Why did you become a Freemason?

From: "Tracy Becker" <Tracy@troy-jenn.com>
To: <masonry-ask@mit.edu>
Subject: Why I Joined Freemasonry
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 13:59:34 -0500

I joined Masonry to meet guys who could help me make more money!

Yes, that's correct. I thought Masonry was about a bunch of secret guys that helped each other in business deals. A sort of built-in network of the "right" people. After speaking to a friend (my boss, actually) over drinks one night, I went home and told my wife that I was going to join the Masons. Being from Georgia almost 50 years ago her reply was almost what you'd expect:

"You can't be a Mason, we don't have enough money! Only rich people are Masons."

I'll fast-forward here a bit before you think I'm a complete jerk. I did join the local Lodge of Masons, Dundee Lodge No.190 in Carpentersville, Illinois. It took the Blue Lightning program, an initiative to streamline membership, to get me to the third degree. I didn't go to any meetings for the first 4 or 5 months because I always forgot about them and nobody ever called to remind me. My friend who got me started didn't belong to the lodge I joined, his is 5 hours away in his home town. And, before I forget to mention it, he never talked about Masonry as a business resource.

Finally one night we were at work, fighting about something, and he remembered that tonight was lodge night, so we went rather than let our argument escalate.

I have not missed a meeting since. I have long forgotten to look for those business resources and probably wouldn't use them anyway. I edit the Trestle Board, a full color 16 page pamphlet that may get us the Grand Lodge Newsletter Award. There are 6 new members in our lodge now all related to that night over drinks less than a year ago. I organized an Open House and turned the lodge into a museum, open to the public, which was written up in the local paper. And I've read just about every book I have found on Masonry, including a reprint of Capt. Morgan's book which I bought at auction for $200. I now seek the light as best I can and do my best to enlighten others.

Why did I join Masonry? Because I thought I could get something out of it. Why am I an active member? Because I've found that getting your Masonic Wages beat a paycheck every time!

Best Regards,

Tracy Becker
Tracy@Troy-Jenn.com