What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry (or simply, Masonry) is a
fraternal order whose basic tenets are brotherly love, relief
(philanthropy), and truth. We strive to enjoy the company of our
brother Masons, assist them in times of personal trouble, and reinforce
essential moral values. There is an old adage that Masonry "takes good
men and makes them better", which is our goal.
It has often been observed that men are the products of
everything they come into contact with during their lifetime. Masonry
offers a man an opportunity to come into regular, enjoyable contact
with men of good character, thus reinforcing his own personal moral
development. Of course, Masonry is also meant to be enjoyed by its
membership, so the order should not be viewed simply as a philosophical
club, but rather a vibrant fellowship of men who seek to enjoy each
other's company, a fraternity.
To maintain this fraternity, discussion of religion and
politics within the Lodge is forbidden, as these subjects are those
that have often divided men in the past. Masons cover the spectrum of
both religious and political beliefs and encourages a man to be
religious without advocating a particular religion, and to be active in
his community without advocating a particular medium of political
expression. While there probably are some actual stone-workers who are
Masons, Masonry does not teach is membership the literal techniques of
stonework. Rather, it takes the actual "operative" work of Medieval
Masons and uses it as an allegory for moral development. Thus, the
symbols of Masonry are the common tools that were used by medieval
stonemasons: the gavel, the rule, the compass, the square, the level,
etc. Each of these has a symbolic meaning in Masonry. For example,
Masons are said to meet "on the level", meaning that all Masons are
brothers, regardless of social status, personal wealth, or office
within the Lodge or in the world at large. Similar symbolism exists for
other tools.
Masonry is distinguished from other fraternal orders by
its emphasis on moral character, its ornate rituals, and its long
tradition and history, which dates back to at least the 17th century in
modern form, the 14th century (c. 1350-1390) in the written evidence of
its precursors, and back to the mists of antiquity in its origin.
Masonry has a continuously documented paper history (i.e., Lodge to
Lodge) since 1717, though historical analysis shows Masonry to be much
older.
There are also a great many things that Masonry is NOT:
a religion, a secret society, etc., and these will be covered later in
this FAQ.
There are three degrees in Masonry. Other appendant
bodies confer additional degrees, up to the 32nd (or the honorary 33rd)
of the Scottish Rite, but in symbolic Masonry (or Blue Lodge Masonry)
proper, there are only three. At the Blue Lodge, Masons receive the
degrees of Entered Apprentice (first degree), Fellowcraft (second
degree), and Master Mason (third degree). Promotion generally requires
the mastery of a small body of memorized material, the contents of
which varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions,
only the signs, tokens, and grips of each degree must be learned; in
others, a longer amount of material.
Of course, no Mason would ever look down upon a Brother
simply because he was of a lower degree-- the degrees do not exist to
create a pecking order or to confer rank. Rather, they are a system of
initiation that allows men to become familiar with the august and
ancient history and principles of Masonry at a comfortable pace.
Proceeding from Entered Apprentice to Master Mason in the US can take
as little as three months, while in England, the degrees are spaced
apart by a year's interval. Most Lodges have regular communications
(meetings) once a month, that are also referred to as "business
meetings". In the US, these are typically only open to Master Masons.
In England, these meetings are usually opened in the first degree, and
EAs may attend). Conferring of degrees is usually done at other
meetings during the month.
While conferral of degrees and mundane business do take
up a lot of a Lodge's time, there are a host of other activities that
Masons engage in within the fraternity. Charitable work is often done,
in the form of fundraisers, community volunteer work, etc. And there
are also a great many things done for the simple pleasure of company:
monthly breakfasts or dinners, picnics, card/chess matches, lecturers
on Masonic history, you name it. Masonry is a fraternity, and its
membership seeks to have fun.
Local Masonic Lodges are organized under Grand Lodges.
