Started the process! - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Started the process!

Posted: 8/2/2019 8:40:15 PM EDT

Well i went and got my petition and my two signatures last night and met a bunch of the lodge! They of course invited me to stay for supper and Im glad I did. Everyone was very welcoming, and I was very glad to see a handful of younger guys, like myself as well. Looking forward to the journey. They did ask me did I wear boots to wade through the stories being told at dinner, and asked If i was afraid of goats,

, so i figured I was in the right place.

Does anyone have any advice to offer?

Posted: 8/3/2019 1:44:15 PM EDT

[#1]

Congratulations!

Just listen and enjoy your degrees. Have fun.

Posted: 8/3/2019 10:43:49 PM EDT

[#2]

Just roll with it. Keep your ears open. There is no hazing or humiliation in the degrees.

I really dislike the goat jokes. Our degrees should be held in higher regard than that.

Posted: 8/3/2019 11:16:36 PM EDT

[#3]

Congratulations.

The work is difficult, but well worth the effort.

Posted: 8/4/2019 11:29:55 AM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:

Just roll with it. Keep your ears open. There is no hazing or humiliation in the degrees.

I really dislike the goat jokes. Our degrees should be held in higher regard than that.

View Quote

Its really interesting you said that, a few of the guys at the table just sort of looked at him funny, and a few laughed. Maybe thats why it got different reactions.

Looking forward to it.

Posted: 8/12/2019 8:43:45 PM EDT

[#5]

Congratulations on taking the first step.

Posted: 8/13/2019 1:05:47 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:

Just roll with it. Keep your ears open. There is no hazing or humiliation in the degrees.

I really dislike the goat jokes. Our degrees should be held in higher regard than that.

View Quote

This. Roll with it. Part of it may seem odd or confusing, but it all works out, I can assure you. (So far, anyway. I've not quite been MM for a year).

Joining is one of the best things I've done as an adult. Great group of men.

Posted: 8/16/2019 7:07:46 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Does anyone have any advice to offer?

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When you wear a dark suit, the goat hair stands out prominently. Bring a good lint brush!

(As you can tell I'm in the 'OK with Joking' camp)

Serious advice, pay attention as well as you can, the journey is yours to enjoy, and can go as far as your curiosity takes you

Posted: 8/16/2019 8:51:10 AM EDT

[#8]

Resist the curiosity to research the degree work online. Don't spoil the experience for yourself.

After you go through each degree and are studying your catechism, you can do some research about the profound meanings behind the symbolism.

New members also run the risk of being spread thin. Doesn't always happen, but it's pretty common. You're likely going to be pulled in many different directions. Take it slow and recognize it's a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout is real.

Most importantly, have fun!

Posted: 8/16/2019 1:38:26 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
When you wear a dark suit, the goat hair stands out prominently. Bring a good lint brush!

(As you can tell I'm in the 'OK with Joking' camp)

Serious advice, pay attention as well as you can, the journey is yours to enjoy, and can go as far as your curiosity takes you

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Does anyone have any advice to offer?

When you wear a dark suit, the goat hair stands out prominently. Bring a good lint brush!

(As you can tell I'm in the 'OK with Joking' camp)

Serious advice, pay attention as well as you can, the journey is yours to enjoy, and can go as far as your curiosity takes you

I'm fine with joking, but the whole goat thing is corny as hell. A Masonic dad joke. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's good to be silly sometimes.

Posted: 9/13/2019 7:48:26 PM EDT

[#10]

Had my investigation last night. Seemed to go well. I was relieved when i instantly recognized two of the committee. Ive been going to the monthly meetings and ive actually been sitting and eating with two of the committee members so that took some edge off. Going to go back the night of my vote to eat and wait on the news! They told me they would call within a week on the lodges decision after the vote, is this standard practice?

Posted: 9/14/2019 11:32:56 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Had my investigation last night. Seemed to go well. I was relieved when i instantly recognized two of the committee. Ive been going to the monthly meetings and ive actually been sitting and eating with two of the committee members so that took some edge off. Going to go back the night of my vote to eat and wait on the news! They told me they would call within a week on the lodges decision after the vote, is this standard practice?

View Quote

@Chadsc yes this is standard practice.

Posted: 9/15/2019 10:54:13 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

@Chadsc yes this is standard practice.

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One of the changes we implemented this year to improve the experience is to hand deliver a letter on parchment paper that has been sealed with a wax square and compass to notify the of their degree date. Two of us show up in suits to make the delivery. It's been very well received.

Posted: 9/15/2019 1:24:35 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
One of the changes we implemented this year to improve the experience is to hand deliver a letter on parchment paper that has been sealed with a wax square and compass to notify the of their degree date. Two of us show up in suits to make the delivery. It's been very well received.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

@Chadsc yes this is standard practice.

One of the changes we implemented this year to improve the experience is to hand deliver a letter on parchment paper that has been sealed with a wax square and compass to notify the of their degree date. Two of us show up in suits to make the delivery. It's been very well received.

That's pretty cool.

Posted: 9/15/2019 6:42:28 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:

One of the changes we implemented this year to improve the experience is to hand deliver a letter on parchment paper that has been sealed with a wax square and compass to notify the of their degree date. Two of us show up in suits to make the delivery. It's been very well received.

View Quote

That's pretty slick. I like it.

