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Should a new MM wait for a period of time, before petitioning an appendant body?

Should a new MM wait for a period of time, before petitioning an appendant body?

  • YES, The new MM should wait for some months or even a year

    Votes: 18 48.6%
  • YES, the period should be left up to the individual Mason.

    Votes: 13 35.1%
  • NO, a new MM should go right ahead and petition an appendant body right away

    Votes: 6 16.2%

  • Total voters
    37

cemab4y

Premium Member
Should a new MM wait for a period of time, before petitioning an appendant body? I believe the decision should be up to the individual. Some Masons feel that a new MM should hold off for some months, or even a year, before petitioning the York Rite/Scottish Rite (or some other appendant body)?
 

rpbrown

Premium Member
My own opinion here is that they should wait for a period that only they can determain. This will allow the new MM to learn as much as he can about the inner workings of the lodge. There is so much more memory work than just the degrees to learn.
 

Roy Vance

Certified
Premium Member
My own opinion here is that they should wait for a period that only they can determain. This will allow the new MM to learn as much as he can about the inner workings of the lodge. There is so much more memory work than just the degrees to learn.

Here, I agree! There is more to the Blue Lodge than just the three degrees. There is a lot of light in the Blue Lodge to be seen be the Mason who just looks for it. I am waiting until after I have finished my year in the East in my Home Lodge before I even think about an appendent body. I am JW elect and will be installed next Tuesday.
 

Benjamin Baxter

Moderator
Premium Member
Without your blue lodge these appendents wont exist. Your membership contends on being a mason. They need your support far worse.:rolleyes:

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onthesquare

Registered User
If you intend to hold an office in the blue lodge then it is incumbent on you to make it your only priority. You will need to learn and understand its many rituals and traditions before you commit to another body that has its own rituals to learn.

The blue lodge should be your number one priority regardless of the decision to join or not join other masonic bodies. They are the foundation of your masonic life. Attend and participate in your lodge for a while before you commit to other bodies that wil want and deserve your active participation as well. In brotherhood ,mike




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Billy Jones

Registered User
I waited about 6 months cause that when the next class was. I believe it's up to the man! And as far as the anti folks causing disharmony...gotta love the report button!


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Mason653

Registered User
This place should be tiled. Just my opinion. All of it. No profanes, eavesdroppers, or cowans.

it's not harsh...just my humble opinion.


Your Brother 357


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PHAm357

Registered User
It's such a shame that a frat as beautifully built and developed as freemasonry catches so much backlash from people who know nothing of our great order. I think it boils down to the human mind wanting and yearning know what it doesn't know and it gets the better of them. I love my cable-tow!!


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Billy Jones

Registered User
It's almost like me telling a tattoo artist...you aren't doing that right...when I know nothing about it other than I have tattoos. I'm not sure about it being tiled since there are men who truly want to learn but I also believe in the report button.... The anti's have their own sites leave ours alone!!!!


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Heart of Stone

Registered User
Most ppl who criticize masonry are masonic rejects who tried to join.Now their taking their anger out on the fraternity.

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onthesquare

Registered User
Brothers, it is not our way to argue with those who do not wish to search for truth,instead, let us continue this forum without further comment.



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Nat Geo 357

Registered User
With membership down and dues on the decline, I would not deter a MM zeal for mor light. If he has completed the rituals and been raised to The Sublime Degree of Master Mason then the personal journey has begun. I know many brothers that only went to The Craft Lodge so that they can go in the direction they desired. As long as they realize that once you are a MM, it does not matter what route you take because every thing that makes you a Mason you learn in the Blue Lodge in those first three degrees. Everything after that is very personal and should not be curtailed by some imaginary waiting period that another brother thinks is right or sufficient. The larger question is the issue od the day where you have The Mystic Shrine taking any and all men regardless if they are MM or not. That is the one that is really bothering me.


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Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
It should be up to the Master Mason, I know that the blue lodge is our foundation, but lack of activity in Blue Lodge being blamed on apendent bodies is some what misleading. Though when ever I am approached or asked to join the Scottish Rite or York Rite I do encourage the man if he is newly raised to wait for a little bit, that they will always be there.

S&F,
-Bro Vick
 

Michael Hatley

Premium Member
It doesn't take much of a person's time to just join appendant bodies.

Serving as a leader in one generally does.

But really, simply joining YR, SR, and the Shrine can be done pretty simply and with only a few meetings and so forth. Attending each would be a small number of days per month, and if you aren't in a leadership role then noone would care if you missed some stated meetings.

That all changes once you do stuff like join a degree team at SR, or become an officer in a unit at the Shrine or take on some sort of leadership role. As long as you can manage initiation fees and dues its just not all that time consuming or troublesome to merely join them though - and I see it as ponying up to support the bodies, which are all struggling for members as blue lodge is (of course blue lodge are their member pools).

So if you are good at saying "not yet" to men who will try and put you to work at the bodies while you work through the chairs at Blue Lodge, then I say go for it. You're representing your lodge, building contacts, and enjoying the lack of responsibility for a night.

If, like me, you are bad at turning down leadership roles - then either hold off on it, or be prepared to become one of "those guys" whose Masonic calendar is crazy. Just is what it is.

On the other hand, I will tell you that the more rabbit holes you go down, the more folks you meet, the more effective you can be at Blue Lodge. I could ramble about the whys and whatfors but it is definitely true.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Some jurisdictions used to require a brother be an MM for a year before they could be invited to join appendant bodies. I like this idea because it's very easy to join group after groups in your enthusiasm and end up spread too thin.

