PM dinner tonight

Looking forward to the dinner honoring the PMs tonight.  It's been a rough month and I'm looking forward to being around my Brothers.  If I get lucky, I may also hear when my second degree is taking place.  It'd be nice to have something to take my mind off things... and studying a new proficiency would definitely help.

Also I've gathered some books and movies on the craft.  My father in law informed me that we can donate books and such to the lodge library... so I'm hoping that more of my brothers get use out of these.

Becoming a better man

Since I've started studying Freemasonry, I've felt a dynamic shift in my personality.  It's not as though after my initiation I was hit by a bolt of lightning and underwent a dramatic transformation.  It's been a gradual one. 

It started with finding out who was involved with the fraternity.  Seeing these men speak... interacting with others... gave me great pause.  I found humility in myself.  I saw the need for patience and understanding.  All of this took place before my actual initiation. 

However, more changes were in store for me.  After actually joining the lodge, meeting the men within... I found myself realizing something.  A truth I had often known.  If you surround yourself with good people, your likelihood of being a good person as well jumps ten fold. 

I am surrounded by great men... in a great organization.  The lessons further my desire to better myself, but there is so much that exists within the fraternity that helps me chip away the negativity within me and helps my internal mission to become a better man.

The history... an incredible testament to equality and understanding which began at a time when both were hard to find.  The men... each one eager to impart the wisdom of their lives, as well as help me in a time of necessity.  The lessons... morality wrapped in symbolism and ritual... granting me introspection.  When I'm able to tackle the charity aspect, devote my time to the many worthy causes that are just one more part of this amazing group... I know I will find more peace within myself.  I get as much as I give... and I intend to give a lot.

It has been a rough week... but in seeing my capacity to cope with it... I know I am on the right path.  I am not a perfect man... and I've never claimed to be.  But I know I'm on my way to becoming a better man.

Is Freemasonry a religion?

So... is Freemasonry a religion?  I can see where people may get the idea.  Some of the teachings are similar to religious stories and ideals.  Some of the symbolism looks like the symbols of other religious institutions.  I could go on all day as to why I think people claim Masonry IS a religion but I'd rather just talk about why I know it ISN'T one.

As a man who struggled with religion for most of his life, I can say that people who questioned me on my religious beliefs made me feel extremely uncomfortable.  I didn't like people telling me my beliefs on God and the afterlife were wrong... I didn't like people telling me that if I didn't believe in their God, I was going to hell... regardless of whether I was a good person or not.

That being said, I eventually found I was a man of faith.  I do believe in God.  I do believe in heaven.  It just may be different from your perception.  And honestly... that's ok.  We're free to follow a belief system that makes us happy, that we agree with... and I believe we should always be able to. 

I don't have a problem with others telling me about their religions if I'm interested.  I just don't like being pushed to believe something I don't agree with. 

This directly ties into what I love about the fraternity.

In a Masonic lodge, I can sit comfortably knowing I'm sharing a room with Catholics, Protestants, Hinduists, Buddhists, Deists, and Muslims.  This is due to the fact that religion is strictly off limits in lodge.  It's not an affront against personal freedoms.  It's to maintain harmony.  I could spend all night bickering back and forth with the faults I find in a particular religion... while the person I was debating with could fire right back with what he didn't like about my set of religious ideals.  The fact that a debate like that could never happen in lodge made me realize... this fraternity really is about promoting brotherhood.  That is also why politics is off limits.  Because like religion, the chances of people having different political beliefs are enormous... and it would be quite easy to debate pro life vs pro choice... Democrat vs Republican.... Barack vs George.  Again, taking discussions like these out of the equation eliminates the debate entirely.  It just won't happen.

The other thing is... when it comes to the teachings... we aren't told how to interpret them.  That's up to the individual mason to decide for himself.  As a Deist, I may take a moral lesson one way... while my Catholic bretheren may take it another way entirely... and still our Hindu brothers may find a completely different view on the lesson.  The important thing isn't how we interpret the lesson... the important thing is that we learn it... and how we apply it in our lives in the way that makes sense to us.

As I stated above... I become uncomfortable when people ask me to follow their religion.  I understand their reasoning, but that's neither here nor there.  The reason I point this out is because at no time during my initiation or my continued research into the fraternity have I become uncomfortable with the lessons due to the religious overtones.  I find it quite easy to take what I'm learning and adapt it to fit within my religious beliefs.  The lesson is not lost on me.

