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Straithate posted:This is exactly how it is presented in the ritual and how most people interpret it. I have know many members of varying faiths, I myself am not Christian... one of my officers when I was EC was Jewish - so it certainly varies. Yep, I was EC of a Commandery and am Jewish, and things are worded the exact same way where I come from. I left the York Rite though, mostly because it had (weirdly) the most hateful and bigoted masons I've ever met
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May 17, 2021 00:05
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SimonChris posted:You are from Denmark, right? Denmark does have regular lodges practicing the English ritual, which does not require people to be christians (DDFL.dk). DDFL is nowadays considered an autonomous sub-body of the Christian DDFO, with the same recognition. DDFL has also recently been permitted to start Royal Arch chapters in Denmark, which would be considered part of the "York Rite" in the US (The US York Rite is basically three different smaller rites stacked on top of each other). I believe DDFL is the CLIPSAS alternative I mentioned, yes.
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May 17, 2021 14:52
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Chubby Henparty posted:It was interesting to see that when they mentioned having to believe in a higher power, doesn't matter who or what, that they apparently lost the student crowd and several left at that point. I think some of this varies from lodge to lodge as well. I don't mean the requirement, but what that requirement means. As an example, I think if my lodge knew I wasn't a Christian, they probably would've black balled me when I petitioned. I didn't lie to them, I just didn't ever talk about Christianity (and I still don't). They all just assumed I'm a Christian. In reality, I fall under the umbrella of deist and I think it aligns pretty well with masonic teachings. They wouldn't kick me out if they connected the dots now but I probably would not have been let in.
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May 17, 2021 14:55
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I just met one of my dad’s high school teachers at lodge tonight. Really is a small world.
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May 17, 2021 14:59
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Tias posted:I believe DDFL is the CLIPSAS alternative I mentioned, yes. No, they are not. DDFL is affiliated with the regular order of freemasons (DDFO) and has no connections with CLIPSAS. https://www.ddfl.dk/generel-information/hvad-er-frimureri/ posted:Andre frimurersamfund DDFL members are fully recognized by DDFO, as well any international lodge which recognizes DDFO. They require belief in a higher power and do not permit discussion of politics and religion in the lodge. I believe the CLIPSAS body (http://storlogen-af-danmark.dk/) was founded by former DDFL members who disagreed with the decision to enter into a compact with DDFO. The English language link I posted earlier also describes things in more detail: https://www.herts-chapter.org.uk/hertfordshires-royal-arch-in-denmark/ SimonChris fucked around with this message at 15:13 on May 17, 2021 |
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May 17, 2021 15:10
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SimonChris posted:No, they are not. DDFL is affiliated with the regular order of freemasons (DDFO) and has no connections with CLIPSAS. Mea culpa :o Thanks for clearing that up. There does seem to be a divide between the stuffy first order that has had Danish royalty as members, and the others. I couldn't possibly fit in with those, so it'll be one of the others if I get around to feeling ready some day. Also, thanks for all the info on the rites! Super exciting stuff. I love all things ritual and magical (being a heathen priest in my off time), so I would probably get in on as many degrees as I was considered ready for.
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May 18, 2021 12:19
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Took the step of emailing the lodge near me. Ran into an old friend that has become a Mason and highly recommended to me. I've followed this thread for years. Very interested!
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Jun 6, 2021 08:36
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Aaaaaand this months lodge meeting is canceled due to COVID lockdown.
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Jun 11, 2021 05:20
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The Master and Wardens retreat in Irvine CA is just starting. Looks like fun! They have the pool reserved just for us.
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Jun 12, 2021 01:37
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Okay, Freemasonry has my interest as potentially being a member as we come out of this post covid funk, but from what I can tell, in the Toronto/GTA area, there's 18 lodges that basically operate in this area. I'm guessing that as a potential - it's like car shopping at this point and you need to knock on every door until you find one that you like?
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Jun 28, 2021 16:12
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BONESAWWWWWW posted:I knew no other masons, so I just looked up nearby lodges on Google Maps, compared the few within a comfortable range, then sent them an email (found on their website). The email went to the secretary of the lodge who invited me to meet everyone before their next meeting. I wandered inside this building I had never seen before and was warmly greeted and had all my questions answered, with a small tour. Eventually I was given a petition to fill out, some guys gave me their recommendation, and that was it. Not expecting you to read every page or anything but this is what I've posted before about my experience. So I'd say it depends on what you are looking for - some places take individual aspects very seriously, so if that matters to you I would seek those out.
