I recently found out my grandfather was a freemason and that i can become a member if i would like! OMG!

Ha Ha, how would you know?

Don't they keep that quiet?

I guess that being a lower level mason is no big deal. I live close to a shriners hall and it appears they have fallen on hard times, they always advertise now to rent out space for events. Never did that before and I have lived in this area for over 15 years.

Yeah i suppose he most probably was right on the bottom of the ladder or else i wouldnt be on here right now!

*15,15*
Good morning ATS (it's morning here)!
Kalistenics, both my grandfather and his father were extremly high ranking templar who were also officers in the US Army.

Yes, masonry along with the other orders are set up in a heirachy.
There are three ways to get in:
1.) Lineage, If you can trace back to a mason in the past four generations, or an officer in the past six, you are let in to the "brotherhood".
2.) Money, If you donate plenty of money, you are let in...
3.) Review by a board of officers who grant admission to the order...

Join if you wish. You must start early if you wish to make it in there with the "upper reigning echelon"....

Cheers,
- Tass *40*

[Edited on 3-10-2003 by Tassadar]

To join, all you have to do is ask a fellow Mason if you can join. That's it. Period.

Anyone can join. Anyone can go up to 33rd degree. Yes, I have a family member who is both a 33rd degree Mason *and* a Shriner.

So go visit, see what you think. You might as well -- better than sitting around and freaking about it.

I aint freaking! lol
Just came as a bit of a shock if you know what i mean. Think ill see whats the deal, too curious not too!

I was wandering if there is any difference in the Scottish Rite and the York Rite Free Masons? Isn't there one more too?

Originally posted by Kalistenics
I recently found out my grandfather was a freemason and that i can become a member if i would like! OMG!

Me too !

Welcome to the club !

I also have a uncle still mason.

[Edited on 4-10-2003 by Nans DESMICHELS]

Originally posted by TgSoe
I was wandering if there is any difference in the Scottish Rite and the York Rite Free Masons? ...

Yes, there is a difference. York Rite Masonry more closely follows the Christian religion and it takes longer to go through the degrees. Scottish Rite, of which I am a member, can be received in as few as two days and sometimes can be streched out, giving more actual depictions of the different degrees. They are confired degrees in that they are given to you without any memory work to be performed.

The only requirements to becoming a Mason are that you believe in a single God, that you be a man, and that you be 18 or 21 years of age, depending on the jurisdiction or State that you are applying in. Oh yes, and you must ask for the application as we do not solicit membership, just ask any person that you know to be a Mason and they will help you out.

K-Sol

KS

Where I have been most involved the entry requirements are a bit more strict than that.

There are at least 30 people with Masonic ties, from all walks of life, actively posting, reading or in other ways contributing to ATS that I know about.

And quite a few anti-Masonic topics get posted from time to time as well.

and to be quite honest so was mine...
that would make us organizational great cousins...
prince hall of course and i care not to speak on any illogical nonsense for he was and is a great man...

my grandfather was a freemason to but he couldnt talk about it and stuff and he had a special for it and he was pretty high up in the ranks i think

Originally posted by MaskedAvatar
KS

Where I have been most involved the entry requirements are a bit more strict than that...

*opens mouth and removes foot* I guess I spoke too soon. I should qualify what I said with: "Here in California and in most of the United States".

Sometimes I forget that these boards are International and not just local. Not to mention that here there is F&AM, AF&AM, and Prince Hall Masonry, the later two I would not be familiar with in respect to their requirements.

bigsage of the quiet avatar

Received in snippets, just like this, or U2U's.

Well my school has a lodge and all allumni can join it. For a secret society it sure has a lot of really open ways to get in. I also had a way through my Father who was active in charity works - and was offered membership at a high level from "friends of friends".

Originally posted by KingSolomon

Originally posted by TgSoe
I was wandering if there is any difference in the Scottish Rite and the York Rite Free Masons? ...

Yes, there is a difference. York Rite Masonry more closely follows the Christian religion and it takes longer to go through the degrees. Scottish Rite, of which I am a member, can be received in as few as two days and sometimes can be streched out, giving more actual depictions of the different degrees. They are confired degrees in that they are given to you without any memory work to be performed.

The only requirements to becoming a Mason are that you believe in a single God, that you be a man, and that you be 18 or 21 years of age, depending on the jurisdiction or State that you are applying in. Oh yes, and you must ask for the application as we do not solicit membership, just ask any person that you know to be a Mason and they will help you out.

K-Sol

Thanks, are you saying that in the Scottish Rite, you can achieve all 33 degrees in a short time or just the required 3 degrees? I wonder if there are any Scottish Rite Lodges in Georgia?

I know my grandfather was a freemason, but I'd never join.

Originally posted by TgSoe

Thanks, are you saying that in the Scottish Rite, you can achieve all 33 degrees in a short time or just the required 3 degrees? I wonder if there are any Scottish Rite Lodges in Georgia?

You can receive the 4th through 32nd degrees in a weekend. You must be a very involved member for quite some time to receive the 33º (white hat). You must still receive the initial three degrees in the Blue Lodge first before advancing to the Scottish Rite.

Yes, there are definately Scottish Rite Lodges in Georgia. Any Masonic Lodge can tell you where they are located.

K-Sol

Mine too. He, he, he, he, he.

Originally posted by KingSolomon

Originally posted by TgSoe

Thanks, are you saying that in the Scottish Rite, you can achieve all 33 degrees in a short time or just the required 3 degrees? I wonder if there are any Scottish Rite Lodges in Georgia?

You can receive the 4th through 32nd degrees in a weekend. You must be a very involved member for quite some time to receive the 33º (white hat). You must still receive the initial three degrees in the Blue Lodge first before advancing to the Scottish Rite.

Yes, there are definately Scottish Rite Lodges in Georgia. Any Masonic Lodge can tell you where they are located.

K-Sol

Wow thats a lot of degrees in a weekend. I may very well join one day. I'm going to do a lot of studying on my own first though. Someone once said that, "The initiate never knows exactly what he's getting initiated into until its to late. And if he finds himself submitted to a group of rascals, so much the worse for the initiate".