I was just wondering whether a pagan/wiccan can still become a freemason, seeing as we still believe in a higher power, just in different forms..

BP ---

Thank you for taking the time to post your question.

I have to admit, I don’t know much about Wicca, but I can give you the requirements for membership in Massachuetts, and have you decide if you could petition or you can message me and we can continue the conversation, if you would like.

In Massachusetts, the only requirements are that the candidate:
- is A man, at least 18 years old
- is of good moral character
- has a belief in a Supreme Being (however he acknowledges that Supreme Being.)

The final requirment is simply because as a man goes through the initiation process to become a Mason, he makes certain promises.  By having a belief in a Supreme Being, that man will have to answer for his actions here on Earth.  By not living up to the promises he makes, he would be held accountable for that when he meets his Supreme Being.  An athiest, for example, could not be made a Mason, as, by definition, he would not have a Supreme Being to have to answer to at the end of his life.

I hope this helps with your question.  if not, please, let me know, and with a little more information about Wicca, I might be able to have a more complete answer.

Again, thanks for your time.

Wicca is a nature based religion that focuses on “The Lord and Lady” who are two different aspects of divinity
wiccans call them whatever they like, usually using names like; Odin,Freya,Cernunnos,Pan,Isis,Diana, generally names from ancient pagan religions (which is what wicca evolved from)the gods are also invoked in ritual.
Belief in the elements and spirits of every living thing is also a very central belief...The main wiccan law is “an it harm none, do what ye will” and this refers to any kind of harm.

I personally know of many Wiccans who are vital and active members of the Fraternity. As long as you can state a belief in a Supreme Being (in your case, the Goddess), no one can ask you as to the nature of that belief. However, if you have any personal objections to the ceremonial use of the Bible in the lodge, you may find participation in the Lodge uncomfortable. This has never been a problem for the Wiccan Masons I know, but it has been an issue for others who have chosen not to petition for membership.

You might find the following webpage of interest: Masonic Info; Wicca & Freemasonry

I can say the same for several Taoists I know—some are active Masons, who are happy in their Masonic labors, but I know of at least two men who could not state a belief in a Supreme Being (i.e., who could not, by their own beliefs, attribute a particular “consciousness” or “intelligence” to the Tao), and therefore chose not to join.

However, I should add that I also know of one person that I personally sponsored who made the “mistake” of stating his belief in the Goddess as his Supreme Being, and was (wrongfully, by the tenets of Freemasonry) not elected to join the lodge (who were apparently unaware that they had elected & initiated another Wiccan two years earlier, as that Brother did not offer details of the Supreme Being in which he believed). I’m very happy to say that the “oldtimers” - Masons who are veterans of WWII, and who are very conservative in regards to what we can or cannot ask, as Masons, from a Candidate - who were present at that ballot were very upset & angry with the course of the debate, and made sure that the man had another opportunity to petition a different lodge some time later. (The two Masons who were loudest in their objections were, oddly enough, Catholics in their 50s, who had redefined - in their own minds - the requirements for Masonic membership as a specific belief in the Bible, which is NOT what is asked of a Candidate for Masonry.) Having left New York, I do not know what happened in the end, as I’ve lost touch with the person who made that application.

I know several Brothers who are initiates of traditional witchcraft (Gardnerian, Alexandrian CVW) and are quite active in their lodges; some even being Past Masters. I don’t know any who are of the more eclectic variety of Wicca, but I am sure there are.

Belief in a Supreme Being is most important, not the details.

Collin White - 05 June 2008 06:58 AM

I know several Brothers who are initiates of traditional witchcraft (Gardnerian, Alexandrian CVW) and are quite active in their lodges; some even being Past Masters. I don’t know any who are of the more eclectic variety of Wicca, but I am sure there are.

Belief in a Supreme Being is most important, not the details.

Yes, when I say “Wiccan”, I do mean the Traditional lines and some of their closer derivatives. I’m from Long Island originally, and there are enough remnants of the very first Gardnerian covens there that other neoPagans get a quick education on the proper use of the term “Wiccan”.

I can even name a lodge that meets in the NY Grand Lodge building on 23rd St in Manhattan that, for several years, had all the major chairs filled with Wiccans & NeoPagans, and still operates under one of the oldest charters in NY.

I’m not wiccan, but i am curios if all Freemasons accept wiccans, and i mean Freemasons worldwide, or only the American Lodges ?

Hello all.

Remember, this is a Site dedicated to helping men become Freemasons. To perhaps settle the issue of religion and Freemasonry, I will tell you this: when you apply to become a Freemason, you will be asked to sign an application. In that application you will be asked if you believe in a supreme being. If you write down yes for an answer, that settles it. Period.

No one is going to grill you or even ask you about your religious beliefs.

During your initiation, you will be asked to take several oaths and affirm your believe in that supreme being.

That’s it. Other than that, Masons do not care about and should not discuss your personal beliefs. And you will be discouraged from discussing and/or promoting any religion in Lodge.

As the moderator, I would like to move on from this subject so it doesn’t get too confusing.

Thanks,

Bob Heruska
Boston, MA

i’m indonesian, i’m very interest about mason organisation. where i can find freemason in my country, my basic religion is Islam/muslim. but i dont care about it, i feel sick with the people of my comunity. can u give me information about freemason organisation in indonesia specialy in Jogja town. im very please if u can give me that information. thanx for your attention.

Bob Heruska - 16 June 2008 11:38 AM

Hello all.

Remember, this is a Site dedicated to helping men become Freemasons. To perhaps settle the issue of religion and Freemasonry, I will tell you this: when you apply to become a Freemason, you will be asked to sign an application. In that application you will be asked if you believe in a supreme being. If you write down yes for an answer, that settles it. Period.

No one is going to grill you or even ask you about your religious beliefs.

During your initiation, you will be asked to take several oaths and affirm your believe in that supreme being.

That’s it. Other than that, Masons do not care about and should not discuss your personal beliefs. And you will be discouraged from discussing and/or promoting any religion in Lodge.

As the moderator, I would like to move on from this subject so it doesn’t get too confusing.

Thanks,

Bob Heruska
Boston, MA

With due respect for your position as moderator, I just felt it would be Brotherly to be quite honest about my direct experience with this issue. It’s not theoretical for me; I proposed a Wiccan for membership, and - while what you say is true about what SHOULD have happened - problems did arise because inappropriate questions WERE asked, and my candidate WAS blackballed. So a double measure of circumspection and CAUTION may be warranted for a neo-Pagan seeking membership in our fellowship.

Eric C. Friedman
Bettendorf, IA