As I was looking through the Carroll family tree I seen that 2 or 3 of my ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence and they were Freemasons. My grandfather John William Carroll was a Master Mason I think I never met him. I was wondering, how do I become a Freemason and carry on his legacy and the Carroll name? I live in Kingsport Tenn where can I find a lodge here? How much learning is involved?

Petitioning (Joining) Freemasonry, is easier than you realize. There is a procedure that must be followed, and it is not complicated. You will never be asked to join, the decision must be your own. Most states (including Tennessee), forbid recruiting. Masonry stresses free will, and free association.

Once you have decided that you wish to join the Fraternity, you must locate a lodge in your area of residence. You will then contact the secretary, and ask for a petition form. You will fill out the form, and then submit it back to the lodge secretary. The lodge will then appoint a committee, to determine your fitness for Freemasonry.

Once the committee determines that you meet the requirements, the lodge will vote on your application. The vote must be unanimous. You will be informed of their decision, and told when to report to the lodge for your initiation into Freemasonry.

You can learn more at:

http://www.grandlodge-tn.org

You can also call 1-800-96 MASON , and speak directly with the Grand Lodge of Tennessee. The Grand Secretary’s office will assist you in locating a lodge in Kingsport.

Dear Carroll Family Member:
One of the most fulfilling parts of the running of a lodge is to meet the occasion to bring a family member into the lodge from a newer generation. That said: You just might want to do the preliminary research on the history of Masonry in your family. Generally the research can be kept simple and start by knowing the full name of your relative and a date of death and last know town. The Grand Secretary’s Office can assist in most cases to provide you the name of a Lodge, or in the case of Lodge mergers, the Lodge where records may be kept. Sometimes it pays to petition the same Lodge of a past family member. Do not overlook family memorabilia and photos, family bibles or such. Many records and data are kept there. A Lodge Secretary can also assist a process to move smoothly. Best of Luck.
Ronald Doucette- Moderator