MM Surveyor
Registered User
I started with trepidation that turned to perseverance, hope, satisfaction, education and then all was ruined by a committee of a few desperate old men with no foresight. I think becoming a Mason was the only thing that my father ever hoped I would do, maybe because I was on my way doing the things a successful young man should. And he never would urge me into the military, because he was in WW2 combat. So after the
three degrees, the night of my successful raising was with two other brothers in the lodge, who also had fathers and grandfathers in attendance, and it was memorable. This was April, 1993. Unfortunately shortly
after, some of the NJ State officers decided they could only preserve Masonry by shrinking all the steps into a one day affair. Everything we labored months at, the tradition of the Craft and our predecessors, was
suddenly deemed to be only worthy of a day's pageantry. In addition, we were supposed to treat the one day wonders as equals. Well not this MM. I wrote letters that were dismissed, and my father and our local
officers & members were justly angered by the decision. I left and never went back. I pay my dues every year and make donations to the Masonic Home, because I know somewhere in the organization there are
some people doing good things.
Now Dad and Grandpa are long-gone, and recently I found myself in the spot my father feared... realizing that I didnt have everything figured out and needing some guidance. So I checked back into the Craft, to see
what was happening, only to find insults, threats, innuendo, accusation in my state of NJ. The stories are obvious indication that power and ceremony is paramount ... and as I found in 1993, too little mentioned or
dedicated to charity. Masonry would do well to be less concerned with rotary visiting of lodges and pomp, and more about good works. I dwell on this experience here because some reading this may not even know
this one day travesty ever happened. It is unfortunate that NJ Masonry insulted many of its brethren with the one day degree. However, from outside looking in during this year of 2022, the happenings in NJ are not
isolated to this state, as there are problems nationwide causing loss in membership and lodge closure. Apparently the Masons in the power positions are too high to see what is needed at ground level to preserve
or even grow Masonry. But I will not give it one hour of my precious time and will use my Bible for guidance, not questionable men.
three degrees, the night of my successful raising was with two other brothers in the lodge, who also had fathers and grandfathers in attendance, and it was memorable. This was April, 1993. Unfortunately shortly
after, some of the NJ State officers decided they could only preserve Masonry by shrinking all the steps into a one day affair. Everything we labored months at, the tradition of the Craft and our predecessors, was
suddenly deemed to be only worthy of a day's pageantry. In addition, we were supposed to treat the one day wonders as equals. Well not this MM. I wrote letters that were dismissed, and my father and our local
officers & members were justly angered by the decision. I left and never went back. I pay my dues every year and make donations to the Masonic Home, because I know somewhere in the organization there are
some people doing good things.
Now Dad and Grandpa are long-gone, and recently I found myself in the spot my father feared... realizing that I didnt have everything figured out and needing some guidance. So I checked back into the Craft, to see
what was happening, only to find insults, threats, innuendo, accusation in my state of NJ. The stories are obvious indication that power and ceremony is paramount ... and as I found in 1993, too little mentioned or
dedicated to charity. Masonry would do well to be less concerned with rotary visiting of lodges and pomp, and more about good works. I dwell on this experience here because some reading this may not even know
this one day travesty ever happened. It is unfortunate that NJ Masonry insulted many of its brethren with the one day degree. However, from outside looking in during this year of 2022, the happenings in NJ are not
isolated to this state, as there are problems nationwide causing loss in membership and lodge closure. Apparently the Masons in the power positions are too high to see what is needed at ground level to preserve
or even grow Masonry. But I will not give it one hour of my precious time and will use my Bible for guidance, not questionable men.