AS I STOOD AT THE DOOR OF THE LODGE, dressed in a somewhat peculiar manner, I began to wonder what I had let myself in for.  For most students, dressing like this on a Saturday night would signal their entry into the Rugby or Hockey teams.  I however, was preparing to take a much bigger step, my initiation into a society steeped in history and surrounded by rumours.

My journey had begun a year earlier on a visit home from University.  I was in the local pub catching up with my best friend when he casually mentioned that he was joining the Freemasons the following night.  I must admit that I failed to stifle my laughter at this point, as all I knew of the masons were that they were a “bunch of old folks, playing at dress-up and trying to influence society.”

As time went on my friend kept talking about how he enjoyed his Freemasonry and I began to become interested, and so after some independent research on the Internet (I read both Pro-Masonic and Anti-Masonic sites to gain a rounded picture) I decided that Freemasonry was something that I felt I would benefit from.  I liked the idea of a society that concentrated on our similarities as Brothers under the Fatherhood of God and sidelined our differences with regards to how we should worship him. I was also attracted to the charitable side of Freemasonry, and the fact that the Masons tend to perform most of this “under the radar” rather than broadcasting it from the rooftops.

So I made my mind up to ask my friend to propose me into the lodge, after all we’d enjoyed everything we’d done together from Beavers, Air Cadets, **cough** folk dancing **cough** etc., so how bad could this be?  He was more than happy to do so and his father, a man I’d known for most of my life, offered to second me.

When the door to the Lodge opened, my fears were put at ease instantly as the first voice I heard from the inside was my proposer, although I was confused that he had to ask who I was!  The ceremony was one of the most powerful things I have experienced and will stay with me forever, and the welcome I got at the festive board confirmed to mc that I had done the right thing by joining.  Here was a group that didn’t base their opinions on your wealth or job, but rather on the kind of person you were.  That evening I was proud to be called Brother by men of all ages and backgrounds, people who, without Masonry, I would never have had the opportunity to know.

I returned to University, and after a week or so felt the need to experience this again. Unfortunately I was unable to take advantage of the invites my lodge received as I was studying at the opposite end of the country and so I contacted the Provincial Grand Lodge who put me in touch with Southampton University Lodge.  I arranged to visit them at their next meeting.  Despite this being a Third I was told I would be more than welcome to come along.  How true this was, I had never taken part in the opening of the lodge before and instead of people ‘tutting’ at me when I hesitated as to what to do, I was assisted by the brother next to me who reminded me that “we’ve all been there”.  When it came to leaving the lodge for the Raising I was accompanied by a senior member of the lodge who showed me the library and answered many of my questions.  I found this touched me because he could have just remained inside but the lodge wanted to ensure that their visitor was properly taken care of.  At this point I was still confused about the different aprons and so they were explained to me, with the final reminder that no-matter how much blue and gold you may see on an apron, the most important colour is the white. I have tried to take this to heart and will always try to assist new brethren to the best of my abilities.  The welcome I received here led me to joining the Lodge after completing my Third degree.  I would also encourage a new mason (and an experienced one) to visit as soon as possible as you will gain so much more from your Masonry.

So what have I gained from Freemasonry?  I have found a sense of comradeship and fraternity with a wide range of like minded people, I know that wherever I go I will always have a place that I can find friends (something which came in very useful following my recent move to London), and the most important thing of all, the moral lessons in the degrees have taught me to go back and study my faith properly for the first time since I was 11 and I feel that, whilst still not perfect, my relationship with God has improved dramatically since joining Freemasonry.  So perhaps the rumours are true, Masonry does aim to influence society, but not through controlling people, but by setting examples of how to live a moral life and hoping that others follow this example.

I would encourage anyone to join Masonry as they will gain things from it. Some of them will be the same I have received but you may well gain others.  Masonry is what you make of it, be it spiritual or a bit of both, but the friendship and support will always be there for everyone.

Copyright  © 2009 Southampton University Lodge, No.7022 acting as proxy for the author

(The author having giving his consent for the article to be published on this site's public pages has also expressed a wish for his name not to be shown.)

First published in New & Views – The Newsletter For Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masons

(Autumn 2009, Issue 21, p. 12)