How does one get accepted into the Masons?

Question

We work in a dull office and we're posing a question a day and we wondered - who gets in and why? What on earth is it? What are the handshakes and how do you do them? If anyone can answer, you will enrich our day!

Answer 1

Guy said it best well done Brother

Answer 2

OK, those who speak here so often do not know. I will speak only about the esoteric Order: American Co-Masonry, a group to which I belong.

To become a Co-Mason you must ask. You usually get a petition from the Grand Lodge in the mail and you fill it out. You send it in. The questions are generally about how you feel about folks of other religions, your general background, how you treat a pledge, and do you believe in a Supreme Being.

After your petition is read in open Lodge (a local to you group), you are interviewed. In our case, it is by at least three separate Master Masons. Again, nothing funny here but we need to see if you fit in with the Lodge and being in the Lodge would fit in with you and your family.

The Master Masons submit their reports. Those are also read aloud in open Lodge. Then all the Master Masons vote on whether or not to Initiate you. There may be some questions needing answered first or something like that. Sometimes it is obvious that the person is not really interested, is an anarchist, does not believe in a Supreme Being, that sort of thing.

If all is in order, then the person is Initiated.

Why would someone want to join? Good question. In my case, I wanted to be in a safe and sacred space where I could work on perfecting (as much as I can) myself and the rest of the world. I wanted a place where all religions, all races, and all genders (and gender preferences) could meet on the level. Yes, Co-Masons do accept women.

We say, and I believe, that we are the heirs to the ancient mystery schools. We work the alchemy of turning the lead of our hearts into gold.

That is American Co-Masonry. We are looked down upon because we accept women as equals. I will take such scorn as a badge of pride. And I offer my hand in Brotherhood to any who wear the Square and Compasses for that is what I was taught.

Master Mason
American Co-Masonry

Hiram Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)
Amon Ra Lodge (Los Angeles, CA)
Sapientia Lodge of Research (Larkspur, CO)

Answer 3

Typically, in most U.S. states, one must be a white male, (although some states know allow African Americans), free-born, over21 years of age, of a good moral character, and profess a belief in some kind of Supreme Being. One has to ask one who is already a member of the Free & accepted Masons. A petion is put for to the lodge and then an investigating committee consisting of three master masons are assigned to interview the candidate and hopefully his spouse also. Then the findings are brought back to the lodge membership to vote. If a member has a valid reason not not accept the newly proposed candidate, he may, secretly drop a black cube into the voting box. If the candidate gets one or more black cubes, he will not be admitted into membership. Otherwise, the lodge has then successfully cleared the candidate to proceed with his Entered Apprentice inttiation. So mote it be!

Answer 4

What is Free Masonry? You will probably think this is a boring answer, but it is a brotherhood of men who work on self-improvement.
When a person is interested in Free Masonry, he can knock at the door at any lodge and talk to somebody.
Any free man of good conduct and reputation can apply, but there is a secret vote to admit him or not.
The handshakes are secret and so are the rituals.
Masonry is NOT a secret society, it is just that some things are not divulged. Yet, in any library you can find books that tell it all.

Answer 5

No one is asked to join. Typically, once a man decides he wants to join, he need only indicate that to a member of the fraternity, and that member will provide him with a petition.

When the petition comes into the Lodge of Masons, a committee is appointed to investigate the moral character of the applicant.

When they report favorably, a secret ballot is held, and if the candidate is unanimously approved, he begins the inititation process, which is held at three different meetings, for the first, second, and third degrees.

Some memory work is required after each of the degrees.

What is it? It's just a bunch of guys trying to reinforce their commitment to doing good and acting properly toward their neighbors. It's a series of lessons committed to memory to reinforce that behavior.

It is a charity of boundless generosity.

It is a means of fellowhip with like-minded men.

Answer 6

To join the Masons you must receive an invitation and application from from an active member of a local lodge. It is a great organization and does much unrecognized good. Did you know that their children's burn hospital in Texas refuses to accept any payments for their great work. If your Dad is Ted Turner or the town drunk - you pay nada, nothing. God Bless Them. I am not a member, but my precious deceased father was. For thiirty years after his death, members of his local lodge delivered flowers/fruit to my mother on special occassions, Christmas, Mothers Day, etc., until I lost my precious Mom passed on to join Dad in 2002.

Answer 7

There's a long, elaborate process involved in getting into the group. As far as I know, it involves holding a dagger to your heart and reciting some verses out of a book, and then I think you lay in a coffin for a while....

.........no, seriously, I'm not joking at all. It's a really odd group that has a lot of cult-like behaviors

here's a link for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry

Answer 8

First off you have to be up your own @ss, and think that you are elite in some way. Then if they think you are good enough they will make you do all kinds of wierd things to prove that you have humility etc. Then you get to do the funny handshakes.
I'd rather be a 40 year old boy scout thank you very much

Answer 9

You must be able to fit inside a 1-quart jar, be able to stand up to boiling temperatures for 20 minutes, and not be deafened by the "pop" when the lids seal.

Answer 10

I've always wondered that myself. I think you have to personally know a Mason.