Freemasons

There has been some discussion regarding signs and salutes etc in a couple of the posts. I am concerned that people may not be aware that anyone can access this forum.
Is there some way we can restrict this site, I know areas can be assigned
access and moderation?

_________________
Hadyn Nicholls PM
Homewood Lodge 447
Recruitment & Publicity Officer
http://www.homewood-lodge.net.nz
Wellington District Education Officer

Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think that there have been any posts which would reveal any 'secret' details.
On another matter I am interested to see that out of 154 people on the member list, 115 have submitted no posts at all! Mind you, 154 out of our total membership of what? 13000? is a very small proportion isn't it?
I admit that i seem to have put more than my fair share in

_________________
Keith Walker
Kaimanawa 426
Waikato Lodge of Research 445

Let us move away from the fact: we are not a Secret Society. We wish to encourage new members but let us shy away from the secrecy. Should any one wish there are various sites on the Internet where any information they desire to obtain can be found. It may of course be distorted. For years books have been able to give away via exposes what people desire to find out. Take ‘Dewar’s – Unlocked Secret.’
Further to your observation Keith of the following of this excellent site, where are the members, out visiting, do not have a computer, do not know of the existence of the site or just not interested. I for one as a Freemason give this site the highest recommendation possible and would like to see the following increase. It would also be of interest to see how many members are Freemasons and how many are not. It is interesting to note for the time it has been running there appears to be (as you point out) a small following. If we take our 13,000 and even half of these accessed it on a monthly basis and posted to it we should have thousands of postings. Perhaps we could make it compulsory. Just joking. Sincerely though we need more interest, and from this our membership levels will lift.

You are quite right, we are not a secret society, however we do have 'secrets' which we prefer to keep confidential to ourselves.
Or perhaps we take ourselves too seriously - or do we?
Has anyone else out there anything to add

_________________
Keith Walker
Kaimanawa 426
Waikato Lodge of Research 445

Well I feel a little sad today. Yet another Lodge has handed in its charter. How many more do we have to endure? We have on this website a forum for venting our spleens, posting matters of interest - Masonically or otherwise. Does this forum show the collective view of an extremely large number of Freemasons...DIS-INTEREST. Having looked at a number of websites of Masonic interest we are certainly dragging the chain here. Let us all make a pact collectively and give the mediators so much work to do this week that they will be typing their fingers to the bone. Questions requiring answers: 1. Why are we losing more members than we are gaining? 2. Why are Lodges closing? 3. Are we top heavy/bottom light? 4. Should we advertise on Television for members. 6. How about mass initiations as in the USA? 7. How about a degree in Freemasonry at a New Zealand University sponsored by Grand Lodge? 8. How about a Grand Masonic Ball in each district with the flair and panache that puts us into the face of the community? As a matter of interest I read an article this week: 'Masons spend $1.75 million US on charities in North America every day. The average Mason in Ontario is in his 60s and about 1900 members die each year.' 'In Ontario in 1950 they boasted 150,000 members - many of them 2nd World War veterans seeking the kind of brotherhood found in the military.' The point was raised last evening that the local Cosmopolitan Club had 600 members and the Lodge could not attract 1. WHY? Forum members start your engines and type.

Checker,

I would be interested to see what sort of response (from both sides) that you would get to your questions why don't you log them as Subjects under the Membership building forum and lets see what happens.

With regard to the web site, many of the guys in my lodge were not aware of the Grand lodge site, but with regular reminders and maybe an evening of showing them the resource here, not that may be an idea for a social gathering.

William

_________________
William Durning
Hamilton
Waikato - New Zealand

Lodge Hillcrest #363
Waikato Royal Arch #22

durning@xtra.co.nz

Hi Cheker,
I know how you feel, as you know I had a bit to do with that and I found it almost overwhelmingly emotional.
The District GM told me that as well as Waimarino's closure he has another four Lodges in his district which are combining to make two.
I've put another post elsewhere for everyone's consideration, you'll just have to search for it won't you.

_________________
Keith Walker
Kaimanawa 426
Waikato Lodge of Research 445

Hi I run and own a New Zealand based search engine and I am also a member of two lodges, we use a webspider to read and make searchable web pages from within forums and websites like ours.
So I would err to the side of caution if we were to start mentioning things we have given our word not to pass on to others. they are not secrets as such but according to the ritual we gave our word not to write, etch or otherwise divulge the ritual, our signs, words or otherwise and I don't feel that we should add anything about it within the forums.

Yes heaps of information about such matters is available on the web but I feel that we have no need to add to this because by doing so we may confirm or deny what others have written.

The links within the forum seem to work for me, i am more than happy to Chat to other brothers from around the world or from within NZ.

Heaps of regards
Dave A