Free and Accepted Masons In a Secret Fraternity

Freemasons have been around for a long time throughout our history. They continue to serve their local communities by doing fund raisers. Funds raised are used to help the community where it is needed most. Sometimes it is used to help a local school to build a playground or to help buying needed computers for the class rooms. The funds could also be used to help a family in need that might have had a tragedy such as a house fire, or a death of the bread winner. They are used to help the widow raise the children to lessen the burden and worry of financial needs. The funds are sometimes used for scholarships for high school students so they can go to college.

The Freemasons also support the Masonic Homes which are available to members (Brothers) of the lodge and their families. The Masonic Homes are like small towns. There are individual cottages for the elderly that can take care of themselves. There are also facilities within the Masonic Complex for the elderly that cannot take care of themselves. There are medical personnel available to give them the help they need on a daily basis. The Masonic Homes have homes on the complex for orphan children. They live in a home under supervision of the staff. They learn how to cook, do their laundry, and other chores. They have their own farm to grow crops and sell them in a store that they work in. They have the funds available through the Masonic Homes to go to college. They learn responsibility to take care of themselves so when they reach the age of adulthood, they are ready to go out on their own and be able to live in society as a responsible and productive member of society. These are things that are not well known to people that are not Masons. The reason is because the Masons do not brag about what they are doing and most of the time donations to schools, or families in need are not broadcasted. The Masons are not doing those good deeds to get a feather in their hats; they do them because it is the right thing to do and after they do it, their hearts are warmed. That is reward enough for a Freemason.

Freemasons are known as being secretive because they have closed meetings for only Masons. What they talk about or do in their meetings doesn't concern anyone that is not a member. They are no more secretive than any organization, or company, or club that holds their meetings. They do not invite the public either. The difference is that Freemasons do not talk about their meeting after they leave their lodge room. Non-Members feel left out so rumors start from their own imagination as to what takes place in the meetings. The Masons have been accused of being Devil Worshipers, the Mob, Mysterious, Corrupt, Killers, etc. None of this is true. The same people that say those things never know what the masons do for the community as mentioned above. The Freemasons do not push any religion or force anyone to believe in a certain religion. Religion is not a prerequisite of becoming a member of the lodge. Freemasons have the right to worship whatever God, or Supreme Being that they wish to. Freemasonry is not a religious organization even though many non-members believe that. Freemasons have traditional ceremonies, and use symbols to define the beliefs and values of what a Mason represents. Freemasonry is open only to men because it is a very old and traditional fraternity. Because it is only open to men does not mean that they are doing immoral or illegal activities behind their wife or girlfriend's back. Nothing immoral or illegal takes place during or after any meetings.

The Freemasons usually meet formally once a month to go over the lodge business. They sometimes have special or extra meetings to confer degrees on the new candidates applying for membership into the fraternity. There are three degrees that candidates must go through over a three month period unless otherwise approved by the Grand Master to have more than one degree conferred on the same day. The levels of the degrees are the First Degree or the Entered Apprentice Degree. The next degree is the Second Degree or otherwise known as the Fellow Craft Degree, and the third degree is known as The Master Mason Degree. The details of the ceremony for each degree are not reveled to non-members. Again there is nothing immoral or illegal. Once a candidate is proficient in the Master Mason Degree he is a full fledged Mason and can attend meetings with other Master Masons.

The Freemasons use many different symbols. This one is the most common symbol used. It is known as the Square and Compass. The square and compass are tools of the Masonry Profession. Today Freemasons use the symbols of the traditional tools used by Stone Masons.