Post by throwaway on Mar 20, 2012 20:33:49 GMT
I'm hoping to get some advice related to joining Freemasonry. I have an application set to be voted upon at the next stated meeting, but here's my dilemma.
I have a family and young children, and don't have a lot of ways of meeting good people, particularly older men to provide a mentoring role. I'd just as soon avoid the bars, as well as some of the issues related to church attendance. So without knowing anyone at the local lodge, I contacted them. I met with a few of the members on a couple of occasions and did have two members sign my petition for membership. I recently went through an investigation that seemed to go favorably.
Seeing as how I have not been voted on, perhaps I'm jumping the gun. But I thought I should ask on a forum and not those connected with the lodge where my petition is being considered. Here's my question: without a doubt I believe Freemasonry is an honorable institution. I'm reading Albert Pike and agreeing with just about everything I've read. I appreciate the fraternity's contribution to the ideas of the Enlightenment and it's place in American history. I believe in God. BUT, I recently discovered Continental Freemasonry. Even though I believe in a Higher Power, I know many good men and women who do not, and I respect their reasons. Outside of the arguments from tradition and authority, I don't see grounds for barring women and atheists/agnostics - though I recognize an organization's right to do as it pleases without explanation or qualification.
My dilemma is that philosophically I seem to have more in common with Continental or "irregular" freemasons. But by withdrawing my petition from the local lodge and petitioning one of the Continental lodges, I would effectively be eliminating what I saw as the main benefit for me. I need to find good people who are committed to doing good things. I live in a very small town where church is mainly the only game in town for good people getting together.
Again I recognize I'm assuming a favorable vote, which may sound arrogant. But really, I don't want to delay making the right choice. But should I keep my mouth shut about not exactly agreeing with excluding people by gender or issues of conscience in order to find much-needed camaradrie, or should I speak freely my concerns, petition a Continental lodge for reasons of conscience, and be practically no better off than I was before in terms of one of the major reasons why I sought out membership in a lodge in the first place?
Also, can someone address this for me? At the investigation meeting, there were three petitioners, including myself. One was related to a member, and it was discussed with the other two of us that if we were voted in, we would probably do our first two degrees together, but would go through MM individually because that is a special thing. The other applicant would go through all three degrees on his own because that was what his relative was requesting. I recognize there may be good reasons for this based on things I'm not privy to. So if this is common or necessary at times, can someone just tell me that it is something that will make sense later? Or is this an instance of lodge "politics"?
Thanks!
-throwaway
I have a family and young children, and don't have a lot of ways of meeting good people, particularly older men to provide a mentoring role. I'd just as soon avoid the bars, as well as some of the issues related to church attendance. So without knowing anyone at the local lodge, I contacted them. I met with a few of the members on a couple of occasions and did have two members sign my petition for membership. I recently went through an investigation that seemed to go favorably.
Seeing as how I have not been voted on, perhaps I'm jumping the gun. But I thought I should ask on a forum and not those connected with the lodge where my petition is being considered. Here's my question: without a doubt I believe Freemasonry is an honorable institution. I'm reading Albert Pike and agreeing with just about everything I've read. I appreciate the fraternity's contribution to the ideas of the Enlightenment and it's place in American history. I believe in God. BUT, I recently discovered Continental Freemasonry. Even though I believe in a Higher Power, I know many good men and women who do not, and I respect their reasons. Outside of the arguments from tradition and authority, I don't see grounds for barring women and atheists/agnostics - though I recognize an organization's right to do as it pleases without explanation or qualification.
My dilemma is that philosophically I seem to have more in common with Continental or "irregular" freemasons. But by withdrawing my petition from the local lodge and petitioning one of the Continental lodges, I would effectively be eliminating what I saw as the main benefit for me. I need to find good people who are committed to doing good things. I live in a very small town where church is mainly the only game in town for good people getting together.
Again I recognize I'm assuming a favorable vote, which may sound arrogant. But really, I don't want to delay making the right choice. But should I keep my mouth shut about not exactly agreeing with excluding people by gender or issues of conscience in order to find much-needed camaradrie, or should I speak freely my concerns, petition a Continental lodge for reasons of conscience, and be practically no better off than I was before in terms of one of the major reasons why I sought out membership in a lodge in the first place?
Also, can someone address this for me? At the investigation meeting, there were three petitioners, including myself. One was related to a member, and it was discussed with the other two of us that if we were voted in, we would probably do our first two degrees together, but would go through MM individually because that is a special thing. The other applicant would go through all three degrees on his own because that was what his relative was requesting. I recognize there may be good reasons for this based on things I'm not privy to. So if this is common or necessary at times, can someone just tell me that it is something that will make sense later? Or is this an instance of lodge "politics"?
Thanks!
-throwaway