What does it mean to be a Freemason?
We, as Freemasons, don’t always do such a good job of defining just what we are or what we do, but that’s often because the answers non-Masons are looking for are too complicated. Basically, Freemasonry is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values and is the world’s oldest fraternal organization.
Freemasonry is perhaps the most misunderstood, yet popular, “secret society” the world has ever known and at the same time the most visible. Every State in Australia and almost every country in the world has a Grand Lodge of Freemasons, and each of those has its own Web site. We wear rings, jackets, and aprons emblazoned with the square and compass on them. Masonic buildings are clearly marked, and their addresses and phone numbers are in the Yellow Pages. If the Freemasons are a secret, they need a refresher course on camouflage. Almost immediately after forming the first Grand Lodge in England in 1717, books trumpeting the secrets of the lodge began to arrive on shelves.
Masonry does have ceremonies it wants to keep private, just as corporations have information they want to keep private. No simple, one-line definition satisfactorily describes Freemasonry. It can be said that it is a philosophy and a system of morality and ethics. Freemasonry teaches lessons of social and moral virtues based on symbolism of the tools and language of the ancient building trade, using the building of a structure as a symbol for the building of character in men. Freemasonry is not a religion, and it has no religious dogma that it forces its members to accept. Masons must simply believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, whatever they conceive that deity to be. Their personal beliefs are just that: personal.
For many, its biggest draw is the fact that members come from all walks of life and meet as equals whatever their race, religion or socio-economic position in society. Its values are based on integrity, kindness, honesty and fairness.
The reason why people join and what they like about Freemasonry vary from person to person. You will have your own reasons, but the following are taken from a sample of new members:
- Quest for knowledge – because they are intrigued about the history and mysteries held within Freemasonry
- Charity – because they feel it is a conduit to ‘put back into society’, through Masonic charity giving
- Brotherhood – because it is a leveller, meaning you meet (and indeed become friends with) a broad spectrum of people – from Chairman of large companies to dustmen, people that live next door to foreign nationals, people from 21 to 90+ years of age – essentially, a very extensive male demographic. Simply by mixing with people from different walks of life helps to broaden the mind
- Self-Improvement – to become a better person
- Learning – networking, learning from peers and mentors and learning from practising ritual (if you hold office) and after dinner speech-making (watching others and on occasion making a simple speech)
- Unusual – because there is nothing quite like it in life
- Achievement – progressing through office to Worshipful Master.
