Do You Want to be a Mason?
Among millions of Masons, for hundreds of years, it was not lawful to invite a friend to apply for membership. Our code of conduct prevented it. Thus, no faithful Mason could invite you to join. Hence, to be one, you have to ask one.
You must first ask yourself if you're suitably prepared to enter the "gentle craft of Masonry" . . . to become a brother in the world's most exclusive fraternal order. Few men are intellectually or spiritually prepared to understand or appreciate even the most apparent meanings of Masonry.
Do you reflect on the nature of man's purpose in life and will you make obligations to God, your family, and yourself?
If
such ethical and moral questions hold little interest for you, then you will gain little
benefit from the teachings of the Craft. But if you seek a more meaningful quality of life
- and the spirit of charity and good fellowship which flow from it - then Freemasonry has
much to offer.
We want the world to know what we believe, how we act, and what we do .
. . and, then, should you become a Mason, we want you to be proud of our Fraternity
and to participate in our work. Only those who desire membership because of their
favorable impression of us should seek a petition to join.
To the Applicant
Masonry does not inquire into your religious beliefs or religious affiliation, your political opinions or your social philosophy. It is requisite, however, that you must sincerely believe in the existence of God, or a Supreme Being and Creator, by whatsoever name or title you may choose to call Him; that in upholding your political opinions you must be tolerant and respectful of the rights of other men to their convictions and that your social philosophy must not deprive others of equal freedom and liberty in all that you claim for yourself.
Masonry is not a “Benefit Society”. The lodge you join, or any other Lodge is under no obligation to assist you or any member of your family with money or other material benefits. On the contrary you will be required to obligate yourself to assist others within the limit of your ability to do so without detriment to yourself and those dependent upon you.
Masonry teaches and practices Brotherly Love in the spirit that all men should respond to another’s need of Friendship; to extend the hand of Fellowship to all who will accept it sincerely and in good faith; to help a brother maintain his self respect, or recover it if lost; and to aid him in all honest endeavors. On the other hand, there is no tolerance of willful or malicious infringement on the right of all men to peacefully work out their own destiny with such ability and knowledge, as they may possess.
Masonry imposes upon you the obligation of advancing yourself in knowledge and by every possible means to make of yourself a more desirable and useful member of the community in which you live.
Masonry does not impose you the obligation to violate the dictates of your conscience, or to disobey the legally constituted Authorities of the Country in which you may reside, or to give blind obedience to any Authority which may have installed itself by open violence, secret intimidation or threats against the welfare of your friends or relatives who maybe under its control or who can be reached by its agents.
Masonry flourishes in a Country where men are free to follow the religion of their choice, to vote for the political candidates they prefer, to express their opinion in public without fear, and exercise such ability as they may have in the pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Happiness under no duress or coercion other than the duty they owe to themselves to be decent, self-respecting Free Men.
Before presenting a petition for membership, be sure in your heart that you are not prompted by idle curiosity, or the desire for commercial gain and social prestige. For such motives, Masonry has no reward.
What we ask of you
Any man who is twenty-one years of age or older and of good moral character, who comes well-recommended, and who believes in a Supreme Being may petition to become a Freemason.
Whom should I contact for more information?
If interested, ask a Mason within your locality.
