Freemasonary: The Story of a Mason's Daughter
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/story-masons?ref=fb
By: Ashley Wilson
Date: 2016-08-02
My family tree is full of Masonic heritage. It started out on just my Dad's side of the family but has now grown to people on my Mom's side and even a few of our family friends are now a part of my Masonic family. As for me I am a member of Job's Daughters International (JDI). While Job's is not directly affiliated with Freemasonary we girls are all joined together by our Masonic heritage making us "sisters." I have been extermely blessed to be born into this Masonic family and have it as part of my life. Now, I'm sure you've all heard the numerous conspiracy theories regarding Freemasonary, I know I have. I've spent many history class discussions arguing these with other students. So I'm here to tell you that they are wrong; and to give you a little insight on the family behind the brotherhood.
You see when I say that I grew up in lodge, which is the place that Masons hold their meetings, I mean this quite literally. As most of the families in my father's lodge have known me ever since I was three days old. Dearborn lodge holds a family dinner every Monday night for Masons and their families to visit with each other and become closer. Being that I've been going to these dinners basically since the day I was born I came to know most of the members as my family; many of which I consider second grandparents. I remember walking around to most every table in my "clip clop" shoes as I used to call them (most people call them high heels) to visit and talk with all the adults are their children. To me they're all family, because if I learned anything from this organization it's that family isn't always by blood.
The lodges host so much more than just Monday night dinners for the families; of course, they have family picnics and even Christmas parties for us. Growing up lodge picnics were one of my favorite parts of summer. I loved getting to see some of the Masons' grandchildren that I didn't get to see every Monday night and all the fun games and activities the lodges had set up for us, with some creative help from their wives, of course. Now when it came to the Christmas parties I'm pretty sure I would get more excited about those than actual Christmas! I loved that all the families would come together and we could all get amazing food, have a great night forget any worries and even get a visit from Santa.



