Hello All,

I’ve been quite interested in becoming a Mason for quite some time.  I’m 42 years old and I’m finally getting around to doing something about it!

My father was a Master Mason.  As a child, I remember many men visiting the house and referring to my Dad as “Brother Don” and I never really understood what that meant - LOL.

He became a Mason while in the army, while he was stationed in Panama back in the 60’s.  Even though I would inquire occasionally, he spoke very little to me about ‘The Craft.’ When I was in college, he always said that I would be ‘a good candidate’ for becoming a Mason...whatever that meant, but he never pushed me to join. 

He said he belonged to a “Massachusetts Blue Lodge” even though when he joined, he was in Panama, and never stepped foot in Massachusetts.  I often thought that was strange, maybe someone could explain that to me?

With that said, because my father was a Mason, does that make it ‘easier’ to become a Mason?  I know school fraternities work in that manner (the ‘Legacy’ system), does this apply to Freemasons as well?

I’m pretty sure I meet all of the requirements of taking the first step.  However, I do NOT know any Masons personally.  So the 2B1-ASK1 thing is kinda tough.

I’d appreciate answers to the above questions and perhaps a link to some lodges in the Denton TX area.  All help is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

John B

John,
Congratulations on your desire to become a Mason. We do not have any “legacy” benefits since we are all equal. The lodge in Panama that your father was a member of fell under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. With Boston being a port city they branched out to several different countries and started lodges.
I am a Massachusetts Mason and a Texas Mason. I took my degrees in Waco lodge #92 in Waco, TX. Denton has one lodge, Stanfield Lodge #217, here is their website: Stanfield Lodge #217. If you contact someone at this lodge then eventually you will “know a Mason”.  The only way to know someone at that lodge is to contact them, introduce yourself and tell them your interest in becoming a Mason. 
Don’t feel bad that your Father did not “push” you, he was only doing what he was told. You see, in most jurisdictions a Mason can not ask someone to join. You must ask a Mason (2b1-ask1). Your situation is the reason many jurisdiction are changing that. Too many times a son grew up thinking that they must not be worthy because their Fathers never asked them to join. My ex-Father in law was a Mason and Shriner. He used to invite me and his daughter to events every month sometimes multiple weekends. It wasn’t until I became a Mason that I realized it was his way of asking me to join. Texas has since gone to a neutral approach where a Mason may mention something like “you would make a good Mason” kind of sounds like “you’d be a good candidate for Maosn”, but to ask someone to join is still forbidden. You wanting to join is EXACTLY what your Father wanted, I promise you. Good luck on your journey and come back soon to let us know how things are going.

Thanks Jack.  Just sent you a PM.

John- You have come to the right place! Your understanding of Masonry is more complete than you realize. No one is ever asked to be a mason, the decision must be made by the individual man. So this is why your dad never pressured you to join.

When I lived in Paris, France, I attended the only American lodge in Paris. This lodge is sponsored by Massachusetts, the Grand Lodge of Mass, sponsors a number of overseas lodges.

And the previous poster is correct, there is no advantage in having relatives that are masons. Each petitioner (applicant) is evaluated on his own merits, without regard to family connections. (I am third-generation, my dad and both Grandfathers, but that did not get me into Masonry).

You need NOT know any freemasons to get a petition submitted. Of course, if you see a man wearing a lodge ring (or belt buckle,etc), you may approach this man, and ask for his help in getting a petition. Each applicant has to make a “knock on the door”, somehow. More recently these knocks are electronic!

The Grand Lodge of Texas has an excellent website. You can locate lodges from Texarkana to El Paso on the site. Here is the website for the lodge in Denton:

http://www.stanfield217.org/

and the Grand Lodge of Texas website:

http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/

Many of your Texas patriots were Masons: Jim Bowie, William Travis, Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, etc.

You can’t heave a dead cat in the Lone Star State, without hitting a MASON!!