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Masonic Tips
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Written by Jim Barr
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Tuesday, 10 April 2007 |
I added this Tips section to my JimsTips.com site in to provide others with a glimpse of my ongoing experience with Freemasonry. Despite the varied opinions and views, I'm going into Freemasonry with an open mind. Initially, my goal of this section of my site is to simply blog my experiences, but that goal may change in the future. I may include other information such as history, facts, and tips related to Freemasonry, or whatever I find interesting as I delve deeper, so stay tuned. In the mean time, welcome, and I hope you get something out of this!
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Written by Jim Barr
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Tuesday, 04 December 2007 |
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Less than three weeks after being raised to the degree of Master Mason, I was installed as one of the stewards of our Lodge. The new Junior Warden-Elect appointed me and the other brother who was raised with me as the new Stewards for 2008. I'm honored that the opportunity to begin moving through the chairs has come so quickly! I look forward to being able to participate in the degree work, the business meetings, and to provide cheerful service to the Lodge officers where needed.
The December business meeting was the first meeting I have been able to attend as a Mason, so it was exciting. Though the meeting was likely longer than usual because of the installation ceremony, I found it to be quite interesting. And it was impressive to watch representatives from the Grand Lodge performing the ceremony.
So I look forward to attending the next year's meetings, getting more involved, and helping out as one of the new Stewards. I'm excited to see where Freemasonry takes me in 2008!
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Written by Jim Barr
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Monday, 19 November 2007 |
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This past Saturday, another Masonic brother and I were raised to the degree of Master Mason, the Third Degree in the Blue Lodge. It was an interesting, informative, and certainly memorable degree.
We met at 7:00am for breakfast, and the degree work started at 8:00am. The work consisted of our Fellowcraft examination, followed by the Third Degree work. For our Fellowcraft examination, because there were two of us receiving the Third Degree, the examiner asked the questions, and we alternated our answers between the two of us. It went very smoothly despite not having spent any time together going over the questions and answers. I guess we were duly and truly prepared.
After the examination, we began the Third Degree work. Interestingly, this was conducted solely by Past Masters. I'm not sure if it is global to Freemasonry, or something specific to the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, but the first time that any Third Degree work is done in a lodge during a year, the work is conducted by Past Masters. (Which means, sad to say, that our first Third Degree work this year was done all the way in November. I hope that next year, we have more earlier.) Of the 24 or so people who attended, about nine or ten of them were Past Masters, and they did an excellent job with the degree work.
Obviously, I cannot go into any detail, but suffice it to say, the Third Degree degree work was impressive and very, very memorable. Some parts were very similar to the other degrees, while other parts were different--very different. Initially, I had read a lot of information online about the various degrees, but after being initiated to Entered Apprentice and then passed to Fellowcraft, I decided not to read any more about the Third Degree so as not to "spoil" things. Fortunately, nothing was spoiled, and I have to say that experiencing the degree work was exciting. I've had the opportunity over the past several months to see about six First Degrees, and I can't wait to see another Third Degree from the "other side" for a different perspective.
After I received my Third Degree, two key points were made to me by multiple people on different occasions:
"While this is the final degree in the Blue Lodge, this is really just the beginning of my journey in Freemasonry."
"You will get out of Freemasonry what you put into it."
So now, I am a Master Mason! I can attend regular business meetings, vote on new candidates, get more involved in the Lodge, join other Masonic organizations requiring a Third Degree prior to joining, wear a Masonic ring, and a host of other things. I look forward to continuing my journey in Freemasonry, and getting more involved.
This is my fifteenth article on my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Monday, 08 October 2007 |
Obviously I still have a lot to learn about Freemasonry having only recently been passed to the second degree. So until I progress further, I can really only comment on my current knowledge and exposure to Freemasonry as a Fellow Craft. But of what I do understand now, I think I "get it" concerning just what Freemasonry is all about, and in many ways more importantlly, what it is not.
