The Australian Broadcasting Company's news program "Compass" will air a show this Sunday on ABC-1, "Whatever happened to the Freemasons?" about the past and future of Freemasonry Down Under.



From the ABC website:

Whatever happened to... the Freemasons

Compass delves behind the aprons and funny handshakes to find out how Australian Freemasons are reinventing themselves to survive in the 21st Century.



Freemasons arrived in Australia with the First Fleet and up until quite recently were shrouded in secrecy and strictly maintained traditions. Freemasonry is not a religion, although in its heyday most Freemasons were either Protestants or Jews. Catholics were forbidden by their church from joining. Now, faced with declining membership the Masons have had to relax some of their rules and reinvent themselves. So, what does this silent band of brothers actually do? Are they even viable anymore? If so, who belongs and why?

A preview of the show can be seen here.



A radio interview with the Grand Master of Victoria, MWBro. Vaughan Werner can be heard here.



They lose 10 points in my book for the use of the hackneyed "funny handshake" meme.

Brother Eric Diamond's X-Oriente Masonic internet radio program has been off the air for a while. He reports that he's been sidetracked by full-time double major graduate school, but he says three new episodes are in the pipeline.

Episode 39 is now up on the website. It kicks off a multi-episode look at the basics of Kabbalah and how it intersects with Freemasonry, from a very traditional perspective, with lots of Hebrew and lots of context.

Glad you're back, Eric.

Freemasons take note: the story of medieval operative stonemasons constructing a cathedral comes to life in STARZ' new miniseries "Pillars Of The Earth", from the acclaimed Ken Follett novel.


From the STARZ website:

This epic tale of passion and greed begins when a mysterious secret disrupts the succession to the English crown and an unlikely member of King Henry’s family takes the throne. A power struggle between Henry’s daughter, Maud, and nephew, Stephen, causes England to be torn by war as battles rage for the rightful heir. Meanwhile, Bishop Waleran Bigod and the Hamleigh family manipulate the conflict to satisfy their own ruthless ambitions. Within this tumultuous setting, Prior Philip fights insurmountable obstacles to keep Kingsbridge and his dream of building a magnificent cathedral alive. The task is daunting, but master-mason Tom Builder, his gifted stepson, Jack, and noblewoman Aliena work together to achieve their dreams. And in the process, the long-hidden secret is revealed.

Premiering July 23, The Pillars of the Earth will be the epic event of the summer. Starring Ian McShane (“Deadwood”) as Waleran Bigod, Rufus Sewell (The Holiday) as Tom Builder, Matthew Macfadyen (Frost/Nixon) Prior Philip, Eddie Redmayne (The Good Shepherd) as Jack, Hayley Atwell (Captain America) as Aliena and Donald Sutherland (“Dirty Sexy Money”) as Bartholomew.

Premieres Friday, July 23rd: Encore 10:00pm, Starz 10:00pm, and Saturday, July 24th: Starz Edge 12:00am