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Examining a Brother

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js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
Because that is not all that is required, in fact a dues card isn't even required anywhere in the Constitution except under article 380:which says:

Upon notification to the Worshipful Master, and at his discretion, a member of a Lodge under the jourisdiction of this Grand Lodge may visit any Texas Masonic Lodge working under this jourisdiction without the avouchment and or examination proces providing that he is in good standing and presents a receipt from his Lodge showing that his dues are current at the time of said visitation along with a photo identification;except in cases provided for in Art.382. Sojourning Masons from other jourisdictions must possess a current dues card and shall be vouched for or examined in accordance with Art.381.

Are you telling me brother Harris that everytime you visit a Texas Lodge, you take a receipt from your lodge to prove you are in good standing? No, you show your dues card. Picky picky picky
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Are you telling me brother Harris that everytime you visit a Texas Lodge, you take a receipt from your lodge to prove you are in good standing? No, you show your dues card. Picky picky picky

Bro. Hale, I believe you missed the point Bro. Gerald was attempting to make. You originally stated that a Texas Mason could gain entry into any Texas Lodge merely by showing his dues card & a photo ID. Bro. Gerald merely added that, per Grand Lodge Law, it is up to the WM of that Lodge as to whether or not he would require an examination. That is why he emphasized "and at his discretion" in his post. He believes, as do I, that if we are going to post about Grand Lodge Law we need to take the time to make sure we are posting accurately and in full. There are many young Masons who might get themselves in a bind by relying upon information they read here- we owe it to them to get it right.
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
Bro. Hale, I believe you missed the point Bro. Gerald was attempting to make. You originally stated that a Texas Mason could gain entry into any Texas Lodge merely by showing his dues card & a photo ID. Bro. Gerald merely added that, per Grand Lodge Law, it is up to the WM of that Lodge as to whether or not he would require an examination. That is why he emphasized "and at his discretion" in his post. He believes, as do I, that if we are going to post about Grand Lodge Law we need to take the time to make sure we are posting accurately and in full. There are many young Masons who might get themselves in a bind by relying upon information they read here- we owe it to them to get it right.

I'm sorry. I was not quoting Grand Lodge Law, only my opinion. I don't consider myself a Masonic lawyer. I just think we go to extremes sometimes. I can't think of a reason that I would require an examination of a Texas Brother who wanted to visit my Lodge, if he had a current dues card and photo I.D. I'm sure there will be many examples. As I have stated before, I think we should encourage visitation, not try to prevent visitation. That is why I emphasized my opinion picky picky picky
 
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J

JEbeling

Guest
Whoa.... ! if I am master of a lodge... ! a brother comes to visit my lodge and shows a dues card ... ! and is not a member of that lodge... ! and no one can knows him ... ! he will ALWAYS stand an exam... ! if nothing else than going thru the tilers oath and a couple of questions.. ! it doesn't take long and ever brother I have exam ed have always been enjoyed the exam.. !
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
Whoa.... ! if I am master of a lodge... ! a brother comes to visit my lodge and shows a dues card ... ! and is not a member of that lodge... ! and no one can knows him ... ! he will ALWAYS stand an exam... ! if nothing else than going thru the tilers oath and a couple of questions.. ! it doesn't take long and ever brother I have exam ed have always been enjoyed the exam.. !

I know what you mean about enjoying the exam. I recently visited a Lodge in Ohio and the question I was asked was: Who died first, Hiram Abif's mother or father? I thought that was a unique way to examine a Brother.
 
J

JEbeling

Guest
I was ask once if I was given a blue apron for the blue lodge..?
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I can't think of a reason that I would require an examination of a Texas Brother who wanted to visit my Lodge, if he had a current dues card and photo I.D.

I can think of at least two. First, all that a dues card tells you is that the Brother was in good standing at the time he paid his dues. The Tiler's Oath requires him to swear that he is currently in good standing, i.e. not suspended, expelled, or under charges.

Secondly, about 6 or so years ago, we received a notice from the Grand Secretary regarding a "Brother" who got into a Lodge in the Huntsville area with nothing more than a photo ID & dues card. Everything was fine until his third visit, when he was recognized as a parolee by a real Brother who happened to be a TDCJ captain. Turns out the guy made his dues card in the prison print shop.
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
I can think of at least two. First, all that a dues card tells you is that the Brother was in good standing at the time he paid his dues. The Tiler's Oath requires him to swear that he is currently in good standing, i.e. not suspended, expelled, or under charges.

