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What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest
surviving fraternal societies, founded on Brotherly Love, Relief (charity) and Truth. The lessons
that Freemasonry teaches in its ceremonies are to do with moral values (governing relations between people). The stonemason's tools and principles of architecture are used in a symbolic way by Freemasons to teach the basic moral truths.
We feel that these lessons apply just as much today as they did when it took its modern form at the turn of the 17th century.
Who can become a Freemason?
An applicant must believe in a Supreme Being but Freemasonry will not provide any further definition and the nature of that Being must be determined by the applicant himself. The applicant must be an upright man of good moral character and be at least twenty-one years old.
(There is exception to that rule in Scotland - where
the son of a Master Mason may be admitted aged 18
years or over) An Applicant must not have a criminal record. He must be able to meet his financial commitments to his family before those to Freemasonry. A Freemason is never asked to put Freemasonry before his family, work and civil responsibilities
Is Freemasonry a secret organization?
Emphatically not! Progression through Freemasonry is achieved by the revelation to the candidate of a series of progressive stories and allegories. To allow the publication of those revelations would be akin to telling someone who was reading a book, how the book ends.
A man is admitted by taking part in performance of
particular ceremonies - these are very Private and
Personal experiences so no-one can really describe
to a Non Mason in a meaningful way "what it was like
for them". For that reason Mason's "shut their
Mouth" and this is often taken as confirmation of
secrecy. Not so - it is more a case of Privacy to
ones own thoughts on the matter. Freemasonry is an organization which does have some secrets,
these however, are Modes of Recognition - nothing
whatsoever to do with subversion or sinister plots - it is not a secret organization
- How else can you read so much about it?
Is Freemasonry a religion?
As with politics it is against the rules of Freemasonry to discuss theology at Lodge meetings. Although all ceremonies contain prayers, Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion, An essential qualification is the acknowledgement of a Supreme Being, the definition and nature of which is left entirely to the individual. Men of many different faiths are members and each is encouraged to continue to follow his own religion.
Are Freemasons expected to prefer fellow masons at the expense of others?
Absolutely not. That would be a misuse of membership and subject to Masonic discipline. On his entry into Freemasonry each candidate states unequivocally that he expects no material gain from his membership. At various stages during the three ceremonies of his admission and when he is presented with a certificate from Grand Lodge that the admission ceremonies have been completed, he is forcefully reminded that attempts to gain preferment or material gain for himself or others is a misuse of membership which will not be tolerated. The Book of Constitutions, which every candidate receives, contains strict rules governing abuse of membership which can result in penalties varying from temporary suspension to expulsion.
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