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After 29 years of being Mason in-name-only, I am publicly dropping the bomb

MM Surveyor

Registered User
I started with trepidation that turned to perseverance, hope, satisfaction, education and then all was ruined by a committee of a few desperate old men with no foresight. I think becoming a Mason was the only thing that my father ever hoped I would do, maybe because I was on my way doing the things a successful young man should. And he never would urge me into the military, because he was in WW2 combat. So after the
three degrees, the night of my successful raising was with two other brothers in the lodge, who also had fathers and grandfathers in attendance, and it was memorable. This was April, 1993. Unfortunately shortly
after, some of the NJ State officers decided they could only preserve Masonry by shrinking all the steps into a one day affair. Everything we labored months at, the tradition of the Craft and our predecessors, was
suddenly deemed to be only worthy of a day's pageantry. In addition, we were supposed to treat the one day wonders as equals. Well not this MM. I wrote letters that were dismissed, and my father and our local
officers & members were justly angered by the decision. I left and never went back. I pay my dues every year and make donations to the Masonic Home, because I know somewhere in the organization there are
some people doing good things.

Now Dad and Grandpa are long-gone, and recently I found myself in the spot my father feared... realizing that I didnt have everything figured out and needing some guidance. So I checked back into the Craft, to see
what was happening, only to find insults, threats, innuendo, accusation in my state of NJ. The stories are obvious indication that power and ceremony is paramount ... and as I found in 1993, too little mentioned or
dedicated to charity. Masonry would do well to be less concerned with rotary visiting of lodges and pomp, and more about good works. I dwell on this experience here because some reading this may not even know
this one day travesty ever happened. It is unfortunate that NJ Masonry insulted many of its brethren with the one day degree. However, from outside looking in during this year of 2022, the happenings in NJ are not
isolated to this state, as there are problems nationwide causing loss in membership and lodge closure. Apparently the Masons in the power positions are too high to see what is needed at ground level to preserve
or even grow Masonry. But I will not give it one hour of my precious time and will use my Bible for guidance, not questionable men.
 

Winter

Premium Member
When I petitioned and joined in the 90's I had a good idea who the Masons were but zero knowledge of how the organization worked. When they put me through a ODC, called Man to Mason with hundreds of other Brothers at the Grand Lodge I thought that was how it was done. It wasn't until I got back to my home Lodge that I learned how the initiatic process is supposed to work. But unlike you, instead of raging against the process and treating Brothers who had the misfortune of a one day event as less (quote: " In addition, we were supposed to treat the one day wonders as equals. ") I worked myself to learn what I should have going through the degrees and to take leadership roles in my Lodge to promote degree work and eschewing any of the ODC's when GL offered them. You cheated yourself out of a lifetime of Brotherhood in the Craft. Imagine if you didn't think your Brothers who, through no fault of their own, were raised in a non traditional manner were less than true Brothers meeting on the level and worked in your home Lodge to set the example of what a proper path through the Masonic degrees looks like? But no, you chose to insult, both the Masonic leadership in your jurisdiction and your fellow Masons, and keep yourself apart in righteous indignation. Why would you even pay your dues if you have so much contempt?
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
NJ hasn’t stopped performing degrees with the statutory minimum time between them. They added this method.

Have you looked at WWII records to see if time between degrees was waived in that era?

Without approving of the ODC, your response to brother masons is greatly disappointing.

I don’t understand how this choice lead to you feeling “all was ruined.” I know masons who completed their degrees in an accelerated class. One is a noted masonic author. Another is one of the great thinkers in freemasonry and a haute grades expert. Neither approve of the ODC, but it didn’t ruin things for them.

As an educational matter, it is worthwhile to note that in early Scottish freemasonry, the -two- degrees were conferred in the same meeting.

If you have paid dues and lived up to your obligations, you have been more than a mason in name only.

It doesn’t appear you returned to your lodge. Freemasonry is in your lodge. I’ve been involved in state and national matters. Go to your lodge for freemasonry.

I note your statement, “because I know somewhere in the organization there are
some people doing good things. “

You could be one of those people.
 

