From: IndianaFreemasons.com

 

Freemasonry is the world’s oldest, largest, and best-known gentleman’s fraternity. Founded in London, England in 1717, its current worldwide membership totals 3.5 million members, 1.3 million of which are in the United States. As a fraternal organization, Freemasonry unites men of good character of different religious, ethnic, and social backgrounds, who share a belief in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of mankind.

 

Freemasonry (often simplified to “Masonry”) is based on the medieval stonemason guilds who built the great castles and cathedrals of Europe. The traditions of the fraternity are founded upon the building of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, and modern Freemasons likewise use the tools, traditions and terminology of those earlier stonemasons as allegories for building temples in the hearts of men. Its body of knowledge and system of ethics is based on the belief that each man has a responsibility to improve himself, while being devoted to his family, faith, country, and fraternity.

 

Masonry consists of a course of moral instruction, illustrated by types, emblems, and allegorical figures. The old English Constitutions state it in this manner, "a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols."

 

Webster says an allegory "represents by suggestive resemblance"; and a symbol is a visible sign or representation of an ideal....

 

Charles C. Hunt (Grand Secretary Emeritus of the GL of Iowa,) proposed the following definition, after an extensive analysis of opinions of other eminent Masonic scholars;

 

"Freemasonry is an organized society of men symbolically applying the principles of operative masonry and architecture to the science and art of character building." This especially distinguishes our Fraternity from all other organizations which teach a system of morality.

 

-Paraphrased from the Indiana Monitor and Freemason's Guide. In Indiana's jurisdiction, this is considered published materials.

Feel free to ask any Mason and he can provide you with a petition to fill out and return.  If you don't know a Mason then you can find a lodge and just show up on meeting night.

 

Your petition will be read and a committee appointed to evaluate and recommend action by the presiding officer. This committee should meet with you to answer any of your questions and to ensure that you meet the requirements for membership.

 

Once these meetings are complete, your petition will be read in Lodge and voted upon. It is one of the traditions of Freemasonry that members must be elected by unanimous vote of members present. Once voted in the affirmative, your initiation will be scheduled.

 

If you are interested in joining our Lodge the feel free to contact us anytime!

 

Our stated meetings are the first Thursday of every month with dinner beginning at 6:00PM and the meeting at 7:00

Who can join?

Any man of lawful age (typically 18), of good moral character and a belief in a supreme being as he chooses to define that.

 

Why should I join?

The reasons are as many as there are Masons.  Becoming a Mason is a committment, we don't ask and pressure to bring in new members.  Men join Freemasonry because they want to, not because they have been talked into it.  If you are in trouble and need help, every Mason in the world will help you, if he is able.  Likewise, you must be ready to  help any Mason who needs it.  This is a Fraternity of men dedicated to growth, development, and fellowship.

 

Typically the answers from a Mason to the Why question are as follows:

 

• Wanted to be be a part of something bigger than himself
• Family history/legacy
• Being part of a brotherhood whose history spans hundreds of years
• A desire to develop and grow as a human being
• Meet like minded people from different backgrounds be that national, educational, or religious
• Find opportunities for leadership training and public speaking
• Being surrounded by individuals on whom he can trust with full confidence

 

Can atheists join?

Atheists can not join. A candidate has to profess a belief in a supreme being, the exact nature of which is between him and his maker. Since Atheists profess a belief that no supreme being exists, this is incompatible with the basic tenants of Freemasonry.

 

What do you do in Lodge?

Most of the proceedings in lodge depend on what type of meeting is called. We might vote on candidates, discuss spending proposals, listen to educational presentations, perform candidate degrees, or complete tedious but necessary housekeeping paperwork. But mostly we enjoy each others company and revel in the ancient rituals of Freemasonry.

 

What's the deal with those funny-looking aprons?

Aprons were worn by ancient operative stone-masons to protect them from rough stones and sharp tools. In Freemasonry it is a badge of fraternal distinction. During his first degree, each Mason is given a plain white apron, it represents the white lambskin, a symbol of purity and innocence.

 

 

Are you a Secret Society?

Freemasonry is an organization with secrets, not a secret organization. If we were truly secret, then Freemasonry would have done the worst job ever and completely failed ever since its founding in 1717. How secret can an organization truly be if we have bumper stickers, big blinking neon signs on our buildings, parades, golf tournaments and hospitals, college football bowls, websites and invite members of the public to join us in discussion groups?

 

Freemasonry is an initiatic order. We believe in the importance of ritual and teaching our members over time. Once a candidate is deemed ready he will experience the next degree. After which the candidate will then spend time to digest the information contained therein before he will progress to the next degree. By keeping the information contained in the degrees secret we can craft a personalized approach to each candidate, focusing on the interests and deficits of each person, to ultimately become a full Master Mason.

The actual information itself, as well as any of the degrees and rituals are easily available and can be found in any bookshop or within a few clicks on any online search engine. However, we took an obligation as masons never to reveal them to anyone who is not a mason themselves. It is upon our honor as a mason and a man, to keep these secrets.

 

Is Freemasonry a Religion?

Freemasonry unambiguously states that it is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion. There is no separate “Masonic” God, even if Freemasonry refers to the supreme being as the “Great Architect of the Universe”. This different title is used to stress that it is generic, and not about any one religion’s particular identification of God.

Freemasonry is open to all men of any faith, but religion may not be discussed at Masonic meetings. Its moral teachings are acceptable to all religions.

 

Isn't it expensive to be a Mason?

Most masonic lodges that belong to an official Grand Lodge are very affordable and annual membership costs less than what the average person spends on coffee, or annual streaming services.  Members can ask for assistance in payment of dues if hardship arises.

 

 

Grand Lodge of Indiana

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Download a Petition to join