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Freemasonry under the United Grand
Lodge of England is the UK's largest, secular fraternal and charitable
organisation. It has over 300,000 members working in nearly 8,000 lodges
throughout England and Wales and 30,000 more members overseas. |
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What is freemasonry? |
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Why do people join and
remain members? |
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What promises do
freemasons make? |
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Who can join? |
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Is Freemasonry a religion?
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Is information
about Freemasonry freely available? |
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Is Freemasonry involved in
politics? |
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Is Freemasonry involved in
the community? |
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What is freemasonry? |
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Freemasonry teaches moral lessons
and self-knowledge through participation in a progression of allegorical
two-part plays, which are learnt by heart and performed within each lodge.
Freemasonry offers its members an approach to life which seeks to reinforce
thoughtfulness for others, kindness in the community, honesty in business,
courtesy in society and fairness in all things. Members are urged to regard
the interests of the family as paramount but importantly Freemasonry also
teaches and practices concern for people, care for the less fortunate and
help for those in need. |
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Why do people join and
remain members? |
People became Freemasons for a
variety of reasons, some as the result of family tradition, others upon the
introduction of a friend or out of a curiosity to know what it is all about.
Those who become active members and who grow in Freemasonry do so
principally because they enjoy it. They enjoy the challenges and fellowship
that Freemasonry offers. There is more to it, however, than just enjoyment.
Participation in the dramatic presentation of moral lessons and in the
working of a lodge provides a member with a unique opportunity to learn more
about himself and encourages him to live in such a way that he will always
be in search of becoming a better man, not better than someone else but
better than he himself would otherwise be and therefore an exemplary member
of society.
Each Freemason is required to learn and show humility through initiation.
Then, by progression through a series of degrees he gains insight into
increasingly complex moral and philosophical concepts, and accepts a variety
of challenges and responsibilities which are both stimulating and rewarding.
The structure and working of the lodge and the sequence of ceremonial
events, which are usually followed by social gatherings, offer members a
framework for companionship, teamwork, character development and enjoyment
of shared experiences. |
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What promises do
freemasons make? |
New members make solemn promises
concerning their conduct in the lodge and in society. These promises are
similar to those taken in court or upon entering the armed services or many
other
organisations. Each member also promises to keep confidential the
traditional methods of proving he is a Freemason which he would use when
visiting a lodge where he is not known.
The much publicised 'traditional penalties' for failure to observe these
undertakings were removed from the promises in 1986. They were always
symbolic not literal and refer only to the pain any decent man should feel
at the thought of violating his word.
Members also undertake not to make use of their membership for personal gain
or advancement; failure to observe this principle or otherwise to fall below
the standards expected of a Freemason can lead to expulsion. |
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Who can join? |
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Membership is open to men of all
faiths who are law-abiding, of good character and who acknowledge a belief
in God. Freemasonry is a multi-racial and multi-cultural organisation. It
has attracted men of goodwill from all sectors of the community into
membership. There are similar Masonic organisations for women. |
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Is Freemasonry a religion?
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Freemasonry is not a religion. It
has no theology and does not teach any route to salvation. A belief in God,
however, is an essential requirement for membership and Freemasonry
encourages its members to be active in their own religions as well as in
society at large.
Although every lodge meeting is opened and closed with a prayer and its
ceremonies reflect the essential truths and moral teachings common to many
of the world's great religions, no discussion of religion is permitted in
lodge meetings. |
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Is information
about Freemasonry freely available? |
Yes it is, but lodge meetings, like meetings of many other social and
professional associations, are private occasions open only to members.
Freemasons are encouraged to speak openly about their membership, while
remembering that they undertake not to use it for their own or anyone else's
advancement. As members are sometimes the subject of discrimination which
may adversely affect their employment or other aspects of their lives, some
Freemasons are understandably reticent about discussing their membership. In
common with many other national organisations, Grand Lodge neither maintains
nor publishes a list of members and will not disclose names or member's
details without their permission.
In circumstances where a conflict of interest might arise or be perceived to
exist or when Freemasonry becomes an issue, a Freemason must declare an
interest.
The rules and aims of Freemasonry are available to the public. The Masonic
Year Book, also available to the public, contains the names of all national
office-holders and lists of all lodges with details of their meeting dates
and places.
The meeting places and halls used by Freemasons are readily identifiable,
are listed in telephone directories and in many areas are used by the local
community for activities other than Freemasonry. Freemasons' Hall in London
is open to the public and 'open days' are held in many provincial centres.
The rituals and ceremonies used by Freemasons to pass on the principles of
Freemasonry to new members were first revealed publicly in 1723. They
include the traditional forms of recognition used by Freemasons essentially
to prove their identity and qualifications when entering a Masonic meeting.
These include handshakes which have been much written about and can scarcely
be regarded as truly secret today; for mediaeval Freemasons, they were the
equivalent of a 'pin number' restricting access only to qualified members.
Many thousands of books have been written on the subject of Freemasonry and
are readily available to the general public. Freemasonry offers spokesmen
and briefings for the media and provides talks to interested groups on
request. Freemasons are proud of their heritage and happy to share it. |
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Is Freemasonry involved in
politics? |
Freemasonry is definitely not a
political organisation, it has no political agenda, and discussion of
politics is not permitted at lodge meetings.
Freemasonry naturally tends to attract those with a concern for people and a
sense of social responsibility and purpose. There are members, therefore,
who are involved in politics at local, national and international level.
Equally there are members who take an active interest in non Masonic
charitable organisations and other community groups. |
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Is Freemasonry involved in
the community? |
From its earliest days,
Freemasonry has been involved in charitable activities, and since its
inception it has provided support for many widows and orphans of Freemasons
as well as others within the community.
All monies raised for charity are drawn from amongst Freemasons, their
families and friends, while grants and donations are made to Masonic and
non-Masonic charities alike.
Over the past five years alone Freemasonry has raised more than £75m for a
wide range of charitable purposes including those involved in medical
research, community care, education and work with young people.
Freemasonry has an enviable record of providing regular and consistent
financial support to individual charities over long periods while at the
same time making thousands of grants to local charities, appeals and
projects throughout England and Wales each year. For the future,
opportunities to obtain or provide matched funding are periodically examined
with a view to enhancing the impact of the support Freemasonry can give to
specific projects. The personal generosity of Freemasons and the collective
fundraising efforts of almost 8,000 lodges, however, will continue to
determine the contribution Freemasonry makes within the community. |
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For further information and details of how to join, write to: |
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The Secretary
Horsford Lodge No. 5339
Masonic Hall
Westbourne House
Bradford Road
Otley
LS21 3LG |
