WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?
The Grand Lodge of Scotland has agreed that to maintain uniformity in the content of important subjects such as the philosophy, purpose and objectives of Freemasonry, these details should be reserved for publication on GLOS Website. Accordingly visitors are invited to use this link to access the appropriate page in GLOS Website.
The article below reproduces only the information that is generally known and accepted among the Mason Craft.
Freemasonry is
An ancient brotherhood dedicated to friendship, morality, and brotherly love where moral lessons are veiled in allegory and illustrated by signs and symbols.
Masonic secrets are simply methods used by freemasons to recognize each other.
Freemasonry neither interferes with religion or politics. Freemasonry only strives to teach a man the duty he owes to his God, his neighbour and himself.
Freemasonry is NOT...
A Religion - although to become a Mason, a man must believe in a supreme being.
A Charity - even though Masons contribute considerably to worthwhile charities.
A Subversive Organization - a Mason must be a peaceful, law abiding citizen.
A Political Party or Action Group - Masons are free to follow their own political persuasion
A Secret Society - If it was, Nobody but Masons would know about it.
Freemasonry's Principles are steady standards of life and conduct in a changing world.
Scotland has the oldest Lodges in the world and has many Lodges at home and abroad. (Click HERE to see the Countries wherein Scottish Lodges May be found.) In Scotland, Lodges are arranged into Provinces, abroad they are arranged in Districts. The Grand Lodge of Scotland is one of the oldest in the world and works in harmony with all other "Regular" Grand Lodges . i.e. those whose members profess a belief in a Supreme Being and follow the same basic principles and practices as the Scottish Freemason.
Principles
Three great but simple principles, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, unite Freemasons of every colour and many creeds. Non-Freemasons often unfairly criticize not knowing that members of the Craft are guided by such honourable objectives. The good Freemason builds these principles into his daily life as a law abiding Man and Citizen of the world.
BROTHERLY LOVE is the concern which each Freemason has for his Brother, which is readily shown by tolerance and respect for the beliefs, opinions and practices of his fellows and his willingness to care for his Brother and that Brother's dependants.
RELIEF The Freemason is by nature and teaching a charitable man. He will cheerfully and kindly assist those less fortunate (whether Freemasons or not!). He will care for and support his community - local, national and international.
TRUTH The Freemason believes in Truth in all things in honesty and integrity in his personal, business and public life, in fair dealings and in firm standards of decency and morality.
A Way of Life
There are about 4 million Freemasons under more than 100 "regular" Grand Lodges worldwide. Membership of the Craft is open to every respectable man who believes in his personal Supreme Being - usually known in Masonic terms as the Great Architect of the Universe, Grand Geometrician of the Universe or Most High. These descriptive names show the importance the Freemason places on his Supreme Being in the order of things in Life.
An Education
As every man progresses in Life by education, so every Freemason is taught how he can be a better Man. This is done by a series of degrees - each degree educates him and answers some questions but leaves a door beyond. When the candidate has grasped the teaching of one degree, that door is opened by his progress to the next degree.
Freemasonry is believed to have begun its evolution 500 or more years ago among the bands of working, skilled builders known as "masons". The traditional framework into which most Masonic degrees are woven is the story and symbolism of King Solomon's Temple.
The connection of Masonic teachings to the building of that great edifice comprises a system of education related to the traditional craft of masons and interesting to the candidate - and therefore more likely to be effective in his development.
Freemasonry and Secrecy
It is often wrongly stated that Freemasonry is a Secret Society. There are many thousands of books on Freemasonry openly available in libraries everywhere. The Masonic Temple is usually a conspicuous building in most communities. In Scotland many lodges advertise and publish details of their meetings in the local press. The Museum and Library of the Grand Lodge of Scotland are open to - and used by - members of the public who are not Freemasons. Many of the Lodge premises are available for hire to members of the local communities in which they are situated.
Are these the hallmarks of a Secret Society?
The truth is that the principles and many of the practices of Freemasonry are anything but secret. Members are perfectly free to make it known that they are Freemasons. The only Masonic "secrets" are just those methods which members of various degrees throughout the world use to recognise and greet each other. It's as simple as that!
Freemasonry and Religion
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A man's religion is precious and personal to him. Discussion on matters of religion often causes arguments and many wars have been fought ostensibly to impose or defend one religion against another. As he loves all his fellows, understandably Religion is a topic which the Freemason, in that capacity, is just not allowed to discuss - nor would he want to.
Freemasonry is certainly not a Religion. It has no "Masonic" God. When Freemasons pray together, as they do in their lodges, each is addressing his personal Supreme Being. So Freemasons of many creeds can in love and fellowship meet and pray together, irrespective of their individual religions. The Holy Book (known as the Volume of the Sacred Law or VSL) of each religion represented in the Lodge is open during meetings. It is common for 2 or 3 different VSLs to lie open during Lodge meetings abroad.
Freemasonry and Politics
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For much the same reasons as above the discussion of political matters among Freemasons is absolutely prohibited. A man's politics are his own concern and the Craft, being completely non-political, will never interfere in the world of Politics.
Freemasonry and the Military
During the 18th and 19th centuries there were a large number of Masonic Lodges within various British and Irish Regiments. Such Lodges were allowed, and indeed were encouraged, by the military and political 'establishment' for it was well known that such Lodges did not, nor could not, become involved in matters of Religion or Politics. The ethos of Freemasonry based on the encouragement of men to actively practice their own faith, and to abide by the law, ensured that it was quite acceptable for Lodges to be founded within the armed forces. It is an interesting fact that Lodges in many Scottish Regiments were founded under the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Exactly why that should be is rather a puzzle until it is explained that the Grand Lodge of Ireland asked a lower fee for Initiation than either the Grand Lodge of Scotland or England! A browse through the list of Lodges on the Roll of The Grand Lodge of Scotland will confirm that the names of many Lodges bear the names of the Regiments with which they were, and in many cases, still are associated .
OUR FRATERNITY has a wonderful history, which dates back more than three centuries. It is one of the world's oldest secular fraternities, a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Founded on the three great principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, it aims to bring together men of goodwill, regardless of background and differences.
HOW TO BECOME A FREEMASON
One of Freemasonry's customs is not to solicit members. However, anyone should feel free to approach any Mason to seek further information. Freemasonry is a multi-racial and multi-cultural organisation. It has attracted men of goodwill from all sectors of the community into membership. The doors of Freemasonry are open to men who seek harmony with their fellow man, feel the need for self-improvement and wish to participate in making this world a better place in which to live.
Membership in Freemasonry is based on three unwavering principles.
The first, is a belief in a Supreme Being.
You will note that we do not state a belief in God. We recognize that each man must allow his life to be guided by his own principles and we do not wish to impose a primarily Christian structure upon anyone. Freemasonry is founded on the belief in the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. However, that god, in the broadest sense, can take many names. We welcome men of all cultures and all faiths. What we have in common is a belief in a single, omnipotent being who above all guides our destinies.
The second is to be of the mature age of 21 years.
(In Scotland the son of a Mason may be admitted on reaching 18 years of age)
Thirdly, and of greatest importance, a man must be judged to be of good moral character.
This requires that someone who is a Freemason knows you and is willing to attest to your character.
If you feel that you adhere to those principles, you must first be acquainted with at least two Freemasons who are willing to sponsor your application. Ask these Freemasons and they will furnish you with a form of application and return the form to your local Lodge on your behalf. Further inquiry into your character will be made following this application and you will then be called along to the Lodge to be interviewed by a panel giving you the chance to satisfy yourself that you wish to become a Freemason.
