Author name: Dante Sisofo

Don’t just sit still and camp around. Move your body and readjust your composition with your two feet.

For me, producing more photos is more important than editing and creating anything out of them.

The story of Moses and the burning bush is a significant event in the Hebrew Bible, found in the book of Exodus, chapters 3 and 4. Here is a summary of the story:

Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. Curious, Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” and Moses replied, “Here I am.” God then instructed Moses to not come any closer and to take off his sandals, for the place where he was standing was holy ground. The Lord then identified Himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

God told Moses that He had seen the misery of His people in Egypt and heard their crying due to their slave drivers. He was aware of their suffering and had come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them out of Egypt into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

God then said to Moses, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Moses, feeling inadequate, questioned God, asking, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God assured Moses that He would be with him and that the sign that God had sent him would be that after bringing the people out of Egypt, they would worship God on this mountain.

Moses then asked God what he should say to the Israelites if they asked for the name of the God who sent him. God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”

The story continues with God giving Moses detailed instructions and performing miracles to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, culminating in the Exodus from Egypt. This event is crucial because it marks the calling of Moses as the leader of the Israelites and the beginning of God’s plan to establish them as a nation.

The word “freedom” originates from the Old English “frēodōm,” which combines “frēo,” meaning “free,” with “-dōm,” a suffix indicating a state or condition. “Frēo” is related to the Germanic “frei,” meaning “free,” and traces back further to the Proto-Indo-European root “*prijos,” which means “dear” or “beloved,” and by extension “not in bondage” or “free.” The suffix “-dōm” is used to form abstract nouns indicating a state, condition, or domain of being, similar to “kingdom” or “wisdom.”

Thus, the etymology of “freedom” reflects the condition or state of being free, indicating not just the absence of servitude or constraint, but also the presence of liberty or the right to act, speak, or think as one wants. This concept has evolved over time, encompassing both personal freedoms and political or societal freedoms.

Garbage, trash, and junk food isn’t good for you and neither is the culture.

• No TV
• No news
• No social media

The history of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia is a rich tapestry that reflects the growth and changes of Freemasonry in the area. Here’s a brief overview:

• 1730 – Early Meetings: Initially, Pennsylvania Masons met in local taverns, with the earliest meetings recorded at Tun Tavern. Notably, Benjamin Franklin became a Mason here in 1731.
• 1755 – Freemason’s Lodge: The first dedicated Masonic meeting space in the Western Hemisphere, known as the Freemason’s Lodge, was established in 1755. This site had various uses, including as a jail during the Revolutionary War.
• 1802 – Pennsylvania Freemason Hall: A new space was acquired for Freemasonry, marking the beginning of a more permanent home for the Masons in Pennsylvania.
• 1811 – Masonic Hall: A larger venue was constructed to accommodate the growing number of Masons. Unfortunately, this building caught fire in 1819 but was rebuilt the following year.
• 1855 – New Masonic Hall: Due to further increases in membership, the Masonic Hall was rebuilt again into a striking, Gothic-style structure on the same site.
• 1873 – Masonic Temple: The current Masonic Temple, located at One North Broad Street, was designed by James H. Windrim and completed in 1873, predating the nearby City Hall by nearly three decades.
• 1889 – Egyptian Hall Dedication: The first room in the Masonic Temple to be decorated was Egyptian Hall, which remains a favorite on tours.
• 1902 – Presidential Visit: President Theodore Roosevelt attended a Masonic event commemorating the 150th anniversary of George Washington becoming a Mason.
• 1963 – Corinthian Hall Rug Installation: The design of Corinthian Hall was finalized in 1903, but its notable rug was installed in 1963, gifted by the Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico.
• 1973 – 100th Anniversary: The Temple’s centennial celebration attracted around 12,000 people.
• 2017 – Renovation of the Grand Ballroom: Major renovations were undertaken, including the installation of stained glass windows and a bronze statue of Ben Franklin.
• 2018 – Washington and Franklin Brotherhood Statue: A statue depicting Benjamin Franklin handing George Washington a Masonic apron was installed in front of the Temple.
• 2023 – 150th Anniversary: The Temple’s sesquicentennial was marked with special events and free tours.

This history demonstrates the Temple’s importance as a cultural and architectural landmark in Philadelphia, reflecting the evolution of Freemasonry in the city oai_citation:1,Masonic Temple (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) – Wikipedia oai_citation:2,History of the Masonic Temple – Masonic Temple, Library & Museum.

Let there be light