Post by Antioch on Jan 17, 2007 10:01:26 GMT -5
There seemed to be some interest in further discussions and explorations into the History of Freemasonry. Some questions can only be answered by joining the fraternity, but others I can answer (or will find an answer if I don't know it), and would be more than happy to provide those to everyone.
Some quick introduction on what Freemasonry is.
Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternity in the entire world. Freemasons believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man. It seeks to make good men better and teaches its philosophies by symbolism and allegory.
There are about 180,000 Freemasons in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with almost 500 active lodges throughout the Commonwealth. PA has its own autonomous Grand Lodge and does not answer to any other masonic body, as does every other state in the union (there is no international or national Masonic authority). Grand Lodge headquarters is in Philadelphia at the corners of JFK Blvd and 611, right beside city hall.
To become a mason, one has to be a man (sorry ladies), freeborn (not a slave or indentured servant), of mature age (18 now in pa..21 in most jurisdictions), and under the tongue of good masonic report (strong moral character and well spoken of). Freemasons do not elicit membership or go recruiting. A mason will not ask anyone to become a mason. To become a mason, an interested man must ask a mason to join. That will open up the dialog to the specifics on joining. I know some people who wanted to join for years and wondered why their friends never asked them. It's hard to let people know that no one is ever asked to be a mason. Men must come to us of their own free will, not under pressure of solicitation.
Freemasonry is not a religion, but Freemasons are religious. We are required to pay reverence to God as our hearts and consciences require without prejudice to creeds. Therefore, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics and such may join. The only requirement is that you must believe in one God.
That is all for now, got to get back to work. I'll write more again later.
Antioch
Some quick introduction on what Freemasonry is.
Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternity in the entire world. Freemasons believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man. It seeks to make good men better and teaches its philosophies by symbolism and allegory.
There are about 180,000 Freemasons in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with almost 500 active lodges throughout the Commonwealth. PA has its own autonomous Grand Lodge and does not answer to any other masonic body, as does every other state in the union (there is no international or national Masonic authority). Grand Lodge headquarters is in Philadelphia at the corners of JFK Blvd and 611, right beside city hall.
To become a mason, one has to be a man (sorry ladies), freeborn (not a slave or indentured servant), of mature age (18 now in pa..21 in most jurisdictions), and under the tongue of good masonic report (strong moral character and well spoken of). Freemasons do not elicit membership or go recruiting. A mason will not ask anyone to become a mason. To become a mason, an interested man must ask a mason to join. That will open up the dialog to the specifics on joining. I know some people who wanted to join for years and wondered why their friends never asked them. It's hard to let people know that no one is ever asked to be a mason. Men must come to us of their own free will, not under pressure of solicitation.
Freemasonry is not a religion, but Freemasons are religious. We are required to pay reverence to God as our hearts and consciences require without prejudice to creeds. Therefore, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics and such may join. The only requirement is that you must believe in one God.
That is all for now, got to get back to work. I'll write more again later.
Antioch