X-Oriente (Ex Oriente) means "From the East." X-Oriente is a half-hour Podcast (MP3) dedicated to those Freemasons who are young (and young at heart). X-Oriente seeks to inform, inspire, entertain and challenge you. Each issue will be packed with news, discussion, ideas, tools and interviews with Freemasons who are making a difference. We welcome your comments, ideas and submissions at xoriente@gmail.com
Illustrious Walter E. Webber, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A., was called to eternal refreshment in the Paradise of the Grand Architect of the Universe on Saturday afternoon, April 22, 2006, after battling illness for several months.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to:
The 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc.
PO Box 519
Lexington, Massachusetts 02420-0519
There will be a memorial service at the National Heritage Museum on the grounds of Supreme Council Headquarters in Lexington, Massachusetts on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 1:00 pm. Details of the arrangements will be forthcoming.
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 Skullduggery?
03:30 Richard Fletcher's comments on GMA
06:00 Brent Morris on why Freemasonry's numbers are declining
07:50 My take on the GMA segment
08:23 A homework assignment and shout out to Pythagoras Lodge No. 1464 in Athens, Greece (errata: I said in the show that Pythagoras was No.1461 not 1464. I regret the error. Sorry Pythagoras!)
10:11 Geek out! The hardware and software I use to create X-Oriente
14:19 Continuing the interview with Michael Toth
16:30 The impact that film has had
18:50 Technical aspects of making the film
24:05 Challenges in making the film
28:00 Freemasonry in the US. and in other countries
33.12: Taking Masonry Seriously
34:40 Portraying Masonic ritual in the film
35:35 The documentary style
41:00 Dreaming of a Masonic feature film
44:15 How to get the film
46:00 Wrap up
46:55 Outro (enhanced)
If you would like to order a copy of The Freemasons, The Mystery Myth and Truth you can get it on DVD (All regions NTSC) for $24.95 + $4 shipping at their web site. (Note: International shipping may be more...contact masondvd@freemasonsfilm.com for more info)
A man who works with his hands is a laborer.
A man who works with his hands and mind is a craftsman.
A man who works with his hands, mind and heart is an artist
But a man who works with his hands, mind, heart and soul is a Freemason.
The entire Good Morning America show on Wednesday, April 19, will be broadcast from the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C. There will be walking tour segments of the Temple plus one or more interviews of me. This is very short notice, so please share this information with your friends who might be interested.
Don't miss it! I will be Tivo'ing the show myself!
I'm toying with the idea of doing some X-Oriente Schwag...shirts, bags, hats, mugs, that sort of thing. I'm a graphic designer in my civilian life and this is a way to express the X-Oriente idea in something more tangible. Visit the beta of the X-Oriente Schwag Shop at Cafe Press and order stuff with impunity. Wear it with pride for yourself and the Fraternity. What will I do with all that money? ;-)
Half the proceeds will go toward offsetting X-Oriente costs (bandwidth and hosting--the hardware is on my dime) and the other half will go towards creating a Masonic Center in Chicago. BTW, even if you decide not to buy stuff, let me know what you think of the designs. And if there is something you want, let me know. If I can make it, I will!
There are plenty of History Channel documentaries out there that proport to tell the story of Freemasonry. But one tells the story from the inside. 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.
Also your host gets up on his high horse to rant for a few minutes about the Brown vs. Baigent and Lee trial which recently wrapped up in London last week. For background on the story see:
00:48 The DaVinci Code vs. Holy Blood Holy Grail. Holy copyright infringement suit, Batman!
07:00 Interview with Michael Toth: Background
08:12 Clip from film : Jerry Marsengill
09:55 Michael Toth, intro and his Masonic background
18:31 How Toth started in filmmaking
23:10 The genesis of Unseen Journey
28:10 Clip: John Robinson on Masonic persecution
29:19 Working with John Robinson
33:40 Balancing Marsengill and Robinson
34:32 Wrap up and shout out to the brothers of Helena Lodge No. 410 in Helena, Alabama
34:55 Outro
If you would like to order a copy of The Freemasons, The Mystery Myth and Truth you can get it on DVD (All regions NTSC) for $24.95 + $4 shipping at their web site. (Note: International shipping may be more...contact masondvd@freemasonsfilm.com for more info)
It's coming, it's coming! Episode 008 will be part one of a 2 part interview of W. Bro. Michael Toth who has released on DVD his film The Freemasons: The Mystery Myth and Truth. I'm editing it now, and it is a little more editing than normal what with all the clips from the film, and commentary and the like. One more evening ought to do it!
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. X-Oriente is an independent publishing project and no one person or body speaks for all Masonry.
