Freemasons

hello my name is phylip mcconnon
and i now believe i am ready to join the masonic tradition
there are quite a few lodges in southland and was wondering if anyone in invercargill could give me any information on which would be a good lodge to tender my application

also i am looking at getting a tatoo with the lodge emblem on it and two scrolls underneath one with my fathers name rodneyjames mcconnon
and one with my name on it
as the masonic lodge was a large part of his life
does the masonic lodge frown at this
as i would not do it if at will offend the brotherhood
thanks
phylip mcconnon

That is pretty full on to get a tattoo, you might want to wait till you are in Lodge for a bit, as it may be something you regret if Lodge turned out to not be your thing.
There is no rule against getting tattoo's and I do not believe it is something that people would frown upon.

_________________
Hadyn Nicholls PM
Homewood Lodge 447
Recruitment & Publicity Officer
http://www.homewood-lodge.net.nz
Wellington District Education Officer

Phylip,

If you email freemasons@freemasons.co.nz and tell them of your location, your contact details and interest in joining the Craft, they will make arrangements for someone from a Lodge nearby to contact you.

regards,

Tony

_________________
Tony Grimwood
JW – Lodge Howick No. 314
SW – The Pakuranga Lodge No. 416
Communications Officer (314, 416)
Webmaster:
Lodge Howick No. 314
Auckland East District
Northern Division
Ipsa scientia potestas est

Oh, and I agree wih Hadyn - don't go getting a tat at least until you've been in Lodge for a bit. I can't imagine why you would want to do so in the first place; there are far better and far more meaningful ways to demonstrate your devotion to Freemasonry. Still, each to his own ...

Tony

_________________
Tony Grimwood
JW – Lodge Howick No. 314
SW – The Pakuranga Lodge No. 416
Communications Officer (314, 416)
Webmaster:
Lodge Howick No. 314
Auckland East District
Northern Division
Ipsa scientia potestas est

its not for the craft i intend on getting it
but as a tribute to my father

And what would Dad have to say about that?

_________________
Keith Walker
Kaimanawa 426
Waikato Lodge of Research 445

Fair enough. I respect that sentiment.

Tony

_________________
Tony Grimwood
JW – Lodge Howick No. 314
SW – The Pakuranga Lodge No. 416
Communications Officer (314, 416)
Webmaster:
Lodge Howick No. 314
Auckland East District
Northern Division
Ipsa scientia potestas est

Hi phylip,

I was initiated into an Invercargill lodge last May, and have these few bits of advice for you...

Think of 'tendering the application' as the last (and an administrative) part of becoming a Mason. If you've decided you want to join - great! That's probably the hardest part. The next important step (IMHO) is choosing the right lodge. Since there a few lodges in Invers, it might help you to make contact with each lodge and meet some Masons. As your proposer will have to personally vouch for you, you will end up getting to know some brethren of your chosen lodge before your ballot, regardless of the number of lodges you've investigated. So get out there, meet the men, and choose the lodge that feels right.

The tattoo choice is obviously yours alone. I will echo the prior comments and recommend that you wait until after you're satisfied (for lack of a better word) with Freemasonry. The world has formed many and various opinions of Freemasonry, ranging from great respect, to quiet suspicion, to outright hatred and condemnation. Whether you like it or not, the symbol will associate you with an organisation that is maligned by quite a few people and factions. Until you feel prepared to explain, promote, and (like it or not...) defend the organisation, it may be best to wait on the tattoo.

That said, I'm thrilled to have joined Freemasonry, and I eagerly look forward to my 3rd degree next month, during which I will be raised to the status of Master Mason. The whole experience has been awesome and inspiring. I feel both proud and humbled, and i know that I still have so much to learn. I recommend the fraternity whole-heartedly. So... get out there and meet some Invers Masons!

Best of Luck,
Keith (Invers)

Hi Phylip

I am the Secretary of the Southern Cross Lodge No.9. I have no comment to make about tats - that's up to you - but if you would like to find out more about Freemasonry with a view to joining a Southland (Invercargill) Lodge, I would be happy to meet with you or correspond by email, letter or phone. I you are genuinely interested pleas contact me at the following webmail address: - southerncross9@myway.com.
Martin McGregor

_________________
Martin I.McGregor
Secretary,Southern Cross Lodge No.9
Master, Research Lodge of Southland No.415
Past Grand Steward
Southland District Publicity Officer
Editor Southland Masonic Newsletter

Hi Phylip

Just to add a bit on the subject of tats. It's up to you of course, but it would be very unusual for a Freemason to get a Masonic tat done. We have Masonic caps, shirts, ties, badges, rings, even socks available but these are all external things and not many Freemasons go in for them in fact. It's not as if we go around shouting "Look at me! Look at me! I am a Freemason!" It's up to each individual member the extent to which he wants his membership of Freemasonry to be known. It's up to him. If he wants to reveal it, that's cool. If he wants to keep it a secret, that's cool also.
But it seems you reason for a tat is to honour your father's membership of Freemasonry - that's cool too.
The most important step you should take though is to find out as much as you can about Freemasonry and, having done that, reflect upon what you have learned and then make a free and informed choice one way or the other. I would be most happy to enter into a full and frank discussion with you to that end and make sure you are provided with the information you require.

_________________
Martin I.McGregor
Secretary,Southern Cross Lodge No.9
Master, Research Lodge of Southland No.415
Past Grand Steward
Southland District Publicity Officer
Editor Southland Masonic Newsletter

Hi all.

I am also new at this, just a quick question, how old are you Phylip? as i am only 26 if i joined would i be the youngest?

To honour the love of a father or a fathers love is great, what ever way you express it.

Keith. (Auckland for now)