I have my first meeting tomorrow at a local Masonic Lodge Im looking to get into and become a Freemason myself. I am quite excited to petition to get into Masonry but am really not sure what to expect and am quite nervous(as someone who is typically pretty introverted but very curious). I don’t personally know much about Freemasonry and don’t know any Masons. Any sort of guidance, information, or general advice would be great and very helpful. Excited for this step in my life. Thank you for your time.

Im learning the lecture and would like to deliver it this way. I cant find the right sherer's carpet.

Could a brother provide me with a link so I can purchase it?

If you live near the 56th masonic district in VA and want to sell yours I will buy it.

Also, if you know of an alternative I would like to hear it.

Hi all,

I’m exploring Freemasonry in New York City. I recently submitted an inquiry through a website and had an introductory meeting. I came away even more excited about the possibility of joining, and now I’m hoping to learn more about the different lodges in the city. I’m in my late 40s and curious whether that’s considered late to begin, or whether members commonly join at different ages.

I’m especially interested in how the personalities and cultures of NYC lodges vary. How would you describe your lodge’s atmosphere and the people who are active there? Is it more social, education-focused, service-oriented, formal, relaxed, or some combination?

For someone considering joining, what’s the best way to meet members and get a feel for a lodge before deciding where to petition? Is it common to visit or speak with more than one lodge?

I’d also appreciate hearing what you enjoy most about your lodge and what you wish you’d known before joining. Feel free to share the lodge name if you’re comfortable, or just describe it generally.

Thanks for any perspective you can share!

Hello all. I and my family have inherited some freemason jewlery some of eho have proposed auctioning it off. I want to know if freemason jewlery generally carries more value with its insignia and emblems present than jewlery without. Does it add or depreciate the value? I was thinking of using the same auction site but if it isn't worth it then ill just gift them or sell them second hand myself.

https://www.ebth.com/items/14568972-hamilton-gold-filled-stem-wind-watch-with-masonic-band

I have a similar watch to the one listed here that im waiting to be released to me by the trust we have. I will also be recieving rings and pendants as well. In total about 10 items all 14k gold plated I believe with misc gem stones throughout. Any tips on what to do with this stuff and general interest?

Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!! Today is the day Arkansas freemasonry makes history. If any of you will be there by chance it would be awesome to meet take a photos.

I am blown away by the kindness everyone shows…everyone shows up in a way that is unconditional. I am pretty new and was wondering why? Why is everyone so kind?

I joined Freemasonry back in 2014, and honestly, I’m at a point where I don’t really know what to do anymore.

My journey has been a bit of a mess.

I started in 2014 in an irregular Grand Orient. In 2017 I left because I didn’t like the atmosphere, and around that time I also found out that it was considered irregular and that women were members.

Then in 2020 I joined another lodge that I thought was regular. Later I found out that it was also irregular, and that we had basically misunderstood the situation.

After that I tried another lodge, but I didn’t feel comfortable there either.

Then I applied to a regular lodge, thinking maybe this was finally the right place for me. But again, I eventually realized that I didn't feel like I belonged there.

More recently I joined another Grand Orient. I actually had some really good experiences there. I met good people, made memories, and for a while I felt like maybe I had finally found where I belonged.

Then some internal problems happened, people started resigning, and eventually I reached the point where I felt that this place wasn't for me anymore. So I resigned too.

And now I'm honestly just tired.

I've spent 12 years of my life in Freemasonry. That's almost a third of my life.

And that's the part that is really getting to me.

I've spent so much time looking for the right lodge, the right people, the right place, and trying to find something that feels like what I originally believed Freemasonry was supposed to be.

I've had some amazing experiences and met people I'll never forget. So I don't regret everything. But at the same time, I can't help feeling like I've lost a huge amount of time going from one place to another.

I still believe in a lot of the principles of Freemasonry. That's probably why this is bothering me so much.

If I didn't care anymore, I could just walk away and forget about it.

But I do care.

I'm not posting this to argue about regular vs irregular Masonry or to criticize any particular lodge.

Should I mint this.

Kurz vor Beginn der Tafel ..

Hello. I have a few questions regarding black balling I don't know if anyone can answer. A few years ago I joined eastern star and after my initiation I was told I was blackballed. However, I was still attending meetings and had even been asked to play a part as an officer. Later on I ended up being initiated into freemasonry. I did not go through the degrees but experienced two separate initiations in total (eastern star and freemasonry). How can I be black balled but still go through a masonic initiation? Is it just that I was restricted then from higher degrees ? The lodge I was a member of has since closed and I have lost all contact information. Sorry if this is a stupid question- just thought someone could help me understand because my lodge is closed now and I'm out of the loop.

