Let's see...

Well some of them were under my watch as Master.

Matt T. was the last one we did and he was raised in April. He's active as he can be but recently took a job across state & so will likely not be coming back often. Sad as he was/is very interested and full of energy. Hes in his 30's and had no Masonic connection that he knew of until he got part way thru his degrees and found his father telling him that he was a member of a loge too. (he was raised by step fathe and mother)
Tim and Kevin were part of a three man class we started last fall. Thru some scheduling conflicts however we ended up doing their raisings on different days. They are both still very active and have agreed to officers chairs. Tim is the JD and Kevin our SMC. Tim is the younger in his 20's and Kevin is in his 30's. TIm had no Masonic commenctions Kevin has an older brother that belongs to our lodge.
Doug is our SD and has a masonic connection with his wifes father. He is older (in his 50's?) but is a heck of a guy.
Mike is Kevins older brother and if it weren't for work schedules (he works second shift) he'd still be coming to lodge regularly. In his 40's I'd geuss.
Matt L. was a product of our "ONE day class" here in NY and was very active until his work situation and home situation changed (had a second baby). His father was Master before me so he defeintely has a Masonic connection. He's younger and in his late 20's now.


To add to that we have three viable brothers that have started the degrees but have not yet finished them.
Matt B. took his first with TIm and Kevin but his job and schooling and a new marriage tied his time up last year. He's been back this fall and looking to continue where he left off. He is also younger in his 20's. I expect him to be active but I could be wrong.
Dan R. Took his frst and second but thru job changes and schooling and a new baby he's not been able to find time to finish his degree. he could be active but again with a young family I doubt it.
There is the grandson of a longtime member that has his EA and FC but never got his MM degree that has since moved out of state. His grandfather says he'll be back to get his degree soon and since he works currently for a MM in Ohio he's got some incentive there. Hopefully he'll be active out in Ohio but time will tell and we won't really benefit from it. he also lived next to me for a while and I can vouch for him being a man of good character. Just another youngster that needed to leave the area to find work to support himself and again a young family.

As far as why I cannot answer that question. Some of the reasons I know. matt T. for instance I was his only contact with the lodge and therefore I had several conversations with him before he put in his petition. So far he has not let me down and has been a man of his word and of good character. Some of the reasons are obvious like Matt L. his dad was and so he wanted to. I really like his dad (Don L.) and am glad that Matt became a brother too. Kevin was interested in what his brother was doing and his brother thought that it would help him too. I'm glad to say I think it has?

The oldest of our recent initiates is in his mid 30’s – the youngest was 21.

My Lodge has a past master who is in his late twenties and his father is our current DC. This young past master cannot make it to lodge himself because he works a night shift – but is very encouraging to others who show interest…He has been proposer for 4 of our last 5 candidates..

Mr 21-year-old worked with the young PM from our lodge and has assumed an office. He is pretty enthusiastic and friendly. A nice guy and I took a wonderful photograph of him soon after he joined the lodge standing with a Past Master in his 70’s –their arms over each others shoulders smiling at the camera :) Now that’s Freemasonry. Mr 21 missed last meeting without apologies and I telephoned him to find his GF’s grandmother had died :( We had a good chat and he is speaking of joined Lodge of Instruction. A young enthusiastic and smiling dude is always good to have around! The meeting before last we went out for beers after the meeting and visited the same PM who proposed him who quite conveniently works at a pub ! No relatives in the Craft

Mr 36-year-old is a client of mine who has grown into a close and valued mate. I MC’ed his wedding and drink scotch with him. Good Scotch. His wife recently had a beautiful baby girl who was sick last meeting so he could not come. Prior to that he came to the meeting but had to leave after the lodge closed but before dinner…. He joined because we were standing around one day with – him me and my brother (as in my mothers son) and he cracked a joke about Freemasons ruling the world and my brother invited him to ask me about it cause I was one of these mysterious men LOL.. He was genuinely interested and curious and decided to petition.. He is a MM now and enjoyed his degrees. I have taken him visiting so he sees that our lodge is not the sum of masonry – but there are other lodges out there. Ours is small and maybe 40 is the most he has ever seen at our lodge. I took him to one where there was over 100 and he was surprised.. He has not taken office because of his young family. I don’t want him to feel pressured. Encouraged – yes- but not pressured . Many older masons have done the same for him – encouraged him without pressure.. We are very close friends and I think he feels a responsibility not to let me down. I advised him not to join unless he was serious and he was careful to confirm what was expected of him before he did so. It is great to see such a good mate become a brother. Oh – and he is the first and only man I have ever proposed… No relatives in the Craft. However the (now deceased) father of a very good friend of his was in the craft … He did not know this and rang his mates mum to go referee. “FREEMASONS!” say she…”THAT”S WONDERFUL!!! I did not think young people did that anymore” and told him how wonderful her and her husbands involvement in the craft has been…

Mr 34-year-old was another mate of the young past master. He made a great speech on the night of his initiation saying how the history and brotherhood of the craft was a big attraction. He seems busy with work and seems to have fallen a little by the way side. His proposer and seconder have had trouble catching up with him which is a worry because he seemed to want to take an office and was appointed – but has not been installed.. No relatives in the Craft

Mr 26-year-old (?) has his own business. He pretty much did his third and we have only seen him once or twice since.. Another friend of our young PM. No relatives in the Craft

That’s it over the last three years,. .the last candidate before them was me.. so our standard of candidates has improved greatly LOL Me – I had a remote uncle in the craft – but did not really like him. I joined because someone I really respected persistently encouraged me to do so.. And bloody glad he did !