Masonic Veteran Associations????

I agree with Ashlar on all counts.


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Hi, new here. Old thread, I know. I was Googling for Masonic veterans organizations for any vet. MM. Guess there are none. Found this.
However, I am a member of the Shrine Legions of Honor the veterans unit of Shrine. Most states require MM membership for Shrine.
A bit off topic, I am also a member of the Fraternal Order Of the Beaver. This is for historical reenactors. Great people involved, only about 2,000 nation wide.
user name, Rifleman1776 real name, Frank

 

Adding to this ... our entire Lodge is basically a Masonic veterans association. I'd venture to guess at least 3/4s of our member are veterans. Therefore, there is no need for a separate organization.

 

I am in Cleveland and I am transgender becoming a man with true interest in freemasonry.

 

If you are interested in petitioning Freemasonry, contact your local lodge and ask for a petition (application form).

 

I would say that the fact that you are still genetically a woman that that would make you ineligible to be a mason.

 

Agree. Must first get a favorable report from the investigating committee then a 100% yes vote in a secret ballot. Not likely to happen.

 

The closest thing that comes to mind is the Legion of Honor within the Shrine. That is an all Veteran group within the large Shrine appendant body.

 

I think they will have to lower or drop the rank requirement due to lagging membership but I do not have a problem with the current requirement of being an E-7 or up. Just as York Rite requires specific religious requirement among others. Women not allowed in lodge or PHA not being recognized by some Grand Lodges is all similar. They want certain people in their group. Period.
It's in the sojourner by laws as such so they can let it be as far as I'm concerned.

 

They did once already, as it was officers only when I came in.

 

I don't have a problem with the Sojourners (or any other group) that bases its membership on certain prerequisites. It's not about keeping out those who don't meet those requirements; it's about recognizing those who do meet them. I am an honorably discharged vet who proudly served this country. I was your run of the mill, haze gray and under way PO3. I would probably join the Sojourners if I qualified, but I don't. I don't begrudge their members in the least.

Adult life shouldn't be about participation trophies for everyone.

I pitched a stink last year at GL because of a proposal for a new pin. In Tennessee, Masons are awarded pins for 25, 50, and 75 years. Those are standard, recognizable milestones pretty much anywhere. A guy wanted a 60-year pin because he didn't think he'd make 75 years, and that wasn't fair. I called BS. They also voted to change the requirements for a Lewis Jewel because some people wanted to wear one but didn't meet the requirements. Again, I called BS. Both passed, but at least I got my opinion heard.

 

I suspect that sometimes the "egalitarian" argument is only the ostensible reason for objection to bodies which have a prerequisite. Rather, the underlying motive is to have another pin, another jewel, another card, another sig line. Further, this can't be laid at the feet of the Millenial "everyone gets a trophy" culture. We seem to seem to have another culture in Freemasonry: that of ordens hunger. We foster it: "Why aren't you a member of...?"; Masonic introductions. Our self concept as Masons appears to be significantly tied to membership in invitational bodies and offices held. I don't exclude myself from this group. You would think it is good enough that as a Navy Vet I am already amongst the best looking and the brightest.

 

I'm guilty of some of the that, obviously. At least our state YR has the sense to limit the number of titles you get to use during introductions to three (I think it is), and those three need to be pretty big to make it on the card.

I do have a little bit of snob in me, though. Just as my wife.
I told a guy just the other day that some of the invitational bodies, at least in the U.S., are an answer to the doors of Freemasonry being thrown open to anyone who had the initiation fee in his pocket.

 

Navy.....best looking? Yall have the ugliest uniforms. And most senior ncos and officer i have met are fat...lol...i kid i kid...lol. But seriously our(Army) ACUs are terrible but yalls blue and black camos are hideous

 

I was in the Navy before some knucklehead came up with he idea of sailors wearing camo. While butt-ugly, dungarees served a utilitarian purpose for shipboard life.

 

In my 20 years before the mast I saw the changes from dungarees to 'utilities', to the blue digi-cams. The dungarees were by far the best. Every time the Navy tries to make uniform changes they say it is to make them cheaper and more durable yet the uniforms get worse and more expensive.

 

The Certified Navy Twill (CNT) was the worst. Many polys and esthers died for that material.

The best? The tropical weave khakis.

 

I always liked the CNT working whites. The issue milkmans were crap. I good set of tailored CNT whites looked pretty good.
I bet I never had the Johnny Cash uniform on my body other than the day it was issued in boot camp. Oddly enough, two-plus decades down the line, I use that tie as my Commandery tie.