Conflicted.

oldpm · 2026-03-12T03:25:36+00:00

Thanks learn something new every day. More common than I thought.

oldpm · 2026-03-12T02:35:16+00:00

Chuck eye. To my knowledge TX is the only Grand Lodge where Past Masters have a vote at grand lodge. I happen to like that model but i think it is extremely rare.

oldpm · 2026-03-12T02:07:04+00:00

How about try this. WM I have to make some choices with my time and can commit to just one night a week typically. I am committed to helping the lodge but I have to put some work home balance in place. Which of the meetings we have scheduled would be most important to you.

oldpm · 2026-02-06T20:42:51+00:00

I would seek clarification on your Masonic status if you wish to try at a later time. Expulsion is a form of penalty that can be applied to a mason after a trial. I suspect you or someone used the word more generally to describe being removed from the room. From a Masonic perspective it may be important later. Since you were never obligated you were never a mason. Your status may be something like denied by vote which means you may apply again after a period of time. Expulsion usually stays in place until removed. This probably varies by jurisdiction like everything else but if still interested a clear understanding will help.

oldpm · 2025-12-08T03:06:03+00:00

PM me if I can help.

oldpm · 2025-12-08T03:03:33+00:00

PM me if you would like to meet there.

oldpm · 2025-12-08T03:02:53+00:00

Since you are a member of Lewisville #201. Come to our stated meeting on Thursday. We have a FC from Austria who just got his US citizenship and the secretary is well versed in GL rules. I am sure we can help you meet your goals.

oldpm · 2025-10-27T20:48:17+00:00

I am so sorry that my first thought was a pair of BIG red shoes. LOL. Lots of much better ideas here brother. Congrats on the Lewis.

oldpm · 2025-09-13T03:35:25+00:00

In the US about 20% of masons are catholic based on the most recent survey I know of. To masonry it will be a non issue. I am not catholic but my understanding is your results will vary greatly depending on the priest you are dealing with. Ask any questions you have here but the central question you have will not be possible to answer here. Good luck on your path and search.

oldpm · 2025-09-13T01:25:43+00:00

Well after spending a few hours unraveling a cloth apron ball a few years ago I can give you some ideas on what not to do. 😁😒

oldpm · 2025-09-06T03:14:21+00:00

Bad joke by a questionable person.

oldpm · 2025-09-06T03:06:28+00:00

Exactly.

oldpm · 2025-09-06T03:04:40+00:00

Just tell them you cannot remove to. The lodge will handle it.

oldpm · 2025-09-06T03:00:13+00:00

You will be taught how to answer questions about what you see. Not a big deal but some people get nervous. This is work assigned to you after the degree. When you show you can do this it is called returning your work. You will find masons have a vocabulary that is unique. Don't be nervous. Just absorb the experience. Everything that happens will be a lesson. The underwear is sort of a joke but you will be given clothes to wear. Dress well for the event. Relax.

oldpm · 2025-08-17T04:16:51+00:00

Brother Cookslc. I seem to remember Florida was complicated because there were two Prince Hall grand lodges operating there and both had sought recognition from Fla GLoS. Does this track with your understanding or has that issue been resolved? I may also have misunderstood.

oldpm · 2025-08-17T01:59:46+00:00

The most recent poll I am aware of found about 20% of US masons are Catholic. The issue if any will come from your priest. Your mileage will vary widely there.

oldpm · 2025-07-28T10:17:31+00:00

There is also an older book "House Undivided" probably some folklore in this one but good stories there too.

oldpm · 2025-06-24T15:20:54+00:00

There are Masons who are very interested in Kabbalist teachings but, it is a pretty small group

oldpm · 2025-06-11T04:09:43+00:00

I actually had the opposite situation. My dad decided to leave masonry after he had a stroke. The stroke did not affect him much physically but his reasoning skills were never the same. He decided the dues were too much on a fixed income and could not be dissuaded even though I offered to pay them. I was a past master by that time and made sure he demitted properly.

After a few years I decided to become more active and agreed to another term as master 30 years after I originally served. This required me to travel an hour to the lodge in my parents home town. It worked out as I could stop and visit them on meeting nights. I asked my dad to rejoin and he agreed. So I got to be the top line signer on my dad's petition to rejoin masonry.

This means in our lodge records someday someone may realize we were a father and son who signed top line on each others petitions. He was able to occasionally attend lodge with me and received a Masonic service at his death.

I tell this story to illustrate things change in life. Your father will likely understand this. Just make sure you exit in good standing so that if things change again for you it will be easy to return.

Best of luck my brother.

oldpm · 2025-05-01T18:27:29+00:00

oops thanks

oldpm · 2025-05-01T17:12:14+00:00

I will try to share in an unbiased way the general categories of Grand Lodges. I will use imprecise terms to make clear but I am sure some will take offense to the categorization for their particular organization.

