Masonic Organizations & Hazing

[FHwku]

there is no masonic hazing.

[TPASteph]

I think that Acacia Fraternity was somehow associated with Masonry, to what degree I'm unsure. But that was a looooong time ago.

Actually, Acacia is still associated with Masonry. I was actually talking about this with one of my roommates at school and when you join Acacia you actually join a Masonry also. (Which could explain why the brothers I know there are always so damn busy!) I want to say it's Freemasons but I honestly don't remember and she isn't online right now for me to ask. I'll let you know which it is if she ever gets back online.

I have a question of my own though. This may be a dumb question, but since it's 4:17am please bear with me. How did men (say dad-age, like 50-ish, or grandfathers etc.) become masons? Did they have to go through college? None of the men in my family went to college and I'd feel dumb just out and asking them if they were involved with the Mason or not, so I figured I'd ask here first. Thanks!

[33girl]

Originally posted by TPASteph
I have a question of my own though. This may be a dumb question, but since it's 4:17am please bear with me. How did men (say dad-age, like 50-ish, or grandfathers etc.) become masons? Did they have to go through college? None of the men in my family went to college and I'd feel dumb just out and asking them if they were involved with the Mason or not, so I figured I'd ask here first. Thanks!

Nope, being a Mason has nothing to do with college. The majority of Masons and Shriners in my dad's chapter never took any college courses at all.

As far as how did they become Masons to begin with, it's like that old ad "I told 2 friends and so on and so on." From what Dad told me, you have to be asked to join by a present member and it is taboo to bring it up yourself. Whether that's still the way it's done everywhere I'm not sure.

[dekeguy]

To join a lodge of Masons one needs to be 21 years old, of good character, and be proposed and seconded in open lodge and voted on in a process much like a 'ball session' complete with a voting box with white balls and black cubes or some similar process. College is not required to join the Masons. It was started centuries ago by stone masons who taught moral and philosophical beliefs by using the tools of a stone mason to illustrate these.
Actually, the candidate has to ASK to join the lodge, as Masons are not supposed to recruit but rather to respond to a request. All one needs to do is bring up the subject to a Mason and he is then free to explain the process. With minor variations, the interested party asks something like, "Hay, you are a Mason, what is that all about?" Then the Mason explains the history, aims and purposes, and general info. If the candidate is interested in going further he is given a 'petition' form which is filled in by the candidate and then signed by a sponsor and one or more seconders. Most lodges require that one has known the candidate for a period of time and can recommend him with confidence. So, those who actually sponsor the candidate are usually people who have known him for some time. Then the petition is read in lodge and a committee of three or more who are not his sponsors is appointed to do a bit of research on the candidate. This involves meeting the candidate at home or some convenient location like lunch, or dinner, or someplace where a quiet conversation can be held, and asking him certain questions regarding his understanding of what Masonry is all about, what his beliefs are (one has to believe in God in order to be a Mason), and whether the candidate will be able to dedicate enough time to participate in the lodge instructions and activities. Assuming the candidate gets a good report, his name is proposed for election in open lodge, the committee reports formally that he is in their judgment a good candidate, the sponsors can speak for him, and the lodge at large is invited to say anything pertinent. Then a vote is taken and if he receives all white balls he is elected. As a safeguard, if there is one black one the vote is retaken to make sure there was no error. It takes 100% to elect. At this point the candidate is asked to come to the lodge. He may be told that he is to meet a few more of the brothers or he may be told that he has been elected. Different lodges have minor variances in this. Anyway, when he arrives he is received warmly, prepared, and then goes through the ritual of the first degree. He is now a Mason but not fully fledged. He has to go through prep and verbal examination to go on the the second degree and then more prep and exam to go to the third degree. When he receives the third degree he is a full Master Mason. This is the heart and soul of masonry and all one needs to do. The other degrees are ways of getting more into the history and development of the Order and are very rewarding, but not required for one to be a full Mason.
The Shrine is a seperate yet related organization which requires one to be a Master Mason in order to join but is not required of all Masons. All Shriners are Masons, not all Masons are Shriners.
The Masons keep the ritual and recognition signs closely held secrets but are not really a secret society. One can tell anyone that one is a Mason just like a Beta or a Lambda Chi can say so. Masons can wear their badge (square and compasses) just like a greek badge or letters on clothing. Everything I have written here is 'open' info and there are lots of good masonic websites if you are interested. If you have any more questions I'll try to come up with good answers. By the way, Mason and Freemason are interchangable when refering to the Order.
I have received Masonic degrees both in the US and in England. Without going anywhere I should not, I can say that it is obvious that Masonry is the Father of Greek Letter Organizations.

[TPASteph]

Thanks 33girl.

[33girl]

Thank you dekeguy. I had a feeling I wasn't explaining that right but I was very tired . Your explanation of the petitioning process is pretty much exactly what my dad told me.

