Guest editorial: 'Halcyon Lodge: Moving Freemasonry Forward'

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Halcyon Lodge: Moving Freemasonry Forward by Bro. Jeff Peace

It's September and, after being dark for the summer, Halcyon Lodge No. 498 had its first meeting of the season last night where Wor. Bro. Ken Miller laid out our vision of the future. His talk was the culmination of years of planning and strategizing what is today Halcyon Lodge No. 498. Our new web site and discussion forums were brought online to coordinate with this event to reveal to the Masonic world our vision of the future of American Freemasonry.

Halcyon Lodge No. 498 is not your ordinary Masonic lodge composed of local Masons. It is the result of the combined efforts of brothers from across the United States that have worked quietly together over the past several years to turn our dreams into reality. It is my pleasure to share with our brothers from around the world the results of our labors.

Our new web site is now online and provides a look at our lodge and the events that take place there. Here you will discover photographs of our temple building, online Masonic education, and information about our charity that aids inner city youth.

We are firmly committed to continuing Masonic education and have also developed our own online Masonic discussion forums that are open to Masons and non-Masons alike. We have also purchased a large Masonic library from a private collector, and will be making this available to our members and researchers.

The degree mill pace that we believe plagues the Craft today has come to an end at Halcyon. Our candidates will receive the degrees in a slow progression over time, and be required to write papers in demonstration of their knowledge of Freemasonry. The West Gate will now be closed to all except those truly found worthy of becoming a part of our ancient brotherhood.

We are reducing the number of business meetings to a minimum in favor of educational and convivial activities for our members. Moving forward we will be focusing on building the true spirit of brotherhood among Masons and engaging in activities that promote this.

Membership in appendant bodies should be openly discouraged. For years these groups have acted like leeches sucking away our leaders and energy. Starting today Freemasonry is returning to the Blue Lodge where it belongs. Any further light they may have been able to provide will now be available through our library and lodge education.

We feel these changes and others are necessary for the future viability of Halcyon, and that they may benefit other lodges as well. It's time Freemasons quit chasing their tails and begin charting a course into the future. Halcyon has begun this process and looks forward to working with other lodges to help them achieve their goals as well.

If you or your lodge would like to work with Halcyon we can be contacted through the form on our web site, or you can join our online discussion forums.

Let today be the day that we begin to build the future of Freemasonry in the United States and a revival of the true brotherhood of Freemasons everywhere.

— Jeff Peace, Halcyon Lodge No. 498, Cleveland

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