I have met one of the members of the Lodge. And after due consideration (especially as this process was 15 years in the making) I have decided to put an application forward.

I know there was a meeting right after after I submitted but haven’t heard anything since.

Edit: I realized this was maybe a bit succinct.

For 15 years I have thought about joining. I was in contact with the Lodge for several weeks and then got to meet one of their members, we had a long conversation and I was very enthusiastic. As I had done some research already (including here) I put a petition forward after I had another conversation with one of my friends who had mason connections.

Now my petition is in, I wonder what the next step is?

I wonder whether I need to contact the Lodge again. Will someone contact me?

Oliver:

I am assuming from the information in your response, you have already had a pre-app interview. The next step is for the lodge to read your name at its next stated communication at which time they vote to move you to committee. When that happens they have about a month to investigate you in which you will meet with three brothers and they will ask you questions. Take this time to ask some questions yourself.

The reports are then passed to the secretary who reports back to the lodge at the next meeting, if the reports are found favorable you are then balloted on for membership. If you pass that, you will then receive the three degrees and will become a brother.

Judging from the interest and passion in your response, you most definitely would make a great brother. Good luck on your journey.

Fraternally,

Jacob P. Descheneaux
Pacific Lodge

Oliver

Welcome to the Fraternity. This is the start of a very special lifelong journey. So enjoy every minute of it. I consider “getting in” to Freemasonry one of the great honors of my life. And I live every day trying to prove I deserved it.

Brother Jacob has explained the process perfectly.

But there are a few things I want you (and others reading these posts) to remember:

Just because you see “advertisements” on TV and radio does not mean that standards in Freemasonry are being relaxed or that the process is changing – or even that Freemasonry is in need of more members.  In fact, these “ads” should really be seen as little mini public-service announcements. Many people are asking about Freemasonry these days, and there is so much disinformation on the Web, we just wanted to tell those who might already be interested how to get started. And the response has been overwhelming in some cases.

The process itself is not always the same. Masonry is growing worldwide—especially in Massachusetts.  And because of all the interest, along with the fact that it is a volunteer organization (members have lives and families and jobs and responsibilities besides the Fraternity) the process can take a little time. Some longer than others.

This is not to discourage you.  But in these days of people expecting instant communication and gratification I just ask anyone petitioning the Craft to be patient—it’s a century’s old organization created long before the Web.

And while some Lodges are actively seeking new members, other Lodges actually have waiting lists. And some simply just may not get all the paperwork together in the needed time.

What is important to remember is that each Lodge is a little different, so you should speak with someone at the Lodge that you petitioned—usually the Secretary—to find out what the timeline might be.

At a downtown Lodge, for example, the process could look something like this:

• You talk to someone on this Forum, get a name, find a Lodge near you.
• You come to a pre-app meeting or dinner before or after a Lodge meeting.
• You (may) meet privately with the Officers of the Lodge.
• You submit an application and pay any (fully refundable) application fees
• Your name is then read at Lodge at the next appropriate meeting where the Lodge has a business meeting. Depending on the Lodge, and the number of applications in front of yours, this could be a week, a month, or even many months. This is why I say to be patient, and to discuss with the Secretary the timing involved.
• Once your name has been read, an investigation committee is formed, and members will contact your references and look into your character. They may or may not call you.
• Once the investigation is complete, your name will be printed in the Lodge Communication for voting.
• That’s key. Because once your name is in the Communication, you should be voted on at the next meeting.
• So if everything goes well, you could be “ready” to take the degrees within 2-3 months of putting in your application.
• The degrees are usually 3 consecutive months – but there is usually a “rotation” of degrees, so you can’t always start right away.
• All of this can sometimes take longer, of course, especially if the Lodge has a lot of applicants. And though a Lodge can get special dispensation to bring in a lot of members, it’s a lot of work (fun work, but work nonetheless), so if there are a lot of applications, it could take a few months before you are even read.

Again. Don’t get discouraged. You may fly right through, but you should know that it could take longer.
In the meantime, even as an applicant, you will usually be allowed to come to some Masonic functions and participate in charity events. These are also opportunities for you to show the membership and the Officers that you are truly interested in being a Mason, not just joining a club. Just ask the Secretary how you can help while you are awaiting the process, you will rarely be told you can’t.

Again, some Lodges can get you in quickly, others may take some time.  As an example, we just gave the 3rd degree to a young gentleman at our Lodge who has been in the application process for over a year. He knew he would have to wait, and he did. But throughout that time he came to our charity events and made himself well known to the brethren—and never complained. When the vote came, he flew through.

