Greetings Members, Brethren and Friends,
It has been a considerable length of time since I sent out a newsletter. So here is what’s happening with the Northern Freemason website:
Here are some stats for you… This is a Masonic Awareness and Educational website.
The website currently contains over 400 articles of education and information pertaining to Freemasonry. The average monthly visitation is just under 10,000. The website registered membership of Brother Freemasons is about 850 world-wide.
The site has grown exponentially – So I must be doing something the Brethren are appreciating.
As you know, I host a general admission website for all people with an interest in Freemasonry – BUT, It contains secure sections for Brethren of the Craft. Education and articles are available in these secure sections, for each;
Entered Apprentices,
- Fellowcraft and
- Master Masons.
Each of the articles of interest or education can easily be printed or downloaded in PDF format. You are encouraged to take advantage of this option if you desire to make a presentation at your Lodge or if you are a Lodge Education Officer.
There is no fee to join or maintain a membership on the Northern Freemason website. It is hosted and maintained solely by myself, to share enlightenment with my Brethren and to propagate the Masonic way of life to the profane.
[You may wonder about the word “profane”. Profane is a word of ancient origin, referring to a person who is a non-Mason. Over many years it has evolved into a word of different meaning. As I use the word “profane” in the context of this newsletter I am referring to its ancient meaning of a person with no Masonic connections or membership.]
SO, WHAT’S NEW and APPEALING ABOUT the NORTHERN FREEMASON??? And What will I see that I won’t see on any other “Masonic” website??
For those of you who are unaware of what is happening on the ‘Cutting Edge’ of the Craft:
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE NEWEST LODGE IN MANITOBA!!
The Grand Lodge of Manitoba has entered the 21st Century with respect to the Craft and offered an option for ‘change’.
“CHANGE”- What’s the reason for this??? – a word almost considered a Masonic Offense!!
- Many Brethren today find their lives in the ‘Fast Lane’ – unable to portion their time as taught in the FC Degree with the aid of the 24 inch gauge,
- For many others, Father Time has limited their ability to travel in the evenings, in the dark, to communicate with their Brethren,
- The infirm are finding the stairs (snow and rain as well) into their beloved sanctuaries of Peace and Brotherly Love a physical challenge,
- Businessmen are on the road when their Lodges meet,
- Police, Contractors, Military Brethren are posted into the remoteness of the world where Lodges don’t meet,
- Busy family lives don’t allow some of our Brethren to portion 4 or 5 hour to prepare for, travel to, attend Lodge, socialize and travel again to their homes – without sacrificing the time they owe to their families and vocations,
- You get the point …. It’s a combination of time and commitment: not to the Craft but to the ‘length of your Cabletow’.
WHAT’S THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM???
Castle Island VIRTUAL Lodge
Some of the brightest, forward thinking Brethren have collectively proposed an Option to the Grand Lodge of Manitoba and the Grand Master of the Day, wisely granted dispensation which developed into the Chartering of Canada’s FIRST “Virtual Lodge” – Manitoba’s Newest fully functional, operating Lodge – Numbered 190 on the Grand Registry of Manitoba.
( note: The NORTHERN FREEMASON Website is NOT a “Virtual Lodge” – I am however, hosting a secure section on the site for the use of Castle Island Virtual Lodge (CIVL-190) … which is indeed, a true Chartered Virtual Lodge.)
For those wishing more specific information:
- Castle Island Virtual Lodge #190 (CIVL-190) meets online using a secure platform so all Brethren can not only hear each other but as well, see each other.
- We Visit other Lodges – The only equipment required by the Lodge we visit is a Laptop, Internet connection and a microphone. We can visit Your Lodge, meet and communicate in real time and enjoy each other’s Fraternal and Inherent right of visitation.
NAY SAYERS – HERE’S Your Answers… Before you panic and ask Questions (we’ve heard them all before):
- How do you conduct a Degree “Virtually”? …. Answer: We don’t. CIVL-190 is more of a Lodge of Instruction, emphasizing Education and employing the assistance of Members and Visitors to provide presentations in oral, video and combinations thereof.
- How do we know cowans or the profane are not amongst us? …. If we visit you, the only Cowans present would be any sitting in Your Lodge room. We take CIVL-190 membership extremely seriously. To be a member or visitor of CIVL, a Brother must PROVE beyond a doubt via full investigation that he is a member for the Craft and that he holds a current Dues Card issued from a Craft Lodge recognized by the Grand Lodge of Manitoba.
- What if someone ‘Hacks’ into one of our meetings? …. We use the same software that many multi-billion dollar businesses use to conduct their meetings. Businesses using this same platform conduct financial and cutting edge technology world-wide. If you’re concerned about “Hackers” viewing our meetings to watch us conduct Masonic Education, maybe you should also have concerns with your banking systems, or the use of your own phone.
- What if I want to visit but I’m not yet a Master Mason? …. Answer- You will be Tried and Proven … CIVL-190 is a Regularly Constituted Lodge. We will conduct our meeting in the degree accommodating the lowest ranking Brother. Education will be specific to the lowest ranking attending Brother. I’m the LEO (Lodge Education Officer) and believe me I have enlightenment readily available to share for every rank of Freemason.
- What Type and Rank of Freemasons make up the membership of CIVL-190? Most of our Officers are a mix of senior Brethren. These are Past Grand Masters, Past Grand Lodge Officers and Past Grand Secretaries. There are probably NO Questions the Officers can’t answer when it comes to Education and the Condition of Freemasonry. The Officers of CIVL-190 are experienced, long term members of the Craft who have witnessed most every issue brought before a Lodge – INCLUDING the decline in membership and the need to accommodate Brethren via the concept of “Virtual” meetings.
- The Big Question “WHAT DOES IT COST”? The same thing it costs for me to visit Your Lodge … NOTHING. If you find CIVL -190 is a Lodge you would like to affiliate with, the standard affiliation and membership charges are in place but, I would rather suggest you visit us first , or maybe a few times, before making a decision to apply for membership.
SO … HOW DO I ARRANGE TO VISIT – or – HOW DO I ARRANGE FOR CIVL-190 TO VISIT OUR LODGE???
Visiting CIVL-190:
Email or phone our Secretary – C.Rae Haldane Wilsone is a Past Grand Master who has served as the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba for Nine Years. M.W.Bro. C-Rae can fill you in on all aspects of requirements. His email address is [email protected] and his phone number is 204-783-9788.
Inviting CIVL-190 to visit your Lodge:
Email or phone our Technical Guru – Brother Jason Combe. He’s the ‘go-to’ man when it comes to information on secure cyber meetings, and can be reached at [email protected] or 204-295-2107.
We are pleased to send you a complete set of instructions to use our secure platform.
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Anyone wishing to donate towards helping with Castle Island Virtual Lodge costs can voluntarily do so with the PayPal button below. (All donations go directly to the Lodge – this website is privately funded)
We offer this opportunity to donate only if you choose to do so. And remember Brethren: Whatever amount will be thankfully received and faithfully applied to the Lodge’s operating costs and benevolence.
“Thanks for keeping Masonry alive in the 21st century”