Becoming A Mason

The following are the steps taken to become a Mason

• Masons do not put on drives for membership. No one asks a man to join the fraternity. But a voluntary request for membership is simple to make. Upon a man's request, a member of a Masonic Lodge may give him an application for membership in the local Lodge in his community.
• The application form, called Petition for Degrees, requests information about a man's character, personal history, and his family status.
• The applicant signs the petition form, and two Masons sign it as recommending him for membership. Obviously, the Masons who sign as sponsors should be well acquainted with the petitioner.
• Each Lodge has an established membership fee which is to accompany the petition.
• The applicant gives the petition to his Masonic friend who turns it in to the Master or Secretary of the lodge. The petition is read in the Lodge, after which the Investigating Committee is required to make diligent inquiry into the character and fitness of the applicant. This Committee will report at the next regular meeting of the Lodge. Following which the Lodge will act upon the petition.
• Following election by the Lodge the candidate will be informed by the Master of the Lodge, who will explain further steps in becoming a Mason.
• The basic tenets of Masonry are taught in three Degrees. These Degrees are First, Entered Apprentice; Second, Fellowcraft; Third, Master Mason, and they consist of ceremonies of serious nature in which each candidate takes part with dignity and solemnity.
• When a man has been raised to the Degree of Master Mason he will enjoy the friendship of a fine group of men in his community and be recognized all over the world as a brother.
• Moreover, he can participate in the activities and fellowship and social events in every lodge in his own State, in the Nation, and in fact, all over the world.

What's Next?

Becoming a Master Mason is the highest level you can obtain in masonry. But after being raised, a Master Mason may choose to join any number of Masonic appendant Bodies. The three most common Bodies are known as the Scottish Rite, York Rite, and Shriners.

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (AASR) is an additional system of degrees dating to the 20th century which are designed to add further Light to one's Ancient Craft lodge experience. The Scottish Rite is divided into four interrelated Bodies, each of which deals with the recovery and meaning ofthe true Word of a Master Mason. The Scottish Rite system progresses through 33 degrees, but it is accepted that the highest degree in Masonry is the third degree. Thus, the Scottish Rite degrees are properly called additional degrees, rather than higher degrees.

For more information concerning the Scottish Rite, visit The Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois.

The York Rite is a confederation of three independent Masonic Bodies: the Royal Arch Chapter, the Cryptic Council, and the Knights Templar Commandery. The Royal Arch deals wth the recovery and meaning of the true Word of a Master Mason. The chapter confers four degrees. The degree of Royal Arch Mason is often described as the most spiritual and mystical of all the degrees of Freemasonry. The Royal Arch is also known as a "gateway" degree, and membershop entitles one to join certain smaller rites and Orders, such as the Allied Masonic Degrees, Knights Masons USA, Red Cross of Constantine, and so on. The Cryptic Council confers three degrees which help explain how the true secrets of a Master Mason were safeguarded until the time when future ages should discover the Light. The Knights Templar Commandery is the third Body of the York Rite. It is Christian in character and content, and describes the passage of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem during the Crusades.

For more information concerning the York Rite, visit The Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois.

Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, commonly known as the Shrine is a benevolent and social organization. Shriners are distinguished by an enjoyment of life and a commitment to philanthropy. They enjoy parades, trips, dances, dinners, sporting events and other social occasions. They support what has been called the "World's Greatest Philanthropy," Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 pediatric specialty hospitals, operated and maintained by the Shriners.

For more information concerning the Shrine, visit our Who Are The Shriners page.