Close this window to return to Pinellas Daylight's homepage.

Do you have a question about Freemasonry? You are invited to submit it for consideration.

Have you researched a question about Freemasonry? If so, you are invited to submit your question and answer for consideration.

All submissions should be made to info@FLMasons.org. Your submissions will be considered for inclusion in an educational / informational page of Florida Masons. Individual responses to submissions may be made, but only on a time available basis. All submissions to Florida Masons will become a part of the public domain.

Is Freemasonry a religion?

No.

Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion: (a) It has no dogma or theology and no wish or means to enforce religious orthodoxy. (b) It offers no sacraments. (c) It does not claim to lead to salvation by works, secret knowledge, or any other means. Freemasons believe there is one God, but it does not attempt to tell its members how to address that God, or how they should practice their own religion. However, it does require that a man have a belief in a Supreme Being. Freemasonry is open to men of all faiths.

Freemasonry does support religion. Without interfering in religious practices, it expects each member of the fraternity to follow his own faith and to place his duty to God above all other duties. The moral teachings of Freemasonry are acceptable to all religions.

In every Masonic lodge, a Book of Holy Scripture is open upon the Alter during regular meetings. In the United States, that is most commonly the Holy Bible. However, a man of a faith other than the Judeo / Christian faith may have the Volume of Sacred Law held holy by him opened as well.

Is Freemasonry a secret society?

No, although it does have that reputation.

Like many organizations, Freemasonry regards some of its internal affairs to be private matters for its members. The 'secrets' of Freemasonry are concerned only with its traditional modes of recognition, and its initiation ceremonies are private.

However, there is no secret about its aims and principles. A copy of the Lodge by-laws are given to each man who petitions to become a member of the Lodge. And Freemasons are proud to display their membership in the fraternity by the wearing of Masonic jewelry and displaying Masonic emblems on their automobiles, etc.  In ordinary conversation there is very little about Freemasonry that may not be discussed.

Is Freemasonry a charity?

No.

Freemasonry is philanthropic in nature. Masonic lodges, Grand Lodges and Masonic appendant and allied bodies have charitable entities set up for giving and through these entities, contribute millions of dollars annually, more than 70% of which goes to the benefit of the general public. Perhaps the most well known Masonic charity is the Shriners hospitals for crippled children and their burns hospitals. These hospitals lack one department most other hospitals have; a billing department.

Is Freemasonry a political body?

No.

While Freemasons hold their own individual views on politics and state policy, Freemasonry as a body will never involve itself in either. The discussion of politics is prohibited at Masonic meetings.

What is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry is the world's oldest secular fraternal organization whose members are men of good moral character. Freemasonry is a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. The allegory of Freemasonry is the building of King Solomon's Temple. It is within this allegory that the use of so many architectural symbols came to be used to illustrate and teach the lessons of Freemasonry.

Like many institutions, Freemasonry is built on certain conceded principles. These include a belief in one God, the resurrection of the body, and the immortality of the soul. By "one God", we refer to whatever Supreme Being a man places his ultimate trust. Freemasonry is a non-denominational institution accepting men of all faiths and is an ardent supporter of every religion. It denies to no man his particular theological or secular beliefs.

Who are Freemasons?

Freemasons are men of good moral character who strive to make themselves better men. Not better than the next man, but to make themselves better today than they were yesterday, and better tomorrow than they are today. Freemasons are men who constantly practice self-improvement so that they may be better husbands, better fathers, and better members and citizens of the larger community. Freemasons are men who, when they extend out their hand, do so to help someone up, not hold them down.

Is Freemasonry an international organization?

In the sense that Freemasonry exists throughout the free world, yes.

All Grand Lodges are sovereign and are independent from one another, and there is no international governing body of Freemasonry. There is, however, a system whereby Grand Lodges recognize one another and are therefore, "in Masonic communication" with one another. These are Grand Lodges who have established their "lineage" from the Grand Lodge of England, the original organized Grand Lodge as established in 1717, or the Grand Lodge of Ireland established in 1725 or the Grand Lodge of Scotland established in 1736. Between these three "home" Grand Lodges, Freemasonry extended around the world.

Is Freemasonry for white men only?

No.

Freemasonry has members from every race, creed and national origin, and on every continent in the world. The Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God is a basic and essential teaching of Freemasonry. Every person should be judged as an individual and on his own merits. Factors such as race, religious creed, national origin, social status or wealth are incidental to a person's character. Every effort should be made to insure this is not just a teaching, but a reality.

No Masonic Lodge is permitted to exclude a candidate on the basis of his race or national origin. To petition for membership, the petitioner must be a man of legal age, good reputation, and possess a belief in God. While election to membership in the fraternity is a matter for the petitioned Lodge to decide, these qualifications for membership are standard and all Masons are expected to observe them.

How does one become a Freemason?

Simply put, you must ask a Freemason to join. You've probably seen the bumper sticker "2B1ASK1". While the rule that an interested man had to ask is traditionally and historically true, it has been somewhat relaxed in recent years.

If you ask any mason how to join the fraternity, or tell any mason that you have an interest in Freemasonry, he can direct you to a nearby lodge, not necessarily his own, where you can begin the process of becoming a Freemason. If you've ever wondered why your father, uncle, brother or best friend did not ask you, it is because you must ask to join, or give some good indication that you have an interest.

Why does Freemasonry use symbols?

Symbols are used in everyday life and, in fact, the use of symbols may be the oldest form of communication. They allow us to communicate quickly. When you see a traffic light, you immediately know what it means. When you see a circle with a red line drawn through it, you know it means no. And no to whatever may be inside that circle.

Freemasons also use symbols as a means of communication. Communication in our teachings and communication to non-masons.The symbols used in masonry were taken from the architectural and builders trades. For example, the plumb, square and level are all common symbols of Freemasonry. When you see a building with a Square and Compasses on it, you immediately know it is (or perhaps was) a Masonic building. When you see a man wearing a lapel pin, or a ring, with the Square and Compasses, you have good reason to believe he is a Freemason.

The symbols of Masonry are used to teach the lessons of morality in Freemasonry. As an aside, Freemasonry is not the only organization to use symbols, or even symbols from the architectural trades. You've no doubt heard the phrase "one squared-away sailor" or "one squared-away marine". Whether or not we realize it, we all use symbols every day.