Comments on The North Eastern Corner: Esoteric.... Run for the Hills!

No, you're not whining, you're just wondering "Is...

2007-10-01T22:27:00.000-04:00

No, you're not whining, you're just wondering "Is this all there is?" We all do that. Well, most of us.

Oh, BTW - I co-opted your Meez idea. I did one a while back, but never put it on the blog, and in fact, forgot all about it until I saw yours.

Now I've just got to find an apron ;-)

My email address is on my blog - drop me a line and let me know what lodge you're from. If you're in central Conn, maybe we should grab Movable Jewel and come for a visit.

As an esotric geek myself, I find that I agree wit...

2007-10-01T19:53:00.000-04:00

As an esotric geek myself, I find that I agree with you in regards to the membership. Education nights never happen in my lodge, and there is so much for men to learn. In my opinion if you aren't learning something new in every lodge meeting, then opening and closing lodge and paying the bills gets old, and members gets bored. IMHO it's the work and the esotric education that keeps members intrested.

Thanks for the welcome Brother Tom. I hope I didn'...

2007-10-01T19:23:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the welcome Brother Tom. I hope I didn't come across too negatively I was just getting some frustration off of my chest. I know that in the past there was no other form of entertainment but I think that live exchanges of thought are just so exciting and are needed nowadays more than ever before (which is ironic being typed into the great digital unknown). I certainly have enjoyed some of those smaller conversations and just wish they occured more often.

Hey there, NE. Welcome to the world of Masonic blo...

2007-10-01T16:45:00.000-04:00

Hey there, NE. Welcome to the world of Masonic blogging. I'm proud to see that Connecticut is so well represented.

Why is it so hard for men, particularly brothers, nowadays to sit around and discuss the more thought provoking aspects of our time.

Ah yes, I've had a similar lament.
NE, most of the time these are he conversations that you have with a small, intimate group of brothers over some scotch and cigars, an hour after most of the lodge has gone home. And in some lodges, these conversations never happen at all.

The esoteric is a large part of what attracts the modern, younger Masons. Unfortunately, it's not what attracted many of the older grey-haired brethren; they joined because of the fellowship, the desire for community, or to be a part of something historic. And frankly, these are all great reasons to join - there's nothing saying that Freemasonry has to be all about the symbolism and allegory.

You may find more like-minded discussion in the research lodges; there is one based in Cromwell and one in the Bridgeport area.

I have read about traveling Masonic orators packing temples with men and can only imagine how exciting it must have been to be a Freemason back then.

Note that this was back in the days before tv, radio, and internet. People packed auditoriums all the time, and traveling or touring speakers were much more common.

Don't become discouraged. And also keep in mind that some men, while they don't discuss the esoteric aspects, they will internalize those values. No, it's not as exciting, but at some point you learn to adapt.

It's kind of like the difference between reading about Taoism and practicing Taoism.