wvelzis - 20 January 2010 05:25 PM
My name is Wayne Velzis. I am and have been interested in Freemasons for quite some time. Presently my direct supervisor and his boss are both Freemasons which has only hepled to spark my interest that much more. My direct boss has not really participated in some time and his Blue Lodge was in Virginia. His boss lives in Alabama (I live in Pittsfield, Massachusetts). They both recommended that I contact you to initiate the process and perhaps to get a point of contact closer to where I live to interface with. I am not sure of the protocol - do you need a resume or anything? I prefer to be contacted by my email address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Wayne
G’day Wayne!
First, welcome!
You have a decided advantage in that you already know two Masons - but it sounds like geographically they you are separated from them. That being the case, here are some links that will help you to find the light and some answers!
For Massachusetts Freemasonry a good site to start on is The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
If I remember correctly, Pittsfield is in the 31st District, and your local lodges would be Mystic Lodge, 116 South Street, Pittsfield (Mystic Lodge Website) but there are other lodges in Great Barrington and Stockbridge as well. Still, Mystic Lodge would be a great place to start - you can find their contact and email info on their site.
The protocol is pretty simply - you send an email or call, and they will either invite you to attend their next Open House, or perhaps invite you to visit before or after a regular communication so that they can show you the lodge and chat with you.
Once you get to know the brothers and get a feel for the lodge, you will know if it is the right lodge for you - and you can ask to petition. After you complete the paperwork, after your petition is accepted the lodge will assign an Investigation Committee that will contact your references and visit with you to get to know you, and then the lodge membership would vote on your petition at the necxt regular communication following the Committee report.
This process can take anywhere from 1 to 3 months depending upon the timing of your petition and whether or not the lodge has a standing Committee or has to appoint one. In the interim though, you certainly would be welcome to be active here on our site, and we are happy to answer any questions that we can.
Cheers!
Chris
NB
You mention that your direct boss has not been active in his Blue Lodge in a while - is that because he is now living in Massachusetts? The reason I ask is, wouldn’t it be great if you both found a new Masonic home at Mystic Lodge together? Just a thought…
