The Masonic Roundtable - 0538 - What to Expect When Your Expecting Part 3
The Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
Release Date: 12/19/2025
The Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
As we ring in 2026, the brothers of The Masonic Roundtable gather to reflect on the symbolic "rough ashlar" and how we plan to shape it in the coming year. In this episode, we dive into our personal and fraternal New Year’s Resolutions, discussing how the tenets of Masonry can guide our self-improvement and help us build more vibrant, engaged lodges. From deepening our ritual work to fostering stronger community ties, we share our vision for growth, leadership, and brotherly love in the year ahead. Join us as we set our sights on making 2026 a landmark year for the Craft.
info_outlineThe Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
This week, we sit down with Darin A. Lahners to explore the beginnings of his well-known series, What to Expect When You’re Expecting: Worshipful Master’s Edition. Drawing from his original reflections on preparing for the East, Darin discusses the nerves, doubts, hopes, and early lessons that shaped his first journey as Master. We trace the foundation he laid in that first piece (learning to relax, communicate, believe in oneself, plan with purpose, and invoke the blessing of Deity) and look at how those themes continue to resonate across his later writings. This conversation offers a...
info_outlineThe Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
This week, we sit down with Darin A. Lahners to explore the beginnings of his well-known series, What to Expect When You’re Expecting: Worshipful Master’s Edition. Drawing from his original reflections on preparing for the East, Darin discusses the nerves, doubts, hopes, and early lessons that shaped his first journey as Master. We trace the foundation he laid in that first piece (learning to relax, communicate, believe in oneself, plan with purpose, and invoke the blessing of Deity) and look at how those themes continue to resonate across his later writings. This conversation offers a...
info_outlineThe Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
This week, we sit down with Darin A. Lahners to explore the beginnings of his well known series, What to Expect When You’re Expecting: Worshipful Master’s Edition. Drawing from his original reflections on preparing for the East, Darin discusses the nerves, doubts, hopes, and early lessons that shaped his first journey as Master. We trace the foundation he laid in that first piece (learning to relax, communicate, believe in oneself, plan with purpose, and invoke the blessing of Deity) and look at how those themes continue to resonate across his later writings. This conversation offers a...
info_outlineThe Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
Thanksgiving carries warm traditions, shared meals, and a sense of gratitude, but this week we explore a lesser-known angle. Is there a hidden thread connecting the holiday to Masonic values or early American Freemasons who shaped the culture around it. We look at the symbolism of gratitude, the role of reflection in our craft, and the surprising ways that, without the Freemasons, Thanksgiving wouldn't exist!
info_outlineThe Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
Few symbols are as instantly recognizable—or as deeply meaningful—as the Square and Compasses. This week, the hosts explore the layers of symbolism behind Freemasonry’s most iconic emblem. What do these tools really teach us about morality, balance, and self-mastery? How have their meanings evolved across history, ritual, and personal reflection? Join us as we unpack the geometry of virtue, the harmony of opposites, and the timeless call to “square our actions and circumscribe our desires.” Whether you’re a newly initiated Brother or a seasoned student of symbolism, this episode...
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In Part II of our deep dive into the Masonic roots of classic horror, we turn our attention to Frankenstein and Zombies—two icons that raise profound questions about creation, consciousness, and the corruption of knowledge. Was Dr. Frankenstein’s pursuit of the “spark of life” a reflection of Masonic enlightenment gone awry? Do the walking dead symbolize the spiritually uninitiated—those who have yet to awaken to light? Join us as we dissect the alchemical, moral, and esoteric layers of these tales, tracing how the themes of reanimation, resurrection, and responsibility echo through...
info_outlineThe Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
What if Dracula were based on a Freemason? No big deal, right? But what if Dr. Frankenstein was, too? And the Mummy films? And zombies—a strange blend of Freemasonry and other esoteric traditions? This week, we dive deep into the shadows of literature and film to uncover the hidden Masonic influences behind some of the world’s most iconic horror figures. From vampiric immortality to Frankenstein’s quest for forbidden knowledge, from the Mummy’s resurrection to the zombie’s moral symbolism, we’ll explore how Masonic ideals of transformation, enlightenment, and the mysteries of life...
info_outlineThe Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
Are Freemasons better employees? Do our obligations and moral teachings make us more dependable, ethical, or effective at work, or are we just as human as everyone else, complete with our own share of “rough ashlars”? This week, the hosts have a candid, humorous, and thought-provoking discussion on how Masonic principles show up (or fail to show up) in our professional lives. From leadership and integrity to accountability and humility, we’ll explore whether the working world truly benefits from Masonic values, and what happens when it doesn’t.
info_outlineThe Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
In this episode, the hosts explore one of the most symbolic and essential offices in the Masonic Lodge, the Tyler. Often stationed outside the door, the Tyler serves as the guardian of the lodge, protecting the sanctity of its work and reminding us of the deeper, internal vigilance we must each maintain. Join us as we uncover the historical origins of the Tyler’s role, its ritual significance, and the lessons it offers about guarding the gates of our hearts, minds, and spiritual lives. Whether you’re newly raised or a seasoned Mason, this conversation will challenge you to reflect on what...
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This week, we sit down with Darin A. Lahners to explore the beginnings of his well-known series, What to Expect When You’re Expecting: Worshipful Master’s Edition. Drawing from his original reflections on preparing for the East, Darin discusses the nerves, doubts, hopes, and early lessons that shaped his first journey as Master. We trace the foundation he laid in that first piece (learning to relax, communicate, believe in oneself, plan with purpose, and invoke the blessing of Deity) and look at how those themes continue to resonate across his later writings. This conversation offers a candid look at leadership, expectation, and what it means to take on the Oriental Chair for the first time.