As a recently passed FC I found this thread interesting. Getting a tattoo is probably one of the last things on my mind as I along with my ct study for our proficiency exam. As I read through the various responses and even his own initial posting one question comes to mind. "What did the freemasons in his family have to say about getting the tattoo?" It appears they are fine with it or either they just did not say anything to his face. Personally, I could not get anything tattooed on me which I didn't fully know the meaning of it or were a part of what it meant. In my opinion, I think, if he approaches a lodge, he will have a "whole lot" of explaining to do. It is ultimately on that lodge to decide to accept or reject his petition. In my mind I get it, "you are trying to show love and respect to your family". Nevertheless, he is not even an EA. As my Senior Warden said to me the other night, "it's more then getting to wear a ring or have an emblem on your car." It's deeper and that is what this guy has failed to understand. In essence getting the C&S tattooed on your hand and being a non-mason makes as much sense of me getting a Kappa Diamond branded on my arm just because my grandfather was a member Kappa Alpha Psi.