HOW TO BECOME A FREEMASON

In most cases a candidate is proposed by a Freemason who knows him and who respects him as a good, honest and trustworthy person, who is considered suitable for membership and amenable to the specific work and atmosphere that prevails in the Lodge.  Often a person applies on his own initiative, as a result of reading about the Order.  Sometimes a candidate does not know anyone in whom he can confide and therefore knocks directly on the door of a Lodge or even the Grand Lodge itself.

Whenever a ‘profane’ person applies, the Lodge makes contact with him and starts an investigative procedure in accordance with its regulations.

To which duties does the initiated person commit himself?  Membership of a Lodge requires a financial commitment.  Every member pays a contribution.  The contributions are mainly used to pay for material expenses of the Lodge such as accommodation and other expenses related to the practice of Freemasonry.  This contribution is, all in all, not a large one and varies from Lodge to Lodge.  In addition the practice of Freemasonry also results in expenses for meals, which each Lodge arranges for its members.  Membership is nevertheless not reserved for well to do citizens.  An average and even modest income is sufficient to cover these expenses.

On the other hand members of the Lodge are expected, on the whole, to make considerable efforts in other respects.  Freemasonry is not just a club.  It demands an active presence.  Whoever wishes to take part in the life of his Lodge must faithfully attend the Meetings, accept time-consuming duties and through his personal effort contribute to the success of the Lodge.

These duties should not adversely affect family or professional life.  Yet Freemasonry demands a certain amount of time:  about fifteen to twenty Lodge Meetings a year and in addition a number of other meetings (seminars, instructive sessions, adminstrative gatherings …).  One often finds that it is only those who do not wish to take the time, who do not have the time.  Experience shows that it is precisely the busiest people who find enough time to do the things that are dearest to them.

What happens when an initiated person wishes to leave Freemasonry? It is sufficient that he makes his decision known and his Lodge can then put him “into darkness”, which means he is removed from the list of members. Some people allege that you cannot leave the Order without running the risk of a terrible punishment. Of course there is no question of this. Which society would be so foolish as to force people to remain, against their wishes, member of an Order whose membership requires complete conviction ?

W.L. Chevalier Ramsay, n° 4 – O. Brussels