Questions about Masonry: an open and honest forum

New user here again, but I was wondering if any Masons from Toronto could help me acquire an invite to a meeting, in any way? My great Grandfather was a mason, as was my uncle, and many more on my mothers side... I would really like to find out more information on Masonry, and possibly join, but would prefer not to search it out online, as I don't believe the information would be as accurate as if it were coming from those who really SHOULD be attempting to help educate someone who is truly interested. Had I lived in Ottawa, my uncle would have helped me with an invite, but he doesn't know anything about meetings in Toronto.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, whether in a private message, or as a response to this post.

Thanks,

Jepherson

One good way is to check for lodges in Toronto online.

www.torontomasons.ca...

That's easily the most creative lodge site I've seen.

grandlodge.on.ca...

Has a list of lodges in the Toronto area, Google the lodge and you should be able to get contact information for one or more of the lodge members, and can talk with them.
Also, a lot of the masons here on ATS are pretty good about offering information and answering questions.

reply to post by jephers0n


As RuneSpider suggested, call a lodge contact. You do not need an invite, ask questions and you will receive all the info you want. Talk with your uncle, he can likely fill in some gaps for you.

Originally posted by RuneSpider
One good way is to check for lodges in Toronto online.

www.torontomasons.ca...

That's easily the most creative lodge site I've seen.

grandlodge.on.ca...

Has a list of lodges in the Toronto area, Google the lodge and you should be able to get contact information for one or more of the lodge members, and can talk with them.
Also, a lot of the masons here on ATS are pretty good about offering information and answering questions.

Thank you spider, some very informative sites there. I'll definately be looking more into this.

A Newbie on ATS here...

I'm hoping that this thread will restart, as I'm VERY impressed by the (mostly) Gentlemanly behaviour I've seen expressed, the fine advice given, and the genuine brotherliness proferred to the Profane (given they have genuine Questions, and aren't simply trying to derail the Board with their own (and it's often Theirs Alone, I may add) Agenda-driven Rants.

I'm a 25-Year Blue Lodge Mason (presently Junior Warden of my Mother Lodge); 32nd Degree (Scottish Rite (NMJ), where I've played Clarinet in the Orchestra) ; and Knight Templar (York Rite), presently Generalissimo of my Commandery).

As such, I've been involved with countless Fish-Frys, Chili-Suppers, and Child Identification booths; as well as contributing to such causes as Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities Research and Learning Centers (Scottish Rite), the York Rite Eye Foundation, Womens' Shelters, Widows and Orphans' Fundraisers, and the Shriner's Burns Centers.
This represents my 'Exoteric' side... where I take the Lessons I've learned, and give them back to the World, as best I can. Faith, Hope and Charity are Primary Tenets of the Craft... as they are of most of the grea

I am also a member of The Masonic Society, the Philalethes Society (both of them Research Groups), and the Levant Preceptory (a Area "Living History" group carrying the Swords, Maille and Helmets of our ancient Namesakes, (akin to the Society for Creative Anachronism, but performing the Order of the Temple in Period Garb... tiring, but very rewarding). This, I suppose, Is my more 'Esoteric' Side... the time I devote to Study and Reflection .

Finding the Balance between the External and Internal... the Exoteric and Esoteric... is not always easy, but it's always been rewarding to me. As is serving as an Officer in my Mother Lodge, and a Representative for at Grand Lodge.
(Yes... we Masons are always looking for needed Changes. It often takes several years, and endless Committee Meetings, but we DO change, however slowly ! ).

.

NOW... the Reader should know that through my Youth, I was, I thought, entirely "un-Clubbable". Even my College Fraternity left me very cold.
Though I made many fine Friends in College, the ones I still know and chat with... the ones that that I would loosely call Brothers to this day, were all from the Band, and only incidentally from the guys I happened to be living with in the Frat.

Dad's jaw just about hit the floor whan I brought my Petition for him to sign, a few years later. "But... you hated your College Frat... How are you going to be pleased with the Masons ?"

"Dad... You know as well as I do why I didn't like my Frat. It existed (as every other one does) as a Gang. A Gang with Beer (the kegs from last Saturday were warm and a bit skunky by Friday... but that was Delivery day for the Weekend)."
(NOTA BENE: We're talking thirty years ago. Society has changed. I think the Frats have, too... at least, I hope so).

"Sixty-five Underage-or-Thereabout guys, living on their own for the first time, who are supposed to be studying Advanced Calculus, or Thucidydes 101, or "John Stuart Mill for Dummies" were trooped, en masse, to the Library every Night. For no other Reason, that I could discern, than we looked 'Studious' in so doing, which pleased the Library Staff. Sloshed to the gills. For the Honor of our Proud Fraternity. " I sighed.

I thought for a few moments, deciding whether I was being really out-of-place in bringing it up again :
"I've tried to bring up Masonic stuff with you for several years. Every time, I'd get the short answer : 'I can't talk about that ' ! So, since I had a lot of time in "Study Hall"... I started reading around. And I found stWhen was the last time you read your Monitor ?"

"Huh ?!?" He gasped as I pulled the little black tome from my pocket. "Where'd you get that ?? You're not supposed to have...


Mod Note: Starting An Introduction Thread – Please Review This Link.


[edit on 10/6/2009 by Mirthful Me]

LOL
That was a fortuitous Cliffhanger, brought about by the 4000 Char. Limit

Hope you see where the Story is leading...

reply to post by Darkwolf57

First of all, welcome. This forum will give you a glimpse not just at anti-Masonic conspiracy theorists, but pro-, neutral-, and Masons themselves.

It's good to see another younger and active Brother in here (24-year-old WM myself and in the York Rite). I too was in a college frat (Kappa Sigma).