I was driving home the other evening from some first degree work at another lodge, and I was thinking about what I had seen. It got me thinking about all of the anti-masonic stuff I've read on the 'net. It got me thinking about what it's all about...just what are the basics...the simple explanation. As I see it, once you pare it all down to its core, it all just seems so simple:
I see an organization comprised of men who have each taken the initiative to learn how to join the organization; who are ultimately granted membership through initiation; who obligate themselves to commit to the ideals of the organization and to not disclose its secrets; who commit to learn the material required to advance in the two remaining degrees; and who ultimately commit themselves to abide by a code of good conduct to improve their character, to embrace the pursuit of knowledge, and to help their fellow man. I believe that in knowing a man to be a Mason, you can be assured that he has experienced all of what I just described, and that he should be trusted to be held to what he has experienced. How that man conducts himself is ultimately his personal responsibility, so being a Mason is, by no means, a guarantee that he will improve himself, but he is provided with the tools to conduct himself in a manner that is very atypical, especially today. And so far, my impression of the men who I know to be Masons is much higher than I ever thought.
So that's about it! Is there more to Freemasonry? Of course! But at its basic level, it just seems so simple. It's unfortunate that most seem to really complicate it.
This is my fourteenth article on my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Monday, 08 October 2007 |
My wife and are taking a trip to Washington, DC later this month for a long weekend to just "get away". Our focus is intended to be on several of the Smithsonian museums, but we've added the George Washington Masonic Memorial to the itinerary. I'll be writing an article recapping our adventure, and I'll include some pictures. I'm hoping that this will give us an excellent chance to see some examples of Masonic history and memorabilia, and to learn more about Freemasonry's role in the foundations of this country. Stay tuned....
This is my thirteenth article on my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Tuesday, 25 September 2007 |
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Tonight, I had the honor of being passed to the second degree of Fellow Craft. It was a bit unnerving at first because my coaches have had very, busy work schedules, so I didn't have as much time to work with them as I would have liked. But in the end, I actually did quite well. Originally, we had three candidates scheduled, but unfortunately, one had a work commitment that he could not get out of, so it was two of us receiving our second degree. Hopefully, he will be able to have his second degree in the next week or so. The examination part was split, each of us alternating our answers as the questions were asked. Amazingly, it went quite smoothly with only a couple minor glitches. Though we had not practiced together, it probably was hard to tell as we each knew our stuff.
The second degree lecture, like the first, was impressive, but went much deeper, and it was given so well. The man giving it had not done it in over seven months, and he was asked just the night before if he would like to give it. With very minimal prompting, he gave it almost flawlessly. And was it an interesting lecture! The night ended in some good fellowship, and lots of congratulations.
As I was driving home, I had to call my dad and let him know that I had gotten my second degree. Being a Master Mason, he was proud. Kinda fun following in at least some of my father's footsteps! Depending on the timing of things, he will be visiting in the Fall, so he might be able to visit while I receive my third degree. We'll see.
Over the past three montsh since my initiation, I had the opportunity to attend five other first degrees--three at my lodge, and two at other local lodges. That really helped clarify and reinforce some of the material. Of note was some first degree work done at the Townville lodge in Townville, SC where the local Sherrif's department conducted the initiation. It was very impressive seeing uniformed police officers doing all of the work to initiate one of their fellow officers. The the work was very well done. It's great to see community leaders dedicated to Godly work of integrity. I have always had great respect for people in law enforcement, but this really raised the bar. Oh, and at some first degree work at my local lodge, they asked me if I wanted to sit as a Junior Deacon! That was lots of fun and it let me be right in the middle of things. Again, it helped me in preparing for my second degree. I hope to be able to participate like that again soon.
