Your political compass

Where do you stand politically? Take this anonymous online test called The Political Compass , and see your position on the grid between Aut...

Selfish? Or uncaring?

‎ "If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish a...

Let the sun shine in!

It's been over a year since I've posted on The Burning Taper , and longer than that since I've posted anything actually relevant...

Guess who's coming to dinner?

It seems many rank-and-file Masons, in many locales, are becoming more and more fed up with the actions of Grand Lodge leaders. This short a...

Living with War: Memorial Day 2010

For the past four Memorial Days [ 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009 ], I've honored the memory of those who have died in the War in Iraq, or wha...

Is Freemasonry 'just as good' as Christianity?

The Burning Taper received the following email a few days ago. Anyone like to take a shot at answering this woman's questions? sir, as ...

'One battle over, but the war continues,' by Bro. Derek Gordon

The following is reprinted from the website of Bro. Derek Gordon . One Battle Is Over, But The War Is Not A great man and Mason, who was ove...

Follow the travelling man across the USA

This is a message from Bro. Darrell Waddell. Brethren, One of our Louisville, Kentucky brothers has embarked on a tremendous journey across ...

Not your grandfather's Freemasonry

Bro. Fred Milliken has written an excellent piece titled "I Resign." Though the information presented about Bro. Derek Gordon'...

Arkansas Grand Lodge resignations confirmed

Below is a recent email from Doug Simmons, Past Deputy Grand Lecturer and Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, ...

Arkansas Grand Lodge officers said to have resigned

Update, May 5: The resignations of Bros. Weatherall and Jones have been confirmed by an officer of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas. I am awaiti...

'Remember the beginning! Prince Hall plates!', by Bro. Derek Gordon

The following is by Bro. Derek Gordon. Remember the beginning! Prince Hall plates! by Bro. Derek Gordon Someone asked how this whole mess be...

Searching for light in the Arkansas night

The following article is by Bro. Derek Gordon, who is currently awaiting Masonic trial by the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, for purported but uns...

The handshake of expulsion

The following is by Bro. Derek Gordon, a young Freemason from Arkansas. The Grand Lodge of Arkansas has charged him with unmasonic conduct. ...

Letter from an expelled Arkansas Freemason

The Burning Taper receives many emails from Freemasons and others interested in Masonry. With the writer's permission, I'm sharing w...

What is the purpose of Freemasonry?

"The purpose of Freemasonry is not charity nor is it a fraternal society. These are but attributes which have developed. The real purpo...

Bro. Hodapp on Masonic racism

In the comments section to his own March 30 blog article "Grand Lodge of Arkansas Pulls Charter, Files Charges Over Website," Bro...

Text of letter from GM of Arkansas forbidding purchase of Masonic license plates

In January, 2010 the then-Grand Master of of Arkansas, Ronald Hedge, sent a letter to lodge secretaries forbidding Arkansas "mainstream...

Tell the Grand Lodge of Arkansas what you think

If you would like to make your voice heard to the officers of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, here is their contact list, adapted from the Arka...

Comments welcome!

Because of the huge amount of robot spam postings during the time The Burning Taper was temporarily dormant, the comment feature was delete...