Info for new Candidates

Bringing new candidates into Freemasonry.

The ancient traditions and tenants of Freemasonry have remained the same for over 500 years but society and culture in the way we live today has progressed.

The application to join Freemasonry has basically stayed the same since speculative Masonry began but the prospective candidate today has different work and family commitments and financial pressures in life.

When we interview a candidate today for acceptance into our Lodges, the standard questions are asked by the General Purpose Committee, do you believe in Supreme Being, are you over 21, have you been convicted of a criminal offence etc..

The candidate attending an interview in front of so many people, is a daunting time for anyone and there are usually 2 types of candidate.

Those who come with a little knowledge that they have picked up from information they have searched for on the internet and from the basic questions they have asked their Proposers.

Then there are those who have not done any research into what they are joining but have been told that they would like it, make many acquaintances and the Festive Board after the meetings was great.

Both these types of candidate are curious of an organisation that has been so secretive

and selective of its prospective candidates.

After the basic questions have been asked, the candidate then gets a chance to ask any questions if he has any.

What questions would he have! He knows nothing of the organisation, what it does, or it´s principles. Most candidates, if you think about it, will not have any questions, I certainly never did at my interview! I was too scared in case I said the wrong thing.

We ask candidates why they want to join. Curiosity, want of a social life and helping charity if they are honest, because this is all they know and have been told.

With the decline in membership numbers today, we are bringing in people in desperation to keep Lodges going. A lot of lodges try to get candidates for the wrong reasons, i.e. financial, boost membership numbers, something to do at the next meeting etc. without thinking of the candidates future expectations. We then wonder why they leave or never turn up for meetings.

I personally think there should be an information pack which goes into more detail of what is expected from the candidate once he has joined. I am not talking about the details of the rituals or ceremonies as this would spoil it for them.

This pack or information could be given to the candidate prior to the main interview by the GP Meeting. This would then give the candidate more information on the organisation he is applying for, also, the time, commitment and dedication he would have to give and the expenditures that would be required of him.

Surely this would benefit the Lodge in general from wasting time and effort into Initiating someone just out of their curiosity and then never seeing them again.

I have looked into the application process of other Lodges and have also asked Brethren on their thoughts and experiences on the issue.

I have also spoken to Brethren who have left the Craft because it was either, not what they had expected, had been mis-informed or not informed at all.

The following information should be given to all candidates to peruse at their leisure before applying for an interview. If after reading the article they wish to continue with the application, they should re-approach their proposer for an interview.

Information for candidates wishing to join Freemasonry.

Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest fraternal societies and is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values.

Its members are taught its precepts by a series of ritual dramas, which follow ancient forms, and use stonemasons' customs and tools as allegorical guides.

The essential qualification for admission into and continuing membership is a belief in a Supreme Being. Membership is open to men aged Twenty-one years or over, of any race or religion who can fulfil this essential qualification and who are of good repute.

Freemasonry is not a religion or a substitute for religion. Its essential qualification opens it to men of many religions and it expects them to continue to follow their own faith. Freemasonry is also non-political so the discussion of religion and politics is not allowed in Lodge meetings.

From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been concerned with the care of orphans, the sick and the aged. This work continues today. In addition, large sums are given to national and local charities.

Freemasonry demands from its members a respect for the law of the country in which a man works and lives. Its principles do not in any way conflict with its members' duties as citizens, but should strengthen them in fulfilling their public and private responsibilities. The use by a Freemason of his membership to promote his own or anyone else's business, professional or personal interests is condemned, and is contrary to the conditions on which he sought admission to Freemasonry.
His duty as a citizen must always prevail over any obligation to other Freemasons, and any attempt to shield a Freemason who has acted dishonourably or unlawfully is contrary to this prime duty.

Freemasonry is not a secret society, since all members are free to acknowledge their membership and will do so in response to enquiries for respectable reasons. There is no secret about its aims and principles. In ordinary conversation there is very little about Freemasonry that may not be discussed.
The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with its traditional modes of recognition. Its ceremonies are private. Like many other societies, it regards some of its internal affairs as private matters for its members. On enquiry for acceptable reasons, Freemasons are free and will be proud to acknowledge their own membership.

What happens at lodge meetings?
A Lodge is where the Meetings and ceremonies take place. What goes on in lodges is partly the formal business that any association has to do, such as the consideration of minutes of the previous meeting, and dealing with propositions for membership, accounts of general and charitable funds, subscriptions, donations, and the like. Once a year a new Master is elected and at the next meeting he is installed and appoints and invests his officers (i.e. the active players in the ceremonies which the lodge prepares for those becoming Freemasons). However, the real core of Freemasonry is the ceremonies which involve admitting new masons and teaching them Freemasonry's moral message.

The moral message is not peculiar to Freemasonry, but is common to many systems – (natural equality, dependence on others, benevolence, intellectual truth, inevitable death, fidelity) - all under a Supreme Being. The method of teaching is Freemasonry's own, a series of ritual dramas, based on ancient mythology and stonemasons' customs and tools, in which the members of the lodge work together to get the message across to each new member.

Despite popular myths, Masonic ceremonies are not at all secret and printed copies are freely available (its history is incidentally fascinating). The quality of its language is readily apparent and the actions are not hard to imagine. However, merely reading the printed word does not explain, that the ceremonies are delivered from memory, nor how everyone in a lodge (and not just the officers directly concerned) concentrates on familiar words and actions which are new to the candidate or how effectively the ceremony makes an impression on the candidate.

Of the various officers of the lodge, some are obligatory while others are optional. Those that lodges have to have are a Master, a Senior Warden, a Junior Warden, a Treasurer, a Secretary, an Almoner, a Charity Steward, a Senior Deacon, a Junior Deacon, and Inner Guard and a Tyler. The optional officers are a Chaplain, a Director of Ceremonies, an Assistant Director of Ceremonies, an Organist, an Assistant Secretary and a Steward or Stewards.

Lodge meetings are held once a month and normally from October to March. The meetings start at 5.00pm with dining (festive board) afterwards and finish approx 10.00pm. A printed summons will be sent to every member of the Lodge with details of the day of the meeting and the start time.

Although joining a Freemasons Lodge can be very enlightening and enjoyable, it has commitments that have to be taken seriously.

Financial;

There is the initial joining fee expense which you will be informed of before joining and then an annual subscription fee there after.

Your formal attire and regalia will have to be purchased as you progress.

The cost of the dining fee at the festive board, raffle tickets and an Alms collection at every Lodge Meeting has to be taken into consideration.

There are social charity events that take place throughout the year that you are expected to attend to help raise monies for charity.

Commitment to time;

You will be expected to attend the Meetings once a month.

There is also a Lodge of Rehearsal which is held once a week between meetings as to practise the ceremony for the next meeting.

There are words you have to learn by memory to progress through your 3 degrees.

Once you have achieved your three degrees and wish to progress through the offices, you will have to learn your lines by memory for the dramas that are re-enacted for the ceremonies. There are 3 ceremonies for the candidates and you progress to a different role (office) every year where the lines are different and usually longer.

These are all things to be taken into consideration before joining. You should discuss them with your family and ensure they have no objections to you joining.

Fundamentally the Lodge and Freemasonry in general is made up from men of mature age, sound judgement, and strict morals who are inclined towards good works in the community, friendliness towards their fellow man, and a generous nature. If this describes you, then we are interested in considering you as a candidate for membership.

Peter Dowling- 23 Dec 2007.

NOTE: The opinions expressed in this essay are my own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of any Grand Masonic jurisdiction or any other Masonic related body.