I have decided not to coast too long afer getting my second degree. After going over what I need to know for my third degree, I honestly don't think that it will take me as long to learn the material. Yes, it does have some material that is new and different from the first degree, but the first degree really provided the groundwork so this hopefully won't be too bad. I'm kind of on a roll, so why not maintain the momentum? I need to wait at least 28 days before I can go for my third degree, so I could conceivably get it at the end of October, but I'm not going to rush it unnecessarily. I want to try to do better with the third degree than I did with the second, so if it does take longer, so be it.
So, my journey continues, and as I learn more and more about Freemasonry, I am coming to understand more of what it is, and more importantly, what it is not. I've had some excellent discussions with fellow Christians, non-Christians, Masons, and non-Masons, and I am very comfortable in my decision to pursue Masonry. I'll keep you updated as I continue onward.
This is my twelfth article on my experience in Freemasonry. |
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Written by Jim Barr
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Friday, 22 June 2007 |
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Last night, I had the honor of attending another local lodge (Belton Lodge #130, Belton, SC) to watch their first degree work for three candidates. Two brothers from my lodge (Divver Lodge #349, Anderson, SC) attended, and two of the brothers from the Belton lodge who helped with my first degree work were also there. It was very welcoming, and nice to see some familiar faces in an otherwise unfamiliar setting. As I get more and more involved in Freemasonry, I see that I am going to be meeting lots of people!
The degree work was basically the same as at my initiation with very few exceptions. It was so nice to be able to see things from a different vantage point. I enjoyed being able to really focus on what was being said, and the order in which things were said. I actually found myself mouthing much of the work. (I guess my attempts at memorization are at least a bit fruitful.) Watching the initiation also cleared up a number of words that I have missed in studying. This will definitely help me in better learning my work for my second degree. I am now very interested in attending more first degree work in my area.
Of significant note was a brother named Justin Parnell, the brother who gave the first degree lecture. (Sidebar: I don't know what it is about the name "Justin". I have met more guys named "Justin" through Freemasonry than anywhere else. I think I've met 5 or 6 in the two initiations alone, and that was out of about 50 or so people. Weird!) Anyway, Justin also gave me my first degree lecture, hearing him giving it to the three candidates was familiar and helpful. With very little prompting, he gave it all from memory--and we're talking about a 20 minute or so lecture! Way to go Justin!
I look forward to getting together with some brothers to help coach me. I can get my second degree 28 days after my first degree, but I still feel that I have a long way to go in memorizing.
This is my eleventh article on my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Friday, 15 June 2007 |
On Tuesday evening, June 12, I was initiated as an Entered Apprentice into the Divver lodge #349 in Anderson, South Carolina. As I reflect back over the evening of my initiation, the one word that keeps popping into my mind is "impressive". I was so impressed by the many events of the evening: From the friendliness of the members, to their devotion to the craft; from the seriousness and solemness of the ceremonies, to the memorization displayed by the team conducting the ceremony. It was certainly an impressive evening--one I'll not forget.
As you have probably read in my earlier posts, as I waited on the process from petitioning to initiation, things seemed to be moving along at a slow pace. This, of course, was only a reflection of my impatience. But then, "Bam!" things started happening quickly. My initiation was scheduled for just two days after I spoke with the investigating committee!
On a side note, the night of the initiation was bitter-sweet. On the down side, I was disappointed because it turns out that my Mason friends Bro. Roger and Bro. Stan (who were very instrumental in my decision to join) were unfortunately not informed of the night. They actually attend different lodges, so it's completely understandable that the lodge I joined would not have informed them. And I simply neglected to let them know as I was all caught up in the moment. But the good news is that I met a group of guys that night who were sincere, friendly, and are certainly worth getting to know better. I will make sure that Roger and Stan are invited to my second degree ceremony.
Obviously, I won't go into any details of the initiation--what went on inside the walls of the lodge will stay inside the walls of the lodge. If you really want to know the details, go seek out a Mason, and ask him about joining. That's really the only way you'll get any accurate picture of what it's all about. I will say, though, that I was thoroughly impressed by the members who conducted the initiation and lecture. Everything was done from memory, and it was done well. After all was said and done, several members commented about their mistakes and stumbles, but really, they are their own worst critics. From my vantage point, it was very well done.
