During my interview with the investigations committee, they asked me a question that I wasn't able to fully answer without giving it much more serious thought.  They asked me, quite simply (to them!), what I expected from Freemasonry.  I told them that I was, like many other people, looking for answers to the unanswered questions in my head; that numerous events in my life had lead me to question my faith.  I also told them that I had no interest in dealing with people that were only out for themselves and that the tenants of Masonry provided an environment in which those types of people couldn't hack it.  But, after much thought and contemplation (and a post on Masonic Minute) , I've come to the realization that my expectations for Masonry run much deeper than that. 

I don't want it easy...
I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the tendency of today's society to demand immediate gratification.  I do not want to waltz in to my Lodge and be risen to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in a matter of weeks; that is the antithesis of 'sublime' to me.  To be completely honest, I was absolutely shocked to find out that Masonry had apparently, at least for a period of time, become more worried about the number of people wearing an apron rather than the quality of those wearing an apron. 

I asked myself how an organization that has been around for hundreds of years - and which has its roots in antiquity - would see fit to hold one day classes, churning out McMasons to seemingly bolster their membership numbers.  After reading so much about the traditions and teachings of Masonry, many of which are delivered through the degree rituals themselves, I was disheartened to think that the Craft might have been moving away from that which distinguished itself.  The esoteric traditions of Masonry is precisely what's different about it when compared to other fraternal organizations such as the Rotary and the Elks - and it's that very difference which I think made it so successful.  Now, this isn't to say that some good Masons didn't come out of those one day events - I'm sure they have produced quite a few upstanding brothers - but I am of the belief that those types would have preferred to go through the normal degree process, if not then, then now... at least I do.

Lately,  however,  it seems the desire for change is becoming more and more palpable by the day.  I have read about Grand Lodges discontinuing one day classes and Blue Lodges prohibiting their new blood from attending them; I have seen more and more posts in the blogosphere calling for a return to esotericism; I have heard Brothers declare that it is not enough anymore to just know the rituals - instead, one should be taught their meanings and made to understand them.  I have heard all these things and I'm not even a Mason yet!  Although I have been told in the past that one only gets out of Masonry what they put in, I am excited to see an atmosphere redeveloping where one is encouraged to give it their all instead of just showing up to put a warm body in a chair.  I am of the belief that this commitment to excellence will prove popular because...

Click to read more ...

Lately I have been immersing myself in books about Masonry.  The history and foundations upon which this fraternal organization is built upon are absolutely amazing;  It never ceases to amaze me that I will be going through a remarkably similar degree process as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

Seeing as we're approaching our country's birthday, I think it is only appropriate to honor these great men who, having been shaped by Masonry, shaped our Nation in turn.  May we never forget that, sometimes, ideas take on more importance than self preservation.  May we always remember that revolutions aren't always as evil as they are made out to be by the establishment.  May we never forget that we, as Americans, have the ability to stand up for our freedoms because - afterall - it's in our blood.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to the men who fought for our independence.  Let us honor them by promoting the ideals for which they sacraficed so much.

It has been a while since I've posted to this blog - I had to take a breather from life in general to reflect after my Cousin passed away.  Losing my cousin made me question my faith in God; after all, how would a just and loving God see fit to take my Cousin away from not only us, but more specifically his wife and two daughters.  I came to the conclusion that God bestowed upon us the ultimate gift; that of freedom of choice and an undetermined outcome.  As I have recently found out, this gift can sometimes be a double edged sword.

The Masonic Ceremony at Jeffrey's funeral was beautiful; heart wrenching, but beautiful.  To watch these Men, some of whom may have never even met my Cousin, choke back their tears moved me to the core and steeled my resolve to become one.  After the ceremony, one of my cousin's Brethren (and his instructor through his degrees) came up to me and told me he had heard I was becoming a Mason.  I told him I had just been approved the week before at which point he promised to come visit me at Union Lodge during my degrees because he knew how much Jeff had wanted to be there.  I couldn't find the words to thank this man for putting time aside from his busy life to attend my degrees in an effort to both honor the memory of his Brother and to provide support for one of his future Brothers.

Knowing that my Cousin and I did a lot together and were very close, a bunch of my family members have since asked me if I was still intending on becoming a Mason.  I simply tell them that my resolve has only deepened since his death for he once told me, "Cuz - this is gonna be the best thing you ever do" when I asked him for a petition.  I would be nothing more than a fool if I backed out now...

Besides - I know in my heart of hearts that my Cousin will still be there, right by my side, when I go for my degrees... He'll be there.

I just came across my Cousins first Trestleboard message as Worshipful Master; I think it would do us all good to read his words and give some quiet contemplation to their gravity...

