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!

Representing the Craft

Do you think representing the craft as if it were a college frat has a negative or positive impact?


  • Total voters
    29

lilhut3579

Registered User
Lately I've been seeing an increase in younger Masons representing the fraternity in a college fraternity like manner. Mainly PHA Masons. I wonder why? Not saying its a bad thing. I myself had a pretty "shiny" jacket made. Its the older brothers who seem to have more a problem with it. I want to know thoughts on this from not only PH brothers but Mainstream brothers as well.

p.s.

I'm 24 any brother out there younger than me?
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
England has a program focused on finding new members in universities. Several have lodges on or near campus.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
The Grand Lodge of Oklahoma has a program to reach out to college fraternities. I forgot the exact name of the program. Basically, Masons visit Greek fraternities on college campuses, and show a video about Masonry, and distribute literature. I think this is a terrific program. I tried to convince my lodge to enact a similar program. It was not approved, because the lodge never did it that way before.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
The Grand Lodge of Oklahoma has a program to reach out to college fraternities. I forgot the exact name of the program. Basically, Masons visit Greek fraternities on college campuses, and show a video about Masonry, and distribute literature. I think this is a terrific program. I tried to convince my lodge to enact a similar program. It was not approved, because the lodge never did it that way before.
What year did you make this attempt?
 

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
The Grand Lodge of Oklahoma has a program to reach out to college fraternities. I forgot the exact name of the program. Basically, Masons visit Greek fraternities on college campuses, and show a video about Masonry, and distribute literature. I think this is a terrific program. I tried to convince my lodge to enact a similar program. It was not approved, because the lodge never did it that way before.
Is that not recruiting ?
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Is that not recruiting ?
Some jurisdictions do allow solicitation. UGLE: there is no objection to a neutrally worded approach being made to a man who could is considered a suitable candidate for Freemasonry. There can be no objection to his being reminded, once, that the approach was made. Information for the Guidance of Members of the Craft, 2013, page 36.

Utah: The definition of improper solicitation of a potential candidate is any proposal by a Mason that involves coercion or implied negative retaliation of any kind. 2012 Proceedings Page 39.

Minnesota rule:
Proper solicitation shall consist of the following: A man of sterling qualities may be approached and informed, but only once. He must be
left to make his own decision. He should not be badgered
The current understanding in CA is that a mason could tell someone that they think that they would be a good mason. After that if asked the mason may provide more information.
 

MBC

Twice Registered User
Premium Member
I'm now 21.
Right back to the topic, we have the universities scheme here in England and Wales for lodges attached to one or more universities to attract members from the universities. And normally these lodges can apply to the ProvGM for a dispensation of lowing down the age requirements from 21 to 18 of the candidates on a case by case basis.
The UGLE and PGL dropped down their fees for under 25 brethren and PGLs have formed different social clubs for young or light blue(which means non-Grand nor Provincial Grand brethren) masons, such as the Connaught Club in London.
Some universities have formed a Masonic Society with the cooperation with the PGL and lodges. They also set up a stall in the universities to attract people to join too.
In my university, most of us brethren are quite discreet, we do not like to promote ourselves masons, but we never hide that we are masons.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
Lately I've been seeing an increase in younger Masons representing the fraternity in a college fraternity like manner. Mainly PHA Masons. I wonder why? Not saying its a bad thing. I myself had a pretty "shiny" jacket made. Its the older brothers who seem to have more a problem with it. I want to know thoughts on this from not only PH brothers but Mainstream brothers as well.

p.s.

I'm 24 any brother out there younger than me?

So when you say representing the fraternity in a college fraternity like manner do you mean keggers and acting like ass hats while wearing Masonic Symbols? cause if so then yeah thats a terrible idea.
 

Derinique Kendrick

Registered User
If paraphernalia is what we are talking about in terms of representing the organization then it isn't a big deal in my eyes. I agree that alot of the older brothers have a lot of critique when it comes to younger brothers wearing paraphernalia. I think it becomes a problem if said brother(s) decide he or they want to throw a college party. The difference is, those fraternities are social groups whereas Masonry is not a social group but every now and then you come across ones who treat it as such and that is where the issue comes in. Am I right, @Travelling Man91?
 