Our lodge is very casual in appearance and attire, unlike the glitzy, expensive-looking lodges you see in many pictures. But it has a close, intimate feel, and the ceremony was taken very seriously. What was most amazing about the initiation (the entire evening, in fact) was that it was "all about me." I was the only candidate, so the evening was devoted to my initiation. The meal, the initiation, the lecture, the social time--all prepared and conducted for me. That busy men would take time out of their lives to prepare and conduct an event spanning several hours specifically for me is truly amazing and humbling. Yet the excitement, joy, and dedication evident in everyone present really spoke volumes to me about their devotion.
After having read numerous articles on the 'net, as well as reading the excellent book, "Freemasonry For Dummies", I thought I may have spoiled some of the evening, but it turns out that I simply didn't know what to expect. Though I probably did read more than most would, none of what I read spoiled anything. In many ways, some of my prior knowledge and information helped me to better understand the initiation. The prevailing mantra during the evening was, "Everyone here went through the exact same thing." I wasn't sure to be comforted or intimidated! The whole evening was at the same time solemn, exciting, humorous, friendly, unnerving, intriguing, educational, and informative. I can't wait to go through the remaining two degrees.
So, the wait is over, and I am now an Entered Apprentice Mason. But like so many of the steps in life's journeys, this is just the beginning. It is now time to work. My proficiency work will consist of lots of memorization. Based on my reading about how other lodges conduct the examinations, it appears that the South Carolina lodges don't cut any corners. The Obligation, lots of questions, and knowledge of the working tools are all essential things that must be memorized. But it all seems manageable, and it's exciting to learn. WM Kennysaid that he will schedule my Fellowcraft degree in 28 days with two other people--if I can learn the required material.
I look forward to the coming weeks as I strive to learn what's required, and hopefully earn my second degree. I'll continue to post my thoughts as they come.
This is my tenth article about my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Monday, 11 June 2007 |
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Today, I received a call from Kenny, the Master of the lodge. He said that my Entered Apprentice initiation is scheduled for 7:00PM on Tuesday, June 12.
Last week, the investigating committee contacted me, and Kenny was on the committee. We had a very nice talk that was informal and low-key, and was far from my original impression of the investigation process. It was more like a job interview than anything else, but job interviews impose more pressure. We discussed some of my beliefs, who I am, what I do for a living, how I learned about Freemasonry, etc. And the fact that Kenny was nice, polite, and far from intimidating, made our discussion so much easier. Yet at the same time, he spoke with an authority and a knowledge that echoed and confirmed with great precision those things I have been reading over the past two months. I was impressed.
Kenny told me a bit about the lodge, what the next steps were, and what to expect. The lodge is the "Divver" lodge #349 in Anderson, South Carolina. It is one of three lodges in the area. Interestingly, it is not the lodge that my friend Roger is a member of. (Roger is the Masonic friend from church who I asked about joining.) But a number of church members that I know attend Divver, so I won't feel like a complete outsider.
I found it interesting to learn that the Divver lodge is not "older leaning". Kenny said that though there are older gentlemen who are active in the lodge, the majority tend to be younger--mid 30s or so. I'm 41, so it's great to see that kind of mix. I read so many stories on the 'net of doom and gloom about the future of Freemasonry, yet locally, I see three very active lodges bringing in new members all the time. Maybe it's regional, or maybe I'm just lucky, but I'm pleased to know that Freemasonry is active in my town.
So, the investigating committee reported favorably, the lodge voted to accept me, and on June 12, I go to the lodge by 6:30pm to go over some preliminary things. Then, at 7:00PM, the Entered Apprentice degree work begins. It's been a couple months since I turned in my petition, and the wait has been long, but very rewarding. I've learned a lot about Freemasonry, and can't wait to make the next step to become an Entered Apprentice.
