of a great year that we have had. As you can see from our officers, very few have been Past Masters, only one is in the line. And the vast majority of the officers are in their forties or younger! Canyon Lodge is young and growing younger every month. This will be an exciting year!

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Give Three Distinct Knocks...

2008-12-05T18:54:00.000-08:00

Henry David Thoreau entered the woods surrounding Walden Pond to front the facts of life. He then wrote of his experiences, compiling from his journals. One of his purposes in doing this was, as he says, "Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or alst, a simple and sincer account of his own life, and not merely what he has heard of other men's lives; some such account as he would send to his kindred from a distant land; for if he has lived sincerely, it must have been in a distant land to me." I believe this quote has significance in our lives as masons as well. Every man who has humbly and sincerely knocked at the doors of a lodge all have a different story to tell. And there story is as important as the next brothers. And with that thought in mind...

* * * * *

My earliest encounter with the Fraternity was as a young teenager. My family took a vacation to the sunny coast of San Diego. We went to Sea World and the Zoo, and every time we left the hotel and got on the freeway, we passed in front of a large building. The building was hidden behind a lot of trees, but it stuck out somehow, it was probably the large Square and Compasses that could be seen from the freeway. I asked my father what the building was, unlike most teens, I still believed my father knew everything (My view today may not be so broad but it is close). He answered that it was a Masonic Temple and then gave a brief overview of what he knew of the Fraternity. The one thing, whenever Masonry has been brought up in discussions with my father, he has always spoken highly of the Fraternity, and that has always stuck in my mind.

As I grew a little one of my favorite hobbies was reading and learning. And one topic that intrigued me was history. Another was philosophy. In every book that I flipped through, whether it was a book on the American Revolution or the History of Scotland somehow a Masonic Connection was introduced, no matter how erroneous. Ralph Waldo Emerson gave his ground breaking lecture on the Transcendental Movement in a Masonic Hall in Boston. My interest was peeked and I began to study everything I could on Free and Accepted Masons. My first purchase was Mackey's "Lexicon of Freemasonry" and I continued to buy book after book (my wife is a little dismayed that I still do).

In my studying, I found great men in history that I have been taught to revere and uphold as men of integrity and/or genious somehow were connected to the Fraternity. Even the man who was the founder of the church I belong to and the early leaders of the the church were all members of the Fraternity. Men such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, Mozart and Voltaire have been members of the Fraternity. I believed that an organization that attracted such men could be only good and all things good should be things that we should strive to embrace.

Before I petitioned the Lodge though, I chose to serve a mission for my church. I was called to serve in the area surrounding Orland Florida. I spent two years of my life serving my Lord and that has been one of the best decision of my life. And for purpose of discussion, in my travels, I met many good men who were members of the Craft, something that always stuck out in the back of my mind.

Upon my return home, I was married, and that has been another one of those best decisions of my life. My wife to be had questions about the Lodge and was a little tentative to have me join. Thank goodness there was Freemasons for Dummies which allowed me to answer her questions! (Mr. Hodapp you can send the check in the mail:)) And when she learned that her grandfather was a mason in Ohio, she knew that the Craft is a good thing. When I found out that fact it was neat, like there was some type of Masonic Genealogy in my life. Due to certain animosities in the State of Utah, Freemasonry isn't as a big a thing as in other states. Hence, my first sight of a Masonic Temple was in San Diego, not Utah. That is changing though. But as far as I know, there are no masons in the family tree.

A couple months after my marriage, I petioned Canyon Lodge #13 for the Three Degrees. I was initiated on May 8th, 2007, Passed on September 18th, 2007, and Raised on October 16th, 2007. I have never looked back with disappointment! Becoming a Free and Accepted Mason has been one of the best things in my life as well.

Peace and Harmony,

Modes of Recognition

2008-09-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, Brother Dogood over at The Middle Chamber, posted about the atrocity that has befallen his jurisdiction regarding those sacred Modes of Recognition. As I read through his thoughts I began to think about the purpose of the Modes of Recognition in Freemasonry.

