A Shared Journey

As I sat at my desk and opened my lodge folder, I couldn’t believe that it had been over a year since I found myself participating in a degree conferral. At the same time, I was excited at the prospect of being able to attend extra meetings throughout the remainder of the year. There have been some good men who have already entered the fraternity and a number of other men who have demonstrated interest. Additionally, we have already had some great brothers transfer to our lodge. It is quite the interesting group that we have brought together but also a group of brothers passionate in their own ways about the freemasonry and eager to do their part to improve the fraternity.

I have always enjoyed extra meetings as it is a time when we all come together to continue someone on their masonic journey but it is also a time when we are a little more relaxed when beyond the outer doors. The same can be said about fellowship nights but there is something about the purpose and importance of degree nights that resonates on a much deeper level for me. The simple fact of the matter is that we are all choosing to be at the lodge and participate in these important occasions not just because we believe it to be expected of us but because we enjoy the company of our brothers.

Throughout the night there was a welcoming atmosphere felt by all, newly passed brothers and all others sitting in chairs and on the sidelines. To my recollection, this is a completely different feeling than that which I experienced during the last conferral for which I was in attendance. And it was a great mix of masons from those who are approaching 50 years in the fraternity to those who upon which the last bestowed. All of us present for a singular purpose… to further our collective progress on our respective masonic journeys.

These are the nights when I walk back to the car and drive home feeling as though I have helped to accomplish something… I have participated in something much great than myself. While this is certainly part of stated meetings as well, it is a much more pronounced emotion following the conferral of degrees. What is additionally satisfying about these nights is that soon the men whom I witnesses advancing to the next degree may be the ones conferring those degrees in the future. After all, while I wasn’t present for the meeting, I know that it has already happened once during my short time as a mason.

From The Beginning…

I have seen many degree conferrals since becoming a Mason and I have even filled in as an officer on a few occasions in the past but last night was a little different. This time through, for the first time, I watched as two brothers receive their second degree and one man become a Mason from the perspective of and elected officer. While all brothers should take ownership and pride in the conferral of degrees and witnessing the journey that is taking place before their eyes, that feeling is magnified when you play a role in that process, no matter how small that role may be.

Given all the members that pay dues, many of which live close by, I am constantly surprised by the low turnout both at stated meetings and extra meetings as well when we can be witnesses to the same process that we all have gone through. I recently came across a question which asked whether someone can truly call themselves a Mason if they never attend or participate in lodge activities. While there is no clear cut answer to this query, my perspective on the subject is rather simple.

A man becomes a Mason as soon as he receives his first degree and, as an Entered Apprentice, he is then granted all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of that degree. At that point he is a man who has become a Mason. Later he receives his Fellowcraft degree and raised to the degree of Master Mason (3^rd) and that is when we sometimes lose a few due to misdirection. While many Masons attend stated meetings every month, for most that is the extent of their Masonic experience.

That is really only a fraction of the Masonic experience. In my experience, it is the times beyond the stated meeting that make up what it is to be a Mason. First of all you are always a Mason not just during meetings so being familiar with the craft both in knowledge and action so you can favorably represent the fraternity is critical. Secondly, and on which the first point relies, being a part of the lodge in some way is essential to the pursuit of light and knowledge of the craft as well as the formation of bonds with your brothers. What better way to both remind yourself of that pursuit but also form bonds with new brothers than to be there to greet them at the beginning of their journey.   

These are times that are separate from the rest of the day. While, as I have previously mentioned, there were certainly a lot going on that day, this was one of the rare opportunities to take a break from all of that and focus on what is happening right in from of me. From the opening to the closing charge, it is a window of appreciating the present and a moment that you know is both greater than yourself but also a memory that will live on in the minds of others as well as your own.