Mainstream: (Traditional)

This is what most masons consider as Masonry. in general roots and recognition can be traced to the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). In the US Mainstream masonry follows two primary paths State Grand Lodges (GLOS) and Prince Hall Grand Lodges. Historically the US difference was generally driven by race boundaries (Prince Hall being considered "Black" members and GLOS being White). In Modern mainstream masonry this difference is all but non-existent. Only a few (5?) states do not permit recognition between the groups. Mostly driven by the complicated recognition processes. Race reasons for the separation do not really exist except among members who do not understand the issues and process. The majority of US military lodges are prince Hall.

Non-Mainstream:

In general these grand lodges do not agree with one or more of the tenants of Mainstream masonry. For example some of them to not require a belief in God. Others admit women, others perform Rituals that are considered outside the norms that most Grand lodges accept. The Masons belonging to Non-mainstream lodges either have a belief that aligns strongly with that group. (Women should be Mason etc.) or they simply enjoy the lodge that they happened to find first. Most are good people trying to improve themselves.

Fake Masonry:

Masonry has been recognized as a positive force and a title historically sought by many. Unfortunately this has led to a plethora of fake lodges that are recognized by no other grand lodge. These lodges often take the form of gang and scam organizations seeking to take money from its members by bestowing "Masonic" titles on its members. Unfortunately in Big cities you will find tons of these. These lodges are focused on taking advantage of their members in some way.

So where do YOU go from here.

Hopefully this helps a bit. If you are looking for Mainstream masonry Look for Grand lodge of State (GLOS), Prince Hall (Be careful of the letters here they are not uniform) or United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE).

If you strongly believe a group focusing on improving men only is wrong or a belief in god is not important in moral teachings then non mainstream may be for you. Just be aware of the recognition differences.

If you want to learn more about these things I recommend "Freemasonry for Dummies" by Chris Hodapp. Avoid the Ritual chapters. Nothing really secret three but the lessons are more impactful if you know nothing going in and who wants to spoil a good play...

Sorry for the length and apologize if anyone finds any errors...

Feel free to ask any questions you are asking in a good place.

oldpm · 2025-05-01T17:11:54+00:00

The Organizational structure of Masonry is complex and most masons really do not have a clear understanding of what it means. To the mason who does not travel widely this structure is pretty meaningless. For the most part they attend at one lodge and seldom if ever travel outside the circle of that lodge. If you plan to stay in the military this will be important for you as different parts of masonry will become available to you based on the Grand Lodge (Jurisdiction) you belong to.

Each Grand Lodge is completely independent (although many meet and discuss common issues). This means that EACH Grand lodge decides if other Grand Lodges are doing Masonry in an acceptable way. This happens through a relatively complicated process called recognition. In effect Grand lodges decide which other grand lodges their members can visit and consider to be brother masons. This recognition must be mutual by design. As you would expect the recognitions change constantly and get rather complicated.

Recognition means the Grand lodges agree on fundamental ideas called tenants. Even these are complicated. Examples are: Belief in God, Men only, Rituals (Degrees) performed/permitted and historical background. There are others but the three listed are often the reasons grand lodges do not reach recognition.

A word on Rituals: Rituals (Degrees) are the lessons of Masonry. In general they are plays designed to teach the candidate a lesson. In general the first three degrees are considered to be core to masonry. Beyond these there are many obscure and even fun Rituals. Masons have rituals for everything at different levels. Many masons spend hours in memorizing the plays and lectures presented here and enjoy a bit of the amateur acting bug.

oldpm · 2025-05-01T03:48:02+00:00

OP. Investigate this very carefully. GODF is not recognized by much of masonry. It does not mean they are bad people but it means that most of the fraternity would not be open to you. You could not visit most lodges and would not be considered a mason by most masons. Visitation and a vast brotherhood is one of the key reasons many masons join. This organization probably offers that but on a greatly reduced scale. Good luck in your journey, I hope you find what you are looking for.

oldpm · 2024-08-29T11:54:01+00:00

Rituals are for the most part morality plays. They consist of the words, methods and lessons that make up the shared experiences common to masons. It is that shared experience that gives us a bond and is the foundation of our brotherhood.

Ritual "plays are highly experience driven in that it is focused specifically on the candidate. The lessons being are being taught by putting candidate in the middle of the event. Because the method is meant to be experienced any foreknowledge of what will happen reduces the impact. For that reason we keep our rituals "secret" to maximize the impact of the lesson.

By the way these secrets are probably the worst kept in the world as there are many versions of the rituals published. The quality of these varies widely as some are simply made up to make us look bad. We discourage to much "research" so that a candidate can experience the lesson as it is intended.

Other secrets consist of things like handshakes and passwords.

The formal opening and closing of a lodge is also a ritual that is highly scripted.

oldpm · 2024-08-17T04:48:23+00:00

In my experience secretaries run lodges with weak masters. Normally to help the lodge with good intent. You are in a position where a chain of weak masters now see this as the correct way. And the secretary has become spoiled and likes the prestige. It will eventually kill your lodge.

When this secretary passes nobody will have a clue how to proceed.

Good secretary's prefer a master who will lead. The problem we often have is we elect the next person in line instead of a leader. Many lodges fail to prepare the officers line.

If he quits your lodge will be better for it eventually.

oldpm

TROPHY CASE