I feel I was extremely fortunate to have become a Mason while assigned to Hq,Hq,8th Inf Div, way back in 1970.
The Masonic teachings, values,precepts and working tools were a significant personal behavior tait and accomplishment that enhanced my Service to God, Family, the Lodge, and the 24/7 Service to my Nation as a Soldier in the U.S. Army.
My (now Perpetual), membership within the Masonic Fraternaty has been a consistant intrensic reward, whether my situation was in a valley or on a mountain top.
In closing to this short essay, I present this thought,"The Lord works in mysterious ways, His wonders are for us to share".

My wife and I went to a function a preson seen my masonic ring. He asked about me about joining. I said to him" Give me a few days. I have to call the Grand Lodge in your State".
Now this person is taking his EA degree.

I had a guy stop by the lodge as I was changing the sign out front. He asked me about becoming a Mason. He got his MM last month.

Know a few FreeMasons. Not sure as to what your teaching are.
Being everything is secret, how would anyone know that what you teach is honorable.
They benifit burned and crippled children that is a good thing.
After that who knows.

The Masonic Lodge has been a great organization for many who have a need to serve the community after one completes ones Military Career. Many men of Valour will attest to that fact. It's more than some of the visable things the public sees I highly recommend to anyone who has a need to serve to join a lodge asap.

quote:

Originally posted by DawsonDawg:
Know a few FreeMasons. Not sure as to what your teaching are.

Being everything is secret, how would anyone know that what you teach is honorable.

They benifit burned and crippled children that is a good thing.

After that who knows.

Join us and find out. If you don't like us after joining, quit aka demit. The process is very simple.

Now, in response to your comments. The purpose of this reply is not an exhaustive defense of Freemasonry, because none is required. Rather, it is to explain the goals of the organization within the context of your comments. The institution of Freemasonry is not above criticism simply because it is a human institution and like all such institutions, imperfect and open to improvement. There are those who criticize and they are welcome to do so if they wish, but I ask one thing, they examine our fraternity. We certainly have nothing to hide and are justifiably proud of our ancient heritage.

Freemasonry is a unique institution, generating a deep loyalty among its members and an equally great misunderstanding among non-members. We realize that it may be difficult for those with strong religious and moral convictions to believe that a group of men meeting behind closed doors could be doing anything good. And yet, that is precisely the work we are pursuing. Good work, based on the teachings of the Holy Bible, that takes good men and makes them better men, husbands, fathers, sons and brothers. Incredible, isn’t it---that there is still an organization dedicated to the encouragement of religious, family and civic values?

Unfortunately, there are those who fabricate vicious lies about our gentle fraternity that are wholly untrue and unproven and based entirely on hearsay, rumor and innuendo. What a shame and what a waste this practice is because when we could be about doing good works in the world, we are instead being forced to defend the principles of our Masonic institution. Tolerance is one of the major underlying principles of Freemasonry. Freemasonry teaches its followers tolerance even of its assailants.

We are astonished and perplexed at the level of hatred directed toward us supposedly in the name of God. This willful fraud does not serve God or man constructively, but instead reinforces the powers of evil; against which mankind must continually struggle. Using the name of God as a justification for a so-called holy mission against the “evils” of Freemasonry is probably one of the best definitions of the word “blasphemy”. Each and every comment about the evils of Freemasonry works against God’s holy teachings, because all Masons hold God in the highest reverence and trust Him above all else.

We have no other hidden agenda, no treasures, no idols and no pagan rituals. What goes on in our lodge rooms are only labors designed to improve the moral character and lives of our members---nothing else.

Freemasonry is a fraternity of good men, and not a religion. Freemasonry does not offer information about the various different religions, but we do offer religious teachings of the highest moral caliber based on chapters found in the Old Testament. If a brother Mason wishes to pursue the teachings of Christianity found in the New Testament, that is his choice to make unencumbered by the fraternity and we encourage his every effort at religious enlightenment according to the scriptures he embraces.

The critics of Freemasonry need to take a closer look at the fraternity without any preconceptions or prejudices. If they do, they will see there is nothing to fear and little to criticize about what we believe. It is frighteningly true that the repeated attacks on the fraternity proves that it is being put on trial by the self-righteous extremists who hold little patience or tolerance for the moderate views of their fellow man and expect to spout scripture or change law until they can bully us into their way of thinking. And by so doing, they violate the very precepts in the religious scriptures and moral judgement they use to justify their criticism and attacks on our gentle craft.

Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Terry, Past Master
Freemason
Royal Arch Mason
Cryptic Mason
Knights Templar
Eastern Star
Hot Topics Moderator

A really good friend of mine is now a MM at one of the local lodges where I reside. I could not believe how much he has changed (for the better) when he joined. I am happy to say that as soon as I get back in country, and ETS, I will be petitioning his lodge for membership, and he will be my coach. I've met most of the people in the lodge, including the WM, and they are outstanding people. I can't wait to be a part of Freemasonry!

quote:

Originally posted by CMTaMedic:
A really good friend of mine is now a MM at one of the local lodges where I reside. I could not believe how much he has changed (for the better) when he joined. I am happy to say that as soon as I get back in country, and ETS, I will be petitioning his lodge for membership, and he will be my coach. I've met most of the people in the lodge, including the WM, and they are outstanding people. I can't wait to be a part of Freemasonry!

This is what makes Freemasonry great, good men seeking the company with other good men through a fraternal organization. Freemasonry does not seek out good men, they seek out our gentle craft. Freemasonry does not solicit members to petition our fraternity, but we will not turn down a good man. We call one another "Brother" and that is for good reason, it is our fraternal bond for we are a band of brothers bound by a fraternal obligation to one another.
So Mote It Be.

We look forward to calling you brother one day. Let us know when that day comes and invite us all. If possible, I would like to sit in lodge with you one day.

Fraternally,
/s/
Terry, Past Master
Freemason
Hot Topics Moderator

Greetings,

Could someone please explain what a PM (Past Mason) is?? Is that someone who is no longer a Mason??

PM = Past Master, i.e. Former Worshipful Master of a Lodge.

Terry I see all of our organizations but one, Shrine????? Just a question brother.

Fred Cross PM
St Georges Lodge #41
Kingsville, Ontario

quote:

Originally posted by fredcross:
Terry I see all of our organizations but one, Shrine????? Just a question brother.

Fred Cross PM
St Georges Lodge #41
Kingsville, Ontario

Bro. Fred,

You are corrrect. I am not a Shriner, for many reasons too numerous to mention i.e. not enough time, money and interest, just to name a few. Heard too many war stories from a Past Potentate that made me loose interest. Maybe some day, I might revisit the Shrine issue.

Fraternally,
/s/
Terry, PM
Hot Topics Moderator

Good and Bad in all organizations.

The Shrine is a marvelous organization. I am an inactive Shriner, hard to attend meetings, when you are on a mountaintop base in Afghanistan.

Our hospitals are the finest children's orthopaedic and burns hospitals in the world, and all treatment is provided free.

You can learn more about the Shrine at the Shriner's Headquarters website. (get it on google).

If you know of a child who could benefit from the excellent treatment at one of our hospitals, please call the toll-free number of the hospitals (see it at the website).