November 10, 2019 0 Comments
We had hoped to finish production before Christmas but unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, our target completion time will be delayed. Please read on.
It's no secret that we are a small business operation so when a prominent Italian fashion house decided to purchase a whole lot of Japanese Miyota 82S0 movement that caused an industry-wide shortage of the calibre, we had no choice but to consider switching to other mechanisms. We simply do not have the purchasing power to compete with a big company.
Our manufacturer suggested using another Japanese movement of the same quality- the Seiko Caliber NH38A. After consulting with those who have already pre-ordered, we decided to greenlight the change. It took us several days to realize that changing the movement also meant modifying the design of the dial- the aperture or that small round window has to be moved from the 6 o'clock to 8 o'clock position. With NH38A, it's physically impossible to keep the aperture at 6 o'clock because doing so means moving the crown above the 12 o'clock spot. Please see the illustration below.
Some may consider this a minor adjustment but as the designer, I find this proposed change unpalatable. Every part of this watch has a deep symbolic meaning to me as it embodies my interpretation of the Masonic ritual. There's a reason why I want to keep the Compasses, the center of the dial, the beating heart (seen through the aperture), and Square in perfect alignment.
Designing this watch has been a labour of love. It would have been a lot easier, faster, and economical to just go for stock parts but we decided to go with fully customized according to our specifications. Getting things right can be a painful journey but we're willing to take that route in pursuit of betterment.
In conclusion, it is with a heavy heart that I must say that we're breaking our original promise to deliver the watches by Christmas. Since we cannot compromise our design principles and since we already have the important parts made (the dial, case, hour symbols, etc), we have no other choice but to wait until Miyota supplies us with enough movement to finish the production. With that said, if you wish to refund your order, please let us know. If you decide to keep it, please accept our sincerest thanks. We appreciate your patience. Looking to pre-order the watch? We hope to deliver within the first quarter of 2020. Payment plans are available. Click here to pre-order. Pre-order now and get a free leather strap (limited supply).
No batteries required. It has a beating heart that is powered by your own. #fraternalties #thetiethatbinds
June 30, 2019 0 Comments
Tomorrow my adoptive mother Canada turns 152. As a family man and an immigrant (who became a citizen very recently), I am feeling an intense sense of gratitude towards this beautiful country and her citizens. I hope that everyone in my family lives up to the standards set by all good and law-abiding Canadian citizens and serve the country well. As a Freemason, I am feeling very proud to be a member of this Brotherhood (or Gentle Craft, as some Masons endearingly call her) that seem to attract men of respectable character. Us younger Masons will never run out of inspiring men to look up to.
Without further adieu, I present to you part 1 of 24 Famous Canadians You Didn't Know Were Freemasons.
Stick around for parts 2 and 3.
Canadian Freemason Paisley Necktie
June 29, 2019 0 Comments
Last week I became the Worshipful Master-elect of Doric Lodge No. 316 in Toronto (Thornhill to be precise). Our lodge, like many Freemasonry lodges all over the world, is being threatened with the prospect of "going dark".
What does to "go dark" means? Most of the time this simply means that the lodge will take a break from regular monthly meetings. This temporary "dark" period traditionally happens during the summer months to allow the members to harvest their crops.
Enlightenment (aka regular meetings) resume once more at the beginning of fall. In other words, Masonic lodges "going dark" is a transient occasion for the most part. But in some cases it is permanent. Dwindling membership, lack of interest and active participation, financial issues, etc., etc., contribute to the death of a Masonic lodge.
There are ways to prevent this permanent lodge closure from happening. One of them is to amalgamate with another lodge that is also experiencing similar issues. This marriage between two Masonic lodges can become complicated and at times downright frustrating because each lodge have their own culture and traditions and not to mention their own line of officers waiting for their turn to sit on that venerated chair in the East.
