Cinosam: Brilliant Insights from MWB Neddermeyer

Are you looking for great ideas to improve your Lodge? Would you like to know interesting and enlightening stories about Freemasonry? Cinosam is a website that was created by MWB Neil Neddermeyer that provides a great wealth of Masonic content. MWB Neddermeyer is Past Grand Master of Minnesota (2003) and the current Grand Orator of North Dakota. Cinosam was originally an emailed newsletter published each month containing biographies, stories and more; it is still published as a newsletter to this day.

Cinosam hosts many great resources for Lodges. One of the best resources is a series of Powerpoint presentations and papers on Freemasonry, focusing with great detail on individual Lodge revitalization and improvement. I am greatly indebted for the work that he has published and have tried to implement his ideas in my own Lodge through my Membership Committee. The paper I have been using lately is his "100 Ideas for Member Recruitment and Retention." These ideas have been extremely useful in planning events in my own Lodge.

I was fortunate enough to meet MWB Neddermeyer during the 2006 Installation of our most recent Past Master in 2006. He was the Installing Master and gave the presentation with the gravitas and eloquence that made the entire event. MWB Neddermeyer's dedication to the Craft, especially in the realm of Lodge revitalisation, is the main reason why this site is so important for our future.

If you would like to receive the monthly email newsletter, you can subscribe on the Cinosam website.

Pop Culture and Freemasonry: National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. Prod. Jerry Bruckheimer, Dir. Jon Turteltaub, Perf. Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha. DVD. Walt Disney Pictures, 2007.

What does National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets have to do with Freemasonry? Not much, sadly. Except for the random references to Albert Pike, and the use of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial presentation room, the movie lacks the same ties that the first had for Masonic history. I realize that we owe a lot to the National Treasure movies for bringing us back to the bright spotlight but couldn't we have received at least a little mention in the sequel. We opened up the Masonic Memorial (paid for by 50 of 51 Grand Lodges) for them to film in but the name was changed to another location. I realize this is old news but hopefully, if another movie comes out, we will at least have a better part to play in the story, other than a stage.

Spoiler Alert!!!
Also, how in the world did the Olmecs get to South Dakota? Huh?!

Corinthian #67 Friendship Night Recap

As I have posted recently, Corinthian Lodge #67 hosted what is known as a Friendship Night. I would like to congratulate Brother Paul, our Senior Warden, for putting together such an interesting program for the evening. Our Lodge was fortunate enough to host three prospective candidates, one petitioner and two guests from Carnelian Lodge #40 in Lake City, MN. We were also fortunate to have Worshipful Brother Olaf Kuhlke present, "Why Geometry Matters" and a presentation from Minnesota Masonic Charities. Also in attendance were many brothers from our Lodge excited for the night's program.

After the presentation from Minnesota Masonic Charities, the floor was then opened to myself and Brother Steve, our Senior Deacon, who gave our impressions of Masonry. Brother Steve's comments can be summed up by this story that he told:

"My Sister and Brother-in-law were visiting us, but I was called to the SE area conference. We were all disappointed, because we enjoy each other's company. There was a lot of talk about 'secret societies' and costumes and old men behaving strangely. They could not understand why someone like me, who has been a notorious NON-joiner, would be taking a day off to go to anything Masonic. But, I took the good natured ribbing with a smile, and promised to be home by evening.
While I was away, they went to the Gopher game. During the halftime show, there were some announcements about people helping out the U of MN; My sister said that most people in the crowd were not too interested in the lists of thousand dollar gifts from so-and-so...
...but then, the announcer changed tone a bit and said that the Masons had just made the largest single donation in U of MN history - $65 MILLION to the Masonic Cancer Clinic! They said that the auditorium went a little crazy! Needless to say, they looked at Masonry a little differently by the time that I got home.
I am in no way claiming any bragging rights about the donation, but it was sure a different attitude around the supper table that night. Now my sister and her family have heard one more 'truth' about the Craft!"

