Freemasonry

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Freemasonry

• Information for the Non-Mason

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Interested in Joining Freemasonry?

• You must be a man, at least 18 years old.
• You must have a belief in a Supreme Being of any
  faith. (No particular religion or faith is
  required or excluded all are welcome.)
• You should be someone who does, or wants to learn
  to, enjoy the company of other men from all
  different social classes, faiths, backgrounds,
  races, countries, etc. Masonry is universal in
  its ideals.

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Interested in Joining Freemasonry?

• You should be coming to Masonry "of your own free
  will and accord", to learn to improve yourself
  and to enjoy the company of other good people,
  not because someone keeps pestering you to join
  or because you think it will help you "get ahead"
  in business.
• You must be loyal to our country, a law abiding
  citizen and of good character.
• You must ask to join. Many Masons whom you may
  come in contact with, may think you'd make a good
  Mason, but they will NOT ask you to join, you
  must ASK them.

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Masonry considers that your family obligations
come FIRST, so you must be sure that

• You have the time to participate. This is usually
  two or three evenings per month at first for
  meetings and instruction and thereafter, we
  encourage members to attend at least one meeting
  per month --- more often if you get involved in
  lodge activities.
• You can afford the initiation fees and the annual
  dues without hardship to yourself or your family.

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What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is the oldest, largest Fraternity in
the world. It's members have included Kings,
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Statesmen, Generals,
Admirals, Supreme Court Chief Justices, corporate
CEOs, opera stars, movie stars, and probably,
your next door neighbor. And Masonry is always
ready to welcome good men into the Fraternity.
It's ready to welcome YOU, if in your heart you
can answer "yes" to a few questions.
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Do you believe that there is such a thing as
honor, and that a man has a responsibility to act
with honor in everything he does?

• Masons teach that principle. We believe that a
  life not founded on honor is hollow and empty -
  that a man who acts without honor is less than a
  man.

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Do you believe in God?

• No atheist can be a Mason. Masons do not care
  what your individual faith is - that is a
  question between you and your God - but we do
  require that a man believe in a Supreme Being.

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Are you willing to allow others the same right to
their own beliefs that you insist on yourself?

• Masonry insists on toleration - on the right of
  each person to think for himself in religious,
  social and political matters.

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Do you believe that you have a responsibility to
leave the world a better place than you found it?

• Masonry teaches that each man has a duty not only
  to himself but to others. We must do what we can
  to make the world a better place. Whether that
  means cleaning up the environment, working on
  civic projects, or helping children to walk or
  read or see - the world should be a better place
  because we have passed through it.

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Do you believe that it is not only more blessed
to give than to receive, but it's also more fun?

• Masons are involved with the problems and needs
  of others because we know it gives each of us a
  good feeling - unlike any other - to help. Much
  of our help is given anonymously. We're not after
  gratitude, we're more than rewarded by that
  feeling which comes from knowing we have helped
  another person overcome some adversity, so that
  their life can go on.

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Are you willing to give help to your Brothers
when they need it, and to accept their help when
you need it?

• Masonry is mutual help. Not just financial help
  (although that's there too) but help in the sense
  of being there when needed, giving support,
  lending a sympathetic ear.

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Do you feel that there's something more to life
than just financial success?

• Masons know that self-development is more
  precious than money in the bank or social
  position or political power. Those things often
  accompany self-development, but they are no
  substitute for it. Masons work at building their
  lives and character, just as a carpenter works at
  building a house.

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Do you believe that a person should strive to be
a good citizen and that we have a moral duty to
be true to the country in which we live?

• Masons believe that a country is strong so long
  as freedom, equality, and the opportunity for
  human development is afforded to all. A Mason is
  true to his government and its ideals. He
  supports its laws and authority when both are
  just and equitably applied. We uphold and
  maintain the principles of good government, and
  oppose every influence that would divide it in a
  degrading manner.

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Do you agree that man should show compassion for
others, that goodness of heart is among the most
important of human values?

• Masons do. We believe in a certain reverence for
  living things, a tenderness toward people who
  suffer. A loving kindness for our fellow man, and
  a desire to do right because it is right. Masonry
  teaches that although all men are fallible and
  capable of much wrong, when they discover the
  goodness of heart, they have found the true
  essence of virtue. Masonry helps men see their
  potential for deep goodness and virtue.

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Do you believe that men should strive to live a
brotherly life?

• Masons see brotherhood as a form of wisdom, a
  sort of bond that holds men together - a private
  friendship that tells us we owe it to each other
  to be just in our dealings and to refuse to speak
  evil of each other. Masons believe a man should
  maintain an attitude of good will, and promote
  unity and harmony in his relations with one
  another, his family, and his community. Masons
  call this way of life believing in the
  Brotherhood of Man. It really means that every
  Mason makes it his duty to follow the golden
  rule. This is why Masonry has been called one the
  of greatest forces for good in the world.

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If You answered "YES", to these questions, you
should consider becoming a MASON.