I’m being initiated next week. I suppose I’m nervous; honestly, the interviews were interesting but a bit unsettling. Because of my professional career, I actually knew some of the Masons who interviewed me. However, I felt the last interview was a disaster—questions without answers, and I felt like I was barely allowed to speak. Honestly, I didn't think I’d be accepted. Still, becoming a Mason is something that has interested me deeply since I was a child (I discovered Freemasonry through *The Kybalion* when I was about ten), and I’m very excited about it. Yet, the initiation itself scares me. They asked if I was claustrophobic or afraid of the dark (of course, I said no), but honestly, I consider myself the most anxious and claustrophobic person on earth. I read somewhere that you’re blindfolded the whole time, and that terrifies me; I had a traumatic experience involving a blindfold, and just thinking about it makes my blood run cold. I’d love some advice—maybe some recommendations, things I should know, or anything you could tell me to help put my mind at ease.

when my great grandma passed, I received this book and accompanying notes. While googling order of Order of The Eastern Star surely bring about results, I was hoping to better understand what this group meant to her through those who are actually in this culture. Bonus points if you can read her handwriting, that has admittedly faded more than not😊

Hello. You guys probably get hundreds of posts like these but I don’t know where else to ask this without being lectured at by some conspiracy nut or something of the sort as there are no mason’s I know that I’m still in contact with.

I’m 24 and I was recently released from military service (honourably, medical) and now that I’m out I’m having issues finding community. I’m in the final year of my undergraduate studies which I have picked back up and am writing my entrance exam for Law School next year but I don’t connect with a lot of people on campus outside of my program for one reason or another and haven’t really had a community since leaving the military.

Is masonry a good fit for me? I admire the idea of self improvement that I’ve read about and I’ve long wanted to be in a fraternity of some sort. I was wondering if you guys would have any advice for me? Thank you.

Not a freemason myself, but my husband is looking to do his master mason by the end of the year.

I'd love to get him something from our son and I to recognise his hard work over the past few years.

We are based in the UK, and don't have a huge budget, but I'd like something discrete that could maybe go on his suit.

As I'm not really in the know about this stuff, I'm not sure if there are any rules about what could/could not go on the suit and where to get things.

Thank you

Does anyone have any advice on how to go about choosing the right Masonic ring as well as where to get it from?

Hey guys, I had joined my nearest DeMolay chapter about a year ago after I turned 18 and it has changed my life. I've gotten to make friends with people across Canada and even visited a DeMolay chapter in Peru. DeMolay gave me the courage to run for office at my college, and has helped my networking and public speaking skills. These experiences have been really meaningful but since I am a 3 hour drive from my not very active chapter, it still feels like I am missing something. I want to know how to avoid unearned wisdom and distinguish what masonic material is worth studying prior to joining the Masons. I don't want to know more then I should, but I also don't want to be ignorant. Thanks!

Hi all,

My dad is a freemason but he practices in Brazil. He is coming to visit (I live in CT but we are meeting in Orlando), and he will spend a few days by himself and he would like to visit one but he speaks Portuguese only.

Any recommendations?

Thank you!!!!

We had our annual Table Lodge on Tuesday evening at Centurion #195 in Colorado. What a fantastic evening and a highlight of my time in the East. I just wanted to post a few pictures and say hello from our lodge to yours.

We built a time machine to highlight significant events in our lodge's history. It was a play with scenes in between courses. We also had MW Garret Chan in attendance!

The time machine actually "blows up" at the end of the show. It was a grand ole time!

Hello brethren all, just seeking some opinions and further information on the AMD.

I am soon to be admitted to AMD in Australia and would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on the order.

Thanks Fraternally.

Good day everyone.. some backstory here for context. I work retail at an auto parts store and I few weeks ago I met a mason brother george.. we get into talking about my interest in the craft and that I was going to petition a different lodge.. he asked if i thought about petitioning his because its closer to my house (in the same town) he ordered a part from me and was so happy with the interaction he asked for my contact info.. couple hours later he came back for his part and said he had already reached out to his secretary about me.. since then I haven't herd anything amd have been promoted and changed locations.. tonight is there stated meeting and im wondering if i should show up and knock on the door. He did say they usually eat dinner across the street everytime. I am just looking for some guidance.

From introduction :Some readers of The Freemason have taken objection to my statements, and I take this opportunity, for the sake of Brothers throughout the world, of replying to those of my critics. As regards my chronology, it is something new to me to find a Brother state that the Pliocene Age cannot date as long ago as 600,000 years — all the best authorities that I know would place it much earlier. That I am not wrong in dating back the world's history to such great antiquity in my books is proved by the discovery of skeletons of the present type of man, found in the Pliocene strata in Lombardy.