Home Podcasts The Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons
The Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons

The Masonic Roundtable - Freemasonry Today for Today's Freemasons

Jon Ruark, Jason Richards, Nick Johnson, Juan Sepulveda & Robert Johnson 100 Episodes Oct 9, 2026

The Masonic Roundtable is a weekly panel of Masons from around the United States who discuss the latest and greatest in Masonic news, events, scholarship, and happenings. Join the conversation!

Episodes

The Masonic Roundtable - 0573 - Passions
The Masonic Roundtable - 0573 - Passions Oct 9, 2026 56:08 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we dig into what Freemasonry really means when it talks about the passions, and why so much of the Craft points Brothers toward keeping them in check. Are passions simply strong feelings, or something more specific in Masonic teaching? How do they show up in lodge politics, leadership, ritual, and everyday life outside the tiled door? And are they inhere
The Masonic Roundtable - 0572 -  Square of Virtue
The Masonic Roundtable - 0572 - Square of Virtue Oct 2, 2026 56:37 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we sit with a question every lodge hearing knows by heart: what does it mean to truly live a virtuous life? The Square of Virtue is more than a symbol on the tracing board. It is a working tool for how a Mason should act when nobody is watching, when the apron is off, and when the Craft's ideals meet the mess of ordinary days. Join us as we talk about li
The Masonic Roundtable - 0571 - PHA to UGLE
The Masonic Roundtable - 0571 - PHA to UGLE Sep 25, 2026 56:11 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we follow one Brother's path from Prince Hall Affiliated Masonry into the United Grand Lodge of England, and what it means to change jurisdictions along the way. Recognition, affiliation, and belonging look different when a Mason crosses from one grand lodge world into another, and that journey raises practical and fraternal questions that many traveling
The Masonic Roundtable - 0570 - Ancient Order of Free Gardeners
The Masonic Roundtable - 0570 - Ancient Order of Free Gardeners Sep 18, 2026 01:04:25 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we dig into a lesser-known cousin of the Craft: The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners. Rooted in 17th-century Scotland, where operative gardeners organized lodges for mutual aid, shared horticultural knowledge, and fraternal ritual, the Order grew into a widespread friendly society with degrees, regalia, and symbolism that often mirrored Freemasonry, incl
The Masonic Roundtable - 0569 - William Morgan Returns!
The Masonic Roundtable - 0569 - William Morgan Returns! Sep 11, 2026 01:05:57 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we reopen the most infamous cold case in American fraternal history: The Disappearance of William Morgan. In 1826, a disgruntled former bricklayer threatened to publish the secrets of Freemasonry in Batavia, New York, was arrested, abducted from a jail cell, and never seen alive again, sparking a wildfire of public outrage, the birth of the Anti-Masonic
The Masonic Roundtable - 0568 - Tradition
The Masonic Roundtable - 0568 - Tradition Sep 4, 2026 54:09 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we tackle the delicate tension at the very core of the Craft: Tradition vs. Innovation. Freemasonry prides itself on being an unbroken link to centuries of heritage, philosophy, and ritual. Yet, when adherence to the past turns into rigid stagnation, how do we adapt to the modern world without losing the timeless principles that make us unique? Our panel
The Masonic Roundtable - 0567 - Build-A-Body
The Masonic Roundtable - 0567 - Build-A-Body Aug 28, 2026 59:29 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, the hosts take matters into their own hands to fix the appendant landscape by pitching brand new orders and side bodies of Freemasonry. Each host steps up to the drawing board to present a completely original order (defining its core mission, visionary purpose, stringent (or ridiculous) membership requirements, and, of course, the indispensable regalia r
The Masonic Roundtable - 0566 - 4 Out of 5 Men Want to Join: Here's Why Most Won't
The Masonic Roundtable - 0566 - 4 Out of 5 Men Want to Join: Here's Why Most Won't Aug 21, 2026 56:15 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we dive into shocking data revealing the massive barrier keeping interested men from ever stepping foot inside a lodge room. Thousands of potential candidates knock on the door every year, yet most walk away and never return. Our panel breaks down a staggering statistic (including why an eye-opening 83% of inquiries vanish into thin air) and explores wha
The Masonic Roundtable - 0565 - The Critical First Year
The Masonic Roundtable - 0565 - The Critical First Year Aug 14, 2026 01:01:28 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we tackle a critical moment in every Mason's journey: The First-Year Experience. We explore what needs to happen between a brother's initial raising and his first anniversary to turn his early curiosity into lifelong, meaningful participation. Our panel discusses how lodges can build effective mentorship frameworks, avoid dumping administrative burdens o
The Masonic Roundtable - 0564 - Right Here, Right Now
The Masonic Roundtable - 0564 - Right Here, Right Now Aug 7, 2026 52:39 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we turn our attention from abstract theory to actionable practice with a look at Things You Can Do Right Now to Make Lodge Better. We move past complaining about attendance or aging infrastructure to share immediate, practical steps that any brother, regardless of his title or rank, can take to elevate his local lodge experience. Our panel discusses quic
The Masonic Roundtable - 0563 - Followers or Thinkers
The Masonic Roundtable - 0563 - Followers or Thinkers Jul 24, 2026 52:13 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we ask a challenging and fundamental question about the modern purpose of our fraternity: Are we building thinkers or followers? We examine whether our lodges have shifted toward producing compliant members who simply memorize ritual and follow administrative rules, or if we are truly cultivating independent, philosophical minds. Our panel explores wheth
The Masonic Roundtable - 0562 - Is "Going Dark" Still Relevant?
The Masonic Roundtable - 0562 - Is "Going Dark" Still Relevant? Jul 10, 2026 55:31 In this episode of The Masonic Roundtable, we open the floor to a spirited debate on a longstanding fraternal tradition, asking: Is "going dark" for the summer an antiquated practice? Historically, lodges paused meetings during the warmer months so brothers could tend to the harvests or escape the heat of unairconditioned halls. We question whether this custom still serves a purpose in 2026 or if

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