If you had hopes of finding the Holy Grail, Ark of the Covenant, or some other form of hidden treasure then I'm sorry to disappoint you. What I'm hoping that you will find on this page is information and answers about "Freemasonry". Freemasonry is not a secret society although we are a society with secrets. The biggest secret is there are no true "secrets". To be absolutely honest with you, most of these "secrets" can be found on the internet in one form or another. Keeping Masonry pure and honest is something that each Mason is obligated to do. Masons are expected to be of high moral caliber and standing. Rather that shield the world from Masonry they are actually encouraged to speak opening about Freemasonry and wear clothing with masonic images. Does that sound like a secret society to you? It doesn't seem like a secret society to us either. What we hold true and pledge not to discuss is the details of our obligation, certain signs, grips, and words. If you really want to learn these secrets, all you need to do is ask a Mason about becoming a Mason. Masons do not recruit people to join Masonry so if you've been waiting for an invitation or someone to abduct you please understand that it's never going to happen. That is why you'll routinely see 2B1ASK1, If you want TO BE A MASON, all you have to do is ASK A Mason.
Basically...
There is no secret to what we believe
We believe in some pretty old fashioned things.
All Masons have a belief in a God, Higher Power, or Supreme Being. An Atheist cannot be a Mason.
We believe in helping young people get a head start in life.
We believe in the Brotherhood of Man.
And we believe in freedom.
We believe in service to those who are less fortunate.
Surprised? Don't worry as a lot of people are. Somehow they still consider us a secret society. Yet we don’t hide our purpose or our membership. Our constitution and regulations are open for all to see. Masons provide homes for the elderly and for orphans. We provide college scholarships to promising young men and women. We contribute to blood banks, fund medical research, and maintain hospitals for crippled and burned children.
I Guess You Would Have To Say “Our Secret is Out!”
Is it true that 2 Masons need to sign my petition for membership?
Yes. You will need what we refer to as a 1st line and 2nd line signer. They will stand up for you in person or in writing if they are unable to attend the meeting where your membership is being voted on.
What if I don't know any Mason?
You'll probably be surprised and find out that you may have Masons within your family, friends, or co-workers. It's also possible that they know someone who is. My recommendation however is to look at Masonry like you would a major purchase. When you go to buy a car, you kick the tires and test drive it before you decide to buy. Most Masonic lodges have dinners before they're meetings. These dinners are open to guests. All you have to do is walk in and tell them that you're interested in Masonry. Ask them if they have any community events outside of the lodge that you can attend. I assure you that you'll know some Masons before long.
When did Freemasonry begin?
It's honestly not known. the earliest recorded "making" of a Freemason in England was in 1646 (Elias Ashmole). Organzied Freemasonry began in 1717 when the Grand Lodge of England was founded. Ireland and Scotland followed closely after in 1725 and 1736.
There are two main theories of origin. According to one, the operative stonemasons who built the great cathedrals and castles had lodges in which they discussed trade affairs. They had simple initiation ceremonies and, as there were no City and Guilds certificates, dues cards or trade union membership cards, they adopted secret signs and words to demonstrate that they were trained masons when they moved from site to site. In the 1600s, these operative lodges began to accept non-operatives as “gentlemen masons”. Gradually these non-operatives took over the lodges and turned them from operative to ‘free and accepted’ or ‘speculative’ lodges.
The other theory is that in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, there was a group which was interested in the promotion of religious and political tolerance in an age of great intolerance when differences of opinion on matters of religion and politics were to lead to bloody civil war. In forming Freemasonry, they were trying to make better men and build a better world. As the means of teaching in those days was by allegory and symbolism, they took the idea of building as the central allegory on which to form their system. The main source of allegory was the Bible, the contents of which were known to everyone even if they could not read, and the only building described in detail in the Bible was King Solomon’s Temple, which became the basis of the ritual. The old trade guilds provided them with their basic administration of a Master, Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary, and the operative mason’s tools provided them with a wealth of symbols with which to illustrate the moral teachings of Freemasonry.
Do the names George Washington, Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and John Paul Jones sound familiar?
What if I told you that they all had something in common. They were all Masons. In fact, 14 U.S. Presidents, 9 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 signers of the constitution, and 30+ Supreme Court Justices, 5 of which were Chief Justice were all Masons. Masonry is deeply rooted in our nations history.
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry or being a Mason can mean something different to everyone. For some it's about family and friendships. For those that served in the military it can replace that camaraderie and belonging thats been missing since leaving the military. It's a group of men that come from different backgrounds and with different experiences that have shared something in common that they can relate to. It can be a form of community involvement, charity, and giving back. Freemasonry and their related bodies (Shriners, Royal Arch, Knights Templar, & the Scottish Rite to list a few) all have various charities and programs that they support. Ask 10 Masons what Freemasonry is to them and don't be surprised if you receive 10 different responses.
Is Freemasonry a religion?
No, Freemasonry is not a religion. Our membership is made up with a variety of religions from throughout the world. The only requirement about religion within Freemasonry is that you must believe in God or some form of higher power. Who that supreme architect of universe is to each Mason is a personal choice and belief. Being an atheist or agnostic would preclude you from being a part of Masonry.
Are Freemason and Shriners the same?
This is a great question. All Shriners are Freemasons but not all Freemasons are Shriners. It is a separate organization but being a Mason in good standing is a prerequisite for membership in the Shrine.
This portion of the page is a work in progress and more information will be added so come back and give it another look...
FAQ's
FAQ's
Masonic Secrets Revealed