MEMBERSHIP
Becoming a Freemason
can be one of the most significant events of your life. From the
moment you become a Brother, you will feel immediate acceptance
and Brotherly love. So where do you begin?
Qualifications
* Membership in a Masonic Lodge is open to all men 21 years of age
or older — regardless of race, color, or religion. Our membership
requirements are very clear:
* You must be of good character and reputation. You’ll have
to provide evidence of living a positive life through references
from at least one Mason and three other people.
* You must believe in a Supreme Being and the immortality of the
soul. This belief is not proscribed — rather, we encourage
you to be steadfast in the faith of your choice.
The First Steps
Start the process by completing a petition (application) for membership,
which you can download from this site, or get from a Mason you know.
If you don’t know a Mason, just use the Lodge Locator to find
a lodge near you — the Brothers will be happy to meet with
you for an informational session.
The next step is to submit your petition to the Lodge you want to
join. The petition is read in a Lodge meeting and referred to a
committee (usually composed of three members). This committee then
interviews you — usually right in your home, so that your
family can ask any questions that they may have.
After the interview, the committee reports its findings to the Lodge,
and a secret ballot is taken. If the vote is favorable, you’ll
be notified by mail and you’ll be given a date to start the
degree program.
The Degree Process
Our Fraternity’s private nature sometimes creates misconceptions
about our “initiation ceremonies.” Rest assured that
we are a moral institution whose tenets are Friendship, Morality,
and Brotherly Love. Masonry teaches us to practice charity and benevolence,
and to revere ordinances of — but not replace — any
man’s religion. Quite simply, our Fraternity exists to make
good men better.
Our three degrees
are serious, educational, time-tested teachings. Each degree has
a primary lesson. The first teaches us our duty to God. The second
teaches us our duty to our neighbors. And the third degree teaches
us our duty to ourselves.
To convey our
teachings, we use ritual, ceremony, drama, lectures, and sometimes
even musical accompaniment. You’ll work closely with a coach
who will help you learn some of the key material in the Ritual.
After completing the first and second degrees, you’ll be given
an assessment to make sure you understand what you’ve just
experienced.
Upon the completion
of the third degree, you’ll become a Master Mason, and be
eligible for all that Masonry has to offer you, which includes:
* Worldwide
Brotherhood
* Fellowship
* Male bonding
* Meaningful community service
* Camaraderie with other moral men
* Much more
It’s our
sincere hope that you’ll consider becoming a Free and Accepted
Mason, and sharing the feeling of friendship and Brotherly love
that Freemasons have enjoyed from time immemorial.
If
you are interested in joining Pacific Lodge No. 233 please click
here. |