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FAQs About Free Masonry
 Who
are the Masons?
Masons are men of good character who strive to improve themselves and make the
world a better place. They belong to the oldest and most honorable fraternity
known to man. If you think you may be interested in becoming a member, you can
begin by contacting a Lodge in your area or speaking to a Mason. Masons (also
known as Freemasons) belong to the oldest and largest fraternal organization
in the world. Today, there are more than two million Freemasons in North America.
Masons represent virtually every occupation and profession, yet within the fraternity,
all meet as equals. Masons come from diverse political ideologies, yet meet
as friends. Masons come from varied religious beliefs and creeds, yet all believe
in one God. Many of North America's early patriots were Freemasons. Thirteen
signers of the Constitution and fourteen Presidents of the United States, including
George Washington, were Masons. In Canada, the Father of the Confederation,
Sir John A. MacDonald, was a Mason, as were other Canadian and American leaders.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Freemasonry is how so many men, from
so many walks of life, can meet together in peace, always conducting their affairs
in harmony and friendship and calling each other "Brother."
What
is Freemasonry
Freemasonry (or Masonry) is dedicated to the Brotherhood
of Man under the Fatherhood of God. It uses the tools and implements of ancient
architectural craftsmen symbolically in a system of instruction designed to
build character and moral values in its members. Its singular purpose is to
make good men better. Its bonds of friendship, compassion, and brotherly love
have survived even the most divisive political, military, and religious conflicts
through the centuries. Freemasonry is a fraternity which encourages its members
to practice the faith of their personal acceptance. Masonry teaches that each
person, through self-improvement and helping others, had an obligation to make
a difference for good in the world.
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Where
Did Freemasonry Begin?
No one knows just how old Freemasonry is because the actual origins have been
lost in time. Some believe Masonry arose from the guilds of stonemasons who
built the majestic castles and cathedrals of the middle ages. In 1717, Masonry
created a formal organization when four Lodges in London joined in forming England's
first Grand Lodge. By 1731, when Benjamin Franklin joined the Fraternity, there
were already several Lodges in the Colonies, and in Canada the first Lodge was
established in 1738. Today, Masonic Lodges are found in almost every community
throughout North America, and in large cities there are usually several Lodges.
A Mason can travel to almost any country in the world and find a Masonic Lodge
where he will be welcomed as a "Brother."
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What
Do Freemasons Do?
The Masonic experience encourages members to become better men. and better citizens.
The fraternal bonds formed in the Lodge help build lifelong friendships among
men with similar goals and values. Beyond its focus on individual development
and growth, Masonry is deeply involved in helping people. The Freemasons of
North America contribute over two million dollars per day to charitable causes.
This philanthropy represents an unparalleled example of humanitarian commitment
of this great and honorable Fraternity. Much of that assistance goes to people
who are not Masons. Some of these charities are vast projects. The Shrine Masons
(Shriners) operate the largest network of hospitals for burned and orthopedically
impaired children in the country, and there is never a fee for treatment. The
Scottish Rite Masons maintain a nationwide network of over 150 Childhood Language
Disorder Clinics, Centers, and Programs. Many other Masonic organizations sponsor
a variety of philanthropies, including scholarship programs for children, and
perform public service activities in their communities. Masons also enjoy the
fellowship of each other and their families in social and recreational activities.
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What
is The Masonic Lodge?
The word "Lodge" means both a group of Masons meeting together as well as the
room or building in which they meet. Masonic buildings are sometimes called
"temples" because the original meaning of the term was "place of knowledge"
and Masonry encourages the advancement of knowledge. Masonic Lodges usually
meet once or twice a month to conduct regular business, vote upon petitions
for membership, and bring new Masons into the Fraternity through three ceremonies
called degrees. In the Lodge room Masons share in a variety of programs. Here
the bonds of friendship and fellowship are formed and strengthened.
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Who
Can Qualify To Join?
