On October 19th, All masonic Lodges under New Hampshire Grand Lodge will be open from 9am to 3pm to welcome the general public. Freemasons will be available to give a tour of Lodges and answer all questions.
You can find the Lodge closest to you at this list NH lodges. All are welcome!
Monday, September 30, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Friend to Friend Memorial
Union General Winfield Scott Hancock and Confederate General Lewis Addison Armistead were personal friends and members of the Masonic Fraternity.
Although they had served and fought side by side in the United States Army prior to the Civil War, Armistead refused to raise his sword against his fellow Southerners and joined the Confederate Army in 1861.
Both Hancock and Armistead fought heroically in the previous twenty-seven months of the war. They were destined to meet at Gettysburg.
During Pickett's Charge, Armistead led his men gallantly, penetrating Hancock's line. Ironically, when Armistead was mortally wounded, Hancock was also wounded.
Depicted in this sculpture is Union Captain Henry Bingham, a Mason and staff assistant to General Hancock, himself wounded, rendering aid to the fallen Confederate General. Armistead is shown handing his watch and personal effects to be taken to his friend, Union General Hancock.
Hancock survived the war and died in 1886. Armistead died at Gettysburg July 3, 1863. Captain Bingham attained the rank of General and later served 32 yeas in the United States House of Representatives. He was known as the "Father of the House".
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/Other/Masonic.php
Monday, September 23, 2013
Famous Freemasons: Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal was made a mason "at sight" at Widow's Son Lodge No. 28 in Boston in 2011. Shaquille "Shaq" has played in the NBA since 1992. He has played for Orlando Magic, the LA Lakers, Miami Heat, the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and ended with the Boston Celtics. He now works as an analyst for Inside the NBA.
At 7 ft 1 inch and 325lbs, he used his incredible size and strength to dominate his opponents and quickly became one of the top centers in the league. He has donates to charities like the Boys & Girls Clubs, Kids Wish foundation and Phoenix House.
Shaq being made a Mason at Widow's Son Lodge No.28
Shaq proudly shows offs a very expensive Mason ring
Friday, September 20, 2013
Famous Freemason: Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III was made a Mason at Henry Brown Lodge #22 in Peoria, IL. He is known for drawing a thin line between comedy and tragedy in his comedy using personal conflict and redemptions with colorful vulgarity in his acts. He was best known for his comedy stand up but also starred in many movies such as Silver Streak (1976), The Toy (1982), Brewster's Millions (1985) and Harlem Nights (1989). He was the first recipient of the annual Mark Twain (another Freemason) Humor Prize. He passed away December 10, 2005 of a heart attack at the age of 65
Thursday, September 19, 2013
FAQ
What's a Mason?
The answer can be simple. A Freemason (or Mason) is a member of a fraternity known as freemasonry (Masonry). The opposite of a sorority, a fraternity is a group of men who join together because there are things they want to do in the world, things they want to do in their own minds, and they enjoy being together with men they like and respect.
What is Masonry?
It is the oldest fraternity in the world. It probably arose from the guilds of stonemasons who built the castles and cathedrals of the Middle Ages (possibly were influenced by the legendary Knights Templar, a group of warrior monks formed to protect pilgrims making trips in the Holy Land). Nobody knows just how old it is because the real origins have been lost in time.
Masonry created a formal organization in England in 1717 and the first Grand lodge was created.
What is a lodge?
It means both a group of Masons meeting in a place and the room or building in which they meet. Sometimes the buildings are called "temples" because a lot of the symbolism comes from the building of King Solomon's Temple. The term "lodge" comes from the structures stonemasons built on the sides of cathedrals during construction. They lived in these lodges and worked at carving stone in the winter when building had to stop.
Why is Masonry Secretive?
Though it has that reputation, it really isn't "secretive". Masons don't make a secret of the fact that they are members. Many wear rings, tie clasps and watches with emblems like the Square and Compasses.
Lodges are listed in phone book. Lodge activities are advertised in news papers.
