CanadianMason.ca

Source:  Yahoo News
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer Hillel Italie, Ap National Writer   – Tue Sep 15, 4:14 pm ET

WASHINGTON – The lodge room of the Naval Masonic Hall is a colorful and somewhat inscrutable sight for the nonmember, with its blue walls, Egyptian symbols, checkered floor in the center and high ceiling painted with gold stars.

Countless secrets supposedly have been shared in this and thousands of similar rooms of the Masons around the world. Facts of life have been debated, honors bestowed, rituals enacted. You would need to belong to a lodge to learn what really goes on.

Or you could simply ask.

"The emphasis on secrecy is something that disturbs people," says Joseph Crociata, a burly, deep-voiced man who is a trial attorney by profession but otherwise a Junior Grand Warden at the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia.

"But it's not a problem getting Masons to talk about Masonry. Sometimes, it's a problem getting them to stop."

Despite all the books and Web sites dedicated to Freemasons, the Masonic Order has been defined by mystery, alluring enough to claim Mozart and George Washington as members, dark enough to be feared by the Vatican, Islamic officials, Nazis and Communists. In the United States, candidates in the 19th-century ran for office on anti-Mason platforms and John Quincy Adams declared that "Masonry ought forever to be abolished."

And now arrives Dan Brown.

Six years after Brown intrigued millions of readers, and infuriated scholars and religious officials, with "The Da Vinci Code," he has set his new novel, "The Lost Symbol," in Washington and probed the fraternal order that well suits his passion for secrets, signs and puzzles.

Source: Warwik Daily News Julian Luke | 12th August 2009

FREEMASONS are shrouded in mystery and secrets. Their members are known as the brethren, they wear tuxedos to all monthly meetings
and the leader of the fraternity in Queensland is known as the grand master. However, this fraternity is not a cult and members are adamant they are not a religion
either, even though to be a member you need to pass a secret initiation ceremony and
believe in a supreme being. The fraternity of course is the Freemasons and recently members of the Warwick Lodge
opened their doors to the Daily News for a chat in a bid to dispel some of the myths
about them. There are three lodges which use the Warwick Masonic Centre on Guy Street - the
Cunningham, St Georges and Warwick lodges. Long-term Freemason Ron Bryant said his was not a secret society, rather “a society
with some secrets”- a message modern Freemasons have been pushing in a bid to
change public perception about the fraternity. “It's what we call a progressive science - Freemasons are very disciplined,” he said.
“We have what is called the little black book, in that is wonderful prose about how you
should conduct yourself in life. It is a ritual, not a cloak and dagger thing. “The book is just a guide to how you should

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• Saint John's Lodge No.1, St. John's, NL - Saint John's Lodge No.1 is the oldest continually operating English Constituted Lodge in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. This webpage is sanctioned by the Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador. The site contains photographs, music, and information regarding Membership, Lodge Meetings, Official Fraternal History, and its content is kept up to date in conjunction with the Worshipful Master, Secretary, Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge Historian, Lodge Historian, and the Fellow Lodge Webm@ster.

source: responsesource.com

Source: Kagey-an.com

By Mike Banos
The Cagayan de Oro City Council has declared April 19-25, 2009 as Masonic Week in the city on the occasion of the 93rd Annual Communication (AnCom) of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines which will be hosted by the Lodge’s Districts RX-A and RX-B on April 23-25, 2009.

Expected to grace the annual communication are the top three officers of every Blue Lodge in the Philippines and other lodges under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the Philippines which also covers Japan, Guam, Saipan, Mexico, Korea and the United States.

On motion of Councilor Ramon G. Tabor and duly second by Councilor Adrian L. Barba, resolution no. 9606-2009 was unanimously passed by the city council during its regular session on March 31, 2009.

source:  Stroud News Journal

MORE than 700 soft toys collected by children at Rodborough Primary School are being sent to an orphanage in India thanks to the help of the Gloucestershire Freemasons.

