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An individual's Masonic history

THemenway

Registered User
I hope this doesn't sound ridiculous.
I am wondering if when I make the journey to become a Mason, would I be able to find out information about my Father.
I was just a kid when he was active and when I got older I would bring it up but he never pushed it or gave much information about his experiences. He told me that if that was the path intended for me to take, I would know when the time came.
When I become a Mason, I want to know as much about my Father's status as possible.
Will I be able to know what degree he was working on, etc?
I believe that he was Scottish Rite, but I am not sure.
I was just wondering if I would be privy to that kind of information
 

Benton

Premium Member
You would, and in fact, I believe in Texas, if you know what lodge he belonged to, you can request information from the lodge even if you personally aren't a Mason, for a small fee. ($10.00, I believe.) I personally didn't have any luck looking up my grandfather like this, but if you're father belonged to the Grand Lodge of Texas, it's worth a shot.

If you don't mind my asking, why do you want to become a Freemason?
 

tomasball

Premium Member
Information on a man's membership is easily researched, without being a Mason. Records of when a man became a mason, offices held, appendant degrees, are available with just a little digging. I would say that if you decide to become a Mason, you will learn the kind of organization your father gave his time to, the experiences he had going through the masonic degrees, and what it means to be a mason like him.
 

THemenway

Registered User
Benton said:
If you don't mind my asking, why do you want to become a Freemason?

I hope this doesn't sound cheesy but, I want to be a better man. I want to serve my community and be a productive citizen in my community and surround myself with other like-minded men.
I am a good, honest, and hard working individual. I was a Parole Officer in Houston and was very unsatisfied with the outcome of my trade.
My wife and I ended up moving North to Fairfield TX about a year ago. I now work for Adult Protective Services.
Please don't take me wrong here, I'm no bleeding heart. I get satisfaction from serving my community. The few times that I have a happy ending in a case, It pushes me to keep moving forward and trying to make a difference, no matter how small, in people's lives.
My Father was a great man. If I can be half of the man that he was, I will be happy. I would be lying if I said that his being a Mason didn't help me make my decision.
I want to be a better person and i think that becoming a Mason will be beneficial to both the craft, and myself.
Sorry for the long answer, I'll stop now.

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Benton

Premium Member
That's just about the best answer you could give. I was just afraid it was solely because of your father and curiosity about his experiences. But with an answer like that, I can tell you have good intentions. Good luck in your pursuit, both of a lodge to petition, and for information about your father.
 

THemenway

Registered User
Thank you sir.
Everyone on these boards have been most couteous and informative. I really do appreciate this forum.
This is not a decision that I believe anyone should make hastily or take lightly.

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SC Heston

Premium Member
THemenway,

I personally did a little research on a couple of my family members just last week. I called the Jurisdiction I knew they lived and talked to the Grand Secretary and within 15 minutes, I had the dates of their petitioning, election, degree conferrals, offices held and dates, and which Lodges they belonged. This was not in Texas so your mileage may vary.

Good luck in your research.
 

THemenway

Registered User
Thank You Mr Heston.
I think that I might wait until after I enter so that it will make more sense to me.
My Mother did a military funeral and did not involve the Masons. My Father was not active for many years before he passed.
She still has his apron(forgive me if that is not the proper term) and a hat (looks like a bellhop's,sorry).
I am hoping that I'll find out what to do with them once I enter myself.

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Jacob Johnson

Registered User
I'd probably just make a shadow box and put the apron (yes, that's the correct word) and the cap (if it looks like a bellhop, it's probably Scottish Rite) inside to display in protection. I did something similar with some of my Grandfather's masonic stuff.
 

bullrack33

Premium Member
THemenway,
My Grandfather was a member of Zebulon Lodge #73 up in Prestonsburg, Ky. All I had to do with them was call their secretary and he sent my Grandfathers entire file to me for free.
 

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
All of the Brothers so far have given some really good words on doing the research on your family member. It is really easy to do the research. At least from my experience it was, and regarding the regular Masonry and not the appendant bodies. I got information on my father twice from the Grand Lodge of Texas. All I did was send a message to the Grand Lodge secretary (I don't believe that it was the Grand Secretary, but an actual secretary or administrative assistant at the time) and she was pretty quick about getting back to me. Just asked me for my father's name and birthdate. She gave me all of the dates of his degrees, all of the lodges he was ever a member of, and even the dates of when he was suspended during a time when he lapsed on his dues cause of an illness. I did this twice as I lost the information once and it was in the same manner that they got back to me.

As for finding out about his "status" in the lodge, I knew that he wasn't ever elected to a position and also that he wasn't ever part of any of the appendant bodies (York Rite, Scottish Rite, etc.) so I didn't really need to contact the lodges or those other organizations to get any more information. But, I'm sure if you were to contact the lodge(s) and the appendant bodies you think he might have been part of (sounds like the was Scottish Rite) that he was a part of and if they still have records around (I have seen some lodges that records only go back a few years due to disasters, fires, and all that), I am sure that they would be more than willing to help you out and get you the information you would need. Might take a little bit of time as it is not their full time job up there and the mail isn't picked up daily (I'm betting..lol) and they would probably need to dig a little bit to find the information you are seeking.

Good luck on making your decision on whether or not to become a Mason. I know that it has been a great journey for me, and I am sure that most of the other Brothers on here can concur with that! Maybe we will see a post from you on here in the near future telling us of you getting initiated :)
 

THemenway

Registered User
Thank you all for the info and advice. I truly appreciate each one of your replys.
I will start attempting to get his history this weekend. I also got my mother to look at the hat and it is the one for the Scottish Rite. I'll contact them as well.
As for me, I have already decided to make the journey, I just need to start the process.
Thanks for all of the words of encouragement.

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