On this month’s show, we talk about leadership.  And where better to go for that than the head of the organization – the Sovereign Grand Commander himself. 

A native of Baton Rouge, LA, Ronald A. Seale has served for 7 years as the 18^th Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States, the mother supreme council of the World.  Not a bad title. 

But he’ll be the first to quickly add that he tied his plain white lambskin apron on just like you did, and that he stands no higher than any other Master Mason in his Lodge.   And admittedly, it’s corny, until you get to know him and you realize he’s not just saying that – but that he truly and deeply believes it.

I recently sat down a talked with him about his leadership style, where he learned it from, his tolerance for leaf blowers, and what he hopes to accomplish in the future and be remembered for.  

On this month's episode, we look at cornerstones.  Specifically, the cornerstone of the House of the Temple, the headquarters building of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.  

On October 18th, 2011 (the one-hundred year anniversary of the original cornerstone's laying), the Grand Lodge of the Disctrict of Columbia with help from the Grand Lodges of Maryland and Virginia re-enacted the Masonic cornerstone ceremony of 1911.  

On this episode, we bring you the audio of this event, interspesed with color commentary from Ill. S. Brent Morris, 33*, Grand Cross, the Managing editor of The Scottish Rite Journal and author of Cornerstones of Freedom, a book about the history and traditions of Masonic cornerstone ceremonies.

Tuesday, October 18th will mark the 100-year anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C.  The House of the Temple is not just one of the premier Masonic buildings in the world, it is also one of the world's greatest buildings, period.

Built between 1911 and 1915 and designed by the famous Neo-Classical architect John Russell Pope, the House of the Temple is a landmark in Neo-Classicism.  It was Pope's first monumental commission and helped win him other important commissions in Washington such as the National Archives, the National Gallery of Art, and the Jefferson Memorial.

In celebration of its centenary, there will be a public re-enactment of the laying of the cornerstone by the Grand Master of Masons in the District of Columbia, Most Worshipful Jesse Villareal, and his Grand Lodge on Tuesday.  

The Life Masonic will be there, and we will try and share some of the best moments from the events surrounding this wonderful event.  So stay tuned for Episode 3: Cornerstone, coming your way at the end of the month.

S and F -

TLM

On today’s show we highlight one of the most discussed topics in Lodge rooms and chat rooms around the world – youth in Freemasonry. 

I’ll be honest with you, I’m a little apprehensive of this subject because I don’t know if there’s anything new or interesting left to say on this subject.  But with this show’s guest, there just isn’t any way around it.  He’s young, he’s a Mason, and he’s a leader in every sense of the word.

But first, let’s get some perspective.  I talked to Dean Alban, the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction’s Director of Membership Services about what he sees in terms of membership and the effect of an influx of youth on it. He also shares a story about a recent experience he’s had with a young Mason and how even though he is a very unique individual, the reasons he became a Mason are anything but.

Hail, Fellows out there in podcast land!

Welcome to The Supreme Council's (SJ, USA) new podcast, The Life Masonic.  We just posted the first podcast episode yesterday, and are busy scurrying around and editing the second.  So far the reaction has been great, and we are seeing people download the show from all over the world - some as far away as Indonesia!

We truely hope you enjoy it and want to hear what you think.  Leave a comment below, or leave us a voice message at 442-777-3579.  Follow us on Twitter @TheLifeMasonic, or check us out on Facebook. (Be sure to give us a "like" while you're there!)

Thanks for tuning in, and hope to hear from you soon -

TLM

On our first episode we talk with S. Brent Morris, 33*, Grand Cross, the Managing Editor of The Scottish Rite Journal, and all-around well-known Masonic scholar.  Brent talks about his early attempts at research and then explains how you can do it, too.   

A promo for the upcoming monthly podcast of The Life Masonic.