Relevance Part 2...

So here is Bro Meagher's second entry into the literature prize... again, we think "offbeat" is the best way to describe how this Brothers brain works at times...

The MW Bro Jamie Melville recently asked the Brethren “Does Freemasonry Have a Place in Modern Society?”

I will answer this very interesting question with a very firm and confident “No”!

Freemasonry is entirely Irrelevant to the Modern Man and to Society.

Why would an active mason make such a rash statement? Well let me explain:

To be blatantly honest, Life is short and I am busy.

Busy You Hear.

Incredibly Busy, Doing Stuff.

The sort of stuff that I need to do, I am a modern man after all.

I do the sort of stuff that YOU wouldn’t understand because you are too “Old School” to understand how a Modern Man works. It’s not like you have ever been a Modern Man after all.

All those lodges are just places for Old Dudes.

None of whom WERE EVER young.

None of whom are, or, were ever busy.

None of whom have any life experience that is interesting, or, who would find my life experience interesting.

As I am a Modern man, I have a Man-Cave. It is where I used to put my car until that TV show that I always watch showed all these Man caves as things that I simply had to have, thus I have fitted my garage out with all the cool stuff that a Modern Man needs. Therefore, I don’t need to go out to revel in the ambiance of an old building with some pillars stuck onto an atrium out the front of it. The beer posters from a long dead Pub provide me with all the Man-cave cool that I need! Honestly, it is as though you freemasons talk about a “Man-cave” of the mind, a virtual man-cave! HAH! Imagine that!

As I am a Modern man, I have many and various forms of Social media in which to broadcast my life, and movements of all my “friends”, and which keeps me up to date with their activities. And gee, I have so many friends; some of which I only seem to keep up with on Social media since I met them all those years ago… Indeed, I have just met this pretty lady that keeps on sending me messages of love - I can’t recall where we met, but, the relationship looks promising, I just need to send her some money to assist with some car repairs that she needs... Hah, imagine turning up to lodge to meet your friends on a lodge night; why that is just inconvenient - it is much better to see them on your timeline every day.

As I am a Modern man, I can Download all the Music I want, mostly for free - the thought of listening to live music just doesn’t do anything for me; as for listening to something played in a small lodge room, forget it. I can’t imagine why people would want to bother with that.

As I am a Modern man, my attitude to dressing up to go out: don’t be silly! I wear my Jeans & Tee-shirt. Everywhere. They are the coolest things ever, I have a vast collection of Tee-shirts, all with brand names on them - You probably couldn’t afford my Tee-Shirts you know, they are THAT exclusive. I can wear them to work too. Heck, after work, I can just slob around my house in my underwear if I choose… AND I frequently do! Why on earth would I be even remotely interested in wearing a Suit (either Dinner or Lounge?) As for the custom Tie & Bow Ties of these lodges; no way, I can’t remember how to tie them it takes too long to put those thing on.

As I am a Modern man, I can see all the entertaining and informative programming I want at anytime of the day or night; indeed, I was watching a YouTube contributor talk about self improvement the other night and it was very informative and much better than any advice that I have gotten in ages. Why would I want to practice an esoteric ritual spoken in Victorian style English intended to make me a better man when I can watch the “Ultimate bikini Fails collection” over & over & over again!

As I am a Modern man, I can order my daily needs, over the internet, at any time convenient to me, you know, all without physically talking to, speaking to, seeing or dealing with another human being. Why would I want to have a short supper with some blokes after a lodge and chat about the past month? I can watch the News when I have my dinner and do the same thing!

As I am a Modern man, I can see no sensible reasons for all these secrets that happen in a lodge; let’s be honest, what is the point? To not tell everyone about something that you do is silly and is out of touch with the Modern World - the only secret I keep is when I’ve been accessing those “naughty” web pages that I use the “In-Private” internet setting for...

And even sillier is that Freemasons give oaths that they will not reveal the secrets of their craft, why, EVERYONE knows that you are closer to people when there are no secrets! That is what it is like when I am in the chat rooms on the web; no secrets there, all honest. Besides; what if I forget the secret “bits”, why, I’d have to turn up to a lodges practice night and get reminded of these passwords and associated secrets; that just isn’t efficient.

As I am a Modern man, My life is just so busy; I need everything to work for ME. I have made it to be just so efficient. Time Economical. Business and being available and connected is important to me after all. I can’t afford to have time out from it, at all. Why doing something for a group for no monetary gain is just such an old time way of thinking

Thus I confidently pronounce Freemasonry as 100% totally irrelevant to Modern Society. Who needs it?

