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Clarifying Questions

cwm

Registered User
Hello all,
I've learned about Freemasonry in perhaps the wrong order, and though I believe I've more-or-less sorted myself out, I have two specific questions that are preventing me from approaching a lodge, and am hoping I can receive some clarification here.

I suppose I first learned about Freemasonry as a child, when it was a symbol on the bumper of some friends' parents' cars. I never asked nor thought much of it as I was preoccupied with the activity I was there to do (e.g., Boy Scouts), and just accepted that it was another on a long list of organizations that people sometimes join. One friend's father was also a Shriner, and I vaguely recall him standing up at the end of meetings to occasionally announce other events - e.g., a 5k next weekend to benefit this-or-that Childrens' Hospital.

I read that Dan Brown book in my 20's and, mostly ignorant of history, again gave it little consideration - the plot may as well have involved secret Boy Scout conspiracies - interesting, perhaps, but I took it for what it was (a popular fiction novel), and hardly bothered to Google aside from some notes on the architectural layout of Washington, DC. I'd already heard some of that trivia, which WAS interesting to me, and likely spent more time on L'Enfant's Wikipedia page than anything else.

I noticed then that my ambulance partner was wearing a masonic ring, and tried to ask him some questions, but got mostly jokes and mysterious responses. "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you. Nah, just kidding. It's just a thing to do - fire department on Mondays, global domination on Tuesdays, PTA on Thursdays - you know how it goes. We help The Children and go to the strip club twice a year." - he'd seen me reading Dan Brown, and was mostly messing around - not at all out-of-character for the guy.

In my 30's now, I've had much more time to read on history and philosophy, and have kind of come full circle. I spent my extra pandemic time catching up on dusty old books, which I now understand to be virtually impossible without something, something, Templars, something, something, Freemasons.

I write all of this to say that I've known a few masons, and they've been great people, but didn't really put two and two together to ask anything, especially intelligent questions. They've been in other organizations I'm been in, and as I've recently been looking for something to do, some kind of organization to join, or some kind of regular something, Freemasonry has ended up on my list. Also, I love the adjacent historical and philosophical literature, and would like to meet more like-minded people.

That said, it's still unclear to me what kind of commitment I'd be signing up for in practical terms. I noticed most lodges meet on a regular basis, like a weeknight, and their public calendars often indicate other special events not uncommon for clubs - The Annual Awards Dinner, The Special Guest Speaker Night, etc. In most organizations I've joined, The Real Commitment extends beyond the weekly meeting - both in the abstract "it's a 24/7/365 commitment" sense, and in the "off-duty hours" sense - weekend events, homework assignments, minimum volunteer hours, fundraising expectations, and so on.

Therefore, my two four questions are:
1. What would I be committing to, if only in terms of how often the wife is left with the kids and/or annual expenses aside from dues?
2. Any advice on getting involved given that I just moved and A) don't know anyone here; B) am 11 months short of the residency requirement?
3. Should I chance upon a Mason in the wild, do you have any suggestions on how to approach the subject without seeming like a Brownian nut or like I'm trying to pry a big secret out of them?
4. Apropos of nothing in particular - any good book recommendations?

Thanks!
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
1. What would I be committing to, if only in terms of how often the wife is left with the kids and/or annual expenses aside from dues?
Typical initial Craft Lodge commitment in the US is making yourself available for:

1) 1 Interview
2) 3 Degrees
3) 3 Proficiencies after each degree (weekly until you learn what you have to learn to advance) Your lodge will let you know more of what would be expected because each area has different requirements.
4) Petition application fee, fees for all three degrees, background check fee (They vary, and you'd have to ask what they are i n your area)

After that:

1) Pay your dues, & stay out of trouble
2) Show up to lodge and events if you want to, or if you have taken on an officer or committee position

Dues depend upon your area, your lodge, and your Grand Lodge affiliation. They vary all over the place. Annual Range? Rough estimate $50 to $350 with typical $150. UNless you actually do a poll, you're going to get a lot of differing estimates.