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Jun 28, 2021 16:54
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I've been doing this for more than a quarter of my life now, and I'm finally in the lodge leadership... by choice. There's two kinds of lodge that I've seen (very much IMO): There are lodges that have had a large membership forever, an unbroken line of officers with the commensurate property and training a new officer might need to run the place. Then there's the obviously other kind. That kind comes with a lot of responsibility. A real opportunity to rebuild from the ground up. Like a level plot of ground for a person with great planning skills, conflict resolution capabilities and a desire to learn on their feet, these places are full of people who've been actively looking for you to rebuild what you can for the men of your generation. If you're a casual, find the first kind. I personally want you to enjoy your time with us, so do what you will, but don't do it with blinders on. One of the things I found most refreshing at that retreat with the open bar, was the push by the Grand lodge of California to make diversity in leadership a priority. The push for greater visibility was, interesting in the way it was stated. I'm not sure what you'll find in Canada, but I'm sure it'll fit the dichotomy I've observed. This is what I'm reprinting for the trestleboard of my lodge this month. I was going to go over it, and the responses I found next month. It seems to be an ongoing debate of the direction we should be going in. https://www.npr.org/2020/11/28/937228086/freemasons-say-theyre-needed-now-more-than-ever-so-why-are-their-ranks-dwindling Here's a response I found particularly thought provoking. http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2020/12/npr-missed-point.html
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Jun 28, 2021 19:46
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Personally I would first find out what nights the lodges meet and make sure you can commit to practice and ceremony nights in advance (my guys meet on the last Friday of the month which is ideal for me with work and I don't have to worry about hangovers etc) The next would be understanding the general demographics of the Lodge. I find you want an even spread of younger masons who want to make it part of their social life and older more experienced members to mentor and guide the lodge to ensure its not some frat house. A quick google search should help you with most of that, the next step is making formal contact with a lodge. Just be aware that most lodges aim to increase membership so you may find yourself in high demand (five lodges meet in my building) and if you are a strong candidate they will all want you. Pick the one that you feel most comfortable with that meet on nights you know you can attend.
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Jun 29, 2021 11:29
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Solvent posted:
I think there is an interesting debate about recruitment and retention going on right now, especially with the UGLE. Some are worried about membership falling off a cliff edge as time stakes its claim. I've heard from a few now that what they crave is stability. The new membership pathway and Lodge Membership Officers have shaken a few things up - it's needed for new members but some are worried about whether the 'old guard' will return post-covid.
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Jun 29, 2021 15:17
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I’ve heard this concern about the old guard staying away. There was some worry about that around here. So far it’s proved to be no concern. As soon as California opened up on the 15th, boomers showed up in droves. I don’t know about LA, I heard they still have to wear masks and roll with the site protection plans, but San Diego has something like a 75% vaccination rate. I’ve heard so many stories in the last couple weeks about how dumb Newsom is, what crap it is that nobody wore masks anywhere else but we had to here, and I’m glad for it, all of it. Those denture smiles are good to see in person again, that cognitive dissonance is the same as it is everywhere, just not as hard edged. If I’m having good natured arguments with my -literally- old friends about governor Patrick Bateman, laughing and joking that after a year and a half of smoking pot and playing video games, the 70 year old secretary is in better shape than I am, I’m having a great time. We did a hell of a lot to improve our hall over the closure, and though it’s seeing its share of belated memorial services now, these events are still joyous because of men and women glad to be reunited with their long time communities. Lucky for me there’s have a refugee camp outside of the Al Bhar shrine and someone accidentally turned our Sottish Rite building into a swimming pool this month. Now everyone’s gotta come back to the blue lodge. I’ll be right here for the near future, grilling prime steaks, talking wine, cracking jokes, walking to a pub with anyone who’ll go, and showing people of every opinion what brotherly love is all about. PM a brotha if you show up for vacation, I’ll throw another one on the grill just for you.
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Jun 29, 2021 16:59
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That's really encouraging and I hope that bears out when we go back.
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Jun 29, 2021 17:20
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I did the Why's and Wherefor's on the 1st degree the other night. Did it flawlessly, which was really nice, especially after the Q&As was unfortunately badly muffed right before. I need to find a new piece of ritual to do now. I was thinking working tools for the 3rd degree, but that seems to be too easy mode. Perhaps Q&As for the 3rd, since no one in my jurisdiction needs to memorize it. How are you brothers doing now that covid is starting to hopefully go away?