But there are some Masonic secrets in a couple categories.
There are grips and passwords that we keep private. It is not unknown for people to try to pass themselves off as masons in order to get assistance under false pretenses.
The real "Masonic Secrets" are secrets that literally can't be talked about and can't be put into words. Its a wonderful feeling that simply can't be explained to another person. That's why we sometime say that Masonic secrets cannot be told
Is Masonry a Religion?
No. We do use ritual in meetings, and there is a Volume of the Sacred Law that causes people to be confused with Masonry being a religion, but it is not. Although religion does play an important part in Masonry. A person who wants to become a Mason must have a belief in God. No atheist can ever become a Mason. Meetings open with a prayer that also sometimes confuses people with a religion. Masons believe in the importance of religion and it encourages Masons to be active in the religion and church of his choice. Masonry teaches that without religion a man is alone and lost, and without it he can never reach his full potential. Masonry, however, does not tell a person which religion he should practice and how he should practice it. That is between the individuals relationship with God. It is said that Masonry is very religious, but it is not a religion.
What are the Requirements for Membership?
A person who wants to join must be a man (it is a fraternity), sound in body and mind, believes in God and is at least the minimum age required by Masonry in the state and has a good reputation. Those are the formal requirements. there are some not so formal ones as well. He should believe in helping others, believe there is more to life than pleasure and money, respect others and want to develop as a human being.
How does a man become a Mason?
Some men are surprised no one has asked them to become a Mason. They may even feel that Masons don't think they are "good enough" to join. It doesn't work that way.
Masons have been forbidden to ask others to join the fraternity for hundreds of years. We can talk to friends and family about Masonry, what it does and how much we like it. But we can not ask or pressure anyone to join.
There is a good reason. We are not trying to be exclusive. But becoming a Mason is a very serious thing, it's making a permanent life commitment to live in certain ways to live with honor and integrity, to be willing to share with care about others, to trust each other and ultimately trust in God. No one should be "talked into" such a decision.
So when a man desires to become a Mason, he asks a Mason for a petition (application), fills it out and gives it to the Mason. The Mason will bring the petition to lodge and the Master of the lodge with appoint a committee to visit the man and his family to find out a little about him and why he wants to join and answer questions. The committee reports to the lodge and they have a vote. If the vote is affirmative (usually is) the lodge will contact the man to set the date for the Entered Apprentice Degree. When the man completes all three degrees, he is a Master Mason and a full member of the fraternity.
http://www.msana.com/focusarchives/focusapr02.asp
The answer can be simple. A Freemason (or Mason) is a member of a fraternity known as freemasonry (Masonry). The opposite of a sorority, a fraternity is a group of men who join together because there are things they want to do in the world, things they want to do in their own minds, and they enjoy being together with men they like and respect.
What is Masonry?
It is the oldest fraternity in the world. It probably arose from the guilds of stonemasons who built the castles and cathedrals of the Middle Ages (possibly were influenced by the legendary Knights Templar, a group of warrior monks formed to protect pilgrims making trips in the Holy Land). Nobody knows just how old it is because the real origins have been lost in time.
Masonry created a formal organization in England in 1717 and the first Grand lodge was created.
What is a lodge?
It means both a group of Masons meeting in a place and the room or building in which they meet. Sometimes the buildings are called "temples" because a lot of the symbolism comes from the building of King Solomon's Temple. The term "lodge" comes from the structures stonemasons built on the sides of cathedrals during construction. They lived in these lodges and worked at carving stone in the winter when building had to stop.
Why is Masonry Secretive?
Though it has that reputation, it really isn't "secretive". Masons don't make a secret of the fact that they are members. Many wear rings, tie clasps and watches with emblems like the Square and Compasses.
Lodges are listed in phone book. Lodge activities are advertised in news papers.
But there are some Masonic secrets in a couple categories.
There are grips and passwords that we keep private. It is not unknown for people to try to pass themselves off as masons in order to get assistance under false pretenses.
