My Masonic History

 

It just dawned on me that I've never written about my history in the Masonic Lodge or in Freemasonry.

First, I should point out for my non-Masonic friends that Masonry is not a "secret society".  We do have a few pieces of our ritual that we like to keep secret but you would probably be disappointed if you expected something radical and were allowed to read them.  We ARE a fraternal organization which has as one of it's goals the desire to help our community and area.  In that regard, we are much like the Lions clubs or Rotary clubs.

My Masonic journey began with a chance encounter with a family friend in early 1999.  He casually asked me if I had ever considered becoming a Mason to which I replied that I had not.  Although my father was not a member of the fraternity, my brother, Milt, was.  Sometime later, I had a chance to discuss Masonry with Milt and I became intrigued with the idea.

Some time later, I submitted an application and, by vote of Mannford Lodge No. 515, was accepted to become a member.  I was initiated as an entered apprentice on May 1, 1999, and was assigned a senior member of the Lodge to teach me our ritual.  That member, by the way, was Glenn Almy who later became the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma, the highest position in Masonry.

While I knew who Glenn was, we were not what I would call close friends.  After working with him on my lectures, however, we became good friends.  One of the most fulfilling aspects of Freemasonry is developing a friendship with the person who teaches you your lectures.

I soon became proficient in the Fellowcraft work and was passed to that degree on July 6, 1999.  After I had studied the work in that degree I was raised to the degree of Master Mason on August 3, 1999, the day before my 53rd birthday.  The very next year, 2000, I served in my first office, that of Junior Steward.

In 2002, I also joined Hebron Lodge No. 215 in Cleveland.  All told, I served in 31 offices in both Mannford and Hebron Lodges, including Worshipful Master of Mannford Lodge in 2005.  This included 13 years as Secretary of Mannford Lodge.  Even though the highest chair in a Lodge is that of Worshipful Master, everyone knows that the Secretary really runs the Lodge! (LOL)

Since I'm tooting my own horn, I should also tell you that my single biggest accomplishment was nominating and successfully getting Jesse Swift honored as a State of Oklahoma Masonic Medal of Honor awardee.  Jesse had been a Mannford Lodge member for many years and was truly deserving of this award.  Sadly, he passed away in March, 2016, only four months after receiving his Medal of Honor.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my work as a Mason and I'm glad I made that decision to join 26 years ago.  Sadly, Masonry is experiencing the same fate as all other fraternal organizations, that of declining membership.  It seems that younger men today don't have the time or inclination to do community service work.  Will Masonry still exist 50 years from now?  It seems increasingly likely that it will not.