Highly disappointed with my Lodge

Jayman · 05-19-2008, 05:58 PM

I posted this in another forum, but I thought I would ask here too.

So. It took forever to be initiated. People forgetting to call me to set up appointments. Forgetting to put the vote in the agenda. Forgetting to put my initiation in the agenda/summons etc. 6 months from filling out my application.

Okay, so I was initiated last month. I really enjoyed it. Most of the officers forgot their lines.

Now, tomorrow night (Tuesday night) is my passing to second. I have had no contact with any Lodge members. In fact, a lodge officer told me to just practice with my wife. I asked several times about practicing and no word back.

I have no idea what the heck I'm even supposed to be momorizing for my proficiency. I don't even know if I translated the leters properly. Not to mention the traditional P which is a complete blank in the EA degree booklet. All I know is that it is referred to in the dialogue with the SW

What concerns me the most is that I am the first new member in a stagnating Lodge in 2 years. Is this a sign that they just want the place to die and really don't care about new people?

I mean, Christ, there is only so much indecision on their part I'm willing to take before just saying "screw it" and taking a demit.

I hate to do it because I am 5th generation Mason that I know of (could be a few more but Im still trying to confirm. I no longer live in my hometown so I'm not a member of the Lodge my Dad, Granddad and Great Grandad belonged to.

Now there is 2 Lodges in my town operating in the same building (Tuesday vs Wednesday meetings) The other Lodge seems to be more professional but is it really possible to demit from the Tuesday Lodge to join the Wednesday Lodge because I'm not happy how my apprenticeship is going?

Anyone have any thoughts? Am I wrong? Am I impatient?

Tinker · 05-19-2008, 07:38 PM

I'd say go meet other people from the other lodge. Ask if you can attend their degrees. Once you are raised to the third degree you are welcome to travel to other lodges and so you can go there as much as you like. It's all a matter of making connections. Also, if you want to get in touch with me sometime tomorrow by phone I can correct any mistranslations of the cipher that you may have made. Just respond to this, or send me a private message, and I'll get back to you.

And no, you are not wrong. It is a sad scenario that you are put in. This thing is about Brotherhood at its core. Demitting from that lodge won't generally hurt you in other lodges though it might make a difference in a small town with only two lodges. Sometimes people just don't fit in with their Mother lodge, it happens.

jpeffer2007 · 05-21-2008, 11:34 AM

Don't demit! Just contact other Masons (or the Grand Lodge) and find a better lodge to go through. I, personally, wouldn't want to be raised in a lodge like the one you described. After you are raised you will know what I mean!

Jamie

grandsecretary · 05-22-2008, 05:57 PM

I'd say try to find a mentor in your Lodge, whom you trust, and who will give you good advice such as, "never use blasphemy and bad language, especially on Masonic forums, as it is totally unacceptable in our peculiar (particular) system of morality".

If you can't, find such a mentor, visit as many other Lodges as you can until you do find such a Brother.

Good luck to you and take your time. Anything worth while is worth waiting for.

jpeffer2007 · 05-22-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandsecretary

I'd say try to find a mentor in your Lodge, whom you trust, and who will give you good advice such as, "never use blasphemy and bad language, especially on Masonic forums, as it is totally unacceptable in our peculiar (particular) system of morality".

If you can't, find such a mentor, visit as many other Lodges as you can until you do find such a Brother.

Good luck to you and take your time. Anything worth while is worth waiting for.

Bro. Clatworthy,

Do you realize just what a self-righteous pompous arrogant ass you come across as?

Jamie

Jayman · 05-22-2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandsecretary

I'd say try to find a mentor in your Lodge, whom you trust, and who will give you good advice such as, "never use blasphemy and bad language, especially on Masonic forums, as it is totally unacceptable in our peculiar (particular) system of morality".

If you can't, find such a mentor, visit as many other Lodges as you can until you do find such a Brother.

Good luck to you and take your time. Anything worth while is worth waiting for.

thank you for your condescending tone.

and hey, that you for representing those attitudes that are keeping young men from seeking the light and causing so many lodges to wither and die with their aging members.

Tinker · 05-22-2008, 07:30 PM

Speaking as a younger brother. I tend to appreciate the advice of older members such as was rendered above. If Brothers are not there to render moral advice, sometimes in the form of mild rebukes, then what is it we have really?

nephast · 05-22-2008, 11:13 PM

Well I hate to say it but stick it out till you are raised. I know it sounds bad but it's just the way these old cogers run their lodges nowadays. Myself, I am tired of going to lodge and listening to 40 minutes worth of illnesses, lol..As a whole freemasonry cannot compete with other activities easily and readily available.
To get younger members there needs to be an appeal to them. Not many in their early 20's to late 30's want to sit around and play bingo or go to a social mixer party. Events/fundraisers need to more age affiliated. Why not have several different functions instead of the same old routine?

Back on topic, my lodge also has a secretary that is just miserable to contend with
it took me quite and many petitions before he finally managed to not lose one and get me in. This is just a cyclic redundancy that is appearing now as the same old routine is causing a complacency in the lodges creating a negative attitude toward the ideals of FM.

But rest assured there is a plus to all of this as long as you can uphold a positive attitude, continuing educating yourself on masonry and imprinting yourself onto others so that they might say "I knew you were a good guy, but I never knew you were a mason."

Jayman · 05-23-2008, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nephast

Well I hate to say it but stick it out till you are raised. I know it sounds bad but it's just the way these old cogers run their lodges nowadays. Myself, I am tired of going to lodge and listening to 40 minutes worth of illnesses, lol..As a whole freemasonry cannot compete with other activities easily and readily available.
To get younger members there needs to be an appeal to them. Not many in their early 20's to late 30's want to sit around and play bingo or go to a social mixer party. Events/fundraisers need to more age affiliated. Why not have several different functions instead of the same old routine?

Back on topic, my lodge also has a secretary that is just miserable to contend with
it took me quite and many petitions before he finally managed to not lose one and get me in. This is just a cyclic redundancy that is appearing now as the same old routine is causing a complacency in the lodges creating a negative attitude toward the ideals of FM.

But rest assured there is a plus to all of this as long as you can uphold a positive attitude, continuing educating yourself on masonry and imprinting yourself onto others so that they might say "I knew you were a good guy, but I never knew you were a mason."

kind and wise words Bro. Nephast. Thank you.

Emeth1 · 05-23-2008, 01:22 PM

The sad reality is that this is the condition of so many lodges in the tantient system. I myself was raised in that system. There are truly some good men out there. The challenge is that the system has to change it's ways to accomodate the baby boomer generation gap, that as whole did not join anything. Many are changing! I would say that you chose this path and need to recognize there is no victory without a struggle. Even though the brothers aren't exactly filling their obligations, stick it out and get on forums like these. I am no longer a member of that system for the reasons, and many more, you stated above. But I would not encourage you to "jump ship" until you give the system you chose a chance. Perhaps visit the other lodge, or visit a lodge in a different community. Get a good grasp on York masonry, and see if it is for you. If not, then there are other avenues. I think that you are certainly frustrated, bur remember that you are joining a brotherhood, and who knows..you may be the one to take up the torch in that lodge for others who want to join.