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Dear Dad

Old Corky

Premium Member
I think the letter I wrote a few years ago best tells my story.

To; Mr. W. N. Daut
C/O The Celestial Lodge

Dear Dad,

December 1, 1993

I haven't talked to you in a long time. Let's see, it was on the 18th day of April 1982,the day before you died. I'm not sure if this way will work, but it's the only way I know that may work. I can only hope that you can read this letter over my shoulder as I type and know what I would love to tell you in person. Not an awful lot has changed in the 11 years since you passed on, except we are all older. There has been one major event in my life however that I wanted to share with you.

I have finally learned the fundamental secret of Freemasonry. If the teachings of Christ had never reached these shores, living up to the Masonic teachings would be the next best way to get to heaven.

I also remember how excited you were when you became a Freemason way back in the 1940's? I still do. Your enthusiasm for attending lodge meetings always let mom and I know how much you enjoyed your lodge and the fellowship of your brother Masons.

I remember how excited you were when you were raised to the Master Mason's degree and how you rushed home that night with your white lambskin apron. Somehow, the idea of being excited about something for you to be buried with, escaped me at that time.

I remember how excited you were when you went into the Scottish Rite and came home to tell us that you were now a 32nd. degree Mason . You bought a 32nd. degree ring and wore it with pride. You even bought the 2 volume set of Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry to learn more about the craft.

I guess I always knew that you wanted me to become a Mason , but somehow I always fought against the idea. People (non Masons ) always told me, "Hey, if you're one of them Masons , you got it made. You can really go up in the world, get promotions and everything." Somehow that always turned me off. I guess I was young and had ideals. I wanted to get ahead on my own, without someone giving it to me.

In 1960, in the first job I had with the City of Houston, a new supervisor (a Mason ) reassigned me to work in his office and used my expertise about the department and my abilities to revise the operation of the department. After the work was finished and he had the credit for the increased efficiency, I was reassigned back to the streets and the supervisor brought the only Mason in the department to work on the inside. It not only hurt, but it proved to me that "those people" were right.

By 1974, I had long since transferred to a different department and been promoted first to a Foreman, then to the Supervisor over 90% of the department. My supervisor, a Mason , had promoted me over the Masons in the department. This changed my views on Masonry and I filled out a petition for the Mysteries of Freemasonry that year. As you probably know, for various reasons (including money) I kept delaying and never turned it in.

After my oldest son, John became a Mason, I could see the same excitement in his eyes that I used to see with you. His eyes seamed to ask, why aren't you a Mason dad? The answer was simple. Hey, I'm in sixty four years old, and it's to late for me to start something like that. But, I was still interested and read a number of books including "Born In Blood" by John J. Robinson. That book came after your time. John was a history writer, widely respected in his field, specializing in Medieval Britain and the Crusades and a non-Mason. He later wrote another book, " A Pilgrim's Path", where after 5 years of research at an advanced age he became a Mason,. I was very impressed by what I read.

Sometime afterward your youngest granddaughter, Becky, got married, In a conversation one day, I ask her husband Pete why he hadn't ever became a Mason . His answer was like so many, "No one ever ask me to join".
I did know enough to know that he would never be ask. For some reason I took it upon myself to convince him that he should think about becoming a Mason. That's when he pulled the big one on me. "I will if you'll go and join with me," he said.

Well, I thought, what better way could I help my daughter and her husband in life then by saying OK . . . and the fact that my oldest daughter, Valerie had been treated at the Shrine Hospital for about 15 years and I had never been ask for a dime swayed me.

John was overjoyed when I ask him to get petitions for Pete and I. I know now that you would have been also, if I had ask you.

Anyway, that's what I wanted you to know, I was raised to a Master Mason in the Cedar Bayou Lodge #321 on December 22, 1992, 3 months before my 65 birthday. Then the next July, I went through the Scottish Rite and received the 32nd. degree. Not to long after that, I was initiated into the Shrine. And, not to long after that, I had a duel membership and was also in the Humble Lodge #979 closer to home.

I have to admit that when I started learning the work as an Entered Apprentice, it was just a bunch of words that I had to learn to get through the degrees. By the time I begin learning the master's work, it happened to me. Somehow, as we progressed, the words grew into sober-minded concepts and those concepts evolved into an inspiration for a new outlook on life.

Now I wish it could have been at the Cade Rothwell Lodge, with you, those many years ago, but somehow I think maybe you know that.

Your Son and Belated Brother in Masonry
John

And this is my story.
 

Bro. Kurt P.M.

2018 14G DCO
Premium Member
That was amazing. Thank you for sharing ...

That is a very inspiring story

Again .. Thank you for sharing Brother.
 

Billy Jones

Registered User
My one regret about Masonry was that I did not do it sooner so that I could sit in Lodge with my grandfather. I was esp. moved.
 

FlBrother324

Registered User
I think the letter I wrote a few years ago best tells my story.

To; Mr. W. N. Daut
C/O The Celestial Lodge

Dear Dad,

December 1, 1993

I haven't talked to you in a long time. Let's see, it was on the 18th day of April 1982,the day before you died. I'm not sure if this way will work, but it's the only way I know that may work. I can only hope that you can read this letter over my shoulder as I type and know what I would love to tell you in person. Not an awful lot has changed in the 11 years since you passed on, except we are all older. There has been one major event in my life however that I wanted to share with you.

I have finally learned the fundamental secret of Freemasonry. If the teachings of Christ had never reached these shores, living up to the Masonic teachings would be the next best way to get to heaven.

I also remember how excited you were when you became a Freemason way back in the 1940's? I still do. Your enthusiasm for attending lodge meetings always let mom and I know how much you enjoyed your lodge and the fellowship of your brother Masons.

I remember how excited you were when you were raised to the Master Mason's degree and how you rushed home that night with your white lambskin apron. Somehow, the idea of being excited about something for you to be buried with, escaped me at that time.

I remember how excited you were when you went into the Scottish Rite and came home to tell us that you were now a 32nd. degree Mason . You bought a 32nd. degree ring and wore it with pride. You even bought the 2 volume set of Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry to learn more about the craft.

I guess I always knew that you wanted me to become a Mason , but somehow I always fought against the idea. People (non Masons ) always told me, "Hey, if you're one of them Masons , you got it made. You can really go up in the world, get promotions and everything." Somehow that always turned me off. I guess I was young and had ideals. I wanted to get ahead on my own, without someone giving it to me.

In 1960, in the first job I had with the City of Houston, a new supervisor (a Mason ) reassigned me to work in his office and used my expertise about the department and my abilities to revise the operation of the department. After the work was finished and he had the credit for the increased efficiency, I was reassigned back to the streets and the supervisor brought the only Mason in the department to work on the inside. It not only hurt, but it proved to me that "those people" were right.

By 1974, I had long since transferred to a different department and been promoted first to a Foreman, then to the Supervisor over 90% of the department. My supervisor, a Mason , had promoted me over the Masons in the department. This changed my views on Masonry and I filled out a petition for the Mysteries of Freemasonry that year. As you probably know, for various reasons (including money) I kept delaying and never turned it in.

After my oldest son, John became a Mason, I could see the same excitement in his eyes that I used to see with you. His eyes seamed to ask, why aren't you a Mason dad? The answer was simple. Hey, I'm in sixty four years old, and it's to late for me to start something like that. But, I was still interested and read a number of books including "Born In Blood" by John J. Robinson. That book came after your time. John was a history writer, widely respected in his field, specializing in Medieval Britain and the Crusades and a non-Mason. He later wrote another book, " A Pilgrim's Path", where after 5 years of research at an advanced age he became a Mason,. I was very impressed by what I read.

Sometime afterward your youngest granddaughter, Becky, got married, In a conversation one day, I ask her husband Pete why he hadn't ever became a Mason . His answer was like so many, "No one ever ask me to join".
I did know enough to know that he would never be ask. For some reason I took it upon myself to convince him that he should think about becoming a Mason. That's when he pulled the big one on me. "I will if you'll go and join with me," he said.

Well, I thought, what better way could I help my daughter and her husband in life then by saying OK . . . and the fact that my oldest daughter, Valerie had been treated at the Shrine Hospital for about 15 years and I had never been ask for a dime swayed me.

John was overjoyed when I ask him to get petitions for Pete and I. I know now that you would have been also, if I had ask you.

Anyway, that's what I wanted you to know, I was raised to a Master Mason in the Cedar Bayou Lodge #321 on December 22, 1992, 3 months before my 65 birthday. Then the next July, I went through the Scottish Rite and received the 32nd. degree. Not to long after that, I was initiated into the Shrine. And, not to long after that, I had a duel membership and was also in the Humble Lodge #979 closer to home.

I have to admit that when I started learning the work as an Entered Apprentice, it was just a bunch of words that I had to learn to get through the degrees. By the time I begin learning the master's work, it happened to me. Somehow, as we progressed, the words grew into sober-minded concepts and those concepts evolved into an inspiration for a new outlook on life.

Now I wish it could have been at the Cade Rothwell Lodge, with you, those many years ago, but somehow I think maybe you know that.

Your Son and Belated Brother in Masonry
John

And this is my story.

From one "Corky" to another:

My Dad was never a Mason, but I wished he had been. We skipped a generation for some reason. Grand Dad and Great uncles were.

That was both heartfelt and amazing!

I'm sure your Dad is so very proud of all you've done in your life. Though you started late in life, you seemed to have lived a Masonic life. You heard the "calling" and answered it by helping your son in law to find the "Light" because you realized its' importance to him.

Enjoy the journey with your children/ Brothers and may it be filled with all the Light you can find.

Yours in His service.

W:. Br. R. "Corky" Corcoran

P.S.
The one family tradition (Corky) that didn't skip a generation.
 

Chillimaru

Registered User
My Dad passed in 1992, and I put of joining until 1996 one of biggest regrets in life, but on the brighter side I just watched both of my boys initiated, one in July at the age of 19 and the other one in August at the age of 22, 2 of the proudest days of my life and I know my Dad was smiling down on us that day, that was a terrific letter, got a little choked up myself!!!!


Freemason Connect HD
 

JJones

Moderator
Ugh! I seem to have something in my eye...:crying:

Very beautiful letter, thank you for sharing my brother.
 

Riverfish

Registered User
My son just got his entered apprentice one week later my father passed he was in hospice and could not attend my son's first degree when he heard the news he cried I can relate to your story


My Freemasonry HD
 

Bro. Staton

Registered User
This is a beautiful story and very touching. It goes to show that no matter your age or the timing it's never to late to become a Mason a path to making a good man better....Thanks for sharing..
 

Old Corky

Premium Member
This is a beautiful story and very touching. It goes to show that no matter your age or the timing it's never to late to become a Mason a path to making a good man better....Thanks for sharing..

Thank you very much Brother. You are right about age. I was raised at 64, Worshipful Master at 76, started the 40 page monthly "Small Town Texas Masons E magazine" (http://www.oldcorky.com/) at 80 and at 86 gave up as secretary this year at 86, but still producinging the print and online version of the Lodge newsletter.
I am not trying to blow my own horn, just trying to show that age doesn't have to be becoming a good Freemason and leading a productive life as one.
But, I have to admit, still being in pretty good health after the quadruple bypass operation 3 years ago helps a lot..
  • John "Corky" Daut P.M.
  • Waller Lodge #808 AF &AM
  • Watter, Texas
 
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