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Why I joined the Lodge

JamesMichael

Premium Member
Growing up my dad was not around the house much He was a good man but just worked a lot and most of his spare time was spent in the Lodge. So I knew about Freemasonry. As a young kid I didn't really connect with my dad. As a college student aged kid, we never talked. When I got married after college we talked more but still we didn't connect that well. Many years later after trying different avenues to connect with my dad, I finally decided to join the Lodge. He was a 33rd Scottish Rite Mason, Secretary of his Valley also heavily involved in York Rite, Shriners, Jesters and a few others etc. He was a great ritualist and had many parts memorized and was always traveling somewhere to confer some degree. He often choose doing these activities over being with family events.

When I decided to join the Lodge he as really happy and for the first time in my life I was part of his happiness. It wasn't a perfect situation but it was an improvement over what was. Unfortunately he passed within a few years of my entering the Lodge. I figured I wouldn't continue as I mostly joined to find some common ground with my dad. But even though he has past I still miss him and continue being active in my lodge. I do it to honor him and relate with him via the brothers in the fraternity. I have found the friendships in the lodge to be truly special and now it's more personal for me. It's not just about him, it's about me too. For both of us. I have seen some masons who are like my dad and have sacrificed their families, churches for the Lodge. But I have also met many more who have been able to keep their priorities in check as it relates to God, Family, Friends, Work and Lodge.

I joined the Lodge when I was old enough to realize that he wasn't going to change and he wasn't going to be around for ever. He was a big part of all 3 of my degrees and was there to extend a grip when I was raised. My brother has pretty much left the Lodge now as he also found dad's associations in the Lodge to be distractions to the family.

There is more to the story about why I joined. But the best parts are really about the why I still am involved. There are some really great men in my lodge and we are brothers. None of us are perfect but we help each other out and for the most part there is a mutual respect for everyone no matter what they do for a living. I look forward to seeing my brothers. Honestly I have trouble leaving my family each time we have a meeting but I have an encouraging wife and she supports my involvement because she understands the value and the benefits I receive with my participation. She has seen me become a stronger and more confidant man which every wife needs. She has also seen me become more understanding of others and their opinions. This is one thing I really enjoy about Freemasonry is how we can hold our own personal beliefs without feeling that a brother is going to judge us because we may differ. I do some members of this site who don't seem to appreciate others opinions and they communicate as if their opinion is the right one. But I understand this site is not just for Masons and I don't think we can verify if someone is a brother or not on this forum. So I don't take too much consideration for those type of comments.

I am thankful that I joined and that's part of my story.
 

Karen MM

Registered User
I'm so glad you were able to get closer to your father before he passed away. I know you becoming a master mason was important to him.
 
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