h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi

Liked this entry, couple of typos I noticed.

"Eighteenth Centaury" should be Century
"the Antients Grand Lodge and referred to their older rival as "Moderns". Ancients?

Apart from that it looked fine

SallyM

Hi HappyDude!

This looks like a good entry, but I think it needs a better introduction. It launches into the defence of Freemasonry against the charge of being a secret society in the very first sentence. I think it would be better to start by giving a couple of sentences saying what Freemasonry is, rather than what it is not. Then you can start correcting people's misconceptions.

I didn't have much of a chance to read it in detail so perhaps these things have been covered.

A secret handshake to identify fellow members - is it a myth?

Are Freemasons bound to help their fellow members?

I've been in the "temple" room of a Masonic Hall (my name for the room). This featured Menorah-style candelabras, Egyptian statues, the Tetragrammatron (the four-letter Hebrew name of God which it is forbidden for Hebrews to say), a triangular altar and a small trapdoor in front of it. The question is, "why all the mumbo-jumbo"?

The odd spelling of Ancients is correct for the period in question -as to other comments - I' short on time today but I'l check them out later - thanks

Secret handshake - no myth - correct, however, it's not so secret. More important are certain "words" - details witheld!!

Are Freemasons "bound to help their fellow Members" - Only in certain specific cases.

Keep going!

A Mason of L O N G standing!

L.I.

I belive details of the handshake were firdt published back in the 18th C

ok, I twiddled it again

I like the article and it is well written, however .....

One other requirement for Membership of a Masonic Lodge is that the prospective Member must be proposed and seconded by a Lodge Member who should have known him, both socially, and at work, for a minimum of two years.

Unless a prospective Member can fulfill this requirement, there is little chance of him becoming a Member of a Masonic Lodge.

I feel that this should be included in the article.

(This is one reason that in years past, it was probably correctly stated in the press that there were Lodges of Policemen, Lawyers, Bankers etc.)

I am a Freemason, and proud of it.

Thanks

Masons do not actually "swear Alegiance" to anyone or anything. All that is in the "oath" is to do with Masonic secrecy pertaining to our methods of recognition.

I believe that anyone can obtain a copy of the Ritual, it has an ISBN number and should therefore be readily available.

Rgds.

twiddled again

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Now let's try that ominous handshake


Congratulations!

Hi HappyDude

Have just done a subedit on the entry (good job I checked PR - almost 'corrected' the spelling of 'Antients' )

The new version is at A789294 if you want to take a look before I return it to the Towers (who will probably change the spelling anyway )



Danny B.

Dear Bels,
I see that you are asking if there are any other well-known freemasons. Well, I am writing the biography of a Methodist missionary called Barnabas Shaw. Whilst living in South Africa I went to a well-known resting place where he and his party (and lots of other exploreres of that period) used to camp out. There, carved in the rock was his name B.Shaw.Above his name he had put the compass and the dividers which my husband told me was the sign that he was a Freemason. He had also carved the date of his first visit which was 1816. I have a photograph of it which I hope will be included WHEN the biograpy is completed. I tried to do some research on him at the Main Freemason Library in London but was informed that I would not have access to anything myself and that only my questions could be answered. Regards AR1

Compass and dividers, now that's a new one!

Where in S.A. was this? I might be able to get some research done on my behalf there, and "post it" for you. I have "friends" in Joburg.


LI.

Lord Irish

I was interested in your comment that Proposers and Seconders must know the Candidate for at least 2 years.

In my experience this is simply not true. I have Proposed or Seconded several people who I have known for much shorter periods without problems. When I was Master of my Lodge I Seconded someone I had not previously met, said so on his application form and there was no problem.

BTW, it's a great article.

Lawrence

well rules were made for bending
P.S. The Edited Article can now be found at A789294