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- Thread starter tomasball
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H
Huw
Guest
Here in UGLE, we also sometimes get enquiries from men who don't yet know any Brethren to propose them. Here, such enquiries are most commonly made directly to UGLE HQ, and they "pre-screen" by talking to the guy and finding where and when it would be convenient for him to attend, and then pass his details along to the Secretary of a suitable Lodge. Sometimes, of course, a Lodge receives a direct approach from a prospective member who knows none of the members.
Either way, we usually arrange for a couple of the Past Masters to meet him for a talk in informal circumstances (typically over a beer :001_smile
, and if they reckon the guy is a credible applicant then we'll arrange for him to come and meet some more of the Brethren on a further couple of social occasions maybe two or three months later, usually including an official Lodge social occasion if we have one coming up (although not all UGLE Lodges have a social programme). If those who have met him agree that he's a good guy and would fit into the Lodge, then one of those who has met him will stand as proposer, and we'll follow normal procedure from there.
We had a case of this in one of my Lodges a few years ago, where an enquirer was referred to us by UGLE HQ. In the end, it worked out brilliantly: we liked him, he had the right sort of attitude, and we initiated him about a year after we first met him ... and then as a bonus he turned out to have an amazing talent for ritual work, one of the best in the whole country! He's now one of the PMs himself, and has become a central figure in the running of the Lodge.
T & F,
Huw
Either way, we usually arrange for a couple of the Past Masters to meet him for a talk in informal circumstances (typically over a beer :001_smile
, and if they reckon the guy is a credible applicant then we'll arrange for him to come and meet some more of the Brethren on a further couple of social occasions maybe two or three months later, usually including an official Lodge social occasion if we have one coming up (although not all UGLE Lodges have a social programme). If those who have met him agree that he's a good guy and would fit into the Lodge, then one of those who has met him will stand as proposer, and we'll follow normal procedure from there.We had a case of this in one of my Lodges a few years ago, where an enquirer was referred to us by UGLE HQ. In the end, it worked out brilliantly: we liked him, he had the right sort of attitude, and we initiated him about a year after we first met him ... and then as a bonus he turned out to have an amazing talent for ritual work, one of the best in the whole country! He's now one of the PMs himself, and has become a central figure in the running of the Lodge.
T & F,
Huw
Frater Cliff Porter
Premium Member
We go to lunch or dinner with the guy...if we like him we invite him to dinner for six months to a year. After this, if he has endeared himself to the Brothers, he petitions and is initiated.
dhouseholder
Registered User
Our lodge meets every Monday and Wednesday for instruction/fellowship. At any given time we have 3 or so petitioners who knew no Masons before they walked into our lodge. They usually spend about 2 or 3 months getting to know people on these Mondays and Wednesdays, and getting their petition signed.
Traveling Man
Premium Member
This has the distinct advantage of a two way street. The potential candidate has the opportunity to determine if "this" particular lodge meets his needs too. It was through this particular venue that I petitioned a specific lodge. I had many friends that were Freemasons (out of state) and learned what I needed to know through them and the Internet, all I needed to know was; is this lodge right for me?
H
Huw
Guest
Hi JTM.
I understand that they'll usually meet them in person on request, yes. Some of the enquiries arise by people walking into our HQ in person, but I think most are generated by our GL website. I think more often they deal with these preliminaries remotely, by email/phone/post, and leave it up to the individual Lodge to conduct face-to-face meetings. For remote enquiries, I believe that what they usually do is send out our standard introductory booklets and invite him to phone or email again when he's read them, then when he calls back they'll ask him a couple of questions and then put him in contact with a local Lodge - I don't think the GL are trying to second-guess a formal investigation, that remains the job of the particular Lodge.
There aren't a huge number of these enquiries, so far as I'm aware. The vast majority of our petitioners come to us through an existing member in the customary manner, of course. And being the largest of GLs, we do have quite a lot of staff at our HQ. So it doesn't appear to be straining their resources to deal with enquirers and meet some of them in person.
T & F,
Huw
I understand that they'll usually meet them in person on request, yes. Some of the enquiries arise by people walking into our HQ in person, but I think most are generated by our GL website. I think more often they deal with these preliminaries remotely, by email/phone/post, and leave it up to the individual Lodge to conduct face-to-face meetings. For remote enquiries, I believe that what they usually do is send out our standard introductory booklets and invite him to phone or email again when he's read them, then when he calls back they'll ask him a couple of questions and then put him in contact with a local Lodge - I don't think the GL are trying to second-guess a formal investigation, that remains the job of the particular Lodge.