Petitioners must be men of good character who believe in a Supreme Being. To
become a Mason one must petition a particular Blue Lodge (such as Springfield
Lodge #217, Springfield, Virginia). The Master of the Lodge appoints a committee
to visit the applicant prior to the Lodge balloting upon his petition.
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Men
of Character and Integrity Join the Masons
Most are men who go about their jobs and professions with no hint they are Freemasons
except for the way they lead their lives. Many are readily recognizable by name,
face, or accomplishment. George Washington and thirteen other Presidents, eight
Vice Presidents and forty-two Justices of the Supreme Court have been Masons.
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Some
Notable Masons
| Eddy Arnold
Roy Accuff
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin
Gene Autry
L. Van Beethoven
Irving Berlin
Simon Bolivar
Gutzon Borgium
Ernest Borgnine
Omar Bradley
Richard E. Byrd
DeWitt Clinton
Ty Cobb
George M. Cohan
Davy Crockett
Norm Crosby
Cecil B. deMille
Jack Dempsey
John Diefenbaker
Jimmy Doolittle
Duke Ellington
Sir Alexander Fleming
Gerald R. Ford
Henry Ford
Benjamin Franklin
Clark Gable
Benjamin Gilman
John Glenn
Arthur Godfrey
Barry Goldwater
John Hancock
Harry Hershfield
Harry Houdini
Sam Houston
Hubert H. Humphrey
Burl Ives |
Andrew Jackson
Al Jolson
John Paul Jones
Jack Kemp
Rudyard Kipling
Marquis de Lafayette
Fiorello LaGuardia
Charles Lindberg
Douglas MacArthur
George C.Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Charles W. Mayo
William McKinley
Lauritz Meichior
James Monroe
Wolfgang A. Mozart
Arnold Palmer
Dr. Norman V. Peale
J.C. Penny
John Pershing
Eddie Rickenbacker
Branch Rickey
Will Rogers
Theodore Roosevelt
Franklin D.Roosevelt
David Sarnoff
Jean Sibelius
Red Skelton
John Philip Sousa
Danny Thomas
Dave Thomas
Lowell Thomas
Harry S. Truman
George Washington
Thomas J. Watson
John Wayne |
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Freemasonry
and Religion
Basic Principles.
Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. It requires
of its members a belief in God as part of the obligation of every responsible
adult, but advocates no sectarian faith or practice. Masonic ceremonies include
prayers, both traditional and extempore, to reaffirm each individual's dependence
on God and to seek divine guidance. Freemasonry is open to men of any faith,
but religion may not be discussed at Masonic meetings.
The Supreme Being.
Masons believe that there is one God and that people employ many different ways
to seek, and to express what they know of God. Masonry primarily uses the appellation,
"Grand Architect of the Universe," and other non-sectarian titles, to address
the Deity. In this way, persons of different faiths may join together in prayer,
concentrating on God, rather than differences among themselves. Masonry believes
in religious freedom and that the relationship between the individual and God
is personal, private, and sacred.
Volume of the Sacred Law.
An open volume of the Sacred Law, "the rule and guide of life," is an essential
part of every Masonic meeting. The Volume of the Sacred Law in the Judeo/Christian
tradition is the Bible; to Freemasons of other faiths, it is the book held holy
by them.
The Oath of Freemasonry.
The obligations taken by Freemasons are sworn on the Volume of the Sacred Law.
They are undertakings to follow the principles of Freemasonry and to keep confidential
a Freemason's means of recognition. The much discussed "penalties," judicial
remnants from an earlier era, are symbolic, not literal. They refer only to
the pain any honest man should feel at the thought of violating his word.
Freemasonry Compared with Religion.
Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion: (a) It has no dogma or theology,
no wish or means to enforce religious orthodoxy. (b) It offers no sacraments.
(c) It does not claim to lead to salvation by works, by secret knowledge, or
by any other means. The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with modes of recognition,
not with the means of salvation.
