Politics and Religion are a prohibited topic inside a Masonic Lodge during their meetings. But why? It is no mystery that the topics of Politics and Religion can be incendiary and cause a lot of conflict among people. But how come a society that professes to be able to keep their passions within due bounds restrain from some of the topics that could best test that self-control?  In this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, I am joined by three Brothers of varied religious and...

How can we maintain consistency in Freemasonry? inconsistency in Freemasonry is a major problem when it interferes with the onboarding of new candidates, when it provides an inconsistent experience for its members, and when it gives outsiders a negative impression of our organization.  In this episode of The Winding Stairs, we discuss Inconsistency in Freemasonry. I sit down with Bro. Andrew Rizzitello to discuss what aspect of Freemasonry need more consistency and which aspects can present...

What’s behind this Masonic Membership Decline and what can we do about it? Fraternal orders and non-profit organizations have seen a steady decline in membership and participation over the last few decades. If you are familiar with Freemasonry, you will agree that what it teaches men is desperately needed in today’s society.  In this episode of The Winding Stairs, Bro. Tom McGuire (Founder of FossilBluff) and I sit down for a conversation where we explore the many reasons why our...

Masonic Membership has been in decline over the past half century and finding the reasons and formulating solutions for that decline becomes an ever-increasing priority in our circles. In this series (Ep.1/4), we will discuss 4 aspects of the Masonic experience that could use some intentional improvement to make sure that more good men are given the tools of Freemasonry to make themselves better men.  Connect with us! Web- [https://TheWindingStairs.com/](https://TheWindingStairs.com/ "‌") ...

Lodge visitation is one of the greatest perks you have as a Freemason. As a Master Mason, you are entitled to visit other Masonic Lodges around the world. That means, that despite not knowing anyone in another country, you can go to a Lodge and instantly connect with a group of Brothers who will treat you like family.  In this episode of The Winding Stairs, I have a conversation with Michael Radigan and Jeremy Barnes, the developers of the Mobile App called Amity. This app serves as your...

I believe that Freemasonry has benefited greatly from the connectivity that the Internet has provided. Today, curious people from around the globe, who once only heard sporadically about this organization, can do a little research and even find a Lodge nearby for them to approach. However, the connectivity of the internet hasn’t only brought positive things to the fraternity, it has also served as a fertile ground for a mischievous creature I like to call… The CircumPunk. You may have heard...

This is a conversation with one of the most exciting TikTok creators who talk about Freemasonry on that platform. He has taken the task of combating some of the nonsense that people try to say about Freemasonry on social media. He comes with evidence and the proof necessary to put an end to these crazy conspiracies.  Join us as we have a conversation with Bro. Widows Mijo.  Please show your support to this episode's sponsor Fossil Bluff who was so generous to extend a special promotion...

The cave degree in tennessee is a Master Mason Degree performed inside a natural cave in the mountains of Tennessee. Brothers from all over the country (and other countries) travel to Kingston Tennessee every year to take part in this memorable Masonic Degree.  After hearing about the Cave Degree in Tennessee for many years, I finally decided to go and joined a group of Brothers from my jurisdiction to make this amazing Masonic pilgrimage to the Cave.  Connect with us! Web-...

What's the role of the investigation committee in Freemasonry? How is the Masonic  investigation committee formed and what do they do to protect the Lodge and the Craft? In this episode of The Winding Stairs, we discuss the dos and don'ts of participating in making sure the candidate is a good fit for our organization. We discuss some of the mistakes Lodge's make when investigating a potential candidate.  Connect with us! Web- https://TheWindingStairs.com/ TikTok-...

The leadership system of a Masonic Lodge is one of predictable and progressive steps. When a Brother joins the officer line, we have a pretty good idea of who the leaders of the Lodge will be for the next 5 - 7 years. But only if things run smoothly. And you and I both know that if there is room for things to go wrong, they often do. But don’t worry, this is not going to be a gloom and doom episode, I will offer some potential solutions Connect with us! Web- https://TheWindingStairs.com/ ...

How does a man achieve Masonry family balance? The last thing you want to hear from your wife is, "Again? Are you going to be in Lodge every single night?”. You know about the cable tow, you know that Family and Vocation come first. Unfortunately, there are many Brothers who ignore the cautionary tale and put Freemasonry above all else. Many times at the expense of their relationships. Don’t worry, I know you love your Lady and I know you love being a Freemason. There is no reason why you...

