I ask, not because I think it would be enough for me, but rather because I think it is important for all of us to challenge our assumptions from time to time.
Can watching educational video presentations, participating in zoom based educational discussions, reading newsletters, and participating in online discussion groups, all with a Masonic focus be enough for a Mason?
While "electronic Masonry" can help educate, inform and inspire....it lacks the "mouth to ear". It lacks many other important features of our beloved brotherhood also.
I believe, although the studying and learning available, we can not solely be true Masons without meeting in person, dining together or otherwise building personal relationships with our brethren.
Hopefully I've alluded to enough of our points that you can draw a conclusion to my point.
Digital Masonry can augment, but not replace, a brother's Masonic experience in ways that were not available when I was raised in 1974. It has allowed me to remain in close contact with my home lodge in New York despite having lived in Michigan and Texas over the past 20 years. I've also enjoyed meeting brothers from across the globe through scheduled Zoom meetings, and through various on-line discussion forums. The sublime pleasure of sharing in person Masonic communication by visiting lodges is facilitated by using Amity where I'm able to locate lodges in my new home, and where they can easily verify my Masonic standing. While these important digital channels enhance our Masonic experiences, they are not substitute for one's participation in open lodge.
The digital tools can be use as a tool to teach, but not as a tool to practice. The practice is done at the lodge.
The Masonic ritual was and is design to move a specific spiritual energy. The words, the knocks, how to walk, etc., all that has the purpose to manifest and to put into work this energy.
As a student of occultism, I have seen how this energy moves and behaves. This energy still works even if the members do not know it, because the ritual does it, but it does not do it efficiently because of this lack of knowing.
Unfortunately most Masons (specially here in the US) think Freemasonry is just bbq's and camaraderie and this things are regarded as allegories and symbols. There is no problem with the bbq's and camaraderie, that is just part of it but is not the purpose.
One story I use to illustrate about this is the story of Freemasons in PR;
Back in the old days, when in the Caribbean Freemasons were persecuted and executed, this men will row 3 miles into the sea at night, to meet in a small Island, then row back into the main Island to keep going with their life.
I hardly believe that they were doing that just for a meal and a chat between men, or to hear a report about how much money the spend in pens and medals.
While it may not be good for everybody, electronic Freemasonry can certainly fill a void and allow brothers who cannot get to a lodge to feel connected to his brothers and meet others. It is one of the many tools that should be in our toolbox.
Whipper-snappers and their dang computers and phones!
I certainly agree with the sentiment here. electronic masonry can augment, but not replace. There’s just something about the pressing flesh in a token, and the sharing of a meal.
A fraternity requires fraternalism. Fraternalism is not possible without face-to-face interaction and common struggles in the same direction.
Long before I became a Freemason I read an account of Shackleton's Expedition and a passage in the Introduction stood out to me and still comes to mind frequently.
"Yet, remarkably, all 27 men endured this grueling ordeal. They formed an unbreakable bond—a kind of freemasonry—forged by shared hardship, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of survival. "
We can work at common directions in electronic communications, but we can never achieve Freemasonry unless we work together, sharing the same space and the same ordeal.
I can’t disagree with anything said thus far, and want to add that e-Masonry can be the only form of Masonic contact for brethren who cannot travel due to health, age, or just distance.
In addition, when we’re enjoying our in-person Masonic experiences, we are limited in whom we may meet, the recognition rules of our grand lodges having the only say.
During the early years of this century, when I was a relatively new Mason, I was fortunate to have found a Yahoo! Group (remember those?) named Masonic Light. In time, this group brought together Masons from the gamut of Masonic life: black & white, male & female, dogmatic (sic) & atheist. You name it.
Simultaneously, I was heavily active in Craft lodge, research lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Sciots, and more, being out of the house 15+ nights per month.
The Masonic Light Yahoo! Group, which inspired the book “The Temple that Never Sleeps,” is really what educated me in Freemasonry.
This actually came up in an informal discussion of a fairly large group of Grand Lodge officers from the US, Canada, and Europe here at the Conference yesterday.
It was a discussion about two particular Jurisdictions.
Apparently one of those Jurisdictions is extremely good at online educational events and the like. There was talk about superb online presentations that had a worldwide audience and the like. But, apparently, this particular Jurisdiction, in a little tiny country somewhere in the world (sorry, I need to protect everyone's privacy) isn't very good at the in person aspects of Masonry. They don't have very many Lodges, those that they do have aren't great, and it is thought that since so much energy goes into their online educational programs, there is little left to really build brotherhood inside of the Lodges.
The other, a neighboring Jurisdiction, apparently generally delivers a good local Masonic experience in their Lodges. The fellowship is good, and they are doing Masonry on the ground. But, much like with far too many of our Lodges here, there isn't much or anything in the way of Masonic education, and there is a shunning of technology.
So, the question of course was, which is better.
My own personal feeling is that neither of those approaches are good for their Masons. That what is needed instead is a balance. A good Lodge experience filled with fellowship, along with a good educational program. We can, I think have both, and technology makes doing so now much easier than it ever was in the past.
I believe the friendship and cameraderie engendered by personal interaction is vital to the survival of our lodges. However there is in my opinion a place for electronics.This became evident to me during the Covid Pandemic period when a host of Masonic groups rose up which were not just local but international. The technology enabled participation of brothers who under normal circumstances would never have become acquainted. There was an exchange of ideas and practices which widened the individual's knowledge of aspects of Freemasonry.
On a personal note I was able to maintain contact with my Mother Lodge that I cannot attend regularly through residing in another part of the country.
Therefore I believe there is a place for technology in our Craft and in Orders beyond the Craft.
While "electronic Masonry" can help educate, inform and inspire....it lacks the "mouth to ear". It lacks many other important features of our beloved brotherhood also.
