Several individuals have gone on this board, wishing to learn more about Masonry and how to become a Mason.

I have started this discussion, so that we can cut right to the chase, and assist individuals who wish to join the "Quest for Light".

If you are interested in seeking admission into the fraternity, then post your requests here. We can answer your questions, and get you connected to a lodge near your residence, and assist you in getting the paperwork submitted.

Remember, that most Grand Lodges do NOT permit "recruitment" or inviting an individual to join. The decision must be made by the individual, based on his own free will and accord. There will be no pressure to join, on this board.

SO, If your desire is sincere, or if you would just like to learn more about the Gentle Craft, then post your questions here.

I've bee interested for awhile, and would love to learn some information on the subject.

stephenbutka@yahoo.com

thanks!

I am interested. West Palm Beach, FL.

Thanks.

A great place to begin is at the beginning. Please check out

http://www.masonic-renewal.org/freemasonry_explained.htm

If you wish to proceed further, then let me know.

You can also locate a lodge that is close to your location and talk to them. You can also look up the Grand Lodge of your state on the internet to find information. Knock and the door will open.

I am contacting the Grand Lodge of Florida, to locate a lodge in West Palm. The Grand Lodge website is

www.glflamason.org

There is some good information there, but the link to help you join is not functioning at this time.

Once I get the secretary of your local lodge to contact you, then you can submit a petition, and then be on your way to being a Mason.

Good Luck,

Charles E. Martin

this has been a goal of mine for years. My grandfather is a freemason and there are a number of freemason here on base. I would love to get more info on becoming a freemason but with my being a sailor and here in memphis tn. where would I look. I would love to surprise my granfather with the news that I am on my way to becoming a freemason but some of the guys I see wearing rings..seem a bit put off when asked about their affiliation.
sixfootsix74@hotmail.com

Sailor, You have come to the right place! When it comes to Masonry:

2B1 ASK1

Then you are on your way to being a Mason. I will be delighted to connect you with a lodge in the local area. (I am a former resident of Jackson Tenn). Masonry and the US Navy have a long and wonderful history together. John Paul Jones, the founder of the Navy was a Mason. Many of your prominent admirals, officers, and senior enlisted are now and have been Masons since the founding of the Navy.

You will never be asked to join, the decision must come from your own desire and free will. No one will ever press you into joining. If you have decided that Masonry is right for you, then let's get to work right now.

I will need the following information:

Your full name
Your postal address city state zip code
Your telephone
Do you believe in God? (NO atheist can be made a mason)
Have you ever petitioned a lodge of masons in the past?( Sounds like you have not, but state this for the record)
Your age ( some states 18 is minimum some states 21)

Send this information to me, and I will get a local lodge in the Memphis area to contact you. (I assume you are at NAS Millington). I have assisted a Navy CPO in the Chicago area, and now he is on the way to being a Mason. Like you, he thought about it for some time, but never pursued.

Please do not be shy about approaching a man who is wearing a ring. I guarantee you, that most or all of the sailors that you see, who are wearing rings would be delighted to discuss Freemasonry with you.

Please email the information back to me right away at

charles.martin20@us.army.mil

Keep your posts "on point", or you will be banned. There is NO hazing, paddling, horseplay, or any such childish conduct tolerated in ANY masonic lodge. ALL candidates are treated with decorum and respect. Petitioning Freemasonry, and taking the symbolic degrees of the Craft, are serious business, and anyone who does not approach this seriously, is not going to be made a Mason.

quote:

There is NO hazing, paddling, horseplay, or any such childish conduct tolerated in ANY masonic lodge.

Really? Maybe you should tell that to someone who doesn't know any better. I PERSONALLY know better, and I am not talking hearsay.

Of course, you are correct that it doesn't have anything to do with THIS post.

Can you please tell me what lodge you belong to, Brother Middleton?

I have been a mason for a quarter of a century. I have attended lodges in 11 states, Washington DC, and Three foreign countries (France, Saudi Arabia, and Russia). I have attended a German-speaking lodge in Paris France. I have read extensively on Masonry ,and conducted degree ceremonies.

I personally have NEVER witnessed any hazing, paddling, horseplay, or any childish conduct of any kind. I will NOT tolerate any such behavior in any lodge that I attend. If I ever see any such nonsense, in a lodge, I will report it to the Grand Lodge who has jurisdiction, and I would get their charter pulled.

If anyone has information of this nature, they should report it immediately, as it does not reflect well on the fraternity.

Hi,

If I was a member of a fraternity in college can I still become a Mason?

Thanx

quote:

Originally posted by gogigo:
Hi,

If I was a member of a fraternity in college can I still become a Mason?

