Masonic Learning During The Pandemic

There’s a phrase from the Charge After Initiation that instructs the candidate to endeavour to make a daily advancement in Masonic knowledge.

People often ask what exactly does this mean? and how do you learn something new every day?

For new Masons, the problem is often that there is so much to learn. So many questions to ask. So many aspects to research. For older Masons who think they know it all, the issue is finding something new.

There is an upcoming post with some reading suggestions, but whatever your level you might find the following useful too;

The Obstacle Is The Way

As the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius famously said;

The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way

At no time has this been more clearly demonstrated than during the pandemic. As we all moved online to meet, talk, work, and collaborate. Something that would have been unthinkable for many people just over a year ago.

The same approach has been used in Freemasonry and, at a personal level, my Masonic Advancement has actually accelerated over the past twelve months.

Tools for Daily Advancement 

Here are some of the ways I’ve been advancing my Masonic knowledge during the pandemic;

1. Use of the UGLE Solomon platform
   A wealth of information for Masons at all levels. If you’re not registered to use this, then you definitely should!  I would recommend starting with the ‘Onboarding’ sessions – at the moment available for FC and MM. The EA session is due for release in Summer 2021.
   
   
2. Joining a number of Facebook Groups
   There are scores of FB groups available, some are better than others. Have a look and join the active ones. I am an active member (and admin) of The Masonic Circle 2021 – so I would definitely recommend you join us! We run evening zoom sessions on all sorts of topics (suitable for all levels), and have fun discussions in the group.
   
   
3. Zoom presentations
   I’ve lost count of how many of these I’ve joined. From the basics of Lodge etiquette to the Fundamentals of Freemasonry. From the deeper, esoteric nature of Freemasonry to how to bring Freemasonry into the 21st Century. Our Masonic Circle has hosted a lot of these (I recently presented on William Hogarth a famous Freemason), but there are plenty of others. Again, joining Facebook groups is a good way to find them.
   
   
4. Read, Read, and Read some more
   There are literally tens of thousands of books on Freemasonry. Go read some! Plenty are available as free PDFs that you can add to a Kindle library and read on your phone/ tablet. There are also lots of second-hand books on eBay. The Masonic shop, Letchworths, also sells books at very reasonable prices.
   
   
5. YouTube
   Just as on Facebook, there are scores of great Masonic YouTube channels that you can subscribe to, or pick specific videos that are of interest.
   
   
6. Podcasts
   Another relatively new platform but you can search for Masonic podcasts and enjoy them at your leisure.

Keep Advancing

If you have any good suggestions for books, Podcasts or YouTube channels let me know as I’m compiling a list for a future post on the subject. You might also like to have a look at some of the Useful Links we’ve included on the website.

So there’s really no excuse for not being able to find ways to learn something new!

Stay safe.

S&F

Paul C.