Tuesday, May 26, 2015
My Travels East
I am a Master Mason. My father before
me was a Master Mason also. I never sat in Lodge with him. I actually
became a Mason several years after he passed away.
This particular episode repeated itself
over a period of ten and more years on several occasions. I recall on
guy that the subject came up with explained that he was only a Fellow
Craft, (which meant nothing to me,) and wasn't sure what he could do.
(I've learned that he actually could've done a lot to help me.)
Again, time passed and I found myself no closer to my fulfilling my
wish of becoming a Freemason that I had been some years previously.
Dad and I discussed Masonry, at least
as much as he could, on more than one occasion. I expressed my
interest in becoming one and talked about the quality of men,
including cousins, who belonged to the Fraternity. He told me that
there was a “lot of Bible” in it and how it required men to be
honest and good.
I knew that I had to ask one to be
one,but I didn't know that I knew any Masons. So, I didn't know who
to ask to join, but it was something I always kept the idea of
joining up in the back of my head.
Time passed and I moved my place of
residence and began a new job. After being there for some little
while, I noticed a man that I worked with wearing a Masonic ring. I
was excited when I asked him if he was a Mason and he said he was. I
told him, in so many words, that I knew I had to ask to get in and I
was very interested. I asked him if he could help me get into
Masonry. He explained that he was not very active, but would do what
he could to help.
Time passed again and days turned into
weeks, weeks into months and months into years. I don't recall
actually investing much energy in reminding the man of my request,
but I didn't, obviously, understand if I was supposed to do so or
not. In short, we never spoke on the subject again and he never
actually helped me obtain my goal.
Again, time passed and I moved my place
of residence and began a new job. After being there for some little
while, I noticed a man that I worked with wearing a Masonic ring. I
was excited when I asked him if he was a Mason and he said he was. I
told him, in so many words, that I knew I had to ask to get in and I
was very interested. I asked him if he could help me get into
Masonry. He explained that he was not very active, but would do what
he could to help.
Time passed again and days turned into
weeks, weeks into months and months into years. I don't recall
actually investing much energy in reminding the man of my request,
but I didn't, obviously, understand if I was supposed to do so or
not. In short, we never spoke on the subject again and he never
actually helped me obtain my goal.
This particular episode repeated itself
over a period of ten and more years on several occasions. I recall on
guy that the subject came up with explained that he was only a Fellow
Craft, (which meant nothing to me,) and wasn't sure what he could do.
(I've learned that he actually could've done a lot to help me.)
Again, time passed and I found myself no closer to my fulfilling my
wish of becoming a Freemason that I had been some years previously.
I had all but given up on ever joining
a Lodge when I, once again, started a new job. One that lead me to
where I wanted to be.
I had been working at Plaza Electronics
as an appliance and electronics salesman for a year, when an
serendipitous occurrence came about. It seems my decade long dream of
joining the world's oldest Fraternity would finally be realized.
One day, I was completing a sale for a
gentleman, (no, I can't remember anything about the purchase,) when I
noticed his ring. I then looked to old guy up and down. He wore a
Masonic ring, a Masonic hat and a Masonic belt buckle.
At this point, I asked him if I could
ask him a question. He replied that I could.
I said, “You're a Mason, ain't you?”
He replied that he was.
I responded, “Well, can I ask you
another question?”
He said I could.
I asked, “Exactly how many Masons do
I have to ask before I can become a Mason?”
He chuckled and asked my meaning. I
told him the short version of my little story. He enjoyed it, I
think. After asking me a little about myself, he told me that he
would take care of me. The next day, Julian H. Pettitt, Jr. was
standing at the sales counter explaining to that he had been sent to
me because of my expressed interest in Masonry. I was well pleased!
He gave me a petition and told me he'd
be back to pick it up at an appointed time. I thanked him profusely
for coming by and we both expressed our looking forward to meeting
again. I replayed the story to my mother, wife and daughter that
evening with great enthusiasm.
Brother Julian came by to pick up my
petition and he informed me that he would be in contact. He called me
some days later and made an appointment to meet with a committee. We
met at Hardee's, of all places, drinking coffee and just generally
enjoying ourselves. As I recall, my committee consisted of Julian
Pettitt, David Duncan and Joe Minge.
I count myself as blessed that I got
into Masonry soon enough to know Brother Pettitt. Both he and Brother
Minge have passed on to the Celestial Lodge above. I feel sincere
sympathy for the young guys who never were fortunate enough to know
these great men. They have surely missed out!
Regrettably, I can't recall his name or
exactly what the old brother looked like who helped me get a
petition. I remember he was not small, heavy set, grey-headed and
probably a decade or two older than myself. I wish that I could thank
him for being there and being involved enough to assist me in
beginning my Masonic journey. One day, in that Celestial Lodge above,
I will.
Labels: east, Freemasonry, Masonry, Master Mason, traveling
