How does a Man Become a Mason?
Below are some common questions that apply to Masonic membership in the State of Maine.
What are the requirements for becoming a Mason?
A candidate must be male, at least 18 years of age, able to profess a belief in God, and be of good character. In Maine, no lodge, without the permission of the Grand Master, shall receive a petition of a candidate for the degrees until he has resided in this state one year, nor (excepting seafaring men absent only on a voyage to sea) unless he has had his domicile within the jurisdiction of the lodge during the last preceding six months.
Do I have to be invited?
Don't wait to be invited-- you'll grow old waiting! Masons are prohibited from actively recruiting or asking non-Masons to join the fraternity, to insure that candidates come of their own free will. As with many things Masonic, there are some exceptions to this rule. Some Grand Lodges allow solicitation, provided it is low-key and with the strict provision that no pressure be applied. Still, you don't *need* to be invited in any jurisdiction, and if you're interested, act!
OK, I'm interested-- how do I proceed?
If you know a Mason, ask him about membership. He will be glad to tell you all about the Craft and the local lodge, and he will give you a petition if you wish to join. If you do not know a Mason, drop a letter, make a call, or send an e-mail to the local lodge, and one of the officers will contact you. Please note: if you call the lodge, you may not get an answer unless someone is actually there. Don't assume that e-mail is always getting to the right person either. When the above options aren't working, simply call the Grand Lodge. Someone there will put you in contact with an appropriate local member.
Typically, the process is as follows:
(A) the applicant fills out a petition. The petition asks for two sponsors, though if you meet and talk with the officers, they can usually find sponsors or act as sponsors themselves if you do not know anyone in the lodge.
(B) The petition is read at the lodge during the next business meeting, which for many lodges is during the first week of the month. A committee is formed to investigate the candidate. (Your sponsors will explain the schedule to you based on their knowledge of the lodge's meetings/events.)
(C) The committee meets with the candidate to answer questions, ascertain that he meets the criteria for membership, and find out a little about him. This is not a "grilling session", but rather a friendly and casual chat to make certain that the candidate has been properly informed about Masonry and that was not improperly solicited. The committee also contacts the character references listed on the petition (typically asking if they know any reason why the candidate should not be accepted, etc.)
(D) The committee reports back to the lodge during the next business meeting and the candidate is voted on. If accepted, someone from the lodge (often the Secretary) contacts the candidate and informs him that he has been accepted and schedules a date for the Entered Apprentice degree. If you do not know a Mason, then please contact either the District Deputy or the District Educational Representative in the District nearest to your residence. See the list of lodges in Maine to locate a Lodge near you or for the name of the District Deputy responsible for Freemasonry in your area. ( Please note the entire article can be found at www.mainemason.org)
Thinking of joining the world's oldest and largest fraternity of Freemasons?
Follow these steps and you will soon be a member.
First Answer this question to yourself in the affirmative. Do you believe in the existence of a Supreme Being (meaning a Grand Architect of the Universe)?
If the answer the is answered in the affirmative then ask a Mason you know about it. Don't generally expect a Mason to ask you. The general adage is "To Be One Ask One". If you don't know any Masons, look in your phone book and call them or search on line and send an email to a lodge in your area. stjohnslodge51@comcast.org or for a lodge in your area contact http://www.mainemason.org/
Merely contacting a Mason on line and desiring membership does not automatically grant you the privilege to join. If you do not know any Masons, you will likely have to get to know some who can then vouch for your good character. Don't be afraid to go to your local Masonic building (sometimes referred to as a "Hall", "Temple", or "Center"), knock on the door and ask someone there about it. Lodges normally meet once a month.
Each lodge (the body of members) is different to the next, so be sure to take your time in finding one that's right for you. You must be of good repute, moral, ethical and not engaged in illegal activities. There are no religious requirements, other than a belief in a Supreme Being. You don't have to be rich to join. While initiation fees vary, annual dues usually range from about $40 to $300/year. It takes up some of your time, so you'll need to invest one to a few nights a month. You usually have to be at least 21 years old. (In some Grand Lodge jurisdictions, 18).
If you are interested in becoming a mason you can down load a petition here
First Answer this question to yourself in the affirmative. Do you believe in the existence of a Supreme Being (meaning a Grand Architect of the Universe)?If the answer the is answered in the affirmative then ask a Mason you know about it. Don't generally expect a Mason to ask you. The general adage is "To Be One Ask One". If you don't know any Masons, look in your phone book and call them or search on line and send an email to a lodge in your area. stjohnslodge51@comcast.org or for a lodge in your area contact http://www.mainemason.org/ Merely contacting a Mason on line and desiring membership does not automatically grant you the privilege to join. If you do not know any Masons, you will likely have to get to know some who can then vouch for your good character. Don't be afraid to go to your local Masonic building (sometimes referred to as a "Hall", "Temple", or "Center"), knock on the door and ask someone there about it. Lodges normally meet once a month. Each lodge (the body of members) is different to the next, so be sure to take your time in finding one that's right for you. You must be of good repute, moral, ethical and not engaged in illegal activities. There are no religious requirements, other than a belief in a Supreme Being. You don't have to be rich to join. While initiation fees vary, annual dues usually range from about $40 to $300/year. It takes up some of your time, so you'll need to invest one to a few nights a month. You usually have to be at least 21 years old. (In some Grand Lodge jurisdictions, 18). If you are interested in becoming a mason you can down load a petition here: http://www.mainemason.org/resources/downloads/index.asp 