Freemasonry (or simply, Masonry) is a fraternal order whose basic tenets are
brotherly love, relief (philanthropy), and truth. We strive to enjoy the company of
our brother Masons, assist them in times of personal trouble, and reinforce essential
moral values. There is an old adage that Masonry "takes good men and makes them better",
which is our goal.
It has often been observed that men are the products of everything they come
into contact with during their lifetime. Masonry offers aman an opportunity to come
into regular, enjoyable contact with men of good character, thus reinforcing his own
personal moral development. Of course, Masonry is also meant to be enjoyed by its
membership, so the order should not be viewed simply as a philosophical club, but
rather a vibrant fellowship of men who seek to enjoy each other's company, a fraternity.
To maintain this fraternity, discussion of religion and politics within the
Lodge is forbidden as these subjects are those that have often divided men in the
past. Masons cover the spectrum of both religious and political beliefs. Masonry encourages
a man to be religious without advocating a particular religion, and to be active in
his community without advocating a particular medium of political expression.
Masonry is distinguished from other fraternal orders by its emphasison moral
character, its ornate rituals, and its long tradition and history, which dates back
to at least the 17th century in modern form, the 14th century (c. 1350-1390) in the
written evidence of its precursors, and back to the mists of antiquity in its origin.
There are also a great many things that Masonry is NOT: a religion,a secret
society, etc.
There are three degrees in Masonry. Other appendant bodies confer additional
degrees, up to the 32nd (or the honorary 33rd) of the Scottish Rite, but in symbolic
Masonry proper,there are only three. At the Lodge, Masons receive the degrees of Entered
Apprentice (first degree), Fellowcraft (second degree), and Master Mason (third degree).
Advancement generally requires the mastery of a small body of memorized material,
the contents of which varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions,
only the signs, tokens, and grips of each degree must be learnt; in others, a longer
amount of material.
Of course, no Mason would ever look down upon a Brother simply because he was
of a lower degree - the degrees do not exist to create a pecking order or to confer
rank. Rather, they are a system of initiation that allows men to become familiar with
the august and ancient history and principles of Masonry at a comfortable pace. Proceeding
from Entered Apprentice to Master Mason in the US can take as little as three months,
while in England, the degrees are usually spaced farther apart. Additionally, some
US Grand Lodges have begun holding 'one day' classes where by all three degrees are
conferred during a single day.
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