Rocky Mountain Mason

Prince August Frederick (1773-1834) was not your typical Royal. He married without permission (three times), held contrary views to his class (including strongly supporting the abolition of slavery, the emancipation of Catholics, and the repeal of civil laws restricting the freedom of Jews). When he died, he will his body by buried in common ground - a testament, perhaps, that we are all rendered equal in death. He had amassed library of over 50,000 volumes, including a trove of ancient manuscripts (many in Hebrew, a language in which he was quite competent). He lived a true Mason.

He was unanimously elected the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England on St. John the Evangelist's Day in 1813, a mere 26 days after the Articles of Union were signed joining the Antients and the Moderns under the United jurisdiction. 

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The negative confession to Maat; a short bit on Masonic Jurisprudence from the Summer 2019 Research Lodge of Colorado Lucerna; a rebuttal to the naysayers on Reddit in support of Wilmshurst University; and TBOP Chapter XXVII, on those things under the dominion of Mars.

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The light of Masonic charity covers the world. Ben relates an example of it touching a small town in rural Colorado in saving a young boy born with brittle bones. Ben caps the episode with a reading of Chapter XXVI of the Three Books of Occult Philosophy, On What Things Are Under the Power of Jupiter, and Are Called Jovial.... Which, as it happens, includes the Cornerstone Ceremony, as practiced in modern Masonic rites.

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The Grand Lodge of S Carolina has been prone to authoritarian inflections in the past. It's done it again. In a travesty of overreach and marked abuse of office, the Grand Master of the M.W. Grand Lodge of S. Carolina has usurped all reasonable Masonic Jurisprudence, convened a unique trail forum rife with conflicts of interest, scuttled due process, simply to expel a rival. 

What was the egregious offense? Holding an untiled ZOOM meeting in the midst of the pandemic. 

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To vouch for someone is to stand in for them and be judged in their place. The legend of Damon and Pythius, the Pythagorean brethren whose loyalty stunned the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius I, is a suitable metaphor for the honor that should bind Masons - that stronger tie. The most important appointment in the Lodge is not the Master's chair. It's the Investigating Committee!

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An episode commemorating Robert Burns, the poet laureate of Freemasonry (may heaven bless him!). And the Rocky Mountain Mason's notorious toast "to the immortal memory of Robert Burns...", for which attempted Scottish accent the Rocky Mountain Mason must humbly beg forgiveness (but only if you're Scottish). 

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Join the Rocky Mountain Mason for some ideas to make your Lodge meetings more worthwhile. If Lodge meetings are boring, don't expect someone to entertain you - come to Lodge with something to say! Lodge meetings excel with preparation - and most work is done before the meeting. In such a way, the Lodge becomes vibrant and Brothers augment each other in redoubled light. 

Patrons, stay tuned for video post of the Debate at the 2016 Colorado Masonic Symposium between R.W. Bro. Kevn Townley and myself: "That there are secrets in Masonry!" (in which I had the unfortunate position of arguing against the motion... which was tremendous fun!)

Sample Format for Debate (one on one debate)

Proposition: E.g. There are secrets in Masonry

For the Motion:  R.W.Bro. Kevin Townley

Against the Motion:  WBro. Ben Williams

Opening Statement (Affirmative: 10 minutes)

Opening Statement (Negative: 10 minutes)

Rebuttal (Negative: 5 minutes)

Rebuttal (Affirmative: 5 minutes)

Cross Examination (Affirmative: 5 minutes)

Cross Examination (Negative: 5 minutes)

Break (Optional: 5 minutes [see below])

Second Rebuttal, or Second Statement (Negative: 5 minutes)

Second Rebuttal, or Second Statement (Affirmative: 5 minutes)

Closing Statement (Negative: 5 minutes)

Closing Statement (Affirmative: 5 minutes)

Watch the Colorado Masonic Symposium 2016 Debate here: http://firestonestudios.com/2016Debate.mp4

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In this episode Ben discusses the power of that oft overlooked function of the Lodge, the deliberative assembly. Enforcing the majority will while safeguarding the right of the minority opinion to be heard in a self-governing assembly is a profound manner of organizing human endeavor. It also is sacred - in Ancient Rome the deliberation of the Senate was a religious activity, despite its preoccupation with mundane affairs. Ben wraps the episode with Chapter XXII of the TBOP and discusses some of the knowledge Agrippa assumes in his reader.

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Why do we require proficiency for the degrees? Could there be a purpose beyond the simple test of perseverance it takes to get it done? Ben wraps the episode with chapter XXI, Three Books of Occult Philosophy: "Of the virtues of things which are in them only in their lifetime, and such as remain in them even after their death."

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A brief history of St. John the Evangelist and Chapters XIX and XX of the Three Books of Occult Philosophy. Ben also includes the Grand Commander's Christmas Toast for your enjoyment and a short opinion piece on the relevance of Masonry in the 21st Century.

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