Once a Mason, always a Mason?

**Jason** · 08-26-2009, 05:11 PM

Do you feel that once a person goes through the degrees that he will forever be a Mason? Sort of the way some marines always consider themselves to be a marine after leaving?

rescue48 · 08-27-2009, 09:29 AM

I can't imagine NOT being a Freemason for the rest of my days. After the journey every man goes through to become a Master Mason, one would have to make a conscious choice to leave the fraternity. To me, even if he stops paying dues and stops attending a regular blue lodge, he will always be a Mason.

**BG_TRBL** · 08-27-2009, 08:44 PM

Although I agree with you for the most part Rescue, I would hasten to say that, unfortunately there are many members that still pay their dues, but in my mind, are not now, nor ever will be true mason's. I only say this, as in my opinion, the acts that the individual performs and lives by, are the true mark of a mason. Those men who live by the square, and treat others as they wish to be treated. Although we may have traveled the same path for masonry, only those who live by the precepts and examples are mason's for life. Ofcourse this is only my opinion on this matter.

**Ashlar521** · 08-30-2009, 04:35 PM

I agree with both of you on many of your points .

A Marine who has disgraced himself and the Eagle , Globe and Anchor and was dishonorably discharged , we as Marines who served honoraby no longer consider them Marines . Though I came into boot camp as a civilian and 13 weeks later came out with the title Marine , it was the entire 4 year experience (or lifetime)that made me a Marine .

Same with a Freemason , if a Brother who has disgraced himself and the Fraternity for not living up to the precepts of the Fraternity would I no longer consider him a Mason .

It's not how we got these two titles , Marine and Freemason , nor what it took to get them . It's what we do with them once we have them and how we conduct ourselves that allows us to retain them .

In a nutshell , I think it is a matter of circumstances as to why he is no longer a Mason .

rescue48 · 09-01-2009, 05:46 PM

Of course if a man acts in a poor fashion, I too would not consider him a brother from then on. We are only human, but there are of course certain boundaries one should not cross.

**BG_TRBL** · 09-01-2009, 08:32 PM

Wholeheartedly agree rescue. There are boundries that just shouldn't be crossed.

DonaldG · 09-03-2009, 11:33 AM

Always a Mason.

It would take too long to explain the full circumstances, so I will (try to) be very brief.

I was made a Mason in New Zealand. Shortly after, as an EA, I had to return to the UK. My Mother lodge asked me to find a Lodge in the K to complete my Passing & Raising on their behalf. Accordingly, I was duly made a MM.

However, because of the fact that I didn't know anyone at that lodge & at the time is was afraid to put myself forward, I would be very lonely at the meetings. I regret to say, that the brethren were some what insular and no one but one person made me welcome.

After 3 years, of feeling embarrassed an not enjoying the time in the lodge, I just stopped going. No one from the lodge made contact to see why I had dropped out.The crying shame was that an officer of the lodge lived in the same road as us.

18 years go by until I a friend mentioned that he was a Mason. When he heard that I was a Mason, he immediately invited me to his lodge. I was made to feel at home. I joined that Lodge. From that day to this, I have never missed a meeting except when on vacation. In the last years, I have gone through the Chairs and have taken the Chair of KS. I love my Masonry.

I regret the 18 years of missed Masonry. If only that lodge had a mentoring scheme, maybe I would not have missed out so much....

As a post script, that lodge is now a very friendly one with a full mentoring scheme, as have most Lodges in the UK now have.

So, Brethren, I plead with you to take note of any new member of the lodge or new Initiate who looks lonely, please go an chat to him....

In those lost 18 years, I was still a Mason.

**Ashlar521** · 09-05-2009, 12:40 PM

We make all our new and older Brothers welcome and make them feel at home in my lodge . If a Brother simple does not come to lodge , but does good deeds in life , then yes , he is a Mason .But I still can not say "once a Mason , always a Mason " . As Rescue so aptly stated above there are lines no man should cross , more so for a Freemason , and if this line is crossed then he should never be refered to as a Freemason again.

RedTemplar · 09-30-2009, 12:26 AM

Where were we first prepared to be a mason? As long as Masonry remains there, we will always be a Mason.

removed120209a · 11-24-2009, 06:18 PM

Yes, once a Mason always a Mason unless you request to be removed from the Order. Even if you have a lapse in dues I will aid you.

As far as making judgements on who is and isn't a Mason. Who am I to say what lives in men's hearts?

08-26-2009, 05:11 PM	#1
Jason Veritas Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,505 Lodge: Pearl of the West #146	Once a Mason, always a Mason? Do you feel that once a person goes through the degrees that he will forever be a Mason? Sort of the way some marines always consider themselves to be a marine after leaving? __________________ "I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh

08-27-2009, 09:29 AM	#2
rescue48 Firedawg Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The First State Posts: 77 Lodge: Union #7	I can't imagine NOT being a Freemason for the rest of my days. After the journey every man goes through to become a Master Mason, one would have to make a conscious choice to leave the fraternity. To me, even if he stops paying dues and stops attending a regular blue lodge, he will always be a Mason. __________________ Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before giving them your confidence. -General George Washington

08-27-2009, 08:44 PM	#3
BG_TRBL "Laus Deo" Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: #232 Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania Posts: 586 Lodge:	Although I agree with you for the most part Rescue, I would hasten to say that, unfortunately there are many members that still pay their dues, but in my mind, are not now, nor ever will be true mason's. I only say this, as in my opinion, the acts that the individual performs and lives by, are the true mark of a mason. Those men who live by the square, and treat others as they wish to be treated. Although we may have traveled the same path for masonry, only those who live by the precepts and examples are mason's for life. Ofcourse this is only my opinion on this matter. __________________ P.M. LaBelle Vallee Lodge #232 P.H.P. Lafayette Chapter #163 Sir Knight (Hospitallier Commandry) Prophet (Zafar Grotto) Freemasonry may be traced by history and tradition, ...it is only necessary to refer to the information presented to you in a general manner. Information considered "secret" to mason's will NOT be divulged. Seek and ye shall find, Ask and it will be given you, Type and it will be posted (and most likely, answered).

