Frequently Asked Questions
Freemasonry is the UK's largest secular, fraternal and
charitable organisation. It teaches moral lessons and
self-knowledge through participation in a progression of
allegorical two-part plays.
The meeting is in two parts. As in any association, there is a
certain amount of administrative procedure - minutes of the last
meeting, proposing and balloting for new members, discussing and
voting on financial matters, the election of officers, news and
correspondence. Then there are the ceremonies for admitting new
Masons and the annual installation of the Master and the
appointment of officers. The three ceremonies for admitting a
new Mason are in two 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 spelt out.
It is true that candidates have to roll up their trouser legs
during the three ceremonies when they are being admitted to
membership. Taken out of context, this can seem amusing, but
like many other aspects of Freemasonry, it has a symbolic
meaning.
They no longer do. When Masonic ritual was developing in the
late 1600s and 1700s it was quite common for legal and civil
oaths to include physical penalties and Freemasonry simply
followed the practice of the times. In Freemasonry, however, the
physical penalties were always symbolic and were never carried
out. After a long discussion, they were removed from the
promises in 1986.
Wearing regalia is historical and symbolic and, like a uniform,
serves to indicate to members where they rank in the
organisation.
No. From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been involved in
charitable activities. Since its inception, Freemasonry has
provided support not only for widows and orphans of Freemasons
but also for many others within the community. Whilst some
Masonic charities cater specifically but not exclusively for
Masons or their dependents, others make significant grants to
non-Masonic organisations. On a local level, Lodges give
substantial support to local causes.
To the majority of Freemasons, the Volume of Sacred Law is the
Bible. There are many in Freemasonry, however, who are not
Christian and to them, the Bible is not their sacred book and
they will make their promises on the book which is regarded as
sacred to their religion. The Bible will always be present in an
English lodge but as the organisation welcomes men of many
different faiths, it is called the Volume of Sacred Law. Thus,
when the Volume of Sacred Law is referred to in ceremonies, to a
non-Christian it will be the holy book of his religion and to a
Christian it will be the Bible.
There are elements within certain churches that misunderstand
Freemasonry and confuse secular rituals with religious liturgy.
Although the Methodist Conference and the General Synod of the
Anglican Church have occasionally criticised Freemasonry, in
both Churches, there are many Masons and indeed others who are
dismayed that the Churches should attack Freemasonry, an
organisation which has always encouraged its members to be
active in their own religion.
Emphatically not. Whilst individual Freemasons will have their
own views on politics and state policy, Freemasonry as a body
will never express a view on either. The discussion of politics
at Masonic meetings has always been prohibited.
Only in the sense that Freemasonry exists throughout the free
world. Each Grand Lodge is sovereign and independent, and whilst
following the same basic principles may have different ways of
passing them on. There is no international governing body for
Freemasonry.
Traditionally, Freemasonry under the United Grand Lodge of
England has been restricted to men. The early stonemasons were
all male, and when Freemasonry was organising, 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.
We are not, but lodge meeting, like We are not, but lodge
meeting, like those of many other groups, are private and open
only to members. The rules and aims of Freemasonry are available
to the public. Meeting places are known and in many areas are
used by the local community for activities other than
Freemasonry. Members are encouraged to speak openly about
Freemasonry.
No. The ritual is a shared experience that binds the members
together. Its use of drama, allegory and symbolism impresses the
principles and teachings more firmly in the mind of each
candidate than if they were simply passed on to him in a
matter-of-fact modern language.
New members make solemn promises concerning their conduct in
Lodge and society. Each member also promises to keep
confidential the traditional methods of proving that he is a
Freemason which he would use when visiting a Lodge where he is
not known. Freemasons do not swear allegiances to each other or
to Freemasonry. Freemasons promise to support others in times of
need, but only if that support does not conflict with their
duties to God, the law, their family, or their responsibilities
as a citizen.
Absolutely not. That would be a misuse of membership and subject
to Masonic discipline. On his entry into Freemasonry, each
candidate states unequivocally that he expects no material gain
from his membership. At various stages during the three
ceremonies of his admission and when he is presented with a
certificate from Grand Lodge that the admission ceremonies have
been completed, he is forcefully reminded that attempts to gain
preferment or material gain for himself or others are a misuse
of membership which will not be tolerated. The Book of
Constitutions, which every candidate receives, contains strict
rules governing abuse of membership which can result in
penalties varying from temporary suspension to expulsion.
Emphatically not. Freemasonry requires a belief in God and its
principles are common to many of the world’s great religions.
Freemasonry does not try to replace religion or substitute for
it. Every candidate is exhorted to practise his religion and to
regard its holy book as the unerring standard of truth.
Freemasonry does not instruct its members in what their
religious beliefs should be, nor does it offer sacraments.
Freemasonry deals in relations between men; religion deals in a
man’s relationship with his God.
Freemasonry embraces all men who believe in God. Its membership
includes Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Parsees and
others. The use of descriptions such as the Great Architect
prevents disharmony. The Great Architect is not a specific
Masonic god or an attempt to combine all gods into one. Thus,
men of differing religions pray together without offence being
given to any of them.