Greetings from the East, Brethren, and many thanks to the Officers of our Lodge for all the hard work and study you have done in your new stations and places - It was quite evident in your performance at January's D.L.I. and in our first regular communication. If we keep the momentum going, I assure you, the Degree work we do this year will leave a positive and long-lasting impression on the future Brothers of Pyramid Lodge.

Since it's been unusually warm this Winter, I was doing some early Spring cleaning in my workshop. It was the dirtiest corner which I had been neglecting for years. As I threw out needless junk, arranged the remaining tools and equipment, and swept the place clean, it occurred to me that this was exactly what some of us need to do in our minds.

We all have a dark corner in our minds to a certain extent. That corner in which our prejudices, hates, misjudgments, and all other kinds of negative thinking pile up. We know it's there and it needs to be dealt with. We can ignore it, hoping it will go away, or put it off until tomorrow, but it continues to grow. Like the corner of my shop, it's an ugly site.

Just getting started can be toughest part of the job. But, as we clean out those thoughts and ideas that don't serve us (or society) anymore, we'll find it was easier than we thought. And when the patterns of negative thinking are broken something wonderful happens. Our thoughts become fresh and clean like when we were young. We'll look, act, and feel different and the world will respond accordingly. Once clean, that corner will be easier to maintain.

The workshop is now looking like it used to (clean and well-ordered) and I found some useful tools I'd forgotten about. I hope the same happens in my mind... and others.

Jeffrey J. Morelli,  Worshipful Master

Today has been a real bad day for me...

My Cousin, who was also one of my best friends, passed away today.  He was the sitting Worshipful Master of Pyramid Lodge #92, New Egypt, NJ and was one of the recommenders on my petition.  I remember when I got voted in, I called him right away; he was so excited to hear that I was accepted and told me that he would be there at every single one of my degrees.  He was also telling me how we could go and sit in on other lodges together.

I was so looking forward to practicing my catechisms under his tutelage and finally being able to call him Brother...

Jeffrey J. Morelli was 38 years old, a husband, a father to two beautiful girls, a friend and a great man.  He enjoyed all things colonial; we shot muzzle loaders and flintlocks together; he was a member of the NJ Frontier Guard, NJ Muzzleloaders Association and the NJ Blacksmiths association.  In fact he was teaching me how to blacksmith and was helping me set up my own shop.  His workshop, now idle in the absence of its master, stands testament to how he practice his craft - out of the thousands of tools in there, the only ones using electricity are a drill press and a grinder.  A true master and a believer in the "simple life" - this world has lost one of its true greats.  He will be forever missed.

My only comfort right now is knowing he's at peace and in a better place - the Lodge on High.  I can see him now, forging away up in that great smithy in the sky... if only he could build a staircase back to us, things would be so much better right now.

The past couple of days since the investigation committee met with me have been very tense.  On one hand, I know that I have done my very best to lead a good life so far, but on the other, it's a little disconcerting to know that a room full of individuals, each upstanding in their own right, is judging you based upon your merits. 

But finally... the wait is over.

I was informed a couple of hours ago by one of the members of the Investigation Committee that I have been unanimously accepted into Union Lodge #19.  My future Brother told me they would be in touch after the Summer "dark" period sometime in late August to give me more information.  If all goes to plan, I will receive my Entered Apprentice degree in September / October once the Worshipful Master declares them ready for the ritual.  This has been quite a journey thus far and though it's already taken years, I know these next few months will feel equal in time.

I am committing myself to learning as much background about Freemasonry as possible so I have purchased a number of books from Amazon which you can see in my Recommended Readings list.  I have carefully chosen these books to give me a background on the Craft without divulging any of the ritualistic secrets - I don't want to water down the experience.

Well, the new member investigation committee just made a trip out to my apartment to "interview" me ... 

All kidding aside, the Brothers of Union Lodge #19 went out of their way to make me feel at ease with the whole process and were here for about an hour.  They asked me several questions to ascertain my religious beliefs, commitment to the process, motivations for becoming a Mason, importance placed on family and my level of involvement in the community.  After the interview report was filled out, we discussed masonry in a more abstract manner in order to clear up any lingering questions and/or misconceptions I might have had about the Craft.  All in all, the process was very helpful and I would like to thank the guys for coming down in a last minute attempt to get me balloted on before the lodge goes dark for the Summer months. 

Now to await word of the vote...

A while back I did something I’ve wanted to do for at least 5 years… I petitioned my local Freemason Lodge. Though I still haven’t heard back from them (from what I understand, it’s a long process) I am continually excited whenever I talk to a mason about their experiences. To say I’m anxious to get started with my studies is quite the understatement as I’m certain this journey will be like none I have taken before…