I'll post a follow-up article after the initiation.
This is my ninth article about my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Monday, 04 June 2007 |
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I've been a bit concerned lately because I have not yet had any contact with the investigating committee. The next lodge meeting is Tuesday, June 5th, and I've been afraid that if I don't get contacted, I'll have to wait another month. I'm taking it all in stride, understanding that the summer is a very busy time, so we'll see how this plays out. But I am now greatly encouraged, because I found out a couple things appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel....
Yesterday, I spoke with Justin, a Past Master of the lodge and friend from church, and he said that someone from the investigating committee would be contacting me on Monday the 4th, and if that goes OK, then the lodge would vote on me at the meeting on the 5th.
I also spoke with Roger, my Masonic friend from church, and he explained a few more things about what I can expect. He said that they would schedule the initiation for about two weeks or so after the lodge votes on me. In fact, he said that if I put my mind to it, I could be initiated, passed, and raised by September. I was concerned about the summer months, but he said that unlike many other lodges, this lodge does not "go dark" during the summer, so I could progress during that time. I'm certainly not going to push anything--heck, I need to get initiated first!--but it's still encouraging.
So, I am reading many of the articles aggregated on the King Solomon's Lodge site, I continue to read and study what I can, and i continue to look for resources that might be useful and interesting. Roger said that once I am initiated, that he has lots of good resources for me to read and study. He's a history buff, and I share that interest a bit, so I anticipate learning lots.
This is my eighth article about my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Friday, 11 May 2007 |
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A couple days ago, I received a letter from the Lodge secretary officially informing me that the Lodge had voted on and accepted my petition, an investigating committee was formed, and that they would contact me soon. The letter also said that the results of the committee would be presented and voted on at the June 5 meeting.
I called the secretary to let him know that I received the letter, and he was great to talk with! Unlike the letter, he was very informal. He was friendly, and gave me some additional information about what to expect from the investigating committee. Again, it was all very informal. I'm anxious to meet with the Lodge members (so far, I've only met just a couple.) If the balance of the membership is anything like the several Masons I have recently met, I think I'll be in good company!
One point of note is that I was very intrigued by one aspect of the letter, just as I was by the petition: the wording, the embossed Lodge seal, the formality. But it wasn't just a bunch of "legal mumbo-jumbo". It had an air of historical “relevance" or “rootedness". It had a formality about it that is very unusual for this time. It's difficult to articulate, but these points are things that paint a picture of seriousness and importance. On one hand, I see informal Masons, and yet I see seriousness in the administration that I don’t see anywhere else.
So, I continue to wait while the process moves forward, but the waiting has been very fruitful. As I stated in earlier posts, I've been reading and reading and reading. I'm so fascinated by the history and the symbolism, and can't wait to go deeper to learn more.
Oh, and the Blogs. Wow! I have found a number of Masonic blogs that I frequent, and have read lots of great (and not so great) articles spanning the spectrum of Masonic blogging. Some of the articles are a bit over my head, simply because haven't been exposed to some of the discussed content, but overall, I'm enjoying some great reads. And I am especially enjoying the blogs by prospective and new Masons. It's interesting and encouraging to read the stories and personal experiences of others around the world. Hopefully, someone out there will find my musings interesting!
Finally, one visitor her asked me where I'm from, inquiring that maybe I live near him. Well, I'm currently living in Anderson, South Carolina in the good ol' U.S.A, having moved a few years ago from the Chicago area. Anderson is in the beautiful "Upstate" of South Carolina where my wife and I are enjoying the open spaces, friendly people, a deep Faith, and solid morals of most of the people we have met. No, it's not Eden, but it's a fresh change from the "big city" life of Chicago.
Oh, and I also found out that there are three Lodges in my area. Maybe that's not unusual for a dense, metropolitan area, but for a town of 27,000 in a county of about 175,000, it seems like a lot. And the consensus among the Masons I spoke with is that all are fine Lodges.