My point here is that you should do three things at the point where you are now:

1.  Stay in contact. We are human and names can fall through the cracks.
2.  Stay involved. Offer to help – you’ll rarely be turned down.
3.  Stay patient. You’ve got a whole life of Freemasonry ahead of you.

Thanks, and welcome to the Fraternity.

Bob Heruska
Columbian Lodge, Boston
Forum Moderator

Jacob, Bob

Thank you very much for your answers. They were very informative and added to my understanding of the process.

I have indeed had an appointment with the Master of the Lodge, who took the time and told me about Masonry and the Lodge in general. Unfortunately I could not attend the dinner before the monthly meeting in November as I am currently travelling internationally on business. I will now try and attend the December pre-meeting dinner.

The reason I asked was not out of impatience (although admittingly patience is not my biggest virtue)or my desire to rush the process, but I just wanted to make sure I understand the process and get actively involved in it where I can.

I am part of a different organisation where one did not ask to join and part the evaluation process was performed without me knowing it was done.

I will contact the Lodge prior to my return to the US next week.

Thanks again

Oliver

Oliver, it sounds like you are on the way to becoming part of the world’s greatest Fraternity. I welcome you! The process from here on in, will turn in some weeks, and months, as explained. You may find this link very informative:

http://www.masonic-renewal.org/freemasonry_explained.htm

I wish you every possible success in Masonry, and in life!

(I work overseas,and my opportunities to participate in Masonry are limited)

I am in the same boat, but am remaining patient. There have been two meetings since I submitted my application. I was not asked to pay an application fee, though. I didn’t have any references on hand when I went to the Open House, so I emailed them in later that week (but before the first meeting). Since, last night was the second meeting, I’m expecting a call/email to ask for the application fee soon.

I thought I would have been invited to attend dinner, but there hasn’t been any communication on the lodge’s end.

If I haven’t paid a fee yet (which I have no idea how much) has my application even started processing?

Have you tried contacting the lodge to see where things are? I’m wondering if there isn’t something happening here. It might just be misplaced paperwork. I recommend you touch base with your contact at the lodge. Alternately, feel free to contact me directly and I can touch base with the lodge to find out where things are.

Your continued patience is appreciated.
-Robert

Here is a link, which you may find useful.

http://www.masonicinfo.com/approaching.htm

With the holidays coming on, You may not hear anything until after the first of the year. It is perfectly appropriate for you to contact your prospective lodge, and ask, if your application has been acted on. Your prospective lodge, may have an open installation of officers for 2009.

For what it’s worth, I submitted my application at the October open house. I was told it would take a couple of months to hear from someone as they have started a new EA and would take a couple months before starting a new one.
From reading this forum I thought I would contact the Secretary of the lodge stating I know I was told a couple of months and thats no problem but I was wondering if there was anything I could do or help with at the lodge in the mean time. This lodge meets every second Thursday of the month and a meeting is coming up. This would be the second meeting since I applied. The Secretary E-mailed me back the very next day and said you should be contacted shortly. My thought was everything is going along fine and I will just be patient.

Hope it helps
Scott

This is how it happened for me…

I went to the open house at a lodge near me on Oct 18th and applied. About 2 weeks ago I got a phone call and a letter stating that I was to appear on Dec. 11 and that I was accepted.

I was told the same, that they would be in touch. I was also told that no matter what the answer was, they would let me know. While I see that every lodge operates a little different, I would imagine the same idea would run through all lodges.

Stephen;
I received no letter or phone call.
I’m just waiting for the system to play out.
It takes time. Once I am excepted, I will be a mason for life! Am I going to worry about a month or two? No.
Be patient my friend.

In the meantime I had my second interview and know my application was submitted for ballot this tuesday. I was hoping by now I had an email but will have to be patient.

A question about the application fee. I had not submitted that, can my application still be submitted to ballot?

Thanks

Hang in there men, I have learned that sometimes the wheels of Freemasonry turn slow. I attended the open house back in March and received my Fellowcraft degree a week ago. The process will work itself out and I’m sure you will be happy with the results. I too felt like an ‘outsider looking in’ while I waited for correspondence from the lodge.  I can remember the first time that I opened my mailbox and saw an envelope with the Square and Compasses letter head on it; I felt like a kid getting a letter from Santa! Good luck and keep us posted.

Jeff

And so it goes. I just had the notification that I was elected and my first degree is to be on January 13.

Someone is really excited now.

I’m going tonight.
I feel your excitement.