One of the original big questions in science is "How old is the Earth?" In this discussion, we will explore how geologists interpret minerals, rocks, sediments, and fossils to explore the history of Earth. We will discuss the different principles used to determine the age of geologic materials, including uniformitarianism, relative age dating, index fossils and radiometric age dating, and how they have helped us to establish the age of our planet at about 4.6 billion years. Throughout the discussion, we will focus on the nature of deep geologic time and examine how understanding the geological processes that have shaped our planet over time not only helps us to undertstand how our planet has changed in the past, but how it is likely to change in the future.

Freemasonry is part of a long tradition of Western mysticism, steeped in a long-standing and eclectic mixture of fact and legend. Discussion will address the history, rituals, symbolism, practices, medieval origins, forms and use of stonemasons' tools and customs as allegorical guides -- following the path of history through Knights Templar, the age of Enlightenment, the Founding Fathers, and the Victorian Age to the present day.