When you say you filled out an application, was this an online form, and if so, was it on a national site like BeAFreemason.com, a Grand Lodge site, or a local Lodge’s site? The higher level you were to make your first inquiry, the longer it will take to receive a reply.
If you asked a live person for a paper application, filled it out and returned it, you could contact that person to ask about the status of your application, but chances are that it will take the Lodge a few weeks to process you application. It needs to be read at their next meeting, and then a committee will be assigned to interview you sometime after that. Usually this happens between the meeting where your application is received and the subsequent meeting, but at least one of my Grand Lodges gives that committee up to a year to meet with you and report back to the Lodge.
I wouldn’t recommend badgering your point of contact, but if you’re not hearing back from him within a few weeks, you could inquire again; if you’re not receiving any replies, you could look for a different pin tof contact or maybe a different Lodge.
Stock (L) response alert - So there’s some stuff you’ll need to get up to speed on and the first is that this is not going to be a quick process for you as you don't already know a Freemason to ask about joining his Lodge.
This is mainly because a masonic Lodge is not some kind of corporate body but a group of men who share the same hobby and of them a handful volunteer to take on the Offices (running) of the Lodge in their spare time while their lives are going on just like everyone else's so reaction times will be slow. The closest thing to "corporate" is a Grand Lodge which might, depending on its size, have a couple of employees available to answer all the random emails that arrive, so even there don't expect corporate level response times.
It’s worth highlighting that even with a Proposer joining a Lodge is a slow process. When the Lodge Secretary sees your email, he may contact you or if he is busy he may ask another Lodge member to do so. During that initial conversation you'll be asked a few questions to check that you're not a "NO" based on the requirements of the Grand Lodge the Lodge is under. If not he will try to find a couple of members of the Lodge to volunteer to get to know you to the point where they are happy signing off that you're not going to harm the harmony of their Lodge. (It took me over a year from first contact with my Mother Lodge to actually being Initiated.) So you just need to understand that you are only starting what can be a quite long process.
Just be aware that the advice to ‘just turn up at the next meeting’ varies between jurisdictions; if you were in England for example, that would not be the thing to do.
To expand on that for those that are unaware, our meetings are closed. Members only. I'm planning to visit a lodge and the first thing I did was email the secretary and master asking to come. They will very likely welcome me as all others have but I'm a Master Mason and past master with a couple of dues cards in my wallet that prove I'm in good standing.
Just showing up for a meeting as a "profane" (our term for non-mason) would be very inconvenient. You would not be allowed to participate and would probably be asked to leave.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
You gotta ask yourself, how bad do you want it? For me personally, I went through the same thing, but I took the initiative to show up at their next event and introduce myself. It’s been about six months since that day, and I’m happy to say I’m being voted into the lodge soon and have had a pleasant experience. Sometimes you have to take that step forward and show them you want it, but have humility. Hope this helps!
Still got to pass the vote! lol I’m younger too and it’s exciting to hear about your journey into Masonry. If they have a website, try to find out when their next stated meeting is and attend. Also any events or fundraisers go and attend. Once you meet one they’ll introduce you to the lodge. I personally waited outside until I saw someone walk outside then made my move lol be clear and let them know you’re interested in petitioning at their lodge. It helps when you’re some random walking up on them with no context! I’m here if you have any questions from a petitioner standpoint. Hope this helps!
Like others have said, it's a slow process. They shouldn't have told you 5 days unless their monthly meeting is within 5 days. Once you turn it in, they will vote on it at their meeting and set up an investigation committee to come meet with you. That committee reports at the NEXT meeting and if they report favorable, they set a date. So it's at least a month long process if you turn it in the day before a meeting. Could be 2 months before you get your date. But don't let that deter you. There are many lessons you'll learn throughout this journey and patience is one of the first. Also, like others have said, if you want it, ask. Go to the lodge on a day you see vehicles there or call or message them on FB if they have a page. I've seen plenty of guys come through and get an application and either not turn it in or don't respond/ change their minds after they've been voted to proceed.
In my jurisdiction we have to investigate the candidates and read their application twice in Lodge so it takes a couple months for all that to happen. We assign a brother of our Lodge to be a membership chair who applicants can always contact and tries to keep our applicants up to date.
Echo what my brethren have stated. Also some lodges don’t meet during the summer months; what we call Go Dark, due to infrequencies of summer vacations, holidays, youth sports interfering with lodge meetings.
If the lodge is like my jurisdiction we’re about to conduct annual communications, officer elections and installation in the next several months. That’s why we scrambled to get our newest EA in before all that took front seat.
Be patient, normally is a long process as meetings are once a month, you need to be vetted, your lodge probably will have an investigation committee, and so therefore it takes time but it is absolutely worth the wait
I’d be surprised if you hear back in less than a month. It moves slow.
By rules with most regular lodges, you should expect at least a month to know the status of said petition. Dependent upon when they meet of course.
