Why men have become Freemasons for the past 300+ years is a deeply personal question, and bound to get a variety of answers from many members. Below are some articles and videos of what some men have expressed regarding their participation in Freemasonry.
Freemasonry is...
Freemasonry is the world's largest, oldest and best-known gentleman's fraternity. It is based on the medieval stonemason guilds who built the great castles and cathedrals of Europe. Modern Freemasons use the tools, traditions and terminology of those stonemasons as allegories for building temples in the hearts of men. It's said that we are a secret society. We do indeed have secrets—secrets that each individual man has to discover for and about himself. It's not for everybody. Maybe it's for you. Chris Hodapp, Author of "Freemasons for Dummies" |
"...What do Freemasons believe in?"
Click Here for a Good Answer
What Freemasonry Means...Out of all that I hear and see,
Day by day I am Building me; I alone have the right to choose What to reject and what to use. Nobody's workmanship but mine Can keep the structure true and fine, Strong or feeble--false or true-- I build myself by the deeds I do. --William Hammond |
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What Can a Man like me do for the local Masonic Lodge?
Do you like to work with your hands?: Any lodge that owns a building needs men that are well-versed in skilled trade. If you enjoy home improvement projects--whether you are a professional or an amateur--the Lodge is a great place to use this talent. Physical maintenance and improvements are always ongoing. Some men enjoy doing these things for the Lodge because they have a chance to work on projects of a scale that they can't do in their own private homes. Some men just enjoy the satisfaction of maintaining a well-manicured lawn, or other sort of routine maintenance that gives them a feeling of a job well done.
Do you like to learn new things?: Every man's journey into Masonry begins with learning a system of symbols and philosophy that is rooted in antiquity. There are volumes and volumes of Masonic writings for you to explore at your leisure. There is always history to learn about the Craft as well as your own local Lodge--many of which have been around over 100 years.
Do you like to work with people?: The Lodge is an unlimited resource for this. Men are needed for a variety of tasks: Men are needed to mentor new candidates through the degrees. To serve on committees to investigate new candidates. Men are needed to teach the membership more about what Masonry can offer them, and how they can strengthen their Lodge with their own talents. Commitees of varying levels of commitment meet throughout the year, planning for the various special events that occur.
Do you want the challenge of leadership?: The Masonic Lodge places great power at the hands of their officers. As a Masonic Lodge officer, you will find yourself in charge of a body of men, with a budget, calendar, and all the related challenges that leading an institution has. If you are frustrated with your place in the "corporate ladder" of your chosen vocation--the Lodge may be the place for you to shine and demonstrate the leadership skills that your employer hasn't recognized--yet! It can also be a safe environment for young men to practice their leadership skills that they want to improve, before "making their mark" on the world!
Do you want to make new friends?: Masons are men of all ages and backgrounds--but you are bound to meet a Brother Mason who shares your interests. Need a hunting buddy? You'll find one in Freemasonry. Enjoy volunteer work? You'll find a friend to share your volunteer time with. Enjoy stamp collecting? Wait until you see Brother Smith's collection. The opportunities for you to meet new people are endless. The Masonic Lodge can also be a great gathering place for family and friends for special events in our fellowship halls, and many events are held of a purely social nature within our buildings. Freemasonry provides you with a place to make strong and lasting friendships, many with men that you never may have met otherwise.
Do you like to work with your hands?: Any lodge that owns a building needs men that are well-versed in skilled trade. If you enjoy home improvement projects--whether you are a professional or an amateur--the Lodge is a great place to use this talent. Physical maintenance and improvements are always ongoing. Some men enjoy doing these things for the Lodge because they have a chance to work on projects of a scale that they can't do in their own private homes. Some men just enjoy the satisfaction of maintaining a well-manicured lawn, or other sort of routine maintenance that gives them a feeling of a job well done.
Do you like to learn new things?: Every man's journey into Masonry begins with learning a system of symbols and philosophy that is rooted in antiquity. There are volumes and volumes of Masonic writings for you to explore at your leisure. There is always history to learn about the Craft as well as your own local Lodge--many of which have been around over 100 years.
Do you like to work with people?: The Lodge is an unlimited resource for this. Men are needed for a variety of tasks: Men are needed to mentor new candidates through the degrees. To serve on committees to investigate new candidates. Men are needed to teach the membership more about what Masonry can offer them, and how they can strengthen their Lodge with their own talents. Commitees of varying levels of commitment meet throughout the year, planning for the various special events that occur.
Do you want the challenge of leadership?: The Masonic Lodge places great power at the hands of their officers. As a Masonic Lodge officer, you will find yourself in charge of a body of men, with a budget, calendar, and all the related challenges that leading an institution has. If you are frustrated with your place in the "corporate ladder" of your chosen vocation--the Lodge may be the place for you to shine and demonstrate the leadership skills that your employer hasn't recognized--yet! It can also be a safe environment for young men to practice their leadership skills that they want to improve, before "making their mark" on the world!