More later as things progress....
This is my seventh article about my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Sunday, 06 May 2007 |
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I spoke with my Mason friend from church, and he said that the Lodge had voted on my petition this week, and had formed an investigating committee of three people. They will be contacting me soon. Despite the "fears" that some have expressed about the investigating committee, I feel completely at ease.
During my waiting, I've been reading so much about Freemasonry. I finished the book "Freemasons For Dummies" and found it to be an amazing read. Contrary to my earlier decision, I decided to go ahead and read all of the chapters. I read about the rituals, and the symbols, and found both chapters to be very fascinating.
I've also read many interesting articles and blogs on the Internet covering a host of topics, and I found lots of interesting and educational information about Freemasonry--all aspects, positive and negative. I've avoided articles dealing with specific rituals and "exposures" as I would like my experience to be fresh, but there is still an amazing amount of content that I've enjoyed reading. I've particularly found the historical articals to be the most interesting--history of the organization, the rituals, and Freemasonty's current state. I have read literally hundereds of pages of content, and it has only led to piquing my interest more.
So, I contiue to wait, but I am encouraged to hear that the process is moving forward. But the wait has also been refreshing. With everything today being so here and now, and expectations of immedate gratification, I find it to be an interesting time while I wait. It's hard to describe, but through the reading I have done, I am learning that Freemasonry's history is rooted deeply in the past, and that the traditions and rituals have been preserved and sustained for many centuries. Those were slower times, and it brings me a different perspective to the organization. It's something that seems to have much more to it than the typical "club". I can't wait to learn more and begin my "real" involvement.
This is my sixth article about my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Monday, 16 April 2007 |
I told my Mason friend from church that I was reading the book "Freemasons For Dummies". Though he had not heard of it, he was pleased to see that I was taking the initiative to learn and study Freemasonry. I told him that I was getting anxious about waiting for the process to unfold, and he said that this is "a time of waiting and patience". In some Lodges, things can move forward very quickly. In others, things can take a while. For me, it seems to be the later. I want things to move forward, and I know they are (apparantly a lot happens behind the scenes) it's just that sometimes I don't like waiting. But you know, it's a good lesson in patience that I'm grateful for.
I'm really enjoying reading and learning the history of Freemasonry. I'm almost done with the "Freemasons For Dummies" book, and I continue to be fascinated by what it presents. For example, I never knew that the Boy Scounts and its honor organization the "Order Of The Arrow" (OA) had some roots in Freemasonry. While they are not Masonic organizations, many of their founders were Masons, and Masonic influence is very evident in ceremonies and moral teachings. This really hit home for me because I received the Eagle Scout award while I was a Scout, and I was elected by my troop to receive the Ordeal honor in OA (“Ordeal” being the the first "level" of OA) and I later took the Brotherhood honor. In college, I pledged the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, which is an offshoot of the Boy Scouts. It did have its social elements, but its main goal was brotherhood and service.
So I do have some familiarity with involvement in fraternal organizations, and I have had the honor of achieving goals of moral and fraternal importance. As an adult, I am no longer active in these organizations, but interestingly, the Scout Oath and Law, and the OA Obligation do cross my mind frequently. I guess the lessons I learned as a child form those organizations have stuck with me.
So, as I continue to wait and be patient, I also continue to read my book, and explore online. Despite the proliferation of anti-Masonic articles, there are many informative and interesting articles and blogs to explore. It's very interesting to read the history of Freemasonry, how it has influenced society, and, more importantly, what other Masons went through and how they perceive Freemasonry.
This is my fifth article about my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Tuesday, 10 April 2007 |
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Patience. It's a virtue, and it's seems to be required of becoming a mason. It can be frustrating, but it can also be rewarding. In this day and age, we are so compelled to the here and now, to the immediacy, to the urgency of everything. The mere thought of having to wait days, weeks, or possibly even months to find out if I can join can be very frustrating. But during this time of waiting, I see two important points coming to the surface: perspective and time.
