Joining Freemasons
An approach to life
Freemasonry under the United Grand Lodge of England is the UK's largest, secular fraternal and charitable organisation. It has over 500,000 members working in nearly 8,000 lodges throughout England and Wales and 50,000 more members overseas.
What
is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry teaches moral lessons and self-knowledge
through participation in a progression of allegorical
two-part plays, which are learnt by heart and performed
within each lodge. Freemasonry offers its members
an approach to life which seeks to reinforce thoughtfulness
for others, kindness in the community, honesty in
business, courtesy in society and fairness in all
things. Members are urged to regard the interests
of the family as paramount but importantly Freemasonry
also teaches and practises concern for people, care
for the less fortunate and help for those in need.
Why do
people join and remain members?
People joining Freemasons do so for a variety of reasons,
some as the result of family tradition, others upon
the introduction of a friend or out of a curiosity
to know what it is all about. Those who become active
members and who grow in Freemasonry do so principally
because they enjoy it. They enjoy the challenges
and fellowship that Freemasonry offers. There is
more to it, however, than just enjoyment. Participation
in the dramatic presentation of moral lessons and
in the working of a lodge provides a member with
a unique opportunity to learn more about himself
and encourages him to live in such a way that he
will always be in search of becoming a better man,
not better than someone else but better than he
himself would otherwise be and therefore an exemplary
member of society.
Each Freemason is required to learn and show humility through initiation. Then, by progression through a series of degrees he gains insight into increasingly complex moral and philosophical concepts, and accepts a variety of challenges and responsibilities which are both stimulating and rewarding. The structure and working of the lodge and the sequence of ceremonial events, which are usually followed by social gatherings, offer members a framework for companionship, teamwork, character development and enjoyment of shared experiences.
What Promises
do Freemasons take?
New members make solemn promises concerning their
conduct in the lodge and in society. These promises
are similar to those taken in court or upon entering
the armed services or many other organisations.
Each member also promises to keep confidential the
traditional methods of proving he is a Freemason
which he would use when visiting a lodge where he
is not known.
The much publicised 'traditional penalties' for failure to observe these undertakings were removed from the promises in 1986. They were always symbolic not literal and refer only to the pain any decent man should feel at the thought of violating his word.
Members also undertake not to make use of their membership for personal gain or advancement; failure to observe this principle or otherwise to fall below the standards expected of a Freemason can lead to expulsion.
Joining Freemasons - Who can
join?
Membership is open to men of all faiths who are
lawabiding, of good character and who acknowledge
a belief in God. Freemasonry is a multi-racial and
multi-cultural organisation. It has attracted men
of goodwill from all sectors of the community into
membership. There are similar Masonic organisations
for women.
Is Freemasonry
a religion?
Freemasonry is not a religion. It has no theology
and does not teach any route to salvation. A belief
in God, however, is an essential requirement for
membership and Freemasonry encourages its members
to be active in their own religions as well as in
society at large.
Although every lodge meeting is opened and closed with a prayer and its ceremonies reflect the essential truths and moral teachings common to many of the world's great religions, no discussion of religion is permitted in lodge meetings.
Is information about Freemasonry freely available?
Yes, but lodge meetings,
like meetings of many other social and professional
associations, are private occasions open only to
members Freemasons are encouraged to speak openly
about their membership, while remembering that they
undertake not to use it for their own or anyone
else's advancement.
As members are sometimes the subject of discrimination which may adversely affect their employment or other aspects of their lives, some Freemasons are understandably reticent about discussing their membership. In common with many other national organisations.
Grand Lodge neither maintains nor publishes a list of members and will not disclose names or member's details without their permission. In circumstances where a conflict of interest might arise or be perceived to exist or when Freemasonry becomes an issue, a Freemason must declare an interest. The rules and aims of Freemasonry are available to the public.
The Masonic Year Book, also available to the public, contains the names of all national office-holders and lists of all lodges with details of their meeting dates and places. The meeting places and halls used by Freemasons are readily identifiable, are listed in telephone directories and in many areas are used by the local community for activities other than Freemasonry.
Freemasons' Hall in London (pictured above) is open to the public and 'open days' are held in many provincial centres. The rituals and ceremonies used by Freemasons to pass on the principles of Freemasonry to new members were first revealed publicly in 1723. They include the traditional forms of recognition used by Freemasons essentially to prove their identity and qualifications when entering a Masonic meeting. These include handshakes which have been much written about and can scarcely be regarded as truly secret today; for medieval Freemasons, they were the equivalent of a 'pin number" restricting access only to qualified members.
Many thousands of books have been written on the subject of Freemasonry and are readily available to the general public. Freemasonry offers spokesmen and briefings for the media and provides talks to interested groups on request. Freemasons are proud of their heritage and happy to share it.
Is Freemasonry
involved in politics?
Freemasonry is definitely not a political organisation,
it has no political agenda, and discussion of politics
is not permitted at lodge meetings. Freemasonry
naturally tends to attract those with a concern
for people and a sense of social responsibility
and purpose. There are members, therefore, who are
involved in politics at local, national and international
level. Equally there are members who take an active
interest in nonMasonic charitable organisations
and other community groups.
Is Freemasonry
involved in the community?
From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been involved
in charitable activities, and since its inception
it has provided support for many widows and orphans
of Freemasons as well as others within the community.
All monies raised for charity are drawn from amongst
Freemasons, their families and friends, while grants
and donations are made to Masonic and non-Masonic
charities alike. Over the past five years alone
Freemasonry has raised more than £75m for a wide
range of charitable purposes including those involved
in medical research, community care, education and
work with young people. Freemasonry has an enviable
record of providing regular and consistent financial
support to individual charities over long periods
while at the same time making thousands of grants
to local charities, appeals and projects throughout
England and Wales each year. For the future, opportunities
to obtain or provide matched funding are periodically
examined with a view to enhancing the impact of
the support Freemasonry can give to specific projects.
The personal generosity of Freemasons and the collective
fundraising efforts of almost 8,000 lodges, however,
will continue to determine the contribution Freemasonry
makes within the community.
• Approved by United Grand Lodge of England •
Copyright 2010: The Provincial Grand Lodge of
North Wales
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