@ Dionysus
"The Craft" is only a nickname of sorts that some might use to refer to the practice of being a Freemason. As an example, often times I refer to The University of Texas football team as "The Horns". It's kind of the same thing. In terms of skills and requirements to join, there are none.. save that you are not an atheist, you were born free and not under any form of bondage (which, even in this day of credit cards and a mortgage.. we all are still born free
) and that you requested to join the lodge in a clear mental state and of your own will and accordance. In terms of esoteric meanings behind the terminology used in Freemasonry, you're on target. As I said, the lessons of Freemasonry are taught through allegory and allusion. In this way, you could interpret the steps, tools, skill of various worker classes, and processes of building a master edifice into a different context as they pertain to building a man who is a master of himself. If a certain tool, for example, assisted Masons in building the temples of old.. how could that same tool be used metaphorically to enrich our lives today? Those kinds of allegories and allusions, as they pertained to master craftsmanship in antiquity, are the heart of Masonic teachings.
In terms of the initiation ceremony, the details of it fall into that minority category of Masonic dealings that cannot be discussed with anyone who is not themselves a Mason. I can tell you that the ceremony commands respect and that what is in your heart will emerge for all to see. As a Mason you'll only go through it once but you'll see it countless times. It will mean something to you until the day you die.
In terms of what Freemasons "do" on a day to day basis, all level of involvement is solely at the discretion of each brother in the craft. Each lodge will hold stated meetings once per month. Most of what is covered in a stated meeting includes the general day to day workings of the lodge... new candidates, new degrees being granted, bookkeeping, minutes and general business, fundraising and philanthropy of the lodge, orders and initiatives from the governing Grand Lodge.. things like that.
Other forays in Masonry include study groups of Masonic teaching, practicing and reflection of Masonic material with teachers and fellow brothers, becoming a teacher yourself, becoming an officer in the lodge and moving through the requirements of 'the chairs', and also the practice and rehearsal of ceremonies and the conferring of degrees (being a member of a degree team). Also, there are the other teachings and personal advancements offered by appendant bodies such as The Scottish Rite, The Shrine, Chapter and Council, participation in Eastern Star , The Knights of St. Andrew, Grotto, kids groups such as Rainbow Girls and DeMolay , and so on. As a Mason, you're given enough information in your first 3-4 months to keep you contemplative and busy trying to unravel it all for a lifetime.. and that's just a drop in the bucket depending on how far you want to go.
@nashorn
That's powerful, and at the same time, comes as no surprise at all. Masons are obligated to do exactly what they did for your family, and the family of a fellow brother, and whether they knew your grandmother was instrumental in his lack of activity or not... it wouldn't have mattered one bit. They would have still done exactly what they did. That kind of sincerity and outreach to a member of our own is the signature of Freemasonry. It's who we are.
The age requirements vary between 18 and 21 depending on where you are. I'm not an expert on this level of nuance but I know that variation does exists between lodges / jurisdictions. If your dad wanted your son to join I would encourage your son to speak with members of your father's lodge when he is of age. They'll get him on his way, if it's something he desires, and your son will be in the best of hands.
