Interesting that our last discussion was about dotage, because yesterday I had a bit of an odd conversation.
I stopped into the local fish market to pick up some Blue Marlin. The fellow who was helping me was I would guess in his mid-twenties. He noticed my Masonic shirt and started a conversation about it.
He told me that his father and grandfather were/are both Masons, and that he has friends in one of the Local Lodges. He also indicated that he had discussed Masonry in some detail with his friends.
I asked him why he hadn’t petitioned yet.
He said that he felt he was too young to become a Freemason. That he wanted to do so at some point, but that he felt that one should be older.
That got me thinking. Is there an ideal age for a man to become a Freemason? How should maturity levels play into the decision? Will a young, early to mid-twenties man get more out of Freemasonry if he waits a few years?
Let’s chat about it…
This is one of those times that reminds you or makes you think about or realize once in a while things happen for a reason.
Not just accidentally, even though some will say it just happened.
I have been reminded many times in my life when things happen that seem to have a purpose and even a test to see what you will do with the situation.
And you MW found a time where you can either help this young man with the answers and let him know he is ready to become an EA
You can go either way.
Then if you just continue on with your day you will later think about what happened and you will think about it and even wonder why you didn't say or do even more.
We tend to have things in our mind that we just can't stop thinking about and then feel like you have to do something about the situation.
Reminds me of decades ago when I was 19 years old and read a book called "Powers of Mind" by Adam Smith ( for some reason I never will forget the book or the authors name) and that was 44 years ago.
Reminds of us of why we have the Degrees which pretty much tells us if a new member considers it to be the right thing to do.
And all of this is why I just happen to be awake at 2am and read this and I think that I can't just go off to sleep without saying anything.
(and falling asleep has never been easy for me and I am trying to change my human clock so I can get up at 6am this saturday for the Outdoor Degree for a new member)
I petitioned in my mid twenties after I recognized my mortality and the value of second hand experience.
The fundamental dividie between my generation and Masonry isn't the average age. It's the values. Millennials, predominantly, are hedonists, not stoics. They care not for the virtues. They may come around in the next decade, but they don't join religion either.