Fifty-Three FAQs Asked By Non-Masons About Freemasonry

1. What is Freemasonry?

a. A fraternity of men dedicated to the upbuilding of the moral character of its members and the preservation of personal freedom.

2. Is Masonry a religion?

a. No. Every applicant must express a belief in God, but no particular religion is required.

3. When did it start?

a. Informally, many centuries ago, formally in 1717 in London, England.

4. Who formed the Freemasons?

a. One theory is that the stonemasons developed the organization. Another is that the Knights Templar formed the fraternity.

5. Who were the Knights Templar?

a. A group formed by the Pope to protect pilgrims going to the Holy Land. The Templars developed into a military group and young men took great pride in becoming a Knight. Many people in Europe gave huge sums of money in order that their son might be accepted as a Knight The group became wealthy and King Phillip of France desired this wealth in order to carry on his war. In cooperation with the Pope, he accused the Templars of heresy, and many died. The King confiscated their property as he had done with the Jews in 1306.

6. Did the Knights Templar prior to 1717 take oaths of secrecy?

a. Yes. Their life depended upon being faithful to their fellow Templars.

7. Do the Masons of today take these oaths?

a. Symbolically, yes. They are in remembrance of physical tortures on Masons during the Middle Ages.

8. How do Masons teach morality?

a. Rituals were developed centuries ago imploring men to be faithful and charitable. These are taught by allegory and symbols.

9. How are these teachings enforced?

a. Their brothers counsel Masons who go astray. Those who cannot be helped are expelled from the Fraternity.

10. How are Masons charitable?

a. In the United States Masons contribute over two million dollars a day to charitable purposes. These funds go the indigent for medical care. Shoes, sick room equipment, scholarships, and a wide range of other help for the needy. Many hospitals are supported Masons.

11. Are there Masons in other countries?

a. Yes. Worldwide, about 6 million.

12. How many Masons are there in the United States?

a. About 2.5 million.

13. How many Masons are there in Tennessee?

a. About 65,000.

14. Can a woman join the Masons?

a. No. But Masonry has many appendant bodies. Some are for men, some for women, some for both, some for boys, some for girls.

15. Are Shriners Masons?

a. Yes, but not all Masons are Shriners.

16. Are Knight Templars Masons?

a. Yes, but not all Masons are Knight Templars.

17. Who is the head of Masons in the United States?

a. No one. Each state is independent, as a Grand Lodge. The highest officer is the Grand Master.

18. Is there an official spokesman?

a. No, not for the entire fraternity. The Grand Master speaks for his Grand Lodge.

19. Is there a head Mason in each State?

a. Yes. He is called the Grand Master.

20. Is he elected for life?

a. No. A new one is elected each year in Tennessee.

21. When did Masonry come to Tennessee?

a. Several Lodges were formed under the jurisdiction of North Carolina. The Grand Lodge of Tennessee was formed on December 27, 1813 in Knoxville.

22. Are offices still in Knoxville?

a. No. The Grand Lodge moved to Nashville in 1817; now located at 100 7^th Avenue North.

23. How many individual Lodges are in Tennessee?

a. 364

24. How much does it cost to join the Masons?

a. Jackson Lodge #45 has a fee of $110 that includes all three degrees and materials.

25. How much are the annual dues?

a. Annual dues for Jackson Lodge #45 are currently $33.

26. How old are individual Masons?

a. In Tennessee, at least 21 years old.

27. Is memory work required?

a. Yes. This relates to the procedure carried out when the man becomes a Mason.

28. Is attendance required?

a. No, but it is encouraged.

29. How long does it take for one to become a Mason?

a. Typically, about six months in Tennessee.

30. Can a Mason’s wife attend Lodge?

a. No. but many functions are for both.

31. What notable people have been Masons?

a. Many of our country’s founding fathers, fourteen Presidents and many prominent people in business and the professions.

32. What Tennesseans have been Masons?

a. Andrew Jackson, James Polk, Andrew Johns, Roy Acuff, 28 Governors, and many members of Congress.

33. Why are so many Masons in public office?

a. The ritual helps a person go gain self-confidence and ease when speaking in public. Masons are forbidden from discussing politics at Lodge meetings.

34. Is Masonry a patriotic organization?

a. Yes. Masons are taught to obey the laws of the country in which they reside. In the United States, the Masons have many patriotic activities. All meetings include the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

35. Do Masons become so involved that they neglect their families?

a. Masons are taught that they should never neglect their families or their church. Masonry comes after these obligations are fulfilled.

36. Do Masons have a particular kind of dress?

a. When in Lodge meetings they wear a white apron over regular street clothes.

37. What does this signify?

a. Purity. The Mason is admonished to so live his life that no stain of dishonor will show upon his apron.

38. Do Masons perform the last Rites upon the remains of a departed Brother?

a. When requested by the family to do so, Masons will recite the time-honored ritual.

39. Do Masons that by doing good works they can gain admittance to heaven?

a. No. The admittance into heaven falls in the real of the spiritual, not the fraternal.

40. Are black people permitted to be Masons?

a. Yes. There are many Prince Hall Lodges in the United States, which are made up of only black people. A few Lodges are integrated.

41. Are Holy Bibles displayed in the Lodge Hall?

a. Yes. In the United States this is usually the Holy Bible, but in other countries it is the book of the predominant religion. When a person becomes a Mason, the book of his faith is used in the ritual.

42. Has Masonry been attacked by religious groups?

a. Yes. Radio and television preachers who stir up unrest in order to sell their books and tapes have attacked masonry. Other uninformed non-Masons have also carried on hate campaigns.

43. Have these attacks been answered?

a. In past years Masons have ignored such talk. Recently, however, they have responded. Also two non-Masons have recently taken the lead in answering the critics: John J. Robinson and Dr. Gary Leazer.

44. Are Masons permitted to solicit potential members?

a. No. To be one, ask one.

45. How do people learn about the fraternity?

a. Through the good works of the Masons.

46. How does a person gain entrance?

a. By asking a Mason for a petition to join.

47. Is admittance assured?

a. No. Only after an investigation as to the character of the person is he voted on.

48. If he is not accepted will the fee be returned?

a. Yes.

49. If accepted, what comes next?

a. He is asked to come for the first degree.

50. How does he learn his memory work?

a. A teacher is assigned to assist him.

51. What is the Scottish Rite?

a. A series of 29 Degrees, teaching by drama, the moral and religious philosophies of Masonry.

52. What is York Rite?

a. A system of Degrees including Blue Lodge, Royal Arch, Cryptic Rite and Knights Templar.

53. Is the Shrine part of Masonry?

a. Yes. When a person has become either a Scottish Rite Mason or a Knight Templar he is eligible to become a Shriner.

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Prepared by the Vision 2013 Committee

In cooperation with Bob Demott

Grand Historian

Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Tennessee

P.O. Box 24216

Nashville, TN 37202