Welcome to the July 2023 issue of The Square
Where does the time go? We’re already halfway through the year!
Each month, those of us plugging away at producing The Square are blown away by the ever-increasing statistics showing that our readership is constantly growing and evolving.
We can see which articles are read the most, which articles are ‘evergreens’ (i.e. they rank in the top 10 of all time), stats on impressions and the click-through rate for each page.
We are very proud to say that we have an above average ‘click through’ rate.
However, that is all just logistical semantics – what we would love to know is how much of an impression the actual content makes.
Our mission and vision for The Square is first and foremost the ‘advancement of Masonic knowledge’.
From the feedback we receive, almost all is positive and affirms we are succeeding in that mission at point of service.
Now, take things a little further – as an analogy (we all love those!) think of the magazine as a Masonic brain: taking information in, giving information out. But, how does your brain process all this new information gleaned from The Square?
According to Sage Pub UK
“Information from the senses passes through the sensory register to the immediate memory and then on to working memory for conscious processing. If the learner attaches sense and meaning to the learning, it is likely to be stored. The self-concept often determines how much attention the learner will give to new information.”
There’s the crunch – ‘If the learner attaches sense and meaning to the learning, it is likely to be stored.’ This is what we are aiming for, and we know that is what our readers value – ‘sense and meaning’.
We thank you for learning with us!
Image: Pixabay
So, without further ado, please click on the (hopefully) perfectly loading links below to get your monthly fix of Masonic Knowledge
This Month’s Editor Picks:
Building the Ideal Temple – This month we have some incredible features but Gabriel Anghelescu’s article really resonated with me.
Let me know if you agree! “As Freemasons we could say that we have a double mission, namely building two ideal temples.
Building an ideal Inner Temple, so that we can then transpose the inner construction on a larger scale and build an ideal Temple of Humanity.
But can such ideal temples ever be realized, given that at first sight the word “ideal” seems to be synonymous with perfection? The answer may be both no and yes.”
Rosicrucianism and the Gowrie House Mystery – Masonic scholar Kenneth Jack is back with a superb piece of research.
Unearth the mystifying intersections of Rosicrucianism and the infamous Gowrie House Mystery.
Dive into speculative claims of sacred knowledge, royal theft, and a Masonic conspiracy, harking back to a fateful day in 1600.
Tutorial for a Worshipful Master – Unlock the Secrets to Leadership Mastery in our Worshipful Master’s Tutorial!
Brother Antonio Biella shares step-by-step guidance for Masonic Lodge leaders on honing their roles, duties, and future vision.
Discover how to drive growth and engagement in your Lodge, setting ambitious goals and inspiring member participation.
That He May Be Crafted – Paul Gardner explores the symbolic use of working tools from the earliest days of this secret society, revealing a time when only two degrees existed.
Delve into this fascinating study of historical rituals and their modern relevance.
Masonic Charities – Part 1 – Freemasonry’s commitment to charity has always been a priority and remains a core principle, reflecting its mission to promote brotherly love, relief, and truth in the world.
Part 1 of the series gives an introduction to the establishment of the main Masonic Charitable endeavours in the 18th and 19th centuries and several key influencers.
Freemasonry and AI – Gerald Reilly unlocks the enigmatic world of Freemasonry as we delve into its secret language.
Explore the fascinating intersection of Generative AI and the Turin Test, unravelling the hidden codes and symbols that have intrigued generations.
Discover the mysteries behind this ancient Craft in our captivating introductory article.
Lodge Meetings and Well-being – Daniel Ling illustrates the remarkable benefits of Lodge Meetings on your well-being.
From fostering connections to combating stress, learn how these male-oriented gatherings offer an antidote to anger, hunger, isolation, and exhaustion.
Discover the power of shared experiences, understanding, and camaraderie. Your key to improved mental health awaits inside.
Young Men and Freemasonry – Could Freemasonry be the antidote to modernity’s challenges for young men?
Dive in as we explore the Masonic world, its principles, camaraderie, and how its traditional rituals could help forge stronger identities in an increasingly complex world.
Philippe Jacquet, a professional psychotherapist and Freemason, shares his wisdom.
The Future of Freemasonry and Virtual Reality – Experience Freemasonry like never before! Deep dive into our ground-breaking research on harnessing Virtual Reality (VR) for Freemasonry rituals.
We’re transforming centuries-old traditions into immersive, accessible experiences.
Discover how we’re bridging the gap between historical symbolism and cutting-edge technology. Join us on this exciting journey into the future of Freemasonry.
As always, we also have the usual features of podcasts, blogs, old books, new books, reviews of books, and a whole host of Masonic knowledge to keep you busy with your ‘daily advancement’.
We hope you enjoy this month’s issue. If you do – or if you don’t – drop me a line at editor@thesquaremagazine.com
Until next time, stay safe and well.
Article by: Philippa Lee. Editor
Philippa Lee (writes as Philippa Faulks) is the author of eight books, an editor and researcher.
Philippa was initiated into the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (HFAF) in 2014.
Her specialism is ancient Egypt, Freemasonry, comparative religions and social history. She has several books in progress on the subject of ancient and modern Egypt. Selection of Books Online at Amazon
Books by Philippa