In the United States, each state has its own Grand Lodge, which is a
peer with every other Grand Lodge. There is not "Grandest Lodge"-- each
Grand Lodge is supreme in its jurisdiction (e.g., in the US, in its
state) but has no authority elsewhere. Of course, this does not mean
that Masonry in New York is radically different than Masonry in
Scotland or New Mexico. Masons are very traditional and the differences
between Grand Lodges are usually minor.
The head of a Lodge is given the title Worshipful
Master. This, of course, does not imply that Masons worship him; it is
merely a stylish title. Masonic Lodges can be found in many cities, of
all sizes, around the world. There are presently approximately 5
million Masons, half of which are in the United States.
What is the Scottish Rite?
The Scottish Rite is an appendant body of
Masonry, meaning that it is not part of the Blue Lodge per se, but
closely associated with Masonry. It requires that a man be a Master
Mason before joining the Scottish Rite. The Scottish Rite confers the
4th through 32nd degrees. The degree work may be, but is not
necessarily, completed at one time. Any Master Mason is eligible to
join the Scottish Rite. The degrees of the Scottish Rite continue the
symbolism of the first three Masonic degrees. For a discussion of the
33rd degree, see question 9 of this section.
The above refers to the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (AASR),
not the Rectified Scottish Rite , which exists both in UGLE-recognized
and non-recognized Masonic bodies in the Europe.
What is the York Rite?
The York Rite, like the Scottish Rite, is
an appendant body of Masonry, and confers degrees beyond the Blue
Lodge's three degrees. It consists of nine degrees additional degrees:
Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason;
the Cryptic Degrees of the Royal Master, Select Master, and Super
Excellent Master; and the Chivalric Orders of the Order of the Red
Cross, Order of the Knights of Malta and the Order of Knights Templar.
The Shrine degrees, which comprise the top degrees of
the York Rite are specifically Christian. Or at least, it can be stated
that the oath is: in some Grand Lodges in the US and abroad, one need
not be a Christian, but rather only be willing to take a Christian
OATH. The difference here is that there are some who would willingly
swear to defend the Christian faith on the grounds that they would
defend any man's faith. The Chapter (or Royal Arch) and Council Of
Royal And Select Masters (Cryptic Rite), which comprise the first two
sections of the York Rite, are not specifically Christian.
As with most things Masonic, discuss any concerns with
your local York Rite, who can advise you regarding your eligibility.
What is the Shrine?
The Shrine is not an appendant body of
Masonry, though the distinction would escape many. The Shrine confers
no additional degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the Mecca Shrine in New
York City) and an Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive red
fez that Shriners wear at official functions.
Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the
Mystic Shrine for North America (AASONM is an anagram for "A MASON")
are members of the Scottish Rite's 32nd degree, and/or Knights Shriner
of the York Rite. The Shrine is most noted for its emphasis on
philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life-- it has been called "the
playground of Masonry". This is expressed as "Pleasure without
intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without
coarseness."
What is the Eastern Star?
The Order of the Eastern Star is an
adoptive rite of Freemasonry with teachings based on the Bible and
objectives that are charitable and benevolent. The founder of OES was
Dr. Robert Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts,
who was a Master Mason and Past Grand Master of Kentucky. Dr. Morris
intended his creation to become a female branch of Freemasonry, but he
failed to overcome the great opposition this idea engendered. After his
first published ritual in 1849-50, he became associated with Robert
Macoy who wrote and published a ritual based on Morris' in 1867. The
first Grand Chapter was organized in Michigan in the same year. (There
is evidence for an organization of the same name founded variously in
1788 or 1793, but this group was defunct by 1867.) Subordinate (local)
chapters operate under charter from state level grand chapters which
are responsible to the General Grand Chapter at the International
Eastern Star Shrine in Washington, D.C.
Members must be eighteen years or older and either
Master Masons in good standing or properly related to a Master Mason in
good standing. The latter category includes wives; widows; sisters;
daughters; mothers; granddaughters; step-mothers; step daughters;
step-sisters; and half-sisters. In 1994 this was expanded to include
nieces, daughters-in- law, and grandmothers.