First, the waiting helps me put things into perspective. I’ve discovered that Freemasonry is not just a club to join, or an event to go to. It will hopefully be a life-long experience. Jumping into something for the wrong reasons is never good, so having the opportunity to try to better understand just what it's all about will hopefully let me make a clear decision instead of a hasty one.
Second, I decided to use this waiting period to learn more about Freemasonry--to do some more research. I found a number of informative blogs written by people who have recently become Masons, detailing their personal experiences. Many contain personal accounts of the steps they followed, the processes, the experiences, and how it impacted them. It's been interesting reading!
Of note is the "Horseshoes and Handgernades" blog. For me, this site brought all the "heady" historical and impersonal facts down to a personal level as it recounts one man's journey through the degrees of Freemasonry. And the more I read, the more I wanted to know the outcome! But that's for some time in the future, because he's still progressing. What a great read!
That site and others, recommend the book "Freemasons for Dummies" by Christopher Hodapp. I usually avoid "Dummies" books, but this one comes highly recommended (and it was at my local bookstore!) So I purchased it and I'm currently reading it. It's rich with lots of easy-to-understand history and information, and even covers some of the more "secretive" elements of the ritual ceremonies. But fear not. It makes some excellent notations about the "secret" information: First, it doesn't reveal any "true secrets" of the Craft, so anything that it does reveal doesn't compromise the integrity or the experience of Freemasonry. And second, there is a recommendation at the beginning of the "Ceremonies" chapter that clearly states that the chapter does contain some information that, though not secret, may "spoil" the experience for you if you are considering joining. Fortunately, there's so much more in the book that avoiding that one chapter until later should not be a problem. I chose to not read that chapter.
I've learned a lot about what Freemasonry is (and isn't), its history, its involvement in history, and its beliefs. And I've only scratched the surface. So, I continue to wait, and continue to learn more about the history of Freemasonry, and I continue to read about some of the personal experiences on other sites. I'm finding it fascinating, informative, and exciting, and I'm eager to see how things unfold.
This is my fourth article about my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Tuesday, 10 April 2007 |
After talking with several Masons and doing lots of reading, I decided that I would like to join the ranks of the Freemasons. I talked with a Mason friend from church several times, and eventually he gave me a petition form to complete and return to him. It was an intriguing form with some interestingly worded questions, but everything seemed to be in order, so I completed the form and returned it to him. And that's it! So now I wait patiently to learn the next steps.
He told me that my form would be presented to the Lodge, and that if the Lodge voted to consider my petition, then an investigating committee would be formed to meet with me. Hmmm...sounds ominous! But from what I've heard and read, it's really just an opportunity for me to learn more about what's to come, and for the members of the Lodge to decide whether or not they want to allow me to be part of their Lodge.
I'm guessing that it should be pretty straight forward, so I figure that if I just be myself and don't try to impress, they'll see me for who I really am and make decisions based on that.
This is my third article about my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Tuesday, 10 April 2007 |
It seems that the topic of Freemasonry can pop up just about anywhere. I was having breakfast with a friend from church when the subject of Freemasonry came up. My friend is not a mason, but he told me that a number of our church members are. I had seen a lapel pin here and there on several of them, but I never gave it much thought. But after hearing a brief list of some church members who were Masons, I was intrigued. My first thought was, "How can these blatantly Godly men be Satan worshipers?" Obviously, I had some pre-conceptions of Freemasonry, so I decided to do some research to see just what it was all about. So began my journey.
