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

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
The Brethren who cannot be examined are 1. The sitting Grand Master, 2. The sitting DDGM of your District when on an official visit, and 3. members of your Lodge. In the event no one else can vouch for the above, it falls to the WM of the Lodge to vouch for the GM & DDGM (the theory is that the WM attended Grand Lodge & should have met both while there), and to the Lodge Secretary, who is supposed to be able to verify the membership of any member of his Lodge. Ain't this fun? :D
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
The Brethren who cannot be examined are 1. The sitting Grand Master, 2. The sitting DDGM of your District when on an official visit, and 3. members of your Lodge. In the event no one else can vouch for the above, it falls to the WM of the Lodge to vouch for the GM & DDGM (the theory is that the WM attended Grand Lodge & should have met both while there), and to the Lodge Secretary, who is supposed to be able to verify the membership of any member of his Lodge. Ain't this fun? :D
Nice. I'm going to see if this applies here.
 

Bobby V

Registered User
I'm a 45 year member of Fairport-Flower City 476 F&AM (GLoNY) now living in Texas. On my first visit to a Texas lodge in 2011, I was asked to show my current dues card and my drivers license. I was also gently asked if I remembered the Tyler's Oath. The first time I heard of this oath was when I relocated to Michigan in the early 90's. I don't remember NY lodges ever asking visiting brothers for the Tyler's Oath. Dues cards should be hard to counterfeit as I believe most lodges emboss them with a raised seal.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I'm not familiar with this Brother. Could you explain please?

Not all that many Brothers memorize the Tyler's Oath. It's not a mandatory part of the third degree proficiency in every jurisdiction. The third degree proficiency is not mandatory in every jurisdiction.

More still forget it by the time they visit some lodge years later.

So deacons tend to do it the way we have candidates repeat their obligations during degrees. Say to repeat after me, then spoon feed the words a bit at a time.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
So deacons tend to do it the way we have candidates repeat their obligations during degrees. Say to repeat after me, then spoon feed the words a bit at a time.
O.K., got it. I didn't know this. Thanks for the explaination.
Not all that many Brothers memorize the Tyler's Oath. It's not a mandatory part of the third degree proficiency in every jurisdiction. The third degree proficiency is not mandatory in every jurisdiction.
It's not in our proficiency either but in my jurisdiction it is very likely that you will be asked to repeat it when being examined for entrance into a lodge where there is no one to vouch for you.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
I visited at least two Texas lodges and neither even checked my ID or dues card nor did they 'test me'. I probably shouldn't announce that but it's true.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I visited at least two Texas lodges and neither even checked my ID or dues card nor did they 'test me'. I probably shouldn't announce that but it's true.

I walked into an Indiana lodge and asked if they were opening that night. When they said yes I put on my PM apron and asked if I could be put on the agenda to deliver one of my masonic education talks. They didn't even ask to see my ID. After closing I pointed that out to the SD. He just laughed. Hey, I could have been clandestine ...

At least a couple of Texas lodges asked to see my ID. Only one asked me if I knew the Tyler's Oath - I asked to please let me do the Illinois one as that was the one I knew. Once I'd affiliated Brothers started knowing me from various events.
 

Martin Strarup

Registered User
The Brethren who cannot be examined are 1. The sitting Grand Master, 2. The sitting DDGM of your District when on an official visit, and 3. members of your Lodge. In the event no one else can vouch for the above, it falls to the WM of the Lodge to vouch for the GM & DDGM (the theory is that the WM attended Grand Lodge & should have met both while there), and to the Lodge Secretary, who is supposed to be able to verify the membership of any member of his Lodge. Ain't this fun? :D

How's it going Bill...thought I was looking for something and found this old thread. It was good seeing you tonight buddy.

Martin
 

Keith C

Registered User
We had a visitor from New York who had a valid dues card + ID, but did not know the Tyler's Oath. When I tried him, he instead gave the entire Master Mason's trial lecture! I was satisfied.

I guess I better never try to go to a lodge in Texas.

1) In PA we do not have the "Tyler's Oath."
2) The oath we do have ("Oath of Examination") is a read & repeat that no one has to memorize
3) No one outside of PA would recognize any of our Degree Lectures!
 

MarkR

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.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
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.
I hadn't heard of this before. Thanks for the info Brother.
 
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