We were in talks with amalgamating with Huron-Bruce Lodge No. 611 (Toronto Don Valley district) but unfortunately, that lodge went permanently dark last year. I attended the Extinguishing of Lights Ceremony last December and it was a solemnly sad experience that I will never forget. If things don't turn out well in my term, we will be next to go dark forever.
Besides amalgamation which doesn't always work, how do we prevent Masonic lodges from going dark? Here is a summary of some of the ideas that our learned Brethren from Reddit /r/Freemasonry, Instagram, and Facebook shared with me.
1. Festive Board BEFORE Meeting: A Masonic regular meeting lasts at least a couple of hours or even more special when there's a degree work. Making sure that everyone is well fed before labour is a good way to ensure enjoyment. One lodge swears that doing so doubled the number of people showing up to their meetings!
2. Lodge Website and Social Media: Whether you like it or not social media is here to stay. If you want lodge longevity, the power of social media must be harnessed accordingly. Having an active online presence can attract new members and those looking to affiliate within their area.
3. Social Nights: As the saying goes, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Make sure to make time for social events such as ladies night, beer tasting event, axe throwing competition, jam sessions, etc. A happy lodge will live long and prosper.
4. Get Involved in the Community: Donate blood, plant trees, pick up trash, help the elderly with moving heavy stuff, the list goes on. Not only that activities such as these can help attract the right prospects, but it's also good for bolstering the image of Freemasonry.
5. Know the Ritual Work by Heart: This is a no-brainer but many lodges fall short when it comes to this. A lousy ritual work is boring and will not inspire the candidate nor anyone in the room. Improve your ritual delivery and word will travel about how good your lodge is.
June 29, 2019 0 Comments
The Royal Arch Masonry is the first order a Master Mason joins in the York Rite. The Grand Emblem of Royal Arch Masonry is The Triple Tau.
The Triple Tau symbol is prominent on the design of our Royal Arch Masonry necktie but there are other inspirations from nature that I used in the pattern design such as the honeycomb. Honeycomb with eggs and larvae By Waugsberg (talk · contribs) - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0,https://
The hexagon is one of the three geometrical figures with equal sides that can fit together on a flat surface without leaving gaps- the other two are the equilateral triangle and the square. The bees instinctively chose this figure perhaps because it's the most stable and most efficient of all shapes.
The Trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) is the lower division of the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Masonic Trowel is also one of the symbols that you can see in this particular design.
This black-on-blue edition of Royal Arch Freemasons necktie is the 2nd edition in our Royal Arch Masonry necktie series. The first edition is the red-on-black version below (currently sold-out).
We also had a gold-on-red self-tie bowtie version.
As of today June 29th, 2019, we have a limited number of the blue-on-black version. You may purchase it by clicking this link. If in case that it is already sold-out by the time you read this, please make sure that you subscribe to our newsletter (scroll all the way down and sign up) to receive our future offers.
May 28, 2019 0 Comments
Today is the National Flag Day of my country of origin- the Philippines. This nation's flag design has deep Masonic roots. Designed by a zealous Freemason Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo- the first President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Pay attention to the 3 colors (royal blue, crimson red, and gold) and the symbols (white equilateral triangle with the sun in the middle. There are three 5-pointed stars at each vertex of the triangle.
"With God to illumine them, and Masonry to inspire them, they fought the battle of emancipation and won." -Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo (Freemason and 1st President of the Philippines) speaking of the 1896 Filipino revolutionists.
"The Bonifacio Mural" (1964) painted by Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco.
"The successful Revolution of 1896 was masonically inspired, masonically led, and masonically executed. And I venture to say that the first Philippine Republic of which I was its humble president, was an achievement we owe, largely, to Masonry and the Freemasons." - Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, 1st President of the Philippine Republic.
President Aguinaldo in his 60's with the original flag.
February 12, 2019 0 Comments
Freemasonry is a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by signs and symbols. The most visible of these symbols are the Plumb, Level, Square, and Compasses.
