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When I was young, I knew I would travel...
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Welcome...
to Opening
the Doors of Freemasonry
Freemasonry is the largest and most highly respected Fraternal Order in the World. We hope
that after reading this exciting brochure, you will be much more familiar with our organization -- who we are, where we came
from, what we've done in the past and what we're doing now to make this place a better and brighter world.
 What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is kindness in the home; honesty
in business; courtesy toward others; dependability in one's work; compassion for the unfortunate; resistance to evil; help
for the weak; concern for good government; support for public education; and above all, a life-practicing reverence for God
and love of fellow man.
It encourages good citizenship and political expression but is not a political
organization. Its charitable activities are manifold, yet, it is not a welfare or benefit organization.
Fifty years ago, a prominent Freemason referred to our Gentle Craft as "an organized association of men, symbolically applying
the principles of operative Masonry and architecture to the science and art of character building." That observance was true
in 1937 -- it is just as true today.
For the most relevant definition of our Fraternity, it is suggested
that you consider the personal attributes of your Masonic friend who has made this brochure available to you.
 Where did it start?
The background of today's Masonry is found deep
in the time when men built the cathedrals, abbeys, and castles of medieval Europe. The stonemasons who constructed these awe-inspiring
Gothic structures formed craft guilds to protect the secrets of their building trade and to pass on their knowledge to the
worthy and desreving apprentices. By the time the need for this type of "Operative" mason declined in the Seventeenth Century,
the practices and customs of the operative craft had left such an impression that men wh had no inclination of being operative
builders sought membership. These speculative builders were learned and well-thinking men, men of integrity and good
will. With their admission, "speculative Masonry" evolved. This speculative Fraternity of Freemasons used the symbols
(tools) which the operative Masons used in Cathedral building as symbols in character building.
The
two principal tools were the Square and Compass -- which together form the most familiar Masonic "trademark" in the world
to this day. The letter "G," in the very center of this emblem, reflects the true Masonic belief that God is the very center
of ALL life.
 What are the requirements?
Twenty-two words describe the most important
prerequisite to becoming a Mason. "...we receive none, knowingly, into our ranks who are not moral and upright before God
and of good repute before the world..."
To gain admission one must be a man, at least
18 years of age and willing under his own free will and accord.
Further, he must profess his belief
if the existence of a Supreme Being, by whatever name he may be known. Membership in the Fraternity must be of one's own free
will and accord.
A man possessing these qualifications and being desirous of becoming a Freemason need
only ask his Masonic friend for a membership petition. The petition having been completed and signed by two members of the
Lodge petitioned, is read at a meeting of the Lodge. A committee of three is appointed to call on and visit with the petitioner
and his family that they might become acquainted with the organization and its activities. After the committee reports back
to the Lodge, the petition is voted on by the members and, if accepted, the aspirant begins the process of becoming a Mason.
 Will I be asked to join?
No! Hopefully, if the concepts and
principles of Masonry as enumerated in this folder interest you, you will not need to be asked to join. You must ask to
become a Freemason. Unfortunately, namy 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 such 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.
 What happens at the initiation?
An applicant, whose petition has
been accepted by the Lodge, is advised of the date his Entered Apprentice Degree has been scheduled. On that date, following
a brief ritualistic opening, the petitioner is properly prepared and introduced to the Lodge. The solemn process is an enlightening
experience and the candidate need never worry that embarrassing or compromising situations will arist during this (or any
other) degree -- they will not!
After receiving the Entered Apprentice Degree, you will
be expected to memorize several key passages of the Ritual and help will be extended in the teaching/learning process.
Having learned the required Ritualistic work and satisfying the Lodge of that proficiency, you will be asked to return for
the conferral of your Fellow Craft Degree. Following a proficiency examination on that Degree, you will advance to the "last
and highest grade of Ancient Craft Masonry -- the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason."
Only after completing
these three symbolic degrees will you truly understand the oft-quoted statement, "Freemasonry builds its Temples in the Hearts
of Men."
 Is Freemasonry a religion?
No! Religion can best teach a
man faith, hope, and charity. Freemasonry only endeavors to reinforce those teachings. Masonry is not a religion -- nor is
it a substitute for or a rival of any doctrine. It is an aid to religious development in that it builds character and stresses
righteousness. It is significant that many clergymen are active members of the Fraternity. A Mason respects and is tolerant
of that which is sacred to his brother, be he Christian, Muslim, Jew, or of some other faith in God.
