Those small differences.....

[PatrickWilliams]

You've got to be careful about Dues Cards, too!
There's a story going around NC that two men presented to a lodge with current Dues Cards asking to visit, but seemed awkward when spoken to in conversation. We (in NC) typically ask some questions in examining a new visitor, and these guys knew nothing of any degree or ritual.
They finally admitted downloading and printing out the dues cards, from a site on the internet.

S&F

I agree that we must be careful with everything. However, in Wisconsin, all you need to visit is a valid dues card from a Lodge in any jurisdiction with which we are in amity. Whatcha gonna do?

 

[Bob Franks]

I agree that we must be careful with everything. However, in Wisconsin, all you need to visit is a valid dues card from a Lodge in any jurisdiction with which we are in amity. Whatcha gonna do?

Talk to them.

Use a few of our familiar phrases and listed if something sounds amiss.

You might even request they return on the next meeting night and in the meantime call the secretary of the lodge on their dues card, if you suspect they might be fraudulent.
Use only the name & number of the lodge to look up the contact info in the Pantograph book or online.

I am honestly surprised that the GLF&AM-WI doesn't do examination...


S&F

 

[PatrickWilliams]

Talk to them.

Use a few of our familiar phrases and listed if something sounds amiss.

You might even request they return on the next meeting night and in the meantime call the secretary of the lodge on their dues card, if you suspect they might be fraudulent.
Use only the name & number of the lodge to look up the contact info in the Pantograph book or online.

I am honestly surprised that the GLF&AM-WI doesn't do examination...


S&F

Bob, all well and good, all well and good. BUT (and you'll notice it's a big but!) we also cannot get in the way of a visiting brother's right to visitation.

Due to some coding irregularities, I cannot cut and paste the relevant Wisconsin Masonic Code here. But ... unless the Master is suspicious, you don't need anything but a valid dues card to get past the Tyler. Whether you find that right or wrong, it is certainly the way it is! (You may go here: http://www.wisc-freemasonry.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Masonic-Code-Rev.August-09.pdf and read chapter 84 yourself, if you like.)

 

[Ashlar2006]

Bob, all well and good, all well and good. BUT (and you'll notice it's a big but!) we also cannot get in the way of a visiting brother's right to visitation.

Due to some coding irregularities, I cannot cut and paste the relevant Wisconsin Masonic Code here. But ... unless the Master is suspicious, you don't need anything but a valid dues card to get past the Tyler. Whether you find that right or wrong, it is certainly the way it is! (You may go here: http://www.wisc-freemasonry.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Masonic-Code-Rev.August-09.pdf and read chapter 84 yourself, if you like.)

If that is how your jurisdiction works , then that is how they work . I do not believe it is up to anyone outside your jurisdiction to question their policies .

 

[PatrickWilliams]

Now all this having been said: I was recently at another Lodge in my jurisdiction, one I had never visited before. There was nobody there who had sat in Lodge with me before, so I identified the Junior Duck and pulled out my dues card. He didn't even want to see it. "Oh, that's not necessary", sez he. As I was attending with an FC from my Lodge and wanted to show him how to do it right, I insisted. Bro. Duck looked at my dues card. During opening, however, nobody even asked if anyone could vouch for me. Once again, what are you going to do?

 

[PatrickWilliams]

If that is how your jurisdiction works , then that is how they work . I do not believe it is up to anyone outside your jurisdiction to question their policies .

Talk to Bob.

 

[Windrider]

When will I be told the TO? post-MM?
(It is so damn hard NOT to Google it!)

It was the last thing in my MM cipher.

 

[Ashlar2006]

Now all this having been said: I was recently at another Lodge in my jurisdiction, one I had never visited before. There was nobody there who had sat in Lodge with me before, so I identified the Junior Duck and pulled out my dues card. He didn't even want to see it. "Oh, that's not necessary", sez he. As I was attending with an FC from my Lodge and wanted to show him how to do it right, I insisted. Bro. Duck looked at my dues card. During opening, however, nobody even asked if anyone could vouch for me. Once again, what are you going to do?

Now ,I always make sure everyone is vouched for before we even go upstairs . If I see someone I do not know , I ask around . If no one else knows said Brother ,off he and three brothers go to "Try" him , so when we do prove the Lodge , their are no surprises .

 

[Bob Franks]

It was the last thing in my MM cipher.

Our Tyler's Oath is in the "OSW" [Official Standard of the Work], coded.

S&F

 

[Windrider]

There were some differences between my Blue Lodge in MA and the forms of the meeting in NYC last night where I was visiting. I wont go into them here, but I was sure glad I had put in more than the minimum of study required in my Lodge. I did not need the TO, but I volunteered to show my dues card to several of the officers and they were gracious and thorough in examining it. I received a nice complement from a brother from GL at one point but had to be reminded of one point of protocol later... nobody's perfect

The GL of NY is spectacular! I only got to see one of their many Lodge rooms, but that one blew me away. I hope I can return the favor of hospitality to each and every man who made me feel so welcome in NYC.