I believe, although the studying and learning available, we can not solely be true Masons without meeting in person, dining together or otherwise building personal relationships with our brethren.
Hopefully I've alluded to enough of our points that you can draw a conclusion to my point.
You are on point dear Brother. Masonry is to be practice in person. There is still some knowledge that can only be pass "from mouth to ear".
Digital Masonry can augment, but not replace, a brother's Masonic experience in ways that were not available when I was raised in 1974. It has allowed me to remain in close contact with my home lodge in New York despite having lived in Michigan and Texas over the past 20 years. I've also enjoyed meeting brothers from across the globe through scheduled Zoom meetings, and through various on-line discussion forums. The sublime pleasure of sharing in person Masonic communication by visiting lodges is facilitated by using Amity where I'm able to locate lodges in my new home, and where they can easily verify my Masonic standing. While these important digital channels enhance our Masonic experiences, they are not substitute for one's participation in open lodge.
The digital tools can be use as a tool to teach, but not as a tool to practice. The practice is done at the lodge.
The Masonic ritual was and is design to move a specific spiritual energy. The words, the knocks, how to walk, etc., all that has the purpose to manifest and to put into work this energy.
As a student of occultism, I have seen how this energy moves and behaves. This energy still works even if the members do not know it, because the ritual does it, but it does not do it efficiently because of this lack of knowing.
Unfortunately most Masons (specially here in the US) think Freemasonry is just bbq's and camaraderie and this things are regarded as allegories and symbols. There is no problem with the bbq's and camaraderie, that is just part of it but is not the purpose.
One story I use to illustrate about this is the story of Freemasons in PR;
Back in the old days, when in the Caribbean Freemasons were persecuted and executed, this men will row 3 miles into the sea at night, to meet in a small Island, then row back into the main Island to keep going with their life.
I hardly believe that they were doing that just for a meal and a chat between men, or to hear a report about how much money the spend in pens and medals.
While it may not be good for everybody, electronic Freemasonry can certainly fill a void and allow brothers who cannot get to a lodge to feel connected to his brothers and meet others. It is one of the many tools that should be in our toolbox.
Whipper-snappers and their dang computers and phones!
I certainly agree with the sentiment here. electronic masonry can augment, but not replace. There’s just something about the pressing flesh in a token, and the sharing of a meal.
Nothing can replace a hearty handshake, a brotherly hug, or the feeling of inspiration inside a tiled lodge room.
A fraternity requires fraternalism. Fraternalism is not possible without face-to-face interaction and common struggles in the same direction.
Long before I became a Freemason I read an account of Shackleton's Expedition and a passage in the Introduction stood out to me and still comes to mind frequently.
"Yet, remarkably, all 27 men endured this grueling ordeal. They formed an unbreakable bond—a kind of freemasonry—forged by shared hardship, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of survival. "
We can work at common directions in electronic communications, but we can never achieve Freemasonry unless we work together, sharing the same space and the same ordeal.
I can’t disagree with anything said thus far, and want to add that e-Masonry can be the only form of Masonic contact for brethren who cannot travel due to health, age, or just distance.
In addition, when we’re enjoying our in-person Masonic experiences, we are limited in whom we may meet, the recognition rules of our grand lodges having the only say.
During the early years of this century, when I was a relatively new Mason, I was fortunate to have found a Yahoo! Group (remember those?) named Masonic Light. In time, this group brought together Masons from the gamut of Masonic life: black & white, male & female, dogmatic (sic) & atheist. You name it.
Simultaneously, I was heavily active in Craft lodge, research lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Sciots, and more, being out of the house 15+ nights per month.
The Masonic Light Yahoo! Group, which inspired the book “The Temple that Never Sleeps,” is really what educated me in Freemasonry.
Jay
They are a good combination and using the internet makes it more than a couple Stated meetings
a month and Zoom is a better way to discuss things instead of forgetting how a Stated meeting is supposed to be.
This actually came up in an informal discussion of a fairly large group of Grand Lodge officers from the US, Canada, and Europe here at the Conference yesterday.
It was a discussion about two particular Jurisdictions.
Apparently one of those Jurisdictions is extremely good at online educational events and the like. There was talk about superb online presentations that had a worldwide audience and the like. But, apparently, this particular Jurisdiction, in a little tiny country somewhere in the world (sorry, I need to protect everyone's privacy) isn't very good at the in person aspects of Masonry. They don't have very many Lodges, those that they do have aren't great, and it is thought that since so much energy goes into their online educational programs, there is little left to really build brotherhood inside of the Lodges.
The other, a neighboring Jurisdiction, apparently generally delivers a good local Masonic experience in their Lodges. The fellowship is good, and they are doing Masonry on the ground. But, much like with far too many of our Lodges here, there isn't much or anything in the way of Masonic education, and there is a shunning of technology.
So, the question of course was, which is better.
My own personal feeling is that neither of those approaches are good for their Masons. That what is needed instead is a balance. A good Lodge experience filled with fellowship, along with a good educational program. We can, I think have both, and technology makes doing so now much easier than it ever was in the past.
Yes, this.
I believe the friendship and cameraderie engendered by personal interaction is vital to the survival of our lodges. However there is in my opinion a place for electronics.This became evident to me during the Covid Pandemic period when a host of Masonic groups rose up which were not just local but international. The technology enabled participation of brothers who under normal circumstances would never have become acquainted. There was an exchange of ideas and practices which widened the individual's knowledge of aspects of Freemasonry.
On a personal note I was able to maintain contact with my Mother Lodge that I cannot attend regularly through residing in another part of the country.
Therefore I believe there is a place for technology in our Craft and in Orders beyond the Craft.