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PLACERVILLE LODGE #26 |
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Free and Accepted Masons |
Answers to
Common Questions
1. What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is one of the oldest and largest fraternal orders in the world. It aims to promote brotherhood, and to foster morality among its members. Masons promote helping others, respecting others’ opinions, and enhancing personal growth and development. Freemasonry celebrates ethnic diversity and welcomes men of all ethnic and economic backgrounds.
The three basic tenets of Freemasonry are: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth
All freemasons are inculcated to make an effort to live by the Four Cardinal Virtues: Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice.
Men of every economic background, 18 years or older, are welcome to apply for membership in our California Lodges. We say in Masonry that it is the internal and not the external qualifications which recommend a man to be made a Mason. Masons foster no specific religious or political creeds. Men of all religious persuasions are welcome. However, an applicant for the degrees must express a belief in a Supreme Being.
As Masons we value and promote:
Family
Personal growth
Tolerance
Ethics
Diversity
Education
Community
Philanthropy
In California, there are close to 80,000 members in 364 Lodges. Nationwide about two and one half million men are members in approximately 15,000 Lodges. About 8% of adult American males are Masons. Please note that Masonry exists in most of the free Countries throughout the world.
2. Is Masonry a religion?
Masonry is a fraternity, not a religion. Masonry acknowledges the existence of God and teaches, that without a belief in the Supreme Being, a man can never reach his full potential. But Masonry does not tell a person which religion he should practice or how he should practice it. That is a function of his house of worship, not his fraternity.
Sometimes people confuse Masonry with a religion because we call some Masonic buildings "temples." But we use the word in the same sense that Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes called the Supreme Court a "Temple of Justice”. Neither Masonry nor the Supreme Court is a religion just because its members meet in a "temple." Because of the misinformed connotation with the word “temple” as it applies to Masonry, most California lodges now refer to their buildings as Masonic Centers
3. How did Masonry get started?
We know that something resembling Masonry existed at the time of the building of the great pyramids in Egypt. However, Masonry, as we know it today, got its start in the period 900-1600 AD in Europe during the time of the building of the great cathedrals such as Notre Dame in Paris and many more. Those structures were constructed of stone by stonemasons who were true artisans of their day.
Those craftsmen traveled from town to town working on these massive structures. As they presented themselves for work in a city, they needed some type of identification to prove they were truly qualified to perform their trade. To aid in this trade qualification effort, Guilds (a precursor of today’s Unions) were formed for these stonemasons,. These guilds not only served as a means of identification, but also as a social outlet periods of time since they were required to work far from their homes
There were three classes of membership in the Guilds:
APPRENTICE OR BEGINNERS – quite often, young boys who were sons of older stonemasons. After serving a sufficient time, their names were entered in the books of the Guild as evidence of their fitness. Thus evolved the name of the first degree in our Lodges today : “Entered Apprentice”.
After serving seven years as apprentices, they were called into the Guild to demonstrate proficiency in their craft. If found proficient, they were passed and made a fellow-of-the-craft, which meant that they received full membership in the Guilds in the sense that they had mastered the theories and practices of the trade. Thus evolved the name of the second degree in our Lodges today: “Fellowcraft”.
The third class of membership was Master Mason or Overseer of the work – a supervisor if you will.
Those roaming Masons, who moved from town to town setting up their Guilds wherever they traveled, were free from the restrictions that were imposed on the local villagers and stonemasons who resided in the town – hence the name “Free Mason”.
Such was the nature of the fraternity in its operative period which flourished for generations. Than came a period of great change. Euclid’s theory of geometry was rediscovered and published; thereby revealing the trade secrets of the operative masons – for it was nothing more than geometry that they were using to cut those stones and fitting them together to create those great structures.
This helped to initiate the Reformation which came about during this same period, and the Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture began to wither in popularity. As a result, the masons found themselves out of work resulting in a reduction in the number of Guilds. The Guilds then began accepting into membership men who had no connection with the building trades---men who were interested in the moral principles encouraged by the Guilds. The men so received into membership were called “accepted masons”; and soon there were more accepted masons in the Guilds than there were operative masons. Hence, the term Free and Accepted Mason developed.
Then, on June 24, 1717, four of those Guilds met together in London, England and formed the Grand Lodge of England, which marks the beginning of Masonry as we know it today.
As the colonists came to this country, Masonry came with them. The oldest authenticated record shows the first Lodge in Boston was charted in 1733. Its members were politically active, as were most Colonists at the time. Some say that the Boston Tea Party was carried out by a group of Masons following a Lodge meeting one evening.
After the Revolutionary War, there was some discussion of a single Grand Lodge of the United States, and at the same time there was talk of a King of the United States. George Washington was a Mason, and was approached about accepting both of those positions. He declined both saying the Revolutionary War was fought to gain independence from a King, and the young country did not need a new king. Likewise, he felt that the Grand Lodge in each independent State should maintain its independence. And such is the case today – each state has its own Grand Jurisdiction, along with the District of Columbia.
After 1832, political activity was abandoned by the Lodges and they assumed the social and fraternal character which we see today in our Lodges). As you may have gathered at this point, religion and politics are taboo subjects in our lodge meetings. But outside of the Lodge, as an individual, he is free to pursue his own politics and religion.
4. Why does Masonry use symbols?
The lessons of Freemasonry are illustrated by the use of symbols. The "Square and Compass" is the most widely known symbol of Masonry. In one way, this symbol is a kind of trademark for the fraternity. When you see it on a building, you know that Masons meet there.
Symbols are probably the oldest form of instruction known to man, and they are present everywhere. Everyone uses symbols every day because it allows us to communicate quickly. When you see a red light, you know what it means. When you see a circle with a line through it, you know it means "no." In fact, using symbols is probably the oldest method of communication and teaching Masons use symbols for the same reasons..
A stop sign is another easily recognizable symbol that is familiar to us all. The difference between a stop sign and a Masonic symbol, however, is that in the case of the stop sign it means just what you think it means. In the case of a Masonic symbol, there are deeper and more profound meanings than what may be obvious. To unlock these hidden meanings, it is necessary for the Freemason to study diligently and dedicate himself to the search for Light.
Now what are a few of our symbols?
A. APRON – Symbol of honorable labor. It is made of Lambskin and is a symbol of innocence. Innocence here means “those who do no injury to others”. Each Masonic candidate wears the apron differently as he progresses thru the degrees, to show the progress he has made.
a. GAVEL – Symbol of a means of perfecting – breaking off the corners of rough stones, gradually making the rough ashlars (building block) into perfect ashlars. Symbolically, the Mason is divesting his character of the “vices and superfluities of life”.
b. 24 INCH GAUGE – Symbol of the shortness of human time. This gauge impresses with the importance of allotment of time for various activities.
c. TROWEL – Operative Masons used the trowel to spread the cement that binds together individual stones into a single great edifice. For Masons, the trowel is a symbol of a generous heart, which alone can “spread the cement of brotherly love and affection.”
d. THE CORNERSTONE CEREMONY - A symbol of beginning aid and assistance. Cornerstones are laid in the NE corner. It typifies the beginning and it is where the Entered Apprentice Mason (our 1st Degree) stands. Today we symbolically do the same for buildings – particularly public buildings.
There are many more symbols in our Lodges, too many to discuss at this point in time.
5. Why is Masonry so secretive?
It really isn't secretive, although it sometimes has that reputation. Masons certainly don't make a secret of the fact that we are members of the fraternity. We wear rings, lapel pins, and tie clasps with Masonic emblems like the Square and Compasses. Masonic buildings are clearly marked, and are usually listed in the phone book. Lodge activities are not secret - picnics and other events are often listed in the newspapers, especially in smaller towns. But there are two traditional categories of “secrets”. First are the ways in which a man can identify himself as a Mason: e.g. grips and passwords. This is the same for any fraternity. The second category is of the Masonic ceremonies, which are private (for members only) but are not secret
6. What about those "secret vows" I hear so much about?
The exact words of the vows are secret. That's one of the ways we recognize each other. The contents of the vows are not. In less formal language a Mason promises to treat women with deference and respect, to help a brother when he asks for and needs help, to remember that people are entitled to dignity and respect; to follow the directions of the Grand Lodge, and if he disagrees, to use the proper channels to express that disagreement and seek resolution, to respect the traditions of the fraternity; to uphold the laws of the community, state, and nation; and to keep secret the very few things that are secret.
7. Why do Masons wear aprons?
The apron is a tangible tie to the operative stonemasons who wore leather aprons centuries ago to carry their tools. Today it is worn as the badge of a Mason in the lodge at certain public events, and at a member's funeral
8. Why hasn't anyone ever asked me to join?
There's a rule in Masonry that a person must seek admission himself. We don't go out and twist arms. We may only ask if you had considered Masonry, as this site does. A person needs to come to Masonry because he really wants to, not because he's been talked into it. A qualified male need only to ask.
9. SOME MEMBERSHIP REWARDS
a) Masonry is a brotherhood of men representing the entire spectrum of California diversity, all of who are committed to enriching society. Participation in the fraternity brings personal enrichment to a Mason's life in several ways.
b) Belonging is to be part of an organization whose core values and practices have significantly contributed to society for centuries and are still relevant today.
c) Fellowship and lasting friendships are made with men and their families in a tolerant and considerate environment.
d) It is and investment in the future of our children, our communities, and the state by sharing our abilities, knowledge, and resources.
e) A Mason who has gone thru the three Degrees may apply for membership in any of the many affiliated groups that have been formed by Masonic Brothers. A few are listed in the next section.
Scottish Rite
York Rite
Nights Templar (of the York Rite)
Shrine (Childrens’ Hospitals)
These Masonic Affilitates are charitable organizations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, GO TO: Affiliated Groups.
11. Ladies and Youth Groups
There are also many groups built on Masonic principles to which Ladies and the Youth of our Country may apply. A few include:
The Amaranth
The Ladies Oriental Shrine
Youth organizations:
2. International Order of Jobs Daughters
3. International Order of Rainbow for Girls