Secondly, about 6 or so years ago, we received a notice from the Grand Secretary regarding a "Brother" who got into a Lodge in the Huntsville area with nothing more than a photo ID & dues card. Everything was fine until his third visit, when he was recognized as a parolee by a real Brother who happened to be a TDCJ captain. Turns out the guy made his dues card in the prison print shop.

It can happen.
 

TexMass

Registered User
After 9/11 we have to take our shoes off. We are now looking at unerwear searches too. Oh wait...wrong thread.
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
Are you telling me brother Harris that everytime you visit a Texas Lodge, you take a receipt from your lodge to prove you are in good standing? No, you show your dues card. Picky picky picky

Brother Hale, your dues card is your receipt, and Brother Lins was correct in a latter post. Myself and a few other brothers who have been around a while, just want to make sure that all of our younger brothers don't get themselves in a pickle by quoteing or saying something based upon what someone posts here on this site. In over 30 years I have visited many many lodges in Texas as well as the rest of the world. I have never been unable to gain admission into any of them.
 

kcir

Registered User
Yes its important that the brother visiting should have a valid dues card and identity card. The book of lodges should also be consulted to insure that his lodge is recognized. The visiting brother should also be given the opportunity to check the book to insure that the lodge he is visiting is a recognized lodge. I also like to ask for the tylers oath. Its not that hard to learn and shows that you are proud to be a mason. If you don't know it, it can be read and repeated by the visiting brother. I think that little things like this make the brothers visit special. In my lodge we have an officer of the lodge appointed to meet visiting brothers, especially first time visitors. They are introduced to the brothers present before lodge opens, make sure they get a meal if one is being offered, and given a tour of the lodge facilities. In lodge, first time visitors are, if room is available, asked to have a seat in the east. This really makes their visit special and makes them want to visit again.
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
Brother Hale, your dues card is your receipt, and Brother Lins was correct in a latter post. Myself and a few other brothers who have been around a while, just want to make sure that all of our younger brothers don't get themselves in a pickle by quoteing or saying something based upon what someone posts here on this site. In over 30 years I have visited many many lodges in Texas as well as the rest of the world. I have never been unable to gain admission into any of them.

Your post is 100% accurate. My bad. What concerns me is that I have talked to many older Masons who told me " I couldn't get in the Lodge because I don't remember all the grips and words" I know we can get him to repeat the tilers oath and help him gain access or get him to answer some key questions to verify if he is a Mason. The problem is most of them are embarrassed or don't want to go to the trouble. I want everyone who is a Mason to feel he is welcome so they will attend Lodge. That's all. I want the fraternity to thrive as it has in the past. I do agree that if the Worshipful Master feels the person visiting is a cowan or eavesdroper, suspended or expelled, that he should request an examination. Peace be with you Brother Harris.
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
again... if you examine to KEEP BROTHERS OUT you can always find away to keep them out. If you examine to GET BROTHERS IN you can find ways to do it also. Ive seen some pretty interesting questioning of men that havent been in a lodge in 40+ years.
 

caeservi

Registered User
when in the D.C. area, I visited Naval Lodge in the D.C. grand lodge jurisdiction and Alexandria Washington at the G.W. Memorial in the GL of Virginia jurisdiction. Alexandria had me give the step, dugard, and pass word after checking my dues card and looking at their list of lodges. then had me read the tilers oath while touching the bible. Naval Lodge just had me give the tilers oath.
 

Lee Crites

Registered User
I can barely remember the MM obligation and have yet to learn the Tylers oath.


I can honestly say I don't remember the MM obligation well enough to give it as a challenge like that. It took me quite a while to find someone who actually KNEW the Tyler's Oath, which I did learn.

I can say this, though: not being sure of what I'd be asked and/or of my ability to pass the exam has limited the number of lodges I have visited. If I didn't know a lot of the folks there already, I haven't gone. Period.
 

Timothy Fleischer

Registered User
We are going to start teaching new MM's the Tyler's Oath. For entrance, most of the time its a photo ID & dues card. And occasionally you got to a place that asks for nothing.

Brother,

As part of the MM exam, our lodge requires the Tyler's Oath so that the new MM can travel to other lodges. It is a good thing to add to the education of new MM, in my opinion.
 

JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
Start a new thread to continue the discussion. Lots of old threads contain posts by folks that aren't members of the boards anymore so they it breaks the frames. No worries, I just want threads without broken frames :)
 
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