i want 2 b 1 so I ask ? - Page 2

grandsecretary · 04-01-2008, 07:13 AM

I have just realised that this is an old posting and you have already taken your first steps. I hope that you find as much happiness and satisfaction that I have over the years and I greet you well.

Mystic knight · 07-25-2008, 05:06 PM

Each lodge is different and has a different chemistry. Hopefully, you joined up with a lodge that is right for you. However, you can now visit any lodge in the world except England. You need to be Royal Arch for that privledge. Over the next year you should work hard to be passed as a Fellowcraft and then raised to a Master Mason and lastly prove your third. Then many more doors open to you. Focus on your Degrees and soon you may become a lodge officer!

cavscout9753 · 08-03-2008, 07:01 PM

My name is Luke, and I can say I can empathize with your frustration. I am in the Army, and with 3 years spent in iraq in the past five years, plus a wife and 3 year old son, there always seem to be some sort of obstruction to what Im after. For a while I have wanted to become involved in the family of F & AM, but always run into timing issues. Good luck to you, I haven't given up yet, and hope neither will/have you.

chgregory · 08-03-2008, 07:22 PM

Hi Luke,

I waited because I was always deployed, 33+ years went by, I missed sitting in lodge with my Grandfather and Father....don't wait, or miss a single day.

You are on the path, you have proven your a dedicated man and care about others, by your current carreer. Find a lodge now, or if you like I will help you by contacting one near you, but don't miss the chance.

My son is growing up (we had kids after I retired) and I will one day sit in lodge with him when he is raised if he holds that desire.

We need good men to walk the path as our brothers, and good men need brothers to lend a helping hand as they travel.

Where are you stationed? I would be happy to find the right guy to help you petition.

S&F,

Iwant2b1soIask · 08-16-2008, 06:52 PM

greetings again,

i hope this note meets all of you in good health & happiness. As for me i couldn't be doing better!!! Due to my dilligence in learning, studying, and having great people around me, i have recently advanced one step further. Even better than that, (well almost), i have run into many brothers throughout my day 2 day dealings. Meeting & conversing with different people (i mean total strangers) from different walks of life that share with me a common ground has been absolutely outstanding. I've learned so much from them as well as, as some have put "me taking them back to the foundation". Such a great fraternity!!!!!!!

To Luke,
I spent 12 years in the Army, & got out in '04, so i know how it is. From the deployments, to the changes of duty stations, to the family and just everyday drudging of military life. Believe me I KNOW & UNDERSTAND FULLY. With that said, I salute you! But to answer your question, no way did I give up, so neither should you. "As Brother Gregory stated -- don't wait!!! In fact I challenge you as well as you should challenge yourself to try even harder. Believe me, just like anything else in life, if you want something bad enough & God has it in his plans for you, need i say anymore ? Good Luck to you & please get back to me if you have any questions or comments, if i can help in any way, i'll do my best.

To Mystic Knight,
I think my Lodge is Outstanding & believe you me, i'm working extremely hard. My eyes are definitely set on next years elections. My WM says that the lodge expects alot from myself & a couple of other brothers. I won't let any of them down, much less myself. So thank you for the words of wisdom & I'll keep you updated.

So Til the next time,
Fraternally
Bro. D. Wharton

cavscout9753 · 08-17-2008, 12:16 AM

to Iwant2b1soIask,
thanks for the encouragement. There have been some pretty rough times lately in considering if I should continue, I got back from my 3rd deployment in june, and they are aready talking about our next one in Oct. of next year. Sounds rough, but throw in there all the training time, and just in general away from home time. It all adds up. Of course, on this mortal earth the most important thing to me is my family. The first time I saw my son, he was already 3 months old. (And that was only for 2 weeks, then back to iraq for 6 more months.) Add all the birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, New years.. et al.
As much as this would detract someone, coming to TBL and meeting alot of these guys has strengthend my resolve to becoming a member of something so genuine and good. To look on some of these guys and call them friend would be grat. To look on them an call them brother would be supreme.

chgregory · 08-17-2008, 06:54 AM

My Brothers,

In an earlier post I spoke of my story and how I gain the path. Luke chaffed a little about the waiting time for the lodges under the GL of GA, but that is not really unusual. Most jurisdictions have a 1 year residency requirement.

It might be possible to contract the Grand Secretary and explain the planned redeployment to Iraq in October and get that waived, but even if it can't the fraternity wants to help get brothers who are in situation of danger such as the military and such to have the opportunity to gain more light.

In some jurisdictions today, and likely in all before 1985 (that is a guess because I don't really remember when it changed), it was necessary for a man to ask 3 times before he was given a petition. Right after my father passed away I asked his best friend to sponsor me, and was ignored, when I saw him again I repeated my request and he spoke for a moment, but did not give me a petition. When I saw him again, I asked again and he gave me the petition already signed by him, we filled it out together and I became a mason. In his lodge they still practiced the ask three times rules and they had a script to follow, first time don't answer, second time, give a little data but not a petition and finally get everything done and work on the vote. I think the idea was to fulfill the need to be certain it was of the man's own free will.

The time wait is, of course to give a man time to know some of the brothers well enough to have a fair and honest vote, but it has a relationship to history and ritual as well as a practical function.

If masons were just some club, these things would have little use, but they all teach masonic lessons and are part of being a traveler on the path to enlightenment.

Anything I can to do help within my limits of understanding, I am happy to do.

S&F,