MarkfromMD
Registered User
My father was a Mason and I failed to realize just how involved he was until after he passed and I was looking through all his papers. He was very involved with the Scottish Rite. When I was growing up he never talked about Freemasonry; I’m sure we never even had a single conversation about it. Looking back it was almost like a secret, in that it just didn’t come up, although I did know he was a mason. Now I see that there was an entire side of him that I didn’t know, and I can’t help but feel like I missed out on sharing something with my dad that could have been important to both of us.
I’ve had an interest in joining for several years now. I’m in my fifties, married with three kids. In looking at Masonic websites like this one, I see over and over that there seems to be a push to get entire families involved in lodge activities. I believe the Grand Lodge of Maryland is quite upfront about this. Here’s the thing: my kids have lives and interests of their own that don’t always align with their parent’s interests. And my wife is pretty accomplished in her career, and heavily involved in career-related organizations of her own, frequently holding leadership positions in those organizations. She will not be interested in anything related to my Masonic activities. Moreover, this is something I want to do for myself. This interests me. I want to dive in to the philosophy and hear papers presented, and maybe write my own. And be a part of a tradition that long predates my own life and times. And maybe know my dad a little better in the process.
While my wife won’t object to my joining, and would even support it, I just don’t see a lot of family involvement. How much do wives and kids actually participate, and is there an expectation that they will?
I’ve had an interest in joining for several years now. I’m in my fifties, married with three kids. In looking at Masonic websites like this one, I see over and over that there seems to be a push to get entire families involved in lodge activities. I believe the Grand Lodge of Maryland is quite upfront about this. Here’s the thing: my kids have lives and interests of their own that don’t always align with their parent’s interests. And my wife is pretty accomplished in her career, and heavily involved in career-related organizations of her own, frequently holding leadership positions in those organizations. She will not be interested in anything related to my Masonic activities. Moreover, this is something I want to do for myself. This interests me. I want to dive in to the philosophy and hear papers presented, and maybe write my own. And be a part of a tradition that long predates my own life and times. And maybe know my dad a little better in the process.
While my wife won’t object to my joining, and would even support it, I just don’t see a lot of family involvement. How much do wives and kids actually participate, and is there an expectation that they will?