Find out exactly what Freemasonry is, without secrets!
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.
To the majority of Freemasons the Volume of the Sacred Law is the Bible. However, there are many Freemasons who are not Christian and to them the Bible is not their sacred book. They will make their promises on the book which is regarded as sacred to their religion.
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.
The two cardinal rules not to talk about in lodge are religion and politics, as Freemasonry is concerned specifically with neither.
This is an odd paradox in that fundamentally it promotes the individual connection to the Divine, but it admonishes us to not promote one belief system over another. Other topics such as work, family, business or other interests are openly talked about and should be amongst brothers as it builds our fraternal bonds.
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.
Basic Freemasonry consists of the three "Craft" degrees (Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason) completed by the Royal Arch degree (Chapter).
No. None of the meetings are "mandatory". Once a candidate has been raised to the 3rd degree, participation is completely voluntary and at the individuals will and pleasure. Further, a Mason is not obligated to go only to his lodge once all 3 degrees have been obtained and a certain degree of proficiency has been achieved. Once full membership is achieved, the Mason can go to any lodge or Masonic function.
There are certain protocols when visiting distant lodges.
As in any association there is a certain amount of administrative procedure - minutes of last meeting, proposing and balloting for new members, discussing and voting on financial matters, election of officers, news and correspondence. Then there are the ceremonies for admitting new Masons, the annual installation of the Master and appointment of officers, etc.
The ceremonies for admitting a new Mason are in two parts - a slight dramatic instruction in the principles and lessons taught in the Craft followed by a lecture in which the candidate's various duties are spelled out.
It varies from lodge to lodge but anyone wishing to join can find a lodge to suit his pocket. On entry, there is an initiation fee and an apron to buy. A member pays a monthly (or an annual) subscription to his lodge which covers his membership and the administrative cost of running the Lodge. It is usual to have a meal after the meeting; the cost of this can be included either in the subscription or paid for at the time.
It is entirely up to the individual member what he gives to Charity, but it should always be without detriment to his other responsibilities.