What happens in there?

When I was a teenager growing up in suburbia, I would often pass an old building on the corner of a main intersection almost in the center of town. It was a large white building with greco-Roman architecture. The words "Masonic Temple" prominently displayed on the front of the building.

I always wondered, what goes on in there?

As I got older and graduated HS, I entered the USAF and was eventually stationed at Castle AFB, CA. I didn't think much on the Masonic Temple I used to pass on my way to school anymore. I had 'important' stuff to do now. I had to train and party, more of the latter and as little of the former as necessary.

As if a reminder from my past I was in a nearby town to the base and I was walking to a nightspot with some friends and we passed by a familiar building. I paused in front of the building just for a moment to capture the image in my mind.

The rest of the night and on and off for the next few years I wondered again, "what goes on in there". Since I was still a very young man of 20 and that since the only picture I had ever seen of a Freemason was and elderly man of about 50 or so, that it was a organization of people who were probably not interested in me. In retrospect I wish I had investigated that earlier. Well I again put it out of my mind and went about my life. Although ever now and then, the imagery and thoughts would come back.

After I left the service in 1991, I bounced around awhile looking from my niche in life. I soon came upon my career in IT of which i will spare you the details. Soon after starting on my career I meet and married my wife of 8 years. After 2 wonderful children and my career going well I was sitting in my den and watching the History Channel, when a show came on called "The Mysteries of the Freemasons". The narrators voice was ominous and foreboding. I watched the program and was once again thinking, "I still don't really know what goes on in there". I turned to the only source of information I could think of on the subject, the Internet.

Many weeks went by as I poured over the pages I found. The more I read the more I felt i sort of "knew what goes on in there". The time had come to make inquiries. Since as far as I knew I did not know any Freemasons, I decided to ask someone who might know one, the pastor of my church. Since some of what I had come across on the net were people who were dead sure that the Freemasons either controlled the world, worshiped Satan or both, I wasn't sure how a man of the cloth would respond to this request. I did however also find that Masons are urged to attend church regularly, so I took the chance.

When I next saw my pastor I started a conversation and had it all planned out as to the tact of my approach on this subject. After a few words however I just blurted it out. " Ken, do you know anyone in the church that is a Freemason?". To my astonishment he replied that yes he did know of at least on person. When he told me I was surprised to learn that it was a man I had worked side by side with on an number of church functions and we have spoken to at many meetings. When I got home I opened my file cabinet and got out the church phone list and gave him a call.

While talking with him he relayed to me that the lodge was having a "brother bring a friend" night in about 2 weeks. I was looking forward to attending.

When the night finally arrived I drove to the lodge and open the door and stepped in. I was greeted by my friend and soon to be brother after a few minutes. I was led into the lodge room with a projector and a screen set up. Other brothers in the lodge were sitting around in chairs talking quietly. Another brother who was introduced as the Secretary of the lodge spoke a few words and we watched a short video produced by the grand Lodge of NY. When the night was over I was convinced I would like to be involved in an organization such as this. Everyone I met there seemed genuine and welcoming. I filled out my petition and handed it to my friend from the church for his signature and then to the Secretary.

About 2 weeks later I was informed that my petition had been accepted and I would be scheduled to receive the 1st degree soon.

There are few things in this world I regret having done or not done. Suffice to say requesting a petition to join the fraternity was one of the ones I regret having not done sooner.

In the end I learned that "I knew what went on in there" since it was in my heart all the time. But more on that another time...