[Ashlar2006]

By the use of "Aye aye " and Semper Fortis , you wouldn't happen to be a sailor would you ? I promise being a Marine myself(once a Marine always a Marine) , I will not hold it against you . You fellers patch us up (Corpsman) and gives us rides to where we need to go.

[Blaizze]

Originally Posted by Ashlar521

Stick around here and join in the conversations . You do not have to be a Freemason to chat with us , all are welcome .

By the way , loved the "Aye aye " , gave me a good laugh ( caught me just right).

I saw the semper fidelis under your SN, assumed you are either a current or former Marine, and thought you might appreciate the naval humor. I am currently in the Navy now, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.
I'll probably stick around the forums for a while; there's not much else to do while underway, haha. I figured that I wouldn't have to be a freemason to join the site, hence the reason I did.

[Blaizze]

While this isn't really related to this thread, I just wanted to say that I get a kick out of your SN, the Ashlar reference is funny (to me), no offense meant by it. But I see someone on the forums here, I think rustybones, whose user title is rough ashlar, although I see that he has a lodge he is attending. Do you know what that is about. (Did I mistake the symbolism between Ahslar and Rough Ashlar somewhere)?

[Ashlar2006]

Rough Ashlar was already taken , so I just shortened it to Ashlar . There is the rough ashlar and the perfect ashlar . The rough ashlar is imperfect and in need of smoothing and working to make it perfect , like ourselves , so I am always working on my "ashlar" , striving to be a better person . Doesn't always work out that way though , but it is a work in progress and I ,more than likely , may never be a perfect ashlar.

[Ashlar2006]

Originally Posted by Blaizze

I saw the semper fidelis under your SN, assumed you are either a current or former Marine, and thought you might appreciate the naval humor. I am currently in the Navy now, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.
I'll probably stick around the forums for a while; there's not much else to do while underway, haha. I figured that I wouldn't have to be a freemason to join the site, hence the reason I did.

Some who are interested in Freemasonry join ask a question or two and are never seen again . This is why I asked you to stick around .

I spent a lot of time underway on the Iwo Jima , Saipan , Trenton , Portland and the Gunston Hall to name a few so I know what you mean . I have played a lot of Spades in my time .

[Deadhead Derek]

I would like to chime in on this, without it going down a particular religious path, if I may. I find the questions, and the manner in which asked and answered here wonderful. I would also like to say that as a Mason, prior to my petitioning for membership, I wrestled with , for lack of a better explanation, my definition of God. I do not subscribe to any organized or recognized religion. I look at the collective beliefs and thoughts of all mankind, throughout the span of written history, and from that I saw certain parallels that honestly , a piece of this and a piece of that summed the idea within. I found that in it's concept, the Supreme "Being" is an attempt to make that which cannot be known, familiar. I do not hold that there is a corporeal shaped Odin upon high. But in your initial posts, ( pre Navy/Marine) you indicated a feeling of a force ( Star Wars aside) This is similar to many of the animistic belief structures, and one that is key to how I perceive the Great Architect. Agian, without diving in too deep, I think, based on what I have read of your thoughts, and the fact that you do think ( a rarity in the current age) you may be closer than you think to 4 out of 4 than 3 out of 4. Just my observations.

[Blaizze]

Originally Posted by Ashlar521

Some who are interested in Freemasonry join ask a question or two and are never seen again . This is why I asked you to stick around .

I spent a lot of time underway on the Iwo Jima , Saipan , Trenton , Portland and the Gunston Hall to name a few so I know what you mean . I have played a lot of Spades in my time .

Haha, yes but your definition of a lot of time underway and mine are probably a bit different. How long were you in the Marines for? Retirement?

I promise to not just disappear from the forums, lol. I like the responses I got here. This seems to be a very civil forum.

[Blaizze]

Originally Posted by Deadhead Derek

I would like to chime in on this, without it going down a particular religious path, if I may. I find the questions, and the manner in which asked and answered here wonderful. I would also like to say that as a Mason, prior to my petitioning for membership, I wrestled with , for lack of a better explanation, my definition of God. I do not subscribe to any organized or recognized religion. I look at the collective beliefs and thoughts of all mankind, throughout the span of written history, and from that I saw certain parallels that honestly , a piece of this and a piece of that summed the idea within. I found that in it's concept, the Supreme "Being" is an attempt to make that which cannot be known, familiar. I do not hold that there is a corporeal shaped Odin upon high. But in your initial posts, ( pre Navy/Marine) you indicated a feeling of a force ( Star Wars aside) This is similar to many of the animistic belief structures, and one that is key to how I perceive the Great Architect. Agian, without diving in too deep, I think, based on what I have read of your thoughts, and the fact that you do think ( a rarity in the current age) you may be closer than you think to 4 out of 4 than 3 out of 4. Just my observations.

Thank you, your response is greatly appreciated. I have been looking at alternative religions ( alternative to what was my own) for about 5 years now. And from it I am piecing together my personal views; I have pretty much finalized (sp?) my personaly life philosophy. I am just working out the last few kinks. This happens to be one of them... I do believe in a being that is "out there;" but like you I do not see it as a corporeal entity, but that it just is. I have been told my views range anywhere from pagan to animistic, to pantheistic. But I would go with it being more or less a combination of the latter two. I appologize if I am delving to far into unwanted waters. let me know if I am. Once again thank you for the response, I am very grateful to have a place that I was actually able to talk to Masons about this. My one personal contact that is a Mason does not like me as a person due to some circumstances that I can't control, and refuses to talk to me about Masonry at all. My girlfriend mentioned to him about me wanting to petition (it is her supervisor), this being about 6 months ago, and out and out refused me.

[Deadhead Derek]

I will never fault anyone looking both inward and at the external. The core of Masonry to me is knowledge. Embracing it, realizing what you don't know, studying what you want to learn.
If in looking at the beliefs you hold, as defined only by you, you see the "Supreme Being" as another manifestation of, or label for your "Just Is" You may want to follow through with the instinct that led you to question if Masonry is right for you. As you asked, I am not soliciting here, by the way. As to the Mason who is your girlfriends superior, I would say this... there are 4 million of us in the US.. find another to talk to, often a call to a local Lodge will set you on your path....when you get off the ship though, I assume.

[Ashlar2006]

Originally Posted by Blaizze

Haha, yes but your definition of a lot of time underway and mine are probably a bit different. How long were you in the Marines for? Retirement?

I promise to not just disappear from the forums, lol. I like the responses I got here. This seems to be a very civil forum.

Oh I know the difference between your "Underway" and mine . You actually worked , I went down in the berthing area and read a book in my rack or played spades and tried to hide from working parties . My last 6 month float , I was a short timer so I worked the entire float for the Navy in ship S-3 . I worked in the ship store and loaded soda machines and snacks machines . My higher ups asked for volunteers for the job and I was the saltiest so I got first choice and jumped at the chance . Easy gig ! Got me out of guard duty , fire watch , going out in the field and most importantly , it got me out of all the dreaded Navy OnRep and ship painting working parties and the hated mess duty(did a month in the scullery on the Trenton, never again !!!!!). I even mustered every morning with you Navy boys , I had nothing to do with my own Marine Corps unit till the day before we got back to the states . Hell , they forgot I was even there .

I was only in for 4 years . Did my time and walked . In all total I only spent about a year and 5 months out to sea in my four years . All Med. floats with the exception of going to the Bahamas and Puerto Rico 3 times .

Sorry , way off topic(and I'm a Moderator) but I am enjoying this .