GentlemanBarbarian
Registered User
Greetings,
Thanks for this forum and the opportunity to introduce myself. Forgive my long-windedness.
Just before turning 41 earlier this month, I put into motion fulfilling a nearly lifelong goal and curiosity and reached out to my local lodge.
For those who are interested, this is my journey thus far:
I learned my grandfather was a Freemason near the time of his death while my grandmother and I were going though his things. I found his Freemason ring and some books. He was definitely the kind of man Tom Brokaw lamented about when he coined the term “The Greatest Generation.” Hard-working, industrious, and WWII Purple Heart hero etc.
Later I have had the pleasure of working with a a couple of men that I knew were Freemasons. Although completely different in personality, they were both men of strong character, charisma, and great work ethic. They were both the “go-to” guys at work and what’s more, they took the time to mentor others on the job.
So here I am now, I moved to Kentucky three years ago. I’ve since gotten remarried, and plan to finally settle in for awhile ( I moved with work a lot.) I have always looked for ways to be a better man for myself and family. Not being from here with not a lot of my own local friends outside of work, I was looking for a way to be in the company of fine men doing a good service to improve one-another and serve the community. Sort of an iron-sharpens-iron kind of situation. We are the company we keep after all.
Being a history buff and wanting to join a cadre of fine men I thought about the Freemasons I have known, how they conducted themselves as men, and how proud they were to be a Freemason. The timing seemed right and I spoke with a Freemason I met a couple of times locally and he suggested I contact a lodge closest to my house to start. That is what I did.
On New Year’s Eve I emailed the lodge.
New Year’s Day I received a call from the secretary and we chatted a while.
Had dinner with and decided to petition the lodge later that week. Petition was accepted in the stated meeting
Last Thursday I had my interview with the investigative committee and attended another lodge dinner.
The men of the lodge could not have been more friendly and welcoming! Much to my ease as you can imagine my initial slight awkwardness at being in a room full of strangers.
And now I wait...Excited. Trying not to be too anxious. They vote next month. If I get the dreaded black ball (cube,) I will allow myself to be really bummed and embarrassed for week or so and then....I dunno... Moose Lodge?? Just joking!
Thanks for reading! I shall try my hardest to make any future posts not be as lengthy.
Thanks for this forum and the opportunity to introduce myself. Forgive my long-windedness.
Just before turning 41 earlier this month, I put into motion fulfilling a nearly lifelong goal and curiosity and reached out to my local lodge.
For those who are interested, this is my journey thus far:
I learned my grandfather was a Freemason near the time of his death while my grandmother and I were going though his things. I found his Freemason ring and some books. He was definitely the kind of man Tom Brokaw lamented about when he coined the term “The Greatest Generation.” Hard-working, industrious, and WWII Purple Heart hero etc.
Later I have had the pleasure of working with a a couple of men that I knew were Freemasons. Although completely different in personality, they were both men of strong character, charisma, and great work ethic. They were both the “go-to” guys at work and what’s more, they took the time to mentor others on the job.
So here I am now, I moved to Kentucky three years ago. I’ve since gotten remarried, and plan to finally settle in for awhile ( I moved with work a lot.) I have always looked for ways to be a better man for myself and family. Not being from here with not a lot of my own local friends outside of work, I was looking for a way to be in the company of fine men doing a good service to improve one-another and serve the community. Sort of an iron-sharpens-iron kind of situation. We are the company we keep after all.
Being a history buff and wanting to join a cadre of fine men I thought about the Freemasons I have known, how they conducted themselves as men, and how proud they were to be a Freemason. The timing seemed right and I spoke with a Freemason I met a couple of times locally and he suggested I contact a lodge closest to my house to start. That is what I did.
On New Year’s Eve I emailed the lodge.
New Year’s Day I received a call from the secretary and we chatted a while.
Had dinner with and decided to petition the lodge later that week. Petition was accepted in the stated meeting
Last Thursday I had my interview with the investigative committee and attended another lodge dinner.
The men of the lodge could not have been more friendly and welcoming! Much to my ease as you can imagine my initial slight awkwardness at being in a room full of strangers.
And now I wait...Excited. Trying not to be too anxious. They vote next month. If I get the dreaded black ball (cube,) I will allow myself to be really bummed and embarrassed for week or so and then....I dunno... Moose Lodge?? Just joking!
Thanks for reading! I shall try my hardest to make any future posts not be as lengthy.