I was thinking about joining my local lodge but wanted to know a little more about it first. I have been reading some of this forum and it does not really answer all of my questions and I have read some of the original oaths which were a little bit intense but here goes:

1. Are there any oaths taken when becoming a Freemason?, If so what are they?
2. Is it really a secret society?
3. What is observed in the meetings?
4. I have heard there are different degrees to be achieved, How do you come about achieving these?
5. Are there any rituals involved in initiation like fraternities?
6. What does the G stand for in the masonic symbol?

Thank you

I am delighted to have the opportunity to answer your questions. Masonry is NOT a secret society, and invites and encourages serious inquiries.  Many men, once they begin an investigation into Freemasonry, often will find themselves, going on to petition (apply) for membership.

1. Are there any oaths taken when becoming a Freemason?, If so what are they?

A very complete description can be found at:

http://masonicinfo.com/bloody.htm

2. Is it really a secret society?

The answer is a definite NO!  Masonic buildings are clearly marked, members wear baseball caps, rings, tie-tacks, etc. I personally introduced the legislation in Kentucky, to get Masonic vehicle license plates.  Masonic lodges have websites, and the meeting times are published.  Masonic and masonically-affiliated charities distribute over $2.6 million dollars PER DAY to all types of charities.  Every grand Lodge in the USA has a web site, and there are hundreds of books that been published for hundreds of years.  It is more accurate to think of Masonry as a society with secrets, rather than a sercret society.

It may be helpful for you to think of a sports team. A football team is a public organization. But the team will keep its plays, and plans for upcoming games, private, and not discuss them with the public.  The U.S. Air Force is a public organization, but battle plans, and other classified information is witheld from the public.

See:

http://www.masonicinfo.com/secrets.htm

and

http://www.msana.com/secrecy.asp

3. What is observed in the meetings?

In Craft Masonry, there are two basic types of meetings.  Stated meetings, where ordinary lodge business is conducted. Discussions of paying the bills, when to vacuum the carpet, and all of the rather mundane details of running a non-profit organization are conducted.  Often, there is a speaker, who will discuss topics like the Civil War, or law enforcement, or what the US government is doing in the war on terrorism. (I reside in Washington DC, and we get some terrific speakers).

And- Degree work. These are meetings, where new candidates for the fraternity are initiated into Freemasonry.  There are three(3) degrees in Craft Masonry. The Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason. The Master Mason is the “black belt” of Masonry, there are no higher degrees.  The degrees teach certain moral lessons, and all are conducted with great solemnity, and seriousness. There is no “hazing”, nor any childish or degrading behavior.

A more comprehensive discussion can be read at:

http://masonicinfo.com/initiation.htm

Masonic lodges can have other special meetings, for other special business or topics.

4. I have heard there are different degrees to be achieved, How do you come about achieving these?

See the link, at the above paragraph

5. Are there any rituals involved in initiation like fraternities?

Again, see the link:

http://masonicinfo.com/initiation.htm

6. What does the G stand for in the masonic symbol?

The letter “G” stands for God. All masons, and candidates for Masonry, must believe in God. Your individual belief system, and religious denomination, is a matter of extreme privacy, and of no concern to Freemasonry.  No atheist can be made a Mason.  Men of many different religious background and experiences, participate in Masonry. 

==There is a very good “Cliff’s Notes” description of Masonry at:

http://www.masonic-renewal.org/freemasonry_explained.htm

If you have any other questions, I encourage you to post them here, or send me a PM.

Charles E. Martin
Fort Wayne, Indiana

Thank you for all of your answers, i have one more question though; happened to stumble across the freemasonry symbolism post and it made me rather skeptic.  In that post you said that Freemason secrets are published in books around the world. So they are not secret, but when I was reading your answers you stated the same thing as the other poster stated.  That you are not a secret society but a society with secrets. I also happened to look up some of your members over the years at my local library and it seems that some of your members were very deeply woven into occultism and other less-than-Christian ideals.  Could you sort this out for me, I would greatly appreciate it.

0bxsteps - 20 February 2008 05:26 PM

Thank you for all of your answers, i have one more question though; happened to stumble across the freemasonry symbolism post and it made me rather skeptic.  In that post you said that Freemason secrets are published in books around the world. So they are not secret, but when I was reading your answers you stated the same thing as the other poster stated.  That you are not a secret society but a society with secrets. I also happened to look up some of your members over the years at my local library and it seems that some of your members were very deeply woven into occultism and other less-than-Christian ideals.  Could you sort this out for me, I would greatly appreciate it.

I am delighted to have been of assistance. Masonicinfo.com is an excellent site, with a huge amount of highly reliable information.  Without sounding like former President Clinton, answering your inquiry, depends on what you mean by “secrets”. There have been many books published about Freemasonry, and many “exposes”, of the craft published for many years. A visit to the public library, or a look at some of the anti-masonic websites, will satisfy anyone’s curiosity.

Masonry is a secular organization, with no claim to divine origination. We are a non-denominational, non-sectarian, inter-faith organization.  We accept men into membership, from many different religious experiences, and religious backgrounds.  Only an avowed atheist cannot be made a mason.  Each individual mason’s religious activities and beliefs, are a matter of extreme privacy, and of no concern to Masonry. Freedom of conscience, and freedom of religion, are basic to our organization. No mason is required to believe or practice any specific religious creed.  I am certain that in an organization of 4 million+ men, which has existed in current form since 1717, that there are persons who have dabbled in Scientology, yoga, and other religious systems, that are out of the mainstream.  Masonry, being a secular organization, has in its membership, men who do not practice the Christian religion.  I have participated in Masonic lodges, with men of the Jewish faith, and men of many different faiths.  I once assisted a Muslim, in the degree ceremony. I consider this one of the high points of my masonic career.  I wish more Muslims would join our fraternity.

If you decide to participate in Freemasonry, you must be prepared to associate with good men, from many different religious backgrounds.  If this presents a problem to you, then you should not proceed with Freemasonry.