What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry—or Masonry, as it is more commonly called—is a worldwide
fraternity that unites good men seeking to become better men: better
friends, better husbands, better fathers, better leaders, and better
members of their community. Toward these ends, Masonry provides its
members a three–part lesson plan for personal improvement. Each of the
three lesson plans is called a "degree" and full membership in the
fraternity is accorded when a man has learned all three degrees.
Who are Masons?
Masons are men who voluntarily asked to join a lodge. They were
accepted because they were good men who believe in God and hold high
ethical and moral ideals. They go to meetings which they call the
lodge, in order to learn and to teach what "friendship, morality, and
truth" really involve, and to practice on a small scale the reality of
brotherhood. They also have meetings open to their wives, children, and
friends where they promote an understanding of the serious nature of
the Fraternity by entertainment and sociability. Practical programs for
charity and relief are planned and executed. The special kinship they
feel for each other as a brotherhood is their deepest satisfaction.
What Do Freemasons Do?
This is a very difficult question to answer. Freemasonry is many things
to different people and each Lodge has its own personality. In all
cases, Masons have regular meetings in which standard organizational
needs are addressed such as communicating with members, announcing
events, and paying the rent.
Beyond that, lodges offer members a variety of other activities. As a
philosophical self–improvement society, members go through the degrees,
absorb the lessons presented therein, then at subsequent meetings hear
the lessons again and think further about their meanings and personal
application. As a charitable and community support organization,
members plan charity drives and come up with ways to help their
community. As a historical debating society, Masons break the monotony
of doing the same ritual over and over by making presentations on some
topic relating to Masonry and the other members discuss it. As a social
club, members gather for dinner, drinks, dances with their ladies, or
for outings to someplace interesting.
Most of all, the fraternity is what a man makes of it.
