I like what you are saying here MWB Cameron. I do find it interesting though that you stopped the Charge quote where you did. The very next sentence, "Recommend it more especially to the household of the faithful. " has us give preferential treatment to our brothers first. Of course the best way to look at this is that if we keep our brothers strong then we have a force multiplier on "Do good unto all".
Here in Washington our Charge doesn't include the line you mention. Here the Charge continues from where I stopped: "Finally my Brethren, be ye all of one mind, live in peace, and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with you and bless you."
These small ritualistic changes from place to place are certainly interesting, and when pondered can I think add depth to our Work.
I don't know. But I do see instances of this when I'm traveling. Our Washington FC Staircase Lecture for example is quite a bit longer than that given just across the river in Oregon.
I don't think Washington ever had it. "Recommend it more especially to the household of the faithful" does sound good in the Charge, but I've never heard it before until now. And I've browsed through some OLD monitors.
The "standard" Preston-Webb version that most U.S. Jurisdictions based their charges on reads: "Brethren, we are now about to quit this sacred retreat of friendship and virtue, to mix again with the world. Amidst its concerns and employments, forget not the duties which you have heard so frequently inculcated and so forcibly recommended in this Lodge.
Be diligent, prudent, temperate, discreet. Remember that around this altar you have promised to befriend and relieve every brother who shall need your assistance. You have promised, in the most friendly manner, to remind him of his errors, and to aid a reformation.
These generous principles are to extend further; every human being has a claim upon your kind offices. Do good unto all. Recommend it more especially to the 'household of the faithful.'
Finally, brethren, be ye all of one mind; live in peace; and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with and bless you."
Arkansas changed the last line to read "Finally, brethren, be of one mind; live in peace; and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with and bless you forever, Amen."
From what I recall, Oregon doesn't incorporate the Closing Charge, but at least one of the two Jurisdictions I visited in Mexico does. I think it was the "Gran Logia "Occidental Mexicana"" Lodge. Cameron will likely confirm or correct this recollection.
Yeah, I know that the Closing Charge isn't universal within the US. I'm sorry, but I don't remember which Mexican GL's I've seen the Charge in, and which I have not.
I'm thinking it was the Occidental Mexicana Lodge. All the ritual was in Spanish, but our Good Brother Larry Foley gave the Closing Charge at the meeting, which was translated into Spanish by Bro. J.P. Varela. Their Grand Master found the Charge to be very close to the one they use.
That was a killer meeting. Very memorable. We filled that room!
Our charge includes all the verbiage, and I believe reminds all of us how to conduct our lives outside of the lodge. I wish our ritual required it as part of the closing.
This is probably one of my favorite posts of yours to date Brother. E Pluribus Unum.
We see so many attempts to create and foment dissension amongst various political, cultural, and social groups. Ultimately pulling our time and energies in various ways that leads to further division and hostilities that benefit none of the parties involved. In many cases desiring of similar end states from different perspectives.
Rather than focusing on which groups to fight, I wonder what we might achieve if we instead sought to improve the conditions for all involved.
I'd like to see this topic explored on Rummer N' Grapes sometime if you're amenable.
Thank you. I appreciate your kind words very much.
What is particularly sad is knowing that those who create and stoke these divisions are doing so for personal gain. Either financial gain, or gains in power. It's sad, and it's scary.
We have to support what we wish to see in our world.
It is sad that this is the case, though hopeful because it doesn't need to be this way, if we work to better understand the reasons for the fears, anger, and division.
If we can work toward a common goal and common good, these malicious acts can be countered by information and community. More often than not, most people just want to be heard, and feel represented.
Agreed, and I would add that the vast majority of people are individuals of goodwill. If we can remember these things, we can bring about positive change.
>>>And it seems the average American morality is either a bot farm of psychopaths or we >>>really are horrible as a society.
Honestly, I don't think it's that. I think that the vast majority of people are good. But, I think we are being bombarded constantly by those who profit when our society fractures. The worst of the worst are given the loudest voices. Under that deluge, humanity can be forgotten.
And of course, there are an awful lot of bots working constantly to push this division as well. We'd all do well to turn off the news and sign off social media from time to time. I don't think we've figured out how to cope with the 24/7/365 news cycle yet.
I've got two favorite pieces of our work. This Charge is one, the FC Degree G Lecture is the other.
Well said, my brother. And timely. We all need to be reminded as we do at the end of every meeting. I wish more would take it to heart.
Thank you. I'm glad that you found some value in this little essay!
I like what you are saying here MWB Cameron. I do find it interesting though that you stopped the Charge quote where you did. The very next sentence, "Recommend it more especially to the household of the faithful. " has us give preferential treatment to our brothers first. Of course the best way to look at this is that if we keep our brothers strong then we have a force multiplier on "Do good unto all".