I mean, Why would I want to talk to another man about what happened to him in the past? When he started work?

Why would someone be interested in what I have been upto?

Why would another man be interested in My family?

My Hobbies?

My Gardening?

My Sporting Pastimes?

My Work? My Health?

My House?

No-one in real life would be interested in that stuff - My Facebook friends know all that already, via the timeline feed - all those Selfies when I am exercising, or enjoying a really nice meal, or walking to work…

Maybe Freemasonry could hold a “Virtual Lodge” where a man might participate in watch Lodge life from home, possibly whilst on the toilet. This would be truly relevant to a Modern Man. And you could only imagine the amount of members that would join that “virtual” lodge.

I mean, who could not see the relevance of a “Local Masonic Lodge Podcast” where a man could join a lodge full of like minded men, and watch it take place when it is convenient to him, for instance, I would find 7.30 PM on the second Monday night of the month to be the most convenient time to participate in a Lodge… and now that I think about it, I get the feeling that Lodge Canoblas Lewis #806 in Orange meets at these times, but that involves getting out of the house, getting dressed, participating in some sort of ritual, casual conversations and sharing a meal.

All of which, quite frankly, are just too hard.

Thus, AND in summary, Until Freemasonry can adapt to the above busy world that is MY life, by answering the above challenges, it will remain irrelevant to the Modern Man for all time.

Best Wishes,

Bro Meagher

Relevance Pt 1

The usual editor of this site (and the associated Facebook page) Bro Meagher recently submitted 3 entries in to the UGLNSWACT 2016 Grand Masters Literary Prize. This year the submissions were to be less than 2000 words and were to be on the subject of the relevance of Freemasonry to the modern man

In his own inimitable fashion Bro Meagher has drawn a rather long bow in his entries... so, to celebrate his "individuality" in his take on the subject here is a copy of His first submission, loosely titled "Hemmingway, Non-Mason". We will endeavour to put his other two submissions up over the coming week.

Hemmingway, Non-Mason

The man arrived home.

As usual he found his house empty.

He took off his loafers and placed them into the shoe shelf of the cloak cupboard.

Jacket into the cupboard, on the appropriate hanger.

Keys went into the bowl on the sideboard.

It all had a place.

In a linen shirt, Nantucket red pants and socks he meandered through his house to let his dog inside - he craved company, any company.

He had been having a rough time and it was showing.

Man and dog arrived in the front room, where the man began to leaf through a women's magazine of indeterminate age… he noticed that every time he leafed through these mags, the stories were pretty much exactly the same: updates on random members of the many European royal families laced with diet ideas, actress’ movements and affairs & of course the obligatory models in swimwear… admittedly, he did like the swimwear pictures…

Inspite of his dislike of the magazine he continued to read on until the need for a drink prompted him to stop.

The man found himself standing at his bar.

It was a nice bar. He had stocked it well with all manner of offerings to Bacchus.

Tonight the Bacchanalia was Gin & Tonic.

He sipped and thought.

His dog, George, the scruffy, yet rakishly urbane Jack Russell Terrier was the only witness to his libations.

The man thought on:

How nice it was when he was a part of the netball club when his daughter was playing.

How nice it was to run the BBQ and see the small winnings transferred to the club to buy small things for the girls.

He ruminated more about his footy fund raising for Junior, or running the barbecue for little miss’s netball club.

How grand just being part of the team was.

Oh how he missed it all.

“You know George, I am not That old… I still have plenty of life left in me yet, you know”. George didn't reply,  he just twisted his head to the side in the way that a noble Jack Russell terrier does. “I Just seem to be at something of a loose end…”

George twisted his head to the other side as if to say “ Well, a being a very busy person will do that to a man.. .”

The man interrupted Georges reply: “... I just seem to be living an empty life… I just don't have any mates to talk to!”

George snorted & scratched his right front shoulder and insinuated “well thanks for ignoring your best Canine friend EVER... “ he sat down and looked hopefully at the man “Aren't I your mate?”

“Well yes old boy,” the man replied as he bent to stroke his sporting quadrupedal friend, “But I need a HUMAN mate to talk to… you know the same way that you chase cats with Barry the Whippet from down the road

“Oh Yes!” George snorted as he sniffed at a bone “I understand… and no offence taken in that circumstance”

“I thought that you'd understand” the man thought. Here we are, again, Monday night and here I am, third Gin and Tonic before dinner. To be honest I am beginning to feel like the protagonist in an Ernest Hemingway novel… machismo, booze and conversations. .. Including conversation s thats are  just all a one way affair… no offense old mate “ he added so as not to upset George.

