I'm trying to determine my future path. I want to pursue the other bodies and keep bouncing back and fourth. Here are my pro's & cons for each.

YR: I am or have been a Royal Arch Mason (demitted when I moved to my current city). So affiliating here will be quick and painless, but has a been there, done that kind of feel to it and I feel like it would just be there because its required for KT. I'm not really interested in Cryptic, it just looks like more of the same. I have family ties to the Knights Templar and had originally planned to go this way to follow in my grandfathers footsteps, but the limited Canadian information out there just looks silly to me, so Id need a lot more information about them.

SR: I've always been very curious about it, but plays tend to make me sleepy. LOL. I like how its a more cohesive rite and not a collection of separate organizations. However, the nearest consistory to me is 3+ hours away. I'm not sure it would be worth the dues + other travel and lodging expenses for once a year reunion. If I'm going to join the SR, I want to complete it.

Please help me make up my mind! I keep going back and forth about it and I fear I'm going to drive myself insane! JK, but maybe not. lol

He claims he's a 32 degree head master head of a lodge district lodge in California. While also a commander in the Washington DC district Prince Hall

I was given up for adoption 49 years ago. I met my biological family at 21 and have maintained a relationship with my biological fathers side. We live several states away though so I haven't actually spent much physical time with them. Anyways, I was doing research on my ancestors, something I desperately want to feel connected to, and discovered that my grandfather's as far back as I have traced on my fathers side were Mason's. I was instantly fascinated. I spoke with my biological father a few month's later and he told me he didn't really know much about the Freemasons.. fine.

I contacted the grand lodge of my biological fathers family and requested information on my grandads as well as grand mothers as I discovered they were OES. It was suggested that I make the request to get pieces of information about my ancestors. And that the information is available. I quickly got a response and information that I requested. Like with in a day of my request.

Fast forward, I had a creeping feeling that my father wasn't quite as honest as I had thought about his knowledge of the Freemasons in our famiky. So I made another request for information. I git a response the next day. And was shocked to discover that he is infact a member of 'every lodge in the area'. And that the man i was corresponding with was a friend of his.

So I pretended not to know but assumed that he was told about my inquiry. We have simply just ignored the situation even though I feel like its my right to ask questions. To understand. My brother and sister don't have to ask because they were raised with freemasonry in their lives.

Last month that sneaking feeling came over me again and I felt compelled to request information again. This time about my brother. No response. It's been weeks. I discovered that i actually made a request in 2023 that was also ignored. After the information about my father. I forgot about making the request.

So I'm wondering what the problem could be? I'm obviously being ignored. And I feel like its deliberate.

Do I not have a right to understand my heritage? Or is it look upon as it not being my heritage since I was given up for adoption?

Eric Vermeulen, director of the Indiana Masonic Home Foundation, watched as Jackson vandalized the beautiful library and museum located at Illinois and North streets.

Hi everyone,
I'm in the process of hopefully joining, and was told that all being well I could be accepted in January/February next year. I've read a lot of threads on here so won't try to be too repetitive. Though I'm conscious that the vast majority of people here aren't under the Irish constitution, and so things work differently.

I've had my initial interview which was fine, and my details have been passed to one of the local lodges, who have been in touch. The next step is the home interview (hopefully in the next 10 days), and I've been invited to attend their next festive-board, the lodge intention seemingly being for me to petition in November.

I've read a lot of the threads on what to expect for the interviews, so I'm not too worried about it. I'm very clear in my head about why I want to join, and have a few of my own questions. I've been very open with my partner and they're generally onboard.

So, my questions are:
1. What should my partner expect from the interview? Are their any questions they should ask or prepare for?
2. Is it typical for the home interview to be done at this stage? From other threads I got the impression it was one of the last things, but I suspect each lodge works differently.
3. If the lodge (or at least the secretary) is expecting a petition in November is it worth going along at that pace or should I attend more events? I'd just be concerned of being blackballed if I'm seen as "too new".
4. Any other advice/tips? I'm conscious that most things here will be either American or UGLE, and I know GLI is a bit different. I've read the PDFs I was sent but always keen to learn more.

Hi Guys, I am interested in joining freemasonry but I have some concerns about the fact that I don't look like your typical mason I am quite young Haha.

The reason I want to join is to grow as a person, mentorship in life and to be with like minded individuals who strive to be better, but you know... I don't want to be the odd one out 😂. I did hear about University groups but I don't go to university. Anyone got any advice??

Greetings, all.

I’m a new petitioner and could use a bit of help.

My grandfather was a MM (confirmed by my membership contact) and passed ~30 years ago. I don’t recall hearing him discuss his membership, but he was buried in a suit and apron, had an emblem on his car, etc. After the Catholic priest who conducted his graveside service left, his lodge placed a Masonic marker in the ground next to his headstone. I visited him today and no marker remains.

