digger Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 (edited) This may be a sore subject and most probably a first for this forum but in for a penny. I joined the masons nearly two years ago, did the initiation etc then decided its not for me. I cant commit the time and certainly not the money and got no enjoyment out of it. Held my hands up and admitted its not for me, kids and mortgage come first. Now I realise its easier to get in than out :blink: If you ask to join, think on. Edited February 27, 2008 by digger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 (edited) This may be a sore subject and most probably a first for this forum but in for a penny.I joined the masons nearly two years ago, did the initiation etc then decided its not for me. I cant commit the time and certainly not the money and got no enjoyment out of it. Held my hands up and admitted its not for me, kids and mortgage come first. Now I realise its easier to get in than out If you ask to join, think on. My old man is a mason but I have never had any interest in it myself. Any club or group you join is a form of networking i.e. you make acquaintances and you help each other out. I was in Round Table for a while and so was Mungler. We enjoyed the social side but both left independently because of the petty mindedness of it all. Our Round Table also had a Masonic Lodge but from what I heard from the other guys who were Tablers and in the Table Lodge, they dont do much for charity (compared to the £40k a year our Round Table raised) and it is a bit "silly and boring" *. (*a friends words - not mine ) Edited February 27, 2008 by LV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magdie Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 This may be a sore subject and most probably a first for this forum but in for a penny.I joined the masons nearly two years ago, did the initiation etc then decided its not for me. I cant commit the time and certainly not the money and got no enjoyment out of it. Held my hands up and admitted its not for me, kids and mortgage come first. Now I realise its easier to get in than out If you ask to join, think on. It is simple to leave Free Masonry. Go to your Almoner or Secretary and resign, or ask to be made a country member where your subscriptions will be greatly reduced, and you will be able to attend your Lodge when you can make it. If Free Masonry is not for you, there is no problem, it is not for everybody. Remember at your installation it was impressed on you that your Family and business comes first and foremost at all times. There are many myths related to Masonry, you can go to any Library and virtually learn about most of the rituals which go on in the LODGE. But I totally agree with you, do not join unless you can commit the time and resources and know what you are joining for. I have seen a lot of people join, and found that it was not for them and left after they took the first degree,I don't know what they expected, or were looking for, but it's worked for me, I have had some great times and met some great people over the last 14 years, and last year we donated £2.3 million to non Masonic Charitys. So Good Luck Mate and remember the first question you were asked in the first degree I think it solves the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushkin Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 digger Posted Yesterday, 10:11 PM Now I realise its easier to get in than out Ah yes - reminds me of that old saying:- Once a Mason always a Mason .... but once a knight s' enough! Pushkin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 This may be a sore subject and most probably a first for this forum but in for a penny.I joined the masons nearly two years ago, did the initiation etc then decided its not for me. I cant commit the time and certainly not the money and got no enjoyment out of it. Held my hands up and admitted its not for me, kids and mortgage come first. Now I realise its easier to get in than out If you ask to join, think on. Hi Digger. If you feel it's not for you, then you should simply resign. By not officially resigning, you will be amassing subs, and if you should change your mind in later years, these would have to be paid. If you don't see past the rituals, I would agree it's not for you. As you know, it should be without detriment. Pirate: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr W Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 What do you have to do for the initiation? Sounds interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 What do you have to do for the initiation? Sounds interesting join and find out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Membership requirements Freemasonry initiation. 18th century Freemasonry initiation. 18th century A candidate for Freemasonry must petition a lodge in his community, obtaining an introduction by asking an existing member, who then becomes the candidate's proposer. In some jurisdictions, it is required that the petitioner ask three times, however this is becoming less prevalent.[44] In other jurisdictions, more open advertising is utilised to inform potential candidates where to go for more information. Regardless of how a potential candidate receives his introduction to a Lodge, he must be freely elected by secret ballot in open Lodge. Members approving his candidacy will vote with "white balls" in the voting box. Adverse votes by "black balls" will exclude a candidate. The number of adverse votes necessary to reject a candidate, which in some jurisdictions is as few as one, is set out in the governing Constitution of the presiding Grand Lodge. [edit] General requirements Generally, to be a regular Freemason, a candidate must:[18] * Be a man who comes of his own free will. * Believe in a Supreme Being. (The form of which is left to open interpretation by the candidate) * Be at least the minimum age (18–25 years old depending on the jurisdiction). * Be of good morals, and of good reputation. * Be of sound mind and body (Lodges had in the past denied membership to a man because of a physical disability, however, now, if a potential candidate says a disability will not cause problems, it will not be held against him). * Be free-born (or "born free", i.e. not born a slave or bondsman).[45] As with the previous, this is entirely an historical holdover, and can be interpreted in the same manner as it is in the context of being entitled to write a will. Some jurisdictions have removed this requirement. * Have character references, as well as one or two references from current Masons, depending on jurisdiction. Deviation from one or more of these requirements is generally the barometer of Masonic regularity or irregularity. However, an accepted deviation in some regular jurisdictions is to allow a Lewis (the son of a Mason),[46] to be initiated earlier than the normal minimum age for that jurisdiction, although no earlier than the age of 18. Some Grand Lodges in the United States have an additional residence requirement, candidates being expected to have lived within the jurisdiction for certain period of time, typically six months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr W Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Ok so that's how you get in but what do Masons do? Is it a drinking/eating/meeting type social club? What's the point of joining, and I guess, paying a hefty fee? Surely it's gone beyond getting your police inspector fellow mason to get you off a speeding ticket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Dr W. You will not be told what you may wish to know on a public forum , so try this link. http://www.ugle.org.uk/ Pirate: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Sounds like a load of vaseline might get used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Cornholio Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwwztaZUkUw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Digger, is there an elaborate exititiation? Sounds like toasted crumpet time for you my lad. Not too sure what aggro are you getting? Dog poo under the car door handles, iffy phone calls, broken windows? How can you distinguish any of these from the wrath of the wibber wobbers and just living in Croydon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scout Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Hi I've got loads of friends from being a mason. The land I shoot over was a recommendation from a fellow mason. If it's not for you it's simple to leave, just write to your secretary and ask to take your clearance ( resign ) There's never any hard feelings and you can always go back at a later date if your circumstances or feelings change. cheers Damean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 You only ever leave in a box digger...did you not know that!!Even now they are watching you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted February 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Mung, **** Thanks for the info gents, and the pm Lv. all sorted tanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 I'm having trouble with the fact that you got past the blackball Digger LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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