Who are the Freemasons?
About Freemasonry
and
Why Become a Mason?
Ten Reasons to Become a Mason
Some of the members in Iowa were asked why a man should be a Mason and here are 10 Reasons that
were given:
1. A place where you can confidently trust every person and trust your family with them also.
2. A place where, within
moral and civil guidelines; free thought, free speaking and the spiritual growth of man, can grow into its fullest potential.
3. A
place to meet outstanding individuals from all walks of life that a person would not otherwise have had the opportunity to know and
call brother.
4. A place to be part of an organization which has for its principal tenets – Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
5. A
place that provides self-development opportunities, leadership training and experience, and to improve public speaking skills.
6.
A place you can go to seek support as well as give it.
7. A place where moral virtues are taught and through these teachings a regular
reinforcement of the moral virtues is experienced.
8. A place to spend time with a group of brothers, who by acting as good men, make
me want to become a better man. Not better than others, but better than I would have otherwise been.
9. A place to become better equipped
to serve Church and community.
10. A place to meet with established members of the community and to become a part of the community
What About the Derogatory Comments
Found on the Internet
You may have noticed that these sites never include a way of contacting
them, unless that is, when they wish to sell you books or tapes - many make a living out of defaming the fraternity. To get factual
information regarding their ridiculous allegations, take a look at the following site which does a great job of dispelling myths and
outright lies.
Who are Freemasons?
Many of our founding fathers were Freemasons. George Washington was the first of 14 Presidents of the United States
to be a member of the fraternity, as well as 13 signers of the Constitution. In more recent history members of the fraternity include
President Truman, General Douglas McArthur, numerous astronauts, entertainers, and sports figures. More importantly, millions of men
such as yourself.
Freemasonry enjoys over three million member’s world wide and draws to its ranks men from every profession
and occupation, all meeting on the "Level." While each man may have his own religious and political views and opinions, they all share
one common bond, the belief in one God, and the need to treat each man with brotherly love and affection.
The history and traditions
of Freemasonry date back to antiquity, with the singular purpose of making good men better. The tenets of our fraternity; Brotherly
Love, Relief, and Truth, have stood the test of time, and survived some of the most brutal religious and political conflicts history
has to offer, including our own Civil War. Freemasonry, while neither a political forum, nor formal place of worship, does require
of its members two things: The belief in the Fatherhood of God, and the Brotherhood of Man, regardless of political or religious persuasion.
Is Freemasonry a Religion?
Absolutely not, it is the oldest and largest Fraternity in the world - Freemasonry requires a belief in
a Supreme Being to become a member, and accepts men of any faith, it is in no way a religion, and it does not try to compete with
religion. Instead, the fraternity strongly encourages you to be active in the church of your choice, and pursue your own religious
beliefs.
What are the qualifications?
It is the internal and not the external qualifications that should recommend a man to be a Mason.
It does not consider any man for his worldly wealth or honor as a qualification for membership. Nor does it place any requirements
on a man’s political or religious affiliations. Masonry seeks to "make good men better." It therefore looks to those men who have
already demonstrated strong moral background, and exemplary character. In Iowa a candidate for Masonry must also be at least 18 years
of age, and must profess his belief in a Supreme Being as no atheist can be made a Mason.
Seeking Membership
Anyone seeking membership into Freemasonry should first seek out a Masonic friend to recommend him. He must first
sign a petition on which he states his name, age, occupation, and place of residence, as well as his belief in a Supreme Being. This
petition will be investigated and brought before the members of the Lodge who will vote by secret ballot. To be accepted, the results
of this ballot must be unanimous.
Teachings
Masonry teaches good men to become better, not better than others, but better
than themselves. It teaches life's lessons through a progressive series of degrees. Symbolic, or Blue Lodge Masonry is composed of
the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. It is the foundation upon which all other Masonic orders are based.
The prescribed ritual is taught using symbolism and allegories, the interpretation and value of each is unique to each brother Mason
upon his own experiences.
The three golden tenants of Masonry are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.
The Mason comes to realize that
he must do more than attend the meeting of his Lodge if he is to truly appreciate the value of Freemasonry and understand the principles
underlying its teachings.