Ultimately Freemasonry is a grown up boys club where you meet up with like minded friends to enjoy a talk, drink and a meal.
It can take up as little or much of your spare time as you personally wish to invest.
Most Lodges charge an annual fee, and a number of meetings are held each year .for each member to attend.
Freemasonry means different things to each of those who join. For some, it’s about making new friends and acquaintances. For others, it’s about being able to help deserving causes – making a contribution to family and society. But for most, it is an enjoyable hobby.
Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations. It teaches self-knowledge through participation in a progression of ceremonies. Members are expected to be of high moral standing and are encouraged to speak openly about Freemasonry.
Freemasonry as it is practiced under the United Grand Lodge of England, which administers Lodges of Freemasons in England and Wales and in many places overseas.
United Grand Lodge www.ugle.org.uk
Freemasonry is a society of mainly men, and to a lesser extent ladies, concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught its principles (moral lessons and self-knowledge) by a series of ritual dramas – a progression of allegorical two-part plays which are learnt and performed within each Lodge – which follow ancient forms, and use stonemasons’ customs and tools as allegorical guides. A member can progress through several offices, or just observe proceedings.
Freemasonry instills in its members integrity, kindness, honesty and fairness, who are urged to regard the interests of the family as paramount but, importantly, Freemasonry also teaches concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need.
For many years Freemasons have followed three great principles.
Brotherly Love: Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures.
Relief: Freemasons are taught to practise charity and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals.
Truth: Freemasons strive for truth, requiring high morals standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives.