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Post by munkholt on Nov 13, 2005 20:49:40 GMT
My wife has had a series of talks with a Women's Only Lodge about joining, and both parties are still interested. In January she will have her last interview, a so-called "blindfold". It is a interview taking place in the lodge, with her blindfolded. It is set to take an hour and a half – quite a lengthy talk.
(If it all goes well she will be ready for Initiation later in January.)
I have only heard of this from her, so I was wondering if anybody here had experienced anything similar? It seems like an opportunity for her to meet the lodge, unbiased by first (visual) impressions. But it is also a quite esoteric lodge, and I am wondering if it might not also be a question of making room for a more, shall we say "intuitive" (or spiritual) meeting with the lodge, both as individuals and as a collaboration.
Thoughts?
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Post by taylorsman on Nov 13, 2005 20:58:09 GMT
In UGLE Craft Freemasonry the Interview of a Candidate is a lot less formal than that. It is normally conducted in a side room at the Masonic Centre not in the Temple itself and is conducted by the Lodge Committee. There is nothing in the slightest Esoteric about about it , but it is a business type event, something like a job interview. Certain questions are asked, the principal of these being is the Candidate believes in God or not.
The Candidate is blindfolded (Hoodwinked) in an UGLE Initiation for part of the Ceremony.
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giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
Posts: 2,627
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Post by giovanni on Nov 14, 2005 5:03:18 GMT
Interviews are conducted outside the Temple.
The Candidate is blindfolded in the first part of the initiation's ceremony.
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Post by munkholt on Nov 14, 2005 8:51:48 GMT
As I thought, quite unusual then. I'll describe how it went after the fact (or try to lure her to talk about it herself).
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Post by cezarek on Nov 14, 2005 13:13:03 GMT
It's not unusual on the continent. But one and a half hours seems rather long.
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Post by ingo on Nov 14, 2005 13:25:54 GMT
I have been blindfolded during my interview in the temple. I found it very exciting and I regarded it approriate to a "secret society".
But after that I have been the last one being blindfolded at LDH in Germany. Brethren thought that this could be too scary for candidates....so they got rid of traditions....I could not believe it...
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Post by munkholt on Nov 14, 2005 14:54:27 GMT
It's not unusual on the continent. But one and a half hours seems rather long. Yes, it does. Must be the whole session, from arriving till leaving. Are the questions different from what would be asked in a "normal" interview?
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giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
Posts: 2,627
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Post by giovanni on Nov 14, 2005 14:55:51 GMT
Ingo:
O tempora, o mores!
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Post by whistler on Nov 14, 2005 17:20:43 GMT
Our candidates are interviewed by two different people, often in peoples homes, certainly never blindfolded.
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Post by ingo on Nov 15, 2005 8:24:37 GMT
Gio: That's right! ;D
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Post by ingo on Nov 15, 2005 13:45:26 GMT
Whistler Fraternal Greetings from the other side of the world!
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jmd
Member
fourhares.com
Posts: 1,081
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Post by jmd on Nov 20, 2005 13:46:55 GMT
I was fortunate to have witnessed an interview in an LDH Lodge in Paris about two months ago - and thought it was quite appropriate, and allowed for any anf all members of the Lodge to ask questions of the prospective candidate following her interview by members of the Lodge and their report of the same to open Lodge prior to her entry.
Here is Melbourne, whether LDH or UGLV, this is not done. Rather, as mentioned by others, the interview is by brethren outside the Lodge. In our case, usually by two experienced brethren in the home of the prospective candidate in front of his partner (should he have one).
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ruffashlar
Member
Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
Posts: 2,184
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Post by ruffashlar on Nov 27, 2005 19:57:16 GMT
Well, my interview was conducted in the sitting room of the Immediate Past Master on a Tuesday evening. It was very informal, very nice and everyone was on first-name terms with everyone else. It was indeed On The Level.
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Post by munkholt on Jan 5, 2006 21:15:14 GMT
The blindfold happened tonight and my wife told me a little about it: She was greeted by a Brother (or Sister, not sure which word they used), and blindfolded. They placed her in a room and left her on her own. She lost her sense of time while there, but afterward she realised that more than an hour must have passed. Then she was led to the lodgeroom and asked questions by everybody present (it was a regular lodge night). It sounded very interesting and some really hard questions, both on philosophical and practical matters. Then she was led to a different room and told to wait while they deliberated. The answer was 'yes', which is exciting for both of us. The Initiation is in two weeks. The lodge, Freja, comes under Women's Grand Lodge Of Belgium.
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Post by a on Jan 5, 2006 21:17:14 GMT
Excellent, please pass my best wishes onto your wife Munkholt.
I wonder if she will benefit from the Chamber of reflection on her initiation night? A very valuable introduction to internal work.
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Post by munkholt on Jan 5, 2006 22:09:11 GMT
They haven't told her, but it appears the Blindfold might have substituted it. Not sure. But I'll let you know how it goes.
The impression I have, is certainly of a very spiritual lodge, and their program for this spring offers some interesting work, including reflection over the Initiation, and discussions covering various phiosophical topics.
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