Initiation!

Originally posted by TgSoe
Why do Masons have to meet you at your house before accepting you into thier organization?

Its a territorial thing... we want to meet on YOUR turf, to put you more at ease.

Couldn't they meet you at the local coffee house for breakfast or something.

Sure, and I have done that, but most folks don't seem to mind... besides, one element of the interview is to meet your wife, to talk to her, to see you together, to answer any of your questions as well as have ours anwered. its just an informal chat, not like a job interview or anything.

When they come should you put on the best can of chicken noodle soup you have in the house are is it strictly just a meeting?

Its just an informal meeting. Not a sit down meal... don't do anything you wouldn't do for any other friend you were having over for a few minutes.

How long can one expect the meeting to last?

Fifteen minutes to an hour, depending on how many questions you have... most don't take more than 15...

What are some of the things discussed?

How you heard of us, why you want to be a mason, if you can support yourself... its just kind of a get to know you meeting... three guys will come separately (in my jurisdiction anyway, it is three separate meetings) just to get to know you...

Is that meeting a major make or breaking point in your future masonic career?

Well, yes. The brother that meets with you will go back, finish investigating you, call your references, check online and in public records, and then based on their recommendation (two of the three must feel you would make a good candidate) the lodge will either continue the investigation, or drop the petition, or take a vote.

If two of the three come back negative, the master appoints three more men to investigate, if three come back negative, the petition is dead for a year. If one or none comes back negative, the lodge ballots. If the ballot is clear, that is there are no black cubes cast, you are called and told when your degree is to be held.

If the ballot has a black cube, the master calls for a new ballot. If there are two, the petitioner is rejected for a year. This RARELY happens, as a brother is supposed to tell the master if he thinks there is a reason the petitioner should not be made a mason before the ballot.

Is it a lifetime commitment? Just curious.

is masonry a lifetime commitment? Yes, and no. A man can quit at any time, or just stop paying dues... Its not marriage, its a fraternity of good men...

Thanks ML and Theron, I'm still reading about three hours a day on the subject, thats about all I have time for. I guess if it makes a man better I could use that. All I want to do is be all I can be without joining the Army.

TgSoe,

I became a Freemason over a year ago, and have to say that it was and still is, one of the best decisions of my life. I had entertained the idea of doing it for several years, but didn't, for lack of time. I finally decided to make time, and I am glad I did. It has helped enrich other aspects of my life, by getting me to be better connected in the community, by reinforcing beliefs that I have held a long time regarding civic virtues, and by permiting me a connection to people I wouldn't have otherwise met.

Take your time and make your decision. If you decide to join, it won't be a wrong one.

Originally posted by JCMinJapan

Originally posted by sillinous
I have not been online too often lately, but everything is going great for me. I have my 3rd on the 11th of November. Thanks again everyone.

3rd already? Wow... It took me about a year to get it. Congrats... I personally like the 3rd the best!

Thank you. I am looking forward to it.

A friend who petitioned with me only took 36 days to get his 3rd degree; only taking 7 days between his 2nd and 3rd. Also, he went to The Consistory of the Scottish Rite last weekend which lasted 2 full days. They only hold it twice a year and he just had perfect timing, a little over a week after he received his 3rd.

A fellow the other day whom I met through work about 15 yrs ago is coming out of darkness into the light. He found my Morals and Dogma copy in my truck and was reading some of my notes on the book. He asked me if I was a Mason, I told him not yet he said he was going to be raised to third degree lets see...two fridays ago. I said, " no kidding man, how do you like it?" He said, " so far so good". His whole family are Masons, his brothers and father. He had never really given the Masons a second thought. At 2nd degree he already seemed more authoratative then I had ever noticed before, he has been a crew leader for a long time in the local water authority.



[edit on 31-10-2004 by TgSoe]

I still marvel at people who think that there are "illuminated" levels in "the low 30's"

No one told me I was illuminated when I recieved the 32nd degree...

