What are Freemasons?
A Freemason is a man who feels good about himself and others. A Freemason cares about the future as well as the past, and does what he can to make the future better for everyone. A Freemason is a respectable citizen and is taught to conform to the moral laws of society and abide by the laws of the government under which he lives. He is a man of charity and good works.
What is Freemasonry?Freemasonry is the oldest and one of the largest fraternities in the world, and although it encourages good citizenship and political expression, it is not a political or religious organization. Although its charitable activities are manifold, it is not a welfare or benefit organization.
Freemasonry teaches each of us that we have a responsibility to make things better in the world. It is unlikely that any one will find a cure for cancer, or eliminate poverty, or help create world peace, yet every man, woman, and child is capable of doing something to help others, or to make things a little better.
Freemasonry is deeply involved with helping people as it contributes millions of dollars every day, just to make life a little easier. Although it is not made public, the great majority of that help goes to people who are not Masons. Some of the Masonic charities are vast projects, such as the Children's Hospitals and Burn Institutes built by the Shriners. Some charities are less noticeable, such as helping a widow pay her electric bill or buying school lunches for disadvantaged children. Masons and their Lodges try to help make the world a better place in which to live.
How was Freemasonry started?
The background of today's Masonry rests in the centuries of the endeavors of mankind, when industrious and reliable craftsmen built the beautiful cathedrals, abbeys, and castles of medieval Europe. The stonemasons who created these awe-inspiring structures formed craft guilds to protect the secrets of their building trade, and to pass on their knowledge to worthy and deserving apprentices. By the time the need for this type of "Operative" Mason declined in the Seventeenth Century, the practices and customs of the Operative Craft left such an impression, that men who had no inclination of being operative builders sought membership. These "Speculative" builders were learned and well-intentioned men, men of integrity, and good will. With their introductions in to the guilds, "Speculative Masonry" evolved.
In 1717, Masonry created a formal organization
in England when the first Grand Lodge was formed. In a time when travel
was by horseback and sailing ship, Masonry spread with amazing speed.
It soon found its way to the shores of the Colonies in America. By 1731,
when Benjamin Franklin joined the fraternity, there were already several
lodges in the Colonies, and Masonry spread rapidly as America expanded
west. In addition to Franklin, many of the Founding Fathers - men such
as George Washington, Paul Revere, Joseph Warren, and John Hancock - were
masons. Masons and Masonry played important roles in the Constitution
Convention, and the debates surrounding the ratification of the Bill of
Rights. Many of the debates were actually conducted in Masonic Lodges.
Lewis and Clark, both believed to be practicing Masons, opened the expanse
of the nation from sea to shining sea.
What
is a Lodge? Lodges are the basic, and the oldest, organizations
in Freemasonry. The term "Lodge" comes from the structures, which the
stonemasons built against the sides of the cathedrals during construction.
In winter, when building had to stop, Masons lived in these Lodges and
worked at carving stone. Today, a Lodge is a local organization of
Masons. It is a group of Masons in one area that meet together, and it is
also the physical building, or a room in which they meet.
What takes place in our lodges is partly
the formal business that any association conducts. There is the consideration
of minutes of previous meetings, dealings with petitions for membership,
reviewing accounts of general and charitable funds, subscriptions, donations,
and planning for new activities and endeavours. Is
Freemasonry a secret society? Despite historical claims, Freemasonry is
not a secret society. Freemasonry's so-called secrets are solely
a ceremonial manner of demonstrating that one is a Freemason when in Lodge
meetings. There have always been special signs and hand grips by which
the initiated might make themselves known to one another, as well as private
rituals which are not shared with non-members. In this respect, Masonry
preserves its centuries-old reputation for secrecy, but the secretiveness
is fittingly ceremonial. There are more reasons why Freemasonry is
not a secret society. The fraternity does not hide its existence or its
membership. In fact, Masons are proud to be Masons, and often wear rings
or lapel pins that show the Square and Compasses, the most widely used
and recognized symbol of Masonry. They meet in Masonic Lodges and Masonic
Halls, which are familiar sights in thousands of towns and cites. Our
nation's telephone directories list Masonic Lodges in every state. When
Freemasons meet, the meetings are public-record. Publications of Masonic
Literature, and Internet entities like our Web Page are readily available
to anyone. How does one become a
freemason? One of the unique features of
Freemasonry is that no man is ever invited to become a member. Freemasons are
prohibited from the solicitation of new members. For that reason, it is
sometimes difficult for an interested person to discover how to approach the
fraternity for membership.
You probably know several Freemasons. If so, contact one and ask him about
Freemasonry. You can use a phone book or the internet to locate Masonic
lodges in your area.
Freemasonry offers much to its members - the opportunity to grow, the chance to
make a difference, to build a better world for ourselves and our children. It
offers the chance to be with and work with men who have the same values and
ideals.
Freemasonry is always ready to welcome good men into the fraternity. 
