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Dilemma/Question
Brothers,
I am posting this in both Masonic Firefighter groups – Freemason Firefighters and Firefighters/F&AM – I am a relatively young Master Mason having been raised to the Sublime Degree in 2003, I have been a proud Call Firefighter since 2006. I enjoy both brotherhoods very much and I wish I had found both much earlier in my life. My life is very busy. Full time job, five kids, all under 14 years old and a wife who supports me to the end. No complaints there.
This is my dilemma/question – I have felt in my Lodge stress between the old guard and the new guys. The older members have done so much and been the life of the Lodge for a long time and I thank them very much. Masonry has been pushing to up their membership for the past few years and that is when I joined. So I have been feeling uncomfortable going, not feeling as welcome and feeling a bit out of place. My fire dept. drill night is Tuesdays, the same night as Lodge. This has given me an easy excuse not to go to Lodge. I still pay my dues and try to stay active in Lodge special functions. I know that I will be a Mason for the rest of my life and only have a limited number of years left in the fire service – I’m 47. So my plan has been to stay connected to my Lodge through Brothers on the outside, do firefighting for as long as I can and then go back to regular Lodge activities.
Sorry if this has been a bit confusing. I’m confused by the whole thing. Any thoughts?
Thanks Brother.
I am posting this in both Masonic Firefighter groups – Freemason Firefighters and Firefighters/F&AM – I am a relatively young Master Mason having been raised to the Sublime Degree in 2003, I have been a proud Call Firefighter since 2006. I enjoy both brotherhoods very much and I wish I had found both much earlier in my life. My life is very busy. Full time job, five kids, all under 14 years old and a wife who supports me to the end. No complaints there.
This is my dilemma/question – I have felt in my Lodge stress between the old guard and the new guys. The older members have done so much and been the life of the Lodge for a long time and I thank them very much. Masonry has been pushing to up their membership for the past few years and that is when I joined. So I have been feeling uncomfortable going, not feeling as welcome and feeling a bit out of place. My fire dept. drill night is Tuesdays, the same night as Lodge. This has given me an easy excuse not to go to Lodge. I still pay my dues and try to stay active in Lodge special functions. I know that I will be a Mason for the rest of my life and only have a limited number of years left in the fire service – I’m 47. So my plan has been to stay connected to my Lodge through Brothers on the outside, do firefighting for as long as I can and then go back to regular Lodge activities.
Sorry if this has been a bit confusing. I’m confused by the whole thing. Any thoughts?
Thanks Brother.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Robert C. Baker on
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Peter, I thought the same way you do now not so long ago, and I know of a few other brothers involved in both fire , rescue, EMS and a few police officers who are in the same boat with the same feelings. You are not alone in this, the older lodge brothers also know this, they weren't always there either they had the same responsibilities you, I and anyone else has had, family, jobs, other fraternities and so forth, the difference now that they have more free time to pursue there love of masonary and other things just don't matter that much to them any more other than their families. Stand Tall my friend, Be proud of who you are and give what you can of yourself to the lodge and the fire service but remember your family is number " ONE " and without them you wouldn't be the upright man you are today.
Brother Bob Baker. -
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Permalink Reply by Peter on
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Bob,
Thanks for the reply. One of my favorite parts of Masonry is the point that you serve to the extent of your cable tow. I have duties to uphold and I will do them to my best abilites. I know that my Lodge and Masonry will always be there for me.
Thanks again. Peter. -
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Permalink Reply by Michael Spellmeier on
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See if either one would entertain the idea of changing their date of meeting. It is hard to do with so much going on these days. I am a Master Mason here in Garnett, Ks. and before I even was initiated as an EA they had this problem when the then WM was also on the FD. They changed the time so he could accomplish attending both meetings. This is how I get to both now. FD meets at 1900 hrs. Lodge starts at 1930 hrs. I usually go to the station and help with checking the units at 1830 so I get one hour of credit for being there. Hope this helps.
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