Become a Mason

Why Join Freemasonry?

This is not an easy question to answer, because every brother has his own reasons and perspective on why he originally enquired and then proceeded with a decision to become a member. So – there are a multitude of answers to this complex question. However, over the years, brethren have openly stated their reasons, so perhaps the best way is to explore and try to explain, some of the values which attracted them.

Freemasonry has a strong moral code. Its ritual encourages brethren to consider their actions and more especially, the effect of their actions upon others. In fact there is a piece of Masonic Ritual which sums this up very nicely, as follows: “A man, rising to eminence by merit, should live respected and die regretted. By joining Freemasonry a man will be accepted into a brotherhood of ‘like minded’ men around the world – men with similar values and understanding.

Freemasonry is like life’s journey, gradually identifying and evaluating your inner-self – ie: What ‘makes you tick’! No one can tell you what that journey will be and what effect joining will have on your personal inner-self. This is the joy of Freemasonry. The joy of personally finding ones inner-self. It will not happen immediately; it will be a life long revelation. Freemasonry is similar to life itself, in that in most cases you receive back in proportion to what you put in.

There are three great principles which are the cornerstone of Freemasonry – brotherly love, relief and truth. They are universal and recognized by men and women of different faiths and cultures as a way of working together for the overall improvement of society.

Aims and Relationships of the Craft

The primary requisite of any Freemason is a firm a belief in one supreme being.  This is essential and admits of no compromise.

The Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open in Lodges. Every candidate is required to take his obligation on that Book, or on the Volume which is held by his particular Creed to impart sanctity to an oath or promise taken upon it.

Everyone who enters Freemasonry is, at the outset, strictly forbidden to countenance any act which may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of society, he must pay strict obedience to the law of any State in which he resides or which may afford him protection, and must never be remiss in the allegiance due to the Sovereign of his native land.

Whilst Freemasonry thus inculcates in each of its members the duties of loyalty and citizenship, it reserves to the individual the right to hold his own opinion with regard to public affairs. But neither in any Lodge nor at any time in his capacity as a Freemason is he permitted to discuss or to advance his views on theological or political questions.

The Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland have always consistently refused to express any opinion on questions of foreign or domestic state policy either at home or abroad, and will not allow their names to be associated with any action, however humanitarian it may appear to be, which infringes its unalterable policy of standing aloof from every question affecting the relations between one Government and another, or between political parties, or questions as to rival theories of government.

The Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland are aware that there do exist bodies styling themselves Freemasons, which do not adhere to these principles, and while that attitude exists the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland refuse absolutely to have any relations with such bodies or to regard them as Freemasons.