How long were you in Blue Lodge?

Brothers - I'm wondering how long you were in Blue Lodge before petitioning in joining other orders/bodies?

In there an advantage to staying in Blue Lodge for awhile?

That depends on if you are a member of an appendant body. I spent 3 years in BL before I joined Chapter. Nice ceremonies but nothing (except a few things) I couldn't have learned without some research. I am a huge advocate of enjoying the BL first and in depth. I joined YR with the 2 officers ahead of me in line as a bonding thingy.

I'm still a BL Mason after over a decade.

Yup! Building Builders Series - Uncommon Masonic Education - Volume 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 should tell you the advantage.

I think I was 17 years in Blue Lodge before petitioning York Rite.
Heck, I was so busy with college and kids right after being Raised, then getting into a new job after college, it was probably 6 or 7 years before I was active in Blue Lodge!

Put the lodge on edge one night: I directed the Senior Deacon to escort me to the altar, then ordered the Secretary, a Past Master to join us, where he presented me the 25 year pin. I was serving as Master at the time.

I guess I took the scenic route.

S&F

I was in 2-years before joining the York Rite, but I wasn't active until the next year after I had completed my time as Worshipful Master.

Gosh ... to be honest, I don't really remember. A year or so, I guess, before I joined Scottish Rite & Shrine (they had a 'special' ... join both in one weekend for $150). York Rite came later; I moved to a place that didn't have Scottish Rite, but did have Yorkies.

I don't recall exactly but 3-4 years. Joined YR then Shrine. Shortly thereafter I left both.

10 months before joining SR. I didn't want to right now but a good friend of mine didn't want to go alone so I joined. Maybe I will get something out of it, but for now my concentration is on BL.

Your Craft Lodge (erroneously referred to as a Blue Lodge) is the fundamental core of Freemasonry. I would recommend you join an Appendant Body after you learn what your Lodge and Craft Masonry has to teach you. Trust me.

I waited 10 years to petition York Rite, & 1 additional year before Shrine then went another 2 years before petitioning OES (and they meet in the same building as my Lodge does).

I took the advice of a wise friend and decided to wait at least a year before joining any appendent body. I got in line and have since decided that I will join Scottish Rite after I have attained that most desirable position in the Craft Lodge, PAST Master :1-winking:

I am the exception here it seems. I was raised in February and joined the SR in March. I have been involved with both and enjoy both very much. There is a lot to be gained from both. I do believe that the blue lodge does come first. I am on track to be WM in 2015 and will not take a major leadership role in the SR until after that. I get different things from both bodies. The SR is more social/educational. I am working to help change a little of that in my BL. You can do both and enjoy them. The key, I think, is not to overburden yourself and take on to much where you blue lodge suffers.

I'm worrying about making a Masonic Widow of my wife. I'll prob do the degrees then concentrate on BL again

I was in Blue Lodge for about 6 monthes before I petitioned the York Rite.

35 years. No appendant bodies and no plans to join.

You're not the only exception.. I was raised in February also, and will be joining the Shrine in June.