MaineMason
Registered User
I was raised in June of 2013. By my father. I put off joining for decades, though for generations men in my family were Masons. My father had taken a demit from his Lodge a couple of decades ago, as well as from the Consistory. He paid his back dues in both so that he could come and participate in my raising and show me the F.P.O.F and give me the Word.
Last April I did my Scottish Rite degrees, where my father had done his.
My decision to become a Mason has gotten my father back to being actively involved and it cemented our relationship in a way that has been truly transformational. Our relationship is now brother-to-brother as well as father-to-son and it brings a tear to my eye that he would be re-invigorated in his Masonry by my decision to join and that he personally raised me--which I did not expect--nearly moved me to tears. His father raised him, too.
Such is the dedication to the Craft that even Masons who are not active and sometimes, they "reactivate".
I would say that I made my father proud, but I think it was more of a mutual pride but with a lot of humility. Some of my brethren told me afterwards that they wished their father had raised them. It was the absolute best for me, part family tradition, and Masonic tradition.
Last April I did my Scottish Rite degrees, where my father had done his.
My decision to become a Mason has gotten my father back to being actively involved and it cemented our relationship in a way that has been truly transformational. Our relationship is now brother-to-brother as well as father-to-son and it brings a tear to my eye that he would be re-invigorated in his Masonry by my decision to join and that he personally raised me--which I did not expect--nearly moved me to tears. His father raised him, too.
Such is the dedication to the Craft that even Masons who are not active and sometimes, they "reactivate".
I would say that I made my father proud, but I think it was more of a mutual pride but with a lot of humility. Some of my brethren told me afterwards that they wished their father had raised them. It was the absolute best for me, part family tradition, and Masonic tradition.