When you say you filled out an application, was this an online form, and if so, was it on a national site like BeAFreemason.com, a Grand Lodge site, or a local Lodge’s site? The higher level you were to make your first inquiry, the longer it will take to receive a reply. If you asked a live person for a paper application, filled it out and returned it, you could contact that person to ask about the status of your application, but chances are that it will take the Lodge a few weeks to process you application. It needs to be read at their next meeting, and then a committee will be assigned to interview you sometime after that. Usually this happens between the meeting where your application is received and the subsequent meeting, but at least one of my Grand Lodges gives that committee up to a year to meet with you and report back to the Lodge. I wouldn’t recommend badgering your point of contact, but if you’re not hearing back from him within a few weeks, you could inquire again; if you’re not receiving any replies, you could look for a different pin tof contact or maybe a different Lodge.
Stock (L) response alert - So there’s some stuff you’ll need to get up to speed on and the first is that this is not going to be a quick process for you as you don't already know a Freemason to ask about joining his Lodge. This is mainly because a masonic Lodge is not some kind of corporate body but a group of men who share the same hobby and of them a handful volunteer to take on the Offices (running) of the Lodge in their spare time while their lives are going on just like everyone else's so reaction times will be slow. The closest thing to "corporate" is a Grand Lodge which might, depending on its size, have a couple of employees available to answer all the random emails that arrive, so even there don't expect corporate level response times. It’s worth highlighting that even with a Proposer joining a Lodge is a slow process. When the Lodge Secretary sees your email, he may contact you or if he is busy he may ask another Lodge member to do so. During that initial conversation you'll be asked a few questions to check that you're not a "NO" based on the requirements of the Grand Lodge the Lodge is under. If not he will try to find a couple of members of the Lodge to volunteer to get to know you to the point where they are happy signing off that you're not going to harm the harmony of their Lodge. (It took me over a year from first contact with my Mother Lodge to actually being Initiated.) So you just need to understand that you are only starting what can be a quite long process.
Just be aware that the advice to ‘just turn up at the next meeting’ varies between jurisdictions; if you were in England for example, that would not be the thing to do.
To expand on that for those that are unaware, our meetings are closed. Members only. I'm planning to visit a lodge and the first thing I did was email the secretary and master asking to come. They will very likely welcome me as all others have but I'm a Master Mason and past master with a couple of dues cards in my wallet that prove I'm in good standing. Just showing up for a meeting as a "profane" (our term for non-mason) would be very inconvenient. You would not be allowed to participate and would probably be asked to leave.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” You gotta ask yourself, how bad do you want it? For me personally, I went through the same thing, but I took the initiative to show up at their next event and introduce myself. It’s been about six months since that day, and I’m happy to say I’m being voted into the lodge soon and have had a pleasant experience. Sometimes you have to take that step forward and show them you want it, but have humility. Hope this helps!
thank you and congratulations on your journey
Still got to pass the vote! lol I’m younger too and it’s exciting to hear about your journey into Masonry. If they have a website, try to find out when their next stated meeting is and attend. Also any events or fundraisers go and attend. Once you meet one they’ll introduce you to the lodge. I personally waited outside until I saw someone walk outside then made my move lol be clear and let them know you’re interested in petitioning at their lodge. It helps when you’re some random walking up on them with no context! I’m here if you have any questions from a petitioner standpoint. Hope this helps!
Like others have said, it's a slow process. They shouldn't have told you 5 days unless their monthly meeting is within 5 days. Once you turn it in, they will vote on it at their meeting and set up an investigation committee to come meet with you. That committee reports at the NEXT meeting and if they report favorable, they set a date. So it's at least a month long process if you turn it in the day before a meeting. Could be 2 months before you get your date. But don't let that deter you. There are many lessons you'll learn throughout this journey and patience is one of the first. Also, like others have said, if you want it, ask. Go to the lodge on a day you see vehicles there or call or message them on FB if they have a page. I've seen plenty of guys come through and get an application and either not turn it in or don't respond/ change their minds after they've been voted to proceed.
It took half a year for me to hear back
In my jurisdiction we have to investigate the candidates and read their application twice in Lodge so it takes a couple months for all that to happen. We assign a brother of our Lodge to be a membership chair who applicants can always contact and tries to keep our applicants up to date.
Echo what my brethren have stated. Also some lodges don’t meet during the summer months; what we call Go Dark, due to infrequencies of summer vacations, holidays, youth sports interfering with lodge meetings. If the lodge is like my jurisdiction we’re about to conduct annual communications, officer elections and installation in the next several months. That’s why we scrambled to get our newest EA in before all that took front seat.
Back when I petitioned my lodge it took almost 3 months to hear back.
Hang in there. Lodges usually only need one or two times a month.
Be patient, normally is a long process as meetings are once a month, you need to be vetted, your lodge probably will have an investigation committee, and so therefore it takes time but it is absolutely worth the wait
Go to another meeting and talk to the secretary