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Hello my name is David White and I am a Master Mason at #229 Mt. Nebo in Baltimore.
I wanted to pass along my story for others to hear and perhaps relate to.
Growing up I always adored my Grandfather, he was after all an honest church going, hard working man who never had a bad word to say. I can remember him counting the church offering in the small room adjoining the church, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 the pennies went away into his hands and into the bag for deposit. Growing up I can still hear him say" I'm a Master Mason".. Paying no attention I had no idea what he was attempting to do.. I wrote it off as he may have layed bricks at one time in his life or something. Married at Twenty I was a busy man myself but always had time for Dedad and me-mom and things that they needed around the house. My other relatives of my age didn't visit or call them but I wanted to because I truly loved them and thir simple painless lives of love for God and one another.
Me-mom passed away and De-dad had taken sick only two months after. She passed at age 89 and Dedad was now 96. I sat with him in the hospital as he lie unconscious for days on end leaving only for work and sleep his condition only worsened. He knew I was there, as he had a few moments here and there of consciousness. He passed on Thanksgiving Day 1997 I had just left to be at the table with my family when the news came that he had passed. The funeral arrangements were made by an Uncle that is what I call a part time pastor. He came and went from church to church as he pleased always leaving with a money tree from the congregation. The funeral was over De-dad buried and My Uncle made a comment that changed my life. " Those jerks the Masons called and wanted to do their hocus pocus and I told them to get lost" I quickly asked my father what this was all about and found out that there was a ritual to be performed and he had seen to it that it would not be.
At my parents house one year later they said that they had something for me from my Grandfather. A Masonic ring the red stone was cracked. I took it to a jewler freind at work and he had the stone replaced. I wore it proudly to church or any time I was dressed up and going out. Not to say that I was a Mason but as an heirloom of pride. A friend at work was a Mason and upon many inquiries I decide that Masonry was much too time consuming for my life. Kids ,work, wife, coaching etc. How could I spare one more moment of my life for anything else. But man did I want to. Wayne a friend and past master saw my ring one day at work and asked me if I was a Mason. Telling him no and why was the timing of my life. He told me of a new thing in Maryland Masonry that was happening for the first tiime and that I was right in time for it. The Most Worshipful Grand Masters Excellarated course." What I said, a crash course in Masonry"..."Won't I be missing something?" Next came a petition and signers. Some had regrets about this method of becoming a Master Mason in a day as "They had to go the traditional route". I felt bad .. Was I cheating? "No.. said Francis Larrimore " No said my sponser" So I went for it...
June 19, 1999 Fourteen hours all three degrees and raised. Then came a summer long two nights a week with tests that had to score a 90% on. I read books and talked to brothers. I attended lodge ( wearing my Grandfathers apron) and had to stand 3rd in lodge within a year. Well in October of 1999 I stood all alone in the lodge and did my third degree. I didn't skip a beat and Grand Line officers were present. Remarkable they said " Man did I feel great now..Now I am teaching the third degree class at my lodge with another brother. I have seen alot of brothers unhappy with this method of Masonry. Perhaps you may have not heard of this in your state? But I can assure you that I am a Master Mason and as you can tell by my story we all have come to it by different roads.
So Mote it be.
Brothers forever David White #229 Mt. Nebo
Baltimore E-Mail David White
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