So finally... is Freemasonry a religion?  No.  You'll find most religions find a place comfortably within Masonry... and that truly is, in my opinion, one of the greatest parts of the fraternity.

Although the dinners before each meeting are pretty good too.

Question #1) Symbolism in Masonry and the similarities to other organizations

Here is a question often asked of Masonry.  The answers are either from my own research or from some of my more experienced brethren.  (If you have any questions I don't address here or need some further clarification, please don't hesitate to either ask me or the men over at http://www.masonforum.com/)

Question #1)  Does this symbol (pyramid, skull and crossbones, all seeing eye) mean that there is a connection between Group A (Skull and Bones, Illuminati, Palladists etc) and Freemasonry?

This question is one I have gotten a few times. 

A lot of people will see a Masonic symbol (or what they think is a Masonic symbol) and think that every group that shares it must be connected to the fraternity.  If that were true, wouldn't that mean...

A.  We're all mathematicians.  We use geometric symbols to identify ourselves (the square and compass) so we must be!  Right?
B.  We're all pirates, since we use the skull and crossbones pirates used to display on their black flags.
C.  We're all in the Navy, because the anchor (a common symbol denoting the Navy) is used in our lessons.

These are just a few examples.

The thing about symbols is they can be used by many groups and many people and not necessarily stand for the same thing.  Take the letter X.  You don't see the letter X everywhere and say "That means 10!" (as it does in Roman numerals).  X can mean kisses as in xoxo, railroad crossing like the X on signs before train tracks, or even alcohol (XXX on all those old cartoon jugs of whiskey).  It means different things, depending on the context.

What a compass means to me as a Mason isn't necessarily what it means to my high school math teacher.

The Illuminati, Skull and Crossbones, and Palladists have no direct ties to Masonry.

Masonry is just a fraternity where men can get together, socialize, and work on becoming better men for their communities and for themselves.

The Cold Within- Poem (originally posted by kingzson at trestleboard.us)

The cold within

The Cold Within
Author Unknown

Six humans trapped by happenstance
in dark and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood––
Or so the story′s told.

Their dying fire in need of logs,
but the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces around the fire,
She noticed one was black.

The next man looking ′cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And couldn′t bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store,
And keeping all that he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.

The black man′s face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For he saw in his stick of wood
A chance to spite the white.

And the last man of this forlorn group
Did naught except for gain,
Giving just to those who gave
Was how he played the game.

Their sticks held tight in death′s stilled hands
Was proof enough of sin;
They didn′t die from cold without––
They died from cold within.

Virginia City, Montana

Virginia City, Montana.  Site of vigilantism, home to Calamity Jane (for a time), and landmark town.  I was lucky enough to visit this site with my fiancee and her family in August of this year.

I will update this post after I finish the book I'm reading, which is about the vigilantes in the Montana area.

Leo Taxil- A hoax from yesterday that lives on today

Gabriel Jogand-Pagès, the man better known as Leo Taxil, was an ex freemason who came up with an... well, interesting story. 

In what has become a long quoted work of fiction, Leo Taxil was expelled from the order of Freemasonry and decided to get some revenge.  He came up with this hoax:

"That which we must say to a crowd is - We worship a God, but it is the God that one adores without superstition. To you, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, we stay this, that you may repeat it to the Brethren of the 32nd, 31st, and 30th degrees - The Masonic Religion should be by all of us initiates of the high degrees, maintained in the purity of the Luciferian Doctrine.

If Lucifer were not God, would Adonay whose deeds prove his cruelty, perdify and hatred of man, barbarism and repulsion for science, would Adonay and his priests, calumniate him? Yes, Lucifer is God, and unfortunately Adonay is also god. for the eternal law is that there is no light without shade, no beauty without ugliness, no white without black, for the absolute can only exist as two gods; darkness being necessary to the statue, and the brake to the locomotive.

Thus, the doctrine of Satanism is a heresy; and the true and pure philosophical religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal of Adonay; but Lucifer, God of Light and God of Good, is struggling for humanity against Adonay, the God of Darkness and Evil."

Needless to say, he got plenty of recognition.

It is important to note before we go any further that prior to this hoax, Taxil was known for publishing anti-Catholic books, where he pointed out the fallacies he saw in the religion.  La Bible amusante is one such publication.  Eventually, he renounced these works and sought conversion to the Catholic faith.