Your Lodge may have a very interesting history to share but if it’s not being properly preserved, it will be lost forever. Preserving Masonic History becomes an important duty for all of us. A duty that  will ensure future generations of  Freemasons get to know the people and events that gave shape to the character of each Masonic Lodge.  Join me as I speak with Bro. Alex Powers, the host of Historical Light Masonic Podcast, about the efforts he has made to preserve the history of his Lodge...

Have you ever seen someone who shortly after joining Freemasonry, goes all in. Eats and Breathes Freemasonry with such fury that you’d think nothing else in their world matters?  If the masonic journey was a race, they would be going against all prudent advice from experts. Make sure to take care of your body, pace yourself, don’t ignore the signs of wear and tear, etc.  Is Freemasonry good? Of course it is! Could it turn into a bad thing for you, if you put it above all other things? I...

Did you know that the first words uttered by Man from the surface of the moon were not the ones most people think? The first words, as documented by NASA’s audio files, were “Contact Light”. These words were uttered by astronaut “Buzz” Aldrin.  The irony of these words is that, not only was this the first time humans contacted the surface of another heavenly body, but it was the first time Freemasonry made physical contact with the moon. Among the personal items that Buzz Aldrin brought with...

These are exciting times for Science! For months, astronomy enthusiasts have been excitedly awaiting the release of the first photos from the James Webb Space Telescope. A $10 Billion Dollar project to put the largest and most capable telescope out in Space. There are two primary reasons why every Freemason in the world should be excited about this event. 1. As Masons we are encouraged to study Astronomy (We answer why in this episode) and 2. This telescope was named after Brother James Webb…...

Did you know that if you belong to a group or organization that plans to overthrow the government by force or coercion, you can’t become a Freemason? Is Freemasonry a Patriotic organization. What does Freemasonry teach us about loyalty to your country? Let’s explore the relationship between Freemasonry and Patriotism in this episode of TWS Equipment used: Did you like the quality of our video, here are some of the tools and services we use and recommend*. Video Camera1: Canon EOS M50...

It is said that Freemasons part upon the square. If we recognize the symbolism of the Square, we will recognize that this means that Masons behave virtuously in their walking through life. In order for us to walk uprightly through life, extending our kindness and acting with virtue, it is important that we are clear about which virtues we are to exemplify.  In this episode of The Winding Stairs, we will discuss how does a mason put into practice the virtuous lessons contained within the...

Improving Masonic education should be a top priority for every Lodge leader. But how does one go about making the Masonic learning experience better for our Brethren?  In this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, we have a conversation with Justin Taylor Jones and Dennis Yates from Masonic Improvement about their effort to improve Masonic education in the state of Texas.   Equipment used: Did you like the quality of our video, here are some of the tools and services we use...

The Lewis Jewel commemorates the long legacy of fathers and son who share a common bond with our Fraternity.  Imagine having to lift and reposition hundreds or thousands of stones  The Lewis is a tool used by operative masons to facilitate the lifting and positioning of heavy stones. It is a strong yet simple design that serves as the connection between the stone and a crane or pulley system. In speculative Masonry, the son of a Mason is referred to as a Lewis.  In this episode of The...

In order for a structure to be soundly built, it has to rest upon a solid level foundation. Otherwise, the higher it rises, the more unstable it becomes. In Freemasonry, we stand before our Brothers as an Upright Man and are instructed to act as such. Today, we will discuss what it means to be an upright man. What does it mean to act by the proverbial plumb. This and more on this episode of The Winding Stairs.  Equipment used: Did you like the quality of our video, here are some of the...

What does it mean to meet on the level? It means that regardless of your economic, social, or religious background when you meet with other Brothers, you are equals. As Freemasons, we are called to regard the entirety of the human race as One Family. Therefore, whether we are meeting at Lodge, or out in the world employing our usual vocations, we are to treat all members of the human race as if they were our own family.  In this episode of The Winding Stairs. I will share with you some tips...

What do Masons get out of traveling Masonically. In other words, what does a Freemason gain from visiting other Lodges and other Masonic Jurisdictions in their travels. The short answer is, A LOT!  On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we invite you to hop aboard a car with three Brothers and find out for yourself what Masons get out of Masonic Travels. If you enjoyed The Winding Stairs Podcast, please show your support by visiting https://www.thewindingstairs.com/shop/ where you can find a...

Our stated meetings don't have a reputation for being the most amazing in the world. Honestly, sometimes our meetings resemble more a HOA meeting than anything else. But it doesn't have to be that way. Our Fraternity has a long tradition of bestowing the meetings with elements of solemnity and ritual that have the potential of leaving a positive impression in the attendants mind.  On this episode of TWS, I sit down with W. Manny Lozada to revisit a conversation we had a few years ago , where...