Hello All,

                 I am a fairly new EA from El Cajon and am brand new to the site.  I thought perhaps this might enable me to keep informed about other 1º initiations and/or proficiencies going on around the area so that I might be able to attend.....  I suppose I'll just be checkingback in to see what's going on in the future.  Thanks!

Title: S.W. Hackett lodge picnic
Location: Santee Lakes
Description: S.W. Hackett lodge picnic Sunday August 2nd at Santee Lakes site A Lake 1 opposite entry gate
Date: 2009-08-02

Title: Grand Lodge presentation
Location: Black Mt. Lodge
Description: $15 dinner on MOS & Masonic Homes call Tony McGill @ 858-271-8573 for Resv.
Date: 2009-05-15

http://www.aedrx.info Bariatric Centers and Gastric By Pass. Bariatric lightweight fold up walker for up to 450 lb patients. Discount home medical equipment suppliers. Read the rest of this entry

Title: Joint School of Inspection
Location: Scottish Rite Center
Description: 909th and 921st Districts
Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2009-03-30
End Time: 20:30

How to Define Tolerance

Author: http://www.sandiegofreemason.com

To be tolerant is to learn to respect the opinions of others though they may diverge from ones own belief system.

The human family is diverse. The principles guiding value systems in each society are different. And while one may not agree with some aspect of another persons cultural interpretation of morality or justice, to be tolerant would require one to work at accepting and understanding it.

Thus tolerance is the acceptance of something an individual disagrees with. Hence tolerance is so highly regarded in Freemasonry for it is vital to its existence. Acceptance of others' spiritual beliefs and traditions without being required to share them is the cornerstone of our fraternity.

Tolerance is the highest of masonic moral dictates. In one of the earliest speculative masonic texts (the Ahiman Rezon, or The Book of Constitutions of the Ancient Grand Lodge of England written in 1756 by Laurence Dermott) the first charge does not mention tolerance but defines it:

"...In antient Times, the Christian Masons were charged to comply with the Christian Usages of each Country where they travelled or worked; being found in all Nations, even of divers Religions.

They are generally charged to adhere to that Religion in which all Men agree (leaving each Brother to his own particular Opinion): that is, to be good Men and true, Men of  Honour and Honesty, by whatever Names, Religions, or Persuasions they may be distinguished for they all agree in the three great Articles of Noah, enough to preserve the Cement of the Lodge.

Thus masonry is the Center of their Union, and the Happy Means of consiliating Persons that otherwise must have remained at a perpetual Distance."

We are taught in Freemasonry to understand that each brother is different but equal.

We are also charged to, "Love your God with all of your heart, and all of your soul and all of your mind and all of your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself."

In contemplating tolerance as an actuality one would logically adhere several attributes to achieving tolerant behavior. An ability to forgive others, sympathize with their peculiar circumstance, and the patience to reflect upon differences rather than react would seem mandatory to effecting a tolerant attitude.

If put into effect in everyday life, tolerance of others beliefs and respect for their equal right to believe something we may not agree with, will translate into a higher form of personal existence.

The spread of this practice among individuals of all cultures can only lead to a higher degree of mutual respect among nations and a more peaceful world.

To give this rationale crystal clarity one need only look at the antithesis of the idea of tolerance.

Who embraces intolerance?

Certain names spring to mind- Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and other infamous authoritarian figures of the 20th century come to mine. Ideologies also emerge- the Ku Klux Klan, Skin Heads, Nazis and Radical Islamic Militants.

An Austrian brother visited our lodge a couple of years ago and presented the master with a pin. The pin had the representation of a forget-me-not flower on it.

The brother explained that it was symbolic of Austrian Freemasonry for he said the first thing Hitler did to consolidate his power was detain and murder prominent Freemasons in Germany and Austria.

Hitler could not allow Freemasonry to exist because the Nazi philosophy was entirely based on the inequality of human species and intolerance of those races deemed inferior.

Thus the forget-me-not is a symbol of remembrance on the pin. It is to remind us of the danger of allowing intolerance into our own lives and society as well as the need to regularly incorporate tolerance into our hearts and minds.

By Steve Laurvick ...

This was pulled off of Youtube and sounds authentic.

Logan is a 13 year-old boy who lives on a ranch in a very small town in Nebraska. Logan listens to Christian Radio station 89.3FM KSBJ which broadcasts from Houston, TX. Logan called the radio station distraught because he had to take down a calf . His words have wisdom beyond his years.

Since airing the audio of the phone call and now the making of the video clip, it has taken on a life of its own. People are forwarding it all over the world. We encourage you to share the love of Christ with anyone you can.

(A FrankLozano.com Production) Little did I know when I was given the audio to this phone call that it would become SO HUGE. When I produced this video, I knew it was special to ME, but never would I have guessed when typing the text and editing the music that it would literally touch MILLIONS. I am proud to have put this video together for the world to see and hear. We have had a lot of requests to replay the phone call that Pastor Mike shared during our church service on Sunday, Nov. 11th, 2007.

(**Sky Angel is a family safe broadcasting service that is offered on satellite. KSBJ is a local Houston Christian music radio station. Video clip produced with love by me, www.FrankLozano.com Hear the entire message at www.ValenciaHills.com)

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If you have a question or are interested in speaking with a member of our fraternity send an email to:

Steve@SanDiegoFreemason.com