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Why did you become a Mason?

BrianMcMLG

Registered User
I was renting a room in a house and we had a new gentleman move into the premises. I quickly became good friends with this man. Over time, I grew to look up to him as almost a second father. One day we were watching a documentary on the Freemasons and he was calling BS on every other word the narrator said. I began asking questions. He then asked me "if you are so curious about Masonry, why didnt you ever join?" I explained that I didnt know any Masons. He smiled and replied "Yes you do." Over the next year, I learned he was a 33rd Degree, a Past Master of Lodge #2 in Philadelphia (meets at PA Grand Lodge), a Knight Templar, and a walking encyclopedia of th York Rite. He credited his time as a Mason and the teachings he learned in the brotherhood as to why he was the type of man he was, which was an extremely kindhearted, helpful, morally upstanding person who was always quick to offer assistance to anyone who needed it. I was at a low point in life...unemployed with no income, no direction, and stressed to the max. I not only wanted to get my life back in order, I also wanted to be a genuinely better human being. He helped me turn my life around. Once I was back on my feet and changing all aspects of my life for the better, I realized that I had been blessed to meet Oliver. I decided I wanted to be a part of that which made him a much better person than your average man. So I again asked him about Masonry...this time it was how can I become one? He pointed me in the right direction and, with his words of advice, I approached my local Lodge, petitioned, got to know some really good guys, and now we all call each other "Brother" and I am looking forward to my FC conferral next Thursday night. Forget the crap you hear on tv and the internet...Masons are the best caliber of himan beings I have ever had the pleasure of coming in contact with, and I plan to live up to that legacy. My Lodge brothers are amazing people and I may never have approached them if it weren't for the two years I lived with Oliver Nelson.
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robert leachman

Registered User
Family tradition on my Dad's side, although he never joined, lots of Masons on both sides of his family.
Several on my Mom's though they are all children of her cousins.


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widows son

Premium Member
I was an Anti. But the more information I received that was from proper Masonic sources my opinion changed. You could say that I was a conspiracy believer. I never preached to others to "wake up", but I was younger and a
lot more naive and had my opinions. As time went on, I found more and more debunkings on conspiracies, and especially on masonry. I kept trying to learn, and I realized that I had to experience Freemasonry. My ex of 4 years wasn't in to me joining so I didn't, which was depressing because I knew it would be a great thing. But we broke up for whatever reasons, and I figured that if I didn't do it then, I was never going to do it.

I knew Freemasonry wasn't evil before I got initiated and passed, but I found myself having to explain to my friends who either don't know what freemasonry is, or are conspiracy believers themselves. So I found myself asking if its worth dealing with that.I figured since I was a Fellow-craft at the time, I might as well get my third degree and make a decision then.

The time leading up to the MM degree, I still had to go through awkward conversations with friends and family, but each time it got easier. A few brethren gave me some words of wisdom and it helped out a lot, and gave me more confidence. After being raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason, I felt that I knew I was where I wanted to be. Not because of the degree specifically, although it did add to the experience. I dunno, it's hard to explain. I'm sure the Master Masons here know what I'm talking about. I think it's safe to say that I made the right decision to stay.

As a Master Mason I started to learn more about masonry by getting involved in the Lodge. Im currently Senior Deacon and I am looking to the South for next year. I also joined York Rite and was Exaled to the Supreme Degree of the Holy Royal Arch of Jerusalem and I am petitioning for the Cryptic Degrees after the summer break. I truly feel good when I'm at the Lodge and feel that I'm contributing to something larger than myself, which I never cared to think about much prior to my decision to join.

Now a little over a year later from being raised, I find myself not scouring the web for conspiracies but looking on ways to defend our great fraternity, the many works written about The Craft and learning about the issues that plague The Craft. After reading many of the books and other works by masonic and non Masonic authors, as well as conversing with many knowledgable brethren here at home, from the good old USA and THIS site, I believe the "great secret" of Freemasonry is how one can make oneself better, and looking back I think that's what I really wanted all along. Sp i guess thats my reason. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share this.
 

BrianMcMLG

Registered User
Widows Son, that is a really cool story. You are living proof to the anti-Masonics of the world that if they really knew the truth, they would know how wrong they are. So many people are content with thier own ignorance and make no effort to educate themselves on such topics. I am certain that if more antis were to follow the path you set out on, the anti-Masonry conspiracies would probably cease. Congrats to you for rising above the blind, ignorant fools of the world and discovering the real Freemasonry for what it really is.

