Contact with Irregular or Clandestine Masons
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Forum Name: The Northwest Corner
Forum Description: Members new to the Craft
URL: http://forum.mastermason.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11833
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Topic: Contact with Irregular or Clandestine Masons
Posted By: easttowesttoeast
Subject: Contact with Irregular or Clandestine Masons
Date Posted: April/08/2013 at 2:19pm
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Gentlemen and Bretheren, Regular and Irregular, I have a question. What happens if I meet a man with a friendly grip and find that he represents a lodge which my GL deems "Irregular" or "Clandestine"?
I came into contact with a gentleman who was wearing the square and compasses. I'm an FC and kind of excited to meet other men. The only thing I know about Reglar/Irregular/Clandestine stuff is what I have been told online. My lodge has not given any instruction otherwise. I asked him how he was doing and greeted him in a friendly manner. His eyes lit up and he asked my lodge. He then told me his. However, judging by the name (which I was unfamiliar with), A quick search revealed that he may be from what some would consider a "bogus" GL.
What now?
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Replies:
Posted By: Flotown79
Date Posted: April/08/2013 at 2:23pm
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Speak as you would with any other stranger and keep on moving. ------------- F. E. Thomas III, MPS |
Posted By: GaLightSeeker
Date Posted: April/08/2013 at 2:48pm
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Just remember your obligation. It should be pretty specific about regularity. ------------- E - 5 Feb 2013 P - 2 Apr 2013 R - 16 Apr 2013 |
Posted By: easttowesttoeast
Date Posted: April/08/2013 at 2:57pm
No, I know that for sure. But there are sometimes when things get fuzzy. Case in point, someone who has a state sanctioned license plate from Ohio AND a dues card (I've never seen a dues card before). So, you see that and go "Oh cool! Brother!". But you're wrong.
I don't know the PHA lodges around here (until I spoke with a PHA brother here in Ohio). I kind of feel duped, but now a bit more cautious.
I guess I will have to ask what Prince Hall/Mainstream Lodge and look it up before saying anything to anyone.
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GaLightSeeker wrote:Posted By: Z111
Date Posted: April/08/2013 at 3:21pm
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Err on the side of caution always. Always. ------------- "You cannot do square work by cutting corners." |
Posted By: easttowesttoeast
Date Posted: April/08/2013 at 3:45pm
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Posted By: Z111
Date Posted: April/08/2013 at 3:57pm
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You did well. ------------- "You cannot do square work by cutting corners." |
Posted By: Caution1010
Date Posted: April/08/2013 at 9:01pm
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Hi...my name is... ------------- I: 10/1/10 P: 12/3/10 R: 12/31/10 PHA-AL "You can't trust those fellow-crafts...buncha rogues and murderers!" |
Posted By: jaya
Date Posted: April/11/2013 at 8:51pm
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I would not speak on the secrets of masonry outside of the lodgeroom with a brother that I just met......That is just me. ------------- Jay Austin Black Mountain 663 - Junior Warden AASR Valley of Asheville - KSA The Masonic Society http://westernncmason.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow - http://westernncmason.blogspot.com |
Posted By: anchorsaweigh20
Date Posted: April/14/2013 at 1:11am
| Being in the military and working with certain things, I learned that it's better to not speak of these things outside of my workplace. I apply the same principle to Masonry. I don't talk Masonicly outside of lodge, which is pretty much all that's require of you. Don't treat them like a brother if they are clandestine etc., because they aren't. As cold as it sounds, but don't be a jerk either. Treat them with the same respects as you would someone you just met. |
Posted By: easttowesttoeast
Date Posted: April/29/2013 at 2:04pm
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I saw the gentleman leave today with his coat.
"King Solomon Grand Lodge F&AYM". YUP! Irregular.
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Posted By: dxg
Date Posted: April/30/2013 at 2:42pm
| Only speak about Masonic Activities with those from your lodge if you are unsure. |
Posted By: WBScott
Date Posted: October/24/2014 at 11:01pm
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Since you are a Fellowcraft, it is not surprising that you have not been told about clandestine Freemasons. In Missouri, it is in the Master Mason obligation that we are told that we are not allowed to hold Masonic communion with a clandestine Freemason, but other than that, you are free to associate with him in any manner you see fit. You just can't be in a tiled lodge with him. If you are not sure if he belongs to a lodge recognized by your Grand Lodge, ask your lodge's secretary. He has (or should have) a book listing all of the lodges around the world that are recognized by your Grand Lodge.
