This is purely the experiences of the author, and may not be exactly how things will happen to you, but hopefully it will give the reader a rough out line of what to expect when they join the Brotherhood of Freemasonry.
The Initial steps, The Journey begins, The Interview, Preparing for my Interview, My Initiation, The journey continues
A few days later I got an email from my Proposer to say that everything had gone well at the interview and confirmed that I would be inducted in November.
About two weeks later I had another mail from my Proposer
The Initial steps
Having done some IT work relating to the UGLE, a colleague who is a Mason recommended that I join the Fraternity and sent me a link to the UGLE site regarding how to become a Mason.
I read the info on the site and was impressed with the claims made on the site and so duely contacted the Provincial Grand Lodge requesting more information as I was interested in joining.
A few days later I received a call from the Secretary asking me to meet him at the Berkshire Masonic Centre.
I then contacted a friend, who I had forgotten was a Mason, to ask his advice prior to attending the meeting. His only advice was to be honest and be myself!
Anyway, I turned up at the Centre at the agreed time. This is quite an unimposing place, at least on the outside, but it is situated in a large area of pleasant parkland.
Adjacent to the Centre was a large building which I did not discover the purpose of until later...
Upon my arrival I was let in by a very pleasant lady who was one of the staff. She showed me up to an office where I met the Secretary.
He picked up some papers from his desk and showed me in to one of the four Temples in the building. I have to say that the Temple was not what I expected.
On the TV you hear of fantastic rooms decorated in extravagent means with velvet and gilt and much ostentation. The reality was of subtle grandness. Neither austere nor grandiose.
I know there were only the two of us in the room, but it had a timeless, tranquil quality that I can only liken to the sense of peace to be found in a Buddhist Way Station. It felt like a place for quiet meditation of the meaningful things in life, not for consideration of personal glory, or of shiny new cars and big houses.
Without any of the dark grandeur of some of the huge European cathedrals that are clearly designed to make the entrant feel awed, insignificant, unworthy, it was a gentle place that made you feel humble, meditative, and yet without making you feel diminished.
The Secretary asked me what I knew of Freemasonry and explained how the Fraternity is involved in many charitable works, is about trying to inspire people to greater morality, the importance of the family and a person's duties to his family.
He gave me several booklets and other material to study at my leisure, without asking me to make a donation for them. This surprised me a bit as other organisations are not so free with their publications!
He then showed me around the rest of the building, including the main Temple which still managed to inspire the same feelings as the smaller ones, the main dining area and the bars, the museum and the Library.
All throughout the tour, he did not once try to pressure me in to joining, but was merely polite, pleasant and welcoming.
He did ask me why I was interested in becoming a Mason, and I answered honestly - that I was intreagued by what I had read on the UGLE website and felt that I had something to offer the Fraternity, and to attempt to improve myself.
He seemed to be satisfied with this answer and recommended that I met with my friend to discuss more about my wanting to join.
We then went outside the building and the Secretary explained a little more about the charities and told me about the large building I had seen on my arrival - it was a care home built and maintained by the Fraternity for its retired Brothers who were in need of support.
My taxi then turning up, he shook me warmly by the hand, wished me well and bade me farewell.
The Journey begins.
The next week I met my friend at the Wokingham Masonic Centre where he briefly showed me the Temple and we talked for about half an hour. He told me a bit more about what it means to be a Mason and emphasised that family comes before Masonry and the Law comes before family.
He also told me a bit more about the friendship side of the Fraternity and how welcoming the members of the Lodge were. He also explained that the Lodge is not the physical building where Brothers meet, but the group that meets and that several Lodges can share the same Temples but meet on different nights and so it was possible to belong to both different Lodges and different Orders.
I filled in the forms for submission to the Lodge which were quite simple and once I'd completed all three (you not only apply join the Lodge you hope to become iniated into, but also the Provincial Grand Lodge who are the regional administrative centre, and also the United Grand Lodge who are the governing body), I left them for the Lodge Secratary to complete and file.
A few weeks later I received a call from my Proposer to inform me that my forms had been processed and to ask me if it would be convenient for me to attend the Centre for my interview.
I agreed that the time and date was suitable to me and he advised me what to wear - basically a smart, dark suit as you would wear to any formal interview.
The interview is held before the Lodge Committee and is a chance for the Lodge to see what sort of a person you are, find out why you would like to become a Mason, it has to be of your own choice, and for you to ask any questions that may have occured to you since your decision to request to join the Freemasons.
Should the reader decide to approach the Fraternity, or be recommended by a friend, colleague or relative with the intention of joining, the most salient piece of advice the author can give is this - Be yourself and above all BE HONEST!
You will be joining a Brotherhood that is based on morality, on Truth, on Brotherhood, on becoming a better person within yourself. Nothing worthwhile ever started with a lie or falsehood...
A few days before my interview I had an email from my Proposer to say that although my interview would still go ahead, due to a member of the Lodge who was due to be 'raised', i.e. promoted to the next level, having to be admitted to hospital, I would no longer be initiated this month but would have to wait until the end of the year.
Whilst this was obviously disappointing, it does mean that I'll have more time to put money aside to cover all the fees, (you have to pay your 'dues' to the Lodge plus admin fees to the Provincial Lodge and the Grand Lodge), and as my second son is due anytime, it would give me more time with the Family.
The Interview
I turned up early at the Masonic Centre and had a drink at the bar with a few of the
Brothers before my interview.
They were all very friendly and made me feel welcome.
After a while I was invited into a small room by the Worshipful Master of the Lodge where 4 other members of the Lodge were seated.
They interviewed me for about 15-20 minutes asking me such things what I knew about the Fraternity, what I hoped to get from becoming a Mason, what I hoped to be able to bring to Freemasonry, did I believe in a Supreme Being, and we basically chatted amiably. I was also asked if I had any questions, whether my wife knew what I was doing, how she felt about it and whether I would be able to commit to being a Mason as it can take a certain amount of time out of your calender if you want to be a fully active Brother.
He had both good news and bad news...
Preparing for my Initiation
I decided to ask for the day off to prepare for the event to give me some time to spend getting myself ready.
I had my black suit cleaned, polished my shoes and got a few things prepared so that I can relax on the day.
I was also told that I would have to prepare a short speech to give that the Festive Board after the ceremony.
A Festive Board is basically a gathering of the Lodge to enjoy a hearty meal, in the company of friends, relax and enjoy themselves.
As one of the aspects of Freemasonry is the fellowship of man, this is an ideal occasion to meet your fellow Brethren and socialise in a time when leisure is not so easy to come by in the hectic, frantic race that is modern day life.
Anyway, having got pretty much everything prepared, it's now just a matter of waiting a few short days before I can call myself a Brother...
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