FAQ: I'm interested in becoming a Mason -- how do I proceed?
Larry the Mason from Holbrook
Version 1.0
August 2006
This Frequently Asked Question comes from the weekly USENET MASONRY FAQ, posted to alt.freemasonry every Friday at 08:00 Pacific. Please refer to the weekly FAQ for other resource and contact information.
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I'm interested in becoming a Mason -- how do I proceed?
If you know a Mason, ask him about membership. He will be glad to tell
you all about the Craft and the local lodge, and give you a petition
if you wish to join.
If you do not know a Mason, drop a letter or email to the local lodge
and one of the officers will call you (or call the lodge, though you
may not get an answer unless someone is actually there). You may also
wish to visit a local lodge and become acquainted with the brothers
meeting there. Most lodges are listed in the telephone book, along
with their meeting dates and times.
Typically, the process in America is as follows:
a. The applicant fills out a petition, which asks for personal
references and one or two Masonic sponsors. If you don't know any
Masons, arrangements will be made for you to become acquainted.
Those whom you meet would eventually sponsor you.
b. The petition is read at the next business meeting, which for many
lodges is during the first week of the month. A committee is formed
to investigate the candidate. The petition also asks for two
character references.
c. The committee meets with the candidate to answer questions. These
questions are very informal; the committee confirms that the
candidate meets membership criteria, that he was not coerced into
petitioning, and to get to know him. This is not a "grilling
session", but rather a friendly and casual chat to make certain
that the candidate has been properly informed about Masonry and was
not improperly solicited. The committee also contacts the character
references listed on the petition (typically asking if they know
any reason why the candidate should not be accepted, etc.)
d. The committee reports back to the lodge during the next business
meeting and the candidate is voted on. If accepted, someone from
the lodge (often the Secretary) contacts the candidate and informs
him that he has been accepted and schedules a date for the Entered
Apprentice degree.