Cigar Festivals and Freemasonry

For those that don't know, I am a big cigar fan, smoking 2-5 a week.  I find cigars to be an enjoyable time, that allows for self reflection, indulging in a simple pleasure that have been around for centuries.  I always liked cigars, but really got into them after my long stint deployed.  Cigars became a facet of all things downtime while in country.  Men would congregate in from a couple to 100+ to enjoy cigars and each others companies.  We smoked cigars when returning from a mission, or when morning a loss, cigars were there for us.  Men who rarely or never smoked were suddenly smoking and drinking coffee, and reflecting on the current events in one of the most inhospitable places in the world.  Cigar smoking had become a comfort for me, that I cannot put into words properly.

The cigar industry has faced its booms and busts, in the mid 90s with the popularity of Bill Clinton (before the scandal) and then busted in the early 2000s.  Cigar consumption started to rise again with the industry moving from mild sweet cigars to medium and full tasting cigars.  Brands started to emerge with fast and slick names and companies that have been around for over a century (H. UPMANN) are relatively unknown to new cigar smokers unlike the flashy and hip brands like Gurkha that as of the writing of this have 62 different types of cigars (not including sizes), which are in my opinion, poorly made and hardly distinguishable from one to the next.  This boom and with the FDA wanting to regulate the premium cigars has caused cigar festivals to pop up in most metropolitan areas, showing a level of unity within the cigar smoking community.

The cigar industry has been touting itself as a semblance of moderation and that cigar smokers unlike cigarette smokers do it once in a while and the activity isn't compulsory.  Cigar smokers are constantly railing against studies of the harmful effects of cigar smoke as they are conducted with mass produced (Swisher Sweets for instance) products and habitual use.

The problem with the cigar industry isn't cigars themselves, but the people who smoke them.

I attended  the Lone Star Cigar Fest, in which vendors and cigar consumers get together to smoke the latest brands, enjoy conversation and fellowship.  My wife hates the fact that I smoke cigars, and hated my attending this festival even more.  So attending stag and with no friends, I was dismayed at what I saw.  While the event was everything it was advertised to be, I think I was one of a dozen men who wasn't obese or wearing an Hawaiian shirt.  The health problems of the individuals attending was palatable, and not the picture of moderation that the cigar industry claims its clients are.

You are most likely thinking (if you read this far) "Wow, you are a shallow jerk."

You are right, I am a jerk.

Still we are judged everyday on our appearance, I didn't grow a beard in Afghanistan as a fashion statement, but as a sign of culture respect (even though Afghans constantly accused me of being Al Qaeda, but that is a different story).  Appearance is a fundamental aspect of how we judge one another cross culture, and who we associate with, it's called Social Identity Theory.

So what does this have to do with Freemasonry?

Freemasonry also has tried to shake its stereotypes, in spite of it's members.  To remove the stigma as a secret society bent on world domination, lodges have open houses and community events to show that it is a society, that has secrets, not a secret society.  Still the lingering accusation of it being an "old mans club" isn't going away soon, and something much more difficult to remove.  The Baby Boomer generation all but abandoning anything that their fathers did, along with complacency has caused stagnation that our great fraternity will feel for decades to come.  There is no easy fix to this, not Traditional Observance Lodges or European Concept Lodges, not large and in charge on-line presence, and not flash in the pan advertising slogans.  Younger masons need to be proud of our Masonic heritage, and hold our elders in the utmost regard as they have worked long and hard in the Work, and have done much for spreading the light of our fraternity.  Still, we can't ignore the image problem that we have, and must find a way to tackle it in productive long term manner.

The elderly image we keep putting up is most likely causing us a lot more harm than good that can come from it.  We have to address this issue in a mature and respectful manner, not throw away the work of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers, for slick slogans and shunning of their participation in our great fraternity, nor lock them away or be ashamed of their participation.

I don't have a solution or a manifesto to fix Freemasonry, I work for a living.  But I do know that I will pick the H Upmann any day of the week over the flash in the pan cigar, with a kick ass band.  The same goes for my Freemasonry.

S&F,
-Bro Vick (The Jerk) 

Intervisitation Talks to Start Between the Grand Lodge of Texas and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas

A quick note, I have been told (yet to be verified, so take it with some salt) that on the 12th of May 2012 delegates from the Grand Lodge of Texas and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas will start discussions on intervisitation.

Right now the Grand Lodge of Texas recognizes the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, but intervisitation between the too groups is still forbidden.  It has been expressed to me that both sides have serious reservations about allowing intervistation, hopefully these talks, if they are happening, will start to address these issues, and progress can be made.

If any other information comes to light, or that I am allowed to publish, I will be happy to do so.