It was then that the anti-masonic fever took off.  Having the full support of the Catholic church, Leo Taxil published pamphlets bashing Freemasonry, where he stated they worshipped the devil (as stated in the long quote above by) as quoted by Albert Pike (again, made up).  He also said that he was getting information from Diana Vaughan, who told him more about these things.  The word Palladist was trending at the time, due to Taxil's statements linking Freemasonry to this alleged Satanic society.

He did such a good job at convincing the public, he even got Pope Leo XIII on board.  The Pope gave his blessing on an anti-masonic council in Trent and reproached a bishop who stated all of these "confessions" were false.

Eventually, people wanted to meet Diana Vaughan, doubting that she existed.  Leo Taxil then said he would make a public announcement.  The audience was shocked to find that the entire thing had been a hoax.  Taxil thanked the clergy (some of whom were in attendance) for helping him carry out his hoax.

Now, was Taxil trying to redeem himself by pulling one over on the Catholic church?  Or was he simply taking what he had learned and weaving it into a believable, albeit completely untrue, story? 

My personal belief is that Taxil had strong feelings when it came to religion.  Whether it was the institution, the beliefs, the stories... I haven't a clue.  But I think that he was trying to show the animosity the church had for Freemasonry by taking advantage of it.  He definitely made a profit from his endeavors and in the end, made a fool of a lot of people.

Today, people still believe in the hoax... as it is often cited as truth, retold in modern books, and devil worship brought up by those who may still believe it.  However, let me put this rumor to rest.  Devil worshipping has no place in a Masonic lodge.

There are two things I will say to prove this statement.  First, do you really think our grandfathers, our fathers, our brothers, our founding fathers, and more great men would willingly participate in devil worship?  These are all men with different, but often strong, religious beliefs... men who would not take such worship in stride.  Freemasonry is the largest fraternity in the world... and if this was really something that occurred, do you think people would still join, take part, and proudly show their affiliation with it?  I don't.  Secondly, the countless values Freemasonry embodies... they don't really seem Satanic to me. 

I'm sure talk of the "secret rituals" hasn't helped things in debunking this rumor once and for all, and I can understand this to a point.  When something is a secret, and it can't be told, it gives way to wild fantasies, rumors, and speculations.  Anything can be said and believed without even a modicum of proof if it sounds interesting enough.  This has been true about all things... be it religion, celebrities, governments, and fraternities.

For example:

Did you hear about Alpha Kappa Omega?  They force pledges to watch episodes of Jersey Shore while members burn them with curling irons!

I just made that up... but if I was in college and I said this to a student next to me (and if there was such a thing as an Alpha Kappa Omega fraternity) it is very plausible that the rumor could take off and spread.

Rumors and speculation will always surround Freemasonry.  But I implore anyone who wants to know the truth to do some research, read both sides of the argument even, before taking away an impression.  It truly is an amazing fraternity, with some of the most honorable men I have ever met. 

None of which have little horns or pitchforks.

Masonry All Around Us

Have you ever driven around your city and seen this?

You probably have and didn't even realize it.  Once you realize what it means, you'll start seeing it everywhere.  Kind of like Jim Carrey in the Number 23.

This symbol is the universal sign of Freemasonry.

I don't know how many times I've passed buildings, cars, and people who have displayed this symbol.  I never realized that it stood it for Masonry, but now that I know, I see it everywhere.  In my old hometown.  On the rings of friends.  On cars.  All of this signifying that these are men I share a profound tie with.

It may also interest you to know that there is another famous group that signifies an association with Freemasonry...

The Shriners.  As in The Shriners Hospital.  As in the Shriners Circus.  As in the guys with the funny hats and little cars.

Every Shriner is also a Mason.  It's kind of a requirement.

There's also a lot of Masonic symbolism outside of these cases.  You'll see them in statues, in churches, and in paintings.

For example:

George Washington laying the cornerstone at the Capitol.  In full Masonic regalia.  He was the first Masonic President (but not the last).

This is the Apprentice pillar at Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland.  This particular chapel is chock full of Masonic symbols and even ties to the Knight's Templar (but we'll get into that association at a later time).  However I did want to tell the legend surrounding this pillar as I find it particularly fascinating.

The Master Mason's apprentice, in his Master's absence, dreamt of this beautiful pillar one night.  Upon waking, he got to work and completed it.  It was an amazing work of art, and upon the Master Mason's return, he was filled with envy and rage and struck the Apprentice dead with a mallet.

