Masons

[JohnP]

Are there any other Masons out there?

I've been a Master Mason for about 2 years. I've met several that have come from Military Lodges and I’m interested in finding out if there are any from Military Lodges located in Iraq or Afghanistan.

[mtnsldr]

I have recently considered joining. Perhaps I could speak to you in detail regarding specifics offline...

[JohnP]

I have recently considered joining. Perhaps I could speak to you in detail regarding specifics offline...

PM inbound.

[steelplateinmyhead]

I am a Master Mason with Bingham Lodge 272 AF&AM Mebane NC.

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMJ5W

I was raised in 1988.

I need to affiliate here in Tennessee and quit just carrying a card.

After thought***

John are going thru the chairs?

[JohnP]

I am a Master Mason with Bingham Lodge 272 AF&AM Mebane NC.

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMJ5W

I was raised in 1988.

I need to affiliate here in Tennessee and quit just carrying a card.

After thought***

John are going thru the chairs?

Frontier Lodge 766 AF & AM Alpine, TX. I was Raised in 2006.

http://frontiermasoniclodge.org/

I'll be in the South this annual year. I'm the SD at the moment. Does your Grand Lodge have proficiency certificates?

[steelplateinmyhead]

Frontier Lodge 766 AF & AM Alpine, TX. I was Raised in 2006.

http://frontiermasoniclodge.org/

I'll be in the South this annual year. I'm the SD at the moment. Does your Grand Lodge have proficiency certificates?

No, not when I was going thru the chairs back in the late 80's and early 90.

I got to the South and put on the 1st Degree.

Alot of work in store for you.

I moved away from Mebane, NC because of work and settled here in Tennessee to be closer to my wifes parents and mine.

My dad is a PM at Chilhowie Lodge 250 AF&AM Chilhowie Virginia.

[JohnP]

No, not when I was going thru the chairs back in the late 80's and early 90.

I got to the South and put on the 1st Degree.

Alot of work in store for you.

I moved away from Mebane, NC because of work and settled here in Tennessee to be closer to my wifes parents and mine.

My dad is a PM at Chilhowie Lodge 250 AF&AM Chilhowie Virginia.

I really enjoy the work. There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t learn something new. I’ve been on several degree teams. I’ve sat in the South on a couple also, but I really like my current position. You are in the middle of the action the whole time. I’ve been an instructor to a newly made Mason through his 3rd degree. The work sticks in your head after that. We also have training meetings every Tuesday and I attend faithfully.

In Texas, instructors from the Grand Lodge along with the committee on work visit various lodges and test the members on proficiency. You get a “C” certificate for knowing how to open and close all the lodges. A “B” certificate for that and knowing all the questions and answers for the proficiency examination. An “A” for that and knowing all the lectures for all the degree work.

I got my “B” certificate 6 months after I was raised. I’m working hard to get my lectures down, but I don’t think I’ll get an “A” until at least next year.

My lodge is a very active one. In the history of the Grand Lodge of Texas, we have had 3 Past Grandmasters from it. When you go to my lodge’s website, you’ll see a very tall, older gentleman in the middle of the officers. That’s Graham Childress, Past Grand Master. He has a memory like anyone’s business. I’ve attended 2 Masonic Funerals conducted by him. All from memory and the most solemn affair I’ve ever seen. It ties in well with military honors. I’ve already re-written my desires to include both services.

I see you have a family history with Masonry. I’m proud for you. I hope you due go to a local lodge for plural membership. I find it a very rewarding experience.

[MOM]

I of course, was not a Mason, but my Daddy was a York Rite and my Grandpa was a Scottish Rite. They deposited me in the Scottish Rite Dormitory while I was in college at UT Austin (they called your parents if you were out past 10 on weeknights or midnight on weekends. MOM made friends with Moe, the night guard and used to bring him a Whopper burger & fries when she'd miss the curfew - never got turned in)

Grandpa was born in 1899, and I have somewhere around here his Masonic Lodge card from Okinawa in like 1921 or so. I'll see if I can dig that out and post a picture - it's pretty neat. Both are gone now and I have all their Masonic books and things like that. My son told me he had thought about it as he works with some. I've encouraged him to look into it and then I can pass those things along to him.

I love reading the political history surround the Masons (real true history). Very interesting.

PS Paul - I didn't realize you were in Alpine. That's fairly close to me by West Texas standards, I'm in Midland.

[JohnP]

I of course, was not a Mason, but my Daddy was a York Rite and my Grandpa was a Scottish Rite. They deposited me in the Scottish Rite Dormitory while I was in college at UT Austin (they called your parents if you were out past 10 on weeknights or midnight on weekends. MOM made friends with Moe, the night guard and used to bring him a Whopper burger & fries when she'd miss the curfew - never got turned in)

Grandpa was born in 1899, and I have somewhere around here his Masonic Lodge card from Okinawa in like 1921 or so. I'll see if I can dig that out and post a picture - it's pretty neat. Both are gone now and I have all their Masonic books and things like that. My son told me he had thought about it as he works with some. I've encouraged him to look into it and then I can pass those things along to him.

I love reading the political history surround the Masons (real true history). Very interesting.

PS Paul - I didn't realize you were in Alpine. That's fairly close to me by West Texas standards, I'm in Midland.

As I said in the PM, Midland Lodge 632 will make you proud.

Have you thought of Eastern Star?

[MOM]

PS Paul - I didn't realize

Who the heck is Paul? I don't know where I got that from, my apologies JOHNP.

My Mother was in the Eastern Star and I still have her ring. I've just never had time or the interest to get into it myself.

[JohnP]

Who the heck is Paul? I don't know where I got that from, my apologies JOHNP.

My Mother was in the Eastern Star and I still have her ring. I've just never had time or the interest to get into it myself.

No apologies needed. You can call me anything you want, just not late for dinner. It wasn't until I got out of the military that I found out I had a real 1st name.

My wife wants to get into Eastern Star but, like you, doesn’t have the time.

I like the formalities involved with the chapters. The long dresses and formal tones take me back to the simpler times.

[steelplateinmyhead]

One of the main reason that I haven't gotten active, here in Tennessee is that most the lodges here only have labor once a month.

In NC we met twice a month to facilitate as many as possible.

Then I was working a "day" job in retail management.

A lot of the members were working in the textile industry and were shift type workers.

Now I work 12 hour swing shifts and may hit the night of lodge meetings about once in 3 or 4 months.

[JohnP]

One of the main reason that I haven't gotten active, here in Tennessee is that most the lodges here only have labor once a month.

In NC we met twice a month to facilitate as many as possible.

Then I was working a "day" job in retail management.

A lot of the members were working in the textile industry and were shift type workers.

Now I work 12 hour swing shifts and may hit the night of lodge meetings about once in 3 or 4 months.

It is difficult to get Masonry done when you work as much as you do. One of my Mentees here is a gunsmith, until November, 2008, his job was steady and he made Lodge and practices all the time. But since then, he’s lucky to get into his house to eat dinner.

You do what you can, remembering this should not take precedence over your God, your family, or your vocation. You do what you can. I know any lodge would be happy to see you at any time.

[13B_Warrior]

My dad was (maybe still is, though he doesn't attend actively anymore) a Mason, as was his father. My great-great-grandfather on my mom's side was a Masonic Knight Templar. I pull out his sword every now and then and look at all the symbols on it. I've spent a lot of time with my father's masonic Bible, but most of that is keeping my nine-month-old son away from it.

King of Battle
13B

[JohnP]

My dad was (maybe still is, though he doesn't attend actively anymore) a Mason, as was his father. My great-great-grandfather on my mom's side was a Masonic Knight Templar. I pull out his sword every now and then and look at all the symbols on it. I've spent a lot of time with my father's masonic Bible, but most of that is keeping my nine-month-old son away from it.

King of Battle
13B

You have a lot of history in your family, if you’re interested, follow this link:.

http://frontiermasoniclodge.org/Become%20Mason.html

There are great things that can be done in Masonry. There should be a military lodge on your post if I’m not mistaken.

[13B_Warrior]

Thank you JohnP. Right now my focuss is elsewhere (family, growing my business, learning all I can about driving a M109A6, getting ready for my sergeant stripes), but I have considered joining. Once I get a little more settled, I will look into it.

King of Battle
13B

[Bamaabiff]

Proud Mason here.

I joined two and a half years ago at the age of 23, and I have been very active in my lodge. I am currently the JW, and am hopefully moving to the West in about a week and a half, when we have our annual elections.

I am also a 32nd Degree Knight of St. Andrew in the Scottish Rite, and a proud Shriner as well, although I am not nearly as active in it as I am in my lodge and the SR.

Masonry for me, like others on here, has always been a family thing. My great uncle is a Knight Templar, Shriner, and PM of his lodge in Florida. He has been a Mason for over 50 years. My maternal Grandfather has also been a Mason for well over 50 years (57). He is also a Knight Templar, a 32nd Deg., a Shriner, and he is also a member of a few other invitational only bodies that stay under the radar. And, lastly, he got my father involved after he married my mother. My father has been a Mason for over 23 years, and is a Knight Templar and Shriner.

I am very proud of my families Masonic history, and it makes me proud to know that I am continuing that tradition.

[steelplateinmyhead]

Cool.

Carry on.

[JohnP]

Cool.

Carry on.


I replicate that comment. It is one of the finest organizations I’ve ever been a member of. I’ll be heading to the South this Thursday.