------------- Wentzville (MO) Lodge #46 - PM Pride of the West (MO) Lodge #179 - PM (twice) Pauldingville (MO) Lodge #11 - Secretary Warrenton (MO) Lodge #609 - Secretary Past DDGM - 25th Masonic District |
Posted By: windrider
Date Posted: October/30/2014 at 11:53am
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I think the issue here is what to do when you've just met someone outside of the lodge who claims to be a Brother. You have no way, or for that matter reason, to contact the Secretary to confirm regularity right then. The answer is actually in your EA Obligation. you promised to never reveal any of the secrets of Freemasonry without confirming the person is entitled to them. Since you have no way to determine that, just don't discuss the "secrets" (grips, works, tokens, and details of Ritual) with anyone you have just met. ------------- Master, Webmaster, Lodge Ambassador Ancient York Lodge AF&AM Lowell, MA God never sends us anything we can't handle. Sometimes I wish He didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa |
Posted By: NobleShabba
Date Posted: October/30/2014 at 4:33pm
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why the grip though? ------------- ---------------------- DISCLAIMER: These are my comments, and mine alone - they do not necessarily apply to any group to which I belong! |
Posted By: NewToLight84
Date Posted: October/30/2014 at 10:03pm
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Unfortunately as most of us know ( not saying anything new here ) there is so much information to be found on the web that it may, if someone did enough research and had enough guts to walk up to you in a parking lot and announce themselves as a brother... I haven't been approached by anyone directly but I wear my ring very proudly and have received a few interesting grips....I had an elderly gentlemen at Cabelas tell me to enjoy my journey....I thought that was very cool. I would 100% reluctant to discuss ANYTHING with ANYONE outside my lodge.. ------------- "Be careful how you live. You may be the only Mason some people will ever meet." -unknown |
Posted By: Adept?
Date Posted: October/31/2014 at 6:33am
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When in doubt always ask for a dues card. I can check the recognition of any lodge in the United States on my phone in about 30 seconds... ------------- "It is humanity that creates god, and men think that god has made them in his image, because they make him in theirs." |
Posted By: BroScubaSteve
Date Posted: November/11/2014 at 10:09pm
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My train of though...If someone you just met wants to discuss what goes on behind a tyled door before he gets your name then he is either new and eager or someone trying to steal the secrets of Freemasonry. ------------- Initiated 4-22-13 Passed 5-29-13 Raised 6-27-13 Junior Deacon F&AM GLNJ 32°AASR NMJ, Southern Valley of NJ |
Posted By: boing1972
Date Posted: February/15/2015 at 8:48pm
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I would ask him if he knew the hand shake, password, the rhyme while doing duck calls on the second Thursday of the month. Lol ! But seriously, smile and keep walking. ------------- brother bell |
Posted By: edwmax
Date Posted: February/16/2015 at 1:21pm
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This thread is more than 1 1/2 years old. The OP was an FC. He wouldn't know how to try another Mason, Clandestine or not. And, the OP has not logged on for more than a year. I do hope he has been raised and learned how to deal with this type of situation by now. ------------- "He who would assume to govern others must first learn to govern himself." Thomasville 369 |
Posted By: boing1972
Date Posted: February/24/2015 at 4:16pm
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Why doesn't some one close these old threads ? ------------- brother bell |
Posted By: Adept?
Date Posted: March/12/2015 at 3:57am
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Some new members may want to read back through old topics. There is a lot of good information on here. ------------- "It is humanity that creates god, and men think that god has made them in his image, because they make him in theirs." |
Posted By: Caution1010
Date Posted: March/13/2015 at 8:36am
What he said. A lot of topics that are old to some are new for others especially as our fraternity grows. ------------- I: 10/1/10 P: 12/3/10 R: 12/31/10 PHA-AL "You can't trust those fellow-crafts...buncha rogues and murderers!" |