initial progress along the path

In the last few months, I have been enthusiastically active in things masonic. In a few weeks I'm scheduled to become a Master Mason, and have really enjoyed these formative experiences.

The guys I've been getting to know from the lodge are a spirited and diverse lot. I've spent considerable time with a few and am cultivating other relationships along the way.

As a Past Master put it last night, "We are a dinner eatin' bunch of doods!" And we do tend to lay out a respectable spread. If you leave hungry, it's not our doing. ;D

The lodge is energetic, and a good number of the boys take the work pretty seriously. I'm learning a lot.

I've done a little lodge hopping already, and so far I like it a lot. Seeing a gathering of brothers who do the same thing you do but with their own character is a pretty cool experience. It's a little like looking at yourself in a way.

petitioned a masonic lodge

Over the years I've seen men join masonic lodges looking for various things.

Some look for fraternity, or knowledge, or to get away from the wife, or for any number of other things.

And to some extent, I think you find what you're looking for. (Although I did know a guy who joined a lodge once in hopes of finding some world-controlling conspiracy. To his great disappointment, I think he found pretty much the opposite.)

Want to hang out with the guys? Sure.

History buff? Oh yeah.

Connections in the local community? Definitely.

Regalia? As little or as much as you please.

Spiffy esoteric symbols and rituals? You can go all the way down the rabbit hole if you like. :D

Want to give back to the community? Plenty of others will gladly join you.

In a jam and need a hand? Brothers are there for you.

So I've petitioned to join my local lodge, met a bunch of decent guys, and am in a waiting period to see if I'm voted in.

I think this could be a good thing.