Here in Washington our Charge doesn't include the line you mention. Here the Charge continues from where I stopped: "Finally my Brethren, be ye all of one mind, live in peace, and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with you and bless you."
These small ritualistic changes from place to place are certainly interesting, and when pondered can I think add depth to our Work.
That is interesting. I wonder why Washington dropped it? From what I can tell it is pretty standard across most jurisdictions.
I don't know. But I do see instances of this when I'm traveling. Our Washington FC Staircase Lecture for example is quite a bit longer than that given just across the river in Oregon.
I don't think Washington ever had it. "Recommend it more especially to the household of the faithful" does sound good in the Charge, but I've never heard it before until now. And I've browsed through some OLD monitors.
"Finally my Brethren, be ye all of one mind, live in peace, and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with you and bless you."
Which is pulled out of the New Testament. 2nd Corinthians 13:11. It’s when Paul was tidying up and concluding his second Epistle to the Corinthians.
The "standard" Preston-Webb version that most U.S. Jurisdictions based their charges on reads: "Brethren, we are now about to quit this sacred retreat of friendship and virtue, to mix again with the world. Amidst its concerns and employments, forget not the duties which you have heard so frequently inculcated and so forcibly recommended in this Lodge.
Be diligent, prudent, temperate, discreet. Remember that around this altar you have promised to befriend and relieve every brother who shall need your assistance. You have promised, in the most friendly manner, to remind him of his errors, and to aid a reformation.
These generous principles are to extend further; every human being has a claim upon your kind offices. Do good unto all. Recommend it more especially to the 'household of the faithful.'
Finally, brethren, be ye all of one mind; live in peace; and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with and bless you."
Arkansas changed the last line to read "Finally, brethren, be of one mind; live in peace; and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with and bless you forever, Amen."
I certainly could see dropping the 'ye.' That's always struck me as disrupting the flow, moving from modern to older usage.
From what I recall, Oregon doesn't incorporate the Closing Charge, but at least one of the two Jurisdictions I visited in Mexico does. I think it was the "Gran Logia "Occidental Mexicana"" Lodge. Cameron will likely confirm or correct this recollection.
Yeah, I know that the Closing Charge isn't universal within the US. I'm sorry, but I don't remember which Mexican GL's I've seen the Charge in, and which I have not.
I'm thinking it was the Occidental Mexicana Lodge. All the ritual was in Spanish, but our Good Brother Larry Foley gave the Closing Charge at the meeting, which was translated into Spanish by Bro. J.P. Varela. Their Grand Master found the Charge to be very close to the one they use.
That was a killer meeting. Very memorable. We filled that room!
Here we are close to this. The line under discussion is omitted, and a handful of words are different, but close.
Our charge includes all the verbiage, and I believe reminds all of us how to conduct our lives outside of the lodge. I wish our ritual required it as part of the closing.
If my memory serves, the Closing Charge is considered optional Work here, but it is almost always given.
This is probably one of my favorite posts of yours to date Brother. E Pluribus Unum.
We see so many attempts to create and foment dissension amongst various political, cultural, and social groups. Ultimately pulling our time and energies in various ways that leads to further division and hostilities that benefit none of the parties involved. In many cases desiring of similar end states from different perspectives.
Rather than focusing on which groups to fight, I wonder what we might achieve if we instead sought to improve the conditions for all involved.
I'd like to see this topic explored on Rummer N' Grapes sometime if you're amenable.
Thank you. I appreciate your kind words very much.
What is particularly sad is knowing that those who create and stoke these divisions are doing so for personal gain. Either financial gain, or gains in power. It's sad, and it's scary.
We have to support what we wish to see in our world.
It is sad that this is the case, though hopeful because it doesn't need to be this way, if we work to better understand the reasons for the fears, anger, and division.
If we can work toward a common goal and common good, these malicious acts can be countered by information and community. More often than not, most people just want to be heard, and feel represented.
Agreed, and I would add that the vast majority of people are individuals of goodwill. If we can remember these things, we can bring about positive change.
Regardless of what sides of issues people are on, their mentality speaks for their level of morality.
And it seems the average American morality is either a bot farm of psychopaths or we really are horrible as a society.
By the way, that's one of my favorite lines from the Harris Charge.
>>>And it seems the average American morality is either a bot farm of psychopaths or we >>>really are horrible as a society.
Honestly, I don't think it's that. I think that the vast majority of people are good. But, I think we are being bombarded constantly by those who profit when our society fractures. The worst of the worst are given the loudest voices. Under that deluge, humanity can be forgotten.
And of course, there are an awful lot of bots working constantly to push this division as well. We'd all do well to turn off the news and sign off social media from time to time. I don't think we've figured out how to cope with the 24/7/365 news cycle yet.
I've got two favorite pieces of our work. This Charge is one, the FC Degree G Lecture is the other.