What induced YOU to join?

I was working pier security for the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) back in 2006.  Part of the duty included checking military and civilian contractor ID cards to gain access to the pier and the ship.  I kept seeing this same ring over and over when they would hold up their ID for my inspection.  I had seen the emblem before (mostly on people's vehicles, but on building and road signs also) but i really didn't know anything about it.  So, later in the evening when a gentleman was coming back to the ship for the night, I decided to ask him what that ring and that symbol where, and why I saw so many people wearing it.  That question turned into a 45 minute conversation with this brother.  He left me with instructions to go see another brother that i knew from the ship.  That brother talked with me for a bit, and gave me some reading material. (masonic magazines and news letters, nothing "secret")  and again.. he sent me to see yet another brother.  (I thought they were giving me the run around, but what they were doing was testing my interest level)  A day or two later I was given a petition to fill out and return, which I did.  Some time past... few weeks, then a couple months.  Then one day I was walking through the hanger deck of the ship and another brother approached me whom I'd not met before, asked me if I still wanted to be a mason, to which I replied yes.  He handed me a piece of paper with an address, date, and time.  He said, and I quote "Be there, that day, that time, and don't be late."  The rest is history...  

I had an older neighbour who I often visited. He had little formal education but was very knowledgeable on current affairs and the like. He was a Past Master of the local Lodge and had several masonic certificates framed and hanging on his wall. Over the several years that I was visiting him he would occasionally mention some masonic social event that he and his wife had attended but would never mention anything more about the fraternity unless I asked about something. After some years I discovered that a couple of colleagues that I respected were also freemasons and after some research decided it was the sort of organisation I wanted to belong to. One night I asked my neighbour how you went about joining. H jumped to his feet and took a piece of paper from a table near his chair. It was an Application Form that he had kept there for four or five years waiting for me to say I wished to join! He was my sponsor but unfortunately passed to TGLO about 18 months after I was initiated. Last year I received my 25 year pin from my lodge - I am a Past Master of it and another lodge, a Past District Grand Secretary, an Honorary Assistant Grand Secretary and presently Secretary of my lodge. As to WHY I joined - it was the example shown by the freemasons I knew that attracted me - the 'tongue of good report' they gave the Craft. Joining is a decision I have never regretted.

lol! short and sweet

Bump

Masonic funerals seems to be unfortunately (or rather fortunately in some sense) the #1 place I hear petitioners have their first encounter with freemasonry and decide to join based off what they saw.

While going to my church, I noticed a few men wore Masonic rings. These men I respect, greatly. I approached one of them and asked about his ring, we sat and chatted for a bit about the Freemasons, and I was curious to say the least. Before we parted ways for the week I asked him "So, how does one become a Mason?' To which he replied "You just started."

like!

oh, by the way - spend some time thinking on the first, second and third before looking at the rest, and work within the lodge to get those pieces burned in before you look elsewhere... trust me on this one, it will benefit you in the long run

Absolutely. I have a meeting tonight and wanted to get with whoever is in charge of helping the older widows with yard work etc. as well as mowing the lodge lawn maybe some. I know our secretary would appreciate that as well as the widows. We cannot ever forget our obligation to help our brother's families and I am looking forward to that!

My search of more light and to know and learn the deep secrets of the universe.