Richard_Vier
Fellow Craft
Hello!
I'm new to this forum, and not yet a Freemason. Figured I would take some time and introduce myself and maybe detail what brought me here.
My name is Richard, from Ogden Utah. I'm a father of two beautiful daughters... a six year old and eight. I work at The Home Depot, but am also a commercial and portrait photographer. The lodge I have been looking at is the Golden Spike Lodge #6 here in Ogden, UT.
I have had an interest in your fraternity for a few years now. Everything I have read regarding your principals and standards has done nothing but inspire me. Maybe I'm yearning for the brotherly bond I've read about. Also, the symbolism appeals to me. I can't explain it, really. Just the tag line "Making good men better" appeals to me in a very deep way. I've always striven towards self-improvement and self-mastery, as much as I've been able.
As interested as I have been, I know very little. Just superficial accounts read in books and what I've been able to gather over the years. I've never known a Mason (that I've known of) until recently. A co-worker and a friend is the chaplain at the Golden Spike Lodge as it turns out. I noticed the square and compass tattoo on his leg and asked him about it. Really glad I did! That question catapulted us into nearly an hour long discussion about his family history with the fraternity, his personal experiences, and how becoming a member has impacted him as a man. After assuring me that he could literally talk about it for hours we have decided to meet up for coffee so he can answer questions that I have.
A question for all of you: He had mentioned the availability of information about the craft and it's rituals online and in books. He stressed the importance of ignorance when it comes to the degree work. Said that those moments will have more of a deep and meaningful impact on me if I don't know what's going to happen beforehand. So, to the point... Are there any books or resources that you recommend that would give me more insight about what the fraternity is about? A history of it and some of it's members? After speaking with him I'm weary of finding my own materials due to misinformation.. and also because of the info that's been wrongly disclosed. Maybe someone can set me on a straight and narrow that won't ruin any of the degree work for me, should I chose to petition. He didn't have much to offer in the way of literature recommendations, so here I sit.
I do believe that he will be the greatest resource for answers to any of my questions, and I'm thoroughly impressed with how forthcoming and enthusiastic he has been about the subject.
Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance.
-Richard
I'm new to this forum, and not yet a Freemason. Figured I would take some time and introduce myself and maybe detail what brought me here.
My name is Richard, from Ogden Utah. I'm a father of two beautiful daughters... a six year old and eight. I work at The Home Depot, but am also a commercial and portrait photographer. The lodge I have been looking at is the Golden Spike Lodge #6 here in Ogden, UT.
I have had an interest in your fraternity for a few years now. Everything I have read regarding your principals and standards has done nothing but inspire me. Maybe I'm yearning for the brotherly bond I've read about. Also, the symbolism appeals to me. I can't explain it, really. Just the tag line "Making good men better" appeals to me in a very deep way. I've always striven towards self-improvement and self-mastery, as much as I've been able.
As interested as I have been, I know very little. Just superficial accounts read in books and what I've been able to gather over the years. I've never known a Mason (that I've known of) until recently. A co-worker and a friend is the chaplain at the Golden Spike Lodge as it turns out. I noticed the square and compass tattoo on his leg and asked him about it. Really glad I did! That question catapulted us into nearly an hour long discussion about his family history with the fraternity, his personal experiences, and how becoming a member has impacted him as a man. After assuring me that he could literally talk about it for hours we have decided to meet up for coffee so he can answer questions that I have.
A question for all of you: He had mentioned the availability of information about the craft and it's rituals online and in books. He stressed the importance of ignorance when it comes to the degree work. Said that those moments will have more of a deep and meaningful impact on me if I don't know what's going to happen beforehand. So, to the point... Are there any books or resources that you recommend that would give me more insight about what the fraternity is about? A history of it and some of it's members? After speaking with him I'm weary of finding my own materials due to misinformation.. and also because of the info that's been wrongly disclosed. Maybe someone can set me on a straight and narrow that won't ruin any of the degree work for me, should I chose to petition. He didn't have much to offer in the way of literature recommendations, so here I sit.
I do believe that he will be the greatest resource for answers to any of my questions, and I'm thoroughly impressed with how forthcoming and enthusiastic he has been about the subject.
Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance.
-Richard