Some symbols are enacted- meaning they're not visible at all to those outside of the lodge. One of these enacted symbols- the Chain of Union- have captured my imagination early on but is something I have yet to witness despite my 10yr membership in the fraternity.The Chain of Union symbolically unites us, psychically, morally, and masonically. I integrated this symbol into the design of the 32º Scottish Rite series of neckties.
As of this writing, the 3rd in series- the Black Edition is the only one that is available.
Below are the earlier versions of the 32nd Degree FraternalTies Scottish Rite Freemasons necktie series.
32º Scottish Rite No. 1, Midnight Gold and Black.2014. Product link.
32º Scottish Rite No. 1, Midnight Blue and Black. Product link:
February 12, 2019 0 Comments
Note: This article was written last year. I was supposed to publish this before Christmas but somehow failed to do that...
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray." -Rumi
Some of our eagle-eyed Brothers have noticed that as an artist, I have a tendency to depict the Freemasons S&C in the 2nd Degree / Fellowcraft position.
The reason behind is simple- it's my favourite degree. Like the Rumi quote above, the 2nd Degree teaches us to love the work that we do. As the saying goes, when we love our jobs, it becomes play. When we play, we zone out. In essence, work is the best therapy, recreational drug, and money-making scheme that nature has to offer!
The Fellowcraft Masonic coffee mug features a stylized Square and Compasses designed by yours truly. It is made of common working tools of a modern man. Each symbol that you see here have it's own meaning. I'll discuss a few...
The Compasses are joined by a circumpunct- a perfect circle with a dot in the middle. It was used by the ancient Egyptian philosophers as a symbol for the Above- the Sun, the Deity, or the Divine.
The Square *below* is formed by joining two different kinds of hammers. These are working tools of force which have to be wielded by skilled mortal hands. Take note of the handle of the hammers.
On the other side of the mug is a quote also related to Fellowcraft.
This mug is not available anywhere else. If you see this being sold elsewhere, please let us know. Click here to buy the Fellowcraft mug now.
December 05, 2018 0 Comments
Wildfires have brought unprecedented death and destruction across the state. The Grand Lodge is aiding and assisting their Brothers, their families, and their communities.
Most Worshipful Stuart A. Wright, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California, has requested the Masonic Service Association of North America to issue a Disaster Relief Appeal.
To get the shirt and help with the cause, please click this link. You may also click the photo of the shirt below.
THE GOOSE AND GRIDIRON artwork printed on this t-shirt is an original design by Bro. J. Paul Gomez. He is the designer at www.fraternalties.com and currently serving as the Junior Warden at Doric Lodge No. 316 in Toronto and an honorary member of Harmonie Lodge No. 699 in Buffalo, New York. If you would like to see the sweatshirt mentioned above, please click this link.
December 04, 2018 0 Comments
This is a busy time of year for us and our carriers, so we can't guarantee that all orders will be delivered by December 21st. But you should still place your orders by these dates for your best chance to get them on time!
SHIPPING METHOD | ORDER DEADLINE |
---|---|
Economy | Dec 3 |
Standard | Dec 10 |
Express | Dec 11 |
Overnight | Dec 13 |
Flat rate | Dec 3 |
SHIPPING METHOD | CANADA | EUROPE | AUSTRALIA/ NEW ZEALAND | REST OF THE WORLD |
---|---|---|---|---|
No rush | - | Nov 26 | Nov 26 | Nov 23 |
Economy | Nov 26 | Dec 4 | Dec 4 | Dec 4 |
Standard | Dec 6 | Dec 6 | Dec 10 | Dec 6 |
Express | Dec 12 | Dec 10 | Dec 10 | Dec 10 |
Flat rate | Nov 26 | Nov 26 | Nov 26 | Nov 23 |
SHIPPING METHOD | EUROPE | REST OF THE WORLD |
---|---|---|
No rush | Nov 30 | Nov 23 |
Economy | Nov 30 | Nov 23 |
Standard | Dec 6 | Dec 5 |
Express | Dec 10 | Dec 10 |
Flat rate | Nov 30 | Nov 23 |
November 24, 2018 0 Comments
November 24, 2018 0 Comments
The idiomatic expression "Squaring the Circle", a term used as a metaphor for trying to do the impossible, is a mathematical problem proposed by ancient geometers. /G\
It is the challenge of constructing a square with the same area as a given circle by using only a finite number of steps with the aid of the compasses and the straightedge or a square.
