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Post by gipsyrose on Jul 23, 2005 6:31:40 GMT
I am thinking that Freemasonry across the world, is much like the many denominations of Christianity, something that to me has seemed contradictory to the intent of Christianity, and which also seems contradictory to the intent of Freemasonry.
As a result, as in Christianity it may take a while for the person to understand all the nuances in finding a place of worship that suits them, it seems that finding a lodge that suits a person may take perseverance. This is said as an outsider, so I am wondering whether it is actually people's experience, and to what extent people were happy with their first choice of lodge, and it being identified as their mother lodge. I am also curious as to how people went about choosing their first lodge, was this by chance or convenience, such as it being the closest lodge, or by conscious choice?
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Post by Liberty on Jul 23, 2005 6:53:09 GMT
Gipsyrose,
I petioned my Lodge because a friend was a member. Actually it is a little way from my home so making the meetings is sometimes a challenge but I manage so you could say it was by chance in regards to my friend being a member. There is another Lodge that I'm a frequent visitor to as it is close to home and I enjoy their fellowship. Sometimes a member will coaffiliate with another Lodge or demit from thier mother lodge for various reasons but most often you stay or go too where you are most comfortible.
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Post by hollandr on Jul 23, 2005 8:19:41 GMT
Gipsyrose
It was suggested to me in meditation that I rejoin Masonry. And the first lodge I contacted was scottish and the secretary had read all the same books as I had and had a daughter in the Co-Masonic order that I had belonged to.
The coincidence seemed too great so I joined that lodge.
And it was and is a lodge that is attracting patronage from on high and lots of new members - at least one per meeting.
Cheers
Russell
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Post by taylorsman on Jul 23, 2005 18:18:02 GMT
It was more a matter of the Lodge chose me. For many years since my mid teens Freemasonry and Esoteric and Occult subjects had fascinated me and I read all I could find on The Craft and discussed it with Scots Masons who were prepared to talk about such matters far more than their English Counterparts. I was in a situation in Brighton where I knew several men through other affiliations who were Freemasons and on one occasion two of them approached me and asked if I was interested in Freemasonry.(Despite what some may say this is still the usual way that the approach is made in England NOT the would-be Brother asking someone he knows to be On the Square about becoming a Mason). I due time I was Interviewed by the Lodge Commitee, and Initiated in December 1988.
I have been more than happy with that Lodge, was delighted to be its WM 1995-96 and am only sorry that I can only now attend it about once a year for the Installation.
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Jul 24, 2005 20:41:10 GMT
I suppose my lodge was chosen for me being that of my proposer and it is probably much the same for many.
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Post by munkholt on Jul 24, 2005 21:40:25 GMT
I wrote a "little" about the background for my choice here. The reason for the particular lodge was a bit of a coincidence: once I had decided I wanted to move forward into Freemasonry, I simply looked up the first coming "introduction day", and that was in Hafnia Lodge. That led to a series of talks with a very intelligent man who in time offered to become my Proposer, for which I am glad. So I guess you could call it "good fortune".
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Post by forester on Jul 25, 2005 12:10:37 GMT
Mine was similar to most people - My proposer was a work colleague - So I joined his lodge
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Post by ingo on Jul 26, 2005 8:10:06 GMT
I read about freemasonry as I was 18. But I joined at 26 because my later wife and some friends were co-masons.
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giovanni
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odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
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Post by giovanni on Jul 27, 2005 8:44:09 GMT
I didn't choose. I was chosen
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phil
Member
Just me all at sea
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Post by phil on Jul 27, 2005 19:01:04 GMT
I didn't choose. I was chosen Oh! Giovanni, I didn't realise that you were the chosen one. Seriously though: I think that most of us were initiated into one particular lodge due to circumstances, such as the person you contacted or knew in the first place, who introduced you to their Lodge. However, once you have become a member, you then have the opportunity to visit other lodges and taste their style and local culture. Then you really have a good opportunity, IMO, to make an informed choice. For example: my mother Lodge was in London. However, when I decided to join a Lodge here in Holland, I was able to review the lodges in and around my area and am now consequently a member of a lodge that is closest to my ideals and personal style. I often compare Freemsonry to football (if you happen to like football) because the game itself is great but not all football clubs may appeal to you depending on their manager, their trainer, their shirt colours and their style of play. No lodge is perfect for everyone and, IMO, this is sometimes a problem with new members that join a lodge blindly and after a few years get the fealing that they are not happy and blame it on Freemasonry while the real problem may lay with the lodge they joined. I really believe that Masonry loses a lot of its new recruits for that very reason. If they were told about the football analogy maybe they would find another lodge where they were happy and could better develop their game -- sorry, I mean Freemasonry. Sorry folks, I will now get down off my soap box and try to refrain from lecturing. S&FG Phil
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Post by rbartlett on Jul 27, 2005 19:23:10 GMT
I 'err' asked my ex business partner (who I didn't know was a Freemason) to petition his lodge. However -unbeknown to me- he was having serious doubts and never got round to getting the form for me to fill in
In the meantime I contacted several masons on the web to ascertain if 2 years wait was the norm. It soon become apparent that it wasn't so I took the bull by the horns and wrote to Grand lodge for some further advice.
I then spoke to a very nice chap there who talked me through the way forward.This went on for several months as at the time we were going through the process of applying for emigration.