Pupils of all year groups generously donated the cuddly creatures from their own toy boxes after the idea was suggested by voluntary teacher John Kimpton, whose brother James has been working with disadvantaged youths in India since 1953.

However, the cost of shipping the toys abroad proved too much for the school, so John contacted the Freemasonry through The Rev Peggy Ludlow at St Mary Magdalene Church in Rodborough, who were happy to pay the bill.

Today, Thursday, April 23, Freemason Mark Smith and Adrian Davies J.P., Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Gloucestershire, visited the school to take stock of the toys before they are shipped out next month.

Mr Kimpton, a former Marling teacher who has been volunteering his help once a week at the school for the past year, said: "I think it is fantastically kind of the freemasons to help us, I must say an enormous thank you for their generosity.

"Soft toys are just about the best gift you can send because they are easy to pack and you can squash a lot of them into a confined space.

"James also thinks it is marvelous."

His gratitude was echoed by head teacher Maggie Halsey, who added: "I think it is excellent they are supporting a project which is so close to the children’s hearts."

Mr Davies said the Freemasons’ society was able to cover the shipping costs thanks to a charitable fund he is creating to benefit the people of Gloucestershire.

Source: The Grand Lodge of Alberta

RW Bro. Brian Shimmons, Deputy Grand Master, invites you to join with him from the 4th of September to the 18th of September 2009 on the 2009 Grand Master's Tour of Upper and Lower Canada.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 30th 2009.

This trip will feature visits to Niagara Falls (Queenston), Toronto (York), Kingston (Fort Henry), Ottawa (our Capital), Quebec City (Plains of Abraham) and Old Montreal.

Fly to Hamilton Ontario aboard a WestJet flight, travel by delux coach and spend 14 nights in hotel accommodations.  Breakfast daily is included as are 2 dinners and one lunch and more....

Source: The Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario

In our fast paced world, where pressures on time become greater and greater, there are all too few times when fathers can share quality time with their sons.

You probably have memories of those moments of sharing when the pace of living was a bit slower. Perhaps your father taught you to drive, or hunt, or fish. Maybe you have a memory of a spring afternoon when the two of you went out into the yard and threw a baseball back and forth or a little league game where you were on a team he
helped to coach.

As boys grow into men, unfortunately the sharing opportunities grow even more rare.

As a young adult, you move out of the family home, establish a life and family of your own. There are fewer and fewer chances to share things with your father. Differences in age and changing times mean communication sometimes grow even more difficult.

But there's one thing you can always share with your father, no matter how much time or how many miles may separate you.

Freemasonry.

At the turn of the century, almost every man's father was a Mason. As was his father before him. And his before that. This tradition can be traced all the way back to the Middle Ages.

It was only natural; every man wanted to pass his wisdom, his knowledge, his experience, his good reputation on to his son. And Masonry was one of his most treasured experiences.

Source: The Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario

What is the purpose of Masonry?

The main purpose of Masonry is to take good men and assist them in becoming better husbands, fathers, sons and brothers. Masonry does this by keeping them exposed to moral and ethical teachings and by consistently asking them to consider important character building issues. One of most important concerns is what each Mason gives back to his community. Masonry's cornerstone is charity. Approximately two million dollars a day is given to charity by all Masonic organizations combined. In short, by improving ourselves we are placed in a better position to help others.

Should the Mason in your family becomes ill or hospitalized, please take a moment to call the Secretary or Master of his Lodge.

You will be amazed at the support he and the family will receive. Taking care of Brother Masons and their families is a labor of love for a Mason.

Masons help in good times too!
Inquire about scholarships for college bound teens, housing and care for senior family members, and Masonic Youth Camps for children. There are many ways in which Masons live out their way of life. It is up to each Masonic Family to choose its own way to contribute. How can your Family be involved in Masonry?

Some of the countless ways that your family can be involved in the Masonic family include: