Free And Accepted Masons
A Primer For The Uninitiated
| Brethren, this meeting has been called for the purpose of bringing light (knowledge) to the uninformed. If there are no objections, we will proceed to the revelation of the truth. |
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"In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and
darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the
Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said,'Let there be light' ; and there was light." Genesis 1, 1-3 |
Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternity. It is
reported to be over 1,000 years old and currently contains over
6 million members worldwide. Freemasons believe in the Fatherhood
of God, the brotherhood of Man, and of the immortality of the Soul.
A candidate for membership must express his agreement with the above
belief before he will be considered to be accepted into the fraternity.
| First let me state that I am a Christian, first and foremost, and would like to emphatically state that Masonry in no way contradicts or detracts from my Christian beliefs, as some would have you believe. In fact, all of the basic tenets of Free Masonry are derived from the teachings we find in the Holy Bible. It has been reported that some "Masons" have appeared on the "700 Club" to discuss the "secrets of Free Masonry" or to "put on the degrees", and I would like for you to consider this: |
| All Masons take an oath to God that they will not divulge any of the secrets of Masonry to anyone but to another known Mason. If someone claims to divulge any of the Masonic rituals or rites, that person is a liar. He either lied at the altar before God, or he is a liar about being a Mason and of the things he is divulging, and therefore cannot be trusted or believed. |
"The Great Light of Masonry". |
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At the opening and closing of all Masonic gatherings, prayers for guidance and of thanks are offered to Almighty God. Meetings of Free Masonry are open only to certified members of the fraternity. No man may be admitted to a meeting until he can satisfy the membership that he is in fact a Mason in good standing. By this method, the integrity of the organization is guaranteed and preserved. The fraternity believes that every human has an obligation to befriend and assist all that are in need. Masons from around the world contribute to many worthy charitable organizations, such as children's hospitals and other organizations within their communities; most usually done without fanfare or celebration. Nearly everyone knows of the work done by the Scottish Rite and Shriners to support their hospitals; but some may not be aware that members of either of these organizations must first be a Mason. Members of Masonic bodies in the United States give over $2 million each day to charity . |
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The symbols of Free Masonry are of those tools used
in the building of King Solomon's Temple. As the stone
masons of old used their tools to perfect and erect the
temple as designed by the Almighty Architect Of The Universe, Free and Accepted Masons use them as a reminder to prepare and use their bodies as a temple for God and an example before men.
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If you are a man, * 21 or older, have a belief in the above
principles, are of good moral repute and would like to become
a Mason, you must search out a Mason and request a petition.
After thorough investigation by the local lodge, you will be permitted
to receive the symbolic degrees of Free Masonry ONLY if all members at a meeting vote favorably. The vote is always by secret ballot and must
be unanimous for the applicant to be accepted. * 21 is the minimum age for applicants into Masonry in most states in the U.S.A., however some states have lower minimum age requirements. |
Visit Some Other Masonic Educational Sites
There have been 14 US Presidents who were Master Masons
prior to and during their terms in office.
| George Washington (1789-1797) | William McKinley (1897-1901) |
| James Monroe (1817-1825) | Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) |
| Andrew Jackson 1829-1837) | William H. Taft (1909-1913) |
| James K. Polk (1845-1849) | Warren G. Harding (1921-1923) |
| James Buchanan (1857-1861) | Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) |
| Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) | Harry S. Truman (1945-1953) |
| James A. Garfield (1881) | Gerald R. Ford (1974-1977) |
Have You Ever Considered Becoming a Mason?
A personal message from Bill