[bro_strawter]

Discussing any of this is totally against my obligation. If you want to know about the order, I suggest you go to www.freemasory.org

[dekeguy]

Bro_Strawter,
As a point of info, before I posted on the subject I ran my comments past Grand Lodge. I was told that all my comments are definitely open info and Grand Lodge policy was for all MMs
to get good and accurate comments out to give the world at large a better understanding of what Masonry is all about. They pointed out that the MWGM of the United Grand Lodge of England had challenged all Masonic jurisdictions in communication to be proactive in spreading the light. The obligation requires one to safeguard private matters but it can be argued that the obligation also calls upon all of us correct misunderstandings and show all what we stand for. Caution is commendable but there is rather a lot that can and should be shared. A quick call to your jurisdiction's Grand Secretary's office will provide authoritative guidance.
Fraternal greetings and best regards,
WB dekeguy

[bro_strawter]

I agree. My post was not directed toward you my brother. Actually, people have pm-ed me regarding things that I cannot discuss and it was getting on my nerves, so I basically put it out there as to say.."don't ask me anything." If you guys feel compelled to discuss the Order with outsiders, then that fine by me. You're absolutely right, there are some things regarding the Order outsiders should know...however, I'm not the type of brother to openly indulge in such conversations.

Originally posted by dekeguy
Bro_Strawter,
As a point of info, before I posted on the subject I ran my comments past Grand Lodge. I was told that all my comments are definitely open info and Grand Lodge policy was for all MMs
to get good and accurate comments out to give the world at large a better understanding of what Masonry is all about. They pointed out that the MWGM of the United Grand Lodge of England had challenged all Masonic jurisdictions in communication to be proactive in spreading the light. The obligation requires one to safeguard private matters but it can be argued that the obligation also calls upon all of us correct misunderstandings and show all what we stand for. Caution is commendable but there is rather a lot that can and should be shared. A quick call to your jurisdiction's Grand Secretary's office will provide authoritative guidance.
Fraternal greetings and best regards,
WB dekeguy

[PHAtraveller]

bro_strawter,

I think that as, 21st century Masons, we must open up to the public and release information that is useful to the public. This will cut down on the number of "bogus" groups, especially within Prince Hall Masonry.

dekeguy,
Ypu have the right idea to start spreading the "light" to those who want it.


Bro. CDM, 32 degree
MWPHGL of IL

[bro_strawter]

Once again, I agree. We must inform the masses of our order to help rid many misconceptions that comes with the name Freemasonry. However, some of the post that I've seen on here was totally out of ORDER which is why I made my previous statements. I guess it's just the Southern Jurisdiction in me.

Nashville, Tennessee
P.H.A

Originally posted by PHAtraveller
bro_strawter,

I think that as, 21st century Masons, we must open up to the public and release information that is useful to the public. This will cut down on the number of "bogus" groups, especially within Prince Hall Masonry.

dekeguy,
Ypu have the right idea to start spreading the "light" to those who want it.


Bro. CDM, 32 degree
MWPHGL of IL

Being a Job's Daughter for 20 years...scary but true... That is what sparked MY huge interest in wanting to become a greek. Job's Daughters, Rainbow, And Demolay give their members the same as GLOs...ritual, philantropy, social and business opputunities to particpate in.
I am a true legacy of the Masons 30 times over. I have a father and grandfathers and mother and grand mothers and aunts and uncles and cousins and brothers and sisters who just in my intermediate family alone. Not to mention the many that came before us involved in the masonic family, who some were are GREEKS. What i am trying to say is this ...yes these groups are not GLOs , but they sure the heck function the same. I am proud of my membership in Job's daughters ,but i am even prouder when i belong to a GLO!

Masons are the most philantropic group i have ever seen. My grand father alone has referred many a child to Shriners hospital in Los Angeles as he was a cop and seen so much low income families not able to afford health care as well as my father who is a Doctor and knew of many paitents with kids.

Masons give tons of Scholarship money yearly to COLLEGE students. I myself have had a few of those scholarships. They also give to elementry schools by sponsering them when they need supplies and to other schools as well.


I agree this is a GLO website and masonic groups may not belong, but a lot of these greeks were once members of these goups and or still are. but some of these GLO orgs were founded or were somewhere in their deep and rich history derived from the Masons. Arcaicia and Delta Zeta have had ties in their past long ago to the Masons and OES before they seperated to belong to IFC and NPC.

I use to love it when my grand dad would drive me around in his lil red shriner car...... that was a blast to be in parades with him!


my very own 2 cents!

laura

[Energizer420]

What is a masonic organization?

[Glitter650]

a masonic organization is any organization which is affiliated with the Masons, Eastern Star, Rainbow girls, order of Demolay, White Shrine, and many many more. They each have a different and unique history but they each started somehow because of a link to the Masons.

[bro_strawter]

I wish it was that simple for me to join...to solicit online. I'm not understanding.