Every day, hundreds of new candidates join a Masonic lodge thus guaranteeing Freemasonry will stay alive – at least – for the foreseeable future.
While all that is exciting and we have our hopes up about Freemasonry, I am sure (as all you experienced brethren know), being a newly entered apprentice is fun, exciting but also a bit confusing.
We’ve asked our followers on our Facebook page to offer ONE single piece of advice for the new Entered Apprentices joining Freemasonry and the replies were overwhelming so we decided to compile all their best tips and advice in one, easy-to-read blog post.
If you’re a new Entered Apprentice, this is for you. We wish you many happy years in Freemasonry and may you find the Light that you seek.
6 Tips For The Newly Entered Apprentice:
- Study: Do Your Work
- Visit Other Lodges
- Do Not Look For The Secrets Online
- Be Respectful
- Know That You’ve Made The Right Choice
- Enjoy The Ride (Don’t Stress It)
Study: Do Your Work
You get out what you put into Freemasonry. Right now you don’t have much “work” to do but we’re not only talking about studying your obligations, but also study about Freemasonry in general.
If you’re a new EA in Freemasonry, there is a lot of things that you should know.
Do some research online about the Craft, its history, and what it means to be a Freemason to the 6 million masons around the world.
We have a lot of content for you here on this blog and there are also other useful resources for you out there. I suggest you check out the blog of Dr. David Harrison.
Visit Other Lodges
One of my favorite things to do as a Mason is to visit other lodges and watch them work degrees in their own way.
As a newly entered apprentice yourself, you can only visit other initiations but I suggest you do so as soon as you can.
It will give you a better idea of what just happened to you.
Do Not Look For The Secrets Online
Unfortunately, if you do a quick Google search, everything about Masonry will come up. I know it’s tempting but do not go searching about higher degrees.
It will ruin it for you.
Remember that while you are here reading, your lodge brothers are studying their lines to make your next degree that best it can be, you owe it to them not to go looking for the secrets now.
Let it happen organically, you’ll enjoy it once you are there.
Be Respectful
One thing that I would suggest you do is to be respectful to the brethren, especially the ones in your lodge.
This fraternity is built on fellowship and brotherly love so you must always make sure that you and the brothers in your lodge are working in harmony.
Do not partake in gossip about brethren and do not argue about religion or politics, it’s against Masonic policies.
Know That You’ve Made The Right Choice
If you’ve joined Freemasonry for the right reasons, you have made a wise choice.
You are now in a brotherhood that has Kings, Presidents, and people from all walks of life in it.
What you’ve just done in your initiation is what has been keeping Freemasonry alive for the past few hundred years (possibly thousands).
Enjoy The Ride
You’ve just joined the oldest, most prestigious fraternity in the world. Our craft goes back in time and hopefully, it has much more to go.
You are now enthusiastic, eager to learn and probably have no idea what just happened to you in your initiation ceremony.
Do not worry.
This is normal and most of us have felt the same emotions you are feeling right now, even US Presidents did what you’ve just done.
Do not get caught up in the process of it, but rather enjoy your learning phases.
Soon enough, with the help of the Grand Architect above, you will soon be able to gain more knowledge as you pass on to Fellow Craft and then Master Mason!
*The MM degree will blow your mind!
Thank you very much for reading, I hope these few simple-yet-insightful tips will help you understand what you need to be doing as a newly entered apprentice in Freemasonry.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask us down below in the comment section (or send us an email).
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I’m from Indonesia. how can I join? there are no nearest lodges in Indonesia anymore. so how?
I would get online and contact the nearest Grand Lodge.
Thank you my dear Brother.I was raised Scottish Master Mason.
From the Clearance P.Shcwarz Masonic lodge #1163 from Chicago Illinois I now
Live in Puerto Rico.I
Went to the lodge in the city I live in.I
Showed the W.M.and every officer of the lodge my credentials
Including the the Grand lodge of Illinois.I’m still waiting since Oct.2015.THANK YOU
MY BROTHER.
Three years ago I received a piece of advice which I’m so glad I observed. My eldest brother and my mentor told me not to look up any “secrets” online. He too received the same advice from his mentor which he to observed. I’m so glad I didn’t let my curiosity get the better of me. The ritual is best received cold thus you then get the maximum impact from each ritual. One piece of advice I would offer is to pin back your ears and listen. If you don’t understand a point ask as any MM loves to pass on the knowledge when they can. Also attend LOI if you can.
Same here. Proposer advised me to stay away from Masonic stuff online till I do my 3 degrees and now I understand why! 🙂
As Mentor and LIO in Admiral Blake 4692. Bridgwater. This is Good advise, for New Masons, as it is only by Making a Daily Advance in MM that you will enjoy your Masonic Brotherhood.
It is your Lodge Bretheren and Your Proposer who will steer you in the Right Direction.
Do not Run B4 U Can Walk, give yourself time to enjoy the Craft.
Also, some will encourage you to join other Sections of the Craft, known as Side Degrees. Hold hard, only Progress, after giving due consideration to your Time And Financial Commitments!!
Masonry, is Free !! You will hear, but in reality, there obviously are Various Fee’s @ every New Degree you Join into.
Make sure your Wife and Familly are on board with your Time @ the Lodge Evenings or Daytime Meetings.
Remember also our Wives , Partners are the ones who are happy with us and Masonry, so in turn we Encourage their Company on Lodge Occasions to join us For Lunches, Ladies Festival Weekends etc.
Bro David L Preece
in Tanzania, wanted to join, who do I contact?
First see if there are any lodges in Tanzania and if there are, follow our guide on how to join.
Hello,
I dont have anyone to recommend on me. How can i join without a recommendation?
Find a local lodge, visit and talk with the brethren there.
im edgar flores from philipines how can i join to the mason brotherhood
See our post on how to join the freemasons. 😉
In addition to contacting a grand lodge, most local lodges have open house days, such as barbecue or a family day where they open the doors to the public. Remember the phrase” to be one, ask one.”
I “tried” to join a masonic lodge in ny, ct. anf Fl. I was turned down by one state. Which is Fl.
I kept getting the “run around” because i didnt personally know any freemasons to vouch
for me. It has to be normally two people that you know. Thats what they ask on the petition.
How can you know a freemason if you dont know any one in the first place.
I have a few family members who are masons but i dont know them. I know a co-worker but
hes a mason in another state so that doesnt count.
Its such a mess because you cant get around the loophole to become one.
This article should explain things better.
Greetings,
Truly a wonderful article from Masonic Find.
Even though I was initiated in 1975. Became. WM in 1982, in my Mother Lodge -Lodge Thirunal No.179 under the Grand Lodge of India, and again WM in 1995 at Lodge Sanjeevini No.300 under GLI,. I have found the tips even more relevant in today’s context.
As the WM AGAIN THIS YEAR at Lodge Sanjeevini No 300, celebrating the silver Jubilee year, I would happily and proudly share this with all of the Brethren inLodge , and more especially our New Initiates.
l.sanjeevini is a lodge open only to Doctor’s and Dental surgeons, committed to providing relief through health care-managing a childrens’clinic free if cost to children till the age of 14 years .
Many thanks again for this post.
Fraternally,
B A Anantharam. WM
For two years now i have been in the proces to join the fraternity and the brother who was taking me through the process for 4 month now since i told him i want to become a musician and he wanted me to become a businessman it’s looks like he abandoned me..now I’m stranded i don’t know what to do..please i need your help..please tell me what to do so that i can continue with my journey
Hey Oscar.
Take a look at this guide here, I’m sure it will help you get started.