Why join The Freemasons?

At the end of each meeting, Freemasons raise their glasses, take wine and say, “Here's to our next happy meeting” and that is what they are.    They are meetings where you are always made most welcome, where there is a sense of order and dignity and where happiness is generated.   We are not a religion but do support those who attend places of worship. We raise enormous amounts of money for charities and we have many social events that include our ladies.   The standard of dress is upheld on all occasions with very satisfying results.   Most Lodges meet once a month between the months of September to March or April.    There is a dinner following each Lodge meeting and the ladies usually attend for dinner at the December meeting.   Becoming a member entitles you to visit other Lodges in the area, and also if you are interested, to be invited to join other side orders.    So if you are looking for an entirely new social environment which is wholesome and interesting you could take a first step and make contact. 

An Introduction

 

Essentially you need some information when considering about becoming a Freemason

 Freemasonry is the U.K’s largest secular, fraternal and charitable organisation.

 Lodge meetings, like those of many other groups, are private and open only to members.

 There are three progressive ceremonies for admitting a new Mason into the craft.   These are called degrees  (Entered Apprentice, Fellow craft and Master Mason also continued to completion by joining the Royal Arch degree or Chapter) and these ceremonies are each in two parts - a slight dramatic instruction in the principles and lessons taught in the craft followed by a talk in which the candidate’s various duties are outlined..

 Freemasons promise to support others in time of need, but only if that support does not conflict with their duties to God, the laws, their family or other responsibilities as a citizens. In Freemasonry, the physical penalties, at one time referred to, were always symbolic and were never carried out.  After long discussions, they were eventually removed from the promises in 1986.

 Whilst some Masonic charities cater specifically, but not exclusively, for Masons or their dependants, others make significant grants to non-Masonic organisations.  On a local level, lodges also give support to local causes.

 Freemasonry does not try to replace religion, or substitute for it, or instruct it’s members in what their religious beliefs should be.   There are elements within certain churches who misunderstand Freemasonry and confuse secular rituals with religious liturgy. Freemasonry embraces all men who believe in God and every candidate is exhorted to practise his own religion.   It’s membership includes Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Parsees and others.  Four Grand Masters of English Freemasonry have been Roman Catholic.    Whilst individual Freemasons will have their own views on politics, religion and state policy, discussion of these subjects have always been prohibited and hence we maintain harmony amongst members of different persuasions.  Our fraternity promotes happiness.

 There are groups in the UK and other countries who like to refer to themselves as Freemasons and who do involve themselves in political matters.   These are not countenanced by the United Grand Lodge of England.  Groups like the Orange Order, Odd Fellows and Buffaloes and numerous fraternal orders and Friendly Societies whose rituals, regalia and organisations are similar in some respects to Freemasonry but they have no formal or informal connections with Freemasonry.   In Freemasonry, wearing regalia is historical and symbolic and, like a uniform, serves to indicate to members where they rank in the organisation.

 Under the United Grand Lodge of England, in a census in 2001, there were 330,000 Freemasons, meeting in 8,644 lodges. There are separate Grand Lodges for Ireland (which cover north and south) and Scotland, which had a combined membership of 150,000.   Worldwide, there were probably 5 million members.

 The cost of being a Freemason varies from lodge to lodge, but anyone wishing to join, can find a lodge to suit his pocket.   On entry, there is an initiation fee and an apron to buy.  A member pays an annual subscription to his lodge which covers his membership and a contribution to the administrative cost of running the lodge.   It is usual to have a meal after the meeting; the cost of this can be included in the annual subscription or paid for separately at the time.

 

and its fun!