X-oriente

I am pleased to bring you the Second Annual Christmas Music Special filled with the best holiday music the net has to offer. I hope 2006 has been good to you and I look forward to a 2007 filled with light and brotherhood. All the music heard today can be found at the Podsafe Music Network, except our Hanukkah song, which can be ordered on iTunes and found at the LeeVees own web site. Check out the new video for "How Do You Spell Channukkkah?" on YouTube, and buy the album. Even if you're not Jewish, it still tastes great. Kind of like a fresh bagel. Also the MP3 file is a little larger than normal...I ripped it in stereo so you can enjoy the music with slightly more quality.Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward All! See you in 2007!

It's been a difficult couple of months for some parts of masonry and so this episode is a bit of a rant. But check out the end of the show for details on the Masonic Playlist Challenge!

Have you heard the latest Gossip? Do you really want to? Why? In this episode we explore gossip: why it is harmful and why it can threaten the harmony of the lodge. Gossip is bad for the gossiper, the gossipee, the person hearing it, the person passing it on, and the Fraternity as a whole. It goes against our values as Masons and our Obligations. So why do we do it?Special guest: Bro. (and Reverend) Timothy Bonney

Recently, a special task force from the Masonic Information Center (MIC), part of the Masonic Service Association published a paper called "It's About Time! Moving Masonry into the 21st Century" This paper is different and important. It's the first paper I've read in a long time that takes a truly critical look at the problems of our fraternity without a partisan position. It dovetails nicely with the goals here at X-Oriente, so we're going to take an in-depth look at the paper in its entirety. This is part 3 of a 3-part series. AND IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!

Recently, a special task force from the Masonic Information Center (MIC), part of the Masonic Service Association published a paper called "It's About Time! Moving Masonry into the 21st Century" This paper is different and important. It's the first paper I've read in a long time that takes a truly critical look at the problems of our fraternity without a partisan position. It dovetails nicely with the goals here at X-Oriente, so we're going to take an in-depth look at the paper in its entirety. This is part 2 of a 3-part series.

Recently, a special task force from the Masonic Information Center (MIC), part of the Masonic Service Association published a paper called "It's About Time! Moving Masonry into the 21st Century" This paper is different and important. It's the first paper I've read in a long time that takes a truly critical look at the problems of our fraternity without a partisan position. It dovetails nicely with the goals here at X-Oriente, so we're going to take an in-depth look at the paper in its entirety. This will probably be a 3-part series. Aslo did you miss the Secrets of the Freemasons that aired this week on National Geographic Channel? Well you didn't miss much.

This past week Freemasonry figured prominently on Good Morning America. How did we do? We'll explore what GMA had to say and our answers to their questions. Also we'll conclude our interview with Bro. Michael Toth. He is the Writer/Director of The Freemasons: The Mystery Myth and Legend. In the next show we will take a look at a very important paper. Published by a special task force of the Masonic Information Center Steering Committee, this paper address the problem of public awareness and Freemasonry and what we must do to succeed. I believe this is a great opportunity for us to take a look at some very useful and important ideas. You can download a PDF of the paper at The Masonic Information Center page. Look on the right hand side for the download link. I recommend you read it before you listen to the next episode as we will be looking at this paper in depth. Think of it as your first X-Oriente homework assignment! ;-)Show Notes:00:00 Intro: help us spread the word!01:10 Good Morning, America! Masonic S

There are plenty of History Channel documentaries out there that proport to tell the story of Freemasonry. In 1991 W. Bro. I. Michael Toth in cooperation with other brethren and the Grand Lodge of Illinois produced an hour-long film entitled "Unseen Journey." Shot on film (not video), the production featured the late John Robinson, author of "Born in Blood." Now that 1991 film has been recut by the director and given a new title, "The Freemasons: The Mystery Myth and Legend." This episode is Part I of an interview with Bro Toth.

In Part 2, We take a look at a Masonic Fundamentalist group that has split off from the mainstream of Freemasonry. Also, a recap of Masonic Week and the Mortar & Pestle Degree!

Fundamentalism is very bad for free, democratic societies, and it is bad for Freemasonry. In part 1 of this multi-part series, we'll explore the nature of fundamentalism, and its definition

Are we ready for the onslaught of movies and books about Freemasonry? Between National Treasure, National Treasure 2 and Dan Brown's next book, we're gonna see publicity for Masonry the likes we have not seen in a hundred years. It could be the best thing that ever happened to us, or a disaster. Are we ready for it?Show notes are at http://www.xoriente.comThe opinions expressed in this show are strictly those of X-Oriente and its editorial staff, and do not reflect those of any Lodge, Grand Lodge or appendant body.

Our last hurrah to the musical portion of the show: a collection of Christmas songs for the Brothers and their loved ones.

Episode 3: Working For the Man This month's show is a Illinois Grand Lodge Special! but you don't have to live on a prairie, or even have an affinity for Lincoln to enjoy the show. We interview David W. Miller, Grandmaster of Illinois and ask him what we all want to know: what's it like to be the big Kahuna, le Grande Fromage, The Poobah? What's it like to be Grandmaster? Plus we introduce a new segment called Working Tools: cool tools on the web to make running your lodge a little easier. SHOW NOTES: 00:00:00 - 00:02:00 Intro 00:02:01 - 00:03:00 Getting help? 00:03:01 - 00:04:48 Shout out to Arcadia Lodge No. 249 In Ames, Iowa 00:04:49 - 00:13:54 Working Tools: Online tools to help manage your lodge; a review of BackPack and Ta Da 00:13:55 - 00:17:18 Music: Lullaby by Gidgets GaGa, available at Podcast NYC 00:17:19 - 00:48:18:00 Chapter 2: Interview with Grandmaster David W. Miller, Grand master of the M.W. Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, A.F. & A.M. 00:48:19 - 00:53:45 Music: There She Goe

Episode 2: The Answer To the Second Question Show Log 00:00 Hello! Welcome international listeners 00:26 Aloha to the Lodge Le Progres de l'Oceanie, F. & A.M 02:00 Chapter 1: Asking the First Question 04:29 A hard question to answer (interviews) 08:33 Understanding what Freemasonry offers: common experiences? 10:42 MUSIC: "The Girl Who Has Everything" by Motherboard, available at Podcast NYC 14:25 Chapter 2: Understanding Manhood in America 14:32 Interview with Robert G. Davis, author of Understanding Manhood in America: Freemasonry's Enduring Path to the Mature Masculine 16:53 Three male archetypes 19:19 The Self-Made Man and the cult of individualism 20:26 Davis on initiating men into manhood 22:57 Davis on what Freemasonry offers young men 24:37 Davis on bringing Masonry back from irrelevance 28:16 MUSIC: "In a Long Time" by 46 Bliss, available on the PodSafe Music Network 32:50 Chapter 3: The Second Question: It's About Getting Along 34:10 The difference between friends and brothers 3

What makes a man worthy and well qualified to be a Freemason?The opinions expressed in this show are strictly those of X-Oriente and its editorial staff, and do not reflect those of any Lodge, Grand Lodge or appendant body.