PETITION
FOR DEGREES
To the Petitioner:
As the exact nature of the Institution of
Freemasonry is unknown to you, it is deemed advisable
that before signing this
petition you should be informed on certain features of the institution.
Freemasonry has in all ages required that men should
come to its doors entirely of their own
free will, not as the result of
solicitation by others.
Freemasonry is a system of morality based on the
belief in the existence of God, the immortality
of the soul, and the
brotherhood of man; therefore, no atheist can be a Mason. It strives to teach
a man the duty he owes to
God, his country, his family, his neighbor and himself. It interferes
with neither religion nor
politics.
Loyalty to one's country is an essential
qualification in Freemasonry. Disloyalty
in any form
is abhorrent to the teachings
of the Fraternity and is regarded as a serious Masonic offense.
Freemasonry is not contrary to the beliefs of any
man of upright heart and mind, and has in it
nothing that is inconsistent with
his civic, moral or religious duties.
Freemasonry is not a "secret society." Its
members openly acknowledge their membership
and are proud of it. Masonic Temples are plainly marked and
frequently open their doors to
the public. No attempt is ever made to conceal the
fraternity's purposes, beliefs, or activities,
which are always open to public
scrutiny. Although Freemasonry does have
a few secrets, they
are mainly the means of
recognition and some parts of its ritual which have been kept secret as
a tradition from ancient
times when the guilds of stonemasons carefully protected the secrets
of their trade to prevent
unqualified persons from posing as stonemasons and obtaining
stonemasons' wages.
Freemasonry is not to be sought in the hope of
personal gain or advancement. Anyone
so actuated will be
disappointed. The aim of the true
Freemason is to cultivate a brotherly
feeling among men and to help
whomsoever he can. Freemasonry does not
provide sick or
death benefits. It is not an insurance order.
After reading the above, if you desire to petition
for the Degrees of Freemasonry, you may
fill out the enclosed petition
and submit it to the Lodge. Your
petition will be referred to an
investigating committee which will report
to the Lodge. After a favorable
unanimous ballot by
the Lodge you will be notified
as to the date and time of your first of three degrees. Following
each degree you will be required
to memorize a lesson and pass a satisfactory examination by
the Worshipful Master before
proceeding to the next degree.
If you wish to petition St. Andrew’s Lodge to
receive the degrees of Freemasonry, click on the
following link and print the petition
and forward it to the Secretary, Craig I. Brown,