What Is Freemasonry?
Put simply, Freemasonry (also called Masonry) is a 300-year-old worldwide organization born out of medieval tradesman’s guilds. It’s also a set of teachings for a life well-lived. Masonry is both a group you join and a moral scaffolding for personal growth.
Ancient Freemasons built castles and cathedrals. Today, we build character. We believe in strong values, self-improvement, giving back to our communities, and helping each other in times of need. Our traditions center on moral teachings told through the symbols and allegory of stonemasonry.
That’s serious stuff, and we take it seriously. But we also like to have fun. Many members meet their best friends through Freemasonry.
What Is a Masonic Lodge?
The lodge is a local chapter of the fraternity. The term “lodge” refers to both the members of that chapter and the building in which they meet.
Each lodge is run independently and reflects the personality of its members and community. Some emphasize family get togethers, for instance, while others exist for the purpose of studying philosophy. But big or small, old or new, all lodges share the same Masonic traditions and rituals.
To learn more about a lodge, the best thing to do is reach out and attend an event. Since no two are quite the same, it’s smart to visit more than one to find the right fit.
What Do Masons Do?
What actually goes on inside a lodge room?
Officially, the lodge is centered around regular “meetings,” at which members vote on new members and do the ongoing work of running the lodge, which is a non-profit. Members also prepare for and hold the ritual performances through which new members advance through the degrees of Masonry.
But there’s a second part to this answer, and that’s that Masons do what any other group of friends might do: We meet up for a cup of coffee. We arrange golf outings. Barbeques. We attend lectures. We host community events, mentor young people, volunteer for worthy causes, and help one another in times of need. The vast majority of Masonry happens outside of the lodge hall.
How Is Masonry Different from Other Service Organizations?
While service is one key part of who we are and what we do, it’s not the extent of it.
Freemasonry is about three things: personal development, true friendship, and community service. Unlike other volunteer groups, we spend a lot of time working on becoming our best selves. That includes building leadership skills and working to be better partners, parents, and friends.
Because we’re a 300-year old organization with a love for symbolism, we also have a lot of pomp and circumstance: fancy regalia, unusual titles, very old rituals. That means when you join a Masonic lodge, you are joining an important part of history, with traditions that you won’t find anywhere else.