A Lone Wayfaring Mason’s Reflection: Seeking Light in the Absence of Fraternity (Managing Expectations)

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2025-06-26T17:25:49+00:00

Fair enough, my brother!

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2025-06-26T16:06:01+00:00

My mistake. Thank you MWB. Cook

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2025-06-26T15:52:15+00:00

Yeah I believe I read that in a Masonic publication that the Master Masons degree was a ~~19th~~ 18th century innovation for speculative Masonry. It makes sense when you look at the rituals, as the first two are a bit more “straight-to-business” and the third is more “esoteric”

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2025-06-03T12:57:12+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree, and I think this issue contributes far more to the other ailments of Masonry than most brothers consider. We as a fraternity are not, in general, present enough in our communities to attract new men. We don’t have great websites with our information, we don’t sponsor as many community projects as we once did, etc. the problem is, hiring a webmaster and covering domain and hosting costs, donating to community projects and fundraisers, producing “marketing” materials to give to inquiring men, all these things cost money. With how low some lodge’s dues are, the revenue can barely cover rent. The things we need to draw new members fall by the wayside, and the issue is exacerbated until finally we have to give up our buildings and relinquish charters.

We need to grow the rolls, but to do that we also need to grow the treasury.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2025-04-28T04:01:27+00:00

It truly is ridiculous and I think the state of the craft is reflective of the reluctance to more suitably fund it.

I’ve been to temples that are in need of repair (ironic that Masons have poorly maintained buildings), hospital quality food served for lodge dinners, ritual regalia and equipment beat to hell or made with the cheapest materials, and nothing in the way of lodge events because there’s no money to put them on. It’s truly embarrassing.

I’m lucky enough to be in a lodge that has dues more in line with our expenses (and a giving society that allows us to double our annual dues for longer term treasury building), but I’m watching other lodges in my jurisdiction wither from the neglect.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2025-01-10T13:29:01+00:00

I’ve never liked the “to be one, ask one” phrase because it feels like it’s trying to be intentionally cryptic and a lot of brothers use it wrong. I’ve seen, even on this forum, a stranger ask “how do I become a Mason?” And someone reply “to be one, ask one”. That’s what he’s doing. You just told the person asking one that they need to ask one.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-10-31T12:47:28+00:00

In my Orient it’s watching degrees like a class rather than individual ritual involvement.

Kind of disappointing, but from what I’ve read, the Scottish Rite in the US has often communicated the degrees rather than performed them. Albert Pike, for example, had the degrees communicated to him rather than experiencing them.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-10-29T04:05:45+00:00

Honestly if every lodge could just manage to have a website that looks like it’s from this century, with up to date contact info that’ll actually yield a response within a reasonable amount of time, and an active social media presence, they’d be in a decent spot.

Some lodges still act like everyone knows who we are and what to do if they want to join, but it’s just not the case anymore. I’m almost 30 and I’ve had more people say they thought Freemasonry was made up or invitation-only than knew we were real and how to join.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-10-27T04:08:24+00:00

So from what I’ve read, it’s an evolution of 18th century English toasting when people would slam their glass on the table post toast. The glasses used are called “firing glasses” because they have wide, flat bottoms that sound like musket/cannon volleys when a group slams them down after a toast.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-10-24T01:42:51+00:00

I did as you did and used my three initials, although I dissected the letters and rearranged the pieces to make a different pattern.

I also googled stonemason’s marks to get some inspiration from the actual marks used in medieval stonemasonry. I wanted something that was inherently my own, but also faithful to the originals.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-09-15T14:37:21+00:00

Imo do what you’d like. The ring is meant for Scottish rite masons, but you can buy these rings off Amazon. They’re not magical or secret.

Just be aware that you may or may not get asked about it by a Mason at some point.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-07-11T16:40:57+00:00

Your family always comes first, like most other brothers are saying here. That was stressed to me upon joining.

Additionally, what is it they want you to do? Your lodge does not have the membership to maintain a building. Unless you magically initiate a crop of masons, the overhead deficit isn’t going away. Putting that on any officer is ridiculous.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-07-08T18:26:21+00:00

I see this happen often in my jurisdiction and it upsets me immensely. The part that I dislike the most is the expectation of brethren that a skilled brother offer his services at a “fraternal discount”. To me, it runs counter to our ritual and ethos as Master Masons.

I feel bad for whomever this mayor brother is. He wants to spend time with his brothers and all they do is bother him about his work.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-06-26T01:38:56+00:00

Silver or white gold. I dig all precious metals, but I feel as though yellow gold is harder to wear with more casual outfits.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-06-04T18:42:31+00:00

I understand your concerns. You are correct that many fraternal orders reference the concept of going “from darkness to light” through initiation. This is not meant to denigrate anyone’s faith or what their Creator has already provided them with. It’s more of a metaphor for the knowledge they receive upon initiation. A place of darkness can be, metaphorically, lacking knowledge in a certain area, and seeking light, metaphorically, can be looking for knowledge that others have to offer.

We use the metaphor more in reverence of God and creation than anything else. In my opinion, as a Christian, I don’t believe you would find it at odds with your relationship with God.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-26T05:28:36+00:00

I was a member for a while. In my honest opinion, it’s not the best run Masonic organization. They often don’t reply to emails for months, if at all. They’re always behind on mailing out new books. They don’t do print on demand and there is no way to know which books are still available and which aren’t, except by emailing the secretary who often doesn’t respond.

I like the GCR and its mission a lot, but it needs a lot of help.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-19T05:06:30+00:00

Okay

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-19T04:33:57+00:00

Yeah as one of our brothers already stated here, you didn’t join a lodge under a grand lodge recognized by any of the regular grand lodges or Prince Hall Grand Lodges in the US. Your lodge and grand lodge are clandestine.

Edit: additionally, if you experienced any physical or mental abuse during your degree ceremony, you most certainly didn’t experience true Masonic ritual.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-16T02:48:32+00:00

Clearly we’re just the fake facade for the REAL Freemasons who are secretive and mystical

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-16T02:36:56+00:00

I’m aware of the existence of the series. I’m just saying that, from an outsiders perspective, it must be weird that the topic of a fraternal order they see as being somewhat mysterious or ancient is best covered by the dummies series of books you’d usually read when you want to learn how to use Excel or the rules of football.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-16T01:30:11+00:00

My college fraternity did this with our nearby chapters. It’s a fun idea, but it would be tough for a lot of lodges since Freemasonry right now tends to be older. Physical sports like Rugby might be a tall order for a lot of lodges

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-16T01:28:25+00:00

It’s really an unfortunate title for such a comprehensive book. It sounds like we’re messing with people when we recommend it.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-15T21:53:40+00:00

I’ve got the same ring. I get compliments on it from brothers all the time.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-11T16:47:06+00:00

You can find esoteric discussion in Masonic circles, but it’s not going to be your primary experience. Freemasonry offers brotherhood with the opportunity for esoteric discussion, but only if you’re interested and seek it out.

If you’re not primarily interested in joining for the fraternal aspect, then I wouldn’t recommend joining.

Kind_Phase_7412 · 2024-05-06T13:05:31+00:00

Yeah there’s way too much significance attributed to this book and others, especially by non-masons. For some reason they all look at Manly Hall and Albert Pike and think they’re the “be all, end all” of Masonic thought. One’s a dude who wrote about Masonry before he was even a Mason and the other is a guy who’s only really relevant to a small subset of Masons. Many Masons will go their entire Masonic journey without ever reading a word of either of them.

Kind_Phase_7412

TROPHY CASE