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Is this a deal breaker?

mxr200

Registered User
Has anyone not had a home interview and went to the lodge and was accepted as a member? I would think it should not be a problem if you and your wife are willing to meet them at a lodge.


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The Traveling Man

Registered User
Has anyone not had a home interview and went to the lodge and was accepted as a member? I would think it should not be a problem if you and your wife are willing to meet them at a lodge.


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The home visit by the Investigation Committee is part of Masonic Custom and Law. The only time, at least in my Jurisdiction, when a home visit isn't required is when the Lodge does not have an Investigation Committee in place.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Has anyone not had a home interview and went to the lodge and was accepted as a member? I would think it should not be a problem if you and your wife are willing to meet them at a lodge.

It's common now in the two craft lodges I am a member of to have candidates come alone to our lodge building or another convenient location. 13 years ago, I was not interviewed in my home but in the lodge building... but i was no stranger to my proposer...
 

Winter

Premium Member
When I petitioned twenty years ago I was a young 20 something bachelor fresh out of the military. My roommate and I were both petitioning the local Lodge and an interview in the home was required. I don't think our place had ever been so spotless as it was for that interview!

I think the home visit is important for the investigative process, not necessarily for whether you dust every day, but because a great deal about a person can be seen by how they keep their private space. And since a person's character is one of the most important factors, this becomes an excellent tool. Does the petitioner have the Turner Diaries on the coffee table? Does it look like they are not financially stable enough to meet the obligation to the Lodge? Do they have a meth lab in their living room?

But I know many jurisdictions do not have home visits for petitioners and I don't knock them for that.

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Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
When I petitioned I was living in a shared house with minimal control over the public spaces... the committee met with me in the lodge library, where I had spent many Saturday mornings already.
 

acjohnson53

Registered User
I am on the investigating committee, I prefer to meet a star bucks...not so intrusive, and u can get a beverage
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Has anyone not had a home interview and went to the lodge and was accepted as a member? I would think it should not be a problem if you and your wife are willing to meet them at a lodge.

My investigation committee came to my home, but I've been on a lot of investigation committees that met the guy and his wife at lodge after a family dinner.
 

Scoops

Registered User
My lodge didn't do a home visit. I went to the lodge on their committee evening and had an interview there. It was all quite relaxed and friendly.

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Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
The home visit by the Investigation Committee is part of Masonic Custom and Law. The only time, at least in my Jurisdiction, when a home visit isn't required is when the Lodge does not have an Investigation Committee in place.
So, in your jurisdiction a home visit is required by code or edict?
 

The Traveling Man

Registered User
So, in your jurisdiction a home visit is required by code or edict?

In my Constitution it states that an Investigation Committee will be assigned to each petitioner unless the Lodge does not have an Investigation Committee. Looking at it again, it doesn't specifically state that it must be done at home. So from a technical standpoint perhaps it could be somewhere else. I'd have to ask my Secretary if there are any cases where it was done outside of the home.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
So, in your jurisdiction a home visit is required by code or edict?

In both California and Illinois I could not find it in the GL code/law book. In both I found it in the training booklet for examination committees. That makes it some sort of regulation that has a lower rank than a GL code.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
In both California and Illinois I could not find it in the GL code/law book. In both I found it in the training booklet for examination committees. That makes it some sort of regulation that has a lower rank than a GL code.
I'm not sure if a "home" visit is required here in Kentucky or not. Nothing in the Monitor.
 

Chris Hill

Registered User
I am a very private person, as is my wife. I have no interest in having people over to inspect my home. I realize that this is a bit strange, and maybe comes off as standoffish, but our home is our only place of solitude and we keep it to us and our son. I don't mind providing proof that I own my home, and anyone has the right to drive by and see that it exists. The yard is tidy and the paint is fresh every year. I wouldn't mind at all if we met in the back yard over some lemonade, I just don't have people in my home.

I'm just not sure whether this would be a hindrance when it comes time to petition. I am a law abiding citizen, I consider myself a moral person. I don't think that there will be any other issue in the process.

Is the home visit something that can be waived?




It does depend on who's in your jurisdiction and how the master of the lodge feels about it. While I doubt they would have an issue with your person stance on people coming to your house, they may invite you and your wife to a public place in order to talk to her as well. Although it's not mandatory, it could raise suspicion if you are incredibly secretive.
 

Awelton

Premium Member
I don't mean to come off like I've got something to hide. I realize it is almost unheard of for any of you to worry about letting a brother in your home. You have to remember that I am not yet a mason, therefore these are not yet my brothers. I went and had coffee with the WM and a few other guys tonight, and it really put me at ease. They all seem like great guys and I think we will get along just fine. It sounds like they are perfectly fine with meeting my wife and I over dinner or even at the lodge.

So the answer is no, it's not a deal breaker. Thank you for all the replies.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
I don't mean to come off like I've got something to hide. I realize it is almost unheard of for any of you to worry about letting a brother in your home. You have to remember that I am not yet a mason, therefore these are not yet my brothers. I went and had coffee with the WM and a few other guys tonight, and it really put me at ease. They all seem like great guys and I think we will get along just fine. It sounds like they are perfectly fine with meeting my wife and I over dinner or even at the lodge.

So the answer is no, it's not a deal breaker. Thank you for all the replies.

Sounds good ! :)
 

drw72

Premium Member
As we have been receiving petitions from more working/family and military men (25-40 yrs. old), we have started doing the visit location based on convenience. We give the petitioner(s) the choice and work it out based on their schedule as well as our own.
 
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