Mostly Masonry
There are a lot of reasons to become a Mason. Every mason I know will give you a slightly different set of reasons, some are public and some are private. Like any good organization you get more out of it than you put into it. I know I have gotten far more out of Lodge than I put in.
I have to admit I travel a bit too much to be considered to have good attendance. I usually get to the September meeting, I try hard for the October meeting, and if I hit May and June’s it is more good luck than good management. So in my own opinion I’m one of the wallflowers. I don’t feel good offering to do something that I can’t devote the time to do it properly.
I became a mason for several reasons.
- As Bonnie and I traveled I have developed a bit of an interest in history and started to get a bit interested in my own. My father was a mason, he died when I was ten so I really can’t remember much of him. Part of joining masons was an attempt at reaching back to his memory.
- I knew a few friends who were masons and they were interesting people, people that were easy to hang out with. Since I retired my circle of male friends was shrinking and joining the mason’s gave me an opportunity to expand my circle of friends. Church was not an option for me. I have seen too much of the intolerance expressed by “Religious” people to be comfortable in that environment. This is at a time when I was actually becoming a stronger believer in a divine creator. I found one of the basic tenets of masonry very enlightened and it appealed to me strongly at the time and continues to give me hope when I see it practicedBasic Principles. Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. It requires of its members a belief in God as part of the obligation of every responsible adult, but advocates no sectarian faith or practice. Masonic ceremonies include prayers, both traditional and extempore, to reaffirm each individual’s dependence on God and to seek divine guidance. Freemasonry is open to men of any faith, but religion may not be discussed at Masonic meetings.”
(This is scabbed from a web site click on the link to seem more info on the Masonic view toward religion. The world would be a better place if there were a lot more masons around.)
- I had done enough reading on history to see that a number of Mason’s had profound effects on the world as we see it. A few names to think of are: Mark Twain, Lewis and Clark, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, John Defenbaker, Sir John A MacDonald, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman as a starting point. I was interested in seeing why they would want to be masons. What could I learn and how much could I grow from an organization that was important to them? I’m still learning and enjoying every minute.If you are interested in a few more names of masons. This link will take you to a more exhaustive list of Famous Freemasons.It is only fair to mention a few people who disliked masons as well. Off the top here are a few: Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Saddam Hussein.
This link provides a few more anti-masons if you are interested.
If you are uncomfortable with with me being a mason, I have to admit being happy with my company. Are you happy with yours?
You have to ask to be a mason to become one. If you are interested contact your local Lodge.
If you are interested in Freemasonry here are a few interesting links.
There are a lot of reasons to become a Mason. Every mason I know will give you a slightly different set of reasons, some are public and some are private. Like any good organization you get more out of it than you put into it. I know I have gotten far more out of Lodge than I put in.
I have to admit I travel a bit too much to be considered to have good attendance. I usually get to the September meeting, I try hard for the October meeting, and if I hit May and June’s it is more good luck than good management. So in my own opinion I’m one of the wallflowers. I don’t feel good offering to do something that I can’t devote the time to do it properly.
I became a mason for several reasons.
- As Bonnie and I traveled I have developed a bit of an interest in history and started to get a bit interested in my own. My father was a mason, he died when I was ten so I really can’t remember much of him. Part of joining masons was an attempt at reaching back to his memory.
- I knew a few friends who were masons and they were interesting people, people that were easy to hang out with. Since I retired my circle of male friends was shrinking and joining the mason’s gave me an opportunity to expand my circle of friends. Church was not an option for me. I have seen too much of the intolerance expressed by “Religious” people to be comfortable in that environment. This is at a time when I was actually becoming a stronger believer in a divine creator. I found one of the basic tenets of masonry very enlightened and it appealed to me strongly at the time and continues to give me hope when I see it practicedBasic Principles. Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. It requires of its members a belief in God as part of the obligation of every responsible adult, but advocates no sectarian faith or practice. Masonic ceremonies include prayers, both traditional and extempore, to reaffirm each individual’s dependence on God and to seek divine guidance. Freemasonry is open to men of any faith, but religion may not be discussed at Masonic meetings.”
(This is scabbed from a web site click on the link to seem more info on the Masonic view toward religion. The world would be a better place if there were a lot more masons around.) - I had done enough reading on history to see that a number of Mason’s had profound effects on the world as we see it. A few names to think of are: Mark Twain, Lewis and Clark, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, John Defenbaker, Sir John A MacDonald, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman as a starting point. I was interested in seeing why they would want to be masons. What could I learn and how much could I grow from an organization that was important to them? I’m still learning and enjoying every minute.If you are interested in a few more names of masons. This link will take you to a more exhaustive list of Famous Freemasons.It is only fair to mention a few people who disliked masons as well. Off the top here are a few: Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Saddam Hussein.
This link provides a few more anti-masons if you are interested.If you are uncomfortable with with me being a mason, I have to admit being happy with my company. Are you happy with yours?
You have to ask to be a mason to become one. If you are interested contact your local Lodge.
If you are interested in Freemasonry here are a few interesting links.