Bloke

Premium Member
I've see people "recruit" indirectly by say "Hey A.B., you know I think you'd make a pretty fine Mason" without actually saying "Hey here's a petition, I'd like for you to be a Mason". They always leave it to the person to ask on their own free will and accord. What are your thoughts on that, brothers?

Good.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
If I think a man would be a good Mason I inform my wife. She invites him.

LOL... I like it... but in all seriousness, it is funny how we are perceived as a boys club, yet a comment like the above would confuse someone who holds such view.

A potential member came up one night over a dinner party. One of the wives chimed in and her exact words were "I do not think he would be a good Freemason". When asked, she described her (accurate) view of the qualities of a Freemason, and in her view he did not have them. He did not trust him. She knows a lot of Freemasons and has been around us for 30 years. Her husband, father-in-law and 4 of 5 sons are brothers (the eldest is not, but I would support him in a heart beat to join). The brothers talked about her opinion, and accepted it as if from a brother - and the man was never proposed... and I've come to see she was spot on..

Likewise, I said to my partner, "I am thinking of proposing X"; her response was to admonish me for not having done it earlier, to her, he felt exactly like the other Freemasons she knew. He was initiated last year.

Freemasonry is a fraternity, but it is not misogynistic . If a woman understands the fundamentals of the Craft as well as a brother does, her opinion is likely to be heard. Indeed we've had our girls at planning meetings, their voices can really add something. They spend years around us, at dinners. sometimes in the kitchen (my partner, who is on a six figure salary and a senior executive loves cooking with her daughters for lodge, the are treated like heroes (because they are) and they all get to spend time with the guys who work beside... okay, under them, in the kitchen, they do this to support me - and because they love feeding folk, and with lots of hungry 30 and 40 yo boys, love the enthusiasm for their food from starving brothers LOL), at social functions... the girls often end up with a clear view on the fundamentals - they dont get bogged down in the details and the old problem of not seeing the forest for the trees...
 

mrpierce17

KOP Council director / Lodge instructor
Premium Member
Lately I've been seeing an increase in younger Masons representing the fraternity in a college fraternity like manner. Mainly PHA Masons. I wonder why? Not saying its a bad thing. I myself had a pretty "shiny" jacket made. Its the older brothers who seem to have more a problem with it. I want to know thoughts on this from not only PH brothers but Mainstream brothers as well.

p.s.

I'm 24 any brother out there younger than me?
Can you expand on what you mean when you say representing the fraternity like a college frat we are upright moral men and any Mason should carry himself as such
 

Derinique Kendrick

Registered User
LOL... I like it... but in all seriousness, it is funny how we are perceived as a boys club, yet a comment like the above would confuse someone who holds such view.

A potential member came up one night over a dinner party. One of the wives chimed in and her exact words were "I do not think he would be a good Freemason". When asked, she described her (accurate) view of the qualities of a Freemason, and in her view he did not have them. He did not trust him. She knows a lot of Freemasons and has been around us for 30 years. Her husband, father-in-law and 4 of 5 sons are brothers (the eldest is not, but I would support him in a heart beat to join). The brothers talked about her opinion, and accepted it as if from a brother - and the man was never proposed... and I've come to see she was spot on..
This makes a lot of sense. Great way to look at things.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
I've see people "recruit" indirectly by say "Hey A.B., you know I think you'd make a pretty fine Mason" without actually saying "Hey here's a petition, I'd like for you to be a Mason". They always leave it to the person to ask on their own free will and accord. What are your thoughts on that, brothers?

I have no problem with it personally, Derinique. I think a lot of people just never think about joining or are so unfamiliar with it that sometimes it may take a simple suggestion like you said. I know some guys that are better "Masons" than some actually MMs and they've never stepped foot in a lodge. I have mentioned it to them but I never press it. I just say you'd make a good Mason and I think you'd enjoy it. They inevitably ask "Well, what do ya'll do?" That's the hardest question to answer without actually answering it lol.
 
Top