S&F,
-Bro Vick  

A Past Grand Master has been expelled – So don’t Gloat

                If you are remotely active in the on-line Masonic community you know that the announcement was made by the Grand Lodge of New York of the expulsion of PGM Neal Ivan Bidnick.  The Masonic community on-line and nationally will have two typical responses:

1)      Gloating and I told you so by Masonic Self-Righteous Crusaders who have a disdain for most Mainstream or whatever euphemism you want to use for Regular and Constituted lodges.  Who wag the finger of shame either at the Grand Lodge, Grand Lodge Officer or whatever body as an example of a decaying disease that is American Freemasonry.

2)  Those that feel that this public information is damaging to the image of Freemasonry and should not be made available to the profane for fear that it will be used to fuel anti-masonic sentiments and an unjust portrayal of American Freemasonry.

Freemasonry politics are like Academic politics, people act very dirty sometimes because there is nothing to lose.  I know this is shocking considering the teachings of our institution, but men will be men.   Sometimes men will act unreasonable, abuse their power, and cause blights on the organization that they have dedicated so much for.

Sacrificing two years of my life for this country, leaving my wife, my job and the comforts of my home to live and fight in a country that has become the cradle of international terrorism, I have seen the worse of humanity.  I have read the same stories that everyone else has of men posing with the dead, body parts, etc.  The reporting of these events, while unfortunate, allow for others to not indulge in this activity, to not urinate on dead bodies, etc.  It reminds us that we are accountable for our actions, and something done in the moment of passion, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay the consequences for the rest of your life.  I don’t begrudge the press for reporting these events, and I don’t think it should be hidden, as it helps prevent future activity.  We have to be held accountable to the American public, as we ultimately work for them.

Conversely, the glee and gloating that some show over this activity and outright “told you so”, is bad karma at best, malicious and cruel at worse.  I understand that men out there have been, for lack of a better term, screwed over by their lodge, or Grand Lodge.  I know too well the sting one feels when their lodge treats them less than brotherly.  Heck, my last post on the Major John B. Jones Masonic Rangering Company I received thinly veiled threats that men were going to Grand Lodge, to which I said “go”.  If I can’t publically question the purpose of a Masonic organization, then there is a lot more wrong with Freemasonry than men blogging about Freemasons.  Still, don’t be so happy about a Grand Lodge, or Grand Lodge officer screwing up, it makes you look petty and casting the first stone, when you most likely don’t have room to talk.

The rules of Freemasonry that we are to live by are different than rules of most institutions.  They are meant to be internally enforced, from within vice a military or government entity where the rules are enforced on the outside in.  The building of our internal temples must be enforced from within, not from outside pressures.

I know that the actions of Mr. Bidnick and the Grand Lodge of New York are not the first to happen in Freemasonry, it certainly won’t be the last.  How we behave with the news of this, and learn from it, is much more important than the act itself.

S&F,

-Bro Vick

Maj John B. Jones Masonic Rangering Company - What's the Point?

This past Grand Lodge of Texas session, under article 242 was established the Maj John B. Jones Masonic Rangering Company. What is this organization, that is a question I have been asking myself for a while now, and am still unclear of the answer.

By the websites own words it allows for lodges for a small fee of $500.00 to register their lodge as a "Ranger Camp". While it is clear that the portion of the fee goes, to "...for each RANGER CAMP will go to the Grand Lodge of Texas Library and Museum, and a portion of it will be allocated to a special Major John B. Jones exhibit in the Texas Rangers Heritage Center." It seems to be little more than anything else except a title and a number afterwards.

An individual Mason in good standing in Texas can join the Masonic Rangering Company for a small fee:

Memberships Levels Available

RANK FEE

Private $ 500.00

Sergeant $1,000.00

Lieutenant $1,500.00

Captain $2,500.00

Major $5,000.00

Now I am sure you are all asking yourselves, so for this fee what do we get. Again according to the website, "Each member will receive a 16” x 20” framed certificate confirming their commission (which will be personally signed by a former Texas Ranger), a unique Masonic/Ranger lapel pin, an official ID card, a window decal and a subscription to Straight Talk, the newsmagazine of the Former Texas Rangers Foundation. TEN (10) percent of all membership fees will be donated IN YOUR NAME to the Grand Lodge of Texas Library and Museum. "

There you have it, I have summed up the Maj John B. Jones Masonic Rangering Company. After finding out about this, and reading about it, I am perplexed as to why this organization exists outside of donations made to both the Grand Lodge library and to the Former Texas Rangers Foundation, does little more. While there are Masonic related groups that are specific to their trade, National Sojourners for instance is a Masonic organization that you need to be an E-7 or higher to be a member of as a Mason. But this organization doesn't have being a Texas Ranger as being a membership requirement, I mean you can buy your status within the organization, even though I am unclear of what the rank equates to outside of donation levels.

