Masonic Forum Home Search Members Calendar Who's On Welcome Guest ( Login | Register ) Recent PostsRecent Posts Popular TopicsPopular Topics Home » General » General Masonic Discussion » The Interview 28 posts, Page 1 of 3123»»» The Interview Rate Topic Display Mode Topic Options Author Message RoughAshlarRoughAshlar Posted 24/02/2010 08:52 Apprentice Group: Forum Members Last Login: 2 days ago @ 12:55 Posts: 38, Visits: 151 Good Evening! I'm to present before the Nomination Committee for an Interview with a view to being accepted by a Lodge here in Sydney. What I would like to know is what I should expect to be asked and to talk about. Could any Aussies or English brothers let me know? What, other than being plain, frank and truthful should I do to prepare? Is anyone willing to share the tale of their interview? Just on the background side of things, I was not introduced by the usual method. I'm an internet applicant. Becoming a Freemason is something that has been important to me for a very long time, but I was overly busy with other things. I became greatly enamoured of the Craft after a visit to the Masonic Centre in Sydney as a teenager. Some of the ideas and beliefs portrayed by the gent who guided me through the Centre struck a chord with me and still resonate. These days, I think some of his words should have been restricted to a Tyled place. Now, I'm forty and I feel it's certainly the right time. The only gents who I have known a great many years who I thought might be of the Craft, owing to their truthful and upright nature, turned out to be just exceptionally good gentlemen. I approached the Masonic Centre in Sydney who suggested one Lodge to me as "a good choice for young men". I let them know my age and my locale as well as a preference to serve nearer to home and instead was contacted by a gent from another Lodge which is nearby. When we met at the Temple to talk, the connection was instant - many ideas and perceptions about much and many were the same between us. He was about twenty or so years my senior, I estimate and has been, best I can tell, a lifelong member - a former WM of that Lodge and former District official (apologies - I don't recall the precise title - DGIW?). It was a good and frank and open exchange. Based on how this man spoke, thought and behaved I asked there and then to join his Lodge. A few weeks passed, I was advised of the Initiation Date and then a few more weeks passed and was advised of the request to present for the Interview and reminded of the date for Initiation (EA!). He told me that it's rather fast-moving by Masonic standards. I would rather be accepted quickly than slowly rejected. So - interview time approaches. I'm excited and nervous. Not much excites me and not much makes me nervous any more. I've not been interviewed for anything in a very long time. All being good, I look forward to the journey if am allowed to take it, but shall ever remain in my own mind as 'Rough Ashlar' because there are forever imperfections that we only become aware of by removing others. Hope to hear from you. Cheers - RoughAshlar. |O| EA - Lodge Ku-Ring-Gai 1033. Post #18838 Mike MartinMike Martin Posted 24/02/2010 12:24 Past Master Group: Administrators Last Login: Today @ 12:34 Posts: 1,334, Visits: 3,813 You won't have anything to worry about with the interview, it sounds as if you'll get more of what you've already had just with more people involved. MikeThe Freemasons' Grand Charity My Mother Lodge website Join or just visit my Masonic Web RingSee my BALLS here Post #18843 Alan CampbellAlan Campbell Posted 24/02/2010 13:28 Past Master Group: Forum Members Last Login: 22/07/2010 19:44 Posts: 1,089, Visits: 1,323 If its anything like our lodge, then the brother that you met was happy enough to report back to general committee that he thought you were sound and upright. If he hadn't liked you he would have reported it back and someone else would have met you privately.every enquiry committee that i have been to has set questions which are set down in the by laws of the lodge which must be asked, the usual stuff, belief in a supreme being, do you have criminal record, have you ever done any charity work, just answer honestly, be as open as you can be and relax.Your constitution might be different as might the UGLE or any other branch of freemasonry but the above wnot be that far from the mark. Hope this helps. Post #18844 RoughAshlarRoughAshlar Posted 25/02/2010 08:05 Apprentice Group: Forum Members Last Login: 2 days ago @ 12:55 Posts: 38, Visits: 151 Thank you for your assistance, gents! Looks like it will be quite straight-forward. I had heard some tell of some unusual questions being fired off, but perhaps that was from some other forum or some other unrecognised strand. Again, my thanks to you. Cheers - RoughAshlar. |O| EA - Lodge Ku-Ring-Gai 1033. Post #18868 lauderdalelauderdale Posted 25/02/2010 09:01 Excellent Master Group: Forum Members Last Login: 04/07/2010 12:56 Posts: 2,238, Visits: 4,269 From memory and bering in mind that they may do things differently where you are living the questions tend to be as Bro Alan has stated.Do you believe in a Supreme Being? (In most Constitutions this is mandatory).What do you know about Freemasonry? (Advice - do not come across as too clever in answering this one. I was very careful when asked this as I had read a lot about Freemasonry over the years but didn't wish to come across as a "clever cloggs" when I answered.)Do you have any relatives or friends who are/were Freemasons?Why do you wish to become a Freemason?What do you hope to obtain from being a Freemason?Do you have a criminal record? (In some Constitutions this question is on the application form).Will you be able to afford the time and money involved ?Is your wife/partner aware that you wish to become a Freemason? Are they at ease with this ?These are the fairly standard questions that I can remember from an UGLE Lodge, but there might be others which relate to your own Lodge or Constitution.Good luck in the Interview. Bear in mind that the Brethren interviewing you actually want the Inteviewee to pass not to be rejected . I have never heard of anyone being asked a "trick" question to trip them up. Also