[Bamaabiff]

I replicate that comment. It is one of the finest organizations I’ve ever been a member of. I’ll be heading to the South this Thursday.

Do y'all's JD's cook for the entire lodge? If so, then best of luck. It's tough.

[JohnP]

Do y'all's JD's cook for the entire lodge? If so, then best of luck. It's tough.

We always ask for volunteers to cook. However, I usually volunteer and cook about once a month. Cooking for large groups is something I picked up on when in the service. (Numerous parties and cookouts) Usually when I cook, the number of members that show is nearly double. Last meeting was homemade meatballs (Italian Sausage, hamburger and ground javalina), served in Grandma Carmello’s marinara and served over linguine and a side salad; blackberry cobbler with ice cream for dessert. The meeting before that was jambalaya with shrimp, diced pork and smoked sausage served over dirty rice with corn bread and hushpuppies; blueberry cobbler for dessert. I don’t know what I’m making tomorrow. I’m thinking of poor-boys with potatoes, green chili, ground venison and moose served with chips and a side salad; peach cobbler for dessert. (As you can tell, I like cobbler.) :)

I was going to suggest that the cooking be done by the SS and JS as per traditions but I want to move through the chairs and not be stuck as a permanent appointment. :D

[Bamaabiff]

We always ask for volunteers to cook. However, I usually volunteer and cook about once a month. Cooking for large groups is something I picked up on when in the service. (Numerous parties and cookouts) Usually when I cook, the number of members that show is nearly double. Last meeting was homemade meatballs (Italian Sausage, hamburger and ground javalina), served in Grandma Carmello’s marinara and served over linguine and a side salad; blackberry cobbler with ice cream for dessert. The meeting before that was jambalaya with shrimp, diced pork and smoked sausage served over dirty rice with corn bread and hushpuppies; blueberry cobbler for dessert. I don’t know what I’m making tomorrow. I’m thinking of poor-boys with potatoes, green chili, ground venison and moose served with chips and a side salad; peach cobbler for dessert. (As you can tell, I like cobbler.) :)

I was going to suggest that the cooking be done by the SS and JS as per traditions but I want to move through the chairs and not be stuck as a permanent appointment. :D

Wow, when you cook, you don't mess around. Yeah, we have two meetings a month so I have cooked at least 24 meals this year.
Our average attendance is about 45 per meeting, and it can get pretty hectic.

[JohnP]

Wow, when you cook, you don't mess around. Yeah, we have two meetings a month so I have cooked at least 24 meals this year.
Our average attendance is about 45 per meeting, and it can get pretty hectic.

If you want, I can send some recipes for mass groups. I'll even give you my secret recipe for the jambalaya.

I'll give you a hint, the 1st letter of the base starts with the letter Z. :D

[Bamaabiff]

If you want, I can send some recipes for mass groups. I'll even give you my secret recipe for the jambalaya.

I'll give you a hint, the 1st letter of the base starts with the letter Z. :D

Hahahaha, I will definitely take some recipes. I actually made a little meal planning book with various recipes and ingredient portions for some of the meals I have made this year. I am going to give it to the next JW. But, I'll keep the jambalaya for myself.

P.S. What a coincidence, my Jambalaya also has a Z named base as well. It, is, amazing (the coincidence...and the jambalaya).

[Desert Sapper]

My uncle is a Mason (16 degree, I think). A lot of the NCOs I've worked with have been members. I've never been settled enough to get engaged, but I've long been interested in becoming a member.

[JohnP]

My uncle is a Mason (16 degree, I think). A lot of the NCOs I've worked with have been members. I've never been settled enough to get engaged, but I've long been interested in becoming a member.

Even as a civilian, it takes time to get through the 1st three degrees. It helps if you have someone within your unit who can mentor.

There are 3 people from my lodge who were made or raised in military lodges.

It’s definitely worth looking into when you have the time.

[Saint Marc]

My father hit his 32nd degree at about 44 and remained there until he was way into his 50's. He says he is no longer active in the lodge, but I saw a calendar with dinners at the lodge on his fridge a few months back and some dates circled on it.
Why is that John? Why is it I find many old Masons today will say they are no longer active in the lodge, yet they still go to the lodge?
At dinner I had a friend ask my father about it and my dad asked him point blank if wanted to petition the lodge or if he was asking to petition the lodge. My buddy told him not yet due to work right now and asked him why he never got me into Masonry and my dad said "Because he is my son, I can't. He has to come on his own free will and ask another Mason, but I cannot help him in any way according to the rules.".
That is how to the letter my oldman is on it. He takes it serious.