Once we had got our visas and decided against going He then wrote a very nice introduction letter to a local lodge to me who interviewed me.
I met the secretary outside the lodge and he must have discussed it further as he agreed to sponsor me.
A seconder was found and I was duly initiated a month later..
Quite simple really -none of this waiting for 2 years or being a life long friend stuff. I guess that because I was a complete unknown the pressure was off the proposer and seconder
As I have mentioned before the irony is that my wifes' uncle is a PM of another lodge that meets in the same hall -but we didn't know he was a FM till after...!!
S&F
Richard 3954
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jmd
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Post by jmd on Jul 28, 2005 1:19:46 GMT
In more ways than may be apparent, I actually think that the analogy of various Christian denominations as a simile to the various Masonic constitutions is quite apt.
I am also reminded of what makes for the basis of a Christian church (Cf Matthew 18:20 - 'where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them'). Though the spiritual influx will be present, the 'tone' and form the church takes will vary very much upon those who so gather.
In a similar fashion, there is an aspect of Freemasonry that is universal, and a Lodge formed when a certain number of people, with peculiar initiatory backgrounds, meet in a particular way for the intent of forming a Lodge. The forms this will take will, however, vary and alter with circumstances, place and times.
In terms of choosing my mother Lodge, this was very based on convenience: location and time of meeting. Having moved, and the meeting time of my mother Lodge not being convenient to the work situation I have been in the past ten years, I have since left and joined another Lodge.
I should perhaps also mention that the Lodge I joined was quit a vibrant one, with a number of younger brethren (at the time).
Were I in a region that very few Lodges were available, I perhaps would have been a little more careful, and tried to meet representatives of the various Lodges to assess for myself which appeared to better suit my temperament, by trying not so much to have a sense for the individual I may meet, but more importantly the sense of inner 'freedom' and inner strength and independence the Lodge sought to engender.
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Post by Bondi on Jul 29, 2005 10:31:28 GMT
My provincial lodge chose mine. I didn't resalise I knew anyone in my lodge, so I contacted my Provincial lodge, who in turn gave my contact details to a lodge. Hey presto, my mother lodge emerged.
Have to say, I cannot grumble with the lodge they chose, it is awesome!!
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Post by ruger22com on Sept 6, 2005 20:56:41 GMT
While my father, his father, and his father were all Masons, at the young age of 51 when I settled down and wanted to explore masonry, I did not know anyone involved. So I emailed (The internet is a great thing) the Grand Lodge of Alabama and they put me in touch with someone from the local lodge and the rest is history.
Bob Martin EA Howard E. Palmes #917 Mobile Alabama USA
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Post by corab on Sept 11, 2005 18:39:40 GMT
I had a chat with a chap (who later turned out to be the Order's Grand Commander) and told him a bit about myself. He subsequently mentioned 2 lodges meeting on a Saturday, the first of which he said focussed on the more esoteric side of Masonry, which sounded great to me.
We met with the Lodge in June and got on like a house on fire, and got proposed and seconded there and then. Met again yesterday, and our interviews will be arranged this month; decision should be made by next month - so things are getting exciting.
There's just that 'click', you know? Really nice, like-minded people who aren't afraid to say "I don't know" when they don't know the answer to your question. It just feels right.
Cora
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Michael
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... as you have passed through the ceremony of your initiation...
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Post by Michael on Sept 28, 2005 10:01:59 GMT
My Old Regiment 4/7DG (Now RDG) Has the Oldest Travelling Military Lodge in the World St Patrick's Lodge No. 295 I.C. stpatricks.lodge.org.uk/295_ic/ So I have had an interest in things Masonic for some time. But it was only on leaving the regiment that the opportunity came round to join when one of my friends took me to a ladies night, after that it seemed an obvious thing to do. One of my wife's clients was a mason, we talked and I joined.
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Post by maat on Sept 28, 2005 23:56:28 GMT
We only have one Lodge in our city and it was bought to my attention. I was very interested in joining but was informed that they met on Tuesday nights, which was the only night of the week I was not able to attend because of my husband's long standing Lion's Club meetings and my daughter being just a toddler at the time. I was then informed that if I was meant to join 'things would work out'!
They did - two months later, after meeting for many years on Tuesdays, the Lions Club decided to meet on Wednesdays instead.
One does wonder sometimes..
Maat
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ruffashlar
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Post by ruffashlar on Jan 26, 2006 21:22:44 GMT
It was more a matter of the Lodge chose me
Ditto here. My brother and brother-in-law (who are now our Right Worshipful Master and Junior Warden) approached me after dinner one Christmas Day and it just bowled me over. I hadn't a clue they were Masons. And they were asking me if I had ever given it any thought. Had I? Had I? Erm, s*l*i*g*h*t*l*y, let's say ;D.
I couldn't say yes fast enough: the time between my application and Initiation was like doing the breast-stroke through syrup.
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Post by windtimber on Feb 7, 2006 15:46:33 GMT
1. It's the local Masonic Lodge - right there in broad daylight across the street from a bank and the County Courthouse and just up the way from my own office. 2. I knew any number of people who where members. 3. Several fellows suggested Masonry might be of interest to me. 3. After a couple very general conversations, someone suggested we talk in more detail over dinner. 4. We went to dinner, I asked questions, they answered, and I petitioned. 5. 16 or 17 years later I'm still very glad they took the time to plant the seed!
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