Posted: 2/8/2011 4:09:30 PM EDT
You are welcome... try not to mess this place up.  |
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Quoted: Quoted: You are welcome... try not to mess this place up. Appreciated. Any plans to lock it down like the .mil forum? Not unless you guys really need it. It would involve some sort of setting on each account (approval managed by staff) in order to give access. Additionally it would make sense to have a mason icon with each user as well. This would be similar to the tank for military. I only ask that securing the place be put off for a little bit since I'm unsure when I'll have time to get it completed. |
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You are welcome... try not to mess this place up. Appreciated. Any plans to lock it down like the .mil forum? Not unless you guys really need it. It would involve some sort of setting on each account (approval managed by staff) in order to give access. Additionally it would make sense to have a mason icon with each user as well. This would be similar to the tank for military. I only ask that securing the place be put off for a little bit since I'm unsure when I'll have time to get it completed. Just curious, thanks for taking the time to give my brothers a place to congregate. Hope they enjoy it. |
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Please dont lock us non Masons out, I just may learn something new. Maybe restrict it to "team" but I have always been curious about the Masons. I think there is plenty of opportunity to learn in GD, I doubt that Masonic topics will be limited to this forum. It would however be useful to have a restricted forum so that we could verify who is affiliated with a Lodge and where we could more freely discuss the Craft. Some things would likely never be discussed, as we pledge to never put certain things in writing, but there are some issues that Masons from across the world might wish to discuss free of outside observation and participation. I think you will find that the brethren assembled here are very willing to answer any questions you have which we are permitted to discuss with non-members. TBS is an excellent reference as his passion and dedication are rarely rivaled. |
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Please dont lock us non Masons out, I just may learn something new. Maybe restrict it to "team" but I have always been curious about the Masons. I think there is plenty of opportunity to learn in GD, I doubt that Masonic topics will be limited to this forum. It would however be useful to have a restricted forum so that we could verify who is affiliated with a Lodge and where we could more freely discuss the Craft. Some things would likely never be discussed, as we pledge to never put certain things in writing, but there are some issues that Masons from across the world might wish to discuss free of outside observation and participation. I think you will find that the brethren assembled here are very willing to answer any questions you have which we are permitted to discuss with non-members. TBS is an excellent reference as his passion and dedication are rarely rivaled. Fair enough I suppose. |
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Please dont lock us non Masons out, I just may learn something new. Maybe restrict it to "team" but I have always been curious about the Masons. I think there is plenty of opportunity to learn in GD, I doubt that Masonic topics will be limited to this forum. It would however be useful to have a restricted forum so that we could verify who is affiliated with a Lodge and where we could more freely discuss the Craft. Some things would likely never be discussed, as we pledge to never put certain things in writing, but there are some issues that Masons from across the world might wish to discuss free of outside observation and participation. I think you will find that the brethren assembled here are very willing to answer any questions you have which we are permitted to discuss with non-members. TBS is an excellent reference as his passion and dedication are rarely rivaled. Fair enough I suppose. Are there any questions I might be able to answer for you? |
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Are there any questions I might be able to answer for you? Whenever there's a Mason thread in GD, the Masons always say "If you have any questions, PM me". How about the reverse - can we get a rundown of what it's all about and what it's like? We could spend a lifetime answering that question... in short, it is about making good men better by directing their thoughts and actions to personal development and service to our fellow man. As for what it is like, well that truly varies from Lodge to Lodge. |
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Are there any questions I might be able to answer for you? Whenever there's a Mason thread in GD, the Masons always say "If you have any questions, PM me". How about the reverse - can we get a rundown of what it's all about and what it's like? We could spend a lifetime answering that question... in short, it is about making good men better by directing their thoughts and actions to personal development and service to our fellow man. As for what it is like, well that truly varies from Lodge to Lodge. What could I hope to get out of joining? |
