[Ashlar2006]

If I know those who are petitioning well , I don't call their references .

[macrylinda1]

Originally Posted by Ashlar521

I too have been banned from commenting on some youtube videos .

But for the anti's , I know a few anti's who are now Masons , but they were intellegent men who could actually think for themselves . Many of these anti's have their minds made up and can not be swayed no matter what we say . They will say we are either not "high enough" in Freemasonry , in other words a 33rd degree Mason and we are poor blind , ignorant 3rd degrees' who are clueless to the real secrets . Or we are just out and out lying .

Many anti's base their "facts" on proven lies such as the Taxil Hoax . And when you point that out , they will diregard it and move on to another liar .

I tend to not pay any attention to them anymore and spend my time on youtube looking at other fish keepers aquariums . It really saves on the stress of having to listen to their lies .

It has been strange for me. Since I have been doing more at the Lodge and joined the Shriners, I have been meeting a lot of people who are interested in joining, and the anti's. I try to ignore the anti's, sometimes I will point out stuff they say that is incorrect, but mostly just smile and be nice to them.

[Ashlar2006]

That's they way to do it . I think they want an argument and if we just smile and walk away , it infuriates them further . Makes my laugh .

[East_Regalia]

Originally Posted by Ashlar521

That is a good idea to have information as to what they use against us so you may be ready for a rebuttle when asked these questions .

This reminds me of an EA we once had . After we investigated him and voted him in , the time was nearing for his degree , he called the Master and was going to back out because his wife got on the internet and read all this crazy stuff about us and he said he did not want to join a satanic group . The Master talked him out of backing out , and told him to see what it was about after the degree and make his mind up for himself . Well , when the night was upon us to do the work he came up to me before the degree was to start and started asking these crazy questions . I tried to rationally explain away them all to him but he said he wasn't to sure I was telling the truth . I told him I had nothing to gain by lying to him , but to no avail he went on for another few minutes with his questions , then it was time to open lodge . When it was time to start putting on the work , I stood up and explained to the Master and the Lodge that we are wasting our time , we will go through the degree and never see this young man again . Since I did not officially object to him going through the degree (which now I regret not doing) he was Initiated . And I was correct , we have never seen nor heard from him again . Other than wasting an evening of wonderful degree work on someone who was not worthy , I am glad he did not come back because the lodge and the fraternity does not need those who cannot think for themselves . It kind of surprised me , because at our investigation he asked all the right questions and seemed very excited about becoming a Freemason .

Interesting. In our Constitution, we hold a Committee of Enquiry well before the candidate is voted upon. He is given questions by the committee and is permitted to ask questions of his own. At this point, the Proposers and Seconders should have sussed him out and one of the questions we ask the candidate is if his wife understands what he will be joining and that she has no objections. As Proposers and Seconders it is our responsibility to know the candidate well and ensure that he is going to be an asset to Freemasonry. We must be guests in his home and he to ours. This is requisite. There is no point initiating a candidate unless he is "properly prepared".

I had an investigating committee come to my house. They insisted on it. They WANTED my wife there to answer any questions she had, as well as to ask their own.

I had met with some of the Lodge officers prior, but the investigation was mandated to be at my residence. I personally think that is a good thing for the reasons mentioned in the previous comments.

[Bob Franks]

I live in a town with a military base and we sometimes get inquiries from servicemen who don't know anyone in our lodge. I've tried with the current one to search his social situation, but he and his wife go to work and church and not much else. I would be really embarrassed to sign the petition of a man I'd known less than a year.
How would you handle this?

S&F

[Ironhawg]

Originally Posted by GaryE

I had an investigating committee come to my house. They insisted on it. They WANTED my wife there to answer any questions she had, as well as to ask their own.

I had met with some of the Lodge officers prior, but the investigation was mandated to be at my residence. I personally think that is a good thing for the reasons mentioned in the previous comments.

Members of my investigating committee came to my home. They didn't require my wife to be present, but strongly encouraged her to be. During our meeting they included her fully in the discussion and encouraged her to ask questions.
I know for certain they called all my references too.

[iMav]

Originally Posted by Ashlar2006

But for the anti's , I know a few anti's who are now Masons , but they were intellegent men who could actually think for themselves.

I was one such person. I consider myself a born-again, evangelical Christian. In many Christian circles, it is common "knowledge" that freemasonry is not compatible with Christianity and that there are satanic influences. I wouldn't even let my kids go to the Shrine circus because of its ties to freemasonry.

It wasn't until I started doing my own research that I learned the truth about all these rumors. I'll be raised later this month and actually plan on becoming a Shriner as well.

[CoachN]

Originally Posted by Jason

Sadly I have heard too many of those stories. The guy is interested and wife or family talks him out. It is sad to me as they miss out on the whole thing.

Of one's own free will and accord includes being of one's own sound mind and not someone else's.

Such men who are easily swayed, especially by unfounded information, do not contribute anything worthwhile or beneficial to our Fraternity. We are better off without them; they are better off without us.

There is no loss. There was simply nothing to be gained on anyone's part.

They have not a clue what is being offered. We do and hence should not go down that road.

IMO

Bro. Coach N

[486]

Originally Posted by Bob Franks

I live in a town with a military base and we sometimes get inquiries from servicemen who don't know anyone in our lodge. I've tried with the current one to search his social situation, but he and his wife go to work and church and not much else. I would be really embarrassed to sign the petition of a man I'd known less than a year.
How would you handle this?

S&F

I didn't know any GA Masons when I joined here either (knew a bunch from OH, where I'm from). I went to the lodge, sat with two Masons for about an hour, and then was invited to open events over the next 12 months (I went to a couple).

Exactly 365 days after I met with George and Wally, they signed my petition and I was investigated. One meeting was in my home, as is suggested in our jurisdiction.