yelocraft

I just came home from our monthly stated lodge meeting, and as a tradition, we had our dinner in Nakpil then part two of the fellowship will always be a battle of bottles.



We have 3 petitioners who attended the meeting (or more like the fellowship), petitioners is the term we use for men who wants to join masonry. During that stage, petitioners doesn't get to contribute for dinner and the drinking. But as a part of the tradition, they get to serve beer to the members of the lodge until they are raised to the degree of master mason. I think in other fraternities they call it "service'


Now, let me explain this "service" (for a lack of a better term) in masonry, to people outside the circle, this is just another way of bullying the petitioner, but No! In masonry, at least in my experience, you learn something every step of the way, and doing "service" teaches a valuable lesson. Allow me to elaborate...


Freemasonry preaches that all men are equal, ok that's one point, I'll get back to that in a bit.


Masons come from different backgrounds, a lot of us are businessmen, professionals, government officials etc. I guess if you look at history, a lot of masons are prominent people. So if you are someone important in the office, or in the government or in society as a whole, how can you treat someone as an equal if you still "have" all your worldly possessions and accomplishments "attached" to you?


Serving beer during fellowships teaches a very important lesson, and that is Humility. Going through that humbling experience will help you treat your brother as an equal.