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Are there any questions I might be able to answer for you? Whenever there's a Mason thread in GD, the Masons always say "If you have any questions, PM me". How about the reverse - can we get a rundown of what it's all about and what it's like? We could spend a lifetime answering that question... in short, it is about making good men better by directing their thoughts and actions to personal development and service to our fellow man. As for what it is like, well that truly varies from Lodge to Lodge. What could I hope to get out of joining? Wrong question... what are you willing to put into it? I can tell you this, in a well run Lodge with true brothers, you will receive many fold back what you put in. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Are there any questions I might be able to answer for you? Whenever there's a Mason thread in GD, the Masons always say "If you have any questions, PM me". How about the reverse - can we get a rundown of what it's all about and what it's like? We could spend a lifetime answering that question... in short, it is about making good men better by directing their thoughts and actions to personal development and service to our fellow man. As for what it is like, well that truly varies from Lodge to Lodge. What could I hope to get out of joining? Wrong question... what are you willing to put into it? I can tell you this, in a well run Lodge with true brothers, you will receive many fold back what you put in. If you truly want to benefit from Masonry, and are willing to put back into, it is very rewarding. I have always enjoyed of sitting in a group of like-minded men with similar goals and thoughts about life. We all have something to teach one another, and, for the most part, we keep each other in check, annd are always willing to help brethren to subdue their passions. |
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Are there any questions I might be able to answer for you? Whenever there's a Mason thread in GD, the Masons always say "If you have any questions, PM me". How about the reverse - can we get a rundown of what it's all about and what it's like? We could spend a lifetime answering that question... in short, it is about making good men better by directing their thoughts and actions to personal development and service to our fellow man. As for what it is like, well that truly varies from Lodge to Lodge. What could I hope to get out of joining? Wrong question... what are you willing to put into it? I can tell you this, in a well run Lodge with true brothers, you will receive many fold back what you put in. See, this is the problem I keep running into. I say "What is it?" and they say "It's a way to make great people" "Ok, why would I want to join?" "You're not asking the right questions" |
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Are there any questions I might be able to answer for you? Whenever there's a Mason thread in GD, the Masons always say "If you have any questions, PM me". How about the reverse - can we get a rundown of what it's all about and what it's like? We could spend a lifetime answering that question... in short, it is about making good men better by directing their thoughts and actions to personal development and service to our fellow man. As for what it is like, well that truly varies from Lodge to Lodge. What could I hope to get out of joining? Wrong question... what are you willing to put into it? I can tell you this, in a well run Lodge with true brothers, you will receive many fold back what you put in. See, this is the problem I keep running into. I say "What is it?" and they say "It's a way to make great people" "Ok, why would I want to join?" "You're not asking the right questions" You've answered your own question and don't even realize it my friend.
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why does anyone want to be apart of any group they join, whether its masonry or a bowling team? The answer lies in you enjoy the company you keep, share similar interests and beliefs. Would you like to know why I joined? I joined (and this includes why i joined a lodge an hour from me as opposed to one 10 minutes down the road) because I had many friends I grew up with in it. Before i was made a Master Mason, i was in a youth organization sponsored by the Masons, called DeMolay. From 12-21 years old i was very active in it (so much so that i quit the boy scouts). In DeMolay, the kids plan and run events such as meetings, fundraisers, concerts, days to the range, paint balling, etc. You name it, we could do it as long as it was not illegal. We had advisers much like the boy scouts, who basically sat back and let us do things - teaching us the right way when we asked, and letting us fall on our own sword if we thought we knew better, and helped us back up and then taught us the right way. The advisers were almost entirely Master Masons or Senior DeMolays (those who had left the order due to age restrictions). They taught us the think twice before acting once. They taught us good moral character. They taught many of the same things the scouts do morally, but in different ways. When i became of age to join the craft, i chose to do so for one main reason - so i could be an advisor to make the difference in a young man's life. I hope that by setting a good example, i can help set them on the path of good, rather than evil. |
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Are there any questions I might be able to answer for you? Whenever there's a Mason thread in GD, the Masons always say "If you have any questions, PM me". How about the reverse - can we get a rundown of what it's all about and what it's like? We could spend a lifetime answering that question... in short, it is about making good men better by directing their thoughts and actions to personal development and service to our fellow man. As for what it is like, well that truly varies from Lodge to Lodge. What could I hope to get out of joining? Wrong question... what are you willing to put into it? I can tell you this, in a well run Lodge with true brothers, you will receive many fold back what you put in. See, this is the problem I keep running into. I say "What is it?" and they say "It's a way to make great people" "Ok, why would I want to join?" "You're not asking the right questions" You've answered your own question and don't even realize it my friend. So without knowing anything about it, how am I supposed to know what questions to ask? Really, all I want is a "Masons 101". |
