Freemasonry is a fraternity that encourages continual self-improvement by association and contemplation with other men that have sworn to uphold a certain moral code. “We make good men better” is a common motto.
In answer to the question “"What is it like to be a Freemason”, I answered with the following:
What is it like to be a Freemason? Amazing. I have been a Mason since 1991 (I joined when I was 20), and I've taken my time getting involved, learning about each level before moving on. The men of my Lodge are my Brothers, and I am lucky to belong to a very active Lodge (over 400 members of which a quarter are pretty active, 50 of those VERY active - and we are growing). The youngest Brother I have is 19, the oldest is a Holocaust survivor and pushing 100 years old. My Brothers are there for me when I need help, and I'm there for them. It's part of the promises we make to each other. They have seen me through a divorce, the death of my parents, and several health issues. They've celebrated with me a new marriage, the birth of my son, and brought all the members of my family into their circle of love and support. We've also made a mark on the community. As a Lodge we've contributed more than a quarter of a million dollars to various charities over the course of the last 20 years. Masonic groups across the nation give more than $2 million dollars a day. We don't do this expecting a reward in this world or the next. We do it because each of us knows that it is the right thing to do.
What many non-Masons think of as a "Higher Rank" in Masonry, is actually what we refer to as "Appendent Bodies". Hold that thought for a moment.
There are three basic requirements to becoming a Freemason. 1. You must be a man. We are a Fraternity. 2. You must be of good character. No felonies, and you will be interviewed by members who will have to report back to the Lodge on whether or not they feel you would be a suitable member. 3. You must believe in a higher power. No atheist may be made a Mason. Just to cover a couple of more common questions: Masonry is NOT a religion, and we never talk about religion or politics while in Lodge.
Masonry has three "ranks": Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. To go from one to another requires a lot of memorization, and deeper and more binding oaths of loyalty and obedience - though keep in mind that one of the first things you will hear is that Masonry will never ask anything that would go against your duty to God, your family, or your nation. You are expected to use good judgement.
The following applies to Lodg in Minnesota. Every Lodge has 7 elected officers which (usually) will serve one year in that office and them move on to the next higher. They are (in order of precedence) Junior and Senior Stewards (they cook and clean), the Junior and Senior Deacons (who are responsible for preparing and teaching new members), the Junior and Senior Wardens, and the Master of the Lodge. These last three could be considered the President and the Senior Vice President and Junior Vice President of the Lodge. Appointed positions include the Tyler (Outer Guard), Marshall (Master of Ceremonies), Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, and Musician (usually a pianist). These are not "In the line", technically, and can be changed from year to year. The overall idea is that a person must learn to serve before they can lead, and each position adds more responsibility and prestige than the last, though it is the position and not the man that has the honor. Once a man has served (and it really is SERVICE, it's a LOT of work) as Master of the Lodge, they are referred to as a “"Past Master” and he can start to serve in the Grand Lodge of the jurisdiction he is in. In the United States, each State is it's own jurisdiction and is autonomous. There is no "National" Masonic Lodge. I am writing to you from Minnesota. These details may vary slightly from State to State.
Once one becomes a Master Mason, one can choose to study further into Masonry in one or more of the Appendent Bodies. While these bodies may give honors within their members, none of them make them a "Higher Rank". There is some confusion among non-Masons in that one body called the "Scottish Rite" calls it's progression "degrees" and one can become a "32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason" (there is an honorary "33rd Degree" that can be awarded to individuals as a sort of Lifetime Achievement award, and is only something that can be bestowed, not sought after). These "degrees" simply designate where a person has progressed within the Scottish Rite, and do not grant a Mason any further authority. They are still the same "Rank" as any other 3rd Degree Master Mason. There is also a "York Rite" (and several others), which is composed of three bodies called the Royal Arch Chapter, Cryptic Council, and Orders of Commandary. Each of these bodies have officers, much like a normal Masonic Lodge does. Wikipedia can give you quite a bit of good detail on all of this too. Those articles are monitored pretty well for vandalism.
While we don't "recruit" members, our general rule is that a man should "Ask one to be one". You've expressed interest, so I would encourage you to find a Lodge near you and look up when they meet. Stop by on Lodge night for dinner with the members there. You will receive a warm welcome (in Minnesota dinner is usually free for prospects too! You only have to pay for it if you're already a member) and you can ask questions of anyone there.
I hope this helps!
we jamaa wewe... kwahio amekuja PM ili umuunge na freemanson?
