How do I become a Freemason?

 

This is not as daunting as you may think, actually its quite a great experience and the nerves you may experience will just make it all more fun and fulfilling experience.

Firstly there are the basics:

• You must believe in God (a Supreme Being) what your creed refers to God is irrelevant;
• You must be 21 years old (or 18, but the son of a Freemason);
• You must a be a person of good reputation and character

Some things to keep in mind:

• Religion & Politics are banned at Lodge or at the social meeting afterwards;
• We don’t rule the world;
• We don’t engage in trying to topple governments or religions;
• Being a Freemason will not make you wealthy materially;
• It is a personal growth experience, which is experienced as a group
• We do not have any dogma and encourage each Brother to think for themselves
• What you get out is directly linked to what you put in
• We encourage each Brother to practice his our faith, after all religion is an important part of who you are

The question most people ask is how do I join, after all many people do not know a Freemason/mason?

Firstly, you need to make contact with a Lodge, this can be by e-mail. If you live in the Port Elizabeth, South Africa area by sending an introductory e-mail to our candidates e-mail address.

We shall them contact you and lead you through the process and if you stick with it you will reap the benefits.

PS You may do well to read the article in this blog, Why not to join

The Square & Compasses

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To be or not to be …

These are not just beautiful words, just another quotation from the Bard’s work of Hamlet intended to provide a learned sheen to just another post; no far more can be taken from these mere five words. It is true that for all of us, we assume that our very existence, qualifies us as meeting the first part, namely “to be”, thereby referring to the very fact that we are existent.

But is that be the sum total of your measure as a human being?

If this is your reasoning, you are doing yourself short, very short indeed? For we humans, both brother and sister, are far more than these mortal cloaks, which we hold so fast about us as we pass through this earthly
existence.

To be, is to truly know who you are. This knowledge comes not through listening to the words, even wisest words of others – no – knowing comes from personal experience – yours, not that of another.

Like every parent knows, one can lecture a child for  a week and get no further, but let the child see it done and its learns almost instantly, not from the words but from the doing – and once it has done what must be learnt then the knowledge is integrated and the child can move on.

But what has this to do with Freemasonry? Freemasonry has never forgotten the above truth – our ancient workings teach by personal experience. One can try to teach the most glorious lessons on morality and highest virtue, taught by the Craft, but it is in the doing that it truth is truly understood.

The level of commitment of a Brother to our Fraternity, is the sole determining factors as to what he or even she gets from his association with the Craft and the many who labour daily on their personal journeys – not alone, but together.

Men are choosing to join Lodges again

I was watching a documentary on the fact that young men are again choosing to join Freemason Lodges. Why would young men today be joining what some consider an antiquated organisation? That was indeed a puzzling thought. Then I sat and thought about it.

• Men have a shortage of good male role models.
• Trying to live your life measured by values and morals, instead on the modern “everything goes” model
• Social opportunities
• Going back to a time when being a man was something to be proud of
• A structured safe enviroment
• A place to develop as a person
• So many more

The fact is, Freemasonry is rapidly transforming in its approach, while retaining its time-tested  attributes which made it so popular in our grand father’s time.

The internet has despite the fact that it allows some strange people to spout nonsense has also allowed Freemasonry to tell its own side, which has obliterated the myths and the untruths, although to conspiracy theorists, no truth can stand up to a great conspiracy theory, despite the proven facts.

Freemasonry also allows one to work on oneself, through a time-tested blend of “self-improvement tools” long before these were in vogue.

In short Freemasonry addresses a huge gap in the modern male psyche which needs to be filled.

In closing,hat could be better than a society of men not driven by divisions rather united by shared beliefs in virtue, morals and living an upright life, recognising at the same time the needs to have God (as each member may define God) at his centre.

Freemasonry in Port Elizabeth – South Africa

It is with great enthusiasm that I joined my Lodge a few years ago. At that stage I was new to Port Elizabeth and I was also not known to any Brother in the Craft in Port Elizabeth.

As with most things in life it is important to get the facts, which must not be confused with cyber fact or as I have learnt of late can even come in conspiracy theory or raving loon flavours; all these variants can actually look like actual facts because they are so well presented, sometimes from what appears to be very credible sources. So first of all, I found out who was a Mason from trusted friends. Then I looked into the various versions available locally. After doing all my research, I decided to join Donegal Lodge and I have never regretted that decision.

Donegal Lodge is a Freemason Lodge in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and has a distinguished history. The Lodge workings are profound yet relatively clear in their presentation. My one concern was that Donegal did not have an associated Royal Arch Chapter, but this will be in place before the end of the year. would also like to note that although

I was initially concerned about my choice, I have been proven right by time. I must also state that this is my personal experience and may differ from person to person.

Deciding to apply to join a Freemason Lodge is a big step, although getting the right facts is vital, so just like it make sense to speak to an attorney about the law it is just as vital to speak to a Freemason about Freemasonry.

If you are interested, make contact and let’s talk.

Is Freemasonry for me?

This is a difficult question.

How does one know if joining the worlds oldest fraternity will be something which will benefit you?

But let us take Freemasonry out of the picture for a while. If you join a sports club or any group there is some level of apprehension, this is not because of any dark portents, rather it is simply nerves. You do not know if you will be accepted or whether the existing members will like you or you them.