In Rosslyn Chapel, there is supposedly two men carved into the corners of the Chapel, the Apprentice and the Master.  From what I can recall, the Master is across from the exquisite pillar, thereby forced to look at it for all time.

The House of the Temple.  This building is the headquarters of the Scottish Rite in Washington D.C., Southern Jurisdiction.  Egyptian symbolism and architecture is sometimes a prevalent theme in certain lodges and other Masonic buildings.

This is the George Washington Masonic Memorial.  Here is a short description (from the GW Memorial website):

The George Washington Masonic Memorial is more than a colossal memorial and museum. It is a tourist attraction and destination; research center and library; community center; performing arts center and concert hall; banquet and celebration site; and meeting site for local and countless visiting Masonic lodges and organizations. However, first and foremost, it is a memorial to honor and perpetuate the memory, character and virtues of the man who best exemplifies what Freemasons are and ought to be, Brother George Washington.  George Washington Masonic Memorial Website

Freemason Hall (London).  This building houses a memorial to Masons who died in World War I as well as a gift shop, museum, and more.  This is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England.

There are signs of Freemasonry all around us, and you'll find that even the lodges (where all those secret meetings are held) are clearly identified.  For some, the Square and Compass is an interesting symbol, filled with intrigue and secrecy.  For others, it's just a v and and an arrow with a big G in the middle.  But for me and the men I proudly call brother, it's a symbol that connects me to a long, vast, and intricate history of all the men who came before me, who walked the path I'm walking now, some who even shaped the very country we live in today. 

Still, for others the symbol is the sign of the New World Order, and the plan for domination of the entire world.  I must have missed that lecture...

Operative Masonry and Speculative Masonry

Freemasonry is often broken into two groups:  operative and speculative.  So what does that mean exactly?  Does one know the location of the Holy Grail, while the other keeps the Ark of the Covenant safe?  Not quite.

Operative Masonry is simply actual stonemasonry.  It refers to those who actually work with stone, those who designed the great cathedrals and those men who were highly respected in that the work that they did was kept secret.  The importance of keeping their trade a secret was that it allowed them certain freedoms and respects.  They could seek work where they wished, they were in high demand (not everyone could do what they did), and they were constantly called on by Kings to complete the great Gothic churches of the era.

The three degrees of modern day Freemasonry come from Operative Masonry, in that a new initiate to the trade would be an Entered Apprentice.  He would learn under a Master Mason, and it was through his tutelage that he learned the secrets.  He would progress to Fellow Craft, where he was well on his way to seeking out his own work and setting up shop.  Finally, after many years of hard work and honing his craft, he would attain the rank of Master Mason. 

Operative Masons learned signs and hand shakes in order to identify themselves as true members of the trade.  This was important, since the cathedrals and other important buildings commissioned needed to stand the test of time (as many of them have) and were held to a certain degree of perfection. 

Think about it.  Any average Joe could walk up to a group of Masons and say, "I'm a Master!  I need work!" They needed a way to make sure the men walking up to them claiming such things were the real deal, to keep with the quality of work they were all held to.

It wasn't long before Operative Masonry gave way to Speculative Masonry.

Speculative Masonry is Freemasonry as we know it today.  It's where we use the lessons, tools, and rituals of the Operatives as moral guidances, explanations, and secrets of the fraternity.  An example might be taking an Operative Mason's tool (such as the common gavel) and explaining it's typical use in an new way.

Operative Masonry was open to solely members of the craft for a long time, but given their prestige amongst Kings and the talk of the rituals they performed, it wasn't long before men who didn't have any kind of association to stone work sought membership.  That means Joe Stonemason was soon sitting next to King of England.  The really incredible part was, they were treated equally in lodge.  It was through this that Masonry started to evolve and become what it is known as today.

Today we still use the important lessons and history surrounding Operative Masonry to better our lives.  Whether it's the 24 inch gauge, the Square, the Compass, the Plumb, the Level, etc... every object has a moral lesson. 

And here I thought the 24 inch gauge was simply a teacher's disciplinary tool.

Questions? New to Freemasonry? These sites are great.