Each chapter has eighteen officers, some
elected and others appointed. Two offices are specifically male (Patron
and Associate Patron) while nine offices are specifically female
(including Matron and Associate Matron). While the Worthy Matron is
considered to be the presiding officer of the chapter, the degrees
cannot be conferred without a presiding brother in good standing (hence
the Patron and Associate Patron).
Each chapter retains the right to decide
who shall be a member of the organization. Election to the degrees must
be unanimous, without debate, and secret. The successful candidate must
profess a belief in a Supreme Being and is initiated in five degrees,
which are conferred in one ceremony. (When Eastern Star was created, it
was intended to be the first of a three degree series. The second and
third degrees were Queen of the South and the Order of the Amaranth,
respectively.)
Interestingly enough, OES requires only the belief in a
Supreme Being even though the degrees are based in both the Old and New
Testaments. While non-Christians are not specifically barred from
membership, it would seem to be difficult to be other than Christian
and belong to the Order. (Thanks to Joy Leavy for this section)
What is DeMolay?
The International Order of DeMolay is the
world's largest fraternal organization for young men between the ages
of 13 and 21. The Order was founded in Kansas City, Missouri on March
24, 1919 by Frank Sherman Land. DeMolay Chapters are sponsored by
Masonic Lodges, and some members of the sponsoring body also serve as
Advisors on the Chapter's Advisory Council. Structurally, it is similar
to Masonry. The officers of a Chapter are the Master Councilor, Senior
Councilor, Junior Councilor, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior
Steward, Junior Steward, Orator, Scribe, Marshal, Chaplain, Standard
Bearer, Sentinel, Almoner, and seven Preceptors.
DeMolay Chapters hold monthly or bi-weekly
meetings with Masonic-like Ritual. Other activities include athletic
tournaments and events, social functions (joint activities with Rainbow
are encouraged), fund-raising activities, Masonic service activities,
and civic and philanthropic activities.
DeMolays are taught the seven cardinal
virtues of the Order-- filial love, reverence for sacred things,
courtesy, comradeship, fidelity, cleanness, and patriotism-- and the
importance of practicing them in their daily lives.
The Order's namesake is Jacques DeMolay,
who was the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar and who was
executed by the Inquisition on March 18, 1314. Louis Lower, the first
DeMolay, and his group of friends, when asked by Dad Land to choose a
name for their group, believed that his heroic fidelity and loyalty to
his fellow Templars were qualities with which they wanted their group
to be identified. Mind you, Dad Land explained this to them before they
chose their name.
A fascinating book about the history of the
Order and the life of Frank S. Land ( 1890-1959), titled "Hi! Dad," is
available from the DeMolay and More Store or practically any member of
the Order. The phone number of the DeMolay and More Store is
1-800-DEMOLAY. (thanks to Tom Schnorrenberg)
What is Rainbow?
Rainbow is the complement to DeMolay,
enrolling girls between the age of 11 and 20 if they are related to
members of a Masonic Lodge or the Eastern Star. It confers two degrees,
the Initiatory and the Grand Cross of Color.
What is Jobs Daughters?
Jobs Daughters is an international service
organization for girls age 11-20 who are related to Masons. It helps
develop leadership, speaking skills, confidence in themselves, along
with building friendships, helping others, and having fun too.
What are some other Masonic organizations?
There are several:
Acacia: A college
fraternity for Master Masons, the sons of Masons, and young men
recommended by two Masons one of whom is an Acacian himself. The
national governing board is composed exclusively of 32nd and 33rd
degree Masons.
Order of Amaranth: Open to
Masons and their wives, mothers, daughters, widows, and sisters. At
least one Master Mason must be present at every initiation. It confers
only one degree.
Daughters of Mokanna: An
auxiliary organization of the Grotto comprised of the wives, mothers,
daughters, widows, and sisters of the Master Masons in the Grotto.
Daughters of the Nile: An
auxiliary organization for the wives, mothers, daughters, widows, and
sisters of members of the Shrine.
Desoms: An organization for
deaf Masons.