2. Any advice on getting involved given that I just moved and A) don't know anyone here; B) am 11 months short of the residency requirement?
Investigate lodges in your area, show up for dinners and open events, and get to know future lodge Brothers.
3. Should I chance upon a Mason in the wild, do you have any suggestions on how to approach the subject without seeming like a Brownian nut or like I'm trying to pry a big secret out of them?
Ask:
1) What lodge does he belong to?
2) How far away it is?
3) How active he is?
4) Would he recommend petitioning that lodge?
5) Why did he join and why does he remain a member?
6) What are the annual dues?
4. Apropos of nothing in particular - any good book recommendations?
That depends totally upon what information you seek.
 

cwm

Registered User
Thanks! That aligns with most of what I've read, and I understand the specifics may vary somewhat. Am I correct in understanding that the degrees are akin to coursework - i.e., read the books and talk to a mentor (and perhaps a time-in-grade/hours requirement)?

I wasn't aware there were public events, but I will keep an eye out for them!
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
;)
That aligns with most of what I've read, and I understand the specifics may vary somewhat. Am I correct in understanding that the degrees are akin to coursework - i.e., read the books and talk to a mentor (and perhaps a time-in-grade/hours requirement)?
Degrees are ceremonies that you will go through, if accepted into the fraternity. Each is a morality play which offers to you an opportunity to experience in ritual form what you can focus upon in your life to better yourself morally.

A proficiency in catechism form after each degree assists you in internalizing what you experienced so that you can recall it as needed.
I wasn't aware there were public events, but I will keep an eye out for them!
good
 

Mike Martin

Eternal Apprentice
Premium Member
My response is:
1) Reach out to a local Lodge and talk to someone there as the answers about commitment can vary and
2) FORGET all the Dan Brown stuff you've read, he is just one of a long line of Authors who have woven Freemasonry into a story line which bears only a very distant resemblance to reality.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
I noticed then that my ambulance partner was wearing a masonic ring, and tried to ask him some questions, but got mostly jokes and mysterious responses. "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you. Nah, just kidding. It's just a thing to do - fire department on Mondays, global domination on Tuesdays, PTA on Thursdays - you know how it goes. We help The Children and go to the strip club twice a year." - he'd seen me reading Dan Brown, and was mostly messing around - not at all out-of-character for the guy.
Coach's answer is good. I am in Australia, so I will give you different answers (for instance we meet once a month, most lodges in the USA seem to meet more often, and we're likely to be a lot more expensive than the average in the USA).

The reason I chime in is because the "strip club" comment stood out. Just because the man was wearing a masonic ring does not mean he is a Mason. He might indeed be a Freemason, but going to a strip club is not an activity I would expect any reputable Lodge to engage in. You don't need to be a prude to be a Freemason, but he misrepresented Freemasonry in a way which might be plausible to the non-Freemason but not to a Freemason. Further, without being too judgey, it is the sort of comment which might turn off just the sort of man who would be a fine Freemason.

The other thing which stood out was your comment that you were a Scout. Many ex-Scouts embrace Freemasonry because it reflects the same sort of moral values, comradery and .self improvement aspirations.

I encourage you to explore Freemasonry, becoming a Freemason was one of the best decisions I have made.
 

Winter

Premium Member
The other thing which stood out was your comment that you were a Scout. Many ex-Scouts embrace Freemasonry because it reflects the same sort of moral values, comradery and .self improvement aspirations.
Freemasonry also has a direct connection to Scouting. Look up the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award.
 

usar123

Registered User
I Concur with all of the Answers you are searching which tells me that you will find it follow the steps prescribed you will be fine !
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Freemasonry also has a direct connection to Scouting. Look up the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award.
That's very cool. Never heard of Uncle Dan.... but the skeptic in me wants to dig deeper into this to separate myth from legend from history ;)
That said, I have held the VSL given from Baden Powell to one of our lodges.. a nice an meaningful gift... even if BP was too busy to get around to joining the craft LOL..

Oh and trivia - Baden Powell's s grandson is a member of that lodge.. Oh.. and I guess I should mention the name of that Lodge... Baden Powel No. 488 UGLV.

We should start a list of Lodges Baden Powell presented VSLs to.. that would be cool !
https://www.myfreemasonry.com/threads/lodges-named-after-baden-powell-scouting.31992/
 
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