Freemasonry means different things to each of those who join. For some, it’s about making new friends and acquaintances. For others it’s about being able to help deserving causes – making a contribution to family and for society. But for most, it is an enjoyable hobby.

Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisation. It teaches self-knowledge through participation in a progression of ceremonies. Members are expected to be of high moral standing and are encouraged to speak openly about Freemasonry.

Masons’ name comes from the occupation of their original members – stonemasons who built castles and cathedrals in England and Scotland. The word “free” was added during the Middle Ages. Because stonemasons possessed knowledge and skills not found everywhere, these men had the privilege of traveling between countries.

Over time, many men who were not builders were drawn to the practices of Freemasonry. To encourage intellectual diversity, stonemasons began accepting men from other professions into the Fraternity. These men were known as “accepted Masons.” This trend continued, and accepted members eventually outnumbered operative members.

Today, the names “Freemasonry,” “Masonry,” and “Free and Accepted Masons” are used interchangeably to refer to the Fraternity.

A Grand Lodge is an administrative body that oversees Freemasonry in a specific geographic area, called a jurisdiction. The United States has Grand Lodges in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

Freemasonry began when stonemasons formed local organizations, called lodges, to take care of the sick and widows, as well as the orphans. The masons also used the lodges as places to meet, receive their pay, plan their work, train new apprentices, and socialize.

Today, this term refers both to a unit of Masons and the room or building in which they meet.

There are about five million Masons worldwide, including almost two million in the U.S.  All Lodges follow the same principles of Freemasonry, but their activities may vary. Each Grand Lodge is sovereign and independent; there is no U.S. or international governing body for Freemasonry.

Membership in Masonry is not a secret; all members are free to acknowledge their membership. There is no secret about any of Masonry’s aims or principles. Masonry’s constitutions and rules are available to the public, and meeting locations are clearly identifiable. Like many similar organizations, some of Masonry’s internal affairs, such as ceremonies, grips, and passwords, are regarded as private matters for members only.

There are two kinds of meetings for members. The most common is a business meeting, called a stated communication, devoted to administrative procedures: minutes of the last meeting, discussing financial matters, voting on applications, and planning for Lodge activities. The second kind of meeting is ceremonial, cornerstone laying, degree work used for admitting new Masons and conferring degrees.

Masonry came to America from England and many of the original English titles are still in use. These titles may sound archaic in today’s society, but their meanings are simple. The Master is the leader of the Lodge, similar to the term president in other organizations. He is called “Master” for the same reason that the leader of first violins in an orchestra is called the concertmaster. It’s simply an older term for leader. The Senior and Junior Wardens represent the first and second vice presidents.

There are three stages of Masonic membership: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. These stages are referred to as “degrees,” and correspond with members’ self-development and increased knowledge of Freemasonry. As a man completes each phase of learning, the Lodge holds a ceremony to confer his degree.

Degree names are taken from craft guilds: In the Middle Ages, to become a stonemason, a man would first be apprenticed. As an apprentice, he learned the tools and skills of the trade. When he had proved his skills, he became a “fellow of the craft,” and when he gained exceptional ability, he was known as a “master of the craft.”

Symbols allow people to communicate quickly, and to transcend language barriers. When you see a green light or a circle with a line through it, you know what it means. Likewise, Masons use metaphors from geometry and the architecture of stonemasonry to inform their continuing pursuit of knowledge, ethics, and leadership skills.

To reflect their heritage, Masons wear aprons while in Lodge, at certain public events, and at funerals to demonstrate their pride in the fraternity, and their lineage from stonemasons, who historically carried their tools in leather aprons. The square and compass is the most widely known symbol of Masonry: When you see the symbol on a building, you know that Masons meet there.

Masonry does not endorse political candidates or legislation, and the discussion of politics at Masonic meetings is not allowed.

There is an application fee for membership and degrees, which includes a charitable contribution to help fulfill our philanthropic mission and our obligation to aid Brothers and their families in times of need. Continued giving supports important charitable programs, which rely on member contributions. Annual dues begin when the Master Masons degree is received; each Lodge determines the dues amount.

Masonry is a Fraternity, a Brotherhood. The essence of a fraternity is that it is for men, just as the essence of a sorority is that it is for women. There are several affiliated Masonic organizations for women only, as well as organizations for both men and women.