Do you want to make new friends?: Masons are men of all ages and backgrounds--but you are bound to meet a Brother Mason who shares your interests. Need a hunting buddy? You'll find one in Freemasonry. Enjoy volunteer work? You'll find a friend to share your volunteer time with. Enjoy stamp collecting? Wait until you see Brother Smith's collection. The opportunities for you to meet new people are endless. The Masonic Lodge can also be a great gathering place for family and friends for special events in our fellowship halls, and many events are held of a purely social nature within our buildings. Freemasonry provides you with a place to make strong and lasting friendships, many with men that you never may have met otherwise.
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My Masonic Membership Card
I hold in my hand a little scrap of paper 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches in size. It is of no intrinsic worth, not a bond, not a check or receipt for valuables, yet it is my most priceless possession. It is my membership in a Masonic Lodge.
It tells me that I have entered into a spiritual Kin- with my fellow Masons to practice charity in word and deed; to forgive and forget the faults of my brethren; to hush the tongues of scandal and innuendo; to care for the crippled, the hungry, and the sick, and to be fair and just to all mankind.
It tells me that no matter where I may travel in the world, I am welcome to visit a place where good fellowship prevails among brothers and friends.
It tells me that my loved ones, my home, and my household are under the protection of every member of this great Fraternity, who have sworn to protect and defend mine, as I have sworn to protect and defend theirs.
It tells me that should I ever be overtaken by adversity or misfortune through no fault of my own, the hands of every Mason on the face of the earth will be stretched forth to assist me in my necessities.
And finally it tells me that when my final exit from the stage of life has been made, there will be gathered around my lifeless body friends and brothers who will recall to mind my virtues, though they be but few, and will forget my faults, though they may be many.
It tells me that and a great deal more, this little card, and makes me proud, yet humble, that I can possess this passport into a society of friends and brothers that are numbered in the millions.
Published in -Knight Templar Magazine
It tells me that I have entered into a spiritual Kin- with my fellow Masons to practice charity in word and deed; to forgive and forget the faults of my brethren; to hush the tongues of scandal and innuendo; to care for the crippled, the hungry, and the sick, and to be fair and just to all mankind.
It tells me that no matter where I may travel in the world, I am welcome to visit a place where good fellowship prevails among brothers and friends.
It tells me that my loved ones, my home, and my household are under the protection of every member of this great Fraternity, who have sworn to protect and defend mine, as I have sworn to protect and defend theirs.
It tells me that should I ever be overtaken by adversity or misfortune through no fault of my own, the hands of every Mason on the face of the earth will be stretched forth to assist me in my necessities.
And finally it tells me that when my final exit from the stage of life has been made, there will be gathered around my lifeless body friends and brothers who will recall to mind my virtues, though they be but few, and will forget my faults, though they may be many.
It tells me that and a great deal more, this little card, and makes me proud, yet humble, that I can possess this passport into a society of friends and brothers that are numbered in the millions.
Published in -Knight Templar Magazine
“A Masonic lodge is not a club where precious time and brotherly togetherness are wasted in chattering about everyday things, social matters and the like, which could be just as well discussed elsewhere. Nor is Masonry a monastery where every monk builds his own salvation in sombre secrecy and isolation from the world... No! Our work is strictly self-discipline, so that we may set a shining example to others in our land whom we wish to draw towards our light.”
-Alphonse Mucha, renowned artist; Grand Master of Czechoslovakia and Sovereign Grand Commander, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Czechoslovakia |
When is a Man a Mason? By Rev. Joseph Fort Newton
---When he can look out over the rivers, the hills, and the far horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope, and courage-which is the root of every virtue.
---When he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to forgive, and to love his fellowman.
---When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sorrows, yea, even in their sins-knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds.
---When he has learned how to make friends and to keep them, and above all how to keep friends with himself.
---When he loves flowers, can hunt birds without a gun, and feels the thrill of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child.
---When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life.
---When star-crowned trees and the glint of sunlight on flowing waters subdue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead.
---When no voice of distress reaches his ears i vain, and no hand seeks his aid without response.
---When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of divine things and sees majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith may be.
---When he can look into a wayside puddle and see something beyond mud, and into the fce of the most forlorn fellow mortal and see something beyond sin.
---When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope.
---When he has kept faith with himself, with hs fellowman, and with his God; in his hands a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of a song-glad to live, but not afraid to die!
---Such a man has found the only real secret of Masonry, and the one which it is trying to give to all the world.
---When he can look out over the rivers, the hills, and the far horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope, and courage-which is the root of every virtue.
---When he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to forgive, and to love his fellowman.
---When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sorrows, yea, even in their sins-knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds.
---When he has learned how to make friends and to keep them, and above all how to keep friends with himself.
---When he loves flowers, can hunt birds without a gun, and feels the thrill of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child.
---When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life.
---When star-crowned trees and the glint of sunlight on flowing waters subdue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead.
---When no voice of distress reaches his ears i vain, and no hand seeks his aid without response.
---When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of divine things and sees majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith may be.
---When he can look into a wayside puddle and see something beyond mud, and into the fce of the most forlorn fellow mortal and see something beyond sin.
---When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope.
---When he has kept faith with himself, with hs fellowman, and with his God; in his hands a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of a song-glad to live, but not afraid to die!
---Such a man has found the only real secret of Masonry, and the one which it is trying to give to all the world.