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Jamarr/G\

Registered User
I come from a big family of Prince Hall masons from my grandfather to my uncles and cousins. So you can gather that I have some big shoes to fill but family never pressed me into it.
What drove me to masonry was the fact that it made good men better. I've always had a father but my parents divorced when I was 15 yes. He still provided for me but he wasn't physically there. I'm older and have a son of my own I feel that I could teach him right from wrong but I couldn't teach him about having good values and Morales and that's what I was looking for when I petitioned for the lodge. Not only to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather but to be a better man and to teach my son how to be a better man.
Masonry has taught me a lot of things regarding life and how we should live and conduct ourselves at all times. It has taught me how to live an unselfish life. Freemasonry is like a father to me it has molded and shaped me into the man I am today!



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DJGurkins

Floresville #515
Premium Member
I have known a few Masons and respected all of them. My wife's Uncle was a 50+yr Mason. I really respected him a lot. He passed away in 99 Fast forward Jan 2013. I went to a practice night at Floresville 515 AF & AM. Man that was tough walking up to total strangers and asking about their Fraternity. Walking up I thought I heard them mention a date for the takeover of the world.rolling my eyes. LOL
The biggest reason for my joining is to get more involved in the community but I have gotten much more than I have been able to give back. What a great bunch of guys.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I had reached the point where I wanted to have some sort of civic activity in my life but I didn't want to get involved in politics. So I started writing down the names of fraternities and services clubs and I set a deadline for when I would stop adding to the list and start trimming the list down to the one I would join. I saw mention of Oddfellows and Awana after my deadline so I did not consider them. Lions, Kiwanas, Rotary, Elks, Moose, Eagles, AMORC, Amvets, American Legion, Freemasons. I think that was my list.

Meeting close to home rather than close to work helped me shorten the list. The fact that we do not discuss politics was important in my decision. The fact that there are Masons of every religion I had heard of and many I had not confirmed to me that freedom of religion was something Masons actually practice not just pay lip service was crucial to my decision. Having local lodges that met in person also mattered. When I read on the petition that I was not there for mercenary motives mattered. In the end the one that remained on my list was Freemasonry so I petitioned.

Why I continue to attend regularly is a different matter. I discovered that the personal interaction at lodge fills a need that I never knew I had before petitioning. I came for the activities. I return for the fellowship.
 

Colby K

Premium Member
I was always curious but there was a considerable age different between those that I knew were masons and myself. I figured for one reason or another I wouldn't be eligible. Then, a kid that worked for me let out that he was a Mason at the local lodge. He was younger than me so I figured I had been wrong and I began asking question. He told me that the Fraternity could be summed up with these words: "to make good men better." I had just had my second child and was having an internal battle with myself. I didn't feel I was living up to my expectation of what a good father was and I was looking for something to help me with that. When I heard him his say make a good man better I was all about it. I did everything I had to get into this great fraternity. And ever since I was raised to the sublime degree of master mason I have made sure to continue my journey is whatever way I could. I am in Italy now; here they will take you through the Scottish rite degrees in one whole day. I've heard that in the states it takes longer and you get more out it so I am holding off until I get back to go there. Anyway, that's my story.
 

amhdive

Registered User
For me it was two fold. The first reason is that I wanted to connect with my fellow man. When looking at all the options I found so many fraternities and clubs to be manly about the social end of drinking, smoking and darts. Needless to say that wasn't what I wanted. The second reason was simply to show my boys these types of organizations exist and that they exist to do good things for you, others and the community. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences.


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Scott F J

Registered User
My father and I never really saw eye to eye on most anything. He passed away 22 yrs ago today. It wasn't until he was gone that I knew he was a Mason. Then my grandfather passed away. He had been a great inspiration in my life. After his passing I found out that he was a 32° Scottish Rite Mason.

So, after letting life get in the way for 20 yrs or so, I decided that I wanted to be closer to my dad, I wanted to experience what he and my grandfather had.

It has truely been a wonderful experience that I make sure to talk to my sons about (as much as I can, remembering my obligation). My 15 yr old has already expressed interest in joining the fraternity.

As I grow in Masonry, I find that my father and share a lot of the same desires. My next step is to join the Scottish Rite.

Hopefully, one day, I will be able to attend lodge in my fathers mother lodge, Mountain City Lodge, Chattanooga, TN. It would be even better if my son were with me.

