Dalkeith wrote:JohnXRV,
As I tell everyone that joins my lodge; its a marathon, not a sprint, and everyone will reach where they want to be in a time that suits them.
Hi Jim
Yes you understand me correctly. I was trying to articulate my own experience with regard to the topic.
Before I joined I knew not what to expect and neither was I told by anyone prior to my initiation. I had some idea that it would be like a gentleman's club with us sitting around talking about masonry in a convivial atmosphere. In fact that's the impression I got from the UGLE website!
But after my initiation I realised it was nothing like that. There was the lodge then the festive board and then home. I was given the questions to prepare for my 2nd and when I and any other EAs were kicked out during higher degrees we sat with the lodge mentor or other senior member and were asked if we had any questions. As all we experienced was the opening and closing in the 1st degree and any initiation it was no surprise that we very rarely did have any! Visiting other lodges showed me that their behaviour was closer to my expectations with us staying behind and talking over drinks in a lounge bar and I could stay in freemasonry if I found a lodge like these.
Then I was asked to do the 1st degree working tools for an initiation and then the installation of the new WM. "At last" I thought "now I'm doing some proper freemasonry ". Another EA did them for another initiation and we have a healthy rivalry in who can do it with the least prompting, if any.
And then an EA had his 2nd and then stopped attending lodge meetings. He doesn't do any ritual. But he's before me in line for his 3rd. And when it was mentioned that my 2nd might be put back that was the point I might have given up which is the relevance to the topic.
For me I am a chartered professional and to progress takes study and practice. I expected freemasonry to be the same but it isn't and that's when my frustration about not knowing this and not having it explained became critical I looked into changing lodges. Friends in other lodges told me how they progress quicker and I felt "right then I'll move". The Sky TV series showed an EA coming back for his 2nd really quickly so I thought that was the norm and my lodge were wrong.
Luckily for me it was then summer recess and I went to the Widows Sons rally. There I had the whole weekend to be among masons, ask my questions and find out more about it.
And I was told it was not a race and because of where I was and whom I was with I became contented with that reality and returned for my 2nd in a peaceful state of mind happy to be back in my lodge.
But it could have been so different if I had been on my own during recess and decided not to go back or apply to change lodge. Fortunately that didn't happen. And the initiation I did my WT at, that candidate has not returned and left the lodge. He was 26.
I don't think it is right to expect newly joined freemasons to try and begin their journey under their own steam. If they are not properly supported they will commence their own research via the Internet and learn everything in one go. And the Internet is out there with all the answers so there are no secrets because it can all be found. So why will they stay and become the future of freemasonry? For me it is the ritual and the pride in doing it well in my lodge with people I now consider my friends. For others who reach a crossroads of doubt I don't know what their answer will be.
I was fortunate I went to a bike rally with lots of time to discuss my concerns with more experienced masons to help me get over my doubt and keep me on my journey.
John
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