Grotto: A fun organization
open to Master Masons. It imitates the Shrine to a large degree, but
requires only that a member be a Master Mason rather than a 32nd degree
Mason or Knight Templar. Officially known as The Mystic Order of Veiled
Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (MOVPER).
High Twelve International:
An organization of Master Masons that usually meet for lunch, enjoy
fellowship, and support Masonic causes, with special emphasis on youth
and patriotic endeavors.
Job's Daughters: Enrolls
girls between the ages of 11 and 20 that have some Masonic relative.
They must profess a belief in God, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's
prayer.
L.O.S. of N.A.: The Ladies'
Oriental Shrine of North America. Another auxiliary for the wives,
mothers, daughters, widows, and sisters of Shrine members.
National Sojourners, Inc.:
Open to Master Masons which are U.S. citizens and who have served or
are serving as a commissioned or warrant officer in the United States
military or in any armed service of a nation allied with the US in time
of war.
Philalethes: A group for
Masons interested in Masonic philosophy and history.
Royal Order of Scotland: An
organization for Christian Masons who have been 32nd degree Masons or
Knights Templar for five or more years.
Tall Cedars of Lebanon: A
fun organization for Master Masons similar to the Grotto. It confers
the two degrees of the Royal Court and the Sidonian.
White Shrine of Jerusalem:
For Master Masons and their wives, mothers, daughters, widows, and
sisters. Members must profess a belief in the defense of the Christian
religion. (thanks to Bill Menees for providing this section)
What is Prince Hall Masonry?
There are some schools of thought that
Prince Hall (his name not a title) was born in Barbados to a free black
woman and a Scottish father. He emigrated to the Colony of Boston,
Mass. and acquired real estate, making him eligible to vote. It was
also documented that he was a devout Christian and a leather-worker by
trade. On March 6, 1775, during the American War of Independence,
Prince Hall along with fourteen men of color were made Masons in Army
Lodge #441 of the Irish Constitution. When Army Lodge moved on, the
aforesaid brethren were issued a permit authorizing them to appear
publicly as a Masonic body for the purpose of celebrating the feast of
St. John and to bury their dead.
On March 2, 1784, these same brethren applied to the
Grand Lodge of England for a charter, which was subsequently issued to
them on September 29, 1784. They were warranted under the name of
African Lodge, No. 459 on the register of the Grand Lodge of England by
authority of then Grand Master, the Duke of Cumberland. Prince Hall was
the first Master. That charter, which is authenticated and in
safekeeping, is believed to be the only original charter issued from
the Grand Lodge of England still in the possession of any Lodge in the
United States.
African Lodge allowed itself to slip into arrears in the
late 1790's and was stricken from the rolls after the Union of 1813,
although it had attempted correspondence in 1802 and 1806. In 1827,
after other unreplied-to attempts at communication, it declared its
independence of any external authority and began to call itself African
Grand Lodge No. 1. It is interesting to note that when the
Massachusetts lodges which were acting as a Provincial Grand Lodge
declared themselves an independent Grand Lodge, and even when the
present Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was formed by the amalgamation of
two separate Grand Lodges, African Lodge was not invited to take part,
even though it held a warrant every bit as valid as those others. This
may be explained in part by this 1795 quote from John Eliot, who later
became Grand Chaplain of the Gr. Lodge of Mass. He wrote, "White
Masons, who are not more skilled in geometry than their black brethren,
will not acknowledge them... the truth is they are ashamed of being on
an equality with blacks."
Today there are 45 Grand Lodges (the latest being the
just formed "Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Caribbean")
that trace their origin back to African Lodge #459. There are more than
5000 Prince Hall Lodges and over 300,000 members. So far as it is
known, their ritual, their secrets, their procedures, their
requirements, their beliefs, their tenets or fundamental principles,
are all either identical with ours, or recognizably similar." (by.. W
Bro. Roy Cassidy)
To add to this:
The United Grand Lodge of England has now officially
recognized Prince Hall Lodges. Many US Grand Lodges have recognized PH
GLs within their jurisdictions, and it has been or is being discussed
in other jurisdictions. Since every Grand Lodge is autonomous and the
supreme authority in its jurisdiction, this issue must be approached on
a state-by-state basis.
