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About Freemasonry

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HOW TO BECOME A

FREEMASON

WHO ARE FREEMASONS?

Masons are men who have joined a fraternity, and who refer to themselves as Freemasons. They strive to achieve high moral standards in their own personal lives. The three basic tenets of Freemasonry upon which Freemasonry is founded are brotherly love, relief and truth. Membership is open to men of any race or religion who have a belief in a Supreme Being and who are of good repute.

Each Freemason must show tolerance, respect and kindness toward others, practice charity and care for the community as a whole. Modern Freemasonry is a very public society - contemporary Freemasonry is less of a secret society and more of a society with secrets. Today masons are widely involved in many charitable and community based activities.

Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. It’s essential qualification opens it to men of many religions and it expects them to continue to follow their own faith. It does not allow religion to be discussed at its meetings.

A BRIEF HISTORY

The exact origins of Freemasonry are unknown and it is likely to remain a mystery despite the multitude of theories concerning its origin and purpose. Symbolically, the Craft of Freemasonry as practiced today dates back to the days of biblical King Solomon and his building of the first temple in Jerusalem. The oldest documentary reference to Masons are in the Regius Poem circa 1390 and later the documents known as the Old Charges which date from the 14th century to after the 1600's.

24 June 1717 is widely acknowledged as the date on which Freemasonry was officially founded, when four previously-established lodges in London met together to constitute the Grand Lodge of England - the Premier Grand Lodge for Masons all over the world. The tercentenary (300 years) of Freemasonry will be celebrated worldwide in 2017.

The first lodge in South Africa was only formed on 2nd May 1772 (Dutch), and the first English lodge only on 27 December 1800. Freemasonry then spread throughout the provinces in South Africa.

TO BE ONE,

ASK ONE

BECOME A MASON

The constitution (type) of Freemasonry you'd prefer, and the lodge you join, is up to you. To become one, you need only ask one. To apply, you'll need to: