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Freemasonry is a way of life. It is fraternal in organization, religious in character, based on the belief in the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man and immortality of the soul.
What do Freemasons believe in?
Freemasonry imparts lessons of morality and spirituality upon its membership through a series of lectures and demonstrations over a period of time. Each lecture in the series builds on the knowledge from preceding lectures. Each lecture is called a degree. There are a total of 32 degrees that are conferred to Freemasons, with the final or 33rd degree being an honorary degree. Who is the head of the Masons? There is no particular head of all of our Fraternity. Our membership spans dozens of countries and includes millions of members. Masons meet locally at designated places to conduct the business of the lodge. Each lodge has a number of elected members who are assigned the duty of making sure the lodge runs smoothly. In turn, each local district of Masonic lodges belong to a larger body that oversees its activities. This larger body is called Grand Lodge. Almost every Province and Territory in Canada and every State in the United States has a separate Grand Lodge. There is no higher body that oversees Masonic activity then a Grand Lodge.
No. Freemasonry teaches its members that all men, masons or not, are equal before the Almighty and that we should treat one another with respect and dignity.
No. Freemasonry contains spiritual elements that make reference to the Almighty in some of the lessons it teaches to its membership. Freemasonry does not possess attributes that would qualify it as a religion. For instance it does not promise or have a path to salvation, nor does it present a doctrine on scripture, nor does it present a sectarian religious dogma. It is not the function of our Fraternity to provide these things to our membership. All of these things, Freemasons believe, are for a member's Church or other Religious Institution to provide him.
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No. At one time, Freemasonry was a lot less open then it is now, however there is nothing secretive about our organization. Our meeting places are clearly marked for all to see with the Square and Compass. Many places in North America and also the UK advertise in local newspapers the date time and place of local Masonic meetings, the phone number for many Masonic Lodge's can be found in the phone book, many Freemasons wear a ring with the Square and Compass depicted on it. We are however, a private organization. That is to say, we recognize the need for discretion and privacy in order to foster an environment of honesty and trust within our membership.
Are Masonic rituals demeaning or embarrassing to the candidate ? No. Our Fraternity goes to great lengths to attempt to foster an atmosphere of respect, honesty and fidelity for one another. This also extends to those who wish to join our Order. For example, during the initiation process, the candidate is always accompanied by a companion so that he is never made to feel humiliation, embarrassment or stigmatized.
I heard/read a Mason talking about a "Masonic Bible". Do Masons have their own Bible? No. When a Freemason meeting is held, a bible or holy book is always displayed. This is to remind us that as men we are bound by the moral and spiritual teachings contained within as it pertains to how we should consider all fellow human beings. Because Freemasonry is non sectarian, the Holy Book is given a generic name. Depending on the religious orientation of a particular lodge's membership, different Holy Books may be displayed for meetings. For example most Lodges in North America are primarily Christian and so the King James Bible is displayed. However, if a Jewish Freemason is present, a copy of the Torah would also be displayed out of respect for the Jewish member's religious beliefs.
Is Freemasonry part of a Government Conspiracy, Skull and Bones, the Illuminati, or a plot to bring all people under one world government? No. Freemasonry is not a participant in collusion, or conspiracy in the pursuit to control the public, or government or political affairs of community or state. Masons come from all backgrounds and walks of life, including divesting political and religious ideology. Masons seek strength and support from one another because of mutual interests and a commitment to positive participation in a larger community; the lodge they attend and all of Freemasonry in general.
Have all the American Presidents been Freemasons? No. Some of the American Presidents have found themselves members in our Fraternity however. 15 American Presidents in total have been Freemasons, including the last to hold office, Gerald Ford.
The easiest way is to approach a mason in your local community and ask him for more information about the lodge, and explain your interest in Freemasonry to him. Another way is to contact a local Lodge in your area. You will be required to fill out a petition or application to join the lodge, which is usually accompanied by a fee. If you are not known personally to anyone in the lodge that you are applying to, a committee of usually 3 masons will visit you and get to know you better, and allow you to ask more questions about the fraternity. This will help both you and the lodge you are petitioning to join decide if you are right for one another. At this point your petition is then balloted upon in a lodge meeting and if the ballot is favorable you will be initiated as a mason, during a solemn ceremony. At your initiation you will be required to affirm your belief in a Supreme Being, and also take an oath to keep what you learn thereafter in a Masonic lodge to yourself or between other masons. Rest assured that the oath you take will in no way interfere with your obligations to your Family , your Religion or your Country.
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