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Post by AndyF on Jul 10, 2011 3:57:59 GMT
What about the guy who joins a Lodge because his buddy is a member? He never paid attention or took any of it seriously, the OB means nothing to him (just the idea that he shouldn't disclose the secrets entrusted to him - not that he remembers what those are), and he stops coming to Lodge after his 3rd°.
Is he still a mason? Was he ever one? Knowing that he wouldn't feel especially motivated to come to a brother's aid, should other brethren feel obligated to do so for him?
...and whats the deal breaker? Is it when he officially resigns from Lodge, gets struck off for non-payment of dues, or was it from the first time he sat in Lodge with little to no regard for the craft whatsoever?
Is there a deal breaker at all? Do we consider that as he was regularly initiated, passed, and raised, he is a brother whether he likes it or not?
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Post by paullittrell on Jul 12, 2011 13:50:19 GMT
Well in that case, since I personally feel that the Secrets of Freemasonry are deeply personal, and revealed to us individually based on what we are looking for in Freemasonry, hopefully that Brother will someday find what he thought he was looking for. But even if he half heartedly took the steps in becoming a M.M., I would still Respect that he took the Steps like all my other Brethren, and just hope that one day he would see the True Light of Freemasonry.
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Post by maat on Jul 14, 2011 0:48:41 GMT
Interesting topic.
I rather think that only those that are prepared in their hearts are actually initiated (activated) and become real apprentices in temple building. The temple being their self, which needs to be raised up to divine standards.
All else is play acting, which can be beneficial even at the mundane level. But if one is merely play acting at initiation, then one would not be an intitiate. Is an actor who plays a king, a king?
There are severe consequences for the Wise man who chooses foolishly. I cannot think of a loving deity visiting such misfortune on the poor in spirit or the ignorant.
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Post by AndyF on Jul 14, 2011 8:00:15 GMT
Thanks for your thoughts.
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Post by nymason on Jul 15, 2011 21:55:09 GMT
What about the guy who joins a Lodge because his buddy is a member? He never paid attention or took any of it seriously, the OB means nothing to him (just the idea that he shouldn't disclose the secrets entrusted to him - not that he remembers what those are), and he stops coming to Lodge after his 3rd°. Is he still a mason? Was he ever one? Knowing that he wouldn't feel especially motivated to come to a brother's aid, should other brethren feel obligated to do so for him? ...and whats the deal breaker? Is it when he officially resigns from Lodge, gets struck off for non-payment of dues, or was it from the first time he sat in Lodge with little to no regard for the craft whatsoever? Is there a deal breaker at all? Do we consider that as he was regularly initiated, passed, and raised, he is a brother whether he likes it or not? In my jurisdiction; once you are raised and if you continue to pay your dues, your considered a member in good standing and are entitled to all of the rights and benefits as much as the one who attends all communications and other events. We've had Brothers join, go through all three degrees, pay their dues on time every year and you never see them again. Personally I joined Freemasonry to receive as much light as possible but to each their own i suppose.
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Post by mm1961 on Feb 9, 2013 8:41:31 GMT
Blackadder:
Sorry to hear a lodge or jurisdiction is taken over by right wing biblical elements. I thought freemasonry was tolerant and allowing of all believers in a supreme being without discrimination. I find it strange you do not name the jurisdiction. What is it? Masons should be able to investigate and verify your claims.
I have a question relevant to this thread. I was raised in a lodge in Massachusetts. I took a demit. It allowed me to visit lodges for 12 months. The demit said within 12 months I had to join another lodge or it would become void. It did became void years ago. The lodge I was raised in since gave up its charter-it no longer exists. Not that I wanted to re-join that lodge anyway.
If I ever again in life decide I want to join some lodge somewhere in the world, almost certainly not Massachusetts, what would be the process based on the facts above?
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Post by beejay on Feb 9, 2013 21:49:07 GMT
I would have thought that your initiation would be recorded by the state Grand Lodge. Thus if your chosen new lodge is of a Grand Lodge that recognises the original Grand Lodge then the Grand Secretaries should be able to validate your status as a regular Mason
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Post by otherstar on Feb 11, 2013 15:36:31 GMT
In Texas, if you dimit, you are considered an unaffiliated mason and can visit a lodge 3 times without joining. I am currently unaffiliated, but I am considering changing that. I do not know what your GL law is, but I suspect it is similar. With a dimit form, it would be very easy to re-affiliate at some future point.
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