KING DAVID'S LODGE NO. 209

F. & A.M.

May Brotherly Love Prevail & Every Moral & Social Virtue Cement Us

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Masonic Information

The Title "Free and Accepted"

        How did the term "Free and Accepted" originate? Ancient craftsmen were skilled, and their craft was considered to be indispensable to the welfare of both "Church" and "State." For this reason, they were not placed under the same restrictions as were other workers - they were "free" to do their work, travel and live their lives in a manner befitting their importance. In England during the Middle Ages this freedom was rare. Most workers were under bond to the owners of the land on which they worked. Our legendary history carries this freedom for the Operative Mason back to the year 946, in York, England.

    The word "Accepted" also goes back to the time of the operative mason. During the latter years of the Middle Ages, there were a few educated men outside the monasteries of the world. Naturally, men wanted to become Freemasons to obtain the advantages the craft has to offer. These men did not necessarily want build buildings; they wanted to belong to the organization. These were "Accepted" Masons, rather than operative masons. This practice probably originated when some of the people for whom the craftsmen were working asked to be admitted. This was an important transition to the Craft, because the secrets of the building trades were becoming widely known, architecture was changing and membership was declining. By becoming "Speculative," the Craft grew rapidly. As the time went on, there became many more "Accepted" members than there were operative members, and eventually we became a Speculative rather than an operative organization.

Is Freemasonry a Secret Society?

        The answer is no. A secret society is one in which the membership is concealed, the meeting places are kept secret, and knowledge of its organization and principles is unknown. True, we have a few secrets in Freemasonry: a part of our ritual, our modes of recognition and the business of the Lodge. Portions of our ritual have been handed down within Freemasonry for centuries and form a part of our tradition. However, our purposes, ideals and principles may be learned by anyone who inquires. There are numerous books on these subjects available to the public. All printed Masonic information, with the exception of our esoteric work, may be freely discussed in public. As Masons, we wear lapel pins and other Masonic jewelry, march in parades with our distinctive aprons, advertise time and place of our meetings and openly sponsor charities. We can hardly be called a secret society. We do prefer to keep our rites confidential, because keeping them sacred and solemn can only enhance their initiatory value.

        It should be mentioned that the true secrets of Freemasonry are contained within the repository of the faithful breast and cannot be revealed to those who are not duly and truly prepared to receive them.

Is Freemasonry a Religion?

        Again, the answer is no. Because of the nature of the teachings of Freemasonry, we require our candidates to acknowledge a belief in a Supreme Being and the immortality of the soul. Otherwise, the ceremonies would be meaningless. But There is no requirement that one belong to a particular religion or a particular church. That choice is personal decision. It is the opinion of the Order that membership in our Fraternity will only enhance a man's experience in whatever religious community he chooses to belong. An atheist cannot become a Mason, because he cannot express a belief in a Supreme Being.

        Masonic ideals are not set forth in written creeds. For the most part, the individual Mason must interpret the rituals for himself and come to whatever understanding will satisfy his own mind and conscience, allowing others to do likewise. This is an example of Masonic tolerance, one of the primary principles of the Craft. It is a foundational principle and can be traced all the way back to Anderson's Constitutions of 1723 and 1738, which forbade all sectarian discussion in our assemblies. There is no Masonic dogma. Our Order seeks only to unite good men for the purpose of brotherhood - not to promote a specific religion.

        Can a Catholic become a Mason? There is nothing within Freemasonry that prohibits a Catholic from becoming a member. There are many misunderstandings by the public, and sometimes even our own members, concerning this issue. There misunderstandings have led to many false conclusions and created barriers where none exist, so far as Freemasonry is concerned. Some Catholic Popes regarded Masonry with disfavor and have issued edicts that condemned Freemasonry and prohibited membership to all Catholics. In spite of this, many prominent Catholics have become Masons. Our organization generally has given no official recognition to these edicts. We have chosen to follow a course of "silence and circumspection" since the first edict was issued in 1738 by Pope Clement XII.

The Use of Symbolism and Allegory

        Freemasonry makes extensive use of symbolism and allegory. A general study of symbolism is recommended to every Mason. Research into the historical uses and meanings of symbols utilized in the rituals, as well as a comparative study of mythology, provides a sure foundation for Masonic education. Especially recommended to Masonic researchers is a working knowledge of the stories from the Bible. Whenever a person or story is explicitly mentioned or alluded to in the rituals of our Fraternity, it is our task to find out why.

        In Masonry, the Lodge is the center of activity. it is symbolically the Temple of Solomon. All degree work (ritual) and advancement is done within the Temple. The Temple is considered to be an exact replica of the divine world. It is sacred; it is the center of the universe. Its structure, furnishings, dimensions, and proportions - its architecture - are a mirror image of the Divine. Usually a temple is high upon the mountain (to be closest to God) and is considered the center of the cosmos. It is sacred place, a place out of the ordinary. The Temple is the place where human is most likely to encounter the Divine.

How to Become a Mason        Famous Freemasons

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Information found in this page were extracted from the "A Basic Masonic Education Course: The Entered Apprentice" manual published by the Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of California