F.A.Q.

Yes, however the knowledge gained will forever live on for the rest of the individual's life. Nothing beyond the fraternal bond of Brotherhood makes any requirement to remaining a Freemason.

Esoteric Masonry is the personal exploration to some of the less mainstream areas of the fraternal society. Some of these aspects include personal development, spiritualism, mysticism, and so on. It can include aspects of its history not commonly looked at by mainstream historians or participants. Also, it investigates lines of religious thought that exists on the fringes of mainstream doctrine. Investigation does not mean they work to prove (or disprove) one aspect or another, to the contrary, the esoteric side of masonry seeks find additional sources of wisdom and understanding.

Wearing regalia is historical and symbolic and, like a uniform, serves to indicate to members where they ranking the organization.

Only in the sense that Freemasonry exists throughout the free world. Each Grand Lodge is sovereign and independent, and whilst following the same basic principles, may have differing ways of passing them on. There is no international governing body for Freemasonry.

There are groups who call themselves Freemasons and who involve themselves in political matters. They are not recognized by other regular Grand Lodges who follow the basic principles of Freemasonry and ban the discussion of politics and religion at their meetings, under penalty of Masonic irregularity.

Emphatically not.

Whilst individual Freemasons will have their own views on politics, Freemasonry as a body will never express a view on either. The discussion of politics at Masonic meetings has always been prohibited.

There are elements within the Church that misunderstand Freemasonry and confuse secular rituals with religious liturgy.

Although the Orthodox Church have occasionally criticized Freemasonry, there are many Masons and indeed others who are dismayed that the Church should attack Freemasonry, an organization which has always encouraged its members to be active in their own religion.

Many of the servants of God were and are Freemasons.

Freemasonry embraces all men who believe in God. Its membership includes Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Parsees and others. The use of descriptions such as the Great Architect prevents disharmony.

The Great Architect is not a specific Masonic god or an attempt to combine all gods into one. Thus, men of differing religions can coexist together without offense being given to any of them.

Emphatically not.

Freemasonry requires a belief in Divinity and its principles are common to many of the world's great religions. Freemasonry does not try to replace religion or substitute for it. Every candidate is exhorted to practice his religion and to regard its Holy Book as the unerring standard of truth. Freemasonry does not instruct its members in what their religious beliefs should be, nor does it offer sacraments.

Freemasonry deals in relations between men; religion deals in a man's relationship with his God.

Making good men better is a distillation of the purpose of the Masonic experience. The ritual and ceremony serve to convey and teach certain moral lessons and elevate the individual response to a position higher than themselves.

The lessons are things you have likely already heard or have learned in moral society. What makes them unique to Freemasonry is that they are presented in a specific format and context.