A chance encounter

The other day I was at a cigar lounge and started talking to a guy there. He told me he was a Mason. I thought that it was wonderful and asked him what Lodge he was from. “Oh, I am not from a Lodge.” So, I responded “You do not attend currently, What is your Home Lodge?”

He continued with “No, you do not understand I have never been a member of a Lodge, I read about it on the internet and liked the ideas, so I am a Mason.”

Hang on there Lone Ranger. I hate to be the bearer of sad news. But that does not make you a Mason. He looked at me a bit puzzled. I wanted to ask him if he set up a cot in his garage would that make him a car? But I also did not want to be sarcastic and rude. I know, as for the sarcasm there is a first time for everything. I do my best not to be rude, its degrading and there really is no use for it.

Instead, we talked about some things I was hoping he would understand. We took the conversation down a “religious” path. It was interesting as I am in the initial stages of authoring a paper on this very topic. The difference between a dedication and an initiation.

I asked him, say you identify as a Catholic. You read all the information you can find on the Catholic faith. It rings true to you. You do your best to follow the principles and ideas of the Catholic Church. Does that make you a Catholic? No, it means you have dedicated yourself to a set of ideas. Nothing wrong with that in the least. But it does not make you Catholic, of any of its flavors. American Catholic, Roman Catholic, etc. etc. etc.

So how do you become a Catholic. I promise we are getting to the Masonic point. But in our conversation, I wanted to lay some groundwork.

There are steps to doing this. It is a process.

1. The Initial Inquiry

2. Join and take part in the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) classes on what it means to be a Catholic

3. Take part in the Rite of Acceptance

4. Catechumenate classes offering a deeper understanding of the church

5. The Rite of Election where you write your name in the Book of the Elect saying you are ready to receive the sacraments of initiation.

6. Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism (if not already) and/or communion.

Then you are a Catholic. Now I am not a Catholic so thank you Dr. Google for the above information.

I told him it was the same was for Masonry. While the ideals and principles are pretty universal with most (if not all) faith-based groups. One of the reasons I do not care your religion. Just believing in the ideas and principles, of Masonry does not make you a Mason anymore then saying you are a Catholic makes you a Catholic. I don’t care how much Masonic “bling” you wear.

Then he seemed to understand. He asked “Well, how do I become a Mason.” I smiled and told him he just took his first step. He asked.

I told him that it was a process much like the one the Catholics have.

1. Ask how to become a Mason, contact your lodge or Grand Lodge

2. Meet with them and talk about it some so you have a better understanding.

3. Fill out a petition and send it to the lodge. Drop it off in person is better.

4. They will vote on it

5. Visit with the Lodge a bit more for a deeper understanding (for both parties) about you and you about the Lodge

6. They vote again

7. If accepted they will schedule your degree

He looked at me….so if I do all of that I will be a Mason? Yes and no. Still confused I explained more.

You will be a Brother and a Mason in a Masonic Lodge. With more lessons and things to learn. But full membership comes later. It is a lifelong journey.

When we finished I hope he had a better understanding of what all of this was. That just saying you are something does not mean you really are that something.

I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly.