staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 10, 2004 18:41:16 GMT
I thought it would be a good idea for posts to be submitted here from eexperienced and new freemasons of their advice to help potential candidates thinking of joining Freemasonry.
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Post by taylorsman on Nov 11, 2004 7:53:00 GMT
This is actually one of the most difficult questions as a lot depends on the Candidate.
Some, as I was myself 16 years ago, will already have acquired quite a knowledge of Freemasonry having read up and researched the matter. That's me, I don't like going into things ignorant, whether that is starting a new job, moving to a new area, or joining anything. Others take a contrary view, but as you will know if you were on the other Forum, I have never accepted the old chestnut that having foreknowledge will "Spoil it for the Candidate".
My advice is firstly do a bit of reasearch. Speak to Freemasons you know, as they can discuss a lot more than you may think, only the Signs , Tokens and Words being "secret".
I would also advise that the Candidate makes sure he can afford not only the cost in money but more so IN TIME taking into account work and family committments.
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Post by Trinityman on Nov 18, 2004 19:35:15 GMT
Yes, I'd go along with Taylorman here, but I would advise caution in learning too much about the ceremonies themselves. Part of the enjoyment is in not knowing what's coming next.
So - make quite sure you know what you are getting into, but don't spoil it for yourself!
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Post by Seeker on Nov 21, 2004 23:30:06 GMT
Yes, I'd go along with Taylorman here, but I would advise caution in learning too much about the ceremonies themselves. Part of the enjoyment is in not knowing what's coming next. So - make quite sure you know what you are getting into, but don't spoil it for yourself! I agree with Trinityman.. the key is to take your time, progress on your Masonic Journey at your own pace... Also be sure you want to join - you are not being bullied. Be aware of the Time demands Masonry will make, and If you wish to become a Mason, but Mortgages, Babies, Career - don't allow enough time at the stage your life is at - don't worry, just don't join until your domestic pressures ease, Masonry will wait for you.
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Post by ingo on Nov 23, 2004 7:51:36 GMT
Taylorman wrote: "Speak to Freemasons you know, as they can discuss a lot more than you may think" I totally agree, too. A seeker should go to as many public evenings of lodges as possible. I did it this way. I saw how the masons acted and spoke. I didi not read that much. But I had my wife, who is a mason too, who could answer my questions...
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Post by plewis66 on Mar 20, 2005 11:15:31 GMT
A couple of people here have stressed that one should consider whther one has the time for Freemasonry.
I'm really keen to make sure I do this. I really don't like to start things that I cannot properly commit to.
The only problem is, I don't know how much time FM demands!
What are we looking at here? Hours per day? Hours per week? Days per year?
Many thanks
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Post by taylorsman on Mar 20, 2005 12:00:26 GMT
How long is a piece of string?
Seriously, it takes up as much time as you let it.
Now in my case I am in all the well known Orders in England but only hold an Office in a few of these. This involves a bit of learning of Ritual from time to time , but in my London Lodge I am Tyler which is not an onerous task . The only one which does take up time over and above attending Meetings is being Secretary of my SRIA College and even that is a lot less than that of being Secretary of a Craft Lodge which I have been in the past. Now my time committments vary over the year. I have some months when I have a Meeting every Saturday, and even some midweek Meetings, but there are also times when there is nothing happening or perhaps one Meeting that month, especially in August when just about everything shuts down.
It is well however to bear in mind that as a divorcee with no kids I can really suit myself. Outside of the 37.5 hours Monday to Friday I work every week the rest of my time is my own.
For the family man, or one with other hobbies and pastimes it is essential to strike a balance. Bear in mind that even in joining only one Craft Lodge apart from say 5 or 6 Meetings each year, far more in Scotand, there is the LOI to attend usually a couple of times a month if one wishes to learn the Ritual and Floorwork and progress to the Chair and most Brethren also like to visit other Lodges. So it is going to take up more than just "the second Monday of every month from Sept to March".
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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 Jun 17, 2005 13:40:45 GMT
Buy your round.
Volunteer your time and effort.
Be friendly.
Do not be afraid to make a fool of yourself.
Be humble. Be proud. Let the striking of a balance between these be your life's labour.
Put yourself in the other guy's shoes.
Just take a look around you What do you see Kids with feelings like you and me Understand him, and he'll understand you, For you are him, and he is you
-- Sham 69, If the Kids Are United
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bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
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Post by bod on Jun 17, 2005 17:10:14 GMT
A mind works best when it's open - like a parachute... Interpret everything you see, read and hear with it, your own way and in your own time.
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giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
Posts: 2,627
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Post by giovanni on Jun 19, 2005 10:59:07 GMT
The only problem is, I don't know how much time FM demands! Your entire life.