Posted: 9/15/2019 9:48:58 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:

One of the changes we implemented this year to improve the experience is to hand deliver a letter on parchment paper that has been sealed with a wax square and compass to notify the of their degree date. Two of us show up in suits to make the delivery. It's been very well received.

View Quote

That would be very fitting, and quite memorable.

Big thumbs up to whoever thought that up.

Considering there aren’t many changes to tradition in Masonry, a new tradition like that should be at the top of everyones list.

Posted: 9/15/2019 9:57:26 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

That would be very fitting, and quite memorable.

Big thumbs up to whoever thought that up.

Considering there aren’t many changes to tradition in Masonry, a new tradition like that should be at the top of everyones list.

View Quote

One of the other lodges in the state mentioned it while I was visiting, I copied it. So easy to do. The wax seal was around $20 on Amazon.

We're trying a few small changes to enhance the experience. Looking at numbers we lose a majority of our initiates between EA and FC. We are either not investigating/preparing them well enough or they get a terrible degree and don't come back (most likely a combination of both).

Posted: 10/1/2019 9:29:50 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Had my investigation last night. Seemed to go well. I was relieved when i instantly recognized two of the committee. Ive been going to the monthly meetings and ive actually been sitting and eating with two of the committee members so that took some edge off. Going to go back the night of my vote to eat and wait on the news! They told me they would call within a week on the lodges decision after the vote, is this standard practice?

View Quote

What Lodge are you petitioning? I'm in the Columbia area.

Posted: 10/4/2019 1:19:49 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:

What Lodge are you petitioning? I'm in the Columbia area.

View Quote

Bailey no. 146 , Its not the closest one to my house, but it had alot of good recomendations. Vote was last night, just waiting on the call.

Posted: 10/21/2019 9:19:18 PM EDT

[#19]

Just to keep it going, got the call. I got accepted and awaiting a date for my 1st degree. Was told it may be a while due to the holidays and all, but looking forward to it. Now the fun begins

Posted: 10/21/2019 9:25:46 PM EDT

[#20]

Congratulations sir, the journey begins.

Posted: 11/6/2019 11:37:28 PM EDT

[#21]

Just for an update, Found out today, 1st degree is 11/21

Posted: 11/7/2019 12:37:30 PM EDT

[#22]

Outstanding!

Posted: 1/23/2020 12:40:04 PM EDT

[#23]

I just thought i would post again, had my first coaching session

Dont know how Im going to ever remember all this, but they told me its like drinking from a firehose for a while, dont sweat it. Well see! Going to try and go see a 1st degree in person, they assured me it would help seeing it from the other side.

Posted: 1/23/2020 11:51:32 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
I just thought i would post again, had my first coaching session

Dont know how Im going to ever remember all this, but they told me its like drinking from a firehose for a while, dont sweat it. Well see! Going to try and go see a 1st degree in person, they assured me it would help seeing it from the other side.

View Quote

I would agree. It's hard to absorb much of it when you're going through. Makes a lot of sense when you can see it from the other side.

Posted: 1/27/2020 6:11:17 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
I just thought i would post again, had my first coaching session

Dont know how Im going to ever remember all this, but they told me its like drinking from a firehose for a while, dont sweat it. Well see! Going to try and go see a 1st degree in person, they assured me it would help seeing it from the other side.

View Quote

I just got my second degree two weeks ago. At first I thought I would have trouble remembering but then in studying alone ,reading my Bible, studying with my “tow” and just looking at everyday life it all starting to come together.

Posted: 1/27/2020 9:55:49 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
When you wear a dark suit, the goat hair stands out prominently. Bring a good lint brush!

(As you can tell I'm in the 'OK with Joking' camp)

Serious advice, pay attention as well as you can, the journey is yours to enjoy, and can go as far as your curiosity takes you

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Does anyone have any advice to offer?

When you wear a dark suit, the goat hair stands out prominently. Bring a good lint brush!

(As you can tell I'm in the 'OK with Joking' camp)

Serious advice, pay attention as well as you can, the journey is yours to enjoy, and can go as far as your curiosity takes you

I'm fine with joking. I love joking, as a matter of fact. My only quarrel with the goat thing is it's the ultimate Dad joke. It's just not that funny.

Of course, I've always believed that if a joke isn't that funny the first time, trying it a thousand times might help. So goat away, brothers.

Posted: 1/27/2020 9:57:04 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Had my investigation last night. Seemed to go well. I was relieved when i instantly recognized two of the committee. Ive been going to the monthly meetings and ive actually been sitting and eating with two of the committee members so that took some edge off. Going to go back the night of my vote to eat and wait on the news! They told me they would call within a week on the lodges decision after the vote, is this standard practice?

View Quote

It definitely seems to stretch out when you're on the waiting end of it. A little patience will serve you well here. It's a volunteer organization that meets once a month, in most cases (although the leadership is often much busier than that).

Good luck, and welcome!

Posted: 1/28/2020 8:50:42 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:

I'm fine with joking. I love joking, as a matter of fact. My only quarrel with the goat thing is it's the ultimate Dad joke. It's just not that funny.

Of course, I've always believed that if a joke isn't that funny the first time, trying it a thousand times might help. So goat away, brothers.

View Quote

I hate the goat jokes. Just doesn't fit with the solemnity, order and decorum we should have at our degrees.

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