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Disappointed

JEldridge

Registered User
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From:JONATHON ELDRIDGE
Date:9/7/2025 11:10:14 AM
To:Karen Eldridge

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Freemasons
I loved the Freemasons. Truthfully part of me still does.Man how I went through the degrees;how I enjoyed them.Met the guys,went to the meetings. And the greatest thing of all was becoming Shriner.
When I found out all I had to do is become aFreemason to be Shrined,I jumped.
We had dinners and ceremonies,and our monthly meetings.We all had a part to play.The part I played and enjoined was the Chaplain.
Now the Freemasons claim not to became religious organization. But they have a Chaplain part during the monthly meetings? The Freemasons claim that you must believe in a higher power,a Great Architect of the Universe. Of course you can't be a atheist,hmm?
Therein lays the dilemma.I got into trouble;got a felony,now in prison.
Most of all the guys I went to the Lodge with claims to be Christian s.Christianity teaches to judge not lest ye be judged.Also if we don't forgive we can't be forgiven by our Father in heaven.
OK so back to the felony.Now their by laws state you can't be a Freemason and have a felony.But on the otherwise claim to be a faith organization?Well the stats last time I checked showed that Christianity is still the domination religion in the world as far as numbers go.So one would naturally assume that most Freemasons claim to be Christian or quasi Christian. Because actually faith in God is took to be very serious in the lodge because in fact every single meeting is opened and closed in prayer.By quess who,the chaplain.I would say most people when they hear the word chaplain,more than likely they link it to Christianity;right?
So all that being said.As soon as I was accused of my crime.All my brothers(supposedly), scattered. During initiation we are sworn to help our brothers in need.I didn't even have one of them even come talk to me.Now I lived in a small town,everybody knew me and everybody knew what was going on with me.
My point is this .I got blackballed before I became a felon.Still nobody visited my family and offers support of any kind.These Christian Freemasons. Sitting in the church house every Sunday supposedly standing on the truths of forgiveness preached in the Holy Bible.
If I must have a belief in God to become a Freemason.Then I must have the attributes of God to become a Freemason. For us to say we know God then we would know Gods person.These things are inseparable.
Never once after I went to jail did one of them came to say a kind word to my wife or try to help my kid.Men I know personally. The only one that showed up at my door came to get my Shrines Fez that he gave to me.That's Indian giving(Pathetic!).
Shame on this organization for lying to the public!For being double faced.For having a forked tongue.Shame to the church for not calling out these Freemasons for this behavior. And I mean all the way to the Grand Lodge for their by laws.Their must be grace and forgivness.Second chances.Because truthfully I would at least like a shot to be a Freemason again.But their must be reform in this felony situation. Because its a stain on the organization. Because God has set in his laws repentance and redemption.So should the Freemasons. So mote it be.
PS Freemasons are supposed to help the widows and orphans.Well basically that's what my wife and kid was when I got life in prison.I pray that God will forgive the Freemasons for their unforgivness the way I forgiven them.
By:John Eldridge
 

Chaz

Registered User
Is this brother looking for others to write him while he is in prison? Not all States discriminate on all felons if the crime isn't against moral turpitude. There are many generalizations being made in his letter to be posted here, but not all Freemasons are the same across the board just as not all people are the same.
 

Winter

Premium Member
Many organizations have chaplains and are not a religion. My military unit had a chaplain but the military is not a religion. We had a chaplain when I was with the sheriff's department but they are not a religion either. So, your confusion at Freemasonry having chaplains but also not being a religion is pretty easy to explain. I hope that clears that up.

As for your former jurisdiction not allowing felons, while common it is jurisdictional. Some take the nature of the offense into account. But if the grand lodge you belonged to does not allow felons to be Freemasons then that's the rule. It isn't a matter of Christian forgiveness. It means the Masons in that jurisdiction do not want to associate with a felon. Without knowing any details of your case I really couldn't speculate further as to why they made no effort on your behalf. But I have little doubt your demands that the fraternity must change to allow felons like yourself a second chance will likely fall on deaf ears.

p.s. The term "Indian giver" is a very offensive and racist term. And not one I would expect a brother or someone who claims to want to be readmitted to the Craft to use.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
You got life in prison, and somehow it's "a stain on the organization" that you were expelled? You don't say what your felony was, but life in prison gives a pretty good hint.

"Judge not, lest ye be judged" just means that we shouldn't hold anyone to a standard that we are not willing to be held to. If I'm convicted of a felony, much less a felony that carries life imprisonment, I'd expect to be expelled, and I'd expect that my lodge would no longer treat me as a brother.
 
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