How to politely decline invitations from Masons (or others)

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Dietrich said:
Recently I’ve been in conversations with friends of mine who belong to the same organization I do. While our club isn’t at all associated with Freemasonry, many members are also Masons. I’ve been casually asked twice now if I would be interested in becoming one, and my stock response is, “My membership in another organization precludes my membership in yours.” Thankfully I haven’t been pressed for more details, but I’m anticipating the day when someone isn’t satisfied with that answer.

In the spirt of evangelization, I would never want to belittle anyone’s life, even if what they’re doing is explicitly wrong (you catch more flies with honey, etc). What I wonder is if anyone here has experience with gently declining these invitations without necessarily getting into a history lesson about the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. I’m just looking for a simply an effective way to both decline the invitation in a way that is both clear and effective but also not overly aggressive or confrontational. Agree to disagree, in other words.

Short and sweet, The Pope said Nope! Simply state I am bound to my faith and must accept and follow the teaching of my Church.

But thanks for thinking of me.😉
Thank you for your responses, and before you do, please understand I’m neither ignorant nor conflicted with the view of the Church on the subject of Freemasonry. Rather I’m looking for a lesson in etiquette.
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Why so concerned with politeness? Jesus and the Apostles spoke plainly, not rudely and not with undue politeness, as St. Paul described.
 
rinnie said:
:confused: Are you sure about that? I was told they come to you, you cannot go to them. You mist be asked. Unless things changed in the last few years.
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It’s the other way around… Masons are not supposed to ask you if you want to join. The person who isn’t a Mason has to ask to join explicitly without prompting. As membership has declined in recent years, I can say that this has been violated at times by ‘leading’ statements.

Frankly, I think it’s fine and noble to tell a Mason why you can’t join - a frank discussion shouldn’t damage a solid friendship. I’m glad that my Lutheran and Catholic friends have discussed this with me - it’s lead me to keep on my guard for anything that goes contrary to my faith. I’ve found some ‘odd’ things, but nothing serious - but I’m on my guard.
 
Dietrich said:
Recently I’ve been in conversations with friends of mine who belong to the same organization I do. While our club isn’t at all associated with Freemasonry, many members are also Masons. I’ve been casually asked twice now if I would be interested in becoming one, and my stock response is, “My membership in another organization precludes my membership in yours.” Thankfully I haven’t been pressed for more details, but I’m anticipating the day when someone isn’t satisfied with that answer.

In the spirt of evangelization, I would never want to belittle anyone’s life, even if what they’re doing is explicitly wrong (you catch more flies with honey, etc). What I wonder is if anyone here has experience with gently declining these invitations without necessarily getting into a history lesson about the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. I’m just looking for a simply an effective way to both decline the invitation in a way that is both clear and effective but also not overly aggressive or confrontational. Agree to disagree, in other word

Thank you for your responses, and before you do, please understand I’m neither ignorant nor conflicted with the view of the Church on the subject of Freemasonry. Rather I’m looking for a lesson in etiquette.
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Why not say " Thank you very much for asking me, however I am a committed, dedicated, practising Catholic and the Catholic Church does not allow membership with masonry so I am sorry but I will have to decline".
 
why is this in the non Catholic religion section?

-Most of the Masons I run into are Baptists-used to be a number of Lutherans and Episcopaleans not so much these days:cool:

Their membership is declining
 
I don’t think it is impolite to say something like "thanks for the offer, but I don’t think I can reconcile membership in a Masonic organization with my understanding if the Christian faith.

I once heard my Dad, who is not Catholic say essentially that to a neighbor who wanted to sponsor his membership in a Masonic lodge. It’s all how you say it but you don’t have to conceal the reason. Most decent people will respect your religious convictions.
 
“No thanks. I’m not interested”, is not being abrupt. If you and I were best of friends and I asked you to help me rob a bank, you could easily say, “No thanks”. If you were asked to become a Muslim, Hindu, Methodist, etc. you could easily say, “No thanks”. So why not to a Mason.
 
“My church forbids becoming a mason,” seems the best responce.
 
Freemasonry has a strict “no invitation” rule. The organization is based on free will and accord. No man is ever invited to join. So your question is moot.
 
I think you are wrong on this point. I have witnessed masons on two occasions invite a person they believed might be fit for membership ask if the person might be interested. This doesn’t violate the “free will” rule. After such an invitation no doubt the next advice would be “go and ask to join…”
 
How about, no thanks… I do not want to go to H*LL now or ever !

… just kidding, just say no thanks…
 
A simple “no thank you”.

If pressed: “I have other commitments that make it impossible for me to join your organization”.

If they really press: “I am quite involved in my Church, and between that and family and professional commitments I don’t have the time right now”.
 
There are 51 Grand Lodges in the USA (Each state plus DC). Nearly all of them forbid recruiting, or asking a man to join. Masonry is based on “free will and accord”. Take a good look at the next Mason you see. The overall age is creeping up, as the men who joined during WW2, and the years after, die off.
 
cemab4yfun said:
Freemasonry has a strict “no invitation” rule. The organization is based on free will and accord. No man is ever invited to join. So your question is moot.
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Sorry but that is not true. I was asked by mamy why my husband was not a Mason. Or when was he going to join the masons. My answer was never as far as I could see/
 
I should have made myself more clear. Nearly all USA Grand Lodges forbid recruiting or asking a man to join. You may have seen a bumper sticker “2B1 ASK1”. In some states, these stickers are permitted. If a man chooses to be a Mason, he must ASK a mason. Not the other way around.

Some (very few) states permit Masons to ask a friend or relative to petition the organization.
 
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