This does leave me with a number of options ahead of me. I can now petition for any of the appendent bodies of Masonry in the area, which in the panhandle all three primary bodies are present; York Rite, Scottish Rite, and Shrine. I know that I'm interested in all three, but certainly not all three at once, certainly not without a real income.
Add to that the uncertainty of where I'll be in a year and a half's time. I should be finishing my Masters of Arts in Music at WTAMU in Summer 2012, at which point I will be frantically applying for jobs. I'm not really worried about getting a job, as I will be very marketable with good references, a strong background of actual experience and two degrees. So finding a job isn't my concern. However, where I'll end up is what I sometimes worry about.
In my dream world, CISD would finally be able to hire a fifth director at CHS, that percussion specialist they've been talking about off and on for several years now but never quite have the budget/numbers for. Realistically? I highly doubt it will happen. But I can dream. And pray. I prayed it would happen this fall, or that I would be lead by the Lord in a better direction in my life, and at first I severely disappointed: CISD hiring freeze for fall 2011. But then I finally had a chance to sit down and talk to Dr. Brooks, my graduate advisor, and I found out that I would have the ability to graduate with a Master's degree in a year and a half with some work. This is truly an example of God having better things in store for you that you can't yet imagine, and why we as Masons are admonished to invoke the aid of Deity before any great undertaking. While I was initially disappointed, things worked out honestly better than I could have expected.
Anyway, all that is to say, if I petition and join one body, which one would be the best fit knowing I don't know where I'll end up in a year and a half's time?
I think I've written off the Shrine, mainly because of it's nature. Shrine centers are large but few, and I may end up an hour's drive or longer away from the nearest Shrine center once I get a job. While they do wonderful charitable work (particularly through the Shriner's Hospitals for Children), they are, at the end of the day, primarily a social/charitable club. Their focus isn't on esoteric work but friendship, mirth, charity, etc. And like I said, if I move away from any nearby Shrine centers, I would miss out on the entire social aspect, and that's a huge portion of what the Shrine does. The other aspect, charitable, I can contribute to financially regardless of membership. (Information on donations here.) So no, I think my time to wear the Fez will come, but not for awhile yet, when I'm more settled in my life.
That leaves me torn between the Scottish Rite and the York Rite.
The Scottish Rite is often referred to as the 'University of Freemasonry' as it's 29 degrees all expand on the moral and philosophical teachings of basic Freemasonry. Because it has so many degrees and because they're often presented in dramatic format (like a play, often in the form of a morality tale) their meetings, or 'Reunions' as they're called, only happen a few times a year, and not always geographically near you. So it does tend to require travel up front. But I'm more willing to travel to a two or three day event with many degrees, dinners, and meetings, interacting with brothers from all over the state, than I would be to travel to a Shrine center to participate in a weekly club meeting. Things are simply on a different scale.
Of course, the downside to the Scottish Rite is that it does require some travel, which can be costly no matter how cheap you go, and for a poor college student that can be debilitating. A three hundred dollar weekend, while a moderate expense for a teacher, is debilitating to someone scraping through his Master's degree at WT. So while I'm interested, I'm not entirely sure if I want to go that route just yet.
Honestly, I'm predisposed to petitioning the York Rite. While is technically petitioning three independent bodies, several of my lodge friends are member's of the Amarillo York Rite, so I know I would have friends going into it. It's located close by (in Amarillo). Plus it has the advantage of being divided into much smaller subgroups - Chapters, Councils, and Commanderies - which are roughly the size of a lodge typically, sometimes slightly larger. As a result, there are many more York Rite bodies in the state of Texas than Scottish Rite or Shrine, both of which pull in Masons from many lodges into larger conglomerate groups that will often have thousands of members. The advantage of those pooled resources is evident in buildings, costuming for degrees, and overall fewer financial woes. The disadvantage I have spoken on before - geography.
On top of that, the York Rite culminates in the Commandery, which is modeled after the chivalric orders of the middle ages. The Commandery itself is for those who will swear 'to defend the Christian faith,' making it the only religious specific organization in Masonry. (That I'm aware of.) And to boot, my sponsor in Canyon Lodge #730 is currently the Right Eminent Grand Commander of Texas. Amarillo has one of the strongest York Right bodies in Texas, so part of me says petition now while the petitioning is good! Of the three bodies, York Rite is the one I'm mostly likely going to be able to continue no matter where I go. So, I don't know. Decisions.
Oh, by the way, I graduate with my Bachelor's Degree in Music Friday December 17th at 2:30. That's a bright spot in the uncertain times of my life right now.
I'll leave you with this. A beautiful picture of yours truly in my apron. Immediately following the CHS Band Winter Concert. That's why I look so tired. You're welcome, world.
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