Posted: 7/23/2011 11:29:51 AM EDT
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With life being not as crazy as it was... I am looking into possibly joining this year.
Searching in NJ, there are two lodges about 20 minutes (opposite directions though) of where I am located. I would prefer to not publicly say the reasons why I wish to join... but I would state them through an IM. Anything I need to know prior to attending one of their meetings? I have to send an email for an application first, that is all I know. 
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You are at some point going to have to tell them why you want to join. a group of investigators will be coming to your home and inteviewing your family and you. later on, if you make it, during a degree, your hands will be placed on a certain book and you will be swearing that you are not joining for the wrong reasons. That said, you will be recieving an application called a petition. Fill that out, send it in. They will contact you. This process doesnt happen overnight. For instance, if you do not know 3 other Master Masons who are willing to vouch for your character, then you may have to go to the lodge a few times to meet with the brothers and get to know them. (this may or may not be the case in NJ as states vary) then after you have 3 signers, the process will begin, there will be a investigative commitee asigned to investigating you and interviewing you, if you pass that and im sure you will if you can buy guns, you are probably OK, then they vote on you at the next meeting. Next is a informal meeting and you can ask some questions before your degrees begin. The first degree is called Entered Apprentice. There is nothing you can do to prepare, just show up at the time they say (i was an hour early). Trust your guide and fear no danger. |
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Quoted:
You are at some point going to have to tell them why you want to join. a group of investigators will be coming to your home and inteviewing your family and you. later on, if you make it, during a degree, your hands will be placed on a certain book and you will be swearing that you are not joining for the wrong reasons. Tell them, yes.. I am just not going to put the reason on this forum. Hence why I mentioned if someone wanted to chat to me about it, do it through an IM.
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Before I asked to join my lodge, I had, at one point, asked to join an all black Prince Hall lodge while I was stationed in Korea. Although they were hospitable, it was obvious that it wasn't going to happen, and they were somewhat put off that I asked to join. At the time I had no insight into the inner workings of our craft, and I was a little butt hurt at all Freemasons for a while. I am providing the little tidbit above because of a few observations I made during my six years in the Army. I have never seen a regular lodge get dressed up and run booths, or hold parties, like I witnessed Prince Hall Masons do while I was in. I really think we could take a page from our Prince Hall brethren. But you also need to understand that many states do not recognize PH Masons as regular Masons, and majority of the Masons I knew in the military (and definitely the majority of the outgoing Masons) were Prince Hall...just something that may or may not affect you in your future travels. |