Mike Mendelson

Registered User
Brother, the way I see it, you have two choices. Resign and find a different path or get involved in your lodge and be the Masonic light consistent with your obligation. You say you've been a Mason in name only for 29 years. It's up to you whether you want to be more than that in our fraternity. Regardless, I hope you find what you're looking for. Best of luck.
 

MM Surveyor

Registered User
When I petitioned and joined in the 90's I had a good idea who the Masons were but zero knowledge of how the organization worked. When they put me through a ODC, called Man to Mason with hundreds of other Brothers at the Grand Lodge I thought that was how it was done. It wasn't until I got back to my home Lodge that I learned how the initiatic process is supposed to work. But unlike you, instead of raging against the process and treating Brothers who had the misfortune of a one day event as less (quote: " In addition, we were supposed to treat the one day wonders as equals. ") I worked myself to learn what I should have going through the degrees and to take leadership roles in my Lodge to promote degree work and eschewing any of the ODC's when GL offered them. You cheated yourself out of a lifetime of Brotherhood in the Craft. Imagine if you didn't think your Brothers who, through no fault of their own, were raised in a non traditional manner were less than true Brothers meeting on the level and worked in your home Lodge to set the example of what a proper path through the Masonic degrees looks like? But no, you chose to insult, both the Masonic leadership in your jurisdiction and your fellow Masons, and keep yourself apart in righteous indignation. Why would you even pay your dues if you have so much contempt?
NO, the masonic directors insulted me, and all other masons that completed the requirements in the traditional way. Although I should have written sooner, all it
would have done is aggravate the state officers and confuse the newer brothers, if I had gone public. But one can see the organization has many more problems
now than it did in the past, and too much time is spent in visitations. My time is too valuable to be given to others that did not appreciate it. However I do pay dues
and donate because that directly supports the maintenance of the lodge and charity. Your meme quote of Thomas Paine is ironic.
 

MM Surveyor

Registered User
NJ hasn’t stopped performing degrees with the statutory minimum time between them. They added this method.

Have you looked at WWII records to see if time between degrees was waived in that era?

Without approving of the ODC, your response to brother masons is greatly disappointing.

I don’t understand how this choice lead to you feeling “all was ruined.” I know masons who completed their degrees in an accelerated class. One is a noted masonic author. Another is one of the great thinkers in freemasonry and a haute grades expert. Neither approve of the ODC, but it didn’t ruin things for them.

As an educational matter, it is worthwhile to note that in early Scottish freemasonry, the -two- degrees were conferred in the same meeting.

If you have paid dues and lived up to your obligations, you have been more than a mason in name only.

It doesn’t appear you returned to your lodge. Freemasonry is in your lodge. I’ve been involved in state and national matters. Go to your lodge for freemasonry.

I note your statement, “because I know somewhere in the organization there are
some people doing good things. “

You could be one of those people.
 

MM Surveyor

Registered User
I appreciate your open-minded response and can only disagree where the WW2 accelerated degrees are mentioned;
there was no such urgency in 1993. What the NJ state lodge or directors did was a huge mistake that showed leadership
was flawed.
 

MM Surveyor

Registered User
Brother, the way I see it, you have two choices. Resign and find a different path or get involved in your lodge and be the Masonic light consistent with your obligation. You say you've been a Mason in name only for 29 years. It's up to you whether you want to be more than that in our fraternity. Regardless, I hope you find what you're looking for. Best of luck.
Thanks for that. Maybe I will return and try again. In the meantime I get my blue card and support the Masonic Home. Sorry but that is where I see the best of Free Masonry
 

