1. Masonry is a place to spend time with good men who will make you want to become a better man.

2. Masonry is a place where moral virtue is taught and respected as the cornerstone of life.

3. Masonry is a place where the spiritual growth of every member can rise to its fullest potential.

4. Masonry is a place to become better prepared for service to your family, your church and your community.

5. Masonry is a place where you can be part of a great fraternity that believes in Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

6. Masonry is a place where you can support others and give them encouragement as well as receive it yourself.

7. Masonry is a place where outstanding individuals from every walk of life will greet you and call you "Brother."

8. Masonry is a place to meet community leaders and take an active part in community activities.

9. Masonry is a place where you will find unlimited opportunity to acquire leadership experience, self-development and personal growth.

10. Masonry is a place where you can be sure every man is a true and trustworthy friend.

Some men are surprised that no one has ever asked them to become a Mason. They may even feel that the Masons in their town do not think they are "good enough" to join. But it does not work that way. For hundreds of years, Masons have been forbidden to ask others to join the fraternity. We can talk to friends about Masonry. We can tell them about what Masonry does. We can tell them why we enjoy it. But we can not ask, much less pressure, anyone to join.

There is a good reason for that. It is not that we are trying to be exclusive, but becoming a Mason is a very serious thing. Joining Masonry is making a permanent life commitment to live in certain ways. We have listed most of them above -- to live with honor and integrity, to be willing to share with and care about others, to trust each other, and to place ultimate trust in God. No one should be "talked into" making such a decision.

So, when a man decides he wants to be a Mason, he asks a Mason for a petition or application. He fills it out and gives it to the Mason, and that Mason takes it to the local lodge. The Master of the lodge will appoint a committee to visit with the man and his family, find out a little about him and why he wants to be a Mason, tell him and his family about Masonry, and answer their questions. The committee reports to the lodge, and the lodge votes on the petition. If the vote is affirmative -- and it usually is -- the lodge will contact the man to set the date for the Entered Apprentice Degree. When the person has completed all three degrees, he is a Master Mason and a full member of the fraternity.