Free-Will and Accord
Masonic Matters
December 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus
“I’ve been swatting PC irritations ever since (or trying to) since 1978, when I learned that Radio Shack TRS-80’s keyboard had a tenddency to repeat chharcters at random.” Harry McCracken
This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus, as well as guest writers, and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
“If you’re like me, you live with email. That means you also live with all the dumb things your email program does – like hide your attachments or turn them into gobbledygook, or delete messages without permission.” Steve Bass
I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
Dear Brethren, and readers;
On behalf of my Grand Master and all of our Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, I would like to extend to you our best wishes to you and yours for a very happy and enjoyable holiday season.
Winter arrived a bit earlier this year in the area I live in and it came in quick and cold. We have about a foot of snow on the ground now after the snow has settled a bit. Luckily for me the cold isn’t affecting me as bad as it did this time last year, and also fortunately I was able to tune-up each of my snow-throwers when the weather was still nice, I have 3 of them – one to use on the deck, one for small snow falls, and then the big one when that’s called for.
I have had major problems with my computer, and my email program and mailing lists; like Freemasonry there as always something to learn or re-learn about computers. For some reason outlook express along with my address book disappeared from my computer. However a few tears ago, being worried about losing my address book, which contained thousands of email addresses, I bough Plaxo because they keep a back-up copy of my address book, so I am able to access my address list through them.
Because of wanting to access and send emails from locations other than my home I had just a couple of months ago began to use gmail, and I like it a lot, but Plaxo cannot load my address book onto gmail so I need to do it manually and that is a slow process.
I use a mail program through a web hosting company called Mailman to send out my publications: This service has been great up until this week: In trying to find out why it wasn’t sending out the publication I sent to it I learned that there shouldn’t be more than 100 email addresses on any one mailing list, and there were a whole lot more than that on each of the lists. The reason for less than 100 is that mailman will send to the first 100 and not the rest. So now each list needs to be redone by adding other lists with less than 100 email addresses on any one of them. So if you get an email welcoming to a list of mine such as all-g that’s the reason. Computer and email problems are time consuming. in the process of the email list problems it appears that one list of over 500 email addresses is gone from mailman; I just can’t find the list, so I’m going to ask my web hosting company if they can restore it, but I don’t hold out much hope for that; another thing to remember about computers and electronics is that they are machines, and machines are not too forgiving – they live in the world of exact.
If you get some generic looking welcoming message welcoming you to one of my new lists such as all-g or something like it, it’s because I’m working on new lists. Also if you know someone who has subscribed and no longer is receiving the publications please help me spread the word and ask them to send me an email re-subscribing. I will appreciate your help.
All the problems with this computer and now with the address and mailing lists takes up almost as much time as it takes to write the articles, so I will be posting each of these articles on my Web Site at http://www.halpaus.net on the date of publication, and they can be read there. The publication dates are: Masonic Matters the 10th of the month: Mehr Licht each Monday: T.F.S., or 3, 5, & 7, on the 1st and the 20th of the month. As time goes on, and I learn how to do it, I might try to have spots to publish some of the other articles I write that are published elsewhere. In the meantime I’m going to try to re-establish all the lists and continue to send them out; it appears that mailman is going to work better now.
Now on to this Masonic Matters Masonic information article: Happy Holidays - Ed
Free-Will and Accord.
There are a lot of fine guys in Freemasonry; men who are just a lot of fun to know and hang-out with. Most lodges have this kind of men, and all it takes is the interest to get to know these men a little bit to find out how enjoyable it is.
I was at a rehearsal for a second degree which was going to be part of a one-day to Masonry class. I was the Senior Deacon for both sections of the degree. During this rehearsal I happened to be escorting an extremely nice brother who is one of these fun people to be with; (he was acting as the candidate in the rehearsal) he is also a Past Master, and a 33° in the Scottish Rite. During the rehearsal, when we came to the Master’s station, the Master asked if it was of his own free-will and accord, and he answered, (of course,) “No, my dad’s making me do it.” We all had to smile at that answer, and it was good that it was a rehearsal.
One of the outstanding peculiarities of Freemasonry that is unique among practically any and every group that could be named is the rule that no man may be asked, invited, solicited, or pressured in any way, to enter Freemasonry. This is a good rule, which is just the opposite of most other organizations. Possibly this rule is one reason Freemasonry has had the growth it has had throughout the world, and maybe it is the reason why most Freemasons remain in the fraternity for the rest of their lives. Contrast Freemasonry’s prohibition against proselytism; the custom of some religious groups, societies, or groups, to proselyte, invite, and to urge people to come to this or that particular organization or house of worship.