08-30-2009, 04:35 PM	#4
Ashlar521 Semper fidelis Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,542 Lodge: Blog Entries: 3	I agree with both of you on many of your points . A Marine who has disgraced himself and the Eagle , Globe and Anchor and was dishonorably discharged , we as Marines who served honoraby no longer consider them Marines . Though I came into boot camp as a civilian and 13 weeks later came out with the title Marine , it was the entire 4 year experience (or lifetime)that made me a Marine . Same with a Freemason , if a Brother who has disgraced himself and the Fraternity for not living up to the precepts of the Fraternity would I no longer consider him a Mason . It's not how we got these two titles , Marine and Freemason , nor what it took to get them . It's what we do with them once we have them and how we conduct ourselves that allows us to retain them . In a nutshell , I think it is a matter of circumstances as to why he is no longer a Mason . __________________ US Marines - "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." - Ronald Reagan "Death Smiles At Everyone -- Marines Smile Back" "Artillery brings dignity to what would otherwise just be a brawl " Last edited by Ashlar521; 08-30-2009 at 04:49 PM..

09-01-2009, 05:46 PM	#5
rescue48 Firedawg Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The First State Posts: 77 Lodge: Union #7	Of course if a man acts in a poor fashion, I too would not consider him a brother from then on. We are only human, but there are of course certain boundaries one should not cross. __________________ Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before giving them your confidence. -General George Washington

09-01-2009, 08:32 PM	#6
BG_TRBL "Laus Deo" Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: #232 Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania Posts: 586 Lodge:	Wholeheartedly agree rescue. There are boundries that just shouldn't be crossed. __________________ P.M. LaBelle Vallee Lodge #232 P.H.P. Lafayette Chapter #163 Sir Knight (Hospitallier Commandry) Prophet (Zafar Grotto) Freemasonry may be traced by history and tradition, ...it is only necessary to refer to the information presented to you in a general manner. Information considered "secret" to mason's will NOT be divulged. Seek and ye shall find, Ask and it will be given you, Type and it will be posted (and most likely, answered).

09-03-2009, 11:33 AM	#7
DonaldG Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Somerset, UK Posts: 6 Lodge: Parrett & Axe 814, ex Royal Naval 2761, Brotherly Love 329, Mother Lodge: Titirangi 204	Always a Mason. It would take too long to explain the full circumstances, so I will (try to) be very brief. I was made a Mason in New Zealand. Shortly after, as an EA, I had to return to the UK. My Mother lodge asked me to find a Lodge in the K to complete my Passing & Raising on their behalf. Accordingly, I was duly made a MM. However, because of the fact that I didn't know anyone at that lodge & at the time is was afraid to put myself forward, I would be very lonely at the meetings. I regret to say, that the brethren were some what insular and no one but one person made me welcome. After 3 years, of feeling embarrassed an not enjoying the time in the lodge, I just stopped going. No one from the lodge made contact to see why I had dropped out.The crying shame was that an officer of the lodge lived in the same road as us. 18 years go by until I a friend mentioned that he was a Mason. When he heard that I was a Mason, he immediately invited me to his lodge. I was made to feel at home. I joined that Lodge. From that day to this, I have never missed a meeting except when on vacation. In the last years, I have gone through the Chairs and have taken the Chair of KS. I love my Masonry. I regret the 18 years of missed Masonry. If only that lodge had a mentoring scheme, maybe I would not have missed out so much.... As a post script, that lodge is now a very friendly one with a full mentoring scheme, as have most Lodges in the UK now have. So, Brethren, I plead with you to take note of any new member of the lodge or new Initiate who looks lonely, please go an chat to him.... In those lost 18 years, I was still a Mason.

09-05-2009, 12:40 PM	#8
Ashlar521 Semper fidelis Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,542 Lodge: Blog Entries: 3	We make all our new and older Brothers welcome and make them feel at home in my lodge . If a Brother simple does not come to lodge , but does good deeds in life , then yes , he is a Mason .But I still can not say "once a Mason , always a Mason " . As Rescue so aptly stated above there are lines no man should cross , more so for a Freemason , and if this line is crossed then he should never be refered to as a Freemason again. __________________ US Marines - "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." - Ronald Reagan "Death Smiles At Everyone -- Marines Smile Back" "Artillery brings dignity to what would otherwise just be a brawl "

09-30-2009, 12:26 AM	#9
RedTemplar Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hazard, Kentucky Posts: 6 Lodge: Hazard 676	Where were we first prepared to be a mason? As long as Masonry remains there, we will always be a Mason. __________________ RedTemplar Hazard Lodge 676 Hazard, Kentucky USA

11-24-2009, 06:18 PM	#10
removed120209a Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 Lodge:	Yes, once a Mason always a Mason unless you request to be removed from the Order. Even if you have a lapse in dues I will aid you. As far as making judgements on who is and isn't a Mason. Who am I to say what lives in men's hearts?

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