There aren't a huge number of these enquiries, so far as I'm aware. The vast majority of our petitioners come to us through an existing member in the customary manner, of course. And being the largest of GLs, we do have quite a lot of staff at our HQ. So it doesn't appear to be straining their resources to deal with enquirers and meet some of them in person.
T & F,
Huw
Spring TX MM
Premium Member
I was one of those you speak of. I came to Lodge every Tuesday and Thursday for about 5 months before my petition was signed completely. We are more efficient now in several ways. Here are some ideas. The L.I.F.E. books recommend a welcoming committee where a group of well informed Brethren will greet any visitor, Brother or petitioner. The committee should introduce themselves to the visitor, eat with them and sit in Lodge with them, closed or open portions or both depending upon their Masonic status. The committee should introduce the visitors to everyone in person, walk them around and shake hands with the Brethren. If they are petitioning, especially introduce them to another petitioner who is going through the same process so that they know that they are not alone. Find out something about them, for example, they like to play golf or hunt and fish, then introduce that fact to a Brother who you know likes the same things. Those Brethren will get to know them much faster since they have some of the same hobbies and interest. I always take them up into the Lodge room and show them the Stations, Alter and chairs behind the Stations and explain to them the story of how Brother Sam Houston bought them for Lodge #1 in Texas and that they were donated to our Lodge after our Charter in 1921. Most petitioners love the historical aspect of Masonry so something like a little history lesson is a good ice breaker. There are many good ideas but this is just one. Hope this helps. Stay square.
Kyle
Kyle
Great post! Good information.
SMITHENHALS
Registered User
I actually thought I was going to have the same problem when I first decided to petition, but quickly realized after a little looking that I had lots of family and friends that were mason’s including my grandfather.
H
Huw
Guest
Lol! Yes, Smithenhals, it's funny how that often seems to happen!
Sometimes not, however. And sometimes those who don't know any existing Brethren also don't know how else to get in touch and join. The old-fashioned strict version of non-solicitation can be very unhelpful in that case.
For example, I recall an old boy who was Secretary when I was initiated: his father was a Mason and had told him as a young man that he'd propose him when he reached 21, but then his father died unexpectedly and he knew no-one else (so far as he was aware) who was a Brother. He didn't realise that he was expected to ask to join - like a lot of people in those days (and some people even now), he assumed the opposite: that he had to wait for a Brother to invite him. So nothing happened for years and years, but eventually he joined through a work-colleague when he was about 50. Then, he was stunned to discover that half his family (uncles, cousins, etc.) were Brethren! But because he had never asked them, they had all assumed that he wasn't interested and hadn't said anything to him, and were very surprised when it turned out that for all those years he had been wanting to join but never knew how. He loved the Craft once he'd finally found his way in, and became a very dedicated Mason, but he always deeply regretted the lost decades and forever remained rather upset that his own family had assumed that he wasn't interested and had said nothing to him about it. Very sad.
Perhaps nowadays, with more openness from the Craft and so much information available on the Web, such cases will no longer arise. I hope.
T & F,
Huw
Sometimes not, however. And sometimes those who don't know any existing Brethren also don't know how else to get in touch and join. The old-fashioned strict version of non-solicitation can be very unhelpful in that case.
For example, I recall an old boy who was Secretary when I was initiated: his father was a Mason and had told him as a young man that he'd propose him when he reached 21, but then his father died unexpectedly and he knew no-one else (so far as he was aware) who was a Brother. He didn't realise that he was expected to ask to join - like a lot of people in those days (and some people even now), he assumed the opposite: that he had to wait for a Brother to invite him. So nothing happened for years and years, but eventually he joined through a work-colleague when he was about 50. Then, he was stunned to discover that half his family (uncles, cousins, etc.) were Brethren! But because he had never asked them, they had all assumed that he wasn't interested and hadn't said anything to him, and were very surprised when it turned out that for all those years he had been wanting to join but never knew how. He loved the Craft once he'd finally found his way in, and became a very dedicated Mason, but he always deeply regretted the lost decades and forever remained rather upset that his own family had assumed that he wasn't interested and had said nothing to him about it. Very sad.
Perhaps nowadays, with more openness from the Craft and so much information available on the Web, such cases will no longer arise. I hope.
T & F,
Huw