Joining Member of A Masonic Lodge

There I was successfully initiated into freemasonry, knowing that everything so far was all great and above board, then I needed to move far away from everything I had known for many years. I had chosen Coxheath, Maidstone as my base, because it was fairly near to my work. I knew of one mason in that area and I spoke to him, he immediately suggested I join his lodge and that is what I decided to do. But it was much more complicated than that, again I will not go into details, but until I became a full mason I could not easily move lodges. This meant that I just needed to be a permanent visitor, hopefully able to attend practise meetings as often as possible. Very difficult indeed, but the lodge I was hoping to join were more than helpful and gave me a home that I felt most at ease it.

It was simply brilliant taking part in ceremony (practise) without the worry of actually being a part proper of them at actual meetings. It also kept me out of all of the behind the scenes running that is being done all of the time, like a successful business. This went on for two years until I had become a full mason if you like, a long time but tradition in my mother lodge, that is the lodge into which you were initiated. Once this was done I had to go through an interview process even though I had become close friends with these people over the past two years. This interview was scary, it was supposed to be like the first I had undertaken, only this time it was much scarier and deeper. Let me explain the lodge I was hoping to become a part of had ritual that it was particularly proud of, this meant that they upheld high standards. This time, my answers were perceived very differently. I figured I had proved myself by taking part in the rituals.

Again I was asked to leave the room and I was finally accepted into a lodge that I could actually take part in and enjoy. Although it still would not be official until proven in open lodge. Though hopefully a formality. I now had, two/three years worth of study under my belt and plenty of personal reading about a subject that really intrigued me. The more I looked the less I was able to find that suggested anything untoward or above board, with this fraternity. In all my dealings I was treated with much respect and it really did feel good to be a part of. The only thing that was a frustration to me, was not the masons, but how they were perceived outside of masonry. Yes there were secrets but they were nothing that was of value to non members, only in as much as the ritual was concerned. Anybody wishing to join would surely not want these special moments ruined on their initiation. So people like me were making assumptions about masonry and masonry was really a closed book about the whole thing.

At this time I noticed people’s reticence to discuss with me the subject of my masonry and so started referring to it as “Squirrels”. I never refer to it as such at meetings amongst my brethren but rather in public, offering a rather low key way for people being able to ask me what is that all about without first being worried about it being the masons. I can honestly say this has been great for me. My friends outside of masonry have been able to approach me and discuss the likes of squirrels, bushy tailed squirrels and chain mail squirrels. They have got answers, and feel I am not holding anything back and I am pleased to have been able to speak openly about the subject. As the years go on, masonry has become more open in the press and this is great. The problem is, that each person has a different view of what masonry means to them.

For me, it is a male only meeting that builds honesty and trust, and does huge amounts for charity and offers a self improvement system that can be used throughout the whole of your life. There are female lodges, but the two do not seem to cross paths and Im sure both sexes are appreciative of this fact. The actual meetings (once a month) come with a festive board where we can sit and eat and enjoy each others company and toast to our hearts content. I found the true value for me came to light when I broke my ankle and was seriously ill in hospital. Bear in mind I was what you would call on my own, family not near, single male, stuck in hospital for six months. I had an endless stream of people attending me in hospital, getting essentials, helping with my washing and me cheerfully handing my key over to people I can trust to look after my house. I found that where I had never relied on anyone in my life, here I was giving myself completely to their care, and I was not disappointed.

This was revelatory for me I had a large group of people, who I now looked upon as extended family and trusted as such. This was something I wanted to work on and help others as much as possible. There are many different fraternal societies with many emblems and insignia for each, be careful when you think you are talking about one that you are in fact not talking about a completely different one with a different philosophy of goodwill. This is very difficult sometimes even for masons to distinguish on the face of it, so the general public can easily make a mistake.

I was now a full member of a lodge, were things going to be different? What was your joining interview like, easy, hard or did you wonder about the questions? Please comment below and add your thoughts about anything contained herein.