Muddled Meanderings of a Master Mason

What is it that I have joined?

When I started looking into joining a group that I would feel comfortable with, and be able to acheive some form of satisfaction from it, as well as help others, I had a whole list of possibles. Ironically it was going to a Masonic Funeral service that stayed in the back of my mind that played a significant part in my decision. I did not realize at the time at how much memory work had gone into making the presentation seem so fluid and yet so relaxed that you felt as if  you were hearing a great conversation.

As I grew up, this group of people stayed with me in my mind as to what I needed to fulfill my own background. I decided to seek out a friend who was a member and find out what I could about the group. Ironically, it was during the time that many members felt that they couldn't speak about the Lodge to any one not even someone who was interested. I found out later it was a misread understanding of what the Masonic Law was regarding what could and couldn't be told those that were interested. So needless to say I had to rely on the library for my information and try to find competant writers to read to get information. 

I thought it was interesting that one of the books I had looked into was about Secret Societies. I had never considered them to be such but then again I was just starting to look into groups and their history. The book primarily looked at groups that we have all heard about but itheir memberships were not known to the public let alone what it was that they did in public. Many of the entries were about criminal groups, we know about them in the sense of news and various stories turned into movies. Some were about groups with a race or ethic background that one must be to join. Why Freemasonry was listed in the book was because, according to the books authors is they were always beiong asked about them.  

An older reproduction of a Masonic Monitor called Duncan's Ritual was rather insightful in that it was relatively close to what is presented in a llodge. Some things were a touch different so that someone who had read it could not just walk in and be in a meeting. But it was intersting. I hadn't realized at the time how important that book would be in that one learns their lessons of the degree from mouth to ear. In other words, the initiate sits and learns the questions and the answers for his tests  without any readings to help them. It is all about memory work. At a point later I found out how good this exercise was in normal life as it allowed me to do public speaking better, many times without script and to work in a meeting as an officer. 

In other reading I was amazed at how many of the various groups that we take for granted were started by Masons who wanted to create new and relevant groups for those that did not or could not join the Lodge. Most of the Fraternal and Sorority groups take on the basic form of governance of Masonic groups. Many groups were formed around Masonic principles. Many of those who became the first leaders had this background so it was easy to assimilate and set up the new group.

We see groups called Eagles, Moose, Odd Fellows, Elks, Foresters, Woodsmen, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Columbus,  and many others that have some sembalence of  leadership and structure. They all have some type of internal way of meeting and greeting each other that is semi unique to them. 

I learned that with in the fraternal groups they could be divided into two basic groups: Social and Benevolent . The Benevolent Fraternal Orders were the ones that provided for the membership should something occur in their lives. Three of the above listed groups fall into this heading, Foresters, Woodsmen, and Knights of Columbus. They are groups that not only meet for pleasure but also provide an insurance benefit should they decide to take up the offer from the district agent. 

The other groups do not have an insurance program and are around for social and business connections. They allow a member to interact with those they would not normally meet with on a day to day basis. It was a way to make connections outside ones close friends. In some areas we see only one meeting per month and in others it is weekly or twice monthly. Many have dinners before a meeting. In a passive way, each group teaches those members that desire to go through the offices how to become a leader and how to work with others. 

This concept of secrecy has hurt some of the groups from growth potential. The groups that have allowed members to approach and solicit a prospective member have seemed to have grown. Freemasonry prohibits its members from seeking out and asking a potential member if they would like to join. In some parts of the country it requires a potential member to ask three times before an application can be be given to them.Of course the person asking doesn't know this and usually gets upset that the person they asked acts as if they are ignoring them. 

Ironically, in some locations, lodges are made up of men who may work a particular industry or even company. Those who apply that also come from this industry are vetted quickly and get a lot of attention from those they work with in the learning process. Other lodges will do extensive background checks and credit checks, both of which are allowed. So rely only on the interview of the individual and their spouse along with their sonsors. 

At  some point one who is seeking information realizes that it is a men's group that prides itself on good people who are striving to be better. They learn to do it as individuals, as a group, and quietly.