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Post by Blackadder on Mar 29, 2011 17:31:05 GMT
I have demitted from my lodge in my state, I have 12 months to join another lodge in my state. If I don't ,am I still a Freemason?
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Post by aogop on Mar 29, 2011 18:53:19 GMT
This is assuming you are member of a "mainstream" Grand Lodge, so your experience may vary...
Your Grand Lodge Masonic Code would spell it out, but as a general rule (using my GL as an example) a person who demits without re-joining within a specific time is *not* considered a brother due to inactive status, and would not be able to receive the rights and privileges of the fraternity. Should you decide to join another lodge in the same jurisdiction, you would end up having to go through another investigation, and the Secretary from the lodge you demitted would have to send the new lodge a notification that at one time you were once an active member.
Prince Hall masons who are active military demit quite regularly, leaving a military lodge overseas to join their home lodges when they return from deployment. If they don't rejoin asap, they get hosed.
If you join another Grand Lodge, depending on their Code you may end up having to do it *all* over again, or at least be able to prove up on all 3 degrees.
Most people who step away from Freemasonry for a time do so as NPDs, rather than demits ( I did this myself for almost 10 years). This actually makes rejoining in the future a bit easier, as normally all it takes is an investigative committee and a payment to become current. Granted, this isn't really the official or correct way to handle things, but it does make things easier administratively.
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Post by corab on Mar 29, 2011 20:34:07 GMT
I cannot comment on the man-made rules here, but in my opinion an obligation made on the VSL and in the name of TGAOTU is between man and maker on the one hand, and between Candidate and Brothers gathered in the Body of the Lodge, just, perfect and regular on the other hand; and no Book of Constitutions can unmake that solemn consecration.
In other words: the Grand Lodge under which you were received, made and consecrated a Freemason may, in accordance with its man-made rules no longer recognise you as such, but IMHO the initiatory process is irreversible.
With h.g.w.,
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Post by anubis on Mar 30, 2011 1:21:13 GMT
I cannot comment on the man-made rules here, but in my opinion an obligation made on the VSL and in the name of TGAOTU is between man and maker on the one hand, and between Candidate and Brothers gathered in the Body of the Lodge, just, perfect and regular on the other hand; and no Book of Constitutions can unmake that solemn consecration. In other words: the Grand Lodge under which you were received, made and consecrated a Freemason may, in accordance with its man-made rules no longer recognise you as such, but IMHO the initiatory process is irreversible. With h.g.w., An initiation is just a beginning. What of someone like BC, who goes off the rails before completing his journey?
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Post by anubis on Mar 30, 2011 1:26:53 GMT
.Most people who step away from Freemasonry for a time do so as NPDs, rather than demits ( I did this myself for almost 10 years). What does NPD mean, I've never heard this term.
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Post by Blackadder on Mar 30, 2011 2:22:20 GMT
I have no intention of joining another lodge in my state , Freemasonry here has become so diluted and hi-jacked by the biblical right wing. Where were you first made Mason ? In my heart . That question answers all the questions NPD=Non payment of dues
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Post by anubis on Mar 30, 2011 2:54:42 GMT
I have no intention of joining another lodge in my state , Freemasonry here has become so diluted and hi-jacked by the biblical right wing. Where were you first made Mason ? In my heart . That question answers all the questions NPD=Non payment of dues Oh, I have heard it before, just didn't recognize the abbreviation. Sounds like you are ripe to be sucked into 1613...
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Post by corab on Mar 30, 2011 7:56:45 GMT
An initiation is just a beginning. What of someone like BC, who goes off the rails before completing his journey? If my information is correct, a different view is held in that respect in the USA from that in the UK (and broadly speaking the Continent) Here, generally speaking, a Bro.'. is considered a Freemason from the moment s/he is initiated. S/he reaches his/her full masonic statures upon attaining the SD of MM, but nevertheless from the day of initiation s/he is considered and treated a Bro.'. among freemasons. With h.g.w.,
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Post by aogop on Mar 30, 2011 19:22:50 GMT
Not all GLs are of that bent, and if you are able to travel to other States hopefully you will find a lodge that fits you Honestly, I'm not sure I could handle that either and I am very thankful to belong to a GL that is more liberal than most.
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Post by modernritemason on Apr 1, 2011 16:38:28 GMT
Greetings,
From what I understand if you demit and then don't join another lodge then you are no longer an active Mason. You will have to apply to another lodge and then go through their protocols for joining. That being said, I always recommend to people who believe that there is a conflict between their perspective and the lodge they have joined to sit down and talk with the WM/SW/JW. Having an open discussion with them can help to alleviate the hurt feelings and anger that arise when you simply demit out and break ties. Alot of times there are solutions to the problem. Sometimes there aren't, but your lodge leadership team may facilitate you joining another lodge that is more in line with your perspective. What is, however, irreversible is the stigma attached to a negative reputation (whether fairly or unfairly attached to you) garnered by a lodge's conversation about you with a new lodge or others in the fraternity.