Artifex - I can't let this one go.
I realise you're not going to be helpful on this one but its really a rhetorical question.
It occurs to me that there there is now be a "Symbolic" 32nd degree which is bestowed by Blue Lodges on the most witless members of the Scottish Rite in the form of a "Crowning of the Fool" ceramony.

If you didn't get to play with a suit of armour and meet the Sovereign Grand Commander then you may want to sit down and have a bit of a slow think about what went on in your ritual...

Originally posted by MrNECROS
Artifex - I can't let this one go.
I realise you're not going to be helpful on this one but its really a rhetorical question.
It occurs to me that there there is now be a "Symbolic" 32nd degree which is bestowed by Blue Lodges on the most witless members of the Scottish Rite in the form of a "Crowning of the Fool" ceremony.

If you didn't get to play with a suit of armour and meet the Sovereign Grand Commander then you may want to sit down and have a bit of a slow think about what went on in your ritual...

Come on Mr N where did you get this information, can you tell us the source? I have never heard of such an event taking place and given your previous uttering on Freemasonry I have my doubts about this new revelation. The 'Blue' Lodges as you call them only work the 3 degrees and the Mark. They also work the ceremony of Installation. I hope this clarifies this matter.

Regards

Brother Gerard P/M 1316 SC inter Alia

Hey guys I thought a 3rd degree Mason really had some insite. I'm dropping my petition off today. I don't know if I am worthy to be a Mason or not but I'll soon find out. Wish me luck. If Masonary makes a man better then I want to be a better man.

Excellent, and congratulations on your decision to join. From what I have read here of your posts, you will make an excellent mason.

Don't pay any attention to that fool, Necros. He is simply once more displaying the depths of his ignorance. The 32nd degree, as are all degrees above the third, are not conferred in a blue lodge... but what the heck, we are getting used to necros' misinformation.

Originally posted by TgSoe
Hey guys I thought a 3rd degree Mason really had some insite. I'm dropping my petition off today. I don't know if I am worthy to be a Mason or not but I'll soon find out. Wish me luck. If Masonary makes a man better then I want to be a better man.

Freemasonry makes GOOD men better; it will not make just any man better.

Congratulations on your decision to petition and seeing how you need two sponsors to sign for you I don't think that there will be any problem getting accepted. Have fun with your investigation, it is really quite nice to meet a few of the guys before you are actually a member.

The petition went out yesterday, I don't know how long it will take to get a responce, I'm just tired of waiding through all the conspiracy. I figure I'll see for myself what its all about. Who knows it might be the single best move I have ever made in my life. When my buddy told me he was getting raised to third degree, I had to turn my petition in.

[edit on 3-11-2004 by TgSoe]

I did not get a chance to turn mine in yet unfortunately. I ended up not feeling up to going to the dinner last Thursday. I was ill and I wanted to be 100% as to put my best foot forward when I meet the brothers, so I sat it out. I still have to get a copy of my B.C. to sent with the petition as well. The man who will undoubtedly be one of my two vouchers seems pretty anxious for me to get the petition on and get initiated. I suppose I must have made a good impression at our first meeting. Anyways, I will be attending the next dinner and get started then. They should be reading my petition in the next lodge meeting.

*edit* I forgot that they hold the petition for 30 days, so it will be a while before they read it in lodge yet, but I just talked to one of the guys again and he said it was no problem. They have another meeting next Thursday so I'll get to meet the guys and vice-versa then...

Good luck TgSoe!