Freemasonry Supports Religion.
Freemasonry is far from indifferent toward religion. Without interfering in
religious practice, it expects each member to follow his own faith and to place
his Duty to God above all other duties. Its moral teachings are acceptable to
all religions.
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Freemasonry
and Secrecy
People sometimes refer to Freemasonry as being a "Secret Society."
In one sense the statement is true. Any social group or private business is
"secret" in the sense that its business meetings may be open only to its members.
In Freemasonry, the process of joining is also a private matter, and its members
are pledged not to discuss with non-members certain parts of the ceremonies
associated with the organization. Freemasonry does have certain handshakes and
passwords, customs incorporated into later fraternities, which are kept private.
They are means of recognizing each other--necessary in an organization which
spans the entire world and which encompasses many languages. The tradition of
using handshakes and passwords was very common in the Middle Ages, when the
ability to identify oneself as belonging to a building or trade guild often
made the difference in getting a job or in obtaining help for yourself and family.
Today, Freemasons make the same pledge to every member that he will be offered
assistance if he, or his family, ever requests it. Freemasonry can’t be called
a "secret society" in a literal sense. A truly secret society forbids its members
to disclose that they belong to the organization, or that it even exists. Much
of the Masonic ritual is in books called "Monitors" that are widely available,
even in public libraries. Most Freemasons wear rings and lapel pins which clearly
identify them as members of the fraternity. Masonic lodges are listed in public
phone books, Masonic buildings are clearly marked, and in many areas of the
country Masonic lodges place signs on the roads leading into town, along with
civic organizations, showing the time and place of meetings. In terms of what
it does, what it teaches, who belongs, where it meets, there are no secrets
in Freemasonry! It is a private fraternal association of men who contribute
much toward the public good, while enjoying the benefits of the brotherhood
of a fraternity.
The
Youth Orders
While there are several youth organizations sponsored or supported
by the various Masonic organizations, three are the largest and best known.
The Order of DeMolay is an organization for young
men aged 13 to 21. Young men do not need to have a Masonic relative to join
the organization. DeMolay was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1919, and
is now international in scope. Like the other Masonic Youth Orders, DeMolay
Chapters (local groups) usually meet in a room at a local Masonic Lodge. Adult
leadership is provided by men (usually Masons) known as Chapter Dads or advisors.
The Order takes its name from Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the
Templars, who was martyred in the Middle Ages for refusing to compromise his
honor. The Order teaches the virtues of reverence, love of parents, comradeship,
patriotism, courtesy, cleanness, and fidelity. The Order provides many social
events and activities, which help to teach social skills and leadership.
The International Order of Rainbow for Girls is an organization
for young women aged 11 to 20. It was founded in McAlester, Oklahoma, in 1922.
No relationship to a member of the Masonic Order is required for membership.
Local groups or Assemblies are generally sponsored by either a Masonic Lodge
or a Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. Women known as Mother Advisors
give adult supervision and guidance. Each of the colors of the rainbow is associated
with a particular virtue or source of inspiration. Like the other Youth Orders,
Rainbow is deeply involved with local charity and support of education. It teaches
character development, planning, leadership, and social skills through training
programs and social events.
The International Order of Job’s Daughters takes its name
from a story in the Biblical Book of Job. It was organized in Omaha, Nebraska,
in 1920. Membership requires the young woman be related to a Mason. The local
organization is called a Bethel. The teachings of the Order are Biblically based,
and similar virtues are stressed as in the other Masonic Youth Orders. Job’s
Daughters places special emphasis on community service. Many Bethels work with
drug education programs and with the Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment (HIKE)
Program. Membership is for young women age 11 to 20. The youth organizations
are separate and independent organizations that stress the importance of character
development, community service and leadership.
While members of the youth groups are free to seek membership
in Freemasonry or the Eastern Star, it is a personal choice and not a requirement
of membership in a youth order.
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