 

[Laxguy38922]

There were some differences between my Blue Lodge in MA and the forms of the meeting in NYC last night where I was visiting. I wont go into them here, but I was sure glad I had put in more than the minimum of study required in my Lodge. I did not need the TO, but I volunteered to show my dues card to several of the officers and they were gracious and thorough in examining it. I received a nice complement from a brother from GL at one point but had to be reminded of one point of protocol later... nobody's perfect

The GL of NY is spectacular! I only got to see one of their many Lodge rooms, but that one blew me away. I hope I can return the favor of hospitality to each and every man who made me feel so welcome in NYC.

Now you need to take the train from Jersey City to Philly to come to my lodge tomorrow!

 

[Bob Franks]

Visiting

When I am going to be examined, I make it a point to ask for the Dues Cards of each of the examination committee!

S&F

 

[FamilyMan]

When I am going to be examined, I make it a point to ask for the Dues Cards of each of the examination committee!

S&F

Anyone ever give you any grief over that? I completely understand (I think) your reasoning for that... you want to make sure that the brother's who are going to examine you are, in fact, brethren in good standing.

 

[Windrider]

Now you need to take the train from Jersey City to Philly to come to my lodge tomorrow!

Please don't be offended, Sean. I'd much rather see my wife than you tonight

 

[Laxguy38922]

Please don't be offended, Sean. I'd much rather see my wife than you tonight

Haha, can't blame you for that

 

[Bob Franks]

Anyone ever give you any grief over that? I completely understand (I think) your reasoning for that... you want to make sure that the brother's who are going to examine you are, in fact, brethren in good standing.

No one's ever given me a hassle over it.
It's been more like, "Wow, I didn't expect that!"



S&F

 

[PatrickWilliams]

No one's ever given me a hassle over it.
It's been more like, "Wow, I didn't expect that!"



S&F

Now, my experience in Texas was a little different. I arrived at Lodge a little early so that examination could take place. I was escorted into a private room, and EVERYBODY, myself included, took out their dues card. No asking needed! When everyone in the room was assured that everyone in the room had the right to be there, the rest of the exam took place (which was just the Tyler's Oath). This was very, very much like the examination procedure in Alaska (where I became a Mason). When I first encountered Wisconsin's procedure, I was astounded; show your dues card and you're in the door! But that is how it is here.

 

[PatrickWilliams]

In my continuing efforts to make Bob's head explode , let's talk about this one: what is the policy in your jurisdiction regarding putting dues cards under the seal of the Lodge? When I first joined up (in Alaska as previously stated) just about everything was issued under the seal of the Lodge. In fact, even the Monitor had a patent in the front with your name and degree info under the seal of the Lodge. Texas and Wisconsin do not, necessarily, put their dues cards under the seal. The Grand Secretary of Wisconsin once told me that it was unnecessary, but at Grand Lodge I have been questioned about the fact that my dues card is not under the seal of my Lodge. To my knowledge, there is nothing in the Wisconsin Masonic Code that speaks to the issue either way. So ... how's it done in your jurisdiction?

 

[Duncan1574]

In my continuing efforts to make Bob's head explode , let's talk about this one: what is the policy in your jurisdiction regarding putting dues cards under the seal of the Lodge? When I first joined up (in Alaska as previously stated) just about everything was issued under the seal of the Lodge. In fact, even the Monitor had a patent in the front with your name and degree info under the seal of the Lodge. Texas and Wisconsin do not, necessarily, put their dues cards under the seal. The Grand Secretary of Wisconsin once told me that it was unnecessary, but at Grand Lodge I have been questioned about the fact that my dues card is not under the seal of my Lodge. To my knowledge, there is nothing in the Wisconsin Masonic Code that speaks to the issue either way. So ... how's it done in your jurisdiction?

I like the idea of 'seal of the lodge', it is low impact as it can be done as members get their cards, the reoccurring costs are low once the seal is in existence, and it adds a sense of officiality to the card.

In an old, old, old (about Patrick's age), Sci-Fi "Lensmen" series, the intergalactic police were constantly trying to stay ahead of the 'bad guys' ability to duplicate their badges. The same is true of the Internet, how do we stay ahead of technology? That is easy, lets talk to each other in code & nuance.
For instance: [url]http://www.macoy.com/Masonic-Traveling-Dues-Cards-10-P4015.aspx[/URL] FROM a 3second Google search....

 

[PatrickWilliams]

I like the idea of 'seal of the lodge', it is low impact as it can be done as members get their cards, the reoccurring costs are low once the seal is in existence, and it adds a sense of officiality to the card.

Having been Lodge Secretary, Brother, allow me to say that it really isn't 'low impact'. All dues are due at the same time of year, and when you have a couple hundred dues cards to process & get out ... well, it's extra work for an already time-consuming job.

In an old, old, old (about Patrick's age), Sci-Fi "Lensmen" series, the intergalactic police were constantly trying to stay ahead of the 'bad guys' ability to duplicate their badges. The same is true of the Internet, how do we stay ahead of technology? That is easy, lets talk to each other in code & nuance.
For instance: [url]http://www.macoy.com/Masonic-Traveling-Dues-Cards-10-P4015.aspx[/URL] FROM a 3second Google search....

Hey! No cracks about my superannuity here, brother.