Do be warned there are some kooks that will try to get under your skin. Keep a thick skin and have fun.

Again, glad to have you here.

reply to post by KSigMason

Bro., you didn't read that quite right, it's not "25 year old Mason", it's "a 25-year-Mason"

Anyway, hello! Finally made myself a username, got tired of not knowing what I've read and what I haven't - a "Euro" Mason here, also on the young (aka, 30) side of things.

reply to post by HunMason

Holy crap I did.

Regardless, welcome.

Hi,

I currently like a man who I just recently found out he was a mason and now im worried. I've heard so many stories and i don't know what to believe. He says he's a christian but i've heard too much, and now I don't know what to do because the thought is bothering me. I don't know what to do.

reply to post by likesamason13


Talk to the man and explain him your honest concerns. Ask him your questions. Ask him how he can reconcile his masonic life with his christian life. In these matters, the dumb question is the question that is never asked. Tell him what you heard about freemasonry, and why it concerns you that he is involved.

I can tell you that as a mason, no one is ever asked to betray his faith, no one is ever asked to do anything against christianity or any other faith.

reply to post by likesamason13


Masonry is a Fraternity for men.. it's essentially nothing more. Some of the spooky aspects of the Masonry are actually beautiful philosophically .. my bet is if you ask him to explain Masonry to you, he probably will. some people seem to think that we Masons keep our wives/girlfriends etc in the dark about Masonry.. which couldn't be farther from the truth. While some like it to be their "boys club" so to speak, others encourage their significant other to be active..

While I can tell you it's nothing at all to be afraid of (actually I would consider being a Mason a good quality, he's active in charity, no?) you won't find peace until you openly discuss it. Hell, ask him to bring you to his lodge to show you around.

Originally posted by likesamason13
Hi,

I currently like a man who I just recently found out he was a mason and now I'm worried. I've heard so many stories and i don't know what to believe. He says he's a christian but I've heard too much, and now I don't know what to do because the thought is bothering me. I don't know what to do.

Hello,

I'm not a Mason but one thing you should do is learn how to cook, if you don't know how that is, then make him a nice big delicious dinner.

You have said you like this guy so the only thing you should be worried about is if he like you in return.

I'm sure you have read and heard a lot of unfounded, mal informed bad stuff about Freemasons But I have heard some very good things about Freemason.

For example one day I was curious and walked into a Lodge and the lodge secretary was there. One thing about a Mason I have noticed is they can talk on and on for hours and you will be nothing but more educated and amazed afterword. Anyway this guy told me of a man's wife who suddenly fell ill in japan, the man being a mason was able to make others know that he was a Mason and and out of the crowed a fellow Freemason gave care to his wife to the extent of transporting her in his private jet to a specialised hospital.

I read some where, I can't remember where but Many Freemasons tell their children that if they ever are in a dangerous situation or are faced with extreme need of help and see a man wearing a masonic ring to tell them that their father is a mason and they are in need of help.

Masons are very caring toward one another and that care extends to their wives and children. Most Christians only preach about what Freemasons actually do from what I understand.

Don't forget the apple pie.

Izzy.

Thank you all for answering my questions so nicely I'll talk to him about it.

Originally posted by Izarith

Hello,

I'm not a Mason but one thing you should do is learn how to cook, if you don't know how that is, then make him a nice big delicious dinner.

Izzy.

Izzy, I like the way you think. I started to laugh when I read the first couple words and had a flash of "keep 'em barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen" but I was pleasantly surprised.

reply to post by likesamason13


As rockpuck said, simply ask him to explain everything to you. He most likely will. I joined my lodge a few years after I married my wife and she was kind of questioning me about it too and I just explained everything to her and she fell in love with freemasonry and such subjects just as I had and now shes a member of the eastern star!

Anyways, just ask him about it.

Originally posted by Rockpuck
BT...

Try being a Catholic Mason.

I know a few of those brothers. Then there is the KOC of course....which might as well be Catholic Masonry.

There is no reason anymore why a Catholic can not be a mason. There never was before for masons.

Originally posted by ForkandSpoon

There is no reason anymore why a Catholic can not be a mason.

This is, sadly, not exactly true. Although canon law nolonger explicitly mentions freemasonry as a 'forbidden' organization as it was before in canon 2335. Now, there is a broader definition in canon 1374 which lead many masons to believe that the catholic church had changed its position on freemasonry.

However, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benidictus XVI) explained that the stance of the Vatican towards freemasonry has not changed, and those catholics who remain members of freemasonry are still considered to be in a state of grave sin. They are not to receive the Holy Communion.

However, I do stress the fact that this is the stance of roman catholic church towards freemasonry and like ForkandSpoon already said: catholics are welcome in the fraternity. There is no reason why a catholic would not be accepted into the fraternity, it is just that his mother church does not welcome freemasons into the church.

reply to post by komodo_nl


An interesting anecdote to add to your statement.

We recently held a joint Masonic-Knights of Columbus picinic at our lodge. Both orginizations contributed equally in all ways and it was a very good time for everyone. We also used the proceeds from our fund rasing boths to donate to a local girl who was badly burned. However, we have a few dual members, Brothers who had been Knights first before joining Masonry and after watching how much fun we had more of the Knights petitioned for membership. This created a bit of an uproar and the Monsignor, who had been against the joint picnic from the outset, told the Knights they would be heavily frowned upon for joining.

I though Paul VI had settled that oh well.....

I'd love to hear Benedict explain how being a mason is a danger to the church as opposed to being a Hitler youth.

There's not only many Catholics who have joined masonry....there's been more then a few clergy.....



[edit on 15/11/2009 by ForkandSpoon]