The New Green Dragon Tavern

There was a pub in Boston where the rebellion against power in our new found land was galvanized. There, men of independant spirit took the initiative and acted on their consciences. Today a similar Green Dragon Pub is galvanizing the spirit of revolution, this time through the internet. A force to counter oppressors who control the means of energy production. This revolution is about energy and the governor we must face is known as the greenhouse effect, it is having its effect all around us. Brothers, Freemasons should be at the vanguard of this revolution as well, as we accept the conclusions of science above dogma. What of the future of this world and of the next generations? The actions we take in this life will be written in each of our books of life. In the Koran, there is made mention of what is called the Warner. It is said that at Judgement, it is determined whether ones demise came with or without the benefit of a Warning, and that this is a crucial factor. We, my brothers are being warned, by the powers of nature, and by science, and by the Seers of old, thats my opinion. St. John the Evangelist. One of our Patron Saints, of the Revelation, received a vision and created a warning, I know many of us have read it. Do we no longer believe in visions either? Not a word of it has changed. The tea party must be against those naysayers who refuse to accept the science.

The Tarot Major Arcana and the Freewill Plan

The Law of One book 4 is a study of the Tarot major arcana, as a system of learning about the evolution of the soul. 21 cards plus the fool or choice card. 7 for mind,7 for body, 7 for spirit. This system is ancient study. 1) Matrix, 2) Potentiator, 3)Catalyst, 4) Experience, 5) Significator, 6) Transformation, 7) The Great Way. The suggestion is that humans are a complex consisting of mind, of body, and spirit. The allegorical system of learning is geared toward the seeker wishing to understand the system we are in for learning. For example the Magician is the creative conscious powered by will, called the Matrix, the High Priestess is the veiled unfed mind in the polarized world, the Empress is catalyst in the material world, The Emperor stands for experience, the way the information of mind is categorized and interpreted, positive or negative biases of deep mind. The Hierophant is the harvest of incarnational biases, seeking absorbing attempting to learn, the dynamic entity. The Lovers is the choice of the polarity, service to self or others, arms crossed 2 paths, material riches or those of spirit, to the right or left one must choose in order to advance. The Chariot, once polarity is chosen the Framework is configured and movement driven by will toward the choice of service, to self or to others begins. Thats a brief discussion of the 7 first cards of mind. The body and spirit follow. The work of spirit begins when the mental and physical foundation is firm. No aware soul would choose not to believe in Diety or to follow the path of self service except for the veiling which has the purpose of generating faith and more rapid evolution, but an unfortunate consequence of distracted and confused souls choosing the path of illusion, of that which is not, of separation.

The Civic Roundtable

Brothers, is your lodge sufferring from a bad case of anonymity? Do people you meet in your town not infrequently have a blank stare when you mention your lodge? Do they know the Elks, the Rotarians, UNICO and Odd Fellows, etc.? Why do you think that is? Could it be that since we don't have the money and membership that a bar provides, and we excuse ourselves from a service mandate, we have now gone so long that our membership no longer has the energy to do anything with impact in our local communities. Sure we have the Shrine Hospitals and such, but is there a face to your local lodge? The way out of this state of below threshold local energy is to develop positive interaction with your other local civic groups. Within a few short years, your reputation in town will improve, I quarantee it. And you may not lose so many younger made masons NPD, who are tired of doing nothing but listening to the minutes. Lets be the builders again, the builders of community.

The Initiate and the NPD

We talk about a young brother that "gets it" One who has the strength of conviction about the fraternity to get past the frustrations found on sidelines during the initial bunch of meetings. The initiate comes to the lodge, and looks to get busy, to start working on the ashlar, and asks "okay what are we doing" That question can be met with silence, or "what do you want to do" or "well here are your choices." The dropoff is great during the early years after being made a mason, we lose a large percentage of those who "don't get it" But then maybe with programs in place for all the big issues, charitable works, ritual and masonic education, lodge beautification, you name it, maybe these guys would stick around long enough to find out who we are, and that masonic endeavor is more akin to sidereal time, than real time. We think of a masons life work, I personally think of it as many lives work, not the work of a few short months or years. Maybe we should focus less on making mastermasons and more on the already made fellow of the craft. I once laid out an idea to a heavy lifting Grand Lodge officer of our lodge, that I thought we should have all the civic groups in town over to our lodge for a meet and greet. He looked at me, and readily remarked that it was a great idea and that I should do it. The door is certainly open for any brother with initiative, at least in my mother lodge. I made that meeting happen, and it had good effect in the community. The Ct. Grand Masters of Prince Hall and George Washington were happy to attend as well as some 2o civic groups represented. So lets find out what makes these new guys tick, and then help 'em along if it fits the builders use.

The Red Cross and Organ Donation embraced by the G.L. of Ct.

The Grand Lodge of Connecticut continues to encourage Blood Drives by the Craftsman. While the Red Cross continues to rely heavily on its pool of regular donors, who comprise 95% of all donors, they still need help. Freemasonry in Massachusetts is very successful at promoting blood drives and we to the immediate south have long been involved too. The Ct ARC recognized 6 lodges during the March 2009, Grand Lodge session for outstanding support. My mother lodge, Friendship #33 will be holding a joint blood drive with the local Elks lodge on June 15th. We have over many years been involved with the Elks, whether for their river cleanup or our program to gather supplies for the soldiers overseas, delivered through the local legion connections. The G.L. of Ct. this year is also starting a program to promote organ donation among the craft. Should one go to meet ones maker prematurely, with the miracles of health sciences, one can provide life to another person in need, a highly valuable service to ones fellow man. We hope this program catches hold among all the craft throughout the country as well, similar to the national success of the Child ID Program CHIP.