Anyone know what goes on at Freemason meetings?

There is a Freemason hall in my town and everytime i walk past it i become more curious as to what goes on at thier meetings.

Business meetings are just business. However they hold degrees/rituals on less days.

ozvulcan

Yeht is right. But the best way to find out is to join us.

Most of the meetings are just to deal with the everyday matters of all clubs, but there are points that make us a fraternaty of brothers at all meetings. Those are the points that help bond us together as friends and cause so much speculation. They really have no importance to nonmasons, there are no plots to take over the world.

How we initiate new members, our degree ceremonies, really are used to teach both the new brother as well as the old ones the foundations of our philosophy. The new brother will get no new knowledge but a diffrent slant on things he has already hurd, as well as a reinforcement of the moral teachings. All present are reminded of where we have started and where we are trying to go in becoming the the best and most moral indvidual we can be.

Originally posted by ozvulcan
There is a Freemason hall in my town and everytime i walk past it i become more curious as to what goes on at thier meetings.

Millions if men know what happens there. Many more think they know but havent a clue. Nothing happens there that is in conflict with either your religious beliefs, your morals or the laws of your country/state. We have rituals and teaching we keep from the general public for many reasons, none of them sinister.

Didn't you guy's watch the movie. The first rule of Fight Club is don't talk about Fight club

I would wager that they are discussing the next fundraiser: Pancake Breakfasts, raffles, auctions, etc.

They are likely also discussing their next charitable event -- donating blood/plasma; building a wheelchair ramp at someones home; providing food, clothing, or toys to needy families; making a monetary donation to national or international relief efforts (like Katrina, Rita, or Indonesian storm).

Not a Mason, but a KC, but again I'd bet that things KCs have done (see above) are echoed in the Mason Lodge, and vice-versa,.

Zhenyghi

How we initiate new members

Can somebody give me the details on joining up? How does one become a Freemason these days?

That is the easy part. Find a mason in your area, I'll bet you already know one, and ask him about masonry. He will be glad to answer your questions.

If you can't find one either post it here or u2u me and i'll get you the name and adress of the local grand lodge and hopefully the local lodge's secretary.

I think you'll find its by invitation only. You must know a mason and if they think your a good candidate they will ask some questions in an effort to see if you share the same ethos.

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[edit on 7-2-2007 by carslake]

To be patently untrue...

You petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry... You're not invited. In the U.S. it violates Grand Lodge regulations to solicit members, in the U.K. it's a little more relaxed. You are not required to "know" anyone, though it will mean the investigating committee will dig a little deeper.

Originally posted by cain-diedhi
Zhenyghi

How we initiate new members

Can somebody give me the details on joining up? How does one become a Freemason these days?

You can email your States Grand Lodge and they will forward you contact info the a lodge near you. This is assuming you live in the U.S.

Originally posted by Mirthful Me
To be patently untrue...

You petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry... You're not invited. In the U.S. it violates Grand Lodge regulations to solicit members, in the U.K. it's a little more relaxed. You are not required to "know" anyone, though it will mean the investigating committee will dig a little deeper.

Not that much more relaxed though. One is allowed to make a neutrally worded statement if appropriate within the conversation, like "you'd enjoy freemasonry" or "have you ever considered joining freemasonry" just the once, and then it's up to the individual. Unfortunately for some reason many people think you have to be invited and there are some men who have joined freemasonry later in life who thought they had to be invited, and would have joined much earlier.

Outright soliciting for membership is pretty much forbidden in all regular masonic jurisdictions.

As to the OP, yes - I know exactly what goes on in meetings (in England anyway). Like a lot of people I'm happy to answer questions on the subject.

Masons probably follow something like Roberts Rules of Order in conducting business meetings. I'm not for sure, but many fraternal orders use this to assist in the formality and procedures of business meetings.

www.robertsrules.com...

You can also get a petition off the internet.

In my jurisdiction, you need two Masons in good standing to sign your petition, and take it before the lodge. So if this is something you want to do, get to know the people at your local lodge. Go help with some of their fundraisers, or charitible events. Even if you decide that Masonry isn't for you, you will still be helping your community.

Originally posted by Mirthful Me
To be patently untrue...

You petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry... You're not invited. In the U.S. it violates Grand Lodge regulations to solicit members, in the U.K. it's a little more relaxed. You are not required to "know" anyone, though it will mean the investigating committee will dig a little deeper.

Cool i'm joining up!

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Originally posted by chief_counsellor
Masons probably follow something like Roberts Rules of Order in conducting business meetings. I'm not for sure, but many fraternal orders use this to assist in the formality and procedures of business meetings.

You are correct. Robert's Rules of Order are official in my Grand Lodge jurisdiction.