How many times do we hear in lodge, "Step off, give the due guard and sign!" Or hear those words that accompany our other modes of recognition. Perhaps we don't hear the words enough, but we should be seeing those due guards and signs quite regularly in lodge. Don't forget, those are modes of recognition as well as the grips. I will ask again though, what is their purpose?

Anciently, when illiteracy was the norm, there was no such things as a Dues Card. Theories abound that one way our ancient, operative brethren could tell a mason from a cowan was through the modes of recognition. Hopefully, the uninitiated would not know the modes of recognition and therefore not be admitted into the lodge. If there was an operative purpose to the Modes of Recognition, that is it!

Today, though, the Modes of Recognition tie us with the traditions of the past. One of the glowing aspects of Speculative Masonry is that it is something ancient. We mainatin the wording of the rituals, lectures, even the Landmarks are preserved because Masonry is Preserving. Many say we should let go of Washington, Franklin, and Roosevelt, that Today is Today. But, they forget that many are drawn to Masonry because it can historically be traced for centuries. And the Modes of Recognition help tie us through those centuries.

But, is there an actual pupose for Modes of Recognition today? We have Dues Cards, and if it's lost, a quick phone call, which could be made anywhere in the world would confirm our membership. So the ancient use of the Modes is outdated and serve no purpose. But we as Speculative Masons use them for a more noble and glorious purpose.

We are taught that the Modes of Recognition, specifically the grips, are used so a mason can tell one in the dark as well as the light. This makes me think immediately about the old quote, "What you are doing is screaming so loudly that I can't hear what you are saying." I personally believe that the Modes of Recognition help us remember to be men of integrity in the dark as well as the light. I was always taught that the type of man that I was, was who I was when I was by myself, or when I am in the dark! All of our symbols are well calculated to increase knowlegde and promote Virtue, our symbols are used to teach us how to be masons. Shouldn't we be masons in the Dark as well as the Light. Shouldn't we use the Modes of Recogntion as Speculative Masons.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Hello and Welcome

2008-09-13T19:57:00.001-07:00

I thought that I would send this blog off with a start by saying hello, introducing who I am, and what this blog is for and about!
So, Here we go!
Hello, I am Jason L. Mair. I am currently the Junior Steward of Canyon Lodge #13 in Midvale, Utah. I was initiated on May 8th, 2007, Passed on September 18, 2007, and Raised to the Sublime Degree on October 16th, 2007. Since becoming a Mason I have met men I look up to who I would not have any other way. I have made friends, regardless of race, color, or creed. Masonry is one of the many things that have changed my life for the better, but I am jumping ahead!! I am also a member of El Kalah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, or Shrine for short. I am a member of the Klunkers Unit, you know, the mini-cars, we have a hoot.
I was born and raised in Midway, Utah and have spent my entire life, except for the last few years, in that small town. Yes, I am a small town gentleman! At the age of 19 I left Midway to travel to Orland Florida, where I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is true what they say, they are the best two! After coming home, I married (2/3/07) miss Margaret Jacobus and we have been happily :) married for the past year and a half. We currently live in Salt Lake City while we are going to school, we are currently attending at Salt Lake Community College. We are both majoring in Elementary Education, Margaret wants to teach 2nd grade, especially children who are deaf, and I want to teach 5th grade. I currently work at a school for children with autism and it is a blast, sometimes they don't pay me enough though;) and somedays I would do it for free, but don't tell my supervisor! I enjoy all things masonic, reading, writing, heraldry and history-especially Scottish, genealogy, flyfishing/tying, and everything else! Where does the time go?
What is the Sprig of Acacia? This is my blog; my feelings, my journeys, thoughts, studies, and reflections on Freemasonry, Ancient and Acceptable. This blog is not a lodge room and the things said herein will probably, most likely, not be politically correct. If you are offended, I apologize for the fact that you are offended, not for offending you! You can easily close the window! That being said, I hope that we can rise above those things that can easily offend, and have meaningful, open discussions. And it must be said, The opinions expressed herein are my personal opinions and reflections and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Canyon Lodge #13, The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Utah, El Kalah Temple A.A.O.N.M.S., The Imperial Council A.A.O.N.M.S., or any other organization that I belong to, Masonic or not. And, as is customary, may we Meet on the Level, Act by the Plumb, and Part on the Square!