The world has always been filled with secret societies, elite clubs, and other groups that are not admitted to the general public. None of this is shocking, but what people realize is the misconceptions about many of these groups is often quite far from the truth. In reality, many of these clubs or groups are accessible through the right channels and don’t represent the extreme fiction presented about them.
One in particular that is quite famous are the Freemasons. The word itself conjures up different images in different people’s minds. Some think they are a group of elites that are very well connected, while others view them as a simple hangout club for men, but the truth is that it is a rather normal fraternity of men who gather with common goals and interests, not unlike many other groups out there.
Becoming a Freemason is also not as restrictive as it sounds or as it once was, with some minor exceptions. Most men can apply to join the Freemasons after going through the proper channels and qualifications, so it’s not a secret group of highly powerful individuals, you likely know someone in the Freemasons yourself. Regardless, here is some information on who the Freemasons are and the general requirements to become one.
What is Freemasonry?
Beginning with some brief context, Freemasonry is a tradition of fraternities that have its origins in the late 14th century. These fraternities originally consisted of actual masons, which were stonecutters and stone workers. Now, the fraternities consist of men who must be sponsored or apply to join and do not require them to be actual stoneworkers and masons. The main place of the congregation is known as a Lodge or Masonic Lodge, and this acts as the fraternity’s meeting spot. The lodges can vary from place to place, and there is no main lodge that oversees the operations of every other chapter of the Freemasons. On that note too, there are many chapters that range in size from local to national.
Freemasons also have classifications based on old medieval guilds. These are apprentices, journeymen, and master masons. Candidates will go through a process for each one to approve them and over time, they can move up if they meet the qualifications. To join Freemasonry, one may easily get sponsored by a friend or make an inquiry at a lodge. The history of Freemasonry is very entrenched in old-world beliefs, but there are plenty of moralistic values that have carried over which define modern Freemasonry.
Why is it Important?
Freemasonry is important because many believe that it is a way of preserving certain cultural aspects of the past. As mentioned the early Freemason lodges and fraternities were organized from the late 14th century through the 15th century, so much has changed since then. The belief is that men should have a moral upstanding to be Freemason, and to exude these qualities in their personal, public, and professional lives. Helping with community outreach, providing support for fellow Masons, brotherhood, education, and other acts of moral fortitude are the most common examples of what makes Freemasonry important for members today. There is also a preservation of those craft guilds that were so important in the medieval ages, so there is a sense of restoration for the virtues of old-world societies.
What Steps Do I Need to Take to Become One?
Actually becoming a Freemason is not as difficult as one might think. You don’t need to be a former President, a billionaire, or someone influential to become a Mason. You need to exude characteristics of being upstanding, so being prominent does help, but having a sound reputation is also worthy. You must be invited to participate by a member or as a form of sponsorship in defense of your character as a potential member of your local Lodge. You can contact a lodge by sending them a request by mail of joining, or you will likely be invited by a member or asked to join. You have to go through an initiation process that begins when you are interviewed extensively about your character and background to verify your reputation, and this can take years to complete.
After all is said and done, and assuming you are accepted, you then must complete the steps of completing your symbolic Masonry degrees. It begins with an apprentice, then Fellow Craft, then Master Mason. This begins with the learning of the crafts and catechism of Freemasonry and ends with the culmination of your knowledge. This is the general and shortened, way to becoming a Freemason.
Are There Benefits to Becoming a Freemason?
There certainly are benefits to becoming a Freemason. The most obvious is that you will be educated on a large manner of knowledge that pertains to these crafts and the craft guilds upon which they are based upon. You will also develop a fraternal brotherhood with members that are not easily found in public spheres. Your network will grow which proves to be quite advantageous for professional lives, and in a general sense of companionship as well. Doing good, and upholding the moral standards of Freemasonry is also cited as a primary reason for why many members chose to join.
What Are the Misconceptions About Freemasons?
As mentioned, there are still a lot of misconceptions about Freemasons and Freemasonry. It is not a conspiracy theory or secret society intending to take over the world. The problem is that people view fraternities and closed-door groups like this as inherently negative. Freemasonry, as you can see, is about brotherhood and doing good, not to plan or plot behind the public’s back in any regard, which is evidenced by the fact that there is no grand international lodge. Similarly, not all lodges are male-only, as there were female lodges, as well as a move to be more tolerant of transgender men as well. Ultimately it does come down to the lodges ruling and observations specifically in this regard.
Freemasonry might get a bad reputation because people are unaware of what it is and what the members do, but as you can see, it is quite intriguing and the process of becoming a member is much simpler than you might have assumed.