Join Our Lodge

Masonry is the oldest fraternal organization in the world. Its history dates back hundreds if not thousands of years. Probably, it arose from the guilds of stonemasons who built the castles and cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Possibly, they were influenced by the Knights Templar, a group of Christian warrior monks formed in 1118 to help protect pilgrims making trips to the Holy Land. Although no one has definitively pinpointed the exact date when Freemasonry was born, most are agreed that its modern form dates back to at least the 15th century.

In 1717, Masonry created a formal organization in England when the first Grand Lodge was formed. A Grand Lodge is the administrative body in charge of Masonry in some geographical area. In the United States, there is a Grand Lodge in each state. In Canada, there is a Grand Lodge in each province. Local organizations of Masons are called lodges. There are lodges in most towns, and large cities usually have several. There are about 13,200 lodges in the United States.

Becoming a Freemason can be one of the most significant events of your life. From the moment you become a Brother, you will feel immediate acceptance and Brotherly love.

Will I Be Asked To Join? No! Hopefully, if the concepts and principles of Masonry as presented you on this website interest you, you will not need to be asked to join. You must ask to become a Freemason. Unfortunately, many men who would like to become Masons never do because they are unaware of the above-mentioned requirement (that it be of your own free will and accord, and you must ask to join the Fraternity). If you desire to learn more about Masonic membership, feel free to contact a Mason to satisfy yourself concerning Freemasonry. As Freemasons, we believe that membership in an organization as worthy as ours must come from a "sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow creatures" and not because of coaxing, coercement, or of any promise of material gain of any kind.

Qualifications

• Membership in a Masonic Lodge is open to all men 21 years of age or older - regardless of race, color, or religion. Our membership requirements are very clear.
• You must be of good character and reputation. You’ll have to provide evidence of living a positive life through references from at least one Mason and three other people. If you don’t know a Mason, just use the Contact Us page and we will be more than happy to meet with you.
• You must believe in a Supreme Being and the immortality of the soul. This belief is not proscribed - rather, we encourage you to be steadfast in the faith of your choice.

The Process

Start the process by contacting a lodge member using the contact us link on this webpage.

You then continue the process by completing a petition (application) for membership. To be further processed, this petition needs to be accompanied by an initiation fee that is the same for all prospective members. The lodge member you contact, can tell you more about this.

The next step is to submit your petition to the Lodge. The petition is read in a Lodge meeting and referred to a committee (usually composed of three members). This committee then interviews you - usually right in your home, so that your family can ask any questions that they may have.

After the interview, the committee reports its findings to the Lodge, and a secret ballot is taken. If the vote is favorable, you’ll be notified by mail and you’ll be given a date to start the degree program.

The Degrees

The three degrees of Craft or Blue Lodge Freemasonry are those of:

1. Entered Apprentice – the degree of an Initiate, which makes one a Freemason
2. Fellow Craft – an intermediate degree, involved with learning
3. Master Mason – the "third degree", a necessity for participation in most aspects of Masonry

Our Fraternity’s private nature sometimes creates misconceptions about our “initiation ceremonies.” Rest assured that we are a moral institution whose tenets are Friendship, Morality, and Brotherly Love. Masonry teaches us to practice charity and benevolence, and to revere ordinances of — but not replace — any man’s religion. Quite simply, our Fraternity exists to make good men better.

Our three degrees are serious, educational, time-tested teachings. Each degree has a primary lesson. The first teaches us our duty to God. The second teaches us our duty to our neighbors. And the third degree teaches us our duty to ourselves.

To convey our teachings, we use ritual, ceremony, drama, lectures, and sometimes even musical accompaniment. You’ll work closely with a coach who will help you learn some of the key material in the Ritual. After completing the first and second degrees, you’ll be given an assessment to make sure you understand what you’ve just experienced.

Upon the completion of the third degree, you’ll become a Master Mason, and be eligible for all that Masonry has to offer you, which includes:

• Worldwide Brotherhood
• Fellowship
• Male bonding
• Meaningful community service
• Camaraderie with other moral men
• Much more...

It’s our sincere hope that you’ll consider becoming a Free and Accepted Mason, and sharing the feeling of friendship and Brotherly love that Freemasons have enjoyed from time immemorial.