I entered the line immediately on being raised so I waited until I was Master elect before I joined my first appendant body (SR). I went through the line again in another jurisdiction and I was a few months from being elected when I joined my second appendant body (Shrine). I liked the pace of how that worked. Going through the line is not for every brother but most who do it value the experience the rest of their lives.
 

scialytic

Premium Member
Go for the Light! Craft is the most important, but I've found that I am very well rounded after YR and SR. They really are important, especially if you are intellectually-inclined.

Wait if you have a reason to. Don't wait for the sake of waiting. If you have the interest, pull the trigger. Just be cognizant that it may lead to more responsibility which equates to more time away from Lodge and home.

Whatever you do, don't abandon your Craft Lodge. I recommend York Rite AND Scottish Rite if you want a thorough understanding of Masonic hisory, philosophy, and teachings. York Rite if you are really into the Blue Lodge style of delivery (a MUST for all Masons is Chapter and Council; Kights Templar if you are Christian); Scottish Rite if you are into education, philosophy, and an intellectual (a MUST for all Masons that have the aformentioned attributes--regardless of religion). The Shrine if you are a businessman, heavy interest in massive charity, and are into the social side of Masonry (not necessarily Masonic, but with great Brothers and fun, none-the-less).

Waiting for the York Rite is probably a good idea because it is very similar to Blue Lodge in content-delivery and it will only help you be better prepared to work in degrees and be active. Both bodies generally meet once a month. If you plan to be active (which you will be strongly encouraged to do, as mentioned in previous posts) you may want to tackle them in a staggered way. I'd highly recommend the Scottish Rite if you are an intellectual, but say "I'll think about it" to everything and then weigh the duties heavily because you will be quickly overwhelmed with assisting here-and-there. But if you start sooner, you WILL receive more Light and it will start putting you into contact with Brothers you would never meet otherwise and philosophy that may have you researching way more than you ever intended to. Both bodies offer a plethora of knowledge and the eager Brother will walk away with a lot more to offer hos Blue Lodge as he eventually goes through the line.

I highly recommend both when you feel the pull. I especially recommend the York Rite if you, or any Brothers, are not Christian. The Degree Work is beautiful and an amazing continuation of our Blue Lodge Degrees. They are also much neglected by non-Christian Brothers and they are UNFORTUNATE not to receive the Light the Chapter and Council has to offer.

If you are a dedicated Blue Lodge Brother and non-Christian--do yourself a HUGE FAVOR--join the Chapter and Council! You will find it a MOST FULFILLING experience! That is a promise and a guarantee!


Graham
Master Mason
Sam P. Cochran #1335
Love Field Chapter #396
Love Field Council #478
Texas Lodge of Research
Scottish Rite Research Society (SRRS)
Grapevine Chapter #326, Order of Eastern Star
A.&A.S.R., Orient of Texas, Valley of Dallas, S.J., U.S.A.
 

Mason653

Registered User
Go for the Light! Craft is the most important, but I've found that I am very well rounded after YR and SR. They really are important, especially if you are intellectually-inclined.

Wait if you have a reason to. Don't wait for the sake of waiting. If you have the interest, pull the trigger. Just be cognizant that it may lead to more responsibility which equates to more time away from Lodge and home.

Whatever you do, don't abandon your Craft Lodge. I recommend York Rite AND Scottish Rite if you want a thorough understanding of Masonic hisory, philosophy, and teachings. York Rite if you are really into the Blue Lodge style of delivery (a MUST for all Masons is Chapter and Council; Kights Templar if you are Christian); Scottish Rite if you are into education, philosophy, and an intellectual (a MUST for all Masons that have the aformentioned attributes--regardless of religion). The Shrine if you are a businessman, heavy interest in massive charity, and are into the social side of Masonry (not necessarily Masonic, but with great Brothers and fun, none-the-less).

Waiting for the York Rite is probably a good idea because it is very similar to Blue Lodge in content-delivery and it will only help you be better prepared to work in degrees and be active. Both bodies generally meet once a month. If you plan to be active (which you will be strongly encouraged to do, as mentioned in previous posts) you may want to tackle them in a staggered way. I'd highly recommend the Scottish Rite if you are an intellectual, but say "I'll think about it" to everything and then weigh the duties heavily because you will be quickly overwhelmed with assisting here-and-there. But if you start sooner, you WILL receive more Light and it will start putting you into contact with Brothers you would never meet otherwise and philosophy that may have you researching way more than you ever intended to. Both bodies offer a plethora of knowledge and the eager Brother will walk away with a lot more to offer hos Blue Lodge as he eventually goes through the line.

I highly recommend both when you feel the pull. I especially recommend the York Rite if you, or any Brothers, are not Christian. The Degree Work is beautiful and an amazing continuation of our Blue Lodge Degrees. They are also much neglected by non-Christian Brothers and they are UNFORTUNATE not to receive the Light the Chapter and Council has to offer.

If you are a dedicated Blue Lodge Brother and non-Christian--do yourself a HUGE FAVOR--join the Chapter and Council! You will find it a MOST FULFILLING experience! That is a promise and a guarantee!


Graham
Master Mason
Sam P. Cochran #1335
Love Field Chapter #396
Love Field Council #478
Texas Lodge of Research
Scottish Rite Research Society (SRRS)
Grapevine Chapter #326, Order of Eastern Star
A.&A.S.R., Orient of Texas, Valley of Dallas, S.J., U.S.A.

Well put!


Your Brother 357


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