The real "Masonic Secrets" are secrets that literally can't be talked about and can't be put into words. Its a wonderful feeling that simply can't be explained to another person. That's why we sometime say that Masonic secrets cannot be told
Is Masonry a Religion?
No. We do use ritual in meetings, and there is a Volume of the Sacred Law that causes people to be confused with Masonry being a religion, but it is not. Although religion does play an important part in Masonry. A person who wants to become a Mason must have a belief in God. No atheist can ever become a Mason. Meetings open with a prayer that also sometimes confuses people with a religion. Masons believe in the importance of religion and it encourages Masons to be active in the religion and church of his choice. Masonry teaches that without religion a man is alone and lost, and without it he can never reach his full potential. Masonry, however, does not tell a person which religion he should practice and how he should practice it. That is between the individuals relationship with God. It is said that Masonry is very religious, but it is not a religion.
What are the Requirements for Membership?
A person who wants to join must be a man (it is a fraternity), sound in body and mind, believes in God and is at least the minimum age required by Masonry in the state and has a good reputation. Those are the formal requirements. there are some not so formal ones as well. He should believe in helping others, believe there is more to life than pleasure and money, respect others and want to develop as a human being.
How does a man become a Mason?
Some men are surprised no one has asked them to become a Mason. They may even feel that Masons don't think they are "good enough" to join. It doesn't work that way.
Masons have been forbidden to ask others to join the fraternity for hundreds of years. We can talk to friends and family about Masonry, what it does and how much we like it. But we can not ask or pressure anyone to join.
There is a good reason. We are not trying to be exclusive. But becoming a Mason is a very serious thing, it's making a permanent life commitment to live in certain ways to live with honor and integrity, to be willing to share with care about others, to trust each other and ultimately trust in God. No one should be "talked into" such a decision.
So when a man desires to become a Mason, he asks a Mason for a petition (application), fills it out and gives it to the Mason. The Mason will bring the petition to lodge and the Master of the lodge with appoint a committee to visit the man and his family to find out a little about him and why he wants to join and answer questions. The committee reports to the lodge and they have a vote. If the vote is affirmative (usually is) the lodge will contact the man to set the date for the Entered Apprentice Degree. When the man completes all three degrees, he is a Master Mason and a full member of the fraternity.
http://www.msana.com/focusarchives/focusapr02.asp
Monday, September 16, 2013
Famous Freemason: Marion Morrison "John Wayne"
Marion Morrison was born on May 26, 1907 in Iowa. Early in his film career, he was given on-screen credit as
“Duke Morrison”. Later Director Raoul Walsh suggested the name of “John Wayne” and it stuck. Some of his best films are "Stagecoach" (1939), "The Searchers" (1956), "Rio Bravo" (1959) and "True Grit" (1969)
John Wayne was made a Master Mason in McDaniel Lodge #56. He later became a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and joined Al Malaikah Shrine Temple in Los Angeles.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Famous Freemason: George Washington
A good link of Bro. George Washington's mason timeline from his Masonic National Memorial. http://gwmemorial.org/washingtonTheMason.php
They also have a great preview video for the memorial on their home page.
http://gwmemorial.org/index.php
They also have a great preview video for the memorial on their home page.
http://gwmemorial.org/index.php
Friday, September 6, 2013
What is Freemasonry
What is Freemasonry?
Well, If there were to be one simple answer, then the best one would be a popular quote about the fraternity. "Freemasonry is a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols".
We share the belief in "making good men better" by the three concepts of Brotherly Love (love for each other and all mankind), Relief (charity for others and aid for fellow masons) and Truth (search for answers to the universal questions of morality that only a man's individual faith and his relationship with God can provide).
Well, If there were to be one simple answer, then the best one would be a popular quote about the fraternity. "Freemasonry is a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols".
We share the belief in "making good men better" by the three concepts of Brotherly Love (love for each other and all mankind), Relief (charity for others and aid for fellow masons) and Truth (search for answers to the universal questions of morality that only a man's individual faith and his relationship with God can provide).