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So, my father's side of the family had a bunch of masons in it. I wasn't interested in it, nor knew much about it until I visited an old Shitcago graveyard with headstones so old the names had worn away, but not their mason sigils. That reminded me, and I asked my dad about it. He said he didn't join 'cuz his wife (my mom) was Luthern, and they forbade it.
In the interum, I read RAW's works and much of them had at least something creepy and something positive to say about masonry. Since then I'd talked to a few masons about why they joined, etc.
A few weeks ago (a week? last week? ah, time...) I asked to join, and was directed to pick up a petition at a local scottish rite temple. Talked to the 33' behind the big desk and the converstation was definitely slanted to feel me out on a few issues (like belief in a supreme being/some kind of divinity- which is pretty loosely definable by all mason's i've spoken to). He said that Masonry hadn't gotten many applicants because of the 60's youth counter culture ("Parents did Masonry, and nobody wanted to be like their parents) and so "an entire generation was skipped". Thus their more active recruiting efforts, which as far as I know (and as far as they say) is totally unprecedented. It's been ancient tradition that you have to ask to join, and sometimes folks require you to ask 3 times.
So I picked up my petition, filled it out, got some signatures... really the worst part was figuring out all the places I've lived in the past 15 years...
I got a call and a letter saying that there was a fellowship meet & greet going on in the evening, and was invited. I went with a friend of mine who was also interested in masonry. The folks I spoke to while eating dinner were of all age, race, and personaility types. Heard some cool personal stories. Told a few myself. I was overall impressed by their politeness and sincerity (I had gotten up to get some ice cream, and my cup was empty. When I came back someone had already tossed it out for me. totally unexpeted.) One of the more lively dressed men sat down while no one else was around and asked discreetly if we were involved with CMA (Council of Magical Arts in central texas)... we said yes, and he advised that we "should for now keep it on the down low, but there was definitely interest in the lodge". He asked if we were interested in the esoteric side of things, and we concurred, not really knowing how much would be smart to share.
Afterwards, something unprecedented happened- at the time I had no idea it hadn't ever happened before because it was all very cool and non-pomp. All the petitioners there walked down into the temple (which was very occulty, very hermetic) and sat down in front of a throne-like dias. The rest of the masons sat around the edges, and we had a pretty informative question & answer session. My friend and I asked all the questions save one (where they prompted the other petitioners to ask something.) None of my questions were evaded, though they did tend to give way more information then I was looking for. They recommended joining the "Research Lodge" if we had interest in the esoteric side of stuff. After the Q&A they had us get up on the dias and take a picture of us for their newsletter. Very grown up boy scout-like.
By the by, during the Q&A they stated that it wasn't a christian organization (although some individual members might assert that it was to them), and that recently a buddhist had joined and swore on their own religious book, and a Muslim had joined and swore on the Quran. So, it's not just bible thumpers. Though like all things I'm sure there are bible thumpers in the masons.
Overall, my impressions from what they told us, what I've read, and my own converstations with other masons, masonry is a fraternal order (with very few "secrets") that goals itself at a) charitable contributions to the world at large (free hospitals, etc.) and b) providing it's members a "moral compass" for decision making.
I've read a lot about the inside deals and whatnot that occur, but in some ways, if you were a mason, and you had the choice between doing buisness with someone who you knew took binding oaths on "proper moral conduct" (not lying, being fair, compassionate to humanity, acceptance of universal brotherhood of man, etc.) or someone you knew nothing about and might be more likely to cheat you? I get that.
Additionally, no matter what has changed since (and the flaws with them), masonry pretty much shaped america's declaration of independance and constitution. It was 'their' grand experiement on "Liberty" and personal freedom that started america. I respect that in some ways.
So, if you're looking for an initiatory experience where you must memorize essentially a catachism of moral behavior, and you want to have the resources of one of the world's oldest organizations at your disposal for esoteric (hermetic) studies, masonry might be right for you. It's my understanding that a lot of lodges are very different, some are men's clubs, others are way esoteric. There's even a Theosophy lodge near Dallas. |
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