It does. The prime qualification for admission into Freemasonry
has always been a belief in God. How that belief is expressed is
entirely up to the individual.
Four Grand Masters of English Freemasonry have been Roman Catholics. There are many Roman Catholic Freemasons.
Four Grand Masters of English Freemasonry have been Roman Catholics. There are many Roman Catholic Freemasons.
There are groups in other countries who call themselves and
involve themselves in political matters. They are not recognised
or countenanced by the Grand Lodges who follow the basic
principles of Freemasonry and ban the discussion of politics and
religion at their meetings.
None. There are numerous fraternal orders and Friendly Societies
whose rituals, regalia and organisation are similar in some
respects to Freemasonry's. They have no formal or informal
connections with Freemasonry.
Under the United Grand Lodge of England, there are over 200,000
Freemasons, meeting in over 7,000 lodges. There are separate
Grand Lodges for Ireland (which covers north and south) and
Scotland. There are thought to be approximately six million
members worldwide.
It is not known. The earliest recorded 'making' of a Freemason
in England is that of Elias Ashmle in 1646. 'Organised'
Freemasonry began with the founding of the Grand Lodge of
England on 24th June 1717, the first Grand Lodge in the world.
Ireland followed in 1725 and Scotland in 1736. All the regular
Grand Lodges in the world trace themselves back to one or more
of the Grand Lodges in the British Isles.
There are two main theories of origin, According to one, the operative stonemasons who built the great cathedrals and castles had lodges in which they discussed trade affairs. They had simple initiation ceremonies and, as there were no City and Guilds certificate, dues cards or trade union membership cards, they adopted secret signs and words to demonstrate that they were trained masons when they moved from site to site. In the 1600s, these operative lodges began to accept non-operative as "gentleman masons". Gradually these non-operative took over the lodges and turned them from operative to 'free and accepted' or 'speculative' lodges.
The other theory is that in the late 1500s and early1600s, there was a group that was interested in the promotion of religious and political tolerance in an age of great intolerance when differences of opinion on matters of religion and politics were to lead to bloody civil war. In forming Freemasonry, they were trying to make better men and build a better world. As the means of teaching in those days was by allegory and symbolism, they took the idea of building as the central allegory on which to form their system.
The main source of allegory was the Bible, the contents of which were known to everyone even if they could not read, and the only building described in detail in the Bible was King Solomon's Temple, which became the basis of the ritual. The old trade guilds provided them with their basic administration of a Master, Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary, and the operative mason's tools provided them with a wealth of symbols with which to illustrate the moral teachings of Freemasonry.
There are two main theories of origin, According to one, the operative stonemasons who built the great cathedrals and castles had lodges in which they discussed trade affairs. They had simple initiation ceremonies and, as there were no City and Guilds certificate, dues cards or trade union membership cards, they adopted secret signs and words to demonstrate that they were trained masons when they moved from site to site. In the 1600s, these operative lodges began to accept non-operative as "gentleman masons". Gradually these non-operative took over the lodges and turned them from operative to 'free and accepted' or 'speculative' lodges.
The other theory is that in the late 1500s and early1600s, there was a group that was interested in the promotion of religious and political tolerance in an age of great intolerance when differences of opinion on matters of religion and politics were to lead to bloody civil war. In forming Freemasonry, they were trying to make better men and build a better world. As the means of teaching in those days was by allegory and symbolism, they took the idea of building as the central allegory on which to form their system.
The main source of allegory was the Bible, the contents of which were known to everyone even if they could not read, and the only building described in detail in the Bible was King Solomon's Temple, which became the basis of the ritual. The old trade guilds provided them with their basic administration of a Master, Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary, and the operative mason's tools provided them with a wealth of symbols with which to illustrate the moral teachings of Freemasonry.
Basic Freemasonry consists of three 'Craft' degrees (Entered
Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason) completed by the
Royal Arch degree (Chapter). There are many other Masonic
degrees and Orders which are called 'additional' because they
add to the basis of the Craft and Royal Arch. They are not basic
to Freemasonry but add to it by further expounding and
illustrating the principles stated in the Craft and Royal Arch.
Some of these additional degrees are numerically superior to the
third degree but this does not affect the fact that they are
additional to and not in any way superior to or higher than the
Craft. The ranks that these additional degrees carry have no
standing with the Craft or Royal Arch.
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, an annual subscription to the lodge which covers
his membership and the administrative cost of running the lodge
and a registration fee for Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand
Lodge. It is usual to have a meal after the meeting; the cost of
this is usually settled in the evening.
It is entirely up to the individual member what he gives to charity, but it should always be without detriment to his other responsibilities. Similarly, he may join as many lodges as his time and pocket can allow as long as it does not adversely affect his family life and responsibilities.
It is entirely up to the individual member what he gives to charity, but it should always be without detriment to his other responsibilities. Similarly, he may join as many lodges as his time and pocket can allow as long as it does not adversely affect his family life and responsibilities.