Not Even A Freemason Yet...

by Gerrit van der Linde
(Johannesburg, South Africa)

I have recently petitioned to a local lodge and have been honored to pass the formal interview with a unanimous yes vote.

The ballot for my acceptance in the Lodge is due in a few weeks and am hopeful that this will go as well as my interview.

You will ask why (and I have been asked, like all Brothers-to-be) I want to be a Freemason... The answer is not one I take lightly and for the love of me, can not answer in one straight sentence.

I have met a Freemason(I recognized him as a Freemason by his ring he wore proudly) many years ago(around 1990) and was amazed by his personality and in general, the mannerism in which he conducted his day to day life. Contrary to what I only learned recently I was of the belief and under the impression that to become a Freemason you have to be asked by a Freemason and not ask a Freemason.

The day before my interview I found out that my grandfather has been a Freemason, and all of a sudden the only two Freemasons I ever knew made me realize that this is not just by chance a characteristic of an individual gentleman that made them such exceptional men... The common denominator was Freemasonry.

Thus, almost 23 years later I am now standing in front of the Doors, about to enter the life of being a Freemason.

But, this is not yet the answer as to why... Why I want to be a Freemason.
The answer in one short sentence might be strange to some but to me it is... Because somewhere inside me I just know that it is where I belong, and that it is the right thing to do.

If Freemasonry helped build my Grandfathe's humble, wonderful personality and character, then my wish is that through the teachings of Freemasonry I will become more and more like the man he was...