• Freemasonry offers much to its members - the
  opportunity to grow, the chance to make a
  difference, to build a better world for our
  children. It offers the chance to be with and
  work with men who have the same values and
  ideals, men who have answered "YES" to these
  questions. It's easy to find out more. Just find
  a Mason and ask him about Masonry.

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You probably know several Masons. Perhaps you've
seen the Square and Compasses on a pin or tie
tack or bumper sticker. If you know where the
lodge is in your community, stop by or look up
the number of your local Masonic lodge in the
phone book and ask for the secretary of the
lodge. He'll be happy to help you. Have you ever
considered becoming a Mason? We'd like a chance
to talk with you.
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WHO ARE THE MASONS?
The fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons is the oldest and largest fraternal
organization in the world. Many men have wondered
just what the Masonic Lodge is all about and what
it means to be a member of the Masonic
Fraternity. Masonry is an organization of men
bound together with a philosophy of moral
standards, mutual understanding and a brotherhood
in which all men are on a level and equal.
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HISTORY
Freemasonry traces its ancestry to the operative
craftsmen, primarily cathedral builders, of the
Middle Ages. These men, because of their special
knowledge and skills, were permitted special
travel privileges from country to country. They
developed means of recognition and identification
of their work. In the 17th and 18th centuries, as
cathedral building came to an end, some of the
operative Masonic Lodges accepted into membership
men who were not operative craftsmen. Gradually,
the Lodges came to be composed entirely of
philosophical or speculative Masons. From these
groups, Freemasonry of today had its beginnings.
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GRAND LODGES
In the year 1717, four such lodges that had been
meeting regularly in London decided to unite in
forming a "Grand Lodge" and elect a "Grand
Master" as their head. As more Lodges were
established in England, they looked to this Grand
Lodge for guidance and unity. Thus, over the
years, regulations were set up to govern the
Craft, a constitution was adopted, and the simple
ceremonies of the earlier years were elaborated
until finally they became the three steps or
degrees of today.
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MEMBERSHIP
Membership is limited to adult males, 18 years of
age or older, who are of good character and
reputation. A man becomes a Freemason of his own
volition. No one is solicited to membership. He
must seek admission of his own free will. One
seeking admission must have a desire, and ask one
whom he knows to be a Mason. He must be
recommended by two members of the Masonic Lodge
to which he is seeking admission and obtain its
unanimous favorable ballot for acceptance.
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TENETS OF FREEMASONRY
The teachings of Freemasonry are based on ethical
principals that are acceptable to all good men.
Freemasonry teaches understanding and charity for
all mankind. It proudly proclaims that it
consists of men who are obligated to extend
Brotherly Love and Affection to all men
everywhere. It dictates to no man as to his
beliefs, either religious or secular. It seeks no
advantage for its members through business or
politics. As a matter of fact, neither religion
nor politics may be discussed in the Lodge room.
Freemasonry is kindness in the home, honesty in
business, courtesy in society, fairness in work,
pity and concern for the unfortunate, resistance
toward evil, help for the weak, forgiveness for
the penitent, love for one another and, above
all, reverence and love for God.
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MASONIC SECRECY
Freemasonry is not a secret society. It does not
hide its existence nor its membership. There has
been no attempt to conceal the purposes, aims and
principles of Freemasonry. It is an organization
which has as its principal teachings Brotherly
Love, Relief and Truth. As is true with other
fraternities and organizations there is certain
privileged information known only to the members.
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NOT A RELIGION
Freemasonry is not a religion even though it is
religious in character. It does not pretend to
take the place of religion nor serve as a
substitute for the religious beliefs of its
members. Members of the Christian and Jewish
faiths, as well as Hindus, Zoroasters,
Mohammedans and Buddhists have found nothing in
Masonry which is incompatible with their own
religious beliefs. One essential requirement of
an applicant for Freemasonry is a belief in a
Supreme Being.
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WHAT FREEMASONS DO
Freemasons meet regularly for the transaction of
business, for fellowship and for the discussion
of matters of Masonic interest. They are pledged
to preserve the moral fiber and quality of life
and to act in a spirit of helpfulness toward all
mankind. They are taught to make charity and
benevolence distinguishing characteristics of
their lives. They are encouraged, as individuals,
to fulfill the demands of good citizenship.
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USE OF SYMBOLS
To assist in communicating truths and principles,
Masons make use of symbols. Masonic ceremonies
reach back to the usages of the old "Operative
Guilds" of the cathedral builders of the Middle
Ages. Many of the tools and implements used by
those builders are now employed as symbols to
convey moral truth. The Square and Compasses, for
instance, are generally recognized as the
"trademark" of the Masonic Fraternity.
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Freemasonry's ceremonies are associated with the
Biblical account of the building of King
Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem. The Masonic ritual
is based on the facts and legends of that famous
ancient structure, as presented symbolically.
Also, some other Masonic symbols have come down
from very ancient times. This means that such
symbols portray moral truth, and such
representations have been adopted to illustrate
Masonic lessons. Masonry makes no claim that its
organization existed in those ancient times.
Neither does it regard these symbols as having
any magic or occult powers. It simply uses
symbols to help men to understand and remember.