After we had brothers in the Lodge discuss what Masonry meant to them, we turned the presentation to Professor Kuhlke who presented a very enlightening presentation on the meaning of Geometry in Masonry. What I can say with true certainty is "Wow!" He was able to present an interesting description of the effects that Freemasons had on the city of Washington, D.C. without conspiracy theories, cutting lines down imaginary streets or adding credence to upside pentagrams and hidden squares and compasses. I won't reveal what he describes because it is just so amazing and I don't want to spoil the surprise for everyone else. His explanation was clear and simple and made sense in ways that the History Channel or any other media outlet could never accomplish. If you have the chance to hear him speak, attend. His theories are amazing simple, concise and as he explained, can be seen in many other cities including Indianapolis. He has recently written a book entitled Geographies of Freemasonry: Ritual, Lodge and City in Spatial Context which unfortunately is not available at Amazon but can be purchased at Mellen Press.

The Friendship Night at Corinthian Lodge #67 has helped to create excitement in the Lodge after coming out of darkness. I also think that potential candidates were also able to feel comfortable about Masonry. Here is looking forward to the new season.

Pop Culture and Freemasonry: National Treasure

National Treasure. Prod. Jerry Bruckheimer, Dir. Jon Turteltaub, Perf. Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha. DVD. Walt Disney Pictures, 2004.

I have decided to bring up the movie that, in conjunction with the book, "The Da Vinci Code", has seemingly brought Freemasonry back from obscurity. National Treasure is a movie that combines the Masonic Fraternity with the theories of the Knights Templar and the Ancient Egyptians.

As I am sure that every person that is reading this blog has seen this movie at least once, I will take the analysis of this movie in a different direction. The movie concerns a lost treasure (similar to Oak Island) and the subsequent quest to recover it. How has the movie impacted Masonic discourse? I believe it has changed the way in which our Fraternity looks at itself. Before, Freemasonry was concerned primarily with the first two tenets, Brotherly Love and Relief. What had been missing was Truth. Young men coming to the Craft today are seeking the Truth in the form of symbolism, and secrecy that had once been equal to the other two beliefs but has lately been ignored or shelved in the interest of charity and fraternity.

When this movie came out, there was a dramatic shift, or to put it more correctly, a realignment of our Craft. Thankfully, Masonic education is now on the lips of brothers throughout the world. We are all seeking what has been lost. With this new focus on learning that has been encouraged, indirectly, through movies such as "National Treasure", we, as Lodges, must be willing to take a "softball" and knock it outta the park.

One of the best methods is to present a short presentation about Masonic history at every meeting, stated meeting or otherwise. These presentations need not be long. In fact, fifteen minutes is all you really need to get the brothers excited.

Even presenting this movie in Lodge can give brothers a reinvigorated sense of why they are Freemasons. For it is worth, this movie has helped present Freemasonry in a positive light and has encouraged brothers to reassess what Freemasonry is to them.

Bro. Kuhlke, "Why Geometry Matters" Sept. 16

Corinthian Lodge #67 of Farmington will be hosting a Friendship Night at 7:30 pm with a potluck at 6:30 pm. Our featured speaker is Brother Olaf Kuhlke, an assistant professor of Geography at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He will be presenting, "Why Geometry Matters: Masonic Rituals, Lodges and Cities and the Importance of Order". Brother Olaf is also a very active Freemason and maintains a website about his experiences and thoughts of the Craft. He will also be selling copies of his book, GEOGRAPHIES OF FREEMASONRY: Ritual, Lodge, and City in Spatial Context, at a special publisher's discount. Supplies will be limited so be sure to arrive as early as possible.

I saw Bro. Kuhlke at the 2008 Minnesota Grand Lodge Communication in Duluth and found the subject of Geography and Freemasonry to be fascinating. I am very excited to see such an interesting and knowledgeable speaker and I would like to encourage all brothers in Minnesota to attend this great event.

For those who don't know what a Friendship Night is, it is a way for our Lodge to open up to perspective candidates and give them a chance to meet Brothers and allow them to make an informed decision on joining. If you know any men who live in the Southern Suburbs of Minneapolis-St.Paul who are interested in Freemasonry or you yourself are interested in joining and you live in the area, please contact me and I will give you directions to the Farmington Masonic Temple. Friendship Night will also be a potluck so be sure to bring a dish for all of us to share. I hope to see you there.