Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Help for the Widow's Son

After hearing about several brothers and friends being laid off their jobs or fearing potential layoffs, and especially after reading the sad story on Bro. Greg Stewart's Masonic Traveler blog today about the brother who took the lives of his family and himself as a result of his financial difficulties, I decided to do my part in helping relieve brothers who may also have found themselves facing financial or employment difficulties.

I have created an email list wherein Freemasons can share information about job opportunities and job needs, post their resumes, and otherwise share brotherly love by helping each other in these financially uncertain times. The list is a way for Masons to share with other Masons on a more personal level than on an open forum or blog.

For now, this list will be unmoderated and open to anyone, Freemason or not, who wishes to contribute to it or read it.

It is my hope that the list will enable Masons with opportunities to connect with Masons who are seeking opportunities, and to bring together brothers who just need someone to listen or talk to on a more personal level.

The list is not intended as a place to discuss Masonry; it is a service to help others and to find help. Spam, arguments, and unmasonic comments are not acceptable, and those who violate this will be removed from the list.

To join the list, simply sign up here ( http://lists.burningtaper.com/listinfo.cgi/masonicjobs-burningtaper.com ).

Once you have created your account, you will be given the email address to send your posts to.

Your email will be forwarded to everyone else who has joined the list, and they can reply to the list as a whole, or to you privately.

Be patient; the system may take a day or two to properly propagate across the Internet.

Feel free to post the link anywhere Masons gather — online as well as on your lodge's bulletin board. Tell your grand lodge officers about the link. Let's network all of Masonry to help each other weather this economic tsunami.

Though I personally have been using the screen-moniker of "Widow's Son" online for the past several years, I am well aware, as I hope you are, that we are all The Widow's Son, and that yes, there is help — and hope — for us all.

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8 comments:

  1. My Brother;

    I have been trying all day to find the means to act in a way that demonstrates brotherly love in the face of this saddness. I am proud to say that I know you and while though, you acted!

    I believe there is in fact help for the widow's son, and I pledge me time and effort to be part of your solution.

    S&F

    Cliff Gregory, 32 degree

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  2. Great work bro.. There is help for the widow's son.

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  3. I think this is awesome, W.S. Not to downplay the awesome work you are doing, there is a similar site set up a few years ago called MASONS4MASONS.ORG Pretty certain it is for us 'regulars' only. I'm not positive on that.
    Hopefully, a brother searching aid can find it at your site or at the m4m site and we'll all pull through together.

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  4. Brotherly Love
    Relief
    Truth
    5 Points of Fellowship
    Destitute Masons, Widows and Orphans
    GHS

    I recalled an elderly neighbor I used to help out after her husband died, she mentioned that her father made it through the depression because of the masons. WIth jobs, work or other means to help out the brethren.

    We need to know our brothers and search into their worlds to know who needs help and to what extent. Men have been programmed to not ask for help or let on to mental or emotional problems; we need to search for our lost brothers and remove the rubble that has fallen on to them and are weighing them down.
    Thank TGAOTU for your blessings and find the Lodge member who needs help. Even if it just an Attentive Ear.

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  5. Brother,

    I salute your efforts to provide assistance to other members of our Craft.

    Something called the Acacia Network was started in 2008 as just such an email network for Masons to post job openings or job requests.

    The network just announced a full-service website, which may be found at http://acacianetwork.net/.

    The forum includes separate message boards for those who wish to submit their resumes, and those who have job openings to offer others.

    I hope you all find this information useful.

    S&F,

    Perry

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  6. I'd suggest donating to one of these sites as liberally as you see fit. It's easy and all for a good cause! Are you gonna have a donation link WS?

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  7. Is there no help for a widow son, in this hardtimes. Other says' Good luck for your job hunt. Now looking for ways and means to survive...Once a Demolay is always a Demolay and a Master Mason from a afar, became a US citizen. A distress sign, So mote it be. Yolando,Vacaville,CA

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  8. I am not a Mason, but I have devoted my life to being a Friend of a Mason. I am not certain this blog is still active, but if it is, I would like to help in any way I can. I do believe as long as their is a Christian Church and a Masonic Lodge on this planet, there will be hope for the widow, her son and for all who are distressed. May God bless you all for your efforts to help during this season of economic trial.

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