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Jul 16, 2021 23:43
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I'm filling the dance card for a long anticipated first degree next month, though today when I went in to talk to the secretary, he cautioned me that because of recent announcements, he's concerned the whole state of California is going to follow LA's lead and shut back down. In spite of San Diego's %75+ vaccination rate, we may be out of lodge again. I'm not sure how to feel about that. Regarding the next piece of ritual to learn, if you're not focused on qualifying then a charge is always useful. This weekend I was planning on putting together something for Masonic education. Eventually I'm going to be generating content for our website once it's overhauled, seems like it's a good idea to start now. I have to find out what everyone else is willing to do for the degree before I go naming names and pointing fingers. There's a lot of work to be put in before everyone is ready, I want to see who has time and inclination before I start envisioning the future of our lodge. There's always more to be done it seems. Please, gently encourage people to get vaccinated brothers.
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Jul 17, 2021 00:18
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Charges sound like very important thing every mason should know by heart TBH. I think I will try to work on the 2nd charge since we are doing that in October, and our WM is doing the middle chamber.
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Jul 17, 2021 00:23
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Just FYI there are two OES pins going on the first commercial space flight (hopefully) today as one astronaut's personal items
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Sep 16, 2021 00:04
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That’s pretty cool. Makes me wonder what kinds of Masonic things Buzz Aldrin brought with him.
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Sep 18, 2021 00:28
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Bargearse posted:That’s pretty cool. Makes me wonder what kinds of Masonic things Buzz Aldrin brought with him. http://tl2k.org/history/ Tranquility Lodge posted:On July 20, 1969, two American Astronauts landed on the moon of the planet Earth, in an area known as Mare Tranquilitatis , or “Sea of Tranquility”. One of those brave men was Brother Edwin Eugene (Buzz) Aldrin, Jr., a member of Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417, AF&AM, Seabrook, Texas. Brother Aldrin carried with him SPECIAL DEPUTATION of then Grand Master J. Guy Smith, constituting and appointing Brother Aldrin as Special Deputy of the Grand Master, granting unto him full power in the premises to represent the Grand Master as such and authorize him to claim Masonic Territorial Jurisdiction for The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, on The Moon, and directed that he make due return of his acts. Brother Aldrin certified that the SPECIAL DEPUTATION was carried by him to the Moon on July 20, 1969.
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Sep 18, 2021 08:16
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Anyone attend any lodges in NYC? Been considering getting back into Masonry, but there are so many lodges in the Grand Lodge in Manhattan, I don’t know where to begin.
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Sep 23, 2021 17:58
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First installation and meeting ind two years, good to be back. Cheers this table / forums
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Sep 25, 2021 21:38
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Chubby Henparty posted:First installation and meeting ind two years, good to be back. Cheers this table / forums Congrats! A few weeks ago I got installed and in the spring my friend got his first degree. Finally back on track.
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Sep 25, 2021 22:25
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Wait a minute, does this mean that Texas has a real claim on jurisdiction over the moon?
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Sep 26, 2021 04:49
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Solvent posted:Wait a minute, does this mean that Texas has a real claim on jurisdiction over the moon? Yep.
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Sep 26, 2021 13:03
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Solvent posted:Wait a minute, does this mean that Texas has a real claim on jurisdiction over the moon? Masonic jurisdiction, sure. Like, if you want to start a masonic lodge on the moon, you need to talk to the Grand Lodge of Texas, but that's about it. The state of Texas makes no claim to the moon.
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Sep 26, 2021 13:07
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Stumbled upon this thread again, which predecesser helped make me a Mason. Attended my first temple meeting in a year and a half last week. The attendees were capped at 35 due to covid regulations, almost 40 brothers showed up, nothing unexpected there. Good times, some people did not recognize me, it was funny (I lost a lot of hair and weight over the last two years). Then I forgot my apron at the temple, I hope someone put it with the other stuff. Good thing I marked it with my lodge and initials. Something worth mentioning is that a former WM of our lodge took the Dutch rituals, translated them to English and got a charter from the Grand Orient of the Netherlands. We now have an English language lodge in Amsterdam, regular and everything. Keetron fucked around with this message at 12:45 on Sep 27, 2021 |
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Sep 27, 2021 12:42
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Keetron posted:We now have an English language lodge in Amsterdam, regular and everything. Nice! There is also an English language one in Helsinki, recognized by the Finnish Grand Lodge.
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Sep 27, 2021 13:12
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Ataxerxes posted:Nice! There is also an English language one in Helsinki, recognized by the Finnish Grand Lodge. Which ritual do you use? Local ritual translated into english or another jurisdictions?
