Initial Application and Interview to become a Mason

This is my second post regarding my experience in becoming a Freemason.  Before a man becomes a Mason, he needs to submit an "application" and be "interviewed" by a committee of Master Masons. 

The application process was not very difficult, and I was able to find the entire process in my lodge's website.  In the form you provide basic information about yourself such as:  name, address, age, occupation, where you were born, etc.  The application also contains some basic information for you as the applicant in regards to what the lodge is and what is not.  You can glance at it here.  

Once the application is submitted, there is also a fee that is paid for the degree work to take place.  These monies go to rent the room for the three degree ceremonies:  Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason.  These fees vary from state to state and are set by the Grand Lodge of such state. 

When the application is submitted, the Secretary of the lodge calls you to set up a meeting with the Masons.  My particular meeting was very informal.  It was held in the temple and I was interviewed by three different men.  Since there were other applicants there as well, it was in a round robin style.  Once again, I was treated very well and everyone behaved accordingly. 

Each Mason gave me an overview of the fraternity, what they liked about it and asked me some basic questions.  It lasted roughly 45 mins. This interview was needed to make sure I met the requirements to being a Mason, the requirements can be found here.

 After this, my name was read in lodge for a vote to be taken.  Before the voting begins, the Secretary is asked by the members on the outcome of the interview.  In my case it was favorable and I was vote in.  From the time of my application to the voting I had the opportunity to meet five different Masons who could get to know me.

Once the lodge voted on me and I was accepted, I was sent an official acceptance letter by mail giving a time and a place for my initiation ceremony in the fraternity.  The whole process took roughly three weeks.

In my next installment I will write about the ceremony itself.