some Committees will, after deliberation tell you the result. In other Lodges they ask the Secretary to write to you so not hearing on the night is not a sign of problems with your applciation. Post #18870 RoughAshlarRoughAshlar Posted 25/02/2010 10:38 Apprentice Group: Forum Members Last Login: 2 days ago @ 12:55 Posts: 38, Visits: 151 Thank you for your reply, Lauderdale. I was already asked these questions when I met that gentleman the first time and nothing has changed. I believe they are the answers he wrote on the documents. Being of my age and not one who tries to impress (one of the follies of youth, imho), I know better to say less of some things because in truth, that improperly acquired information is nothing but noise until it is freely and properly given to you in the correct manner and appropriately connected. The most recent e-mail advised that I should expect further instructions after the meeting of the Committee and have already been advised about manner of dress, time to report, etc for initiation in April. To me, nothing is fait accomplit until it is ordinarily in writing or spoken by men of honour. I await my fate... and yes, I do have a big dose of humility /"I'm not worthy" (hold it on the Waynes World jokes, OK? ). Thank you for your guidance. Cheers - RoughAshlar. |O| EA - Lodge Ku-Ring-Gai 1033. Post #18872 northern starnorthern star Posted 07/03/2010 11:44 Apprentice Group: Forum Members Last Login: 06/06/2010 20:25 Posts: 13, Visits: 27 Hello there,I recently went through the formal committee interview and I found it fairly straight forward and very enjoyable.A series of formal, pre-determined questions (about 10-12) were put to me and I politely did my best to answer them. I had been advised earlier in the process to be honest, sincere and truthful in my responses, nothing more nor less.From what I understand the list of questions vary somewhat from lodge to lodge but the standard two or three questions will be universal.The key is to enjoy the interview process and take the opportunity to come across as perceptive and erudite. The committee may ask you if you have any questions yourself, therefore it's well to remember that your questions can be seen to be as important and influential as your answers. Cheers,northern star. Post #19294 RoughAshlarRoughAshlar Posted 09/03/2010 07:39 Apprentice Group: Forum Members Last Login: 2 days ago @ 12:55 Posts: 38, Visits: 151 The meeting was last night. It went very smoothly. The questions were basically the same as the form. They were all really nice gents. It was a very odd feeling to be facing so many and to be so pleasantly greeted by all and to be treated as if I were someone they had already known a long while. Looking forward to knowing the outcome, but somehow, it seems as if it could be fait accomplit from their manner of speech and positive reaction to my answers. However, I put no stock in anything until it's written. Thank you for your earlier guidance. Cheers - RoughAshlar. |O| EA - Lodge Ku-Ring-Gai 1033. Post #19349 CheshireCheshire Posted 12/03/2010 21:45 Apprentice Group: Forum Members Last Login: 2 days ago @ 13:13 Posts: 13, Visits: 114 Glad your interview went smoothly, i hope mine goes smoothly next week. Post #19585 KeithKeith Posted 13/03/2010 06:40 Fellow Group: Forum Members Last Login: 19/07/2010 02:18 Posts: 351, Visits: 651 So now you know it is not an interrogation by the Inquisition using the Rack to get the answers they want! Keith PM. 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MikeThe Freemasons' Grand Charity My Mother Lodge website Join or just visit my Masonic Web RingSee my BALLS here
every enquiry committee that i have been to has set questions which are set down in the by laws of the lodge which must be asked, the usual stuff, belief in a supreme being, do you have criminal record, have you ever done any charity work, just answer honestly, be as open as you can be and relax.
Your constitution might be different as might the UGLE or any other branch of freemasonry but the above wnot be that far from the mark. Hope this helps.
Do you believe in a Supreme Being? (In most Constitutions this is mandatory).
What do you know about Freemasonry? (Advice - do not come across as too clever in answering this one. I was very careful when asked this as I had read a lot about Freemasonry over the years but didn't wish to come across as a "clever cloggs" when I answered.)
Do you have any relatives or friends who are/were Freemasons?
Why do you wish to become a Freemason?
What do you hope to obtain from being a Freemason?
Do you have a criminal record? (In some Constitutions this question is on the application form).
Will you be able to afford the time and money involved ?
Is your wife/partner aware that you wish to become a Freemason? Are they at ease with this ?
These are the fairly standard questions that I can remember from an UGLE Lodge, but there might be others which relate to your own Lodge or Constitution.
Good luck in the Interview. Bear in mind that the Brethren interviewing you actually want the Inteviewee to pass not to be rejected . I have never heard of anyone being asked a "trick" question to trip them up. Also some Committees will, after deliberation tell you the result. In other Lodges they ask the Secretary to write to you so not hearing on the night is not a sign of problems with your applciation.
I recently went through the formal committee interview and I found it fairly straight forward and very enjoyable.
A series of formal, pre-determined questions (about 10-12) were put to me and I politely did my best to answer them. I had been advised earlier in the process to be honest, sincere and truthful in my responses, nothing more nor less.
From what I understand the list of questions vary somewhat from lodge to lodge but the standard two or three questions will be universal.
The key is to enjoy the interview process and take the opportunity to come across as perceptive and erudite. The committee may ask you if you have any questions yourself, therefore it's well to remember that your questions can be seen to be as important and influential as your answers.
Cheers,
northern star.
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