[edit on 11/3/04 by The Axeman]

I'm new here, so I'm a little nervous about offending a bunch of people, but here goes. If one studies the history of Freemasonry, one will see that they link back to middle-class social groups in Eighteenth-century Europe who wanted a way to come together for business and fellowship and have a way to work together politically. To an ignorant observer, Freemasonry seems more "mystical" than it really is because these men drew upon any number of religious traditions to create a mythos for themselves, including esoteric western magic, Kabbalah, Grail Myth, the Knights Templar and all sorts of other things. They are not "ancient", they do not descend from the Knights Templar, the White Lodge, the "Illuminati" or any other group in anything but a metaphorical sense. As for conspiracies, the Freemasons have been involved in a number of political conspiracies throughout the years, most of which have advanced the cause of individual freedom, such as the American Revolution. But as for anyone believing they are the sinister hand of some gang of ancient sorcerers or shadow government of devil worshippers... please! Listen to yourselves, people. Lizard people under the planet controlling the world? Let's stick to reality and real conspiracies, not badly written science fiction! (Let the flames begin, now that I've hacked all of you off!)


[edit on 3-11-2004 by IamSpartacus]

Oh, did you WANT to hack some folks off?

I find about 90% of what you wrote to be correct. Your assessment of freemasonry and its origins is incorrect, but, hey, you are entitled to your opinons.

It's such a nice thing to see new initiates coming into the Craft with some intrepidation. All I can say is don't worry there will be many other people in your lodge equally worried about getting the ceremony right. And when you pass your 3rd and get into office in the lodge prepare yourself for a lot of learning of ritual. I have to put someone through there second next Friday and I don't know whose more nervous.

If you are going for your first relax it's your night everyone is a servant to you.

hello my friend
i must tell you with all the talk about masons and evil- i
my father and my grandfather were 32 degree masons- i will say to you they were pillows of the chruch- and baptish decons- they were honest fine gentelman. i never saw any evil in them.
so -i believe that you too are an honest and fine gentelman- i am happy for you- and proud of you- - i pray that GOD bless;s you and your family in all the things that you do.
sincerily yours
david
spiritwolf

Are you elligable to visit any lodge around the entire globe or is it more complicated than that? Not that I travel that much, I was just curious. I guess its another stupid question but anyhow, if Crowley wasn't welcome in regular Masonic Lodges I don't suppose regular masons would be readily welcome in one of his type of lodges not that I wanted to visit one or anything I was just wondering?

My buddy got raised to third degree the other day he says next time he will get to go upstairs with the big dogs. He said they left him downstairs washing dishes

[edit on 7-11-2004 by TgSoe]

Originally posted by TgSoe
Are you elligable to visit any lodge around the entire globe or is it more complicated than that? Not that I travel that much, I was just curious.

Not all, there are recognised and not recognised Grand Lodges, when you travel you should check out where you wish to visit and check with your own Grand Lodge. Most are fine , but some are off limits because they have changed the rules or chnaged the ritual.

I guess its another stupid question but anyhow, if Crowley wasn't welcome in regular Masonic Lodges I don't suppose regular masons would be readily welcome in one of his type of lodges not that I wanted to visit one or anything I was just wondering?

Thats about right, In fact, as an interesting side note to history, Crowley's 33rd Degree had come from the same expelled Mason that began a thriving industry of duping people through the purchase of degrees by mail and which ultimately resulted in the successful prosecution of the very first legal action for mail fraud in the United States. A further side note is that Crowley's organization - the OTO - was founded by a person who had joined Freemasonry but was a member for less than a couple of years before being dropped from the rolls.

My buddy got raised to third degree the other day he says next time he will get to go upstairs with the big dogs. He said they left him downstairs washing dishes

We all do those kind of jobs , he is doing nothing every other Mason has done before him. You start at the bottom and work your way up. Every big dog started as a little dog.

Interesting.

I know that alot of you guys are Americans and into the freemasonary thing, but I wonder if u lot actually know that the headquarters of this group of people are based where I am, England.

America. Hmmm, I love the people I love the country (I havent been there but will do one day).

Dont quite like the adminerstation and Im not talking about just Bush I mean more higher up than that.

I think at the moment especially with the way things are it would be more appropiate to say Amerikkka.

Also the kkk was established in scotland. But now kurupts your lands which is the beatiful lands of america. Shame.

Anway laters.