The Masonic Wife- Reflections Of A Masonic Wife

I am not a MASON- I'm not even a man. Better than both of these, perhaps, I am the wife of a Mason.

At the Masonic Center, Madison Wisconsin- Scottish Rite Reunion

Before I met my husband, I have never really known about and of the Masons. Yes, I have heard of them once ow twice in a casual conversation with friends and because I have an uncle who is also a Mason but that's as far as my knowledge of the fraternity goes.

Who are the Masons? That's not a surprising question at all. I also asked the same question at first. Even though the Freemasons are members of the largest and oldest fraternity in the world, and even though almost everyone has a father or a grandfather who is a Mason, many people aren't quite certain who and what the Masons are. The answer is simple. A Mason is a member of a fraternity known as Freemasonry. Like I said, Masonry is the oldest fraternity in the world although no one really knows just how old it is because the actual origins have been lost in time. In 1717, Masonry created a formal organization in England when the first Grand Lodge was formed. A Grand Lodge is the administrative body in charge of Masonry in a certain geographical area. In the United States, there is a Grand Lodge in each state. Local organizations of Freemasonry, are called 'lodges'.

Freemasons believe that a man's job is to be the best version of himself. To discover lasting connections and friendship that will withstand time and all the odd consequences in life. Their craft has helped them and their brothers before them to develop meaningful relationships, bring relief to those most vulnerable in the societies, hope to those who have lost it and encouragement to those who have been turned down by life's difficulties. They live their values by helping those in need.

Masonry does things in the world. And this is a good place to start about why men become Masons. There are things they want to do in the world. There are things they want to do in 'their own minds'. And they enjoy being together with men they like and respect. Masonry teaches that each person has a responsibility to make things better in the world. It is deeply involved with helping others and they are philantrophic - it spends millions of dollars everyday in the United States to help others and just to make life a little bit easier. The great majority of the help goes to people who are not Masons. They hold charity events and raise funds for projects in the community. They offer and give out scholarships to deserving students who cannot afford but want to continue to go to school. They donate to hospitals, clinics and centers and help children afflicted by such conditions like aphasia, dyslexia and related learning disorders. Some services are less noticeable like helping a widow pay her bills, or buying clothing and shoes for disadvantaged children. And there's just about anything you can think in between. But with projects large or small, the Masons try to make this world a better place.

When I married my husband, I knew that he was a Mason and becoming a Mason's wife opens you up to a world of possibilities. You get introduced to a lot of respectable people in the community who are devoted to become good citizens and respectable members of the society. You develop friendships with other wives and significant others of the brother Masons and it widens your horizons about a lot of things in the community.

Although I was vaguely aware of changes at first, it was a year after being married before I fully realized to what extent Masonry was affecting our lives. I feel more strongly today, that everything my husband is and everything I am with him is so intricately interwoven with his Masonic beliefs. Values and responsibilities that our personal lives and our Masonic lives are one. I am married to a man who respects himself and others around him. A man who has great respect for women and has beliefs that upholds good values in life.

When I first moved in the US permanently and introduced by my husband to his Masonic family, I would have not thought of having a network of friends and support as exists in the Masonic fraternity. To mention some, there's the Mason brother who basically made our wedding reception fun and lively. He coordinated the activities , the music, the party and the dancing. They have also been generous to sponsor the venue of our wedding reception, and the Masons and their significant others were there to celebrate with us on our special day.

One of my favorite things of being a Mason's wife, is that I have an excuse to get dressed up and mingle, fairly often. Masonic functions have been a good test ground for the 'real world'. I have become more relaxed with meeting new people and improving new social skills since being involved with Masonry. You get to be a part of a fraternity that does things for a good cause. And it is a wonderful feeling.

Simple words cannot express the warmth I have in my heart that my husband's and my life has been enriched by the experiences I have had and by the people I have met through my husband's affiliation with the Masons. I love the man my husband is and is continuously becoming because of his Masonic values and beliefs. I love the Masonic fraternity and its principles of living and making him the man that he is.

XOXO,

Karen