Winter

Premium Member
NO, the masonic directors insulted me, and all other masons that completed the requirements in the traditional way. Although I should have written sooner, all it
would have done is aggravate the state officers and confuse the newer brothers, if I had gone public. But one can see the organization has many more problems
now than it did in the past, and too much time is spent in visitations. My time is too valuable to be given to others that did not appreciate it. However I do pay dues
and donate because that directly supports the maintenance of the lodge and charity. Your meme quote of Thomas Paine is ironic.
The Paine quote is only ironic if you didn't read what I wrote, how I worked for years against one day classes and reduced requirements. And which traditional way are you referring to? If you had actually made a study of Freemasonry instead of railing against your perceived slight in your small corner of the Craft you might know that the only constant in Masonic initiations is change. The Master Mason today , raised in what you call a traditional manner, would barely recognize the degrees and customs from 200 years ago. You keep doubling down on disrespecting Brothers who were brought in through one day classes. But at least they're showing up to the Lodge and doing the work. Maybe you should look at their example instead of how they were raised.
 

Mike Mendelson

Registered User
Good for you, brother! Unless you bring a lantern with you on your journey, you'll never find the light, no matter how small. (Or something like that.) Maybe see if the Masonic Home near you needs help or volunteers? My lodge is sponsoring a bingo night next month at our Masonic Home. Apparently, these old brothers are pretty intense when it comes to bingo! :D
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
I started with trepidation that turned to perseverance, hope, satisfaction, education and then all was ruined by a committee of a few desperate old men with no foresight. I think becoming a Mason was the only thing that my father ever hoped I would do, maybe because I was on my way doing the things a successful young man should. And he never would urge me into the military, because he was in WW2 combat. So after the three degrees, the night of my successful raising was with two other brothers in the lodge, who also had fathers and grandfathers in attendance, and it was memorable. This was April, 1993. Unfortunately shortly after, some of the NJ State officers decided they could only preserve Masonry by shrinking all the steps into a one day affair. Everything we labored months at, the tradition of the Craft and our predecessors, was suddenly deemed to be only worthy of a day's pageantry. In addition, we were supposed to treat the one day wonders as equals. Well not this MM. I wrote letters that were dismissed, and my father and our local officers & members were justly angered by the decision. I left and never went back. I pay my dues every year and make donations to the Masonic Home, because I know somewhere in the organization there are some people doing good things.

Now Dad and Grandpa are long-gone, and recently I found myself in the spot my father feared... realizing that I didnt have everything figured out and needing some guidance. So I checked back into the Craft, to see what was happening, only to find insults, threats, innuendo, accusation in my state of NJ. The stories are obvious indication that power and ceremony is paramount ... and as I found in 1993, too little mentioned or dedicated to charity. Masonry would do well to be less concerned with rotary visiting of lodges and pomp, and more about good works. I dwell on this experience here because some reading this may not even know this one day travesty ever happened. It is unfortunate that NJ Masonry insulted many of its brethren with the one day degree. However, from outside looking in during this year of 2022, the happenings in NJ are not isolated to this state, as there are problems nationwide causing loss in membership and lodge closure. Apparently the Masons in the power positions are too high to see what is needed at ground level to preserve or even grow Masonry. But I will not give it one hour of my precious time and will use my Bible for guidance, not questionable men.
So, you let the ODC issue stop your involvement in the organization...

Having "experienced" the three degrees in the standard format/way, and thus holding yourself out to others as being superior for this fact, I have only one question for you:

What Work, that the three degrees asked of you to do, have you actually completed as a result of your "experience"?
 

protectingthewestgate

Registered User
I think, we should do like England. You have to work and perform duties in between degrees sometimes up to 2 Years in between degrees, so you know what is expected of you, and you get to learn what you signed up for, not all 3 degrees in 1 day, slap you on your back and say welcome to the fraternity, and hope you come back. Unfortunately I know several 40, 50, 60, year masons who still have no clue, but are proud mason
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
I think, we should do like England. You have to work and perform duties in between degrees sometimes up to 2 Years in between degrees, so you know what is expected of you, and you get to learn what you signed up for, not all 3 degrees in 1 day, slap you on your back and say welcome to the fraternity, and hope you come back. Unfortunately I know several 40, 50, 60, year masons who still have no clue, but are proud mason
Absent Covid, in my experience it is unusual to see two years between degrees in England, and I would suggest the lodge is failing in its duty.
 