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Are there any questions I might be able to answer for you? Whenever there's a Mason thread in GD, the Masons always say "If you have any questions, PM me". How about the reverse - can we get a rundown of what it's all about and what it's like? We could spend a lifetime answering that question... in short, it is about making good men better by directing their thoughts and actions to personal development and service to our fellow man. As for what it is like, well that truly varies from Lodge to Lodge. What could I hope to get out of joining? Wrong question... what are you willing to put into it? I can tell you this, in a well run Lodge with true brothers, you will receive many fold back what you put in. See, this is the problem I keep running into. I say "What is it?" and they say "It's a way to make great people" "Ok, why would I want to join?" "You're not asking the right questions" You've answered your own question and don't even realize it my friend. So without knowing anything about it, how am I supposed to know what questions to ask? Really, all I want is a "Masons 101". It is a fraternal order that seeks to help men reach their full potential as an individual and a contributing member of society. They do this through a series of rituals that convey certain moral messages, much rooted in the Bible. It is not a religion, but it does require that you believe in a higher benevolent being. In order to not offend, and to put all members on an even plain within the Lodge, we refer to this higher power as the Great Architect of the Universe. As a Christian that means God and Jesus, as a Jew it would mean Yahweh, as a Muslim it would be Allah. We engage in community activities, Child ID programs, blood drives with the Red Cross, supporting Shriner's hospitals, etc. I'm really not sure what you are asking beyond that. |
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See, this is the problem I keep running into. I say "What is it?" and they say "It's a way to make great people" "Ok, why would I want to join?" "You're not asking the right questions" There are no easy answers. The regular lodge meeting would bore most people to tears - paying bills, discussing who is in the hospital this month, voting on applications and advancement, etc. But out of the ceremonies and fellowship we find the path to what we, individually, seek. What I get out of it may not be the same as what HiramRanger or BeerSlayer get out of it. I know this isn't going to sound how I mean it, I'm sure it'll sound confrontational and I don't mean it that way, but - It sounds like you want an answer without any commitment, an explanation of something you don't want to understand, self improvement without self sacrifice. Honestly, and this is just the opinion of someone who has never claimed to speak for Freemasonry, it sounds to me like the answer to your question "What could I get out of it?" is "Nothing". Sorry, but that's how I see it. When I first wondered about Masonry I researched it as best I could and found the same hints without straight out answers, but that intrigued me instead of frustrating me. To me it was like peeking through a keyhole and only seeing enough to cause more questions. I could complain about the keyhole being small, or I could open the door. |
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the answer to your question is very simple.
freemasonry is a fraternity of men looking to develop themselves mentally,spiritually and personally. The reason you get what you think are obscure answers is becuase no man recieves the same thing from the study. you recieve what YOU need to grow. What i needed will likely not be the same lesson or perspective you get. Men join for many reasons, the enjoy the charitable works, the want to belong to something bigger than themselves, some join for philosophical education, some just see good men and want to be a part of it. i joined becuase some of the finest men i ever knew <my uncles> were all masons. i knew nothing about it other than they all had the same ring. They were good, honest men and i wanted to be like them. i began to look into masonry and the more i read the more interested i became. Masonry is a life long study. I doubt anyone ever trully learns it. Masonry has taught me to look at things in a much different way. It has improved my interactions with people and my patience with those i'd have normally written off as idiots. I have met some fine men and sat in lodge with govenors, judges, ceo's of companies and ditch diggers all in the same lodge, all treating eachothers as equals and brothers. There are no social seperations among members we are simply masons. I have seen things done in other states for members of a mans family simply becuase he was a mason and his family needed help. I have been approached numerous times by men i didn't know to give me a smile and a handshake. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that anywhere i go in the world i have a freindly face that will gladly be there should i need them. It is always said you get out of masonry than you put in, i found that to be very true. you quickly realize it is not what can you get out of the fraternity, but what can you give back to it. |
