Masonic lodges in jurisdictions around the world have different policies when it comes to accepting new members.
Some lodges are more selective than others, but no, the Freemasons do not accept anyone.
There are some requirements that need to be stated and proved before you become a Mason.
To be accepted into Freemasonry, you need to:
- Be 21 or over (18 in some cases).
- Believe in a Supreme Being.
- Seek admission (not be recruited).
- Be a male (although female Freemasonry does exist).
- Have a clean criminal record.
- Be able to afford it.
In this blog post, we will discuss the process of joining the Freemasons and explain what you can expect if you are accepted into the fraternity!
Be 21 or over (18 in some cases).
To become a Freemason, you have to be over 21 years old, which is the norm pretty much all over the world.
In some cases, you may be able to join at 18 years old, but only if you’re the son of a Freemason but again, this is not always guaranteed.
Believe in a Supreme Being.
Another requirement to join Freemasonry is you must believe in a Supreme Being.
This is one of the critical tenets of Freemasonry, and it’s what separates Freemasonry from other fraternal organizations.
This does not mean that you have to be religious or even go to church, but you must have some belief in a higher power.
What is a high power?
That’s up to you to decide.
Some people believe in God, some people believe in a Universal Life Force.
Whatever it is, you must have SOME belief in a Supreme Being if you want to join Freemasonry.
Seek admission (not be recruited).
Freemasonry does not recruit. This is due to it being tied to the operative (stone) masonry of old.
In ancient (stone) masonry, you did not get recruited. You either want to join “of your own free will” or not.
This is still the case in Freemasonry today. You cannot be recruited into Freemasonry; you must seek admission yourself!
In other words, ask one to be one.
PS: If you’re interested in joining Freemasonry, check out our resource page here with plenty of material on how to get started.
Be a male (although female Freemasonry does exist).
Freemasonry is a fraternity, meaning traditionally, only men are allowed to join it.
Albeit controversial, this tradition is slowly changing as more and more lodges are accepting women into the brotherhood.
There are also female-only Masonic lodges popping up all over the world, so if you’re a woman and want to join Freemasonry, there are options for you!
Yes, female Freemasonry is a thing and has been for a while. You can also join some Masonic affiliate bodies that are open for all members.
What are Masonic affiliate bodies?
Masonic affiliate bodies are organizations that have a working relationship with Freemasonry but are not technically part of the fraternity.
There are quite a few Masonic affiliate bodies out there and some accept women as members, while others do not.
Have a clean criminal record.
To become a Freemason, you must have a clean criminal record.
This means that you cannot have any felonies or major misdemeanors on your record.
Of course, there are some exceptions and you can learn more about the nuance of this “rule” in our article asking whether a convicted felon can be a Freemason.
If you have any doubts about this, the best thing to do is find a Lodge and be open about it. They will be able to direct you from there.
Be able to afford it.
Last but not least, you must be able to afford it.
Freemasonry is not free, and it’s neither a cheap endeavor.
There are membership fees, initiation fees, and then there’s the cost of regalia (a fancy word for Masonic clothing).
All in all, if you’re looking to join Freemasonry, be prepared to spend some money!
You will also need to get the “ok” from your family, and yes… there will be a Masonic investigation done to make sure you’re eligible to join.
There are also some time requirements, which you can learn more about here.
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Why Don’t The Freemasons Accept Everyone?
This is a question that’s often asked and there’s no one answer to it.
Like any other organization, Freemasonry has its own requirements, some of which are mentioned above.
These requirements are meant to keep Freemasonry at its highest level and protect the organization’s integrity.
In other words, Freemasonry is not for everyone and that’s okay!
What Does Freemasonry Look For In Members?
Again, this is a question that doesn’t have one answer.
Freemasonry looks for law-abiding men of a good character looking to become better who believe in a higher power and are willing to help others.
That’s really it in a nutshell.
If you meet those requirements and are interested in joining, the best thing to do is reach out to a Lodge near you! They will be more than happy to help you get started.
Want To Know More?
We’ve recently created an online community for Masons and aspiring Masons. If you’d like to know more about that, you can do so on this page here.
We also have a resource page for aspiring Masons as well as a list of online courses you can do to learn more about Freemasonry.
