FREEMASONRY: AN APPROACH TO LIFE
What is Freemasonry?
Why do people join and remain members?
What Promises do Freemasons take?
Who can join?
Is Freemasonry a religion?
Is Freemasonry a secret society?
Is Freemasonry involved in politics?
Is Freemasonry involved in the community?
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry teaches moral lessons and self-knowledge through
participation in a progression of allegorical two-part plays, which are
learnt by heart and performed within each lodge.
Freemasonry offers its members an approach to life which seeks
to reinforce thoughtfulness for others, kindness in the community,
honesty in business, courtesy in society and fairness in all things.
Members are urged to regard the interests of the family as paramount
but importantly Freemasonry also teaches and practices concern for
people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need.
Why do people join and remain members?
People became Freemasons for a variety of reasons, some as the
result of family tradition, others upon the introduction of a friend or out
of a curiosity to know what it is all about.
Those who become active members and who grow in
Freemasonry do so principally because they enjoy it. They enjoy the
challenges and fellowship that Freemasonry offers. There is more to
it, however, than just enjoyment.
Participation in the dramatic presentation of moral lessons and in
the working of a lodge provides a member with a unique opportunity
to learn more about himself and encourages him to live in such a way
that he will always be in search of becoming a better man, not better
than someone else but better than he himself would otherwise be and
therefore an exemplary member of society.
Each Freemason is required to learn and show humility through
initiation. Then, by progression through a series of degrees he gains
insight into increasingly complex moral and philosophical concepts,
and accepts a variety of challenges and responsibilities which are
both stimulating and rewarding. The structure and working of the
lodge and the sequence of ceremonial events, which are usually
followed by social gatherings, offer members a framework for
companionship, teamwork, character development and enjoyment of
shared experiences.
What Promises do Freemasons take?
New members make solemn promises concerning their conduct in
the lodge and in society. These promises are similar to those taken in
court or upon entering the armed services or many other
organisations. Each member also promises to keep confidential the
traditional methods of proving he is a Freemason which he would use
when visiting a lodge where he is not known.
The much publicised 'traditional penalties' for failure to observe
these undertakings were removed from the promises in 1986. They
were always symbolic not literal and refer only to the pain any decent
man should feel at the thought of violating his word.
Members also undertake not to make use of their membership
for personal gain or advancement; failure to observe this principle or
otherwise to fall below the standards expected of a Freemason can
lead to expulsion.
Who can join?
Membership is open to men of all faiths who are law-abiding, of good
character and who acknowledge a belief in God. Freemasonry is a
multi-racial and multi-cultural organisation. It has attracted men of
goodwill from all sectors of the community into membership. There
are similar Masonic organisations for women.
Is Freemasonry a religion?
Freemasonry is not a religion. It has no theology and does not teach
any route to salvation. A belief in God, however, is an essential
requirement for membership and Freemasonry encourages its
members to be active in their own religions as well as in society at
large.
Although every lodge meeting is opened and closed with a prayer
and its ceremonies reflect the essential truths and moral teachings
common to many of the world's great religions, no discussion of
religion is permitted in lodge meetings.
Is Freemasonry a secret society?
Freemasonry is not a secret society, but lodge meetings, like
meetings of many other social and professional associations, are
private occasions open only to members.
Freemasons are encouraged to speak openly about their
membership, while remembering that they undertake not to use it for
their own or anyone else's advancement. As members are sometimes
the subject of discrimination which may adversely affect their
employment or other aspects of their lives, some Freemasons are
understandably reticent about discussing their membership. In
common with many other national organisations, Grand Lodge neither
maintains nor publishes a list of members and will not disclose names
or member's details without their permission.
In circumstances where a conflict of interest might arise or be
perceived to exist or when Freemasonry becomes an issue, a
Freemason must declare an interest.
The rules and aims of Freemasonry are available to the
public. The Masonic Year Book, also available to the public, contains
the names of all national office-holders and lists of all lodges with
details of their meeting dates and places.
The meeting places and halls used by Freemasons are
readily identifiable, are listed in telephone directories and in many
areas are used by the local community for activities other than
Freemasonry. Freemasons' Hall in London is open to the public and
'open days' are held in many provincial centres.
The rituals and ceremonies used by Freemasons to pass on
the principles of Freemasonry to new members were first revealed
publicly in 1723. They include the traditional forms of recognition used
by Freemasons essentially to prove their identity and qualifications
when entering a Masonic meeting. These include handshakes which
have been much written about and can scarcely be regarded as truly
secret today; for mediaeval Freemasons, they were the equivalent of
a 'pin number' restricting access only to qualified members.
Many thousands of books have been written on the subject of
Freemasonry and are readily available to the general public.
Freemasonry offers spokesmen and briefings for the media and
provides talks to interested groups on request. Freemasons are proud
of their heritage and happy to share it.
Is Freemasonry involved in politics?
Freemasonry is definitely not a political organisation, it has no political
agenda, and discussion of politics is not permitted at lodge meetings.
Freemasonry naturally tends to attract those with a concern
for people and a sense of social responsibility and purpose. There are
members, therefore, who are involved in politics at local, national and
international level. Equally there are members who take an active
interest in non Masonic charitable organisations and other community
groups.
Is Freemasonry involved in the community?
From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been involved in charitable
activities, and since its inception it has provided support for many
widows and orphans of Freemasons as well as others within the
community.
All monies raised for charity are drawn from amongst
Freemasons, their families and friends, while grants and donations
are made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities alike.
Over the past five years alone Freemasonry has raised more
than £75m for a wide range of charitable purposes including those
involved in medical research, community care, education and work
with young people.
Freemasonry has an enviable record of providing regular and
consistent financial support to individual charities over long periods
while at the same time making thousands of grants to local charities,
appeals and projects throughout England and Wales each year. For
the future, opportunities to obtain or provide matched funding are
periodically examined with a view to enhancing the impact of the
support Freemasonry can give to specific projects. The personal
generosity of Freemasons and the collective fundraising efforts of
almost 8,000 lodges, however, will continue to determine the
contribution Freemasonry makes within the community.