In 1882, the task was proven impossible, as a consequence of the Lindemann-Weierstrass theorem which proves that pi is a transcendental number.
As result, the expression "Squaring the Circle" is now used as a metaphor for trying to do the impossible.
According to ancient belief, man arose from the coming together of a soul and a body. The Circle (formed with the aid of the Compasses) is a symbol of the sun or that which is Above (the heavens, the unseen, the spirit, the soul); while the Square represents that which is Below (the body, the building block, the material). As Above, So Below.
Now that we have this picture, we can arrive at the conclusion that man himself, therefore, is the key to this seemingly impossible problem. The Square and Compasses is the symbol of the unified man.
Our beloved Masonic emblem shows that great impossible things can be made possible by those who remain true to the ideals of the Gentle Craft. -
The S&C is a visual reminder that our potential is limited only by the bounds of our creativity and imagination. Impossible is merely a state of mind.
November 19, 2018 0 Comments
When I learned that this month was chosen because it symbolizes family, warmth (despite the cold weather), and gathering, I got pretty excited because it all rings true and hits close to home.
November is quite a special month for us. It is the month when I first set foot on this great land and- before I forget, it also happened to be my wedding anniversary month with my beautiful wife Rechelle!
To know more about this declaration, please follow this link.
Since November is Scottish Rite month, we feel that it's a great time to showcase to make new additions to our Scottish Rite necktie series.
Below are some of the Scottish Rite Freemason neckties which I have personally designed. Please note the colored ones are sold-out. However, you may pre-order the 2018 Black Edition. Disclaimer, I am not a member of Scottish Rite yet.
The original 33° Scottish Rite necktie. The foundation of the design is a repeating pattern of equilateral triangles. Equilateral because it symbolizes the tri-nature aspect of the Supreme Architect and to remind us that all good things come in threes. Notice that the double-headed eagle is mirrored by another double-headed eagle below, a tribute to the Hermetic axiom, "As Above, So Below". The fabric of this necktie was designed when I was about to turn 33 years old. I also happened to be going through a dark moment in my life during that time. Designing this tie helped me clear my thoughts always keeping in mind that Order will come out of Chaos. Please note that this necktie is no longer available. A newer version is available for Pre-order- please see below or click here.
The original Ordo Ab Chao 2013 necktie sold out almost immediately and we have been getting many requests for a rerun ever since. The thing is we know that there are not really many 33°'s out there so we refused to make more. 5 years later we feel like everyone's ready for this long-awaited return of the Ordo Ab Chao necktie- Black Edition this time. We're taking pre-orders right now. You may click the photo above or this link to pre-order.
This gold and black version is the first in our 32° Scottish Rite Freemason necktie series. The double-headed eagle embroidery is an obvious Scottish Rite symbol, but take a closer look and you will see the Masonic Square and Compasses connected to each other by the symbolic Chain of Brotherhood. Please note that this necktie is no longer available. Please note that this necktie is no longer available. A newer version is available for Pre-order right now- see 32° Scottish Rite necktie Black Edition below.
Brethren from the Valley of Covington in Kentucky rocking the 32° Scottish Rite tie.
This Midnight Edition is the second in our 32° Scottish Rite Freemason necktie series. Please note that this necktie is no longer available. A newer version is available for Pre-order- see 32° Scottish Rite Freemason necktie Black Edition below.
It's been 3 years since our last 32nd Degree Scottish Rite necktie so the time is right for this one. We're taking pre-orders right now. You may click the photo above or this link to pre-order.
FraternalTies was commisioned to produce this Jacquard woven gold on gold Scottish Rite necktie back in 2016. Only a very limited number was produced. Status: Not available.