Alexandar Tzanov ~ The Titan » Freemasons

Lodge decorations.

Alexandar Tzanov — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 19:01:26 +0000

Something I forgot to comment on when I wrote this entry and have been meaning to write but keep forgetting to. Both lodges were beautiful. The decorations in each of them were unique. For example the wall in the East of the Lackawanna building was drawn. It depicted King Solomon, Hiram Abif and [] as they were discussing the building plans of King Solomon’s Temple. The Lodge also had a full size pipe organ, although it was smaller than the ones I have seen in churches and cathedrals throughout Europe. It was good to hear it. The evening of the ceremony we had a visiting brother who played it for the ceremony. It was wonderful to attend a ceremony with music. I am saying that only because it is rare now-a-days to come to a lodge or ceremony where there is someone who knows how to play the pipe organ.

On the other hand, the lodge in Colden was rich on history. The portraits hung on the walls of it were from the early 1800s. Among its many possessions and decorations one object, which one could marvel over, is a tapestry depicting all of the steps, instruments and symbols of Freemasonry and the Blue Lodge. Many might say: Yeah, so? These can be found many books and places today. I know that, but it is hard to come across something that is going on two hundred years-old.

I myself love and believe in Freemasonry with all of my heart. Bad rep. comes from people’s actions not from the rules and traditions of the Craft. Yesterday I saw National Treasure, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. I will not comment on that here, though, I am planning on writing a review of the movie in the upcoming days. I can hardly wait for the movie to come out on DVD.

Good times at the ceremonies!

Alexandar Tzanov — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 04:28:28 +0000

Tonight I had another wonderful evening of ceremony with my fellow Masonic brothers. Tonight’s ceremony was at Buffalo Lakeland Lodge. At first I was just a visitor, but I was asked to be a fill in as a Steward for the evening. There were not enough line officers for the ceremony to take place! I did enjoy the evening a lot. We did a Second degree and raised two brothers. It was a wonderful opportunity to refresh some things and of course have a practice. I had not done second degree work in quite a long time. Afterwards the lodge had prepared home made chilly, which I loved. Usually I do not eat chilly, because I do not like how spicy people make it. This one, though, was amazing, it was not spicy at all and it was rich on meat. During the dinner, I also had an opportunity to mingle with the guys. I hear some really good stories from the times when they were rookies at their jobs and the pranks that were played on them by those who have been at the job longer.

Last night I attended Third degree ceremony at Livingstone Lodge. That was amazing! There were about thirty or forty brothers there. The ceremony was moving, colorful, and kept everyone’s attention. We raised four brothers. It was interesting to watch them and their body language as they went through the ceremony… But, just like tonight, I was asked if I wanted to leave the sidelines and take part in the ceremony. So, I said “yes” and jumped in. I had fun, seeing that I had not taken part in that particular part of the ceremony before. It was educational, and also helped me loosen up little bit. I had not been to Livingstone Lodge before, so the number of brothers I knew there I could count on the fingers of my hand. I have been always told that Livingston is a growing lodge unlike many other lodges in the district. Well, last night I had a chance to observe that. After the ceremony everyone had dinner, it was wonderful to observe the young mix in and talk with the older brothers. Why am I saying that? Well because too many times I have seen segregation in the age groups, where people of the same age would only hand out and talk with other people of their age. There is not passing of traditions, jokes, experience. That is how knowledge is lost and mistakes repeated.

Livingstone Lodge had number of new and young guys both on the sidelines and in the officers’ ranks. It was good to see that. I have not really seen too many guys my age joining the craft. This is sad, only because that is the situation not just in this district but throughout New York State and in the rest of the country. I can not talk about the situation out side the United States, simply because I do not have access to members’ statistics information. Freemasonry is still a secret fraternity in most countries. But like most things these number of members go in a circle, similar to the economy, they have their downs and ups.

I might expend on the above at some point in the future, but for now I will leave it as is.

Protected: Veterans’ Day

Alexandar Tzanov — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 04:03:25 +0000

Masonic Habitat for Humanity

Alexandar Tzanov — Tue, 19 Oct 2004 06:30:47 +0000

Today from 8:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M I will be working with the Masonic Habitat for Humanity. I have not done this before, but I think it will be interesting and also good experience. I am not sure what I will be doing. I do not even know if we will be fixing up an old house or building a new one. I certainly hope that there will be something technical or electrical to work on. We will have to wait and see. I will post more in the afternoon after I get back.

On another note, I think I will take some pictures of my fountain and my bonsai tree and post then here. The bonsai tree looks great now, after I added the little figure of three elders sitting around a table, drinking and talking. It looks cool, because the way the figure was designed, it endow with the sense that the three elders are looking at the tree and maybe discussing it. It’s really nice.