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Sep 27, 2021 20:39
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Cimber posted:Which ritual do you use? Local ritual translated into english or another jurisdictions? I'm not certain as I am a member of a Finnish speaking one, but to my understanding they use one originally from the US or the UK, can't remember which. The Finnish ritual was originally translated around 1920's by some Finns from the US who got their degrees in the US, moved back to Finland and got their translated ritual approved by several US Grand Lodges. To my understanding the Finnish Grand Lodge is rather widely recognized. The Swedish ritual is entirely its own thing, but the Finnish Grand Lodge has an agreement with them so brothers from one can visit the other, depending which, if any, attendant degrees they are members in.
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Sep 27, 2021 22:47
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Ataxerxes posted:I'm not certain as I am a member of a Finnish speaking one, but to my understanding they use one originally from the US or the UK, can't remember which. The Finnish ritual was originally translated around 1920's by some Finns from the US who got their degrees in the US, moved back to Finland and got their translated ritual approved by several US Grand Lodges. To my understanding the Finnish Grand Lodge is rather widely recognized. Thats very interesting! How do you title your lodges? Here in the US its either AF&AM or F&AM depending who chartered them back in the colonial days.
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Sep 28, 2021 02:08
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Cimber posted:Thats very interesting! For us V.O.M. pretty much always means that the lodge is accepted by the Grand Lodge, I can't remember what the Swedish ones use.
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Sep 28, 2021 22:09
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I have a couple questions about joining, on the inquiry form it asks about employment status. Will my financial status impact my chances of joining a lodge? Should I just wait until I'm more financially stable? I've been thinking about this for over a year now. I'm sure I'd like to join, since I now have control over my own schedule. As opposed to being at the whim of the Consumer Retail Management Structures and a Site Foreman. I left my last job a month ago to focus on building myself a profitable business that allows me the freedom to be someone other than the business. Should I wait, just fill-out the form, or message the one guy I know from the radio club and ask? Any advice is welcome, thanks!
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Oct 4, 2021 18:44
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Fair_Winds posted:I have a couple questions about joining, on the inquiry form it asks about employment status. Will my financial status impact my chances of joining a lodge? Should I just wait until I'm more financially stable? I've been thinking about this for over a year now. I'm sure I'd like to join, since I now have control over my own schedule. As opposed to being at the whim of the Consumer Retail Management Structures and a Site Foreman. I left my last job a month ago to focus on building myself a profitable business that allows me the freedom to be someone other than the business. Should I wait, just fill-out the form, or message the one guy I know from the radio club and ask? Any advice is welcome, thanks! I don't think any lodge really cares all that much what your financial situation is like, other than concern if dues and initiation fees would be too burdensome for you. Dues can range from anywhere between 50-150 a year depending on the lodge, and initiation fees might be 2-300. All that would be explained to you before you sign on the dotted line. For sure talk to the guys at the lodge and ask any question you might have.
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Oct 4, 2021 18:55
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Fair_Winds posted:I have a couple questions about joining, on the inquiry form it asks about employment status. Will my financial status impact my chances of joining a lodge? Should I just wait until I'm more financially stable? I've been thinking about this for over a year now. I'm sure I'd like to join, since I now have control over my own schedule. As opposed to being at the whim of the Consumer Retail Management Structures and a Site Foreman. I left my last job a month ago to focus on building myself a profitable business that allows me the freedom to be someone other than the business. Should I wait, just fill-out the form, or message the one guy I know from the radio club and ask? Any advice is welcome, thanks! At least in my area of the US, employment/income shouldn't be an issue. We've had burger flippers and barely employed handymen join before. If you're a good man, you're generally in I'd wager.
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Oct 4, 2021 18:55
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I think I've even seen those initiation fees waived for hardship as well. I've not really seen a lodge that's "in it for the money" even a little bit.
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Oct 4, 2021 20:17
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BONESAWWWWWW posted:I think I've even seen those initiation fees waived for hardship as well. I've not really seen a lodge that's "in it for the money" even a little bit. Any lodge that is in it for the money isn't a lodge you want to join.
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Oct 4, 2021 20:29
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BONESAWWWWWW posted:I think I've even seen those initiation fees waived for hardship as well. I've not really seen a lodge that's "in it for the money" even a little bit. Same, but only after someone had been a member already and showed he ran upon hardship after joining. If you have trouble paying your membership fees, you need to focus on other things as it is not that much money.
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Oct 4, 2021 20:43
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