Are military members being Freemasons a dying breed?

I simply stated my experience. The ones I have met receive handouts and favoritism. I find it odd how you turn this into a personal attack. Typically lower intelligence is associated with attacking the person - not the idea. One more piece of evidence for the false nature of your claim is that I'm actually quite educated. I actually am about to receive my masters degree. What kind of education do you have? I find your comment to be uninformed and inaccurate.

They're the ones receiving handouts and favoritism without qualifications.<---Your exact comment. Congrats on your almost master degree. Thanks for sending me your qualifications as if your are applying to me for a job. I am not attacing you personally, I am attacking your statement. I dont know YOU to attack You personally so sorry you felt that way. Carry on and have a great day.

Thanks for talk my comment out of context. "I've encountered quite a few..." Hence, my experience of those who I've encountered. I listed my education in response to your statement that I'm uneducated. Your comments remain uninformed and inaccurate.

2 down votes and no comments, yup, truth hurts

again, 3 down votes and no comments to justify it. So there must be some truth to it. But down vote it all you want, that does'nt truly show that you dislike what I said, it simply shows that you dislike someone saying it what is really going on.

I do not display anything showing my affiliation to the Freemasons. I do my volunteering within my community and do for others who sometimes cannot do for themselves. Sometimes there are individuals who will show favoritism to those who are in the same group yes, does that mean it is necessarily negative? Since business's offer military discounts is that showing favoritism? Not all Soldiers serve honorably yet they still receive the same benefits as those that do. Just some food for thought.

a business, which is an outside organization to the military, that is providing benefits to SM's who are NOT involved with that organization, is not the same situation as a member of an organization giving ANOTHER member in the SAME organization assistance...  its not the same.

That is my lodge. I am down in Fort Campbell now. Tell them all I said hello. Give Matt a hard time regarding the Seahawks for me.

I visited a lodge when I was in the Philippines and some of the guys there told me that it takes years and years, and most never get voted in on the first try just to see if they're really interested.  I haven't come across a U.S. lodge that works that way but then again, there are thousands of lodges out there. Interesting story on the family tradition. Good luck and don't give up.

1SG Cottrell,

They're not supposed to invite.  The point behind asking instead of being invited is to make sure you're trying to enter the fraternity of your own free will.  If you're invited there's a possibility you're entering for the wrong reasons.  If you WANT to be approached do a google search for "grand lodge" and the state you reside in.  There'll be a membership/petition link somewhere on the homepage or a local lodge finder.  If not interested, that's cool too.  Free will and a sharing of opinions as equals no matter one's income, education, or status outside the lodge is the point.  I believe there are fewer freemasons in the military because not enough men ask and instead expect to be asked, usually because they simply don't know they're not supposed to be invited.

Don't give up.  There are intangible rewards that will make it worth the money.  You'll understand once you're accepted into the fraternity.  When they have social events that include non-Masons, don't hesitate to join in the fun.