Top 10 Question
Freemasonry is the word’s oldest and largest Fraternity. It aims to promote Friendship, Morality, and Brotherly Love among its members; men from every country, religion, race, age, income, education, and opinion who are brought together as Brothers to develop and strengthen the bonds of friendship. There are more than 3 million members meeting in nearly every free country in the world. Freemasonry proposes to “make good men better” by teaching – with metaphors from geometry and architecture – about building values based on great universal truths. Finally, charity and community service is fundamental to Freemasonry and something we actively take part in.
2. How can I get more information about the Freemasons?
The best way to learn more is to talk to a Mason - either in person or electronically. The Request information page will allow you to send our Lodges Ambassador, Bill Asadoorian an email. He will answer your questions and provide you with additional information; and, if you would like, he'll find a convenient time to meet, introduce you to some other members, and tour their building. You may have some of the same questions as those below – so take a look at the FAQ's. You can "Ask a Freemason" by submitting your question by email. Finally, you can also Request Information online through this web site.
3. What are the requirements to become a Mason?
Anyone meeting the following primary requirements may petition a Massachusetts lodge for membership:
1. You are an adult male (18 or older) of good character and recommended by a Massachusetts Mason.
2. You believe in a Supreme Being – no atheist or agnostic can become a Mason – but we are not concerned with theological distinctions or your particular religious beliefs.
3. You are interested in becoming a Mason because you hold a favorable opinion of our institution; and, your decision to apply is based on your “own free will and accord” – no one compelled you to join.
Not all men can become Masons, however. Masonry does not purport to
make “bad men good,” only “good men better.” This distinction is
critical in that from its early days the Fraternity took itself out of
the “rehabilitation” game – which is the purview of religion and the
criminal justice system. Only men of good character are accepted into
the Fraternity. Masonic lodges review every applicant’s character – and
the centuries-old “blackball” system is still in place; candidates for
the degrees must be voted by a 100% vote of the lodge members present.
4. How do I become a Freemason? Ask!
Because Masons have not traditionally recruited members, and do not hold
public meetings, there has long been confusion about how to join a fraternity. Does someone invite you? Do you ask? For a
man who meets the requirements listed above, it is really quite simple:
Most men can become a Mason by simply asking– like Washington, Franklin, and most every Mason from the past to the present day. Each lodge manages the membership process for its candidates. In general, men seek out a Lodge near their home or work (the Find a Lodge feature will help you locate the closest lodge), or they will ask a Mason to recommend a lodge to them. Once you’ve found a lodge you would like to join, let them know of your interest and they will provide you with a petition.
If you are unanimously elected by the members of a lodge, joining the
Fraternity involves going through three “degrees”: Entered Apprentice,
Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. Every man accepted into the Fraternity
goes through the three degrees, thereby making each an equal to the
others in the lodge. Typically they are conferred during a lodge’s
monthly meeting over the course of three months.
5. What if I don't know a Mason who can recommend me?
It is quite possible you know a Mason but you just don’t realize it. If
your father, uncles, or grandfathers aren’t Masons, they probably know
someone who is. You might also want to ask around your workplace or
school, church, or gym – anywhere that you find a group of men, you
might find a Mason. Although Masons tend to be very proud of their
association with the Fraternity, they are often uncomfortable talking
about it. It is particularly difficult for them to speak with their
friends or family members because they don’t want to push Masonry on
them. They might very well be looking forward to the opportunity to
speak with you; more importantly, they would be honored to sponsor you
for membership.
If you don’t know anyone who is a Mason and you are a complete
stranger to all of the members of the lodge, you are going to want to
take some time getting to know them. But they are going to want to get
to know you too. Once you are ready to Ask, a member of the lodge will
sign your petition.
6. What are the time and/or financial commitments of being a
Mason?
Becoming a Mason takes several months from the time you complete your
petition until you have finished your degrees. Until you begin taking
your degrees though, very little is asked of you. Once the degree work
begins you will need to attend your lodge’s monthly meeting. There is
also one additional meeting per month called the “Lodge of Instruction,”
where you will receive further explanation about the degree you just
experienced. There is also some side work that you will need to complete
that amounts to a little bit of homework. Every member of the
Fraternity has gone through this process and your lodge will assign a
Brother to help you.
Once you have completed your three degrees, we expect our members to attend their lodge’s “Stated Communication,” or monthly meeting. Sometimes there will be a special meeting on a second night in a month. Beyond that, there are other activities going on: community service, family and social outings, etc. that take place throughout the year. We hope our members will participate in the events that their time and interest allows. Like many things, you get out of Freemasonry what you choose to put into it. We also recognize and understand the need for a balance between your family, work or school, and other interests and commitments.
There is a one-time initiation fee set by each lodge which generally
runs between $100 and $250 with the average around $150. There are
annual dues, which also differ from lodge-to-lodge, that run between $50
and $150 with $75 being the average. Some lodges will charge more than
these amounts and some charge less, although they are the exception
rather than the rule. Finally, there are Grand Lodge dues, which in 2010
are $29 + $1 for the benefit of the George
Washington Masonic Memorial.
7. How do I find a lodge if I live somewhere else?
MassFreemasonry.org was developed by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
If you do not live in Massachusetts, the best resource for the
information you need is the Grand Lodge that presides over your
jurisdiction (your state of province in North America, your country most
everywhere else in the world). Enter the term Grand Lodge of (Your
Jurisdiction) in any search engine and the first entry will likely
be your Grand Lodge. Do not hesitate to contact them. They will welcome
your inquiry.
8. Why is there so much interest in Masonry today?
Over the last four centuries, Freemasonry seems to have flourished
during times of great enlightenment and change. It is no coincidence
that Freemasonry rose to prominence during the Age of Enlightenment in
both Europe and America – where a new generation believed it could
discover ways to gain personal improvement, bring order to society, and
understand the whole universe. This statement is perhaps even stronger
today than it was in the 18th century.
Today, men seek out Masonry for the same reasons – to better
themselves and improve society in the company of like-minded Brothers.
As we learn more about how our physical world works, there’s also new
interest in those things we don’t understand – especially things bound
around tradition or that have a more mystical nature. Also, books like The Da Vinci Code,
The Lost Symbol and
movies like “National
Treasure" have brought up both new interest and renewed speculation
about the nature of the Fraternity. Though these books and movies are a
product more of a vivid imagination than fact, the real history of
Masonry is perhaps the best story of all – one learned only by Asking –
and becoming a Freemason.
9. Can Freemasonry actually prepare me for greatness?
No organization can guarantee to make anyone great - the capacity and
motivation must come from the individual - but the powerful values and
important truths that are taught as part of the Masonic tradition has
proven to inspire, challenge, and develop leadership in men. Benjamin
Franklin may have said it best, describing the Fraternity as a place to
“prepare himself.”
10. What are the benefits of becoming a Mason?
There are numerous benefits to becoming a Mason, but they tend to be personal and they are also quite varied. And they can only be truly discovered by becoming a member. But to try and give you an idea: without question the opportunity to experience camaraderie and fellowship with a group of men across the boundaries of age, race, religion, culture, and opinion is a fundamental aspect of the Fraternity; many find great value and knowledge in our ritual ceremony that uses symbolism and metaphors to encourage and remind us to appreciate principles, ethics, and morality, and to live our lives accordingly; others find great satisfaction in our charitable efforts, community service, and the support we provide our members and their families; finally, for those who take on leadership positions within their lodge, they develop or further very practical management skills.
