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What is Freemasonry?
It is a Brotherhood of over 5 million men worldwide. When we welcome a man of good character, we do so with the hope that in our ceremonies and teachings, we can make him better; a better family man, a better churchman, a better citizen. He must have a belief in a supreme being. Masons worship in churches and temples to show their belief in God and meet in Lodges to celebrate the Brotherhood of Man. We do not solicit members. A man must want to join us in our charitable, educational, and spiritual endeavors. Our number includes men of every faith, the Moslem, the Jew, the Buddhist, and the Christian. We are men of every color and every creed. It's true Brotherhood, where one time strangers become lifetime friends. The three degrees teach a system of morality through allegory and symbolism which has been passed down for hundreds of years.
Freemasonry's formal organization commenced in England in 1717 with the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England. The Grand Lodge of New Jersey was formed in 1786. Since that time the principles of Freemasonry- brotherly love, relief, truth, charity, integrity, justice, and unity- have been handed down from Mason to Mason. There are approximately 171 Lodges that currently meet in New Jersey. As a Mason, when you visit a Lodge, be it in the next community or halfway around the world, you join with men who share the same ideals. A Mason may enter a Lodge room full of unfamiliar faces, yet he knows that he is among friends.
There are Lodges in every free country in the world. There are 51 Grand Lodges or jurisdictions here in the U.S., namely the fifty states and Washington, D.C.
Some other facts about Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternity, not a religion.
As a fraternal association dedicated to making good men better. Freemasonry respects the religious beliefs of all its members. Freemasonry has no theology and does not teach any method of salvation. In particular it does not claim that good works gain or guarantee salvation
Freemasons are united in their desire to be of service to mankind.
While Freemasonry supports homes for members and their spouses, most Masonic-services, including Shrine medical and burn centers, are available to all citizens.
Freemasonry is an open, not secretive, society.
Masonic meetings are announced publicly. Masonic buildings are marked clearly and are listed in phone directories, and Masons proudly wear jewelry identifying their membership. Freemasonry inherited a tradition of trade secrets from the cathedral-building guilds of medieval Europe. The only "secrets" still belonging to modem Masonry are traditional passwords, signs of recognition, and dramatic presentations of moral lessons.
Freemasonry is open to all men of good character who believe in God.
Freemasonry does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or social class.
The Masonic family of organizations is open to all.
Freemasonry admits only men. but many Masonic-related organizations, such as the Eastern Star. Amaranth. Job's Daughters. Rainbow for Girls and DeMolay for Boys, offer ample opportunities for women and youth.
Freemasonry does not require improper oaths.
The solemn promises taken in Freemasonry are no different than the oaths taken in court or on entering the armed services. The much-discussed "penalties," judicial remnants from an earlier age. are symbolic, not literal. They refer only to the pain any honest man should feel at the thought of violating his word.
Freemasonry teaches individual improvement through study.
Freemasonry encourages study, including literature by the great writers of ancient times.Freemasonry does not sanction the views of these authors but offers them for each individual's reflection and evaluation.
Freemasonry teaches in steps.
Masons learn through a series of lessons. These "degrees" of insight move from basic to more complex concepts. This no more hides the nature of Freemasonry from novice members than does having a student understand fractions before calculus.
Masonry is practiced worldwide.
There are approximately 2.5 million Masons in the United States and nearly 6 million throughout the world.
Freemasonry has no single spokesman.
Freemasonry is made up of many individuals in numerous organizations, all subordinate to the Grand Lodge within their jurisdiction (i.e. state). None of these members or organizations can speak for Freemasonry; that is the responsibility of each Grand Lodge within its jurisdiction. No Masonic body nor author, however respected, can usurp the authority of a Grand Lodge.
Freemasonry is made up of many organizations.
Masonry has many groups, each with a special social, educational, or philanthropic focus. A man becomes a Mason in his local Lodge. Then he joins any of the following "Appendant Bodies": the Scottish Rite. York Rite (which includes the Royal Arch and Knights Templar). Shriners. Grottoes. Tall Cedars, etc.
Looking for
more info on
becoming
a Mason
Mosaic Lodge
# 194
meets
the 1st
and 3rd
Thursday
of every month
