What is Freemasonry
It is an organization made up of like-minded individuals dedicated to “Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.”
Brotherly love. We value respect, freedom, kindness, tolerance, and our differences – religious, ethnic, cultural, social, generational, and educational – and strive for harmony in our individual lives, in our lodges, and in the global community. We are also a fraternity, and our Lodge is a place where lasting friendships can form.
Relief. We take responsibility for the well-being of our brothers, our families, and the community as a whole. We provide relief through philanthropy, community involvement, and delivery of excellent care.
Truth. We stay true to our personal code of conduct and ethics – honor, integrity, personal responsibility, and the continuous pursuit of knowledge.
Freemasonry is not a religion, and it does not promote the values and ideals of one particular religion over another. A belief in a Supreme Being is a requirement to join our fraternity, but we believe the way you choose to worship is between you and your church. Our members are expected to live upright and moral lives, regardless of the doctrine they follow.
Our ceremonies are very old, and are used to impart certain lessons that every man can apply to his own life, in an effort to become a better man. It is said that one of the aims of Freemasonry is to make good men better. That is achieved both through a careful study of our ceremonies, and by being surrounded by like-minded individuals who share that lofty goal.
Much is made about Freemasonry and Secrecy. Despite what you may have heard, Freemasonry is not a secret society. All members are free to acknowledge their membership publicly. Our meeting places are well-marked, and easy to locate, and our constitutions and rules are available for anyone to see. We are open about our mission and goals, and we frequently work within the community and proudly display our affiliation with the fraternity. There are some secrets – namely the specifics of our ceremonies, and our modes of recognition, but this is no different than many other similar organizations who have similar private aspects that are only shared with their members.
Men are drawn to our fraternity for a variety of reasons. Some come for personal development – and others come because they want to share an experience with their father, grandfather, or some other man in their lives who was a mason. Still others come for the history, or are drawn to it because of something they saw in a movie or read in a book. Men who join us for these and many other reasons ultimately find something of value in the organization, and often more than they expected.
Volumes can (and have) been written about Freemasonry – its history and purpose – but the best way to learn about it is to become a part of it.