I’ve been asked this many times and realize the need for a good answer, so here is an attempt to answer the question, “What is Freemasonry?” and shed some light upon common misconceptions.

There are many aspects to Freemasonry. It has significant meaning that varies for every individual. Prior to becoming a Freemason, I had a very limited and blurred picture of what it meant. The following are my interpretations, experience and beliefs which, it should be noted, do not necessarily represent other Freemasons.

In a nutshell, Freemasonry is a charitable and social fraternity practicing ceremonies designed to cultivate strong moral virtues and positive character traits among its members. The ceremonies consist of specific degrees and other rituals steeped in Judeo-Christian traditions and infused with symbolism based upon the tools of European operative stone masons. Freemasonry, the world’s oldest and largest fraternity, is committed to the search for truth, promoting the personal growth of its members and unity among all mankind.

Becoming a Freemason is one of the greatest decisions I have made in my life. I’ve long felt a calling to search for spiritual truth and better myself as a human being. Freemasonry gives me greater opportunities to do this:

• Providing a moral and spiritual education which enables me to have a greater understanding about the nature of God, ourselves, and the universe
• Developing my positive qualities, the most important of which is the embodiment of unconditional brotherly love
• Using my skills and abilities for greater benefit to the world
• Forming friendships and establishing connections which nurture the best aspects of myself
• Overcoming fears through knowledge, enabling me to be more open to even greater light and understanding

Additional Resources

• Grand Lodge F&AM of Ohio
• Grand Lodge A.F&A.M. of Canada in the Provence of Ontario
• Freemasonry at Wikipedia