What would be a deal-breaker?

[Kevin Worthy]

What would bar someone from becoming a Freemason? I haven't really heard much about this end of things yet.

Thanks:12:

 

[Dave in Waco]

Being an Atheist for one. Lying on a petition. Crimes involving moral turpitude.

 

[Benton]

Dave has the main ones. Especially Athiesm and lying on a petition. I'm willing to bet that some crimes of moral turpitude, say if they were long ago and in your past, could be overlooked, depending on what it is and whether or not you had truly reformed your actions.

 

[Kevin Worthy]

And what constitutes moral turpitude? I ask because I have some things I did when much younger that I am not proud of.

Looks like I posted this at the same time as other posts were being added!

 

[Benton]

Crimes involving moral turpitude according to the US government:

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86942.pdf

Their generic defition:

Statutory definitions of crimes in the United States consist of various
elements, which must be met before a conviction can be supported. Some
of these elements have been determined in judicial or administrative
decisions to involve moral turpitude. A conviction for a statutory offense will
involve moral turpitude if one or more of the elements of that offense have
been determined to involve moral turpitude. The most common elements
involving moral turpitude are:
(1) Fraud;
(2) Larceny; and
(3) Intent to harm persons or things.

 

[Dave in Waco]

About the only thing I can suggest is to submit your petition. We assign an Investigation Committee to every petition we receive. Make sure to be as complete and truthful as you can on your petition. But, the committee will investigate and ask you some questions. They will probably ask you some direct questions about the things in your past you are not proud of. They will then each submit their report to the lodge for the lodge to vote on their findings.

 

[Kevin Worthy]

Would references from friends who I have known for some time have any bearing? Some of what I refer to was the result of youthful naivety.

 

[Dave in Waco]

On Texas petitions, you have to have signitures from 2 Master Masons in the lodge you are petitioning, and then 3 more Master Masons from any lodge in the state. If you don't already know 2 Masons in the lodge, I would recommend contacting the Lodge Secretary and meet some of the guys from the lodge. I would talk with them, and try talking to the Secretary and Worshipful Master about your past. Being up front about it is the best way to put them at ease.

 

[Kevin Worthy]

That does sound like a really good way to go about it! I have a copy of the petition right now. I just need to get over to the Lodge and talk to some folks!

 

[Dave in Waco]

Good luck!!

 

[Kevin Worthy]

Thanks! =]

 

[jhodgdon]

I cant speak for your lodge but mine was gracious enough to overlook some things I did as a teenager that were less than morally sound! Granted I was 18 and haven't been in trouble since but I'm still grateful for the understanding.

 

[Timothy Fleischer]

Kevin,

Masonry is interested in making "good men better." We have all done things in our youth that showed a lack of judgment. You gain wisdom through experience!

Question 16 on the petition states:
16. Have you ever been charged with a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude? _______________________ (Yes or No)
If so, when and where? Give details:

The link posted earlier about what is moral turpitude is a great source of information. If you have some things in your history, the best thing to do is to be honest about them and explain what has happened since then. We are about redeeming and change.
However, we can't take a bad man and make him a good one. We can teach a good man how to be a better man.

The worst thing you can do is omit your history or lie about it.

Tim