[JohnP]

My father hit his 32nd degree at about 44 and remained there until he was way into his 50's. He says he is no longer active in the lodge, but I saw a calendar with dinners at the lodge on his fridge a few months back and some dates circled on it.
Why is that John? Why is it I find many old Masons today will say they are no longer active in the lodge, yet they still go to the lodge?
At dinner I had a friend ask my father about it and my dad asked him point blank if wanted to petition the lodge or if he was asking to petition the lodge. My buddy told him not yet due to work right now and asked him why he never got me into Masonry and my dad said "Because he is my son, I can't. He has to come on his own free will and ask another Mason, but I cannot help him in any way according to the rules.".
That is how to the letter my oldman is on it. He takes it serious.

You have hit upon the great question that ponders Masonry. Why do people get tired of giving their hearts and souls into something that deals with your heart and soul?

In my opinion, they are tired or “burned out.” Masonry goes in cycles. You will have a large group, and then you will have a falling out and them small groups. There was a nation wide study done last year on the numbers in Masonry. (I may be a little off of the exact numbers but you will get the gist.) In the 1930’s there were around One million Masons in the US. In the 1950’s there were 8 million Masons. In the 1970’s there were around a million; in 2000 there was around 900,000 and last year, 875,000. In my lodge alone we have over 500 members but only about 20 to 30 attend lodge on a regular basis and of that there’s only 10 of us that are actually active. The average age for membership in the state of Texas is 68. I’m considered a kid at 50.

In Texas, your father is correct, he can’t get you into the door, but if he knows you’re interested, he can bring you to the fellowship dinner prior to a lodge meeting; and all you have to do is ask any member there. You would probably have your petition completed by the end of dinner and referred to an investigating committee by the end of the meeting.

I hit upon one part about why members are no longer active, but still attend lodge. It is the fellowship of being around men with like beliefs. These same men have completed the same obligation and ceremonies. Are you not comfortable with sailors who attended the same schools? You have a base of knowledge that you can share with someone. With Masonry, it is the same, I can go to lodge here or anywhere in the world and know that these men have gone through the same thing I did.

[Bamaabiff]

The average age for membership in the state of Texas is 68. I’m considered a kid at 50.


That's probably about the same in Bama. I am 25, but I am happy to say that I am not the youngest member of my lodge. We have a 23 year old who is currently in Afghanistan right now with his Army unit. We also have a couple of active younger guys who are a few years older than me. In fact, our age of officers for the next Masonic year is as follows:

WM-46
SW-25 (me)
JW-30
SD-41
JD-28
SS-27
Treasurer-27
Sec'y-34
Tyler-74 (he's the exception)

[Saint Marc]

Wow I never saw a Worshipful Master that young! My father was 50 when he was in that role.
I've seen some lodges in Georgia on the net with very young looking men in the photos. When I was a kid my dads lodge was full of old guys like I said before, and to me Masons seem older, settled and anchored down.

Hey any of you guys Shriner Clowns? I loved my uncles go-karts. I miss those parades. My pediatrician a Mason would make the best cotton candy at those parades all dressed like a clown. He died a few years back at 80 something. Great guy, I miss those days. My dad used to have a camel at the stables, he dressed like an arab and rode it in a few parades. Any of you Camel Herders?

[JohnP]

Wow I never saw a Worshipful Master that young! My father was 50 when he was in that role.
I've seen some lodges in Georgia on the net with very young looking men in the photos. When I was a kid my dads lodge was full of old guys like I said before, and to me Masons seem older, settled and anchored down.

If the chairs rotate the in the current direction, in 4 years the WM for my lodge will be 39 years old. In 5 years the WM will be 34 years old. The youngest to have sat was a Border Patrol agent in 1998. He was 29.

Hey any of you guys Shriner Clowns? I loved my uncles go-karts. I miss those parades. My pediatrician a Mason would make the best cotton candy at those parades all dressed like a clown. He died a few years back at 80 something. Great guy, I miss those days. My dad used to have a camel at the stables, he dressed like an arab and rode it in a few parades. Any of you Camel Herders?

I'm strictly Blue Lodge, however, several members are fez wearing, go-cart and mini-bike riders. 2 members are 33rd Scottish Rite. I've never seen a camel herder in person. I'm still honored to know these men. They do so much for the communities.

When I get back closer to civilization, I want to get into York Rite, then Commandrie.

[Bamaabiff]

Hey any of you guys Shriner Clowns? I loved my uncles go-karts. I miss those parades. My pediatrician a Mason would make the best cotton candy at those parades all dressed like a clown. He died a few years back at 80 something. Great guy, I miss those days. My dad used to have a camel at the stables, he dressed like an arab and rode it in a few parades. Any of you Camel Herders?

Npt a clown, but a Shriner. I am a Greeter. We check membership cards at the door of functions and also do basic security checks and things like that. However, one of my best friends in the Shrine is a clown. Those guys are a different breed. To be a Shrine Clown I truly think that it is a calling that you are born into. Those guys go to the burn hospitals and deal with SO many sick children, and they do it with a smile on their face. I am amazed by their composure.