I joined the craft last year at the age of 25. I
had become interested in joining through my research on the American
Revolution. As a living historian portraying a private in the 23rd Regt.
Royal Welch Fusiliers in America 1775 I have done a lot of reading on the
war. One thing that kept coming up in my research was the fact that many
men of all different backgrounds on both sides of the war were freemasons.
Especially interesting for me was the fact that an Indian Chief of the
Iriquios named Joseph Brandt was allowed to join.
Realizing that for Native Americans and freed slaves to be able to join a large fraternal association along side Englishmen and colonists of different religions and economic backgrounds during the 18th century shocked me to say the least. This was the 18th century not the more enlightened 21st century!
My interest in the craft was even more piqued
after traveling to Lexington and Concord in April of 2000 to March on Battle
Road with 500+ other costumed red coats. While in Lexington I had a chance
to go through the Museum of Our National Heritage operated by the Scottish
Rite. Their exhibit on Fraternal Societies really got me interested.
A few months later I was invited to attend the
installation of my sister as the Worthy Advisor in her Assymbly of the
International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. I found out that this was a
Masonic sponsored youth group and was impressed with what I learned about
the program and what my sister was having the opportunity to learn.
After consulting with my wife, I contacted an
older friend who I new was a Mason and asked to join. This next year I will
be the Junior Deacon in my Lodge. I participate in our lodge's child Id
fingerprinting program and have even had the opportunity to give Charges in
my Lodge along with the Senior Deacons work on the Second Degree.
The memorization wasn't as hard as I thought it
would be and my mind is now sharper than it ever was before. I have a whole
group of friends and brothers that I never had before. I find that Lodge
activities provide a release from the stresses of the work week. My family
and I attend Lodge dinners and other activities together.
The real key to enjoying the lodge is joining one
where the members are active, where they are doing things in the community,
and where members are excited about what's going on.
I highly recommend Freemasonry to all good men
everywhere. It lives up to the promise of "Making Good Men Better!"
Jason Orton
Welcome Lodge #255
Lemoore, CA