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Membership
in the
brotherhood of
Masons means
many things.
It means being
part of an
unbroken
tradition that
stretches back
over 500 years
to a time when
guilds of
freemasons
traveled
throughout
Europe laying
the stones of
the great Gothic
cathedrals.
It means sharing
the values of
our nation's
founding
fathers; the
ideals of men
who believed in
the brotherhood
of man are
firmly rooted in
the Constitution
of the United
States.
It means
becoming a
better person
while helping to
improve the
quality of life
for others. It
means forming
deep and lasting
friendships that
transcend the
boundaries of
race, religion
and culture, as
well as those of
geography.
But most of all,
being a Mason
means the kind
of deep
satisfaction
that comes only
from selfless
giving; from
doing for others
without asking,
or expecting
anything in
return.
Sharing the
Traditions of
Our Founding
Fathers
In its early
years, Masonry
numbered among
its members some
of the nation's
most influential
citizens - among
them George
Washington,
Henry Knox,
Benjamin
Franklin, John
Hancock and Paul
Revere. Jesse
Jackson, Louis
Farrakhan ,
Louis Armstrong,
John H. Johnson,
Scottie Pippen,
Al Sharpton,
W.E.B. Dubois,
Thurgood
Marshall,
Nat King Cole,
Alex Haley.
The values that
were important
then - loyalty,
patriotism,
liberty, courage
and faith - are
just as
important to
Masons today.
The principles
upon which this
country was
founded are
deeply embedded
in Masonry.
Improving
Yourself and
Those Around You
Basic to most of
the world's
great religions
is the belief in
what some might
call the "old
fashioned"
values of
honesty, fair
play and
unselfishness in
dealing with
others.
Freemasonry
shares many of
the same
beliefs; and,
through its
traditions and
teachings,
attempts to
instill in its
members both the
desire and the
means to improve
themselves and
the lives of
others
However, while
it may adhere to
many of the same
values
associated with
a religious
faith, Masonry
is
not a
religion.
It is a
brotherhood of
men from every
country, sect,
and opinion,
joined in a
common effort to
make themselves
better people,
to ease the
suffering of
others, and to
make the world a
better place.
To achieve these
goals, Masonry
does not promote
itself or its
individual
members.
Instead, it
teaches by
example. New
members are not
publicly
recruited; they
are attracted by
the example of
good men
performing good
works and living
good lives.
Having Friends
Wherever You Go
Who becomes a
Mason: anyone
and everyone,
accountants,
businessmen,
teachers,
contractors,
professional men
and laborers.
Masons come from
all walks of
life and levels
of income. They
represent every
race, creed and
culture.
In Masonry, it
doesn't matter
whether a man is
a bricklayer or
a physician, a
waiter or the
mayor of the
city. All are on
equal footing in
the Lodge room.
The ceremonies
and practices of
the Masons have
remained
unchanged for
hundreds of
years. No matter
where a Lodge is
located, its
members share
the common bond
of having passed
through the same
degree work,
rites and
rituals.
Because of this,
members can find
brother Masons
wherever they
go. Across the
country and
around the
world, there are
Lodges in nearly
every city and
in many smaller
communities.
It's a good
feeling to know
that, wherever a
man's travels
may take him, he
has friends he
can depend upon
and trust.
Committing
Yourself to a
Code of Moral
Ethics
Freemasonry is
built upon three
basic tenets -
Brotherly Love,
Relief and
Truth. Brotherly
Love is the
practice of the
Golden Rule.
Relief embodies
charity for all
mankind. Truth
is honesty, fair
play and
adherence to the
cardinal
virtues.
These moral
lessons are
taught during
three
ceremonies, or
"degrees"
through allegory
and symbolism
using the
traditional
stonemasons
tools.
After the Three
Degrees, members
may explore
other branches
of Masonry, such
as the Scottish
Rite, York Rite
and Shrine.
Freemasonry is
not a secret
organization.
Lodge buildings
are clearly
marked and
listed in the
phone book.
Members
frequently wear
rings and pins
identifying them
as Masons.
However, Masonry
values
confidentiality
and, as with
many other
organizations,
many of its
meetings are not
open to the
public.
Giving Freely of
Yourself and
Asking Nothing
in Return
Of all the
cardinal
virtues, none is
more valued in
Masonry than
selfless giving.
Examples of
Masonic charity
are legion.
Nationally,
Masons
contribute over
$2 million every
day to relieve
suffering and
for the
enrichment of
mankind. Masons
are the founding
sponsors and
supporters of
the Shriners
Burns Institutes
and the Shriners
Hospitals for
Crippled
Children, both
of which offer
their services
free of charge.
Every Shriner is
a Mason.
Satisfaction
derived from
these endeavors
cannot be
measured in
ordinary terms.
We will say,
however, that it
is through
helping others
that man most
helps himself.
If you would
like to learn
more about
Masonry or to
become a Mason,
contact our
Grand Secretary
Ill. Kevin Reed
832-347-3168 or
write 7440
Coffee Street,
Houston, Texas
77033 |
