Greek ORG and Freemasonry

[Draculapkt1906]

I am currently seeking membership to the Masonic family. I am here in San Diego and have already put in my bid to become a member of a local lodge. San Diego Lodge #35 F.&.A.M
I am also a member of The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, INC. I was wondering if anyone else out there is part of a greek org. and Freemasonry and what is there take on it also how is the participation level for both?

Fraternally,
D


The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, INC.
Long Beach State '01
Founding Father, Beta Psi Chapter
"Dracula" 79613

[tinydancer]

Paging AlphaSigOU!! Chuck, where are ya?

He's the guy with lots of Masonic information and can probably help you.

[Tom Earp]

Hm, it is my history, that you do not petition Free Masonary.

You are invited by a current member who has observed you.

You may show interest by asking a Mason and showing your interest.

They will then make The Decision whether to ask you to be indoctrinated.

From a 32 Degree Mason.

[Draculapkt1906]

Not Necessarily,
You ask 1 to be 1, then they give you a petition to fill out. Once it's filled out they investigate you to insure you are a worthy individual, once the investigation is clean, they vote at a stated meeting. If accepted they call you for your first degree. I believe that is the process in full.

D

[wrigley]

Here's a couple of threads on Freemasons.

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...ght=Freemasons

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...ght=Freemasons

[Draculapkt1906]

I have plenty of information about freemasonry I just want to know of those in both freemasonry and in greek letter orgs. I want to know how those individuals time commitment is for both.

[Erik P Conard]

I am a seventh-generation Mason. I would guess the majority
of all our founders were Masons or became members of the Craft.
Our fraternity rituals were often designed by Masons.
Some folks seem heavily threatened by the Masonic order, many
ridiculuous stories. Some uniformed Catholics have claimed we
will not allow them in. Bullshit. Gimme your petition and let us
see.
The Prince Hall Masons, the oldest of the order in North America,
have finally been recognized by most of the others--finally.
We broke bread with them a long time ago in Kansas and Colorado.
There's more history written and available on the net on Masonry
than can be read in a lifetime. All Shriners are Master Masons.
Masonry is not a threat to anyone who believes in a widespread
concept of freedom. It is infinitely more tolerant than any of the
so-called "christian" groups I have found.
Welcome....to more light!

[AXOjen]

Mr. Conard, I have not heard that the Masons do not allow Catholics, but I do know that Catholics are forbidden to be Masons.

When Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles was asked whether or not a Catholic could be a Mason his designee replied,

"The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome issued a statement in which it held that since Masonic principles were still contrary to the teachings of the Church, Catholics would commit a grave sin in belonging to Masonic associations and so could not receive Holy Communion."

The website www.freemason.org issued the following caveat...

"The views expressed by the Reverend Thomas C. Anslow pertain to the Los Angeles Archdiocese and are not necessarily those of other Roman Catholic diocese. The official position of the Curia in Rome is that Masonic membership is still prohibited."

For a comprehensive look at Catholicism and Freemasonry, I found this site to be helpful.

I know that the original poster expressed no interest in the Masons and their relationship to the Catholic Church. But I didn't want you, Mr. Conard, to think that all Catholics were uninformed, ridiculous and full of bullshit.

[Tom Earp]

AXOjen, you had better go back and reread EConards post.

You are wrong in your statement. He is right in His.

Masons will welcome Members of the Roman Catholic Faith.

Yes, the Members of The Roman Catholic Faith do not want Members to be Free Masons.

I beleive that Roman Catholics have their own type of Orgainzation and want members to join it instead of Masons.

Sorry, cant remember it off hand what the Roman Catholic Organization is.

[Optimist Prime]

its called the Knights of Columbus

[adduncan]

Originally posted by Optimist Prime
its called the Knights of Columbus

And it has NOTHING to do with Freemasonry. It is definitely not an "alternative" as Mr. Earp implied.

--add

[AXOjen]

Mr. Earp, I'm searching... but I don't see where I misspoke. If you'll point it out to me I'll be happy to reconsider it. As it stands, I agree with what you wrote about Masons allowing Catholics to join but Catholics not being allowed by the Church to join.

Where I would disagree with you is that the reason that Catholics are forbidden by the Church to join the Masons is because the Church has it's own version. The Church does have various apostolates (Opus Dei, for example) but that's not why the Freemasons are forbidden.

[Glitter650]

I have been around masonic orgs since I was 11 years old and can say that there are plenty of catholic masons. The church may not like it, but they won't kick you out if you become a Mason.

Back to the original quesiton... I am a member of Phi Sigma Sigma, Eastern Star and I was an active member of International Order of Rainbow for girls until my 21st birthday, and I feel I gave a great amount to all my organizations and they all have given something back to me.

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Hm, it is my history, that you do not petition Free Masonary.

You are invited by a current member who has observed you.

You may show interest by asking a Mason and showing your interest.

They will then make The Decision whether to ask you to be indoctrinated.

From a 32 Degree Mason.

Brother Tom... remember that you petition to the Fraternity of Freemasonry "of your own free will and accord, uninfuenced by mercenary motives". It is by a vote of the lodge assembled after an investigating committee makes its favorable (or unfavorable) report. The application for membership (at least here in Texas) is titled "Petition for the Mysteries of Freemasonry".

AXOJen is correct regarding the position regarding Roman Catholics to become Masons. I oughta know... I am a baptized but not a practicing Roman Catholic.

For Draculapkt1906: Generally, most Masonic lodges meet once or twice a month, with degree work or practice held on 'off' meeting nights. After your petition is approved and you have been initiated an Entered Apprentice, you will be paired off with a brother who is certified to instruct the Masonic ritual. Some Grand Lodges will allow you to use a ciphered ritual book for you to help remember the work, others (including Oklahoma and Texas, to which I belong; I am a dual member) prohibit the use of them, relying strictly on 'mouth to ear' instruction. You'll probably be meeting with him once or twice a week for maybe an hour or so, then when he feels you are ready to advance, you will be examined in lodge as to your proficiency. If the lodge feels you have made 'suitable proficiency' in the degree work (it doesn't have to be letter-perfect), they will vote to declare you proficient and pass you to the degree of Fellowcraft.

Again, you will be paired off with your instructor and learn the Fellowcraft degree lecture, and the proficiency examination follows the same as the Entered Apprentice. Finally, you will be raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason, and entitled to wear the Square and Compasses. Some Grand Lodges will require a proficiency exam in the Master Mason degree lecture before you may join the appendant bodies of Freemasonry (Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shriners and Eastern Star). Most will complete the requirement of all three degrees in about 3-4 months.

Good luck petitioning the Lodge; if you have any additional questions, please feel free to PM me.

[Draculapkt1906]

AlphaSIG,
Thanks I appreciate the information and I'll PM you if I have any questions. Take care and I look forward to being apart of Freemasonry. How has it been being part of a Greek Org, and Freemasonry?