WHY or HOW Did you Become a Freemason ?

[NigeJones 8]

Why is quite simple. My father, my grand father and of course my schooling at Bushey all had an effect upon me, but these were supporting reasons for the fact that something inside me made me ask more. The 'How' was slightly more difficult, but readers of my first post will know that already. The follow on to the 'Why and How' is that I am so glad that I persevered, not without heart gained from the support I received via this forum. Now a year into my masonic Career, I am to be raised in January, another milestone that I am looking forward to. As a note, my new WM had the faith in me to ask me to become one of his officers and am now IG at Aeron Lodge 7208, I believe unusual for a Fellowcraft. My raising in January is to be carried out by the PGM and his officers.

[devexwarrior 0]

I joined my School Lodge, partly because I wanted to maintain links with the School and also to build links in the area I knew I would be settling in after leaving the Army where I had no social contacts (which I have done very successfully through two local Lodges who have made me very welcome). My military life had given me a love of ceremony, ritual and the feeling of being among like-minded individuals who know how you think and who accept you for what you are. My father is a Rotarian of long standing, but Rotary is predicated on the social life revolving around couples. My wife is not interested in the social side and Freemasonry is happy to accept that not all partners want to be involved. So I can enjoy myself, accomplish a little good in the world and do so without inflicting it on 'er indoors. I've since dragged the Lodge into the 21st Century and via the School Alumni page on Facebook and have recruited two new members who will be initiated next year.

[dennis abby 70 0]

I guess I started reading about the mystery schools when I was 13. At eighteen my interest was sparked again when I discovered William Cooper's musings on youtube, and really delved into studying various societies, myths, and ancient fraternities. Six years later I met a Mason through family connections. I was really well versed in the history and secrets of the craft thanks to Google (cuz the old guard doesn't look down on that lol). I spent half a year asking to join, going to functions, and just trying to get accepted. He made me ask him 3 separate times, without telling me I had to ask 3 times before he would consider giving me an application, and I was initiated 3 days after my 25th b-day. Raised 5 months later and now sit as JS. Next year I'll be sitting as SD if everything goes well, and be a principle the following year... (before you say it, I know, I should really take my time to go through all the chairs, but I have already sat as IG, SS, JS, and JD for other lodges in my district. Also I will be doing the EA lecture for the second time soon... in ancient and extremely long form, for anyone who has done it knows what I'm talking about...)

As for the why, I guess I was looking for answers. And although I haven't gotten answers for the questions I wanted answered, I got a lot of answers to questions I should have been asking myself. The craft has helped me learn far more about myself than I thought it would, and meet people who have become true brothers, not just masonic brothers. There is one thing that saddens me a little. Because my lodge consists of many brethren in their later years, I feel like the next ten years of my life are going to be filled with losing one grandfather after another, these brothers who took me under their wings and mentored me, and all I can think is that I will lose them far too soon...

Wow that got a little melancholy at the end... circle of life and all that, but still seems unfair sometimes.

[BlackEagle 0]

I am happy to call myself a brother, as of 04.03.2014.

I was drawn to the Freemasons because of the need to fill an obvious gap in my world view. My world view being that of the typical, every day citizen of the world. I felt that this could not be it...that there has to be more. I felt it in my core and it pulled me to learn about various religions, the sciences, etc. Neither of these felt genuine to me. Along with that, was a keen interest in the occult and ancient mysteries. After some reflection, I decided to pay my local lodge a visit. Despite my local lodge not being a lodge that practices in my mother tongue, I felt that this was an organization that could provide the food for my soul that I had been missing. I am happy that I stuck with it (it's been almost two years now) and that I am now officially a brother to you all.

Warm regards,
BlackEagle

[wolfy 0]

Welcome Bro BlackEagle!