There are so many questions that the mind agonises over all the potentialities.

When it comes to joining a Freemason Lodge and becoming a Brother Freemason, it is natural that you will feel nervous. It is natural that you will have questions and it is natural that you will come across three groups of people those mostly in favour of your joining, those who are neutral and then not forgetting those who always seem to against everything except what their narrow world view allows. With most organisations researching the association is usually quite easy with reference to the web. But with Freemasonry, that is not always the case.

The web is littered with the rumours, conspiracy theories and of course disinformation. When I first looked the web one sometimes gets the idea the personal is knowledgable. The web site looks professional, normally presented very primal with blacks and reds; warning the reader of its dark revelations. Then comes web page after web page of academic looking information (this helps add to the aura of credibility). Page after page of dark theories and some very interesting flights of “logic” brings the erudite author to the conclusion that Freemasonry is pure evil. So being a human being taught to believe sage sounding advice you run like the wind in the opposite direction.

I personal experience was different. I was not the son of a Freemason, but my uncle and grandfather both were. I was given their version and in my time in the Craft their words have never been contradicted. I have only found good men trying to be better men, labouring together. On the other end of the scale one has sites warning of dark deeds, which seem to Leo Taxil-like it is scary. It is strange that the Taxil hoax though discovered was not given the same air time as the hoax’s wild allegations were given at the outset. The key to finding out is to speak to a Freemason and ask him about Freemasonry. It is really not wise talking to a person afraid of swimming about learning how to swim.

If you have reservations, speak to a Freemason and chances are he may not have the answer for every question right away, but given time he will have the chance to get the answer for you. Then if you are happy, you can proceed to join a Lodge knowing that you did all the due diligence required.

So is Freemasonry for you? I do not know, but it has got a lot going for it. It teaches timeless values and principles which will never change. It holds dear the traits of hard work and humility. It encourages free speech and forming your own ideas. In general the choice is yours, now is the time to act.

Freemasonry – Port Elizabeth

It is sometimes difficult to decide what to think, say or do. The world is a place of confusion, the right things are mostly difficult or mundane while the wrong things come with the trappings of money and its sequelae.

The youth have clearly chosen for the most part the virtual world over the outer world. Virtual relationships are replacing actual relationships. It appears that in the cyber world everyone is free to do or say what they wish (ISP’s  and virus protection sentinels allowing. Then one finds an anomaly in the real world sailing doggedly against the stream. It seems to resist the urge to be drawn under the waves of chaos; all the while being mercilessly being hit by wave after wave of dark water.

The good ship Freemasonry has been sailing these waters for hundreds of years. Despite a changing world it has maintained its course, resisted giving in to outside pressures and with determination fought the ruffians of ignorance, fanaticism and intolerance.

The bright beacon on its top most sail gives hope to all, not just that merry band aboard. Why does Freemasonry continue to advance and during the last few years show a continued upward movement in numbers, not just among the older generation but amongst the young men in their 20′s and 30′s?

The later part is the most encouraging because such a change in the demographic indicates a decided change in society and the way it views Freemasonry.

It is so that Freemasonry will always face opposition, it will ever be so, but the path of virtue and principle has always been the more difficult path. In your own life is it not easier to judge than to allow another man or woman their own beliefs.

Freedom is not a liberty that comes without a fight it must be earned, the forces of evil constantly work against it. From every corner one finds minds being twisted to believe as some wish them to believe without question, even when the belief contradicts every tenant of what the belief should uphold.

Freemasonry says to us we must live virtuous lives, lives led by principle (which never changes) and that we should have the right to question so that we may form our own opinions. Freedom is hard-won but harder to maintain than to win.

Freemasonry is often a soft target for malicious rumour mongers and persons and groups with a hidden agendas. It is ironic that many of our opponents judge the Order and its members without being able to understand it teachings (which will happen if a literalist sails into seas of symbol and allegory); forgotten are the sage words that spiritual matters need to be discerned spiritually or that one should not judge.

I have been amazed at how people use such cutting “logic” to attack the Craft very often fail to apply the same logic to their own beliefs; well maybe its better because then they would come to very twisted conclusions about their own beliefs. Often if a man commits a crime and he is a Freemason it’s because of his association with the Craft that he committed the crime, there were Freemasons as the trial etc. How many members of various religions and other belief systems are sitting is jail or not, for all manners of crimes.

I can almost assure the reader that it would be interesting to do a demographic as to the beliefs and associations of the criminal element of their local society. Why does nobody cry foul when a person of one belief system is in court presided by a person of the same belief system and prosecuted by someone of the same belief? This is not insidious its life.

If I am in Lodge and I know a Brother who is a plumber and I need a plumber, I shall call my Brother, because I have to, no because I know him, same as if we played for the same rugby club. Freemasons don’t ask for special treatment we only ask to be left alone.

Freemasonry in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Freemasonry has been in PE for centuries with a colourful and rich tradition. This august history and present momentum has resulted in some Port Elizabeth Lodges bucking the national trends of declining trends in similar organisations which promote virtue and values. Possibly it could be that the Lodges “bucking the trend”  have adopted a more modern approaching embracing technology and recognising the fact that time is becoming increasing scarce.