JAnderson

Registered User
Absent Covid, in my experience it is unusual to see two years between degrees in England, and I would suggest the lodge is failing in its duty.
From personal experience, I was initiated into my (UK) lodge last February, and am tentatively scheduled for passing next February. From what I was told, they usually try to keep 1st->2nd to a year or less (sometimes it is only 6 months), but 2nd->3rd is usually a year. Our province's goal is two years from initiation to MM.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
From personal experience, I was initiated into my (UK) lodge last February, and am tentatively scheduled for passing next February. From what I was told, they usually try to keep 1st->2nd to a year or less (sometimes it is only 6 months), but 2nd->3rd is usually a year. Our province's goal is two years from initiation to MM.
May I ask how often tour lodge meets?
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
Brethren,

The ODC is not happening as much as the OP suggests.

It was done three times since 2013 that I can recall. It was recently done in 2021 to clean up the backlog created by COVID and it was up to the local lodge to send the individual Lodge to send the candidate / Brother in Progression to said class.

Source: I am a NJ PM (2020) and currently on Grand Staff

for the record, several past masters of my lodge were “McMasons.” They have dedicated more to the lodge than others who have gone the traditional route.
 
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Bloke

Premium Member
NO, the masonic directors insulted me, and all other masons that completed the requirements in the traditional way.....
One day classes are certainly controversial and excite the passions. We don't do them. We also recently removed a time lapsed requirement between degrees, being not less than 12 weeks between first and second degree, and not less than 52 weeks having needed to pass between first and third degree. I would have left them as is as they also can be put aside by the MWGM for any reason he saw fit. There is the danger men will advance without education, but more, turning up to lodge is a habit that that year helped form the habit and supported men getting to know other members before they think they got what they think they wanted & needed - to become a Master Mason.

There are arguments for and against the speed of conferring degrees... but at the end of the day "completed the requirements" makes me think, what those requirements are. Are they learning some words ? Paying your financial dues ? Turning up ? Certainly I hope all our members do that, but that is only the minimum, to really "complete the requirements" you need to live, love, teach, help and act and think like a Freemason. I have been a Freemason for 20 years. Every day I get up is a challenge to keep "completing the requirements".....

To @MM Surveyor I would say, well done paying your dues over the years and supporting the lodge which gave you your degrees, but I would also observe, "The obstinate Man does not hold Opinions, but they hold him,". It can be hard sometimes to recognize when you are being true to your values or just being obstinate. Knowing the difference can call for Wisdom at times.. but questioning yourself about how you think and act, and trying to understand why you think and act in that way, is at the core of Freemasonry. Perhaps you have harmed or protected yourself in your position @MM Surveyor but encourage you to ask yourself that question with an open mind.

Thank you for your post and I wish you all the best Brother.
 

protectingthewestgate

Registered User
Absent Covid, in my experience it is unusual to see two years between degrees in England, and I would suggest the lodge is failing in its duty.
Why the big hurry ? Is it so you can get those dues ?
We aren't teaching nothing about freemasonry to newly raised masons, they have become a freemason and that's about all they know, unless you can get one that shows back up to maybe take a chair. Most masons that I know still have no clue, but all they know is they have to pay a yearly due to keep being a Mason. Why become one if you have no idea what you signed up for.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Why the big hurry ? Is it so you can get those dues ?
We aren't teaching nothing about freemasonry to newly raised masons, they have become a freemason and that's about all they know, unless you can get one that shows back up to maybe take a chair. Most masons that I know still have no clue, but all they know is they have to pay a yearly due to keep being a Mason. Why become one if you have no idea what you signed up for.
You think two years is too soon? Ok. How long should it be in your opinion? Five years? Ten? 50?

I don’t get those dues. Luckily, I’m at the stage of my sojourn where I don’t have to pay that many, either.

I accept that you aren’t teaching anything about freemasonry to new masons. It’s better not to judge all freemasonry by your experience.

I have been doing this masonic thing for a while (though not fifty years) and have filled most roles. I still learn, and if I am a serious Freemason, will continue to do so.
 
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