What Are the Requirements for Membership?

Twenty-two words establish the most important prerequisite to becoming a Mason. " . . . We receive none, knowingly, into our ranks who are not moral and upright before God and of good repute before the world . . ."

Will I Be Asked To Join?

Perhaps.  Hopefully, if the concepts and principles of Masonry interest you, you will not need to be asked to join.  If you are not asked, however, becoming a member of our Fraternity is not a difficult task.

If you look around you, you very well may discover that you are already in the company of Masons... look closely for bumper stickers or medallions with the "Square and Compass" insignia - look for rings, tie tacks and/or lapel pins with the insignia.  If you find one among your acquaintances, ask him about becoming a member.  If you don't find a friend who is already a Mason, email us for further instructions.  We'll see that you get a petition (application form) for membership which you then fill out and return it to the Lodge.  You can also download a petition from our membership center.

What Happens next?

Once your petition is submitted to the Lodge the following things happen in the following order:

The petition is read, for the benefit of the membership, at the next regular Stated Meeting ("Business Meeting").  The Master of the Lodge (the "President") will appoint an investigating committee (three members of the Lodge)  who will contact you and find a mutually-convenient time to meet with you, to talk to you, and to determine if you meet the prerequisites for membership (see first point above...).  They will then report their findings to the Master.  (Since it is not practical that you meet each person who will be balloting on your petition, the "committee" interviews you and reports their findings, through the Master, to the entire Lodge.)

The petition will be read at the next Stated Meeting, and it will be voted on by the membership present.  If you are accepted as a member, you will be contacted by the Lodge Secretary and instructed as to when and where to report for your initiation into membership.  It is there that  you will receive the "First Degree of Masonry" - that of an "Entered Apprentice".

What Happens at the Initiation?

On that date, following a brief Ritualistic opening, the petitioner is properly prepared and introduced to the lodge. The solemn process is an enlightening experience and the candidate need never worry that embarrassing or compromising situations will arise during this (or any other degree).

Where do I go from there?

After receiving the "Entered Apprentice Degree", you will be expected to memorize several key passages of the Ritual and help will be extended in the teaching/learning process.

Having learned the required Ritualistic work and satisfying the lodge of that proficiency, you will be asked to return for the conferral of your "Fellow Craft Degree".  Following a proficiency examination on that Degree, you will advance to the "last and highest grade of Ancient Craft Masonry - the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason."

Only after having completed these three symbolic degrees will you truly understand the often-quoted statement, "Freemasonry Builds Its Temples in the Hearts of Men."

You can meet no finer group of men than those you will find in a Lodge of Free Masons - and, in our opinion, no higher ideals to hold yourself to.