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It is widely thought that one
must be invited to become a Freemason or that Freemasonry is so exclusive as to
be beyond the reach of the average man. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Traditionally, Freemasonry
has restricted itself from recruitment, preferring to draw its membership from
those who were so attracted to the prospect of bettering themselves that they
would approach the Fraternity on their own.
More recently, outreach
has become common in some jurisdictions. While the Fraternity still does
not invite men to join, we do most heartily encourage them to investigate
Freemasonry and, should they feel that it is right for them, petition to join.
If you know someone who is a Mason or who you
think is a Mason, don't be shy, ask them about it. Many Masons are willing to
talk at length about the Fraternity and answer any questions you may have. If
you don't already know someone who is a Mason, you can attend
occasional events which are open to the
public. There is also a wealth of information available on the Internet.
Interested in joining? The steps are
simple:
1. Contact us saying that you are interested
in seeking membership and would like a petition. (Filling out a petition does
not obligate you, and at no point in your Masonic career will you be obligated
to participate beyond your desire to do so)
2. Fill out and send in your petition. You will need references from three men
who know you well. If there is an open
event scheduled sometime soon, such as a pre-meeting dinner, show up and
meet some Masons, you will be warmly welcomed.
3. Your petition will be read to the Lodge at the next meeting and an
investigation committee will be appointed.
4. The investigation committee will contact
you and schedule a time to meet with you in your home. This is not as scary as
it may sound. The investigation committee is simply a group of three Lodge
members who volunteered to meet with you and interview you about your interest
in Masonry. This provides an opportunity for answering any questions you may
have as well as assuring that you have a good understanding of the nature of the
Fraternity and what it means to be a Mason. It's really a very informal chat.
5. The committee will return a report which
will be read at the next meeting.
Based on their findings, your petition will be voted upon; a unanimous vote is
required in order to proceed. If your petition passes, a date will be set for
your initiation and you will be contacted.
6. Show up on your scheduled initiation date
and be made a Mason!
Click here to
download a PDF version of the petition which you can print out.
This should be printed on both sides of a legal sized sheet of paper
(11"x14")
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to open
PDF documents.
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