Advice For A Masonic Applicant…

Almost every “old” Mason (old being in quotation marks) is at some point asked for advice from a masonic applicant.

For years, this author’s “standard” advice was “attend your Lodge as much as possible and visit other Lodges as much as possible.”

Good advice; but not very poetic.

In the process of YouTube scrolling, this author came across the Charles Bukowski poem: “Roll The Dice.”

Masonic Lodge’s or bodies too often allow its membership to be “halfway masons,” meaning membership is allowed to be “halfway” in its masonic commitments.

If you are going to join something…join something.

Go all the way. Give it your all, everything you have, otherwise…why start…why apply?

A Masonic career, when done well and when done right, requires (as all great things do) sacrifice.

Sacrifice of time.

Sacrifice of energy.

Sacrifice of friends and family.

But there are compensations.

Compensations of new friends and new experiences.

Compensations of new or redeveloped skills and personal growth.

Most importantly, compensations of the opportunity to make the world and your community better.

It’s a fight, but it’s a good fight! The only good fight.

Thus, this author’s new advice for a masonic applicant…or anyone thinking of joining Freemasonry “…if you’re going to join, go all the way. otherwise, don’t even start…”

Charles Bukowski — “Role The Dice”

• “…if you’re going to try, go all the way. otherwise, don’t even start…
• “…if you’re going to try, go all the way.
• there is no other feeling like that.
• you will be alone with the gods and the nights will flame with fire.
• do it, do it, do it. do it.
• all the way, all the way.
• you will ride life straight to perfect laughter, it’s the only good fight there is.”

So what are you waiting for? Roll the Dice and Apply!

All opinions expressed are those of Square & Compass Promotions and the guest(s), and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Windsor Masonic Temple and/or any masonic group.