The Freemasonry FAQ

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.

Masonry is a religion, right?

Masonry is not a religion "by the definitions most people use.
Religion, as the term is commonly used, implies several things: a plan
for salvation or path by which one reaches the after-life; a theology...

The Freemasonry FAQ

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.

Masonry is a secret society, right?

Wrong. Secret societies are generally defined as organizations which
are unknown to the public and whose existence is denied. The Bavarian
Illuminati and the Mafia would be examples of secret societies. "The
emphasis in Freemasonry is not on secrecy but on discretion and
privacy." (Trevor W. McKeown)

Masonry, on the other hand, is well-known and proudly displays its
existence. Masonic Temples are clearly marked as such, and many Lodges
are listed in the yellow pages (usually under Fraternal Orders").
Members often wear rings or tie clips that identify themselves as
Masons, and Masons often participate in community charity work.
Finally, some Masonic functions are open to the public.

The Freemasonry FAQ

Version 1.0
August 2006

This Frequently Asked Question comes from the weekly USENET MASONRY FAQ, posted to this newsgroup every Friday at 08:00 Pacific. Please refer to the weekly FAQ for other resource and contact information.

I see titles like Worshipful Master and Senior Deacon

The Freemasonry FAQ

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.

Is Masonry just a place where businessmen make deals?

No. In fact, most Masons believe that to trade with a Brother Mason
only because he is a Mason is unMasonic. Even more importantly, anyone
who attempts to join a Lodge solely for business reasons will not be
given a petition.

Masons, however, are friends, and it is not surprising that many
Masons do trade with Brothers. For one thing, they are dealing with
people that are of good character and can be trusted, which is no
small statement in the modern marketplace. But Masonry is not a "place
to network".

Yes, some men do view one of the benefits of membership as an
additional source of customers or partners, but few would say that is
the only reason they became Masons. The work involved in the degrees
alone would make this a poor investment

The Freemasonry FAQ

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.

Are Masons racist and/or elitist?

Regarding racism: Masonry explicitly states the equality of men,
regardless of race, creed, or color. But there are some Masons who are
prejudiced, and this is unfortunate, saddening, and unMasonic.
However, it is not representative of Masonry as a whole, or
representative of anything except a tiny minority of Masons. There are
Masons of all ethnic backgrounds.

"Elitism" is harder to define. If you mean that Masons are highly
selective in their membership, then yes, Masons are elitists. But just
criteria is used: men of good character, of good report, who believe
in God. Does the majority of the population fit that criteria? If you
think not, then you could say that Masons are elitists.

The Freemasonry FAQ

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.

Aren't Masons just a bunch of old men? Isn't Masonry dying out?

As regards the United States:

There is no doubt that the population of Masons is aging. There was a
huge increase in membership in almost all fraternal orders after World
War II, including Masonry. This peaked at sometime in the late 50s.
During the social turbulence and generational strains of the 60s and
70s, new membership fell off, with the result that by the 1980s, total
membership was in sharp decline.

However, there are signs that membership has leveled out, or is
gaining in some areas. In many lodges, there are a great number of
50-and-up members, and a number of 30-and-under members, with a gulf
in between, representing where Baby Boomers would have been. Of
course, we are speaking in broad generalities here - there is no way
to know the demographics of your local Lodge without asking one of its
members.

The Freemasonry FAQ

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.

What is a Masonic Funeral?

"Any member who was in good standing at the time of his death is
entitled to a Masonic funeral if he or his family requests it. Such a
request should be made to the Master of his Lodge who will make the
necessary arrangements with the family, the mortuary, and the
minister. A service is authorized by the jurisdiction in which you
are located, and consists of participation at the mortuary, the
beginning at the mortuary and the closing at the graveside, or
graveside only. Pallbearers will be furnished at the request of the
family. In general, the Lodge will do as much or as little as the
nearest relative wishes it to do." (From a pamphlet, "To the Lady and
Family of a Mason")

The Freemasonry FAQ

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.

I hear Masons refer to an apron. What is that?

"During the ceremonies of his initiation, each Mason is presented with
a white apron. It is, to him, an emblem of innocence and the badge of
a Mason. It has, in all ages, been cherished by the rich, the poor,
the high and the low. It is his for life. He will never receive
another one and has, therefore, been cautioned to take it home and
instructed in its care. While perfectly satisfactory for him to do so
if he desires, he need not bring it to Lodge, as linen aprons are
provided for his use meetings." (From a pamphlet, "To the Lady and
Family of a Mason")

The above applies to the US. In many other countries, the Master Mason
owns his regalia and brings it to the Lodge.

The Freemasonry FAQ

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.

Are there costs associated with being a Mason?

Yes. Like all organizations, Lodges must be able to pay their light
bills. Typically, there is a one-time fee for the three degrees of
Masonry, as well as regular annual dues. But these vary widely
depending on the number of members, cost of living (rent in Manhattan
is higher than it is in rural Oklahoma), the actual physical
facilities of the Lodge, etc. The fees and dues, however, are not
prohibitively expensive (the original author was a college student and
had no problem with them). Rather than give a single figure which may
be very different than your local Lodge charges, or publishing an
extended table of costs, it is easiest to simply refer the interested
to their local Lodge.

The Freemasonry FAQ

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.

What's this UGLE I see all the time?

In the 1700s, the Grand Lodge began making changes to the ritual. Some
Lodges didn't like these modernizations and so splintered off to form
a Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons. Three quarters of a century later,
the two Grand Lodges united to form the United Grand Lodge of England.

The UGLE and the moderns Grand Lodge are considered by many to be the
birthplace of the Freemasonry we know today, but they don't enjoy any
authority over any other Grand Lodges around the world.