Being an Internet geek, I started at the obvious places: Google and Wikipedia. As with most topics on the Internet, I was overwhelmed by the volume of information. It was also a bit discouraging because it seemed that for all the positive and informative Masonic sites I found, there were just as many if not more negative and anti-Masonic sites. On one hand, I read information on pro-Masonic sites that sounded above board and legitimate, and on the other hand, I read the conspiracy theories and claims about Freemasonry's supposed "true" origins, involvements, and agendas. Some of these sites are quite convincing, and they do have some excellent information, but after a while, I became skeptical of many of the claims of the anti-Masonic view. I was reading one anti-Masonic blog that appeared to have some excellent and interesting information...up to the point where it referenced the "Moon Landing Hoax"! That's when the alarm bells went off, and I realized that my perusal of Masonic information had simply confirmed what I have always known: The Internet continues to be filled with lots of crackpots and paranoid people sporting tin-foil hats.
Are some of the anti-Masonic sites worth reading? In fairness, I have to say yes. After all, I believe that it's important to understand all sides of an issue. Just try to be discerning about what both sides have to say. It was at this point that I stumbled upon the site MasonicInfo.com. At first, I thought it was yet another anti-Masonic site. But it turns out that it is a very pro-Masonic site that includes lots of interesting anti-Masonic information with responses, rebuttals, and explanations from a Masonic perspective. I found it to be very informative, and I was impressed that it presented both sides of the story. I especially liked the "Masonic Primer" section which contains lots of interesting historical and practical information about the “who”, “what”, and “why” of Freemasonry. For anyone interested in Freemasonry, I suggest you check this site out. It is rich with information, and well worth the read.
One interesting consistency I found with many pro-Masonic sites is that they tend to provide just enough information to get you interested in what Freemasonry is, but they don't reveal everything about it. Many Masons will tell you that there are many things about Freemasonry that simply need to be experienced. In contrast, many of the anti-Masonic sites tend to want to reveal everything to the visitor. Again, this makes sense, as the apparent goal of many anti-Masonic sites is to "expose" Freemasonry. If you want to read the details of the rituals, and learn all of Freemasonry’s "secrets", there are numerous sources, and they are available. But if you are at all interested in joining, then I'd recommend that it's probably best to avoid those sources and just experience things as they come. I've chosen not to dig too deep, for should I decide to join, I don't want to "spoil" anything.
Do take the time to research and learn. There are lots of misconceptions and misunderstandings about what Freemasonry is and isn't. Heck, if nothing else, you are in for some interesting reading!
This is my second article about my experience in Freemasonry.
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Written by Jim Barr
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Tuesday, 10 April 2007 |
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I read lots of information online about freemasonry, both pro and anti, but I felt that it was time to talk to someone who was actually involved in it to get some first-hand information. So I approached one of the members of our church who I knew to be a mason, and he was quite open and happy to discuss it with me. He didn't go into a lot of details, but he did give me enough information to make me want to know more. I left pondering what we discussed, and eventually went back online to read and learn some more.
Then, the next Sunday at church, another friend came up to me and said something along the lines of, "So Jim, I understand you've started a journey." He caught me off guard--I honestly didn't understand what he meant--but my quizzical look was obvious to him, so he said, "Let's just say, you asked the right questions." Then it hit me: he was a mason also! We chatted for a while, and he answered some questions I had. So far, all of the men who I had discovered were masons are respected men that I hold in high regard. What a refreshing thing to learn!
Interestingly, one of the things that I learned about freemsonry is that you will never be asked to join. They don't recruit or solicit--they wait for you to ask. I read a neat story that talk about one person's experience in learning about how to join. He said that had he known that he had to ask, he would have asked long ago.
It later struck me that freemasonry is an organization that is not overt as such. Yes, it's visible, bit it doesn't advertise or recruit. It pretty much just exists in the background, just "doing." Now, the conspiracy theorists may have lots to say about that, and I admit that on occasion, I'll don a tin-foil hat, but something about this seemed to be different. There is something about masons those who I met that seems so compelling: They are humble, friendly, helpful, and Godly men. What they were involved in was something I want to be a part of.
Now, I'll wait and see what is the next step.
This is my first article about my experience in Freemasonry. |
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