🚀 go-pugleaf

 >      No member of my family (to my knowledge) was ever a Mason. Does this
 > preclude me from entering the brotherhood?

No, not in the least.  All you need to do in order to become a Mason is
ask how you might do so.

The process goes something like this:

1) You ask someone you believe to be a Mason about Freemasonry, and
determine if it's right for you.

2) If it is, ask that Mason how you might join.

3) The Mason will give you a petition.  You fill this out, sign and date
it, and return it to him.

4) The petition is read at a Lodge Meeting, and a committee is appointed
to inquire into your character, standing in society and fitness to be made
a Mason.

5) A Ballot is held at the next Lodge Meeting, to determine if you are to
be admitted.

If you are approved, you then begin the process of learning about
Freemasonry through the degrees; those of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft
and Master Mason.  It is by those degrees that you are admitted into
Freemasonry, taught its basic principles and made a part of the Lodge.

 > I may have misinterpreted the
 > system, but it seems that the DeMolays are an
 > adjunct, or auxilliary rather
 > than a mainstream part of Freemasonry.

That is essentially correct; the DeMolays are youth groups which have
Masonic sponsorship.

 >      I went to a barbeque yesterday thrown for
 > the major landowners in the
 > area and noticed the man with whom I had been
 > speaking for some time was
 > wearing a Masonic ring. Although I didn't get
 > many details, he invited me
 > over "some time" (he's a neighbor: in this
 > area, if you're a major landowner
 > your neighborhood is about 5 miles wide! :) to
 > show me the information he had
 > and to discuss it.

That is a perfect opportunity to get your questions answered. <G>

 >      Although I am certain that Ron -- the man
 > I met yesterday -- would be
 > able to answer all these questions in full, he
 > is also a busy man (aren't we
 > all?) and I will not intrude upon him with a
 > basketful of questions until I
 > have some greater understanding of the issues:
 > this way, I can ask meaningful
 > questions when I take the man's personal time.

That's very considerate of you.  I know of no Mason, however, that would
not give of his time freely (provided he has it to give!) when speaking
with someone about Freemasonry.

 > Of course, I guess I'm taking
 > *YOUR* personal time with this too! :) Perhaps
 > it's the relative anonymity
 > of the net.

Whatever makes you comfortable. <G>

 > P.S. -- BTW, I am familiar enough with history
 > to know who Jacques DeMolay was...very bad way to go!

Unfortunately, history is replete with such examples.

Be well, and welcome to our forums, Art.

 --Michael Walsh
   Moderator, FREEMASON
   (FidoNet Backbone)

--- OPMED 3.00
 * Origin: St. Alban Swain Lodge #529, F&AM, Pennsylvania (1:273/10)