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What is the purpose of Freemasonry?

Freemasonry's stated purpose is to make a good man into a better man. Masonry teaches a system of conduct and attitudes for use in dealing with other people. It also encourages its members to actively seek to better themselves through hard work, dedication, and education. To convey these lessons, symbols and allegories are used. Each of our visual symbols has a meaning which is designed to remind us of some moral or social virtue which we should learn and practice. The stories we tell in course of our three degrees of membership are allegorical and designed to be impressive to the candidate while teaching important lessons. Above all else, Freemasonry is dedicated to the brotherhood of mankind.

What are Freemasons like?

Freemasons are men who care about improving themselves. They care about providing for their families AND for others less fortunate than themselves. They are very pious men who are generally very involved in their own churches or synagogues. They are pillars of the community. Freemasons CARE!!

What kinds of things do Freemasons do?

In addition to the numerous activities that Masonic lodges conduct on a regular basis to keep their members and their families interested in the fraternity, Freemasons do all kinds of things. Freemasons perform tasks for the benefit of their community. They care for those who cannot care for themselves. And most widely known, they contribute to those less fortunate than themselves. Freemasonry is NOT a charity organization. However, charity is one of the many Masonic virtues which we teach. As a result, members of various Masonic bodies are encouraged to give to those in need. This is done to the tune of $1.5 MILLION EACH DAY, totaling over $500 million in Masonic charity contribution each year

What is the difference between Masonry and Freemasonry?

The distinction between these two terms is very tricky to nail down, but a proper understanding of this distinction is the first step in comprehending Masonry. Freemasonry refers to the organization of Masonry, namely the lodges, Grand Lodges, Grand Orients, etc. The term Masonry refers to the sometimes abstract teachings that we as Freemasons attempt to learn and apply to our daily lives. Thus it can be said that Freemasons practice Masonry. It is freely admitted by most Freemasons that anyone, regardless of their affiliation or lack thereof, can practice Masonry. However, we are obligated to officially recognize only those men who have followed the formal procedure to become Freemasons. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that a person was a "Mason" if he (or even she) embodied the teachings of Masonry. But in order to be officially recognized by other Freemasons, a person MUST belong to a Freemasonic body that is recognized as such.

Why do some Freemasons not recognize other Freemasons?

Every Freemason is affiliated with some governing body or lodge. Typically, a group of lodges are organized under the jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge or Grand Orient. For Freemasons from one Grand Lodge to recognize those from another Grand Lodge as "brethren," both Grand Lodges must extend official recognition to each other. This recognition is not always extended between "Grand" bodies, so as a result, individual Freemasons from each Grand body are not allowed to communicate with each other about Masonry.

Is Masonry a religion?

The answer to this one is simple...NO! Religion serves the purpose of establishing the nature of its respective god or gods, and proposes a plan of salvation to its followers. Religions teach specific doctrines that tell how one's soul is to be saved from damnation and/or elevated to paradise. Masonry does not have a plan of salvation. Nor does it presume to tell its followers that their religion is wrong. While one of the requirements to become a Freemason is the expression of belief in a Supreme Being, the nature of that belief is not questioned. By limiting membership to those who express belief in a god, Freemasonry naturally attracts religious men. Freemasonry, therefore, can be called a society of religious men who associate with each other, but do not practice their respective religions together. In fact, Freemasons are strongly urged in their Masonic lectures to be good and faithful members of their own faith, whatever that faith may be.

Then what is a Masonic Bible?

A Masonic Bible is simply a normal bible, usually the King James Version. It has no special modifications to it, and contrary to some naysayers, the name Jesus is NOT deleted from it. The only real difference between a Masonic Bible and the ones most people are accustomed to is that a Masonic Bible often has a few added pages in the front. These pages usually include an area to record the owner's Masonic history. They also typically contain an outline of all the scriptural verses we refer to in our degree work. Some Masonic Bibles also identify the American presidents who were Freemasons. There is NOTHING secret in a Masonic Bible, nor have we changed any of the text.

And what about a Masonic funeral?

Masonic funerals are open to the public, and usually held in the presence of many people (Masons and non-masons alike). These services are simply our way of showing our brotherly love and respect for one of our number who has passed on. Some of the elements of the service have similarities with the normal ritual of the lodge, and like the lodge service, it is NOT a religious ceremony. The Masonic funeral is a solemn opportunity for Masons to express their feelings for their departed brother, and offer official, public condolences to the family.

When did Freemasonry begin?

Masonry declares that it has existed since time immemorial. If we adhere to the definition of "Masonry" as a philosophy or way of approaching daily life, this statement ceases to be as overzealous as it sounds at first. Freemasonry as we know it today had its formal beginning in 1717 A.D. when groups of men who had been meeting in lodges with some degree of secrecy prior to that point, made themselves known and established the first Grand Lodge. Historians disagree about how long the institution of Freemasonry existed before 1717. Some people claim heritage with the ancient guilds of stonemasons. Others have had a greater degree of success in trying to prove that Freemasonry grew out of the old outlawed order of the Knights Templar, hence the need for secrecy. There are volumes on this subject sufficient to fill a reasonably large library.

Can women be Freemasons?

Sorry, but not directly. Freemasonry is a "fraternity" in every true sense of the word, and, as such, only admits men. However, there are many organizations that have close Masonic ties which are open to women. A Freemason, Rob Morris, who wanted the men of the fraternity to be able to share some of their activity with their wives established the Order of the Eastern Star, where men and women can attend together. In fact, in this order, the chief officer is the Worthy Matron. Other co-masonic bodies exclusively for women exist as well, but most do not enjoy recognition by most Masonic bodies.

What other Masonic organizations are there?

Too many to list here completely. Some organizations that are open to all Master Masons include: The York Rite Chapter, Council and Commandery; the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; The Shrine; The Order of Judas Maccabeus; and the MOVPER Grotto. The Order of the Eastern Star is open to Master Masons and their immediate female relatives. The Order of the Amaranth is open to women. There are even Masonic bodies for children, such as the International Order of DeMolay, Job's Daughters, and the Rainbow Girls.

Who are some famous Freemasons?

There are many thousands of famous men who were Freemasons. Some of the more prominent were:
George Washington, Paul Revere, Andrew Jackson, Harry Truman, Teddy Roosevelt, John Hancock, Roy Acuff, Buzz Aldrin, Gene Autry, Gen. Omar Bradley, Ty Cobb, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Henry Ford, Ben Franklin, Rudyard Kipling, Charles Lindbergh, Thurgood Marshall, Mozart, Goethe, J.C. Penny, Roy Rogers, and John Wayne...
to name a few.

Why you've never been asked?

Many people wonder why their Mason friends have never asked them to join a lodge. They often indicate that they have always been interested in becoming a Mason, but have never been asked.
The reason why they have never been asked to join is that Masons are forbidden to ask men to become members of the fraternity. Because we want men who have a favorable impression of the fraternity to join, and because we want to avoid people joining as a result of undue peer pressure, we require that a man request membership himself.