How to Join a Lodge

Reliance Lodge is a relatively small Lodge, and we like it like that. Everyone pretty much knows everyone. It's like a second family. 

We are composed of not necessiarly always like minded men, but morally we are all on the same path, with no exceptions. We may periodically differ, but the underlying morals and feeling of family keep us bound together. 

We do charitable events, group outings, and of course have monthly meetings. We also participate in Grand Lodge and district activities, at various levels. 

Nothing is mandatory.  We understand that health, family, and business take priority, but we expect every member to put in an effort; albeit to their own ability. 

If you are interested in being with a close knit group, that holds themselves to a higher moral standard, and participate in charitable activitites, then Reliance Lodge may be a good fit for you.

We were originally going to title this "How to Join a Lodge" but each Lodge has thier own way of taking on new members. This is ours:

• Reach out and make an appointment. Contact any of our officers, email us, or phone us, and find out a good time for you to meet everyone in person. You will probably be invited to a meeting or an event, but contct us beforehand because we may be busy doing something and not be able to give you the attention you deserve. After meeting face to face, we can all get a sense if it is a good fit or not. If it is a good fit, we will hand you a petition for you to fill out and one of the Brothers must sign the petition.
• After the Petition is signed. After the Petition is signed by your sponsoring Brother and you, you must submit to a background check. After the backgorund check gets returned in acceptable condition (we aren't checking your credit and we don't care too much about minor incidents), then we do a formal interview at your home with your live-in signiificant other, if any. (If your significant other isn't on board, it  makes life difficult...)  Once the interview is done, assuming the result is favorable, you will get submitted to the Lodge for a vote. At this time, you should have already been to a few events or meetings. Once the petition has received a favoraable vote, then you proceed to take the three degrees of Masonry and become a bona fide Mason. This process takes time. There is no set time for this, but we try and handle this as quickly as possible. As the expression goes, "sometimes life gets in the way." 

• YOU WILL GET OUT OF RELIANCE ONLY WHAT YOU PUT IN. Seriously, you have all heard this expression before but it is very true; of Reliance, of Masonry, and of life. 
• You can participate in BBQs, weekends away, broadway shows, wine trips, charity events, etc. We try and do what makes us happy. Granted, you can do all of that on your own, however, the fellowship is what makes it more enjoyabe for us. Being able to share the experience, good and bad, makes it more valuable. (If you get that, you are probably a good candidate for Reliance.)
• What you will get is real world friends and family who are on the same moral path.This is not internet friends, these are real flesh and blood people, with our own quirks, who can periodically drive you crazy and who love to death. There is an expression in our Lodge, "you don't have to like everyone all the time, but you have to love them." 

If you like what you read, and get what we are saying, reach out and drop us a line.