ziggy
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by ziggy on Mar 28, 2007 15:16:11 GMT
Hello to the forum I have read a lot of the posts on this and other forums & I would consider applying to become a mason sometime in the future.
I have a question which I couldn't find a thread on already & I would appreciate if someone could clarify this for me, please bear with me the question has some information with it to make it easier to answer...
Q - I think its possible that I may have been put forward for membership of a masonic lodge before, I say possible because at the time I didnt even know what masonry was at all & I think an older friend of mine may have arranged a (sort-of) interview on my behalf... Now if I am correct I think I was asked the question about belief in god etc.. & at the time i answered in good faith, no. I had not been raised at all religiously & never really thought about it...(didnt have a strong opinion one way or the other) not knowing this was a requirement. My memory on this isnt great, I wasnt really paying much note to it at the time.
Now having read a bit about masonry & what not, I think I might wish to approach a local province and make enquiries etc.. the question i have is, is all of this relevant/ should I mention it & if so at what stage... im not sure if it even matters. Bit of advice would be good, thank you!
P.S. I should also say that I could now sincerely answer yes to the aforementioned question
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imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on Mar 28, 2007 15:34:16 GMT
Greetings Ziggy!! I'm a Fellowcraft, 2°. Which means I'm frightfully new. However, I think I can safely assure you that if you didn't apply to a lodge, you weren't being interviewed for membership. They might have found you an attractive possibility, indeed, and they might have asked you some questions to see if, maybe, someone should suggest you apply; but candidates are not to be solicited. YOU have to take the first step and apply. If you progress along this path, you will find your own free will and accord is an extremely important thing, never to be restricted in any way. Whether you bring up this past conversation or not is up to you. However, my limited experience with these questions is that they deal with where you are now. Where you've been is considered only in light of what it indicates about your journey so far. What you believe *now* is of far greater importance. And the supreme being question . . . I imagine this one trips up lots of folks. While belief in a supreme being certainly widens your choices, there *are* obediences that will accept atheists. So disbelief is no real a bar to membership. BTW, after you apply, depending on the obedience to which you've applied, things will either happen VERY fast (as in a few weeks) or there will be more hurry up and wait (as in months). My own very biased opinion: the obediences that make you wait are the best Please to keep us updated on your progress. And good luck to you ;D
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Post by mike on Mar 28, 2007 16:33:58 GMT
Hi Ziggy, It' s all a bit flying blind to be honest, without knowing your location or gender.
However, if you are in England, male and your friend is a member of a Lodge under the UGLE. You definitely haven't been interviewed.
The interview doesn't take place until you have actually applied to join a Lodge and you'd know if you did that, as you would have filled out a form.
M
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ziggy
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by ziggy on Mar 28, 2007 18:12:47 GMT
thanks for those replies...has cleared it right up. I never filled in a form but im sure i remember a brief chat about it with someone... If and when I enquire further im just thinking ill go for the UGLE option (yes im male and english), but im intrigued to hear that there is masonry for atheists, first time ive heard of it... I shall have more questions im sure, and if I do make serious enquiries I shall be sure to post about my progress etc.. Thank you both
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jmd
Member
fourhares.com
Posts: 1,081
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Post by jmd on Mar 29, 2007 6:13:50 GMT
Best wishes on your travel, ziggy - it's a worthwhile journey indeed!
Just to clarify a point you make above, there is no "Masonry for atheists". I suspect this comes from confusing many GLs that leave one's personal beliefs to one's conscience (and thus have in their midst Christians, atheists and Buddhists, for example), in distinction to other GLs (currently still the majority) who require of their members a specific religious belief (whether it be Christian in some cases, or belief in a Supreme Being in many others).
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Post by mike on Mar 29, 2007 9:44:34 GMT
Asjmd says it's not Freemasonry for Atheists ut it is possible to join in some countries even if you don't believe.
Under the UGLE you must have a belief in the Creator (God by whatever name) this is why we have members of most religions represented in our Lodges.
M
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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 Mar 29, 2007 21:52:55 GMT
Hi Ziggy - glad we got the confusion cleared up - it is possible your aquaintance was sounding you out about joining, but as others have said, until you fill out the form then nothing is official.
Hope you come to the decision that is right for you, please feel free to ask as many questions as you want here, if we can't answer we will tell you straight, but there isn't that much we have promised to keep secret - so ask away!
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