My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Military fraternization and masonry

JMartinez

Registered User
Any comments or experiences with masonry being practiced between officers and enlisted military personnel? Masonic lodges exist all over the world, in different military bases. Military courtesy is suspended in Masonic lodges, and all men meet as brothers and equals, regardless of rank.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
If the President can be on the Level in lodge, so can all ranks of military. Outside the lodge? You had better remember your etiquette.


Sent from my iPhone using My Freemasonry
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
I would say that if u are sitting next to someone that is senior to u in the military abs are going talk to him that u adress him as sir. I understand that we are all on the lvl, but ucmj trumps masonic code as we are all human and if u catch him on a bad day that can turn to a bad day for you. Think of it like this as the WM of ur lodge would u gavel down a PGM who spoke out of turn?
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I would say that if u are sitting next to someone that is senior to u in the military abs are going talk to him that u adress him as sir. I understand that we are all on the lvl, but ucmj trumps masonic code as we are all human and if u catch him on a bad day that can turn to a bad day for you. Think of it like this as the WM of ur lodge would u gavel down a PGM who spoke out of turn?
Good point. Even though we are all equal in the lodge addressing an officer as "sir" is just respectful and, in my opinion, just common sense.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I would say that if u are sitting next to someone that is senior to u in the military abs are going talk to him that u adress him as sir.

In lodge we are brothers and refer to each other as such. In lodge we refer to each other based on the chair they are in during that meeting. The same can happen in the Navy - Consider a full Commander who is in the Supply Corps and a Lt Commander who is a general duty Line officer. The line Lt CDR could well be the CO of a unit that includes the full Cdr in the Supply Corps. As a Supply Corps officer the Cdr can not be the CO of any unit other than the Supply system.

As circumstances change, titles of address change. We need to be observant of the fact and react accordingly. We also need to learn where in the scale between formality and familiarity we need to be in any one situation.

Think of it like this as the WM of ur lodge would u gavel down a PGM who spoke out of turn?

If needed, yes. It takes balls to gavel down a brother. It takes brass balls to gavel down a PM. It takes platinum coated depleted uranium balls to gavel down a PGM. But learning when and why to do so is a lesson that needs to be learned as we progress through the line. It's a lesson that is hard to learn as patience, but as necessary.

Figure out what the right thing to do is, and do that. Think it through carefully and take your time about figuring it out.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
Think of the closing of a Lodge. Think of the question "How do Masons Meet?" and "How do Masons part?" Military ranks, or clerical status if someone is a Priest or a Minister, or the Fire Chief, or what have you, is immaterial in the Lodge while it is in session.
 

Kyle Samuel

Premium Member
My son like to play on my phone but on the topic. I received my petition from a E -8 and I'm and E4 in the army. He told me that in the lodge every body is equal and meets on the level. I have also read that I. The book called freemasonry for dummies.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
"Sir" is always acceptable, as is Brother (when in lodge). I once has a job in the Navy where, as an E-5, I had positional authority over anyone assigned to me, regardless of rank. I still called the officers Sir...


Sent from my iPhone using My Freemasonry
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
"Sir" is always acceptable, as is Brother (when in lodge). I once has a job in the Navy where, as an E-5, I had positional authority over anyone assigned to me, regardless of rank. I still called the officers Sir...


Sent from my iPhone using My Freemasonry
Exactly.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
"Sir" is always acceptable, as is Brother (when in lodge). I once has a job in the Navy where, as an E-5, I had positional authority over anyone assigned to me, regardless of rank. I still called the officers Sir...


Sent from my iPhone using My Freemasonry
Worshipful for a Master or past Master when in session. Period. I'm a Kentucky Colonel and never ask anyone to call me "Colonel".
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
It really depends on your interpretation of the wording in the UCMJ. Also it woulnt be the brother of a sr or jr military rank you would have to worry about. It would be someone whos not a member seeing you together at a social gathering. Its not unlike running in to someone at a bar, ucmj says socializing in public places is ok, as long as colonel so-in-so didnt invite privet snuffy. privately socializing is not ok.


Think like this, col smith is the. Wm, sgt snuffy is the SW, col calls sgt snuffy at lunch and tells him he.needs to see him after snuffy eats to go over the GMs official visit later that night. 1ST SGT JONES(who is snuffys superior and not a mason) sees the caller id and asks snuffy why the col is calling him..... he says its for something to do with lodge, jones then tells snuffy he is not aloud to attend meetings that the col will be at, the col overrides that and jones goes to the General (also not a mason) who decides it is fraternazation and charges them both with such.
 

ess1113

Premium Member
I have sat in lodge with all ranks and I always took rank off (when possible) of my uniform when I walked in that lodge room. Irregardless of UCMJ or rank, the bonds of Freemasonry always took priority and I have never had an issue with any rank above or below my own. We are brothers first and when we saw each other on post it was professional but friendly.
 

MasterMasonFromNV

Registered User
Rank within a Lodge is immaterial. What matters is y'all are Brothers on the Level. If you are using rank within a Lodge, you're not bringing harmony and unity within the Lodge and causing "confusion within the Craft". Leave the rank at the Tyler's door.
 

Rifleman1776

Registered User
I would say that if u are sitting next to someone that is senior to u in the military abs are going talk to him that u adress him as sir. I understand that we are all on the lvl, but ucmj trumps masonic code as we are all human and if u catch him on a bad day that can turn to a bad day for you. Think of it like this as the WM of ur lodge would u gavel down a PGM who spoke out of turn?
I would say that if someone is that thin skinned, he is not a very good Mason.. I would sit elsewhere.
 
Top