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Post by scooterstrats on Nov 16, 2008 6:25:56 GMT
Hello gentlemen. This is my first post. I entered my entry petition earlier this week week. I am sponsered by a past WM and a 25 year member and they advised i should have no trouble with the vote (criminal record, etc) For some reason. I am worried about the personal investigation at my apartment. Dont know why, as i feel i I have the right intentions for joining. Well, OK, I'm neurotic (or not). My major concern. which may well be ridiculous, is that if im accepted , is the initiation rituals. If they involve any sort of personal humiliation, I will walk out pronto. Im just too olde for the college fraternity nonsense. i know some rituals are a bit esoteric, which is fine, but I wont be ridculed. It would be a shame if I walked from what I believe to be a righteous fraternity over that.
I dont want rituals to be revealed, but any insight will help.
Thanks (hopefully!) brothers, Scott
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Post by billmcelligott on Nov 16, 2008 6:52:05 GMT
Hi Scott welcome to the forum.
First thing to learn in Freemasonry is trust. Every man in that Lodge will have gone through exactly the same as they will ask of you.
Now, if you think these Guys are fools then why are you joining ? if however they seem reasonably intelligent then trust them.
You can not earn others trust if you can not trust. Anyway, its good to be a bit scared.
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Post by xiii on Nov 16, 2008 6:55:25 GMT
Hello Scott,
the investigation is usually a quite informal affair. If the committee members are serious about the process they should try and probe if you are serious about joining, but in no way does it resemble an inquisition. Remember, it is also an opportunity for you to ask them questions, i.e. you can make sure the ritual is not fraternity nonsense.
About that, though, you can rest assured: it is dignified and involves no humiliation and no hazing.
Best of luck!
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Post by maximus on Nov 16, 2008 7:08:36 GMT
Hello and welcome. There is no "college faternity" type hazing involved in initiation. It is a serious and dignified undertaking, so rest assured that you will be fine. Don't worry with the investigation commitee, and, as has been suggested, ask questions of them as well.
Good luck.
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Post by scooterstrats on Nov 16, 2008 7:25:45 GMT
Thank you for the fast reponse. This DOES help me. My closest sponsor is as silly as I am, so I cant get a straight response (nor can he easily get one from me as we have known each other for almost 30 years and he is the only person I can talk with and laugh like the little kids we were), but this does take a bit off my nerves. As I said, i feel I want to join for the proper reasons, which i have researched while filtering out the lies and nonsense, but still have that "taste in my mouth" from the college BS 20 years ago which I could never join (at the wise old age of 23) after seeing what friends went through. Again, thank you for the prompt replies. any more feedback is welcomed, and i hop to report back soon with "good" news!
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Post by leonardo on Nov 16, 2008 9:48:39 GMT
Welcome Brother to be Below is something I wrote about my Initiation and posted before but I feel it is relevant to this discussion and may be of help. ******************************** I’ll never forget the day when the letter arrived to say I’d been successfully balloted. It was a fairly anxious wait so you can imagine the excitement I felt when it was delivered, but the anticipation of that day, and the emotions I went through leading up to the Initiation was nothing in comparison to actually going through the Ceremony itself. It was literally a life changing moment that will remain with me forever.
And even though I was extremely excited about joining the Craft I did have some concerns about what might happen during the Initiation; I had an interest in Freemasonry for some years prior so couldn’t help but read and hear certain things, some of them being quite negative at the time. But I was told by each and every Mason I’d come to know not to be worried about anything untoward happening, that everything would be proper and respectful. And, of course, it was.
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Post by waynecowley on Nov 16, 2008 16:10:01 GMT
A very warm welcome from me too Scott
I can only restate what others have said, there will be no hazing but a wonderful experience awaits you
Wayne
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imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on Nov 16, 2008 18:21:33 GMT
Greetings to you soon-to-be-Bro. Scott As everyone already has said (it's great to be in such a cool crowd ;D ), your initiation will be a wonderful and memorable experience. You will be relieved of all fear shortly after you enter the Lodgeroom. You will not be ridiculed. You will not be humiliated. If at any time you doubt, bear in mind that all the Brothers in your lodge are wonderful people who would do no harm to anyone. And they themselves will have experienced the same initiation ritual that you are then experiencing. As nothing improper happened to them, nothing improper shall happen to you. I hope you post here lots and lots.
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Post by matt on Nov 16, 2008 21:57:49 GMT
I wonder if the suspense of not knowing whether or not there will be humiliation adds to the experience. I really like what Brother Bill had to say about trusting the brothers. I think the less the candidate knows and perhaps the more on edge they are could make for a more potent experience. It seems that element does increase awareness. As I study some of the older french rituals it seems there are plenty of elements to possibly scare the initiate and ample opportunity for them to leave without beholding the forms and beauties of masonry.
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Post by scooterstrats on Nov 18, 2008 5:27:51 GMT
Thank you all! I do feel much better, and again thanks for your interest. The petition was presented so I'm awaiting the phone call for the interview within the month. I have no fears of this as I've thought it through, have no more reservations, and feel that i want to join for the right reasons. Not novelty. I really am now anticipating the interview positively!
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Post by leonardo on Nov 18, 2008 8:20:59 GMT
That is good to hear. Relax and enjoy your Initiation and above all.....trust your Brothers, they've been there before and know the score
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