Endorsing a Petition

As Master Masons, we all have the ability to recommend prospective members to our Lodge. 

Unfortunately many men never exercise what is no doubt one of the greatest privileges a Master Mason can have,
and that is endorsing a petition.

It is true that we need to guard the doors of our craft carefully to make sure that the individual is truly qualified to hold the title of Mason, or to hold membership in our Lodge. 

Early in my Masonic life, I signed a petition for an individual whom at the time I believed would be a good Mason.
He said all the right things, acted in the proper manner, and seemed to be just the kind of individual that Masonry needed.
I had known his wife most of my life and she is a wonderful lady. The investigation committee also came back with a favorable report.  This individual was raised and was a member of the Lodge for a short time when his true character began to surface. And believe me, it was not Masonic character.  Remembering my obligation, I was considering Masonic charges, but before it came to that, the individual was suspended for non-payment of dues. 

That very bad experience stuck with me for quite a while. Although I was only one of the endorsers on the petition,
I felt responsible, and felt as if I had let my Lodge down.  At this point, I had made up my mind that since I had been
duped before, that I would not endorse another petition or application ever again.

I know now that was the wrong attitude. Time, age and counsel of a few good Past Masters and brethren, brought what I hope to be a bit more wisdom,  I soon realized that if every Mason held that attitude, our craft would soon die.

Since that day I have had the privilege of endorsing the petitions and applications of several fine men.  I am proud to say that they all are really good Masons and a credit to Freemasonry. One particular endorsement stands out in my mind.

The many tasks of the secretary of the Lodge often are time consuming. As a young boy, my son would often ask,
Dad what are you doing, and can I help?  Often I would allow him to assist me with stamping, folding, sorting and preparing some of the Masonic work. This not only allowed us to spend quality time together but gave the secretary much needed assistance. Inevitably, my son would ask, Dad can I be  Mason?  I would answer, sure you can son, when you get old enough. I thought, wouldn't that be something if he really did want to be a Mason when he grew up. 

Well time passed, and as he grew he got involved in all the normal things that many young boys do. The least of which were baseball, golf, and girls! And not always in that order. But through it all he maintained a maturity level that most kids never achieve. There was the occasional bump in the road, but he always worked hard in school (and everywhere else)  made good grades and made his parents very proud of him. His schoolwork, sports and social life did not allow much time for the menial tasks of assisting the secretary anymore, yet he always maintained an interest, and asked me about how things went at Lodge.

It was difficult to believe when time passed so swiftly and that our little son could be turning into a young man and would be eighteen years old. It was on that eighteenth birthday that he asked me again, Dad can I be a Mason? Trying to be the tough old Dad I fought back the tear that tried to come to my eye, and with my heart leaping I answered yes son, you can. He filled out his petition that day, and I have never been so proud to sign anything in my life. He has been a Mason for a few years now and is active in the Lodge and eager to help it grow and succeed. It is my hope that he will have many wonderful years in Freemasonry. He is a never ending source of pride for his father.

So I suppose there is a lesson to be learned. I could have closed my heart and mind to the process of endorsing another petition, but if I had, Masonry would have lost out on several good men whom I have had the privilege of signing for. And equally as important to me, I would have lost out on having the privilege of calling my son a brother.

We are responsible for each petition we sign, but more importantly each Mason is ultimately responsible for himself.
Guard the gates of Freemasonry, but don't close them! Don't expect the other brethren to do all the work and take all of the responsibility for bringing in new members.  You never know where that new petition or application might come from so keep your eyes and your hearts open. We all have a responsibility to keep Masonry alive!

                                                                                                                        Michael A. Stewart, PM
                                                                                                                        Secretary