So again, I ask, what's the point?

To add to this situation the Comanche Nation is upset about the establishment of the Former Texas Ranger Museum, in recent public statement the Comanche Nation wrote:

"Fight with us to stop the Former Texas Rangers construction project at Fort Martin Scott. We will build the powwow arena which was promised to the Comanche Nation by the City of Fredericksburg 10 years ago before the rangers got the idea to ruin this important natural, cultural landscape and as well as our legacy of peace and diplomacy."

Is this another hornets nest that we need to get involved in? When you join a portion of your fee goes to support this museum, which the Comanche Nation takes exception to (for it's location, not necessarily the concept).

Now, I am not disparaging this new Masonic organization, but is this the best use of our limited resources and efforts? Does this organization spread further light, or is nothing more than a fund raiser with Masonic written all over it?

As a Past Nothing, I know my thoughts are worth next nothing (and little more as a PM), but I can't see how this advances Freemasonry in Texas, and provides more light. With all of the national organizations that are available to provide our brethren with further light, why was this a priority?

I doubt I will ever really get these questions answered, but I wanted to ask the question.

S&F,

-Bro Vick

Leadership In Freemasonry - A Complicated Problem

For those that don't I am currently getting caught up on all of my military education that I missed during my marathon deployments. During this time as an officer I have to learn many different types of leadership styles, models etc. As I do this, I can't help to think about how this effects me and my lodge and everything we do. I notice that rarely do officer of a lodge or even a master think about such things. While we do have Warden Retreats in Texas, they seem much more pragmatic and teach the 3 top officers more how to handle common "Masonic" situations.

What I want to discuss here is more of the culture of leadership that Freemasonry should be adopting, and what it currently is adopting my from my humble view and little experience. First for those of you that aren't familiar with the concept of Full Range Leadership Model (FRLM), a graphic representation of this concept is shown below (courtesy of Michael Murray and Associates Pty Ltd - Australia):

If you look at the model most lodges and I would say Freemasonry overall has not moved much past the Laissez-Faire/Transactional portion of the model, and rarely to the Transformational portion here are some examples of what I have witnessed:

Laissez-Faire(LF) Hands-Off Leadership: The WM and the Wardens do very little during their time in a leadership position, lets the Past Masters run the show, waiting to move onto the next chair.

Management by Exception (MBE) Passive: The WM and the Wardens will only deal with issues as they arise (usually by a Past Master), are constantly putting out fires, instead of understanding the cause of the fires.

Management by Exception (MBE) Active: This is where the WM the Wardens will organize degree practices, ensure members are properly instructed and monitor performance and give corrections as needed. This also true in monitoring the performances of the deacons and the stewards, correcting as necessary.

Contingent Reward: This is used all the time in Freemasonry, honors, advancement in degrees, invitations into invitational only societies, Golden Trowel Award, etc. It's the "carrot-and-stick approach". While sometimes in Freemasonry it is clearly outlined "If you pass your catechism for your first degree, you will advance to the second". Other times it is inferred or the standard is in the mind of the individual trying to obtain it.

The third portion of the model is the Transformational, also known as the 5Is, illustrated below (provided by Transformational Leadership Coaching and Consulting, LLC):

The 5Is as these happen every day in Freemasonry as well, here are some examples:

Individual Consideration - Caring

Intellectual Stimulation - Thinking

Inspirational Motivation - Charming

Idealized Influence - Influencing

Now, I am sure that others reading this like myself have experienced men who have provided the above to you during your Masonic journey, we need to strive to be those men all the time. I didn't use examples up there, because I would hope that they are a little bit more self explanatory than the Transactional and Laissez-Faire methods.

So how do we try to build a Fraternity to be more Transformational and less Transactional? I have no magic answer, but after all of the readings and leadership methods one that did stand out as a possibility was the concept of Servant Leadership. Honestly I haven't heard of this concept until six weeks ago, and it was given by GEN Lorenz, who isn't really what I would think of as servant leader, but that is for another post and another blog.

Robert K. Greenleaf developed the 10 characteristics that are central to the development of a servant leader:

Listening: In all business or organizations communication skills are a requirement for any type of success. According to the philosophy of servant leadership the servant leader listens actively to "subordinates" and support them in decision identification. I personally can't stand the term actively listening, because to me it's some flag officer who is trying to find a question to ask you and not really listening to what you have to say, but I think that everyone can agree that is a key component to any successful leader.