In contrast to those other kinds of groups; Freemasonry, which is a society of over 4,000,000 in the United States alone, all of whom have petitioned of their own free-will and accord, ‘would be regarded as a phenomenon if it had not existed for such a long time, and which has become so familiar to so many people in the communities of the world.’ Also when you think about it; Freemasonry is evidently quite interesting and intriguing to a large number of men, otherwise we would not have as many men petitioning the lodges as we do, nor would it be so interesting to non-Masons, which it obviously is; consider the popularity of the stories portrayed in books and movies based on the Masonic fraternity.
Mackey when commenting on a man coming to Freemasonry of his own free-will and accord said: "This is a settled landmark of the Order," but, he did not include this ‘settled landmark’ among his list of 25 Landmarks. In his article on Proselytism, Mackey states; “Freemasonry is rigorously opposed to proselytism.” He also wrote: “Nay, it boasts as a peculiar beauty of its system, that it is a voluntary institution.” He also says in his article on proselytism that Freemasonry differs from every other association in the world in its rule against proselytism. His article is well worth the time it takes to read it: you can find his article in the Clegg edition of Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry.
Another peculiarity about the principle of requiring petitioners to come of their own free-will and accord is that no one knows when this rule or custom originated. Even so, there are good reasons for a man to come to Freemasonry on his own without being pressured by friends and associates. When he comes to Freemasonry on his own, if for some reason he decides Freemasonry is not for him, he has no one to blame. But if he were pressured in some way to take the degrees of Masonry, and it turned out not to be for him for some reason, it might result in an injured or broken friendship. Brother Mackey also has said that coming of our own free-will and accord means that Freemasonry is, in the most positive way, a truly voluntary association of men, and that this is where the saying ‘Once a Freemason always a Freemason’ comes from, and has meaning.
Interestingly a man who attends a lodge for an open house, or an informational night, or is merely asked the question about why he never got involved with Freemasonry, and then subsequently fills out a petition after he learns he must ask, and that we don’t invite men to join, can truthfully say he did come of his own free-will and accord.
“You mention your name as if I should recognize it, but beyond the obvious facts that you are a bachelor, a solicitor, a Freemason, and an asthmatic, I know nothing whatever about you.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes – The Norwood Builder Brother Doyle was raised in 1893 in Phoenix Lodge #257 - Portsmouth
From the Great light of Masonry = “May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised.” Deuteronomy 1:11 NIV
Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com The question for the week of 12-10-07 is: “Why are, 'Worshipful Masters” called Worshipful?”
More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.
To read this issue of Masonic Matters on the web go to http://www.halpaus.net
With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus
Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
December 10, 2007
By Ed Halpaus
“I’ve been swatting PC irritations ever since (or trying to) since 1978, when I learned that Radio Shack TRS-80’s keyboard had a tenddency to repeat chharcters at random.” Harry McCracken
This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus, as well as guest writers, and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
“If you’re like me, you live with email. That means you also live with all the dumb things your email program does – like hide your attachments or turn them into gobbledygook, or delete messages without permission.” Steve Bass
I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Raymond G. Christensen, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers elected and appointed of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
Dear Brethren, and readers;
On behalf of my Grand Master and all of our Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, I would like to extend to you our best wishes to you and yours for a very happy and enjoyable holiday season.
Winter arrived a bit earlier this year in the area I live in and it came in quick and cold. We have about a foot of snow on the ground now after the snow has settled a bit. Luckily for me the cold isn’t affecting me as bad as it did this time last year, and also fortunately I was able to tune-up each of my snow-throwers when the weather was still nice, I have 3 of them – one to use on the deck, one for small snow falls, and then the big one when that’s called for.
I have had major problems with my computer, and my email program and mailing lists; like Freemasonry there as always something to learn or re-learn about computers. For some reason outlook express along with my address book disappeared from my computer. However a few tears ago, being worried about losing my address book, which contained thousands of email addresses, I bough Plaxo because they keep a back-up copy of my address book, so I am able to access my address list through them.
Because of wanting to access and send emails from locations other than my home I had just a couple of months ago began to use gmail, and I like it a lot, but Plaxo cannot load my address book onto gmail so I need to do it manually and that is a slow process.
I use a mail program through a web hosting company called Mailman to send out my publications: This service has been great up until this week: In trying to find out why it wasn’t sending out the publication I sent to it I learned that there shouldn’t be more than 100 email addresses on any one mailing list, and there were a whole lot more than that on each of the lists. The reason for less than 100 is that mailman will send to the first 100 and not the rest. So now each list needs to be redone by adding other lists with less than 100 email addresses on any one of them. So if you get an email welcoming to a list of mine such as all-g that’s the reason. Computer and email problems are time consuming. in the process of the email list problems it appears that one list of over 500 email addresses is gone from mailman; I just can’t find the list, so I’m going to ask my web hosting company if they can restore it, but I don’t hold out much hope for that; another thing to remember about computers and electronics is that they are machines, and machines are not too forgiving – they live in the world of exact.