Hope this helps.
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Post by billmcelligott on Apr 1, 2011 18:49:55 GMT
Each Grand Lodge will view this slightly differently.
Under UGLE if you resign from a Lodge you are then known as an unattached Freemason. This has a number of limits, you may only visit a Lodge once each year for example. However you retain certain privileges, kets say you need some care or an operation, you will still qualify for assistance. The principle is you have to belong to a Lodge to be a fully activ Freemason, to pay Grand Lodge fees you have to go through a Province.
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Post by Blackadder on Apr 1, 2011 19:42:02 GMT
I have no ill-feeling or anger towards my old lodge. I just don't like the direction they are moving in , and its not just the lodge i left its all the lodges in my state. I honestly think they have all lost the plot, that's if there was ever a plot.
I also have all my demit paper for GL, so if I ever chose to join another lodge, i have all the paper work needed.
Brothers I know from the UK have visited numerous times and everyone says if masonry was like this in UK , no one would attend, simple as that. Masonic lodges are treated like coffee shops by old guys with nothing better to do.
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Post by aogop on Apr 11, 2011 19:20:57 GMT
Sorry you feel that way Blackadder. True, many lodges have gone stagnant but many have not! If you ever move to the Northwest, here are 2 lodges in my area that exremely active! www.franksland313.com/daylightmasons.org/
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Post by modernritemason on Apr 19, 2011 14:18:55 GMT
Greetings,
Masonry is a reflection of the wider society of people, in general. You are going to have your thinkers, your active types, your motivated type. Then you are going to have your negative stereotypes. A lodge is both where we meet and who we are. I came in thinking that the lodge would be this mystical, magical experience that I read in Wilmshurst, Ward, Pike, Buck, and others. I was surprised to find it not so. But I found it populated by individuals in various streams of their life, and alot of good hearted and sincere people. So if your lodge is less than optimal, be a force of change. Or change to another lodge. Atlast, imho.
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Post by irishmason on Apr 22, 2011 19:31:16 GMT
Once a mason always a mason
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Post by stewvan on May 18, 2011 18:43:58 GMT
I was raised in the mainstream, and have since left for my own personal journeys. I have worked with the liberal, or universal side of the craft for several years and now I call International Masonic Order Delphi my home.
It has always been my understanding with the craft that once raised....always raised. So should you demit, You may no longer be considered active. But you would not necessarily have to be reinitiated, in fact in my understadning of most systems, you cannot be reinitiated. You would essentially 'join' that lodge as an already inititiated mason.
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Post by aogop on May 18, 2011 19:16:34 GMT
It depends on recognition.
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Post by siriusalien on May 19, 2011 19:05:27 GMT
I believe once a Mason allways a Mason since you were first made a Mason in your heart. Once demitted, lodge business cannot be shared with you. The symbols i.e. working tools you were given are yours for the journey through life. Anubis, not all who are weary of the "old men's dinner club" that so many lodge have become, or disagree with a cultural element that has grown pervassive there is "ripe for 1613". There are issues that the Mainstream needs to confront! True seekers will not be derailed by 1613
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Post by redcoat on Jul 4, 2011 13:56:06 GMT
In Canada having a demit entitles you to visit Lodges and partake in fellowship.
People obtain demits for many reasons such as a move to a new community or you simply don't like the Lodge you belong to. Obtaining a demit provides you with proof that you are a Freemason in good standing. Your demit shows that you have ceased to be a member of a particular lodge and are no long paying dues to it or its Grand jurisdiction.
As compared to being suspended for NPD. When you are suspended from the Craft and are no longer a legal Freemason. By being suspended for NPD or other causes you have no proof that you are in good standing and therefore cannot prove that you are a Freemason and cannot be allowed into a Lodge.
Due to the nature of my employment I have moved around quite a bit over the past 30 years and have obtained several demits and with them I have been able to shop around. Where I live now there are over 25 Lodges and having a demit enables you to check out different lodges as a visitor before deciding which one to affiliate with.
If you choose to affiliate with another Lodge then you written demit paves the way and after an investigation you can be voted a member of that Lodge.
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Post by paullittrell on Jul 5, 2011 11:52:32 GMT
In my personal opinion, once you have taken your OB on the VSL, you have created an unbreakable bond between you, your brethren, and the G.A.O.T.U., and whether you demit, don't pay your dues, or even in the worst case forced out due to misconduct, to me you will be eternally bound by that OB. The OB. to me was not something I took lightly, but then again, I took it upon myself by my own FW & A. and proudly stand by the OB that I sealed.
Fraternally, Paul Littrell M.M. Dufferine #338 Wellandport, On
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