I wouldn't be part of any organization that would have me in it...
They seem secretive with the rituals in America, but a couple of decades ago, one of the secret rituals made the news out of Detroit.And therein lies the difference twixt British Freemasons and American Freemasons
Total sidetrack, I love bagpipes. Not sure why, I just do. I really like the Spanish piper Jose Angel Hevia. Cool music that comes from the Basque region. It like Celtic music with Spanish and Moorish or Arabic sounding influences.Used to hang around with Shriners when I was in high school. No, I wasn't a burn victim. They were one of the local pipe bands and I decided to join them rather than the other band. Beers were free flowing, and the members were very nice folks. Most of them were veterans. Anywhere from WWII to Vietnam. It was fun hanging out with them. They always had good war stories, and beer.
That's an awesome musical connection that people like me love. There are a lot of close connections all around Europe with the bagpipes. Another fun connection is the accordion/bayan/concertina.Total sidetrack, I love bagpipes. Not sure why, I just do. I really like the Spanish piper Jose Angel Hevia. Cool music that comes from the Basque region. It like Celtic music with Spanish and Moorish or Arabic sounding influences.
Highland pipes are rather limited. Can only play 8 notes. But other types of pipes can have much broader range of notes. Some even has key on the chanter, note playing part of the pipes. I love all pipes, but highland pipes was the one I played. Something about the sound of highland pipes that I really love. And there is no feeling like being in a mass band with hundred of pipers playing same tunes, well.. almost same tunes.Total sidetrack, I love bagpipes. Not sure why, I just do. I really like the Spanish piper Jose Angel Hevia. Cool music that comes from the Basque region. It like Celtic music with Spanish and Moorish or Arabic sounding influences.
Brings to mind Louis L'Amour's "Education of a wandering man". A great read.I’m a traveling man.
He also ate birdseed and had a speech impediment that made him sound like a Bostonian,
Gardendale, Alabama----Brookside Lodge 556Where are you from friend?
LOVE IT! SMIBIt felt like I was "some sort" of Mason when I was married. However, I quite quickly learned I was neither Free nor Accepted by The Grand Sovereign Screaming Whirling Dervish of the Hell-Fire Kitchen; and the membership dues were financially injurious; as were the many oaths forced out of me under extreme duress; along with the unending honey-do obligations.
The only illumination I received from any of the many long and repeatative lectures I was subject to as a member of that particular lodge was that I would never progress in my Masonic education past the 2nd Degree of Slackazz of the Comfy Recliner; because the Candidate-in-Tow - being me - was constantly being subject to the never-ending Ritual of The Third Degree.
In my case it was better for me to become a traveling man, seeking the silence of The Shed Workshop of the West Backyard - with pipe and tabak in hand, and faithful dog by my side - rather than seek the confounding "light" being offered inside the Lodge of Utter & Perpetual Irritation; presided over by "SHE, of the Horrible and Uneffiable Name".
Eventually - and thankfully - I Black-Balled myself from membership... which was an upgrade for the years of them being the color Blue.
So Mote It Be ! - Sherm Natman