The Fraternity is essentially an institution providing moral instruction, and the rules of right conduct a member must follow
are acceptable to all religions.
 How do Masons help others?
The basic premise of Freemasonry is "The
Brotherhood of Man -- under the Fatherhood of God." With that thought uppermost in mind, Masons strive to learn how better
to serve that "brotherhood of man" -- charitably -- not just with money (although a recent curvey revealed that over two million
Masonic dollars are contributed EVERY DAY to philanthropies) but also through actions and deeds.
At the other end of the spectrum, Masons help, believe in, and support our young people through scholarship and student load
programs.
Membership
Lodge members may join Masonically-related organizations
outside of the Symbolic Lodge. These groups include the York Rite (Royal Arch Masons, Cryptic Masons, Knights Templar), Scottish
Rite, Shrine, and the Order of the Eastern Star.
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What are the requirements for membership?
The person who wants to join Masonry must be a man (it's a fraternity), sound in
body and mind, who believes in God, is at least the minimum age required by Masonry in his state, and has a good reputation.
(Incidentally, the "sound in body" requirement -- which comes from the stonemasons of the Middle Ages -- doesn't mean that
a physically challenged man cannot be a Mason; many are).
Those are the only "formal" requirements. But there are others, not so formal. He
should believe in helping others. He should believe there is more to life than pleasure and money. He should be willing to
respect the opinions of others. And he should want to grow and develop as a human being.
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How does a man become a Mason?
Some men are surprised that no one has ever asked them to become
a Mason. They may even feel that the Masons in their town don't think they are "good enough" to join. But it doesn't work
that way. For hundreds of years, Masons have been forbidden to ask others to join the fraternity. We can talk to friends about
Masonry. We can tell them about what Masonry does. We can tell them why we enjoy it. But we can't ask, much less pressure,
anyone to join.
There's a good reason for that. It isn't that we're trying to be exclusive. But becoming
a Mason is a very serious thing. Joining Masonry is making a permanent life commitment to live in certain ways. We've listed
most of them above -- to live with honor and integrity, to be willing to share with and care about others, to trust each other,
and to place ultimate trust in God. No one should be "talked into" making such a decision.
So, when a man decides he wants to be a Mason, he asks a Mason for a petition or
application. He fills it out and gives it to the Mason, and that Mason takes it to the local lodge. The Master of the lodge
will appoint a committee to visit with the man and his family, find out a little about him and why he wants to be a Mason,
tell him and his family about Masonry, and answer their questions. The committee reports to the lodge, and the lodge votes
on the petition. If the vote is affirmative -- and it usually is -- the lodge will contact the man to set the date for the
Entered Apprentice Degree. When the person has completed all three degrees, he is a Master Mason and a full member of the
fraternity.
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So, what's a Mason?
A Mason is a man who has decided 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 good for
everyone.
Many men over many generations have answered the question, "What is a Mason?" One
of the most eloquent was written by the Reverend Joseph Fort Newton, an internationally honored minister of the first half
of the 20th Century and Grand Chaplain, Grand Lodge of Iowa, 1911-1913.
When is a man a Mason?
When he can look out over the rivers, the hills, and the far horizon with a profound
sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope, and courage -- which is the root of every
virtue.
When he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as
diabolic, and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to forgive, and to love his fellowman.
When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sorrows, yea, even in their sins
-- knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds.
When he has learned how to make friends and to keep them, and above all how to keep
friends with himself.
When he loves flowers, can hunt birds without a gun, and feels the thrill of an old
forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child.
When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life.
When star-crowned trees and the glint of sunlight on flowing waters subdue him like
the thought of one much loved and long dead.
When no voice of distress reaches his ears in vain, and no hand seeks his aid without
response.
When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of divine things
and sees majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith may be.
When he can look into a wayside puddle and see something beyond mud, and into the
face of the most forlorn fellow mortal and see something beyond sin.
When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope.
When he has kept faith with himself, with his fellowman, and with his God; in his
hand a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of a song -- glad to live, but not afraid to die!
Such a man has found the only real secret of Masonry, and
the one which it is trying to give to all the world.
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