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Zaden

Registered User
I was always curious but there was a considerable age different between those that I knew were masons and myself. I figured for one reason or another I wouldn't be eligible. Then, a kid that worked for me let out that he was a Mason at the local lodge. He was younger than me so I figured I had been wrong and I began asking question. He told me that the Fraternity could be summed up with these words: "to make good men better." I had just had my second child and was having an internal battle with myself. I didn't feel I was living up to my expectation of what a good father was and I was looking for something to help me with that. When I heard him his say make a good man better I was all about it. I did everything I had to get into this great fraternity. And ever since I was raised to the sublime degree of master mason I have made sure to continue my journey is whatever way I could. I am in Italy now; here they will take you through the Scottish rite degrees in one whole day. I've heard that in the states it takes longer and you get more out it so I am holding off until I get back to go there. Anyway, that's my story.

From what I've heard the degrees are often taken in 1-3 days here also.
 

Dave in CA

Registered User
Family tradition on my Dad's side, although he never joined, lots of Masons on both sides of his family.
Several on my Mom's though they are all children of her cousins.


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Pretty much the same story for me. Although he never joined, my Dad is proud that I have taken up and continued yet another Family Tradition, the other was serving in the military and receiving combat vet status. My Brother in law is also interested in the Fraternity, but is waiting to join for now.


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Michael Hatley

Premium Member
I managed a project in Australia with another fellow for several years, and we grew close. We watched out for not just the project, but each other, and together herded cats and fought fires every day. After years of that we grew close and it led to a conversation one day about Freemasonry, of which he was a Past Master, a past GL officer and so on and so forth.

After researching it, Texas Masonry looked different enough than Australian Masonry that I decided that it might not be for me. Specifically, I was concerned about the segregation. I couldn't in good conscience support an organization that, for whatever their reasons, were divided racially.

And so it fell off my radar. I stayed close to my friend in Australia.

A few of years later I had been involved with local politics here in Houston for a couple of years (getting a police station built, drainage, roads and so on) and I was starting to get fed up with the herding cats. Was on several boards and serving as a commissioner and burned out of having to be peace maker all the time, and realizing I had hit a glass ceiling as I had no degree, so higher office was likely out of the question unless I was a lot more bankrolled than I am.

About that time I had a routine public meeting for my HOA. I was president of a little software company at the time and that was mentioned while I was doing a Q&A to the audience about trash cleanup. Anyway, after the meeting this sweet old man came up to me and asked me if I could help him fix his computer. He figured that since I ran a software company I must know a lot about computers :52:

But it turns out he lived just 3 blocks from me and I'm bad at saying no, so a couple of days later I headed over to his place to hopefully not make whatever was wrong worse.

We chit chatted a good while and I just loved this fellow. 90 year old pianist and the warmest man you ever did meet. The goodness just glowed off of him. I saw some Masonic stuff in his office and made note of it.

And I decided that if Masonry produced not just a man like my very dear friend from Australia, but this man - then there must be something to it and got a petition from this fellow.

I still sat on my petition for over a year because of the segregation issue, but once I had completed my terms on several positions I had idle hands. I figured that you couldn't change anything from the outside looking in and jumped on board.

Two years later I am sitting Senior Warden in my lodge and that sweet old man has told me several times that he considers me to be like the son he never had, to which we both become emotional over. Finished my degree, and I'm still herding cats - and there is still a lot to be done re: the PH division.

But it has been a worthwhile ride and I've got many Brothers now that I'd to through the fire for and vice versa. I love that - had it in the Army and never had quite been able to recapture it. So the Fraternity has been good to me.
 

Bro.doyleUK

Registered User
I pestered my father in law for about 10 years about "lodge" and what it was and if course he couldn't really tell me very much.
I finally joined on the fraternity on the 22nd of Feb this year and I have now been a MM for 2 months.
I joined for many reasons.
The greatest I guess was to be a better, stronger man and to live a good honest life.
I am a very quiet, shy guy unlike a lot of my school friends and I honestly think even though a lot of aspects of Freemason are challenging and scary to me it will defiantly make me a better man.
Probably the best thing I have ever done


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barofdeath

Registered User
To become a better man. I have seen how it changed my dad and grandpa. I felt that the most honorable thing I could do would be to become a mason, and be a better man.

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LittleHunter

Registered User
First, because I believe our society needs what Masonry can offer more now than ever before: an initiatic experience for men that encourages a definition of manhood based on honor and spiritual strength. Secondly out of respect for my heritage and in honor of my grandfather and great-grandfather. Third, To learn... To connect with men who are a little older and wiser than I, from whom I have much to learn.


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kaveman

Registered User
I've always had an interest for years I thought you had to be asked to join it wasn't until last year my wife was putting together family history books that I found out my moms dad was a 32 degree and her brother my uncle is currently a 32 degree so I asked him about it I'm currently a 3rd degree master mason looking forward to many years of learning from all brethren in the craft not just my lodge


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