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Post by Jumile on Jun 19, 2005 17:56:49 GMT
The only problem is, I don't know how much time FM demands! What are we looking at here? It depends on what you mean by time spent. Do you mean in lodge? Practising or doing other work elsewhere (e.g. at home or at a Lodge of Instruction [LoI])? Or just thinking about it during spare time? In my experience the distinction is important. Actual time in lodge - suited and booted, at a building with other masons - can be as little as 4 evenings per year (London Freemasons only meet 4 times per year, but UGLE provinces can be up to 11 times per year). Many lodges have a LoI, and attendance may be optional or required (or as an American politician said last year: "Not quite uncompulsory"). My lodge doesn't have its own LoI, so I voluntarily attend one near my home. It meets 10 times per year, but as I'm a Fellowcraft (and was an Entered Apprentice when I first began attending), my ability to participate was limited due to me not being allowed to observe certain rituals. An LoI session typically lasts a couple of hours and varies between once a month (or so) to once a week - obviously your attendence will be based upon how much time you're willing and able to devote. Time spent learning ritual at home can be partly offset by LoI attendance, as there is text to remember and - in some cases - movements to memorise. It depends on what you're doing (an EA or FC progressing or an Office holder, etc). The progession to Fellowcraft and to Master Mason both require memorisation of a catechism - a Q&A of about 15 questions. How long you take to memorise these is up to your brain and motivation. My FC catechism took me about 2-3 weeks of incremental memorisation for 15 minutes every night or two. It's a case of whatever works for you. Other time you spend on it is up to you. During the Initiation there is an exhortation to daily advancement in Masonic knowledge. Something as simple as reading through a Masonic forum counts towards that. But it's not a points system - you don't get docked if you fail to do something one day. The idea is provide you with the motivation to become a better man, not to make it a chore. Poring over text on a regular basis is no big deal for me, but I know others who learn what they need to learn (ritual, etc) and do little else. It doesn't mean they're any worse or better Masons or men. You should be assigned a mentor when you apply to join. He will either be formally assigned or, as in my lodge, it informally becomes the man who Proposed you - as you know them outside Freemasonry, so is probably best placed to assist you on this route. This mentorship doesn't stop when you're Initiated, nor when you've become a Master Mason, but continues throughout your Masonic career (at least that's my understanding). Some mentors are better than others, of course, but that's the way of all things. When in doubt: ask. There are few people and few careers I can think of that would encroach upon one's time so badly that becoming a Freemason is impractical. I know police officers, judges, shift workers, house husbands, IT workers, medical people, emergency services workers, and all sorts. In my case, I simply book a half day of annual leave for each of my 4 lodge meetings at the start of the year and make a day of it. If you have any further such reservations or queries, please do ask.
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Post by peterl on Apr 16, 2006 19:32:39 GMT
I advise candidates not to be scared by rumour, not to surf too many websites as ritual varies, too much research into ritual can spoil things on the night.
But a very important thing I stress for good or ill is that Freemasonry is not for everyone and if the Candidate later decides not to remain in the Order that keeping things in the straight and narrow ie keeping your dues up to date and being up front mean a lot and a Demit will be offered with"regret". This ensures that if at some later time the Candidate reconsiders the Order things ore correctly in order for a happy return.
PeterL
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Post by Mikepm on May 15, 2006 20:11:36 GMT
Years ago lodges were associated with various industries, trades, or profesions. My mother lodge meets on a Wednesday as it was formed mainly of shopkeepers and wednesday was half day closing. Another lodge i belong to was made up of Bank Managers, dentists, Doctors, Lawyers, etc. There are military lodges, and school lodges. Look to see what day would suit you, some like Taylorsman meet on Saturdays, for me that would clash with sport and driving the kids around to various clubs. There is so much to Freemasonry, History, friendship, research, sport, etc,etc,. You get out of it what you put into it. There are also various other orders that you can join when you start to gain knowledge.
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Post by hollandr on May 16, 2006 2:56:04 GMT
Personally I think the most important thing is to find a good lodge.
I did that by assessing the amount of Sirian (Isis) energy anchored in the lodge. But it is probably easier for most to talk to brethren and ask to be invited to the supper after a lodge meeting so as to meet the brethren
Cheers
Russell
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Post by corab on Jun 5, 2006 11:39:08 GMT
My advice is to take your time.
Some of us are not impressed with the length of time that may pass between application and initiation, but try to avoid that trap of impatience.
The time spent between application and initiation is an incredibly valuable period of time that will never return. Knowing that you've taken the first step, you can now engage in a period of introspection that is likely to bring to the surface the 'Big Questions in Life' and almost inevitably touch upon the issue of a Supreme Being. Who or what IS your Supreme Being? You may have thought you could readily answer that question, but the introspective mood you've now entered into will push you further, beyond anything you've ever considered before. And through that investigation you will learn some valuable lessons about yourself: "As above, so below".
Cora
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imakegarb
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One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
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Post by imakegarb on Jun 7, 2006 6:18:49 GMT
Uh, Cora . . .
