Lodge Southern Cross #44 AF & AM
Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon

WHAT FREEMASONRY IS AND ISN'T

by R.W.Bro. James G. Bennie

WHAT FREEMASONRY IS

You may go on the web and read something like “Freemasonry is a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols” and think.. “Huh?” So let’s try it this way:

· We're a fraternity which uses the tools of the stonemasons to convey lessons on how to be better people (ie. the square reminds us to give a square deal to others). In a way, they're not lessons at all - they're principles which and good person tries to follow as they go through life. The ceremonies are mere reminders. We try to be better people than we were the day before.

· Like a club, a business meeting consists of standard business stuff - minutes, correspondence, voting on applicants, organising events. They also communicate the above-referred-to lessons/reminders, either through the three degrees or discussions. (Note there are only three degrees in Freemasonry, but there are ceremonies that other separate organisations have which require members to be Masons. Some of these ceremonies are also called ‘degrees’).

· After each meeting, there’s a time for food and talk. It's a chance to talk with trustworthy people, some from various parts of the world, you'd never meet otherwise. You expand your circle of friends and acquaintances. As well, members can visit other lodges in various parts of the globe and be welcome.

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WHAT FREEMASONRY IS NOT

· We're not a charity, but members are reminded to be charitable to other people. Some lodges and the Grand Lodge have charity/community projects./p>

· We're not a place to get business contacts. Various business associations exist for that kind of thing. But you do meet people of different ages and occupations (though many active Masons are now retired).

· We're not a benefit society that automatically sends cheques to your family after you die. There are other fraternal organisations which do/did that kind of thing, founded long before the days of Canada Pensions.

· We're not a church; members have their own religions before joining and are not asked to change. However, initiates are expected to swear on their Holy Book they'll keep the secrets (handshakes, passwords, and so on). And there are references to the Creator in the ceremonies. Masons are reminded we’ve all got to go sometime, so we should live our lives with the hope He will reward us wherever we go from here (as a member’s own religious beliefs define it).

· We don’t rule the world. Or even try. The world got that way on its own.

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© 2006-2008, Lodge Southern Cross No. 44, BC&Y
Last Updated: 28 Dec, 2007/TMC