Empathy: A Servant Leader attempts to understand and empathize with others. Freemasonry at times completely fails at this as when concerns are sometimes brought up and the old line "It has always been done this way..." gets thrown around. As Freemason leaders we need to respect and appreciate our brothers personal development.

Healing: The Servant Leader has the ability to heal one's self and others. A servant leader tries to help brothers solve their problems and conflicts in relationships, the only way a brother is to grow is to help solve their conflicts in relationships. I am fully aware that in Freemasonry more so than in any business or government model this is much easier said than done, experiencing my own upsetness in treatment by my fellow brothers. We have to try, otherwise, what is the point?

Awareness: As leaders and brothers we need to have an integrated and "holistic" position. Try not to look at a situation through a narrow focus or a prism of preconceptions. This again is one of those things that seem much easier said than done, but does not negate the fact that it needs to be done.

Persuasion: This is by far the most abused in our Brotherhood. As a Servant Leader we should not take advantage of any power we are granted by our brethren. Yet almost monthly we hear rumors, see communications of brothers in powerful positions coercing compliance rather to try and convince those they manage, and ultimately serve.

Conceptualization: This is also one of those "long-pole in the tent" issues that seemingly plagues Freemasonry. WM, PM and other brothers get so wrapped up in the day-to-day realities that they can't seem to focus on the long term goals of the fraternity. Most I would almost dare say don't know what their lodges long term goals are, if they have ever been allowed to be developed. I am talking of course beyond the bumper sticker saying of "Making Good Men Better". A Servant Leader has a personal vision, and he can derive specific goals and implement his strategies to make them a reality, again another reality in Freemasonry that is difficult to achieve.

Foresight: Foresight is where a lot of younger Masons fail, as their good intentions sometimes aren't realized as an outcome of a situation. A servant leader must learn from the past of a situation, understand why it is the way it is, before going in and changing things for the sake of change and not fully understanding the current reality. War gaming a situation is far better than flying into a situation you aren't fully aware of or understand the consequences of your actions.

Stewardship: We hold Freemasonry and the brotherhood of man in trust for the greater good of society. Servant leaders covet openness and persuasion over the importance of control. This again has been a major compliant against the highest levels of some jurisdictions, as complaints have been waged that the Grand Master of State X isn't a good steward of the Fraternity.

Commitment to the growth of people: We as servant leaders of the fraternity have to see that brothers have an intrinsic value beyond paying dues or getting pushed into a line-up. We have to ensure that our brothers a growing everyday through our great fraternity. If that means a lodge sending more than just the Wardens and WM to the Annual Communication, than that is an investment the lodge should consider making. Spending money on the masonic growth of our brothers should not be off the table.

Building community: While this should be second nature to any fraternal order, we have to remember to continue to build our internal community based on our fundamental beliefs, and not a supper club, or any of the other negative terms that are sometimes used to describe our ancient order.

The biggest compliant that CEOs and other industry leaders have with the Servant Leader method is that it takes a long time to change their companies leaders perception, but for any Freemason reading this, he knows that isn't anything new.

Like I wrote earlier, this is a difficult and complex problem. I know some will write off what I wrote here as being worthless as I haven't sat in the East. I have worked with some of the most famous and powerful military leaders in our country, and while they don't employee all of the servant leadership tenants all the time, the show the right ones at the right time, and that is honestly what makes them great.

On a related note, Masonic Legend Bro Jack Buta was offering a Masonic Leadership Seminar last week, and Servant Leadership is part of his curriculum, he also offers it at the Freemasons Academy. It might be worth checking out if you want to learn more about being a leader in your Masonic community.

S&F,

-Bro Vick

Red Fez Burger

For those of you in the Shrine, be the hit of your next cookout with the Red Fez burger! Here is the link for the Red Fez Burger, even though it doesn't mention whether one has to go through the hot sands, whatever that is.

S&F,
-Bro Vick

The Beginning History of Freemasonry in Iran According to Jafar Golshan

Latest news out of Iran is that a session was held on 1 January 2012 (the article says 2011, but that is most likely a mistake) to discuss a release of a compendium regarding "The Beginning of Freemasonry in Iran" in Tehran. It appears that it outlines the beginnings and dealings of Freemasonry within the Shah's regime. You can read more about it here:

The Beginning History of Freemasonry in Iran

Because this appears to be approved for release by a tightly controlled theocracy, I am skeptical of any historical fact, and more about mud slinging and justification of the persecution of Freemasons during the Islamic revolution.

I have contacted the author and am trying to secure how to purchase or obtain the volumes discussed in the article, even if they are in Persian (heck, I will translate it, if need be).

As many of you who have been long time readers know that I am very much interested in the practices of Freemasonry in Iran, and welcome any information on the subject.

As this develops I will be sure to share it.

S&F,
-Bro Vick

Being the Bad Guy Right Before 2012 – Traditional Observance Lodges

Last post of 2011; not that I had a great plenty of them for reasons that don’t need to be repeated. I have to state again that I am starting to enjoy Freemasonry again; I am enjoying reading article after article. I enjoy learning/researching about things long gone and current events. I enjoy serving my lodge.

Now to the subject at hand, in 2008 I was a true believer of the Traditional Observance (T.O.) Lodge or European Concept Lodge, in which the men would dress appropriately, emphasis on education, research, and ritual and of course no more fish fries. Now in Texas this would fly in a couple of places (College Station for one), but they aren't allowed to be called Traditional Observance as the Grand Lodge does not recognize the practice, also some of the TO “ritual enhancement” are not part of our blue lodge degrees which are strictly controlled.

That local hurdle aside, there are lodges in the major metropolitan areas that are European Concept like, formal dress, emphasis on education and good meals. They generally meet once a quarter or once a month at most may have 20-25 members most of whom are active, sounds great doesn’t it?

Sorry, they are nothing more than Past Masters clubs, Past Masters that have taken over a charter of a dying lodge, invited their other Past Master buddies to join. They rarely rotate any of the chairs, never put on degrees and seem to be at times a glorified supper club. If a poor fool stumbles in off the street they are directed to a regular blue lodge, and if someone like myself comes around, I am directed to come back after I sit in the east.

Now as you are reading this and you are a Mason, you might be thinking “Still, that really isn’t a real T.O. lodge”. But, I disagree.

Most TO Lodges that are under dispensation are generally nothing but District Deputy Grand Masters, Past Grand Masters and Past Masters. If you go to any of them that maintain a website it’s pretty clear to see that out of the thirty members 90-95% are Past Somethings save a couple of members that are most likely Masonic legacy’s in some form or fashion. Now to a certain extent you really need these DDGMs, PMs, etc. because they have the experience and to some extent the political clout to start a brand new lodge or transform an existing one, but for them to be the majority of their membership doesn’t seem to be doing much for younger Masons.
A conversation I had with a member of a TO lodge in a jurisdiction that allows TO lodges that I was passing through had a conversation that pretty much went the following way:

Me: “So why have you started a TO Lodge?”

Good Brother: “Because we want to provide a more enriched Masonic experience and a full ritualistic experience”

Me: “How many men have been initiated, passed and raised here?”

Good Brother: “We passed one on the request of his brother (meaning relative), who is a member but none here.”

Me: “Do you plan on initiating your own? Has anyone petitioned?”

Good Brother: “No”

At this point I realized that TO Lodges may come across like the old sayings of the south in the 50s and 60s “You are welcome to visit, just don’t plan on staying”.

So how is this promoting to keep younger Masons involved in Freemasonry? Is it to motivate them to get in the line-up at their regular lodge, get in the East, sit for a year as a Past Master In-Training, so they can join a Traditional Observance Lodge? Are TO and European Concept Lodges nothing more than degree teams and supper clubs?

I am not asking these questions to be a jerk, after all my travels I just don’t know what these lodges are doing to keep younger Masons involved, younger Past Masters involved, absolutely, but a regular brother?

Before anyone claims sour grapes, realize that I am asking these questions and challenging this for the good of our beloved fraternity, not to be a dissident, spoiled sport, or jerk. Anyone who knows me personally knows that, I am asking because I think that are some huge holes in the execution this concept, and they need to be addressed, challenging it will in the end will only *hopefully* make it stronger.

I look forward to your slings and arrows. ;)

S&F,
-Bro Vick

Developments in the GLoT & MWGLTPHA

Was contacted by a few folks, developments from this past Grand Lodge session for the Grand Lodge of Texas A.F.& A.M. and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas Prince Hall:

"The Committee on Fraternal Relations recommended a delegation meet with their counterparts in the MWGLTPHA and hammer out the wording of the "compact" for both bodies to adopt. Apparently the PH GL wants it to be pretty restrictive, as in having to go through the Grand Secretary to get permission to intervisit. And they seem to be pretty adamant about not wanting to allow dual memberships."

The above is about as to the point as anything else I got, so I thought I would quote it.

As this develops I will be sure to update this blog.

S&F,
-Bro Vick

Quick House Cleaning Note

On the right I put a widget that will track what I am currently interested in researching in Freemasonry, if you would like to exchange information with me, please feel free to contact me offline.

S&F,

-Bro Vick