St. Clair Lodge No. 24

Freemasonry is a unique institution that has been a major part of community life in America for over two-hundred and fifty years.  It is America’s largest and oldest fraternity, and one that continues to be an important part of many men’s personal lives and growth.The fraternity of Masons is an organization of men bound together with a philosophy of moral standards, mutual understanding and brotherhood in which all men are on a level and equal.

What are the requirements for joining Freemasonry?

The person who wants to join Freemasonry must be a man (it’s a fraternity), sound in body and mind, who believes in God, is at least the minimum age required by Masonry in his state, and has a good reputation. (Incidentally, the “sound in body” requirement — which comes from the stonemasons of the Middle Ages — doesn’t mean that a physically challenged man cannot be a Mason; many are).Those are the only “formal” requirements. But there are others, not so formal. He should believe in helping others. He should believe there is more to life than pleasure and money. He should be willing to respect the opinions of others. And he should want to grow and develop as a human being.

How does someone become a Freemason?

When a man decides he wants to be a Freemasonry Mason, he asks a Mason for a petition or application. He fills it out and has it signed by three Masons, he then gives it to a Mason, and that Mason takes it to the local lodge. The Master of the lodge will appoint a committee to visit with the man and his family, find out a little about him and why he wants to become a member of the Masons, tell him and his family about Freemasonry, and answer their questions. The committee reports to the lodge, and the lodge votes on the petition. If the vote is affirmative, and it usually is, the lodge will contact the man to set the date for the Entered Apprentice Degree. When the person has completed all three degrees, he is a Master Mason and a full member of the Freemasonry fraternity.

Further Reading

For more information please see this page from the Grand Lodge of Illinois