Met a mason today

[MBC]

Why do you believe signs are to only be used in a Tyler Lodge ?

General Remarks of the Emulation, by VWBro Graham Redman, PGSwdB, DepGSec (now Acting GSec as RWBro Nigel Brown, PJGW retired from the position), Senior Member of the Committee of Emulation Lodge of Improvement stated clearly that once the lodge is closed, it is inappropriate to do the signs.
And by the way we do not have due guards here. I have heard of a rumour that the due guard is the position when you take the ob.

 

[caution22113]

In my jurisdiction, the second degree speaks to the square and angle of your work.

 

[Dontrell Stroman]

This is all new to me. "Modes of recognition" is what I was taught as well.

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[tldubb]

@MBC, I respect whatever rules regulations that your jurisdiction or jurisdictions have in reference to moods of communications. So, because yours is different from mine is of no major relevance to my jurisdiction and vice versa to yours. Edification on the difference is still very interesting. Peace and Harmony always.

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[Warrior1256]

Signs, like words & passwords, are "modes of recognition".

Precisely!

 

[Warrior1256]

Peace and Harmony always.

Absolutely Brother!

 

[MBC]

@MBC, I respect whatever rules regulations that your jurisdiction or jurisdictions have in reference to moods of communications. So, because yours is different from mine is of no major relevance to my jurisdiction and vice versa to yours. Edification on the difference is still very interesting. Peace and Harmony always.

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It is indeed. I think the Grand Lodge here even regulate all signs, grips and words are inappropriate to use outside the Lodge but no one really cares anyway.
However, there are more ways to recognise or prove a brother rather than signs and tokens...

 

[Brother_Steve]

I will not communicate the secrets of this degree to anyone of the inferior degrees or to any person or persons......

Unless you are sure that no one else can see you, you are indirectly communicating the secrets of the degree to a person or persons who is not a mason.

 

[Bloke]

Our ritual says you are not to use full word "unless by command" in open lodge. By extension and logic, that means you cant use them outside a lodge. Our Const and ritual are silence on signs outside the lodge, but we must prove unknown brothers before admitting them, so obviously that requires signs etc outside the lodge. I would never give a sign outside without full confidence I could not be observed, That involves closing doors, blinds or switching rooms.

That said, a due guard could be mistaken for something normal, (we dont have due guard btw) but I would never do a full sign in a place like a carpark or anywhere else outside lest it be seen by prying eyes and I break my ob.

 

[Dontrell Stroman]

No due guards. Wow ! New to me. I wonder if the GLof England has due guards ?

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[mrpierce17]

Signs, like words & passwords, are "modes of recognition".

Going to play the devils advocate here , if sings are modes of recognition and if we where already in a tiled lodge other than getting past the Tyler what's the point of them in lodge other than during instruction in degree work , interesting never seen a brother give a step accompanied by a DG , S&P outside of lodge though witch isn't really giving away anything to someone who doesn't know what's going on anyway a outsider would probably think you where giving someone measurements, or keeping your hands warm by a fire or fanning a fart come on now that's funny I don't care who you are

 

[Bloke]

Going to play the devils advocate here , if sings are modes of recognition and if we where already in a tiled lodge other than getting past the Tyler what's the point of them in lodge...

We open in the first. You need to prove your are a FC or MM as we open in those degrees.

 

[mrpierce17]

We open in the first. You need to prove your are a FC or MM as we open in those degrees.

Open in first or open in 3rd then lower to 1st either way that's cool do you allow the new EA's to sit in and get a feel of the fellowship?

 

[Bloke]

Open in first or open in 3rd then lower to 1st either way that's cool do you allow the new EA's to sit in and get a feel of the fellowship?

I would say so. American Lodges used to open that way until the Morgan affair. Our EA's have full voting rights - all votes are taken in the First Degree. You must open in the first them if working a higher degree - open in it, then when closing come back down. Our lodges always open and close in the first degree.

 

[mrpierce17]

I would say so. American Lodges used to open that way until the Morgan affair. Our EA's have full voting rights - all votes are taken in the First Degree. You must open in the first them if working a higher degree - open in it, then when closing come back down. Our lodges always open and close in the first degree.

Wow that is to cool

 

[Brother_Steve]

I would say so. American Lodges used to open that way until the Morgan affair. Our EA's have full voting rights - all votes are taken in the First Degree. You must open in the first them if working a higher degree - open in it, then when closing come back down. Our lodges always open and close in the first degree.

Just a correction point. American Lodges (I can't speak for all of them) open on the third because of the Baltimore Convention in the 1840s.

 

[Bloke]

Just a correction point. American Lodges (I can't speak for all of them) open on the third because of the Baltimore Convention in the 1840s.

Tell me more Bro Steve....

 

[dfreybur]

Just a correction point. American Lodges (I can't speak for all of them) open on the third because of the Baltimore Convention in the 1840s.

The decisions of the Baltimore Convention were the direct result of the Morgan affair and the activities of the Anti-Masonic political party of that time.

Fortunately GLs have begun to look at their calendars and notice it is no longer 1840. The reasons to switch away from the world wide standard have long ago become obsolete. Each GL gets to make its own rules but I reject ignorance of history as a justification and I vote accordingly in the GLs where I do have a vote in GL.

 

[Ripcord22A]

The decisions of the Baltimore Convention were the direct result of the Morgan affair and the activities of the Anti-Masonic political party of that time.

Fortunately GLs have begun to look at their calendars and notice it is no longer 1840. The reasons to switch away from the world wide standard have long ago become obsolete. Each GL gets to make its own rules but I reject ignorance of history as a justification and I vote accordingly in the GLs where I do have a vote in GL.

Im glad that both my jurisdictions can open in the 1st. The decision is usually made the night of the meeting depending on who is there, if we are all MMs then we open in the 3rd if a FC ispresent the 2nd...ect. I prefer opening in the 3rd only because it doesn't take as long...lol...But I like the fact we can open so that our EAs and FCs can some, also it gives a litmus test for which of them will be active in the lodge

 

[Bloke]

Thanks !