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See, this is the problem I keep running into. I say "What is it?" and they say "It's a way to make great people" "Ok, why would I want to join?" "You're not asking the right questions" There are no easy answers. The regular lodge meeting would bore most people to tears - paying bills, discussing who is in the hospital this month, voting on applications and advancement, etc. But out of the ceremonies and fellowship we find the path to what we, individually, seek. What I get out of it may not be the same as what HiramRanger or BeerSlayer get out of it. I know this isn't going to sound how I mean it, I'm sure it'll sound confrontational and I don't mean it that way, but - It sounds like you want an answer without any commitment, an explanation of something you don't want to understand, self improvement without self sacrifice. Honestly, and this is just the opinion of someone who has never claimed to speak for Freemasonry, it sounds to me like the answer to your question "What could I get out of it?" is "Nothing". Sorry, but that's how I see it. When I first wondered about Masonry I researched it as best I could and found the same hints without straight out answers, but that intrigued me instead of frustrating me. To me it was like peeking through a keyhole and only seeing enough to cause more questions. I could complain about the keyhole being small, or I could open the door. I don't take offense. However I don't think we're on the same level. All I'm asking is "what's it all about?". I'm not at all sure what to make of "you want an answer without any commitment" - before I commit to anything I want to know what I'm committing too. You don't know me at all, but if you did you'd be laughing at "self improvement without self sacrifice" as hard as I am. Let me apologize and rephrase. Let me remove myself entirely and ask what I meant: "Why would someone want to join the Freemasons?" |
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the answer to your question is very simple. freemasonry is a fraternity of men looking to develop themselves mentally,spiritually and personally. The reason you get what you think are obscure answers is becuase no man recieves the same thing from the study. you recieve what YOU need to grow. What i needed will likely not be the same lesson or perspective you get. Men join for many reasons, the enjoy the charitable works, the want to belong to something bigger than themselves, some join for philosophical education, some just see good men and want to be a part of it. i joined becuase some of the finest men i ever knew <my uncles> were all masons. i knew nothing about it other than they all had the same ring. They were good, honest men and i wanted to be like them. i began to look into masonry and the more i read the more interested i became. Masonry is a life long study. I doubt anyone ever trully learns it. Masonry has taught me to look at things in a much different way. It has improved my interactions with people and my patience with those i'd have normally written off as idiots. I have met some fine men and sat in lodge with govenors, judges, ceo's of companies and ditch diggers all in the same lodge, all treating eachothers as equals and brothers. There are no social seperations among members we are simply masons. I have seen things done in other states for members of a mans family simply becuase he was a mason and his family needed help. I have been approached numerous times by men i didn't know to give me a smile and a handshake. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that anywhere i go in the world i have a freindly face that will gladly be there should i need them. It is always said you get out of masonry than you put in, i found that to be very true. you quickly realize it is not what can you get out of the fraternity, but what can you give back to it. Thanks TBS, that's exactly the sort of info I was asking for. |
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I don't take offense. However I don't think we're on the same level. All I'm asking is "what's it all about?". I'm not at all sure what to make of "you want an answer without any commitment" - before I commit to anything I want to know what I'm committing too. You don't know me at all, but if you did you'd be laughing at "self improvement without self sacrifice" as hard as I am. Let me apologize and rephrase. Let me remove myself entirely and ask what I meant: "Why would someone want to join the Freemasons?" That was answered on the first page - "It is about making good men better by directing their thoughts and actions to personal development and service to our fellow man" eta - to answer the question "Why would someone want to join?", "To become a better man by directing his thoughts and actions toward personal development and service to his fellow man" |
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Phurba, TBS and Wyzzard are very correct. You aren't going to find very many Freemasons that give you the same answer as to why they join, or what they get out of the craft. It is a different journey for all of those that choose to travel East, and we all have different starting points, and take different routes during our journey. Take my screen name, for instance, Seeking More Light. That is the goal for all Masons...we wish to receive more light, to be enlightened. The reason I joined, was because I would watch my Grandfather-in-law head to lodge while we were staying at the ranch. The men that our lodge is composed of men that I wished to emulate, and knew to be excellent role models. The way that I figured it, if an organization attracted those type of men, in those type of numbers, I wanted to be part of it. I am bullheaded, so it was not a problem for me to go up to my wife's grandfather and tell him, "I want to be a Mason". I knew little of the craft, except that it attracted men that were much like me. |