Yeah, the folks in the lodge to which I've applied have said the same things to me; that I should be using this time for self-examination and introspection and . . . Who knows, maybe I'll be saying the same things to a candidate some day. I mean, what else *can* one say to a candidate? This period of waiting is part of it. I understand that.
The vote is June 24. I've been waiting since March. And months of contemplation and thought lead up to my application; this wasn't some spur of the moment thing for me.
I think it is illogical to expect a candidate to be calm and patient and introspective before the vote. Maybe after but not before. But I keep hearing that this is what I'm suppose to do.
So I'm wondering . . . just how calm and patient and introspective was everyone here in the period before their lodge voted in their favor?
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Post by gord on Jun 7, 2006 7:20:05 GMT
So I'm wondering . . . just how calm and patient and introspective was everyone here in the period before their lodge voted in their favor?
I was totally silent about it to anyone. If accepted great, if not then I would move on with my life in other ways.
The silence was my way of showing the respect I had for the order to myself and that I was prepared to abide by their decision. So I was calm and patient on the outside, worried and wondering daily on the inside. And introspective through and through.
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Post by gipsyrose on Jun 7, 2006 14:01:27 GMT
"...just how calm and patient and introspective was everyone here in the period before their lodge voted in their favor?" Hi Karen I had an ongoing sense of quiet pleasurable anticipation. I trusted the timing and let myself enjoy the ride of thoughts and feelings as they arose. I did use it as time of reflection and contemplation, and by "chance" came across a sufi meditation that I was using daily over the months, which then blended beautifully with my initiation.
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Post by corab on Jun 11, 2006 20:10:07 GMT
So I'm wondering . . . just how calm and patient and introspective was everyone here in the period before their lodge voted in their favor? *LOL* Illogical it may seem, Karen, but I suppose it operates on a logic of its own. I don't know if it is done this way consciously, to give potential candidates a chance to think things over; perhaps it differs from Lodge to Lodge. My Lodge is a very small Lodge with its membership scattered over a vast geographic area. It is difficult enough for us to get 7-8 meetings a year in, let alone to arrange for the various interviews and meetings needed for the application process, so that inevitably delays the process as well. I applied June 9, 2005, the ballot was 28 Jan 2006 and I was initiated 11 Feb 2006. It was the longest wait EVER, and knowing how desperately impatient I normally am, I was quite surprised by how utterly calm I was throughout the entire process. I don't know if your prospective Lodge has offered you this opportunity, but I have attended all but one Festive Board of each meeting following my application. It gave us an opportunity to start building that trust and friendship even before I was initiated. It also helped BIG time with the wait! ;D Cora
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imakegarb
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One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on Jun 12, 2006 6:24:16 GMT
I've not been invited to the lodge, proper, at all but that may change now. They've accepted me ;D I'm to be initiated the first week in August at the Grand Lodge in Larkspur, Colorado. I should know the exact date today or sometime this week. It was slightly comedic how I found out (little shaky giggles). The vote took place when the lodge met over Memorial Day weekend. The fellow who leads the lodge to which I applied called my cell on Friday thinking I already knew. I've been receiving missed calls on my cell from "number unknown" but I didn't connect the calls with the lodge. It had been my understanding that, at the last meeting, they would vote only on whether to accept the investigating committee's report and, if that vote was in favor, then the vote on whether to accept me would have been at the meeting later this month. I didn't think voting on me at the same meeting was a possibility. I'd just arrived at Stinky War Friday evening and I was about to turn my cell off when he called. He said there was "a problem". My heart went into my throat and, instantly, in the back of my mind, I started sorting thru the other cities in the country with lodges that might consider me. Then he started talking about the annual gathering at the Grand Lodge in Colorado, all the things that happen at the annual gathering and how beautiful it is there and would I consider being initiated during that gathering and . . . It took about a dozen sentences before we were both on the same page and then he had to deal with a Karen never in her life happier. But I didn't bounce off the wall the way I thought I would. I've been nothing BUT calm and quiet ever since. Sort of a creepy calm that some of my friends noticed (though they also could plainly see that I was veeeeeeery happy). That calm is still with me and I think it will be for a while. Anyway, he'd called to see if I'd be willing to be initiated at the Grand Lodge instead of waiting to be initiated at the lodge I'll be attending. I asked him what the lodge would like me to do. He said it would be up to me but that he would advice me to be initiated in Colorado and that, perhaps, I could be there for the rest of the gathering as well, that I would learn quite a lot and meet brothers from across the country. I told him that would be fine with me. So . . . (very broad, happy smile). Cora, I know my wait hasn't and won't (should nothing happen between now and then) be as long as your's but I imagine the visits must have helped you a lot. I don't know why I've not been invited, except, perhaps, it's because the lodge is so far away (three hours by train), so perhaps that's it. But I want to meet more of my brothers . . . soon. Meanwhile, I think I can be contemplative now.
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