I've been asked to join the Freemasons
Discussion
Life Saab Itch said:
What would any members that care to comment say that they get.out of it the most?
Is it the social side? The charity work? Keeping old traditions going? Networking?
Or am I totally "not getting it"?
Festive board. And the social side. Have met some lovely people in my time and made a few new friends.Is it the social side? The charity work? Keeping old traditions going? Networking?
Or am I totally "not getting it"?
Talked about this last night. For me, it was first of all the charitable work, Berkshire masons have 'bought' several guide dogs. during the interview, the thought of joining for 'business networking' was firmly advised against, and this is further reinforced later on in your masonic career. and since i have been in have not seen any neferious actions going on. More i suspect goes on on the Golf course. However that is not to say that during my 2yrs in i have m oneade two enquiries, regarding an employment issue with a barrister, who suggested i contact xxxxx and another chap who gave me the name of a manager to whom my son could write to for work experience. Neither of those contacted were to my knowledge on the square. It was as if i was asking a neighbour in the building trade, who he thought best to do a job for me.
The 'ritual' is something you grow into. Of course i knew nothing when i joined and ralised that what went on hasn't changed for nearly 300yrs. It also gave me an incentive to use the brain, as like an actor, words have to be learnt So the formality and structure meant a lot, especially in ths day and age when respect and interest in other people are a very rare commodity. Charity is another reason. as a Province, we all put a monthly amount, of your own choosing, into one big pot. from that all local charities can access a grant. Grand Lodge looks after the bigger picture. So to give an example, if i put 10p in a charity bucket, i might be thought a bit of a scrooge. However when 3000 x 10p are put in its will be accepted as a generous gift. So I can say to people, I give via my organisation, but there is nothing to stop my giving seperately to charities i hold great affection for.
The festive board is part and parcel of the experience. You dont know who will be your neighbour and i have met some very intesting people who had led fascinating lives. Also visiting other lodges is another part of it, especially if you travel and are away from home in the evening. Nothing more relaxing to visit a lodge in a different province and see another way of doing things.
One of our PGM wrote a short note that we could give to prospective members, or even those who have a negative view on us. We certainly are not a secret society, more a society with some secrets, as many other clubs have.Knowing all the mystical ritual prior to joining i would, i feel, spoil the whole evenng for someone. Its the not knowing that is the exitement.
I will try and find his leter and copy it here.
HTH
The 'ritual' is something you grow into. Of course i knew nothing when i joined and ralised that what went on hasn't changed for nearly 300yrs. It also gave me an incentive to use the brain, as like an actor, words have to be learnt So the formality and structure meant a lot, especially in ths day and age when respect and interest in other people are a very rare commodity. Charity is another reason. as a Province, we all put a monthly amount, of your own choosing, into one big pot. from that all local charities can access a grant. Grand Lodge looks after the bigger picture. So to give an example, if i put 10p in a charity bucket, i might be thought a bit of a scrooge. However when 3000 x 10p are put in its will be accepted as a generous gift. So I can say to people, I give via my organisation, but there is nothing to stop my giving seperately to charities i hold great affection for.
The festive board is part and parcel of the experience. You dont know who will be your neighbour and i have met some very intesting people who had led fascinating lives. Also visiting other lodges is another part of it, especially if you travel and are away from home in the evening. Nothing more relaxing to visit a lodge in a different province and see another way of doing things.
One of our PGM wrote a short note that we could give to prospective members, or even those who have a negative view on us. We certainly are not a secret society, more a society with some secrets, as many other clubs have.Knowing all the mystical ritual prior to joining i would, i feel, spoil the whole evenng for someone. Its the not knowing that is the exitement.
I will try and find his leter and copy it here.
HTH
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