When I decided to join Freemasonry, these sites proved invaluable.  I hope they help you as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry - A typical wikipedia article that has a lot of great, basic knowledge about the fraternity

http://masonforum.com/ - A forum where you can get your questions answered by real Masons.  I've actually learned a lot at this particular forum. 

http://www.askafreemason.org/ - The homepage of the above forum, which gives basic information about the fraternity, as well as a lodge locator for the lodges nearest you.

http://www.trestleboard.us/ - A forum where Masons can get together, for Masonic discussion, or pretty much anything. 

http://masonicinfo.com/ - A site filled with a lot of information, including antimasonic theories

The Masonic Bible

I just realized that in my first post I referred to purchasing a copy of The Masonic Bible.  I wanted to clarify something here, just in case people got the wrong idea.

The Masonic Bible is simply a Holy Bible with a glossary of Masonic terms and occasionally some Masonic rhetoric (before or after the typical Bible contents).

The reason I wanted to clarify is because there are some contentions that state Freemasonry is a religion.  I want to stress that this is extremely far from the truth.

In Freemasonry, with regards to religion, there are no conflicts of interest (except if a particular religious institute takes exception to Freemasonry).  Freemasonry accepts men of all faith, as long as you believe in a Supreme Being (regardless of what you call him).  The only belief that would prevent you from joining is no belief at all (atheism).

In different jurisdictions, there are sometimes additional beliefs necessary.  The requirement of belief in an afterlife, the immortality of the soul, and even the belief in a single god as opposed to multiple deities.  So far, I believe these are typically the average requirements, but I have heard talk that not every lodge requires it.  Again, I'm still learning so I could be wrong... I value any corrections/discussions on the matter.

This fact may also help set your mind at ease.  In lodge, there is no discussion of politics/religion allowed.  This is to keep a harmonious atmosphere and furthermore promotes the ideal of religious tolerance/equality.

My first step, initiation, EA proficiency, and first lodge meeting

I remember when I first heard about Freemasonry.  It was while watching National Treasure, the Bruckheimer film starring Nicolas Cage and Harvey Keitel.  Although there were a lot of references, the one that stuck out was the part at the end where Cage noticed Keitel's ring (thereby realizing he was a Mason).  This was the first time I realized that there was something special about these "Freemasons."

It wasn't until I finally read the popular book Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown that I heard the term again.  Something about Brown's writing style got me hooked, and I have since become a huge fan of his.  For one reason or another, I didn't really connect National Treasure with Da Vinci Code... and it wasn't until I read The Lost Symbol (his most recent novel) that I started to realize... Wow... I'd really like to learn more.

Taking the most interesting parts of the book (noetics, Masonry, and religion) I went on Amazon.com and ordered a few books.  I didn't know what kind of Masonic book to get, and I didn't have a holy bible, so I purchased a Masonic bible hoping the combination would be an interesting insight into both.

Two pages into the book, I was thoroughly confused.  I felt like I was reading something I shouldn't be reading, or rather, something I wasn't prepared to understand.  Today if I was to read it, I have no doubt it would make a lot more sense.  However, I have pledged not to read it again until I have completed my third degree.

So a year or so passes.  I meet a wonderful woman, my fiancee.  It was because of her the world of Freemasonry came back into my life.

Her father is a Freemason, and has been involved since he was in De Molay as a child.  When I had learned about his association, I had already gotten to know the man and I was amazed by his character.  When I found out I could become a Freemason (wait, are you sure?  I'm not famous!  I'm not the son of a King or a wealthy politician!) I became extremely excited. 

He put me onto the book Born in Blood by John J Robinson.  It was an incredible book, which I couldn't put down (despite my fiancee's pleading).  I picked up many more books (my favorite being Freemasonry for Dummies by Brother Christopher Hodapp) and just kept on reading.

The day came when my fiancee's father picked up a petition (after I had asked, which is apparently an important part of the process) and I filled it out.  It was a while till I  heard something, but the day came when the investigation committee was ready.  It was the night before their next lodge meeting when the investigation committee sat down with my fiancee and I.

I had just finished Freemasonry for Dummies so I was filled to the brim with new information and just as many questions.  The meeting went great, and my nervousness subsided as soon as I realized that like my fiancee's father, these were all great guys.

The next night, they voted on my admission.  I sat by the phone, nervous as I've ever been.  Finally my fiancee's father called me:

"I'm sorry Mike, but... you've got a lot of memorization ahead of you.  Congratulations."

That was my first step. 

The lodge went dark so it was a while until I had heard anything.  At first, I felt incredibly impatient I'm ashamed to say.  But I grew to become more patient, and eventually unbridled excitement made way for temperance.

