Membership
of the Freemasons - You will find at the foot
of the page a Membership form - before completing the form please read carefully
the following information: Who would become a
Freemason? Membership of Freemasonry is open to men of all faiths, over
21 years of age, who are law-abiding, of good character and who acknowledge a
belief in a Supreme Being. Freemasonry is a multi-racial and multi-cultural organisation.
It has attracted men of goodwill from all sectors of the community into its membership.
Why do people become Masons?
Those
who become active members and who grow in Freemasonry do so principally because
they enjoy it. They enjoy the challenges and fellowship that Freemasonry offers.
There is more to it, however, than just enjoyment. Participation in the
dramatic presentation of moral lessons and in the working of a lodge provides
a member with a unique opportunity to learn more about himself and encourages
him to live in such a way that he will always be in search of becoming a better
man, not better than someone else but better than he himself would otherwise be
and therefore an exemplary member of society. Each Freemason is required
to learn and show humility through initiation. Then, by progression through a
series of degrees he gains insight into increasingly complex moral and philosophical
concepts, and accepts a variety of challenges and responsibilities which are both
stimulating and rewarding. When you become a
Freemason you:
1. Join an international
organisation of some 6 million men worldwide, where members will greet and welcome
you, and your family, wherever you go.
2.
Embark on an amazing journey of self-discovery and self-knowledge with the help
of a like-minded fraternity of men who: -
Love
and enjoy life and respect all God's creatures. -
Share
and value a strong sense of moral personal conduct and social responsibility. -
Uphold and defend law and order. -
Understand
and uphold the advantages of following a Faith. -
Will
treat you as an equal, making no distinctions of race, colour or creed. -
Respond to the needs of others with compassion and benevolence. -
Support each other in times of crisis or distress
3. Will be guided
and encouraged in self discovery and self knowledge which aims to make the individual
a better person, thereby able to lead a more fulfilling life.
4.
Will benefit from the support of a specialist Mentoring Program designed to help
and support you at all times during your progression through Masonry.
5.
Can discover the ways and traditions of ancient lodges of stonemasons and their
relevance to today's world.
6. Can attend
Masonic meetings and participate in fascinating ceremonies that are normally followed
by a dinner or banquet.
7. Can gain personal
confidence by your involvement in, and learning about responsibilities and leadership,
in Lodge ceremonies and proceedings.
8.
Can enjoy the challenge, joy and satisfaction of progressing from your apprenticeship
to becoming a Master Mason, and eventually to become the Master of your own Lodge.
9. Can visit other Lodges in the UK and enjoy
the fellowship of new acquaintances.
10.
Can establish life-long friendships with people who share the same values and
spirit of good citizenship.
11. Will be
welcomed to join in social activities with your family, wife or partner. Procedures
for Joining:
One of the most common misconceptions about Freemasonry
- and there are many such misconceptions - is that you have to be invited to join.
Nothing could be further from the truth. There is absolutely no reason why you
should not ask to join. In fact, that is the more correct procedure! The
first and most important step is to satisfy yourself that Freemasonry is an organisation
you really want to join, and that you have no expectations that will not be met.
You should be aware that those who have joined because they had been misled into
thinking it would give them business or career advantages, have invariably been
disappointed and resigned their membership after a short time. We also advise
that you first talk to a family member, friend or colleague whom you already know
to be a member. They will be able to explain to you what they can about the fraternity
and help you find a suitable Lodge. If, after reading the pages on this
site, you accept and can meet the requirements necessary to become a Mason and
wish to proceed further, with a view to membership, complete the form at the bottom
of this page. Note that all sections need completing for your application to be
considered. If you don't know anyone at all who is a member, or if you
have any further questions or would like more information before proceeding with
a membership application, please get in touch with the Provincial Office by letter
or complete the enquiry form on the CONTACT
US page of the web site. On receipt of this, arrangements would then be made
to meet you socially to find out more about you, and to give you a chance to find
out more about us. Whichever route you take to
apply for membership, you would need to satisfy us of the following formal requirements
before an application for membership can be accepted: -
Belief in a Supreme Being. We need to be satisfied that you
have such a belief. -
That belief will, of course,
depend upon your own religion but there is absolutely no
bias or preference
in favour of one religion or another. -
You are
male and over 21 years of age. Although in some circumstances,
admission
can be gained from the age of 18. -
You are known
to be of good character and without a criminal record. -
Freedom
of choice. We need to be assured that you are acting entirely of your
own
volition, and that you are under no pressure from anybody else. -
A suitable Lodge has to be selected. The choice depends on practical
things such
as the convenience of the meeting dates, and the ability to get
to the meeting places. -
A proposer and seconder
must be found in the selected Lodge. While it is preferred that these people have
known you for a long time, there are cases where a person can be vouched for by
members of other Lodges (perhaps in other parts of the country), and can be proposed
on comparatively short acquaintance on that recommendation.
You would then, in due course, be invited to meet a committee
of members from a Lodge you might be joining. That committee would examine your
application and determine that you meet the following points: 1.
That you are in a position to make a regular attendance at Lodge meetings.
2. That you understand the genuine principles
of Freemasonry, and will support
and uphold them.
3.
That you know what it will cost, and what is expected by way of charitable
contribution.
4. That you do not have unreasonable
expectations in terms of benefits of
membership.
5.
That you have discussed it with your immediate family, and they support your
decision.
6. That you can ask any questions
that may be on your mind, and receive frank and helpful answers.
There
may be others, according to the circumstances of particular Lodges. Additionally,
if you know of any reason why any existing member may not wish you to join, you
should discuss this frankly with the Committee beforehand. Your views and comments
are treated with strictest confidence, and they may be able to help you overcome
the problem. Having successfully satisfied the Committee that you are clear
about what you propose to do, there will be a ballot among the Lodge members,
normally within a few months. If this also proves successful you will be advised
of the arrangements for you to join. You should be aware that you can, at any
time, withdraw your application.  Application
Form (All questions to be answered please) IMPORTANT
- Data Protection Act
Completion and submission of this form will constitute
consent to the processing of personal data and information supplied on this Application
Form, and to its use by the United Grand Lodge of England and anybody subordinate
to them in assessing my suitability for membership.
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