Long time no see and first signed petition.

I happened to be in Dayton this last Friday, so of course I stopped by the ol' Mother Lodge and visited with the brethren. I had anticipated the visit so I called ahead to the Secretary and procured a copy of the Ritual so I can study as my access to Masonic Light here in SE Ohio is somewhat limited and sporadic due to schedule constraints.

The only matter of business for the evening was to read a petition into the meeting. This was prefaced by the Secretary stating that a certain Brother had indicated that I was to be the second signature. I was unaware of any such arrangement. However, considering that the Brother in question was my first line signer, I was prepared to sign the petition based upon his honor and my trust of him to not expect me to do so having not met the petitioner.. Also, we mutually know a lot of people so I was not really expecting a big surprise. when the name was read I was excited. It was a man I have known for a while and prior to moving to Athens, had given a tour of the Masonic Center to.

I told the brethren a little about him and signed the petition. It felt very good to be part of bringing someone to light albeit small. But of course it is by these small, simple beginning acts that all good works are accomplished right?

I was honored to sign the Petition to my good friend and future Masonic Brother, John Curran.

Scottish Rite

I have filed my petition with the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Dayton, Ohio. The Fall reunion is on two weekends this year. I will be a part of the Fall Reunion Class # 259 Ill. John William McNaughton, 33°, Class November 7 & 14, 2009. this reunion will include a visit from
John William McNaughton, Sovereign Grand Commander on November 14, 2009.
McNaughton had been serving as Grand Lieutenant Commander since August. More on him in the Scottish Rite News valley of Dayton.
I was approached concerning my previous interest in the York Rite. However, I chose to become a Scottish Rite mason to join the ranks of my good friends Ken and Dick who have each been a great help to me in my search for Masonic Light as well as my cousin John Carpenter who has allowed his own light to shine on me since I was a child. I am excited to be exposed to the lessons that are to be learned from the Dramas.

A visit to my local bretheren and we come back to light.

I have recently began PhD studies at Ohio university. I am commuting back and forth from Dayton To athens once a week with the family back in Dayton still selling the house. I stopped in to the local lodge for their first stated meeting since going dark. It was a great time. Although it was their stated, the brtheren were out in a good company and very welcoming. The Master invited me to partake in all the lodge has to offer and even participate int he lodge ritual work if I felt so inclined. (He is doing all the lectures and alot of the charges right now as they are looking for others to help.) I was welcomed by EACH and I do mean EACH of the bretheren there that night with the exceptions of three new guys who came in on the one-day class and were a bit nervous I think, to even be there.
The lodge was closed and we went to refreshment which was a very welcome late dinner for this starving student.

Thank you bretheren, I will be there for the EA on the 22nd!

I am also excited to attend my Mother lodge's first meeting this fall tomorrow evening. We will also be having a MM degree on the 25th. I have a full masonic calendar to look forward to this month!

Catchup

I have spent far more time in the last few days making this Blog look better than I have in the last two months writing for it. Since My last entry I have not only been made an Entered apprentice, but I have also given back my memory work or "proven up on it" as my cousin in Oklahoma says. I have also been passed to the degree of Fellowcraft in the fraternity and since given back my work for that degree. I am set to have the third degree conferred upon me on the 22nd of May.
I am excited to continue in the work but am even more motivated by the bond that I have felt with the good men of my lodge. I have formed friendships and associations that are enjoyable and stimulating. I have visited another lodge during this process and have discovered old friends that are members of this brotherhood. One, I went to high school with and even saw at the store two weeks before visiting his lodge for the inspection and then while I was there, I ran into two gentlemen my mother was acquainted with in my youth. It was all fascinating to me and resonated of the bond of brotherhood. I have built and strengthened a friendship with My friend Ken who signed my petition and has been working with me to learn the work. And foremost, I have reestablished a relationship with a cousin who is many years my senior and all the way in Oklahoma. He has honored me and my family with the Bible upon which he received his degrees and has strengthened me with his encouragement which is what he has always done.
I am so glad to be a part of this fraternity. I read all kinds of blogs and consume as many opinions and as much information on the subject as i am capable of doing. I look forward to the possibilities of meeting more and more of my brothers as I travel about from lodge to lodge and from page to page.

The journey begins

I received a call today that was so exciting I could hardly wait to tell anyone. The Master of the Lodge called to let me know that the 9th of January had been chosen for me to receive the Entered Apprentice degree at 7pm. I did not hear the phone ring in the car but was alerted to the VM. I called the Master of the Lodge immediately but the line was busy. Nuts! I was so excited to talk to someone. I called my friend Ken who is sponsoring me for canidacy and let him know that the day we thought was going to be it was in fact IT. After getting off of the phone with him I called my buddy Dick who is a member of another lodge but expressed interest in being present for my degree work. He too was excited and said he will be there. I am pumped. I am so ready to do this. I have been getting ready for it for a long time and am out of my skin excited with anticipation. I plan to continue to post here about my experiences as they unfold.