After the lodge had reopened, I received a call:  my initiation was set to take place on September 15th. 

I dressed in a nice pair of slacks and a white button up.  My fiancee dropped me off and I went into a Masonic lodge for the first time.

I went down to dinner and met the men I'd be calling brother very soon.  I was a mix of happy/nervous/uncomfortable/at home.  Everyone was extremely nice, but in situations like this I tend to get more than a little shy.  A few Masons approached me and proceeded to give me congratulations, warnings about a goat, and the common phrase "We all went through this... don't worry!" 

I found out a fellow initiate would be going through the first degree with me.  This actually made me worry a lot less, knowing I wouldn't be alone in there.  We talked about our lives (him being retired in his late 60's and me being unemployed on disability in my mid 20's, the gap wasn't as big as you might think) and what drew us to Masonry. We had sloppy joe's, sat down and talked until we were approached and started the very long night that was ahead of us.

I won't say anything I've sworn not to divulge (if you're here for secrets, you won't find any... there are more than enough websites and books out there to fulfill that desire) but the experience was fantastic.  It was an incredible night.

There was a funny story that occurred.  In the middle of the degree, I felt myself getting light headed.  I knew the importance of the particular moment, so I knew this was the WORST possible moment to pass out.  That didn't stop it from happening.  Luckily my brothers didn't laugh (which furthermore solidified my favorable opinion of the fraternity) and were quick to offer me a glass of water and a chair.  I will always remember this moment and I'm sure my brothers will too...

It was unfortunate that my future father in law was unable to attend, but seeing as I fainted, it was probably for the best.  He was quick to message me that evening to give me his congratulations.  It meant a lot that even in another country, far from America, he was able to get ahold of me. 

That was my initiation.

A proficiency is the secret part (they'll throw me out of a low flying plane above a pool of sharks and grizzly bears if I reveal it) so I won't say much.  However, I had an incredible coach who definitely knew his stuff, so I learned the proficiency quickly and in two days, I had it down perfectly.  I would like to say I studied a lot over the next week, but I was so busy that I had to search for moments to go over it in my head.  I think my fiancee thought I was going crazy, constantly muttering to myself in low tones.  She got used to it quickly, and her father later told me our wives get used to us doing that all the time.

So this past Thursday was the night... of my proficiency exam and my first lodge meeting.  I was doing great with nerves on our way to the room where they'd conduct the questions and answers, until my coach said "Will you be joining us, Brother?" and I turned to see my future father in law smiling and following us in.

I better not screw up, I thought.  It's like taking a test on the English monarchy in the presence of the Queen.  Well, that's how it felt.  This was the man who put me on the path of Masonry, the one man I don't want to disappoint... so yep... nerves definitely went up a few notches.

Luckily, I did it and it went well.  Everyone congratulated me and that was the end of my proficiency.

The lodge meeting was very interesting.  I learned some of the proper ettiquette, the rhetoric, and more of the symbolism.  It was a great night and we had a pretty decent board meeting afterwards.

I've met a lot of great men, learned a lot of great life lessons, and although I'm only an Entered Apprentice in the Craft, I'm already noticing changes in the way I live my life and the person I am.  I'm proud of the steps I've taken. 

So... for prospective masons...

You'll see a popular saying 2B1 ASK1.  It is important in the fraternity that men join of their own free will, therefore we can't ask anyone to join.  If you know a Mason, ask him... and I'm sure he'll be happy to help you in your journey.  If you don't know a Mason, you can consult with the Grand Lodge in your state and they will help you take those first steps. 

I will say this... if you are joining because you want better business connections, you want to know the location of the Holy Grail, want to get out of speeding tickets, or you think it's a fast track to becoming wealthy or famous... you may want to reconsider.  These motivations will yield disappointment... so I recommend thinking long and hard, doing some soul searching, and seeing if there might be some other aspects of the fraternity that appeal to you. 

For antimasons...

If you dislike the craft, if you have an unfavorable opinion, or anything along those lines... I'd be happy to answer any questions I A) Have the answers for and B) Can give the answers to (I do have to fulfill my obligation).  I'm by no means an experienced Mason and so I may not have all the answers... but I will do my best.

I hope everyone is having a great night.  I will keep everyone posted on my Masonic Journey. 

Michael Kelly
EA 9/15/11
Stevensville Lodge #28