We're sorry, but this discussion has just been closed to further replies.
Here is the situation:
A Brother Master Mason joins an appendant body, for this purpose we will consider it the Scottish Rite. Ok, the brother remains in good standing within his Blue Lodge. After 25 yrs. of being in good standing in the SR, the man decides to take a demit from the SR. He still, to this day, remains in good standing in his Blue Lodge. The question I have is: Is this Brother still entitled to wear his SR Ring or keep his car emblem on the car? Even though he has demitted, he can't take away the obligation he has taken. What are your thoughts on this issue?
I'd let him continue to wear the ring. But in being a Mason, if asked if he is an SR Mason, he'd have to say that he isn't. I'd let him keep the car emblem too.
I am beyond biased to this particular question as my wedding ring is and will be a SR ring with VJMNS, the initials of myself and my future bride, and a significant date on the inside.
Honestly, just because we can't always pay the dues, if we keep our obligations... know what I mean? And as my SR brothers reminded us at our last meeting, if a brother can't pay his dues, we are obligated by more than 3 degrees to pay for him, if within the length....
If he has been in good standing for 25 years and cannot afford the appendant body, then the appendant body should carry him until he's back on his feet.
If he has voluntarily demited because he has trouble with that particular Valley or politics therein, then he should find another Valley to affiliate with.
If it's not a problem with his current Valley and he just wants out, then his car emblem should come off and his "bling" should be saved for/handed down to a relative who may join in the future OR given/sold to a member of the AASR.
I can't (and will never) take away my Blue Lodge obligations, but if I don't pay my dues, demit, etc., I'm sure MOST of us would agree that my Masonic bling shouldn't be worn and I'd be considered clandestine.
25 looong years, my brother... I think it is unfair to deprive him of the ring and the emblem. In the very first place, the requirement to a SR Mason is to be become a mason first, by being raise to the third degree, right? by the way, what's the reason why he demitted?
Ok to assist in the discussion, let me clarify one issue... He is demitting from the SR of his own volition.."He says the SR membership (and its benefits) aren't the same as they used to be...they don't DO ANYTHING!" - that's his words exactly.
well that changes alot, his choice to leave (and not work to help change the situation) are a form of surrendering. Until my class got to the SR there were alot of "we give up" attitudes going around. We worked to change that. In fact, we went into the SR with a mission because we were told that our historic building was up for sale (to be sold to a developer to be gutted for townhomes)... over our dead bodies it would be. If he demitted because he wasnt willing to work to change them or because he wasnt willing to work to create activity, then no, dont wear the ring or post the emblem. Looks like he had 25 years to participate or create participation and if he is quitting based on that, he was one of the ones who waited for others to lead instead of being a leader himself. Sorry if this is harsh but my last answer I assumed was based on being able to afford dues, I hear too many people in the Craft that complain but never work.
Btw, Lee, what is your opinion of your own question?
I have to say that in the circumstances that I have come to understand leading the person up to this decision, I agree that he didn't even try to resolve the issue and as such is essentially "Quitting".. However, I also agree with John Woolf's posting in which the person is not associated with a particular Valley and could be considered to be an "At-Large" member of the appendant body. IMHO.
He's still a Scottish Rite Mason, that does not go away just becouse he dimitted. He just dos'nt belong to a valley anymore. So the answer is yes, he is entitled to diplay his SR emblem.
I still strongly disagree. If (and only using religion as an analogy) one is brought up in a certain faith, baptised, catechism, tithing, even married in that particular denomination and after 25 years, disagrees with how things are run and some dogmatic teachings, etc. decides to convert, I'd say that if it were me, I'd consider myself no longer a member of that faith.
For a lighter comparison, some folks keep their Allstate Insurance for 25 years and eventually switch to State Farm so, no they are no longer a member of Allstate. I think the old Allstate sticker is a little more difficult to get off the car!
If somebody screws up and gets kicked out of the Fraternity by their regularly constituted Grand Lodge, are they still a Mason? They took their obligations. Nope, they are no longer a Mason.
Cory Sigler
created this social network on Ning. 