If you get some generic looking welcoming message welcoming you to one of my new lists such as all-g or something like it, it’s because I’m working on new lists. Also if you know someone who has subscribed and no longer is receiving the publications please help me spread the word and ask them to send me an email re-subscribing. I will appreciate your help.
All the problems with this computer and now with the address and mailing lists takes up almost as much time as it takes to write the articles, so I will be posting each of these articles on my Web Site at http://www.halpaus.net on the date of publication, and they can be read there. The publication dates are: Masonic Matters the 10th of the month: Mehr Licht each Monday: T.F.S., or 3, 5, & 7, on the 1st and the 20th of the month. As time goes on, and I learn how to do it, I might try to have spots to publish some of the other articles I write that are published elsewhere. In the meantime I’m going to try to re-establish all the lists and continue to send them out; it appears that mailman is going to work better now.
Now on to this Masonic Matters Masonic information article: Happy Holidays - Ed
Free-Will and Accord.
There are a lot of fine guys in Freemasonry; men who are just a lot of fun to know and hang-out with. Most lodges have this kind of men, and all it takes is the interest to get to know these men a little bit to find out how enjoyable it is.
I was at a rehearsal for a second degree which was going to be part of a one-day to Masonry class. I was the Senior Deacon for both sections of the degree. During this rehearsal I happened to be escorting an extremely nice brother who is one of these fun people to be with; (he was acting as the candidate in the rehearsal) he is also a Past Master, and a 33° in the Scottish Rite. During the rehearsal, when we came to the Master’s station, the Master asked if it was of his own free-will and accord, and he answered, (of course,) “No, my dad’s making me do it.” We all had to smile at that answer, and it was good that it was a rehearsal.
One of the outstanding peculiarities of Freemasonry that is unique among practically any and every group that could be named is the rule that no man may be asked, invited, solicited, or pressured in any way, to enter Freemasonry. This is a good rule, which is just the opposite of most other organizations. Possibly this rule is one reason Freemasonry has had the growth it has had throughout the world, and maybe it is the reason why most Freemasons remain in the fraternity for the rest of their lives. Contrast Freemasonry’s prohibition against proselytism; the custom of some religious groups, societies, or groups, to proselyte, invite, and to urge people to come to this or that particular organization or house of worship.
In contrast to those other kinds of groups; Freemasonry, which is a society of over 4,000,000 in the United States alone, all of whom have petitioned of their own free-will and accord, ‘would be regarded as a phenomenon if it had not existed for such a long time, and which has become so familiar to so many people in the communities of the world.’ Also when you think about it; Freemasonry is evidently quite interesting and intriguing to a large number of men, otherwise we would not have as many men petitioning the lodges as we do, nor would it be so interesting to non-Masons, which it obviously is; consider the popularity of the stories portrayed in books and movies based on the Masonic fraternity.
Mackey when commenting on a man coming to Freemasonry of his own free-will and accord said: "This is a settled landmark of the Order," but, he did not include this ‘settled landmark’ among his list of 25 Landmarks. In his article on Proselytism, Mackey states; “Freemasonry is rigorously opposed to proselytism.” He also wrote: “Nay, it boasts as a peculiar beauty of its system, that it is a voluntary institution.” He also says in his article on proselytism that Freemasonry differs from every other association in the world in its rule against proselytism. His article is well worth the time it takes to read it: you can find his article in the Clegg edition of Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry.
Another peculiarity about the principle of requiring petitioners to come of their own free-will and accord is that no one knows when this rule or custom originated. Even so, there are good reasons for a man to come to Freemasonry on his own without being pressured by friends and associates. When he comes to Freemasonry on his own, if for some reason he decides Freemasonry is not for him, he has no one to blame. But if he were pressured in some way to take the degrees of Masonry, and it turned out not to be for him for some reason, it might result in an injured or broken friendship. Brother Mackey also has said that coming of our own free-will and accord means that Freemasonry is, in the most positive way, a truly voluntary association of men, and that this is where the saying ‘Once a Freemason always a Freemason’ comes from, and has meaning.
Interestingly a man who attends a lodge for an open house, or an informational night, or is merely asked the question about why he never got involved with Freemasonry, and then subsequently fills out a petition after he learns he must ask, and that we don’t invite men to join, can truthfully say he did come of his own free-will and accord.
“You mention your name as if I should recognize it, but beyond the obvious facts that you are a bachelor, a solicitor, a Freemason, and an asthmatic, I know nothing whatever about you.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes – The Norwood Builder Brother Doyle was raised in 1893 in Phoenix Lodge #257 - Portsmouth
From the Great light of Masonry = “May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised.” Deuteronomy 1:11 NIV
Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com The question for the week of 12-10-07 is: “Why are, 'Worshipful Masters” called Worshipful?”
More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.
To read this issue of Masonic Matters on the web go to http://www.halpaus.net
With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus
Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.
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