Thanx

I am delighted to answer your question. Of course you may petition the Masonic order, regardless of whether you joined a Greek fraternity in college. The only requirements for petitioning masonry are already published on this board:

Male
Over the age of majority (18 some states, 21 most states)
Must believe in God (your individual religious views are private, and of no concern to Masonry)

If you meet this criteria, and you wish to proceed and petition Masonry, then contact me at
cemab4y@hotmail.com

Thanks.

I have decided that I woulld like to become a Mason. I still would like to have a personal visit, even though the correspondence with active Masons on the subject has been helpful.

In addition to what I have read, I decided to download a (for the lack of a better term) "recruitment" information pitch set to a slightly annoying looping soundtrack. I was doing well listening to what I have read many times before. And then in the third mp3, in the part where the process of the application was explained, things went horribly wrong.

I understand that it is expected that applicants submit a 15 year history including many references, past addresses, and job history. I can understand why it is prudent to screen applicants. I can also understand the gesture of trust as an applicant bares all. But 15 years and broadcasting the applicant's intention of joining such a fraternal organization seems excessive.

If I join, I want it to be a personal choice and a personal matter. I do not need former co-workers or current associates knowing of my interest.

Have I misunderstood the demands of the application process? Is there a less intrusive method of checking one's background so as to not alienate potential future Masons?

Whoa! I do not know where you are getting your information from, but you have some bad information. Please check my postings on this topic! In order to petition for the degrees, you need to meet the basic criteria:

Male, Mature of Age, Belief in God.

Please send me an email with your contact information:

Name
mailing address
City State Zip
email address, home phone, cell phone

I will locate the lodge nearest your home, and have one of the brothers there contact you.


For a more detailed description of the application process please see

http://www.masonicinfo.com


The application process varies from state to state, and there are some variations in paperwork, but no state requires as extensive a personal history as you describe. In New York (state) the form is only about 12 lines long.

Most states require that you list some character references, these need not be former or current co-workers. In Kentucky, you must provide the signatures of two(2) masons, who belong to the lodge that you are petitioning.

A background investigation will be run, primarily to determine that you have no felony record. You may specify that the lodge not contact your current employer or past employers, just relay your concerns to the lodge secretary, and your privacy will be respected, I assure you.

What is a freemason? What do they do outside the (Halls?)? Why would one join something they know nothing about. Just curiuos my wifes grandfather was one but never said anythong about it leaving the explation to Hollywood.

Sorry did not look at all of the other ppostings in the disscusion group. Please disregard the above post.

I understand that some states have different conditionds for membership. Texas appears to be an odd one, which may partially explain the waning numbers of Masons here.

This is where I found the info about a 15 year background check:

http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/masonry_info.php
"How to become..." audio file

I also found an online Texas AF & AM petition pdf file that shows the same extensive requirement, but I am unable to locate it at the moment. I will post that link later, as I have it bookmarked on my home computer.

Now do not interpret this post as an argument. I am just getting conflicting information that I think others may have encountered too. I hope that the audio file is out of date, representing a time when the conditions for joining were less welcoming.

I am not a Texas Freemason, so I am not an expert on their application procedures. I would encourage you to contact your local lodge, and/or the Grand Lodge of Texas, to get the exact information.

I do know that Texas (The Grand Lodge of Texas, and the subordinate lodges) do have the similar requirements for petitioning that the other Grand Lodges in the USA have. How extensive their background check is, I do not know.

Texas does require that a petitioner meet the requirements of:

Male
Majority of age
Belief in God
Good Moral Character (No felony convictions)

Please contact the GL of Texas, and see if you can get some up-to-date information.

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Mjolnir13B:
I understand that some states have different conditionds for membership. Texas appears to be an odd one, which may partially explain the waning numbers of Masons here.

This is where I found the info about a 15 year background check:

http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/masonry_info.php
"How to become..." audio file

I also found an online Texas AF & AM petition pdf file that shows the same extensive requirement, but I am unable to locate it at the moment. I will post that link later, as I have it bookmarked on my home computer.

Now do not interpret this post as an argument. I am just getting conflicting information that I think others may have encountered too. I hope that the audio file is out of date, representing a time when the conditions for joining were less welcoming.

I was thinking of becoming a Mason for some time, but I don't know how the wife would take it. She always claims that I am not religious in any sense. Partially true, I haven't been to church in some time, and I seem to be more of a "non-practicing" Roman Catholic. I do believe in God. I just don't go through all the religious "hubbub" like I used to when I went to Catholic school, and a private Religious High School.

That I do