And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Welcome...
These pages are intended to help others understand why I have chosen to become and remain an active member of the World's oldest Fraternity.... "Freemasonry"
I live in the Toledo, Ohio area and was born in 1956. I am currently a member of Robinson Locke - Boaz #659 Masonic Lodge, F&AM, Toledo, Ohio, USA
During the time of my youth I witnessed great changes within society, the implementation of civil rights, the murder of various political leaders, the hostilities of opposing governments, the effects of a World on people who could walk on the moon, but not end the suppression of each persons right to his or hers own thoughts.
Due to my family's (Grandparents) past association with the Masonic Fraternity, I joined the Ohio Chapter of DeMolay in Toledo, and for the first time found a group of peers who expressed the ideals that I had thought were not part of the real World.
The ideals I found were those of confidence; responsibility, cooperation and community service, trust, respect, fellowship, patriotism, reverence, and sharing.
I then started my life into the "Real World" upon reaching 18 years of age, in that I started into a career and building a family and slowly lost contact with those who in my youth gave insight and direction.
It was about 15 years later that while in life I had the picture of "status quo", I was finding there was such a hollow spot inside of myself, not the lack of faith which one receives from their religious beliefs, but one the one of not feeling completely whole.
It was not the lack of activity's and friends that was missing but something else. A person I worked with who was much older always seemed to carry himself with a certain pride and understanding which I could not explain but could clearly see.
Then there was the person who during my youth, was always there without judgement of my "Not so correct" behavior during those wild days of adolescence, but was there with the "Style and Class" of what I would now call a mentor.
Then it slowly dawned on me that like both of my Grandfathers, these men were "Mason's", and all the memories of my experiences with DeMolay came flooding back...Was this what had been missing?
I approached the man I worked with and asked what he could tell me about Freemasonry, and that I was sure I wanted to join, at which point his smile instantly told me that I had just made the most important step of my life.
The following pages will hopefully give you an idea of what "Freemasonry" is about, and is also my way of thanking Wayne Cousino and Robert Berndt and my Grandfathers for having maintained such a Fraternity for me and others, it now has become my duty to carry on for them.
(All content is my own responsibility)