“No Worries old Mate” George's head and Tail indicated

The man felt for his phone. He had become quite fond of Facebook… he found that he could keep up with all sorts of people that he had met over the years. For some reason it didn't seem real. It did fill in a couple of minutes though.

After the Facebook session, the man had another gin and tonic. He mused some more. What is there that I can do to fill the emptiness of my life?

What is there that can keep the grey matter going? Where my friends will be as excited to see me as I them?  Where I can enjoy a  G&T in company - or not if I chose???

Where is it all? the man pleaded…

George looked on with his doggish dignity and intimated: “mate you need to join something,... I hear there are a heap of ladies down at the dog walking park, maybe that would help?” he wagged his tail at his intimated suggestions. ..

“Oh gosh, No” the man replied. “Mate I need more. Mate, I need fraternity, a group of men that don't care about money, as such, meeting without the Pluto’s hefty shadow clouding the event.

The man asked vainly “Where can I just hang out with the fellas and enjoy the company of the fraternity “

“Somewhere where I can forget about the problems of life for a couple of hours… maybe with some music too… oh if only…”

George looked on hopefully as it was getting close to dinner time.

“Oh well” said the man in a way that was obliquely directed to George “I suppose I will just have to have another gin and tonic… and watch the TV… yes, that is the Go!… I think there’s a new show on that everyone is talking about…”

George did not look happy with the current line of conversation.

George sneezed in disgust and walked over to his dinner bowl. He wagged his tail as he looked up at the man.

“Oh yes, dinner time… I had best feed you” the man said… The man mused: And how nice would it be for me to have a casual meal occasionally, And chew the fat over the events of the last month in an equally casual way.

“If only…”  the Man mused.

And so the night went on…

George supervised it all. He knew that some of the other dogs masters were Freemasons and didn’t have these sort of problems, he tried to tell the man this… but George was a dog after all, and he couldn't tell the man any of it.

And this rather sad story is the reason that Freemasonry is relevant to the modem man.

So Mote it Be!

Elvis Presley. Freemason

I had a random thought this morning.

If Elvis Presley was alive, and, an Australian resident, and, living in the Orange district, he would be a member of Lodge Canoblas Lewis!

Elvis - Freemason!

That makes you glad to be a Freemason!

So Mote it Be!

By the way; we are lying - we ALL KNOW that Elvis Lives!
Come along to Lodge Canoblas Lewis on a Monday night & you might just meet him!

A non-member of Canoblas Lewis

This chap here is Tyr.

He has an occupation too, He is a Norse God.
He was so important that he gave his name to Tuesday. One of Tyrs jobs was as god of Justice.  And Honour and War and the sky and apparently a few other things too... apparently the gods are multitalented.

In the picture (by the Swedish painter John Baur) Tyr is depicted in the process of losing his right hand to the giant wolf Fenrir. In this story, the monstorous half god Fenrir is so wild that for the publics safety he must be bound (tied up). After numerous failed attempts to bind the beastie the gods commissioned a magical rope to be built specifically to bind the beast. When it came time to bind Fenrir, the hellish wolf was rightly suspect that the gods planned to trap him.

The wolf agreed to be bound on the condition that a god place his or her right hand in his mouth... (I take it you get the implications???)

Tyr was the god who stepped up and placed his hand in Fenrirs mouth - thus loosing it when the wolf found that he was caught in the rope. His self sacrifice made the gods home safe. Possibly a bit "loose" in a strictly moral sense - but he did give his word to the Monster and paid a hefty price as a result.

With an attitude to keeping his word and looking after his fellow citizens of Asgard, Tyr would have made an admirable Freemason.

If he had joined a lodge in the Central west of NSW, unfortunately, he wouldn't have been a member of Lodge Canoblas Lewis; He would be a member of Lodge Mandagery at Manildra- as they meet on a Tuesday - and Tuesdays are his day after all!

So mote it be!

Australia Day promotions

Recently at the Orange Australia Day breakfast at Cook park, The Lodge Canoblas Lewis ran a Freemasony promotion tent.

Yep, Canoblas Lewis promote The Craft

We didn't sell anything.

We merely handed out leaflets and talked to any interest man about Freemasonry and what the craft is all about.

We even refered the men to the other lodges in the area. We made the suggestion based on geographic location, indicated  free nights and by the general feel of the candidate.

