In Plain Terms A Fraternity of Good Men
Freemasonry is a fraternity. A brotherhood of men, drawn together not by birth or business but by a shared commitment to becoming better. It is among the oldest continuous fraternal organizations in the world, with roots reaching back to the working stonemasons of medieval Europe and a formal organized structure dating to 1717 in London. In Texas, the Grand Lodge was established in 1838, two years after Texas independence.
The traditional way Masons describe what we do is the simplest: we take good men and help them become better men. We do that through the study of moral philosophy, the practice of charity, lifelong friendships, and the structured fellowship of regular lodge meetings.
That is the substance of it. Everything else, the symbols, the degrees, the regalia, exists to support that one purpose.
Brotherly Love
The genuine regard a Mason owes every other Mason, and every man, regardless of station. We hold ourselves to a standard of respect, charity, and friendship that does not depend on circumstance.
Relief
The duty to assist a Brother, his family, or any worthy person in need. Texas Masonry maintains homes for the aged and for orphans, supports widespread scholarships, and gives quietly in countless local ways.
Truth
The constant pursuit of moral, intellectual, and spiritual truth. A Mason is expected to be honest with himself, his Brothers, his family, and his community, and to grow continually in understanding.
Not just a man. A Mason.
Honest Answers to Common Questions
- Is Freemasonry a religion?
- No. Freemasonry is not a religion and is not a substitute for one. We do require that every Brother profess belief in a Supreme Being, but we leave the particulars of faith entirely to each man and his own conscience. Men of every major religious tradition are Masons. Discussion of religion and politics is not permitted in lodge, so that fellowship can transcend the things that divide men elsewhere.
- Is it a secret society?
- Not really. Our existence, lodges, meeting times, and most of what we do are entirely public; you are reading our website. What we do hold private are the modes of recognition between Masons and the dramatic ritual we use to teach our lessons, in the same way a university preserves the dignity of its commencement ceremony or a family preserves its traditions. There is nothing sinister behind the doors of the lodge.
- What happens at a meeting?
- A stated meeting is, frankly, a lot like any well-run organizational meeting, with the addition of a fellowship meal, a moment of prayer, the reading of correspondence, votes on lodge business, and often a piece of Masonic education or a degree being conferred on a new Brother. Most lodges meet once or twice a month. There is no hazing.
- Who can join?
- Any man of good character, of sound mind, who is at least 18 years of age and believes in a Supreme Being. You must ask to join. Masons do not recruit or solicit membership. This tradition is so old it has its own slogan: 2B1 Ask1, "To be one, ask one."
The Path How a Man Becomes a Mason
The path is straightforward. A man interested in joining contacts a lodge, like one of the five constituent lodges of our District. He meets with members, asks his questions, and is invited to dinner before a stated meeting. If both sides feel the fit is right, he submits a petition, which the lodge investigates and votes upon. Upon acceptance, he goes through the three degrees of Masonry (Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason), typically over several months. At the conclusion he is a Master Mason, a full member of the lodge and of the worldwide fraternity.
Most importantly: nobody is rushed. Masonry has been doing this for hundreds of years, and the process is designed to give both the candidate and the lodge time to know each other well.
Learn More Further Reading
The Grand Lodge of Texas maintains authoritative information about Freemasonry in our state, including the formal process of becoming a Mason, scholarship and charity programs, and the full structure of the fraternity in Texas.