Becoming a Freemason means you’ll be joining about 200,000 members throughout England and Wales, as well as Districts overseas.
Membership is open to any man aged 21 years old or over, regardless of ethnicity, political views or economic standing. The organisation’s aim is to empower members to be the best they can be – it’s about building character, supporting members as individuals and helping them make a positive contribution to society.
Freemasons use the Ancient Stonemasons Guild Secrets as a way of recognising a fellow Mason as an honourable man and preventing imposters. It is a society with secrets within, but it is NOT a secret society. There is a plethora of information about Freemasonry freely available, much of which has been published by Masons themselves.
Charity has always been a core principle of Freemasonry. Our members make an important contribution at a local, national and global level every year by giving both their time and money to make a real difference to a number of organisations.
Nationally, Freemasonry is one of the largest charitable givers in the country, contributing £51.1m to deserving causes in 2020 alone. Freemasons do not only donate money – more than 18.5 million hours of volunteer work is undertaken by our members in their communities every year.
Freemasonry does a huge amount for medical research into treatments for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and a whole range of other conditions, including Alzheimer’s, by funding UK medical scientists to make ground breaking discoveries.
More recently, money raised has helped to support those affected by overseas disasters as well as those at home, such as the Grenfell Tower disaster.
We are expressly requested NOT to discuss religious beliefs or politics in our meetings, although every member has to have a belief in a supreme being that is relevant and personal to them. Freemasons do not wear their religion on their sleeve but quietly continue their day-to-day business without imposing it on others. On joining freemasonry, Masons take a pledge to obey the laws of our country and respect the moral and legal views of others.
The meeting is in two parts. As in other organizations, there is a certain amount of administration procedure: minutes of last meeting, proposing and balloting for new members, discussing and voting on financial matters, election of officers, news and correspondence. Then there are the ceremonies for admitting new members, and the annual installation of the Master and appointment of officers. The three ceremonies for admitting new Masons are in 2 parts: a slight dramatic instruction in the principles and lessons taught in the Craft, followed by a lecture in which the candidate’s various duties are spelled out.
Traditionally, Freemasonry under the United Grand Lodge of England has been restricted to men. The early stonemasons were all male, and when Freemasonry was organizing, the position of women in society was different from today. If women wish to join Freemasonry, there are two separate Grand Lodges in England restricted to women only.
It varies from Lodge to Lodge, but anyone wishing to join can find a Lodge to suit his pocket. On entry, there is an initiation fee. A member pays a yearly subscription to his Lodge which covers membership and the administration cost of running the Lodge. It is usual to have a meal (‘Festive Board’) after the monthly meeting, for a reasonable cost. It is entirely up to the individual member what he gives to Charity, but it should always be without detriment to his other life responsibilities.