What’s been going on lately

I’ve mostly been posting links and the occasional video the last month or so. What’s been going on? I have been made redundant from my job (=US “laid off”). Due to the terms of the agreement, I can’t say anything about the terms or the company itself. Suffice it to say that HWMBO and I will not starve, seeing as we have money in the bank, no debts to speak of, and he is still working. I shall take a few weeks or maybe a month to do little or nothing, and then start looking for contract work in software testing, ISO 9001, or something along those lines. It’s been an interesting 2-1/2 years and I’m glad to be a free man again.

My Masonic career continues. I shall be Senior Warden in the year beginning May 2009. This is the second highest office in the Lodge and involves closing the Lodge and ensuring that candidates for degrees know their stuff. I also invest candidates with their aprons, and prepare myself for the Mastership. If all goes well, I shall be Master of Goliath Lodge beginning in May 2010, for one year. I shall be the first Master for 5 years or so who has not been Master of a Lodge previously. Being Master involves presiding over Lodge meetings (four during each year) and conducting the ceremonies attendant upon initiation, passing, and raising candidates. I am looking forward to it (with a bit of trepidation).

I have finished memorising the Charge to the Initiate in preparation for my friend N’s initiation on February 25th. It is about 10 minutes of a speech in which the newly-initiated Brother hears about Freemasonry in general and his own obligations within it. It’s quite intricate and I memorised it in about 3 months. If all goes according to plan, I shall be in the Chair when N is raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in October 2010, and I have begun the slow process of memorising the ritual for the 3rd Degree.

I have also joined the Order of the Secret Monitor, which is a side order requiring members to be Master Masons but otherwise is not connected to the United Grand Lodge of England. It is built around the Biblical story of David and Jonathan (See I Samuel for the details). It’s quite interesting, the food is good, and the brethren are great.

Otherwise, I’m a house-husband now. Watch this space.

One Response to “What’s been going on lately”

  1. momshapedbox says:

    Congrats again. You definitely are the best person for the position.

    Glad being laid off is not such a devastating thing for you.. time off is good and hope you find something interesting for your next work experience.