Some have criticized Masonry as "segregated" due to the
Prince Hall Lodges, but this is a ridiculous claim, since there are
many black Masons in non-PH Lodges and white members in PH Lodges, and
displays a fundamental ignorance of Masonic history.
What is a 33rd degree Mason?
The Scottish Rite awards a special honorary
degree, the 33rd, to those it feels has made an outstanding
contribution to Masonry, the community as a whole, and to mankind.
There is no way to "achieve" this degree or "take" it, in the sense
that one takes the 4th through 32nd degrees in the Scottish Rite. It is
a singular honor, rarely bestowed, and greatly admired.
Are there any Masonic functions that I can attend as a
non-Mason?
Yes. Many Lodges open their installation of
officers to the public. Once a year, a new Worshipful Master takes
office. The ceremony performed during his inauguration is public. It is
not the same ceremony as would be performed in a regular Masonic ritual
or degree, but it does have the flavoring of Masonic symbolism and
allows the public to "get a feel for Masonry" without being Masons.
NOTE: Not all jurisdictions have public installations. Call or write
your local lodge for details.
In addition, many Lodges sponsor public functions
throughout the year, such as dinners or charity functions, designed to
allow non-Masons who are interested in Masonry the chance to talk with
Masons and ask questions. For information, call your local Lodge.
Who is the head of the Masons?
No one. Each Grand Lodge has its own
jurisdiction and is the supreme authority within that jurisdiction.
Obviously, many Grand Lodges have regular communication with each
other, but official policy in one has no effect in another.
Are there dues, fees, etc. associated with being a
Mason?
Yes. Like all organizations, Lodges must be
able to pay their light bills. Typically, there is a one-time fee for
the three degrees of Masonry, as well as regular annual dues. But these
vary widely depending on the number of members, cost of living (rent in
Manhattan is higher than it is in rural Oklahoma), the actual physical
facilities of the Lodge, etc. The fees and dues, however, are not
prohibitively expensive (the author is a college student and has no
problem with them). Rather than give a single figure which may be very
different than your local Lodge charges, or publishing an extended
table of costs, it is easiest to simply refer the interested to their
local Lodge.
Incidentally, many Grand Lodge jurisdictions provide for
"life membership" after a Mason has paid dues for a long period. For
example, in Michigan a Mason is no longer asked to pay dues after he
has been a Mason for forty years. Other jurisdictions allow members to
pay a lump sum for life membership. As with almost everything in
Masonry, check with your local Grand Lodge or Lodge for more
information.
I hear Masons refer to an "apron". What is that?
During the ceremonies of his initiation,
each Mason is presented with a white apron. It is, to him, an emblem of
innocence and the badge of a Mason. It has, in all ages, been cherished
by the rich, the poor, the high and the low. It is his for life. He
will never receive another one and has, therefore, been cautioned to
take it home and instructed in its care. While perfectly satisfactory
for him to do so if he desires, he need not bring it to Lodge, as linen
aprons are provided for his use meetings. (From a pamphlet, "To the
Lady and Family of a Mason")
The above applies to the US. In many other countries,
the Master Mason owns his regalia and brings it to the Lodge.
What is a "Masonic Funeral"?
Any member who was in good standing at the
time of his death is entitled to a Masonic funeral if he or his family
requests it. Such a request should be made to the Master of his Lodge
who will make the necessary arrangements with the family, the mortuary,
and the minister. A service is authorized by the jurisdiction in which
you are located, and consists of participation at the mortuary, the
beginning at the mortuary and the closing at the graveside, or
graveside only. Pallbearers will be furnished at the request of the
family. In general, the Lodge will do as much or as little as the
nearest relative wishes it to do. (From a pamphlet, "To the Lady and
Family of a Mason")
