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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. Although of a
religious nature, Freemasonry is not a religion. It urges its members, however,
to be faithful and devoted to their own religious beliefs.
The organization of Freemasonry is based on a system of Grand Lodges, each
sovereign within its own territory. There is no central authority governing all
Grand Lodges. However, to be acknowledged by others, acceptable 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. He presides
over the 57,861 Masons who belong to one or more of the 611 lodges in our
jurisdiction. Each of these lodges is under the direction of a Master.
WHAT IT DOES
As a fraternity, Freemasonry provides an opportunity for men to meet and enjoy
friendly companionship. In the spirit of helpfulness and brotherly love and
guided by 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, charity, and truth which Masons are encouraged to
practice in their daily lives. Charity is a tangible way in which Masons help
those whose circumstances in life fairly warrant it.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Our traditions can be traced directly to the associations of operative masons.
They were men of outstanding character and high ideals, who built the
cathedrals, abbeys, and castles of the Middle Ages.
With the decline of cathedral building in the 17th Century, many guilds of
stonemasons, called "Operative" masons, started to accept into their membership
those who were not members of the masons' craft and called them "Speculative" or
"Accepted" masons.
It was in these groups, called lodges, comprised mainly of "Accepted" masons
that Freemasonry, as we know it today, had its beginning.
In 1717, four such lodges, which had been meeting regularly in London, united to
form the first Grand Lodge of England under the direction of a Grand Master.
From that first Grand Lodge, Freemasonry has spread throughout the world. Today,
some 150 Grand Lodges have a total membership of approximately four million
Masons.
MEMBERSHIP
One of Freemasonry's customs is not to solicit members. However, anyone should
feel free to approach any Mason to seek further information about the Craft.
Membership is for men, 21 years of age or older, who meet the qualifications and
standards of character and reputation, who are of good moral character, and who
believe in the existence of a supreme being.
A man who wants to join a lodge must be recommended for by two members of that
lodge. He must understand that his character will be investigated. After
approval by the members of that lodge, he will be accepted as an applicant for
membership in Freemasonry.
The doors of Freemasonry are open to men who seek harmony with their fellow man,
feel the need for self-improvement and wish to participate in making this world
a better place to live.
Any man who becomes a Mason is taught a pattern for living - reverence,
morality, kindness, honesty, dependability and compassion. He must be prepared
to honour his country, uphold its laws and respect those in authority. He must
be prepared to maintain honourable relations with others and be willing to share
in Masonic activities.
What is Freemasonry? Reprinted with permission of the Grand
Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario.
Freemasonry
Freemasonry's
traditions can be traced directly to the associations of operative Masons. They
were men of outstanding character and high ideals, who built the cathedrals,
abbeys and castles of the Middle Ages.
With the decline
of cathedral building in the 17th Century, many guilds of craftsmen, called
"Operative" Masons, started to accept those who were not working members of the
Masons' crafts into their membership and they were called "Speculative" or
"Accepted" Masons. These Speculative Masons were learned and well-thinking men -
men of integrity and goodwill. With their admission into membership in these
groups which were called lodges, Freemasonry as we know it today had its
beginning. The tools once used for building have been transformed into emblems
of moral and spiritual laws.
Freemasonry is a
nonreligious organization which throughout its very many years of existence has
maintained a consistent set of principles which are in parallel and which
compliment those of all the major religions of the world while at the same time
promoting the simple but important objectives of helping all men and women
everywhere to live happy lives. These principles include kindness and
consideration at home; honesty in business; courtesy towards others;
dependability in ones work; compassion for the unfortunate; and being a good
citizen of the whole world. Freemasonry helps its members through its lessons
and friendships and society as a whole through both its members' activities and
its charitable works.
As a fraternity,
Freemasonry provides an opportunity for men to meet and enjoy friendly
companionship. In the spirit of helpfulness and brotherly love and guided by
strict moral principles it encourages goodwill towards all mankind. Freemasonry
promotes self-improvement and teaches the basic principles of brotherly love,
charity and truth which Masons are encouraged to practice in their daily lives.
Masons serve society charitably - not just with money (although over two million
Masonic dollars are contributed every day to Masonic philanthropies in North
America alone) but also through actions and deeds.
Freemasonry
welcomes applications from men who seek harmony with their fellow men and who
wish to participate in making this world a better place in which to live by
promoting Masonic ideals of reverence, morality, kindness, honesty,
dependability and compassion.
Its members are
expected to:
-
Be loyal to
their families, their employers, their communities and to the fraternity
-
Honour their
country, uphold its laws and respect those in authority
-
Participate in
Lodge activities including particularly its charitable endeavours
-
Promote the
fraternity's principles and objectives
Information
based on the pamphlet "For the information of the man
who has expressed an interest in Masonry"
Reprinted with permission from Harmony Lodge No. 57
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