One Closes and Another Begins..

Well this will be the last weekend before I am raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Every lunch hour has been spent studying for my FC proficiency. There are still a couple of parts where I leave off a word, or I twist a couple up, but overall I'm feeling really good about delivering a solid performance of the work that has been assigned to me. Tomorrow morning will be our practice and my first chance to run through the work with the officers of my Lodge. I am much more at ease this go around than I was for my EA proficiency. It will also be a Past Masters night, so from what I understand all the officers chairs will be filled with PMs and of course all the work done by them as well. I think it will make the night and experience just that much more special.

This Tuesday night does come with a sense that this important and emotional step into Freemasonry will be coming to an end, and for that I am a bit sad. It has been a very cool experience and eye opening. As I enter a society of men who prize honor and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune, I plan on being a foot soldier for Masonry in this new millennium, and as one of my bros. put it 'Time is my ally'. There is no reason why Freemasonry cannot have a resurgence in popularity in these times, and there are many reasons why it should.

On Tuesday night I will be receive my master's apron and the first chapter of my Masonic life will come to a close. This past chapter is one that, has been for the most part set in stone, with a very distinct set of steps and work that follows rules and guidelines that have been laid out for hundreds of years. The next chapters are mine to write, and with help of my fellow brethren I hope to have a long and fruitful career as I explore the history and create my own, within this wonderful institution!

Having a great time!

We just had our final meeting for the year and I just wanted to say what a great time I am having so far. So far every meeting I have been to I meet someone new, and true to form they are all great guys! And....I've been found out! One of my Brothers came up to me tonight and commented on my blog and how much he liked it! I wondered when someone would catch on to my musings! I guess it was just a matter of time. Some of my favorite moments to date have been the time after Lodge is closed tyle when we as Brothers can sit around a table and speak of how we try and make Masonry more than just a few hours every couple of weeks. How these men truly try and apply the principals of Brotherly Love, Truth, and Relief every day! In my everyday life I am usually the boisterous clown, quick with a line, or sarcastic quip. But within the walls of my Lodge and the company of my Brothers, I keep quiet and just absorb everything I can. I love to hear the stories of how Lodge was back in the day, and listening to members laying out their hopes and plans as they contemplate holding senior positions. I always come from Lodge feeling recharged and peaceful.

Memory work is going great, FC obligation down solid, just working on the QA now! A little tougher for this degree. Feel a bit guilty about moving so quickly through the degrees but I think doing the memorization certainly helps me to understand the work so much better. As I did the EA work it was amazing as I worked on it line by line, how the meaning and the weight of the statements make themselves clear and sensible even though the language can be a bit awkward. The FC work has been a bit different because of the slight historical twist that has proven at times a bit difficult for your author to research it to his own satisfaction. But I shall press on!!

Have a great day Brothers!
J-P aka Lightseeker!

Final Weekend!

Well it is only a matter of days now before my initiation. Yesterday my son and I drove down from Kamloops and talked about my forthcoming initiation, how I began the journey and what it all means to me! Because he lives a fair distance away we don't get alot of time together, it was really cool to be able to talk about my reasons for joining and his genuine intrest in the subject!

I also spoke to my mentor last week, and we arranged for him to pick me up and take me to the Lodge on Tuesday night, to help with introductions and get me ready prior to the ceremony! There will be three of us on Tuesday night, nice that there will be a couple of other fellows to work with as we move through the degrees! My mom keeps asking me when it is going to happen, I think she is more excited than I am! Suit has been pressed, shirt ironed and a new blue tie already to go! Let the journey begin!

P.S. Shout out to Fred, Rob, and Drew; Three men who have been instrumental in showing me the true meaning of Brotherly love and who personify Freemasonry, can't wait to join you as a brother!

Sweating Bullets!

Well the day finally came and my soon to be Brethren voted to confer the degree of Entered Apprentice on me. On Tuesday, evening the good men of Mt. Zion #120 in beautiful Chilliwack BC, agreed that I am worthy to receive the light of Freemasonry! My sponsor had told me he would call me after the vote to let me know how it went. I stayed up until 11pm, about an hour after my regular bedtime awaiting his call. No call came, my mind started to race. Was I blackballed, was the vote postponed, was it simply too late and he didn't call out of courtesy. Damn I worry too much. So I called him around 10am; no answer...........right, it went poorly now he's avoiding me, not wanting to burst my bubble so to speak! So all day I wait, no call. 6pm arrives I'm off work, I call. My sponser answers and tells me that he was going to call the next day, keeping me in suspense! 'The vote was a favorable one', he says, 'initiation will be late October!'. I am so stoked! Just wish there was something I could do in the meantime, besides wait! Oh well, color me excited!