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What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is a way of life. It is fraternal in organization, religious in
character, based on the belief in the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man and
immortality of the soul.
What do Freemasons believe in?
- Each person
has a responsibility to make things better in the world
- Masons help
one another and non masons alike
- Masonry
reminds its member of the principles of charity, honesty, compassion, and
furthering ones knowledge through education, honor and integrity
- No one has
the right to tell another what he or she must think or believe.
- Each person
must be the master of his passions, work and life.
- Faith and
spirituality must be in the center of our lives.
- Each person
has a responsibility to be a good citizen and obey the law.
- Every
person is responsible for his or her own actions and choices in life and
ultimately, must be accountable to God for those actions and choices.
- Each person
has a responsibility to do what he is able to make the world a better place
for all who live in it.
- Honor and
Integrity are essential to life.
What is a 33rd degree Mason?
Freemasonry imparts lessons of
morality and spirituality upon its membership through a series of lectures and
demonstrations over a period of time. Each lecture in the series builds on
the knowledge from preceding lectures. Each lecture is called a degree.
There are a total of 32 degrees that are conferred to Freemasons, with the final
or 33rd degree being an honorary degree.
Who is the head of the Masons?
There is no particular head of
all of our Fraternity. Our membership spans dozens of countries and
includes millions of members. Masons meet locally at designated places to
conduct the business of the lodge. Each lodge has a number of elected
members who are assigned the duty of making sure the lodge runs smoothly.
In turn, each local district of Masonic lodges belong to a larger body that
oversees its activities. This larger body is called Grand Lodge.
Almost every Province and Territory in Canada and every State in the United
States has a separate Grand Lodge. There is no higher body that oversees
Masonic activity then a Grand Lodge.
Are Masons racist/elitist?
No. Freemasonry teaches
its members that all men, masons or not, are equal before the Almighty and that
we should treat one another with respect and dignity.
Is Freemasonry a Religion?
No. Freemasonry contains
spiritual elements that make reference to the Almighty in some of the lessons it
teaches to its membership. Freemasonry does not possess attributes that would
qualify it as a religion. For instance it does not promise or have a path
to salvation, nor does it present a doctrine on scripture, nor does it present a
sectarian religious dogma. It is not the function of our Fraternity to
provide these things to our membership. All of these things, Freemasons
believe, are for a member's Church or other Religious Institution to provide him.
Masonry is a secret society?
No. At one time,
Freemasonry was a lot less open then it is now, however there is nothing
secretive about our organization. Our meeting places are clearly
marked for all to see with the Square and Compass. Many places in North
America and also the UK advertise in local newspapers the date time and place of
local Masonic meetings, the phone number for many Masonic Lodge's can be found
in the phone book, many Freemasons wear a ring with the Square and Compass
depicted on it. We are however, a private organization. That is to
say, we recognize the need for discretion and privacy in order to foster an
environment of honesty and trust within our membership.
Are Masonic
rituals demeaning or embarrassing to the candidate ?
No. Our Fraternity goes to great lengths to attempt to foster an atmosphere of respect, honesty
and fidelity for one another. This also extends to those who wish to join
our Order. For example, during the initiation process, the candidate is
always accompanied by a companion so that he is never made to feel humiliation,
embarrassment or stigmatized.
I heard/read a Mason talking
about a "Masonic Bible". Do Masons have their own Bible?
No. When a Freemason
meeting is held, a bible or holy book is always displayed. This is to
remind us that as men we are bound by the moral and spiritual teachings
contained within as it pertains to how we should consider all fellow human beings.
Because Freemasonry is non sectarian, the Holy Book is given a generic name.
Depending on the religious orientation of a particular lodge's membership,
different Holy Books may be displayed for meetings. For example most
Lodges in North America are primarily Christian and so the King James Bible is
displayed. However, if a Jewish Freemason is present, a copy of the Torah
would also be displayed out of respect for the Jewish member's religious
beliefs.
Is Freemasonry part of a Government Conspiracy,
Skull and Bones, the Illuminati, or a plot to bring all people under one world
government?
No. Freemasonry is not a
participant in collusion, or conspiracy in the pursuit to control the public, or
government or political affairs of community or state. Masons come from all
backgrounds and walks of life, including divesting political and religious
ideology. Masons seek strength and support from one another because of mutual
interests and a commitment to positive participation in a larger community; the
lodge they attend and all of Freemasonry in general.
Have all the American
Presidents been Freemasons?
No. Some of the American
Presidents have found themselves members in our Fraternity however. 15
American Presidents in total have been Freemasons, including the last to hold
office, Gerald Ford.
How do I become a Freemason?
The easiest way is
to approach a mason in your local community and ask him for more information
about the lodge, and explain your interest in Freemasonry to him. Another way
is to contact a local Lodge in your area. You will be required to fill out a
petition or application to join the lodge, which is usually accompanied by a
fee. If you are not known personally to anyone in the lodge that you are
applying to, a committee of usually 3 masons will visit you and get to know you
better, and allow you to ask more questions about the fraternity. This will
help both you and the lodge you are petitioning to join decide if you are right
for one another. At this point your petition is then balloted upon in a
lodge meeting and if the ballot is favorable you will be initiated as a mason,
during a solemn ceremony. At your initiation you will be required to affirm
your belief in a Supreme Being, and also take an oath to keep what you learn
thereafter in a Masonic lodge to yourself or between other masons. Rest assured
that the oath you take will in no way interfere with your obligations to your
Family , your Religion or your Country.
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