Mason Roll Call

Nice find Capt!

I'm also getting raised on August 30th! Guadalupe Lodge #109

 

3rd degree master mason. Crow Canyon lodge #551

 

Getting raised tonight

 

Congrats brother! I'm two weeks from day. Can't wait!

Whatever you do, don't let go of the goat!

 

@AR15xAR10

 

I actually thought that you had to be religious to join, and that atheists can't join. As I understood it, members had to believe in "God", but any of the major religions was acceptable. Please let me know if this is incorrect.

 

That's correct. I left organized religion after several deployments where I saw firsthand what people did to each other in the name of God. Didn't matter if they were Muslim, Eastern Orthodox, or Southern Baptist. After a tour in Bosnia, I decided to "cut out the middleman and go straight to the source."

Just because I don't often attend church services doesn't mean I don't believe in a higher power. I just think that it's much bigger than we mere humans are able to completely understand. I find that Freemasonry fits in with those things I liked about attending church (there's a particularly pleasant feeling "wherever 2 or more are gathered in his name") without being told what and I how I have to believe.

The fellowship is great, and I get a kick out of sharing meals and stories with brothers 30 years younger and 30 years older than I am. I don't think any other organization has quite that benefit.

 

In regular masonry you're 100% corret. You have to believe in a higher power among other qualifications. In irregular masonry atheists can join.

 

Well said Capt

 

They said they'll be two

My secretary should be contacting yours about me attending that meeting btw

 

I though irregular masonry was a European and Latin American only thing. It's a shame that the Masons are so inclusive - allowing all deity-based religions - but still exclude certain folks for believing otherwise. Likely missing some cool guys who would like to join for all of the good stuff that you guys do.

 

You have to think how far back our traditions go. All the way back when speculative masonry started in the English pubs. We follow those same guidelines since the formation of the UGLE. If we strayed too far then it wouldn't be the same fraternity from back then. Deity is a fundamental building block for us so trying to take it out is hard. Which is why irregular masonry hasn't taken off that much.

 

It's been a hard road here in Texas just opening the lodges to African-American members. Some of the folks in the more rural areas of Texas still won't permit a black man in their lodge, even though the Grand Lodge of Texas recognizes Prince Hall, and authorizes visitations.

Some of the "much older and more set-in-their-ways" members are tough nuts to crack but are coming around. My lodge is pretty inclusive (we even have a openly gay candidate getting voted on next week) and several black members, and the general attitude is that they're all welcome brothers.

I was a DeMolay in Ohio back in the 80s, and had my eyes opened to some things I didn't like. I didn't join then like I could have, because the racist tendencies (my parent lodge even had a thing against Catholics) really put me off. 30 years have made a huge improvement, and I'm glad I'm coming back to Freemasonry in a more enlightened time.

 

I was Demolay. No longer on the path to become a Mason

 

Well? C'mon!

 

No time.

 

Getting raised in about...10 minutes. See y’all on the flip side!

Edit: raised! Received THIS!

 

Congrats Brother!!!

 

"Regular Masonry" exists is most countries around the world. What makes us "Regular" is that even though each Masonic jurisdiction is sovereign unto itself, we all adopt and adhere to what are called the 'Ancient Charges of Masonry', and we each recognize only those other jurisdictions that do not violate any of those ancient charges ("rules" if you will). "Irregular", or "clandestine" Masonry exists in many countries, as well as in many U.S. States. Those Lodges may follow some of the ancient charges, but not all, and so are not officially recognized and accepted as equals by "regular" Masonic jurisdictions.

The primary reason for the mandatory belief in some higher power, or deity, is that as part of our initiation ceremonies, we take oaths which are very sacred to us, and contain many very significant promises we make to each other. Human nature being what it is, the only way we accept that each new initiate is agreeing to these oaths freely and completely (meaning not lying just to get into the organization), is to require he openly admit to a belief in a higher power, and then swear his oaths to that higher power, that he is honestly accepting of the promises he is making. Obviously, he can still be lying, but as none of us can read minds, we must adopt some mechanism by which we will agree to accept someone's word as given.

Are there people who truly are good, and do no evil towards others, yet have no spiritual or religious convictions of any kind? Of course there are. But, this is only one of the ancient charges that must be followed by any Masonic organization who wishes to be considered as "regular" and accepted as such by all other such groups.