Last week I had my first Masonic Investigation meeting. For the last several weeks I had been running the ideas through my mind of what to expect from the meeting. Were they going to be really friendly, was it going to be all business, would it be some combination of the two? I had no idea what to expect, and no where can you find anything about what to expect. I waited for the day to come, and as the time we were supposed to meet got closer I got more nervous. Finally, the door bell rings, and it was time.
I greeted him at the door, introduced him to my wife, and then we had some awkward chitchat. After a minute or two we formally invited him in and went to sit in the family room. We sat down, discussed the traffic, how he had missed our exit, and just some other simple, non-masonic things. Finally, the questions began. I had thought hard about every thing I was going to say to every question I thought he would ask. To my surprise there was really about two questions he asked that I had prepared for, or needed to prepare for.
The format of the meeting was perfect. He would ask a question or two, then we would talk about some other stuff, then another question. it would go on like this for about 45 minutes. It seemed as thought the time flew by. Before we knew it he was walking out the door and the first round of my investigation was over. For all of the stressing, thinking, preparing, and going crazy about it I was totally unprepared for what would really happen. We just sat there and got to know each other. It was completely peaceful and stress free. I hope the rest of the investigation goes like this.
Speaking of the rest of my investigation. My petition is supposed to be voted on a week from this Tuesday, June 3rd. I still haven’t received a call from the other two people who I am supposed to meet, and next week is kind of a crazy week for my wife. When the Masons meet with you they also want to meet with your wife, this might be a problem with her schedule. Unfortunately, it is all out of my hands. I just have to sit here, wait, and trust that everything will go as it is planned and that the schedules will work. I have been waiting a little over two months to join and I am getting really anxious because it is so close, but really still so far away. Stay tuned, there is much more to come…….
Last night my wife and I attended the stated meeting dinner for the Masonic Chapter I want to join. When we first got there I was really nervous. It was going to be the first time I would meet many of the members and I wanted to make a good impression, plus I didn’t know what to expect. As we sat there in the parking lot I gathered up more and more courage until we finally got out and walked in. When we went in I found the Worshipful Master, the person who has helped me through the process since day one. He took me around, introduced me to a couple people and then they introduced me to a couple more, and on this process went. Finally it was time to eat.
We sat down at our own table, by ourselves, I guess everyone has their designated tables, unofficially of course. Luckily several of the members came to sit with us. The Senior Warden, Junior Deacon, the Officer Coach/Past Master, and a newly raised Master Mason were there with us. They had a lot of information to share with me and they were all so nice. They really made me feel comfortable and that I could someday really belong to this chapter and really fit in.
Yes, many of the men there were twice my age or more. But I didn’t really care about that as much as I thought I might. I knew that there were a majorityof older men in this organization when I started onsidering joining and that I was somewhat of a rarity, with my youth, but after I got in there the lines of age just seemed to blur together and everyone seemed equal. I guess that is part of what freemasonry does. It doesn’t matter your wealth, status, or occupation, everyone there is equal, and a brother.
My petition was read at the meeting last night and now that means I will soon participate in the Masonic Investigation. After talking to those guys last night I am feeling much more comfortable about it and in a way looking forward to it. It will give me an opportunity to meet some more of the members and will give me a one-on-one opportunity to ask them some questions. I am sure everything will turn out ok, it’s just the waiting that is the hardest part. I am glad, though, that summer is coming. I will be able to devote a lot of time to studying and hopefully smoke right through the degrees and become an active Master really soon.
More light to come…………………..
