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When visiting a lodge for first time.........

dfreybur

Premium Member
Almost no one in Minnesota knows the Tyler's Oath from memory. That's not the way we use it. After we've seen the visitor's dues card and asked him some questions, and are satisfied, we use the oath in a "repeat after me" manner to have the visitor confirm that he's a Master Mason in good standing.

The California version of the Tyler's Oath is part of the third degree proficiency. Which is optional unless you get elected to a lodge office. It being a part of the extremely long California MM proficiency it's shorter than other versions I've learned.

When I first started visiting in Texas I asked to recite it and they had no idea how to react.
 

Keith C

Registered User
What do you do when you go visit lodges in other Jurisdictions?

I have yet to visit a lodge outside of PA.. I guess I will find out.

When we have visitors from outside PA, we have to see their dues card, check with the Secretary that PA recognizes their jurisdiction, then examine them with a couple questions any MM can answer and have them show the FPOF and the adopted word. Then we administer an Oath which is read by the Chair of the Examining Committee and repeated by the visitor.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Then we administer an Oath which is read by the Chair of the Examining Committee and repeated by the visitor.

So your jurisdiction calls it by some name other than "Tyler's Oath" but it is still, in fact, the same thing.

I've seen similar in claims that some jurisdictions don't use dues cards and therefore don't accept dues cards. But they do accept a signed embossed document printed by a recognized jurisdiction and signed by both the member and the lodge's secretary. "Here's my dues card." "We don't take dues cards." "What do you take?" "We take a signed embossed document printed by a recognized jurisdiction and signed by both the member and the lodge's secretary." "Okay, here's a document that is all that stuff but is not what you would cal a dues card." (Hands over dues card).
 

Keith C

Registered User
So your jurisdiction calls it by some name other than "Tyler's Oath" but it is still, in fact, the same thing.

Having never been informed of the content of the "Tyler's Oath" I personally can't say for sure, but others I have spoken to from PA who have traveled to other jurisdictions have told me the content of the oaths are very different. That and the fact that we do not memorize ours makes me wonder what would happen if I were to attempt to visit a lodge in Texas, or other jurisdictions that expect a visiting MM to be able to recite their oath from memory.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I have yet to visit a lodge outside of PA.. I guess I will find out.
Same here. I haven't visited outside of Kentucky.
"Here's my dues card." "We don't take dues cards." "What do you take?" "We take a signed embossed document printed by a recognized jurisdiction and signed by both the member and the lodge's secretary." "Okay, here's a document that is all that stuff but is not what you would cal a dues card." (Hands over dues card).
LOL!!!!!!
 

Elexir

Registered User
So your jurisdiction calls it by some name other than "Tyler's Oath" but it is still, in fact, the same thing.

I've seen similar in claims that some jurisdictions don't use dues cards and therefore don't accept dues cards. But they do accept a signed embossed document printed by a recognized jurisdiction and signed by both the member and the lodge's secretary. "Here's my dues card." "We don't take dues cards." "What do you take?" "We take a signed embossed document printed by a recognized jurisdiction and signed by both the member and the lodge's secretary." "Okay, here's a document that is all that stuff but is not what you would cal a dues card." (Hands over dues card).

I think the reason the term dues card is not used is becuse the term is unknown. Here in Sweden we have a membership card that is electronic thats not changed over the years unless you lose it.
 

acjohnson53

Registered User
When I visit a LOdge for the first time, I always extend myself to assist on any activity that the Lodge as going on, and try understand the Law of the Lodge ie. Degree work, sit in a seat and what not....I try to leave with a lasting impression of what it is to be a Master Mason, because I am an extension of my Lodge....
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
the fact that we do not memorize ours makes me wonder what would happen if I were to attempt to visit a lodge in Texas, or other jurisdictions that expect a visiting MM to be able to recite their oath from memory.
In practice, we don't expect everyone to recite the Oath from memory. The visitor & the examining committee members each hold one corner of a VSL while giving the Oath in a "repeat after me" manner. Thus, the visitor is swearing upon the VSL that he is worthy & qualified to enter. If that's not good enough, I don't know what would be.
 

Keith C

Registered User
In practice, we don't expect everyone to recite the Oath from memory. The visitor & the examining committee members each hold one corner of a VSL while giving the Oath in a "repeat after me" manner. Thus, the visitor is swearing upon the VSL that he is worthy & qualified to enter. If that's not good enough, I don't know what would be.

That makes total sense and is essentially what we do as well. That is not what other Brothers from Texas have indicated is done at their Lodge.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
So, if I were to try to visit a Kentucky lodge, I'd be turned away because I don't have the Tyler's Oath memorized?
No. It would be taken into consideration that you were from another jurisdiction and other questions would be asked instead.
 

texanmason

Registered User
So, if I were to try to visit a Kentucky lodge, I'd be turned away because I don't have the Tyler's Oath memorized?

I can't speak for Kentucky, but here in Texas, I've done much more free-form examinations for brethren from Jurisdictions that don't use the Tyler's Oath (or do not require memorizing it).
 

acjohnson53

Registered User
if a Brother comes to visit out of know where of course it would impress me to see him walk the Tyler, but if invited by another Brother from that Lodge, then that Brother is vouching for that visiting Brother,, also I am always trying to get them Past Masters to Walk the Tylers Sword....
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
That is not what other Brothers from Texas have indicated is done at their Lodge.
Those "other Brothers" would do well to check with the Committee on Work or, better yet, attend some of the Forums the Committee conducts around our state. They could then learn the prescribed procedure.
 

Elexir

Registered User
Those "other Brothers" would do well to check with the Committee on Work or, better yet, attend some of the Forums the Committee conducts around our state. They could then learn the prescribed procedure.

So GL of Texas should define what the PHAGL of Texas should do?
 
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