I am glad you found it worth waiting for. It only gets better from here :)

[BlackEagle 0]

Thank you, wolfy! :D

[SW 0]

As a teen I pondered both Pythagoras and Euclids 47th problem for months and during that time had various insights into Freemasonry and its relationship with Geometry, Logic, Arithmetic, Grammar, Music, Rhetoric and Algebra. I had a very moralistic upbringing by my father, also a Freemason, who I knew was a very good Mason and so at age 21 years, I asked him if I could join.

Since then the ritual has been the most central part for me with its history spanning who knows how many centuries/millennia. I see other Masons who see Freemasonry as a social platform - others still as a way to advertise charity (isn't that a contradiction in terms), and others who believe in continuing a tradition. Its certainly a very interesting Fraternity.

[leckie1uk 0]

I was a member of the RAF for many years as an electrical / avionic technician and, on leaving in 1996, what I missed the most was the camaraderie; the feeling of belonging to something bigger than myself.

After living and working inSaudi Arabia for a few years I found myself at RAF Leuchars. But as a"civvy" contractor, I was working on my own as a limited company of only one. As I still missed that feeling of belonging, I joined thePolice service in Tayside.

But even in the Police service, I still could not find that same feeling I missed form the military. I have come across the term Freemasons a number of times but didn't really what or who they were, what they stood for or what they could do for me.

Then while studyingEgyptology on an online course at Manchester University, I came across theFreemasons again while researching the development of the Pyramids. My interest was sparked and I began to research Freemasonry in earnest. I read allI could find online, bought books and read forums like this one. The moreI read I finally realised that this could well be what I have been looking for, the thing that has been missing form my life.

I guess you could say I took the 21st Century approach. I don't know any masons and there are none on my family (that I know of anyway) so TB1A1 was never going to work for me. WhenI finally made the decision to petition an application to the Freemasons, I needed an "in". So, I did what most people do nowadays and googled Masonic lodges in my area. I found one in my home town of Carnoustie, Angus (lodge No. 679); but apart from the lodge number they has no"online" profile I could find except for a Facebook page. ThenI found The Operative Mason Lodge of Dundee No.47(www.lodge47.co.uk ) They had a very good online profile, information on Freemasonry, a list of office bearers and even a contact email address.

I wrote an introductory email to the webmaster and a "meet and greet" was arranged. I met up with two very approachable and well informed Masons who had 120 years ofFreemason experience between them! Both were ex police and one was even in the RAF in the same trade as myself! After the meeting, I was convinced that Freemasonry was for me and what I had been looking for.

The investigative interview was a little daunting at first as I wasn't expecting so many to be there. But I had nothing to worry about, I was made to feel welcome and answered all the questions they had for me.

Now I just had to wait for the vote. After what seemed an absolute age, I got a phone form one of my sponsors saying that the vote was unanimous and that I would be initiated into the lodge on the 6th December 2016. I was like a small child waking up onChristmas morning, excited, thrilled, full of anticipation of what is waiting for me under the tree (figuratively speaking of course).

The time has come. In 8 hours from now I will be going through my initiation ceremony. I have deliberately avoided trying to read up on the ceremony as I wish to enjoy the full experience. There are a lot of self-confessedFreemason experts online and I really did not want my night ruined by reading false / ill-informed descriptions of the initiation ceremony.

OK, I've rambled on a bit here so I'm going to end. I’ll come back after my initiation ceremony and will no doubt wish to ramble on a bit more.

Thanks for reading

[Bob Hudd 0]

We had a preceptory at our school, that was so ancient that it was unnumbered. When asked if I wanted to join an emulation lodge I agreed, because it's good to see that the old ways are still remembered, and that people from all walks of life can have a taste of how things are for those of us brought up on the narrow path. It was very refreshing to gain further insight into the subject of lodge and temple mechanics, the gains, and losses, that have been made over the centuries, but overall, by far the best part was to stand shoulder to shoulder with my fellows, on the level where we meet, and by the square, where we part, in peace and harmony.

Shalom.