What Is Freemasonry? What Is A Freemason? Who Are Freemasons? What Do Freemasons Do? What Is A Lodge? What Is A Degree? Is Freemasonry A Religion? Is Freemasonry A Secret Society? Why Does Freemasonry Use Symbols? What Are The Qualifications For Membership? What Is Freemasonry? Freemasonry is the oldest and largest world wide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of a Supreme Being. Freemasonry binds like-minded men into a brotherhood that transcends all religious, ethnic, cultural, social and educational differences by teaching the great principles of brotherly love, relief and truth and by the outward expression of these through its fellowship, its compassion and its concern to find ways in which to serve God, family, country, neighbours and self. Freemasonry is an institution which is essentially philosophical, philanthropic, mystical, esoteric and progressive. It is philosophical because it leads man to the study or pursuit of wisdom or of knowledge of things and their causes, whether they be theoretical or practical. It also leads man to the knowledge of, or study of the principle of human action or reaction and of knowledge of natural objects and phenomena. It is philanthropic because it is dedication to the progress and happiness of the human species without distinction of nationality, race, sex or religion. The whole human species is but one single family dispersed over the face of the earth and we all should love one another. Freemasonry is both mystical and esoteric. It is mystical and esoteric by virtue that it teaches a beautiful system of morality, which is veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. It is progressive because Masonry searches for the truth with no regard for fanaticism and without prejudice. It searches for the hidden mysteries of Nature and Science. Freemasonry does not put any obstacles on the investigation of truth. The organization of Freemasonry is based on a system of Grand Lodge, each sovereign within its own territory. There is no central authority governing all Grand Lodges however to be acknowledged by others, accepted traditions, standards and practices must be maintained. In our province the governing body is called the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. It is under the leadership of a Grand Master who presides over the 74,000 Masons who belong to one or more of the 642 Lodges in our jurisdiction. Each of the Lodges is under the direction and leadership of a Master. As a fraternity, Masonry provides an opportunity for men to meet and enjoy friendly companionship in the spirit of helpfulness and brotherly love and guided by the strict moral principles, it encourages goodwill toward all mankind. Freemasonry is of a personal nature in its private ceremonies. Its ritual dramatizes a philosophy of life based on morality, it promotes self-improvement. The tools of operative masons are used to symbolize and teach the basic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth which all Masons are encouraged to practice in their daily lives. Freemasonry is a way of life. What Is A Freemason? A Mason (or Freemason) is a member of a fraternity known as Masonry (or Freemasonry). A fraternity is a group of men who join together because: There are things they want to do in the world There are things they want to do inside their own minds They enjoy being together with men they like and respect A Freemason is a man who decides that he likes to feel good about himself and others. He cares about the future as well as the past and does what he can, both alone and with others to make the future a better one. Who Are Freemasons? Many outstanding Canadians have been Freemasons. Today, more than four million Freemasons around the world come from virtually every occupation and profession. Within the fraternity however, they all meet as equals. They come with diverse political ideologies but they meet as friends. They come from virtually every religious belief but they all believe in a Supreme Being. One of the most fascinating aspects of Freemasonry has always been how so many men from so many different walks of life can meet together in peace and always conduct their affairs in harmony and friendship and call each other brother. What Do Freemasons Do? Freemasons are respectable citizens who conform to the moral laws of society and abide by the laws of the government under which they live. They are men of charity and good works. Freemasons contribute to Masonic charities and to those developed in their own communities along with hospitals, homes for the elderly and educational grants. What Is A Lodge? The word “Lodge” means both a group of Freemasons meeting in some location and the room or building in which they meet. Masonic buildings are also sometimes called “Temples” because much of the symbolism Freemasonry uses to teach its lessons comes from the building of King Solomon’s Temple in the Holy Land. The term “Lodge” itself comes from the structures which the stonemasons built against the sides of the cathedrals during construction. In winter when building had to stop they lived in the lodges and worked at carving stone. What Is A Degree? A degree is a stage or level of membership. It’s also the ceremony by which a man attains that level of membership. There are three, called Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason. As you can see, the names are taken from the craft guilds. In the Middle Ages when a person wanted to join a craft such as the gold smiths, the carpenters or the stone masons, he was first apprenticed. As an apprentice he learned the tools and skills of the trade. When he had proved his skills he became a Fellow of the Craft and when he had exceptional ability, he was known as a Master of the Craft. Is Freemasonry A Religion? No. However we do use ritual in the meetings and because there is always an altar with the Volume of the Sacred Law open when a Lodge is meeting, some people have confused Masonry as being a religion. Freemasonry’s allegories and rituals are rooted from Judeo-Christian tradition due to origins in post-Reformation England. Freemasons worship in congregations and religions of their choice. Is Freemasonry A Secret Society? No. Freemasonry is a fraternity of men who are proud to be known as Masons. Since our inception, the world has known of speculative Freemasonry and its work. Freemasonry does however have some secrets, all extending from historic tradition. Our modes of recognition, opening and closing ceremonies and rituals for conferring Degrees of Masonry are our only secrets. Thousands of works discussing Masonic history, traditions, and proceedings are widely available to the public. Why Does Freemasonry Use Symbols? Everyone uses symbols every day, just as we do in our ritual. We use them because they communicate quickly. When you see a stop sign you know exactly what it means. In fact using symbols is probably the oldest method of communication and teaching. Masonry uses symbols for the same reason. For example, the “Square and Compasses” is the most widely used and known symbol of Freemasonry. It identifies Freemasons and when you see it on a building, you know Freemasons meet there. What Are The Qualifications For Membership? Any man who is twenty-one years of age or older and of good moral character, who comes well recommended and who believes in a Supreme Being may petition to become a Freemason.
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