This prompted the question: Why?
Why are you promoting all the lodges in the district  rather than just grabbing all enquiries for your own lodge?

Simple.

At Canoblas Lewis we believe that a rising tide floats all boats. And what is good for one will in the long term benefit all!

We have long enjoyed positive relationships with our fellow lodges, as we all seek to make our members better men.
In addition, we also want to see a higher profile for Freemasonry in the general community. In order to achieve this aim, we will happily refer candidates to a more appropriate lodge; after all, there is no point in us having a casual member who attends 3 nights a year when the alternative would see him attend 10 nights a year and really enjoy the lodge setting.

We truly believe that men need Freemasonry! And if a potential candidate would fit in better at an other lodge then so be it.

It will work out better for the candidate and for Freemasony as a whole.
Win/Win!

So Mote it Be!

January... AND Dahlias...

Well, the Month named after the two faced Roman God Janus is here; the Silly Season continues on unabated like a train headed to the big smoke, that is, until the traditional End of Festivities at Australia Day.

Except of course at Lodge Canoblas Lewis; where work was held as usual.

Within the Craft, many lodges shut down in January, as a lot of the members are away on break, or, the lodge meet smack bang on the long weekends (such is the case for the Brethren of Lodge Mandagery at Manildra). We, however,like to give the Brethren & other Masons the option of attending Lodge in January. In truth, this is due largely our regular meetings being held "just far enough away" from any holidays that the brethren are free to attend!

So, along with the visiting brethren, a short casual lodge was held with the usual formalities followed by a smashing South!

The Winner is.... the pink spikey one...

First up was a talk about dahlia showing by Bro R Smith, the current Supreme Champion of the Royal Sydney Show. We were amazed by the variety in the 100 plus cultivars of this little wonder. The Flower that won him the Supreme Champion title was a "Susan French" (The pink spiked flower in the lower left of the photo). Even the non-gardeners found the talk interesting!

Next on the list was a factoid session on the American Civil War by Bro R Turnbull; focussing mainly upon the lesser known events of this war; such as the Union Navy battled against the Japanese Navy during the Civil war. Bro Meagher recommended the book "Confederate Australians" to the assembly as it covers the visit to Australia by the CSN Ship "The Shenandoah" & the Australians who joined & sailed for the Confederacy, it also covered the influence of the American Civil War on the Australian Constitution.
Thankfully a Masonic "South" is Different to the South referred to in the American Civil War - Our South is a very peaceful & laidback affair!!

Final piece for the evening was a quick Poetry recitation by Bro Fergusson of "Bushfire". Well recited & poignant to the current Australian Summer.

A larger than usual crowd then relaxed after the very casual formalities of the Visitors & the Junior Wardens toasts & had a couple of "wiggies" (that is "ports" to the non-CanoblasLewismen out there).

Ah Freemasonry; it does the soul good!

So Mote it Be!


P.S.: Please keep an eye out for the Freemasons Tent at the Orange Australia Day festivities at Cook Park & come along & say G'day!

The Simpsons Parody of Freemasonry...

Many have seen the rather funny parody of Freemasonry in an episode called "Homer the Great".

Here is the Promo!! This song features as well The Stonecutters Song... And many will recognise it straight away

If you've not seen the episode, Homer joins a Lodge of "Stone cutters", Where he is told by the lodges master (voiced rather well by the rather urbane vocals of Patrick Stewart ) for centuries Stonecutters have split the rocks of ignorance that hide and obscure truth... now let's get drunk and play ping pong!"

Many non masons understand that it is a send up of Freemasonry; yet Canoblas Lewis wants everyone to know that it is a very inaccurate send up.
For example, take Patrick Stewart's very humorous introduction to the Lodge of Stonecutters; even though it is a comedic opener, this sentiment adequately sums up Freemasonry. For Centuries we have sought to make good men better through our ceremonies & practices; then we head to the south to eat, Drink & Be Merry!

Next thing that we work about; Those of us in the craft get a huge laugh at the stupidity of Homer's initiation ( thankfully Homer's initiation bears no resemblance to the Masonic ceremony). It is nothing like a Masonic Initiation, which is full of symbolism & intent... Not the Frat house of the Stone Cuters

You can sum up the accuracy of Homer the Great by comparison to the Simpsons visits to Australia, France & Japan , so accuracy is missing but then the humour is the point of the Simpsons after all.

So, if you'd like to see how inaccurate this Simpsons episode is, please come along to a Canoblas Lewis Masonic Awareness Night!

So Mote it Be!