MASONIC Digest Thursday, 16 Nov 1989 Volume 1 : Issue 1 Today's Topics: Genesis of a new m

MASONIC Digest               Thursday, 16 Nov 1989     Volume  1 : Issue 1

Today's Topics:

		     Genesis of a new mailing list.
		     Doings in Connecticut
		     Pledge of Allegiance

     Send all submissions and requests to ptrei@asgard.bbn.com.
MASONIC digest is moderated. Please remember: THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM -
YOU MUST ASSUME THAT MANY READERS ARE NON-MASONS. Please include a
relevant subject line. If you require anonymity, say so at the top of
your message (and give a nom-de-net). All contributions remain the
property (copyright 1989), and responsibility of the authors, and may
not be diseminated beyond the list without their express permission.

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From: ptrei@asgard.bbn.com
Date: 14 Nov 1989 12:00 EDT
Subject: Birth of a notion.

     This is the first issue of MASONIC digest. I'm running this list
from a VAX running VMS, so the regular digest software is unavailable.
As a result, it may crash any de-digestification software you may be
using. Due to my inability to create a mailing alias, all mail will
have to be sent to my personal mailbox (ptrei@asgard.bbn.com) for the
moment. This may change when I gain access to a UN*X machine here.

     I'm mailing this out to 23 addresses, in the US, Canada, and
Britain.  If you have not yet sent me an address confirmation note,
please do so as soon as possible.

To forstall some expected questions.

     1. Yes, I'm a Master Mason. I'm Senior Steward in Wilder Lodge,
Leominster MA, and will be starting the York Rite in January.

     2. This is an open forum. There is no way (short of requiring
each member to mail me a copy of his dues card) that I can confirm the
Masonic status of anyone on this list, and each issue potentially
passes (unenciphered) through every machine on the internet. Take due
notice that non-Masons are reading, and govern yourself accordingly.

     3. This forum is moderated. I will not pass on any message which
contains or purports to contain material I am obliged to conceal, or
which I believe members of other orders are obliged to conceal.
Within that restriction, I will be as liberal as possible. Postings
from non-Masons are welcome. So is criticism of Masonry, as long as it
is reasoned and in good taste.  I retain the right to cut off postings
from any person who becomes offensively repetitive or repetitively
offensive, IMAO.

     4. I have chosen a digest format because it reduces the required
resources and it allows me to group related messages. I decided not to
go for an USENET newsgroup since (a) many potential readers are not on
USENET, (b) I could not moderate such a group, not being directly on
USENET, and (c) mailing lists tend to be quieter in tone and more
reasoned than newsgroups, since one must actively seek them out.  (d)
I have no idea if there is enough interest to start one.  Postings
should be sent out at least weekly, more often if justified by volume.

     5. In many places around the world, masons are far more discreet
than in the US, and in some countries Masonry is actually banned. For
this reason, I have decided to permit anonymous contributions. If you
wish to post anonymously, you must say so at the very top of your
message, and include a "nom de net" so others may keep track of your
submissions. I will strip off identifying headers (please help by
not including .signature files).

     6. Why am I doing this? When I first gained access to netnews a
year ago, I looked for this group, and could not find it. The only
mentions of Masonry on the net were occasional critical mentions in
the religion groups, and bizarre theories in alt.conspiracy.  I
finally realized that the only way I could get what I wanted would be
to start it myself. I also feel our Fraternity needs a slightly higher
profile and I've been inspired by the success of the Masonic NOTES
file at DEC.
     The goal of this list is twofold: (a): Fellowship. Freemasons
like to visit with each other, and this is a way for us to visit
electronicaly, regardless of distance. (b) Education. We have much to
tell each other about the state of the Craft in different parts of the
world, and more importantly, much to tell non-Masons. There seems to
be no other source of informed answers about Masonry available to the
general net-public.
     I'd like input from readers as to what they feel this lists role
should be. Remember that we cannot create a secure environment for
discussion of esoterica.

     7. I have distributed my announcment to a restricted set of
newsgroups: misc.misc,news.groups,news.announce.newgroups,soc.misc,
and soc.men.  I've also mailed notices to Gene Spafford's and Rich
Zellich's mailing-lists lists. Do you have any other suggestions for
publicising the lists existence?  Feel free to pass on this issue to
anyone who you think may be interested.

						fraternally,
							Peter Trei
							Moderator
and now a couple posts to get the ball rolling...
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From: ptrei@asgard.bbn.com
Date: 16 Nov 1989
Subject: Interesting rumor from Connecticut

     I recently heard that the Grand Lodge of Connecticut and the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut have agreed to mutual
recognition. This would allow fraternal visitation, but not cross-
affiliation. Can anyone confirm/deny this, or add more details?

						-pt

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From: ptrei@asgard.bbn.com
Date: 16 Nov 1989
Subject: Should we pledge allegiance in lodge?

     I have always felt that Masonry should strive to be a world-wide
fraternity, existing outside of nationalism. In many American lodges,
the opening includes a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance while
facing the US flag.  I have often wondered how this strikes visiting
brethren from other countries, and if it is a practice we should
continue. After all, it's hardly a landmark.
						-pt
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End of MASONIC Digest
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