Technical Masonic Questions - Event Date: October/15/2014

I have some questions regarding demitting of masons, Northern and Southern jurisdiction in different states, recognized lodges through issuance of charters, as well as several symbolic questions.  First a little bit about me: I am a California resident who lives in New York and recently expressed my desire to become a Freemason to a Master Mason of the grand lodge of New York.  As a result, I was invited to tour the lodge with him, however, upon discovering the fact that I am under 21 we reached an impasse; New York is under the current jurisdiction requiring that the minimum age of a Mason must be 21.  At the time I did not know this because of my residence in California where the minimum age is 18.  

In an attempt to circumvent this I asked him if one was able to join in my home state or another state under different jurisdiction while visiting.  Upon joining in a separate state with a lodge reputable enough for the Grand Lodge of New York to recognize ie. (a lodge with charter) I would return to New York and continue my masonic education.  Although this sounds as if it would work to a person uneducated in the judicial aspects of separate masonic lodges there are two things that come to mind; one, it is possible that demitting from one lodge after spending a brief period with your brothers may be disrespectful and two, the fact that the Grand Lodge of New York may choose not to recognize your dues card.  

The Master attempted to answer my question the best way he could.  According to him, on the off-chance it may be possible but the main flaw in this plan would be achieving sufficient merit in order to be recognized at the separate lodge.  In addition, he expressed that the brothers occupying the lodge where I would initially attempt to join would not take my absence personally.  I will ask about that in a second.

Now that we have the ground work for my questions, they are as follows.

Questions applicable to becoming a Freemason.

1. Do you believe that this would work?

2. What constitutes a recognizable lodge, a charter?

3. Does demitting affect your record as a Mason?

4. Would leaving the original lodge be disrespectful?

5. At what point does a Mason receive his dues card, upon acceptance, ritual, or upon the first degree?

6. For a dues card to be recognized is there a communication process or an analysis of the card by a corresponding chapter/lodge to verify someone?

I understand that this is a lot of information, please bear with me.  I only wish to learn and place myself in the most advantageous position.

Side Questions

1. Which is the oldest formal gathering of Practicing Masons that brothers commonly recognize, the gathering in Israel upon the scope of the construction of Solomon's temple, in Europe predating 1717 (emergence of handshakes and passwords), or at the Goose and Gridiron in 1717 mainly comprised of speculative masons?

2. Do you recognize that different brothers have contrasting self/recreational education of Masonry and tend to disagree with others when esoterica, symbolism, etymology, and astrology are brought up? ie. Morals and Dogma, Ancient Masonry

3. Why do many Masons dispel the suggestion that Masonic symbolism originates from astrology and heraldry? Because they do not want to feed the conspiracy theorists?

4. What do you personally believe the majority of AA&F Masonic symbolism originates from? 

I take my questions very seriously so I thank you for your time reading this and any responses you can come back with.

Thank you for your response as well.  The two of you really helped me understand a few concepts that I consider crucial for my understanding.  It is greatly appreciated.  As far as the source of heraldry reference is drawn, to be honest my education on that is vague so you would likely have a more accurate understanding.  Thanks again! Great responses.