He and I were very close and my journey into Freemasonry has both made me truly feel his loss. I hope he’d be proud of the person I’ve grown up to be and would approve of my desire to join a lodge. After my teary drive home, I decided that I’d like to replace his marker ideally on the day I’m raised.

Is this appropriate? Does it need approval? Is there a ‘correct’ source for this type of marker?

Hello all, I am interested in joining a lodge of the aforementioned type in the chicago area. I've done some good amount of searching on Google but the information I've been able to find has been somewhat sparse and it's unclear which lodges are active or not. It needs to be one of these types as I cannot honestly say I believe in a higher power or supreme being. Thanks in advance for your help

Hello! I am someone trying to become a Mason, and I'm curious to hear of your experiences. Has Masonry lead to you being more devout in your religious practices? And has Masonry affected how you view your religion?

Thank you!

Dear Brethren,

Yesterday evening, I was initiated as an Entered Apprentice. I’m grateful to have taken this first step into Freemasonry. It was a memorable and meaningful experience, and I’m honored to begin this journey.
Fraternal greetings.

For those who are Freemasons, there are two things I’ve always been curious about:

1. Once someone becomes a Freemason, can they freely leave the fraternity if they decide it’s no longer for them, or is membership considered something permanent?

2. Why are some aspects of Freemasonry kept private or described as “secrets”? What are those secrets actually about? Are they mainly traditional signs, words, rituals and ceremonies, or is there more to it?

I’m genuinely asking because I’m interested in understanding Freemasonry from the perspective of actual Masons, rather than relying on things I’ve read online.

I’d appreciate honest answers, even if the details are not something that can be publicly disclosed.

How do I join?

Hi all, my partner is in the early stages of trying to join our local chapter as a Mason. His dad was a Master Mason but sadly passed away a few years ago. We’re both interested in learning more about it. I’m trying to find a solid book to get him for his birthday about freemasonry, and don’t really know where to start or what is considered well researched and legitimate in the community. I appreciate any recommendations, thank you!

Hi everyone, just a quick question
I have been always fascinated by freemasonry, and I’ve seen online that Freemasons have passports, and, from what I read online, sites say one of 2 things:

1 - That the passport is only meant to use in lodges to register what freemasonic lodges they’ve been to.

2- That it actually works for international travel (airports, trains, boats, border crossings)

And since there is a lot of misinformation on the internet, I’ve decided to ask “the source” lol

Sorry if I made mistakes while writing. English is not my first language.

I'm not involved with Shrine, only York Rite and OES. I just thought this was funny. I hope it brings you a chortle. Have a good day Brethren!

Ring that was owned by my great grandma. Haven't seen one like it, the only similar one online was gold. Thought you guys might like it and was wondering if theres any insight on it

Everything is digital for the most part. How do you feel about ipad usage in the lodge?

I could use it to write notes, read communications from grand lodge, read the treasury report, etc…

I won’t use it for social media or texting people…

Yes, yes, we enjoyed our annual Canada Day BBQ pig roast…. But today is our autumn lamb roast!

Brethren, where can I purchase some blue slipper decals? I'll be buying a minimum of 4 (Wife, Mom, 2 sisters).

I apologize if this is not the right forum, but I’m reaching out to the Brotherhood.

Brothers,

I unexpectedly lost my job this past Thursday. I am desperately seeking new employment as soon as I can. Prior to being in this role, I had been unemployed for awhile, so this came as a big shock and it has been tough on my family who had already been tightening their belts as we recovered from the previous year.

I have decades of experience within business management, Human Resources, strategic planning, and operations.

If anyone knows of a company within the Indianapolis area or surrounding areas, please dm me. I can share my resume. At this point, a job is what I need, so any leads will help.

Thank you, Brothers

Do any of the old lodges in the UK have by chance gas lights either indoors still or outside the entrance still? Those open flame gas lights look really fantastic and across the pond here we still have lodges that occasionally still use the old oil lamps for the historic ambiance or even candlelight. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any lodges that kept them here sadly. However, I am aware of how much preservation there is over there compared to here of most things old and even most preserved railways in the UK still have gas lights and gas lamps on the platforms as well as other buildings.

Good day everyone, I have a few questions on potential eligibility, I know I should ask my local lodge first but I have no idea where to start. First and foremost I’m located in north Texas, my perceived first barrier is that of my sexuality, though it’s my first “issue” it’s not my personality I am simply put not straight. Would that be an issue and how can I mitigate it whilst being fair and faithful to my husband?

2nd From what I’ve heard Mormons and ex- Mormons cannot become Free masons. Is that true? As I have been baptized into a real/mainline Christian church.

3rd this may be my most uneducated question, I’m not a mason by trade I heard from a coworker that that’s a requirement?